Galaxy S2 - how to get back to stock?

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 20:01

Hi all

I have a galaxy S2 that's been flashed using Odin to something other than stock firmware. I'd like to just get it back to a completely stock state so that Samsung Kies can update the device itself.

Anyone got any ideas how to do this?

Many thanks

uv · 2 Aug 2012 at 20:26

flash it to stock with odin

you can use checkfus to download the current stock firmware

Cyclone · 2 Aug 2012 at 20:26

Im 99% certain you do it in settings, 'Factory data reset' (altho im probably totally wrong )

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 20:29

uv said:
flash it to stock with odin

you can use checkfus to download the current stock firmware

I'm afraid you're talking absolutely double dutch to me here. I didn't do the flashing to the begin with, but I do know what Odin is (although I've never used it). I'm just after some simple step by step instructions to follow if at all possible.

Im 99% certain you do it in settings, 'Factory data reset' (altho im probably totally wrong )

Yeah that just wipes the device, but it still remains flashed with something other than stock firmware.

lixxus · 2 Aug 2012 at 20:41

mrochester said:
I'm afraid you're talking absolutely double dutch to me here. I didn't do the flashing to the begin with, but I do know what Odin is (although I've never used it). I'm just after some simple step by step instructions to follow if at all possible.

Yeah that just wipes the device, but it still remains flashed with something other than stock firmware.

checkfus to download stock firmware/rom

http://fus.nanzen.se/

you will need odin from xda forum.

hrockh · 2 Aug 2012 at 20:46

as everyone else told you, you should flash the stock firmware with Odin (latest v3.04)
you can find the latest stock & Odin .exe here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544487

the latest firmware at the time of writing is 4.0.4 for UK, you lucky man

(forget about the .pit file, useless)

PM me if you want some more help.

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 21:04

So will all of this wipe the phone back to complete stock state; i.e., how the device would have come out of the box as far as allowing Samsung Kies to update the device (since I'm currently getting the message 'your device does not support software upgrading via Kies'). I want to get it back to a state where it can.

Beans on toast Dave · 2 Aug 2012 at 21:14

if you use the above method you dont need to update via kies as you will have the latest version and it will be debranded stock rom

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 21:15

challengedavid said:
if you use the above method you dont need to update via kies as you will have the latest version and it will be debranded stock rom

I specifically want to be able to go back to updating the device in Kies; that's what I'm trying to achieve.

alex24 · 2 Aug 2012 at 21:20

A word of warning - don't flash a 4.0.4 ROM at the moment, as if you wipe in CWM recovery (or even sometimes stock apparently), it can properly brick the device.

Using Odin, put the phone in download mode and flash the latest 4.0.3 XEU unbranded ROM. Then you should be able to use Kies as normal, which will update you to a 4.0.4 if you want. Just be careful...

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 21:21

alex24 said:
A word of warning - don't flash a 4.0.4 ROM at the moment, as if you wipe in CWM recovery (or even sometimes stock apparently), it can properly brick the device.

Using Odin, put the phone in download mode and flash the latest 4.0.3 XEU unbranded ROM. Then you should be able to use Kies as normal, which will update you to a 4.0.4 if you want. Just be careful...

The phone already has stock Samsung 4.0.3 firmware but Kies still reports that it can't update the device. Does it need an earlier firmware version?

alex24 · 2 Aug 2012 at 21:22

mrochester said:
The phone already has stock Samsung 4.0.3 firmware but Kies still reports that it can't update the device. Does it need an earlier firmware version?

Sure you're not running a custom kernel? Are you rooted?

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 21:23

alex24 said:
Sure you're not running a custom kernel? Are you rooted?

I've no idea, I didn't do it! I just want to get the phone exactly back to stock before selling it on a recycling site.

alex24 · 2 Aug 2012 at 22:08

Then simply flash a stock 4.0.3 ROM using Odin.

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 22:10

alex24 said:
Then simply flash a stock 4.0.3 ROM using Odin.

That's just it; it already appears to have a stock 4.0.3 ROM but Kies still isn't happy!

alex24 · 2 Aug 2012 at 22:12

Appears to. Probably has a custom kernel, so just flash a stock ROM to make sure it is.

mrochester · 2 Aug 2012 at 22:16

alex24 said:
Appears to. Probably has a custom kernel, so just flash a stock ROM to make sure it is.

Going to download the 4.0.3 UK/Ireland Sim free. Would this be right?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544487

Ben Cole · 2 Aug 2012 at 23:36

If it looks stock and has no yellow triangle warning on startup then I really wouldn't worry and just send it off.

What's the worst that can happen? It fails their tests and they send it back for free.

THEN you can worry about getting it back to stock (if it really isn't now).

hrockh · 3 Aug 2012 at 08:07

mrochester said:
Going to download the 4.0.3 UK/Ireland Sim free. Would this be right?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544487

forgot about the brick bug, cheers for remind me

yup, that should do the job

lixxus · 3 Aug 2012 at 10:25

just out of interest guys how do you get rid of the triangle at boot ?

is it removed when you flash back to stock ?