Adroit,

install 7zip on your computer. using 7zip, open the .ftf file you have downloaded. go find simlock.ta within the file and delete it (right click and delete)

try flashing the .ftf file again and post your result.

best of luck

TommyR

Hi Tommyrumbler,

I did what you suggested(deleted the simlock.ta) and tried flashing..no luck, still the same error. screen shots attached.

Just to update, I managed to flash the phone with docomo ROM using the ftf file(2-3 weeks back I had flashed the phone with the xperia S ROM which took me to this mess). While flashing with docomo rom now I "excluded baseband" in the flashtool. So now I have the original docomo version installed but the baseband version is blank("unknown") in the "about phone" page. rest everything is there like the model number, android version, kernel version and build number.

The problem that I still have now since I flashed it with the Xperia S rom, is that there is no IMEI still ;o(( I have the IMEI number from the box. Any suggestions to bring back the IMEI and teh baseband versions back?

Look forward to a solution!! I am running out of time with the warranty!!!

Regards

This is way beyond me already, bro. Missing the IMEI numbers would need an entirely different approach, unless you can grab the online services of those unlockers who got tools that can rewrite the IMEI back to your device.
anyhow, other users who have lost their IMEIs just flashed the stock rom and they got their IMEIs back. like on this link:
http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/3...ng-cm7-to-neo/

try reflashing the stock ROM again and see if that fixes things. and make sure you got your sim out of your phone before you do so.

the problem is I am unable to flash it with the stock ROM due to that error that keeps coming in..Only way I have been able to restore the OS is by excluding the baseband(checking the box against "exclude baseband" in the flash tool).

I tried flashing again with wipe user data and wipe cache box checked, got the same error again!!

so stuck untill someone gives me a solution to that error. Will wait till Monday and then ship the phone to Japan.

Additionally, wanted to know how to disguise the guys at docomo to not void the warranty? I mean is it okay to send the phone as-is (without a baseband version and IMEI version while everything else seems intact) or should I mess it up pretty badly, say unplug the cable midway while flashing? Any suggestions so that it looks like no damage was done intentionally..

Originally Posted by adroit_y2k

the problem is I am unable to flash it with the stock ROM due to that error that keeps coming in..Only way I have been able to restore the OS is by excluding the baseband(checking the box against "exclude baseband" in the flash tool).

I tried flashing again with wipe user data and wipe cache box checked, got the same error again!!

so stuck untill someone gives me a solution to that error. Will wait till Monday and then ship the phone to Japan.

Additionally, wanted to know how to disguise the guys at docomo to not void the warranty? I mean is it okay to send the phone as-is (without a baseband version and IMEI version while everything else seems intact) or should I mess it up pretty badly, say unplug the cable midway while flashing? Any suggestions so that it looks like no damage was done intentionally..

try to flash stock rom by flashtool in three steps:
at first step- flash with full wipe and with all elements (kernel, system, baseband)
at second step- flash without system (set exlude system)
at third step - flash without system and wipe user data (set exlude system and unset wipe user data).

do all steps after each other, do not turn on the phone between steps

Papacarla,

So here is what I did:

1st step I checked everything(wipe user data/wipe cache/exclude system/exclude baseband/exclude kernel)
2nd step I only checked exclude system-Here I got the same error as reported earlier
3rd step excluded system and unchecked wipe user data-Here again got the same error as above

Just to let you know, i was removing the USB cable between steps to make the phone enter the flash mode. I tried flashing by letting the usb cable connected between steps, but it din work and the phone got switched on on its own.

Any more suggestions? or am i doing the steps wrong?

Regards

GUYS!!

A quick update!! I used the ftf file with "simlock.ta" deleted with the old flash tool so far and I was getting that stupid error. A few minutes ago I downloaded the latest flashtool 8.0 by Bin4ry and androxyde and flashed my SO-03D again with simlock.ta still deleted and presto!!!! NO ERRORS!! IMEI is back, phone is back to normal as it was. i made a few calls and checked !!!

Do you think I should try flashing with the original ftf file as-is(without deleting "simlock.ta")? I dont want to mess up with the phone again ;o))

Very happy now as it saved atleast a 100 pounds in postage to n fro Japan ;o))

Thanks to EVERYONE in this post and I hope my experiment will help others too..
Verdict-"The original ftf file works!! use it with the latest flashtool"

Regards..

Originally Posted by adroit_y2k

GUYS!!

A quick update!! I used the ftf file with "simlock.ta" deleted with the old flash tool so far and I was getting that stupid error. A few minutes ago I downloaded the latest flashtool 8.0 by Bin4ry and androxyde and flashed my SO-03D again with simlock.ta still deleted and presto!!!! NO ERRORS!! IMEI is back, phone is back to normal as it was. i made a few calls and checked !!!

Do you think I should try flashing with the original ftf file as-is(without deleting "simlock.ta")? I dont want to mess up with the phone again ;o))

Very happy now as it saved atleast a 100 pounds in postage to n fro Japan ;o))

Thanks to EVERYONE in this post and I hope my experiment will help others too..
Verdict-"The original ftf file works!! use it with the latest flashtool"

Regards..

Why don't you try repairing with update service

Sent from my LT18i using xda premium

Good suggestion jay..ill try that later tonight..sorry dint strike me that my phone is now up and running and i can do the updates as normal..funny!! thanks..

Sent from my SO-03D using XDA

Originally Posted by adroit_y2k

Papacarla,

So here is what I did:

1st step I checked everything(wipe user data/wipe cache/exclude system/exclude baseband/exclude kernel)

Any more suggestions? or am i doing the steps wrong?

Regards

yes you did wrong the first step. you should flash first step with checking all wipe, but without checking other elements. it lets you flash full stock rom with all wipe and you will have the same error at the end. but if you made all the steps you've got the same result like after using flashtool 8.

so, anyway congratulations to you for your repair