Getting Started:Rooting,Bootloader Unlocking,Recovery,Custom ROM installation & more

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Getting Started:Rooting,Bootloader Unlocking,Recovery,Custom ROM installation & more

Getting Started:Rooting,Bootloader Unlocking and Recovery

In this thread ,I'll try to help you guys set up your new phone from rooting upto custom ROM installation for your Xperia U,P,Sola and Go.

It is still WORK IN PROGRESS,so hold on to your horses.

References:

[GUIDE]How To Be A New User And Not A Noob

XDA-wiki.

All you need to know before you begin

Flashtool 0.9.8

Flashtool Guide

Bootloader Locking and Unlocking

Root Many Android

[ICS]Noob-proof root via Flashtool

[HELP THREAD][XPERIA S, SOLA, P]Ask any question. NOOB friendly

Possible solution for Fastboot-Windows7 Problems

Xperia 2012 - Index of every mod,theme,app,boot animations etc.

[XP]Index of ROMs ,Kernels,Recoveries and Guides.

Index of ROMs ,Kernels,Recoveries and Guides

[*][Sola]Index of ROMs ,Kernels,Recoveries and Guides.

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Rooting

Rooting

What is Rooting:

Android rooting is the process of allowing users of smartphones, tablets, and other devices running the Android mobile operating system to attain privileged control (known as "root access") within Android's subsystem. - Wikipedia

Before Rooting:

Bootloader unlocking is not necessesary for rooting.
After rooting ,your warranty maybe void!.
Rooting is reversible process so you can unroot.

How to root:

If you are on firmware 6.1.1.B.1.10[U,P,Go and Sola]:
- You can root easily using Root MANY ANDROID
  - Download v9 or v13,extract it.
  - Enable USB debugging mode on your phone.
  - Connect your phone to PC.
  - Double click on RunMe.bat.
  - Then type 1.Press Enter.
    
    You should get
    
    Checking if i should run in Normal Mode or special Sony Mode
    Please connect your device with USB-Debugging enabled now
    1186 KB/s (147059 bytes in 0.121s)
    
    Found Sony Backup-Restore.apk
    LT26,LT22 etc. mode enabled!
    
    Pushing busybox....
    2110 KB/s (1085140 bytes in 0.502s)
    Pushing su binary ....
    2426 KB/s (22364 bytes in 0.009s)
    Pushing Superuser app
    3096 KB/s (843503 bytes in 0.266s)
    Making busybox runable ...
    Pushing fake Backup
    3130 KB/s (73728 bytes in 0.023s)
    Extracting fakebackup on device ...
    Watch now your device. Select the backup named RootMe and restore it!
    Starting: Intent { act=android.intent.action.MAIN cat=[android.intent.category.LAUNCHER] cmp=com.sonyericsson.vendor.backuprestore/.ui.BackupActivity }
    Warning: Activity not started, its current task has been brought to the front
    If all is successful i will tell you, if not this shell will run forever.
    Running ......
  - Then Click on Restore on your phone.(if Back up and Restore app is not opened,open it),see if RootMe is selected in Record to restore,)
  Then you should get
  
  Good, it worked! Now we are rebooting soon, please be patient!
  Waiting for device to come up again....
  Going to copy files to it's place
  You can close all open command-prompts now!
  After reboot all is done! Have fun!
  Bin4ry
  Press any key to continue . . .
  or
- Using latest Flashtool ,here is a nice tutorial for rooting.
If you are on latest firmware then you will need to do few extra steps.
- Assuming you are on latest firmware than 6.1.1.B.10.
- Flash the stock kernel.sin or kernel.elf or kernel ftf of 6.1.1.B.10.
- Root as mentioned above.
- Flash the stock kernel.sin or kernel.elf or kernel ftf of latest firmware.
- You can get stock kernel by extracting stock ftf file.
- For references:
  
  [ROOT] Firmware 6.1.1.B.1.54 - Xperia Sola.
  [Root - Locked Bootloader] Xperia P 6.1.1.B.1.54 and 6.1.1.B.1.75

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Bootloader Unlocking

Bootloader Unlocking.

What is bootloader:

The bootloader, is firmware on the phone which runs on every startup. Sometimes it may be desirable to change the version of the bootloader, or to load a different bootloader entirely to enable different features or a completely different OS. The current version of the bootloader can be viewed by entering bootloader mode, the process of which is different for each and every device or manufacturer. - XDA - University.

How to unlock the bootloader:

Before unlocking bootloader:

Install Flashtool drivers,it will contain all necessary driver including fastboot driver and flashmode drivers.
Remeber,your warranty will be void.
DRM Keys will be lost forever.

Bootloader Relocking

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Flashing FTF file.

Assuming you have installed latest Flash tool and Flash tool drivers.
Open the Flash tool.
Click on the flash button i.e the red marked one.
Choose Flash mode and Click OK.
Then you will get below show window,by default directory will be Flashtool/firmwares.If there is are ftf files in that directory it will automatically show them and you have to select it.If there is no ftf file in Flashtool/firmawares folder,then do the next step.
Click on .... i.e red marked then you will get the "Choose a folder window".Browse to the folder containing ftf file.Click Open.
Now connect your device to PC in flash mode.
That's it.

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Installing CWM Recovery

Why do we need CWM:

ClockworkMod offers Android users with an extensive list of functionalities which the default Android recovery cannot even hope to match. Using ClockworkMod, one can install, update, or upgrade both official and unofficial ROMs (known as ‘custom’ ROMs). It also enables advanced recovery and backup methods, and one can mount the USB storage to transfer files between the device and a PC while remaining in the recovery mode (very helpful for if you have a bricked device and can’t boot into Android or if you simply don’t want to do another reboot to transfer a file you forgot). Partitioning the SD card and wiping user data, dalvik cache, and battery stats are some other capabilities of ClockworkMod.

-dottech.org

Installation:

It can done in 2 ways

Installing kernel with recovery
Installing standalone CWM.

Installing a kernel with recovery:

For this you will need unlocked bootloader.
If you go through your respective device's development section,you will get the kernel with recoveries.

Installing a standalone CWM.

For Sola:

For Go:

For U:

For P:

How to access recovery:

By pressing volume buttons when phone is boot logo is show i.e when booting

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Installing Flashable Zips and Custom ROMs.

Installing Flashable Zips and Custom ROMs.

What is a flashable zip:

It is a zip file containing updater-script ,updater binary and other essential components for making it flashable using recovery.It is used for installing various mods,themes and ROMs.

What is a Custom ROM:

A custom ROM is a fully standalone version of the OS, including the kernel (which makes everything run), apps, services, etc - everything you need to operate the device, except it's customized by someone in some way. - AndroidPolice

On the side note,many custom ROMs will not include kernel and also are not standalone versions.

Installing flashable zips and custom ROMs is easy.

How to:

Copy the flashable zip or custom ROM to preferably to internal storage.
Reboot the phone.
Enter into recovery.
Go to Install zip from SD Card.
Choose your zip.
Install it.

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Flashing Kernels

Flashing Kernels

What is a kernel:

In computing, the kernel is the main component of most computer operating systems; it is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. The kernel's responsibilities include managing the system's resources (the communication between hardware and software components).[1] Usually, as a basic component of an operating system, a kernel can provide the lowest-level abstraction layer for the resources (especially processors and I/O devices) that application software must control to perform its function. It typically makes these facilities available to application processes through inter-process communication mechanisms and system calls.

-Wikipedia.

Before flashing kernel:

Stock kernel - There is no need of unlocking the bootloader.
Custom kernel - Unlocked bootloader is needed.

There are 2 ways you can flash a kernel whether in kernel.elf ,kernel.sin or boot.img format.

Using standalone fastboot .
Using fastboot via flashtool.

Let's talk about using standalone fastboot,it is easy.

Copy your kernel to fastboot directory/folder.
Connect your phone in fastboot mode.
Hold Shift+Right Click.
Click on Open Command Window Here.
Now type " fastboot flash boot kernel-name" here kernel-name can be boot.img or kernel.sin or kernel.elf
i.e fastboot flash boot boot.img or fastboot flash boot kernel.sin or fastboot flash boot kernel.elf
Disconnect the phone and reboot.

Using fastboot via flashtool.

neectron · Jan 15, 2013

Flashmode:

Used for flashing stock ftf files.i.e for recovering from soft brick or updating to latest firmware etc.

How to connect in flash mode:

Hold - volume button and connect the data cable to PC.

Fastboot mode:

Used for unlocking bootloader,flashing kernels etc.

How to connect in fastboot mode:

Hold + volume button and connect the data cable to PC.

Iceax123 · Jan 15, 2013

Thanks for this thread this is just what i need!

Andy

/edit so why would you root and not unlock your bootloader?

Thanks

Iceax123 · Jan 15, 2013

ok so my build is 6.0.b.3.184

Which method should i use.

Thanks

neectron · Jan 16, 2013

Iceax123 said:
Thanks for this thread this is just what i need!

Andy

/edit so why would you root and not unlock your bootloader?

Thanks

With locked bootloader ,you can't hard brick your phone.

Iceax123 said:
ok so my build is 6.0.b.3.184

Which method should i use.

Thanks

6.0.b.3.184 is GB - Then http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2063029

Iceax123 · Jan 16, 2013

Once again neectron thank you for your help.

I updated last night through the software to 4.04 - 6.1.1.B.1.10 so will use your method in the first post to root.

Do you root before unlocking bootloader.

Thanks

Andy

Anthrax · Jan 16, 2013

This is a great thread for all the noobs (i was also one).....This is what i was also thinking about.......... to make this section a lot easier to go through...........

neectron · Jan 16, 2013

Iceax123 said:
Once again neectron thank you for your help.

I updated last night through the software to 4.04 - 6.1.1.B.1.10 so will use your method in the first post to root.

Do you root before unlocking bootloader.

Thanks

Andy

Unlocking bootloader is not necessary for rooting.It is your choics you can do either way.

Iceax123 · Jan 16, 2013

Thanks I only bought this phone so i could practise flashing roms etc.

Looks like i might be out of my depth lol.

Will root tonight.

Thanks

A

neectron · Jan 16, 2013

Iceax123 said:
Thanks I only bought this phone so i could practise flashing roms etc.

Looks like i might be out of my depth lol.

Will root tonight.

Thanks

A

Out of depth?No.

It will be very easy once you do it.

Dblfstr · Jan 16, 2013

Looks clean and organized. You are missing a [/B] for one of your headers though ;P

Great start!

adirock · Jan 16, 2013

Hello, I am using Xperia U GB 2.3.7
And build no 6.0.B.3.188 I am a noob. Can u suggest which is the easiest method to root? I mean by upgrading to ICS or from GB itself.

THANKS

neectron · Jan 16, 2013

adirock said:
Hello, I am using Xperia U GB 2.3.7
And build no 6.0.B.3.188 I am a noob. Can u suggest which is the easiest method to root? I mean by upgrading to ICS or from GB itself.

THANKS

Easiest way is updating it to ICS.
For GB,you can try this http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2063029.

adirock · Jan 16, 2013

Thanks for your reply.
1) In the above link the first step is written update to ics. Then I think I have to upgrade to ics for rooting.
2) is there any problem/lagging in ics upgrade?
Pls ans this.

Thanks

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