Database Users

Unlock Bootloader - Lose DRM keys Hysteria :)

I cant hold myself back to share my thoughts about general hysteria about unlocking bootloader and therefore losing DRM keys. While I understand, that many users are pissed off, there are some points to consider before putting blame on Sony:
- losing DRM keys in no way cripples or disables hardware in your phone. DRM keys protect some "exclusive" functions that Sony offers to users of its Stock ROMs, mainly Camera and Display Enhancements.
- Its up to you, to decide whether you want to go on with pure Iron and add functions you want, including any Image enhancements you want to add on top of raw data processing, or go full blown Sony with all bells and whistles.
- One should be clear, what he needs unlocking bootloader for. Root only, or Custom ROM/CM.
- even without "artificial" enhancements to Camera and Display, Z3 (and Z2 as well) is impressive piece of hardware and it will be pleasure to run swift clean Android/CM on it
- I blame Sony of course for not telling users the full story behind unlocking bootloader. It would be fair from Sony to offer re-flashing Stock including DRM to users, who unlocked bootloader before they knew that they will lose certain software functionality.
Howgh.

For me it's more about losing the warranty

ziemny said:
For me it's more about losing the warranty
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Well, that's quite obvious It would be awesome to have hardware warranty separate

I'm using remote play so I do not want to loose my DRM keys...

You can root with giefroot (works in some versions) backup TA partition and then unlock.

3x3cUt0r said:
You can root with giefroot (works in some versions) backup TA partition and then unlock.
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The point is that giefroot works seldom. I cant use it, at least not now, simply doesnt work on certain models. Having TA/DRM backed up is good, but only for eventual reflashing stock. Maybe in future there will be some use for your DRM keys in CM or other ROM if there will be app requiring it or somebody makes Sony apps working..

SweDunda said:
I'm using remote play so I do not want to loose my DRM keys...
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If you root without unlocking the bootloader, do you still lose the DRM keys? I use Remote Play as well and that would really suck to have to choose between root or remote play and usable pics from the camera. I'm on a D6616 (T Mobile), so rooting doesn't work with the existing method yet, but hopefully it will soon.

jordanyork said:
If you root without unlocking the bootloader, do you still lose the DRM keys?
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No. And after you can back the TA partition up and restore it whenever you like. The TA partition contains your DRM keys.

Newt182 said:
No. And after you can back the TA partition up and restore it whenever you like. The TA partition contains your DRM keys.
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Fantastic! I'll just sit here and wait patiently for D6616 support. Thanks for the reply.

jordanyork said:
Fantastic! I'll just sit here and wait patiently for D6616 support. Thanks for the reply.
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I'm with you. I'm just going to creep xda till somthing amazing happens lol.

4.4 roms would be great imo, dont know why noone pays them attention

So from what I gathered you can root first, backup TA which includes the DRM Keys, then unlock bootloader?
Then if one wants to restore the DRM keys, restore the TA DRM backup and lock bootloader? and the phone is back to stock with the super duper enhancements? Correct?
Someone kindly confirm the above as im looking to pick one up if there is a backup / restore option available?
I will be looking to purchase a UK model.
Thanks.

nrd\ said:
So from what I gathered you can root first, backup TA which includes the DRM Keys, then unlock bootloader?
Then if one wants to restore the DRM keys, restore the TA DRM backup and lock bootloader? and the phone is back to stock with the super duper enhancements? Correct?
Someone kindly confirm the above as im looking to pick one up if there is a backup / restore option available?
I will be looking to purchase a UK model.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before restoring, flash to stock first. And then restore drm keys.

How can you restore drm keys without root??? surely it needs block level access to that flash partition???
Anyway, only reason I want root is to re-enable r/w access to sd card, which apparently lolipop will have anyway
g

With plain root, what would i loose? The dilemma is loosing something special out of a special phone. And whats drm to be exact? Sorry for being such a noob. The last time i explored rooting and custom roms are back when i was using an r800i Xperia Play.

bhavei said:
With plain root, what would i loose? The dilemma is loosing something special out of a special phone. And whats drm to be exact? Sorry for being such a noob. The last time i explored rooting and custom roms are back when i was using an r800i Xperia Play.
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Click to collapse
You will lose nothing. Unless you unlock the bootloader which will mess with the TA, from there then you'll lose Sony abracadabra magic image processing and low light camera performance. DRM = TA
DRM is unique for each device, if I were to give you my DRM and you restore it, you'll hard brick your device for sure. It's like an identity card or a car plate (hopefully you get the idea) DRM is the one in charge of the magic sony has. This bad boy is very sensitive, be sure to back it up if you want to unlock bootloader.
All in all, root doesn't disturb this bad boy in his deep sleep lol
Cheers,
T

Any chance that lifelog is affected by the loss of drm keys as well? It stopped tracking since unlocked...
Julián

Google Camera
Is the DRM for the camera only for the Sony camera? If I unlock the bootloader and use the google camera from the play store will it be worse than using the stock camera when it was locked?

Thanks Thraxzzz for the Idea, i now get it, i guess i was Looking for a General "need to know" thread here is the General but there's none "i guess" i have a full understanding "somehow" now. It wasn't this complicated back then when i still have my r800i, maybe someone should start a Sticky Thread about abbreviations and what must and must not. If i rushed in and unlocked my Bootloader, then i could have lost what i actually paid for from the beginning. Its interesting to start learning the do's and don't.

which app to use to backup ta (drm keys)?

What do I lose if I don't back up the TA and lose the DRM Keys?

I was thinking of skipping the firmware downgrade, TA backup, and firmware re-upgrade steps of flashing a ROM (or possibly compiling the AOSP source code as described on the Sony website), and just skipping straight to bootloader unlock. I understand this will wipe the DRM keys from my device; what do I lose access to when I lose those keys? Will it mean I can't use Gapps and other common apps, or is it just certain Sony-branded features?

yanom said:
I was thinking of skipping the firmware downgrade, TA backup, and firmware re-upgrade steps of flashing a ROM (or possibly compiling the AOSP source code as described on the Sony website), and just skipping straight to bootloader unlock. I understand this will wipe the DRM keys from my device; what do I lose access to when I lose those keys? Will it mean I can't use Gapps and other common apps, or is it just certain Sony-branded features?
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I'm relatively new to this phone, but on my previous Xperias, (Z1c and Z3c), it meant only that there was a subtle decrease in photo quality, (some Sony camera feature is tied up in ta). It only affected stock fw, so didn't make a difference on anything CM / AOSP base. I'm not sure if it's different with X phones. I had an XA for a few months, and didn't bother to back up ta, and I didn't notice any difference. I think it's more of a thing for people who are serious about photos.
However, I will say that I did back up ta on this phone, just because I wasn't sure of the effect it would have, and it's pretty simple to do. Yes, it's a little annoying to wait for ftf download, and wait for Flashtool, but it's not such a big deal...

Before sending to service

Hello,
Is it possible relock bootloader + restore drm keys?
I need to do that, because i want sent my device to service.
Is it enought or should i do something more?
How to do that?
Thank you

You can relock your bootloader through flashtool and you can restore your DRM Keys only if you did a backup before unlocking.

marcogiannetta said:
You can relock your bootloader through flashtool and you can restore your DRM Keys only if you did a backup before unlocking.
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Okay.
After doing that, can they recognize that bootloader was relocked and DRM keys was restored?

pajos.gabros said:
Okay.
After doing that, can they recognize that bootloader was relocked and DRM keys was restored?
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I think they - through sony (as you requested a unlockcode for your imei) - will be able to tell it has been unlocked.
But I sent my device for service multiple times, I re-locked my bootloader and flashed stock, without restoring drm - never heard anything about it.

Root nougat

Hi, I have some questions... I have 7.1.1 stock room, I want to root... The only thing that I have to do is flash this kernel https://forum.xda-developers.com/x-compact/development/kernel-xc-genesis-kernel-v1-01-t3525060/, then the Twrp, and the magisk?
That's it?
Because I read that I have to do a backup TA, and drm, and I do not know what that is, is it necessary?
Thanks, and sorry I noob ?

manuel1496 said:
Hi, I have some questions... I have 7.1.1 stock room, I want to root... The only thing that I have to do is flash this kernel https://forum.xda-developers.com/x-compact/development/kernel-xc-genesis-kernel-v1-01-t3525060/, then the Twrp, and the magisk?
That's it?
Because I read that I have to do a backup TA, and drm, and I do not know what that is, is it necessary?
Thanks, and sorry I noob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TA partition includes certain files related to camera quality. So, if you don't back it up, you will lose it permanantly when you unlock the bootloader, (which is typically required for any custom kernel). If you're not too hung up on camera quality, you might not miss it. The difference is noticeable, but small. Backing up the TA will probably require a downgrade to MM.

levone1 said:
TA partition includes certain files related to camera quality. So, if you don't back it up, you will lose it permanantly when you unlock the bootloader, (which is typically required for any custom kernel). If you're not too hung up on camera quality, you might not miss it. The difference is noticeable, but small. Backing up the TA will probably require a downgrade to MM.
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OK! Well I unlocked the bootloader 2 years ago, so... I supuse that a lost the camera's quality and I'm fine. What is drm? And what comes?. Thank so much.

manuel1496 said:
OK! Well I unlocked the bootloader 2 years ago, so... I supuse that a lost the camera's quality and I'm fine. What is drm? And what comes?. Thank so much.
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Drm has to do with ta also, so it's not an issue for you. There is something out there called 'drm fix' which is supposed to mimic the effects that you lost when you wiped ta, but if you're fine with the camera, don't worry about it. You should be able to flash Genesis kernel and have root, if you are planning on staying on N...

levone1 said:
Drm has to do with ta also, so it's not an issue for you. There is something out there called 'drm fix' which is supposed to mimic the effects that you lost when you wiped ta, but if you're fine with the camera, don't worry about it. You should be able to flash Genesis kernel and have root, if you are planning on staying on N...
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OK ok, well to finish, I flash the Genesis kernel, then the Twrp, and the magisk. Right?

manuel1496 said:
OK ok, well to finish, I flash the Genesis kernel, then the Twrp, and the magisk. Right?
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Should be fine. You might want to reboot after each one, just in case something doesn't work, so you know where the problem is... Read Genesis thread carefully to make sure you get the right version, etc...

How to root without reseting the device

and keep all data/apps installed.
Is this possible?
Thanks

xanthos84 said:
and keep all data/apps installed.
Is this possible?
Thanks
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It's unlocking the bootloader that wipes your device. If you've already done that, rooting won't wipe it.

spotmark said:
It's unlocking the bootloader that wipes your device. If you've already done that, rooting won't wipe it.
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I understand. So its not possible to unlock the bootloader without wiping, correct?
And is it possible to go back (locking the bootloader) and reseting to factory default? Or do I lose something (like Knox on Samsung devices)

xanthos84 said:
I understand. So its not possible to unlock the bootloader without wiping, correct?
And is it possible to go back (locking the bootloader) and reseting to factory default? Or do I lose something (like Knox on Samsung devices)
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Click to collapse
If you haven't unlocked your bootloader, you don't have a choice, you're going to lose your data. Yes, you can go back to stock and locked pretty much whenever you'd like. Just don't try to re-lock the bootloader if you have any mods. This is my first OnePlus device, but it sounds like the restore tool can be used to restore to stock/locked regardless of any mods you may have, but don't take my word for it, do your homework first.

Do a backup and open the bootloader, you only have to do It once, and then, you could root when you want without lose anything.