Database Develop

First time Flasher, question about the stock ROM with Xperia...

Hey Guys,
First off, my immense gratitude for all your hard work! So much information and development, really make me appreciate the massive cost that went into the Xperia !
Before posting this thread, I did my research, read and saw as much as I could, before I posted any questions about Flashing. Thankfully, I have most of the answers, but have a few left. I am sorry if the answers to these questions already exist here, I tried to find them, but couldn't quite find the exact answer, so I apologize in advance for offending or upsetting anyone, I mean great respect to all of you . So, here are my questions:
1. Is it fair to assume that ROMs and Firmwire, could be used as synonyms? They are both essential system files, placed on the ROM portion of the device. I am asking this question, because I want to make sure I have all the pieces of information, in case, something goes wrong during Flashing my custom ROM. I want to have ALL the stock components that came with my Xperia, therefore, I need to understand if Firmware is different from stock ROMs, here. If so, what is the difference and where can I get the proper firmware?
2. Here is all the information I could download from my phone:
Software Id: 1213-6450
Software Version: R1AA017
Customization Version: R15A
Customization Variant: GENERIC_UK
Version:
ROM version: 1.02.931.3
ROM date: 08/29/08
Radio version: 1.06.25.29
Protocol version: 52.43.25.24U
Based on this info, can you guys help me locate this EXACT ROM, if someone has it on XDA? I would really appreciate it! I tried going through the stock ROM threads, but I cannot find the EXACT match. I also wanted a second pair of eyes, more experienced eyes to let me know what information is referring to what and if I have had EVERYTHING needed, before I flash to a custom ROM. If the exact version of the ROM from my phone is not available here, then I guess I'd have to back up my ROM, using the instructions from here. Can anyone confirm this? Also, please don't be surprised by how old this version must be, LOL, I got one of the earliest models and I never touched it .
3. In choosing a custom ROM, I have decided to go with the popular choice, that is Itje's Touch-IT v4.5 Landscape. If I understand this correctly, the Manila (TF3D) on this is ported from the BRAND NEW HTC devices, the Diamond 2 and Pro 2, which use Manila 2, as I understand it? If this is correct, then is it also safe to assume that Themes from Blackstone or something, will NOT run on this Manila 2? I also assume that TF3D Config would also be ineffective on this?
4. What application do you guys recommend for the most comprehensive back up of the Xperia, that is, Emails, Text Messages, Pictures, and so on, and once backed up, can they be restored to another Xperia or any other WM 6.1 Device, including the text messages?
I really want to thank everyone in advance for reading my questions and post, and would again like to apologize if I have offended anyone. It really was not my intention, and please understand there's a myriad of information here, LOL, so just cause most of you our Gurus, us mere Mortals may not always know where to dig it from . Thank you again for your patience, I look forward to your responses.
Regards,
ProFragger.

1) Yes. There's several kinds of Read Only Memory in your device that you can modify. 1st is the SPL, second is the Radio and third is the OS. "Images" for the latter two are referred to as ROMs.
2) Back it up if you want to be sure.
3) Most of your assumptions are correct. I cannot comment on wheter tf3dconfig will work or not.
4) PPCPimBackup (comes with Itje's ROM too)

Thank you very much Angelusz, for your response and help. I have learned, just from those few lines .
I guess I will go ahead and start backing up my stock ROM. If anyone can help me identify, if the ROM already exists online, based on the info I provided in my post earlier, then I would appreciate that too.
Thank you again guys.

G1 Problems and ROM Questions...

Hey guys and gals. I'm new here but I did have a few questions.
Right now my G1 is giving me problems. Here is the scenario. I have loaded into my phone the OpenHome with the Aero theme, BetterCut, Font-Games font pack, and the Icon pack for Aero. Once I set OpenHome to only use 3 screens, I get a force close error. Then, if I were to shut off the phone and then restart it, it hangs on the Android screen (the new one since I already have the cupcake loaded into my phone).
Has anyone had this problem? Any work arounds to fix it?
I was also thinking of rooting my phone to see if that would fix my problems.
Which ROM would you recomend for me to use? and what are the pros and cons for each. Not looking to the Rosie or Sense UI rom yet, but the basic Cupcake rom.
Thanks

This post is in the wrong section as this is for development only.
If you do root your mobile, I would currently suggest Cyanogen's ROM as its up to date, stable and has some cutting edge stuff inside. The theme is also sleek and lightweight without any real modifications to make it look like Hero etc.

XDA timeout - double post.

Thanks for you help.
And my bad about the double post. I'll be chillin in the penalty box if anybody needs me.

Don't worry about it, the double post was by me as XDA struggles with the amount of users hitting the forum ^_^ There's a new Q&A section for the Dream so you can post questions and that which are not related to the development of Android. Unless its a specific ROM issue usually the posts go there.
Hope the rooting and the use of the ROM of your choice goes well!

One last question.
Where can I find specific directions on how to root my phone for the very first time?
I've located a few things but keep getting errors when I try to install the ROM?
Thanks for all your help

dragonl77 said:
One last question.
Where can I find specific directions on how to root my phone for the very first time?
I've located a few things but keep getting errors when I try to install the ROM?
Thanks for all your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go to here..
Code:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=519523
helps me a lot when I'm in trouble.. it also covers everything you need..

Indeed, its a decent thread of which I hope still gets updated. I've also had it in my signature too, to help raise the awareness of such an FAQ.

I'm looking around and not seeing anything concerning Non-rooted phones already running cupcake (Build CRB43).
Will I have to downgrade to RC29 in order to begin rooting my phone?
And is that possible even though I'm running the latest version of Android (ver1.5)?

Good question! I didn't see that you had 1.5 OTA running as it wasn't stated in your original post so we assumed you were running on 1.1. I just quickly read that you wanted a basic cupcake ROM...
You would have to downgrade yeah if you want to obtain ROOT and thus enabling you to flash custom ROMs and other goodies.

Yes, you have to downgrade to RC29 and it can be done with the latest version of the phone software. Follow the directions they already posted. It's reasonably straightforward. There's even a video guide on youtube so you can see what the various screens look like.

Now I have root

Hi every1,
I've just rooted my phone t-mobile(rc7) tested by turning on my phone typing enter reboot then enter which worked, now i have root is there anything i need to do before i put a rom on?
Whatis the best rom to use????
Mod edit : moved to Q&A, please post in corrrect forum.

Hi Mikey. 10

it was nice to meet you, jonnibravo

Hello, Have I done something wrong????

Look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4Ccfpwc6bg
;-)

maxisma said:
Look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4Ccfpwc6bg
;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the problem, this so called community I've heard about is not much of a community is it.
There's no need for it at all.
Can someone please offer some real advice.

Ok, here is a real advice:
Please read the tutorials.

I have, but the one I am reading shows an old JF1.41 rom, when I looked at the other roms it says things like only for 36b phones ect..... It's confused me a little because tho I am amature techy I am also extra cautious and dont want to brick my phone.
Would I be ok using CyanogenMod [v3.9.7] && Palm Pre theme [1.8] ported for instance

I think the reason people are being a bit hostile is because you posted a question in the development section. That may seem OTT but there are some days when the whole first page of the development section is filled up with questions.
Before you flash a cupcake ROM (cyanogen, JF) you will need the new radio. I'm not entirely sure if you can flash that radio on RC7 or whether you will need to install a custom ROM first (like JF's RC9) so if someone could clear that up that would be useful. It can be found here. Copy that to your SD, name it update.zip and flash. Then you can flash a Cyanogen or any other cupcake ROM. That particular ROM you were talking about sounds like it was ported to the HTC Magic/Sapphire. Only flash ROMs from the dream section.

Jonnibravo said:
Would I be ok using CyanogenMod [v3.9.7] && Palm Pre theme [1.8] ported for instance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate, I wouldnt flash 3.9.7 if you only just rooted your phone, go with the stable v3.6.8.1 first, then use Nandroid recovery to create a backup. Then worse case scenario you can always restore that image if needed.
There's a good reason 3.9.7 is marked as experimental, and there is alot to learn before attempting any Hero roms etc.
If you get stuck with anything feel free to shoot me a PM Im always around and happy to help.
Long time lurker first time poster btw

Thanks guys, I will not post in this section again and sorry to those I have upset, would hve been nice to have been simply told.
Thanks for the help.

lol that was hard as nails
maxisma said:
Look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4Ccfpwc6bg
;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that was by far the hardest groaned I have ever seen in my few months on xda!

People are just tired of everybody posting in devolpment when there is a q and a section, and when there are 20 to 30 new threads that have already been discussed, the devolpers get annoyed. Go with the stable version of cyanogen's rom, flash the new radio image and get yourself the hard spl, not the special, if you see warnings, run very far away. Install the s a lifesaver

ahem...
I wasn't hostile before, attempting to be civil now.
You posted two questions in the development forum. The first was regarding root. There are numerous tutorials available on this forum and even more via a simple google search. I know this because I read them, learned the process inside and out and successfully rooted my phone within the first hour of owning it. So yeah, I made a joke about a hard working mod having to move your thread... no personal attack so whatever.
Your second question was an open ended request for what are basically opinions. There are a number of great custom roms being developed here on XDA and all of them are unique in their own way. Roms like HERO and Cyan's experimental rom are definitely not for newcomers and the threads posted by their developers clearly state the risks involved in attempting to run them. 15 minutes in the dev forum and you could have made an educated decision on your own. One post in Q&A and you would have gotten much friendlier responses but in the end, you'd still have to choose your own adventure.
Let me make one thing clear...
I'm not a dev. I'm an end user who tries to contribute something useful to this forum and learns a whole bunch in the process. I've offered help to many people via PM and replies in threads (as long as the discussion is on-topic) but over time I've come to the realization that simply handing out information instead of forcing you to find it on your own actually does a disservice to not only the forum, but YOU as a user. So hate on us all you want. I think you'll find that following forum rules in the future will make your experience here a happier one, and snarky comments like yours are better left un-submitted.
To answer your question: I started with JF's 1.5 rom and think it was a great way to gain exposure to the world of custom roms and root. A lot has changed since then and things have actually become a lot easier since cyanogen released his recovery image w/ nandroid and tools like switchrom came out. Its now very easy to hop between roms and there are fewer chances you'll screw something up in the process. Personally, I've been sticking with Cyanogen's roms since 3.4.6, and though there have been some bumps in the road I've had very few issues and am currently working with his 3.9 experimental builds.
Hope you get where I'm coming from, good luck to you in the future.

Latest Rom(s)?

Hi All
I have a Tmob G1, firmware 1.5, baseband 62.505.20.17U_2_22.19.26I, kernal2.6.27-00392-g931baf [email protected] #1, build number crb43. I have a 1GB sd card.
I am looking to maybe run the a Hero/Touch/sense?.android 2 on it, but am REALLY confused about what is what.
Honestly - I have tried looking at the forums, googling, etc, but there is so much stuff out there that I cannot see the wood for the trees.
Can any one either let me know what I have to do to run the latest stuff, or at least point me to a link where I can get that information?
Thanks in advance...

Well there are lot's of good rom's out there, it might seem overwhelming at first but the dream android development section would be the best place to start, it is recommended you have atleast a class 6 SD card otherwise the hero rom's will be running very slowly, you could always try out cyanogen, it isn't hero but I love it. I recommend you do a lot of reading before you start out, as you could brick your device, if you didn't know this already. Just read, and read some more when you find a rom that fit's what you want and like what you see make sure you follow the guide to the T. Most of the threads in the android development section are rom's and have screenshot's on the first page. Oh and if you have any other question's just ask me, even though I am new to this site I am not new to G1, and the modified rom's.

Thanks Plasma!

New Smartphone and orientations

Hi friends,
I'm planning buy a P990 and one of the first things that i pretend to do is change the rom. It comes with a (stock?) Android 2.2, and there a few questions that i need know:
i need make a normal update to GB for flash or could be directl for roms with 4.x.x?
need change baseband?
need configure google account in Froyo for flash or don't?
thanks for help now,
Dioxx

Hi there,
You can jump directly on GB or ICS (whatever your preference is) without having to configure your Google account on it. There are several ROMs on the Development forum, check them out, read people's feedback and pick the one that suits your needs best.
You can also find a few guides there. I recommend reading tonyp's Baseband guide - it answers pretty much everything related to basebands.
ICS was released officially by LG not long ago, however it can't be considered completely stable yet. If you need something reliable, I recommend Temasek's CM7 (also available at the Development forum).
The best advice I (or anyone here) can give you is: read, read a lot. Spend time investigating and learning about the available ROMs / mods / kernels. Most questions you might have now are already covered, all you need is time and forum's Search function.
Hope that helps you get started!