some quastion about xiomi, custom ROMs and Recovery... - Mi 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I wish you all good health!
I read the topic about firmware ... about custom, etc., etc. ... porridge in my head ... but there are still no answers to some ... FAQ meager ...
some interesting questions...
1. Do I understand correctly that in Xiaomi mi 3 (and not only) there is a built-in partition with a second firmware in case the device is corrupted?
2. It is in it that all the custom areneed to be flashed?
3. how to switch quickly between them? (my recovery not let REBOOT toanother one) - or after andorid 6 it one?
4. I read about Real Dual Boot, it type allows you to boot from the second OS while allowing you to use the DATE general section.
And what if for each OS to use YOUR date section?
5. Does this section take up space from the total 16GB flash or is it written in a separate area?
5.1 How many such REcover partitions can be made?
5.2 Is repartitioning possible?
5.3 Is deleting a partition to free up space possible? (as I understand it, it is needed in normal use ONLY so that it can be restored without cutting to the computer)
6. And loading in this way from external media? For example, via OTG? Picked up a flash drive with the correct OS version and booted up?
7. Does flashing the latest official OS via fastboot restore this partition?

found partial answers to my questions. but the most important remained!
1. What if we make not two, but say three System partitions? Bootloader will allow you to boot from them? 2. What about booting from USB otg? (as I understand it, you can flash it from it, but what about booting in this case?

Related

Guide MultiBoot 33b [EASY]

Hi everyone, my name is Mirko and I am an italian student and first of all sorry for my bad english, fiddle with ROMS and Kernels is an hobby for me and i really enjoy it.
I would make a tutorial for anyone who can not unencrypt OnePlus3 with any ROM. READ EVERYTHING BEFORE START.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR DEVICE. PAY ATTENTION.
DOWNLOAD
VIRUSTOTAL
Open and extract the zip file where you want.
Install USB drivers
Install ADB drivers by open adb-setup-1.3.exe, Y, Y ,Y and close.
Copy fastboot adb drivers 1.0.36 to C:\adb and overwrite.
Open CMD in the same file folder by pressing Shift+right click and type "adb", if it say nothing match reboot your pc.
Plug your phone to PC and allow adb access, then type "adb devices" and you should see your phone id.
We have to unlock bootloader, THIS ACTION PERFORM A FULL, FULL (EVEN INTERNAL MEMORY) OF YOUR PHONE, BACKUP EVERYTHING. Tick on OEM Unlock in developer option (nothing here will happen). Type "adb reboot fastboot" and your phone will reboot in fastboot mode. Use now "fastboot devices" for recognize your phone and "fastboot oem unlock" for unlock bootloader.
Do not restore backup cause we are gonna wipe again, back into fastboot mode (AFTER OEM UNLOCK FROM DEV OPTIONS) and flash twrp using fastboot flash recovery multiboot....img.
If phone reboot back again into fastboot and type fastboot format userdata. Reboot into recovery.
Now on recovery start MTP and copy OOS/HOS and supersu zips into your phone, flash the ROM, DO NOT REBOOT, flash supersu. Your device is now unencrypted.
Type adb shell chown -R media_rw:media_rw /data/media on CMD for avoid problems after flash.
You can now flash multiboot.zip and you have to inject boot sector every time you will install/update ROMS. OOS/HOS OTA ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH TWRP, YOU HAVE TO FLASH THE ENTIRE ZIP FILE FOR UPDATE IT.
You will see a slide menu on top right side of TWRP and from here you can install new roms on INTERNAL MEMORY. In advanced option select "no-kexec workhound" (important).For gapps go to ROM list, select the interested rom, then flash zip, >gapps.zip. NOT ALL ROMS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH MULTIROM.
Every OTA (i think) except (for sure) stock roms will update without problems.
Reboot your phone and it will boot on multiboot menu, here you select rom you want boot.
YOU ARE DONE.
I tested it on my phone and it works really fine, OOS can be installed as secondary rom BUT FLASH SUPERSU BEFORE REBOOT.
Installing secondary ROMS are slower than primary, cause it will create virtual disks.
If you have problems with pattern after reboot, back into twrp, advance, filemanager, /data/system and delete locksettings.db, locksettings.db-shm, locksettings.db-wal and reboot. Pattern will be deleted.
Installing Kernels wich are not compatible with MULTIROM will softbrick the phone, and you have to wipe.
Installing Kernels on virtual ROMS will softbrick the ROM.
I think my guide is done.
If you have problems
FOR ANY PROBLEMS AND DOUBTS WRITE HERE OR PM ME.
Wow, there's a lot of misinformation in this post.
No "virtual disks" are created. Mount points are changed to point to the secondary ROM.
You don't have to use a multi ROM capable kernel, you should read up on the no kexec workaround before you write up a post like this
Also, you can flash kernels to secondary ROMs. I'm not sure what gives you the impression that you can.
You don't have to flash the multi ROM zip Everytime you write to the system partition. Mutirom is on the "SD card" on the data partition
Aside from the incorrect parts, the rest of the tutorial is poorly written and very difficult to follow
Why don't you leave the tutorials to the people who actually know how things work on the back end.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
slothdabski said:
Wow, there's a lot of misinformation in this post.
No "virtual disks" are created. Mount points are changed to point to the secondary ROM.
You don't have to use a multi ROM capable kernel, you should read up on the no kexec workaround before you write up a post like this
Also, you can flash kernels to secondary ROMs. I'm not sure what gives you the impression that you can.
You don't have to flash the multi ROM zip Everytime you write to the system partition. Mutirom is on the "SD card" on the data partition
Aside from the incorrect parts, the rest of the tutorial is poorly written and very difficult to follow
Why don't you leave the tutorials to the people who actually know how things work on the back end.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all thank you for reply, i totally missed to enable no-kexec workhound function...
I want to clarify that it is my first guide I do, I started in make some because I want to help people like me who have had difficulties in carrying out certain passages. I accept ANY advice and I will try to improve with time. I admit I made a mistake forgetting the previously mentioned feature. I can tell you, however, that the multi-boot every time you install a new ROM is removed. Going blind I specified / system because it is the main partition is rewritten during a flash. But I have a doubt. The Kernel for secondary ROM, should not be predisposed to function properly?
mirko8054 said:
First of all thank you for reply, i totally missed to enable no-kexec workhound function...
I want to clarify that it is my first guide I do, I started in make some because I want to help people like me who have had difficulties in carrying out certain passages. I accept ANY advice and I will try to improve with time. I admit I made a mistake forgetting the previously mentioned feature. I can tell you, however, that the multi-boot every time you install a new ROM is removed. Going blind I specified / system because it is the main partition is rewritten during a flash. But I have a doubt. The Kernel for secondary ROM, should not be predisposed to function properly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assure you, you do not have to reflash the mutirom zip Everytime. I have flashed dozens of times on my phone and have not had to flash mutirom again. The only exception is if you wipe internal storage, BC it wipes your "sdcard"
Mutirom patches the kernel when you flash to to secondary, hence almost any kernel will work
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
slothdabski said:
I assure you, you do not have to reflash the mutirom zip Everytime. I have flashed dozens of times on my phone and have not had to flash mutirom again. The only exception is if you wipe internal storage, BC it wipes your "sdcard"
Mutirom patches the kernel when you flash to to secondary, hence almost any kernel will work
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When my CM13 (Internal rom) installs OTA, after reboot multiboot menu won't appear, and i can't select secondary roms for boot them, i solve by re-flash multiboot.zip...
What you have to do in that case is go into the mutirom menu from twrp , then hit " inject boot sector"
That patches the new kernel from the OTA. You dont need to reflash the entire mutirom zip
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
slothdabski said:
What you have to do in that case is go into the mutirom menu from twrp , then hit " inject boot sector"
That patches the new kernel from the OTA. You dont need to reflash the entire mutirom zip
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thank you, i will update the guide.

[GUIDE][XT1789-06+][EU/intl.] How to safely BLunlock/TWRP/Root/BusyBox/Xposed

WARNING #1: operations indicated on this post might potentially brick your device, make it unusable, to cause explosions, eruptions of nearest volcano and a lot of similar disasters.
For sure they will void your warranty in most countries and need all of your data permanently deleted, so make a copy of anything valuable before starting and don't do any operations if you are not a trained guy and sure about what you are going to do.
These are *not* operations for rookies. I will not be responsible in any case about eventual damages. XDA is your friend: if unsure, please ask! :fingers-crossed:
WARNING #2: operations elencated on this post are indicated and first hand tested as working only on Moto Z2 Force (Nash) XT1789-06 GSM/3G/LTE dual sim 6GB RAM 64GB storage unbranded international version on sale on German market with Nougat v.7.1.1 onboard.
They will probably work on most of unlockable bootloader & SIM unlocked versions, included US -04 versions too, but you'll test them yourself.
They are not intended for (US mainly...) CDMA versions (-01 & -03 if I don't go wrong...) since of a bit different hw/fw so avoid to apply them "as is" on those devices.
WARNING #3: there will probably be better methods to obtain same results and, for sure, there would be more in future. This is only a "recap" of what I've found working and applied first hand on my unbranded XT1789-06 Nash - with, IMHO, great results... - on November 2017.
I think this could be useful for many.
WARNING #4: I'm Italian, English is not my first Language, so... be patient!
1. INTRODUCTION
On this guide you will not find anything particularly new and/or not already present on this section of XDA.
So, why this guide? For some reasons...
First of all, to date every guide posted here is for a single operation (e.g. root, TWRP, etc...) and do not take in needed consideration interactions between single operations that, often, can be present, potentially dangerous and/or lead to unexpected behaviours.
More, for a single operation here there are often different posts with different guides/solutions and this could leads to errors and or doubts about what's better for our device...
Last but not the least, to date Nash developers here are mainly from US and so working on devices for the most part provided with branded fw and/or a bit different hw/fw respect to international unbranded versions sold on Europe, Asia, South America & Australia.
From my previous experience with my "old" Griffin (Moto Z) Motorola's fws are often interchangeable between devices with no (or only minimal...) issues at all, but, anyway, having a guide with operations first hand tested on same device is surely safer...
So, in this guide I'll link all best single guides posted here and I'll comment & link them to obtain a single complete "to do list" of works...
2. WHAT WE'LL GET
Following this guide we'll get a Moto Z2 Force with unlocked bootloader, latest available firmware (at present...) on board, a working TWRP recovery, complete root access, BusyBox support (needed for A LOT of interesting sw/tasks...) and Xposed support (I don't think I need to explain Xposed features & benefits here... ).
Taking in consideration how Moto's devices come with a "quite stock/vanilla" Android version on board, they are between the best devices to be rooted & Xposed provided to obtain a great customized system.
If you want to remain stock with your device eventually go with Samsungs (or similar...), but if you want a device that is a "blank canvas" for your customizations, Motorolas and this configuration would quite be the best you could want.
You are surely thinking about lack of Magisk and "SU hiding" solutions... obviously there are reasons for this.
Magisk: I have first hand seen how Magisk is a "very intrusive" software with its installation, it goes to modify *A LOT* of things on system partitions and this could leads to eventual issues/incompatibility.
More, it has its own rooting system (that in my humble opinion isn't better than SuperSU) that I preferred not to use (beneath I think it could be disabled... ) and that could conflict with SuperSU, if not now, maybe on successive Magisk updates (as it happened on my old Griffin... ).
Last but not the least, it seems to still have issues with particular partitioning present on our device (we'll see them later) and with TWRP flashing for same reasons...
Not to mention how, to date, it has really so few functions/modules we can't have using Xposed....
SUhide: there is a detailed guide on how to install succesfully SuperSU with its SUhide function on our device. On the same guide it's reported how that method is uncompatible with Xposed and leads to unsolvable bootloops if we setup both of them.
It is still not clear (to me...) if this is related to SUhide itself or to the different SU installation needed for SUhide to work but, anyway, I preferred Xposed obviously.
Not to mention that for Xposed have been developed some modules to succesfully hidden root (even if I don't know if they already works with Nougat... )
3. LET'S TAKE A LOOK TO OUR DEVICE
Knowledge is power. So, taking a look to our device particular features will help us to avoid errors and eventual issues...
Motorola developed our device with a new configuration/partitioning scheme seen before only on Google Pixels / Pixels XL, making our device probably the first "not Google" one to adopt it.
It is mainly marked by two news:
- there is no more a recovery partition :crying:
- there are two copies of boot and system partitions, called boot_a, boot_b, system_a & system_b and device is capable eventually to boot from every of them :cyclops:
Let's look them in details..
Recovery is obviously still present victory BUT it has no more its own partition, it is instead included in boot partition (where before there was only kernel and little more...) creating a potentially unwanted (by us tweakers, probably wanted by Google for the opposite reason! ) link between boot and recovery where safe rules would want them as unlinked as possible!
This leads to the need to flash a boot.img containing both kernel and recovery when we want to update only one of them (e.g. installing TWRP...) and this will have to be taken in account every time we would go to update kernel, TWRP but even when rooting (in fact, at first, developers were not able to gain root together with TWRP... issue then solved succesfully :highfive.
On Pixels their developers have found some methods to overcome this problem, but on our device, to date, we still don't have a complete solution to this issue. Anyway we are going in the right direction and it will be only matter of time in my opinion (especially since I'm "stressing" our developers to realize a similar solution...! ).
Double partitions for boot & system, often referred as "A/B partitioning" is a system introduced by Google to distribute OTAs in safer & seamless way, without interrupting user work during updates... (bah... ).
They are so totally unuseful as originally designed for US, since of going with TWRP/root, OTAs are no more a solution to upgrade and this partitioning scheme introduced some complications which have led to issues as with Magisk (as already seen...).
BUT as soon as we'll learn how to well manage them, new horizons will open (like updating fw on a partition still having the older one on the other for safety reasons and/or having two different fw versions and be able to choose what to boot from.. ). It's only matter of time...
Anyway in this guide we'll face them ever with safe in mind at the moment...
4. READY? LET'S GO WITH UNLOCKING BOOTLOADER!
If your device has unlockable bootloader (and if it is an international unbranded XT1789-06 it should have...!), you can easily unlock it with this good guide:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/z2-force/how-to/how-to-unlock-bootloader-t-mobile-t3654657
There is no more to say about this guide since it is well done, only some notes:
- guide title speaks of T-Mobile but obviously is suitable for international/unbranded too...
- please note that unlocking bootloader will wipe from your device all data & media storage (and they will be wiped again in successive steps, so *be sure* not having nothing valuable - e.g. your girl pics.. - before starting with procedures);
- install Motorola's latest drivers & fastboot provided on their site as hinted on guide. Don't skip this step to avoid potential issues in successive steps...
- if I don't wrong remember, step 8 of guide has to be repeated two times to confirm unlocking. Anyway look at your console messages and follow directions...
Reboot to system and make a fast configuration (we'll wipe them in minutes... ) to check all is ok and re-enabling usb debugging is preferred.
5. DOWNLOAD & UPDATE YOUR FW
I don't know with what firmware your device will come, BUT if it has anything *before* Nougat v.7.1.1 rel. NXPS26-122-68-1 we well go to update to this for following reasons:
- we need a (good) complete stock fw image to be flashed in case of problems;
- it is updated to September 2017 security patch;
- we have a TWRP with *this exact kernel* (they are linked in same image, remember?) for those (like me... ) which like a "so close to stock as possible" system...
This firmware can be downloaded from the following link: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmwar...ubsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip (about 2,35 GB..)
PLEASE NOTE: If you have newer firmware don't use this BUT try to download a matching version with your actual one.
Zipped file has to be fully unzipped into the folder containing fastboot executable (downloaded from Motorola!) on your PC.
If you get any error unzipping, *DON'T FLASH* anything and download again (eventually from another browser/PC).
Fastboot sequence I used is the following:
Code:
fastboot devices
pause
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
pause
fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
pause
fastboot erase modemst1
pause
fastboot erase modemst2
pause
fastboot flash bluetooth BTFM.bin
pause
fastboot flash dsp adspso.bin
pause
fastboot flash logo logo.bin
pause
fastboot flash boot boot.img
pause
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0
pause
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1
pause
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.2
pause
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.3
pause
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.4
pause
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.5
pause
fastboot flash system_b system_b.img_sparsechunk.0
pause
fastboot flash system_b system_b.img_sparsechunk.1
pause
fastboot flash system_b system_b.img_sparsechunk.2
pause
fastboot flash system_b system_b.img_sparsechunk.3
pause
fastboot flash oem oem.img
pause
fastboot erase carrier
pause
fastboot erase cache
pause
fastboot erase userdata
pause
fastboot erase ddr
pause
fastboot reboot
That is ready to be put into a batch file to avoid errors and having the possibility to check results of every single flashing since of pause commands presence (press a key to continue to next file). Batch file has to be placed and started from same folder of fastboot & unzipped files to avoid errors.
Please note:
- I've added a fastboot devices command as first to check if your device is properly connected;
- I've used stock sequence of flashing BUT removed gpt (partitions) and bootloader for safety reasons (no need to flash them usually... and let Motorola upgrading your bootloader rarely is a good choice... )
If all flashes will go fine your device /data would be wiped (yes, again!) and phone will reboot after last command.
If something go wrong stop the sequence by CTRL+C and do not reboot your phone until you have understood/cleared/fixed what has gone wrong.
If fine, again... reboot to system and make a fast configuration (we'll wipe them in minutes... ) to check all is ok and re-enabling usb debugging is preferred.
6. INSTALL TWRP
This is a quite simple step, but you have to take a decision before you start...
I'll provide two different boot+TWRP image files as attachment to chose from (both of them realized by @joemossjr )
First one is composed by stock NPXS26 kernel and TWRP v.2 (it's a 3.1.1-0 in TWRP versions), while the second is composed by a kernel recompiled (with little modifications) from sources by joemossjr and TWRP v.3 (still a 3.1.1-0 in TWRP versions) with some little improvements (you can go to his thread for details on TWRP https://forum.xda-developers.com/z2-force/development/twrp-3-1-1-0-moto-z2-force-nash-t3687421 and to this one for details on Pantheon kernel https://forum.xda-developers.com/z2-force/development/kernel-pantheon-kernel-t3702208 ).
If you are on NXPS software version (flashed before) and want to remain "full stock" go with TWRPNPXS.zip, otherwise (you preferring newest firmware or want all newest features) go with TWRPREV3.zip.
Both files *have to be* decompressed, *can't be directly flashed* and your choice of them has to be flashed in fastboot mode with the command:
Code:
fastboot flash boot TWRPxxxx.img
where xxxx is matching your choice.
If all have gone fine, you can now reboot to recovery and make some backups if you prefer (please note you will need to place them to an sd card or to a plugged USB key, since internal memory will be fully deleted again soon...
PLEASE NOTE: during this phase still *don't enable* TWRP to Mount system as R/W ("Swipe to allow modifications for /system" message...) since it could lead to a not booting system if DM verity check is still enabled (it shouldn't since what @ChainfireXDA reported on Twitter, but it is better to be safe...).
A reboot to system to check all is still ok is preferred. If TWRP asks to install his app files on exit, *be sure* to decline/skip (ever! There is an option in TWRP to disable this request too!).
PLEASE NOTE: this way we are flashing ONLY ONE of the boot partitions with TWRP (usually boot_a) while the other (boot_b) is unaffected. This is a wanted behaviour to stay on "safe side".
PLEASE NOTE: On the linked thread @joemossjr put a flashable zip file to update it from inside TWRP itself which flash both boot_a & boot_b. So if you'll want to update to newer versions (and remain on safe side...) unzip that file too (instead to flash it in TWRP), extract boot.img contained inside and flash it with the same command indicated before.
Please note all newer versions will use Pantheon Kernel.
WARNING: If you will in future reflash kernel/TWRP to update them, you would lose both root & disabled forced encryption!!!
So, after every boot.img flashing *you will need*, before booting system, to boot TWRP and flash again SuperSU before reboot to system.
If you fail to do this you'll face bootloops and/or your /data partition will be corrupted. So a /data backup (on external storage!) before a kernel/TWRP update would be mandatory.
7. ROOT & DECRYPT DEVICE
In this step we will go to finally root the device and decrypt its /data partition. This operation *will delete all data again* on you device (downloaded files & pics too!).
Decryption of /data is needed for many reasons:
- to date TWRP is unable to work with compressed /data (and, anyway, it's ever dangerous to work with encrypted data backups/restore... )
- some advanced software you'll go to use could have issues with encrypted data
- a decrypted device is slightly faster
- you definitely will want it unencrypted... listen to me!
Since our phone will come "force encrypted" (it can't be disabled on stock fw!), we need SuperSU help on this and so we'll need to follow *at perfection* the following provided sequence!
Not all SuperSU are equals (more... they are all different! :silly so, tested working fine version to be used is this: http://download.chainfire.eu/1220/SuperSU/SR5-SuperSU-v2.82-SR5-20171001224502.zip?retrieve_file=1
If newer will be out, don't mind, you could ever upgrade it from inside a working system...
Steps are:
- boot to fastboot mode (from off, VOL DOWN + POWER)
- from fastboot mode select RECOVERY mode
- go to wipe menu and select /data FORMAT (not wipe or factory reset, FORMAT!)
- if you have placed downloaded SuperSU zip file on SDcard or USB key browse to it in TWRP Install menu (otherwise connect your phone to PC and trasfer it to internal memory and then browse for it), then Flash it.
- *do not* and I repeat it, *do NOT* clear cache/dalvik cache
- reboot to system
First boot could take a while and probably it reboots one (or two...) times, but at the end it will boot... :fingers-crossed:
You'll have to reconfigure again your system BUT this time, if all has gone fine, it's the good one, so you can do a better configuration if you want.
You will need a working Play Store for next steps, so add a data SIM and/or a wireless network and setup a Google account to enable it.
To check if all has gone fine you should have:
- a SuperSu icon into apps drawer
- on Settings - Security there should be an option to encrypt your system (DON'T chose it! :silly instead of the previous "encrypted" status..
It could be a good moment to download an useful Root check app. A good one is Root Check by JRummy Apps which is able to check Busybox & Xposed presence too (and more...).
8. BUSYBOX & XPOSED
If you have reached this point and all is fine, now it's very simple to complete.
Both Busybox & Xposed can in fact be installed from inside a working rooted system, so...
- download from Play Store BusyBox (free version) by Stephen (Stericson), open it, grant root permissions and press Install button without wait all the (unuseful) checks
- reboot
- enable in Settings - Security the "unknown sources"
- download from here https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4319220&d=1509453299 latest Xposed installer/manager apk
- install it, open it and grant root
- select Xposed v.88.2 (or newer if available) for arm64 (if many options are showed be sure to select this, arm64!!!) and select Install (*NOT* via recovery... simply normal Install)
- when prompted for a reboot, accept it.
Please note first reboot could take a while and, again, it could self reboot one (or two times...). When at last it will reboot... gotcha!!! It's cigar time!!! :victory:
Well... it has been a LONG WORK to write this as simple & complete as possible. I hope to not have inserted any error and to have been enough clear on provided instructions.
If you'll find any errors please report to me for corrections.
Newer & better methods are welcome too.
If you liked this, PLEASE USE THANKS BUTTON!
EneTec
MANY THANKS TO:
@seniorstew
@joemossjr
@jhofseth
@Uzephi
for their useful linked guides and/or great development! :good:
Reserved #1.
Reserved #2.
Awesome guide! One of the most intricate guides that goes over every last detail that I've read on XDA in a long time. Thank you. ?
...
Great guide, thanks for the notes re: Xposed...I kept trying to install from TWRP (habit)
3's&7's said:
Great guide, thanks for the notes re: Xposed...I kept trying to install from TWRP (habit)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Our device still needs some cautions & tips...
Issue with Modem/Radio
After following your guide to the letter, my phone would not connect to a mobile network and would say "Error while searching for networks" when I tried to force it to find one. I ended up following this guide to try and get back to a working setup:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/z2...m-stock-november-hybrid-rom-t-mobile-t3712795
Unfortunately, nothing is working. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-Josh-
I figured it out. Had to use the Flash ALL Package from that other post. The modem firmware is very specific.
might be this is the reason i loose 4G+ (4G instead) signal after flashing lmfao
just Wow!! What a great post!!
Damn! Why did follow this guide!? I knew I didn't need to flash anything but boot/boot_a and stay on stock FW with only TWRP from Pantheon kernel!
Now I have a Moto Z2 Force (Dual SIM, UK, retail) without wifi, mac 02:00:00:00:00:00:00:00 and it cannot switch it on!
Any one have full stock image, at least of the boot partition from Dual SIM, UK?
PS: No need to link to Factory Image Moto Z2 Force (NASH) RETAIL. both of them aren't fixing anything for me.
hashnon said:
Damn! Why did follow this guide!? I knew I didn't need to flash anything but boot/boot_a and stay on stock FW with only TWRP from Pantheon kernel!
Now I have a Moto Z2 Force (Dual SIM, UK, retail) without wifi, mac 02:00:00:00:00:00:00:00 and it cannot switch it on!
Any one have full stock image, at least of the boot partition from Dual SIM, UK?
PS: No need to link to Factory Image Moto Z2 Force (NASH) RETAIL. both of them aren't fixing anything for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bitdefender blocked it for me for the longest time, then after reinstalling minimal ADB and Fastboot, Motorola Manager, and allowing access to Windows File Explore through Bitdefender, it worked for me; check your antivirus, hope that helps.
Blocked what? And anyway, I don't have any antivirus. There is brain and Linux for that!
hashnon said:
Blocked what? And anyway, I don't have any antivirus. There is brain and Linux for that!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh my bad, lol
Ok, fixed it my self, this: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ne...0000000000-t3257465/post65960082#post65960082 gave me general idea what to do and what to check.
hashnon said:
Ok, fixed it my self, this: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ne...0000000000-t3257465/post65960082#post65960082 gave my general idea what to do and what to check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to hear that, I got so mad when I went in and tried rooting my Z2F without reading this guide first on the very first day that I got it. ??
Deester4x4jr said:
I figured it out. Had to use the Flash ALL Package from that other post. The modem firmware is very specific.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is intended/tested only on EU/intl. XT1789-06... on what version did you applied all this?
ilovemeow said:
might be this is the reason i loose 4G+ (4G instead) signal after flashing lmfao
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is intended/tested only on EU/intl. XT1789-06... on what version did you applied all this?
hashnon said:
Ok, fixed it my self, this: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ne...0000000000-t3257465/post65960082#post65960082 gave me general idea what to do and what to check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is intended/tested only on EU/intl. XT1789-06... on what version did you applied all this?
How do you fix your wifi issue exactly?

Alcatel 5033d -> Customize original firmware

Hello all,
First of all, I'm not very familiar with recovery/rooting on phones. Although my daytime job is customizing embedded linux, so I have some knowledge
I got my hand on a few Alcatel 5033d devices, on which I want to run a software I created. However, this software needs access the notifications. And Android GO doesn't allow that. So I need to change the low-ram flag in build.prop. If possible I also want to remove the google apps from it and make my app a system app. But for the rest I'm happy, so don't need linageos or anything.
Is there a way to make a custom system.img, based on the original one, with only build.prop changed and load this complete firmware via the original recovery mode? I already saw you could load things via sdcard (adb doesn't work in stock recovery -> authentication required).
I already tried mtk-su (worked on a tablet before), but I guess that flaw is already patched
Something to try
This is from my head so if this doesnt work im sorry
1. install a custom rom.
2. install magisk onto the custom rom.
3. make a copy of the boot image
4. use "Mobile upgrade S" from alcatel to restore your phone
5. flash the backed up boot image from before.
6. if your lucky you may have root on the original system partition.
P.S i would use https://forum.xda-developers.com/alcatel-1/development/alcatel-1-root-achieved-t3970713 rom because it doesnt touch the boot partition.

ROG 2 phone soft bricked

Hello,
today I did have a strange experience with my ROG 2 and my best guess is that there is some UFS problem, but a second opinion or ideas are welcome.
During a bike ride when I was wifi scanning (apps: "Tower collector", "Radio Beacon"), navigating and listening to an audio book, the phone just went dark. I thought from previous experience on a Note 3 that it might have overheated. Pretty much stress proofed from the previous phone.
Yes - it was warm in its bike pocket but really not overly hot.
The phone is an ebay buy 2 months old and has been ever since with omnirom, stable so far. I only noticed that the RGB LED here has no blue light, but I plainly did not care.
I tried to boot it after some 10 minutes again and the phone would not go past its omnirom boot screen until it reboots after some time, boot loops.
30 Minutes later at home I wondered then what is going on, and I copied off the TWRP backup from the phone I took two days ago, just in case.
I then tried to restore the same backup, but the phone switched off during restore after ~30%. This was reproducible, so I thought this may be something with the backup, maybe I cannot restore a partition. When I restore I had all partitions marked and I tested them one by one. The restore of single partitions worked, one by one, except vendor as it was marked read only and data as it failed unpacking (my recent backup then is dead?).
I then tried formatting the partitions, so "data", originally f2fs. I lack experience with journal recovery on f2fs so went to ext4. System was ext4 and was just wiped. I lost of course other data on the internal storage so tried to restore again with my copied backup. It restores, but it cannot boot and just bootloops. I now formatted all partitions, including vendor.
Finally, I tried downloading omnirom again and installed it. It won't boot, it doesn't even get to the boot animation, but just boot loops.
I reformatted data back to f2fs. But no change here.
Trying more: lineageos won't flash for unknown reasons, it immediately dies as "Error installing zip file". Checksum of the downloaded zip is correct.
I downloaded a stock rom and installed it. This is now the best result so far - It does want to boot.
Here I get a boot animation and this incredibly lame "tching" sound (it is a phone, not a sword...). But it also stops there and never continues. Yes, first boot takes longer, but not 10 minutes.
Any ideas what else to try with this phone?
So far, I can boot twrp via sideload and interact with it fine. But that will be it; ran out of ideas.
Happy for suggestions.
Gaya
Use raw firmware to restore everything.
Install latest firmware zip on both slots.
After installing custom roms go to wipe -> format data by typing yes. Otherwise rom wont boot
thanks for getting back, If by raw firmware you meant the ASUS stock, I did. Not sure why data wipe after installation or double install to a/b partition would make a difference, but in the end I am new to this a/b concept, looks though like standard dual boot to me. Tried it, but no difference.
- installed asus firmware to inactive B
- switched to B partition
- installed asus firmware to inactive A
- wiped data
- started, so far same behaviour after 15 minutes of waiting (boot animation with sound, then it repeats boot animation until ...).
There are Two kind of rom raw firmware (used to restore bricked device) and recovery rom (zip file we use for update)
Raw firmware will flash ROM to both the slots, while recovery rom only flash to one slot. So you need to Only select reboot to recovery after flashing ROM to switch to the updated slot.
No, stock rom is not exactly raw firmware. RAW firmware uses EDL mode (in bootloader) to flash the stock rom. Download A10 raw from here version .90.
when extracting it you will see some files.
Steps To flash Raw:
* enable usb debugging in phone.
*connect the phone via side port to pc
open command prompt and run this command
adb devices
adb reboot bootloader
Now go to the folder where you extracted the raw firmware & run "flashall_AFT.cmd" as admin
wait [there will be no output]. After 15 -20 mins your device should boot. If you have any old version stock rom data the phone will carry the data to new version. If you have any custom rom/ updated version of stock rom data, it will ask to factory reset, so do that.
wiping is not exactly formatting so do it the right way
Why format: the one where you format by typing "yes" .If you switch between Roms ( stock to custom or vice versa) and go back to older versions (v .100 to .60) the old/previous rom data cant be used with new one so you must format data.
when formatting is not necessary : If you want to upgrade both stock images (version .90 to .100) & custom rom (v 1 to 1.2) i.e., flashing stock rom and then custom rom over it, you dont need to format data because you can reuse the data from custom rom to updated custom rom.
A/B device use two partition instead of one. so the upgrade can happen in the background. On restart you will switched to updated slot. So room for error is less.
The wiping here should be the same as formatting, as it is running the mke2fs (as per TWRP settings). But raw rom I do not have (I believe).
The link you have there seems broken, could you repost it again?
I did download the stock ROM earlier from ASUS directly, to not violate policies, HTTP links etc, here is only the path on asus . com
pub/ASUS/ZenFone/ZS660KL/UL-ASUS_I001_1-ASUS-17.0240.2103.75-1.1.229-user.zip
That is the one I installed via recovery. Am not sure what is in your mentioned flashall_AFT.cmd though, but suspect some adb sideload at least.
I eventually succeeded, but of course would liek to know
1) why
2) what happened?
I did follow a video about flashing the stock rom, basically as you explained (factory reset and data wipe), twice to a and b partition. That made the device bootable. Why is this needed?
I tested wiping system again (I am used to doing clean flashes) and installed omnirom again, and it failed booting.
I installed again the a/b with stocks, factory reset and data wipe and installed omnirom as dirty flash. All is well.
Now I was able to restore my backup finally without the device switching off and it did not complain about the data backup. So finally I am with my phone again rom and copy data to my fresh partition.
as to 1) why?
I understand a/b partition as sort of windows/linux dual boot with a more separate bootloader maybe. So I do not see the point in flashing the stock rom twice or in rendering the device unbootable when wiping system.
and as 2) what happened.
I may only guess: I did an omnirom upgrade 2 days earlier that worked fine and was the reason for my nandroid.
During my ride, the phone had some whateverissue and rebooted. I am unsure whether i tested booting but assume that after the upgrade it flashed to the other partition and it was not bootable. It does not make sense as this would make a/B partitions rather hard for custom rom makers, e.g. people complaining all the time.
Other guess: there was a file system issue with f2fs. Problem with data partition seems to cause bigger issues.
When I flash to ext4 after testing the bootable rom with a wiped data, it would not boot anymore. After factory reset again, it mke2fs the data partition again, back to f2fs and the device booted again happily.
Thanks for the help. Happy to know/learn more about this issue, as I would love to prevent or handle them quicker with more of I know what I'm doing.
Android Dual Partition (A/B) is made for seamless updates i.e, Dual system/vendor partition but uses same data partition. Lets say you are currently in slot A when you apply system update the slot B gets updated. As always rebooting the device switches to the B partition after update. & further update flashes the system to the A partition.
Basically there is no need to flash stock rom twice, unless you are coming from stock [one partition might be in higher firmware version than other] or there is new stock version with some minor/major upgrades to firmware files.
Our custom ROMs are not stand alone, Mostly it only replaces the system files and keep the vendor same as stock. (also this keeps the ROM update file size to be minimum)
you might even have different version of Android in A/B partition.
Here is a scenario on How A/B works:
Say you are currently using your device in B-slot and A9 so partition on slot-A will be A9 partition slot-B be A9. After that you are doing system update to A10 from System update (not via TWRP)
now you will have A10 on slot-A and A9 on slot-B.
then you want to go to custom rom, so you flashed say omni on A-slot and rebooted & it will surely work.
After that you are using inbuild system update from custom rom any applied it. now the system update will overwrite the A9's system files but (the device specifically needs A10s vendor to work properly). Now comes the fun part i.e., soft brick, boot looping, and corrupt images
That's why you have to flash latest stock to both A and B slots, and overwrite them all with system files from custom rom (also should be flashed once in slots A and B) to get neat experience from custom ROMs.
If you understand what was written above, then you will know the reason behind soft brick.
stock rom flashed only once (firmware image variation may affect stability)
custom rom only flashed in one slot (switching slot will boot loop device)
Not using Reboot to recovery to flash (you will be flashing to the same slot over and over & thus rebooting will boot loop)
Not formatting data ( Just Maybe, your custom ROM and stock uses different file system for data partition)
For Raw files search "ASUS rog 2 RAW firmware images" those files will be around 3 GB in size.

Question Backup partitions from different GSI ROMs

Would it be possible to backup different images from different GSI ROMs to be able to test and restore each one without losing all the apps, configuration, etc. in the process.
For example:
1. Install "GSI name1" configure it, install apps, my Google account, etc.
2. Somehow, make a backup of the required partitions "backup name1" (At the computer?)
3. Install "GSI name2" configure it, install apps, my Google account, etc. (Not necessarily the same apps than before).
4. Somehow make a backup of the required partitions "backup name2".
5. Continue testing other GSI or restoring one of the previous ones from the backups and be able to use the phone as it was before, including apps, configuration, etc.
I can imagine two ways to face this task:
A. Using a custom recovery to backup partitions to SD card.
B. Using fastboot or mtk_client to backup partitions to the PC.
Would be easy? Possible? Not recommendable for some reason?
I am new on this flashing-bricking-sweating-unbricking thing, so I would appreciate feedback.
Thank you!
Hi
If your goal is to test the GSIs, it's easier to use the DSU-sideloader instead of the backup.
This app enables you to dual boot.
You will be able to move back and forth between images. Even if you get into a boot loop, you can return to the original image just by rebooting. 
If you have root, this app will be easier because there will be less operations.
https://github.com/VegaBobo/DSU-Sideloader
I have been taking a look to the DSU concept. It is interesting, but not what I want. Also, it requires the main ROM to be stock ROM (maybe in future is fine to use with custom ROMs).
DSU would be perfect if you want to keep romA and romB working in parallel in your daily life (for example, one for work and business and the other one for gaming and social apps).
What I want to do is to test romA for a while, move to romB for a while, if I prefer romA, reinstall it and forget about romB (literally, delete it). Maybe in few months, backup romA again and check romC for a while...
As I do not want to be swapping from one to another in daily life, it does not make sense to reserve space for having both simultaneously ready to work on the phone.
By now I have been learning about adb and recovery backup options. I need to check more during the next days, but I noticed that from Recovery, I can also use adb (it says not authorized device, but that is for not being rooted yet, I suppose). If it is possible to use adb from recovery after rooting, it would be easy to have a PC software for backing up ROMs easily (system, data and userdata partitions?).
I will keep researching about it...
The DSU does not have to be a stock rom.
It's just desirable.
Currently I have crdroid GSI as the first OS and the second OS is trying several OSs.
If you try it, you'll notice how easy it is.
Currently, TWRP does not support backup or encryption on Android 12. It is the same even if it is the official latest of other models.
I have a 128GB model, so it took too long to back up using mtkclient and I quit halfway through.
The problem is time and encryption, keep them in mind.
Currently, TWRP does not support backup or encryption on Android 12. It is the same even if it is the official latest of other models
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, definitely untrue now as most devices have got it sorted out with decryption, Android 12 being a pain some devices got 13 done before 12, but as of the time you wrote this post my device Motorola stylus 22 5g Qualcomm, we hadn't figured out the decryption yet but you could definitely just patch your fstab in vendor either by hand or with DFE neo, to disable the encryption and TWRP would run fine. You would just have to make that first format reboot back to recovery immediately and while it still stays the data from a fresh format flash the other handy RO2RW re zip and DFE neo. Honestly the boot times are so much better without decryption I don't think I would go back as long as I've got a password on orange fox or whatever.

Categories

Resources