[Q] Let me get this straight - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi everyone,
Im getting a sgs2 next week (finally), and want to pimp it up as soon as it is in my hands. I wanna check with you guys if I understood everything right, since this is gonna be my first android phone.
Let say I choose to flash with the latest original firmare, that would be XXKI4 or XXKI8. I get it here.
I also want it rooted. So Im supposed to flash XXKI4 first, then root it using S2 Root v1.5.1 or CF-Root 4.4 but, which one? S2 Root requires the phone to be flashed with an "insecure kernel" prior rooting. Do i need the insecure kernel from XXKI4, or from my previous firmware? After the rooting, i need to reflash the secure kernel (cause its safer and removes a yellow triangle)? So if I understand, each firmware has a kernel. To be root, you need the kernel to be unsecured.
And about the flash counter... are the latest firmwares coming (ironicly) with the old bootloader, and that means the counter won't be raised o easily set to zero afterwards?
So first i need to flash the firmware i want, then secure kernel of that one, then root, and then secure back?
Lots ob doubts, thanks for your time

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I recommend CF-Root even if also SOC works well.
This because CF-Root is one step and done, while SOC asks multiple steps, and the not experienced android users got more chances to screw up and end up with a semi/full briked phone.
Read carefully the CF-Root instructions, dont forget anything in the instructions and in about 20 seconds you have your phone rooted.
Be sure to have installed Samsung KIES (this install the official samsung drivers) but to NOT have it running in background when you use odin (kill the kies process tree), because kies dosnt like ODIN and it blocks it at half flashing (with chance of semibrick the phone).
Also DONT ever never use Rom Manager, SII is not compatible with rom manager, a lot of ppl got semi/full briked phone by using it.
No need to use insecure/secure kernels with cf-root (that's why, only 1 step).
About the original firmwares, the ones in Intratech thread if im not wrong (can be, i didnt really checked deep) are with old bootloader, so yes, you can go back to 0 with a usb jig.
Another and last thing, be sure you have the 9100 international, NOT the AT&T or the 9100G/M that need other files to work.

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gAbUg said:
Hi everyone,
Im getting a sgs2 next week (finally), and want to pimp it up as soon as it is in my hands. I wanna check with you guys if I understood everything right, since this is gonna be my first android phone.
Let say I choose to flash with the latest original firmare, that would be XXKI4 or XXKI8. I get it here.
I also want it rooted. So Im supposed to flash XXKI4 first, then root it using S2 Root v1.5.1 or CF-Root 4.4 but, which one? S2 Root requires the phone to be flashed with an "insecure kernel" prior rooting. Do i need the insecure kernel from XXKI4, or from my previous firmware? After the rooting, i need to reflash the secure kernel (cause its safer and removes a yellow triangle)? So if I understand, each firmware has a kernel. To be root, you need the kernel to be unsecured.
And about the flash counter... are the latest firmwares coming (ironicly) with the old bootloader, and that means the counter won't be raised o easily set to zero afterwards?
So first i need to flash the firmware i want, then secure kernel of that one, then root, and then secure back?
Lots ob doubts, thanks for your time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just in addition to rembrandtlnx's good and correct reply:
1. Read the first post of Intratech's thread => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278.
Please read the whole post and take your time to understand it.
2. Do the steps described there to flash XXKI4 to your phone.
It is non-wipe version with old bootloader (as Intratech said ... it's true).
And this will never increase the counter, as it count only custom or insecure kernels (such as CF-Root).
3. If you want to root your phone, the easiest way to do is to flash the corresponding CF-Root kernel, which is XXKI4 v4.4.
Please stick to Chainfire's description of his first post in his thread => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399&highlight=CF+Root.
This will increase the counter and give you the yellow triangle when booting your phone.
4. If you want to get rid of the yellow triangle, please read Chainfire's guide in his second post.
This will not increase the counter any more, as you will flash the original / stock kernel and use CWM to re-flash the CF-Root kernel (zImage file).
5. To reset the counter, rembrandtlnx told you how to do it.
I don't bother about the counter. It's just a number on my phone.
Good luck, and don't forget to backup all important data on your phone before flashing !