Develop Bugs

[Q] How to Backup stock Kernel + ROM ?

Hello Guys !
I wanna try some custom ROM so before doing that want to backup my Kernel & ROM. If anything gone wrong so I can revert back to original ROM.
My Cell details:
Xperia Arc S
LT18i
Android Version 2.3.4
Baseband Version -64
Build number
4.0.2.a.0.62
Locked bootloader
& unrooted.
Please someone guide me....
Thanks in advance...

If your bootloader's locked then you can't back up. You can only reload(repair)it from PC companion.
sinkster©

Thanks sinkster !
Ok done unlocked bootloader.
Then advice the further steps...

XPERIA CWM AUTO INSTALLER
download this app and install CWM recovery on ur phone...
Then reboot ur phone into recovery mode...
TO DO THIS, LONG PRESS BACK BUTTON WHILE THE PHONE RE-BOOTS
(OR)
KEEP TAPPING VOLUME DOWN BUTTON...
After it boots into recovery, go to BACKUP & RESTORE and Select Backup...
This will create a NANDROID BACKUP on your phone exactly as it is...including apps n contacts n all other data..
you can find it in SDCARD/Clockworkmod/Backup/
Good day...

If you wanted to take a backup without installing CWM you can use fastboot to boot (not flash) a kernel that has CWM built in.

thanks amulbaby
I will try and get back here with comment ...
EDIT:
I tried that steps but it will works only on rooted phone ..., can not enter in to recovery mode by pressing any key, it normally boots up and appear home ...

smartarse93 said:
If you wanted to take a backup without installing CWM you can use fastboot to boot (not flash) a kernel that has CWM built in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to do so... any guide links pls .. .

ShresthasR said:
thanks amulbaby
I will try and get back here with comment ...
EDIT:
I tried that steps but it will works only on rooted phone ..., can not enter in to recovery mode by pressing any key, it normally boots up and appear home ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you root it with flashtool then?
But for that u wud have to downgrade to .42, with flashtool before rooting

Hey I am also wondering about this. I have lt15i flashed with Official .562, locked bootloader and CWM installed via flashtool.
Which ICS roms will work with official .562 and locked bootloader? I have been searching all morning but not a lot of updates regarding this since the official .562 release.

djsneak1 said:
Hey I am also wondering about this. I have lt15i flashed with Official .562, locked bootloader and CWM installed via flashtool.
Which ICS roms will work with official .562 and locked bootloader? I have been searching all morning but not a lot of updates regarding this since the official .562 release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PROBABLY THIS ..... NOT SURE ....
T.E.A.M. Stock Rom for 2011 Xperia devices

amulbaby said:
Why don't you root it with flashtool then?
But for that u wud have to downgrade to .42, with flashtool before rooting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is the point I was looking for these alternative . . .
I have STOCK ROM with 4.0.2.a.0.62, actually I want to backup these stuff, I read about that downgrading via flashtool and root, if I flashed via flashtool that STOCK ROM will wipe...
Anyway here what I did to make a copy of my stock firmware & upgraded to ICS firmware & rooted.
Repaired my phone using Sony update service to download and backup STOCK firmware
Flashed with flashtool official firmware LT18i 4.1.A.0.562 NCB Icecream Sandwich Official

First you need to download a kernel that has cwm built in, I would search for recoveryARC.IMG then you also need fastboot from the SDK.
All you would do is connect your phone I'm fastboot then run in a command prompt fastboot boot recoveryARC.IMG. Your phone would then boot using that kernel and you can enter cwm by pressing the vol down several times. This process wouldn't flash your kernel only load it temporarily.
I would try and find a guide about them but I'm on my phone.
Sorry just noticed you've already done it, congrats enjoy ics.
Sent from my LT18i using XDA

smartarse93 said:
First you need to download a kernel that has cwm built in, I would search for recoveryARC.IMG then you also need fastboot from the SDK.
All you would do is connect your phone I'm fastboot then run in a command prompt fastboot boot recoveryARC.IMG. Your phone would then boot using that kernel and you can enter cwm by pressing the vol down several times. This process wouldn't flash your kernel only load it temporarily.
I would try and find a guide about them but I'm on my phone.
Sorry just noticed you've already done it, congrats enjoy ics.
Sent from my LT18i using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bro ...
I already upgraded, anyway I want to know the process, you mentioned here this process wouldn't flash kernel only load it temporarily, I am confused...
Could you describe in details .. ? Actual what happens if we flash recovery img...

Well you can use fastboot to install the kernel which overwrites the previous one, or you can use it boot the kernel which just sends the kernel to the phone which the boots and temporarily uses the kernel. However when the phone next shuts down it will return to normal use.
If you flash a kernel it writes the .IMG to the boot partition. So if I wanted to use a kernel that stayed between reboots I would use 'fastboot flash boot kernelname.IMG'
However if I was running stock I could use recoveryARC.IMG with cwm, and do fastboot boot recoveryARC.IMG then run update.zip as normal. Then all you have to do is reboot, you'll be back to stock but the update would still be installed.
Sorry if it's not cleat, the best I could do on my phone.
Sent from my LT18i using XDA

Please elaborate on backing up STOCK ROM
ShresthasR said:
Here is the point I was looking for these alternative . . .
I have STOCK ROM with 4.0.2.a.0.62, actually I want to backup these stuff, I read about that downgrading via flashtool and root, if I flashed via flashtool that STOCK ROM will wipe...
Anyway here what I did to make a copy of my stock firmware & upgraded to ICS firmware & rooted.
Repaired my phone using Sony update service to download and backup STOCK firmware
Flashed with flashtool official firmware LT18i 4.1.A.0.562 NCB Icecream Sandwich Official
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please give me details on you did this? It is precisely what I want to do (ie. Backup the stock carrier rom on my Xperia Arc before flashinging an old ROM in order to root it).
Did you use the "repair" option from "Sony PC Companion 2.1>Support Zone>Phone software update>repair phone"?
Or did you use the software from here: http: // w ww(dot)sonymobile(dot)com/gb/tools/update-service/
Can you please tell me the whole procedure on how you did the backup of the STOCK ROM? Thanks!

King of Procrastinators said:
Can you please give me details on you did this? It is precisely what I want to do (ie. Backup the stock carrier rom on my Xperia Arc before flashinging an old ROM in order to root it).
Did you use the "repair" option from "Sony PC Companion 2.1>Support Zone>Phone software update>repair phone"?
Or did you use the software from here: http: // w ww(dot)sonymobile(dot)com/gb/tools/update-service/
Can you please tell me the whole procedure on how you did the backup of the STOCK ROM? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually what I did just followed this guide
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1304634
At this thread just follow the video tutorial under section
"How to backup your carrier firmware using Update Service"
Youtube link: http://youtu.be/bB77gWRUI_A
Thanks XperienceD for nice guide

just want to ask, does CWM backup also backups the kernel or firmware?
and how do i restore stock kernel with or without using ODIN?
how do i go on flashing custom firmware? i really do need explanation especially for the .img file that i have been seeing guys.
please help me out because i really want to learn more about software and stuff.
thank you very much and god bless you guys.

ROM backup OK; How to take backup of Kernel
I am using Sony Xperia Ray ST18i
used it for a year with stock kernel and ROM
rooted it long ago, but was afraid of custom ROMs
last month I unlocked bootloader, flashed ROM and custom ROM (beanstalk 4.3.075), enjoying it but obviously not so stable like stock
Now if I wish to move back to my stock kernel and ROM
what steps are required.
I suppose
1. flash the stock kernel
2. restore from backed up ROM (I do have nandroid backup of stock ROM)
but how to achieve the step 1, as I learnt nandroid backup doesn't backs up ROM.
My collegue is having same phone still on stock, Can I use his phone somehow to extract kernel. I searched and found a zip to be used through CWM which backs up kernel it was meant for some samsung phone I tried but failed.
Thanks in advance.
Do I need to supply some more information to get help?

Backup stock ROM
I used this backup guide, but dont know if it will work for you http://helpadude.com/how-to-backup-your-android-rom/
If it does plz give thanks

[Q] Bootloader unlock allowed changed to No, after flashing Stock ICS.

Yesterday I tried to flash a JB room into my xperia arc S. The installation had no problems, but after restarting, the phone didn't pass from the sony logo.
So, with the flashtool I flash the stock ICS again. And the phone is working again, but, now I can not flash any other room because the bootloader is lock.
Now, the phone says: "bootloader unlock allowed: no", and before, it had: "bootloader unlock: yes".
Before, I even had clockworkmod installed and I could flash anything with it, but now... Now, my phone does have the notification drawer anymore.
Does anyone knows how can I fix this?
Thanks for any help.

What ftf file did you flash? Did you exclude simlock.ta from the files?
僕のLT18iから送られてきた

popthosegaskets said:
What ftf file did you flash? Did you exclude simlock.ta from the files?
僕のLT18iから送られてきた
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed( using clockworkmod ) this one first: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2380652, and the phone got stuck at the Sony Logo.
Then, using Flashtool, flashed this: "Lt18i_4.1.B.0.587_1254-8596_Generic_India.ftf" , then I even tried this: "LT18i_4.1.B.0.587_(1254-2184).ftf"
simlock.ta? No.
The problem now is that I can not go into clockworkmod anymore. I even had made a backup with clockworkmod , but now I can't restore it anymore.

alexmbra said:
I flashed( using clockworkmod ) this one first: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2380652, and the phone got stuck at the Sony Logo.
Then, using Flashtool, flashed this: "Lt18i_4.1.B.0.587_1254-8596_Generic_India.ftf" , then I even tried this: "LT18i_4.1.B.0.587_(1254-2184).ftf"
simlock.ta? No.
The problem now is that I can not go into clockworkmod anymore. I even had made a backup with clockworkmod , but now I can't restore it anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course you cannot go into clockworkmod, flashing the ftf file will remove it from your phone. You need to flash a stock kernel with CWM or install X-Parts

popthosegaskets said:
Of course you cannot go into clockworkmod, flashing the ftf file will remove it from your phone. You need to flash a stock kernel with CWM or install X-Parts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what is the point now, since it is blocked again?

alexmbra said:
But what is the point now, since it is blocked again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can always install X-Parts, it does not require unlocked bootloader.
僕のLT18iから送られてきた

popthosegaskets said:
You can always install X-Parts, it does not require unlocked bootloader.
僕のLT18iから送られてきた
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but if the phone's bootloader is bloqued again, why install X-Parts to have clockworkmod , if I can not flash another rom?

You can still flash a ROM with X-Parts, just that it will be stock based, definitely not CM/AOKP/PAC.
僕のLT18iから送られてきた

[Q] Xperia SL from stock to beast :)

Hi,
I'm new and quite a newbie with android so, please bare with me
I will try to write a comprehensive guide on this during the process.
My device is XperiaSL LT26ii / Android 4.1.2 / Kernel 6.2.B.1.96 (stock, or default kernel) Rooted with bootloader locked. Busybox installed.
So the only thing I'v done after buying is rooting it.
- How to fully-backup / recovery if anything goes wrong
Before doing any operation with it I wanted to backup everything (applications, ROM, System, documents) , and I hear that there is CWM or Xrecovery for that (mentioned in some guides), nandroid, but I found different applications on Playstore and don't know which one is the right one for my device.
I understand that backing up and restoring each of these system parts requries order and probably different applications,
Can we specify here which app should I use and how it's done?
- ROM and Kernel without unlocking possibly
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2593806 it looks like possible but considering that now there is cm-11 out and not yet for "nozomi" http://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=nozomi , I would like to try any stable, fast , light ROM out there which works for my device. Preferibly with possibility to remove any google app .
If not, how can I unlock the bootloader and do the rest?
I saw also http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1617219 which looks a nice kernel.
So , what's the most adaptive ROM / kernel for my phone and how to install / flash them?
- Getting back the applications
Once it's done, how to restore back applications and data? / with what tool, without loosing anything.

Download flashtool (xda fileserver)
You can use that to unlock your bootloader
Also backbuton = volume up = BOOTLOADET MODE
Menu button = volume down =flashmode
May come in useful for unlocking your Bootloader
Also emma flashtool isnt the same as this flashtool
Also google if your not sure
If you want to know anything else then ask
Sony Xperia S was my first android
Had a nokia brick before (3310)/N95)

Envious_Data said:
Download flashtool (xda fileserver)
You can use that to unlock your bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Before unlocking the bootloader , I'd like to backup everything with CWM or Xrecovery or nandroid ,
I tried installing CWM but it said my phone was not supported, so I gues I'm on the wrong place, so could you point to the right CWM?
Also, CWM I think recovers only the ROM and the kernel but no system applications, any app to do that and save everything to my PC?

xperiasl said:
Thanks.
Before unlocking the bootloader , I'd like to backup everything with CWM or Xrecovery or nandroid ,
I tried installing CWM but it said my phone was not supported, so I gues I'm on the wrong place, so could you point to the right CWM?
Also, CWM I think recovers only the ROM and the kernel but no system applications, any app to do that and save everything to my PC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for locked bootloaders recovery try this......http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2308493.....
after that go into recovery and make a nandroid backup of ur fon.....this will create a backup image of ur fon including rom,kernel,system applications.....them u can save it on ur pc....

mohit378 said:
for locked bootloaders recovery try this......http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2308493.....
after that go into recovery and make a nandroid backup of ur fon.....this will create a backup image of ur fon including rom,kernel,system applications.....them u can save it on ur pc....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks,
on the post it says "rooted STOCK JB ROM .200 with busybox installed"
the only thing is that I donwloaded the official .201 , is there any CWM version for locked bootloaders for that?

xperiasl said:
Thanks,
on the post it says "rooted STOCK JB ROM .200 with busybox installed"
the only thing is that I donwloaded the official .201 , is there any CWM version for locked bootloaders for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chk out this for XPERIA SL...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2245327....

mohit378 said:
chk out this for XPERIA SL...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2245327....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you suggested DRW Backup tool I will probably go ahead and unlock the bootloader, the only thing is now that I'm stuck at the backup point,
Before flashing the ROM or any kernel they say "backup", and it's used CWM or other tools, and when you go to install CWM they say backup first before installing...
Am I missing something here?
It's like a loop but no solution on how to backup what it's currently installing before putting any CWM or flashing a kernel...
How did you get out of this?

hey mate first of all backup ur TA partition....then unlock ur bootloaders.....then u can flash any custom kernel with CWM recovery......from recovery u can flash any custom rom or mod .zip file.....
UNLOCKING ur bootloaders voids ur warranty so always make a TA backup before unlocking.....u can search various thread for root,unlocking bootloaders,flashing custom kernel,custom roms within the thread.....
Hope this helps.....

mohit378 said:
hey mate first of all backup ur TA partition....then unlock ur bootloaders.....then u can flash any custom kernel with CWM recovery......from recovery u can flash any custom rom or mod .zip file.....
UNLOCKING ur bootloaders voids ur warranty so always make a TA backup before unlocking.....u can search various thread for root,unlocking bootloaders,flashing custom kernel,custom roms within the thread.....
Hope this helps.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, thanks that's all clear, what I wanted to know is how to backup everything before installing any custome kernel/ROM or Recovery tool (CWM, Xrecovery, etc)..

Got it,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2075736
Basically we need SUS, we update and get the files, than we decrypt and get a perfect image of the system + we backup with PC Companion + We backup the TA partitions with TA-backup and we are ready to go

[Q] CWM recovery for Xperia M locked bootloader ?

Hi, guys thanks to xda I was able to root my phone now I can't seem find a working CWM recovery file to flash it in my device. I've not unlocked my bootloader though so please help me flash cwm recovery on my c1904 15.4.A.1.9 firmware locked bootloader thanks in advance.

Sorry, but it's impossible to install cwm if your phones bootloader is locked.

metalftw7 said:
Sorry, but it's impossible to install cwm if your phones bootloader is locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did flash a cwm recovery for my device using flashify.But it just simply reboots it doesn't go to recovery mod. & please do something.

On Stock 4.1 i heared about a CWM for locked bl, but never tried it. But on 4.3 it isnt working. Look for the thread in general section.
But a "normal" CWM on locked bl isnt possible, as the bootloader only loads a kernel from Sony, and to boot into cwm on our device we need to detect an event to extract the cwm ramdisk instead of the nornal ramdisk, which is only possible with a modified kernel, which requires an unlocked bl to get loaded.

Does flashing cyanogenmod replace the boot partition and delete recovery?

Hello guys,
I've got a Sony Xperia M C1905 with Android 4.1.2, white, Firmware 15.1.C.2.8, rooted using towelroot and SuperSU installed as system app version 2.82, pseudo-pro activated.
I think you all know that the Xperia M has no stock recovery and flashing to recovery using "fastboot flash recovery twrp-nicki.img" doesn't work.
Instead I did it using the boot image from https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2480556 .
Now the big question for me is:
Does flashing cyanogenmod replace the /boot partition? Will I lose the recovery? If that is the case, can I reflash the modified boot image (also if this will make cyanogenmod unbootable) and that way get the recovery back and restore stock rom backup?
This is very important for me, I don't want to brick my Xperia M, and I am happy at the moment, because I have CWM recovery and root access. But for me there is something missing if I can't install new roms and do experimental things that maybe softbrick the OS and force me to restore ROM using recovery.
Thanks!!!
Pascal
P.S. So to sum up:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Does flashing a ROM change /boot
Does it delete my recovery or am I safe?
---------------------------------------------------------------

1. You should upgrade to 4.3 (I think latest is 15.4.A.1.9) before flashing anything
2. Yes, flashing any ROM will replace your /boot.
3. Flash TWRP into FOTA kernel.

Marek8299 said:
1. You should upgrade to 4.3 (I think latest is 15.4.A.1.9) before flashing anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem is that I didn't receive an update notification, and the tool on Windows (i think it was called pc companion or something like that) didn't find updates.
Is there maybe anywhere a 4.3 backup done in cwm? Then I could flash it using cwm as long as I have it and then use twrp on 4.3

vanillandroid said:
Problem is that I didn't receive an update notification, and the tool on Windows (i think it was called pc companion or something like that) didn't find updates.
Is there maybe anywhere a 4.3 backup done in cwm? Then I could flash it using cwm as long as I have it and then use twrp on 4.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because Xperia M is not anymore supported by Sony.
Here is .ftf that I've created for my device: https://ulozto.net/!TY5gRMxLNfSs/c1905-15-4-a-1-9-orange-sk-ftf