.tar or .rar

[lotsip81]

I am a noob to all of this....just wanted to get that out of the way.

I have not rooted my T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 international phone yet, but I want too. I have read through the forum and think I have a good grasp on how to do the actual rooting. But before I get started I want to know that I can flash back to a stock rom if needed. Everything I have read says that when you flash it is in a .tar format. But the only way I find my current stock firmware (KK1) for my phone is in a .rar format.

This is where it sends me when i look for an current official stock firmware:

Hotfile.com: One click file hosting: GT-I9100_DTM_I9100BOKK1_I9100DTMKJ3_I9100BOKJ1.rar

I have checked a lot of the xda threads, but none of the links they have posted to stock firmware are working any more.

So how do I get this to work?

Also if I download a kernel from xda (CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEN_KK2-v5.0-CWM5.zip), and then flashed back to the stock firmware....would that change me back to my stock kernel? Also If anyone knows where to get a KK1 stock T-Mobile firmware (Germany), please feel free to let me know

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere else.....if it was i didn't see it or realize it.

Thanks for the help in advance
lotsip81

 

[Slug]

the only way I find my current stock firmware (KK1) for my phone is in a .rar format.

The .rar might just be a container, with the actual .tar archive inside. There's a link to the web verison of CheckFUS in the S2 Guide sticky in the main device forum if you want to check an alternative source.

Also if I download a kernel from xda (CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEN_KK2-v5.0-CWM5.zip), and then flashed back to the stock firmware....would that change me back to my stock kernel?

Yes. Always update the firmware first before rooting.

 

[lotsip81]

Yes. Always update the firmware first before rooting.

Why do I need to make sure and update? I know that ICS is just around the corner......supposedly......so should I wait to root?

When I extracted the .rar file, it turned out to be an MD5 file. Upon extraction there was also a separate file, an application extension named SS_DL.dll. Very small file....only 270 KB....what's that for?

Can I use the MD5 file with Odin3 v1.85 like a .tar file?

Can you give me a link to the CheckFUS you told me about......I must be blind because I wasn't able to find it.

Thanks agin
lotsip81

 

[lotsip81]

Well, I found the CheckFUS 2.1. I downloaded my most current carrier firmware, KK1, and decrypted it and extracted it. It turned out exactly the same way as the other one I described. A MD5 file with the other small file with it. Both of them were even the exact same size. So my question still remains......how do I use this MD5 file and what is that other small file for?

Let me ask this once again for clarity.

After I root my phone, if I were to flash it back to this firmware, it would be back to exactly the way it is now?

Thanks again and sorry for the noob questions, but I really do appreciate the help.

lotsip81

 

[Slug]

So my question still remains......how do I use this MD5 file

Load it into Odin as PDA. You'll see that .TAR and .MD5 are the expected file extensions.

and what is that other small file for?

No idea.

After I root my phone, if I were to flash it back to this firmware, it would be back to exactly the way it is now?

Apologies for the confusion. Yes, flashing the stock firmware will revert it completely.

 

[lotsip81]

Slug you are a giant help!!

I a have another question for you. Where can I find a Samsung signed stock kernel? I keep seeing people wanting to be able to flash the stock kernel after rooting to get rid of the "!" at the boot screen. So, do you have any idea where they are getting it from. I have tried a lot of different sites, and they all refer me to the xda site. However, none of the links seem to be working for these anymore.


T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 international KK1 (Germany)

 

[lotsip81]

Another thing, If I did revert back to completely stock, am I able to do Kies or OTA updates?

As I said before, I was thinking about rooting now, but trying to get the official ICS when it comes out. I figure I would have to revert back to do this. I just wanted to try to official ICS, see if I like it before I decide to take an un-official version or a custom rom.

Thanks again
lotsip81

 

[rozel]

Yes, flashing the stock firmware will revert it completely.

In another thread I was told that flashing back to Stock preserves the root. It keeps SU and the Root priviledges but you loose the CWM recovery. I am seeking to clarify this. I rooted a Stock kernal using the CF-root method and have flashed a Stock kernal to enable me to use Sky Go.

I am now completely confused Or by firmware are you saying flashing the Stock Rom, rather than the Stock kernal?

 

[lotsip81]

Ahhh crap!!!

Now I am confused too!! Can someone explain this in some really good detail please?!?!?!

 

[lotsip81]

Will someone please confirm if I am right or not.

I did some more research and what I have come to decide is this. If you flash a stock kernel over a rooted kernel.....you keep the root but lose other things like CWM. (unsure how that works)

But if you flash a stock firmware, you are getting a stock ROM and kernel. So, in some sort of way it just over writes everything??? (also not sure how this works)

If I am wrong, someone please correct me so I have the right information. I am still kind of confused a little bit. I could really use some detailed information from someone with the right knowledge.

 

[Slug]

Where can I find a Samsung signed stock kernel?

With Multiupload etc currently offline that could be a problem. I cleared my collection out a few weeks ago unfortunately, but I'll see if anyone else has got a suitable file. Stay tuned....

Another thing, If I did revert back to completely stock, am I able to do Kies or OTA updates?

Yes.

I did some more research and what I have come to decide is this. If you flash a stock kernel over a rooted kernel.....you keep the root but lose other things like CWM. (unsure how that works)

Correct. The reason for losing CWM Recovery is that it's part of the boot partition and not a separate partition, as in many other Android devices.

But if you flash a stock firmware, you are getting a stock ROM and kernel. So, in some sort of way it just over writes everything???

Correct again.

In another thread I was told that flashing back to Stock preserves the root. It keeps SU and the Root priviledges but you loose the CWM recovery.

Flashing back to a stock kernel, yes.

I am now completely confused Or by firmware are you saying flashing the Stock Rom, rather than the Stock kernal?

Firmware = ROM. I use 'firmware' as that's the term Samsung themselves use. 'ROM' I reserve for third-party firmwares.

In the thread you refer to, 'stock' probably applied to the kernel as that's what was being discussed.

 

[lotsip81]

Slug,

I just wanted to say thanks for clearing that up for me. You have been "Thanked"!

 

[Slug]

You have been "Thanked"!

Cheers mate, but it's all part of the AF service.