[GUIDE][HOW-TO] Flashing a Custom ROM

Software that you will need,
1: Android's SDK,
2: Flashtool and
3: The latest Official firmware.

As for your neo, it must be at least 50% of battery.
Try to connect your neo to your pc first just to let it install any drivers required. Let it install, don't unplug the phone untill finished install.

Advice steps to install custom roms:

1. Get the latest Global firmware which file that end with .ftf. Flash it by using the flashtool. Boot up the phone, run through the whole set up process. Once you are done, you need to get your IMEI number, you will need the IMEI to debranding your neo.

2. Download the custom ROM of your choice with the extension of zip. Extract them and put them in the root of your SD card.

3. Download the custom Kernel. It is in the zip file, known as boot.img, and you simply extract it to your platform-tools folder in the android-sdk folder you downloaded to unlock the bootloader. Rename to boot.img if the custom Kernel name is different.


For 32bit Windows: C:/Program Files/Android/android-sdk/platform-tools
For 64bit Windows: C:/Program Files(x86)/Android/android-sdk/platform-tools

4. Go to C:/Program Files/Android/android-sdk/platform-tools (depending on OS version) press Shift+RightClick. Options will show up. Select "Open Command Prompt Here".

5. Turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds. While plugging in your phone, press the Menu button (the Right button). The LED Indicator should turn blue. This shows your in fastboot mode. If it starts to boot, rip out the battery and try again. DON'T STOP PRESSING UNTIL IT TURNS BLUE.

key in "fastboot flash boot boot.img" without " and wait for a while
key in "fastboot reboot" to reboot the phone.


**Normally there are CWM included in the custom kernal. But just in case if its not there, you can have the CWM by installing them through fastboot.

**Install CWM by download the ClockworkMod recovery 5.0.2.6. Then on your Xperia phone, go to Menu >Settings > Development and turn on USB debugging mode. Connect the phone to your computer via USB cable. Extract the contents of all the zip files that you downloaded from above links. Double-click the file install-cwm1 and follow the simple on-screen instructions. After installation is complete, disconnect the USB connection.

6.Power off the phone and wait for 10 seconds, then you can boot into ClockworkMod Recovery by press and release the Volume down key continuously when your see the Sony Ericsson logo while booting. In CWM recovery, you should use Volume keys to navigate and Home key to select any option. After that, choose Factory Reset. This will remove ALL data in your phone except your Stock ROM. Then, Wipe Cache then, in advanced menu, select Wipe Dalvik-Cache and Wipe Battery Stats.

7. In CWM mode, navigate to Install ZIP from SDCard menu. Select Choose ZIP, find your ROMs ZIP file, and install. It might take awhile, but not too long. Just be patient. When it finishes, flash anything else the ROMs forum post says to flash (Gapps, Patch, etc) and select Reboot Phone.

8.Done! Your phone will start up. First time is always slow, but this WILL WORK. Congratulations. You now have a Custom ROM.