Noob: Help needed

obivine · Nov 10, 2011

Hi All,
This is my first post here and my first android phone (sgs2), so I am new to most of the terms in use. Have done some reading of the older threads and sticky and have been able to root my phone using the CF method (so i see CWM installed on my phone) and installed Titanium Backup Pro. I need help however on what benefits i will get from installing 3rd party ROMs and how to go about doing that. Which will be the best to go for, from what i have read Revolution and Siyah seems to be preferred by most?

Hawker · Nov 10, 2011

Installing a custom rom will give you tweaks particular to that rom, so you will need to read through the first couple of posts on XDA for example to see what the developer has done. Eg. some may allow BLN support, removal of sms from the call log etc. so it really is up to you.

CheckROM revolution comes with a fantastic "kitchen" app that allows you to install mods/themes/modems/kernels etc of your choice. It also alerts you to any new mods/updates etc.

Others you will need to keep going back to the XDA thread to see if there have been any new developments.

Most custom roms support AOSP lock screen themes (eg. JKay) that gives you excellent functionality on the lock screen (sliders to open apps directly) and allow you to have scrollable notification bar icons and a customizable power menu.

CheckROM Revolution (currently v2.0) and DlevROM (currently 3.1) are my favourites at the moment. Both are based on KI4 firmware. You wont go too far wrong with either of these. Whichever one you eventually go for, I would advise that you check which firmware it is based on to make sure it is current. Eg. Litening rom is KH3 based and has stopped being developed, so you need to consider if what you are putting on is going to flow with the times.

Siyah is not a rom, but is the kernel. this can be used even on stock firmware if you wanted to. Siyah, speedmod and ninphetamine are highly regarded.

dvdlesher · Nov 13, 2011

hawker said:
Installing a custom rom will give you tweaks particular to that rom, so you will need to read through the first couple of posts on XDA for example to see what the developer has done. Eg. some may allow BLN support, removal of sms from the call log etc. so it really is up to you.

CheckROM revolution comes with a fantastic "kitchen" app that allows you to install mods/themes/modems/kernels etc of your choice. It also alerts you to any new mods/updates etc.

Others you will need to keep going back to the XDA thread to see if there have been any new developments.

Most custom roms support AOSP lock screen themes (eg. JKay) that gives you excellent functionality on the lock screen (sliders to open apps directly) and allow you to have scrollable notification bar icons and a customizable power menu.

CheckROM Revolution (currently v2.0) and DlevROM (currently 3.1) are my favourites at the moment. Both are based on KI4 firmware. You wont go too far wrong with either of these. Whichever one you eventually go for, I would advise that you check which firmware it is based on to make sure it is current. Eg. Litening rom is KH3 based and has stopped being developed, so you need to consider if what you are putting on is going to flow with the times.

Siyah is not a rom, but is the kernel. this can be used even on stock firmware if you wanted to. Siyah, speedmod and ninphetamine are highly regarded.

Hey there, I'm also noob at this...

So, let me get this straight:
- After rooting, we can change kernel and install ROM, correct?
- ROM is for tweaking performances and adding new features (or removing features)
- But what about kernel? What is that exactly?

Also, I think this is the list of required apps (or at least, important) for rooting + installing ROM are:
1. Titanium Backup Pro
2. Superuser
3. ROM Manager
Am I missing something?

Sydney99 · Nov 13, 2011

Kernel is part of the firmware that manages the hardware. Part of it's functions determine how your phone will perform and how long the battery lasts. You can try different kernels to see which is best for you.

Some apps get added to the phone when you root eg. Super user, cwm. Some you add yourself after rooting eg titanium. Don't use rom manager, it can cause problems on s2. cwm gets added on root, this is sort of s2 version of rom manager.

Shotgun84 · Nov 13, 2011

dvdlesher said:
Hey there, I'm also noob at this...

So, let me get this straight:
- After rooting, we can change kernel and install ROM, correct?
- ROM is for tweaking performances and adding new features (or removing features)
- But what about kernel? What is that exactly?

Also, I think this is the list of required apps (or at least, important) for rooting + installing ROM are:
1. Titanium Backup Pro
2. Superuser
3. ROM Manager
Am I missing something?

The kernel is what controls how your phone works. To root you need to change your kernel to an insecure cfroot kernel or a pre rooted custom one. Different kernels offer different things, some will increase speed and or battery life and some will allow you to overclock or underclock your cpu. If you're rooting for the first time I would use the cfroot method as it automatically installs superuser and clockworkmod recovery (use this cwm app instead of ron manager as that causes a few problems with the gs2)
Once you're rooted titanium backup is an important app add it let's you backup apps and data so you can transfer them between different roms.

dvdlesher · Nov 14, 2011

Okay, so... Using Odin, should I flash new ROM directly or kernel first, then ROM?

Shotgun84 · Nov 14, 2011

Most of the roms are flashed using cwm which gets installed after flashing a cfroot kernel, so root first then instal the rom.

obivine · Nov 14, 2011

hawker said:
Installing a custom rom will give you tweaks particular to that rom, so you will need to read through the first couple of posts on XDA for example to see what the developer has done. Eg. some may allow BLN support, removal of sms from the call log etc. so it really is up to you.

CheckROM revolution comes with a fantastic "kitchen" app that allows you to install mods/themes/modems/kernels etc of your choice. It also alerts you to any new mods/updates etc.

Others you will need to keep going back to the XDA thread to see if there have been any new developments.

Most custom roms support AOSP lock screen themes (eg. JKay) that gives you excellent functionality on the lock screen (sliders to open apps directly) and allow you to have scrollable notification bar icons and a customizable power menu.

CheckROM Revolution (currently v2.0) and DlevROM (currently 3.1) are my favourites at the moment. Both are based on KI4 firmware. You wont go too far wrong with either of these. Whichever one you eventually go for, I would advise that you check which firmware it is based on to make sure it is current. Eg. Litening rom is KH3 based and has stopped being developed, so you need to consider if what you are putting on is going to flow with the times.

Siyah is not a rom, but is the kernel. this can be used even on stock firmware if you wanted to. Siyah, speedmod and ninphetamine are highly regarded.

Must have gotten something wrong in the process.....
I downloaded the XXKI4 CheckROM RevolutionHD v2.0 from checkrom site and copied to my sd card. I booted into recovery mode using CWM and tried to pick the zip file but I get the error E: Can't open xxxx.zip (bad). Installation aborted. what could i have done wrong?

Hawker · Nov 14, 2011

Try downloading it again.
By the way v2 is old hat now. It's now on v3.1. So may as well download this one instead.

dvdlesher · Nov 14, 2011

Shotgun84 said:
Most of the roms are flashed using cwm which gets installed after flashing a cfroot kernel, so root first then instal the rom.

Gotcha, root (change kernel) first, then install rom. Will do this tomorrow, gotta cram for exams :/

ooberandy · Nov 18, 2011

hawker said:
Try downloading it again.
By the way v2 is old hat now. It's now on v3.1. So may as well download this one instead.

Sorry, but im a noob :eek:

- i'm just looking to download the checkrom ROM. Their website has two ROM's...

New_XXKI4_CheckROM_RevolutionHD_V2.0.0.zip
XWKJ3_CheckromRevolutionHD_V3.1.1.zip

obviously the top one says v2 and the second one says V3.1.1. But the top one also says 'New'. Could you put me at ease and recommend which one I should download to get the latest/ stablest ROM?

Thanks

Shotgun84 · Nov 18, 2011

3.1.1 is the latest so go for that.

ooberandy · Nov 18, 2011

Shotgun84 said:
3.1.1 is the latest so go for that.

Thanks for that.

I'm trying to figure out exactly what to do to root & install this ROM. I've been reading this link and it says to download Kies also.

Is kies needed to root?

Sydney99 · Nov 18, 2011

Yes, you need the drivers from kies for it to work. Other than that you never need even open the software!

dvdlesher · Nov 18, 2011

Sydney99 said:
Yes, you need the drivers from kies for it to work. Other than that you never need even open the software!

Wait, wait, you mean KIES for the phone or our computer? Because there's already one in our phone, which is KIES AIR, I believe...?

Also, why not flash update via CWM anyway? I thought that's what everyone use to install CheckROM...?

Shotgun84 · Nov 18, 2011

I hope this makes sense. I'm kind of the last one alive at the party so...
Kies for the computer. You need the USB drivers to connect to Odin.
Sorry this ain't easy my mates cat has just got bored and started hassling me. And you can't flash a ROM with cwm until your rooted as clockworkmod recover isn't added until after rooting. The stock recovery system isn't cwm, to be honest not really sure what it does as I've never really used it.

Drago93 · Nov 23, 2011

Hey, I'm thinking of rooting my SGS2 but i don't know which program to use, is there a specific one or can i use any, if i can use any what is the best/safest one to use.

Shotgun84 · Nov 23, 2011

If you follow this guide you shouldn't have any problems

[07.11.2011][CF-Root 5.0] KE*, KF*, KG*, KH1/3/4, KI2/3/4/8, KJ1/2/3 - su+bb+CWM4/5 - xda-developers

Use the cfroot kernel which matches your build number in settings, about phone.

Drago93 · Nov 23, 2011

does cfroot kernel improve battery life as well ?

Hawker · Nov 23, 2011

no. all cf root is a stock kernel with su, busybox and CWM recovery

Drago93 · Nov 23, 2011

so each kernal will do different things, so to improve battery life which one would be the the best one to use?

Hawker · Nov 23, 2011

there is no "best one"
there are recommended ones (eg. Siyah, RAGEmod, Nimphetimine) but there is no best. Each are different, and one kernel that works best for one, may be awful for another.
On top of this, it depends on what apps you have installed and how they have been configured. Installing SetCPU, CPUSpy and betterbatterystats all help to give you a better idea of what is going on, and enable you to act and tweak accordingly.

The firmware (either stock or a custom rom), kernel, modem all work together to give your overall "feel". Its down to you to find out the best combination that works for yourself.

Drago93 · Nov 23, 2011

one last thing, what programs do i need to root mt SGS2

Sydney99 · Nov 24, 2011

the only "program" you need to root is odin on your pc and chainfires insecure kernel file.

rooting with this kernel automatically adds programs to your phone eg superuser, busybox, cwm

all other programs eg titanium, are optional and added after rooting.

Drago93 · Nov 24, 2011

cheers

Noob: Help needed

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