Root Firmware, Android and Rooting...

[Mark_H]

I am getting a little confused.

My phone is running

Android v2.1 update 1
I9000XXJF3

The following firmware versions are listed on Samsung Firmwares website:

[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJE2[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 May [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJE3[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 May [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJE5[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 May [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJE6[/FONT][FONT=&quot]2010 May[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJE7[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 May [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJE9 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]2010 May [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJEC [/FONT][FONT=&quot]2010 May [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJF1 [/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 June [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJF2[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 June [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJF3[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [FONT=&quot]2010 June[/FONT] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJF7[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 June [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XXJFB[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 June [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XWJFD[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 2010 June [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XWJF[/FONT][FONT=&quot]F [/FONT][FONT=&quot]2010 June [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XWJG1 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]2010 July [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XWJG3 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]2010 July [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I9000XWJG5 [/FONT][FONT=&quot] [FONT=&quot]2010 July [/FONT] [/FONT]

1. Are these official Samsung versions?
2. If so, why does Kies not offer to upgrade my phone if there are later versions?
3. If not and I upgrade to a later firmware version:
   • Which version should I upgrade to?
   • Do I need to root the phone?
   • What happens if Samsung release later versions - will there be a conflict etc?
   • Will it affect any of the apps I currently have?
   • Will there be a problem upgrading to v2.2 Froyo?
4. If I root the phone:
   • What happens if Samsung release later versions - will there be a conflict etc?
   • Will it affect any of the apps I currently have?
   • Will there be a problem upgrading to v2.2 Froyo?

The reason i would like to upgrade the firmware is the lag - I can live with it, but if there is a solution I would rather not. If I could remove the lag it woulld be the perfect phone.

One thing I am not too keen on, is ending up in a similar situation to my jailbroken iphone - became a pain in the arse everytime a new version of the OS was released.

All help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Mark

 

[ayrshiredude]

whats the samsung firmware site?

 

[Mark_H]

Bugger - I was hoping someone had answered my questions!!

http://samsung-firmware.webs.com/http://samsung-firmware.webs.com/

 

[Machpants]

Hi, I am a noob but I can answer this:

1. NO Bit of a giveaway them having a donation link.

2. n/a

3.
A)They have tweeted something along the lines of JG1 is better than 3 and 5.
B)Yep
C and D) dunno

4. Dunno

 

[Mark_H]

1. NO Bit of a giveaway them having a donation link.

That was my thought, however they do state on their homepage - - "[SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0]Note: All our firmwares are official Samsung Firmwares."[/SIZE][/SIZE]

Hence my question!

[SIZE=+0][SIZE=+0]


[/SIZE][/SIZE]

 

[bobtodd]

To your point 3B - no, you don't need to root the phone to use the firmwares.

I'll see if I can answer some of the points.

No - the site isn't Samsung's but the firmwares are all official Samsung firmware.
You don't need to root your phone to use them.
Which firmware works best? I'm on JG3 and it's fast, smooth and after almost a week hasn't had any issues whatsoever. I'm very happy with it. I didn't get on with JG5, BTW but some users are okay with it.
When Samsung release Froyo you'll still be able to upgrade

Can't answer your points re: rooting, I'm afraid - I've not gone down that route (ho ho)

 

[Mark_H]

To your point 3B - no, you don't need to root the phone to use the firmwares.

I'll see if I can answer some of the points.

No - the site isn't Samsung's but the firmwares are all official Samsung firmware.
You don't need to root your phone to use them.
Which firmware works best? I'm on JG3 and it's fast, smooth and after almost a week hasn't had any issues whatsoever. I'm very happy with it. I didn't get on with JG5, BTW but some users are okay with it.
When Samsung release Froyo you'll still be able to upgrade

Can't answer your points re: rooting, I'm afraid - I've not gone down that route (ho ho)

Thanks for help.

The process of upgrading appears to be fairly straightforward - I'll go for JG3 on your recommendation.

I don't really want to root the phone either.

Back to one of the questions - as they are official Samsung firmwares - why can't I upgrade via Kies? Any ideas, other than it's crap?

Thanks again.

 

[Josh1a1h]

I have just connected and tried to update my firmware using kies... i am using jf3 and it says its the latest firmware...

How do i manually update it to jg3 or jg5?

 

[bobtodd]

Go to http://samsung-firmwares.com and read the tutorial there. All the tools you need are on the site.

 

[MadBob]

Why is the site so damn dark you cannot read it though

 

[sjdean]

Here's my take.

They "grey area" firmware updates. No one really knows for sure, but they appear to be genuine firmware from Samsung. They appear to be leaks and Samsung don't release them through their official channels - Kies or elsewhere.

Perhaps they're interim updates either leaked by a developer or given out to the wild by Samsung for bug testing.

One rumour was that Samsung were going to release XXJF6 - which comes from last month. A bit strange you might think considering XWJG5.

But all the firmwares from samsung-firmwares remember, would appear to be bleeding edge. Perhaps not at all reliable, and I think you use at your own risk.

Cya
Simon

 

[bobtodd]

A new firmware update was posted yesterday - JM1. I've just installed and it's really made quite a difference. The phone's even faster than before, there are some nice cosmetic tweaks (an "apps currently running" widget for one and an advanced task manager) and GPS seems to be better than it was, too (not that I had any real problems with mine using the settings posted elsewhere in the forum).

If you're into doing such things, I'd say it's worth updating to the new one.

 

[waspbr]

did you install it with kies or did you just use the ones from the site?

 

[bobtodd]

No - you can't install these with Kies. You have to go via the site and use the Odin tool.

Here's a linky to a video tutorial which explains the procedure better than I ever could:

Part 1/2: YouTube - Galaxy S Flashing Firmware Parts1-2
Part 3: YouTube - Galaxy S Flashing Firmware Part 3

 

[ndame09]

It says on the site: " If you come from America don't flash! (Ask for a firmware in the forums)"

Has anyone here used a firmware update in the US? And if so, which one?

My phone version is: I9000XXJF5

 

[waspbr]

@bobtodd, do you have an european version, I just tried using the M1 and for some odd reason it does not seem to work for me... after flashing it goes into a little command line like screen and reads recovery utilities, I then set it to reboot and it loads the samsung animation... then it goes blank.

I have just noticed that a M2 version has been posted, gonna try that and see if I can unbrick my phone...

 

[bobtodd]

I've had the same error. Most likely you just have the wrong .PIT file. The one on the Samsung-Firmwares site is v513 and to upgrade to later firmwares you need the older v512 (odd, I know, but there you are). It's available in this thread at the XDA forum (registration required to download it):

I9000XWJM1 online!!!!!!! - xda-developers

Once you flash with PIT 512 you should be fine.

 

[arvindm]

I just flashed the JM1 yesterday too, phone's all the more snappy now and some nice touches like bobtodd mentioned.

 

[waspbr]

I've had the same error. Most likely you just have the wrong .PIT file. The one on the Samsung-Firmwares site is v513 and to upgrade to later firmwares you need the older v512 (odd, I know, but there you are). It's available in this thread at the XDA forum (registration required to download it):

I9000XWJM1 online!!!!!!! - xda-developers

Once you flash with PIT 512 you should be fine.

Gonna give it a shot, thanks

 

[waspbr]

holy @#%#$% dude, thanks it worked.

As it turns out the .pit file was the problem, the flashing of the M2 worked like a charm when I used to 512 instead of the 513.

Thanks a LOT. You deserve a free beer.


UPDATE: the M2 firmware works great, though I have noticed that the 3G does not seem to be working... I will look into that later.

UPDATE 2: solved the 3g issue by going to the website of my dutch carrier (vodafone.nl) and copying the internet settings for the htc desire (shame but they have not made the support page for the galaxy S yet). problem solved and now the phone works as it should.

 

[blazeplacid]

my phone came with I897UCJF6.....seems really old

At&t carrier and I just bought it 7/18/10

im gonna try to update it

 

[bobtodd]

holy @#%#$% dude, thanks it worked.

As it turns out the .pit file was the problem, the flashing of the M2 worked like a charm when I used to 512 instead of the 513.

Thanks a LOT. You deserve a free beer.


UPDATE: the M2 firmware works great, though I have noticed that the 3G does not seem to be working... I will look into that later.

UPDATE 2: solved the 3g issue by going to the website of my dutch carrier (vodafone.nl) and copying the internet settings for the htc desire (shame but they have not made the support page for the galaxy S yet). problem solved and now the phone works as it should.

Very happy to help. I had the panic too the first time I tried it. Glad I could turn that into something positive.

 

[blazeplacid]

Anyone try it with at&t in the us?

I don't wannt lose 3G and I'm pretty sure at&t wont give me software

 

[shaun166]

i got some question...
why is everyone eager to update their firmware? What's wrong with the default firmware?

 

[yakboy]

Quick question for those that have already made the jump to JM1, does this wipe your phone back to defaults? i.e. have to re-setup and re-install all your apps?

Thanks in advance.

I'd love to remove the hanging issues but am limited for time at the moment, if this was a confirmed fix for the GPS issues though I'd defo find the time.

UPDATE : watched video, very useful. Yes I lose everything and should backup first.