Database Develop

[Tutorial] Fix FOTA bricked (unlocked bootloader) Phones

Hi,
This will fix your unlocked Phones which got bricked through OTA update and are dead now!
Please download this package:
MOD EDIT Link Removed at OPs request
Let it extract to a destination of your choice.
After that run Flashtool.exe.
Now hit the button FLASH and select the package which is included.
Follow the steps and connect your phone in flashmode. This is the same mode Pc Companion and SEUS uses to flash your phone to newer firmare (Indicated by green LED), if you got BLUE LED you are in the wrong mode!
Flashtool will now detect your phone and start the repair.
After all is done your phone should be up and running again.
ADVICE:
PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OTA'S ! If you receive a OTA message just decline, if you accept it you will end with a brick AGAIN! So please do NOT accept them until SonyEricsson provides a OTA solution for unlocked Bootloaders!
Best Regards
Team FreeXperia

great work FreeXperia Team!!!!

No it is repairing TrimArea which got corrupted through the OTA update.
Regards
Bin4ry

Bin4ry said:
No it is repairing TrimArea which got corrupted through the OTA update.
Regards
Bin4ry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh so thats wht those .ta files are...
thanks for the info Bin4ry!!!

Again thanks alot for your effort.
It's not working for me though as I used the renaming simlock.ta to preset.ta method already.
Is there any hope that I can restore my ARC?
I tried the package put gives me error flashing preset.ta and aborted>
Again thanks.

DooMLoRD said:
oh so thats wht those .ta files are...
thanks for the info Bin4ry!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TA files contain hex data that's written to Trim Area of the phone. TA is very sensitive to modifications - if you change some important TA unit (especially in TA Misc) you can make your phone useless.

Wowww you guys are simply great Awesome!

You can really help a lot of people with this

ive just tried this and it doesnt work for me, it jyst keep saying:
16/020/2011 13:20:32 - INFO - Found at USB\VID_0FCE&PID_ADDE\5&30729A40&0&6
16/020/2011 13:20:32 - INFO - Start Flashing
16/020/2011 13:20:32 - INFO - VER="R9A021";DATE="20110128";TIME="11:49:00";
16/020/2011 13:20:32 - INFO - Flashing loader
16/020/2011 13:20:34 - INFO - PROT_VER="03";DATE="20110217";TIME="15:47:00";VER="R4A066";CXC="1234-5769";TYPE="S1_LOADER";UNIQUE_DEV_ID="07634881BC277A396E13B74032EFD53708AE5DAD";SEC_LOCK_STATUS="LOCKED";OTP_DATA="4B6D7100471404C81508042800B84DD9B001002000000000";IMEI="01268200375554";AID_VERSION="0004";EROM_AID="0001";LOADER_AID="0001";SW_AID="0001";CUST_AID="0001";SIM_LOCK_AID="0001";HWCONF_AID="0001";PROD_ID="0001";ACTIVE_LOADER_AID="0001";MEMDEVS="02:00:002C:00B3:0000:00002000:00020000:00000800:00000040,03:03:001B:534D:0010:0001DA60:00010000:00000200";MAN_ID="002C";DEV_ID="00B3";SIN_VER="0001";AID_TAMP="NOT_TAMPERED";MAX_PKT_SZ="00010000";AUTH_LEVEL="NONE";AUTH_MET="0001";CARD_PRESENT="YES";CARD_SIZE="8GB";CARD_DATA="UHJvZE5vPTEyNDYtMTkzMA1Qcm9kUmV2PVI1QQ1Db3BpZWRCeXRlcz0xMDI1NDkxOTUyDUNvcGllZEZpbGVzPTE0ODI5DUNvcGllZERpcnM9ODINT3JkZXI9OTAxNjQ2MC0xMA0=";LOADER_ROOT="S1_Loader_Root_773f";EROM_ROOT="S1_EROM_Root_d601";SW_ROOT="S1_SW_Root_883f";CUST_ROOT="S1_Cust_Root_9603";SIM_LOCK_ROOT="S1_SL_Root_c422";HW_CONF_ROOT="S1_HWConf_Root_08af";BIM_STATE="DISABLED";
16/020/2011 13:20:34 - INFO - Flashing preset
16/020/2011 13:20:34 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
16/020/2011 13:20:34 - INFO - Now unplug the device and power it on
16/020/2011 13:20:34 - INFO - Then go to application settings
16/020/2011 13:20:34 - INFO - turn on Unknown Sources and Debugging
:-/ think my fone its seriously ruined

I have already flashed the phone using vutan server once. Does this work after that?

Androxyde will look into the Flashtool Error this evening. Maybe the file is just too short and flashtool gets confused.
Regards
Bin4ry

Bin4ry said:
Androxyde will look into the Flashtool Error this evening. Maybe the file is just too short and flashtool gets confused.
Regards
Bin4ry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adding junk in comment might work? //junkjunkjunkjunkjunk
also, original simlock.ta file from SE has got 0128 before actual hex data and after TA address

What I got:
16/007/2011 21:07:16 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
16/007/2011 21:07:16 - INFO - Now unplug the device and power it on
16/007/2011 21:07:16 - INFO - Then go to application settings
16/007/2011 21:07:16 - INFO - turn on Unknown Sources and Debugging
Before it dies, both of them were on!

This should be correct preset.ta:
Code:
// [Brick fix]
02
000008FD 0002 00 00
Try with this one: http://www.mediafire.com/file/838ar7vbur358l4/Play_v1.01_TA brick fix UPDATE.ftf
If you get error, repack bundle with loader.sin from Arc FW (this one is taken from Play fix bundle).

Blagus said:
This should be correct preset.ta:
Code:
// [Brick fix]
02
000008FD 0002 00 00
Try with this one: http://www.mediafire.com/file/838ar7vbur358l4/Play_v1.01_TA brick fix UPDATE.ftf
If you get error, repack bundle with loader.sin from Arc FW (this one is taken from Play fix bundle).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It booted, still at "sony ericsson" screen. I will inform on progress!

rahbari said:
It booted, still at "sony ericsson" screen. I will inform on progress!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent! I've "cracked" TA file lol
Now reflash phone with FlashTool, fully, with data wipe.

It's working!
Thank you so much.

NP nice to hear that it works...

I reflashed the phone after it died with vutan program. It's just like a new one now!
Do I need to reflash it again?
BTW I thanked you in the other thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14783998#post14783998 and posted your method.
Thank you all again.

Is fastboot working?

[Q] Flash with stock rom

Hi and thanks for reading my question,
I have an xperia z with french network (SFR) customing. When I'm turning on my phone, there is an SFR's logo appears. How can I flash my phone with original rom ?
Thanks a lot for your help and sorry for my english.

AW: [Q] Flash with stock rom
Grab Flashtool, an unbranded original rom in FTF format and flash it using flashtool.
If youre familiar with Samsung, its the same as flashing tar.md5 with Odin.

Thx, I'm not familiar with Samsung :silly: lol. So if I debrand my phone, don't need to unlock bootloader or root the phone ? I don't want to loose official updates and Bravia Engine 2.
Thx for your help and I extract my original rom for french people who want "SFR" rom.

No, unlocking is not needed. Official FTF's can be crossflashed on branded devices to unbrand them.
You may pull a backup of your current firmware to have it ready to make your phone look like factory fresh. There's tutorials all over the place how to do that, you may ask Google. It basically involves telling PC Companion to "repair" your phone, it will then download the branded firmware from Sony and this file you copy from the download directory and safe it for later. Piece of cake

Superb ! The post could be close. Thx a lot !

I may have to add, I tried to pull a "backup" FTF for my still locked and brand new Z. PC Companion said there is no update available (yet). I find this peculiar as how am I supposed to "repair" my phone if I already ****ed my device up for real? I'll have to have an eye on the topic, hope FTF's will go online in the next couple days.

Has anyone uploaded a stock ROM yet? Couldn't find one.

There's at least one here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2135948
Don't know if it's FTF though and the search is down, I can't search the thread.
Edit: I was wrong. No boyscout-flashable release yet it seems
Edit 2: The one who searches shall find: http://icxperia.com/doomlord/xperia_z/10.1.A.1.350/ I took it from the last post in the above linked thread. Posted by doomlord.

Thanks a lot but is this the proper retail dump or demo build? I read that thread but they said it was demo.
Have you flashed yet? Any solution on how to grab a backup of the vanilla firmware?

Alright, to clone your current firmware:
1. Connect phone while in PC Companion.
2. Where it says at the top "latest version installed", click on that text.
3. In the small message box that pops up, click "repair my phone".
4. You are now in the flashing steps as usual.
5. Proceed until you are given the option to back up.
6. Do as usual.

AW: [Q] Flash with stock rom
lloydbf said:
Thanks a lot but is this the proper retail dump or demo build? I read that thread but they said it was demo.
Have you flashed yet? Any solution on how to grab a backup of the vanilla firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont have it from inside the thread, I browsed the directories Doom linked to and found that FTF in the process. I take it from the build 10.1.A.1.350 that we are talking release, don't know. Doesn't really matter either, unbranded is unbranded.
And I won't flash it, my free device came unbranded. I pay a lot of attention to only getting free, unlockable, unbranded devices.
lloydbf said:
*snip* 3. In the small message box that pops up, click "repair my phone".*snip*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I wrote further up or in another thread (dunno), if I do that, I get a message that no firmware is available for download.

Problem flashing stock rom
Hi,
I'm trying to flash the stock rom. But It doesn't work... (my bootloader is unlocked)
When I try to flash the stock rom with flashtool it gets stuck with:
28/059/2013 14:59:14 - INFO - Current device : C6603 - CB5A1P70CZ - 1270-8440_R12A - 1269-5309_10.1.A.1.350 - VODAFONE1-LTE_10.1.A.1.350
28/059/2013 14:59:14 - INFO - Start Flashing
28/059/2013 14:59:14 - INFO - Processing loader
28/059/2013 14:59:14 - INFO - Checking header
28/059/2013 14:59:14 - INFO - Ending flash session
28/059/2013 14:59:14 - ERROR - ERR_SEVERITY="MINOR";ERR_CODE="0017";ERR_DYNAMIC="0x80060011 ";
28/059/2013 14:59:14 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Log in debug-mode says: (see attachment)
When trying to flash something directly with fastboot I get this:
writing 'cache'...
FAILED (remote: Command not allowed)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What can I do now?
(Repair via PC Companion doesn't work, because it says the software on the phone is modified)

Are you connecting in USB debug mode when first plugging it in?
Otherwise, no idea.

lloydbf said:
Are you connecting in USB debug mode when first plugging it in?
Otherwise, no idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adb and fastboot should work fine.

Xperia TX keeps restarting !! please help

hi guys i have problem since yesterday my xperia TX keeps restarting showing ... what happening exactuly for make it easier to all of you is :-
clicking power on ... phone open normal .. showing Sony logo and then Xperia logo light on too ... and drop down retart again and again and i cant even power off i have to take out battery to make it off . i am fully done trying to put on PCC cant read it while the mobile is off just windows keeps showing usb pluged in and off while mobile is restarting ... i tried using also SUS or Sony Update center ... it reads mobile normal and it come to one step and it says ( the mobile have latest version ) and there is no icons for reinstall or repair in whole the window it show me only ( exit ) icon down side right . the mobile is rooted and worked normal after rooting but all this problem happened after i installed ( Full screen toggle v2 ) app the mobile restarted and after that keeps restarting continuing like this forever .
another thing the bootloader is locked as original stock sony i didnt unlock it yet . and now i am really tired im far from sony shop almost 550 KM away and i please you all anyone tell me what i can do ?? i really need urgent help my mobile is totally off and my work also is off since yesterday
thanks to all of you and who really have any idea to help and please no one tell me any step i already mentioned or tried i've explained all what i done because i need any new solution i never try .

Download flashtool
http://androxyde.github.io/
Download Xperia TX 9.1.B.1.67 ftf
http://bit.ly/1aA9l6W
Or
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0uuV9GO6vzUVl9GNUVoLW9XbXc/preview
Remove battery
Flash stock firmware
You are done
And I hope you know how to use flashtool

thank you
Yenkazu thank you so much ... yes i know how to use flashtool i used it on my previous android mobiles before i will try and i will let you know later ... but are you sure there is no need to unlock bootloader because mine is locked same as original ... if ok so i will go ahead and try this way .

diver_2010 said:
Yenkazu thank you so much ... yes i know how to use flashtool i used it on my previous android mobiles before i will try and i will let you know later ... but are you sure there is no need to unlock bootloader because mine is locked same as original ... if ok so i will go ahead and try this way .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashtool work on unlocked or locked bootloader
Just use flash mode for flashing firmware

bad luck
i am highly really sad from this mobile phone i start to feel i want throw it in rubbish really ... i've tried all ways to fix
more than 11 hours im trying to fix it ... i've done all u said and look what happened in while im flashing it in flashtool
it says phone on MTP mode ... how can i change it while i cannot open the mobile i really feel im stuck now and feeling
down from this disappointing phone now it just became a peice of plastic ?
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Opening device for R/W
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Reading device information
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Phone ready for flashmode operations.
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Start Flashing
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Flashing loader
18/028/2013 07:28:23 - INFO - Loader : null - Version : R5F001 / Bootloader status : ROOTABLE
18/028/2013 07:28:23 - INFO - Flashing kernel.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:26 - INFO - Flashing fotakernel.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:30 - INFO - Flashing amss_fs_2.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:30 - INFO - Flashing amss_fs_1.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:30 - INFO - Flashing partition-image.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - INFO - Ending flash session
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - ERROR - ERR_SEVERITY="MAJOR";ERR_CODE="0076";ERR_DYNAMIC="failed to set ta config";
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
18/028/2013 07:28:33 - INFO - Device disconnected
18/028/2013 07:28:35 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
18/029/2013 07:29:18 - INFO - Device disconnected
18/029/2013 07:29:22 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging off
18/029/2013 07:29:22 - INFO - For 2011 devices line, be sure you are not in MTP mode

It doesn't matter you are in MTP mode or not
I will check your log later
Try to kill ADB server first, and try again
Do you have PCC or SUS in your PC ?
Do you have ADB driver correct for LT29i ?
You can find ADB driver in flashtool folder
Try Flashtool 0.90 (older )
http://androxyde.github.io/index.html?1374127903000

wow my Note did that and I had to redo the system partitions cuz of damaged blocks on it... I hope its not the same but it should be fixable just really annoying to do so.
You still got warranty and what not from the store you got it at? I'll try and help you out best I can.

diver_2010 said:
i am highly really sad from this mobile phone i start to feel i want throw it in rubbish really ... i've tried all ways to fix
more than 11 hours im trying to fix it ... i've done all u said and look what happened in while im flashing it in flashtool
it says phone on MTP mode ... how can i change it while i cannot open the mobile i really feel im stuck now and feeling
down from this disappointing phone now it just became a peice of plastic ?
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Opening device for R/W
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Reading device information
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Phone ready for flashmode operations.
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Start Flashing
18/028/2013 07:28:19 - INFO - Flashing loader
18/028/2013 07:28:23 - INFO - Loader : null - Version : R5F001 / Bootloader status : ROOTABLE
18/028/2013 07:28:23 - INFO - Flashing kernel.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:26 - INFO - Flashing fotakernel.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:30 - INFO - Flashing amss_fs_2.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:30 - INFO - Flashing amss_fs_1.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:30 - INFO - Flashing partition-image.sin
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - INFO - Ending flash session
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - ERROR - ERR_SEVERITY="MAJOR";ERR_CODE="0076";ERR_DYNAMIC="failed to set ta config";
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
18/028/2013 07:28:31 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
18/028/2013 07:28:33 - INFO - Device disconnected
18/028/2013 07:28:35 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
18/029/2013 07:29:18 - INFO - Device disconnected
18/029/2013 07:29:22 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging off
18/029/2013 07:29:22 - INFO - For 2011 devices line, be sure you are not in MTP mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What was it you tried to flash, please provide the link

Thanks guys ..
well this is what i been trying to install
Sony Xperia TX (LT29i)_9.1.B.1.67_Malaysian.ftf
same as first post he said to me i take his idea and i did it ... i downloaded from what he posted up there in the first comment
what make me sad is my phone is new it dosnt have damage partisions the problem only happened because of ( screen full toggle c2 ) app
after i install it the phone retarted it self and keeps restarting .

download another ftf for the TX and try that

Guys Xperia TX Restarting Problem Fully Solved !!!
Thanks god ... and thanks to everyone here tried to help me The problem is Fully Solved and i will post now the solution
for everyone facing this problem . i've kept more than 13 hours working and trying on this posting everywhere and sony
website even didnt help me .... i've found the help here in XDA great friends and helper plus i found some information too
from outside and now i will post all the way i done here for Xperia TX only im not sure about other mobiles ...
what i done is
i had problem in flashtool before because i found that my flashtool is older version so i updated it
Download Flashtool ( v0.9.10.1 )
Download firmware ( Sony Xperia TX (LT29i)_9.1.B.1.67_Malaysian.ftf )
Open flash tool
Click on ( Flash ) icon
select source folder choose ( Sony Xperia TX (LT29i)_9.1.B.1.67_Malaysian.ftf ) and click ok
be sure you are marked ( Wipe date ) and ( wipe cash )
Click ok
get your mobile phone in your hand Take battery out 10 sec and put it back keep it off
now press volume down and plug your phone it into the USB cable and keep pressing untill flash tool starts running
dont press anything during flashing time wait untill flashing operation done 100%
unplug your USB cable
turn on your phone and enjoy you TX came back to life
i would love to thanks every previous posts before this post who helped or tried to help me and special thanks for ( Yenkazu ) the source of my help .
now we have in XDA new solution about xperia TX restarting or rebooting for everyone to know how to do exactuly
Problem finally Solved !

You mean this time you followed the instructions and it worked properly.There is no need to explain the instructions again, they have been given many times in flashtool thread and in the all in one thread and in this thread.
Well done!

gregbradley said:
You mean this time you followed the instructions and it worked properly.There is no need to explain the instructions again, they have been given many times in flashtool thread and in the all in one thread and in this thread.
Well done!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you gregbradley please dont tell me no need to explain . i have and i must to explain because you didnt see how huge the people number who asking or suffering from this problem in TX or Ion or Acro S or S . search on google and u will see and most of those people theyget replies
really not helpful like what i get from sony website ... they only say ( ok put ur mobile on PCC or SUS ) and this is not the solution while this wrong
solution is spreaded around people replaies back that it didnt work . they just say anything .
thats why im happy to be here in XDA and im not selfesh i must give out the experince what i learned because for sure there is another people not you and not me ... some people they are weak in mobiles or computer knowledge when he write for example ( TX restarting problem ) so he can find our thread and can find good help in XDA .
Thank you gregbradley for your kind reply .. and dont ever stop sharing all the best you know to who need to know . if u dont like to share . i like to do this all my life
thank you and all epople in XDA developers .

[Q] Can't Lock bootloader PLS HELP!

I got a used Sony Xperia Z c6602 as a gift from a family member when i tried to update it didn't, then i investigated this situation and found out that the phone Bootloader unlocked i tried to relock it but the Flashtool continuously said this;
14/026/2014 15:26:46 - ERROR - Drivers need to be installed for connected device.
14/026/2014 15:26:46 - ERROR - You can find them in the drivers folder of Flashtool.
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - Processing loader.sin
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - Checking header
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - ERROR -
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - Your phone bootloader cannot be officially unlocked
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - You can now unplug and restart your phone
I followed a few tutorials and searched the web for the problem but couldn't find anything PLS HELP!
Ps: i am not very good at things like this .

have you installed the drivers as it suggests?

SamV34 said:
I got a used Sony Xperia Z c6602 as a gift from a family member when i tried to update it didn't, then i investigated this situation and found out that the phone Bootloader unlocked i tried to relock it but the Flashtool continuously said this;
14/026/2014 15:26:46 - ERROR - Drivers need to be installed for connected device.
14/026/2014 15:26:46 - ERROR - You can find them in the drivers folder of Flashtool.
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - Processing loader.sin
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - Checking header
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - ERROR -
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - Your phone bootloader cannot be officially unlocked
14/026/2014 15:26:49 - INFO - You can now unplug and restart your phone
I followed a few tutorials and searched the web for the problem but couldn't find anything PLS HELP!
Ps: i am not very good at things like this .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you installed flashmode,fastboot & USB drivers

androidtweaker1 said:
Have you installed flashmode,fastboot & USB drivers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only installed Flashtool then went to drivers folder but couldn't install any of the drivers because of some error i tried following this tutorial
[http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z/development/tutorial-relock-xperia-z-bootloader-t2191907] but couldn't understand half of what he wrote.

SamV34 said:
I only installed Flashtool then went to drivers folder but couldn't install any of the drivers because of some error i tried following this tutorial
[http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z/development/tutorial-relock-xperia-z-bootloader-t2191907] but couldn't understand half of what he wrote.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
drivers

IT WORKED
androidtweaker1 said:
drivers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG at last it worked THX very much you are like a GUARDIAN ANGLE :Talking:

SamV34 said:
OMG at last it worked THX very much you are like a GUARDIAN ANGLE :Talking:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good::highfive:

[Q] Downgrading 5.0.2 to 4.4.4 on C6903 - how?

Hello everybody,
I'm new to all this stuff (I've never rooted or flashed my device before) so I would be really glad if someone could take their time to explain some things to me
About a month ago I decided to, after some time of consideration, upgrade the firmware of my Xperia Z1 to Lollipop (I previously had KitKat 4.4.4 installed). I upgraded solely because I wanted to be able to move apps (not just pictures and videos) to my SD card, which was, as we all know, something we couldn't easily do in KitKat without rooting. Even though I disliked basically everything else about Lollipop (including the new all-too-bright UI design, the unnecessarily large app icons and the lockscreen notifications) I decided to update to Lollipop, just to get the additional SD card functionality. I thought: "Oh well, I'll get used to it" and "It's probably something I can adapt to."
So I updated the firmware to Lollipop - and what a big mistake! HAHA, it's ludicrous! My device has become awful as its battery is draining super fast (from doing nothing but the regular stuff I've always done on my phone - and sometimes - from doing basically nothing at all), and as the device gets overheated all the time (again, from just doing the normal stuff - and sometimes - from doing absolutely nothing). Very soon I decided to do a factory reset, hoping it would change things. It didn't. I'm still experiencing annoying power draining issues and ridiculous overheating issues on my Z1.....
So, lately I've been reading and watching a lot about stuff like rooting, flashing and custom ROMs - things I barely knew anything about before. And what I'm currently thinking about is to flash my Z1 with the KitKat firmware I had prior to updating, so I can make things the way they were before (in other words: I want to downgrade the firmware). And then I think I'll install a custom ROM like SlimKat or iHackers to make my Z1 perform even better than before, and to get all those other benefits you get from rooting (like all those added features and settings, yay!)
Alright, so that was a bit about the background and the reason I want to do this...and here comes the questions I have right now:
Do I need an unlocked bootloader in order to flash my Xperia Z1 C6903? Sony's webpage about flashtools says that I need a unlocked bootloader in order to flash, but I've read on threads here on the XDA Xperia Z1 forum that I don't...what is right?
What are the right tools to flash my device and where do I find them?
Does it matter what/which build version I choose to flash to? I'm currently running Android 5.0.2 (14.5.A.0.270) and I want to downgrade to Android 4.4.4 and, if it matters, the version I had before upgrading to Lollipop. I think it was 14.4.A.0.157 but it might as well have been 14.4.A.0.108 or something else.
I'm asking all these things is because I really want to minimize the risk of bricking my device or causing any damage to the device that could have been avoided whatsoever. I've read many threads here on XDA, watched videos on YouTube among other things, but I'm still not sure about the things I asked above. Thanks in advance for being helpful! :good:
Best regards,
Andee23

no you don't need to unlock your bootloader for downgrading, actually don't play with bootloader if you will stay on stock(drm stuff)
you need right ftf file and flashtool, you need to see some user experiences for best build. there is no risk of bricking when you are flashing ftf(with right model number though).
http://www.flashtool.net/downloads.php just download flashtool from here
find the best suitable ftf for you from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2469191
shut down your phone, open flashtool press on lightning symbol, choose flashmode, find the ftf you downloaded. press flash. wait for it to prepare files. when it asks for you to connect it, connect the usb cable while you are pressing volume down button. the process will start automatically. when it finishes. remove the usb cable open the device. press reply button above for further questions. thanks

cimihendriks said:
no you don't need to unlock your bootloader for downgrading, actually don't play with bootloader if you will stay on stock(drm stuff)
you need right ftf file and flashtool, you need to see some user experiences for best build. there is no risk of bricking when you are flashing ftf(with right model number though).
http://www.flashtool.net/downloads.php just download flashtool from here
find the best suitable ftf for you from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2469191
shut down your phone, open flashtool press on lightning symbol, choose flashmode, find the ftf you downloaded. press flash. wait for it to prepare files. when it asks for you to connect it, connect the usb cable while you are pressing volume down button. the process will start automatically. when it finishes. remove the usb cable open the device. press reply button above for further questions. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK so I just downloaded flashtool via your link. But a message comes up telling me that the file is malicious and that Chrome has blocked it. What should I do?
Also, I checked the forum link you sent me. Found this link for my model (C6903). The newest ftf file I can download from there is 14.4.A.0.108. But after googling I found that this site can provide me the .157 (14.4.A.0.157) version. Would you recommend me to download that build version instead?
By the way, do I need to remove the SD card before I flash (and later on root) my Xperia Z1?
Best regards,
Andee23

Andee23 said:
OK so I just downloaded flashtool via your link. But a message comes up telling me that the file is malicious and that Chrome has blocked it. What should I do?
Also, I checked the forum link you sent me. Found this link for my model (C6903). The newest ftf file I can download from there is 14.4.A.0.108. But after googling I found that this site can provide me the .157 (14.4.A.0.157) version. Would you recommend me to download that build version instead?
By the way, do I need to remove the SD card before I flash (and later on root) my Xperia Z1?
Best regards,
Andee23
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a chrome secutiy thingy, you can disable it somewhere in settings.
You can download any build version you want i don't know which is best for z1 actually. You may want to backup your internal storage. External should be fine.

cimihendriks said:
That is a chrome secutiy thingy, you can disable it somewhere in settings.
You can download any build version you want i don't know which is best for z1 actually. You may want to backup your internal storage. External should be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright. So do you know why Chrome says it's malicious?
And one last question before I'm ready: By saying "you may want to backup your internal storage" do you mean I should backup the entire stock ROM or just personal files I want to keep?
Best regards,
Andee23

Andee23 said:
Alright. So do you know why Chrome says it's malicious?
And one last question before I'm ready: By saying "you may want to backup your internal storage" do you mean I should backup the entire stock ROM or just personal files I want to keep?
Best regards,
Andee23
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chrome doesn't even control it, so don't be afraid. it only tells it with some kind of filetypes without looking the file(exe,zip etc)
no, just personal files, it won't be deleted, but caution is important

cimihendriks said:
chrome doesn't even control it, so don't be afraid. it only tells it with some kind of filetypes without looking the file(exe,zip etc)
no, just personal files, it won't be deleted, but caution is important
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello again! I've tried three times now...the flashing doesn't work. I changed some details every time I tried but I still got the same error messages. Here's (part of) one of the logs...what does this mean and how do I solve it?
24/014/2015 20:14:22 - INFO - Selected Bundle for Sony Xperia Z1 (C6903). FW release : 14.4.A.0.157. Customization : BAL
24/014/2015 20:14:22 - INFO - Preparing files for flashing
24/015/2015 20:15:50 - INFO - Please connect your device into flashmode.
24/016/2015 20:16:02 - INFO - Device disconnected
24/016/2015 20:16:37 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
24/016/2015 20:16:37 - INFO - Opening device for R/W
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - INFO - Start Flashing
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - INFO - Processing loader.sin
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - INFO - Checking header
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - ERROR - Processing of loader.sin finished with errors.
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - INFO - Ending flash session
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - ERROR -
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
24/016/2015 20:16:38 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
24/017/2015 20:17:09 - INFO - Device disconnected

have you installed flashtool drivers seperate from flashtool itself?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2635830

cimihendriks said:
have you installed flashtool drivers seperate from flashtool itself?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2635830
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I haven't. I installed the drivers needed from the installer program that was found in the "drivers" folder in the flashtool program folder.

Andee23 said:
No, I haven't. I installed the drivers needed from the installer program that was found in the "drivers" folder in the flashtool program folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
install from here, you should choose first two, and your device when installing.
try again after that

cimihendriks said:
install from here, you should choose first two, and your device when installing.
try again after that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still stuck with the error message "Processing of loader.sin finished with errors". After googling it I can see that message has showed up to a lot of people. And unfortunately neither I nor people on the google results can find a clear fix to the error...

Yee-haw! I'm happy to announce that I have successfully flashed KitKat 4.4.4 my lovely Xperia Z1!
I even managed to succeed on my first attempt today! It was very easy to solve the problem: I deleted the ftf file from my computer and then I re-downloaded it
I think that the fact that I downloaded it from Mega instead of Google Drive might have played an important role, too
Wow, I've really missed KitKat - everything is so good-looking and it works like a charm! And the battery draining and temperature problems are gone!
@cimihendriks
Thanks a lot for your help!! You're awesome

One more thing: after that the flashing had finished and I was told to unplug the device there was a line in the Flashtool log saying "For flashtool, Unknown Sources and Debugging must be checked in phone settings". I didn't check those settings in my phone before I started the flashing procedure - should I be worried?

Glad it worked out for you! no, flashtool doesn't do stuff in android. flashmode and fastboot modes are seperate from system. don't get worried. Enjoy!

that's easy
i already do that ! 2day i have no prob i downgrade from 5.0.2 to 4.4.4 than to 4.3 than i back to 5.0.2 again
but i stay get no IMEI / NULL
i can't fix thaty

benniche farid said:
i already do that ! 2day i have no prob i downgrade from 5.0.2 to 4.4.4 than to 4.3 than i back to 5.0.2 again
but i stay get no IMEI / NULL
i can't fix thaty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does your network work?

cimihendriks said:
does your network work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i solve the prob & i make video about to help others
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo4rF7KENAA