[GUIDE]The Definitive CM7/MIUI Flashing Tutorial - Updated(21-08-2011)

So, flashing Cyanogenmod7/MIUI on the SGS i9000 is an area covered in many, many tutorials to date. However, the vast majority of them are outdated or just downright confusing, this guide tries to make flashing CM7/MIUI as painless as possible.


DISCLAIMER: This guide is based on my personal experience in flashing CM7/MIUI and i take NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER in whatever untoward happens to your phone and/or life if you follow this. Also, this guide is meant for the SGS I9000GT PHONE ONLY, other variants please do not follow this guide to the letter and download the appropriate files for flashing.


Edit: This guide can be used to flash MIUI roms as well, seeing as they share the same requirements of needing Froyo bootloaders.

MIUI roms available:
1.MIUI Official [MIUI.us]
2. Galnet MIUI [Galnet and team]
3. MIUI+ [Decalc and Mothatt]
4. fitMIUI [Andro!de]
5 Nothing Fancy [spasms]
Note that this is not an exhaustive list.
Okay, lets go

Now, there are 2 ways to go about flashing CM7/MIUI.

1. ROMmanager method.
-Simple, fast but thats another tutorial altogether

2. The ODIN + CWM flashing method.
- That's what this tutorials all about!


NOTE: For those who wish to pursue Method 1, rschenck has written a guide on it.





Okay, now for the tutorial.


Firstly, find out what firmware you are running. Gingerbread bootloaders are now able to run MIUI/CM7. These give better battery life and are thus encouraged.

Go to ->SETTINGS ->ABOUT PHONE and look at what Android/Firmware Version you are running. If you are on 2.3.x, please skip the conditional step, if you are 2.1.x OR 2.2.x, you have to upgrade your bootloaders to 2.3.x.

CONDITIONAL STEP: Upgrade to GB bootloaders. (FOR 2.1.X AND 2.2.X FIRMWARE VERSIONS ONLY, 2.3.X FIRMWARES PLEASE SKIP THIS SECTION.)

Go to EZboot page.


1. Go to that website and download the Gingerbread bootloaders.
2. Download Odin, if you haven't done so already.
3. If you don't have Kies, you would need Samsung Drivers, which you can easily find around this forum. I believe its a sticky somewhere.
4. Open Odin and put your phone in download mode before connecting it.
5. Set up Odin as per picture in the link provided(The gingerbread one)
6. Flash and wait for reboot!


/END OF CONDITIONAL STEP.

2. Acquiring CM7/MIUI.

CM7 users: CM7 uses the term Nightlies, which are actually so called "experimental" builds that are updated, well, nightly. Despite it being called experimental, most nightlies are actually stable for "everyday usage". So don't be scared to flash 'em!

So,

1. Download the latest(topmost) version of CM7 or the various MIUI roms. (Links above)

2. Transfer the .zip file onto your phone through ADB push or USB cable.

3. Make sure your phone is not connected to your computer or anything. You're almost there!

Third, Flashing time.

1. Boot into recovery mode using the following method.
(a) Phone off.
(b) Press in the following order: VOLUP, HOME, POWER.

2. Now you have to clean out your phone.
-Wipe CACHE
-Go into advance options, WIPE DALVIK CACHE
-Go into mounts and storage. FORMAT SYSTEM, DATA AND CACHE. (Three separate moves)

3. Go to 'Install zip from sdcard' and scroll to your CM7/MIUI .zip file.

Flash.


Wait for reboot. And. You are done.


Congratulations, you are now running CM7/MIUI.

For CM7 users: Go get GAPPs(Google Apps) for Android Market and other android apps. Stay updated by flashing updated Nightlies.



[Small expansion of guide] Flashing from MIUI
If coming from MIUI rom, and wishing to switch to CM7(or vice versa)
1. Download newest version of CM7(or MIUI, whichever the case) and place in phone.
2. Boot into recovery. Format Cache and System. Not necessary to format Data(will erase all apps) but is recommended for stability purposes. You can backup your apps using Titanium Backup or use the native backup app in MIUI.
3. Install from zip and choose the correct file. Flash it.
Done.


Please comment if this was helpful to you. And THANK if it helped you!

Credits:
codeworkx - http://twitter.com/codeworkx
coolya - http://twitter.com/dumdidum
guiper -http://twitter.com/guiperpt
-All for CM7
nitr8 - For EZboot
rschenck - For his guide
And of course, myself for writing this.

mrsufgi said:

Thank you, Very useful

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Thanks glad it helped

evilsopure said:

After reading the rest of your guide, I have to conclude that it's just as - if not more than - confusing as other 'user guides' found in these forums. Your guide is only suitable for people who have learned by trial and error and are already comfortable with the nuances of wiping and flashing their phone.

Experienced users like myself have done it so many times I could do it with my eyes closed now, so I already know how to avoid missteps even if given incomplete, misleading or outright contradictory instructions, which your guide is full of.

I wish I had the time to go through the errors with a fine toothed comb, but I honestly don't at the moment (@work). That said, this guide either needs a complete re-write to improve readability and logic flow, or just be removed altogether.

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Alright thanks for the feedback. It's the first guide I've tried to write so I think I've messed up a lot probably. I'll definitely try to re-write it. But thanks for the criticism.

Also, you've identified one area where I'm not very clear(ROManager part) and thanks for that. Do you have other specific examples of my post which are error-filled so that I can work on them? I want this thread to work. Thanks again

Have updated and removed contradictory statements.

Lord Style said:

Is it wrong this passage ?

1. Download the latest(topmost) version at : http://insanity.rollus.net/EZbase/img/sc/ezodin.png

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Yes it is. Thanks very much for the spot

Edit: Edited it already. Thanks again

Mothatt said:

Stable cm7? Not for the sgs

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App

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Yeah i've been a little confused looking for it. I'll edit it.

krarvind said:

@slotteh
one more MIUI rom, you may want to update your OP

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1184066

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Thanks will do

Updated to include GB bootloaders flashing

Hi sorry for all late replies, have been a little busy, you may already have gotten answers to these but still,

got-petrol said:

what recovey do i need to install cm7 as it doesn't say or how do i install with odin

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You need Clockworkmod Recovery and unless you're coming from a stock rom, you should already have this.

In either case, onstallation of EZbase from odin has been covered pretty well here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1089989

It's really simple to follow, just make sure you have a full battery while flashing via odin.