[GUIDE] Download ANY firmware customization from Sony & create an FTF with Flashtool

[Apollo89]

[GUIDE] Download ANY firmware customization from Sony & create an FTF with Flashtool

Part A: changing your customization number to download a different firmware customization (optional)

Requirements:

• Rooted Xperia tablet with locked bootloader:
• Build Prop Editor
• The customization number of the firmware you want to download (see list, only customizations for the same tablet model)

1. Start BuildProp Editor.
2. When a Superuser request pops up, tap 'Grant' or 'Allow'.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. At the first start, a backup of 'build.prop' will be created automatically, which can be restored in case of any problems.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Scroll down to 'ro.semc.version.cust' and tap it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Change the value to the customization number of the firmware you want to download.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. When asked to reboot, tap 'No'.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Tap 'ro.semc.version.cus_revision' and change the value to 'R1A'.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. When asked to reboot, tap 'Yes'.

Part B: downloading firmware with Sony PC Companion

Requirements:

• Sony PC Companion
• Xperia tablet with locked bootloader

1. Delete this folder if it already exists:
   - Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sony Mobile\Update Engine\db
   - Windows Vista/7/8: C:\ProgramData\Sony Mobile\Update Engine\db
2. Start Sony PC Companion.

• Case A: new software version available
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  1. Click 'Update'.
     
     
  2. Click 'Accept'.
     
     
     
     
     
     
  3. If you only want to download the firmware without updating, disconnect your tablet as soon as the "Downloading software..." screen appears.
     
     
     
     
     
     
  4. If you disconnected your tablet, this window will appear, which you may close. Otherwise your tablet software will be updated.
     
     
     
• Case B: no new software version available
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  1. Click 'Your Phone / Tablet is up to date'.
     
     
  2. Click 'repair my phone / tablet'.
     
     
     
     
     
     
  3. Click 'Next'.
     
     
     
     
     
     
  4. Repairing your tablet will delete your personal data and settings. If you don't want this, see step 6. Click 'Continue'.
     
     
     
     
     
     
  5. Tick the checkbox and click 'Next'.
     
     
     
     
     
     
  6. If you only want to download the firmware without repairing, disconnect your tablet as soon as the "Downloading software..." screen appears.
     
     
     
     
     
     
  7. If you disconnected your tablet, this window will appear, which you may close. Otherwise your tablet software will be repaired and your personal data will be lost.
     
     
     

Part C: creating an FTF file with Flashtool

Requirements:

• Flashtool
• Firmware files from Sony PC Companion or Sony Update Service (see part B).

1. Start Flashtool or Flashtool64 (for 64-bit Windows).
   
2. Click 'Tools' > 'SEUS Decrypt'.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Select the 'Source Folder' (copy-pasting this path will not work):
   - Sony PC Companion (Windows XP): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sony Mobile\Update Engine\db\13740270\blob_fs
   - Sony PC Companion (Windows Vista/7/8): C:\ProgramData\Sony Mobile\Update Engine\db\13740270\blob_fs
   - Sony Update Service (32-bit Windows): C:\Program Files\Sony Mobile\Update Service\db\13740270\blob_fs
   - Sony Update Service (64-bit Windows): C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony Mobile\Update Service\db\13740270\blob_fs
   Move all 'Available files' to 'Files to convert' by selecting them and clicking the right arrow button.
   Click 'Convert'.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Enter the following details:
   - Device: your tablet model, e.g. 'SGP311', 'SGP312', 'SGP321', 'SGP341' or 'SGP351' for Xperia Tablet Z (see 'Settings' > 'About tablet' > 'Model number').
   - Branding: can be found in the first columns of these tables by looking up the customization number, e.g. 'Customized US'.
   - Version: the build number of the firmware, e.g. '10.1.1.A.1.307'.
   Move all files from 'folder list' to 'Firmware content' except *.ta files (e.g. simlock.ta, preset1.ta, cust-reset.ta, ...) by selecting them and clicking the right arrow button.
   Click 'Create'.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. When you see 'Bundle creation finished', your FTF will be in 'C:\Flashtool\firmwares'. If your combination of device/branding/build is not yet available on xda-developers forum, please be so kind to share it (see part D).
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. To save about 2 GB of disk space, delete this folder:
   - Sony PC Companion (Windows XP): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sony Mobile\Update Engine\db\13740270\blob_fs
   - Sony PC Companion (Windows Vista/7/8): C:\ProgramData\Sony Mobile\Update Engine\db\13740270\blob_fs
   - Sony Update Service (32-bit Windows): C:\Program Files\Sony Mobile\Update Service\db\13740270\blob_fs
   - Sony Update Service (64-bit Windows): C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony Mobile\Update Service\db\13740270\blob_fs

Part D: sharing your FTF on xda-developers forum

1. Upload your FTF to a file host. I use Dev-Host for this purpose, but it only supports files up to 512 MB, so I use WinRAR to pack my FTF with the following options: 'Compression method' = 'store' (since FTF is already compressed), 'Split to volumes, size' = '512 MB'. Of course you can use a different file host and archiver if required. Please note that Google Drive, Dropbox and Box all have bandwidth quotas, so your shared files may be disabled if they are downloaded too much.
2. Create a new thread on xda-developers forum in 'Xperia ZL General' and include at least the following information:
   - Device
   - Build number
   - Android version
   - Customization version
   - Region
   - Branding
   - Download links
   Here is an example: [STOCK ROM][FTF] Xperia Z (C6603) 10.1.1.A.1.253 Generic BE (Unbranded/Belgium)

If this post was helpful, don't forget to click the 'Thanks' button.

 

[SwiftSmoke]

Sorry to sound like a tool but why are .ta files excluded from the FTF? What exactly are they?

Excellent guide by the way

 

[Nyakov]

Do I need to worry?

Ok. So at the step
- "Move all files from 'folder list' to 'Firmware content' except *.ta files (e.g. simlock.ta, preset1.ta, cust-reset.ta, ...) by selecting them and clicking the right arrow button."

I forgot to do except *.ta files. So at the end I get FTF with *.ta files. And I flash it.
Do I need to worry?

 

[Rootk1t]

Ok. So at the step
- "Move all files from 'folder list' to 'Firmware content' except *.ta files (e.g. simlock.ta, preset1.ta, cust-reset.ta, ...) by selecting them and clicking the right arrow button."

I forgot to do except *.ta files. So at the end I get FTF with *.ta files. And I flash it.
Do I need to worry?

no. Flashtool ignores TA while flashing.

 

[ze7zez]

ANY or LAST?

I need sgp321 10.4.B.0.569 (CE1 or EU3), but the current is 10.5.1.A.0.283.

Is it really possible to download any firmware (as in the title of the thread), or only the last?

 

[Darkimmortal]

I need sgp321 10.4.B.0.569 (CE1 or EU3), but the current is 10.5.1.A.0.283.

Is it really possible to download any firmware (as in the title of the thread), or only the last?

Only the last

Also a much better method exists than the one explained in the OP - just go to Devices > Check Updates in Flashtool and follow the unintuitive process of double clicking and right clicking, and it can download firmwares direct from Sony

 

[Rootk1t]

and it can download firmwares direct from Sony

but again, only the latest one