HOW TO INSTALL A CUSTOM ROM IN YOUR XPERIA DEVICE - FULL GUIDE [FROM SCRATCH]

I have many posts in this blog regarding installing custom ROM in your Xperia device.. But Many people still faces problems in installing a custom ROM . So I decided to create a post which explains how to install a custom ROM in your Xperia FROM GROUND ZERO.. this post covers everything that you will need in installing a custom ROM in your New Device..

THIS TUTORIAL IS FOR NOOBS,. ;-) SO I GUESS NO ONE WILL FACE ANY PROBLEM IN UNDERSTANDING THIS... :-)

I am a Sony Xperia User, so this post is all about Xperia devices.. The procedure for installing a ROM is same in all devices, only the installation files does matters..

THINGS TO UNDERSTAND
=====================

• To install a custom ROM, you will definitely need a phone (? :P ) and You will need a PC or laptop
• I guess You have phone which is neither rooted nor unlocked.. If you want to install a custom ROM in your device, you may have to unlock your boot loader.. There are certain stock [ie the Rom the manufacture provides]  based roms which does not need an unlocked bootloader.. Stock based custom ROM means, the developers modifies the stock rom according to their tastes and make it as a rom..

BUT, most of the custom roms out there needs an unlocked bootloader..



ROOTING Means, Gaining access to the full potential of your phone, You can do whatever you want.. For example, you can even uninstall system applications like Camera.. That's the power of rooting.. So If you have a rooted device, there are a lot of advantages, and of course there are risks.. Suppose a malicious application in your phone have root access, then Your Phone is completely compromised.. The app can do anything with your phone.. That's why Manufactures like Sony says Rooting Will Void Warranty.

SUPERUSER: It is just an application which allows you to manage the applications that will need root access.. ie, if you have installed Titanium backup, then when you open titanium backup, The super user will ask you whether to allow root access to Titanium backup or not..So by using this, you can save your phone from malicious applications..

UNLOCKING THE BOOTLOADER : In normal state, your phone(Xperia devices) cannot install any custom roms,.. Only Stock ROMS and some stock based custom ROMs can be installed with locked boot loader . So if you want to Install custom roms like cyanogenmod, you will definitely need an unlocked bootloader.. If You unlock your boot-loader, the phone can install even unsigned roms and it can damage your phone If you do it improperly...

CUSTOM KERNEL: Each Custom rom may require it's own kernel.. You will need to flash the kernel specified for your rom.. Usually the kernel file is "boot.img" the name can vary. If you have installed a custom kernel which is not compatible with your current rom, then you cannot boot up your phone, Either your phone will keep restarting or it will be stuck at the logo.

CLOCKWORKMOD RECOVERY [CWM]: It is a recovery that will allow us to install custom roms, Using CWM We can format our system, we can backup our current rom, and restore it whenever it is necessary.. It is a must if you have a rooted and unlocked phone.. We will be installing the zip files using clockworkmod recovery...

FLASH TOOL: It is a software which allows us to flash our xperia phone,.. We can flash ONLY stock roms using flash tool.. Flash tool also is a must..We will install custom roms using flash tool..

In this post I will be installing Cyanogenmod 9 in my phone which is sony live with walkman.. As I said above, the procedures for different phones are same, only the installation files are different...

DOWNLOAD LINKS

1. Flash Tool HERE
2. Zip file of ROM for your device,. I said that i will be installing Cyanogenmod 9 in my live with walkman,..
You can download cyanogenmod from http://get.cm/?type=stableIt will open a web page where you can find the stable cyanogenmod for all the supported devices,.. The devices are specified by their code name.. So in order to download the rom for your phone, you will have to find the code name of your phone..


CODE NAMES

• Xperia Ray          - urushi
• Xperia Active      - satsuma
• Xperia mini          - Smultron
• Xperia Mini Pro   - Mango
• Xperia Pro           - Iyokan
• Xeria Play            - zeus
• Xperia Neo         - hallon
• Xperia Arc          - anzu
• Live with walkman-coconut

To get the full list of names, go http://semcblog.com/codenames/

Now you have downloaded the zip file of your rom.. COPY THE ZIP FILE TO THE ROOT OF YOUR PHONE'S MEMORY CARD.. Now we have all the files required for installing a custom rom.. Let's start..

HOW TO DO ALL THESE?

====================

MAKE A FULL BACKUP OF YOUR PHONE,.. THESE THINGS MIGHT ERASE ALL THE DATA FROM YOUR PHONE..

UNLOCK THE BOOT LOADER:-

1. Sony allows us to unlock our phone's boot-loader easily..  But KEEP IN MIND THAT, YOU WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY by unlocking the boot-loader.. I am not responsible for anything that can happen by you following all these instructions...
   
   Go to http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com and you can see all the instructions that you will need to unlock the boot loader.. Open the link in a new tab and start unlocking your boot-loader.. Read every instructions twice, and think twice before you do anything,,... Once you complete unlocking the boot loader, come back here..

INSTALLING A CUSTOM KERNEL:-

1. As I said, we will have to install a custom kernel to work with a custom ROM..  Open the zip file downloaded using winrar and copy the "boot.img" from the archive to desktop..
2. Hope you have installed flashtool.. Normally, it will be located at C drive.. Open flash tool folder, and you can see a few folders, open the folder named drivers and install the exe file.. It contains the required drivers for our phones,.. Tick all and install all the drivers,. [ or at least install flash and fastboot drivers].. You will be prompted whether to install the drivers or not,,.. Click install, and install all the drivers.. 
3. Turn off your phone.. Open flashtool..
   [connect the usb cable to your phone, DON'T connect cable to PC/lap top yet..] 
4. Press and hold the volume up button and connect your phone to the pc via usb cable.. Now flash tool will say that the device is connected in fastboot mode.. now release the key.. If your phone is not detected, then you might have not installed the drivers properly..
5. Now click on the first icon, ie a thunderbolt icon..  And choose the fastboot mode.. It will show a menu, then click on "Select kernel to install".. it will ask you to browse for the img file.. We have previously copied the kernel [boot.img] to the desktop..  Select it and click open.. Wait for a few seconds and you can see the info in flash tool main window,.. You have successfully installed the kernel for cm 9.. And all the custom kernels come with a recovery pre-installed.. You have now successfully installed clockwork mod recovery [CWM Recover]

INSTALLING THE ROM:-

1. Press the power button to turn on your phone, don't take your eyes off the phone.. Once your phone starts to show the logo [now, your phone might be showing the free xperia logo.. ;-)] Repeatedly press the "volume down" key to enter the recovery..
   [ More specifically saying, Keep looking at your phone after you pressed the power button,. now at some particular instant, your phone's led will glow, Now press the volume down key, and you have now entered in the clockworkmod recovery.. ]
   
   NOTE: If volume down key doesn't work for your phone, the remove the battery and then insert it, start your phone again and press the "back key" repeatedly..
2. Now you are in CWM- ie clockworkmod recovery..This recovery is used to install almost all the custom roms.. This recovery is not touch enabled.. You can use your volume up and down keys to navigate through different options.. And menu button or power button to make a selection..
3. First you have to do is, press the volume down key and select "wipe data and factory reset" and then choose "yes-wipe everything" 
4. Then wipe cache partition.
5. Then choose advanced and then wipe dalvick cache.. These three wiping are very important.. If you did not wipe data, your phone will not boot up..
6. Now select "install zip from sd card" and select the zip file of cm 9..
7. Wait until it is finished..  Once the installation is finished, you can reboot your phone.. First boot is a bit long, so be patient.. And once you boot up, enjoy.. 

YOU CAN INSTALL ANY ROMS JUST LIKE THE ABOVE.. WHAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT, YOU WILL NEED A COMPATIBLE CUSTOM KERNEL FOR YOUR ROM YOU ARE GOING TO INSTALL.. THANKS FOR READING.. :-) IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS, THEN DROP A COMMENT BELOW AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO HELP YOU

Read More