[Q] Do I have this right? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hey guys, I just got my Galaxy SII and I spent the evening reading the various walkthroughs and threads around here (rather than actually playing with the phone). I feel pretty comfortable with all the various procedures, but there are A LOT of kernels and firmware to choose from, so I'm pretty lost as to which ones I should select to do what I want.
Carrier: Bell
PDA: I9100MUGKG2
PHONE: I9100MUGKG2
CSC: I9100MBMCKG2
Build Info: Tue Jul 12 10:19:43 KST 2011
Android version: 2.3.3
Baseband version: I9100MUGKG2
Kernel version: 2.6.35.7-I9100MUGKG2-CL371789dh130.yoo at SEP-48 #2 (There's an amphere where one should be, but I had to get rid of it to bypass a posting restriction.)
Build Number: GINGERBREAD.UGKG2
Essentially what I want to do is root the phone and update to the latest stock firmware available. I think that's 2.3.4 KH3? Eventually I want to have Cyanogenmod 7 running, but only once it's out of the nightlies.
1) Anyway, the first step would be to go to this thread and download XXKH3 package and stock kernel, and use Odin to simultaneously apply the PDA, modem/Phone, and CSC, correct? Then use Odin to apply the XXKH3 stock kernel. Or is it the other way around--kernel first THEN PDA, modem/Phone, and CSC? (Well, I think Intratech makes this clear in that thread, but I'm just making sure I'm following.)
2) Then, assuming I installed the XXKH3 stock kernel, to root the phone all I have to do is use Odin to apply the kernel from CF-Root-SGS2_XX_OXA_KH3-v4.1-CWM4.zip from this thread, right?
And that's it--done?
3) Finally, if I wanted to make a complete backup of everything first, how would the procedure above have to change (assuming it's correct in the first place)? I'm guessing I'd have to flash the kernel using CF-Root_KG2 and use CWM to make a Nandroid backup?
Thanks!

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n125 said:
Hey guys, I just got my Galaxy SII and I spent the evening reading the various walkthroughs and threads around here (rather than actually playing with the phone). I feel pretty comfortable with all the various procedures, but there are A LOT of kernels and firmware to choose from, so I'm pretty lost as to which ones I should select to do what I want.
Carrier: Bell
PDA: I9100MUGKG2
PHONE: I9100MUGKG2
CSC: I9100MBMCKG2
Build Info: Tue Jul 12 10:19:43 KST 2011
Android version: 2.3.3
Baseband version: I9100MUGKG2
Kernel version: 2.6.35.7-I9100MUGKG2-CL371789dh130.yoo at SEP-48 #2 (There's an amphere where one should be, but I had to get rid of it to bypass a posting restriction.)
Build Number: GINGERBREAD.UGKG2
Essentially what I want to do is root the phone and update to the latest stock firmware available. I think that's 2.3.4 KH3? Eventually I want to have Cyanogenmod 7 running, but only once it's out of the nightlies.
1) Anyway, the first step would be to go to this thread and download XXKH3 package and stock kernel, and use Odin to simultaneously apply the PDA, modem/Phone, and CSC, correct?
Yes as per that posts instructions .
Then use Odin to apply the XXKH3 stock kernel.
No you have just flashed the stock kernel in the firmware KH3 why flash again .
2) Then, assuming I installed the XXKH3 stock kernel, to root the phone all I have to do is use Odin to apply the kernel from CF-Root-SGS2_XX_OXA_KH3-v4.1-CWM4.zip from this thread, right?
Yes
Then if required follow the rest of the instructions in this post to remove yellow warning triangle .
Or buy USB recovery jig that removes yellow triangle and zeros rom counter .
3) Finally, if I wanted to make a complete backup of everything first, how would the procedure above have to change (assuming it's correct in the first place)? I'm guessing I'd have to flash the kernel using CF-Root_KG2 and use CWM to make a Nandroid backup?
Yes correct or find original firmware in Dev section post Original or Branded .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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JJEgan said:
n125 said:
1) Anyway, the first step would be to go to this thread and download XXKH3 package and stock kernel, and use Odin to simultaneously apply the PDA, modem/Phone, and CSC, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes as per that posts instructions .
n125 said:
Then use Odin to apply the XXKH3 stock kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you have just flashed the stock kernel in the firmware KH3 why flash again .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Er, so if I flash the PDA, modem/Phone, and CSC, that also flashes the kernel then? I'm a bit confused about this since I thought they were separate.
Thanks for the reply.

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The kernel is included in the PDA. They post a stand alone kernel so you can flash back to it after applying CF-Root.
Sent from my GT-I9100

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You have to use CWM to flash zImage of CF-Root Kernel so as not to break the boot for CWM.

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Electroz said:
The kernel is included in the PDA. They post a stand alone kernel so you can flash back to it after applying CF-Root.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I see. Thanks.
One last question: If I'm understanding correctly, installing the XXKH3 firmware will change my phone's CSC to OXA, which as I understand covers an array of European countries. Will this impact how my phone operates here in Canada on Bell's network? Intratech wrote that CSC affects things like settings for data connection and regional-specific software, which gives me the impression that it would be better to have the CSC as Bell's version. But if flashing with the XXKH3 package overwrites the CSC with OXA, is it possible to change just the CSC back to what it was before? Or am I just worried about nothing?
(This is my first smartphone so I'm still trying to get my head around all of this terminology.)
(Edited for clarity.)
raditz said:
You have to use CWM to flash zImage of CF-Root Kernel so as not to break the boot for CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm, can you please elaborate? I thought all I had to do was;
1) Odin (as PDA): GT-I9100_XEO_I9100XXKH3_I9100XXKH3_I9100OXAKH3.tar;
2) Odin (as PDA): CF-Root-SGS2_XX_OXA_KH3-v4.1-CWM4.tar to root.
The first flash wouldn't give me CWM, I think, since it's just stock firmware. The second flash would put CWM on, but I'm not performing any further modification after that so there wouldn't be anything to break its boot. (Whatever that means.)

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n125 said:
Oh, I see. Thanks.
One last question: If I'm understanding correctly, installing the XXKH3 firmware will change my phone's CSC to OXA, which as I understand covers an array of European countries. Will this impact how my phone operates here in Canada on Bell's network? Intratech wrote that CSC affects things like settings for data connection and regional-specific software, which gives me the impression that it would be better to have the CSC as Bell's version. But if flashing with the XXKH3 package overwrites the CSC with OXA, is it possible to change just the CSC back to what it was before? Or am I just worried about nothing?
(This is my first smartphone so I'm still trying to get my head around all of this terminology.)
(Edited for clarity.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bell's csc includes their apps like remote pvr and self serve as well as their APNs. The apn information can be added manually and the apps can also be downloaded from the market, so there is really no reason to need the bell CSC.
Also, the Bell CSC is too big to be installed with KH3. It leaves zero room on the system partition, so rooting the rom is impossible. Just go with the OXA csc. You can find the bell APN info on their website if you need it.
n125 said:
Hm, can you please elaborate? I thought all I had to do was;
1) Odin (as PDA): GT-I9100_XEO_I9100XXKH3_I9100XXKH3_I9100OXAKH3.tar;
2) Odin (as PDA): CF-Root-SGS2_XX_OXA_KH3-v4.1-CWM4.tar to root.
The first flash wouldn't give me CWM, I think, since it's just stock firmware. The second flash would put CWM on, but I'm not performing any further modification after that so there wouldn't be anything to break its boot. (Whatever that means.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This process will work fine for you. However, you'll be stuck with a yellow triangle at boot. This is why people flash back to stock kernel after rooting their phones, to get rid of the triangle. Not a required thing, just a cosmetic thing.