[Galaxy Note GT-N7000 General] Kangal:
Here's my contribution, it might be a good idea to add it to the first post/op.

Here's the steps you need to follow:

STEP A) You've used the Device. You're on Stock Gingerbread or Stock ICS

0- Back up all your media to your PC (movies, videos, photos, pictures, documents, music, voice recordings, etc etc)

1- Back up all your personal files (contacts, sms, call log, apn etc)

--Back up contacts (Sync to Google Services, or use the App)

--Back up sms (install to phone)

--Back up Call logs(install to phone)

--Back up APN-optional-(install on phone).

--Copy the files created by the Back Up Apps to your external sdcard/pc

2- Root

Gingerbread

ROM

--Download and Install Kies on your PC, or find the "USB Drivers for Samsung Devices".

--Use One-Click Root http://rootgalaxynote.com/galaxy-note-root/how-to-root-galaxy-note-gt-n7000method-1/

It is the easiest method, CF-Root also works great, both don't increase flash counter, no Triangle.

3- Install from Google Market the Titanium Backup Free App (and Allow "Superuser" rights, checks your r00t privileges)

--Backup your Apps with Data with Titanium Backup

--Keep a copy of this Titanium Backup folder, the Back up files (calls etc) in your PC/external sdcard

4- Back up your EFS system folder (has imei etc, just to be extra safe) by downloading the "EFS PRO v1.8.3" and running it on your PC

5- Finally you want to Back up everything (via NANDROID)

--Enter your custom recovery (Hold Home, Vol Up, Power)

--Then make a Nandroid Backup

OPTIONAL Step B: If you want Stock ICS only

- IF you're coming from Gingerbread ROM, UnRoot it (don't hide it and risk a buggy update)

- Apply the OTA to Official Samsung ICS

--- Overwrite the Official Samsung ICS Kernel, with a custom one to be on a SAFE Kernel:

--Download PC Odin v3.185

- Download a TouchWizz-based kernel that is SAFE. It must be for Odin (tar file).

Franco r5, SpeedMod K3-7, or GL_NOTECORE (New!).

- Now you put phone to Download Mode (Hold Home, Vol Dwn and Power)

- Quit Kies, Run Odin from PC

- Insert cable phone<>pc

- Odin should identify your phone (Com something comes up, first box lights up Yellow)

- Click on "PDA" and select your .TAR file (which is your safe ics kernel)

- Hit Start, and let Odin do its magic.

- Your phone will automatically reboot (takes 2 mins), if it hangs on bootloop remove the battery and turn phone on normally

- Everything should work and you should NOT have lost your Media, Apps, Personal Files (contacts, logs, sms, apn).

- You should have "Superuser" or "SU" App installed

- You may have "CWM" App installed too, otherwise you should have custom recovery without the app

- Install from Google Market the Titanium Backup Free App (and Allow "Superuser" rights, checks your r00t privileges)

-- If you've done a clean install/factory reset

- Restore your Apps with TiBU and issue all updates for any Apps

- Back up the new TouchWizz Apps (Premium Suite S Pen etc)

- Restore all your personal files (contacts, sms, call log, apn etc) using the Apps from Step A1

- Do a quick run, test if everything works

- TriangleAway (reset flash counter)

- Now you want to make another Nandroid Backup for ICS TWizz.

- FINALLY Make sure you KEEP all these files safe in your PC and External Sdcard:

(Gingerbread nandroid backup folder, ICS nandroid backup folder, EFS file, Titanium backup folder, Personal Backup files for call, contacts, sms, apn, AND finally your personal/media files you treasure from StepA 0)

- Restore all your media (after you nandroid, so its not too bloated)

- Enjoy.

**First time, total process might take you upto 30min hour (reading, understanding, following step by step, double checking etc etc). Afterwards, whole process would take you 5mins tops. Now you have official Samsung TouchWizz ROM, Android 4.0.3, cwm recovery, safe Samsung kernel with root and busybox**

And hopefully that will be a "good enough" experience for you, otherwise proceed below for custom firmware:

STEP C: And if you want a better experience

--Use CWM to flash the (AOSP) ROM of your choice from recovery (eg ParanoidAndroid)

-Wipe wipe wipe (Dalvik, cache, factory reset)

-Use CWM to flash a SAFE (AOSP) kernel, choices include:

--CM9 Nightly Kernel, ANiDROID Kernel, Thor(v15), XPLODWILD, DAFUQ, or updated CF-kernel

-Fix permissions

-Reboot

**Now you have a Pure Google/Stock experience, Android 4.0.4, cwm recovery, custom ROM and custom KERNEL with root and busybox***

STEP D: Finalize your custom firmware!

-(Optional) From CWM, flash Google Apps (Play Store etc) if they aren't included in the rom (most roms have it pre-installed)

-Download Titanium BackUp from Play Store

-Restore all your apps

-Restore all your personal files (contacts, sms, call log) (apn only if necessary)

-Test if everything works

--Play around with the ROM (features etc) and the KERNEL (test O'C, U'V, Stability and Battery Life)

-Nandroid backup (if you want)

-Restore all your media (after you nandroid, so its not too bloated)

By now, you've graduated Android 101, you should be able to do many other things, otherwise have the capacity to learn them