Samsung Galaxy S GT I9000 – Steps to Install ICS Cyanogen MOD 9 Android 4.0 Firmware

 We love Ice Cream Sandwich, isn’t it? And our love for this has been complimented by Google in the form of an OS version named after Ice Cream Sandwich to mark the arrival of Android 4.0 version. Over the last few days, we have been getting tremendous comments for a working and a usable port of Android 4.0 ICS for Galaxy S GT I9000 but since it’s still in the early stages, it will be difficult for us to find and come out with an article featuring the stable ICS build. Not to worry, we just want to thank brilliant efforts of some developers who are dedicatedly working on launching a new ROM which has similar traits that of an ICS build. Please note that VPN Still doesnt work in this version of firmware.

So, on the similar lines in this article we will check out the latest version Ice Cream Sandwich in the form of Cyanogen MOD 9.0 which will be launching very soon to the public with the beta and stable versions very soon.

Caution: This article is not for the basic users and is only recommended for the advanced level users or the developers. Though we have taken extreme measures so as to make this article as simple as possible that even a starter can follow it, it’s highly recommended to follow all the instructions properly or else you may also end up bricking up the phone.

Before proceeding you first need to follow the list of pre Requisites instructions which are mentioned below and then you need to proceed Further where we will see on procedure to apply this on your Galaxy S.

List of Pre Requisites to be followed:

• Before proceeding, backup all the data which is there in your phone.

• Before proceeding, you need to be first check whether you are on the latest version of firmware which is rooted XXJVT version or not.

Tip: To know on what version of firmware you are currently on then you need to go to path “Settings > About Phone > Firmware Version” where you will find the version of Android OS where it will show Gingerbread XXJVT 2.3.5 version.

• After this you will have to close all the tools like Security Suites, Firewall tools and also the KIES PC Suite as these tools generally tend to interrupt the process of firmware update. Disable the USB Debugging from the path “Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging”.

Special instructions to users on Custom ROMs:
If you are any of the custom ROMs then you need to first turn Off the phone so that you can then enter into the recovery mode by pressing  Volume UP on Volume Down Key + OK button, and holding both simultaneously press the Power Button.
In the recovery mode, you will find an option called the “advanced” tools, select the same and disable the Voodoo options if there are any and after that also select the option of “Dalvik Cache” and also clear the battery stats by selecting the respective option.

Now, let’s proceed Further where we will see on the instructions on how to apply this all new firmware of Ice Cream Sandwich.

Procedure to Update ICS Build 5 on Galaxy S GT I9000:

• Download the below mentioned three files in your computer so that you can then make use of the same in the later part of this article. The three files are the firmware file, Google Apps file and also the face unlock file. All the files will be in the zip format and please don’t rename the files.

Cyanogen MOD 9 ICS Build 5
Google Apps
Face Unlock Add ON

• Once you download the above files, you then need to proceed to connect your phone to the computer using the USB cable which you got at the time of purchase. Once you do this, you now need to copy the two zip files which you have downloaded in your computer to your phone.
• After copying, disconnect the phone from the computer and then turn Off the phone so that you can then enter into the recovery mode. The recovery mode can be entered by pressing Volume UP + Center button, and holding both simultaneously press the Power Button. You can also refer the below mentioned video for knowing more on how to enter the recovery mode.

• In the recovery mode, you need to select the option of “install zip from SD card” and then “choose zip from SD Card” after which you will see the list of files which are there in the phone. From the list of files, select the file which is named as “CM9_ICS_BUILD5.zip” first, followed by select the file which is named as “gappsv5-final.zip” and then “face-unlock-addon.zip” for face unlock feature to be enabled in your phone.

• So, once you select all the files which are mentioned above, you now need to select the option of “ ++++ Go back ++++ ” to select the option of “reboot system now” for rebooting the phone. So, as soon as the phone is restarted you will see that the phone will be on the Build 5 version of Ice Cream Sandwich.
• Please note that just in case if you face any issues after turning the device ON, get into the recovery mode first and then you will have to select the options like “Wipe data/factory reset”, “Wipe Cache partition” after which select the option of “reboot system now” as this will clear out all the data which is there in the cache.

Do let us know your thoughts on this version of ICS build in the form of upcoming Cyanogen Mod 9 Custom ROM. Over the next few coming days we will be coming up with much more stable versions. Do let us know just in case if you face any issues in the comments section.

Posted in: Samsung Galaxy S I9000