HTC Hero Orange UK - Advice required please

[Guest valerebel]

Hi guys

I am totally new to the world of Android & Linux and I have just bought a new HTC Hero which is locked to Orange UK and I have just read about the horrors of unlocking it to work on other networks and also to "root" it so that I can install either a Modaco ROM or a generic ROM to getthe best out of the device. I want to get my hands dirty and I am at a lostt where to start.

Details of my Hero:

Firmware: v1.5

Baseband: 63.18.55.06U_6.35.04.25

Kernel: 2.6.27-a5504199 (htc-kernel@and18-2#521)

Build: 1.76.61.3 146733 CL#46012 release keys

Software: 1.0.0.A6288

I have searched the www to death on the best way to proceed, so in frustration I am posting this to draw on your expertise and advice on the best way to root the HTC and then SIM unlock it. What software do I need to do all of this and where do I get it?

At your mercy.

Cheers.

-valerebel

[Guest akurei_2000]

Hi,

Congrats on getting the Hero - i love it!

I was in same boat as you last week, followed this instruction (to the letter ;-) Clicky Me 1st and then follow this instructional text Clicky Me 2ndand it worked perfectly first time - just remember, if you're installing one of the Modaco roms with A2SD (Apps 2 SD) to format the memory card appropriately using the Amon Ra recovery image thingy.

Worked perfectly for me, now i'm showing off my hero to all my iphone owning mates with pride!

Just waiting for 2.1 update from HTC, then i'll be really happy!

[Guest hp1]

in addition, once you have the custom ROM loaded, go to htccode.com and get an unlock code, it will work so long as you have a non Orange ROM on your Hero, worked for me and i'm now using an O2 sim.

[Guest prupert]

Hi,

Congrats on getting the Hero - i love it!

I was in same boat as you last week, followed this instruction (to the letter ;-) Clicky Me 1st and then follow this instructional text Clicky Me 2ndand it worked perfectly first time - just remember, if you're installing one of the Modaco roms with A2SD (Apps 2 SD) to format the memory card appropriately using the Amon Ra recovery image thingy.

Worked perfectly for me, now i'm showing off my hero to all my iphone owning mates with pride!

Just waiting for 2.1 update from HTC, then i'll be really happy!

Hi

I also have a Orange UK HTC Hero, but I have only been half gutsy. I did the first part of the unlockr instructions, and I have got the custom Recovery image installed now (AmRa is it?). I have not yet had the guts to install a custom ROM yet since I still have a few unanswered questions and I can never see any answers. Maybe you can help?

a) once I have installed a custom ROM (lets say I install the MoDaCo 3.2 Beta for Hero) do I need to change any setting to get my phone working on the Orange network again, or does it take all the settings it needs from the SIM card (i.e. do I have to configure the Wirelss Access Points, the SMS Message Service Number and the VoiceMail number)?

b) I read everywhere that you should backup your data before you install a new ROM, but nowhere can I find any advice about HOW to backup!! What do I backup and how do I do it?

c) can I re-install all the apps I BOUGHT from the Market on my phone after I flash the new ROM, or do I have to re-buy them and then install (so, are purchases from the market linked to your Google Account and your phone)? I am most interested in CoPilot, which I use a lot, but I don't want to have to buy again: £25, ouchey.

d) I see you have to format your Memory Card to use the MoDaCo ROM to its full effect, can I just back up all the stuff I have on my card now, then copy the stuff back over once I have flashed the ROM, and if so - where do I copy them back over to (does the sdcard just show up normally as before, or are the new partitions also visible in a file manager))??

e) when you update to a newer version of a MoDaCo ROM, say from 2.8 to 3.2, are your settings saved, or do you have to re-install all your apps again and all your contacts etc??

If you or someone could andswer these questions, I would then feel happy about flashing my Hero. I am a paid member of MoDaCo, I paid just so I could access this kitchen feature, but I have so far been too scared to actually flash any new ROMS!!

Edited February 4, 2010 by prupert

[Guest irishandrew]

Hi

I also have a Orange UK HTC Hero, but I have only been half gutsy. I did the first part of the unlockr instructions, and I have got the custom Recovery image installed now (AmRa is it?). I have not yet had the guts to install a custom ROM yet since I still have a few unanswered questions and I can never see any answers. Maybe you can help?

a) once I have installed a custom ROM (lets say I install the MoDaCo 3.2 Beta for Hero) do I need to change any setting to get my phone working on the Orange network again, or does it take all the settings it needs from the SIM card (i.e. do I have to configure the Wirelss Access Points, the SMS Message Service Number and the VoiceMail number)?

:D I read everywhere that you should backup your data before you install a new ROM, but nowhere can I find any advice about HOW to backup!! What do I backup and how do I do it?

c) can I re-install all the apps I BOUGHT from the Market on my phone after I flash the new ROM, or do I have to re-buy them and then install (so, are purchases from the market linked to your Google Account and your phone)? I am most interested in CoPilot, which I use a lot, but I don't want to have to buy again: £25, ouchey.

d) I see you have to format your Memory Card to use the MoDaCo ROM to its full effect, can I just back up all the stuff I have on my card now, then copy the stuff back over once I have flashed the ROM, and if so - where do I copy them back over to (does the sdcard just show up normally as before, or are the new partitions also visible in a file manager))??

e) when you update to a newer version of a MoDaCo ROM, say from 2.8 to 3.2, are your settings saved, or do you have to re-install all your apps again and all your contacts etc??

If you or someone could andswer these questions, I would then feel happy about flashing my Hero. I am a paid member of MoDaCo, I paid just so I could access this kitchen feature, but I have so far been too scared to actually flash any new ROMS!!

Hi there,

Hopefully I can help with some of your questions from what I have experienced. I too have an unlocked orange ROM, however I unlocked it before the codes worked with non-Orange ROMs (so had to build a cable and unlock it through the terminal). Anyhow, lets begin;

a) You do not need to change the settings, for me, swapping any card into the phone works straight away. The reason for this is that the custom ROMs have a bigger list of access point settings preinstalled than the stock ROMs, so you don't have to worry :-)

b ) When you boot into your recovery image there should be an option to do a "nandroid" backup - this copies a backup of the system as is so you can always revert to a working state should things go wrong. Always do a nandroid backup before flashing roms/radios etc. The backups are saved to your SD card, so if you're going to format it and repartition you should copy your backup off before doing so - I think they are saved in a folder called "nandroid" in the root directory of the SD card.

As for your actual data - Titanium backup on the market place (and included in the MoDaCo ROMs) is excellent and allows you to save your data, the settings from your programs (e.g. brower bookmarks etc.) along with the marketplace status, thus it can always auto update from the marketplace. There are other ways such as backing up the individual .apks to your computer however reinstalling these will not retain the market placeholders and as such the updates will not come through. Titanium does require your phone to be rooted however...

Calendar events and contacts for me are all in my Gmail account anc sync'd via that, so it's not an issue - if that's not the same for you, consider syncing your phone with outlook or similar using HTC Sync - though there are issues with the outlook 2010 beta.. and Win7 sometimes needs some driver fiddeling to get it working properly.

With regard to SMS's - I use an archiving app free from the marked called SMS Backup that sends all my messages to my Gmail account under the label "SMS". Obviously I can access this archive through the gmail app on my phone, however they won't be in the messaging app after I wipe the phone.

A Wipe = Factory reset. Each phone has a way of doing this with a combination of buttons, however the recovery image can also perform this function within its menu. Once it's done it's as if the phone has never been used - all settings (account etc.) are removed and must be reentered. A wipe WILL NOT wipe your SD card however - only repartitioning it or formatting will - and this is done through the recovery image. You only need to partition it if you want to use Apps2SD - as SWAP partitions are no longer used, even if there is one present - so it would be wasted space. Apps2SD is great if you have loads of apps, but if you only have a few it's not particularly necessary. I use is, and many swear by it, but it's ultimately up to you. MCR3.2b5 screams either way, paticularly with compache disabled, and as of today I have enabled the minmemory tweak and so far it's running well.

d) I'm skipping to "d" as it follows on from "b" better - will get to "c" in a minute ;) To answer your question Yes, you can just copy your stuff back to the SD card exactly as it was, as it will pop up as normal when you mount the SD card. The new partitions are in ext - a linux filesystem, so they will only show up in your partition table if your partition manager is enabled for this type of FS, and similarly they shouldn't appear under you list of discs in "Computer" etc., so confusion is limited.

c) Your purchases are linked to your Google account - though for good measure I would back up with Titanium anyhow!

e) So long as you don't do a wipe, all your settings and programs/apps etc. are carried over without issue when you upgrade from one MCR to another. There are some instances when a WIPE is required - usually when there have been big changes to the architecture. So expect to need to wipe the phone when Paul releases a ROM based on Android 2.1. In the mean time, upgrading from MCR3.1 (the current release version) to 3.2 or any subsequent 3.x version can be done without wiping.

So I hope this all helps. Please anyone feel free to correct me if your experiences have been different to mine!

Cheers,

-Andrew.

[Guest Carl_Brummy]

Hi

I also have a Orange UK HTC Hero, but I have only been half gutsy. I did the first part of the unlockr instructions, and I have got the custom Recovery image installed now (AmRa is it?). I have not yet had the guts to install a custom ROM yet since I still have a few unanswered questions and I can never see any answers. Maybe you can help?

a) once I have installed a custom ROM (lets say I install the MoDaCo 3.2 Beta for Hero) do I need to change any setting to get my phone working on the Orange network again, or does it take all the settings it needs from the SIM card (i.e. do I have to configure the Wirelss Access Points, the SMS Message Service Number and the VoiceMail number)?

:D I read everywhere that you should backup your data before you install a new ROM, but nowhere can I find any advice about HOW to backup!! What do I backup and how do I do it?

c) can I re-install all the apps I BOUGHT from the Market on my phone after I flash the new ROM, or do I have to re-buy them and then install (so, are purchases from the market linked to your Google Account and your phone)? I am most interested in CoPilot, which I use a lot, but I don't want to have to buy again: £25, ouchey.

d) I see you have to format your Memory Card to use the MoDaCo ROM to its full effect, can I just back up all the stuff I have on my card now, then copy the stuff back over once I have flashed the ROM, and if so - where do I copy them back over to (does the sdcard just show up normally as before, or are the new partitions also visible in a file manager))??

e) when you update to a newer version of a MoDaCo ROM, say from 2.8 to 3.2, are your settings saved, or do you have to re-install all your apps again and all your contacts etc??

If you or someone could andswer these questions, I would then feel happy about flashing my Hero. I am a paid member of MoDaCo, I paid just so I could access this kitchen feature, but I have so far been too scared to actually flash any new ROMS!!

First off, dont be put off, if you follow the instructions on flashing your hero with a stable rom, then you wont regret it.

1) Ensure that you have installed the latest AmonRa recovery image 1.5.2 is best. See Installing Amon Ra 1.5.2 on Hero

2) Backup your contacts etc using HTC Sync, you can then export these from outlook express/outlook and import them to google account (if you have one) and this enables you to easily sync your contact list afterwards.

2) Download and copy onto your sd card the latest stable ROM images from pauls list

Pauls List of Roms and Radio images

From here download the 3.1 core, the latest Radio update, and if you require the enhanced pack this too...

4) Copy these onto your SD card root folder using the USB Mount on the phone

5) Reboot the phone (power off then power on with Home key held down) - this will launch Amon Ra recovery image.

6) Once you have done this, you can do a nandroid backup of ALL your existing settings (this will allow you to go back to exactly as it was prior to flashing).

7) Now do a wipe of data/cache this is important

8) Using Amon Ra you can apply update zip files, in this order, Core 3.1, enhanced pack, then radio rom. DO NOT UNPLUG OR TURN OFF YOUR PHONE DURING THE FLASHING IF YOU DON'T WANT A NICE BRICK! (just a warning)... ;)

9) Reboot the phone - allow the updates to completely finish before doing anything else.

10) Resync your phone using google account or HTC sync.

Ét voila! :( You should now have a fully custom rom running the latest and greatest. Thanks to the hard work of people like jnwhiteh, madoco (Paul), cyanogen, Loxdev and any others I have forgotten to mention!

Hope this helps. Important thing is the nandroid backup is there to ensure you cannot lose anything!

There are video tutorials on unlockr.com about rooting your phone and installing recovery images, so there is plenty of insight and advise before you go for it...

Good luck...

PS Once you have done this updates are simply a case of copying the update zip, rebooting the phone in recovery and applying the update, then reboot, simple! :D

Edited February 4, 2010 by Carl_Brummy

[Guest prupert]

Hi there,

Cheers,

-Andrew.

Excellent, thanks loads for the answers. All my fears have been quashed and I shall definately be flashing the MoDaCo ROM this weekend. I've flashed Routers with various Firmware (Tomato, Open-WRT and DD-WRT) as well as a NAS, but I have never flashed a phone before, so I just wasn't sure about the basics behind it.

Thanks once again, heopfully I'll be MoDaCoing before not too long ;)

[Guest blackcoffee85]

Check out this guide: http://android.modaco.com/content/htc-hero...e-how-to-guide/ for all the instructions needed.

You shouldn't need to use a goldcard to downgrade with your current firmware (it's an old Orange firmware) so ignore that - just install the custom recovery image, which is the key to installing MoDaCo. Once MoDaCo is installed, you can unlock with a code bought online. This forum recommends htccode.com, and I used Davinci team to get a code for my Orange Hero.

[Guest prupert]

First off, dont be put off, if you follow the instructions on flashing your hero with a stable rom, then you wont regret it.

PS Once you have done this updates are simply a case of copying the update zip, rebooting the phone in recovery and applying the update, then reboot, simple! ;)

Awesome , I get a step-by-step guide with what to do to!!

Thanks for this answer, defo gonna do the flash now :D

Cheers

[Guest blackcoffee85]

Awesome , I get a step-by-step guide with what to do to!!

Thanks for this answer, defo gonna do the flash now ;)

Cheers

That guide really should be stickied - it's what EVERYONE needs!

[Guest irishandrew]

That guide really should be stickied - it's what EVERYONE needs!

From my experience flashing Windows Mobile phones, the Hero is a breeze and Paul's ROMs make it a brilliant device, and far better than stock :-)

-Andrew

[Guest valerebel]

Thanks everybody for all of the advice.

I now have successfully rooted my Orange UK HTC Hero, flashed it with the MoDaCo 3.1 ROM, added 2 pack updates and updated the radio. Now I just have to get an unlock code and I'm done.

Wow, thanks again everybody.

MoDaCo rocks!

;) :D :( :D :D B) :D :D :D

-valerebel

[Guest clifhanger_uk]

Thanks everybody for all of the advice.

I now have successfully rooted my Orange UK HTC Hero, flashed it with the MoDaCo 3.1 ROM, added 2 pack updates and updated the radio. Now I just have to get an unlock code and I'm done.

I didnt bother with the unlock code - I bought a rebelsim off ebay for a tenner and it works a treat. I'd recommend that any time. If anyone does successfully get an unlock code, I'd be interested to know where from. I saw lots of posts on the net saying that for Orange they dont work..

[Guest blackcoffee85]

I didnt bother with the unlock code - I bought a rebelsim off ebay for a tenner and it works a treat. I'd recommend that any time. If anyone does successfully get an unlock code, I'd be interested to know where from. I saw lots of posts on the net saying that for Orange they dont work..

They don't - with the Orange firmware - install MoDaCo or something else and the unlock code works as expected.

[Guest stevenz]

Hi guys

I am totally new to the world of Android & Linux and I have just bought a new HTC Hero which is locked to Orange UK and I have just read about the horrors of unlocking it to work on other networks and also to "root" it so that I can install either a Modaco ROM or a generic ROM to getthe best out of the device. I want to get my hands dirty and I am at a lostt where to start.

No offence dude, but you can't have searched that hard, google "htc hero root" and the very 1st link has a full walkthrough.

[Guest prupert]

I now have a fully rooted Hero running 3.1 cooked by MoDaCo.

So far it seems awesome. The market connections seems a little flaky but in general I am happy with my rooted phone.

My only comment would be, I don't know if it is a MoDaCo kitching thing, or what happens if you have a Hero with a more recent stock UK ROM, but on the first reboot after the flash, the device gets stuck at the first HERO boot screen. I was pretty scared I had messed up. But a simple reboot (removing the battery) fixed this. It was a little worrying though. I was wondering if the guide should be updated to mention this, since there is no mention of this in the main walkthrough on this forum, apart from the fact that you should never interfere with the first boot after flashing, so I was obviously a little scared. This has made me very scared of flashing a radio ROM, since I have read that they are way more likley to brick your phone.

Anyway, overall, it was an easy process and seems to be working so far. CoPilot has installed and activated, so I am a happy bunny,

[Guest irishandrew]

I didnt bother with the unlock code - I bought a rebelsim off ebay for a tenner and it works a treat. I'd recommend that any time. If anyone does successfully get an unlock code, I'd be interested to know where from. I saw lots of posts on the net saying that for Orange they dont work..

As blackcoffee85 says, the unlock codes work fine on a non-Orange ROM (ie MCR). This was *not* the case in the earlier ROMs - though I don't know what changed to allow them to work? Rebel Sim was the best option back then - although I decided to unlock using the cable method instead - this unlocked the CID allowing the code to funtion.

Any of Paul's recent ROMs will unlock fine using a code bought online on an originally Orange branded handset.

-Andrew.

[Guest blackcoffee85]

As blackcoffee85 says, the unlock codes work fine on a non-Orange ROM (ie MCR). This was *not* the case in the earlier ROMs - though I don't know what changed to allow them to work? Rebel Sim was the best option back then - although I decided to unlock using the cable method instead - this unlocked the CID allowing the code to funtion.

Any of Paul's recent ROMs will unlock fine using a code bought online on an originally Orange branded handset.

-Andrew.

I think the more recent MoDaCo ROMs are based on a ROM which doesn't have the unlock bug, therefore it works. Certainly MCR 2.9 onwards can be unlocked as normal. I imagine if you flash a T mobile or 3 ROM you could unlock with that too.

[Guest clifhanger_uk]

As blackcoffee85 says, the unlock codes work fine on a non-Orange ROM (ie MCR). This was *not* the case in the earlier ROMs - though I don't know what changed to allow them to work? Rebel Sim was the best option back then - although I decided to unlock using the cable method instead - this unlocked the CID allowing the code to funtion.

Any of Paul's recent ROMs will unlock fine using a code bought online on an originally Orange branded handset.

-Andrew.

Thats good to know guys thanks. I might give it a bash sometime as I have a feeling that the rebelsim might use a lot of battery because I have Paul's MCR3.1 on it now with the latest radio and my battery doesnt seem to have improved much..

Thanks

[Guest martyn028]

in addition, once you have the custom ROM loaded, go to htccode.com and get an unlock code, it will work so long as you have a non Orange ROM on your Hero, worked for me and i'm now using an O2 sim.

Worked for me also on 2 orange branded Heros .....i used Pauls Modaco Custom Rom... and the unlocking website listed in Pauls post (located on home screen)

now using 3 sim cards

;)

M

[Guest ri2la]

As blackcoffee85 says, the unlock codes work fine on a non-Orange ROM (ie MCR). This was *not* the case in the earlier ROMs - though I don't know what changed to allow them to work? Rebel Sim was the best option back then - although I decided to unlock using the cable method instead - this unlocked the CID allowing the code to funtion.

Any of Paul's recent ROMs will unlock fine using a code bought online on an originally Orange branded handset.

-Andrew.

I don't want to tell anyone how to suck eggs etc.. as i am only new to this but I just wanted to tell my experience in unlocking.

Phone: Brand new HTC Hero locked to orange, had to wait till yesterday as imei wasn't on the database (i.e. very new phone)

As far as i could tell everything worked fine but the unlock code accepted but never really unlocked (emergancy calls only and prompted for sim unlock on reboot). This was with Paul's marvelous 3.1 ROM.

After much swearing i went back and did some research, that led me to think why not try as suggested on xda the HTC generic 2.73.405.5 that seemed to work for many others. Still nothing. So i read a bit more..... eventually clutching at straws I loaded the 2.9 core from Paul and to my own shock, it worked first time, accepting the code and the emergency calls only disappeared, gave it a reboot and wow its still unlocked.

Therefore i would suggest trying the 2.9 core if you can't unlock with the other methods. (2.9-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip)

Mods please edit as fit, sorry if i've said anything wrong.

[Guest blackcoffee85]

I don't want to tell anyone how to suck eggs etc.. as i am only new to this but I just wanted to tell my experience in unlocking.

Phone: Brand new HTC Hero locked to orange, had to wait till yesterday as imei wasn't on the database (i.e. very new phone)

As far as i could tell everything worked fine but the unlock code accepted but never really unlocked (emergancy calls only and prompted for sim unlock on reboot). This was with Paul's marvelous 3.1 ROM.

After much swearing i went back and did some research, that led me to think why not try as suggested on xda the HTC generic 2.73.405.5 that seemed to work for many others. Still nothing. So i read a bit more..... eventually clutching at straws I loaded the 2.9 core from Paul and to my own shock, it worked first time, accepting the code and the emergency calls only disappeared, gave it a reboot and wow its still unlocked.

Therefore i would suggest trying the 2.9 core if you can't unlock with the other methods. (2.9-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip)

Mods please edit as fit, sorry if i've said anything wrong.

Interesting, 3.1 is based on 3's ROM and shouldn't exhibit the Orange bug.

Note that I unlocked on 2.9 and it worked as described, and can't vouch for 3.1.

[Guest irishandrew]

I don't want to tell anyone how to suck eggs etc.. as i am only new to this but I just wanted to tell my experience in unlocking.

Phone: Brand new HTC Hero locked to orange, had to wait till yesterday as imei wasn't on the database (i.e. very new phone)

As far as i could tell everything worked fine but the unlock code accepted but never really unlocked (emergancy calls only and prompted for sim unlock on reboot). This was with Paul's marvelous 3.1 ROM.

After much swearing i went back and did some research, that led me to think why not try as suggested on xda the HTC generic 2.73.405.5 that seemed to work for many others. Still nothing. So i read a bit more..... eventually clutching at straws I loaded the 2.9 core from Paul and to my own shock, it worked first time, accepting the code and the emergency calls only disappeared, gave it a reboot and wow its still unlocked.

Therefore i would suggest trying the 2.9 core if you can't unlock with the other methods. (2.9-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip)

Mods please edit as fit, sorry if i've said anything wrong.

Fair enough,

Like I said I got my phone before the codes worked with custom roms, so did the cable method (same reason - was worried about battery life with RebelSIM). Whilst trying to help ppl unlock over on XDA Paul's new ROM was released that suddenly allowed the codes to work without extra fuss (as they should). I think this was 2.8 - but may have been 2.9 - either way it worked on 2.9 - so just assumed it would keep working.

I don't know if Paul changed the base ROM for that distribution (like he has changed to a "3" release for the MCR3.2 beta), but given that we know the recent change, I would have thought 2.8/2.9/3.0/3.1 were all based on the same base ROM?

Incidentally, people keep referring to it as a "bug" - from what I have heard it was a deliberate extra hurdle implemented by Orange to prevent unlocking using generic/HTC codes, instead requiring custom Orange codes that would only be generated on their terms. This is why unlocking the CID allowed this security hurdle to be bypassed reinstating the regular network lock for which codes are available. Please correct me if I am wrong?

Anyhow - we know 2.9 works, so anyone having trouble should unlock on this ROM and then reflash the latest afterwards. 3.2 w/Compcache disabled and the MinMemFree tweak is flying for me at the moment, and the battery life improved without doubt, although the latest radio isn't working wonders for me at the moment...

Cheers,

Andrew.

[Guest shingers5]

well i don't post much but this has got me writing and singing praises to Paul. was like most others stuck with Orange UK HTC Hero locked and codes were unable to bypass. codes being accepted but no signal. also prior to try Paul's 3.1 rom i tried flashing a couple 2.1 roms. unlock code was not an issue but no service at all. guessing this was due to unlock not being done. anyway flashed 3.1 and worked instantly. now i am wondering if i flash 2.1 again if it will work and will i receive radio signal and service bars. on my Moto Milestone Android 2.1 roms have me that no radio problem so i guess its with the OS that issues lie.

thanks again for this creation as it has allowed to stop swearing and my wife to relax................ cheers

[Guest rassklass]

hi all

i've tried rooting my hero, followed the instructions exactly, made sure the .img name was exact but i still can't get the disabled button to show up. What am I doing wrong?