General principles & Instructions:
1. Make certain the theme you have chosen is developed for the ROM you are currently running. Theme makers will design themes with specific ROMs in mind for proper fit and function. ROM examples:
DarkREVENGE,
AOSP,
Kaosinate,
Vanilla Froyo,
MIUI,
Blackhole 4.x,
Superclean 2.x, etc. Flashing a theme on an incompatible ROM can (will) cause some rather disastrous outcomes. I try to make sure that all this information is specified on the download page ? if it is not there click the link in the developer name. This will take you to the developer page and there will be more details.
If you are just starting out and need clarification on flashing or CWM
Sheepdog Elite - has put together a fantastic thread to help. ->
link
Download and Installation Instructions:
1. Once you have established your ROM you have and the theme you want match up. Ensure that you have either the red or orange CWM depending on what is asked for by the theme maker (red should work well for the time being). Download that theme to your computer.
2. Then attach your phone via the usb cable and connect usb storage via the phone.
3. Copy the downloaded theme zip file to your sdcard.
4. When the copy is completely loaded to the phone disconnect and boot into recovery.
5. Back up your current ROM? This may be necessary for restoration given the phone does not boot properly (or at all) after installation of the theme.
6. Once back up is complete you may choose to clear your cache partition and/or the Dalvik cache. There are some who choose not to do this step and have not suffered any unpleasant outcomes.. (and others have their phones become bricks).. It is at your discretion. However, it is recommended by many theme builders.
7. Once you choose to clear cache (or not) ? navigate to install zip from sdcard.
8. Navigate to the location where you saved the theme zip file on your sdcard.
9. Install the zip.
10. If you get the error ?script not supported or outdated? the theme is using the older Amend script and you are using the newer CWM orange ? you need to boot into CWM red to get the theme to apply.
11. Once the file has installed return to the main menu and reboot phone. It will take about 2-4 minutes to reboot be patient.
Some Cautions:
Some users (me) have experienced odd behavior from the phone after flashing many (3+) themes consecutively. These side effects are: phone contacts self-delete and force close when you try to access them. Best case scenario: Flash a new theme.. Worst case scenario: This will require a D-cache wipe and base ROM re-flash.
Boot-loops upon attempts to restore past backups of the same themed ROM. This may require a D-cache wipe and base ROM re-flash. Some of these nandroid backups are corrupted or not stable and will boot loop. I have deleted them in favor of backups that are stable and can be reliably restored.
Suicide Shift found a fix that worked for him see this
post
Always keep in mind there is a way out if things get really bad. ? Please check out these threads:
[Guide] Tools of the Trade, Troubleshooting, Returning to Stock;