[Samsung Galaxy W I8150] THE-E:
Overview

1. Recovery

2. Download-Mode

3. RAMDUMP-Mode

4. What is Root ? Why should I root my SGW ?

4.1 How can I root my Samsung Galaxy W ?

4.2 How can I undo the rooting of my Samsung Galaxy W ?​

5. What are Custom ROMs ?

6. What is overclocking ?

7. What is flashing for ?

7.1 How can I flash a firmware ?​

8. What is the IMEI-Number?

8.1 How can I view the IMEI-Number?​

9. Sales Code

10. Net/SIM-Lock Status

11. Several Dialer Codes

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1. Recovery-Mode

While switched off, keep the following buttons pressed. Release the power-button once the Samsung Galaxy W(I8150) is switched on and keep pressing the Home- and Volume Up-button.

As soon as you see the Android with the box, release the Home- and Volume Up-button.

After you hit the menu-button shown on the last image, the screen will gray out, you will have to wait until the recovery menu appears.

reboot system now

Reboots the system.

apply sdcard:update.zip

Install diverse updates like themes, custom roms etc.

wipe data/factory reset

Deletes all the apps, data and system settings(Files on the external SD-card will stay untouched)

wipe cache partition

Only wipes (formats) /cache partition (sometimes used as temp storage for updates, market downloads, etc) it hasn't anything common with Dalvik-cache which is in /data by default and it implies that the following boot after wiping cache partition will not be any longer than usually.

2. Download-Mode

While switched off, keep the following buttons pressed. Release the power-button once the Samsung Galaxy W(I8150) is switched on.

The download-mode is being used to flash firmwares, without using the official method of Samsung Kies. This should be reachable even if you have a corrupted firmware installed.

3. RAMDUMP-Mode

While switched off, keep the following buttons pressed. Release the power-button once the Samsung Galaxy W(I8150) is switched on.

4. What is Root ? Why should I root my SGW ?

Rooting the phone gives you all adminstrator rights, like you are used to on the PC.

Advantages:

All apps, also the sytem-apps like the ones from Samsung etc. are deletable (Titanium Backup required)

You can make your apps free from advertisements (AdAway,AdFree etc.)

All directories are viewable and editable (with ES Explorer or Root Explorer)

Swapping external SD and internal SD(with some tweaks)

Disadvantages:

Officially: losing the warranty (but after unrooting or reflashing firmware, no evidence of rooting left)

4.1 How can I root my Samsung Galaxy W ?

Here is a detailed HowTo with different methods of rooting.

4.2 How can I undo the rooting of my Samsung Galaxy W ?

Therefore you will have to unroot your device this is also described in this HowTo. It is of importance to choose the right method to unroot your SGW.

5. What are Custom ROMs ?

Custom ROMs are customized firmwares developed by different developers. They are very often better in peformance, because they can free up from bloatware(apps which are unnecessary for most of us) and can be optimized according to the need.

Most famous custom ROMs are: CyanogenMod (CM) and Android Open Kang Project (AOKP)

CM7 = CyanogenMod with Android 2.3.+ (Gingerbread)

CM9 = CyanogenMod with Android 4.0.+ (Ice Cream Sandwich)

CM10 = CyanogenMod with Android 4.1.+ (Jelly Bean)

6. What is overclocking ?

By overclocking the processor, you can increase the clock rate and gain more performance (of course it has to run stable). The default clock rate is set at 1401MHz(1,4GHz) for the Samsung Galaxy W. Increasing the clock rate usually provokes a growth of temperature.

Underclocking is also possible, which might improve battery life.

7. What is flashing for ?

If you have gained root access, you will be able to delete important apps which may be necessary for android to work. Deleting these apps could end up with a boot loop(the phone stucks at the bootscreen) or other problems. In this case flashing is the only possibility to get the phone running again.

7.1 How can I flash a firmware ?

Here is a detailed HowTo

8. What is the IMEI-Number?

The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique 15-digit serial number, with this a GSM- or UMTS-device can be identified

8.1 How can I view the IMEI-Number?

Open the your dialer app and type

*#06#

9. Sales Code

Open the your dialer app and type

*#272*IMEI-Number#

Changing the sales code causes a hardreset !!!

10. Net/SIM-Lock Status

Open the your dialer app and type

*#7465625#

11. Several Dialer Codes

Open the your dialer app and type

Phone Information:

*#*#4636#*#*

PDA, Phone, CSC, Build time, Changelist number:

*#*#44336#*#*

Modify Bandwide of GSM/WCDMA:

*#*#2263#

Hard Reset:

*2767*3855#

Touch Screen Test:

*#*#2664#*#*

Proximity Sensor Test:

*#*#0588#*#*

GPS Test:

*#*#1575#*#*

Melody Test:

*#*#0673#*#*

Shows WiFi MAC address:

*#*#232338#*#*

WiFi Test:

*#*#526#*#*

Please help me, to improve this thread. Whether it is an advice, a spelling or grammar mistake, please let me know, so I can correct it.