Can't install drivers SEMC Flash install freezing - Xperia Ray ST18a (Flashtool) - Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini, Mini Pro, Xperia Pro, A

Hello! I am trying to upgrade my ST18a to a different rom. Have been on the threads learning and re-learning hours each day since Saturday. Almost posted this at 2am last night-- another multi-hour reading/fixing session, but decided to go to bed. (also, very happy I found my password/login for here, was in another phone that I just found)
*ISSUE* Flashtool says to install extra drivers. When installing the SEMC drivers (whether via phone direct plug-in and being recognized by Windows, Update Service, or Flashtool Driver installation program) the computer freezes before completing on the very last driver wdfcoinstaller01009.dll . Have to power off: mouse etc nothing works. This happens when the Ray is off, Volume down button held, plugged into the computer, driver installation, at the end, FREEZE.
- Current firmware is 100% original, just opened it from a sealed box. 4.0.A.2.368 Android version GB 2.3.3
- Bootloader locked. Unlockable: yes. Unable to unlock it because... Flashtool does not recognize the device. (Not interested in pin method.)
- The first thing I did was root with DooMLord's zerg rush.
- Tried to flash XPERIA HD Ultimate, learned that the kernel needs to be updated first.
- Sony PC Companion, Update Service, and Flashtool are all installed. Windows XP
- Installed Flashtool's Ray-specific drivers, Fastboot drivers and Flashmode drivers
- Flashtool does not recognize the device. Sony PC Companion does. Update Service launches SEMC install program, same freeze issue at end of installation.
- The Google USB drivers are installed
The additional driver installation DID go well, once. Then went to Flashtool to flash and it aborted saying drivers needed to be installed.
Have reinstalled Flashtool. Reinstalled Sony PC Companion.
Have made sure that the phone was on and "seen" via Sony PC Companion before starting Flashtool.
Additionally, Flashtool can only be run once. If I exit the program, it will not start again: have to reboot the system.
Thanks in advance. Fortunately, not frustrated or anything, just looking to get this phone working. Thank you!
(have searched/read threads on Flashtool, SEMC Drivers, unlock bootloader, wdfcoinstaller01009.dll [nada zip zilch], and read from page 1 to 10/20/40 etc. Flashtool's FAQ on their page is slim. Have done the homework, now stuck.)
(The final thing I've *just* done is downloaded the Android SDK, saw that suggestion in a thread. Launched Eclipse. Got a Java error, I don't think that this has anything to do with anything, just mentioning.)
This is the main link I've been working off of, and just counted: I have 13 other XDA thread windows open.
http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/35239?start=0&tstart=0

---

imadiamond said:
Hello! I am trying to upgrade my ST18a to a different rom. Have been on the threads learning and re-learning hours each day since Saturday. Almost posted this at 2am last night-- another multi-hour reading/fixing session, but decided to go to bed. (also, very happy I found my password/login for here, was in another phone that I just found)
*ISSUE* Flashtool says to install extra drivers. When installing the SEMC drivers (whether via phone direct plug-in and being recognized by Windows, Update Service, or Flashtool Driver installation program) the computer freezes before completing on the very last driver wdfcoinstaller01009.dll . Have to power off: mouse etc nothing works. This happens when the Ray is off, Volume down button held, plugged into the computer, driver installation, at the end, FREEZE.
- Current firmware is 100% original, just opened it from a sealed box. 4.0.A.2.368 Android version GB 2.3.3
- Bootloader locked. Unlockable: yes. Unable to unlock it because... Flashtool does not recognize the device. (Not interested in pin method.)
- The first thing I did was root with DooMLord's zerg rush.
- Tried to flash XPERIA HD Ultimate, learned that the kernel needs to be updated first.
- Sony PC Companion, Update Service, and Flashtool are all installed. Windows XP
- Installed Flashtool's Ray-specific drivers, Fastboot drivers and Flashmode drivers
- Flashtool does not recognize the device. Sony PC Companion does. Update Service launches SEMC install program, same freeze issue at end of installation.
- The Google USB drivers are installed
The additional driver installation DID go well, once. Then went to Flashtool to flash and it aborted saying drivers needed to be installed.
Have reinstalled Flashtool. Reinstalled Sony PC Companion.
Have made sure that the phone was on and "seen" via Sony PC Companion before starting Flashtool.
Additionally, Flashtool can only be run once. If I exit the program, it will not start again: have to reboot the system.
Thanks in advance. Fortunately, not frustrated or anything, just looking to get this phone working. Thank you!
(have searched/read threads on Flashtool, SEMC Drivers, unlock bootloader, wdfcoinstaller01009.dll [nada zip zilch], and read from page 1 to 10/20/40 etc. Flashtool's FAQ on their page is slim. Have done the homework, now stuck.)
(The final thing I've *just* done is downloaded the Android SDK, saw that suggestion in a thread. Launched Eclipse. Got a Java error, I don't think that this has anything to do with anything, just mentioning.)
This is the main link I've been working off of, and just counted: I have 13 other XDA thread windows open.
http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/35239?start=0&tstart=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
USE DRIVER IN C:\FLASHTOOL\DRIVERS...Open it and tick all then install...dont connect ur phone till drivers installation...after that restart ur pc then try connecting

---

ansebovi said:
USE DRIVER IN C:\FLASHTOOL\DRIVERS...Open it and tick all then install...dont connect ur phone till drivers installation...after that restart ur pc then try connecting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Anseboyi, thanks for your almost immediate response. This afternoon, right after reading I did just that (and mentioned above that the installation/computer freezes at the end of the SEMC driver install, whether initiated by the Flashtool Driver Update program or by connecting the phone to the computer in Flash Mode (holding Vol down button and plugging it in).
I wrote down the exact steps following what you suggested:
********Begin "self-log" notes************
C\Flashtool\drivers
Tickmarked Ray, Fastboot and Flashmode
Successful! Installed the following drivers successfully (as has happened before)
Sony Ericsson (WinUSB)
Sony Ericsson Net (02/23/2011...)
Google, Inc. (WinUSB)
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (ggsemc) USB
Then, started Flashtool. Plugged in USB cable. Held Volume down button and plugged cable into phone (previously did the opposite – cable in phone and then plugged in USB, switched to see if this made a difference. Either way, the same crashing at the end of the process has happened about 20 times. 5 times a day since Saturday, in-between reading/researching/downloading.)
Flashtool says:
“ Device not recognized. You need to install drivers.”
(this is *after* the "successful" installation of the above drivers using Flashtool's Driver Update)
Connect phone to computer.
Windows recognizes phone... S1 Fastboot I think it said. Found New Hardware Wizard starts. No, skip Windows Update selection and select to choose my own location.
Click Next to continue. I am saving this write-up before clicking Next, becasuse all of the other times, the computer crashes. Oh, ok. “Install the software automatically (Recommended)”
Message:
"The software you are installing has not passed Windows... blah blah blah. "
Click “Continue anyway”
Installation goes well, until the very end (the progress bar is at the end, presumably 99%)
COMPUTER FREEZES
***On the last dll the install animation goes on forever and ever. Moving the mouse at all? The whole system freezes. This is what happens.***

---

I just went ahead and ticked *all* of the phone options in the Flashtool Driver Update program...
They all installed successfully.
Restarted the computer.
Started Flashtool.
Connected USB plug to computer, then while holding Vol Down button. Flashtool says the following:
24/002/2013 22:02:40 - INFO - <- This level is successfully initialized
24/002/2013 22:02:40 - INFO - Flashtool Version 0.9.11.0 built on 2013-06-04 22:50:00
24/002/2013 22:02:48 - INFO - Device disconnected
24/003/2013 22:03:39 - ERROR - Drivers need to be installed for connected device.
24/003/2013 22:03:39 - ERROR - You can find them in the drivers folder of Flashtool.
Right after this, Windows has launched a Found New Hardware Wizard. This will lead to the above, installing and getting to the SEMC drivers installation and then the computer freezing. Have done this multiple times.

---

imadiamond said:
I just went ahead and ticked *all* of the phone options in the Flashtool Driver Update program...
They all installed successfully.
Restarted the computer.
Started Flashtool.
Connected USB plug to computer, then while holding Vol Down button. Flashtool says the following:
24/002/2013 22:02:40 - INFO - <- This level is successfully initialized
24/002/2013 22:02:40 - INFO - Flashtool Version 0.9.11.0 built on 2013-06-04 22:50:00
24/002/2013 22:02:48 - INFO - Device disconnected
24/003/2013 22:03:39 - ERROR - Drivers need to be installed for connected device.
24/003/2013 22:03:39 - ERROR - You can find them in the drivers folder of Flashtool.
Right after this, Windows has launched a Found New Hardware Wizard. This will lead to the above, installing and getting to the SEMC drivers installation and then the computer freezing. Have done this multiple times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1730874 see this do the device manager thing said here

---

Ok... I will check that link out right after typing this latest update/log... thanks!
Right before logging in again I made sure to check the Device Manager, and the phone is a-ok, listed as Sony sa0102 ADB Interface Driver.
So, the computer crashed/froze on the last installation of the SEMC Flash Device.
So, this time, something different: after computer restarted, plugged in phone, and let it load and be recognized. Sony PC Companion recognized the phone, and the windows drivers installed a-ok.
Then, started Flashtool. This is the log:
24/035/2013 22:35:43 - INFO - <- This level is successfully initialized
24/035/2013 22:35:43 - INFO - Flashtool Version 0.9.11.0 built on 2013-06-04 22:50:00
24/035/2013 22:35:57 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging off
24/035/2013 22:35:57 - INFO - For 2011 devices line, be sure you are not in MTP mode
Ok... so I pressed Devices => Check Drivers and then got this...
24/036/2013 22:36:31 - INFO - List of connected devices (Device Id) :
24/036/2013 22:36:31 - INFO - - USB\VID_0FCE&PID_6161\43423531315535393438 Driver installed : true
24/036/2013 22:36:31 - INFO - - USB\VID_0FCE&PID_6161&MI_00\6&1B87F40E&0&0000 Driver installed : true
24/036/2013 22:36:31 - INFO - - USB\VID_0FCE&PID_6161&MI_01\6&1B87F40E&0&0001 Driver installed : true
24/036/2013 22:36:31 - INFO - List of ADB devices :
24/036/2013 22:36:32 - INFO - - none
24/036/2013 22:36:32 - INFO - List of fastboot devices :
24/036/2013 22:36:33 - INFO - - none
Still not recognized. Off to check that link now...

---

Oh my. That was a disaster.
Computer freezing left and right. Connecting the phone and it just froze. Fortunately I know a bit more about computers than Andriod: returned to an earlier System Restore point and then uninstalled that device/device driver as it was still a part of the system.
If the idea on that suggestion was to point to a specific file directory that can be done without going to the device driver. When the New Device Wizard starts you just have to choose the location. If the idea was to use that driver, installing that driver froze the computer, and then after a reboot the computer froze right after connecting the phone, which has never happened before. And all kinds of other things. I appreciate your suggestion: unfortunately it didn't work.

---

**SOLVED** Downgrade Flashtool version
[EDIT 8-13] SOLVED, but not with using Windows XP-- Well, after installing the earlier version of Flashtool the phone could be recognized, and I was totally elated. But then when it came time to flash the phone the program asked for those SEMC drivers (which had already loaded successfully before) and the computer just froze again. After a week of a few hours each day restarting the frozen computer over and over went ahead and used a different OS. Windows 7. Upgraded the Ray with PC Companion and then re-rooted with Flashtool by flashing an earlier kernel, rooting that with DooMLord's kit, then reflashing the stock kernel. Phew!
[NOT] SOLVED! Answer was to downgrade Flashtool version. I read a comment somewhere that the new versions only work with "xxGhz processors". This computer is a dinosaur, so thought an older version might help. That was it.
- Uninstalled Flashtool version 9.
- Rebooted computer
- Installed older version of Flashtool--- 0.7.1.0
- Rebooted computer
- Plugged in phone, let all drivers load
- Started Flashtool and here is the log
25/041/2013 21:41:51 - INFO - <- This level is successfully initialized
25/041/2013 21:41:55 - INFO - Flashtool Version 0.7.1.0 built on 2012-05-01 22:07:23
25/041/2013 21:41:55 - INFO - You can drag and drop ftf files here to start flashing them
25/042/2013 21:42:56 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging on
25/043/2013 21:43:09 - INFO - Connected device : ST18
25/043/2013 21:43:13 - INFO - Installed version of busybox : BusyBox v1.18.4 (2011-04-04 18:40:20 CDT) multi-call binary.
25/043/2013 21:43:13 - INFO - Android version : 2.3.3 / kernel version : 2.6.32.9-perf
25/043/2013 21:43:27 - INFO - Root Access Allowed
I currently have 4.0.A.2.368 . The Ray wants to upgrade OTA to 4.0.2.A.062 (which I tried when getting the phone, however that didn't work). Sony PC Companion is ready to install 4.1.B.0.587 . Going to go ahead and install through Sony Companion using Voodoo RootKeeper to see if I can keep root. If not, will go ahead and use this tutorial to re-root.
http://talk.sonymobile.com/thread/97327
THANKS ansebovi for your quick replies and willingness to help. Much appreciated ,