New to Samsung Galaxy s 2

[willMR]

I know nothing about my Samsung S2. I just got it a couple weeks ago, and it forced me to update last night. I hate that now it has all these extra words telling me to swipe across the screen to unlock and all of these stupid bright red circles if I miss a text or a call. Is there anyway I can revert back to how my phone was when I first got it?

I don't know what information to give you guys, but in the about phone section it says it's an SGHT989. With Android version 2.3.6, with a build number of gingerbread uvlde.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions because the missed text/call red circle and the unlocking display is driving me insane.

[Tufftoad]

You just need to go through your settings a little. To get rid of the text when the screen lock is on go to:

Menu > Settings > Security > LockScreen Options > untick 'Help Text'


Not sure about the red circle business.

With regards to getting your old software back on the phone it is possible but you have to flash the firmware yourself using Odin. Go to the S2 Development section for tutorials.

[willMR]

I don't have any kind of lock on it actually. I just hit the power button and it prompts me to swipe to unlock it. I tried like you said, but there isn't an option to turn off hints. I don't have a security option. I have a privacy option that sent me to something that would back up my data, an auto restore option and a factory data reset. I have to go thru like 12 different screens to get to setting up a lock from somewhere else entirely.

What would the factory data reset do? Wipe everythign off my phone, literally?

[RichH]

If you want it back to how it was you need to know what firmware was on it previously....? I guess it was 2.3.4 or 2.3.5....?
Find it on www.sammobile.com and get Odin off there too. Follow the tutorials to flash the firmware with Odin and you will get back to how it was. It sounds like your region has rolled out an update similar to ICS but probably called it a "value pack".