XXJW4 Root and ClockworkMod Recovery for Galaxy S

Samsung officially released the XXJW4 firmware, which is the Value Pack firmware Samsung promised for the Galaxy S after they announced that it won’t be getting Ice Cream Sandwich. The Value Pack brings along a few features from ICS, along with general speed and performance improvements.

Those who flashed the XXJW4 firmware can root it and install ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery (which lets you flash custom ROMs on the phone) by flashing the CF-Root kernel released by XDA recognized developer Chainfire, who’s always quick with his releases of rooted kernels every time a new Galaxy S firmware is released.

Read on for the full step by step procedure to install CF-Root kernel on your phone to root the XXJW4 firmware.

Compatibility

This firmware and the guide below are compatible only and only with the Samsung Galaxy S, model number GT-i9000. It’s not compatible with any other device and may render an incompatible device unusable. Check your device model in Settings » About phone.

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 your device, we won’t be held liable.

Pre-Installation Requirements

• If you have Samsung’s PC software Kies installed, un-install/shut it down completely from the taskbar first because it may interrupt the flashing process.
• Drivers! — it’s important you’ve the proper drivers installed. Download links below:
  • 32 bit (x86) Windows |   64-bit (x64) Windows

How to Root and Install ClockworkMod Recovery on XXJW4

1. Make sure you’ve installed XXJW4 firmware. Try this only on XXJW4 firmware and not on any other firmware.
2. Download CF-Root kernel from the official download page → here.
   Filename: CF-Root-XX_OXA_JW4-v4.4-CWM3RFS.zip
3. Unzip the above file to a folder once. You will get the .tar file – CF-Root-XX_OXA_JW4-v4.4-CWM3RFS.tar — inside the extracted folder. It’s recommended to use 7-zip free software to extract it. DO NOT extract the .tar file (even if you see it as a zip file, which it is not). You need to flash the .tar file using Odin to gain root access and install ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM) alongside. If you’re getting zImage file, it means you’ve extracted the .tar file too! — and that’s not a right thing to do.
4. Use the Odin software you used while flashing the XXJW4 firmware. In case you don’t have it anymore, download it again.
   Download Link  | Filename: Odin3 v1.7.exe
5. Switch off your phone. Wait for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
6. Now, put the Galaxy S in Download Mode — press and hold these keys together: Volume_DOWN + Home + Power until a screen saying Download comes up.
7. Open Odin now. Connect your phone to PC now. You’ll notice “Added!!” message in the Odin’s message box in the bottom left.
8. In Odin, click the PDA tab and select the .tar file you got in step 3 — CF-Root-XX_OXA_JW4-v4.4-CWM3RFS.tar.
9. Important! Do not touch any other button or make any other changes in Odin except selecting the required file as given in step 8.
10. Click the Start button in Odin to flash the CF-Root kernel.
11. After CF Root is installed, the phone will restart automatically. When you see PASS written in top left box, you can disconnect the phone from the computer.
    IMPORTANT Note: If ODIN gets stuck at some stage and doesn’t seem to be doing anything, do this — disconnect the phone from the PC, close ODIN, remove battery, re-insert it, turn phone on in Download mode again, and do the procedure again from Step 7. Same if you get a FAIL message in Odin.
12. If you face any problems while flashing CF-Root, let us know and we’ll try to help you out.

Your phone is rooted now and CWM recovery has been installed on it. Whenever you try to use an app that requires root permissions, you will get a Superuser prompt, where you can select Allow to grant root access to the app. Custom ROMs can be flashed by booting into CWM recovery when needed. And that’s it. Enjoy!