Root Applying custom ROM

[regdude]

Hi!
I have Android 2.2, since I'm new then I don't know much about installing these ROMs.
From *#1234# I get this:
PDA - XWJPF
Phone - XXJPP
CSC - XEJP2
Currently I use an official ROM, did an update trough Kies last week, but don't understand much what effects what. For example, does any of those number effect if the android is 2.2 or 2.2.1? Currently 2.2.1 isn't available in my region.
I know how it is when a device is bricked (thank god Pandora Battery came in time) so I really would like to make backups, as I understood it is not possible to do it with 3e recovery, so I need 2e. I read about CF-Root, but I can't seem to find a version for me, actually I don't know which one I need, but none of them match any version of mine.

So after I will make a backup I will feel safer
But then I will need to install the custom ROM, DebusROM A2 seems the ROM I need, but it is said "XXJPY Based", again none version number matches mine.
In this forum there is a FAQ that a common mistake is that people take the wrong firmware version (nothing else said though). So is there a way to change the version to match? OR it doesn't matter?

First I want to make a backup of my current official ROM, if I understood right then 2e recovery is based on kernel version. After that - "something-somehow" and will install custom ROM that will include this kernel with 2e (if I read right then DebusROM includes the kernel). But will it be really possible to move back to official later? I mean, if the kernel is different then backup wouldn't work (I think) :/

Please enlighten me

 

[jollygoon]

Actually, you don't really need to back up your current firmware because you can download it off xda or www.samfirmware.com. If ever you need to revert to a fresh official fw all you got to do is flash it.

I think the backup you are referring to is a Nandroid one, but in order to do that you'll need to root. However, the most reliable rooting IMHO is to flash a kernel or custom rom in which root access is pre-installed. As that pretty much changes your f/w it doesn't really accomplish what you set want to do.

IMO, I think it's best it you just flash a kernel that has clockworkmod recovery. Hardcore claims (and you can trust this guy) Speedmod is compatible with all stock sgs froyo roms, so you'll be okay. Fingers crossed. Check out his thread here.

After that you can install most custom roms through CWM recovery.

But just a warning, make sure your three button combos work or you just might get screwed.

 

[snapper.fishes]

Make sure 3 button combo work, and that you can enter both download and recover mode.

Always remove any lagfix prior to flashing.

Samsung replaced 2e recover wth 3e after updating to Froyo. If you want to flash a custom rom, you are going to have to downgrade to Eclair first. You can do that by downloading an Eclair rom from samfirmware.com

Make sure that you don't have a vibrant/captivate/fasciante. The I9000 Glaaxy S rom does not work with them. (Not too sure about the Captivate though. It might work.)

Can't remember what pit file JPP uses, but it should be 512.pit. All Eclair roms use 512.pit. You should be able to find details on these on samfirmware.com. If JPP uses 512.pit, you don't need to tick repartition on ODIN.

Make a backup of your IMEI folder. More information in the FAQ. Just search for the keyword IMEI.

I would suggest starting with Doc's or Darkyy's custom rom. Both are based on 2.2.1 JPY. It doesn't matter which eclair rom you use as a base. I use ZSJG4 just because it's easier to flash via ODIN - all 3 packages, phone, csc and modem are packed into a single tar file.

Always remove that damn lagfix before you flash. Always. Single largest cause of bricks. Though most bricks are recoverable.

 

[regdude]

Hi, thanks for your reply!
Last night I took the risk without understanding anything and flashed my phone.
What I learned was exactly what I asked.
1) Those firmware versions doesn't mean anything when comes to compatibility. You can flash JPY, JPX, JP3 maybe even some kind of a JPZ no matter what is your current version. Only don't know if you should mix regions, probably not. I found that there are 2 ways to flash a new firmware - Kies or Odin. Kies registry patcher didn't work for me, but Odin did work. Odin didn't ask for CSC and Phone firmware because all was includes in PDA firmware. Didn't have to use .pit files!
2) The backup I wanted to take is pointless from my point of view, because I still need to be able to boot my phone. Thought that this NANDROID backup would help if I have a Full Brick.
3) 2e recovery is quite pointless either. Best is to use your recommended CWM recovery. There were 2 ways to get this recovery, but I used the one that "upgraded" my current kernel, got a rooted phone and a new recovery in a single click
4) I was lucky Before flashing everything "the other way" I had lagfix installed, I didn't know that you can't flash with them, I ran Kies and my phone didn't boot up, I did something and seemed to work...
5) Galaxy S turns out be fast! Really fast! Used the 500Hz version.
Still not sure about if you can mix firmwares, you say I can, but tutorial in this forum says that I can't. I didn't risk and installed JPY first. Sadly didn't wipe dalvik-cache and having problems with camera, otherwise everything is great
Hope my post can help other dumb people like me to get full potential out of Galaxy S
And thanks for your post, it helped me too!
Oh and the first time I ran update trough Kies it took me an hour to figure out why Volume Down+Home+Power enters Download Mode and not Recovery Mode
Now I know that in some places it is written wrong (or old) the way to get inside Recovery Mode.

 

[mac_to_android]

Hi,

I wanted to try this the other night as well but didn't get to far. I had problems receiving my email with the base Samsung app (K9 Rocks) and decided I'd try a custom rom. I now have my Galaxy s rooted ok and have applied the one click lag fix, phone runs allot quicker.
Can I try a custom rom from this point. I know I need to do more reading up on odin but is there anywhere I can get a step by step for a total newbie. Other question is, is the process the same for each rom.