Upgrade the Samsung Vibrant SGH-T959 to Android 4.0.4 ICS via ExROM 2.0 custom ROM

Samsung Vibrant users may have been disappointed when no official Ice Cream Sandwich came their way. Thanks to the Android community, however, even the Samsung Vibrant gets a taste of the newest firmware rocking Android phones. It’s even better than stock; it’s a custom ROM that’s sure to tempt any flashaholic.

XDA Developers member hoquangthaiholy brings us the ExROM 2.0 custom ROM, based on Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. But, that’s not all; this ROM packs a number of features, such as:

ZipAligned and Deodexed
Optimized framework .jar and .apk
Integrated voice control, Gmail and Gtalk
SD in PC
GPS Fix
Video record at 720p without blinks
Beats Audio
Apex Launcher
More RAM mem
Optimized Services.jar
Restore fix
Sim Contacts import fix
Modem Nexus S KF1
Change 2G/3G Perfect
Bars coverage perfect
Perfect Airplane mode
Mod TaskSwitch WP7
Mod Tweaks (init.d)
Bravia engine (better quality videos and photos)
Notifaction toggles
Snake Battery Saver (GNex)

The ExROM 2.0 custom ROM may still have a few bugs that need ironing out, but it seems stable enough to use daily.

Warning

This ROM is only compatible with the T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant SGH-T959. Please do not attempt to flash this ROM to incompatible phones as it may lead to bricking.

Use this guide at your own risk. We shall not be responsible for any damage because of your use of this guide.

Requirements

A rooted T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant SGH-T959 with ClockworkMod Recovery installed
Flashing this ROM may delete any data on your phone so make sure to create a backup.
Fully charge your battery. This prevents your Samsung Vibrant from shutting off in the middle of the flashing process.
ExROM 2.0 custom ROM package (ExRom-v2.0.zip, 168.73 MB)

Instructions

Download the ExROM 2.0 ZIP file to your computer.
Copy the ExROM 2.0 ZIP file into the root of your Samsung Vibrant’s internal SD card.
Turn off your phone.
Boot your Samsung Vibrant into recovery mode. You can do this by pressing and holding down the Volume Down key, the OK button and the Power button.
Once in Recovery, make a Nandroid backup. This allows you to return to your previous ROM should something not work out with the Ex ROM 2.0. Create the backup from Backup and restore > Backup.
Return to main recovery menu.
Select Wipe data/factory reset. Confirm the action on the next screen.
Select Wipe cache partition. Confirm the action on the next screen.
Select Advanced > Wipe Dalvik cache. Confirm the action on the next screen.
Return to main recovery menu.
Select Install Zip from SD Card > Choose Zip from SD Card. Select the ExROM 2.0 zip file. Flashing should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Once flashing is complete, select “Go Back.”
Select “Reboot System Now.”

Once your T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant SGH-T959 reboots, it’ll now be running on ExROM 2.0, with Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. Congratulations and enjoy!

NEED TO KNOW!

Comments

Zeesemperfi

Is this for real???? Please confirm that this update for galaxy s vibrant is legit. If it is I am upgrading it tonight.
KY

Yup! I just installed it 8 hours ago. So far so good. I’ll need to test it further and more detail. However, hoquangthaiholy, I’m hope there is a stock or cleaner version of ICS 4.0.4. Now maybe too many pre-installed apps that might draining battery for the poor old Vibrant phone.
- MauriceGriffin
  
  Try http://www.slimroms.com, its quite clean and seems to give me the best battery life I’ve had since Froyo.
Raystephens57

Will ExROM 2.0 work with TELUS?
Ali Shayzadag

Just now flashed it in my Samsung Vibrant SGH-T959!
I’m Loving this Rom!
You People are Doing Really a Fantastic Job!
Loving my Phone Again! :D
Ali Shayzadag

Is There TV Out?
KY

After usingmy Vibrant after 2 days with ExROM 2.0 ICS 4.04, now I feel the pain. 9am, phone fully charged. 3:30pm battery drained (total 6.5 hrs only!!!). In between, I talked on the phone for about 1/2 hr, surfed net about 1 hr. I ensured auto-sync and GPS/Locator is off. The display is set to lowest brightness and not using auto. The Snake DX Battery app is set to clean/ optimized every 30 mins. So I ensure minimal minimal background app is running. I looked at the model kernel, it’s KB5, which is good. Anyway, just want to let everyone know about my experience. I hope anyone or the developer can help me out to fix the problem. I phone used to last two days to mile use with Froyo 2.2.
BoxBoy

What kernel should be flashed before doing this install?
Spike204

Having issues, i’m i doing something wrong? i downloaded CWMand installed it, when i try to install ExRom 2.0i receive an error while verifying update package…

E: failed to verifying whole-file signature
E: signature verification failed
installation aborted.

please help!
- Yysd
  
  idk
Reedup6911

I don’t see beats audio like it states it has?
Jumanji12

Just did this… Ho-Lee-Shit… VERY NICE!
Bitcloud30

Is this compatible With SGH – T959V?
Whyg99

need help with the exrom im in download mode on my phone its just say downloadin do not turn off target
- Whyg99
  
  it a tmoblie samsung glaxy s 4g t959 help please
CHANO

If you are looking for a clean Pure ICS ROM for the vibrant..i recommend the Euphoria ROM by team passion. you can find in on XDA. by far the purest ICS rom for the vibrant.
Jgon1013

I installed it exactly as explained above and it works and looks amazing… only problem…. the phone can not connect to the ntwork. I cant send text or calls. any suggestions? Airplane mode is off and ive looked through any and all possible setting menus for troubleshooting and nothing
Wabi08

Excelent i just download and install is very easy i recommended
Apolloxs

No Good ! my GPS WORKED ONLY ONCE…I Hear their VOICE NOT BAD,… But to WHO EVER CALL me… very hard to understand my words…. echo …Noice…half words from my SGS T959! I USE FIDO…WHY these Problems? Not hard to Understand…
Apolloxs

I flashed my T959 with ALL ICS ROMS Not even one is Stable…waste of time…
or It have to do something with fido?
takato11

how to install it into the root of sd card????
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gunn-Valencia/1481336649 Gunn Valencia

love it! like it!
very nice! more! more!
thanks!
Guest

Keep rebooting..
Guest

Keep booting and already 10 min.. should I wait or how long..I see Virant.. Samsung.. CD symbol with android icon in a rotating fashions..
sakina ladak

does it support USB ?
Harry

I installed it exactly as explained above and it works and looks amazing… only problem…. the phone can not connect to the ntwork. I cant send text or calls. any suggestions? Airplane mode is off and ive looked through any and all possible setting menus for troubleshooting and nothing
Tavish Sandness

how to i get it back to normal?
Happy Camper

Upgrading from Froyo had more hurdles, but was able to do it in 1 evening. Nice to have the latest ICS on my “old” phone.

My battery life seems to have improved, but I’ll need more time to analyze properly.

One problem is that my voice is garbled to the caller for the first bit of a call. I can hear the caller ok, but they have trouble understanding me until it clears up. I wonder why this is happening and what to do about it.

Thanks for all your hard work!
- frigidDragon
  
  are there any way to improve call performance. My friends cannot listen to me, the sound is too small
- Happy Camper
  
  If I mute/unmute after picking up a call it seems to solve the problem of the caller not hearing me well… a bit of a pain… I wonder if there’s an App to automate that…
  
  All in all, I’m happy with the performance and features of the phone with ICS. Battery life does seem a bit better, certainly not worse.
  - Happy Camper
    
    I’ve moved on to Jelly Bean with CM10 (cyanogenmod.com). It is a noticeable improvement with no call quality issues and my carrier name is displayed properly. Best of all Project Butter is very evident – the phone feels much faster. Oh and CM10 includes predictive dialing! I am now a VERY Happy Camper :-)
    
    The ROM is here: http://download.cyanogenmod.com/get/jenkins/7146/cm-10-20120829-NIGHTLY-vibrantmtd.zip
- Greg
  
  How do you upgrade from froyo? Do you need to flash a kernel or anything extra?
ajk

My phone keeps flashing between the galaxy s 4g and the sub Zero screen… Can’t get back into recovery or anything…
- andy
  
  i have the same problem,please let me know how to fix it if you figure it out
  - Pbuilder
    
    Happened to me as well. What you need to to is start from the beginning, meaning: restart into recovery state, choose to wipe the data etc, then to install from sd card etc. The second time it works properly.
    - RADCEE
      
      Thanks That WORKS……
jmquinn72

Stuck in a loop during flash. Galaxy S 4G splash screen then sub Zero splash screen. Blank then starts over. Can’t get out of it.
caprus

After this following Procedure The screen that shows is Black Screen with a Vibrant and below SAMSUNG…………………IS My Phone bricked

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Upgrade the Samsung Vibrant SGH-T959 to Android 4.0.4 ICS via ExROM 2.0 custom ROM

Warning

Requirements

Instructions

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