Database Info

Root and keep DRM and all other features?

I haven't checked XDA in awhile because I gave up hope of ever having a good root solution for the Z5. But I have been looking around lately and have seen roms such as [ROM][E6653] Slim Stock 32.0.A.6.200 and the [LP][UB][ROOT][DRM][KERNEL][RECOVERY](TWRP3.0) Z5 ADV STOCK KERNEL (2016/03/04) (v1g) kernel. So as of now, I'm a little lost here. Of the 15+ Android phones I've had, this has been the most complicated.
I understand that root is possible by unlooking the bootloader and that as of now, there is no root solution for a locked bootloader. Are you now able to unlock the bootloader and root with phone without losing any features?

You still lose DRM. There is a possibility to trick the phone into thinking the DRM keys aren't wiped restoring the DRM features after unlocking the bootloader but the DRM is still missing.

Mr_Bartek said:
You still lose DRM. There is a possibility to trick the phone into thinking the DRM keys aren't wiped restoring the DRM features after unlocking the bootloader but the DRM is still missing.
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So you'll lose DRM keys but you can still retain all the features? I hope the same will be true for the Marshmallow update.

That's right. We don't have a kernel to run modified system images on MM just yet so can't confirm nor deny it working.

Quick questions about flashing 32.2.A.0.305

I have not received the 32.2.A.0.305 update for my Z5 yet, so I went to XperiFirm to check which region my device's firmware is from. It turns out the firmware is CDA 1298-2996 (South Africa).
I live in Australia and wish to flash the Customized AU firmware with CDA 1298-7277. I want to do this so that my device will be updated and will be using the Australian firmware.
My bootloader is locked; is flashing possible without unlocking the bootloader?
Will flashing a different firmware potentially cause damage (my device is not network locked, and single sim E6653).
Will this affect my warranty / DRM keys?
Thank you in advance, I appreciate any help :angel:

You are safe to flash almost any E6653 Firmware onto your E6653
Obviously dont flash test firmwares or ones that May lock your sim
Sent from my E6653 using XDA-Developers mobile app

Envious_Data said:
You are safe to flash almost any E6653 Firmware onto your E6653
Obviously dont flash test firmwares or ones that May lock your sim
Sent from my E6653 using XDA-Developers mobile app
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Click to collapse
Thank you And the DRM keys should not be affected? I have read that unlocking the bootloader only affects the keys.

csfrank271 said:
Thank you And the DRM keys should not be affected? I have read that unlocking the bootloader only affects the keys.
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Flashing a FTF shouldent touch DRM At all.

Envious_Data said:
Flashing a FTF shouldent touch DRM At all.
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Thanks again, I appreciate the knowledge!

csfrank271 said:
I have not received the 32.2.A.0.305 update for my Z5 yet, so I went to XperiFirm to check which region my device's firmware is from. It turns out the firmware is CDA 1298-2996 (South Africa).
I live in Australia and wish to flash the Customized AU firmware with CDA 1298-7277. I want to do this so that my device will be updated and will be using the Australian firmware.
My bootloader is locked; is flashing possible without unlocking the bootloader?
Will flashing a different firmware potentially cause damage (my device is not network locked, and single sim E6653).
Will this affect my warranty / DRM keys?
Thank you in advance, I appreciate any help :angel:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can flash and what ever with your device, DRM keys are safe!
when u ulock bootloader, the device WIPE user Data and sony partitions (TA (trimArea) partitions) and DRM keys and FIDO keys will be lost!
this $h!t is with sony only!!
i rooted my fone and having modified kernel having DRM stimulation installed. its working fine now.
- at any given day, to a thirsty user who wants to CONTROL his Xperia to the most. i would say, ignore drm keys and make a deal with devil to have root access
- however since Xperia Z5 (unlike latest xperia Xseries) came out on LP kernel. so u can FLASH LP kernel and root it with app like kingroot and extract your DRM keys to windows pc and back it up. now u can flash the LASTED Android back on you Xperiaz5 and unlock your boot loader to have root access.
check this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z5-...ting-xperia-z5-z5p-variants-drm-keys-t3437902

YasuHamed said:
you can flash and what ever with your device, DRM keys are safe!
when u ulock bootloader, the device WIPE user Data and sony partitions (TA (trimArea) partitions) and DRM keys and FIDO keys will be lost!
this $h!t is with sony only!!
i rooted my fone and having modified kernel having DRM stimulation installed. its working fine now.
- at any given day, to a thirsty user who wants to CONTROL his Xperia to the most. i would say, ignore drm keys and make a deal with devil to have root access
- however since Xperia Z5 (unlike latest xperia Xseries) came out on LP kernel. so u can FLASH LP kernel and root it with app like kingroot and extract your DRM keys to windows pc and back it up. now u can flash the LASTED Android back on you Xperiaz5 and unlock your boot loader to have root access.
check this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z5-...ting-xperia-z5-z5p-variants-drm-keys-t3437902
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice, I will look into it in the future when CyanogenMod improves and I need to unlock the bootloader to install it. My main incentive for this would be to greatly improve the camera, which we all know takes very washed-out photos.
I have just gone through the firmware flashing process. Thankfully there are many guides available and it all worked just fine, so I am using the current, correct firmware now
The worst part was just the waiting and suspense (feels like a lot could go wrong).
Thanks again Envious_Data and YasuHamed!

csfrank271 said:
Thanks for the advice, I will look into it in the future when CyanogenMod improves and I need to unlock the bootloader to install it. My main incentive for this would be to greatly improve the camera, which we all know takes very washed-out photos.
I have just gone through the firmware flashing process. Thankfully there are many guides available and it all worked just fine, so I am using the current, correct firmware now
The worst part was just the waiting and suspense (feels like a lot could go wrong).
Thanks again Envious_Data and YasuHamed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i had flashed Cm13 on XperiaZ and inbuilt camera app of CM13 was worse than xperia! and if you think you z5 camera isn't working properly then God Help you when you won't have DRM keys in place! because the DRM keys actually enables feature of camera which wont be activated if DRM keys are lost
nothing will go wrong! be confident! sony devices are Hardcore stallions! once you nail them! they will be your pet!

DRM

Ok sorry for idiotic question, but what are DRM and why do i need them? i backed them up on start before rooting, now i have tested few roms and stuff. But do i need to restore DRM for better photos or something? Or os not possible to restore DRM on costum rom. Its my first sony in years

I don't know that much on DRM and Development, I'm just a passionate guy, so what am gonna say is perhaps wrong so dont blame me
DRM (Digital Right Management) are keys used to "protect" the phone.
Those keys are sets by the firm (In this case SONY)
To enable some functions on the phone.
When you buy a new phone, DRM are already set up and everything works fine, but some phone functions require those keys to work (on the Z5 x-realty photos, bravia engine display needs them to work) .
If you unlock your bootloader, you delete by the same time those key located on the TA partition and so, X reality and Bravia cease to work,
I know that on the Samsung devices the fingerprint sensor is completely disabled if you lost DRM I don't know if it's the same on the Z5.
Once deleted you can't recover them, they're lost for ever, even if you relock your bootloader !
Actually I don't know if you can recover the keys if you have backed up your TA partition, but according to what I've read you can't, BUT you can emulate them.
DRM aren't only for phone, you can find some in video games protections, computer, or that kind of stuff

So is missing bravia noticable on phone?

Actually I can't answer, I'm waiting for a locked bootloader root in order to keep the originals DRM.
Guess you should ask someone who has unlocked his bootloader and lost DRM to see if there are some noticeable changes?

I don't see a big difference regarding X-Reality, but where there's a big difference is in the photos taken without the DRM keys.
If you want to root your phone and keep the DRM keys, read this: http://twigstechtips.blogspot.ch/2016/04/sony-z5-compact-root-without-losing-ta.html?m=1
I'm currently trying to get the TA partition restored on a stock non-rooted ROM

Ivory flaw is only available on lollipop?
I'm f*cked then I'm running Marshmallow and I don't want to flash a new Rom wiping everything :crying:
Thanks but I'll try later if there no root for Locked BL on Marshmallow

Nayibmc said:
I don't see a big difference regarding X-Reality, but where there's a big difference is in the photos taken without the DRM keys.
If you want to root your phone and keep the DRM keys, read this: http://twigstechtips.blogspot.ch/2016/04/sony-z5-compact-root-without-losing-ta.html?m=1
I'm currently trying to get the TA partition restored on a stock non-rooted ROM
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keep me posted, i have TA partition backuped, it would be nice if i could restore DRM keys and use stock rom

Is it necessary to backup DRM keys before unlocking HTC device?

So do HTC devices also have DRM keys in the TA (trim area) partition that must be backed up before unlocking the bootloader ?
Similar to Sony devices? Thanks for the answer.

lebigmac said:
So do HTC devices also have DRM keys in the TA (trim area) partition that must be backed up before unlocking the bootloader ?
Similar to Sony devices? Thanks for the answer.
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Nop

What is it ? Never heard of it drm keys what are those

Aftab_khatri said:
What is it ? Never heard of it drm keys what are those
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Click to collapse
DRM keys in Sony Xperia smartphones are located in the TA (trim area) partition of the phone.
When unlocking the bootloader, the TA partition gets erased and you lose your phone's unique DRM keys forever unless you backed it up first.
Without the DRM keys you lose a lot of special functionality such as special camera features like BionZ, built-in noise-cancelling, X-Reality engine, Bravia engine, Track ID, Miracast etc...

lebigmac said:
DRM keys in Sony Xperia smartphones are located in the TA (trim area) partition of the phone.
When unlocking the bootloader, the TA partition gets erased and you lose your phone's unique DRM keys forever unless you backed it up first.
Without the DRM keys you lose a lot of special functionality such as special camera features like BionZ, built-in noise-cancelling, X-Reality engine, Bravia engine, Track ID, Miracast etc...
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thanks alot mate

Galactus said:
Nop
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Are you 100% sure about that? On HTCDev bootloader unlock website it says:
Some content on your device may also be invalidated and cannot be accessed any more because of invalid DRM security keys. This includes content that you may have purchased through a 3rd party vendor and through HTC. Furthermore, although you will still be able to receive updates to your device via FOTA (“firmware over the air”), we do not guarantee that updating your device via FOTA will not render your device unusable. Please understand that you will not be able to return your device to the original state and going forward your device may not be held covered under the warranty for all claims resulting from the unlocking of the bootloader. HTC bears no responsibility if your device is no longer usable afterwards.
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lebigmac said:
Are you 100% sure about that? On HTCDev bootloader unlock website it says:
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HTC devices might have the DRM keys and that partition, but when unlocking you won't lose anything, so you're good to go with unlocking BL and do custom stuff

lebigmac said:
DRM keys in Sony Xperia smartphones are located in the TA (trim area) partition of the phone.
When unlocking the bootloader, the TA partition gets erased and you lose your phone's unique DRM keys forever unless you backed it up first.
Without the DRM keys you lose a lot of special functionality such as special camera features like BionZ, built-in noise-cancelling, X-Reality engine, Bravia engine, Track ID, Miracast etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but if my ROM it rooted i can fix this by root? no (i use sony) im searching for answer over the net
bottom point ill stil have my camera (im gonna use custom stock base kernel) maybe lionage ROM later on

Superrman said:
but if my ROM it rooted i can fix this by root? no (i use sony) im searching for answer over the net
bottom point ill stil have my camera (im gonna use custom stock base kernel) maybe lionage ROM later on
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if you use sony, got to sony forum, afaik there is no real fix for that. there is some work, you can check it in xz premium forum

Do you think there are still the drm keys?

Hello. I bought a used Xperia XZ2 compact, beautiful. But the quality of the photos (especially in the dark) is bad.
I have the doubt that the old owner had rooted the device or unlocked the bootloader, losing the DRM keys, causing the bad quality of the photos.
Is there a way to understand if the DRM keys are still on the phone?
I tried to access the hidden menu by typing *#*#7378423#*#* and in Service Info -> Security appears as in the attached photo.
Do you think the DRM keys are there?
Could someone take a screenshot on his XZ2 Compact with the DRM keys?
Thank you.

What stands in the service menu after bootloader unlocked ? If there stands like this : bootloader unlocked: yes
Then its unlocked for sure. And that stands under configuration

Pandemic said:
What stands in the service menu after bootloader unlocked ? If there stands like this : bootloader unlocked: yes
Then its unlocked for sure. And that stands under configuration
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it says bootloader unlock allowed: yes
it's like that for every phone, also the unlocked ones

Yes your DRM layer looks perfectly fine/functional.

the drm keys are restorable on xz2c even if someone unlocks the bootloader ?

bob1791 said:
the drm keys are restorable on xz2c even if someone unlocks the bootloader ?
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I have the same question.

David-538 said:
I have the same question.
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I unlocked the bootloader yesterday and checked for the drm key in the hidden menu.. and I found out that anything was changed... =)
EDIT:
unexpectedly I notice that the booloader was not unlocked when I tried to install the twrp recovery. Doing again the oem unlock results in DRM Keys LOST... sorry for the inconvenience

bob1791 said:
I unlocked the bootloader yesterday and checked for the drm key in the hidden menu.. and I found out that anything was changed... =)
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That means it's lost right ? How's the camera quality now, still the same ? And does it take much longer to take a picture ?

David-538 said:
That means it's lost right ? How's the camera quality now, still the same ? And does it take much longer to take a picture ?
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Click to collapse
If it was lost before I do'n't know because I bought the phone like new but the drm keys was provisioned and in other threads I read that this mean the drm keys are still there.. Of course the camera quality still is the same but sony removed this "function" (and for "this function" I mean the fact that if the drm keys are lost your camera won't works) with Android 9 and I already tested this with the XZ1 compact.

bob1791 said:
If it was lost before I do'n't know because I bought the phone like new but the drm keys was provisioned and in other threads I read that this mean the drm keys are still there.. Of course the camera quality still is the same but sony removed this "function" (and for "this function" I mean the fact that if the drm keys are lost your camera won't works) with Android 9 and I already tested this with the XZ1 compact.
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Are you saying that after unlocking, one can't downgrade to older firmware versions, without breaking the camera ?

David-538 said:
Are you saying that after unlocking, one can't downgrade to older firmware versions, without breaking the camera ?
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I didn't say that.. I said that unlocking bootloader on Android 11 on my XZ2 compact didmn't break the camera and seems that the drm keys are still there. Furthermore Sony has removed the drm keys camera dependency since Android 9, so if you run Android 9 or newer you camera will still work even if you will unlock the bootloader.

bob1791 said:
I didn't say that.. I said that unlocking bootloader on Android 11 on my XZ2 compact didmn't break the camera and seems that the drm keys are still there. Furthermore Sony has removed the drm keys camera dependency since Android 9, so if you run Android 9 or newer you camera will still work even if you will unlock the bootloader.
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Thanks, this is great news. I was wondering if keys get lost after unlocking the bootloader. Also are they still there after flashing custom roms ?

David-538 said:
Thanks, this is great news. I was wondering if keys get lost after unlocking the bootloader. Also are they still there after flashing custom roms ?
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I don't know if the keys still remain there after flashing custom roms... I think that they will be wipe because when you flash a rom you need to wipe everything but you can make a backup before doing some destructive operation. But I'm not sure about the backup and other stuff to preserve the drm keys...

bob1791 said:
I don't know if the keys still remain there after flashing custom roms... I think that they will be wipe because when you flash a rom you need to wipe everything but you can make a backup before doing some destructive operation. But I'm not sure about the backup and other stuff to preserve the drm keys...
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Ok, but thanks for the info...

David-538 said:
Ok, but thanks for the info...
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You're welcome. I'm looking for a good custom rom to put in my XZ2 Compact right now....

Of course unlocking the bootloader delete the drm keys... But the camera is still working

bob1791 said:
Of course unlocking the bootloader delete the drm keys... But the camera is still working
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Uhm, how slow is capturing photos after unlocking the bootloader? I read somewhere that it becomes much slower. And that super slowmo video doesn't work after unlocking. Could you confirm that, or did it only happen on android 9 or older firmware?

se
David-538 said:
Uhm, how slow is capturing photos after unlocking the bootloader? I read somewhere that it becomes much slower. And that super slowmo video doesn't work after unlocking. Could you confirm that, or did it only happen on android 9 or older firmware?
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seems it is the same.. I taken a pic in a low light environment and I didn't notice any lag

se
David-538 said:
Uhm, how slow is capturing photos after unlocking the bootloader? I read somewhere that it becomes much slower. And that super slowmo video doesn't work after unlocking. Could you confirm that, or did it only happen on android 9 or older firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems it is the same.. I taken a pic in a low light environment and I didn't notice any lag

bob1791 said:
se
seems it is the same.. I taken a pic in a low light environment and I didn't notice any lag
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Click to collapse
Okay thanks for the info.