[GUIDE] Back up DRM Keys & unlock/relock Bootloader (Noob proof)

[Rawh]

Are you sure you used the ftf of step 15? That one actually has the system.sin removed.
If you're sure about that, then I guess dualrecovery did not get installed correctly, what was the output of the script?

Seems to be something with the latest dualrecovery version. I decided to drop the 2.7.100-beta version and went with the 2.7.99-beta version. This seems to have done the trick as I'm now getting a double-vibration and a green LED when the 'sony' text shows up.

Sadly it seems the Philz recovery menu is broken. Whenever I select a zipfile to install it seems to be having an error and goes back to the screen with the zipfiles in it. Any thoughts about how I can see what error it might be having when I want to update / install / use a zipfile?

Seems dualrecovery comes with two recovery menu's. By using volume down I was able to get into twrp. With twrp I was able to use the zip files and install the three zip files mentioned at 19.1, 2 and 3.
Rebooting the device however seems to have placed it into a reboot-loop of which it doesn't want to get out of.

I'm now trying to see if I can get cyanogenmod 11 (as they have nightly builds now for amami) on it. I am guessing I will need to start from step 1 and put the CM11 zip file on the device after step 6.
Will keep this post updated!

There we go! Installing CM11 works like a charm. Sadly I broke it again after trying to manually install SuperSU from the gplay store. System keeps on freezing. This is turned out to be a quite learning curve for me and flashing mobile phone's Going to try the upgrade process again and this time hope it doesn't crash

 

[Cleviojr]

Sony sends an email with the keys, if i restore the stock rom with DRM keys, will sony check my IMEI.
(I mean, if I need to use my warranty, and I wanna restore it)
Can you explain how to restore the warranty? will sony check my IMEI?

 

[Rawh]

Sony sends an email with the keys, if i restore the stock rom with DRM keys, will sony check my IMEI.
(I mean, if I need to use my warranty, and I wanna restore it)
Can you explain how to restore the warranty? will sony check my IMEI?

Before you use the keys to unlock it, use TA BACKUP (xda link) to make a backup of your DRM keys.

 

[Cleviojr]

Before you use the keys to unlock it, use TA BACKUP (xda link) to make a backup of your keys.

i know, but i mean, will sony check the email that they sent with the keys? will sony check my IMEI?

 

[Rawh]

i know, but i mean, will sony check the email that they sent with the keys? will sony check my IMEI?

Well in order to get the email with the key you had to supply them with your IMEI at first. So yes they have it.

If you are worried about your warranty, you can get that back with the TA backup (read: a restore of). Do keep in mind you will probably soft-brick it if you restore it over anything not-stock firmware. So I would suggest you use Sony's PC Companion to get the stock firmware back on the device first, before restoring your DRM keys.

(start PC Companion -> Support -> Update -> Click link in text saying "Repair my phone / device" -> select your device -> USB connect it and read the onscreen info)

 

[Riyal]

You could just tell them that you only requested a key but haven't used it on the device yet. Regardless of what they say they don't have proof that you actually unlocked the phone.

i know, but i mean, will sony check the email that they sent with the keys? will sony check my IMEI?

 

[zxz0O0]

[...]

Seems dualrecovery comes with two recovery menu's. By using volume down I was able to get into twrp. With twrp I was able to use the zip files and install the three zip files mentioned at 19.1, 2 and 3.
Rebooting the device however seems to have placed it into a reboot-loop of which it doesn't want to get out of.

[...]

Did you have to put the files on the internal storage to install in TWRP?

 

[Rawh]

Did you have to put the files on the internal storage to install in TWRP?

All the zipfiles I used were placed on the second (mini) SDcard inside the device. To my understanding putting the files on the internal storage would've caused them to be wiped each time I used that flashmode tool together with the different firmware?

 

[zxz0O0]

All the zipfiles I used were placed on the second (mini) SDcard inside the device. To my understanding putting the files on the internal storage would've caused them to be wiped each time I used that flashmode tool together with the different firmware?

Yeah you'd have to put the files on the internal storage after step 10. I was asking because I thought TWRP can not access external sd cards. But I guess I was wrong then.

 

[Rawh]

Yeah you'd have to put the files on the internal storage after step 10. I was asking because I thought TWRP can not access external sd cards. But I guess I was wrong then.

I was hitting all the locations on the phone like crazy to figure out how to select the other storage device in TWRP. And then when you hit the top bar you could select which storage device to use. That's what let me change it and just install the files like I wanted.

Any idea if it's possible to let Philz enable some form of debugging or logging, with a text file telling me what it did the last step? I thought I saw it beginning with a zip file and then immediately stop after it, without doing nothing. Would like to know why Philz didn't work

 

[Jaevlar]

All the zipfiles I used were placed on the second (mini) SDcard inside the device. To my understanding putting the files on the internal storage would've caused them to be wiped each time I used that flashmode tool together with the different firmware?

That's what I've thought too. Ended up flashing stock-rom instead since I didn't have more time to delve deeper into this.

But I do have to say that it is a lot of steps just to achieve root on the device. Don't get me wrong, it's a great guide even though I didn't have time to fool around with it enough to gain root access.
Will try again when I get some time on my hands.

 

[zxz0O0]

I was hitting all the locations on the phone like crazy to figure out how to select the other storage device in TWRP. And then when you hit the top bar you could select which storage device to use. That's what let me change it and just install the files like I wanted.

Any idea if it's possible to let Philz enable some form of debugging or logging, with a text file telling me what it did the last step? I thought I saw it beginning with a zip file and then immediately stop after it, without doing nothing. Would like to know why Philz didn't work

I don't know why Philz recovery is not working. You have to ask [NUT].

 

[o-l-a-v]

Step eleven says:

Now flash C6903_14.1.G.534_ianford10_UK Unbranded_modified.ftf in flashmode (boot phone in flashmode again) (select Wipe [ ] and Exclude [Uncheck ALL])

Should I not wipe a darn thing, or should i wipe everything?
Edit: I guess so. Wiping all makes the debugging option go off (reset settings) doesn't it? Cause the recovery installer bat / adb could not connect.. Yep, trying again.

 

[zxz0O0]

Step eleven says:

Now flash C6903_14.1.G.534_ianford10_UK Unbranded_modified.ftf in flashmode (boot phone in flashmode again) (select Wipe [ ] and Exclude [Uncheck ALL])

Should I not wipe a darn thing, or should i wipe everything?
Edit: I guess so. Wiping all makes the debugging option go off (reset settings) doesn't it? Cause the recovery installer bat / adb could not connect.. Yep, trying again.

In flashtool there shouldn't be anything available under wipe. That's why I wrote Wipe [ ], because I thought if I write Wipe [Uncheck ALL] some people will ask how they are supposed to uncheck something if there is nothing.

 

[Walter_White]

Between step 9 and step 10 I get the following output from flashtool

08/016/2014 12:16:47 - INFO  - Device connected in flash mode
08/016/2014 12:16:54 - INFO  - Flash canceled
08/017/2014 12:17:20 - INFO  - Selected Bundle for SO-02F. FW release : 14.1.H.1.281. Customization : docomo
08/017/2014 12:17:20 - INFO  - Preparing files for flashing
08/018/2014 12:18:00 - INFO  - Please connect your device into flashmode.
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Opening device for R/W
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Start Flashing
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Processing loader.sin
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  -     Checking header
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - ERROR - Processing of loader.sin finished with errors.
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Ending flash session
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - ERROR - 
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Device connected in flash mode

The errors were in red obviously. Is this "biz as usual" or is something wrong and I cannot continue?

Upon reboot of the phone I was asked to reselect language (as if the phone was out of the box) but the rest of my data/apps/settings is still there.

 

[zxz0O0]

Between step 9 and step 10 I get the following output from flashtool

08/016/2014 12:16:47 - INFO  - Device connected in flash mode
08/016/2014 12:16:54 - INFO  - Flash canceled
08/017/2014 12:17:20 - INFO  - Selected Bundle for SO-02F. FW release : 14.1.H.1.281. Customization : docomo
08/017/2014 12:17:20 - INFO  - Preparing files for flashing
08/018/2014 12:18:00 - INFO  - Please connect your device into flashmode.
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Opening device for R/W
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Start Flashing
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Processing loader.sin
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  -     Checking header
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - ERROR - Processing of loader.sin finished with errors.
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Ending flash session
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - ERROR - 
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - ERROR - Error flashing. Aborted
08/018/2014 12:18:02 - INFO  - Device connected in flash mode

The errors were in red obviously. Is this "biz as usual" or is something wrong and I cannot continue?

Upon reboot of the phone I was asked to reselect language (as if the phone was out of the box) but the rest of my data/apps/settings is still there.

No, this actually shouldn't happen. Please try flashing the firmware again. But do like this:
Prepare flashtool and click on flash
Wait 20 seconds
Connect the phone to the computer in flashmode

 

[Walter_White]

Thanks, I will. Got a little scared now, but the chance of frying the phone at this stage isn't too high, is it? I mean obv. Flashtool has quite a few checks and balances built in.

Gotta let you know.

 

[zxz0O0]

Thanks, I will. Got a little scared now, but the chance of frying the phone at this stage isn't too high, is it? I mean obv. Flashtool has quite a few checks and balances built in.

Gotta let you know.

Don't worry, when I bought this phone first I did so many things wrong while trying to root so yeah it's pretty damn hard to brick it.

 

[Walter_White]

OK, it worked like you said.

Now I got a bootloop though, I think.

I completed everything including 15. Now, point 16 says "Go to the Recovery Menu. To do that, power off your phone. Then power it on again. After the vibrate and the green LED turns on, hold Volume Up (LED will turn violet)". When I forcepower it off and then turn it back on again I do not get a green LED at all. Just a short vibrate. Holding PowerUp does nothing there. The Sony logog appears, vanishes, appearsm etc. This is with no USB cord attached.

With USB cord attached, I do NOT even get a vibrate when powering it on. Any hint?

 

[zxz0O0]

For step 16 to the end USB is detached. If you get a boot loop I can imagine the following things
a) You did not flash D5503_14.3.A.0.681_Generic_UK-nosystem.ftf properly as stated on guide step 15
b) You did not properly install dualrecovery as stated on step 13 (did you use the latest version 2.7.107?) (What was the output of install.bat?)

I'm afraid to tell you that you have to start again from the beginning
(It might also be possible to start again from 11)