Flashing/Customizing your Sony Ericsson P1i firmware
My P1i was pre-flashed with HK firmware. So, did some surfing on the net and wanted to flash the firmware to General World 1 firmware as GW firmware normally get patched faster than other region based firmware. Well, tried the latest GW1 firmware (released in 2/2008), and felt nothing really shine-up in comparison to the HK firmware (except for the anti-aliased fonts), and I also found a bug this firmware handle the transition effect, it hangs me once when I keep on tapping “MORE” and “CLOSE” on the standby screen. It freezed, and everything went super slow from there on. So, I re-flashed my P1i to Singapore region firmware (with simplified chinese input, which released in 1/2008).
Flashing the P1i (infact for P990, m600 as well) firmware was pretty much easy nowadays, talented programmers over the world and the trend of sharing already became a practise in this technology era. You could get everything pretty much for FREE, especially SOFTWARE. (which normally ZERO cost… except some juice of your brain and some time wasted!)
Okay, I think I should share this SINCE I find it pretty easy to do.
disclaimer: I’ve tried these steps and it works for my case, all software throughout the entire flashing process were obtained from elsewhere (not in this blog), so use it at your own risk. I bear no responsibility if you accidentally broke your phone. Disagree with this disclaimer, please do not proceed.
Tools required:
- XS++ (i’m using version 3.1, you may get it from HERE)
- SEUS (Sony Ericsson Update Service, you may get it from SE official website)
- USB data cable that came with your P1i
Jargon used:
CDA – it’s a code Sony Ericsson used to determine the phone’s region to ease the firmware update, each region has it own pre-customised settings like fonts used and etc.
Note:
XS++ is capable to change your CDA to any available CDA from the list itself, those were not in the list you’ll have to get the CDA hexdump (in .txt) elsewhere.
Guide 1: Flashing to General World’s firmware (from HK or other region’s firmware)
1. Turn off your P1i (remove battery and place it back) and run XS++
2. Tick ‘Smartphone’ and click Connect button
3. Tick ‘GDFS’, and then Click on ‘backup GDFS’ button
4. Wait until it’s done, then unplug your P1i and close XS++
5. Remove your P1i’s battery and place it back
5. Run XS++ again, then tick ‘Smartphone’ and click Connect button
6. Press and hold on ‘C’ button on P1i and then connect using the USB cable
7. Wait until it finish detect your P1i (show with some green texts)
8. Choose select ‘P1i_xxxxxx_GW1′ (note the GW1), and then click ‘Run Script’
9. Wait until it finish flashing your CDA code
10. After done, run SEUS and follow every steps given.
Guide 2(a): Flashing BACK to Singapore firmware (use this guide if you want Singapore firmware back, CDA95 – with simplified chinese input)
Before you start, you need to download CDA95.txt to change back your CDA to singapore region. You may get it HERE, then put it somewhere in your PC, you will need it to change the CDA back to Singapore region later.
1. Turn off your P1i and run XS++
2. Tick ‘Smartphone’ and click Connect button
3. Press and hold the “C” button on your P1i and connect with the USB data cable
4. The XS++ will detect your P1i and start to dump some text on the screen
5. Wait until it stops with some green texts showing
6. Go to GDFS section (tick it) in XS++
7. Choose “cda95.txt” in the “Script” option and click RUN Script
8. When complete, reconnect your phone to XS++ and check CDA has changed to /95
9. Now, you may proceed to update your Singapore Trade firmware (with simplified chinese input) via SEUS.
Guide 2(b): Flashing BACK to HK’s firmware (use this guide if you want HK firmware back)
1. Turn off your P1i and run XS++
2. Tick ‘Smartphone’ and click Connect button
3. Press and hold the “C” button on your P1i and connect with the USB data cable
4. Tick GDFS section and click on backup GDFS button
5. Wait until it finished
6. Unplug the USB cable and close XS++
7. Turn off your P1i, remove the battery and put it back
8. Run XS++ again, Tick “Smartphone” and click Connect button
9. Press and Hold “C” on your P1i and connect the USB cable
10. Wait until XS++ detected your P1i and stop at some green texts
11. Choose the Hong Kong /74 CDA from the drop down menu and execute.
12. Wait until it finished then unplug your P1i and close XS++
13. Now, you may proceed to flash HK Trade firmware (with stroke chinese input) via SEUS.
Enjoy!
for more information about latest firmware for P1i, do visit this wiki.
Excellent info. Thank you very much. I flashed to GW1 successfully!
You’re welcomed. It’s a great phone anyway :)
Thanks Allen, Great Instructions Flashed 1st Time, No Problems
Hey geng, i’ve got into some major prob with my P1i. Okay, here’s the situation…
Before this, i had singapore firmware, but i’ve flashed it into gw1 firmware through xs++ and fortunately, it went on smoothly, with my previous fw backup-ed. Now the prob is, when i check the firmware versions on my phone status, it tells me like this:
phone : CXC162037 R9G007
R9K009
prgCXC162037_CCPU_HE_LL_NI…..(after which there are 5 squares)
bluetooth : CXC162143 R1D
organiser: CXC162108 R6D23
CXC162156 R6G04
CDA : CDA162022/1 R6D22
CDA162024/95 R10A
is this normal?? I find this very worrying, esp now, the SEUS can’t identify my phone anymore, no matter how many times i try, including re-installing the program…please help guys, thanks.
Hassan,
I have no idea where did you go wrong during the upgrading, perhaps you can try to unplug your USB cable into another USB port on your PC, let the driver re-initialize again, and make sure the XS++ is closed before you run SEUS again.
Dear friend
I hope you can help me! I buy my P1 from china and there are just 2 language chinees and english. I try to download language from sonyweb but its not work because my organiser “CXC162156 R6G04″. At website accept just”CXC162108 R6G04″
Please help me ! waiting your reply
Ozkan Ak
Hi again
Also my other problem is phone on but when friends call me out says “can not reach” also I can not call. looks calling but no work.
I update to from sonywebsites “update service” still same :(
organizer
CXC 162156 R6G04
CDA 162024/95 R10A
You are great !!!!!!!!!!!
After my question I try to fix it anddddd all succesfulllll.
thanks again !!!!
sorry about my reply. didn’t login recently months was really packed up with work lately. glad to hear you fixed it :)
Hello guys I have the same problem as Hassan’s. Any ideas for descision?
Thanbks in advance!
language p1 farsi
Hello guys, got my p1i with a singapour region and i want to flash it to GW1, but i follow this steps and i get this
Executing SEMC Smartphone Operations!
02:46:05| Please hold boot key (‘@’ or ‘C’) and connect device…
02:46:40| Master Port detected: COM4
02:46:40| Slave Port detected: COM5
02:46:40| Opening Port!
02:46:40| Init Master Failed!
Whats wrong? im in need of help, cansomeone help me with this?
Thanks for the help guys, im waiting your email
markozzz (at) gmail (dot) com
hi
pls i want to to help me….
i bought my p1i and am following the first step and my fone cannot activate the GDFS and so am stuck at level 3 pls help me
thanks
hi its still grace ehmmm the Gdps process was skipped and i cant find the P1i_xxxxxx_GW1 pls i dnt kno wat the problem is am stuck pls help ASAP
thanks…
@markoz
makesure your SEUS is closed while your are performing that.
@grace
makesure your SEUS is closed as well, and turn off your P1i before you run XS++
is there any tool that can change the language the qwerty keyboard is writing with,mine mobile keyboard write in arabic in and i want to change that to english,although i flashed my mobile from arabic genric to world genric.and nothing changed.
i live in netherlands(holland)but i dont know if i can upgrade my p1i also but the problem is that i dont know how all of it this rituals about downloading this and that works but i downloaded the xs++ but then i dont know what to do further and furthermore is anyone having the idea of converting rar to sis or jar files………..thanks
where can I download firmware for my P1i???
I buy P1i with arabic and english qwerty.can you help me change only to english?i don’t need arabic because i’m an asian.thanks in advance!
Hi!
I have a query with relation to SEUS… Does my phone need to be connected to my PC while the download starts after the part where I have to be holding the C button down is taking place?
Mel,
you can unhook the cable if you want, after the download process taking place. the software actually will save the firmware in your internet temporary folder.
Where can i download the GW1?? Please send me the files or links.. TQ
MrLineClear,
use SEUS (sony ericsson update service), it’s official firmware update client provided by sony ericsson itself.
i am from Pakistan, i have a p1i i upgraded its firmware from SEUS.upgrade was successful with no intereptions but now the problem is when friends call me out says “can not reach” also I can not call. looks calling but no work.
although smss is working only plz help.
hi i got a qn, how to make smses that are read be mark as unread?
kang,
hold the * + ALT buttons on the selected sms will turn your read sms to unread sms (bolded)
Hello Guys
i’m facing problem with my P1i
its red light glowing continously and charging bar is showing that its in charging mode
if i remove back and place it back battery no need to press ON button its always on
can any 1 tell me how can i fix it
please
Hello,
I bought P1 fone and it is in simplified chinese. I can’t find a language file at sonyericsson.com to change the language of my fone. My organizer version says CXC162156 R6G04. The only language file available at sonyericsson.com is P1 Language Files CXC162108 R6G04. Can this work in my fone even though they only have the same number as R6G04? If not, can you point me as to what I should do or what website should I go to? Thanks
Hi there ,can any1 tell me wich button is the “C” on P1i because on walkman phone it’s easily identifiable but not on SMARTPHONES. please guys i need 2 Flash my phone “redspyda3@yahoo.com”
thnx for this! i lab yah! very useful bro!
Hi there..this is my problem..
01:42:02| XS++ v3.1 (Darwin) Ready !
01:42:02| Executed on Microsoft Windows Vista
01:42:34| Executing SEMC Smartphone Operations!
01:42:34| Please hold boot key (‘@’ or ‘C’) and connect device…
01:42:42| Master Port detected: COM11
01:42:42| Slave Port detected: COM12
01:42:42| Opening Port!
01:42:42| Init Master Failed!
i did close the SEUS but still i get the sama result..how to fix this?im currently using Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit..thanx!
my p1i is from singapore. what exactly do i have to do to change my fonts? i’ve tried to simply access my phone card and create new resource\fonts folder and copied 4 types of fonts. when i restarted my fone nothing happened. also, what do you mean by drive z? as i keep encountering this in posts.
thanks in advance.
Thank you for such a wonderful guide.
Regards
hi there,, i want your sincerely help .. my p1i cant browse in the net.. although i use required proxy server and port.. i use opera mini 5.0 version to browse. but error was opening.. kern-exec reason 3.. what can i do to fix it problem?? please help me.. godbless you all..
hi there,, i want your sincerely help .. my p1i cant browse in the net.. although i use required proxy server and port.. i use opera mini 5.0 version to browse. but error was opening.. application closed reason code = KERN-EXEC reason number 3..
i am having a problem flashing my p1i
the installation was unsuccessful i dont understand what went wrong now it does not want to connect using SEUS. please help
hei…what is c button at p1i????
anyone can help me how 2 get sofware for p1i???pc suite???i already try but doesnt work…i dont know why…
Hi peeps. great post you have here, I was in the process of updaing my software using SEUS, however I got an error message before the process could be completed. When next i tried, i got the response that my product is could not be detected. Can I use this method here to give it a trial.’
I awiat your response
I want to upgrade from installing sis to sisx on my P1i, is there a firmware upgrade available for P1i so I can also install .sisx apps. thanks
i have problem with my P1i, im flashin it using XS++, when i connect it and press the c key then connect the usb, it doesnt do anything, just stucked.. please help me! how to retrieve the phone lock code and make it to default one! tankx
Great tutorial!
One question: I have P1i with Belgium CDA. My keyboard is AZERTY, if I upgrade CDA to WG1, will my keyboard remain the same? Or will the upgrade do QWERTY?
I don’t want to get a situation that when I type “A” I get “Q”.
I have no problems with my P1i except for one: when I try to scan for WIFI networks sometimes my phone hangs and reboots itselfs. (it seems to depend from network to network) I hope with an upgrade it will be fixed.
heyy can you help me?
i have a “P1i” i had been using it for long time
suddenly i turned it off
and from than i don’t see ON THE Screen except flashing
i don’t know what happened
please help me!!!
i don’t see anything on the Screen except flashing*
My Sony Ericsson P1i Always restarts Saying ” The phone has restarted in order to improve it’s performance”. And i can’t turn it on. But Via the flight mode it can turn on but without sim. I tried SEUS but didn’t work for the problem.
Please say a way to Repair my Phone By my self.
Thanks
I have another Problem.
After i repairing my Phone What Firmware version I must use? and what is the best one for my Phone?
Thanks
hi there
pls help me. i have updated my phone p1i last week.things are going smoothly and when it reached 100% installing the new software the seus said it failed but as i try it again the seus said its already updated then i turn on my phnone but it is already blackout and i cant use this for more a week pls help me!
Some time ago, I needed to buy a house for my corporation but I didn’t earn enough money and couldn’t purchase something. Thank God my mother adviced to try to take the mortgage loans from creditors. Thus, I acted so and used to be happy with my auto loan.
Hi…
i bought P1i and it worked for 1 and half years smoothly. All of a sudden the software hung up while typing a message. Now since more than 1 Year it is dead. Even the sony ericson authorised sevice peaple have told that the mother board has to be replaced. It was having Symbian sofware. Can you pls help me to restore my mobile operation? I will be gratefull to you.
hi
My P1i’s bought couple of years before is not working for past 1 Yr. got automatically hung up and not restarting since then. SE’s auhorised service personnal are telling the mother board needs to be replaced which would cost 80% of the mobile cost but still there is no warranty. can yiu pls help me?