[Sony Xperia S, Acro S, Ion] Joej970:
Okay guys,

I spent a whole day yesterday to exterminate lame SONY's firmware, and get a refreshment alternation :D

so I gathered all tutorials, which I had followed to give my Xperia S new soul, and made this all-in-one tutorial for anyone, who's not sure how to do it.

Big thank to DooMLoRD, who's is making all this awesome tools and stuff to make our Xperias alive again.

Before proceding, Your Xperia S should run on the latest official Sony's firmware (6.2.b.1.96). Otherwise...otherwise you probably ought to update it to the latest version.

Here are the links to the sites I used. I also recommend you to check them out, because there may be a more recent version of a file:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2555243

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2447319

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2417672

1. Bootloader unlock

Checking (source: JuniorMember's post: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=44713761&postcount=14)

1.1.1. In dial pad, type in *#*#7378423#*#*

1.1.2.Go to Service Info > Configuration

1.1.3. And check the Rooting Status

If it's Bootloader unlock allowed:Yes/No, then its not unlocked. If it says NO, you're not able to unlock it.

And if it's Bootloader unlocked:Yes, then it's (already) unlocked.

Unlocking (source: DooMLoRD's tutorial)

[ before we begin unlocking bootloader ]

1.2.1 Get the IMEI code for your device: type *#06# in phone dialer to find it out; note only the digits (no dashes)

1.2.2 Download the fastboot package with usb drivers (alternate drivers if the ones in package dont work OR this)

IMPORTANT: if you are using Windows 8 you will need to enable few things to allow driver installation

1.2.3.Make sure you have a windows PC with USB cable to connect the phone

1.2.4.Power down your phone and keeping the Volume Up button pressed connect the USB cable to PC; this will trigger FASTBOOT mode and windows will start driver installation, extract the above package and point the driver install to that location (usb_driver) folder.

If a phone enters but does not stay in a fastboot mode:I had that kind of problem, but I'm not sure how I actually fixed it; I only remember I did that:

1.2.4.1. Download and install Flashtool . After Installing, go to the folder where fastboot is installed and look for drivers folder; there you'll find Flashtool-drivers.exe. Install that: Be aware that there are Flashboot and Fastboot drivers at the bottom or at the top of the list Check also your phone's name.

1.2.4.2. If still does not work go to Device manager, trigger fastboot mode, connect to your computer, and quickly (when S1 Boot or sth like that appers in Device Manager) click with right mouse button (go to properties), then update driver and point to (usb_driver) folder in fastboot_with_Android_USB_file folder -> step 1.3.6.

1.2.5. Once drivers are installed just disconnect cable and power on device

[ how to unlock ] (official way)

1.3.1 First, you should confirm that it is possible to unlock the boot loader of your phone by checking the service menu: steps 1.1.1 - 1.1.3

1.3.2 Go to: http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/ and read everything!

1.3.3 At the bottom click 'Start Unlocking the Bootloader'. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Continue" You will get numerous prompts, read all info and if you agree, click on "Accept"/"OK"/"Proceed"

1.3.4 Finally you will get a "Create Unlock request" page, enter your IMEI (sometimes the last digit needs to be removed for this to work), name and email address

1.3.5 You should now receive your unique unlock key via EMAIL, SAVE THIS KEY SAFELY

1.3.6 Extract fastboot_with_Android_USB_file.rar and open fastboot folder

1.3.7 Hold SHIFT and right click on the background of the folder Select 'Open command window here'

1.3.8 Connect your phone in fastboot mode (turn phone off, hold Volume UP button and plug in USB Cable) [make sure drivers are installed as explained above)

1.3.9 In the cmd windows type in fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version

1.3.10 If a value is returned (it will return 0.5), it means the phone is correctly connected

1.3.11 Type in fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xKEY and replace KEY with the key which u received earlier.

1.3.12 You're device should now be bootloader unlocked. You can check by followin steps 1.1.1 - 1.1.3.

2. Root (source: DooMLoRD's tutorial)

2.3.1 Download the three files from the download section in this post.

2.3.2 Open FlashTool and flash the XperiaS_LT26i_6.2.B.0.211_KernelOnly.ftf - 6.36 MB file, this is JUST the kernel of an older firmware which was rootable.

2.3.3 How to flash Put XperiaS_LT26i_6.2.B.0.211_KernelOnly.ftf to firware folder, which you can find in Fastboot's installation folder. Then hit the lighting strike, select Flashboot mode and select the kernel and hit flash and follow instructions how to enter flashmode.

2.3.4 Now once flashing is done reboot device and connect to PC in usb debuggin mode

2.3.5 CLOSE FLASHTOOL <<< VVVIMP STEP (Very very very important step ;) it took me some time to figure out its meaning)

2.3.6 Extract the file DooMLoRD_Easy-Rooting-Toolkit_v18_perf-event-exploit.zip to root directory on c:\

execute runme_ file corresponding to your OS on desktop PC, this will execute a SPECIAL version of DooMLoRDs easy rooting toolkit <<< VVVIMP STEP

2.3.7 the above step is crucial! if you use any older version of the toolkit then IT WILL NOT WORK!

2.3.8 after rooting is over the device will restart

2.3.9 you can verify if device is rooted by checking for SuperSU app (it is the newest version)

2.3.10 once that's done, power down device and open FlashTool again

2.3.11 now flash XperiaS_LT26i_6.2.B.1.96_KernelOnly.ftf - 6.33 MB file to get back to the true kernel for the firmware

that's it after flashing is done just disconnect and power on device and enjoy rooted phone! Check with Root Checker app from GPlay.

3. CWM Recovery (source: hm9408's thorough version of DooMLoRD's tutorial)

3.1 Go to google play and download busybox. Once installed, open the app and tap install Also, make sure, you have SuperSU installed.

3.2. This should be relatively easy now. Your phone is now rooted, and you will now flash CWM Recovery on your phone. For this, hm9408 found a quick installer by DooMLoRD.

3.3 Just extract it anywhere, run it (cwm-install-en.bat, press Enter 3 times and it will start) while your phone is connected via USB, and you should be just fine. I had to do this step twice, because I didn't know you have to grant something with SuperSU. So during the process, watch the phone's screen.

3.4 You know CWM was flashed correctly when you shut down your phone, turn it on and your see the LED turns on BLUE when the Sony logo comes up. When it does, press the Volume Up button and the LED should turn GREEN for a couple of seconds, then boot into Recovery.

4. Installing custom ROM and gapps (google apps)

There's a link toCyanogenMod 11 beta 3 by RaymanFX which has already included kernel.

Other ROMs may not have included kernel, so you'll have to (1) flash it with Flastool, if it has kernel extension or (2) install it via recovery, it it has .zip extension.

4.1 Copy your ROM and gapps (their extensions have to be .zip.

4.2 Boot into recovery (step 3.4).

4.3 Navigate (with volume + and -, and power to select) to install zip, then select the file of you rom, install it, then install also the gapps by selecting the gapps.zip.

4.4. This is the most important step, DO NOT SKIP IT AT ALL COSTS For God's sake, in the main menu, wipe the cache and partitions and dalvik's cache. (I'm not sure if it's available to wipe dalvik's cache, but if it is, wipe it).

I forgot to wipe, and, holy cow, almost lost my pants, because phone didn't start, there was only sony's logo, slowly passing away again and again.

Well if that happens, look for an Xperia S firmware (e.g.) and appropriate kernel (e.g.), flash them via flashtool and wipe your sweat :D.