Install CyanogenMod 7.1 RC On Google Nexus S [Guide]

Ever since the release of CyanogenMod 7, it has earned the approval and praise of many Nexus S users. Seeing the success of this ROM, the developers continued making improvements to their AOSP ROM, and have finally come up with a release candidate for version 7.1. The latest version incorporates features like improved swipe-to-clear for notifications, latest Superuser app, speed-up photo recording and numerous other mouth-watering prospects.

So how exactly can you install the new release candidate to your Nexus S? Well, if you have CyanogenMod 7 already running on your device then you will find the instructions and installation details pretty similar to the one described sin our post a little while back.

However for your convenience and to cover the few changes in the procedure, here are the requirements and instructions for installation.

Disclaimer: Please follow this guide at your own risk. AddictiveTips will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.

Requirements

• Your device must be rooted (method for rooting Nexus S is available here)
• ClockworkMod recovery must be installed, as instructed in our article.
• (https://download.cyanogenmod.com/get/RC/update-cm-7.1.0-RC1-NS-signed.zip) CyanogenMod 7.1 RC1
• (https://goo.im/gapps/gapps-gb-20110613-signed.zip) Google Apps Addon

Instructions

1. Connect your Nexus S to your computer via USB and mount SD Card as disk drive.
2. Now Copy CM7.1 file downloaded (as told in requirements) to the root of your SD memory.
3. Reboot your phone in ClockworkMod Recovery and perform a Nandroid backup for your current ROM. This is done by using the option “backup and restore” in the menu. This backup is your insurance policy against bricking your device in case something goes wrong.
4. Go to the “wipe data/factory reset” option next to put your phone in a stock condition. Now your phone is ready to accept a new ROM.
5. Select “install zip from sdcard” present on the main menu of the recovery tool, and then select “choose zip from sdcard” to flash the ROM.
6. Wait for  the installation to proceed and the settings to take effect, and once that’s done and you re reboot your phone, you are ready to roll with your latest release candidate of CM7.1.
7. And just in case you want it, you can also install the Google Apps addon package on your brand-new ROM by following step 6, to get Play Store, Gmail and other Google apps on your phone.

All these instructions work fine if you are using any ROM on your Nexus S, but the method is even more simple if you just want to upgrade from CyanogenMod 7 to CyanogenMod 7.1 RC1. (No need to reset and wipe.) Simply create a Nandroid backup, flash CyanogenMod and you are all done.

For further details and developments you can visit the official XDA forum thread.

Read Full Bio

Hamza Khalid

Handles Windows Phone, iOS and Cydia. A big WP7 fan, who just loves writing about anything and everything. Google+

Latest from Author

Make WP 8.1 & Cortana Read Out Quotes To You Hands-On With Facebook Messenger For Windows Phone 8