Root 11/Jan 3.1 - MoDaCo Custom ROM for GSM Hero

[vido.ardes]

From the videos it would appear i need an adapter so i can take out the SD card and plug it directly into my computer, is there anyway around this like using the phone itself or do i have to go out and buy an adapter tomorrow?

I just mounted the card in the phone, worked for me

 

[Xyro]

For some reason mounting the card wouldn't work for me, but obviously it must've been something I'd been doing wrong.

 

[Slug]

I've been putting it off for ages, thought it was about time I took the plunge

I'll be interested in how you find it, seeing as you've been "stock" for so long and know your handset so well.

 

[mat]

In the process of trying this now and i cant even get the drivers to work properly for windows 7 its seriously pissing me off.

 

[myke66]

I'm still rocking 2.2, is there much benefit of updating?
Assuming Sense with 2.1 is coming soon would it be a waste of my time?

its fasssttttt

 

[Hellwÿck]

For some reason mounting the card wouldn't work for me, but obviously it must've been something I'd been doing wrong.

1. Plug one end of your Hero cable into your phone and the other end into your PC

2. On your phone, pull down the notification panel and click the USB notification

3. Click mount



Off you go

 

[Xyro]

Sorry, I actually meant that when I tried to create the gold card whilst mounting via the phone it didn't work. Haven't had any problems with mounting the card in general

 

[vido.ardes]

I'll be interested in how you find it, seeing as you've been "stock" for so long and know your handset so well.

FIrst thing I notice is it's alot faster. I didn't think my phone was slow before, but most noticably flicking between home screens, editing the home screens (movign and addign widgets) and loading large menus (such as the Manage applications one) is incredibly quick.

The Apps to SD is a nice touch, and saves internal memory, and battery life appears to be the same. I really want to see someone create a fully working ASOP version (1.6, 20 or 2.1) to try that, but I think I'd miss the HTC keyboard and smartdialing too much!

 

[mat]

I just tried to downgrade my G2 Touch and whilst im doing the final step of: How To: Downgrade Your HTC Hero So It Can Be Rooted | The Unlockr

It goes into boot mode but then after a couple of mins an error pops up on my computer saying its not the right version for that phone :S. I downloaded something called RUU_Hero_HTC_WWE_2.73.405.5_WWE_release_signed_NoDriver off the xda developer form as i cannot download anything from Megaupload at university . Any ideas?

 

[Xyro]

I'm pretty sure thats the one I used. The first one on megaupload gave me 'Error [140]', but that version worked. Maybe it's a corrupt download? Or something went wrong whilst making the gold card?

 

[Diamond-Geezer]

Hi, I'm also thinking about installing a custom Modaco ROM. I have no idea how to proceed. I'm on Orange's (U.K.) latest ROM which is ROM version 2.73.61.5 I believe.

Thanks.
​

 

[mat]

I've given up, thanks for the help people have given me but I just can't get the goldcard to work. Tried 2 different SD cards and tried it on 2 different computers numerous times but it wont work, everytime I try to update the rom it just blocks the update and an error pops up.

 

[G8D]

its fasssttttt

It doesn't seem much faster than the 2.2 MCR.

 

[quantumrand]

It doesn't seem much faster than the 2.2 MCR.

Teknologist's 1.91 kernel gives you more RAM than you'd see in the 2.2 MCR, so you should see some of an increase in performance when you have a lot of apps open.

 

[paulobrien]

I'm pleased to present my MoDaCo Custom Hero ROM! No 'wipe' is required for anyone coming from MCR 1.2 onwards, or the stock 2.73.x updates.

You can now create a customised ROM containing only the parts you required - click here to read more about the MoDaCo Custom Custom ROM online kitchen!

MCR now includes a MoDaCo Custom Kernel modified by Teknologist, TCK, for additional features.

MCR now optionally includes Wavesecure in ROM, allowing you to lock / locate / wipe your device remotely in the event of loss and be notified if the SIM is changed. The application cannot be uninstalled by a thief and we we have actively worked with Wavesecure to ensure that your settings will survive a hard reset!

This ROM is based on the 2.73.x release series (currently 2.73.405.66 together with my own optimisations) for the best possible performance! The ROM is now available in 2 core versions, with and without Chinese input, with optional add on packs that can be applied to either ROM.

Included in the 'core' version

- Built with my new MCR build process which reduces size and boost speed of the ROM
- Includes Teknologist's Custom Kernel 1.91 featuring additional filesystem support (EXT4, NFS, CramFS, SquashFS 4.0), CompCache modules and config, DroidWall support and much more! See here for details.
- Rooted with 'adb remount' permission and superuser APK
- A2SD included (fully automatic - thanks cyanogen!) - create a EXT2, EXT3 or EXT4 partition as your second partition to use. dalvik-cache remains on device.
- Added Jbed Java
- Added Google Voice Search and required speech library
- Added Dropbear SSH server running by default, check 'About' screen for password (port 2222). You can now remove this by running /system/bin/removedropbear.sh
- Added Notes app from Dragon ROM
- Added Spare Parts (run it and switch the 2 animation types to 'fast' for an even better experience!)
- Added android-wifi-tether 1.60 pre3 (props to the developer, this is a great app!)
- Added WiFi Status indicator, with kind permission of Andrew Schwimmer
- Added busybox 1.15.3 with Droid Explorer support
- Added Titanium Backup
- Added all 4 available HTC widgets
- Added nano 2.09 - text editor for use in shell mode
- Added parted and sqlite tools
- Added terminfo and settings to boot.img to allow nano etc. use
- Added files required for Debian linux including loxley's updated bootdeb script
- Added huge APN list
- Moved Quickoffice to data partition to allow easy uninstall
- Deleted 'Learn More' application
- ROM now includes touch focus in Camera app
- ROM now supports shortcuts using BetterCut (and therefore I assume anycut!) in Rosie
- Silenced boot sound (it's still there and can be reactivated with a file edit)
- You can now check your MoDaCo Custom ROM (MCR) version from the about menu

Included in main 'enhanced' add on pack

- Added Business Card Scanner
- Added 'Plurk' client (currently unavailable)
- Added WAP browser

Other optional add on packs (apply as normal update zips)

- 'WaveSecure' add on pack (puts Wavesecure in ROM - it is no longer in core)
- 'Boot Sounds' add on pack (restores boot sounds)
- 'Hebrew Fonts' add on pack (installs hebrew fonts)

Recommended applications (available from the market)

- More Locale for setting non english Locales

Downloads

This ROM is also available customised to your exact requirements in the MoDaCo Custom Custom ROM online kitchen - check it out!

11/Jan 3.1 - MoDaCo Custom ROM for GSM Hero - Android @ MoDaCo

ENSURE YOU DO A NANDROID BACKUP SO YOU CAN 'ROLL BACK' IF REQUIRED!

A 'wipe' is MANDATORY when installing this ROM if you are coming from pre MCR 1.2 or a stock 1.x ROM, and you MUST do this BEFORE applying the update zip (as the update zip puts files on the data partition)! I also recommend you install the latest radio from my 'update zips' topic if you have not done so.

Please note that first boot may take a little while, especially if you have a lot of apps on your A2SD partition. Be patient! If you want a real clean start or you have issues with your existing A2SD installed apps when you boot, you need to wipe your EXT3 partition on SD too by executing 'adb shell rm -r /system/sd/app', 'adb shell rm -r /system/sd/app-private' and 'adb shell reboot'

The ROM is in an update.zip format for installation via the custom recovery image, I also strongly recommend installing the latest radio (63.18.55.06JU_6.35.08.29 at time of writing). As always, do a Nandroid backup before you do anything... just in case!

For the complete newbies, these are the steps you need to take with a 'virgin' Hero:

- Download the patched recovery image linked above and install as detailed in that post
- Download this custom ROM, and copy it to your SD card
- Enter the recovery image (if you're not in it already) by powering on while pressing 'home'
- Select 'nandroid backup' from the menu to do a backup
- If you copied the custom rom as update.zip, select 'apply sdcard:update.zip', else select the option below.
- all done

If you would like to remove parts of the ROM that you do not use, see this post.

Feedback / feature requests welcome! This ROM is posted in multiple places - although I try to provide support everywhere the ROM is posted, of course you will receive the quickest response at MoDaCo.

Finally, if you would like to show your appreciation for the ROM, please consider supporting MoDaCo by signing up for a MoDaCo Ad Free or MoDaCo Plus account, which also gives you early access to Beta ROM releases and the online ROM kitchens.

P

 

[paulobrien]

Changelog

3.1

Based on shipping 2.73.405.66
Includes Teknologist's kernel 1.91
Built with my new MCR build process which reduces size and boost speed of the ROM
Updated Busybox, ROM is now compatible with Droid Explorer
All 4 available HTC widgets now included in ROM
Updated Wireless Tether app
Added Titanium Backup

3.0

Moved base to 2.73.405.66
Updated busybox to fix colour coding ls issue
Updated kernel to Teknologist 1.9
Updated wpa_supplicant (0.5.11)

2.9

Moved base to 2.73.405.61
Added Teknologist's 1.8 kernel with 80MB compcache, tun.ko etc. etc.
Added loxley's updated bootdeb script
Added super-APN file from Cyanogen's ROM
Added Hebrew fonts add on pack

2.8

MoDaCo Custom Kernel 1.2 featuring additional filesystem support (EXT4, NFS, CramFS, SquashFS 4.0), CompCache 0.5.4 modules and DroidWall support
Updated WiFi Tether (1.60 pre3)
Script to optionally remove dropbear SSH (run /system/bin/dropbearremove.sh via ADB)
Moved VoiceSearch to data partition (aids updgrading via market)
Removed Swapper and MoreLocale, now advised downloads in main post

2.7.1

Changed file split between partitions to resolve issue of system partition running out of space

2.7

Updated WaveSecure, moved to add on pack
New Boot sounds restore add on pack
Dropbear SSH running by default, check 'About' screen for password (port 2222)
Add Notes app from Dragon to core
Add Swapper to core
Add WiFi Status to core
Added Voice Search to core with libspeech library

2.6

MCR now includes Wavesecure in ROM, allowing you to lock / locate / wipe your device remotely in the event of loss and be notified if the SIM is changed. The application cannot be uninstalled by a thief and we are actively working with Wavesecure to ensure that in a forthcoming release, your settings will survive a hard reset!

Chinese version available again
Fixed dropbear permissions

2.5.1

Busybox shortcuts fix
build.prop updated for market fix

2.5

Removed IM app due to incompatability with freshly wiped devices.

2.4

Faster than 2.2!
Recommended for use with radio 63.18.55.06FU_6.35.07.08
New WWE core image
Another busybox update - 1.15.2 release
Added dropbear binaries in ROM (will add as a service in a later release)
Replaced CustomLocale with MoreLocales
Added IM application in ROM
Maps is now no longer removed
Other tweaks I forgot!

2.3

Core is now available in regular and chinese flavours, the enhanced version is an addon pack to the core of your choice
Based on different ROM - you now get the new People widget
Another busybox update - 1.15.1 release
Added parted in ROM for partitioning SD
Other tweaks I forgot!

2.2

Corrected tun.ko
Updated busybox
Minor tweaks to unify build with sapphire and dream versions

2.1

Added new bootdeb script
Minor tweaks to startup script

2.0

Based on 2.73.405.5 WWE SHIP update
Updated A2SD to leave dalvik-cache on device (should improve performance, we're not that tight on space!)
Restored bootscreen (no sound)
Restored customize directory, this will give only standard WWE build locales - use Custom Locale for others, or 'adb shell remount' then 'adb shell rm -rf /system/customize' then wipe for full menu
Split features into 'core' and 'enhanced' versions

1.5.1

More optimisations
Removed customize directory, added 'Custom Locale' for setting non English locales
Added version information to build.prop

1.5

Even faster!

1.4.1

Fixed Streetview
Restore Chinese IME
Fixed update script to not error if device is not wiped

1.4

Fixed FC in Messages app

1.3

Fixed broken WiFi in 1.2!

1.2

Huge changes based on new core from leaked update, see first post!

1.1

Fix for market issues

1.0

Initial Release

 

[Slug]

Thanks for posting, Paul. There's a lot of love for MCR here....

 

[paulobrien]

That's good to hear!

P

 

[enemi]

Running 2.5 MoDaCo core at the moment, and updating to this latest ROM would just be a case of plugging in phone, transferring 3.1 update onto SD card, boot into recovery and apply update?

Thanks for clarifying the matter.

And also appreciate effort put into the updates. (Y)

PS ~ No Wipe neccessary?

 

[G8D]

Getting some pretty bad FCs on this.
More or less a loop of FCs involving "system", "HTC Sense" and "Google <something>".
It happens mostly when mounting SD and browsing the Market. But it also happens spontaneously, and nearly prevented me waking up this morning

Reboot is required

 

[phillevy]

Getting some pretty bad FCs on this.
More or less a loop of FCs involving "system", "HTC Sense" and "Google <something>".
It happens mostly when mounting SD and browsing the Market. But it also happens spontaneously, and nearly prevented me waking up this morning

Reboot is required

No such problems here - wonderfully stable, fast and smooth

 

[jlukelv]

I just picked up the HTC Hero and all I hear from friends and forums is that I should "Root" my phone.

Can someone explain the benefit and should a novice like myself attempt it?

Thanks

 

[Xyro]

I was getting a force closure (Google Maps) when I put 3.0 on. I tried 3.1 in stead but that didn't help. Wiping it first then flashing fixed it for me though, prehaps you should try that.

 

[G8D]

I was getting a force closure (Google Maps) when I put 3.0 on. I tried 3.1 in stead but that didn't help. Wiping it first then flashing fixed it for me though, prehaps you should try that.

I'll consider it.
But I hate starting from scratch. I may try reinstalling the update.zip without wipe again, just to see.

 

[phillevy]

I'll consider it.
But I hate starting from scratch. I may try reinstalling the update.zip without wipe again, just to see.

If you do have to resort to a wipe then make sure you back up your apps/settings with the bundled Titanium backup - it should ease the process.