Database Develop

[Q] Help regarding flashing + root + unlock

Hey
Sorry for this noob questions but I wan't to be 100% sure i'm doing this right. I'm experienced with rooting, but mostly on samsung devices which I find a bit easier and less confusing.
First of all i'm running .290 with LB. And I want .290 with full root and UL and the ability to come back to stock .290 with LB anytime without loosing drmkeys, bravia engine etc.
Here is what I found out I need to do so far:
1. Download and flash via flashtools the .257 fw (prerooted/partial root?) from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2572988
2. backup TA as described in a other thread.
3. unlock bl via the offical way and install
4. install XZDualRecovery
5. Use the first thread I linked to update to .290 firmware
6. Take a beer and enjoy fully rooted and unlocked 4.3?
And if I want to go back to stock LB without any loss of functions or sony beeing able to determine it was ever unlocked, i just restore my ta and flash my original .290 ftf?
Just need some conformation that this is the way to go and if there is anything in this process i need to be extra careful about?

after flashing .257 fw..... root it....then make TA backup.....then unlock BL.....then flash .290 fw....flash doomlord kernel....root ur fon....now u r good to flash .zip files through recovery...

bahafeld said:
And if I want to go back to stock LB without any loss of functions or sony beeing able to determine it was ever unlocked, i just restore my ta and flash my original .290 ftf?
Just need some conformation that this is the way to go and if there is anything in this process i need to be extra careful about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct but I will recommend, in case you want go back to original, to flash the Stock .290 FTF first and then lock your Bootlader because if you have a custom kernel on it and you lock your phone, you can brick it. Full Root will not void your warranty so if you don't want to instal custom kernels you can easily keep your bootloader locked and get full root on .290.

[Q] C6903 .290 Need help with root, downgrade, TA backup

Alrighty some background info and where I'm at. I've got some dev (Android XML layout fixes) experience on a custom ROM on i9300 and I finally decided to upgrade my phone onto the beasty Xperia Z1.
My phone came factory shipped with .290. It's the C6903 model. I've been looking up videos and trying to find info about where to begin with getting my root, bootloader, cwm, and custom ROM install going. Then I found out about the TA partition and that even though my phone allows me to unlock the bootloader, it's a smart idea to first backup the TA partition before I unlock my bootloader via the $ony website. With the TA backed up I can revert my phone back to stock at some point and restore the TA so that my phone looks basically factory fresh. So I realised that I probably ought to back up my TA in case of any warranty issues. Which means I need to get my phone rooted before anything else. (I hope my assessment has been correct so far, it would be awesome if someone can verify the above paragraph)
Now this is where I am completely confused. I've attempted to use VRoot - and of course it does not support the .290 firmware.
Then I found out that it is possible to downgrade the firmware so that I can root and TA backup before bootloader unlock. This is the knowledge level I am up to. I have no idea which firmware to downgrade to or how to even actually perform a successful downgrade. (I've kinda gotten frustrated at the huge slab of info and I need some specific info from some users more experienced at this than I am at this point..)
I read how some people have flashed down to .534 and others have flashed down to .257. I would like to know exactly what steps I should take and which is the best firmware to downgrade to, just to do a root crack and TA backup. Can you even downgrade firmware without bootloader involved?
Basically the flow of what I need to do right now is this (I think):
1) Downgrade firmware to probably .534 from my current .290 (I need to flash the FTF using Flashtool, correct?)
2) Install Root with VRoot
3) TA Backup (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598&highlight=ta)
4) Upgrade back to .290 (Do I do this via OTA? I hope it is not difficult to do it via some command line tools if it comes to that..)
--- Above step also gets rid of most of Root access provided to the older firmware (this is what I've read.. Is this correct?)
5) Unlock bootloader (must do this in version .290 to avoid the camera bug), via guide on Sony website
6) Go crazy with all the custom things I want to install - CWMRecovery, CM11, etc
7) ???
8) Profit
Can someone please tell me if the above list is the order I need to proceed with?
:good: Thanks for any help you guys can give me. I am truly frustrated by this 290 firmware version! And reading all the topics about people who bricked after attempting similar things without knowing exactly what they needed to do and which order to do it in..
tl;dr - On .290 firmware, I want to backup TA before I unlock bootloader, which firmware version do I downgrade to?

SleepinDevil said:
Alrighty some background info and where I'm at. I've got some dev (Android XML layout fixes) experience on a custom ROM on i9300 and I finally decided to upgrade my phone onto the beasty Xperia Z1.
My phone came factory shipped with .290. It's the C6903 model. I've been looking up videos and trying to find info about where to begin with getting my root, bootloader, cwm, and custom ROM install going. Then I found out about the TA partition and that even though my phone allows me to unlock the bootloader, it's a smart idea to first backup the TA partition before I unlock my bootloader via the $ony website. With the TA backed up I can revert my phone back to stock at some point and restore the TA so that my phone looks basically factory fresh. So I realised that I probably ought to back up my TA in case of any warranty issues. Which means I need to get my phone rooted before anything else. (I hope my assessment has been correct so far, it would be awesome if someone can verify the above paragraph)
Now this is where I am completely confused. I've attempted to use VRoot - and of course it does not support the .290 firmware.
Then I found out that it is possible to downgrade the firmware so that I can root and TA backup before bootloader unlock. This is the knowledge level I am up to. I have no idea which firmware to downgrade to or how to even actually perform a successful downgrade. (I've kinda gotten frustrated at the huge slab of info and I need some specific info from some users more experienced at this than I am at this point..)
I read how some people have flashed down to .534 and others have flashed down to .257. I would like to know exactly what steps I should take and which is the best firmware to downgrade to, just to do a root crack and TA backup. Can you even downgrade firmware without bootloader involved?
Basically the flow of what I need to do right now is this (I think):
1) Downgrade firmware to probably .534 from my current .290 (I need to flash the FTF using Flashtool, correct?)
2) Install Root with VRoot
3) TA Backup (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598&highlight=ta)
4) Upgrade back to .290 (Do I do this via OTA? I hope it is not difficult to do it via some command line tools if it comes to that..)
--- Above step also gets rid of most of Root access provided to the older firmware (this is what I've read.. Is this correct?)
5) Unlock bootloader (must do this in version .290 to avoid the camera bug), via guide on Sony website
6) Go crazy with all the custom things I want to install - CWMRecovery, CM11, etc
7) ???
8) Profit
Can someone please tell me if the above list is the order I need to proceed with?
:good: Thanks for any help you guys can give me. I am truly frustrated by this 290 firmware version! And reading all the topics about people who bricked after attempting similar things without knowing exactly what they needed to do and which order to do it in..
tl;dr - On .290 firmware, I want to backup TA before I unlock bootloader, which firmware version do I downgrade to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you need to downgrade to .534 and root before you can backup your TA
Here is a guide on how to achieve that
If you follow the video guide you will end up with rooted .290
Then backup you TA:
and go to Sony's website to unlock the bootloader. An unlocked bootloader will let you flash custom kernels to your phone and thus you will be able to use roms such as CM, AOSP etc.
NEXT TIME PLEASE READ BEFORE CREATING A NEW THREAD. THIS HAS BEEN COVERED 100's OF TIMES

in general you have to do these steps:
downgrade to an early firmware that can be rooted and root it.
then install dual recovery.
in dual recovery wipe your phone, flash rom, flash again superuser and again dual recovery.
power off phone.
power on and direct flash kernel,baseband, bootbundle. for this i would recommend using NUTs stripped FTF files. also from his site you get recovery and superuser/supersu.
you only loose TA when you unlock your bootloader. unlocking is only neccessary if you plan to flash a custom kernel too.
when you are on rooted firmware backup TA, you never know if you need it later.
a good step by step tutorial is iHackers 2.1 thread.
also be prepared that actually there is a chance to brick your device. many can be restored using Sony Update Service or by flashing a full stock FTF, but some devices need a new mainboard. things are a litte bit tricky at the moment

shem2409 said:
Yes, you need to downgrade to .534 and root before you can backup your TA
Here is a guide on how to achieve that
If you follow the video guide you will end up with rooted .290
Then backup you TA:
and go to Sony's website to unlock the bootloader. An unlocked bootloader will let you flash custom kernels to your phone and thus you will be able to use roms such as CM, AOSP etc.
NEXT TIME PLEASE READ BEFORE CREATING A NEW THREAD. THIS HAS BEEN COVERED 100's OF TIMES
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When on 4.3 and I tried many time still can't downgraded to 534. How to do it? Thank!
Lukily my TA had been backup.
Send from GT-I9506 using Tapatalk
Devices: Samsung GT-I9506 and Sony Z1 C6903

timberwolf60 said:
When on 4.3 and I tried many time still can't downgraded to 534. How to do it? Thank!
Lukily my TA had been backup.
Send from GT-I9506 using Tapatalk
Devices: Samsung GT-I9506 and Sony Z1 C6903
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a video on how to use flashtool
The previous video that I have sent you shows you step by step how to do everything

Z1 Root from 136

Hi.
I'm trying to piece together how to root my Xperia Z1 that is currently on build 14.2.A.1.136 and whilst there are many guides that all link to each other, there is a lot of assumed knowledge.
I've been rooting and flashing stuff since the first XDA so it's nothing I'm new to but there's gaps in my knowledge as far as Sony devices go and it makes me a little nervous to try this without filling the gaps.
I've seen Shem's video (here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aq9YTlfCgc) about downgrading to .534 using NUTs files but there's a lot of RED warning spread around various posts so, if you'll bear with me, I just have a couple of questions...
1) There's a warning on one post about backing up the TA partition before unlocking as the DRM keys will be lost. I understand what DRM keys are but is there anything else on here that's needed? Will I need to do this TA backup before I downgrade to 534 or upgrade to 290? or root?
2) I've downloaded flashtool for the Mac and the 534 FTF (FTF is just a Sony firmware file prepared for flashtool, yes?) - is this FTF file model agnostic? I've got the C6903 which is the LTE version of the Z1...
3) The stripped FTF files that are linked to under the video...are these the files you use to upgrade from 290 to 136 whilst maintaining root?
4) Am i right in thinking that I don't need to mess about unlocking my boot loader or flashing a custom bootloader if I'm not interested (at this stage anyway) about flashing a custom ROM but just keep root on stock...?
I suppose what I'm getting at is which part of all these processes is the dangerous bit where you need to take care? I hate losing anything permanently and whilst there might not be anything I need my DRM keys for (I got some free films but y'know, alternate sources are available) I don't want to lose the Bravia engine or any other functionality of my phone because, aside from anything else, it will affect the resale value and I look after all my phones as they fund my next one when I sell them on ebay.
Cheers!
Smiffy.

1) It doesn't matter when you want do the Backup, You can get Root, update and then Backup TA.
2) All the FTFs for your model support LTE then you don't have to be worry about.
3) You can use the links from the video or from the thread, there is no difference, Shem just posted them on his Video to help.
4) If you don't think to flash Custom Kernels then you don't need to Unlock your Bootloader, you still can install Custom Roms and Stock one.
There is no dangerous part here, just follow the instructions and all will be fine. BTW, if you don't want lose Warranty, do not Unlock Bootloader, and if you do, Backup TA, so one day if you will go back to stock you can Relock Bootlader. Do not relock on Custom Kernels, you will brick your phone, I think this is the most dangerous part but only if you do mistakes.

[Q] Stock 757 firmware with root for CWM

Hi guys,
I've rooted my Z1, installed CWM and unlocked my bootloader (TA-backup present). Everything seems fine.
Exept for the fact that I cannot find a custom rom with the features i specifically want (as close to stock as possible, without bloatware, but with all the Sony Camera features) and therefore I would like to go back to the original 757 firmware that I had before I rooted my phone,
I do want to keep my CWM recovery, and need root acces (ie SuperSU)
I'm lookin for the Original Sony 4.4.2 757 rom which i can flash through CWM
Can anyone please help me?
Regards,
Tiemen
Edit: I see that theres a new 4.4.4 firmware. If possible I would like the stock rom for this one.

Tiemen86 said:
Hi guys,
I've rooted my Z1, installed CWM and unlocked my bootloader (TA-backup present). Everything seems fine.
Exept for the fact that I cannot find a custom rom with the features i specifically want (as close to stock as possible, without bloatware, but with all the Sony Camera features) and therefore I would like to go back to the original 757 firmware that I had before I rooted my phone,
I do want to keep my CWM recovery, and need root acces (ie SuperSU)
I'm lookin for the Original Sony 4.4.2 757 rom which i can flash through CWM
Can anyone please help me?
Regards,
Tiemen
Edit: I see that theres a new 4.4.4 firmware. If possible I would like the stock rom for this one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2469191&page=145#1450
Here's 14.4.A.0.108 Global LTE

SaeedFazlollahzadeh said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2469191&page=145#1450
Here's 14.4.A.0.108 Global LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply!
I'm not familiar with FTF files. I believe I need the flashtool for that, but I have no experience with it.
Will I lose CWM and Root functionality?

Tiemen86 said:
Thanks for your reply!
I'm not familiar with FTF files. I believe I need the flashtool for that, but I have no experience with it.
Will I lose CWM and Root functionality?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certainly you will lose both root access and CWM when you flash
Search 'how to flash by Flash Tools' in your own language
Be warned that you will also all stuffs which are in Internal Memory, like files, messages, photos, movies, etc
Take a backup
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

Download the 4.4.4 stock firmware (FTF file) and flash via Flashtool. Ensure that you untick the Wipe data option in Flashtool, before you flash. This way, your user data will be intact after the flashing. And yes, you'll need to reroot (can use this tool) and install recovery again.

Thanks for your info!
I will start reading about the flashtool and will try asap.
Lets hope I won't get an expensive paper weight :silly:
If I want to go to full stock again (ie Relock Bootloader and no root), Do I need to flash FTF, then restore TA-partitions and I'm all done? Or do I need to root it before I can restore TA?
Regards,
Tiemen

Tiemen86 said:
Thanks for your info!
I will start reading about the flashtool and will try asap.
Lets hope I won't get an expensive paper weight :silly:
If I want to go to full stock again (ie Relock Bootloader and no root), Do I need to flash FTF, then restore TA-partitions and I'm all done? Or do I need to root it before I can restore TA?
Regards,
Tiemen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need root before you can use the Backup-TA tool to restore. Do read the FAQ of the thread for the tool.

Hi guys,
I managed to install the original 108 fw through FlashTool.
Also using the root tool suggested I got my root access back!
Thank you guys for your support!
Now It's exactly to my liking!
Regards,
Tiemen

Order of steps for reverting to Stock (&Restore DRM-Functions)

Hi,
I hope somebody is willing to help me; I couldn't find a guide covering exactly the same problem. Actually, I'm "just" looking for the right order of steps I should perform in order to restore the factory state of my Z3C. I'm currently running Cyanogen Mod 12.1 with unlocked bootloader (obviously). I would like to return to being able to use the DRM Camera functions. Afterwards I'd probably like to try another ROOTED stock-based firmware. (Thus the DRM functions should still be available again, right?)
Current setup: CM 12.1 + bootloader Unlocked + TA Backup has been performed
Aim: flash stock firmware + restore DRM functions + install (pre-rooted) stock-based firmware
What I don't understand: If I re-flash stock firmware the phone won't be rooted anymore, Custom Recovery is going to be lost, right? Is it right to T H E N restore the TA backup? (As the bootloader will be automatically relocked?) Or do I need to perform additional steps or the above mentioned in another order?!?!?
And: Can I then simply flash a stock-based ROM without losing the DRM functions again?
Thanks in advance!

artie_ficial said:
Hi,
I hope somebody is willing to help me; I couldn't find a guide covering exactly the same problem. Actually, I'm "just" looking for the right order of steps I should perform in order to restore the factory state of my Z3C. I'm currently running Cyanogen Mod 12.1 with unlocked bootloader (obviously). I would like to return to being able to use the DRM Camera functions. Afterwards I'd probably like to try another ROOTED stock-based firmware. (Thus the DRM functions should still be available again, right?)
Current setup: CM 12.1 + bootloader Unlocked + TA Backup has been performed
Aim: flash stock firmware + restore DRM functions + install (pre-rooted) stock-based firmware
What I don't understand: If I re-flash stock firmware the phone won't be rooted anymore, Custom Recovery is going to be lost, right? Is it right to T H E N restore the TA backup? (As the bootloader will be automatically relocked?) Or do I need to perform additional steps or the above mentioned in another order?!?!?
And: Can I then simply flash a stock-based ROM without losing the DRM functions again?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You simply can not restore back to factory state of your phone unless you have backed up your DRM keys. I'm thinking that you haven't so...
Anyways, you can use a pre-rooted stock ROM and you will have stock state of the Z3C and also root. To do this, you simply download any of the many alternatives in xda. I, myself, recommend you to use Wajk's SlimROM. It has good features, good debloat and awesome battery life. You'll be on stock ROM and have root but you won't be able to use DRM functions. If you want the DRM functions so badly there's a way to spoof it. You can visit here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-...ocked-update-conceptmm-root-recovery-t3291722 and follow the instructions. It will give you the concept version of Marshmallow, root and DRM functions!
The thing is you have lost your DRM functions by unlocking your bootloader. So flashing any other Stock ROM will not bring it back as it has something to do with the system of the phone. If you are OK with a Stock ROM without DRM functions, there are plenty Stock Pre-Rooted Firmwares on xda. You can download one, do a factory reset, and wipe dalvik/cache, then flash the Stock ROM.zip through your recovery. Have the best of luck!
EDIT: I don't know about the TA backup as I have never used it :/

Solution
marshalpear said:
You simply can not restore back to factory state of your phone unless you have backed up your DRM keys. I'm thinking that you haven't so...
Anyways, you can use a pre-rooted stock ROM and you will have stock state of the Z3C and also root. To do this, you simply download any of the many alternatives in xda. I, myself, recommend you to use Wajk's SlimROM. It has good features, good debloat and awesome battery life. You'll be on stock ROM and have root but you won't be able to use DRM functions. If you want the DRM functions so badly there's a way to spoof it. You can visit here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-...ocked-update-conceptmm-root-recovery-t3291722 and follow the instructions. It will give you the concept version of Marshmallow, root and DRM functions!
The thing is you have lost your DRM functions by unlocking your bootloader. So flashing any other Stock ROM will not bring it back as it has something to do with the system of the phone. If you are OK with a Stock ROM without DRM functions, there are plenty Stock Pre-Rooted Firmwares on xda. You can download one, do a factory reset, and wipe dalvik/cache, then flash the Stock ROM.zip through your recovery. Have the best of luck!
EDIT: I don't know about the TA backup as I have never used it :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your effort! But you misunderstood me, I have a working backup of my "former" TA partition/DRM keys. All I was wondering about was WHEN exactly I should perform the restore process. But I found out anyway. For whoever should have the same question:
- revert back to the firmware you used when performing the ta/drm backup
- if necessary: root (as the ta-backup tool needs root permissions)
- restore drm key backup with the ta-backup tool
- do whatever ... I installed a pre-rooted stock based fw and it works with DRM keys and root/recovery

artie_ficial said:
Hi,
I hope somebody is willing to help me; I couldn't find a guide covering exactly the same problem. Actually, I'm "just" looking for the right order of steps I should perform in order to restore the factory state of my Z3C. I'm currently running Cyanogen Mod 12.1 with unlocked bootloader (obviously). I would like to return to being able to use the DRM Camera functions. Afterwards I'd probably like to try another ROOTED stock-based firmware. (Thus the DRM functions should still be available again, right?)
Current setup: CM 12.1 + bootloader Unlocked + TA Backup has been performed
Aim: flash stock firmware + restore DRM functions + install (pre-rooted) stock-based firmware
What I don't understand: If I re-flash stock firmware the phone won't be rooted anymore, Custom Recovery is going to be lost, right? Is it right to T H E N restore the TA backup? (As the bootloader will be automatically relocked?) Or do I need to perform additional steps or the above mentioned in another order?!?!?
And: Can I then simply flash a stock-based ROM without losing the DRM functions again?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HI
Restoring TA backup Will NOT relock your Bootloader but it will simply restore the DRM keys that you backed up while unlocking Bootloader
So you will restore the DRM keys
flash stock Firmware
flash TWRP via fastboot and the you will be able to root with chainfire auto root flashable zip
or just download a prerooted stock firmware and flash it