[Q] Trying to root my galaxy S Vibrant

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This is my first time rooting a cellphone, so, before I do it, I want to list what i should do here to make sure my understanding is correct. All I want to do is to have WIFI tethering to work.

1. First, I need to backup the stock firmware, right? I am not sure how to this yet. Any suggestions?

2. I need to download update.zip to root the phone.
3. The easiest thing is to find an app which does Wifi tethering. But the one I found (android-wifi-tether) doesn't support Galaxy S Vibrant yet. Anything else you can suggest? Without that, I think i might need to flush the JP3 firmware. Right?

4. I need to download JP3 firmware (JP3.rooted.insecure.clockworkmod.zip). Is there a better one you can suggest me to download?

5. Then I need to flash the firmware to the phone. I think I might need to use Odin to do that, right?

Thanks. Please give me suggestions.

Firstly, this thread should go in the Vibrant forum - I almost gave you advice for the international Galaxy S before deleting some of it. I can answer some of your questions though:

1. You don't really need to backup your firmware - all rooting does is drop in 3 files for full root access - /system/app/Superuser.apk (controls access to root), /system/xbin/su (actual program that gives root access) and /system/xbin/busybox (complete set of UNIX commands in one program). Deleting these 3 files will unroot your phone.

2. Yes - place this update.zip into the internal SD storage.

4. I'd recommend you currently stick with a 2.1 firmware - the 2.2 firmwares are actually Samsung internal beta builds and are quite buggy and unstable (at least in my experience). I'm a Galaxy S owner so I don't know what the available firmware build exist the Vibrant - check the Vibrant forum for details. I have a feeling that if you flashed a Galaxy S firmware such as the JP3 one you mentioned, it would brick your phone - but I'll let someone more knowledgeable to answer that one.

5. Odin is the only tool you can use to flash firmwares. Make sure you a) reboot after installing Samsung drivers and b) run as admin

Originally Posted by r3loaded2010

Firstly, this thread should go in the Vibrant forum - I almost gave you advice for the international Galaxy S before deleting some of it. I can answer some of your questions though:

1. You don't really need to backup your firmware - all rooting does is drop in 3 files for full root access - /system/app/Superuser.apk (controls access to root), /system/xbin/su (actual program that gives root access) and /system/xbin/busybox (complete set of UNIX commands in one program). Deleting these 3 files will unroot your phone.

2. Yes - place this update.zip into the internal SD storage.

4. I'd recommend you currently stick with a 2.1 firmware - the 2.2 firmwares are actually Samsung internal beta builds and are quite buggy and unstable (at least in my experience). I'm a Galaxy S owner so I don't know what the available firmware build exist the Vibrant - check the Vibrant forum for details. I have a feeling that if you flashed a Galaxy S firmware such as the JP3 one you mentioned, it would brick your phone - but I'll let someone more knowledgeable to answer that one.

5. Odin is the only tool you can use to flash firmwares. Make sure you a) reboot after installing Samsung drivers and b) run as admin

Thanks for your input. So, sounds like Wifi Tethering is a no go for galaxy s right now?

Originally Posted by arcadepdx

Thanks for your input. So, sounds like Wifi Tethering is a no go for galaxy s right now?

Search for Barnacle in the Market.

Great! I will give it a try. Thanks