(un)official 2.3.3 and root for Samsung Galaxy S Captivate (ONLY)

[desu dechi]

Be warned you will flash (un)official android 2.3.3, to root it scroll all the way down.

First download this file here.

It contains android 2.3.3, odin v1.81.

2.Extract file, now open Odin, by double-clicking the EXE file you downloaded. After Odin opens, turn off your Samsung Captivate connect it to the computer and boot your device in download mode. In order to get your Samsung Captivate in download mode you need to press Home and Volume Down buttons and while holding them pressed, power on the device by pressing the Power button. Once your device boots in download mode you should be able to see the Android logo, followed by a message that reads “Downloading… Do not turn off target!!!”

3.After the device is successfully connected and all the drivers are loaded, the ID:COM box in Odin will turn yellow, followed by the “Added!!” notification in the Odin messages box.

4.Make sure that only the Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time options are ticked in Odin Options field, then start providing the required installation files as following: click the PIT field, then navigate and select Kepler_odin_new_part_JE3_S1JE4.pit file. In the Phone, field, provide MODEM_I897UCKF1_CL1017518_REV02.tar.md5 file by navigating to its location (it should be on your desktop if you extracted RAR file as instructed above). Click on the PDA button and select the CODE_I897UCKF1_CL273832_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md 5 file from your computer’s desktop. Least, but not last, provide the SGH-I897-CSC-ATTKF1.tar.md5 file to the CSC field.

5.Double check if you provided the files properly, then click the “Start” button in Odin. Now the firmware installation will begin, and your Samsung Captivate will be updated to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread UCKF1. It usually takes about 5 minutes for the procedure to be completed, but don’t panic if it takes a little bit longer as such situations have been reported.

6.After the new firmware is installed to your Samsung Captivate, the device will reboot and the homescreen will appear shortly. Anyway, it may take a little bit longer than usual for the homescreen to appear, but it only happens after the first reboot.

7.(optional) Now in order to increase the speed of the new-installed Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread, I recommend you to wipe off the cache of your Samsung Captivate, from recovery mode. To get your device in recovery mode, you will first need to turn off the phone, then press Home + Volume Up buttons, and while holding press Power button. Now use the Volume Up / Volume Down buttons to navigate and Home button to select. Go to “wipe cache partition” option and select by pressing Home. Then select the “reboot system now” option, press Home and wait until your Samsung Captivate reboots.

8.(optional) for root download this.

9.Do the same as in the second step (boot phone while holding up and down volume, while phone is connected), Click on the PDA button and select the file you just downloaded, click start and wait for it to finish and that's it your rooted!

UPDATE: 4/10/2011

Good news there is an update for the captivate - 2.3.4 and it has root. just go to SAMSUNG FIRMWARE VERSIONS and wait until I upload the file.

UPDATE: 13/10/2011

For the root method you may need to have luck for it to work. Has been tried in 3 different Captivates and 2 were successful. Be warned may soft brick but just do the same process with odin and restore and try again, may have some luck to get it to work.

[dlamber7]

What exploit is this for root? I want to experiment with something, can you tell me what it is?

[desu dechi]

You need odin to flash it. It's an auto root kernel, you just need to flash it and thats all. From what I can tell it has something in common with Gingerbreak. Also download link for android 2.3.3 with odin software is up.

[dlamber7]

Ok, thanks. Did you write the kernel?

[desu dechi]

No but, the original creator DesignGears, he created it and I just posted it here. He is at XDA developers. And this is a piece of work if i say so myself.

[dlamber7]

Ok thanks. I was just being curious as to what the file was. If it wasnt a kernel, i would have tried it on the exhibit 4g. But since its a kernel, not going to do something that silly. Thanks

[desu dechi]

Your welcome but, if you have any questions related to this kernel you could contact him at XDA.

[mymymob]

Anyone knows if it's good for GT-I5510L?

Thanks

[desu dechi]

I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to brick your phone. This is Samsung Captivate specific.