How to Unlock (and Root) the Bell Galaxy S2. Step by Step Guide

[Blue1k]

Here is a new users guide I posted on craigslist. Just in case you get stuck on steps:

Bell Galaxy S2 (i9100M) Unlock Guide with Steps

To all the people who are paying people to root their phones or paying big dollars to unlock your Bell Galaxy S2 here is a guide to do it for FREE!

Edit: Please ensure you are on KG2 before proceeding. You want to use a rooted kernel that matches the ROM you are currently running. Dial *#1234# to find out

1. Go to this XDA thread: XDA Developers Galaxy S2 Root and download this file: CF-Root-SGS2_JP_XSG_KG2-v4.1-CWM4
*Remember!: You should be flashing the rooted the CF-Root Kernel that matches your current firmware. If you are on KG2 then this KG2 root kernel is the proper match. If you are on something newer, then you can root with a newer CF-root kernel which can be found in the thread listed above.

2. Next, unzip the file you downloaded. There will be a file left inside. Leave it alone.

3. Next, download Odin. Odin is a flashing tool used by Samsung developers to flash roms, kernels etc. Unzip Odin into a folder and leave it for now.

4. You will need to install Samsung Kies which is like iTunes for your Samsung Phone. If you have not you can get it from here: Kies Canada. Make sure Kies fully installs and connect your phone at least once so it loads all the necessary drivers. Then close Kies and disconnect your phone from computer.

UPDATE: If you don't want Kies you can instead install just the Samsung USB drivers from HERE

5. You will need Debugging to be active. To do this on your phone, go to SETTINGS>APPLICATIONS>DEVELOPMENT>check debugging

6. Next, go to the folder on your computer where you have Odin and launch it. Press the PDA button and select the file you unzipped in step 2 (CF-Root file)

7. Power off your phone. Now, before connecting your phone to Odin you must put it into download mode. To do this simply press: HOME button, VOLUME DOWN, and POWER-all at the same time.

8. Then connect your phone and let it load all the drivers. Once Odin shows a YELLOW com box you are good to go. Press start and boom it will install the patched kernel. Your phone will reboot and it will be rooted. This means you have full access to system files and is like jailbreaking on an iPhone.

9. Now simply open the Android market app on your phone and download the free app called "Galaxy_S Unlock" by Helroz

10. Open the app and allow it superuser authority if it asks. Then click the tab that says unlock

11. There will be 3 steps listed. Press step 1. Then step 2 (and let it completely reboot...may take a few minutes). Then once rebooted open the app and press step 3.

Your phone will now work with any SIM.
Congrats!

My Galaxy S2 took 2 minutes to root and unlock. Hope this was helpful to people.

PS. Rooting will void warranty but it is reversible. If you need return it use Odin to flash back the stock rom with one from XDA or use the one on my server below.

*The ROM on my server is Bell KG2 and is for odin. Download the rom as a ZIP. Extract it and you will be left with a TAR file. Select PDA in odin and flash as instructed below.


Bell Stock Items
UPDATED Jan 1, 2012

Bell KG2 Stock Modem
Bell Stock KG2 Rom
Bell Stock KG2 Kernel

How to flash stock KG2 ROM in recovery using Odin:
1. Download the zip file to your computer. Unzip it. You will be left with a TAR file
2. Launch Odin and press the PDA button and select the TAR file you extracted.
3. Put your phone into download mode (as shown above)
4. Connect your phone and wait for the yellow com image
5. Press start and your phone will be flashed with the stock Bell Rom

*you can flash the stock kernel using the same method as the stock rom (select PDA as well). DO NOT FLASH THE STOCK KG2 KERNEL if you are not using a KG2 rom.

How to flash the modem using Odin:
1. Ensure USB debugging is checked in settings>applications>development
2. Put the phone into download mode either by choosing this option in CWM or turning off then pressing VOLUME DOWN+HOME+POWER at the same time
3. Launch Odin. Make sure to check ONLY PHONE not PDA and load the modem.bin file. (see pic)
4. Connect your phone and wait for the yellow com signal. Then flash away

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How to flash a custom ROM (non-Odin roms)

*Please be aware that flashing a custom rom means you will need to wipe your data which includes your account setup, text message history, contacts, and apps. It will NOT erase photos and videos.

* I highly recommend you do a nandroid backup first by going into BACKUP/RESTORE and selecting Backup (backup to internal if you don't have an SD card)

Backup your SMS messages: Use SMS backup and restore
Backup your apps: Titanium Backup (free)

*to backup accounts: Use Titanium to backup ACCOUNTS and ACCOUNTS & Sync Settings, Bluetooth Pairings, Contacts Storage (unless you are using gmail for saving your contacts. If so then don't back this up)

IN recovery, VOLUME keys are navigation and POWER button is select.

Step 1: Download the rom zip file using your computer and copy to somewhere on your phone. Say a folder named ROM on your SDcard

Step 2: Reboot into recovery (see above how to do this)

Step 3: In recovery go to WIPE/DATA FACTORY RESET

Step 4: Go back to the main menu and select WIPE CACHE PARTITION

Step 5: Go back to the main menu and select INSTALL ZIP from SDCARD
INTERNAL SD means phone memory in case you copied the zip to a
phone folder. Choose your rom.zip

Step 6: Let it flash, and then go back to main menu and choose ADVANCED
Then choose WIPE DALVIK CACHE and then FIX PERMISSIONS

Step 7: Go back to the main menu and select REBOOT SYSTEM

Please allow the phone to fully boot (it may take some time). Don't touch the phone for a few minutes after boot. Let it settle and then reboot. THEN set up your phone.

*If your flash went bad because of a mistake or corrupted file you can always boot back into recovery and restore your backup.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rom Reviews for the Galaxy S2 by me

V3RTR3MA ROM
Firmware, Baseband, Kernel: 2.3.6, XXKL1, Siyah kernel
Link: XDA
Video: Youtube

 

[ColHavoc]

Does this leave the yellow triangle visible on the phone, or not? I have heard of ways to correct this.

 

[Blue1k]

Does this leave the yellow triangle visible on the phone, or not? I have heard of ways to correct this.

Yes it does because it is a patched kernel. Not a big deal for me. I never reboot my phone much.

You can fix this as posted in the same XDA thread I linked to above.

 

[Snazzy]

PS. Rooting will void warranty but it is reversible. If you need return it use Odin to flash back the stock rom.

Where is the Bell stock ROM? Ours is unique 2.3.3 KG2
Thanks for your guide and once I know we can flash back the Bell shipped ROM I will complete this procedure myself.

 

[Blue1k]

Where is the Bell stock ROM? Ours is unique 2.3.3 KG2
Thanks for your guide and once I know we can flash back the Bell shipped ROM I will complete this procedure myself.

Not released yet but should be soon.

 

[sugarysnack]

Hey Blue1K,

(First post here), I am new to Android (just switched from an iPhone 4), and am sure I can get through the rooting process, but the phone will still boot past the yellow triangle correct? Just a little hesitant to root as there is no stock ROM for Bell phones yet . But I definitely want the battery life and control that Rooting + 2.3.4 offers.

 

[ColHavoc]

Hey Blue1K,

(First post here), I am new to Android (just switched from an iPhone 4), and am sure I can get through the rooting process, but the phone will still boot past the yellow triangle correct? Just a little hesitant to root as there is no stock ROM for Bell phones yet . But I definitely want the battery life and control that Rooting + 2.3.4 offers.

Yeah, I just rooted using this method and unlocked my phone. Yes, you can save some battery if you decided to buy either Bloat Freezer or Titanium Backup Pro, but you will (like me) have to deal with the yellow triangle on boot up until someone posts the Bell SGS II kernel online to flash it back to look like stock.

But, that being said, freezing the crap that I don't use is definitely making a noticeable difference in battery life, next best thing to custom roms.

 

[wellarmed]

Do all Bell SG2's come locked to Bell SIM's?

I am traveling to British Columbia next weekend (From US) and was gonna pick one up if I like it (and use on AT&T).

 

[avinash4]

Do all Bell SG2's come locked to Bell SIM's?

I am traveling to British Columbia next weekend (From US) and was gonna pick one up if I like it (and use on AT&T).

All that I know of come locked to Bell/Virgin. It can be easily rooted and unlocked (free) or unlocked without rooting though IMEI unlock servers (will cost about $40).

 

[sugarysnack]

Blue1k, you said that the stock ROM should come "soon". being new to the galaxy s line, does anyone remember how long it took for the Galaxy S Vibrant stock rom to be released? I want to get this thing rooted as soon as possible, as long as I can put it back to stock .

 

[hyperyius]

after my galaxy s2 rebooted, when i press applications, nothing happens. my screen menu applications are all gone but i still see my messages and contacts. what happened?

 

[Snazzy]

after my galaxy s2 rebooted, when i press applications, nothing happens. my screen menu applications are all gone but i still see my messages and contacts. what happened?

Sounds like it wasn't wiped properly. presumably you have cwm working so boot into recovery and wipe phone and dalvik cache. Reboot.

 

[unspankable]

Here is a new users guide I posted on craigslist. Just in case you get stuck on steps:

Bell Galaxy S2 Unlock Guide with Steps

To all the people who are paying people to root their phones or paying big dollars to unlock your Bell Galaxy S2 here is a guide to do it for FREE!

1. Go to this XDA thread: XDA Developers Galaxy S2 Root and download this file: CF-Root-SGS2_JP_XSG_KG2-v4.1-CWM4
2. Next, unzip the file you downloaded. There will be a file left inside. Leave it alone.
3. Using the same thread, download Odin from XDA. Odin is a flashing tool used by Samsung developers to flash roms, kernels etc. Unzip Odin into a folder and leave it for now.
4. You will need to install Samsung Kies which is like iTunes for your Samsung Phone. If you have not you can get it from here: Kies Canada. Make sure Kies fully installs and connect your phone at least once so it loads all the necessary drivers. Then close Kies and disconnect your phone from computer.
5. Next, go to the folder where you have Odin and launch it. Press the PDA button and select the file you unzipped in step 2 (CF-Root file)
6. Now before connecting your phone you put it into download mode. To do this simply press: HOME button, VOLUME DOWN, and POWER-all at the same time.
7. Then connect your phone and let it load all the drivers. Once Odin shows a YELLOW com box you are good to go. Press start and boom it will install the patched kernel. Your phone will reboot and it will be rooted. This means you have full access to system files and is like jailbreaking on an iPhone.
8. Now simply open the Android market app on your phone and download the free app called "Galaxy_S Unlock" by Helroz
9. Open the app and allow it superuser authority if it asks. Then click the tab that says unlock
10. There will be 3 steps listed. Press step 1. Then step 2 (and let it completely reboot...may take a few minutes). Then once rebooted open the app and press step 3.

Your phone will now work with any SIM.
Congrats!

My Galaxy S2 took 2 minutes to root and unlock. Hope this was helpful to people.

PS. Rooting will void warranty but it is reversible. If you need return it use Odin to flash back the stock rom.

Just wanted to say a big thank you.

You saved me $75

 

[erik10002]

so after i root which i have done, thanks for that. we can install any custom rom we like correct like litepro? can i use rom manager also if i flash the cwm recovery from the app? thanks

 

[Blue1k]

so after i root which i have done, thanks for that. we can install any custom rom we like correct like litepro? can i use rom manager also if i flash the cwm recovery from the app? thanks

I would boot into recovery and wipe cache and data . Then flash the mod rom in recovery. Wipe is important or you run into problems when flashing non stock roms

 

[Sharkie32]

Just got my Virgin Samsung Galaxy S2 two days ago and failed to root the device.

I am waiting for 20 mins and my device won

 

[Blue1k]

Just got my Virgin Samsung Galaxy S2 two days ago and failed to root the device.

I am waiting for 20 mins and my device won

 

[Sharkie32]

Yes, that's exactly what I did. By the way, should I remove the SIM card to do that? Please advise.

I had an email from another person who tried this on his Virgin S2 and it worked fine.

When you run odin your screen should look like this with only PDA checked as in the guide. Is this what you did?

 

[Sharkie32]

OMG! I know what's the problem. I download the wrong CF Root file. How stupid I am.

By the way, how to remove the yellow triangle?

I had an email from another person who tried this on his Virgin S2 and it worked fine.

When you run odin your screen should look like this with only PDA checked as in the guide. Is this what you did?

 

[Blue1k]

Phew! Does it boot now?

In the thread link posted there is a way to get rid of the yellow triangle. It's at the bottom of first page.

I kind of like the triangle. It looks bad ass

 

[Snazzy]

By the way, how to remove the yellow triangle?

The Yellow Triangle is a badge of honour. Congratulations to obtaining root and truly owning the phone you purchased.

When you are ready to have some real fun take a look at VillianRom. Its the same Samsung phone with all the vendor crap removed, some cool tweaks and better battery life.

 

[need4greed]

I read elsewhere that to root, you also need to put the phone in USB debugging mode first (Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB debugging). Is this necessary?

 

[need4greed]

What if the person doesn't have wifi access? Is there another way to install the unlock app? (ie, run from microSD?)

 

[Blue1k]

I read elsewhere that to root, you also need to put the phone in USB debugging mode first (Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB debugging). Is this necessary?

Thanks added!

 

[Blue1k]

What if the person doesn't have wifi access? Is there another way to install the unlock app? (ie, run from microSD?)

You would have to find the Galaxy_S Unlock APK online and download it to you computer and transfer to you SD before rooting.