please help s2 not starting

[ann066]

hi,
Iam new here, my s2 won't start its stuck at the logo page then restarts.
it had the ICS version, can I avoid hard reset as i want to keep SMS and contacts and instead do an upgrade the os version from the sdcard after i copy the two files Paranoid Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean firmware and the Google Apps package without hard reset (or do the upgrade need a hard reset also?)

or a hard reset is the only choice as upgrading needs a working OS to be based on ?

thank you

 

[Slug]

I've moved this to the All Things Root sub-forum as you mention intending to install a custom firmware (Paranoid Android).

Tbh a hard (a.k.a. factory) reset is strongly advised anyway if changing firmware. It's also the usual solution to a persistent boot loop such as you describe.