Getting a new HTC Hero on orange contract - Hero, G2 Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

hi guys,
i've just ordered a htc hero on orange and i have 7 days to try it. I will receive it on tuesday, so whilst i'm waiting i have many questions that i would like help with. My computer knowledge is good, but with mobiles i'm almost useless, so apologies if i end up asking questions which may sound pretty straightforward to many of you.
1. The hero will come with orange firmware, but i assume its a lot slower than custom firmwares, so what is the latest and the best known firmware at the moment and what is the procedure on installing it?
2. Since I have 7 days to test out the phone, i want to try it with the latest firmware, but i'm nervous and i want to play it safe and need to protect the original orange firmware, so what is involved in making a FULL BACKUP of the orange firmware and if i decide i want to put the orange firmware back onto the htc, how do i do this?
3. Is there any risk involved in the above procedures where i could mess up the phone and not be able to fix it again?
4. Lastly, if I replaced the phone with the current latest firmware and at a later date Android 2.0 came out, will i be able to upgrade to the latest operating system without problems?
Many thanks again

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newbiefone said:
hi guys,
i've just ordered a htc hero on orange and i have 7 days to try it. I will receive it on tuesday, so whilst i'm waiting i have many questions that i would like help with. My computer knowledge is good, but with mobiles i'm almost useless, so apologies if i end up asking questions which may sound pretty straightforward to many of you.
1. The hero will come with orange firmware, but i assume its a lot slower than custom firmwares, so what is the latest and the best known firmware at the moment and what is the procedure on installing it?
2. Since I have 7 days to test out the phone, i want to try it with the latest firmware, but i'm nervous and i want to play it safe and need to protect the original orange firmware, so what is involved in making a FULL BACKUP of the orange firmware and if i decide i want to put the orange firmware back onto the htc, how do i do this?
3. Is there any risk involved in the above procedures where i could mess up the phone and not be able to fix it again?
4. Lastly, if I replaced the phone with the current latest firmware and at a later date Android 2.0 came out, will i be able to upgrade to the latest operating system without problems?
Many thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) why would you assume this? Orange dont put anything on there that slows the phone down, only an app for extra orange settings, which i believe takes you to a webpage...
2) read up on this, we cannot type it out every time. look for nandroid. But if you are trying it use the official update method from the orange site.,
3) same question, if you follow instructions you will be fine.,
4) It has been said by HTC that 2.0 will come to the Hero.... again this is plastered all over the forums and I do believe that your a lazy ass for not looking this up yourself.

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Barry - it seems that rather than helping your simply having a go at me for asking questions. It might be a straight forward procedure for you, but I clearly stated that i'm a noob when it comes to the understanding of mobile phones. If you don't want to help then simply ignore my thread, rather than throwing insulting comments mate.
1. As for telling me that orange doesn't slowdown the phone, well many forum users tell a different story as they said there is a huge difference in speed between modaco firmware and orange's own version.
2. Nandroid is one of many and people have also mentioned sprite and mybackup which confuses us noobs as to which one is best and simplest one to use.
3. The 3rd question is not the same as no.2 because i'm trying to ask if there is any risk of totally bricking the phone, which might not affect you, but it means that i end up stuck on a 24mth contract with a bricked handset.
4. It seems your simply increasing your post count as you didn't read my question properly....I never asked if HTC 2.0 will come to hero....i asked that if i update to a custom firmware now, will i still be okay in updating to android 2.0 or could i run into problems because i have a different firmware.

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Hi Mate,
There's a lot of useful info around these forums though i hate the 'High and mighty' approach a lot of people have around here, i dont know if they get a kick out of it or just generally like being unhelpful and worship the search god.
From my experience the search on this site is almost completely useless as you have to know exactly what it is you're searching for in the first place - and the point is that Noobs dont know what their looking for!
As for help with your questions i'll try my best! I have the Hero on Orange also - just had it for over a month.
1. The Orange Firmware doesn't have the bloat you'd expect - it's pretty much the same as the official HTC firmware bar the Orange boot logo. The reason Modaco is so fast is that it has tweaks and such to make it faster.
2. It's possible to do this - however you'll need to install a Custom Boot Image. I made a quick guide for someone else here :- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=4868874#post4868874
The custom image will allow you to do a Nandroid backup of the currently installed ROM and it can also be restored - however the Orange Rom can also be downloaded from the orange website too and installed if needed using the RUU that coms with it.
3. There's always a risk when flashing firmwares and such. If the instructions are followed then generally you should be ok but theres always the small chance of something unexpected happening.
4. If i understand the question correctly - then yes you are able to install the latest official firmware when it's released. Though i hear that the latest official firmwares have been harder to 'Root' - maybe someone else could clarify.
Anyway i hope these answer your questions - and i'm 99% sure you'll be sticking with the Hero - from my first Month with it, i find it's the best phone i've ever had. Yes i've even owned 'one of them iThingys'.
Just for info I'm running Amon Ra's recover Image 1.2.3, the Modaco 2.8 rom with the Teknologist 1.8 kernel.
Cheers
Paul

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thank u so much paul. Mate thats all i was asking for and thank goodness someone like u is here to help us noobs on the forum..ur an asset to this forum..keep up the good work.
I've just received the hero around 5 mins ago and i'm gonna play about with it to see if there even is the need to update the rom and will let u know how i get on.
I'm worried of scratching my touch screen, so my question is that can i get hold of a cover or something that can protect it?
Cheers mate...much appreciate it

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No worries mate - glad to help people, shame most people round here find it such a chore.
I've been using my Hero for just over a month and havn't protected it with anything. I always take care to slip it into an empty pocket.
From what others are saying the screen is made of gass and quite resistant to scratches - obviously scraping car keys down it isn't the best idea but i'm sure itll be ok if you take a bit of care with it.
I also hear the response of the screen is lowered if a protector is added. Take a look on the Hero Accessories forum, there may be a thread on there about covers / cases and such.
Cheers
Paul

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my problem is that i have 2 mobiles in one pocket and that sometimes means i end up putting my house keys in the same pocket too. The reason i have to have a phone in my trouser pocket is because i'm deaf in both ears and unless the phone is ultra loud, i can't hear it, so the only alert is when the phone vibrates in my pocket.
People recommend either the flexishield or the invisibleshield, don't know wot to go for, lol.
Also the htc unlock button should only be the one on the most right, yet if i press home button, that too unlocks it..is there any way of disabling this or altering the button combination?

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To be fair, most trousers / jeans have 4 pockets. If you want to scratch all of your stuff, put both phones and your keys in one pocket. If you want to keep them nice, use some of your 3 spare pockets. At the end of the day, it's a £400 phone - treat it as such and it will reward you by staying nice and shiny.

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true, but its not just keys that can do the damage mate...i'm a cable installer and my work involves crouching, bending, lying down and the worry is that the trousers stretch and crack or damage the screen, so some case or screen protector would be nice to have.
Some people say that the touch sense doesn't respond well, but i tried to use the touch with its original screen protecter sticker which comes with it when orange sends it and it works fine.

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newbiefone said:
true, but its not just keys that can do the damage mate...i'm a cable installer and my work involves crouching, bending, lying down and the worry is that the trousers stretch and crack or damage the screen, so some case or screen protector would be nice to have.
Some people say that the touch sense doesn't respond well, but i tried to use the touch with its original screen protecter sticker which comes with it when orange sends it and it works fine.
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Well it sounds like you'd need a case to keep it protected in your situations. I'm sure there's loads of options available. Either that or just leave it out of harms way
How are you finding the Hero now you've had it for a few days now?

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@newbiephone Belt mounted case is what is needed.

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hi paul mate,
i think the screen protection is the last of my worries
i have the following issues which i don't know how to address:-
1. Low reception - after reading up, i switched off 3g and this increased the reception, but only slightly.
2. contacts / people list - I have exported 350+ contacts from nokia e75 into a CSV file. Then i imported it into google mail and now i synced the HTC with google and this allowed me to download the contacts list. However the contact's numbers are all classed as additional "notes" rather than numbers. I hope i don't have to manually type in 350 contacts!
3. Is there a more simple dialpad that you can recommend? I hate the htc one.

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Hi Newbiefone
Can I just say something here that will satisfy all your worries!!!
You wont be wanting to return the Hero after 7 days because it is a quality phone....
Before long you`ll be installing roms, themes, apps galore.
Plus we`ve all got Android 2.0 to look forward to too....

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lol, thanks for the positive comments mate, but these are not worries mate, but problems that need diagnosing and solving. I'm sure one these are solved, my htc will stay with me hopefully forever! ROFLOL!

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Oops sorry newbie my post was in relation to your first post!
Only just seen your last post..
I sync my contacts with outlook. Can you not import them into there with your csv files and then sync your hero with outlook?
I have seen may posts about problems with contacts and syncing.
To be honest ive not had one problem with it the way i do it..
If you have any more questions just give us a shout. Had my hero since the day it was launched on Orange.

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Ah Newbie just been thinking there is a dialpad out there that ive seen. Just cant think of the name lol...

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Christ maybe i should think before i type!
A question for one of your questions. Have you tried the latest radio firmware?
Mine and my girlfriends Hero signal are both poor but we do live an airaid shelter!!

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Johnny boy your a STAR!!! If you were a girl, i'd kiss u, lol!!
I exported from nokia pc suite straight to outlook and then used HTC SYNC Manager to synchronise calender and contact its done it perfectly!! Thank u so much!
Right what do u mean by the radio firmware? I currently have the latest orange firmware and was adviced not to mess around with that firmware by someone on the forums as i'm still in my 7 days exchange warranty with orange.
Now how about that dialpad name?

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LOL oh i`m glad it worked. I dont know why people have so many problems sorting out their contacts on here. Ive seen many a story about syncing problems. I just think this way is so easy i dont know why everyone doesnt do it this way. Ah well never mind at least ive helped someone.
Mmm best leave radio firmware then till you decide to keep it.
Dial pad now thats a tricky one i had a quick look and couldnt find it.
I`m happy with the stock one so i didnt pay much attention to it. Maybe i should have lol!
newbiefone said:
Johnny boy your a STAR!!! If you were a girl, i'd kiss u, lol!!
I exported from nokia pc suite straight to outlook and then used HTC SYNC Manager to synchronise calender and contact its done it perfectly!! Thank u so much!
Right what do u mean by the radio firmware? I currently have the latest orange firmware and was adviced not to mess around with that firmware by someone on the forums as i'm still in my 7 days exchange warranty with orange.
Now how about that dialpad name?
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Click to collapse

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the reason many people have problems mate is because many import/export the more difficult way via CSV, then google then HTC and if the CSV is messed, then it won't work, but outlook seems to import data perfectly.
If you can't help with a dialpad program, how about like a contacts grid? The Favourites one takes up too much space and only can add a verticle list...if i'm gonna use the whole screen, then i might as well have at least 9 contacts or more at the same time, rather than 3 at a time.