Will there ever be a way to "Re-Lock" the bootloader?

[Blairware]

I imagine that the obvious answer is also the correct one, meaning this is not going to be an option. In a way, it's just as frustrating as before Asus provided an Unlock tool (which they did, on schedule at least on the schedule they committed to.) For all of the blunders that occurred around and with the Transformer Prime, they have work like hell to overcome a lot of the issues. They haven't been entirely succesfull on all fronts, such as the reboots that keep recurring for some, but not for others with each succesive update, but you cannot fault Asus for failing to try.

I guess why I asked will be a common point of contention for a lot of us. It can be agonizing to see sweet looking ROMs showing up, and wanting to enjoy that on the Prime, but unfortunately the Bootloader Lock/Unlock is not like rooting, S-On and all the rest because just about all of those changes are undo-able.

I know personally that every device I root, I look at the tool or method to see how difficult (or possible even) un-rooting is. As long as I now I can put the device n a returnable state for warranty coverage, I am the bravest ROM Flasher in the world! LOL

Because $500-800 is a lot of money to have tied up in a device, one that has had more that a fair amount of issues, including issues that require RMA, it is just too risky for the average Prime owner to unlock the Bootloader.... MAJOR BUMMER!

A really awesome option would have been, or could be if Asus said: "Unlocked bootloader devices lose warranty, BUT, if you are able to restore the device to factory spec (including re-locking the bootloader, a tool that does not presently exist) we will honor the remaining portion of the warranty"

And yes, I am aware that the serial number is recorded by Asus during the unlock process.

That would be the ultimate option. The chance of it happening?About as likely as a new update arriving that fixes GPS completely and permanently. Oh well. One can dream, right?

Sigh.

 

[hauj0bb]

Prior to owning the TF201, I owned the TF101 which was flawless for the first 4 months of owning it, and then one day it developed this strange off-white splotchy area on the screen, it was pretty big too... way more noticeable than a dead pixel. If I couldn't have RMA'd it, then the value of the tablet would've gone down significantly.

I'm a little more worried about the TF201 developing issues later in it's life, so I probably wont be unlocking my device until there's a way around the warranty void. A $500 gamble is not worth a minor performance boost you might get from using a custom rom (IMO).

Edit: Just noticed you live about 30-40 minutes from me, Raleigh NC here.

 

[MasterZen88]

I imagine that the obvious answer is also the correct one, meaning this is not going to be an option. In a way, it's just as frustrating as before Asus provided an Unlock tool (which they did, on schedule at least on the schedule they committed to.) For all of the blunders that occurred around and with the Transformer Prime, they have work like hell to overcome a lot of the issues. They haven't been entirely succesfull on all fronts, such as the reboots that keep recurring for some, but not for others with each succesive update, but you cannot fault Asus for failing to try.

I guess why I asked will be a common point of contention for a lot of us. It can be agonizing to see sweet looking ROMs showing up, and wanting to enjoy that on the Prime, but unfortunately the Bootloader Lock/Unlock is not like rooting, S-On and all the rest because just about all of those changes are undo-able.

I know personally that every device I root, I look at the tool or method to see how difficult (or possible even) un-rooting is. As long as I now I can put the device n a returnable state for warranty coverage, I am the bravest ROM Flasher in the world! LOL

Because $500-800 is a lot of money to have tied up in a device, one that has had more that a fair amount of issues, incuding issues that require RMA, it is just too risky for the avarage Prime owner to unlock the Bootloader.... MAJOR BUMMER!

A really awesome option would have been, or could be if Asus said: "Unlocked bootloader devices lose warranty, BUT, if you are able to restore the device to factory spec (including re-locking the bootloader, a tool that does not presently exist) we will honor the remaining portion of the warranty"

That would be the ultimate option. The chance of it happening?About as likely as a new update arriving that fixes GPS completely and permanently. Oh well. One can dream, right?

Sigh.

Even if you are able to lock i it wont matter. The bootloader unlock tool provided by ASUS reports your serial number when you unlock kinda like a phone home mode. Using this serial hey generate some kinds of unlock code. This is the finding thus so far from the development forum and reviviewing the decompile apk file.

 

[pyro6128]

Even if you are able to lock i it wont matter. The bootloader unlock tool provided by ASUS reports your serial number when you unlock kinda like a phone home mode. Using this serial hey generate some kinds of unlock code. This is the finding thus so far from the development forum and reviviewing the decompile apk file.

This. If you relock your bootloader you only limit what you yourself can do with the tablet. The damage has already been done as far as Asus is concerned

 

[scataldo721]

if I had 2 primes stuck the serial number of the other prime on mine (unlocked and rooted) then unrooted and flashed back to stock would an RMA work? I don't see why it wouldn't I'm just a little curious?

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

 

[mouse100]

I hope dev will find a way to stop the apk to send our information to Asus..

Inviato dal mio Transformer Prime TF201 usando Tapatalk

 

[Dnakaman]

Voiding the warranty by rooting is nothing new.

It has always been that way since day one.

Only difference is that now ASUS has figured a way to know which units have been unlocked.

I wouldn't be surprised if other companies start doing the same thing.

 

[foxtrot16m]

Even if you are able to lock i it wont matter. The bootloader unlock tool provided by ASUS reports your serial number when you unlock kinda like a phone home mode. Using this serial hey generate some kinds of unlock code. This is the finding thus so far from the development forum and reviviewing the decompile apk file.

Cant you use multiple unlock codes to make your own decrypter, that way asus never knows and you can re-encrypt it if you need to send it in for warranty

 

[xsteven77x]

Voiding the warranty by rooting is nothing new.

It has always been that way since day one.
official unlocks, not developer made one clicks

I wouldn't be surprised if other companies start doing the same thing.

Others companies already do the same thing.

Only difference is that now ASUS has figured a way to know which units have been unlocked. Asus are just the first ones to package it into an easy to use apk. Usually they make it hard so that only people with some adb/dev knowledge can do it. Were talking about

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

 

[Blairware]

Cant you use multiple unlock codes to make your own decrypter, that way asus never knows and you can re-encrypt it if you need to send it in for warranty

I am not sure this is feasible, An "un official" unlocker would of course get us half way there. Then we just need a way to properly re-encrypt that mimics the stock 128 bit encryption. It would be risky either way, and as we have seen, people are bricking devices already in the earliest stages of learning what works and what doesn't. I think that I even saw that Diamondback bricked his Prime, because Asus does not give us access to NVFlash ! (Virtuous ROM chef for Prime, our first non-Asus ROM)

So I think we are going to see a slowing of the initial rush out the gate to mod and develop for this.

 

[xsteven77x]

I am not sure this is feasible, An "un official" unlocker would of course get us half way there. Then we just need a way to properly re-encrypt that mimics the stock 128 bit encryption. It would be risky either way, and as we have seen, people are bricking devices already in the earliest stages of learning what works and what doesn't. I think that I even saw that Diamondback bricked his Prime, because Asus does not give us access to NVFlash ! (Virtuous ROM chef for Prime, our first non-Asus ROM)

So I think we are going to see a slowing of the initial rush out the gate to mod and develop for this.

How exactly do they block it? It doesn't exist? There is a software block?

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

 

[azriaziz]

Whatever the case, atleast asus has allowed us to unlock it with this simple to use apk.

Eitherway, the future for any android device (esp for people on this forum) is to go the custom rom way!

From what i heard, CM9 is already in the works and a beta is soon to follow!

hxxp://androidroot.mobi/2012/02/22/cyanogenmod-9-for-asus-transformer-prime/

 

[mikevipe]

Being able to block ASUS from knowing you have unlocked your bootloader using their tool would depend on the following:

Option A: is the package unlocks the bootloader and then sends a beacon home with your device information and ASUS then voids your warranty and blocks OTA. This could be resolved by blocking the call home.

Option B: which is more likely is the tool FIRST sends a call to ASUS with your device info, voids your warranty, and THEN returns the actual unlock code.

Option C: A dev develops a aftermarket unlocking tool.

The only way to beat option B would be to decrypt the encryption and generate your own code by inserting it in a custom installer or modifying the homebeacons dns and making a server to intercept the original message and respond with the correct code etc.