Note 2 Custom ROMS

[nick_elt]

I have a Note 2 and have never rooted or changed roms or what have you. Everytime i read about a certain rom there is some parts that wont work properly. Is this the case for all custom roms? What advantage do custom roms have over say launchers? Sorry had an iphone for 5 years so still dont know everything about android.

Thanks.

 

[parapup]

After researching I decided not to go with custom ROM on my Note 2. I just use Nova Launcher premium and I am happy with it. I just don't see the need for custom ROM on the Note 2. (I prefer official CM10.1 builds but reportedly the stylus doesn't work with those.)

However if you decide to experiment - based purely on what I read (haven't installed it myself), CleanROM comes close to providing a good Note 2 experience on AT&T Note 2 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2075795 .

 

[Tig Bitties]

I had a Note 2, rooting is very easy, and can give you more custom options, faster, smoother performance, but also even better battery life. Plus with "root" you can install rooted apps, such as "adaway" no ads anymore And get better anti virus security apps, and just more control of your phone.

The stock Touchwiz ROM's are pretty much bulletproof near perfect, the CM10.1 ROM's are still work in progress.

Here's a step by step guide to root, follow this to a "t" and it's easy as pie;
http://galaxynote2root.com/galaxy-note-2-root/how-to-root-galaxy-note-2-easiest-method/

My favorite Touchwiz ROM "SKYNOTE v8.2" was by this guy, solid and running without a hitch, with super great battery life, better than CleanROM;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2093870

 

[nick_elt]

Cool thanks, ill give it a go on my day off so I can see what its all about.

 

[siiip5]

I have a Note 2 and have never rooted or changed roms or what have you. Everytime i read about a certain rom there is some parts that wont work properly. Is this the case for all custom roms? What advantage do custom roms have over say launchers? Sorry had an iphone for 5 years so still dont know everything about android.

Thanks.

This is not the case. There are 2 kinds of ROM's. One is cutting edge with the latest updates from Google source code (which can be filled with bugs and it takes the devs a little while to crack) and then there are ROM's based on previous source code that is stable.
For example, most ROM's on Android 4.1.1 are very stable and have either reached their end of development or are moving forward to 4.1.2 or 4.2.x for additional features. The base of that code is stable, but the additional features may cause issues. For example, adding the 4.2 Keyboard or camera to a 4.1.x ROM.

My wife owns a Note 2 and this ROM has been the most stable and reliable for her, and it is based off the Int'l version of the Note 2, so no AT&T or carrier crap is installed: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2016575

Not sure what carrier you are on, but pretty sure this works on most North American carriers like Rogers, Telus, ATT, etc...

Before you root and rom, I highly recommend that you read everything you can about the subject on the XDA Forums. And I don't recommend using OSX to do anything with Android. It can be done, but when you are new to this, it is just easier to use Windows. (So if you don't have a Windows machine, then use Bootcamp on your Mac, partition out around 50gb and install Windows 7 (not 8!). Don't use VM Ware or similar "virtual" Windows on top of OSX. You need to boot your Mac into Windows.

Good luck.

 

[TheHateMachine]

Any of the Touchwiz based roms are pretty solid and you retain Touchwiz features. If you go with any AOSP rom like Cyanogen or AOKP you will have to find ports of Touchwiz apks to have those features back. Even then you wont get everything fully working... for instance S-Pen. You can port over apps that use it but pressure sensitivity is hit or miss due to the lack of drivers AFAIK.

 

[siiip5]

After researching I decided not to go with custom ROM on my Note 2. I just use Nova Launcher premium and I am happy with it. I just don't see the need for custom ROM on the Note 2. (I prefer official CM10.1 builds but reportedly the stylus doesn't work with those.)

However if you decide to experiment - based purely on what I read (haven't installed it myself), CleanROM comes close to providing a good Note 2 experience on AT&T Note 2 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2075795 .

I tried CleanRom. Don't recommend it. To many issues (as of the last update anyway). Don't know if the newest update corrected those issues.

 

[nick_elt]

This is not the case. There are 2 kinds of ROM's. One is cutting edge with the latest updates from Google source code (which can be filled with bugs and it takes the devs a little while to crack) and then there are ROM's based on previous source code that is stable.
For example, most ROM's on Android 4.1.1 are very stable and have either reached their end of development or are moving forward to 4.1.2 or 4.2.x for additional features. The base of that code is stable, but the additional features may cause issues. For example, adding the 4.2 Keyboard or camera to a 4.1.x ROM.

My wife owns a Note 2 and this ROM has been the most stable and reliable for her, and it is based off the Int'l version of the Note 2, so no AT&T or carrier crap is installed: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2016575

Not sure what carrier you are on, but pretty sure this works on most North American carriers like Rogers, Telus, ATT, etc...

Before you root and rom, I highly recommend that you read everything you can about the subject on the XDA Forums. And I don't recommend using OSX to do anything with Android. It can be done, but when you are new to this, it is just easier to use Windows. (So if you don't have a Windows machine, then use Bootcamp on your Mac, partition out around 50gb and install Windows 7 (not 8!). Don't use VM Ware or similar "virtual" Windows on top of OSX. You need to boot your Mac into Windows.

Good luck.

Cheers, i have international model. I have a windows 8 machine at work (its my company so can use it for whatever) and 2 macs at home. Why do you say dont use windows 8 (i could give u a million un related reason not to use windows 8 but anyway) if I have win 8 or osx can i still do it easily?

 

[siiip5]

Cheers, i have international model. I have a windows 8 machine at work (its my company so can use it for whatever) and 2 macs at home. Why do you say dont use windows 8 (i could give u a million un related reason not to use windows 8 but anyway) if I have win 8 or osx can i still do it easily?

You won't be able to use Windows 8, because the programs to root the device haven't been updated yet (at least last time I checked about a month ago.) You will need to download a program called Odin, and then the Samsung drivers, as well as the code that does the rooting. Once you are rooted, you can simply download ROMs on your phone and flash them to your hearts content. (I recommend getting a 64 sdxc card for your phone as well).

 

[nick_elt]

Does anyone know about oneclickroot? is it a scam?

 

[siiip5]

Does anyone know about oneclickroot? is it a scam?

No, it isn't a scam, but you are better off learning yourself, and it isn't difficult. Instructions are simple and easy to follow.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Make sure you backup using Clockworkmod recovery or TeamWin Recovery. I prefer TeamWin being that it has a better UI and it easily mounts your external card. I tried many versions of Clockworkmod and was never able to mount external card. This means your backup is forced to be saved on internal memory which takes a lot of space.

Also backup your external card to your desktop. Some ROMS I've tried instantly corrupted my card and I had to format.

If you totally screw up something to the point of not being able to boot or restore backup. Just connect to Samsung Kies on your desktop and install firmware. You'll have to enter model and serial number from back of phone under battery.

This is my experience with the GS3 and Note 2.

 

[siiip5]

Make sure you backup using Clockworkmod recovery or TeamWin Recovery. I prefer TeamWin being that it has a better UI and it easily mounts your external card. I tried many versions of Clockworkmod and was never able to mount external card. This means your backup is forced to be saved on internal memory which takes a lot of space.

Also backup your external card to your desktop. Some ROMS I've tried instantly corrupted my card and I had to format.

If you totally screw up something to the point of not being able to boot or restore backup. Just connect to Samsung Kies on your desktop and install firmware. You'll have to enter model and serial number from back of phone under battery.

This is my experience with the GS3 and Note 2.

One word on TWRP: FAT32

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

One word on TWRP: FAT32

I really don't have a need for any files over 4gb on my external card. Plus FAT32 is more stable.

 

[tbayrgs]

I tried CleanRom. Don't recommend it. To many issues (as of the last update anyway). Don't know if the newest update corrected those issues.

Don't know how long it's been since you tried it but I can attest its stability must have greatly improved--it's my custom ROM of choice now (using CleanROM ACE 4.5). I had previously used ACE 4.06 and that was fairly stable but the latest is rock solid--no noticable bugs, all apps functioning great, terrific battery life and nary a single reboot required in past couple of weeks. It's based on the latest international variant of 4.1.2 and has none of the bloatware of stock AT&T Touchwiz--great ROM if you'd like to retain all of the Touchwiz/S-Pen features.

I was using an unofficial version of Paranoid Android (my personal favorite AOSP custom ROM) based off 4.2.1 JB but while the features baked in are terrific, it was buggy as hell and very unstable. Hoping that changes in the near future as I'd love to go back to it.