This is a quick explanation on how to open a command prompt. You will need to know how to do this whenever you want to root your Android phone, install or remove applications, and much more.

Windows XP: Start > Run > (type) cmd > Press “Run”.

Windows Vista: Start > (in the search box in the start menu) type in cmd.

Windows 7: Start > (in the search box in he start menu) type cmd.

This will open a black screen. That’s a command prompt! Congratulations!

This guide will give you an explanation of how to install the Android SDK. You’ll usually need this program if you want to do anything related to rooting your device, capturing screenshots, and much more. Wat this program enables you to do is modify your phone, remove applications, install new applications, and much more. Let’s get started.

First you need to download the Android SDK for Windows. 99% of our guides are for Windows machines.

Once you download the SDK, you will need to install it in the simplest place possible, the root of your C: drive. When it asks you where you want to install it, please select C:\.

Once the SDK is installed, for your convenience and to follow our guides thoroughly, please rename the folder that is now on your C:\ drive named ‘android-sdk-windows’ to ‘Android’. UPDATE: the newest SDK places your ADB inside of the platform-tools folder instead of tools. You can either copy the ADB file from the platform-tools folder and paste the copy into tools, or get used to typing out ‘C:\Android\platform-tools’ every time you need to get there… your choice! We will add both paths to ADB later, to make it easier for you.

Now, you need to install the Java Development Kit. Install this to your C:\ drive as well.

This next part is tedious. When you finish installing Java, you will need to find the actual path to a file. We’re looking for a .bin file. Grab a pen and paper, you’ll need it. Go to My Computer, and open your C:\ drive. You should see a folder in there called ‘java’. Open it. Now, write down (without quotes), ‘C:\java\’. Inside that java folder, you should have a folder called jdk#.#.#_##, where the ‘#’ represents a digit. Add that to what you have written down, now. It should now look like C:\java\jdk#.#.#_##\. In there, you should have a folder named ‘bin’. Add that to what you have written down now.

Now, to add the paths to your Environment Variables, perform the following steps:

• Windows 7: Control Panel > System and Security > System > Advanced System Settings (on left) > (tab) Advanced > (button on bottom) Environment Variables
• Windows XP: (right click) My Computer > Properties > (tab) Advanced > (button) Environment Variables
• Windows Vista: (right click) My Computer > Properties > (tab) Advanced > (button) Environment Variables

In the Environment Variables screen, you’ll see two areas. The bottom one is “System Variables”. Scroll through that list, find the row labeled PATH, select it and press edit. Once the box opens with a text field, go all the way to the end of it, add a semicolon (if there isn’t already one there), then add the following :

C:\Android\tools;C:\Android\platform-tools;C:\java\jdk#.#.#_##\bin Note: The text in RED is what you wrote down a minute ago.

This adds the proper path for some files and programs you’ll need in the near future.

This installs the Android SDK to your computer, allowing you to use essential programs while rooting or otherwise exploring your Android phone. Enjoy!

This guide will explain how to get your Sprint HTC Hero MSL (Lock) Code. You may need this if you ever want to change your PRI or something, and there’s many other things you can do that may be discussed at a later date, but for now, let’s show you how to get your MSL.

First off, you need aLogcat, please use your Barcode Scanner to follow this link below to download the app straight from our website, or click it to download the APK directly to your computer so you can install it through ADB or something:

Next, once you download and install it, launch the app and Clear your Logcat, it will be easier to find your MSL this way.

On to the steps, which shouldn’t take you any more than 5 minutes, to get your MSL!

1. Enter the EPST Menu by dialing ##3282# into your dialer, as seen in the first image below.
2. Wait a few seconds for a menu to appear. When it does, press “View Mode”, as seen in the second image below.
3. Now, your screen should open up a new menu with 3 options, as seen in the 3rd image below.
4. Now, press and hold your “Home” button until a menu appears, which should have aLogcat in it since you just ran it. It will now update itself. Once it finishes updating, press Menu, then Pause.
5. Scroll until you see a list of entries that are labeled I/EpstBroadcastReciever, which should be colored Green. You’ll see an example in the 4th image below.
6. Look for the line that has MSL= at the end of it.

Congratulations! You’ve found your MSL code, and can now do some more cool things to your phone!

Screenshots of acquiring your MSL:

Some of you may have seen mention of things called ‘QR Codes’ when you’re reading around about Android apps. Well, I’ll give you a quick summary of what a QR code is in relation to Android.

Basically, if you have a barcode reader, such as the one located in my article “Barcode Scanner…“, you’re able to scan barcodes off of just about any package with it, and it will let you do searches for that product online. But what it also does is allow you to navigate to Android apps, too! The barcodes that contain that information are called QR codes, which are codes that look like a bunch of black squares arranged into one big square. This QR code stores information such as URLs, contact information, and much more. So long story short, if you’re on a website like this one that uses QR codes for download links, etc, you just turn on your barcode scanner and scan the QR code and voila! you’ve found your way to the link we wanted you to go to!