I've got a galaxy s2 from 02 and it is branded and running o2's flavour of software.
I've attached 2 screenshots to show the version I have.
Is it worth it for me to debrand, what would I realistically gain? I've looked through the forums and it seems there is newer generic firmware available. But there also seems to be mixed opinion as to weather it's worth upgrading. From what I can see I have 2.3.3 KF3 if that helps
It also appears that by flashing generic stock firmware via odin I will still be able to use kies so any future releases will download through kies using the firmware update feature?
Answers as always appreciated.
IF you download, from here, the latest stock Samsung ROM, then you will be able to fool KIES into thinking that your phone is no longer an O2 SGSII but a unbranded one. Thus you will be able to get the next available update of the official stock ROM when it is released via KIES.
The most important feature is an improvement in battery life.
If you stick with the branded ROM, then you have to wait a few months for the stock update to be customised by the operator and released.
This is the most important: if you flash an unbranded ROM, then you have invalidated your phone's warranty. You can simply reflash the O2 branded ROM, again available on here, this will put you phone back in warranty.
ok I see is there a link to the post that has the most recent fw? I will ofc check the dev forum stickies Many thanks for the swift reply and advice.
Without a doubt, so many good custom roms available and more newer stock firmwares. You can undo everything so no need to worry about putting it back to stock o2
cheers
Yeah I think I'll flash to generic stock rom then take in the updates from sammy, I'm blown away with this phone as it is running stock roms.
Will wait for ICS to be available on a un-official rom before I debate custom roms,
As soon as I got my sgs2 from O2, I debranded it straight away
Wow what a difference my phone is marginally faster one booted on 2.3.4 bootup is way quicker internet also seems faster.
Unlike X10i flashing new fw didn't basically factory reset the phone everything was as i left it bar the fw.
Had slight issue where it seemed to hang at the last big galaxy s screen for a minute or 2 when first booted but all phones seem to do this when flashed.
One question - my market hasn't changed os there a new one and should it automatically update?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Related
Been looking for an answer online and can't seem to find one, my girlfriend bought a used bell gs2 and when i plug it in kies it tells me it has the latest software yet it seems that 2.3.3 as been out for a long time and should have been updated by now no?
Thanks
Kris
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
If you check this thread here UGKG2 is the only firmware bell has put out, so if thats the one you have, then yes, thats the only firmware there is, blame bell for being slow.
If you want to flash a new upto date rom, follow this guide, it also has download links, KK5 is generally a good 2.3.6 firmware at the moment, dont go for the ICS roms, there buggy.
It also should be non wipe aka you shouldnt lose anything as its stock firmware to stock firmware, but no promises and you would be advised to backup stuff first.
I bought the phone in January sim free, for full price from my local mobile phone store. It is running stock android 2.3.4 (build number: GINGERBREAD.XWKI4). Its been in the online news a lot that ICS would be available by the end of Q1 but still, i am unable to update. I get a message saying my firmware is the latest available.
I live in New Zealand and as far as i understand you (USA) have ICS but what about for me? I'm assuming my phone is the international version so i thought i would have the update by now.
So does anyone know the full story?
Thanks
ICS hasn't been released by any of the NZ telcos yet (I checked with Checkfus). You can pretty much run any ICS stock (or custom for that matter) rom you want. Lots of Odin (mainly stock roms) & CWM flashable (mainly custom) roms on here (search the development sections).
One thing to bear in mind if you do flash a stock ICS rom from another region tho, you may have problems getting updates via Kies in future. If that happens, you'd need to flash a stock rom for your region in order to get Kies updates again. Or you could do what the majority of people on here do, bypass Kies completely (horrible excuse for software) & flash all your roms manually.
As long as you've got an I9100 or I9100T you can flash any firmware for these phones.
Fellow Kiwi here mate, just flash any ics rom thru odin. I've had no issues whatsoever, the latest Lp7 rom with speedmod kernel is the best I've had. You wont regret it.
I'm with telecom, they wont update anything quickly at all.
Hope this helps your decision
Hey guys ive had this phone for a good while now, i keep hearing people upgrading their phones to this version and that... and now i see people upgrading "officially" to ICS android, how come that everytime i check samsung skies it says my phone is up to date with android version 2.3.4?
Are these updates trully official? My phone is unlocked so thats not an issue, i feel like ive been missing out alot of stuff :\
Any info regarding this is welcome with my best regards.
why not dl any of official rooms like LP7/8 n flash with odin ?
There is probably not an official ICS release for your carrier or region and there hasn't been an update since GB 2.3.4, you aren't alone in this Bell Canada hasn't ever updated their phones via Kies from 2.3.3 and likely never will, this doesn't prevent you from using Odin to upgrade from GB to ICS, if you do it with an official version you wont end up rooted and you wont increase your counter, it may be quicker to do this instead of waiting, you can always go back and upgrade via Kies if/when your carrier/region receives an official update.
2.3.4 is the latest GB version for unlocked S2's in the UK. Samsung have realeased ICS to the mobile operators first. Their reason for not releasing it for unlocked phones yet is that they need all the mobile operators to verify it works on their networks. Seems reasonable to me.
You can always root and install one of the many ICS custom roms that are already available. Personally, I've tried a couple but will be sticking with GB for the time being. It's faster and has better battery life for me.
HTH
Maybe because you live in Outer Mongolia or you have a special version of the SGSII.
You need to give a bit more detail of your country, the model and the firmare.
Settings -> About phone
Model Number?
Bseband version?
Kernel version?
Build version?
You say that the phone is unlocked, was it locked to a network or has it always been unlocked?
Hey guys thanks a bunch for all your replies, i live in Portugal and my samsung galaxy s2 is unlocked, i find it quite shocking that UK is facing the exact same problem... maybe i should get it rooted on this current version? will i loose warranty if i do that?
Ive got the exact same problem except mine was bought from Greece. This blows.
TheWarKeeper said:
Hey guys thanks a bunch for all your replies, i live in Portugal and my samsung galaxy s2 is unlocked, i find it quite shocking that UK is facing the exact same problem... maybe i should get it rooted on this current version? will i loose warranty if i do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what you want http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544487
Top download no rooting or voided warrenty, search for instructions on flashing.
Ics its not stable and battery friendly as gb YET, there are many wonderfull gb roms and rock solid.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
narcosis34 said:
Ics its not stable and battery friendly as gb YET, there are many wonderfull gb roms and rock solid.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats just hearsay people have all sorts of weird issues with their phones all the time that make me scratch my head as mine works perfectly it did on GB and works just as good performance and battery wise with ICS.
tazer4 said:
This is what you want http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544487
Top download no rooting or voided warrenty, search for instructions on flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the info, ive been reading a bit of that thread but i would like an official version of ICS for portugal ill let it get more stable too, i really dont want to format my phone just to switch back because of some issues ppl report with some of those versions but thanks anyways.
I guess samsung galaxy s2 newer firmwares are not released yet to europe, imo samsung should have done more with a phone of this performance... and price.
dont bring whole europe into it
its specific parts that dont have it yet. uk unlocked is already out few days back.
get checkfus download to see when you get official ICS for your region.
sammobile too
I have a new unbranded Samsung Galaxy S2 from Carphone Warehouse on Orange.
Baseband: I9100XXLPS
Kernel: 3.0.15-I9100XWLP7
Build No: IML74K.XWLP7
It came with Gingerbread 2.3.4 and I loved it. Having plugged it into Kies for the first time and accepted the software update it is now on ICS 4.0.3. I like absolutely nothing about this version and have tried to roll back to GB 2.3.4 using Odin and the link to my version of CPW firmware from skywanker.net. I was under the impression because the phone came with 2.3.4, the flash would roll back to this but it hasn’t. It is still on 4.0.3. and having now found my way to the new list of firmware on Android.firmwares.net I can see that it lists this download as 4.0.3.
Can someone please tell me how I can find a GB 2.3.4 suitable for my CPW XXLPS phone so I can roll back to the stock version it came with?
It is not rooted. I don’t want to root it I just want it as it was out the box and still under warranty!
Please help. I have spent literally days and days trying to find this answer after having plucked up the courage to flash my phone with Odin and I am so disappointed that all I’ve done it put 4.0.3 back on it!
I have spoken to CPW, Orange, Samsung and CPWs Geek Squad and come up blank!
Thank you ;o)
Tried samfirmware.com ?
Thanks for such a quick reply B3311. I've looked up the firmware for my PDA at samfirmware and it is also showing as ICS 4.0.3. This is what I find so confusing. My phone shipped with GB 2.3.4 so why can't I find that anywhere to download and roll back?! Any other suggestions?
http://www.hotfile.com/dl/150009521/71118c0/I9100XWKI4_I9100XEUKH2_XEU.zip.html
you could try this one. official 2.3.4 filed under europe, united kingdom/ireland.
or this one europe, open europe official 2.3.4 firmware
http://hotfile.com/dl/145783246/da10e07/I9100XXKH1.zip.html
Search again at sammobile, you will find the 2.3.4, if you can't search, no one can help.
Hint: Look in Europe
Don't forget to wipe
Before and after flashing.
Look at 2.3.6 aswell if you want.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Will these downloads be compatible with my phone and if I load them would they void the warranty? If anything goes wrong could I just load the 4.0.3 again via Odin? Sorry for so many questions but I have no experience of this sort of thing. I don't even download apps to use - I just like the standard stock function of the phone - or rather I did before ICS!
yeah i understand what you mean ics is pritty buggy and not as good as gb yeah they should work just fine like anything to do with flashing tho its not 100% safe. just download and flash away but take your time
Flashing stock, unrooted firmware will not void your warranty.
May be worth knowing that 2.3.4 is an older version of GB. 2.3.5 and 2.3.6 are newer, and "better" (IMO).
I'm on 2.3.6, and have no intention of moving (I will not call it "upgrading") to ICS until I get the SGS3 next month.
ratdroid said:
Will these downloads be compatible with my phone and if I load them would they void the warranty? If anything goes wrong could I just load the 4.0.3 again via Odin? Sorry for so many questions but I have no experience of this sort of thing. I don't even download apps to use - I just like the standard stock function of the phone - or rather I did before ICS!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it depends you flash the same FW, if your dealer finds the firmware version on the phone is not the same when it was supplied , they may deney waranty...so its upto you to find the exact version and flash...
wrong....if some thing went really wrong and gone to unrecoverable stage you cant load 4.0.3 back
Normally there is nothing going wrong if you have followed the steps correctly and carefully....
atifsh said:
Search again at sammobile, you will find the 2.3.4, if you can't search, no one can help.
Hint: Look in Europe
Don't forget to wipe
Before and after flashing.
Look at 2.3.6 aswell if you want.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I've been doing for the last 7 days is searching, searching, searching. I can assure you I have tried to sort this problem out before posting here so please don't suggest that I can't search! Just because my level of expertise in all this is zero - doesn't mean I'm not tyring to learn and help myself!
I am not one to customise the phone so I am very wary of what I am doing to it. I am trying to ensure that I don't make matters worse for myself. I had searched samfirmware according to the criteria of my phone that they requested and it returned only the 4.0.3 option.
I have now found the list for older firmware and can see that there are some 2.3.X under Europe, but my next question is - how safe is this to use with my phone. I was under the impression from the XDA guidelines for flashing with Odin that you should only use firmware that is compatible with your own PDA, Phone and CSC. Will it void the warranty if I put something for Europe on there or cause issues with the function of the phone?
Also - I'm afriad I don't know what you mean by "wipe" the phone. Do you mean do a factory reset?
Go here and find GB Version you wanted.
http://samsung-updates.com/gt-i9100-galaxy-sii/
Thanks for everyone's input so quickly!
I've had a good look at the list on Samfirmware and I'm guessing my best option is to try the one for GB 2.3.6 for UK (Orange). I will give it a go.... watch this space!
angelshie said:
Go here and find GB Version you wanted.
http://samsung-updates.com/gt-i9100-galaxy-sii/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That link provides a very comprehensive list of firmware for my version of phone, but still not the GB 2.3.4 it was shipped with! This is exactly why I'm so confused; I just find it so odd that there is no way to find the orignal firmware for this PDA. Does anyone know if this a common thing with Samsung phones and firmware?
jonnyhall1bmx1 said:
yeah i understand what you mean ics is pritty buggy and not as good as gb yeah they should work just fine like anything to do with flashing tho its not 100% safe. just download and flash away but take your time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I keep kicking myself for allowing the update to run! I'm just not up to speed with smartphone tech I'm afraid, but I never allow major updates onto my computer until they've been around a while and all the bugs fixed which is why I am so angry with myself for not being clued up on ICS!
If I'd known about the ICS changes, I'd have stuck with GB for the cute android emoticons in SMS alone ICS has really mucked up my phone and the way I use it. I have no idea what possessed them to release firmware that has removed such useful basic functionality from so many everyday things. And as for the signal and battery problems - that's a rant for other existing threads!!!
I had an intereseting convesation with Samsung Tech though - it seems they are very aware just how buggy ICS is and the issues it's causing as they told me I'd have to send my phone back for a hardware repair if the battery life didn't improve. If this rollback doesn't work I can only hope they release a fix very quickly.
The GB 2.3.6 is slowly downloading so hopefully I’ll be able to give it a go later today. Doesn’t help that I live in the middle of the Fens in Huntingdonshire so am surrounded by beautiful country but only 2mb broadband. AGH!!! Some days I really miss cable
Disaster! Got GB 2.3.6 OK - but it's all "orangified"! Should have realised that but thought because I'm on orange that would be the right one. So now I'm downloading the 2.3.4 for UK / Ireland as orignally suggested by jonnyhall1bmx1. I'm hoping this one will be totally open and not linked to any carrier.
See what happens when I let my brain get involved!!!
ratdroid said:
Disaster! Got GB 2.3.6 OK - but it's all "orangified"! Should have realised that but thought because I'm on orange that would be the right one. So now I'm downloading the 2.3.4 for UK / Ireland as orignally suggested by jonnyhall1bmx1. I'm hoping this one will be totally open and not linked to any carrier.
See what happens when I let my brain get involved!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
since your phone is already unbranded, no need to be on a carrier ROM, search for XWLA2 or XWLA4 which is the latest versions of 2.3.6, may be released for some country name (italy ) doesnt matter...
Good for you that you search, I don't intend to make fun or insult, just that search function works and it's better to get some knowledge before hand instead of relying 100 percent on others.
Now, yes flashing using Odin is safe, as you have experienced now. La2 is the best I found and I always go back to it when required.
Yes wipe means to clean data cache.
Wiping do erase your stored files on internal storage. So remember this.
Always good to do this after and before every flash.
Dial code to wipe *2767*3855#
Sent from my GT-I9100
Try this tutorial:
http://androidadvices.com/update-samsung-galaxy-s2-gt-i9100-gingerbread-xxkg1-234-firmware/
If you want to go to 2.3.6, read this post:
http://www.androidquestions.org/thr...ght-Can-t-browse-without-WIFI?p=1264#post1264
Rob.
(a newbie)
Well I'm absolutely delighted to report that the last firmware flash has done the trick. I'm back onto GB 2.3.4 and all the functionality that I liked is back and the battery and signal strength already improved. What a huge relief! Thanks to everyone who posted here to help me. This is a great forum and it has encouraged me to be more confident with my phone and its functionality in the future.
I sincerely hope this thread will help others out there to rollback from ICS if they have the same issues I did. Ciao for now folks.
Hi,
I would like to thanks to all contributors to this thread.
I also want to rollback to 2.3.6 from 4.0.3 and I own an orange branded galaxy s2.
I've found the necessary firmware from sites posted here (I9100BVKL1_I9100OROKL1_I9100BVKL1_HOME.tar.md5).
Also, I've understood that I need only Odin for this operation.
I would like to have just a confirmation from you guys, if the method mentioned here works in the same way on branded galaxies (orange specifically).
Thank you,
Hi, I picked up an sgs3 the other day. The firmware on it is XXLF2. I was just wondering what the experiences were with regards to OTA update? Is it recommended or would flashing the latest LG8 fw for UK via Odin be better?
Thanks for any advice.
One of the reasons why it might come in handy to restore a previous update could be due to the fact that the new update will not be optimized for our phone and waiting for the release of a more stable version, use Odin may serve us to go back. A very recent example is the first update to Android 4.0.3 on Galaxy S2 where there were several people who wanted to go back to Gingerbread ... Of course, another reason could be that we want to load a firmware later, but that in our country has not yet been made available ... see Notes Galaxy and the German ROM which runs the network.
But Odin is not only original Samsung firmware to load, but also allows you to load ROM cooked in order to have more personalized and optimized.
Odin's software runs on Windows PCs, and lets you do the above, but now we see how the program works.
devid801 said:
One of the reasons why it might come in handy to restore a previous update could be due to the fact that the new update will not be optimized for our phone and waiting for the release of a more stable version, use Odin may serve us to go back. A very recent example is the first update to Android 4.0.3 on Galaxy S2 where there were several people who wanted to go back to Gingerbread ... Of course, another reason could be that we want to load a firmware later, but that in our country has not yet been made available ... see Notes Galaxy and the German ROM which runs the network.
But Odin is not only original Samsung firmware to load, but also allows you to load ROM cooked in order to have more personalized and optimized.
Odin's software runs on Windows PCs, and lets you do the above, but now we see how the program works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice1 thank you devid801. I've used Odin to flash ROMs on my sgs1 but the OTA update on sgs3 has me interested Suppose I could always flash via Odin the latest FW if OTA FW isn't the latest.
Thanks again mate.
we say that the telephone operators are slow to release updates, even compared to the parent, so if you do not want to wait using odin! read a guide before, and you always make a nandroid backup before making any operation. ..
devid801 said:
One of the reasons why it might come in handy to restore a previous update could be due to the fact that the new update will not be optimized for our phone and waiting for the release of a more stable version, use Odin may serve us to go back. A very recent example is the first update to Android 4.0.3 on Galaxy S2 where there were several people who wanted to go back to Gingerbread ... Of course, another reason could be that we want to load a firmware later, but that in our country has not yet been made available ... see Notes Galaxy and the German ROM which runs the network.
But Odin is not only original Samsung firmware to load, but also allows you to load ROM cooked in order to have more personalized and optimized.
Odin's software runs on Windows PCs, and lets you do the above, but now we see how the program works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin is beeing used in official service and repair centers to flash samsung firmware
As always two paths for ease of use one via Samsung Kies or OTA .
OTA will probably fail on rooted phone .
Join XDA flash stock firmware as and when you want .
My view is if you want to stay with Samsung /official path then do so but its the attempts to mix and match that lead to trouble .
jje
JJEgan said:
As always two paths for ease of use one via Samsung Kies or OTA .
OTA will probably fail on rooted phone .
Join XDA flash stock firmware as and when you want .
My view is if you want to stay with Samsung /official path then do so but its the attempts to mix and match that lead to trouble .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks jje. I think i'll stay stock for now but see what update OTA offers me Saying that, XXLF2 fw does not seem bad so far.
Will look to find what the differences are between LF2 and LG8 fw.
Thanks for all the feedback.
coldhandz said:
Thanks jje. I think i'll stay stock for now but see what update OTA offers me Saying that, XXLF2 fw does not seem bad so far.
Will look to find what the differences are between LF2 and LG8 fw.
Thanks for all the feedback.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have recently flashed my Orange GS3 to XXLF2. I'm not getting any OTA updates post flashing and i know there is an update that gives you the option to auto aujust brightness on the drop down. Is this normal after flashing? Or has something gone a bit wrong?
Holder123 said:
I have recently flashed my Orange GS3 to XXLF2. I'm not getting any OTA updates post flashing and i know there is an update that gives you the option to auto aujust brightness on the drop down. Is this normal after flashing? Or has something gone a bit wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You no longer have Orange firmware .
You no longer have phone codes that match any upgrade .
Their is no upgrade for your phone model
Plus all the other usual answers .
Choice flash roms from XDA or return to Orange for an update .
jje