Database Develop

[Q] noob about to root and lag fix. advice wanted

Hi all, I hope you're not all tired of another noob posting up how-to questions. I come from a pretty solid background of writing modified firmware packages Motorola and Blackberry units, and writing custom themes for them both, so I am a bit familiar with the processes involved in rooting. Android is an entirely new beast though. I love it already, but I've also identified some things I'd love to be able to change. I've been reading everything I can in these forums for the past week, and I think I might be nearly ready to start diving into the root world. Yes, I've used the search a LOT Before I do root though, I wonder if you all might be able to add some insight into a few questions I haven't found the answers to thus far:
My rooting goals: remove the AT&T bloatware, possibly do a lag fix, and above all, do it the safest way possible. Baby steps first for me.
1) Rooting methods: Should I do the manual way, I found in that pdf guide on this site, the "GalaxyS_One-Click_Root_All_Models.zip" method, the mystery "update.zip" folder method, or the "one click root lag fix" method? Which is the safest and most tried and true for Stock 2.1 f/w, Baseband I897UCJH7? Also, what would be the best method to use if I wanted later to unroot?
2) Lag fixes: I've read that lag fixes can cause major problems when trying to undo them later on. Is there a lag fix that works well that is safer than others to load that can be removed easily? Are lag fixes even worth it?
3) Odin3: Am I correct in assuming that since I have JH7 that the most recent version of Odin is not capable of fully restoring my phone back to stock? I've been seeing posts from many people say that even using Odin, their phones get stuck during the revert process and cannot get back to stock. This is probably my biggest concern of all, in case I brick my phone. I've done that a LOT of times with Motorolas, and it's not a bit of fun trying to restore them.
Thanks very much in advance. Best wishes to all

The first piece of advice I have is make sure you have a cappi that you can get into recovery and download modes via the button combinations - if you can do this then you will be able to recover to a working configuration from just about any situation.
second, make sure you want to do this, because as you can get back to a "stock configuration" once you begin applying lag fixes or custom roms you will not likely be ever able to get back to your own stock configuration.
As for which rooting method - I have used and update zip and ryanza OCLF to root. Both of these methods are easy to unroot - at least until you begin applying lag fixes and/or custom roms.
If you are sure you want to move forward and root the very first thing you should do after rooting before you do any lag fixes or remove any bloat is get clockwork rom manager. Learn how to use rom manager and make a full nandroid backup of your phone before you do anything. If you have a good nandroid backup saved in a safe location then you can use this to get back as close as possible as you can to your own stock configuration later on.
Oden3 will get you back to a stock jf6 configuration. This will not be your stock configuration, but it is a working stock configuration.
Lag fixes do improve the lag in the file system some. However, before you play with any of them educate yourself as much as you can about the particular one you are going to try and use. I have applied both OCLF and voodoo and have been able to remove both of them. But if you don't follow the steps correctly you can have problems - after all with the lag fixes you are reformatting part or all of your data partition where the os is residing which is inherently risky. You can easily lose data and even soft brick your phone forcing you to use Oden3 to get back to a working state.
Lastly, I am running Cognition 2.2 beta 5 very successfully - and I do recommend it for anyone that has entered the rabbit hole of modifying this phone. And with my current config my phone is running so well that the lag fix is not needed for me anyway. My phone is running smooth and fast.
P.S. Just make sure you are not going to have any major regrets if things go wrong before you do anything at all, because any and all of these steps have some amount of risk associated with them. Make sure you are prepared for dealing with voiding your warranty and even though it is hard to brick this phone, it could still happen so be ready for that too should it happen.

i would agree, go with cognition 2.2. i only had my captivate for a day, and found it very easy to get it installed without any hassle.

Thanks for the info all. I've read about Cognition a fair bit and was wondering if I ought to go for it. What are the differences between it and the standrd Froyo leak?
A more pressing question: If I went to Cognition 2.2, would I be able to easily get the official release OTA and install it normally when/if it becomes available? Are there step-by-step guides out there for getting that release onto and off of the phone? I'd hate to get Cognition on there and find out that i couldn't easily get it back to a state where I could get the full deal on there. I've read some horror stories about just that lately...

charging rhinos said:
Thanks for the info all. I've read about Cognition a fair bit and was wondering if I ought to go for it. What are the differences between it and the standrd Froyo leak?
A more pressing question: If I went to Cognition 2.2, would I be able to easily get the official release OTA and install it normally when/if it becomes available? Are there step-by-step guides out there for getting that release onto and off of the phone? I'd hate to get Cognition on there and find out that i couldn't easily get it back to a state where I could get the full deal on there. I've read some horror stories about just that lately...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are wanting to get OTA updates then I wouldn't even root your phone - while it is possible to still get OTA's after rooting, once you begin modding (lag fix, or custom rom) you oare increasing making your phone less and les compatible with any OTA available.
NOTE: I personally will not ever apply an OTA myself - but rather will wait for someone else to create a custom mod of any OTA feature I like - them donate that dev a few dollars and use their mod.

Im getting my cap this Friday, I was going to post the same thing OP. Looks like cog 2.2 is the way to go when i get it.

[Q] Some questions about flashing back to stock Rogers 2.1

Hello! I apologize for adding yet another post about this, but I've looked around the forums, and it seems like all of the answers are scattered all over the place. It just ended up confusing me even more, so I'm hoping someone can clarify a few things for me.
I'm looking to flash back to stock 2.1 from Rogers, and update to 2.2 via Kies. I want to return my phone to Rogers since I'm having the shutdown problems (it's shutting down frequently now), so I'm trying to get my warranty restored. My phone is currently the unofficial AT&T 2.2 ROM from I897UCJI6-OCD-REV02-Low-designgear (ODIN one-click).
From reading around, I saw that there are two methods to restore stock - either by ODIN3 or Heimdall - but it seems like people had a different ROM from the one I have right now, and I'm not really sure if this should make a difference.
I don't really want to end up with a brick phone, so any tips you can give me will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

luciferyo said:
Hello! I apologize for adding yet another post about this, but I've looked around the forums, and it seems like all of the answers are scattered all over the place. It just ended up confusing me even more, so I'm hoping someone can clarify a few things for me.
I'm looking to flash back to stock 2.1 from Rogers, and update to 2.2 via Kies. I want to return my phone to Rogers since I'm having the shutdown problems (it's shutting down frequently now), so I'm trying to get my warranty restored. My phone is currently the unofficial AT&T 2.2 ROM from I897UCJI6-OCD-REV02-Low-designgear (ODIN one-click).
From reading around, I saw that there are two methods to restore stock - either by ODIN3 or Heimdall - but it seems like people had a different ROM from the one I have right now, and I'm not really sure if this should make a difference.
I don't really want to end up with a brick phone, so any tips you can give me will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=846501
edit: i see you were posting in that thread already....

Yeah. orz I probably should have waited more, but I thought no one was really looking at that thread as frequently.
Thanks though! I'll just stick to that thread instead.

well, i haven't used heimdall, but i've used odin. it won't matter what rom you are currently on. what i would suggest is making sure you have 3 button recovery working correctly before using though.... just because there are versions of the one-click odin that will remove it, and i see that's what you have used... although i believe the flash you did shouldn't have removed it. you will not be able to get to "true" rogers stock, but if you follow some of instructions in the posts in that thread, your phone will get pretty close to stock - boot screens and all. i don't know how hard rogers will look at your phone before determining whether or not it will be covered.

Thank you so much for the reply!
The three-button recovery is the vol+, vol-, and power button, right? Also, if it isn't "true" Rogers stock, does that mean it isn't advisable to update to the official 2.2 ROM via Kies?

[Q] Froyo, From Leaked To Official

As the title says, this is what I'm trying (have been trying....) to do.
I got my Captivate for Christmas 2010, I can't remember what exact version it was running, all I know is that for a fact it was Eclair.
I wish I knew what stock I had on my phone and all that jazz, but the one thing I never read before flashing or rooting my phone was that I should root and make a Nand Backup before hand. Oh well right?
Anyways, basically here is what I've done to my phone:
I flashed ODIN-1-Click for the leaked Froyo JI6 - I897UCJI6-OCD-REV02-Low-designgears_1
had absolutely no problems, everything worked like a charm.
Next, I used SuperOneClickv1.5.5-ShortFuse and I chose "Root" and "Enable Side-Loading"
again, no problems.
From there, I proceeded to do the following:
-Install of TiBu, AdFree, Terminal, Root Explorer, SGS Tools, and Busybox
-TiBu Used to "Freeze" most bloatware on phone
-Terminal given #su root command and approved
-AdFree added, packages installed
-Within Terminal, added exception to WordsWithFriends to allow ads
-SGS Tools used to replace default Camera App to allow power button for capture
-Root Explorer used to replace TW_Touch tone to modified 5% audio level version...I'm sorry, but at the lowest System Volume this is just way too loud.
-Installed Go Launcher EX and made my phone look awesome
-TiBu used to Freeze TW Launcher
I don't think there is anything else I've done with my phone that is really worth mentioning. No Lag-Fix unless it was included in my JI6, but I do know that I have free Wifi Tethering.
Now, for those still following, after all this, obviously the Official Official (Not-Leaked) Froyo came out, not a big deal, because I probably would've gone crazy just using Eclair for 2 months (I kinda flashed my phone on the 3rd day of owning it after coming from basically a RAZR V3).
Soooo, in my attempts, to get the official version of Froyo (flame on me, I don't care), I have "Bricked" my phone twice on separate occasions trying to go clean.
By bricked I mean AT&T Boot Loop of Doom w/o the ability to use any of the keys. So hey wouldn't you know it, but I have a USB Jig now.
1) WTF do people mean when they say to Flash back to Stock? There are like 20 different things available, which one is stock? and what would mine have been new out of box at Christmas 2010?
The thing that Bricked me twice was JF6 which I though was stock, guess not, I'm not sure... I have no idea why it won't work for me or if I'm doing something wrong, or I got an incomplete download of it, it's title is: I897UCJF6-final-OCD-REV0. On the other hand, I have managed to get JH2 to work (idk wtf JH2 is, I don't hear it often, but it got my phone to turn on), Kies actually managed to recognize my phone, however I could not update it in Kies and if I remember correctly, Mini-Kies wouldnt recognize the phone.
And also JI6 also allowed me to recover from Brick-mode, which I Flashed to Originally, and obviously it wont show up in any Kies in any way/shape/form...
Anyways, if anyone can provide any info, help, or advice, I would really, really, REALLY, appreciate it.
What am I doing wrong?
Help?.......
Now aside from that, I know there is a pre-release version of KB1 running around, but has anyone managed to get a version of the Official February 24th KB1 out to the masses for download that doesn't involve Kies?

Sorry to bump this, but I'm still looking for any possible advice anyone might have. I've tried using the search feature but to no avail. I've found "similar" things to mine, however no one seems to either have the same problem I have or be in the same situation.
I apologize for it being such a long read, but I just wanted to thoroughly describe my situation in the chance that it would be able to further increase the capability of someone helping me.

Here you go, these are the two files that people mean when they say go to "stock".
2.1 is the "Official Stock" for 2.1 - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SBSMALFJ
2.2 is the "Official Leak Stock" for 2.2 - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QL6NX702
As far as I know, there isn't a Odin One-Click for the "Official" Official 2.2 yet.
If updates are free if you're with AT&T... How about just going to 2.1, then upgrading it by connecting to AT&T that way? Just an idea

Sounds like the build of your phone is 1010 or higher so odin jf6 likely won't work, but you found that out .
You can try this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10056254&postcount=36
You are already through half the steps, just flash jh7ota
Or you could modify your recovery and install clockwork and flash cognition 4.1.1 which its more our less stock kbi that is already rooted and debloated
Not sure of a cmw flashable kb1
CM7

Excellent! I totally forgot about that, thanks mcord11758!

Ok, somethin i learned when using kies to upgrade to 2.2. 1) USB debugging has to be on. 2) Make sure to UNroot your phone before trying to upgrade with kies 3) I also had the boot loop. Restarted in recovery mode and cleared all user data. That fixed it.
Also, think about upgrading to superoneclick 1.7
BTW, if you want CWM to work, you should shell root before regular root (reboot after shell root) and dont forget to enable nonmarket apps
GOOD LUCK!

@venomio: I already have those two files, but thanks for confirming that no one has released an official KB1 2.2. I'm glad to know I just haven't failed despite looking thoroughly.
@mcord11758: I actually hadn't thought about that. I thought that I'd be set with JH2 in terms of being allowed by Kies to update.....yeah no I was wrong obviously. I just figured the additional steps involved with the JH7ota would make Kies hate me more. But yeah, I think this may be my solution- although if for whatever reason it didn't work it'd just be really annoying. I've already had to revert to JI6 twice now hoping for the Kies update.
Out of curiousity, why in the world does JH2 work on my phone?
And what exactly does it mean to have a 1010 Captivate?
Still @mcord11758: Now I do have clockwork recovery installed (still on JI6 as I'm typing this), however for whatever reason, I can't seem to see any of the bonus features that it should provide in the recovery screen. I think I've read that this is a typical problem and I need to get 3e_Recovery or something, but I wasn't really sure how it worked or how to apply it. And the hold up I have on Cognition is the fact that I don't know how easy it is to revert everything back to default (like lag fix and stuff). Any info on these topics would be appreciated
@mrhaley30705: Yeah, I'm updated to SuperOneClick 1.7 now. 1.5 Just happened to be what I used originally, and for whatever reason wouldn't work any longer after further trying to flash things in these recent turn of events. Long story short, after a lot of pain trying to re-root, I realized 1.7 was out, got it, and it worked.
I will say that I have avoided the Shell Root as I don't fully understand how it works and I've gotten by using just the "Root". Isn't Shell Root un-reversable? I'm just worried about that since I'm attempting to get a Kies Update.
@Everyone/All: I really appreciate all the feedback big time. This has been a pretty stressful, long process even though at times it has felt fun and rewarding.
I think I'm going to do what mcord11758 said when I'm not at my girlfriends place. For whatever reason, if I need my Jig, I don't want her to see cuz she'll know I'm messing with my phone again. (She gets upset at me when I get upset at the phone). I'll leave you with a fun image that I saw from someone's sig once.
Btw, anyone who posted above this will have received thanks.
I hope that's not totally lame of me.

Update: It worked!!!!
I Officially have the Official final release of KB1 Froyo 2.2
I used the following as suggested:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10056254&postcount=36
Afterwords I followed:
http://ars.samsung.com/customer/usa...ID=2&PROD_SUB_ID=557&PROD_ID=558&AT_ID=368733
And I was able to get Kies Mini to recognize the phone (unlike with JI6) and allow me to select Phone Upgrade (Unlike with JH2).
One big thing I've seen, is that my phone is missing the GMS Updates, I do not have google's GenieWidget (News and Weather).
I don't know if anyone else is having this problem, and I don't know if there is any fixes. I do remember though, that while I had JI6 installed, apk's of the GenieWidget I found around the web would not work.
I know it's probably lame, but I was actually hoping to get this, as I was trying to get it in JI6 as well.
Pic attached of my desktop showing Kies working.

Good stuff, great that you managed to get it going!

Bricked in 48 hours...

Well, long story short, had it 2 days and hard bricked it. Here's the question though. Im getting a new one in an hour or two, and I'm looking for the absolute idiot proof version of rooting and getting a rom and kernel on the phone. I had a samsung moment, and I never had any issues with any of the flashing or anything on that. I have read probably 200 different post on rooting and 3e recoveries and roms and whatnot. Can someone suggest a decent set-up, maybe a 2.3 rom, and a recovery that works well together. I do not tether, and i dont really need to overclock it (maybe later). I just want to be able to have my phone run smooth, be able to install non market apps and have everything work well together...
thanks in advance!

There is nothing we can really say that hasn't been said already in those 200 other posts you mentioned.

make sure your computer / usb cable works properly first. then just follow the steps exactly described and you should be fine.

redneck.nerd said:
Well, long story short, had it 2 days and hard bricked it. Here's the question though. Im getting a new one in an hour or two, and I'm looking for the absolute idiot proof version of rooting and getting a rom and kernel on the phone. I had a samsung moment, and I never had any issues with any of the flashing or anything on that. I have read probably 200 different post on rooting and 3e recoveries and roms and whatnot. Can someone suggest a decent set-up, maybe a 2.3 rom, and a recovery that works well together. I do not tether, and i dont really need to overclock it (maybe later). I just want to be able to have my phone run smooth, be able to install non market apps and have everything work well together...
thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure it was a hard brick? This is somewhat of a "learn as you go" kind of thing. The devs on here post excellent instructions on what to do to get there Rom on your device. I would suggest MikeyMike's 2.3.3 JVB Rom or my personal choice of Cezar's Continuum 2.3.3 Rom with JVH Talon Kernel. These have a slight risk because of the "bootloaders" you will need to get on your phone, but I had no trouble and would do it again in a heart beat.
Take your time reading the instructions in the Rom you choice to go with, then read it again. Then go through the post to see what others had problems with, because 9 times out of 10, someone has posted the question multiple times.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, you will see others posts and get to know who actually helps, who is a douche and should be avoided. This is an excellent community of people who love to mess with things and have fun doing it.
I know I did not address the question with a tutorial on how to do this step by step...because it has been done
Best of luck, and if I can help...shoot me a message.

If all you want is a smooth running phone where everything works, flash Andromeda 3.0 on it and forget about JVB, CM7 or anything with bootloaders.

@ TigerEnigma: Yes im sure it was a hard brick. I've been modding android phones since donut and this was a definite brick. I was able to get into download mode one time, and after that nada. No recovery no, download, no boot of any sort. The guys at the "Shack" didnt even question my story so no big deal.
Thanks for all the help guys. This is the first phone I have had issues with. My last phone was the moment, which is probably one of the easiest phones to mod so going from that to this was a little bit of a shock. Im going to peruse the forum some more, before making any final decisions. i may try this stuff tonight so hopefully all goes well...
thanks again guys

Make a jig also. I made a jig that saved me and the guy i work with. Also if you are looking for a 2.3 rom then do go with a JVH build and not JVB.

Any help would be appreciated!

I am an HTC user and always run rooted so I apologize for my ignorance to the ways of the Captivate but I am helping my sister-in-law with her phone and only have tonight to get her up to date. she is currently on Cognition 4.1.1 on Android 2.2 and I would like to get her a fresh ROM that is very stable (i may not get to fix phone for awhile if she has issues). Can anyone help me or point me in the right direction on which ROM is best and what is the best method (and easiest) to flash to it? If memory serves correct she is able to get into download mode so no worries there. And one more FYI, unfortunately the computer with all the files I used to help her out last time I no longer have. Fried motherboard so was unable to recover any files. Any help would be appreciated.
edit: the phone is also on Clockwork 2.5.1.3 with Voodoo Lagfix.

Pm sent
10 char

I used Firefly for a really long time. It's by no means new, but it runs great, looks AMAZING (including crazy nice stock wallpapers), and if you really don't know what you are doing, you might want to avoid flashing a gingerbread rom (where you could mess up the bootloaders causing you to brick the phone). And the ICS roms are still a little unstable so you might wanna avoid those as well. The Firefly thread has really detailed instructions too. Nothing wrong with good ol' Froyo! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=914284

Thanks man. I finally got gingerbread loaded up and haven't heard anything back from her so all I good I assume.