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Hi All!
Just got myself a SE Arc that is charging right now. I have resisted playing with it for a good few hours.
Anyway was wondering should i unlock the bootloader and reflash? I am interested in stripping away the rubbish that slows the phone down. To do this, do i just find a firmware that has already removed the crap, or is there a way to remove stuff like timescape.
The phone currently has 2.3.3 HK firmware.
Sorry if this sort of info is located elsewhere...
You don't need to unlock your bootloader for that. You just need root access and Titanium Backup. With that, you should be able to remove the stuff which you don't want. Please refer to this link to know what is safe to remove and what's not.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1089470
Many THanks. I was just looking at that list myself... Anyway i will give it a go. Was just wondering if there were any benefits to reflashing the firmware.
How do i get root access? Or should i already have root access?
Thanks
Bolo
I'm assuming you haven't unlocked your bootloader.
If you're already running 2.3.3, then consider flashing 2.3.2. Root it with Gingerbreak. And then update it OTA (Over The Air) to 2.3.3. Don't try this with an unlocked bootloader!
With an unlocked bootloader, you can just flash a rooted firmware onto your device. But do note that once you unlock your bootloader, you won't be able to use TrackID and also the facebook 'Like' feature on tracks as unlocking deletes the DRM files.
For all custom ROMS and kernals, you would need to unlock your bootloader. You can use Shazam as an alternative to SE's TrackID.
Hi xtacy.
Thanks for the info.
Any reason why i need to go back to 2.3.2 and then update again? Is it to give me root access?
Thanks!
xtacy! said:
I'm assuming you haven't unlocked your bootloader.
If you're already running 2.3.3, then consider flashing 2.3.2. Root it with Gingerbreak. And then update it OTA (Over The Air) to 2.3.3. Don't try this with an unlocked bootloader!
With an unlocked bootloader, you can just flash a rooted firmware onto your device. But do note that once you unlock your bootloader, you won't be able to use TrackID and also the facebook 'Like' feature on tracks as unlocking deletes the DRM files.
For all custom ROMS and kernals, you would need to unlock your bootloader. You can use Shazam as an alternative to SE's TrackID.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is indeed to give you root access. Gingerbreak doesn't work on 2.3.3. The exploit that Gingerbreak used was fixed on the 2.3.3 ROM and hence the need to downgrade to 2.3.2.
Have you heard if anybody is working on root access for 2.3.3?
The exploit that Gingerbreak uses was fixed in 2.3.4 but SE implemented the fix in its 2.3.3 ROM. With a locked bootloader, I don't know of any other way.
But our resident geniuses here at XDA have released kernals which can root any ROM [Unlocked bootloader required] (I believe it was Blagus). Just browse our Development section and you'll come across various solutions.
xtacy! said:
Yes, it is indeed to give you root access. Gingerbreak doesn't work on 2.3.3. The exploit that Gingerbreak used was fixed on the 2.3.3 ROM and hence the need to downgrade to 2.3.2.
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Click to collapse
Hi just got another question.
I have the 2.3.3 usb connection problem. Therefore, is it worth updating from 2.3.2. to 2.3.3?
Many thanks for your help!
What exactly is the 2.3.3 USB connection problem?
2.3.3 does bring in improvements like facebook integration, better wifi stability, improved battery life etc. For these reasons, I would update to 2.3.3
xtacy! said:
What exactly is the 2.3.3 USB connection problem?
2.3.3 does bring in improvements like facebook integration, better wifi stability, improved battery life etc. For these reasons, I would update to 2.3.3
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when connecting to the pc, the mtp device driver fails to load properly, meaning you can't connect to the pc. i hve tried both mtp and msc modes. I think this is a problem with 2.3.3 and not the arc...
Try reinstalling SEUS and PC Companion. Might solve your problem.
bolochan said:
when connecting to the pc, the mtp device driver fails to load properly, meaning you can't connect to the pc. i hve tried both mtp and msc modes. I think this is a problem with 2.3.3 and not the arc...
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Click to collapse
Do you have the prompt window on your phone "Install" "Skip" when you are connecting the phone to the PC? (If not go to Settings-SonyEricsson-Connectivity- Install PC Companion)
Are you using Windows 7?
Have you formated your SD card via Windows Explorer (right click - format...)?
For proper connecting you need Media Transfer mode (MTP).
Normaly, when you have selected MTP and you connect your phone to the PC and you press the "Install" option on the phone, Windows should locate the MTU driver and install it.
I had same problem and I found that my phone was in MSC mode.
Btw I tried reinstaling the PC companion and SEUS it didnt help.
I have searched for the driver to download it from internet but no luck.
The whole point is that I believe the driver is located somewhere in the phone and when you connect it windows should get it from there.
I went for a genuine SIM-FREE one (at extra cost), so the bootloader can be unlocked.
What does this mean with regards to getting updates and rooting the device?
Can I download the latest OTA update when I boot the phone, and by doing so, will it lock me out of doing anything? (i'm guessing after taking the latest OTA, I can still request a bootloader unlock?)
I have seen some posts suggesting that once you unlock the bootloader, you will stop getting OTA updates, which would suck, as Android 4.0 is out soon(ish), and I wouldn't want to prevent my phone from being able to get that.
I'm sorta tempted to get the latest OTA and then leave it for a while until I understand the pros and cons of unlocking the bootloader, and rooting the phone.
Sorry to sound like a Newb, but all phones are different, I have a HTC Legend, and know all about that one, ditto for my Asus Transformer, both are rooted with CWM recovery, but only once I worked out what the pros and cons are.
If youve bought one sim-free (and thus unbranded, good call) then you should (as of, like, yesterday, good timing) be able to root without unlocking the bootloader (see this thread for how).
Thus the only reason for you to unlock the bootloader would be when you want to install a custom rom, and if youre running a custom rom youre not really going to be wanting OTA updates blatted on top of them
As far as getting OTA updates when rooted - so far OTA updates have worked fine on rooted arcs (and have maintained root). But, with this new rooting method we dont yet know what the outcome would be with an OTA update. However, when 4.0 rolls around you should still be able to flash it via SEUS unless youve also unlocked the bootloader, which stops SEUS from working. Also - if you do unlock the bootloader DO NOT ACCEPT any OTA updates, this can brick the phone.
Thanks, for the moment, i'll hold off unlocking the bootloader, accept OTA updates and then root it (or should I root it for and then update?)
The unlocking of the bootloader is only really of use when SE stop supporting the phone....
CrazyPeter said:
The unlocking of the bootloader is only really of use when SE stop supporting the phone....
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Click to collapse
Not really, even while SE continue to support the handset, some people will always prefer to be able to flash custom ROMs - CM7 offers a lot of nice features, some of which Google have actually copied in ICS.
Imo the arc s is a very good phone that needn't be rooted or boot loader unlocked unless you want themed or roms. Now if there was a mod for the stock camera app to give lower compression images, I'd root straight away.
Sent from my LT18i using XDA App
The reason I root is so I can use AdFree and MyBackup Pro , which both require root, there are also some other handy root-required apps....
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
LOADS of reasons to root.
Crapware removal, titanium backup, drocap2, button saviour, root explorer, SE panorama app, appwidgetpicker, transparent dock... the list goes on.
However, not everyone needs/wants these things. Horses for courses innit?
Guys i know there is lot of ways to unlock it etc.
I need a way to unlock it, but with possible to RELOCK to get official updates for phone.
And how is possible to keep DRM keys (i know that trackID works without it) but somehow i want to keep if there is any way.
Thx mates
There is no way to keep DRM after you unlock the bootloader, even if you relock it and reflash firmware DRM apps will stop working forever.
Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk
I don't know if there is ANY way to keep it.
But contact Jinx13, maybe he could help you.
Unlocking officially with sony ericsson comes with disadvantages
Damaged DRM key, losing the ability to update with SEUS, bricking your phone doing the OTA update...
Using software called setool you can minimise all those risks.
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Click to collapse
He is the man, he and his customers said DRM and DRM stuff is intact afterwards.
But I used the official method anyways and don't regret it.
You can still recieve official updates, just flash with FlashTool.
And SoundHound is better than TrackID or use the new version of TrackID which doesn't care about DRM.
Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk
Flo95 said:
But I used the official method anyways and don't regret it.
You can still recieve official updates, just flash with FlashTool.
And SoundHound is better than TrackID or use the new version of TrackID which doesn't care about DRM.
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Click to collapse
Same here.
If you relock you also can update via PCC/SEUS (maybe interesting for official ICS), so there's no reason for me neither.
And I still like TrackID (using market version) and who on earth cares about music like.
electrash said:
Guys i know there is lot of ways to unlock it etc.
I need a way to unlock it, but with possible to RELOCK to get official updates for phone.
And how is possible to keep DRM keys (i know that trackID works without it) but somehow i want to keep if there is any way.
Thx mates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also I can unlock your bootloader keeping DRM and also you can use OTA updates and pc companion with no problems
is there anyway we can do it ourselves whilst keeping drm, is this the test point method?
I have an Xperia Arc S, I just bought it a week ago, Sim Free. I really wanted to avoid rooting and flashing it for 2 reasons; 1. Because of Warranty issues and 2. because I'm happy with the current set up.
However I'm tired of background apps running and hogging up my ram. I don't use Facebook, yet I'm not able to uninstall it because it's an app that came with the phone. I can stop it from running for a bit, but then it it starts running again within a few minutes.
Because of this, I'm thinking of rooting my phone, because as far as I'm aware, root access enables me to remove these apps.
But I have a few questions about rooting.
A) How risky is it? Can rooting "brick" a phone?
B) Does it void warranty?
A bit of background information; Bought brand new Sim Free (unbranded and unlocked) bought and live in the UK
Android Version; 2.3.4, Build Number; 4.0.2.A.0.42 Model Number; LT8i
HTML:
I have an Xperia Arc S, I just bought it a week ago, Sim Free. I really wanted to avoid rooting and flashing it for 2 reasons; 1. Because of Warranty issues and 2. because I'm happy with the current set up.
However I'm tired of background apps running and hogging up my ram. I don't use Facebook, yet I'm not able to uninstall it because it's an app that came with the phone. I can stop it from running for a bit, but then it it starts running again within a few minutes.
Because of this, I'm thinking of rooting my phone, because as far as I'm aware, root access enables me to remove these apps.
But I have a few questions about rooting.
A) How risky is it? Can rooting "brick" a phone?
B) Does it void warranty?
A bit of background information; Bought brand new Sim Free (unbranded and unlocked) bought and live in the UK
Android Version; 2.3.4, Build Number; 4.0.2.A.0.42 Model Number; LT8i
rooting can be able to brick your phone if you dont know which one you want to delete it .warranty of your phone can carry this out ,but if you unlock the bootloader they will not accept it.
migsguerra said:
rooting can be able to brick your phone if you dont know which one you want to delete it .warranty of your phone can carry this out ,but if you unlock the bootloader they will not accept it.
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Click to collapse
Delete what? What can my warranty carry out? Not really sure what the bootloader is
Bootloader unlocked phones got repaired under warranty!
So the warranty is not voided untill the bootloader unlock or a ROM or kernel bricks it.
Sent from my LT15i using XDA Premium App
I think he means which app you delete. If you delete a wrong app you can mess up your phone but no worries. You can repair via SEUS or PC Companion. Rooting will not void warranty but bootloader unlocking will. Bootloader you dont need to unlock unless if you want to flash custom roms and kernels so dont worry. If you just want to delete apps just root delete apps then you can unroot if you wish
Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk
rkanwar said:
I think he means which app you delete. If you delete a wrong app you can mess up your phone but no worries. You can repair via SEUS or PC Companion. Rooting will not void warranty but bootloader unlocking will. Bootloader you dont need to unlock unless if you want to flash custom roms and kernels so dont worry. If you just want to delete apps just root delete apps then you can unroot if you wish
Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Awesome, cleared up a lot of confusion.
I'm not doubting you but are you 100% sure that rooting doesn't void warranty? Also, how easy is Unrooting? And which apps can cause the phone to **** up?
Bump
anyone?
hey dude,, ive rooted my xperia arc once.. and it worked perfect!! then removed it for no reason.. and now here is my xperia arc rooted again,, to avoid any errors with ur xperia rooted,, just follow whats written at rooting thread and ur xperia wont be bricked
Pr0xXxY said:
hey dude,, ive rooted my xperia arc once.. and it worked perfect!! then removed it for no reason.. and now here is my xperia arc rooted again,, to avoid any errors with ur xperia rooted,, just follow whats written at rooting thread and ur xperia wont be bricked
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Thanks but Does rooting it void warranty, or removing some of the apps? Which apps could brick the phone if removed?
Hi, itsmyname.
The consensus of a lot of discussions here is that rooting won't affect your warranty. I've found this part of xda very useful for rooting methods - the zergrush thing worked painlessly on my Arc.
You'll also probably enjoy this thread for definitions of what the heck these guys are talking about! And see here for a list of apps it is - or isn't - safe to remove.
Happy rooting (but NEVER say that to an Australian!).
Loosely said:
Hi, itsmyname.
The consensus of a lot of discussions here is that rooting won't affect your warranty. I've found this part of xda very useful for rooting methods - the zergrush thing worked painlessly on my Arc.
You'll also probably enjoy this thread for definitions of what the heck these guys are talking about! And see here for a list of apps it is - or isn't - safe to remove.
Happy rooting (but NEVER say that to an Australian!).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that. So I take it rooting doesn't affect the warranty then. However, what If I'm rooted and the next firmware is out, can I update to it the "legit" way, or would I have to unroot again? Does Unrooting reset everything back to normal again, i.e. bring back all of the apps I may have deleted?
Also, I connect up the phone via USB to my PC to transfer music onto the phone, will I be able to do that whilst its rooted?
Again, have a good explore of xda-dev. But my understanding is firmware updates will come through quite happily to a rooted phone. And if you get rid of carrier-branded firmware you may even get the updates earlier than you otherwise would (come on, ICS!).
If you've uninstalled an app and want it back again you need to reinstall it, whether you're rooted or not. And there's no problem hooking a rooted phone to a PC to transfer files - I do it all the time.
itsmyname said:
Thanks but Does rooting it void warranty, or removing some of the apps? Which apps could brick the phone if removed?
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Click to collapse
In my country Israel,, u wont lose the warranty,,, but when anything wrong happens to ur phone, you have to delete that root b4 going to the company u bought ur phone from.
If I root using the Zergrush method (not unlocking bootloader) and I the remove apps, and I decide to update when a new firmware comes out OTA or on SE Companion, will the apps come back again?
Yes they return with a vengeance! Better to update the rom and the kernel yourself via flashtool. That way you can control the bloatware, I use the " dx toolbox " app to remove most bloatware as it backs all the apps to your sd in case you make a boo boo!
Sent from my LT18i using xda premium
like if sony release updates, im not talkinga bout apps i mean official updates for xperia play x800? its rooted but i wanna make sure if i can or not dont' wanna cause a brick
Rooting won't affect updating whatsoever, unless you delete system apps. You may lose root after updating, however.
As long as your bootloader is locked, you're fine.
Sent from my R800x using XDA
If system apps are deleted/frozen, what will the update do? Or will I not get the update?
I want to no the same thing iv just rooted and deleted the crappy FIFA 10 game that came with my phone will that affect updating when ics comes?? When I deleted it it said remove system app :-(
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk
No u should be fine Is just a game
I deleted the crap apps like FIFA 10 or Office Suite or whatever, too.
And I froze Google Maps and other apps. Then I updated with PC Companion (I also had root on my play), and then the root disappeared and all the deleted apps were on my phone again. I don't have a brick now, it works fine, but I can't root it now
GoldenRazz said:
I deleted the crap apps like FIFA 10 or Office Suite or whatever, too.
And I froze Google Maps and other apps. Then I updated with PC Companion (I also had root on my play), and then the root disappeared and all the deleted apps were on my phone again. I don't have a brick now, it works fine, but I can't root it now
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Click to collapse
.62 firmware patches the Update, the only way to root now I believe is to unlock your bootloader, and updating via PC Companion is like flashing new firmware with Flash Tool, I've stuck to .42, I don't want to unlock my bootloader atm, I have once to test out an ICS rom, but in general I'm waiting for the official update to come out, You can flash .42 using Flashtool, I have absolutely no benefit updating to .62.