Rom! Rom! Rom! Which one ? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi
I have recently rooted my Galaxy s2 and now im looking for a different rom but there is so many to choose from and so many old threads with roms in them i have not got a clue what to choose from. Idealy im looking for a rom that will help give me longer batter life, a better wifi signal and somthing that i can add themes to.
I also have 2 questions i would like answered before i continue with a new rom.
1st Question. I currently have firmware version 2.3.5 would i need a rom compatable with this firmware?
2nd Question. My build is Gingerbread would i also need a rom that is compatable with Gingerbread
Any advice or appropriate links would be appreciated.

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tmmv1 said:
Hi
I have recently rooted my Galaxy s2 and now im looking for a different rom but there is so many to choose from and so many old threads with roms in them i have not got a clue what to choose from. Idealy im looking for a rom that will help give me longer batter life, a better wifi signal and somthing that i can add themes to.
I also have 2 questions i would like answered before i continue with a new rom.
1st Question. I currently have firmware version 2.3.5 would i need a rom compatable with this firmware?
2nd Question. My build is Gingerbread would i also need a rom that is compatable with Gingerbread
Any advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check if it is i9100 or i9100G. In case, it's i9100G then mate, you don't have much to choose from. If it's i9100 then you will have to try different rom and kernel combination to suit your need, everyone has different battery life for every other user. You can start off with Checkrom, it's quite great, I'm using it. Irrespective of the rom, read first page and last 5 pages of the thread so that you know what to expect, problem wise and function wise. Read, read and read carefully before doing anything.

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iekansh said:
Check if it is i9100 or i9100G. In case, it's i9100G then mate, you don't have much to choose from. If it's i9100 then you will have to try different rom and kernel combination to suit your need, everyone has different battery life for every other user. You can start off with Checkrom, it's quite great, I'm using it. Irrespective of the rom, read first page and last 5 pages of the thread so that you know what to expect, problem wise and function wise. Read, read and read carefully before doing anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the fast reply and advice mate
I just checked and im on the GT-I9100 model. The Kernal i am currently using is cwm

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tmmv1 said:
Thanks for the fast reply and advice mate
I just checked and im on the GT-I9100 model. The Kernal i am currently using is cwm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lool i think ur getting a bit confused mate.
cwm isnt a kernel, its a program allowing u to flash zips.
i imagine ur running stock right?
then ur kernel will be stock.
i reccomend either checkrom v6 or if ur feeling daring ICS roms r pretty gd aswell

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CWM is not a kernel its a function inside the kernel mate
you need to decide wether you want ICS or GB
for ICS i'd reccomend XXLPH stock ROM its the best rom i've tried for 4.0.3
and for GB you can go for Checkrom V6 i've heard its pretty awesome ( i tried v4 myself but didnt like the battery life)

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adamski123 said:
lool i think ur getting a bit confused mate.
cwm isnt a kernel, its a program allowing u to flash zips.
i imagine ur running stock right?
then ur kernel will be stock.
i reccomend either checkrom v6 or if ur feeling daring ICS roms r pretty gd aswell
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh Rite lol I guess i should be sent to the youtube clip for xda again.
So let me get this rite
When i start my phone and choose the up+home+ start button i see a menu called clockwork recovery v4.0.0.2 this is a kernal?

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tmmv1 said:
Oh Rite lol I guess i should be sent to the youtube clip for xda again.
So let me get this rite
When i start my phone and choose the up+home+ start button i see a menu called clockwork recovery v4.0.0.2 this is a kernal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, the kernel is wen u go into about phone and go to kernel version. It will then display it underneath.
Wat rom r u running?
did u buy the phone from the shop or somewhere else?

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>1st Question. I currently have firmware version 2.3.5 would i need a rom compatable with this firmware?
>2nd Question. My build is Gingerbread would i also need a rom that is compatable with Gingerbread
I've tested the ICS stock rom and a few others but for now settled for the "Resurrection Remix ics v9.3 black edition XXLPH 4.0.3 FULL-Wipe" and I'm very satisfied.
Battery wise it a lot better and the interface seems snappier and not as bloated as the original rom.

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RorixRebel said:
CWM is not a kernel its a function inside the kernel mate
you need to decide wether you want ICS or GB
for ICS i'd reccomend XXLPH stock ROM its the best rom i've tried for 4.0.3
and for GB you can go for Checkrom V6 i've heard its pretty awesome ( i tried v4 myself but didnt like the battery life)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chears mate.
From my point of view reading all the threads and topics regarding kernals and roms is a bit mind messing because there is so many too choose from

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ok do the following, grab your phone - > dialer - > *#1234#
this will display PDA,CSC and Phone, this will provide the rom you are running for further reference
then into settings->about phone->kernel version ( must be something since you have root and CWM, im guessing chainfire kernel)
with that information we can provide you a better help

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See my sig. Best Rom by far that I have tried.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1312240

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adamski123 said:
no, the kernel is wen u go into about phone and go to kernel version. It will then display it underneath.
Wat rom r u running?
did u buy the phone from the shop or somewhere else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the thread i followed
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
This is what i installed
http://download.chainfire.eu/39/CF-Root/SGS2/CF-Root-SGS2_XX_OXA_KI3-v4.1-CWM4.zip
I bought the phone from a family member

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tmmv1 said:
Hi
I have recently rooted my Galaxy s2 and now im looking for a different rom but there is so many to choose from and so many old threads with roms in them i have not got a clue what to choose from. Idealy im looking for a rom that will help give me longer batter life, a better wifi signal and somthing that i can add themes to.
I also have 2 questions i would like answered before i continue with a new rom.
1st Question. I currently have firmware version 2.3.5 would i need a rom compatable with this firmware?
2nd Question. My build is Gingerbread would i also need a rom that is compatable with Gingerbread
Any advice or appropriate links would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think if you are confused with the diffrences between kernel and cmw, i am pretty sure you are confussed about a lot of other things. So i think some reading is in order -
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1125282
This is a very good guide to read and their are other links within that thread to look through too. We all start not knowing what to do but lots of reading always helps, i hope it all goes well for you.
P.S. I am using ICS CM9 Codeworkx and it's a great rom, very stable even for a new user of custom roms.

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as i thought you have a CF-Root so you are rooted and with CWM, on your app drawer you should have the CWM icon.
So you are ready to flash mate
you have to pick a ROM
for ICS i recommend
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1292825
for GB try
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1312240
in both scenarios you have to download the files and place them inside your phone via usb on a folder, then go into CWM mode and pick the option "install zip from sdcard" navigate inside your folders and pick the file you downloaded.....couple mins later you flashed succesfully your phone
cheers

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RorixRebel said:
as i thought you have a CF-Root so you are rooted and with CWM, on your app drawer you should have the CWM icon.
So you are ready to flash mate
you have to pick a ROM
for ICS i recommend
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1292825
for GB try
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1312240
in both scenarios you have to download the files and place them inside your phone via usb on a folder, they go into CWM mode and pick the option "install zip from sdcard" navigate inside your folders and pick the file you downloaded.....couple mins later you flashed succesfully your phone
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeh
Wat he said^^
But makev uve read everything and know wat to do before flashing.
Good luck
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

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RorixRebel said:
as i thought you have a CF-Root so you are rooted and with CWM, on your app drawer you should have the CWM icon.
So you are ready to flash mate
you have to pick a ROM
for ICS i recommend
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1292825
for GB try
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1312240
in both scenarios you have to download the files and place them inside your phone via usb on a folder, they go into CWM mode and pick the option "install zip from sdcard" navigate inside your folders and pick the file you downloaded.....couple mins later you flashed succesfully your phone
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate. I did get confussed with my replies but i had a feeling i did install a kernal so thanks for verifying it for me
What is the difference between the Ics and GB please?
The Kernal im using can be kept while changing roms yeah? or do i have to change kernals for certain roms ?

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tmmv1 said:
Thanks mate. I did get confussed with my replies but i had a feeling i did install a kernal so thanks for verifying it for me
What is the difference between the Ics and GB please?
The Kernal im using can be kept while changing roms yeah? or do i have to change kernals for certain roms ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you everyone for your support and patience

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the difference...amm you will need to youtube or google that as they are tons of different things, ICS is faster, smoother and damn good looking for me at least. Ill never go back to GB once i tasted the ICS
the kernels used for both ICS and GB are different each rom has its own kernel where the dev tested it works correctly, you could change them but if you flash a kernel you shouldn't or if its not compatible with the rom you might regret that
stick with the kernels included in the roms unless you are 100% sure they can work on the rom you pick
oh and one last thing before flashing stuff wipe your phone, its done inside CWM there's an option which says "wipe data/factory reset" and also wipe your dalvik cache inside CWM as well on "advanced->wipe dalvik cache"
hope it helped mate

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RorixRebel said:
the difference...amm you will need to youtube or google that as they are tons of different things, ICS is faster, smoother and damn good looking for me at least. Ill never go back to GB once i tasted the ICS
the kernels used for both ICS and GB are different each rom has its own kernel where the dev tested it works correctly, you could change them but if you flash a kernel you shouldn't or if its not compatible with the rom you might regret that
stick with the kernels included in the roms unless you are 100% sure they can work on the rom you pick
oh and one last thing before flashing stuff wipe your phone, its done inside CWM there's an option which says "wipe data/factory reset" and also wipe your dalvik cache inside CWM as well on "advanced->wipe dalvik cache"
hope it helped mate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the roms have there own kernels in? just to verify please?

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im a little outdated on kernels but last time i checked there were kernels for GB and kernels for ICS. not sure if they work on both operative systems now
still, stick with the kerneles included in the roms, they are tested and included in the roms cause they work, by your question i feel you are concerned about losing CWM
worry not mate, CWM is present in all of the rooted kernels
cheers