warranty and the bootloader? - Nexus 10 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

If I were to unlock the bootloader, would I be unable to return my device if I chose to (within the return policy of course)? Is there a way to relock it?

specter491 said:
If I were to unlock the bootloader, would I be unable to return my device if I chose to (within the return policy of course)? Is there a way to relock it?
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No one here can give you a guarantee that the manufacturer will accept it but it works fine most of the time. You can re-lock with "fastboot oem lock" in the same way that you would fastboot oem unlock. Even further you can flash the factory stock image back to the device before locking it.

It is a Nexus device, unlocking itself does not void your warranty , by google's own statement .
Although if you flash non factory software, they have the option of not honoring the warranty.

Related

bootloader relocking

I was wondering,
what does the bootloader display when you relock it using the fast boot lock command.
Does it say relocked or locked?
Thanks,
swiftfraser said:
I was wondering,
what does the bootloader display when you relock it using the fast boot lock command.
Does it say relocked or locked?
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It just says locked, just done it with mine
So does that mean that you can restore to complete factory settings and get warranty back?
Sent from my Nexus 7
Yeah, returned mine a few days ago to Tesco UK.
I used Wug's rooting toolkit, but it's your choice what you use. It downloads and flashes the stock image for you, so there is no evidence of root.
Then you use to Lock OEM feature, to re lock the boot loader. They will never know that you unlocked it

Will this work? (Unlock, backup, relock) Warranty Return

I had to submit an RMA to get a new device and return this one. I haven't unlocked/rooted yet, and don't want to return it with an unlocked bootloader.
Will I be able to "fastboot oem unlock" then get Root on the device (WITHOUT CWM), backup with Titanium, then "fastboot oem lock"
Can I get root on the device without putting CWM on there?
Unlocking the bootloader wipes the data partition, including the virtual SD
And AFAIK, there's no way to root without unlocking the bootloader for the N4
Your best bet would be ADB backup I think
http://www.thesuperusersguide.com/adb-backup--restore.html
Ah, ADB Backup - that's a new one to me. Thank you!
Given his original question, will relocking leave any traces? I.E. can it go back for warranty if it's been previously unlocked?
Fmstrat said:
Given his original question, will relocking leave any traces? I.E. can it go back for warranty if it's been previously unlocked?
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Even if it did leave any traces, I doubt you would ever have an issue from it. I've warranty returned a few rooted/unlocked phones including a Galaxy Nexus and a Nexus One and never had an issue with the warranty. Hell, I even sent one Nexus One back to Google still fully rooted and unlocked and never heard anything.
adb backup works well for me. I don't even need root anymore actually! When I upgraded from my stock gnex, I just backed up the few apps that I wanted to preserve data and restored it directly to the N4.
Through the many android devices I've owned, I've gone from flashing roms/modems every other day to leaving the device absolutely stock! With that thought, why am I still on XDA?

[WARNING] Do NOT lock your bootloader when on Android 5.1

The new Device Protection features of Android 5.1 on the Nexus 9 and Nexus 6 can, in certain cases, cause you to have a bootloader which can not be unlocked.
Please have a read of the following links:
https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/6172890?hl=en
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/help/update-to-5-1-lock-bootloader-t3058480
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/relock-bootloader-time-updating-to-5-1-t3053497
What a pita
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
i would never relock my bootloader
people unlock there bootloader for a reason
but to relock it after thats just wrong...
thats one of the things i hate about CM
they recommend you to relock your bootloader...
Agreed, why would you lock your bootloader unless sending in for repairs maybe?
But Google is really messing up the flow. The nexus 6 5.1 OTA is a mess right now but I will leave that for another thread.
Android 5.1 for Nexus 9? You must be joking.
So, I just purchased a Nexus 9 via the 4-hour online-only sale at Best Buy. It was $100 off, couldn't pass it up. My question is: is this likely going to be shipped in such a condition as to prevent me from permanently unlocking the bootloader? Or is a permanent lock something one must deliberately do?
disturbd1 said:
So, I just purchased a Nexus 9 via the 4-hour online-only sale at Best Buy. It was $100 off, couldn't pass it up. My question is: is this likely going to be shipped in such a condition as to prevent me from permanently unlocking the bootloader? Or is a permanent lock something one must deliberately do?
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No no you can still unlock it
But if you relock it that's the problem
disturbd1 said:
So, I just purchased a Nexus 9 via the 4-hour online-only sale at Best Buy. It was $100 off, couldn't pass it up. My question is: is this likely going to be shipped in such a condition as to prevent me from permanently unlocking the bootloader? Or is a permanent lock something one must deliberately do?
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As USBhost said, you'll be able to unlock it. However, when you are first setting it up and are running through the set-up wizard, there will be an option to "Protect Device" or something like that. If you enable it, and re-lock the bootloader, it will put you in a situation where you can only unlock the booloader in certain situations -- and if you happen to have a bootloop with a locked bootloader, that's when you are in trouble.
EDIT: On Nexus devices, I personally unlock the bootloader as soon as I take it out of the box, without first booting into Android, and then leave it unlocked. But of course, you give up some security by doing that.
efrant said:
As USBhost said, you'll be able to unlock it. However, when you are first setting it up and are running through the set-up wizard, there will be an option to "Protect Device" or something like that. If you enable it, and re-lock the bootloader, it will put you in a situation where you can only unlock the booloader in certain situations -- and if you happen to have a bootloop with a locked bootloader, that's when you are in trouble.
EDIT: On Nexus devices, I personally unlock the bootloader as soon as I take it out of the box, without first booting into Android, and then leave it unlocked. But of course, you give up some security by doing that.
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Considering this is a tablet, hopefully I won't lose or misplace it
Thanks, guys! Glad I stumbled across this thread before the thing arrived.
Locking the bootloader doesn't protect you from anything. If the device leaves your physical control in a potentially hostile environment, whatever is on the system or boot partition becomes suspect, regardless of whether the bootloader is locked or unlocked.
doitright said:
Locking the bootloader doesn't protect you from anything. If the device leaves your physical control in a potentially hostile environment, whatever is on the system or boot partition becomes suspect, regardless of whether the bootloader is locked or unlocked.
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Example: I have a device running a stock ROM with no encryption, the stock recovery and a lock screen password. I happen to lose my phone. What happens to the photos of me dancing to Old Time Rock & Roll in my underwear that are stored on the device? If the bootloader is unlocked, someone just plugs it into a PC, boots TWRP and pulls them off. If the bootloader is locked, there is no easy way to see or get the photos off the device.
That is all I was saying about security. Nothing to do with you leaving your device somewhere or losing it, and then finding it again. Strictly about the personal content on the device.
efrant said:
EDIT: On Nexus devices, I personally unlock the bootloader as soon as I take it out of the box, without first booting into Android, and then leave it unlocked. But of course, you give up some security by doing that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought Lollipop always requires you to go in and check the Enable OEM Unlock box? Or is that not true if you never booted into Android even once?
bailyc said:
I thought Lollipop always requires you to go in and check the Enable OEM Unlock box? Or is that not true if you never booted into Android even once?
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If you have never booted into Android, then you don't need to check that setting. As I said, that's the way I did it on my N6: take out of box -> charge -> boot directly into bootloader -> "fastboot oem unlock". No other steps required if you don't boot into Android first.
can i use this guide for safely relock my Bl on Nexus 9 ..... Relocking coz of RMA and warranty purpose as bought from amazon India instead of Play Store
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/guide-safely-lock-bootloader-android-5-1-t3067302
lilliput222 said:
can i use this guide for safely relock my Bl on Nexus 9 ..... Relocking coz of RMA and warranty purpose as bought from amazon India instead of Play Store
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/guide-safely-lock-bootloader-android-5-1-t3067302
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Yes, that should work for the N9 as well.
The bootloader on my Nexus 9 Android 5.1.1 is locked forever due to my mistake
Short backstory:
- I wanted to install the Android M developer Preview for the Nexus 9 but I forgot to check "Enable OEM unlock" in developer options (worst mistake).
- I used adb command to flash the new image but failed somehow
- I carelessly type # fastboot oem lock
- I tried to factory reset from bootloader to bring it back to Stock. Now it couldn't factory reset and my Nexus 9 hangs in a nice boot loop.
- I try # fastboot oem unlock but failed with permission denied error
I tried some ways to save my device but no hopes
- I used Nexus Root Tookit to unlock bootloader or restore image with force mode but failed,
- I follow instruction in HTC dev forum to get identifier token in order to receive your unlock code binary file but failed
- Unluckily, I don't installed any custom recovery.
Please help if you know a way unlock the bootloader or flash the factory ROM to save the nexus 9
quekl84 said:
Please help if you know a way unlock the bootloader or flash the factory ROM to save the nexus 9
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Not possible. You will have to return it to HTC for repair or replacement.
quekl84 said:
Short backstory:
- I wanted to install the Android M developer Preview for the Nexus 9 but I forgot to uncheck "Enable OEM unlock" in developer options (worst mistake).
- I used adb command to flash the new image but failed somehow
- I carelessly type # fastboot oem lock
- I tried to factory reset from bootloader to bring it back to Stock. Now it couldn't factory reset and my Nexus 9 hangs in a nice boot loop.
- I try # fastboot oem unlock but failed with permission denied error
I tried some ways to save my device but no hopes
- I used Nexus Root Tookit to unlock bootloader or restore image with force mode but failed,
- I follow instruction in HTC dev forum to get identifier token in order to receive your unlock code binary file but failed
- Unluckily, I don't installed any custom recovery.
Please help if you know a way unlock the bootloader or flash the factory ROM to save the nexus 9
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u mean u forgot to CHECK to box to allow oem UNLOCK? im confused lol
cobyman7035 said:
u mean u forgot to CHECK to box to allow oem UNLOCK? im confused lol
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Yes, I forgot to check the box to allow oem UNLOCK. And now my device is locked forever.
A quick question: A lot of N9 ROMs require flashing an updated bootloader from the factory image. Aren't these bootloaders locked by default? Can we flash a factory bootloader over a custom ROM?
It seems that we might bork our Nexus 9s if we flash a locked bootloader in.

Re-Lock the bootloader

Is there any possible way to re-lock my bootloader and get back the warranty of my device?
Some buddy posted in my Kernel's thread that you should be able to do:
fastboot reboot oem-lock
But idk if this has some kind of sense and after unlocking BL your device is marked as non-appliable for warranty in Moto's database.
https://firmware.center/firmware/Motorola/Moto G4 Play/
Go to here and find right for your moto g4 play edition. And flash.
Sent from my XT1068 using Tapatalk
abhimanyuk said:
Is there any possible way to re-lock my bootloader and get back the warranty of my device?
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Don't, after unlock you lose the warranty, if you re-lock after, the bootloader status don't go back to when you buyed the device (In the same way it says unlocked in the bootloader, it also says that it has been relocked), so it's useless.
And like facuarmo said:
facuarmo said:
Your device is marked as non-appliable for warranty in Moto's database.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, you can't get your warranty back once you've unlocked the boot loader. The fastboot command mentioned above can be used to re-lock your boot loader but that won't bring back warranty of your device.

Error Locking Bootlader

Hi. I am using this zip to flash Stock ROM and lock bootloader.
But when I run the "fastboot oem lock" command after running all the commands, I get the error: "Still require signed boot.img".
And the bootloader is not locked.
Please help me out.
What reasons are there for wanting to relock? have you decided to go back to stock and can't use android pay etc?
Priezti said:
What reasons are there for wanting to relock? have you decided to go back to stock and can't use android pay etc?
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I want to sell it.
ah right, In that case I can't help as I'm in the same situation, can't relock however I am keeping my device, I was going to suggest Magisk to hide root etc but obviously not what you're looking for now
mstoic said:
Hi. I am using this zip to flash Stock ROM and lock bootloader.
But when I run the "fastboot oem lock" command after running all the commands, I get the error: "Still require signed boot.img".
And the bootloader is not locked.
Please help me out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After fastboot oem lock
Flash boot , oem and all system images then again type fastboot oem lock.
It works for me..
Just so you know, relocking the bootloder does not restore the warranty. You need to let the person you are selling it to know that the warranty is still void. Lenovo keeps track of devices that were unlocked, so even relocking it will not revalidate the warranty.
jbardi said:
Just so you know, relocking the bootloder does not restore the warranty. You need to let the person you are selling it to know that the warranty is still void. Lenovo keeps track of devices that were unlocked, so even relocking it will not revalidate the warranty.
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You mean to say once i ask for unlock code my warranty is voided even if do not unlock after that
milav said:
You mean to say once i ask for unlock code my warranty is voided even if do not unlock after that
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Possibly. Unsure if it is voided upon simply requesting the code or only after actually unlocking it, but it is definitely voided upon a successful unlock.
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
jbardi said:
Just so you know, relocking the bootloder does not restore the warranty. You need to let the person you are selling it to know that the warranty is still void. Lenovo keeps track of devices that were unlocked, so even relocking it will not revalidate the warranty.
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Click to collapse
Sure, I will let them know. But locking can still benefit if the service center guy only checks for bootloader unlock status.
mstoic said:
Sure, I will let them know. But locking can still benefit if the service center guy only checks for bootloader unlock status.
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Have you succeeded in relocking??
milav said:
Have you succeeded in relocking??
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Not yet. Can't get the answer anywhere.
mstoic said:
Not yet. Can't get the answer anywhere.
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So above mentioned method is not working hmmm

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