Please note that I have moved the support for this tutorial to our Malaysian Android Community forum at www.LegenDroid.com
Ask your questions HERE.

Before you explore, it is a great suggestion that you read THIS POST first. This will explain some of the basic terms that will be used in this post. It will also help you to ask the right question, the right way.

I believe most of us are still newbies in the world of Android considering its still very new. Therefore, its important for us to share our knowledge together and make the Android community a big hit on LYN too. I decided to dedicate a little of my time out of my busy life into Android and have a little fun with this awesome creation of Google. Please note that while I try to provide as noobie guide as possible, I may also make mistakes and I hope you guys will help me too. (I'm also a human, and I have a life outside of computers world too)

Before we begin, I would like to promote our Malaysian application - Radio Songs

Bear in mind, your data will be LOST in the process so make sure you have backup of everything!

While I have done this many times and succeeded, I do NOT held myself responsible if anything happens to your HTC. Although its likely anything bad will occur if you follow the steps accurately.

I also suggest you to use a 8GB SDHC class 6 memory card. Your HTC is capable of supporting up to 32GB, but 16GB onwards are known to have problems when it comes to downgrading your firmware.

Last but not least, follow me on Twitter if you have an account. And have fun with your super Hero ;)

DOWNLOAD THE ULTIMATE PACKAGE HERE. THERE ARE THREE ZIP FILES TO DOWNLOAD:
I suggest you use jDownloader to download these files so you just add the links and let it do its job.Otherwise, feel free to download them one-by-one too. No harm.
Archive 1
Archive 2
Archive 3
Archive 4


Current version uploaded:
AmonRa Recovery console with CyaNoGen - recovery-RA-HERO-v1.5.2
Rooted Hero Firmware - update-hero-generic-2.73.405.38-rooted-signed
Radio Baseband version - update-hero-radio-63.18.55.06JU_6.35.08.29-signed

MoDaCo custom ROM - 3.0-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed
Chinese MoDaCo custom ROM - 2.8-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-chinese-signed (2.9 is yet to be released)

MoDaCo enhanced ROM - 3.0-update-hero-modacocustomrom-enhanced-signed
Bootsounds - 3.0-update-hero-modacocustomrom-bootsounds-signed


Step 1 - Setting up your Environment with Google SDK

Google Android uses the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to connect your Hero to your preferred OS. I am personally a Mac user, but since most of us use (or have) Windows, I will assume Windows as the main OS communicating with the HTC Hero.

Lets begin. First of all, download the latest SDK from Google:
Download Google Android SDK here.

Once you have it, I suggest you to unzip your files into C:\ so you have the following path:
C:\AndroidSDK\tools (this will be the tools folder within the SDK)

Once you have done that, you need to enable the variables on global level. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right click My Computer
2. select Properties
3. Under "Advanced" tab, click the "Environment Variables" button.
4. In the dialog that appears, under "System Variables", double click on "path".
5. At the end of the list, add a comma, and then type in the address above where your tools folder is located. (In our case, C:\AndroidSDK\tools)

Thats it. Your computer is now set for ADB access

Also, download fastboot for your ADB. You can get it from here (find "fastboot.exe"):
http://developer.htc.com/adp.html
For windows users, move the fastboot.exe file to <sdk>/tools
For mac and linux users, you can install it anywhere.

Many people have been asking me how to add the SDK to MacOSX. I personally use Mac too, so I'll add the guide for your convenience here:



Step 2 - Installing the recovery console

1. Find this file in the archive:
recovery-RA-HERO-v1.2.3.img

2. Move the file to your SDK\tools folder (in my case C:\AndroidSDK\tools)
3. In your computer, hit start -> run.. (or search in Vista) -> type "cmd" and hit Enter. Your command prompt will load.
4. Type this line by line:



P/s: If you are getting "FAILED" error on "fastboot boot recovery-RA-HERO-v1.2.3.img", I suggest you use "Flashrec.apk" to achieve that. You can install it using the market (but many asian HTCs do not have market pre-installed. so you can download it manually and install using a file manager on your android)
Here's the link to the page:
http://zenthought.org/content/project/flashrec
or download it directly:
http://zenthought.org/system/files/asset/2...-20091107-2.apk
Then you will be good to go.
Use flashrec. Run it. Then, click on Backup Recovery Image and wait for it to finish.
After that, click on the empty text field in the FlashRec and type the recovery img file. Make sure you check the version you are using! Type as following:
/sdcard/Recovery-RA-HERO-v1.2.3.img
Then click on the Flash Custom RecoveryImage button and wait until it finishes.

There..Now, in order to launch your recovery console, all you have to do is press the "Power" and "Home" button TOGETHER. Keep perssing until a screen with green text loads. That will mean you are in your recovery console already


Step 2 - Installing the rooted generic HTC ROM

Now, you need to flash your HTC ROM with a rooted firmware. Follow the instructions:
1. Find this file in the archive:
update-hero-generic-2.73.405.38-rooted-signed.zip (rename the ZIP file to "update.zip")

2. Find this file in the archive:
update-hero-radio-63.18.55.06JU_6.35.08.29-signed.zip (rename the ZIP file to "radio.zip")

Save both files to your SD card (Again, NOT IN ANY FOLDER!)

3. Launch your recovery console (you already know how to do this. Read above)
4. Perform a FULL NANDROID BACKUP (in case anything gets screwed up)
5. Select "Apply sdcard:update.zip" -> wait for it to finish flashing.
6. Select "Apply sdcard:choose zip" -> select "radio.zip" from the list, and let it flash.

**Note: You can reboot to your system if you want, or you can carry on to the next step and finish off one go**

Step 3 - Installing MoDaCo custom ROM

1. Go to your recovery console.
2. Select USB mass storage on
3. Insert these files into the SDcard (NOT IN FOLDER)
- 2.9-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-signed.zip (The Awesome ROM)
- 2.8-update-hero-modacocustomrom-core-chinese-signed.zip (If you need Chinese support, then install this. Otherwise, skip it)
- 2.9-update-hero-modacocustomrom-enhanced-signed.zip (This will install Wap Browser, Plurk Client and Business Card scanner. I dont use this coz I dont need them. If you want, you can also save it)
- 2.9-update-hero-modacocustomrom-bootsounds-signed.zip (Install this if you want the boot sounds. The HTC logo and the cute android in startup sounds. Otherwise, it will be silent - in case you find the sound annoying)
4. Use "Apply sdcard:choose zip" to apply all the files above one by one (in order if you are installing more than just the modaco ROM)

Thats it. Now, for the final cut, we are going to flash the default HTC kernel and install a special one which has optimized the speed and performance of your HTC Hero :) This release is rather rare as it is custom compiled by a favorite programmer of mine :)


Note: Teknologist's kernel now is compiled with MoDaCo custom ROM, so that step is no longer needed in this tutorial. If you don't understand what this means, don't worry about it. You didn't lose track. It's for our Hero "Otai"s who have much experience.


Okay, now you have all the necessary stuff installed to your HTC Hero. Time to optimize the SD card for the best performance!
We are using the Linux based kernel, so it is best to have ext3 or ext4 partition for your application. Forget all the swaps that you find on other forums. That will reduce the life of your SD card. This kernel that we are using is already optimized for use without a swap partition! ;)

Step 4 - Optimizing the SD card and partitioning for application installation to SD card

This guide may be a little advanced to some users. However, if you have followed EVERYTHING so far, including successful SDK installation, then this will not be a problem too

I use ext4 filesystem because I find it the fastest among others. It does not have much difference from ext3, so the choice is yours. I will provide the guide for everything though.

Here we go:

1. Type the following:


2. It will become # prompt now. Type the following to execute Linux gparted in your cmd.


3. Type the following to see if there are any partitions in your SD card:


4. IF you see any partitions, REMOVE them using the following command (depending on how many partitions you have). If you dont have partitions, skip to the next step :)


5. Type "print" hit Enter, then look for your "Disk Size". Mine says "3964MB" since I'm using a 4GB HDSC card. Yours may be different (2GB/4GB/8GB/16GB). Write this down if you can't remember, because you will need this in the next steps!

6. Now, we do some Mathematics :) . We are going to spare 512MB of space on our SD card for applications installations, and the remaining will be used for our storage. Now, remember your Disk Size which you remembered above? Minus it with 512MB. So in my case, we get:

3964 MB - 512 MB= 3452 MB

This said, my SD card has 3964 tracks.
Tracks 0 to 3452 will be used for storage and will be in fat32 format.
Tracks 3452 to 3964 will be used for apps installation (512MB) and will be in ext3 / ext4 when the installation ends.

Therefore, I will type the following command. Use your own values for your SD card accordingly:



THen, type the following. Note that the below has NO ERRORS for my case. gparted can ONLY install ext2. Just install ext2 first. We will upgrade it to ext3 or ext4 later.


To check it, type:


Now you should see 2 partitions. The first one should be fat32 and the second one should be ext2.

Quit gparted by typing the following:

**WHen you quit, there will be a text saying upgrade your blablablabla. Ignore it :)

When you are out of the gparted, type the following command. This will upgrade your ext2 to ext3.


Now you will have a ext3 partition. You can stop here if you are happy with ext3.

If you want to verify your ext3 partition, follow these steps:


If you want to upgrade your ext3 to ext4, follow these steps:
Type the following command in your cmd:


Thats all :)

Wanna verify the ext4?



Thats all!

Spread the love guys! Remember, you are awesome because you are Androider!

Keep Android free guys! ROOTing is not something you should pay for! Somethings in this world has to be free afterall. Don't show me your cash asking me to root for you - I will not respond! Learn this thing yourself or just use stock stuff otherwise. Once you learn it, do NOT use it for your earning benefits too. This should be ONE main thing that separates us from Apple iPhone community - Stay FREE!

This post has been edited by shahz: May 25 2010, 02:14 PM

the RA recovery should be able to make partitions automatically.
last change i know is that it will put a 64MB swap partition, 512MB ext3 partition and the rest will be left as fat32. no need to use ADB. simple and easy. with no chance of screw ups.

Yes..it does..but the kernel that I am offering does NOT need swap Swap damages your SD card so this programmer compiled the kernel to run fast - without using any swap

oh..and it does not make 64MB swap..it just makes 32.1MB swap (in your case)

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Added on October 31, 2009, 9:10 pmFiles uploaded guys..You can start enjoying your Hero for what you deserve Hopefully it will be useful to someone..If you have any questions, feel free to ask here..Do NOT PM please..

This post has been edited by shahz: Oct 31 2009, 09:10 PM

I dont use Swap or Compcache as well. not needed to run CM.

If you make partitions using the recovery console of Cyanogen, it automatically makes a swap partition If you are not using swap, try using the kernel I attached here. You'll <3 it very much

shahz bro,

are you really modifying the rom (modifying the code from AOSP), or just paste the rom from modaco.

its posted from modaco..otherwise u guys have to register there and find all the files..and they have lots of revisions, which makes it tough to find files..

This kernel was modified by Teknologist from MoDaCo..He's an awesome linux programmer who has been compiling SERVERS for years! He recompiled HTC's original kernel with compcache and ramzswap to make it boost the performance..Im using it on my Hero with a class 6 memory card, and the speed is fawsome! :D Beats any kernel I've tried so far :)

I provided this tute so you guys don't have to search everywhere and make yourself confused. I was realy confused when I first started it all since there was no fixed guide at all. I even played with Linux just for the sake of Android :)

Have fun..Do post your experiences..If you have any ideas on what you want to have on the kernel, let me know and I'll share it with the compiler..

Next release of his will have a compcache of compressed whopping 128MB! :)I'll update it here..

In addition to that, those in MoDaCo are mostly running G1. Our asian Hero has a slightly different usual kernel so I just included the files which are necessary for OUR ASIAN SUPER HERO :D

This post has been edited by shahz: Nov 2 2009, 04:40 PM

ok, another android power user. The reason that I asked you that, CodeAndroidMY will be doing(or develop) a community rom for android. It will be kick off this month on BarcampMelaka.

If you have some time, come to Melaka and show off you Hero.

Whow..sounds like fun..when is it? I'd love to go down there

http://www.barcamp.org/BarCampMelaka

thanks for the share bro..u goin?

Insya-Allah. maybe will be going just for the android bof/track

Hero rom?

I'm using Magic, last I know BT giving problem, and the LED do not sync/blink as it supposed to.
...and also some other minor issues that do not seems to bother some.

This rom solve those issue mentioned in xda-developers for Hero on Magic?

Well, BT is not a ROM issue..Its the OS (cupcake and donut)..The BT is not well written yet..Although syncing with headset, I didn't face any problems at all

LED sync/blink - u mean with ringtone? I didnt even see this feature when I my ROM was original HTC Hero unrooted.

Basically, the kernel is targetted to be faster (smoother transition)..You can give it a shot..No harm trying right

A new version will be out with 144MB compressed compcache pool..Its still under testing to see whether other issues will conflict or not..But I believe it will be awesome..

Its totally up to your which ROM and kernel to use..I've tried several already..To me, AmonRa has the best recovery undoubtedly, MoDaCo has the best ROM, and this kernel seems to fit best to me..

Cheers~

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Added on November 5, 2009, 1:02 amMoDaCo ROM 2.9 is out! I'm testing it (My phone is just fawsome now!!)..

Im not sure if anyone is using this guide at all..If I get more feedbacks and responses in the future, I'll update the download files too as it takes time to upload 100MB worth of files..

This post has been edited by shahz: Nov 5 2009, 01:02 AM

Mind showing us if we've download all packages above, how to "upgrade" to 2.9!

The method will still be the same..Just put the ZIP file in the root of the SD card, and update from the recovery system. I guess I'll update the archive.

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Added on November 5, 2009, 8:56 pmNew Radio is also released I will update the archive accordingly..

This post has been edited by shahz: Nov 5 2009, 08:56 PM

Managed to do an upgrade, but problem in restoring my sms made me revert back to original HTC firmware.

Which firmware are you coming from? Did you do a clean wipe? An option is by moving your messages to the SIM before doing the wipe That's of course, if you don't have a gazillion SMS to be restored..

Did from stock HTC SEA kernel, flash RA, update WWE,radio and MCR.

ohh..well, from stock, you will need to root it and flash the first ROM..For that, you definitely need a wipe But its worth upgrading. Your Hero will become faster and smoother transitions