[Sony Xperia S, Acro S, Ion] funky0308:
Boys and girl(s) ....

In this tutorial we'll learn HOW TO "format ALL" from recovery and flash clean and fresh new ROM

This is very easy job to do.

But as I received many PMs how to do this and (if you remember) that question was question number one on PAC thread - I decided to write this tutorial.

It's written for absolute beginners (I hate word noobs) and it's totally safe to do.

The most important thing is - do not rush, read twice and if you aren't sure in some step ASK

So let's go...

For this we'll need...

1) Computer

2) Working recovery

3) USB cable

4) Kernel with recovery and ability to mount USB from recovery (we'll need to copy few files from PC)

my advice - ICS kernel Advanced Stock Kernel or ELITE-Nozomi v2

5) New ROM and kernel you would like to flash

6) Few minutes

Before we begin to format our SDcard make sure you backed up all your files, pictures and other stuff you wanna keep.

Copy flashable kernel (see above - "what we'll need") to your device.

This procedure isn't dangerous but you are doing this on your own risk.

I will help you if you stuck somewhere but XDA or I won't be responsible if you damage your device!

Restart device, hold vol up to enter recovery

First off all we have to backup our ROM (if anything goes wrong)

Go to backup and restore and select backup.

While you're waiting, prepare new ROM and both kernels on your PC.

Now flash kernel

Select Install zip from sdcard and find your kernel (Advanced Stock or ELITE kernel).

You are maybe wondering why I said ICS kernel...?

Because we have problems mounting USB from recovery in JB kernels (if you have one that work - great, use that one).

After you installed kernel, restart device to recovery.

be careful to restart to recovery, remember - now you have ICS kernel and JB ROM (I guess you use JB)

Mount SDcard

O.K, go to "mounts and storage" and select "mount USB storage"

If you see this screen

And "autostart" opened your device on your PC - that's good.

Open Xperia S folder on your PC, find folder clockworkmod - copy whole folder to your device.

If you have few backups you may open that folder (on PC) and delete folders with older dates -if you don't need that backup- copy that to test you have connection.

If copying went O.K you may proced

If not - find different kernel. (but if you flashed one of recommended you can't have any problems).

FORMAT ALL

Go to main screen (we are still in recovery) and select "mounts and storage" again.

And select, one by one

- format /system

- format /cache

- format /data

- format /sdcard

DO NOT RESTART DEVICE!!!

Don't restar device or you'll stuck without ROM and kernel and you'll have to use fastboot.

Now we'll use our ROM and KERNEL on PC.

Mount USB storage again.

Copy ROM and kernel from PC.

Unmount and...

Go to main recovery screen.

Select "install zip from SDcard.

Now we need our kernel (with recovery) which will be our new kernel. (you have already prepared new kernel, if you are 100% sure your new ROM has recovery in it you can skip this part and flash ROM right away - but be sure you have ROM which have kernel with recovery)

Find your kernel and flash it.

Restart device and go to recovery again.

Almost done - flashing new ROM

O.K...hardest part is behind us now...

Select "install zip from SDcard"

Find ROM you copied from your PC and flash it.

Restart and you are done. ;)

If you are lazy, like me, restart to recovery and continue to read...

*** additional info ***

Remember, we saved and copied backup, we made, to our device.

Now we can use it to restore data.

Restart device to recovery.

Go to "backup and restore" and select "advanced restore".

Now select "restore data".

After restore is finished you can restart your device and boot android.

If you restored data from your backup you'll have all your apps and accounts already set up.

If not -settings wizard will start - just like when you boot your device right from the box ;)

In both case you'll see your SDcard is empty and you have nothing but your ROM...

If you aren't sure in what you are doing - ASK and READ twice

If this tutorial helped you - hit tnx :thumbup: