...or at least a workaround...

 

I recently hit an issue with a Sprint HTC Hero running Android 2.1 - it locked me out of the phone after too many failed security pattern swipe attempts to log in while the screen was apparently on while in my pocket, but this would apply regardless.

After 5 failed attempts (by default) to swipe and login to the phone, the phone will lock you out and prompt you to type in your Google username / password used when setting up the phone in order to access the device.

Wouldn’t be a big deal, except that there is a bug in the HTC Hero that doesn’t allow the phone to access the internet until after authorizing… Hence the dilemma… The phone sits on a "connecting" prompt forever; since it can’t hit the internet to verify, it won’t let you in. It just cycles until you pull the battery.

After a lot of forum surfing, I found a fix that worked for me, and without having to reset the phone to default and starting from scratch.

To get around it, at the Google account login screen prompt, enter your original Google username (not an alias email address, the real address used when you set up your account). But, instead of your actual password, enter “null” (without the quotes), then press to accept. For whatever reason, that accepts, then quickly comes back to the same login screen again asking you to log in. This time enter your Google username and actual password, and it goes right through. At least it worked for me, hope it helps you too.

 

-J