I have an old Sony Xperia M C1905 that I want to root/load a custom, cut-down ROM to free up space for the Apps that seem to be growing with every update. I am a NOOB (as you say) to installing custom F/W on my phone, BUT I am tech-savvy. What I need is access to a set of instructions/tools that I can use with my phone and PC combination. I realise that this is an old phone and you are trying to help, but for me it is frustrating when all the links to tools from the threads seem to be dead or don't work. Please can someone have a read and let me know a way to do this that has a set of working tools. Thanks
My PC is a MS Windows 10 laptop – If necessary, I could resurrect an old laptop and install Linux on it, if that is a simpler approach.
I have had a look at what is available and will probably load the ROM from:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-m/orig-development/rom-slim6-marshmallow-t3418258
What I think I need to do (and have tried to start) is:
1. Root the phone.
2. Backup the current ROM.
3. Unlock the boot-loader.
4. Load the Slim6 ROM.
To do 1. I have tried two methods, the first recommended from the backup thread and a second found by searching.
i. Easy Rooting toolkit: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598 but the download link for DooMLoRD_Easy-Rooting-Toolkit_v17_perf-event-exploit.zip. The Download site for this tool tells me (eventually) that the file has expired or has been deleted by the owner - so i can't get this tool. Any Ideas How to get this?
ii. Also tried: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2529561 but for me, the cydia impactor tool does not see my phone or have any options. Yes, I have enabled - and allowed USB debug mode, before you ask. And yes the PC can see the phone so the connection is good.
To do 2. I am proposing to use the instructions from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598 Please confirm this is still valid.
iii. [Update] Also tried rooting by using this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2457174 but this requires Framaroot 1.5.3, When I try and download this, the download site says: "The file link that you requested is not valid. Please contact link publisher or try to make a search."
Update 2. Managed to get a download of Framaroot, installed, but does not work for Xperia M with Android 4.3. Any idea of a way forward?
To do 3. I am proposing to use: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2484622 Please confirm this thread is still valid - and the best approach.
To do 4. https://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-m/orig-development/rom-slim6-marshmallow-t3418258 - Please let me know if there is a more appropriate ROM to install to free up some space.
You can follow this link :
And for root, I think slim6 is pre rooted. Means in Developer options, select root for adb and apps.
What about backing up the current ROME?
Thanks for your reply, but to my understanding this just does 2. & 3. from my list. Most of the ROM installation guides say to take a backup of the current ROM so that you can restore the original system.
To do this I need to get root access with the current build. Is this now impossible?
Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and just not bother with the backup.
You should definitely take a backup.
This is because of the TA partition. As soon as you unlock the bootloader of your phone it will format the TA partition, so without the backup you won't be able to restore it which might be needed. Using a TA backup from another phone will NOT work.
So you are right about the steps, you need to root the phone, backup, unlock the boot loader and flash the new ROM. I didn't check all of the links you posted now, but if Framearoot is not working for you you might want to try out iovyroot. Also check that you downloaded the right tool to root for your Android version.
If it's still relevant and you need any additional help I'll post some instructions for you another day.
Thanks for the confirmation of the process.
Iovyroot is not a root method I have tried. I will Investigate tomorrow.
I will post back here when I have tried it.
I have tried a couple of versions of Framaroot, one recommended version for the phone, and the latest version I could find. Neither worked.
Maninfrontofpc said:
Thanks for your reply, but to my understanding this just does 2. & 3. from my list. Most of the ROM installation guides say to take a backup of the current ROM so that you can restore the original system.
To do this I need to get root access with the current build. Is this now impossible?
Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and just not bother with the backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to get root access to have a backup. Just unlock your bootloader and install cwm or twrp through fastboot and take backup with help of it. Now if you are on stock rom and you need root anyway, you can use towelroot. And then install supersu from playstore. OR flash superSU through cwm. In that case no need to install towelroot.
Is nidhoegg mistaken?
Please can you confirm that the TA partition will Be NOT be formatted when I unlock the boot loader?
Maninfrontofpc said:
Please can you confirm that the TA partition will Be NOT be formatted when I unlock the boot loader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you so much worried about TA partition?
My understanding is that this contains various sets of system data including: S/W signatures for the Sony Apps (if I want to restore the Sony ROM to the phone); calibration data of the various devices on the phone - accelerometer etc. So surely, even if just for the calibration data, I would not want to lose this data even if I loaded a custom ROM - I have no way of re-calibrating the devices, so would need the factory acceptance calibration values.
Am I mistaken?
TA backup for our device isn't necessary. Actually I don't know anyone from xda taking TA backup. TA backup is for newer sony devices and z series devices. In those devices, somethings like sony camera wouldn't work if you lose drm keys. It's not the case with our mobile.
Are you saying that all the threads from when this was the current phone are wrong, and I don't need to backup this partition?
TA = Trim Area; as well as holding the DRM Keys/S/W signatures, my understanding is that at contains Trim data to adjust the various sensors on the phone to read accurately. I have been led to believe that these are written during the automated Factory Acceptance Testing to adjust for small differences in the components on the phone, and are unique to the device. Surely if I lose this data the sensors will not read accurately.
Is this wrong?
Related
My current Xperia Play (r800x, rooted, Gingerbread 2.3.4, Verizon) of 3 years is starting to fail/shutdown when I open the slider - I have to restart the phone to get it running again - it works fine as long as I don't open the slider which fails randomly). I bought another Xperia Play online (r800x, rooted, Gingerbread, 2.3.3) to replace the existing one.
There has to be a way for me to copy the entire rom contents from the existing phone to the new one since the phones are exactly the same - correct? If so, how would I do this? (I currently have ROM Toolkit and Titanium Backup paid versions with installed key on both phones). The replacement phone works fine. It may be obvious to you how to do this but your help would be VERY much appreciated since I've never done this before. ROM Toolkit doesn't make it obvious if there's a way to do that. I've also searched the forums a bit and no luck so far unless I missed something. Thanks for your time!
haskamr2 said:
My current Xperia Play (r800x, rooted, Gingerbread 2.3.4, Verizon) of 3 years is starting to fail/shutdown when I open the slider - I have to restart the phone to get it running again - it works fine as long as I don't open the slider which fails randomly). I bought another Xperia Play online (r800x, rooted, Gingerbread, 2.3.3) to replace the existing one.
There has to be a way for me to copy the entire rom contents from the existing phone to the new one since the phones are exactly the same - correct? If so, how would I do this? (I currently have ROM Toolkit and Titanium Backup paid versions with installed key on both phones). The replacement phone works fine. It may be obvious to you how to do this but your help would be VERY much appreciated since I've never done this before. ROM Toolkit doesn't make it obvious if there's a way to do that. I've also searched the forums a bit and no luck so far unless I missed something. Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As your doing a straight copy from R800x to R800x, best thing is to make a nandroid backup from Clockwork Mod then take out the memory card dferom your old PLAY and put it in the new phone. Boot into recovery and restore the nandroid. BAM.... done
I wish it were that simple...still no luck
ozzmanj1 said:
As your doing a straight copy from R800x to R800x, best thing is to make a nandroid backup from Clockwork Mod then take out the memory card dferom your old PLAY and put it in the new phone. Boot into recovery and restore the nandroid. BAM.... done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know for sure the phone is rooted, which I did myself. It has Superuser access, I was able to remove Verizon bloatware, etc... I downloaded/paid for ROM Manager Premium v5.5.3.2 and I already had the paid version of ROM ToolBox Pro. I have tried to create a backup of my existing rom on both apps and no luck. It restarts the phone but it comes back up just like a regular reboot. ROM Manager didn't create the folder it designated for the backup.
There is no mention to do so but am I supposed to unlock the bootloader before trrying to backup my rom? When I goto Sony's page about unlocking the bootloader(http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/instructions) it walks me through the first steps to check if the bootloader is locked or not - it tells me this:
"First, you should confirm that it is possible to unlock the boot loader of your device by checking the service menu. In your device, open the dialler and enter *#*#7378423#*#* to access the service menu. If you have a tablet, click here to learn how access the service menu.
In your device, tap Service info > Configuration > Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked." - well, I enter the code, goto Service Info, Configuration, and that's it - I can't get to "Rooting Status". The page shows the MEID #, MEID Software version, Available Speech Codecs, and Working Bands.That's it - and I get the same result on the other phone I have.
So if I don't need to worry about unlocking the bootloader(because it wasn't mentioned in several how to guides online like this one: http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/0...nandroid-backup-and-clockworkmod-rom-manager/ , then how come I'm not able to backup my existing rom using either apps before I attempt to copy over the rom from my other phone? *sigh*
Thanks for your time once again.
Yes you need to have an unlocked bootloader. For the r800x I would recommend doomkernel. If you need more help there is a thread for it on the developement thread, I believe that tells you exactly how to do it.
Sent from my R800at using xda premium
Here is the DoomKernel:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1368636
If the download links in the thread are dead let me know and I will provide a link to my collection.
Thanks Ozzmanj1...but....
ozzmanj1 said:
Here is the DoomKernel:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1368636
If the download links in the thread are dead let me know and I will provide a link to my collection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decided I don't want to go that far(messing with Kernel and Bootloader) since the phone is working great - I got all my games/apps installed with the 64gb MicroSDHC class 10 card, cleaned up all the dead files using SD Maid, deleted and restored the Dalvik Cache, cleaned out ../system/app/ folder of unneeded apks, and I'm running at optimum now(no low disk space icon showing which is a nag for this phone). This phone is "pimped out" to the max and I've decided to just use Mybackup Pro to save everything out and I'm going to make a full copy of the sd card in the next couple days so I don't lose anything again. I'm concerned that if I tinker with bootloader/kernel that something will go wrong. I have no problem rooting or doing extensive fiddling for optimal performance however. :cyclops:
Internal has 43MB free, 342MB used.
SD card has 24GB free, 35GB used.
Thanks again for your efforts & time to help out!!!
Have you tried using x-Parts? I got recovery through this way, and it doesn't require an Unlocked Bootloader, you just have to be rooted.
However, I'm unsure as to whether it would still work on yours, as yours is an R800x and mine is a R800i.
Link to the App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pvy.CWMinstaler&hl=en_GB
Thanks AzNTypeR!...
AzNTypeR said:
Have you tried using x-Parts? I got recovery through this way, and it doesn't require an Unlocked Bootloader, you just have to be rooted.
However, I'm unsure as to whether it would still work on yours, as yours is an R800x and mine is a R800i.
Link to the App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pvy.CWMinstaler&hl=en_GB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will check it out - from the user comments in Google Play it appears that it does work on r800x's - to access installed recovery it was noted that the update says to push any button on reboot but users found that the volume down button was the only button that works(maybe this was fixed in an update?). It sure looks like the r800x is more of a pain to toy with than the r800i and other gsm phones. I love Verizon networks but I don't care for their extra headaches using cdma.
X-tools uses a portion of your system folder to store the recovery. So if you install x-parts/tools and flash a new rom you will lose the recovery an will have to re-install the software.
Hello everyone,
I am new to android family, as recently i bought an Xperia M, now i would like to ask a few questions and please bear with me since my English are not good enough.
My first objective was to immediately wipe that xperia OS and change it to stock like experience. [the closest i could find is CM11],
so after some searching i found out that in order to do that, i had to unlock the bootloader. But since the phone is new i also would like to not loose warranty, so i read i had to backup TA partitions Before even unlocking the bootloader, but in order to do this i have to root using an exploit. So please enlighten me:
1] wich rooting program should i use since i read many complains on many rooting programs
2]witch program should i use to backup the firmware before taking action [i do not care about photos and contacts]
3]if something goes wrong where do i download the official firmware of my divice to restore it back to normal? [similar to itunes that no matter what happens it restores your device back to normal]
(*) another question: after i root my phone and backup TA partitions, next step should be to unlock my bootloader [that means i only need to install a superuser.apk to gain root access again, right?] or just flash the cm11 and gapps and not worry about rooting?
Thanks in advance guys!
Querd said:
Hello everyone,
I am new to android family, as recently i bought an Xperia M, now i would like to ask a few questions and please bear with me since my English are not good enough.
My first objective was to immediately wipe that xperia OS and change it to stock like experience. [the closest i could find is CM11],
so after some searching i found out that in order to do that, i had to unlock the bootloader. But since the phone is new i also would like to not loose warranty, so i read i had to backup TA partitions Before even unlocking the bootloader, but in order to do this i have to root using an exploit. So please enlighten me:
1] wich rooting program should i use since i read many complains on many rooting programs
2]witch program should i use to backup the firmware before taking action [i do not care about photos and contacts]
3]if something goes wrong where do i download the official firmware of my divice to restore it back to normal? [similar to itunes that no matter what happens it restores your device back to normal]
(*) another question: after i root my phone and backup TA partitions, next step should be to unlock my bootloader [that means i only need to install a superuser.apk to gain root access again, right?] or just flash the cm11 and gapps and not worry about rooting?
Thanks in advance guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, first of all you need to unlock your bootloader first, check in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46489205&postcount=1, after unlock bootloader and second if you want try to root and install custom recovery you can find in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=51414331&postcount=1, this will install cwm recovery on your phone so you can access recovery mode on your phone that you can do backup for your current rom, and for stock rom you can find in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53315273&postcount=1. ok have fun with android ok
Nicklas Van Dam said:
ok, first of all you need to unlock your bootloader first, check in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46489205&postcount=1, after unlock bootloader and second if you want try to root and install custom recovery you can find in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=51414331&postcount=1, this will install cwm recovery on your phone so you can access recovery mode on your phone that you can do backup for your current rom, and for stock rom you can find in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53315273&postcount=1. ok have fun with android ok
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot my friend, but the main question has not been answered yet. before unlocking the bootloader i need to backup TA partition so i won't lose warranty, But in order to backup them i need root first! so i still dont know witch program of rooting should i trust because i have no experience. in other words i need to root using an exploit before actually unlock bootloader and root again
Querd said:
thanks a lot my friend, but the main question has not been answered yet. before unlocking the bootloader i need to backup TA partition so i won't lose warranty, But in order to backup them i need root first! so i still dont know witch program of rooting should i trust because i have no experience. in other words i need to root using an exploit before actually unlock bootloader and root again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53565495, here you are Bro, try to find root in locked bootloader condition bro
hello again, i still got a problem, i try to install fastboot drivers for my xperia m device, and even though the installation finish with success, my computer does not recognize the device properly, [on device manager its yellow] btw i use windows xp
After countless hours of searching over all related posts I am still confused and pretty much intimidated on the flashing aspect. From all my searching expeditions till now I managed to outline some of the points but I don't know how to move forward with them. Also I am concerned with the possibilities of getting the device unresponsive just because of my stupidity, want to gain full knowledge before going forward with the process.
So as per my findings, for installing a CFW like CM12, I require the following things,
1. Unlocked Bootloader.
The Bootloader on my XM SS can be unlocked, I did a check on that but the thing that's bugging me is the occurrence of bootloop.
Question for this point: What is the proper method to unlock the bootloader?
2. Rooted phone.
This is the step that has confused me from the beginning. Some posts mention that rooting is essential requirement to get a fully functional CFW and in some posts there is a not a single mention for the requirement of a rooted phone.
Question for this point: Is rooting essential? What is the best step by step method that you use to root your device?
3. Back up data.
I read somewhere that unlocking the bootloader erases some of the important information like the IMEI number, DRM keys and other important stuff? Also the importance of backing up data like contacts and other stuff externally.
Question for this point: How to do a proper backup? How to go on backing up contacts, whatsapp databases etc?
4. Installing a custom recovery?
Honestly I am totally confused with this topic. What does custom recovery actually do? Best custom recover for CM12?
Question for this point: How to select and install a custom recovery?
5. Adb, Fastboot drivers.
Is it essential to actually download the full adb package that google provides to develop android apps? And are fastboot drivers available for windows 8.1? Will the phone management software provided by Sony work as a driver?
Question for this point: ADB, Fastboot driver installation?
6. Flashing the CM12.
The most important step in the whole process? How to go on with this step so as to successfully flash the firmware? Restoring the backed up data?
Question for this point: Steps to properly flash the CM12?
7. Link2SD, App2SD?
Which one will you suggest and how to go on installing it?
I know that most of you will find it bothersome to answer so many questions in a single go but I intend this topic to be a guiding thread for noobs like me who are beginners that want to flash some CFW on their devices.
So all the posts that you make are really appreciated! Please link in the posts that you think will answer the questions in layman terms for everyone to understand.
Thanks for taking your time to read this thread
Have a good day! :fingers-crossed:
Can anyone please help? :crying:
1. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2484622 Follow everything he said, while using some common sense. Just to avoid you in doing so much research on some common problems I faced, :
i) If any errors occur, just close flashtool and re-open it, even if the errors continue to happen, just close and open flashtool again.
ii) You will experience bootloop and the end of the procedure, so just flash the tft http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2779412
2. Just stay rooted, better safe than sorry Here's the guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-m/general/towel-root-steps-to-root-t2789990 Understand the procedure first then continue.
3. You can export your contacts into your sim card tho, just open up the telephony app and go to contacts and open up the option or menu thingy in it (I think the icon was a 3 dot to access the options menu) and you'll see the Export/Import tab on it. You know what to do after this After root, I suggest getting the app Titanium Backup, really helpful. If possible, after the backup, move the folder to the sdcard, so it will never be lost (or to your pc, much safer).
4. Custom recovery.. well, I'm no expert but just think it this way, you're life saver when you do something wrong to your phone (and that it can still turn on, but couldn't get pass the boot animation) and provided that you had made a Nandroid backup before(a system backup). It can restore your phone back to the last time you've backuped it. This one for Stock 4.3 http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-m/development/recovery-philz-touch-6-41-6-xm-dual-t2795778 and this one for afteryou've installed CM12 http://forum.xda-developers.com/xpe...very-cwm-twrp-recoveries-custom-roms-t3016507
5. I'm not sure on this one, sorry:crying: ADB drivers and the fastboot drivers installed automatically for me:silly:
6. I think this video would be a bit helpful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkNu0tiNro8
7. I don't know on this, I never used them. Soz :C
All the best:fingers-crossed: though my advice would be to stay Rooted for awhile before unlocking the bootloader, so you'd at least familiarize yourself with the terms that'll you'll most probably face.
The fastboot driver from google didnt work for me, use the ones from the sony bootloader unlock site. For win8.1 you need to disable signature verification to install them.
Thank you so much @AndyPhoenix9879
You are a lifesaver! I was finally able to flash CM2.1 on my Xperia M
Hi all! I've been reading along with many an XDA thread for years now, and most people have asked my questions and found answers to them without me becoming active in any way. This will now change - I hope you can help me.
I own an unbranded Sony Xperia Z1 compact (amami). Upon receiving it, I backed up the TA partition, unlocked the bootloader and followed the steps to install Cyanogenmod (currently running the latest available nightly, CM12.1). All has worked well for a nice, long time now. I know, never touch a running system, but for a variety of reasons, I want to do the following:
Update the bootloader to make use of the proper recovery partition Sony has made available.
Install either TWRP or CWM (rather the former than the latter) to a proper recovery partition.
Be able to fool around for real once I have a proper NANDroid backup that I can actually use.
I've been able to make a NANDroid backup, that's easy. However, as far as I know, I can't use that backup with my current CM recovery. I can replace CM recovery with TWRP or CWM (with some tinkering, which is fine), but the fact that there's a way to get a proper recovery partition and that I'm currently not able to use it irks me. Perhaps some of you will understand
Now, when I install the official Sony Flash Tool (Emma), I'm offered two "services":
D5503 14.5.A.0.270 Customized_NCB 1279-4149 R2D User COM
D5503 14.6.A.1.236 Customized_NCB 1279-4149 R3D User COM
Neither of which are the "Open Devices" bootloaders listed by the FXP folks on their blog entry (sorry about the improper links, but I have no choice): ttp://fxpblog.co/2015/05/01/finally-boot-to-recovery-enabled-in-special-bootloaders-from-sony.html, and according to Sony itself, the Z1 compact should be supported: ttp://developer.sonymobile.com/2015/05/18/recovery-mode-now-available-for-a-range-of-unlocked-xperia-devices-video/
So my question to you all is this: Do I need to flash a complete stock ROM (losing my data, etc.) in order to make the new bootloader possible on amami? And if so, should I restore the TA partition I backed up in the very beginning before doing any of that? Or is what I'm trying to do pointless? If it's not pointless, is there a way to update the bootloader without wiping the phone?
Thanks for your input, guys!
tinuthir said:
Hi all! I've been reading along with many an XDA thread for years now, and most people have asked my questions and found answers to them without me becoming active in any way. This will now change - I hope you can help me.
I own an unbranded Sony Xperia Z1 compact (amami). Upon receiving it, I backed up the TA partition, unlocked the bootloader and followed the steps to install Cyanogenmod (currently running the latest available nightly, CM12.1). All has worked well for a nice, long time now. I know, never touch a running system, but for a variety of reasons, I want to do the following:
Update the bootloader to make use of the proper recovery partition Sony has made available.
Install either TWRP or CWM (rather the former than the latter) to a proper recovery partition.
Be able to fool around for real once I have a proper NANDroid backup that I can actually use.
I've been able to make a NANDroid backup, that's easy. However, as far as I know, I can't use that backup with my current CM recovery. I can replace CM recovery with TWRP or CWM (with some tinkering, which is fine), but the fact that there's a way to get a proper recovery partition and that I'm currently not able to use it irks me. Perhaps some of you will understand
Now, when I install the official Sony Flash Tool (Emma), I'm offered two "services":
D5503 14.5.A.0.270 Customized_NCB 1279-4149 R2D User COM
D5503 14.6.A.1.236 Customized_NCB 1279-4149 R3D User COM
Neither of which are the "Open Devices" bootloaders listed by the FXP folks on their blog entry (sorry about the improper links, but I have no choice): ttp://fxpblog.co/2015/05/01/finally-boot-to-recovery-enabled-in-special-bootloaders-from-sony.html, and according to Sony itself, the Z1 compact should be supported: ttp://developer.sonymobile.com/2015/05/18/recovery-mode-now-available-for-a-range-of-unlocked-xperia-devices-video/
So my question to you all is this: Do I need to flash a complete stock ROM (losing my data, etc.) in order to make the new bootloader possible on amami? And if so, should I restore the TA partition I backed up in the very beginning before doing any of that? Or is what I'm trying to do pointless? If it's not pointless, is there a way to update the bootloader without wiping the phone?
Thanks for your input, guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the other drop-down boxes on Emma. There should be one for 'ta update'. That's the one you want. It's been several months, so I might not be remembering right, but I'm pretty sure. Once you do that, use fastboot or Rashr to flash a compatible recovery img, and you can access the new recovery.
levone1 said:
Check the other drop-down boxes on Emma. There should be one for 'ta update'. That's the one you want. It's been several months, so I might not be remembering right, but I'm pretty sure. Once you do that, use fastboot or Rashr to flash a compatible recovery img, and you can access the new recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, no drop-down boxes. The only one is labeled "Filter", but that's empty. I can enter something, but entering "ta update" gets me nothing new. If I leave it empty, I get shown two "services", but they both seem to be complete stock re-flashings, so no dice.
tinuthir said:
Nope, no drop-down boxes. The only one is labeled "Filter", but that's empty. I can enter something, but entering "ta update" gets me nothing new. If I leave it empty, I get shown two "services", but they both seem to be complete stock re-flashings, so no dice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Is that with the phone connected? If so, are you sure that it's not already updated, (have you had it since new)? I did it while on 270, (or maybe sooner), and there were a couple of options to update rom, but I didn't update, and there was also a 'ta update' option.
levone1 said:
Interesting. Is that with the phone connected? If so, are you sure that it's not already updated, (have you had it since new)? I did it while on 270, (or maybe sooner), and there were a couple of options to update rom, but I didn't update, and there was also a 'ta update' option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, right after I connect the phone. It's recognized immediately as well, so I'm not sure there's anything I could have mucked up in that regard
I've had the phone since August 2014, so well before the bootloader upgrade was made public. I have no idea whether this might have been part of some CM update or something? I doubt it, but I don't know enough about these things to assess that to any reasonable degree.
At any rate, I know that I've done nothing with the phone's bootloader besides unlocking it after getting the phone. So if it was updated somehow in the meantime, it must have been someone very sneaky (and none of my friends, that's for sure - my limited experience makes me the "smartphone nerd" among them).
I will add this: In order to backup the TA partition back in the day, I did have to flash numerous official stock firmware downgrades to get to the point where I could use a root exploit to even get at the TA partition. Perhaps that got something mixed up, I dunno. But that's kinda what I'm trying to figure out - whether there's any point in going back to stock (completely, mind - including the TA partition), and if this might work then. I could then just unlock the bootloader again and go back to CM with a proper recovery partition, not the current workaround.
What's the "270" that you mean? One of the official Sony firmwares I posted earlier?
tinuthir said:
Yup, right after I connect the phone. It's recognized immediately as well, so I'm not sure there's anything I could have mucked up in that regard
I've had the phone since August 2014, so well before the bootloader upgrade was made public. I have no idea whether this might have been part of some CM update or something? I doubt it, but I don't know enough about these things to assess that to any reasonable degree.
At any rate, I know that I've done nothing with the phone's bootloader besides unlocking it after getting the phone. So if it was updated somehow in the meantime, it must have been someone very sneaky (and none of my friends, that's for sure - my limited experience makes me the "smartphone nerd" among them).
I will add this: In order to backup the TA partition back in the day, I did have to flash numerous official stock firmware downgrades to get to the point where I could use a root exploit to even get at the TA partition. Perhaps that got something mixed up, I dunno. But that's kinda what I'm trying to figure out - whether there's any point in going back to stock (completely, mind - including the TA partition), and if this might work then. I could then just unlock the bootloader again and go back to CM with a proper recovery partition, not the current workaround.
What's the "270" that you mean? One of the official Sony firmwares I posted earlier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I can't remember if it was the last 5.0 or the first 5.1. Anyway, I'm not sure why it's not showing. I would try maybe connecting in fastboot mode, and see if anything changes, or flash a newer fw, and see... It does say on Sony development site to flash fw first - http://developer.sonymobile.com/201...for-a-range-of-unlocked-xperia-devices-video/ Hope that helps.
no "TA update"
levone1 said:
Yes. I can't remember if it was the last 5.0 or the first 5.1. Anyway, I'm not sure why it's not showing. I would try maybe connecting in fastboot mode, and see if anything changes, or flash a newer fw, and see... It does say on Sony development site to flash fw first - http://developer.sonymobile.com/201...for-a-range-of-unlocked-xperia-devices-video/ Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
After flashing my z3 "TA update (open device) doesn't appear. According to this post new bootloader is included on all stock firmware > .200 but doesn't contain recovery image.
So after flashing the stock 24.x.x.x.200 and flashing recovery via 'fastboot flash recovery recovery.img' my phone boot the recovery without problem.
Hope this information can help.
P.S.: FOTAKernel recovery should be compatible (under some conditions) with this boot process according to my tests on z3 and some forum reads.
Hi tinuthir,
I have the same problem and also see only the two services you mentioned in your initial post. Have you found any solution yet how to install the "Open Devices" bootloader?
Regards
Tobias
Hi Tobias, I have not yet tried it. Basically, I'm too scared to use the NAND backup (which I make daily anyway)
I'm fairly sure that, with the NAND backup, not too much can go horribly wrong. But I'd need to make sure I either have a backup phone in case I do run into problems (this is currently not the case). Then, what I would do is this:
NAND backup
Restore TA partition/stock software that was originally on the phone
See whether the "open device" is now available via official Sony tool
Flash latest firmware via official Sony tool (regardless whether it says "open device" or not)
See whether the "open device" is now available via official Sony tool
Flash recovery
Flash NAND backup
As I said, the only reason I haven't done this yet is because I can't find the time to make sure I can run troubleshooting in case there are any issues... And because I'm a little wary of touching a running system
Just started the process, finally was courageous enough. The old saying is true: Never touch a running system
Restoring the TA partition soft-bricked my phone. Am now trying to reset the phone by using the official Sony PC Companion software. We'll see what's up then.
Sony PC Companion didn't work. Instead, what apparently happened is that the bootloader, recovery, and OS didn't like being confronted with the restored backup partition - at all. Can't use the Flashtool to re-unlock, can't use Emma to flash new software, because the phone's locked...
Using the command line got the phone unlocked again, standard procedure as detailed here: *ttps://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Android-development/Unable-to-unlock-bootloader/td-p/461477
Now I can re-flash and do whatever I like. Glad I had my NAND!
tinuthir said:
So my question to you all is this: Do I need to flash a complete stock ROM (losing my data, etc.) in order to make the new bootloader possible on amami? And if so, should I restore the TA partition I backed up in the very beginning before doing any of that? Or is what I'm trying to do pointless? If it's not pointless, is there a way to update the bootloader without wiping the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I'm too late.
After reading some posts about new bootloader and some ta partition analysis bootloaders versions and TA partitions should never mix: they are incompatible.
Did you backup your ta partition after upgrading bootloader?
I am currently trying to help someone with a bad bootloader (supposed s1) on the phone, and maybe there is a way to reflash full emmc in a 'serial' way. I try to find quickly this time
Otherwise, maybe if you are able to access flashmode you can reflash your ta-with-upgraded-bootloader with it?
If you don't have ta backup after the upgrade, and your phone is still bricked, fell free to contact me, maybe we can found another solution based on this thread.
Good luck!
P.S. I try to write a guide about bootloader upgrade.
Hi all,
Thread title is pretty self-explanatory.
I am still running KitKat 4.4.4 on my Z1C, and have not tried the 5.1 update ever, but I am wanting to give it a go (I tried 5.0 in May last year and was not satisfied so went back to KitKat but had to flash a ROM and start from scratch)
I'd like to be able to backup my KitKat ROM as it is now, with all my apps and configuration, etc etc. But how can I do this without root? I don't want to root my phone as I have some apps which detect root and will not work without it. Is there a "recovery" mode I can enter into without root, and if so how do I enter it?
Alternatively, is there an easy way I can:
* Root my Z1C
* Backup the KitKat ROM through Recovery
* Unroot
* Install the Lollipop 5.1 update?
Any help would be great.
Thanks
alex_ncfc said:
Hi all,
Thread title is pretty self-explanatory.
I am still running KitKat 4.4.4 on my Z1C, and have not tried the 5.1 update ever, but I am wanting to give it a go (I tried 5.0 in May last year and was not satisfied so went back to KitKat but had to flash a ROM and start from scratch)
I'd like to be able to backup my KitKat ROM as it is now, with all my apps and configuration, etc etc. But how can I do this without root? I don't want to root my phone as I have some apps which detect root and will not work without it. Is there a "recovery" mode I can enter into without root, and if so how do I enter it?
Alternatively, is there an easy way I can:
* Root my Z1C
* Backup the KitKat ROM through Recovery
* Unroot
* Install the Lollipop 5.1 update?
Any help would be great.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No expert, but AFAIK you can't have recovery without root. You could backup with Google app, and restore when you update. That's probably your best bet officially. Anyway, backing up in recovery will make a backup of your whole system, which will flash you right back to KK when you restore, unless you choose to restore data only, in which case you might as well just use Google backup, (and anyway you might get compatibility issues with app data). If you want to save your current image to go back to in case you don't like the update, just root, backup in recovery, and, when you restore it, you can unroot to use your anti-root apps again.
levone1 said:
No expert, but AFAIK you can't have recovery without root. You could backup with Google app, and restore when you update. That's probably your best bet officially. Anyway, backing up in recovery will make a backup of your whole system, which will flash you right back to KK when you restore, unless you choose to restore data only, in which case you might as well just use Google backup, (and anyway you might get compatibility issues with app data). If you want to save your current image to go back to in case you don't like the update, just root, backup in recovery, and, when you restore it, you can unroot to use your anti-root apps again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for your fast response
I would like to be able to make a backup of my whole system image in recovery (I have experience of this backup and restoring of images on my old X10 phone) The problem is I don't know which is the best method to go about rooting, but unrooting is something that sounds even more complex. Would it be easy to do on this phone?
Thanks
alex_ncfc said:
Thanks very much for your fast response
I would like to be able to make a backup of my whole system image in recovery (I have experience of this backup and restoring of images on my old X10 phone) The problem is I don't know which is the best method to go about rooting, but unrooting is something that sounds even more complex. Would it be easy to do on this phone?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On Kk I'm pretty sure Doomlord's rootkit works. Couldn't be easier. Search the forums here.
---------- Post added at 04:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------
alex_ncfc said:
Thanks very much for your fast response
I would like to be able to make a backup of my whole system image in recovery (I have experience of this backup and restoring of images on my old X10 phone) The problem is I don't know which is the best method to go about rooting, but unrooting is something that sounds even more complex. Would it be easy to do on this phone?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2784900 also - http://d-h.st/f4p
levone1 said:
On Kk I'm pretty sure Doomlord's rootkit works. Couldn't be easier. Search the forums here.
---------- Post added at 04:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------
Try this - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2784900 also - http://d-h.st/f4p
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your response.
I see from the link you sent that it seems pretty straightforward to root the phone, but how do I go about reversing the process once I have backed up my current KK ROM configuration??
Also I posted something similar on the official Sony forums - one of the mods replied saying that if I root I will "have to unlock the bootloader, which will remove the DRM keys, and unless you back them up, Sony apps and services won't work and the camera will be affected, same as xreality, etc." Is this the case??
Thanks
alex_ncfc said:
Thank you very much for your response.
I see from the link you sent that it seems pretty straightforward to root the phone, but how do I go about reversing the process once I have backed up my current KK ROM configuration??
Also I posted something similar on the official Sony forums - one of the mods replied saying that if I root I will "have to unlock the bootloader, which will remove the DRM keys, and unless you back them up, Sony apps and services won't work and the camera will be affected, same as xreality, etc." Is this the case??
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what they're getting at. You definitely don't have to unlock the bl if you don't want to. If you want to use a custom kernel or aosp / cm you would need to, and you will lose drm keys etc, but there are backup and restore options for that too. I've never unrooted, but I think it's just a 1-click thing. The root tools I linked probably have the option built in, and I've seen it on Flashtool options also.
There were some applications that could hide root state from the certain apps that didn't work with root. I don't remember exactly the name of the apps because I never needed them but you can try searching.
Edit: Here's an xposed module for example http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/modules/mod-rootcloak-completely-hide-root-t2574647
IMAO without root you will not see part of system, it is protection against stupidity of users.
Surely root may be reverted, it is the most simple thing under the Sun.
For myself I'd rename su to other name and probably it would be enough while I'd have root till hands at any moment.
BTW:
Seeing how much crap they nowadays load into phone I don't imagine to have my phone not rooted.
Unlocking BL is different story. That opens whole lot of new area, sometimes risky, too.