yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S II General] Dexter_prog:
Hey, I am a bit lost. I did several searches through this thread but couldn't quite find what I need to know.

I just got an S2 (I've been using android and custom roms/kernels for over a year in my damn slow SE X8), I wanted to update it to the latest kernel/rom (ICS) using kies before rooting it and trying my first S2 custom rom (which I guess will be CM9.1 until I get up to date with the probably, hundreds of custom s2 roms/kernels), but I saw this thread and got a bit scared. Since my phone is unlocked, should I use kies and let it update to the latest official kernel/rom or is this falling under the hard-brick warnings on the first post?
[Galaxy S II General] Mittaa:
Using latest official kernel (4.0.4) together with insane chip is what you have to avoid.

If you want to use 4.0.4 firmware, then skip KIES, and use Odin PC to flash latest rom, and then flash a secure kernel like Siyah or SpeedMod before you do anything else. In this way you will get root too :good:
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Use emmc brickbug check app from market to make sure you have a sane or insane chip.

Also, a very safe way is to always flash a secure Kernel before you flash/wipe anything.

As I said before, my 2nd brick happened while an official update (4.0.3 to 4.0.4)

But therefore I have to say something nice, Samsung Customer Service was very ok!
[Galaxy S II General] edwinbeltran:
Some help before i get a hardbrick

Hello you all,

I was reading a bunch of theads and now i am more confused than i was before.

I want to install ICS 4.0.4 on my S2, and I will be very grateful to you uf you can clarify somethings before I get a HardBrick.

I have installed now the xwlp7 4.0.3 firmaware on my S2, running stock kernel (I guess?? it says 3.0.15-I9100xwlp7-cl340913 // dpi@DELL134 #3)

And i need to know what to do to upgrade to ics 4.0.4, i wanted to install the xwlpm or xwlpx firmware but know I really don't know how to do this.

I want to thank you in advance for any help you can give to upgrade my S2.

Best Regards,

Edwin.-
[Galaxy S II General] Dexter_prog:
Thanks, guys. I do have the insane chip. Lucky me the upgrade process via KIES failed the first time (before I read this thread) and I'm still on 2.3.3 stock Android.

I read some posts above and someone said to download the unbranded nordic kernel for version 4.0.4 but I am not in a Nordic country (I'm in Argentina) and I wanted to know if this kernel could screw up my 3G. I want to eventually flash CM9 as my first rom, but I want to be on the safe side first. Should I first flash Siyah kernel and then follow the steps to use CM?

Also, what should I do if I soft-brick my phone whatever way and I want to fix it? On my old phone I could do it using the official Sony app, but since KIES would update to the screwed up firmware I guess that's not an option...
[Galaxy S II General] madejackson:
Bricked :(

I Just got my brothers sgs2 bricked. (LP6) :((

Nothing will work to revive. USB-JIG either.

I now bring it back to vendor and try to get it replaced via guarantee. :(

Never heard about a bug like this :( reflashed my own sgs2 for about 100 times.

there is still no chance to revive yet?

regards
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
You will find some good Tutorials here about Sammobile, Odin and and ;)

Please use emmc brickbug check before you do anything. On the "insane" chip in combination with 4.0.4 kernel and some actions taken with them, like a simple Factory Reset may lead you straight to the Samsung Customer Care ;)

---------- Post added at 11:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 PM ----------

As long as you can get your device into download mode you can get it back. You will know you hardbricked your S2 if you can't start it at all, no download or recovery plus it gets hot around the camera.

But.. the normal update from 2.3 to 4.0.x with kies will not lead into that I think. ( I think, not I know ;))

Before flashing anything check for Simlock and some other things. Find a good Tutorial here and read it well, that is the safest way.

---------- Post added at 11:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 PM ----------

If you can't get into download mode I think you're lost :(

I didn't hear about insane chips before my first brick, too, I think most of us didn't. And the more won't understand,why would they still sell those phones???
[Galaxy S II General] reslan_912:
You are not alone guys also GT-N7000 i managed to update it to latest LRT 4.0.4 by flashing safe kernel before! So always flash safe kernel then do whatever you want!
[Galaxy S II General] Dexter_prog:
what do you mean by that? I got my phone unlocked legally by the operator because the previous owner's contract was finished so they are legally bound to give you the code. Am I at risk of having it blocked again just by flashing it?
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
No, I just read somewhere that it could be dangerous to flash on a phone that's simlocked. Just a hint ;)

---------- Post added at 12:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 AM ----------

Yes right, you can even use the cwm.zip that could be found here somewhere to flash i.e. Siyah Kernel which is definitely safe.
[Galaxy S II General] C01D4X:
I have I9100XXLQ5 and Kernel 3.0.15-I9100XXLQ5-CL753921

eMMC says I have an insane chip.

Do I leave it like it is, downgrage to 4.0.3 and siyah, or wait for 4.1 (and use siyah kernel) ? Usually I don't restore

thx
[Galaxy S II General] indresh88:
I am on 4.0.3 UHLPS wanam lite rom.....with siyah 4.1.5 ....but still emmc brickbug says....insane chip..????? How to solve this insane chip....

Should i flash 4.0.3 stock rom???
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
There is no Solution for your insane chip, only Samsung can fix this by replacing it.

But you can:

- do anything as long as you don't use 4.0.4 kernel

- if you want to make OTA update, flash the 4.0.3 firmware that fits your country / provider

- BACKUP your data ( pictures bla bla) from your internal storage

- do the OTA.

Now, if your phone bricks, send it to Samsung and they will have to repair it because of the guarantee!

---------- Post added at 10:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 AM ----------

If your on Stock and your phone bricks while the update procedure, just send it in. Don't forget to backup your data, everything will be gone when it comes back ;)

If your out of the guarantee time, never ever use the 4.0.4 kernel, use Odin to flash the firmware you want and a brick-safe kernel to avoid a disaster..
[Galaxy S II General] indresh88:
Thanks for reply......that means

1. i can flash stock 4.0.3 rom from odin safely

2. Flash stock 4.0.4 rom from odin with cautions...but to root i need to use pc odin to flash siyah...right....

3. Flash any custom 4.0.4 rom with siyah or speedmod kernel in built safely...

4.dont use nandroid restore if i am on 4.0.4 stock kernel.......ofcause dont do wipe data factory reset from cwm

5.i can use wipe data factory reset if i am on custom kernel with 4.0.4 safely......but dont use restore with nandroid from cwm after that..
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
1. Yes,as far as I know and experienced.

2. Yes, you can flash 4.0.4 but not wipe data/factory reset on stock kernel. For Root, there is a file here somewhere that can even be flashed from stock recovery, also Siyah can be flashed from cwm,which can be found here somewhere as a .zip file.

3. Yes

4. The Backup/Restore isn't the Problem, just the wipe, as far as I know and experienced.

5. On a Nandroid Restore, the Kernel will also be restored. You will have the Kernel you had when you made the Backup. A Restore will not cause Damage, just the wipe may do.

Sorry that I don't provide links for SU or cwm.zip as I don't have a Laptop here. But I am sure you will find it ;)

Edit : you can send me a pm with your email address and I can send you the files I have here on my phone, if you can't find em by yourself :)
[Galaxy S II General] indresh88:
I have cwm.zip and su.zip...

Suppose i tried 4.0.4 stock rom.....then if i need to go back to 4.0.3.....i have two option

1. Flash 4.0.3 stock with odin

2. Or i can flash custom kernel like siyah on 4.0.4 stock rom and then i can wip data from cwm and install custom 4.0.3 rom with cwm....
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Yes, but 1st option is more save I think. While your on 4.0.4 you can do a full wipe safely with Siyah or other brick-safe kernel then restore your 4.0.3 backup. Restore will include Kernel.
[Galaxy S II General] White girl:
Can I do data&cache wipe in CWM on Siyah kernel?
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Yes you can :)
[Galaxy S II General] indresh88:
Experiment works well i guess

Tried 4.0.4 stock xwlpw...then rooted it with cwm and su........when i have satisfied with it....again flash 4.0.3 stock rom via odin and then install cf root via odin to root and have cwm......then i have installed custom rom again....cheers:)
[Galaxy S II General] White girl:
Tried rooting stock 4.0.4 Samsung Galaxy S II I9100 (XXLQ6, with emmc brickbug) to Siyah kernel: http://www.gokhanmoral.com/gm/2012/10/06/siyahkernel-s3-v1-7beta1/

This is the result:

<ID:0/004> Added!!
<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..
<ID:0/004> File analysis..
<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/004> Complete(Write) operation failed.
<ID:0/004> Added!!
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

What should I do?
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Umm, what is the phone doing right now? Don't PANIC!!
[Galaxy S II General] White girl:
Just this: http://i.imgur.com/ihUvz.jpg Everything else is fine.
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Good your phone isn't dead :)

I would do the following :

Re-flash the firmware, I think you know how to

Get the CWM.zip that can be found here somewhere, if you can not find it, pm me your email and I will send it.

Get a CWM flashable Version of Siyah Kernel!

Put both files on the root of your external Sd Card.

After you re-flashed your Rom, let it boot, then turn it off, boot into recovery, apply update from Sd Card, choose CWM.zip

It will boot into Clockworkmod.

There you can install the Siyah Kernel. No need for Odin anymore :)

Good luck!
[Galaxy S II General] worf_1977:
From my experinece. Restoring my phone to a previous Android version (4.0.3) on a Vodafone Spain one, by using Siyah Kernel 4.1.3 and it's CWM, and with a bad chip that showed as "brickable", has been succesful.

Up and running!!!

One thing tata heppened to my phone, it's that it deleted all my pics, around 400, and left no trace of them, except for 3 that survived the clash. LOL
[Galaxy S II General] Dexter_prog:
Don't use a USB hub, just connect the phone directly to the USB port
[Galaxy S II General] bluefa1con:
Lol u flashed the gs3 version

You are lucky ur phone is alive
[Galaxy S II General] bombaybadboy:
I did that once and gave me a pretty pattern on my screen :D

Try this one instead

http://www.gokhanmoral.com/gm/2012/09/08/siyahkernel-s2-v4-1/
[Galaxy S II General] herosm:
i9100XXKI3... how to upgrade firmware version.
[Galaxy S II General] kevinarjun:
Yes. Its the cost for new motherboard.
[Galaxy S II General] perissatto:
Hello all

I have a S2 and S3 and awalys used Wanamlite ROMS without any mods. Today i have updated to latest Wanamlite 12.7 on S2 and my phone started a lot of crashes. So i tries to wipe data and dalvik cache. Now my phone is dead. Cant turn on on recovery, download or normally.

Im very sad with this situation. Someone have any information to help me on this case??

Apreciate a lot.

Regards,

Perissatto

Edit: Now i can turn to download mode only. i downloaded Odin and installed I9100XWLPX_I9100XXLQ6_I9100NEELP5_NEE but still the same thing .... only download mode ok.

Please need some help. already read a lot here and no slution.... already installed Syah Kernel and same results.....

:(
[Galaxy S II General] 2kool2btrue:
Did you try a USB jig? I also ended up hard bricking my phone once when I flashed VK ROM 4.8 and used Siyah Kernel. Luckily, samsung replaced it for me :(..

Try removing the battery for a couple of mins and then power on the phone to get download mode (Volume down key+menu key+power button).
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Please try the 4.0.3 version that fits your country / provider! Flash it with Odin and report back.

Also, did you check if your phone is sim-locked?

Greetings and good luck!

Edit : don't(!!!!!!) wipe anything again while your on 4.0.4 Kernel as long as you don't know if your chip is "sane"
[Galaxy S II General] ebeinecke:
Nice ! I'll surely give it a try
[Galaxy S II General] perissatto:
hahaha too late :l bricked

i send to a friend to use the Jtag :l
[Galaxy S II General] VooDooS:
Hi,

I have a GT-I9100, running an stock 4.0.4 operator's rom (SFR, a french operator) and I would like to root my phone.

But the eMMC app tells me that, yes, my phone is subject to the brick bug...

So I am a little worried. Is flashing Siyah's kernel with Odin safe ?

And after this, will I be able to do anything (wipe, format, install from zip with cwm) without the risk of an eMMC bug ?

Furthermore, I know how to flash a kernel, a rom, a radio... but a firmware ? Is it done by flashing a rom ?

I apologies if that question has already been asked, but 100 pages is a lot to read...
[Galaxy S II General] bombaybadboy:
Yes its safe to Odin flash siyah and safe to do anything after as long as your on siyah. I suggest using siyah v4.1.5 because v5.0 is still at testing stage. Siyah hasn't got emmc caps erase like 4.0.4 so its a safe kernel

If you want firmware then look on samfirmware.com and find firmware you want for your region then download it then install via Odin. If your unsure there are instructions on xda that are easy to understand
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Hey :)

You can do ( I think) all wipes on a stock 4.0.3 and ( I am sure) all wipes on Siyah Kernel.

You can also get a cwm flashable version of the Kernel, no Odin needed and never a yellow triangle ;)

->get cwm.zip from here ( search) ->boot into it from stock recovery ->flash Siyah Kernel.

Some custom Roms that are based on Stock like i.E. Chameleon will also flash a modem but that's perfectly ok!

CM/AOKP based Roms will only flash the Rom itself plus the corresponding Kernel. Most of the Custom Kernels are brick-safe.

"Firmware" is the stuff you get from Samsung. After you downloaded it from sammobile.com you can flash it with Odin. There are several good tutorials and ( I think) Odin is a very safe way to flash.

Make sure your phone isn't SIM-locked, I have read somewhere that it can be dangerous to flash if your phone is locked!

Hope that helped a bit.
[Galaxy S II General] VooDooS:
Thank you both very much for your answers.

I will give it a try as soon as possible.
[Galaxy S II General] nims11:
Bought s2 two days ago

I'm already on 4.0.4

and eMMC bug check apps shows chip is sane

but to be on safe side If I install siyah kernel and after that wipe any stuff which is needed for installing any custom rom

then it will be safe right ?
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
If your chip is "sane" it should be safe to wipe but using Siyah or another brick-safe Kernel is always better.

I can confirm that using wipe on 4.0.4 with a sane chip is ok but after 2 bricks I am always nervous ;)

Siyah and almost all custom kernels are safe.

Remember, most Roms come with a Kernel inside. So, i.E. if you want to continue using Siyah after flashing a Rom, you have to flash the Siyah kernel again on top of the Rom.
[Galaxy S II General] Espon:
Hey y'all,

I'm a bit confused about this hardbrick

I upgraded my Sgs2 to 4.04 today. I have always used official updates from here.

I never used any custom firmware or rooted my phone. The install was a non wipe version and my phone still works .

Am I still in danger to get a hardbrick or is it safe to continue my phone on 4.04?

I do have an insaneschip

Info from the update:

Base Firmware: I9100XWLPX (4.0.4)

Region: Europe

Country Nordic Countries

Carrier: Unbranded

Build Date: 29 August 2012

Modem: XXLQ6

CSC: NEELP5

Change List: 1068762

Thanks in advance
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
You are safe as long as you don't do a wipe..

So, before you wipe anything or even think about a factory reset, get a 4.0.3 Rom and flash it with Odin or get a brick-safe Kernel i.E. Siyah and do the factory reset from its own recovery ( cwm)

---------- Post added at 11:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 PM ----------

Edit : or...

-get the cwm.zip ( sorry you have to search)

-get a cwm flashable Siyah Kernel

-boot into stock recovery

-start the cwm.zip

-make a backup with it

-flash Siyah

-do your wipes

-go to restore/advanced restore and only restore boot.img

-reboot

Sounds complicated but it isn't that bad compared to a walk to your Samsung customer care center ;)
[Galaxy S II General] Espon:
Thanks alot for clearing that out!

I'll just keep using 4.04 and don't wipe anything and then when 4.1 is out I'll use that version.
[Galaxy S II General] Mittaa:
Not to scare the pants off ... Just remember that a accidently wipe could occur!

The factory reset USSD exploit could be particularly dangerous on an S2 running ICS on the stock kernel due to the "eMMC brick bug", so I advice you to flash SpeedMod kernel or Siyah kernel.

Alternatively you can use an alternative Android dialer, which will stop the automatic execution of any USSD code.
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
True! Thanks for the hint!
[Galaxy S II General] Espon:
But if I flash an other kernel won't my binair counter change from 0 to 1?
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Not if you flash it from recovery ;)
[Galaxy S II General] Mittaa:
And if your counter should ever get higher than 0 because of flashing another kernel than the stock one ... you´r rooted and can run Chainfire app "Triangle Away" or use a jig to reset counter :cool:
[Galaxy S II General] amenyahu:
maybe someone's asked before ....

Hi, I'm a relative newbie.

I'm currently using CM9 with CWM and use cf-root when i put cm9 onto my I9100. I'm now wanting to put cMIUI on my phone and i don't want to brick it. As you may know, CM9 uses 4.0.4. My baseband version is xxlpw. I did do a backup of my previous stock ROM, 4.0.3, before I went to cm9. I don't know if it's possible for me to go to any other ROM now. I used the eMMC brick check and it said I DID have the insane chip. Can anyone guide me thru what I should do, either with links to other xda pages relevant to my phone or, if anyone was in a really kind mode, give me a step-by-step guide to getting back to the original rom i got my phone with from the phone store. hopefully it's possible to go from there to cMIUI, or to another rom that won't burn me.

Thanks to anyone that can help. The reason I ask this is because the warning on the first post was enough to stop me from putting another rom on my phone, but I didn't understand it enough to know what to do next, if anything can be done. Thanks again in advance.
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
CM9 Kernel is brick-safe. So, you can wipe everything from there. cMIUI has brick-safe Kernel, too, so no danger here, either.

ONLY real danger is a Stock 4.0.4 Kernel :)
[Galaxy S II General] freakingprime:
My 4.0.4 germany version is not bricked but bluetooth stop working after rooted.
[Galaxy S II General] attaw:
My s2 4.0.4 version stock kernel..

I wipe & i format 3 times bat working fine...
[Galaxy S II General] Espon:
Hey,

First of all thanks for all the advice you guys gave me.

I still haven't flashed any other kernel on my sgs2 yet because I still have some doubts/questions.

So this are my current phone settings.

What understand is that I'm vulnerable for a hardbrick if I would wipe/factory reset my phone.

To fix this I need to flash an other kernel like the SiyahKernel (from what I understand this one is the most used one).

To install this i just to put my phone in download mode, open odin and put the file in "PDA" and flash and it should install.

Problem should be fixed then but binary counter is gone one up (fixable with jig).

And what if i don't flash anything and then when 4.1 comes out I flash that? Would that give me a chance of an hardbrick or should it be oke?

I'm truly sorry to ask all these questions. I'm just day to day user who never rooted or installed a different kernel. The most far i went is flashing 4.0.1 and 4.0.4 official firmware.

I rather wait until 4.1 and flash that because I never have factory reset or wiped my phone before and I think it should not happen any day soon

Hopefully I'm clear with my explanations and questions

Thanks in advance

Espon
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
No problem, your welcome!

1. Is your phone still under warranty? If so, do regularly backups of your personal stuff on the emmc drive and wait what happens. If an update would brick your phone you will have full support from Samsung.

2. I think(!) an update to 4.1.x will come through kies. In that procedure, kies will download the new firmware and flash it to your phone. This is an official procedure and, I think (!), safe.

3. If you worry about the flash counter, a good way is to flash siyah kernel with cwm. That's not very complicated and noob friendly ( no offense!)

- Search for cwm.zip, if you can't find it, send me a pm I wi'll send you the file.

- Search cwm flashable Siyah Kernel ( Google : Siyah)

- Put both files on the root of your external sd card, boot into stock recovery, apply cwm.zip as update, then install Siyah kernel.

But if my 1st point hits your situation, just do nothing and wait for JellyBean ;)

I hope that helped a bit.
[Galaxy S II General] Mittaa:
If you have insane chip you could brick your phone at some latere point!

It could happen after no 7 wipe, or if your lucky ... never :o
[Galaxy S II General] Espon:
Hey,

Thanks for answering so soon.

I'll answer on each points;

1: Yes I still have warranty (till June 2013 If i recall correctly). Do you mean I should copy my files (Pictures, Videos,..) from my phone to my external SD card/computer or you mean something else? I do have a back up via Kies and i copied every file to my pc as well

2:Well the problem with Kies is that for some reason it always said there was no update (before ICS) so I flashed 4.0.1 and later 4.0.4 with odin but now Kies says ''your device does not support software upgrading via Kies' So I probably flash 4.1 as well with Odin ( The bug that causes the hardbrick if you wipe your phone won't have an effect when doing this right?

3.Seems not to hard to do but this will void my warranty right?

Espon
[Galaxy S II General] ohwarumbloss:
Yes I meant a backup to pc/kies, I mentioned it because I lost many files on my 2nd brick.

Afaik is a hard bricked phone seriously dead and it's hard, even for Samsung service, to figure out why it died. ( original statement customer care center :"as long as there isn't coke bleeding out of the cover.... ") ;)

A hard bricked phone ( dead emmc chip) will : not start, not go into download or recovery mode and get hot around the camera when you try to turn it on. If so, they will replace the chip. End of the story ;)

Your kies won't update your phone anymore because you most likely have a different CSC now.

That's no problem, as you said, just flash the next version with Odin, again.

If you want updates with kies again, you need the right CSC ( Customer Sales Code) again.

On a yellow triangle your warranty would be void, yes, on a dead phone, no-one would ever see any triangle on your phone again. No yellow, no green or whatever ;)

Please note, I am not a dev, I only tell you what I've been reading the last years or what I experienced by myself.
[Galaxy S II General] Espon:
Thanks for all the advice!

After a fast look up i saw changing CSC will factory reset my phone so I won't do that because then I might brick it :)

So I decided I'll wait until 4.1 (I red it would be released in November) and flash that. Maybe I'll change the CNC then.

One more question from this noobie; what if 4.1 update is a wipe version is it dangerous then to flash?

Espon