Database Develop

[SOLVED] Help to choose rooting method and backup method

Got my phone (AT&T Captivate, firmware 2.1-update1 version JH7, kernel 2.6.29, build eclair.UCJH7) on december 28 from a AT&T store (it even came with a pic taken december 20 ) and I've already been able to boot into download mode (power off, hold volume keys then plug usb) and into that menu used to install packages (power off, hold volume keys then power on). Guess my hardware and firmware are ok, so I may be able to recover my phone by myself in case things go south.
I've been doing my homework lately (been reading stickys, tutorials and faqs for 10 days) but I'm still confused about some procedures. I'm not going to list everything I've read here, but I would like someone to correct me if I've learnt wrong. I don't really need the easiest methods, I want to understand the options available and to choose the best ones (aka the hardest path).
First of all, it seems I need to root my phone in order to be able to create backups, carrier-unlock it and flash custom roms. But it doesn't make much sense to me, since rooting it seem to be enough to prevent it from receiving FOTA updates - and I want to make the most comprehensive backup possible, in such a way I could restore my phone to 'factory condition' if needed.
Second, I realize there are many ways, programs and guides to root the phone - the most famous ones, One-Click root/unroot and z4root, seem to be listed in the wiki (http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Samsung_Galaxy_S/SGH-I897), but there is also CLShortFuse's One-Click Root and Allow Non-Market Apps, which sounds interesting but I don't know if it is undo-able. So there are different ways to root the phone, but there is little to none information on what's the difference between these methods, which is 'better' and what difference does it make if I root it permanently or by some reversible method. Does it affect performance? How each of them work? I have no clue.
The mess gets even greater when it comes to creating backups. People mention different programs to make these backups (clockwork recovery, titanium backup) but I don't understand if they back up different parts of the phone. Some even seem to change the bootloader of the phone - shouldn't it be backed up prior to any modification? Do I flash these backups using Odin? Which programs should I use to have a full backup? Is there anything left I should back up manually?
I'll quit talking for now because I've already written a lot and I still have many questions; if I write all of them at once, no one will ever have the patience to read them.

Erk, a long post deserves a long answer
So first off, il tell you about recovering your phone. Since you just got it, you can go back to the store and play dumb to get a new one in case anything goes wrong. You can also use the 3 button combos to get into download mode and use odins back to stock to get back to your original 2.1 eclair firmware . To do that you would need to get into download mode. Now there are a couple ways to do this, and i can only explain two since ive actually used two. (Well 3 actually, but il get to the third after these 2)
The first method is using the 3 button combo which you should already know. The second method is using adb commands such as (adb shell, adb reboot download, adb reboot recovery, adb devices). The third way is building a jig. Thats basically connecting 301k 1/4 watt worth of resistors together and placing them on pin 4 and 5 on your micro usb slot. You can read more about that on the tutorial on how to build a jig for your phone.
To restore to your factory setting, odin's one click back to stock thing should do the job. It simple installs the stock 2.1 eclair all over again (without the root).
To root your phone, any method from the wiki should work. None of them are really "better" :S, they all do the same job and give you super user permissions. None of them root your permanently since you can always go back to stock using Odin's... It does not really affect performance, not to any extent i have noticed :S, and unfortunately, i dont really know how it works.
As for creating backups, Titanium Backup is the best solution. Whether you have the few extra bucks to spend for the premium one or simply want to use the free one, its one of the best tools out there. I personally use it and its one of the best. It backs up all the data (except for my text messages). It creates a folder on your internal memory which you can just copy to your desktop. When the time comes that you need to restore your backup, just copy the folder back into your internal memory, load up titanium backup. Restore it and voila .
I think ive answered everything, if ive missed anything, let me know
Edit : Forgot to mention this . If your truly interested in customization. Custom roms are the best there is a howto in the themes and apps section on how to install it. It comes pre-rooted (if that is the word to use :S) and theyre much better than the stock firmware. Im currently using serendipity v3.0 (flashed it yesterday)

supaphreek, guess I'll have to thank you twice: once for reading my enormous post, and again for you supacompleteanswer.
I'm being paranoid with recovery because I actually bought the phone in the US then came back to my country (Brazil), so I'm a few thousand miles away from the simple lets-return-this-thing solution.
From everything I've read, I believe the most instructive were the wiki at http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=Samsung_Galaxy_S/SGH-I897 , the FAQ at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=858765 , the PDF guide from user nbs11 at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=761819 and the wiki at http://www.capfaq.com/w/FAQ. These contain most of the info a newbie user would ever need and I'd definitely recommend them to any newbie user who happen to be reading this. And for everyone afraid of bricking, it's a tremendous relief to know pretty much any mess you do can be reverted using download mode and Odin, so the first thing to test is if you can get into download mode using one of the ways described by our buddy supaphreek.
On the rooting matter, I found no discussion at all about which is better, so they should be pretty similar (though I have no idea which is the oldest version, I'd assume the recent ones might be a little improved). There is some discussion on what's the better lagfix and many of the cooked ROMs already come with some lagfix installed, but this is another story...
Once I get my phone rooted, it seems to be trivial to carrier-unlock it. There's even an app on android market for this, so I won't even need sideloading. Since all this procedure does is just give me a number, there's hardly any difference among all the unlocking procedures out there.
For the backup, I'll still do it using both titanium and clockwork, as suggested by nbs11 on the pdf I've linked on this post. Better safe than sorry, right?
And yes, I'm truly interested in customization and I'll go deep down that path, I'm just packing up my head with some knowledge to avoid being desperate if things eventually go fubar.
As a last question, is there somewhere I can get 1-click Odin with my exact firmware version? (2.1-update1, I897UCJH7, Kernel 2.6.29 [email protected] #2, build eclair.ucjh7) And how important is it to get the exact same firmware?
As I've done my research, I found 1-click odin with JF6 here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=731989
I've also found the 'standalone' I897UCJH7 on this topic (where this guy even flashed succesfully his phone using old JH2 firmware without problems, so finding the exact firmware version might not be the greatest issue): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10056254&postcount=36 but this process is a bit more complicated and uses regular Odin and clockwork recovery. Nonetheless, from what I've understood, I can still use any old version of odin to flash JF6 then use my own clockwork backup, right?

Hmm, unfortunately, im not sure if there is a specific Odin for that firmware :S. However what you can do is use one that reverts you to any stock version, and then flash the version you want through clockwork mod

I'll do that. Thanks again!

Also if you one click to stock, you can OTA update to the most recent firnware. I suggest titanium premium if you are going to flash a lot of custom roms, it is a lot faster to restore and also syncs with dropbox
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Be careful trying to flash with odin. Some newer builds get instabrick flashing back to jf6 and must go with jh2 or newer.
So, you may want to invest a few bucks in a jig setup before blindly using odin.

Thanks for the tip, sixstringsg.
Newter55, as my phone is brand new I believe I may have one of these insta-brickable devices. If I happen to try flashing it with a recent rom, does it get recoverably bricked (fixed by flashing an older rom), or I'm left with a $500 paperweight?

You just need to use the correct firmware version of odin if you manage to get in trouble. Many people flash rom over rom, including myself, but it is highly likely that at some point you will need odin if you are flashing roms so it is best to ensure that you have that set up first. Look for the odin thread by c3popl (sp?) in development forum and you should find what you need. Read through that and look for others with your base firmware. Or look through q&a at the "help I bricked" threads . On my phone and posting links is a pita or I would make it easy for you.

If your phone came with JH7, follow this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10056254&postcount=36
If you use one of the Odin one-clicks and brick your phone, you'll need a USB jig to recover.

You guys are awesome. Thank you newter55 and GGXtreme for this info! I hope I'll never need it, but I'll buy a cable and make a jig.
The news: I've rooted my phone using One Click Root / Unroot by TGA_Gunnman (for the record: it worked with my JH7 Captivate bought in 28 dec). Once I booted windows, installed dotnet framework 4 and the samsung drivers (easy too, but a pita), rooting was easy and failproof. However, someone using linux might find it easier to just download 1-click root, find the root.zip file in there, rename it as update.zip, put the zip in the internal sdcard, boot the phone holding the volume buttons and then 'install packages'. This way there will be no need to fight Wine nor install anything nor look for a windows computer with admin privileges.
Also unlocked my phone using SGS Unlock Tool, available in the Android Market. The unrooted option won't work, but once rooted it worked like a champ. Next step: I'll do the backups, and then... start messing up my new toy!

[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?

Root and stay on stock 2.2.1?

Hello,
I read most of the guide but couldn't find certain answers there nor by search, but apologies if I missed them elsewhere.
1) I'm happy with my SGS, I always used stock ROMs and am now on 2.2.1. I'd like to get root access and leave the rest as it is, however.
Is there any way to get root access with the stock 2.2.1 ROM without switching to a completely different ROM (as said, I like the stock ROM and don't feel like changing the layout, features and all that come with a new ROM)?
I saw that superoneclick thread but apparently it didn't work for everyone and questions are usually not answered there if people run into trouble so I didn't dare that yet.
2) Still a bit confused about the 2 modes. Do I need recovery mode to work? Or will download mode do to flash (if I have to) and rescue/fix my phone if something goes wrong?
My 3 combo button never worked so I bought a JIG dongle on ebay which gets my phone into download mode at least, but I still have no recovery mode yet that's why I'm asking.
Thanks!

There's an app called Quick Boot which will allow you to get into recovery mode but you need to have phone rooted.
Note though that Froyo uses 3e and I've tried to use update zips, wont take without going down to 2e recovery.

Landorin said:
Hello,
I read most of the guide but couldn't find certain answers there nor by search, but apologies if I missed them elsewhere.
1) I'm happy with my SGS, I always used stock ROMs and am now on 2.2.1. I'd like to get root access and leave the rest as it is, however.
Is there any way to get root access with the stock 2.2.1 ROM without switching to a completely different ROM (as said, I like the stock ROM and don't feel like changing the layout, features and all that come with a new ROM)?
I saw that superoneclick thread but apparently it didn't work for everyone and questions are usually not answered there if people run into trouble so I didn't dare that yet.
2) Still a bit confused about the 2 modes. Do I need recovery mode to work? Or will download mode do to flash (if I have to) and rescue/fix my phone if something goes wrong?
My 3 combo button never worked so I bought a JIG dongle on ebay which gets my phone into download mode at least, but I still have no recovery mode yet that's why I'm asking.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Warning etc I take no resposibility if you break something etc
First of all fix your 3 button for recovery, there should be some guides around here.
1. Try that superoneclick you posted the link to. If it wont work it wont work... But it will.
2. Recovery you need only if you want to tinker with the rom a little more and to do nice stuffs like backup. Or for a recovery
Oh and I am on stock rom + custom kernel + another modem and happy with it.
First I was rooted and the rest was as it is and I rooted with the super one click root . Dont forget USB debugging on. Once you root though I think wont be long till you start customizing a little . Good start is a nice good custom kernel

If you want to stick with stock you could try these stock roms which come pre-rooted, zip-aligned and deodexed (making them smoother and allowing the application of themes).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=948790
To fix the three button combo have a read of this thread. The OP of this one is really helpful if you're not sure what to do. I had to do this and it was the most nerve racking thing i've done to my phone as if this screws up you'll be sending it for repair.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=821698

Thanks a lot to all of you for your answers!
Had my first successful flash today (3 button combo mode) and will now take a more in depth look at rooting etc.
So far, I feel more comfortable to try a rooted stock kernel maybe instead of superoneclick.
However, if I had to unroot for any reason, how can I do that if I flashed the kernel?
The way I understood about ROMs and Kernels is that ROMs already contain kernels. So flashing a stock ROM would get me back to a stock kernel and the phone would be unrooted again?

you can also just flash a kernel and root such as cfroot or speedmod..

Jamalsid said:
If you want to stick with stock you could try these stock roms which come pre-rooted, zip-aligned and deodexed (making them smoother and allowing the application of themes).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=948790
To fix the three button combo have a read of this thread. The OP of this one is really helpful if you're not sure what to do. I had to do this and it was the most nerve racking thing i've done to my phone as if this screws up you'll be sending it for repair.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=821698
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To un-root you can just flash a stock ROM (look in the general section to find them).
If you like stock ROMS then like the person above stated you can just flash a pure stock ROM then flash a new kernel (i.e. speedmod, voodoo etc.).
Good to hear the 3-button flash worked for you, now it is very difficult to brick your phone as you should always have the 3-button download mode which enables flashing with Odin.
Just be careful when picking a stock ROM, especially if its new, to check if it includes a new bootloader!!

Thanks all again!

and good on you for being sensible enough to get a jig.....best fiver I spent in ages. Every time I flashed back to an early stock it trashed my bootloader.
no worries about flashing now

Landorin said:
Hello,
I read most of the guide but couldn't find certain answers there nor by search, but apologies if I missed them elsewhere.
1) I'm happy with my SGS, I always used stock ROMs and am now on 2.2.1. I'd like to get root access and leave the rest as it is, however.
Is there any way to get root access with the stock 2.2.1 ROM without switching to a completely different ROM (as said, I like the stock ROM and don't feel like changing the layout, features and all that come with a new ROM)?
I saw that superoneclick thread but apparently it didn't work for everyone and questions are usually not answered there if people run into trouble so I didn't dare that yet.
2) Still a bit confused about the 2 modes. Do I need recovery mode to work? Or will download mode do to flash (if I have to) and rescue/fix my phone if something goes wrong?
My 3 combo button never worked so I bought a JIG dongle on ebay which gets my phone into download mode at least, but I still have no recovery mode yet that's why I'm asking.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mate if you just want a simple to apply root access I would just use Z4root... its not used so much anymore but it works well and can be installed by just installing the app(can't be obtained from android market, internet only)..
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=833953
otherwise you can just use Odin to flash CF-Root ( I do this all the time on stock firmware and works perfectly every time).
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=788108

mossy1963 said:
and good on you for being sensible enough to get a jig.....best fiver I spent in ages. Every time I flashed back to an early stock it trashed my bootloader.
no worries about flashing now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my thought.
Bluephantom3 said:
Mate if you just want a simple to apply root access I would just use Z4root.
[...]
otherwise you can just use Odin to flash CF-Root ( I do this all the time on stock firmware and works perfectly every time).
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=788108
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used z4root on 2.2 but afaik z4root no longer works with 2.2.1.
I did flash the CF Kernel now and quite happy with it so far.
By the way, is it a bad idea trying to flash with Odin if the phone is connected via a USB hub instead of connecting it to the direct usb port? Each flashing failed on the 1st attempt (worked on the 2nd), no matter what I flashed so far. Some searching here indicates a hub is not recommended.
If that's the case, why is that not mentioned in all those read-me-first guides (or maybe I missed it somewhere)? Not every first-flash user will have a JIG at hand.

You're right you should have the USB cable plugged into a USB port on the motherboard (not a port in your pc case or a hub) for the least chance of flash failure.
Not sure why though tbh, I think it may have something to do with the Samsung USB drivers that get installed with Kies being a bit flaky.

[Q] Froyo to Voodoo..WITHOUT Odin

I have not specifically found this issue anywhere so hopefully when we can find the answer it will help alot of people looking to install Voodoo in the future.
As the name suggests, I need to install the Voodoo lag fix on a Froyo I9000 with minimal risk and hassle as I use my phone for my business so can't be without it for even a day, and don't know enough about the intricacies of the OS to be able to dig myself out of a hole I might get myself into.
So I wanted to check if anyone has done this before, and if it will work/is the right way to go about this. I dont want to use Odin it is too risky IMO.
My phone is currently stock, and unrooted. Is this the correct process?...
NB. Build Number: FROYO.DTJP5, Baseband: I9000DTJP3
1. Root using TGA_gunnman's one-click tool, info on which can be found here: addictivetips dot com /mobile/how-to-root-and-unroot-samsung-galaxy-s-i9000-with-a-single-click
2. Install Clockworkmod, further info can be found here: addictivetips dot com /mobile/what-is-clockworkmod-recovery-and-how-to-use-it-on-android-complete-guide
3. Use CWM to flash voodoo (found here dl.project-voodoo dot org /stock+Voodoo/update_zips/ , or here dl.project-voodoo dot org) P. S. how do we know which one to use/is the right one for our phone?
Any verification or elaboration on these steps would be greatly appreciated!
P.P.S. I know there are multiple ways to possibly do this, but I am looking for the process that requires the least hassle & expert knowledge, and first and foremost the lowest amount of (bricking) risk.

Well you should probably check you have download mode and recovery button combos working first(vol up, home, power for recovery/vol down, home,power for download(do a battery pull to get out of it). Then to be safe after rooting you should back up the EFS, search to find out how and what. Then your method seems fine(not the addictive tips has a separate page for installing CWM on the i9000). Personally I think it would be easier to use Odin, it's quicker and definitely less hassle, and if you do make a mistake Odin is normally your backup, if you know how to use it you should be able to get yourself back up and running.

Thanks heaps for the info shrapnel, I have a bit more reading to do..
I will do some further research and come back with an updated process, hopefully one I have tried and tested myself!
In the meantime if anyone has any further input to share, I am definitely listening.

So once you have installed the Voodoo kernel(The kernel is like the core of the OS which controls between software and hardware) you have CWM, and with that you can install new rom's(Only froyo ones) and change all sorts of things. And I think the kernel itself has the option to root in it(I used to use Speedmod so I'm not to familiar with it). So good luck and be sure to ask anything before you flash anything

Need Help with Custom Roms.

Hi guys.
I am not a n00b per se, i have done my fair share of Desire rooting and things. Now that my friend asked me to do his Galaxy s for him i got lost. He have JV5 which i cannot find on CF-ROOT method. Any help there maybe. I got it rooted, with one-click-root. Now i would like to get a CWRecovery and flash from there. As much as in Desire it was quite easy, here i get lost which kernels i can use? If i have a UK Mobile with 3 branding which kernels i can use to do not loose my data and calls. I know it is related to the modem version, which as i mentioned is jv5. Again could not find it.
So in few easy points:
1.) would like to get CWRecovery on my friends mobile.
2.) would like to know which kernels would be suitable for me (JV5 user)
I guess once i know this everything else would be easy.
Thank you all kindly for looking and helping.
Regards
Kirior

Download ODIN, then grab the latest firmware from here for your country
http://www.sammobile.com. You will need to register, buts its well worth it.
Once you have got your phone into download mode (press HOME, VOL DOWN AND POWER) together then it will be seen by ODIN.
ODIN instructions here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1259240
Once flashed the rom, then flash a kernel, I use this one:-http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1112908
Then boot, then power off reboot holding down HOME, VOL UP AND POWER to access cwm, then you can install any custom rom from sdcard.
MAke sure you backup from cwm first tho!

thx my man, will do. Seems easy and very straight forward. I guess no one could go wrong with this . THX Again.

If you still need any help, we're here for you