"[ROOT] Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE (SGH-i957) updated 2/10/2012"

orlandoxpolice · Dec 20, 2011

People have requested that the initial thread from the general section be cleaned up into a step by step, so here goes. This is ONLY FOR HONEYCOMB 3.2 for the SGH-i957.

NEXT WARNING: USE OF ODIN CAN DAMAGE YOUR PHONE IF USED INCORRECTLY. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE DUE TO FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Method 1

This is for people who want to keep the stock kernel. This will not trip the flash counter.

1. Download and Install the Samsung Drivers for your device. Install Kies, or the latest mobile drivers.
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=961956
2. Download CWM Recovery (courtesy of utkanos)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9459955/recovery/testing/SGHI957/v2/CWMR5x_i957_recovery.tar.md5
2. Download Odin 1.85
http://www.mediafire.com/?cghfk06lcfiwi29
3. Open Odin 1.85 as administrator
4. Place the CWMR.tar file in the PDA slot. (Make sure you do not have any boxes in the options panel checked besides the ones that were checked when opening the program - should only be auto reboot and f.reset time)
5. Place the tablet in download mode. Hold vol up + vol down and hold power until the device powers on into download mode. Hit volume up to proceed after the warning screen
6. Plug the tablet into the computer on a main usb slot and it will be detected by Odin in one of the ID:COM slots (will appear as yellow)
7. Hit Start - cwm recovery should will be flashed to the tablet. Tablet will restart.
8. Download superuser.zip from the skyrocket forums (courtesy Copperhed)
http://www.mediafire.com/?4h8cmh287mcxuf8
9. Copy superuser.zip to the tablet
10. Reboot into recovery (Power + Volume Up)
11. Navigate to 'Install zip from SD card' and select 'superuser.zip'. You will get an SD Card error when it is done installing, this is normal.

You are now rooted with stock kernel.

Method 2

This is Da_G's work. This will trip your flash counter.

Steps:
1. Download and Install the Samsung Drivers for your device. Install Kies, or the latest mobile drivers.
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=961956
2. Download Da_G's modded kernel
http://ponack.net/TPC/dagnarf/sgh-i957-rooted-kernel-v2.tar
2. Download Odin 1.85
http://www.mediafire.com/?cghfk06lcfiwi29
3. Open Odin 1.85 as administrator
4. Place the modded kernel .tar file in the PDA slot. (Make sure you do not have any boxes in the options panel checked besides the ones that were checked when opening the program - should only be auto reboot and f.reset time)
5. Place the tablet in download mode. Hold vol up + vol down and hold power until the device powers on into download mode. Hit volume up to proceed after the warning screen
6. Plug the tablet into the computer on a main usb slot and it will be detected by Odin in one of the ID:COM slots (will appear as yellow)
7. Hit Start - the modded kernel should will be flashed to the tablet. Tablet will restart.
8. Go into market and download the Superuser App.

Optional - you can flash the stock kernel back using steps 3-7 above.
http://ponack.net/TPC/dagnarf/stock-kernel-odin-image-for-sgh-i957.tar

Changes in Da_G's Kernel

Da_G said:
Changes in this kernel:
ADB Insecure (gives you # root prompt at adb instead of $)
su, busybox added to ramdisk
script to install busybox and su at boot-up
init.d support for running init.d scripts at bootup
stock android bootanimation (so you can run custom boot anims)

***Note: User Croak flashed the stock ATT Firmware to his Bell device and successfully used this root method afterwards.***

Initial Development Thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1390522

Credits:
Huge thanks to Da_G for doing ALL of the work on the modified kernel without owning the device.
Croak and Blackberrynomore for being the first to test!
Scarchunk for the CWM kernel zips!

Blackberrynomore · Dec 20, 2011

Thanks Orlando we needed do that as there have been an increasing amount of people asking "how do I ". By the way if you type Odin 1.85 into Google it will come up with the first result being a link to a direct download from XDA. This makes it easier and faster to download because you get an instant file save dialog.

Da_G · Dec 20, 2011

I am working on a ROM/Recovery for you guys now, need some testers with adb knowledge in irc.irondust.net #skyrocket

kralco626 · Dec 20, 2011

sweeeeeeet!

I'm going to do this as soon as I get home from work.

Then I can try to do the Hulu hack... Wish me luck with that...

P.S. Is it odd that superuser is already installed on my tab? (I'm assuming it's because Google is super smart and they know I had it installed on my old phone)

P.P.S. What do I have to do to get rid of this 5 minute post restriction

You guys are worse than AT&T! Restricting my free speech like that!

---------- Post added at 09:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 AM ----------

orlandoxpolice said:
WARNING: THIS WILL TRIP YOUR FLASH COUNTER

Is that bad?

P.P.P.S I talk a lot... yes I know... tell me something that my gf doesn't tell me every day

orlandoxpolice · Dec 20, 2011

Flash counter means that they can detect a custom flash, meaning warranty is void.

If you have your phone synced maybe it restored superuser.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

kralco626 · Dec 20, 2011

orlandoxpolice said:
Flash counter means that they can detect a custom flash, meaning warranty is void.

If you have your phone synced maybe it restored superuser.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

I have brought my phone back to the att warranty center for replacement and I don't think they have ever checked a flash counter...

orlandoxpolice · Dec 20, 2011

kralco626 said:
I have brought my phone back to the att warranty center for replacement and I don't think they have ever checked a flash counter...

I agree with this. You most likely will never have them call you out on a flash counter. Have to put the disclaimer in though.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

kralco626 · Dec 21, 2011

orlandoxpolice said:
I agree with this. You most likely will never have them call you out on a flash counter. Have to put the disclaimer in though.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

HAHA, ya have to include those disclaimers.

I am rooted, as confirmed by root check basic

I'm going to try to make Hulu work now, I'll post the results if I can get Hulu to work!

kralco626 · Dec 21, 2011

kralco626 said:
HAHA, ya have to include those disclaimers.

I am rooted, as confirmed by root check basic

I'm going to try to make Hulu work now, I'll post the results if I can get Hulu to work!

So I ended up downloading Flash Video Browser from the market, it doesn't even require root... It just runs flash websites as if they were running on a desktop computer.

Hulu worked great through that! Brought my tablet to the gym and ran on the treadmill while watching hulu! YAY!

minkmeister · Dec 21, 2011

Big thanks to Orlando, Croak and especially Da_G. 24 hours in to owning my tab, I am rooted. Now to find a hotspot app...

Croak · Dec 21, 2011

minkmeister said:
Now to find a hotspot app...

Shame I didn't back up my Bell ROM. Bell doesn't disable the built in hotspot functionality.

Good news is, there are several international versions of the Tab 8.9 LTE about to hit the ground in Asia and Europe (along with another Canadian carrier). That means that the chances of getting a good "generic" ROM leaked are looking pretty good. Check with Samfirmware on a regular basis.

orlandoxpolice · Dec 21, 2011

Croak said:
Shame I didn't back up my Bell ROM. Bell doesn't disable the built in hotspot functionality.

Good news is, there are several international versions of the Tab 8.9 LTE about to hit the ground in Asia and Europe (along with another Canadian carrier). That means that the chances of getting a good "generic" ROM leaked are looking pretty good. Check with Samfirmware on a regular basis.

there are a few guys who have bell who may have just flashed the kernel and not the ATT stock first. Maybe they can do a system dump?

kobygold · Dec 24, 2011

Hi guys!
Is it possible to reset the Flash counter in this Tab using a JIG ?
I have a microUSB JIG I bought for my SGS2.
Can I use it also for the Tab...?
I guess I can buy a standard USB to microUSB converter,
and connect it to the Tab's original USB cable.
The question is if those are the same pins in the Tab's connector as on the USB JIG,
Or the Tab needs different pins to be connected (with the 300 Kohm resistor)...

Croak · Dec 24, 2011

Newer bootloaders from Samsung are jig-proof. No resetting the counter at the moment.

the_hatrix · Dec 24, 2011

Does Root remove the Bell SIM lock?

Or another way of asking, is there a way to remove the SIM lock without getting an unlock code?

kobygold · Dec 24, 2011

Croak said:
Newer bootloaders from Samsung are jig-proof. No resetting the counter at the moment.

Thanks!
I understand our 8.9 LTE Tab is one of those...

Croak · Dec 24, 2011

the_hatrix said:
Does Root remove the Bell SIM lock?

Or another way of asking, is there a way to remove the SIM lock without getting an unlock code?

You'll need to get a code the conventional way.

So far it looks like Samsung finally caught on (or rather, finally cared, or rather the carriers made them care) that it was stupid easy for the end user to unlock a Galaxy device.

---------- Post added at 10:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------

kobygold said:
Thanks!
I understand our 8.9 LTE Tab is one of those...

If it makes you feel any better, my flash counter is up to 41 at the moment.

orlandoxpolice · Dec 24, 2011

Lol what have you been doing Croak?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Croak · Dec 24, 2011

Experimenting with overclocking.

the_hatrix · Dec 25, 2011

Croak said:
You'll need to get a code the conventional way.

So far it looks like Samsung finally caught on (or rather, finally cared, or rather the carriers made them care) that it was stupid easy for the end user to unlock a Galaxy device.

---------- Post added at 10:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------

If it makes you feel any better, my flash counter is up to 41 at the moment.

Do you know any legit place or sites to get the code?

"[ROOT] Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE (SGH-i957) *updated 2/10/2012*"

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