[Defy General] SeaFargo:
I've find an affordable solution so I've decided to modify the original thread in order to give immediately to all who reads the correct procedure.

Later on this message you can still see the original start of the thread, for future references.

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How to downgrade from Froyo 2.2.2 v3.4.2-177 to Eclair 2.1 v2.51.1.

Requirement:

- Defy Android 2.2.2 v3.4.2-177 (probably other versions also) flashed from the phone itself or from direct sbf original file and RSD Lite.

- Rooted. You can use SuperOneClick on both android version.

- Defy Recovery 1218 0326 signed.apk. you can find it here.

- A nandroid backup of the old Eclair system (made by yourself otherwise you can quite easly find one on the internet and on XDA)

- the original full sbf file of Eclair system (many are here) in order to create a fixed sbf or directly the fixed sbf.

- Moto Android Firmware Depacker V.1.2 a3.exe (a Windows executable that need Dot Net FX 2.0 and it's able to pack and unpack OEM sbf files).

- RSD Lite and obviously the USB Windows Moto drivers.

Before proceding you need to create or to obtain such called fixed sbf made from the same version you're going to downgrade, so from Eclair 2.51.1.

You can find such fixed sbf online but for safety I prefer to made it by myself. It's so easy.

1. open the original full sbf with Moto Android Firmware Depacker V.1.2 a3 and split to folder;

2. remove CG31.smg and CG39.smg

3. open the extracted folder (the same you've just removed the files) and compile files.

The resulting file is the fixed sbf file you'll need soon ;-)

The procedure:

1. Install drivers and RSD Lite on pc and test the driver. USB debug must be always OFF (exepted for the superonclick rooting procedure)

2. Root the Froyo, reboot, install Defy Recovery and push to the sdcard the nandroid backup of your Eclair. The backup dir should be placed here: /sdcard/goapkrev/backup/

3. open Defy Recovery app and tap recovery boot.

4. wipe data/factory (so your're gonna loose everything on Froyo. Make a backup before, if you want)

5. restore the nandroid backup of the Eclair system.

6. pay attenction to reboot and immediatly push power + vol up in order to go to the bootloader mode. Otherwise the boot will loop and you need to pull the battery off.

7. with RSD Lite flash the fixed sbf. Wait untill the automatic reboot ends, and RSD Lite tells you PASS.

You've done :-)

The M logo is now white, the standard recovery is restored, the haptic feedback works and everything is Eclair :-)

If you appreciate, a thanks is more than enought ;)

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Original start of the thread:

I've decided to open a new thread because I still don't find a final, safe, topic on how to downgrade from the latest Froyo to Eclair.

There are many topic on it but seems there are a little confusion.

The XDA official topic on the Developers page called "SBF - Service Flash -files "READ THIS FIRST if you try to flash new stock sbf" says litterally:

If you have flashed direct Android 2.2 via sbf -->

No direct downgrade for all 3.4 Froyo beta ROMs to Android 2.1 or official Android 2.2

No direct downgrade for 2.51.1 and 2.59 Eclair

I do not know what a "beta" Froyo is, but I know that I was able to switch from Defy Android 2.2 Froyo OEM JRDNEM U3 3.4.2 164-003 BLUR France to MIUI and viceversa using RSD lite for Froyo and zip install for MIUI.

Or MIUI is not a "beta" as intended before, but the JRDNEM U3 3.4.2 164 was the OEM france edition.

In any case here my question, and my situation:

Question: what is the real safe way to downgrade from 3.4.2-177 en.it to 2.51.1 en.it ??

My actual situation: I have Froyo 3.4.2-177 en.it, and it was direct sbf flashed; but I have a copy of my previous Eclair 2.51.1 by. Nandroid.

Is that procedure correct and really safe?

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1. Boot from Froyo in advanced recovery, factory reset and dalvik erase and ...

2. restore a nandroid backup of my previous Eclair and ... reboot.

3. the reboot should loop because the partitions are different signed or the nandroid backup is not able to overwrite the froyo bootloader, right?? so ...

4. pull battery and push again while press volume + to go bootloader (this should work 100%?? any possibility of complete dead defy?? It's really possible to ALWAYS and in any conditions access bootloader in order to connect RDS lite?).

5. Flash with RSD Lite a fixed sbf, where that should means: open the OEM 2.51.1 sbf with MotoAndroidDepacker-1.2alpha3, erase CG31 and CG39, repack and that's a ready to work fixed sbf?? reboot

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After that my old Eclair should work even on a Froyo bootloader?

I need to downgrade only because I have all my configuration on the old system, and I would have the occasion to copy some configuration settings before going definitively to Froyo.

Is that downgrade safe or dangerous?

After the downgrade is it possible to direct flash back the original Froyo 3.4.2-177 sbf with RSD Lite like before?

Thank you in advance for all your kind reply.