Question Bypass OEM unlock - Asus Zenfone 9

Has anyone used the payload dumper to pull out the boot.img from stock firmware, modified it with Magisk, put it back into the payload file to then upload the pre-rooted firmware using Qualcomm tools?
Would this work so that my IMEI/Serial isn't blacklisted by ASUS?

---

Just for clarification, I'm talking about steps 1-3 (from the incredible write-up here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rooting-zenfone-9-with-magisk.4484715/)
Instead of part/step four, take the file moved back to the PC and put it back into payload.bin, then into the zipped ROM file.
part/step five would be to use QFIL to load that onto the device (https://www.techswizz.com/asus-zenfone-9-stock-rom-firmware/).
Or is it impossible to update the payload_properties.txt so that it reflects any changes to the payload.bin file?
Thank you.

---

rootlessabroad said:
Has anyone used the payload dumper to pull out the boot.img from stock firmware, modified it with Magisk, put it back into the payload file to then upload the pre-rooted firmware using Qualcomm tools?
Would this work so that my IMEI/Serial isn't blacklisted by ASUS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In other words: you're trying to bypass the need to unlock the bootloader through ASUS (thus invalidating your phone's warranty)?
I have not tried it, though with them claiming security, I doubt it would work. While the bootloader is locked, they have expectations for exactly what can be used. Variations on that are likely to lead to errors.

---

In reading their EULA, the hardware warranty is only invalidated when using their unlock. It is a specific clause in the unlock agreement, not in the normal EULA. As such, if the phone is unlocked any other way than their unlock program, the warranty is still applicable.
That is why I am looking for any other mechanism to unlock it.

---

rootlessabroad said:
In reading their EULA, the hardware warranty is only invalidated when using their unlock. It is a specific clause in the unlock agreement, not in the normal EULA. As such, if the phone is unlocked any other way than their unlock program, the warranty is still applicable.
That is why I am looking for any other mechanism to unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this method might very well brick your phone. If you're willing to give it a try, then let us know how it goes!

---

I can safely say this won't work, assuming ASUS implemented dm-verity and Android Verified Boot properly. A modified boot image will fail verification; in the best case, you'll get this screen:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
In the worst case, bootloader will fail to load the boot image.
What are you trying to accomplish by bypassing the "correct" OEM unlocking process?

---

I'm trying to avoid having ASUS not warrant their hardware.
And an unrooted phone is completely useless to me.

---

rootlessabroad said:
I'm trying to avoid having ASUS not warrant their hardware.
And an unrooted phone is completely useless to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, if you are in the European Union, your device is under warranty even if you have the bootloader open with their method. For this reason, when you use the app to unlock, it does not say that you lose the warranty, but that you may lose the warranty.

---

I sent my Zenfone 8 back to Asus after having had unlocked the bootloader and they still serviced in under warranty. They may have given me a hard time about it, I can't remember (it was a year ago).