Database Users

Rooting : Gingerbreak vs bootloader unlock + fastboot flash

What would be the difference between these 2 methods of rooting for XPERIA Arc?
I know Gingerbreak is much easier to do than the other one. But, is there any limitations to what Gingerbreak can do compared with the other method ?
Since bootloader is still in locked state, that means those who did it with Gingerbreak still have their warranty valid, right? What about the installation of future custom ROM ? Would the devices rooted with Gingerbreak have no chance to install custom ROM because the bootloader is locked ?
Sorry, I'm pretty much confused atm about rooting the Arc.

My understanding is unlocking the bootloader does not give you root. Even those with unlocked bootloaders must root using either ginger break or the other method.
Having the bootloader unlocked will allow for installing custom roms though, when recovery is sorted. Those of us with locked bootloaders will have to hope for a workaround at a later date.
As for warranties...who knows on this one. SE have allowed the unlocking of bootloaders saying it "may" void warranty. Theres nothing to say rooting will void it. Personally I think the only way you will void it is if you brick it whilst fiddling with it. I think any hardware issues will be sorted regardless. (but thats my opinion, dont take it as gospel)

Rooting is rooting, it doesn't really matter what the mechanics of it are, if it's successful then the outcome is the same.
As for the two methods, yes, GingerBreak seems to be the simplest so for most people there's really no reason not to do that. If it fails and you have a handset you can unlock the bootloader on, then you can always do it the other way if need be.
When it comes to custom ROMs, there's a good chance that having an unlocked bootloader will be a requirement, to begin with at least.
It's possible that someone will find a way to offer custom ROMs for locked bootloaders but it's just more work.

if the buutloader remains unlocked your phone can ALWAYS be repaired through seus, the bootloader needs to be unlocked for the phone to be bricked . also flashing of custom roms may not require the bootloader to be unlocked - as is the case with the x10. as far as i know though the bootloader needs to be unlocked to flash new kernals but there is a workaround that for the time being with the ability to flash the various basebands. my bootloader will remain locked for the timebeing - its a sure failsafe if anything goes wrong

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I had this concept of "If you don't root your phone, you can't install custom ROM" and "If your bootloader is locked, you can't install custom ROM" before I found this Gingerbreak rooting method. (i.e. boot loader unlock -> can root -> can install custom ROM)
But just before it was conflicting because with Gingerbreak root your phone, but it seemed to me that you can't install custom ROM because the bootloader is locked. However they said "If you root your phone you can install custom ROM".
So for this time being, taking out the question whether custom ROM (which no one yet to make it for Arc) can be installed, I think it's safe to say : "Gingerbreak rooting with busybox installed gives you the same capabilities to bootloader unlocking + fastboot flashing", right?

more or less......

x10 was never unlocked bootloader，how many custom ROM out there？
cheers
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App

ArcOnFire said:
"Gingerbreak rooting with busybox installed gives you the same capabilities to bootloader unlocking + fastboot flashing", right?
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Not exactly. You can't flash custom .imgs via fastboot if you don't unlock the bootloader.
And I don't understand why people think that phone can be totally bricked if you unlock the bootloader...

sorry to say that，unlock bootloader seems waste of wait of time，if gingerbreak works
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App

blagus said:
Not exactly. You can't flash custom .imgs via fastboot if you don't unlock the bootloader.
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Well... yes, I already thrown that factor out when I asked my question.
But looking at the history, is there any case a custom ROM can be installed on a phone with bootloader still in locked state?

This is AFAIK
SE uses locked bootloaders for three reasons
1- A secure place to put DRM certificates.
2- A secure place to SIM lock the phone
3- A secure way to forbid modifying the software, as the bootloader will require a signed software in order for it to boot it ( If I'm not mistaken this is the problem with X10 unlockable bootloader as it's just hard to sign an image, correct me if I'm wrong ). the signed software thing is meant to be for not bringing bad software that may damage the phone
After SE saw that a lot of peoples want to install custom ROM's into their phones without too much hassle and a lot of them understand the risks of this so they decided to make it possible to unlock the bootloader but they want it to be the right way...
1- First the DRM certificates will be deleted as installing custom ROM's with exposed DRM certificates can bring serious legal problems to SE ( as this will mean the ability to save a digital unprotected copy of a DRM protected media )
2- SIM locked phones are excluded from this bootloader unlocking as this can make it easy to unlock the SIM lock so this will put SE in a bad position between operators..
3- As the main reason for unlocking the bootloader is installing custom ROM's and this is what the community want's SE made a bold statement here that doing so will violate the warranty as SE can't guarantee what a custom ROM may do to the phone...

but x10 has recovery
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App

The Arc isn't the X10.

Boring. This is a first time i use SE phone. I think this is also a last time. I will come back with HTC. There are no custom and no one with cook custom rom for SE device already

justbenice said:
Boring. This is a first time i use SE phone. I think this is also a last time. I will come back with HTC. There are no custom and no one with cook custom rom for SE device already
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How many time passed from exit of ARC???

justbenice said:
Boring. This is a first time i use SE phone. I think this is also a last time. I will come back with HTC. There are no custom and no one with cook custom rom for SE device already
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sorry ... I have from only 3 weeks the Arc and already have bootloader unlocked and Root ...
I think you're just a little patience

From what I gather, they can't refuse a warantee repair if it is a hardware fault, not caused by the unlocked software (as it is a problem with their manufacturing, and therefore their fault), but if you mess your phone up with something due to the unlocked bootloader they can (for example, you overheat your CPU with an overclock or something).

chriscpritchard said:
From what I gather, they can't refuse a warantee repair if it is a hardware fault, not caused by the unlocked software (as it is a problem with their manufacturing, and therefore their fault), but if you mess your phone up with something due to the unlocked bootloader they can (for example, you overheat your CPU with an overclock or something).
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That's what I heard too. As long as you didn't mess with you phone in some way, they can't prove that the hardware fault came from the modified software and should therefore repair your phone nonetheless. I guess that's why they say that unlocking the bootloader MAY void one's warranty.

have rooted thro' gingerbreak - but am am getting frequent random reboots. while calling or recieving. can anyone help me with this.

[Q] Need Confirmation Please

Around last week when I first got my carrier locked Xperia PLAY, I purchased a network unlock code which I was able to unlock it with. So, then I flashed it with the UK Generic .184 FTF file with FlashTool to get rid of all the junk that my carrier included with it and rooted it using the GingerBreak APK.
Now, my question is, since I've network unlocked my PLAY, completely debranded it and rooted it, would I be able to unlock my bootloader now? From what I've read, since my device was originally locked from my carrier, that it never had Fastboot installed on it, which is needed to unlock my bootloader. But I also read that being able to unlock the bootloader on my Xperia PLAY shouldn't even matter because it's already set to S=OFF. Could someone please enlighten me on this?

You can't unlock your bootloader with the current method, it depends on two things: can your phone connect with fastboot when in bootloader mode AND is your IMEI number registered with SE to get the required unlockcode.

No you can only unlock GSM phones ie sim fee none network locked ones, unlocking the sim carrier wont count sadly

svenk919 said:
You can't unlock your bootloader with the current method, it depends on two things: can your phone connect with fastboot when in bootloader mode AND is your IMEI number registered with SE to get the required unlockcode.
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Yes, I went to their How-To page on the SE Developer's site and was able to get an unlock code by providing my IMEI and other info. When I try to detect it with Fastboot and my PLAY in bootloader mode, Fastboot just hangs at <waiting for device>.
waz000000 said:
No you can only unlock GSM phones ie sim fee none network locked ones, unlocking the sim carrier wont count sadly
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Cool, thanks for confirming that!
But does it even matter if I'm able to unlock my bootloader? Because I've read somewhere that the PLAY's are set to S=OFF.

From my understanding an unlocked bootloader is necessary for costum roms, if you're content with root and themes unlocking the bootloader won't be that important to you I guess.

I'm pretty content with being able to install custom themes with it only rooted. But I want to be able to overclock it, and that involves flashing a custom kernel to be able to do so, correct?

Flava0ne said:
I'm pretty content with being able to install custom themes with it only rooted. But I want to be able to overclock it, and that involves flashing a custom kernel to be able to do so, correct?
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afraid so (as it stands atm) there probably will be a way to flash without an unlock at some point though.

[Q] Help with Rooting my Play

I need some quick advice regarding rooting my Play, I have a UK Xperia Play I updated it to Android 2.3.3 using the PC software. From what I have read its possible to root the device by unlocking the bootloader and flashing the Rooted ROM in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1098736.
Now what I am unsure of is that in that thread it reccomends flashing the Unrooted ROM first. But have I effectively already done this by updating?
My baseband is 7X30A-AAABQMZAM-1290_21-22 and I am on build number 3.0.1.A.0.145 My build number matches that in the aforementioned post so I think it will work.
I just wanted some clarification before I jump in

If you unlock your bootloader you will not get updates from SE anymore neither through SEUS or OTA (voids warranty too). If you try to update after unlocking your boot you will brick your device.
It should work if you just flash the rooted rom and if it doesn't no problem all you have to do is flash the unrooted rom as mentioned then the rooted on top. Flashing fw using flashtools is basically the same as using SEUS to update/repair. So as long as you DO NOT use SEUS or ota to ever update your phone again after unlocking your bootloader you will be ok.

TehH4rRy said:
I need some quick advice regarding rooting my Play, I have a UK Xperia Play I updated it to Android 2.3.3 using the PC software. From what I have read its possible to root the device by unlocking the bootloader and flashing the Rooted ROM in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1098736.
Now what I am unsure of is that in that thread it reccomends flashing the Unrooted ROM first. But have I effectively already done this by updating?
My baseband is 7X30A-AAABQMZAM-1290_21-22 and I am on build number 3.0.1.A.0.145 My build number matches that in the aforementioned post so I think it will work.
I just wanted some clarification before I jump in
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Click to collapse
first off all, you need to check wether your device will connect in fastboot mode, (Turn power off, hold the search key and connect usb) as some branded or sim locked devices have had this blocked, you wont need to flash the .tft because you will have the new baseband already, aslong as you can unlock your bootloader, your free just to flash the rooted .img, as the above poster has mentioned though, if you unlock your bootloader, you will invalidate your warrenty, and forfit any official support from sony and seus

Thanks for that guys, Yeah I know all the stuff about unlocking bootloaders and the details. My phone isn't SIM locked I got it SIMfree off of Amazon. I got it into fastboot mode earlier just to see if fastboot recognised it.
I shall be rooting it in the near future.

How can I downgrade my XC from N to MM without unlocking the BL?

Hi, I want to backup my TA/DRM key. However the "Universal (Dirtycow-based) TA Backup v2" seems not compatible with Android Nougat. It asked me to downgrade my device first. Is there a way to downgrade Xperia X Compact without unlocking it (or without losing the DRM key)? Thanks.

yjcbn said:
Hi, I want to backup my TA/DRM key. However the "Universal (Dirtycow-based) TA Backup v2" seems not compatible with Android Nougat. It asked me to downgrade my device first. Is there a way to downgrade Xperia X Compact without unlocking it (or without losing the DRM key)? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just use the flashtool, you don't need to be unlocked to flash firmware.

XperienceD said:
Just use the flashtool, you don't need to be unlocked to flash firmware.
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Thanks! Sucessfully downgrade to 6.0.1 and make a backup of the TA/DRM key just now.

XperienceD said:
Just use the flashtool, you don't need to be unlocked to flash firmware.
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Click to collapse
Another question. My phone is showing up "Bootloader unlock allowed: No" in the Service Menu. I've already turn on "OEM unlocking" and "USB debugging" (
authorized, and confirmed all the necessary drivers were installed).
The "Unlock your boot loader" site is saying that "It will only be possible to unlock the boot loader for certain releases." Does that means I should flash another firmware with differnt region or Android version? I've already tried to downgrade my phone to MM again, however the issue still exists. Thanks.
P.s. I am able to get the unlock code from the "Unlock your boot loader" site.

yjcbn said:
Another question. My phone is showing up "Bootloader unlock allowed: No" in the Service Menu. I've already turn on "OEM unlocking" and "USB debugging" (
authorized, and confirmed all the necessary drivers were installed).
The "Unlock your boot loader" site is saying that "It will only be possible to unlock the boot loader for certain releases." Does that means I should flash another firmware with differnt region or Android version? I've already tried to downgrade my phone to MM again, however the issue still exists. Thanks.
P.s. I am able to get the unlock code from the "Unlock your boot loader" site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your phone says that is is NOT allowed... sorry, but it is not possible.
Even though Sony is happy for us to unlock the bootloader, if the carrier/operator (verizon, o2, virgin, etc) wants - these companies can ask Sony to stop the bootloader from being unlocked.
Sim lock is one thing... at least that can be removed. I have no idea why they would choose to prevent the bootloader from being unlocked.
Actually, maybe because in some countries the consumer laws are very good, so even if you root or something, your warranty still exists.
But if you cannot unlock the bl -> you can't root -> less device problems/bricks -> less money on repairs for the phone operator? (just an idea)
The first (used) Xperia X Compact I bought, it was carrier branded, and the bootloader was unable to be unlocked.
I talked to the shop owner, I chose the other device in stock, it was unbranded, I could unlock it

qvmuhuuxz said:
If your phone says that is is NOT allowed... sorry, but it is not possible.
Even though Sony is happy for us to unlock the bootloader, if the carrier/operator (verizon, o2, virgin, etc) wants - these companies can ask Sony to stop the bootloader from being unlocked.
Sim lock is one thing... at least that can be removed. I have no idea why they would choose to prevent the bootloader from being unlocked.
Actually, maybe because in some countries the consumer laws are very good, so even if you root or something, your warranty still exists.
But if you cannot unlock the bl -> you can't root -> less device problems/bricks -> less money on repairs for the phone operator? (just an idea)
The first (used) Xperia X Compact I bought, it was carrier branded, and the bootloader was unable to be unlocked.
I talked to the shop owner, I chose the other device in stock, it was unbranded, I could unlock it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your answer. Though it's a bad news for me. [emoji30]

Since it's impossible to unlock my device, can I just modify the FTF and flash it through the Flashtool? If it's possible, then how to modify the FTF file? I want to change the font into another.

yjcbn said:
Since it's impossible to unlock my device, can I just modify the FTF and flash it through the Flashtool?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. If you've still got time to return it do so now otherwise your modding is going to be limited.

TA-1116: bootloader and root

Hello,
I have a brand new TA-1116, on Android One 10.
Of course i'd love to unlock bootloader, install TWRP and root it.
It's unclear for me what i should do:
1) downgrade to DRG237B firmware (Anyone can confirm my TA1116 can use this downgrade without risk ?) to go to Orea 8.1
2) order an unlock code (where, please ? i found unlocklocks.com but i don't see the price).
3) go into dev mode to toggle unlock bootloader (mandatory ?)
4) fastboot flash unlock <my_unlock_file>
5) install TWRP fastboot flash recovery <twrp latest>
6) flash magisk from twrp for systemless root
Any advice is welcome
If you can root without Magisk, i'd like too. I need to run titanium backup and get rid of that BABE app (??? wtf Nokia ???) and more apps i don't need.
Thank you VM !

Answer: the downgrade is not possible without unlocked BL.
The unlock service does not need to go back to 07/2018, it is a matter of minutes and everything is left unlocked. Yay !

Graveen said:
Answer: the downgrade is not possible without unlocked BL.
The unlock service does not need to go back to 07/2018, it is a matter of minutes and everything is left unlocked. Yay !
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Click to collapse
Hello,
I am very happy when seeing this post. Can you help me to unlock bootloader & root for the Nokia 6.1 plus TA-1116.
My last security patch is 2020-07
Thanks,

Bootloader unlock isn't officially or in a free manner supported, it's a paid service, join the telegram community for the device there are bl unlockers for different time zones contact anyone with your timezone for the service it's approx $6-7
Do not hover over random sites there's been only one site from the beginning that I can't mention here, bootloader unlock and other services, get this job done over telegram and save yourself the hassle.