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[ROOT GUIDE] Boost Mobile Samsung Galaxy S2

Hello everyone, I just upgraded my phone to the sg s2 from the htc evo v. I am new to these forums so bear with me, I have rooted a couple times on different phones but am still a little cautious about not bricking my device. I am trying to just root for the time being so I can do a nandroid backup and install TB. I found the thread for rooting and I am at the point of downloading the AGAT kernal, I am on the link but it gives several options, (AGAT_v0.6.8.tar
AGAT_v0.6.8.zip

v0.6.7
Fixed back up error issue in recovery.
AGAT_v0.6.7.tar
AGAT_v0.6.7.zip
Which one do I use??
 
I also have another question, after I do everything and reboot, I will have the custom recovery, right?? On my HTC Evo V, I was using 4ext, at this point, can I install 4ext from the market and use that or will that conflict with the other recovery I installed when I rooted?? Thanks for your help in advance.
 
jreink01 said:
I also have another question, after I do everything and reboot, I will have the custom recovery, right?? On my HTC Evo V, I was using 4ext, at this point, can I install 4ext from the market and use that or will that conflict with the other recovery I installed when I rooted?? Thanks for your help in advance.
Click to expand...

4ext is not compatible with our phone. AGAT 068 is the latest, and is the one I used last before I flashed the Jelly Bean leaks. It has AGAT recovery so you can make a nandroid and once you flash superuser after flashing the kernel you will be rooted. You may want to get the app triangle away, to make the yellow triangle go away after flashing the kernel (it is available on the play-store).
 
Ok, thanks for the feedback, how exactly do I get the yellow trainge away, what app do I need and when do I install it??
On the Agat file, do I use the tar or zip file??
 
Codegerm said:
4ext is not compatible with our phone. AGAT 068 is the latest, and is the one I used last before I flashed the Jelly Bean leaks. It has AGAT recovery so you can make a nandroid and once you flash superuser after flashing the kernel you will be rooted. You may want to get the app triangle away, to make the yellow triangle go away after flashing the kernel (it is available on the play-store).
Click to expand...

Do you remember which AGAT file I use, tar or zip??
 
Ok, I accomplished root, thanks. Now everytime I want to do a backup or restore, I have to press the volume up and power button at the same time right??? Is there any other way of getting into the recovery than having to pop the battery everytime. I have a case and I'm afraid it will wear out the case by having to break it apart everytime to access the battery so I can restart into recovery mode.
 
jreink01 said:
Ok, I accomplished root, thanks. Now everytime I want to do a backup or restore, I have to press the volume up and power button at the same time right??? Is there any other way of getting into the recovery than having to pop the battery everytime. I have a case and I'm afraid it will wear out the case by having to break it apart everytime to access the battery so I can restart into recovery mode.
Click to expand...

you don't have to pop the battery, just reboot then press power and volume up.
 
0.6.8 tar is what's needed on the pc for odin. .. put 0.6.8zip on your sd card for the future.

And no putting this kernel on your phone won't give you sprint bloat ware. Youll still be on boosts rom. The only way sprint stuff will be put on your phone is if you were to flash a sprint touch wiz rom after you root
 
Hey guys.

I just got my SG2 from Boost . its running 4.0.4 and FL24.

I downloaded Odin, AGAT 6.8, Kies and superuser.

When I open Odin, select PDA and go to the file where I unzipped the AGAT file, there was no extension on the zImage. I added the .tar at the end of the file name and it showed up. When I clicked start, this is what I got:

<ID:0/004> Added!!
<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..
<ID:0/004> File analysis..
<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/004> Can't open the serial(COM) port.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)


Also, my phone is reading:
ODIN MODE
Downloading...
Do not turn off target!!


Im not sure what to do from here. I don't want to unplug my phone and mess it up. Im stuck and I need help


Thank guys.
AJ
 
BoSoxSYCO said:
Hey guys.

I just got my SG2 from Boost . its running 4.0.4 and FL24.

I downloaded Odin, AGAT 6.8, Kies and superuser.

When I open Odin, select PDA and go to the file where I unzipped the AGAT file, there was no extension on the zImage. I added the .tar at the end of the file name and it showed up. When I clicked start, this is what I got:

<ID:0/004> Added!!
<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..
<ID:0/004> File analysis..
<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/004> Can't open the serial(COM) port.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)


Also, my phone is reading:
ODIN MODE
Downloading...
Do not turn off target!!


Im not sure what to do from here. I don't want to unplug my phone and mess it up. Im stuck and I need help


Thank guys.
AJ
Click to expand...
You downloaded the .zip file or the .tar file? there shouldnt have been any need to extract anything if you downloaded the .tar file, which is the one needed for odin from what I recall.
 
jmedno5891 said:
You downloaded the .zip file or the .tar file? there shouldnt have been any need to extract anything if you downloaded the .tar file, which is the one needed for odin from what I recall.
Click to expand...

I downloaded the .tar' but when I extract it, there is no ext. On the zimage file so I can't find it when I try to browse to in from Odin. That is why I renamed it and added the .tar to the zimage file

The notes on the 1st page say to extract it into a folder such a c:\odin
 
BoSoxSYCO said:
I downloaded the .tar' but when I extract it, there is no ext. On the zimage file so I can't find it when I try to browse to in from Odin. That is why I renamed it and added the .tar to the zimage file

The notes on the 1st page say to extract it into a folder such a c:\odin
Click to expand...
Ah ok, the notes are refering to Odin itself, the tar file that you download is used as is, no need to extract it, when you open up Odin and plug in your phone, click the pda box and it will find that file you downloaded.
 
BoSoxSYCO said:
Hey guys.

I just got my SG2 from Boost . its running 4.0.4 and FL24.

I downloaded Odin, AGAT 6.8, Kies and superuser.

When I open Odin, select PDA and go to the file where I unzipped the AGAT file, there was no extension on the zImage. I added the .tar at the end of the file name and it showed up. When I clicked start, this is what I got:

<ID:0/004> Added!!
<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..
<ID:0/004> File analysis..
<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/004> Can't open the serial(COM) port.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)


Also, my phone is reading:
ODIN MODE
Downloading...
Do not turn off target!!


Im not sure what to do from here. I don't want to unplug my phone and mess it up. Im stuck and I need help


Thank guys.
AJ
Click to expand...

Did you install kies and then connect the phone and let the pc recognize it and install the drivers? If you didn't that would cause the can't open com port. You have to install kies which installs the samsung drivers, then connect the phone and let it recognize and configure the drivers. Disconnect the phone then run odin and set it up then put the phone in download mode and reconnect it to the pc via the usb cable. you should then see a com port show up on Odin. Once you see that com port indicator, you can then flash the kernel.
 
Hello- Total newbie to Android and to Boost Mobile. I am interested in rooting primarily so I can get free Wifi tethering on my Galaxy S2.

A couple questions:
1- At the moment my phone is completely stock. Do I need to buy an additional SD card to properly root? I didn't see any mention of an SD card in the instructions in the sticky, but I have read on other sites that you need to get one in order to root.

2- Is it worth rooting just for free mobile hotspot? If there are tethering apps out there that are confirmed to work with the Boost GalaxyS2 then I'd consider skipping the root and just getting an app. I tried FoxFi but I couldn't seem to get it to work (maybe I am doing something wrong).

Thanks for the great forum- appreciate all the advice.
 
No you don't need an sd card.

And I don't believe there are any wifi tether apps that work without root. Whether it's worth it to root for it is really up to you
 
newdroider12 said:
Hello- Total newbie to Android and to Boost Mobile. I am interested in rooting primarily so I can get free Wifi tethering on my Galaxy S2.

A couple questions:
1- At the moment my phone is completely stock. Do I need to buy an additional SD card to properly root? I didn't see any mention of an SD card in the instructions in the sticky, but I have read on other sites that you need to get one in order to root.

2- Is it worth rooting just for free mobile hotspot? If there are tethering apps out there that are confirmed to work with the Boost GalaxyS2 then I'd consider skipping the root and just getting an app. I tried FoxFi but I couldn't seem to get it to work (maybe I am doing something wrong).

Thanks for the great forum- appreciate all the advice.
Click to expand...
just download framaroot from xda dev. install the apk and run the app youre rooted. now download mobile odin. you can now flash an agat kernal to make a backup. the kernal is 0.6.8
 
guyphs said:
Whether you are new to root, or an old hat at it, following these simple steps will get you root access on your device. That means you're going to have access to the file system, system settings, be able to flash custom ROMs, get wifi tethering working, and all that good stuff.

I can confirm that this process worked for me and others on the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch running build FH29 of the Samsung software (you can see what build you are on by going to settings and about phone). I nor anyone else where will accept responsibility if your device ends up bricked. That shouldn't happen, but in the event that the stars align and the gods deign your device to be sacrificed, you're going to be SOL (because if you brick by rooting you are technically going to violate your warranty and may not be able to return it). Also, I accept no credit, I'm not worthy, I didn't make odin, kies, the kernel or the su zip -- that was all done by people a lot smarter than I.

Before we get started, you are going to need a few things:

  • Download and install Samsung Kies to your PC
  • Download Odin to your PC and extract it into a directory such as C:\Odin
  • Download AGAT's Kernel for the SGSII
  • Download the Superuser flashable zip file
Got all that? Good. Plug your phone into your PC and make sure that the drivers are all installed and that your PC can recognize your phone.

Unplug your phone and pull the battery. Put the battery back in and hold Vol - and Power at the same time and release when you see the SGS2 logo. Then you should get a screen warning you about the evils of custom operating systems -- hit Vol + to continue and plug your device into your computer (note for all the newbs: this is what is referred to as booting into download or odin mode).

Open Odin back up and it should recognize your phone (you should get like a yellow window on the left side). Hit the PDA box and select the AGAT kernel you downloaded. Make sure that it is in the PDA box (that's important) and not another one. Also the only other boxes that should be checked are auto reboot and reset time. Check to make sure all of the foregoing matches up, then check it a second time. Screwing something up with odin and and will mess up your shiny new phone. Hit start and it should go through the process of flashing the kernel to your device.

When that's done, disconnect your device, pull the battery again. This time, boot by pressing Vol + and power -- this will get you into the custom recovery that was flashed along with the kernel (and once more for the newbs, this is booting into recovery mode). Choose mount usb storage and move the superuser binary over to the sd card. Then go to the main menu of the recovery, select install zip, then install from sd card (external) and select the super user binary zip file and flash it. This will install superuser on your device. Then reboot like normal.

You should see a yellow triangle on your boot screen -- this is normal. This basically tips off Samsung or whoever that you have flashed something over Odin via a PC. I can confirm that triangle away in the play store removed it from my device, but your mileage may vary.

When your device boots, you should now have root access. Make sure that the Superuser program is installed, and you should be all set. You're ready to flash other kernels, custom ROMs, etc. At this point I would STRONGLY ADVISE you to reboot into recovery (vol + and power) and make what is called a nandroid (a backup of your device) -- just go into backup and restore in recovery and hit backup. Then when that is done, copy the nandroid to your PC so that you have everything backed up in case you need it. You should always do this before flashing anything, that way you have a way to possibly revert back if something goes bad.


That should be it! A couple of final pointers:
  • I would also advise investing in the program "Titanium Backup" in the market. This will allow you to backup and restore apps selectively, and best practice is to make a full titanium backup of all your apps and settings in addition to the nandroid backups. Never hurts to be safe.
  • Finally, if for whatever reason you need to go back to stock, or you don't want to be rooted anymore, there is a way to do it! Just grab the stock rom here (courtesy of Mark112887), unzip it and extract the tar.md5 file. Open up odin and flash the tar.md5 just like you flashed the AGAT kernel. It will take longer, but when you reboot your phone should be just like it was when you got it from Boost.
Edit: I can confirm that this process also works for FI22 and FL24. It should also work for any TW build, though you may want to grab the corresponding kernel here (i.e., if you're running a JB stock rom, make sure you get a JB kernel). I would also mention that, if you have 4g service, most custom kernels will bork your 4g speeds. You're only going to get 4g speeds with stock kernels or AGATs repacks (which are on the linked page). The repacks are just stock kernels with custom recovery that will leave your 4g speeds alone. So if you want fast 4g speeds, get a repacked kernel. If you don't have 4g or don't care about speed on it, you can get any compatible kernel you want.

But, as noted above, if something screws up or isn't working right, just flash back to stock and try again.
Click to expand...

will i get the sprint bloatware with this guide or stay on boost mobile?
 
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