what does root and flash mean?

[saywhatt]

i have a galaxy s i9003.. and as i looked for ways to somehow personalize my phone, i found unfamiliar terms.. root and flash. what do these terms mean and how do i get them? and also.. mine's a 2.2 froyo, how do i upgrade to gingerbread?

 

[scary alien]

Welcome to the AndroidForums, saywhatt.

Well, briefly (since this is an intro forum ), rooting is gaining special administrative control of your phone so that you can do things that the manufacturer / carrier didn't necessarily intend for you to do. Things like install root-only apps that allow you do special things like backup your applications and data, capture screen images, delete or modify system files, etc. (all things that could possibly get you into trouble if you are not fully knowledgeable about what you are doing).

Flashing is the process of over-writing your internal memory (with things like alternate Android operating systems).

You'd be best served by taking a peek at your phone's home forum (I think this one is correct...):

Samsung Galaxy S - Android Forums

and also look in the all-things-root sub-forum:

Galaxy S - All Things Root - Android Forums

Good luck and welcome to AF!

 

[saywhatt]

hey thanks! so i just rooted my phone.. i followed this website:

Odin Flash Procedure on How to Upgrade Samsung Galaxy S SL I9003 to Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread I9003XXKPH Firmware ~ Android Solution

and instead of using this link (Hotfile.com: One click file hosting: I9003XXKPE.rar) to download XXKPE, i downloaded the XXKPE file in MediaFire..

and now i'm confused on which PDA (tar) file to use.. because in the Hotfile, they use the I9003XXKPH_I9003XXKPH_I9003SERKPH.HOME.tar file.. wherease, in the MediaFire, they have several .tar file alternatives such as..

APBOOT_I9003XXKPE_CL409735_REV08_user_low_ship.tar.md5
CODE_I9003XXKPE_CL409735_REV08_user_low_ship.tar.md5
GT-I9003-CSC-MULTI-OXAKPE.tar.md5
MODEM_I9003XXKPE_REV_00_CL1041909.tar.md5

which file do i use for the PDA button?

please help

 

[scary alien]

hey thanks! so i just rooted my phone.. i followed this website:

Odin Flash Procedure on How to Upgrade Samsung Galaxy S SL I9003 to Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread I9003XXKPH Firmware ~ Android Solution

and instead of using this link (Hotfile.com: One click file hosting: I9003XXKPE.rar) to download XXKPE, i downloaded the XXKPE file in MediaFire..

and now i'm confused on which PDA (tar) file to use.. because in the Hotfile, they use the I9003XXKPH_I9003XXKPH_I9003SERKPH.HOME.tar file.. wherease, in the MediaFire, they have several .tar file alternatives such as..

APBOOT_I9003XXKPE_CL409735_REV08_user_low_ship.tar.md5
CODE_I9003XXKPE_CL409735_REV08_user_low_ship.tar.md5
GT-I9003-CSC-MULTI-OXAKPE.tar.md5
MODEM_I9003XXKPE_REV_00_CL1041909.tar.md5

which file do i use for the PDA button?

please help

saywhatt,

LOL, I'd be remiss if I did anything other than pointing you to the root experts for your particular phone. Please visit the all-things-root sub-forum that I mentioned above:

Galaxy S - All Things Root - Android Forums

The good folks over there should be able to help you (I've got an HTC Droid Eris and a Moto Droid X, so I'm not familiar with your phone or its rooting procedures) since they know all of the details and gotchas that you need to be aware of.

Good luck.

Cheers!

 

[karandpr]

The most crude method is as follows
PDA file is the largest always greater than 170 MB
File with PHONE/MODEM goes to amss_phone and MODEM
File with CSC goes to CSC
File with BOOT goes to BOOT

so maybe
CODE_I9003XXKPE_CL409735_REV08_user_low_ship.tar.md5 is the PDA

 

[saywhatt]

thanks a lot guys. helped a lot