I'm currently using an X10i CM7-ZMOD android 2.3.5 with locked bootloader and baseband 2.1.71.
I'm thinking about unlocking my bootloader when a stable ICS ROM is released but I just want to exercise some caution.
My questions is: What are the pros and cons of unlocking my bootloader?
I'm a total noob so please bear with me
There are no cons from unlocking bootloader,pros- you can install most of the custom roms available.and install any kernel directly through flashtool
Sent from my X10S using xda premium
Dovakiin said:
I'm currently using an X10i CM7-ZMOD android 2.3.5 with locked bootloader and baseband 2.1.71.
I'm thinking about unlocking my bootloader when a stable ICS ROM is released but I just want to exercise some caution.
My questions is: What are the pros and cons of unlocking my bootloader?
I'm a total noob so please bear with me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pros:
- direct kernel load (so on custom ROMs loading of ROM and whole system is little faster)
- more kernels (but on X10i are also great locked bl kernels)
Cons:
- if you dont unlock bl with extreme caution, you may completely brick your phone (cant be software restored, you need highly specialized service or buy JIG or JTAG box , but highly expensive)
- if you dont flash every ROM with extreme caution, you may completely brick your phone also (upper notice also )
I am very advanced user, but still on locked bootloader, because its 100% save even you mod a kernel (as I am doing often) On locked bootloader you cant brick you device.
I was also thinking many times about unlocking for ICS 4.0 (CM9 beta), but still its not usable rom for daily use, so I will wait until it will be as RC candidate
Thank you!
Thanks to both of you for replying. At least now I'm full aware of the benefits of unlocking the bootloader and the consequences of not doing it correctly
Thanks again
Unlocking BL is not a big herculean task nw .. there isn't much to bother nw as it can be done on flashtool with a click... bt the frst few methods of unlocking were kinda bit tough for noobs. Bt if u use Flashtool , its so easy.....
N second.. unless u be so dumb n too lazy to read instructions u wont brick an x10. Or else as the above user said u shud tinker with kernals to brick it ..even our masterbrain Doom has bricked it. But as normal users u rarely play with kernal tweaking
sEnT fRoM mA mEnTaLLy ReTaRdEd X10 wiTh a trAnSpLAnTeD DoNuT bRaIN
I agree with HeliumX10's cons, plus: WARRANTY.
Servicing is almost really not an option.
Related
Hello, I have just preordered my Xperia active from a local salesperson, but from what i see in the development threads, its nothing like HTC phones when it comes to rooting.
In HTC phones all you had to do is, unlock the bootloader with an update.zip file, root it, and then you're free to do whatever you wanna do from CWM.
I really havent understood how the procedure goes in Xperia phones, nor is there a comprehensive guide towards rooting the phone.
So could someone explain in simple steps what i need to do to root the phone? Or even is it worth rooting it since its so new and the development is more or less... inexistant? The only real custom rom I see so far for the mini mini pro and active is the FXP one which is in beta stages AFAIK.
Also about unlocking the bootloader. Losing DRM and TrackID is what makes them know that you have unlocked it therefore you lose your warranty?
Please enlighten me
Comprehensive Xperia Rooting Guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1034087
For the active... there doesn't appear to be much, but if you have 'OCD' like me and like the absolute control... it's worth it. But to each his/her own preferences
Once you unlock, DRM is permanently gone, no more TrackID.
I'm not sure about warranty regulations but there is a way to re-lock the boot loader:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1134335
Hope this helps.
EDIT There's also a way to unlock the bootloader and not lose DRM
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1285285
But there's no current way to relock it if you use that route.
Thanks a lot for your detailed reply.
Although i still got questions regarding custom ROM's. I saw someone mentioning a insecure kernel, and using it before flashing a new ROM. Kernels in HTC devices are simply there for you to find out which one is best for your country and ROM. Is it the other way around here?
Yes i do want the best out of my device, but voiding warranty for something that isnt yet "ready".... It kinda puts me off.
hi dumraden,
The days with simply zip unlocking are gone either on HTC. The HTC Desire S of a friend of mine was locked. They call it S: on ..unlocked was S: off
I could not keep joking about who was so silly to convert his Desire S back to a Desire.. sorry for that
The step with the insecure kernel is to flash a stock rom where we know a method to use an exploit on it. Sony prevents unsigned firmware from beeing flashed to their devices (compare ps3 or PSP). Thus we need to make use of an exploit to get access to the device to make rooting possible. As root we are the master of desaster and can do what ever we want.
Warranty? Okay, there is a possibility to relock the bootloader in case you'll run in the case of needing warranty. Otherwise there are ways to make it that unsuable that even the support cannot wake it up thus find no real reason for the error.
This is not an FXP ROM, it is cyanogenmod ported by Team freeXperia and mainly released by FXP. It is almost ready. The smartkeyboard and camera did not work on my selfcompiled one on friday. FXP claimed camera would work. Could be my fault.. who cares. They'll get it fixed.. I think soon.
Yea i am a prior HTC user, have my Desire Z getting fixed as we talk ( i hope so at least ).
So basically the insecure kernel works as an exploit for us to install custom roms on the phones. Cool thanks for the heads up.
Wasnt FXP working with cyanogen to build a kernel from scratch in order for us not to have to go through the hassle of using a modded stock kernel for the Custom ROM's? As far as i can tell this is a breakthrough for Xperia phones since we will be able to have an AOSP base in order to build from there up. Right?
I have the same rooting problem. I use superOnClick and gingerbreak but didn't work.
I'm new to android so that keep searching and reading xda..
Then I start using android sdk & fastboot and adb mode said in one of the topics, but fastboot didn't work even though bootloader is unlocked.
I'm confused, waiting for help
Sent from my ST15i using XDA App
Its all here. Read some posts
Hello everyone, I have just received my beloved white X10a after letting a friend of mine borrow it for almost a year now. I know how to flash ROMS and know some (although very little) about Android tweaking and things like that. Coming back to the X10 forums it seems that the bootloader has finally been unlocked!
I have not unlocked it yet and I am running Donut 2.2 with XperiaS look along with ThKernel 2.6.29. I am enjoying the smoothness and average battery life (this battery is super old so I imagine that it's lasting capabilities have diminished a little). Anyway, I don't use my X10 for much, just a few games like Draw Something, but mostly I like reading manga or e-books and forums. I edit a good bit of pictures as well.
So, what I want to know is am I going to benefit from unlocking my bootloader? I know unlocking it allows so much more control over your phone but since there are not many devs still here in the X10 forums, is it even worth it? Will I benefit from anything by using kernels for unlocked bootloaders with my phone usage? I have never overclocked a phone because I really had no need for it but is it safe to use an overclock-capable kernel but use the native voltage at all times?
Hey pal yeah it is basically as u said there a few nice kernels about now with oc, built in recoveries (xrec, cwm and bootmenu-kernel booting) and many other tweaks and things. Its well worth doin as with flashtool its so easy to do it just one button. There are kernels for locked bl i think but dont know if they as good never used one (i unlocked as soon as the laser released it) id say personally do it
Sent from my X10i using XDA
Locked bootloaders allows you to have custom kernels too, but they're not as advanced as the custom kernels for unlocked bootloaders. If you have a custom kernel that you have in mind to use and it has specific patches/fixes/additions that's only for unlocked bootloader (which you need), you should unlock your bootloader.
Plus, some ROMs requires you to have unlocked bootloaders (i.e. FXP CM7/CM9) as they require their own custom kernels (which has patches/fixes/additions that can only be used/made/added with unlocked bootloaders).
Furthermore, with unlocked bootloader, it allows you to use BOTH custom kernels which were designed for locked and unlocked bootloader thanks to D's BootMan (but you still need to use the recommended kernel for the ROM that you're going to use).
Give it sometime, think about it. Once you've decided, take your action. And make sure to test your USB connection first as if they're broken, you might ended up getting your USB disconnected while in the process of unlocked bootloader (which will result in bricking the phone).
I really appreciate the insight guys.
hi guys,
I've been reading a lot these days, before my x10 mini arrives and I noticed threads are kind of outdated for new (newb) owners like.
Anyway I have my share of experience modding phones so I believe I've collected all necessary tools to achieve a clean cm7 install-
Thing is, supposedly the new phone will be an unlocked 1.6, so I'm wondering if this implies an unlocked bootleader or should I do it anyway-
Should I still try a S1TOOL run? (only after SEMC SIMLOCK CERTIFICATE I know)
Should I upgrade from 16. to 2.1 trough SEUS?
Should I flashtool the 11 naa kernel then?
I guess my question would be if it's actually a direct way to reflash cm7-
Anyway thanks a lot in advance, it's a great forum and I have a lot to learn
regards,
moncho
s1 tool - to make sure you can unlock your boot loader safely
upgrade to 2.1 - required
flastool - no yet.
things to do.
1. update to 2.1
2. make sure the base band is compatible
3. root phone - via super one click (highly suggested)
4. make sure phone can be safely unlocked via s1 tool
5. unlock boot loader
6. flash custom kernel
7. flash custom rom
your phone is actually sim unlocked and does not neccessarily means that the boot loader is unlocked.
btw welcome to xda
just wanted to say I've installed cm 2.2 and it's working flawlessly, thank you developers for your hard work---
Is there a tutorial for it? What you neet to do step by step. And can you use this tutorial http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1682966 for the x10 mini to?
read several tutorials – if you’ve never done it before don’t rush into it
Misreading one line of instructions can mess the whole process up and leave you with a dysfunctional phone. Its not as daunting as it seems.. but you do need to know exactly what to do before you do it.... and while your doing it. Also check compatability with model numbers and software versions
for example my phone is an x10 mini pro but if I take the battery out its actually a u20i
Super one click rooted my phone without problems but i found i had to disable usb debugging and re enable it while it was doing its thing
youtube is also a good source for tutorials
I recommend this kernel and rom from NaA
if you have baseband update, the rest y very easy
the requirements are
bootloader unlocking
updated baseband
1.-search the web, update baseband to the exact model, e10i does not equal the E10A
if you install a firmware for another device, you may lose the 3G signal
2.- this post for unlocking Bootloader
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1481630
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17384177&postcount=3
3.-install the kernel
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1256739
4.-install the rom
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1068553
I used these ones: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1254225 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1779745
help needed to unlock and flash custom rom
ftorga said:
I recommend this kernel and rom from NaA
if you have baseband update, the rest y very easy
the requirements are
bootloader unlocking
updated baseband
1.-search the web, update baseband to the exact model, e10i does not equal the E10A
if you install a firmware for another device, you may lose the 3G signal
2.- this post for unlocking Bootloader
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1481630
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17384177&postcount=3
3.-install the kernel
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1256739
4.-install the rom
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1068553
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HI,
I rooted my sony experia mini e10i successfully using z4root app. now i have to unlock bootloader. what tool should be downloaded , i searched in google., many tools and many views for doing this. i am really confused. Please suggest any good and reliable tool to unlock the bootloader and please also suggest the steps for doing so. should i flash kernel and then rom or both at same time? in some tutorials they said,
1.use CWM ROM manager and flash recovery
2. poweroff and then power on , press back key
3. in recovery mode, wipe all cache,
4. install rom from sd card
Are these steps work fine for me? This is the first time i am trying these flashing custom rom. so am little bit nervous.
Please help....
Hello there.
As many of us, it's also my very first time that i'm attempting to upgrade my x10 mini's android version from 2.1 to 2.3.7 and i'm pretty worry of making it useless (bricking it? )
After spending hours and hours of reading several guides.. i was able to root my xperia, installed and log into CWM (v3.2.0.0-3) successfully. But now i have 15 different guides with 50 different steps to follow.. And now i am pretty stuck upon few basic (yes noobish) questions:
"Unlocking bootloader" means that, after installing CWM or xRecovery, we have to use the flashtool method or are we done with the unlocking part?
After getting done with unlocking bootloader, do we firstly install the new kernel and secondly the new Rom or the opposite?
Is there a way to recognize which Rom requires xRecovery or CWM before its installation?
Thank you in advance!
Ghroth said:
Hello there.
As many of us, it's also my very first time that i'm attempting to upgrade my x10 mini's android version from 2.1 to 2.3.7 and i'm pretty worry of making it useless (bricking it? )
After spending hours and hours of reading several guides.. i was able to root my xperia, installed and log into CWM (v3.2.0.0-3) successfully. But now i have 15 different guides with 50 different steps to follow.. And now i am pretty stuck upon few basic (yes noobish) questions:
"Unlocking bootloader" means that, after installing CWM or xRecovery, we have to use the flashtool method or are we done with the unlocking part?
After getting done with unlocking bootloader, do we firstly install the new kernel and secondly the new Rom or the opposite?
Is there a way to recognize which Rom requires xRecovery or CWM before its installation?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want a ROM that runs on a custom kernel you do need to unlock the bootloader, that's the only tricky part about the whole process
Which order you install kernel and rom doesn't make a difference, as long as the two are meant for each other. That said, it is common practice to install the kernel first and then the ROM.
xRecovery is (usually) only used in old ROMS that run on stock kernel, the 2.3.7 ROM you're aiming for will probably use CWM (Which is included in all custom kernels anyway). Which of the two is required is stated in the opening post of the ROM you choose.
Good luck
SmG67 you're a life saver! God bless you mate. Thank you so much for your fast, clear and accurate reply. The things i was worrying about make sense now. :good:
thnx
SmG67 said:
If you want a ROM that runs on a custom kernel you do need to unlock the bootloader, that's the only tricky part about the whole process
Which order you install kernel and rom doesn't make a difference, as long as the two are meant for each other. That said, it is common practice to install the kernel first and then the ROM.
xRecovery is (usually) only used in old ROMS that run on stock kernel, the 2.3.7 ROM you're aiming for will probably use CWM (Which is included in all custom kernels anyway). Which of the two is required is stated in the opening post of the ROM you choose.
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi there,
thnx for your reply. but I know nobody would teach better than self-learning..... but anyway, nice and quick reply.
Hey, All this night, I tried to unlocking my bootloader but no results, lots of problems many times.
So I want to know If i can install rom who don't need unlocking bootloader and ?
Can you tell me the name of this roms?
I can't stay on 2.3.3 stock xperia x10 because we have LOOOOTS of lags and latence, it's really inssuportable.
So, if you can help me, I'm will be really happy.
Thanks a lots, Lehr