How to install a Custom ROM?

(සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න මෙතැනින්.)

How to install a Custom ROM?

[A brief description about Custom ROMs (What is a Custom ROM?) is posted in a previous post.]

*** First of all, you have to root your device. If your device is not rooted, root it with a suitable way.
*** Unlock your bootloader. Search on google and find the way to do it for your device model. But some models have unlocked when you buy it.
*** Turn on USB debugging (in settings)
*** Backup your contacts, messages, apps, Internet settings to ext. Sd Card.
*** Charge your device. (Your device must be charged if the battery sataus indicates less than 60% left. Your device might get bricked / stop boot if it gets turned off while the installation process.)

1. Install a custom recovery image on your device. CWM Recovery (ClockWorkMod) is recommend.
Download and install it from here. Or try it here.
You cannot use the stock recovery (pre-installed) for unofficial procedures like installing Custom ROMs.

2. Download a Custom ROM for your device. (Each Custom ROM comes with a version that is suitable only with one device. You cannot install any Custom ROM on any device. Use only compatible ROMs. Don't risk in bricking your android.

3. Download the Gapps package (zip) if it is not included on the ROM zip.

4. Place both these zip files (ROM, Gapps) on Sd Card. Don't put them on folders.

5. Turn off your device.

6. Go to recovery mode. (Press and hold volume down button with Power button)
Then select the Android recovery.
If still you can't get the recovery mode, use one of these methods to go to the boot options and select/go to the android recovery.
  •power + volume up
  •power + volume down + home button
  •power + back button + menu button.
(If you still cannot go to the Android recovery, press both vol. up and vol. down at the same time.)

7. Go to backup and restore, then backup your device. (Nandroid backup)
(In most devices, vol. down/up = select, power = ok) This will help you to restore your android in some cases. Reboot and again boot your device into recovery mode.

9. Navigate through the recovery mode menu and perform,
"wipe data/factory reset"
"wipe cache partition"
"wipe dalvick cache".

10. Return to recovery main menu (go back).

11. Select "install zip from SD card" and and press ok. Then select "choose zip from  SD card" and press ok. Select your ROM zip file and install/flash it.

12. Do the same for Gapps package.

13. Reboot your android. First boot may take time.

*****Note*****
  • Select a suitable ROM for your device and avoid risking your android.
  • If you troubled in booting, try to  boot it after performing a factory reset.