How to install Cyanogenmod 7 (android 2.3 gingerbread) on Motorola defy

By admin June 1, 2012 Motorola Defy 17 Comments

How to install Cyanogenmod 7 on your defy-

Cyanogenmod is an open source android OS for mobiles and tablets, there is no any license fee required to install and download this OS also it is free you can download and install without any extra charge this OS to your mobile. This is like a linux OS for computers e.g. ubuntu, fedora, open suse etc.

The android OS that preinstalled with your mobile is called stock ROM in words of developers and the open source android OS just like cyanogenmod are called custom ROMs. These OS are made by volunteer developer’s community to us. There are many flexibility, facilities and tweaks in custom ROMs. You can overclock , change and replace system files, can see hindi fonts, disable and enable features those are not available in stock ROMs.

What is rooting– Before installing these custom ROMs your mobile should be rooted, I have already describe about how to root your defy in my previous post “how to improve performance of your defy after installing 2.2 froyo update”.

Rooting is just like gaining administrator access in your windows OS for computers, you can install many system files and can change them as per your requirement that is called rooting. Actually your preinstalled OS come with blocked OS to ensure security of your mobile from viruses and other vulnerability that can change your system files.

One thing should be clearly understood that you will lose your warranty after rooting and installing any custom ROM, so do it carefully and it will be better if your warranty has been already expired. But if you are very keen to install Cyanogenmod and don’t care about warranty then you can give a chance to install Cyanogenmod.

As written in Cyanogenmod website warning same is applicable here- Do it carefully and after reading whole process, also read xda wiki site for defy carefully and in details. You may also brick your mobile/totally unusable if something gone wrong. But there are lots of forums available on net you can take also help from XDA developers.

If I tell you my experience it took only 10 minutes to install cyanogenmod on my defy.

There in only one stable version of cyanogenmod that is 7.1.0 stable by Jordan that is android 2.3.7 version, CM7.2 is under development on 26^th may 2012 CM 7.2 RC3 was released.

RC means release candidate that is under development stage OS, soon stable version of CM 7.2 will release. CM 7.2 is still gingerbread but having many features of Icecream sandwitch (android 4.0).

Besides these nightlies are released every seven days or within 15 days but these are under development stage ROMs.

Icecream sandwitch is called CM9 in Cyanogenmod, it is under development and having many bugs so that you can install this after release of stable version.

As per my opinion you should first install CM7.1.0 stable version that is bug free and battery life is also good in this ROM after releasing CM7.2 or CM9 stable version you can also install them over it without any difficulty.

Steps for installing CM 7.1.0 –

First backup your all data, steps for backing up your data-

Sync your contacts & calendar entries using wifi to your Google account. You can also export your contacts to sdcard.
Export your sms using “sms backup & restore” apps from market.
Backup your apps using androzip apps to your sd card
If you have titanium backup you can backup all your user data, apps, settings to sdcard e.g. apps with all your customise settings and data.
You will not lose anything if you backup and restore using titanium backup.

Now see how to install CM 7.1.0 stable

In this post I am telling you how to install CM7 on your defy without ability to come back on stock froyo , if you want to have downgrade ability and again want to come back on stock froyo see the FAQ section of XDA .

First root your froyo ROM, you should be on froyo before installing CM7, update first froyo if your defy is having 2.1 Éclair.

Now root your defy see my previous post regarding this using super one click tool.

Although any Froyo ROM will work fine even your stock Motorola Froyo ROM, but if you are facing problems you can install nandroid backup of 3.4.2-179-2 CEE ROM as described on FAQ section of XDA site.

After rooting install 2ndinitdefy for installing custom recovery, recovery is a pre boot UI that allow you to backup your ROM or install any other ROMs.

After installing 2ndinitdefy turn on your wifi or data network and tap on install recovery now choose latest recovery and install.

After installing reboot your mobile and again reboot, on second reboot when led glow blue press volume down button to reach on custom recovery. This is very important if you press power+ volume-dn button you will reach on stock recovery that is not of any use.

In recovery choose volume buttons to navigate up & down and power button to select the option. Now in recovery choose custom recovery then choose backup & restore and backup your present ROM.

Now reboot your mobile and connect to pc using data cable, now save this backup file in safe place location is /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup.

Copy all these files inside your sd card root –

Cyanogenmod 7.1.0 stable
Google apps – choose gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip
GPS fix for your Region
Defy base band switcher tool

Your battery charge should be at least 70% to start the process. Now again reboot your mobile and when led glow blue press vol-dn key to reach recovery.

-In Recovery Menu -> select custom recovery

– Select “wipe cache partition” then “wipe data/factory reset”
– Select “install zip from sdcard”, “choose zip from sdcard”, then select “update-cm-7.1.0-11-Defy-signed.zip”
– Select “choose zip from sdcard”, then select “gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip”
– Select “Choose zip from sdcard”, then select ” defy bb switcher”
** You can install any other patches that you have now, like Swype or GPS Fix **
– Select “+++++Go Back++++++” then “reboot your system now”
** Sometimes, during the first boot after installation, the boot animation doesn’t stop. If you dont see anymore a led activity, remove your battery and reboot.

First boot may take some time approx. 2-3 min, now you have installed Cyanogenmod into your defy, enjoy very fast and snappier experience as was never before in stock froyo ROM.

Cynagenmod already come with 1Ghz over clocked, you can also change your clock speed in boot menu, press power button then press reboot, now choose boot menu. At the time of boot system will automatically reach to boot menu, now select cpu settings and change cpu clock as per your requirement. You can also undervolt/overvolt your mobile for stability.

How to install Cyanogenmod 7.2 RC 3 –

If you want to install Cyanogenmod 7.2 RC3 that is the latest version of Cyanogenmod Gingerbread Base you can easily install it over the Cyanogenmod 7.1.0 stable, just download Cyanogenmod 7.2 RC3 from here — http://download.cyanogenmod.com/?device=jordan&type=RC

Now copy it into your sd card ,Reboot your system in recovery mode

-Select “install zip from sdcard”, “choose zip from sdcard”, then select “update-cm-7.2.0-RC3-jordan-signed” and install .

Your all apps and settings will restore without doing anything it is very good, but you should take backup of your ROM , contacts, messages, apps for precaution.

Battery life in CM 7.2 RC3 is also good as compared to CM 7.2 RC2.

Update –

Cyanogenmod 7.2 Stable has been launched you can download this ROM from here – https://newtechworld.net/cyanogenmod-7.2-stable-has-released-for-defy/

For Cyanogenmod 7 Baseband switcher, GPS Fix, Battery Life improvement & CPU settings see this Post – Cyanogenmod 7 Guide part-1: First steps after installation

For Cyanogenmod 7 new features & Tweaks see this post – https://newtechworld.net/cyanogenmod-7-guide-part-2-new-features-tweaks/

Download the required files directly from here –

SuperOneClickFor2.1

2ndinitdefy

Cyanogenmod 7.1.0 stable – http://download.cyanogenmod.com/?device=jordan&type=stable

Google Apps – gapps-gb-20110828-signed

Defy base band switcher tool – bbsV4.0mlV0.7

gps fix for asia region – Asia

Sources –

http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Motorola_Defy

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1033654

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1065798