Before i do this, is it a bad idea???

[luke318is]

here is a link to a walkthru on rooting my phone:
Root Your Samsung Galaxy S2: Here

 

[heshanj]

yes, legit. looks like the same way i did it.. u can make sure u have a new firmware before rooting too.. check out this link, its pretty much the same rooting guide plus firmware update guide too

click here

and no, u wont lose a thing, if u follow the guide in my link at least

 

[Wolfedude88]

Moved this to the all things root section, good luck!

 

[luke318is]

yes, legit. looks like the same way i did it.. u can make sure u have a new firmware before rooting too.. check out this link, its pretty much the same rooting guide plus firmware update guide too

click here

and no, u wont lose a thing, if u follow the guide in my link at least

so, i just downloaded new firmware from kies. so i can i just root now? or do i need to install one of the other firmwares first before rooting???

Thanks.

 

[heshanj]

if ur rooting via the method in that guide, u need to flash that insecure kernel before u root. then flash back the stock kernel after u root. the stock kernel for each firmware is included in that guide.

or u could use the CF root method. click here for the guide. u just need to flash the CF root kernel, which is a stock kernel with root access.. just find the correct one i.e. if ur running KG2, flash the KG2 kernel. however, to remove the 'yellow triangle' on boot (u'll see wat it is after u do it), u will need the stock kernel again.. its on the first link i posted

 

[luke318is]

Ok well its all done.

i flashed the insecure kernal, then i ran super one click, then i flashed KG5 to try it out.

Everything seems to have worked. the only thing is, how do i run a root test to make sure i am actually rooted???

i followed this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278

EDIT:

busybox says i am NOT rooted. I WAS rooted until i followed the last step of the guide which said to install a stock firmware, and i chose KG5. Any ideas?

EDIT:

Now i cannot revert to my old firmware KF3. how do i go back and restart this whole process? i guess i should not have flashed KG5

 

[Trooper]

You should have a superuser app in your app drawer if you are indeed rooted.

 

[Slug]

I WAS rooted until i followed the last step of the guide which said to install a stock firmware, and i chose KG5. Any ideas?

Yup, you've upgraded your firmware to KG5.

You flash a stock kernel to get rid of the yellow warning symbol when booting into recovery.

Just repeat the process (or flash Chainfire's KG5 package from post #5 here) but this time download and flash the stock KG5 kernel (as described) after rooting.

 

[luke318is]

Yup, you've upgraded your firmware to KG5.

You flash a stock kernel to get rid of the yellow warning symbol when booting into recovery.

Just repeat the process (or flash Chainfire's KG5 package from post #5 here) but this time download and flash the stock KG5 kernel (as described) after rooting.

Ok, i just reflashed a few times and NOW it appears that im Rooted AND on KG5.

I guess i am confused, i thought a kernel was the same as a firmware.

Im not too worried about the yellow warning symbol.

So now that i am rooted i can expect better battery life on kg5, but what other benefits does rooting give me?

I can use titanium backup and stuff like that? what else is useful?

 

[heshanj]

a kernel is just a part of the firmware. to get rid of the yellow triangle, download the STOCK KERNEL only, intratech's thread on xda has a stock kernel download for every firmware there.

yeah, rooting allows u to install root apps! titanium is one of the best.. droidwall is another, it allows u to select which apps u dont want accessing the internet, a firewall of sorts. root explorer lets u dig into all the system folders of ur phone. just search for 'root' on the market n u should see a bunch of root apps. or google

 

[christinechang]

what is root?? sorry.. new to android ><

 

[steslatt]

what is root?? sorry.. new to android ><

It gives you access to areas otherwise secure on your phone and allows you to change things.

 

[N1vag]

It gives you access to areas otherwise secure on your phone and allows you to change things.

What kind of things can you change and what makes it better? I have rooted my phone but can't really see what you can change for the better!
Forgive my ignorance! I am new to both Android and (obviously) rooting! I know people who Jailbroke their iPhones and saw what they could change but most of what they could change is already implemented into Android phones (notification bars etc!)

 

[heshanj]

u can install root apps! thats pretty much wat u do with a rooted phone. there are many great apps with features that work only on rooted phones.. its quite different to wat a jailbreak does (at least wat i remember of jailbreak way back on my ipod touch first gen )

titanium backup for instance. creates a complete backup of ur phone, user/system apps + plus app data (game levels, etc!) and even home screens. it almost feels like a system image (except its not). after a factory reset, titanium restored my phone to exactly how it was, i couldnt tell the diff. probably my biggest reason for rooting!

root explorer lets u dig into all ur phone's folders, even the system ones that are hidden in unrooted phones (and other file explorers)

ClockworkMod recovery. a custom recovery console that allows u to, most usefully, create a system backup image (nandroid backup)

gemini app manager.. this works on non-rooted phones too, but the cool features need root..i.e. control which apps autostart on ur phone, or under wat conditions they start

droidwall is pretty much a firewall, lets u control which apps access internet. love this app too

adfree blocks ads on free apps, and does a pretty decent job

set dns allows u to change which name server u want on either wifi or 3g. very useful for me, seeing my current location

set CPU allows u to control ur CPU in different profiles.

chainfire 3D lets u create GPU profiles (i think thats wat it does ) which allows u to play tegra 2 games, for instance

stuff like that. do a quick search for 'root' on the market, ull find loads of root apps.. it'll give u an idea of wat can be done

 

[N1vag]

Thanks very much, makes a bit more sense now. I have now found an application to run a ps3 sixaxis controller on an android phone but it doesn't apparently work with stock firmware on the galaxy s2. Anybody know how to get it to work?