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?
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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
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!
About 4 months ago I installed a Rom to my girlfriends vibrant and it has been AWESOME compared to the stock touchwiz and compared to any of the roms I ever installed(tried all of them) for my HD2 and the few roms I have tried on my new-to-me Fascinate. The ROM just feels so cushy smooth, scrolling,resizing ect touch commands are almost iPhone-like and the stock UI has perfect icons, colors ect. I just can't say enough good things about this phone now.
I lost the original thread I got the rom from. The build shows "Simply Honey 3.5 Revolution by SGT" but I believe it's been ported from the i9000 as I had to flash a i9000 bootloader that I assume has been modified for the vibrant.
Is there any way I can get this rom onto my Fascinate? It seems hard to believe others aren't aware of this rom but a search for "simply honey" in the fascinate section and sub sections has returns zero results.
If you don't see it in the Dev forum, it's not available for the Fascinate.
The hardware on the SGS line is different enough (particularly between GSM and CDMA variants) among carriers that flashing a ROM from a different carrier is a fast track to bricksville.
Your best bet, if you REALLY want a particular ROM is to get the sources from the developer of that ROM and start working on your own version (porting it, as it were), or convince the dev to start working on a Fascinate version of it.
Also: Never ever ever flash a GSM ROM onto a CDMA phone. If it works at all, you'll be flashing all the way back to DL09 (and probably repartitioning, as well) to get back to square one.
AlexDeGruven said:
If you don't see it in the Dev forum, it's not available for the Fascinate.
The hardware on the SGS line is different enough (particularly between GSM and CDMA variants) among carriers that flashing a ROM from a different carrier is a fast track to bricksville.
Your best bet, if you REALLY want a particular ROM is to get the sources from the developer of that ROM and start working on your own version (porting it, as it were), or convince the dev to start working on a Fascinate version of it.
Also: Never ever ever flash a GSM ROM onto a CDMA phone. If it works at all, you'll be flashing all the way back to DL09 (and probably repartitioning, as well) to get back to square one.
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As I said, it's not mentioned in any of the sub forums according to the search and nowhere on my google search either so I realize it's probably not available but I posted hoping someone would post with information directly relating to experience with the ROM and maybe developer inside info or information to another ROM with similar refinement.
From my understanding MIUI can't be installed with normal flashing methods, so I was curious if this was true... How do you install it?
Also, I here a lot of people have issues with only being able to do emergency calls or something of that sort. Is that issue something I should worry about?
Sent from my SGH-T959 (Samsung Vibrant)
The instructions are printed very clearly in the op....i have been running miui for months now with no issues
Its easy. Start from a fresh ODIN just to be safe. After you root, simply flash and ur good to go. MIUI is really cool, hope you enjoy it.
Hey folks,
I'm a Captivate User on MIUI so I'm not as familiar with the MIUI Vibrant Territory. I'm trying to Flash MIUI to my friend's Vibrant which currently runs Simply Honey on a Custom GB Bootloader. I looked through the Vibrant MIUI ASOPish thread found a process on p. 59 to Flash MIUI from Honey. 2 questions bug me though:
1) I thought per the Custom Gingerbread Bootloader, one could flash MIUI without the SD card issues? Has anyone done it with the custom gingerbread bootloader? I care because my friend doesn't have the stomach for doing this herself and we live too far away for me to do it every time. So I don't want to remove the custom GB bootloader if it truly is backwards compatible and she wants to flash something else that doesn't require use of Odin/AIO/Heimdall.
2) How does one obtain older versions of weekly MIUI ROMS if the current version is buggy?
I really enjoy MIUI on my Captivate and I've been using a Gingerbread Bootloader.
Thanks.
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