How to root your Verizon Wireless Samsung Fascinate Phone and install Froyo

This set of instructions will enable you to "root" your Verizon Wireless Samsung Fascinate phone and install Froyo (Android 2.2). Rooting your phone will allow you install and use third party software which you cannot use with the phones factory installed ROM.  Rooting your phone will allow you to unlock your phones full potential. An example being, you can use your phone as a free 3G mobile hotspot. This process will require familiarity with your Samsung Fascinate phone and its functions. A basic computer knowledge and file management skills will also be needed to complete the process. The average person should be able to complete the rooting process in about 45 minutes.

 

Step 1 Gather Materials Needed

The following items will be required to complete the rooting process
     - Verizon Wireless Samsung Fascinate 
     - Micro USB to USB data cable
     - Computer with internet connection
    

Comments

[chadalton]

HI just moved from the United states to Denmark. I have a Fascinate that I had been using in the US and am just using it as a wireless devise. If I root it will that allow me to use it as a phone on a European line?

[JRWilliams308]

Thanks for posting this tutorial ethennes. I've been on the fence about rooting my Fascinate for a year now. I did make one previous attempt which was unsuccessful, so I never came back around to trying. Your instructions worked flawlessly.

I loaded this ROM even though it's a earlier build than the stock from Verizon as of my post (1\2\12) I was on Gingerbread 2.3.5 and now have Froyo 2.2.1. Could you recommend a proper path back to Gingerbread? or even better, Ice Cream Sandwich? I've been reading up on the process and for some ICS builds, but they require upgrading from particualar ROMs (ie BML ROM) what's your ROM based on?

Thanks again for some excellent work and strait-forward tutorial.

[ZMoney187]

Hello,

I am in exactly the same situation as you and was wondering whether you had made any progress. I finally decided to root my phone after a year of deliberation but I don't want to go back to Froyo... if you could let me know if/when you find a solution I would greatly appreciate it!

[JRWilliams308]

Just completed upgrade from Froyo to Gingerbread and finally Ice Cream Sandwich.

Tutorial is here:

http://rootzwiki.com/topic/10728-guideinstalling-a-romcwm-recoveryrootor-going-back-to-stock/

Good luck!

[bryanc9624]

Actually, Odin will not properly recognize your phone if you do not have the samsung mobile device drivers which can be found here :

http://www.mediafire.com/?4hj7xiw07ig2o9l

If you did this correctly, you should see something in the first box under "ID:COM"
And the box should be yellow, if this does not work, try restarting your computer.

[jdowdell]

I ROOTED MY FASCINATE THEN PUT MIUI 2.3.5 ON IT. THEN I LOST ROOT SOME HOW SHOULD I USE THIS TO RE-ROOT IT

[dturner10]

I'm having an issue. On step 6 it isn't coming up as ClockworkModRecovery screen but comes up with a Vodoo one. They are showing me errors in the update.zip file.

Plus when i'm on 5.1 it actually extracts some files on the bottom and goes into normal startup mode. The only way then for me to get into the recovery mode is to take out the battery again and perform step 5.1 again....that time it always works to get to the Boot recovery mode.

[caitlinsdad]

Is "rooting" the same as jailbreaking or unlocking?

[mrmath]

Kind of. An android phone is basically a Linux computer. "rooting" it gives you "root" access to your device. It allows you to make any change to the files on there you like.

I have an android tablet, and a known issue with it was the wi-fi power. To fix it, you would need to edit a specific configuration file on the device, but that file was read-only unless you rooted the device. By rooting the device, I was able to open the file, make the changes, and save them.

Unlocking, on the other hand, allows you to use your device on other networks. I would think that in theory rooting the phone, and knowing where the configuration file is that controls what network you're on, would allow you to unlock the phone.

I've had great success with Universal Root (http://androidspin.com/2010/08/10/universal-1-click-root-app-for-android-devices/) on my android tablet.