Hi,
a few weeks ago I bought the SE Xperia Play and so far I love it. But I know there is more going on in the Android world. So I browsed through the Xperia Play sections and read trough a couple of threads to get answers to most of my questions I had.
But there are still a few remaining, which are:
1) Is there a way to backup the WHOLE phone ? By "whole phone" I mean TA/GDFS areas as well. My current phone is still in it's stock form, here are a few infos:
Modelnumber: R800i
Android version: 2.3.2
Baseband version: ....-1290_14-10
Kernel: 2.6.32.9-perf
Build: 3.0.A.2.181
It's SIM Free with bootloader still in it's locked state. Is there anything special about my phone that devs might want? Just ask and I'll try to provide.
Or is there a reason not to unlock / update / root for me because of low versions that might come in handy in the future for me?
2) Is there a recovery image in development which works on the Xperia Play ? I couldn't find one, but afaik "xRecovery" seems to be the recovery image for Sony Ericsson devices. Or am I mistaken here?
3) By unlocking the bootloader, the Xperia Play loses it's DRM certificates, which makes a couple of apps useless, like Track ID. What other apps won't work anymore after unlocking ? And are there ways to reconstruct / recreate these cerificates and carry them over to custom ROMs which may appear in the future ?
4) MoDaCo released a custom kernel which enables su shell and adb remount. But he managed it w/o unlocked bootloader. How's that possible? Does it only take place in RAM ? Or did he managed to install it in flash ?
5) In a today's thread about the rooted 2.3.3 image I saw that the provided image is an UK image. Is it ok to install such image on a german device ? Or shouldn't I care about the region the FW comes from ? Could I install a US image ? Or are UK images for all european devices?
6) In case I brick my device for some reason while updating it to 2.3.3. Could I recover it by using the UK generic .184 FTF image? Or do I always have to use the latest FW I tried to install on the device?
7) Last but not least. I flashed my buddys HTC Legend with CM7 and I love this ROM. I saw that Blagus is working on a CM7 port for the Xperia Arc. The Arc and the Play seem to be identical HW / SW-wise, does it mean that his port (in case the finishes it) will run on the Play as well (given with a few code changes of course) ?.
Sweet lord, turned out to be more questions then I planned But I guess it's good to have a FAQ kinda place where noobs like me can directly go to and get most important questions answered at once rather then spread all over the place
A big thanks to all in advance and keep up the work here !
Regards,
iCEQB
I am noob just like you and I managed to root my play in like 10 minutes after reading some threads here. Try to find some topics like rooting for beginners and another one which says the options that you have after rooting. I used gingerbreak and managed to get root access in about 5 minutes. As for the bootloader unlock I wouldn't recommend on doing that as there are no custom roms to flash our phones yet and personally I am very hapy with the original rom. The key is to root it with gingerbreak and get rid of all the useless apps that Sony has put in your phone and by doing this you get better battery life, better response and more free space. The apps that I use after rooting are busybox, titanium backup pro(to be able to freeze some apps and not delete them as I didn't know what they were doing) , adfree to get rid of the adds and many others. As for the other questions that you have, a more experienced android user should answer you. I didn't update to 2.3.3 as I will lose the rooting option which is necessary for me right now.
My questions are not about "how to root" as you can clearly see. They are rather about making 100% sure, not losing anything that might be valuable I maybe never get back, which could come in handy, like low system versions, a way to relock the bl with a TA backup, or DRM certificates.
I know how to root my phone and I know about the available options, but as I said, these questions are not about how to pull it of
Thanks anyway,
iCEQB
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I would also like to know these things and thats the reason why I used gingerbreak cause you have the option to unroot and you dont touch anything else. I also agree that we need an all-around FAQ topic which will include your questions.
Also n00b but will try... here goes lol
1. I dont think there is anyway to back up the whole phone. Best you can hope for is backing up settings when rooted. No need to hold off updating. But if you go to 2.3.3 rooting is not possible unless the bootloader is unlocked and you flash the rooted img (problem is if you leave the bootloader locked and update with SEUS it will install 2.3.3 so you will be unable to attain root, for now). No custom roms so i wouldnt unlock just yet (can unlock at anytime just will wipe your phone)
2. dont know
3. dont know (since mine is still locked)
4. dont know lol
5. If your xplay is the r800i. Cannot really see any problems . People who have confirmed the rooted img works are from around the world (uk, Hong Kong, Netherlands)
6. Again people who have used the UK generic .184 FTF image are from around the world. If the device is not sim locked (such as yours i dont think it matters )
7. I think it will, the software is basically the same so as you said a few tweaks and it should work. I think he started on the arc since the fourms are alot more active. Will possibly be unlocking the bootloader myself when some roms appear.
My bad if i interpreted your questions wrong as stated im a newb trying to learn fast lol
p.s you could pm the people who made the ftf files and then make a version of your own? if you want the low system version and as far as ive read its not possible to relock the bl once unlocked, yet? If you deffo know youre going to install custom roms wouldn't it be better to unlock the bootloader sooner rather than later since it wipes the phone?
Thanks for your answers so far !
Your answer for the 5th question bothers me though. What different models are there ? I know of R800i and R800a and I thought the letter behind the number is just some carrier marker or something like that or are there any other differences ?
Are there more modelnumbers existing ?
Thanks,
iCEQB
I hope this helps:
1) Is there a way to backup the WHOLE phone ? By "whole phone" I mean TA/GDFS areas as well. My current phone is still in it's stock form, here are a few infos:
Blagus is working on that, to no avail as of today. Maybe you'll want to contact him as he was looking for people with no SIM-lock, but locked bootloaders.
2) Is there a recovery image in development which works on the Xperia Play ? I couldn't find one, but afaik "xRecovery" seems to be the recovery image for Sony Ericsson devices. Or am I mistaken here?
If you mean Recovery such as CWM, no there's not. I'm not aware of xRecovery...
3) By unlocking the bootloader, the Xperia Play loses it's DRM certificates, which makes a couple of apps useless, like Track ID. What other apps won't work anymore after unlocking ? And are there ways to reconstruct / recreate these cerificates and carry them over to custom ROMs which may appear in the future ?
AFAIK, the other big loss is that you can't update through SEUS and you're forced to use Flashtool.
4) MoDaCo released a custom kernel which enables su shell and adb remount. But he managed it w/o unlocked bootloader. How's that possible? Does it only take place in RAM ? Or did he managed to install it in flash ?
He didn't release a kernel, he released an apk. Plus, the Xperia Play forum in MoDaCo has been empty for a whole week. I guess he's dropped it.
5) In a today's thread about the rooted 2.3.3 image I saw that the provided image is an UK image. Is it ok to install such image on a german device ? Or shouldn't I care about the region the FW comes from ? Could I install a US image ? Or are UK images for all european devices?
I bought my phone from Germany as well, and I've flashed the 2.3.3 updates (both the .FTF and the fastboot .img) without any issues.
6) In case I brick my device for some reason while updating it to 2.3.3. Could I recover it by using the UK generic .184 FTF image? Or do I always have to use the latest FW I tried to install on the device?
I guess you can always revert to the .184 one.
7) Last but not least. I flashed my buddys HTC Legend with CM7 and I love this ROM. I saw that Blagus is working on a CM7 port for the Xperia Arc. The Arc and the Play seem to be identical HW / SW-wise, does it mean that his port (in case the finishes it) will run on the Play as well (given with a few code changes of course) ?.
I guess only Blagus is fit to answer that, but if they're so similar, it should be an easy fit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your answers !
The loss of using SEUS shouldn't be a problem in any way since FlashTool does the same job, if not better
I'll contact Blagus and see if he needs something from me to get his work done.
Thanks again,
iCEQB
SE_iCEQB said:
Thanks for your answers so far !
Your answer for the 5th question bothers me though. What different models are there ? I know of R800i and R800a and I thought the letter behind the number is just some carrier marker or something like that or are there any other differences ?
Are there more modelnumbers existing ?
Thanks,
iCEQB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Models so far?;
r800i (uk, europe, asia?)
r800a (canada, rogers?)
r800at (usa?, at&t?)
r800x (usa? verizon?)
Z1i (china?)
I think other than r800i, others are mostly locked to phone providers? (unless bought sim free in their native country not sure tbh even the r800i is locked to some carriers i think?) I think r800x & maybe r800a are unable to unlock bootladers dues to restrictions from their carriers? Not sure tbh. I think all people in europe got the r800i? Dont know about differences since i got the r800i only
Thank you for answer and the nice list of modelnumbers. Yeah the problem with the few models which bootloaders can't be unlocked seems to be due to their SIM lock (at least it's the only I can find in the bootloader unlock thread ).
Regards,
iCEQB
Fantastic thread! As a new Xperia Play owner coming form a Droid 1, I'm very interested in the mod scene as it pertains to this phone. Great questions, OP!
Great thread lets keep it growing!
Sorry to hijack your thread. N00B here, so apologies in advance. I have read many of the threads on here since getting my xperia play and have joined just to ask a few questions if I may.
I want to root my phone to remove bloatware and more importantly remap the circle button for playing emus.
Q1. How do I know if my phone is bootlocked?
Q2. Is it as easy as run gingerbreak, delete bloatware, install apk, remap button?
Q3. Do i need to be running a certain FW, ie: can only be rooted on old FW.
Just so you can all understand, I know a grand total of sweet F-A about phones and rooting etc. Half of the abbreviations used, I've had to google to find out what they mean lol. As a 33 year old man, I'ts a strange feeling to be in my situation, its like being back at school and sitting my 1st algebra lesson!! Its all Greek and Double Dutch to me!
As in the OP, I also have a sim free phone running;
Model: R800i
Vers. 2.3.2
Base: -1290_14-14
Kernal: 2.6.32.9-perf
Build: 3.0.A.2.184
will this be a problem/is this helpful to a Dev?
Basically Im after a bit of reassurance/guidence as I really dont want to make my phone an expensive paper weight lol.
Thankyou all in advance, and agin sorry to OP for the Hi jack, but was going to post a thread with same name
Oh 1 last thing, if anyone lives in the South London area who knows what they are doing and fancies sorting my phone out for me, gets some drink tokens from me and a big thank you
Martin
Flipfoot said:
Sorry to hijack your thread. N00B here, so apologies in advance. I have read many of the threads on here since getting my xperia play and have joined just to ask a few questions if I may.
I want to root my phone to remove bloatware and more importantly remap the circle button for playing emus.
Q1. How do I know if my phone is bootlocked?
Q2. Is it as easy as run gingerbreak, delete bloatware, install apk, remap button?
Q3. Do i need to be running a certain FW, ie: can only be rooted on old FW.
Just so you can all understand, I know a grand total of sweet F-A about phones and rooting etc. Half of the abbreviations used, I've had to google to find out what they mean lol. As a 33 year old man, I'ts a strange feeling to be in my situation, its like being back at school and sitting my 1st algebra lesson!! Its all Greek and Double Dutch to me!
As in the OP, I also have a sim free phone running;
Model: R800i
Vers. 2.3.2
Base: -1290_14-14
Kernal: 2.6.32.9-perf
Build: 3.0.A.2.184
will this be a problem/is this helpful to a Dev?
Basically Im after a bit of reassurance/guidence as I really dont want to make my phone an expensive paper weight lol.
Thankyou all in advance, and agin sorry to OP for the Hi jack, but was going to post a thread with same name
Oh 1 last thing, if anyone lives in the South London area who knows what they are doing and fancies sorting my phone out for me, gets some drink tokens from me and a big thank you
Martin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If you havent unlocked the bootloader yourself it will be still be locked. No need to unlock the bootloader to root. Unlocking is only needed if you want to install custom roms.
2. Since you are still running 2.3.2 Build 3.0.A.2.184 gingerbreak will still be able to root your phone. If you update though to 2.3.3, gingerbreak will be unable to root your phone since the exploit gingerbreak uses has been patched.
If you stay on 2.3.2 all you have to do is run gingerbreak http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1044765 follow the instruction in the thread then you can uninstall any of the apps (bloat) on this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046699 using titainium backup free.
No need to root to remap the O button in emulators. In most the keypad mapping sets O to exit, all you have to do is set exit to another key then O to the key you want.
3. See 2.
May I ask why you want to re-map Circle? I had the hardest time mapping the Cross button because it's like a default Enter button. Finally, I read that if you simply use the touch screen to select the command you want to map, it will let you press the Cross button and map it.
Sorry if I'm off the mark here. That was just a big revelation when I learned that.
Mozza2k11 said:
Models so far?;
r800i (uk, europe, asia?)
r800a (usa, rogers?)
r800at (usa?, at&t?)
r800x (usa? verizon?)
Z1i (china?)
I think other than r800i, others are mostly locked to phone providers? (unless bought sim free in their native country not sure tbh even the r800i is locked to some carriers i think?) I think r800x & maybe r800a are unable to unlock bootladers dues to restrictions from their carriers? Not sure tbh. I think all people in europe got the r800i? Dont know about differences since i got the r800i only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey hey hey hey hey!
r800a = CANADA rogers.
thanks.
AriStar said:
hey hey hey hey hey!
r800a = CANADA rogers.
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol my bad , il change it
Mozza2k11 said:
1. If you havent unlocked the bootloader yourself it will be still be locked. No need to unlock the bootloader to root. Unlocking is only needed if you want to install custom roms.
2. Since you are still running 2.3.2 Build 3.0.A.2.184 gingerbreak will still be able to root your phone. If you update though to 2.3.3, gingerbreak will be unable to root your phone since the exploit gingerbreak uses has been patched.
If you stay on 2.3.2 all you have to do is run gingerbreak http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1044765 follow the instruction in the thread then you can uninstall any of the apps (bloat) on this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046699 using titainium backup free.
No need to root to remap the O button in emulators. In most the keypad mapping sets O to exit, all you have to do is set exit to another key then O to the key you want.
3. See 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks! I now have a rooted Play, bloatware gone, big smile on my face!!!!
Hello all, I'm new to the g5+ but have been rooting phones for a while but I'm a little hesitant with this phone for a couple reasons. I'm coming for a moto x pure edition "Clark" which had a lot less different firmware upgrades and a straight forward rooting process.
My first question is which twrp are most people using? I've found 4 different ones on here but not sure which one is best. Also not sure if me being on firmware version Npns25.137-33-5.
Which brings me to my next question. Has anyone successfully rooted retus potter npns25.137-33-5? I literally can't find any information about peoples success on this build number. Normally I would just try it but I can't find the factory firmware to flash the system partition back if no mess it up. The only 33-5 firmware I can find says nits for the amazon version but mine is non amazon xt1687 64gb model.
Any feedback would be much appreciated, really looking forward to aospa, might try crdroid too that was my favorite ROM on clark
There's a thread somewhere that has a program you can use to unlock bootloader and twrp etc. I don't think it matters which firmware you're on but the stock files are in that thread also. I used the program and everything worked fine. I think it's in the development section
redman321 said:
Hello all, I'm new to the g5+ but have been rooting phones for a while but I'm a little hesitant with this phone for a couple reasons. I'm coming for a moto x pure edition "Clark" which had a lot less different firmware upgrades and a straight forward rooting process.
My first question is which twrp are most people using? I've found 4 different ones on here but not sure which one is best. Also not sure if me being on firmware version Npns25.137-33-5.
Which brings me to my next question. Has anyone successfully rooted retus potter npns25.137-33-5? I literally can't find any information about peoples success on this build number. Normally I would just try it but I can't find the factory firmware to flash the system partition back if no mess it up. The only 33-5 firmware I can find says nits for the amazon version but mine is non amazon xt1687 64gb model.
Any feedback would be much appreciated, really looking forward to aospa, might try crdroid too that was my favorite ROM on clark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've rooted 35-5. Works the same way.
Also came from Clark. Rooting Potter is easy and I even screwed up multiple times by trying to flash a zip file when I should have been flashing a .img
file so I can testify that the rooting process is robust enough to not brick immediately if something goes wrong.
Can anyone shed light on the TWRP app and it's functionality. Does it install image files correctly and so forth? I'm literally under 24 hours having unlocked and flashed AOSPA Sso still learning the device
Hi guys, I own a Moto G4 model XT1626, and I recently OTA updated to Android Nougat.
Looking forward to root my phone, I began searching here the threads mentioning rooting this device, but this is what I found:
13th July 2016
Notes on Nougat/Android 7... At this time this method of rooting does not work properly on the official Nougat ROM for this device, it causes WiFi issues and interface problems (settings crashes, etc) and with no complete factory image there is no work fix other than to restore your Nandroid backup to pre-root status. If you wish to play with this method and try it, your on your own, I will try to assist but as I stated earlier I do not own this device. To my knowledge as of this posting, there is no working root on stock Android 7 on this device.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4/how-to/how-to-root-g4-fix-bootable-attempted-t3417592
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And a more recently thread, from Dec 2017 : https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4/how-to/guide-how-to-root-moto-g4-magisk-stock-t3725712
And now I read this: https://www.theandroidsoul.com/moto-g4-plus-nougat-root-disable-force-encrypt/
It says the nougat can be rooted with magisk or SuperSu, but there is no guide =(
The question is: There is or there is not a way to root my Moto G4 XT1626 dual sim with Nougat? I would like a guide or a follow-up about the most recent guide available and working for this model. I am really lost here.
Appreciate your help
nobody?
Sorry you received no answers. Hopefully you have succeeded already. I'm trying to root my G4 XT1625 running Nougat 7.0 .
Found these posts:
1. https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...de-root-moto-g4-plus-supersu-android-t3587918
2. https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...om-npjs25-93-14-4-deodexed-debloated-t3587180
The first doesn't mention it will work for the G4, only explicitly mentions G4 (Plus). The second seems to imply it will work for both the G4 and G4 (Plus) but the build number it gives is NPJS25.93-14-13.
Hey, all im new into the world of rooting and i have a couple of question regarding rooting
I have a device Huawei p smart FIG-LX1 with android 9 and i would like to root it but the guides on the internet always says something different, so im kinda tangled with this whole thing, i found this post https://forum.xda-developers.com/huawei-p-smart/how-to/how-to-root-huawei-p-smart-fig-lx1-t3752705
but i dont understand it
Hello Panieldakula
You want to root your Huawei P Smart (FIG-LX1 with Android 9) but it seems difficult to do, right?
Have you tried a one button rooting software? It did not work or why do you want to do it manually?
These "one button rooting" solutions are usually fake/malware or only work up to Android M.
If there is any tool to flash stock firmware like there are for Samsung and Qualcomm devices maybe it's possible to flash a signed TWRP to recovery and then use Magisk to root.
I have done this to other devices in the past although only for devices that came with Lollipop or Marshmallow. ButI have searched for such tool and didn't find anything for P Smart, maybe someone that has more experience with Huawei device can point to some solution.
lfom said:
These "one button rooting" solutions are usually fake/malware or only work up to Android M.
If there is any tool to flash stock firmware like there are for Samsung and Qualcomm devices maybe it's possible to flash a signed TWRP to recovery and then use Magisk to root.
I have done this to other devices in the past although only for devices that came with Lollipop or Marshmallow. ButI have searched for such tool and didn't find anything for P Smart, maybe someone that has more experience with Huawei device can point to some solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you lfom,
I hope you are right and someone can point the new guys to the right direction.
Similar to Panieldakula I am new to rooting and the instructions given by Veromax seem not to be too user-friendly.
Well, if no other manual exist I might go through the instructions line for line.
However, there are probably easier general manual I could start with, or?
Do you or does someone have a recommendation?
Thanks.
AFAIK the only way to root and install TWRP so far is by using the unlock code that only works with an earlier version of MIUI 8.1.