[T-Mobile Sidekick 4G] Kediil:
Ok, for anyone who finds this. I'm writing out a quick guide for what I was led through. I've borrowed a few lines from some other threads as well

This guide will take an original stock SideKick 4g that has not otherwise been modified, flashed, etc and lead you through the steps to running a custom ROM. This should lead to a smoother running system with less lag, longer battery life, etc.

[Edit] I was pointed later to a nice FAQ by xmeatizmurderx, which, while not a guide, does have some questions answered you might have, along with some definitions and whatnot that might help make things clearer for you or if you just like know what it is something actually does or is. ^..^

I personally updated to Gingerclone v2, BUT any of the custom ROMs are installed exactly the same way. I do not list links to all of them, so you might have to find the one you want when you get to that stage if you do not want to use Gingerclone.

While I did originally update to GCv2, I had some issues and we're not sure why. So I changed over to CleanFusion v3. It's much more similar to the stock system in looks and all. I would also suggest, make sure you have a backup of all your stuff (contacts in particular) off your sim, on another card/phone/google/whatever. Most of my contacts dissapeared, we think because it's an old sim that likes to be wonky with some of the new phones. But still, be forewarned.

After the device is rooted, you can use MyBackup Root (free in the market) to backup all your applications and data to your SD, which you can then copy to your computer as well.

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First, download SuperOneClick from http://shortfuse.org/ . Whatever the most recent version is.

The file you downloaded of SuperOneClick is a .zip file. You'll need to extract it to its own folder (if you don't have a program to do this, download .7zip here http://www.7-zip.org/download.html).

Download the Samsung drivers ~ In this case, the Samsung Vibrant drivers work for the Sidekick 4g. Drivers found under the 'software' tab here http://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/SGH-T959ZKDTMB

Install the Drivers to your computer and reboot it.

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With the phone unplugged, enable USB Debugging. On the home screen of the phone select Settings > Applications > Development and then select USB Debugging so that a Check appears on the selection box.

When enabled, connect the phone to your PC.

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Run SuperOneClick (the .exe file) which is on your computer. When the program has opened click 'Root'.

The program will pop through a bunch of windows, if it asks to install something like mine did, say yes. When it finishes, it asks if you would like to test it. Say yes.

Your phone is now rooted.

I disconnected from the computer and rebooted the phone (turn off and then on again).

Plug the phone back into the computer.

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Next step is to go to this thread here http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1124453

[EDIT/UPDATE] Krylon360's files moved or something, find the recovery.zip and update.zip here http://db.androidspin.com/Developer_Display.asp?DeveloperID=248

I was advised to go through the first post, as I’d learn more. But apparently there’s an automated script somewhere in this same thread if that’s your preference. I quite enjoyed learning how to access everything myself, in case I ever need to use it for something.

You will need Root Explorer ($3.99) from the android market. I tried Astro File Manager, and it’s lovely, except for the fact that you need to buy the Pro edition in order to access the /system files. >:C

(Basically you need a file manager on the phone that will allow you to copy files into your /system/bin file on the phone.)

Download both of the files listed in the thread I just gave. You will mount your SD card (on the home page of your phone, drop down that little black menu thing at the very top, select USB storage and enable it).

Place the file ‘recovery’ and the zipped file ‘update’ onto your SD card. Nowhere in particular, just in that main area that appears when you open the SD.

Now is a good time to put the ROM you want to flash onto the SD as well.

[EDIT]: Please keep in mind I'm not a developer and I don't plan to live on this forum. So new ROMs will be developed and I probably won't be around to update this list. So make sure to look around for threads about new ROMs to start with or update to. ^..^

Those suggested to me were :

Gingerclone: Apparently themed very green.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1231021 (check Dev forum for a newer version)

TouchMIUIwiz: Very similar to Gingerclone, but more greys.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1207328 (check Dev forum for a newer version)

Smooth Maximus: Themed very blue and black

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1158250 (check Dev forum for a newer version)

Clean Fusion: Clean and pretty.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1204131 (check Dev forum for a newer version)

Of course, there are likely other ones out there, these are just the main ones my supporter knows intimately enough to note. He had a really hard time recommending just one. XD

Whatever you go with, it's always a good idea to have a backup of your phone system, which we go through later in the guide when you need it, so don't fret.

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Feel free to use whatever new ROM you'd like, either listed above or another on the Development Forums, I was told all the following steps would be exactly the same, just using a different custom ROM.

I’m going with Gingerclone v2, as I was informed that while it did crash on my helper once, it seems to be overall the most consistent one that he’s tried.

The above linked thread for GingerClone has two files, I’m using the top one, as I do not have the original release installed.

This .zip file you just downloaded can be copied onto the SD root menu (the main menu available when you access the SDcard from 'My Computer').

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Unmount your SDcard from the computer (that little black bar on the top of your phone's home screen, turn off the usb connection). Disconnected from the computer even if you want.

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Open Root Explorer. Navigate to access the SD card (it has its own file in the root menu you start off in). Copy the ‘recovery’ file, navigate back and paste it into /system/bin (to get there, navigate back by tapping the top option 'parent directory', select 'system', select 'bin', paste it in there). Do not delete the original 'recovery' file in here. It will automatically ask if you want to overwrite the file. Say yes.

If it give you the error “you cannot paste here because the file system is read-only.’ Then at the top, tap the “R/W” square so that it then reads “R/O”. Paste again, select ‘yes’ to overwrite the file.

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Next you’ll turn the phone off so you can boot into recovery mode. To do this, while turned off, you’ll hold the volume up and volume down buttons together, then, while holding them, press the power button. Let go of all three together once the screen starts up.

If you get some blue text, a little warning looking sign over the droid dude, and some yellow text, then you're in the right place.

In here use the volume up and down buttons to navigate through the options and use the power button to select something.

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Highlight “reinstall packages” and use the power button to select it once it’s highlighted.

You’ll have orange text now. So first, let’s backup the phone, JUST IN CASE something goes funky. (nothing went wonky for me)

Navigate to ‘backup and restore’ and select it.

Navigate to ‘backup’ and select it.

It should be backing up now, with a little nasty coloured yellow progress bar at the bottom.

Once the backup is done, you should be back at the original orange texted screen.

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This next bit is important:

Navigate to ‘mounts and storage’ and select it.

It should read:

unmount /chache

mount /data

mount /sdcard

unmount /system

(My phone said “unmount /sdcard” which isn't important. The only thing that NEEDS to read correctly is 'unmount /system' - If it says 'mount system', you need to navigate to it and select it so that it reads correctly)

If your list reads like the above, then you’re good. Click the ‘back’ button, which is the arrow on the bottom left corner of the phone (if you're holding it the way I am. ;p).

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Navigate to ‘wipe data/factory reset’ and select it.

Navigate to the ‘yes -- delete all user data’ and select it.

Repeat this twice more. (That’ll be three times total.)

Navigate to ‘wipe cache partition’ and select it.

Navigate to ‘yes -- Wipe Cache’ and select it.

Repeat this twice more. (Again, three times total.)

Next, navigate to ‘advanced’ and select it.

Navigate to ‘wipe Dalvik Cache’ and select it.

Repeat this twice more. (Three times total.)

I was told to go back to the mounts and storage menu to make sure it still says ‘unmount /system’. Mine did still say this. If it doesn't read correctly, it won't boot right. Fix it if you need to.

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Next I’m going to install GingerClone.

To reiterate, if you want to use a different custom ROM, go for it, the steps are the exact same, you just need the correct ROM download (which should be a .zip file).

Go back up a menu, navigate to ‘install zip from sdcard’ and select it.

Navigate to ‘choose zip from sdcard’ and select it.

Navigate to the GingerClone.zip (the name is longer than that, but you should know what I’m talking about.) and select it.

It’ll go through installing GingerClone now, with that ugly yellow progress bar at the bottom again.

When it’s done installing. Go back again to the ‘mounts and storage’ menu to check that the system is still unmounted (should still read ‘unmount /system’) Mine did mount my SDcard, but that’s fine. If it reads ‘mount /system’ then navigate to it and select it so that it reads ‘unmount /system’.

Good job so far! Go back to the main menu and navigate to ‘reboot system now’ and select it.

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Bit odd seeming. It did take longer to boot up. First my phone talked to me, which I was told was the Voodoo LagFix. Then it started blowing sparklers into an X which is also good as that means it’s booting up. (I'm not sure, but it might look different for other custom ROMs.)

The normal screen that’s still ‘locked’ before you would go to the home screen should have the options to slide up (Start Using) or down (Tune a few things first). I was told to go ahead and do the tune bit and “just hit next a buncha times and get rid of it.” ;p It’s pretty straight forward setup stuff.

In case you’re wondering, that ‘update.zip’ that you downloaded earlier when you downloaded the recovery file? Well, when you reinstalled packages, it did that one automatically. So it's taken care of, no worries.

From now on, if Voodoo LagFix is on and you go into recovery mode (when you turned it off and held the volume buttons and turned it back on) then the text should be red. You can check if you want though it's not necessary, the red just indicates that Voodoo LagFix is indeed installed.

I was told that there are options in recovery mode to disable Voodoo LagFix or to convert back to the original file system. I haven't messed with them and don't plan to so long as this keeps working nice for me.

So. Yay! Have fun exploring and customizing your improved system!

I may have typed this sucker up, but basically all credit goes to the hours of support given to me by yogi2010 who is entirely awesome.

If there *is* anything that's a bit off or inaccurate, place the blame on me as interpreter, I just wrote out what I did, and if I thought it might be necessary, how something worked to the best of my very limited knowledge.