Updating Android is definitely not the smooth and easy process comparing to iOS + iTunes combination. That is why the Google has problems with so big dispersion of different Android OS versions (even bigger problem for developers and customers).
What make us angry is not the case that they have firmware version 2.3.6 but for this Gingerbread release but they have also some subversions of this firmware (latest is version 6)
Important notice before you continue reading:
We were able to update our device without any problems but we hold no responsibility in any manner just in case if any damage happens to your Samsung Galaxy S i9000 which is a very unlikely event if you follow the instructions carefully.
Upgrading Samsung Galaxy S i9000 to Android Gingerbread 2.3.6 firmware (steps are sorted by order)…
- Backup first all your important data
- SMS Messages – use SMS Backup & Restore app
- Contacts Stored in Phone Memory – we suggest you to go to your Contacts and to Export all contact to your SD card as vCard file or to sync with the GMail application
- Call Log – Call Log and Restore
- Videos, Images, Videos & Files etc.– Copy to internal / External SD Card
- Internet & MMS Settings – Backup all the settings from the path Applications > Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names
- Enable the USB debugging mode in your phone from the path Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging
- On your PC close all the Antivirus security suites, Firewall tools and also the KIES PC Suite completely by going into the Task Manager (as these tools tend to generally interrupt the process of firmware update).
- Turn off your phone
- Press Volume UP button and then Home button and while holding these two press Power button like it is in this video and you will come in Recovery mode
- When recovery screen is loaded choose (with volume buttons) Wipe data/factory reset and Wipe Cache partition and then reboot system now
- Download XWJW6 Firmware
- Download Odin program for updating
- Start Odin program
- Once more check if USB debugging is enabled - Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging
- Turn off your phone
- Press Volume DOWN button and then Home button and while holding these two press Power button like it is in this video and you will come in Download mode
- Now connect your SGS phone with USB cable with your PC (Odin program is opened)
- Wait until necessary drivers are installed – in Odin program section ID: COM must be yellow (you must not continue if it is not yellow)
- Click on PDA button and choose your TAR firmware file
- Click on Start button and wait for few minutes – firmware will be uploaded, installed, phone will be rebooted automatically (wait until you see first screen after you OS is initialized – where you choose Country, Language etc..). This is how it looks after the finish.
![]( "Odin")
- Turn OFF your phone once more (for sure) and go to Recovery mode(Volume UP button and then Home button and while holding these two press Power button) and when recovery screen is loaded choose (with volume buttons) Wipe data/factory reset and Wipe Cache partition and then reboot system now
This is it. Now, restore your backup data and explore new possibilities – we will do it also, hoping for speed improvement because it SGS with Froyo was unusable comparing when working on iPhone…
