[Fascinate General] jpmccarthy:
ICS/JB ROMS from Scratch (updated May 31 2013)

THANKS to [MENTION=1370138]karmatose[/MENTION] and [MENTION=4220556]Dayfid[/MENTION] for creating an ODIN flashable 2.3.3 - this means no more KIES (yes!) and creating a fresh stock ROM - here's the steps for this procedure... (Updated September 26, 2012)

Please note that the links below provided by Karma http://t959d.karmatose.org will work BUT you will need a username and password to download the files. Karma or myself can make the login and password available to you.

1. Download the KG2 package from here - http://t959d.karmatose.org/index.php/apps/files/download/Shared/stock_roms/T959TLKG2_Gingerbread.zip

2. Extract the archive to a folder on your PC using your archive app of choice. Mine is WinRAR.

3. Open Odin3 v1.7.exe (the one that is in the ZIP file)

4. Place the PDA, CSC and PHONE and PIT files in the proper boxes. Take absolute care to make sure you don't mix them up. Ensure that repartition is ticked 'on' in this case.

5. Put phone in download mode (vol down + power from off or download jig) and connect it to the PC

6. Click start and wait just under 3 minutes. The phone will restart and you should be back to stock 2.3.3

7. If your intention was to get to stock, you're done. If you want to go to ICS/JB and you *don't* have a backup of your EFS folder, go to step 8. If you do have a backup of your EFS folder, go to step 10.

8A. If you need to backup your EFS folder (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), you need to root the phone. Flash the Speedmod kernel with ODIN (in the PDA field). The phone will reboot and get stuck in a boot loop at this point. Pull and replace the battery and place the phone in Recovery Mode by holding VOL+ and VOL- and pressing the power button. When the screen lights up, release the power button and continue to hold the volume rocker until you see CWM Recovery. Using the Vol+ and Vol- to navigate the menu, go to the Speedmod Advanced Options menu and press the power button to select it. Choose to root your phone.

8B. (Optional) Now that you have custom recovery, would not be a bad idea to make a nandroid backup of your phone. So go to backups, and create backup from the CWM Menu.

8C. Once that is complete, go back to the root menu and reboot the phone. Pull the battery out and put the phone back into download mode. Flash the stock 2.3.3 kernel back (also in the PDA field) in Odin. The phone should now be rooted. Let it boot. Hopefully you're greeted with a lock screen

9. Install ES Explorer from play (or APK), enable Root Settings in the settings menu then navigate up to root and copy your EFS folder to your EXTERNAL_SD card. Power down the phone, remove the SD card and copy this to your PC, Google Drive and some other backup source. Don't lose this folder.

10. Installing ICS / JB - Depending on what OS you want to go to, you're going to need to grab an appropriate kernel to do so. The best option seems to be Semaphore's i9000 kernels. If you're going to flash an ICS rom, grab the 1.3.0s .tar file. If you're going to JB, grab the 2.1.0s .tar file.

11. Download your ROM of choice.

i9000 versions of SlimICS/SlimBean/CM9/CM10 work on the T959D

. You will also need grab the .zip version of the Semaphore kernel (ICS / JB) you're using and a Modem of your choosing. KG3 works best for me, your mileage may vary.

Place the ROM, .zip version of the Semaphore kernel you're using and the ES File Explorer APK on your internal SD card.

12. Open Odin again. Put the .tar'd Semaphore kernel file you just downloaded in the PDA field,

ensure Re-Partition is UNCHECKED

. Put your phone in download mode, connect it to the PC and click start. In a bit more than 10 seconds, your phone should reboot itself. Pull the battery out and replace it.

13. Put the phone in Recovery Mode by holding VOL+ and VOL- and pressing the power button. Release the power button as soon as the screen turns on but keep holding VOL+ and VOL- until CWM appears. Use the VOL+/- keys to navigate, PWR button to select. Go to "Install zip from sdcard", then "choose zip from internal sdcard".

14. Follow the directions to install your ROM. CM9/10 comes in one flashable .zip file whereas SlimICS/SlimBean comes in multiple files. Consult the documentation for your ROM to get specifics on how to install it. Note that if you are installing CM10, CM10.1, Slim 3.x + that the partition layout has changed. This means you will need to flash the ROM at least 3 times - once you will get an error 7, then flash again, and then again - after that you will have latest.

15. Once the ROM is done flashing, flash the Kernel .zip you placed on your External SD card the same way you flashed the ROMs. Then flash your modem .zip. Note that if you are using an 's' version of semaphore, and a non-patched ROM like CM (Slim is already patched) you will want to flash the big mem library patch which is attached below after flashing the kernel.

16. Go back to the CWM main menu and reboot the phone. You should boot into ICS / JB at this point with no issue. It might take a bit so be patient.

17.

Verify your IMEI number

. Hit the Menu button on your phone and select System Settings > About Phone > Status. Look at your IMEI. If there's a lot of 0's in it, you need to replace your EFS folder. Use Oi Explorer to access your External SD card and install the ES File Explorer APK. Enable *all* the Root options in the application settings and return to the file browser. Locate your EFS folder backup on your external SD (emmc), longpress on the folder and select "Copy To". Hit the navigate up button in the dialog box and select /. Press OK twice then reboot your phone. Your IMEI should be back to normal now.

18. Enjoy the fruits of your labour and customize the heck out of your new ICS / JB rom.

----

This is an alternate method from [MENTION=4229799]bucknetbucky[/MENTION] created this quick 'how to'. This will put you on stock GB and allow you to flash ICS from there.

Why start from GB? The bootloaders. When flashing from froyo you'll see lots of tips on pulling batteries and the first flash always not working - this won't happen from Gingerbread AND you'll get to keep the logo for the kernel for some added bling.

For those looking to flash from GB here is how to do it...

Get back to 2.3.3 stock

1 flash stock froyo via ODIN (tick repartition! - See the 'Essential Files' section above).

2 install samsung kies (should have this if you have this device- AND update it!)

3 update to GB using kies

Root your phone and back up EFS

Backing up EFS is vital. Essentially do this.

4. Download Super1click to root your phone and following the instructions (http://depositfiles.com/files/n0dcxce3t)

5 Install a file manager with root access and backup your efs folder by copying it to the internal sdcard then your computer (instructions in OP)

Note: this is one way to root your stock GB phone - you can also use the speedmod kernel (the version I use is older --- but works --- and is attached below) which has a root option under 'advanced' but has more steps. If you already have backed up your EFS though, you really do NOT need to do this step and skip to the steps below to flash your ICS ROM.

Finally INSTALL your ICS ROM

Now to flash the latest super duper ROMs from the super duper devs you will need to do the following...

1 copy glitch v14 kernel and the rom of your choice to your internal sdcard (The version linked below is the BEST version to accomplish this with)

http://www.box.com/s/tov06pvzkkqbmui6tcmi

2 flash via ODIN the speedmod kernel (gives you a custom recovery)

3 when it tries to boot pull the battery and then boot to recovery

4 flash the glitch kernel from recovery (again you are boot looping)

5 pull the battery and boot to glitch recovery and wipe data, clear cache and such then flash your ROM

6 copy your backed up EFS folder back to the phone to restore yout imei

Just some notes

Most ROMs will come with a compatible modem, however, if having modem issues - please see a few posts down on getting modems.

A complete list of ROMs for the I9000 by Android version can be found here (as well as kernels). Please note the update dates as that will indicate how much active support there is for the ROM.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1837223