Question about restoring Sony featured functions after unlocking the bootloader - Sony Xperia XZ2 Questions & Answers

Hello all, as a newbie, I will buy XZ2 for flashing ROM very soon, so I would like to ask if the featured functions can be restored.
As we know unlocking the bootloader removes some Sony's features like DSEE EX, Widevine L1 etc. Can I restore these features simply by repairing the software with Xperia Companion? If not, how can I get back these functions after I've unlocked the bootloader? And can DRM backup helps?
Thanks a lot.

bump ,i also in the same question

You need backup TA partition before unlocking bootloader, then restore it after unlocked bootloader

Related

[Q] Unlocking?

I'm trying to figure out exactly what you lose when you unlock Z3(C).
So far I've discovered that:
- Sony has a webpage that allows you to unlock your device
- Unlocking your device will void your warranty
- Unlocking is the only known way to get root (at least right now)
- Unlocking your device will kill the "TA partition" that contains DRM keys
- Loss of the aforementioned DRM keys will cause some stuff to stop working
I found a huge thread on backing up TA partition for older xperia devices, but no good information RE: what exactly you lose if you wipe out the DRM keys by unlocking.
Do any of you know definitively: what the DRM keys are for and what you lose?
As an aside - it looks like backing up TA partition is only possible before you unlock bootloader and if you've rooted your phone (so probably not possible on Z3C until someone finds a working exploit to get root with a locked bootloader).
Thanks in advance for any insights.
I don't think there is a definitive place which says exactly what you lose by unlocking the boot loader but judging by what people having been saying after unlocking the Z3C and other Xperia phones on 4.4 it seems like the answer is nothing. Nothing is lost on the software side at all.
On the z1c I neglected to back up the TA partition. And apparently lost native mirror cast and some camera features when I rolled the device back to stock.
Back up your TA partition before unlocking BL... If not for the I'm tact features turn for your warranty!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598
Those that have rushed into unlocking the BL without backing up the TA partition risk voiding warranty I'm afraid.
dillalade said:
On the z1c I neglected to back up the TA partition. And apparently lost native mirror cast and some camera features when I rolled the device back to stock.
Back up your TA partition before unlocking BL... If not for the I'm tact features turn for your warranty!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598
Those that have rushed into unlocking the BL without backing up the TA partition risk voiding warranty I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem is, you need root to use those backup tools... So we would need a temp root exploit to backup before unlocking. But from what I've read so far, it doesn't seem like you lose that much, if anything.
I am also curious about this as I need root access but would like to preserve the warranty. Somebody else has also started a thread with what breaks with unlocking: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2890936
TiMiN8R said:
Problem is, you need root to use those backup tools... So we would need a temp root exploit to backup before unlocking. But from what I've read so far, it doesn't seem like you lose that much, if anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most important consideration is your warranty such if your happy to lost it then unlock your BL.
dillalade said:
Most important consideration is your warranty such if your happy to lost it then unlock your BL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not that definitive that you will lose warranty. Sony says it may void your warranty. Known issues with the specific model or batch, or other hardware problems that could not be caused by flashing custom ROMs/kernels will most likely still be covered.
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sony...oader-unlock-tool-voids-your-warranty_id32972
I myself have sent in my Xperia T twice since unlocking the bootloader and on both occassions it was covered by the warranty.
Mind you, I did relock the bootloader and flash a stock FTF before doing that.
Flashtool has a function to relock the bootloader
http://www.digitalinternals.com/mobile/keeping-warranty-intact-sony-xperia-unlocked-phones/264/
I don't know if this works on our phone already, maybe someone who has already unlocked would like to try?

Clarification on Losing DRM

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.

Some Q About Xperia ZR

Hi All
I Was about To root my ZR But I saw TA Backup and i was wondering what is it ?
What Is It For ?
what can i do with it ?
and is there is any other things should i back up or do before root and play with my ZR phone
I Know TA backup need root .
but will root unlock bootloader and is yes does all methods unlock it
and what is bootloader and what means by unlock it ?
sorry for all these Q But I'm New To Sony
Some linux basics (android is linux based)
What is a kernel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(operating_system)
In short: a kernel is the link between hardware (CPU, RAM, sensors,...) and software (ROMS)
A kernel and a rom must be compatible. A Sony rom won't work with a cyanogenmod kernel.
To answer your questions.
Unlocking bootloader is requiered when you want to use a custom ROM, because that ROM uses another kernel than the ones from Sony.
So it is kernel related
Rooting means to have superuser access to system files of the ROM. It is software related
When you will root your phone, your bootloader will still be locked.
It is reversible: you can also unroot a ROM.
The TA backup is a tool that make a backup of your TA partition. This contains your DRM keys.
When you unlock your bootloader, you will lose your DRM keys. Protected library's from Sony( like Bravia engine,...) will not work any more.
You can restore your DRM keys on a sony stock ROM with the TA Backup if you don't want to use a custom rom anymore (sell phone, warranty issues,...)
Thanks alot
And another Q
If i'v problems with imei and baseband (like null)
Will TA backup solve it or what?

Unlocking Bootloader after backing up the TA partition

Good evening guys , I have a z1 c6902 with the latest firmware and a locked bootloader and I want to unlock the bootloader but I'm afraid of losing the drm keys so my question is : if I backup the TA partition , will I be able to relock the bootloader again and restore all of drm' related functionalities such as x-reality, BionZ and music info download or is there some features that can't be restored once bootloader is unlocked even with a TA backup ?
I really appreciate any help you can provide.

Relocking bootloader

Hi there everyone, i would like to get my phone to the brand new state. Currently it has unlocked bootloader, latest stock firmware and it is rooted. I also have a backup image of TA partition(BL Locked). Do i need to do anything else than flashing stock firmware and TA partition to preseve all the fuctionality (especially fully working camera)? Will it be possible to unlock the bootloader once again in the future after performing this?
maciek12 said:
Hi there everyone, i would like to get my phone to the brand new state. Currently it has unlocked bootloader, latest stock firmware and it is rooted. I also have a backup image of TA partition(BL Locked). Do i need to do anything else than flashing stock firmware and TA partition to preseve all the fuctionality (especially fully working camera)? Will it be possible to unlock the bootloader once again in the future after performing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Restoring the TA restores DRM functions, it doesn't relock the BL, which you can't, hence why there are no threads relating to locking the BL of the XZ1 Compact.
SXUsr said:
Restoring the TA restores DRM functions, it doesn't relock the BL, which you can't, hence why there are no threads relating to locking the BL of the XZ1 Compact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. It’s a shame though

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