Root Your Samsung Spica With LK2.08
Posted: 19 July 2010
After a lot of deliberation, I decided to go ahead and root my Spica. The advantages are too numerous to ignore, especially on Android 2.1. Honestly speaking, getting root became a necessity for me after just a month of using my Spica. I'd like to share the procedure here...Update: I've modified this tutorial to use LK2.08, the latest version of the kernel for the Samsung Spica, which was announced last week. Procedure is still the same, I've also changed the screenshots.
As is customary on these tutorials, let me start off by saying that rooting your phone, though a 10-minute job, does have its share of risks. By going ahead with the procedure listed on this article, you agree that I am not responsible for any damage that may occur to your handset. A simple word of advice though: if you've never heard words like "rooting", "superuser" or "brick" with respect to Android/Linux, this procedure probably isn't for you.
I'd also like to add that none of this software/firmware has been developed by me. It's all the hard work of the members of the Samdroid forum, most notably the administrator Leshak. Other people have been credited wherever applicable. All I'm telling you is how to use it; as their tutorials are not for noobs, so it can get a little confusing sometimes.This is my way of giving back to the community that has helped me learn so much.
Assumptions
I'll start off by making a few assumptions. First of all, you need to make sure that your Spica is not SIM-locked, as I don't think this will work on SIM-locked Spicas. Secondly, the PC you're doing this on should preferably be running Windows XP, as this is the most compatible, and causes fewest problems. I also assume you have installed the Samsung drivers for the Spica on your PC. You can get these from the CD that comes bundled with your Spica. Finally, go to Settings -> About phone to find out your firmware and kernel version. This is what mine looked like before rooting:
This procedure should work with all Android 2.1 firmwares after JC3. If you're running Android 1.6, you'd need to upgrade to Android 2.1 before trying this.
What You Need
- Samsung Spica running Android 2.1 firmware (eg. I570EDDJC5)
LK2.06 beta4LK2.08- Odin 4.03
- Spica (JC3) OPS file
- Superuser 2.1 app (not required, but highly recommended)
Download all the above files. Also extract i5700_LK2-06_beta4_PDA.tar i5700_LK2-08_PDA.tar into the same directory as the other downloads. A word about the Superuser 2.1 app. It's the work of XDA Developers member ChainsDD, and has been repacked for the Spica by Samdroid member ixodium. It's a better alternative than the one that comes with the kernel, which has been reported as having some problems. You can read all about it at the XDA Developers forum. If you decide to use this app, place the su-2.1-i5700-LK2.0X.zip file in the base directory of your SD card. We will apply this later, after getting root.
The Procedure
Please note that no data will be lost during this process, neither from the phone, nor from the SD card. Now we can begin. Nothing should be connected to the PC at this time. Turn off your Spica, and remove the SIM. Let the SD card remain inside. Press and hold the folowing keys on your Spica for a few seconds: Volume Down + Camera + End Call keys. Your Spica should look like this:
With your Spica still not connected, run Odin Multi Downloader v4.03.exe on your PC with Administrator permissions. Now match your selections in Odin with the screenshot below. You would have to load the PDA field with i5700_LK2-06_beta4_PDA.tar i5700_LK2-08_PDA.tar, and the OPS field with the spica_jc3.ops file:
Once you've done this, you can now connect your Spica via USB cable. If your drivers have been properly installed, Odin will detect your phone and display notifications in the Message text-area, like shown below:
If you don't get the screen above, don't proceed. Most likely, you have not installed the drivers correctly, so check that first.
If all is well, you may now take a deep breath and press the Start button to begin flashing your new kernel. The timer and progress bar above COM Port Mapping field should start, as below:
NOTE: If the timer starts to run, but the progress bar doesn’t start, close Odin and disconnect the phone from PC. Remove and re-insert the battery and start the phone in download mode again, then run Odin again. When you hit Start this time, you should get a screen like the one above.
After a while, you will see a message in the Message area saying PASS! But wait for the area above COM Port Mapping to turn blue as shown below. Do not disconnect before you get this screen:
Your Spica may reboot during the process, or it may reboot into Recovery mode too, which is one of the new features this kernel brings.
That's it! You've done it! You can head over to Settings -> About phone and see the changes to your kernel. Mine looked like this after I completed the process:
How To Use Recovery
You get a host of new features with the LK2.06beta4 LK2.08 kernel. For all the info, see this page at the Samdroid forum. We shall now use Recovery mode to install the new Superuser 2.1 app. It's not that the procedure won't work without this, but it's highly recommended if you intend to do anything meaningful with root. Those of you who are not interested may skip this section.
Update: It seems like this section may not be needed anymore, since the new LK2.08 has an updated Superuser app. Anyway, I have decided to retain this section incase anyone needs to use it. I still use the XDA Superuser app from above. It's a matter of preference. Also please note that the Recovery in LK2.08 comes with some new features, so the screenshots below may look a little different. But the procedure to use Recovery is still the same.
Switch off your phone, then press and hold Volume Down + Begin Call + End Call keys for a few seconds. Your phone will boot into recovery and should look like this:
As you can see, this kernel gives you a lot of options like backup and recovery, wipe data, etc. Anyway, for now you should select the third option "Apply any zip from SD", as shown above. You will have to use the D-pad to select options. You should now get the screen below:
Press OK to begin installing the Superuser 2.1 app. After the process is complete, you will be taken back to the first screen, where you should select the first option "Reboot system now", to reboot your phone normally:
You are done. If you go to your app drawer, you will see the new Superuser 2.1 app:
Enjoy your rooted Spica. I'll be back soon with an article that tells you how to use root to customize and tweak your Spica, to make it truly yours. Until then, cheers!
13 July 2010
16:51
good work
i have done with i5700_LK2-08_PDA.7z
working fine
18 July 2010
03:29
Hello i have a little question, do you think this “How to” could work on my phone.
I have upgrade my cell phone to android 2.1
Baseband version
I570EXXJC1
Build number
ECLAIR.XXJCE
best regards
19 July 2010
07:40
David, this tutorial should work for any Android 2.1 firmware. So yes, it will work in your case too.
19 July 2010
07:48
Thanks for that info, Mithun. I have updated the tutorial accordingly. Cheers!
29 July 2010
11:24
Hi! This is a great article. However, i have yet to try rooting my spica. Is it really that dangerous? The instructions seem easy enough and i’ve already downloaded the necessary files as stated above.
I’m looking forward to your article on tweaking the spica and maximizing it’s capabilities after rooting. Maybe i’ll go ahead after reading that. haha
Thanks and keep up the good work!:)
30 July 2010
20:27
Well Jhonel, all I can say is that it was much simpler than I anticipated. Although there are still chances of damaging your phone, those odds are quite slim.
The final decision is yours. But it if you follow all these instructions carefully, you shouldn’t have problems…
01 August 2010
20:28
My spica got this error:
E: Error in install_busybox.sh (status 65280)
E: Failure at line 19: run_program PACKAGE: install_busybox.sh
Installation aborted.
Funny thing is odin still showed pass (blue screen) . When I tried to boot the spica , it always got stuck on the samsung screen , the progress bar would load to the max level then nothing would happen, just would remain stuck there.
I reflashed to 2.1 . Sadly lost all my apps :(
what could be the solution to my problem ?
thanks
05 August 2010
11:34
Hey, i finally rooted my spica. Got the job done on the first try. You were right. It is a lot simpler than expected. Your guide was the simplest among all those i checked.
Looking forward to your next entry on using root!
Thanks again!
06 August 2010
05:05
Thanks for the guide, Karl. This was the guide I used for rooting my Spica; I followed it to the letter except the superuser part (last part) and it worked flawlessly.
Now I’m eagerly waiting for you next post/s.
06 August 2010
07:47
Simran, I’m not sure how that could have happened. You may get help if you post this question over at the Samdroid forums.
06 August 2010
07:48
Great going guys! I’m glad it worked out for you! Cheers!
09 August 2010
22:47
Just wanted to thank you for this very clear instruction! I am now performing a backup in the recovery mode and will try to install the samdroid kitchen next, which should be possible now…thanks so much!
10 August 2010
12:31
Are you sure you need the phone not to be sim-locked?, i just rooted my phone, it has never been used with a sim card still…..
10 August 2010
12:34
@Coen: That’s good to know! Cheers!
@Xi0N: I'm not sure I understand what you mean. The phrase SIM-locked refers to restrictions imposed by carriers on SIMs/phones so that certain phones will only operate with certain carriers, or within certain geographical boundaries.
10 August 2010
12:57
What about installing samdroid afterwards? Is this possible?
10 August 2010
19:02
Yes, you can…
11 August 2010
01:09
Great tutorial! Thanks! Can’t wait for the rest!
11 August 2010
20:54
You’re welcome, Bert. I’m still waiting for a free moment to write the follow-up…
12 August 2010
08:58
question.. im using I570EDXJC4 im for mthe philippines. rooted already with lk2.08 and using mod 2.5.5 from leshak.. i can do all things in adb, apps2sd etc. but the problem is i cant install root explorer, titanium backup, autostart etc. because its telling me that my phone is not rooted?? why is that? what do i need to do? tnx pls email me