Bricked after OTA - Nexus 9 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hey,
So I updated my Nexus 9 with today's OTA, after which I'm greeted with the dead android 'No command.'.
I've attempted to wipe the cache data and factory reset from the recovery menu, and factory reset from the power + volume down menu.
My boot-loader is locked as I've never felt the need of rooting or running custom roms - so the tablet is entirely stock.
I also attempted to run fastboot which is throwing errors due to the boot-loader being locked.
I tried to re-apply the patch using adb from the recovery menu, however after the patch is verified I'm receiving this error: system partition has unexpected contents
Is there anything I can do to fix this myself at this point?
I've contacted Google but haven't heard back from them yet.
Any help is greatly appreciated or guidance!
Kind Regards,

Since you already factory reset your device (and lost your data) the best way to recover is flashing the whole factory image.
Just unlock the bootloader and flash the latest factory image following the instructions from here:
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

The problem is, I never enabled USB debugging so my bootloader is locked or am I missunderstanding this?

Cellzor said:
The problem is, I never enabled USB debugging so my bootloader is locked or am I missunderstanding this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not USB debugging that is necessary in your case. It's the option to "enable OEM unlock".
PS: Two hints for future success on XDA: 1) don't post questions in the General Section. 2) Don't double post the same question.

I was rooted and tried to do a flash stock plus unroot with no wipe using the new LM48YI image on a n9 wifi with lmy48x using the wug toolkit and ran into the same issue yesterday. In my case, multiple restore to stock/reset did not help and the device hard bricked during a reset. The fact that this happens on stock unrooted devices is very very worrying to say the least.

add me to the list of completely factory N9's getting bricked from the OTA. All I can do is get into fastboot and any reboot will just sit at the spinning dots forever. Most fastboot commands just get denied since the device is locked. Thanks google. Looks like it is email to google time or just throw it away.

My wifes Nexus 9 is now in the same boat. From what I can tell, you cannot run the "fastboot oem unlock" command successfully unless you had previously checked the "allow oem unlock" button in Settings. When trying this I get this:
<bootloader> ability is 0
<bootloader> Permission denied for this command!
OKAY [ 0.031s]
finished. total time: 0.031s
I tried sideloading the OTA instead of flashing the factory image, but it got to 48% and then said this:
error: system partition has unexpected contents
Because the bootloader is locked, I can't flash, and sideloading the OTA seems to be a no go.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I could try next?

@Rigger007
Return it for repair/replacement. RMA.

Related

[Q] Fastboot OEM Unlock Not Working

Hello All,
I'm new here, so I'm not exactly sure if this is the correct forum to be posting this, but here's my question:
When I attempt to unlock my bootloader using fastboot and the "fastboot oem unlock" command, it simply returns:
Code:
... INFOOEM unlock is not implemented
OKAY [ 0.001s]
Has anyone else gotten this message or anything like it? Or am I doing something wrong?
I'm rooted and running the 4.5.91 (ATT) update, and I updated from Gingerblur 3.5 using the PC update program.
The only way to unlock bootloader at this time is flashing pudding and then running fastboot OEM commands
SevenandForty said:
Hello All,
I'm new here, so I'm not exactly sure if this is the correct forum to be posting this, but here's my question:
When I attempt to unlock my bootloader using fastboot and the "fastboot oem unlock" command, it simply returns:
Code:
... INFOOEM unlock is not implemented
OKAY [ 0.001s]
Has anyone else gotten this message or anything like it? Or am I doing something wrong?
I'm rooted and running the 4.5.91 (ATT) update, and I updated from Gingerblur 3.5 using the PC update program.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Really? Huh- I found that fastboot method on this website
briefmobile(dot)com/how-to-unlock-the-atrix-4g-bootloader
It says to use the command prompt to run fastboot and unlock it- I'm not sure if this was disabled or something, because it seems to have worked for most people on the 2.3.4 beta.
SevenandForty said:
Oh, really? I found that fastboot method on this website
briefmobile(dot)com/how-to-unlock-the-atrix-4g-bootloader
It says to use the command prompt to run fastboot and unlock it- I'm not sure if this was disabled or something, because it seems to have worked for most people on the 2.3.4 beta.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you're running the ota update, then you don't have an unlockable bootloader. you need to flash a pudding sbf to get one, which you can find instructions to on either the general forum or the dev forum.
Oh, I see. Thanks!
same problem
I also have the same problem but I have a stock 2.3 atrix does it make a difference?
I had to flash the 4.5.91 pre root sbf Via rsd lite then run that fastboot command.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
You need to flash the unlock sbf first. Just remember that if you're on 2.3.4, after you flash the sbf, the phone will reboot and soft brick - that's normal. Be ready to fastboot flash RomRacer's CWM recovery, and have the two 2.3.4 Fruitcake builds on your external sdcard beforehand.
Once you've flashed RomRacer's recovery successfully, pull the battery, put in your SIM and sdcard again, boot into recovery, and then install both fruitcake builds.
After that, your phone will boot and you can root it at your leisure.
SevenandForty said:
Hello All,
I'm new here, so I'm not exactly sure if this is the correct forum to be posting this, but here's my question:
When I attempt to unlock my bootloader using fastboot and the "fastboot oem unlock" command, it simply returns:
Code:
... INFOOEM unlock is not implemented
OKAY [ 0.001s]
Has anyone else gotten this message or anything like it? Or am I doing something wrong?
I'm rooted and running the 4.5.91 (ATT) update, and I updated from Gingerblur 3.5 using the PC update program.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you flashing the .sbf first? If not, that is your problem or you have the same luck as me.. One or the other. Anyway, this is how I fixed mine:
I had this issue too.. Very irritating. I was using Linux to get my phone unlocked. When I went home from work, I tried again on windows 7 this time using RSDLite. It kinda worked. RSDLite got to 98%, the phone crashed and the flash status displayed failed. However, at 98%, the only thing left to do was for the phone to turn back on and verify the flashed image as far as I was concerned. Anyway, the phone said "Operating system not found" and went into fastboot mode from there. I felt I had nothing to lose by moving on. I issued a fastboot oem restore, and was able to get my code. I then reissued the command and typed in the whole code as windows wouldn't let me copy/paste from the command prompt (thanks Bill..). After doing this and pressing enter, my bootloader was nice and unlocked in about half a second. I rebooted using fastboot, and it locked up, so a battery pull got me working just fine. Hope this helps someone.
same problem
i have the same problem
1. i did use the sdf. but in the end it says FAIL in RSD
2. cant continue
3. still searching for answer:crying:
---------- Post added at 06:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------
hammerlock13 said:
Are you flashing the .sbf first? If not, that is your problem or you have the same luck as me.. One or the other. Anyway, this is how I fixed mine:
I had this issue too.. Very irritating. I was using Linux to get my phone unlocked. When I went home from work, I tried again on windows 7 this time using RSDLite. It kinda worked. RSDLite got to 98%, the phone crashed and the flash status displayed failed. However, at 98%, the only thing left to do was for the phone to turn back on and verify the flashed image as far as I was concerned. Anyway, the phone said "Operating system not found" and went into fastboot mode from there. I felt I had nothing to lose by moving on. I issued a fastboot oem restore, and was able to get my code. I then reissued the command and typed in the whole code as windows wouldn't let me copy/paste from the command prompt (thanks Bill..). After doing this and pressing enter, my bootloader was nice and unlocked in about half a second. I rebooted using fastboot, and it locked up, so a battery pull got me working just fine. Hope this helps someone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sir, could you kindly pls. give the codes step by step, it will help a lot, i can not use my Atrix Thanks in Advance
OEM unlock is not implemented
I also have this issue
I am desperately looking for a solution without luck for my rooted
Atrix 4G Buld 4.5.2A
GB 2.3.4
If someone can point me to a solution I will be very glad
Thanks
Eli
i'm in the same situation....
help please
FIXED it and now my phone is unlocked
you have to flash the phone with RSD this file http://diamantephoto.com/IHOP_Bell.rar
and rerun the command to give you the phone ID
hope it helps for you

[q] magic value mismatch?

Has anyone ever seen this before? I have reflashed stock recovery to the phone and before i could switch options in the boot menu i was stuck to only rsd or fastboot. I am on 2.3.5 I sent rdl3 to the phone it restarted in bootloader or fastboot just a moto logo i sent the fastboot oem unlock command, peices of derpunlock and also a system.img. now i can choose android recovery in my boot menu but system still wont load.
Did u try doing factory reset from boot menu
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
Yes i did try that along with every other option given system still not booting up... but another strange thing ive noticed is that the android recovery is now letting me choose what zip i want to install from my sd card although i cannot because everything keeps failing the signature check. Has anyone been in this same situation?
I think i flashed the ap20bl.img with sv1 but i havnt flashed the microboot because i didnt know what command to issue in fastboot mode. for the bootloader i typed something along the lines of "fastboot flash rdl3.bin rdl3_unlocked.smg" then i think it restarted to only the moto logo was there and i typed fastboot devices it showed my phone so i took the cg file from derpunlock and typed a command like fastboot flash boot cg42_000somthing.smg it said ok finished... ???
sunny530 said:
Has anyone ever seen this before? I have reflashed stock recovery to the phone and before i could switch options in the boot menu i was stuck to only rsd or fastboot. I am on 2.3.5 I sent rdl3 to the phone it restarted in bootloader or fastboot just a moto logo i sent the fastboot oem unlock command, peices of derpunlock and also a system.img. now i can choose android recovery in my boot menu but system still wont load.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you saying you're on 2.3.5? if you are, your bootloader is permanently locked. it won't do any good to try and unlock it, unless you don't mind bricking. otherwise i have never seen this error before.
if you are on 2.3.5 i'd recommend flashing the electrify 2.3.5 sbf method to hopefully unbrick and return to stock.
Thanx for the reply na7q but I am pretty sure when software says unrecoverable error you have just killed it. When you torpedo root doesnt that kill the xorg server? as soon as its dead BAM!!! your rooted lol i would really like it if some very knowledgeable people on this subject would take a look at this and if they all tell me to do the same thing then 2.3.5 electrify here i come, However, i am not concerned of getting my phone in working order if my phone remains dead for the next few days i dont mind as long is it contributes to this bootloader being unlocked.
sunny530 said:
Thanx for the reply na7q but I am pretty sure when software says unrecoverable error you have just killed it. When you torpedo root doesnt that kill the xorg server? as soon as its dead BAM!!! your rooted lol i would really like it if some very knowledgeable people on this subject would take a look at this and if they all tell me to do the same thing then 2.3.5 electrify here i come, However, i am not concerned of getting my phone in working order if my phone remains dead for the next few days i dont mind as long is it contributes to this bootloader being unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with 2.3.5 you aren't unlocking anything. can almost guarantee it! it's going to take a miracle! i'd say just restore it with the SBF if possible and continue on with life haha. i rooted like a year ago so i don't remember anything about it at this point haha. the only thing that was important was unlocking the bootloader! we need a breakthrough on that for these locked users. that miracle hasn't happened yet. or even gotten close.
Try flashing signed boot.img. This seems to me like failed to boot 2 in other words.
You can flash almost anything into the phone, the signature is checked after reboot, so "flashing ok" in fastboot is normal feedback, sometimes even if it's not ok (radio).
Also with recovery, you can choose whatever zip you want, but when you hit install, signature is checked.
Well you see i receive no failure to boot 1-4 i just get stuck at the moto dual core screen with nothing written at the top. Is it possible that i flashed the bootloader sucsessfully and did not flash the microboot? i didnt know the command to issue to flash microboot. The unrecoverable bootloader error seems interesting to me how would i find out what kernal i should/can flash and what would be the command would it be in fastboot? can i install a system.img via recovery or install bootstrap through fastboot or stock recovery?

[Q] Atrix bootloader - unable to unlock

Hi all,
So I spent like the whole afternoon tryin to unlock bootloader on my MB860 (rooted) with no luck. This is international version with 2.3.4 system updated OTA.
I tried to unlock bootloader with fastboot - no luck:
Code:
OEM Unlock is not implemented
So i tried flash unlocked sbf file (intl-fix-try1.sbf), still no luck:
Code:
Failed to boot 1
So, I've flashed whole sbf file: 1FF-olympus_emara-user-2.3.4-4.5.2A-74_OLE-31.20-release-keys-signed-NonEFIGSRetail-EU.sbf
Phone started and all was same as before this operation,
next - I tried another full sbf's:
1FF-olympus_emara-user-2.3.4-4.5.2A-74_OLE-31-release-keys-signed-Retail-GB.sbf
1FF-olympus_latam-user-2.3.6-4.5.2A-51_OLL-17.8-111109-release-keys-signed-BellMobility-CA-GAS_NA_OLYMPUSGBCANADABELL_P019.sbf
On both - failed to boot 1
so in the end only sbf that actually allows me to boot my cell is 1FF-olympus_emara-user-2.3.4-4.5.2A-74_OLE-31.20-release-keys-signed-NonEFIGSRetail-EU.sbf
And the question is - how to get unlocked bootloader for this one?
You really should have searched and read up ahead of time. "Failed to boot XXX" is a perfectly normal and expected thing to happen when unlocking the BL. You shouldn't have messed with any more SBFs. You can still try running the fixer script as mentioned in that thread, hopefully you didn't mess it up too bad.
Thank you ravilov, but isn't this script only for ATT devices?
I am fairly certain it can be used on an international device as well.
Thanks, will try later on today, so what I'm lookin for is this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
and option no.3 is what i should use from this script to have it fixed?
just for the records - the phone is working after i installed only sbf working, all setings and data were not affected, only will need to root it again
stingu said:
so what I'm lookin for is this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
and option no.3 is what i should use from this script to have it fixed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
stingu said:
just for the records - the phone is working after i installed only sbf working, all setings and data were not affected, only will need to root it again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's to be expected.
I think the worst case scenario would be that you won't be able to unlock, in which case you might be one of the unlucky people with the non-unlockable bootloader. If not, this script should help in unlocking your BL.
so, with the script and option number 3 i got the same thing:
Code:
(bootloader) OEM unlock is not implemented
OKAY [ -0.000s]
finished. total time: -0.000s
Or should i first flash small sbf and then use the script?
any other suggestions or am I stuck with soft 2.3.4?
You did flash the pudding/ihop SBF, right? If not, try doing that before you attempt to run oem unlock. If you did already... Well, I'm out of ideas then. I guess while waiting for someone else to chime in, you might as well start mentally preparing that you might indeed stay stuck with the stock firmware.
Well, made it unlocked, it was little bit tricky, so what I did:
-flashed IHOP
-got failed to boot 1 error message again - here, where i was not aware of - I pressed vol up and it switched to fastboot protocol support with boot error present
-did the script, fail to boot error was still there after reboot
-did those 2 points with flashboot application (whole instruction available here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1302423):
Code:
13.back in your command prompt window type "fastboot oem unlock" no quotes
14.You will now receive a warning along with a unique device ID
15.Type the following commands using your unique device ID (the numbers in the command prompt) in place of the ####•
fastboot oem unlock ####
fastboot reboot
Now its time to install CWM somehow...

LOL, I'm joining the soft-brick bandwagon

So I decided to flash M and while doing the flash-all.sh, I got a fastboot error stating malloc something and then did a factory reset, relock bootloader doh!!!!!, flashing manually individual items up until the last one system. It errored out saying something is too large blah blah, and the tablet is now unbootable without any OS and can't flash anything cuz bootloader is LOCKED (Doh! again).
I can only get into stock recovery and only can do adb sideload but tried cyanogenmod but can't get pass the signature validation. So here I am sitting duck with my zombie tablet.
Questions:
1. Will I be able to file for warranty with Google given it's only < 1 year old?
2. Is there an update.zip that you know of which can allows me to adb sideload?
TIA
vboyz103 said:
So I decided to flash M and while doing the flash-all.sh, I got a fastboot error stating malloc something and then did a factory reset, relock bootloader doh!!!!!, flashing manually individual items up until the last one system. It errored out saying something is too large blah blah, and the tablet is now unbootable without any OS and can't flash anything cuz bootloader is LOCKED (Doh! again).
I can only get into stock recovery and only can do adb sideload but tried cyanogenmod but can't get pass the signature validation. So here I am sitting duck with my zombie tablet.
Questions:
1. Will I be able to file for warranty with Google given it's only < 1 year old?
2. Is there an update.zip that you know of which can allows me to adb sideload?
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Maybe. Better try, because it's your only option, since you chose to relock your bootloader.
2. No.
vboyz103 said:
So I then did a factory reset, relock bootloader doh!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what your saying is you attempted to flash the M preview image, it didn't flash properly and you did a "fastboot oem lock" ???
vboyz103 said:
So I decided to flash M and while doing the flash-all.sh, I got a fastboot error stating malloc something and then did a factory reset, relock bootloader doh!!!!!, flashing manually individual items up until the last one system. It errored out saying something is too large blah blah, and the tablet is now unbootable without any OS and can't flash anything cuz bootloader is LOCKED (Doh! again).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm confused about the order of things. If the "system is too large" error happened after you BELIEVE you re-locked, then I think you might not really be locked...
The system part often on a lot of Nexii give that error. The solution is to extract the archive and fastboot flash the content images individually.
Update: I called HTC and it was still under warranty. Shipped the device to them and thought that they'll repair it. In fact, they shipped me a brand new one.
A happy camper here and thanks HTC.

Can't switch from stock

I'm really out of ideas to what's causing this so I could use some help.
My tablet has been fine for a long time and has had many roms on it previously. I have been on rooted stock however for over a year now and decided to try a rom again....
However I have tried 3 different roms now all with catastrophic problems. I install them fine through twrp along with gapps then reset Tablet but get a black screen with just a blinking charge light if it's plugged in. No boot logo or anything.
I managed to revert back to stock about 5 times today through flash mode and flash tool but I don't know what's going on.
I rooted, turned on debugging and reflashed twrp but it keeps happening across different android versions too. I thought maybe I had relocked bootloader so I tried to check through adb oem but it freezes, so I ran the unlock command just in case through adb and it was fine but still freezes.
Any ideas?
To add to this I just downloaded a dialer app on stock to check bootloader unlock status.
It says bootloader can be unlocked but nothing about its actual status. I'm more or less certain this is the issue now so can anyone advise what to do? I manually tried unlocking bootloader and it just restarted like everything was fine but nothing changed.
SabertoothTitan said:
To add to this I just downloaded a dialer app on stock to check bootloader unlock status.
It says bootloader can be unlocked but nothing about its actual status. I'm more or less certain this is the issue now so can anyone advise what to do? I manually tried unlocking bootloader and it just restarted like everything was fine but nothing changed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not an expert to be honest but I would try that:
put your tablet in fastboot mode, connect it to your pc and in fastboot type
"fastboot flash boot twrp.img"
Now you should have TWRP.
If this work your bootloader should be unlocked otherwise I think you should see some error in fastboot
Once you have twrp I suggest you to flash resurrection remix 5.7.0 (android 6.0.1). I suggest it just because it worked without problem with my tablet Z.
Something not clear to me: you started just with a rooted stock ROM or you unlocked bootloader, flashed TWRP and then your ROM?
I started with rooted stock rom, I am using dual recovery that seems to be working fine (it was faster since its just a bat file). I originally rooted using kingroot on stock which I used to flash stock rom prerooted with supersu with twrp.
If I try the same process with anything that isn't stock it's black screen on reboot. No Sony logo or anything.
Ive tried changing recovery to newest twrp, changing sd card to a different one, different ROMs including the one you mentioned because that's the one I wanted to try. I also tried with and without black kernel. None made any difference. Black screen boot everytime with just a blinking light on side like its got no OS installed at all.
Just to clarify, my bootloader should be unlocked. I've checked but if I run the adb command to check it just freezes like it's eternally loading. Using dialer go check it doesn't even display anything about it aside from the fact it can be unlocked.
what command do you type? "fastboot oem device-info"?
ok so I have an update, something is definitely messed up with my bootloader.
I tried to relock bootloader from fastboot but its also stuck in a loading cycle for no reason. It seems on some level my bootloader is unlocked because I can flash recoveries fine, but when I come to put a new ROM on the device it won't let me and black screens.
From fastboots I used the commands 'fastboot oem lock' and I just get '...' forever underneath. If I use 'fastboot devices' my device is listed, if I use 'fastboot -i 0x0fce oem unlock 0xbootloadercodehere' it fails the first time, then works the second time and says ok but its clearly done nothing when the device reboots. 'fastboot oem device-info' also leaves me with the '...' on command prompt forever too.
I have no idea what to do if bootloader is screwy at all.
-Pepe said:
what command do you type? "fastboot oem device-info"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup that's what I used. I'm pretty sure bootloader is borked somehow though. I tried reinstall from Sony software too which hasn't changed anything.
SabertoothTitan said:
Yup that's what I used. I'm pretty sure bootloader is borked somehow though. I tried reinstall from Sony software too which hasn't changed anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried with my XTZ and "fastboot oem device-info" just froze, it had 3 dot and nothing else. In my OPO it worked.
I'm gonna search something else...
Whats weird is my tablet also won't install anything on TWRP, I just tried installing SuperSU from it to see if it would work (having to use Kingroot atm) and it just does nothing.
I think this is the issue since I'm factory resetting before installing a ROM, which is therefore wiping my system and when I come to reset because TWRP isn't installing anything its acting like there isn't a system installed.
I can install via ADB fine, just when it comes to recovery... system says no. Its weird because its like its got a locked bootloader or something but even though I reinstalled using Sony software its still the same. If I try unlock bootloader again, I get an error first time then it says OKAY and does nothing.
SabertoothTitan said:
bootloader can be unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to an other post this should mean that your bootloader is locked but can be unlocked via Sony's code. At the same time I've read in the same post (can't find it) that people with unlocked bootloader still have "bootloader can be unlocked" even if they successfully unlocked it...
Unfortunately I can't try it myself because I'm on RR and the code *#*#7378423#*#* (this should be the code you used) doesn't do anything.
I have the code and have used it previously I have also retried it just to make sure.
When I type the dialer code above I get 'bootloader can be unlocked: yes' but nothing mentioning the actual current state of bootloader.
This is what's leading me to think it's a bootloader glitch because all posts I've seen should say 'bootloader unlocked: yes' or 'bootloader unlocked: no'. I get neither.
Been a few days and had no suggestions. Anyone got any ideas at all outside what I have mentioned? Getting pretty desperate because wifi is really bad on stock, getting constant slowdowns and stalls for no reason. I'm gonna end up trying to sell second hand if I can't do anything.
SabertoothTitan said:
Been a few days and had no suggestions. Anyone got any ideas at all outside what I have mentioned? Getting pretty desperate because wifi is really bad on stock, getting constant slowdowns and stalls for no reason. I'm gonna end up trying to sell second hand if I can't do anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I'm out of ideas
The only thing I can tell you is what I did to my XPZ, but I doubt it may help you:
1) Unlock bootloader using Sony's guide
2) XPZ in fastboot mode → from pc "fastboot flash boot twrp.img" (assuming you have the proper TWRP image named twrp in the same folder of fastboot)
3) flashed RR 5.7.0 and Gapps
4) RR change the rocovery to CMrecovery but I "easily" changed back to twrp using a guide under RR thread.

Categories

Resources