[Tutorial] Xperia S/P/U/Sola Bootloader Unlocking & Relocking

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Quick tutorial for unlocking & relocking the bootloader of the Xperia S/P/U/Sola.

this is the official way to unlock bootloader

Warning!

This procedure will wipe the /data partition of your phone, so you will loose all ur stored data, settings. SDCARD will NOT BE WIPED!!!

DRM keys WILL be lost forever



why to unlock bootloader?

1. u can flash custom ROMs/Kernels
2. u dont need to worry if the new firmware can be rooted or not as with unlocked bootloader u can always ROOT ur device
3. SE/Sony gives sneak-peaks/preview builds of latest OS which requires unlocked bootloaders, as they did with Xperia 2011 line (they had ICS alpha/beta), so who knows may be SE/Sony may give early builds of ICS (JellyBean???)

Most of this is taken from lollylost100's his tutorial from ARC thread (all credits for that concise tutorial go to him, i have elaborated on a few things and added device specific changes)


btw i dont have this device, most of this testing was done on user darkpisces's phone so thanks a lot to him for helping me out!!!


[ before we begin unlocking bootloader ]

• get the IMEI code for ur device: type *#06# in phone dialer to find it out, note only the digits (no dashes)
• download the fastboot package with usb drivers (alternate drivers if the ones in package dont work)
• make sure u have a windows PC with USB cable to connect the phone
• power down ur phone and keeping the Volume Up button pressed connect the USB cable to PC this will trigger FASTBOOT mode and windows will start driver installation, extract the above package and point the driver install to that location (usb_driver) folder
• once drivers are installed just disconnect cable and power on device

[ how to unlock ] (official way)

1. Go to: http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/ and read everything!
2. At the bottom click 'Start Unlocking the Bootloader'
   

   First, you should confirm that it is possible to unlock the boot loader of your phone by checking the service menu. In your phone, open the dialler and enter *#*#7378423#*#* to access the service menu.
   
   In your phone, tap Service info > Configuration > Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked.

3. after u have verified that u can unlock bootloader, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Continue"
4. you will get "are u sure prompt" accept it by clicking "yes i am sure" (i assume that u have read an understood it)
5. then accept the "legal terms"
6. finally u will get a "Create Unlock request" page, enter your IMEI (sometimes the last digit needs to be removed for this to work), name and email address
7. You should now receive your unique unlock key, its displayed on screen, SAVE THIS KEY SAFELY
8. Extract fastboot_with_Android_USB_file.rar and open fastboot folder
9. Hold SHIFT and right click on the background of the folder
10. Select 'Open command window here'
11. Connect your phone in fastboot mode (turn phone off, hold Volume UP button and plug in USB Cable) [make sure drivers are installed as explained above)
12. In the cmd windows type in fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce getvar version
13. If a value is returned (it will return 0.5), it means the phone is correctly connected
14. Type in fastboot.exe -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xKEY and replace KEY with the key which u received earlier.
15. You're device should now be bootloader unlocked

If this tutorial is too much for you then itskapil wrote a step-by-step guide (and recorded a video also):
-Instructions: http://www.theandroidsoul.com/how-to...-play-neo-pro/
-Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRH3pC7MhEA
(the above videos and some steps are for Xperia 2011 devices, but most the steps are same for Xperia S/P/U/Sola)



Info on Relocking bootloader is in next post

Relocking Bootloader

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this Relock FTF is based on the package posted by Blagus in his ARC thread (all credits for this go to him, i have only added the correct loader.sin for this device)


RELOCKING BOOTLOADER WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET NEWEST UPDATES & REPAIR DEVICE USING SEUS/PCC



before we begin relocking the bootloader make sure that u have flashtool download & installed


u can get the latest version of FlashTool from:
http://androxyde.github.com/Flashtool/

download link is under "Installation" tab


if u have not use FlashTool before read this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1526866




download this FTF:
Xperia S -> Xperia-S_Relock_bootloader.ftf
Xperia U -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...9#post26783129 (thanks to enigma77x)

flash this FTF via FlashTool


RELOCK FTFs FOR P/U/Sola are under testing! if u are interested in testing kindly contact me via P.M., before u contact me, make sure that u have UNLOCKED the bootloader!

when it says enter flashmode, power down device and keeping VOLUME DOWN button pressed connect usb cable to phone, the device will now enter flashmode (green LED)

after this file is flashed reboot phone


bootloader will now be relocked!!!


incase device doenst boot DO NOT PANIC... u can flash stock firmware FTF anytime to get back to stock ROM... i will post link to working FTF once its available...


P.S.: there is no official way to relock bootloader

Sorry for misunderstanding, but what are DRM keys?

Originally Posted by MasterLinuxer

Sorry for misunderstanding, but what are DRM keys?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management

Originally Posted by Cholek3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management

Ehum... So are there any disadvantages about deleting it?

Originally Posted by MasterLinuxer

Ehum... So are there any disadvantages about deleting it?

Yes, some software installed on the phone stops working, i.e. trackID.

Originally Posted by juzz|NOR

I did download the .ftf file, and got an error when trying to flash it. So..
I don´t know what to do. :P lol. :P

you should READ properly:

Originally Posted by DooMLoRD

this Relock FTF is based on the package posted by Blagus in his ARC thread (all credits for this go to him, i have only added the correct loader.sin for this device)

Originally Posted by DooMLoRD

you should READ properly:

Figured it out. Had to check the option for final version check. Thanks Doom.

Is there any information about if in the future there will be possible to unlock the bootloader of the sim locked xperia s? (paying for it, like 2011 xperia's)

I've one and i'm thinking of selling it and buying a sim free new one (I only need root for unninstaling some system apps that I don't use)

Originally Posted by anthon

Is there any information about if in the future there will be possible to unlock the bootloader of the sim locked xperia s? (paying for it, like 2011 xperia's)

I've one and i'm thinking of selling it and buying a sim free new one (I only need root for unninstaling some system apps that I don't use)

i dont know mate... it might be there in future, but at the moment there is no way...