[Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini, Mini Pro, Xperia Pro, A] tobbbie:
Unlock Bootloader - 0.9.6.0 is it still working? and which method?

...finally I decided to unlock my bootloader but I just don't get forward with flashtool (using 0.9.6.0).

Before debugging this any further, can anyone tell which of the 2 known methods are applied here with Flashtool?

Official unlock via IMEI specific code from Sony (I can do this otherwise as well)

-> can I get back (re-lock for warranty) using the widely distributed "Xperia_Relock_bootloader.ftf", i.e. does this file work for many (including Ray) Xperia devices?

un-official patch of the bootloader binaries (?) using the test-point method.

-> Can I get back (re-lock for warranty) as well by putting the bootloader in its original state (using test-point again) - and is there a guide for doing it?

With Flashtool I cannot get beyond the point where it asks to reconnect (which it does automatically) after writing something to the device:

[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:48 - INFO - <- This level is successfully initialized [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:48 - INFO - Flashtool Version 0.9.6.0 built on 2012-09-17 22:32:25 [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:48 - INFO - You can drag and drop ftf files here to start flashing them [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:57 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging on [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:58 - INFO - Connected device : ST18 [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:58 - INFO - Installed version of busybox : BusyBox v1.19.0 (2011-08-14 23:46:58 CDT) multi-call binary. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:58 - INFO - Android version : 4.0.4 / kernel version : 2.6.32.9-perf [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/034/2012 15:34:58 - INFO - Root Access Allowed [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/035/2012 15:35:12 - INFO - Please connect your device into flashmode. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/035/2012 15:35:33 - INFO - Device disconnected [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:17 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:17 - INFO - Opening device for R/W [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:18 - INFO - Reading device information [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:18 - INFO - Phone ready for flashmode operations. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:18 - INFO - Processing loader [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:18 - INFO - Checking header [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:18 - INFO - Flashing data [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:21 - INFO - Loader : S1_Loader_Root_773f - Version : R4A066 / Bootloader status : ROOTABLE [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:21 - INFO - Ending flash session [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:21 - INFO - Now unplug your device and restart it into fastbootmode
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:21 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]-> did that[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] (off and into fastboot again), though it stayed in fastboot mode and got connected as you see above
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:23 - INFO - Device disconnected [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:24 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]-> popup comes up again asking to reconnect in flashmode :( but nothing happens any further.... so I stopped.
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:37 - INFO - Device disconnected [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/036/2012 15:36:50 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/037/2012 15:37:17 - INFO - Action canceled [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Serif][SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000]23/037/2012 15:37:31 - INFO - Device disconnected [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

What is suspected to happen after that file "S1_Loader_Root_773f - Version : R4A066 / Bootloader status : ROOTABLE " has been flashed(?) ??

Why is the Bootloader Status declared to be "Rootable"?!?! If it means that it can be "unlocked" - please label it like this! Most people are confusing the bootloader "unlock" and the Linux-Kernel "rooting" already, so please do not mix this in your wording here.

Thanks for your hard work - and patience to reply to beginners :)