Manually updating new device to 9.0 [UPDATED] - Moto Z3 Play Questions & Answers

I just bought a new, unlocked z3p direct from Motorola. Unfortunately, the OTA system update in settings is telling me I'm up-to-date at Jan 1 '19, OPWS28.70-31-8. I've read some pretty awful stuff about using LMSA to flash updates, so I'm curious if there's an official repository of stock roms/updates/etc. and if I can just use ADB to update this thing myself. All I want is latest stock rom+security updates with root. The less involved the process, the better.
Additionally, if I go this route, do I need to manually install each intermediary update, or can I just grab the latest and put it on? A thorough reliable guide is enough; I'm just having trouble finding one that connects all the dots for a simple 'new phone' situation.
I'm fairly well versed at using ADB/flashing/etc. (nexus 4, 5x, g4 play, etc) but it's been two years since I've messed with it. Additionally I have very little idea how to navigate the unusual A/B partitioning.
Thanks!

UPDATE: My Z3P is now up to date with the September 1st security patch and Android 9. I bit the bullet and used LMSA (there's a trick to it) and am posting here so it can help anyone who was in my situation. First I'll list steps that should work for you, and then detail how I did it (which was a little different).
How To:
1. Get LMSA: https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/general/update-moto-lenovo-moto-smart-assistant-t3951714
2. On your device, enable developer options and USB debugging. Ensure you have no screen-lock enabled.
3. Plug your phone in with LMSA open. LMSA app will install on the phone, give it every permission it requests.
4. Select your device model and LMSA will detect the latest build available. Download it.
4a. It might seem like the download is hanging once it reaches 0%. It won't tell you, but the file is being unzipped. Just leave it alone for a while. If the unzip fails, delete some stuff on the volume it's unzipping to.
5. Follow the steps on LMSA to update the phone. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR DEVICE. Just leave it be. It will look like nothing is happening, and/or LMSA will notify you of delays. Ignore them and let it go.
5a. Your device will be on a fastboot screen that prompts you to push the unlock button to "start". DO NOT TOUCH YOUR DEVICE.
What I did:
I got up to step 5, and kept seeing the 'delays'. I thought that it was a signal that LMSA needed me to press 'start' on the device end to help it begin the installation process. Incorrect. As soon as I did so, the LMSA process failed and my phone failed to boot with a message about a corrupt device.
At this point, I switched to the 'recover' tab in LMSA and let it recover with the same image I had downloaded for the update. However, this time, I just left it the hell alone at step 5. It took forever, so I walked away from it, and when I came back, my phone was booted into Pie.
When the fastboot screen is up, LMSA is working in the background to install the image. I'm quite certain that if I hadn't pressed 'start' on my device, my phone wouldn't have corrupted, and the image would have updated correctly. My suspicion is that many of the people having trouble with the LMSA are pressing 'start', which corrupts their devices because it boots while there's an incomplete image flashed to the phone.

Related

Hard bricked Moto G2 (XT 1068): Ideas for a solution welcome

Hi everyone,
I own a Motorola Moto G2 (XT1068, dual sim) that came used with Android 6.0 on it.
I installed TWRP (twrp-3.0.2-3-titan.img) on it but failed to root Android 6.0 as well as 5.0 for whatever not yet understood reason. I don't do Android development for a living but I'm an IT professional, so handling adb and fastboot as well as reading and understanding instructions isn't a problem.
I flashed stock Android 4.4.4 (RETDEALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-14) which I successfully rooted by installing SuperSU via TWRP.
Next I updated SuperSU, verified that root access is indeed working and installed FlashFire, which I hoped to use to install OS upgrades, possibly without losing root. FlashFire is new to me (as of yesterday), everything else mentioned up to here is not.
I used the "Flash ZIP or OTA" action from within FlashFire and the previously downloaded update file in the /cache directory. I can't reproduce the file name since the phone is currently unusable and I didn't write the file name down prior to using FlashFire.
The state of the phone after this unsuccessful attempt was that of a broken USB device, i.e. unable to even register as whatever type of USB device. I learned that this can be fixed by holding the power button down for more than one minute, after which I managed to
get the phone to be shown as working "RELINK HS-USB QDLoader 9008" USB serial device in Windows 7 device manager.
I used the information in these two threads:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g/help/how-to-unbrick-moto-g-falcon-t3394788
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g/help/how-to-revive-hard-bricked-moto-g-t2833798
Since I started with Android 4.4.4 trying to upgrade to 5.0, I had hoped that the blank flash package for one of these Android versions would help fix my problem, but as of now, this doesn't seem to be the case. At the end of the blank flashing process, I get the message
FAILED <blank-flash:sdl-transfer-image:sdl-hello: error sending packet>
After that, the phone still has a black screen and cannot boot into anything. Repeating blank flash works after resetting whatever part of it is still working by holding the power button down for about 30+ seconds.
Is there anything obvious (or maybe even not so obvious) that I missed?
Thanks for reading and any help and/or pointers in the right direction.
hey , contact me on pm
salkollizz said:
hey , contact me on pm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you solved the problem of hard brick of Moto G 2014?

Help us help the community!

It would be helpful to a lot of people with bricked phones if we could obtain the full firmware package for the marshmallow update. It isn't released yet, but it should be a little after Verizon decides to start rolling it out again. If you'd like to help us out with this, please do the following:
To do this, you need a windows PC and a Droid Turbo running any official firmware. That's it! Your bootloader status is irrelevant, and your phone will not be affected by this process if you do it properly.
1. Plug your phone into your computer.
2. If you're on marshmallow, tap the notification that pops up and change your USB mode to Software Installation. If you're on any other official firmware, skip this step.
3. You should see the installer for the Verizon Software Upgrade Assistant pop up on your computer. Install it and start it.
4. Boot your phone into fastboot mode (turn it off, turn it on while holding volume down) and plug it into your computer.
5. If you are on lollipop right now, in the future, it will give you the option to upgrade to marshmallow. If it says you are up to date, the package isn't out yet.
6. If you are on marshmallow, it will also tell you that you are up to date. Look for an option to restore your phone. If you don't see one, the package isn't out yet.
7. If you ARE able to upgrade to/restore marshmallow, the package is yours for the taking! Tell it to upgrade or restore as is applicable to you.
8. It will start downloading the firmware package. When it gets to 100% and tells you it's going to start installing it on your phone, unplug your phone from the computer.
9. Navigate to C:\Users\[your user name]\AppData\Local\MSU and find the zip file that is about 1 GB and some change. That's what we need!
10. Upload it, post it and be a hero. Or if you prefer, send it to me and I will reupload it and make it available.
Thanks in advance. I would do this, but I don't want to keep official software on my phone. I'm having too much fun with the 7.1 releases.

G900A Galaxy S5 Android 6.0 Odin Update Files - Without Wiping!

Using Odin files to update a Samsung AT&T model will almost always result in a factory reset being performed, and I've also seen the same thing happen when trying to update via OTA zip in Recovery. I'm providing this package for anyone still using the S5, to be able to update software without needing to do a factory reset. I have personally verified that these files will perform the update without wiping any data. These files will update you to the Build/Baseband ending in QD1, Android 6.0.
My zips are compressed extra small for space and bandwidth savings. The default Windows extractor can't handle it, so you'll need a 3rd party tool like 7zip, WinRAR, etc.
Happy flashing!
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=1899786940962576350
Worked great..Thanks! But....
You are theman for this! I have a 900A AT&T and have struggled for days to get it unlocked, upgraded and working without tripping the secure software alert. I started with a 4.X maintenance OS, then rooted, SafeStrapped then pushed this update via ODIN and it worked. Now, the only issue i am having is apps crashing continuously. Started with google play and play services now spreading. I ASSUME this is due to apps not getting updated in the update to 6.X. Correct me if I am wrong. I have updated those via APKs along with others to new versions yet it still happens. Now its also Chrome, File manager etc. Is this maybe a code bug, or am I missing something here? Thanks again
3rdRockfromSun said:
You are theman for this! I have a 900A AT&T and have struggled for days to get it unlocked, upgraded and working without tripping the secure software alert. I started with a 4.X maintenance OS, then rooted, SafeStrapped then pushed this update via ODIN and it worked. Now, the only issue i am having is apps crashing continuously. Started with google play and play services now spreading. I ASSUME this is due to apps not getting updated in the update to 6.X. Correct me if I am wrong. I have updated those via APKs along with others to new versions yet it still happens. Now its also Chrome, File manager etc. Is this maybe a code bug, or am I missing something here? Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea. Can't really diagnose app crashes - too many possibilities.
Also: hopefully you're now aware that you're not rooted any longer and (probably) can't ever root it again
iBowToAndroid said:
No idea. Can't really diagnose app crashes - too many possibilities.
Also: hopefully you're now aware that you're not rooted any longer and (probably) can't ever root it again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I saw that, but thats ok. My biggest objective is to get it unlocked from AT&T so I can use it (this whole venture has just turned into a learning/fun toy to play with now) on my carrier. That is yet TBD. Any thoughts on that?
3rdRockfromSun said:
Yeah I saw that, but thats ok. My biggest objective is to get it unlocked from AT&T so I can use it (this whole venture has just turned into a learning/fun toy to play with now) on my carrier. That is yet TBD. Any thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/
Thanks in advance for any help, short version at top, details below.
-- Short version:
Please help me recover my data, and phone if possible.
I need the data, esp texts and notes, for both personal (some family members have passed on) and business.
I have a new Galaxy S21 and / or PC Smart Switch ready to receive data backup if we can evacuate it from the S5.
ODIN flash seems to pass but has 'Resizing Data' fail, and phone still won't boot past AT&T logo screen.
All web searches seem to say Factory Reset is my last option, but I don't want to lose the data.
Please share ANY advice on how I can recover the data.
-- More details:
Phone = SM-G900A Samsung Galaxy S5 AT&T
Use = pristine, never rooted, modded, or unfortunately backed up
Status = will not boot, passes screen 1 'Galaxy S5', screen 2 'Samsung script', then stops on screen 3 'AT&T globe logo'
More details = Used clean for ~7 years, then on day x, saw phone automatically complete a system update (green screen, sprockets, "your phone is updating"), which was surprising as it's years after it is no longer supported by AT&T. After that update, I continued to use the phone that day, but it then rebooted automatically and stuck on the AT&T globe logo.
Attempts to fix = soft reset, battery pull, can't get into SAFE MODE, can get into and out of recovery mode, found this firmware (THANKS @iBowToAndroid), used multiple ODIN (Odin3 v3.13.3_3B_PatcheD, Odin3 v3.14.1_3B_PatcheD) to flash it (my first Android flashing experience). On flashing process, ODIN on PC shows 'PASS' and log shows "<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 1 / failed 0)", but phone shows 'Resizing Data' failed:
"
Supported API: 3
-- Installing package...
Finding update package...
Opening update package...
Verifying update package...
Installing update...
Successfully installed package.
-- Resizing Data...
Can't open dir '/data/user/0/com.sec.knox.bluetooth' (Permission denied)
E:failed the resizing-data
"
PFA screen shots
Martin2019 said:
Thanks in advance for any help, short version at top, details below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trying the "wipe cache partition" is the only thing I can think of
iBowToAndroid said:
Trying the "wipe cache partition" is the only thing I can think of
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short version:
THANKS for the quick reply, very much appreciate your help.
Am I really left with only a Factory Reset and then trying to use Data Recovery software to get ‘some’ data back?
I really don't want to give up on the data, so I'm still trying anything I can think of in research and repeated attempts.
More details:
I have tried the recovery mode 'Wipe cache partition' option before and after using ODIN.
I've tried doing it 'twice' per recommendation of some of the web advice I've read in trying to research this.
I've noticed that sometimes the colored highlight of the 'Reboot to bootloader' option then turns background green instead of usual blue, but I don't know why, or if that matters.
Still, the ODIN flash effort always returns the permission error, and the boot always sticks on the AT&T logo.
The string seems to indicate a 'user data' permission error?
Is there any way to debug the logic of the firmware or slog through the 'Recovery Logs' to determine and resolve the cause of the permission error?
When the problem began, I had an SD card and SIM card loaded.
I've since removed both in trying to address this, also per 'web advice'.
Any chance putting them back in helps somehow?
Any other options available via apply update from SD card or ADB?
Any way to setup the Android OS as a secondary drive to another machine to pull data out that way?
I've done similar things with Windows OS in PC environment, but I'm not seeing anyone trying that with Android.
If I am really stuck with factory reset, are there any data recovery programs I could try afterward that work with the G900A?
So far I've looked at Dr Fone, Tenorshare, EaseUS, FonePaw, and D-Back, and none seem to work with the AT&T model variant.
Maybe that's just because they don't have access to AT&T firmware available to install, but if I clear the stuck boot via FR, they then might be able to get some of my data back via drive scan - whatever data is not truly overwritten by the FR?
Martin2019 said:
Short version:
THANKS for the quick reply, very much appreciate your help.
Am I really left with only a Factory Reset and then trying to use Data Recovery software to get ‘some’ data back?
I really don't want to give up on the data, so I'm still trying anything I can think of in research and repeated attempts.
More details:
I have tried the recovery mode 'Wipe cache partition' option before and after using ODIN.
I've tried doing it 'twice' per recommendation of some of the web advice I've read in trying to research this.
I've noticed that sometimes the colored highlight of the 'Reboot to bootloader' option then turns background green instead of usual blue, but I don't know why, or if that matters.
Still, the ODIN flash effort always returns the permission error, and the boot always sticks on the AT&T logo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own and run a business that performs SIM unlocking and other software-related services for mobile devices, so we see situations like yours quite a bit. And I don't know of anything else that you can do. From reports, we've heard that none of those "recovery services" actually work to recover any data, after a reset
iBowToAndroid said:
I own and run a business that performs SIM unlocking and other software-related services for mobile devices, so we see situations like yours quite a bit. And I don't know of anything else that you can do. From reports, we've heard that none of those "recovery services" actually work to recover any data, after a reset
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disappointing to hear bad news, but appreciate your effort and insight in providing it, thanks.
I've learned alot in researching it.
I just wish I'd known it before the problem, which I'm sure you also hear quite a bit.
Please let me know if you think of anything else I can try.
Martin2019 said:
Disappointing to hear bad news, but appreciate your effort and insight in providing it, thanks.
I've learned alot in researching it.
I just wish I'd known it before the problem, which I'm sure you also hear quite a bit.
Please let me know if you think of anything else I can try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can never trust a mobile device 100%, especially not one that's 7 years old. That's why anything that's that important needs to be backed up at all times
iBowToAndroid said:
You can never trust a mobile device 100%, especially not one that's 7 years old. That's why anything that's that important needs to be backed up at all times
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree, and totally on me for not having a backup.
I was just foolish enough to not know yet how easy it is to back up.
Give me 10 minutes of life again now in this phone, I use Smart Switch to backup, and I'm off to a new phone, or even FR on this one and reload.
Now where did I put my Delorean...
iBowToAndroid said:
You can never trust a mobile device 100%, especially not one that's 7 years old. That's why anything that's that important needs to be backed up at all times
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you ever tried a 'combination key' approach to get data access?
As in...
Smart Switch on PC won't connect, but ODIN does show 'Added'.
I don't understand the granular details, but hoping you might...
Could we use both Smart Switch and ODIN in some combination sequence that would allow Smart Switch to pull the data off to a Smart Switch PC backup that I could then throw onto a new phone?
When it's in Downloading (firmware flashing) mode, a modem port is used. The modem port is also there when the device is booted up in Normal mode, but that's not useful for extracting any data off of it. I don't know what Smart Switch uses, but I would assume File Transfer (MTP) and/or ADB. And those aren't fully functional until the device fully boots up.
Do you have a screen lock on the device?
iBowToAndroid said:
When it's in Downloading (firmware flashing) mode, a modem port is used. The modem port is also there when the device is booted up in Normal mode, but that's not useful for extracting any data off of it. I don't know what Smart Switch uses, but I would assume File Transfer (MTP) and/or ADB. And those aren't fully functional until the device fully boots up.
Do you have a screen lock on the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No lock on device, just swipe to go from 'lock screen' to home screen, prior to this boot problem obv.
One of the data recovery sw that I tried (EaseUS I think) did reach a screen asking me to enable USB debugging to continue, but I don't think I can do that without booting up.
I 'think' I remember that screen saying something like 'MTP device' connected, when it asked me to do that.
Any way to sneak into MTP mode from that?
Martin2019 said:
No lock on device, just swipe to go from 'lock screen' to home screen, prior to this boot problem obv.
One of the data recovery sw that I tried (EaseUS I think) did reach a screen asking me to enable USB debugging to continue, but I don't think I can do that without booting up.
I 'think' I remember that screen saying something like 'MTP device' connected, when it asked me to do that.
Any way to sneak into MTP mode from that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any 3rd party software will require ADB to be enabled. Smart Switch is the only one that *might* work just over MTP, but I'm pretty sure MTP doesn't fully load until the device is booted. Even if it did, you would likely need to allow on the popup message. Does the phone show up as a device/drive when it's plugged in while sitting on the AT&T logo?
I think you're asking "does the phone show up as a device/drive" in something like a windows file explorer, and the answer is unfortunately no, or at least not that I've found yet - I've tried several times now, and I'm still trying any combinations I can.
For now...
I can get EaseUS to show 'MTP USB device' per the pic attached in my last, but can't really get it to connect past that point, as it asks for USB Debugging, which it appears I can't do due to stuck in boot loop.
Smart Switch seems to try to connect for awhile, then says it failed to connect, so I think I'm then left with 'Samsung Smart Switch Emergency Software Recovery' (PFA).
Do you have experience using it?
Do you know if it could work to reload the firmware / OS without wiping the data?
AT&T Advanced Technical Support guy says it gives you an option to choose whether or not using it resets the phone (wipes your data), so he thinks (hopes) that would work, but he didn't sound certain at all.
I understand your point on the pop up message user prompt for File Transfer Mode. I used that mode many times in the past, so I'm hoping it might default on the phone so we wouldn't need to answer the pop up prompt to reach that status , but I'm obv not sure about that.
Per the speculation in my last, do you know of any combination approach we might use to get the desired result, like maybe... use ADB somehow to change 1 parm value to reach MTP mode, then use that progress step to enable Smart Switch to connect so we could offload the data?
Thanks again for your help
1. MTP is the same as File Transfer. So when the phone is turning on, it starts loading that connection. You might see "MTP USB Device" or something similar in your Windows Device Manager
2. But if the phone never shows up as a device/drive (would show up under "Portable Devices" in Windows Dev Man), then it's not loading fully - and it normally doesn't do that until it boots past the carrier splash screen.
3. Even if it did boot fully and showed up as a device/drive, the MTP pop-up prompt shows up every single time you connect the device. There's no way around that. So the device would show as empty, with no files or folders, until you tapped "Allow" on the popup.
4. No, there's nothing else you can do to turn on any other connection modes
iBowToAndroid said:
1. MTP is the same as File Transfer. So when the phone is turning on, it starts loading that connection. You might see "MTP USB Device" or something similar in your Windows Device Manager
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Device Manager does show an entry for the phone connected via USB cable:
Under 'Disk Drives' as
SAMSUNG MZMTE256HMHP-000MV
Under 'Universal Serial Bus Controllers' as
SAMSUNG Mobile USB Composite Device
Please tell me that helps us somehow?

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!

[Bricked P9 Plus] - VIE-L29 Possible soft brick, please advise

Most of the time I am the guy helping people out. This time I think I did something pretty dumb.
I have an old "beater" P9 plus that I was using as a casual gaming device. Most of the apps I was using were beginning to no longer be supported because for some reason the device NEVER updated. Any time I check for a possible update the phone stated it was up to date. After much searching I discovered that this device SHOULD have updated quite a few times.
I used firmware finder to find a supported update and the first one went somewhat unexpected. The firmware was downloaded and put in the correct folders but kept failing after 5%. I decided that the next thing to do was to find a cool rom and go through the process of unlocking and installing TWRP. I usually try to install the latest TWRP. This turned out not working at all so I went for an older version and it booted into TWRP, however it found the update and installed it!
I kind of wanted to keep it stock, but updated stock so I went for a bigger upgrade to Android 7 firmware. This only worked partially and (stupid and I know better) forgot to do a backup. I did not know that TWRP was gone and root was gone. The battery died and I rebooted like normal and there was a much improved interface. However, a good bit of stuff stopped working like bluetooth and the boot screen was in red stating the device can't be verified and ended up in something like a NOR905 test keys build. I did a backup, selected a downgrade package that was checked and "updated" to the downgraded firmware through Project Menu. It successfully stated it was 100% complete.
Now it is stuck on the boot screen for an unlocked device.
What works (or is possibly a good thing):
The hardware keys can get me to the bootloader (fastboot)
ADB recognizes the device is in fastboot
Phone is Unlocked
FRP is unlock
What doesn't work:
Everything else. All I have is fastboot and an unlocked bootloader. I can try to flash recovery but that never boots, it just stays suck on the recovery boot screen. The system will not boot at all.
UPDATE:
I broke down and spent the money to use the DC-Phoenix software to unbrick the phone. Several of the options for firmware did NOT work. The one file set that did work was to use this firmware:
VIE-L29_C900B101_Firmware_countryValue_Nonspecific_Android_6.0_EMUI4.1
Then use this as the customization:
update_data_C900B101_hw_default
The phone originally started out as VIE-L29C636B130. This changed it to VIE-L29C900B101 and is on EMUI 4.1 android version 6.
Now the fun part is going to see if I can find a version of TWRP that will work and see if I can root it. Maybe even try a custom ROM. We'll see though. The device is just an old beater for fun. But at least, she's not broken anymore. Guess I'll grab a beer and celebrate my "unbricked" device.

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