[GUIDE] Getting started with the Epic 4G. Everything you (probably) need to know.

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Purpose:
To get from a retail phone to custom ROM in one sitting. (My phone came with DG27 version of the OS on it, for the record.)

DISCLAIMER:
NO PORTION OF THIS GUIDE IS INTENDED FOR USE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. NO CLAIMS OF FITNESS ARE MADE REGARDING ITS SAFETY OR USABILITY. IF YOU FOLLOW THIS GUIDE YOUR WARRANTY WILL BE VOID, YOUR PHONE WILL BREAK, YOU PROBABLY WONT BE ABLE TO READ GOOD AND ANY CHANCE AT HAPPINESS IN LIFE WILL LEAVE YOU. DO NOT USE THIS GUIDE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY INTENDED FOR EXPERIMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU IGNORE THIS WARNING AND PROCEED TO FOLLOW THE STEPS OUTLINED WITHIN.

Assumptions:
You know what ADB is, and you have it installed and a basic idea of how to use it.

You know how to install drivers, copy things to the SD Card, the basics. I came from the Evo where I had a LOT of experience, this is basically my jumpstart guide for anyone who "gets it".

What You Need:

• Drivers:
• 32-bit: http://download2us.softpedia.com/dl/...Phones_x86.exe
• 64-bit: http://download2us.softpedia.com/dl/...alaxyS_x64.zip
• *Note: You can use whatever ROM/kernel you want, this is just the first one I tried, the steps are not really any different.*
• Andromeda ROM: http://www.sdx-downloads.com/devs/no...om.v1.1.1a.zip
• Andromeda Kernel: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=775110
• Odin: http://www.sdx-downloads.com/devs/no...n3epicv1.3.rar
• DI18 Update: http://www.multiupload.com/X9AB1U56JV
• PIT File: http://rapidshare.com/files/41639939...n_20100512.pit
• Clockwork Recovery: http://www.sdx-downloads.com/devs/no...sher-fixed.zip

Steps:
Updating to DI18:

• Make sure the phone is unplugged and powered off.
• Slide out the keyboard and press and hold "1".
• Press the power button.
• After a moment the phone should say its in Download Mode (or Downloading).
• Launch Odin.
• Plug in phone.
• It should come up in Odin (doesn't matter what it says as long as it says something, most likely at this point you will need to install drivers, do that, unplug phone, plug it back in, should come up in Odin now).
• Select the PIT file on the right hand side in the appropriate section.
• Select the .tar.md5 DI18 update image in the PDA section. Uncheck everything on the left EXCEPT "Auto Reboot", hit Start.
• Phone will reboot when it is complete, DI18 should be installed, no root.

Installing ClockWork Recovery:

• Go into Settings->Applications and enable USB debugging.
• If you are on Windows 7 hit Start, type CMD, right click on cmd.exe when it comes up and select Run as Administrator.
• Navigate to where you extracted one.click.clockworkmod2.5.1.0-flasher.zip
• Type "run-try-last.bat" and hit enter (try to keep your screen awake, this only caused me a problem once and I'm not sure why, but, just do it).
• It will come up with a prompt saying press any key to continue, hit a key and it will say something about rebooting ADB, just keep the phone screen on and let it do it's thing, after a bit you will see it copy a few files and do some stuff then the phone should reboot and the prompt will say "waiting 60 seconds", when the phone comes back up keep the screen on (you can check the setting to do this for you when you enable USB debugging btw).
• After, ohhhh, about 60 seconds (who knew) the command prompt will change and say a few more things, and then "done".

Flashing Andromeda ROM and Kernel:

• Copy the Andromeda ROM and Kernel to the root of your SDCard now, safely remove the device (should be an icon in your notification tray in windows).
• Power off the phone. Hold Vol. Down, Camera button (on bottom right edge of the phone) and power. Unlike, say, the Evo you have to HOLD all three until you see the Samsung screen. After this you should be in Clockwork.
• Do your nandroid backup, wipe your cache, wipe data (don't think it's strictly needed but, at this point your phone shouldn't have anything on it worth keeping anyway).
• Now flash Andromeda ROM, then Andromeda kernel.
• Reboot system now.
• Done. Should have root, superuser, clockwork, Andromeda ROM and Kernel, and life should be good!

Citation:
Everyone here. Seriously, if you see a thread with [GUIDE], [ROM], [KERNEL], [PROJ] or just about anything else in []'s odds are the author and at least one person in that thread gave information that is contained within this guide.

NONE of this is my doing. This is just my attempt to streamline and collect in one place everything the average Android user needs to get up to date and well on their way.

Remember, this place, and it's users (you), are what makes it so awesome!

If anyone has any updates, tweaks, suggestions of corrections please feel free to post them and I will update the post as soon as I can.

Thanks again for all the help!

Originally Posted by alcaron

DISCLAIMER:
NO PORTION OF THIS GUIDE IS INTENDED FOR USE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.

NO CLAIMS OF FITNESS ARE MADE REGARDING ITS SAFETY OR USABILITY.

IF YOU FOLLOW THIS GUIDE YOU PROBABLY WONT BE ABLE TO READ GOOD AND ANY CHANCE AT HAPPINESS IN LIFE WILL LEAVE YOU.

Hahaha that picture is awesome.