[XPERIA X8 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sgt. meow:
QUESTIONS?? ASK HERE!!

Hi!! :D:D:D:D

This thread is made specifically for noobs and newbies owning X8 or W8.

X8 and W8 are pretty much the same device, i.e. ROMs and kernels are flashable on both.

We created this thread because other F.A.Q threads had stopped their updates. So it would mean a lot if we continue their work.

Firstly, I had to thank everybody that helped me to finish this project.

- Lucastan96 (The original owner)

- Chris95X8 (Helped a lot)

- DevStaff (Helped a lot)

- Rahat34 (Gave me some tips)

- Semdxd (Also helped me)

- -Swift- (Helped a lot)

- X8Invisible (Helped a lot)

- 8cpaiw (Youtube videos)

- sgt. meow (A shoutout to myself for taking over the thread!)

- c903jerk (Youtube videos)

-Everyone else who helped/help/will help.

-----------------------------------

There are 3 main sections in this thread:

Section I: F.A.Q

Section II: Easy Guides

Section III: External Links

Let's get started!!

-----------------------------------

............................................

Section I: Frequently Asked Questions

............................................

Frequently Asked Questions About Rooting

............................................

Q: What is rooting?

A: Rooting is a process allowing users of mobile phones, tablet PCs, and other devices running the Android operating system to attain privileged control (known as "root access") within Android's subsystem. In simpler terms, what rooting does is push the su binary to your phone's system partition so that you have root access i.e. you can access system, data and all other partitions you couldn't access before.

............................................

Frequently Asked Questions About Bootloader

............................................

Q: What is bootloader?

A: In simple terms, a bootloader is the code that runs on a device before the operating system starts up. This low-level code contains the instructions that tell a device how to start up and find the system kernel. Every time your phone starts up, that bootloader code is telling your device what to do in order to get you to the home screen. As you can imagine, this process is vitally important. As such, manufacturers often use security measures to keep you from tampering with the bootloader.

Q: Why Is the Bootloader locked?

A: A bootloader is usually locked on an Android device because although it’s an open source OS, the manufacturers want you to stick to their Android OS version specifically designed for the device. In order to apply this concept, manufacturers lock the bootloader.

Think of it this way:

New kernel = New ROM = Unlocked bootloader.

Locked bootloader = No new kernel = No new ROM.

Q: What are the benefits of unlocking the bootloader?

A: Unlocking the bootloader will make your device able to load a custom kernel resluting in a 2x faster and better feature rich device. Also you can experience newer Android versions such as ICS and JB that require a custom kernel.

Q: Oh, I get that but what exactly is a kernel?

A: It basically is a piece of code that makes the hardware and the software communicate with each-other. It is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. It contains the essential init sequence in the ramdisk, without which you wouldn't be able to boot the phone.

Q: How do I unlock bootloader? Am I safe to unlock it?

A: Read Section II below!

Q: The date under the battery says 11w29 or later, what can I do?

A: There's currently no safe solution for you. Although there have been some members who had successfully unlocked their bootloader having 11w29 and a later date but it's extremely NOT recommended to try. For now you can only install a custom ROM. However some members have reported success with third party paid methods. You can try that but it's your decision and we can't help you if you brick the phone permanently.

Q: Will PC Companion lock the bootloader?

A: No, it won't. It will restore stock kernel and ROM but it will not relock the bootloader.

............................................

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Phone

............................................

Q: What is a recovery (xRecovery, ClockWorkMod Recovery)?

A: It is basically a console which you can access before the phone has booted up completely. It allows you to install packages such as Custom ROMs or custom mods, make a FULL backup of your curret system, wipe user data, cache and much more.

Q: Our phone supports swap if a custom kernel is installed! What is it?

A: Swapping means that you take a part of your free card's storage and use it as a virtual memory in order to have slightly better memory. Don't confuse it with RAM. Swap just holds pages which would otherwise have been held by RAM, thus saving more RAM for other apps.

Q: What does bricking the phone mean?

A: Bricking the phone means that something went wrong when you tried to flash (install) something or that simply you did something stupid because you didn't read enough and your phone ended up not booting up till the home screen or not showing any signs of life. So it has literally become a brick. There are two kinds of brick: The soft brick; your phone can easily be revived by using Sony PC Companion. Happens when incorrectly flashing a ROM or mod. The hard brick; your phone cannot be revived with PC Companion and you will have to send it off to Sony Ericsson for repair.

Q: Can I have multitouch if I install custom ROM?

A: If you have Synaptics digitizer you can use fake pinch-to-zoom by Doixanh.

If you have Cypress digitizer you can use real dual touch by AnDyX.

Q: How to know do I have Cypress or Synaptics digitizer?

A: The easy way is to check is to use the x8toolbox (modules>check digitizer) The other way is to open terminal emulator and type:

su

dmesg | grep cyttsp-i2c

If you have this"cyttsp_i2c_probe: Successful registration cyttsp-i2c" you have Cypress. If not, you have Synaptics.

Q: Is our device MDPI or HDPI?

A: Our device is MDPI which means 320x480 resolution (HVGA). HDPI are high-end devices with resolution 480x800 or more.

But our device can use HDPI themes after changing the LCD Density. This may result in some parts not working correctly, though.

Q: My battery is draining fast. What should I do?

A: Original words by the legendary Doixanh himself...

- Close as more apps as you can, and as frequently as you can. Background apps may use CPU, and that will consume battery

- Reboot after you finish using Wifi/3G. There are many background network services, like Maps, Market, Email, Facebook... They try to connect to their servers (and take some CPU usage) even after you disconnect from network. Reboot to make everything fresh.

- Reboot after listening to Music. Music service is running in background even after you stop the music and sometimes use CPU. Reboot to make everything fresh.

- Don't use live wallpapers. They're high CPU consumers.

- The less screen widgets, the better. Less widgets use less CPU, which will save battery.

Q: I have a little of ram free... is this bad?

A: Actually, this is not bad. It doesn't matter how much of RAM is available. The important thing is how much of CPU a specific app uses.

In Linux terminology (as CAD, pilu1978 and several others have stated)

Free RAM = Wasted RAM.

Q: Phone model differences??

A: X8 = E15i/E15a

W8 = E16i

Q: Will "Factory reset" unroot my phone? (from xRecovery and CWM)

A: No. Factory reset will erase all your user data and settings, wipe your cache and dalvik cache.

So, if you're doing Factory reset, you should back up your stuff.

Q: What's the difference between "Install update.zip" and "Install custom.zip in xRecovery and CWM?

A: update.zip just automatically flashes a ZIP file named "update.zip" on the root of the sd card while choosing "Install custom zip, you have to choose file by yourself.

Q: What is the usefulness of an ext3 partition on the SD memory for applications?

How to create a partition?

A: You can make a partition in your SD for example of 1gb EXT3 only for apps, you can make it with Minitool partition wizard home edition (its free).

In ext3 the apps are fully saved in the SD (.apk, dalvik cache and data) and you can liberate more space in the disk than app2sd.

Q: What is USB Debugging option in Settings for?

A: It is intended for development purposes only. Use it to transfer data between your device and the computer, install apps on your device without notification, and read log data. It is also required when you are flashing a kernel with flashtool.

Q: Can't mount SD card to PC. What should I do?

A: Configure swap to disable itself when you want to connect to your PC.

Q: Can't overclock to the desired frequency without having reboots, what's the problem?

A: The max frequency which your X8 can get is device-specific. It's not a general standard. Try with different ones till your phone can handle it. But never overclock beyond 806MHz - it may be harmful.

Q: Does iPhone headphones & earphones work on X8?

A: No, they don't work. The headphones & earphones have three bands. Our phone only support two bands. If you really want it, you need a adapter to use it.

Q: I'm stuck at Sony Ericsson bootlogo! What should I do?

A: You need to unbrick it from a soft brick. See this thread.

............................................

Frequently Asked Questions About ROMs & Kernels

............................................

Q: What is a custom ROM?

A: A stock ROM (Read Only Memory) is the version of the phone's operating system that comes with your phone when you buy it. A custom ROM is a fully stand alone version of the OS, including apps, services and everything you need to operate the device, except it's customized by someone in some way. So what does the "customized" part mean? Since Android is open source, developers are free to take stock ROMs, modify them, strip them of garbage, optimize them, add things, and pretty much do whatever their imagination and skills allow.

Q: Is it possible to boot two different OSes (operating systems) on our device?

A: No, our device can run only Android but you can haveLOOK HERE

Q: Why custom 2.2 ROMs have problems with Bluetooth headsets?

A: It's a bug in cm6 source, so if you need to use a Bluetooth headset, please use other Android versions.

Q: Is it possible to fully port Sense, Touchwiz, Windows or others to X8?

A: No. It's impossible... but their phones if you want..

And the widgets and apps need the appropriate framework to run... So you could use look-alike widgets, apps, and themes!

Try searching in Play Store and XDA.

Q: What is the best ROM or kernel?

A: NEVER ASK THAT QUESTION.

The system operates based on how you're using it. Every user has different needs, therefore different experience. Try multiple ROMs or kernels and decide YOURSELF!

Q: Can't find the Play Store app after flashing a new ROM?

A: You need to add your Google acount. Finish all the steps and it will appear. If not, flash Gapps from the ROM thread.

Q: I can't do ...... on this ROM, what's the problem?

A: Some ROMs are still under contruction and it would have bugs. That's normal. Wait till the developer fixes them and don't ask for ETAs.

Q: I have a custom ROM with stock kernel, but dualtouch isn't working at all. How to make it work?

A: If you're using a custom ROM like GingerDX, you need to install the addons for stock kernel.

OR

Maybe your phone has a cypress digitizer and almost all ROMs have synaptics enabled. Check x8toolbox and verify what digitizer your x8 has.

............................................

Frequently Asked Questions About Apps & Mods

............................................

Q: What is the smoothest and fastest launcher for our phone?

A: Hard to tell, but Launcher Pro and Zeam are fast. 360 Launcher is smooth too.

Q: Why ROMs above Android 2.1's camera is VGA limited?

A: Developers just modified Eclair's camera libs to work with Gingerbread ROMs.

Q: Where are apps from app2sd saved?

A: Into .android.secure folder on your SD card, which is hidden.

You can see that folder with Root Explorer or PC.

Q: Can we have a flash player on our X8?

A: Yes, it had been ported to work on our device!

- Flash Player 11 and 10.3

Q: What is terminal emulator?

A: It's an app which emulates Linux terminal. You can install it from market if you are on 2.1, in custom ROM it is already included.

Q: Which SYSTEM apps are safe to remove on stock ROM?

A: Timescape, Facebook, PlayNow, Maps, CA Gold, Crazy Penguin, Creatouch, GeoTags, RoadSync, RollerSync, Tower Bloxx NY, TrackID, Wisepilot, Navigator, User Support, User Guide, Email, Backup and Restore, Music R2R Client, Gmail.

Q: I get music player lags on custom ROMs. What should I do?

A: You can try to change SD card read cache back to avoid hickups.

You can download SD-Booster from Play Store and set a certain higher value.

Q: Volume is too low for me, how can I make it louder?

A: If you're using Gingerbead you can use DSPmanager to increase overall volume. You can also try other music player which has built-in EQ.You can try changing your MP3s volume using MP3 gain for Windows.You can also try Volume Boost program from Market.

Q: Reduced image quality in Gallery 3D?

A: Android Gallery (3D) reduces background gradients for faster viewing...

You can use QuickPic from Play Store if you want better image quality.

You can see some difference.

Q: Is Bravia Engine and Xloud fake?

A: Not completely. It does have some effects. But, some people claimed it as completely FAKE.

Q: How do I use Theme Chooser?

A: First, you need to install themes from XDA or Play Store. Make sure its compatible on MDPI screens (or use HDPI themes after changing LCD Density). Open Theme Chooser, choose any of your installed themes, and click Apply.

Q: I already overclocked, swapped my phone, but for some games it is still laggy. Is there any thing I can do to improve performance?

A: Yes, install Chainfire3D from Play Store. Inside you will find a lot of settings to improve gaming. For more info, see Section III below for link to "Tips & Tricks to Improve Phone Speed & Performance".

Q: Is it good to use any task killers?

A: No, look here for more info.

Q: Can I get stock launcher (X8/W8 Launcher) to work on ROMs above 2.1?

A: No, although with the exception of SEMC Debrand Engines ROMs. For other ROMs, you can use Xperia Active, Arc, or S Launchers.

............................................

END OF SECTION I