[Guide] Bootloader and kernel guide | X8 | W8 | X10 mini | X10 mini pro |

Basically this is just a guide for those wanting to unlock their bootloader.

STUFF IN HERE

Updates, Contents, Disclaimer , Requirements, Recommended, Instructions (for both bootloader unlock and custom kernel flashing and relocking the bootloader), How to find out if the bootloader on your phone has been successfully unlocked , Benefits of Custom Kernel, Common problems, Myths concerned with unlocking bootloader.


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Myths about unlocking bootloader

0. You can unlock your bootloader on a SIM-locked phone

1. Real dual touch for synaptic devices.
2. Higher max CPU overclock frequency.
3. Sim-unlock your phone (allow it to use any carrier)
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Updates to this:

1. GUIDE UPDATE (finally lolz -- added new download links and made some edits)

Still using the old tools method -- more complicated to use but flexible (doesn't obligate stock to unlock, but please keep to GB and below)

My guide is not the simplest to understand, nor is it the most up-to-date, but if done and read correctly it gives you the most information about BL and kernels and also is quite safe .

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List of great guides

SETweaker tool -- Guide by faiyyaz: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1693308 (also deals with BL and kernels)

Lucastan96's index which contains a nice list of stuff: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1572591

XperienceX8's simplified guide on BL and stuff: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1549696

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Hold your horses! Check if your phone will be hard bricked by the bootloader unlock process!


If your phone's manufacture date is 11W29 or PAST 11W29, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK YOUR BOOTLOADER. IT WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN A HARD BRICK (though some users managed to successfully unlock).

Original post by B.Jay here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1481630

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Before I start I must emphasise the fact that meddling with the bootloader is highly dangerous and will result in a hard brick if you don't follow proper instructions. Then, you will have to go and repair your phone by sending it to SE . I am not responsible if your phone dies on you because you didn't follow instructions or you screwed up somehow. I must also mention that this will probably void your warranty (rooting already probably voided it though) and that there is NO WAY to relock bootloader as of now.

Still interested? Details are below.

Requirements: Rooted phone, Sony Ericsson PC Companion installed in PC, Courage

You do not need to have a sim lock on your phone to unlock your bootloader.

Recommended: Disable your antivirus (it might find a "virus" in ADB.exe even though there isn't one and might even interfere in bootloader unlocking process) Use stock rom (I managed to unlock bootloader on GingerDX v013 though and users have managed to unlock it in Froyobread v23b and MiniCM7 2.0.7 | Don't try on ICS roms)

Note: Unlocking the bootloader of your phone will restore the original sim lock of your phone (if you had any) unless if you unlocked with EMMA/IMEI unlock code or it was factory-unlocked or if SE unlocked it!

However, some users have reported that using msm7227_semc.cmd on their sim-unlocked phones did not restore the sim lock onto their phone. This has not been confirmed as of yet. Unlock the bootloader on your sim unlocked phone AT YOUR OWN RISK!
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1. Download the files needed for the unlock. (Credits go to the_laser for this tool.)

Original Post: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=17384177&postcount=3

One big bundle of files: http://upload.riicc.sg/viewfolder.php?hash=LVW5TS2ZSX

Download and extract the archive. Contains X8, W8, X10 mini and X10 mini pro stock kernels, the unlock tool and also the updated S1tool that can relock your bootloader!

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1a. Download Flashtool too (needed for S1tool to work properly and for loading custom kernels next time) and install it (not necessary if you already have Flashtool):

Download and install Flashtool (follow instructions on the website): http://androxyde.github.com/Flashtool/
(Credits go to Androxyde and Bin4ry for this tool.)

After installing it, open the flashtool folder and open the drivers folder inside that. Double click on the .exe file inside and install your device's ADB driver (for W8 use the X8 ones) and the Flash mode drivers.

Then restart your computer.

Open task manager and kill any ADB.exe process you find in there and don't load Flashtool for the rest of the installation process.
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Also, download and install PC Companion (not needed if you already have PC Companion on your computer) here (needed for the bootloader unlocking process).

Link: http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/tools/pc-companion/

Then just double click the .exe file and install PC Companion. Connect your phone to the PC after doing this and open Sony Ericsson PC Companion. Ensure that your phone is recognised by PC Companion.

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Step 2.


Note: If your antivirus finds virus in ADB.exe, disable the antivirus. There is NO virus in ADB.exe and the antivirus will interfere in unlocking bootloader.


2a. Turn off your phone.

2b. Open the directory you unzipped S1tool to and run S1tool.exe. Then, click on IDENTIFY button before proceeding to step 2c.

2c. Boot your phone into flash mode (make sure you installed your device's drivers found in step 1a first). All users, press and hold back button while connecting cable from PC to phone. Continue holding back button until you get some output. The LED on your phone should flash green if it is in flash mode.

Example of output:

Code:

9/9/2011 21:41:44 Welcome to S1 identify tool
9/9/2011 21:45:13  
9/9/2011 21:45:13 TO CONNECT NEXT PHONES
9/9/2011 21:45:13 X10 Xperia,E10 Xperia Mini,E15 Xperia X8,U20 Xperia Mini Pro
9/9/2011 21:45:13 LT15 Xperia ARC,MT15 Xperia NEO,R800 Xperia PLAY
9/9/2011 21:45:13 PRESS AND HOLD "BACK" BUTTON...
9/9/2011 21:45:13  
9/9/2011 21:45:13 PLEASE ATTACH TURNED OFF PHONE NOW
9/9/2011 21:45:13 
9/9/2011 21:45:46  
[B][U]9/9/2011 21:45:46 RUNNING S1_EROM VER "r8A029"[/U][/B]
9/9/2011 21:45:46 SOFTWARE AID: 0001
9/9/2011 21:45:46 LOADER AID: 0001
9/9/2011 21:45:49 FLASH ID: "002C/00BC"
9/9/2011 21:45:49 LOADER VERSION: "R4A045"
9/9/2011 21:45:49  
9/9/2011 21:45:49 MODEL (from GDFS): X8
9/9/2011 21:45:49 SOFTWARE VERSION: 1236-9291_2.1.1.A.0.6
9/9/2011 21:45:49 CUSTOM VERSION: 1241-3178_R1B
9/9/2011 21:45:49 FILESYSTEM VERSION: WORLD-1-8_2.1.1.A.0.6
9/9/2011 21:45:49 SERIAL NO: CB511SPH7Q
9/9/2011 21:45:49  
[B][U]9/9/2011 21:45:49 SEMC SIMLOCK CERTIFICATE[/U][/B]
9/9/2011 21:45:49 Elapsed:36 secs.

If the simlock certificate specified is SEMC SIMLOCK CERTIFICATE, or anything other than NOT RECOGNIZED SIMLOCK CERTIFICATE, jump to step 3.
If the simlock certificate specified is NOT RECOGNIZED SIMLOCK CERTIFICATE, you can't unlock the bootloader of your phone. If you try, radio capability of your phone will be disabled (this has been reported to be untrue by a number of people who claim to have unlocked bootloader successfully with msm7227_semc.cmd).
Do note that the SIMLOCK certificate doesn't mean that you have/don't have a sim lock on your phone.




3. Disconnect your phone from the computer, boot it up, and then reconnect your phone to your computer.

4. Enable USB debugging on your phone.

Note: Don't run Flashtool and terminate any ADB.exe process you find in task manager before performing step 5.

5. If you had
1: the SEMC SIMLOCK CERTFICATE message or if you
2: unlocked your phone using EMMA/IMEI code
3: or if your phone was already unlocked when you bought it (first-hand phone)
4: or if your phone is sim-locked
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THEN
run msm7227_semc.cmd in the directory you unzipped the unlocking files to and press any key to start the unlocking process. Alternatively, you could use Flashtool to bootloader-unlock your phone (if you want to use Flashtool, go to step 5c). Go to step 5b.

If you
1. had the SETool unlock certificate

THEN
go to step 5a.[/U]

5a. Run msm7227_Setool2.cmd in the directory you extracted the bootloader unlock tool to and press any key to start the process. Alternatively, you could use Flashtool to bootloader-unlock your phone (if you want to use Flashtool, go to step 5c)

5b. Open the example log included in the files. Wait 5 minutes. Then, compare the text in the window to those in the example log. They should be similar. Also, the last message on the window should be Press any key to continue. Note: It is recommended to turn off your antivirus before starting this as antivirus might interfere with the unlocking of bootloader on your phone (some antivirus software claim that there is virus in ADB.exe even though there isn't one)

Text in example log:


Note: If your log is very different from this please check if your bootloader is unlocked using step 7. If it is not unlocked, turn off your antivirus and repeat step 5 again. If you get some "error: protocol fault" messages, that is completely fine, this is because the "problem" is that your phone was still rebooting and USB debugging mode is not turned on when rebooting so it couldn't acquire the status and had an error. If you get many "Access is denied" messages, turn off your antivirus and try again. Some users reported that the "Access is denied" messages were eradicated and they successfully unlocked their bootloaders after turning off their antivirus.

5c.

Start Flashtool, connect your phone and then wait for your phone to be recognized.

Then, go to: Plugins/(insert device name here) Unlock/run

A screen will pop up and ask you to connect your phone in Flash mode

1. Unplug the USB cable from your phone.
2. Turn off your phone.
3. Press and hold the "Back" button on your phone.
4. Plug in the USB cable to your phone.
5. Release the "Back" button after the screen that popped up disappears.

The unlocking process will start.

Wait until Flashtool asks you to disconnect the cable off the phone, then turn on the device and connect the usb cable once again.

Wait for Flashtool to push the required files to your phone.

After a while, Flashtool will have 4he message "Successfully applied unlock" and the phone will reboot.

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6. Disconnect your phone from the PC. Congratulations, your phone has an unlocked bootloader now!

7. To verify if your bootloader is unlocked successfully, again, use S1tool found here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=17374120&postcount=26.

Direct download link: http://upload.riicc.sg/viewfolder.php?hash=LVW5TS2ZSX

Also, download and install Flashtool here (follow instructions on the website): http://androxyde.github.com/Flashtool/
e0D
(Credits go to Androxyde and Bin4ry for this tool.)

After installing it, open the flashtool folder and open the drivers folder inside that. Double click on the .exe file inside and install the ADB drivers for your phone AND the flash mode drivers (needed for S1tool to work).


After downloading s1tool and extracting it to an appropiate location on your PC (not needed you already have S1tool), shut down your phone.

Open s1tool.exe found in the directory you extracted s1tool to and then click IDENTIFY button.

Boot your phone into flash mode (Press and hold back button while connecting it to your PC using an usb cable. The LED on your phone should flash green). Continue holding back button until you get some output.

Example of output:


If the line RUNNING S1_EROM FROM VER "#8A02$" has a lowercase "r" letter replacing the "#" (RUNNING S1_EROM FROM VER "r8A02$"), your bootloader has been unlocked . If it has an uppercase "R" replacing the "#" (RUNNING S1_EROM FROM VER "R8A02$"), your bootloader is NOT unlocked .

Note: The value of the "$" is dependent on an unknown factor. The unknown factor doesn't matter to us.

How do I know this? Here:

the_laser in the bootloader unlock thread said:

unlocked bootloader require unlocked loader, yep ?

loader\loader.sin is special unlocked loader, which will be accepted ONLY after your "unlock" semcboot with previous steps.

to distinguish unlocked semcboot and original semcboot, first letter in version tag of semcboot output will be lower case, i. e. "r8A029"

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

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HOW TO RELOCK BOOTLOADER :

0. Flash back stock kernel using "Repair" option in SEUS or by using Flashtool (if using Flashtool either flash stock firmware or flash the appropiate .ftf file below):

All the stock kernels (for W8, X8, X10 mini and X10 mini pro):

Download link: http://upload.riicc.sg/viewfolder.php?hash=LVW5TS2ZSX

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If you relock your bootloader while using a custom kernel your phone will be bricked!

1. Download S1tool and extract it to an appropiate location on your PC (not needed if you already have s1tool) . (Credits go to the_laser for this tool)

S1tool post: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=17374120&postcount=26

Direct download link: http://upload.riicc.sg/viewfolder.php?hash=LVW5TS2ZSX

2. Then, download and install Flashtool (follow instructions on the website): http://androxyde.github.com/Flashtool/

(Credits go to Androxyde and Bin4ry for this tool.)

After installing it, open the flashtool folder and open the drivers folder inside that. Double click on the .exe file inside and install the ADB drivers for your phone and the Flash mode drivers (needed for Flashtool to work).

3. Turn off your phone.

4. Launch s1tool.exe in the folder you extracted s1tool to.

5. Click on Restore button and then connect your phone to the PC in flash mode (press and hold back button while connecting your phone to the PC).

6. Wait for the process to complete. Congratulations! You now have relocked your bootloader!

7. To check, open s1tool.exe, click IDENTIFY button, turn off your phone, connect it in flash mode to the PC (press and hold back button while connecting your phone to the PC. The LED on your phone should flash green).

8. Continue holding back button until there is some output.

Example of output:


If the line RUNNING S1_EROM FROM VER "#8A02$" has a lowercase "r" letter replacing the "#" (RUNNING S1_EROM FROM VER "r8A02$"), your bootloader was not successfully relocked . If it has an uppercase "R" replacing the "#" (RUNNING S1_EROM FROM VER "R8A02$"), your bootloader has been successfully relocked .

Note: The value of the "$" is dependent on an unknown factor. The unknown factor doesn't matter to us.

How do I know this? Here:

the_laser in the bootloader unlock thread said:

unlocked bootloader require unlocked loader, yep ?

loader\loader.sin is special unlocked loader, which will be accepted ONLY after your "unlock" semcboot with previous steps.

to distinguish unlocked semcboot and original semcboot, first letter in version tag of semcboot output will be lower case, i. e. "r8A029"

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

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9. How to flash custom kernels:

a. Download the (kernel name).ftf file provided by the kernel developer
b. Download and install Flashtool here (follow instructions on the website): http://androxyde.github.com/Flashtool/

(Credits go to Androxyde and Bin4ry for this tool.)

After installing it, open the flashtool folder and open the drivers folder inside that. Double click on the .exe file inside and install the ADB drivers for your phone and the flash mode drivers (needed for Flashtool to work).

Then restart your computer.

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c. Put the (kernel name).ftf file in the /firmwares folder. (Don't flash any .sin files, flash only the .ftf file.)
d. Open Flashtool.
e. Click Flash.
f. Select (kernel name).ftf.
g. Turn off your phone.
h. Connect your phone in flash mode (only when the popup window prompts for you to do so). (To boot into flash mode, press and hold back button while connecting your phone to the PC using an usb cable).
i. Disconnect your phone (do so only when the popup window to prompts you to disconnect your phone).
j. Reboot and you have a custom kernel!
k. Confirm by going to Settings --> About Phone --> Kernel version. It should have the name of the kernel you flashed.
m. To flash back to stock kernel, download the appropriate file below and follow steps listed above.

All the stock kernels here:

Download link: http://upload.riicc.sg/viewfolder.php?hash=LVW5TS2ZSX
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Benefits of unlocked bootloader: Custom kernels, recovery in kernel (no more accidents involving formating /system and having to reflash stock because recovery is gone), GPU overclock, swap support, modules loaded in kernel, conversion of /system etc to ext4 resulting in faster phone, USB host support, full support for custom roms.....
The possibilities are -nearly- endless .
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Troubleshooting section:

Common Problems:

1. My SIM Card is not recognised after unlocking phone with msm7227_setool2.cmd!
Ans: Redo unlocking procedure (step 5 onwards) using msm7227_semc.cmd.

2. I get lots of "Access is denied" messages while unlocking!
Ans: Disable your antivirus and try the unlocking process again. Antivirus finds a virus in ADB.exe even though there isn't one!

3. I get some "error: protocol fault" messages!
Ans: It's normal and this isn't a problem. This is because the tool is inquiring for your phone while the phone is rebooting. USB debugging mode isn't on when phone is rebooting so it causes some errors. Eventually, your phone will connect with your PC so this is not an issue.

4. I get some "exec /system/bin/sh failed" messages!
Ans: Reroot your phone using SuperOneClick and try again.
SuperOneClick link: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=803682

5. Default camera doesn't work after unlocking!
Ans:
1. Reflash baseband 15 again.
2. Reflash stock 2.1 using flashtool.
3. Test camera, it will have the message "Indexing Media File" on the screen.
4. Wait until it disappear from the screen.
5. Reboot
6. Test camera and it will work fine.

6. I get a lot of "daemon not started successfully" and "failed to start daemon" messages!
Ans: Disconnect phone, exit the command window, reconnect phone, and try unlocking your phone's bootloader again. Repeat until there is no more of such messages and bootloader is successfully unlocked. Also, make sure you have installed Sony Ericsson PC Companion in step 1 and that it recognises your phone.

If you have a problem that is not listed above please post it in this thread
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All credits go to the bootloader devs (Blagus, the_laser, maxrfon etc).
And to B.Jay for the bootloader hard brick warning

tony-noob said:

xxxsemc.exe = msm727_semc.exe?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

i forgot the name and i'm now on mobile. Thanks for reminder.

Nikkopt said:

Please remind people that if the bootloader gets f**ed up somehow in the process, the phone gets bricked, truly bricked, with no way to unbrick unless it's sent to SE or if you can connect it to the computer tru jtag/service header.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Done. Time to catch some sleep zzzzz.....

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Be careful when trying this out, people.

LuisDias said:

Wait: are you guys telling me that bootloader as been bypassed (or unlocked) ??!

Sent from my X8 using XDA App

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Yes. Read the bootloader thread. It has been unlocked.

tony-noob said:

how i can sure when my bootloader is unlocked?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

oops, accidentally pressed thanks button. As of now, there is no way to know.

tony-noob said:

and the last thing... 2.1 is important for unlocking? and you on 2.1 when unlock the bootloader?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Not sure if it is important. I was on GingerDX.