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Root Few questions....

Wingzfan61

Android Enthusiast
Jan 12, 2010
256
36
Michigan
Ok Ive spent the past couple hours reading and Ive got some questions that before I destroy my phone I wanted to ask. I know theres a ton of threads but Im still a bit confused.

1. I know how to flash to zefie kernels but does that give me a rooted phone or is it just a custom kernel.

2. I see all these posts saying to to use adb for certain features. What the @$%# is adb?

3. Im mainly doing this to add a custom theme from sdx's website. beyond flashing to zefies 14.3 kernel do I need to add "maxdamage2122's recovery 2.0"?

4. Am I even on the right track here. For whatever reason this crap is extremely confusing to me.
 
Ok Ive spent the past couple hours reading and Ive got some questions that before I destroy my phone I wanted to ask. I know theres a ton of threads but Im still a bit confused.

1. I know how to flash to zefie kernels but does that give me a rooted phone or is it just a custom kernel.

2. I see all these posts saying to to use adb for certain features. What the @$%# is adb?

3. Im mainly doing this to add a custom theme from sdx's website. beyond flashing to zefies 14.3 kernel do I need to add "maxdamage2122's recovery 2.0"?

4. Am I even on the right track here. For whatever reason this crap is extremely confusing to me.

1. Yes - you'll be rooted
2. "adb" is a command you run from your PC when you have your phone connected (you get it from the android sdk files) - it will allow you access to copy files over to your phone - it'll also allow you to "adb shell", which basically is your phone's directories...
3. if you flash zefie's 14.3 - i believe he's using max's recovery. he has the apply from zip on sd card as an option, which is used to flash themes.
4. you're on the right track.
 
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Wings since this was your first time doing the whole theme thing would you like to share your immortal technique? I am just about as careful as you sounded and I would like to get it right too! I don't think I will have access to adb so if that's what you used then share for those who might come across this thread....


Im just now messing with the sdk package so no you dont need that at all. Step by step what I did is:

1. I already had the official sprint cl14 install so I skipped the first set of instructions on that. If you dont have the cl14 you need to do that first.
2. Download the sprint update tool from here Sprint Software Downloads - Smartphones - Samsung Moment with Google
3. Install it on your pc
4. On your pc navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Samsung Electronics\SWU Upgrade\Models\Binary\
5. Cut the sprint file labeled SPH-M900_CL14_MR.tar and paste it somewhere for safe keeping in case you wanna go back to stock
6. Download zefies 14.3 from here MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service
7. Extract the file in the tar and paste it into the folder you just removed the stock file from (C:\Program Files (x86)\Samsung Electronics\SWU Upgrade\Models\Binary\)
8. Power off your phone and remove the sd card
9. Run the sprint update utility you downloaded first without your phone connected to the pc. and follow the instructions on-screen exactly
10. Once the update completes and loads the OS remove the battery on your phone and reinsert your sd card.
12. Restart your phone.


To install a new theme follow these steps.

1. Download the cl14 theme template located here http://samsungmoment.googlecode.com/files/cl14_theme_template.zip
2. Download the theme you want to install from the sdx forums theme section located here Theme files
3. connect your phone to your pc and load those 2 files into the root directory of your sd card
4. Turn off your phone
5. hold down Volume+Talk+End until the recovery screen appears.
6. Select Data
7. select Clear dalvik cache
8. Select Apply any zip from SD and select CL14_theme_template.zip
9. Once that completes select "Reboot"
10. Once your phone is fully booted back up. Power off your phone back off and boot into the Recovery Mode again (Volume+Talk+End)
11. select Clear dalvik cache again
12. Select Apply any zip from SD and select your new theme.zip
13. Once again, select Reboot system now

It can take up to 5 minutes for your phone to reboot the first time so be patient. You also will have to reload any widgets you have on your screens.

As a side note, I used the black aero theme and apparently there's an issue with the launcher file so the default home screen (the 3 screens) will not work. You need to be running a 3rd party home app like panda, gde, open home etc and have it as your default home screen or you will just get a black screen. From what I read not all themes have this issue. Gator boots theme for example works fine.

That's about as detailed as I can get so I hope it helps.
 
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I'm sorry if this is a lame question, but from reading other threads, I thought only Joey's kernel could be flashed from the cl14, and that if you wanted Zefie's you had to start from CJ05. I have not updated to cl14 yet, and want to get the lastest zef kernel. But I thought I read other places where they were instructing people to downgrade from cl14 to cj05 prior to using the kernel.

Can you confirm or deny? I'm ready to get started but am unsure about this.

Thank you in advance for your time and help! :)
 
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Honestly, I would take the plunge and go with joey's. I've used both and find that having the stock 14 and joey's is a lot less headache and works as fast if not faster. If you go with Speedrabbit's, however, it has all of joey's plus more. Go read about all of it over on the sdx boards if you like. More information is better.
 
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I'm sorry if this is a lame question, but from reading other threads, I thought only Joey's kernel could be flashed from the cl14, and that if you wanted Zefie's you had to start from CJ05. I have not updated to cl14 yet, and want to get the lastest zef kernel. But I thought I read other places where they were instructing people to downgrade from cl14 to cj05 prior to using the kernel.

Can you confirm or deny? I'm ready to get started but am unsure about this.

Thank you in advance for your time and help! :)

Actually you HAVE to install the stock cl14 in order to install zefies 14.3 Its actually the first steps in his instructions if you havent done the update. So if you arent running cl14 you need to install that first.
 
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Actually you HAVE to install the stock cl14 in order to install zefies 14.3 Its actually the first steps in his instructions if you havent done the update. So if you arent running cl14 you need to install that first.

yup. wingz is right... joey/speedrabbits and zefie's most current kernels all use the sprint updater (with the official CL14). wingz gave some pretty good instructions.

i believe joey/speedrabbit are working on allowing updating via recovery zip files... zefie's currently has it... wifi tether is available with both kernels.

i don't think you can go wrong with either.
 
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Thank you, wings! I have been combing threads all day, but it was difficult to navigate what was old information (ie, you had to start with CJ05) and this information. Thanks for the clarification.


I know what you mean. Ive been reading threads for the past few days and the big clarification I couldnt get was if a custom kernel meant you were rooted or not. Really alot of older threads should probably be archived because you read one that says rollback to 05 and another that says run the updated cl14.

After finding the most recent instructions and chibucks help its so simple I felt kinda dumb not understanding it sooner.
 
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I did, thanks! I didn't do anything different, but when I downloaded zel14.3 for the 3rd time, and copied over the tar file it worked. I have no idea why, but I'll take it! :)

I'm now trying to figure out how to get the 5 home screens, etc. I must have misunderstood. I thought the custom kernel did all that. I think everyone's instructions are very clear for people who already know the vocab, but it's a little more challenging for jailbreak virgins. ;-)
 
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I did, thanks! I didn't do anything different, but when I downloaded zel14.3 for the 3rd time, and copied over the tar file it worked. I have no idea why, but I'll take it! :)

I'm now trying to figure out how to get the 5 home screens, etc. I must have misunderstood. I thought the custom kernel did all that. I think everyone's instructions are very clear for people who already know the vocab, but it's a little more challenging for jailbreak virgins. ;-)

If your on the stock home screen and not a 3rd party home app then click the menu button between "Home and back". Click "more", click "extended" and click the 2nd option. There you can set your screens.

Im gonna be away from my pc for a bit, Hit me up on google talk if you like and Ill help you get the extra screens.

wingzfan61@gmail.com
 
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I'm now trying to figure out how to get the 5 home screens, etc. I must have misunderstood. I thought the custom kernel did all that. I think everyone's instructions are very clear for people who already know the vocab, but it's a little more challenging for jailbreak virgins. ;-)

actually, you'll need to install a theme (now that you're able to). over at SDX-developers.com - they've included the "advanced launcher" into some of the themes (i'm using blackaero), which allows you to have more screens.

just follow the instructions posted there (they've done a great job) - typically, it's easier to update with the cl14_template first and then the theme file... but you'd probably want to read up on it over there. :)
 
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Ok now onto what I believe is my last bit of needed help. I want to put my calendar background back to white. I have the old calendar apk file and I have the instructions on how to do it but they are giberish to me. I think this is where the adb thing comes into play. Heres the instructions, could someone please exxplain to me what to do here so I can help others figure out this adb from a newbie perspective?

For people that want the white calendar back:
rm /system/app/Calendar.apk
rm /system/app/Calendar.odex
push the attached Calendar.apk to /system/app
 
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Ok well I figured out adb a bit. Found out how to use it but those commands arent valid it appears. I was able to just download a program called SU File Manager & Terminal v3.26 Application for Android | Tools and cut the Calendar.apk from the system folder and paste it on my sd card, then copy the old Calendar.apk from my my backup folder on my sdcard into system folder and viola it worked. If anyone wants to do the same lemme know and Ill try and help you out.

The app I listed does cost 2 bucks but it is very much worth it. I also was able to clear my market search history using that app.
 
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Ok now onto what I believe is my last bit of needed help. I want to put my calendar background back to white. I have the old calendar apk file and I have the instructions on how to do it but they are giberish to me. I think this is where the adb thing comes into play. Heres the instructions, could someone please exxplain to me what to do here so I can help others figure out this adb from a newbie perspective?

For people that want the white calendar back:
rm /system/app/Calendar.apk
rm /system/app/Calendar.odex
push the attached Calendar.apk to /system/app

there are a few methods of doing this - and i think that's what confuses people the most...

On your PC:
(A1) doing everything from your pc's c: prompt
(A2) going from your pc's c: prompt into "adb shell" and doing things from your "phone" (but you're still on your pc)

On your Phone:
(B1) going through a terminal application (i use connectbot)

A2 & B1 commands are going to be the same; A1 commands are slightly different.

For changing out the Calendar.apk using:

(A2)
1) Throw the Calendar.apk onto your sdcard (via whatever method you want)
1a) USB connect phone to laptop in recovery mode (vol down, call, end) (Note: not necessary, but removing apps when the phone may be accessing them is always weird)
2) start > run > cmd to pull up the command prompt
3) type "adb devices" and it should show your phone connected (if not, then you have driver issues)
4) type "adb shell" to go into your "phone" - you should get a # prompt (if you get $, then type "su")
5) type "cd sdcard" to go into your sdcard directory
6) type "ls -l" (lowercase "L") to list all files/folders in that directory - you should see your Calendar.apk there... type "ls C*.*" if your list is too long. :)
7) type "cp /system/app/Calendar.apk Calendarbak.apk" to backup your Calendar.apk to your sdcard
8) type "cp /system/app/Calendar.odex Calendarbak.odex" to backup your Calendar.odex to your sdcard
9) type "cp Calendar.apk /system/app/Calendar.apk" to write your "white" Calendar.apk over the old one
10) type "rm /system/app/Calendar.odex" to remove the old Calendar.odex (I'm not sure if it'll be there, since you may be running a deodex'd theme)
11) type "reboot" and your phone will reboot and you'll have the new Calendar.apk
 
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Ok well I figured out adb a bit. Found out how to use it but those commands arent valid it appears. I was able to just download a program called SU File Manager & Terminal v3.26 Application for Android | Tools and cut the Calendar.apk from the system folder and paste it on my sd card, then copy the old Calendar.apk from my my backup folder on my sdcard into system folder and viola it worked. If anyone wants to do the same lemme know and Ill try and help you out.

The app I listed does cost 2 bucks but it is very much worth it. I also was able to clear my market search history using that app.

hehe... took the easy way out. :) ;)
 
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