Help UK JB Stock Rom - English not default language

[Bexy]

I have several queries but, I'll start with whats in the title. Basically my partner bought a used Note and we did a factory restore. On the first screen where you select the language it isn't English, no idea what language it is.

As my partners complained about it being very slow/laggy I downloaded the UK 4.1.2 Rom from SamMobile the other day. Got round to installing is this morning. I assumed that when I did a factory reset the default language would then be English. Still isn't. I thought it was based on which Rom was on the phone as to the default language but, seems it isn't, unless I've done it wrong? Should this be the case?

Now the first question is out of the way, the phone is still very laggy. I have read that JB is for some people, so would I be best getting ICS and installing it via Odin, or GingerBread? My partner doesn't care what software is on it as doesn't really notice a difference between them. At the moment SamMobile is down so I can't find/download either firmware anyway but, want to be prepared. Which would be best/quickest/least laggy?

My partner had a Note 1 before and really liked it, no issues but, since then she's had iPhones, recently selling her iPhone 5 to get a bit of money and then bought the Note, it was almost half the price of what she sold her phone for.

Also, before I forget, one thing I did notice with ICS Roms when mentioned, it says you can't wipe/reset the phone, is that only via recovery menu you can't do it? Could it still be done via Backup/Restore in the settings on the phone, or can it not be wiped/reset at all?

 

[tdodd]

The default language is almost certainly dictated by the CSC value for the device rather than the ROM itself. Have a look here for how to check and change it....

Multi CSC Explained | CheckROM

The most common cause of lag on the JB ROMs appears (for most people it seems) to be file corruptions or something like that, especially on the external SD card. Of course there might be rogue apps, but if you are able and willing I suggest you remove the SD card (or reformat it) and also wipe/format internal storage. If there is data you need to keep then copy that off first, format and then copy it back.

As for ICS, there is a risk with the stock ROM of bricking the device if you wipe or factory reset whilst on ICS. It is only a risk, not a certainty, but best avoided unless you're willing to kill the phone. You can flash a "safe" kernel or a safe ROM over stock ICS before wiping. Philz Kernel is a good one IMHO and gives you a custom recovery which makes wiping and custom ROM flashing very simple going forward.

I've run various stock and custom ROMS (Paranoid Android, Slim Bean, Slim Kat, Omni and one or two others) on my Note and currently am back on stock 4.1.2, rooted with Philz Kernel. I have occasional lag, but generally it seems stable and the most feature rich, especially if you care about sPen functions. Custom ROMs can be very good, but ultimately I've found a niggle with each which has led me to return to stock. Maybe newer releases of the KitKat ROMs have moved forward since I tried them, as I did try fairly early releases.

 

[Bexy]

Oops forgot about this thread . Have since sold the phone as my partner was fed up with it. Last straw was when it drained 50% overnight and reset it self to factory settings.

As it happens, after I took the 16GB microSD out, she didnt complain as much about it being laggy till my 32GB card was in it temporarily to show her dad some pictures (my phone was completely dead lol). I had looked at the CSC and every bit of info matched up to a UK English ROM, so have no idea what the issue was.
Now just have to find up what's wrong with her new phone *sigh*.