[Captivate General] implodeme:
Take away: Things do work like the developers say -IF- your device is in a stable state and instructions are followed. I also describe how I finally got Heimdall to work for me.

Windows 7 64bit Pro SP1

USB 2.0 Port

Dell laptop

Original Samsung USB cable

ATT Captivate

::My Story::

Coming from Apex 8, 10 to CM7 and now Apex 11.0 which all worked as a CWM upgrade after wiping cache/dalvik, etc and never had to go back to JF6 stock. This time there were failures installing Apex 11.0>11.1 upgrade file. It would not install using CWM Install ZIP from sdcard. I believe it may have been related to previous issues with lagfix settings and thus making the 11.0 version unstable. My Apps basically went missing and the phone was just unstable. This probably happened from a botched lagfix enable/disable and while I could take phone calls and message people things were different.

Ok, so here I am at a messed up OS and an inability to upgrade I then decided format partitions/reset to try installing the full 11.1. After a couple attempts this also fails. Formatted partitions, deleted sdcard data, further attempts at just installing an OS continue to fail. Frustration sets in, I went and made some iced tea.

Coming back I decide to follow Apex 11 web site instructions about using Heimdall to start a new and install the new kernel as the base thinking this would lead me forward. The tea tastes great by the way.

As I attempt to use Heimdall it errors, always.

I follow the instructions about plugging the phone in, locating the device using the Driver tool it comes with. I find Samsung Device and 'upgrade it' all appears to go well but whenever I attempt to install the kernel, Talon or Darkcore it fails.

I won't go through all the iterations attempting to get this to work but we can assume I tried 5 variations of madness to the nTH power.

Symptoms included:

-Unable to locate device. Drivers not working even though its a libusb device in (devmgmt.msc)

-Unable to download PIT file from device.

-Uploading failed at 19% - "did not return" or "partial file # 0"

Unable to get Heimdall to complete the installation of a Kernel and at this point the phone has a "PC screen" instead of "Download" screen, worse than when I started.

I realize the above issues were most likely related to the voodoo lagfix debocle I put the phone in earlier and that it would be best if I started fresh from JF6 stock.

While I was unable to use Heimdall using Odin worked fine. [ SEE, How I switched between the two below ]

I found some references related to Heimdall and the base USB drivers that should be used and was the turning point for this event. Tea has had more time to melt the ice and is getting better.

::Make a note, this is how I got Heimdall to work everytime.

Plug the phone in and open Device Manager, locate the Samsung USB entries and uninstall it AND select 'delete drivers' option during uninstall. Also locate something named 'Gadget Serial' and uninstall/delete it.

1) Uninstall the previous versions of Samsung USB Drivers.

2) Install Samsung Kies Mini from the Samsung web site.

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/at-t/SGH-I897ZKAATT

3) Use Kies Mini application to install the base USB drivers.

;Switching over to timeline format;

Odin 1-click to stock I897UCJF6-final-OCD-REV0

Booted to base OS, Shutdown (no setup, it's going poof anyways)

-Now following Apex 11 instructions from http://apex.merseine.us/installation/

Downloading files, deciding on BigCache or not then it gets to 'Install Heimdall' obviously Apex is not responsible for how this app works so the instructions are vague on purpose.

::My experience using using Heimdall WITH the proper Kies Mini usb drivers::

Unzip Heimdall application.

Plug the phone in let it find and install the necessary Samsung drivers.

Navigate into the Heimdall\drivers folder.

launch zadig.exe (accept the warning)

-Options > List All Devices

In this list you should see Samsung USB Driver

Select Samsung USB and click the Install Driver button, accepting all prompts for 'unsigned drivers' allowing the installation.

--If you have Device Manager open at the time you should see the Samsung device disappear and a new libusb category pop up.

Close Zadig

Unplug the phone, wait a few seconds and plug it back in, libusb should show back up in device manager.

::

Launch Heimdall and follow the remaining instructions from Apex installer.

These instructions worked perfectly after culpirate was wrong USB drivers.

::How I switched from Heimdall drivers to Samsung drivers(Odin friendly)::

Once the Samsung drivers were converted to libusb using Heimdall removing them was just as easy.

1) Go into Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) and find the libusb device.

2) Right-Click, uninstall. This prompts to uninstall and an option to delete the drivers at the same time.

3) Check the box to delete the drivers and the device. OK

4) Launch Kies Mini and use the Install Drivers function of this tool.

After installation completes, plug the phone in again.