Flashing Custom ROMs onto the Xperia X10

2011-06-07

The most stable ROMs are the 2.2 Froyo ROMs. Sony Ericsson will be releasing an official 2.3 Gingerbread update in early Q3 (sometime in July) to unbranded handsets. This means carrier-branded handsets won't officlally get the update, but as always, the Flash Tool will allow for updating. And no, I don't know the exact date.

http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/2011/03/25/update-on-xperia%e2%84%a2-x10/

As always, you MUST have BOTH installed and updated:
Update Service: http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/support/softwaredownloads/detailed/updateservice/xperiax10?cc=gb&lc=en
PC Companion: http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/support/softwaredownloads/detailed/pccompanion/xperiax10?cc=gb&lc=en

Vista/7 users should turn off User Account Control and/or run everything as administrator. Windows XP users should be administrator-level users (as opposed to standard/guest).

Flashing a custom ROM typically involves:
- backing up all your applications and data using a 3rd party program such as Titanium Backup, Astro, SMS Backup & Restore, etc. Do NOT use Sony's Backup & Restore as this is only for v2.1.
- flashing a GENERIC firmware
- flashing/patching the baseband (radio)
- flashing dual-touch drivers, if applicable
- rooting the phone
- rebooting
- installing BusyBox
- installing xRecovery
- downloading the ROM files
- copying the file(s) onto the SD card
- rebooting into xRecovery
- flashing the ZIP file(s)

However, each individual ROM may have specific requirements. Therefore, READ the thread accompanying the ROM to ensure proper installation of the ROM. Else your device may get stuck in a bootloop or worse.

Before flashing the custom ROM, you can use xRecovery to do a complete backup, allowing for easier restore later. Usually, even if the flash goes bad and the phone cannot boot, you can still get into xRecovery. If that fails, you'll have to use the Flash Tool to start over. Again, you CANNOT brick/break/ruin the phone. Just flash it again!
xRecovery allows selective restore (e.g. just data). HOWEVER, certain ROMs cannot accept partial xRecovery restores because the formatting of the data is different.

The most stable solution is to backup all your apps (APK files) then reinstall once you've flashed the new ROM. Data can be backed up using programs such as SMS Backup & Restore by Ritesh Sahu. Contacts can be exported to the SD card and re-imported or sync'd over the air.
Flashing, upgrading/downgrading, unbricking video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmX-IYNYqL8&hd=1

Some firmwares, basebands or other files may be in compressed "RAR" archives. This format is more space efficient than ZIP files (hence their use for storing files). Download http://www.rarlabs.com to be able to uncompress RAR files.

Step 1a: Choose a ROM:
Go through the different ROMs and choose one that you like. Make a note of any baseband requirements, if any.
e.g. 2.0.49, 2.1.xx (any), 2.1.61, etc.
2.2 ROMs: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=955703#post11379882
2.3 ROMs: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=955703#post11379898
Download the required files and copy them to the SD card. Do NOT extract the ZIP files! xRecovery flashes .ZIP files onto the phone. If they are .RAR files, then uncompress them to obtain the files inside.

(The ROM in this video ("Iris" by TripNRaVeR, 2.2 Froyo) was updated 24 hours after I made this video: http://android.modaco.com/content/sony-ericsson-xperia-x10-x10-modaco-com/340637/rom-08-06-tripnmiui-iris-1-6-froyo-for-you/)

Step 1b: Flash the appropriate generic 2.1 firmware.
Flash mode/flashing occurs before any software/firmware is loaded. You can flash any X10 in any state. It doesn't matter if it's rooted, what firmware you're running or anything else.
(Do not flash a carrier-branded firmware such as AT&T because carriers often disable/remove features such as "Unknown Sources" which is required for rooting and xRecovery.)
(Graphical Flash Tool + generic 2.1 firmwares, dual touch: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=920746)
Most ROMs are optimized/built to run on a specific baseband. You can check your baseband by going into Settings / About.
The custom ROM you choose will determine which firmware to flash as it contains the same version/series of basebands. If the custom ROM requires a baseband <=52, then flash a 2.0.x firmware (e.g. 2.1update1 build 2.0.A.0.504), If it requires a baseband >52, flash a 2.1.x firmware (e.g. 2.1.A.0.435).

Go to the Bandband collection page to know which firmware you need to flash to start off: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960527
e.g. Baseband 54 would require a 2.1.x firmware
Baseband 49 would require a 2.0.x firmware

You MUST flash a firmware in the same series to be able to update/patch the baseband in the next step.

NOTE: Some custom ROMs will work on ANY baseband, saving a few steps.

Step 2a: Flashing/Patching the Baseband:
Some custom ROMs will come with a baseband patch to flash before flashing the ROM itself. If it does not, go back to the Baseband Collection page and download the appropriate baseband: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960527

Copy the .FTF file into the "firmwares" folder of the Flash Tool and flash it just like a firmware.

Once complete, start up the phone and verify under Settings / About that it flashed correctly. If it didn't try again or try another firmware in the same series. You MUST have a proper baseband!

Step 2b: Flash the Dual Touch add-on, if required.
Optional and dependent on the custom ROM. Some require it, others have it pre-installed. The dual touch add-on is on the same post as the Flash Tool (near the bottom of post #1).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=920746
FlashTool file (.FTF) direct download: http://www-stud.uni-due.de/~sfanmakr/X10Flash/X10_1.0_Bin4ry_Dualtouch.ftf

Step 3a: Rooting the phone:
I prefer using SuperOneClick as I find rooting with the Flash Tool to be hit/miss.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682
Make sure you turn on "Unknown Sources" and "USB Debugging" under Settings / Applications & USB Debugging.

Step 3b: Reboot!!!!
Once root is complete, you MUST reboot (turn off, restart) for the root to take effect.

Step 4a: Install a file manager like Astro (free).
Just makes copying/installing APKs easier. Either connect through 3G or WiFi and download from the Market.

Step 4b: Install BusyBox.
Either through the Market or via the download, connecting your phone in USB storage mode, copying to the SD card and using a file manager: http://www.multiupload.com/DSEMKPSG4P

Step 5: Install xRecovery:
Developer thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=859571
xRecovery was updated on 2011-05-30 to v1.0, but most of the ZIP files for flashing haven't been updated so use xRecovery 0.3 unless the custom ROM indicates it's compatible with v1.0 of xRecovery: http://www.multiupload.com/Y30P8P7DFK

Step 6: Copy the custom ROM file(s) to the SD card.
If you haven't done so already.

Step 7: Reboot into xRecovery.
Turn off the phone and restart it. When the Sony Ericsson logo appears, start pressing the [back] button until xRecovery loads.

Step 8: Flash the ROM.
Depending on the ROM, you may need to flash the ROM, Google Maps, (camera) patches, etc.

Step 9: Reboot the phone and wait for the ROM to finish installing, setting up, etc. This may involve multiple, automatic reboots. (Read the ROM's instructions!)

Some ROMs will also require accessing "Dev Tools" and Crashing the System Server (typically fixes radio/data/connectivity issues).

Another method to fix WiFi/data: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=995226