Are custom roms reliable? - Fascinate Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I love my fascinate. But there are some minor things I can't stand about the phone, mainly in how limited some options are and inability to remove some stock apps.
I tried a custom rom before, frakenclean I think, and while I loved the options it gave me I could not stand the way the phone would crash. The phone crashed almost daily. So I went back to the stock rom.
I miss the option to turn the 3g on and off, not having the Is there a reliable/stable rom that won't crash on me?

Custom roms have never had issues for me, you might have gotten a bad build. You should try out the gingerbread roms, they have the best performance and awesomeness you can get for our phones. If you want to stay on froyo try powerwashed or comrom.

sageDieu said:
Custom roms have never had issues for me, you might have gotten a bad build. You should try out the gingerbread roms, they have the best performance and awesomeness you can get for our phones. If you want to stay on froyo try powerwashed or comrom.
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Hi SageDieu,
I currently have a Telus Fascinate (SGH-T959D) which is running Stock Gingerbread + Rooted.
I'm wondering if you could point me in the right direction to where I can find custom gingerbread ROMs for my phone.
I have yet to feel comfortable with some of the ROM's I've looked at here in the forums.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

The only rom thats not on xda is tsm pool party. You can find that on rootzwiki. Anyway imo powerwashed ed05 and com rom are the 2 most reliable roms. The gb roms still have a few minor issues, but most things have been fixed. I will be jumping over to pwgb soon as a voodoo kernal is released.

droidstyle said:
The only rom thats not on xda is tsm pool party. You can find that on rootzwiki. Anyway imo powerwashed ed05 and com rom are the 2 most reliable roms. The gb roms still have a few minor issues, but most things have been fixed. I will be jumping over to pwgb soon as a voodoo kernal is released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. I took a look over at the 'rootzwiki' forum and I didn't see much that really indicates custom ROMS will work with my Fascinate.
Has anyone here that has a Telus Fascinate (SGH-T959D) running Stock Gingerbread updated there ROM or Kernel yet?
I would really like to get CWM back on my phone

iwebsource said:
Has anyone here that has a Telus Fascinate (SGH-T959D) running Stock Gingerbread updated there ROM or Kernel yet?
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Click to collapse
I don't think there has ever been a custom rom created specifically using a Telus Fascinate rom as a base. Just custom kernels.
I'm currently running Darky's Rom 10.2 RE , flashable directly via odin/heimdall
It's GT-i9000 based Gingerbread 2.3.4 with some tweaks and it's own custom kernel. You get to choose from stock Gingerbread launcher or Touchwiz 4.5 (launcher from SGS II with some tweaks).
You need to do some tweaking to get your home/back button fixed, but I find its insignificant to the benefits of running a (i9000-based) custom rom. I've never had the phone crash on me from normal use, so I consider it very stable.
I think the OP and others are talking about the Verizon Fascinate which is completely different from our Telus Fascinate. There has been confusion in the past which resulted in bricked phones so please be careful when talking about custom roms for "Fascinate"

iwebsource said:
Thanks for the info. I took a look over at the 'rootzwiki' forum and I didn't see much that really indicates custom ROMS will work with my Fascinate.
Has anyone here that has a Telus Fascinate (SGH-T959D) running Stock Gingerbread updated there ROM or Kernel yet?
I would really like to get CWM back on my phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Crap I looked over the fact your telus... I have not seen any rom development for you. Take a peek at the dark'y rom that Japots suggested.

Japots said:
I don't think there has ever been a custom rom created specifically using a Telus Fascinate rom as a base. Just custom kernels.
I'm currently running Darky's Rom 10.2 RE , flashable directly via odin/heimdall
It's GT-i9000 based Gingerbread 2.3.4 with some tweaks and it's own custom kernel. You get to choose from stock Gingerbread launcher or Touchwiz 4.5 (launcher from SGS II with some tweaks).
You need to do some tweaking to get your home/back button fixed, but I find its insignificant to the benefits of running a (i9000-based) custom rom. I've never had the phone crash on me from normal use, so I consider it very stable.
I think the OP and others are talking about the Verizon Fascinate which is completely different from our Telus Fascinate. There has been confusion in the past which resulted in bricked phones so please be careful when talking about custom roms for "Fascinate"
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Click to collapse
How do you fix these buttons? I am having issues with the buttons on miui and am unable to fix the home and search buttons.

lawonga said:
How do you fix these buttons? I am having issues with the buttons on miui and am unable to fix the home and search buttons.
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Click to collapse
Refer to this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1004314
Basically, you need to mopdi melfas_touchkey.kl (may be different in MUIU) file in /system/usr/keylayout/ to assign the proper function (ie, HOME, SEARCH) to the proper button key.
The thread has a flashable zip, but I'd recommend using a root-capable file explorer (like Root Explorer [padi] or ES File Manager [free]) to edit the file.

I find custom roms very reliable. Sometime more reliable then stock roms.

Related

[Q]another new fascinate owner

ok so i've went through the threads here and pretty much got a handle on what's what but some are little outdated. though since i'm new, i've already applied the ED01 froyo OTA update from stock as soon as i opened it up and a lot of the stuff here are applied to older firmwares. so first things first, i tried to root using this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=790004 using the fascinateRootv02 but no go. i hear you can use superoneclick but looking at the superonelick thread, samsung fascinate is not supported? so if someone can point me to the right direction, i would appreciate it.
so with that said, i know there are a lot of roms available. i want to just stick to one that works well and avoid much as possible in keep changing roms. so what is the most popular roms out of the bunch?
thanks!
droidfoshizzle said:
ok so i've went through the threads here and pretty much got a handle on what's what but some are little outdated. though since i'm new, i've already applied the ED01 froyo OTA update from stock as soon as i opened it up and a lot of the stuff here are applied to older firmwares. so first things first, i tried to root using this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=790004 using the fascinateRootv02 but no go. i hear you can use superoneclick but looking at the superonelick thread, samsung fascinate is not supported? so if someone can point me to the right direction, i would appreciate it.
so with that said, i know there are a lot of roms available. i want to just stick to one that works well and avoid much as possible in keep changing roms. so what is the most popular roms out of the bunch?
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1045048&page=2
I havent rooted an official 2.2 update.. but this should work.. welcome!!!
EDIT.. I BELIEVE YOU COULD INSTALL odin, and just flash a freshly rooted official ED01.. but ide wait for somemore answers b4 trying anything.. ppl usually get at u pretty quick
ace5198 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1045048&page=2
I havent rooted an official 2.2 update.. but this should work.. welcome!!!
EDIT.. I BELIEVE YOU COULD INSTALL odin, and just flash a freshly rooted official ED01.. but ide wait for somemore answers b4 trying anything.. ppl usually get at u pretty quick
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Click to collapse
You are correct. You can just odin a CWR of your choice and then flash a ROM with the Super User package already in place and kaboom rooted
Superonelick (version...let me look here.....ugh... version 1.8) is fascinate compatible and I myself have used it before.
cheers.
** Edit **
To answer you question OP, the most popular ROM is Ultimatekangbang (Community ROM v1.x), Evil Fascination, and CyanogenMod 7 (Koas or CM7 by JT **Gingerbread**)
Quick break down
Kangbang (Comm)
-Community developed and updated frequently
-Most popular
-Comes with an overclockable/undervoltable kernel (up to 1.6ghz)
Evil Fascination
-2nd only to Kangbang
-Great ROM very clean
-No kernel (since I last checked could be wrong)
- Just use one of the PBJ kernels that are under volted for better battery life
-beta testing the LG android launcher
CM7
-Gingerbread (2.3)
-Camera, MMS, and BT do not function until a 2.3 official leak is obtained
-Smooth and completely open source
-heavily customizable
I use Kangbang 1.3 with the 100uv PBJ kernel and I see no crashes or force closing issues alongside 25 to 30 hours of battery life under normal use.
gkirby11 said:
You are correct. You can just odin a CWR of your choice and then flash a ROM with the Super User package already in place and kaboom rooted
Superonelick (version...let me look here.....ugh... version 1.8) is fascinate compatible and I myself have used it before.
cheers.
** Edit **
To answer you question OP, the most popular ROM is Ultimatekangbang (Community ROM v1.x), Evil Fascination, and CyanogenMod 7 (Koas or CM7 by JT **Gingerbread**)
Quick break down
Kangbang (Comm)
-Community developed and updated frequently
-Most popular
-Comes with an overclockable/undervoltable kernel (up to 1.6ghz)
Evil Fascination
-2nd only to Kangbang
-Great ROM very clean
-No kernel (since I last checked could be wrong)
- Just use one of the PBJ kernels that are under volted for better battery life
-beta testing the LG android launcher
CM7
-Gingerbread (2.3)
-Camera, MMS, and BT do not function until a 2.3 official leak is obtained
-Smooth and completely open source
-heavily customizable
I use Kangbang 1.3 with the 100uv PBJ kernel and I see no crashes or force closing issues alongside 25 to 30 hours of battery life under normal use.
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Click to collapse
thanks for the info! hmm so you don't have to root to use odin? cool, i'll try this.
would voodoo work with kangbang? just saying because it seems like voodoo is the most popular kernel here. how different is 100uv PBJ then with voodoo? is there a there a one stop shop thread on info of which kernel does what?
droidfoshizzle said:
thanks for the info! hmm so you don't have to root to use odin? cool, i'll try this.
would voodoo work with kangbang? just saying because it seems like voodoo is the most popular kernel here. how different is 100uv PBJ then with voodoo? is there a there a one stop shop thread on info of which kernel does what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
odin a pre rooted rom... found here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1048380
again i say welcome and enjoy ur amazing new phone.. i prefeer community rom

[Q] Noob With Few Q

so just watched xda noob video and this gives me the right to be helped
just kidding folks
any way
i am wondering if i root my phone do i have to install a new ROM on it or my vibrant stock ROM will stay along with the contents that i have on..
and will i be able to switch to stock ROM easily" might do it when the official GB comes out if it comes out"
Thanks
If you root your phone you don't HAVE to flash anything, your phone will be the exact same only with superuser permissions.
If you do decide to flash anything it is very easy to get back to stock.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I highly suggest you play around with a few roms. the vibrant is extremely slow on the stock rom. Team whiskey makes great vibrant roms
vabeachfc3s said:
I highly suggest you play around with a few roms. the vibrant is extremely slow on the stock rom. Team whiskey makes great vibrant roms
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Click to collapse
Agreed.
Try some team whiskey roms with some different kernels. They're pretty stable and user friendly.
Don't hold your breath for official GB =] cause you'll suffocate.
Vibrant+MIUI
Noob Guide on rooting/reverting to stock
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=9375927
stay away from any 2.3 roms that ask you to install GB bootloader should you decide to flash any custom roms. Atleast until you are comfortable with odin, flashing, etc.
as far as 2.2 roms go.... I recommend Trigger.
2.3 Roms CM7/Miui (no bootloader needed)

2.2 fw

Hi guys, I don't have a Vibrant myself but a friend asked if I could update him to 2.2.
So,
a) Where can I download stock firmwares. *edit- found this, is it latest?
b) What are some good FULLY FUNCTIONAL roms?
I have downloaded AIO Vibrant Toolbox, will that be enough to flash from stock 2.1 or do I need Odin? I have/can use adb etc & I'm not a noob, just my 1st time looking at a Sammy phone.
TIA for any answers.
*edit 2- Wtf is JFD?
Download and install Vibrant Kies Mini from Samsung Vibrant Download Center. This will update your friend's Vibrant to the official 2.2
Thanks for the reply!
I have heard only bad things about Kies in the little research I've done so far. Is it the safest way to go?
AyDee said:
Thanks for the reply!
I have heard only bad things about Kies in the little research I've done so far. Is it the safest way to go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if it is the safest, but I have done it at least 5 times and it never failed me.
Try Toxic. It's really fast and stable.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1203549
Whatever you do, do NOT do what was just suggested by Krys.
Your research isn't wrong. There's a reason that "Kies killed my phone" is the only surefire way to get warranty work done on your Vibrant. It's all kinds of bad.
As for good ROMs, you probably noticed in our Vibrant bible that there are quite a few.
Bionix 1.3.1 (untouched by me) is reportedly the most stable experience, though it hasn't been updated in some time (some would say it doesn't need updating).
Zendroid is probably the best stripped down and tweaked Froyo ROM. Touchwiz has been removed as has had pretty much all the bloatware.
If you're into theming, and don't want to make the jump to MIUI (2.3.7 Gingerbread AOSP ROM), I suggest giving Toxic8 a try. It's been stable in my experience, and the number of themes available for it are pretty extensive. It's also the newest of the Froyo ROMs, so it has all the latest tweaks.
If you need instructions on how to install (flash) them, there are multiple guides to choose from in our development and other forums.
Happy hunting! Drinks are on the house!
BIG Thanks for the quick answers.
He was wanting stock at first but I'll see what I can talk him into. I probably won't be able to give him much support after I flash so I'll definitely look at those more stable roms you mentioned, kaintfm. Gonna go "thank" another random post of yours.
Cheers.
I am using Toxic8 now after coming from a Motorola (locked bootloader with no custom kernels) however we broke it down and are in the process of developing CM7.1 for it. Not bad for a phone that had no "official" update from the manufacturer.
Anyways, like I said, I am using Toxic8 w/ Gingerbread theme and have no complaints so far. I have basically put this thing through the ringer over the last few weeks and it is holding up pretty damn good. Comes with Bali 1.2OC kernel and build.prop tweaks and V6supercharger. I like it enough to make it my "home" ROM.
I definitely agree with kaintfm on avoiding Kies. It's much easier to flash via CWM anyway. I highly recommend ZenDroid and Project-V, but what I'll be sticking with for quite some time is the Ultimate 8.2 port. Battery life is fantastic for me, and it's one of the smoothest roms I've used (previously ZenDroid). But honestly, it will all be a matter of personal preference since pretty much all the Froyo roms we have are slick and polished.
AyDee said:
Hi guys, I don't have a Vibrant myself but a friend asked if I could update him to 2.2.
So,
a) Where can I download stock firmwares. *edit- found this, is it latest?
b) What are some good FULLY FUNCTIONAL roms?
I have downloaded AIO Vibrant Toolbox, will that be enough to flash from stock 2.1 or do I need Odin? I have/can use adb etc & I'm not a noob, just my 1st time looking at a Sammy phone.
TIA for any answers.
*edit 2- Wtf is JFD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your link in the Op is to KB5 (T959UVKB5) T959 is the vibrant model number, KB5 is the build number. It is the last 2.2 froyo for the vibrant. You can find the build number of what's currently on the phone in settings/about phone.
JFD (T959UVJFD) was the original build when the phone was released.
To keep the phone stock at the latest 2.2 use the link (T959UVKB5) you noted. If you have used Odin before (a samsung flashing tool) use that or you can root the phone and used the .zip file in CWM. There are links to Odin and ways to root in this forum. The Vibrant is very easy to root and Flash.
The stock KB5 is what you linked to. All the other Roms based on KB5 are good, they are pretty much just themed differently. All the 2.3 Gingerbread roms have issues (which may or may not bother you but I would not want to support some one else's phone with the issues, GPS, FC's, reboots, etc.) as they are ports from other phones
Kies Mini worked for me, and I like the SBL update.
I've used Kies Mini to update to KB5 when it first came out and I'm glad I did it. The process was smooth and easy, and the update included an update to the SBL which dramatically made my 3 buttons work great.
Many of the roms here have the SBL update taken out.
I would say if you don't have voodoo or any other stuff, and you can odin back to JFD, I would try kies mini without being too scared.
Excellent, thanks again to everyone!
I got all the info I had hoped for from all angles.
Stay classy, Vibrant forums!

[Q] ROM suggestion

Hello!
I currently use AXURA but i heard that newer rom can be faster or have some new features/fix. Any rom that i could try? I just want a lag free experience, good battery life and gps working properly. Also, some roms seems complicated to install. With axura i only needed to boot with clockword mod and install it. Can i still do that?
Thanks
Try actually reading some threads your questions are way to general and beginner u should do some homework first
eldgrim said:
Hello!
I currently use AXURA but i heard that newer rom can be faster or have some new features/fix. Any rom that i could try? I just want a lag free experience, good battery life and gps working properly. Also, some roms seems complicated to install. With axura i only needed to boot with clockword mod and install it. Can i still do that?
Thanks[/QUOTE
Depends on if you want froyo or GB.
Previous poster was correct go to the development section and read. If you want froyo Trigger was nice and solid but not updated anymore. Crazy8 is also solid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are there SO MANY OF THESE DAMN THREADS!!! USE THE DAMN SEARCH BUTTON.
eldgrim said:
Hello!
I currently use AXURA but i heard that newer rom can be faster or have some new features/fix. Any rom that i could try? I just want a lag free experience, good battery life and gps working properly. Also, some roms seems complicated to install. With axura i only needed to boot with clockword mod and install it. Can i still do that?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st I noticed you are in Canada, make sure the roms here compatible with the canadian Vibrant before you flash them.
2ndly if you want working GPS, then this automatically rules out GB unless you like rebooting your phone everytime you want to use the GPS. Also, 911 doesn't work on many of the GB roms, so you might be putting your life in danger also.
Do you guys have 911 in Canada?
My fall back rom is stock deodexed/rooted KB5 android 2.2, with the stock voodoo kb5 kernel. Then to eliminate any lag from touchwiz I run launcher pro instead. This combination is lag free, has a working GPS as good as it will get with our ****ty GPS, and 911 works. So I suggest for you. Install deodexed/rooted stock kb5, then the stock kb5 kernel with voodoo, then install launcherpro to eliminate touchwiz lag. enjoy
My GPS works just fine on gb roms as do others so don't listen to the post above
b1337 said:
My GPS works just fine on gb roms as do others so don't listen to the post above
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And a lot don't either
Read some of the information in this forum.
Look at this link, it is in the development
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=991267
Depending on what you want and use the phone for, the differences between 2.2 roms and 2.3 roms are these two major things
2.2 roms will get you better battery life and more reliable GPS over 2.3 roms. So, depending how techie are are will probably be the thing that sways you. All the roms have specific instructions on how to flash, they are not hard if you understand written English.
ALSO.......... IN THE FUTURE PUT YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE Q&A NOT GENERAL
Thanks........ Oka1 Moderator

[Q] questions about root and CMW

I have experience with rooting HTC devices and the HP touchpad, but i am a complete samsung noob. Things seem to work completely different with recovery on the this phone. I managed to get cwm recovery on the phone by flashing the entropy kernal (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1289460); however, it also says this is for gingerbread non-aosp roms only. Does that mean the CWM will not flash an ICS rom such as ICScrewed?
I am just generally confused cause on my other devices, kernals were always flashed using CMW, not the other way around. If someone can clear this up that would be amazing. I tried searching and looking in the stickies but i still can't find the info im looking for. thanks.
ICScrewed is not an ICS rom, its just themed that way.
We do not have working ICS yet, check the sticky.
You can flash one but audio will not work.
LiLChris06 said:
ICScrewed is not an ICS rom, its just themed that way.
We do not have working ICS yet, check the sticky.
You can flash one but audio will not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
o ok, thanks. thats clears that part up thanks. I'm doing this for a friend but it turned out to be much more hassle than i was expecting. So any rom suggestions? I don't like the idea of pretending to have ICS much. I'm looking for a rom that's debloated, faster, more battery life, and has some visual polish. I'm not a huge fan of the stock touchwiz look.
UnNamed and ShoStock have a few themes and are by far the most stable I know of.
Or you can check i9100 roms and port them over or grab one that already is ported.
Read the Sticky thread thats in the General Section.

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