Samsung and their firmware leaks — ah, they will be remembered as exciting stories to tell your grandchild. They just seem to keep coming, of all kinds from all directions, for all phones. Our Galaxy S2 buddy has already had truck loads of them — so much that it puts any other device hoping for a leak to unhiding shame — but now it’s its bigger brother that has gotten a chance to strike the fame — the Galaxy Note N7000.

Yes, that’s right, the N7000. You might have already known that earlier today Android 4.0 ICS got leaked for the Galaxy Note in China (i9220), which could not be flashed at all on global version N7000. But you would be very very happy to hear that one incredible developer, Chainfire, has been able to repackage it for flashing via Odin on the International Galaxy Note N7000 — and a guide to that lies just below. You wanted it, you’ve got it.

It’s time for Galaxy Note owners to rejoice!

By the way, the repacked firmware comes pre-rooted with Chainfire’s CF-Root kernel and also has Clockworkmod recovery installed. Be aware though, there is almost no info on what’s working and what’s not (even the original thread from the Chinese forum has been removed), though the camera and bluetooth are reported to be working fine. So do flash this firmware at your own risk.

Read on to find out how to get Ice Cream Sandwich on your Galaxy Note.

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!!!

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below is compatible only and only with Galaxy Note, model number N7000. It’s not compatible with any other device. Check your device’s model number in: Settings » About phone.

Pre-installation Requirements/Tips

  1. This procedure will wipe your apps and data (but will not touch the SD cards), so 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.
  3. Drivers! — it’s important you’ve the proper drivers installed. If you have installed Kies, you already have the drivers, so download them only if your Note doesn’t get detected.
    Download links: 32 bit (x86) Windows  |   64-bit (x64) Windows

Part I: Installing the I9220LP1 Firmware on your Galaxy Note

  1. Download the firmware from the original page → here
    Filename: I9220LP1-N7000-ICS-REPACK.tar | Size: 790 MB (Pretty big, eh?)
  2. Download Odin 1.85 from → here.
    Filename: Odin 1.85.zip | Size: 199 KB
  3. Extract the contents of the Odin 1.85.zip file to a folder.
  4. Disconnect your phone if it’s connected to PC. Switch Off your Galaxy Note. Wait for vibration to confirm complete switch off.
  5. Now, put the Galaxy Note in Download Mode — press and hold these keys together: Volume Down + Home + Power. A warning screen will come up.. press Volume Up key to continue..
  6. Open Odin (from step 3) — double-click the Odin3 v1.85.exe that you got after extracting the file “Odin 1.85.zip”.
  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, then probably there is a problem with drivers. Make sure you’ve proper drivers installed. See point 3 above under ‘pre-installation tips’.
  8. Now, in ODIN, click on PDA, then select the file ‘I9220LP1-N7000-ICS-REPACK.tar′ that you got in step 1.
  9. Important! On Odin, make sure Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time check boxes are selected. Do not touch any other check box or tab or anything, except as was required in step 8 above.
  10. Double check everything said in step 8 and 9 above. Your Odin’s window should look similar to this:  

  11. Now, hit the START button to start flashing of I9220LP1 on your Galaxy Note to begin installation of Ice Cream Sandwich. When the flashing is complete, your phone will automatically reboot — and when you see the Samsung logo, you can safely unplug the cable. Plus, you’ll get a PASS (with green background) message in the left-most box at the very top of the Odin.

    IMPORTANT Note: If ODIN gets stuck and doesn’t seem to be doing anything, or you get a FAIL message (with red background) in ODIN, do the following:

    Disconnect the phone from the PC, close ODIN, remove battery, re-insert it, turn phone on in Download mode again, and do the procedure again from Step 6.

  12. When it has restarted, your Galaxy Note will be running the Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich firmware. Check version in Settings » About phone.

PART II: Flashing Google Apps package to obtain Market, which is missing in the main ROM

  1. Download the gapps package from → here.
    Filename: gapps-ics-4.0.3-20111217[1].zip
  2. Transfer this file to your internal SD card (not the external SD).
  3. Now, boot into recovery mode — press and hold these keys together: ‘Center/Home key + Power + Volume UP’ till the screen turns on, then let them go.
  4. Using the Volume buttons to navigate, and the Power button to select, select “install zip from sdcard”.
  5. Then select “choose zip from sdcard”.
  6. Now, scroll to the file gapps-ics-4.0.3-20111217[1].zip (from step 2) and select it. Select “Yes — Install gapps-ics-4.0.3-20111217[1].zip” on the next screen to confirm installation.
  7. After installation completes, select “go back” then select “reboot system now” to reboot the phone.

That’s it. You can now enjoy Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0.3 on your Galaxy Note N7000, thanks to Chainfire, and of course the guys who leaked it on the Chinese forums. Be sure to let us know your thoughts and experience on this firmware in the comments below.