How to root the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note and install CWM

So, you’ve got yourself a T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note and you’re just getting over the fact that the Galaxy Note II is already on the horizon. By now, you’re probably ready to root your device and dive head first into the Android development scene to begin your rooting and custom ROM flashing journey. If that’s the case, you’re in luck. Thanks to XDA Senior Member tomin.fhl, there is a step-by-step guide, which will walk you through the entire process.

There are two ways you can go about rooting your Galaxy Note. This first method is for those who aren’t worried about tripping the flash counter — that thing your carrier uses to determine if you’ve installed an unlocked bootloader or have rooted your device — which shouldn’t be much of a concern anyways, considering there is a method to reset it. Have a look at the steps below.

1. Apply the OTA update
2. Download the ODIN flashable CWM touch recovery in bullet item f. in post 1.
3. Flash that through ODIN
4. Download the superuser zip in bulllet point g. of post 1 and flash through CWM. You should now be rooted. Alternatively, download a rooted custom rom – karryt has a UVLG3 build posted. I think that rom is rooted. If not just apply the super user zip after installing that rom.
5. If you did not complete the OTA update as stated in 1. before flashing CWM or a custom rom, download the modem in bullet point c. in post 1.
6. Now, download the flash counter reset in e. in post 1 and flash through CWM to reset your flash counter.
7. That’s it. You should be cooking. When more roms pop up, you will have your phone in CWM all the time flashing roms and missing calls like a player.

This second method is for those who do not want to trip their flash counter.

1. Apply the OTA update now when you still have the stock recovery. Do that first. If you wait until after flashing CWM you won’t be able to get OTA and will have to use another method (easy enough) to update your phone.
2. After your OTA update successfully completes, download the pre-rooted stock image to your computer
3. Flash that image in odin. To do that, put your phone in download mode. Click the PDA button and select the tar ball you downloaded. Make certain only “Auto-reboot” and “F. Reset time” are selected. Click start.
4. Let the phone reboot
5. Now you should be rooted but WAIT. You cannot use any custom roms just yet. now you need CWM.
6. If you want CWM but are paranoid about tripping the flash counter, download ROM Manager from market and use it to flash CWM – Select the version for the i717 if a T879 is not yet available. Now you have CWM and can create your nandroid backups and get started flashing custom roms. If you prefer CWM Touch, download if from the list in post 1 (fourth in the list) and flash it through CWM.

As you can see, the process isn’t all that complicated. Just be sure to read everything carefully before doing anything to your phone. We cannot be held responsible for any damage you do.

Now that you’re rooted, you might want to consider flashing a custom ROM. They can be found in the T-Mobile Galaxy Note Android Development Forum on XDA.

There are a couple to choose from right now, and hopefully that list will continue to grow in the future. Unfortunately, with the Note II just around the corner, the activity for the original Note development might not come along as quickly as we’d like it to.

Source: XDA-Developers