Welcome to the forums!
Sorry, I forget sometimes that not everyone roots their phones, so I don't look at that aspect of apps very often. Rooting can often be done quite easily depending on your ability to use your computer and follow instructions, but sometimes is not as easy or is impossible. It really depends on the phone.
Rooting does open up a lot of possibilities for apps and customization, and the process is individualized to your particular phone. The S2 has a few different versions, and each one has it's own forum. I believe the difference between them is defined by which carrier you are on.
Check the front page of the forums, scroll down to Samsung Galaxy S2 ***** version (tmobile, etc.) and click there. Then look for the "All things Root
section. In there, there should be a thread dedicated to the rooting process with instructions, and people there to help with specific questions.
Without rooting, I am not sure how you will get your data back. I'm sorry, but even if you root, it isn't guaranteed.
