Can't boot into recovery after installing TWRP - Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Q&A, Help & Troubleshooti

Ok so I've unlocked my bootloader successfully but I can't for the life of me get a recovery option working. Trying TWRP tells me it's all good -
C:\adb>fastboot flash recovery TWRP_multirom_scorpion_windy_3.0.2.0_3.10_201611.img
sending 'recovery' (13382 KB)...
OKAY [ 0.424s]
writing 'recovery'...
OKAY [ 0.890s]
finished. total time: 1.319s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But when I try to boot into recovery it always just reboots normally. Using the physical buttons does nothing as well. I've tried this on Kitkat and Marshmallow. The XZDualrecovery does nothing for me. I've tried Kingroot a few times and I can't access recovery after flashing TWRP using the app. Is there another recovery method I can try, or a specific .ftf where everything goes smoother?
I'm on Windows 10, I've installed the drivers disabling the signature to get them to install properly. Flashtool works fine for .ftf and .img seems to run fine but still no recovery. Anything would be a big help...

---

jamchu1988 said:
Anything would be a big help...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: See THIS post.

---

Ah I see you changed your post. This might be useful, don't entirely understand steps 2 and 3 though, where do you merge kernels? Is this all from the flash program? Might try this when my head feels a bit clearer.

---

jamchu1988 said:
Yeah I already tried this method but I couldn't get the install.bat to work. I tried installing the SuperSU and the cwm Superuser, and also another superuser app but only the SuperSU asked kingroot for root access and all the other superuser apps were giving errors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What install.bat? If you've unlocked your bootloader my method for root and TWRP is the best I've found so far.
jamchu1988 said:
Edit: Phew tried another cable and it seems to charging properly. Was starting to panic... Thanks for help btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to do something really silly to hard brick. No worries, I flashed my tablet numerous times yesterday trying to get a functional TWRP and now I've finally managed it.

---

XperienceD said:
What install.bat? If you've unlocked your bootloader my method for root and TWRP is the best I've found so far.
You have to do something really silly to hard brick. No worries, I flashed my tablet numerous times yesterday trying to get a functional TWRP and now I've finally managed it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bad, I thought this was using the Kingroot and the XZDualRecovery which I think was the one that used the install.bat.

---

jamchu1988 said:
Ah I see you changed your post. This might be useful, don't entirely understand steps 2 and 3 though, where do you merge kernels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Start with PoC first...
1. Click the DOUBLECLICKME file and you will be asked to select your kernel.sin and TA.img
2. When you get to the next step answer each of the following as follows...
Sony ric - y
...once it's done it will build a new_boot.img.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...then copy that img in to the Rootkernel folder along with your SuperSU.zip ...
3. Open a cmd prompt window in the Rootkernel/Kernel Kit folder (alt + right click) then type/copy & paste the following...
rootkernel new_boot.img Z3TC_SU_TWRP.img​...(you can change PoC_rk_194.img to whatever name you want btw) and answer each of the following as follows...
Sony RIC - y
TWRP - y
SuperSU - y
DRM fix - n
Busybox - n​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...then once it's finished it will build a Z3TC_SU_TWRP.img ready to be flashed to your phone giving you rooted stock FW with TWRP, which you enter by pressing the vol+ button when a yellowish light appears.

---

XperienceD said:
Start with PoC first...
...then copy that img in to the Rootkernel folder along with your SuperSU.zip ...
...then once it's finished it will build a Z3TC_SU_TWRP.img ready to be flashed to your phone giving you rooted stock FW with TWRP, which you enter by pressing the vol+ button when a yellowish light appears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so I've got a fresh install of 291 (MM). I haven't heard of POC but I found it through google. Running the DOUBLECLICKME_MM.bat gives me:
File: TA.img not exist!
Sorry your trim area dump is not a valid!
Error validating your TA.img (TA.img)!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where do I find my KERNEL.sin and TA.img ? I'm guessing I put them in the POC folder? Also the ROOTKERNEL folder? I think I'm missing a download...

---

jamchu1988 said:
Where do I find my KERNEL.sin and TA.img ? I'm guessing I put them in the POC folder? Also the ROOTKERNEL folder? I think I'm missing a download...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get your kernel.sin from your ftf, just use a zip program to open it. Did you not backup your TA partition?, you put those two files in the PoC folder only.

---

XperienceD said:
You can get your kernel.sin from your ftf, just use a zip program to open it. Did you not backup your TA partition?, you put those two files in the PoC folder only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah I didn't. Guess I was too eager to start rooting. I should be able to backup my current one though, and use that. The only thing is, the script I've found says it needs root to work? But it's really late (early) here so I'll have a crack tomorrow. If not I might be able to find one on the net? Thanks for all your help so far, pretty optimistic about this method.

---

jamchu1988 said:
Nah I didn't. Guess I was too eager to start rooting. I should be able to backup my current one though, and use that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No point now, once you've lost your keys there is nothing you can do, so I'd just run your kernel through Rootkernel and that should give you the same result.

---

XperienceD said:
No point now, once you've lost your keys there is nothing you can do, so I'd just run your kernel through Rootkernel and that should give you the same result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ok, no worries. I still have no idea where I can get the Rootkernel script from. The only place I found mentioning it was here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/z5-compact/general/summary-tutorial-root-sony-xperia-z5-t3360515
Which is for the z5 and the program was rootkernel_V4.51_Windows_Linux.zip which I can't find a download for. Having trouble searching for this because of the vague rootkernel terms and I'm not 100% sure if this is what I need... I also saw that I might need to extract the .elf file from the kernel.sin?
Is this program included in the TA backup script? Totally lost. So I guess I don't need POC at all without my TA.img? Just need the rootkernel.

---

double post

---

jamchu1988 said:
Ah ok, no worries. I still have no idea where I can get the Rootkernel script from. The only place I found mentioning it was here:.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get it from HERE .

---

XperienceD said:
Get it from HERE .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok that worked, I made new .img with my kernel.sin and my boot.img. But when I flash it I get:
03/052/2017 22:52:40 - INFO - Device should now start booting with this kernel
03/052/2017 22:52:40 - INFO - Device disconnected
03/053/2017 22:53:16 - INFO - Device disconnected
03/059/2017 22:59:14 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging on
03/059/2017 22:59:14 - ERROR - root : this bundle is not valid
03/059/2017 22:59:14 - INFO - Connected device : Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
03/059/2017 22:59:14 - INFO - Installed version of busybox : N/A
03/059/2017 22:59:14 - INFO - Android version : 6.0.1 / kernel version : 3.4.0-perf-gc14c2d5 / Build number : 23.5.A.1.291
03/059/2017 22:59:18 - INFO - Please wait device is rebooting into fastboot mode (via ADB)
03/059/2017 22:59:19 - INFO - Device will soon enter fastboot mode
03/059/2017 22:59:19 - INFO - Device disconnected
03/059/2017 22:59:22 - INFO - Device connected in fastboot mode
03/059/2017 22:59:30 - INFO - Selected kernel (boot.img or kernel.sin): C:\Users\james\Desktop\rootkernel\Z3TC_SU_TWRP.img
03/059/2017 22:59:30 - INFO - HotBooting selected kernel
03/059/2017 22:59:30 - INFO - FASTBOOT Output:
downloading 'boot.img'...
OKAY [ 0.463s]
booting...
OKAY [ 0.055s]
finished. total time: 0.518s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The end result is no root, Supersu not installed and no TWRP. I tried with your options for rootkernel, and I also tried [Y] to everything which just gives the binary occupied error in SuperSU. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

---

jamchu1988 said:
Ok that worked, I made new .img with my kernel.sin and my boot.img. But when I flash it I get:
The end result is no root, Supersu not installed and no TWRP. I tried with your options for rootkernel, and I also tried [Y] to everything which just gives the binary occupied error in SuperSU. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a clue. Upload your kernel and I'll have a look when I get home.

---

XperienceD said:
Get it from HERE .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I've got TWRP working! Thanks. I used the cmd option instead of the sony program. Still no root though, SU gives the binary occupied error. But I can always start fresh, or try doing it from TWRP.
EDIT: Finally got root through TWRP. Just want to say thanks again XperienceD! Cheers!

---

XperienceD said:
Start with PoC first...
...then copy that img in to the Rootkernel folder along with your SuperSU.zip ...
...then once it's finished it will build a Z3TC_SU_TWRP.img ready to be flashed to your phone giving you rooted stock FW with TWRP, which you enter by pressing the vol+ button when a yellowish light appears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Sorry just to be clear, because I'm in a similar boat, when you mention PoC, are you talking about https://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/poc-real-trim-instead-drm-fix-t3552893 ? And when you talk about Rootkernal script/folder/etc are you talking about https://forum.xda-developers.com/xp...oot-automatic-repack-stock-kernel-dm-t3301605 ?

---

Soulfulgrey said:
Hi,
Sorry just to be clear, because I'm in a similar boat, when you mention PoC, are you talking about https://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/poc-real-trim-instead-drm-fix-t3552893 ? And when you talk about Rootkernal script/folder/etc are you talking about https://forum.xda-developers.com/xp...oot-automatic-repack-stock-kernel-dm-t3301605 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's right.

---

jamchu1988 said:
Ok, I've got TWRP working! Thanks. I used the cmd option instead of the sony program. Still no root though, SU gives the binary occupied error. But I can always start fresh, or try doing it from TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you put your SuperSU zip in the Rootkernel folder?
---------- Post added at 05:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:18 PM ----------
Soulfulgrey said:
Hi,
Sorry just to be clear, because I'm in a similar boat, when you mention PoC, are you talking about https://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/poc-real-trim-instead-drm-fix-t3552893 ? And when you talk about Rootkernal script/folder/etc are you talking about https://forum.xda-developers.com/xp...oot-automatic-repack-stock-kernel-dm-t3301605 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there is a link in my sig to a guide, if you have your TA backup start at step one, if not start at step 3 and simply rename "new_boot.img" to the name of your kernel.
---------- Post added at 05:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:22 PM ----------
@Soulfulgrey
@jamchu1988
Try this, it includes the DRM fix too. SGP611_291_RK_noTA_SU_TWRP.img

---

XperienceD said:
Did you put your SuperSU zip in the Rootkernel folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
D'oh! That would be it I reckon. It's all good though after you got me on TWRP I was able to flash SuperSu successfully and I have root now.