How to Flash a Custom Recovery on the Samsung Mesmerize (SCH-I500)
Installing a custom recovery on your device bestows you with the power that manufacturers usually don’t want you to have – flashing custom ROMs. And flashing custom ROMs will bring you functionality that you don’t have on stock ROMs, especially for underpowered devices like the Samsung Mesmerize. The guide below will show you how to get ClockworkMod Recovery (a popular custom recovery) on that device and enable you to start flashing custom ROMs of your choice.
I. Before You Begin
1. Back up everything you feel is important before you begin.
2. Make sure that you have charged your device to more than 75% before you proceed.
3. You will need to be rooted before you can install custom recovery. Look to our guide on the same to help you with this.
II. Necessary Downloads
1. Samsung_Mobile_USB_Driver_V1.3.550.0_SCH-i500_Mesmerize.msi [USB Drivers]
2. CWM4_CM7_Odin.tar [Link available in the first post of this thread]
III. Installing ClockworkMod Recovery on the Mesmerize
1. Double-click on the Samsung_Mobile_USB_Driver_V1.3.550.0_SCH-i500_Mesmerize.msi file that you downloaded above to install the necessary USB drivers.
2. Reboot your device to Download Mode. To do this, press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons until you see the Android logo.
3. Double-click on the Odin3 v1.83.exe file you downloaded above
4. Click on the PDA button, locate and select the CWM4_CM7_Odin.tar file you downloaded above.
5. Make sure that only ‘Auto Reboot’ and ‘F. Reset Time’ are selected under the Option section. Also, be sure that the Re-Partition option is unchecked! Not verifying this will surely result in a bricked device.
6. Connect your device to your Windows PC. The ID:COM field should light up yellow at this point. If it doesn’t, install the drivers and try again.
7. Click on Start and wait for Odin to say PASS!
You should have ClockworkMod Recovery installed once your device reboots!
IV. Accessing the ClockworkMod Recovery
1. Turn off your device.
2. Press and hold Volume Up + Down and the Power buttons together.
3. Wait until the Samsung logo appears, disappears and reappears again.
4. Let go the buttons.
V. Flashing Custom ROMs (Optional)
If you are ready to flash custom ROMs on your device, head to the next procedure to learn how to do that.
If this procedure helped you please thank/donate to the original developers here.
If you need help with this procedure, please ask in the comments below or in the forum.
This is part of our Android How To’s. We have how to’s on rooting, loading ROMs, and tons of other tips and tricks for your specific device or for Android devices in general! For all of our Android How To’s, head here.
