So I've got myself a Sony Xperia Z1 and I'm a little unsure about how you root it.
From my understanding you need root to backup the DRM keys. but to get root apparently I need to unlock the bootloader to be able to put a certain version of the ROM on (which wipes the DRM keys).
Then I can root the phone.
Then I can backup the DRM keys
I'm seeing a loop here and I'm not sure what the first step would be. if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be heavily appreciated.
Hunter-Nyan said:
So I've got myself a Sony Xperia Z1 and I'm a little unsure about how you root it.
From my understanding you need root to backup the DRM keys. but to get root apparently I need to unlock the bootloader to be able to put a certain version of the ROM on (which wipes the DRM keys).
Then I can root the phone.
Then I can backup the DRM keys
I'm seeing a loop here and I'm not sure what the first step would be. if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be heavily appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do not need to backup the TA area (Which contains the DRM keys) if you just want to root. you only need to do that if you unlock the bootloader.
First, read this about unlocking the bootloader
http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/
If you can and you want to unlock the bootloader then do so, making sure you have backed up your TA
If you cant (And in any case you must do this in order to backup your TA) you must
1) Downgrade to 4.2
2) Root using Bin4rys method, google it
3) Install dual recovery for 4.2, Its in the development thread
4) Flash a prerooted 4.4 Rom, in the development section.
If you still want to unlock the bootloader, backup the TA
So the root process is a matter of unlocking the bootloader and flashing a new boot.img that includes CWM.
You're supposed to backup your TA partition to preserve your DRM keys.
There's some talk about a bunch of things that can be lost with the DRM keys -- camera quality, Triluminos, Bravia, etc.
Are these lost when the bootloader is unlocked, or only if TA is not restored?
If I backup TA, then unlock the bootloader, then dd TA image back into the partition (after rooting, I presume?), will that restore the camera quality, Triluminos, etc.? Is it possible to root without losing those things, or is it a choice? Because I don't think I want to root quite that badly...
This is my first sony phone so I don't know too much about backing up and flashing things on this particular phone yet, but it is my understanding that there is no way to root without unlocking the bootloader at this time. Unlocking the bootloader wipes the TA partition so that's where the loss of the DRM keys comes in. Unfortunately, in order to back up the TA partition, you need root. So, right now, it's a catch 22 until someone can figure out how to root the device without unlocking the bootloader. I'm personally going to wait it out. There's too much about this phone that I like about the stock sony experience with this device to lose a lot of functionality and have degraded camera quality. The only reason I would root is to be able to backup certain things and run xposed. Not worth unlocking the bootloader just to have those things IMO.
In order to get root access, right now you have to unlock the bootloader. In doing so, you erase the TA partition. So, once you have root access, you don't have a TA partition to backup anymore.
If you care about your TA partition, then wait for an exploit to be found that enables root access without the need of unlocking the bootloader. When (not if, problem is just when) this happens, you can have root access, unlocked bootloader and TA partition altogether. (that is, unless you've already unlocked the bootloader... in that case, you don't have a way to restore your TA)
Ah. So we cannot even read the partition without root?
So yes, then I will just have to wait until someone finds an exploit.
This rises another question for me.
Assumed there is a way to root the phone without unlocking the bootloader. If one does
* backup the TA partition
* unlock the bootloader
* install a custom recovery
* restore the TA partition (bootloader locked again)
Is the phone still rooted? And, even more important, is the custom recovery still there?
I guess this can be answered by someone having experience with earlier Xperia devices like the Z, Z1 or Z2. I've already been searching for the answer, but couldn't find it so far.
Cypher_01 said:
This rises another question for me.
Assumed there is a way to root the phone without unlocking the bootloader. If one does
* backup the TA partition
* unlock the bootloader
* install a custom recovery
* restore the TA partition (bootloader locked again)
Is the phone still rooted? And, even more important, is the custom recovery still there?
I guess this can be answered by someone having experience with earlier Xperia devices like the Z, Z1 or Z2. I've already been searching for the answer, but couldn't find it so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might be better served visiting other sections of XDA, such as the Z1 Compact and Z2 forums here on XDa. They will be able to give you a little better glimpse into the future for how things are done.
Cypher_01 said:
This rises another question for me.
Assumed there is a way to root the phone without unlocking the bootloader. If one does
* backup the TA partition
* unlock the bootloader
* install a custom recovery
* restore the TA partition (bootloader locked again)
Is the phone still rooted? And, even more important, is the custom recovery still there?
I guess this can be answered by someone having experience with earlier Xperia devices like the Z, Z1 or Z2. I've already been searching for the answer, but couldn't find it so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Relocking the bootloader when a modified stock firmware and a stock kernel with recovery is installed results in a device that doesn't boot, so I guess no, although I don't know which part exactly breaks in the process.
My understanding is that with a custom/unlocked recovery, you'll lose the TA partition with DRM keys. So you'll lose out on anything that needs the DRM keys. If a root exploit is found, then you could use the standard ROM with root and not touch the bootloader/recovery/TA partition. But as soon as an update rolls out, you'll lose root again (and likely the exploit with it).
Backing up the TA partition means that you can restore it to stock (i.e. to sell or for warranty repair).
Again, as per my understanding - any AOSP/CM based ROM will lose any of the Sony proprietary software and features anyway, no different to Samsung or HTC in that respect. I remember having a HTC One (M7) last year where the camera was worse on CM because HTC used their own post processing software within their camera app.
In theory, it may be possible for someone to come up with a stock based ROM with root baked in that keeps some the Sony proprietary software etc, but this is unlikely I would say.
I'm thinking about buying a Z3c, but it sounds as though there with be no AOSP rom with all the display and camera enhancements. The most concerning thing is that there is no way to go back completely to stock as you can with a Nexus for example. Maybe I should just hope for a Z3c Google Play Edition? I'm going to have to check the other Z phone forums to see how big of a factor this is.
Hi there,
The headphone port on my Z3c has decided to start dying on me/being really loose about 2 weeks after I decided to unlock it all :/
I have returned the phone to complete threeUK stock 23.4.A.0.546 D5803 & relocked the bootloader, How do I go about restoring my drm keys from here? I made a back up of the keys when I first got the phone, I have tried launching TA-backup but it doesn't give me the option to restore them.
Many thanks!
Did you save your DRM keys zip file into the correct folder location for TA-Backup? What is the file name of the zip file? Make sure there are no spaces in it.
I also want to know this. Do I restore the DRM keys before or after I flash a stock FTF file?
Also, I used the following guide for flashing custom rom. Then my bootloader is still locked right?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/how-to-root-backup-drm-keys-t3013343
I just received a Sony Xperia Z3+(E6533) on stock Marshmallow 6.0 and I've looked up how to root but only got ways to root while it's on Lollipop. Is there anyway for me to root on this software or downgrade from Marshmallow to Lollipop on this phone?
You can also root your phone while on MM. You can unlock the bootloader, flash a rootable kernel followed by a recovery and than flash the SuperSu zip. No problem.
But it is not recommended to do so, because you will loose the DRM keys/functionality when unlocking the bootloader. And once the keys are gone there is no way to get them back.
The better way is to downgrade to LP (e.g. .266), backup the DRM keys (TA Backup) and proceed with unlocking the bootloader and rooting the phone.
That's also the way I did yesterday, when I got the Z3+.
And of course you will have to read... a lot...
Thanks for the heads up , I've been trying to figure out ways for my specific model all morning and last night.
So to downgrade I'll just unlock the bootloader first then get a Lollipop firmware and flash using flash tool then do the other steps such as getting a rootable kernel and so on?
No, that is not what I wrote. Before unlocking the bootloader you will have to flash a LP firmware assumed that you want to backup the TA partition with the DRM keys first. This can only be done under LP.
I think you will have to read a little bit:
How to root Xperia Z3+?!
iovyroot - (temp) root tool
[Rootable Kernel SXZ3+ IVY/IVY_DSDS Marshsmellow ] [32.1.A.1.163]
What are the issues if we loose Drm keys? Will it affect non DRM normal contents? Or will it altogether disable Netflix or any other apps using Drm or other encryption?
You may have a look here:
Loss of DRM Keys or
Unlock your boot loader (Risk section)
Why don't create a guide?
Do some readings
Hi Folks,
I'm new to the Sony side of Android - there are some things I need to know. Firstly:
How do I make a full backup of my D2005 (full means EVERYTHING, including TA, efs, bootloader, etc.) before I start screwing around with it?
I don't think E1 has any DRM keys (I am not 100% sure). To check if you have DRM keys, dial *#*#7378423#*#*, then go to Service tests > Security. I think that you want a "nandroid" backup, there is Philz and TWRP custom recovery for this phone. If you want TWRP, you will first need to flash it through Philz and have a unlocked bootloader to do so.
Before unlocking the bootloader I suggest you to backup the TA if you wish to relock the phone, of course If you still have the warranty for the phone, you can do it with XperiFirm I think.
You can't really screw up Snapdragon phones, especially the Sony phones because you can always reflash them. I succesfully managed to Fully hard brick a Mediatek tablet about 3 times in a row, and I couldn't resurrect it from the dead.