Develop Bugs

[Q] Xperia Play won't boot - doesn't even reach Sony Ericsson screen

Hey guys
After having a look at some custom roms for my Xperia Play R800i, I decided to try and install Cyanogenmod 9.0. After a long and stressful ordeal, I managed to root the device, install Clockworkmod Recovery, and flash the rom. I wasn't happy with this rom, so I flashed ICX. After being dissatisfied with this also, I decided to return to the stock rom, using Flashtool and Xperia_Play_Release_Generic_UK.ftf. When I went to update to Android 2.3.4 using the Sony Ericsson PC Companion software, it said that the phone contained modified software which could not be updated. Thinking this was an error, I re-flashed the ftf file, then tried to download the update through the Software Update option in the About Phone settings menu. The update seemed to be going fine, but soon after it began, the phone simply switched off. Now, when I press the power button, the phone vibrates, but does nothing else. It doesn't even get past the black screen. I viewed some similar problems on the Sony Ericsson support site, and they all advised use of the Update Service program. Once again, I was told that my phone contained modified software and therefor couldn't be updated. I also tried to flash the ftf again, but my phone is still as unresponsive as ever.
I imagine that the problem is to do with the software that is currently installed on the phone, and that it needs to be removed/replaced for me to switch it on. However, I can't know for sure because I can't switch it on.
Sorry for the long post, but I'm desperate to get my phone working again. Any and all suggestions would be useful. Thank you in advance

Ya... not supposed to FOTA on unlocked bootloader, it bricks you. As you've seen SEUS doesn't like locked bootloaders so the only way to use it again is to relock the bootloader. Unfortunately in order to do this you need to flash the relocker, which is a .ftf, which you can't do because your phone isn't recognized by flashtool. I dunno, you don't have a lot of options here, but lets lay them out:
1. Get into flash mode and recover via either a .ftf or use it to relock your bootloader so you can use SEUS
2. Get into fastboot and boot or flash a kernel or recovery. You could try flashing a CM7 kernel and installing its .zip
3. If nothing else works your only other option is to turn here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1322827

This is what happens when you use official Sony update service with an unlocked bootloader.
Sent from my R800i using xda premium

Sorry to be a pain, but do you have a link to the specific .ftf I need to relock the bootloader?

Actually, ignore my last post. I Googled it and found the file quite easily. I flashed it with Flashtool and everything is working perfectly. Thank you so much for your help BuckM. You saved my phone

Here you go. I wouldn't bother relocking though. Just flash the ftf file that you want.
You will find them here.
Beaten too it by OP

d31b0ys right, you don't really NEED to relock your bootloader, its just an option to get SEUS working again. That being said keep in mind you can reunlock your bootloader again at any time using the same unlock code as before, just try to be a little more careful

did you try to pull out the battery then put it back, then hold the search buttion (wile the phone is still off) then put in the usb cable? if done correct your power buttion will turn blue. then download a stock .tft for your phone and flash with flashtool. this unbricked my phone

[Q] flashtool error

OK i've been trawling the forums but so far i've not found an answer.
i've got a T-mobile branded arc and its bootloader is unlocked. it is running .62 firmware.
i'm trying to flash the generic uk .42 firmware but i keep getting the following error:
ERR_SEVERITY="MAJOR";ERR_CLASS="SECURITY_CLASS";ERR_STATIC="SIN_HEAD_VER";ERR_DYNAMIC="Failed to verify sin header";
i've tried a couple of different firmwares, and i've definitely got my phone in the right mode with usb debugging enabled.
can anyone help?
Thanks

Me again... I remembered a similar thing with someone's x10 a while ago, it was caused by low battery while flashing. The resolution was to repair the boot, which for the x10 meant a service centre. But you can use fastboot to do it, just connect in fastboot and use the erase command, erase boot, erase userdata, erase system. I'd give that a try.
sinkster©

Thanks for the response. Following something I'd read on the X10 forums I did consider doing a repair via pc companion but I wasn't sure what implications it might have following having my boot loader unlocked.
I'll give this a go and let u know if it works.
Thanks again!

ok could really do with some help now. still has the same problem with the added fact that my phone is now bricked.
Please help!!!!!!

after 'erase boot' have you tried booting a new .img?
D/L a rom that's cwm flashable to your sd card, boot into doomkernel and try flashing the rom(if you haven't already)

thanks for the quick response.
i've tried flashing the cyanogen boot image but sadly that fails. sorry to sound like a noob but i went to the github site to download doomkernel but for the life of me i couldnt find the boot image.

in the latest flashtool need to install the drivers or not? inside drives folder one..

I'm really sorry but i don't understand. I don't have any driver issues if thats what your getting at.

Are you able to boot kernels with fastboot?

hey sinkster.
ok managed to install different boot images (tried a few just to check) and all that happens is that i get the splash screen and it stays there.
still can't install any roms using flashtool. and to be honest i'm not sure how to do it using fastboot
any ideas?
thanks

Once you have installed the kernel, disconnect the phone from the pc and turn it on. When you see the kernel image, press the back button. This should send you into CWM and from there you can install a rom like "update.zip". On my girlfriend's x8 after flashing nAa kernel I was also surprised that it did not boot again to stock rom, but afterwards I pressed the back button which led to CWM and flashed a rom. Try to wipe data, cache, dalvik and battery stats also. The rom should work. If you notice any problems, just reinstall the rom again wiping data, cache, dalvik and battery stats (first time I got wifi issue and battery drain issue - android was taking 46% ) ). All the best. I hope I helped.

For flashtool just d/l a rom file(ftf), put it in the firmware folder, power down phone, run flashtool, click flash, select firmware. When it says connect then connect usb while pressing back(led is green) and rom should flash with a log on screen. this will flash an entire rom and kernel, or a baseband. For fastboot, open fastboot folder, move kernel(s) to folder, shift&right-click and select 'open command window here', power down phone and connect usb while pressing menu(blue led). In cmd window you can type 'fastboot devices'to check the phone is connected, to boot a kernel then type 'fastboot flash boot boot.img', or whatever the kernel file is called(I have 4or5 so name them individually)
so first use flashtool and flash the file here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1359303
that gives you stock rom/kernel; if you want a custom rom put it on your sd card to flash with cwm. if you want or need a custom kernel the fastboot doomlords kernel
These are the basics, you probably know all the above but just in case.

Gents thank you for your help. got somewhere finally. managed to flash BLENDMIUI onto phone andd got it working. for some reason SE Tweek does not want to work.
sinkster thank you for the summary.i originally mis-typed. when i said i didnt know how to flash a rom with flashtool i actually meant fastboot. but i'm now fully up to speed using cwm.
and thank you valy_cta, that got it working in the end.
its strange that i still get the same error when flashing any roms with flashtool though. tried about 6 or 7 different ones and i still get the initial error.
if i repair the phone with pc companion, would it lock the bootloader again?

other way round, you need to lock the bootloader before you update. Just unlock again, it'll be the same code.
sinkster©

ah the problem with that was that i had to get jinx13 to unlock it.
really what i want to do if flash a stock rom, which i still can't seem to do.
EDIT: since flashtool doesn't seem to work for me I found out from one of DooMLords threads that you can extract the ftf files and flash with fastboot. job sorted.

[Q] Saving My Xperia Play Phone

Hi Friends . Recently I Decided To Tinker With My Xperia Play Phone And Now I Can Put It In To flash and fast boot once to try something but then all I get is blinking red light and to be able to do it again I have to pull battery. Ok so here is the dumb thing I did I unlocked bootloader though sony which by the way I can relock if I need to . then I got excited about all the things I could do so I was bouncing between this site , free xperia , and some junk site with bad guides . So Im Reading and jumping around getting a custom rom and reading how to to use flash tools and im reading this vague guide on flashing a custom rom . I flash it and then in the guide it says to boot in recovery but I didn't now it at the time that you need to install a recovery I thought sony had a stock recovery like the boot and flash mode.. so now im stuck in a bootloop. So I got on this website and started digging . most of what I read is that I can save it by flashing stock firm ware with flash tools . everytime I try to flash it when it gets to system.sin I get a blocked verifaction error. Ive tried it with and without final verifaction checked. also ive tried different stock firmwares and on some of the firmwares they are compressed in a .rar file and when extracted it says file corrupt or broken. ive tried all the sony services PC Companion with bootloader locked again and it says no software available if bootloader is unlocked it says my phone has been modified . ive tried there update engine no software available And there flash tool EMMA no services available . Tried wotan I think but the client just keeps closing. So after all the flashing and stuff im where I mentioned in the beginning one flash attempt then red lights pull battery and try again.
I really think if some one knows why im getting the verification block error in flash tools and could give me the stock firmware I need id be set but im at an end and this is my cry for help . please ill try anything if it might work
phone breakdown -Sony Xperia Play R800x The Verizon one It was running GB 2.3.4 bootloader unlocked and not rooted
Thanks in Advance

All roms/kernels/firmwares are at
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2184897
Please note that kernel and recovery is in same file (you can't flash them separately). All custom kernels have recovery build in, but not stock kernel. And, important when choosing wich kernel to flash, flash kernel that match rom you are about to install (example, lupus ics/gb is for ics and gb roms, but not for jb roms).
To flash firmware, use flashboot mode in flashtool. Select firmware, and when asked, (phone turned off) hold back button and insert usb cable to xPlay.
To flash kernel, power off, hold search button and insert usb port to xPlay. Choose kernel from flashtool and wait few seconds. Power on and keep pressing back/volume down (depends on kernel), it will enter recovery. Choose "flash zip" in recovery and wait few minutes (again, kernel must match rom you are installing or you'll get "kernel bootloop" (kernel logo shown, then it restart).
Edit: what is your model? R800 x,i,a?
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

solved
Easy Fix Changed usb Cable Flashed no problem

[Q] Unable to access flashmode (green led), need help!

Hi,
I've just rooted the device (c6503), backed up TA-keys, and finally unlocked the bootloader using the official way through sony website. The phone booted fine and my next step was flashing a custom rom... That's when **** happend. I downloaded P.A.C True All in 1 ROM[Nightlies] and followed the instructions how to flash. Flashed the boot.img and then you need to reboot the device in recovery but the 3 sec violet led never happend...
Now I have downloaded stock ftf (C6503_10.1.A.1.434_Customized_DE.ftf) and want to flash it with flashtool but I'm unable to boot the device in flashmode (green led). I can however boot in flashboot mode (blue led) but as I understand, that doesn't help because i can't boot into recovery.
I never flashed a recovery, is that a problem?
What can i do now? Is the phone bricked?
Thanks in advance!

Now I have downloaded stock ftf (C6503_10.1.A.1.434_Customized_DE.ftf) and want to flash it with flashtool but I'm unable to boot the device in flashmode (green led). I can however boot in flashboot mode (blue led) but as I understand, that doesn't help because i can't boot into recovery.
-----------------------------------
It happened to me also.
Start Flashtool, choose your xxxx.ftf and wait till it totally loads (do not connect your phone yet). Now, when your Flashtool is totally ready and the small window opens with the instruction how to connect the phone, open the small backcover of your phone and press-hold the small yellow button till it rings x3 times (it takes ~10-13 seconds to hold the button). Now, do not waist time, press-hold volume down and insert the usb cable, the flashing should start.
I had similar problem and I guess my phone root is corrupted, I cannot download updates directly from Sony but I can flash updates without problems.
If anyone knows how (if its possible) totally reflash everything, you help will be appreciated.
Good luck.

Alright, it seems like I'm having some problems with the usb drivers for flashtool... Are there different drivers for flashmode and fastboot? Because the fastboot drivers seems to be working correct but not flashmode drivers. Running windows xp, maybe that is a problem too Can someone please point me to the right direction of where i can download those usb drivers?
I have the modified android_winusb.inf for the Xperia Z but that doesn't seems to be enough.
I managed to flash FXP cm10.1 and got it running which also gave me a working recovery. But I would like to try out the P.A.C True All in 1 ROM[Nightlies] but when I flash the boot.img of that one I lose the recovery.... Weird, my old HTC desire Z always had the same recovery without any problems while flashing all kinds of ROM:s. This is indeed confusing.
Should i flash the boot.img of the ROM and then a recovery? If so which recovery? As i understand all the recoveries are for stock kernel but the kernel for these custom ROM:s could not be stock right? I'm a bit confused here really
Excuse my bad spelling and such, english is not my main language.
Thank ChimPilot for the quick reply!

Go to Google Play Store and download: Superuser, X-parts and ROM manager. Those are must haves if you are playing with ROMs.
You are in better shape if you can access the bootloader because I cannot, so I am considering to reflash everything and that would be my weekend project.
The problem I have is corrupt path to root and so Sony's PC companion spit me out, Sony's SUS does not go through and my last try would be Emma but it requires unlocked bootloader which is corrupt in my case. If anyone would give me a hint which directon to follow, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Help! Blank screen after flash

So I tried rooting my phone. I downloaded the 108 kernel and 157. I turned off my phone and flashed 108. It worked, from the log on flashtool except I lost my display. The buttons still work, I can hear my messages and everything else. It just seems like the display is gone, just a black, blank screen.
I tried flashing to 157 again but didn't work. I thought maybe I don't have the right kernel, so I downloaded a new one, except now I can't flash because my debugging turned off, and I can't turn it back on because i can't see anything. Is there a way to fix this?
Thank you

You dont need debuging to flash via flashtool. I know there is a sign with info that is needed but I always flash via flashtool roms and stock kernels and always I have debuging off in developer options. Try to flash whole rom without wipe data

Are you sure you flashed the right kernel to the phone, I followed this and did the fault to click on the link on that post to the guide before I downloaded the kernels. The guide is written for Z1 and the kernels there are for Z1, I did that and got the same as you, (probably) working phone without screen. You have to download the right kernels before you go to the guide. The kernels for Z1 compact shall begin with D550X........ , if you flashed the C690X..... kernel (as I first did) it's the wrong one. I manage to repair my fault by flashing the right kernel to the phone and YES............ the screen was back