Firmware upgrade & Rooting (1st time android user)

[Zoth]

Yesterday I bought my 1st Android phone after being an iPhone user since the iPhone 3G. Im pretty much confortable jailbreaking an iPhone but after reading about rooting, well, it looks a bit daunting.

I read the guide in this section but still I want to be sure before I do anything stupid.

My 1st question is about the firmware upgrade, Kies keeps telling me theres a new firmware available, since this is not always recommended when using an iPhone I dont know if the same applies here.

Finally, regarding rooting I'd like to know whats the best alternative for my phone since there seem to be a lot of options. Heres and screenshot of my about screen for reference:

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[retrorom]

The rooting process (if it is possible to root) will be slightly different for each android device. For the Samsung Galaxy S2, it is pretty easy, actually all you have to do is flash a kernel that supports root. In your case you should get a KF3 rooted kernel and flash it through ODIN. Here's a link where you can download the kernel Root-Anleitung f

 

[Zoth]

Thanks for the quick reply retrorom,

Now should I upgrade my fw through kies before rooting? And thanks for the link but I dont speak german even though the phone was bought there lol Ill try google translate.

 

[retrorom]

Thanks for the quick reply retrorom,

Now should I upgrade my fw through kies before rooting? And thanks for the link but I dont speak german even though the phone was bought there lol Ill try google translate.

Actually there is no need to update firmware beforehand, have a look at this link [07.11.2011][CF-Root 5.0] KE*, KF*, KG*, KH1/3/4, KI2/3/4/8, KJ1/2/3 - su+bb+CWM4/5 - xda-developers and read the first bit. This will ONLY flash a rooted kernel and after that is done, you have root. That is all you need!!!!

THEN before you flash another CUSTOM ROM (if you wish to), you should do a nandroid backup (to be safe). Even if you flash a custom Rom you can always flash a different kernel on top of that.

 

[retrorom]

Oh and also, forget about Kies, all you will be using in the future is either the clockworkmod recovery or odin. For flashing kernels and roms. And maybe you should know that there are custom roms that do wipe everything on your phone and there are those that don't wipe anything. My first custom rom was cognition s2, mainly because I could overclock and because it didn't wipe my phone. If you need any assistance please dont't rush anything, ...feel free to ask and we'll all be happy to help you out. And ...welcome to awesomeness

 

[Zoth]

Thanks a lot m8, I dont think ill be doing this today, Im gonna read those tutorials a few times before I get the courage to try.

 

[retrorom]

That is probably the best thing to do. But remember all you need to do in the first place is flash that rooted clockworkmod kernel that goes with your current firmware kf3, or which one was it? Then you can fiddle around and mess it up, restore backups and flash new stuff every day lol

 

[ROHIT345]

Thanks a lot m8, I dont think ill be doing this today, Im gonna read those tutorials a few times before I get the courage to try.

Not an expert... was on the same KF3 , i just posted a thread with step by step how I got root without ODIN and without increasing Binary counter.

You can follow the steps you should be safe as I am rooted.