[Q] (CM11) Bootloop Complicated problem - Xperia SP Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello all
So I've been using CM11 nightlies and updating every day or every other day. I downloaded the one for today "cm-11-20140724-NIGHTLY-huashan.zip" and rebooted into CWM to flash it like I usually do. Everything went as usual. Reboot. Stuck on CM11 logo and reboot. OK. This sometimes happens. Same thing. Had this happen about a dozen times. Went into TWRP (I'm using dual recoveries), Factory Reset. Flashed the ROM. Rebooted. Same problem. Went into CWM restored an old backup from 2009 (?). Working except no Wi-Fi. Rebooted into Philz Touch, wiped to Install new ROM, rebooted the recovery and then nothing. Just a black screen after Sony Logo.
What should I do? Please help. Thank you.

Did you wipe cache partition and dalvik cache?
Know that you can simply flash one Nightly over another without doing a factory reset.
Atleast as long as no big changes are made to the ROM like changing from JB to KK.

Gamm86 said:
Did you wipe cache partition and dalvik cache?
Know that you can simply flash one Nightly over another without doing a factory reset.
Atleast as long as no big changes are made to the ROM like changing from JB to KK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. See, I think I wiped the stock ROM of my phone. Now, nothing will load up except Fastboot.

Well, push your ROM's ZIP using ADB.
Command for ADB: adb push romname.zip /sdcard/
Google should help you on how to use ADB if you don't know what I'm talking about.
Might require installing some new drivers...
You can forget about the above step if you still have the Nightly's ZIP file on your sd card!
Then fastboot the kernel from latest Nighlies's ZIP (boot.img)
Command for fastboot: fastboot flash boot boot.img
Make sure the boot.img file is inside your fastboot folder.
Then go into recovery, do all necessary wipes (factory, cache and dalvik) and flash your ROM.
Problem solved...
I'm sure you'll get it working again.
Don't worry, there's no such thing as a fully bricked Xperia SP unless you're having hardware issues which is not the case here.
Good luck!

Gamm86 said:
Well, push your ROM's ZIP using ADB.
Command for ADB: adb push romname.zip /sdcard/
Google should help you on how to use ADB if you don't know what I'm talking about.
Might require installing some new drivers...
You can forget about the above step if you still have the Nightly's ZIP file on your sd card!
Then fastboot the kernel from latest Nighlies's ZIP (boot.img)
Command for fastboot: fastboot flash boot boot.img
Make sure the boot.img file is inside your fastboot folder.
Then go into recovery, do all necessary wipes (factory, cache and dalvik) and flash your ROM.
Problem solved...
I'm sure you'll get it working again.
Don't worry, there's no such thing as a fully bricked Xperia SP unless you're having hardware issues which is not the case here.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for your reply. I would've used this method, but I managed to get it working through another method. For those interested:
I flashed DoomKernel through Flashtool, used the CWM recovery included to restore a really old backup from CWM. Rebooted. Setup my device. Factory reset. Rebooted. Placed VanirAOSP 4.4.4 and GAPPS as I believed CM11 Nightlies were causing the problem. Installed them and the device is great.
Thread closed.

Related

[Q] So I wiped System in TWRP...

Like an idiot I wiped my System inside TWRP. Using TWRP 2.6.0.2
Earlier tonight my phone starting rebooting. I was inside GooManager and tapped reboot to recovery. When I did that, for some reason my phone lost root. Meaning when I went to reboot inside TWRP it stated that it looks as if my phone is not rooted. I rebooted anyway without installing SuperSU through TWRP. I was already rooted. Afterwards, it would boot up fine but kept constantly rebooting only after a minute or two.
I went back into TWRP and clicked through dalvik wipe and cache wipe. Still got reboots. I was planning on flashing CyanogenMod anyways so I thought I'd go on and wipe everything. I went in to advance wipe and check everything. As I swiped the slider to wipe I realized I checked System too, but it was too late.
Now my phone won't boot past the HTC logo with the red text underneath. I can boot into TWRP however so I hope all is not lost. I am currently at work so I have no way to try anything on the phone at the moment but was hoping for some advice on what to try later when I get home.
I'm thinking maybe I'll be able to use the "Mount" tab in TWRP to load a ROM on and flash and everything will be well again. Would I mistaken to think that? If not, I'll purchase an USB OTG cable and use a USB stick but I really need this up an running as quickly as possible.
Also, does anyone think it would be best just to go back to stock at this point (if I can) and start from scratch?
Much thanks for your help and advice,
dgb1891
So, oddly enough I did the same thing, How I managed to recover it so you can adb sideload a rom from TWRP and have access to a "working" phone again was to find your stock recovery.img, then flash it via fastboot, and then from the hboot menu, choose factory reset and let the stock recovery do it's thing, then reflash TWRP (I honestly like CWM doe) and adb sideload a rom (presumably what you were using before). It SHOULD fix your problem and you'll be able to mount files again.
hayame said:
So, oddly enough I did the same thing, How I managed to recover it so you can adb sideload a rom from TWRP and have access to a "working" phone again was to find your stock recovery.img, then flash it via fastboot, and then from the hboot menu, choose factory reset and let the stock recovery do it's thing, then reflash TWRP (I honestly like CWM doe) and adb sideload a rom (presumably what you were using before). It SHOULD fix your problem and you'll be able to mount files again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By stock recovery.img you mean a stock HTC image? - or do you mean a recovery like TWRP or CWM?
dgb1891 said:
By stock recovery.img you mean a stock HTC image? - or do you mean a recovery like TWRP or CWM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Literally stock recovery.img, not TWRP or CWM.
hayame said:
Literally stock recovery.img, not TWRP or CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
K. Thanks. I have a feeling this is going to be a bit more complicated than I first thought...
I followed what you suggested and got the phone back up and working. Thanks again.

I have failed at flashing

Yes, another one of these threads, but I need some help.
I got the bootloader unlocked, flashed twrp into recovery using fastboot. Unfortunantly the device rebooted into stock which I'm reading got rid of twrp. One problem is I can't figure out how to get twrp on there, and to stay on there, so I can use it.
Ignoring this issue I just continued. The guide simply said flash cm11. I searched around for a little bit on how to do this with fastboot (since my twrp wasnt working), but ended up doing the stupid thing of running:
fastboot flash system cm-11-20141115-SNAPSHOT-M12-ghost.zip
I know my problem is that I flashed the system with just a zip update file. I should've performed an update.
But now I can't figure out how to find the stock system image for my phone, the actual img file, so I can flash the system again. I have a sprint moto x.
Thanks for any help!
mobone32 said:
Yes, another one of these threads, but I need some help.
I got the bootloader unlocked, flashed twrp into recovery using fastboot. Unfortunantly the device rebooted into stock which I'm reading got rid of twrp. One problem is I can't figure out how to get twrp on there, and to stay on there, so I can use it.
Ignoring this issue I just continued. The guide simply said flash cm11. I searched around for a little bit on how to do this with fastboot (since my twrp wasnt working), but ended up doing the stupid thing of running:
fastboot flash system cm-11-20141115-SNAPSHOT-M12-ghost.zip
I know my problem is that I flashed the system with just a zip update file. I should've performed an update.
But now I can't figure out how to find the stock system image for my phone, the actual img file, so I can flash the system again. I have a sprint moto x.
Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update. I got it up and running again on stock. But am still confused about the flashing twrp so it sticks and the flashing cm11. Thanks again
mobone32 said:
Update. I got it up and running again on stock. But am still confused about the flashing twrp so it sticks and the flashing cm11. Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should be able to install TWRP by using the command, "mfastboot recovery twrp.img"
regarding CM11, I don't think is needed anymore to go from CM10 to CM12. it was at one time, but I believe CM or TWRP made some updates so that step is no longer necessary.
but before we can help you further, let us know what ROM you are on now and what ROM you want to be on next.
also, this thread is very helpful: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/official-collection-firmwares-fxz-sbf-t3146628
Ok I got TWRP on there. Now I would like to get to lolipop 5.1 one way or another. I've always liked CyanogenMod (of course) but want to try CyanHacker. http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/development/rom-cyanhacker-lollipop-ghost-t3033367
Right now I'm on a stock sprint rom I got with kitkat 4.4.4
Here's what I was going to do: (copied from forum)
1. mfastboot flash the latest TWRP if you aren't already at that point. I won't help you on fastboot things as you should already know- look around in the forums for info.
2. BACKUP YOUR STUFF- don't want to lose things without being able to get them back, right?
3. Flash the downloaded CM11 snapshot.
(Heres where I'm stuck. This is where I soft bricked it last night. I tried just now to apply the update using twrp and it just fails. It also fails at rooting my phone.)
4. Let CM11 fully boot and go through the setup screen- just skip everything and get to the homescreen.
5. Reboot into Recovery and wipe EVERYTHING- system, data, dalvik cache, cache, etc.
6. Flash your Lollipop ROM.
7. Flash PA-gapps.
8. Flash SuperSU.
9. Wipe cache/dalvik cache.
10. Reboot.
11. ???
12. Profit.
Thanks for any help!

Unfixable bootloop?

I'm what you'd call a super noob at this stuff and I've got my poor little SP in a crazy bootloop... I've tried LITERALLY EVERYTHING the internet has told me to try; wiping every cache out there, flashing custom roms, stock roms, you name it. It began when I just got CWM (don't ask me why it happened then, I have no clue why) and this is even BEFORE I put a ROM on! (I was all ready to put a ROM after getting CWM but bootloop happened).
Note: I have CWM recovery, I think I have lost my stock recovery, if I try some ROMS (ex. CM 12) they give me this error 7, once I found certain ROMS (PACMAN ROM, unofficial stock ROM) that would flash and install, they did but still left me with a bootloop, I have tried wiping so many caches it's not even funny, I've tried flashing the original firmware, nothing works... so I'm here for help.
I have looked at every google link and every method possible in trying to fix this thing! I really can't afford a new phone and I just love this one too much... please help!
farahtasnim said:
I'm what you'd call a super noob at this stuff and I've got my poor little SP in a crazy bootloop... I've tried LITERALLY EVERYTHING the internet has told me to try; wiping every cache out there, flashing custom roms, stock roms, you name it. It began when I just got CWM (don't ask me why it happened then, I have no clue why) and this is even BEFORE I put a ROM on! (I was all ready to put a ROM after getting CWM but bootloop happened).
Note: I have CWM recovery, I think I have lost my stock recovery, if I try some ROMS (ex. CM 12) they give me this error 7, once I found certain ROMS (PACMAN ROM, unofficial stock ROM) that would flash and install, they did but still left me with a bootloop, I have tried wiping so many caches it's not even funny, I've tried flashing the original firmware, nothing works... so I'm here for help.
I have looked at every google link and every method possible in trying to fix this thing! I really can't afford a new phone and I just love this one too much... please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
please state your current bootloader status. Is it unlocked or still locked?
TechnoSparks said:
please state your current bootloader status. Is it unlocked or still locked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have unlocked my bootloader. Thank you for replying!
farahtasnim said:
I have unlocked my bootloader. Thank you for replying!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Splendid! Knowing that your BL state is unlocked, this will make the whole process A LOT easier!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-sp/development/ubl-twrp-f2fs-support-xperia-sp-huashan-t3150230
Please go to the above link to get TWRP. Also, please keep in mind that TWRP is now the only still supported recovery around. CWM and PhilZ are both really outdated and no longer maintained due to the introduction of Cyanogen Recovery which is very minimal in features.
Once you get yourself the download, extract the files from the zip and get the twrp.img file. We will need this to flash into the boot partition of Xperia SP, granting you a direct boot into recovery once it is flashed. Please then copy the original zip to your sd card, as we will be flashing the original zip via TWRP later to give you access to TWRP in the future.
Using your preferred tool, flash the twrp.img file into the boot partition.
Connect your Xperia SP via fastboot. Make sure SP is shut down, hold volume up key and connect the SP with your computer.
If you're using a fastboot tool via command prompt, the command would be
fastboot flash boot twrp.img
If you're using flashtool, hit the lightning icon in the toolbar, select fastboot mode. Then select "Select kernel to flash". Make sure the file type is "img" else you won't able to find your TWRP img file. Navigate to mentioned img file and select it.
Afterwards, when flashing complete, you may insert sdcard and start the device. It will boot directly into TWRP as we flashed a recovery to the boot partition.
Clean wipe data, cache, dalvik cache, system. You may leave internal storage.
Flash the ROM zip you acquired (make sure file integrity is checked beforehand!) then the TWRP zip earlier. Flashing the TWRP zip grants you a persisting recovery, as explained in the linked thread.
You may now reboot and enjoy

Stock Recovery

Hey
I have got a kinda big problem. I wanted to factory reset my phone, because apps were not responding, force closing and I had a lot of apps installed (I am on B135), so I went in my TWRP 2.8.1.0 recovery and factory resetted. cache was unable to mount, so I only wiped data and rebooted. The same problem now occurs only worse.
I thought about the cache that might be causing this, but all attemts to wipe it (recovery, apps) failed.
I also thought I could flash the stock recovery again and force update the phone, but the 3 button method isnt working and (of course) I need the stock recovery
Someone please help
EdrichVerburg said:
Hey
I have got a kinda big problem. I wanted to factory reset my phone, because apps were not responding, force closing and I had a lot of apps installed (I am on B135), so I went in my TWRP 2.8.1.0 recovery and factory resetted. cache was unable to mount, so I only wiped data and rebooted. The same problem now occurs only worse.
I thought about the cache that might be causing this, but all attemts to wipe it (recovery, apps) failed.
I also thought I could flash the stock recovery again and force update the phone, but the 3 button method isnt working and (of course) I need the stock recovery
Someone please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest that you install the latest twrp with flashify and then update your phone, because the newest twrp has the emui updater already built in, so you don't have to re-flash recoveries all the time.
Thanks Sproker,
One problem though. The lastest twrp does not seem to work because it is EMUI 3.0 and I am on EMUI 2.3?? I recently fixed it finally, but I still want to upgrade to EMUI 3.0... Is it worth it? And if it is, what am I to do?
Download the update.app (B135)
And extract the recovery.img
Now download ADB/Fastboot and the latest driver (HISiute).
Connect your phone with the computer and boot your phone into recovery mode.
Now boot into bootloader mode and search the device with "fastboot devices" if it is correctly connected, it should be displayed.
Now flash (first move the recovery.img into the ADB /Fastboot folder) the recovery.img you extracted before.
"fastboot flash recovery recovery.img"
Now you should have the stock recovery back on your phone.
But if twrp didn't work (erasing cache) the stock will also not work.
Try to erase cache via fastboot. But I don't know the code...

Question How do i get Stock recovery to not replace TWRP when rebooting???

Tried a bunch of things to make the TWRP installation persistent, but it just goes back to MIUI recovery when i reboot from the system.
I'm using TWRP 3.5.2 by Nebrassy.
USB debugging turned on
Correct drivers installed
fastboot devices work Using minimal ADB and fastboot
I have the file renamed as TWRP.img.
Steps i followed:
fastboot boot "TWRP.img" - Correctly boots into TWRP
install the TWRP image to the recovery partition - Happens with no errors
Reboot to system - No errors there as well
Reboot to recovery - Goes back to MIUI recovery.
Can someone please tell me what i should do?
PS: Tried with TWRP 3.6.0 as well just now. Same issue.
Helhound0 said:
Tried a bunch of things to make the TWRP installation persistent, but it just goes back to MIUI recovery when i reboot from the system.
I'm using TWRP 3.5.2 by Nebrassy.
USB debugging turned on
Correct drivers installed
fastboot devices work Using minimal ADB and fastboot
I have the file renamed as TWRP.img.
Steps i followed:
fastboot boot "TWRP.img" - Correctly boots into TWRP
install the TWRP image to the recovery partition - Happens with no errors
Reboot to system - No errors there as well
Reboot to recovery - Goes back to MIUI recovery.
Can someone please tell me what i should do?
PS: Tried with TWRP 3.6.0 as well just now. Same issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try again to flash TWRP dirty and if it's started don't boot with software. You have to boot TWRP again by pressing volume + and power button until you'll get vibration , afterwards you'll be in TWRP again, clear dalvik and cache and restart system via TWRP menu
Laptapper said:
Try again to flash TWRP dirty and if it's started don't boot with software. You have to boot TWRP again by pressing volume + and power button until you'll get vibration , afterwards you'll be in TWRP again, clear dalvik and cache and restart system via TWRP menu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry mate that didn't work. Still going back to stock recovery...
Since i didn't find a solution to make the installation presistant, i went ahead and flashed Elixir with the temporarily booted TWRP. Then wiped cache and dalvik, flashed the TWRP image, formatted data and then rebooted. Now it works.
Edit: This method did something to my recovery. I can boot to system and recovery fine but TWRP isn't able to mount the data partition. So i'm not able to flash anything or root the device anymore.
I tried formatting data, no luck.
Then tried repairing the data partition. No luck.
Changed the file system to EX2 and then EX4... Nothing.
Anyone know a solution for this?
Helhound0 said:
Sorry mate that didn't work. Still going back to stock recovery...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you've got to do a flash with stock ROM and miflash via pc
Laptapper said:
Then you've got to do a flash with stock ROM and miflash via pc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would that re-lock the bootloader? And if so do i have to wait 7 more days for it to be unlocked?
I used the Disable-Dm-Verity-Zip directly in TWRP after installation. Worked without a problem.
romuser87 said:
I used the Disable-Dm-Verity-Zip directly in TWRP after installation. Worked without a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read that somewhere too but that didn't help me at all... Maybe i have a bad zip file..
Can you share the zip you flashed?
Also, any idea how i could get this fixed:
Helhound0 said:
Since i didn't find a solution to make the installation presistant, i went ahead and flashed Elixir with the temporarily booted TWRP. Then wiped cache and dalvik, flashed the TWRP image, formatted data and then rebooted. Now it works.
Edit: This method did something to my recovery. I can boot to system and recovery fine but TWRP isn't able to mount the data partition. So i'm not able to flash anything or root the device anymore.
I tried formatting data, no luck.
Then tried repairing the data partition. No luck.
Changed the file system to EX2 and then EX4... Nothing.
Anyone know a solution for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Helhound0 said:
I read that somewhere too but that didn't help me at all... Maybe i have a bad zip file..
Can you share the zip you flashed?
Also, any idea how i could get this fixed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The attached file worked for me
Helhound0 said:
Would that re-lock the bootloader? And if so do i have to wait 7 more days for it to be unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. With MiFlash there is an option at the bottom of the screen to lock bootloader. Just make sure it is NOT checked, and you will be safe to use MiFlash without relocking bootloader.
2. When installing TWRP for first time, it is essential that your first reboot is straight back to TWRP - then it becomes persistent, and future reboots to recovery will be to TWRP. If you do not do the first reboot back to TWRP, the stock MIUI ROM recovery reinstalls itself.
HiQual said:
1. With MiFlash there is an option at the bottom of the screen to lock bootloader. Just make sure it is NOT checked, and you will be safe to use MiFlash without relocking bootloader.
2. When installing TWRP for first time, it is essential that your first reboot is straight back to TWRP - then it becomes persistent, and future reboots to recovery will be to TWRP. If you do not do the first reboot back to TWRP, the stock MIUI ROM recovery reinstalls itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first ever twrp install i did, i rebooted to system by mistake but i reflashed twrp and made sure to reboot to recovery.... That was the second try. I think i may have tried at least two dozen times since that but it just kept booting back to stock recovery...
I think I'll run with this until the end of Jan and then redo everything from scratch...
Helhound0 said:
Since i didn't find a solution to make the installation presistant, i went ahead and flashed Elixir with the temporarily booted TWRP. Then wiped cache and dalvik, flashed the TWRP image, formatted data and then rebooted. Now it works.
Edit: This method did something to my recovery. I can boot to system and recovery fine but TWRP isn't able to mount the data partition. So i'm not able to flash anything or root the device anymore.
I tried formatting data, no luck.
Then tried repairing the data partition. No luck.
Changed the file system to EX2 and then EX4... Nothing.
Anyone know a solution for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm stuck at this stage. Have you found any solution yet?

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