After seeing lots of posts like "How do I put flash menus on my phone", or "How do I debrand my phone", and last but not least, "I flashed my phone bad... HELP ME PLEASE!!!", I have decided to compile my knowledge of XS++ flashing into one tutorial, and, if followed right, will allow the user to flash their phone successfully with no damage to their phone.
Prior Knowledge You Should Have Before Flashing
- GDFS: The core of your phone. NEVER attempt to modify this unless you know 100% what you are doing.
- Firmware: FS and MAIN are the two firmwares within your phone.
- FS: The "Filesystem" of your phone. This is where files in your phone are stored.
- MAIN: The "skeleton" of your phone. This contains the data that allows your phone to start properly etc.
- Custpack: The files that "activate" your phone after you debrand it. Without adding a custpack, your phone will get an error upon startup.
- Flashing: The process in which you "hack" your phone to add/remove/edit files within your phone. This is XS++'s specialty.
- Debranding: The act in which you remove content that carriers, such as Rogers, T-Mobile, Cingular/AT&T, Orange, 02, etc. put on your phone.
Pre-Flashing Resources You Will Need
XS++: http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/601/mirrors.php
You will need the MAIN, FS, and Custpack according to your phone. (To find what you need, read on later in the tutorial) Once you have found which ones you need, search on this site: http://www.4shared.com/network/search.jsp (Note: The Firmware MUST BE ACCORDING TO WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK!!!)
A Service Cable (Cruiser/Fighter) or a DCU-60 Cable (the cable that came with your phone)
Remove your SIM card and Memory Stick, and make sure you have a battery that is 100% charged.
The Flash Driver installed on your computer (no link at this moment, check www.se-nse.com for it when it gets back online) This also might be installed if you install Sony Ericsson PC Suite? (confirm?)
Flashing!!!
Now here is the fun part... flashing your phone!
There are two things I will discuss in this tutorial, adding flash menus, and debranding your phone. First, we will debrand your phone.
Debranding
Open XS++. Press "Connect", hold the C button down on your phone, and then connect the cable to your phone. XS++ will recognize your phone and feed you the current status of your phone, including firmware version etc. Get the firmware number and search it with the site mentioned above. Then use the CDA list to find what you need. (Note: For Debranding, you will need a GENERIC MAIN file, which is irrevelant to your region in which you live) If XS++ could not recognize your phone, take the battery out for 30 seconds, and then try again. Once you are connected to you phone via XS++, click "Flash" near the bottom of the window.
Now, you must select Flash Main Firmware, Flash Filesystem, and Customize Filesystem. In each blank field, browse for the appropriate file (make sure you don't choose the .rar file!!!). If you find your custpack in XS++'s preset custpack selection, good. If not, disconnect your phone from XS++, close XS++ and then go to the folder in which XS++ is stored. Open own_custpack, and drop the folder containing the custpack inside. Now re-enter your phone with XS++.
Once the fields are filled out appropriately, click Start Flash. XS++ will now flash the selected MAIN, FS, and Custpack to your phone. (Note: The Main and FS should finish rather quickly, but the Custpack could take up to 4-7 hours due to bruteforcing your phone). When all is finished completely, disconnect your phone and take the battery out for 30 secs, then put it back in, along with the SIM card and Memory Stick. Plug your phone into it's charger, and then turn on your phone. If all goes well, your phone will load up (will take 5-10 minutes for the phone to accept the changes). If you get an error, then flash the MAIN, FS, and Custpack again, at the same time. You might've just chosen the wrong Custpack.
Adding Flash Menus to Your Phone
Adding Flash Menus is the easiest part of XS++. Open the files_to_upload folder in the directory where XS++ is stored. Now, you must make new folders according to this pattern: tpa > preset > system > desktop > flash.
Now paste the .swf files of the flash menus in the flash folder. Now enter your phone with XS++, and click Flash. Select all the options, then select BruteXS. Now UNSELECT all the options EXCEPT BruteXS. Now click FSX. Now, click Start. XS++ now will upload the menus to your phone. You now have Flash Menus on your phone!!!
Now disconnect from XS++ and take the battery out for 30 seconds, then put it back in, along with the SIM and Memory Stick. Now add the .thm files to your phone like you normally would. If all went right, you now have Flash Menus WORKING on your phone!
If they do not work, then you changed the filename of the .swf files or the .thm files. These MUST be kept how they were before you changed them. Also, it should be noted that some phones are not flash compatible, and therefor flash menus do not work on them.
After-word
Please do not post about FAR taking barely no time to customize etc., as this was written for using XS++ O N L Y.