Step by Step - For Z Ultra - Update to .757 and Root - Everything Needed - Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Updated - 6/2/14 - To reflect suggestions by - @blueether - @maxld - @polargirl - Thank you all.
This might help someone Noob like me.
This is primarily written for my C6806 however steps are similar for other z ultra devices.
Everything here is copied from other threads on this forums and Google search. I have tried to provide links to threads as much as I can.
For anyone following these steps
Please do more research on each steps.
This steps should give you clear idea as to what is involved in this procedure
You must follow steps from top to bottom for this to work.
Check Bootloader Status
Dial *#*#7378423#*#* or download this app from playstore to directly go to Service Info
Go To Service Info > Configuration > Rooting Status
If you see Bootloader Unlocked: Yes, that means your phone is bootloader unlocked
if you see Bootloader unlock allowed: Yes continue with steps.
if you see No above do not continue any further, STOP
Disable Signed Driver Enforcement on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 (This is a must step)
Reboot your computer while pressing F8
Select "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" and press Enter
Install FlashTools and FlashTools Drivers
Download FlashTools from following link (You must use latest version)
http://www.flashtool.net/download.php
Install FlashTools
Go to Flashtool\drivers install Directory
Double Click Flashtool-drivers.exe
Select Flashmode, Flashboot, z ultra (all), xperia A and click Install
Flash 14.1.B.1.532 ftf file to phone (For locked or unlocked phones - Thanks @blueether)
Start Phone Normally
Go to Settings
Click ten times on Build Number to enable developer options
Go to Settings -> Developer options and enable USB Debugging
Go to Settings -> Security and enable install from unknown sources
Turn off phone
Download C6833_14.1.B.1.532_NUT.ftf File from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2593918
or Download Directly from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/dl/?id=3442
Extract zip file downloaded above
Copy ftf to Flashtool\firmwares directory
Open FlashTool
Click Flash (lightning bolt icon)
Select FlashMode and click ok
Select the above file from left side and click flash
When Asked by FlashTool, keep holding vol down key connect phone to computer with usb cable
Disconnect phone (After FlashTool finish installing firmware file)
Restart phone
Root with Bin4ry method
Download Root_with_Restore_by_Bin4ry_v33 file from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886460 or direct link http://uploaded.net/file/d2w6dl7r
Follow this video for more detailed instructions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EpkrCq1gfM#t=149 or continue with next step
Start Phone and enable usb debugging and install from unknown sources options.
Extract above Root_with_Restore_by_Bin4ry_v33.zip file to c:\ drive
Double Click the RunMe.bat and follow instructions
Select - Xperia phones with “older” firmware option when asked
Backup TA Partition
User this video for more help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kva9-rAPG5s
Download Latest Backup TA for Sony Xperia tool from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598 or direct link https://github.com/DevShaft/Backup-TA/releases
Extract downloaded file to c:\
Start phone
Run Backup-TA.bat
Follow instructions on screen
After backup store entire Backup-TA directory at safe location for some future use
Flash 14.3.A.0.757
Download 14.3.A.0.757 file
For C6806
Download US Retail/Generic C6806 14.3.A.0.757 file from this link http://d-h.st/4vv
For other version of z Ultra
Go to this thread and download appropriate 14.3.A.0.757 ftf file http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2453921&highlight=757
Extract this zip file
Copy C6806_14.3.A.0.757_1276-1569_R3C.ftf (for C6806) to Flashtool\firmwares directory
follow steps similar to “Flash 14.1.B.1.532 ftf file to phone”
Unlock Bootloader (Please read more before doing thess steps, I might have missed many things here)
Reference Post you would like to read, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2447319
Write down IMEI code for your device
dial *#06#
Write displayed IMEI and save it at safe place
FlashTool method to unlock bootloader
Start FlashTool
Click on BLU button
Connect phone in flashmode as per the instructions on screen
Once Connected click unlock
When prompted disconnect the device
ROOT 14.3.A.0.757
Instructions from Thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2714511
This works for all c68xx devices with 14.3.A.0.757 firmware
Download kernal from this link
https://mega.co.nz/#!Vh8xEZYR!HwGosIRT1wFVCwm80KjL6vbo0NSduVlhUObM0NdNrPg
Download SuperSu from this link
https://mega.co.nz/#!t18y2SRb!WwXemirwFBTqpxeNYrJJLC1jwH7R13NQE-uU7yEBk2Y
Help video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFSeSe8gQOY
Start Phone Normally
Copy Above SuperSu.zip to internal or external SD Card
Go to Settings
Click ten times on Build Number to enable developer options
Go to Settings -> Developer options and enable USB Debugging
Go to Settings -> Security and enable install from unknown sources
Turn off phone
Disconnect USB cable
Press and hold vol up button and connect USB cable to phone and PC, wait until led light turns blue
Start FlashTool
Click Flash (Lightning bolt)
Select Fastboot mode and click ok
Click Select kernel to Flash
On File chooser window change *.sin to *.img
Select above 757.img file and click ok
on FlashTool window if it says sending boot ok do not worry about any other errors
Disconnect USB cable
Go to Recovery
Press power button to start phone
As soon as you see sony logo press and hold vol down button
This will boot you into recovery
Click Install on Recovery screen
Select SuperSu.zip file uploaded earlier (from internal or external sd card)
Swipe to confirm
Click Reboot System
That is it finally you have your xperia z upgraded and rooted.

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Corrections:
Move the unlock section to after the flash 757 section
.532 is the onlt firmware that has a root exploit, use the one that is linked in my downgrade thread, will work on all versions of the ZU locked and unlocked
Root with binaries tool - use option 0 or use [NUT]'s tool (see
my downgrade thread again)
That's it for now, will have a close read soon...

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Thanks - @blueether -
Updated thread.

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You can probably remove the section about the camera as that was a Z1 issue, not affecting the ZU

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I am glad to at least see you guys trying to put everything into one thread.
This is still a huge amount of instructions for a newbie and any reduction would be great but at least having what you currently have put into one thread is still a major improvement.
Good going guys and thank you very much!

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zxc1251 said:
Disable Signed Driver Enforcement on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 (This is a must step)
Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the letter C
Click the gear icon (Settings)
Click More PC Settings
For Win 7 and 8
Click General
Under Advanced Startup, click Restart Now
For Win 8.1
Click Update & Revocery
Click Recovery
Under Advanced Startup, click Restart Now
After restart, click Troubleshoot
Click Advanced Options
Click Windows Startup Settings
Click Restart.
After restart, click F7 (to disable driver signature enforcement)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would just shortening this to "Reboot while pressing F8 and selecting Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" work?

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polargirl said:
Would just shortening this to reboot while pressing F8 and selecting 'Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, it should do the trick

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maxld said:
Yep, it should do the trick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! We got one process shortened.
I am neither a programmer nor a hacker but I will try to contribute what I can for a "Rooting Xperia For Dummies" guide.
The next suggestion is actually lengthier but may make a scared newbie feel more safe since it comes from the Google Play Store.
Instead of dialing code into the phone,
zxc1251 said:
Check Bootloader Status
Dial *#*#7378423#*#*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not change that to download an app from the "safety" of the Google Play Store?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neoscreenager.xperiaservicemenu
It appears to be a good app that works better than always dialing code for someone who plans to access the service menu regularly anyway.

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Great guide!

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Brilliant guide :good:, thanks for the hard work.

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checkmateyou said:
Great guide!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It needs work but it is a start. I am hoping the OP returns and works on this some more. I also hope members of this site will contribute to helping on some of the processes.

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polargirl said:
It needs work but it is a start. I am hoping the OP returns and works on this some more. I also hope members of this site will contribute to helping on some of the processes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or how about you stop criticizing everything and everyone around here, and start contributing yourself? You're not gaining in popularity around here right now.

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LordManhattan said:
Or how about you stop criticizing everything and everyone around here, and start contributing yourself? You're not gaining in popularity around here right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't criticizing anyone in the post that you quoted. I was just explaining what I believe needs to be done.
I have posted in more than one thread that I don't have any tech skills to make contributions in that regard. The goal of simplifying and streamlining the root process for the public is going to take someone with developer skills that I simply do not have. I don't know the first thing about Linux and know nothing about writing Windows batch files. How much more humility regarding my tech skills do you want?
I get it. You guys are content with just doing rooting for yourselves and could care less about how OEMs mistreat their own customers let alone give empowerment back to the public or even stymie development to a degree that rivals Microsoft for that matter. If anything, I have seen more sympathy towards OEMs and patronization towards the public posted on this site.
I won't bother you guys any longer nor will I attempt rooting my phone with instructions on how to root and unroot all over the place in many threads with the lack of support being what it is on this site.
Have fun continuing to live in your own world indifferent to the rest of it. No wonder the rest of the world doesn't like nerds. At least I figured that one out after all these years so it wasn't a complete waste of time coming here.

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polargirl said:
I wasn't criticizing anyone in the post that you quoted. I was just explaining what I believe needs to be done.
I have posted in more than one thread that I don't have any tech skills to make contributions in that regard. The goal of simplifying and streamlining the root process for the public is going to take someone with developer skills that I simply do not have. I don't know the first thing about Linux and know nothing about writing Windows batch files. How much more humility regarding my tech skills do you want?
I get it. You guys are content with just doing rooting for yourselves and could care less about how OEMs mistreat their own customers let alone give empowerment back to the public or even stymie development to a degree that rivals Microsoft for that matter. If anything, I have seen more sympathy towards OEMs and patronization towards the public posted on this site.
I won't bother you guys any longer nor will I attempt rooting my phone with instructions on how to root and unroot all over the place in many threads with the lack of support being what it is on this site.
Have fun continuing to live in your own world indifferent to the rest of it. No wonder the rest of the world doesn't like nerds. At least I figured that one out after all these years so it wasn't a complete waste of time coming here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
meh
Lordmanhattan and I, and a couple of others that dont post so much now have put hundreds of hours in to help others, bring all the info into a couple of threads.
If someone has a problem with the process and has not just "how do I root my ZU" we (the general users of this section) will go out of our way to help.
I feel that having all the info in one post if counter productive, it becomes too much to read, too easy to lose you way - foss mantra: small tools to do small jobs => small guides to do small steps
The process is not that difficult, but there are many permutations of what the user is starting with and what they want to end up with.
Again: If they ask an intelligent question in the guide threads they will get a concise answer, if they open a new thread with the same question that has been answered 100 times before they will get a shot answer that they may not like.
The process is not overly broken, people just need to be less self entitled, not everything in life is as simple as they are

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Could not enter Recovery after flashing 757 kernel
Thanks for your helpful post.
I just have a problem at step 25 (Go to Recovery) under ROOT 14.3.A.0.757. Everything was fine until I attempted to enter Recovery mode to install SuperSU. After flashing the 757.img kernel, I disconnected the cable, pressed power button, and hold volume down (I also tried volume up) button when the Sony logo appeared on the screen. But my phone just kept booting to Home Screen.
I was wondering if anyone had had the same problem? If so, please help me to fix this.
Thank you in advance.
Update: I managed to enter Recovery mode by pressing both volume up and volume down after pressing the power button. Everything is fine now. Thanks again for a very clear and complete step-by-step guide for a Noob like me.

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tennispirit said:
Thanks for your helpful post.
I just have a problem at step 25 (Go to Recovery) under ROOT 14.3.A.0.757. Everything was fine until I attempted to enter Recovery mode to install SuperSU. After flashing the 757.img kernel, I disconnected the cable, pressed power button, and hold volume down (I also tried volume up) button when the Sony logo appeared on the screen. But my phone just kept booting to Home Screen.
I was wondering if anyone had had the same problem? If so, please help me to fix this.
Thank you in advance.
Update: I managed to enter Recovery mode by pressing both volume up and volume down after pressing the power button. Everything is fine now. Thanks again for a very clear and complete step-by-step guide for a Noob like me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not supposed to hold the volume button up/down, but you should simply press it once or twice when the LED lights up above the screen

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Hi, I am trying to flash my phone following the steps for Flash 14.1.B.1.532 ftf file to phone. Once I get to step 13 I have a problem. I am using Flashtool to flash the ftf file in flash mode but there are no files to select from. I have already placed the ftf file in the firmware folder.
PS:the flashtool is version v0.9.16.1. Has anyone experienced this problem?

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LazyJr said:
Hi, I am trying to flash my phone following the steps for Flash 14.1.B.1.532 ftf file to phone. Once I get to step 13 I have a problem. I am using Flashtool to flash the ftf file in flash mode but there are no files to select from. I have already placed the ftf file in the firmware folder.
PS:the flashtool is version v0.9.16.1. Has anyone experienced this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You nolonger have to flash to 532 to root the ZU have a read of the Towelroot thread

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blueether said:
You nolonger have to flash to 532 to root the ZU have a read of the Towelroot thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi blueether. Thank you for your link. I would like to ask you a question. My ZU firmware version is .290. Should I update to 757 then downgrade to 532, root and back-up the TA partition. Or should I just upgrade from .290 to 532, root and back-up the TA partition. Which do you think is the best way? Thank you.

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LazyJr said:
Hi blueether. Thank you for your link. I would like to ask you a question. My ZU firmware version is .290. Should I update to 757 then downgrade to 532, root and back-up the TA partition. Or should I just upgrade from .290 to 532, root and back-up the TA partition. Which do you think is the best way? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for a start 532 (4.2) is older than 290 (4.3)
@ OP This is the porblem with yet another guide thread about rooting the ZU...
As of 4 or 5 days ago you dont have to down grade at all. With the thread I linked to you can root any of the current Sony firmware I think (untested, but 767 will root).
I would:
upgrade to the latest 4.4.2, Sony's x.x.x.767 FTF
root with the tools linked to in that thread
back up TA
unlock BL if wanted/needed