Galaxy S Gets a Lewa OS Port Too — Installation Guide

LeWa OS is a new Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread custom ROM that seems to have appeared on the radar of many custom ROM developers, as it has made its way onto 2 or 3 devices in a very short span of time. Now, LeWa OS has been ported to the Galaxy S, thanks to XDA developer barome. LeWa OS combines CM7 and MIUI ROMs, and provides a blend of features from both. Some features include data monitoring, downloadable themes and lockscreens, power saving, lockscreen animations and notifications, and more, along with fast performance and smoothness.

So, get your Galaxy S out and read on to find out how you can install LeWa OS on your Galaxy S i9000. Oh, and don’t mind the Chinese text in the image above, the ROM is in English.

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below are compatible only and only with the Samsung Galaxy S, model number i9000. 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 your device, we won’t be held liable.

ROM Info

  • Developer → barome

How to Install LeWa OS on Galaxy S i9000

  1. 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.
    Important! Don’t forget to at least make a backup of your APN settings, which you can restore later if your data connection does not work after installing the ROM. Use the backup guide to find out how.
  2. Remove sim card lock, if you have set it earlier. Go here: Settings » Location and Security » Sim card lock  » checkbox should be clear (not selected).
  3. Flash the stock XXJW4 firmware by using → this guide.
  4. Root XXJW4 to obtain Clockworkmod recovery (CWM) by using → this guide.
  5. Download the latest version of the ROM from the official development page.
  6. Lewa rom for Galaxy S doesn’t have Google Apps like Gmail, Gtalk, Google Play Store, etc. inside it. So download the Google apps too, called gapps, from the link given at the above step no. 5. Link has been provided by the developer besides the rom’s link.
  7. Transfer both the downloaded zip files — rom file and gapps file — to the internal SD card (not the micro SD).
  8. Turn off your Galaxy S and wait for complete shutdown (wait for vibration and check capacitive button lights).
  9. Then, boot into CWM recovery. To do so, press and hold these 3 buttons together: Volume Up, Home, and the Power button till the screen turns on, then let go of the buttons.
    In recovery, use Volume keys to scroll up and down and power key to select an option.
  10. Select wipe data/factory reset, then select Yes on next screen to confirm. Wait a while till the data wipe is complete.
  11. Now select install zip from sdcard, then select choose zip from sdcard. Scroll to the ROM file on the sdcard and select it.
  12. Confirm installation by selecting Yes – Install _____.zip on the next screen. The ROM will start installing.
  13. The Lewa rom has been flashed on your Galaxy S now. It’s time to flash Google App aka gapps file. Select install zip from sdcard, then select choose zip from sdcard. Now go and select the gapps file that you downloaded in step 6. Select Yes on next screen to start flashing the gapps file.
  14. After the installation is complete, select go back and then select reboot system now to reboot your phone.

The LeWa OS ROM is now installed on your Galaxy S. Visit the original development page to get more info and to get the latest updates on the ROM. Share your thoughts on the ROM in the comments below.

15 Comments

  1. Jamshaidroshan75

    Dear, we have to install Google Apps to or not as mentioned on XDA site link given above…please reply 

    1. Sry.. skipped to mention in steps.. you have to flash the gapps too, download the file given there with the rom, transfer it to phone, reboot to recovery and flash it after you’ve flashed the rom. No need to factory reset or anything. Simply flash gapps after you’ve done all of above.

      1. Jamshaidroshan75

        it’s ok…..thanks for reply 

  2. Hi, will this work without CWM? Mine is GTI9000 and wants to install this OS. It looks really good.

    1. Nope. You will have to install cwm first. Follow the guide, each step of it, and you will do good.

      1. Thank you Kapil. My GT-I9000 currently has 2.3.6 XWJW6. I am not able to find the correct CWM for it.

        1. I need help. I have installed JW4 with CF Root and then in Recovery Mode, tried installing the LeWaOS. My phone keeps restarting and nothing happens. What am I doing wrong?

          1. Flash the lewaOS ROM again. So gale flags might not work. Have you flashed it two times?

          2. I tried flashing it 4 – 5 times and finally it was done. The features were good, but when I get a call, the phone crashes. It also crashes with other applications. Not sure if it is compatible with my phone. It is Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000, bought in Germany without contract..

          3. That’s okay. If you are not liking it, which is not very surprising since we have many more cool ROMs for sgs available now, better switch to a jelly bean ROM. Look here: nerdschalk.com/tag/galaxy-s

          4. I like the UI and others, infact, I liked it all but the only problem with the crashes. Looking at the crashes, I flashed it again but the crash still exists. Not sure why? I want this but unfortunate…

          5. Try this: do a factory reset, then wipe dalvik cache under advanced and then fix permissions under advanced option of recovery. See if that helps. BTW, do not restore system apps using titanium backup or any software.

          6. Still the same… will try for JB ROM.. thanks for your help…

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