Galaxy S 2 - Rooting Questions - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am currently learning and experimenting with rooting, custom roms etc.
Wondered if someone that knows more than me can help me with a few questions I have?
I have rooted my GS2 using CF Root XWKI8 kernel on Odin. I have full root access now and I have made a backup of my factory ROM which is Three firmware.
The questions I have are:
1) How do I remove root access if I need to? Would that be by putting the original kernel back on?
2) Some people have said you can remove the yellow warning triangle by re-loading the original kernel but would that remove the root access if this is how you unroot a CF rooted phone?
3) I am thinking about loading CM7 on the phone using clockword mod. When you load up a new firmware does it have its own kernel that is then put on the phone?
4) If after loading up CM7 onto the phone I then decide to restore the original Three firmware using clockwork mod, what kernel would go back onto the phone? Would it be the CF rooted kernel as that would have been the current kernel when I performed the backup?
Its important to me that I understand everything completely before I play about anymore!
Many Thanks
Dave

1) You can flash a Stock Kernel with Odin to remove root.
2) To remove the yellow warning you first flash a rooted kernel (such as CF-Root), then you flash a Stock Kernel and when it reboots, you use CWM Manager to flash the image kernel from there. That way you keep root and CWM, but the yellow warning doesn't appear any more.
3) Many ROMs have their custom kernel in the same package, so it will overwrite your current kernel. All custom ROMs have a rooted kernel, so despite changing the kernel, you will still have root and CWM.
4) If you did a nandroid backup, you could restore the kernel from which the nandroid was done. If you don't have a nandroid backup, you can flash a Stock ROM to leave the phone as you bought it.

Many thanks for your help.
As I first of all rooted my phone using a CF Root kernel and then did a nandroid backup in clockwork mod of the Three firmware. Would the backup now include the CF Root kernel when I restore from CM7 back to Three firmware or would the original kernel still reside within my Three backup and be restored instead?

If you have the European Galaxy S II (I9100) can you use the CM7 stable build thats on the official CM website or do we need to find one within the dev section here? Anyone know please?

@DJGREEN1980: Since you've done your nandroid backup with CF-Root, when you restore it you will have CF-Root again. If you want to revert CM7 to Stock you can directly flash a Stock ROM, instead of restoring your nandroid backup.
@mikeDCMDVA: There are only 2 versions of CM7 for SGS2. One is for AT&T mobiles and the other is for the rest, so you should be able to flash this last one on your phone. If you have further questions about CM7 I would suggest you post them on CM7 post on XDA or CM7 forum, since CM7 users would surelly have more knowledge than me about that.

Do you know where I would get the stock rom from? My phone is locked and branded with Three firmware.
Thanks for your help

There's a post with all stock ROMs up to date here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278

Brilliant. Thanks. So restoring to the latest Three rom XWKI8 would bring the warranty back for the phone after using a custom rom?
Dave

DJGREEN1980 said:
Brilliant. Thanks. So restoring to the latest Three rom XWKI8 would bring the warranty back for the phone after using a custom rom?
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not that it will bring the warranty back, its more that you could send it to Samsung Support without them noticing you've used a custom ROM. I recently send my HTC Desire to HTC support reverting it to a Stock ROM without problems.

AzureusPT said:
Its not that it will bring the warranty back, its more that you could send it to Samsung Support without them noticing you've used a custom ROM. I recently send my HTC Desire to HTC support reverting it to a Stock ROM without problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unless u reset the binary counter how will this work ??? of course buy a jig from ebay which im sure he forgot to mention

Related

[Q] rooting my device

Hi guys, thanks to the great tuturuals i've succesfully rooted my device But i have a question. Im still new to the hole android and rooting, so please bear with me.
After i flashed my XWKE7 kernel with the CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEU_KE7-v4.0-CWM4 kernel, i followed the tururial to get rid of the yellow triangle. I flashed origial kernel back on my device (I9100XWKE7_Nernel), however my device is still rooted... So why should i follow the rest of the tuturial to flash the cf_kernel with CWM?
Isnt it better/more stable to keep running it with the original kernel? The root is still active, so why should i flash the rooted one back with CWM?
bump
really nobody?
The (for me important) difference are these:
1. While the phone is not booted yet, you can still access superuser through adb. This is important if you screw something up and the device is in a boot loop.
2. You have ClockworkModRecovery, where you can take backups, install updates from sdcard etc.
I don't think the original kernel is more stable, because the custom kernel is based on the original.

[Q] How can I get CWM back on my Telus Fascinate Gingerbread Stock?

I'm wondering how I can get CWM back on my stock gingerbread fascinate now... I used the speedmod kernel to root, which had CWM built in. Then I replace it with stock GB kernel.. which has 3e recovery.
When I run ROM manager now with gingerbread the fascinate don't come up in the list no more.. there are 2 i9000's, one of those is a MTD... and 2 others. 4 in total.
I have the update.zip file which I downloaded from Rom Manager when I was on Froyo. Will that work? I'm afraid to try.
I've also seen methods of ADB pushing the recovery.bin over the current 3e. I just really not to sure which is the best way to do it, and I've done so much reading now it's got me confused.
Thx
Maniac
MrManiacNF said:
I'm wondering how I can get CWM back on my stock gingerbread fascinate now... I used the speedmod kernel to root, which had CWM built in. Then I replace it with stock GB kernel.. which has 3e recovery.
When I run ROM manager now with gingerbread the fascinate don't come up in the list no more.. there are 2 i9000's, one of those is a MTD... and 2 others. 4 in total.
I have the update.zip file which I downloaded from Rom Manager when I was on Froyo. Will that work? I'm afraid to try.
I've also seen methods of ADB pushing the recovery.bin over the current 3e. I just really not to sure which is the best way to do it, and I've done so much reading now it's got me confused.
Thx
Maniac
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Second that - in the same boat.
As I understand it, it's a bootloader issue to install CM7 on Gingerbread. Downgrade to 2.2 and flash away!
Rabid_Gypsy said:
As I understand it, it's a bootloader issue to install CM7 on Gingerbread. Downgrade to 2.2 and flash away!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want CM, I want to get clockwork recovery on my stock gingerbread.
I'm also in the same Boat. It would be nice to get clockwork recovery installed.
I have successfully rooted Gingerbread, part of the process is to flash the the Speedmod kernel first. With the Speedmod kernel, it has clockwork on it which you can boot into but unfortunately your phone cannot normally boot with that kernel.
I'm loving Gingerbread right now, it is so much smoother then 2.2, there is no way I want to go back to 2.2.
iwebsource said:
I'm also in the same Boat. It would be nice to get clockwork recovery installed.
I have successfully rooted Gingerbread, part of the process is to flash the the Speedmod kernel first. With the Speedmod kernel, it has clockwork on it which you can boot into but unfortunately your phone cannot normally boot with that kernel.
I'm loving Gingerbread right now, it is so much smoother then 2.2, there is no way I want to go back to 2.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right there with you - so much better than 2.2 EVEN with lagfix running - was very thankful for ROOT but would love CWM recovery back - very useful tool.
I don't know if it was this thread I made the post, but something I did mention that I did was...
When I used the speedmod kernel to root the phone, I made a nandroid backup. Then I flashed the stock kernel back. I'm assuming if I wanted to restore my phone with the backup I could just flash the speedmod kernel back, restore by backup, then flash the stock kernel back again.
I don't know if clockwork is programmed to backup certain partitions, or if its dynamic, but I'm tempted to try my restore, but at the same time I don't want to go through all the updating agan.
Another thing, I have the 3 ODIN CWM file, the purple, blue, and no color ones you find on here. If you extract those you get a recovery.bin file, and there is no zimage (kernel). If you take one of those clockworkmods with no kernel and overwrite the stock recovery.bin in the phone, shouldn't that work?
I'm still new to android, first time I laid hands on one was this june, I'm still new, but I'm a fast learner too, but I want to figure this one out.
-Maniac
MrManiacNF said:
I don't know if it was this thread I made the post, but something I did mention that I did was...
When I used the speedmod kernel to root the phone, I made a nandroid backup. Then I flashed the stock kernel back. I'm assuming if I wanted to restore my phone with the backup I could just flash the speedmod kernel back, restore by backup, then flash the stock kernel back again.
I don't know if clockwork is programmed to backup certain partitions, or if its dynamic, but I'm tempted to try my restore, but at the same time I don't want to go through all the updating agan.
Another thing, I have the 3 ODIN CWM file, the purple, blue, and no color ones you find on here. If you extract those you get a recovery.bin file, and there is no zimage (kernel). If you take one of those clockworkmods with no kernel and overwrite the stock recovery.bin in the phone, shouldn't that work?
I'm still new to android, first time I laid hands on one was this june, I'm still new, but I'm a fast learner too, but I want to figure this one out.
-Maniac
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey MrManiacNF,
Thanks for the idea, I guess it is a work around for now until we are able to get CWM installed on Gingerbread.
I ended up flashing the speedmod kernal back on, booted into CWM and made a full nandroid backup. Reflashed the stock gingerbread kernal back and booted up as normal.
Yea I do the same thing, I mean you can't make a backup without a pc to flash with, but a backup is better then none.
No love from ROM Manager
Saw ROM Manager had a few updates, but still seeing the limited device selection when trying to create a custom recovery, and still fails with the unsigned zip.
Just wanted to post that if anyone was wondering if recent updates corrected anything, as they have not (at least for me).
I can also confirm, actually no new phones added to the list. I've also tried an app call Root Toolbox Pro. It has options to backup your recovery or flash another. I tried flashing the fascinate-3.0.0.8.zip that I had from Rom Manager from Froyo. No luck, just hung at boot. Had to re-flash stock kernel in odin to fix.

[Q] Root, kernels, firmwares and roms

Getting a bit confused about all this, so am wondering if i've got it right. A rom is the whole thing, it includes a kernel and so forth? So a Kernel is a part of the rom right? And you can flash kernels individually without flashing a whole new rom? But what is a firmware then? Just another name of a rom?
Also on the Galaxy S2 can you flash custom roms, like Lite'ning, without getting root first? Or do you need to get root before flashing custom roms? If you can flash custom roms first without rooting, will the custom rom then give you root as long as it includes it?
And you also got recovery, which is a separate thing again? Galaxy S2 comes with a very basic one if i've understood correctly, but there is others out there that you can install, which also gives you the ability of flashing roms straight from the microsd/phone storage?
So have i gotten any of this? Hope am not to far off
Edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1246131 looks like most of my questions where answered there, though am still a bit unsure if it's possible to flash a custom rom before you root?
ROM's and FIRMWARE: The ROM or Read Only Memory is the internal flash memory where the core operating system resides. The Firmware is a device specific part of the ROM that controls various hardware components. So the firmware is contained in the ROM but in the context of Android the terms are often used interchangeably.
KERNELS: Different kernels offer different advantages, some are fast, some are light weight on the battery and some are a mix, so yes you can in most cases flash a different kernel with a ROM, and then your phone will be running the custom ROM you picked with the new kernel you flashed.
Rooting: You must have a rooted phone inorder to flash a custom rom, but rooting in my opinion seems really safe and it really easy to do on the SG2
There are things that allow you to flash from your SD card and you do that by entering clockworkmod revovery, apps like rom manager also allow you to flash from sd card, but you can always use odin, which is safe and fast
hope this helps
Thanks, and very nicely explained =) Another question then, what is the reason one need root before you can flash custom firmwares? As i heard Galaxy S2 doesn't really have any safety measures put in to stop things, like HTC do with their bootloader. Another thing is that i checked the thread for the Lite'ning rom, and saw the installation procedure, and it doesn't mention anything about having root before starting, so am getting a bit confused there.
You don't need to root before flashing a custom ROM as long as you can enter download mode (power up with volume down, home and power button pressed) and can flash the ROM via Odin.
If the ROM is flashable only via ClockWorkMod recovery (a zip that you copy on your phone) then you need to flash something that includes that recovery before flashing the rom (like CF-Root or any kernel that includes CWM).
Lite'ning ROM that you mentioned earlier is flashable via Odin so no problem.
Every ROM includes a Kernel, the only thing they sometimes don't include is the modem like in VillainROM, you have to flash it separately. And also, if a ROM is announced as rooted, when you flash it, you will have root regardless of the state before flashing
Thanks once again =)
Another question, if one want to get back to stock, flashing one of these "official firmwares": http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278 well revert everything right? Even if i got CWM recovery, after flashing on of those "official firmwares" will give me back the original recovery as well?
Edit: Also you mention "modem", if one ROM don't include one, do you have to flash it separately for the ROM to function at all? Or will it just use the modem that's already on the phone or something? Checked out the VillainROM thread and it doesn't say anything about a modem.
Nitrius said:
Another question, if one want to get back to stock, flashing one of these "official firmwares": http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278 well revert everything right? Even if i got CWM recovery, after flashing on of those "official firmwares" will give me back the original recovery as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it will revert back everything
Nitrius said:
Edit: Also you mention "modem", if one ROM don't include one, do you have to flash it separately for the ROM to function at all? Or will it just use the modem that's already on the phone or something? Checked out the VillainROM thread and it doesn't say anything about a modem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you dont flash a modem it will just use the one you had before. They talk about it in the old thread and also in the new but not in the firsts posts, you'll have to do a search.
Plus Modem Kernels are interchangeable .
KH3 Firmware with KI4 modem and KH1 kernel .
Guide
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1125282
jje

[Q]Possible to go back to stock and unroot?

I have just moved from my old GS1 to the GS2 and I am super impressed with the speed of this phone. I am however tempted to put cyanogen on this phone however as its still fairly new so want to keep my warranty until I know if there are any issues with this phone.
If I root my phone and perform a NAndriod backup, is it possible for me to go back to stock with no signs of the custom flash? I know its a n00b question, its just that I have never tried this before...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Yes you can!!
You will need
1) An USB jig
2) Knowledge about rooting/installing cwm
3) Balls to flash like a maniac (No, im kiddin')
After rooting with insecure kernel+superoneclick tool method, or simply flashing cf-root kernel, install codeworkx kernel.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1118693
Now install your CM7 rom.
To go back, restore your nandroid backup (of your original stock ROM) or flash any official ROM from this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278
Use usb jig (buy from ebay or few XDA members actually sell it!) to reset your binary count so that Samsung won't know you have flashed unofficial roms and kernels on your phone. If you are still worried, first use Superoneclick tool to Unroot your phone, then use jig to reset the counter.
djglenn1337 said:
I have just moved from my old GS1 to the GS2 and I am super impressed with the speed of this phone. I am however tempted to put cyanogen on this phone however as its still fairly new so want to keep my warranty until I know if there are any issues with this phone.
If I root my phone and perform a NAndriod backup, is it possible for me to go back to stock with no signs of the custom flash? I know its a n00b question, its just that I have never tried this before...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U need to have USB Jig to remove any signs of custom flash...

Back up operator firmware and kernel

Hello,
i've reading a lot about all methods of flashing kernels via Odin and flashing new ROM's. I've my N7 rooted and running custom ROM and experienced several ROMs and kernels with my old Galaxy Ace.
Saying this. I've been searching around about ways of backing up the exact image of my stock ROM with operator logos at the beginning and everything like it came from factory since I would not be able to turn it back to warranty service if it doesn't run original stock ROM, which is not in the net -i've searched and have found nothing-.
If I flash let's say: Siyah kernel to avoid risk of bricking from 4.0.4 then root and create a nandroid backup image and then after running some ROMs I decide to run back to nandroid backup, the kernel that I would have had it would be siyah kernel with operator firmware, right?
Any idea, hint or advice would be strongly appreciated.
esponges said:
Hello,
i've reading a lot about all methods of flashing kernels via Odin and flashing new ROM's. I've my N7 rooted and running custom ROM and experienced several ROMs and kernels with my old Galaxy Ace.
Saying this. I've been searching around about ways of backing up the exact image of my stock ROM with operator logos at the beginning and everything like it came from factory since I would not be able to turn it back to warranty service if it doesn't run original stock ROM, which is not in the net -i've searched and have found nothing-.
If I flash let's say: Siyah kernel to avoid risk of bricking from 4.0.4 then root and create a nandroid backup image and then after running some ROMs I decide to run back to nandroid backup, the kernel that I would have had it would be siyah kernel with operator firmware, right?
Any idea, hint or advice would be strongly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to return to a stock rom, just flash it with Odin (roms are on www.sammobile.com and also here on xda). There are also ways to reset your flash counter. That would be all.
To answer your question: if you root your device with Siyah and you make a Nandroid back up, yes, your device will be running the stock rom with the Siyah kernel if you restore this after trying other roms/kernels.
Sent from the Matrix
Donnie Sins said:
If you want to return to a stock rom, just flash it with Odin (roms are on www.sammobile.com and also here on xda). There are also ways to reset your flash counter. That would be all.
To answer your question: if you root your device with Siyah and you make a Nandroid back up, yes, your device will be running the stock rom with the Siyah kernel if you restore this after trying other roms/kernels.
Sent from the Matrix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply, but in Samfirmware the firmware for my mobile company it's not uploaded so I would not be able to run back to original kernel. That's why I need to know if there's a way to backup the kernel or not losing in order to get cwm.
Cheers
I have found what it looks to be a free stock rom for my country running the same kernel than my mobile company kernel. Is it a way to just install the kernel from the file that samfirmware.com provides? My plan is to run the nandroid backup with my original stock rom with custom kernel <whatever name> then just flash the original kernel taken from the stock rom provided by samfirmware.com .

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