Galaxy S MIUI ROM Installation Guide

Installing MIUI was one of the most painful jobs ever, earlier. But thankfully, the punishment is over and now one can install it pretty easily.

THIS POST IS BEING UPDATED TO GET YOU THE LATEST AND EASIEST METHOD TO INSTALL THE MIUI ROM ON GALAXY S i9000. So, follow this new method only and forget everything else that was mentioned here earlier here (which is still lying below).

[error]This guide is applicable only for Samsung’s Galaxy S international version (GT-i9000). Check your phone’s version in Settings – About Phone. It has to be “GT-i9000” for this ROM to be compatible with your phone. If it’s not GT-i9000, simply don’t try this ROM on your android handset — don’t even think about it if you care about your android device.[/error]

[warning]The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know completely what it is. If any damage occurs to you or your device, we won’t be held liable — you only will be responsible, you’ve been warned!!![/warning]

Btw, whether your Galaxy S i9000 is running Android 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 (any firmware), you can use this guide to install MIUI ROM. What you need is a Galaxy S i9000 device — not any other Galaxy S variant: Vibrant, Fascinate, Epic, etc.

How to Install MIUI on Galaxy S i9000

1. Download and Install XXJVS Android 2.3.5 firmware.
2. Root XXJVS. This will also install ClockWorkMod recovery, which is needed to flash MIUI ROM.
3. Download MIUI ROM from → here. This is MIUI’s own download page where download links for all phones can be found. Scroll down on the page, look for ‘I9000’ and click the download button next to it.
4. Transfer the MIUI ROM to phone’s sd card.
5. Go to recovery mode. For this, simply open the CWM app (you get it after step 2) and tap on ClockWorkMod to reboot phone into recovery mode. [Other way to reboot in recovery is to switch off phone and then press and hold 3 buttons together: VolumeUP+Home+Power till the Galaxy S logo shows up on screen]
6. In recovery, select “install zip from sd card”. Then select “choose zip from sd card”. Now, browse through sd card and select the file MIUI ROM you downloaded in step 3 and transferred in step 4 above.
7. This will flash the required files on your phone and will reboot your phone into recovery again. This is a slightly different recovery now.
8. Again, select “install zip from sd card”. Them select “choose zip from sd card”. Now, browse through sd card and select the file MIUI ROM you downloaded in step 3 and transferred in step 4 above.
9. This time, the MIUI ROM will be flashed actually and after it’s installed, your phone will reboot with MIUI running coolly.
10. Check that awesome themes app which has tons of cool themes waiting for you. Enjoy!
11. [Optional] Share this guide with others!
12. And it’s pretty easy now, right? Thanks to MIUI team.

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OLD VERSION BELOW — NOT USEFUL ANYMORE

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EARLIER VERSION OF THIS POST IS BELOW. IT IS NOT USEFUL ANYMORE, ALTHOUGH IT DID US GREAT SERVICE BACK THEN 🙂

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MIUI — the famous ROM that brings the best of two worlds of Android and iOS — is now available for Samsung Galaxy S (i9000) too. The ROM just got its release candidate out — MCGvX to be exact — which means it’s out of beta now and that the full and final release is ‘coming soon’. There are still some bugs here or there (which, frankly, and surprisingly, didn’t bother me one bit) and I can say, it’s definitely lot better (read: stable) now with almost everything fully working. The working of the ROM apart, it would be cruel if we don’t thank the team who has worked restlessly for months to make this Happen — MAMBO04, Kenia and jblanc, THANK YOU!!!

About the MIUI ROM:

• Latest Version — MCGvX [Updated]
• Android 2.3.3 (latest android OS version for phones)
• Based on Official MIUI ROM
• New Official Home Page
• MIUI on Twitter – @MIUI9000
• XDA Thread
• Stuff working
  • Phone
  • 2G/3G
  • Internal SD Card
  • Home button
  • Volume keys
  • Touchkeys
  • WiFi
  • Sound
  • Theme Manager
  • Camera (still choppy)
  • File Manager
  • EXT SD! BIG thanks to Zygame!
• Stuff not working (Work-In-Progress)
  • SOME bugs from CM7 (INCLUDING: Battery drain, Camera, TV OUT.)
  • Market crashes when rating an app.

[info]Important: This guide is applicable only for Samsung’s Galaxy S international version (i9000). If yours is Vibrant/Captivate/Fascinate/Epic 4G/i9000M/i9000B/i9003 or any other Galaxy S variant, then this ROM — and the Guide — is not for you, and that’s for definite.[/info]

[warning]The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything mentioned here if you don’t know completely what it is. Plus, do this only if you’re capable of getting your phone back right, on your own. If any damage occurs to you or your device, we won’t be held responsible. You only will be responsible — you’ve been warned. Okay![/warning]

MAKE SURE YOU CAN ENTER INTO DOWNLOAD MODE (given in Step 3.2 below) before trying this guide, or in fact, any stuff on your phone.

It’s very important and very much required that you Galaxy S is running on Froyo before you begin to install the MIUI ROM. Here are the different scenarios with what you should do in each case.

Case I — Galaxy S with Android 2.1 (Éclair)

I would recommend installing the EZRom — which will install the Android 2.2.1 (Froyo) on your phone and you’ll be alright for installing the MIUI ROM then. Get the EZRom’s installation guide with video over here.

Case II — Galaxy S with Android 2.2/2.2.1 (Froyo)

You’re pretty good to begin the installation procedure. Check the pre-installations requirements below, though.

Case III — Galaxy S with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

You should get back to Froyo. Use the EZRom (‘How To Install’ here).

Pre-Installation requirements:

1. Once again, make sure you’re on Froyo.
2. Disable the lagfix, if any. Go to recovery and select the lagfix option therein and select disable. Check this article for more info.
3. Remove the external SD Card from your phone and don’t put it back until the whole process is complete. (So that you don’t get confused between the two sd cards.)

[info]The video below shows installation of RC1 but the procedures are same (ditto!) for all future realeses (MCGvX) . Thus, the Video will be totally useful for all.[/info]

ROM Installation Video.

Watch the video in FULL before beginning to install MIUI ROM. So that you’re more comfortable and aware while installing the ROM.

You know, this guide is very hack-ish and it actually frightened me a couple of times. BUT, I can say it was totally worth. The ROM is just amazing — you’ll understand it only when you actually use it.

Okay, enough! Here are the Installation instructions.

Installation Steps (this will install MIUI MCGvX version on your Galaxy S i9000):

1. Download the required stuff:
   1. galaxys-efsbackup.zip – Direct download link.
   2. MCGvX.X.X – Direct download link. [Updated]
   3. cm7-galaxys-initial-kernel.tar – Direct download link.
   4. speedmod-kernel-k13c-500hz.tar – Direct download link.
   5. Odin3 v1.7.exe – Direct download link.
2. Transfer the first two files above, “galaxys-efsbackup.zip” and “MCGvX.X.X” to your phone’s internal SD Card’s root folder. That is, don’t put the above two files in any sub-folder on your SD Card.
3. Flash the SpeedMod Kernel:
   1. Unplug the phone if it’s connected to PC. Switch it Off. Wait for it to vibrate a little to confirm complete switch Off.
   2. Get your Galaxy S in Download Mode — Press and hold these keys together: VolumeDOWN+Home+Power.
   3. Now, open Odin. Double click the file Odin3 v1.7.exe.
   4. Plug-in USB cable to connect your Galaxy S (which is in Download Mode) to PC. You should get the “Added! !”notification in the message box of Odin.
   5. In Odin, keep the “Re-Partition” button un-checked. Keep the “Auto reboot” and “F.Reset Time” buttons checked.
   6. Now, click the PDA tab and select the file — speedmod-kernel-k13c-500hz.tar (file at step 1.4 above). Hit Start to flash the speedmod kernel.
   7. After flashing is done, phone will reboot. Upon reboot, Power Off the phone (wait for vibration to confirm complete Switch Off).
   8. Close Odin.
4. Installing galaxys-efsbackup.zip:
   1. Enter your phone in recovery mode. Press and hold these keys together: VolumeUP+Home+Power (release when Galaxy S logo appears).
   2. Select “install zip from sd card”.
   3. On next screen, select “choose zip from sd card”. Browse through SD Card and select the file “galaxys-efsbackup.zip”. Select “Yes – Install galaxys-efsbackup.zip”.
   4. After it’s installed, pull the battery out and then, plug it back in. Do Not restart phone, though!
5. Flashing the CM7 kernel:
   1. Get the phone in Download Mode — Press and hold these keys together: VolumeDOWN+Home+Power.
   2. Open Odin. (Double click the file Odin3 v1.7.exe)
   3. Plug-in USB cable to connect your Galaxy S (which is in Download Mode) to PC. You should get the “Added! !”notification in the message box of Odin.
   4. In Odin, keep the “Re-Partition” button un-checked. this time — IMPORTANT! — keep the “Auto reboot” button UN-CHECKED too. While, keep only the “F.Reset Time” button checked.
   5. Now, click the PDA tab and select the file “cm7-galaxys-initial-kernel.tar” (at step 1.3 above). Hit Start to flash “cm7-galaxys-initial-kernel.tar”.
   6. After flashing is done, you’ll be still in download mode. Now don’t pull battery. Instead, go to Recovery mode from right there. Press and hold these keys together: VolumeUP+Home+Power (release when Galaxy S logo appears).
6. Formatting System, Data and Cache.
   1. In recovery, go to “mounts and storage”. You need to Wipe Off System, Data and Cache.
   2. Wiping Off the System: Select “format /system”. Choose “Yes – Format” on the next screen.
   3. Wiping Off the Data: Select “format /data”. Choose “Yes – Format” on the next screen.
   4. Wiping Off the Cache: Select “format /cache”. Choose “Yes – Format” on the next screen.
   5. Select “Go back” at the bottom to return to recovery’s main menu.
7. Flashing the MIUI ROM (Finally!):
   1. On the recovery’s main menu, select “install zip from sdcard”.
   2. On next screen, select “choose zip from sd card”. Browse through SD Card and select the file “MCGvX.X.X”.
   3. Select “Yes – Install MCGvX.X.X” on next screen. This will install the MIUI ROM.
   4. You’ll be back at recovery. Select “go back”. On the main menu, select “reboot system now” to restart phone. The MIUI ROM will be applied to your phone now.
   5. You’ll notice your screen go mad, literally. In the installation video (above), it’s happening at 10 mins 57 seconds, for some 22 seconds (till 11:19). That was frightening to me (as I mentioned earlier). But don’t panic, let the process continue and you’ll soon see the MIUI Logo. Everything’ is a lot cool from now on. Amazing stuff begins!
8. You’ll soon see the boot up screen. Press the Android and go through the initial setup stuff.
9. Let the phone remain idle for a few minutes since it’s the first boot.
10. The led keys — back key and menu key — may not work right away. No worries though, just lock the screen (screen-off) and then unlock (screen-on) it, and the keys would work alright. A minor bug!
11. Okay, the The MIUI ROM is there for you to play and explore its bits. Check out the notification bar which has gone completely incredible now. More in this — and even cooler features of MIUI — in the “MIUI Highlights” video (at the bottom of this article).
12. Enjoy!
13. I know you like this ROM. So, do consider donating to MIUI team for their super-galaxial work. To donate MAMBO04, send your PayPal donation at this address — [email protected]. I can’t find the donation addresses of others, so will update when I get it.
14. That’s it.

UPDATE (For MCGvX):

Upgrade to MCGvX using the recovery. Download the MIUI version MCGvX from here: “MCGvX.X.X – Direct Direct download link”. For that, transfer the file — MCGvX.X.X – to your phone’s sdcard and then power off. Reboot into recovery – press and hold VolumeUP+Home+Power keys until Galaxy S logo appears. Select “Install zip from sdcard” and then select “choose zip from sdcard”. The, select the file MCGvX.X.X and choose Yes on next screen. MCGvX will be flashed.

Benchmark Scores — for whatever they’re worth! Frankly, I don’t have too much faith in these scores.

MIUI ROM Highlights Video: [Not useful anymore, so deleted]

So, do let us know your view about the ROM in the comments below.