Having trouble with a boot loop with my Galaxy S2

[ManDroid7]

I have been trying to start my Samsung S2. The problem is that, I get hung on the starting process of loading the device. All I get to see is the initial screen that displays "Samsung Galaxy S II". It does it about 4 times in a row and then it turns off. I tried taking the battery off, doing a hard reset on it by going the ClockworkMod recovery screen. I'm currently there but I'm not sure what to choose. I need help figuring out what to do to have it boot normally, please!

 

[Paul627g]

Hello,

It sounds like either the kernel or the ROM the phone is running is corrupt. Your best option is to find a custom ROM for your SII and throw it on your sdcard, boot into ClockWorkMod, wipe cache & dalvik cache and flash the new ROM.

This should get you back up and running again and by NOT wiping DATA it shouldn't erase your current data on the device.

 

[ManDroid7]

I so appreciate your answer. How can I access my SD card through my computer. My phone is rooted and I did it when the phone was bootable and operational. Will the PC recognize it by selecting one of these options? All I'm getting right now is a screen like this, over and over again...
Also, keep in mind that the device is caught in a boot loop and I can't get to any features such as USB debugging. Thanks in advance!

 

[Paul627g]

Do you have access to a removable SDCARD? If so then download and place the ROM on the sdcard, pop it into your device and from your custom recovery you can load up the ROM.

 

[ManDroid7]

Do you have access to a removable SDCARD? If so then download and place the ROM on the sdcard, pop it into your device and from your custom recovery you can load up the ROM.

I was just thinking about doing that. The problem is that I am not that familiar with the steps to take, in order to mount the ROM. Can you tell me if there are any specific ROMs and/or tutorials, describing this process? There are so many of them but they may not be specific to my model. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Paul627g]

Just make sure when your searching for a ROM that it is region/carrier specific to your model of Galaxy SII.

Once you download the ROM, place it on your sdcard using a computer or sdcard reader and then pop it into your device.

Boot into CWM (ClockWorkMod), Do a WIPE on the device (Factory Reset) which would be wiping DATA/CACHE/DALVIK CACHE only. Don't format/wipe anything further than those.

Next select Install/Flash zip file. It should then give you the option to navigate to your sdcard on your device. Select the ROM zip file you placed on there and let it install.

Reboot and hopefully your problems are resolved.

 

[ManDroid7]

This has been quite helpful. I installed the ROMs (3 separate ones) for my specific model. Then again, I ran into an obstacle: I can't download any apps from Google Play store. When I try to download and install something, it tells me that the file "could not be downloaded due to an error. (240)." What does that mean?!

 

[Golfdriver97]

This has been quite helpful. I installed the ROMs (3 separate ones) for my specific model. Then again, I ran into an obstacle: I can't download any apps from Google Play store. When I try to download and install something, it tells me that the file "could not be downloaded due to an error. (240)." What does that mean?!

What is your model number?
And can you provide links to your ROMs?

From a Sprint Moto X using AC forums app

 

[ManDroid7]

What is your model number?
And can you provide links to your ROMs?

From a Sprint Moto X using AC forums app

Yes, of course! This is the link and the website that I that I found and downloaded from: GalaxyS2root.com and got the "slick mode" , "Tuesday ROM" and the "Jaugernaut"

My device: T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S2 SGH-T989 (rooted)

 

[Golfdriver97]

Yes, of course! This is the link and the website that I that I found and downloaded from: GalaxyS2root.com and got the "slick mode" , "Tuesday ROM" and the "Jaugernaut"

My device: T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S2 SGH-T989 (rooted)

As far as I can tell there should be no conflicts with the device and ROMs.

From a Sprint Moto X using AC forums app

 

[ManDroid7]

As far as I can tell there should be no conflicts with the device and ROMs.

From a Sprint Moto X using AC forums app

I went ahead and loaded all three ROMs and I'm currently using Tuesday Rom (DarksideX) without any problems. Thanks a million!

 

[MrZolee86]

Hello dear Paul!
i see this post is very old But i am just having the same problem this fella had last year. Can you please help me with a few more steps, i didnt quite understand?
what is this ROM you are talking about that i should copy onto my SD card? how do i find one, u say it should be correct for my region/carrier? what do you mean by that? thanks

also can you explain what is the CWM mode? all i have is the volumebutton+powrbutton+OKbutton held that takes me into the boot screen, is that what you mean? and when i am there what do i delete (wipe), because when i go to the boot screen there is only wipe data/factory reset and there is a separate row, called wipe cache...if i do the first one i lose all my data anyway, no? so i can only od the cache wipe, but will that be enough?
thank you so much for your help, as it would be very important that i dont lose all my data!!

Just make sure when your searching for a ROM that it is region/carrier specific to your model of Galaxy SII.

Once you download the ROM, place it on your sdcard using a computer or sdcard reader and then pop it into your device.

Boot into CWM (ClockWorkMod), Do a WIPE on the device (Factory Reset) which would be wiping DATA/CACHE/DALVIK CACHE only. Don't format/wipe anything further than those.

Next select Install/Flash zip file. It should then give you the option to navigate to your sdcard on your device. Select the ROM zip file you placed on there and let it install.

Reboot and hopefully your problems are resolved.

 

[MrZolee86]

hello Paul
can you explain what a ROM is and how do i know it is suitable for my phone (its not read only memory i assume )? i have a galaxy s2, that is NOT ROOTED but original vodafone or samsung factory i think - what do you mean by region/carrier spacific to my model?
also what is CWM mode? is that the root mode i reach by holding startbutton+volumebutton+OKbutton?
and last what do i delete, i either have factory reset which is wiping data, or jsut wipe cache?
thanks

 

[MrZolee86]

or could you please Golfdriver97 help me with these questions i listed above? it would be well appreciated!
thanks

 

[Paul627g]

A ROM is a custom built version of the Android OS. It could be built directly off the Android source code or it could be a modified version of the official Android OS put out by your device carrier.

In order to run a custom ROM you have to be rooted. What is rooting? Rooting is when you perform a few special steps to obtain & grant access to the system level portions of your device, kind of along the same lines as having Adminstrator access on your computer in Windows. The OEM's and/or carrier don't like for you to have access to these areas because if you do something wrong it could brick the device and in turn people want to claim warranty on the device to try and get a new one which costs the carrier/store/OEM money.

Why do people do it? Well to be able to run custom ROMs, remove bloatware, run custom kernels (main reason to control processor speed for better battery life) to name a few main reasons.

Is it safe? Yes if you properly educate yourself on the terminology and techniques used to do it.

Does it void my warranty? Yes while your device is in the rooted state the warranty is voided. But there is always a way to " un root " the device in the event you want to go back to stock or need to have your device serviced.

CWM (ClockWorkMod) is a custom recovery on the device. The stock recovery is used to update/flash/install " official/approved " software updates. You can also reset the device (factory reset) from stock recovery. A custom recovery is placed on the device during the rooting process so you can flash/install " unofficial " software like ROMs, kernels, etc. It also allows you do do many other things like make a full backup of your device, wipe " clear out " the devices cache/data/dalvik partitions of the device and many other useful tools.

I mentioned that you need to find a ROM specific to your device/carrier. This is VERY important. You need to make sure if you attempt this to find/locate a ROM that is specifically made for your version of device & carrier because if you install a ROM from say " AT &T " and you have a " Vodaphone " phone there is a good chance the radio/modem software can hard brick the device. Again, taking your time and educating yourself on these things before doing anything is the best approach.

 

[MrZolee86]

wow this doesnt sound easy at all
anyways thanks for ur help, as much as i understand it, i cant do any of these steps until my phone is rooted, which it isnt, and i cant do it either, because i dont know how, so it is easier if i just factroy reset my device and let the datas (like phone numbers and notes) lose.. rather than risk to ruin the phone itself...am i right?
or if i take the phone to a shop or service center will they be able to do this for me?

 

[Antonio Serna]

My t989 Gs2 goes into a loop at power up. It never turns on, so i can't access anything or connect it to my pc. How can i go out of loop and turn set on to access CWM? Please help

 

[Antonio Serna]

I do have a new rom on my sd card, but phone does not power on or goes into a recovery mode.

 

[Maria Clara Cisneros Toro]

Hello Antonio,
I have the same problem as yours. Did you resolved it? Could you give me a hand on this?
Thanks

 

[Toy8251]

Hey , I can't a perfect ROM for Galaxy S2 (rooted) Android = 2.3.6 , Please If anybody finds a perfect ROM please let me know