How to: Monthly Security Updates {With TWRP, root#, etc} WITHOUT losing data... - Nexus 6P General

How to:Manual OFFICIAL Android Update(s) WITHOUT losing data with custom recovery, and/or root {Works with TWRP, root#, etc}
### Below is the procedure I use monthly, it works perfectly, and is running 100% as of 01/25/2017 ###
### I make no warranties regarding your choice of using these instructions. If you lose data, BRICK or break your phone, it is YOUR fault... ###
### You are responsible for what you do/don't do ###
Current Setup:
Nexus 6P 128GB
Android 7.1.1
Build NMF26F (December 2016 update/security update) https://developers.google.com/android/images
TWRP recovery 3.0.3-0 https://dl.twrp.me/angler/
root access (SuperSU v2.79) http://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/supersu/stable-2016-09-01supersu-v2-78-release-t3452703
If you're like me, you get the monthly security update (26MB on average) to download/install. The problem is if you are running TWRP to have the ability to flash SuperSu (root access) this security update fails...
*As of 12/20/2016 even my paid Flashify app cannot perform this update successfully...
First (Assuming you already have the Bootloader unlocked "Google/XDA is your friend", and USB debugging enabled in developer options):
*Download the latest TWRP recovery from the link above... (At the time of writing this 3.0.3-0 was current 12/20/2016)
*Download the latest SuperSU version from the link above... (At the time of writing this v2.79 was current 12/20/2016)
*Download the latest Official Google Android Build (It's large usually 1.3GB) https://developers.google.com/android/images
Unzip the latest Build to a folder on your Windows machine(Use WinZip, 7z, or whatever)
Right Click and choose 'edit' on the "flash-all.bat" file inside that folder...
Edit the line that reads:
fastboot -w update image-angler-nbd90x.zip <---- This is the build# it will change each time a new version is released, used as reference...
to
fastboot update image-angler-nbd90x.zip <---- This is the build# it will change each time a new version is released, used as reference...
click 'save' on this file...
#Once saved it's a good idea to edit it again to double check the "-w" has been removed (or else it will wipe all user data on your phone...)
Now on a (Windows PC "WinBlows")
Connect your Nexus 6P to your machine and select File Transfer from the drop down (If it currently says charge only...)
Copy/Paste the latest SuperSU.zip file you downloaded to the root (main) directory of your phone...
In the folder that you saved the flash-all.bat hold down the 'right' "Shift" key, and Right Click your mouse...
Select "open command window here"
Test that you have adb and fastboot installed correctly... (Google is your friend)
Run the following....
adb devices
#Should return output showing your Nexus 6p
adb reboot bootloader
#Should reboot your Nexus 6p into Bootloader mode.
fastboot devices
#Should return output showing your Nexus 6p
flash-all.bat
#Should install the latest build (That you just downloaded, and NOT wipe all your data...)
#This takes some time, once the phone reboots do the following....
### If you just want to be stock you are done... If you'd like TWRP recovery and root access on your device proceed below ###
#Assuming the latest TWRP recovery img is in the same folder/directory that you opened your command prompt in from previous steps...
adb devices
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot devices
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.0.3-0-angler.img
#Once it says success.
on the phone use the vol keys to select 'recovery' and hit the power button...
#The phone should now be booting into TWRP recovery (Takes a little while 1-2 mins first time...)
#Select modify system files (first time...) say 'yes' by sliding...
Now your Windows computer should show your Nexus 6p again...
Place the SuperSU zip file in the root directory of your Nexus 6p (If you haven't already...)
On the main TWRP Install/Wipe/etc screen...
Click 'install'
Choose the SuperSU zip file
Once finished click "Reboot"
#You may be prompted to 'install TWRP' I would just click don't install since it already is...
The first boot takes longer (duh) and might boot loop 2X
Once the phone boots up, test out the following:
Settings > about device
verify you are on the latest Build and Security Update date...
Verify SuperSU installed correctly...
Root Checker or App that requires root.
All of your files, texts, calls, game settings, should still be perfect.
#UPDATE 01/24/2017#
I experienced a "Bluetooth Audio streaming issue" recently with the current available BUILD N4F26J
#WORK_AROUND#
Unfortunately I had to factory rest, fully wipe {TWRP > Delete Cache, Dalivik Cache, Data, Internal} to make the media play out of my connected device. The problem was that the audio would continuously play out of the phone. Even though the Bluetooth settings were set to play Media, and Phone (both were checked)... This occurred in my car (Honda Link), and with my Sony Bluetooth Headphones [Both of which played perfectly for the last 3+ months.]
I spoke to 'Chaz' at 'Google Android Support' who informed me that they would like my logs. I have yet to receive the email he was going to send.
Chaz also seemed to think that a factory reset was the only solution with this issue. I personally do not believe that to be true, and I am certain that the February Security Patch update will correct the line(s) of code that are wrong.
I am currently still using stock Recovery, BUILD N4F26J, and without root access and for 72+ hours without an issue related to Bluetooth.
I will be switching back to TWRP recovery and then SuperSU to try and recreate the problem.
#UPDATE 01/30/2017#
#Below was sent to my Google/Android contact Ken...#
Attached is a picture of the "lint" that was found in my Nexus 6P headphone jack. While I don't send everyone a picture of this, this could have been what was causing the following issue(s).
My phone (Nexus 6P on build N4F26J latest) had the following issue with Bluetooth Audio:
-My phone had previously been working fine, and already paired with the devices I encountered the following issue on my way to work.
2015 Honda Civic EX-L "Honda Link"
-Nexus 6P has been connected since day 1.
-Honda Link said "Connected to Nexus 6P"
-Touch screen (in Honda) said the song I was listening to in PLEX.
-I hit the "play" button and music started playing, but out of my phone speakers.
Hmmmm I thought, that is weird. I am a Linux Systems Administrator for PRIVATE and have a very lax schedule (basically get the work done, and either work on something else or Work From Home WFH). Anyhoo, I pulled over and tried the following:
-Shut off the Honda, and opened the drivers door, this killed the power to the radio completely.
-Power Cycled my Nexus 6P (I know it's Linux based, but ya'know...)
-"Forgot" the Bluetooth connection for 'Honda Link'
-Power Cycled my Nexus 6P (Yup just to be sure...)
-Deleted the known connection on the Honda Link screen...
-Shut off the Honda, and opened the drivers door
-Restarted the car, and clicked "Add a phone"
-Accepted the connection request on my Nexus and entered the correct PIN.
-Phone now said connected to Honda Link (Yay!!!)
-Brought back up Plex and connected to my home server.
-Found a song and clicked play...
*Guess where the audio came out of... THE PHONE! exploit deleted...
Ok, hooked up my USB flash drive and jammed out to it on the way to work...
I get to work, and pick up my 'already paired' Sony Bluetooth Headphones. I've used these flawlessly with all Android builds I have tested... I hit the 'play' button and can you guess where Mozart started playing?
That's right out the phone speakers again...
Now I am pulling my hair out (I'm bald so that's a joke).... I decide maybe it's because of one of the following:
-Unlocked Boot-loader (Panic Panic lol )
-TWRP 3.0.0.2 recovery (not stock Android) *#Meant to say 3.0.3-0
-SuperSU beta (Ahhhhh! not a SysAdmin wanting root access~! NO!!! )
-Or insert a magnitude of other odd ball things I do to my device(s)...
So, I do the following (at work mind you...):
-Reboot into recovery (TWRP)
-Back-up (full 'Nandroid' backup saved to internal storage. *#No MicroSD card slot DUH!)
-I hit 'Wipe' in TWRP
-I wipe the following:
-Cache
-Dalvik Cache
-Data
-System
(3 X just to make sure)
-I install Cyanogenmod's new release 14.X which I believe is Android 7.1.1
-I fail; due to the fact there is not an official Gapps for 7.1.1
-I perform the wipe again (3 X again)
On my Windows box I do the following from the official build of N4F26J I just downloaded 'flash-all.bat' when my phone is at it's fastboot point...
10-20 mins later and "Bob's your uncle..." my phone works again.
Yay!!! As I try to contain myself at a quiet place of work. I begin the restore process and setting all my user/pass info on my apps that are restoring (I really wish it remembered them, but I could see how that could be a security concern too.)
I Bluetooth connect to my Sony Headphones, and hallelujah my headphones are outputting the music!
I run to my car, and YES it works there too!
*I am thrilled (I fixed something *Yay I know...Not really, but it's all working again.)
So, I decide to tell Android about this in the new support tab on my phone.
Chat? Really? OK...
I basically type in that tiny chat window this email...
hit connect and "Unfortunately Chat has closed"
Now I swear...
I hit Phone in the support tab and in less than a minute Chaz I believe is his name calls my back.
I explain this exhausting thing to him, and he is very very good on the phone. He places me on a brief 12 minute hold. I told Chaz that I would be happy to send my logs if they think it could help other Android users by allowing the developers at Google or Android to find the bug that caused this...
Chaz says "I am sending you the email..." (Never got it, because Google had the wrong email for me... 'JC')
So, I request another call back the next day...
The person called me back (her name escapes me sorry) and again in less than a minute (AWESOME!).
Alright, fast forward to tonight and guess what same issue different Bluetooth (known) device... Music plays out of my phone (Huh, maybe I have a faulty headphone jack I think).
I talk my endoscope out and I can see lint or something in the headphone jack... I use a very small screw driver and a can of compressed air and blow out the headphone jack...
Attached is the picture of the lint. I do NOT know if this was the root cause of my playback issues, but I thought I would still share with you guys that I did this. The music started playing out of the connected Bluetooth device. I am happy to share this as this helped me resolve my issue.
I hope someone finds this useful and can pass it along to others that might be experiencing a similar issue. For fun I hit the 'Phone' support and spoke to 'Kath' (pronounced CAT) tonight she was not super duper excited to hear this whole story. I told her that the reason she couldn't find history of my 2 recent calls was due to the fact that ya'll had the wrong email address on file for me.
If this helps, or needs revision please reach out to me.
Thanks,
M1xMstr
Please 'hit' THANKS if this helped at all...
{My email address was here... Removed for spam issues...}.
Below is the link to the picture I attached to the Google Support email (The image is also an attachment here too...):
https://goo.gl/photos/L3WQLB7vFUXpFdZCA

Does not belong to Android Development.
Moved to GENERAL section

Nice tutorial. Works!
Thanks a bunch!

Related

[Q] Major Problem, Need Major Help!

Today I tried to flash the CyanogenMod 9 Nightly 06-30-12, coming from Build 35 of AOKP and after factory resetting and clearing Dalvik I went to install the zip and while flashing it I got a build-prop related error!
All of my NANDROIDS gave me a data error when flashing and now I am pretty f'd! I /really/ need to fix this ASAP but have no idea how.
-Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wifi-
-CWM 4-
On a second note, does anywhere know where I can get my screen replaced for cheap? I dropped my tab a few months back and the screen got MAJOR cracked, though it still does technically work (I still use the screen, it works but it's cracked is all...) and after calling Samsung and waiting for over 1 and a half hours they told me they wanted $150 to fix it, which if I recall is about half of what I payed for it anyway...
To be honest, I'd be lying if I said I was happy with Samsung over all.
I mean, bad customer support, the proprietary connection cable, and lack of official updates (along with the ugly TouchWiz that I'm not sure /who/ likes ) don't make me that happy...
Anyway, can anyone help me please?
Thanks in advance!
Update your recovery: http://droidbasement.com/db-blog/?p=2655
If you have a GT-P7510 (p4wifi), in this post are flashable zips (with your current recovery) of CWM and TWRP, in case you prefer this method: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=28051448&postcount=29
After that, flash your ROM like always.
Yeah, thanks, were it so easy. I fired up ODIN multiple times, no matter what, unsuccessful. Like always, my computer would not recognize my tablet. Yes, I have the bloody Samsung drivers, yes I've tried reinstalling them (several times in the last few months), yes I've tried using different USB ports! And what? Nothing. Nothing at all. For the last few months I have not been able to transfer movies/music to my tablet via file transfer and I can't even get the stupid odin download thing to work. To be honest, I really am pissed off with this broken pile of trash. Would trade it in for a similar tablet any time.
Did you try any of the flashable zips for a new recovery?
About the USB, it sounds like a different problem, but for the file transfers, are you sure you have MTP selected? (answer #5 --> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1642009 )
If you haven't tried it yet, you could use a different computer, another OS (some Linux distro and check that adb works), change the USB cable.
I can't use a flashable zip since I can't copy files onto the tablet >.>
Also, yes, for file transfers I /do/ have MTP selected always and it doesn't work eitherway.
Essentially, I am stuck with a $300+ ugly and broken thing that I can only use as a paperweight for the huge mess I call my desk. Yay.
>Rage sidenote; Samsung, go take the money I payed for **** and shove it.
And I guess you don't have your old ROM (AOKP build 35) in your tab.
Try with adb (in recovery), but if you can't get a working USB connection (using other computers or OS), maybe there's something physically wrong with your tablet.
No, I don't. I'm stupid enough to delete the ROM zip after flashing it to save space on the tablet...
How do I do this ADB thing? I've heard of it before alot but never used it or looked into it...
Read this: for windows -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1387527 , for Ubuntu -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=921169
After everything is installed, boot your tablet into recovery and try running in your command line application (CMD for windows):
adb devices
If it shows that a device (and ID number and the actual state, e.g. recovery) is connected, your golden!
If you have another android device, try it too, to be sure that is working.
To transfer a file the command is
adb push /path/to/file /path/in/tablet
In windows I guess is something like this:
adb push C:\path\to\file /path/in/tablet
so I'd do something like
adb push C:\ADB\CWM-5.5.0.4-p4wifi.zip mnt/sdcard/ ?
Im dling the ADB files right now
adb push C:\ADB\CWM-5.5.0.4-p4wifi.zip /mnt/sdcard/
You need the slash at the star and end of the path of the tablet.
While installing PdaNet it failed, said it couldnt connect through to the device or w/e
Also,I don't recall having ADB on when I had the tablet. I might've but I don't think I kept debugging on for the general time...
This is so frustrating >.>
I'm not sure about that error in PdaNet, I can help you with adb but I don't use Windows, so there's things I can't test.
If you didn't select ADB debugging in your ROM it doesn't matter, you're doing this from recovery.
BTW, do you have other android device?
adb seems to be working and copying, but I can't find the file in Recovery while doing choose a zip to apply!
Yes, I have an LG Optimus V on Virgin Mobile running tdm's AMAZING Quattrimus Alpha 10 on Ice Cream Sandwich/ Android 4.0.4
this is what I get
C:\Users\Mikoyan Gurevich\Desktop\LG Drivers>adb devices
List of devices attached
43C800340009517 recovery
C:\Users\Mikoyan Gurevich\Desktop\LG Drivers>adb push C:\CWM-5.5.0.4-p4wifi.zip
43C800340009517\sdcard\download
1328 KB/s (4147569 bytes in 3.048s)
C:\Users\Mikoyan Gurevich\Desktop\LG Drivers>
If you connect your phone and execute
adb devices
What's the output?
If you do the same with your tablet, what's the output?
with the tablet it's
C:\Users\Mikoyan Gurevich\Desktop\LG Drivers>adb devices
List of devices attached
43C800340009517 recovery
with my phone it doesn't wanna show up in Recovery or not.... Hmm.
Well, it shows fine, then you should be able to transfer the files
First, in your recovery, go through the steps to install some zip file, but just go as far as selecting the directory, then go back
Now in your PC try running something like this, change your path in windows:
adb push C:\CWM-5.5.0.4-p4wifi.zip /sdcard/
The in your recovery, select install and should show there. The thing is that most likely the sdcard wasn't mounted in your tab
Edit, to mount your sdcard in recovery do: mounts and storage > mount /sdcard > Go back
The do the transfer in your PC.
Hmm
While I was holding it to my gut, pushing the end of the cable into my stomach (It was the only way to get it to be recognized) I fooled around and went into download mode, hoping that on the contrary I could do that, turn it off, and when I went back into Recovery it would be there when it finally said the cable WAS connected and then I rushed to open Odin and wrote it through, and it frickin' wrote CWM v5 right on and it worked, I'll be damned!
Maple, I can not thank you enough for helping me with this, I am in great debt.
You're welcome, I'm glad it worked. Knowing how to use adb is really useful. And now you know that something is wrong with your cable.
Or in the connector pins or w/e of the tablet... The cable works fine for charging though....
You are my savior, bro.

MetroPCS & T-Mobile LG Leon STABLE Root (WORKS EVERY TIME 100%)

I am making this tutorial as I have had multiple versions of the LG LTE Leon and have used many firmware versions. I have created a stable method that has the least issues as I have had trouble with the latest firmware (MS34510f) disabling my root privileges. I have created a MEGA account specifically for all of the files necessary to complete this operation and have your device run smoothly. So, please follow my instructions exactly as stated and you should not have any issues. THIS PROCESS WILL REMOVE ALL DATA NOT SYNCED, DO READ BELOW NOTES IT IS VERY BENEFICIAL
Important Notes:
+This process will wipe all data that is not synced, it is important to ensure that no newer LG process are still on the device. Some might argue to leave data, to that I say good luck keeping your root and tethering without the device becoming suspiciously unstable.
+ I am not GUARANTEEING this will work on every model, but I have had an extremely high success rate with all Leon versions.
+ In this tutorial the process in which I remove Kingroot and replace it with SuperSu is for system stability. I find that most root functions I use seem to not work properly. (Wifi Tether Router and many others). So, I do recommend doing so.
+After the new OS is installed a MetroPCS splash screen will appear even if you do have T-Mobile. DO NOT BE ALARMED this firmware will not limit any functionality you had before, it will even help with tethering functionality.
Tutorial:
Let's Begin.
1. Download the link posted to obtain required files for this tutorial
Link: https://mega.nz/#F!PM4CQRqb!92kgIOnD0ZBY-8HVbtTwGQ
2. Open up LGFlashTool2014.exe
Begin by copying settings posted below, then click "normal flash"
3. Next click the "START" button
4. At this time, I recommend you verify all sync settings are to your liking and that all personal info needed is backed up
a. You have the option to throw all of your personal documents/pictures onto your SD card and removing it appropriately
(Go to: Settings - Storage - [scroll down to] Unmount SD card)
b. Next, navigate to Settings -Backup & reset [leave options default; both checked off] - Factory data reset - reset phone
c. Once reset it will most likely reboot, wipe, and then back to a OS. Now, you will Power Off entirely (make sure it is not plugged in so it will not go to charging mode)
d. Here is where we will hold down the Volume Up button with the phone unplugged from your PC. Then you must plug the USB into your phone.
e. A black screen with white text should post onto your screen, here we will continue to step 6
note: If this screen does not appear please power off and retry step d.
6. Next, follow the posted settings. Make sure to click the "Clear phone Software update Registry" button Then click "OK"
7. A new screen will arrive, and should begin the firmware download process. At this time it will take a few minute to load and should reboot to a fresh OS.
8. With the new OS in place, you can either follow the setup tutorial now or skip through for a later setup.
note: you can now insert your SD card
9. In the tools folder of the folder you downloaded copy the "mrw" folder to the Main Storage folder of your phone
10. Now copy the Kingroot apk to your downloads folder located on the main storage.
11. Go to Settings - About Phone - Software Info
At this time click the build number box a few times until it says you are a developer
12. Hit back until you are at the Setting menu, click on Developer options and check off "Stay Awake" and "Enable OEM Unlock" as well as "USB Debugging"
13. You may now run Kingroot, if it does not install root the first time it should flawlessly install the next.
14. After root is obtained, please go to your home screen and click the "Google Search" widget. Press Update Google Services and let it run. After that has been updated search for terminal emulator and install.
note: If the Play Store is acting fishy and force closing while typing in the search bar do not fret it will be fixed after reboot in further instruction
as an allternative use the jackpal.androidterm-1.0.70-71-minAPI4.apk provided in the "tools" folder
15. Open terminal and in a new window type: Su
16. Allow root usage and at this time type: sh /storage/emulated/0/mrw/root.sh
17. It will run with a few failed messages do not worry it should open SuperSu momentarily
18. Once SuperSu opens up allow it to update binaries using the "NORMAL" option but DO NOT REBOOT YET
19. At this time either download TWRP Manager from the play store or alternatively use the com.jmz.soft.twrpmanager-7.5.1.3-82-minAPI11.apk provided in the tools folder
20. Install and open TWRP Manager. Once opened click on device name and scroll until you see "LG Leon LTE (c50)"
a. Click on Recovery Version to Install and select "twrp-2.8.7.0-c50.img"
b. next click "Install Recovery" and if prompted for verification of install path and for install version select "YES" & "NORMAL"
21. After the TWRP setup is complete it may prompt you to reboot, if not click the arrow in the top left of the TWRP Manager screen and scroll down to "Reboot" and select "Reboot device"
22. After Reboot click TWRP Manager and verify a SuperSu prompt comes up if it hasn't already before the boot
At this point the device should be running smoothly. From here I prefer to do the following steps.
My Personal Setup after new install:
+Personally I like to install use a Root Uninstaller (I use 3C Toolbox Pro) and Uninstall and Backup all MetroPCS BloatWare including the Metro Browser.
+I also access the Hidden Menu by using the Dialer and Dial "2776348*#*"
- I scroll down to ApnUnlock and click to "Unlock APN"
- Then I navigate to Settings -Tethering & networks - Mobile Networks (I check off roaming data) - Access point names
--I then select the top APN and edit APN Type to: default,supl,mms,dun
---I click save from the top right selection, then turn on and off airplane mode
+If you are and Xposed user download "xposed-v79-sdk22-arm.zip","xposed-uninstaller-20150831-arm.zip", and "XposedInstaller_3.0_alpha4.apk" from: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3034811
-install the Xposed Installer, then Go to TWRP Manager, use reboot to recovery and from there click install and navigate to the "xposed-v79-sdk22-arm.zip" and install and reboot, it will reboot with a installing screen before your home screen, takes 5 minutes.
+I also use this AMAZING app "Wifi Tether Router", it is the only tethering app I use that works consistently (if you have an unlimited data plan). I get 30mbps up and down, playing many multiplayer games off my PC and PS4 averaging ping as low as 30 ! Setting I use for our device are in a post I created here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/leon/help/unlimited-metropcs-t-mobile-tether-t3290180
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Thanks to:
MrW0lf from www.W0lfdroid.com for the Kingroot to SuperSU scrip
Numerous users on the XDA forums I pieced all of this information with
Fabio Grasso for making the amazing Wifi Tether Router
Team Win for being creating an awesome utility that has saved me from numerous bricks creating a stable method
Xposed and the creators of awesome additions such as Lolistat, Lucky Patcher, Max Lock, and SNAPPREFS
Any feedback? Did I do Okay? Questions? Let me know!
Worked for me on T-mobile H345
Worked for me on T-mobile H345 any way to install a H340 firmware on it? I GeT a Binary not authorised when trying to flash.
kodacy said:
Worked for me on T-mobile H345 any way to install a H340 firmware on it? I GeT a Binary not authorised when trying to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apologies for the late response, I never received a notification of your posting. I would not recommend that as I believe the H340 has a different "radio" driver or cellular chip, If I'm not mistaken the H340 isn't even LTE, the H345 is. In that case it may be possible. One thing I suggest doing before wasting your time in using any other ROM is googling H345 vs Ms345, typically the phonemore.com results will provide you with an abundance of hardware specs and let you know if they're different! Just be weary of the newest MS34510f_00.KDZ firmware I believe it has an active unroot process I've had some stability issues. I am using MS34510D_00.KDZ for months and have had no issues whatsoever! Again, I'm sorry I got back to you so late, let me know how everything goes!
brad2192 said:
Apologies for the late response, I never received a notification of your posting. I would not recommend that as I believe the H340 has a different "radio" driver or cellular chip, If I'm not mistaken the H340 isn't even LTE, the H345 is. In that case it may be possible. One thing I suggest doing before wasting your time in using any other ROM is googling H345 vs Ms345, typically the phonemore.com results will provide you with an abundance of hardware specs and let you know if they're different! Just be weary of the newest MS34510f_00.KDZ firmware I believe it has an active unroot process I've had some stability issues. I am using MS34510D_00.KDZ for months and have had no issues whatsoever! Again, I'm sorry I got back to you so late, let me know how everything goes!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem thank you for your help!
will i still have metro service?
Port(usb or serial) not found! tried on, off, update mode, changing ports and unplugging every other port. any thoughts?
kap10nuka said:
Port(usb or serial) not found! tried on, off, update mode, changing ports and unplugging every other port. any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here (firmware update) usb not detected when using the S/W update tool
After going all the way through this guide with a T-Mobile Leon, I do indeed have a Metro PCS ROM and root, which is great! Unfortunately, it also refuses to acknowledge my T-Mobile SIM. In fairness, I did not even insert a SIM for the first time (just got the phone) until the end of the process, but it shows as carrier locked which is significantly less than useful. I'll flash back to a TMO rom and put the SIM in to double check, but it's quite a bummer. Great job on the guide otherwise, though! It definitely did what it says on the tin; I have root and apart from the SIM lock which may be my fault somehow it works great.
Hey bud those links are no longer valid know where i can get them?

(BETA)(ROM)Resurrection Remix M v5.7.4 (Android 6.0.1) for ALL SM-G318 Series

:good:HUGE Thanks to shuchvadim and all russian that working on this rom: https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=677369&st=4060#entry60923345
-So far this is the stable rom for ALL SM-G318 Series (like SM-G318HZ or SM-G318H).
-Dont worry the rom is still in english even made by the russian
(IMPORTANT)Before start doing anything,READ THIS:
-Your phone must be same as title (SM-G318 Series Only.Not work for SM-G313 Series)
-Your phone must be rooted and have TWRP installed.If not go here and see: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help/twin-win-recovery-project-twrp-root-sm-t3331182
-You must have External SD Card (atleast 2 or 4GB)
-You must have all File requirement given.
-Have charged battery over 30 or 40% (Optional just in case).
-Make backup of your personal data and everything (Optional just in case).
What work ?:
-Almost everything i can say
What not work or bug?:
-Offline Charging (No animation show but it still charge)
-No Radio installed
-3G Network Connection drop.(Bug fix given)
Features:
-Deodex
-Add UMS Enabler (Switch between MTP and Mass Storage)
-Security Patch Level (5 November 2016)
-Add Kernel Adiutor (Good performance monitor)
Link to Download the File requirement:
-ROM: https://mega.nz/#!Dk5SFTKT!xuv7qxzYAbxCSr5k_i9uNJM1oHuOfOSFT4RxP5fg0Rw
-GApps: www.opengapps.org
(Guide to download GApps)
Choose:
Platform : ARM
Android : 6.0
Variant: Nano or Pico
-3 Patch : Download link at the end of the post
OK lets begin the installation :
Warning do it at your own risk!!! I am not responsible for any damage to your phone!!!
1. Download all file requirement.
2. After that all the downloaded files in your external sdcard.
3. Boot in to Recovery mode (Press Power button + Home button + Volume Up at the same time)
4.Warning: This will erase all your data in internal storage!!! Make sure you backup all your data!!!!!
Go to Wipe ---> Advanced Wipe ---> Select :
-Cache
-Internal Storage
-Data
-System
Then Slide to Wipe all of it.
5. After that go to home and select Install :
-Select (Up a Level) then select external_sd.
-After that find where you put the rom and the gapps.
6. First select and install the rom.
7. Wait for it done then go back and select the gapps.
8.Go back and flash those all 3 patch.
9.After finish that select Wipe Dalvik Cache.
10.Then Reboot.
11.Enjoy
Bug fixes:
Whoever having 3G Network problem do this.
-Download refnotify.zip in the attacment given below.
-Extract renotify.zip and paste it in to \system\bin
-Replace it if it ask.
-First start will take some time so be patience.
-Press the thanks button if it work
-The screenshot is taken from the directly from the developers website, so that why it in russian
Will the Offline Charging (No animation show but it still charge) bug be fixed soon?
By the way, what does "No Radio installed" bug mean?
wildcat1298 said:
Will the Offline Charging (No animation show but it still charge) bug be fixed soon?
By the way, what does "No Radio installed" bug mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No radio mean no apps installed to make it function.
i m still searching for the fix.
Here's my experience since I installed this ROM...
From stock, I flashed the pre-rooted firmware first. The flashing thingy went through successfully, however, when my device booted up, everything seemed to be a disaster. It lags occasionally, sometimes unusable. Freeze here. Freeze there. Remove battery. My data (apps, files, etc.) were kept. I thought everything would be gone after the flash. Not a dev here lol. I made a backup though before doing the whole process. Maybe backing up the data and performing a factory reset (from stock ROM first) before flashing the pre-rooted firmware would help. It took me more than 2 hours before I was able to successfully install TWRP — then flash the custom ROM and the gapps. Again, the flash went through successfully. On boot, minor disaster again. After selecting the language and the SIM card to be used for the mobile data, the setup thingy did crash. Back to language again, SIM card selection, crash. "Unfortunately (blah2) stopped." I tried to reboot normally, even turned the device off and removed the battery, but still, the bug persists. Tried to look for other reboot options. I think it was "Download" that I selected and TADAAAH. It booted. Everything seemed to be fine! I installed ES File Explorer and I was amazed how light this custom ROM was.
At the stock ROM, I was able to connect some USB devices such as a keyboard, mouse, flash drive, and printer via OTG adaptor. Also, I was able to cast some media to my Miradisplay dongle (DNLA mode) through the BubbleUPnP for DLNA/Chromecast app. Miracast (screen mirroring) won't work on stock, no option to enable at the settings as well. Screen mirroring on the stock via Screen Stream is possible, but the latency is terrible and the app will exit upon opening other apps. I hoped that screencasting via Miracast will work on the custom ROM by this time, but still, it didn't. The dongle can be recognized as a wireless display at the custom ROM settings though, but upon connecting, it will not go through. I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with the connecting process. If it will be fixed, I assume that the screen mirroring feature will now be available as well.
Back to the OTG compatibility issue, I was able to find out the problem and fix it (thank u google). The android.hardware.usb.host.xml file is missing from the /system/etc/permissions folder. I searched for the file on Google, downloaded it, and pasted the file into the said folder through the ES File Explorer (root explorer > mounted /system as RW). Reboot my device. Success. OTG restored. So far, I was able to connect my flash drive and print from my printer via OTG adaptor. The printer app I used, by the way, is Mobile Print - PrinterShare.
I HOPE THE CAST SUPPORT WILL BE FIXED Tried the #MirrorEnabler already but no luck. Sorry for the long post, first timer. Sorry if I did violate something or what.
bug detected
thank you, multisim is enable, i would like disable multisim , in terminal root: setprop persist.radio.multisim.config none , I have a bug process.com.internal.phone as interrupted
do you have a solution?
Flashed the ROM and run very good. There are some patches to fix wallpaper and audio bugs in official topic in 4pda.ru, you can flash it to have a better kernel.
hungvip2001 said:
Flashed the ROM and run very good. There are some patches to fix wallpaper and audio bugs in official topic in 4pda.ru, you can flash it to have a better kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the feedback. can you send the patch to fix the bug cause i cant acess all 4pda.ru attachment files even i have account
Kikaa99 said:
thanks for the feedback. can you send the patch to fix the bug cause i cant acess all 4pda.ru attachment files even i have account
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you are :
I created a thread about ROMs for Ace 4 SM-G318 here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ace-4/development/rom-cyanogenmod-11-12-13-ace-4-neo-ace-t3627637
You can try them and give feedback at it.
hungvip2001 said:
I created a thread about ROMs for Ace 4 SM-G318 here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ace-4/development/rom-cyanogenmod-11-12-13-ace-4-neo-ace-t3627637
You can try them and give feedback at it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for give the files :good:
but right now my phone has a problem.....
-after i flash odin it say pass and my phone turn into blackscreen and not reboot.
-cant even turn on or charging...and i think it hard brick
so i do some research and i try :
-remove battery
-press power+vol up and down + home at same time
-keep hold the key and connect the phone to pc
-my pc detect as *unknown device* with no driver installed error but actually i have install all samsung usb driver.
i do more research i found out that not only me but galaxy j1 also have same problem and other samsung devices too.
The only way to fix this problem is using usb jig to force the phone to boot into download mode and flash using odin to make it boot back.
If anyone know other way let me know pls.
Kikaa99 said:
Thanks for give the files :good:
but right now my phone has a problem.....
-after i flash odin it say pass and my phone turn into blackscreen and not reboot.
-cant even turn on or charging...and i think it hard brick
so i do some research and i try :
-remove battery
-press power+vol up and down + home at same time
-keep hold the key and connect the phone to pc
-my pc detect as *unknown device* with no driver installed error but actually i have install all samsung usb driver.
i do more research i found out that not only me but galaxy j1 also have same problem and other samsung devices too.
The only way to fix this problem is using usb jig to force the phone to boot into download mode and flash using odin to make it boot back.
If anyone know other way let me know pls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw this problem in my phone. Reset your computer, reinstall driver from https://www.google.com/url?q=[url]h...ggTMAA&usg=AFQjCNHJpORiWETp9lM3eMDn4a-U3iYI1Q[/url]
Then use Odin 3.0.9 ( the most stable version and flash the official firmware.
Hope you will success.
Edit: a 4pda.RU member says ( translated from Russian)
In the early Samsung bootloader it was possible to patch with a COM cable that is soldered to the connector. Now, I do not know, but maybe there are pyataks on the board under TX, RX, GND. And it was possible with FlashTool. If there is a ready-made jig recovery scheme, why not use it?
front cam doesnt work
when i flashed this rom it seemed to be fine but when i opened the camera, there is no front cam button! so i tried other apps that needs front cam and there is nothing too, pls fix this
:crying::crying::crying::crying::crying::crying::crying:
GoldenWood said:
it seemed to be fine but when i opened the camera, there is no front cam button
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Missing lib and other files. Many roms for G318 series was designed for G318H, ML which just have back camera. Try this cm11 ROM if you want to use front camera:
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24686681827312795

Poptel P60 Discussion: Firmware, TWRP, Root, Unbrick

UPDATE: I was able to debrick the phone. Read my later post for details.
----------------------
Hi All,
Thank you all for having amazing community of hackers and developers here. You guys rock.
I started my search for a new rugged rootable phone recently and I settled on Poptel P60. It is a great phone though slightly bigger than what I normally get. Nontheless, the specs are excellent and the price is fair!
I've had a limited success rooting and customizing this phone. The OEM interface is almost bearable but overall the "Customized UI" felt like a downgrade from stock Oreo. It has a very annoying feature of reverting to stock launcher on startup, even when I selected Nova as my default one. The stock launcher is not that great. This, and the lack of ability to use x.flux, Titanium Backup and other root-only apps drove me to try hacking things again.
After emailing the manufacturer they provided the firmware but it is in CPB format. I tried at least 3 different converters for CPB to MTK Scatter and they all either freeze or hang. No luck.
Instead I did a rom readback with SPFlashTool and then cut up the partitions with Wwr. Now I've finally had the recovery partition! I used CarlivImageKitchen to port TWRP from a similar device, Ulefone Armor 5. The chipset and resolution are same. After some trial and error it worked! I had to use USB-OTG for input and external sd card had a weird label, but I was able to install Magisk from the SD card to root, followed by XPosed, full package. It worked! If anyone needs my ported TWRP Recovery for Poptel P60 just ask!
However, the manufacturer UI did complain a lot about the phone being rooted. Eventually, somehow, Magisk stop receiving root requests. They never showed up and timed out! Very strange, because apps that already received root continued working. I tried a lot but could not fix the issue. I was fed up. I wanted to do a manufacturer reset (in hopes of starting from scratch and then attempting to port Lineage or something) but, as I've mentioned, I have not received a firmware compatible with SPFlashTool. I tried to make one from Armor 5. The partitions were almost the same (both are MT6763 devices). One was out of order, and offsets were different and I patched all those. To be clear, I used all the partitions and layout extracted from my rom readback that was cut up by Wwr. I only used the Armor 5 scatter as a reference for file format. I edited the layout to match everythign I saw in Wwr.
This is where the horror begins. I tried flashing (Download Only) with SPFlashTool but got some error saying something changed. "Do you want to do Format & Download instead?". Being an inexperienced idiot that I am, I said yes!
Now, the phone appears bricked. No lights. No screen output. Cannot enter fastboot. Cannot enter recovery. Cannot boot.
I have a feeling the preloader got corrupted. I'm not sure this is the case because I've omitted the preloder from download. At least the first time the phone started acting bricked. The device still shows as Mediatek USB VCOM device and flashing gets initiated but all attempts to flash result in errors. MA checksum mistmatch or something along that order. I've tried a lot of things and I'm stuck! For good or for worse I've tried flashing Ulefone Armor 5 preloader but I'm getting the same error when trying to flash it.
Here is what I have...
- Stock firmware in SPB format. I can't use it and nothing I tried worked for converting it.
- ROM dump made with SPFlashTool
- Wwr was able to extract every partition except preloader. This includes nvram, etc. I'm not sure why it was not able to extract the bootloader.
- TWRP port that worked. Seems not useful if the phone does not start.
- Preloader for Ulefone Armor 5, (same chipset and resolution)
Clearly I am an idiot for using "Format & Download" option. I've found posts later suggesting against it. I am also over my head for trying to tackle a new device by myself, though I have had a marginal success with porting TWRP and installing Magisk.
Now, I feel like idiot and I am stuck! I beg you, XDA developers, if you have any advice (besides not being an idiot in the future), please share!
Try bringing it back to the carrier and just say that you don't know why it is broken. Maybe they could help you out.
Say maybe something like you wanted to do a factory reset and now everything is broken.
SkylinesHD said:
Try bringing it back to the carrier and just say that you don't know why it is broken. Maybe they could help you out.
Say maybe something like you wanted to do a factory reset and now everything is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't work, heh. I bought this phone on eBay and rights now it's currently sold by a handful of sites. It is on warranty but returning it back to China would be complicated. At any rate, I live on the edge outside of warranty!
I was just about ready to give up and feel like the biggest reckless loser on Earth... Days of tinkering around with nothing but a phone brick to show for it. Poptel tech support wouldn't provide me with MTK scatter. All they gave me was this SPB firmware that nobody uses and it crashes every converter I threw at it. Useless.... No fastboot. No recovery. No functional bootloader.
The amazing GOOD NEWS is I have debricked the phone... I used a bootloader from another phone's firmware: Cubot_Power_MT6763_180607_8.1.0. Unlike Ulefone Armor 5's preloader this one worked! It seems like it's the only thing I was missing because the phone starts up and everything seems to work. I must have done a good job with all other partitions but I'll try to watch for signs of anything else broken. Right now it seems fine.
I'm not sure if the bootloader was completely gone, corrupted, or an incorrect one was used. All I know is I was able to download Cubot Power's working bootloader (also MT6763) with SPFlashTool. Nothing like a feeling of unbricking your phone!
I will post more updates if that's ok... I'm hoping to port Lineage on it (I've never tried that before) or at least find a way around the manufacturer's clunky UI. The hardware is great otherwise. If anybody wants a working ported TWRP image or the scatter I used for debricking just ask! I will make a post later if I have more success with customizing the phone. The phone is debricked and I have a scatter and images to fall back on if anything goes wrong. Woot! Thank you everyone who developed these great tools.
I have the same phone been looking for info. there's a thread on 4pda with poptel p60 that has the scatter file and firmware. Any chance you could post the twrp for this phone? having trouble trying to port myself cant figure out port 6763 from the guides available.
4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=933002
Firemware:
drive.google.com/uc?id=1PXA9s2ZgHoH6ZWP5ZJPckE4KyJBwPKuw&export=download
idaman0 said:
Hey man,
Was wondering if you saw my post on your thread. Looking for TWRP for the Poptel P60.
Thanks,
telegram @drmethyl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man! Sorry for a slow reply. Was traveling for a few days.
Here is what I have. I started with a TWRP for Armor 5 (also MT6763) and I ported it for Poptel P60 using one of the guides on the forums. It works but it's not perfect. The touchscreen doesn't work, so you have to use USB OTG. Also, internal and external SD card mounts work but labels are confusing, so please be extra careful if wiping/formatting those. I advise popping the SD card out of the phone if wiping/formatting, just in case.
My experience with the phone is it is not the most friendly for rooting. Poptel's customizations are pesky and get in the way. The launcher keeps resetting to default on startup, even after you specify a different one. If you uninstall/disable the OEM launcher there will be red a label on top right of the screen, saying "Customization" that I have not found a way to get rid of. There are other things too, like I keep losing ability to add superuser permission to new apps... Can't figure out why, but sometimes reinstalling Magisk helps. Be very careful when using Magisk Hide, this can turn off your ability to use SIM cards, at least temporarily until you disable hide and restart. Other things is superuser apps don't always launch on startup. Anyway, I don't want to discourage you too much... Here is my twrp port.
https://mega.nz/#!MNVGhaYS!63ovQeowwoP1oE3v6-_ZS8gKx_-mxOh4G4qWcKRbuiQ
Another thing I discovered is GSI builds work mostly well on the phone... with all except one thing, which is mobile data, which seems broken.. Sadly, that's a deal breaker. OEM software is so pesky... It would be so nice to run a clean Android.
Let me know how it goes.
zeromemory_wtf said:
Hey man! Sorry for a slow reply. Was traveling for a few days.
Here is what I have. I started with a TWRP for Armor 5 (also MT6763) and I ported it for Poptel P60 using one of the guides on the forums. It works but it's not perfect. The touchscreen doesn't work, so you have to use USB OTG. Also, internal and external SD card mounts work but labels are confusing, so please be extra careful if wiping/formatting those. I advise popping the SD card out of the phone if wiping/formatting, just in case.
My experience with the phone is it is not the most friendly for rooting. Poptel's customizations are pesky and get in the way. The launcher keeps resetting to default on startup, even after you specify a different one. If you uninstall/disable the OEM launcher there will be red a label on top right of the screen, saying "Customization" that I have not found a way to get rid of. There are other things too, like I keep losing ability to add superuser permission to new apps... Can't figure out why, but sometimes reinstalling Magisk helps. Be very careful when using Magisk Hide, this can turn off your ability to use SIM cards, at least temporarily until you disable hide and restart. Other things is superuser apps don't always launch on startup. Anyway, I don't want to discourage you too much... Here is my twrp port.
Another thing I discovered is GSI builds work mostly well on the phone... with all except one thing, which is mobile data, which seems broken.. Sadly, that's a deal breaker. OEM software is so pesky... It would be so nice to run a clean Android.
Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry man, didn't end up using yours theres a twrp on 4pda now with a mod to flash to keep root. I'll upload for you here if you don;t have an account there.
The patch for the Light-kastomizator v.12 factory firmware.
I decided not to bother with the draining and distribution of modified firmware as a whole, easier to apply the patch, and ... you're done!
If that - the factory firmware v.12 lies with us -HERE, no problem you can return everything back, or (if there is something Kolupaev), first ask her, and then patch.
#
What is done
Будут удалены:
/system/tts
/system/app/QK_LogSystemAbroad_wm_bl
/system/app/QK_Sos
/system/app/QK_PrivacySpace
/system/app/QK_PersonalAssistScreenAbroad_V2
/system/app/BY_3RD_OperaMiniBrowser_OEMBranding
/system/app/BY_3RD_OperaNews_OEMBranding
/system/app/Drive
/system/app/Duo
/system/app/Gmail2
/system/app/GooglePrintRecommendationService
/system/app/LatinImeGoogle
/system/app/Maps
/system/app/Music2
/system/app/PartnerBookmarksProvider
/system/app/Photos
/system/app/YouTube
/system/app/Videos
/system/presetapp/BY_3RD_OperaMiniBrowser
/system/presetapp/BY_3RD_OperaNews
/ system / priv-app / MtkCellBroadcastReceiver
/ system / priv-app / ConfigUpdater
/ system / priv-app / GoogleFeedback
/ system / priv-app / FilesGo
/ system / priv-app / GooglePartnerSetup
/ system / priv-app / QK_MagazineAbroad
/ system / priv-app / Velvet
The system additionally installed:
ES_Provodnik_3.2.5.5 (graphic mode "Panatta-sport")
the SD Maid Pro - system Cleanup (Lite Mod "Breathe of fate" )
Changes:
By default the system is set to Russian language , region and time zone Russia / Moscow. Setupwizard (first assistant settings) is not cut off.
GBoard keyboard replaced by fashion Antonbeard GoogleKeyboard(with a limited access to the Internet is built dictionaries -.. English and Russian)
Google-search is replaced by the latest beta (it is possible to change the style and transparency of the widget)
have been added and changed some default sounds and ringtones, and the default there as a very sadly.
Blocked by advertising the hosts file.
Improved energy efficiency due to shutdown of background update service does not fall asleep GAPPS and downloaders (allowed these services Doze mode).
#
Setting:
1. Throws on micro SD-card this patch.
2. Downloading the last zip-installer " Magisk-v ..... the zip " and also copy it to the SD-card, turn off the phone.
3. Through the SP Flash Tool sewn recovery "TWRP" (the system can not be loaded !!!).
4. Vaypaem userdata (reset to factory settings) through better "factory mode" (volume down inc +) / select "Clear eMMC".
After reset immediately loads in the TWRP (inc + volume up), and from the sd-card in turn apply patches "LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip" and "Magisk-v ..... zip". Reboot from the installation refuse twrp-applications.
Done, you have custom firmware!
(If twrp and Ruth is already installed,
After the completion of all the manipulations, it is desirable to flash the stock (factory) rekaveri, then no problem can be used to reset the system from the Android menu and install the firmware update OTA (over the air).
Download: LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip
PS. Sberbank + contactless payment working properly, despite the fact that the system has been modified and installed Ruth! :derisive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3.2.3 TWRP by Jemmini for "Poptel P60" ( with the phone port Blackview BV9500): Attached file recovery.img (17,27 MB)
The port used by the kernel to flash Android 8.1.0 version of "POPTEL_V12_20181030"
WARNING !! After installing recovery, subject to permit changes in the system partition, install ROOT is required, otherwise the system will not boot. if not to accept the possibility of changing the system partition and establish the patch-root subsequent restart in overwrite TWRP recovery returned drain-
Attached fileMT6763_Android_scatter.rar(1.28 kb)
#
Getting ROOT
For ROOT set out under TWRP (pre throwing off the memory card), this patch: Attached fileMagisk-v18.0.zip (3,99 MB)
#
Stokovye boot / recovery
from said EEPROM: Attached filestock.rar (22,75 MB)
#
What does not work:
1) Do not see "the internal memory" (can not decipher the "data" section and ask when starting TWRP password).
Solution:
download the patch: Attached filedisable_encryption_P60.zip (133.89 KB)
throw it on the memory card, boot into TWRP, go to the "mount" to put a checkbox on the vendor , then go to the "install" and install the patch.
After installation make data in the "cleaning" cleaning (possibly cleaning does not help but the formatting of data should definitely help)
after data manipulation TWRP be able to work with the data section
2) is not working USB / MTP mode into TWRP
#
Information for those who are "in the tank" :
When TWRP presence in the smartphone in any case and under no circumstances should you do reset through the system.
Resetting takes place only directly through TWRP (standard cleaning sections)
If you run the command via the android in the first place, it can not be executed because it does not understand the TWRP.
and secondly, you get a constant load in TWRP because it has not yet executed the command android you will always be send to recovery /
Solution for "tank": need to install flow-recovery to be completed through a reset command or cancel it.
Another solution I personally do not know
Just do not forget about gratitude : Jemmini,- for the compilation of the TWRP which served as donorUrree,- order TWRP and testing (nothing would have happened without it)Message edited Lomaster_Serg - 6.1.19, 03:02
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rapidgator.net/file/84ccd2d612ade0256eb927895d4ed37e/LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip.html
rapidgator.net/file/c77fec40e349f8083eda14bf7058425c/recovery.img.html
rapidgator.net/file/6621d517cef9aa10abc78b40bcdc8b26/stock.rar.html
rapidgator.net/file/7a7db29c0d35eee169b76698aac6b50b/MT6763_Android_scatter.txt.html
drive.google.com/uc?id=1PXA9s2ZgHoH6ZWP5ZJPckE4KyJBwPKuw&export=download

Axon 10 Pro (Non-5G) Expanded EDL Tools / New Fixes / General Tips

WARNING - THESE TOOLS WRITE TO THE DEVICE PARTITIONS DIRECTLY
If you don't know what that means...
THIS CAN REALLY SCREW UP YOUR ---
I HAVE ONLY TESTED THESE ON THE A2020U (NON-5G) - I CANNOT SAY THEY ARE SAFE ON ANY OTHER VERSION OF THE PHONE (YET)​(If you want to test it on a specific model you own, send a PM or post and I can tell you to run a few (safe) things from these tools to make them compatible your phone.)
See my next post down for some more "beginner friendly" general tips and tricks for this phone, including some fixes for common problems and a quick guide for installing Magisk!​
If you can't afford to brick your phone, these tools aren't made for you.
There aren't really any protections from doing damage. I made them for myself because doing them on a command line constantly is a pain. I'm just sharing them for two reasons:
1) So myself or other people have tools available to make it easier when advising someone on how to fix their phone.
2) For tinkerers who are okay taking the risk that they'll mess something up.
Thanks to @djkuz / @Unjustified Dev for the EDL tool. These scripts really just expand the use of fh_loader commands in that tool. If you are able to read C++ and want to understand fh_loader I suggest searching on google, the source code is available and from that you can better understand what the tool does / what the command line options do. Feel free to ask here too, I'll do my best to share what I know.
Anyway - below I'll go into plenty of detail of what each "tool" does and some helpful information about using them.
I write in a kind of permanent verbose mode, so if you're impatient and need a TL;DR for these... tough. =)
CURRENT VERSION: Version 1.1d​
Changelog:
Version 1.1d:
- Fixed reset scripts
Version 1.1c:
- Fixed a typo in backup_GPT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Version 1.1b:
- Fixed errors in GPT_Tools - apparently these existed since v1.0 DO NOT USE PREVIOUS VERSIONS
- Removed the v1.1a download (use 1.1b)
Version 1.1a:
- Added script to find the COM port automatically
- Updated all scripts to use the COM port in the file COMPort (created by the above script)
- Added the missing AB Partition manipulation files (accidentally left out of v1.0)
- Added script to run the phone reset EDL command
- Fixed all the filename inconsistency in the XML files - HOPEFULLY. Please post any errors you find. Unfortunately this will make this version incompatible with v1.0 backups without some work - either rename your backup files to match the new format or use the old XML files included.
-- Especially fixed the XML typo of "uefi_sec.mbn" being backed up from both A and B to the same file (overwriting the A copy with B during an ALL backup).
- Added support for installing firmware packages created for this tool. Put them in the Firmware_Package_Restore directory and use the scripts included with them.
Basic Instructions:
1) Download zip (See attachment at the bottom, or here - Download from AndroidFileHost)
2) Unpack zip
3) Move folder to the root directory, or inside any chain of directories that do NOT have spaces in any of the names
4) Right-click on scripts and select "Run with Powershell" to run
5) If running scripts fails due to permissions, see these instructions: https://superuser.com/questions/106360/how-to-enable-execution-of-powershell-scripts
Make a "Complete Backup" (minus userdata):
1) Run Load Programmer
2) Run "backup_all"
3) Check the backup directory and verify the files were backed up and sizes make sense - a full backup should be 10,387,202,048 bytes / 39 files for the critical files and 1,626,697,728 bytes / 64 files for the non-critical (Don't include the port_trace log file when checking size)
Note: You will see a lot of "warnings" before the files begin to download, the program checking if the files already exist.
How to Use These Tools:
Important:
When the scripts run there will be a lot of information dumped to the console. It's not necessary to read all of that BUT - IF YOU DO NOT SEE THE ASCII ART "DONE" AT THE END of running any of these scripts it is likely the script encountered a serious issue. "WARNING" art is normal for some scripts, but "ERROR" means something went wrong.
None of these find the COM port automatically. It is possible (the EDL tool does) but it's just extra work I'm not paid to do =P
You will need to edit each program and change the variable at the top (usually $COMPort = "6") to whatever port number your phone shows up on.
Sorry that's inconvenient, but it should just be once per script - my port number never changes so it wasn't worth implementing automatic port finding.
This is no longer needed after v1.1a.
1. Load Programmer
This is a simple but extremely important tool! You need to run this before running anything else. This script will open a window that runs a command to open a connection to the phone (when it is in EDL / "9008" mode). The window will stay open until you close it. When working on backups I often need to re-connect the programmer, so this makes that easy - just alt-tab to it and hit enter. If you look at the script, it's fairly straightforward - just read the instructions on the screen after running it. The "secret sauce" for this is really the firehose protocol for our chipset that Unjustified Dev provided in the EDL tool.​
2. Backup / Restore:
backup_all: This will backup everything on the phone EXCEPT for the huge userdata partition. It will create a backup in two directories, which I'll explain..​​"critical" / "non-critical": You can see that I have scripts to run these two "types" of backups. Non-critical DOES NOT MEAN NOT IMPORTANT. It means that it is not critical TO ME to back up those files EVERY time I do a backup, because they rarely change. They're EXTREMELY important to have at least one backup of for your phone. The "critical" backup files are files that change often, although some of them are extreme non-critical (cache for example). Use a different name than "critical" if you like, but the point is that only with BOTH backups run (which is what backup_all does) will you have a complete backup.​​restore_all: This will restore a full (both critical and non-critical) backup set. The backup files have to be in the "restore_critical" and "restore_non-critical" directories respectively. If you didn't make the backup you're trying to restore with this tool CHECK THE FILENAMES, e.g. if you used Unjustified's EDL tool you have to rename the "abl.elf" file his backup generates to "abl_a.elf" for mine. I put _a and _b on every partition that has an a/b version because I got tired of getting them confused. Of course you can always install a backup to either slot.​Files moved to the "restore_" directories won't be changed at all by the restore process so you can cut/paste the files from your backup into the directory instead of copying them.​
3. A/B Partition Manipulation
These are no more complicated than the backup/restore tools. But they are written to make manipulations of the A/B partitions easier.​My main use for these is when I know I have a good, working ROM setup on slot A, I run A2B copy. Then no matter which slot I end up booting I'm sure it will work. (That is, if you have a working, booting slot, copying all the files from that slot to the other slot using this tool will make both slots the same.)​​Backup/Copy:​​run_AB-partition-backup: As it says, it will backup both the A/B partition files - WARNING this is NOT a full backup of the phone.​​run_AB-partition-swap: This will backup all the A/B partition files, then it will write the B files to A and A to B, effectively swapping the partitions and leaving you with a backup in case it screwed up. This backup is ONLY OF THE A/B FILES.. NOT the whole device!​​run_A2B-partition-copy (and run_B2A-partition-copy): These will do a backup of both A/B partition files, then write the A partition onto the B partition (A2B) or vice versa (B2A), effectively mirroring that partition.​
​Write/Restore:​​All the restore scripts try to find their files in the "restore_Partitions" directory - place the files from one of the backups to be restored there.​​restore_AB-partition-backup: Restore a backup of both the A and B partition files.​​restore_A-partition-backup (and B): Restore just the backup of one partition to the same partition it was taken from (A to A and B to B).​​restore_A2B-partition-backup (and B2A): These write from one partition backup to the other partition as the name suggests.​
4. GPT Tools
These are some basic tools to directly interact with the partition tables - these are not going to be of any use to 99% of people, so just ignore them if you don't know what they do.​​run_fixGPT: This issues the --fixgpt command to each of the LUNs. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. As I understand it, this will use the onboard device configuration information from each LUN (e.g. logical size) and try to rebuild the GPTs. It's similar to running patch XMLs, it can clean up flashing messes. It isn't magic and won't fix everything.​Rarely will anyone need it unless they've been messing around with the flash tools recklessly... I certainly don't know anyone who would do something that dumb ​​backup_GPT: Backup all of the header and footer (main/backup) GPTs for all the partitions (lun 0-5). I am not aware of whether any other models of the phone have more LUNs, so be careful if you're using this on a non A2020U phone.​​restore_GPT: Simply write an entire GPT backup set (both main and backup 0-5) onto the phone. The backups must be in the restore_GPT folder. This DOES NOT BACKUP before it runs so make sure you did your backup.​​
6. Set Bootable Partition:
Alright this one is important for everyone. There are two scripts here - one for slot A and one for slot B. These just run a simple command, but they will fix a common problem I (and probably others) have - when the ROM active-slot information does NOT match the partition (hard drive) bootable flag, the phone will bootloop EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING IS GOOD.​​So when you flash an EDL backup (depending on which files you flash, I believe this happens because of either the bootloader or the GPT files) there is a chance the backup you're flashing was originally from a different slot than the one you're restoring it to. The config thinks it should be on slot A while the hardware thinks slot B should be booting.​This will result in a fast ~3 second bootloop as the two disagree and reset.​​This tool changes which partition is expecting to boot - "1" for slot A and "2" for slot B.​​This does NOT change the active slot - the phone will continue to boot the same slot it's trying to boot. You just need to make the partition that it is trying to boot has a bootable flag.​AFAIK there is no way to change the active slot (the one XBL (I think) is trying to boot), except through fastboot or when the phone fails to load the OS 8 times in a row (note - if it fail to load the OS - if the phone bootloops before "boot" is called it won't ever switch slots on its own).​​This was a common cause of fast bootloops for me before I figured this fix out. ​
It does no harm to try this as you can always switch again. If neither one works for you, then it's something wrong with the files you're flashing. If you know which slot the phone is trying to boot (the one it was on last), run the script that matches that slot.​
7. Write "Unlocked" Bootloader and FRP:
Just like the original EDL tool, these very simply overwrite your existing (probably stock) bootloader (abl) files with the fastboot enabled version, and/or your FRP with the "unlocked" flag on (see description below). This will allow you to enter the bootloader menu (Vol+/- on booting) and use fastboot to unlock the bootloader.​​backup_FRP-and-bootloaders: As it says, this will make backups of both the FRP file and current bootloader files (ABLs).​​run_all: Literally just runs both of the below scripts *shrug*​​write_UD-bootloader: This automatically backs up both your existing A/B bootloaders before overwriting them (BOTH) with the unlocked/fastboot bootloader.​WARNING - an unfortunate fact is that if you're using the stock ROM and you have this bootloader installed, it borks the USB mode so it's stuck in charge only. There's a way to fix it temporarily, I'll post it in my "tips" thread, but you have to do it every time you boot, very annoying. I can't fix it permanently because I don't know how the bootloader file was built!​WARNING 2 - Android 10 will NOT BOOT with this bootloader installed. You can still install it, trying to boot will bootloop, but you can get into the bootloader menu and use fastboot - but there are no recoveries I know of that work with Android 10 right now, so there's very limited use to having fastboot right now. Hopefully we can get a port of TWRP 3.4 going for this phone..​​write_unlock-frp: This is also in the EDL tool, but maybe poorly explained - the FRP file holds the flag you change in the OS Developer Options to designate "allow bootloader unlock". If you FORGOT to switch that flag on and unlock, as I understand it, you get bootlooped. This can fix that for you without having to go through all the work of undoing that mess.​WARNING - I have only tested this with a brand new factory reset OS WITHOUT any fingerprint/code set. It may not work if you set one. I warn against using this if you are not ready to lose your data. It's convenient if you just forgot, but if you set a pattern/fingerprint security and encrypted the filesystem overwriting the FRP might remove your ability to decrypt which would force you to factory reset. Again, I haven't tested it for that so it may work, but be careful.​If you already screwed up and ran this to set the flag - the script runs a quick backup of your old FRP just in case. So you can try to restore that FRP and pray lol)​
8. Specific Files:
This is just a generic program to backup/write(restore) "specific files".​​I include a "Reference.XML" which has a full <program> line for every partition you might want to write/read on the phone. To use this, you need to copy the lines from the reference XML into "rawprogram-specific-files.xml" for the files you want to read/write.​​As an example I already set up "rawprogram-specific-files.xml" with the two lines for "abl_a" and "abl_b" in it. So the script will backup or restore those files (provided you put the abl's you want to restore in the restore_files directory).​​I personally use this template a lot - I have one for ABLs, one for AOPs, one for BOOTs, and so on. If you are trying to fix a specific file(s) it's convenient.​
9. Userdata Backup:
I put this last because, to be honest, I'm not sure how good of an idea including this even is.​​VERY IMPORTANT - DO NOT USE THIS USERDATA TOOL IF YOUR PHONE IS NOT THE 256GB VERSION!!!!!​​I will need someone with the 128GB version to send me their GPT files if they want me to make an XML that works for them. Because the userdata size for SURE depends on your phone version.​​Also, I wrote a script that breaks up the file into download slices (and can be written back to the phone in slices, of course) - one, to see if I could do it and if it would work (it does)... and two, so that in the horrible case that something goes wrong during the... nearly 2hrs of transfer time, for my 256gb image ... that I can at least not have to start all over. If something happens, you should be able to remove the entries in the XML for what you already have and start again.​​Finally - is it even worth doing? Is backing up the userdata even useful?​​I don't know yet.​​For an unecrypted pre-A10 phone I do know it works to fully flash ALL the files on the phone + the userdata all at the same time to return the phone to the exact "state" it was backed up in - all the apps and settings and everything, exactly as they were.​​But A10 is encryption enabled always, and it uses file encryption which sounds even worse for this idea.. and I don't know if the crypto keys change and when. So flashing an entire encrypted partition might just leave you unable to decrypt all, some, or none and you lose everything.​OR it might just work - you throw the whole image on there and the decrypt key is the same, boom, easy backup.​​If anyone tries it, let me know how it goes (or doesn't). I'll update with any results I find.​​Update 1: I have confirmed that for the 256gb A2020U backing up the full phone and userdata allows you to restore the phone to that exact state. Doesn't matter if it's encrypted, password set or not, etc. If you backup the entire userdata image and reflash it that is where the phone will be. In most cases you also need all the other partitions too, but if they have not changed they don't have to be reflashed. (I confirmed going from encrypted with password -> encrypted with no password -> back up encrypted with password.. This is on Android 10 with its more complicated encryption).​Another nice thing to note - of course the image of the phone will be the size of the partition (ie. 256gb for mine, 128gb for others). But if your phone storage is largely empty, you compress the backup using something like 7z once the image has been backed up. It won't take up so much space then. How much less? My 256gb image compressed is 4.5gb. lol.... it makes sense, the phone is new and there's basically no information on the userdata. Many of the pieces of my userdata backup have the same exacty hashes - meaning they are literally just all 0's... 260gb of zeros. Unfortunately you can't get away with just backing up part of the image as data could be anywhere. And over time as the sectors get written to, it will get more difficult to compress.​​Anyway, if anyone has a 128GB version they want to donate to science (kidding - I just need backups of the GPT) I can make the XML file to use for backing those up too.​
Extra Note: All the programs automatically build a log of the console window, so if something goes by too fast just check the log. The fh_loader also creates a log and dumps it somewhat randomly about... lol.. the filename is port_trace.txt. This tends to get deleted and overwritten easily so if you want to keep it, move it when the script finishes,. it does often contain more information than the console shows - it can be useful understanding what's going on.
Extra Note 2: You'll notice a script "Create Hash List" in practically every directory. That's to strongly hint that using that script is super useful. All the files backed up through these tools, by definition, have the exact same size. If you hash your files though, you can tell if they have changed at all. This is extremely useful in troubleshooting problems.
How to install an EDL firmware package:
Note: This tool is specifically made for the firmware packages I posted. It won't work with any other package (although it can, with a little work).
1. Install the EDL tools
2. Run a backup of your phone! Even if it isn't booting.
3. Download a firmware package from this thread: [ROM][STOCK] Stock Firmware Packages (For Expanded EDL Tools)
4. Unpack the firmware archive into the tool directory "Firmware_Package_Restore"
5. Put phone in EDL mode and run Load Programmer
6. Run whichever "Write Firmware vX to Y.ps1" you want (X = firmware version, Y = A or B partition) (If you don't know which partition is currently booting, just install both.)
7. Wait for the install to finish ("done"), then reset the phone with either the power button or the reset tool
8. You might see a few bootloops and then the phone ask you to do a factory reset / system wipe.
9. Done.
PLEASE POST IN THE FIRMWARE THREAD _NOT HERE_ IF YOU RUN INTO ANY ISSUES!
Enjoy!
Also, while I'm here... some other helpful notes for this phone:
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General Information:
As of right now there are a lot of working options for Android 9 and quickly expanding thanks to work @Unjustified Dev did and work @rafyvitto is continuing to do! Check out some of his sGSI ROMs, lots of options!
Thanks to Unjustified LOS 16 is available for Android 9 also, and is the base install for most ROMs. See his threads for that. I may write up an install guide here that's a little more in depth than his.. not today though.
Upgrading to Android 10 with the bootloader unlocked is possible but requires a workaround:
You must unlock on Android 9 then use recovery to side-load the Android 10 update available from ZTE USA (HERE).
This will remove the fastboot enabled bootloader and requires a complete system wipe.
You will retain bootloader unlock.
Once you have updated to A10 you can run OTA updates to get up to the latest version.
Downsides to A10 include - NO RECOVERY (yet), NO CUSTOM ROMs (yet), and if you flash the fastboot enabled bootloader you CAN use fastboot, but you cannot boot- the phone will be in a bootloop until you restore the stock A10 bootloader.
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Resetting the phone manually:
In EDL Loop - Hold power for 20 seconds
In EDL Not-Looped - Hold power for 5 seconds
In System (booted after ZTE logo) - Hold power for 10 seconds
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Entering Modes:
All of these start by using reset above, THEN the button(s) below - in all except one case (EDL), when the phone resets it will vibrate and then show the blue ZTE logo.
When you feel the vibration you want to immediately release the power button and press the mode buttons.
This can be confusing and tricky - most people say "hold power + button" - that is incorrect. Most cases if you hold any button other than power the phone will not finish resetting until you release that button.
What you want to do is right before or as the phone vibrates, then you hold the button. Once the ZTE screen is up it is probably too late if you missed it. So hold power for your reset and be ready to push the button you want when you feel the vibration.
The one exception - EDL mode. For EDL mode you can (and must) hold the key combo just before/during the restart.
Recovery Mode: Vol+ Button
Factory Test Mode: Vol- Button
Bootloader/Fastboot Mode: Vol+/- Button (both) when phone is NOT plugged into USB (if you are too early pressing the combo, even with the USB unplugged, you will get EDL mode)
Emergency Download Mode: Vol+/- Button (both) when phone IS plugged into USB
--------------------------------
EDL Flash Errors (esp. when EDL looped):
There is NO indication the phone is even ON when you are EDL stuck/looped. Other than when you plug into the computer with the right drivers it shows up as a 9008 device (9008 mode is EDL for Qualcomm).
Even when you can see the phone on your computer, it can often "freeze" in EDL if it is left idle for too long (not connected to and being used by a Sahara programmer).
If you try the EDL tool or another flash tool and they give you errors related to the Sahara programmer not loading or no "hello", do this:
Reset the phone - use a clock to count if you need, has to be accurate since there's no indication of when it resets. Press down Vol+/- and the power button, count to 20sec, then release JUST the power button. Keep holding both of the volumes for another 5 sec, then release them. That will get you back into a fresh EDL. You can watch your Device Manager to see the phone disconnect as an indicator when to let go of the power button. If you mess up the timing, wait a bit before trying again so the phone isn't in the middle of rebooting.
Easiest way to tell if you're in EDL is to watch the Device Manager while you do it. Otherwise there is just a lot of guess work, since there's no logo or vibration when you get it right, phone just appears off.
--------------------------------
USB Mode Stuck After Unlocking:
Something about the fastboot/"unlocked" bootloader causes the USB mode when you boot in the OS to be stuck on "Charge Only" mode.
Luckily I found @meow sir 's comment tucked away in this thread, and he knew a way to fix it (thanks!):
1. Open the phone dialer
2. Dial in "*#*#DEBUG#*#*" (debug = 33284)
(Sometimes takes a little bit to open, but a debugger menu will open)
3. Select the 2nd option for USB
4. Pick the only option - this will unset some strange "testing" mode and you can use MPT again.
Unfortunately this fix doesn't stick, you have to do it every time unless you switch back to the stock ABL. =(
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Installing Magisk, Quick Guide:
- You must have your bootloader unlocked already! This works on both A9 and A10.
1. Use this tool to create a full backup! (backup_all)
2. Go into the "critical" directory created by the backup and find the files for boot_a.img and boot_b.img - rename them to boot_a_bak.img and boot_b_bak.img and keep that window open, need them in a second
2. Boot into the OS. Download the Magisk Manager APK from HERE
3. Copy the APK and both of those boot files to your phone, open a file manager and install the APK
4. Open Magisk Manager and click on "Install" for Magisk (upper right)
5. Select "Patch Boot ROM" (or whatever it says.. something like that..)
6. Navigate to boot_a_bak.img and patch it.
7. Go to your Downloads directory (where Magisk dumps the patched file) and rename it to boot_a_magisk
8. Go back to Magisk and repeat those steps for boot_b
9. Copy the two patched Magisk boot files to your computer, into the folder with your "critical" files backup.
10. Rename the Magisk files to "boot_a.img" and "boot_b.img"
11. Move all the files from the "Backup\backup_all-critical-(...)" directory to the "Restore\restore_critical" directory in my tools
12. Finally, reboot into EDL.. almost there!
13. Run "restore_all-critical" (don't forget to run Load Programmer first..)
14. It will restore all you files, kinda a waste of time - if you know how to use the "Specific Files" tool this is a perfect time to use it to flash JUST the boot files. But anyway - this will get it done.
15. When done flashing, reboot the phone and open Magisk Manager to confirm it is installed!
The Magisk team recommend you DO NOT FLASH your stock boot files back to uninstall it, instead they say you should run their uninstaller.zip. However, I am not sure how to uninstall it if you're on A10 since we don't have a recovery that can flash zips? (Unless the stock recovery works for that, I don't think it would..)
I suspect (but have not tried) that on our phone flashing the boot files back over Magisk will not really be a problem since the recovery and ramdisk are all wrapped up into the boot image. But I don't recommend trying it if you value your data! Fair warning.
---------------------------
Alright that's everything. Good luck!​
This will be useful for a lot of folks on here, thanks for taking the time to look for a work around.
rafyvitto said:
This will be useful for a lot of folks on here, thanks for taking the time to look for a work around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to be helpful! Usually I lurk the forums getting information I need to unlock/root/etc lol.. but I saw I actually could contribute something to this forum so hopefully it encourages people to get interested in this phone. It's looking pretty sweet now that I'm not spending days fighting with bootloops!
Indeed,on the note of attracting more users. im going to be releasing something for the pixel lovers very soon ?
Thanks Bob!
I'm on A10 with unlocked bootloader. I made all EDL tool backups when on A9 but these were done before correcting the typos as suggested. So I am not confident of successfully flashing back to A9 (preference).
Therefore I will likely flash the magisk-patched boot files to attempt root and report my experience...
Sent from my ZTE A2020U Pro using Tapatalk
big thx, glad to see some life to this almost dev-dead device
Hey thanks for the post. I'm thinking about buying the phone but have a quick question. Can I update to the latest version of Android 9 before unlocking or will the OTA be Android 10. How would I go about updating to the latest version version of Android 9 and not go to Android 10. Can I download the Android 9 OTA from somewhere and flash that one? Thanks in advance for the help!
Crackass said:
Hey thanks for the post. I'm thinking about buying the phone but have a quick question. Can I update to the latest version of Android 9 before unlocking or will the OTA be Android 10. How would I go about updating to the latest version version of Android 9 and not go to Android 10. Can I download the Android 9 OTA from somewhere and flash that one? Thanks in advance for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good: I think your question borderlines on needing its own thread in the Q&A section but I'll answer you anyway...
Currently as long as you are on A9 when you get the phone you can just do OTA updates from firmware version 1.10 to 1.11 to 1.13 (not sure what android security update that is), after 1.13 it goes to A10.
There is an A10 firmware available from ZTE to SD card sideload. Once installed it has to be updated to the latest A10 via a couple OTA updates.
Going directly from A9 to A10 via OTA goes directly to the latest version.
You cannot flash the A9 OTA... because flashing an OTA is an oxymoron... but I guess you mean can you download the A9 firmware and flash them. The answer is... maybe. ZTE does not offer official downloads any A9 firmware for A2002U (USA version), only A10.
They do offer A9 firmware for A2020G (european) and I think other foreign versions (RU, CN). These cannot be interchanged, if you have the US or EU or CN phone you need to use that firmware... from what I have read. I could be wrong, I don't have those phones.
But there is an unofficial stock A9 firmware for the A2020U here on the forums, uploaded by @rafyvitto . That will get you to.. I forget.. 1.11? That can be flashed using the original EDL tool or, with a little modification, the EDL tools in this thread.
Additionally.. if I ever get around to it... I plan to upload all three A9 firmware packages for the US version which can be flashed with the EDL tools in this thread. Not sure if it's really necessary, but I have them.. it's just a matter of figuring out hosting them and spending the time to upload them.
bobthenormal said:
:good: I think your question borderlines on needing its own thread in the Q&A section but I'll answer you anyway...
Currently as long as you are on A9 when you get the phone you can just do OTA updates from firmware version 1.10 to 1.11 to 1.13 (not sure what android security update that is), after 1.13 it goes to A10.
There is an A10 firmware available from ZTE to SD card sideload. Once installed it has to be updated to the latest A10 via a couple OTA updates.
Going directly from A9 to A10 via OTA goes directly to the latest version.
You cannot flash the A9 OTA... because flashing an OTA is an oxymoron... but I guess you mean can you download the A9 firmware and flash them. The answer is... maybe. ZTE does not offer official downloads any A9 firmware for A2002U (USA version), only A10.
They do offer A9 firmware for A2020G (european) and I think other foreign versions (RU, CN). These cannot be interchanged, if you have the US or EU or CN phone you need to use that firmware... from what I have read. I could be wrong, I don't have those phones.
But there is an unofficial stock A9 firmware for the A2020U here on the forums, uploaded by @rafyvitto . That will get you to.. I forget.. 1.11? That can be flashed using the original EDL tool or, with a little modification, the EDL tools in this thread.
Additionally.. if I ever get around to it... I plan to upload all three A9 firmware packages for the US version which can be flashed with the EDL tools in this thread. Not sure if it's really necessary, but I have them.. it's just a matter of figuring out hosting them and spending the time to upload them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to chime in, interchanging firmware between each model is possible, you would only need to reflash your model/nonhos/tz partitions to the ones of your variant to have working ril/fod fp/sensors.
Ok Bob I gave it a go and successfully rooted my A2020U running stock A10 v2.09. This is my experience...
Firstly, my A2020U could not connect so I used the @Unjustified Dev Tool ("original tool") to easily determine my com port (i.e. 3). I edited the your scripts accordingly (using Notepad++) and got connected.
I'd rather not fiddle with the hardware buttons to change modes so I used the CLI to "adb reboot edl" to get into EDL mode.
I executed the backup_all.ps1 script.
It echoed several "warnings" indicating that it could not find files. However, the created backup folders did in fact include those files.
I noted that none of the "A" slot files include the "_a" postfix; the "B" slot files did include "_b".
Now I needed to transfer those boot files to my device by first rebooting my device and connecting via MTP.
I noted that the original tool offered a reboot menu option (but sadly only after executing a successful operation). So, not wanting to fiddle, I used the original tool to backup my boot files, then used the menu option to reboot; On my device I then manually selected it to connect via MTP.
After transferring the "boot.img" and "boot_b.img" files to my device, and installing Magisk Manager. I patched them and transferred them back to my PC.
To "flash" (restore) the patched files I decided to cut 'n' paste the two lines regarding them from your Reference.xml file into your rawprogram-specific-files.xml file, replacing your example lines.
I executed your run_write-files.ps1 script and it completed successfully.
Not wanting to fiddle again with the hardware buttons (just so that I can get the reboot option), I backed up the patched files using the original tool and rebooted. Now my device is successfully rooted.
Thank you!
Additional notes and suggestions:
1. Can you please investigate the "false" warnings? See my (redacted) log file attached;
2. It would be great if you could create/duplicate a script within your expanded tool set (or main program) to determine and set the appropriate COMPort (and teach us non-coders the actual commands);
3. Would you also consider investigating and including a reboot device script? (It looks like the original tool calls reset.xml);
4. Note that, at the time of reporting this, the latest versions for the Manager and Magsk are 8.02 (307) and 21.0 (21000) respectively, and that I had to switch the update channel to "beta" for the patched files to pass SafetyNet;
5. Because rooting is a likely use of your tool I am attaching my modified rawprogram-specific-files.xml file which targets the boot files for convenience.
bobthenormal said:
...
Additionally.. if I ever get around to it... I plan to upload all three A9 firmware packages for the US version which can be flashed with the EDL tools in this thread....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this can help me get my A10 device to a state where I can install a custom recovery and cutom ROMs, I would appreciate it!
eKeith said:
Ok Bob I gave it a go and successfully rooted my A2020U running stock A10 v2.09. This is my experience...
Firstly, my A2020U could not connect so I used the @Unjustified Dev Tool ("original tool") to easily determine my com port (i.e. 3). I edited the your scripts accordingly (using Notepad++) and got connected.
I'd rather not fiddle with the hardware buttons to change modes so I used the CLI to "adb reboot edl" to get into EDL mode.
I executed the backup_all.ps1 script.
It echoed several "warnings" indicating that it could not find files. However, the created backup folders did in fact include those files.
I noted that none of the "A" slot files include the "_a" postfix; the "B" slot files did include "_b".
Now I needed to transfer those boot files to my device by first rebooting my device and connecting via MTP.
I noted that the original tool offered a reboot menu option (but sadly only after executing a successful operation). So, not wanting to fiddle, I used the original tool to backup my boot files, then used the menu option to reboot; On my device I then manually selected it to connect via MTP.
After transferring the "boot.img" and "boot_b.img" files to my device, and installing Magisk Manager. I patched them and transferred them back to my PC.
To "flash" (restore) the patched files I decided to cut 'n' paste the two lines regarding them from your Reference.xml file into your rawprogram-specific-files.xml file, replacing your example lines.
I executed your run_write-files.ps1 script and it completed successfully.
Not wanting to fiddle again with the hardware buttons (just so that I can get the reboot option), I backed up the patched files using the original tool and rebooted. Now my device is successfully rooted.
Thank you!
Additional notes and suggestions:
1. Can you please investigate the "false" warnings? See my (redacted) log file attached;
2. It would be great if you could create/duplicate a script within your expanded tool set (or main program) to determine and set the appropriate COMPort (and teach us non-coders the actual commands);
3. Would you also consider investigating and including a reboot device script? (It looks like the original tool calls reset.xml);
4. Note that, at the time of reporting this, the latest versions for the Manager and Magsk are 8.02 (307) and 21.0 (21000) respectively, and that I had to switch the update channel to "beta" for the patched files to pass SafetyNet;
5. Because rooting is a likely use of your tool I am attaching my modified rawprogram-specific-files.xml file which targets the boot files for convenience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice! :good:
For the questions..
0. Thanks for the heads up on filenames! I completely missed that the _a files don't have the labels... As you probably noticed all the files are backed up correctly still (no missing/overwritten files), but I removed the _a from all the A slot files. That was my original "fix", so I guess I started building this package before I got annoyed by not having the _a/_b consistency. I'll update the correct XML file and upload it as a new version.
1. Don't worry about those! They're part of using the fh_loader interface. Warnings are usually just fine, ERRORS are bad. I'll add a note to the post when I get a chance so people don't get scared by that.
It's only when you do a backup the program is really only designed in the "writing" sense, for backups you literally run an identical XML to writing but you send a flag that reverses the process. So it weirdly checks if the files it is going to copy (which of course don't exist) exist, and it throws the standard warning, but then it just creates them (of course).
I can't turn those off without lowering the verbosity setting for that tool. I decided to leave it set to high because if someone has a problem and they post their log file (like so!) it's very useful to troubleshoot.
2. I'll think about it / try. Not very hard to program but a little time consuming.
I'll throw a copy of lsusb.exe in the next version. Windows port of the linux command. People can simply run that on a command prompt and it will list all the active COM ports/devices. If you're not familiar with it - you can also find out by clicking on the windows start bar or pressing the windows key and typing in "Device Manager". In the hardware list there is a category for COM ports where it lists them.
3. Yeah that's very easy I'll put one in the next version as well.
4. Helpful to know. Interesting that you needed beta to pass... I didn't think to mention I use the canary builds (not really recommended... the current one crashes when I try to hide Magisk Manager lol)
5. Thanks! Maybe I should make a directory specific to boot backup/write... but I do think anyone not comfortable doing the change you did might not want to be flashing their boot files anyway haha.. things to consider I guess.
As for getting you back from A10, definitely. I'll figure out how to upload them to one of those file sharing sites in a week or two.
In the mean time, with a backup from this tool you're safe (as far as bricking goes, you'll have to system wipe) to try rafy's EDL backup to revert to A9. I'll find the actual post... I should have been less lazy and linked it in my post lol... HERE - rafyvitto's EDL.
If flashing his backup doesn't boot right away try the tool I included to fix the bootable partition. If it still doesn't work after that (maybe mention here what happened) then just restore your backup.
Do you have the 128gb phone by chance?
Thanks much, especially for your detailed clarifications and convenient link!
I have the 8/256GB (P855A03_NA) model.
PS
I want to spend more time on ensuring I have a complete device backup before nuking with another EDL; will dedicate some time this week...
Sent from my ZTE A2020U Pro using Tapatalk
eKeith said:
Thanks much, especially for your detailed clarifications and convenient link!
I have the 8/256GB (P855A03_NA) model.
PS
I want to spend more time on ensuring I have a complete device backup before nuking with another EDL; will dedicate some time this week...
Sent from my ZTE A2020U Pro using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh nice, with the 256gb model you're good to use the userdata backup program too. Sounds ideal for you since, like me, you want a really bulletproof backup. If you run a full backup and then run the userdata backup you literally have a "phone state" so you can return your phone back to exactly where it was, not have to wipe system or anything.
Of course I'd hate to be wrong so as usual, do at your own risk! Lol. But I am using that method and it has worked great. The downside being over an hour of waiting for the userdata to download or upload... and having to store 256gb (for long term storage you can compress it down to literally a few gb).
I've been kinda busy, but working on getting some of those things from my last post done hopefully this week.
bobthenormal said:
Oh nice, with the 256gb model you're good to use the userdata backup program too. Sounds ideal for you since, like me, you want a really bulletproof backup. If you run a full backup and then run the userdata backup you literally have a "phone state" so you can return your phone back to exactly where it was, not have to wipe system or anything.
Of course I'd hate to be wrong so as usual, do at your own risk! Lol. But I am using that method and it has worked great. The downside being over an hour of waiting for the userdata to download or upload... and having to store 256gb (for long term storage you can compress it down to literally a few gb).
I've been kinda busy, but working on getting some of those things from my last post done hopefully this week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great to know! Your user data backup option has simplified my life.
I will wait for your next revision to do a full backup plus user data before nuking.
I am looking forward to moving on from ZTE's A10 to one of Ray's ROMs...
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
Updated to 1.1a - kind of had to rush on some things so keep an eye out for mistakes, especially in the XML files, and let me know if you find any.
Should have an 1.09 (A9) firmware package up "Soon(TM)", just have to make the xml files then upload the file somewhere.
EDIT: Already needed to update to 1.1b - I found that the GPT_Tools had a big error that probably was there since 1.0 and no one noticed! Backups of the GPT should now actually work...
Thank you @bobthenormal !
Looking forward to your A9 EDL backup...
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eKeith said:
Thank you @bobthenormal !
Looking forward to your A9 EDL backup...
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's up -- see the new thread.
I didn't have time to test it so make sure you backup but I'm 99,99% sure it will work. I tested it several times in the past, but to make the firmware package I took out all the (I hope) unnecessary files.
There's one thing I'm not sure of - whether you'll need to use the Fix Bootable tool after installing it. IF you need to, then I believe you will have to install it to partition B and then run fix bootable B. (The 1.10 backup was taken originally from the B partition).
If you find that it works without having to do that, let me know... it may not be necessary if wherever that bootable flag is stored didn't get included in the firmware package.
bobthenormal said:
It's up -- see the new thread.
I didn't have time to test it so make sure you backup but I'm 99,99% sure it will work. I tested it several times in the past, but to make the firmware package I took out all the (I hope) unnecessary files.
There's one thing I'm not sure of - whether you'll need to use the Fix Bootable tool after installing it. IF you need to, then I believe you will have to install it to partition B and then run fix bootable B. (The 1.10 backup was taken originally from the B partition).
If you find that it works without having to do that, let me know... it may not be necessary if wherever that bootable flag is stored didn't get included in the firmware package.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you @bobthenormal !
I should be able to give it a go this weekend and inform...
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