[GUIDE FOR NOOBS] How to update Xperia S to Android 4.0 ICS: STEP by STEP

[gtrab]

I have seen this question posted a dozen times today across several threads, thus, I decided to write a step-by-step, fool proof, noob-oriented simple guide; if somebody asks again please point him/her to this thread to avoid spamming the main discussion / development threads

STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
How to update the Sony Xperia S
to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich​

NOTICE 1: This guide is for WINDOWS PC USERS, if you have a Mac I can't help you, but the process is very similar

NOTICE 2: It doesn't matter if your phone is rooted or not, bootloader unlocked or not, IT DOESN'T MATTER, this update has nothing to do with SIM unlock, bootloader lock / unlock, root, etc

NOTICE 3: This guide will update your Xperia S from ANY previous version to OFFICIAL SONY ICS ANDROID 4.0.4 and believe me: it is worth the update; HAT TIP TO SONY !!

NOTICE 4: The internal SD card contents will NOT be deleted but everything else inside your phone will be reseted to factory defaults because this is a major update, so do a backup if you want to keep call logs, SMS etc. I only backup my SMS and Whatsapp messages, google backed up everything else because I had the backup option activated in settings

NOTICE 5: Before asking, please read the questions and answers in the thread for many Frequently Asked Questions

STEP 1:
Download the Flashtool

You will find the installers here: http://androxyde.github.com/Flashtool/
Go to the "installation" tab, download Flashtool installer v0.9.10.1 and run it

You will have a new folder on your PC: c:\Flashtool



STEP 2:
Download the ICS firmware update

You will find several download options here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1723610, just pick one and download it, then come back here

SOME NOTICES (I know you are gonna ask):
- I know it is "Generic Switzerland" (CH) but nevermind: it is plain Sony Generic and works fine for any region and has ALL the languages and keyboards
-The firmware is already prepared to be flashed via Flashtool in .FTF format. If the file you downloaded is .RAR then it is compressed ("zipped") and you need to EXTRACT the .FTF with WinRAR (if you don't have WinRAR download it from here: http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm)



STEP 3:
Let's update the phone!

- Copy the firmware FTF file to c:\Flashtool\Firmwares
- Go to c:\Flashtool\Drivers and run "Flashtool-drivers.exe" to install the proper drivers for Xperia S
- After installing the USB drivers reboot your PC
- Go to c:\Flashtool and run "FlashTool" (if you have Windows 64 bits, run "FlashTool64")
- Click the flash button (yes: the thunder icon up left)
- Select "Flahsmode" and click "OK"
- Select the "LT26 6.1.A.0.452" firmware and click "OK", DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE
- Flashtool will prepare the files for flashing, just be patient
- A Window will pop up asking you to connect the phone in "Flashmode" showing instructions for an old Xperia phone: ignore it, here is how the Xperia S enters "Flashmode":

- Turn off the phone
- Press and hold the VOLUME DOWN key
- Keep it pressed, connect the USB cable to your PC
- Release the Volume Down key when phone's GREEN LED lights up
- Flashtool will start flashing automatically, let it finish to 100%

- Disconnect the USB cable when Flashtool reaches 100% and indicates flashing has finished giving some extra info about activating debugging mode etc (don't care, that's optional)
- Turn on your phone (press and hold the Power button for some seconds)
- The first boot takes some minutes, don't worry let your phone prepare your Ice Cream Sandwich for you
- Have fun !! :highfive:

PS1: PLEASE REMEMBER TO SAY "THANKS" to Bin4ry (for the FTF firmware) and Androxyde (for the Flashtool)

PS2: And the usual disclaimer, of course: Follow the steps and be careful, I am not responsible if you brick your phone, burn your house or blow your PC by following this guide; I am just sharing what I did to update my own phone :angel: and it worked for me

.

 

[mercury_beta]

can you upload full system dump from phone? cause i extract from system.sin but 70% files are corrupt and can not used

 

[cocaino]

can you upload full system dump from phone? cause i extract from system.sin but 70% files are corrupt and can not used

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzBG...VaU0loVXM/edit

 

[dynamic503]

I have seen this question posted a dozen times today across several threads, thus, I decided to write a step-by-step fool-proof noob-oriented simple guide; if a noob asks again please point him/her to this thread

STEP BY STEP GUIDE:
How to update the Sony Xperia S to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich​

NOTICE 1: THIS IS FOR WINDOWS PC USERS, if you have a Mac I can't help you

NOTICE 2: It doesn't matter if your phone is rooted or not, bootloader unlocked or not, IT DOESN'T MATTER



STEP 1:
Download the Flashtool

You will fin the installers here: http://androxyde.github.com/Flashtool/
Go to the "installation" tab, download Flashtool installer v0.8.0.0 and run it
Then, download the v0.8.6.0 Update and run it
You will have a new folder on your PC: c:\flashtool\



STEP 2:
Download the ICS update firmware

You will find several download options here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1723610, just pick one and download it and come back here

SOME NOTICES (I know you are gonna ask):
- I know it is "Generic Switzerland" (CH) but nevermind: it is plain Sony Generic and works fine for any region and has ALL the languages and keyboards
-The firmware is already prepared to be flashed via Flashtool in .FTF format. If the file you downloaded is .RAR then it is compressed ("zipped") and you need to EXTRACT the .FTF with WinRAR (if you don't have WinRAR download it from here: http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm)



STEP 3:
Let's update the phone!

- Copy the firmware FTF file to c:\Flashtool\Firmwares
- Go to c:\Flashtool\Drivers and run Flashtool-drivers.exe to install the proper drivers
- Run Flashtool
- Click the flash button (the thunder icon)
- Select "Flahsmode" and click "OK"
- Select the "LT26 6.1.A.0.452" firmware and click "OK". DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE
- Flashtool will prepare the files for flashing. Be patient.
- A Window will pop up asking you to connect the phone in Flashmode with an old Xperia phone and instructions: ignore it, here is how our shiny new Xperia S enters "Flashmode":

- Turn your phone off
- Press and hold the VOLUME DOWN key
- Keep it pressed, connect the USB cable to your PC
- Phone will have green LED indicating it is in "Flashmode"
- Flashtool will start flashing, now you can release the volume key

- Flashtool takes a couple of minutes, let it finish to 100%
- Disconnect the USB cable
- Press the Power button to turn on your phone
- Thefirst boot takes a while, dn't worry
- Have fun !!




PS: PLEASE REMEMBER TO SAY "THANKS" to Bin4ry (the guy who uploaded the firmware) and Androxyde (the guy who gave us the Flashtool)

.

First i want to say thank you!
Then Plz answer me some FAQ
- after flash how is the bootloader and rooting status, and simlock status?
- language keyboard including vietnammes?
- after flash could i use pccomparision nomal?

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

 

[gtrab]

First i want to say thank you!
Then Plz answer me some FAQ
- after flash how is the bootloader and rooting status, and simlock status?
- language keyboard including vietnammes?
- after flash could i use pccomparision nomal?

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

1.- Nothing changes. This will only UPDATE the Android system, this will NOT SIM-unlock, unlock or relock bootloader, or root

2.- Yes: I sid ALL languages

3.- I don´t know (I never use it) but I guess yes you could (why not?)

 

[lilude56214]

We should take note of unchecking debugging mode in developments before using flashtool to upgrade if you do not want to meet several issues.

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

 

[Montague]

Sorry for this noob question, but

If i have a hong kong version xperia s, after flashing this Switzerland version, will it stay the same as a hong kong phone? Or it will be forever a Switzerland version? If there will be any OTA in the future, which ota update should i be expecting by that time, thank you in advance
Sent from my Sony Tablet S using xda premium

 

[gtrab]

Sorry for this noob question, but

If i have a hong kong version xperia s, after flashing this Switzerland version, will it stay the same as a hong kong phone? Or it will be forever a Switzerland version? If there will be any OTA in the future, which ota update should i be expecting by that time, thank you in advance
Sent from my Sony Tablet S using xda premium

1.- it will have switzerland version software of course, and you will be expecting OTAs from this software version, but I wouldn't recommend it

2.- you can always change your software with flashtool
but if you want to use official ways (OTA or PC Companion) then better keep the original software or reflash the original software

With flashtool you can flash this software today and return to your original software tomorrow (should an OTA appears in your region), you can change as many times as you wish

 

[Montague]

2.- you can always change your software with flashtool
but if you want to use official ways (OTA or PC Companion) then better keep the original software or reflash the original software

Thank you

and for number 2, how can I keep the original software? Is there any ways to back up the software FTF file??

 

[gtrab]

Thank you

and for number 2, how can I keep the original software? Is there any ways to back up the software FTF file??

yes you can search for an already-made FTF of your software
or you can make your own with flashtool, search the forum for the how-to

 

[Montague]

yes you can search for an already-made FTF of your software
or you can make your own with flashtool, search the forum for the how-to

Much appreciated!
And my last final question is, will this wipe out all user data and the apps? I didnt really see anything about these on the first post(If i missed any I apologize)
will the OTA/PC Companion do the same

 

[gtrab]

Much appreciated!
And my last final question is, will this wipe out all user data and the apps? I didnt really see anything about these on the first post(If i missed any I apologize)
will the OTA/PC Companion do the same

Some users avoid wiping all user data but face issues afterwards
It ss always recommended to let the update wipe everything
PC Companion and OTA will wipe everything as well because that's the right way to make such a big update

I will add this to the guide tomorrow

PS: I use SMS backup and restore from google play to backup my SMS messages, and I backup my whatsapp messages from inside whatsapp (it has a backup option). Everything else (including settings, calls, apps, etc) is auto-restored by google

 

[pradeep19922]

Few Questions

1)After i update to this 4.0.4 (Switzerland) can i update my phone when my country gets the 4.0.4 update again (Using sony update service software) or i have again download my country 4.0.4 and flash it again with flash tool

2)Will it Void warrenty

 

[Ben36]

Now we need a noob step by step guide to bootloader unlocking and rooting a kernel for cpu overclocking

 

[pradeep19922]

Now we need a noob step by step guide to bootloader unlocking and rooting a kernel for cpu overclocking

ya even i need

 

[andyus]

i'll post my problem here too maybe who see this discussion can help me! my previous custom rom was Ka08 with doomkernel, and now with new ICS wifi doesn't work anymore! i tryed to reflash wifi stock module too provvided from doomkernel thread but nothing happend...still not work! i removed doomkernel and flashed the original kernel.sin inside the new ICS firmware as the guide said, but WIFI still not work! someone got same problem or there is a solution for this please?

 

[mariorossi22]

Questions:
Flashing via flashtool will it voi warranty?
If I flash this, will I be able to update via PCC again or not?
Where can I find a GB world generic ftf file?

 

[MizuhoChan]

If I flash like this, without waiting for O2, will it void my warranty?

 

[bjoli]

Great guide!

 

[tekoa]

merci!

Merci a lot!