[Xperia Arc General] vaibhavknockout:
Continued from first post

Ques – If your lecture is over, may I know how to change ROMs on my Xperia Arc?

For locked bootloaders, you can’t use custom ROMs. Flashing stock ROMs by SE is already described in a previous question. For unlocked bootloaders, all you need to do is this –

1. – Flash any kernel having working recovery. I will recommend using the same kernel as provided in the thread of the custom ROM but Doomkernel works well for most of them. Download latest version of kernel.img from Doomlord’s post (http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1172885) here and use fastboot as described in a previous question to flash kernel.img. Use this command – “fastboot.exe flash boot kernel.img”.

2. – If you want to flash FXP’s latest release of CM7, download the package from the original thread here. The package will contain a boot.img (recovery kernel) and a CM7.zip file. Flash boot.img using fastboot same as above.

3. – Custom ROMs are usually available as zip files. Just download the ROM.zip file and place it anywhere on your SD card.

4. – Turn off the phone and turn it on. While the first logo/text appears on screen, press down volume key several times until a recovery menu appears.

5. – Install update from SD card as described above in question – “I have already unlocked the bootloader of my phone. How can I perform rooting on my Xperia Arc?”. This time choose the ROM.zip that you have just placed on your SD card.

6. – Restart the phone when done and enjoy your new ROM.

7. – Remember, ideally you need to flash doomkernel or any other recovery kernel just once. Once it is there, you can directly go and download any ROM.zip from Xperia Arc’s development section and use same recovery to flash any ROM.

8. – Since most of the ROMs are in testing stages, it is recommended at the moment to use the specific instructions given in the respective threads of the ROMs.

Ques – Wow, look at that…:cool: I just installed a new FXP CM7 based ROM on my Arc and it looks awesome. I wish I could just take a complete backup of my current ROM before trying out something else?

You name it and we have it. CWM recovery also has a popular functionality of taking “Nandroid backups”. This means that if you backup your ROM in its current state, everything in your ROM (your apps, games levels, contacts and even messages) are saved in the form of a backup called Nandroid backup. You can take a backup of your stable favourite ROM, try out a newly released ROM and revert back anytime later to your previous ROM in EXACTLY the same state as it was at the time of backup. To take Nandroid backups, all you need to do is this –

1. – Flash a recovery kernel as explained in the question above.

2. – Go to ‘Backup and Restore’ in the recovery menu.

3. – Enter restore and accept when prompted.

4. – Once done, if you start your phone and check the SD card contents, your backup will be stored in CWM folder on your SD card.

To restore later, all you need to do is this –

1. – Enter the recovery menu.

2. – Enter ‘Backup and restore’, ‘restore’ and then choose the date when you have taken a backup.

3. – Restart when finished.

To be continued