How to Upgrade the Samsung Galaxy S2 (i91000G) to Android 4.0.3

While similar in almost all respects to the original Samsung Galaxy S2 (i9100), the i9100G comes with a different chipset (TI OMAP 4430) and aims to give users the same experience that they expect from the i9100.  The below guide will show you to upgrade this device to Android 4.0.3 ICS, which should be a huge change from the Gingerbread state it previously was in.  Read on to know how.

I.  Before You Begin

1.  Make a backup of everything you feel is important as you will be erasing all the data during the process.

2.  Resort to this procedure only if you aren’t getting the notification to update over the air.

3.  This update is only for the Malaysian, Indian and French versions of the i9100G.  Do not try to install this on any other versions!

II.  Necessary Downloads

1.  Firmware:  I9100GDXLP6 (Malaysian) | I9100GXXLPQ (Indian) | I9100GXXLPN (French).

2.  Odin3 v1.7.

III.  Upgrading the i9100G to Ice-Cream Sandwich 4.0.3

1.  Extract the I9100GXXLPN_I9100GXEFLPN_XEF.zip file you downloaded above to your desktop.  You should now have a file named I9100GXXLPN_I9100GXXLPN_I9100GXEFLPN_HOME.tar.md5 (the European or French version of the update but if choose the proper file from the links provided in the section above if you are from a different region).

2.  Extract Odin3 v1.7.rar you downloaded above to a folder on your desktop.

3.  From the extracted folder, double-click on Odin3 v1.7.exe to run Odin.

4.  Click on the PDA button and locate the I9100GXXLPN_I9100GXXLPN_I9100GXEFLPN_HOME.tar.md5 file you extracted above.

5.  Put your device into Recovery Mode.  To do this, with your device powered down, hold Volume Up + Home + Power until it enters Recovery Mode.

6.  Connect your device to your Windows PC.  Odin should now detect your device and the ID:COM field should light up yellow as you see in the picture below.

7.  Ensure that the Re-Partition tickbox is unchecked before you continue at this point!  Your device could be bricked if you forget to uncheck it.

8.  Make sure that your Odin screen looks like this and then click on Start.

Your device should be running Android 4.0.3 once it reboots!!

All thanks go to SamMobile for providing the original firmwares!!