[Q] Should i unlock my bootloader - Xperia SP Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
I was wondering, is that a good idea to unlock my bootloader? I like to try new things with my phone and such
All opinions are welcome.
Sincerely
Alex

wuggy said:
Hello,
I was wondering, is that a good idea to unlock my bootloader? I like to try new things with my phone and such
All opinions are welcome.
Sincerely
Alex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am also in a similar situation like you. backup your TA partition first before you unlock, to re-enable the DRM features if u wish to relock the phone. now i dunno if the sync with my gmail account alone would restore all my app data,contacts etc. so for that i also make their backup using android backup utility or pc companion from time to time.(u must know once u unlock the BL u will have the internal memory wiped )

dhiman33 said:
i am also in a similar situation like you. backup your TA partition first before you unlock, to re-enable the DRM features if u wish to relock the phone. now i dunno if the sync with my gmail account alone would restore all my app data,contacts etc. so for that i also make their backup using android backup utility or pc companion from time to time.(u must know once u unlock the BL u will have the internal memory wiped )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea, i dont have anything on phone atm, just flashed back on stock
with what i should backup my TA ?
and what do you mean by TA ?

wuggy said:
yea, i dont have anything on phone atm, just flashed back on stock
with what i should backup my TA ?
and what do you mean by TA ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK, TA partition is where all ur DRM keys are stored. U can backup and restore the TA partition using Backup TA utility. (search on google/xda)
Warning: don't restore another Sp's TA partition as it will hard brick your phone.

wuggy said:
yea, i dont have anything on phone atm, just flashed back on stock
with what i should backup my TA ?
and what do you mean by TA ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the search function. And if you unlock the bootloader always keep a copy of your TA partition.
Sent from my C5302 using Tapatalk 4

Related

[Q] camera break question

hi
my camera dont work becuse unlock bootloader and i dont have TA backup
so i think if any someone can do backup from TWRP recovery and up to site and i download it and install it.. will be work
someone can do this for me ?
i will whant try this and dont scare from hard break
tnx
z1l said:
hi
my camera dont work becuse unlock bootloader and i dont have TA backup
so i think if any someone can do backup from TWRP recovery and up to site and i download it and install it.. will be work
someone can do this for me ?
i will whant try this and dont scare from hard break
tnx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. If you unlocked the bootloader without backing up the TA partition you are out of luck. A TWRP backup won't help you. And if you try and restore the TA partition from someone else's phone you will HARD BRICK your device. There is nothing you can do except wait and pray that Sony fixes the bootloader issue and when they do somehow your camera will work again.
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

Unlocking the bootloader, TA backup and the warranty

Hi,
i want to unlock my bootloader, so i made a backup with Devshafts TA Backup v9.10. The backup is a 112kb big zip file and 2mb big, when i uncompress it, i made a dry run to test it, everything seems ok.
To unlock my bootloader i must send my IMEI nr. to Sony.
My Question is, do they notice that i unlocked my XSP, even after relocking it with the TA Backup, by my IMEI nr that they have?
That would mean my warranty is voided even if i relock it?
Or am i wrong at some point?
Thank you for your help!
Well you lost your warranty if you Unlock your bootloader but I've never heard or read somewere that Sony (or the repair places) are using some kind of Database to check which IMEI has been used to get an Unlock Code.
If you relock the bootloader and restore the TA partition there is no evidence of any unlock.
mrjraider said:
Well you lost your warranty if you Unlock your bootloader but I've never heard or read somewere that Sony (or the repair places) are using some kind of Database to check which IMEI has been used to get an Unlock Code.
If you relock the bootloader and restore the TA partition there is no evidence of any unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That concerns me a bit.I have locked and unlocked my bootloader several times but i dont remember backung up my TA partition...... is there any way to restore it to factory status again ?
jackaros said:
That concerns me a bit.I have locked and unlocked my bootloader several times but i dont remember backung up my TA partition...... is there any way to restore it to factory status again ?
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Click to collapse
No Backup of the TA partition?
Well thats not smart. Why is no one reading the tutorials?
First lines of the tutorial from Doomlord:
this is the official way to unlock bootloader
if you want to keep ur DRM keys, first root device and then check this out
Warning!
This procedure will wipe the /data partition of your phone, so you will loose all ur stored data, settings. INTERNAL SDCARD will BE WIPED!!!
For Xperia™ devices released 2013 or later (for example Xperia™ Z and Xperia™ ZL), the SD card of your device will be formatted and you will lose all content (for example photos, music, videos) when you unlock the boot loader.
DRM keys WILL be lost forever
Originally Posted by schaggo View Post
I'd add what losing DRM keys means, e.g. no more Music ID/Gracenote within the Walkman app plus probably most importantly, as asked all the time and all over the place in the T/mint forums: loss of Bravia Engine.
older Xperia devices sometimes got issues after unlock of bootloader (BRICK after FOTA update) - you have been warned
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mrjraider said:
No Backup of the TA partition?
Well thats not smart. Why is no one reading the tutorials?
First lines of the tutorial from Doomlord:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that was stupid of me .About a week after unlocking my BL i saw this post and felt stupid so there is no way to get my original TA partition?
jackaros said:
I know that was stupid of me .About a week after unlocking my BL i saw this post and felt stupid so there is no way to get my original TA partition?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely ... NO. Your device will be hard-bricked if you try to restore TA backup took from another one.
silveraero said:
Absolutely ... NO. Your device will be hard-bricked if you try to restore TA backup took from another one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be a moronic thing to do ... if its not your of for your device you shall not flash it
jackaros said:
That would be a moronic thing to do ... if its not your of for your device you shall not flash it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya, so you know that if you lost the TA partition, you can't get that back.
silveraero said:
Ya, so you know that if you lost the TA partition, you can't get that back.
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Click to collapse
Well ok if its gone its gone ill watch from now on thank you

[Q] unlock bootloader by sony improved ?

as i was surfing on net i found this http://developer.sonymobile.com/2014/07/14/sonys-unlock-boot-loader-service-now-improved/ so my question is can we unlock boot loader directly without taking TA backup now ? i m non rooted device so any one please can confirm me ?
and small doubt again i was rooted device before 2 month that time i take TA backup on 4.3 kitkat after that i updated to 4.4 kitkat pure stock not even rooted now so can i use old TA backup now if i want to restore my drm keys or my 1st question is enough to solve my problem ?
pradatta said:
as i was surfing on net i found this http://developer.sonymobile.com/2014/07/14/sonys-unlock-boot-loader-service-now-improved/ so my question is can we unlock boot loader directly without taking TA backup now ? i m non rooted device so any one please can confirm me ?
and small doubt again i was rooted device before 2 month that time i take TA backup on 4.3 kitkat after that i updated to 4.4 kitkat pure stock not even rooted now so can i use old TA backup now if i want to restore my drm keys or my 1st question is enough to solve my problem ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DRM keys are unique for your your device no matter on which firmware you backup it.
You just need to backup it one time and that's it...
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
funky0308 said:
DRM keys are unique for your your device no matter on which firmware you backup it.
You just need to backup it one time and that's it...
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh my friend u again helped me thanks but what about my 1st question mate ? is it now not need to take TA backup for our z1 with improved sony procedure ?
pradatta said:
oh my friend u again helped me thanks but what about my 1st question mate ? is it now not need to take TA backup for our z1 with improved sony procedure ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend that you take a TA partition backup if you want to unlock the bootloader, that way it is very easy to relock and restore the DRM keys.
You have always been able to unlock without taking the TA backup, but if you have done it once, then its fine, you never need to do it again

[Q] restore ROM Backup with TA Partition

Hello,
i have an Firmware Backup from the Stock 157 ROM with TA Patition (ta.emmc.win, ta.emmc.win.md5) on my SD Card. I made this before i unlock my device.
When i would restore this Backup, is the Bootloader closed after this, or would my device Hardbricked?
Greets Lars
No one an idea?
-Happy Feet- said:
Hello,
i have an Firmware Backup from the Stock 157 ROM with TA Patition (ta.emmc.win, ta.emmc.win.md5) on my SD Card. I made this before i unlock my device.
When i would restore this Backup, is the Bootloader closed after this, or would my device Hardbricked?
Greets Lars
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My advice, try to lock the bootloader first (Be sure to be on stock .157 before relocking and backup your SD CARD) then after that, restore your backup stock .157. Everything should work fine since you'd just relock your bootloader, maybe it will erase some data, but in my case after i unlock or relock my BL, no data was loss during the procedure.
For the TA Partition, have you made any backup using this method or any backup TA tool? I can't assure you if the DRM keys will still be intact in the backup ROM.
yoorie016 said:
My advice, try to lock the bootloader first (Be sure to be on stock .157 before relocking and backup your SD CARD) then after that, restore your backup stock .157. Everything should work fine since you'd just relock your bootloader, maybe it will erase some data, but in my case after i unlock or relock my BL, no data was loss during the procedure.
For the TA Partition, have you made any backup using this method or any backup TA tool? I can't assure you if the DRM keys will still be intact in the backup ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, an Backup is already present at my PC. That was the first thing that I have do with this phone. I ask only if it possible with this way. I mean I have read last year an post from Doomloard. But I can't find this post.
Good! Relock using flashtool, restore backup then check if there are any issues, then finally, restore the DRM keys, just to be sure..
I think it is better I flash an complete ftf file an relock then... I don't need this backup anyone... Thanks for help.
-Happy Feet- said:
I think it is better I flash an complete ftf file an relock then... I don't need this backup anyone... Thanks for help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, just check first if the DRM keys are still intact after flashing the ftf, then closed this thread after if the problem is solved. thank you!
if u want to unlock bl: use flashtool
if u want to relock bl: use TA tool [if and only if u did a back up using TA and b4 unlocking bl]
BE ON STOCK FTF

DRM keys backup confusion

Hello, after my patience ran out with google play services batter drain issues i have decided to try out moding and i think i messed up DRM recovery part.
I used https://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/how-to-root-backup-drm-keys-t3013343 this as a guide.
Things i have done so far in order:
1. flashed 4.4
2. rooted
3. made DRM keys backup
4. unlocked bootloader
5. installed twrp recovery
6. installed this https://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/development/rom-aoxp-rom-v1-t3478863 rom
7. recovered DRM TA zip thing.
Now my problem is, my bootloader is locked, so i guess recovery procedure went ok, but camera perfomance is as awful as without drm keys. Where did i go wrong? What can i do to fix my camera perfomance?
p.s. i am really sorry for my english as it is not my native langue thanks in advice for help.
You don't lock the bootloader when you restore the TA backup it actually locks the bootloader,so try unlocking it again and then restoring the TA backup
Dinkec27 said:
You don't lock the bootloader when you restore the TA backup it actually locks the bootloader,so try unlocking it again and then restoring the TA backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you dont lock it actually locks
that is what i understood, could you be more clear please?
Teraman said:
you dont lock it actually locks
that is what i understood, could you be more clear please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry.
What I meant to say is,when you restore a TA backup from an unlocked bootloader state,it locks the bootloader when you restore it.
So what I am saying is you should unlock the bootloader again,and restore the TA backup as it will lock the bootloader again and should restore camera quality.
Clear now?
Dinkec27 said:
Sorry.
What I meant to say is,when you restore a TA backup from an unlocked bootloader state,it locks the bootloader when you restore it.
So what I am saying is you should unlock the bootloader again,and restore the TA backup as it will lock the bootloader again and should restore camera quality.
Clear now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, but one thing. Why do i need to restore twice to get back camera quality?
Thank you a lot!
Teraman said:
yes, but one thing. Why do i need to restore twice to get back camera quality?
Thank you a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dunno tbh I never restored a TA backup since I was an idiot and forgot to back up TA when I was going to unlock my bootloader.
Try it and tell me how it went! Good luck!
No need to restore it twice! Just be sure that you are on stock kernel before you restrore TA.img
Savest way is to flash Kernel+Bootdelivery out of normal FW tft using flashmode (not fastboot !)
Then restore TA.img with Backup tool.
Reboot and done... And Camera is back....
As an alternativre you can flash DRM fix as well... There is also an other projekt running to mount your TA.img from another location.
But this is not yet tested that much... Stay with locked BL and TA - Or with UB and DRM fix.
DRM fix
https://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/xperia-z1-z2-z3-series-devices-drm-t2930672
Sometimes its needed to delete following folders (with all including files) to reset DRM stuff (root needed)
/data/credmgr
/data/drm
/data/mediadrm
Don't be afraid of loosing something - Those folders and files will be created automaticly new on boot....
btw: Why you unlocked your bootloader? For Root we have 2 ways to do it without Unlocking bootloader...
Anyway -if you have an TA backup you are save actually...
fluffi444 said:
No need to restore it twice! Just be sure that you are on stock kernel before you restrore TA.img
Savest way is to flash Kernel+Bootdelivery out of normal FW tft using flashmode (not fastboot !)
Then restore TA.img with Backup tool.
Reboot and done... And Camera is back....
As an alternativre you can flash DRM fix as well... There is also an other projekt running to mount your TA.img from another location.
But this is not yet tested that much... Stay with locked BL and TA - Or with UB and DRM fix.
DRM fix
https://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/xperia-z1-z2-z3-series-devices-drm-t2930672
Sometimes its needed to delete following folders (with all including files) to reset DRM stuff (root needed)
/data/credmgr
/data/drm
/data/mediadrm
Don't be afraid of loosing something - Those folders and files will be created automaticly new on boot....
btw: Why you unlocked your bootloader? For Root we have 2 ways to do it without Unlocking bootloader...
Anyway -if you have an TA backup you are save actually...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to install twrp, because in guide i read it needs unlocked bootloader and i needed twrp for best battery rom i found.
Teraman said:
to install twrp, because in guide i read it needs unlocked bootloader and i needed twrp for best battery rom i found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are also two ways of using TWRP:
One is to flash twrp.img onto former FOTA partition. For this you would need UB... This works only with new bootloaders (LA3.0_M_3 from FW .291 is prefered - This bootloader will be installed if you flash full FW 291 or only bootdelivery and kernel in flashtool)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/d5803-z3c-aries-twrp3-0-t3543113
But the other method is putting TWRP files to /system/etc/mm_twrp_recovery on SYSTEM partition...
This works also with LB!
https://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/recovery-root-mm-575-lb-t3418714
EDIT
Third one is to have recovery build into kernel...
Just to be complete.. ?

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