Is my Galaxy S2 Rooted? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi Everyone,
I just got my Galaxy S2 back, model number GT-19100M. I had sent it in to get it unlocked, the sim and the carrier unlock. I assume that this would be rooted to have accomplished this?
They had an issue unlocking the carrier and had to reflash the phone to gingerbread before they were able to unlock the carrier. So I got it baack and the version is 4.0.3 now.
So I did some googling about how to tell if it was rooted. Now, from my understanding that to flash the phone with a rom it would have to be rooted. So I came across about using Root Checker, So i installed it and it said it wasnt rooted, I then installed ConnectBot and the thread (not from here) said that if a prompt came up with a # then it meant it was rooted, and if it came up with a $ at the prompt then it wasnt rooted. Low and behold it showed a $.
So all in all how do I tell if it was rooted? It cost me 50$ and well over a week and a half to get it back. So were the two applications correct and if not what is the right way to tell if it was rooted or is there something I should notice on the phone?
Thanks for any and all help on this situation.

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BlindSession said:
Hi Everyone,
I just got my Galaxy S2 back, model number GT-19100M. I had sent it in to get it unlocked, the sim and the carrier unlock. I assume that this would be rooted to have accomplished this?
They had an issue unlocking the carrier and had to reflash the phone to gingerbread before they were able to unlock the carrier. So I got it baack and the version is 4.0.3 now.
So I did some googling about how to tell if it was rooted. Now, from my understanding that to flash the phone with a rom it would have to be rooted. So I came across about using Root Checker, So i installed it and it said it wasnt rooted, I then installed ConnectBot and the thread (not from here) said that if a prompt came up with a # then it meant it was rooted, and if it came up with a $ at the prompt then it wasnt rooted. Low and behold it showed a $.
So all in all how do I tell if it was rooted? It cost me 50$ and well over a week and a half to get it back. So were the two applications correct and if not what is the right way to tell if it was rooted or is there something I should notice on the phone?
Thanks for any and all help on this situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) u can check ur kernel and see.
2) also u can check for an app SuperSU or Superuser's presence in app drawer, if present ur phone is rooted else no.
3) u can install some apps like root explorer/browser etc and see, since they wrk only with root prievilage

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Sun90 said:
1) u can check ur kernel and see.
2) also u can check for an app SuperSU or Superuser's presence in app drawer, if present ur phone is rooted else no.
3) u can install some apps like root explorer/browser etc and see, since they wrk only with root prievilage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi thanks for the reply,
I downloaded and ran SuperSu and got this pop up "There is no SU binary installed, and SuperSU cannot install it. This is a problem!". So then I downloaded Root Browser Lite, i opened it up and got a list of folders. So now I'm confused, I have SuperSU saying that there is a problem, and with Root Browser Lite it runs and gives me a list of folders.
My kernel version is as follows: 3.0.15-I9100MUGLD3-CL377577 [email protected] #3
From my understanding and please correct me if i am wrong, but to do both unlocks (sim and carrier) that it needs to be rooted?
Before I handed the phone over to the computer store to unlock it, I had asked if it would be rooted and they said yes, but i didnt copy all the stuff in the about phone, but I was supplied with my unlock code to use when i pop a different sim in it.
Also, when I looked at the messages when i got it back that there was a text from rogers and the carrier that i was using was Virgin, so it looks as though it was properly unlocked.
I dont have anyone near me at the moment with a different carrier sim card (My girlfriend uses Telus, I suppose I could pop hers in but she might throw a fit and think that I could screw her iphone up lol)
So what would be my next plan of action?
Thanks for your reply

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BlindSession said:
Hi thanks for the reply,
I downloaded and ran SuperSu and got this pop up "There is no SU binary installed, and SuperSU cannot install it. This is a problem!". So then I downloaded Root Browser Lite, i opened it up and got a list of folders. So now I'm confused, I have SuperSU saying that there is a problem, and with Root Browser Lite it runs and gives me a list of folders.
My kernel version is as follows: 3.0.15-I9100MUGLD3-CL377577 [email protected] #3
From my understanding and please correct me if i am wrong, but to do both unlocks (sim and carrier) that it needs to be rooted?
Before I handed the phone over to the computer store to unlock it, I had asked if it would be rooted and they said yes, but i didnt copy all the stuff in the about phone, but I was supplied with my unlock code to use when i pop a different sim in it.
Also, when I looked at the messages when i got it back that there was a text from rogers and the carrier that i was using was Virgin, so it looks as though it was properly unlocked.
I dont have anyone near me at the moment with a different carrier sim card (My girlfriend uses Telus, I suppose I could pop hers in but she might throw a fit and think that I could screw her iphone up lol)
So what would be my next plan of action?
Thanks for your reply
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well by seeing ur kernel it seems that its a stock kernel hence ur phone is not rooted.
may be after unlocking ur phone they might have flashed the stock kernel back to unroot ur phone i suppose

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Sun90 said:
well by seeing ur kernel it seems that its a stock kernel hence ur phone is not rooted.
may be after unlocking ur phone they might have flashed the stock kernel back to unroot ur phone i suppose
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After thinking for a moment, this does look like the kernel that was previously on it, I had played around with it before hand and I remember some things and the kernel looks familiar..
Well I believe you are correct that they reflashed it with the stock rom...Why they would do that is beyond me lol.
So I guess I am going to start rooting this on my own, would you please direct me to rooting this model? I know I can search this forum but I have done that before and noticed different ways of doing it. I just want to make sure that i do this properly using the proper thread and if i can do this properly then Im going to start on the path to rooting my S3 , So i guess my s2 is my practice
I do appreciate your replies and help with my situation

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BlindSession said:
After thinking for a moment, this does look like the kernel that was previously on it, I had played around with it before hand and I remember some things and the kernel looks familiar..
Well I believe you are correct that they reflashed it with the stock rom...Why they would do that is beyond me lol.
So I guess I am going to start rooting this on my own, would you please direct me to rooting this model? I know I can search this forum but I have done that before and noticed different ways of doing it. I just want to make sure that i do this properly using the proper thread and if i can do this properly then Im going to start on the path to rooting my S3 , So i guess my s2 is my practice
I do appreciate your replies and help with my situation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the link below would be the simple on to start with rooting for u
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1746794
read the OP completely to understand the procedure and then proceed
good luck

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Sun90 said:
the link below would be the simple on to start with rooting for u
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1746794
read the OP completely to understand the procedure and then proceed
good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks alot for your help I'll let you know how it goes I will be calling the computer store tomorrow that i used to question them on why they would do that after saying that it would be rooted lol

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BlindSession said:
Thanks alot for your help I'll let you know how it goes I will be calling the computer store tomorrow that i used to question them on why they would do that after saying that it would be rooted lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow this looks confusing on where do I start lol

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BlindSession said:
Wow this looks confusing on where do I start lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nothing is confusing as long as u read and understand carefully what has been specified in those rooting method threads.
but still i would suggest u simply keep out of this rooting thing, if ur not sure about the same and unable to understand things about rooting properly

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Sun90 said:
nothing is confusing as long as u read and understand carefully what has been specified in those rooting method threads.
but still i would suggest u simply keep out of this rooting thing, if ur not sure about the same and unable to understand things about rooting properly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have read the rooting methods, and again reading it slower, I am not sure about this busybox thing, i think where i am getting confused because it doesnt seem to pop out to me saying if its ok to uninstall busybox and if i did would it still be rooted. I really dont some program running in the background to keep it rooted.
I have been writing software for over 5 years and i figured that this would be a walk in the park. Sit me infront of visual studio and i am a wiz with c#/Asp and sql, but with this i feel like complete noob and i am in actuality. Which is irritating me.
The reason behind having the desire to root this phone is because it should have been done when i got it unlocked 2) because with a rooted phone i have more options and control over this phone 3) because i dont know how and for being able to program that i should be able to do this. It seems like a different ball game and in all honesty knowledge is power and what i dont know how so it is a need to know how to do it. regardless if i wreck the phone, trial by fire i suppose. I cant learn if i dont attempt it and make the mistakes. When you learn how to do something and have come across making mistakes you tend to keep the knowledge more and appreciate what is learned.
Sorry, I got on my soap box on trying to justify doing this lol. But I do appreciate what you suggest. But Im going to try it and hopefully bring me out of my noob status lol.
i will keep you posted

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Its not rocket science and what a load of rubbish about doing things wrong and wrecking your phone in order to learn.
What you do is read about other clowns wrecking their phones and dont do what they done-so you learn without any risk.
Just get rooted for now so you can use them fancy apps to get more control over you phone.Read about brickbug and look at some of the rom threads and also learn about cwm and odin.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

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theunderling said:
Its not rocket science and what a load of rubbish about doing things wrong and wrecking your phone in order to learn.
What you do is read about other clowns wrecking their phones and dont do what they done-so you learn without any risk.
Just get rooted for now so you can use them fancy apps to get more control over you phone.Read about brickbug and look at some of the rom threads and also learn about cwm and odin.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forgive me for using the wrong words, I did not say to do things wrong and wreaking my phone. I should have phrased that differently, IF i do it wrong and wreck it somehow then it is a lessoned learned.I'm in no way out to wreck my phone, thats ridiculous. I have made many mistakes during programming that I have learned and remembered what not to do, some people learn the hard way to retain what they did wrong and not to repeat it. Not everyone learns the same way.
I completely understand about reading how others wreck their phone so i can learn without risk, and to read up on odin and brickbug, which is blatantly obvious.
As for fancy apps, you are kidding right? you think i want to root my phone to use fancy apps? I think not. i'm not some kid that likes shiney new things and to be the one to say "look what i got". That comment was utter disrespect. Maybe instead of trying to make me look like a dumbass you could be a little more helpful and not be so blantantly obvious on what i should do, which i already have started doing until i had to reply this.
Is this how you treat everyone that is starting to learn something new? You make obvious statements, mock by saying what isnt rocket science? I highly doubt that when you started doing this that you werent some dumbass in the beginning.
I appreciate the person who was replying to my questions and pointing me in the right direction, he was helpful. You were just being a ****. you know on forums dealing with c#/asp.net I dont act like you do to questions or statements that i feel are silly, especially to people just starting out. You must have been treated the way you treated me when you first started out, how many times did you feel like a dumbass from people that knew what they were talking about? probably still to this day in one way or another you are treated like an idiot. So instead of acting the way you were and still are treated, try acting decent and helpful and not counter-active.
I hope that there isn't more people acting like you did towards me to other people, if so then this isnt a place to learn.

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Thanks for the praise.....
I ask myself every day....is rooting really that difficult?.Is this xda or facebook?.Whats with "life stories" included in posts?.Have all them guys that created stickies/guides wasted their time cos noobs/donks like you dont read them?.
And guys like Sun90 are helpful and intelligent....theyve helped me out before.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

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BlindSession said:
Forgive me for using the wrong words, I did not say to do things wrong and wreaking my phone. I should have phrased that differently, IF i do it wrong and wreck it somehow then it is a lessoned learned.I'm in no way out to wreck my phone, thats ridiculous. I have made many mistakes during programming that I have learned and remembered what not to do, some people learn the hard way to retain what they did wrong and not to repeat it. Not everyone learns the same way.
I completely understand about reading how others wreck their phone so i can learn without risk, and to read up on odin and brickbug, which is blatantly obvious.
As for fancy apps, you are kidding right? you think i want to root my phone to use fancy apps? I think not. i'm not some kid that likes shiney new things and to be the one to say "look what i got". That comment was utter disrespect. Maybe instead of trying to make me look like a dumbass you could be a little more helpful and not be so blantantly obvious on what i should do, which i already have started doing until i had to reply this.
Is this how you treat everyone that is starting to learn something new? You make obvious statements, mock by saying what isnt rocket science? I highly doubt that when you started doing this that you werent some dumbass in the beginning.
I appreciate the person who was replying to my questions and pointing me in the right direction, he was helpful. You were just being a ****. you know on forums dealing with c#/asp.net I dont act like you do to questions or statements that i feel are silly, especially to people just starting out. You must have been treated the way you treated me when you first started out, how many times did you feel like a dumbass from people that knew what they were talking about? probably still to this day in one way or another you are treated like an idiot. So instead of acting the way you were and still are treated, try acting decent and helpful and not counter-active.
I hope that there isn't more people acting like you did towards me to other people, if so then this isnt a place to learn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey buddy chill for now , in XDA u will face all sort of people, which is quite common ma8.
as for as ur 'Busybox' thing is concern, this is what it means.
BusyBox is a software application that provides many standard Unix tools, much like the larger (but more capable) GNU Core Utilities. BusyBox is designed to be a small executable for use with the Linux kernel, which makes it ideal for use with embedded devices. It has been self-dubbed "The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux".
it will provide u all necessary things to have access to root of ur phone, while SuperSU or Superuser grants necessary permissions to all those apps which need 'Root Access' to perform efficiently.
if u remove busybox then u will loose root access to ur phone for sure.
hope the above things ar clear for u for now

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Sun90 said:
hey buddy chill for now , in XDA u will face all sort of people, which is quite common ma8.
as for as ur 'Busybox' thing is concern, this is what it means.
BusyBox is a software application that provides many standard Unix tools, much like the larger (but more capable) GNU Core Utilities. BusyBox is designed to be a small executable for use with the Linux kernel, which makes it ideal for use with embedded devices. It has been self-dubbed "The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux".
it will provide u all necessary things to have access to root of ur phone, while SuperSU or Superuser grants necessary permissions to all those apps which need 'Root Access' to perform efficiently.
if u remove busybox then u will loose root access to ur phone for sure.
hope the above things ar clear for u for now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Sun90,
You are absolutely right when it comes to types of people that I wil come across in this forum or any other forum for that matter, I just didnt expect someone to start flaming right off the bat.
Thank you for the explaination on 'BusyBox', I understand what you are saying. My concern was that I didnt want to have to rely on something that had to be constantly running on my phone to ensure that it stays rooted. I gather from what you said about buysbox that its just tools, and not something that constantly runs. The swiss army metaphor, makes sense.
I have searched through these forums and somethings that may be obvious and cut and dry to people that have done this, isnt always the case to everyone else. I get left with many questions after reading threads. I have read many threads here and throughout online on rooting. Some guides are easy, they tell you how but never the 'why'.
I have heard alot about odin, and I have read things where i plug my phone in and run a 'runme.bat' that does it all but explain why.
Today I'm going to be reading deeper on Odin and Clockworkmod and trying to find the correct secure and unsecure kernel. I hope to run across more people like you that actually are here to help and not wanting to show how much they know by being condescending to make themselves feel better about themselves.
In the end, for me, its not enough to do it but to know the whys behind it. Thank you for your patience and the help.

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BlindSession said:
Hi Sun90,
You are absolutely right when it comes to types of people that I wil come across in this forum or any other forum for that matter, I just didnt expect someone to start flaming right off the bat.
Thank you for the explaination on 'BusyBox', I understand what you are saying. My concern was that I didnt want to have to rely on something that had to be constantly running on my phone to ensure that it stays rooted. I gather from what you said about buysbox that its just tools, and not something that constantly runs. The swiss army metaphor, makes sense.
I have searched through these forums and somethings that may be obvious and cut and dry to people that have done this, isnt always the case to everyone else. I get left with many questions after reading threads. I have read many threads here and throughout online on rooting. Some guides are easy, they tell you how but never the 'why'.
I have heard alot about odin, and I have read things where i plug my phone in and run a 'runme.bat' that does it all but explain why.
Today I'm going to be reading deeper on Odin and Clockworkmod and trying to find the correct secure and unsecure kernel. I hope to run across more people like you that actually are here to help and not wanting to show how much they know by being condescending to make themselves feel better about themselves.
In the end, for me, its not enough to do it but to know the whys behind it. Thank you for your patience and the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:laugh: u should not misundertand people's comments here in the first place ma8, but do take it positively, since everybody in XDA is willing to Help one another for sure, But some times the helping way which really Confuses the matter for sure
since i assume ur a man who is more hungry for indepth knowledge of things u come accross,which is really good in its own way, I wish u success for ur journey seeking the same here on XDA
Good Luck:good:

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Sun90 said:
:laugh: u should not misundertand people's comments here in the first place ma8, but do take it positively, since everybody in XDA is willing to Help one another for sure, But some times the helping way which really Confuses the matter for sure
since i assume ur a man who is more hungry for indepth knowledge of things u come accross,which is really good in its own way, I wish u success for ur journey seeking the same here on XDA
Good Luck:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I just downloaded CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEN_LP7-v5.4-CWM5.zip, and Odin3-ver3.5 and am about to follow Chainfire's thread with its step by step guide, i found his guide to be pretty insightful. Another thing I got confused on was the difference between I1900, I1900M and I found out that the only difference between the 2 was nothing. One question though, after i root the phone and if i ever do a factory reset on it does it stay rooted or do I have to do the process over, likewise with busy box.
I did copy down what version my phone is running if something goes wrong...
I'll post back soon with either success or failure.

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BlindSession said:
Well I just downloaded CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEN_LP7-v5.4-CWM5.zip, and Odin3-ver3.5 and am about to follow Chainfire's thread with its step by step guide, i found his guide to be pretty insightful. Another thing I got confused on was the difference between I1900, I1900M and I found out that the only difference between the 2 was nothing. One question though, after i root the phone and if i ever do a factory reset on it does it stay rooted or do I have to do the process over, likewise with busy box.
I did copy down what version my phone is running if something goes wrong...
I'll post back soon with either success or failure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't lose root if you factory reset. Only way to unroot is to flash stock firmware again.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

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Thanks Spiralzz
So right now i followed the instructions, i have odin running. I have the phone itself in usb debugging... but it looks like odin froze up..its at SetupConnection and hasnt continued. Could i be wrong and it takes time? Its been in this state for about 5 minutes now.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app

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Ok well, i wasnt successful. Odin came back with a fail. It came back 3 times failing.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app