Develop Bugs

What is the cleanest way to install updates?

I'm fairly new to Android and the Nexus 7. I am unlocked, rooted, and have installed Ti Backup. I just recently received the OTA for 4.4.4 and installed it, and then manually loaded TWRP back and rerooted.
This doesn't seem like the cleanest install (maybe it's my OCD tendencies with hardware and software), so I'm wondering what is the best way to install Android updates? Should I reset to the factory image and then use Ti back up for all my apps? Is the way I proceeded just as good as other possible methods? My goal is to follow a plan that will support the 7 performing as best as possible.
Any info or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick

C5Longhorn said:
I'm fairly new to Android and the Nexus 7. I am unlocked, rooted, and have installed Ti Backup. I just recently received the OTA for 4.4.4 and installed it, and then manually loaded TWRP back and rerooted.
This doesn't seem like the cleanest install (maybe it's my OCD tendencies with hardware and software), so I'm wondering what is the best way to install Android updates? Should I reset to the factory image and then use Ti back up for all my apps? Is the way I proceeded just as good as other possible methods? My goal is to follow a plan that will support the 7 performing as best as possible.
Any info or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer using multirom. What I do, is wait for a flashable full version of the latest and greatest stock from Tasssadar (he usually has one the same day or 2), then flash it as secondary, root it, install xposed, gb, and a couple other modules and viper4android, qualcom dalvik and bionic patches, flash elementalx, go into primary, make backups with TiB, go into recovery and do a complete nandroid, put them onto my meenova (and pc), delete all the big apps that take up a lot of room, then boot into secondary, restore android ID with TiB, install only small apps I need (I prefer reinstalling instead of restoring from backup), then use TiB to restore app data only (only the things I need) and wifi networks, once I am satisfied with it being complete, I use multiroms swap rom function to swap secondary to primary, then confirm it works, then I delete the secondary (which is the old version), then I install and restore data for the big items. If you have a 32GB N7, you probably can be more careless with the deleting of big app data.
This way I get a clean start, loose nothing and have multple ways of going back if I need to, also I can take my time restoring stuff and still use my working older version until I am ready.

C5Longhorn said:
I'm fairly new to Android and the Nexus 7. I am unlocked, rooted, and have installed Ti Backup. I just recently received the OTA for 4.4.4 and installed it, and then manually loaded TWRP back and rerooted.
This doesn't seem like the cleanest install (maybe it's my OCD tendencies with hardware and software), so I'm wondering what is the best way to install Android updates? Should I reset to the factory image and then use Ti back up for all my apps? Is the way I proceeded just as good as other possible methods? My goal is to follow a plan that will support the 7 performing as best as possible.
Any info or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, i think it depends a bit on what kind of update it is. Usually the "smaller OTA updates (like 4.3.1 to 4.3.2) doesnt wipe your system, so all you have to do is re-root it again (if you want). All Apps and Data is kept. If the update is one that changes the Android Version like 4.1 to 4.3 (wich wont happen on the Nexus) then i would suggest a factory-reset before and maybe even after again, yes.
Off topic a bit: To be honest, i never bothered with backup systems because i somehow doesnt feel its a good idea but that is really my own thinking, im very aware that many ppl use backups successfully.
Games i play are usually saved on the server anyway, contacts, emails and all that are automatically there anyway if you use a google account and if your system is set to automatically restoe apps then all the apps get automatically downloaded again anyway.
Somehow i dont seem to use a single app that needs data to be backed up. And theres none that comes to my mind, besides savegames of non-server-saved games probably. But for that theres Helium. The cloud (be it "owncloud" or the official ones) saves me all this trouble with backups.

For the cleanest install I can think of (and usually do myself):
1. Grab latest factory image from Google and extract it so you're left with a folder with scripts and stuff (can be 4.4.4, or even L preview atm; folder should look similar to razor-lpv79)
2. Get platform-tools (either straight from Android SDK or from a trusted location (do not use a toolkit) ; make sure it's up-to-date, and for a good idea, add the executable path to PATH)
3. Boot N7 to Bootloader (power it off, hold vol down + power)
4. Unlock bootloader via fastboot oem unlock (confirm it on N7 with vol and power buttons)
5. Run flash-all.bat found in the factory image folder (fastboot executable either needs to be put into that folder, or you need it on PATH already)
6. Watch the tablet and wait for it to reboot, immediately when it reboots, hold vol down and go back to bootloader
7. Do fastboot oem lock to re-lock the bootloader
8. Boot to recovery
9. Clean Cache, then Data/Factory Reset (in that order)
10. Reboot
11. Profit
That process should ensure future updates work without issue or snag But of course you'd lose root. You probably don't have to re-lock the bootloader though.

espionage724 said:
For the cleanest install I can think of (and usually do myself):
1. Grab latest factory image from Google and extract it so you're left with a folder with scripts and stuff (can be 4.4.4, or even L preview atm; folder should look similar to razor-lpv79)
2. Get platform-tools (either straight from Android SDK or from a trusted location (do not use a toolkit) ; make sure it's up-to-date, and for a good idea, add the executable path to PATH)
3. Boot N7 to Bootloader (power it off, hold vol down + power)
4. Unlock bootloader via fastboot oem unlock (confirm it on N7 with vol and power buttons)
5. Run flash-all.bat found in the factory image folder (fastboot executable either needs to be put into that folder, or you need it on PATH already)
6. Watch the tablet and wait for it to reboot, immediately when it reboots, hold vol down and go back to bootloader
7. Do fastboot oem lock to re-lock the bootloader
8. Boot to recovery
9. Clean Cache, then Data/Factory Reset (in that order)
10. Reboot
11. Profit
That process should ensure future updates work without issue or snag But of course you'd lose root. You probably don't have to re-lock the bootloader though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In fact, unless it's going back to the factory I'd recommend never relocking it.

mdamaged said:
In fact, unless it's going back to the factory I'd recommend never relocking it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not really too much trouble to unlock it again, but if anything, re-locking it can be pretty nice from a security-standpoint.
I mainly just re-lock it just to keep that Google experience

espionage724 said:
It's not really too much trouble to unlock it again, but if anything, re-locking it can be pretty nice from a security-standpoint.
I mainly just re-lock it just to keep that Google experience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To each their own I guess.:good:

Thanks to all who responded. Good info and ideas on installs. I may end up doing a clean install and following the methods you all mentioned. Right now, I'm monitoring the performance to see if anything further is necessary.
Thanks,
Rick

espionage724 said:
It's not really too much trouble to unlock it again, but if anything, re-locking it can be pretty nice from a security-standpoint.
I mainly just re-lock it just to keep that Google experience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that it's not too much trouble to unlock the bootloader BUT... you will completely wipe your entire device everytime you unlock the bootloader! There is only one way that I know of to get around that. "BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices" is supposed to be able to unlock the bootloader without wiping the device but for it to work you will have had to unlock the bootloader to gain root beforehand, then you can use the app to lock unlock. I've never used "BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices" so I can't make any claims as to how well it works or if it will continue to work after future updates. If you ever want to fastboot flash the factory image or parts of a factory image the bootloader will need to be unlocked. And as far as I know to flash images with a toolkit (I don't use any) like Wug's the bootloader needs to be unlocked. Unlocked bootloader from a security standpoint? You're absolutely right that there is a risk! IF your device physically ends up in someone else's possession. We do have the "Android Device Manager" now that gives the ability to locate and wipe our devices. And, I have an additional theft warranty provided by Ruger so I don't spend much time worrying about losing any devices. ; ) There are much bigger security risks from just being rooted and/or having "unknown sources" enabled, web exploits and sideloaded apps. Unless you leave your device completely stock and unrooted, relocking your bootloader can create a significant hurdle that needs to be overcome to solve problems, especially for inexperienced android users. For what it's not worth, just my 2 cents! ; )
Update: after doing some research and installing BootUnlocker it seems to work well! Sweet! I don't need it and prefer to just stay unlocked so I'm deleting the app. Downside of having a locked bootloader is if you can't boot up and want to flash the system or factory images you'll need to "fastboot oem unlock" which equals "wiped device"
C5Longhorn said:
I'm fairly new to Android and the Nexus 7. I am unlocked, rooted, and have installed Ti Backup. I just recently received the OTA for 4.4.4 and installed it, and then manually loaded TWRP back and rerooted.
This doesn't seem like the cleanest install (maybe it's my OCD tendencies with hardware and software), so I'm wondering what is the best way to install Android updates? Should I reset to the factory image and then use Ti back up for all my apps? Is the way I proceeded just as good as other possible methods? My goal is to follow a plan that will support the 7 performing as best as possible.
Any info or opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you and I feel the same way about OTA updates. I've always felt that flashing the factory image will provide a much more consistent and reliable result. I'm not a big fan of using the OTA's but do use them occasionally for very small updates like 4.4.4. Usually the bigger OTA updates will fail because I have too many modified files in the system and because they are bigger I would rather flash the image anyway. Generally, for the most part, I will open the factory image and pull (extract) from there the specific images that were updated in the OTA and fastboot flash those. On the N7 only the system image was changed with the 4.4.4 update. The 4.4.3 update changed the boot and system images. You can either flash the images that are needed for the update individually or the whole factory image. Flashing the individual images will not wipe your storage, settings or user apps and the factory image Can also be flashed without wiping your storage, or losing your installed apps and settings. When you extract the factory image you will see;
bootloader-flo-flo-04.02.img
flash-all.bat
flash-all.sh
flash-base.sh
image-razor-ktu84p.zip
Inside the "image-razor-ktu84p.zip" is where you will see the individual images;
android-info.txt
boot.img
cache.img
recovery.img
system.img
userdata.img
To flash the factory image without wiping data all you have to do is open up the 'flash-all.bat' with editpad lite or whatever notepad you use and remove the -w from the text. The -w flag will cause the userdata.img to be flashed which wipes your device. If you really want to make sure the os is clean you can do a factory reset with TWRP after flashing the images which will wipe the cache, data and dalvik and remove any settings but will leave your storage intact. I seldom do that though. If you are using a custom recovery it will be replaced with the stock recovery image when you flash the factory image which is why I generally flash the images separately. Not a big deal though because it only takes a few seconds to fastboot flash a custom recovery. My bootloader is always unlocked and I always have TWRP installed on my devices. Leaving TWRP installed gives the ability to flash an OTA that you sideloaded if you don't want to wait for it to get to your device. When you flash the system image, factory image or an OTA you will always lose the supersu binary which causes you to lose root. Before booting up after flashing the images you can go into your custom recovery and flash the supersu zip to regain root. Which is what I always do and I always leave a recent copy of the supersu zip on my devices. I always recommend learning how to use adb/fastboot, toolkits work fine for a lot of people but learning adb/fastboot is not hard and gives you more options and a better understanding of what is being done. A lot of problems you see posted here in the forums are from inexperienced users that are using toolkits. Just saying! ; )

Thanks for the response. I'm actually going back to just using adb/fastboot and flashing. I seem to run into more hiccups using toolkits that just a command line window.
Rick

Boot loop and factory image restore

Hi,
I'm writing here as a last hope, after I've tried every possible solution I could find online. Any help here will be very much appreciated.
Couple of days ago I received my fresh Nexus 5X, that I plan to use with Project Fi.
After unlocking the bootloader (with Google Support blessing!) and installing TWRP+SuperSU, I ran into problems, big problems.
Following the Android wizard setup, I connected to the wifi and the phone started downloading an update of ~79Mb.
When rebooted, though, it started TWRP, and it didn't go ahead.
To play safe, I decided to do a factory reset, using the official ROM from Google, replacing also TWRP with the original recovery (I basically did every step in the "flash-all.sh" script).
That didn't work either, and the phone now gets stuck at the boot animation.
I've tried also wiping partitions using both fastboot ("fastboot -w...") and TWRP, but nothing worked.
Another diagnostic symptom.
I've noticed that the recovery (TWRP for sure, the stock one not so much sure) had problems finding the sdcard partition ("unknown volume for path couldn't mount sdcard installation aborted").
Could that be a source of issues?
I thought that it would be possible to do a factory reset, but I'm probably missing something.
At this point, I'm completely lost and I don't know what to do.
Thanks in advance.

Try the flash all script again with latest firmware and let it boot up completely. It will take a while, once booted, flash TWRP and root if you want.

ntropia said:
Hi,
I'm writing here as a last hope, after I've tried every possible solution I could find online. Any help here will be very much appreciated.
Couple of days ago I received my fresh Nexus 5X, that I plan to use with Project Fi.
After unlocking the bootloader (with Google Support blessing!) and installing TWRP+SuperSU, I ran into problems, big problems.
Following the Android wizard setup, I connected to the wifi and the phone started downloading an update of ~79Mb.
When rebooted, though, it started TWRP, and it didn't go ahead.
To play safe, I decided to do a factory reset, using the official ROM from Google, replacing also TWRP with the original recovery (I basically did every step in the "flash-all.sh" script).
That didn't work either, and the phone now gets stuck at the boot animation.
I've tried also wiping partitions using both fastboot ("fastboot -w...") and TWRP, but nothing worked.
Another diagnostic symptom.
I've noticed that the recovery (TWRP for sure, the stock one not so much sure) had problems finding the sdcard partition ("unknown volume for path couldn't mount sdcard installation aborted").
Could that be a source of issues?
I thought that it would be possible to do a factory reset, but I'm probably missing something.
At this point, I'm completely lost and I don't know what to do.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if you need a modified boot.img or kernel since you are rooted .In my experience since Android 5.1.1 you need a custom kernel for root and sometimes a modified boot.img after flashing twrp
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA Free mobile app

androidddaaron said:
I wonder if you need a modified boot.img or kernel since you are rooted .In my experience since Android 5.1.1 you need a custom kernel for root and sometimes a modified boot.img after flashing twrp
Sent from my Nexus 5X using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an interesting perspective, actually.
I didn't know that you needed a special image for rooted devices.
Although, I would imagine that's always possible to 'un-root' it, and honestly I was hoping that 'fastboot flash -w...' would have removed any trace of the root.
Is that the case?
Either way, where could I find these modified images?
Thanks a bunch!

Solved
I found the solution which, as it happens when nothing seems to be wrong, was fairly trivial.
Basically, the scripts provided with the stock ROM from Google has problems, and this last command fails:
Code:
fastboot update image-bullhead-mmb29p.zip
saying that system.img is missing.
To fix that, you have to manually extract the content of the files and proceed to flash manually userdata, system, etc...
The problem is that if you don't flash also vendor.img, you're in trouble, and the device will not boot.
Some of the guides that I've found were suggesting that you need to do it for the Nexus 9, and I didn't notice when other guides were mentioning it.
Once you flash the vendor.img, the boot loop is gone.
I'll put it here, I hope it can be helpful to somebody.
Thanks to androidddaaron and k.s.deviate for the support!
(I've thanked also used the thank button near the posts, but if there's more to do, let me know)
Now, back to mess up the Project Fi SIM...

[root] [ZS570KL] Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe fast rooting method. Despite TWRP

Not tested on nougat.
I use adb and fastboot , twrp, supersu.
Files We need:
TWRP: It's bogus, in my phone the screen flips upsidedown: Connect a mouse thru female usb or try to figure out how to tap in a rotated screen with a non rotated touch panel.
TWRP Download -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0XMYw0cbs_cdm5FZW1DQXl4MFU/view
SuperSU file - > https://download.chainfire.eu/1021/SuperSU/SR3-SuperSU-v2.79-SR3-20170114223742.zip?retrieve_file=1
For ADB access thru MAC:
1.- First of all we have to get open USB debug mode to get adb acces to the phone by going to Settings -> About -> Software Information -> Tap 7 times over Build number.
2.- After we get Developer options available we have to put the phone on usb debugging by goig to "Settings-> Developer Options" Activate USB Debugging.
3.- Install android platform-tools on your PC/Linux/MAC , in my case had work on MAC and no devices acces thru ADB on PC :silly: .
platform-tools -> http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/0...ble-without-full-sdk-android-studio-download/
Here you have the 3 options to download ADB and FASTBOOT
4.- Connect your phone to the PC (USB) and copy SuperSu to the root of your phone, a place that its easy too acces, cause TWRP, for the moment flips the screen.
5.- Copy TWRP3.0.XXX.zip to the folder where you have platform-tools installed.
6.- Reboot your phone to bootloader and in Linux could work too:
./adb reboot bootloader [./ is placed cause I don't put platform-tools on the my PATH]
After the boot, then we have to boot on TWRP
./fastboot boot twrp-3.0xxxx.zip (you don't flash anything) If you want to flash TWRP, at your awn risk, ./fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.0xxxx.zip".
Well, now you have to see TRWP on your phone screen.
My recomendation is to play a little bit with the flipped screen if you don't have a female USB to plug a mouse.
7.- Trying to make a complete backup of the phone could be a good practice to move on TWRP with the flipped screen . Tap backup option and make a Backup. Always recomended!
8.- After Backup, you can go to INSTALL SuperSU.zip file. "Install -> look for your SuperSU.zip file "
9.- Go to Playstore and install supersu app.
Now you can test your root, after reboot for example tryin to install some APP that requires root. Fast move:
./adb shell
su root
It has to appear a screen to grant root access to the phone.
10. Done!
Well I think thats my second post at all, hope can help someone to root the phone.
I placed In Questions and Answers cause XDA says want to protect us from SPAM.
Feel free to correct me anything.
Kronen_75

Your links do not work.

jnmacd said:
Your links do not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Links are corrected. Thanks!

You can also substitute Magisk instead of Supersu if you need to use any of the pay apps or have root sensitive apps...

Without the right Twrp, many benefits to rooting are missing such as removing stock rom applications. Seems without being able to boot to a recovery, even Titanium cannot remove apps because it needs to clean the dalvic.. Can't do it without a recovery
Sent from my ASUS_Z016D using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Download the right twrp here: https://mega.nz/#F!EkFF1CJD!C8o2wXMARW3YJFOipDttbA

You should change your title !!
Tested on nougat.
The variant ZS550KL can be rooted with same method on latest firmware with nougat

Very nice guide, Thank you. Could you please provide updated links to both TWRP and SuperSU. I am currently using TWRP 3.1.1-0 and it functions properly after hanging for approximately 45 seconds on boot. This may be due to the fact my phone is encrypted. I initially rooted without installing TWRP (fastboot boot twrp.img) but have since flashed it. Both ways work well. The posted version of SuperSU did result in root but caused me to lose cell service! The phone could "see" the sim card but not use it. Updating to SuperSU 2.82 solved that issue. This was all done on my finally rooted ZenFone 3 Deluxe Special Edition (Z016D)!!!

I unfortunately figured something out the other day. Using TWRP 3.1.1-0 I am able to install zip files, complete wipes, make & restore backups. The issues only arise after you restore your nandroid image. Everything works except for two things.
1. The ability to hear audio during phone calls. The phone is actually able to place calls but you are unable to hear or record any phone audio. Oddly enough I was able to play music and use voice dictation. It was only in-call audio that seemed to be affected.
2. If you have a pin set when you create your nandroid image your pin will no longer work once restored. You will be locked out of your own phone!!
Fortunately both are fairly easily resolved and keep TWRP relatively useful, although a bit bothersome!
To resolve the pin issue it is necessary to use the TWRP file manager or ADB to delete 5 files (listed below) and regain entrance to your phone. Once deleted simply reboot the phone and reset your pin. If you remove your pin before creating a backup this issue is averted completely.
/data/system/gatekeeper.pattern.key
/data/system/gatekeeper.password.key
/data/system/locksettings.db
/data/system/locksettings.db-wal
/data/system/locksettings.db-shm
To re-enable call audio use TWRP (install zip) to reflash the same version firmware from the Asus website over your current install without wiping. This will restore any system apps you may have removed but you should still have root and can easily remove them again. There will be two errors when performing the flash, which is why I believe root is retained but the system image will be reflashed. Reboot and enjoy
I sincerely hope I have not caused anyone any issues! Or that someone else finds this information useful. I have tested everything in this post at least three times. All testing was done on the most recent Android 7 firmware on my ZenFone 3 Deluxe Special Edition (SnapDragon 821/6/256).

Sandman45654 said:
I unfortunately figured something out the other day. Using TWRP 3.1.1-0 I am able to install zip files, complete wipes, make & restore backups. The issues only arise after you restore your nandroid image. Everything works except for two things.
1. The ability to hear audio during phone calls. The phone is actually able to place calls but you are unable to hear or record any phone audio. Oddly enough I was able to play music and use voice dictation. It was only in-call audio that seemed to be affected.
2. If you have a pin set when you create your nandroid image your pin will no longer work once restored. You will be locked out of your own phone!!
Fortunately both are fairly easily resolved and keep TWRP relatively useful, although a bit bothersome!
To resolve the pin issue it is necessary to use the TWRP file manager or ADB to delete 5 files (listed below) and regain entrance to your phone. Once deleted simply reboot the phone and reset your pin. If you remove your pin before creating a backup this issue is averted completely.
/data/system/gatekeeper.pattern.key
/data/system/gatekeeper.password.key
/data/system/locksettings.db
/data/system/locksettings.db-wal
/data/system/locksettings.db-shm
To re-enable call audio use TWRP (install zip) to reflash the same version firmware from the Asus website over your current install without wiping. This will restore any system apps you may have removed but you should still have root and can easily remove them again. There will be two errors when performing the flash, which is why I believe root is retained but the system image will be reflashed. Reboot and enjoy
I sincerely hope I have not caused anyone any issues! Or that someone else finds this information useful. I have tested everything in this post at least three times. All testing was done on the most recent Android 7 firmware on my ZenFone 3 Deluxe Special Edition (SnapDragon 821/6/256).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The second issue happens in all the phones/twrp.
It's possible to install the firmware from asus website with twrp?? To update i flash the stock recovery, install the firmware, then reflash twrp and supersu. Didn't know that! It updates successfully with twrp??

Thank you Ryder for confirming my suspicion that the pin issue may have been a more common one with TWRP. This is the first phone I actually cared enough about to use a pin. I was thrown for a loop when I first booted my fresh nandroid restore and the pin I know I've been using was incorrect!
As for installing firmware, with the two errors that occurred during I don't know that you would be able to do full scale upgrade to a higher version. To reinstall the system partition however it does seem to work quite well. I tested this part four times. To do so download the correct device/version firmware to the phones storage, click install, and select that file. After it completes I like to wipe both the cache and the dalvik cache before restarting the phone. The audio issue was unfortunately easily reproduced on my phone, but thankfully equally easy to resolve. This worked for me each time without fail.

Sandman45654 said:
Thank you Ryder for confirming my suspicion that the pin issue may have been a more common one with TWRP. This is the first phone I actually cared enough about to use a pin. I was thrown for a loop when I first booted my fresh nandroid restore and the pin I know I've been using was incorrect!
As for installing firmware, with the two errors that occurred during I don't know that you would be able to do full scale upgrade to a higher version. To reinstall the system partition however it does seem to work quite well. I tested this part four times. To do so download the correct device/version firmware to the phones storage, click install, and select that file. After it completes I like to wipe both the cache and the dalvik cache before restarting the phone. The audio issue was unfortunately easily reproduced on my phone, but thankfully equally easy to resolve. This worked for me each time without fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said that the two issues occurred when you restored the nandroid backup and to fix one of them by installing the zip firmware from asus website with twrp... I don't understand. I can install zip firmware with twrp or i have to flash the stock recovery and install with it? Errors may occur using the twrp? Sorry

Everything done in my post so far has been in TWRP. Honestly I didn't even back up the recovery image. TWRP seemed to work flawlessly so I bit bullet and flashed it.
On a sidenote I am currently testing the usability of FlahFire on this device. It appears to create a very nice fastboot installable recovery image! I have yet to restore the image however. I will post my findings here once I have thoroughly tested it.

Sandman45654 said:
Everything done in my post so far has been in TWRP. Honestly I didn't even back up the recovery image. TWRP seemed to work flawlessly so I bit bullet and flashed it.
On a sidenote I am currently testing the usability of FlahFire on this device. It appears to create a very nice fastboot installable recovery image! I have yet to restore the image however. I will post my findings here once I have thoroughly tested it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. I'm interested in flashing zip firmware to update. Never tried that. I thought that firmware can be installed only with stock recovery. The stock recovery can be downloaded in an asus forum website

This is the first time I have flashed anything in almost a year. I got to thinking and this is the most success I have had was flashing a stock image with TWRP! I doubt it will perform a full flash. I believe the errors are most likely for the boot and recovery partitions. As a save my butt reflash the system partition it does work. It sounds like it's time to find some TWRP changelogs!

Sandman45654 said:
This is the first time I have flashed anything in almost a year. I got to thinking and this is the most success I have had was flashing a stock image with TWRP! I doubt it will perform a full flash. I believe the errors are most likely for the boot and recovery partitions. As a save my butt reflash the system partition it does work. It sounds like it's time to find some TWRP changelogs!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't care about stock images... If i can't flash the zip with twrp to update successfully then i reflash the stock recovery and after the update root again with twrp and supersu. By the way, the zip firmare contains factory images? I thought it contains different kind of files

Ryder. said:
By the way, the zip firmare contains factory images? I thought it contains different kind of files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I lack the knowledge to answer that with enough certainty to even call it an answer! This is my foray into the insides of this phone and I don't want to start posting my hunches.
What I do know is you can flash the system partition using TWRP. I have done it several times. Asus's zips run as a script based zip install. You are offered no options during install. When the script runs you will see two errors quickly scroll past.

Ryder. said:
Download the right twrp here: https://mega.nz/#F!EkFF1CJD!C8o2wXMARW3YJFOipDttbA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you creating these TWRP builds? If so thank you very much! TWRP-3.1.1-0-Z016-20170826 seems to work flawlessly! No lag on boot and no known issues after restoring a backup unlike before.
I wanted to post my finding about FlashFire by Chainfire. I have had great success with the fastboot backup! It is the only option I have tested extensively however. I have been running the same fastboot restored phone since soon after my last post on this topic with no issues discovered.

Sandman45654 said:
Are you creating these TWRP builds? If so thank you very much! TWRP-3.1.1-0-Z016-20170826 seems to work flawlessly! No lag on boot and no known issues after restoring a backup unlike before.
I wanted to post my finding about FlashFire by Chainfire. I have had great success with the fastboot backup! It is the only option I have tested extensively however. I have been running the same fastboot restored phone since soon after my last post on this topic with no issues discovered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It's not me. It's another user which i don't remember the nickname

Ryder. said:
No. It's not me. It's another user which i don't remember the nickname
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay thank you. If you happen to find out/remember please let me know. I would like to give credit with my project and thank them for their hard work.

[Q] Root Issues - Are these known? Are there fixes?

I purchased my Pixel 2 XL from the Google store. I had just upgraded to the 8.1 OTA a few days before when i came across this video and used it to root my phone:
https://youtu.be/nFD9sa-WdUM
Here's the basic steps i took:
Unlock dev options and turn on OEM Unlocking
Boot to stock recovery
Go to his highonandroid site and download TWRP 3.1.1 beta2 (img and zip), an outdated fastboot.zip, magisk 14.5, and the USB drivers which i didnt download because my computer is already recognizing my device just fine.
Extract the fastboot files to a new folder and copy the twrp img file to the fastboot folder.
In CMD, unlock the bootloader with fastboot and reboot phone.
Connect phone as storage device, copy over twrp zip file and magisk 14.5 zip files to root folder on the phone, reboot into recovery
Use fastboot to boot the twrp image that we copied to fastboot folder to get into twrp
Unhook the USB cable, set TWRP to read only, install TWRP, hit home button, then install Magisk and reboot
Once booted up, get into Magisk, download proprietary software, run checks and done.
Once this was done, my fingerprint scanner and wifi no longer worked. I could turn wifi on but it would never find anything. I also received the error when rebooting the phone that says "There's an internal problem with your device. Contact your manufacturer for details." When this message is on the screen, if i dont touch the phone and the screen times out, it flickers really bad and never actually shuts off until i unlock it and hit the OK button.
So i decided to give it another go and ran into some big issues. I figured that i used 8.0 instructions on 8.1 and there was enough things different that it caused problems, so i used this link to reroot:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-2-xl/how-to/guide-unlock-flash-root-pixel-2-xl-t3702418
I went through the first 10-15 pages and the last 10-15 pages and did some searches on the thread and never found any of my issues, but found that a lot of people used different sets of steps and pretty much everything was successful as long as you didnt miss anything and used the most updated stuff. So i did, i went to googles website and downloaded the newest SDK with fastboot, adb, and all that good stuff, as well as the newest 8.1 image (there was a newer version but it had a carrier label on it so i didnt get that one), and the newest magisk and twrp.
I flashed 8.1 and the phone wouldnt boot, nor would it get into TWRP anymore, so i had to use fastboot to boot the twrp image and reinstall the recovery and magisk but it still wouldnt boot. I ran through several different steps and eventually got it to boot up with recovery working. Its the newest 8.1 image, the newest magisk, and the newest twrp, and since then magisk has updated a couple times.
Now on to my issues!
I still get the "Internal problem" popup when booting
I get a lot more random reboots
Sometimes random things just wont work, like streaming plex to my tv or loading an app or something on an app and i have to reboot and it works fine
I've seen numerous times that the "Internal problem" thing is just a mismatch between the system and vendor build.prop files. I dont know what exactly is mismatching between the two but i've tried reflashing them and all sorts of things and nothing ever fixes it.
Does anyone know if there's a fix to any of these three issues, or if maybe looking at my steps i clearly did something wrong? I'm willing to do the whole thing over again if there's a good suggestion, but once i flashed the 8.1 image and went that route, i rerooted successfully 4 times total before i quit doing it again just because of that internal problem popup, i kept figuring something went wrong or i did something wrong. I had no security or anything set before rooting or flashing or anything, and each time i reflashed the operating system, but when i flashed the OS, i had to extract the system file because i would constantly get an error that it was too big and it failed to truncate it, so i've always had to manually install it by first copying it to my phone and installing it through TWRP. Its been an adventure, but these problems suck!

PMad said:
...Its been an adventure, but these problems suck!
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Click to collapse
It's called training. For the error, you just need to fastboot flash the stock dtbo.img. This was fixed on the 15.1 version of Magisk so you shouldn't have that problem anymore. I can tell you that rooted, kernel and a few root apps and I have never had ANY random reboots, so one of your apps is causing it or you didn't start from a completely blank slate. Run your phone in Safe Mode for a while to see if you stop the reboots 100%. If so, one of your apps is the cause. If you still get reboots in Safe Mode, you're gonna need to re-install. I suggest using the instructions on the Google web page where you got the full image. (and try to distill your posts down a little, ffs)

v12xke said:
It's called training.
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Every new phone is a new adventure, they are all the same but unique at the same time!
v12xke said:
For the error, you just need to fastboot flash the stock dtbo.img.
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Click to collapse
I'll give this a shot! Thank you!
v12xke said:
This was fixed on the 15.1 version of Magisk so you shouldn't have that problem anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
15.1 is the version i'm on now but nothing has changed. Which issue was this supposed to fix?
v12xke said:
I can tell you that rooted, kernel and a few root apps and I have never had ANY random reboots, so one of your apps is causing it or you didn't start from a completely blank slate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My concern here is that my settings and apps are literally exactly the same as before root, except for magisk, its my only new app, which would lead me to believe that something Magisk is changing is causing the problem, or something else is happening that i'm not realizing yet.
v12xke said:
Run your phone in Safe Mode for a while to see if you stop the reboots 100%. If so, one of your apps is the cause. If you still get reboots in Safe Mode, you're gonna need to re-install. I suggest using the instructions on the Google web page where you got the full image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reboots are typically 1 reboot every 1 to 3 days, so its not a terrible issue but its happening and it shouldnt. For flashing the OS, after the first failure when trying to install it, those are the only instructions i've used, but i get that error when trying to install the OS that says something about how it failed to truncate the system.img file and so it wasnt installed, so my work around was to copy the file to the phones root folder, install the 8.1 image then immediately go and manually install the system.img file in twrp since its the only thing that fails, but i still have issues. What is this truncate issue?
v12xke said:
(and try to distill your posts down a little, ffs)
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Click to collapse
I agree! hahaha i just wanted to be clear and include all the details, otherwise everyone would have asked me question after question that i could have just included. It ends up being long, a lot happened!
I'll give that dtbo.img a shot and see what that clears up, then if there's issues with rebooting still i'll try safe mode for a few days and see what that does.
Thank you v12xke! (how do you pronounce that? haha)

PMad said:
...I'll give that dtbo.img a shot and see what that clears up, then if there's issues with rebooting still i'll try safe mode for a few days and see what that does.
Thank you v12xke! (how do you pronounce that? haha)
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Click to collapse
Your dtbo.img got patched by Magisk somewhere along the line and that is why the OS is throwing the error. Extract that img file from the full Google image and fastboot flash it, and the error will go away. There is a long thread around HERE on random reboots you should read. The v12xke is a car (Jaguar E-Type) I once owned.

v12xke said:
Your dtbo.img got patched by Magisk somewhere along the line and that is why the OS is throwing the error. Extract that img file from the full Google image and fastboot flash it, and the error will go away. There is a long thread around HERE on random reboots you should read. The v12xke is a car (Jaguar E-Type) I once owned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So i just tried to do this and ran into one of the issues i had when originally trying to root it... I get into TWRP and it will not take any button presses, like the touch screen has become a screen (minus the touch). Is there a fix for this or do i just need to install TWRP before i use it each time it does this?

PMad said:
So i just tried to do this and ran into one of the issues i had when originally trying to root it... I get into TWRP and it will not take any button presses, like the touch screen has become a screen (minus the touch). Is there a fix for this or do i just need to install TWRP before i use it each time it does this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. You don't use TWRP to flash dtbo.img, you fastboot it while the phone is in bootloader mode.
2. TWRP works just fine if you install it and leave it installed. Make sure you are using 3.2.1-0 (img and zip).

v12xke said:
1. You don't use TWRP to flash dtbo.img, you fastboot it while the phone is in bootloader mode.
2. TWRP works just fine if you install it and leave it installed. Make sure you are using 3.2.1-0 (img and zip).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was getting into TWRP to create a backup of everything and it popped up asking for my password, and i remembered reading that we have to get rid of all of our security before making a backup, so i tried to hit buttons to cancel it and nothing worked, i had to hold the power button. So i eliminated all of my security and went back thinking it was a 1 time issue but it happened again, it took me straight to the main menu but nothing would work. I'm using 3.2.1-0 like you mentioned and i cant press any buttons. I'd like to back everything up before flashing this or anything else.

PMad said:
I was getting into TWRP to create a backup of everything and it popped up asking for my password, and i remembered reading that we have to get rid of all of our security before making a backup, so i tried to hit buttons to cancel it and nothing worked, i had to hold the power button. So i eliminated all of my security and went back thinking it was a 1 time issue but it happened again, it took me straight to the main menu but nothing would work. I'm using 3.2.1-0 like you mentioned and i cant press any buttons. I'd like to back everything up before flashing this or anything else.
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Click to collapse
You don't need a backup before re-flashing the STOCK dtbo (or boot) partitions, haha. READ UP.

Question Bricked for Days and usable WiFi is $$$ for vanlife, help!

I was ALL good with my Pixel 6 pro, rooted and hours of tweaks in. My idiotic mistake here was I did not make a flashable backup before flashing the magisk-rooted despair kernel. Instead, because of laziness to find a nandroid backup method, I made a half-assed backup by dragging and dropping on my pc, and this has cost me.
Immediately after flashing via the 99 cent kernel flash app (can't remember the name) I was getting caught in the G loading screen bootloop.
Since then, I've tried everything. Every combination of every fastboot command I have found, on Windows and Ubuntu, multiple cables, etc. This has worked for me in every version of Android since 4.0 or earlier, as I've gone this whole time without really gaining understanding of any of the back end.
Now I cannot enter fastbootd. I get errors in fastboot that the "/system" partition does not exist. I have no stock recovery and can only enter Fastboot bootloader mode. GrapheneOS will not install due to an error at the final step indicating that fastboot is too old, despite the updates I keep reinstalling (Graphene web installer failing on download portion). Stock Recovery Flash Tool never works for me, always an error on the download. When manually flashing Stock, I am hit with the missing system partition error, the error that the image is too large for the partition, cannot determine image filename, etc.
Now, fastboot reboot bootloader doesn't even work until i unplug and replug the phone back in. And no flashing commands are attempted until the phone is unplugged/replugged. My bootloader is still unlocked as confirmed by the fastboot oem unlock command response.
Essentially I believe I am in need of a complete wipe, beyond anything I've done yet. I think I need to create new partitions before flashing? Someone please help me I'm dead in the water and on motel wifi to try and fix this stubborn beast.

When I first got my pixel 6 pro, I didn't let the update fully install and ended up using the web flasher to get it working again. Have you tried that? It'll be a full wipe but at least you would have your device.

bigdog1459 said:
When I first got my pixel 6 pro, I didn't let the update fully install and ended up using the web flasher to get it working again. Have you tried that? It'll be a full wipe but at least you would have your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I've wiped it along the way already, since the "incident" of the kernel flash. Multiple ways. I would love to use the web flasher, but it just doesn't work for me. The download never completes, and I suspect even if it did that at this point it would get stuck right away and throw me an error message, likely deleting the whole download along with it.

nastyneighbor said:
Oh I've wiped it along the way already, since the "incident" of the kernel flash. Multiple ways. I would love to use the web flasher, but it just doesn't work for me. The download never completes, and I suspect even if it did that at this point it would get stuck right away and throw me an error message, likely deleting the whole download along with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn. I'm sure you have tried some of the manual flashing guides out there too?

nastyneighbor said:
I was ALL good with my Pixel 6 pro, rooted and hours of tweaks in. My idiotic mistake here was I did not make a flashable backup before flashing the magisk-rooted despair kernel. Instead, because of laziness to find a nandroid backup method, I made a half-assed backup by dragging and dropping on my pc, and this has cost me.
Immediately after flashing via the 99 cent kernel flash app (can't remember the name) I was getting caught in the G loading screen bootloop.
Since then, I've tried everything. Every combination of every fastboot command I have found, on Windows and Ubuntu, multiple cables, etc. This has worked for me in every version of Android since 4.0 or earlier, as I've gone this whole time without really gaining understanding of any of the back end.
Now I cannot enter fastbootd. I get errors in fastboot that the "/system" partition does not exist. I have no stock recovery and can only enter Fastboot bootloader mode. GrapheneOS will not install due to an error at the final step indicating that fastboot is too old, despite the updates I keep reinstalling (Graphene web installer failing on download portion). Stock Recovery Flash Tool never works for me, always an error on the download. When manually flashing Stock, I am hit with the missing system partition error, the error that the image is too large for the partition, cannot determine image filename, etc.
Now, fastboot reboot bootloader doesn't even work until i unplug and replug the phone back in. And no flashing commands are attempted until the phone is unplugged/replugged. My bootloader is still unlocked as confirmed by the fastboot oem unlock command response.
Essentially I believe I am in need of a complete wipe, beyond anything I've done yet. I think I need to create new partitions before flashing? Someone please help me I'm dead in the water and on motel wifi to try and fix this stubborn beast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure when you said you used "Stock Recovery Flash Tool" if you meant the "Android Flash Tool". But just in case you didn't, that can force flash partitions with it. Probably your best shot.
Android Flash Tool
flash.android.com

Android Flashing Tool online unbricked me the other day. You have to be patient with the tool as it took me several tries. It will totally wipe your phone, but at this point you just need to rescue your device. Keep us posted.

thanks for the tip. i'm trying the android flash tool again now. and will keep trying it until it at least passes the download stage. and yes i tried all the manual flashing guides out there...and hybrid combos of all as well. i mean i'm positive its my fault for missing SOMEthing somewhere but many hours have been spent with overall negative progress.
my track record is still zero hard bricked devices or soft ones I couldn't fix over all these years so i'm not too worried but i could use my phone back haha
will keep posted as requested. ty again.

I know this doesn't help your immediate situation, but when flashing anything like custom kernels, I would advise not to use some random app to flash it with, just follow the directions in the OP of the kernel's thread, and make sure you have up to date Platform Tools and driver. CleanSlate and many or all the custom kernels also require flashing more than just the boot.img.
Good luck, I hope you get it back working for you.

Hey guys, the Android Flashing Tool finally worked for me and I am up and running again. Thanks for your help and tips. Hacking phones is more important every year and thus I truly value your skills and advice. This community must survive the new world order. much love folks