How to flash a Custom ROM on Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100

How to flash a Custom ROM on Note II N7100

 

 

AOSP/Cyanogenmod/AOKP based ROMs: 
Step - 1

Read... Read and then Read... : 

It’s always helpful to do a Google search a bit before you decide to flash a ROM. Read a little about Rooting, Custom ROMs like AOKP/CM10/CM10.1 and how they are different from your Samsung provided ROM. It will help you to be aware of potential risks attached and the benefits it brings to the table. It will also save a lot of time later, which you may spend wondering why a particular thing is not available or not in the same manner as it is on your stock ROM. And on the way you may pick up some handy tips such as CM10 would require your external sd card to be formatted to fat32, exfat won’t work etc.

So, PLEASE READ..


If you have read enough and decided to flash a custom ROM, then the tool in the below mentioned post will help you to root your Note II N-7100. 


WARNING: 

FLASHING A CUSTOM ROM MAY RAISE YOUR FLASH COUNTER AND WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY. IMPROPER FLASHING MAY POTENTIALLY BRICK YOUR DEVICE. SO PLEASE PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. ME OR ANY OTHER DEVELOPER MENTIONED IN THIS POST WILL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAME.

Step - 2
Root your Note II:

Rooting gives you absolute authority (and shall I mention responsibility too ) over your device to deal with it the way you decide. You want to modify, flash a custom ROM or remove system app bloatware etc, you will need root rights. There are two safe methods to choose from for rooting your Note II:

1. Mskip’s Note II GSM toolkit 
2. Chainfire's CF-Auto-Root 

In case you have already rooted your Note II and have a working custom recovery, then please ignore Step -2.

Ensure you have a working custom recovery:

Please ensure you have a working custom recovery like Clock Work Mod (CWM) or Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP) recovery on your Note II before you proceed with flashing any ROM. Aforementioned Toolkit will give you option to root with CWM. So ensure you do that. Working recovery means that you have tested the recovery and it works fine. To check this, you may flash any small CWM flashable zip.

Step - 3

Back Up: 

Its always advisable to do a nandroid backup of your existing ROM, just in case anything goes wrong while flashing new ROM or you wish to revert back for any reasons. This backup option, saves everything including ROM, settings, apps and data as it is at the time of backup.


For doing Nandroid backup, 

1. Enter into recovery mode (3 key combo viz. Vol up + Home + Power or any app like ROM Toolbox lite ) 
2. Go into Backup and Restore (You can use vol up & down to scroll and power key to select) 
3. Select Backup 

Backup will take place and when it finishes, you will be back to options. Choose reboot now.

If you only wish to backup your applications, you may use paid apps like Titanium Backup Pro which can backup app + data (Please be aware restoring app + data may result in app fcs on some ROMs and developers generally advise restoring only apps). 

Alternatively, you may use a simple free tool available on playstore called App2zip . It creates a flashable zip of all apps which you want to backup and places on your internal sd card. Its recommended to keep a copy of this zip on external sd as a safety measure. After you have installed your new ROM you can simply flash this zip from recovery and you get all your apps back. Please note, app data will not be backed up.

It is highly recommended to keep a copy of all backup files (Nandroid, Titanium or App2zip) on your PC.

Step - 4

Download compatible ROM:

Please ensure you have downloaded a ROM which is compatible with your device. Since your device is Note II N-7100 you should ensure you download a ROM which is compatible with Note II N-7100. Flashing ROM meant for any other variant or device may potentially brick the device.

Please refer here for available ROMs for N7100. ROMs and Kernel Repository - N7100

Once you have downloaded the ROM compare the MD5 sum of downloaded file with that of one given on download site. MD5 sum helps you identify any probable data loss issue which might have happened during the download process and as a result of which you might be at a risk of flashing a incomplete/inaccurate download. To mitigate this risk, simply check MD5 sum (This can be easily checked with the help of ES file explorer/ Root explorer apps) and compare it with MD5 given on download site. These 2 minutes can save 2 hours of re-flashing for you 

Step - 5

Download JB gapps:

Please ensure you have latest JB gapps downloaded on your sdcard (internal or external) before you start flashing ROM. You can download it from goo.im(http://goo.im/gapps/). In case, anyone of you wishes to be able to sync Picasa web albums to Gallery/Quick pic, look for gapps-jb-picasa-XXXXXXXX-signed.zip from goo.im These will have to be flashed after you have flashed JB gapps first.

Step - 6

Do a clean install/Full wipe: 

What is clean install/Full wipe? Clean install/Full wipe means installing with 3 wipes, viz.

• Wipe Data/Factory Reset
• Wipe Cache partition
• Wipe Dalvik Cache (Under Advanced menu )

All of these options can be found under recovery mode. A clean install almost assures of a hassle free installation. It ensures there are no residues of previous ROM, which may conflict with current ROM & cause some painful disruption in operations. Thus, for smooth operation of new ROM full wipe is strongly recommended.

Step - 7

Flash the downloaded ROM zip:

Please read instructions of OP of the ROM you are flashing, at every flash. It’s possible that flashing instructions may change, so don’t assume that since you have flashed earlier version of same or similar ROM in a particular way it’s going to be same. To flash downloaded ROM -

Enter recovery mode ( I hope by now you know how to do that)
Select install zip from sdcard (it will be in the folder where you placed or downloaded it, so look for that folder)
And then select - Yes - Install xxxxxx.zip

After install has finished, you will be back to options. Do the following -

• Wipe Cache
• Wipe Dalvik cache

Time to flash, JB gapps...

Repeat the same procedure as flashing ROM but this time instead of ROM zip select the JB gapps zip which you had downloaded. In case, you need Picasa sync flash that zip after you have flashed JB gapps. Do the following -

• Wipe Cache
• Wipe Dalvik cache
• Fix permissions

Please do not forget to flash gapps or else you will not find Play Store, when you boot up your ROM.

REBOOT... and you are good to enjoy CM10/AOKP based ROM on your Note II 

Please note S-Note or other Samsung apps won’t work on Cyanogenmod/AOKP or for that matter any other ROM which is not TouchWiz based. 

There are enough and able replacement apps available on play store, please feel free to use them. If you find some apps really good, please pm me so that I can share it with other users as well.

Samsung/ Touchwiz (TW) based ROMs: 

If you don’t want to miss Samsung proprietary features then you may consider rooting your phone and using a Samsung based custom ROM with it. 

All steps except the one's related with gapps remain the same. You do not need to flash gapps separately on Samsung/Touchwiz based ROMs.. In a nutshell, DO NOT DOWNLOAD & FLASH GAPPS IF YOU ARE FLASHING A SAMSUNG/TOUCHWIZ BASED ROM

 

Thanks to sunny2303.

Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1980505

Soft or Hard Brick Samsung Galaxy Note II: N7100

Soft or Hard Brick Samsung Galaxy Note II: N7100

 

I have my N7100 for almost 3 months now and yesterday my son accidentally spilled water on it. The whole unit did not get wet, just the side where the volume rocker is. And it switched off by itself. I removed the battery and let it dry for a few hours. I switched it on and yes it did turn on but one volume button ( - ) is not working and the back and menu keys are not working also and it does not recognize any touch on the screen but when I used the S-Pen it recognized it. It's a rooted, heavy customized and tweaked phone. I noticed that it went to "safe mode", it was indicated on the lower left side of the screen and all installed apps were gone. DPi value went into default. I tried to install some apps, it went successfully but I can not find it in the apps drawer. I went into recovery mode, hoping to remove it in safe mode (foolish me, did not even tried to read or search on xda for possible fix), re-flash a custom ROM but same thing. I also found that the two water damage indicators inside the phone turned pink. The components inside were dry when I opened it, but because I am eager to fix it I tried using a hair dryer to (of course) dry it a little bit without damaging anything. After a while I put everything all together, switched it on and it now recognized "touch". But issues with volume key ( - ) and menu & back buttons still remain and it is still in safe mode. I decided to restore it to factory default via recovery mode, I cleared everything, reformatted system, data, all menus with the word "reformat' I pressed them all. Restarted the phone and it just stays on the logo where it says "Samsung Galaxy Note II GT N7100". Tried to go back to recovery mode but with no avail. I tried to go to Download mode also, I was able to make it to the part where it says "press volume up to continue; press volume down to cancel" I then pressed volume up but nothing happens. I pressed the volume up and same thing. Tried to charge it while it is switched off, the battery icon charging appeared, it shows the circle animation but it does not animate and it doesn't animate also like it's charging itself. Plugged it into my laptop and it doesn't recognize it. I've been reading some XDA articles and I only came across one possible way to resurrect it...To get Download Mode without 3-button combo using homemade JIG.

Yes this will be my first post for my blog. The reason why I started a new blog because I can post any articles that I want even on the go using my Samsung Galaxy Note II, but since it's not working now, this posting while on the go will not happen for now. I just hope that I can resurrect this without spending any $$$ on it.

If I can repair this on my own, I will put it here because it might help others like me who is having the same issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 As of the moment I am trying to make my own Jig hoping to boot my Samsung Galaxy Note II to Download Mode

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE: Too bad I was not able to resurrect the phone. Today is a very sad day for me. I will be sending my Note II to Samsung Service center for repair, I just hope it won't cost me too much.

How To Create Wireless Charger For Your Android Phone

How To Create Wireless Charger For Your Android Phone

 

You will need the following:

 

Palm Touchstone £5.24 (Amazon UK)
Palm Pre Touchstone case £3.49 (eBay)
Electrical Tape
Copper foil tape [thanks rj3005]
Solder Iron & Solder

Instructions: (Will use Samsung Galaxy Note II here)

 

Take the induction coil out of the Palm Pre case carefully.

!!! Its very important that you peel the silver sticker off carefully and not cause any sharp bends which could cause cracking. You need this silver sticker to stay intact for the whole operation to work!!!

The top pin is positive and bottom is negative as shown in the picture, this is also the same on the note the top pin being positive and bottom negative.
Place the coil in the center of the battery case then place the silver sticker over the coil as it was on the Palm Pre (this is very important that you place the silver sticker back over the coil as without it the induction doesn't seem to work.)
Check where the charging pins on the note meets with the case and marked it with a pen to indicate where the wires copper tape would have to be.
Using copper tape, stuck two tracks going from the charging circuit to the charging pins positions, make sure you leave enough copper track to fold the tape twice over itself to create a spring going against the charging pins.
Solder the track to the charging circuit by tinning the end of the copper track and soldering it to charging circuit contacts, then cut electrical tape to size and place it over the copper track. After place the original insulation cover over the coil with the magnets.
Place the battery cover over the Palm Touchstone dock and checked the voltage from the copper track with a meter (should be 5.6V any less means you have left the silver foil off or not placed it correctly) to check everything is working and the polarity is correct.
Place it back on the phone and there you go, you have now wireless charger.
NFC works and magnets do not affect the phone testing the S Pen and Compass seem to operate all good.

Original thread here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1951493

 

Credits to Ryan_G from XDA