[Q&A] [ROOT] Root with Locked Bootloader for SGP621 using giefroot topic

Q&A for [ROOT] Root with Locked Bootloader for SGP621 using giefroot

Some developers prefer that questions remain separate from their main development thread to help keep things organized. Placing your question within this thread will increase its chances of being answered by a member of the community or by the developer.

Before posting, please use the forum search and read through the discussion thread for [ROOT] Root with Locked Bootloader for SGP621 using giefroot. If you can't find an answer, post it here, being sure to give as much information as possible (firmware version, steps to reproduce, logcat if available) so that you can get help.

Thanks for understanding and for helping to keep XDA neat and tidy! :)

CM12 on a (UB) SGP621 (LTE, 16GB) version? topic

Hi there folks, and sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere. I hope somebody will be kind enough to point me in the right direction.

I currently have an LTE version of Z3TC and have already followed lowtraxx's tutorial for preserving TA, then made a pre-rooted ROM using Cubic07's method.
So, now I have a fully functional, rooted, stock firmware and I'm very happy with it, but I really wanted to try out CM12 on my tablet and that's where troubles started.

First, when I tried to flash the Advanced Stock Kernel from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-t...-root-t2959720
I couldn't flash CM12 because TWRP complained about my device being scorpion_windy (SGP611 I guess, the Wi-Fi/Non-LTE version). Then I somehow managed to flash Dual-locked-recovery from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-t...ry-qa-t3014211 and finally I've got CM12 chugging along on my tablet, but couldn't get it to mount the /system partition as read-write.

So maybe there would be somebody who could write a more comprehensive manual for getting CM12 on our devices, or simply start a discussion about it to counter the common pitfalls?

PS. Will AptX still work after upgrading to CM12? I really hope so, as it's practically the only 'closed' feature that I need on this tablet - the sound delivered by my new SBH80 headset in AptX mode is terrific!

[How-to] Rooted stock SGP621 firmware with DRM keys topic

Disclaimer:

1. I make no claims to any of the codes, scripts and programs listed in this post. Credit goes to the creators.


2. This serves as a extension of lowtraxx's guide (which left your device on a rooted SGP621 on a D6603 system).


3. These are what I did to get stock rooted firmware on my SGP621 while keeping the bootloader locked and most importantly, the DRM keys intact. I make no guarantees that you will not brick your device, but I did quite a lot of trial and error flashing without messing things up, so if you know what you are doing, these steps should be relatively safe.

Files/Tools Required:

1. Backup TA by DevShaft


2. Flashtool by Androxyde


3. Stock SGP621 FTF (I compiled my own by downloading the firmware using XperiFirm by laguCool and bundling the FTF using Flashtool. Alternatively, you can just use the one provided in lowtraxx's guide.)


4. Advanced Stock Kernel by krabappel2548


5. PRFCreator by zxz0O0


6. SuperSU by Chainfire


7. SonyRICDefeat by dosomder

Prerequisite:

1. Follow lowtraxx's guide to completion.

Steps:

1. Backup TA partition using Backup TA.


2. Return to stock unrooted by flashing the SGP621 FTF using Flashtool.


3. Unlock the bootloader (You'll lose the DRM keys here, but it doesn't matter anymore since you already have them backed up using Backup TA).


4. Flash the Advanced Stock Kernel using Flashtool in FastBoot mode. At this point your device will be unlocked, with DRM keys lost, and rooted with custom recovery.


5. Using PRFCreator on the SGP621 FTF and the SuperSU zip, create a rooted stock firmware flashable zip.


6. Copy the resulting zip onto your device's internal storage or external SD card.


7. Also copy the SonyRICDefeat zip to the same location.


8. Boot into TWRP on your device (Boot up the device and press the Volume down key when the purple LED lights up on the Sony boot screen).


9. Flash the rooted stock firmware zip followed by the SonyRICDefeat zip.


10. Once complete, reboot into system and set up the device for USD Debugging.


11. Restore the TA partition using Backup TA.


12. Reboot the device again and you now have the device on rooted stock firmware, with DRM keys intact.