TUTORIAL : How to install custom roms for xperia

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Ok so heres the deal I finally found out how to flash a custom rom to my Xperia Mini. The forum was of much help but still I had to do extensive research on how to flash the damn rom.

So basically what you usually need to flash a custom rom is

Phone
Unlocked Bootloader - Link To instructions Below. OFFICIAL Method by Sony
Custom Kernel
ClockworkMod/ CWM - Note that some custom kernels like bboof's come with CWM.
Custom Rom - there are many roms out there. Im currently using hybrom v16 by bboof.. another popular rom would be cynogenmod.

Beware that some custom roms require you to RE FLASH your stock FIRMWARE before you install or do anything at all.. Just DOWNLOAD WOTAN CLIENT and reflash your STOCK SE FIRMWARE. And remember to get the CORRECT FIRMWARE VERSION

Firstly you need to check whether your phone's bootloader is able to be unlocked or not go to dialpad and type *#*#7378423#*#* go to service menu and see whether it says BOOTLOADER UNLOCK > ALLOWED. If yes then you can unlock your bootloader.. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE UNLOCKING YOUR BOOTLOADER. Might void warranty. I cant explain much about the bootloader but if you wan you can google it.

Next is getting your bootloader unlocked.
Google for the officially unlock by sony or you can go around the forum android development and you are bound to find a way to unlock it.

Then you have to install custom kernel - this depends on what rom you are using and they usually will recommend a kernel to use..

After finding out what kernel to use. You you usually have to flash it with a program called fastboot. YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT IS FASTBOOT IF YOU FOLLOWED THE OFFICIAL METHOD FOR UNLOCKING BOOTLOADER by Sony. Then you can follow cynogen's method. LINK BELOW

Check whether the kernel has CWM. if not you might have to find it yourself or try using the autoCWMinstaller it can be found in the MARKET.
autoCWMinstaller might not work for all roms.

IMO CWM is basically like a bios which helps you installing the OS just like how the bios in your computer lets you choose where to load the OS from when you just reformatted your hard disc and want to install a new one. So no cwm means you cant install rom. CWM will differ from phone to phone.

Then you get your rom. After downloading the rom you place it in your SD Card and boot your phone into recorvery.

Usually the people who make the roms will give you instructions.
Usually you have to factory reset, wipe data and dalvik cache.. After thats done just install from .zip file find your rom you downloaded in ur sd card and install. DO NOT UNPACK your rom in ur pc. MAKE SURE IT IS STILL in ZIP format.

After that usually thats it. Well I made this post because Im so frustrated that I cant really find a proper guide to installing custom roms. Feel free to ask me if any questions.


Official Sony Method
How to install kernel cynogen's method

Great post. I had to research a lot to learn how to flash custom ROMs, like you.
The forum is great, but I think it lacks a proper tutorial for noobs.
I know that tutorials won't teach people what they are really doing, but it gives something for them to begin with. Curious people tend to research and learn things, specially when it's something interesting for them (like custom ROMs for us).

IMO, if you give a proper and step-by-step tutorial that comprehends basic operations (like firstly unlock bootloader to be able to use custom kernels that include CWM, which are necessary for custom ROMs and how to properly install each of them), the user already has the most important informations in his head. With that, he'll be able to do simple things and learn the rest by himself.

BTW, great post and great tutorial.

Originally Posted by davidcmc

Great post. I had to research a lot to learn how to flash custom ROMs, like you.
The forum is great, but I think it lacks a proper tutorial for noobs.
I know that tutorials won't teach people what they are really doing, but it gives something for them to begin with. Curious people tend to research and learn things, specially when it's something interesting for them (like custom ROMs for us).

IMO, if you give a proper and step-by-step tutorial that comprehends basic operations (like firstly unlock bootloader to be able to use custom kernels that include CWM, which are necessary for custom ROMs and how to properly install each of them), the user already has the most important informations in his head. With that, he'll be able to do simple things and learn the rest by himself.

BTW, great post and great tutorial.

haha yea thanks man. i'll do that slowly.. ill see what to add in to the steps and hopefully make it very simple for first time rom flashers thanks for the support.

Originally Posted by mynewcentury

haha yea thanks man. i'll do that slowly.. ill see what to add in to the steps and hopefully make it very simple for first time rom flashers thanks for the support.

Haha. Sorry for my bad English.

I didn't mean you with the "if you give a proper...".
I used "you" as a generic word to the experienced people in this forum, not you (topic author), specially because you've already made this exact proper and step-by-step tutorial.

Thank you

Originally Posted by davidcmc

Haha. Sorry for my bad English.

I didn't mean you with the "if you give a proper...".
I used "you" as a generic word to the experienced people in this forum, not you (topic author), specially because you've already made this exact proper and step-by-step tutorial.

OHHH. hahaha. okok i get you. XD

nice post thanks

Originally Posted by davidcmc

Great post. I had to research a lot to learn how to flash custom ROMs, like you.
The forum is great, but I think it lacks a proper tutorial for noobs.
I know that tutorials won't teach people what they are really doing, but it gives something for them to begin with. Curious people tend to research and learn things, specially when it's something interesting for them (like custom ROMs for us).

IMO, if you give a proper and step-by-step tutorial that comprehends basic operations (like firstly unlock bootloader to be able to use custom kernels that include CWM, which are necessary for custom ROMs and how to properly install each of them), the user already has the most important informations in his head. With that, he'll be able to do simple things and learn the rest by himself.

BTW, great post and great tutorial.

If you want to unlock bootloader with a guide step by step, check out my signature

Thnx

when I tried to put in cm10 did I
I made a backup, the wipe, instal zip from SD Card
and says
- Installing: / sdcard/download/fxp205-cm-10-10230201-unofficial-iyokan.zip
Finding update package ...
Opening Update package ...
Installing update ...
assert failed: getprop ("ro.product.device") == "mk16i" | | getprop ("ro.product.product") ==
"mk16a" | | getprop ("ro.product.device") == "iyokan"
| | Getprop ("ro.product.product") == "iyokan"
E: Error in / sdcard/download/fxp205-cm-10-10230201-unofficial-iyokan.zip
(status 7)
installation aborted