K310@W200 / W200 Debranding Firmware

2008-02-07T08:17:00.000-08:00

Here will be posted tutorials and stuff regarding this phone & other transitions like k310@w200 , k510@w200 & k320@w200.
Any questions are welcomed

For now , i'll start whit some tutorials

1) Debranding / Changing firmware

To debrand means taking off the brands of u're operator , with a new clean firmware . That's why debranding/changing firmware are about the same. ( changing firmware = upgrade the soft version of the phone )
Before starting ,turn your phone off.

Before u begin to change the software u must have installed Sony Ericsson Pc Suite and Sony Ericsson Update Suite , else nothing will work

W200 debranding - by DCU-60 cable for DB2010/DB2012 CID52 RED
1. Download those files:
*setool2lite_v1[1].08
*W200_FS_MEDITERR_R4HA014_RED52_ONLY1.fbn
*W200_MAIN_GENERIC_R4HA014_RED52_ONLY1.mbn
*w200_Melinda_Generic_CDA102737_4_R1A_GENERIC_MEDITERR (alternative download link)
( u have to click on "Descarca acum" to download the files from netdrive.ws )

2. Backup ALL your phone information (Images, Videos, Contacts, Notes, etc.).
When we convert it, we will lose all the data ( the contacts on the sim & stuff on card will not be deleted )
*MyPhoneExplorer

Now uncompress setool2lite_108.rar (this one in a new folder)
--- do not uncompress Melinda_Generic_CDA102737_4_R1A_GENERIC_MEDITERR , the ZIP archive has to remain intact for proper use;

Enter the folder where we uncompressed "Seetool2" and excecute
Close your Sony Ericsson W200 (turn off).
[now in se-tool..]
- In Phone Type put W200
- Click on Read GDFS ( this will back up your GDFS. The GDFS is the most important thing in your phone , so we have to make a back up of it.. . If u damage the GDFS u can say goodbye to the phone , so be carrefull & never use the "write gdfs" option in Se-tool . Use it on your one risk ,or if u know what u are doing ! )
- Now ,after pressing Read GDFS , a dialog shows up in se-tool saying "Hold C and insert cable" . Press C in your phone and connect the USB cable.

- After in se-tool appears a message "Phone detached", unplug the phone, take out the battery for 3 seconds, then put the battery back.

- [Back to se-tool] In Files, click on ADD and we load the FS(W200_FS_MEDITERR_R4HA014_RED52_ONLY1.fbn)MAIN and the (W200_MAIN_GENERIC_R4HA014_RED52_ONLY1.mbn) files

- In MISC files we add the custom files ( in those are stored the language of the phone )(CDA) ( if u don't agree with the language in this custom pack , u can search for another that fits u're language needs )

- Click on FLASH ( now the process of flashing your phone begins ).

- We unplug the USB cable, , turn the phone on... and that's it! And don't forget to exit se-tool

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--------------customization-------------------

Every one of us whant's to get the best from his phone. After debranding it , u can now do things that weren't possible before because of the operator restrictions. You can now customize your phone.

2) Adding flash themes
Flash themes are composed of two files : the flash menu ( .swf ) and the theme itself ( .thm ) . Whithout the .thm file , the flash menu's won't work
Download :
- flash menu ( .swf)
- theme ( .thm)

To add flash files into the phone with se-tool u must respect the path.
To work , the swf. files must go in a certain folder from the phone , that respect a "path" like this one : "tpa/preset/system/desktop/flash" ( in the folder "flash" , u put the .swf files). After creating those folders , u create a zip archive of the "tpa/preset/system/desktop/flash" , and then u put it in MISC in Se-tool. Then u click Flash , press C ,connect cable , and wait for se-tool to upload the files. After the files are uploaded , turn the phone on , connect it to your usb cable , and using Phone Explorer upload the .thm files.
And you are ready to go
U can always add more flash menu's by the method shown above, they don't have to be a certain resolution , because the *.swf resizes to any screen ( for exmple a flash menu 240x320 will work on 128x160 too )

How to: Incorporate Standby SWF into THM files

later edit : more themes & more flash menus
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3) Adding acoustic drivers

Acoustics goes to : "\ifs\settings\acoustic\" [ this is the "path" in your phone ]
Create a zip archive of Ifs , put it in Misc in Se-tool , and after u click on flash
The best part of the w200 , represents the sound . As a walkman phone , the sound is equal to an Ipod . But we can get even more from this phone .
Unfortunately , most of the acoustics over the net ,arren't working very well whit the w200 , some of them even creating problems , like the distorsion of the sound when u listen to the radio , like the microfone that doesen't work on the headset..etc.
That's why ,i advice you tu use only the loudspeaker part of the acoustic pack , because it hasn't got any problems , and it affects only the sound on the speaker part ( now it's looooud , about 2x & a half louder then the original one ). But if u know for sure that a certain pack works good too ,u can add it.

- loudness__toshara_1.6_.zip ( 6.45K )
(from toshara 1.6 pack) // loudness
- bass___loudness__prashast_.zip ( 5.91K )
(from prashast pack ) // loudness + bass

I saw that most of you guys after adding other acoustics (full packs ) that were not designed for the w200, are having problem with the sound ( like the mic that doesn't work in the handsfree, the sound that's not balanced on the radio .. ).
Here's what u have to do :

first ,u create a notepad file whit this text in it :

chdir:/ifs/settings/acoustic
listfiles:

- this command checks the acoustic directory , and lists the files
- after the files are listed , you copy them in notepad , where u leave only the *.apf files , like this :
ex: VHF_ring.apf
VHF_play.apf
VHF_hce-60_ring.apf
VHF_hce-60_play.apf
VHF_hce-60_call.apf
VHF_hca-60_ring.apf

..and then u put "DELFILE:" in front of every file
ex: delfile:VHF_ring.apf
delfile:VHF_play.apf
delfile:VHF_hce-60_ring.apf
delfile:VHF_hce-60_play.apf
delfile:VHF_hce-60_call.apf
delfile:VHF_hca-60_ring.apf

here is the notepad command to delete the files : delete_audio.txt ( 2.75K )

u save the notepad file with the "delfile" command , and u add it in MISc in Se-tool , u press write script , and..that's it
To check if everything has been deleted u create a new notepad file with this command :

chdir:/ifs/settings/acoustic
listfiles:
(..and u add it to misc in se tool..write script )

now the directory is clear , and u can load a new set of acoustic drivers.
acoustic_original_w200.zip ( 74.16K )

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4) -- You don't like how the walkman looks like? Shore u can change even the skin of the walkman player--

1. Dezarchive the folder "skinuri.rar"
2. Pick a skin ( U can create your own skin if u know how to edit pictures . You need 3 files :: fullscreen_back.gif *128x111 pixels* (is the background), list_background.gif128x90 pixels*(is the background when u choose the melody ), low_back.gif *128x18pixels*(is the scrool bar that shows the status of the melody))
3. add the files into a folder ( a path ) : tpa\system\multimedia\mp (you have an exemple into the archive i attached) then create a zip archive of the folder like this "tpa.zip"

--> walkman player skins ( for 128x160 ) : skinuri.rar ( 133.07K )

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5) Adding a camdriver
Camdrivers goes here : "ifs/settings/camera/"
Zip Archive of Ifs , put it in Misc in Se-tool , and after u click on flash

Sadly... but w200 has a VGA camera , and "the best vga of its kind" as they say
The camdriver 3.25 arrived , and here are the improvements :
-> true color function
-> fixed luminozity & clarity
-> the zoomed pictures at 320x240 come now more clearly
-> the senzor is now more sensible to light
-> less noise , it only appears when taking photos in very low-light enviroments ( especially in the night )

-- camdriver 3.25 ( high picture & video qualitty ) ( the good version )
: camdriver_v3.25.zip ( 13.79K )

-- camdriver 7.5 final version ( the final version developed by brazuka for w200 , fully working )
: camdriver_7.5_final_version.zip ( 19.11K )

If u need a camdriver that has a greate video ( shoots movie @ a maximum of 28fps ), then u should use camdriver 3.25. After adding more mhz to the driver ( from 13 to 48 mhz ) , a progress in the video has been observed. Now , in good light conditions the camera shoots a movie @ 20-25fps ( the maximum recorded was @ 28 fps ) , @ night it shoot arround 15-20 fps .
The decision is up to you . Many people said that v3.25 is better the v7.5 , but others prefered 7.5 instead.
Both of the camdrivers are fully working , the only thing is on 3.25 on video ( some desyncronizations appear , but more fps can be acheived ).

Known facts about camdriver 3.25 ( this is the beta3 version ) : desyncronizations in video , in zoom 4x , & somethimes u need to restart the camera ( turn off , and then on ) to reset it's luminosity.
-- or use the upgraded version of the original camdriver : CamDrive_v4.5_W200.zip ( 8.12K ) Number of downloads: 96
( this one is just slightly better then the original version , it just fixes some minor stuff ; it's worst then camdriver v3.25. Anyway , the "number" of the camdrivers is relative , because it hasn't got to much to do with the performances of the camera , for exemple camdriver v3.25 is newer and improoved then 4.5 , so stay in touch , the latest one will be the first to be posted )

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6) Adding the display driver (w200 dispdriver)
The dispdriver goes to : "ifs/settings/display"
Zip Archive of Ifs , put it in Misc in Se-tool , and after u click on flash
A new display driver has been released.
Now the colors are more accentuated and more defined.
- here is the new display driver : Display_Driver_W200_by_DarkSun.zip ( 1.27K )

- here is the original dislpay driver : Original.zip ( 1.09K )

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7) Adding a new layout
The layout goest to : "\tpa\system\layout"
Zip Archive of Ifs , put it in Misc in Se-tool , and after u click on flash
The layout file , is the one that takes care about the standby screen..about the fonts , text..stuff like that .
Who doesn't like the data , time & operator logo , they can be removed by adding a new layout file
--> layout_no_data___no_time___no_operator.zip ( 3.59K )

--> Or u can keep the date & time , and just remove the logo operator : layout_with_no_logo_operator.zip ( 3.59K )

--> if u don't like it u can switch back to the original one : layout_original.zip ( 5.01K )

to see the time&date u can wait untill the screensaver comes on , or u can go to pictures and view this flash file : clock_date_in_flash.zip ( 13.64K )

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8) Changing the normal screensaver , with a flash one
The shortcut* of the flash file goes to : "tpa\system\settings"
The flash file goes to : "usb\other"
At the end , u make a ZIP archive of both things ( togheter ) , put it in Misc , and after press Flash in Se-tool
Because w200 doesn't allow us to put flash files as screensavers , we must create a tweak for that. First , a shortcut that contains the address to the flash file. After that , the phone will put as default the flash screensaver choosen by u. If u don't like the flash file located in the zip Archive , don't worry , u don't have to reflash to gain another one. Just pick some of u're favorite flash files , and upload them to "other" folder in the phone . Then , rename them into "iphone" , and that's it , next time u'll lock your phone , u'll see u're flash file set as screensaver ( wallpaper as flash not recomanded , because of meny meny bugs )

--> screensaver_flash.zip ( 61.18K )

-->Flash Screensavers PacK - nice sh*t
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9) Removing shutter (camera) sound
By replacing the internal shutter sound , with an empty one , u will get no sound when taking pictures in normal mode ( not only in silent mode ) . To do that , we have to replace camerashutter2 located here in "tpa\preset\system\sound" ( zip archive , add in Misc in Se-tool , press flash ). After u flash this archive to your phone , go to camera , select More , go to Shutter sound , and select Shutter sound 2 ( this is the empty one created by us )

--> no_camera_shutter_sound.zip ( 780bytes )

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10) Changing the display of the pictures ( 3x3 thumbnails , instead of 2x2 )
Some of you may have seen on other phones that the pictures are displayed 3x3 .
There's very simple how to do it. You only need to open notepad , add some values , and save them as "cutomize_upgrade.xml" . Then , the file is stored in tpa/preset/custom
( zip archive of tpa , add in misc in se-tool ,then press flash ).

--> 3x3_thumbnails.zip ( 738bytes )

If u don't like them , u can edit the customize_upgrade , and change the value to 2x2 instead of 3x3 .

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11) Changing the "phone name" ( Model info )
More simple than that it can't be. We've seen that editing the customize_upgrade.xml we can do a lot of things. Now we can even change the Model of the phone , from "W200i" to "My super cool-W200" ( lol ).
u just have to edit the customize_upgrade.xml as shown bellow.
Open an empty notepad , and past this info.

CODE

W200i

W200i -> this line changes the name of the phone ( replace "W200i" with whatever u want ). Then save the Notepad file as cutomize_upgrade.xml , and put it in a path like : "tpa/preset/custom". Then u add it to Misc in Se-tool , and u press flash

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As u can see , a new firmware version exist , the R4JA011

to upgrade the firmware u have to use :

W200_R4JA011_FS_C_ASIA_RED52.rar
W200_R4JA011_MAIN_GENERIC_ME_RED52.rar
and the CDA remains the same as the first one : W200_CDA102737_4_Generic_Mediterrain

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Usefull links :

www.iprotebe.cz ( need an account , it's free )
http://sonyericssonw200brasil.4shared.com ( a very complex site , that has stuff from a to z , and are free )
http://sgh.ru/ ( it's in russian language , but use google translate to see what's in it )
<< If u are having trouble finding the right CXC rest file from se-tool, then take a look here >>
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Very important !!!

If any HARDWARE damages appear to your phone , and/or u need to go to the service , u must flash back with the original firmware files ( Vodafone or Orange )

- orange cid52 R4JA011

- vodafone cid52 R4JA011

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*this tutorial could be used for other sony ericsson phones as well , u just have to change the firmware & the rest of the files acourding to u're phone . The steps are the same for every CID49 , CID50 , CID51 & CID52 phones using se-tools.

regards,

Vinod Nair

Sony Ericsson W200/ K310@W200 Debranding Firmware

K310@W200 / W200 Debranding Firmware