Database Develop

[Q] Carrier witholding Firmware from MVNO, am I out of luck? (HTC 8XT)

I am sorry if this is the wrong place or forum.
I have an HTC 8XT on an MVNO of Sprint. Sprint apparently seems to be withholding a firmware update that would allow this phone to update to 8.1, Sprint 8XTs are running 8.1, but not a single 8XT on my MVNO has gotten it yet.
The current firmware I have is 3030.00.10008.651.
According to HTC the latest is 3030.00.31009.651.
I have taken this phone off my MVNO and left it in a drawer for several months hoping that it would roll off whatever database it might be in. I tried to factory reset and then let it update it over wifi (I know Lumias can do that).
It still says no update found. I chatted with an HTC rep online and reading between the lines, he seemed well aware of Sprint's shenanigans. He hinted that ROMS were 'out there' and an updated ROM, even if it weren't the latest, might be enough to trigger an update. I started my Google Fu. Nothing.
Then I read the FAQ in this forum that said if I needed an HTC ROM I was out of luck.
I know enough about flashing and rooting to be dangerous to my phone . This is not my daily phone, but it's frustrating to buy a device that says "ready for 8.1" and then not be able to roam or send MMS. I'm willing to try some warranty voiding behaviors to update it.
All that to say, is there anything else I can try? Again, apologies if this is the wrong forum. I did try a thread search and saw some close topics, but nothing like this.
Thanks

Well, the simple question is "have you tried the Developer Preview program?" because that bypasses the MO gating when your phone gets updated. Developer-unlock your phone (you don't have to sideload anything, the app just checks to see if you're unlocked), install Preview for Developers from the Store (free app from Microsoft), run it, and enable the installation of preview releases. That *should* let your phone get any relevant updates.
If that doesn't work, then I can't help you any further; I'm not a ROM guy.

GoodDayToDie said:
Well, the simple question is "have you tried the Developer Preview program?" because that bypasses the MO gating when your phone gets updated. Developer-unlock your phone (you don't have to sideload anything, the app just checks to see if you're unlocked), install Preview for Developers from the Store (free app from Microsoft), run it, and enable the installation of preview releases. That *should* let your phone get any relevant updates.
If that doesn't work, then I can't help you any further; I'm not a ROM guy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply.
I have been enrolled in the Developer Preview and have never gotten an update on this phone. I think I got this phone shortly after 8.1 was pulled from the DP due to the WiFi issue. Then I read on some Sprint boards that those *with* the Developer Preview were having issues installing the 8.1 when it was rolled out, so I wiped the phone. It has been several weeks since I tried Developer Preview on this phone. I thought it was on to WP10 and it wouldn't help me much.
Still, can't hurt to try to install it one more time, but I am not hopeful.
Thanks again for your time.
Edit: I think in my earlier attempts I missed the registration and unlocking of my phone. Trying that now.
Edit 2: Now it seems that sometime in May, Microsoft shut down the process for unlocking 8.0 phones with SDK

You might try to unlock the phone with the Chinese utility, but I am not sure that developer preview program really checks if your phone is unlocked. Is there a new firmware for your model in navifirm?

Lanex777 said:
You might try to unlock the phone with the Chinese utility, but I am not sure that developer preview program really checks if your phone is unlocked. Is there a new firmware for your model in navifirm?
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Click to collapse
My phone is made by HTC. Isn't navifirm exclusively Nokia?

bricked, loop, whatever but can still boot to fastboot - try lmsa

--> From Motorola, but do at your own risk, as always! <---
Lenovo Motorola Smart Assistant - "lmsa"
I've played with, and done some more research on lmsa.
I am wondering if this would help some folks here.
Please report back success or failure and your particular symptom so others will know.
NOTE: my phone is bootloader unlocked XT1900-1 One fi which OTA'ed itself up from 8.1 to 9 Oct 1 '19 security.
If you are able to back anything up, do so before you do this - if successful, it will flash your phone.
go here
https://www.motorola.com/us/lenovo-motorola-smart-assistant
and download it.
Watch the video for software issues(lower left of that page).
Install it.
Start it up.
You want flash/ rescue.
follow the instructions and put your phone into fastboot mode and connect to PC via USB.
If it offers you something(takes a minute), click the little download arrow and when it's downloaded, click rescue.
This is what it looks like for me before I would click the download arrow.

I believe this tool is for people who have a locked bootloader, never unlocked? LMSA won't recognize my device. RSD lite won't either.
Persistent memory has some value that is not overwritten by Wipe All twrp? Of course I will never relock.... just a heads up to others.
I am one of the few.... 1900-1 Fi working fine on Aug Pie factory and wanted to try ionOS. Flashed fine and working good. Now 3 carriers in my area only US Cellular has service. T-Mob--, Sprin- coverage area 10 - 0% Found as I have before No ROM other than stock for ME can get Data services to work on all three carriers in my area. So for data services trying to reflash back to stock. NO factory image successfully flashed will have modems working. For me. Tried many forms of flash modems only via fastboot, nope.
Different flavors of ADB don't help. Now I haven't tried "Hardware tools loader" style because if wrong will brick it. Unless some one has? Various forms of flashing modems, flash all scripts, ADB versions, Hardware only flash from two ROMs (which is why I am here I think) the Wipe All needed for those two roms some how did it? No blame, just for some reason can't flash back to stock. Others have but....I can't. So hoping a forward update by Motorola Factory Image will do a complete modem working Flash.

kkjb said:
I believe this tool is for people who have a locked bootloader, never unlocked? LMSA won't recognize my device. RSD lite won't either....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone IS bootloader unlocked - I bought it used(ebay) and it came to me that way with a fresh 8.1 It gives the usual bootloader unlocked error message on boot. It has OTA updated itself to 9 Oct 1 '19 security. I have not tried to modify it because that would prevent me from getting future OTAs.
RSDlite latest (6.2.4) does not recognize my phone. That is RSDlite's fault. I don't think it is yet capable of an A/B phone, let alone a full Treble (ours, on 9, are not full Treble, only partial but DO have A/B sets of partitions).
From the attached pic you can see it was ready to flash my phone with the latest stock ROM appropriate for my device which is a 1900-1 One fi, even though it was unlocked.
I am guessing that Motorola invented lmsa to stem the flow of trashed phones to Moto factory repair. It wouldn't surprise me if it would auto blankflash if necessary.
Try it - it only takes a minute or 2 to test! The worst it can say is "no"!

Understand, tried all the options and LMSA needs I think a stock recovery, boot, fastboot flash mode. The various options show "phone not recognized" no mode available with twrp installed to goto Factory Flash as LMSA appears to wait for in Bootloader Mode. So the drop down box screen will not appear since not recognized.
This post was just a update as you had asked for others to give their results. So going to do hand flash of factory images again, see if try many times... and some how one works

kkjb said:
Understand, tried all the options and LMSA needs I think a stock recovery, boot, fastboot flash mode. The various options show "phone not recognized" no mode available with twrp installed to goto Factory Flash as LMSA appears to wait for in Bootloader Mode. So the drop down box screen will not appear since not recognized.
This post was just a update as you had asked for others to give their results. So going to do hand flash of factory images again, see if try many times... and some how one works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Bummer this didn't work for you.
Yeah phone definitely needs to be in fastboot mode.
Hopefully it will help others.
Yeah, back when RSDlite worked you could "sledge hammer" just about anything if it would boot to fastboot! Hopefully they will upgrade it...

No Thank You, you gave me some ideas about the a/b devices thoughts. We have the odd ball not 9.0 at release device so the a/b script is different than some devices. So with the newest ROMs using fastboot "flash all zip scripts" for a/b boot slots I think the problem is factory images want something else for the modems. Oddly the factory images flash fine with no errors just that no modems...imei, wifi, blutooth. 8.0,8.1,9.0 all. Its a weird problem.

kkjb said:
No Thank You, you gave me some ideas about the a/b devices thoughts. We have the odd ball not 9.0 at release device so the a/b script is different than some devices. So with the newest ROMs using fastboot "flash all zip scripts" for a/b boot slots I think the problem is factory images want something else for the modems. Oddly the factory images flash fine with no errors just that no modems...imei, wifi, blutooth. 8.0,8.1,9.0 all. Its a weird problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I was thinking a-/b prob
If you ran the "flash all fi bat" to install ionOS it would have worked well since, with Aug 9, you were in a 2 file system phone. so i am guessing
a) you would only have success flashing a 9 stock (fi or not)
b) you would probably have to do a preliminary flash with just the stock 9 bootloader etc (the stuff before the ping. as well as maybe the 2 modem erases later in the command stack - some playing needed there...) tons of guesswork and luck needed here!
c) I found it humorous that ionOS script made b active but I hope the dev knew what he/she were doing.
edit d) so what partitions set is active after you flash your tests? ie you flash something, but what are you then booting to - unless you set something active... I don't believe there is a default - just last successful - though I assume if one fails it will try the other. Perhaps endlessly.
But, yeah, I can see why that flash went well. But of course you are then stuck with the modems they flashed and how that particular opsys planed to use them. US cellular is apparently known to be iffy on the X4 since I saw that caveat on a number of ebay x4 sales - "not guaranteed for...". And Sprint, of course is cdma but is supposedly accessible as LTE by fi??? I have zero knowledge there!!!
WARNING WHEN DEALING WITH ME - I TEND TO MAKE A POST AND THEN KEEP EDITING IT ENDLESSLY>>> SORRY!

update ASUS TF701T (k00c) android to latest version

Hi All.
I trust you well. I was wondering if I could request your assistance with updating my TF701T to a new version of android. I have tried many methods and none has worked. I am actually more confused now as to where to start and what to download and install. :silly:
If possible maybe direct me where I could get a step by step guide with the links to the correct downloads/procedure.
I imported the pad from USA to South Africa and barely used it.
Kind Regards
Rob

(h-tee-tee-pee-s) androidbiits.com/root-asus-transformer-pad-tf701t-easily/
probably use the versions of magisk + twrp that are linked at the site, as they are tested with that hardware -- the latest versions may not work. i do not own that particular device and am not a programmer -- just trying to help you out. search the web for info if anything is confusing in the instructions -- i can't really walk you through it, but the person at that site may be able to help you out if you get stuck.
you'll need to connect the asus pad to a computer, so you'll need the usb data cable & adb installed on the computer.
you will likely also need open gapps to get the play store + apps working. select processor type, android version, then variant. you can find it here ==> (h-tee-tee-pee-s) opengapps.org <== but i'm not sure how long that will be functional, as hosting is apparently migrating to sourceforge.
please note that there are no w's in either address mentioned previously.
here's an explanation of gapps ==> (h-tee-tee-pee-s + w's) androidfreeapks.com/apk/download-gapps-for-android/
...and there are also download links for various variations at that last address too. cheers!
you will not be able to install *the latest* version of android (it's just plain not out there as a mod for a device this old) but you *can* get something a bit newer than the stock version on it.
best of luck!

one last thing (pertaining to the very first thing you have to do) is unlock the bootloader.
(h...s + w's) asus.com/us/Tablets/The_New_ASUS_Transformer_PadTF701T/HelpDesk_Download/
you will find the utility to do so at the above site. select Android, then under "Utilities"
click "See All Downloads" - therein, the 2nd thing from the bottom in that section is the unlock tool,
which says: Unlock Device App. V1.o (there's only one thing with that name. size is 448.82 kb)
and it will only work from the stock Android version, which i assume is still functional on your device.
Magisk is apparently a newer replacement for SuperSU, which doesn't flag the system as altered...
therefore you *may not* need to install Gapps if using Magisk - that seems logical to me, but i am not certain.

thanks for the assistance Dorkus.........this is killing me....but I will keep the faith and try again

I am trying myself and cannot get the unlock tool to work, performed wipe data reset without google account and still "network error occurred" . Android version 4.4.2

bobwho said:
I am trying myself and cannot get the unlock tool to work, performed wipe data reset without google account and still "network error occurred" . Android version 4.4.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I tried to contact Asus but no hope... We're completely blocked unless they do something? No other way to unlock?

greetings all, it is i, dorkus, of the house of mallorcus. haha. my name is actually reni.
xda keeps locking me out for some reason. i've now created 2 accounts (3 including the one from which this comment is posted) one even with a dedicated e-mail address just for this, but if i try to log in with either one, i get some "invalid" whatever message. admins: what have i said that was grossly incorrect? those links may not be presented in absolutely the most coherent way, but they're the best reasonable explanations of the procedure involved that i could find with about an hour or 2 of research, which i did because of intending to get one of these devices myself (which has now occurred! yay). besides that, who else with greater experience has chimed in on this thread? yes, i've reset my password, on both accounts. after i do so, both times: same "invalid" message. it's wasted over an hour of my time, when i'm just trying to help these people. it's highly annoying & if it continues, well, they'll just have to go it on their own.
to the point:
as luck would have it,
i was able to acquire one of these devices, still in superb condition, for a great deal from ebay. i have been in contact with Asus support & the word is: it's an EOL product, so the unlock servers have been shut down & there is currently no recourse end users have for unlocking their devices. i feel it's doubtful that they'll fire up a server again, but maybe we can pester them enough to develop a fastboot unlock tool? it sure would have been nice if it worked like that in the first place, but oh well, like the song says:
you can't always get what you want.
i will surely let you all know if am able to make any progress on unlocking my TF701T.
footnote: i also have a TF700 model which is in fact unlocked, has TWRP installed, and is running Android 5.1.1 {zombie-pop} which works a bit better than the Cyanogen mod flavor that it came to me with: somewhat improved user experience, maybe a little snappier too, but speed improvement is fairly minimal. most importantly, almost all of my apps work on it - a few don't even have an installer for Android 4 at the Play Store. the 701 is noticeably more responsive than the 700 model, even running 4.2.2 - the main issue with it for me is not being able to run all of my apps, some of which are purchased. i'd probably sell the 700 if i could get everything on the 701. oh well. it's an excellent reader + portable video viewing device even at stock. it's definitely worth what i paid in the condition received, but it'd be even better if i could unlock the bootloader & get a newer version of Android on it! i could possibly even be so happy that i'd float a couple bux Tim Duru's way, the guy primarily responsible for porting Android 6+7 (the latter of which apparently does not have a working camera) to this device.
footnote #2: the first day i got the 701, i tried to do a firmware update (proper region, latest available. full battery charge. the battery in the one i picked up is in fantastic condition, the thing is practically brand new + functions nicely... but now Asus won't let me unlock it, even though it's well out of warranty! grrrrr) which crashed mid-way & then it proceeded to get into an update / crash boot loop. i was pretty sad for a while, but did not give up & found a way to restore the original firmware (which turned out to be a very minor upgrade) from the SD card, thanks to information in a post here in the xda forums. that post is the link which follows. my thing would still go into fastboot (albeit slightly corrupted) + recovery mode, which enabled an SD card firmware flash to happen {...and lo, my little slab of Jelly Bean was resurrected...} so i did not require the NvFlash tool at all... but it's still there at the provided links in that thread.
to summarize the procedure:
1) format an SD card to fat32
2) download the appropriate firmware from Asus [**please note the region: if you flash the firmware from a wrong region onto your device, you will -hard- brick it + will then be required to use the NvFlash tool**]
3) un-zip the firmware (not completely, just remove nesting - so you have only one zip file)
4) rename the one remaining zip file: t4_sdupdate.zip
5) put that file on the root directory of SD card, then into the tablet (while turned off)
6) invoke recovery mode (power + vol down) & choose the recover [RCK] box (hit volume up, while it's the selected of the 3 choices) and from there the firmware update happens automatically. you can apparently upgrade to any official firmware by this method, but **cannot** downgrade... so i'd suggest leaving it at 4.2.2 until we are 100% sure that there are zero bootloader unlock options, because apparently the unlock tool, from what i understand, only works from the original 4.2.2
without further ado:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/transformer-tf701/tf701t-nvflash-unbrick-solutiontested-t3742848
it's now a few hours later from my original post, near bedtime for me, and the xda gods let me log into this account to make this edit... and it's even allowing URLs now! will wonders never cease? not sure what the problem was earlier, but it was quite annoying. anyway, if it lets me log into the account with the dedicated xda e-mail address, that's the one i'll use in future. username is renigade.

fly a kite said:
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello @fly a kite @dorkus mallorcus @renigade
Please consult the inbox of your private messages. Thanks for your cooperation!
Stay safe and stay healthy!
Regards
Oswald Boelcke

How To Guide FYI: NE2217 T-mobile (Carrier locked, BL locked) <== Dont Flash Any Other Region w/o reading.

!!! This is a HIGH RISK method of performing any form of modification, if you are on a T-Mobile ne2217 !!!
There are unidentified files that your device might have conflict with, and cause a bootloop!
Proceed at your own risk! You have been warned!​
OK, first lemme explain. The NE2217 (10 pro) itself does not have any special restrictions on it, unlike the CPH 2419 (10T) which is an exclusive T-Mobile variant. My guide on region swapping the CPH2419 (10T, link below) is still valid for the NE2217 (US- NA) . But there are conditions required or you will enter an infinite bootloop which becomes un-recoverable, without an edl flash. I do not have the specifics as to exactly which partitions cause this, but basically the bottom line is, IF YOU HAVE NOT UNLOCKED YOUR BOOTLOADER, EVEN IF YOU ARE SIM UNLOCKED, do not attempt to region swap.
There are a couple of partitions that are specially locked, that ONLY become write capable using the fastboot command, "Unlock Critical". Without a Bootloader unlock, the Oxygen Updater/Local Update programs, CANNOT make the needed changes to the Kernel, as well as these other important partitions, which have instructions that implicitly block changing to other regions. I cannot confirm if this exists in other countries with carrier locks, but i do know for a fact that T-Mobile has this enforced on all of the 10 Pro (ne2217) purchased through them.
As mentioned in previous threads that ive replied in, I suspected that the apps Oxygen Updater and Local Update, do not have the permissions capable to make direct changes to the boot.img, or recovery.img directly, primarily because those partitons cannot be altered while the system is currently running. These images can only be altered through Fastboot, or EDL thus the need for an MSM Tool if you cannot unlock your bootloader via conventional methods. So what happens is upon "Pre-boot" those special instructions i spoke of, take authority and put the carrier specific files, into an untouchable state that are locked behind the USERDATA partition, so these applications just copy the updated files to the inactive partition and performs the changes during the next boot, and even a hard wipe factory reset does not have the authority to erase the carrier instructions. The only way they are removed is by Unlocking your Bootloader! When you do that, the Qualcomm Processor has an embedded command, which is required to ERASE the entire Userdata partition, to protect the encrypted files protected by the bootloader lock! You can read about that by googling "Qualcomm Bootloader Unlocking".
Hope that makes sense to the majority of you. So again, the ONLY requirement for you to be able to go from 'ne2217', to any other fw is YOUR BOOTLOADER MUST BE UNLOCKED!
Failure to follow that one requirement will indeed force your device into an unusable, infinite bootloop, which can be resolved only by an EDL flash, which as of right now we do not have the tools that can perform this on CONSUMER level. You will have to RMA, your device, or go thru third party channels, which in itself is very risky, and puts you at risk of viruses/malware/wormholes/zombie-apocalypse because you must give someone full access to your computer remotely, and pray that the person only does what you requested. (NOT IDEAL).
Now if you're on a T-Mobile locked device, you are NOT hopeless... as I am on a T-Mobile locked device, and i am now bootloader unlocked as well! These two conditions are independent of each other, but trust me when i tell you that YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO THRU WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, IN ORDER TO REACH THIS GOAL!
In so I will not publicly disclose how i was able to enter the real Fastboot Mode, so that i could pull the unlock code needed to request the unlock token from T-mobile.
(If you are so inclined to do this that you are willing to forgo ALL precautions and risk the possibility of bricking your device, or you have already landed yourself in an unrecoverable bootloop state, and are willing to try ANYTHING, you can join Bootloopers Anonymous, by clickiing it, and drop a message. This is a brand new telegram channel, and i will try to watch it for your requests. And again i strongly advise that you DO NOT embark on MY adventure, but if Unlocked Bootloader by Any Means Necessary is your ultimate goal, and nothing less is acceptable, i will try to help you achieve it... *** YOUR DEVICE WILL ENTER A COMPLETELY UNUSABLE STATE FOR A MINIMUM OF 7 DAYS!! *** but bear in mind that EVEN IF you have to use my method, you will be still subject to the 7-day waiting period outlined by OnePlus company policy. No one can overcome that, as the unlock token comes thru a separate division of Oppo/Oneplus that only generates the token through an automated request which is pushed after the expiration of 7 full days (1-week) has passed. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!)
The 10-Pro doesn't require the "In-Depth Testing" app to get your BL unlocked. That said, it also does not mean that OPPO has not designed one for this device because indeed they have. That application is individually encoded with device specifications so that only devices and regions EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED by Oppo, can submit a request to unlock. DO NOT TRY sideloading any "In Depth Testing" apk floating around on the internet, as these can be altered to contain malware or worse, and then if your device becomes corrupted by it, Oppo can deny you an RMA on your device, thus charging you for the repair as there are warnings that you must acknowledge to even run the app, and attempting to circumvent the safeguards that this app already has in place is considered a violation of ToS.
If OPPO adds your device/region to the list of allowed devices, you will be able to download this application through OFFICIAL channels, and it will be made known to the public.
Once you are completely knowledgeable that your BL has indeed been fully unlocked, you can proceed to follow the instructions in the link to my guide below. The guide is for the CPH2419 (10T), but the instructions are completely compatible with the 10 Pro entire series, assuming your BL is unlocked. On the 10T this is not a requirement, and i honestly do not understand why this enforcement was put into our 10 Pro model, released almost a year earlier. Probably just an oversight by T-Mobile which might be corrected in future builds.
How to use Oxygen Updater + Local Update apks to switch regions.

EDIT: Local Update downgrade it currently installing
No Go, The update installed and downgraded but it just loads to the welcome screen and crashes and boot loops

supercobaltss said:
EDIT: Local Update downgrade it currently installing
No Go, The update installed and downgraded but it just loads to the welcome screen and crashes and boot loops
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
again, what most ppl are failing to do is follow my guide exactly as i defined. The VERY 1st thing you MUST DO... prior to unlocking the Bootloader... Prior to even downloading ANY rollback packages is, you MUST go and Download ANY of the Android 13 beta updates that are available in Oxygen updater. Turn on advanced mode, and select the whichever model you prefer... Its actually best to choose the region you plan on swapping to, for easier transition with the rollback package. IMHO i would always pick the EU model whenever attempting this, simply because that one usually has more bands available. But the main idea behind this is to make the phone, first BREAK the connection it has with T-Mobile's custom kernel, and modem... which is done just by upgrading to an Android 13 beta, as T-Mobile does not EVER release any beta builds, so by doing an actual OS upgrade, your phone must load the OS kernel, and several other partitions/files which i am sure that T-Mobile has branded in the 2217. Upgrading to a newer OS will without a doubt overwrite the carrier locked files, because the Upgrade comes from a higher authority in the chain of trust. Until TMO releases an update, then this is a requirement so that the rollback package of that region can safely downgrade the files, in their correct partitions. If you download a beta 13 thru oxygen updater, you can local update flash it, without problem. I did it myself to several demo devices at Tmobile stores here in Texas to test the technique, after i bricked mine by using a rollback package first!
Remember the 2217 is a T-Mobile EXCLUSIVE! No other carrier may sell this same model... but ALL of the internals are the exact same, and as im sure we are all well aware of, T-Mobile doesnt have the fastest adaptations when it comes to OS updates.
But there are several key identifiers which point to a custom made BL, Kernel, and Modem: 1. The build for all T-Mobile versions is on a revision that no other model has released... This alone could cause BL because if you flash a build that is older than the one you have currently, several files have anti-downgrade measures built into them. This is why we need the signed rollback packages to downgrade. But even if OPPO signed a rollback, unless they released one with T-Mobiles file specs, then anything you flash can create a conflict with an existing file... BL! But i know of about 13 ppl who have attempted my method, plus i just did another one myself last night for someone who contacted me and offered to compensate me royally if i would meet them since we were local logistically. 2. AFAIK, when installing a different rom to a device, you cannot downgrade the modem version. I know this is apparent with Samsung... as if you try to flash a rom with a lower modem version, it usually bricks, and you have to use odin to flash the newer modem back, in order to boot. Again this is taken care of by installing the NEWEST beta for Android 13, unless you had my situation which is, my phone CAME WITH updated security, and build already installed for October 2022. I havent heard of anyone who has said they even have the option to update theirs past August. So new purchases have to be careful. T-mobile sold mine with a blocked Fastboot, that doesnt respond to the button combo. Which clearly identifies they modified the recovery partition. 3. E-fuses have become a staple in Android devices for the past 5+ years.
Sure we have not heard of anything being in the T-mobile fw... but also who here can say that they have a FULL BUILD of the Tmo fw to examine? No one.... there is a generic 2217 build floating around that claims to be official, yet it is the ONLY build that does not have an OTA formatted file structure. All the 10 Pro OTA have been in payload.bin format, yet this happens to come only as a decrypted OFP, or a compressed OFP. *** OPPO is not directly supporting the 10 Pro 2217 or 10 T 2419 ! As these are proprietary T-Mobile builds. This is why you cannot find either of those models fw in the Oppo repository. So if OPPO doesnt release builds for TMO, then how exactly did an "Official 'OFP' for 2217" get released? *** OFP is an Official OPPO format for all the OPPO model phones. 10 Pro is still branded Oneplus, thus just about any OFP file you find in the wild, is almost 100% guaranteed NOT to be an official released build for our phones. Every package for this and the 10T that they have OFFICIALLY released, has been in Payload.bin format, because they havent released any full images yet! So in theory, who's to say that TMO didnt place an efuse into their specific model? Its only code, and if set, then it could have been burned during the initial release, or a later update, like AMAZON did with updates to the Firestick/FireTV devices, which would ONLY allow newer updates to certain files in THEIR build. That would totally explain a bootloop, because the rollback packages all push you back to 11_A.013 .... that build is from Feb-March 2022. Rolling back would almost guarantee that some files are overwritten with older components, which would cause a brick by e-fuse standards. We had to be lucky enough to catch it early in the FIrestick forum, to stop ppl from installing the update. Everyone who did, had their ability to unlock/load custom fw to their devices blocked, and there is still today no way to circumvent it. Sure new methods to mod became available, but only minimal changes, cuz the e-fuse blocked downgrading to exploitable builds. Since TMO has gone this far to stop us from modifying this phone, you can bet solidly on the fact that they have several safeguards in place to protect their investment.
Now im not trying to discourage anyone or discredit anything anyone has said or experienced regarding this phone, but look at the NUMEROUS unanswered replies to handfuls of problems that only happen to 1 or 2 ppl... they all have the same final result, but its astounding how many different scenarios ppl have found, that no one else has experienced, yet it leads to another bricked device. If this problem was rampant among a significant number of users, and it was triggered by the exact same scenario, then TMO would have to address it with an update... But all we know for sure is that there is some file(s) that is not compatible with any other model except the 2217. Til we have an EXACT culprit identified, all we can do is speculate, which is why I am going to re-label this as HIGH RISK in the OP. It has about a 40-50% chance of causing a bootloop, and about a 10% chance to leave your device unresponsive! There have been several released guides for other devices that have close to the same success rate / risk factor. All i can do is share what I have done, and what i know from personal exp.
Im sorry if anyone lands themselves on the wrong side of that equation, but it is a risk that only you can decide if its worth taking. For me, that answer is and always will be YES because i will not own a device that i do not OWN! For others this may be a touch more out of their league, and if thats true they should steer clear, until I or another user can get hold of an official TMO OTA, to examine the diff files in each.
****** Now all of that being said.... if ANYONE wishes to contribute to finding a solution to this dumpster fire, I am not asking for donations.... What i am asking, is for SOMEONE who might have a T-Mobile 10Pro on the release build, or any build PRIOR to 11_A.13 and is looking to help, we NEED an exact copy of an OTA update that might be sitting in your notifications. All updates download to the /sdcard/ partition of your phone in a folder that is accessible without root permissions. If you accept the download for the update, and DONT begin the install immediately, you can locate and pull that OTA to your computer, then delete the file from your phone, and it will cancel the update on reboot. No loss to you, but EXTREMELY HELPFUL to us, because we will have something from TMO to work with, which may give us a clue as to what we need to remove from the updater script ! *******
and FYI the signatures used to sign some of the OTA we already have, are already deciphered and as such can be used to create new signatures after making some changes to the respective regions package. But to make having these be of any value, we need to know what to take out or change in the manifest, that will prevent alterations of the files causing bootloops. If anyone can help with an upload of a TMO-OTA please share publicly or dm myself or one of the other devs who have expressed interest in this issue.
Thanks

I can probably pull the update from my wifes phone. She never updates anything. I did get my 10 pro to boot to android 13 but everything just says its disabled. This is only the 3rd phone ive done this with so ill warranty another one if i have to lol.

supercobaltss said:
EDIT: Local Update downgrade it currently installing
No Go, The update installed and downgraded but it just loads to the welcome screen and crashes and boot loops
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, this happened to me as well. Setup wizard crashes before I even get very far in it, and I've wiped multiple times trying to complete it somehow.

GuyInDogSuit said:
Yup, this happened to me as well. Setup wizard crashes before I even get very far in it, and I've wiped multiple times trying to complete it somehow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive tried to convert multiple different ways. Upgrading to 13 basically screws you with the disabled apps BS, Downgrading just crashes the device. Either way its broken. I've went through 3 devices now messing around.

So I guess it's time to replace it, then? Crap.

GuyInDogSuit said:
So I guess it's time to replace it, then? Crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Start a RMA on OnePlus website, don't go through T-Mobile. They will have you send in phone and then either reflash your phone and send it back or just send you a new phone which is what they did when I had to do it. All that bs about voiding warranty when unlocking bootloader is just that, bs. They fix or replace without any issues but you have to go through OnePlus.

FML.
I've gotten it working for the most part, but what's most concerning is that there's no IMEI. And it doesn't charge or even acknowledge the cable. Fantastic.

jeffsga88 said:
Start a RMA on OnePlus website, don't go through T-Mobile. They will have you send in phone and then either reflash your phone and send it back or just send you a new phone which is what they did when I had to do it. All that bs about voiding warranty when unlocking bootloader is just that, bs. They fix or replace without any issues but you have to go through OnePlus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't even request an RMA as I don't have an IMEI to provide. It's blank in the phone. I think I'm screwed. Or try T-Mobile. Dunno. This sucks.

GuyInDogSuit said:
I can't even request an RMA as I don't have an IMEI to provide. It's blank in the phone. I think I'm screwed. Or try T-Mobile. Dunno. This sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T-Mobile version has your IMEI sketched into the back cover of your phone. You should be able to use that.

jeffsga88 said:
The T-Mobile version has your IMEI sketched into the back cover of your phone. You should be able to use that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh. Uh.... completely forgotten about that.

I just updated to Android 13 on the TMO NE2217, device not unlocked, still financed. And now have the option to unlock the BL.

beatbreakee said:
All updates download to the /sdcard/ partition of your phone in a folder that is accessible without root permissions. If you accept the download for the update, and DONT begin the install immediately, you can locate and pull that OTA to your computer, then delete the file from your phone, and it will cancel the update on reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this still useful, with the NE2217_11_C.26 update? And either way, how can I delete it? I couldn't find anything big in /sdcard. Thanks!

deleted

psm321 said:
Is this still useful, with the NE2217_11_C.26 update? And either way, how can I delete it? I couldn't find anything big in /sdcard. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^
^
^
^
^
THIS Please my phone ignored my saying no and next reboot the damn thing will go off on me ... so frustrating that even when you set the darn thing to OFF on auto update and such it STILL does this BS...
Damn TMobile and their special lock junk UGH ...
anyway ... please can one direct with a screen shot and file manager they used to find this file so I can delete the thing? ... I have tried to find it and struck out ... but having got the notification today and the Oxygen app is showing 'REBOOT' instead of 'resume' when I ignored the update previously has me thinking if I reboot I will see android 13 pop up and in this case means I will lose my whoop as something with it breaks pairing my wearable ... whoop has offered no timetable for a fix

Google Pixel 5 downgrade to install /e/os

Hi,
for my Google Pixel 5 I want /e/os/.
Two instructions how to accomplish this. To flash /e/os onto a Google Pixel 5, the smartphone need to have Android 12.
My Google Pixel 5 has Android 13 (I received a New Old Stock device in a unopened box with Android 13. So no tinkering
beforehand.)
I found this archive of Android 12 images - all for the Google Pixel 5 and all Android 12:
Factory Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices | Google Play services | Google for Developers
developers.google.com
How can I determine and choose the correct image to flash?
Cheers!
Etymotics

12.1.0 (SQ3A.220705.003.A1, Jul 2022) is going to be the latest android 12 build which should be compatible.

Hi noidea24,
thank you for your post and the information. That helps me a lot - I was confused by the shear amount of images.
Do you know a thread which may have the things I want to achieve as topic ? I tried to search with keywords
like "Google Pixel 5 /e/os" and similiar, but it looks like the search found all threads containing GOOGLE *and* all threads with PIXEL *and* all....and so forth. I would need a second search engine to skim through the results...\
Cheers!
Etymotics

What are you looking for specifically? There's not really much info on e/os on the pixel 5. It works well, but the development is slow. Why e/os over similar projects with updated android versions like Graphene, Calyx, Copperhead?

e/os is not daily drivable, recommend not to install.

e/os was recommended to me by Marcel Bokhorst, the author of XPrivacy.
But as it seems, I had bad luck with the phone I bought:
The "OEM unlock" is greyed out and I know of no way to unlock the bootloader.
It currently runs on Android13 and last update was Dec. '22.
My intention behind all this was to have a de-googled phone because I [CENSORED] this
tracking and spying and "owning" a device, which I cannot control to 100%.
Anything else I can do to achieve this?
PS: My phone may be is one of these [CENSORED] Verizon devices. It was originally packaged
and as it seems never used before...

Where did you buy your phone? Ebay? A retailer?
Is there a keyword "Locked" or "Unlocked" anywhere on the website?
If the product listing didn't mention anything about it being carrier locked, I suggest requesting a refund or a replacement.
The "OEM Unlock" greyed-out is most definitely due to it being a carrier locked device and you're out of luck.
Also, if you truly want a de-googled OS, I recommend Graphene OS. https://grapheneos.org/

Etymotics said:
e/os was recommended to me by Marcel Bokhorst, the author of XPrivacy.
But as it seems, I had bad luck with the phone I bought:
The "OEM unlock" is greyed out and I know of no way to unlock the bootloader.
It currently runs on Android13 and last update was Dec. '22.
My intention behind all this was to have a de-googled phone because I [CENSORED] this
tracking and spying and "owning" a device, which I cannot control to 100%.
Anything else I can do to achieve this?
PS: My phone may be is one of these [CENSORED] Verizon devices. It was originally packaged
and as it seems never used before...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to give you false hope but did you connect to wifi on your first time through setup? If you don't, OEM unlock will be greyed out, regardless.

Hi Alex,
(NOT meant as any form of criticism or complaint... )
...I am a little confused here.
Other posts (not necessarily on this forum...can't remember) say: "Pull out the simcard, disable Wifi and DON'T contact anything, only skip through the setup..."
At the moment I only have a simcard of the wrong size...but I enabled Wifi but did not update anything in fear of getting an even stronger patch to disable any form of tinkering.
But as I am still having a locked "OEM unlocking" and a locked bootloader I am open for any kind of tinkering to get
this damn thing freed.
Would these steps ok:
Start the phone,
Setup lockscreen, dark theme, etc..
enable Wifi and download all updates, install updates
Ok? Or what would you suggest?
Cheers!
Etymotics

Etymotics said:
Hi Alex,
(NOT meant as any form of criticism or complaint... )
...I am a little confused here.
Other posts (not necessarily on this forum...can't remember) say: "Pull out the simcard, disable Wifi and DON'T contact anything, only skip through the setup..."
At the moment I only have a simcard of the wrong size...but I enabled Wifi but did not update anything in fear of getting an even stronger patch to disable any form of tinkering.
But as I am still having a locked "OEM unlocking" and a locked bootloader I am open for any kind of tinkering to get
this damn thing freed.
Would these steps ok:
Start the phone,
Setup lockscreen, dark theme, etc..
enable Wifi and download all updates, install updates
Ok? Or what would you suggest?
Cheers!
Etymotics
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not going to lose data or your not afraid of it, I would:
Factory reset without sim card in
When phone reboots, start setup
Don't put sim in but do connect to wifi
Skip through setup if you want and check if oem unlock is available
I'm not sure of the instructions you have, maybe that's what people believe for Verizon phones but you're not sure if you have one, correct?
Here's my experience:
I have several pixels, all unlocked. If I flash back to stock firmware and skip through setup without connecting to wifi, OEM unlock is greyed out. If I connect wifi on the first time through, it's available.
I've also heard this in tech videos. However, it won't work with Verizon phones. But if yours isn't Verizon, this could be the reason you're not able to unlock.

Hi Alex,
thank you for all your help! By the way: Are there any definite proofs for "my smartphone is a Verizon one" ?
I will try what you wrote and will be back with the result.
Two things came into my mind:
- Shall I install updates/upgrades if offered?
- Would downgrading (if even possible) via Chrome and the "Flash" feature on the Google page with all these images help, if I have a Verizon jail?
Cheers!
Etymotics

Etymotics said:
Hi Alex,
thank you for all your help! By the way: Are there any definite proofs for "my smartphone is a Verizon one" ?
I will try what you wrote and will be back with the result.
Two things came into my mind:
- Shall I install updates/upgrades if offered?
- Would downgrading (if even possible) via Chrome and the "Flash" feature on the Google page with all these images help, if I have a Verizon jail?
Cheers!
Etymotics
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There may be a way but I'm not entirely sure, perhaps Google well help. I do seem to remember something about the IEMI but that may have been older models.
I wouldn't upgrade anything after setup and it shouldn't offer anything during.
As far as I know, downgrading won't help but I don't think you could from the Google page, as it requires an unlocked bootloader

Hi Alex,
I will try, what you wrote without updating anything ... will be back then...

Hi Alex,
no...unfortunately it does not help to connect to wifi...the "OEM unlock" is still grayed out.
Now....I wanted a de-googled phone to keep my privacy...instead I got a phone which is the
exact opposite. Unfortunately the cost of that thing remains the same...
Anything else, I can try?
Cheers!
Etymotics

Last week-end, i was abble to downgrade a Pixel 5 from A13 to A12 following this page
Navigate this article:
Downgrading your Google Pixel smartphone to stable Android version
Method 1: Leave the beta program
Method 2: Manual downgrade
Using Android Flash Tool
Using Fastboot
choose method 2 : fastboot (at the end of the article)
https://www.xda-developers.com/how-...rom-beta-developer-preview-to-stable-android/
and install e-1.10-s-20230412278810-stable-redfin according to the official instructions https://doc.e.foundation/devices/redfin/install

Hi Piero-e
That sounds very interesting. Did you unlock your bootloader before starting the procedure?
Did you change the bootloader of you device to another one?
Cheers!
Etymotics

Yes, i first unlock the bootloader (using the WiFi connection to another phone)
And flash bootloader and modem,
Then unfortunately my computer don't find the flash-all command, so I used the Gogol online tool to flash the others partitions