I just need a bit of guidance

[Dark77]

Hi guys,

I'm a total phone-messing virgin, right now I have unrooted Galaxy S2 running Orange UK's JellyBean 4.1.2 that got released 2-3 weeks ago. I just need a bit of guidance here:

1. I want to root my phone first. I think I understand everything, great guide
2. I will probably take an image-backup of the entire phone just in case I need to come back to it

But then I would ideally like to:

3. Take "importable" backup of all the contacts on the phone (I will find some tool for that I expect)
4. Completely format everything on the phone and reinstall the clean, vanilla Android 4.1.2. My aim is to get rid of all Orange bloatware that came on Orange's android, and also just generally clean the phone up, as it had huge number of apps installed and removed over the past two years. I'm not sure where I can find the guide for this, and indeed which Android to download, my phone details are

PDA: I9100PXXLSQ
PHONE: I9100PBVLS2
CSC: I9100PORALS5
Build Info: Wed May 1 13:41:17 KST 2013

5. I will import all the previously exported contacts, install crucial apps on a almost-like-brand-new-phone and enjoy

 

[ironass]

Hi guys,

I'm a total phone-messing virgin, right now I have unrooted Galaxy S2 running Orange UK's JellyBean 4.1.2 that got released 2-3 weeks ago. I just need a bit of guidance here:

1. I want to root my phone first. I think I understand everything, great guide
2. I will probably take an image-backup of the entire phone just in case I need to come back to it

But then I would ideally like to:

3. Take "importable" backup of all the contacts on the phone (I will find some tool for that I expect)
4. Completely format everything on the phone and reinstall the clean, vanilla Android 4.1.2. My aim is to get rid of all Orange bloatware that came on Orange's android, and also just generally clean the phone up, as it had huge number of apps installed and removed over the past two years. I'm not sure where I can find the guide for this, and indeed which Android to download, my phone details are

PDA: I9100PXXLSQ
PHONE: I9100PBVLS2
CSC: I9100PORALS5
Build Info: Wed May 1 13:41:17 KST 2013

5. I will import all the previously exported contacts, install crucial apps on a almost-like-brand-new-phone and enjoy

Strange Dark77... you have a, "P", (GT-i9100P), variant phone and yet you are posting in the, "G", variant, (GT-i9100G), thread!

It would seem that you want to do a clean, "vanilla", install of the latest Orange UK, JB, firmware and then root it... am I correct?

If so....

1. You will need to backup and sync all your stuff as described in the, "Firmware update problems... what you can do!" and then format your internal and external memories and Factory reset the phone.

2. You will then need to re-flash the JB firmware for the Orange UK, "P", variant by following the instructions in #1.7 of the, "Jelly Bean update - Dummies Guide". Do not restore your app's or settings from any backup but rather you should automatically re-download the app's from the Play Store and re-do the settings.

3. You can now root you phone using the, "Rooting Galaxy S2 - Dummies Guide".

All this will require careful and thorough reading on your part, so grab a coffee and make a start. ☕

(I have asked our friendly Mods to move your post to the main section of the All Things Root forum)

 

[DonB]

Thread moved here on its own, will PM the member to make him aware, cheers

 

[Dark77]

Oh lord, sorry about that, I'm an even bigger noob than I thought. Anyhow, I see that it's now moved, thanks.

And thanks for all the help Ironass, not only here, but I've been reading a lot of other threads, your time input, patience and dedication is just beyond belief.

However, you slightly misunderstood. Or maybe you didn't misunderstand at all, maybe what i was looking for does not even exist: after rooting and titanium-backingup the phone, I was hoping to install a clean 4.1.2 official android, but not the official Orange UK or any other mobile-network-specific firmware. Why? Because they all come with all the bloatware crap that Orange and other carriers stuff the ROM with. I don't want "Samsung Hubs", "Samsung Apps", "ChatOn", "Core Orange Service", "Google Play Books/Magazines/Movies/Music", "Google+", etc. I know I could probably freeze these once I root the baby, but I'd prefer not to have them at all.

So basically, I was after a ROM that will look and feel exactly the same as the one I've got right now, but a clean, vanilla version without mobile network stuff on it. Does such a thing even exist, or do we only have available mobile networks' versions of ROMs with their bits?

Alternatively, I could think about putting a custom ROM on it after rooting, I see on xda developers that there is even a CyanogenMod JB 4.2.2 for S2 available, but these words scare the crap out of me:

Make sure you're NOT RUNNING A KERNEL WITH THE MMC-SUPERBRICK-BUG.

Some second-generation Samsung Exynos devices are potentially susceptible to a "superbrick" caused by performing a factory reset with the stock kernel, which effectively kills the internal memory in the device. It is highly recommended you do not perform this operation while using a stock kernel for safety reasons.

Why? Because I downloaded that eMMC Check app, and unfortunately its result is "YES. Insane chip", and I'm a scared that putting this on would brick the phone?

 

[ironass]

Oh lord, sorry about that, I'm an even bigger noob than I thought. Anyhow, I see that it's now moved, thanks.

And thanks for all the help Ironass, not only here, but I've been reading a lot of other threads, your time input, patience and dedication is just beyond belief.

However, you slightly misunderstood. Or maybe you didn't misunderstand at all, maybe what i was looking for does not even exist: after rooting and titanium-backingup the phone, I was hoping to install a clean 4.1.2 official android, but not the official Orange UK or any other mobile-network-specific firmware. Why? Because they all come with all the bloatware crap that Orange and other carriers stuff the ROM with. I don't want "Samsung Hubs", "Samsung Apps", "ChatOn", "Core Orange Service", "Google Play Books/Magazines/Movies/Music", "Google+", etc. I know I could probably freeze these once I root the baby, but I'd prefer not to have them at all.

So basically, I was after a ROM that will look and feel exactly the same as the one I've got right now, but a clean, vanilla version without mobile network stuff on it. Does such a thing even exist, or do we only have available mobile networks' versions of ROMs with their bits?

I do not know of any, "P", variant custom ROM's that come without, "bloatware". The nearest would be the, non P variant, NEAT ROM LITE but if you flash a non P variant ROM or firmware you will lose your NFC capability.

Alternatively, you can stay on your Samsung stock firmware and, "freeze", the applications that you do not require. See post #2 of the, "Battery Saving - Dummies Guide",

Alternatively, I could think about putting a custom ROM on it after rooting, I see on xda developers that there is even a CyanogenMod JB 4.2.2 for S2 available, but these words scare the crap out of me:

My opinion of CyanogenMod CM10.1 ROM Android 4.2

Why? Because I downloaded that eMMC Check app, and unfortunately its result is "YES. Insane chip", and I'm a scared that putting this on would brick the phone?

The eMMC Brick Bug affects stock kernels. Most, if not all, the custom kernels, such as Siyah, Dorimanx, Jeboo, PhilZ, have the, "anti Brick Bug", built in.

 

[Dark77]

I do not know of any, "P", variant custom ROM's that come without, "bloatware". The nearest would be the, non P variant, NEAT ROM LITE but if you flash a non P variant ROM or firmware you will lose your NFC capability.

My opinion of CyanogenMod CM10.1 ROM Android 4.2

Alternatively, you can stay on your Samsung stock firmware and, "freeze", the applications that you do not require. See post #2 of the, "Battery Saving - Dummies Guide",

I'm starting to think that this is exactly what I'll do, for now at least, - just root the phone with Siyah's S2-v6.0beta5, and freeze some stuff and remove other stuff if I can. I wasn't gonna install CM10.1 right now anyway, I checked out their site earlier and they have no stable releases, just nightly builds. No rush to do that, I just started browsing for custom ROMs today when it crossed my mind that a P stock 4.1.2 ROM without bloatware might not actually exist. Plus, I saw that CM10.1 is running JB 4.2.2 and just started feeling a bit greedy I guess

The eMMC Brick Bug affects stock kernels. Most, if not all, the custom kernels, such as Siyah, Dorimanx, Jeboo, PhilZ, have the, "anti Brick Bug", built in.

Phew. All the more reason to stick Siyah's S2-v6.0beta5 on the phone as soon as possible.

Thanks a bunch mate. Have a pint