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Avatar of David Cogen

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How To: Root Your Sprint HTC Hero

November 7, 2009 in Android How To's, Featured, How To's, HTC Sprint Hero How To's, Video

There is now a faster method to root using a new FlashRec app! Click here for the new procedure!

How To Root Your Sprint Hero in One Click!

!UPDATE 12.01.09: If you went to the above procedure and it did not work for you, please use the procedure below.

Finally there is root access for the Sprint Hero! Here is a quick How To for everyone.

Thanks Zinx (ZenThought.org)
Thanks Geoff!
Thanks XDA-Developers (as always!)!
Thanks JManley69 for brining the procedure from Sprint Community!
Thanks Sprint Community!

I. Before You Begin

You need to be able to access the phone via ADB.

Follow this procedure to get ADB setup on your Hero.
How To Setup ADB/Install USB Drivers

If you have Windows 7 you can follow this procedure if the above one does not work to setup ADB:
How To Setup ADB in Windows 7

II. Root the CDMA Hero

1. Download the following file and then unzip it.

AsRoot2

2. Take the unzipped file and save it into the Tools folder of your AndroidSDK.

3. Plug your phone in via USB and do NOT mount the SD card.

4. Open the Command Prompt and type the following (hitting enter at the end of every line):

cd\
cd AndroidSDK\Tools\
adb devices

And make sure your phone’s serial number pops up (if not redo section I).

5. Then type:

adb push asroot2 /data/local/
adb shell chmod 0755 /data/local/asroot2
adb shell
/data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh

6. Then type:

mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
cd /system/bin
cat sh > su
chmod 4775 su

All Done! You now have root access! Try to download a root program from the Market and see if it works :)

III. Flash a Custom Recovery Image (Optional. Only necessary for Flashing Custom ROMs)

1. After you have confirmed you have root access, you can flash a recovery image so you can flash custom ROMs.

2. Use this procedure to flash the Hero Recovery Image of your choice to the phone.

How To Flash a Recovery Image

!UPDATE 12.01.09 – Sprint Hero Users – Flash THIS recovery image in the above procedure

Post if it works! Thanks!

Reported Issues:

?

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242 responses to How To: Root Your Sprint HTC Hero

  1. anon said on November 7, 2009

    Very nice. Returned mine yesterday. I doubt root access will create the physical keyboard that I think I really wanted.

    But it is very nice, congratulations to all.

    Reply

  2. kerber said on November 7, 2009

    Tried it on my droid. The asroot2 does not work.

    $ /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    [1] Killed /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh

    Reply

    • Jdubs said on September 11, 2010

      I had this problem on HTC Hero w/ Android 2.1. It usually indicates that this particular exploit doesn’t work or has been patched.

      Reply

  3. Zach said on November 7, 2009

    Anybody try this on a moment yet?

    Reply

  4. @the_real_newman said on November 7, 2009

    question. I can get to:

    mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
    cd /system/bin
    cat sh > su
    chmod 4775 su

    when i get to the cat sh > su I get a prompt saying “cannot create su: read-only file system. Am i doing something wrong??

    Reply

  5. @the_real_newman said on November 7, 2009

    sorry i just saw the “post in forum disclaimer” doing it now.

    Reply

  6. Dank said on November 7, 2009

    Just successfully rooted my Sprint Hero and about to root my GF’s Hero… Thanks for the guide!!

    Reply

  7. Erik said on November 8, 2009

    rooted wi-fi tether does not work.

    Reply

  8. Mike said on November 8, 2009

    step 6 will not work on mine :( ((( i get this MSG ( /bin/smount: not found , please help

    Reply

  9. Erik said on November 8, 2009

    The issue is addressed here:

    http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/issues/detail?id=184

    Reply

  10. xStevenBradleyx said on November 8, 2009

    Tried on the Cliq but once you get to step 6, it keeps saying Operation not permitted. =\

    Reply

  11. PingPong said on November 8, 2009

    Boooo was hoping it would work on the Cliq! Still waiting patiently! :)

    Reply

  12. dev-null said on November 8, 2009

    Nice. Worked like a charm. Ive been trying to build a kern. mod for a few weeks and this will help a ton. I love linux.

    Reply

  13. UnknownProjects said on November 8, 2009

    Same thing as above has been said to be stated on the samsung moment, It would be nice if people with experience in rooting could figure out the problem with the moment/cliq…

    i am sure the moment should be easier because it is just a stock build of android with the cdma adjustments, i would really like my moment to be rooted but the xda-developers only swerve towards HTC devices sooo probably no luck from them…

    Reply

  14. Joe said on November 8, 2009

    For those of you getting the read only try using sdk 1.5 instead of 1.6

    Reply

  15. Mike said on November 8, 2009

    i did also used SDK1.5 but im still getting same erorr on step 6 :(

    Reply

  16. Durhamite said on November 8, 2009

    Is there a way to undo this if I needed to?

    Reply

    • TheUnlockr said on November 8, 2009

      Durhamite,

      There definitely is (considering the nature of the steps, you should be able to undo them by going backwards essentially), but I’ll do that procedure and video later in the week.

      Reply

  17. kbnguy said on November 8, 2009

    Thank you TheUnlockr.
    I’d definitely return my Sprint Hero now.
    Why?
    ’cause this sucker is rooted…haha. Be sure to look for Sense on XDA ported to Droid!
    Droid (better hardware, physical keyboard, Adroid 2.0 (today, now!)), here i come…

    Reply

  18. TOOTHPICK said on November 8, 2009

    So I did the root for the sprint HTC Hero and nothing at all I did the install for the USB drivers and got the serial number pop up with no problem so I did the rest of the steps and this is what I get.

    C:\Users\bob>cd\

    C:\>cd AndroidSDK\Tools\

    C:\AndroidSDK\tools>adb devices
    List of devices attached
    HT99GHF00595 device

    C:\AndroidSDK\tools>adb push asroot2 /data/local/
    320 KB/s (74512 bytes in 0.227s)

    C:\AndroidSDK\tools>adb shell chmod 0755 /data/local/asroot2

    C:\AndroidSDK\tools>adb shell
    $ /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    [+] Using newer pipe_inode_info layout
    Opening: /proc/2357/fd/3
    SUCCESS: Enjoy the shell.
    # mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
    mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
    # cd /system/bin
    cd /system/bin
    # cat sh > su
    cat sh > su
    # chmod 4775 su
    chmod 4775 su
    #

    does nothing at all am I missing something or what.

    thanks

    TOOTHPICK

    Reply

    • TheUnlockr said on November 9, 2009

      Toothpick,

      If you didnt get any errors, you have root access. Go download an app from the market that requires root to confirm that it worked.

      Reply

  19. mike said on November 8, 2009

    keep getting damn read only error i tried the 1.5 and 1.6 the same fucking thing. frustrating everyone esle shit works exept mine.

    Reply

  20. mike said on November 8, 2009

    i been waiting for weeks for this.

    Reply

  21. mike said on November 8, 2009

    listn to anyone having the read only error the problem is that u have to htc syn you phone i did it and i stop getting the error i have the htc sync program so what i made sure is that the phone was sync with the htc sync program and it should work like mine. if it does let me know.Thank U

    Reply

  22. acdc said on November 8, 2009

    Tried this on my HTC Eris (Verizon) using Android SDK 1.5R1. When I get to step 6:
    mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system

    I get the following error message:
    “mount: Operation not permitted”

    Anyone get this to work on the HTC Eris?

    Thanks

    Reply

  23. bill said on November 8, 2009

    my phone wont boot past the htc startup screen, any idea what to do so i can fix this?

    Reply

    • TheUnlockr said on November 9, 2009

      Bill,

      Describe your issue a little better in the tech support forums and well be glad to help, like how many of the steps did you complete, did you get any errors while going, etc.
      And this way we dont clog up the comments.

      Reply

  24. mnbgibbs said on November 8, 2009

    Works awsomely, Been trying everything and today has been the greatest day every. rooted 3 devices today. all successful and all htc hero sprint.
    Thank You again

    Reply

  25. MR Sidepart said on November 8, 2009

    Worked fantastically, and it wasn’t as hard or cloogy at all. I posted a story and link back to this site. http://www.germreviews.com/200911083/sprint-htc-hero-rooted-actually-really-easy

    I was following the xda thread last night, but I wasn’t brave enough to try anything yet.

    Reply

  26. Milhouse said on November 8, 2009

    Please help… Can’t get by this step, always says ‘Not Found’

    5. Then type:

    adb push asroot2 /data/local/
    adb shell chmod 0755 /data/local/asroot2
    adb shell
    /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh

    any hints????

    Reply

  27. Milhouse said on November 8, 2009

    the ‘not found’ always comes after I type the last line… /data/local/asroot2/system/bin/sh

    Reply

  28. Kevin said on November 8, 2009

    Trying this on the Eris… Cant locate serial on cmd. Uninstalled usb drivers.. when reconnecting, it just puts “HTC Android Phone USB Device” on. Not ADB Composite device.

    Any ideas?

    Reply

  29. Kevin said on November 8, 2009

    Fixed original issue… Didn’t have USB Debug on (idiot i know).

    However when doing “/data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh” i got:

    /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    /data/local/asroot2: permission denied

    Reply

  30. killabee44 said on November 8, 2009

    Guys,
    I am running XP with a Sprint Hero and it would not load up the ADB driver at all. I had to download it from the web and install it manually from device manager. But first, windows would not even ask for the adb driver unless I plugged in the usb cable to the phone, and selected HTC Sync. Only then would I see the listing in device manager with the yellow question mark telling you that there was an error loading the driver. I then loaded the driver I found at this site:

    http://www.anddev.org/debugging-installing_apps_on_the_g1_windows_driver-t3236.html

    Good luck.

    Reply

  31. Angel said on November 8, 2009

    Is there a way to root my Hero on a mac computer?

    Reply

  32. sheldon said on November 9, 2009

    after i have uninstalled the htc drivers, and then plug it back in everything downloads except the ADB. will you please help with this?

    Reply

  33. vic said on November 9, 2009

    imm stuck at step 5 it keeps saying
    $ /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh not found
    what am i doing wrong ive tried both version 1.5 and 1.6 can some one plsss help thanks in advance

    Reply

  34. TOOTHPICK said on November 9, 2009

    I did download lots of apps from the market that needed root to use them and every time I try to install one it says you need root to use.

    Reply

  35. moxi said on November 9, 2009

    will not work on the cliq. doesn’t allow anything after step 6. bummer. i don’t think the cliq will ever be rooted. it’s being overshadowed very quickly :(

    Reply

  36. nathan said on November 9, 2009

    ive been trying to root a t-mobile hero in the uk for a few days now and nothing is happening its just not lettin me root will following this guide root my hero

    Reply

  37. TOOTHPICK said on November 9, 2009

    I worked for me now I guess forget all I said about it not working it does not I just restarted my phone 3 times and now it works

    Reply

  38. Blindsense said on November 10, 2009

    Not only did the root work for my Sprint Hero. I was able to teather as a wireless access point. GREAT! Now when 2.0 comes out with sense Im sure that Sprint will somehow disable it :-)

    Reply

    • TheUnlockr said on November 10, 2009

      Blindsense,

      Doesnt matter if they do :) Once we have this and have the RUU to downgrade you to 1.6 again you can do this process and then use a custom ROM with 2.0 instead of the official one. All the benefits and still have root :)

      Reply

  39. thecatbywas said on November 10, 2009

    noobie question: Will rooting the HERO delete the Sense UI?

    Reply

    • TheUnlockr said on November 11, 2009

      Thecatbywas,

      No way :) Why would we ever get rid of Sense UI :)
      All rooting does is give you full permission in the phone, this allows you to do things that the phone didnt let you do before (like Wifi Tether) and that is it. Doesn’t remove anything.

      Good luck!

      Reply

  40. mike said on November 10, 2009

    Does not work on the ERIS :( is there anouther way to do it?

    Reply

  41. Moshe said on November 10, 2009

    i have got verizon’s HTC Eris with Android 1.5.
    i have followed the steps and i am getting the following massage in step 6:

    $ mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
    mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
    mount: Operation not permitted

    am i missing something?

    Reply

    • TheUnlockr said on November 11, 2009

      Moshe,

      This process may not work for the Eris, we are having everyone with an Eris try it though and post their error, just like you did :)
      Can you check something? Is the Eris running Android 1.6 or 1.5? Goto Settings then About phone and look and let us know.

      Reply

  42. Zinx said on November 10, 2009

    Hey, glad to see you’re getting use out of the asroot2 program that I ported to Android from Ingo Molnar’s exploit.
    The original (non-mirror, but it’s identical to your mirrored versions) is at http://zenthought.org/tmp/asroot2 and is available as part of “FlashRec”, and the source is available in the “flashrec” project on Google Code.

    Reply

    • TheUnlockr said on November 11, 2009

      Hey again Zinx!

      I was wondering who was behind this program. I will put the link to your site instead of the mirror we have, thanks for letting me know.
      Hey and if you have any other programs come out send me an email using the Contact Us Send Us Tips form on this site so I can post them with credit to you in the first place :)

      Actually working on a new section of the site, would you mind sending me an email using the Contact Us form ASAP, I would like to talk to you about it.

      Reply

  43. Moshe said on November 10, 2009

    i am trying to follow the process on the HTC Eris device.
    why am i getting this massage:

    $ /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    [1] Killed /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    $

    Reply

  44. TOOTHPICK said on November 10, 2009

    I used SDK 1.5 and 1.6 in the dame file folder because it would not work before with just 1.5.
    My brother just got an HTC HERO also and was able to root it right away so now I will do the same to my wifes phone so she has root also.

    Thanks for all the help keep up the good work

    TOOTHPICK

    Reply

  45. Kyle Peters said on November 11, 2009

    Is there any way to accomplish this using a Mac?

    Reply

  46. mike said on November 11, 2009

    The exploite has been patched for the eris so this will not work. We are stuck untill a new exploite is found.

    Reply

  47. thecatbywas said on November 11, 2009

    Unlockr…

    Sweet! And it worked like a charm! Having fun exploring & learning from you guys… I’m officially a fan. Thnx.

    Reply

  48. thecatbywas said on November 11, 2009

    Yeah… I spoke too soon…

    Wasn’t able to use apps that require root.

    When I went back through the process, I get similar errors as reported earlier:

    c:\androidSDK\tools\adb shell
    $ /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    /data/local/asroot2 /system/bin/sh
    /data/local/asroot2: permission denied

    I am using SDK 1.5… the debugging toggle is on.

    Thoughts?

    Reply

    • roger said on July 29, 2010

      im getting the same thing and im getting that its not read able im running 2.1 on my cellular south htc hero

      Reply

  49. Wes said on November 11, 2009

    I was wondering have you tried this method. I seen that you have made 2 prior videos with the GSM Hero and the myTouch.

    http://zenthought.org/content/project/flashrec

    Reply

  50. Moshe said on November 11, 2009

    TheUnlockr,

    The ERIS is running Android version 1.5.

    Reply
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