Vinay Kumar asks:
I recently bought a Sony Xperia U phone. I am entirely new to Android rooting. I have two doubts regarding my device:
1) How to update Android Gingerbread(2.3) to Icecream Sandwich (4.0)?
Ginger Bread is installed on my Sony Xperia U.
I want to upgrade to Icecream Sandwich (4.0), so can I know the complete procedure to upgrade? Do all phones have a common procedure to upgrade?
2) How to root my device?
I will be very thankful to you if you can solve my problem.
I searched this all over internet and on many sites, but none of them were able to answer my questions. I’m completely hoping you can.
Please do reply with your valuable advice and suggestions to this email.
Browser: Chrome 21
System: Windows
Tagged: android, android tips, root phone, software upgrade, upgrade operating system
System: Windows
Tagged: android, android tips, root phone, software upgrade, upgrade operating system
12 Answers -
Alex
July 27, 2012see http://www.xda-developers.com/android/root-and-first-custom-roms-for-xperia-sola-u-and-p/ and links
Dalsan
July 27, 2012Not all phones can be rooted or upgraded in the same way if you install custom roms. There aren’t any all in one tools since each phone service provider uses different software and hardware from one another, and providers like AT&T like to lock down certain features so they aren’t accessible to normal customers. Boot loader locks and other locks have to either be taken off or bypassed on some phones before even rooting the phone or installing roms. The link suggested for XDA Developers is a very good community and trustworthy. They have been working with hacking and making custom roms since the old Windows Mobile days (not Windows Phone series), and will try to do what they can for popular phone models. Any questions you may have about your phone can likely be found there.
Rooting used to be easy with installing an app to your phone and it will do the work for you (when the first programs were available, but was hard before then as you had to alter a lot yourself to root), then went to installing or using a program on your computer to root your phone, to having to flash software to your phone.
The best thing you can do after rooting is installing a custom recovery like Clockwork Mod. should anything happen, you have a good chance to “unbrick” your phone (reinstalling a ROM to make your phone work again if it failed to install properly the first time). It may be scary at first, and might not always take the first time, but try again as it may just need that extra push to get it going. I had the problem of thinking I ruined my phone, but tried 3 more times and finally it worked.
All you really need to do is follow the instructions carefully, and read up on the roms you want to install to see if it may have issues that you may not want or it offers better than the stock performance and features.
Kannon Y
July 28, 2012Hello Vinay, let me try and answer some of your very good questions
(and please excuse any formatting errors that occur as a result of my
poor HTML coding skills):
1. Your particular phone does not currently have a method of upgrading
to ICS without rooting and installing a custom ROM. I believe there are
a few custom ROMS based on ICS on the horizon, however, but it may take
some time before they begin appearing. I need to emphasize that right
now the root methods used on your device are very easy to get wrong and
will likely brick your device if improperly applied.
Fortunately, it appears that a competent development team is hard at
work on building custom ROMs. It’s only a matter of time before the
root process become extremely easy. Anyway, that said:
The upgrade procedure for your Android version varies by manufacturer
most frequently and also by individual device. These methods range from
entering text in a command prompt to something as simple as a one-touch
APK root installed from wtihin the Android GUI. Many of the phones in
the Xperia series have similar root methods though, which is why a
single root procedure works across multiple Xperia phones. However,
despite the differences, there does exist a very loose methodology
involves three basic steps:
First, you want to get
“root” privleges/access to the device in question. This particular
devices requires unlocking the kernel in addition to getting root
privileges.
Second, you ABSOLUTELY must install
a custom recovery. A recovery lets you “flash” (install) custom
ROMs. It will also let you make backups (a MUST) of your existing ROM.
It appears that the Xperia U’s best method of getting a custom recovery
is using Fastboot.
Third, you flash the custom ROM/kernel.
2. As mentioned above, root methods do exist for your device, but you
should wait until these procedure become easier to manage, otherwise
you may perma-brick your device.
Vipul Jain
July 28, 2012Since you are new to android world, wait for a few weeks or 1-2 months, Xperia U is in line to get an official ICS upgrade.
So just follow some sony forums and goto your nearest service centre to get upgraded once it is out.
Alternatively, if you want it now, and are not afraid of rooting/voiding warranty etc.
Head over to XDA and search for your phone in the search option.
UD98
July 28, 2012wait and see if there is an official update
Christopher Harlan
August 7, 2012Check out the XDA forums: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1812531
They always have some great stuff on there!
Jason
September 9, 2012There is a official update to ics 4.0 coming very soon for xperia U.
Rohan Sachdev
September 22, 20121) Download Sony PC Companion on your computer
2) Plug your phone into your computer using the USB cable supplied with the phone
3) Let your phone be detected by the PC Companion
4) If an update is available, it will notify you
5) Follow the on-screen instructions
That’s for updating and I have no idea about rooting the phone.
PS I have the same phone so the answer is pretty accurate, I guess.
KUMARJIT KUNDU
September 24, 2012HOW CAN I UPGRADE ANROID VERSION 2.3 TO 4.0 IN LAVA XOLO MOBILE?
The below link have all the links and instructions on how to update to 4.0 version -
http://xolo.in/xolocare/xolo-x900-software-upgrade
October 17, 2012Aravind
October 9, 2012First you need to unloack BOOTLOADER
unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com
kishor annaldas
October 16, 2012How to upgrade my Sony Xperia u android 2.3.7 to 4.0 I C S
4.0 update will start in phases and will come up in December of this year.So,set your phone to keep checking for updates.
October 17, 2012Jaspreet Dua
November 10, 2012You can upgrade and root your phone too.
First install Sony PC Companion on your PC. Then connect Your Phone and do as follows.
After upgrading you should unlock the boot loader herehttp://developer.sonymobile.com/services/unlock-bootloader/
and then download and install flash tool and go to link and download this zip file http://www.xdafileserver.nl/Files/Sony%20(Ericsson)/SE%20Xperia%20U%20(LT25i)/STOCK%20ROMS/Flashtool_Xperia2012.zip
and extract to
C:\Flashtool\devices
and open flash tool. Go to settings and then into Devoloper options on the xperia u and tick usb debugging. Connect your phone to the pc and click on advanced tab then on root and then on force zergrush in flash tool. Thats it Your done.