Acer Iconia A500 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM: Lightspeed ROM, Fast and Bloatware Free

The Acer Iconia A200 and A100 owners have already been using Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) Android 4.0.3 for quite some time, some through the official update, others through leaked firmware and custom ROMs. The Iconia A500 also saw the leak of an ICS firmware through unofficial means, but unfortunately for most, it didn’t boot or caused problems for those who tried it.

Well, needless to say, the developer community went straight to work on it, trying to make it work properly for everyone. And XDA member smaury has succeeded, bringing us a working custom ROM based on the leaked firmware. Not only that, he has also made a few changes to the ROM, the biggest being that he has removed almost all the Acer-loaded applications, making it bloatware free and quite fast.

Do note that the ROM is currently in the beta stage and will remain a beta as long as it’s based on a leaked firmware, so expect bugs and issues to crop up here and there without warning. Let’s get on with the flashing procedure.

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below is compatible only and only with the Acer Iconia Tab A500. It’s not compatible with any other device and may render an incompatible device unusable. Check your device model in Settings » About phone.

Warning!

The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. If any damage occurs to you or your device, including a bricked, non-functional device, we won’t be held liable. You have been forewarned!

ROM Info

Developer → smaury

Pre-Installation Requirements/Tips

  1. Rooted Iconia Tab A500 with Clockworkmod (CWM) recovery installed.
  2. Sufficiently charged battery, at least 50% is recommended.
  3. This procedure will wipe all your apps, data and settings (but it will NOT touch your SD cards, so don’t worry about those). Backup your Apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. This Android backup guide would help you.

How to Install Lightspeed ROM on Acer Iconia Tab A500

  1. Download the latest version of the ROM from the original development thread.
  2. Transfer the downloaded zip file from step 1 to the root of your SD card on your tablet.
  3. Boot into Clockworkmod (CWM) recovery. Use volume keys to scroll up and down between options and power/home key to select an option.
  4. [Optional] Perform a Nandroid Backup of your existing ROM, so that you can always restore it from recovery if something does not work out with this rom. To perform a backup, select Backup and Restore –> On the next screen, Select Backup again. Restore your backup using the “restore” option when required.
  5. Perform a wipe:
    1. Select “wipe data/factory reset”, then select “Yes” on next screen to confirm data wipe (will NOT wipe your SD cards).
    2. Select “mounts and storage”, then select “format system”. Select “Yes” on next screen to confirm. Then go back to the main recovery menu after system format is complete.
  6. Now select “install zip from sdcard”, then select “choose zip from sdcard”. Scroll to the ROM file on the sdcard and select it.
  7. Now confirm installation by selecting “Yes – Install *your_rom_name*.zip” on the next screen. The ROM will start installing.
  8. After the ROM finishes installing, select “go back” then select “reboot system now” to reboot the tablet.

You can now enjoy ICS Android 4.0 on your Iconia A500 with Lightspeed ROM. Visit the development page to get more info and the latest updates on the ROM. Share your thoughts on the ROM in the comments.

20 Comments

  1. Working beautifully!

  2. Working beautifully!

  3. Working beautifully!

  4. Just put it on, working beautifully as well. However, I still seem to have root access, which I was given to believe would be removed after flashing. Bonus!!!!

    1. Well, you still have root access because this is a custom rom based on unofficial ICS firmware leaked for the Iconia tab A500, and custom roms are always pre-rooted 😉

    2. Well, you still have root access because this is a custom rom based on unofficial ICS firmware leaked for the Iconia tab A500, and custom roms are always pre-rooted 😉

  5. Just put it on, working beautifully as well. However, I still seem to have root access, which I was given to believe would be removed after flashing. Bonus!!!!

    1. Well, you still have root access because this is a custom rom based on unofficial ICS firmware leaked for the Iconia tab A500, and custom roms are always pre-rooted 😉

  6. Just put it on, working beautifully as well. However, I still seem to have root access, which I was given to believe would be removed after flashing. Bonus!!!!

    1. Well, you still have root access because this is a custom rom based on unofficial ICS firmware leaked for the Iconia tab A500, and custom roms are always pre-rooted 😉

  7. Does anyone know if this fixes GPS issues?  I have the A500 and the GPS never worked.  I tired everything.  Eventually I rooted it and upgraded to ICS with the AcerCream126b2 ROM.  My GPS started working and locked on to a signal in about 15 seconds. AWESOME! The only problem is that this ROM had a problem with a transparent green overlay appearing every time an action was executed.  I reflashed to a different ICS ROM (KJY_2010_Icylicious_REV_12).  I no longer have the green overlay but my GPS no longer works! Help!!!!!!!

  8. Does anyone know if this fixes GPS issues?  I have the A500 and the GPS never worked.  I tired everything.  Eventually I rooted it and upgraded to ICS with the AcerCream126b2 ROM.  My GPS started working and locked on to a signal in about 15 seconds. AWESOME! The only problem is that this ROM had a problem with a transparent green overlay appearing every time an action was executed.  I reflashed to a different ICS ROM (KJY_2010_Icylicious_REV_12).  I no longer have the green overlay but my GPS no longer works! Help!!!!!!!

  9. Does anyone know if this fixes GPS issues?  I have the A500 and the GPS never worked.  I tired everything.  Eventually I rooted it and upgraded to ICS with the AcerCream126b2 ROM.  My GPS started working and locked on to a signal in about 15 seconds. AWESOME! The only problem is that this ROM had a problem with a transparent green overlay appearing every time an action was executed.  I reflashed to a different ICS ROM (KJY_2010_Icylicious_REV_12).  I no longer have the green overlay but my GPS no longer works! Help!!!!!!!

  10. Little gray-haired old lady. any informative links or assistance greatly appreciated. Devices: nothing is rooted. ACER iconia A500, last time i checked was 3.2; samsung precedent trackphone (straight talk unlimited) – tethered to: ASUS laptop win7, 64 bit. (If significant, canon wireless mach II and wireless hp D110 – but I use a usb for both). Recently got something amiss. usb quit, second installation of windows took over, cant find nor access first, factory installation. Tablet mouse is acting up and doesnt even have a mouse. Note: the mouse(s), elan touch and wireless usb, both follow cursor placement with erratic behavior. Uninstalled reinstalled tried various configurations (accidentally uninstalling keyboard driver, still have hid keyboard something or other , can’t find driver even at ASUS.com. It affectedted usb somehow because now the printer isn’t recognised nor the wireless mouse ( alsand, yes, first thing i did was replace batteries in mouseo. So shut down syncing. No bluetooth on ASUS but trying to install driver ha. have, dont use bluetooth device when driving. hmmm anything else? Subscribe to install a number of forums and for the idiot I feel like, have no idea what tapatalk even is but i have it. Goal: simplicity, photography business (hobbyist at best). Lots of research in magnetics, earth sciences – any science. Know that it does take a considerable amount of effort to be as .dumb as a rock. Thanks all – ha ha, any. sorry for typing errors, went over text edited three times as even tablet input is erasing lines of text.

  11. little gray-haired old lady. any informative links or assistance greatly appreciated. Devices: ACER iconia A500, last time i checked was 3.2; samsung precedent trackphone (straight talk unlimited) – tethered to: ASUS laptop win7, 64 bit. (If significant, canon wireless mach II and wireless hp D110 – but I use a usb for both. Recently got something amiss. usb quit, second installation of windows took over, cant find nor access first. Tablet seems to be reacting also. shut down syncing. No bluetooth on ASUS but trying to install driver ha. have, dont use bluetooth device when driving. hmmm anything else? Subscribe to install a number of forums and for the idiot I feel like, have no idea what tapatalk even is but i have it. Goal: simplicity, photography business (hobbyist at best). Lots of research in magnetics, earth sciences – any science. Know that it does take a considerable amount of effort to be as dumb as a rock. Thanks all – ha ha, any.

  12. little gray-haired old lady. any informative links or assistance greatly appreciated. Devices: ACER iconia A500, last time i checked was 3.2; samsung precedent trackphone (straight talk unlimited) – tethered to: ASUS laptop win7, 64 bit. (If significant, canon wireless mach II and wireless hp D110 – but I use a usb for both. Recently got something amiss. usb quit, second installation of windows took over, cant find nor access first. Tablet seems to be reacting also. shut down syncing. No bluetooth on ASUS but trying to install driver ha. have, dont use bluetooth device when driving. hmmm anything else? Subscribe to install a number of forums and for the idiot I feel like, have no idea what tapatalk even is but i have it. Goal: simplicity, photography business (hobbyist at best). Lots of research in magnetics, earth sciences – any science. Know that it does take a considerable amount of effort to be as dumb as a rock. Thanks all – ha ha, any.

  13. Little gray-haired old lady. any informative links or assistance greatly appreciated. Devices: nothing is rooted. ACER iconia A500, last time i checked was 3.2; samsung precedent trackphone (straight talk unlimited) – tethered to: ASUS laptop win7, 64 bit. (If significant, canon wireless mach II and wireless hp D110 – but I use a usb for both). Recently got something amiss. usb quit, second installation of windows took over, cant find nor access first, factory installation. Tablet mouse is acting up and doesnt even have a mouse. Note: the mouse(s), elan touch and wireless usb, both follow cursor placement with erratic behavior. Uninstalled reinstalled tried various configurations (accidentally uninstalling keyboard driver, still have hid keyboard something or other , can’t find driver even at ASUS.com. It affectedted usb somehow because now the printer isn’t recognised nor the wireless mouse ( alsand, yes, first thing i did was replace batteries in mouseo. So shut down syncing. No bluetooth on ASUS but trying to install driver ha. have, dont use bluetooth device when driving. hmmm anything else? Subscribe to install a number of forums and for the idiot I feel like, have no idea what tapatalk even is but i have it. Goal: simplicity, photography business (hobbyist at best). Lots of research in magnetics, earth sciences – any science. Know that it does take a considerable amount of effort to be as .dumb as a rock. Thanks all – ha ha, any. sorry for typing errors, went over text edited three times as even tablet input is erasing lines of text.

  14. I wanted to know when there are going to be updates for this rom

  15. I wanted to know when there are going to be updates for this rom

  16. I wanted to know when there are going to be updates for this rom

Comments are closed.