How to Install ClockWorkMod Recovery (CWR) and Root T-989 T-Mobile Galaxy SII aka Hercules

The awesome guys at Rootzwiki have just cracked the root for T-Mobile Galaxy S II, T-989, called Hercules. It involves flashing a .tar file in PDA tab in Samsung’s (unofficial) software for windows, Odin v1.85. It’s something we’ve done countless times with our International Galaxy S2. If you’re a Galaxy SII user at T-Mobile, you’ll find the guide below extremely useful. Plus, there is a video too of how to root a Samsung phone using Odin, so check out the guide and video below before starting rooting procedure yourself.

Warning: Warranty may be void of your device if you follow the procedures given on this page. You only are responsible for your device. We won�t be liable if any damage occurs to your device and/or its components.

Detailed Guide to Install ClockWorkMod Recovery and to Root T-Mobile Galaxy SII T-989

Here’s a video showing the ‘How to use Odin to flash .tar file’ which is your important step number 4 below. We recommend watching it before trying the guide yourself.

Follow this step-by-step:

Make sure you’ve the proper drivers installed on your Windows PC (It won’t work on Mac). Download Link: 32 bit (x86) Windows | 64-bit (x64) Windows.
Download the ClockWorkMod recovery (CWR) file first. Filename: recovery-cmw-hercules.tar. Size: 5.99 MB. Download Link. We will flash this in step 4 below using Odin to install custom recovery, CWR.
Download the Superuser installer zip from here. This would be flashed using CWR in step 5 below. Filename: su-3.0.5-efgh-signed.zip. Size: 584 KB. Download Link. Transfer it to your phone’s sd card now.
Installing ClockWorkMod Recovery (CWR) on T-Mobile Galaxy S II first:
1. Download Odin software. Filename: Odin3-v1.85.zip. Size: 198 KB. Download Link. Extract the zip file to folder to get 2 files – Odin3 v1.85.exe and Odin3.ini. Do not delete the .ini file because it’s required too.
2. Switch Off your phone. Wait for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
3. Open Odin now by double clicking on Odin3 v1.85.exe file you got in step 4.1
4. Boot your phone in Download Mode — hold both Volume_UP and Volume_DOWN buttons and connect the phone with PC using USB cable. You should get the message “Added! !” under the Odin’s message box in the bottom left. If you don’t get this message, than probably there is a problem with drivers — see step 1.
5. On Odin, click the PDA tab and select the .tar file you got in step 2 — recovery-cmw-hercules.tar.
6. Make sure “Re-Partition” checkbox is un-ticked. While, leave the “Auto Reboot” and “F. Reset Time” checkboxes ticked.
7. Double check step 4.6 and step 4.7. Your Odin’s screen should look like this:
8. Click the Start button on Odin to start the flashing process.
9. After the CWM is installed, phone will restart automatically. When the Galaxy S II logo shows up on phone, you can disconnect the cable from phone. You’ll get the PASS written in box at top left on successful flashing.
You’ve the CWR now. Use this to install root and superuser app. Here’s how:
1. Switch Off your phone first.
2. Boot into recovery mode — hold both Volume_UP and Volume_DOWN buttons and press Power key.
3. You’ll be booted into custom recovery, CWR, you just installed in step 4 above. Use Volume keys to scroll up and down and power key to select an option.
4. Select “install zip from sdcard”. Then, select “choose zip from sdcard” or “choose zip from internal sdcard” whatever gets you to your phone’s sdcard.
5. Select the superuser file — su-3.0.5-efgh-signed.zip — you downloaded and transferred in step 3 above.
6. Select “Yes” on next screen and the superuser app will be installed along with the root.
7. Your phone is rooted now. Find the surperuser app in app drawer. Download the Titanium backup app from the market and it should work pretty well.