There is a new improved method for this procedure; How To Root Your HTC Hero in One Click!
Already got your new HTC Hero? Ready to get started unlocking its full potential soon as you slide it out of the box? Us too 
Here is how to Root the HTC Hero so we can use Wifi Tether, Move Cache to SD card (to stop the issue of the phone slowing down after using it for a while), and load some custom ROMS!
1. Download these 4 files:
Android SDK
Fastboot (scroll to Fastboot tool and download the appropriate one for you computer’s OS)
CM-Hero-Recovery.img
Superuser.zip
2. Once you download the SDK, extract the SDK files to “C:\AndroidSDK”. Then extract the fastboot program to the C:\AndroidSDK\tools\ folder.
3. Extract the CM-Hero-Recovery.img.zip contents into the Tools folder in the AndroidSDK folder on your computer.
4. Extract the Superuser.zip contents into the Tools folder in the AndroidSDK folder on your computer.
5. Turn off the phone, then turn it back on by holding down the Power and Back button (to enter bootloader mode).
6. Plug the phone into the computer via USB. Make sure that it says FASTBOOT USB instead of FASTBOOT now.
7. Your computer should say installing drivers right now (if this is the first time you have connected the phone in fastboot mode). Hopefully your computer will automatically install them, but if it doesn’t then use this guide from Google to install the drivers.
8. Goto the Start menu type cmd into the run section of the start menu and hit enter to bring up the Command Prompt.
9. Type the following into the command dos prompt on the computer (the black screen with white letters that just opened) while the phone is connected through USB, hitting enter at the end of the line:
cd\
cd androidsdk\tools\
fastboot devices
10. You should see a serial number pop up and the word fastboot to the right of it. This means that your USB drviers are all set up correctly and you can continue. If you do NOT see this, then you need to start over or Google for how to set up the USB drivers correctly (this will help).
11. If the serial number and the word fastboot next to it popped up, then go back to the command prompt on the computer and type
fastboot boot cm-hero-recovery.img
12. Once the phone boots up into the recovery screen type the following in the command prompt on the computer:
adb shell mount /system
adb push su /system/bin/
adb shell chmod 4755 /system/bin/su
adb push Superuser.apk /system/app/
adb shell reboot
13. Once the phone reboots, click the Menu button and click Settings.
14. Goto Applications > Development and check the USB debugging on.
15. While the phone is still plugged in, goto the Command Prompt still up on your computer and type:
adb devices
You should see a serial number, which means the computer is seeing the device.
16. Then type:
adb shell
su
The phone should pop up an su request. Click Always Allow on the phone.
17. Type:
reboot
18. Phone should reboot and you now have Root Access! Try downloading a program that needs root access and see if it works to test it out.
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August 8th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Mannn i want one
August 8th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
i cant download the superuser.zip file from forum.xda-developers.com i have even signup and still to access granted to download
August 9th, 2009 at 1:38 am
tell me where i can get that pphone rite Now . and will it run on t mobile.. thanks
August 9th, 2009 at 6:41 am
When i was rooting, i did not get the daemon started successfully part in the CMD… But i just went ahead with all the steps and finished the process.. Can u tell me how to check and see if everything is fine..
August 9th, 2009 at 7:58 am
hello!
then i give the “adb shell mount \system”
nothing is hapaning….
August 9th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
hello!
when i tipe adb shell mount /system
i dont get any respons….
any 1 know why?
August 9th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
You can get it off ebay.. but man 650 for a phone that you cant use on 3g http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-HTC-HERO-UNLOCKED-ANDROID-GSM-CELL-PHONE-T-MOBILE_W0QQitemZ130323840372QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCell_Phones?hash=item1e57e7fd74&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
August 9th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
So, does rooting restore the phone to factory default, or will it leave all settings and apps as is?
August 10th, 2009 at 3:05 am
The rooting Process doesn’t but you will have to wipe it to load a ROM (roms are basically the phones interface their os) so eventually yes it will be back to factory but their is a app you can use for backing up* apps to your sd card so you wont have to download them again its called appmanager some will be protected but most of them wont and your purchased ones will be saved in the my downloads section you just have to re-download them if they were protected.
August 10th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
just curious, can I run this rom on my G1 to have the actual HERO
August 11th, 2009 at 5:18 am
what was the application from android market he opened at the very end of the video to put cache on sd??
August 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
The Android SDK does not seem to include fastboot on OSX. It can, however, be downloaded from http://www.htc.com/www/support/android/adp.html
Using that and the instructions here I just successfully rooted my Scandinavian Hero, wooooooo
August 13th, 2009 at 4:22 am
Will this work on my rebranded T-Mobile UK HTC Hero? It’s called the G2 Touch. http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/phones/pay-monthly/t-mobile/g2-touch/overview/
August 13th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Hello PansySam,
Yes it should no problem.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
bilal, turn up your speakerss… its called move cache to sd* ahahah
August 16th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
When I finish the process and type su I get a “su request” window opened on my device but it’s blank and no buttons like your to choose “always allow” from.
Any ideas?
August 16th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
nm, solved
just needed to kill su request process, turn on the debug mode again and worked like a charm 
August 18th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Can you explain how you do it in a mac? This tutorial is for windowze users and we macs are always left out….
August 18th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I get a error while try to execute adb shell mount /system -> error: device not found
August 18th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hello Michael,
Type
adb devices
Then if no serial number comes up when it says list of devices attached, means you did not install the ADB drivers correctly. You can see how to do this in the beginning of the How To Root you Magic video (the first 4 minutes or so).
August 19th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Hi
I got to the ‘adb shell mount /system’ stage when I got this line in my cmd window ‘mounting /dev/block/mtdblock3 on system failed: Device or resource busy’
Will someone please let me know how to progress from here?
Thanks!
August 19th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Hello Jake,
Make sure you did not mount the memory card and make sure that your screen on your phone shows the recovery image (black background bright writing talking about Apply Update, Wipe Data, etc.).
August 19th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Hi
Thanks for your reply. My memory card isn’t mounted but I do have the correct background (as you mentioned above) but I still get the same message.
Thanks!
August 19th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
I did this before i started -> Goto Applications > Development and check the USB debugging on.
And it worked
August 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hi
I’m keen to root my UK T-Mob G2 Touch, but before I do are thare any downsides to it?
Also, if I do root it will I be able to receive the update thats due soon (See SlashGear.com).
Cheers
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:49 am
At step 20 when i type su after the $ sign i get this error:
su= permission denied.
What did i do wrong?
Can somebody please help me?
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
i had the same problem smooth :S
August 24th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Hi
Firstly thanks to TheUnlockr for taking the time to make the tutorial – sadly after following your instructions implicitly I have two issues:
First issue – when I reach the command:
adb shell mount \system
nothing happens regardless of whether usb debugging is enabled or not –
Second issue:
At the beginning of the video you attach the Hero – but further on you must have detached it (at what stage did you do this?) – I assume this because towards the end of the video you say to re-attach.
What you achieved in 8 mins – I have been unable to do in excess of 14 hours.
Two other things I noticed – our phones are identical spec –
but when I use the fastboot devices command my number is different than yours (is this relevant?)
May I respectfully request your help and expertise in resolving my issues
Regards
ajb AT gmx.com
August 24th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
thanks for the guide, worked great!!
August 24th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Hello Anthony John,
While I would love to help, I simply can’t have any idea what you did different than what I did unless I sat and watched you do the whole process…
I can answer a few questions for you that you asked and the rest I would recommend Googling the error you got (this is how I do most of my videos, I take the original procedure and then any snags I run into I google them and put my findings in the procedure I put up here in the hopes that others won’t have to do them, but sometimes things happen to people that never happened to me, and like I said I can’t tell the difference short of standing over you).
I can guess though that the ADB shell command you entered is not working because you do not have the ADB drivers installed correctly. Use the program USBDeview (free on Google) and while the phone is plugged in open the program with admin rights and uninstall all the drivers that say HTC on them. Close the program, unplug and replug the phone back in (windows should automatically try to reinstall). Click on the drivers being installed bubble and watch them to see if ADB Device is one of the ones installed. IF it gets installed this time then try the procedure again and you should be good to go.
Second, for that same issue. The phone must be booted into recovery mode (the black background with all the writing) and plugged in via USB while you are typing those commands on the computer.
As for reattaching, just follow the written procedure (the video is a visual aid to that) and if it doesn’t say unplug in the written procedure, then don’t unplug and visa versa.
As for the serial number, that is specific to each phone, so it should be different than mine, no worries
GOOD LUCK!
August 24th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
when you do a root on HTC Hero, can you go back to the factory default? or have you need a HTC hero image backup on your SD card to go back?
August 25th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Will this work on windows 7 or just XP?
August 25th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Hello Mittu1,
It will work on any Windows Build. I used Windows 7 to do it…
August 26th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Hi again
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply – it was/is greatly appreciated-
I did as you advised:
I D/L usbdeview – it solved the problem – daemon loaded!!!! as I expected YOU WERE RIGHT (no real surprise there then!)
From there on in – I thought it was going to be plain sailing
(actually it was) – I managed to load as far as:
superuser.apk
I also did the “adb shell reboot” as well as the:
adb devices command –
My chin hit the desktop!
I had reached the command:
“adb shell” (upon hitting enter)
**I got the # symbol NOT the $ as you did**
I have NO IDEA why!!!
Once again I respectfully request your help to help me resolve this thus saving my sanity (as well as my marriage)!
As before a sincere thank you for all your help and advice as well as your time and expertise
I wait your reply
Regards…
August 26th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hello Anthony John,
Thanks!
No troubles, you are all set. Reboot the phone then try to goto the market and download say Move Cache for Root Users and run it (should pop up with a SU Request or should just run). If that works, then you know you’re rooted 
The # should mean you have root access
August 27th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Hi
I would like to take the time to offer my sincere thanks for ALL your help and obvious expertise.
I am pleased to announce that my phone is finally ROOTED – **I could not have done it without your help**.
=
These may be some silly questions (if so apologies!)
1.If I was to install the original orange(my service provider) ROM – would that cause me to lose my root privileges?
2.Is it possible to make my Hero dual boot so that I can boot into either the standard Hero ROM or boot into a custom ROM?
3.Do you know of any PC app’s that I can install onto my pc(obviously) that will let me browse/write to the ROOT of my phone so that I can change the sounds – wallpapers etc?
Last silly question (promise)
4.SEE ABOVE – if there is no app available – how do I add/remove wallpapers sounds fonts and the like?
In conclusion:
You are an all round good guy – that doesn’t receive the thanks that you so rightly deserve:
NOTE TO EVERYONE
If this guy’s tutorials have helped you root your phone – have the decency to thank him.
cheers!
August 28th, 2009 at 9:37 am
thanks for your great job.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Hello BarcOllO,
Thanks! I appreciate it!
Subscribe to my twitter, I hope to get a lot more stuff up on the site ASAP.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Thank you for helping me Root my Hero, twice I tried it to work.When it didn’t work,I read what I wrote in the command line and checked with your discription and I have missed a whole line to write on my dos command and I redone it again. It works.I am very grateful for your discription.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
If I have to reset my phone which set’s my phone back to how it was when I first got it, will I have to repeat the process above or will it stay rooted regardless?
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
hello
I m going crazy and not to do….
after putting:
tools/adb shell mount/system—- >enter
/sbin/sh: mount/system: not found
and you
* daemon not running. starting in now*
*daemon started succefully*
happens? I must do to correct it?
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Hello Arthur and ANYONE TRYING TO DO THIS PROCEDURE!
YOU ARE DOING THE WRONG PROCEDURE… READ THE BOLD WRITING AT THE TOP OF THE POST AND USE THE PROCEDURES LINKED THERE INSTEAD.
They are much easier and faster.
Good luck!
September 5th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Permission denied ?????? Please help me
(((((
September 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Hello HTC Hero,
Read the bold writing at the top of the post….
September 6th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hello.
I use this tutorial to get a root acces.
Thanks you, i dont need install Modaco Rom.
Please, can you macke tutorial or tell me how I can du apps to sd now ?
September 13th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Much appreciated – Many thanks.
Took me a few mins to realise on my PC setup I had to put the full directory path in to the commands to push some of the files up, but all done and tethered now!
September 15th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Does this work in the new Hero rom?
September 15th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Hello Chrono,
Please read the bold writing at the top of the post. This method is obsolete, but there are links in the bold writing to the new method and that will work on the new Hero ROM no problem.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Hi Chrono,
I have just rooted the new HTC ROM (first updated with htc site update):
- Backup your stuff
- Install the HTC provided update
- Apply the One-Click method
- Reboot by means of Home+Poweron
- Do *this* howto, without the fastboot part (so skip steps 5+6+7)
That will root the new rom..
Marijn
October 18th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I have tried in vain to get my Hero G2 Touch to have access to ROOT, I previously had this until my G2 firmware was upgraded from t-mobile.
When I get to the staged of entering FASTBOOT BOOT …..
The result I get is download ‘boot.img’… (remote: not allow).
I Cannot get any further, please could you provide in laymans terms a step to step guide on how to get rid of this restriction, I have checked the USB debugging is switched on and all the drivers on my laptop are current and OK…..
Below is a list of the Boot Screen, which I hope help.
HERO CVT SHIP S-ON
HBOOT-1.76.0007 (HERO10000)
MICROP-010f
TOUCH PANNEL-SYN0104
RADIO-6.35.07.08
Aug 4 2009,19:43:30
FASTBOOT USB
please can you help as I and many others as I noticed are having the same problem, could you post a reply here to clear things up.. Cheers
October 19th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Hello Rob,
You are using the wrong procedure is why
Says OBSOLETE in the title.
Just did a new post for how to root the Hero when fastboot is not allowed. Called How To Downgrade The HTC Hero (So we can root it). Look for it and you can do that procedure to get it done. Good luck!
October 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Hello,
I have a Hero locked to Orange, Do I need to root the phone and then install ROM 2.73.405.5. To unlock it ?
Thanks
Steve
October 30th, 2009 at 11:06 am
SDPurr,
This is the wrong procedure (it says OBSOLETE in the title and there is bold writing at the top of the post explaining why).
Is your Hero on firmware (check in the about screen) 2.73.x.x or above? If so goto the How To Downgrade the Hero So It Can Be Rooted Procedure, if it is below 2.73.x.x then just go straight to the How To Root in One Click procedure.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I have a G1 and white work on my vista premium pc n I would like to root my mobile and even build – an issue my G1 is DRC92.
And yet everything I drive into terminal emulator I get permission denied. Why?
what’s wrong??
Please help me.
thanks
November 26th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Wensterretje,
Why are you doing in the How to Gain Root Access on the HTC Hero? Please goto the How To Root the Mytouch/G1 procedure and make sure to read the before you begin… good luck!
March 11th, 2010 at 5:12 am