Newb Guide for Rooting, Bootloader unlocking and Flashing

Its all about Hacking  phone at boosting it to its limits to reduce lags, better performance(High end games) and getting control over phone. Rooting is the main tool here so lets begin with It !!!

ROOTING

Rooting means getting ultimate control on your phone. Basic feature of Rooting are

1. Rooting allows to move app from internal memory to SD card.

2. You can use your phone as wifi spot without paying to your carrier.

3. It allows to install various app like Titanium backup and Avast root anti-theft which provides superb protection to your phone. 

4. You can install custom ROM'S (after bootloader unlocking) .

Faqing awesome But How!!!

1. Flashtool (Click here to download) by - Bin4ry & Androxyde

2. eroot (Click here to download) by eroot

I recommend eroot (simple and quick) but download flashtool too, useful various operation.

Note for both method or anything - Make sue Correct drivers are installed on PC (Use your mobile with PC companion tool to do so) & USB-Debugging is on (settings --> Developers option --> Check USB-Debugging )

Eroot

1. Download and run it

2. Connect your Device to the Computer

3. just click the “一键root ” then wait a moment

4. when it says “恭喜您，获取root 权限成功”，Done .

Flash Tool

1. Download and Install

2. Install drivers from " C:\Flashtool\drivers "

3. Connect your device

4. Start flashtool, press root button, select superuser and press OK.

5. When prompted click the restore button on your phone, be sure you select the 'RootME' recovery!

6. Device will reboot almost 3 times.

7. After flast tool log says "Finished", your phone is now rooted .

Recovery 

Custom recovery for Android phones and tablets that allows you to perform several advanced recovery, restoration, installation and maintenance operations on your Android device that aren’t possible with the stock recovery.

Recoverx (Click HERE to download) by LEDelete

"You just have to launch RecoverX, enter “install” and select your device, the recovery you want to install and RecoverX does the rest, it’s that simple." - LEDelete

Instruction

1. Download tool & unzip 

2. Run RecoverX

3. Select your brand phone model & recovery type

4. Click Next then Next (After it complete downloading) 

5. Read instruction and then next

6. Done  

To boot in recovery mode (depending of the device) :

• Tape "reboot recovery" in terminal emulator.
• Or shutown your device, enter in bootloader mode and select "Recovery".
• Or press back button when the device start.
• Or press volume button when the device start.
• Or tap the screen when the device start.

Alternative Method (For unlocked bootloader only)

1. Download Kernel for you android version as .elf (eg. advanced ICS kernel for ICS (4.0.4))
2. Open flashtool
3. Switch off your phone and hold volume up button and plug usb cable along with holding
4. Click on flash icon in flashtool 
5. Select fastboot mode
6. Select kernel to flash
7. Flash

Note - Choose kernel carefully or else you will face bootloop dont worry we have solution for that too.

Bootloader unlocking

Bootloader unlocking allows you to install different custom ROM'S and Kernels, so you can enjoy latest version of android before your carrier/manufacture releases for your device and some ROM's are more fast, smooth and beautiful then stock ROM.

Disadvantage   - No bravia Engine

                      - No music info

Dont worry after relocking bravia engine will work (not just after relocking but it will, i will provide all info later dont worry it will easy like this)  but you will loose power install many custom ROM's on Phone after relocking.

Instruction

1. Get your keys through Sony bootloader unlocking official , Read the instruction there, just get the keys & preserve it for future use. (Dont follow the full instruction just get the key's )

2. Make sure that USB debugging is on

3. Turn off your device

4. Run flashtool --> Plugins --> Bootloader unlock & follow the instruction there.

Hint - For devices like xperia S, back button is volume down and home button is volume up. 

After Unlocking bootloader kindly do not update your device via any official source else there are 99% chance that device will brick to update via official source you have to RELOCK bootloader(which is POSSIBLE and easy too)

Backup & restore 

Before you start flashing Create a n android backup so if anything bad happens and you are not in position to find a solution RESTORE ()

To create Backup

1. Boot into recovery
2. Restore & backup -> Backup (ROM + Kernel , data, apps, settings...everything) 

Restore

1. Boot into recovery
2. Restore & backup -> Restore (for complete restore, ROM + Kernel , data, apps, settings...everything)

Custom Restore

1. Boot into recovery
2. Restore & backup -> Advance (choose your desired option) 

For app + data, select data

Flashing

1. Download Rom + Latest Gapps(If required )
2. Copy them to SDCard
3. boot into Recovery
4. Factory Reset/Wipe data
5. Wipe Cache
6. Advanced -> Wipe Dalvik Cache
7. Advanced -> Fix permissions
8. Mounts and Storage -> Format /system
9. Install zip from SDCard -> Choose zip from SDCard -> Choose the Rom and install
10. Reboot (Its important for PAC ROM not with CM or slimbean you can flash gapps with ROM, but everytime befor flashing gapps i generally reboot my device and use it for a while)
11. Let the Rom settle a bit, then reboot into Recovery again
12. Install zip from SDCard -> Choose zip from SDCard -> Now choose the Gapps and install
13. Reboot


Hint - To go down & up, press volume down & up button resp. and to select press camera key.


To get back from where you started

Flash with Stock ROM ICS via flashtool then follow the instruction given with in  
  Get Bravia and Music Info working again on ICS with ReLock bootloader

Flashing Stock ROM (ftf file) via Flashtool

1. Switch off your device and connect in flash mode(hold volume down button and plug USB cable)
2. Open flashtool
3. Click on thunder icon
4. Select Flash
5. Select the folder where your ftf file is (make sure only that single ftf is there)
6. Click open irrespective of what it is showing 
7.  Flashing will start if it says to connect device in flash mode then follow step 1 just 1.

For devices with Hard Keys hold back instead of volume down. 

 

A list of stock custom ROM's will be provided soon ;)

disclaimer - I am sure your device will not brick and you will not loose warranty, 99% Rest depends on your awesome luck...dont worry many are doing same all around the world, only few mongs who dont read instruction carefully brick their device and with VERY bad luck too. Recovery from everything is possible so dont worry and keep claim.

Credit goes to All tool Developers, ME, Thecrazyguy(Have permission from all tool developers excluding eroot{i dont know how to contact him})

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