Database Develop

Help The Noobs

Will someone be kind enough for all the noobs out there and post a complete video of how to get from a completely stock firmware to (well in this case) this hero build, or the newest, latest, or best working hero build. While showing the order to flash radios, spls, and such using the ADB. It will help out a lot of people trust me. And from the looks of all the noobs right now youll have so many views, subscribers, followers or whatever your motive is. Please help noobs out.
If you need it you can find some free desktop recorders to enhance your video here: http://download.cnet.com/windows/vid...ftware/?tag=bc
Completey safe downloads from cnet.
Remember stock to hero!
I would do this myself but i myself do not know how and am on my second g1.
Thank you!

i will have a go at making that over the weekend.

milestone.it said:
i will have a go at making that over the weekend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a billion. You dont know how much this will help people. Post a link here when your finished please

Since this thread is for the "noobs", I have a couple of questions to ask.
Excuse my not using the search fully. There are just so many threads and so many responses and none of them are completely clear.
If I were to root my phone with the latest Hero ROM that has flash playet 10, will I still need to upgrade the firmware to 1.5 or is this particular ROM built on 1.5 or what??
Also, does this latest Hero ROM have the famed HTC virtual keyboard or no??

OutstandingO said:
Since this thread is for the "noobs", I have a couple of questions to ask.
Excuse my not using the search fully. There are just so many threads and so many responses and none of them are completely clear.
If I were to root my phone with the latest Hero ROM that has flash playet 10, will I still need to upgrade the firmware to 1.5 or is this particular ROM built on 1.5 or what??
Also, does this latest Hero ROM have the famed HTC virtual keyboard or no??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly idk but maybe someone will see this thread and answer that for you or you can start a new thread

There are quite a few videos out there already that show you how its done. Maybe not directly toHero but the whole process is the same - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDPFhJ9noLA
So instead of using JF 1.31, simply use the Hero ROM of your choice, rename it as "update.zip" and put it on the root of your SD card. Turn off your G1, hold the HOME button and press POWER to get into the Recovery image. Press ALT+W (to wipe) then ALT+S (to flash the ROM).
EDIT: I forgot some very crucial information >_< IF you are going to Hero from Stock you do require a few other things. Namely the new Radio and the new SPL (depending on which Hero ROM you pick). Make sure though that whatever you do, you upgrade the radio first to avoid bricking your G1. Look at my signature for links to what you need, like the Radio, SPL etc.
Wait patiently and all should be well...
@OutstandingO
Hero is basically Cupcake (1.5) but with a different interface created by HTC using custom code. So you just flash the Hero ROM of choice and that's it.

root video
OutstandingO said:
Since this thread is for the "noobs", I have a couple of questions to ask.
Excuse my not using the search fully. There are just so many threads and so many responses and none of them are completely clear.
If I were to root my phone with the latest Hero ROM that has flash playet 10, will I still need to upgrade the firmware to 1.5 or is this particular ROM built on 1.5 or what??
Also, does this latest Hero ROM have the famed HTC virtual keyboard or no??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YouTube has plenty of view on rooting that's where I learned how to do it, they also have the files u need to root it right there for u to download. Just search it and u will find it. The guy who's vid I followed is tony moreno look for his bids. I don't recommend jumping from 1.1 to hero. Go from 1.0 to 1.1 then jump to 1.5. Also hero is built from 1.5. I myself have tried it but even with all the optimizing its not fast enough for me. It also has the famed HTC IME keyboard. I myself use JF 1.5 APD. With the Hero theme in the themes section with the HTC keyboard. Flash would be nice but it still has issues with speed and force closings. Like I said YouTube the rooting process and search around the thread for other stuff like and and how to use fastboot.

I forgot some crucial information, namely to upgrade the Radio first and that you might need to upgrade the SPL. Have edited my post.

That is in part something that threw me for a loop.
I've seen multiple vids for rooting but none of them seem to address this whole "Radio" issue that you brought up and the steps surrounding that. From what I have been reading this is the most important part.
I love this site but the type of people that post here are guys that already know what their doing in most cases and they speak and post as such.
So have I ever developed an app for the G1, no, but I'm not Danny Dunderhead either. I can read a set of instructions if laid out for me.
So I ask you more experienced gentlemen, can someone either post a link or give me step by step help in checking my "radio", upgrading my "radio" and then installing the ROM??
I would greatly appreciate it.

I did it! I bricked my G1!
Yeah, well...what can you do. I read over the posts here, watched youtube videos, and searched the web as well. Read and viewed everything I could until I couldn't take it anymore. Then...I tried. Tried and failed? No, tried and died.
MAN, I WANT HERO! I am more jealous with every video I see. I don't care if it's a little slow. It is pure Android beauty. But...
There is so much information out there, not just at this forum, but all over the net. And although there are many similarities between the instructions (I use that term loosely for some), many have different steps so it's hard to tell which to follow. Apparently taking what you feel are the best from each is not the way to go. Really, I'm not stupid about these things...well...
So, here is where I started; a T-Mobile G1 running the latest OTA 1.5 update and the 2.22.19.26I radio software. Used Parted Magic to create a 5GB FAT32 and a 1GB EXT2 partition on the SD card. I downloaded everything I though I would need or could find. The original boot and recovery img's along with RC29, RC30, and Cupcake zips. Then I got HardSPL and a bunch of files from Hayruko. I got JeseusFreke, CyanogenMod, and JACHero stuff. Hell, someone said to download the Telnet.apk and put it on the SD card as well. Did that. I found a great thread for installing the JACHero, but it did not go into rooting your phone first. Did that need to be done? I guessed it did. So I started there. Downgraded nicely to RC29. That was easy. Then even went through the telnet and terminal emulator steps. Then trouble. Which recovery.img to use? Some instructions reference the testkeys and some don't when rooting. Figured I would do it that way. So I went through those steps. Loaded CyanogenMods 1.3.1 and 1.33.2005 SPL on the SD card. Flashed (I thought) the recovery.img. Rebooted to get ready to install the SPL. Stuck at t-Mobile G1 now! They really do call it a brick for a reason.
So now that I got that off my chest, a few questions. First, I want to run HERO. I want it! However, I would like to make a request this time. Could someone please post step by step instructions for taking a stock G1 to the JACHero 2.3.4 release. Not just "flash the recovery and SPL" files. I would like more detailed directions. If you know of a good link to send me, please tell me. I thank you in advance for your time. I know it's a real pain in the ---, but I promise I will pass your knowledge along to another such as I!
A few questions first. I believe the steps are something like this:
1. Downgrade to RC29.
2. Copy recovery_teskeys.img and some recovery.img along with some SPL update.zip file to the SD card and "load" them properly. Which files should you use (does it matter), which order should you do it and how?
3. How do I do a Nandroid backup at this point? Do I need/want to?
4. Do I wipe now? Need to ever? Doesn't the image overwrite everything anyway?
4. Copy update.zip (the renamed JACHero 2.3.4 zip file) to the SD card and load it. Do you need to load any other image first other than JACHero 2.3.4.?
5. Enjoy HTC Hero goodness!
I know I am asking a lot, but I need the steps so I can replicate this easily. I am going to want to do this a lot based on what I see out there. Always something new to try and a lot of great developers out there. Thank you in advance for all of your time and effort. I promise to pass it along.

Can't tell where I am in the overall process.

First I want to thank everyone on these forums for all the information they've posted and shared.
There's so much information, that I'm afraid I am a little lost. I've followed so many different guides to do this and that and what not, I'm unsure of where I am exactly in the process.
My goal is to have Nandroid installed and working so I can switch and check out different roms/apps/capabilities of my phone.
I have a T-Mobile G1 that I purchased yesterday and unlocked yesterday. It came from T-Mobile already updated to 1.5 cupcake. I have an EDGE data plan and not a 3G Data plan (applies to what I had to do below.)
First thing I did was downgrade to RC29. I attempted to re-activate the phone after, but I was unable to probably due to edge connectivity.
I downloaded the SDK, and using adb I connected the phone to my wifi access.
Once I was in, I followed this guide to update the SPL. I used some utility to do it automatically, but only because I spent so much time trying to get wifi to work and activate the phone.
I then updated to the latest radio version.
I thought I wanted to install a Hero build, so I updated the SPL to the latest version, this caused my phone to freeze at the G1 screen, it wouldn't go any further. Just after this I realized that the Hero build doesn't have bluetooth, and it's essential for me right now.
So as a n00b, I downloaded JesusFreke's latest US Android build "JFV1.51 CRB43 US (11733)" renamed it update.zip and did the update, it worked fine and I've been using my phone ever since (there have been several crashing apps though.)
As I said, I want to install Nandroid to make backups, but I really don't know where in the process I'm at.
If I hold down Back+Power I get the skateboard guys (fastboot I think), if I hold down Home+Power I get the recovery mode, and Camera+Power gets the SPL. I don't really know the difference between Fastboot and Recovery mode, don't they do roughly the same thing?
I believe I'm going to have to partition my SD card (I have a 1GB right now, but I have a 16GB in a photo frame at work I will get on Monday.) in order to save apps onto the SD card and still keep music on the phone and use the phone as a portable drive.
There's so much information out there to do X with Y and run Z that it doesn't take long to figure out where you are lost.
If I go into fastboot I see:
DREAM PVT 32B ENG S-OFF
HBOOT-1.33.2005 (DREA10000)
CPLD-4
RADIO-2.22.19.261
Apr 20 2009, 15:30:43
Then the Menu.
In recovery Mode:
Android system recovery utility E:Can't open /cache/recovery/command
Then the Menu.
Uh oh, just noticed that when I hold the camera down and power, I don't get the SPL anymore. I get the FastBoot Menu:
HBOOT
<BACK> FastBoot Mode
That's not supposed to happen, it should go into the SPL right?
Thanks a lot for the help. I hope to be able to be at the point that I can contribute or answer questions soon.

install cyanogen's recovery image. nanroid backup AND restore is built right in.

Maybe this is where my confusion comes in.
Both recovery images and ROMs are installed by renaming them update.zip?
I guess everything is installed with update.zip. That explains a lot...

Sirchuk said:
Maybe this is where my confusion comes in.
Both recovery images and ROMs are installed by renaming them update.zip?
I guess everything is installed with update.zip. That explains a lot...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You only have 2 posts. You need to go and read through everything. There are rules about starting threads, and this one shouldn't have been started and will probably get deleted.
You need to go to the designated thread and ask your questions. Getting to where you understand everything doesn't happen overnight.
You want nandroid backup/restore? Go to the development forum and look for cyanogen's pimped out recovery 1.3.1.
You need help on your spl? Same forum, but look for let's fix that spl.
Please do research before making a new thread.
All your answers have already been posted, just look for them.
I understand you are a noob, I welcome you to the world that is g1 with open arms. But, we all had to start somewhere.
Thank you.

You are well on your way...
You have the newest radio. You have the newest spl... You've successfully flashed a custom rom, so you are well on your way. Listen to temporizer, he's laid it all out for you. And yes, search comrade, search!

Help a newb get on his way w/ Rooted G1

My G1 is rooted and I have updated it to RC33. (during the process, I used HARDSPL)
1. If I plan on using a theme from Drizzy (champion V2) do I still need to do the cupcake update AND the radio update?
2. Is installing this theme as simple as renaming the .zip to "update" and dragging it to SD card. THEN, do I Alt+W, or only Alt+S when I get to restore screen?
Please help if I am way off.

stevedawg85 said:
My G1 is rooted and I have updated it to RC33. (during the process, I used HARDSPL)
1. If I plan on using a theme from Drizzy (champion V2) do I still need to do the cupcake update AND the radio update?
2. Is installing this theme as simple as renaming the .zip to "update" and dragging it to SD card. THEN, do I Alt+W, or only Alt+S when I get to restore screen?
Please help if I am way off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are going to use a theme, you need to make sure the theme is intended for that specific rom. You should always update your radio, without updating it you will have BT problems and possibly dropped calls. If you have Cyanogens recovery 1.4 you don't have to rename anything to update any more cause it can flash any .zip file. And you don't have to wipe before flashing a theme.

Thanks for the help.
How do I find out which rom I have and which rom's the .zip support?
I followed a youtube tutorial from anthonymoreno24 and these are the files I used:
Recovery image & HARDSPL from:
http://koushikdutta.blurryfox.com/G1RootWalkthrough/
I will update to cupcake during lunch (I have to use friends SIM cuz I have no data plan )
--------------
EDIT:
Just found this, do I follow these instructions after I update to Cupcake?:
Download image (right-click, save as): http://n0rp.chemlab.org/android/cm-recovery-1.4.img
MD5Sum: f5135a878c705215f4012786e4261cfe
To install image: copy it to your sdcard and run:
Code:
flash_image recovery /sdcard/cm-recovery-1.4.img
If you have problems with a "no space on device" error, try using fastboot and erasing first:
Code:
fastboot erase recovery
fastboot flash recovery cm-recovery-1.4.img

So have you not even loaded any rom yet? If you go to about phone under settings whats the info say?

Sorry, Im a newb, I'm literally following step by step instructions from the youtube vid
FW: 1.1
baseband: 62.33xxxx_1.22xxxx
kernel:2.6.xx-xxx-gfea
[email protected] #1 (kool!!! just noticed this )
Build: kila-user 1.1 PLAT-RC33 126XXXX-xxxwordsxxx
This help? what specific info you need?

Bud, you are a long way off. Drizzy's is not a theme, it is a hero rom which I would not suggest you try since it needs the danger spl and I can see a brick happening already, download cyanogen 4.02 rom and flash that and stick with it before you consider anything else, read the sticky's at the begining of each forum here to get an idea of how android works instead of relaying on a couple month old out of date video. A lot has changed since that was made. Oh and make sure that your file you want to flash is in the root of your sdcard and not in a sub folder otherwise it won't work, biggest thing make a nandroid backup in cm-recovery 1.4

gridlock32404 said:
Bud, you are a long way off. Drizzy's is not a theme, it is a hero rom which I would not suggest you try since it needs the danger spl and I can see a brick happening already, download cyanogen 4.02 rom and flash that and stick with it before you consider anything else, read the sticky's at the begining of each forum here to get an idea of how android works instead of relaying on a couple month old out of date video. A lot has changed since that was made. Oh and make sure that your file you want to flash is in the root of your sdcard and not in a sub folder otherwise it won't work, biggest thing make a nandroid backup in cm-recovery 1.4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Took the words right out of my mouth.
OP: If you want to flash anything hero related you need to read read read, if you are asking questions like this, and are this confused then you shouldn't/aren't ready to go hero. Try cyanogen or jacxrom (if you want a different look, it has a nice theme built into it) and after a week or 2 of studying them give hero a shot.
Has anyone else noticed how many people have been posting sh*t like this lately? It seems like noone can read anything anymore and wants us to give them specialized instructions instead of using the GUIDE's like we all did.

crpercodani said:
Took the words right out of my mouth.
OP: If you want to flash anything hero related you need to read read read, if you are asking questions like this, and are this confused then you shouldn't/aren't ready to go hero. Try cyanogen or jacxrom (if you want a different look, it has a nice theme built into it) and after a week or 2 of studying them give hero a shot.
Has anyone else noticed how many people have been posting sh*t like this lately? It seems like noone can read anything anymore and wants us to give them specialized instructions instead of using the GUIDE's like we all did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I've noticed that people are like how to I root!?!? I'm such a n00b. There is plenty of literature out there and should learn how like the rest of us did. If you need to be babied into root maybe you shouldn't have root.. or let someone else do it.

agreed
I rooted my phone a couple months ago without asking any ?s, I have still not asked a ? Yet, before I even got my phone, I studied up on it, there is a ton of info and a lot is in the stickysand has been covered countless times. Now it is even easier to root and flash your phone than ever but the problem is people are following videos and blogs that do not provide enough info. I was lucky to find xda back when I had my wing so I knew right were to go from the begining. If people just took notice to the info here they would have no problem at all

gridlock32404 said:
I rooted my phone a couple months ago without asking any ?s, I have still not asked a ? Yet, before I even got my phone, I studied up on it, there is a ton of info and a lot is in the stickysand has been covered countless times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree, I too read the tutorials many times before I got my phone !
And when I got the phone, I invested almost 2 days ( around 20 hrs) to try different things (Thanks to all for providing guides to everything) and now I am running a fantastic ROM with root.
It feels much better now that instead of asking "How, Why,etc), I am writing "THANK YOU ALL" for fantastic guides and tutorials !

crpercodani said:
Took the words right out of my mouth.
OP: If you want to flash anything hero related you need to read read read, if you are asking questions like this, and are this confused then you shouldn't/aren't ready to go hero. Try cyanogen or jacxrom (if you want a different look, it has a nice theme built into it) and after a week or 2 of studying them give hero a shot.
Has anyone else noticed how many people have been posting sh*t like this lately? It seems like noone can read anything anymore and wants us to give them specialized instructions instead of using the GUIDE's like we all did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI, JACxROM requires Haykuro's SPL to run properly as well. If you're using the HardSPL, then your best choice is Cyan's 4.03 or enomther's rooted version of the stock Cupcake CRC1 build.

my bad, I guess since I flashed haykuros spl and the new radio when I first rooted I never relized you needed it for the xrom.

crpercodani said:
my bad, I guess since I flashed haykuros spl and the new radio when I first rooted I never relized you needed it for the xrom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, actually even the devs didn't realize this until a couple of us did some experimenting. Fortunately, I had two G1s and the only difference with them were the SPLs... one worked and one didn't.

[Q] I need some advice on updating my G1.

So I just picked up an original T-Mobile branded G1. It's got the stock 1.6 firmware on it now. I would like to try running 2.2 on it but I have absolutely no idea how to go about it.
So far I have determined that there are more flavours to choose from than at a baskin robbins. I'm also completely lost when it comes to radios, kernals, bootloaders and other things expressed as three letter acronyms.
Could anyone suggest a good solid 2.2 firmware and the specific supporting bits and pieces I will need to make it work? I really want to see this phone shine.

Like everything else, read the development forum on the ROM. Do a research on what each ROM will do. Some ROM needs a specific SPL (HBOOT) and radio in order for it to work properly. As you already know (from your post) there are many different flavor of ROMs. Some deal with speed, and performance. Other deal with functionality of the apps. Most of them if not all are on 2.3 at this point.
You will have to sit down and read the instruction once you decided which ROM you wants.
Most everyone love Gingerbread series (specifically Gingerbread Yoshi and ezGingerbread).
I, myself, started with CM 6.0.0 RC1 (2.2) and after it crashed on me I end up loading SuperAosp DM 2.8.2 (with 2.3 on it) with the recommendation by one of the member here. It is fast performance, and that what I need.
So, you'll have to decide what you want to do with your G1 before you flash it with a custom ROM.

I have done this, this week end.
Here there is a post about the ROM
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4647751&postcount=1
and this one for the radio i find
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=640535
i suggest you to do a Nandroid backup before, and format your SDCARD ( i didnt done this, but i read about some problems to install the rom) and you will reboot your device after changing Recovery and After flashing the rom. and htc logo take a while befor showing cyanogem mod.
tell here if you find problems

So everyone says good things about http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=811620. It seems a good place to start. But I'm still a n00b. What, precisely, do I need to do with my bone stock (But unlocked) G1 to install it? Do I need to root it first?
"If you refuse to upgrade or can't upgrade because you have a 32a (1.2 or classic) device: you will need an alternative kernel as described in step 4.b 4.c or the phone will not boot
Note: 2.22.27.08 will also work but is not how the ota was shipped
* Uesrs of other SPLs can either use Danger (dream only), any sapphire SPL on the magic/sapphire/MT3G or alternatively Custom MTD I recommend "87 2" (system/cache) {as of test3 06bindcache will work if you install the parts package, thus if you use CustomMTD parts is mandatory to avoid market issues} "
Does that just mean I need http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831139? Then why does it say "Please note this includes my 20101106 - 2708 ported kernel"
What is an SPL? What's this about Danger? What's fastboot?
I'm much better with a soldering iron than software.

Jax184 said:
So everyone says good things about http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=811620. It seems a good place to start. But I'm still a n00b. What, precisely, do I need to do with my bone stock (But unlocked) G1 to install it? Do I need to root it first?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will need to root your phone, if you want to flash custom ROM. Unlocking it is just so you can use it on other network.
BTW! I was a noob at this probably a week or so ago, when I first started to work on upgrading my G1. Now I am learning the rope and helping others.

Upgrading G1 from a 2 years ago

Hello all. I have been researching for about 3 days regarding the upgrade of the G1 to the new radio 2.22.28.25 and Spl:1.33.0013d so I can install [ROM][CyanogenMod 7.2.0][The Official "KANGED" CM7 for DS][11/24/2011] FINAL!. I have HSPL10.95.3000 and radio 2.22.19.26I and android 1.6 . I seem to have a problem with flashing via fastboot as it gives error " remote : partiotion does not exist " . Furthermore, I tried flashing the radio via recovery but it said that my SPL is not recognized so it is best that I flash it via fastboot . What should I do? I am afraid of bricking the device and I cannot flash any rom with the current settings ( I presume ). Any advice will be really helpful. Also, which one should I flish first , RADIO or HBOOT ? Also, IS Hboot same as HSPL? Thank you guys! Have a merry CHRISTmas.

Nobody out there willing to help?

jojo_angelov said:
Hello all. I have been researching for about 3 days regarding the upgrade of the G1 to the new radio 2.22.28.25 and Spl:1.33.0013d so I can install [ROM][CyanogenMod 7.2.0][The Official "KANGED" CM7 for DS][11/24/2011] FINAL!. I have HSPL10.95.3000 and radio 2.22.19.26I and android 1.6 . I seem to have a problem with flashing via fastboot as it gives error " remote : partiotion does not exist " . Furthermore, I tried flashing the radio via recovery but it said that my SPL is not recognized so it is best that I flash it via fastboot . What should I do? I am afraid of bricking the device and I cannot flash any rom with the current settings ( I presume ). Any advice will be really helpful. Also, which one should I flish first , RADIO or HBOOT ? Also, IS Hboot same as HSPL? Thank you guys! Have a merry CHRISTmas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read ldriftas guide in the dev forum
Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using xda premium

can you provide more details? what command did you type when trying to flash via fastboot?
but if you are on 1.6 like you said than your not even rooted so you have a lot of work to do

ldrifta said:
can you provide more details? what command did you type when trying to flash via fastboot?
but if you are on 1.6 like you said than your not even rooted so you have a lot of work to do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am rooted, did it many many years ago and at that time only 1.6 was available as a good option.
I used " fastboot flash radio ........img" and It did not work... Any idea ?

what recovery are you using (amon ra? clockwork?)
also make sure you dont try flashing the most current radio/slp over what you have know, im under the impression if you do you will have at least a soft brick
dig through the forums and you are bound to find your answers. if all else fails right back and im sure i or someone else will help with your next steps

I believe I am using Amon Ra's ( Ra-dream-v1.7.0) recovery. That is what I am trying to figure out is to write over me existing SPL and radio so I can start updating to different roms. This is my stumbling block right now. I've searched for over 3 days in a row, and I see different ways to do it but I need answers whether , like you said, it will soft brick or brick my phone...

My recomendation is to start from the link at the end of my post. I'm not new to the G1,I'm kinda old hat from the JF days in the begining,but I basicaly used that thread to refresh myself on the G1 again. My advice is to read through the entire thread from the link at the end of my post,even tho it might take a while. For the most part,flashing the radio and spl isn't recommended through recovery,its better to flash through fastboot,but,I was on vacation and got bored and didn't have my laptop with me so I took a chance and it was fine,but that's because I had a very good idea as to how the G1 is configured. I spent a lot of time here in the forums back in the day. Just keep in mind,if you don't flash the right radio/spl combination,at best it won't boot the rom,at worst{which is more likely} you will brick your G1. Just some things to think about. Wes Garner over on Android Spin(I think that's the site),has a good page still up from back in the day,its the perfect guide going from downgrading to 29 and up to 1.6,just jump in from where you already are. Might not hurt to start over with the downgrade so you can make sure you don't mess up your phone. Sorry I don't have the link to his page at the moment,but when I find it ill post it. Something else i highly recommend is installing Droid Explorer,mainly because it sets up Adb for you and its mostly idiot proof for installing and works on Windows 7. I dont recommend using the Interface tho,there are some advanced settings with it where if you dont know what your doing it can deff brick your phone. If your comfortable with it tho check out all the options it has. It can flash recoveries,take screen shots,has an explorer to edit or delete files,and has a package installer for apk's. It can be tricky sometimes with a G1 because it was created for Moto Phones,but when you connect any Android Phone it starts ADB and has reconized every Android phone Ive connected to my laptop,so its a prettty good tool to have.Also,keep in this in mind,ive been playing with the Gingerbread Roms based on CM7 for the last week or so,they are all pretty laggy because CM7 isnt designed or supported officially from Cyanogen for the G1. The most stable and dependable for everyday use is CM6. The Gingerbread roms for pretty much (imho) proof of concept that the G1 can run them,but arent really a route id go if you want to use your G1 as a good back up phone. Anyways sorry to ramble on,i hope this info helps you out or anyone else with questions.
Droid Explorer Link:http://de.codeplex.com/
AdroidSpin Link:http://http://forum.androidspin.com...g-your-G1-MT3G-(easiest-method)-by-Wes-Garner
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=983834
Ps. The Laszlo Rom is pretty awesome,been running it for a few days now and its pretty tight. Check it out for sure.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=929678
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