[Q] Flashing Custom ROM - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
I have a samsung vibrant T959 with Eclair 2.1 in it. I haven't updated my OS yet , but rooted it using one click. Then to update my OS to Cynogen, I downloaded ROM manager (not premium as it doesnt support 2.1 ver). Then I tried to backup my current ROM using the option Backup Current ROM,but it just goes to recovery mode and has the option to reboot , delete casche etc. Then i just select the reboot option, nothing happens.. What is the problem? What more needs to be done. Is this problem due to the oldy 2.1 eclair I have? Please help. I m dying to update the OS..

---

Heres how to make a nandroid backup... Boot into recovery and go down and select something called "Backups & Restore" then go abd make a "Backup".
As a reference here's my guide to flash CyanogenMod 7/Miui... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1307637
Sent from my SGH-T959 (Samsung Vibrant)

---

Your guide doesnt mention anything about Rom manager at all. I have gone through a lot of guides and it mentions as :
1) Root it ( which i have done)
2) Titatanium backup (for apps backup ..done)
3) Install Rom manager (done)
4) Update to latest clockwork (clicked the first button and updated)
5)Backup current Rom .. I am stuck here.. as when i click it , it pops out a textbox for name of the backup.. then i set it.. then it reboots ... nothing is backed up.. Can anybody help me in this process??? Please..

---

OK, although I prefer making a nandroid backup by these steps...
1). Booting into recovery.
2). Go to backup and restore.
3). Then select backup.
...If you really want to do it through Rom Manager then you can try these steps and tell me how they work for you. Since it appears that your recovery may be messed up...
1). Load up Rom Manager.
2). Go into Settings.
3). Go down the menu and check off Erase Recovery.
4). In the Rom Manager main menu select Flash Alternative Recovery.
5). After that Flash ClockworkMod Recovery again, that first button.
6). Reboot.
7.) Try making a backup again.
...Lastly, Rom Manager isn't necessary to flash a rom or to make a backup of your current rom. The backup feature in the CWR menu does the exact same thing just to make that clear. Now when it comes to flashing Miui/CM7, I again refer you to my guide if you get stuck...
Hope everything works out for you & welcome to xda-developers!​

---

I didnt find the options you mentioned for ROM manager. So I am going for Nandroid backup.
I needed to confirm on the following steps:
1) I m skipping steps 2 and 3 ( FLASH BACK TO STOCK (2.1 Eclair) and Download mode)
2) I downloaded your 2.3.9 MIUI link and ODIN .
3) Do I need to follow step 6 abt Get CWR ? Overstock Kernel ? Is it that only after installing this , I would be able to make a bakup of current ROM? I have already flashed clockworkmod recovery which shows 2.5.1.2 in ROM manager. So i though this step would not be necessary.
And when i tried to go to recovery mode, there were only the same four options ,
a)reboot b)reinstall packages c)delete cache etc.. So i googled for this problem and i saw in xda wiki which said to select reinsall packages. So is it correct?? I really dont want my phone to brick... So i may be questioning too much..

---

techbishesh said:
And when i tried to go to recovery mode, there were only the same four options ,
a)reboot b)reinstall packages c)delete cache etc.. So i googled for this problem and i saw in xda wiki which said to select reinsall packages. So is it correct?? I really dont want my phone to brick... So i may be questioning too much..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is stock recovery. If you are using Rom Manager, make sure it is installed correctly. There is a link in my signature that you can download the custom recovery. Download it, put it on ther insteranl sd card and label it update.zip Make sure it is the only thing labeled that.
Boot into recovery, scroll down to Reinstall Packages and hit it. It will cycle through. Scroll down to Reinstall Packages again and hit it again. It will cycle through again and your stock (blue) recovery will change to custom (green) recovery. From here you can flash your ROM.
Before you go further and we explain something that is not needed, what ROM are you trying to flash?

---

I have been trying to flash MIUI.us_vibrantmtd_2.3.9_Eng_Deo_ZipA_Signed.zip. Currently I have eclair in my vibrant
Ok i downloaded update.zip, clockwork mod from your signature.. I put it in SD card. Clicked reinstall two times and now I have in green color mode.
1) Here again, theres a option for apply sdcard:update.zip.. do i need this?? I dont need to select it right?
Now I need to
Please confirm the steps below to flash
First i should select backup and restore then after the backup is done , i need to follow the steps below.
1)wipe cache partition
2)advanced- wipe dalvik cache
3)wipe data factory reset
4)install zip from sdcard
Am I correct?

---

Ok then. It should work for you hopefully.
BTW make sure you are flashing a Vibrant ROM. Iknow it says Vibrantmtd in the .zip but just make sure (there are different versions of the Vibrant out there-ATT [Captivate], TMo [Vibrant model # SGH-T959], Verizon [Fascinate], TMo4g [Vibrant 4g model # SGH-T959v]). I did a quick search and I could not find a 2.3.9 ROM in the dev section. I don't use MIUI so I may not be looking in the right place.
If your recovery goes from blue to green then you should be able to start at Step 7 in N00b_IN_N33D's guide. Good luck and happy flashing.
Edit:::
1) Here again, theres a option for apply sdcard:update.zip.. do i need this?? I dont need to select it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No
Please confirm the steps below to flash
1)wipe cache partition
2)advanced- wipe dalvik cache
3)wipe data factory reset
4)install zip from sdcard
Am I correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but check your ROM OP to make sure.

---

My model is Vibrant model # SGH-T959 .. how do i know if the 2.3.9 supports mine or not.. Couldnt find any info in google (I m too eager to update my OS so not googling much )
My backup is complete and I am about to follow the other steps. So when i install the zip file, if I get any errors, I can always restore my previous ROM .. right?

---

Yes you can always restore your back up, although not sure why you would want to restore 2.1 stock eclair since you know how to Odin back to stock anyways.
Again, since I do not use MIUI, I am unsure about what ROMs there are and like i said, I just used the simple search bar and couldn't find anything 2.3.9 in our forums. I can suggest anything from 360 productions, as they are supported well and the Devs are on here a fair amount of time.
Maybe before you get flash-fantastic, you should think about what you want out of your ROM and then read some of the OPs. There are plenty of 2.2s with everything working, a fair amount of 2.3.Xs with all the theming that comes with MIUI but also battery drain and memory leaks. And then there are 6+ flavors of ICS (4.0.3) ROMs that you can choose from (I have a guide on installing these if you need it).
OPs on all will tell you what works and doesn't and also the features of that ROM. If you really want MIUI, I suggest you PM N00B_IN_N33D and get his input.

---

Installation is complete , kinda seems a bit slow.. but what amuses me is I did not have to do the following steps mentioned by noob :
It should start flashing and then enter a bootloop (Vibrant [Splash Screen] > Galaxy S Cyanogen(MOD) > CWR > Repeat). After it does this loop a few times do a battery pull.
Reboot into recovery, which will now be blue (Hold both volume buttons and power. Release power once the Vibrant logo is up).
Go to “install zip from sd card”, select zip from sd... Go and find the MIUI ROM you put on the sd card and flash it again.
This time it should successively install.
Go to "advanced", and select "Fix Permissions". Once it has finished fixing permissions go down and hit "++Go Back++"
Reboot your device.
Do not touch the phone for 5-10 minutes after it has booted... Do Absolutely Nothing! This helps clear any possible bugs.
Is it required??
And then there are 6+ flavors of ICS (4.0.3) ROMs that you can choose from (I have a guide on installing these if you need it).
could you provide me the links to it. Thanks

---

techbishesh said:
Reboot your device.
Do not touch the phone for 5-10 minutes after it has booted... Do Absolutely Nothing! This helps clear any possible bugs.
[/I]
Is it required??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume you are talking about this. It is not required but is always a good idea to do. It lets the ROM settle down and any RAM tweaks initiated, different system scripts to finish running,... What is 5-10 minutes if it will save you all kinds of trouble in the future.
And then there are 6+ flavors of ICS (4.0.3) ROMs that you can choose from (I have a guide on installing these if you need it).
could you provide me the links to it. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure. You can go here and read all about them. Note that some of these are advanced, experimental, Beta/RC status. So you will want to read them and do some searches before you ask your questions b/c you'll get flamed for sure if you don't.