yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sony Xperia M] gamer649:
I have tried every root tool I can think of (including vroot). Doesn't work.

In this firmware/kernel update Sony have patched most (if not all) security bugs what are currently known of. This means that any tool what utilises one of the security bugs (what is now patched) will fail. Unless another exploitable bug appears we have to use recovery to push the files (currently only available with unlocked bootloaders).

Hope this explanation helps.
[Sony Xperia M] iamdwinner:
Thanks gamer649. This helped.

All we can do now is to wait till we get a way to root. I think its time we need help of an expert.

Hoping for the best. Not going to upgrade till I get a method to root with locked BL
[Sony Xperia M] lake0ftearz:
I use Sony Smartphone when It's still named Sony Erricson. And I don't think you can flash a modified .sin to locked bootloader. If you can do that so unlock BL is meanless.

And if it can be, some legendary Devs like Doomlord with do that instead of searching exploit.
[Sony Xperia M] mdt24:
Dual recovery

Hi all,

I know that a dual recovery, created by nut, exists for different Xperia models... See this thread :

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2261606

I think it's the solution for us with locked bootloader... So if someone with enough knowledge can ask him to help us it would be great :)
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
This recovery works with locked bootloaders but you need root to install it. Also, it changes some files in /system partition, we can do that in 4.2 with root but when we update to 4.3 the official update will overwrite the system partition :p

However you gave me an idea, if once loaded this recovery accept flashing .zip or .img files, we could use that to flash a modified system partition from 4.3 update including the su binaries (this way the recovery would be lost but the /system partition would already have the su binaries). Then, we would just flash the FTF with flashTool, excluding system.sin in the process... I'll give a try once I get home and report the results...
[Sony Xperia M] joemarshall:
The thing to do might be:

1) install recovery

2) extract the ftf file for 4.3 to a flashable zip

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php...mctr=(not provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=239765632

3) Update the flashable zip with root files(su installed etc)

4) flash the zip using recovery

5) Reflash recovery before rebooting

At least in theory there's no reason that shouldn't work, if you're able to install recovery on 4.1 in the first place. That's surely the hard bit.

---------- Post added at 03:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:15 PM ----------

There's a file with clockworkmod build for xperia M on the link below - if you unpack it using "recovery repack" it is in rmdisk/boot/recovery.gz

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2494793

I can't do it on my phone because I need it working as a phone right now, but if I had one to try out things on, I would try:

1)replacing the init.with the init from that zip file, and put the .gz files and busybox in the right place

2)see if you can boot at all

3)see if you can boot to clockworkmod (and if so, can you flash a flashable rooted zip of the 4.3 as in the post above)

I'd consider a try at streamlining it slightly, by copying the original init file to init.original, changing the replacement init so that in the case of standard boot it would just run original init. I don't know if that'd work, but it'd be worth a try, because it'd mean that the CWM wasn't specific to a particular version of firmware, you could then make it a flashable by recovery zip file like the ones for other phones.

---------- Post added at 03:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:40 PM ----------

Not sure if you can alter init though, does it get unpacked every boot?

Other things seem to use the chargemon process, but I can't find it on my xperia m?
[Sony Xperia M] Matlaw:
Whoa, recovery for locked bootloaders?! Can I install CM11 through it? That would be amazing :D But for now, I want just root for 4.3...
[Sony Xperia M] hamid-sp3:
Has anyone tested it?

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2559009
[Sony Xperia M] Matlaw:
I hope it'll work :fingers-crossed:

EDIT: Both doesn't work :( RootkitXperia says that device isn't supported and RootkitZ freezes at this:
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
No luck so far, I flashed 4.2.2 firmware to mess around. The recovery for locked bootloaders available for Xperia Z didn't work (one of them just gave a strange charging animation and then shutdown and the other just a bootloop). However, replacing /system/bin/charger with simple bash scripts worked, so, right now I'm trying to load a recovery RAM disk I extracted from CWM for unlocked bootloaders through a script injected in /system/bin/charger to see if works...

Also, does anyone know what is possible to do in fastboot mode with a locked bootloader? I thought I could hotboot official kernels (the signed ones like kernel.sin), but apparently we can't do anything in fastboot mode other than retrieving unlock data if the bootloader is locked. Could someone confirm this?
[Sony Xperia M] C25:
still ota

We can update our phone through update center even from 4.1 to 4.3

If we can modify this update file,we can root with LB.

but I don't know how to modify,

Can anyone?

Here's the link:-

download_package.bin
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
How you managed to update through Update Center? At least in my Xperia M dual, Update Center always told me to update through computer and never gave me an OTA option...
[Sony Xperia M] C25:
Don't know about dual,but major no of single sim on fb group update over ota only because there is no update through pc companion.
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
Well guys, I gave up. I ended by downgrading to 4.2.2 with root, taking a TA backup, flashing FTF from 4.3 update, unlocking my bootloader, installing CWM recovery, flashing SuperSU update.zip then flashing the entire FTF from 4.3 again (this time excluding system.sin). After reboot, I had root access, so I restored my TA backup that I took earlier and my bootloader is locked again, and proprietary sony apps are working again... Still not a solution for locked bootloaders, but this may be useful for people that doesn't care about warranty (like me) and can unlock the bootloader but don't want to miss proprietary Sony apps...
[Sony Xperia M] Rajesh_m:
Can I try this on my xm single? Can I relock the bootloader by restoring the ta partition I took while on 4.1.2? I mean flash 4.1.2 stock, root, take ta partition backup, then unlock the bootloader, then flash 4.3 ftf, then root, and then restore my old ta partition? Can this be possible?
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
For me it worked, but I did the backup in 4.2.2. Just make sure you reflash the FTF of 4.3 update (excluding system.sin) after relocking the bootloader (aka restoring TA partition), otherwise you get bootloop...
[Sony Xperia M] elmkzgirxp:
What? I didn't get you.

In you previous post, you said to flash the 4.3 FTF first before restoring the TA backup. And now, you're saying to flash the 4.3 FTF after restoring the TA backup?

As far as I know, restoring the TA backup with a custom kernel bricks your device. So I'm assuming that the 4.3 FTF must be flashed before restoring the TA backup.

Please clarify.

EDIT: I have one question. Can't we just flash the stock kernel after flashing a CWM recovery and installing root? This would be a lot easier, unless it makes a difference.
[Sony Xperia M] the gladiator:
Nooooooo, bad news ! You were starting to be my hero !!!!

I'm starting to be pessimistic (and pissed off) now; may be I'll follow you in a while.

PS I'm not sure but I strongly suspect that the upgrade is done OTA and not only through PCC
[Sony Xperia M] elmkzgirxp:
Even I was shocked when I found out that it is possible to restore a TA backup taken from an older firmware to a later one.

I saw this post by Dev Shaft stating that there is a possibility that restoring from a different firmware may result to a hard-brick. So I never took the risk. (Or maybe I just misunderstood it.)

I'm thinking this is possible because the 4.3 FTF that I flashed didn't contain a TA partition. So the TA in my phone must've been left intact even after flashing a different firmware.
[Sony Xperia M] inunxelex:
4.3 updater-script needed

i have idea for rooting without ubl on JB4.3 but i need updater-script for stock ftf 4.3 :D
[Sony Xperia M] shiromau:
why dont u try unlock root...

herez a link

http://www.unlockroot.com
[Sony Xperia M] gamer649:
It won't work, all exploits we have been using in the past have been patched in 4.3. I've even had confirmation from doomlord about this. The only way we can root is through injecting the files through recovery which needs an unlocked bootloader at the moment.
[Sony Xperia M] anmg:
I do not have such.

But I can give idea too.

I do not have enough skill to make it myself.

1. OTA updates is located in /data/fota folder

2. prepare fota update file with ROOT

3. push the FOTA file to phone 2 possible way

a) use patched UpdateCenter.apk

b) use link redirection to download our file from another source
[Sony Xperia M] shiromau:
No luck soo far with kingo too.. it restarts phone couple of times and shows ROOT FAILED...
[Sony Xperia M] kirev:
Zhuo Dashi anyone?
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
Before and after. I'll reword the process I did: flash 4.2.2 (or 4.1 for single SIM), root it, take a TA backup. Flash the entire FTF from 4.3 update (without excluding anything), then unlock bootloader and flash CWM through fastboot. At that point the phone will be in bootloop and you can only boot in CWM, so, boot CWM, choose Install ZIP and sideload SuperSu update.zip file through adb sideload (or install through the SD card, if you have one). After that, turn off the phone, go back to flashtool and flash the FTF from 4.3 update again (this time excluding everything except kernel). Then, you can boot your phone normally in 4.3 now and it'll have root access, but the bootloader still is unlocked, and we need to relock it, so enable USB debugging and restore your TA backup. After that, your bootloader will be locked again, but since the backup we restored was taken in older FW, the phone will bootloop again. Finally, flash the entire FTF from 4.3 update one last time (this time excluding system) and after that your phone will be on 4.3 with root access and bootloader locked...
[Sony Xperia M] gamer649:
Please stop suggesting root tools, they WILL NOT WORK. No root tool will work now, I have already said the only way at the moment is through injecting the files in recovery.
[Sony Xperia M] elmkzgirxp:
Much better. Got a little confused back there earlier.

I have one last question though: Why does the phone bootloop after restoring the TA backup when it turns back to normal after flashing the same FTF (excluding the system.sin)?
[Sony Xperia M] kgaurav:
<br />

<br />

Before and after. I'll reword the process I did: flash 4.2.2 (or 4.1 for single SIM), root it, take a TA backup. Flash the entire FTF from 4.3 update (without excluding anything), then unlock bootloader and flash CWM through fastboot. At that point the phone will be in bootloop and you can only boot in CWM, so, boot CWM, choose Install ZIP and sideload SuperSu update.zip file through adb sideload (or install through the SD card, if you have one). After that, turn off the phone, go back to flashtool and flash the FTF from 4.3 update again (this time excluding everything except kernel). Then, you can boot your phone normally in 4.3 now and it'll have root access, but the bootloader still is unlocked, and we need to relock it, so enable USB debugging and restore your TA backup. After that, your bootloader will be locked again, but since the backup we restored was taken in older FW, the phone will bootloop again. Finally, flash the entire FTF from 4.3 update one last time (this time excluding system) and after that your phone will be on 4.3 with root access and bootloader locked...[/QUOTE]

its should be work but i have still doubt on TA restoration.

can anyone check confirm this???
[Sony Xperia M] mdt24:
Locked bootloader

Please this thread is for locked bootloader. So it would better for the other to go there if you want speak about root with unlocked BL: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2696259 :good:
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
Found something: the CWM I flashed was based in 4.2 kernel, so that's why I got some bootloops during the proccess. If you find a CWM based on 4.3 kernel, then it should eliminate some steps from the instructions I posted...

I can assure you that this method works, and I can provide screenshots to you showing that I'm on 4.3 with root and that my bootloader is still locked :p

I'm not entirely sure, but it maybe invalid checksum or something related (because the TA backup was done when we were running 4.1.2/4.2.2). In FlashTool log there's always a "Writing TA unit" line after you flash the FTF, so FlashTool updates something in TA after a flash, getting rid of the bootloop...

Anyway, [MENTION=4280199]mdt24[/MENTION] is right, I already spammed this thread enough with methods that need unlockable bootloader...
[Sony Xperia M] iamdwinner:
Not any more

Guys I cant wait anymore to get a root for locked BL..

Can anyone please suggest me where can I find below things..

4.3 Kernel for Xperia M Dual with CWM

A detailed description about unlocking and relocking Bootloader (I want to lock it after root)

A detailed process that will describe the entire process of gaining root in M Dual

Waiting for your help friends

Thanks
[Sony Xperia M] paper13579:
This is not the place to ask. If u have given up, and want to unlock your bootloader, and want instructions on how to do it, go look it up, there is a search option on xda, or just post a new thread in the Q&A section. This is the general section if u haven't noticed.

sent from wadiya using my mafroom
[Sony Xperia M] icoolguy1995:
Another Update coming for Xperia M.

http://community.vodafone.com.au/t5...Update-Weekly-Wrap-3rd-April-2014/ba-p/328393
[Sony Xperia M] anmg:
it's for 1904 only
[Sony Xperia M] iks8:
So what, we can flash it on c1905 too without issues and this "feature release 2" sounds interesting :D

Wysłane z mojego GT-P3110 przy użyciu Tapatalka
[Sony Xperia M] Esperos:
Ok, i have a way that may work:

1)Flash 4.3 and pull the system (or find a .zip dump).

2)Flash 4.1.2 ftf, root it with cydia impactor and install cwm recovery.

3)Make a flashable zip of 4.3 dump and include SU.

4) Flash the rooted 4.3 system zip that you create in the previous step.

5) Power off your phone (dont restart, you get a bootloop) and flash 4.3 ftf but EXCLUDE "System".
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
How are you going to install CWM without unlocking the bootloader?
[Sony Xperia M] Esperos:
Ooops... I didnt notice that there is no cwm for locked boot loaders (like other xperia devices).

So i can imagine 2 possible ways:

1) Just push the 4.3 /system with device open. (risky)

2) create a short of basic system with just adb daemon and a basic init proccess (on the root dir, just like the cwm), chroot to it, and push the system and set the permission. (the phone remain open, so you will have the time to fo it)
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
The first way won't work, I tried doing that but some files failed to push and after all I ended with a bootloop (even after flashing FTF from 4.3 excluding system)...

About the second way, it may work by replacing /system/bin/charger with a BASH script to do the chroot stuff, but I'm not entirely sure if you would have full access to system partition this way...
[Sony Xperia M] elmkzgirxp:
I think this was the 15.4.A.0.23, which followed the 15.4.A.0.21.

---------- Post added at 11:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 AM ----------

Well, technically, it can be called rooting resulting in a locked bootloader but requires an unlocked bootloader. But either way, it's still the same. :P
[Sony Xperia M] Ruvy:
I have an offtopic question. I updated my Xperia M with Global firmware using PCC. I want to create a FTF and followed the guide here. According to the guide it is recommended to exclude the LOADER.SIN

So is it ok or should i include LOADER.SIN aswell ?
[Sony Xperia M] Esperos:
It can be done with the second way, the steps are pretty much this: first you need to grab the cwm executable, busybox and a basic /init, then connect your phone with adb, run "stop" to stop all the android apps, make a new folder called "cwm" or whatever, push the 3 previous files to this folder, the run "/cwm/[name of cwm executable]", unmount /system with cwm,(maybe you need to kill cwm after this step, but i dont think that can cause a problem) and finally run "/cwm/busybox chroot /cwm/init" (the init must be modded to run the cwm). Then, if everything works correct you must be able to flash a .zip.
[Sony Xperia M] Pacjonek:
But we don't have an CWM for locked bootloader. Here is a problem.
[Sony Xperia M] paper13579:
Come on guys, dont let this thread die, we need a solution

sent from wadiya using my mafroom
[Sony Xperia M] joemarshall:
I can get CWM recovery loaded, but I have no way of knowing whether it is working without flashing a zip. I a)don't have a flashable zip of 4.3, and b)am a bit scared of getting myself into a pickle on a bootloader locked device by flashing something untested. I also don't have a ftf file for my current version,

It's just done a nandroid backup and it did it fine, but not sure if I dare try a restore!

Anway, instructions to get recovery loaded on 4.1 or 4.2:

1) Your device should be rooted, (presumably running a version of 4.1 or 4.2 stock rom)

2) Put the recovery gz file attached onto the root of your device's internal storage (this file came out of the unlocked bootloader recovery zip).

3)Launch a shell using adb shell in a command prompt, and run the below:

su
stop
mount -o remount,rw /system
busybox zcat /sdcard/recovery.gz | busybox cpio -ui
/sbin/recovery
[CODE]

Recovery should appear. You should have options to flash zips, the kind of thing you expect from recovery.

If anyone can find a flashable zip / ftf of 4.3 stock and get the system image out and make a flashable zip of it, that would be super. Must be stock kernel not Cyanogen I presume as the bootloader is locked. You also need an FTF file for flashing the rest of the stuff except for system.

The process to root would I think be:

1)Open recovery following instructions above
2)Flash a rooted stock 4.3 system image, or flash a stock system image plus the superuser executable stuff from the link above.
3)Use Flashtool to write the boot.img, radio etc from the FTF file (everything except system I guess). Otherwise GPS, mobile data etc. won't work.

Anyone fancy giving a try? Anyone know why it won't work?

Joe
[Sony Xperia M] Pacjonek:
I've got idea.

I need /system image in .tar.gz format.

Is anyone able to insert it here? It must be with preserve-permissions!
[Sony Xperia M] joemarshall:
If you open the cwm for unlocked bootloaders flashable zip file, it's in the ramdisk, I had to extract it using an ext extractor to get the contents of the ramdisk.

Oh, looks like it didn't attach it, I can upload it somewhere later on.

File attached to the above post now.
[Sony Xperia M] C25:
booted to cwm,but cannot format system or flash rom,but great try
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
Many thanks [MENTION=2739716]joemarshall[/MENTION], with the info you posted I managed to finish a script to root 4.3 without unlocking bootloader. I'll redo the process one more time to ensure it's working and it's stable and then I post back the method :victory:
[Sony Xperia M] joemarshall:
Yeah, too many apps have open files.

Obvious thing to do is to stick a shell script replacement for charger that does the same thing, but I can't test that without serious failure to boot risk, and this thing is also my main phone.

Cross fingers that what mbc07 is doing is working, sounds good.
[Sony Xperia M] iamdwinner:
Thanks a lot buddy cant wait to root my device.

Desperately waiting for your steps.I was so desperate that I was about to unlock the bootloader
[Sony Xperia M] paper13579:
Well done [MENTION=5604590]mbc07[/MENTION], we might actually finally get this working. But one question, did that method get you root on a LB or did it get you cwm on a LB?

sent from wadiya using my mafroom
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
It IS working guys :D

I'm taking a while to post because I'm not that good with BASH scripts and found some syntax errors. My method doesn't involve using CWM at all (you'll see very soon), but it weren't working before because the phone remained online while I was doing the install (I didn't know about stop command that [MENTION=2739716]joemarshall[/MENTION] mentioned, and was searching for workarounds -- using stop fixed the remaining issues)...
[Sony Xperia M] Esperos:
Actually i said about this method and "stop" command also, few posts earlier, but i dont have the device so i cant give the files and all commands. Anyway you have to unmount the system with cwm (or a native executable that you write) and mount it again in a subfolder (not on the root dir) in order to avoid any unwanted behavior, also if you do this you ll be able to use cwm, and that means tethered cwm recovery for the users on 4.1/2 AND 4.3.
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
Done with that ****. Please test guys, and report if it's working for you or if you got any issue...
[Sony Xperia M] trkostas:
does this work for m single sim? does anybody try it?
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
Tested this a lot of times with Xperia M dual (after all I needed to test the script). Since this method rely only on busybox, it should work in almost any Xperia phone with ric binary in RAM disk. In other words, I haven't tested but I'm sure it'll work with Xperia M single SIM too :cyclops:
[Sony Xperia M] iamdwinner:
Awesome bro..

Thanks..will test it tonight
[Sony Xperia M] anmg:
I think we shall think how to use FOTA kernel

It nomally used in 2 cases:

1 - FOTA update

2 - factory reset

If we could find a way to reboot to fotfkernel we can inject SU in this mode.

ADBD deamon is present in the FOTA kernel image.
[Sony Xperia M] paper13579:
Bro, a way to root on lb has already been discovered by [MENTION=2739716]joemarshall[/MENTION] and developed by [MENTION=5604590]mbc07[/MENTION]

sent from wadiya using my mafroom
[Sony Xperia M] iamdwinner:
Bro its working for me but with the following issues...

Best part is I have full root in my M dual BUT :crying:

1: Xperia theme is not working..

Tried the following

Tried to move content of 'system' inside the runtimeskin.zip ( found here) to its respective places in my device (to system/etc/permission and system/framework).

I even tried to move the theme apk to system/app..

But non of the above method seems to work for me

2:

Previously in my 4.2.2 I was using Android reverse tethering tu use the internet of my desktop in my phone but it doesnt seem to work any more.

Did we do anything wrong in the process. Please help me
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
My method gives you root access in 4.3 and nothing more. For those issues you should blame Sony, not I, the only modification that I did was injecting SuperSU in the update...
[Sony Xperia M] iamdwinner:
Bro sorry if you felt like I am blaming you.

It was just a discussion with you where I wanted your help regarding that.

Any ways I found another issue.

While switching between the preinstalled themes the accent color doesn't change in every place (in messaging, contact, call log its always blue).

But before rooting 4.3 they seemed to work fine.

Could you please test the same in your device.I guess you also have a M Dual.
[Sony Xperia M] mbc07:
Well, as I said before, 4.3 update may have changed something that broke the apps you were using in 4.2.2, I can't do nothing about it.

About the accent color, sometimes it doesn't change until you reboot SystemUI or until you reboot the phone. I saw someone (don't remember if was [MENTION=5491189]xperiaz2[/MENTION]) stating that deleting /system/vendor/overlay/android-res.apk also fixes this without needing to reboot the phone every time you change a theme, but I haven't tried this...