[Hero CDMA Android Development] theraginasian:
All the info and links needed, none of the fluff. If you have questions, simply ask.

This guide aims to be platform independent. However, some cheats may require user contribution. Thanks in advance!

UPDATED 5-4-2010: New, Faster Factory Reset. Thanks rt1oo and johnsongrantr

Root CDMA Hero, Load Custom Recovery & ROM

Forum Post: Step By Step Way to root Using Flashrec(Updated 4/5)

Thanks goku14238

1) Download: flashrec-1.1.3-20091107.apk

1.1) Download: recovery-RA-heroc-v1.6.2.img

1.2) Download ROM ZIP of Choice: XDA Wiki - ROMs

1.3) Market Download: Any File Manager. RootExplorer, ES File Manager, Astro, etc.

2) Rename "recovery-RA-heroc-v1.6.2.img" to "recovery_backup.img"

3) Copy downloads to SD card root (/sdcard/)

4) Fill in check box for: Settings>Applications>Unknown sources

5) Install "flashrec-1.1.3-20091107.apk" via Any File Manager (RootExplorer, ES File Manager, Astro, etc.) or ADB

*Unmount SD Card if mounted through USB*

6) Open "Recovery Flasher" App and select "Restore Backup Image"

7) Power OFF

8) Power ON to Recovery: Press and hold the "Home" button, Continue holding "Home" while pressing and releasing the "Power" button

9) Flash zip from sdcard>select ROM ZIP

10) Reboot

Reset Phone With Loaded ROM (1.5 "Cupcake" ROMs)

Menu > Settings > Security > Factory data reset > Reset phone > Erase everything

Reset Phone With Loaded ROM (2.1 ROMs)

Menu > Settings > Privacy > Factory data reset > Reset phone > Erase everything

Factory Reset

Thanks rt1oo: Forum Post

This will return the phone to its out-of-box, factory condition (including radio!).

Search "RUU" if you want it the official Windows way.

NOTE: If you used the 2.1 RUU, this will not work. HBoot version must be 1.41. Read Forum Post for another method.

1) Download: HERCIMG.ZIP

2) Copy to root of SD card (/sdcard/)

3) Turn phone OFF

3) Hold Volume Down while pressing the power button (turn back on)

4) Press trackball when prompted

5) Reboot

Boot to Recovery from Power OFF

Press and hold the "Home" button, Continue holding "Home" while pressing and releasing the "Power" button

Nandroid Backup

-Reboot into recovery mode>Backup/Restore>Nand backup

TIP: If you choose "Nand backup + ext" it will backup your apps2sd apps along with your imaged system.

*CAUTION: you must restore this kind of backup to an SD Card that is similarly formatted (i.e. SWAP/EXT/FAT backup)

COPY THE CONTENTS OF THE "nandroid" FOLDER TO OTHER MEDIA ON REGULAR BASIS IN CASE OF SD CARD FAILURE!

Nandroid Restore

-Reboot into recovery mode>Backup/Restore>Nand restore>Select desired backup

*TIP* If no backups are found, you need to copy the "nandroid" folder back onto your SD Card from your Computer backup (You did make a copy of nandroid to your Computer didn't you!?)

Partition SDCard for apps2sd (A2SD)

-WARNING: This will erase EVERYTHING from the SDCard. Nandroid does NOT backup SD Card data, except for apps2sd apps, and ONLY if you selected "Nand backup + ext"

1) Reboot into recovery mode>Partition sdcard>Follow on-screen instructions (Default values suggested are OK)

Load Custom ROMs

Download ROM ZIP of Choice: XDA Wiki - ROMs

1) Copy ROM ZIP to SDCard Root (/sdcard/)

2) Reboot into recovery mode>Flash zip from sdcard>select ROM ZIP

Load Android SDK [Mac]

1) Download Latest Android SDK: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

2) Unpack and rename the extracted folder to "AndroidSDK", Move it to "Applications"

3) Copy and Paste into TextEdit:

export PATH=${PATH}:/Applications/AndroidSDK/tools

4) Save as: "~/.bash_profile"

5) Fill check box on Phone: Settings>Applications>Development>USB debugging

How to modify system files from Recovery

adb shell
mount <MOUNT_POINT>

Replace <MOUNT_POINT> with area you want to modify (ex: /system /data)

Install Apps through ADB

adb install <PATH_TO_APK>

Replace <PATH_TO_APK> with the location of your apk (ex: ~/Installers/Android/apk/wireless_tether_1_60_htc.apk)

How to tell if apps2sd (A2SD) is working

1) Connect Phone via USB

adb remount
adb shell
ls /system/sd/app/

If you get a list of applications, or no errors, then apps2sd is *should be* working properly.

Remove Extra Useless Preloaded Apps

Link: Root Explorer

Yes, you CAN do this through adb, but this is MUCH easier. Simply open, hit "mount r/w" button, delete anything in /system/app and /data/app you don't want! I'm well aware of the cost of the app. If you don't want to pay and help the developer, then search the forums and figure it out yourself :p!