I am about to get my phone back from repair, it's sitting at 4.4.2. I don't want to unlock the BL but would eventually want root and probably to force an update to 4.4.4 if my provider doesn't have it.
Do I need to backup TA just to root? To install the dual recovery? To flash FTF? I understand that it's usually good practice anyways, but which operations actually muck with the partition?
only Bootloader unlocking will wipe your TA
nothing else
Related
Hello,
I'm in need of some clarification regarding TA backup. After reading several threads I came to the conclution that it's best to backup TA before unlocking bootloader and so on. Current build is 257 without any modifications made.
Since I can't backup TA without root and cannot root without flashing from 257 to 532, is it possible to flash 532, root, backup TA, then flash back to 257 and restore TA backup? I'd imagine that they have information about my phone being 257 when it was shipped and refuse to repair the phone.
Did some searching and couldn't find an answer to this.
Guides I've had a look at:
Flashtool guide.
How to root 14.1.B.2.257 using OTA
You won't lose your TA, so you can downgrade and root as much as you want. The only way you'll lose your TA is if you unlock your bootloader, which you don't need to do when you just want to root. You'll have to unlock it if you want to flash CM, PAC or other custom ROMs.
Downgrade to 532, root, backup TA (just so you have it), update through OTA to 257 and you're done.
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk
LordManhattan said:
You won't lose your TA, so you can downgrade and root as much as you want. The only way you'll lose your TA is if you unlock your bootloader, which you don't need to do when you just want to root. You'll have to unlock it if you want to flash CM, PAC or other custom ROMs.
Downgrade to 532, root, backup TA (just so you have it), update through OTA to 257 and you're done.
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent! Thank you for the clarification. TA has nothing to do with the build then?
Also, is there any disadvantages to this when it can be restored to original state with the backup? Thinking about unlocking bootloader etc later.
Correct, your TA folder has your Ultra's unique DRM keys etc. and it's tied to your device itself and not the ROM, so you can go ahead and flash stock ROMs as much as you want without worrying about it.
And no, there are no real disadvantages to it. The only thing that will be changed after unlocking it is that X-Reality will no longer work, but it'll be back to normal once you restore your TA and relock the bootloader.
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk
Hello guys
I am probably getting my self an xperia z2 this week...
So my question is:
Since i go mad when i get a new phone(desperate need to flash everything out there such as roms, kernels etc) , I need to know what do i lose if i unlock my bootloader and if i do lose something can i get it back?
Please answer only if you are certain of what you are talking about, i want to be free of doubt if possible
There is a lot of debate on what is lost/broken when you unlock the bootloader. As far as I'm aware X-reality, Super Vivid, noise cancelling, and a few other things get lost. It is able to back them up (By Backing the Ta partition up) and restore them at a later date, restoring them re-locks the bootloader though. To back the TA partition up you have to be rooted, you can find guides for that in the general section (there is no one click root method for 23.x.x.x.x.x firmwares btw). @Envious_Data you got any more info on the subject?
from my testing
you lose:
warrenty (region spesific/carrier/international)
X-Reality
Bionz Image processing
the last one effects camera quality but isnt a complete death of camera quality its somewhat worse but its not something to complain about because the device is still able to perform well
x-reality only works in the album app so no need to worry unless you like your pictures being slightly oversaturated and super sharp
i recomend downgrading to 314 via FTF>flashtool and rooting the device so you can backup your TA using the TA backup tool
after you have backed up your TA, store it somewhere safe, google drive, usb stick anywhere you wont lose it
unlock your bootloader and have fun, so long as you dont brick your device
Guys, I'm new to Sony Xperia Z2. Yesterday I backed up my TA partition with TWRP, today I unlocked the bootloader. May I safely restore the TA partition when the bootloader is unlocked, and even after I update the firmware?
I have read a few warnings that wrong TA may permanently hard-brick the device. So, that's why I am afraid.
if you restore someone elses TA it'll brick your device
you have to be on a stock kernel to restore your TA as doing this will relock your bootloader
Then that's fine. The kernel and entire firmware has not changed yet. TA backup is mine.
This guide answered all of my questions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2642081
Hi guys I'm just wondering what feature/s am I going to loose when I unlock the Bootloader of my Z2?
You are going to loose BionZ, X-Reality and Noise Cancelling functionality
and youre gonna lose warranty because you will lose TA partition which includes DRM keys so before you do this just backup your TA partition search in google you will figure out how, and whenever you feel you wanna get back to stock and relock bootloader just restore the TA partition and you will get back to normal
Can anyone tell us if reflashing the stock rom over a custom rom will reinstate the LOCKED BOOTLOADER and the DRM KEYS!
Your help is always appreciated, Thanks in advance.
Will not reinstall them. After unlocking of bootloader DRM keys are gone forever. The only way to keep DRM keys is before unlocking of bootloader to make backup of TA partition.
valyo_bg said:
Will not reinstall them. After unlocking of bootloader DRM keys are gone forever. The only way to keep DRM keys is before unlocking of bootloader to make backup of TA partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every thread i have been on, require us to root the device first!
So does that mean we cant backup TA Partition for DRM KEYS? As for root bootloader should be unlocked for this device.
With Lollipop phone can be rooted without unlocking of boot loader. Then you can make backup of TA partition. After backup phone can be upgraded to Marshmallow, then bootloader can be unlocked and phone rooted. In fact my phone also is rooted, I don't need DRM keys and don't make backup of TA partition. Why you need backup of DRM keys?
valyo_bg said:
With Lollipop phone can be rooted without unlocking of boot loader. Then you can make backup of TA partition. After backup phone can be upgraded to Marshmallow, then bootloader can be unlocked and phone rooted. In fact my phone also is rooted, I don't need DRM keys and don't make backup of TA partition. Why you need backup of DRM keys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for such a fast response.
The reason is because i really want to root my device. But people over net sometimes complain for issues at camera(quality reduction and non functionality) after unlocking bootloader. I dont even know if these are really related. I just wanted to be ready if anything happens.
Please tell having a TA BACKUP for DRM, is that necessary or not. And TA BACKUP from my lollipop will work at my marshmallow as well ryt!
My phone is rooted and don't find any quality problem with camera or something else .
So I rooted this phone 1 or 2 years ago and now I want to give this phone to my uncle. I read on some other sites to remove the root you just have to delete some folders etc and you're good. I did that but twrp is still on the phone.
I want to make it so the phone is no longer rooted and relock the bootloader so that it doesn't have the "do not trust this device" message on it
The build number it has installed is 34.4.A.2.85
hello. I'm XP docomo user here. let me tell you about my experience here. my bootloader unlock allowed was initially no. i backed up my ta partition before i force my bootloader allow to be yes. it was a successful attempt and i went straight unlocking my bootloader. then i attempted to flash back my ta for fun. the bootloader was automatically locked and the allow was no again. twrp recovery also gone lol. i don't know whether this will okay for you
the main point is backup your ta partition before unlocking the bootloader. it has drm keys which really vital to xperia camera as well as x reality mode/ super vivid. once you unlocked the bootloader, the drm keys will be gone for good unless you've it backed up.
i think restoring the ta partition which is created before unlock is the best way to relock the bootloader again.
first restore the ta partition, download latest firmware on xperifirm, use flashtool to flash ftf created by xperifirm. then, voila.
friendly reminder, flash only ftf supported for your variant. (eg. flash only f8131 ftf for f8131, SO-04H ftf for SO-04H, etc)
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLASH OTHER PERSON'S TA PARTITION OR YOU WILL GET ETERNITY HARD BRICK
If you didn't back up your TA partition, you can NOT unlock, as the previous poster said, trying to flash one from a different device will irrecoverably brick your one.
You can flash stock with Flashtool (the one by Androxyde, not Sony Flash Tool, they are different) though. While at it, you might give SailfishOS and Ubuntu Touch (alternative, Linux-based OSes) a shot.