Update Iconia Tab A100 to Ice Cream Sandwich [Official ROM]

Calling all Acer Iconia Tab A100 owners! If you were feeling jealous of the Iconia A200 getting an official update to Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) Android 4.0.3 a few days ago, then this news should help in bringing down that jealousy a little. An ICS firmware for the A100 was leaked on XDA and is now accessible to people looking to taste Ice Cream Sandwich on their A100. The firmware seems to run pretty well according to reports, so it could mean that the official release isn’t too far away.

This firwmare is an unofficial leak but we’re pretty sure people will have no qualms in trying it out anyway because frankly, unofficial or official, we like it! Do note that since this is a leaked firmware, bugs and problems are to be expected.

Read on to find out how to flash this firmware on your Iconia Tab A100.

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below is compatible only and only with the Acer Iconia Tab A100. 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!

Pre-installation Requirements/Tips

  1. Sufficiently charged battery, at least 50% is recommended.
  2. [Optional] This procedure will not wipe your apps, data and settings. But to be on the safe side, backup your Apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. This Android backup guide would help you.

How to Install ICS Firmware on Iconia Tab A100

  1. Download the ICS firmware.
    Download Link  |  Filename: Acer_AV041_A100_0.002.00_WW_GEN1.zip
  2. After downloading the above file, rename the file from Acer_AV041_A100_0.002.00_WW_GEN1.zip to update.zip on your computer.
  3. After renaming the file, transfer it to the root of your external micro SD card on the A100.
  4. Turn off the phone.
  5. Boot into recovery by pressing the Power button while holding the Volume Up button till the device boots into recovery, then let it go.
  6. The flashing procedure will begin automatically.
  7. After the flashing procedure is complete, the device will reboot itself.
  8. Wait for a while for the Tab to boot up, then enjoy using Ice Cream Sandwich on your Iconia A100.

So there you have it. Ice Cream Sandwich is up and running on your Iconia Tab A100 and should keep you happy till the official firmware is released. Share your thoughts on the firmware in the comments.

46 Comments

  1. awesome 🙂 thanks trying now

  2. awesome 🙂 thanks trying now

  3. Worked great, thanks! Process took about 10 mins.

  4. Worked great, thanks! Process took about 10 mins.

  5. The SD card MUST be empty with only update.zip on it.  Great ROM; the camera preview (front facing) seems a bit fuzzy, but takes great photos.

  6. The SD card MUST be empty with only update.zip on it.  Great ROM; the camera preview (front facing) seems a bit fuzzy, but takes great photos.

  7. so i do everything as said and when its put into recovery mode i get the android symbol with a triangle and an exclaimation point in the center. after it finally starts up it is still running honeycomb

    1.  Did you ever get it to work?  I’ve tried several times over the past week, and same issue!

  8. so i do everything as said and when its put into recovery mode i get the android symbol with a triangle and an exclaimation point in the center. after it finally starts up it is still running honeycomb

    1.  Did you ever get it to work?  I’ve tried several times over the past week, and same issue!

  9. best thing to do is download the ROM on a PC, put your SD card on the PC and move the zip file (renaming it to update.zip) to the root of the SD card.  Doing the same from android can be confusing (it’s not always clear that you’re moving the files to the right location).  I had the same problem until I did that, and it works fine.  ICS is running great on my a100, with a few small quirks (that are sure to be fixed before it’s official release):  Camera preview, occasional response from touch screen (Angry birds), and Chrome Beta will crash when you hit “settings”.

    1. this is what i did. except used the data cable.. nothing yet. 

  10. best thing to do is download the ROM on a PC, put your SD card on the PC and move the zip file (renaming it to update.zip) to the root of the SD card.  Doing the same from android can be confusing (it’s not always clear that you’re moving the files to the right location).  I had the same problem until I did that, and it works fine.  ICS is running great on my a100, with a few small quirks (that are sure to be fixed before it’s official release):  Camera preview, occasional response from touch screen (Angry birds), and Chrome Beta will crash when you hit “settings”.

    1. this is what i did. except used the data cable.. nothing yet. 

  11. How does one revert to the factory image so as to allow the “corporate standard” upgrade once it is available?

  12. How does one revert to the factory image so as to allow the “corporate standard” upgrade once it is available?

  13. ive been trying this… have my 2GB SD on. only the update.zip on it… i get the droid with triangle and ! .. 😀 help

    1. is there an A100 Gen 2? im gonna try re-downloading the update again.

    2. i re-downloaded the file. still getting the same error. the triangle with ! on it. 

    3. Are you renaming the downloaded file to update.zip or not. You know, take care that your computer shows you file extensions (like .exe, .zip, .tar, etc.) of all filenames. Look for it and ON this option. Otherwise, you might rename it as update.zip.zip because file extensions are not shown by default. Or simply check file’s properties to get full name of the file.

    4. update. i got it to work. what i did was download the latest ROM from the link above. see my earlier comment.

    5. You are awesome sir! I feel ashamed that I was renaming it update.zip.zip 

    6. Ah ok. Happens! Glad you got it working 😀

  14. Just noticed the link on this page is adding a ; after the zip, so that’s why I got the green error. Be sure you save as update.zip

  15. ive been trying this… have my 2GB SD on. only the update.zip on it… i get the droid with triangle and ! .. 😀 help

    1. is there an A100 Gen 2? im gonna try re-downloading the update again.

      1. i re-downloaded the file. still getting the same error. the triangle with ! on it. 

        1. Are you renaming the downloaded file to update.zip or not. You know, take care that your computer shows you file extensions (like .exe, .zip, .tar, etc.) of all filenames. Look for it and ON this option. Otherwise, you might rename it as update.zip.zip because file extensions are not shown by default. Or simply check file’s properties to get full name of the file.

          1. You are awesome sir! I feel ashamed that I was renaming it update.zip.zip 

          2. Ah ok. Happens! Glad you got it working 😀

        2. update. i got it to work. what i did was download the latest ROM from the link above. see my earlier comment.

  16. Just noticed the link on this page is adding a ; after the zip, so that’s why I got the green error. Be sure you save as update.zip

  17. for those who have problems with the link above. try downloading the updated ROM. on the top bar of the download page it should show 
    Files >> Firmware >> Iconia Tab A100 >> Acer_AV041_A100_0.002.00_WW_GEN1. click on Iconia Tab A100 and choose the latest update. i got it to work!

    thank you!!

  18. for those who have problems with the link above. try downloading the updated ROM. on the top bar of the download page it should show 
    Files >> Firmware >> Iconia Tab A100 >> Acer_AV041_A100_0.002.00_WW_GEN1. click on Iconia Tab A100 and choose the latest update. i got it to work!

    thank you!!

  19. Hello guys. Just updated to ICS using this guide. 🙂 Thanks a lot! Worked without no problems 🙂

  20. Hello guys. Just updated to ICS using this guide. 🙂 Thanks a lot! Worked without no problems 🙂

  21. Hello hope somebody can help me, my dougther did turn off the tablet while was updating ICS from the acer services, the problem is that wasnt finish and now doesnt turn on but some times, and only to say that the tablet is restarting, nothing more…,,, so now I am trying with this method you described here, but come only the famous green triangle, I did change update.zip, and zip.zip, nothing,,,, hope can help me,, thaks a lot for u time

  22. Hello hope somebody can help me, my dougther did turn off the tablet while was updating ICS from the acer services, the problem is that wasnt finish and now doesnt turn on but some times, and only to say that the tablet is restarting, nothing more…,,, so now I am trying with this method you described here, but come only the famous green triangle, I did change update.zip, and zip.zip, nothing,,,, hope can help me,, thaks a lot for u time

  23. No Cam Problems anymore thank u

  24. No Cam Problems anymore thank u

  25. do you need wifi??

  26. Hi, I downloaded the file, renamed it as update.zip and stored it on root dir of micro sd card

    In
    following the procedure, the screens go up to 1st android icon with
    rotating graphic in the middle – but then that turns into smaller
    android icon with a lid open in the center and an red sign (with
    exclamation mark !)
    The procedure halts …
    What am I doing wrong ?
    Is the file to be named update.zip or update.exe?

    Thanks
    SM

  27. Hi, I downloaded the file, renamed it as update.zip and stored it on root dir of micro sd card

    In
    following the procedure, the screens go up to 1st android icon with
    rotating graphic in the middle – but then that turns into smaller
    android icon with a lid open in the center and an red sign (with
    exclamation mark !)
    The procedure halts …
    What am I doing wrong ?
    Is the file to be named update.zip or update.exe?

    Thanks
    SM

Comments are closed.