Install custom Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on your smartphones and tablets

This post collects and shows how to install custom Android 4.0 (ICS) for your smartphones.

How To Install Drew Garen ICS Alpha Build 2 On Nexus S

Note: we will have an official update to ICS from Google. However, if you want to use a Android Open Source Project (AOSP) now, you can install by following steps:

Your Nexus S must be rooted and have ClockworkMod Recovery flashed on it. It must have enough battery juice to last through the process; running out of battery during flashing process may permanently damage your device. Lastly, be sure to take a nandroid backup of your device’s current setup before proceeding to be on the safe side.

Step 1: Download preferred type of Drew Garen ICS Alpha Build 2 for Nexus S to your PC from here. On-screen buttons version comes with the on-screen buttons you see in Galaxy Nexus while the no-button version doesn’t.

Step 2: Transfer .zip file to your Nexus S’ internal storage via USB cable from PC.

Step 3: Boot into ClockworkMod Recovery mode. For this, you must turn off your device. HoldVolume Up + Power button simultaneously until you enter CWM mode.

Step 4: Format /system, /data and /cache from mounts and storage in main menu of ClockworkMod Recovery.

Also be sure to wipe data / factory reset from main menu.

Step 5: Go back to main menu and: install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > [name of file you transferred to your Nexus S in Step 2]

Step 6: Reboot device from main menu.

The full post can be found here.

How to install Android 4.0 ICS on Galaxy S II and S

Note: the current build (Alpha 7) is an alpha version and it is not stable. It is not suitable for daily use now! We will update the post when we have a stable version.

Your phone must be rooted for this flashing process. Follow our guide on how to root Galaxy S II or look up how to root Galaxy S on Google. You must also flash ClockworkMod Recovery.

Secondly, please ensure that your phone has enough battery to last through the process which doesn’t take more than 5 minutes if you’ve got all the files ready. If your phone does run out of battery during the process, chances are it may get “bricked”.

Lastly, be sure to take a nandroid backup which you can use to restore your previous setup.

With that out of the way, let’s get ICS flashed on our GS/GSII!

Steps to install Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Alpha ROM on your Samsung Galaxy S2 -:

Step 1: Download the alpha 6 version of the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM for Samsung Galaxy S2 from here. Transfer this ROM to your phone’s internal memory. Now you can download (Galaxy S II ICS Alpha 7 and Galaxy S ICS Alpha 4)

Step 2: Restart your Samsung Galaxy S2 in Recovery mode. Users can use the Quick Boot app to boot into recovery mode. Alternatively, they can simply switch off their phone, and then press the Volume up + Home + Power button simultaneously to boot into recovery mode.

Step 3: First users need to format their phone’s /data, /cache and /system partition. To format the /data partition select the ‘wipe data/factory reset’ option. Format the /cache partiton by selecting the 'wipe /cache' option.

Format the /system partition by going into ‘mounts and storage’, and then selecting the ‘format /system’ partition option.

Step 4: Now, install the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM on your handset, by selecting the ‘install zip from SD card’ option, and then navigating and selecting the ICS zip file which you had downloaded and transferred to your handset in step 1.

Step 5: Once the flashing process is done, repeat Step 4 again. You need to flash the ROM twice for it to work properly.

When the ROM is flashed navigate back to the main menu and select the ‘reboot system now’ option. The phone will take quite some time to boot.

Once your phone boots, enjoy Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on your Samsung Galaxy S2. Keep in mind that since this is an early alpha build, most of the stuffs are not working in this build including modem/baseband, capacitive buttons back lit and camera etc.

The full post is at  Knowmydroid and Redmondpie.

How to install Android 4.0.1 ICS on Galaxy Tab

Now you can install Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich for Galaxy Tab by following steps:

As with all ROM flashing processes, your device must be rooted and have ClockworkMod Recovery installed. The developers explicitly state that you must be on Android 2.x Gingerbread-based bootloader and have EXT4 file format.

Ensure that it has enough battery to last through the flashing process and please remember to take a nandroid backup of your device from ClockworkMod Recovery so you can revert back to your current, understandably more stable state in case you don’t like the ICS Alpha build.

Lastly, this is an Alpha build so do not expect all things to work out of the box. In its current state, it is not ready to be used as a daily driver. Wait for the betas or the actual stable release from the community for that.

Step 1: Download the latest build of Ice Cream Sandwich for original Galaxy Tab from this thread.

Step 2: Transfer the .zip file to the root directory of your Galaxy Tab.

Step 3: Turn off your Galaxy Tab. Boot into ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery Mode by holding a specific key combination. This can be found by performing a simple search on your favorite engine.

Step 4: Format /system, /data and /cache from mounts and storage under main menu of CWM.

Step 5: Wipe data / factory reset from main menu.

Step 6: Go back to main menu and choose the .zip file you transferred in step 2 from install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard. Ice Cream Sandwich will now be flashed to your Galaxy Tab.

Step 7: Reboot device from main menu.

If you followed the steps correctly, your Galaxy Tab will boot into an alpha build of Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich. Have fun! If you have any issues or queries, visit the original thread on XDA.

Full post can be found here.