Amid all the hoo-ha surrounding the recent botched Android update for the Samsung Galaxy S2, which left many of you twiddling your thumbs waiting for your network to dish out a tasty helping of Ice Cream Sandwich, you may have been tempted to experiment with custom ROMs. But what if it all went terribly wrong?
A plethora of Android 4.0 custom ROMs have emerged of late, and in April we showed you the best custom ROMs available for the S2.
While the whole process of installing a ROM is straightforward, sometimes the flash doesn't go according to plan, and you can be left with a bricked device -- basically an expensive lump of plastic that doesn't even boot up properly.
So if you're regretting taking the gamble (and voiding your warranty), especially now all the major UK networks have upgraded their S2s to the latest version of Google's software, fear not. You can breath life into your little plastic corpse by taking the following steps.
Recovering a bricked handset
Transitioning from a custom ROM to official firmware is relatively easy, but there are times when the process of mucking about with your handset's software can go horribly, horribly wrong. If you find that your Galaxy S2 is unresponsive or is stuck in a 'boot loop', where it never gets past the initial start-up screen, you need to do a spot of recovery.
Turn off your phone. Hold down home, power and volume up (not down -- that's for download mode). This will enter recovery mode. Use the volume rocker to move down to 'Wipe user data' and press the power button. Once this is complete, switch off the phone and then follow our guide to restoring stock firmware to your phone here. Sing hosannas, your phone will be saved!
To get all the latest phone reviews, news and features beamed direct to your Android device of choice, head to the Google Play store and download the free CNET Android app today.
Updated: Broken links fixed.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters
Comments 45
Add your comment
anonymous 8 May, 2012 17:55
we won't be singing hosannas when the guide reads as follows
1. Sorry, we can't find that page
2. phone saved
lol
anonymous 9 May, 2012 10:15
Hi, apologies for the broken link at the end of the article, this has now been fixed.
anonymous 13 May, 2012 15:48
while converting my ginger bread os to ics of my samsung galaxy s2 gt 19100g mobile...by mistake i removed usb connection during downloading mode...nw im unable to switch on the mobile nor on it by recovery/downloading mode....if i try to switch on my mobile its just showing a symbol resembling improper connection between mobile and pc...what to do?
anonymous 18 May, 2012 10:51
"while converting my ginger bread os to ics of my samsung galaxy s2 gt 19100g mobile...by mistake i removed usb connection during downloading mode...nw im unable to switch on the mobile nor on it by recovery/downloading mode....if i try to switch on my mobile its just showing a symbol resembling improper connection between mobile and pc...what to do?"
^^^
I've got this exact problem, any ideas on what to do? Please, I'm desperate
anonymous 17 July, 2012 18:21
How can I thank you? I've looked though innumerable pages of Odin , Firmware, Software and Tupperware and this actually WORKS! 8-)
anonymous 29 July, 2012 09:15
I cannot get into recovery mode, but still can access the download mode. Please help :o !!!
anonymous 21 August, 2012 14:12
my mobile has stuck in brick mode showing yellow color triangle and is not recovering eventhough when im pressing volume up+power key+menu button.
please help me
anonymous 25 August, 2012 21:20
Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you sir.
You just saved me what, 800 quid?
anonymous 8 September, 2012 12:16
my mobile has stuck in brick mode showing yellow color triangle and is not recovering eventhough when im pressing volume up+power key+menu button.
please help me
anonymous 3 October, 2012 21:55
hi Every body,
could u pls help me with my problem,
I tried to format my Galaxy SII mobile by using a code, after that i am not able to turn it on, and also I am not able to inter the recovery mode by using(up Vol, Power, Home) , more worse issue, my laptop is not able to find the phone even i connect it !!!!
I will be very thank for u if u can support me
anonymous 4 October, 2012 22:53
i can't access the recovery mode. phone stuck at boot up screen. I was running cm 9.1 stable. It was working fine but suddenly the phone switched off. And now its not booting up. I can't access the recovery. Please help. :(
please someone who has an idea. plz.
:(
limgs 22 October, 2012 22:55
could u pls help me with my problem,
I tried to format my Galaxy SII mobile by using a code, after that i am not able to turn it on, and i can't access the recovery mode. phone stuck at boot up screen. Please help. :(
please someone who has an idea. plz.
Michael Brunt 1 November, 2012 12:55
I installed "clockwork recovery" to my rooted S2 on ICS and now it is not booting. I cant get to the recovery mode as above as that now goes into the "recovery" screen. From there I dont know what to do to get my phone back. Any ideas?
anonymous 3 November, 2012 18:00
my mobile do not enter into recovery mode
anonymous 3 November, 2012 18:05
my mobile stuck on boot screen when i was downgrading my phone from CM 9.1.0 to ics XXLPQ
i just selacted pda file of ics and started process in odin it has been completed and my phone stuck on boot screen.then i tried siyah kernal the same happened stucked on boot screen.and also it does not enter into recovery mode .my mobile enter into downloading mode
anonymous 4 November, 2012 23:09
Hi there, My phone was bricked and I followed ur guide to recover it but now when Im using Odin its stuck on boot.bin.
I did ensure that all Kies related rograms aren't running. Also, I did switch off and removed the battery and put it back on - so now ts stuck here.
PLSE HELP
anonymous 16 November, 2012 20:01
thanks man,,thanks a lot!!!!!worked 4 me,,really well
anonymous 17 November, 2012 11:01
Thank you... you are a star
anonymous 25 November, 2012 12:45
Please I need HELP
My SGS2 is Stuck in the boot animation and i have no idea how to fix it
Please i Need help
anonymous 26 November, 2012 18:00
mines syuck in the caution symbol in start up mode please help:/
akhan47 30 November, 2012 00:29
my s2 galaxy out of the blue stopped working?...i detected a batterry low pop up but then when it diesd out it wouldnt start up properly....al it does now is strat to show the make of the phone " samsung galaxy s2 i9100 and then to my network provider whish is t-mobile and finally to a "s" that would glow 3 times till it repeats this on and on??......samsung service centre have said it would cost me 150 to flashit and attenmpt to recoer data ( but no gaurantee " but til now they say all data have been recovered in the past from their sister company and charges can fly up to 700 pounds?.....the 150 is a must to pay for flashing and making it working order . im trying to find out which is the sister comnpany samsung use to recover data that the police also use ( as mentioned by the person at samsung service centre. can some one from cnet or anyother person please respond with genuine info plssss?
anonymous 13 December, 2012 09:03
my galaxy y stuck on boot mode and my usb connector are not working what do i have to do
anonymous 13 December, 2012 09:07
please help me my galaxy y is on loop boot and i cant use odin becouse my phone usb connector is not working healp plss
anonymous 17 December, 2012 10:14
my galaxy s2 is not working,hw to save its gallary when it is switched off??
anonymous 26 December, 2012 15:33
OH MY GOD! You saved my Phone! And saved me from getting told off! Thank you so much!
And I didn't lose ANY data at all. Thank you!
anonymous 26 December, 2012 23:15
Ooosh! is very unfortunate as i try to unbricked my SGS gt-i9000 but cant even switch the phone on. any HELP PLEASE.
richie 26 December, 2012 23:18
Oooosh! is very unfortunate as i try to unbricked my SGS gt-i9000 but the phone cant even switched on after the flashing, any HELP please????
anonymous 28 December, 2012 00:13
My samsung galaxy s2 tmobile is fully bricked and also it is not enter in downlod mode & recovery mode
anonymous 11 January, 2013 11:21
Many many thanks..it just worked for me..1st i recovered my bricked phone then installed stock rom.prevously i tried Cyanogenmod 10.1 it was good but battery used to drain much earlier.i think stock roms are best as they are stable and non problemetic..now looking forward for the arrival of official Jelly bean.cheers
anonymous 11 January, 2013 11:21
Many many thanks..it just worked for me..1st i recovered my bricked phone then installed stock rom.prevously i tried Cyanogenmod 10.1 it was good but battery used to drain much earlier.i think stock roms are best as they are stable and non problemetic..now looking forward for the arrival of official Jelly bean.cheers
anonymous 11 January, 2013 11:22
Many many thanks..it just worked for me..1st i recovered my bricked phone then installed stock rom.prevously i tried Cyanogenmod 10.1 it was good but battery used to drain much earlier.i think stock roms are best as they are stable and non problemetic..now looking forward for the arrival of official Jelly bean.cheers
anonymous 11 January, 2013 11:22
Many many thanks..it just worked for me..1st i recovered my bricked phone then installed stock rom.prevously i tried Cyanogenmod 10.1 it was good but battery used to drain much earlier.i think stock roms are best as they are stable and non problemetic..now looking forward for the arrival of official Jelly bean.cheers
anonymous 14 January, 2013 04:54
Hello,
My Galaxy S2 is stuck on no Network Mode which means I'm not able to make calls or receive any calls. When I try to switch it to Flight Mode it get stuck on Flight mode and I have to Factory reset it. I think it's pretty wired and I'm definitely not good with phones. I hope anyone can help me to solve this problem!
billyboy72 17 January, 2013 02:17
Hello, I made the mistake of rooting my sgh I777 with a custom kernal. Afterwards my cam and bluetooth didnt work. I found that after only three mins so no clue whatelse didnt work. I decided to call up my phone co which is at&t, to get a warranty phone. They made me wipe the memory to try a factory reset. Now I can not make the damn thing even turn on. Kies drivers still see the phone as does odin. As of know its just a black bricked screen. HELPPPPPP I need my stock kernal back
anonymous 20 January, 2013 15:28
"while converting my ginger bread os to ics of my samsung galaxy s2 gt 19100g mobile...by mistake i removed usb connection during downloading mode...nw im unable to switch on the mobile nor on it by recovery/downloading mode....if i try to switch on my mobile its just showing a symbol resembling improper connection between mobile and pc...what to do?"
plizzz help me
anonymous 23 January, 2013 15:17
When flashing my SII he went off, and now he is not starting in any mode. It seems dead!!
Can you help me
anonymous 28 January, 2013 17:24
Thank you so much my Galaxy S2 was stuck in "Boot Loop" I was really upset but thanks God i found your article which helped me to bring it back to life. God Bless You.
anonymous 3 February, 2013 09:29
my galexy advance formating after not working why pls help
anonymous 3 February, 2013 19:54
thank you so much my heart was racing so fast that my father took me to the hospital but I fixed the problem before him noticing so thank you very much
anonymous 18 February, 2013 09:37
while converting my ics os to gelly bean of my samsung galaxy s2 gt 19100g mobile...by mistake i removed usb connection during downloading mode...nw im unable to switch on the mobile nor on it by recovery/downloading mode....if i try to switch on my mobile its just showing a symbol resembling improper connection between mobile and pc...what to do?
anonymous 19 February, 2013 05:09
thanks sooooooo much!!! worked!!! just have one question. my camera isn't working and I tried many ways to fix it. do u know any ways to fix it?
anonymous 13 March, 2013 09:31
i did two bad things after odin froze
(1) checked repartion in odin
(2) stopped it before it was completed
now my phone GT-i9100 is hard bricked any suggestions?
anonymous 22 March, 2013 19:41
cannot thank you enuf,,,, all fixed now many many thx to all
anonymous 29 April, 2013 21:05
galaxy s2 is bricked it wont let me do a factory rest the screen comes up i hit the power button to rest and nuthing happens
anonymous 9 May, 2013 03:34
since having posted a comment on this site i have not got an email or any advice as to what i need to do with my issue .?...WHATS THE POINT OF THIS SITE IF TILL NOW PEOPLE DONT GET ANY GUIDANCE FOR THIER PROBLEM???