From CM11 back to stock ROM

[risto]

There have been some talks about this issue but I'm not able to find the right answer so I hope someone here could help me. I have Xperia M c1905 with CM11 installed and cwm custom recovery. I just want to revert back to stock ROM. I don't need root and I don't need any custom recovery, just factory Xperia. I tried EMMA but it can't recognize my phone so is there any way to manually do this. Someone suggested that I need to flash stock kernel before flashing the stock ROM to avoid bricking the device. Anyone tried this? Any help appreciated...

[Thommo]

What you need is Flashtool and a .ftf firmware file for your device in order to manually flash your device

[NicklasCRJ23]

if you want try to back to stock, you must download flashtool first to flash .ftf file or stock rom for your sony. if you have installed cm11 it means you in unlocked bootloader condition. you have loose your warranty. you can find in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=51438981&postcount=1, try this

[risto]

Thank you guys. The warranty is not a problem. I downloaded the flashtool and I could flash stock ROM but what about flashing kernel? Do i need to flash stock kernel first to be able to flash stock ROM? This is confusing me. I can't afford to brick my phone, it's the only one I have. If I flash the .ftf file with flashtool will it wipe whole phone and remove cwm recovery? I need it as close to the factory state as it could get.

[Thommo]

The kernel will be included in the .ftf firmware file - You do not need to flash the kernel on it's own and yes flashing will completely factory reset your device including any and all custom recovery's

[risto]

So it's just left for me to do it. I hope everything will workout fine...

[Thommo]

Bricking has two version - Soft and hard - Hard it's broke and is worthless but if you can still enter Flashmode then it's a soft and is not broke and can be recovered via as above with Flashtool and a firmware file

[risto]

I don't know if I understand this correctly but hard brick is caused by flashing an incompatibile ROM which also includes incompatibile kernel as well and incompatibile kernel is the main cause of hard brick. So as long as I'm using stock ROM .ftf file which includes stock kernel, to flash my device, I'm safe from hard brick?

[goelaakash90]

yes.

As long as you follow the guidelines properly and flash the right firmware, you wont get hard brick.

[risto]

OK. I installed flashtool but when I try to install drivers there are no drivers for Xperia M offered and when I connect my phone flashtool says: "ERROR - you can only flash devices". What's that? There is no Xperia M in the list of drivers and supported devices...