Database Info

How to Root Non-Sprint (Cellular South, Bluegrass Cellular, etc) CDMA Hero

Update (October 7, 2010)
Use ngholson's guide to root: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=581869&page=53#post8358998
Posts in the first 40 or so pages of this thread are old old old. Try browsing through the last 10 or so pages if you have any problems.
I may put a guide for using an App to root in this first post, but I don't have time right now.
OLD OLD OLD Manual Root:
This will still work, but ngholson's guide is a lot easier and you should definitely try it first.
NOTICE / WARNING / READ THESE:
1. I give no guarantees for anything that may or may not result from following these instructions (or any mistakes made).
2. Doing this will probably void your warranty, BUT as long as you don't run some other carrier's RUU (not talking about ROMs here, talking about the official upgrade files. what's important is that your hboot version doesn't change) you can always just flash your carrier's RUU to go back to unrooted completely stock.
Known issues:
NONE! This is a clean procedure that leaves your current rom as is. Any issues you have will be related to whatever ROMs you choose to flash or additional packages you choose to flash to your current rom
Steps:
1. Upgrade to 2.1
We know this works with the initial 2.1 updates, but later updates may patch it. If you have installed additional updates from your carrier, you may have to flash the original RUU to be able to root.
2. Download and extract the Android SDK
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
You really only need this for the adb binary. If anyone can suggest a better way to get it than downloading the entire SDK, let me know.
3. Download and install HTC Sync
Some carriers have specific versions of HTC Sync (I know Cellular South does).
You could also just install the adb drivers.
4. Download the hack and extract it to your SDK tools directory. (or wherever you have adb)
It's attached to this post.
5. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone
Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging
6. Plug your phone in USB
7. Run the script
For Windows this is runindos.bat. You should be able to just double click it.
That's it. This will flash the Darch version of AmonRA's recovery.
8. BACKUP
At this point you should probably backup your current stock rom (see Recovery guide below) and backup your PRL. (navalynt has good instructions on this in his root guide).
Now you can flash a custom rom or just flash the provided su.zip (see Recovery guide below) for Superuser Permissions (root) within your current rom.
Recovery
Recovery is where you can backup, restore, and flash ROMs or additional app zips.
To enter Recovery mode on your phone, power the phone off. Then hold home and press the power button. Keep holding home until you get the recovery screen.
You'll see several options, but the first thing you'll want to use is Backup.I've always used the nandroid option, not sure of the differences between it and bart. Backing up does exactly what you'd expect: copies your current ROM to your sd card. It doesn't change anything on the phone. It does take a few minutes so be patient.
Most roms will suggest you wipe first, and there is a menu option for that in recovery also. Just choose wipe, then factory reset. This does nothing to your sd card and only wipes application data (app installed from the market, settings for any app, etc).
After you've backed up, Recovery is also where you flash new ROMs or additions to your current ROM. It's easiest to pick a rom you want on your pc, and transfer it to your phone over usb. you can either do this the normal way, or if you're already in recovery, there is a USB-MS option you can use. Some Recoveries require flashable zips to be in the root of your sd card (not in any directory). After the ZIP is on your sd card, choose "install zip from sdcard" and pick the zip of the ROM you want. That's it. After it's done flashing, reboot your phone. If you wiped and flashed a full ROM, the first will take several minutes.
If you flash a ROM and either get stuck in a boot loop or just don't like it, go back into recovery under the Backup option and choose nandroid restore. Pick the option you get (it's a directory named with your phone's serial number) and you'll see a list of backups named with the date/time they were created. Choose which one you want to restore, wait a few minutes, then reboot and you'll be back to exactly where you were.

I've learned that the exploit used on the Sprint Hero doesn't work on the CS Hero because it uses mmap_min_addr. This means that exploits which rely on a null pointer dereference (like the Sprint exploit) won't work.
So here's what I think I need:
1) I'll be watching bugtraq, etc... for non null pointer dereference local kernel vulnerabilities. (I don't think I know 100% what that means yet.)
2) I also need to learn how to know if a vulnerability is applicable. Like this one http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36834 . I don't even know really where to begin to see if I can use that.
3) Once I've found a vulnerability, how do I exploit it? I realize there will probably be proof of concept for the exploit, but how will I turn that into something that executes a specified command like asroot2 does. Is the source available for asroot2?
4) I wonder if I need to bother figuring out if the source used to build the kernel for CS is different from Sprint. Is a change in config.gz enough to legally require HTC to provide me with source specific to the CS version?

Keep up the good work
I know there aren't many of us, but I'm really hoping to root my hero sometime soon. I wish I could help but I picked my engineering field because it didn't require learning any computer languages haha

cdiamond333 said:
I know there aren't many of us, but I'm really hoping to root my hero sometime soon. I wish I could help but I picked my engineering field because it didn't require learning any computer languages haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to see at least one person interested enough to join XDA!
Though I'm afraid we're going to end up waiting until someone roots the Droid and/or Droid Eris and hope that works for us as well.
Can anyone give us an idea about where to find the RUU specific to Cellular South? Do those come from HTC, the carrier, or do they just "magically" make their way to the net from whoever happens to have access to them?

Really Like To See a Root
I would also like to see some success to this post as well... I have been with cellular south for years and this is the best phone they have produced! It only needs root access! Im a computer engineer a Miss. State, and I would love to see what I could do with this phone.
Maybe I could find an exploit... but it might take me longer to find it seeing that I am still in the beginning stages of my discipline.
But all I wanted to say is: LETS GET THIS ROOT!!

Root cellular south hero
I agree I have the htc hero from cellular south and would like to share the internet with my computer but cant tether unless phone is rooted

Hey guys!
I, too, am a CellSouth Hero haver... and I'm searching high and low for the procedure as well! I'll be checking back here and also searching round and posting anything I find.
If anyone gets an update, please email me at [email protected]

Help
I too own a CS hero and i am looking all over the net for a way to root this phone. if a way can be found will any roms work on it or will new CS specific roms have to be developed. If that is the case then i am afraid we CS users won't gain access to this for awhile as the customer base is quite small compared to sprint

OBSt4l0n said:
I too own a CS hero and i am looking all over the net for a way to root this phone. if a way can be found will any roms work on it or will new CS specific roms have to be developed. If that is the case then i am afraid we CS users won't gain access to this for awhile as the customer base is quite small compared to sprint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I've been surprised by the response to this thread, so hopefully there is more interest specific to CS than we may realize.
Ideally, ROMs made with Sprint Hero in mind will work on the CS Hero. I haven't put much effort into it without having root access yet, but when I get a chance I'm going to take the time to compare things like the radio image, etc and see just how much they differ from one to the other. If nothing else, hopefully we can replace the different pieces in the custom ROMs and be able to use them.
I will update this thread with what I find, and hopefully others will contribute as well.

??
Any news??

MrDanger said:
Any news??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, right? Seriously, is anyone out there?
i have posted treads at various sites, and they all get buried fairly quickly.
Would love to solve this issue... surely someone out there would find this to be a challenge worth taking up...
i hope.
Oh, and happy thanksgiving...

markachee message
Check Ur profile for a message that I left u.

It's just going to be a waiting game.
First someone has to find an exploit, most likely in the Linux kernel. This doesn't have to be something specific to our phone. It's more likely that it will be a generic thing that will work for us, Droid, and Droid Eris (as well as Linux in general).
It's not likely I'd be able to discover one of these exploits, so I'm watching for exploits coming out (bugtraq, etc) that might work for us. There really hasn't been anything at all since the pipe.c vulnerability that worked for the Sprint Hero.

Really one thing we need that we should be able to get now is an RUU specific to Cellular South's Hero. From what I understand, an RUU lets you reset your phone to a factory/updated image in the event something goes wrong. It wouldn't directly help us get root, but it would be a "safety net" for those of us screwing with our phones trying to get root.
Anything you guys could help dig up on where/how to find it would be awesome.

This looks promising. At least have some people in this thread that know enough to be able to compile for the phone:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5034122
Also, realized I never mentioned I was looking at the "enlightenment" exploit set from http://www.grsecurity.com/~spender/

Just chiming in, had my Cell South hero for about a month and have been following this thread with the hope of seeing our phones rooted. I am a technician/admin with some coding and linux experience, but I am unfamiliar with rooting cellphones. anything I can do to help let me know.

tether
you can usb tether useing pda net from the market without root

I have seen pda net, i'm not interested in just tethering but thank you.

mine comes in tuesday

markachee said:
This looks promising. At least have some people in this thread that know enough to be able to compile for the phone:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5034122
Also, realized I never mentioned I was looking at the "enlightenment" exploit set from http://www.grsecurity.com/~spender/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the compiled programs within that exploit

[Q] Backup->Update->Restore

Hi,
I have searched in the forums but i couldnt find any solution to my problem.
My phone is a LG Optimus 7 unbranded on mango.
I want to backup my phone, update it to the latest rom with tethering enabled and after that i want to restore from backup.
How can i do that?
Thanks in advance!

There is no tool that can do that right now. The backup only happens when a new updates come in and Zune does that. It cannot be done manually.

Thanks for the fast answer!
So do i have to wait for the tethering update to appear in Zune or do i have to flash another firmware?

xtrcentral said:
Thanks for the fast answer!
So do i have to wait for the tethering update to appear in Zune or do i have to flash another firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only Zune will be able to do it. So I guess unless they do you have no choice. And No Firmware can enable it.

wpxbox is actually incorrect, there is a tool to create an image-based backup (like Zune does when updating) on demand. Search the Development and Hacking sub-forum, and you can find it. Note that it requires a program, updatewp.exe, that was once distributed by Microsoft and no longer is, so you'll need to find a copy of it (and the version for that copy must exactly match your Zune version).
However, what you're asking for isn't actually useful anyhow, unless you want to install the update and then immediately remove it. A WP7 backup is really more properly called a restore point - it's a full image of the phone's entire storage, including the parts that are normally read-only (the ROM). Restoring that image overwrites everything, including the ROM. Updates are modifications to the ROM, and restoring a backup will therefore remove the update.

That cleared the things... Thanks.

Thanks for correcting me. Apprciate that.
Yes there is a tool which you can find here but to make it work you need to use Old version of Zune and replace couple of DLL.
I personally have tried it but for some reason it did not work for and hence I was not recommending it. But thats me.
Go ahead and give it a shot to see if it works for you. If yes let me know how you did.
--wpxbox
GoodDayToDie said:
wpxbox is actually incorrect, there is a tool to create an image-based backup (like Zune does when updating) on demand. Search the Development and Hacking sub-forum, and you can find it. Note that it requires a program, updatewp.exe, that was once distributed by Microsoft and no longer is, so you'll need to find a copy of it (and the version for that copy must exactly match your Zune version).
However, what you're asking for isn't actually useful anyhow, unless you want to install the update and then immediately remove it. A WP7 backup is really more properly called a restore point - it's a full image of the phone's entire storage, including the parts that are normally read-only (the ROM). Restoring that image overwrites everything, including the ROM. Updates are modifications to the ROM, and restoring a backup will therefore remove the update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks for providing the direct link. I was able to get it working, although it took a lot of work to find matching versions of the tool installer (v1, not v2) and Zune software. It's possible, though. Take a look at the Backup header in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1271963. It has instructions and links that you may be able to use to make the tool work.

Hi,
I finally poured in one complete day figuring out what was in that thread and made it work. I have written my version of making it work here
And Have also created a Video Demo as a Proof that How I made it work. Any feedback is appreciated.
The video is like 11:28 Minutes long. Where I have :
First showed what is my phone
Then created a Backup
Showed where the backup is actually stored i.e. Zune Default restore point
Reset my Phone
Used the Backup to bring it normal state.

Google Android 4.0.4

I was just on the Google Code website and noticed there's a Nexus S ICS 4.0.4 download. After I downloaded a program that reads TGZ format, I saw there is 4 or 5 img files for the bootloader, system and so on.
My question is, if I copied the zip file as it was will this be recognized by the handset and install as expected or will it just screw things up. The reason I ask is, the previous versions I installed were not like this.
Also I noticed there is some Linux shell files which obviously aren't intended for Windows.
Any helpful feedback would be good and reassuring.

OK I think after a little investigation, it seems this only the hardware binaries and not the actual complete android system. Unless somebody can tell me otherwise.

A quick look through the general nexus s forum would tell you what u want to know.

Hmmm......
So in order to ask a question, I have to check whether somebody asked the same one on my behalf.
Granted but I did do a quick check and never seen nothing jumping out at me. So is there any need to be patronising? As it happens I answered my own question. Just because I have less than 10 posts doesn't automatically make me a numpty.

I was not patronizing.
Being that you noticed the page on google code and are here on xda its just frankly common sense to not search but just look at the general forum
I told you where to get the answers man. There is no logical reason to explain it when it was all explained already this weekend on the same forum.
Patronizing by directing you towards all the info you need. Can't make this up.

interpolate said:
I was just on the Google Code website and noticed there's a Nexus S ICS 4.0.4 download. After I downloaded a program that reads TGZ format, I saw there is 4 or 5 img files for the bootloader, system and so on.
My question is, if I copied the zip file as it was will this be recognized by the handset and install as expected or will it just screw things up. The reason I ask is, the previous versions I installed were not like this.
Also I noticed there is some Linux shell files which obviously aren't intended for Windows.
Any helpful feedback would be good and reassuring.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/0...ady-to-flash-appears-to-be-the-final-version/
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA

Whether or not you were condescending to me or not isn't a concern of mine. Anyway I have the GSM model as I live in the UK. Just need to check near the end of the month I guess.

Just flash these files on bootloader (while phone is connected to PC and its driver is installed and adb is running in cmd)
Fastboot (--blah,blah.....)

Hmmm...
I need to reinstall of those files. As I recently formatted my main drive. Still have hundreds of things to reinstate.

Broke my New phone Installing Gapps??

I just bought a Chinese phablet and was excited about the good deal I got for $250. The phone (Ginwave G503) arrived on Monday and I was disappointed to learn that the retailer did not install google apps as they do for some of their chinese phones. I figured I would just look around the internet and just install them myself. This proved to be much harder than I thought. I came across a German forum for Chinese phones and installed the google apps package that one user had uploaded to my system/app/ folder and it didn't work. I was told in the forum that It might not fork because I used some old files for Android 2.3. So they pointed me to a thread with a newer version and I deleted everything I had copied into the system/app/ folder and then replaced them with the new files. Then even less worked. My phone didn't ring anymore, sound didnt work, and the play store wouldn't even start at all anymore (it gave me a download manager stopped error or something like that). So then I figured out that those files were probably for Android 4.1 and my phone has Android 4.0.4. So then I found a package on rootzwiki for 4.0.4. I again deleted all the stuff i had put in the system/app/ folder and did a factory reset.
When I restarted the phone I was not able to install my ES File Explorer from my SD Card again. When I click on it it asked me if I want to install to phone or SD card, no matter what i select it says "X Application not installed". So I went into the chinese app store that was on the phone (called 360 followed by some chinese symbols) and actually found ES File Explorer on there. But when I tried to install it from ther, it downloaded and then gave me the same error. No matter what apps I try to install, I get this error now. What can I do? Did I break my phone?

If I did end up breaking the Rom and can't find a replacement rom for this phone online is there like a universal android version that can be installed on any phone? Would there be any way I could somehow play a new Android on my phone without having to know how to program something

Wow.. This forum is extraordinarily worthless

u should think before bought a phone/tablet from china,dude...

agstwn21 said:
u should think before bought a phone/tablet from china,dude...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At this point, it's not where he bought it from, it's what he did to it. Sorry to say OP, but you're very far up ****'s creek.
If you can't get ahold of the factory ROM and no one has made an aftermarket ROM for your device, you're going to have to learn to compile yourself. I wouldn't advise you do that, however. Based on your original post, you don't do any research before mindlessly flashing any old thing from the internet to your device.
If I'm coming off as a ****, that's because you want to call xda worthless when you clearly have your head up your ass. Someone might've tried helping you before you insulted the forums.
The only thing I can suggest now is using recovery mode to factory reset your device. This might only work if you still have your factory recovery; you never mentioned that you flashed a new one and I can't imagine you flashed anything to your phone without a custom one... But again, reading your OP it sounds like you just flash things all willy-nilly.
BTW, your device didn't have gapps because it's probably not approved by Google to access the play store. No access to play store = no gapps.

stefan0325 said:
I just bought a Chinese phablet and was excited about the good deal I got for $250. The phone (Ginwave G503) arrived on Monday and I was disappointed to learn that the retailer did not install google apps as they do for some of their chinese phones. I figured I would just look around the internet and just install them myself. This proved to be much harder than I thought. I came across a German forum for Chinese phones and installed the google apps package that one user had uploaded to my system/app/ folder and it didn't work. I was told in the forum that It might not fork because I used some old files for Android 2.3. So they pointed me to a thread with a newer version and I deleted everything I had copied into the system/app/ folder and then replaced them with the new files. Then even less worked. My phone didn't ring anymore, sound didnt work, and the play store wouldn't even start at all anymore (it gave me a download manager stopped error or something like that). So then I figured out that those files were probably for Android 4.1 and my phone has Android 4.0.4. So then I found a package on rootzwiki for 4.0.4. I again deleted all the stuff i had put in the system/app/ folder and did a factory reset.
When I restarted the phone I was not able to install my ES File Explorer from my SD Card again. When I click on it it asked me if I want to install to phone or SD card, no matter what i select it says "X Application not installed". So I went into the chinese app store that was on the phone (called 360 followed by some chinese symbols) and actually found ES File Explorer on there. But when I tried to install it from ther, it downloaded and then gave me the same error. No matter what apps I try to install, I get this error now. What can I do? Did I break my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before anyone ever uses a new device thee shall make a Rom Backup; just in case... (at least i would do this).
Anyway; i don't understand why you've put the *.apk file inside the \System\apps folder...
You should try (have tried) to install Android SDK (If you've not installed already); and install the *.apk through adb.
Check these:
http://www.xda-developers.com/xda-tv-2/pro-tip-number-4-installing-applications-using-adb-xda-tv/
[and]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=879701
I don't believe that the operating system blocks "Google Apps / Play Store". Either way i'm not going to say that it is impossible. But it doesn't make much sense.
But like "rockingondrums" said; If your device doesn't have have "gapps"; it's probably because it's not approved by Google to access the play store.
No access to Play Store = No "gapps"...
(Never seen that happening though)
Also you didn't need to root your device for that. "Play Store" doesn't require Root Permissions...
In order to help you (and help yourself up); I've done research for you (just because i understand your situation).
1st of all you shouldn't insult XDA Forum. This Forum has loads of information scattered around. Just dig like everyone else... There's probably the info you need. Yes it may take hours, day or months if you have no idea of what you're messing with. If the info is there, just don't expect people to do the research for you...
But, XDA is far from being "worthless". I've lost the count of how many times it helped me; and what i've learned is priceless. (And i still don't know everything i want to know ^^)
2nd; [Get your Device Working]
If you haven't messed up much... (Like flashing a wrong Rom)
Use "Recovery Mode" to "Factory Reset" your device.
I'm not sure if the method i'm about to show, works for every device or for your device; but it's a good example.
On my device i would do:
- Turn off the device;
- Press and hold in the following order: Camera Button; Then Volume - and then Power Button; let it vibrate 3 times; and then release the buttons.
In other words; this will "Reinstall / Reset" your system. You'll see in your screen if it works. Just dont turn off your device in any way while it's executing that operation.
Note: It may be different on your device. If it is... You have to search for a different method that will work for you.
Search this forum, Google, or Ginwave Website (if it has one...)
After this; i recommend you to do some search and learn on how to backup & restore your device.
Search XDA Forum. Grab some examples, compare the info you've got; then backup that device.
3rd; If you've flashed a wrong Rom; then you really have to compile your own, as i also couldn't find a Stock or Custom Rom for your device.
Note: If you (ever) find a Rom for your device; remember that it has to be A ROM FOR YOUR DEVICE! AND NOT SOME OTHER. Otherwise you'll probably end with a dead device...
And that would be sad and wasted money.
Here's a good example on how to flash a Rom and a good place to start with:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Flashing_Guide_-_Android
Do some more reasearch; and now don't ever say that XDA is worthless.
P.S - Experienced People aren't here every day and every hour just for you... Sometimes you've got to wait and pray for a god answer (lol - so true...).
I hope this helps solving your problem.
Best Regards;

stefan0325 said:
If I did end up breaking the Rom and can't find a replacement rom for this phone online is there like a universal android version that can be installed on any phone? Would there be any way I could somehow play a new Android on my phone without having to know how to program something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,Did you have chance to find ROM-replacement? D you have any ROM image for this Ginwave GnoteM?

NVFlash and other G Tablet tools

Hey all!
A coworker gave me their old G Tablet months ago, and the only thing I kept finding was that it was very hard to find all of the tools needed to modify the thing. So many download links are down, etc. I just wanted to post these on here.
I will take them down if I'm stepping on anyone's toes. I will not help you troubleshoot. I am not responsible for any harm caused by the things provided here, and I cannot claim that they came from reputable sources because I can't even remember from where or when I downloaded them.
NVFlash notes:
I've included the drivers because they were harder to find. They're in usbpcdriver. I can't be bothered to reinstall them to find out which you need because frankly I don't care and you only have two or three options. Good luck.
By default nvflash_gtablet.bat flashes the files in its own directory. Just copy the files into where it's located.
The bootloader is contained on part9.img. If you want to flash CWM you will need to replace part9.img with clockworkmod.img for your particular bootloader. Just rename clockworkmod.img part9.img.
Hope this helps if anyone goes around looking to modify their device. Once again, please do contact me if you would prefer your work to be hard to find.
DOWNLOAD

PiArc said:
Hey all!
A coworker gave me their old G Tablet months ago, and the only thing I kept finding was that it was very hard to find all of the tools needed to modify the thing. So many download links are down, etc. I just wanted to post these on here.
I will take them down if I'm stepping on anyone's toes. I will not help you troubleshoot. I am not responsible for any harm caused by the things provided here, and I cannot claim that they came from reputable sources because I can't even remember from where or when I downloaded them.
NVFlash notes:
I've included the drivers because they were harder to find. They're in usbpcdriver. I can't be bothered to reinstall them to find out which you need because frankly I don't care and you only have two or three options. Good luck.
By default nvflash_gtablet.bat flashes the files in its own directory. Just copy the files into where it's located.
The bootloader is contained on part9.img. If you want to flash CWM you will need to replace part9.img with clockworkmod.img for your particular bootloader. Just rename clockworkmod.img part9.img.
Hope this helps if anyone goes around looking to modify their device. Once again, please do contact me if you would prefer your work to be hard to find.
DOWNLOAD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link not open

I went looking through all my old files after I found my old G-tab. It was running barebones, stock android from viewsonic, and NOTHING worked anymore. Couldn't even browse the web or use youtube.
I found multiple custom ROMS (branch 1.2 firmware), stock ROMs (branch 1.2, don't have any 1.1 stuff, sorry!), along with TeamDRHs 350m partition prep file, NVflash, and USB drivers for Windows (can be found in the teamDRH 350 Prep folder). Everything you could possibly need or want to get your g-tablet back up and running again. I even used archive.org to look up teamdrh.com and gtablet for dummies old websites; so I could create instruction manuals for myself and those who need them. I just copy-pasted their how-to posts into word documents.
I was bummed I couldn't find MOST of these files ANYWHERE on the web. I was horribly surprised they were not even attached to the original posts here on xda. Maybe the get auto-deleted after a certain period of time or the original posts had links to their own website instead, sigh.
I hope these stay for a long time to come but if not, I have these files stored on 2 mechanical HDDs that I occasionally boot up to make sure they stay working. If anyone ever needs them, send me a DM. Hope this helps. Leave a comment with the ROM you decide to go with! Personally, I'm going with TeamDRH JB 5.2 as it is the 'newest' ROM I have. Hoping to get playstore and browser support using it at the very least. I'd just like to use my tablet as a web browsing/video streaming device again.