Introduction:-
Hello !!
This post is made for all you need before you begin something with your Xperia M , This post is inspired by DooMLoRD's Thread at xda !
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Disclaimer:-
I'm not taking any responsibility if you brick your device while you do any modifications which is mentioned below !
You are doing this your own risk.
Skip this , If you don't want to brick your device ..
Although its tested but if you will play with files in this mod then Its over you.
I Hope you have read this carefully, Now move to next steps :
Index Of This post :-
- Basics
- Definition And Info Section
- How-to Guides
- ROMs And Kernels For Xperia M
- Many More Soon ...
Basics
Types of Boots
- Normal - just press power button and device starts booting
- Flashmode - this mode is used to flash stock OFFICIAL firmware using flashtool, denoted by GREEN LED
- Fastboot mode - this is a special mode, denoted by BLUE LED, used when we want to flash custom kernel, custom system images, for that we need to unlock bootloader, i will tell more details about this later...
Power Off your device first then
Volume Up + USB cable connected to PC -> FASTBOOT MODE (BLUE LED will light up)
Volume Down + USB cable connected to PC -> FLASHMODE (GREEN LED will light up)
Definition And Info Section
Firmware:
Firmware refers to the applications and operating system that control how a cellphone or smartphone operates. It is called firmware rather than software to highlight that it is very closely tied to the particular hardware components of a device. Firmware is generally flashed into a phone's ROM rather than simply being loaded into normal phone storage, where it could more easily be erased and lost in the event of a crash. Firmware updates are sometimes provided by a company as a way to fix bugs or introduce new functionality.
Flashtool :
Flashtool is a S1 flashing software that works for all Sony phones from X10 to Xperia Z Ultra. They all use the S1 protocol for flashing firmwares.
This program was originally made to flash sin files downloaded by SEUS or PCC. From time to time, sin files have been bundled into what is now well known FTF (Flash Tool Firmwares). That is the core of Flashtool and the reason of its name.
Flashtool can also easily unlock the bootloader of the phone using the BLU icon as far as the bootloader of your phone is unlockable
The flashing feature as well as bootloader unlock feature are available whatever the phone is recognized or not by the application. What is only mandatory for flashing is to own the FTF file according to the device you want to flash it on.
Why should I use flashtool ?
- Once bootloader unlocked, official sony tools do not work anymore.
- Using official sony tools, you can only upgrade. No downgrade possible.
- Using flashtool, you can choose what to flash and what not to flash. This said, many rooting scenarios are available implying kernel only downgrade to retrieve a patched rooting exploit and then flash back the right kernel.
Bootloader:
The bootloader configures the device to an initial known state and has a means to select where to start executing the kernel. It can allow you to make this selection, which give you for example the opportunity to start an alternative Linux kernel, or Windows. Because the bootloader is an essential component of the boot process, it is stored in non-volatile memory, such as flash memory. Bootloaders are written by hardware vendors and are specialized for the hardware they run on. Root:
Rooting mounts of your system as writable so that you can make any modifications and gives you ability to alter or replace system applications and settings, run specialized apps that require administrator-level permissions, or perform other operations that are otherwise inaccessible to a normal Android user. On Android, rooting can also facilitate the complete removal and replacement of the device's operating system, usually with a more recent release of its current operating system.
Kernel:
One of the kernel's main functions is to control the hardware. When software needs the hardware to do anything, it sends a request to the kernel. From the brightness of the screen, to the volume level, to initiating a call through the radio, even what's drawn on the display is ultimately controlled by the kernel. . Both the hardware and the software communicate both ways with the kernel, and that's how your phone knows when to do something.
ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM)is a replacement recovery option for Android devices, made by Koushik "Koush" Dutta. Features include Nandroid backup, adb shell, advanced update.zip options (ignore asserts and signature checks), and file browser for choosing update.zips
The Rom Manager app may be used for installing CWM, overwriting the device's stock recovery. As with the stock recovery, CWM can apply software changes to the device. Unlike the stock recovery, CWM is able to entirely replace the device's primary Android operating system ("flashing a new ROM"), including with aftermarket replacements such as CyanogenMod. Once installed, CWM it is accessed by turning your phone off, then triggering the bootloader prompt by holding down some device-dependent button combination as it is turned on.
Zipalign:
zipalign is an archive alignment tool introduced first time with 1.6 Android SDK (software development kit). It optimizes the way an Android application package (APK) is packaged. Doing so enables the Android operating system to interact with the application more efficiently, and hence has the potential to make the application and overall the whole system much faster. Execution time is minimized for zipaligned applications, resulting is lesser amount of RAM consumption when running the APK
Deodex :
Deodexing is basically repackaging of these APKs in a certain way, such that they are reassembled into classes.dex files. By doing that, all pieces of an application package are put together back in one place, thus eliminating the worry of a modified APK conflicting with some separate odexed parts.
In summary, Deodexed ROMs (or APKs) have all their application packages put back together in one place, allowing for easy modification such as theming. Since no pieces of code are coming from any external location, custom ROMs or APKs are always deodexed to ensure integrity.
In summary, Deodexed ROMs (or APKs) have all their application packages put back together in one place, allowing for easy modification such as theming. Since no pieces of code are coming from any external location, custom ROMs or APKs are always deodexed to ensure integrity.
How-to Guides
Click Here to Read : How to Root
Click Here to Read : How to flash 15.1.A.2.5 firmware
Click Here to Deodex 15.1.C.1.17 Stock ROM
Click Here to Deodex And Zipalign 15.1.C.2.8 Stock ROM
How to Flash
How to make .ftf file of stock firmware
How to unlock bootloader
Great thanks for Shoaib for video guides
ROMs And Kernels For Xperia M
ROMs
SXDXMZ1 ROM For Unlock and Lock Bootloaders
Kernels
ElixER Kernel For Xperia M Single 4.1.2
CWM Combined Kernel for Xperia M Dual 4.2.2
CWM Combined Kernel for Xperia M Single 4.1.2
Many More Soon .......
Regards
Noel Macwan
Author/ Admin @ SXDevelopers !
