*** Tutorial: Flashing ROMs (...and debranding the X1) ***

About this thread: I will explain how to get a new firmware/ROM on your new X1
To debrand the phone you just flash a different ROM. You also do the same thing to change from EN to GER, or to flash a customized ROM. So it's the same procedure for all of those actions (making it easier to write this tutorial ;-)).

Step 1 has to be done only once. For every following ROM you might want to flash, Step 2 is all you need to do. So let's start:

Step 1 (Preparations)

- Download and install .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
- If you are using Vista, install the Mobile Device Center 6.1
- Set up the ActiveSync (XP) / Mobile Device Center (Vista) connection with your X1
- Charge the battery to at least 50% or more
- (Re)Connect the X1
- Run X1_HardSPL.exe
- Follow the instructions (it should say something like "Image Version: 1.02.111.7" to "1.00.X1")
- If asked, press "Yes" on the X1
- Now a 4-color screen should show up, showing some version Info
- After that, a progressbar screen will be shown and the phone will reboot when finished
- Click "Finish" on the PC
- If you want to check if everything went fine, turn the device off (long power button press), then hold the "volume down" button and turn the device on again, still holding the "volume down" button until the 4-color screen shows up. It should read something like:
KOVS110
SPL-0.72.OliNex
MicroP1-787
MicroP2-707
- Remove and reinsert the battery to exit bootloader mode

You completed the first step and are now able to flash any ROM you want to your X1! (Well, at least any ROM made for the X1 of course ;-))

Step 2 (Flashing ROMs)

Before you start you have to -obviously- download and extract the ROM you want to flash. The file should be named *.image or *.nbh. Before you follow the steps, rename that file to Kovsimg.nbh.

- Format a MicroSD card with FAT32 if not yet done
- Copy the Kovsimg.nbh into the root directory of your MicroSD card and insert the card in your phone
- Turn off the phone (USB cable not attached)
- Remove and reinsert the battery
- Hold the volume down button and turn the device on again, still holding both buttons until the 4-color screen shows up.
- Follow the onscreen instructions

Congratulations. You're done.

Files / Downloads

Tools for flashing ROMs (HardSPL & NBHUtil):
http://rapidshare.com/files/312519647/X1_Tools.zip

GERMAN ROM without Branding:
http://rapidshare.com/files/312550659/APP_SW_X1i_GENERIC_DE_CDF1215-3303_KOV_R2AA006.zip
(That's the current official X1 one, other versions can be found easily in other threads ;-))

ENGLISH ROM without Branding:
http://rapidshare.com/files/312549581/APP_SW_X1i_GENERIC_UK_CDF1215-1832_KOV_R2AA010.zip

Threads you should know about:
- THE XPERIA X1 LIBRARY: All available ROMS, RADIOS, TOOLS, FLASHING TUTORIALS, APPS
- NEW ORIGINAL X1 ROMS (all released variants)
- X1 programs, panels, tweaks, fixes [all in one place]

Information worth knowing before you ask questions:
- How to change the keyboard layout.
- Please don't PM me with questions that someone else could answer as well, just reply to this thread.

Edited the first post in regard to the UK ROM.

If you don't mind changing to an english version, just follow my first post and use the files for the English ROM I provided. Otherwise you will have to find a dutch ROM and follow the "Optional.." step.

Did you format your MicroSD card using FAT32? Did you put the image file on it and name it "kovsimg.nbh" ?

No that shouldn't make a difference. Perhaps just try formatting the card again and put the .nbh file in the root directory if you haven't already. If that doesn't work, I have no idea what the problem is :-(

ro82 said:

Has anybody already tried to debrand the X1 branded by Vodafone D2 (DE)? Is it as easy as the other ones placed in this thread?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Should be just the same

EdLow said:

I bought an X1 in the Netherlands on Vodafone and as such it is in Dutch. If I follow the instructions on page 1 will it debrand the vodafone and set the language to UK and also remove the simlock or will it just change the language and debrand it.

Also for the UK rom does the one in the link have all the funtionality because the one in the quotes on page 1 states that it doesn't have the radio. I want to lose the Vodafone branding but not the standard functionality.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Afaik, the X1 doesn't have a simlock no matter where you buy it. Flashing will remove the branding and change the language accordingly to the file you use. So you can change to german, english, italian etc.. just visit the link in the "optional" section for all possible choices.

the ROM is divided in different sections.. RADIO, OS etc. It's perfectly fine if you only flash the OS section. Then the RADIO section won't be touched and everything will work fine

edvardas.m said:

got x1 from netherlands with hi mobile network, but it appeared to be dutch, which is not really suitable for me. so decided to change the language, followed these instructions, but encountered some problems. when i run hrdspl, the three (+white) colour screen appears, but after that, i get and error in the pc, that a recovery should be run. after recovery tried few more times to do it, but couldn't succeed... any ideas?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Sorry I don't know.. perhaps someone in the HardSPL thread can help you.

@ianl8888
The demo movies, sounds, .tsk, .cabs etc. take quite a bit of storage. With that removed the size goes down to about 90MB.