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Root Rooting on 4.3 & 4.4

The Bravia engine makes pitcures/videos etc look nicer on screen, but my bootloader is still locked so I can't confirm what the difference (if any), there is.

It only applies to stuff you've obtained via Sony too, so if you got the 6 free movies when you got the handset or if you've bought/downloaded anything via the movie/music unlimited app, you'll no longer be able to use the handset to watch those.

If I'm honest, if you're only looking for root, there's no point in unlocking your bootloader as you're voiding your warranty by doing so. You can return to a locked status, but if root is all you're after, there's no need. Plus, if you're carrier locked, there's a high possibility you can't unlock it anyway.

Dual recovery is, in very basic terms, a piece of software that loads before the main OS does that allows you to install a custom ROM/take backups etc.
 
thank you....
All I really want is root - so that I can overcome Google's new and mostly evil restriction (in kitkat) on what I can use my memory card for. That's the only reason I haven't just installed the upgrade that's been bugging me in the "available" message for the last few months.
As a side benefit, I can then (I believe) fix a few other things that irritate me:
1) Fix the memory card restrictions in kitkat (as i said above)
2) remove the annoying camera sounds
3) increase volume in headphones (and speaker?)
4) enable some of the Z2 pen mods on the Z1
Any other goodies you can recommend?
 
Yeah, the SD Card fix is a must for me too. I'm not overly fussed about the camera noises, but you can get rid of those as well.

There's an audio/volume mod you may want to try here: [JB&KK][AROMA]Volumemod - no quality loss! Choose your own volume! AudioFix 07.05.14 - xda-developers

Basic theming is also something you might want to take a look at, changing fonts, battery icons, your status bar etc.

You can pretty much do everything you want to do with the Xposed framework, there's a little info here: http://androidforums.com/xperia-z1-all-things-root/848199-xposed-questions.html.

But, feel free to ask if you have any questions about that.
 
OK... I like the sony feel as well, and i was looking at the i-hackers version yesterday.
It has the xposed framework you mentioned, and I was hoping that being stock based it would be fairly safe. I got fed up with having to keep on re-flashing half baked roms on my old xperia arc everytime it all slowed down.
looks like a project for the weekend - I'll post a success status (hopefully) when I'm through.
Do you think it would be safest to load stock 757 followed by the custom rom (i-hackers)
 
Looking at the i-Hackers instructions, it looks as though you can go straight to their ROM as long as you have a working recovery and the .757 ftf files (you can get those from NUT's thread here: [STOCK][C69XX][4.4] Update to 14.3.A.0.757 [Root & XZDR][DE-/ODEX] - xda-developers).

Does everything make sense? It should all be pretty straightforward, but I'm happy to help if you have any more questions.

Dependant on when you go for it over the weekend, I'll probably be about to help if you need it.
 
OK... here we go - here's what I plan to do - do you foresee any problems or omissions?

Current State:
Z1 on 02/UK, Android 4.3 (build 290)
locked bootloader, not-rooted
kernel / baseband is straight Sony (with sony PC-Companion updates thru Android 4.3)

Plan
1) Follow your instructions and flash 534 firmware (C6903_14.1.G.1.534_O2 UK_1276-9277_R5A.ftf) I've used flashtool before, so other than battling with USB drivers for a while i don't expect many problems.
2) root (using kingoapp)
3) install the custom recovery per your instructions. (i have Z1-lockeddualrecovery2.7.123-BETA.installer.zip)
4) Using iHackers v4.1 [Aroma].zip and FTF file from same iHackers thread (Xperia Z1 - C6903 - Kernel + Baseband [14.3.A.0.757].ftf), i plan to follow the instructions you've written in "installing the ROM", but using the two i-hackers files instead.

Does that look OK? Basically I'm following the locked bootloader instructions for the i-hackers rom, but making use of your much more detailed instructions.
 
OK... things seemed to have worked out OK, thanks for your help.
Here are a few notes from today that might help someone else.

1) Follow your instructions and flash 534 firmware (C6903_14.1.G.1.534_O2 UK_1276-9277_R5A.ftf) I've used flashtool before, so other than battling with USB drivers for a while i don't expect many problems.
This was reasonably simple - I got one warning
>> 14/039/2014 16:39:11 - WARN - This file is ignored : simlock.ta
but success was reported.
note1: the flash icon is the lightning bolt
note2: flashtools says hold down back button, but your instructions say hold down volume key. Your instructions are correct.
You do need to let go of the vol key at the right time though (watch for the led)

2) root (using kingoapp)
had a few minor problems here. (Windows 7 PC)
got prompted by kingo that driver was being installed.
Windows also prompted 3 times for a non-trusted driver (install anyway...)
Once drivers present, pressed "Root" on kingo, but eventually got a fail message on PC - indicating that I had to manually get root on phone. looked on phone, and yes there was an ADB box to select "accept root" on.
Kingo still said root not present, so pressed "root" again, and it ran to success.

3) install the custom recovery per your instructions. (i have Z1-lockeddualrecovery2.7.123-BETA.installer.zip)
Running install.bat. prompts you to grant permission… but permission is granted automatically on phone (and almost invisibly). so paused here for a while checking things.

4) Using iHackers v4.1 [Aroma].zip and FTF file from same iHackers thread (Xperia Z1 - C6903 - Kernel + Baseband [14.3.A.0.757].ftf), i plan to follow the instructions you've written in "installing the ROM", but using the two i-hackers files instead.
phone got stuck in a reboot loop after loading the ROM (and before loading the ftf).
Eventually managed to boot back into recovery, then got to the power down to off option.
Thereafter all was simple.
Maybe this stage would have been easier if I'd been loading the stock rom rather than the I-hackers version.
 
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