Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) Update for Galaxy S i9000 [Custom ROM]

While Samsung would take ages — if they intend to bring the update in first place, which itself is debatable — to release the latest Android 4.0 update to Galaxy S officially via Kies, our beloved developers have already started burning their midnight oil to get you Ice Cream Sandwich love on your very dear very venerable phone in android blogosphere, the Galaxy S.

And their hard work is showing up now in the form of a custom ROM — we’re talking about the first ICS (Android 4.0) port for Galaxy S, made by pretty famous now on Galaxy S development scene, Galnet.

Developers: Galnet was first one to boot ICS on Galaxy S but since then, he and his team has been quite on this. The development came to life only after Onecosmic started working on it and he is the one who took further, making it a bit usable and fixing the touchscreen and doing all the crazy part. After Onecosmic got busy with other stuff, work was resumed by PaulForde, who is responsible for current stage of rom, among with other devs who are working continuously on it right now.

Developers and Donation Link

Here is list to all devs who are currently active on this rom. And we hope you donate them to show your gratitude to them for work they have, while also encouraging them for working more on this development.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) ROM Status

Update (As of February 12, 2012): RC 4.2 is out — it’s simply one incredible rom, by certain awesome teams of devs.

Big Update: RC1 is out. Features working from this release: Video recording and playback, Hardware Acceleration, Calendar Sync, etc. You may want to celebrate this!! People avoiding the ICS — somehow, I mean — should try this version. Kudos to PaulForde (we’re really thankful to him for this) and Onecosmic.

Almost everything is working — though, of course, there are bugs!

COMPATIBILITY

[error]This guide is applicable only for Samsung’s Galaxy S international version — GT-i9000 and GT-i9000B. Check your phone’s version in Settings – About Phone. It has to be “GT-i9000” or “GT-i9000B” for this Android 4.0 port ROM to be compatible with your phone. Otherwise, simply don’t try this ROM on your android handset — don’t even think about it if you care about your android device.[/error]

WANRING!

[warning]The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know completely what it is. If any damage occurs to you or your device, we won’t be held liable — you only will be responsible, you’ve been warned!!![/warning]

Installing the Android 4.0 ICS custom ROM isn’t that hard if you’ve already done flashing stuff a couple of times. But even if you’re new to flashing and custom ROMs, don’t worry one bit, we’ve got you covered. Just watch the video below, read the instructions and you are good to do it yourself.

Pre-Installation thoughts:

1. Installing/Flashing this ROM will erase your apps and data. So, it’s a very important you back them up, before proceeding further. To backup your apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. Restore APN settings if Internet isn’t working for you. This Android backup guide would help you. And if you’ve rooted your Galaxy S, you can save application’s data too, using Titanium backup (free app on android market) to backup apps with data. And use this this app only  again to restore those apps with data.
2. Drivers! — it’s important you’ve the proper drivers installed. Download links below:
   • 32 bit (x86) Windows |   64-bit (x64) Windows
3. If you have Samsung’s PC software Kies installed, be sure to exit it before using flashing this ROM, or anything with odin software.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for Galaxy S

Update: The installation process is much different now that what was for the initial release. But you can still watch the video — especially if you’re new to this — to get the idea of flashing and stuff. And the guide below has been duly updated to take care of installation needs of the latest release. So, go ahead!

So, the video below is not to be followed, but if you want to learn about rebooting into recovery, using CWM recovery, and other things, watching the video for once is recommended.

Here’s the video showing the installation of Android 4.0 custom ROM (AOSP port, version alpha4):

Note: There is a brief overview (from 6:58) of Android 4.0 running on Galaxy S in the above video.

How to Install Ice Cream Sandwich on Galaxy S [step-by-step guide]:

1. Flash XXJVU Android 2.3.6 based firmware first.
2. Install CWM and Root on the XXJVU.
3. Download the latest version of “Android 4.0 ROM” from here — let’s call it rom file — and then continue the steps below to flash it without any worries. be careful while downloading since that page has downloads for all version of Galaxy S for which this rom is available. Download one meant for your phone, i9000.
4. Transfer the rom file to your phone’s sdcard (don’t use external sdcard, btw). Remember the location where you transfer this files.
5. Power Off your Galaxy S. Wait for 5-6 seconds until you feel the vibration to confirm complete switch off.
6. Boot into Recovery mode. Then, press and hold these 3 buttons together: VolumeUP+Home+Power till the Galaxy S logo shows up on screen. You’ll boot into CWM recovery soon enough. (In recovery, use Volume keys to scroll up and down and power key to select an option. Use back key to go back.)
7. Do Wipe Data/Factory Reset
8. Do Wipe Cache Partition
9. Go to advanced and do Wipe Dalvik Cache
10. Now, flash the rom file. Select install zip from sdcard » choose zip from sdcard » browse through sdcard and select the rom file you downloaded in step 3 and transferred in step 4 above. Select “Yes – Install ______” on the next screen.
11. After flashing necessary stuff, phone will boot up into recovery again. You will notice it’s a different recovery, colored blue now, and this is what was flashed in step 10 above to make the phone ready for installation.
12. Now, flash the rom file again. Select install zip from sdcard » choose zip from sdcard » browse through sdcard and select the rom file you downloaded in step 3 and transferred in step 4 above. Select “Yes – Install ______” on the next screen.
13. Go back and select ‘reboot system now’ to restart the phone. Be patient while phone boots up, it may take between 5 to 15 mins  for first boot.
14. IF IT FAILS TO BOOT in 15 mins, then, well we got problem here. Do this:
    1. When the phone is restarting (still booting up) open the back cover and REMOVE the battery. Yes you read it right. Reinsert it after 3-4 seconds and then boot into recovery again.
    2. In recovery, do a Wipe Data/ Factory Reset. And then, select reboot system now to restart the phone. it should boot up properly now. If it doesn’t, then perhaps you did not follow something correctly.
15. Also, if you are not happy with the performance of this rom — maybe because it lacks some apps/features you cared too much for, or reboots itself — I would suggest you to install the Android 4.0 AOKP Rom for Galaxy S, it’s simply damn good.
16. [Optional] Support the development and appreciate the hard work put in by the team by donating them. Find donation link given above.
17. Also, it’s already rooted. You don’t need to root it.
18. Just for your info, Android 4.0 custom ROM is available Galaxy S2 too — find our Installation Guide for Android 4.0 on Galaxy S2 i9100 here.

GOING BACK TO ANDROID 2.3 (Gingerbread) [IMPORTANT!!!]

Btw, if you want to revert back to Android 2.3 Gingerbread firmware from this Android 4.0 custom rom, get (install) the XXJVU firmware, linked in at step 1 above. And if wanted by you, root it as given in step 2.

Overview — Android 4.0 AOSP ROM (version Alpha 4) on Galaxy S

Screenshots: