[Galaxy S II General] IceRapture:
It's great that you are asking these questions, they ensure a level of detail that is possibly unmatched by many other posters, and hopefully addresses most first-timers' questions, concerns and common obstacles.

-Yes, correct, KIES is the Samsung designed phone and file management software that we are using to automatically install the correct drivers for your phone and update your phone's firmware. If everything goes as planned, KIES will update you to the latest firmware for your samsung device. Since you are upgrading from an older firmware, I believe you will have to upgrade twice, from gingerbread to ICS, then to the latest JB MB2 firmware.

For others who need to check their device to know what model and firmware version you have; you can obtain this information by going into your phone settings, scroll to the bottom and click 'About Device' ...you should only proceed with rooting using the method I've described IF your device info (model M250S/K/L, and current firmware) match the description of the .tar file that you've downloaded andplan to flash.

-No, you do not need a MicroSD card to do this.

I don't think I can explain your download error, but your download location is incorrect. Do not download the .tar file to your phone.

*the .tar file needs to be downloaded to your computer*

This .tar file is used by the Odin program to flash the insecure kernel and install a Super User permissions app on your phone.

remember the save-path/Location that you saved the file for when you click the "PDA" button in Odin.

If you are a visual learner like I am, then here are some guides that try to show what I was describing about Odin with pictures.

**please pay attention that these rooting guides are for Sii models that are different from our Korean Sii models, and they are old, some are meant for older firmware versions.

- The only parts of these guides that correlate with what I have explained are the steps involving Odin - ...if you attempt to follow any other steps in the following guides besides parts of running Odin, you run a significantly increased risk of permanently bricking your device** (...voice of experience... ///ㅅ/// )

In this CNet guide, usb debugging, download mode and Odin are described in steps 2, 3, and 4

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/how-to-root-your-samsung-galaxy-s2-50004972/

In this ZedoMax guide for rooting an old international/usa gingerbread Sii device, download mode and Odin are detailed in steps 2, step 6, step 7 (please pay attention that you will be using the Tegrak .tar file), and step 8. Step 1 shows hot to get to your device info if you need to check firmware/model.

http://galaxys2root.com/galaxy-s2-root/how-to-root-galaxy-s2/

In this guide from ZedoMax for rooting an international GS2 on ICS, download mode, Odin, and what you can expect to see when finished ar shown in steps 1, 2, 3, 5 (ignore the obsolete kies download link), 6 (choose the tegrak.tar file), 7, 8, and 9 is what you can expect when done *after you enable root from the Tegrak app.

http://galaxys2root.com/galaxy-s2-root/how-to-root-galaxy-s2-i9100-icsandroid-4-0/inn

Finally in this guide by ZedoMax for rooting an international GSii on the JellyBean firmware, correlating Odin information can be found in steps 1, 2, 4, (select the the Tegrak .tar file) and 6.

http://galaxys2root.com/galaxy-s2-root/how-to-root-galaxy-s2-gt-i9100-jelly-bean-android-4-1-14-1-2/

Once finished with Odin please refer back to the steps I outlined in the previous post in order to finish rooting.

You can also check if you've successfully rooted by using any of the free root checker apps

Credit to ZedoMax (if this catches your eye, Max, lets grab a crappy Korean beer next time you're in Seoul! Sorry I couldn't contact you last December during my Korean language tests... you're unlikely to remember me from my NearCanada email address ~5 months ago when I royally and irreparably bricked my korean phone) for providing clear guides and being part of my inspiration to assist fellow Korean android users.

And to cnet.

Cheers

-Robert