[GUIDE/HOW-TO] Beginner's "Getting Started" Guide :: Root, Recovery, Roms etc
Update: Links are dead, mediafire decided to pull them without any notice. However, all important files can be found on my DevHost Account
This guide is made to help newbies get started on the basic customizations they can do to their Galaxy Fit, and with minimum possible risk of bricking it. Plus, recent update will help users to move on from being android newbies to experienced users.
Before you think of posting as ‘copied’, I want to inform you that more than 90% of the guide has been typed by me, using my own experiences with my Galaxy Fit, and has not been simply copy-pasted from anywhere.
Note: Even though care is taken to help you minimize risk of bricking your phone,
no one, except yourself, is responsible for any damage that happens to your phone.
Also, doing most of the modifications below WILL void your warranty.
Do not quote the entire post!
Quote only the part where you are facing problems...
If you completely quote the posts by me, I will not help, since I can safely assume that you are not following instructions as stated.
And do NOT pm me asking help, with regards to this thread...I will not help you there!
If you have questions/problems, ask here...I'll try my best to help you here!
Topics covered in this guide:
Pre-requisites:
Before you proceed, you need to have the following things ready with you:
1. Rooting
2. Backing up data using Titanium Backup Pro
3. Installing Stock Roms
After this, it is optional but advised that you reboot into recovery mode and wipe data, otherwise you *may* face bootloops.
4. Installing Custom Recovery
Q) I already have stock Samsung recovery. Why do I need a different recovery for?
A) The stock Samsung recovery has a very limited functionality, while other recoveries offer various other functions, and support other (better) filesystems also.
Also, to install any custom rom, you will need a custom recovery.
The most popular and commonly used recovery for Galaxy Fit is ClockworkMod Recovery v5 built by tj_style.
This recovery works with all custom roms, but it does not support backing up and restoring (Nandroid Backups) of stock roms (since samsung stock roms are of rfs filesystem).
Hence, you CAN install this recovery on stock roms, but you won’t be able to take (and restore) nandroid backups of stock roms.
However, pratyush.creed has modified this cwm5 to support backups of rfs (i.e. stock roms), you can get this from here
But for this guide, we will stick to the popular, tried and tested, cwm5 by tj_styles
Update: Links are dead, mediafire decided to pull them without any notice. However, all important files can be found on my DevHost Account
This guide is made to help newbies get started on the basic customizations they can do to their Galaxy Fit, and with minimum possible risk of bricking it. Plus, recent update will help users to move on from being android newbies to experienced users.
Before you think of posting as ‘copied’, I want to inform you that more than 90% of the guide has been typed by me, using my own experiences with my Galaxy Fit, and has not been simply copy-pasted from anywhere.
Note: Even though care is taken to help you minimize risk of bricking your phone,
no one, except yourself, is responsible for any damage that happens to your phone.
Also, doing most of the modifications below WILL void your warranty.
Do not quote the entire post!
Quote only the part where you are facing problems...
If you completely quote the posts by me, I will not help, since I can safely assume that you are not following instructions as stated.
And do NOT pm me asking help, with regards to this thread...I will not help you there!
If you have questions/problems, ask here...I'll try my best to help you here!
Topics covered in this guide:
- Most stuff related to Rooting
- Backing up data using Titanium Backup Pro
- Installing Stock Roms
- Installing Custom Recovery
- Installing Custom Roms (Continued in second post)
- Creating and Deleting Sd-card Partition
- Setting up and using Link2sd
- Installing apk’s through “Root Explorer” method
- Nandroid Backups (Continued in third post)
- Overclocking
- Bricked Galaxy Fit
- Bootloops (Continued in fourth post)
- How to reclaim warranty?
- Battery Care
- Android Debugging Bridge (In fifth post)
- Logcats (In sixth post)
Pre-requisites:
Before you proceed, you need to have the following things ready with you:
- Samsung Galaxy Fit S5670 (obviously)
- Windows PC (Xp, Vista, 7)
- Usb Data Cable
- Samsung Usb Drivers installed on your computer (Download)
- Usb Debugging Enabled (Enable it from Settings> Applications> Development> Usb Debugging)
- A minimum of 50% Battery left for use
- Knowledge on how to use a windows pc (optional, but recommended )
- A calm mind, and plenty of patience.
- Also, remember this:
a.To reboot into “recovery mode”, first shutdown your phone completely, then press and hold power + home button and wait for phone to switch on.
b.To reboot into “download mode”, first shutdown your phone completely, then press and hold power + home + volume down button and wait till phone switches on (you’ll get a yellow triangle with an android inside it, with the word “Downloading” written under it)
Edit: Since a proper "route" to installing custom roms isn't very clear, I'll just add this:-
Let's say you have a stock froyo rom, and want to try some custom rom, then
Let's say you have a stock froyo rom, and want to try some custom rom, then
- [OPTIONAL] Root Froyo, if you wish.
- Then, you update to Gingerbread.
- [OPTIONAL] Root GB, if you wish.
- Install ClockworkMod Recovery
- Then finally, install the custom rom of your choice.
1. Rooting
Q) What is “rooting”? What are its advantages and disadvantages?
A) “Rooting” your device means obtaining “superuser” rights and permissions to your Android’s software. With these elevated user privileges, you gain the ability to load custom software (ROM’s), install custom themes, increase performance, increase battery life, and the ability to install software that would otherwise cost extra money (ex: Wi-Fi tethering). Rooting is essentially “hacking” your Android device.
For more info, refer Source
Though, one thing worth mentioning, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ROOTED IN ORDER TO INSTALL ANY CUSTOM ROM OR RECOVERY, it is optional but recommended…
People usually root beforehand as it helps them to backup their data…and you won't be able to root after you install a custom recovery, since the scripts are made only for stock Samsung recovery
A) “Rooting” your device means obtaining “superuser” rights and permissions to your Android’s software. With these elevated user privileges, you gain the ability to load custom software (ROM’s), install custom themes, increase performance, increase battery life, and the ability to install software that would otherwise cost extra money (ex: Wi-Fi tethering). Rooting is essentially “hacking” your Android device.
For more info, refer Source
Though, one thing worth mentioning, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ROOTED IN ORDER TO INSTALL ANY CUSTOM ROM OR RECOVERY, it is optional but recommended…
People usually root beforehand as it helps them to backup their data…and you won't be able to root after you install a custom recovery, since the scripts are made only for stock Samsung recovery
Q) Okay, now how do I root my Galaxy Fit?
After you have successfully rooted, you will find an app named “Superuser” in your application menu. If not, you can download it from Play Store.
Also, it is advisable to update the app (as well as the superuser binaries, option present in-app) to the latest version available.
A)
If you are running Froyo (android version 2.2.1), then:- Download SuperOneClick (Source Link)
- Make sure your phone is connected to the computer via USB, AND your SD card is NOT mounted.
- Run the app
- When SuperOneClick launches, you’ll see several large buttons at the top of the screen. Make sure that the debugger can “see” it (activity will start logging).
- Click “Root” in SuperOneClick.
If you are running Gingerbread (android version 2.3.x), then: - Download this update.zip file (Link)
- Place it on the root of sd card (root here meaning “home directory” of your micro-sd card, i.e. the first folder which you get when you open any file explorer)
- Make sure the file’s name is “update.zip” (without the “”)
- Now reboot into recovery mode
- Select the option: “Apply update.zip”
- Wait for it to complete, and you are done!
After you have successfully rooted, you will find an app named “Superuser” in your application menu. If not, you can download it from Play Store.
Also, it is advisable to update the app (as well as the superuser binaries, option present in-app) to the latest version available.
Q) How do I unroot my g-fit?
A) There might be various reasons why you would want to unroot your fit (the main one being to recover/reclaim your warranty)
For unrooting (in Froyo), just run SuperOneClick again, and click option “Unroot”.
For unrooting (in GB), you have a few ways: one is a sure-shot way (install/flash stock rom), another works for some and doesn’t work for some (update.zip), and one more is false un-root.
1.Sure-shot way: This method will work all the time, i.e. you will be able to unroot successfully with this method. All you’ve got to do is flash a stock rom, and you will be back to factory settings (and even get your warranty back)
2.Update.zip method: This method worked for some users, and didn’t work for some. In this, you just need to download this file, rename it to “update.zip” and install it the same way as you did to root, i.e. reboot into recovery and apply update.zip
3.False un-root: This isn’t actually unrooting, but is a little trick I used to get my warranty back.
1. First download and install Audio Manager aka Hide It Pro
2. Then use it to hide all your root-related apps (like superuser, titanium backup etc.), and done!
Note: The false un-root method isn’t actually un-rooting, as anyone with enough android knowledge will be able to tell that you still retain root access. The method only hides the notifications that you receive from superuser, when any app is requesting root access. Exercise caution when using this method, as all apps can have root access, and you wouldn’t even come to know about it.
A) There might be various reasons why you would want to unroot your fit (the main one being to recover/reclaim your warranty)
For unrooting (in Froyo), just run SuperOneClick again, and click option “Unroot”.
For unrooting (in GB), you have a few ways: one is a sure-shot way (install/flash stock rom), another works for some and doesn’t work for some (update.zip), and one more is false un-root.
1.Sure-shot way: This method will work all the time, i.e. you will be able to unroot successfully with this method. All you’ve got to do is flash a stock rom, and you will be back to factory settings (and even get your warranty back)
2.Update.zip method: This method worked for some users, and didn’t work for some. In this, you just need to download this file, rename it to “update.zip” and install it the same way as you did to root, i.e. reboot into recovery and apply update.zip
3.False un-root: This isn’t actually unrooting, but is a little trick I used to get my warranty back.
1. First download and install Audio Manager aka Hide It Pro
2. Then use it to hide all your root-related apps (like superuser, titanium backup etc.), and done!
Note: The false un-root method isn’t actually un-rooting, as anyone with enough android knowledge will be able to tell that you still retain root access. The method only hides the notifications that you receive from superuser, when any app is requesting root access. Exercise caution when using this method, as all apps can have root access, and you wouldn’t even come to know about it.
2. Backing up data using Titanium Backup Pro
Since you don’t need to have root access in order to install any custom recovery/rom, hence one of the major reason left to root is to backup your phone settings and data.
You can find plenty of apps on Play Store which can backup AND restore your data, but barely any other app can do it better than Titanium Backup. The free version also does quite a lot of stuff, but in this guide I’ll be explaining how to use the pro-version (v4.8.2), including how to do one-click backup as well as restore, and scheduling backups to run at a pre-defined time automatically.
Note #3: Use some other app to backup and restore your contacts/call logs/messages...
I use GO Backup or sometimes, MyPhoneExplorer...
You can find plenty of apps on Play Store which can backup AND restore your data, but barely any other app can do it better than Titanium Backup. The free version also does quite a lot of stuff, but in this guide I’ll be explaining how to use the pro-version (v4.8.2), including how to do one-click backup as well as restore, and scheduling backups to run at a pre-defined time automatically.
- First, install Titanium Backup Pro
- Then, run the app.
- (I recommend going through the app settings so that you can tweak it according to your preference)
- Now, you can either backup apps (and their data) one-by-one or just backup all of them at once. In order to backup all of them at once, run the app, press menu button > batch > choose option “backup all apps + system data”, and then wait for the backup process to get over.
- To restore backups after a data reset, run the app, press menu button > batch > choose option “restore missing app + all system data”.
Note #1: Restore all system data only if you are doing a data wipe. If you have flashed a new ROM altogether, then do not restore system data, only restore missing apps + data, else you will get force closes.
Note #2: Titanium backup automatically store its preferences/settings on your sd-card, and auto restores them after a wipe, so you do not need to bother about it again.
- To set-up schedules, run the app, and then go to the “schedules” pane/tab, and then select the ones which were pre-set, or create new ones according to your need.
Note #3: Use some other app to backup and restore your contacts/call logs/messages...
I use GO Backup or sometimes, MyPhoneExplorer...
3. Installing Stock Roms
- First, download the stock rom of your choice from samfirmware.com
- Then download beni.ops and Odin Multidownloader
- Remove the sim card and memory card of your phone, and put it in download mode
- Next, run Odin, and connect your phone to your windows computer. Odin should respond as detected. Then, select “Ops” as beni.ops. (Doing this would disable all other fields except “One Package”)
- After this, select your desired stock rom in “One Package”.
- Do not alter any other option other than those mentioned, let them remain as they are.
- Make sure that the color of “COM PORT MAPPING” is yellow, and then click “Start”.
- Odin will start giving different responses, and the timer in Odin would also start…now all you have to do is wait till Odin completes flashing (You will get a message “Pass”, usually within 10 minutes)
Note: Do not disconnect you phone while the process is on, and till you get that “Pass” message.
After this, it is optional but advised that you reboot into recovery mode and wipe data, otherwise you *may* face bootloops.
4. Installing Custom Recovery
Q) I already have stock Samsung recovery. Why do I need a different recovery for?
A) The stock Samsung recovery has a very limited functionality, while other recoveries offer various other functions, and support other (better) filesystems also.
Also, to install any custom rom, you will need a custom recovery.
The most popular and commonly used recovery for Galaxy Fit is ClockworkMod Recovery v5 built by tj_style.
This recovery works with all custom roms, but it does not support backing up and restoring (Nandroid Backups) of stock roms (since samsung stock roms are of rfs filesystem).
Hence, you CAN install this recovery on stock roms, but you won’t be able to take (and restore) nandroid backups of stock roms.
However, pratyush.creed has modified this cwm5 to support backups of rfs (i.e. stock roms), you can get this from here
But for this guide, we will stick to the popular, tried and tested, cwm5 by tj_styles
Your phone needs to be on gingerbread, as this recovery doesn’t work on Froyo.
Note: Even though rooting is not required for installing CWM, it is recommended to do so before, since you can root only from stock recovery, and CWM replaces the stock Samsung recovery.
To install this recovery:
Note: Even though rooting is not required for installing CWM, it is recommended to do so before, since you can root only from stock recovery, and CWM replaces the stock Samsung recovery.
To install this recovery:
- Download the recovery file from the above link.
- Also, download beni.ops and Odin Multidownloader
(Beni.ops and Odin are the same files used, so you don’t need to download them again) - Next, run Odin, and connect your phone to your windows computer. Odin should respond as detected. Then, select “Ops” as beni.ops.
- Select the recovery file under “One Package”.
- Do not alter any other option other than those mentioned, let them remain as they are.
- Click “Start”.
- Wait till odin completes flashing (might take upto 10 minutes)
Now, after your device has rebooted, restart into recovery mode to confirm that you have successfully installed ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM).
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