This is a simple guide designed to help users to setup their phones with custom ROM and their personalized settings. I want to start off by saying this is not the only way to set up your phone however it is my recommended way. There are reasons behind my madness. Lets hope we can figure them out 
PREFLASH
.
1. Update user Apps if applicable. (Doing so will in sure you have the latest version for backup)
2. Use a Backup program such as Titanium Backup Pro. Run a full user application backup.(yes even if you have them scheduled) This will help in sure that you have all your programs and their settings. ***DO NOT RESTORE SYSTEM SETTINS FROM ANOTHER ROM***
3. If you have custom ringtones or notifications stored in the /system/media/audio folder copy and paste these to your sd card. You may also want to use a program to save SMS/MMS and Call Logs. Also make sure you have Synced your contacts, and calendar with Google.
4. Now you want to make sure you have all files necessary for the Flash. You will need Super Wipe (Not needed per se but highly recommended), the ROM, and Gapps if AOSP ROM. You will also need the GPS fix for your phone if AOSP, and Kernel if Flashing a custom one. Make sure you have read the DEV'S info on the ROM. Know exactly what you need to expect (Such as 4g not working)
5. Make a Nandroid backup. You will need to do this before doing anything else to your phone. Too many times have I read post from people with a problem that could have been solved easily with a Nandroid backup
6. Last thing I recommend before flashing is to copy the sd card to your computer. One this gives you a fresh copy of all your Apps that are saved by Titanium and this gives you your most recent Nandroids, along with saving all your personal files.(Pictures, Music, Videos, and etc) – Note this can be done by turning on USB-MS in Amon Ra not sure about clockwork.(MODS Feel Free To modify with the info for clockwork)
Flash.
1. Now that you have saved everything you may now proceed to flash. I recommend that you Wipe cache, dalvic, data, boot, and System at least 3 times.(Can use Superwipe to accomplish this a bit faster) I recommend running Superwipe atlest twice.
2. After cleaning everything you are now ready to actually flash. In Amon RA go to flash from sd card and select the ROM you wish to flash click on it push the power button to say yes and begin the flashing of your new ROM.(MODS Feel Free To modify with the info for clockwork)
3. After the Rom has finished installing, if this is an AOSP (such as CM7) you will want to now flash Gapps. If this is a Sense ROM, I recommend going a head and rebooting and boot into your new ROM.
4. Boot into the new ROM and Go through the setup process. Setup your Google info and Setup your Wifi, Bluetooth, and any other settings you need to setup(Note: Do not install your Apps yet) . Make sure everything is working. Make a phone call send a text and check that the phone works they way you expect it.
5. If everything is looking good now reboot into recovery and do a Nandroid backup. When backup has finished reboot.
6. If everything is working properly go into your file explorer and rename the Nandroid you made after the initial install.(Note: Only install your File explorer if there is not one with the ROM you installed) Rename it to something like ROMNAME_INITIAL.zip
Post Flash
1. If you are installing a Kernel now is where you want to do so. So reboot into recovery ((Add In) You should wipe cache and Dalvic before installing the Kernel.) After wipe then select install flash from sd card and start the Kernel flash process. If you are not installing a Kernel move on to step 3. After Flashing Kernel reboot into ROM check that everything is working properly. All devices such as Wifi and Bluetooth. If all is smooth then reboot into recovery and make a Nandroid.
2. When phone is fully booted you may now want to rename the new Nandroid to ROMNAME_KernelName.
3. Now install your Titanium backup and let it start re-installing the Apps you want. Do not install anything that is in RED LETTERING. These are system Apps from the old ROM and will have the potential to cause major problems (Multiple FC issues, Wake locks, and other serious issues) After all Apps have installed you will want to run them and make sure that they are working properly.
4. Reboot into recovery and make a Nandroid. Then reboot into the ROM and go and rename that Nandroid to something like ROMNAME_MYAPPS.
5. If you are installing a Theme from Flash then you will want to do this now. Reboot, Install From SD CARD and Reboot into ROM. If all is well then reboot into recovery make a Nandroid then reboot back to the ROM. Go to your File Manager and rename the Nandroid something like THEMENAME_ROMNAME.
6. Now you are ready to start putting your ringtones and other settings into the ROM. If you have synced all your contacts and calendars then those should be already done. If not then you will need to add these now. If they are then you are ready to setup your ringtones, notifications, and alarms. Set Wallpaper up and any other settings you will want.
7. If everything is running the way you want and looking the way you want we are ready to reboot the phone. Allow the phone to fully reboot check things out make sure you are not having any issues. Then reboot to recovery and (yep you guessed it make a Nandroid. Reboot into the ROM goto your File Manager and rename the Nandroid something like ROMNAME_MYSETUP.
As long as everything is running smooth and you are not having any issues you can now probably delete some of the Nandroids you made during the process. All these Nandroids may seem like a bit of over kill but trust me when I tell you that you will be glad you have them incase things go wrong during your setup. I recommend this particular setup because its easy to fall back to a “Stage” if you have something not working right like a program that FC's every few seconds preventing you from doing anything but hitting the OK button. Or if you happen to have a bad Kernel download always easy to go back and re-download the Kernel. Some people Flash the ROM and then the Kernel all in one recovery session I do not recommend this because if there is an issue its not known if its the ROM or the Kernel.
Also notice that I recommend that you update your programs before changing ROMS this is so you wont have to wait for the market to finish updating them after the install. If you decide anytime that you want to go back to the old ROM when you do the Nandroid Restore your programs will already be updated (ofcourse this depends on how much time between this ROM and the previous one).
All personal settings (themes, ringtones, and etc) are recommended to be done last for hopefully obvious reasons. However if its not obvious here it is. You do not want to go through all the trouble of setting things up then deciding to install a kernel and have your phone not boot. Or even more un-obvious is re-setting all settings and programs and on the next reboot running into a bootloop situation. This has happened to a few people including myself. I however was fortunate enough to have a Nandroid to fall back on, some of the people were not.
Basic Trouble shooting.
IF you have issue after installing a custom Kernel you can always go back to the initial ROM and try another Kernel. This will be a bit faster than Completely wiping everything and then re-flashing the ROM and then the new Kernel and blah blah blah...
If you re-install Apps and find that you have a bootloop you can go back to last Nandroid and then tell Titanium to install only the Apps (No DATA) or you can restore Apps/DATA one at a time check things out reboot and see if everything is ok. Yes one at a time can be quite time consuming especially if your OCNBRZE with 160 Apps or Me with 120.
If you have other issues you can always come in here and post it and we will help you with the very best of our abilities
If there is a procedure you think should be incorporated into this guide please post and I will update the guide to incorporate your procedure as long as it works and makes the process easier.
I have made pdf of this document. Incase you want to print this.
Happy Flashing
Argedion
PREFLASH
.
1. Update user Apps if applicable. (Doing so will in sure you have the latest version for backup)
2. Use a Backup program such as Titanium Backup Pro. Run a full user application backup.(yes even if you have them scheduled) This will help in sure that you have all your programs and their settings. ***DO NOT RESTORE SYSTEM SETTINS FROM ANOTHER ROM***
3. If you have custom ringtones or notifications stored in the /system/media/audio folder copy and paste these to your sd card. You may also want to use a program to save SMS/MMS and Call Logs. Also make sure you have Synced your contacts, and calendar with Google.
4. Now you want to make sure you have all files necessary for the Flash. You will need Super Wipe (Not needed per se but highly recommended), the ROM, and Gapps if AOSP ROM. You will also need the GPS fix for your phone if AOSP, and Kernel if Flashing a custom one. Make sure you have read the DEV'S info on the ROM. Know exactly what you need to expect (Such as 4g not working)
5. Make a Nandroid backup. You will need to do this before doing anything else to your phone. Too many times have I read post from people with a problem that could have been solved easily with a Nandroid backup
6. Last thing I recommend before flashing is to copy the sd card to your computer. One this gives you a fresh copy of all your Apps that are saved by Titanium and this gives you your most recent Nandroids, along with saving all your personal files.(Pictures, Music, Videos, and etc) – Note this can be done by turning on USB-MS in Amon Ra not sure about clockwork.(MODS Feel Free To modify with the info for clockwork)
Flash.
1. Now that you have saved everything you may now proceed to flash. I recommend that you Wipe cache, dalvic, data, boot, and System at least 3 times.(Can use Superwipe to accomplish this a bit faster) I recommend running Superwipe atlest twice.
2. After cleaning everything you are now ready to actually flash. In Amon RA go to flash from sd card and select the ROM you wish to flash click on it push the power button to say yes and begin the flashing of your new ROM.(MODS Feel Free To modify with the info for clockwork)
3. After the Rom has finished installing, if this is an AOSP (such as CM7) you will want to now flash Gapps. If this is a Sense ROM, I recommend going a head and rebooting and boot into your new ROM.
4. Boot into the new ROM and Go through the setup process. Setup your Google info and Setup your Wifi, Bluetooth, and any other settings you need to setup(Note: Do not install your Apps yet) . Make sure everything is working. Make a phone call send a text and check that the phone works they way you expect it.
5. If everything is looking good now reboot into recovery and do a Nandroid backup. When backup has finished reboot.
6. If everything is working properly go into your file explorer and rename the Nandroid you made after the initial install.(Note: Only install your File explorer if there is not one with the ROM you installed) Rename it to something like ROMNAME_INITIAL.zip
Post Flash
1. If you are installing a Kernel now is where you want to do so. So reboot into recovery ((Add In) You should wipe cache and Dalvic before installing the Kernel.) After wipe then select install flash from sd card and start the Kernel flash process. If you are not installing a Kernel move on to step 3. After Flashing Kernel reboot into ROM check that everything is working properly. All devices such as Wifi and Bluetooth. If all is smooth then reboot into recovery and make a Nandroid.
2. When phone is fully booted you may now want to rename the new Nandroid to ROMNAME_KernelName.
3. Now install your Titanium backup and let it start re-installing the Apps you want. Do not install anything that is in RED LETTERING. These are system Apps from the old ROM and will have the potential to cause major problems (Multiple FC issues, Wake locks, and other serious issues) After all Apps have installed you will want to run them and make sure that they are working properly.
4. Reboot into recovery and make a Nandroid. Then reboot into the ROM and go and rename that Nandroid to something like ROMNAME_MYAPPS.
5. If you are installing a Theme from Flash then you will want to do this now. Reboot, Install From SD CARD and Reboot into ROM. If all is well then reboot into recovery make a Nandroid then reboot back to the ROM. Go to your File Manager and rename the Nandroid something like THEMENAME_ROMNAME.
6. Now you are ready to start putting your ringtones and other settings into the ROM. If you have synced all your contacts and calendars then those should be already done. If not then you will need to add these now. If they are then you are ready to setup your ringtones, notifications, and alarms. Set Wallpaper up and any other settings you will want.
7. If everything is running the way you want and looking the way you want we are ready to reboot the phone. Allow the phone to fully reboot check things out make sure you are not having any issues. Then reboot to recovery and (yep you guessed it
make a Nandroid. Reboot into the ROM goto your File Manager and rename the Nandroid something like ROMNAME_MYSETUP. As long as everything is running smooth and you are not having any issues you can now probably delete some of the Nandroids you made during the process. All these Nandroids may seem like a bit of over kill but trust me when I tell you that you will be glad you have them incase things go wrong during your setup. I recommend this particular setup because its easy to fall back to a “Stage” if you have something not working right like a program that FC's every few seconds preventing you from doing anything but hitting the OK button. Or if you happen to have a bad Kernel download always easy to go back and re-download the Kernel. Some people Flash the ROM and then the Kernel all in one recovery session I do not recommend this because if there is an issue its not known if its the ROM or the Kernel.
Also notice that I recommend that you update your programs before changing ROMS this is so you wont have to wait for the market to finish updating them after the install. If you decide anytime that you want to go back to the old ROM when you do the Nandroid Restore your programs will already be updated (ofcourse this depends on how much time between this ROM and the previous one).
All personal settings (themes, ringtones, and etc) are recommended to be done last for hopefully obvious reasons. However if its not obvious here it is. You do not want to go through all the trouble of setting things up then deciding to install a kernel and have your phone not boot. Or even more un-obvious is re-setting all settings and programs and on the next reboot running into a bootloop situation. This has happened to a few people including myself. I however was fortunate enough to have a Nandroid to fall back on, some of the people were not.
Basic Trouble shooting.
IF you have issue after installing a custom Kernel you can always go back to the initial ROM and try another Kernel. This will be a bit faster than Completely wiping everything and then re-flashing the ROM and then the new Kernel and blah blah blah...
If you re-install Apps and find that you have a bootloop you can go back to last Nandroid and then tell Titanium to install only the Apps (No DATA) or you can restore Apps/DATA one at a time check things out reboot and see if everything is ok. Yes one at a time can be quite time consuming especially if your OCNBRZE with 160 Apps or Me with 120.
If you have other issues you can always come in here and post it and we will help you with the very best of our abilities
If there is a procedure you think should be incorporated into this guide please post and I will update the guide to incorporate your procedure as long as it works and makes the process easier.
I have made pdf of this document. Incase you want to print this.
Happy Flashing
Argedion
