ANSWERED - Firmware Install - factory reset in recovery
I made a mess of a rom install rushing through rom Manager and now my phone can't get past the Samsung screen when booting, and I can't find out the version of my kernel to install the correct one without getting my phone on. I can get the phone into download mode and I have tried a number of different kernels but have had no luck. It's a UK phone so I know it's a XW or XX to start, I was wondering is their a kernel that works on any SGS2.
I have been having trouble with getting windows to recognize the phone and have found a number of fixes on this site which have worked and not worked (atm not connecting)
it's a sgs2 GT-i9100
Any advice greatly appreciated
Did you make a Nandroid backup? If so boot into recovery (vol up, power, home buttons) and restore the backup.
Can you get into recovery mode. Vol up plus home plus power. Then do a factory reset. this should get past the Samsung boot screen. Then flash another rom.
Sent from my ThinkPad Tablet using XDA App
Thanks for getting back, no unfortunately not, couldn't see recovery mode since the original failed rom install. That combination gets me to download mode now.
So as far as I can tell I need to get a firmware working properly or do a reset but I don't know which is the right firmware to use
Main thing is you can get to download mode. If you can do that, you can fix your phone 95% of the time.
You can find carrier/country specific firmware here or country-only/non-specific firmware here
owen5y said:
Thanks for getting back, no unfortunately not, couldn't see recovery mode since the original failed rom install. That combination gets me to download mode now.
So as far as I can tell I need to get a firmware working properly or do a reset but I don't know which is the right firmware to use
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just flash any CF-root kernel and then you have recovery back. Start flashing from there on.
Lennyz1988 said:
Just flash any CF-root kernel and then you have recovery back. Start flashing from there on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried a number of CF-root kernels and no joy. I tried a few more kernels this morning before work, including cf-root and siyahv2.6.4 and had no luck.
MistahBungle said:
Main thing is you can get to download mode. If you can do that, you can fix your phone 95% of the time.
You can find carrier/country specific firmware here or country-only/non-specific firmware here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually flashed some of those kernels XWKE1 for example and a few others with no joy.
The problem started when I tried to update the Galent Miui ICS which I see you are running. I (stupidly) didn't read through the statement as I had my NYE hungover and just put the update on my sd and used recovery to update which froze the phone at the boot screen. (I didn't do re-flash and I didn't wipe the data and everything else.) I know it sometimes takes time to boot but I had left it for a half hour to see if it would and no joy. I was no longer able to get to recovery mode so I tried a half dozen kernels with the same problems before putting up a post. I'm not sure would people find it inappropriate to talk about an this problem here, I thought as it's a kernel problem now it would be a better place to find the solution although my own lazy Miui install was the cause.
Flashing just the kernels obviously didn't fix the problem. Have you flashed any of the entire stock firmwares ? Choose the most recent firmware for your carrier/country from the first link I gave you (if there's more than two listed).
owen5y said:
I actually flashed some of those kernels XWKE1 for and a few others with no joy.
The problem started when I tried to update the Galent Miui ICS which I see you are running. I (studidly) didn't read through the statement as I was hungover and just pu the update on my sd and used recovery to update which froze the phone at the boot screen. I know it sometimes takes time to boot but I had left it for a half hour to see if it would and no joy. I was no longer able to get to recovery so I tried a half dozen kernels with the same problems before putting up a post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MistahBungle said:
Flashing just the kernels obviously didn't fix the problem. Have you flashed any of the entire stock firmwares ? Choose the most recent firmware for your carrier/country from the first link I gave you (if there's more than two listed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I will try that. At work currently and so can't play with the phone. I will post the result this evening.
Thanks
NP. Let us know how you get on.
MistahBungle said:
NP. Let us know how you get on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All good, I installed the firmware and was able to get into recovery mode from there. Did a factory reset because I was stuck in a boot loop. Going to give it a go again to upgrade to the new ics build. Any advice on the best process of getting there?
I installed the following firmware prior to the reset
UK
XWKE1:http://www.multiupload.com/15RY5CHHW9
Firmware info: PDA: XWKE1 Phone: NEKD5 CSC:H3GKD4
Yep. Given the problems you've been having, stay away from the currently alpha ICS builds that are floating around.
Frankly, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
Wait until CM (or someone else) releases something that's stable and has most things working in 4-6 weeks or so.
There's a ton of roms/kernels out there, do your research/reading & ask questions if necessary in the respective threads for those & then pick something out & try it.
And no, I don't do recommendations. Because nobody's phone come's out of the factory the same, nobody has the same phone setup & nobody uses the phone the same way.
owen5y said:
All good, I installed the firmware and was able to get into recovery mode from there. Did a factory reset because I was stuck in a boot loop. Going to give it a go again to upgrade to the new ics build. Any advice on the best process of getting there?
I installed the following firmware prior to the reset
UK
XWKE1:http://www.multiupload.com/15RY5CHHW9
Firmware info: PDA: XWKE1 Phone: NEKD5 CSC:H3GKD4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I did like the Galnet Miui ICS rom I was running although there was a few bugs with it when it died it was difficult to charge again. That's fair if you don't want to give out recommendations it's shooting in the dark over the interenet I suppose. I will have a good look through the forum and se if I find something that I would think is suiting.
Thanks for your help, and the advice is appreciated
Related
Ok, here's the deal:
Rooted the device, everything was a-ok.
Installed Clockwork, everything still a-ok.
Tried using mod manager to install Cyanogen nightly 9, phone rebooted and the progress bar for the mod install wouldn't move. I waited for a while and eventually manually turned the device off as it wasn't making any progress.
Ever since, it won't go past the screen you get at the beginning (w/ the yellow sign indicating an unsecured rom). It just stays there forever.
What I have to work with:
- Clockwork Recovery is available.
- The device is recognized by Odin when in download mode.
- The device is not recognized by the computer/Kies.
What I've tried:
- Followed the instruction for boot loop w/ both stock rom and Villain (no dice).
I'm sorta freaking out now. I have yet to see anyone having the same problem online and I really hope it's not bricked - a 600$ paperweight...
Is there something else I can try? Is it possible to flash stock PIT/Bootloader/PDA/everything else? If it is, would it fix the problem?
Please just point me in the right direction.
Thank You,
Edit: In recovery mode, the following error appears:
- Can't access to "/system/csc/VMC/system/"
Edit: In download mode, the current binary is set to "Samsung Official". Therefore I think this isn't the problem.
Edit: OMG OMG holy crap. Problem has been solved. Got a friend who had the same phone from the same provider to tell me what the firmware for the phone was. Downloaded it. Installed it w/ Odin. I almost turned religious when it booted a bit slower than what I remembered. It works well enough now, although I will probably go exchange it for a new one ASAP, before my warranty expires.
If anyone has similar problems. Don't panic and re-install stock firmware.
Cheers Folks!
Rovah said:
Ok, here's the deal:
Rooted the device, everything was a-ok.
Installed Clockwork, everything still a-ok.
Tried using mod manager to install Cyanogen nightly 9, phone rebooted and the progress bar for the mod install wouldn't move. I waited for a while and eventually manually turned the device off as it wasn't making any progress.
Ever since, it won't go past the screen you get at the beginning (w/ the yellow sign indicating an unsecured rom). It just stays there forever.
What I have to work with:
- Clockwork Recovery is available.
- The device is recognized by Odin when in download mode.
- The device is not recognized by the computer/Kies.
What I've tried:
- Followed the instruction for boot loop w/ both stock rom and Villain (no dice).
I'm sorta freaking out now. I have yet to see anyone having the same problem online and I really hope it's not bricked - a 600$ paperweight...
Is there something else I can try? Is it possible to flash stock PIT/Bootloader/PDA/everything else? If it is, would it fix the problem?
Please just point me in the right direction.
Thank You,
Edit: In recovery mode, the following error appears:
- Can't access to "/system/csc/VMC/system/"
Edit: In download mode, the current binary is set to "Samsung Official". Therefore I think this isn't the problem.
Edit: OMG OMG holy crap. Problem has been solved. Got a friend who had the same phone from the same provider to tell me what the firmware for the phone was. Downloaded it. Installed it w/ Odin. I almost turned religious when it booted a bit slower than what I remembered. It works well enough now, although I will probably go exchange it for a new one ASAP, before my warranty expires.
If anyone has similar problems. Don't panic and re-install stock firmware.
Cheers Folks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem. anyone?
Vincho said:
Same problem. anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you read the answer ???
jje
Look online (samfirmware), ask friends or on forums for anyone who has the SGS2 w/ the same carrier in the same country and try to find the firmware version (I9100***** - the stars are letter codes). Then just download that firmware and use Odin to install it.
If you can't find it,you presumably could just flash any stock firmware and it might work (or it might make things worse, try at your own risk)
Rovah said:
Tried using mod manager to install Cyanogen nightly 9, phone rebooted and the progress bar for the mod install wouldn't move. I waited for a while and eventually manually turned the device off as it wasn't making any progress.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The progress bar not moving is a known issue with the CM7 Recovery. All you need to do is wait for it to say that it's finished. There is nothing wrong with your phone and no need to return it. You just cancelled the CM7 install part way through which meant not all required files were installed on the phone, causing it to not boot.
As for it taking longer to boot into android after the odin reflash. That's because it has to build up it's dalvik-cache again. This is completely normal any time you install a new rom. It only happens on first boot of a rom.
So again, no need to return your device and feel free to try CM7 again. Just remember to let it finish even if the progress bar isn't moving.
Ahh. Ok that makes sense. This ought to teach me to read before screwing around w/ my phone.
I wanted to exchange it because I wasnt sure i'd still be able to install official Samsung firmware updates through Kies.
Suppose an official 2.3.4 firmware comes out, would i be able to install it through Kies?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Rovah said:
Ahh. Ok that makes sense. This ought to teach me to read before screwing around w/ my phone.
I wanted to exchange it because I wasnt sure i'd still be able to install official Samsung firmware updates through Kies.
Suppose an official 2.3.4 firmware comes out, would i be able to install it through Kies?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, as long as the firmware you're flashing is the same as the stock version that came on the phone. And even if not, you'll get the kies updates for whatever region firmware you did flash onto the phone.
I see. Thanks a lot!
Is there any danger to flashing firmware from a different region than the one youre from?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Hello all,
I have tried many things before asking for help, but nothing worked so far.
Here is the story:
I was on ICS 4.0.4, with default ROM coming from carrier.
I wanted to install CM9.1,
spent countless hours doing all backup and reading tutorial.
Tried finally yesterday and it was stuck doing "wiping data". Left it for 20min+ and nothing.
After restarting it, it is now stuck on the boot logo.
I couldn't enter anymore CWM or stock recovery (up+home+power), but could enter Download mode.
So I tried a couple of things I have read on the forum, like installing Siyah-s2-v5.0.1.tar through Odin 3.04 but I still cannot enter recovery mode.
I've read (too late) about the mmc brick bug (couldn't find anyone speaking about it in any tutorial until I reached this point... nothing on CM wiki or in other tuto... classic!).
I hope I'm not in this case though as I can still go to DL mode, and the phones having the brick bug are completely dead (blank screen or no DL mode), as per http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1756242
I managed to finally get CWM working only by using GT-I9100_ICS_ClockworkMod-Recovery_5.5.0.4.tar from Odin, then tried to install CM9.1 from SD card but after reboot it is stuck on the blue cyanogenmod animation boot screen and nothing happens.
Tried also to restore from CWM my nandroid backup, but during the restore it seems to hang then restart by itself, and then I'm back to Galaxy S boot logo (the animated one with the big S).
And after this I have lost again access to recovery mode.
I can't go back to stock and I can't install CM... I was not expecting such issues, it all seemed pretty basic on paper.
I'm really stressed and don't know what to do
Flash a stock rom in Odin (download mode), re-root your phone/flash a kernel with CWM, restore your backup ?
Hi,
thanks for answering,
I have tried to locate such a rom, but I'm not sure which one... is there a specific one to try ? could you point me to it please ?
so far I have tried I9100XXLPQ_I9100OXALPQ_I9100XXLPQ_HOME.tar.md5
but no luck
you also say "re-root", at the time I used this method:
[GUIDE] ROOT/UNROOT Stock ICS Firmware without flashing unsecure kernel - xda-developers
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1501719
Do I need root to install Siyah kernel from Odin ?
I'm trying one from sammobile... let's hope :/
The bad thing is I had no Yellow triangle at the beginning since I'm stuck in this boot loop or no boot to be precise.
Now that I have tried different things to fix it, it is still not working and I have my flash counter = 10.
I cannot even go back to the shop, is there a way to reset it knowing I cannot even reach the OS, I have only DL mode or CWM...
Use a stock rom for your region/carrier (or any stock rom from any region really), it doesn't really matter as I presume you'll be restoring a backup and/or going back to a custom rom anyway won't you ?
Samfirmware & AndroidFirmwares.net have lots of stock roms.
No, you don't need root to flash an Odin version of Siyah. So yes, you can flash that after you've got stock up & running to root your phone rather than re-rooting your phone by flashing a CFRoot kernel or using another root method. Just make sure the version of Siyah you're going to flash matches up with the stock rom you've got on (I.E if you flash a GB stock rom use GB Siyah, ICS stock = use ICS Siyah, etc, etc).
thank you again, I'm downloading the rom from sammobile matching my carrier,
Would you be so kind to send me a PM with your skype username or anything to "chat" with you ? I'm really worried and I spent all night already trying to fix it with no progress at all
Don't worry about the flash counter. That's the least of your problems while your phone is borked Worry about it when it's fixed. There's nothing you can do about the triangle while your phone is cactus.
When you've got it up & running again, use Triangle Away.
But first things first.
---------- Post added at 04:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 AM ----------
You're welcome.
Um, no. Absolutely not. Nothing personal, but if I did that for every person who's asked me for 'hands on' help since I've been here, I'd have spent my time doing nothing else. I don't do 'personal' with people from XDA (which is why I have PM's blocked except for mods).
Besides, you're going to learn much more fixing this yourself. I've given you a stack of information thus far, ball is in your court. Every answer to every question you could possibly ask is on this site. It just sometimes takes a bit of work/reading on your part to find it.
megosu said:
thank you again, I'm downloading the rom from sammobile matching my carrier,
Would you be so kind to send me a PM with your skype username or anything to "chat" with you ? I'm really worried and I spent all night already trying to fix it with no progress at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok I understand.. it is just I have literally spent more than 8 hours on it and had not make any progress at all (even worse I cannot return it to the shop because of the yellow triangle).
I appreciate your help, it gives me a bit of hope but I'm in a very bad situation and I feel I have read and do so much already with no success at all.
I will try your option of restoring the one from Sammobile, I have tried other before without any luck, maybe this one will do... (5min left to DL it).
thanks again for your support
I know where you're coming from. The first flash I tried when I got my phone in 2011 borked because I was careless, and it took me a bit over a day to get the right info/files/etc to get it fixed. I know it's frustrating/tiring/annoying & you're wondering at the start whether you can even fix it. But as long as you've got download mode 99 times out of 100 you can save it.
And as I said, it's good experience; once you've fixed it, you'll be able to handle anything that comes up in future
Let us know how you go. I'm going to bed shortly, but I'm sure someone else will step up & help if you have any further problems.
You're welcome Happy to point you in the right direction.
I have flashed the rom, the exact same one as I had before everything happened...
if it helps, I flashed it from Odin 3.04 as PDA.
I9100BVLPH_I9100TMULPH_I9100BVLPE_HOME.tar.md5
I'm now back to the Samsung GALAXY S2 GT-I9100 logo and nothing happens.
I cannot use recovery mode,
I can use DL mode (it shows 11 counts and current binary as Samsung official.)
update:
I left the phone on the first logo for about 5min and it moved to the next Samsung Galaxy S2 logo, with the big animated S.
I'm waiting but nothing else is happening.
I'm still desperate to fix it.
One thing which can be relevant, whenever I try to wipe or format /data from CWM, my phone is restarting after a few minutes or is saying it cannot be done.
I can format /cache and /system.
Could it be the root cause ? Any way of fixing it ?
Thank you
update: I cannot mount /data from CWM, it says Error mounting /data!
is it the brick bug ? :|
Easy now....your device is still good.
Those animations should take like 1-2 mins when you flash a rom.
Now, you are completly sure that you are actually flashing the right ROM for your device model?
If so, just keep flashing stock roms until you're up and running again, so you can start from scrap.
I tried, the issue is as soon as I flash a stock rom (through Odin), then I can't get into stock recovery mode anymore, I have to flash GT-I9100_ICS_ClockworkMod-Recovery_5.5.0.4.tar to get back the recovery mode.
I tried to flash several times, I think it is down to the fact I cannot mount or format /data.
Which is why I'm wondering if it is the famous brick bug.
My device is GT-I9100 and I took the stock rom from sammobile:
I9100BVLPH_I9100TMULPH_I9100BVLPE_HOME.tar.md5 which is ICS 4.0.4 (that I had before trying to move to CM9.1 and having all this mess in my hands.)
flash this:
http://www.sammobile.com/2012/11/15/i9100xxlsj-%E2%80%93-galaxy-s-ii-android-4-1-2-jelly-bean-test-firmware/.
you are on siyah kernel right?
what you wanna do know is to get to whatever rom your flashing, forget about cmw for now.
this also might help:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1457458
So it is not lost yet ? Not the brick bug ?
just to be sure:
you want me to install through Odin: Siyah-s2-v5.0.1-CWM.zip
then going back to DL mode
I flash through Odin: I9100XXLSJ_I9100OXXLS1_OXX.zip (coming from your link).
anything I'm missing (even if it seems obvious, please let me know as I'm maybe missing something important)
?
I still cannot do Factory reset... is it a problem ?
I dunno what kernel you are using, If stock 4.0.4 kernel you should flash siyah first (safe kernel, no brick bug), and then countinue flashing the ROM. Check out the brick bug thread in general SII forum for directions if you want.
BTW, Odin recognizes your phone right? Check it out, you'll get a huge long breath.
BTW 2: you don't have any kies applications running in your pc.....am I right? if so, CLOSE THEM ALL!
I did had stock 4.0.4 kernel when I first tried to follow CM9.1 wiki, and I did a factory reset through CWM... which is why I think I might have bricked it...
I have checked the brick bug thread (too late it seems...) but so far I can't be sure if I'm in this case or not as they say they can't even reach DL mode, and I can.
Odin recognizes my phone, yes, but anything I flash is stuck on the animated logo.
I do not have Kies installed, just installed the drivers.
Hello first time rooting this phone. Its a SGH-I777. I used the guide from galaxys2root.com/. At first it didnt work because my computer didnt recongnize my phone. I tried a different computer and it seemed successful until it rebooted. When the phone rebooted it did nothing but stay on the first screen. I still have the ability to get into Odin mode(download mode), but that is it. When i put the phone in download mode and use Odin it allows me to download the "zimage" but after rebooting it is the same exact thing. I have tried the one click root, one click factory restore. Tried restoring it on Kies. and nothing work took it to a store and the guy said he tried but it would stop in the middle of the download the only option i had with him was purchasing a new mother board for $80. Does anyone have a solution that can help me fix my phone.
Before i attempted to root it, it had OS 2.3.6 with kernal 2.6.35.7.
Go to the development section and read the stickies. There you will find stock rooted packages you can flash with Odin.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
@jmula,
Enter recovery and perform a wipe data/factory reset. That may clear the failure to boot. If not you'll need to flash back to stock and start over.
The yellow trangle is a result of flashing a custom kernel using Odin or Heimdall, and is expected. You are not the first person having problems with the tools provided by GalaxyS2Root. In the future, I would recommend you avoid his site.
And... as suggested, read and study till you understand the basics. Then if you have questions, feel free to ask.
creepyncrawly said:
@jmula,
Enter recovery and perform a wipe data/factory reset. That may clear the failure to boot. If not you'll need to flash back to stock and start over.
The yellow trangle is a result of flashing a custom kernel using Odin or Heimdall, and is expected. You are not the first person having problems with the tools provided by GalaxyS2Root. In the future, I would recommend you avoid his site.
And... as suggested, read and study till you understand the basics. Then if you have questions, feel free to ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only option that i have is to put the phone in download mode. when i try to download any kernel it reboots and does not go past the booting screen with the triangle.
jmula said:
the only option that i have is to put the phone in download mode. when i try to download any kernel it reboots and does not go past the booting screen with the triangle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to enter recovery. Hold down all three buttons, vol+ vol- and pwr, continuously until the phone boots into recovery. It could take 10 or 15 seconds or more. If that is unsuccessful, then since you can enter download mode, you will need to flash back to stock, or stock plus root. That is not just a kernel, but the entire package. Please see the links in my sig for instructions.
The dropbox links in the download repository are temporarily suspended until probably Monday night or Tuesday as someone abused and over-downloaded. But the hotfile links still work.
creepyncrawly said:
You should be able to enter recovery. Hold down all three buttons, vol+ vol- and pwr, continuously until the phone boots into recovery. It could take 10 or 15 seconds or more. If that is unsuccessful, then since you can enter download mode, you will need to flash back to stock, or stock plus root. That is not just a kernel, but the entire package. Please see the links in my sig for instructions.
The dropbox links in the download repository are temporarily suspended until probably Monday night or Tuesday as someone abused and over-downloaded. But the hotfile links still work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i Downloaded ''UCLE5 Stock ICS plus Root'' . i placed the phone in download mode started Odin and placed file in PDA. It starts but gets stuck at cache.img
jmula said:
i Downloaded ''UCLE5 Stock ICS plus Root'' . i placed the phone in download mode started Odin and placed file in PDA. It starts but gets stuck at cache.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The next thing I would suggest is to try and flash the UCKH7 full stock package with bootloaders. However, as the dropbox links in the download repository are currently suspended, you will have to download it from SamFirmware. To be able to download, you will need to register for free if you havn't already. Search sgh-i777 in the upper right hand corner of the page, then download the I777UCKH7 version. Let us know if that will flash.
Ok it finally wokred after countless times of changing usb ports. I used the one click recovery. It restroed my phone to 2.3.4 i had 2.3.6. I tried to update by kies to 4.01 and it didnt work. Kies froze. The queestion is how do i safltey root the phone?
jmula said:
Ok it finally wokred after countless times of changing usb ports. I used the one click recovery. It restroed my phone to 2.3.4 i had 2.3.6. I tried to update by kies to 4.01 and it didnt work. Kies froze. The queestion is how do i safltey root the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash a .tar version of a custom kernel with Odin. I always use an old siyah.tar, but that's just me. There are other methods floating around but that's the quickest and easiest for me. I think there's an old entropy dd.tar around somewhere too. But just flash it through Odin and you're good to go, assuming you flashed one for your version of android. If you just want to get into recovery to flash something this works as well.
There may be links to tar versions of the kernels in creepy's sig I don't remember offhand.
Ok since i do not want to brick my phone again where it is just stuck at the boot loop. I tried looking for ways to root and when i tried some of them my phone went back to the problem it had it the beginning. Should i just call it quits or do you guys have a guide?
jmula said:
Ok since i do not want to brick my phone again where it is just stuck at the boot loop. I tried looking for ways to root and when i tried some of them my phone went back to the problem it had it the beginning. Should i just call it quits or do you guys have a guide?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give up???
I personally don't think flashing a kernel with odin is the best way to root. It increments the flash counter, for one thing, though I'm not sure how many people care about that anymore. I would suggest that you use the stock plus root package to root the phone with odin. See the links in my sig.
Guide... did someone say guide?
Feeling the pain....
creepyncrawly said:
@jmula,
Enter recovery and perform a wipe data/factory reset. That may clear the failure to boot. If not you'll need to flash back to stock and start over.
The yellow trangle is a result of flashing a custom kernel using Odin or Heimdall, and is expected. You are not the first person having problems with the tools provided by GalaxyS2Root. In the future, I would recommend you avoid his site.
And... as suggested, read and study till you understand the basics. Then if you have questions, feel free to ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, to Creepy....you've been a great resource here and I read a lot of what you post and you got me out of the very jam being discussed here. I made the mistake of trying to root via the galaxys2root.com site (actually, I thought it was a different site...was redirected), got the i9100 screen and a boot loop...couldn't go anywhere. I came back here and found resources eventually unrooting my phone all the way back to 2.3.4, then moved to 2.3.6, then the stock android 4.0.3 which updated to 4.0.4.
But I still want to root (4.0.4 shuts itself down A LOT...more than 4.0.3) and I have a Galaxy note 10.1 with JB 4.1.2 and I LOVE IT! I feel on a mission to get rooted and try out some of the JB roms I see talked about here, but can't seem to find the best way to root. I've heard exynosabuse referenced here (no links to it though) and I don't want to use the wrong one and mess up my phone. I've been reading for weeks here and there's obviously a lot of great material, but I'm not sure which material is critical to understand, and which is "nice to know" but might not even apply, and which material isn't even right. Very frustrating.
Judi
judib said:
First, to Creepy....you've been a great resource here and I read a lot of what you post and you got me out of the very jam being discussed here. I made the mistake of trying to root via the galaxys2root.com site (actually, I thought it was a different site...was redirected), got the i9100 screen and a boot loop...couldn't go anywhere. I came back here and found resources eventually unrooting my phone all the way back to 2.3.4, then moved to 2.3.6, then the stock android 4.0.3 which updated to 4.0.4.
But I still want to root (4.0.4 shuts itself down A LOT...more than 4.0.3) and I have a Galaxy note 10.1 with JB 4.1.2 and I LOVE IT! I feel on a mission to get rooted and try out some of the JB roms I see talked about here, but can't seem to find the best way to root. I've heard exynosabuse referenced here (no links to it though) and I don't want to use the wrong one and mess up my phone. I've been reading for weeks here and there's obviously a lot of great material, but I'm not sure which material is critical to understand, and which is "nice to know" but might not even apply, and which material isn't even right. Very frustrating.
Judi
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The ExynosAbuse application is the only practical way to root 4.0.4 without changing base. You can download it as an attachment in the OP of the developer's thread, but read through the thread first to understand its limitations and risks.
Alternatively, you could flash 4.0.3 plus root from the development forum. If you choose that route, please read the thread to understand how to install a custom kernel, which is recommended whether you plan to install a custom firmware or not. The custom kernel will contain ClockworkMod Recovery so you can flash the firmware of your choice if you wish.
There are really several routes you could choose. All of them work. Another would be to flash back to stock Gingerbread plus root. For that see my guide How to Flash Custom Binaries Without Ever Incrementing the Flash counter!! (link in sig)
Hmmmmm..
Well, I see that their are many, more experienced than me following this thread and my following comment is not meant to jump on the knowledge train here, but............... I had the same event happen as the orig poster earlier today. I had installed an app,I then rebooted and it got a bit stuck on the Galaxy SII, What I did was go into recovery ,cleared the Dalvik cache and that is all I cleared. Then I re-installed the RR Rom .rar, which I keep on my SD, over everything and rebooted, it came back as it was 4 mins before . All I did after, was do a system restore(only) using Titanium BU. So when I see all the "clear and restore this and that" I started to doubt some of the more experienced than I. My 2 cents is, that, if one does not know EXACTLY ,how to correct an issue,leave it for our more knowledgeable brothers and sisters.
If I am wrong ,please except my appology.
b0bb said:
Well, I see that their are many, more experienced than me following this thread and my following comment is not meant to jump on the knowledge train here, but............... I had the same event happen as the orig poster earlier today. I had installed an app,I then rebooted and it got a bit stuck on the Galaxy SII, What I did was go into recovery ,cleared the Dalvik cache and that is all I cleared. Then I re-installed the RR Rom .rar, which I keep on my SD, over everything and rebooted, it came back as it was 4 mins before . All I did after, was do a system restore(only) using Titanium BU. So when I see all the "clear and restore this and that" I started to doubt some of the more experienced than I. My 2 cents is, that, if one does not know EXACTLY ,how to correct an issue,leave it for our more knowledgeable brothers and sisters.
If I am wrong ,please except my appology.
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I don't know what you're trying to get across here. Yes, restoring a backup nandroid works. Yes, you can try wiping cache and dalvik to see if it fixes an issue. Yes you can restore apps via titanium backup. All these things are indeed true.
Phalanx7621 said:
I don't know what you're trying to get across here. Yes, restoring a backup nandroid works. Yes, you can try wiping cache and dalvik to see if it fixes an issue. Yes you can restore apps via titanium backup. All these things are indeed true.
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Well if you did not fully grasp what I was trying to get across,you seemed to get it correct with your statement.
b0bb said:
Well if you did not fully grasp what I was trying to get across,you seemed to get it correct with your statement.
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And yet you say, "All I did after, was do a system restore(only) using Titanium BU." This may have worked for you, but this is an absolute recipe for disaster, and should not be given as a recommendation.
And further, from what you say, you did not have the "same event happen as the orig poster." Instead you "had installed an app,I then rebooted and it got a bit stuck on the Galaxy SII." This is by far not the same as trying to root with a tool from GalaxyS2Root.
creepyncrawly said:
And yet you say, "All I did after, was do a system restore(only) using Titanium BU." This may have worked for you, but this is an absolute recipe for disaster, and should not be given as a recommendation.
And further, from what you say, you did not have the "same event happen as the orig poster." Instead you "had installed an app,I then rebooted and it got a bit stuck on the Galaxy SII." This is by far not the same as trying to root with a tool from GalaxyS2Root.
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Hey Bro, I think you think that I am challenging you, trust me I am not and I thank you for correcting me and putting me in my place, which is a bit phone techie challenged, I'll stick to building submarines. Thanks for what you do here.
b0bb said:
Hey Bro, I think you think that I am challenging you, trust me I am not and I thank you for correcting me and putting me in my place, which is a bit phone techie challenged, I'll stick to building submarines. Thanks for what you do here.
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Not at all. I want people to help others here. I want you to help other here as well. But it is important to post only accurate information. Inaccurate information can cause someone to do the wrong action. So I always correct misinformation.
Not my first time to root and install a custom rom on other phone, but this phone isn't treating me well.
So I followed the root guides to root the phone.
Downloaded an insecure kernel for i9100. Although, oddly enough, I bought this phone 2nd hand, and when I went to the "about" part for the kernel look up before tried to root it, the kernel info just contained ICS3.?? (forgot) and the date. There was no four or five letter kernel code like I've been seeing. But according to cnet (one of many rooting tutorials), the kernel version doesn't matter as you can change the kernel anytime, or after rooting in this case.
So I installed Kies to get the Samsung drivers installed. Done.
Restarted phone to download mode (volume down, home, power)
Started Odin 3 v1.83
Phone was recognized. Click the 2 boxes (Auto reboot and F. Rest Time).
Clicked PDA, loaded up an insecure kernel.
Status went through OK, ended up with "Pass!"
Phone automatically restarted.
Now the problem. It restarts, shows the Samsung Galaxy S2 logo with the big triangle underneath it, and thats it. Never leaves this screen. I thought maybe it's a kernel problem, so I tried several different insecure kernels, all with no change. I have no idea how to find what kernel was the original one that came with this phone. Would using Odin with the original secure kernel (or even insecure) solve this problem? Otherwise, what else can I do? My note 2 was stolen so I bought this s2 second hand until I can scrape up enough money for a note 2 again, but the damn thing won't even boot up now. :crying:
How can I get this working again, even to have it stock again I'd be fine (though obviously putting on a custom room with root would be best).
Well you dont seem to mention what you have tried after flashing your kernel?
Have you tried going into download or recovery mode, do they work? If so simply flash another kernel or rom.
Also, I my be wrong but there isnt a China i9100 afaik so you may have flashed incorrect kernel so system isnt booting.
Remove battery and tell/show us what label says.
TheATHEiST said:
Well you dont seem to mention what you have tried after flashing your kernel?
Have you tried going into download or recovery mode, do they work? If so simply flash another kernel or rom.
Also, I my be wrong but there isnt a China i9100 afaik so you may have flashed incorrect kernel so system isnt booting.
Remove battery and tell/show us what label says.
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There wasn't much to try, at least as far as my noob self knows about. I tried flashing 6 other kernels I found, merely taking guesses at which might possibly be the Chinese s2 one, I remember from flashing other phones that i had to look for Z or D in the kernel ID. But all of them just led to the same problem of not booting past the logo screen.
Besides just trying to start it up as normal (which doesn't work) and starting it up in download (by holding down vol+home+power), what others ways can I start it up? I don't know how to boot into recovery, and I didn't know I can flash a rom without first rooting it, which I haven't done yet because it's still stuck in start-up.
Searching enough xda threads and just googling seems show a pretty large consensus supporting the existance of a China i9100, plus I see them everywhere (as well as s3, s4, and notes), so I'm 99% sure they are an official and semi-large market for them here (after iPhones unfortunately). But even still, that doesn't help me locate the original kernel.
Under the battery, is says this:
Samsung WCDMA
Model #: GT-I9100
CMIIT ID: 2011CP2751
Do these help? So is any of the steps I did wrong, or can you otherwise point me in the right direction? Appreciate the help.
Don't post your IMEI (or your SN for that matter).
MistahBungle said:
Don't post your IMEI (or your SN for that matter).
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Thanks for the tip MistahBungle. Edited out.
Hate to say it, but found more help on youtube... Found a guide that walked me through replacing all the files (not just kernel) in Odin that got it back up and running. I'll follow the xda guides again and hopefully it'll work this time... Thanks anyways...
I'm in a bit of a tight situation over here. My mom's phone was having issues, so she wanted me to fix it before I left to visit my grandparents. I found a stock ROM for the phone (GT-i9100 International) and flashed it, but the phone always got stuck on the "Samsung Galaxy SII GT-I9100" boot screen (occasionally it would show the "O2" screen, as it was a ROM for Ireland). I tried a different ROM (can't remember what country it was), and I'm still stuck with the same problem. This time no O2 screen though. I've downloaded my ROMs through sammobile.com and I'm using ODIN v1.83.
The label under the battery reads:
Model: GT-I9100
SSN: -I9100GSMH
What ROM should I use and where can I get it? I found this thread with a link to the ROM for the international version, but Hotfile has been shut down, so I can't download it.
Sorry if I could've found the answer with a few more hours of searching, but I've got less than 24 hours to find a fix and I was hoping that someone else could help me. Thanks a lot!
EDIT: I'm in the U.S., if that matters.
Try AndroidFirmwares.net or Samsung-Updates.com. If it were me in that situation (I.E not my phone), I'd be putting whatever the latest firmware is for the carrier/country.
Any region?
MistahBungle said:
Try AndroidFirmwares.net or Samsung-Updates.com. If it were me in that situation (I.E not my phone), I'd be putting whatever the latest firmware is for the carrier/country.
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Should any region work to get the phone up and running? I just need to get it back up so that I can root it and flash CM10. Thanks.
Yep absolutely. If your end result is to root the phone & put a custom rom on, use any stock rom you can get your hands on. Though I'd be avoiding 4.0.4, anything other than that should be fine.
MistahBungle said:
Yep absolutely. If your end result is to root the phone & put a custom rom on, use any stock rom you can get your hands on. Though I'd be avoiding 4.0.4, anything other than that should be fine.
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Is 4.1.2 OK, or should I go for 4.0.3 or below?
Doesn't matter, take your pick.
More info on problem
I tried installing two other ROMs (from androidfirmwares.net), one 4.1.2 and one 2.3.6. The 4.1.2 didn't get me anywhere, but after I flashed 2.3.6 the phone said the assert check failed. GT-i9100 is on the list of what it checked for. (I've never had any luck with the assert checks on any of my Samsung phones: GS Captivate, GSII Skyrocket, or AT&T GSIII. I've always had to remove the check in my update script.) I attached a picture.
EDIT: Since the attachment doesn't seem to be working, here's a Dropbox link.
Pic won't load for me, but it mentions 'recovery error', what exactly are you doing/what's the problem ?
MistahBungle said:
Pic won't load for me, but it mentions 'recovery error', what exactly are you doing/what's the problem ?
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My process:
Open ODIN v3.09
Plug in the phone, already in download mode.
Click the AP button and load my .tar.md5.
Click Start.
Wait for it to finish, leaving the phone untouched on the table.
I just tried another USB cable, but to no avail. I've also tried unplugging the phone right after it reboots and ODIN says "PASS!", but no luck there either. I just tried another ROM that just finished downloading and it's giving me a similar getprop() error. At the bottom of the output in red it says:
E:Error in /cache/recovery/sec_csc.zip
(Status 7)
Installation aborted.
I don't think there's any way for me to edit the update script, as the tar contains a bunch of filesystem images. Even if it was easy to edit it would ruin the checksum verification.
Check out the picture on Dropbox here.
What are you trying to do in Android recovery ? Given what your stated aim is - get a stock rom on the phone, re-root it, put custom rom on, you shouldn't be using Android (I.E stock) recovery at any stage.
The process should be:-
*Flash stock rom with Odin in download mode (I.E phone off - home/vol down/power, not home/vol up/power)
*Root phone with whatever method
*Flash custom rom with CWRecovery, which you'll get once you root the phone
So....You need to go step by step. Start with flashing the stock rom with Odin, and try to boot the phone normally/make sure that was successful before doing the next two steps. Look for Hopper8's 'Odin troubleshooting' guide if you're having trouble getting a successful Odin flash.
Once you've done that, root the phone & make sure you have CWRecovery working, then flash the custom rom.
The phone boots to the recovery screen after it finishes flashing with ODIN. I put it into download mode, run ODIN, and then it that error screen comes up on the next reboot.
Try flashing the three part firmware linked to in Hopper's thread first (this will wipe the phone). I can't help but think we're missing some info re: what's been done to the phone previously here if the phone is booting into recovery mode after being Odin flashed. It shouldn't do that. After an Odin flash/pass the phone should boot normally, assuming it's not a case of the NAND being corrupted (it probably wouldn't boot into recovery if that was the case/you'd be left with constant bootloop)
I know you've mentioned what's on the sticker on the phone chassis under the battery but are you absolutely 100% sure it's an I9100 ?
MistahBungle said:
I know you've mentioned what's on the sticker on the phone chassis under the battery but are you absolutely 100% sure it's an I9100 ?
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At the top of the download mode screen it says "PRODUCT NAME: GT-i9100". I don't know any other way to tell besides this and the sticker on the back. There are no carrier markings anywhere, and this phone was purchased because it had an FM radio, which only the international version had.
And assuming by "Hopper's thread" you mean this one, I can't because the files are no longer available.
In that case, you're stuck with the other suggestions to try in his thread & continuing to flash stock roms until you get a properly successful flash I.E phone boots/works normally. There might be something really obvious here being missed, but because we're not there with you/don't have the phone in front of us it might be difficult to work out.
It's working!
Yay, I got it to work! I flashed a custom kernel (jeboo), which allowed me to get into CWM. From there I sideloaded CM10 and now it's up and running! Only I still have a problem with internal storage... (That was the problem I was trying to fix originally.) Would the next thing to try to fix that be flashing a PIT file? If so, any tips for doing that?
I'm going to put off trying to fix that problem and do it when I get back. For now it works as a phone, and that's what's most important to her anyway. Thanks for your help MistahBungle.
Solved!
For anyone else who comes across this thread, I was able to solve my problem permanently by flashing a new PIT file. I found the correct PIT files for the GT-i9100 in this XDA thread. It seemed my partitions had become messed up long ago, as the phone had been showing a 2GB /data partition and only a 2GB internal SD card partition (which should've been closer to 12GB) for some time.
I choose a 4GB data partition (since I was running low on /data space last time). Oddly enough, booting the stock ROM after flashing the PIT only showed a 2GB data partition. Once I flashed CM10 it showed as 4GB though.