[Guide] Your New GPe

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egzthunder1

Admin Emeritus - Spirit of XDA

Do you have the stock image of the ROM you have? If so, simply go back to stock recovery and dirty flash it (meaning simply flash the ROM without wiping). There might be other methods to unroot, but I like this one the best as it returns your system the way it was prior to root.

You want me to put the hammer down?
 
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anthonyp326

Senior Member
Nov 5, 2009
555
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Do you have the stock image of the ROM you have? If so, simply go back to stock recovery and dirty flash it (meaning simply flash the ROM without wiping). There might be other methods to unroot, but I like this one the best as it returns your system the way it was prior to root.

You want me to put the hammer down?
Hmm never done that before might have to look that up on how..I don't have a stock image or ROM I used towelroot to gain root that's it
 

gidal

Senior Member
Sep 7, 2007
90
2
It you are rooted, go to the play store and install SuperSU...

You want me to put the hammer down?

I did what you recommended and installed SuperSU from playstore.
Ran it and it wanted to update itself before running, asking normal or CWM/TWRP method.

NM: Just needed reboot - it's installed now.
 
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egzthunder1

Admin Emeritus - Spirit of XDA
@blueether there is a GPe build of CandyRom in original development thread.
@egzthunder1 can this thread get stickied?

Technically, this guide does not even belong in this section as it is not development related. Having said that, there is already a guide under General by Lord Manhattan that somewhat brushes upon many of the topics described in here by blueether, so moving it there would make little to no sense to me.

So, I guess that for the time being, or until I can think of a better solution for placement, I guess it would be ok to have it stuck in here.
 
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adfurgerson

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
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Technically, this guide does not even belong in this section as it is not development related. Having said that, there is already a guide under General by Lord Manhattan that somewhat brushes upon many of the topics described in here by blueether, so moving it there would make little to no sense to me.

So, I guess that for the time being, or until I can think of a better solution for placement, I guess it would be ok to have it stuck in here.

Thanks, I see the dilemma this device provides. It doesn't warrant it's own forum or having GPe General and Q&A sections in this forum.
 

xdause

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2009
191
20
is it safe to update su binary of superuser app from chainfire?
I use the clockwork app and selected the update su binary option and it caused an error msg on bootup. scared the hell out of me.
Update: Ok nm. updated normal way and no error.
 
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  • 8
    SO, you have brought a GPe from the Google Play store. Here are a few things you need to know:

    Warning:
    Never flash a Sony FTF file to your GPe, it will hard brick it

    Warning:
    As there is no root exploit for android 5/LP you may want to root and then backup your TA partition BEFORE completing the OTA

    Table of Contents:
    • Tools
    • Brief summary of steps
    • Rooting
    • Back Up TA partition
    • Unlocking the Bootloader
    • Rooting (Old method)
    • Updating the Firmware
    • Installing & Restoring
    • ROMs and Kernels
    • Flashing Custom ROM
    • Notes on Recovery

    Brief summary of steps:
    1. Gain Root
    2. Install 'su' binary
    3. Back Up TA partition
    4. Unlocking the Bootloader
    5. Flash ROM

    Tools:

    Rooting:
    4.4.4:
    As of ~20/6/14 we now have a root exploit method for GPe
    Please read this thread before doing these steps http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2783982
    • - Go to http://towelroot.com/
    • - Install APK
    • - Run APK
    • - Try this for "device not supported." You'll have to tap the welcome to towel root icon 3 times and change the string to:
      • 1337 0 1 0 4 0
        or
      • 1337 0 1 0 5 0
        or
      • 1337 0 1 0 6 0
    • - Click "make it ra1n"
    • - Wait and Hope
    • - Done
    You will then have to install SU (SuperSU by chainfire from the play store works well)
    5.x:
    Locked Bootloader:
    At release the is no way to root Lollipop via exploit. If you want to keep a locked bootloader and need root then stay on 4.4.4

    Unlocked Bootloader:
    DIY:
    1. Reboot into a custom kernel/recovery (fastboot boot <DooMLoRD's_V2_kernel.img>
      • hold vol up while connecting the powered off GPe to a PC
    2. Apply update from ADB
    3. adb sideload <path_to_superSU-update.zip>
    [/STRIKE]

    DooMLoRD Way: (untested by me)
    Download DooMLoRD's pre-rooted system and boot .img (http://xdaforums.com/xperia-z-ultra/xperia-z-ultra-gpe/lollipop-5-0-boot-fotakernel-images-t2960269)and flash with
    fastboot flash <partition> <partition_image.img>


    Back Up TA partition:
    The TA partition holds all your unique DRM keys, and X-Reality won't work without it.
    Once you lose it, you can't get it back, so back it up and upload it to your Dropbox or something. So how do you backup your TA partition?

    Download this tiny tool on your computer and run it.

    Store the TA backup some where safe so you can restore it latter if needed.

    Once you have unlocked the BL do another backup of the TA and name it ****-UnLocked.***. This will be handy if you ever need to re-unlock the BL (no wipe of Data)

    Unlocking the Bootloader:
    This may void you warranty and delete DRM keys Make sure you have backed up your TA partition
    To unlock the bootloader of your GPe ZU you can use the same method as for the Sony ZU. Please visit the Sony Developer site and follow the instructions on there to get an unlock code, then use Flashtool to do the unlocking (padlock icon), follow on screen instructions. My last unlock code was never emailed out but it is in the code near the bottom of the Sony confirmation page.
    Sony site: http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/instructions
    Flashtool: http://www.flashtool.net/index.php

    Rooting (Old method & Unlocked BootLoaders):
    Warning I don't have a GPe so I haven't tested this myself. Use at your own risk
    Once your bootloader is unlocked you can root it.
    To root your GPe ZU you will need to flash DooMLorD's GPe Kernel. Flash this kernel and recovery with Flashtool in fastboot mode. Once you have recovery you can flash SuperSU
    1. Download SuperSU to the GPe
    2. Download GPe Kernel to your PC
    3. Turn off the GPe
    4. Fire up Flashtool
    5. Select the lightning bolt and the fastboot mode
      At this stage you can either either:
      • Select "Select kernel to hotboot" to load the kernel but not overwrite the GPe one
        or
      • Select "Select kernel to flash" to flash the kernel and overwrite the GPe one
    6. Select the saved Kernel and flash
    7. Check for OK in the main window
    8. Reboot to recovery
    9. Select install zip
    10. Flash SuperSU
    11. Reboot to system
    DooMKernel: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=53080496
    SuperSU: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1538053

    Updating the Firmware:
    4.4.2 update zip http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2574264
    4.4.3 update zip ( incremental OTA) http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2773168
    4.4.4 update zip ( incremental OTA) http://android.clients.google.com/p...ricsson-E-Application-Signing-Live-864f-1.zip
    5.0 update zip ( incremental OTA) http://android.clients.google.com/p...http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2761698 Thanks @DooMLoRD
    Update to 4.4.3 http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=53181565 Thanks @DooMLoRD
    Flashable zip of 4.4.2 http://d-h.st/KMe Thanks @egzthunder1

    ROMs and Kernels:
    DoomKernel http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=53083592 only for Stock GPe based ROM
    Unofficial Pimped Kernel, see GPe Carbon thread. Should work on the ROMs below
    ZU_GPe-DooMLoRD-Stock_KOT49H_kernel http://doomlord.xperia-files.com/?dlid=WlVfR1BlLURvb01Mb1JELVN0b2NrX0tPVDQ5SF9rZXJuZWw= Only for GPe ROM
    Advanced Stock Kernel (Dual Recovery) http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2579005 Only for GPe ROM


    Flashing Custom ROM:
    If you have flashed DooMLorD's kernel in the above rooting step Yo will get a error something like "this if for togari/c6806 you have a honami". If you get this error:
    1. Open up the ROM zip you want to flash and extract the boot.img file.
    2. Flash this file just like you did in the rooting above with flashtool.
    3. Boot into the new recovery
    4. Flash ROM as normal
    5. Reboot into sysyem

    Notes on Recovery:
    On the xperia (and other sony?) phones we have to bake recovery into the boot.img, the GPe is different in that it has a full stock recovery that the ZU doesn't. The boot.img from ROMs for the GPe still have recovery baked in to the boot image, so flashing a boot.img will give you a custom recovery. In the case of CM and Carbon that is CWM and I think Omni uses TWRP. This custom recovery doesn't overwrite the stock one.
    Warning:
    Never flash a Sony FTF file to your GPe, it will hard brick it

    XDA:DevDB Information
    [Guide] Your New GPe, ROM for the Sony Xperia Z Ultra

    Contributors
    blueether
    ROM OS Version: 4.4.x KitKat

    Version Information
    Status: Stable

    Created 2014-12-05
    Last Updated 2014-12-12
    3
    Omfg -_-, that was the problem I had and nowhere did I hear anything about tapping 3 times. This should probably go in doom's guide as well... somewhere.
    I'm just glad i can pay back what xda has given me.
    3
    Just to share .. I have managed to root my sony ultra z gpe 4.4.4. using towelroot after many hours trying different ways posted in xda ..

    finally what worked for me:
    1. turned on wifi for network connection
    2. goto www.towelroot.com and click on lambda symbol to download towelroot apk, run it .. DO NOT click on make it rain cos it will make hang
    3. click on 'welcome ...' several times till the box with the numbers appear 133701040 .. change to 133701060 then click on make it rain ..
    4. your device will be rooted ..
    2
    I'm not sure if this is the right spot so please move if needed, for those who have updated to 4.4.4 and tried to use towel root and it failed this is what i used to gain root, 1337 0 1 0 5 0.
    Try this for device not supported. You'll have to tap the towel icon 3 times to get to it.
    2
    If I just want to root do I need to back up TA or is that just necessary only if I want to unlock the boot loader?

    You only have to back up the TA if you want to unlock the BL, but in saying that I would recommend backing it up now while we have a root exploit. When the exploit is fixed (it may be in the latest OTA?) you wont be able to gain root without unlocking the BL.

    If you have a TA back up you won't need a exploit to gain root. All you will have to do is:
    • Unlock the BL
    • Hot boot a kernel with recovery "fastboot boot boot.img" (don't flash it)
    • Flash superSU from temp recovery
    • Reboot (at this point I would take another TA backup and make sure to name it *unlocked*)
    • Restore locked TA

    at that point you have a stock firmware with su that should take OTAs without issue