[Q] Need help making sure i choose the correct CF-Root kernel - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi
(I have done a fair search about this and did come across some results but im still not quite sure on what to do)
This is my first attempt at rooting my phone and i want to make sure i dont end up with a $600 brick.
Im going to use the CF-root method outlined in this tutorial thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100 unbranded and bought in australia.
I have already searched for my kernal versions on http://hotfile.com/list/1967350/4304d29 but its not listed.
My kernal is: [email protected] #2
This is the one listed in the CF-root tutorial thread and the one im planning on using: CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEN_KK2-v5.0-CWM5.zip, would this be the correct one?
Here is a screenshot of my "about phone" page:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
That is my main question.
If im successfully in rooting my phone am i correct that i can go ahead and start trying out different ROM's? As long as that kernel is installed i can just install whatever ROM(for the SGS2 of coarse) i like on top?
Big thanks for any help.

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Xanode said:
My kernal is: 2.6.35.7-I9100XWKK2[email protected] #2
This is the one listed in the CF-root tutorial thread and the one im planning on using: CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEN_KK2-v5.0-CWM5.zip, would this be the correct one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is.

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Xanode said:
If im successfully in rooting my phone am i correct that i can go ahead and start trying out different ROM's? As long as that kernel is installed i can just install whatever ROM(for the SGS2 of coarse) i like on top?
Big thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, having a CF-Root kernel means you get root, busybox and CWM recovery. These tools allow you to install custom roms and mod your phone with ease.
You may find that most roms come with another kernel, as long as it isn't a stock kernel things should be fine in terms of modding
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

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Your choice of kernel is correct.
After rooting, you'll be able to flash other roms using cwm. you'll find plenty of tutorials and videos floating arnd on the net.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

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beetfarmer said:
Yes, having a CF-Root kernel means you get root, busybox and CWM recovery. These tools allow you to install custom roms and mod your phone with ease.
You may find that most roms come with another kernel, as long as it isn't a stock kernel things should be fine in terms of modding
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers for the help guys, much appreciated.
So just how important is having the correct kernel? In terms of safety, ah la non bricking my phone is it best to have a kernel as close to the most up to date official stock one?
And when i do flash a custom ROM/Kernel do they already come with root or ?
Big thanks for any help.

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There's always a (very small) risk you'll brick your phone with any given flash. If you used the wrong CFRoot kernel, the worst that could normally happen is the phone wouldn't boot. As long as you chose the CFRoot kernel that is an exact or closest match to your current kernel, you'll be fine.
The only thing you need to be careful about re: possibly bricking your phone is ensuring you're flashing firmware for the SGS2 variant you have; I.E only flash I9100 firmware to your phone.
Every kernel that I've seen that's been supplied with a custom rom has been rooted. Obviously if you flash a new kernel or a rom (I've never seen a rom without a kernel supplied), the new kernel will overwrite your existing kernel.

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Xanode said:
Cheers for the help guys, much appreciated.
So just how important is having the correct kernel? In terms of safety, ah la non bricking my phone is it best to have a kernel as close to the most up to date official stock one?
And when i do flash a custom ROM/Kernel do they already come with root or ?
Big thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's always reccomended to have a kernel as close to your most up to date official stock one, but in terms of safety, if things were to go wrong, ie: bootloop/stuck on boot logo, then this is classed as a "softbrick" & not a hardbrick, & is relatively easy to recover from by just pulling your battery then going into recovery & doing wipe data/factory reset and wipe cache! & if that fails then there's always this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=15330252 or this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1457458 for your salvation!
In general, as long as you're not flashing a Pit file or a Bootloader through Odin 3, then the chances of you hardbricking your expensive toy are minimal!
Once rooted, you can always use CWM recovery, or install mobile odin (needs root!) to flash whatever you like from there! At least that way you'll never have a warning triangle or flash counter going up in value, & you can always use triangle away here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1494114 to reset your counter for warranty repairs!

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Awesome help guys thanks very much.
I have one last thing to clear up and then ill stop pestering you guys, i promice
So if i manage to get the initial CFRoot kernel flashed and root my S2, then can i go ahead and flash a custom kernel/ROM like this one(following the instructions given on the page to a T)((for example)([ROM][ICS][02/05][IMPORTANT P.1454]HyDrOG3N-ICS 02.05[BYEDROG3NICS.ED'][DASWAGG])(http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1530179) ive found in the "Galaxy S II Android Development" section and only have the (very small) risk of bricking?
I know this is all in the tutorial thread but i just wanna make sure im doing things correctly.
And damn, mobile odin is sweet, once i get my head around things ill def be using it.
Big thanks again for any and all help.

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Thats what the instructions say flash via CWM recovery .
Risk of bricking if you follow the instructions is almost nil .
jje

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I have another thing i need to clarify,
So most modded rom's come with their own kernels, can i choose to install just the rom and use the CF-root kernel? Would that be on the safer side of things? And if i did use the included kernel that would be for performance increase side of things?
Thanks for any help.

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Install the ROM, then flash a kernel cleaning script and finally CF-Root. A cleaning script is optional but usually a good idea when switching kernels.
The included kernel in a ROM is usually just there by preference of the ROM dev. It doesn't always mean it will be more stable or better for performance/battery etc. The only way to find out is to test - in the end it's whatever works really.

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Cheers for the help