How to Enable Sideloading of Apps on Captivate

[maerlim]

*** Standard Disclaimer: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PHONE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS PROCEDURE.

THE PROBLEM WITH USB DEBUGGING HAS BEEN FIXED. THIS PROCEDURE SEEMS PRETTY SAFE NOW. ONLY FURTHER TESTING WILL TELL FOR SURE.

IF YOU PERFORMED THIS PROCEDURE PREVIOUSLY AND YOU HAVE USB DEBUGGING STUCK ON, SKIP TO WHERE YOU SEE *** USB DEBUGGING FIX ***. ***

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)
You'll need the USB drivers (Stickied post in this forum)
You'll need root access (look for the Captivate Root thread by chaoscentral)
You'll need Busybox (available on the market after you root the phone)

Connect USB to phone with USB Debugging ON
Command prompt
cd to SDK install directory
cd tools
adb shell
su
cp /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db /sdcard/settings.db
cp /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db /sdcard/settings.db.backup
exit
exit
(This should bring you back to your windows command prompt.)
adb pull /sdcard/settings.db %userprofile%\desktop
(This should copy the settings.db to your desktop in Windows. Keep your cmd window open, you'll need it again.)

Install SQLite Manager Plugin for Firefox
Open SQLite Manager Plugin within Firefox (Tools->SQLite Manager)
Click Database
Click Connect Database
Find settings.db
Expand Tables
Click secure
Scroll down to ID 6, "install_non_market_apps". Double-click.
Change value ( TEXT ) from 0 to 1
Close SQLite Manager

(Back to that cmd window)
adb push %userprofile%\desktop\settings.db /sdcard

adb shell
su
cp /sdcard/settings.db /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings
busybox chown 1000 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
busybox chgrp 1000 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
reboot

Disconnect USB from phone. Your phone should be rebooting.

Done! I tested this and was able to install siriusxm.apk from siriusxm.com/android.


*** USB DEBUGGING FIX ***
adb shell
su
busybox chown 1000 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
busybox chgrp 1000 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
reboot

 

[Vtec]

Awesome! I cant wait to get mine!

 

[maerlim]

Please do let me know if this works for everyone.

 

[nmoline]

I tried it and got "cp:not found" Any suggestions?

 

[ajerman]

This DOES require root, as can be seen with the "su" function. But after you root it, this should work just fine.

 

[maerlim]

I tried it and got "cp:not found" Any suggestions?

Did you do "adb shell" first?

 

[contentryder]

quick question...would rooting a phone enable you to install any app without having to sideload?

 

[randy_c]

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)

Can you upload the link?

Thanks

 

[maerlim]

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)

Can you upload the link?

Thanks

Sorry didn't notice the link didn't make it into the post. The SDK is at http://developer.android.com

 

[YellowGT0]

How do you get to the command prompt? And how do you turn debugging on?

 

[naxir]

How do you get to the command prompt? And how do you turn debugging on?

can't help you with debugging as I don't have my captivate yet... command prompt is as easy as start >> run >> cmd >> enter, or the faster method I prefer: windows key + r >> cmd >> enter.

 

[radi0chik]

I get cp not found also. and yes i did adb shell first.
You might want to add that when you type SU, it prompted me on my phone to grant unknown app super user access. But I can't get past the cp unknown

 

[radi0chik]

How do you get to the command prompt? And how do you turn debugging on?

settings>applications>development>usb debugging. Make sure your usb cable is unplugged before you turn it on. Then plug the cable in.

 

[YellowGT0]

OHHH CMD on windows... I thought it was like console on the phone or something DUH lol
This is what I get when I try to install the SDK
Failed to fetch URL https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/repository/repository.xml, reason: HTTPS SSL error. You might want to force download through HTTP in the settings

If you get the same error go to settings and select force HTTP

 

[ranova]

cp: not found for me

 

[YellowGT0]

1st it says Permission denied then when I hit it again it says cp: not found and it is rooted

 

[Jreitnauer7]

Was anyone able to test this to see if it works without rooting?

 

[YellowGT0]

Under Superuser permissions it says

Unknown
/system/bin/sh as root (uid: 0)

Don't know if that matters.

 

[YellowGT0]

I think its because Busybox is not installed. But I can't get it to install correctly. from what I have read the cp command is not built into adb shell.

 

[maerlim]

Ahh, that's it. You do need busybox installed. It's available on the market after you root the phone. I've updated the original post to reflect this.

 

[YellowGT0]

Ohh you need it on the phone? Not on the PC?

 

[YellowGT0]

Aight man cool. Glad I helped with something lol. Damn Android is so alien to me. worked perfect thanks alot.

 

[YellowGT0]

Just FYI I dunno if I messed something else up but no matter what I do I can't get out of USB Debugging mode. I unselect the box hit home key go back in and its reselected.

 

[Balthazar B]

There's an easier way...

 

[maerlim]

I've updated the original post. It looks like that USB Debugging problem is a byproduct of this procedure. A factory reset will repair the problem. (Settings->Privacy->Factory data reset) I hope to have a fixed procedure up sometime tonight.