How to root your phone, flash CWM Recovery, make nandroid and install roms

This thread is outdated and no longer valid now. Follow the link below for new rooting instruction for Verizon Wireless Fascinate
http://www.samsungfascinateforum.com/samsung-fascinate-rooting/new-instruction-to-root-your-phone-cwmrecovery-and-install-rom-(080512)/

For DL09 Baseband, please go here.
http://www.samsungfascinateforum.com/samsung-fascinate-rooting/dl09-ota-new-instruction-to-root-your-phone-cwmrecovery-and-install-rom/

I. Rooting your phone by using Z4Root apk:
1. Charge your phone fully. Download free version of advanced task killer(Developer: ReChild) from market.
2. Google search and download z4root (keyword search 'z4root apk 1.3.0 download'), plug your phone into pc, mount your phone to access SD Storage, and transfer Z4Root apk to SD card. Disconnect USB.
3. On your phone, go to settings-> applications-> development-> check on USB debugging.
Go to settings-> applications-> check on unknown sources.
4. Open "my files" folder on your phone, find z4root app, and click to install. After installing it, open the app, and click "permanent' to root your phone. The process usually takes within 10mintes; your phone will reboot upon completion. If it takes longer, press home softkey, open up advanced task killer, kill z4root, and repeat. Give 10minutes time frame, kill it with advanced task killer, and repeat it until it roots.
5. When your phone reboots to main screen, open up advanced task killer, long press on super user, and put it under ignore list. Super User grants root users to use root restricted apps...therefore you must not delete or kill it. Uncheck USB debugging.
6. Do not delete any of bloatwares using system app remover. Just let you know that if you do, OTA Update won't work. There is alternate solution by flashing DI01package3.tar package to replace current stock recovery to fix this problem, but it's always better for you keep the current one. So don't remove any of them.

II. Flashing CWM Recovery: In order to flash custom modem, kernel, and rom, this must be done.

You will need following on your pc:
- Odin: https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0VDY-BSyJuQYTdlZGI1NjYtMjg1MC00NGY2LTllOGQtZDU2ZDU0ZDQ3ZWJh&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

- Installed Samsung USB Driver on your pc. If not installed, you can get it from here.
a) For 32bit window: http://www.wikifilez.com/root%20files/epic4g/SAMSUNG_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones_x86.exe
b) For 64bit window: http://www.wikifilez.com/root%20files/epic4g/usb_drivers_GalaxyS_x64.zip

- CWM Recovery package(do not unzip this): https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0VDY-BSyJuQNjJiY2ViMTUtMWM5YS00YjAwLWE4MWMtNTJhOTE5YzFkZmI1&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

1. Place odin and CWM Recovery package in the same folder on your pc. Open odin window.
2. On your phone, download free version of Rom Manager from android market. Don't flash anything yet.....just download it and keep it closed. Turn on USB Debugging, power down your phone, and take battery out.
3. Hold volume down while plugging your phone into PC. The download mode screen should come up with android shoveling. If your phone is recognized, you should see the yellow highlite under ID:COM port. If nothing comes up, do not proceed..... unplug USB and re-install Samsung USB Driver.
4. On odin window, click PDA, search CWM Recovery package, and open it. Click start to flash the package. Don't disconnect until your phone turns off. After completion, put your battery back in and turn your phone on.
5. Open Rom Manager, select flash clockworkmod recovery, and choose samsung fascinate to flash it. After flashing is done, select reboot into recovery using Rom Manager option. This will complete the CWM Recovery flashing. On green recovery screen(if you see blue, you must ditch it by selecting 'apply sd card update zip' and execute with home button) , use volumes to move up and down, power button to execute. Select "restart the system" or "reboot the system" and execute.

III. Making nandroid backup for system:
You must create stock nandroid backup before installing roms. If you need to get OTA updates, you must comeback to this stock nandroid and unroot your phone. To make nandroid backup, go to Rom Manager, click on "Backup Current ROM", name your nandroid backup, and click OK to start. Your phone will restart upon completion.

IV. Making backup for your downloaded apps:
You can back up your current downloaded apps by using Titanium Backup. This is very convenient because you don't have to redownload your apps after custom rom is installed. Download free version of Titanium Backup from market, check debugging mode on, and open Titanium Backup. Everytime Super User comes up, just allow it. Click menu softkey, select batch, and click on backup all user apps. You already have your nandroid, therefore you don't need to backup all system data. Your backup will be stored on your SD Card. To restore your backup after custom rom is installed, redownload and install titanium backup, check USB Debugging, select batch, and click on restore missing apps with data. YOU'RE DONE!!!

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Visit my other post for custom rom installation instruction: http://www.samsungfascinateforum.com/samsung-fascinate-rooting/how-to-install-dj05-roms-after-flashing-cwm-recovery/

Updated 01/12/11: unworking links are fixed now.

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