[REF] All in One guide for NOOBS! With Vidoes Now!

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I don't take any credit I Googled everything. I do take credit of modifying some stuff in word. The idea came from here. I may have took some of his work. SO credit him and Pirateghost for the information about Android.

Little in-depth information about Android. Must Read. Thank You Pirateghost.

Originally Posted by Pirateghost

Android itself is OPEN. you can go and build your very own version of 4.0 ICS right now from source code. there are very few phones you can STABLY and RELIABLY run it on though.

The NEXUS line of phones exists for a reason. they are untouched by carriers (verizon teabagged the Galaxy Nexus a little), and do not have some stupid overlay on them. they are developer devices in that it is the first phone to get android updates straight from google (no manufacturer interference required).

every other phone is tainted with a manufacturer's UI. Touchwiz on Samsung phones (galaxy nexus is a samsung but they provided the hardware not the software), Sense on HTC, 'non-blur' on Motorola, whatever Sony calls theirs...lol, LG, etc
on top of that tainted Android interface is a carrier branding or lockdown (doesnt apply to the entire world, but im only referring to US here)

so google releases new version of Android
manufacturers build phone, and customize android to fit their model (this is where android almost stops being OPEN)
carriers get a hold of the manufacturers build of android and tweak and modify it themselves (more than likely they just tell the manufacturers what they want), as you know they love to include bloat and lock it down from the user

you receive your android phone after it has gone through all those steps....long process huh? we dont get updates to newer versions as quickly because of that long process...and they would rather us buy new phones instead of improving perfectly good hardware.


Android is open in the sense that manufacturers can use it however they wish, within reason. it is not necessarily meant to be 'open' to the average end user, and manufacturers dont want you messing with the phone they built. its the reason XDA is what it is today, albeit with roots deep in WinMo hacking.

ADB → Android Debug Bridge (adb) is a versatile command line tool that lets you communicate with an emulator instance or connected Android-powered device..

Android →Unveiled on 5 November 2007, Android is a mobile operating system running on the Linux kernel developed by Google.

ASOP → Android Open Source Project

Apps2SD → Move applications from the internal NAND memory on the device to a removable SD Card.

BLN → BackLight Notification

Bloatware → Software bloat is a process whereby successive versions of apps include an increasing proportion of unnecessary features that are not used by end users, or generally use more system resources than necessary, while offering little or no benefit to its users. Like all the crap that comes from At&t

Brick → When used in reference to consumer electronics, "brick" describes a device that cannot function in any capacity (such as a device with damaged firmware). This usage derives from the fact that some electronic devices (and their detachable power supplies) are vaguely brick-shaped, and so those which do not function are useful only as actual bricks. The term can also be used as a verb. For example, "I bricked my phone when I tried to modify its firmware."[

Hard Brick → When your phone does not turn on at all. When you can’t get in to CWR/CWM Or Stock recovery. You are basically screwed.

Soft Brick → When your phone bootloops. When you can get into CWR/CWM. When You can use jigtag to get into download mode.

Busybox → BusyBox provides several stripped-down Unix tools in a single executable. It runs in a variety of POSIX environments such as Linux, Android, FreeBSD and others, such as proprietary kernels, although many of the tools it provides are designed to work with interfaces provided by the Linux kernel. It was specifically created for embedded operating systems with very limited resources. Platforms counterparts, but they are pretty close and useful nonetheless.

CWR OR CWM ClockworkMod Recovery →A custom recovery for Android phones and tablets that allows you to perform several advanced recovery, restoration, installation and maintenance operations on your Android device that aren’t possible with the stock recovery.

DEODEX → Apk files have respective odexes that devs use to supposedly save space. Deodexing means you convert it back to a .dex file and put it back inside the apk. This allows you to easily replace file (not having to worry about odexes), but the main point was to deodex services.jar so that you can change all text to different colors (such as the clock color to white) and to deodex services.jar, you need to deodex everything.

Flashing → The process of applying a firmware image (or ROM) to a device. It generally entails a very specific order of steps. Failing to complete any one of these steps properly may result in bricking the device.


Firmware → is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices. Programs stored in the ROM, EPROM, or flash memory that usually control various internal electronic devices (Hard Drives, Keyboards, Displays, etc). Firmware is typically 'fixed' software that is not updated in consumer devices, however it is often updated (or 'flashed') by advanced users to fix bugs or add features to the device. Flashing firmware designed for one device onto a different device, or not following a specific procedure while flashing will often render the device unusable.

Kernel → is the main component of most computer operating systems; it is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. The kernel's responsibilities include managing the system's resources (the communication between hardware and software components

Radio → The cellular radio on the device which needs control software called firmware to control it.

ROM → Read Only Memory. In the context of an Android device, ROM is the internal flash memory where the core operating system resides. It can also refer to a specific version firmware that can be applied to a device through a process usually referred to as flashing. An improperly flashed ROM can often brick the device, rendering it unusable.

Superuser→ A program, which gives unlimited access privileges to perform any or all operations on the operating system.

ODIN → Odin is the Samsung software used to update Samsung phones. It does not work with any other devices other than official Samsung phones.

OTA or FOTA → (F)OTA stands for (Firmware) Over The Air and is the process by which required updates and enhancements to your phone's basic operating system can be sent to you through the cellular network. The Galaxy S II software update will be sent via FOTA and is available through Samsung Kies mini.0

ODEX → In Android file system, applications come in packages with the extension .apk. These application packages, or APKs contain certain .odex files whose supposed function is to save space. These ‘odex’ files are actually collections of parts of an application that are optimized before booting. Doing so speeds up the boot process, as it preloads part of an application. On the other hand, it also makes hacking those applications difficult because a part of the coding has already been extracted to another location before execution.

SDK → Software Development Kit.

Logcat → A debugging tool built into Android devices that displays system logs as they occur. See Logcat.

NANDroid → A set of tools that will enable anyone who has root on their Android device to make FULL system backups, in case something goes wrong or you want to try out that new experimental ROM/theme. NANDroid will backup (and restore) /system, /data, /cache, and /boot partitions.

Recovery Mode → A special environment that you can boot into for troubleshooting and upgrading purposes.

Kang → The process of creating a code based of someone else's code or reapplying code that someone else created into your own code (e.g. git cherry-pick)

Rooting → is a process that allows users of mobile phones and other devices running the Android operating system to attain privileged control (known as "root access") within Android's Linux subsystem with the goal of overcoming limitations that carriers and manufacturers put on some devices.

This is how to flash Ice Cream Sandwich!

How to Root Your Skyrocket????

>You will need Samsung drivers download here OR Here!

>>IF running 2.3.5 than click here Or Here for root.

>>>On your Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket go to Enable “Unknown Sources” in Settings >> Applications. This is located in the menu by going to Menu, Settings, the Applications.

>>>>Enable USB debugging by going to Menu, Settings, Applications, Development and checking USB debugging.

>>>>>Once you’ve downloaded and installed the above, plug your Skyrocket into your computer USB port. If you have a USB in the back plug it up in the back. Some ports work better than others that is key.

>>>>>>Make sure you’ve extracted the Skyrocket-Easy-Root.

>>>>>>>On a Windows computer, especially Windows 7 you will need to right click on the root.bat file in the extracted folder and run as Administrator. For some it might work without doing it, but I highly advise running as administrator. Now, I got confused because my phone keep failing after all yellow screen and all the text…KEEP TRYING. If it fails and you don’t see the Super User app on your phone then try another port. I tried and tried on my desktop but for some reason I ran it on my laptop and it worked perfectly. Remember to run as Administrator by right clicking the root.bat file.
If you have a Mac or Linux computers, install “Linux-Mac.sh”

>>IF running 2.3.6 than click here for root. Follow instruction on the thread!!!!!!!

<;> You have Done it NOOB!! Congratulation On Your first step!!!!

How to Flash CWM Recovery????

After Rooting your phone.
# Go to market and Download Rom manager.
## Go To Rom manager.
### Press Flash ClockworkMod Recovery.
#### And Chose T-mobile Galaxy s2.

Video about how to get ready to start flashing!

How to Flash a ROM????

Basic Steps

! Choose the ROM that you want and download its .zip file
!! Transfer the zip file to your phone’s sd card. Do not put it into any folder.
!!! Turn off your phone and reboot into recovery, usually by holding the down button and power button at the same time.
!!!! Do a Nandroid backup
!!!!! Wipe the phone 3 times by clearing cache/factory restore 3 times and wiping dalvik cache and system format
!!!!!! Flash the zip file that you put on your sd card
!!!!!!! Reboot phone

You can find all ROMS here.

How to backup your current ROM????

Easy Way!
-Open ROM Manager.
--Tap Backup Current ROM.
---Leave the filename as the date or change it to whatever you want.

Hard Way!

Get into CWR!
Scroll down to backup and restore!
Press backup.

How to Restore Your backup????

If You used ROM manager than!
Go to manage and restore backups!
And press the one you like to restore!

If you have Nandroid than!
Go to CWR!
Scroll down to backup and restore!
Press restore!

How to flash Kernel????

_Download the Kernel You want to flash and put it in sd card.
__Boot in to CWM!
___Wipe cache!
____Press install from Sd card!
_____Select the kernel that you dloaded!
______Flash it!
_______Reboot!
________Check in CPU SPY to see if you successfully flashed Kernel.

You can find all the Kernel here!!!

These will set you back to Stock and Unroot Your phone.

Welcome Finally You have made it here. Well now I know that you are little worried bout your phone but Let me tell you that there is noting to worry about.
Make sure you are relaxed because if you are tensioned than you will most likely screw things up. Do me a favor and watch this video. Relax get beer or Watch Funny videos on Youtube.


“Never ever unplug your phone when you are Flashing”

Drivers You will need!

! Odin 1.85
!! USB Drivers
!!! Skyrocket Stock Recovery.tar file ATT Or Rogers

Extract the contents of odin-185.zip and the 7zip archive.
Run Odin3+v1.85.exe, and prepare Odin:
Check "auto-reboot", and uncheck all other options.

Install Usb Drivers and Unzip the Recovery file and put it to safe place.

Main Process.

Try to get in Download Mode.

) Connect USB to computer but not your Phone.
))Take out and put back in the battery.
)))Then, hold Vol + and Vol - , now plug in USB and you will at the following screen that’s in picture.
))))Press Volume Up button now.



Finally You have made it to Download mode.

If in case this does not work for you than and you are still luck enough to go into CWM than do factory reset and flash any stock rom. And do all this steps again.

Ok so after getting into Download Mode.

-Go ahead and Go to Odin (Check "auto-reboot", and uncheck all other options).
--In Odin check PDA and find the recovery.tar file that you downloaded.



Now Press Start (Check "auto-reboot", and uncheck all other options.)


When you are done Your screen will look like one below.




It should now reboot to recovery and delete cache and data. Then, it will boot.

I like this alot! Ill definantly save this page

Sent from my NookColor using xda premium

Will Ask MOD to see what he thinks about sticky.

Originally Posted by Android311

I like this alot! Ill definantly save this page

Sent from my NookColor using xda premium

Originally Posted by appdroid

How to backup your current ROM????

Easy Way!
-Open ROM Manager.
--Tap Backup Current ROM.
---Leave the filename as the date or change it to whatever you want.

Cannot have spaces in the file name though.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

I wish this kind of guide was around when I was a noob back in the captivate days I had to read for weeks before I learned how/decided to root. Great job!!!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

This is what happens when i wake up in middle of the night and don't have anything to do. I have problem with sleep once I wake up in middle of sleep its almost imposible for me to go back to sleep. Last night I was little sick so woke up and had idea about doing this long time ago but last night was the time dedicated to this work. On top of all this I had 8 hour of work. I just got of and about to pass out. Any way thought I would share my little story. This is only a little help from me to this great community. Thanks all and Enjoy11!!