[TUT] From stock ROM to custom ROM for n00bs (X10 mini pro) - Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini

NOTE
This guide applies only Xperia X10 mini pro
I will add more screenshots and change the ones with danish text to english at a later time.
Danish version available at my website (see link in my profile).
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Warning
The instructions on this page may cause damage to your Xperia X10 mini pro, that you might not be able to correct. You are responsible for such damages. Guarantee and/or warranty can also be set aside by the dealer.
If you brick your X10 mini pro, try this: [TUT] un-brick for n00bs
What you need
Xperia X10 mini pro
Access to the Android Market from your Xperia X10 mini pro
A computer with Windows and Internet connection
USB cable (USB-A Male / USB-MICRO-B Male)
USB or SD adapter for microSD
General references used in this guide
Support for Xperia X10 mini pro (SE-site)
XDA - Xperia X10 Mini Pro Android Development
SuperOneClick
EASEUS
Android Market
Connect the MicroSD card to your computer
Turn off your Xperia X10 mini pro and remove the microSD card. See the instructions that came with your Xperia X10 mini pro for further instruction.
Insert the microSD card into the included original Sony Ericsson microSD adapter (CCR-80). Do you not have one, the use a SD adapter, which often follows when you buy a microSD card. Both adapters work the same way.
Plug the USB or SD adapter into your computer.
Why not use built-in partotion tool in the recovery tools?
People PM me about that. The short answer is: You will loose all your data on the SD-card.
If you do not care about that, just bypass the part with partitioning the SD-card with EASEUS Partition Master.
You will then have to partition the SD-card from xRecovery or ClockworkMod Recovery. Find the partition tool under advanced.
The longer answer is, that... oh... never mind
Native Apps2SD
Some ROMs do not need an EXT-partition for Apps2SD, if they use native Apps2SD.
http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2010/07/apps-on-sd-card-details.html
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Apps2SD
If this is the case, you do not have to partition your microSD card.
Preparing the microSD card for APPS2SD
You probably have a lot of pictures, etc. on the memory card. It's a good idea, just for safety's sake, to copy them onto your computer before you continue.
Note: Pictures taken with the stock camera is located on the SD card in the DCIM folder.
Download EASEUS Partition Master (www.partition-tool.com) and install it on your computer and then start the program. Home Edition is free (freeware).
In the Partition Master's main window you can now see all the hard drives, including the microSD card that sits in your USB or SD adapter.
Click the right mouse button on the microSD card and select Resize/Move. Be very carefull that it is the microSD card you click!
In the window that pops up, decrease the Partition Size until Unallocated Space After get as close to 1024 as possible, but not over. The space to be used by APPS2SD on the microSD card, can not exceed 1024 MB
Edit: It has come to my attention, that higher size, like 2048 should work fine too. But do we need that much space for apps? You can always resize at a later time using Partition Master.
Then click the OK button.
The main window now shows an unused area at the end of the microSD card.
Click the right mouse button in the Unallocated field and choose Create.
You might get a warning that Windows will only see the first partition. Just click Yes and continue.
Choose Primary at Create as, and EXT3 at File System and click the OK button.
Click Apply at the top left in the main windows, and then YES at the box that appears.
The program now starts to move the files and reduces the size of the existing partition and then creates the EXT3 partition used by APPS2SD.
Let the microSD card in your computer, for next, we will put some files onto it.
Place custom ROM etc. on the microSD card
Now that we have the microSD card in the computer, we might as well put some files and custom ROM and some special apps (apk-files) on it.
Create a folder on your microSD card and call it ROMs.
Inside that folder create folders for the custom ROM you want.
E.g. if you want CyaNo (R)Evolution, create a folder named CyaNo.
Then download CyaNo and put the zip file in the CyaNo-folder.
If any hotfix are realeased for the two ROM, you can also store them in folders.
List of ROMs for the Xperia X10 mini pro
Eclair (2.1)
Sony Ericsson W8 E16i Port
Iridium rom (U20i)
2.1.1.Clean.0.0
MOD BlackS
Gingerbread "ROM" (It isn't Gingerbread, only skinned Eclair)
Froyo (2.2)
FroyoComb (no longer available from XDA)
FroyoBread (most stable)
Andread
CyaNoComb (stable)
Cyanogen Froyo CM6
CyaNo (R)Evolution (stable)
Srom
Gingerbread (2.3)
SonyStyle (ridiculous stable)
Andread
xCyanogenPro - Gingerbread
Cyanogen Gingerbread CM7
MiniProCM7
GingerDX
GinTonic.SE
Did I miss anyone? Or misleed?
Looking for ROM reviews? Look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1168096 (nice done djx24)
Download needed apps for later use
To install a custom ROM on Xperia X10 mini pro, there must be a recovery app on.
There are currently two different:
xRecovery - xRecovery-thread
ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM) - CWM-thread
Note: All Froyo and Gingerbread ROMs installs with CWM.
Note: It is possible to have both xRecovery and CWM on your Xperia X10 mini pro at the same time using Dual Recovery. To install this, you first need to have CWM installed.
The easiest way of getting CWM on your Xperia X10 mini pro is via Mini Rom Manager or Recovery Installer.
Mini Rom Manager and Recovery Installer can not be downloaded from the Android Market, but must be downloaded from xda and installed manually.
Create a folder on your microSD card and call it APK.
Download Mini Rom Manager and save the apk-file in the APK folder.
Download Recovery Installer and save the apk-file in the APK folder.
Download kFix and save the apk-file in the APK folder (i will get back to this one later)
Download Dual Recovery and save the zip-file in the ROMs folder
Now you can remove the microSD card from your PC. Remember to use the "eject" function on your computer.
Put the microSD card back into your phone, click on its rear panel and turn on your Xperia X10 mini pro.
Gain root on your phone
Enable USB debug on the phone.
Start Settings from the app-menu. Tap Applications > Devolopment > USB debugging. Accept warning-popup by tapping OK.
Connect your phone to your computer using the USB cable.
Du not activate access to the microSD card. tap on Charge phone.
Download SuperOneClick (www.shortfuse.org) and unpack the zip file somewhere you can find it easily, eg. on the desktop.
Open the folder and run the program and click on the large Root button on the top left corner. The program works a little and finally ask whether to check for root. It is not sure you will see any reaction on your phone.
You can now remove the USB cable.
Turn off the phone, and the turn on again.
Along with root, SuperOneClick will install an app onto the phone called Superuser. This app is crucial as it is able to give other apps access to system folders.
After restart it's a good idea to find and start Superuser. Under the Settings tab, there is an update button at the bottom. Tap this, just to be sure that you got the latest binary.
Install Recovery Installer
Start Super Manager (or your favorite file explorer) and navigate to the APK-folder.
Choose the Recovery Installer APK-file and then tap on the install button (bottom left). If you are asked what action to complete the operation, then select Package Installer.
Maybe you will be asked to provide access for installation from unsafe sources. In this case, choose Settings, then tap Unknown sources. A warning will appear that you just accept by tapping OK.
Install Recovery (CWM or xRecovery)
Start the Recovery Installer from app menu. Accept Superuser request by tapping Allow.
Tap Install CWM Recovery, or Install xRecovery, depending on how your chosen custom ROM must be installed.
Alternative way to install CWM
Mini Rom Manager has a build-in CWM-installer.
Start Super Manager (or your favorite file explorer) and navigate to the APK-folder.
Choose the Mini Rom Manager APK-file and then tap on the install button (bottom left). If you are asked what action to complete the operation, then select Package Installer.
Start the Mini Rom Manager from app menu. Accept warning by tapping Agree, and the tap Install CWM Recovery.
Note: Mini Rom Manager will retrieve CWM from the Internet, so it would be handy if your Xperia X10 mini pro is connected to a WIFI.
Manual way of installing xrecovery or CWM
N
If none of the above installment of recovery works, try the manual one in post #2 below.
Save the phonebook, SMS, MMS, call logs and notes
If your phonebook is not connected with a google account and/or you have a lot of messages you want to keep, you can make a backup of everything with MyBackup Root that you can find on the Android Market. After installing your custom ROM you can then restore the backedup phonebook, messages ect.
If you got a lot of notes you've written in the stock note app, then you must write them all down on a piece of paper or copy-paste them all one by one to a another note-app, like Evernote, which can save them online.
Note: You will otherwise lose all that data.
Backup the entire phone
Note: Make sure the battery isn't drained before you continue from here
Restart the phone and press repeatedly (not holding but press, release, press, release, press, release .....) on the back button when the white Sony Ericsson logo appears.
Shortly after CWM will start.
You navigate up and down in the menu using the volume buttons on the side of the phone and choose a menu item with the select button (middle button) and go back into the menu system with the back button.
In case you should regret installing the custom ROM, you can now make a backup of the everything first. Select Backup and restore, then Backup.
If you regred installing the custom ROM, you can restore the stock ROM later.
Install custom ROM
When the backup is compleate, select Factory Reset.
Now we are ready to install your custom ROM.
Select Install zip from sdcard and navigate to the folder where you put your custom ROMs and select your the ROM you want. Repeat this for any hotfix.
The 2 screens to the left are from CWM, the right is from xRecovery.
CWM and xRecovery has almost the same interface and are easy to use.
You navigate up and down in the menu using the volume buttons on the side of the phone and choose a menu item with the select button (middle button) and go back into the menu system with the back button.
Dual Recovery (xRecovery + CWM recovery on your Phone)
Note: Only for ROM-testers, that want to change ROM more often than changing their shorts.
If you followed the guide above, you sould also have the Dual Recovery zip in your ROMs folder.
If you think you might need to install custom ROMs with xRecovery, you can now install Dual Recovery. If you know you don't need xRecovery, then don't bother.
Select Install zip from sdcard and navigate to the ROMs folder and select the Dual Recovery zip.
To start CWM use the Back key as explained above. To start xRecovery use the Home key in the same way instead.
Ready for your custom ROM
When finished, select Reboot phone.
When the phone starts again, it is with your new custom ROM.
Note: First startup might take a long time.
Note: Keeps looping boot-image forever? Pull battery and turn on again and press repeatedly on the back button when the white Sony Ericsson logo appears. Try another ROM.
Note: Everything sucks and don't work? Try Sony Ericsson PC Companion to restore custom ROM.
National QWERTY hard-keyboard
In Mini Rom Manager there is a feature to set the hardware keyboard, so your national characters works properly.
The most sensible custom ROM comes with Mini Rome Manager preinstalled. If not, follow my instructions to install Mini Rom Manager again on the custom rom.
Start the Mini Rom Manager and go to Settings and Extras.
Tap Change HW Keyboard Layout and select your national keyboard in the list.
If you experience ÆØÅ and other special characters like @ is not seated properly when using the keyboard, long-tap (set your finger and let stay on the screen) where the text is written until a menu pops up.
Scroll to the bottom of the menu and select Input Method. Then choose Standard Input. Now you can write ÆØÅ etc.
With the QWERTY keyboard folded in, an on-screen keyboard appear instead. We all know Standard Input.
The two other input methods displays a full keyboard on the screen that you can swich between small and big letters, numbers and special characters.
Android keyboard does not have special keys like ÆØÅ, but offers the ability to write special (national) versions of letters, if there are any, if you long-tab on the letter.
TalkBack keyboard on the other hand, got special keys like ÆØÅ, but also allows you to write special (national) versions of letters by using long-tap. I always find it difficult to call them up. The long-tap mostly fails for me in TalkBack.
kFix - Keyboard LED lights like on Stock ROMs
kFix is a little app that sets the keyboard light as in the original ROM.
The most sensible custom ROM comes with kFix preinstalled. If not, install kFix.
Start Super Manager (or your favorite file explorer) and navigate to the APK-folder.
Choose kFix APK-file and then tap on the install button (bottom left).
If you are asked what action to complete the operation, then select Package Installer.
Maybe you will be asked to provide access for installation from unsafe sources. In this case, choose Settings, then tap Unknown sources. A warning will appear that you just accept by tapping OK.
Now you can avoid the pitfalls of having to use the keyboard in the dark while the light in the keys will not turn on. Do you go from a bright room into a dark, the light in the keyboard should turn on as we know it from the original ROM.
Restore phonebook, SMS, MMS, call logs, etc.
If your phonebook is linked to a Google account all your contacts will show up again when you are logged into your google account during synchronization (if you added your contacts to Google-profile and not just stored them on the phone).
Did you do a backup with MyBackup Root, you can restore your data again with the same app, and you can access any notes you have created in Evernote, with the same app.
Enjoy
PLEASE DON'T QUOTE THE TUT IN YOUR REPLY

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[TUT] Installing ClockworkMod Recovery for X10 Mini Pro on stock ROM
For some reason, it's sometimes a gordian knot to get ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM) installed on a stock ROM, as you need CWM to install CWM.
Requirements
Xperia X10 mini pro, with ROOT
Xperia X10 mini pro, with Superuser (udpated)
(follow the TUT above untill the Install Recovery part, and you should be good)
Download files
Attach your X10 mini pro to the PC with USB-cable and tap Connect your phone.
Create a folder on your SD-card and call it xRec.
Download xRecovery to your PC and extract the 3 files from the zip-file to the xRec folder on the SD-card.
The 3 files are:
busybox
chargemon
xrecovery.tar
Do not onpack the xrecovery.tar file.
Download cwmr3_xrecinstall.zip and save it to the xRec folder on the SD-card.
Disconnect the USB from your X10 mini pro. Note: remember to use the eject USB function on your PC.
Manual install of xRecovery
First start the Market app and get Super Manager.
Start Super Manager, tap on Settings, check the Enable ROOT Function, accept the Superuser request.
Tap on File Explorer, and navigate to the xRec folder and check the 3 files.
Tap on the copy icon (the one with 2 overlapping dokuments).
Navigate to the root, and then navigate into the System folder. A popup asks if you want to switch R/W-rights. Do that by tapping the R/W button.
Navigate into the bin folder and then tap the insert icon (the clipbobard).
NOTE: You might get a message, that there wasn't enough space for the files. Just ignore this message, the files should be copied anyway. Check if they are.
Now xRecovery is installed on your stock ROM.
Install of CWM
Restart the phone and press repeatedly (not holding but press, release, press, release, press, release .....) on the back button when the white Sony Ericsson logo appears.
Shortly after xRecovery will start.
You navigate up and down in the menu using the volume buttons on the side of the phone and choose a menu item with the select button (middle button) and go back into the menu system with the back button.
Select Install zip from sdcard and navigate to the xRec folder and select the cwmr3_xrecinstall.zip.
xRecovery will now install CWM.
PLEASE DON'T QUOTE THE TUT IN YOUR REPLY

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This is huge emperor.dk! Thank you so much for such a detailed guide

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Reserved for thread-index

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[TUT] Gain acces to the full Market
Before i had CyaNo (R)Evolution ROM on my mini pro.
Now I have changed to FroyoBread.
In CyaNo (R)Evolution I had access to all market apps, incl. Skyfire and Skype.
With FroyoBread it was the restricted market like on the stock ROM.
With a few simple steps i now have access to the full market, incl. Skyfire and Skype.
Rooted mini pro with Superuser installed.
Take a full backup with xRecovery or CWM.
Go to Settings > Applications > Manage applications > All.
Screenshots comming soon
Find Market, force close and remove any updates and data.
Screenshots comming soon
Download the CyaNo (R)Evolution zip to PC.
Extract the files: MarketUpdater.apk and Vending.apk.
Connect mini pro to PC with USB and copy the 2 files to the SD-card, E.g to a folder named Market-CyaNo.
Disconnect mini pro from PC.
Start Super Manager and check Enable ROOT function under Settings, and accept Superuser request.
With Super Manager's File Explorer, navigate to system/app (when entering system folder you are asked to change R/W settings, tap R/W-button)
Check MarketUpdater.apk and Vending.apk and tap the cut button (siccor)
Screenshots comming soon
Navigate to SD-card, create a folder named Market-backup and tap Insert button (clipboard) inside that folder.
Screenshots comming soon
Navigate to the 2 files extracted from the CyaNo (R)Evolution zip.
Check the 2 files and tap copy (2 overlapping dokuments).
Screenshots comming soon
Navigate to system/app.
Tap Insert button.
Screenshots comming soon
Check the 2 files and tap CHMOD button (777) and set Owner: rw- Group: r-- Other: r--.
Screenshots comming soon
Reboot into CWM or xRecovery.
Clear Dalvik Cache.
Now you got the unlimited market, and the push apps option from https://market.android.com/ works.
If somethings fails, and you follow the steps above, you got a backup of the 2 files.
Just clear data (4 above) copy the 2 original files back to system/app, reboot into xRecovery/CWM, clear Dalvik Cache, and you are back to "normal".
Do not quote TUT in reply

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Hi,
I can't resize my MicroSD!
I'm using Windows 7 64 bit and the newest version of Easeus. I'm using a MicroSD to USB. It's a 8GB card.
Greets
Edit:
In your picture its a FAT16, I can't format it as an FAT16!!

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P466y said:
Hi,
I can't resize my MicroSD!
I'm using Windows 7 64 bit and the newest version of Easeus. I'm using a MicroSD to USB. It's a 8GB card.
Greets
Edit:
In your picture its a FAT16, I can't format it as an FAT16!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it must use fat32,
Becoz u'r sd card more than 2gb..
Sent from my U20i using XDA App

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But if I use FAT32 I can't resize partitions or delete it!
Does it only work with MicroSD cards smaller than 2GB? I'd buy one.
Screenshot:

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My new microSD is 8 GB, and the first partition is FAT32.
I did not change any part of original partition, only the size.
I have also changes sizes af the partitions later, to make the EXT larger, with no problem.
From your screen-shot, it looks like you right-click at wrong place.
You have to right-click at the light-blue bar representing drive K at the buttom of your screenshot (in the red square).

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Emperor.dk said:
My new microSD is 8 GB, and the first partition is FAT32.
I did not change any part of original partition, only the size.
I have also changes sizes af the partitions later, to make the EXT larger, with no problem.
From your screen-shot, it looks like you right-click at wrong place.
You have to right-click at the light-blue bar representing drive K at the buttom of your screenshot (in the red square).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I click there it's just the same!
What am I doing wrong?

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P466y said:
If I click there it's just the same!
What am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't tell. I get the same popup-menu as you do, when i right-click where you did before, and the one in my screenshot, when i right-click in the red square.
Another option is first highlight the blue bar (drive K in red square), and then click the Resize button at the top (3 from left). Wich it seams you do not have
I'm wondering why your screen shot of Partition Master do not look like mine
Try use the Server Edition. It's also for free download.

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I don't understand that. It's the same... I think I have to get a 2GB MicroSD. Maybe a fried has one.
I only have got two options:
Format and copy.

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P466y said:
I don't understand that. It's the same... I think I have to get a 2GB MicroSD. Maybe a fried has one.
I only have got two options:
Format and copy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or try partition from CWM menu or xRecovery menu. (if you do not mind loosing all data on the SD-card)

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P466y said:
I don't understand that. It's the same... I think I have to get a 2GB MicroSD. Maybe a fried has one.
I only have got two options:
Format and copy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just downloaded the new version of Home Edition (free one). I have no problem in resizing partitions on my microSD card in either the USB or the SD adapter.
Did you plug the microSD card into the USB or the SD adaptor?
You didn't just plug the phone to the PC with the USB cable, did you? This won't work.

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SuperOneClick Root gets to step 5 and freezes.
Any suggestions?
I'm using a U20a
Basebrand M76XX-TSNCJOLYM-53404015
Build Number 2.1.1.A.0.6

---

-CMX said:
SuperOneClick Root gets to step 5 and freezes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't get that far... Waiting for device and thats it... Any ideas ?

---

v_v said:
I don't get that far... Waiting for device and thats it... Any ideas ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get the same with the new version.
Try the older version 1.9.1 of SuperOneClick.

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I was able to root my phone using SuperOneClick packed into this little program found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1214156 I think it is because of the latest little update? Anywya I hope others have success with this one.

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I really hope someone can help me out here. I am on stock rom (never tried custom yet) but now that I see a lot of interesting Rom's I would like to try one. Here's what I did;installed Xrecovery via AAIS, then CWM and now the dual-recovery zip. (I also tried xrec/cwm seperately) So I can chose to use xrec or CWM. Now here's my problem; I am unable to install ANY Rom I have tried so far (gingerbread roms's i.e Gintonic.se but also 2.1.1.Clean.0.0 which is a normal 2.1 rom and flashable via xrec only) won't install.
Everytime I get:
cant open /sdcard/Roms/x.zip 'installation aborted' (bad) I have tried a different SD card (standard) but the same problem persists....I can not believe I am unable to install a custom ROM but I am completely stuck with my problem. I am rooted/xrec working/cwm working...I can install small updates (ie cwm via xrec&dual-recovery.zip) but NOT a complete Rom...Whywhywhy???!!!...It is driving me crazy!!!
Can someone please help me out?

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Ameijer said:
I really hope someone can help me out here. I am on stock rom (never tried custom yet) but now that I see a lot of interesting Rom's I would like to try one. Here's what I did;installed Xrecovery via AAIS, then CWM and now the dual-recovery zip. (I also tried xrec/cwm seperately) So I can chose to use xrec or CWM. Now here's my problem; I am unable to install ANY Rom I have tried so far (gingerbread roms's i.e Gintonic.se but also 2.1.1.Clean.0.0 which is a normal 2.1 rom and flashable via xrec only) won't install.
Everytime I get:
cant open /sdcard/Roms/x.zip 'installation aborted' (bad) I have tried a different SD card (standard) but the same problem persists....I can not believe I am unable to install a custom ROM but I am completely stuck with my problem. I am rooted/xrec working/cwm working...I can install small updates (ie cwm via xrec&dual-recovery.zip) but NOT a complete Rom...Whywhywhy???!!!...It is driving me crazy!!!
Can someone please help me out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you download on PC and then transfer to SD-card or did you download directly to your phone?
I expierences that once also with a ROM downloaded directly to my phone.... a fresh new download on my PC instead fixed it, and then transfer to phone via USB-cable.
Can you open the zip-file on your computer (just to see if it's valid)?