Hotmail Exchange Android and Jelly Bean

I have been using the Hotmail app for mail/calendar/contacts as the Icecream sandwich exchange thing goes wrong all the time. The big problem with this is that you can't add a contact to hotmail from the app (think microsoft wants you to but a windows phone)!

Anyway, driven by bordom I decided to try and install some custom Roms on my phone - because I could. I thought I would share the information here as it is not easy to get the right answers sometimes.

This is no step by step guide, just a few important things which stopped me wrecking my phone.There are loads of guides to flashing roms on the internet but hopefully this fills in the gaps.

Firstly a disclaimer: You undertake any instructions here at your own risk. This will void your phone warranty and could possibly render your phone un-useable. I accept no liability for your phone, your data or you.

my phone is a samsung galaxy s2 and so the instructions are for that. Your phone may be different

Lesson 1: Kernels
A kernal in computer speak is the software core. Every time the software on your phone is updated the kernal changes to a new version. Putting in a different kernal is like putting in an engine from a different car, all of the gearbox connectios and so forth will be wrong.. so it will not work.

Your Kernel version is in Settings/About Phone/Kernel version - eg: 2.6.35.7-I9100XXKG1-CL349526
the important part is after the I9100 ie XXKGI. Mine was BVLPD

We do not strictly need to root the phone but it is worth having a copy of your kernel if something goes wrong. You can get that here:

http://s2tip.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/kernels-updated-270612-latest-insecure.html

The insecure kernels are ones where the software has been hacked so that you can grant yourself administrative permissions. The secure ones are the untouched version.

Lesson 2: Clockwork Mod Recovery (CWM)

Clockwork Mod Recovery replaces your phones 'recovery software' ( thats the boot software that saves you when things go really really badly) AND KERNEL. It allows you to take a complete back up of your present Rom so you can return it to its original state.
So this nice Chainfire chap has incorporated CWM with the Kernels and some other stuff and made what he calls CF root files.
BUT, unlike many other website say, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT ONE!

you need to read this thoroughly
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399

you can get the right cf-root file for your kernel here.
 http://www.mygsmforum.com/f15/download-cf-root-samsung-galaxy-s2-i9100-11221/

You Use Odin to flash the kernels, becareful.

Lesson 3:Backing up

Once the CWM Kernal has been installed your phone should A) work and B) be rooted. You can now install Titamium backup and this will allow you to backup all your apps and all there data. Do this and it stores it on the internal SD storage.

After you've done this you can boot into recovery mode and use CWM to do a 'nandroid' which is a rom backup. This stores the backup on the internal SD storage so its there if something goes wrong. If something does go wrong (as it did for me) boot back into recovery and install this backup. Thewww.

Lesson 4: Jelly Bean Rom

The Rom I used is the ReVolt Jelly Bean rom (Galaxy S2 only) available here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1755884
You will have to try a different Jelly Bean Rom if you do not have the GT-i9100.
I have been using ReVolt for nearly to weeks now and V2.2 seems very stable indeed. No exchange hiccups.

There is one weird setting you need to make otherwise the email client just sits there staring at you.

You need to do this:

Settings -> Data Usage -> Menu (this is the bottom left hand menu touch button) -> and check 'Auto Sync Data'

enjoy