if you want the safest way.. flash the stock one first
as once you are on .244 based, you no need to worry using whichever method you want to flash the zip
it'll always be:
1. enter recovery
2. wipe all necessary things (make sure you backup even before flashing the stock .244 tho, as everything will be wiped).. but wipe again when you wanna flash monx's zip.. (data/cache/d.cache/factory reset aka wiping system, not just wipe data)
3. flash the zip
4. reboot
5. done

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and yes, according to the stock rom instructions, flash the zip first, then dont reboot, but power off, after that flash the .ftf (they should have instructions in the flashtool thread)
i think its:
- power off
- plug in the usb port from your phone first (but dont plug into the pc)
- prepare your finger with pressing + hold volume down
- then only plugin to the pc (ofcuz thats when you're running already flashtool with the screen telling you to power off/etc lah)
you got use flashtool before? if you haven, PLEASE install the drivers.. if you're on windows 8, they'll also got instructions on how to do it..
I used flashtool before already.. bro, im thinking if i want to follow monx instruction, i flash the rom first than i flash the latest kernel and baseband via flashtool. what risk if i go this way?