Preamble
As the title suggests, I had a Nexus 5 running stock Android 5.0, with root and TWRP, and wanted to update to Android 5.0.1 (without losing all my data, of course). I couldn't find any guides for my particular circumstances, so after working out how to do it myself, I thought I'd share my method.
Note: This guide is not for the uninitiated. Be prepared to Google something for yourself if you don't understand it.
Prerequisites
Before starting this guide, you should have:
A Nexus 5 that running stock Android. The presence of root/Xposed/custom recovery (maybe custom kernels?) shouldn't be relevant, but I can't vouch for the efficacy of this guide if you've done something obscure to your install.
Android SDK tools, specifically the ADB and fastboot binaries. Additional USB drivers may be required on Windows.
The factory image for the Android version you are currently running.
1. Uninstall root and other /system modifications
If you have rooted your Android, and/or installed BusyBox, Xposed or other modifications to /system, you will need to uninstall these modifications. Failing to do so will cause the OTA to complain that there's something funky going on in your /system partition.
You may be able to manually uninstall each of these modifications, but this was not enough for my install – doing a ‘Full unroot’ in SuperSU still left behind files in /system. The easiest way to uninstall all /system modifications is to reflash the /system partition.
Extract the Nexus 5 factory image (e.g. hammerhead-lrx21o-factory-01315e08.tgz), yielding a directory with files such as flash-all.bat and image-hammerhead-XXXXXX.zip. Do not use the flash-all script, as this will unnecessarily wipe all data on the device.
Extract the image-hammerhead-XXXXXX.zip file, specifically the system.img file.
Open a command prompt/terminal window.
Connect the phone to the computer with a USB cable.
Boot the phone into the bootloader.
Method 1: Power down the phone, then hold VolUp + VolDn + Power until the phone boots into the bootloader.
Method 2: From the terminal, run adb reboot bootloader while the phone is still powered on.
From the terminal, run fastboot flash system /path/to/system.img.
2. Uninstall any custom recovery
Custom recoveries don't seem to support OTA updates, making it necessary to uninstall the custom recovery by reflashing the stock recovery.
Extract the recovery.img file from the factory image, as in Part 1.
Open a command prompt/terminal window, connect the phone to the computer, and boot into the bootloader, as in Part 1.
From the terminal, run fastboot flash recovery /path/to/recovery.img.
Optional: Reflash boot.img and/or cache.img
Some users have reported that reflashing system.img was not sufficient, and that reflashing boot.img and/or cache.img was also necessary. I did not have this problem, but if you do:
Extract the boot.img and/or cache.img files from the factory image, as in Part 1.
Open a command prompt/terminal window, connect the phone to the computer, and boot into the bootloader, as in Part 1.
From the terminal, run fastboot flash boot /path/to/boot.img.
From the terminal, run fastboot flash cache /path/to/cache.img.
3. Apply the OTA update
The simple part. In the bootloader, use the VolUp/VolDn buttons to select ‘Start’, then press the Power button, to reboot into Android. Follow the system update instructions to install the OTA update.
4. Reflash the custom recovery and re-root
Also self-explanatory.
Hey,
I just wanted to say thanks. This totally fixed the problem I was having. I also want to add that after I flashed the system.img, I was getting errors related to "EMMC:/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/boot" with a bunch of numbers after. I googled it and found I had to also flash boot.img, and after that, the OTA worked fine. I would assume if anyone else gets errors like this, they should flash whatever img it shows in the error (ie: mine said /by-name/boot so I flashed boot.img).
-BGM
It worked for me
I've always been using a toolkit for my rooting purposes, I have done Full Unroot on SuperSU, but still getting an error when trying to update to 5.0.1
Will flashing stock wipe everything(whatsapp image, camera's,messages, etc etc)on my phone?
azlan96 said:
I've always been using a toolkit for my rooting purposes, I have done Full Unroot on SuperSU, but still getting an error when trying to update to 5.0.1
Will flashing stock wipe everything(whatsapp image, camera's,messages, etc etc)on my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also had problems using ‘Full Unroot’ in SuperSU. It's not actually as ‘full’ as it sounds.
Flashing a full factory image would normally wipe everything, but carefully following this guide will only reset the /system partition, not any user data.
I'd like to say thank you very much! I was looking for this kind of tutorial... I encountered an error while following all the steps because I forgot I had a custom kernel. So I wanted to add that if you have a custom kernel remember to do the same steps as described above for the kernel (return to stock) and then follow the system and recovery steps afterwards.
If you don't like running commands in terminal you can use Nexus Root Toolkit, on advanced, you have all the commands you need available.
Thank you very much RunasSudo
Taiyo85 said:
I'd like to say thank you very much! I was looking for this kind of tutorial... I encountered an error while following all the steps because I forgot I had a custom kernel. So I wanted to add that if you have a custom kernel remember to do the same steps as described above for the kernel (return to stock) and then follow the system and recovery steps afterwards.
If you don't like running commands in terminal you can use Nexus Root Toolkit, on advanced, you have all the commands you need available.
Thank you very much RunasSudo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have my ADB and Fastboot ok as confirmed by nexus root toolkit, but I am not sure on how to use terminal.. I launched command prompt but it doest recognise all the commands..
Tried Flash Stock + Unroot on Nexus Root Toolkit but the software will crash (fastboot.exe has stopped responding)
I am really clueless on what to do next..
azlan96 said:
I have my ADB and Fastboot ok as confirmed by nexus root toolkit, but I am not sure on how to use terminal.. I launched command prompt but it doest recognise all the commands..
Tried Flash Stock + Unroot on Nexus Root Toolkit but the software will crash (fastboot.exe has stopped responding)
I am really clueless on what to do next..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash Stock + Unroot wipes everything and defeats the purpose of the tutorial made by RunasSudo
First and foremost you should download Android SDK (Tools only) on http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html and then ask to install the extra: Google USB Driver.
With Nexus Root Toolkit you don't need terminal, click on advanced and you should see options to flash through fastboot the system only, recovery and kernel. It is pretty straighforward and it asks where the .img are in your computer
Thanks! This guide worked.
For Ubuntu users, you need to install adb and fastboot with these commands :
sudo add-apt-repository ppahablet-team/tools && sudo apt-get update (optional)
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
Thanks for the great step by step.
As with some of the other posters, re-flashing system.img was not enough for me, I had to also re-flash the boot.img. Once that was done, I had no problems side loading the update and am now running LRX22C.
I only seem to fiddle with adb once a year - when it OTA time comes - and can never seem to remember some of the steps that need to be taken. Reading through some of the other threads, I have a feeling a lot of people who rooted/custom recovery and cant do the OTA are going to be doing complete image re-flashes when this guide makes that completely unecessary.
thanks again,
.d
BananasGoMoo said:
I googled it and found I had to also flash boot.img, and after that, the OTA worked fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
datcon said:
As with some of the other posters, re-flashing system.img was not enough for me, I had to also re-flash the boot.img.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the feedback! I've added a note about boot.img to the OP.
+1 for flashing boot.img worked perfect after I did that.
I tried with this tutorial. I flashed system and recovery and then restart. Confirm OTA but I get ERROR.
Then I flashed boot as it was described. Now I don't get OTA In About phone, I'm still on 5.0.0, Check for updates now don't find update
Any idea?
UPDATE - UPDATE: After hour now it is here ... super, it works.
This walkthrough was most helpful! Ended up replacing the boot.img as well since I had ElementalX installed. My apps are optimizing as we speak. Thank you!
Worked for me. What a hassle!
Here is a summary of the process for those looking for a less wordy procedure, with a few added steps:
Download Nexus 5 5.0 (LRX21O) file (note: NOT 5.0.1 yet) https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
Unzip via 7-zip multiple times in order to get boot.img, recovery.img, system.img
Enable USB debugging: http://www.kingoapp.com/root-tutorials/how-to-enable-usb-debugging-mode-on-android-5-lollipop.htm
Plug phone into PC > cmd prompt where adb is installed > type "adb devices" to ensure connection is valid (will need to authorize via popup on phone > then "adb devices" should return your device id and "device"; if it says "unauthorized" then look for the popup on your phone)
adb reboot bootloader
Put system.img, recovery.img, and boot.img in same folder as fastboot.exe
Run commands:
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot erase cache (this is optional. I didn't have to do it, but you might)
Use Volume Up/Down to select Start > press Power Button to reboot
Update via Settings > About Phone > System Update
Re-flash TWRP recovery:
Get the file from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=57580889&postcount=1
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.8.1.0-hammerhead.img
Paul22000 said:
Worked for me. What a hassle!
Here is a summary of the process for those looking for a less wordy procedure, with a few added steps:
1. Download Nexus 5 5.0 (LRX21O) file (note: NOT 5.0.1 yet) https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
2. Unzip via 7-zip multiple times in order to get boot.img, recovery.img, system.img
3. Enable USB debugging: http://www.kingoapp.com/root-tutorials/how-to-enable-usb-debugging-mode-on-android-5-lollipop.htm
4. Plug phone into PC > cmd prompt where adb is installed > type "adb devices" to ensure connection is valid (will need to authorize via popup on phone > then "adb devices" should return your device id and "device"; if it says "unauthorized" then look for the popup on your phone)
5. adb reboot bootloader
6. Put system.img, recovery.img, and boot.img in same folder as fastboot.exe
7. Run commands:
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
8. Use Volume Up/Down to select Start > press Power Button to reboot
9. Update via Settings > About Phone > System Update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you could add `fastboot erase cache` as stepp 8.
gee2012 said:
Maybe you could add `fastboot erase cache` as stepp 8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I added it to step 7, thanks. :good: I also cleaned up the formatting and added step 10 about re-flashing TWRP.
Loading problem
I flashed system, recovery & boot images strictly following the instructions, restarted the phone. It got stuck in loading where balls in four colors keep running for half an hour. Shall I keep waiting? I think there must be something wrong. Your advises are welcome.
guangy said:
I flashed system, recovery & boot images strictly following the instructions, restarted the phone. It got stuck in loading where balls in four colors keep running for half an hour. Shall I keep waiting? I think there must be something wrong. Your advises are welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try flash the partitions again. If it's still not working, you may need to reflash a factory image.
RunasSudo said:
Try flash the partitions again. If it's still not working, you may need to reflash a factory image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed the cache image as well, then the problem solved. Thanks
Hey guys,
Need some help here as I've checked everywhere I possibly can and can't find the answer. I've rooted phone then installed miui 6 rom which worked but i didnt like it. Then I tried to install my rom 3.3 and everything got fuked up. Now when i power on my phone it is in bootloop. At this moment i am only able to use twrp 2.7.1.0(only recovery that is working) and fastboot. I've tried wiping data through recovery and still nothing. Anyways my bootloader isunlocked. .
Also I've tried the forced update method to get it working again but for some reason I cant start it, just a bootloop.
When i try to install custom rom it just give me message "unable to mount data". Same message i get when i try to do factory reset or wipe data.
Appreciate the help guys.
Tomislav995 said:
Hey guys,
Need some help here as I've checked everywhere I possibly can and can't find the answer. I've rooted phone then installed miui 6 rom which worked but i didnt like it. Then I tried to install my rom 3.3 and everything got fuked up. Now when i power on my phone it is in bootloop. At this moment i am only able to use twrp 2.7.1.0(only recovery that is working) and fastboot. I've tried wiping data through recovery and still nothing. Anyways my bootloader is unlocked. .
Also I've tried the forced update method to get it working again but for some reason I cant start it, just a bootloop.
When i try to install custom rom it just give me message "unable to mount data". Same message i get when i try to do factory reset or wipe data.
Appreciate the help guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The force update will not work since you replaced the stock recovery from Huawei with TWRP.
Follow these steps:
1. Go to Huawei's website and download the UPDATE.APP package.
2. Go to Huawei's website and download the Update Extractor tool.
3. Use the downloaded tool to extract the UPDATE.APP package. Then you should have a folder filled with .img files such as system.img, recovery.img etc.
4. Connect your device to your PC and enter fastboot on your Ascend P7 device
5. Open up Command Prompt or Terminal (cmd for Windows, terminal for Linux) and go to the directory where fastboot is installed
6. Check to see if your PC finds your device using the command: "fastboot devices". If successful, you should find your phone listed.
7. Flash this partition images using these commands:
"fastboot flash boot /path/to/your/images/boot.img"
"fastboot flash system /path/to/your/images/system.img"
"fastboot flash cache /path/to/your/images/cache.img"
"fastboot flash cust /path/to/your/images/cust.img"
"fastboot flash userdata /path/to/your/images/userdata.img"
5. Reboot your device
Now if successful, your phone should have EMUI installed on it. Hope this helps you.
MihaiChirculete said:
The force update will not work since you replaced the stock recovery from Huawei with TWRP.
Follow these steps:
1. Go to Huawei's website and download the UPDATE.APP package.
2. Go to Huawei's website and download the Update Extractor tool.
3. Use the downloaded tool to extract the UPDATE.APP package. Then you should have a folder filled with .img files such as system.img, recovery.img etc.
4. Connect your device to your PC and enter fastboot on your Ascend P7 device
5. Open up Command Prompt or Terminal (cmd for Windows, terminal for Linux) and go to the directory where fastboot is installed
6. Check to see if your PC finds your device using the command: "fastboot devices". If successful, you should find your phone listed.
7. Flash this partition images using these commands:
"fastboot flash boot /path/to/your/images/boot.img"
"fastboot flash system /path/to/your/images/system.img"
"fastboot flash cache /path/to/your/images/cache.img"
"fastboot flash cust /path/to/your/images/cust.img"
"fastboot flash userdata /path/to/your/images/userdata.img"
5. Reboot your device
Now if successful, your phone should have EMUI installed on it. Hope this helps you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that long ago, but it said it cant write to data or smth like that.
Dear friends I need help!
I've tried to flash my tablet but I've got an error message while flashing Katkiss 6.0
What I did:
downloaded Rom.(md5sum is OK)
my bootloader is ww_epad-11.4.1.17-20140711
recovery CWM v6.0.5.0
previous rom zoombi pop
/format data
wipe data factory reset
install zip from sd card. (from internal storage or micro sd card)
And I have got the following error (in attachement)
Please help, my tablet boot only recovery now.
Thanks in advance for the help
trying to boot in fastboot mode when children let me try that...
Edit: fastboot ok.
I placed the the files
KatKiss-6.0_TF701T_033.zip
open_gapps-arm-6.0-pico-20170120.zip
UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.79-20161211114519.zip
In
C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot
ok I don't know how to proceed now.
Seems I cannot change the recovery from CMW to TWRP,
My bootloader is 11.4.1.17 and the tutorial to install TWRP says in capital red:
MUST BE ON A BOOTLOADER 11.4.1.27, 11.4.1.29 or 11.4.1.30
So how can I do?
I there a way to upgrade the bootloader to be able to install TWRP?
Or should I Flash the custom rom from fastboot?
My TF701 in not booting anymore.... only bootloader and recovery CMW
the positive thing is :
C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>fastboot devices
15C3E10090400000011FA8580 fastboot
Please help
I have been able to flash CROMI X (unfortunately with strong battery drain) so CMW is able to flash but for some reasons not Katkiss 6.0.
I have been told that my problem is not ROM related... So it is recovery related?
What is the better option to get katkiss on my tablet? Flash the recovery to get TWRP even if my bootloader is 11.4.1.17 and the tutorial to install TWRP says in capital red:
MUST BE ON A BOOTLOADER 11.4.1.27, 11.4.1.29 or 11.4.1.30????
There is a technical reason about this warning?
Edit: I found this on an old post:
You can try this:
Download the stock recovery from here: http://droidbasement.com/db-blog/?p=3210
Copy the image to your fastboot folder.
Download the Asus firmware, unzip the file once and copy it to your internal SD.
Boot tablet into fastboot
Issue this command
Code:
fastboot boot recovery.img
Note: Do not flash the recovery, just boot it.
It should recognize the firmware file on your tablet and flash it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would this method work to get the latest stock rom from Asus?
Got your PM and will try to find some time at work today. Hang in there and don't do anything to make it worse
Ok, work was crazy busy so it took a bit longer.
If you flash a recovery that is incompatible with the bootloader nothing happens. Until you use the recovery... That could permanently brick the tablet. So heed the warnings, they are there for a reason.
Ok, let's try to get you on the latest bootloader. It's no suprise at all that nothing boots if you try to flash a Android 6 rom on an Android 4 bootloader....
Download either WW or US package from here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61045480&postcount=2
That zip contains the latest bootloader and a compatible TWRP recovery. Flash the zip in your current recovery just like any rom, then reboot.
When you flash a bootloader or recovery you actually write those files to the staging partition. On the next boot the bootloader will unpack it and write everything to it's proper place.
So it's essential that you flash, then reboot. Does not matter that the boot does not go anywhere. The first part, flashing the contents of /staging to it's partition(s), will happen anyway.
You should see a brief blue bar filling up when that happens. It does not take long.
Boot back into fastboot and check your bootloader version.
Enter recovery through RCK and that should be TWRP now.
Then format /data. Do not wipe it, format it. Do not interrupt it. Wait for it to finish even if it takes an hour (a full battery is a must before you start this). The format command is under the Wipe menu.
Unfortunately the formatting in this kanged TWRP is pretty buggy, but I still like it better than CWM.... If you get lots of error messages after the format (cannot mount this, cannot mount that) go into Wipe > Advanced > select Data > Change or repair file system > Change file system > choose ext3 and execute
Note: The button you have to swipe is pretty "sticky". Swipe it slowly and fully
Reboot to recovery
Go back into Wipe > Advanced etc and change the file system back to ext4
Reboot to recovery
Now everything should be ok, try to mount/unmount data.
Finally you are ready to flash Katkiss
If the bootloader flash does not work, we can try to flash Asus firmware in fastboot, but try the above first.
berndblb said:
Ok, work was crazy busy so it took a bit longer.
If you flash a recovery that is incompatible with the bootloader nothing happens. Until you use the recovery... That could permanently brick the tablet. So heed the warnings, they are there for a reason.
Ok, let's try to get you on the latest bootloader. It's no suprise at all that nothing boots if you try to flash a Android 6 rom on an Android 4 bootloader....
Download either WW or US package from here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61045480&postcount=2
That zip contains the latest bootloader and a compatible TWRP recovery. Flash the zip in your current recovery just like any rom, then reboot.
When you flash a bootloader or recovery you actually write those files to the staging partition. On the next boot the bootloader will unpack it and write everything to it's proper place.
So it's essential that you flash, then reboot. Does not matter that the boot does not go anywhere. The first part, flashing the contents of /staging to it's partition(s), will happen anyway.
You should see a brief blue bar filling up when that happens. It does not take long.
Boot back into fastboot and check your bootloader version.
Enter recovery through RCK and that should be TWRP now.
Then format /data. Do not wipe it, format it. Do not interrupt it. Wait for it to finish even if it takes an hour (a full battery is a must before you start this). The format command is under the Wipe menu.
Unfortunately the formatting in this kanged TWRP is pretty buggy, but I still like it better than CWM.... If you get lots of error messages after the format (cannot mount this, cannot mount that) go into Wipe > Advanced > select Data > Change or repair file system > Change file system > choose ext3 and execute
Note: The button you have to swipe is pretty "sticky". Swipe it slowly and fully
Reboot to recovery
Go back into Wipe > Advanced etc and change the file system back to ext4
Reboot to recovery
Now everything should be ok, try to mount/unmount data.
Finally you are ready to flash Katkiss
If the bootloader flash does not work, we can try to flash Asus firmware in fastboot, but try the above first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot to take time to help me.
Will try that tonight and I'll let you know the result.
Thanks a lot!
It was just like you said.
I had to format to ext3 and ext4 because I had errors.
Battery seems to be very good. Just the screen display is very white, needs color saturation and contrast I guess...
Thanks again you save my tablet.
Now that's what I like to read! :cyclops:
Hi, I am stuck in a bootloop with my pixel 4XL and can only access fastboot/adb. I want to pull my photos from the device before wiping it to factory settings but cannot figure out a way to do it. My bootloader is unlocked so figured it was possible somehow.
I cannot access files under sdcard using abd and changing the recovery image doesn't seem to work (I tried TWRP) using fastboot flash recovery, I get this error:
Writing 'recovery' FAILED (remote: 'No such file or directory')
I am guessing TWRP doesn't work because of Android 10
Have I got any options to try and backup my data?
TWRP doesn't work on devices that had Android 10 pre-installed due to a new partition scheme.
I would try dirty flashing a Google stock image of your current build. It should undo any kernel or Magisk changes for booting purposes.
Google images: https://developers.google.com/android/images#coral
Platform Tools: https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html
Extract the image ZIP somewhere, extract platform-tools into that same folder. (fastboot/adb, the .bat file and the 2nd image-coral*.zip should all be in the same folder)
Edit the "flash-all.bat" file, line 23 should look like this: "fastboot update image-coral-qq2a.200405.005.zip" (remove the '-w' or your photos/data will be wiped!)
Make sure fastboot devices sees the phone, run the .bat and mostly ignore your phone screen until the .bat says it's done.
Dirty flashing may corrupt your face data which might later require a full factory reset. Normally you would delete the face data before dirty flashing.