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Flashing ClockworkMod Recovery to the Samsung Captivate is an easy process although not as easy as just installing ROM Manager and flashing it. You will need a few extra steps so that you can actually flash custom ROM’s to the still popular Galaxy S Android device. If you follow the directions below you should have no issues and be able to run CyanogenMod 7, Serendipity or any other custom ROM with ease.

Your Captivate must be rooted in order to flash ClockworkMod Recovery to the Samsung Captivate: Root Samsung Captivate with SuperOneClick

Install ClockworkMod Recovery on the Samsung Captivate:

  1. Download and Extract “Heimdall Suite 1.1.1″ (Download Link)
  2. Power off your Samsung Captivate
  3. Connect the Captivate to your PC via USB
  4. Boot the Captivate into Download Mode via “vol up + vol down + power” while plugging in USB
  5. Run “zadig.exe” in the drivers folder of Heimdall
  6. From the Menu select “Options -> List All Devices”
  7. Then select “Samsung USB Composite Device” or “Gadget Serial”
  8. Click “Install Driver” (if popup ignore and install anyway)
  9. Now Launch the Heimdall application
  10. Download and extract “Hardcore’s SpeedMod Kernel” (Download Link)
  11. Select the zImage in the Kernel(zimage) section
  12. Turn your Captivate off and unplug it from the USB (leaving the USB in PC)
  13. Boot into download mode again via “vol up + vol down + power” while plugging in USB
  14. Heimdall should still be open on your PC click “Start”
  15. You should now see a blue bar showing the Kernel being transfered
  16. Your Captivate will restart automatically when complete
  17. Congrats your Samsung Captivate has ClockworkMod Recovery Installed.

You can now install custom ROM’s on your Captivate easily through ClockworkMod Recovery. We as always aren’t responsible for the use of these instructions so use at your own risk.

While this method is meant for the Samsung Captivate it can also be used for all Galaxy S devices like the Vibrant and Fascinate. The Captivate is an older Android phone but still very popular. The Samsung Captivate is an AT&T phone but also easily SIM unlocked to work on other carriers like T-Mobile. The first step is to root the device and here it is.

Samsung Captivate Root Instructions:

  1. Download SuperOneClick and Extract it to your PC (Download Link)
  2. Put you Captivate in USB Debugging Mode (Settings -> Applications -> Development)
  3. Plug your Captivate into your PC via USB
  4. Open SuperOneClick (wherever you just extracted it)
  5. Click the “Root” button
  6. When asking if you want BusyBox say Yes
  7. When completed unplug your Phone and Reboot it
  8. Congrats you now have root access on your Captivate!

If you want to test your Super User rights download Titanium Backup or any other app that requires root access and open it. You should get a superuser access window to accept and your good to go. As always follow these instructions at your own risk we are not responsible for its use.

Samsung Captivate Gingerbread Update

Finally those of you sporting the Samsung Captivate have the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update available now according to AT&T. The update will bring your Captivate to build I897UCKK4 and additionally has some great fixes like G-mail top-menu and a vertical play mode for YouTube. If you want the update now go start Samsung’s Kies Mini software and start updating.

While its nice to see the official update available i’m sure most of you have already given up on Samsung and installed a leaked ROM already. Those of you who are not big on straying from official builds should be happy now that your at least on par with most other devices.

Let us know how the update goes for you and if you notice any big changes to the build. Also anything that poses an issue let us know so that we can help to address it as soon as possible.

AT&T has sent out a press release stating that all of their previously released Android phones in 2011 will receive Gingerbread updates. Included in these updates are the HTC Inspire 4G, LG Phoenix, Pantech Crossover, Samsung Captivate 4G and the Samsung Infuse 4G. This all started with the Motorola Atrix 4G Gingerbread update a few days ago.

View the full Press Release from AT&T below:

Android 2.3 Debuted in the AT&T Portfolio with HTC Status, All Post-paid Android Smartphones Released in 2011 Planned to Receive 2.3 Upgrade

DALLAS, July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Key Facts

AT&T* confirmed that upgrades to the Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) platform are planned for all post-paid Android smartphones already introduced this year.
Motorola ATRIX™ 4G users will receive an update to Android 2.3 beginning today and HTC Inspire™ 4G users will receive the update in the coming weeks.
Motorola ATRIX 4G update will also provide the ability to download applications from third-party stores.
HTC Status™ arrived in stores July 17, the first AT&T smartphone running Android 2.3.

Upgrade Details

Customers who purchased an Android smartphone from AT&T introduced in 2011 can expect to receive an update to Android 2.3. All of these devices are planned to be upgraded from Android 2.2 to Android 2.3, also referred to as Gingerbread. In addition, Samsung Captivate™ owners will be able to upgrade to Gingerbread.

Delivery methods will vary by device. Whenever possible, upgrades are delivered over-the-air (OTA), however in some cases the size of the file needed to install the update will require the user to connect via Wi-Fi or connect the phone to a PC to install the update. Factors such as manufacturer-defined software and other device performance improvements result in each device requiring a separate update which will vary in timing.

Beginning today and continuing over the next few weeks, Motorola ATRIX 4G users will be prompted to install the update. To download the update, users must be connected via Wi-Fi. In August, HTC Inspire 4G users will be notified that the update is available and can be downloaded when connected to a Wi-Fi network. AT&T smartphone users can access at any one of the company’s more than 26,000 Wi-Fi hotspots at no cost.

The AT&T smartphones planned for a Gingerbread update are:

HTC Inspire™ 4G
LG Phoenix™
Motorola ATRIX™ 4G
Pantech Crossover™
Samsung Captivate™ 4G
Samsung Infuse™ 4G

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

Gingerbread delivers a number of improvements, such as user interface refinements, refined copy/paste functionality and speed enhancements. The upgrade offers improved power management that offers a more active role in managing applications in addition to an improved on-screen keyboard with multi-touch support that makes typing faster and more accurate

Anyone with an AT&T phone will tell you that the network speed since the newest update has made their network one of the fastest in the industry if not the fasted.  The only drawback that most people have relayed is that AT&T phones don’t allow side loading or installation of non-market apps.  Once of the largest issues is with the Amazon App Store which gives away free paid apps every day.  AT&T users have been left out of this unless rooted until now.

Today AT&T has announced that they will be enabling sideloading on select devices.

The select devices that will include the update are the HTC Inspire 4G or Aria, or a Samsung Captivate, keep an eye out for the updateon these Froyo devices. Also the new Samsung Infuse 4G already has sideloading enabled.

We hope that they will push this update to all of their android devices but currently only the ones mentioned will receive the update right now.  Wel will keep you informed about the future phones that will be added to the list.

Ma Bell has officially informed their developers to no longer lock out sideloading on future phones.

Most Android users are somewhat tech savy otherwise you’d just get an iPhone right?  So you’ve bought a Samsung Galaxy, Captivate, or Vibrant and want to run free tethering apps and cool file managers but have no idea how to root your phone to allow you to run these applications.  Well here it is.

That said you may want to experiment with your Samsung Galaxy S or some of its variants like the Captivate or Vibrant and get root access on your phone.

PC Instructions

 

root samsung galaxy captivate vibrant

how to root samsung galaxy captivate vibrant

  1. Download the rooting application from here (here’s the mirror link).
  2. you need to have .Net Framework version 4 – you can grab it from Microsoft’s website if you don’t have it already.
  3. Install Samsung Drivers if you don’t have them already – download link.
  4. Extract the contents of GalaxyS_Vibrant_One-Click_Root.rar to a folder.
  5. Connect your phone to your PC via USB port
  6. Make sure your phone is in USB Debug mode (MENU -> Settings -> Applications -> Development-> USB debugging = Checked )
  7. Launch the file “T-Mobile Vibrant One-Click Root.exe” file.
  8. Click the “One-Click Root” button.

Un-Rooting Instructions

If something goes wrong or you need to return your phone for some reason you can always un-root. The instructions are the same, except that in this case you press the “Unroot” button. It is suggested that you restore the phone back to stock ROM before even needing to unroot.

The process above has been tested on Samsung Galaxy S phones with Android 2.1 Éclair. The following versions of the device should work as well: GT-I9000 (the original Galaxy S), Captivate SHG-I897, Vibrant SGH-959, GT-I9000M and Epic SPH-D700 (untested but should work just fine).

Rooting adds few files to your system and unrooting removes them:

 

As always Android Advice is in no way responsible for any damage to your phone and you root your phone at your own risk.  This article is for informational purposes only.

 

Original article can be found at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=739304