If i flash a new firmware, will it break warranty?

[petko83f]

I live in Serbia, and for now there is no sign of official updating my (our) ST15i from MT:S... So, if i put that new 4.1.B.0.431. firmware via Flashtool (which is obviously the easiest way of doing that), will it break warranty? I mean, there is no rooting or unlocking bootloader being done that way, right? So that means no harm is being done...or maybe I am wrong... I hope that i won`t 'wake' the capacitive buttons problem since i had given the phone to the service center just days after buying it back in September... And i am not just lurring into ICS, i really need an update, because my phone, which is on .62 is full of bugs and it is slower then it was in .42... Thank you guys, i and i hope your answer will be... FLASH IT, no warranty breaking :smileywink:!

[james9891]

Yes it does void the warranty as you are flashing the ROM from another source.However it works fineand I have done the same on my XMP.However the fact that the phone is slower will not change as ICS requires more RAM than Gingerbread. You can however try flashing GB versions (.58 or .62 ) again and see if it works fine

[MarlonUk1]

Read the warranty

From sony mobile developers

http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/instructions

Warning! If you perform this step, you will unlock the boot loader.This may void your warranty and/or any warranty from your operator. If you still want to unlock the boot loader of your phone, enter fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xKEY, where KEY is the unlock boot loader key you got in the beginning of this instruction. The boot loader should now be successfully unlocked.

from Sony mobile

Warranty Document

http://www-support-downloads.sonymobile.com/common/warranty_phones_US_12.pdf

Nor does this warranty cover any

failure of the Product due to accident, software or hardware

modification or adjustment, acts of God or damage resulting

from liquid

in other words it "could" void your warranty

My take on the warranty is as follow, don't quote me on this: if you root or flash or unlock the bootloader and something damage your phone because of that, then the warranty will be voided otherwise it shouldn't affect the warranty. but that's my take on it.

Don't forget to mark the Correct Answers & Helpful Answers

[james9891]

no need to wory as using flashtool does not need an unlocked bootloader

[Nabeel]

Yes it may void your warranty

Because you will flash a firmware of different region

what you could do is backup your current firmware

Follow green lines here and see how to backup firmwares as well

So later on you could flash your own firmware back

[petko83f]

Ok, thank you again guys, as much i wanted to flash it, because i did it all to my previous phones (k750i, P1i), i am scared  about loosing my warranty. I would definetely flash it if I had no problem with heating+vibrating, but i really need that warranty if it happens again. So, again thaks, patience is not my virtue :smileywink:, but i have to wait till my operater (MT:S) approve this update...oooh how slow they are. Now, one question came across my mind... How do other phone manufacturers update software, it seems to me, that they do that without all this fuss, right?

[MarlonUk1]

You can read all the problems other cellphone companies are having here: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42622/ice-cream-sandwich-when-update

[DeGraaff]

No it does not void your warrenty. At least, not if you flash back to official firmware from your region with WotanServer before making use of your warrenty.

[petko83f]

Ok, sorry but i can`t remember all the questions i have. This one is: if i flash my phone with this unbranded (but yet official) firmware, will i be able to update via PCC or SUS, when the official firmware becomes available for my country and operater? Thanks for all the help today

[MarlonUk1]

there is no difference between the flashed software and the one you get using PCC or SUS, so if you update your device (supposed you have a flashed FW), you will get a notification that you have the latest update on your device.