rooted my SGS2 because of the fact that virgin wanted to charge me $75 to unlock it.
so not sure about unlock servers, but through the network themselves, its $75 CAD.
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How to Unlock (and Root) the Bell Galaxy S2. Step by Step Guide
- Thread starter Blue1k
- Start date
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- Tags
- samsung galaxy s2
rooted my SGS2 because of the fact that virgin wanted to charge me $75 to unlock it.
so not sure about unlock servers, but through the network themselves, its $75 CAD.
Thanks for posting the instruction. I am working up the courage to do this to my phone but just want to make sure if i screw things up somewhere, i can restore everything by using titanium backup? as if nothing ever happened 
also out of curiosity, is there any advantages (other than $$) to root and unlock than just buying a code with the IMEI number? as you can tell, i know nothing!
kay
also out of curiosity, is there any advantages (other than $$) to root and unlock than just buying a code with the IMEI number? as you can tell, i know nothing!
kay
Blue1k
Android Enthusiast
Thanks for posting the instruction. I am working up the courage to do this to my phone but just want to make sure if i screw things up somewhere, i can restore everything by using titanium backup? as if nothing ever happened
also out of curiosity, is there any advantages (other than $$) to root and unlock than just buying a code with the IMEI number? as you can tell, i know nothing!
kay
No, titanium would not accomplish this.
If anything goes wrong you can always flash back to the stock rom using odin. This is listed on my original post.
Blue1k
Android Enthusiast
Thanks for posting the instruction. I am working up the courage to do this to my phone but just want to make sure if i screw things up somewhere, i can restore everything by using titanium backup? as if nothing ever happened
also out of curiosity, is there any advantages (other than $$) to root and unlock than just buying a code with the IMEI number? as you can tell, i know nothing!
kay
No, titanium would not accomplish this.
If anything goes wrong you can always flash back to the stock rom using odin. This is listed on my original post.
nubreed000
Newbie
Here is a new users guide I posted on craigslist. Just in case you get stuck on steps:
Bell Galaxy S2 (i9100M) Unlock Guide with Steps
To all the people who are paying people to root their phones or paying big dollars to unlock your Bell Galaxy S2 here is a guide to do it for FREE!
Edit: Please ensure you are on KG2 before proceeding. You want to use a rooted kernel that matches the ROM you are currently running. Dial *#1234# to find out
1. Go to this XDA thread: XDA Developers Galaxy S2 Root and download this file: CF-Root-SGS2_JP_XSG_KG2-v4.1-CWM4
*Remember!: You should be flashing the rooted the CF-Root Kernel that matches your current firmware. If you are on KG2 then this KG2 root kernel is the proper match. If you are on something newer, then you can root with a newer CF-root kernel which can be found in the thread listed above.
2. Next, unzip the file you downloaded. There will be a file left inside. Leave it alone.
3. Next, download Odin. Odin is a flashing tool used by Samsung developers to flash roms, kernels etc. Unzip Odin into a folder and leave it for now.
4. You will need to install Samsung Kies which is like iTunes for your Samsung Phone. If you have not you can get it from here: Kies Canada. Make sure Kies fully installs and connect your phone at least once so it loads all the necessary drivers. Then close Kies and disconnect your phone from computer.
UPDATE: If you don't want Kies you can instead install just the Samsung USB drivers from HERE
5. You will need Debugging to be active. To do this on your phone, go to SETTINGS>APPLICATIONS>DEVELOPMENT>check debugging
6. Next, go to the folder on your computer where you have Odin and launch it. Press the PDA button and select the file you unzipped in step 2 (CF-Root file)
7. Power off your phone. Now, before connecting your phone to Odin you must put it into download mode. To do this simply press: HOME button, VOLUME DOWN, and POWER-all at the same time.
8. Then connect your phone and let it load all the drivers. Once Odin shows a YELLOW com box you are good to go. Press start and boom it will install the patched kernel. Your phone will reboot and it will be rooted. This means you have full access to system files and is like jailbreaking on an iPhone.
9. Now simply open the Android market app on your phone and download the free app called "Galaxy_S Unlock" by Helroz
10. Open the app and allow it superuser authority if it asks. Then click the tab that says unlock
11. There will be 3 steps listed. Press step 1. Then step 2 (and let it completely reboot...may take a few minutes). Then once rebooted open the app and press step 3.
Your phone will now work with any SIM.
Congrats!
My Galaxy S2 took 2 minutes to root and unlock. Hope this was helpful to people.
PS. Rooting will void warranty but it is reversible. If you need return it use Odin to flash back the stock rom with one from XDA or use the one on my server below.
*The ROM on my server is Bell KG2 and is for odin. Download the rom as a ZIP. Extract it and you will be left with a TAR file. Select PDA in odin and flash as instructed below.
Bell Stock Items
UPDATED Jan 1, 2012
Bell KG2 Stock Modem
Bell Stock KG2 Rom
Bell Stock KG2 Kernel
How to flash stock KG2 ROM in recovery using Odin:
1. Download the zip file to your computer. Unzip it. You will be left with a TAR file
2. Launch Odin and press the PDA button and select the TAR file you extracted.
3. Put your phone into download mode (as shown above)
4. Connect your phone and wait for the yellow com image
5. Press start and your phone will be flashed with the stock Bell Rom
*you can flash the stock kernel using the same method as the stock rom (select PDA as well). DO NOT FLASH THE STOCK KG2 KERNEL if you are not using a KG2 rom.
How to flash the modem using Odin:
1. Ensure USB debugging is checked in settings>applications>development
2. Put the phone into download mode either by choosing this option in CWM or turning off then pressing VOLUME DOWN+HOME+POWER at the same time
3. Launch Odin. Make sure to check ONLY PHONE not PDA and load the modem.bin file. (see pic)
4. Connect your phone and wait for the yellow com signal. Then flash away
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to flash a custom ROM (non-Odin roms)
*Please be aware that flashing a custom rom means you will need to wipe your data which includes your account setup, text message history, contacts, and apps. It will NOT erase photos and videos.
* I highly recommend you do a nandroid backup first by going into BACKUP/RESTORE and selecting Backup (backup to internal if you don't have an SD card)
Backup your SMS messages: Use SMS backup and restore
Backup your apps: Titanium Backup (free)
*to backup accounts: Use Titanium to backup ACCOUNTS and ACCOUNTS & Sync Settings, Bluetooth Pairings, Contacts Storage (unless you are using gmail for saving your contacts. If so then don't back this up)
IN recovery, VOLUME keys are navigation and POWER button is select.
Step 1: Download the rom zip file using your computer and copy to somewhere on your phone. Say a folder named ROM on your SDcard
Step 2: Reboot into recovery (see above how to do this)
Step 3: In recovery go to WIPE/DATA FACTORY RESET
Step 4: Go back to the main menu and select WIPE CACHE PARTITION
Step 5: Go back to the main menu and select INSTALL ZIP from SDCARD
INTERNAL SD means phone memory in case you copied the zip to a
phone folder. Choose your rom.zip
Step 6: Let it flash, and then go back to main menu and choose ADVANCED
Then choose WIPE DALVIK CACHE and then FIX PERMISSIONS
Step 7: Go back to the main menu and select REBOOT SYSTEM
Please allow the phone to fully boot (it may take some time). Don't touch the phone for a few minutes after boot. Let it settle and then reboot. THEN set up your phone.
*If your flash went bad because of a mistake or corrupted file you can always boot back into recovery and restore your backup.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rom Reviews for the Galaxy S2 by me
V3RTR3MA ROM
Firmware, Baseband, Kernel: 2.3.6, XXKL1, Siyah kernel
Link: XDA
Video: Youtube
Ok so all this simply roots the phone right? I want to upgrade from Android 2.3.3 to something newer. So after completing this guide my phone will be ready to upgrade to 2.3.5 or ICS, correct? If you have a good guide on how to upgrade from 2.3.3 then I would love to see it (there's many guides out there but they all seem to be written by monkeys. This guide you posted is the first one that actually makes sense).
Also my phone is already unlocked so I can ignore steps 9-11 right?
Aaaand finally...if I want to install the latest version of Cyanogenmod (or any other mod)...should I upgrade to Android 2.3.5 or is that irrelevant??
Oh! lol
That's easy. Sort of.
You will need Root explorer. PM if you want to try it out. I have an old version but it's not expensive to buy in the app store
The lock and unlock sounds are found in /system/media/audio/ui
You can access this folder with root explorer.
You can then copy the original 2 lock sounds and paste them somewhere on your sd card to back them up.
OR
press the MOUNT R/O in the top corner to R/W and long press the lock and unlock ogg files and rename them to lock.ogg.bak and unlock.ogg.bak to back them up.
Then you find some cool lock sounds that you want and convert them to ogg and then rename them to lock.ogg and unlock.ogg
Then copy with root explorer. Go back to /system/media/audio/ui. Press MOUNT R/O so it says R/W. Now paste your 2 new ogg files in there.
If you don't know how to convert to OGG then find some cool sounds online and I can convert them for you into the proper OGG.
The other way is to flash a .zip with ogg files but my way is easier to do if you don't know how to make flashable zips. If this is too hard then you could message a link to some cool sounds you want and I can make the cwm flash zip for you.
sweet worked awesome thanks bud
Blue1k
Android Enthusiast
How did you go about trying to install this? Odin method or CWM? Did you download an official rom or third party rom zip?
Alright, so I managed to get stock rom back on and restore my phone, then re rooted it. And everything is back to normal. Stupid pc kept deleting the S2 drivers
How should I go about updating it to 2.3.4+? Do I need to update the kernel, rom, and modem? or just one. I'm kinda confused. And yea I wanna try and use Odin official roms.
Thanks again!
Blue1k
Android Enthusiast
Alright, so I managed to get stock rom back on and restore my phone, then re rooted it. And everything is back to normal. Stupid pc kept deleting the S2 drivers
How should I go about updating it to 2.3.4+? Do I need to update the kernel, rom, and modem? or just one. I'm kinda confused. And yea I wanna try and use Odin official roms.
Thanks again!
That shouldn't happen. The official packages should update to the newer firmware (rom and kernel) and update your modem as well. You will need reroot using the matching CF-kernel.
Try this official rom. It worked fine for me:
XWKK2
Firmware info
PDA:XWKK2
PHONE: XXKI4
Date: 11/11/2011
Android 2.3.6
XEN (Netherlands): Multiupload.com - upload your files to multiple file hosting sites!
Ensure Kies is NOT running when you use odin to flash.
You will need to unzip the file and flash the tar file in odin using PDA button (see my guide).
CF-root KK2
Next you will need this cf-root to re-reroot your phone
Okay awesome! Thanks again
. Once im done downloading this file do I just flash it to the phone using the PDA button? Sorry I just got into Android. Again thank you
Blue1k
Android Enthusiast
Okay awesome! Thanks again
Again thank you
Yes. On my main post I show you how to flash (use the part how to flash back the stock bell rom). It is the same method.
Let me know if you run into problems.
I got it on 2.3.6 and rooted. Everything seems to be going smoothly! Thanks man you make this much easier to understand.
So for my last question. When ICS comes out we are just going to do the same thing correct?
I know this isn't really the thread for this question, sorry in advance. Since updating to the firmware posted by Blue a a couple posts up. Everything has been working great and smooth. The only thing I noticed is the keyboard closes after everything else. Anyone know why it is doing that? I'm using the stock keyboard.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Blue1k
Android Enthusiast
Sounds like an cache issue when you upgraded. I don't have an S2 in front of me but go to SETTINGS>APPS>MANAGE APPS Select the All tab and find the app called Android Keyboard. Clear cache and you might as well clear settings (if memory serves me correctly). Reboot and see if that fixes the issue. If not, let me know.
Sounds like an cache issue when you upgraded. I don't have an S2 in front of me but go to SETTINGS>APPS>MANAGE APPS Select the All tab and find the app called Android Keyboard. Clear cache and you might as well clear settings (if memory serves me correctly). Reboot and see if that fixes the issue. If not, let me know.
I followed what your recommended, I couldn't find android keyboard, but I found samsung keyboard, and Swype. I couldn't clear the cache on them just clear data, and im not sure if im supposed to do that. I also have Swift Key X and cleared its cache, rebooted, and it didn't seem to help
Blue1k
Android Enthusiast
Can you explain more about the keyboard issue. Still a bit confused?
For now, a generic solution to clear up problems is to boot into recovery (see front post). Clear cache. Then select advanced. Clear Dalvik. Then fix permissions (takes a few seconds to fix permissions). Then go back to main recovery menu and reboot.
For now, a generic solution to clear up problems is to boot into recovery (see front post). Clear cache. Then select advanced. Clear Dalvik. Then fix permissions (takes a few seconds to fix permissions). Then go back to main recovery menu and reboot.
Followed those instructions, no luck.
Explanation: If I am in a program that has the keyboard up (text. email etc..) And I click the home button, the visual part (message area, webpage) disappears first then the keyboard stays on screen anywhere from 1/4 second to 1.5 seconds. Maybe it did it before, but I never noticed.
Thanks,
Yes, you don't need the Bell sim card to root and unlock your s2