Replicant

h1. Galaxy S Installation

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

h2. 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.

h2. Before the installation

Some preliminary steps may be necessary to achieve best compatibility with your device. These steps may require more advanced technical skills than the rest of the process: make sure you know what you are doing!

h3. Flashing the Android 2.3 partitioning layout

If your phone is currently running Android 2.2, you need to upgrade it to a newer version, at least Android 2.3 or it will be impossible to flash Replicant to the device.

h3. Installing CyanogenMod

It is required to install CyanogenMod prior to Replicant as it'll solve possible issues with the modem image (the modem image bust me installed in @/radio/modem.bin@ and symlinked to @/dev/block/bml12@). You can find official CyanogenMod installation instructions at: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/index.php?title=Install_CM_for_galaxysmtd

h2. 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 [[GalaxyS]]

2. Download *all* the files listed for the device (including the checksum) on [[ReplicantImages]] for the latest image

3. Download and install @heimdall@, *version 1.4* and later: http://www.glassechidna.com.au/products/heimdall/

   There are prebuilt packages for most popular GNU/Linux distributions, but you can also easily build it from source.

   Only @heimdall@'s command line interface will be used in this guide.

h2. Preparing the device

The following step in the installation process is to copy the files that will be used to install Replicant to the device.

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

h3. 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. Create a directory at the origin of the mass storage

6. Copy *all* the files listed for the device (including the checksum) to the newly-created directory

7. Safely unmount the mass storage on the computer

8. Disable USB mass storage on the device

h3. Using a micro-SD card

1. Connect the micro-SD card to the computer (e.g. using an USB card reader)

2. Mount the micro-SD card on the computer

3. Create a directory at the origin of the micro-SD card

4. Copy *all* the files listed for the device (including the checksum) to the newly-created directory

5. Safely unmount the micro-SD card on the computer

6. Disconnect the micro-SD card from the computer

7. Insert the micro-SD card in the device (make sure it is turned off before inserting the card)

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