So as far as I know, rooting/flashing SGS2 - Help?

[Intercrew]

Solved

 

[Slug]

How does all this rooting work? Does it install an app similar to Cydia?

No, Android already allows side-loading of apps by simply checking the "Allow unknown sources" box in Settings/Applications/Development. Rooting bypasses the security that prevents user access to the /system partition. It does involve an app being installed, but it (Superuser Permissions) is to allow user control over which apps/services get root access.

Now I assume that there are many different types of rooting and flashing like the cyanogen mod.

There are many different flavours of ROM (custom firmware), which require root access to install.

For the iOS there really isn't "different" types of new OS. Basically all the same like redsnow, black rain etc.

ROMs are similar; after all they're all Android under the hood. Where they differ is in the optimisation, additional feature sets, themes etc.

I read you have to have a chainfire 3D to play certain games on the SGS2?

Chainfire3D is a "graphics translator" that allows games written for the Tegra GPU to run on the Mali platform used by the GS2.

 

[Intercrew]

Solved

 

[Slug]

All your anwers were very clear.

Wow, that's a first!

So let me get this straight, an android is basically the "jailbroken" of an iPhone/Touch/Pad

Yes.... and no. In standard 'user mode' Android allows a lot of what can only be accomplished under iOS by jailbreaking. Other things require root access. It's hard to compare rooting with jailbreaking as the two systems are so different.

So does this mean that theres only one way of "rooting"?

Rooting requires finding a vulnerability of some sort and exploiting that to elevate access priviledges enough to install the su binary, which allows permanent root access. On the GS2 this is done by replacing the kernel with an insecure (modified) one. There are a couple of methods to do this, but the CF-Root method is proving much more reliable and trouble-free than the older OneClickRoot solution. The end result is identical however; an otherwise unaltered handset that allows superuser (root) access on demand.

These ROMS are CFW

Your turn.... what is "CFW"?

Are there any ROMs out there that are notable for being the "best" or well supported?

With the GS2 being so popular, especially now it's released to the US market, and easily rooted, there's a huge and very active developer community for it. "Best" and "well supported" are subjective and you're best to draw your own conclusions from reading the ROM topics here and asking members about their experiences. For example, one of my favourites hasn't been updated for more than two months, not due to lack of interest from the dev but because he insisted on waiting for one nasty 'bug' to be fixed in the stock firmware. Some users complain that this is poor support; others welcome such attention to detail. As I said, it's subjective. Generally speaking, the ROMs giving the best user experience are the popular ones.

The chainfire3d is basically an add-on I'm guessing?

Correct. It can be installed on any rooted device, irrespective of ROM afaik.

Thanks again, glad that a mod even replied as well =D

We're all users and enthusiasts too.

 

[Intercrew]

Solved

 

[Rudedawg]

You could back up the stock firmware but if thats all your worried about almost every stock /carrier branded firmware/kernal is available online via our handy links. I say OUR but usually we point in the general direction of XDA .

Cf-root takes all of 10 seconds once you have the file downloaded and then just access the recovery mode and create a back up of your phones current state and copy paste from the phones memory onto your pcs desktop using a usb. Easy.


The guys here are top notch at pointing you in the correct place and generally quick at responding to questions.

Slug and Steslatt to name a couple who have helped me out of pickles a few times.

Just to continue the theme of backing up data .....there is nothing more important you can do than make sure this happens when making any changes or flashing any data to your phone. I've learnt the hard way.

 

[Slug]

First of all, CFW means custom firmware, sorry for the trouble

Doh! It's so obvious now you mention it.

To me it seems like you have to actually "hack" the phone basically twice?

I guess you could say that, although the real "hack" is the rooting.

So does this mean that once you have rooted the phone, it's not necessarly really "hacked"?

No, rooting is what opens it up. A stock ROM rooted will be just as capable as any third-party ROM.

I mean what can you exactly do after you have rooted?

You have full unlimited access to the device file system, so you can remove/replace any preinstalled apps and system files. This in turn allows theming, as all the icon files and UI elements are now accessible. Root allows low-level access to the hardware layers underlying the OS, so altering clock frequencies and voltages are possible with suitably-modified kernels. Rooting installs a customised recovery image with far more options, one of which allows backing-up the entire handset (bar sd storage) similar to Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage.

Do you need to download a ROM in order to have more features and to be completely hacked?

Nope, third-party ROMs are purely optional.

everything is the same but you can further enhance the product by say installing a ROM?

That pretty much sums it up, yes.

Secondly, say if I don't like my current ROM I have installed, is it difficult to uninstall? Do I have to re-root in order to get a new ROM?

Once you're rooted, provided you don't reinstall a stock unrooted firmware, root will persist between ROMs. Swapping from one ot the other is simply a matter of flashing the new one to the handset. The recovery backup feature (nandroid) is invaluable; backing up the existing ROM beforehand means that you can restore a working config in minutes should problems arise.

Lastly, if there is a way to backup my current stock firmware (I assume there is as theres a hyperlink on the rooted sticky post for firmwares.)

There's no way to dump an existing firmware without root, which defeats the purpose. However the linked topic contains the majority of stock firmwares sourced from Samsung's internal servers. A copy of your original safely stored on your PC is a good insurance measure.

 

[Intercrew]

Thank you both! Rooting and ROM's questions have completely been cleared up, thanks a lot for the quick responses and percise answers =].

Just one quick question, do a lot of people use third-party ROM? I mean once rooted what more features could a ROM do? You basically have total control of the device so I'm guessing ROM acts like a newly made OS?

Btw, I'm glad I've asked these questions so now that I too can help out others who may ask similar questions =D. Love to help others.

 

[Slug]

Glad we helped!

do a lot of people use third-party ROM?

I'd guess that the majority of rooted users end up doing so. Once you start tinkering it can become a bit of an obsession.

I mean once rooted what more features could a ROM do?

They're often optimised by the developer and have a unique theme, expanded notification/status options, a more comprehensive power-button menu, useful utility apps preinstalled in /system.... the scope is endless.

I'm guessing ROM acts like a newly made OS?

It's still Android

 

[Intercrew]

Sorry for the trouble again but a lot of poeople seems to be avoiding to root their android devices. Is there a reason behind this? Voids warranty is that the only concern or is there a possibility that the phone could be bricked in a random time?

 

[Slug]

a lot of poeople seems to be avoiding to root their android devices. Is there a reason behind this?

Many users simply don't need root.

 

[Rudedawg]

Sorry for the trouble again but a lot of poeople seems to be avoiding to root their android devices. Is there a reason behind this? Voids warranty is that the only concern or is there a possibility that the phone could be bricked in a random time?

Just consider what you want or need out of your handset. I know that my phone is a heap more efficient rooted and rommed. It just feels so much better, quicker , responsive and goes further.

 

[Peninsula]

Sorry for the trouble again but a lot of poeople seems to be avoiding to root their android devices. Is there a reason behind this? Voids warranty is that the only concern or is there a possibility that the phone could be bricked in a random time?

I'd say in answer to this, from my own experience, that some people (me!) stay away from rooting because there are so many horror stories on forums about people bricking their phones.

The SGS2 carries a much lower risk of bricking than say a HTC (due to unlocked bootloader, afaik), and using CFRoot you can do it 99.9% free of the risk of bricking (I've heard the only thing that could go wrong is a power cut mid-way thru, but am open to correction). Also, the root methods are becoming more elegant and user-friendly.

I think most of these stories are old or on other manufacturers phones but by simply browsing material on root you come across them and they give you the heebie jeebies worrying about bricking There's much less risk in 2011 and with a SGS2.

There is of course the issue as well of voiding warranty but the phone can be returned to unrooted status if required. Maybe not everyone knows that.

Personally, I rooted first time in 2 minutes without prior experience. It was easy, and I would say if you follow the CF Root instructions you'll find it very difficult to go wrong (disclaimer!). I tired a couple of custom ROMs, but I have gone back to Touchwiz due to personal preference. I've yet to try Litening and this Siyah kernel everyone's talking about, but I will some day. Even though I'm back on Touchwiz there are useful apps you can only use with root. To get an idea, search the android market for "root" and see what apps there are that require root.

Basically, go for it if you fancy tinkering with your phone. Try not to panic if you get a boot loop as its easily fixable, and do a nandroid

 

[Rudedawg]

Heh yeah , cracking my old Sony PSP used to make me sweat buckets.

 

[Slug]

The SGS2 carries a much lower risk of bricking than say a HTC (due to unlocked bootloader, afaik)

Not just a lower risk to the handset, it's safer for the user too.

Rooting the early Desire Z involved running an exploit to power-cycle the radio chipset (to defeat the security) and then flashing an engineering (insecure) bootloader to get full-time access (S-OFF). That was done via writing direct to the boot partition using the adb console; one incorrect number in the command could mean overwriting the wrong partition and bricking the handset. Holding your breath at both ends is no fun!

 

[Intercrew]

Thanks for the detailed feedback again guys lol

I've been going through theseee talks about kernels like kh3 or khx (x representing a number). And how each one of them can enhance the device, especially the battery? What is exactly a kernel and how does it work?

 

[Shotgun84]

A kernel controls how your phone works. Some will let you overclock the original cpu from 1.2ghz up to 1.6. Others offer better battery life and others other more speed. There's no one kernel which works best on any phone. Some people will have the same rom but prefer different kernels. All I can suggest is give a few a try. If you don't like it try another. There are a few but 2 of my personal bests are siyah and nimphetamine.
Sorry just clocked the kh etc. If you're using a cfroot kernel its really got to match your firmware so ki4 firmware ki4 kernel. But custom kernels its as above.