Database Users

[Noob-Tutorial] How to create a CWM flashable zip file from FTF Firmware

Hi @all,
I´m using the Flashtool and other provided tools here in the Forum for a long time (thanks to all people who are involved in the developing)
Now I want to give something back.
I´m not a developer but I understand (hopefully) basic things.
I have also some phones which does not support the flashmode so I am reliant to the fastboot mode and CWM.
At this point my goal was to flash the stock ROM to the Xperia Z.
I found a tuturial how to make a flashable zip file for CWM but it was for old devices with yaffs2 filesystem and the new ones have ext4.
After some search I found everything what is needed and I want to share it with you.
The Tutorial covers basic things but maybe it will help some people who will try it.
Step 1
Download the Stock-FW you want (FTF-File)
Step 2
Rename the .ftf File to .zip
Step 3
Extract the system.sin (with 7zip or WinRar for example)
Step 4
Open Flashtool go to "Tools" -> "Sin Editor" -> Choose the extracted system.sin and push "extract" Data
Step 5
You will get an system.ext4 file
Step 6
We have to extract the files which are in the system.ext4 file - for this I used the DiskInternal Linux Reader
Step 7
After extracting the files you have to put all the files in a folder named "system" (low letters)
Step 8
Create a folder named for example "Firmware"
Step 9
Put the "system" folder in the "Firmware" folder
Step 10
Download the Attached META-INF File - extract it and copy the META-INF Folder in the "Firmware" folder
Step 11
Now you have in your "Firmware" folder two sub-folders
"system" and "META-INF"
Now you only have to zip the both folders for example with 7zip or WinRar
Important: You have to set the compression to "Store"
Step 12
Copy the zip File to your SD-Card and flash it with CWM
If you want you can now add files to the system folder - like busy box - and or modify things and flash it over CWM.
Special thanks to Bin4ry
Best regards
UserX10

Learned ! Thank you.

Nice tutorial!
EDIT: The flashable zip is huge (990MB), did this have anything to do with the compression being set to 'store'?

xL3thalTuRdZz said:
Nice tutorial!
EDIT: The flashable zip is huge (990MB), did this have anything to do with the compression being set to 'store'?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't set it to store it wont work at all, no rom/flashable zip have anything other than store compression the same goes for bootanimations
Edit: OP/Mod you might just want to change TFT file to FTF in step 1
Sent from my GT-i9100 using Tapatalk 2
Edit2: It seems like this only goes for bootanimations, sorry my bad.

Great.....learning it now

Thanks for the positive feedback.
Changed also the typo on Step 1

I've tried setting compression to 'Normal' and all seems to be going fine...
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app

Can this be applicable to nxt devices like mine?thanks for the tutorial...
Sent from my LT22i using Tapatalk 2

how to extract from ext4
can you explain with details :fingers-crossed:
im getting ext4 file again after extracting !

ShivangDave said:
can you explain with details :fingers-crossed:
im getting ext4 file again after extracting !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to selected the .ext4 file open with LinuxReader. (like you .doc file with Word)
LinuxReader will "mounted" it in his own window, open your "new" disk (2Go) then select the "Save" option above...

tempofestival said:
You have to selected the .ext4 file open with LinuxReader. (like you .doc file with Word)
LinuxReader will "mounted" it in his own window, open your "new" disk (2Go) then select the "Save" option above...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did it via linux ! thanks any way !

When I tried to extract Xperia S's stock rom from the ftf using DiskReaderInternals, then the rom would boot but USB would never work. Even the guy above me (ShivangDave) tried extracting using DiskReaderInternals for Miro but the rom failed to boot and got stuck at the Sony logo. That's why it is better to use linux to extract the system.ext4 image.

i want to make a flashable zip to install aps

UserX10 said:
Important: You have to set the compression to "Store"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I set the compression to "Store"?
Thanks a lot for your guide!

MinnesotaVikings1961 said:
How do I set the compression to "Store"?
Thanks a lot for your guide!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whenever you add file in archive it will show a box first ! 'NORMAL' is default ! change it to 'Store' !

Please!
Does this tutoriral can be applied to other models as Neo V.
Thank you and best regards!

fer14 said:
Please!
Does this tutoriral can be applied to other models as Neo V.
Thank you and best regards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This Tutorial should also work with the Neo V. Only one thing could be different.
But depending on your Android Version (when I remember well) it could be possible that you have instead of an ext4 file a yaffs2 file. In this case you can search the forum for an how to for this extension.

TheHawk002 said:
If you don't set it to store it wont work at all, no rom/flashable zip have anything other than store compression the same goes for bootanimations
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a template for flashing various things and I just drop stuff in it using Normal compression and it flashes ok, might be more important for full ROMs or zips to be run on the Phone like a boot animation, but for flashing the odd apk or other file I don't think it matters.
UserX10 said:
This Tutorial should also work with the Neo V. Only one thing could be different.
But depending on your Android Version (when I remember well) it could be possible that you have instead of an ext4 file a yaffs2 file. In this case you can search the forum for an how to for this extension.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XperienceD said:
[GUIDE] How to make your regional firmware an .FTF file
[Guide] How make a FTF of stock firmware from SUS files
[GUIDE]How to make a rooted flashable rom from ftf file[FOR ALL XPERIA PHONES]
[tutorial] | how to extract system.sin
[tutorial] step by step method to extract ftf file from ics [ics]
[Tool] Yaffey - Utility for reading, editing and writing YAFFS2 images
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

UserX10 said:
Hi @all,
I´m using the Flashtool and other provided tools here in the Forum for a long time (thanks to all people who are involved in the developing)
Now I want to give something back.
I´m not a developer but I understand (hopefully) basic things.
I have also some phones which does not support the flashmode so I am reliant to the fastboot mode and CWM.
At this point my goal was to flash the stock ROM to the Xperia Z.
I found a tuturial how to make a flashable zip file for CWM but it was for old devices with yaffs2 filesystem and the new ones have ext4.
After some search I found everything what is needed and I want to share it with you.
The Tutorial covers basic things but maybe it will help some people who will try it.
Step 1
Download the Stock-FW you want (FTF-File)
Step 2
Rename the .ftf File to .zip
Step 3
Extract the system.sin (with 7zip or WinRar for example)
Step 4
Open Flashtool go to "Tools" -> "Sin Editor" -> Choose the extracted system.sin and push "extract" Data
Step 5
You will get an system.ext4 file
Step 6
We have to extract the files which are in the system.ext4 file - for this I used the DiskInternal Linux Reader
Step 7
After extracting the files you have to put all the files in a folder named "system" (low letters)
Step 8
Create a folder named for example "Firmware"
Step 9
Put the "system" folder in the "Firmware" folder
Step 10
Download the Attached META-INF File - extract it and copy the META-INF Folder in the "Firmware" folder
Step 11
Now you have in your "Firmware" folder two sub-folders
"system" and "META-INF"
Now you only have to zip the both folders for example with 7zip or WinRar
Important: You have to set the compression to "Store"
Step 12
Copy the zip File to your SD-Card and flash it with CWM
If you want you can now add files to the system folder - like busy box - and or modify things and flash it over CWM.
Special thanks to Bin4ry
Best regards
UserX10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this on Xperia SP but the installation is aborted, does this supports Xperia SP? If not, how can I make another one for Xperia SP? Thanks

tdth said:
I tried this on Xperia SP but the installation is aborted, does this supports Xperia SP? If not, how can I make another one for Xperia SP? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which error ?
---------- Post added at 08:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 PM ----------
tdth said:
I tried this on Xperia SP but the installation is aborted, does this supports Xperia SP? If not, how can I make another one for Xperia SP? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this works... make sure you have correct update-binary file and also script !

[Guide][Tool]How To Make Flashable Zips For Xperia Devices

..::Hey Guys i'm Back With My New Tool/Guide On How To Make a Flashable Zip::..
..::About Tool/Guide::..
1)This Will Learn U How to Make a Zip
2)This Will Help Dev,Themers & NOOBS Making There Own Zips Fast And Easily
3)Including Auto Set/Fix For Permissions
..::Requirements::..
1)Files U Need To Put In Zip
2)CWM Recovery To Flash Zips
3)7Zip/Winrar/Winzip
4)NotePad++
5)Flashable Zip Tool
..::Steps::..
Download The Flashable Zip Tool:Download From Here
Extract The Folder (Flashable Zip Tool) Anywhere in Ur Desktop
Open Flashable Zip Maker[Don't Extract]
Now U will Find/See 4 Folders:data,META-INF,preload,system
Lets Start With System Folder
First Open system Inside The Zip
Copy Ur Apk/Jar/so/xml File To The Right Place"
/system/app - All The System Apps (SystemUI.apk etc)
/system/framework/ -framework-res.apk,android.policy.jar
/system/etc - vold.fstab,.xml files
/system/media - (Bootanimation)(System Sounds)
/system/lib - libraries (*.so)
/system/fonts -(fonts)
Second Edit Updater-Script
in Flashable Zip Maker Folder u Will Find A File Called Updater-Script
Edit Using NotePad++ (U can Edit Some Lines I but Like (Your Name),(Your Mod Name)
Now After Editing Copy and Go to META-INF>com>google>android (Inside Flashable Zip Maker.Zip)
Delete Updater-Script And Past Yours
Now Ur Zip Is Ready To Sign Copy-Past To Put-Zip-To-Sign-Here Folder''
And Open ZIP_Auto-Signer.bat
Ur Zip Will Be Ready To Flash Go To Finished "Folder" U Will Find a Zip Called signed.zip
Rename to What Ever U Want
Third How To install
Copy To Ur Sd-Card
Turn Of Ur Devices
Flash In CWM Recovery
Done U Now Made And Installed UR New Flashable Zip
Liked If Yes Don't Forget To Press Thanx
​

Reserverd

Guys anyone Tried This
A great tool and so faster to make flashable zip
Any reply

Guy who had a problem with the to u can type here and i will try to help you

Very thanks.
Tapatalk 2-vel küldve az én C5303-ről

Code:
jancsessz said:
Very thanks.
Tapatalk 2-vel küldve az én C5303-ről
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well- it is working?
It is working on nxt devices

Yes working.
I add aroma installer my rom.
Tapatalk 2-vel küldve az én C5303-ről

Ok that is good
And can u send me a pm on how did add the aroma
Using this tool
So i can add it to this thread
I will but you in the credits list

its not working . if OP is seeing my reply , please give a sign

Unpacking / Extracting OTA UPDATE.ZIP?

Hi,
is it somehow possible to extract the downloaded OTA update.zip? In my case it's the MJ7. I got it on my Note 3 but can't extract / unpack the simple zip archive. Maybe it's encrypted? I wanna do it for a few testings. Did anybody else try that before and is having similar issues? How can I unpack it?
Thanks in advance.
Gesendet von meinem SM-N9005 mit Tapatalk 2

Yes it is crypted. someone told me to repair the zip with disk repair utility before unziping it. I dit it and was able to see the major part of the zip.

I came across the Sony Tablet S tool as well as some kind of an "Acer OTA unpacker". Why not such a tool for Samsung OTA files? What are they encrypted with - the release key(s) from the OTACerts.zip archive which resides in /etc/security?
The header of the archive looks equal to the one of a simple zip file. But the device downloads the file from a server where this zip file resides as a binary (BIN) file. Looks like it's being downloaded and then just renamed.
I just figured out yesterday what the server address and it's folder structure to the related binary file of the MJ7 OTA update is.
Gesendet von meinem SM-N9005 mit Tapatalk 2

Ok, at least i was able to use the following utility to get (create) a zip archive i was then able to investigate:
DiskInternals ZIP Repair
I just downloaded the DBT MJ3 to MJ7 OTA binary file from this URL:
Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 DBT OTA Update MJ3 to MJ7
Then i renamed the BIN file to update.zip and loaded it into the tool which then generated another zip archive which i was able to open. But as you said before: Not everything within the newly created archive is as it should be (a shame).

Remove bloatware with zip file

Hello,
I want to make a zip file for removing bloatware for my rom.
I fount this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2464694
Can I use that one and make the changes like described here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=47177193#post47177193
If you want to Edit the script to add/delete apps
- Download Notepad++ on your PC http://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/
- Extract Zip and look for this file updater-script its on this location META-INF\com\google\android\
- Open Notepad++ and Edit this file updater-script you can add/remove lines just type the exact name of the apk
- Save the file and put the new updater-script back into the flashable zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's for my I9505. Who can help me?
Thanks in advance!

Anyone please?
Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk 4

Cannot choose zip encoding in my archiver

Hi,
Excuse me for posting thursday, a school day for most members
I discovered yesterday my updater-script was correct, i didn't make mistakes,
(a ROM-specific system apps remover and replacer)
because i used 7Zipper for Android selected META-INF i chose zip encoding ANSI(ASCII) and Normal compress, Normal speed,
my update.zip worked, but on my computer i have 7-Zip, and it doesn't allow me to choose zip encoding,
So my question is Do you know an archiver that haves an option to choose zip encoding for PC?
I have both Linux distribution and Microsoft Windows
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks in advance :good:

Try using WinRar !

Killnolife said:
Hi,
Excuse me for posting thursday, a school day for most members
I discovered yesterday my updater-script was correct, i didn't make mistakes,
(a ROM-specific system apps remover and replacer)
because i used 7Zipper for Android selected META-INF i chose zip encoding ANSI(ASCII) and Normal compress, Normal speed,
my update.zip worked, but on my computer i have 7-Zip, and it doesn't allow me to choose zip encoding,
So my question is Do you know an archiver that haves an option to choose zip encoding for PC?
​Thanks in advance :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes man best archiver is winrar
e-tab4 cihazımdan Tapatalk kullanılarak gönderildi

winrar on pc as mentioned
zarchiver on phone

Problem Solved
Hi,
Problem solved, i installed WinRAR on both of my systems,