Would This Work ("Workaround" to Receive Latest Kies Updates Where Not Available)?

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Hey everyone,


So, I have a Galaxy S2 on Virgin Mobile Canada, and in Canada, the latest firmware/kernel was KG2, and we all know that KG2 is slightly old, compared to KH3 (or higher, I'm not sure atm) in Europe.

Now, we all know that Europe is the first to receive OFFICIAL updates to the latest firmware/kernel via Samsung Kies.

What I'm thinking is that I can change the "Region Code" on my device, to 'trick' Kies into thinking I'm located in Europe, and then it will deliver to me the latest OFFICIAL firmware/kernel update. After updating, I can install the stock KG2 modem for Bell/Virgin (if you're located in a different country, just use your local modem/baseband) via Odin. Then I can use CF-Root Kernel to root my device, then revert back to stock.

This way, I have a Galaxy S2 with the latest official firmware/kernel, a modem that still works perfectly with my provider/network, and root, with no yellow triangle!


However, I don't wish to mess anything up, so I haven't tried this yet. Do you guys think that it can work, and is a viable option instead of waiting for official updates to come to my region? Can anyone maybe try this and post their results/findings (or maybe someone has already done this?)? Also, would all apps like "Samsung Apps" and the Android Market still work properly, as in for my region? What other problems could I possibly run into? I'm mostly concerned about the Market...

I got my S2 free ! from Orange UK 5 days ago, love it, what an upgrade from my 18 months used X10 .
Anyway they do what you want with the X10 so I suppose it can be done with S2 though I dont know for sure.
I used to follow the X10 forum (here now) though I left my X10 stock and was happy with it but I rooted this the 3rd day already and unlocked the simlock ready for my Holiday next week = super low cost local data (50p uk per gig).
What a great device this is !!

Or you can just tell kies to stuff it and flash roms via odin.

Once you update with kies, changing the modem will mean you wont automatically get new updates anyway, as it wont recognise the firmware combination.

Originally Posted by veyka

Or you can just tell kies to stuff it and flash roms via odin.

Once you update with kies, changing the modem will mean you wont automatically get new updates anyway, as it wont recognise the firmware combination.

So, you're saying that using Odin would be much easier?

Also, I've heard that the KH3 modem works really well with Bell/Virgin, but incase I need to revert, I can always use Odin to flash the KG2 modem while keeping my KH3 kernel/firmware, right?

So, if I just download the Europe KH3 firmware from "http://samfirmware.com", then I just use Odin to flash it, and I'm done? Will it wipe any of my data? Also, would the European firmware work in Canada?

Originally Posted by amandureja

So, you're saying that using Odin would be much easier?

Also, I've heard that the KH3 modem works really well with Bell/Virgin, but incase I need to revert, I can always use Odin to flash the KG2 modem while keeping my KH3 kernel/firmware, right?

So, if I just download the Europe KH3 firmware from "http://samfirmware.com", then I just use Odin to flash it, and I'm done? Will it wipe any of my data? Also, would the European firmware work in Canada?

If you have the i9100T You need to use one of the T stock modems or your wifi/bluetooth/data wont work very well/at all (so i hear), but yes you can mix and match rom+kernel and modems from different releases without any problems.

As far as getting a rom, grab a non wipe version from this thread and you should keep everything.

Originally Posted by veyka

If you have the i9100T You need to use one of the T stock modems or your wifi/bluetooth/data wont work very well/at all (so i hear), but yes you can mix and match rom+kernel and modems from different releases without any problems.

As far as getting a rom, grab a non wipe version from this thread and you should keep everything.

I have the i9100M. I have heard great reports of the KH3 modem with it, so I'm pretty confident it'll work fine.

So, I just download the KH3 files from that link, and then flash via Odin?

Is it a must to flash the CSC as well, or can I leave that out?

Originally Posted by amandureja

I have the i9100M. I have heard great reports of the KH3 modem with it, so I'm pretty confident it'll work fine.

So, I just download the KH3 files from that link, and then flash via Odin?

Is it a must to flash the CSC as well, or can I leave that out?

The M is fine to use any modem/rom, it will change the model code to just i9100 though, might be changed back by flashing the stock firmware though.

Yes flash via odin.

No you dont need to flash the CSC unless you get problems, but you might as well, the worst that can happen is that you need to manually enter your APN settings.