[HTC Desire S] amidabuddha:
Linux users please go HERE (thanks to bloodychaos)​

Similar guides can be found on other devices subforums around but I can see that a lot of new users in our forum are not familiar with the setup and use of this commands.

All the instructions and installation files can be found on the Android Developers webpage, but for basic commands it is not necessary to download the whole SDK (which requires the JDK as well) to follow installation and the resources download process.

*Important: to use the adb/fastboot commands you have to enable USB Debugging in your phone Settings -> Applications -> Development menu*

To have working adb and fastboot system wide for basic commands just follow the steps below:

UPDATE: Not necessary for Windows 7 is installng adb drivers automatically after plugging the device and fastboot ones after rebooting the connected device to bootloader. To get the HTC USB Drivers on different Windows version download and install HTC Sync (If you do not need the Sync application itself you can uninstall it but the drivers will remain on your system).

*According to post #5 in this thread in some cases may be necessary to temporary disable your antivirus software during the installation of HTC Sync. Thanks [MENTION=3021236]mimirom[/MENTION]*

Download the zip archive or the attached file below

Extract the archive on your C: drive. You will have C:\android-tools folder

Adding to the System Path globally to use the command without browsing to the containing folder

Method 1 (via GUI):

Go to My Computer icon -> right click and select Properties.

On the left side of the opened screen select Advanced system settings.

(Or Start -> Search -> type sysdm.cpl -> Enter, browse to the Advanced tab)

Look down on the opened menu and select Environment Variables.

In the lower half are listed the System Variables.

Scroll to find "Path" variable, select it and click Edit...

On the Edit window in the Variable value field go to the end of the line (do not delete it!) and add without any intervals (spaces):

;C:\android-tools

do not forget the semicolon symbol (;)!

Click Ok 3 times.

Method 2 (via Command prompt):

Go to Start and in the Search box type cmd, right click and Run as Administrator

Type

setx path /m "%PATH%;C:\android-tools"

and hit Enter. Close the cmd window

Method 3:

To check is it working properly open Command Prompt (Start -> Search -> type cmd -> Enter) and type adb

If everything is configured properly this should list you the Android Debug Bridge version and the available commands.

*HINT*: To use adb or fastboot with files in the Command prompt you have to navigate to the folder containing the file first (using the cd command) e.g. "D:\Downloads\Android" and then to execute the command.

Example:

Start -> type cmd in the Search box, then Enter. You will see

C:\Users\with blinking cursor

If your file is on another drive like the example type "d:" (without the quotes), or other drive letter to go to the relevant drive. Skip this if the file is on C: drive. Then type:

cd D:\Downloads\Android to go to the "D:\Downloads\Android" folder. If your path contains spaces (intervals) type it in quotes.

The command "cd.." brings you one folder back