SGS2 Canadian Thread (Bell/Virgin/Sasktel/Rogers) Root/Unlock/Firmware/Modems/Mods

Button Combos:
Download Mode: Volume Down+Home+Power
Recovery Mode: Volume Up+Home+Power
Once in recovery use volume keys to navigate, home button to select and power button to go back

Official Firmware Version
PDA: I9100MUGKG2
Phone: I9100MUGKG2
CSC: I9100MBMCKG2
Product Code: GT-I9100LKMBMC

Unlock

Galaxy_S Unlock App by Helroz found here https://market.android.com/details?id=com.helroz.galaxysunlock&feature=search_result.

Rooting

CF-Root Thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
We do not have a CF-Root version of our kernel so just flash any kernel using the instructions provided in the link and flash the stock kernel back (found below). Root will remain as well as the CWM app but you will loose clockwork mod recovery.
Alternative method:
Zergrush exploit: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=803682&highlight=zegrush

Yellow Triangle Removal

Tutorial can be found here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1193091
Alternatively you can use a Jig as it also resets the custom Rom counter

I9100 Secret Codes

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1193285

All links below are for Gingerbread 2.3.3 MUGK2

Stock Bell/Virgin Modem

Directions: Use Odin and place .tar file in "phone" section
Download
Mirror: Download

Stock Firmware

Download
Mirror: Download


Stock Kernel

Directions: Place .tar file in PDA section using ODIN
Download
Mirror: Download

Bell CSC

Directions: Flash with Odin in CSC section
Download
Mirror: Download

Additional Modems:
Some users are experiencing better Gps/Reception with the KH3/KI3 modem
Directions: Unzip file and flash modem.bin with Odin under "phone" section

I9100XXKH3-Download
I9100XXKG6-Download
I9100XXKI1-Download
I9100XXKI3-Download
I9100XXKI4-Download

*CWM Compatible Modems can be found here

Flashing Instructions​

How to install the latest firmware on your phone. This will also get rid of Bell's bloatware:

1) Make sure you have working drivers installed on your computer. If you do not, the easiest way is to download Kies and it will install it for you.

2) Install Odin 1.85 on your computer (attached at the bottom of this post)

3) Pick any firmware version you would like to flash from Intratech's thread linked here. The firmware is arranged from oldest to newest so the last ones are obviously going to be the newest.

4) Start Odin in "administrator" mode and make sure Kies is not running in the background. Use task manager to check

5) Place your downloaded firmware .tar or .md5 file into the PDA section in Odin. Make sure re-partition is not selected. Auto reboot and reset time should be selected by default.

6) Remove any external sd cards and the sim card from your phone (precaution) then reboot into download or hold volume down + home + power key. If a warning pops up press the volume up key to continue.

7) Connect your phone to the computer with the USB cable. You should see the I.D:Com port turn yellow.

8) Once you are certain everything is where it should be, select START. Once the process has completed your phone will re-boot. Exit out of Odin. That's it!

Optional (Rooting)

9) If you wish to root your will need to download a cf-root kernel that matches the firmware you just flashed from here. For example if you flashed XXKI4 then you will need to download the cf-root kernel that ends with XXKI4

10) Restart Odin and place the kernel .tar file in the PDA section, connect your phone and press START.

Alternative TWlaunchers​

Since upgrading to 2.3.4/2.3.5 firmwares, some (including myself) have noticed some lag/stuttering when flipping through homescreens. I find that this gets worse when using the program monitor widget. I put together some alternatives that I pulled from the US variants of the Galaxy S2.
I have tested them and they have pretty much eliminated the issue. I personally find them much smoother. These are stock Twlaunchers with no mods. The files can be found at the bottom of this post. Requires Root.

Directions: These files a deodexed but will work with Odexed Firmwares (I tested on 2.3.5) Make sure to download another launcher and use it as your primary. While using an alternative launcher, back up the twlauncher.apk and .odex files under system app then the libglcanvas.so under system/lib. Then delete twlauncher.odex. Boot into CWM recovery and flash the new twlauncher. If you do not have CWM recovery you can also unzip the file and drop the .apk into system/app and the .so into system/lib.


AT&T
App version: 2.3.4
Features: Long press on menu button brings up search. Endless scrolling through home screens. Option to set app drawer alphabetically.

Epic 4G Touch (Sprint)
App version: 2.3.4
Features: Option to set app drawer alphabetically.

T-Mobile Galaxy S2 (Hercules)
App version: 2.3.5
Features: Long press on menu button brings up search. Endless scrolling through homescreens and widget selection screen. Option to set app drawer alphabetically.



credits: Intratech, x-cimo

SMS Time Stamp Fix

I'm sure most already knows this but just I just wanted to post this here.
For anyone on the Rogers network (or any network that is affected) that is experiencing their text messages coming in 4 hours behind, download this free app in the market called time stamp fix and set the offset hours to 4. Link: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mattprecious.smsfix&feature=search_result

Electroz said:

CF-Root-SGS2_XX_OXA_KG2-v4.1-CWM4.zip is not even close to our version of android. It is a 2.3.4 kernel. Just because it says KG2, doesn't mean it's the same. That only refers to a single geographical area's release for a month. I'll explain:

The rom letter versions are actually based upon 5 letters, not 3. There are several variants of KG2. Basically, the Samsung naming convention is as follows:
Model name: I9100M
Provider/Area: UG (Bell/Virgin/Sasktel)
Rom Version: KG2

Now, the rom version can get broken down into each letter as well...
K = 2011
G = July
2 = 2nd version that month.

All area's roms are developed completely separate from each other...

Ours is UGKG2. Which is unavailable for download from the Samsung servers, so we're not able to actually get back to stock, or make any kind of custom firmwares/kernels based upon it.

All the other ones, including ZS, JP, and XX are completely different roms and kernels than what we have on our Bell phones.

The KG2 that either of those 3 kernels are based on are either 2.3.4 roms or different 2.3.3 roms. So, matching that is no different than installing a KG1 or KG3 or any KF* CF-Root kernels. ChainFire has not made a CF-Root based upon UGKG2 yet, so no matter what one you install, it's not based upon our rom, meaning you can basically install ANY CF-Root Kernel and as long as your phone still works with it, it doesn't matter. All the roms are completely different and the naming convention has nothing to do with each other unless all 5 letters/numbers match up.

Lesson of the night???? Just because a pile of uninformed people on a forum agree about something, it doesn't make it correct...

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Lesson learned and post edited. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Sobai said:

I am a TELUS customer with a Bell SGS2, and everyone I call or who calls me experiences an echo on their end. I did some research and found that it was actually my phone that was the problem. People said they were able to rectify the problem by disabling "Noise Cancellation", however, the only way I've been able to find to disable it is within the call itself, which means I have to disable it in every call.

Does anyone know how to disable Noise Cancellation permanently? Thank you!

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Weird thing is I had this exact issue a couple of days ago. What kernel do you have installed at the moment?

id_mew said:

Hi KayvinM and Electroz, I'm from Canada and I ordered my S2 from Newegg.ca, so my phone came factory unlocked and right now I'm running it on the Telus Network.
My phone is running on the UK firmware but I would like to use a North American firmware.
My questions is that would I be able to run any firmware from any region I want without damaging my phone?
And witch firmware is the latest one for the Canadian region?
Here's the details for my SCS2:

PDA: I9100XWKF3
Phone: I9100XXKE7
CSC: I9100XEUKD1


I posted a thread about this yesterday but I didn't get much help, so I really appreciated if you guys can help me.
Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Hey id_mew, you can run any firmware you would like without damaging your phone. Just make sure you read up lots and you are comfortable with the process and using Odin. Also avoid using any .pit files when flashing unless it's called for. All the firmwares can be found in this thread http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1075278 As off right now the latest canadian firmware is bell's/virgin UGK2 which is 2.3.3 based. Problem is if you are not currently on this firmware, you wont be able to flash it because it hasn't been released yet. As to my knowledge the latest official firmware is XXKG5 (poland based) and KG7 (Brazil) which was released earlier this month. Here is one the threads I found regarding ithttp://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1200044 As far as I understand there is no difference between the European and the Canadian version of the sgs2. Both phones make use of the same cell tower frequencies, meaning you should have no issues running a european based firmware here in canada. It just comes down to personal preference. Hope I was able to help