[Q] Terminology Translation and Basic Guidance Please? - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've got a GSM Hero, rooted, running a custom 2.2 ROM. Rooting my Hero, flashing a custom recovery image, and then using any update.zip was super simple.
Now I'm getting a Vibrant and I'd like to unlock it (which looks pretty simple) and install the various fixes for lag and GPS. The problem is that all the Vibrant devs seem to use completely different terminology for everything than the Hero devs.
Ideally, I'd like to run a rooted stock ROM with the lag and GPS fixes. Can anyone point me in the right direction and maybe explain the J15, J3, Odin, etc things in Hero terms lol?

QuantumRand said:
I've got a GSM Hero, rooted, running a custom 2.2 ROM. Rooting my Hero, flashing a custom recovery image, and then using any update.zip was super simple.
Now I'm getting a Vibrant and I'd like to unlock it (which looks pretty simple) and install the various fixes for lag and GPS. The problem is that all the Vibrant devs seem to use completely different terminology for everything than the Hero devs.
Ideally, I'd like to run a rooted stock ROM with the lag and GPS fixes. Can anyone point me in the right direction and maybe explain the J15, J3, Odin, etc things in Hero terms lol?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ji5 is just the last digits from any update that is released by samsung. Like build 11353_ji5 or 22144_ji6. Odin is a program used to flash different roms onto the vibrant. Read the "Read before posting" sticky in the android development section for the vibrant. That should help further
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Related

Stupid noob needs help

Hey guys !
I've been around here for many years but have allways been using Windows Mobile phones. I've had a Hero for about a year and i must say that i am very pleased with it. It works so damn good ! I've been flashing roms on windows mobile phones and even created roms my self.
However this Android / Linux world is so new to me that i have no idea what i need to do in order to simply flash a rom on my Hero!
What i get is that i need to root my device. There are some few guides for this in the wiki but i still do not know if my Hero is a Virgin og a Telus. How can i see this?
Also i see a lot of Linux based talk and commands (i presume) that i do not understand anything of. Do we have any desciption of the most common used commands and such stuff so new people like me can get a better understanding of what you guys are actually talking about?
When i learn all this i will edit the wiki with the information. And as i am new it is easier for me to fill in what is missing if you understand
.. And yes i have searched!
Da9L said:
Hey guys !
I've been around here for many years but have allways been using Windows Mobile phones. I've had a Hero for about a year and i must say that i am very pleased with it. It works so damn good ! I've been flashing roms on windows mobile phones and even created roms my self.
However this Android / Linux world is so new to me that i have no idea what i need to do in order to simply flash a rom on my Hero!
What i get is that i need to root my device. There are some few guides for this in the wiki but i still do not know if my Hero is a Virgin og a Telus. How can i see this?
Also i see a lot of Linux based talk and commands (i presume) that i do not understand anything of. Do we have any desciption of the most common used commands and such stuff so new people like me can get a better understanding of what you guys are actually talking about?
When i learn all this i will edit the wiki with the information. And as i am new it is easier for me to fill in what is missing if you understand
.. And yes i have searched!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theunlockr.com is an excellent source of information on rooting/flashing your Hero.
nprussell said:
Theunlockr.com is an excellent source of information on rooting/flashing your Hero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seconded.
And when you're unlocked, check out Villain and Vanillain ROM's (check out previous post), definitely two of the best
if you want to know if your phone is rooted download and install "Super user" and run it,you will then know if your phone is rooted or not.
I,like you,was a WM user and found android to be more complicated,but in fact it´s not...once you root your phone and install Amon-RA recovery ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4549551&postcount=1 ) its much easier and simple to do things.
theres a sticky in this sub-forum with wiki-guides,read it!
Branwen said:
Seconded.
And when you're unlocked, check out Villain and Vanillain ROM's (check out previous post), definitely two of the best
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True used a lot those roms.
Waiting patiently for a Vanillain rom based in eris dump.
Right now im still using AychTeeSee's just to be able to use the Buuf Theme
I'm in the exact same situation as Da9L . Could you please let me know if flashing a new ROM will also change the Firmware version?
Currently my firmware is 1.5. I've seen on a friend's G1 the voice search widget and I'm dying to get that on my device. From what I've been told, i need to get a newer firmware, but I've got no idea on how to do this.
Any help would be appreciated ^_^
Some questions:
So the short line of the process of flashing a custom rom is when using unbranded htc hero:
1. Downgrade my software to 1.76, as iam using the newest
2. Root the device acording to _this_ guide
3. Perform a backup
4. Flash the custom rom as i flash a stock rom?
Is that it? It leads me to some more questions
What is this "recovery image" and is there any reason to flash a new one?
And why is there any reason to change this at all ?
How do i get danish xt9 for sms?
And please i have a feeling that i am getting this wrong.. Can you please explain to me the procedure of doing all this ?
Is there any benefit by flashing a rom?
I mean the stock rom actually runs pretty good and is stable. A custom rom is likely to be a little more unstable than a stock rom, but often give you more speed and newer features. This is when we are talking Windows Mobile, but is it the same here? What are the pros and cons by flashing a custom rom over the stock rom?
Da9L said:
Is there any benefit by flashing a rom?
I mean the stock rom actually runs pretty good and is stable. A custom rom is likely to be a little more unstable than a stock rom, but often give you more speed and newer features. This is when we are talking Windows Mobile, but is it the same here? What are the pros and cons by flashing a custom rom over the stock rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It varies depending on the ROM tbh. It's a bit like the high-tech version of 'how long's a piece of string'?
Really, you're likely to get improved performance, root permissions, user interface tweaks, different versions of applications that are better than the default ones, maybe a custom kernel (if it's a 1.5 release you're looking at).
The custom kernels can have better performance due to optimisations in them. Not sure how much of this is like winmo (never had a winmo phone, all I know is that you are able to install alternative ROMs on them), but with android the core OS is open source, so you get more performance boosts under the hood.
Anyone able to add to that?
anon2122 said:
It varies depending on the ROM tbh. It's a bit like the high-tech version of 'how long's a piece of string'?
Really, you're likely to get improved performance, root permissions, user interface tweaks, different versions of applications that are better than the default ones, maybe a custom kernel (if it's a 1.5 release you're looking at).
The custom kernels can have better performance due to optimisations in them. Not sure how much of this is like winmo (never had a winmo phone, all I know is that you are able to install alternative ROMs on them), but with android the core OS is open source, so you get more performance boosts under the hood.
Anyone able to add to that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds great. However, since this is so new to me i do not know what new tweaks and apps i will be able to use and get if you follow me? When i have flashed a new custom rom, propably android 2.1, i do not know what new things it has and therefore where and how to use these new functions. And does the real advantage in a custom rom also get to a normal user or is the advantages more directed at the developers or?

noob questions (upgrading)

Hi, I've done tons of Windows mobile upgrades in the past but despite reading through the posts on here, I'm still stuck.
1) I have a HTC Hero (UK Vodafone with the original rom) and want to upgrade to 2.1 in the quickest / smoothest way
2) I'm not bothered about keeping anything at all on the phone
3) Can I use one of official HTC 2.1 roms? If so, will that be easier? i.e. will I need 'rooted' ROMS etc?
Many thanks
vicious6969 said:
Hi, I've done tons of Windows mobile upgrades in the past but despite reading through the posts on here, I'm still stuck.
1) I have a HTC Hero (UK Vodafone with the original rom) and want to upgrade to 2.1 in the quickest / smoothest way
2) I'm not bothered about keeping anything at all on the phone
3) Can I use one of official HTC 2.1 roms? If so, will that be easier? i.e. will I need 'rooted' ROMS etc?
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are remotely interested in rooting or using custom software, then DON'T TOUCH OFFICIAL UPDATES. If you install an official HTC update, you won't be able to root again.
TBH, you are better installing a rooted custom ROM. If you choose to go down this route, you have come to the right place.
In terms of ROMs which are very close to the official HTC update (ie. have HTC Sense), take a look at (in no particular order, all are pretty similar)
VillainROM 10.2
Cronos 1.x (can't remember what is latest version)
42Turkey's ROM
Modaco Custom ROM 4.0
etc.
or just browse round the site till something takes your fancy.
Thread moved to Q&A.
and use BTDAG's guide linked in my signature for step by step instructions on how to do it.
Many thanks for all your help.
I followed it to the letter (using gold card method)
and it worked a treat.
Used Villain Rom in the end.
I've flashed loads of windows mobiles and iphones before but never an android device. This was my boss's phone so was a bit nervous.
It's certainly more complicated than flashing windows or iphones but just as satisfying!
Cheers
Now you'v done the hard leg work it'l be much easier for your boss from now on.

Looking for Direction

So... Big Red sent me an email today saying that Im eligible for a new phone. While I'd love a thunderbolt (save the not-so-great screen resolution), my budget is more along the lines of the Fascinate. My biggest reason for choosing this phone, other than having specs that are quite in line with the D2 and DX, is that I can FINALLY get away from having a locked bootloader. Sadly, while the D2 is a great phone, it's all but dead as the independent development community can't support the phone to the full extent.
Anyways, having done my research, I've landed here =)
I have about a year under my belt with applying custom ROMs, unbricking my phone via .sbf files using Motorola's RSDlite program, overclocking, and even designing and applying my own splash screens. I know, obviously, that the Fasciante is going to be an entirely different animal than what Im used to.
Basically Im wondering if some of you guys with experience could point me in the right direction as far as rooting methods, installing a custom recovery (is there more than one? Or rather, a preferred one?), and which kernel's and ROMs would you guys recommend?
All of your input is much appreciated, as I look forward to becoming a part of your community in the very near future =) Many thanks in advance!
**edit: pardon my idiocy, I just realized I posted this in the wrong section. my apologies.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
This thread should get you started:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1053567
Community ROM and Evil Fascination ROM seem to be the most stable/popular/best ROMs out there at the moment and they both come with kernels installed so you don't need to worry about that. However, I suggest you do some reading to form your own opinion and gain some knowledge about these ROMs/kernels before you go ahead and flash them. Everything you need is in the threads for these ROMs:
Evil Fascination: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1035420
Community: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1050453
As for your question about custom recoveries (ClockworkMods or CWM), there is a sort of transition period going on right now between two different types of recoveries. For a long while everyone was using something called amend scripting for their ROMs, Kernels and MODs. This meant that these could only be flashed through CWM 2.5.x (also called red recovery). Now since there is a newer version of CWM (New red recovery or 3.x) that only uses edify scripting, developers are starting to make the transition from amend to edify so their products can be compatible with the new CWM. Therefore, most of the newer stuff will most likely be edify (3.x) while the older stuff will be amend (2.5.x). I would suggest going with the newer CWM but like I said before, you should probably do some reading and form your own opinion.
New CWM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046905
And finally.........
Welcome to the Fascinate Community!!! If you need any help just ask (in the correct forum of course) and someone will definitely help you out.
Thanks a ton, this helped me a lot!
I bought my Fascinate today, and it's already rooted, running Evil Fascination 3.5.1 =) I took your recommendation of going to 3.x recovery as well, as that's the direction everyone seems to be going after doing some more reading/research.
That being said, I truly can't believe the difference in responsiveness compared to my D2! Sure the D2 was crisp and fast, but its a night and day difference when you're able to run a custom kernel with a fully customized/optimized ROM!

[Q] {Q} New to fascinate, familiar with Vibrant

Hey
I was wondering if anyone could do me a favor.
I have a Tmobile Samsung vibrant and I'm very used to flashing rome on it. I have mostly been able to within cam recovery because I was sticking with froyo roms and then when I upgraded to CM7 based roms I had to odin back so I became familiar with using odin and from there I have become familiar with also flashing boot loaders using odin for i-9000 based roms.
Basically what I am saying is that I am familiar with the basics of flashing roms.
A friend of mine from work has a VZW fascinate that has the most current OTA update for his phone. He wants me to help him apply a custom rom because he sees the speed advantages.
He is a light to average user so I'm looking for a rom that requires very few fixes. For my vibrant this generally means sticking with 2.2 roms, is this the same for fascinate?
Also since I have never flashed a CDMA phone I was wondering what steps would be different.
Any help would be much appreciated and I may simply just need a little basic information since I am familiar with SGS flashing
try this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1212239 or you can replace the JT VGB with MIUI and the latest Glitch kernel.
Edit: You do not need the nexus driver use this http://www.mediafire.com/?7946i8tdbe0yv50
you flashed rome?
the entire rome?
Generally I woupld say friends don't flash other friends phones. Itopens up a world of conflict and turns you into their tech support guy rather than their friend. And god forbid something bad happens "because you flashed my phone and now it's broken".
Work with your friend and help him but he needs to learn and do the process himself. That way here is no blame and you aren't an unpaid tech support guy.
And if he's a light user, I wouldn't even introduce aosp roms. Pwgb is probably fine for him and will look more familiar.
yea I would recomend the pw ed05 rom w/ voodoo or the pw eh09 rom w/voodoo. Both are very reliable roms.

[Q] Questions about flashing ICS for a friend

Hello everyone, I'm trying to do a buddy of mine a favor by upgrading his Vibrant to something a lot better (he's on stock) but I'm a bit unclear on a few things. First of all let me get out of the way that I'm a Fascinate (Verizon) owner that recently modded my own phone to run AOKP ICS Milestone 6 with great results, so I figured since he pretty much had the exact same phone I could do it for him. The problem I'm running into is the procedure I used to flash my phone doesn't seem to apply to the Vibrant (or at least what I was searching for) so I just wanted to clear up a few steps before I try to flash his phone.
He's not a very tech savvy guy, so he won't be updating ROMs on the bleeding edge or anything, he just wants his phone to run better so I figure ICZen is the way to go right, considering it's based off of what I'm using now (AOKP M6)? Everything needs to work, so that pretty much rules out any JB right now because of the GPS issues. Okay now onto the specific flashing questions:
1) This thread seems to be the go to thread for flashing the Vibrant, but it hasn't been updated since Dec '11, so would I just follow the same procedure for the newer ICS roms?
2) Here is the guide I used for my Fascinate (see section 4), which has a few extra steps that I notice are lacking for the Vibrant... namely installing cwm4 fixed for cm7 first, then installing THS Build 2, then flash over that with whatever ICS Rom you need.
3) Devil Kernel is what's considered best on my phone running AOKP M6... is that true as well for ICZen?
4) Since the Vibrant never got 2.3, what is the best modem to be using? On the Fascinate the EH03 (GB) stock modem is best, but I'm unsure what the deal is for the Vibrant since they never got an official GB update. Also along the same topic, Verizon has a code you can input that updates your PRL and improves reception... does T-Mobile have such a code or not?
I appreciate any and all input, as I want this to go as smoothly as possible. Thanks
You seem to have a pretty good grasp on what your doing.
From stock, install gingerbread bootloaders then go to recovery via volume rocker down and hold power button, until the logo. Might have to practice it a couple times.
Once in recovery click reinstall packages, might have to do it s couple of times. This installs your update.zip
From here I always perform wipes and flash a custom Froyo ROM. Maybe overkill but, only takes a second and I don't mind.
From here I flashed the latest CM9 nightly and on to Helly Bean.
Do your wipes in between flashes, and you should be fine.
I haven't ever heard about a T-Mobile code for tower updates, I think its automatic.
Well I didn't have to worry about bootloaders on my Fascinate since I was already on GB, so that's a bit new to me... but doing a quick google search I found this guide. Is that an accurate guide to follow? Alright so basically what you're saying is before I root at all I need to do this?
Also like I was saying earlier, he wants everything to work so I think Helly Bean is out of the question because of GPS, right? I was thinking ICZen looks the cleanest, with everything working nicely, and it's based on what I'm currently using on mine.
Can you clarify on why you're flashing a custom froyo rom? I won't mind to do that either, if it has any benefit.
Also, I checked his phone last night and it's on stock 2.2, not 2.1 if that makes any sort of difference. Thanks again
First root and get cwm recovery then flash bootloaders. The vibe never got an official GB, so that's why boot loaders are recommended. The guide you have is fine. Second the GPS on the vibrant has been notoriously hit or miss. I have a captivate, the GPS works great but my vibe couldn't get a lock to save my life.
Now as far as iczen or hellybean, you have to weigh the options:
Iczen is a great ROM and might have a better chance getting a GPS lock. IMO if you can get a lock with ICS you will probably get a lock with JB. But with ICS you have to be concerned with the EU bug. What's that you ask:
There has been an issue with people randomly looking at phone and a message saying encryption unsuccessful press to reset. If you press the button you have basically just locked up your internal SD card. If you don't press you MIGHT be able to recover it. There is a workaround if this happens, to use ext SD only but your friend will not like that.
I'm currently running hellybean on both of my devices and I love it. Like I said, cappy gps works great and my vibrant not so much. If you really want stable go with bionix as toast recommended or one of moped Ryder's ROMs . If you want to be wowed, go with hellybean.
There are some things you can try with it to get a GPS lock. The general consensus is turn on GPS, reboot, wait it out till you get an initial lock. After that locks will be quicker. I hope this helped in some way, if so hit thanks. As far as the guides etc you are good to go.
its peanut butter jelly(bean) time
That did help quite a bit, thank you. I have never even heard of that bug, do you know if that's Vibrant specific or can that happen on any of the others? I have been wanting to try Helly Bean on my Fascinate, but unfortunately my sdcard isn't very stable and I don't trust to flash anything until I can buy a new one. Honestly, I don't even think he cares much about the GPS, my original point was more along the lines of that I wanted to give him as much of a glitch-free experience as possible, so my fault for not being more specific. If Helly Bean is as stable as you're saying, then maybe I'll just do that instead then, especially after you explained that glitch. Also, since I don't have any Helly Bean experience myself, does it offer as much customization as AOKP? I've grown quite fond of all the little tweaks they include
Hellybean is pretty stable. When I did my vibrant I didn't have to use a boot loader I went straight to ICS then jellybean. If you want ICS then you may want to try aokp for his vibe its nice. If you end up trying aokp milestone 6 and have unknown baseband let me know and I'll link you to a linario build that should fix that
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app
I have a complete guide to install ICS ROMs in my signature if you feel so inclined. PM me if you need any of the files or I may just host them on my Dev-Host account. I'll be out most of the day, but I can upload them later on tonight.
When I need to go back to stock and root and flash cwm I use the AIO toolbox. I just put the rom on the internal flash and then use AIO to get cwm on it from the flash custom rom option. Then cancel the file and the phone will reboot into recovery where you install packages twice and should end up in cwm.
The EU bug has hit vibrant and captivates that I know of. It seems rare though, if you think about the number of users compared to the reported number of cases of the EU bug, its a small percentage.Hellybean doesn't have nearly as much customization but it does offer theming and some launcher/lock screen tweaks. You could always use a custom launcher. There are a few other jellybean ROMs you could try. Honestly any way you go will be better than stock!
*I forgot to tell you, you will need to Odin back to stock 2.1!
its peanut butter jelly(bean) time
Yeah.. I don't think root is actually necessary to do any of this. You'll be rooted when the process is complete however. The custom ROMs come with root access.
But to elaborate on Samsgun357's last post, if you are currently on Froyo 2.2 stock, you'll need to Odin back to stock 2.1 prior to starting, because Samsung fixed the bug that allows installation of custom recovery when they released 2.2
It's simple to do, search the forums and you'll find a guide on Odining back to JFD. That's stock Eclair. If I have time in a few I'll locate it for you and post it.
There are YouTube videos about it with links to the files as well. I think djeddie1west posted a good one with links to all files needed, if they are still working links.
Edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1117990
There's the link for installing GB bootloader.
Also, I am on my phone and haven't tested links, but as long as they work, near the bottom of the post you'll find the files needed to Odin the JFD files.
Eh, I just gave up and told him to go get an iPhone instead, to increase his hipster status.
Or... that's right, I'd rather be dead than own one of those ugly bricks.
You have all been extremely helpful, and I think I have more than enough to go on. I think for now I'll just throw ICZen on his phone since it's based on the rom I'm most familiar with... and when I have more experience with Helly Bean (I finally ordered a new sdcard that's on the way, so I can play with it on my own phone soon enough :good I'll just flash his again. He'll be okay with the risks mentioned so far in this post, and honestly his upgrade is coming up soon so I'm sure I'll be drooling over his S3 when that time comes.
@Woodrube That guide you made to install ICS was exactly what I was looking for, and I wish I had found it earlier so thank you for making such an excellent post.
I'll post back here with the results, thanks for all the help once again

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