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Has anybody rooted their Hero yet? I went on to a few other Hero forums and there was no talk about it. If I got one, thats the first thing I would do. With it rooted, you can use it as a wifi hotspot.

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Rescueflare
Moderator
Rescueflare@SprintUserForum.com
Samsung Instinct owner

Quoting the_mig over at b.a.w.

those of you stuck with 1.5 on your Hero have no idea how crappy and slow 1.5 is compared to 2.1. Flipz over at http://geekfor.me/ has been working like mad for us Hero users and makes it super easy to root your Hero and upgrade to his ROM Fresh 2.0b that is an Android 2.1 build. He has built the tools to automatically root the phone with one easy click and he continually upgrades the ROM to fix glitches.


I just rooted my phone over the weekend and all of the instructions are there, but it does take patience (and yes it's a little scary at times). There are really five basic steps in the process:


1. Backup all of your contacts and anything else you want saved that is stored on your phone. The SD card isn't affected.


2. Root your phone using Flipz "Fresh Pre-Kitchen 0.2" application. This is a program that automatically roots your phone so you can modify the ROM, upgrade the radio, etc. Detailed instructions on how to root your phone can be found here: http://androidforums.com/all-things-roo ... orial.html, and include both manual instructions for rooting or automated using Pre-Kitchen (starting about 1/2 way down the page).


3. Create a nandroid backup using the Pre-Kitchen.


4. Wipe your phone using the root menu on your rooted phone.


5. Install Fresh 2.0b ROM, which is based on an Android Nexus 2.1 build. http://geekfor.me/new-release/fresh-rom-20b/


The speed enhancement of Android 2.1 is amazing (it's like having a brand new phone), and the improvements in the graphics are a bonus. Not everything works perfect yet so be sure to read the posts for what does and doesn't work. You don't need to be a computer scientest to root your phone and install a new ROM, but you do need to be patient. Once you have mastered the ROM update, you can also update your radio in your phone for improved performance. http://geekfor.me/downloads/radio-241040203/


You might ask yourself a few questions like "If I root the phone will I void the warranty?" The answer is yes, but you can always downgrade to the stock ROM (see the first link for instructions). You might also ask "Can I damage my phone by upgrading?" The answer is maybe, but where there is risk there is also reward. Be sure to read the disclaimers on any of the upgrades mentioned here.

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Goygacon
Site Administrator
Goygacon@SprintUserForum.com