Database Info

The Samsung Captivate Guide: ECLAIR 2.1

This guide is for if you are on Android 2.1 if you are on 2.2 or you want 2.2 use this guide.
UPDATED 10/11
This new guide was created to replace the aging Pimp my Captivate guide by systoxity and myself. It has been updated with ALL NEW information updated to the latest developments. Chapters include:
New additions in red:
Drivers
Rooting
Clockwork Recovery
Sideloading
Removing AT&T Apps
Market Access
Unlock
Desktop Syncing
Launcher Pro
Battery Optimizations
Wireless Tether
Super Circle Battery
TV Out
LCD Density Hack
ODIN
This guide was created to be as user friendly as possible, so the easiest method was was shown for all of the above, even if it is not the best.
PLEASE READ THIS GUIDE BEFORE POSTING ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT IS MOST LIKELY ALREADY POSTED
You can download the guide from this link.
If you would like to help out with the guide that would be great. Just PM me the section and I may include it in the next version of the guide.
This guide took a lot of work. If it helped you please consider donating a few dollars. http://bit.ly/cplmLk

I must ask the reasoning behind the pdf versus just formatting a nice post. Seems like a meaningless extra step
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Nicely done! But I have to agree with MT, why doesn't someone put all of this info in the Wiki?

fugeelama said:
Nicely done! But I have to agree with MT, why doesn't someone put all of this info in the Wiki?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put it as a PDF because then I can format it better so it is easier to look at. Additionally it can be printed. I did not post it on the wiki yet because it seems like no one has been using the wiki lately and it hasn't been updated.

nbs11 said:
I put it as a PDF because then I can format it better so it is easier to look at. Additionally it can be printed. I did not post it on the wiki yet because it seems like no one has been using the wiki lately and it hasn't been updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so be the one to update it! I used the kaiser wiki a lot because it had tons of info. If you build it, they will come.

Good to hear the guide has been updated. I am getting my phone in a few weeks.

In your guide you say that a person may possibly return there phone to stock to get the Samsung updates for the GPS fix and Lag fix. How does one do this? I have not installed any other ROMS. I have only used the Pimp My Captivate Guide.

cajuncartfan said:
In your guide you say that a person may possibly return there phone to stock to get the Samsung updates for the GPS fix and Lag fix. How does one do this? I have not installed any other ROMS. I have only used the Pimp My Captivate Guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. I said that if you use the lag fix or GPS fix you will probably have to use odin to go back to stock or else something will happen when you install the official OTA update.

nbs11 said:
No. I said that if you use the lag fix or GPS fix you will probably have to use odin to go back to stock or else something will happen when you install the official OTA update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh sorry. I misunderstood. One more question. I f I decide to return the phone to ATT do I just go through the normal recovery process. The ATT store here doesn't really check anything.

cajuncartfan said:
Oh sorry. I misunderstood. One more question. I f I decide to return the phone to ATT do I just go through the normal recovery process. The ATT store here doesn't really check anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best bet would be to run Odin. I don't really know how to do that but thats the only 100% way to undo mods.

I'm confused???
Maybe I'm missing the point but don't you already have a sticky about this in the same forum? Do you want this as a replacement to other one?

lol ATW, his post says that RTP

AllTheWay said:
Maybe I'm missing the point but don't you already have a sticky about this in the same forum? Do you want this as a replacement to other one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this one replaces his older one.

Awesome job putting this together. I will definitely reference it (and donate) when I get my unit in.
One thing though, it appears that your link under the "how to root" section doesn't work. It tries redirecting but never resolves. You might want to check that out. It wouldn't pull up in FF, IE, or Chrome

jbright44 said:
Awesome job putting this together. I will definitely reference it (and donate) when I get my unit in.
One thing though, it appears that your link under the "how to root" section doesn't work. It tries redirecting but never resolves. You might want to check that out. It wouldn't pull up in FF, IE, or Chrome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok sure. I will replace it later today. Also I may add some battery and performance optimization tips. The unlocking guide also needs to be updated with my new Mac unlock tool and the newer version of the PC one. Is there any guide that you would like me to specifically add?

I appreciate what you did with the previous guide. It helped me quite a bit in getting started with learning the ins and outs of the Android system and my Captivate.
I tried to install the super circle battery mod a few nights ago, and I made a terribly n00bish mistake in using the wrong build (not style) version for my phone, blanking the screen and making it unuseable. This necessitated a hunt on how to return the setting to stock, so this mandated a hunt for how to use Odin. And, of course, the forums were in maintenance mode when I was ROM hunting, making a stressful situation even more fun But it's back on, SuperRootered, and lag-fixed, and running better than ever before.
The wiki was a great idea, but the wiki was a pain to navigate...it was often just easier to search the forums. I'm probably going to blog on using Odin for flashing in the near future (if nothing else than for my own reference), but it'd be nice for some sort of introductory article on Nandroid and Titanium and how to use them as well. It'd be easier for me if the SDK would ever install on my machine, but I'll have to take time and dedicate a day to setting all this stuff up.

Pdf is fine, but there is no reason all the information can't be listed in the original post. thanks for the work though, the wiki helped me out when I got the phone.
I think it is a mistake to include sideload wonder machine as the only pc option for simplicity reasons, especially since you go into command line with the circle battery
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Shwiggie said:
I appreciate what you did with the previous guide. It helped me quite a bit in getting started with learning the ins and outs of the Android system and my Captivate.
I tried to install the super circle battery mod a few nights ago, and I made a terribly n00bish mistake in using the wrong build (not style) version for my phone, blanking the screen and making it unuseable. This necessitated a hunt on how to return the setting to stock, so this mandated a hunt for how to use Odin. And, of course, the forums were in maintenance mode when I was ROM hunting, making a stressful situation even more fun But it's back on, SuperRootered, and lag-fixed, and running better than ever before.
The wiki was a great idea, but the wiki was a pain to navigate...it was often just easier to search the forums. I'm probably going to blog on using Odin for flashing in the near future (if nothing else than for my own reference), but it'd be nice for some sort of introductory article on Nandroid and Titanium and how to use them as well. It'd be easier for me if the SDK would ever install on my machine, but I'll have to take time and dedicate a day to setting all this stuff up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm confused about what you are trying to say about this guide.

snarkq said:
Pdf is fine, but there is no reason all the information can't be listed in the original post. thanks for the work though, the wiki helped me out when I got the phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya I just gave up on the wiki because no one edited it and it was hard to navigate.

Great!
Thank's a lot for this guide! i followed it yesterday with awesome results.
Are you planning on updating it with other information? Or will i have to learn about ROMs and what titanium does on my own? lol
I would also like to know how to set everything back to stock on a Mac.
Thanks again!

Market issues HAVE NOTHING TO DO themes!!!

On every theme thread people keep reporting that the theme is causing the problem, they're NOT!!! The Market has had issues since 1.6, and they continue with 2.1, and the Market issues aren't just related to the X10.
Go to start a new thread and type "market issue", and you will see that other brands and handsets suffer from the problem too.
I know I haven't modded the Market app, and know that others haven't too, had we of done there might be something to suggest it's the theme, but we haven't and it isn't!!

Just uninstall the market update from "manage applications" and all should be well

Never said it was your fault mate. But it is something that is easily replicated for me. I only use your theme so do not have a comparison.
I am NOT complaining, I choose to do these things to my phone and I am aware of the risks.
The market seems to be getting worse rather than better, really wish they would pull their finger out and sort it.
I have no problems clearing market cache etc.....
Something about the process of applying themes certainly does seem to upset the market though, but like I said, I do not hold you responsible my friend.

MarylandCookie said:
Just uninstall the market update from "manage applications" and all should be well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works fine most of the time, just wish the monkeys could sort it out for good. It is way too unstable.

Lord Takyon said:
Never said it was your fault mate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just saying as it's been said on every theme thread despite the issues existing since 1.6 and with other phones too.

Hate to say I told you so

Definitely not a theme thing. I've seen this happen with a fresh firmware install.
It has something to do with the Market update, and as others have said simply uninstalling the market update fixes the problem every time.

_calum_ said:
Hate to say I told you so
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zip it! Hopefully people will get the picture now though.
saltorio said:
Definitely not a theme thing. I've seen this happen with a fresh firmware install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing that bit of info!

XperiaX10iUser said:
I'm just saying as it's been said on every theme thread despite the issues existing since 1.6 and with other phones too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really follow the other theme threads very much.
Like I said, messing with files like this is risky, just wish people were better prepared for when things go wrong.

Lord Takyon said:
Like I said, messing with files like this is risky, just wish people were better prepared for when things go wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And like I've said, the Market app hasn't been modified by any themer as far as I'm aware and as pointed out it's happened on a fresh install for one person which supports what's already been said.

Hopefully android will fix this bug soon!

shukla said:
Hopefully android will fix this bug soon!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are aware of the problem for a longer time, but instead of making it better they just keep sliding downhill...it seems to be complicated. There were several times devs couldn't add their apps because of maintenance, so they are trying to solve it.
Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk

I know this has nothing to do with themes, because since I upgraded to 2.1 it happens to me almost once every other day. I just uninstall updates and it goes back to normal. It is obviously a Google issue.

If you guys have titanium backup pro, try using the its new feature of applying the market update directly into the rom (system/app). This seems to have increased stability for me. If you don't have the pro version, you can still move it via root explorer or adb.
Sent from my X10a using XDA App

I installed the theme step by step. but seriously the mearket stop working. it forces closing. it downloads as usual, but the problem is when it install, force closing.
can not install.
but i really like the theme. looks so mmwaaaaa !
i just repaired my phone.

is there a way to stop that stupid market updater?
it messes up my eternity theme, and disables appbrain FWInstaller :'(

Reedz, it isn't the theme mate. I believe it's simply the act of messing with those files that upsets market. I can often get the same result messing with other files. It is simply 'twitchy'.
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

Guys i got the way to solve this, you need to navigate to settings/applications/manage applications/market/ then in market uninstall updates.
go back to market and start downloading as usual.
hope it helps.

these things happen often , if one is decided to mod and go against the shipped ROM , then we have to anticipate such things ...
anyway as Reedz posted , the solution simply worked... XperiaX10user , keep up the good work , whatever ,and however much we work , Sh!t just happens out of nowhere ... , anyway i am ur fan man... waiting for ur next release , hoping that you get on to more color and rich combo of colors...

reedz said:
Guys i got the way to solve this, you need to navigate to settings/applications/manage applications/market/ then in market uninstall updates.
go back to market and start downloading as usual.
hope it helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. I did that and was able to download as usual. The next time I opened the market after that it was the updated market again though so there doesn't seem to be a way to suppress it completely. However, after the market upgraded itself the second time (after the uninstall updates step) the new market worked perfectly fine with my modified theme. No issues.

Noob question sorry, is nexus s plain android or is there bloatware installed?

About to buy one and I just wanna know
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

Pure vanilla Android.

There's a bunch of stuff preinstalled on it, but it's all Google stuff; I don't think there's any third-party apps.

It's not plain android, there's a bunch of Google bloatware.

JCopernicus said:
It's not plain android, there's a bunch of Google bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm curious as to what you consider Google bloatware, because the Nexus S is about as plain as you can get. Most of the time bloatware is stuff added by OEMs, such as the preinstalled demo games on the MT4G. Mind elaborating?

I can't speak for JC, but in my mind, anything that comes preinstalled on a device which I neither want nor need is bloatware. This, of course, makes the entire concept subjective, but in general with things like Android, I think less is more, since you can download nearly all of these things from the Market anyway. The consumer-side justification of "bloatware" (revenue for the provider, of course, being the primary, producer-side justification) is to present the user with access to a service they might otherwise not know to look for. ("Oh, hey, my phone can play TV/can display YouTube/has internet radio/whatever!"). For most of us though, particularly anyone savvy enough to be on XDA in the first place, most of it ends up falling into one of three categories:
-Don't care about
-Use a different app for
-Would have downloaded if it wasn't included.
In any case, I've observed that what most people have the biggest issue with isn't that stuff may come preinstalled on their phone, it's that you can't get rid of it, and if you do, you may well open yourself to a world of trouble should you ever wish to install an OTA update.

I would consider it plain android, as the "bloatware" on it is really only google apps, which come with all android phones. It doesn't have bloatware from a third party though like some of the other android phones. Either way, bloatware can be removed off any rooted phone with titanium backup

zorak950 said:
I can't speak for JC, but in my mind, anything that comes preinstalled on a device which I neither want nor need is bloatware. This, of course, makes the entire concept subjective, but in general with things like Android, I think less is more, since you can download nearly all of these things from the Market anyway. The consumer-side justification of "bloatware" (revenue for the provider, of course, being the primary, producer-side justification) is to present the user with access to a service they might otherwise not know to look for. ("Oh, hey, my phone can play TV/can display YouTube/has internet radio/whatever!"). For most of us though, particularly anyone savvy enough to be on XDA in the first place, most of it ends up falling into one of three categories:
-Don't care about
-Use a different app for
-Would have downloaded if it wasn't included.
In any case, I've observed that what most people have the biggest issue with isn't that stuff may come preinstalled on their phone, it's that you can't get rid of it, and if you do, you may well open yourself to a world of trouble should you ever wish to install an OTA update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough points.
Unfortunately, we still run into that last issue even on the Nexus S. Folks were unable to update via the stock 2.3.1 OTA if they had modified system files, such replacing the stock Mms.apk or Gmail.apk with the black/custom ones from the Themes & Apps section or deleting any of their relevant .odexs. Even placing the missing files back on the system partition didn't seem to work, at least for me. It was a very curious update.

unremarked said:
Fair enough points.
Unfortunately, we still run into that last issue even on the Nexus S. Folks were unable to update via the stock 2.3.1 OTA if they had modified system files, such replacing the stock Mms.apk or Gmail.apk with the black/custom ones from the Themes & Apps section or deleting any of their relevant .odexs. Even placing the missing files back on the system partition didn't seem to work, at least for me. It was a very curious update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I soft-bricked my Vibrant trying to grab T-Mobile's OTA after I took it upon myself to delete all the extraneous crapware that came with it. They can be very touchy indeed. It's a steep learning curve for newbies. x_x

Next question,how is t mobiles 4G .I live in knox tn. Anyone know?
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

So it doesn't have the useless Amazon mp3 app anymore like the nexus one?

evilsock said:
Next question,how is t mobiles 4G .I live in knox tn. Anyone know?
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No HSPA+ (it's not 4G!) on the Nexus S. Don't ask me why, it boggles my mind too.
NexusDro said:
So it doesn't have the useless Amazon mp3 app anymore like the nexus one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Amazon MP3 app installed. Just made me look at my app drawer to confirm, lol.

NexusDro said:
So it doesn't have the useless Amazon mp3 app anymore like the nexus one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, they put google earth in its place.

There is also that office app that is NOT a google product...so yea, there is a bit of bloat, but pretty much it is vanilla.

ZeroSX said:
No HSPA+ (it's not 4G!) on the Nexus S. Don't ask me why, it boggles my mind too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but it does still support up to 7.2Mbps down which you'll only get in a t-mobile 4g area.
I was just in Orlando and i was getting around 5-6Mbps on my N1 and in a Nexus S i was testing at best buy and it was pretty damn fast. puts my DSL connection at home to shame.

mcosmi said:
There is also that office app that is NOT a google product...so yea, there is a bit of bloat, but pretty much it is vanilla.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think Google has an office app for Android. Every device has launched with some kind of partnered 3rd party, either ThinkFree, or Quickoffice. At least, I think those are the two they've used.
If they didn't, you wouldn't be able to read any kind of text document on your phone and that's just kind of a silly thing to not be able to do, imo.
EDIT: And on that note, Google should probably make a office app! lol

Who really cares whats installed or not, EVERYTHING can be uninstalled.

after using ThinkFREE for a while on the Galaxy S, i can say it's really good
way better than the Docs To Go and/or QuickOffice which i'm using on the XT720
but truth is... you don't need any of those with Google Office online, it's so much easier to keep things and work with documents using Google Office Online

preinstalled apps

Anyone have a zip of the preinstalled apps from their Tabs.
By Carrier would be great (Im looking for Sprint's)
I went a little crazy when I rooted and wacked a few apps (I did save them but formatted the card without thinking) Factory restore doesn't get um back.

Hmm nobody has the apps at all?
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA App

What you're asking for is a fair bit of work. You may need to wait for more than about 5 hours.

azfxstb said:
Anyone have a zip of the preinstalled apps from their Tabs.
By Carrier would be great (Im looking for Sprint's)
I went a little crazy when I rooted and wacked a few apps (I did save them but formatted the card without thinking) Factory restore doesn't get um back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can do it yourself.
download a firmware (e.g. the one you use), extract the factoryfs.rfs and open it with MagicISO (simply go to file, open, select the factoryfs.rfs file and hit open), there you can select the apps from system/app

I have a UK tab which came pre-installed with NOVA HD. Since changing the firmware/updating the tab (following a few of the threads on here) I lost a few of the pre-installed apps. I got most of everything back worth anything (and a lot of the Samsung apps were just links to various websites) but I lost NOVA HD. I'm loathe to pay for it and wanted to know if there is any way to get it back? Was tempted to bluetooth the APK from a demo machine. Any suggestions or is it gonna cost me £3?
Thanks
Gareth

knightnz said:
What you're asking for is a fair bit of work. You may need to wait for more than about 5 hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or just know WTF you are talking about, AND be able to resist the temptation to post a completely worthless response as you clearly cannot.
Thanks shmigao thats just what I was looking for, new to the SGT stuff. Pulling down the Sprint Firmware now.

azfxstb said:
Or just know WTF you are talking about, AND be able to resist the temptation to post a completely worthless response as you clearly cannot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or you could just try being more patient and/or backup things beforehand as every set of instructions relating to flashing specify. I know perfectly well what I'm talking about, but I do my own research beforehand rather than relying on others to do it for me.

knightnz said:
Or you could just try being more patient and/or backup things beforehand as every set of instructions relating to flashing specify. I know perfectly well what I'm talking about, but I do my own research beforehand rather than relying on others to do it for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again Value = ZERO, I have patients but Im not up on the Tab game so I asked a quick question. Got a great direct response, solved the problem and learned about the limits of the Sprint Tab as far a flashing Custom ROMS..your help none, do your posting patrol someplace else

Great response, ill be doing this as soon as i get home any clue as to whether or not swype is recoverable this way? I deleted in a rush to try the beta my evo uses. I of course have no swype
Tim
Sent from my Galaxy Tab (roto JME firmware)

In reference to magic iso post
Tim
Sent from my Galaxy Tab (roto JME firmware)

tjeffries4863 said:
In reference to magic iso post
Tim
Sent from my Galaxy Tab (roto JME firmware)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not 100% sure.
You will need swype.apk from system/app and libswype.so from system/lib
Try it

Thanks again, didn't need lib but I'm guessing that is because I didn't delete it before. I did have issues installing live wall papers though, I ann going to get the lib files and try again.
Swyped on my EVO-CM6.1.2(turbo v7.6)

Froyo 2.2 released by AT&T finally?

Saw this on engadget but the link goes nowhere. Anybody confirm?
http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/samsung-captivate-on-atandt-gets-android-2-2-all-that-froyo-hasn/

Moved to general as not android development

that page has been there for some time, it is now gone

I couldn't find any other info on it - But being that the post was just made this morning, I'm still excited...

saw this too, but the page it linked to (which is pulled now btw) was actually a direct copy/paste of the 2.2 update for the Vibrant when I saw it last night. The cached version here still has all the tmobile references.

Maybe try to go back to stock and give kies a try.

rdunseith said:
Maybe try to go back to stock and give kies a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done that - Nothing...

Dante04SRT said:
Done that - Nothing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you get Kies to recognize your phone? I haven't been able to do that since the update to JH7.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

xiaoali said:
How did you get Kies to recognize your phone? I haven't been able to do that since the update to JH7.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to put it in debugging mode to get Kies Mini to see it. I have no idea what impact that may have on actually upgrading though. I'm stock Eclair BTW.

Somebody had managed to grab a cached copy from google when the page was up
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

vikdmon said:
Somebody had managed to grab a cached copy from google when the page was up
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Towards the bottom in they have mobitv renamed to t-mobile tv.
Maybe they realized the error and pulled it.

Already discussed here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=956155

LOL. Samsung's/AT&T's never ending ineptitude provides quite a bit of comic relief. I mean...really, how hard is it to push an update? I remember getting OTA updates on my G1 without issue. Has nothing been learned since then?

foxbat121 said:
Already discussed here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=956155
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how I missed that? Thanks though.

It had this sentence at the bottom too:
* What are risks for performing the upgrade?
o This upgrade has been thoroughly tested by Samsung and AT&T to be compatible with Captivate devices running previous versions of the released software. Customers who are running unsupported operating systems (e.g. those that are rooted or have not been received from T-Mobile and Samsung) should move forward at their own risk.

alphadog00 said:
It had this sentence at the bottom too:
* What are risks for performing the upgrade?
o This upgrade has been thoroughly tested by Samsung and AT&T to be compatible with Captivate devices running previous versions of the released software. Customers who are running unsupported operating systems (e.g. those that are rooted or have not been received from T-Mobile and Samsung) should move forward at their own risk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, FIND ALL "T-Mobile" REPLACE WITH "AT&T" it's that easy.... or one would think....

I checked Kies Mini and nothing. Blah!

Ehh ...
The probability of Samsung/AT&T releasing something better than what you can find here at XDA is extremely low. The devs here at XDA are probably more familiar with the phone than Samsung or AT&T anyway, as they have actually been working with it these past few months.
I'm actually a bit surprised that there isn't an XDA branded phone by now.

lol i bet samsungjohn is behind this...

neo_31591 said:
lol i bet samsungjohn is behind this...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If not, I'll bet he's laughing at all the posting going on about it.