Updating Sony Xperia X10i phone

I said to myself, I could not flash my phone using Sony's software for up to 10 ten times.  I am voiding my phone warranty and going solo.

I then finally resolved it and didn't need to root and flash manually....

Symptoms

Cannot upgrade Sony Xperia X10 phone
Cannot install SEMC flash driver
Computer freezes during update
PC campanion fails to update
SEUS fails to update

My silly attempts

1 to 5 attempts on an XP then once another

Once with trying to install the SEMC flash driver manually (Must have phone conected, even with it was a pain)

Once with trying with no SIM or SD card

...

Then I said to myself, '*?!k it I think I flash the phone the other way'...
Days worth of researching forum reading.... (Urika!!!!)

Solution

Use Vista or Windows7

Believe Sony should update their minimum requirements for OS.
Since XP series is a slowly dying bread, companies a probably deciding to no longer test on such versions of software.

Further Reading
The forum post the helped me realize the truth