Database Develop

First Attempt at Modding my Samsung Captivate…..

I just got my first REAL smartphone, actually it’s still on FedEx truck.
From reading the stickies on this forum, here’s what I gathered so far (and I am starting from scratch – nothing on my phone yet)
1) Root my phone with the ‘OneClick’ tool.
2) Install ROM (I am thinking Cognition, since it’s recommended for beginner).
3) Install Theme (haven’t decide on one yet) – any suggestions?
So, am I missing anything?

You seem to have a good grasp on what you are doing. I do recommend buying/making a Jig to have around just in case.

You're well on your way.
Make sure and read up on bootloaders and the difference between 2.1/2.2 and 2.3 bootloaders as getting this wrong is the main thing that can lead to "big" trouble.
Also take a look at Odin, Odin One Click return to stock and make sure and know the difference between those and the Odin One Click w/3 Button Combo.

thanks guys, i think i have a good idea of what i want to do but i am still struggling to find the details to do the above.
for example, what difference if my phone batch is 1010, or 1012, or older?
do i need to get an microsd card, if so what size/brand?
what sofware do i need to download?
etc, etc. etc.
i will continue to browse through the forums, but if you know of any links please post.
also, what does the jig do? do i need to have one?
thanks

First decide what u want to do, As u stated first root the phone and then u want a custom ROM, So go ahead and try it.
Only thing i will advice start from a froyo rom then to the gingerbread as there would be less chances to brick your phone while flashing the b.loades.
Read the OP properly of the ROM which you want to flash there are many good froyo rom available here. But just be sure what u are doing.

Please for the love of all things unholy, read this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1049294
and if the phone comes with froyo you will need this after rooting before flashing a rom http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052991

At the start DEFINITE GUIDE TO BRICKING, LOL.
Its just a joke be sure you read it all.

rkkaranrk said:
First decide what u want to do, As u stated first root the phone and then u want a custom ROM, So go ahead and try it.
Only thing i will advice start from a froyo rom then to the gingerbread as there would be less chances to brick your phone while flashing the b.loades.
Read the OP properly of the ROM which you want to flash there are many good froyo rom available here. But just be sure what u are doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, yes from what i've read it's better to stay away from the gingerbread roms - at least for novice like myself.

My personal favorite were Firefly 3.0 and serendipity 6.4 links below.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=900568
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=914284
Again i will say read the OP carefully before flashing.

I have a few Captivates in the family and IMHO the first thinkg to do before flashing anything is to purchase Root Explorer in the market (for around $4) then back up your EFS folder (in the main directory) and save it to a cd so you ALWAYS have a hard copy of it. These files are specific to your phone and if they get screwed up during flashing, you phone may not be able to be used as a phone anymore. The back up copy will save you.
All of the above stuff is good. I was a noob about 6 months ago but I spent hours upon hours of reading and watching videos about flashing and moding. Good luck!

rkkaranrk said:
My personal favorite were Firefly 3.0 and serendipity 6.4 links below.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=900568
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=914284
Again i will say read the OP carefully before flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, but what do you mean "read the OP carefully"

jack man said:
I have a few Captivates in the family and IMHO the first thinkg to do before flashing anything is to purchase Root Explorer in the market (for around $4) then back up your EFS folder (in the main directory) and save it to a cd so you ALWAYS have a hard copy of it. These files are specific to your phone and if they get screwed up during flashing, you phone may not be able to be used as a phone anymore. The back up copy will save you.
All of the above stuff is good. I was a noob about 6 months ago but I spent hours upon hours of reading and watching videos about flashing and moding. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great, these are what i love to hear.
things to do, or not to do, before modding/flashing.

smokarz said:
thanks, but what do you mean "read the OP carefully"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the OP is the original post or poster, like your first question is the op, and you are also the op of the thread. in that context he meant the original post, because that will have most of the information about the rom...but i would expand on that to read the op and the a couple of pages in, and also if its a large thread with alot of posts read atleast the LAST 5 or 6 pages also.
anymore terms you are unfamiliar with read the op of this thread carefully: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1093062

thanks for clarying.
just got my phone in the mail.
i looked at the batch number under the battery slot and it shows 1106.
does this mean i have version 2.1 or 2.2? what would be the appropriate app/tool for rooting?
thanks

The batch had nothing to do with the firmware....that just means your phone was built in june of 2011. But since it's a new phone it more than likely has 2.2 confirm this in settings>about phone> firmware version.
Use super one click to root.
BUT FIRST PLEASE READ SOME MORE.
All of the information you are looking is already on here at the very least twice probably WAY more.

it is indeed version 2.2

so i read the first page of this thread and also watched the youtube clip. it looks straight enough to root. but i got a question. should i run the universal root or the captivate root?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682&page=442

smokarz said:
so i read the first page of this thread and also watched the youtube clip. it looks straight enough to root. but i got a question. should i run the universal root or the captivate root?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682&page=442
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would use SuperOneClick to root 2.2, however, the only version that was successful for me was version 1.6.5. The newer versions gave me errors or said FAILED when trying to root. For me, it has always worked with 1.6.5

thanks, but i only see v1.7 and v1.95. where can i get v1.65?
also, i do not need the samsung driver for rooting right? only for flashing?

smokarz said:
thanks, but i only see v1.7 and v1.95. where can i get v1.65?
also, i do not need the samsung driver for rooting right? only for flashing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should have the driver installed on your computer for anything you do with the phone. Make sure after you install drivers to plug in your phone to the computer in all the different modes it has - in debugging mode, not in debug mode, in download mode, and connecting as an external drive. The computer will install all the drivers when you do this.
I will try to attach v1.6.5 of Super One CLick. I hope it's ok with the moderators here that I am posting the software. Just unzip the folder and double click the android icon in that folder.

[Q] Rooted and installed the ICS Rom. Can I go back to Stock if necessary?

Hello. First off, I want to thank everyone for their hard work here. I have followed many tutorials and have seen many great conversations to keep noobs like me from making mistakes when trying to delve into the world of ROMs and rooting. However, I did encounter some troubles while installing the ICS rom onto my bionic (running on .902). I think I may have accidentally overwritten the stock rom backup that I made with safe strap or whatever that app is (I'm sorry, like I said, I am a complete noob). Is there a way to restore the phone to stock, as in before I even touched it, even if the backup I made during the process is gone by my mistake?
I'm sure this has been asked a million times, and if so, I apologize, but as I noob, I have no idea how to even begin to search for clues. Walkthroughs would be nice, but links are fine too, since I'm sure there are plenty of the same questions out there.
Thanks!!!

Pete's motorola tools check it out you will find what you need there just google Pete's tool bionic
Sent from my XT875 using XDA App

Also I believe if you disable safe mode it will boot up rooted stock from don't quote me on that I am not for sure. Also I believe there is a unroot method in development not sure if it is for 902 or not though..
Sent from my XT875 using XDA App

Thanks for the info!

No problem here to help
Sent from my AXI0M IONIC using XDA App

R3l3as3DRoot and for3v3r root will take you back to 886
Sent from the Evil Empire

Thanks! Can that be used after the .902 update? Is it possible to do a dual-boot type deal between stock and the ICS version I have installed? I've seen mentions of dual-boot around here, but I can't get a clear grasp on whether it is possible or not, or if so, how to do it. Thank you very much!

Lonepalm said:
Thanks! Can that be used after the .902 update? Is it possible to do a dual-boot type deal between stock and the ICS version I have installed? I've seen mentions of dual-boot around here, but I can't get a clear grasp on whether it is possible or not, or if so, how to do it. Thank you very much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm sure you can.
Get on stock .902(here).
Install SafeStrap.
Backup Stock Rom by Toggling "SafeMode"
Boot up ICS.
When you want to go to Stock .902 undo "SafeMode" and the Stock Rom should boot up on Reboot

Thanks for the answer! Hopefully I can give this a shot soon!

Lonepalm said:
Thanks for the answer! Hopefully I can give this a shot soon!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah those instructions above are correct. I just came back from the AOKP ICS Rom to stock. 902. Worked fine. I have all my apps and stuff too.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Don't know what I'm doing wrong here, but when I plug my phone in to my PC, the phone realizes it, but doesn't seem like the PC does. Also, when I open RSD Lite and try to load the file, it doesn't do anything after clicking "Start". Please help me try to diagnose what I may be doing wrong if you can! Thank you!

Lonepalm said:
Don't know what I'm doing wrong here, but when I plug my phone in to my PC, the phone realizes it, but doesn't seem like the PC does. Also, when I open RSD Lite and try to load the file, it doesn't do anything after clicking "Start". Please help me try to diagnose what I may be doing wrong if you can! Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Enable Usb Debugging and Unknown Sources. Download Motohelper drivers
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

I'm sorry I probably should be a little more specific. I have both of those enabled and I do have the Motohelper drivers installed. I am following the steps here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22758211#post22758211
On step 8, I do not see a file named FXZ or a file with that extension, but I figured it was the file with the name that the zip file had. I chose that file after clicking "..." and hit Start, but it doesn't do anything.
I am running the ICS version cyanogen mod 9.0.0-rc0-droid_bionic-kang build number alpha_2012_02_10
I already have SafeStrap installed (used that to get this rom on). So, looks like I'm stuck on or around step 8 from the other steps posted. Once I can get past that, I can continue with the steps posted in this thread!
Thanks!!!

Lonepalm said:
I'm sorry I probably should be a little more specific. I have both of those enabled and I do have the Motohelper drivers installed. I am following the steps here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22758211#post22758211
On step 8, I do not see a file named FXZ or a file with that extension, but I figured it was the file with the name that the zip file had. I chose that file after clicking "..." and hit Start, but it doesn't do anything.
I am running the ICS version cyanogen mod 9.0.0-rc0-droid_bionic-kang build number alpha_2012_02_10
I already have SafeStrap installed (used that to get this rom on). So, looks like I'm stuck on or around step 8 from the other steps posted. Once I can get past that, I can continue with the steps posted in this thread!
Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SafeStrap disables ADB(that Im sure of) which will not let RSD run(im pretty sure) you have to select the xml file
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Yes, the XML file is the one I select. However, it will not do anything in RSD. Is there anything I can do to enable ADB in order to let RSD run?

Update: I found a way to do it. I think things are going okay so far. Looks like it is installing. If it does install successfully, I would like to do everything perfectly right going forward.
So, after this is installed, I will want to:
1. Get root access again using Motofail? I assume doing this return to stock will remove root access.
2. Install SafeStrap. Once that is done, I toggle Safemode to enabled, which will backup my stock rom and protect it from being overwritten?
3. Then, flash ICS from the zip files on my sdcard?

Lonepalm said:
Update: I found a way to do it. I think things are going okay so far. Looks like it is installing. If it does install successfully, I would like to do everything perfectly right going forward.
So, after this is installed, I will want to:
1. Get root access again using Motofail? I assume doing this return to stock will remove root access.
2. Install SafeStrap. Once that is done, I toggle Safemode to enabled, which will backup my stock rom and protect it from being overwritten?
3. Then, flash ICS from the zip files on my sdcard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sir.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Switched from HTC

As the title says, I switched from HTC to the bionic, I am so lost on this thing and the guides don't help. All I have done is rooted, I'm on .905 and I don't have a single clue on how to get ICS to work on this thing. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Garrett07 said:
As the title says, I switched from HTC to the bionic, I am so lost on this thing and the guides don't help. All I have done is rooted, I'm on .905 and I don't have a single clue on how to get ICS to work on this thing. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(1) Make sure you have RSD Lite 5.7 and an FXZ file of 5.9.905 handy as a failsafe backup in case you wreck your phone.
(2) There are numerous threads around the Bionic forums with links to download leaked builds of ICS. Build 6.7.232 is recommended, as you can still FXZ your phone back to factory state if something really goes wrong.
(3) The ICS Leaks only install under Stock Recovery. Power on the Bionic by holding VolDown while pressing Power. You can then go into Recovery from there.
You'll quickly find that Motorola phones have quite an extra degree of difficulty if you wish to run mods and hacks. If you're careful about following instructions though, you'll have a hard time truly bricking your phone.

projektorboy said:
(1) Make sure you have RSD Lite 5.7 and an FXZ file of 5.9.905 handy as a failsafe backup in case you wreck your phone.
(2) There are numerous threads around the Bionic forums with links to download leaked builds of ICS. Build 6.7.232 is recommended, as you can still FXZ your phone back to factory state if something really goes wrong.
(3) The ICS Leaks only install under Stock Recovery. Power on the Bionic by holding VolDown while pressing Power. You can then go into Recovery from there.
You'll quickly find that Motorola phones have quite an extra degree of difficulty if you wish to run mods and hacks. If you're careful about following instructions though, you'll have a hard time truly bricking your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man, I'll give it a shot.

I've been running .232 and its truly amazing
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda app-developers app

Finally got it working yesterday, the battery life is awesome, and I can actually use my phone now XD Thanks for the help, did have to FXZ it was just a pain in the ass on windows 8.

Garrett07 said:
Finally got it working yesterday, the battery life is awesome, and I can actually use my phone now XD Thanks for the help, did have to FXZ it was just a pain in the ass on windows 8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which ICS ROM did you end up going with? I never seemed to be able to get good battery life on my Bionic...

ctyonthehil said:
Which ICS ROM did you end up going with? I never seemed to be able to get good battery life on my Bionic...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
liquid 1.5 seems to do pretty well battery wise for me

Help with going back to stock

My wife has a Droid 3. She's had it for a year and just recently had some problems. Long story short, we ended up getting a warranty like new replacement phone. I need to put the old phone back to stock. I'm not too familiar with Motorola phones (I mainly own and work with Samsung Androids). I've been looking through threads but am having a tough time making heads or tails of how to put this thing back to stock. Some of the threads I've found are a little older with outdated links. Can someone please point me in the right direction here with some good directions? Thanks much!

SOTK said:
My wife has a Droid 3. She's had it for a year and just recently had some problems. Long story short, we ended up getting a warranty like new replacement phone. I need to put the old phone back to stock. I'm not too familiar with Motorola phones (I mainly own and work with Samsung Androids). I've been looking through threads but am having a tough time making heads or tails of how to put this thing back to stock. Some of the threads I've found are a little older with outdated links. Can someone please point me in the right direction here with some good directions? Thanks much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quickest and easyest is to sbf..
first go to settings/about phone and see what the system version is... .890 or .906
the clcick the link in my sig..
if your on. 890 download the. zip at the top of the thread and install that using rsdlite
if your on. 906 download the 1click .exe file and follow the directions..

ovelayer said:
quickest and easyest is to sbf..
first go to settings/about phone and see what the system version is... .890 or .906
the clcick the link in my sig..
if your on. 890 download the. zip at the top of the thread and install that using rsdlite
if your on. 906 download the 1click .exe file and follow the directions..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, much! That worked like a champ and was exactly what I was looking for!

I may have spoke too soon; it just stays at the Motorola Dual Core boot image. Maybe I am not waiting long enough? I waited for like 9 minutes and no booting. I used the one click after checking the version. In the script, I got "okays" for everything. The phone rebooted. Everything seemed to go fine. So, not sure what's up. As I said, maybe I didn't give it enough time?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

SOTK said:
I may have spoke too soon; it just stays at the Motorola Dual Core boot image. Maybe I am not waiting long enough? I waited for like 9 minutes and no booting. I used the one click after checking the version. In the script, I got "okays" for everything. The phone rebooted. Everything seemed to go fine. So, not sure what's up. As I said, maybe I didn't give it enough time?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like it soft bricked ( which is fixable ).
Im just a lurker so im not sure how to fix lol

Rooting Bionic; using SafeStrap

I've Google quite a bit on this subject but I am not sure which method to use - I want to root my wife's Bionic so I can get here on CM. She's currently on stock 4.1.2 JB, 98.72.22.XT875.en.us CDMA.
What's the easiest and safest way to do this? Does the Easy Root method on this forum work with this version of the Bionic? Are there other better ways to do this?
Finally, once I do get root, will SafeStrap work on the Bionic?
Thx.
-Tom

Read. and then read some more. You might slap your self later if you skip this step
Go with the easy root, the one with the virtual machine setup. The root method requires a Linux setup to be used and the VM is the short cut you're looking for.
Safe strap should have no problems, provided you read. and follow all the instructions that have been laid out here for you to read.
safestrap 3.65 will allow you to boot the newest builds of Cyanogenmod.
If anything were to go wrong, you'll want to read about the house of moto.
Let me know if you need any help along the way.

chrisp6825 said:
Read. and then read some more. You might slap your self later if you skip this step
Go with the easy root, the one with the virtual machine setup. The root method requires a Linux setup to be used and the VM is the short cut you're looking for.
Safe strap should have no problems, provided you read. and follow all the instructions that have been laid out here for you to read.
safestrap 3.65 will allow you to boot the newest builds of Cyanogenmod.
If anything were to go wrong, you'll want to read about the house of moto.
Let me know if you need any help along the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disregard this guy. Theres a much easier way to root. Then use safestrap. I posted a question about if theres an unlocked bootloader method or not yet. But go with the way i showed you, i used it a multitude of times (bricked my phone a few times when flashing roms. Oops) and it worked fine every time. Double click a .bat file, and press space/enter a few times, and your rooted. If anything goes wrong, feel free to PM me or email me @ [email protected]