Ahhh, noob confused after attempted root!

[rodofgod]

Hi, I've just tried rooting my Galaxy S2 which is on O2, using a guide on AndroidNZ. I checked the details on my phone and downloaded the KF3 kernel from XDA and installed it using Odin3, which seems quite temperamental whenever I try to start the program up I might add (just flashes on and off screen). Though I did as the guide said and the one time Odin opened up it worked. i.e installed the kernel and created a back up as they described.

However, I then came across a guide on CNET, which was pretty much the same as the AnroidNZ one but they said after running Odin you need to run S2 root and root it through that. I can't get S2 root to open. So now I've absolutely no idea if I've rooted it or not.

There is a Superuser and CVM icon in my apps though, but right now I'm so confused and can't really see the point in rooting I'd like to go back to how it was an hour ago, i.e unrooted but haven't a clue how to do it. Can someone steer me in the right direction please?? Or at least tell me what to do with it once rooted?

Thanks

 

[caanda45]

Hi, I've just tried rooting my Galaxy S2 which is on O2, using a guide on AndroidNZ. I checked the details on my phone and downloaded the KF3 kernel from XDA and installed it using Odin3, which seems quite temperamental whenever I try to start the program up I might add (just flashes on and off screen). Though I did as the guide said and the one time Odin opened up it worked. i.e installed the kernel and created a back up as they described.

However, I then came across a guide on CNET, which was pretty much the same as the AnroidNZ one but they said after running Odin you need to run S2 root and root it through that. I can't get S2 root to open. So now I've absolutely no idea if I've rooted it or not.

There is a Superuser and CVM icon in my apps though, but right now I'm so confused and can't really see the point in rooting I'd like to go back to how it was an hour ago, i.e unrooted but haven't a clue how to do it. Can someone steer me in the right direction please?? Or at least tell me what to do with it once rooted?

Thanks

So if you have the superuser icons then you are probably rooted. Easy way to check is download a program that needs root and if it opens and asks for root permission then you are rooted.

To get back to stock is very easy, use this thread from xda to get back to stock, the one I`am quoting here is carrier based stock..

If you do this process and I have done it a few times, once you reboot you may get a boot loop on the boot animation, go back into 3e recovery (which is the stock recovery) and wipe data/factory reset and then re boot again and it will boot up again with pristine factory stock just like the day you bought it.

Read the thread well that I suggested and you flash at your discretion...good luck!!!

It will not let me post a link on my first post here...I will do one on the next post....

 

[caanda45]

XDA link is here...[ROMS]Official i9100 carrier branded firmware download for Odin Flash - xda-developers

Great flashing guide on all stock firmware found here....http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278

Stay rooted and flash a rom, the stock stuff is boring and flash a cool rom...check it out here and on xda and have fun!!!!! But stay rooted!!

 

[simes6600]

once you appreciated the power of what rooting does, believe me, you will not wanna go back to an unrooted device.

for me, its the ability to backup and restore your phone anytime with Titanium and CMW, and without the need for a PC to do it (unlike say, an iPhone). and customs roms of course too.

i started out on a branded O2 2.3.3. S2 which was nice, but battery life was horrible. now with Revolution V4 rom 2.3.6 and the dark knight 2.3.4 kernel, battery life is pretty damn good, and its a customizers dream.

 

[rodofgod]

Thanks guys! I had a read about last night and sort of got my head around it. It's definitely rooted, so I did a CWM back up and a Titanium Backup (but inadvertently backed up everything on the phone, some 200 apps) as well and was going to install RevoHD v4 but I'm getting confused by all of the numbers, such as 2.3.6, would this work on my phone when I'm running 2.3.3? And would it work with the KF3 kernel I flashed yesterday? Sorry for all of the questions, I'm just being blown away by all of the different kernel numbers and what not. Also, on XDA it mentions "kitchens". Huh?? ;-)

 

[simes6600]

Thanks guys! I had a read about last night and sort of got my head around it. It's definitely rooted, so I did a CWM back up and a Titanium Backup (but inadvertently backed up everything on the phone, some 200 apps) as well and was going to install RevoHD v4 but I'm getting confused by all of the numbers, such as 2.3.6, would this work on my phone when I'm running 2.3.3? And would it work with the KF3 kernel I flashed yesterday? Sorry for all of the questions, I'm just being blown away by all of the different kernel numbers and what not. Also, on XDA it mentions "kitchens". Huh?? ;-)

Revo4 will work fine on your phone, just make sure you backup first, & do a factory reset/wipe & cache wipe in CWM before flashing the rom. this wont wipe your sdcard (pics etc), just paves the way for a clean rom install.

when you flash the latest Checkrom Revo 4, it comes complete with its own kernel, with built in CF Root which is compatible with CWM. you just flash the full revo zip package and thats it.

kitchenpro is a built in app in Revo4 that allows you to add themes, boot animations, diallers, kernels, fonts, add mods and other hacks. these mods are downloaded thru kitchenpro and then auto flashed via CWM. fantastic app.

 

[rodofgod]

Revo4 will work fine on your phone, just make sure you backup first, & do a factory reset/wipe & cache wipe in CWM before flashing the rom. this wont wipe your sdcard (pics etc), just paves the way for a clean rom install.

when you flash the latest Checkrom Revo 4, it comes complete with its own kernel, with built in CF Root which is compatible with CWM. you just flash the full revo zip package and thats it.

kitchenpro is a built in app in Revo4 that allows you to add themes, boot animations, diallers, kernels, fonts, add mods and other hacks. these mods are downloaded thru kitchenpro and then auto flashed via CWM. fantastic app.

OK, I'm sort of beginning to understand. When you say SD card, my pics and videos and most of my music are stored on the internal SD card, will these survive?

So I've backed up CWM and Titanium, now I just download the latest Revo4 and away I go? Once installed will everything work as it does now? i.e it'll still make calls, send and receive emails and surf the web without having to add additional software?

 

[simes6600]

OK, I'm sort of beginning to understand. When you say SD card, my pics and videos and most of my music are stored on the internal SD card, will these survive?

So I've backed up CWM and Titanium, now I just download the latest Revo4 and away I go? Once installed will everything work as it does now? i.e it'll still make calls, send and receive emails and surf the web without having to add additional software?

yup, pics etc should be ok. when i first flashed a custom rom, i copied all my music and pics from the S2 to my PC just to be on the safe side. always handy to have a backup of everything.

download the Revo4 zip and transfer it over to your internal SD card, and flash with CMW. takes about 10 minutes. the thread on the new Revo4 on XDA is worth reading first, especially for installing lingo like cache wipe etc.
You will have to factory reset and wipe cache before install as you are on 2.3.3.

once flashed, you will still be able to make calls, email etc, your phone will be reset to the way you got it on day one, but with all the Revo goodies installed, and all the samsung bloatware (social hub, apmobile etc) removed. thats where titanium backup comes in, just restore all your apps (and app settings) you downloaded from market etc with it. if you backed up your system settings, i would advise not restoring them as you will be moving from 2.3.3 to 2.3.6, and complications may arise.

if you use the likes of WidgetLocker, GoSMS or Go Launcher etc, its worthwhile making a backup of texts, etc. these apps have their own backup facilities in their settings.

 

[rodofgod]

if you use the likes of WidgetLocker, GoSMS or Go Launcher etc, its worthwhile making a backup of texts, etc. these apps have their own backup facilities in their settings.

No, I don't use any of them. Do I put the whole zip on the sd card? Or just the zImage? I'm guessing the whole thing?

 

[simes6600]

No, I don't use any of them. Do I put the whole zip on the sd card? Or just the zImage? I'm guessing the whole thing?

put the whole file on. should be called something like.

XWKK5_CheckromRevoHD_V4.zip

which i got from here..

[XWKK5][2.3.6] CheckROM RevoHD? V4 | CheckROM

 

[rodofgod]

Done. Should it take a minute or so to boot? Or is this just as it's the first time? Do I now have to download Titanium Backup again and what of the CWM back up I made? Do I need to reload that? Sorry for all of the questions.

 

[simes6600]

Done. Should it take a minute or so to boot? Or is this just as it's the first time? Do I now have to download Titanium Backup again and what of the CWM back up I made? Do I need to reload that? Sorry for all of the questions.

it takes a while on first boot. yes, you'll need to install titanium from market again.

the CWM backup should be safe in a folder on your SDcard called "clockworkmod". the CWM app will be there when you reboot as Revo4 installs it automatically.

 

[rodofgod]

Cheers mate!! How do I go about changing the look of it? And what is Maxthon Mobile? Also, what do you use KitchenPro for?

 

[simes6600]

Cheers mate!! How do I go about changing the look of it? And what is Maxthon Mobile? Also, what do you use KitchenPro for?

open the kitchenpro app and download and install the ICS theme to see what can be done. Maxthon mobile is a browser, i just uninstalled it and use the stock browser.

kitchenpro is a built in app in Revo4 that allows you to add themes, boot animations, diallers, kernels, fonts, add mods and other hacks. these mods are downloaded thru kitchenpro and then auto flashed via CWM.

have a look at the jkay settings app which is also auto installed. some lovely tweaks there.

i would advise not to install any dialler themes, as all they seem to do is screw up s2's phone app. same goes for the revolution super theme as i couldn't flash another theme over it. everything else should be fine.

 

[rodofgod]

Ohh I'll take a peek. I installed Titanium Backup, selected restore missing user apps and data and it gave me a list of apps I'd installed, do I just do that to bring back my apps like Slide-IT, Facebook and Quidco.

One thing I've never considered is how safe/secure is rooting? I use an app from my bank quite a bit and regularly log in online using my browser.

 

[simes6600]

Ohh I'll take a peek. I installed Titanium Backup, selected restore missing user apps and data and it gave me a list of apps I'd installed, do I just do that to bring back my apps like Slide-IT, Facebook and Quidco.

One thing I've never considered is how safe/secure is rooting? I use an app from my bank quite a bit and regularly log in online using my browser.

yep, restore user apps and data, don't restore system settings too as it'll prob mess things up. you'll have to do your phone settings like wifi, screen brightness etc manually.

 

[rodofgod]

Just restored my apps and the ICS theme. Looking good

Any other worthwhile goodies on KitchenPro that you can recommend?

 

[simes6600]

Just restored my apps and the ICS theme. Looking good

Any other worthwhile goodies on KitchenPro that you can recommend?

i use the shade of dusk theme. very nice. green circle battery mod too.

coming from 2.3.3. you should notice your battery life will improve now your on 2.3.6. get juice defender (free or pro) from the market and you will notice a huge difference.

 

[rodofgod]

In the kernel section of KitchenPro it has lists of different kernels. What will say, the DK V2.3 give me over what I have now? Can you just install these kernels from that list as you would a normal app?

 

[simes6600]

In the kernel section of KitchenPro it has lists of different kernels. What will say, the DK V2.3 give me over what I have now? Can you just install these kernels from that list as you would a normal app?

the kernels in kitchenpro just install and flash like anything else in there.

diff kernels give diff results. darkknight 2.4.3 is supposed to give great stability, & better battery life, but in my everyday usage, its basically the same as the stock one that comes with Revo4. DK does make the phone boot faster for me though. its supposed to charge the phone faster too, didn't make any difference for me.

stick with the kernel that came with Revo4 until you're happy to test something else. it does the job very well.

 

[dynomot]

At last a thread on a forum that answers most my questions. Thank you both.

I come to a SGSII from Symbian and wish I'd done so much sooner. I'm more than happy hacking, flashing and even attempting cooking on my N8, but I am a total novice when it comes to Android. I look forward to reading and learning.