A couple questions before root attempt

[SE_iCEQB]

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

 

[DeareN]

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.

 

[SE_iCEQB]

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

 

[DeareN]

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.

 

[Mozza2k11]

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?

 

[SE_iCEQB]

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

 

[Logseman]

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.

 

[SE_iCEQB]

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

 

[Mozza2k11]

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

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

 

[SE_iCEQB]

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

 

[radio five]

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!

 

[SuperDeform]

Great thread lets keep it growing!

 

[Flipfoot]

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

 

[Mozza2k11]

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

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.

 

[radio five]

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.

 

[AriStar]

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

hey hey hey hey hey!

r800a = CANADA rogers.

thanks.

 

[Mozza2k11]

hey hey hey hey hey!

r800a = CANADA rogers.

thanks.

Lol my bad , il change it

 

[Flipfoot]

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.

Many thanks! I now have a rooted Play, bloatware gone, big smile on my face!!!!