Update Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 to Android 4.4.2 KitKat with SlimKAT ROM

March 29, 2014

SlimKAT ROM is a very popular and one of the best custom ROMs available for so many Android devices around. XDA senior member FusionJack has brought the users unofficial SlimKAT ROM for Samsung’s break-through device, the Galaxy S2. SlimKAT ROM, more precisely known as SlimROM and SlimSaber ROM for the Galaxy S2 is based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat and is compiled up using SaberMod toolchain that is same as that of the official Slim ROM.

Probably all of you know that Samsung has stopped Galaxy S2’s official updates at Android 4.1.2 that means the device owners are no longer able to taste any further version of Android. While some of you’re worried because of this drawback, SlimKAT ROM might be able to save your device a life. You can easily update your device to this nice custom ROM and experience Android 4.4.2 KitKat unofficially. Although SlimKAT is a very smooth and stable custom ROM loaded with tons of features but it may kept in mind that after all it’s a custom ROM and it may contain bugs. It is highly recommended not to install a custom operating system until and unless you’re not familiar with it and you’re not good at tweaking your device. You may proceed only if you’ve are an Android power user and are familiar with custom ROMs. In the following post we’ll be going through the ROM features and the step by step guide to install it successfully on the Galaxy S2 GT-I9100. All you got to do, is to move forward and read the instructions carefully.

Here are the features of SlimSaber (SlimKAT) ROM Android 4.4.2 KitKat for Galaxy S2:

SlimSaber (SlimKat) ROM

20131216 | Package Installer: Show current & new version of the app – while installing the apk manually.
20131219 | Double tap gesture on the status bar to turn off the screen
20131222 | SlimCenter: Now you can check SlimSaber updates through SlimCenter. You’ll be redirected to goo.im i9100 folder.
20131225 | Chamber of Secrets: The settings is hidden, but you can active the hidden setting. Wait for announcement from SlimBean team regarding this feature. It looks like for advanced user only. Read more info here.

Path: First go to developer options – scroll to the bottom list and tap on empty space. Then add widget to home screen called slim shortcut
20131229 | Option to use volume keys to control media volume anytime: The volume keys control the Media volume rather than the Ringer hence removing the issue of accidentally changing the Ringer volume.
Path: Settings – Sound – Advanced options – Tick on Media control
20131230 | Advanced storage settings: switch external storage.
Path: Settings – Storage – Menu – Advanced storage settings
20131230 | Temporary integrated performance settings using omnirom’s performance control into advanced settings. If you use performance control app, better deinstall it before flashing this build.
Path: Settings – Advanced options – Performance
20140105 | Swap volume buttons when the screen is rotated by 90 or 180 degrees.
Path: Settings – Display – Rotation – Swap volume buttons
20140108 | Quick Settings – let’s welcome Location Tile to 4.4. See here for explanation.
20140111 | Flip to Mute/Reject Call.
Path: Phone app – Menu – Settings – Flip Action. Also while you are in that screen, you can tick on “Incoming call in background” (Android 4.4 feature or Slim team?)
20140111 | Mobile Network Battery Saver Mode. More info here.
Path: Settings -> More -> Mobile Networks -> Battery saving mode
20140111 | Add LongClick SwitchButton. More info here and here
20140111 | Sleep Screen Shortcut: Looks like Slim shortcut 1×1 widget with “Go to sleep” function.
20140111 | Minimum Vibration Duration: For example set the vibration intensity when pressing the menu key or pattern lock screen.
Path: Settings – Sound – Minimum vibration duration
20140113 | Call Log: Separate All tab into Incoming and Outgoing tabs
20140113 | Custom Tiles for Quick Settings tiles
20140115 | Listanimation Views and Interpolator: more info here – Point [2] @GNUDroid.
Path: Settings – Display – ListView Animation/Interpolator
20141018 | Torch – Glowpad Torch: Double-tap and hold the slider to start torch.
Path: Settings – Security – Slider targets and shortcuts – Tick on slider torch
20141018 | Pimp up Notification: Hide Labels.
Path: Settings – Interface – Notification – Hide notification labels
20141018 | Add Advanced reboot. If your advanced reboot gone, re-enable in Settings – Security – Advanced reboot
20141018 | My Phone Number: This adds back the option to set the device phone number, just for fun probably.
Path: Go to phone app – menu – settings – Additional settings – My phone number and enter your phone number. Then go to Settings – About phone – Status – My Phone Number and enjoy!
20141018 | Settings: Add support for ADB over network.
Path: Settings – Developer options – ADB over network. Read the warning!
20140120 | Smart Pulldown. Path: Settings – Interface – Notification – Smart pulldown
20140120 | Quick Settings: Quick Collapse. Path: Settings – Interface – Notification – Quick Collapse
20140120 | Always show battery on Keyguard. Path: Settings – Security – Battery status
20140120 | Expandable Volume Overlay. Path: Settings – Sound – Volume panel style.
20140120 | Favorite Contact Tile for Quick Settings tiles
20140125 | Feature: Slims Hardware Key Rebinding. Path: Settings – Navigation – Hardware Button.
20140125 | Make menu unlock configurable. Path: Settings – Security. It is disabled by default.
20140125 | Feature: Custom Carrier Label. Path: Settings – Interface – Notification – Custom carrier label
20140127 | Clear All Apps button added in Recent Panel. Path: Settings – Interface – Recent apps panel Removed from build 201403014
20140127 | Fixed external storage not mounting under UMS mode with upstream update
20140127 | Pimp-up Media Tile: After enabling the “Music” tile in QS screen, you can double tap on it while playing the music to start a sleep timer for the currently playing media. More info here
20140127 | Added DashClock as default lock screen clock widget. To bring back the stock lock screen clock, simply remove the DashClock app via SlimSizer from SlimCenter [thanks to @JavaScout for the info]. Read fushionjack’s additional info here. Removed from build 20140129
20140201 | Added network stats to status bar: After enabling this, you will see the upload and download speed of your data/internet in the status bar. More info here @Rachid.Ala
Path: Settings – Interface – Status bar – Network speed
20140201 | Clear All Apps button (Improvement): Added long press to clear caches. You’ll be prompted with supersuper. That’s normal. Removed from build 20140304
20140201 | Configurable overflow menu button: Forcing the overflow menu button is a feature of Android 4.4. However with this option now you can completely enable or disable the overflow menu on screen key.
Path: Settings – Navigation – Hardware buttons – Show overflow menu button
20140202 | AOKP custom system animations: Now you can set lots of custom animations for various parts of the UI.
Path: Settings – Display – Custom system animations
20140202 | Super advanced Custom Toggle: More info here
20140203 | Allow holders of WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE to write to secondary external storage. More info here
20140207 | Fix corrupted charging animation when the phone is switched off and the charger is plugged in and some changes related to the charger like.
20140207 | Home button to unlock device: More info here.
Path: Settings – Security
20140207 | Dynamic data usage: Change the data usage cycle to daily, weekly or monthly.
Path: Settings – Data usage – Tap on data usage cycle list – scroll all the way down and choose custom cycle
20140207 | Added OmniSwitch: Details about the feature here. Other related infos here.
Path: Open the OmniSwitch app from the app drawer and enable it and then configure them as per your requirement Removed from build 20140304
20140210 | SlimPIE: Based on CM’s PIE, inspired by PA’s PIE with a light touch of Slim. More info here.
Path: Settings – Navigation – SlimPIE
20140210 | Open source google dialer: More info here. Try searching for “pizza” in the phone app. If you do not find any nearby pizza restaurant phone number, try enabling location first.
20140210 | OmniSwitch as default recents: Now you can make OmniSwitch as your default recent app menu when you press the recent button combo.
Path: Settings – Interface – Recents app panel Removed from build 20140304
20140210 | Home button answers call: Adds ability to answer call with hardware HOME button.
Path: Settings – Accessibility – Home button answers call
20140210 | Add Download Speeds and ETA in notification. Works for downloads notification, Play Store downloads, etc..
20140213 | Recents RAM bar. Path: Settings – Interface – Recents app panel Removed from build 20140304
20140217 | SDCard: direct I/O file access fix. A brand new update from AOSP concerning sdcard
20140221 | Wakelock Blocker: This is will show you list of wakelocks which can be blocked from happening. Use with caution.
Path: Settings – Advanced options – Wakelock blocker Temporarily removed from build 20140304
20140221 | Add battery level around unlock ring: You can see this only when “slide” lock screen is set.
Path: Settings – Security – Battery level around unlock ring
20140221 | Enable Lockscreen orientation. Path: Settings – Security – Allow screen rotation
20140224 | Notification Reminders: Click notification header to set a reminder. Long-click to dismiss current.
Path: Settings – Interface – Notification & QS Drawer – Notification reminder

Pre-Installation Instructions:

This ROM is only for Samsung Galaxy S II GT-I9100. Do not try this on any other device, please check your device’s model in Settings > About Device > Model.
Your device must have a custom recovery installed, in case you’re missing it you may Follow our full guide here to install CWM.
Your device’s battery should be charged at least over 60%. This is highly recommended in order to prevent any power issues during the flashing process.
Make sure that you backup your important media content, Contacts, Call Logs & Messages. This is highly recommended just in case something goes wrong and you need to reset your phone.
If you already have rooted your device, use Titanium Backup to back up all your important apps + system data. Also if you are using a custom recovery, it is recommended that you backup your current system using that first. [Just for the sake of safety]. Here’s our full Nandroid Backup guide.
You will have to go through Data Wipes during installation of this ROM, so make sure that you have backed up all the mentioned data.
Make an EFS backup of your phone before you flash this ROM.
You need enough confidence to flash this ROM.
Alright! Go ahead and flash the custom firmware, follow this guide to the letter.

Disclaimer: The methods involved in flashing custom roms and rooting your phone are highly custom and may result in bricking your device, and has nothing to do with Google or the device manufacturer that is SAMSUNG in our case. Also rooting your device will void its warranty and you will be no longer eligible for any kind of free device services by the manufacturers/warranty providers. In case of any mishap we may not be held responsible. Follow these instructions to the letter to avoid any mishap or bricking. Make sure that whatever you do, you are doing it at your own responsibility.

How to Install SlimSaber Android 4.4.2 KitKat on Samsung Galaxy S2:

Download SlimSaber Android 4.4.2 KitKat ROM .zip file.
Download Google Gapps for Android 4.4.2 KitKat .zip file.
Connect your phone to your PC now.
Copy both the .zip files to the storage of your phone.
Now disconnect your phone and turn it off complete.
Boot into CWM recovery now, in order to do so, turn it on by pressing and holding Volume Up + Home Button + Power Key. You should see the recovery mode in a while.
Now in CWM recovery, wipe cache, factory data reset and advanced options > dalvik cache.
After wiping all these three, select “Install” option.
Now select “Install > Choose Zip from SD card > Select SlimSaber ROM.zip file > Yes”.
This will flash the ROM in your phone.
Once again in CWM select “Install > Choose zip from SD card > Gapps.zip file > Yes”.
This will flash Gapps in your phone.
Reboot your device.
You should see the SlimSaber (SlimKAT) ROM running on your device in a while.
That’s all!

First boot may take up to 10 minutes, you may not worry if it’s taking that much long. In case it’s taking too long, you may boot into CWM recovery and wipe cache and dalvik cache and reboot your device as it may fix the issue. In case your device is having issues, you may return to your old system using the Nandroid backup or follow our guide here to install stock firmware.

In case you got any issues or you face any difficulties regarding this post, please feel free to stop by the comment box below and let us know. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you all.

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