[Galaxy Note II General] dr.ketan:
How to Root/Unroot SGN2 (N7100)

To ROOT 4.3 Read THIS

This post is for Rooting 4.1.* only.

If you are going to Root your device, after successful rooting first thing to do is make EFS backup(link to tool for EFS backup included in guide).

Dear friends

I can give you simple two steps to root a device, but i won't. I wish you should have all the knowledge about different methods of rooting and pros and cons of each methods available. This may cause this guide longer, bit difficult but ultimately it will never turn down. read again 2-3 times and still you have any confusion, feel free to post any query you are having. Good luck and Happy Rooting !

Now proceed to root

Map for this post

A.How to root N7100

Advantages and disadvantages of each method of root.

Method 1:Root with stock Recovery

Method 2: Root with CWM recovery

Update 15.09.13 - New Tool available here - Though I recommend to read this post for knowledge base.

Method 3 : Root with simple APK

B.EFS Backup

C.Unroot N7100

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A.How to Root N7100

Big Thanx to Chainfire and Chenglu for great work.

Select your choice from one of these

1. Root with Stock Recovery - It will give full root access but have stock recovery. You can set your flash counter '0' and so ready to claim warranty.If you want device full stock + root this is choice for you.

2. Root + Advanced CWM - This will give Root access as well advanced CWM - Here you can reset counter, but once reboot to recovery, it will raise flash counter, Find option to reset counter on every boot (only play store version).

3.Root with ExynosAbuse apk - simply install apk to gain root access. (wont work on latest 4.1.2 ROM, Jan 2013/LL7 and later)

1.Root with Stock Recovery

- CF auto Root from Chainfire - can keep counter '0'

Big Big Thanks to Chainfire for giving this, Here is source thread

Download this CF Auto Root package

and extract it to .tar.md5

Procedure :

Make sure you have installed Kies OR Samsung USB driver

1.Open Odin and select PDA tab

2.Point to extracted file CF-Auto-Root-***.tar.md5 (see image below)

3.Now switch off device and reboot in download mode

press Vol down + Home +Power, And then, press Volume UP button in Warning Page to enter the Download Mode

4.Connect device to PC and wait till device successfully added to com port (it will turn light blue) (see image below)

5.Hit ‘Start’ to flash

6.Once it flashed successfully, you can see 'PASS' in table above the ID :COM, you can disconnect device from PC

7.Reboot device and you will have superSU in application drawer.

Now you can use Triangle away and reset counter '0', Read Next post (post#3)

Again All credits goes to Chainfire, your support to Chainfire

2. Root with Advanced CWM

- By Phil3759

Big Thanx and credit goes to Chenglu & Phil3759

Download :

1.

Download PhilZ Touch recovery (CWM based) - This recovery using SDS patched kernel code

[ Here you can find detail fuction of recovery as well support related to recovery] again big thanx and credit goes to Phil3759

2. download SuperSu and busybox and copy zip file to Sd card of device

Procedure :

Step 1

Make sure you have installed Kies OR Samsung USB driver

1.Open Odin and select PDA tab (see image below)

2.Point to recovery file you have downloaded philz_touch_* -n7100.tar.md5

3.Now switch off device and reboot in download mode

press Vol down + Home +Power, And then, press Volume UP button in Warning Page to enter the Download Mode

4.Connect device to PC and wait till device successfully added to com port (it will turn light blue) (see image below)

5.Hit ‘Start’ to flash

6.Once it flashed successfully, you can see 'PASS' in table above the ID :COM, you can disconnect device from PC

IF YOU STILL HAVE ISSUE IN FLASHING CWM (Stock recovery overwrites CWM) - First root with option 1 and then follow THIS

Step 2 :

Now reboot to recovery and flash superSu and busy box file from recovery, which you have copied to Sd card and reboot system

Done ! you should have SuperSU application in drawer. Read post#3 regarding how to reset counter.

3.Root with apk

No counter reset needs, Easiest - Credit goes to Chainfire, alephzain (not works on latest ROM, Jan 2013/LL7 and later)

1.Download latest from chainfire's original thread

2.Install application as routine apk installation and open it.

3.Open Exynos Abuse application from App drawer

4.Select Root device (see image)

5.It will ask SuperSU permission, Grant it See image)

6.Now your device is rooted, for security purpose you can disable Exploit.(see image)

Note : This may break camera, but unchecking disable exploit make it working again

7.Open SuperSU from app drawer and update binary (see image)

How to Unroot and make status Normal

Open Exynos Abuse app, uncheck disable explot and select Unroot device (see image)

Restart device and wait for 10 min. and then you can check status.

Reseting Counter

Above method will raise flash counter and you will need to reset counter to reclaim warranty, Read next post for it (post#3)

B.ESF Backup

- First thing i do recommend after rooting.

EFS Backup Also read This

Why so?

EFS folder contains some important and some basic info related to our device identity like Wi-Fi address, Bluetooth MAC address and the very main IMEI address (nv_data.bin).

Now if this EFS partition accidently corrupted then your phone’s IMEI no. will erased and you can not make voice call further. This kind of damage is often not accepted by the service center of your respected handset’s company.

Here your backup can only be savior for you.

C.How to Unroot :

- This is commonly needed before sending it to service station and reclaim warranty.

1.As discussed in post #3 if you have any custom recovery/Kernel first you need to replace it with stock one. Post #6 of this thread having stock recovery/Kernel.If you have custom ROM, then you will have to flash stock ROM.(you can use mobie odin to keep root intact to reset counter)

2.You need to use Triangle away if your binnary count is non zero (read post #3)

3.Once your flash counter is 'No' then you can simply unroot from superSU setting

if your device status is -Modified, you can do this trick to reset to normal

setting - appl manager - All - clear data for SysScope as well Enterprise SysScope

This should change system setting to Normal

If still you have modified status, you can wipe cache and data from recovery.

If still it doesn't change status, try removing Ext SD card

4. This is optional but full proof method to unroot and won't leave any footprint of previous root.(provided you flash counter is 'No')

-Flash Stock ROM with PC Odin

-Wipe cache and data.

All credits goes to

Chainfire and Chenglu