How to Install Custom ROM on your Sony Xperia Phone

If you root your Android phone, you can do virtually anything, right from enabling career-blocked tethering to installing a custom ROM. The android community is so active that chances are that you can get tens of custom ROMs for your phone model. If you have a Sony Xperia Mini Pro, you can have hundreds of custom ROMs from the XDA forums. These custom ROMs provide you with more performance, flexibility, and more.

In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to flash custom ROM on your Xperia Mini Pro. You can use the same method for any Xperia phone. Before installing a custom ROM, you need to unlock the bootloader of your phone, though there are a few custom ROMs that can be installed on a locked bootloader. But unlocking the bootloader is well worth it, meaning you can install custom Kernel that provide you with more benefits such as more battery life or overclocking.

Unlocking the bootloader

You have two options while unlocking the bootloader. The official method which includes using your IMEI to unlock from official Sony website. Though this is the official method, you lose your warranty, and DRM too.

The other method is called the ‘test point’ method which uses a tool called S1 tool and requires you to use a test point. Though this method seems a little complicated, it’s easy and reversible. By unlocking with this method, you won’t lose DRM and whenever you want, you can relock the bootloader. But even this method has a disadvantage. Not a disadvantage but a risk-you may make your phone into an expensive paper weight, if you do it wrong. But don’t worry, it’s safe if you do it carefully. I have unlocked the bootloader of my XMP with this method and it worked like charm. Follow the instructions from here or here to unlock the bootloader with the test point method.

***Ensure that your phone is charged at least 50% before proceeding***

What You Need:

1. Sony PC Companion

2. Flashtool

3. Preferably a phone with unlocked bootloader

4. Your custom Kernel and ROM

5. Stock ROM in FTF format. Search the XDA forums for your model number. You can also create one.

How to install:

Installing the custom Kernel and ROM is very easy. Follow these steps.

1. Make a backup of your phone data such as SMS, contacts, call logs, calendar, and so on using your favorite app.

2. Install PC Companion and Flashtool so that ADB and Fastboot drivers are installed. On your phone, go to Applications>Development>check the USB bebugging check box. Connect your phone to PC and let it install the ADB driver. This is important because, should something go wrong, you can always flash your phone stock ROM (FTF file) using Flash tool. So before proceeding, ensure the adb (and fastboot) drivers are installed. For more details, check out my previous post Root Your Xperia Phone Without Voiding Warranty.

3. Place the downloaded ROM in zip format on the micro SD card. You can do it through phone or using  a card reader.

4. Turn off your phone and connect it to your PC while pressing the specific button on phone to enter the fastboot mode. For my Xperia Mini Pro, it’s the Vol + to enter fastboot mode. Wait till the driver is correctly installed.

5. Open Flashtool and click the Flash (thunder symbol)>Fastboot Mode>OK.

6. On the Fastboot Toolbox window, click Select kernel to Flash button.

7. Navigate to the folder where you have extracted the Kernel file (.img). Select it and click Open.

8. After flashing is complete, remove the cable and reboot your phone. While the phone is booting, press Vol – or Vol + button repeatedly until the phone boots into recovery. (This recovery is installed along with kernel)

9. Do these: wipe data.cache partition, advanced>Wipe Dalvik Cache, and wipe cache partition.

10. Select install zip from sdcard>choose zip from sdcard>select the ROM file (zip) and press Yes.

That’s all. Reboot your phone to enjoy the new ROM.

What to do if something goes wrong and my phone doesn’t boot up?

While installing custom ROMs can be fun, it may also render your phone unbootable. If you install a custom ROM and and it doesn’t work, you can always flash the stock ROM using Flashtool and start all over again. Look for the FTF file of your stock ROM on the XDA forums. You will certainly find one. You can also make an FTF file of your stock ROM. Check out my post How to Create an FTF file of Your Xperia ICS Firmware.

How to Add My Computer Shortcut on Desktop in Windows 8

To add the My Computer on the desktop in Windows follow these steps:

1. Right click on the desktop and click Personalize.
   
2. Click Change desktop icons on the left pane.
3. From the popup window, select Computer under Desktop icons.
4. Click Apply and OK.

Voila, the (My) Computer icon is added to your desktop.

How to Stream Video from PC to Your Android Phone

In this tutorial, as usual, I’m going to explain how to use a free tool to stream video from your PC/laptop and watch it on your Android powered phone.

What you Need:

• An Android phone
• Emit Android app
• Emit Windows app
• A WiFi router
• A PC or Laptop connected through WiFi

Follow these installation steps:

1. Install Emit Windows application on your PC or laptop.
2. Install Emit Android app on your phone.
3. On your PC, click the Emit icon from the System Tray. The Emit window opens.
4. Click Folders tab and click Add Dir button and select the directory where you have all your videos.

That’s all you have to do. Now, tap open the Emit app on your phone and see if the app has automatically discovered the emit server running on your PC. Tap the server and you can go to the directory where you have your movies.

Note: Add Emit to your firewall’s exception list if you have issues connecting.

The Emit windows application is multi-threaded meaning, if you have a multi core CPU, you can be rest assured that the streamed video is lag free, even if the video is 1080p.

How to Root Your Xperia Phone’s ICS Firmware Without Voiding Warranty

If you are not on ICS and wanting root after upgrading, don’t upgrade to ICS. To root your Xperia ICS firmware, you need to first downgrade it to a rootable Ginger Bread firmware like 4.0.2.A.0.58 if you have already upgraded. Anything above 4.0.2.A.0.58 cannot be rooted easily. You can find the firmware from the links given below. So backup all your apps and data like SMS, call logs etc. before proceeding. Once you downgrade, you need to root it (preferably using the Do0omlord’s method). Then you have to edit the /data/local.prop file. Don’t worry, I’ll show you an automated process. Once done you need, to upgrade the firmware to ICS using PC Companion, or SUS or Flashtool (if you have your ICS FTF file) without clearing user data. Then you need to execute a file to root your Xperia Firmware. It may sound too daunting but it’s pretty easy. This tutorial is based on this XDA thread.

What You Need to Root Xperia ICS

• An Xperia phone of course and the data cable
• PC Companion
• Doomlord’s Easy Rooting Toolkit
• ICS rooting files
• Flashtool
• Your Gingerbread Firmware (This is not a full list). Another list of Firmware, see under Downloads.

If you can’t find your firmware:

• Wotan client (register for a free account) and its driver (if you are willing to pay)

Downgrading and Rooting

Follow the steps in my article how to downgrade and root Xperia phone. After you have downgraded the firmware and rooted, go to the next step.

Rooting ICS

Download the ICS rooting files and extract all files to somewhere.

Connect your phone to PC with USB debugging enabled and run the file 01-local-prop.cmd from the folder where you extracted the file. This will automatically edit the /data/local.prop file. Don’t do anything else and go to the next step.

Now upgrade the firmware using PC Companion, SUS, or Flashtool. Don’t wipe data.

Go to the same folder and run 02-push-root-files.cmd. Re remember to close PCC, SUS or Flashtool before doing this.

That’s all. Your phone is now rooted.

So what is an FTF file? Without delving deep into it, let me say it stands for Flash Tool File. Using Flashtool, and the correct firmware file, you can easily and conveniently flash your phone anytime you want. With Flashtool, you can install your stock (unmodified) ftf firmware file if you have not unlocked the bootloader. If you unlocked it already, you can flash modified firmware too. Where do you get the .ftf file? You can certainly get your ftf file from XDA Developers forums. But you can also create your own ftf file. Here I’m going to explain how to create an ftf file of your Xperia ICS firmware. Same procedure is applicable for Ginger Bread too.

How to Create an FTF file of Your Xperia ICS Firmware

What you Need to Create an ftf File:

• Sony PC Companion or SEUS
• Flashtool and its updates if any.
• Internet connection.
• An Xperia phone of course.

Warning and Disclaimer: Take a backup of all important data like contacts, call logs, SMSs, apps, APN and other settings before proceeding further. You may have to perform a clean install of your OS. While for all practical purposes, using Flashtool is safe but there is a very very remote chane of damaging your phone and don’t blame should it happen.

1. Install Sony PC Companion and/or SEUS. This will copy the necessary drivers to your PC. Connect your phone with USB Debugging enabled and allow your PC to install the necessary drivers.

2. Connect your phone and update or repair your phone with the latest firmware version (right now 4.1.B.0.431). If you update/upgrade, your data will be preserved. If you repair, all data may be lost. So backup everything. Now, your phone is updated with the latest firmware. Keep it aside. We don’t need your phone anymore to create the ftf file.

3. Go toC:\ProgramData\Sony Ericsson\Update Engine\db\13740270\blob_fs folder and look for the biggest three files. The folder “blob_fs” may be located in a different place depending on whether you used PC Companion or SEUS. Perform a search for that folder if you can’t find it. Once you are inside the folder, sort by size and see the 3 largest files were just created (when you updated/repaired your phone). Copy them to somewhere else like D:\firmware.

4. Install Flashtool and open it.

5. Click Advanced > Decrypt Files.

6. Select all the three files and click the right arrow to send them to the right side and click OK. In a moment, you will see a Flashtool pop up window that shows all the decrypted files. Select all and click the right arrow button.

7. Type in the device name next to Device, firmware version number next to Version, and branding next to Branding and click OK.

8. In the Device Selection window that appears, select your phone model and click OK.

In a moment, your ftf file will be there in the default Flashtool folder C:\Flashtool\Firmwares.

You can use this .ftf file to flash your phone using Flashtool.

Why you should create the ftf file?

If you are someone who can’t resist reinstalling/reflashing for whatever reason, creating an ftf file can be a life saver for your phone. If you root and especially unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs, having the firmware file always with you is a good idea. Should something go wrong, you can simply reflash the phone (remember unbricking?).

How to Sync Files from Android Phone to PC over WiFi

If you have an Android based phone, it almost certainly has WiFi. If you have a wireless router, you can access internet from anywhere at home. If your PC or laptop and your phone are on the same network, that is, same WiFi router, you can automatically sync files from your Android phone to your PC and vice versa.

What You Need to Perform Android Sync to PC:

• An Android Phone.
• MyPhoneExplorer Windows Application.
• MyPhoneExplorer Client for Android Phone.
• WiFi connecti0n.

To automate syncing between PC and an Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Install MyPhoneExplorer Android app on your phone.
2. Install MyPhoneExplorer Windows application.
3. Open MyPhoneExplorer on PC and select File > Settings > Connection > Phone with Google Android-OS.

4. Click OK.

5. Under Connect via… select WiFi or Autodetect.

6. Now, your PC will be connected to your phone and MyPhoneExplorer on your phone will say your phone is connected.

If your PC doesn’t connect to phone, enable it in your firewall.

Now that you have connected your phone to your PC over WiFi. You need to select folders on your android phone to Sync with your PC. Follow these steps to sync folders on your Android phone to PC:

1. Expand Files on the left pane of MyPhoneExplorer and click Memory Stick.

2. On the next window, click the arrow mark on Sync Folders icon and click Customize.

3. In the Edit File-Sync Jobs window, Enter a relevant name for the folder you want sync next to Title.

4. Select Phone -> PC. Selecting this will sync a folder in your phone to PC. (You can also do the other way be selecting PC -< Phone.)

5. Select your source (phone) folder and target (PC) folder.

6. Select Save folder radio button.

7. Click OK.

8. Repeat these steps for each folder you want in your mobile to sync to your PC.

9. To sync files, click Sync files button.

If you want to automatically sync files, go to File > Settings > Multi-sync and check Sync Files > Select Jobs. Check the jobs (folders) you want to sync and click OK.

That’s all. You can now sync all these files to PC over WiFi whenever you are at home. MyPhoneExplorer also has more options to sync your calendar, phonebook etc. Just play around with settings to enable more options. I use Llama to automate some of the phone tasks. Whenever I reach home, it triggers MyPhoneExplorer in my phone. When I switch on the PC, it syncs all selected files.

Upgrade an Android Phone’s Memory card or MicroSD Card

To upgrade the memory card on your Android phone, follow these steps:

• Connect your phone to PC using the data cord.
• Go to My Computer and open your phone’s memory card.
• Go to Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
• Press Control + A (select all) and Control + C (copy).
• Paste it somewhere.
• Remove the old MicroSD card and insert the new one to your phone.
• Go to connectivity settings on your phone and tap Media transfer mode (MTP) and tap OK.

• Go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD Card and tap OK.

• Go to Settings > Storage > Erase SD Card and tap OK (not necessary but recommended).
• After erasing, tap Mount SD card.
• Copy your old files to the new card.

That’s all. Now, you should have all your old files, data and installed apps (if any) on your new memory card.

**Update**

If you have already updated to ICS, read my other article on rooting Xperia ICS. Keep in mind that you still have to downgrade to GB first before rooting ICS.

** Update **

Wotan is no more free for flashing Xperia phones. I have updated this tutorial with Flashtool, which is a free tool to flash xperia phones. You need not unlock the bootloader in order to use Flashtool. So your Warranty is still there. But you need to find your firmware.

Disclaimer: By following this method, you are NOT permanently modifying your phone and Sony Ericsson won’t have a “clue” that you are rooting your phone. You can perform a repair using SEUS to claim warranty at any time. I’m posting this for informational purposes only. Secondly, I won’t be responsible if you brick your phone, which is almost impossible.

If you have an Android device, or any smart phone for that matter, you can do almost anything that you can with a PC. As Android is an open source mobile operating system, it can be tinkered with in different ways. While Android, by default, doesn’t allow that, you can get root access to the OS and enjoy the full potential of your phone. In most of the Android phones, you need to unlock the bootloader in order to root it. But Sony Ericsson Xperia phones can also be rooted without unlocking the bootloader, thus preserving the manufacturer warranty.

This tutorial is based on this thread on XDA Forums. The tool we are going to use here is called DooMLoRD’s Easy Rooting Toolkit. The tool works very well until the firmware number 4.0.2.A.0.58. Sony Ericsson has patched the later ROM versions and hence this method doesn’t work if you have already installed the latest update. You need to unlock the bootloader for rooting if the you have that 62 firmware. Though other methods do exist to root the 62 firmware, they are not for those who are new to rooting as the methods are risky. DooMLoRD’s Easy Rooting Toolkit can also root devices from other manufacturers. Have a look at here for supported devices. If you want to claim warranty, you can always flash your phone using the official tool with the latest firmware.

I’m going to explain how you can root your Xperia phone even if you are already on the latest firmware (4.0.2.A.0.61 or 62 and up). You are going to downgrade your firmware in order to root your phone.

What you need to root your Xperia mobile:

• An Xperia phone of course and the data cable
• PC Companion
• Doomlord’s Easy Rooting Toolkit
• Flashtool
• Your Firmware (This is not a full list). Another list of Firmware, see under Downloads.

If you can’t find your firmware:

• Wotan client (register for a free account) and its driver (if you are willing to pay)

Downgrading your Firmware:

Flashtool requires that you download your firmware separately. Use the link I have given. If you can’t find the exact firmware in ftf format, use Global firmware. (I found Application Installer missing in the firmware I installed. I rooted my phone and installed it using Flashtool.)

Let’s get started.

Before downgrading the firmware, you need to install the ADB driver for your phone. On your phone, go to Settings>Applications>Development and enable USB debugging. Connect your phone to PC and wait for the ADB driver to install. Go to Device Manager on your PC and look for something like Sony Ericsson ##### ADB Interface Driver. If it’s not properly installed right-click the improperly installed device and install through Windows Update. The ADB driver should be installed now.

1. Download and install Flashtool.

2. Install the necessary drivers for your device. The drivers can be found under C:\Flashtool\drivers. Skip this step if you already have the ADB drivers installed.

3.  Place the firmware you downloaded in C:\Flashtool\firmwares.

4. Connect phone to PC and open Flashtool. Allow it to detect your phone.

5. Select the flash symbol and select Flashmode then click OK.

6. In the next window, select the firmware if you have more than one and click OK.

7. In a few seconds, Flashtool prompts you to switch off the phone, press and hold the service button (which differs from phone to phone. For Mini Pro, it  is Volume down) while connecting your phone to PC. Flashtool will automatically start flashing.

Now that you have downgraded your firmware.

Rooting your Xperia phone:

Extract DooMLoRD’s Easy Rooting Toolkit zip file to somewhere. ( The folder contains a folder and runme.bat.)

1. Click runme.bat. Ensure that you do what the window asks you to do.

2. Press any key on your keyboard.

In a moment, your phone will be rooted and rebooted. This method will automatically install Super User.

You can check for root status by installing Root Check Basic from the market.

Congratulations! Now you have a rooted Xperia phone. Enjoy the full potential of your Android phone.

Note: While Wotan client provides the firmware flashing service for free, it looks like it is a limited period offer. So use it until the offer lasts which I think should be for the entire year (2012).  It is also possible to flash an Xperia phone with the .ftf file using Flashtool (that shouldn’t void warranty for all practical purposes.). I don’t currently have a proper source the ftf files for the different models. If you can find (or make) a credible source of ftf files for all Xperia phones (with country specific customizations), please post the links in comments. That would help thousands of people. Thanks.

**Update 2**

If you are feeling lazy to follow all these steps, simply install the ftf file from this thread using Flashtool. While this is probably a different ROM than you already have, you need NOT unlock the bootloader to flash it. The ROM is pre-rooted. If you install this this, you will lose all data in phone (SD can not affected). Take a backup of all important data. I use APN Backup & Restore, Call Log Backup & Restore, SMS Backup & Restore for backing up data.

Old Method

** This option is no more free **

Since Wotan no longer provides free flashing service, I have updated this article with flashing with using Flashtool. If you are not able to use Flashtool for any reason, you can buy credits from Wotan. It’s actually cheap.

1. Download Wotan client to somewhere on your PC.

2. Install USBFlashDriver.exe

3. Open WotanClient.exe and wait for it to finish updating its database.

4. Follow exactly what appears in the next window. There are 8 pointers for you to follow. For many of the Xperia phones, the service button is Volume Down.

5. In the next window, check Enable advanced settings.

6. Your model will be automatically selected. Select 4.0.2.A.0.58 firmware or lower.

7. In the CDA drop-down box select your region.

8. Enter your user ID and password and click Update. You will get one credit.

9. Click Next.

Wotan client will download the necessary files and flash your phone. On successful flash, Wotan client will ask you to disconnect the phone from PC and reboot. Now you have downgraded your firmware and you can root your phone without unlocking the bootloader.

Update: The latest version of SARDU also supports creating multi bootable ISO or USB along with Windows 8.

Now I’m going to show you how to create a multi-OS setup USB key.

How to Install Multiple Operating Systems from a Single USB Stick

What you Need to Create a Multi-OS USB Drive:

1. SARDU

2. A USB pen drive – Preferably 8GB or more if you want more than two operating systems

3. The necessary ISO files

4. Internet connection (optional if you have all the necessary files)

SARDU is a really a versatile tool, using which you can create not just a OS setup drive but also make your pen drive an ultimate troubleshooter. Apart from operating system setup, you can create bootable antivirus, partition tools, password reset, password recovery, and much more, in a single pen drive. You can also create an ISO and make your own multi-utility DVD or BD.

To create a multi-operating system setup pen drive, follow these steps:

1. Extract Sardu.zip somewhere, preferably where there is a lot of disk space.

2. Open Sardu.exe. If you are using a 64-bit version of Windown open Sardu_x64.exe.

Now, you will see that Sardu has a tabbed interface and different utilities are grouped under these tabs. All antivirus tools are grouped under Antivirus tab, partition and troubleshooting tools under Utility, Linux distros under Linux, Windows under Windowstab.

3. If you want to add an antivirus, click Antivirus tab and under that tab, click the desired antivirus. If you want to add any other tool under Utility, click Utility and click the corresponding button. If you want to add a Linux distro, click Linux tab and click the corresponding button of the desired Linux distro. Note that upon clicking these buttons, you will be prompted to download the file from internet. You need not search for these files on the internet as Sardu automatically does that for you (well, for most of the files). Clicking these buttons shows a popup window. Click Yes to add it to the download queue.

4. Click the Downloader tab and click START. This will download all selected files.

5. If you also want to add Windows to the mix, you must already have the ISO of the Windows version. If you have a licensed copy of Windows CD/DVD, you can make a legal backup of it. Place the ISO in /Sardu/ISO. (You need to rename the ISOs in a specific format. Hover the cursor on the buttons to know the specific file names).

6. Format your pen drive with FAT32 filesystem and insert to a USB port and click Search USB button in Sardu, then select the pen drive just under Select USB button.

7. To create a multi-boot USB key, click the icon that appears like the following image:

You can also create a bootable ISO image by clicking the icon that appears like the following image:

In a few minutes, your multi-operating system setup USB key or ISO file will be ready.

Reboot your PC, enter the BIOS of your motherboard, and set it up to boot from USB. You may want to check the user manual of your motherboard for specific instructions.

To test your multi-bootable USB flash drive right under Windows, you can use Mobia Live CD.

Creating a multi-operating system setup USB flash drive is very easy using Sardu. It also lets you add lots more options. Do test yourself and provide your comments.

Each and every day, we save hundreds of files like photos, documents etc. to the hard disk in our PCs. We also delete some of them as they are not needed anymore. It also happens that we accidentally delete important files only to find that they are gone, forever. Almost all of us have faced the situation and moved on. But what if the file is so important that you absolutely need it?

If you lose your data, you can of course go to a data recovery service provider. But did you know that data recovery is most of the times very expensive? While approaching a professional for help is a good idea, there are certain things you can do yourselves to try to recover the lost data before deciding to spend a huge sum. Though your data is deleted, it is not actually erased from your hard disk, it is still there. But you have to know how to recover it. If you accidentally deleted important files, you can easily recover the deleted files.

There are many tools available to recover lost files. One of the most effective and powerful tools is a free file recovery software called Recuva. With this tool, you can recover lost files after they are accidentally deleted. You can recover files even in the event of an accidental disk format.

What you should do in an event of data loss

1. If you accidentally deleted something, ensure you don’t save anything on that drive. For example if you delete a photo from D:, don’t save anything to D:.

2. If you lose something from C:, you should not install the recovery software or any software on C:. You should also not save any file on C:. If you don’t want to increase the chances of losing the data (especially on C:), shut the system down immediately and connect the HDD to another PC where you can install Recuva to recover the data.

To recover your lost files, follow the steps below;

1. Install Recuva and open it. Click on the Welcome Wizard.

2. The next window gives you the option to choose from different file types. Choose the one you want. For example, if you want to recover a picture, select Pictures. If you want to recover all file types, select Other and click Next.

3. The next window asks where you want to recover the file from, like My Documents, removable drive hard disk etc. and click Next.

4. In the next window, select Enable Deep Scan and select Start.

5. After the scan completes, Recuva lists all the found files. Select the ones you want to recover and click Recover.

Do note that Recuva can even recover deleted files from a pen drive or a memory card. Recovering lost files is as easy as it gets, provided you have not modified the partition in any way. Give it a try and most probably, you will recover your lost data.