Straight Talk SGS2- SGH-S959G

[david72262]

Had an SGH-S959G Straight Talk Galaxy S2 given to me. So far, I'm loving it. Great phone, miles better than the hunk of junk ZTE Merit I was using before.
However, the fact that it's stuck with 2.3.6 is a problem since some of the paid apps that I have (and some that I'd like to buy) are now updated to run on only 3 and up. The phone won't sync with Kies to do the update and Straight Talk has said they're not updating it.
All I want to do is to be able to upgrade my device to an up-to-date kernel, nothing "custom", just more current.
I've rooted a couple phones in the past, the previously mentioned ZTE Merit as well as an HTC Incredible - they were both straight forward processes and the guides that I found for them were simple step by step guides. It took me under 10 minutes with both devices thanks to great links and simple instructions. I'll be honest, the "updated" guide on the first page of this thread (which, based on skimming through some of the more recent replies on this thread might not be so updated anymore) is confusing the hell out of me and I really don't know what I'm looking for or where to find it. Could anyone provide me with a more straight forward step by step guide so that I could update this phone to a more recent kernel, preferably ICS or Jelly Bean?

Thanks!

The op is actually current and pretty straight forward start at the top and first do the Odin instructions to install a newer recovery.

 

[razen_kain]

Had an SGH-S959G Straight Talk Galaxy S2 given to me. So far, I'm loving it. Great phone, miles better than the hunk of junk ZTE Merit I was using before.
However, the fact that it's stuck with 2.3.6 is a problem since some of the paid apps that I have (and some that I'd like to buy) are now updated to run on only 3 and up. The phone won't sync with Kies to do the update and Straight Talk has said they're not updating it.
All I want to do is to be able to upgrade my device to an up-to-date kernel, nothing "custom", just more current.
I've rooted a couple phones in the past, the previously mentioned ZTE Merit as well as an HTC Incredible - they were both straight forward processes and the guides that I found for them were simple step by step guides. It took me under 10 minutes with both devices thanks to great links and simple instructions. I'll be honest, the "updated" guide on the first page of this thread (which, based on skimming through some of the more recent replies on this thread might not be so updated anymore) is confusing the hell out of me and I really don't know what I'm looking for or where to find it. Could anyone provide me with a more straight forward step by step guide so that I could update this phone to a more recent kernel, preferably ICS or Jelly Bean?

Thanks!

You need to use Odin to install a cwm version 6.0.2.7.

You can go here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2322046
for a fairly stock ROM. Stock kernel is also in the op of that thread but i recommend keeping the one it comes with. If that's not stock enough, just go to the sgh-i777 forum and install the latest jellybean ucmd8 firmware

Edit: this op is updated quite regularly and is maintained daily. The 959g still has some tricks left yet

Sent from my SGH-S959G

 

[david72262]

Taken right from the op

Install CWM RECOVERY using ODIN, make a BACKUP, then flash the ROOT ZIP in CWM RECOVERY.
- CWM 6.0.4.5 Odin- SGH-S959G_CWM-v6.0.4.5.tar.md5 - 4.88 MB
- Make a backup with CWM before going any further. Boot into recovery, select backup/ restore, backup.
- Root Zip- flash zip through CWM thanks to cynnar- http://www.mediafire.com/?s6icdw9gxaa30b2
Mirror- www.4shared.com/zip/CH4NxvxF/SGHS959GRoot.html
-You will need to install busybox from the market if staying on stock+ root.
- PhilZ CWM v6.0.2.7 If you will be using a Siyah based kernel ( AJK Kernel ), or would like the extra options in CWM flash this- SGH-S959G PhilZ _CWM_v6.0.2.7.zip

- Samsung drivers must be installed on your computer- Samsung Drivers- http://www.samsung.com/us/support/ow...SGH-S959ZKATFN
- Download Odin 1.85- Odin3-v1.85.7z and unzip.
- Enable USB Debugging in Settings menu of phone.
- Put your phone in Download Mode - -Power off, Hold volume down button, Plug in USB connected to computer, Hit volume up when prompted.
- Open Odin folder, Click Odin3 v1.85.exe, With your phone connected the box under ID:COM should be yellow (if it's not you missed a step earlier), Click PDA, Select the file you downloaded earlier, DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE- MAKE SURE AUTO REBOOT AND F. RESET TIME ARE THE ----ONLY----- THINGS CHECKED----- AND RE-PARTITION AND FLASH LOCK ARE ----NOT---- CHECKED....., Press Start (It will take a few minutes to load everything do not touch your computer or the phone during any of this, after the phone re-boots it may take a few minutes to load back up leave it alone until it has fully started up and at the home screen). You should get a green PASS message in the top box.

 

[denisec173]

ive tried all

I have tried to use theses options and I cant get them to work when ive save to the desk top and open odin I can only find one the rest I cant see

 

[david72262]

I have tried to use theses options and I cant get them to work when ive save to the desk top and open odin I can only find one the rest I cant see

this is the only file you need to see and install with odin - CWM 6.0.4.5 Odin- SGH-S959G_CWM-v6.0.4.5.tar.md5 - 4.88 MB or the recovery of your choice but it must be a .md5 file

 

[denisec173]

but dont my phone need to be rooted to do this

ok I have no ideal what recovery I want or even need to use I have tried to root my phone but cant

 

[david72262]

ok I have no ideal what recovery I want or even need to use I have tried to root my phone but cant

what rom are you going to go with if its mr-cooks then go with -AJK CWM Odin- AJK-CWM.tar.md5 - 8.01 MB http://d-h.st/OgC any other rom use
-6.0.4.5 Odin- SGH-S959G_CWM-v6.0.4.5.tar.md5 - 4.88 MB http://d-h.st/D5A

 

[denisec173]

than thats what i will use

I will use cooks !
im really sorry to bother you with theses questions I guess you can tell I've never done this before but im willing to learn. ok can you plz explain to me in the order that I need to put theses and what needs to save to my sd card and what I need to load with odin .

 

[david72262]

I will use cooks !
im really sorry to bother you with theses questions I guess you can tell I've never done this before but im willing to learn. ok can you plz explain to me in the order that I need to put theses and what needs to save to my sd card and what I need to load with odin .

first download all files you will need. and put on the root of your external sd card. except the recovery file that needs to be on your computer where you can find it with odin.

so download -AJK CWM Odin- AJK-CWM.tar.md5 - 8.01 MB this needs to be on computer. in the op recovery section. (op = 1st page of this thread)

then download these and put on your external sd card in the root not in a folder.

1. COOK'S ROM WIPE
This one formats system, preload, data, and cache. For a FRESH install. YOU MUST FLASH A NEW ROM, or RESTORE A BACKUP AFTER USING THIS http://d-h.st/szN

2. COOK'S KERNEL CLEANER
This one does everything needed for a clean install of the latest AJK Kernel. Wipes cache, dalvik cache, resets STweaks profile, and fixes permissions.

DOWNLOAD- COOK'S KERNEL CLEANER.zip - 146.34 KB http://d-h.st/jzF

3. download mr- cooks rom from here. and all instructions are here too. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2322046.


after that you need to follow the odin instructions from the op and install your new recovery.

then run cooks rom file and kernel cleaner then install cooks rom.

read read read the instructions in cooks rom thread

this is a short version.

 

[denisec173]

............

ROM-SHOstock-v3.0
is this the rom I need to use?

 

[david72262]

ROM-SHOstock-v3.0
is this the rom I need to use?

I would use mr cooks rom [ROM]-[I777UCMD8]-[COOKED v2.2]-[4.1.2_JB][10/08/13] here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2322046

 

[denisec173]

i guess im blind cuz i dont see where it is

mr cooks rom and does this go to the sd on the phone

 

[david72262]

mr cooks rom and does this go to the sd on the phone

Yes goes to ext sd

look for this section in this thread 1st post

This is based off the I777UCMD8 JellyBean 4.1.2 release for the I777. It is Rooted, DeOdexed, DeBloated, Zip Aligned, BusyBox, has an Aroma Installer, and uses the AJK No-Swap kernel.

Download v_2.2-
I777UCMD8-COOKED v_2.2.zip - 485.73 MB

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2322046

 

[denisec173]

i found it yeah

ok so let me make sure that have what I need !
cooks kernel cleaner (does this one need to go on the sd or use odin if so do I clean first and then do the rest ?
ajk-cwm-tar.md5 (use odin) what do I click in odin for this pda,ccs,phone,
sgh-s959 cwm-v6.0.4.5.tar.md5(click the pda right)?

is this everything I need to do what I want to

 

[david72262]

ok so let me make sure that have what I need !
cooks kernel cleaner (does this one need to go on the sd or use odin if so do I clean first and then do the rest ?
ajk-cwm-tar.md5 (use odin) what do I click in odin for this pda,ccs,phone,
sgh-s959 cwm-v6.0.4.5.tar.md5(click the pda right)?

is this everything I need to do what I want to

everything goes on ext sd card except ajk-cwm-tar.md5
1st odin your new recovery.

- Samsung drivers must be installed on your computer- Samsung Drivers- http://www.samsung.com/us/support/ow...SGH-S959ZKATFN
- Download Odin 1.85- Odin3-v1.85.7z and unzip.
- Enable USB Debugging in Settings menu of phone.
- Put your phone in Download Mode - -Power off, Hold volume down button only, after starts in download mode Plug in USB connected to computer, Hit volume up when prompted.
- Open Odin folder, Click Odin3 v1.85.exe, With your phone connected the box under ID:COM should be yellow (if it's not you missed a step earlier), Click PDA, Select the file you downloaded earlier ajk-cwm-tar.md5 , DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE- MAKE SURE AUTO REBOOT AND F. RESET TIME ARE THE ----ONLY----- THINGS CHECKED----- AND RE-PARTITION AND FLASH LOCK ARE ----NOT---- CHECKED....., Press Start (It will take a few minutes to load everything do not touch your computer or the phone during any of this, after the phone re-boots it may take a few minutes to load back up leave it alone until it has fully started up and at the home screen). You should get a green PASS message in the top box.

 

[denisec173]

ok wish me luck

if I have any trouble ill let you know !!
oh yes one more question
a time before now I had actually messed up my phone and is wouldn't go past the Samsung log but I downloaded the heimdall suite and replaced the stock and all that well when I look at the phone while plugged into my pc I see the are two drives now when I do the cleaner will it correct this or will this be a problem?

 

[david72262]

if I have any trouble ill let you know !!
oh yes one more question
a time before now I had actually messed up my phone and is wouldn't go past the Samsung log but I downloaded the heimdall suite and replaced the stock and all that well when I look at the phone while plugged into my pc I see the are two drives now when I do the cleaner will it correct this or will this be a problem?

there are 2 drives for this phone one is the internal sd and one the external sd.

 

[denisec173]

ok I thought so! do it ok that I can see both of theses and they both contain the stuff for the phone that's on it now ! I do know that at one point before it messed up I had accidently partition through odin is this a problem?

 

[mrw874]

I tried following everything based on the original post and using that rom you pointed out. However, I ended up with nothing but a screen with a spinning set of colors after the install finished. It would boot up showing the S2 screen, show a google screen, then show the colors before shutting down.
I attempted to get back into the Recovery Mode to attempt to restore the backup I had made earlier, but my phone will no longer boot into recovery mode - I press vol up/down + power, see the S2 logo, then BRIEFLY I see the loading screen for Recovery Mode, then it goes immediately back into the S2 logo again. Letting go of the buttons once the Recovery Mode screen starts to show still accomplishes nothing - it just restarts again.

Finally, I decided to cut my losses and try to get my phone back the way it was. I used the Stock recovery via Odin mentioned on the original post and thankfully got the phone back up and running... However, now I can't install any apps via the Store, kicks back error 492. I searched for that error and the fix that most all pages recommended was to clear dalvik - but I can't get into the Recovery Mode to do that anymore. I attempted to reinstall it via Odin, but it didn't make any difference - recovery still will not load.

Any ideas? I'm done trying to upgrade/enhance this thing, I just want it back the way it was before I got this idea in my head.

You need to use Odin to install a cwm version 6.0.2.7.

You can go here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2322046
for a fairly stock ROM. Stock kernel is also in the op of that thread but i recommend keeping the one it comes with. If that's not stock enough, just go to the sgh-i777 forum and install the latest jellybean ucmd8 firmware

Edit: this op is updated quite regularly and is maintained daily. The 959g still has some tricks left yet

Sent from my SGH-S959G

 

[david72262]

Reinstall recovery in Odin I would go with the ajrecovery in the op