[Q] N00b looking for advice - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

First Of all I would like to thank anyone who helps me in advance.
Just received my new galaxy s2 (around 30 minutes ago). Allready I want to root the device. Although i'm looking for a point in the right direction on the following.
a)the easiest guide to rooting
b)I'm after a stock (most up to date rom) if possible as my is currently filled with bloat ware (thanks to three UK). Coming from a Nexus s which was my first android phone I'm not used to this neither do I like it. So is the a way to flash a stock rom so the phone is like it would be if I brought it sim free and unlocked.
Currently not looking at any other gains, for the time being at least although im sure the flashing roms bug will catch me.
Old phone was a Nexus s as previously stated which was rooted with CWM installed.
Also I can't believe how busy these forums are! Makes the Nexus scene look dead!

easiest guide to rooting
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
upto date stock rom
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17831528&postcount=60

Rooting means voiding warranty.
Wouldn't you want to try out the phone and stress test it a little under a valid warranty before you start messing with it?

I was under the impression I could just unroot the device?
Also that stock rom I was linked to will that get rid of the bloat ware?

stennett said:
I was under the impression I could just unroot the device?
Also that stock rom I was linked to will that get rid of the bloat ware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can just unroot it, yes. Unfortunately, a lot of the "bloatware" is Samsung, not your carrier, so you're stuck with it (unless you read up on what you can safely get rid of). If you're looking at flashing an up-to-date firmware anyway, why not consider an AOSP ROM. It's the closest thing you'll get to a Nexus build and they're about as bare-bones as you can get!
If you are interested in that, here's a link for one...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1183063
There are others, but I can only speak about that one personally because that's the only AOSP one I used before I went MIUI.

stennett said:
I was under the impression I could just unroot the device?
Also that stock rom I was linked to will that get rid of the bloat ware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can unroot. But every time you flash an unofficial kernel(to root), you increase the custom binary counter. Samsung will know that you have been rooted before even if you reinstall the firmware and kernel. USB Jig's reset the counter, but don't upgrade to the latest firmware(KI3) that hasn't been modified to include the old bootloader. The new firmware fixes the USB Jig counter reset.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1125414
Trust me it's is the best rooting guide for noobs. When I rooted my device that was the only guide I could trust, because it was a step by step guide. Read it carefully, if you got any problems you can pm me and I'll help you. If you post in the thread you'll get help also but you have to reach 10 post to post in that thread.
EDIT: I also found a video that shows the same method from the thread I gave you.
http://galaxys2root.com/galaxy-s2-root/how-to-root-galaxy-s2/
Just in case you need visual support. But you should read the thread carefully anyway.

Thanks for the link to the video, rooting looks really easy although I'm abit sceptical about rooting at the moment due to them knowing if you have previously rooted I thought they wouldn't be able to tell.
Also things look very complicated when compared to the nexus s the galaxy s2 seems to have hundreds of different codes, firmware versions ect.
All I'm after at the moment is just get rid of the Three branding and bloat ware.
A lot more reading ahead I think!

Been doing a little reading and I think the branding is the CSC? Can I just flash the XEU file for 2.3.4 (my current version) to get rid of three's branding? If so would this void my warranty?

stennett said:
Been doing a little reading and I think the branding is the CSC? Can I just flash the XEU file for 2.3.4 (my current version) to get rid of three's branding? If so would this void my warranty?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung stock roms do not void Samsung warranty though they may or may not void Threes warranty .
Rooting or custom roms void warranty .
jje

I'm not to fussed about rooting at them moment I just want to change my csc and upgrade to 2.3.5 which I believe is the latest version. Doing this won't void my Samsung warranty? If so I'm going to have a go.
Also will flashing wipe any data?
Thanks in advance.

Related

[Q] Newb with (apologies) newb questions

Hey everyone!
I'm new to Android, and am a proud owner of a new Galaxy S II!
I love the phone, but with me being a techy type and gadgety type I've obviously heard a lot about rooting devices and so on.
I've heard a lot of perhaps dubious information about how rooting and removing the Samsung Hubs improves battery life, as well as removing the O2 branding I have on my phone. I'm interested in this but have some questions.
Firstly, are my assumptions above correct? Will I be able to improve battery life? Will rooting remove the branding?
Secondly, does rooting essentially erase the device - will I lose contacts, messages, settings and so on?
Next, does rooting void my Samsung warranty, and does it void my insurance?
I have one other question - in my Settings > About Phone menu, the kernel version is listed as:
2.6.35.7-I9100XWKDD-CL161513
root AT DELL103 #2
What is the last line there mean, the "root AT DELL103 #2" mean? Am I already rooted?
I'm sure these questions seem silly to some, and I'm sorry if these have been answered before. I'm very grateful for any advice from the more experienced Android users.
Happy to be joining you!
Congrats on the new phone! I'm jealous, I live in the US and we are still waiting for the SGSII. Anyway, I can't answer all your questions but I will answer what I know to be true. As far as battery life is concerned, once you root, you will need an app like Titanium Backup from the market to "Freeze" the media hub and other bloatware you don't want. Doing this will stop those programs from running all the time, which will definatly help conserve some juice. Rooting will void warranty, but if you run into any issues which will require you to warranty your phone, you can very easily put it back to stock with Odin. Odin is a tool that allows you to flash factory files and return you back to stock. Rooting will not erase you phone, it will just install an app called "Superuser" which will give you the extra privileges needed to run Titanium Backup and to do other fun stuff. And lastly, your phone is not rooted already, this is just what the Kernel is named. As far as the O2 branding removal, someone else will have to answer that for you, considering we don't have O2 here, sorry. Hopefully this helps in some way. Good luck and welcome to the community!
SGS Fascinate
Evil Fascination ROM
JT's Kernel
ED01 Radio
Rooting:
- won't improve your battery life
- won't delete any of your settings/apps/contacts/messages (or any other data)
- It will void your warranty (you can always reflash the stock firmware to get it back)
- Your Insurance is likely still valid (check with your insurance provider for conformation)
- Your aren't already rooted, mine said that as well, I don't know what it means
- Rooting won't debrand your phone, to do that you'll need to flash a generic firmware (available from one of the SGS2 dev threads on XDA)
I hope that helps you
Matt, the man himself with the amazing guide is here
101matt101 said:
Rooting:
- won't improve your battery life
- won't delete any of your settings/apps/contacts/messages (or any other data)
- It will void your warranty (you can always reflash the stock firmware to get it back)
- Your Insurance is likely still valid (check with your insurance provider for conformation)
- Your aren't already rooted, mine said that as well, I don't know what it means
- Rooting won't debrand your phone, to do that you'll need to flash a generic firmware (available from one of the SGS2 dev threads on XDA)
I hope that helps you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does help, on the battery life bit though, surely removing / freezing Samsung crap will improve it a bit? Or is the impact negligible?
If not, then is there much other point to rooting?
gyaku_zuki said:
It does help, on the battery life bit though, surely removing / freezing Samsung crap will improve it a bit? Or is the impact negligible?
If not, then is there much other point to rooting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've made a load of YouTube videos on a) how to root and b) the +/- of rooting. Just search "mattj101101" in YouTube. They explain it far better than I can here. As for battery life, I've noticed no difference after rooting + or -
I recommend subscribing to him also.
Looks like I'm not the only one with the same questions. I do have another question though: after you root the device, can you still use KIES to upgrade to newer firmware or do you have to flash?
Tremium said:
Looks like I'm not the only one with the same questions. I do have another question though: after you root the device, can you still use KIES to upgrade to newer firmware or do you have to flash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if this is a blanket answer, but my Kies now says it can't update but since Kies nearly bricked my phone updating to XWKE1, I'm not to bothered, it's a s**t piece of software, Odin is much faster/more stable. I recommend using it.
Thanks guys - I think I'm gonna hold off on rooting until the process for SGSII is more established. Don't want to risk wrecking it just yet! In the meantime I've just taken to ending the Social Hub service.
On a side note, has anyone had a problem playing DRM-free files but the device complaining that "the device is not authorised to play this divx-vod content"? I have completed the VOD registration process but no luck. This is video that was taken on a compact camera, and plays fine on anything else.
Thanks again.
See divx .com and or a post in the FAQs
DRM content via divx register your device to play.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1065995
jje
101matt101 said:
I've made a load of YouTube videos on a) how to root and b) the +/- of rooting. Just search "mattj101101" in YouTube. They explain it far better than I can here. As for battery life, I've noticed no difference after rooting + or -
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Followed all your youtube vids, brilliant, I couldnt have rooted without seeing how its done.
Have rooted my previous Nexus One and flashed CM nightlies but Samsung is totally different. The terminology in the rooting post is confusing for someone new to this.
Thanks for your help.
For anyone wanting to root, follow 101matt101 vids on youtube as it is as easy as 1 2 3
greigster said:
Followed all your youtube vids, brilliant, I couldnt have rooted without seeing how its done.
Have rooted my previous Nexus One and flashed CM nightlies but Samsung is totally different. The terminology in the rooting post is confusing for someone new to this.
Thanks for your help.
For anyone wanting to root, follow 101matt101 vids on youtube as it is as easy as 1 2 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what you mean, I had an HTC Desire and using Unrevoked to root and CWM to flash new rooms/updates is totally different to flashing via Odin.

Still confused - Rooting - I know I'm sorry:(

I read a few guides regarding rooting and I'm still sort confused by some aspects of it which still eludes me.
I have a UK T-mobile S2 which is brand new and while I adored this phone and happy I got this over the 4S. The one aspect I'm not too keen on was the amount of bloatware which this devices comes with.
So using this guide here:
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/how-to-root-your-samsung-galaxy-s2-50004972/
1. However, what kernel do I need for it? So many to choose from?
2.I like Touchwiz and I want to keep it however, is there a rom to get rid of all the bloatware that I don't need like T-mobile recommend apps. I'm not sure what rom I need or do I need something else?
3.Unrooting is possible since I may need to send it back to Samsung since there's a screen problem which isn't major but I don't want to send it straight back at the moment.
Thank you for your patience, and help.
just install the right one from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
then use cwm app to make a back up of your current branded rom. Then either download titanium backup form market and use it to uninstall any apps you dont want on there or flash the non branded rom for t-mobile from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1113928

[Q] Full 100% Noob looking for a helpful person to explain things

Hello i know the title seems an awful lot like a dating website info but basically i have been researching androids and stuff for hours on ends and i do not understand the jargon!! i need some simple answers please
I have a Galaxy Ace and i hope someone can answer questions such as
what is rooting and what can it do?
what is updating firmware because i fink i should update to 2.3.5 but does this mean i cant root if i update?
what is custom ROMs and what can they do?
At what stage do i back up my phone e.g. before i root or after i root? before i update or after i update?
I will be very very grateful and plz dont direct me to other links because i have read hundreds of them and all of them explain in too much detail.
Thank You.
See here: http://droidlessons.com/what-is-rooting-on-android-the-advantages-and-disadvantages/ and here: http://www.androidauthority.com/roo...e-to-root-your-android-phone-or-tablet-10915/. Sorry , too long to explain.
Rooting is forcing the phone to allow you access to the internal files of the phone (like the root directory of a hard drive)
Once you have access to the root you can do things that neither android / your service provider wanted you to play with.
Change fonts, modify the teeny system images, allow programs to do (dangerous) system changes to your phone.
Changing the firmware is not something I've played with but, say your phone comes to you with version 1 on it, and version 2 is released in Japan. Well some of the cleverer out there pick and poke and make working versions and then put them up, sometime months before people like o2 orange vodafone have put them into testing / marketing / production / helplines etc.
I'm pretty sure that rooting can affect warranty.
Changing the firmware definately will.
IMO rooting was needed on my x10i before 2.3.3 came out as the Sony Ericsson stuff was eating battery life. Now, its massively sorted out. No need to root.
But I'm not much of a tinkerer
Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk
KelvinMead said:
I'm pretty sure that rooting can affect warranty.
Changing the firmware definately will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just rooting alone WILL void your warranty. No flashing of roms is required.
---------- Post added at 07:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:32 PM ----------
anz2k8 said:
At what stage do i back up my phone e.g. before i root or after i root? before i update or after i update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You backup your device after you root but before you install a custom rom. To root your device, see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1034145.
Warning: Do not attempt this until you fully understand the risks and you know exactly what you are doing.
thanx for da links and simple explanations
it helped me understand rooting alot more however custom ROM is still a grey area.. and when should i update to gingerbread.. before or after rooting?
i ask this because i'm seeing rooting similar as chipping a psp where you need the right official firmware before you chip it.. so i'm thinking i will need a certain firmware for a certain root.
also.. i was wondering which is the best overall firmware i should go to ; 2.3.3, 2.3.4, 2.3.5? i am thinking the 2.3.5 as it is the latest but new doesn't always mean best as it could have untested bugs etc.
Thank You
anz2k8 said:
thanx for da links and simple explanations
it helped me understand rooting alot more however custom ROM is still a grey area.. and when should i update to gingerbread.. before or after rooting?
i ask this because i'm seeing rooting similar as chipping a psp where you need the right official firmware before you chip it.. so i'm thinking i will need a certain firmware for a certain root.
also.. i was wondering which is the best overall firmware i should go to ; 2.3.3, 2.3.4, 2.3.5? i am thinking the 2.3.5 as it is the latest but new doesn't always mean best as it could have untested bugs etc.
Thank You
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should update to Gingerbread after rooting (with a custom rom). Custom roms are simply roms made unofficially (not from manufacturers or service providers) by developers. You could update to 2.3.7 with this rom: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1263292. After you root and install a custom recovery, then you can start flashing roms.
google is your friend..use him
he wont hurt u
I am also curious about the new updates, i suppose it all depends on if the rom you have can handle it? I'm using coredroid on my HTC Sensation

Noob Questions Ahoy!

Hi there guys I really need educating. I come from a Samsung Galaxy S to a Samsung Galaxy S 3. I know all about firmware flashing, kernels n stuff on the original Sammy G, but haven't a clue on the Samsung Galaxy S 3.
I have managed to root the bad boy (go me!) but am unsure how to carrier unlock and to flash the latest firmware. The Sammy G was carrier unlocked but my Sammy G S3 is locked to Vodafone
Can anyone point me to the files and maybe some guides so that I can procede? Also what is this business about a flash counter? I want to be able to return to original firmware if it all goes belly up! How do I backup my original firmware?
Many Thanks In Advance
Doozy,
P.S.
Who is the best Dev to follow for A) Rom and B) Kernel? I followed CyanogenMod on the Sammy G but the CM9 nightlies fpr the Samsung Galaxy S 3 seem a little immature for me at the moment.
Cheers once again
I think you don't have to backup your original firmware because you can download the stock firmwares again later, but you can do a nandroid backup (i never did this^^)
If something goes wrong, follow this guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671969
About unlocking i don't know, but i think the lock will be gone if you flash any rom (but can't give you warranty, since my phone was unlocked)
You can reset the flash counter, it's called triangle away : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1494114
Im not able to say, whick rom / kernel is best, but why don't you check this thread and try some roms? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1674286
The first CM9 releases had many bugs, but they seem to be ready for all day use now (but i missed the Sammy Camera App, which is very nice )
Thank You very much for taking the time to respond I will take a look at those links.
Thanks Very Much,
Doozy

[Q] Flashing question

Hello. I have a Samsung Galaxy S Advance with a Gingerbread 2.3.6 Android version installed and unrooted. The official Jelly Bean update was released in Russia a couple of days ago and I really wanna try it now. The question is, if I flash with the new stock ROM, will my device still be unrooted? Because when the update becomes available in my country I'd like to get it and still have my phone unrooted, I wouldn't like to void my warranty forever and thus would like to keep the OTA updates. Will I have to do something special or will it remain unrooted?
slugthrower- said:
Hello. I have a Samsung Galaxy S Advance with a Gingerbread 2.3.6 Android version installed and unrooted. The official Jelly Bean update was released in Russia a couple of days ago and I really wanna try it now. The question is, if I flash with the new stock ROM, will my device still be unrooted? Because when the update becomes available in my country I'd like to get it and still have my phone unrooted, I wouldn't like to void my warranty forever and thus would like to keep the OTA updates. Will I have to do something special or will it remain unrooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of the stock roms are pre- rooted, some not. Without a link or example I can say: try it out. Same websites offer the stock roms for samsung devices - that are completely stock version without root. If the russian rom comes pre- rooted there's a way back to your unrooted stock rom.
What's wrong with root?
-star- said:
Some of the stock roms are pre- rooted, some not. Without a link or example I can say: try it out. Same websites offer the stock roms for samsung devices - that are completely stock version without root. If the russian rom comes pre- rooted there's a way back to your unrooted stock rom.
What's wrong with root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for not providing bonus info. Wow actually xda does not want me to post outside links because I don't have enough posts yet.
However, this is the link of the ROM: sammobile . com/firmware/?page=8&view=10052 (it has some spaces)
I really don't know if it's pre-rooted, how can I find out?
And I actually don't know what's wrong with root, as I said I just don't want to void my warranty. If I have rooted phone will I still be able to receive OTA updates?
slugthrower- said:
Sorry for not providing bonus info. Wow actually xda does not want me to post outside links because I don't have enough posts yet.
However, this is the link of the ROM: sammobile . com/firmware/?page=8&view=10052 (it has some spaces)
I really don't know if it's pre-rooted, how can I find out?
And I actually don't know what's wrong with root, as I said I just don't want to void my warranty. If I have rooted phone will I still be able to receive OTA updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xda blocks links for member under 30 posts.
Sam mobile offers complete stock Roms. It's not rooted.
Another question: is it a contract phone? Sometimes the providers sell the phones with a provider customized firmware, but that's just a thought about how friendly their support team is.
Rooting won't break the ota rules on the most phones e.g.my nexus is rooted with stock ROM and I receive the normal ota but I could lose my root.
On the other hand if your actual stock ROM is on samfirmware you are nearly save to flash everything.
And just to add it again: AdamOutler made a xda news video about rooting and warranty, it could help you.
search for custom rom.. better than stock.. and no need to wait for updates

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