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XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

Table of Contents
1 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2 Update (for non-rooted phone) .............................................................................................. 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 Download Sources ............................................................................................................ 2 Firmware Compatibilities ................................................................................................. 2 Methods ........................................................................................................................... 2 Using KIES .................................................................................................................. 2 Using OTA .................................................................................................................. 2 Using Odin (Recommended) ..................................................................................... 3

2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 3

Rooting (for non-rooted phone) ............................................................................................. 3 3.1 Methods ........................................................................................................................... 3 doomlord's easy rooting toolkit (Recommended) .................................................... 3 Flashing rooted kernel .............................................................................................. 4

3.1.1 3.1.2 4

After Rooting ........................................................................................................................... 5 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 How to access CWM recovery.......................................................................................... 5 How to backup current ROM ........................................................................................... 5 How to backup EFS folder ................................................................................................ 5 Checking Binary Counter .................................................................................................. 5 Removing The Yellow Triangle ......................................................................................... 6

Flashing Custom Firmware or Stock Firmware (for rooted phone) ........................................ 6 5.1 Flashing Custom Firmware Only ...................................................................................... 6 Using CWM Recovery................................................................................................ 6

5.1.1 5.2

Flashing Stock Firmware Only .......................................................................................... 7 Using Mobile Odin Pro .............................................................................................. 7

5.2.1 6 7

Questions ................................................................................................................................ 8 Information ............................................................................................................................. 8

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

1 Introduction
For Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100G users only, may or may not be referenced for other phone too. NOTICE : Install KIES first for all procedures below For all Odin operations, make sure no KIES related software are running and vice-versa

2 Update (for non-rooted phone)

This chapter will be discussing methods and also sources for stock firmware designed for Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100G.

2.1 Download Sources

Without registration : Check Fus Downloader (Recommended) With registration : SamMobile, Sampro.pl Google yourself for any other hosting provider (ie Rapidshare, Mediafire, etc)

2.2 Firmware Compatibilities

With assumption the phone is not rooted yet : For KJ2/KK1 and lower, the doomlords method is still applicable. For KL3 and higher, so far only by flashing rooted kernel is usable for getting root access

2.3 Methods
Currently there are three methods for updating the phone. It is recommended to always do a clean update and the Odin method is very recommended here. Choose only one method please.

2.3.1 Using KIES

Untick USB debugging (settings->Applications->Development), if ticked before Connect phone using provided cable Run KIES and update will be prompted if you are connected to the Internet

2.3.2 Using OTA

Connect your phone to Wifi (or 3G) Software update (settings->About phone)

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

2.3.3 Using Odin (Recommended)

Download these files : Odin (http://db.tt/BwlUTGIl) pit file (omap4_all_20110627_emmc.pit : http://db.tt/BwlUTGIl) Download Mode : Turn off phone. Hold vol down+home+turn on button. Release the on button after phone is turning on. After a few second, release all buttons. After that vol up Run Odin, connect phone with usb cable, yellow COMx will be shown in Odin Use PIT file only if you have either soft bricked the phone with flashing before or equivalent. Normally it would not be needed. But if flashing process is failed, you should try using PIT file. For normal use, can be skipped. Select PIT button, choose the download pit file Re-partition will be ticked AUTOMATICALLY after pit file is selected Select PDA button, choose the downloaded firmware file (usually a .tar or .tar.md5 file) Click Start, a PASS will be shown if succeed After first boot up, it is recommended to do factory data reset, but it is not a must, but in some case, it will fix some bugs like camera hang, etc.

3 Rooting (for non-rooted phone)

For now, 2 methods are available for rooting purpose with assumption that the phone is not rooted yet.

3.1 Methods
Listed here are the methods which can be used for rooting the phone. Every method has its own advantages and also disadvantages. Choose only one method please.

3.1.1 doomlord's easy rooting toolkit (Recommended)

Advantages : Will not increase binary counter or trigger yellow triangle. Even will not brick the phone in case of failure in rooting process. Very safe and recommended.

Disadvantages : A bit longer process than the other rooting method. Only rooted the phone with no CWM support. But CWM support can easily be done. Read further for the CWM support.

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

How To : Download the toolkit first (DooMLoRD's Easy Rooting Toolkit) Replace the "runme.bat" with this edited "runme.bat" (http://db.tt/BwlUTGIl) Tick USB debugging (settings->Applications->Development), if unticked before Tick Unknown sources (settings->Applications) Using windows task manager, "end task" ADB.exe and all KIES related software if running Connect phone using provided cable, ADB driver for the phone will be installed automatically assuming you have installed KIES first Double click the "runme.bat" Memory Crash Method If not succeed, please reboot it manually as it will not reboot automatically after the last unsuccessful script. Now add these extra steps : Same like above, do not run the script yet Now run applications from your phone, any applications will do, and close them with HOME button, not the BACK button Run as many applications as you can, check with "Task Manager", the RAM usages should be at least 500mb and above Now run the "runme.bat" Result : rooted (Superuser) only Adding CWM support if required (if you need to flash custom rom) Download "ktool" from Android Market Download one of the rooted kernel Superatmos (version 2.1 is very stable and recommended) MyGKernel (still stable but quite old and not updated so far) Lucifr (currently on development and have some new features) Extract the .tar file and put the zImage file in the root of internal sdcard (/sdcard/zImage), not the root of external sdcard Run "ktool" and select "Flash kernel from /sdcard/zImage" After succeed, select button "Reboot"

3.1.2 Flashing rooted kernel

Advantages : Fast method, CWM support directly assuming the rooted kernel supports it. Applicable to almost all stock firmware even up to the latest so far.

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

Disadvantages : A bit dangerous, soft bricked may or may not occurred. Without USB jig, warranty will be voided as binary counter is increased and yellow triangle occurred. Without USB jig, only yellow triangle can be removed. Binary counter can only be reset with USB jig and only from old bootloader (KJ2 and lower)

How To : Download one of the rooted kernel Superatmos (version 2.1 is very stable and recommended) MyGKernel (still stable but quite old and not updated so far) Lucifr (currently on development and have some new features) Download Mode : Turn off phone. Hold vol down+home+turn on button. Release the on button after phone is turning on. After a few second, release all buttons. After that vol up Run Odin, connect phone with usb cable, yellow COMx will be shown in Odin Re-partition should not be ticked (no pit file is required here) Select PDA button, choose the downloaded kernel file (usually a .tar file) Click Start, a PASS will be shown if succeed Result : rooted (Superuser) and CWM recovery

4 After Rooting
4.1 How to access CWM recovery
Turn off phone. Hold vol up+home+turn on button. Release the on button after phone is turning on. After a few seconds, release all other buttons.

4.2 How to backup current ROM

Go into CWM recovery mode. Choose Backup and Restore. Now choose Backup.

4.3 How to backup EFS folder

Install ktool if not installed already. Run ktool. Choose Backup EFS to /sdcard/efs.img

4.4 Checking Binary Counter

Just go into Download Mode. You will see the counter there if any.

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

4.5 Removing Binary Counter using USB Jig

Binary can only be removed using USB Jig which can be bought from online shop or local shop if applicable So far only old bootloader (KJ2 and lower) can be used for removing binary binary counter If running newer than KJ2, for example KL3 and above, you need to flash back the old bootloader for the USB Jig to work again Normally, to use USB Jig, just turn off the phone and plug the USB jig. Done Download this i9100g-reset-binary-counter.zip and extract to get tar file. Password : mahadirlab-reset-b001 ( Credit to Mahadir Ahmad ) Referring Chapter 2.3.3 Using Odin, just replace the PDA file with this provided tar file Do not use PIT file and start the flashing Now you can use the USB Jig just like mentioned above More reference : ( Credit to Mahadir Ahmad ) Tutorial resetting binary counter on DZKL3 firmware (English version) Tutorial reset binary counter pada i9100g dzkl3 selepas flashing (Malay version)

4.6 Removing The Yellow Triangle

Assuming you have already rooted with any rooted kernel Run ktool. Tap "Dump current kernel" Tap "Reboot to Download Mode" When in Download Mode, start Odin, connect the phone and flash any stock Samsung kernel Phone will reboot itself after that. Run ktool again Tap "Flash kernel from /sdcard/zImage" Tap "Reboot"

5 Flashing Custom Firmware or Stock Firmware (for rooted phone)

5.1 Flashing Custom Firmware Only
5.1.1 Using CWM Recovery
Download any custom firmware Copy the file to the root of sdcard (internal). Dont uncompress the file as usually it will be in zip form Boot into the CWM recovery

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012 Choose zip from sdcard and select the file Wait and it will finished in a moment For CWM Recovery reference : CWM Recovery How To The above mentioned steps may or may not differed from what will you have as it depends on the version of CWM itself, but the basic steps is like that It is advisable to refer the steps from the custom rom thread itself

5.2 Flashing Stock Firmware Only

5.2.1 Using Mobile Odin Pro
Advantages : Can get access root to almost all new released firmware and it is easier and safer CWM support can easily be done using the above mentioned method

Disadvantages : Mobile Odin Pro is a paid application. The lite version from XDA does not have the Everroot support

How To : This method requirement is root access and Mobile Odin Pro only. Even if the phone are rooted with doomlords method and you chose not to have CWM support, it will work too Download the stock firmware and copy it to the root of sdcard (internal). tar and tar.md5will be supported also Install Mobile Odin Pro Run the application and from Open file select file that you just copied into the phone If Everroot option is not ticked itself, please tick it if you want the phone to be automatically rooted during the process I will recommend to tick all three options inside Everroot And also please ticked the wipe data option but it is optional, but can reduce any bugs Start the flashing Result : root access, no CWM support, no busybox

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

6 Questions
Q : Can I update to ICS if it already been released in future ? A : Yes, you can. If you are using doomlords method, find unroot script from his thread. For any rooting methods, by flashing original stock firmware using Odin, you will lose all root access and eligible for future stock upgrades (cleaner method). For flashing, refer updating method above. Q : Must I update to 2.3.6 first before rooting ? A : It is not a must, but it is totally recommended. Q : Which kernel or ROM is good for battery life ? A : There are no definitive answer to this question. Read more posts from various threads and you will get the idea. Q : What will factory data reset aka hard reset do to my phone ? A : Factory Data Reset either from settings->Privacy or typing *2767*3855# from dial pad, will delete all downloaded applications (data/app) and reset the system partition. As rooting applications (Superuser.apk and SU binary) are located inside the system partition, it will not be removed. To make it clean, better reflash back stock firmware with Odin. Q : What if my phone got into soft-bricked mode ? A : Try get into Odin Download Mode and follow Subchapter 2.3.3 for updating using Odin. Use PIT file this time. If not succeeded, do again, try changing USB port and even uninstall/install KIES again. Once flashed, very recommended to do factory data reset first as the files are kind of messed from bad flashing from previous.

7 Information
ktool : backup EFS, flash any rooted kernel, can be used to remove the yellow triangle CWM Recovery : backup current rom, flashing custom rom (more info : http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/what-is-clockworkmod-recovery-and-how-to-use-it-onandroid-complete-guide/) Titanium Backup Pro : backup single/batch applications, uninstall applications (system and user)

XDA : creezalird FB : Tengku Zulhilmie T. Aziz Thursday, March 01, 2012

Custom Roms : SuperROM GaLaXyRom Homam.G. DARK ROM

Yellow Triange : is encountered when you flashed unsigned aka rooted kernel, this is like a warning because you are not running on stock kernel Binary Counter : the counter inside Odin Download Mode, shows how many times you have flashed unsigned firmware or kernel For more references : Rooting your Samsung Galaxy SII (I9100G), also updating/repairing a bricked one Samsung Galaxy S II I9100G (Recommended to join as most members are very helpful and some developers are releasing beta stuffs over there too)