[Fascinate General] jpmccarthy:
Hi and welcome Telus Fascinate T959D Users.

The purpose of this thread was to join a few T959D users together. When I flash a ROM I usually have at least 6 posts open on XDA - on different methods, kernels, etc. So I started collecting information and organizing it here. I have been updating based on feedback and adding more and different content especially when more users found us here.

Special thanks to everyone who has helped with this thread over the past few years - and special call outs to [MENTION=4265077]Matt5606[/MENTION], [MENTION=4128828]iwebsource[/MENTION], [MENTION=3761721]finneginsfast[/MENTION], [MENTION=4209744]moosehead11[/MENTION], [MENTION=4220556]Dayfid[/MENTION], [MENTION=1370138]karmatose[/MENTION], [MENTION=4229799]bucknetbucky[/MENTION].

However, please note that we the contributors take no responsibilities for your phone or anything you do to it - this is simply a collection of helpful posts to get you started and continue having conversations - they are by no means offered as full proof guides, nor do they imply a warranty of any sort.

Now on the fun stuff, but first a simple FAQ.

Q. What is the T959D and what ROMs can I use on it?

The T959D is Telus' Galaxy S phone - known as a fascinate. What is confusing is this phone has almost nothing in common with the Verizon Fascinate - in fact flashing a fascinate ROM will brick your phone. Fortunately for us, our phone is VERY close to the International Version - the i9000 or galaxysmtd. Those are the ROMs we use on this phone.

Q. Is there a place where I can get files for my phone?

Yes - all through XDA you can use i9000 compatible ROMs, Kernels, modems. As well, we have a stock pile of files available to you - as you read the OPs you will find those and how to get them. :)

Q. Can I brick my phone?

Yes - but from my personal experience it is very hard to do this, and you can always get a USB jig that gets you to download mode (if you are soft bricked) - load one of the stock images and you are right as rain again.

A USB jig is a small piece of modded hardware that plugs into your USB port on your phone and forces it into download mode on start up - EVEN if it is SOFT BRICKED. A necessity for flashing. Lots of 'how tos' on how to create them out there if you have a spare cord, or just order one on EBay

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=usb+jig

For me, the place to use the most caution is using Odin - when placing files into the fields ensure they in the right place (measure twice, flash once ;) ) as that is the biggest risk to flashing your phone. I think this is the greatest risk to hard bricking your phone which I am not sure you can recover from (I have only ever soft bricked my phone in which the USB jig saved my hide).

Q. I put on an ICS/JB ROM and now my IMEI is gone? What is that and how do I get it back?

Your IMEI is the unique identifier on your phone. The number is written down behind your battery - and that is what your phone should be displaying when you go to About Phone in Settings. Something happened with ICS/JB that it sometimes gets lost. To prevent that you need to back up your EFS folder.

1. You must be rooted.

2. You must have a file explorer that has root access (root explorer or ES File Explorer - although, if using ES ensure you have enabled root access and mounted /system in the preferences.

3. Find your /EFS/ folder at root (/).

4. Copy the EFS folder. Ensure you have ALL the files and ALL the subfolders (one will your IMEI). However, there can be hidden files in here, I would not worry so much about those, simply ensure you copy over the EFS folder itself - that should do it.

5. Move this to your removable SD card. Zip it, keep it on your PC, put in dropbox, ensure you have a copy for safe keeping.

And that is it - after flashing a new ROM, if you are missing your EFS or your IMEI number if wrong, just copy back the folder, reboot, and voila!

Q. GPS sucks.

Yes, yes it does. Do a search if you are adventurous there are hardware fixes. There's also faster fix in the play store and there are files here you can load as well - but its a known issue with the Galaxy S family of phones.

Q. What should I run on my phone?

Well, that is entirely up to you. The last official firmware you can get is 2.3.3. If you like very stable and do not need to have the latest, just a stable working phone with great battery - maybe try a good gingerbread ROM like Darky's or CM7.0 - Darky's will give you that Samsung feel (and still have the right firmware for the camera).

There are literally tons of options - go to the i9000 thread and see what the latest is. Most users here in this thread are on SlimICS, SlimBeam, CM10 or CM10.1. I have been running latest (nightlies) CM10.1 for some time combined with my favourite kernel Semaphore.

If you are going to flash a new JB ROM though, I suggest as your first flash stable CM 10.0 - this will be the base of your next ROM and many ROMs such as slim recommend you flash CM first just to set things up for yourself.

Q. So what now?

Read, read, and read. Go through this thread - go through threads of the ROMs you want to install - see what users are saying about it lately. And please - come to this thread and ask questions - we have a small but friendly and very helpful community - and remember if we help you, stay active on the thread so you can help someone else.

Cheers - and happy flashing :)