Help Custom Rom Question

[Lana30]

Hi Friends,
When deciding on what rom to use, you have to make sure it was made for your phone, variant and Android version, right? Thanks in advance!

 

[AP2FTW]

it doesnt have to be the same android version you are currently on, but yes it does have to be made for your phone/variant

 

[scary alien]

...and the version of Android of the custom ROM must be compatible with the kernel that will be used (it's not a given that the custom ROM will contain a kernel).

 

[AP2FTW]

...and the version of Android of the custom ROM must be compatible with the kernel that will be used (it's not a given that the custom ROM will contain a kernel).

forgot about the kernel d'oh

 

[scary alien]

forgot about the kernel d'oh

Ah, no worries, @AP2FTW .

Also, Lana, the reason why you don't want to try running a mismatched ROM (or kernel) is that the hardware components and filesystem / partition size and layouts might not match--possibly leading to unexpected issues/behavior.

 

[Lana30]

Oh, I see. Some custom ROMs do have a kernel while other don´t. Right, make sure it has one. So the things you have to research before going with a ROM is making sure it was made for your phone and variant, but it doesn´t matter what Android version you may have running on your phone. Am I missing anything? and thanks to the both of you for helping me understand this. It´s exciting but complicated stuff, ha ha.

 

[AP2FTW]

im pretty sure all roms have a kernel...from what i understand, the kernel in the rom should match the kernel of your stock rom...what i mean by that is, go to about phone > software info >kernel version...if your kernel is 3.10.49 (using mine as an example) then the rom you're installing should have a kernel with the same number

now, i have to add, i am remembering this from back when i had an s3 and there were different kernels available to install. i was told to make sure that the kernel you were installing had the same numbers as your stock kernel. i never checked roms to see what the kernels were, because they were all posted in the s3 section of my particular s3/variant forum, so i just assumed they all had the proper kernel (and i never had a problem)...the only time i ever worried about matching kernel numbers is when i was installing a kernel by itself

 

[scary alien]

I think the main takeaway about kernels is that you shouldn't try to mix ROMs and kernels that are obviously meant for different versions of Android or builds (i.e., stock vs. CyanogenMod, etc.).

I think the best way to approach deciding if and how you'll install a custom ROM is to very carefully read and understand the dev's ROM thread (where they should provide clear, detailed descriptions, installation instructions, MD5/SHA1 sum for verifying your download, known bug list, benefits, compatibilities, known issues/bug list, etc., etc., etc.).

Also, see what comments others in the dev's thread have...how responsive is the dev and/or others in there?

Read, read, read (and ask, ask, ask ).

 

[Lana30]

Thanks, for the info. I wanted to know the basic things that have to match and then read read read and ask ask ask from there, ha ha. Thanks to the both of you.