Install the latest and greatest on your HTC Hero

Before we start do a backup of your data! Better be save than sorry!

To update the GSM version of the HTC Hero (also known as T-Mobile G2) you first have to get the following:

1) flashrec - flashes the recovery partition to Android devices (works with Android 1.5, sources and development here), newest version by the time of writing: flashrec-1.1.3-20091107-2.apk
2) RA-hero Recovery ROM - important for nandroid backup, wipe and flash, actual version: RA-Hero-v1.6.2
3) New Radio-Firmware - for a better connection - newest version: 63.18.55.06OU_6.35.15.01
4) A custom ROM - like VillainROM, SenseHero (development here) or MoDaCoROM - there are more out there! ;)

Now we are copying this files to the root of the SD-Card on your HTC Hero. With a Filemanager capable of running .apk's (for example Linda File Manager) we install flashrec from our SD-Card. After that we run flashrec, make the recovery and then insert /sd-card/recovery-RA-hero-v1.6.2.img - now press the button below.

Turn of the mobile. When you restart the mobile first hold the Home-Button (and turn on the phone) and keep Home pressed until you are on the Recovery Screen. Here you should first make a nandroid backup, then flash the Radio. After that reboot it and start Android - see, if everything is still working ;)

When you restart into the recovery mode you should now make a wipe (also from dalvik cache) - this will delete all your personal data (except from SD-Card). Now flash the Custom ROM of your choice and reboot. This may take a while, so be patient! Now enjoy your new firmware! :)