First Attempt at Modding my Samsung Captivate…..

[smokarz]

I just got my first REAL smartphone, actually it’s still on FedEx truck.

From reading the stickies on this forum, here’s what I gathered so far (and I am starting from scratch – nothing on my phone yet)


1) Root my phone with the ‘OneClick’ tool.

2) Install ROM (I am thinking Cognition, since it’s recommended for beginner).

3) Install Theme (haven’t decide on one yet) – any suggestions?


So, am I missing anything?

 

[prbassplayer]

You seem to have a good grasp on what you are doing. I do recommend buying/making a Jig to have around just in case.

 

[KonaZXIII]

You're well on your way.

Make sure and read up on bootloaders and the difference between 2.1/2.2 and 2.3 bootloaders as getting this wrong is the main thing that can lead to "big" trouble.

Also take a look at Odin, Odin One Click return to stock and make sure and know the difference between those and the Odin One Click w/3 Button Combo.

 

[smokarz]

thanks guys, i think i have a good idea of what i want to do but i am still struggling to find the details to do the above.

for example, what difference if my phone batch is 1010, or 1012, or older?

do i need to get an microsd card, if so what size/brand?

what sofware do i need to download?

etc, etc. etc.

i will continue to browse through the forums, but if you know of any links please post.

also, what does the jig do? do i need to have one?

thanks

 

[rkkaranrk]

First decide what u want to do, As u stated first root the phone and then u want a custom ROM, So go ahead and try it.

Only thing i will advice start from a froyo rom then to the gingerbread as there would be less chances to brick your phone while flashing the b.loades.

Read the OP properly of the ROM which you want to flash there are many good froyo rom available here. But just be sure what u are doing.

 

[studacris]

Please for the love of all things unholy, read this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1049294

and if the phone comes with froyo you will need this after rooting before flashing a rom http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052991

 

[rkkaranrk]

At the start DEFINITE GUIDE TO BRICKING, LOL.

Its just a joke be sure you read it all.

 

[smokarz]

First decide what u want to do, As u stated first root the phone and then u want a custom ROM, So go ahead and try it.

Only thing i will advice start from a froyo rom then to the gingerbread as there would be less chances to brick your phone while flashing the b.loades.

Read the OP properly of the ROM which you want to flash there are many good froyo rom available here. But just be sure what u are doing.

thanks, yes from what i've read it's better to stay away from the gingerbread roms - at least for novice like myself.

 

[rkkaranrk]

My personal favorite were Firefly 3.0 and serendipity 6.4 links below.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=900568
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=914284

Again i will say read the OP carefully before flashing.

 

[jack man]

I have a few Captivates in the family and IMHO the first thinkg to do before flashing anything is to purchase Root Explorer in the market (for around $4) then back up your EFS folder (in the main directory) and save it to a cd so you ALWAYS have a hard copy of it. These files are specific to your phone and if they get screwed up during flashing, you phone may not be able to be used as a phone anymore. The back up copy will save you.

All of the above stuff is good. I was a noob about 6 months ago but I spent hours upon hours of reading and watching videos about flashing and moding. Good luck!

 

[smokarz]

My personal favorite were Firefly 3.0 and serendipity 6.4 links below.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=900568
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=914284

Again i will say read the OP carefully before flashing.

thanks, but what do you mean "read the OP carefully"

 

[smokarz]

I have a few Captivates in the family and IMHO the first thinkg to do before flashing anything is to purchase Root Explorer in the market (for around $4) then back up your EFS folder (in the main directory) and save it to a cd so you ALWAYS have a hard copy of it. These files are specific to your phone and if they get screwed up during flashing, you phone may not be able to be used as a phone anymore. The back up copy will save you.

All of the above stuff is good. I was a noob about 6 months ago but I spent hours upon hours of reading and watching videos about flashing and moding. Good luck!

great, these are what i love to hear.

things to do, or not to do, before modding/flashing.

 

[studacris]

thanks, but what do you mean "read the OP carefully"

the OP is the original post or poster, like your first question is the op, and you are also the op of the thread. in that context he meant the original post, because that will have most of the information about the rom...but i would expand on that to read the op and the a couple of pages in, and also if its a large thread with alot of posts read atleast the LAST 5 or 6 pages also.

anymore terms you are unfamiliar with read the op of this thread carefully: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1093062

 

[smokarz]

thanks for clarying.

just got my phone in the mail.

i looked at the batch number under the battery slot and it shows 1106.

does this mean i have version 2.1 or 2.2? what would be the appropriate app/tool for rooting?

thanks

 

[studacris]

The batch had nothing to do with the firmware....that just means your phone was built in june of 2011. But since it's a new phone it more than likely has 2.2 confirm this in settings>about phone> firmware version.


Use super one click to root.

BUT FIRST PLEASE READ SOME MORE.
All of the information you are looking is already on here at the very least twice probably WAY more.

 

[smokarz]

it is indeed version 2.2

 

[smokarz]

so i read the first page of this thread and also watched the youtube clip. it looks straight enough to root. but i got a question. should i run the universal root or the captivate root?



http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682&page=442

 

[jack man]

so i read the first page of this thread and also watched the youtube clip. it looks straight enough to root. but i got a question. should i run the universal root or the captivate root?



http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682&page=442

I would use SuperOneClick to root 2.2, however, the only version that was successful for me was version 1.6.5. The newer versions gave me errors or said FAILED when trying to root. For me, it has always worked with 1.6.5

 

[smokarz]

thanks, but i only see v1.7 and v1.95. where can i get v1.65?

also, i do not need the samsung driver for rooting right? only for flashing?

 

[jack man]

thanks, but i only see v1.7 and v1.95. where can i get v1.65?

also, i do not need the samsung driver for rooting right? only for flashing?

You should have the driver installed on your computer for anything you do with the phone. Make sure after you install drivers to plug in your phone to the computer in all the different modes it has - in debugging mode, not in debug mode, in download mode, and connecting as an external drive. The computer will install all the drivers when you do this.

I will try to attach v1.6.5 of Super One CLick. I hope it's ok with the moderators here that I am posting the software. Just unzip the folder and double click the android icon in that folder.