Related
This is my first attempt, which ended with:
Trying to unpack rootfs image as initramfs...
rootfs image is not initramfs (junk in compressed archive); looks like an initrd
....
RAMDISK: Couldn't find valid RAM disk image starting at 0.
VFS: Cannot open root device "<NULL>" or unknown-block(0,0)
Please append a correct "root=" boot option; here are the available partitions:
Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)
I dumped my boot device which i believe is /dev/mtd/mtd2 according to /proc/mtd
#cat /dev/mtd/mtd2 > boot.img
I took that image and ran the split_bootimg perl script on it to separate the kernel and ramdisk images.
#split_bootimg boot.img
Then I just tried to recombine them with mkbootimg without making any modifications.
#mkbootimg --cmdline 'no_console_suspend=1 console=null' --kernel boot.img-kernel --ramdisk ramdisk-new.gz -o boot-new.img
* I also tried an image with identical boot options as I found the stock kernel has
I then copied and erased/flashed the new image
#cat /dev/zero > /dev/mtd/mtd2
#flash_image boot boot-new.img
The phone just sits at the HTC screen forever when I try and boot it.
If I reboot into recovery and flash the original "boot.img" backup using the same method it boots OK.
What is it I'm missing? thanks!
I tried dumping the new base.img I made
Original from ROM for comparison:
Page size: 2048 (0x00000800)
Kernel size: 2271684 (0x0022a9c4)
Ramdisk size: 167343 (0x00028daf)
Second size: 0 (0x00000000)
Board name:
Command line: no_console_suspend=1
Repacked:
Page size: 2048 (0x00000800)
Kernel size: 2271684 (0x0022a9c4)
Ramdisk size: 167343 (0x00028daf)
Second size: 0 (0x00000000)
Board name:
Command line: no_console_suspend=1
I also downloaded the kernel source for the incredible and tried to find the base address and used 0x10000000 on the mkbootimg command no to avail.
I did notice new image is smaller than the old by ~1MB! Even though when I unpack it still shows them as the same size.
3145728 boot.img
2443264 newboot.img
Any help here is very appreciated.
I found the solution. I was using the wrong base address on mkbootimg command
I found the proper base address by downloading the kernel source for the droid incredible.
(DROID Incredible by HTC (Verizon) – GB MR - 2.6.35 kernel source code)
Then I looked up the processor used in the incredible hardware in the file referenced below and got the proper offset. It's boot up now
arch\arm\mach-msm\include\mach\memory.h
Hi!
As with Galaxy S2, I have ported the u-boot bootloader to the Galaxy Nexus. It can be chainloaded from samsung bootloader (loaded instead of linux kernel) safely.
It could be useful to have multiple ROMs on one device or test other OS like Ubuntu or Genode.
Detailed installation guide is available at Ksys Labs LLC wiki http://ksyslabs.org/doku.php?id=gnex_uboot .I'll just copy-paste it here
Happy hacking and don't forget to visit our wiki at http://ksyslabs.org !
===== Rationale ======
There were a couple reasons to port u-boot to Galaxy Nexus
* Security: we cannot trust the proprietary samsung bootloader
* Implementing dual-boot for original and custom firmware
* Booting Genode operating system
===== Demo =====
===== Compilation from source =====
Source code is in https://github.com/Ksys-labs/uboot-tuna
There exist two branches of interest
* master - contains the official stable releases. may be force-pushed and rebased, beware
* tuna-fosdem-hacks contains the u-boot that was used for FOSDEM 2013 to demo booting Genode
To compile, you need to have the ARM cross-compiler. I recommend codesourcery 2010q1-188 because that's what I'm using and some users reported that newer compilers produce broken binaries.
There are two ways to use the u-boot. One is flashing it instead of the Samsung SBL bootloader. The other one is chainloading it from the SBL.
Flashing instead of SBL has the following advantages
* Faster boot time than chainloading
* Ability to use the standard partitioning layout
There is a number of issues and therefore we do not recommend flashing it instead of SBL
* No Fastboot support (preliminary USB RNDIS and DHCP BOOTP support is available), you'll have to use OMAPFlash to restore the device if you flash a non-working kernel
* No display initialization. You'll have to disable the "Check for Bootloader initialization" option in kernel config
By default, the chainloaded version is compiled. It is loaded (by the SBL) to the address **0x81808000**.
If you want to build the SBL replacement version, edit the **include/configs/omap4_tuna.h** file and uncomment the **#define TUNA_SPL_BUILD** line. X-loader loads the bootloader to the address **0xa0208000**.
Code:
export PATH=/home/alexander/handhelds/armv6/codesourcery/bin:$PATH
export ARCH=arm
export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-none-eabi-
U_BOARD=omap4_tuna
make clean
make distclean
make ${U_BOARD}_config
make -j8 ${U_BOARD}
mkbootimg --kernel u-boot.bin --ramdisk /dev/null -o u-boot.aimg
===== Installation =====
==== Chainloaded Mode ====
You'll need the root access to your device.
You can take the prebuilt u-boot here. http://ksyslabs.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img
The u-boot has the support for android boot images. When flashed instead of the SBL, it boots the kernel off the "Boot" partition. When chainloaded, it looks for the kernel in **/system/boot/vmlinux.uimg** . Additionally, it first looks for the **/system/boot/boot.scr.uimg** so you can put custom commands there and override the kernel image.
It also supports booting custom images from **/sdcard/boot/vmlinux.uimg** and **/sdcard/boot/boot.scr.uimg**
If you need larger images, I suggest that you use the **tuna-fosdem-hacks** branch, format the cache partition to ext2 and put the files to **/cache/media/boot/**
push the files to your device via adb
Code:
adb push gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img /sdcard/
adb hell
now, in the device shell, do the following
Code:
su
cat /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/boot > /sdcard/vmlinux.uimg
mount -o remount,rw /system
mkdir /system/boot
cp /sdcard/vmlinux.uimg /system/boot/
cat /sdcard/gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img > /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/boot
sync
reboot
Instead of installing gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img via dd, you can use fastboot
Code:
fastboot flash:raw boot u-boot.img
===== Replacing samsung bootloader =====
OMAP4 devices cannot be bricked completely because the CPU has a firmware loader in the OTP (one-time programmable) memory. When the device is powered, it tries booting from USB.
Make sure to have an old version of x-loader (PRIMEKK14) because newer ones have the security hole which allowed booting unsigned bootloaders fixed. The installation procedure is roughly the same, but use **sbl** partition. And also install xloader from http://ksyslabs.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=gnex-xloader-working.img
Code:
adb push gnex-xloader-working.img /sdcard/
Code:
cat /sdcard/gnex-xloader-working.img > /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/xloader
There exists a Samsung recovery tool which can unbrick the devices with corrupted xloader/SBL. You will need a computer running Windows XP.
Search the internet for the archive named "OMAPFlash_tuna.zip" which has md5 "ddbf07a1d36b044c40af5788a83b5395". We cannot upload it here because of the unclear license status.
===== Making images =====
You can either use Android's mkbootimg to produce ANDROID! type images (not recommended) or u-boot's mkimage (in the u-boot tools directory) to make boot images. Using ANDROID! format is discouraged because the loader code in the u-boot is buggy and may fail in some corner cases such as large images.
==== making a custom boot image ====
Code:
mkimage -A arm -O linux -T kernel -C none -a 0x80008000 -e 0x80008000 -n linux -d zImage vmlinux.uimg
#alternatively, just do that when compiling linux
#do not forget to add mkimage to your PATH variable
make uImage
==== making a custom boot script ====
Code:
mkimage -A arm -O linux -T script -C none -a 0x84000000 -e 0x84000000 -n android -d boot.scr boot.scr.uimg
===== Booting Modes =====
The bootloader supports several boot modes. Each boot mode is indicated by the color of the LED and activated by a combination of hardware buttons. It also supports the Android "reboot to recovery" and "reboot to bootloader" features
* Normal Boot -> no keys are pressed, cyan LED
* Recovery Boot -> Volume Up key pressed, green LED
* Custom Boot -> Volume Down key pressed, blue LED
* USB RNDIS mode -> both Volume keys pressed, purple LED
===== Pitfalls =====
* No Fastboot or DFU (RNDIS BOOTP is untested) -> not a big deal if you're chainloading, right?
* Serial number is always 0123456789abcdef or sth like that. Anyone to fix that?
* UART support is quirky. The device will likely hang if booted with the UART cable. Workaround: boot without the UART cable and plug right after the purple LED flashes.
===== A sample boot script for android =====
Make a boot.scr.uimg from it and push it to the correct location.
Code:
setenv bootargs "mem=1G vmalloc=768M omap_wdt.timer_margin=30 mms_ts.panel_id=18
no_console_suspend console=ttyFIQ0";
setenv loaddaddr 0x82000000;
setenv devtype mmc;
setenv devnum 0;
setenv kernel_part 0xc;
setenv kernel_name /media/boot/vmlinux.uimg;
echo Load Address: ${loaddaddr};
echo cmdline:${bootargs};
if ext4load ${devtype} ${devnum}:${kernel_part} ${loaddaddr} ${kernel_name}; then
bootm ${loaddaddr};
exit 0;
elif ext2load ${devtype} ${devnum}:${kernel_part} ${loaddaddr} ${kernel_name}; then
bootm ${loaddaddr};
exit 0;
else
echo failed to boot custom image;
fi
Nice!
Before there actually wasn't any dual boot stuff for Nexus but now there is really much....
I will laugh if someone ports still another dual boot loader to Nexus, E.g BootiQi dual boot loader or what it is..., (for Jét it is JétQi) but I don't remember the original dual boot files names...
Any toro support?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
saber.srod said:
Any toro support?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may try it out. It is flashed instead of kernel, not overwriting the bootloader, so should be safe. As we don't have any Toro devices, we're not particularly interested in providing support for them unless someone steps up with a patch
Also, make sure to have an old version of x-loader (PRIMEKK14) because newer ones have the security hole which allowed booting unsigned bootloaders fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have PRIMEKK14 file?
cause I couldn't find it on this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1587498
or this one is PRIMEKK14?
http://ksyslabs.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=gnex-xloader-working.img
any enlightenment please?
savantist said:
do you have PRIMEKK14 file?
cause I couldn't find it on this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1587498
or this one is PRIMEKK14?
http://ksyslabs.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=gnex-xloader-working.img
any enlightenment please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The latter one is the one I'm using on my phone so it should work.
sp3dev said:
The latter one is the one I'm using on my phone so it should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanna use the chainloaded method, so first thing I should do is fastboot-ing that .img just like another bootloader file? then chainload the u-boot file?
but it looks like I'm replacing samsung SBL (replacing SBL method) if I do that, doesn't it?
savantist said:
I wanna use the chainloaded method, so first thing I should do is fastboot-ing that .img just like another bootloader file? then chainload the u-boot file?
but it looks like I'm replacing samsung SBL (replacing SBL method) if I do that, doesn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can actually fastboot it via
"fastboot flash:raw boot u-boot.img"
and no, you don't need to mess with xloader for chainloading
sp3dev said:
Yes, you can actually fastboot it via
"fastboot flash:raw boot u-boot.img"
and no, you don't need to mess with xloader for chainloading
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so it's ok to do chainloading in PRIMELC03 bootloader? If yes, I'm success...
finally "The Great Sp3dev"
nice work like always,
playing with it now,let's see where it goes
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
sp3dev said:
The latter one is the one I'm using on my phone so it should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah, I bricked my phone with your gnex-xloader-working using following script... It is only 128K. Is that right?
Code:
cat /sdcard/gnex-xloader-working.img > /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/xloader
Is PRIMEKK14 bootloader the only one to work since we only have http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1587498 this thread for bootloader and there's no flashable version of PRIMEKK14?
I use OMAPFlash to save it having PRIMEKK15 bootloader and I do not have the courage to do it again...
dlhxr said:
ah, I bricked my phone with your gnex-xloader-working using following script... It is only 128K. Is that right?
Code:
cat /sdcard/gnex-xloader-working.img > /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/xloader
Is PRIMEKK14 bootloader the only one to work since we only have http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1587498 this thread for bootloader and there's no flashable version of PRIMEKK14?
I use OMAPFlash to save it having PRIMEKK15 bootloader and I do not have the courage to do it again...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh well, I specially edited the post so that chainloaded users don't flash loader. You only need the xloaded if you flash u-boot instead of SBL. Otherwise, treat u-boot just as linux kernel.
As for replacing bootloader, I guess PRIMEKK15 should also work, I just didn't notice when the security check was introduced. Yeah, use OMAPFlash to recover anyway. And note that you cannot use my precompiled u-boot to replace SBL. As written in the beginning of the post, you need to change a define in config and recompile because the load address and partition layout are different for chainloading and direct booting cases.
Very nice! Keep the good work up! :good:
sp3dev said:
Oh well, I specially edited the post so that chainloaded users don't flash loader. You only need the xloaded if you flash u-boot instead of SBL. Otherwise, treat u-boot just as linux kernel.
As for replacing bootloader, I guess PRIMEKK15 should also work, I just didn't notice when the security check was introduced. Yeah, use OMAPFlash to recover anyway. And note that you cannot use my precompiled u-boot to replace SBL. As written in the beginning of the post, you need to change a define in config and recompile because the load address and partition layout are different for chainloading and direct booting cases.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some feedback here. I flashed u-boot to boot partition and save the original boot image to /system/boot/vmlinux.uimg.
Without any key pressed it shows
Code:
Wrong Image Format for boot command
Error: can't get kernel image!
Not booting xxxxxxxxx
Fail to boot
The characters on the screen does not show well and some of them can't be recognized....
When I press the volume up, it boot into recovery.
When I press the volume down, it shows
Code:
File not found /media/boot/vmlinux.uimg
Unrecognized filesystem type
Fail to boot
Something is wrong with my procedure?
Another small question. I want to make a zip to flash the U-boot, but always failed. I have to use fastboot command to flash gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img to boot.img.
What is in my updater-script.
Code:
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/system", "/system");
package_extract_file("gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img", "/tmp/gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img");
package_extract_file("META-INF/com/google/android/switch_boot.sh", "/tmp/switch_boot.sh");
set_perm(0, 0, 0777, "/tmp/switch_boot.sh");
run_program("/tmp/switch_boot.sh");
set_perm(0, 0, 0777, "/system/boot/vmlinux.uimg");
unmount("/system");
What is in my switch_boot.sh
Code:
#!/sbin/sh
cat /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/boot > /tmp/vmlinux.uimg
mkdir /system/boot
cp /tmp/vmlinux.uimg /system/boot/
cat /tmp/gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/boot
It seems the last line doesn't work...
Code:
cat /tmp/gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img /dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/boot
If I use the following command in updater-script,
Code:
package_extract_file("gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img", "/dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/boot");
The device enters bootloader directly showing no boot image after reboot....
dlhxr said:
If I use the following command in updater-script,
Code:
package_extract_file("gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img", "/dev/block/platform/omap/omap_hsmmc.0/by-name/boot");
The device enters bootloader directly showing no boot image after reboot....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because SBL expects the boot partition to contain the image in ANDROID! format. It creates the image itself when you flash via fastboot with the ":raw" suffix.
Try that
Code:
mkbootimg --kernel gnex-uboot-chainloaded.img --ramdisk /dev/null -o u-boot.aimg
Not sure why the original boot image didn't work for you. Are you copying the boot.img to vmlinux.uimg or the raw zImage? you should do the former, the u-boot expects either the "ANDROID!" image or the one made with mkimage.
If anything, you could try repacking the boot image yourself or try mine to see if it boots (it's for jb 4.1.1 though)
http://rghost.ru/44686398
chainloading method, in fact it works on PRIMELC03 too...
btw,
if I flash the xloader (replacing bootloader method), then how am I gonna back to original samsung bootloader/PRIMELC03 since there isn't fastboot support in your u-boot bootloader?
using odin? or omapflash? :crying:
thanks.
savantist said:
chainloading method, in fact it works on PRIMELC03 too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, I probably didn't make it clear enough. chainloading works with any bootloader and is safe.
savantist said:
btw,
if I flash the xloader (replacing bootloader method), then how am I gonna back to original samsung bootloader/PRIMELC03 since there isn't fastboot support in your u-boot bootloader?
using odin? or omapflash? :crying:
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you can boot android or recovery, thenuse dd it to /dev/block/blah-blah-blah, otherwise - omapflash.
sp3dev said:
ok, I probably didn't make it clear enough. chainloading works with any bootloader and is safe.
if you can boot android or recovery, thenuse dd it to /dev/block/blah-blah-blah, otherwise - omapflash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you wrote it on wrong part on first page yesterday, makes me little bit confused, but it's corrected now...
but to do "replacing bootloader method", one should flash PRIMEKK14 or PRIMEKK15 bootloader before, right?
wow... omapflash...
savantist said:
you wrote it on wrong part on first page yesterday, makes me little bit confused, but it's corrected now...
but to do "replacing bootloader method", one should flash PRIMEKK14 or PRIMEKK15 bootloader before, right?
wow... omapflash...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, some bootloaders after PRIMEKK may work, but I have not tested and we had some new phones with the recent firmware versions from stock, and u-boot failed to work there until xloader was downgraded
The battery of a rooted, UsUed LG G4 running LineageOS 14.1 was accidentally allowed to drain to zero. After re-charging above 50%, the device failed to boot. The LOS boot screen "bubble on a string" animation would continue indefinitely.
The phone still booted to TWRP, download mode, and fastboot mode.
Originally, it was suspected that this was ILAPO. However, this suspicion was incorrect.
After extensive work creating a boot sector that would allow logging and a ton of help from @steadfasterX, it was discovered that various files in /data/system had been corrupted and had sizes of zero. Android would try to read values from these files, fail, and repeat.
First, a full TWRP backup of the phone was made and copied off-device. Then, I made a second backup of /data/system. Next, I deleted the following zero-byte files from /data/system using TWRP (or ADB after launching TWRP).
packages.list
packages.xml
profiles.xml
netpolicy.xml
notification_policy.xml
If this doesn't work, I would have considered deleting other zero-byte files in /data/system. I used "ls -laS" to get a size-ordered list of files in my current directory.
After a reboot, android re-created the files and booted to the lockscreen.
All of the apps in /data/data had already been cleared. Otherwise, Android would probably have choked on the differences between the user IDs that it wanted to assign to apps and the ownership of the various app folders.
The following links suggest ways to restore some apps from previously created backups
GitHub - joshuabragge/twrp-manual-restore: Automate individual app restores from an android TWRP backup
Automate individual app restores from an android TWRP backup - GitHub - joshuabragge/twrp-manual-restore: Automate individual app restores from an android TWRP backup
github.com
https://www.semipol.de/posts/2016/07/android-manually-restoring-apps-from-a-twrp-backup/
(Permanent archive: https://web.archive.org/web/2019083.../android-restoring-apps-from-twrp-backup.html)
There is no warranty on this solution. It was a makeshift effort created by an amateur. If you choose to duplicate it, you do so at your own risk. You may permanently destroy your phone.
Old post below:
I'm trying to understand whether a particular G4 (H815) has ILAPO. Its been sneezing, has a sore throat, and now can't taste anything^H^H oops, I mean:
- Previously, the phone would get hot during use.
- The phone has been UsUed.
- The battery was accidentally allowed to discharge to zero.
- After the battery was recharged, the phone was unable to boot past the Lineageos "bubble on a string" animation. The animation simply continues forever.
- The phone can boot to TWRP, fasboot, download mode, etc.
Attempts to fix:
- Tried renaming /sdcard/Android to /sdcard/Android.old but this had no effect.
- Tried clearing cache and dalvik cache but this had no effect
- (NEW) Tried attaching to computer and launching "adb logcat" during animation. Device is never found. If I remember correctly, "USB debugging" was off when the device died. (ADB does work in TWRP.)
- (NEW) Tried creating a custom 4-core (2 core for boot) boot image using the instructions here https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...tom-x-cores-boot-image-ilapo-tempfix.3718389/ and used "fastboot flash boot boot.img" to flash it. This doesn't seem to work.
-- If I reboot into TWRP after a long period of waiting for the lineageos splash screen, I get a CPU temperature of 46 C. I don't know what temperature was generated in the same situation the modified boot image was installed.
Most of the info on ILAPO suggests that phones with it can't get past the LG logo. That is not the case here. Is this ILAPO or something different? Does anyone have ideas as to what might be an appropriate fix?
Is it possible to retrieve boot logs using TWRP in order to figure out when/where/why the boot hangs?
electricfield said:
I'm trying to understand whether a particular G4 (H815) has ILAPO. Its been sneezing, has a sore throat, and now can't taste anything^H^H oops, I mean:
- Previously, the phone would get hot during use.
- The phone has been UsUed.
- The battery was accidentally allowed to discharge to zero.
- After the battery was recharged, the phone was unable to boot past the Lineageos "bubble on a string" animation. The animation simply continues forever.
- The phone can boot to TWRP, fasboot, download mode, etc.
Attempts to fix:
- Tried renaming /sdcard/Android to /sdcard/Android.old but this had no effect.
- Tried clearing cache and dalvik cache but this had no effect
- (NEW) Tried attaching to computer and launching "adb logcat" during animation. Device is never found. If I remember correctly, "USB debugging" was off when the device died. (ADB does work in TWRP.)
- (NEW) Tried creating a custom 4-core (2 core for boot) boot image using the instructions here https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...tom-x-cores-boot-image-ilapo-tempfix.3718389/ and used "fastboot flash boot boot.img" to flash it. This doesn't seem to work.
-- If I reboot into TWRP after a long period of waiting for the lineageos splash screen, I get a CPU temperature of 46 C. I don't know what temperature was generated in the same situation the modified boot image was installed.
Most of the info on ILAPO suggests that phones with it can't get past the LG logo. That is not the case here. Is this ILAPO or something different? Does anyone have ideas as to what might be an appropriate fix?
Is it possible to retrieve boot logs using TWRP in order to figure out when/where/why the boot hangs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like the ilapo. Is the battery charged now? I don't know which LOS version you have installed but if you use mine:
follow FAQ #7 of my LOS thread
steadfasterX said:
Sounds like the ilapo. Is the battery charged now? I don't know which LOS version you have installed but if you use mine:
follow FAQ #7 of my LOS thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. You seem to know more about G4 issues than anyone. I really appreciate your help.
The battery is charged now.
Unfortunately, I am using the microg version of LOS 14.1, rather than your 16.0.
I tried following the instructions in your FAQ #7, but I can't do step 1 (boot android). The only way for me to exit the bootloop is by removing the battery. There is no "debug" in /cache after I mount cache in TWRP.
I also looked at FAQ #1. ADB never finishes waiting for the device. In fact "lsusb" doesn't show the phone during OS boot (ADB is fine when TWRP is loaded).
Any other ideas?
electricfield said:
Thank you for your reply. You seem to know more about G4 issues than anyone. I really appreciate your help.
The battery is charged now.
Unfortunately, I am using the microg version of LOS 14.1, rather than your 16.0.
I tried following the instructions in your FAQ #7, but I can't do step 1 (boot android). The only way for me to exit the bootloop is by removing the battery. There is no "debug" in /cache after I mount cache in TWRP.
I also looked at FAQ #1. ADB never finishes waiting for the device. In fact "lsusb" doesn't show the phone during OS boot (ADB is fine when TWRP is loaded).
Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As written in my mentioned FAQ taken battery out is needed in your case. Step 2 iirc.
If you dont use my LOS then no way. The cache/debug is something I've added and no one else has.
Option1:
You can just flash my LOS 16 or /e/ ROM (take a full backup before in TWRP) and use that for debugging your current issue. Why using microg btw? /e/ is great
Option2:
The other option would be pulling the boot img of your current LOS (in TWRP: adb pull /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/boot ) and rebuilding it as insecure (i.e. usb debug on and adb root ) but if you never did that before it it will be hard i guess. AiK might work here or using mAid which includes bootimgtool.
Option3:
Also you can attach that boot img here and if i ever find the time i can do option2 for you but don't expext that this happens soon .
Thank you again for your help.
I'm a little afraid that installing a new & different ROM will increase the level of complexity. I'll do it if I must, though.
I started looking at option #2. Retrieving the boot image was fine, but unpacking presents a problem.
$ ./unpack-bootimg.sh boot.img.original
Found a secondary file after the ramdisk image. According to the spec (mkbootimg.h) this file can exist, but this script is not designed to deal with this scenario.
Is there a guide anywhere?
electricfield said:
Thank you again for your help.
I'm a little afraid that installing a new & different ROM will increase the level of complexity. I'll do it if I must, though.
I started looking at option #2. Retrieving the boot image was fine, but unpacking presents a problem.
$ ./unpack-bootimg.sh boot.img.original
Found a secondary file after the ramdisk image. According to the spec (mkbootimg.h) this file can exist, but this script is not designed to deal with this scenario.
Is there a guide anywhere?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thousands.. But the problem is that our device is sensitive when it comes to packaging the boot.img again. Bootimgtool is working in 9 of 10 times though.
Boot mAid . Open a terminal. Type bootimgtool --help .important is to use "-v qcom". Then extract the ramdisk with gzip and cpio, then modding the default.prop to make it insecure , then using gzip and cpio again to rebuild the ramdisk, finally using bootimgtool to construct the boot.img again. Sounds harder than it is but i have no access to my pc until monday so i cannot give all the needed cmds atm. There are plenty of guides out there and tools ofc which allow unpack,repack etc. That's why i mentioned AIK which does exactly the above but it fails sometimes to build a correct working boot.img.
So my suggestion is try your luck with one of the tools or wait until I've access to my pc. Consider joining my TG group then for easier support (see my sig)
steadfasterX said:
thousands.. But the problem is that our device is sensitive when it comes to packaging the boot.img again. Bootimgtool is working in 9 of 10 times though.
Boot mAid . Open a terminal. Type bootimgtool --help .important is to use "-v qcom". Then extract the ramdisk with gzip and cpio, then modding the default.prop to make it insecure , then using gzip and cpio again to rebuild the ramdisk, finally using bootimgtool to construct the boot.img again. Sounds harder than it is but i have no access to my pc until monday so i cannot give all the needed cmds atm. There are plenty of guides out there and tools ofc which allow unpack,repack etc. That's why i mentioned AIK which does exactly the above but it fails sometimes to build a correct working boot.img.
So my suggestion is try your luck with one of the tools or wait until I've access to my pc. Consider joining my TG group then for easier support (see my sig)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you once again. I'm really impressed by how much help you have been able to give so far.
Unfortunately, I have no phone with which to join the Telegram group.
I made the modified boot image, but adb is still unable to speak to the phone during boot. I note that lsusb does not show the phone during boot -- maybe the system hangs before USB is activated. However, I could have made the boot image incorrectly.
Here is what I did:
[[email protected] extract]$ bootimgtool -i boot
Image size: 41943040
Page size: 4096
Kernel size: 22456976
Ramdisk size: 1672742
Second stage size: 0
Device tree size: 0
Kernel load address: 0x00008000
Ramdisk load address: 0x01000000
Second stage load address: 0x00f00000
Device tree load address: 0x00000000
Tags load address: 0x00000100
Product name:
Command line: maxcpus=4 boot_cpus=0-1 console=ttyHSL0,115200,n8 androidboot.console=ttyHSL0 androidboot.hardware=qcom user_debug=31 ehci-hcd.park=3 lpm_levels.sleep_disabled=1 msm_rtb.filter=0x37 boot_cpus=0-1 buildvariant=userdebug
[[email protected] extract]$ bootimgtool -x boot -v qcom
[[email protected] extract]$ gunzip ramdisk
[[email protected] ex]$ cpio -i < ../ramdisk
In default.prop, I changed:
ro.adb.secure=0
ro.secure=0
security.perf_harden=0
ro.debuggable=0
persist.sys.usb.config=mtp,adb
In default.prop, I added:
persist.service.adb.enable=1
persist.service.debuggable=1
[[email protected] ex]$ find > /tmp/filelist
[[email protected] ex]$ cpio -o < /tmp/filelist > ../ramdisk.modified
This produces
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 4166400 Jan 2 17:29 ramdisk.gunzip.original
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 4162048 Jan 2 17:31 ramdisk.modified
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 1672742 Jan 2 17:16 ramdisk.img.original
I don't understand why the "modified" gunzipped file is slightly smaller than the original.
[[email protected] extract]$ mv ramdisk.modified.gz ramdisk.img
[[email protected] extract]$ cp boot boot.original
[[email protected] extract]$ bootimgtool -v qcom -c boot
Overwrite 'boot'? [y/N] y
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 25370624 Jan 2 17:38 boot
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 41943040 Jan 2 17:37 boot.original
I am wary because I don't understand why the new file is so much smaller than the original. However, I decided to proceed. Uploaded modified boot to /sdcard/boot.modified
Inside adb:
/dev/block/platform/soc.0/f9824900.sdhci/by-name # ls -al boot
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 21 Jan 1 04:16 boot -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p38
/dev/block/platform/soc.0/f9824900.sdhci/by-name # cp /sdcard/boot.modified /dev/block/mmcblk0p38
Plugged in device. On computer "adb wait-for-device". Reboot device.
Unfortunately, no action from adb.
electricfield said:
Thank you once again. I'm really impressed by how much help you have been able to give so far.
Unfortunately, I have no phone with which to join the Telegram group.
I made the modified boot image, but adb is still unable to speak to the phone during boot. I note that lsusb does not show the phone during boot -- maybe the system hangs before USB is activated. However, I could have made the boot image incorrectly.
Here is what I did:
[[email protected] extract]$ bootimgtool -i boot
Image size: 41943040
Page size: 4096
Kernel size: 22456976
Ramdisk size: 1672742
Second stage size: 0
Device tree size: 0
Kernel load address: 0x00008000
Ramdisk load address: 0x01000000
Second stage load address: 0x00f00000
Device tree load address: 0x00000000
Tags load address: 0x00000100
Product name:
Command line: maxcpus=4 boot_cpus=0-1 console=ttyHSL0,115200,n8 androidboot.console=ttyHSL0 androidboot.hardware=qcom user_debug=31 ehci-hcd.park=3 lpm_levels.sleep_disabled=1 msm_rtb.filter=0x37 boot_cpus=0-1 buildvariant=userdebug
[[email protected] extract]$ bootimgtool -x boot -v qcom
[[email protected] extract]$ gunzip ramdisk
[[email protected] ex]$ cpio -i < ../ramdisk
In default.prop, I changed:
ro.adb.secure=0
ro.secure=0
security.perf_harden=0
ro.debuggable=0
persist.sys.usb.config=mtp,adb
In default.prop, I added:
persist.service.adb.enable=1
persist.service.debuggable=1
[[email protected] ex]$ find > /tmp/filelist
[[email protected] ex]$ cpio -o < /tmp/filelist > ../ramdisk.modified
This produces
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 4166400 Jan 2 17:29 ramdisk.gunzip.original
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 4162048 Jan 2 17:31 ramdisk.modified
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 1672742 Jan 2 17:16 ramdisk.img.original
I don't understand why the "modified" gunzipped file is slightly smaller than the original.
[[email protected] extract]$ mv ramdisk.modified.gz ramdisk.img
[[email protected] extract]$ cp boot boot.original
[[email protected] extract]$ bootimgtool -v qcom -c boot
Overwrite 'boot'? [y/N] y
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 25370624 Jan 2 17:38 boot
-rw-r--r-- 1 android users 41943040 Jan 2 17:37 boot.original
I am wary because I don't understand why the new file is so much smaller than the original. However, I decided to proceed. Uploaded modified boot to /sdcard/boot.modified
Inside adb:
/dev/block/platform/soc.0/f9824900.sdhci/by-name # ls -al boot
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 21 Jan 1 04:16 boot -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p38
/dev/block/platform/soc.0/f9824900.sdhci/by-name # cp /sdcard/boot.modified /dev/block/mmcblk0p38
Plugged in device. On computer "adb wait-for-device". Reboot device.
Unfortunately, no action from adb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok i haven't followed every step bc I'm in half sleep mode already but you did one step wrong : you cant use cp like you did to copy the boot img. Either use the IMG button within TWRP flash menu or use fastboot flash boot boot.img to actually flash the modded boot img
Thank you, once again.
I think that something must be wrong with the boot image.
After "fastboot flash boot boot.modified", I get a blue light. The screen is blank with a cursor in the upper-left hand corner.
"fastboot flash boot boot.original" restores it to its previous state. i.e., it gets to the first lineageos splash screen bubble.
I'm suspicious of the difference between the file sizes of the original and modified boot images.
electricfield said:
Thank you, once again.
I think that something must be wrong with the boot image.
After "fastboot flash boot boot.modified", I get a blue light. The screen is blank with a cursor in the upper-left hand corner.
"fastboot flash boot boot.original" restores it to its previous state. i.e., it gets to the first lineageos splash screen bubble.
I'm suspicious of the difference between the file sizes of the original and modified boot images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ignore the size diff. That's bc of diff compressing tools but does not matter. Your cpio cmd is unusual . Cpio has switches to create directories and that is not used in yours above . Thats likely the reason why it does not boot at all. Again sorry that i can't help better atm but without my pc..
Thanks.
I changed the ramdisk extraction command to:
gzip -dc ../ramdisk.img | cpio -imd
and the creation command to:
find . ! -name . | LC_ALL=C sort | cpio -o -H newc -R root:root | gzip > ../new-boot.img-ramdisk.gz
Bootimgtool then produced a boot image that booted. After fastboot flash, the device is in the same state as before (splash screen).
Unfortunately, "adb wait-for-device" produces nothing. "lsusb" does not show the phone.
Can you confirm the lines to change in default.prop?
In default.prop, I changed:
ro.adb.secure=0
ro.secure=0
security.perf_harden=0
ro.debuggable=0
persist.sys.usb.config=mtp,adb
I added:
persist.service.adb.enable=1
persist.service.debuggable=1
electricfield said:
Thanks.
I changed the ramdisk extraction command to:
gzip -dc ../ramdisk.img | cpio -imd
and the creation command to:
find . ! -name . | LC_ALL=C sort | cpio -o -H newc -R root:root | gzip > ../new-boot.img-ramdisk.gz
Bootimgtool then produced a boot image that booted. After fastboot flash, the device is in the same state as before (splash screen).
Unfortunately, "adb wait-for-device" produces nothing. "lsusb" does not show the phone.
Can you confirm the lines to change in default.prop?
In default.prop, I changed:
ro.adb.secure=0
ro.secure=0
security.perf_harden=0
ro.debuggable=0
persist.sys.usb.config=mtp,adb
I added:
persist.service.adb.enable=1
persist.service.debuggable=1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ro.debuggable=1 is better (allows adb root)
security.perf_harden shouldn't be added (or.changed if it was there)
Rest looks ok. At least as long as you really changed these values directly or added them at the top (ro. values can be set only once)
Otherwise you should wait until tomorrow then i can share a 100% working way
electricfield said:
Thanks.
I changed the ramdisk extraction command to:
gzip -dc ../ramdisk.img | cpio -imd
and the creation command to:
find . ! -name . | LC_ALL=C sort | cpio -o -H newc -R root:root | gzip > ../new-boot.img-ramdisk.gz
Bootimgtool then produced a boot image that booted. After fastboot flash, the device is in the same state as before (splash screen).
Unfortunately, "adb wait-for-device" produces nothing. "lsusb" does not show the phone.
Can you confirm the lines to change in default.prop?
In default.prop, I changed:
ro.adb.secure=0
ro.secure=0
security.perf_harden=0
ro.debuggable=0
persist.sys.usb.config=mtp,adb
I added:
persist.service.adb.enable=1
persist.service.debuggable=1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh wait! Pls share the bootimgtool command you are using to create the new boot.img
Thank you, again.
The bootimgtool command is the same one as I used before (no change). Before running it, I renamed the new ramdisk to ramdisk.img.
bootimgtool -v qcom -c boot.modified3
Followed by bringing the phone into fastboot mode and running
fastboot flash boot boot.modified3
The phone boots to the lineageos splash screen but no response to "adb wait-for-device".
I'll try ro.debuggable=1 and get rid of security.perf_harden in a few minutes, but I wonder if they are unlikely to change anything given that the device does not show up in (linux) lsusb.
electricfield said:
Thank you, again.
The bootimgtool command is the same one as I used before (no change). Before running it, I renamed the new ramdisk to ramdisk.img.
bootimgtool -v qcom -c boot.modified3
Followed by bringing the phone into fastboot mode and running
fastboot flash boot boot.modified3
The phone boots to the lineageos splash screen but no response to "adb wait-for-device".
I'll try ro.debuggable=1 and get rid of security.perf_harden in a few minutes, but I wonder if they are unlikely to change anything given that the device does not show up in (linux) lsusb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wont change anything if adb does not come up. Just for completeness.
Ok so if you renamed it to ramdisk.img then all.good that was the thing i had in mind (that you didn't and not.used the -r switch). Well ok then without my pc the only thing i can think of might be the USB cable but thats very unlikely
Thanks again for your help.
The boot image that was flashed is definitely the correct one. I extracted it to another folder and checked it before flashing.
I re-made the boot image, but the result is the same (no adb, no device in lsusb).
What "-r switch" are you referring to in your previous message?
The USB cable works fine for ADB in TWRP, so I doubt it is the problem.
electricfield said:
Thanks again for your help.
The boot image that was flashed is definitely the correct one. I extracted it to another folder and checked it before flashing.
I re-made the boot image, but the result is the same (no adb, no device in lsusb).
What "-r switch" are you referring to in your previous message?
The USB cable works fine for ADB in TWRP, so I doubt it is the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The -r (iirc) switch was related to bootimgtool. That way you can choose your newly created ramdisk.img but when you renamed it to ramdisk.img it works without.
Thanks.
I would deeply appreciate if you were able to guide me in making the boot image correctly when you have your computer on Monday.
On the other hand, if this method won't work, its best if I know that so that I can try the next thing....
electricfield said:
Thanks.
I would deeply appreciate if you were able to guide me in making the boot image correctly when you have your computer on Monday.
On the other hand, if this method won't work, its best if I know that so that I can try the next thing....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok here you go, this must be added /changed in default.prop:
Code:
ro.adb.secure=0
ro.secure=0
ro.debuggable=1
persist.service.adb.enable=1
persist.service.debuggable=1
persist.sys.usb.config=adb
thumbs pressed
Thank you.
I rebuilt the boot image with these entries, but "adb wait-for-device" still does not work during boot.
Any other ideas?
A long time ago, I posted in a forum thread about my difficulty in trying to revive my M2003J15SG and after having my ethereal Windows install bricked. I switched to Fedora and tried my hand there, where surprisingly, things worked very well. I'm not calling this a guide because I'm basically piecing this together from my bash_history and recollection. I have used the word guide too many times to keep that sentence but yeah, it may be shaky in some places.
Disclaimer
Code:
/*
* Your warranty is... still valid?
*
* I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
* thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
* do some research if you have any concerns.
*
* I have removed the part about laughing at you because I'm not a meanie :3
*
* But yeah, this text is as-is. We provide this work to you without
* warranty of any kind, express or implied and in no event shall the authors
* be liable for any claim, damages or other liability in any way, shape or form,
* arising from, out of, in connection with the work
*
*/
A few things to note
This is an attempt to document my experience with BROM recovery of a phone that I bricked because I flashed an incorrect littlekernel image. If you're able to use other methods (using fastboot, recovery mode, hell, even preloader mode, you should probably go with that, this is a last resort).
This guide does involve opening your device, you will need a heat gun, a few picks and a screwdriver. No, this is not optional.
If you've read the excellent guide by VD171 on bypassing authentication and flashing, you may notice the important text that states
> Once you get "Protection disabled" at the end, without disconnecting phone and usb, run SP Flash Tool
That's because if you do disconnect and attempt to reconnect your device, it won't be recognized anymore. On Windows, this manifests as the infamous "USB device not recognized" error. This isn't you installing incorrect drivers, that's the device behaving erratically.
To have a second go at it, you have to press Vol Up + Power for about 60 seconds before you can retry.
To enter BROM mode, you need to press Vol Down and no other key, and then plug in your device.
This guide while being Fedora-specific, could be translated to other Linux distros assuming you have the necessary packages installed and have the appropriate permissions and udev rules set
This model of device doesn't need the kamakiri-specific kernel patch
On RHEL-like distros like Rocky Linux and... RHEL, you may need to disable SELinux. I have mine disabled at install so I'm not sure how this guide will behave with SELinux enforcement enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ingredients
Stock MIUI ROM V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM (the fastboot variant), which you can get from XiaomiFirmwareUpdater
SP Flash Tool v5.2020 for Linux, which you can get from SPFlashTools
VD171's readback_ui_bak.xml, which you can get from their XDA Forums thread
VD171's scatterfiles for V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM, which you can get from their XDA forums thread
You'll specifically need MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--boundary_false.txt and MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--download_true--boundary_false.txt
mtkclient, an MTK device exploit kit, which you can find on their GitHub (you'll need their master branch, not their releases, so there'll be instructions on how to fetch it)
A box of chocolate chip cookies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a) Preparing the computer
Step 0: Extract all ingredients and put them into one directory for ease of access
You can do this via the command line or through your file manager, it's just for convinence. This guide will assume that everything is done in one neat folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 1: Install all the dependencies you'll need
Bash:
sudo dnf install android-tools git libusb-devel python3 python3-pip systemd-udev
Step 2: Prevent Linux from interfering with MediaTek serial connections
Bash:
sudo touch /etc/udev/rules.d/20-mm-blacklist-mtk.rules
echo "ATTRS{idVendor}==\"0e8d\", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}=\"1\"" | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/20-mm-blacklist-mtk.rules
echo "ATTRS{idVendor}==\"6000\", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}=\"1\"" | sudo tee -a /etc/udev/rules.d/20-mm-blacklist-mtk.rules
Step 3: Clone mtkclient and install its dependencies
Bash:
git clone https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient
cd mtkclient
pip3 install -r requirements.txt
python3 setup.py build
sudo python3 setup.py install
Step 4: Install mtkclient's bundled udev rules
Bash:
sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER
sudo cp Setup/Linux/*.rules /etc/udev/rules.d
Step 5: Reload udev rules
Bash:
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
sudo udevadm trigger
Step 6: Return to previous directory
Bash:
cd ..
b) Preparing the device
This is where you basically follow this iFixit guide for the purposes of just disconnecting the battery cable. So, just stop at Step 12, then put the back cover on just flush enough that you can now click the volume and power buttons and insert a cable into the USB-port but not too much so that you have to go through the effort of reopening it again (because, well, you'll have to).
Attempting to skip this will yield you STATUS_EXT_RAM_EXCEPTION.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
c) Backing everything up
Alongside ROM and userdata, your EMMC contains your IEMI, your bootloader lock state, MAC addresses, calibration data, the whole nine yards. It's always a good idea to back things up before we get started.
Step 1: Copy readback_ui_bak.xml to the SP Flash Tool directory
Bash:
cp ./readback_ui_bak.xml ./SP_Flash_Tool_v5.2020_Linux/readback_ui_bak.xml
Step 2: Connecting your device and applying the exploit
Start off by running the exploit.
Bash:
cd mtkclient
chown +x mtk
./mtk payload
Once it says Preloader - Status: Waiting for PreLoader VCOM, please connect mobile, hold down Vol Down and connect your phone to the computer. If everything goes according to plan, you'll get an output similar to this.
Code:
Port - Device detected :)
Preloader - CPU: MT6768/MT6769(Helio P65/G85 k68v1)
Preloader - HW version: 0x0
Preloader - WDT: 0x10007000
Preloader - Uart: 0x11002000
Preloader - Brom payload addr: 0x100a00
Preloader - DA payload addr: 0x201000
Preloader - CQ_DMA addr: 0x10212000
Preloader - Var1: 0x25
Preloader - Disabling Watchdog...
Preloader - HW code: 0x707
Preloader - Target config: 0xe7
Preloader - SBC enabled: True
Preloader - SLA enabled: True
Preloader - DAA enabled: True
Preloader - SWJTAG enabled: True
Preloader - EPP_PARAM at 0x600 after EMMC_BOOT/SDMMC_BOOT: False
Preloader - Root cert required: False
Preloader - Mem read auth: True
Preloader - Mem write auth: True
Preloader - Cmd 0xC8 blocked: True
Preloader - Get Target info
Preloader - BROM mode detected.
Preloader - HW subcode: 0x8a00
Preloader - HW Ver: 0xca00
Preloader - SW Ver: 0x0
Preloader - ME_ID: [redacted]
Preloader - SOC_ID: [redacted]
PLTools - Loading payload from mt6768_payload.bin, 0x264 bytes
PLTools - Kamakiri / DA Run
Kamakiri - Trying kamakiri2..
Kamakiri - Done sending payload...
PLTools - Successfully sent payload: [redacted]/mtkclient/mtkclient/payloads/mt6768_payload.bin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 3: Open SP Flash Tool
Bash:
cd ../SP_Flash_Tool_v5.2020_Linux
chmod +x flash_tool
sudo ./flash_tool
Yes, I'm aware, it's technically not advisable to grant superuser privileges to, a flashing tool but... I can't get it to work otherwise, if you know how to make it work on Fedora, drop a comment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 4: Load the Download Agent (DA)
Click "Choose" and go to (common directory)/mtkclient/mtkclient/Loader/xiaomi_9_DA_6765_6785_6768_6873_6885_6853.bin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 5: Configure SP Flash Tool
Go to Options > Option
In General, uncheck "Storage Lifecycle Check"
In Connection, select "UART"
COM Port: /dev/ttyACM0 (it may not be the exact number, it'll just look something similar to this)
Baud rate: 921600
In Download
Uncheck "USB Checksum"
Uncheck "Storage Checksum"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 6: Backup device contents
Start by going to the "Readback" tab, it should already be populated with values that correspond to images from pgpt to otp. If you are presented with an empty table, you've need to go back and check if you've copied readback_ui_bak.xml to the correct directory.
If it shows up, then click "Read Back" and if all goes according to plan, you should see the green checkmark show up eventually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
d) Flashing stock firmwareStep 1: Copy scatterfiles to ROM directory
Bash:
cp ./MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--boundary_false.txt ./merlin_global_images_V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM_20200609.0000.00_10.0_global/images/MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--boundary_false.txt
cp ./MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--download_true--boundary_false.txt ./merlin_global_images_V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM_20200609.0000.00_10.0_global/images/MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--download_true--boundary_false.txt
Step 2: Flash the firmware
Return to the "Download" tab and select the MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--boundary_false.txt scatterfile we just copied in the ROM's images directory
Select "Firmware Upgrade" from the drop-down menu and then hit "Download". If all goes according to plan, you should see a green checkmark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 3: Restore bootloader status (optional)
In case you had an unlocked bootloader before imploding your phone and don't want to bother with Xiaomi's rigmarole, then by restoring seccfg, you should get it back.
Step 3.1: Copy over seccfg from our backup
You're probably going to be using a new terminal window because SP Flash is still running, navigate to your common directory first. The backup we did earlier stored all the images within the SP Flash Tool directory. We need to use sudo because flash_tool was running with root privileges and so, was writing with root privileges as well.
Bash:
sudo cp ./SP_Flash_Tool_v5.2020_Linux/seccfg ./merlin_global_images_V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM_20200609.0000.00_10.0_global/images/seccfg
Step 3.2: Change the scatterfile, select the image and flash it
Change the scatterfile to MT6768_Android_scatter--V11.0.5.0.QJOMIXM--download_true--boundary_false.txt and un-select everything except seccfg
Select "Download Only" from the drop-down menu and then hit "Download". Fingers crossed, green checkmark, you should get your unlock back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 4: Reconnect your battery and first boot
If you've reached this point and everything has worked as expected, reconnect your battery, long press the Power button and you should be greeted with a boot animation and hopefully a functioning phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
e) Packing it up
Basically, just... follow the iFixit guide from Step b) in reverse and seal up your phone. I don't use this phone regularly so I never bothered sealing it, relying only on the plastic clips. You probably should but that's outside the scope of this journal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
f) Upgrading to Android 11 (optional)
As of this writing, LineageOS supports this device under the codename merlinx (the x is because of a conflict with the Moto G3 Turbo, which shares the same codename) and according to their install documentation, they expect a base of Android 11 and this guide flashes Android 10.
I personally used the V12.5.4.0.RJOMIXM firmware (available from XiaomiFirmwareUpdater, again, use the fastboot version) but I did an ever-so-slight change. The entire song-and-dance of needing the bypass exploit is because of "upgrades" made to the payload. I modified flash_all.sh to omit flashing the payload and the modification looks something like this (the other comment-outs were already there in the file)
Bash:
(...)
#fastboot $* flash preloader `dirname $0`/images/preloader_merlin.bin
#if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then echo "Flash preloader error"; exit 1; fi
#fastboot $* flash efuse `dirname $0`/images/efuse.img
#if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then echo "Flash efuse error"; exit 1; fi
fastboot $* flash logo `dirname $0`/images/logo.bin
if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then echo "Flash logo error"; exit 1; fi
fastboot $* flash tee1 `dirname $0`/images/tee.img
"Flash preloader error"; exit 1; fi
(...)
I also commented out the reboot command at the end so I could flash LineageOS's recovery and flash the OS that I wanted.
Bash:
(...)
#fastboot $* reboot
#if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then echo "Reboot error"; exit 1; fi
(...)
Of course, you need to boot into fastboot mode (by taking a turned off device and pressing Power + Vol Down) before you execute the script
Code:
cd merlin_global_images_V12.5.4.0.RJOMIXM_20220325.0000.00_11.0_global
chmod +x flash_all.sh
./flash_all.sh
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Sources
https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient
https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient/issues/94
https://www.hovatek.com/blog/my-experience-unbricking-a-dead-boot-lg-stylo-6/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...omi-redmi-10x-4g-xiaomi-redmi-note-9.4221065/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...for-merlin-redmi-10x-4g-redmi-note-9.4238149/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...omi-redmi-10x-4g-xiaomi-redmi-note-9.4223107/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...omi-redmi-10x-4g-xiaomi-redmi-note-9.4223093/
Wow !
Really amazing guide !
Nice, nice
Thank you very much for contribution