XXKH3 is the latest firmware to leak for Samsung Galaxy S2. It’s build date is 12 August 2011, although it leaked out only later. With XXKH3, Samsung software team shows it again that they are working on the ever continues basis to upgrade the S2’s software part even further, given the fact that Samsung has already done a great job integrating S2’s hardware with the Android OS, which makes it one hell of a phone taking full use of the tremendous processing power available with 1.2 GHz dual-core Exynos processor.

So, while there are no big changes — or let’s say any compelling changes — in XXKH3 to make it a must-try install, but it’s pretty obvious that enthusiastic users, *ahem* like me, wouldn’t stop trying the latest and greatest available. So, here’s how to install XXKH3 on Samsung Galaxy S II i9100 android phone.

only 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.

Pre-Installation thoughts:

  1. Backup your Apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. This Android backup guide would help you.
  2. If you have Samsung’s PC software Kies installed, un-install it first because it may interrupt the flashing process. If you’ve installed it for sake of drivers which otherwise weren’t working, make sure you exit the Kies completely before beginning the procedure below.
  3. Drivers! — it’s important you’ve the proper drivers installed. Download links below:

How To Install XXKH3 on Galaxy S2 i9100 (for experienced users)

Well, it’s pretty easy if you’ve already had fun flashing using Odin a decent number of times. Download XXKH3 (link provided in step 1 below) and install it using Odin 1.85 included in the firmware package itself. Put the *CODE* file in PDA tab, *Modem* file in Phone tab and *multi CSC* file in CSC tab. Put the .pit file in PIT tab and make sure Re-Partition is ticked too. Hit Start!

If you didn’t get what was said above, don’t worry one bit, a guide for you is just below.

Step-By-Step Guide to Install XXKH3 (for those who need it)

If this is your first time, you may want to see a video of out how a firmware is flashed using Odin software on a Windows PC. Well, the video given below is all you need. It shows installing the KG1 firmware on S2 and the procedure is very similar for KG6. If you like, you can watch the video first to see how it’s done and then do the actual flashing following the guide given below which is more than enough on its own too.

  1. Download the Android 2.3.4 Firmware – XXKH3. Filename: I9100XXKH3.rar. Size: 297 MB. Download Link.  [Password if required: samfirmware.com] (Alternative link)
  2. Extract the downloaded file ‘I9100XXKH3.rar’ to get these 7 files:
    1. CODE_I9100XXKH3_CL479037_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md5
    2. EFS_I9100XXKH3_CL479037_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md5 [This file is of no use in this guide]
    3. GT-I9100-CSC-HOME-MULTI-OXAKH3.tar.md5 [This file is of no use in this guide]
    4. GT-I9100-CSC-MULTI-OXAKH3.tar.md5
    5. KERNEL_I9100XXKH3_CL479037_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md5 [This file is of no use in this guide]
    6. MODEM_I9100XXKH3_REV_02_CL1050544.tar.md5
    7. u1_02_20110310_emmc_EXT4.pit
  3. Download Odin3_v1.85.zip and then extract it to get these two required files – Odin3 v1.85.exe and Odin3.ini. Do NOT delete the .ini file since it’s required too. When asked in step 6 below, open Odin by double clicking on the Odin3 v1.85.exe file.
  4. Disconnect your phone if it’s connected to PC.  Switch Off your phone. Wait 5-6 seconds for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
  5. Now, put the Galaxy S2 in Download Mode — press and hold these keys together: Volume_DOWN+Home+Power. This is required to install the XXKH3 using Odin PC Software.
  6. Open Odin (from step 3) — Odin3 v1.85.exe. Admin privileges would be required!
  7. Connect your phone to PC now. 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. Make sure you’ve the drivers installed — if not, use the link(s) given above in the pre-installation thoughts heading above. If you still don’t get ‘Added’ message, try another USB port, or restart PC. You can also try installing the Kies software as a last resort, this should fix it.
  8. Select these files in Odin at respective tabs (check out the screenshot given at the top for help):
    1. Click the PDA Tab, and select CODE_I9100XXKH3_CL479037_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md5 (from step 2.1)
    2. Click the Phone Tab, and select MODEM_I9100XXKH3_REV_02_CL1050544.tar.md5 (from step 2.6)
    3. Click the CSC Tab, and select GT-I9100-CSC-MULTI-OXAKH3.tar.md5 (from step 2.4)
    4. Click the PIT Tab, and select u1_02_20110310_emmc_EXT4.pit (from step 2.7)
  9. Important! Make sure these 3 checkboxes are ticked: Re-Partition, Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time. Since we’re using the .pit file, Re-Partition checkbox also needs to be ticked, otherwise not.
  10. Double check everything said in step 8 and 9 above. Your Odin’s window should look similar to this: Galaxy S2 XXKH3 Odin Instalation
  11. Now, hit the START button to begin the flashing process. When it finishes, your phone will automatically reboot — and you can unplug the cable then. Plus, you’ll get a PASS (with green background) message in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin. If it’s red and with FAIL written over it, the process flashing process wasn’t successful. Try again, and take care to not complete the whole process without any break whatsoever. When the process is successful, the screen will look like this: Odin Process Complete
  12. When the phone restarts, it will be running the latest Android OS, v2.3.4 with Samsung’s custom UI TouchWiz 4 atop it. Check out your phone’s android version here -> Settings → About Phone.
  13. (Optional, of course) If you found this guide useful, share it with others too on webpages, forums, your Facebook/twitter/Google+ pages, etc. That would be helping us grow too!

If your phone was rooted before flashing this, you would want the root back, right? Well, that’s very obvious. That’s why we’ll be posting a guide for that too in a couple of hours. Rooting S2 is easy in fact, all you need is flashing developer Chainfire’s CF-Root kernel using Odin’s PDA Tab — which is dead easy, all thanks to Chainfire !!!

Root XXKH3 using our Guide here

Do let us know about your experience of the XXKH3 ROM. What’s other noticeable improvements you see — or would want — share them all in comments below.