Galaxy S 3 4G (I9305) Installation

Warning: installing an operating system, such as Replicant, may void your device's warranty and will erase the data stored on the device.

Prerequisites

In order to install Replicant on your device, it is assumed that you have a computer running a GNU/Linux operating system and everything necessary to connect your device to the computer through USB available. Moreover, it is assumed that anyone performing the installation knows how to use command lines in a terminal and has basic knowledge about it.

Downloading the files

The first step in the installation process is to download and set up the files that will be used to install Replicant to the device. The files must be downloaded on your computer first.

1. Find out what the latest image is: check out the Last image part of the general table on GalaxyS3I9305
2. Download all the files listed for the device (including the checksum and the signatures) on ReplicantImages for the latest image
2. Make sure you have added the Replicant release key to your GPG keyring
3. Check the signature of the files:

gpg --armor --verify path/to/replicant-6.0-i9305.zip.asc path/to/replicant-6.0-i9305.zip
gpg --armor --verify path/to/recovery-i9305.img.asc path/to/recovery-i9305.img

4. Make sure the check succeeds, do not install anything if it doesn't!
5. Check the checksum of the files:
sha256sum -c i9305.sha256

6. Make sure the check succeeds, do not install anything if it doesn't!

Installing heimdall

The heimdall tool is required to flash the recovery image to the device.
Instructions to install heimdall: ToolsInstallation

Copying the files to the device

There are two means of pushing the system zip to the device:

Using the storage of the device

You can either complete this step by using the device's internal storage or by using an external microSD card.

Using the internal storage

1. Make sure the device is started up and has an Android system running
2. Connect the USB cable to both the computer and the device
3. Enable USB mass storage on the device
4. Mount the mass storage on the computer
5. Copy the replicant-6.0-i9305.zip file at the origin of the mass storage
6. Safely unmount the mass storage on the computer
7. Disable USB mass storage on the device

Using a microSD card

1. Connect the microSD card to the computer (e.g. using an USB card reader)
2. Mount the microSD card on the computer
3. Copy the replicant-6.0-i9305.zip file at the origin of the microSD card
4. Safely unmount the microSD card on the computer
5. Disconnect the microSD card from the computer
6. Insert the microSD card in the device (make sure it is turned off before inserting the card)

Installing ADB

Instructions to install ADB: ToolsInstallation

Preparing the device

The next step in the installation process is to prepare the device for heimdall mode.

1. Make sure the device is completely turned off and the USB cable is disconnected from the device
2. Start the device by holding the following key combination: Volume down, Select, Power
3. Hold the key combination until the device shows a Warning message
4. Confirm that you want to download a custom OS (using volume up)
5. Make sure the device is in Downloading mode
4. Connect the USB cable to both the computer and the device

Installing the images

Now that both the computer and the device are set up, it is time to actually install the images to the device.

1. Install the recovery image to the device:

heimdall flash --BOOT path/to/recovery-i9305.img --RECOVERY path/to/recovery-i9305.img

2. Make sure the device reboots to recovery

Factory reset

A factory reset is necessary if you switch from the factory image or a different Android distribution to Replicant. You also need to do a factory reset when upgrading to a new major release (e.g. from Replicant 4.2 to Replicant 6.0). Only when updating to a new minor release (e.g. from Replicant 6.0 0001 to Replicant 6.0 0002), a factory reset is usually not required.

3. Select Factory reset
4. Select Full factory reset
5. Confirm the data wipe by selecting Yes
6. Press the back key (if necessary) to get back to the general menu

7. Select Apply update

Using the storage of the device

Using the internal storage

8. Select Choose from emulated
9. Select the system zip: replicant-6.0-i9305.zip
Note: if your device was running Android 4.2 and later, it may be located in the 0 directory
10. Confirm the installation

Using a microSD card

8. Select Choose from sdcard1
9. Select the system zip: replicant-6.0-i9305.zip
Note: if your device was running Android 4.2 and later, it may be located in the 0 directory
10. Confirm the installation

Using ADB sideload

8. Select Apply from ADB
9. Back to the host computer, load the system zip with sideload:

adb sideload path/to/replicant-6.0-i9305.zip

10. Make sure the file is being transfered

Completing the installation

11. Press the back key (if necessary) to get back to the general menu
12. Select Reboot system now to reboot the device

Your device should now be running Replicant!