[GUIDE]Easy way to brand/debrand or change firmware

[kistigun]

I've used this methode alot on my X10 and i just tried it on the Arc and it still works great! To do this you'll need root and root explorer(or an other methode to change your build.prop) and a locked bootloader otherwise seus & pc companion wont work

I'm not responsible if you break your phone!

How to:
- Look up the customization number of the firmware you want to change to in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1082368
- Open root explorer and go to \system and open the build.prop file in the text editor
- Change the following three lines:

ro.product.name=LT15i_XXXX-XXXX
ro.build.fingerprint=SEMC/LT15i_XXXX-XXXX/
ro.semc.version.cust=XXXX-XXXX

Change the XXXX-XXXX into the customization number of your desired firmware
- Press the menu button and save & exit
- Reboot
- If you are using pc companion on you computer go to:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sony Ericsson\Update Engine\db\13740270\
And delete the blob_fs folder
If you re using SEUS on you computer go to:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony Ericsson\Update Service\db\13740270\
And delete the blob_fs folder
- Shut down your phone
- Use SEUS for update or use the repair function in pc companion
- Reboot and enjoy your new firmware

 

[retain81]

Worked for me Changed SI from UK generic to UK O2 and after reboot, PC Companion picked up the 2.3.3 update straight away

The irony of course is that it's actually an O2 phone anyway which I'd debranded after I'd bought it by flashing UK generic firmware! Thankfully the O2 firmware actually seems to have less crap than the generic one...

 

[Dazza2910]

An easy way to debrand it for me was to reinstall the software using SEUS. It wiped out all the Orange stuff that was on mine.

Dazza

 

[kistigun]

Worked for me Changed SI from UK generic to UK O2 and after reboot, PC Companion picked up the 2.3.3 update straight away

The irony of course is that it's actually an O2 phone anyway which I'd debranded after I'd bought it by flashing UK generic firmware! Thankfully the O2 firmware actually seems to have less crap than the generic one...

the branding of the arc is a strange thing, i also had less bloatware on branded firmware

An easy way to debrand it for me was to reinstall the software using SEUS. It wiped out all the Orange stuff that was on mine.

Dazza

That's weird when reflashing without changing SI numbers it should reinstall the original branded firmware

 

[AndyD777]

Worked for me Changed SI from UK generic to UK O2 and after reboot, PC Companion picked up the 2.3.3 update straight away

The irony of course is that it's actually an O2 phone anyway which I'd debranded after I'd bought it by flashing UK generic firmware! Thankfully the O2 firmware actually seems to have less crap than the generic one...

Can you upload the generic UK firmware please?

Thanks

 

[kistigun]

Can you upload the generic UK firmware please?

Thanks

you can find it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038412

 

[AndyD777]

you can find it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038412

I know, I posted that firmware.

I am after the 3.0.1.A.0.145 update of the Generic UK firmware.

 

[kistigun]

I know, I posted that firmware.

I am after the 3.0.1.A.0.145 update of the Generic UK firmware.

That isn't released yet

 

[animboo]

noobish question..if i changed my SI into that of the UK O2 or the Uk generic, will it be locked to the O2/UK, can i still use the same sim card im using in my country? Any difference in the global firmware, i really want the global firmware but cant wait for the update..and if i changed it into the O2, can i update it using SEUS to get the .145 rom?

 

[kistigun]

noobish question..if i changed my SI into that of the UK O2 or the Uk generic, will it be locked to the O2/UK, can i still use the same sim card im using in my country? Any difference in the global firmware, i really want the global firmware but cant wait for the update..and if i changed it into the O2, can i update it using SEUS to get the .145 rom?

No it wont lock, i'm on t-mobile from the netherlands and i'm using the uk o2 rom atm. And yes you can use seus or pc companion to update

 

[animboo]

No it wont lock, i'm on t-mobile from the netherlands and i'm using the uk o2 rom atm. And yes you can use seus or pc companion to update

thank you so much for the quick reply..any changes to other roms, i mean is the O2 rom any different from the global rom or is there any annoying bloatware? Also can you hook me up with the SI number for the UK O2 or better yet, the generic UK SI number?

 

[kistigun]

thank you so much for the quick reply..any changes to other roms, i mean is the O2 rom any different from the global rom or is there any annoying bloatware?

cant find any major difference between o2 and generic.

edit: uk generic is released!

 

[animboo]

cant find any major difference between o2 and generic.

edit: uk generic is released!

you mean the uk generic rom for the 2.3.3 is already released? so i can used that instead of the O2 branded, is that right?

 

[kistigun]

you mean the uk generic rom for the 2.3.3 is already released? so i can used that instead of the O2 branded, is that right?

yes it's released, you can use this si number 1247-1073

 

[animboo]

yes it's released, you can use this si number 1247-1073

thank you so much you have been so helpful, gave you 2 thanks for all the help you've given me..trying it right now..

 

[Rhesonance]

Would changing my number to somewhere where the 2.3.3 update is available already allow me to get it?

Also, does doing this erase your phone?

EDIT: Never mind the first question, didn't read through the posts in this topic.

 

[kistigun]

Would changing my number to somewhere where the 2.3.3 update is available already allow me to get it?

Also, does doing this erase your phone?

EDIT: Never mind the first question, didn't read through the posts in this topic.

no the 2.3.3 update will not erase user data

 

[wingy1]

Hi can anyone help a confused noob!

My Xperia Arc started life as the UK t-mobile branded one.

I used the helpful guides here to debrand it to the global .181 one.

However I keep trying to check from time to time for updated software to 2.3.3 and it says I have the latest one.

I can see a UK generic firmware released.

Now if I re-flash to that one - can I then update to 2.3.3?

I thought the purpose was that if I debranded to global .181 one - being global it would get the update more or less faster then other firmwares?

Sorry for the noobish questions - any help would really be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[kistigun]

Hi can anyone help a confused noob!

My Xperia Arc started life as the UK t-mobile branded one.

I used the helpful guides here to debrand it to the global .184 one.

However I keep trying to check from time to time for updated software to 2.3.3 and it says I have the latest one.

I can see a UK generic firmware released.

Now if I re-flash to that one - can I then update to 2.3.3?

I thought the purpose was that if I debranded to global .184 one - being global it would get the update more or less faster then other firmwares?

Sorry for the noobish questions - any help would really be appreciated!

Thanks

Just change your customization number into the uk generic number, follow the guide and it will update to the latest uk generic update(2.3.3)

 

[wingy1]

Just change your customization number into the uk generic number, follow the guide and it will update to the latest uk generic update(2.3.3)

Hi thanks for that but you say I need "root and root explorer" - sorry where do I get these from? I presume my bootlocker is locked by default as I have not touched that part of the phone but do I need to root my phone as well? I haven't done that yet.