Install Ice Cream Sandwich ROM on the Samsung Fascinate — an Android 4.0 AOSP Rom

After Android 4.0 ICS ports were released over the past few days for the Samsung Galaxy S i9000, the Vibrant and the Captivate, could their cousin from Verizon, the Samsung Fascinate be far behind? Obviously, not.

While Samsung may take ages to release an Android 4.0 update for the Galaxy S family, which in itself seems to be a debatable question, we are thankful to the excellent developer community that exists for this fantastic device and we’re always optimistic that this entire family of the Galaxy S series would see some Ice Cream Sandwich, whether or not Samsung updates them as it should.

So here it is, thanks to Rootzwiki developer jt1134, Android 4.0 ICS custom ROM for the Fascinate. It is called Extreme Alphalulz, and is compiled entirely from the AOSP & Samsung source code & Samsung binaries. Like all other ICS builds out on the zone, this is also an Alpha build, so I wouldnt expect it to be a ROM that one could use as a daily driver.

Status as on 5th Dec 2011:

What works:

Radio (Calls / 3G / SMS/MMS)
WiFi
Bluetooth
Camera
Orientation sensors
GPS
Capacitive buttons
sdcard

What doesn’t work:
Camcorder
USB mass storage
Device encryption (fixed in upcoming build)

How to flash

  1. Don’t try this from MTD based roms like CM7, MIUI or any other AOSP rom. Make sure you have the an official Samsung firmware, which are based on BML, before flahsing this rom.
  2. Of course, you need to have ClockWorkMod recovery installed. So, if you don’t have one search and get that first.
  3. Back up your data,bookmarks, contacts, apps and everything else that you do not want to lose, as installing this ROM will erase all data. This guide should help you out with doing that.
  4. Download the Extreme Alphalulz V2 ROM here
  5. Transfer the rom to phone.
  6. Boot your fascinate into recovery mode by pressing and holding both volume keys and then pressing the power key. Keep holding both volume keys until Samsung logo appears.
  7. In recovery, do both Wipe Data & Wipe Cache Partition
  8. Go to install zip from sdcard, then select choose zip from sdcard and browse and select the rom you transferred in step 5 above.
  9. Select yes to start flahsing the Android 4.0 based AOSP rom. Once done, reboot phone and you’ll have latest android OS, v4.0.1, on your Samsung Fascinate.
  10. Enjoy!
  11. You can follow the development on the Extreme Alphalulz ICS ROM in jt1134’s thread here.

Do let us know about your Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich experience in comments below.

22 Comments

  1. This release [v3] is running great on my Fascinate. Can’t wait for the final polishing updates.

    1. If I do this and decide to go back to original out of the box is that possible? I recently took the Gingerbread update from Verizon which left me at the Samsung screen. Tried to revert to stock using the volume keys and power keys did not work either I ended up using something called Odin and was able to recover. Sorry If I sound like a noob. I would like to try this but need to know if there is a way back.

    2. Yeah, you’ll be able to get back original firmware using ODIN.

  2. v3 Runs great, Sending MMS is not working however for me

    1. The stock messenger won’t work for me, but I’m trying GOSMS and it’s sending messages, although, the contact integration seems to be off because it is not showing the names in the conversations

  3. This release [v3] is running great on my Fascinate. Can’t wait for the final polishing updates.

    1. If I do this and decide to go back to original out of the box is that possible? I recently took the Gingerbread update from Verizon which left me at the Samsung screen. Tried to revert to stock using the volume keys and power keys did not work either I ended up using something called Odin and was able to recover. Sorry If I sound like a noob. I would like to try this but need to know if there is a way back.

      1. Yeah, you’ll be able to get back original firmware using ODIN.

  4. v3 Runs great, Sending MMS is not working however for me

    1. The stock messenger won’t work for me, but I’m trying GOSMS and it’s sending messages, although, the contact integration seems to be off because it is not showing the names in the conversations

  5. I tryed twice and i got signature verification failed and instalation aborted

    1. I had the same problem. You have to install CM7 first

  6. I tryed twice and i got signature verification failed and instalation aborted

    1. I had the same problem. You have to install CM7 first

  7. keeps booting to a screen that says waiting for sd card to mount. what do i do?

  8. keeps booting to a screen that says waiting for sd card to mount. what do i do?

  9. Hello.  Does this build address/correct the in-call volume and speakerphone issues on the Samsung Fascinate (sch-i500) ?

  10. Hello.  Does this build address/correct the in-call volume and speakerphone issues on the Samsung Fascinate (sch-i500) ?

  11. Is the camcorder fixed yet??? Please respond!!!! Also, what about USB storage? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  12. Is the camcorder fixed yet??? Please respond!!!! Also, what about USB storage? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. It’s telling me I don’t have enough memory to load the new ROM. Even tho, when I ck my settings on my actual ph, I have plenty of memory.

  14. It’s telling me I don’t have enough memory to load the new ROM. Even tho, when I ck my settings on my actual ph, I have plenty of memory.

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