[Q] Rooted GS2, want to install recovery/kernel/ROM - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have a GS2 I9100XWLSW, suffering the EMMC brick bug. Still with stock kernel and recovery. Rooted with Framaroot.
First of all I'd want to flash a recovery, and a safe kernel - to avoid any possibile brick bug.
Later on I plan to flash Cyanogen or Omnirom, once a Lollipop stable versions is out.
Looking around I've found many ways to do this, but I'm unsure which one is safes (and possibly easier too):
- Installing Philz through Odin? Surely the kernel is safe, but CWM is and old version, not supporting KitKat ROM, right? Would I then need to flash an updated CWM + Kernel once I update to Lollipop? How?
- Using Clockwork mod install app to install a CWM? Can I install last CWM and still run on JB? But what about the unsafe, still not patched, stock kernel? Would still need to later update with a new Kernel for Lollipop? How?
- Others?
In particular, there's something concerning my GS2 that I didn't fully understand.. seems like differently from other phones, CWM needs to be installed together with a specific Kernel to work. Is this something true only for Philz's version, or is it so for CWM itself?

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Malhavoc Blackdrake said:
I have a GS2 I9100XWLSW, suffering the EMMC brick bug. Still with stock kernel and recovery. Rooted with Framaroot.
First of all I'd want to flash a recovery, and a safe kernel - to avoid any possibile brick bug.
Later on I plan to flash Cyanogen or Omnirom, once a Lollipop stable versions is out.
Looking around I've found many ways to do this, but I'm unsure which one is safes (and possibly easier too):
- Installing Philz through Odin? Surely the kernel is safe, but CWM is and old version, not supporting KitKat ROM, right? Would I then need to flash an updated CWM + Kernel once I update to Lollipop? How?
- Using Clockwork mod install app to install a CWM? Can I install last CWM and still run on JB? But what about the unsafe, still not patched, stock kernel? Would still need to later update with a new Kernel for Lollipop? How?
- Others?
In particular, there's something concerning my GS2 that I didn't fully understand.. seems like differently from other phones, CWM needs to be installed together with a specific Kernel to work. Is this something true only for Philz's version, or is it so for CWM itself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sincw you are on stock jelly bean rom, use apolo kernel 4.14 as it uses TWRP which supports most zips and doesnt have to be updated that often. Lollipop roms only require cwm versions 6.0.4.8+ or TWRP 2.7.1.0+. Usually i don't recommend using cwm manager to install cwm as the app installs an old version of cwm anyway and requires people to pay if they want the latest version.
If your cwm is out of date, you will need to update the kernel (not just the recovery).
Installing a newer cwm will not modify the kernel to make it unsafe.

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gsstudios said:
Sincw you are on stock jelly bean rom, use apolo kernel 4.14 as it uses TWRP which supports most zips and doesnt have to be updated that often. Lollipop roms only require cwm versions 6.0.4.8+ or TWRP 2.7.1.0+. Usually i don't recommend using cwm manager to install cwm as the app installs an old version of cwm anyway and requires people to pay if they want the latest version.
If your cwm is out of date, you will need to update the kernel (not just the recovery).
Installing a newer cwm will not modify the kernel to make it unsafe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Ok, let's see if I got everything right:
- First I need to flash Apolo, but I can't find the 4.14 version. Do I still use Odin? Instructions are unclear. The official thread seems this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s2/development-derivatives/kernel-t2291756/post41742325
- By flashing Apolo 4.14 I should get a new kernel (EMMC safe) and TWRP (which version?)
- With the above, I can still run my stock JB 4.1.2, right?
Then, once I want to flash a Lollipo ROM:
- Do I need to update TWRP? Does this break my ability to run my current JB 4.1.2 ?
- Flashing the Lollipop ROM will overwrite the Apolo Kernel 4.14 with a suitable Lollipop kernel, right? Or am I forced to also flash a Lollipop kernel manually (either Apolo or anoter)?
Thank you in advance!

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Malhavoc Blackdrake said:
Thank you! Ok, let's see if I got everything right:
- First I need to flash Apolo, but I can't find the 4.14 version. Do I still use Odin? Instructions are unclear. The official thread seems this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s2/development-derivatives/kernel-t2291756/post41742325
- By flashing Apolo 4.14 I should get a new kernel (EMMC safe) and TWRP (which version?)
- With the above, I can still run my stock JB 4.1.2, right?
Then, once I want to flash a Lollipo ROM:
- Do I need to update TWRP? Does this break my ability to run my current JB 4.1.2 ?
- Flashing the Lollipop ROM will overwrite the Apolo Kernel 4.14 with a suitable Lollipop kernel, right? Or am I forced to also flash a Lollipop kernel manually (either Apolo or anoter)?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I said before about apolo requires the usage of CWM. If you can, flash philz kernel (through odin)first then you can flash apolo 4.14 (TWRP) using cwm. All kernels for the s2 are safe from the emmc brickbug (just make sure you read the first post of the kernel threads). TWRP version should be 2.7.0.0, but it should work fine with all zip files.
When you flash a lollipop rom, you most likely will not have to update TWRP (unlikely as the source code for lollipop isn't going to change). You can still flash back stock JB from a backup with no problems. Yes, flashing lollipop will replace apolo with a compatible kernel.

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gsstudios said:
Sincw you are on stock jelly bean rom, use apolo kernel 4.14 as it uses TWRP which supports most zips and doesnt have to be updated that often. Lollipop roms only require cwm versions 6.0.4.8+ or TWRP 2.7.1.0+. Usually i don't recommend using cwm manager to install cwm as the app installs an old version of cwm anyway and requires people to pay if they want the latest version.
If your cwm is out of date, you will need to update the kernel (not just the recovery).
Installing a newer cwm will not modify the kernel to make it unsafe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gsstudios said:
What I said before about apolo requires the usage of CWM. If you can, flash philz kernel (through odin)first then you can flash apolo 4.14 (TWRP) using cwm. All kernels for the s2 are safe from the emmc brickbug (just make sure you read the first post of the kernel threads). TWRP version should be 2.7.0.0, but it should work fine with all zip files.
When you flash a lollipop rom, you most likely will not have to update TWRP (unlikely as the source code for lollipop isn't going to change). You can still flash back stock JB from a backup with no problems. Yes, flashing lollipop will replace apolo with a compatible kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All right, so, to recap, is this right?
- Flash Philz (of course the version for my kernel and JB) with Odin. This will also install CWM (an old version, not supporting KitKat and Lollipop)
- With the above, I can do a nandroid backup, which also includes Philz's kernel. Does it also include the recovery itself?
- Flash Apolo 4.14 through CWM. This will change both the Philz Kernel and the CWM recovery with Apolo Kernel and TWRP. Jelly Bean will still run, right?
- From this TWRP, I can flash and run both the current JB and future Lollipop without changing recovery, right?

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Malhavoc Blackdrake said:
All right, so, to recap, is this right?
- Flash Philz (of course the version for my kernel and JB) with Odin. This will also install CWM (an old version, not supporting KitKat and Lollipop)
- With the above, I can do a nandroid backup, which also includes Philz's kernel. Does it also include the recovery itself?
- Flash Apolo 4.14 through CWM. This will change both the Philz Kernel and the CWM recovery with Apolo Kernel and TWRP. Jelly Bean will still run, right?
- From this TWRP, I can flash and run both the current JB and future Lollipop without changing recovery, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are 100% correct with all of your questions. Happy flashing!

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gsstudios said:
You are 100% correct with all of your questions. Happy flashing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! Also found the Apolo version you were talking about. BTW, the reason I have to pass through Philz to flash Apolo is just because that Apolo version is available in .zip format only, right? Because if there was a .tar, I could just flash the stock rom with Apolo through Odin, without going through Philz first, right?

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Malhavoc Blackdrake said:
Thank you very much! Also found the Apolo version you were talking about. BTW, the reason I have to pass through Philz to flash Apolo is just because that Apolo version is available in .zip format only, right? Because if there was a .tar, I could just flash the stock rom with Apolo through Odin, without going through Philz first, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, you sound like you have flashed custom roms before. You are correct again.

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gsstudios said:
Wow, you sound like you have flashed custom roms before. You are correct again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never before, but being a software developer I get these things not too hardly. Also, I'm really reading a LOT of guides everywhere to avoid doing a mess! :laugh:
Thank you again for your help.

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gsstudios said:
Wow, you sound like you have flashed custom roms before. You are correct again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally did all of the above, and I can confirm that everything worked perfectly. I just skipped during the Apolo flashing the clean script suggested, and just did Clean Cache + Dalvik Cache.
Now I have TWRP and Apolo v4.15.
Noticed however that TWRP is v2.6.3 , while you said that I would probably need 2.7.1.0+ to later flash Omnirom or CM12
Is it okay anyway, or do I need to flash a new one? Can I risk breaking something if I try to flash a new TWRP? I mean: may I end up flashing a TWRP not supported with my kernel / JB and get bootloops or something bad?

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Malhavoc Blackdrake said:
I finally did all of the above, and I can confirm that everything worked perfectly. I just skipped during the Apolo flashing the clean script suggested, and just did Clean Cache + Dalvik Cache.
Now I have TWRP and Apolo v4.15.
Noticed however that TWRP is v2.6.3 , while you said that I would probably need 2.7.1.0+ to later flash Omnirom or CM12
Is it okay anyway, or do I need to flash a new one? Can I risk breaking something if I try to flash a new TWRP? I mean: may I end up flashing a TWRP not supported with my kernel / JB and get bootloops or something bad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will need to flash a newer recovery. If you use philz recovery, you can install all lollipop roms and kikat roms without a problem
Link to download latest philz recovery: https://goo.im/devs/philz_touch/CWM_Advanced_Edition/i9100/philz_touch_6.48.4-i9100.zip
Flash it with TWRP. Cheers.

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gsstudios said:
You will need to flash a newer recovery. If you use philz recovery, you can install all lollipop roms and kikat roms without a problem
Link to download latest philz recovery: https://goo.im/devs/philz_touch/CWM_Advanced_Edition/i9100/philz_touch_6.48.4-i9100.zip
Flash it with TWRP. Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That link is indeed philz's latest version for i9100 (also from size it seems with just the recover, and no kernel, right?), but does it still run on JB with Apolo kernel? On Philz's thread I read something about latest versions supporting only kitkat / lollipop. Does it mean I have to flash this Philz's update just before flashing Lollipop, or I can flash it already and running my JB + Apolo, without problems?
Also, I heard that Philz is no longer updating his recover (is it?), so if possible I would prefer to stick with TWRP.. if there is a TWRP version which suits my needs with my device, of course!