SONY XPERIA Tipo ST21i flashing to factory image ICS

Flashing the ST21i is much of a headache some times.

Follow the steps below to restore the phone back to normal if you have phone not working properly/ have wiped out the phone without taking backup from the CWM."Note: This process is successfully performed on Ubuntu OS and is recommended to do so. On Windows 8/8.1 faced some issue for the USB drivers hence shifted to Ubuntu."

Tools required:

• Download the latest Flashtool from here for ubuntu or here for other OS. 

• Install usb drivers, for instructions how to install for ubuntu go here

• Get the official stock firmwares from here or here

The Process:

• Ensure that the battery is sufficiently charged for the flashing process. 

• Power down the phone completely remove the SIM and SD card if required. Both are not required for this process. 

• Unzip the downloaded FlashTool file in a folder. Ensure that JRE is installed for the FlashTool application to launch successfully. Instructions to install JRE on ubuntu can be found here. 

• To launch the Flashtool open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T. Navigate to the folder where you unzipped Flashtoool and enter the following command.

root@Ubuntu-PC:~# cd /Home/FlashToool
root@Ubuntu-PC:/home/Ubuntu-User/FlashTool# ./FlashTool

• You need to place the firmware files you downloaded to the folder:

../FlashTool/firmwares/

Connecting the phone in FlashMode

• Now press the Flashmode key that is the volume down key and plug the phone to the PC via the USB cable. Release the Key when the green LED lids and the device is detected in the FlashTool Log.

• Now click the Flash device button on the FlashTool shown by an lighting sign top left below file option. 

• Select Flashmode and click OK. In the next window select the firmware file you had copied in the folder '../FlashTool/fimrware' and click OK. 

• Now the Flashing will start and you will be able to see the Log details in the window similar to the following:

13/03/2014 12:32:41 - INFO - Flashtool Version 0.9.14.0 built on 12-02-2014 22:45:00
13/03/2014 12:32:41 - INFO - libusb version 1.0.18
13/03/2014 12:32:44 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
13/03/2014 12:33:06 - INFO - Device disconnected
13/03/2014 12:33:11 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging off
13/03/2014 12:33:11 - INFO - For 2011 devices line, be sure you are not in MTP mode
13/03/2014 12:34:13 - INFO - Selected null
13/03/2014 12:34:13 - INFO - Flash canceled
13/03/2014 12:34:20 - INFO - Device disconnected
13/03/2014 12:34:51 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
13/03/2014 12:35:01 - INFO - Selected Bundle for ST21i. FW release : 11.0.A.4.22. Customization : CE
13/03/2014 12:35:01 - INFO - Preparing files for flashing
13/03/2014 12:35:04 - INFO - Please connect your device into flashmode.
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Opening device for R/W
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Device ready for R/W.
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Reading device information
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Phone ready for flashmode operations.
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Current device : ST21i - DE5432BC1A - 1264-4261_R9D - 1261-1516_11.0.A.4.27 - WORLD-i_11.0.A.4.27
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Start Flashing
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Processing loader.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:07 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:09 - INFO - Loader : S1_Root_a8a4 - Version : R5D030 / Boot version : R10D030 / Bootloader status : ROOTABLE
13/03/2014 12:35:10 - INFO - Processing partition-image.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:10 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:10 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:10 - INFO - Processing kernel.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:10 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:10 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:13 - INFO - Processing fota1.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:13 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:13 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:14 - INFO - Processing fota0.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:14 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:14 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:15 - INFO - Processing amss.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:15 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:15 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:24 - INFO - Processing amss_fsg.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:24 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:24 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:25 - INFO - Processing modem_fs2.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:25 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:25 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:26 - INFO - Processing modem_fs1.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:26 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:26 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:28 - INFO - Processing cache.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:28 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:28 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:35:33 - INFO - Processing system.sin
13/03/2014 12:35:33 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:35:33 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:39:41 - INFO - Processing userdata.sin
13/03/2014 12:39:41 - INFO - Checking header
13/03/2014 12:39:41 - INFO - Flashing data
13/03/2014 12:39:52 - INFO - Ending flash session
13/03/2014 12:39:52 - INFO - Flashing finished.
13/03/2014 12:39:52 - INFO - Please unplug and start your phone
13/03/2014 12:39:52 - INFO - For flashtool, Unknown Sources and Debugging must be checked in phone settings
13/039/2014 12:39:52 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
13/040/2014 12:40:10 - INFO - Device disconnected

• Now Disconnect the phone and power on as you normally do. It takes time to boot for the fist time after Flashing. 

Please post your comments or suggestions. Thank you. Enjoy Flashing.