[Q] Can I Flash STOCK after CM (if I wish to sell?) - Xperia Z Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I'm kinda worn out by the slow release of updates and would like to go CM.
Having locked bootloader, I am unclear from reading/searching if I can, say in a few months, go back to stock (flash using FlashTool?) so I can sell the phone before I upgrade?
Thanks for any tips or RTFM links. :good:

You can't flash CM with a locked bootloader. CM needs a modified kernel to work and with a LB you can't do that. But to answer your question, yes you can. Simply wipe everything before flashing with flashtool and you are good to go.
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ckyy said:
You can't flash CM with a locked bootloader. CM needs a modified kernel to work and with a LB you can't do that. But to answer your question, yes you can. Simply wipe everything before flashing with flashtool and you are good to go.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, in my case I need to
1. Unlock Bootloader (which will erase everything, including SD card)
2. Flash CM
3. Enjoy until time comes to sell device
4. Wipe data/cache/factory reset
5. FlashTool the latest STOCK I find
Is it accurate to assume that after step 5, the only difference between my (current) stock device and then will be unlocked bootloader (with zero impact for guy who buys after me) ? As much as I want to have KitKat, I do not want the buyer to be funked with something not matching his/her needs or impaired somehow...
Thank you for the confirmation :good:

Nexu$ said:
So, in my case I need to
1. Unlock Bootloader (which will erase everything, including SD card)
2. Flash CM
3. Enjoy until time comes to sell device
4. Wipe data/cache/factory reset
5. FlashTool the latest STOCK I find
Is it accurate to assume that after step 5, the only difference between my (current) stock device and then will be unlocked bootloader (with zero impact for guy who buys after me) ? As much as I want to have KitKat, I do not want the buyer to be funked with something not matching his/her needs or impaired somehow...
Thank you for the confirmation :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After step 5 you can relock your BL by reflashing your TA partition (which you should backup before step 1) if i'm not mistaken.

Step 1) backup TA partition.
Step 2) unlock bootloader.
Step 3) flash cm.
Use as you wish.
When you want to sell device.
Step 1) Restore TA partition.
TA restore will block to boot with modified boot image.
Step 3) flash stock fw via flashtool. Do not select or unselect anything in flashtool.
That will flash full device including sdcard.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

ckyy said:
After step 5 you can relock your BL by reflashing your TA partition (which you should backup before step 1) if i'm not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the risk of not reflashing the TA partition and flashing STOCK onto unlocked BL? Not receiving OTA updates or something more complex?

Nexu$ said:
What is the risk of not reflashing the TA partition and flashing STOCK onto unlocked BL? Not receiving OTA updates or something more complex?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You lose your DRM keys. People say bravia engine stops working on photos and some stuff with the music info downloading with walkman. Unsure about OTA updates, as i have never done those. I flash FTF as soon as they get available.
Other than that, there is nothing different.

Nexu$ said:
So, in my case I need to
1. Unlock Bootloader (which will erase everything, including SD card)
2. Flash CM
3. Enjoy until time comes to sell device
4. Wipe data/cache/factory reset
5. FlashTool the latest STOCK I find
Is it accurate to assume that after step 5, the only difference between my (current) stock device and then will be unlocked bootloader (with zero impact for guy who buys after me) ? As much as I want to have KitKat, I do not want the buyer to be funked with something not matching his/her needs or impaired somehow...
Thank you for the confirmation :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jst one tip remove SD card before unlocking so nothing gets deleted
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Tommy-Geenexus said:
Jst one tip remove SD card before unlocking so nothing gets deleted
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SD card shouldn't get wiped when unlocking but the internal storage does.
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Thank you to all who pitched in - I searched the fora for "TA partition" and discovered that [NUT has written a wonderful thread for people who have my question, I wish I knew about the TA partition importance and searched earlier.
For those who follow or need the same thing, thread is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2458530
:good::good::good:

Related

No data after flashing firmware

Dears,
Is it the case that after flashing a firmware and (locking then unlocking bootloader) everything is deleted from the phone even the SDcard data?
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Why did you lock the bootloader in the first place? I guess the unlocking process wiped everything, though, it should not wipe the sd card.
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unlocking does wipe the data. or my second guess will be the firmware
usually firmware flash tend not to wipe sd data but some firmwares do wipe the whole thing
Marc199 said:
Why did you lock the bootloader in the first place? I guess the unlocking process wiped everything, though, it should not wipe the sd card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without s-off it is necessary to lock/unlock device to flash firmware zip. That usually wipes it, supposedly for "safety" reasons.
In the future, you may want to s-off so lock/unlock is not necessary. Also, most firmware uploads on XDA say whether or not they will wipe data/sdcard.

How to relock bootloader without TA backups.. Android 4.3.. Please help mr

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Nuwan75n said:
Sent from my C6903 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is possible to lock it without a backup, is your camera not working anymore ?
You can try flashtool, BLU option tries to relock it if it's unlocked, theres a good chance you will brick your device!
Have fun
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
AntiDroid said:
it is possible to lock it without a backup, is your camera not working anymore ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure this is good and/or informative advice? I thought a locked bootloader not finding valid keys in the TA will refuse to ever function usefully again - no boot, no fastboot, no flashmode, nothing, totally bricked, and no way to convert it back to unlocked and get your phone back.
I would like to know if I am wrong about any of that. And... it seems that I was:
** Correction - it is Ok to relock the bootloader without having the pre-unlock data in the TA partition
** Flashing in data from any other TA partition (some other phone) seems certain to brick the phone though.
n0bleINtP said:
Are you sure this is good and/or informative advice? I thought a locked bootloader not finding valid keys in the TA will refuse to ever function usefully again - no boot, no fastboot, no flashmode, nothing, totally bricked, and no way to convert it back to unlocked and get your phone back.
I would like to know if I am wrong about any of that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never read about those damages but I read things like the known camera bug.
I unlocked my Z1 on .290 - the Sony release which fixed the problem (4.3). I flashed a Recovery and rooted it with it and my device is working like it was with a "untouched" ROM.
That's all I know.
We could wait for a dev to answer deeper questions.
AntiDroid said:
I unlocked my Z1 on .290 - the Sony release which fixed the problem (4.3).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this absolutely fine and is what I did with my Z1, ie do not unlock until after the 290 update is applied - you will see that advice on the Sony unlock website. However if you want a TA backup you need to do that before unlocking as the unlock process will wipe the keys, and you also need root in order to make that copy. (let me know if I am wrong about that)
My process was to root on earlier firmware, copy the TA, update to .290, then unlock. After unlocking full root on .290 is easy with a custom kernel and everything is good: unlocked, rooted *and* working camera.
But you *will* need a copy of the pre-unlock TA partition to regain any of the functions that use the DRM keys if you decide to relock the bootloader later.
It is impossible to get the DRM keys back, and there is no gain from relocking without them, all you're doing is locking down the bootloader without enabling BIONZ, etc, but you can certainly run a stock system if you want.
n0bleINtP said:
Yes this absolutely fine and is what I did with my Z1, ie do not unlock until after the 290 update is applied - you will see that advice on the Sony unlock website. However if you want a TA backup you need to do that before unlocking as the unlock process will wipe the keys, and you also need root in order to make that copy. (let me know if I am wrong about that)
My process was to root on earlier firmware, copy the TA, update to .290, then unlock. After unlocking full root on .290 is easy with a custom kernel and everything is good: unlocked, rooted *and* working camera.
But you *will* need a copy of the pre-unlock TA partition to regain any of the functions that use the DRM keys if you decide to relock the bootloader later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, yesterday I downgraded to rooteable 4.2.2 rom in order to backup TA partition. Once I had backup, I updated to 4.3 (290) and unlocked bootloader, then flashed recovery. With recovery was easy to flash superSu. Now I have "stock" rom with root and unlocked bootloader, but I realized that x-reality wasn't warking anymore (because of the DRM keys loss).
I tried to recover TA partition, but I caused a soft-brick, wich I only could solve flashing a 290 ftf through flashtool, but I lost root. My question is: It is possible to have root and DRM keys (TA partition restored)??
Thank you very much.
yanbee said:
Hello, yesterday I downgraded to rooteable 4.2.2 rom in order to backup TA partition. Once I had backup, I updated to 4.3 (290) and unlocked bootloader, then flashed recovery. With recovery was easy to flash superSu. Now I have "stock" rom with root and unlocked bootloader, but I realized that x-reality wasn't warking anymore (because of the DRM keys loss).
I tried to recover TA partition, but I caused a soft-brick, wich I only could solve flashing a 290 ftf through flashtool, but I lost root. My question is: It is possible to have root and DRM keys (TA partition restored)??
Thank you very much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, never.
Just2Cause said:
No, never.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, apart from losing x-reality and some Sony apps functionalities (which I dont care). Do you lose something else? I heard about losing bionz processor, but camera still works, then I dont know how far this is true.
The incompatibility problem of root and restored TA partition, is because flashing recovery (which modifies kernel) or supersu.apk it self?
Thank you VERY much!
You loose bionz, but not x-reality. I unlocked my bootloader and I have x-relity enabled.
Some ROMs won't have working camera, for example: android 4.4 KitKat ported from xperia z ultra GPe, and some other ROMs.
Just2Cause said:
You loose bionz, but not x-reality. I unlocked my bootloader and I have x-relity enabled.
Some ROMs won't have working camera, for example: android 4.4 KitKat ported from xperia z ultra GPe, and some other ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see that the x-reality option is still on menu, and you can enable/disable it, but it doesn't work. Before, I could see in the first second of picture showing how x-reality improves the image (its an effect that can be seen with the naked eye), this is not happening now. By the way, its for sure that bionz stop working? How could I take pictures without it?
Thank you
yanbee said:
I can see that the x-reality option is still on menu, and you can enable/disable it, but it doesn't work. Before, I could see in the first second of picture showing how x-reality improves the image (its an effect that can be seen with the naked eye), this is not happening now. By the way, its for sure that bionz stop working? How could I take pictures without it?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure about bionz, but I guessed it as I had the x-relity option enabled. I can't tell if it works or not as I don't have camera (I'm using ported 4.4)
It would be nice of someone confirmed it.
Correct me if i am wrong.
Bionz is a service which improves the pictures after a shot, isn't it ?
Bionz and X-Reality are things u can't detect that easy like "oh that effect is from X-Reality" or something else.
I thought the main reason for not working cameras on other roms was that the dev's didn't apply those 4.3 changes :S
AntiDroid said:
Correct me if i am wrong.
Bionz is a service which improves the pictures after a shot, isn't it ?
Bionz and X-Reality are things u can't detect that easy like "oh that effect is from X-Reality" or something else.
I thought the main reason for not working cameras on other roms was that the dev's didn't apply those 4.3 changes :S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bionz it's a image processor that includes xperia Z1, it process the pictures taken instead the cpu. I dont know if it's easy to detect if it's working or not. But in the case of x-reallity it's very simple, when you open a picture in Sony gallery app, you can see how the picture "improves" quality in the first second. It is no so evident in all pictures, but can be detected by a naked eye, as I do.
My only doubt is about bionz processor, I already know that I loss x-reality. But I want to be SURE if bionz processing is also lost. I want to have full root (with unlocked bootloader), and have bionz enabled. I dont care x-reality or Sony apps.
Thank you very much
Just2Cause said:
No, never.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true. If you have a TA backup, install .290, unlock bootloader, install a recovery, root, reflash stock boot partition, restore TA partition, you will end up with a booting, rooted, .290 installation.
Rekoil said:
Not true. If you have a TA backup, install .290, unlock bootloader, install a recovery, root, reflash stock boot partition, restore TA partition, you will end up with a booting, rooted, .290 installation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure about that? :fingers-crossed:
Just2Cause said:
Are you sure about that? :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did that and it worked
Sent from my iPad Air using Tapatalk
Rekoil said:
Not true. If you have a TA backup, install .290, unlock bootloader, install a recovery, root, reflash stock boot partition, restore TA partition, you will end up with a booting, rooted, .290 installation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jjpro45 said:
I did that and it worked
Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you VERY much!!! Could someone tell me how to reflash boot partition only?? The TA partition which I must restore, could be restored in 290 if backups comes from 534?

[Q] xperia z kernel installing

hi you all, i have an xperia z rooted with doomlord toolkit v18, and an dual recovery 2.7.14 installed. i have successfully flashed and backed up the eXsitenZ 5.0.0 rom (by niaboc79 Great success by the way). so now iwant to install the famous doomkernel and i have a few question because the information i got from around the net is confusing.
so here are my questions:
1. Is installing the eXsitenZ means i have unlocked my BOOTLOADER?
2. do i have to unlock my bootloader in order to install DOOMKERNEL?
3. is unlocking the bootloader is irreversible?
thanks ahead for any kind of help, greetings perfect9stranger.
perfect9stranger said:
hi you all, i have an xperia z rooted with doomlord toolkit v18, and an dual recovery 2.7.14 installed. i have successfully flashed and backed up the eXsitenZ 5.0.0 rom (by niaboc79 Great success by the way). so now iwant to install the famous doomkernel and i have a few question because the information i got from around the net is confusing.
so here are my questions:
1. Is installing the eXsitenZ means i have unlocked my BOOTLOADER?
2. do i have to unlock my bootloader in order to install DOOMKERNEL?
3. is unlocking the bootloader is irreversible?
thanks ahead for any kind of help, greetings perfect9stranger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No, you only have to unlock your bootloader for a custom kernel. There is also written that the existenz is for LB(locked bootloader) and UB(unlocked bootloader).
2. Yes.
3. Before you unlock bootloader, it would be good to make a TA backup. There are DRM-keys included. If you loose them, you loose warranty.
Because once you have unlocked your bootloader, without a backup of the TA, you will never get the DRM-keys back.
So only relocking the bootloader is not always enough.
The TA includes unique data and that is the reason why you can't restore the backup of an other phone. If you do it you will hardbrick your phone.
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so i have and eXsitenZ 5.0.0 and.....
gripfly said:
1. No, you only have to unlock your bootloader for a custom kernel. There is also written that the existenz is for LB(locked bootloader) and UB(unlocked bootloader).
2. Yes.
3. Before you unlock bootloader, it would be good to make a TA backup. There are DRM-keys included. If you loose them, you loose warranty.
Because once you have unlocked your bootloader, without a backup of the TA, you will never get the DRM-keys back.
So only relocking the bootloader is not always enough.
The TA includes unique data and that is the reason why you can't restore the backup of an other phone. If you do it you will hardbrick your phone.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have tried to flash doomkernel with recovery but all i get is bootloop, is it even possible to use doomkernel and eXsitenZ togehter?
perfect9stranger said:
i have tried to flash doomkernel with recovery but all i get is bootloop, is it even possible to use doomkernel and eXsitenZ togehter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have unlocked your bootloader?
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[Q] Rooting for 14.1.g.2.259

Hi All.
I am new to Sony after having a samsung GS2 for many years.
While I am familiar with the rooting and flashing process for the GS2, I am still getting my head around the Xperia Z1.
From what I can see I need to do the following,.
Root Version.
Backup TA
Unlock Bootloader
Flash CMW Etc
Flash Roms.
I am a little stuck around the Spony version numbers though.
My Z1 is on 4.2.2 and Build no 14.1.g.2.259
Is there a root method for this version, or how can I change to a rootable version?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Hey I followed this guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aq9YTlfCgc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It was the same as on my xz, you first have to downgrade your phone, then you can root it. This guide also upgrades your phone to the latest official 4.3 and installs CWM and TWRP. If you want to install a custom rom, you also have to unlock the bootloader. Before you do that, back up the TA partition. There are plenty of tutorials about unlocking the bootloader on the internet, I suggest you use flashtool because I've unlocked a lot of bootloaders with that and never had any problem.
Another way is to first unlock the bootloader, then install a custom kernel. This also should root the phone.
Good luck!
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Thanks for response
With the second suggestion would I be able to backup the TA partition prior to doing this as we need root to do that first don't we?
Sent from my C6903 using xda app-developers app
290 and 136 have chance to be rooted if your bootloader has been unlocked.
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Glen C said:
Thanks for response
With the second suggestion would I be able to backup the TA partition prior to doing this as we need root to do that first don't we?
Sent from my C6903 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you can't backup the TA first, that's a risk you have to take than
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Robert1852 said:
Hey I followed this guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aq9YTlfCgc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
It was the same as on my xz, you first have to downgrade your phone, then you can root it. This guide also upgrades your phone to the latest official 4.3 and installs CWM and TWRP. If you want to install a custom rom, you also have to unlock the bootloader. Before you do that, back up the TA partition. There are plenty of tutorials about unlocking the bootloader on the internet, I suggest you use flashtool because I've unlocked a lot of bootloaders with that and never had any problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Again,
When downgrading to a lower version as shown in the video, does this have any impact on the drm keys stored in the phone, as they wouldnt have been backed up.
Thanks.

[Q] Pre-rooted FTF over top of non-rooted? Locked bootloader.

My Z1 (C6906 sim-unlocked) will arrive tomorrow, and I'm looking for the simplest route to getting root and backing up my TA prior to unlocking my bootloader.
On other devices, the system partition is not signed, so I've been able to use the stock tools to flash just a pre-rooted system partition to gain root, without having to muck about with exploits. Is there anything like that possible on the Z1? I was all set to download the ftf listed in this thread, but then I realized it's for C6903.. I don't see a non-carrier-specific FTF for C6906 of the same version #.
I do see this thread - can I follow that to get root without losing my TA/DRM keys, and move on from there?
I apologize for having to ask, there is a LOT of info about these devices, some seems to be old and conflicting, and as a newbie to these devices, I can't really tell what's the good info yet.
araemo said:
My Z1 (C6906 sim-unlocked) will arrive tomorrow, and I'm looking for the simplest route to getting root and backing up my TA prior to unlocking my bootloader.
On other devices, the system partition is not signed, so I've been able to use the stock tools to flash just a pre-rooted system partition to gain root, without having to muck about with exploits. Is there anything like that possible on the Z1? I was all set to download the ftf listed in this thread, but then I realized it's for C6903.. I don't see a non-carrier-specific FTF for C6906 of the same version #.
I do see this thread - can I follow that to get root without losing my TA/DRM keys, and move on from there?
I apologize for having to ask, there is a LOT of info about these devices, some seems to be old and conflicting, and as a newbie to these devices, I can't really tell what's the good info yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can follow the second thread to get working root on 4.4. But if you want to unlock your bootloader then you have to backup your ta
Ahki767 said:
You can follow the second thread to get working root on 4.4. But if you want to unlock your bootloader then you have to backup your ta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be clear, the TA will still be intact after following the second thread, so that I CAN backup my TA before unlocking?
Thanks for the quick response.
araemo said:
Just to be clear, the TA will still be intact after following the second thread, so that I CAN backup my TA before unlocking?
Thanks for the quick response.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backup your TA after rooting and use the PC for Backup. And save them. Then unlocking.
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Thanks both of you. I did understand how to backup the TA/DRM keys, but I wanted to make sure I could get rooted without losing them first (and I'm really glad there's a root option that doesn't rely on a chinese .exe of unknown repute).
Yes first root then backup the TA then unlock bootloader. It is safe and easy. Use this ta backup tool http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598
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