Got it once.. I swear. Second install, bootloop. - Treble-Enabled Device Questions and Answers

Hey all -
I have a Alldocube M5S. Back in January, I was able to get an A-Only ROM (8.0) installed without issue. Whohoo.
Since then, I had to reset the tablet to factory defaults. Reinstalled factory image.
Now, have been trying to get back to running a custom ROM, and seem to have hit a wall. I've tried a handful of 9.0 and 8.0/8.1 ROMs, that end in the same result: Bootloop.
Have tried doing a full wipe, factory reset, and formatting System beforehand, no difference.
Unfortunately, my debugging (and flashing) tools are limited, as the TWRP for the M5 does not seem to work on the M5S. (Which is NOT odd, due to the filesystem differences.)
Anything I'm forgetting? Without TWRP, I (don't think?) I can flash Magisk to the system using fastboot.
Thoughts're welcome!

Welp, may be a non-issue. May have toasted something while flashing the last A-Only image.
Now, I cannot even reflash the OEM's image. The flash-tool can't seem to write the data to the tablet. So, possible I bricked it. (Hey, i **couldn't** be proud, but after having been on XDA with my FIRST android phone - the FIRST Galaxy - this could be the first hard-bricked device ever!)

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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...

It finally happened: boot loop!

My 18month old NX5 just switched off in my hand this morning and wouldn't boot past the Google logo.
After a quick Google I realised it was probably the dreaded boot loop; short version is after following an XDA guide to install a patched boot image that shuts down cores or something.
What I really want to know is that it? Will my phone get worse and worse? Should I start shopping around for a replacement?
@mattspew, you may try to start cleanly instead of BLOD patches:
format internal storage, wipe the other partitions, flash the latest firmware and let it boot... If it loops again, I would go shopping: the patched system is slow and may crash nevertheless.
I was running LineageOS when the phone first died; a full wipe and going back to stock was the first thing I tried.
Currently back on "patched" LineageOS and the phone does feel pretty slugging and lots of app crashes.
Thinking about buying a Pixel, or anything really, that I can install LineageOS on with reasonable specs.
Full wipe and formatting is different. I repaired a bootloop this way.
I'm not sure it's worth the effort; not even TWRP would boot until I installed the special patched version.
I'm also pretty sure installing stock using the Google provided script does format partitions.
EDIT: Did it anyway, format and installed stock ROM, still dead. IT'S DEAD JIM!
For what it's worth; I went bought an Oppo R15 today. Seems pretty nice with Nova Launcher.

Issue on reinstalling any kind of OS - brick?

Hello,
It all began that i just wanted to restart my Oneplus3 unlocked with lineage 15.
But then back in Lineage15 i wasnt able to use my pin anymore + it restarted after few seconds...
Afterwards i ended up in a lineage bootloop.
Ok, then i thought then i do a fresh flash with new lineage 16.
I tried to flash but it said i need to install new modem firmware for Lineage16.
I downdloaded the new 9.0.5 modem + firmware and flashed it from here : https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-3/how-to/op3-flashable-firmware-modem-zips-t3816066
Then i tried to flash LOS16 again but it failed due to some errors on unable to mount some partitions (cache , system, etc).
So i thought i need to wipe or reformat them, as some people suggested to switch from ext4 to fat and back to reinit the partition.
I did this for at least system and internal storage. ( i learned that it was a dumb idea )
Afterwards i was not able to push anything anymore through MTP in TWRP, but i was still able to sideload or push images via adb.
Afterwards i tried to flash LOS16 or LOS15 via TWRP again but it always ends up to a "unable to mount /system (invalid argument" error at some point of the installation.
I thought: Okey maybe i go back to stock as i messed up the internal file system somehow, and go back to LOS afterwards.
So i flashed the stock recovery for nougat which i got from here: https://www.****************/2017/0...th-latest-oxygen-os-firmware-complete-unroot/
Then i tried to flash various stock Oxygen roms with the stock recovery, by using wipe + system reset + adb sideload:
4.02, 4.51, 5.08, 9.0.5
4.02 and 9.0.5 didnt run until the end.
Flashing 5.08 works but ends up in a black screen when starting it.
Flashing 4.51 works but when i start it i run into a bootloop ( 2 Dots circuling forever )
I also tried to use the 4.51 version to flash LOS again but it did not work out
I just tried again to flash 4.51 but it also didnt work out anymore. :\
So, what do you think i could do to get a working OS on my system again?
Did i do something on the installation of LOS or Oxygen ?
Can i use a backup from a friends Oneplus3_T to get a working system partition / full OS again?
Should i unbrick the phone by using one of various guides to go back to fully stock? I am kind of afraid of this, as some people describe some final brick in the threads which may be caused by modem firmware problems (Sahara issue). https://forums.oneplus.com/threads/guide-oneplus-3-3t-unbrick.531047/ or https://forums.oneplus.com/threads/guide-mega-unbrick-guide-for-a-hard-bricked-oneplus-3.452634/
Thank you so much, i kind of getting mad about it
@julledd
Backup from 3T seems like a bad idea.
You may have a hardware issue.
Your best bet is to use one of the tools available in the various unbrick guides. If one doesn't work, try another.
Best of luck!
Hi thx for your help!
i tried different unbrick tools (9.0.5 / 3.1.2 / 4.0.5) and after several attempts i get it flashed to the phone. But in the end it still ends up in a bootloop, either at the android logo or the circuling dots. Via Sideload i am also not able to flash a new OS. It always breaks somewhen >50%.
In very rare cases i am then able to go to the OS, but when i go to "About Phone" to unlock it for TWRP, it freezes before showing anything. I guess there is internally something broken which forbids it to show the internal state of the phone. Every boot is different, and i cannot see any system in this failure of my phone.
Do you have any more hint?
I am already at a point where i want to exchange the main PCB.. Is this possible for the Oneplus3? Can i also exchange it with a Oneplus3T PCB?

Last Ditch Effort for the Old Girl (P2XL)

I recently bought a P4XL and was going to use my P2XL as a stay-at-home bridge between Google Home and P4XL Tasker. The P2XL was running CarbonRom 8.0 so I decided to upgrade to A9 and that's when all hell broke loose.
Here's the relevant steps I took after the initial update stopped responding:
1. Factory reset to A9, A10 & A8 all failed. In that order. Unresponsive.
2. Extracted the boot image from factory and flashed it. Unresponsive.
3. TWRP won't launch (I assume it was wiped out somewhere during #1's hang).
4. TWRP won't boot from fastboot. Somewhere around #2, I started receiving unknown variable errors for the slot.
5. I've also tried Deus (forgive spelling if incorrect) package for boot loops. No dice.
6. I've switched USB cables (A&C) and rebooted 32⁴³⁶ times to no avail.
That's it. Thanks, all, for listening. She's been a great phone. Hoping I can get a bit more out of her. Anyone have any ideas because I'm fresh out.
You know you have to flash factory images for different android version to BOTH slots right? You can't go from A9 to A10/11 and vice versa without flashing the images to both slots or you won't be able to boot.
Flash the official Factory images first
GohanBurner said:
You know you have to flash factory images for different android version to BOTH slots right? You can't go from A9 to A10/11 and vice versa without flashing the images to both slots or you won't be able to boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I never flashed to A because, like I said in the initial post, I never made it past B. That was something I considered early on but I wasn't able to change slots. Got the unknown var error.
ahm_usa said:
Flash the official Factory images first
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude. Seriously?

A/B partitions out of whack

So, I tried some custom roms out there it has caused some really odd issues on this device. The first one I tried was CalyxOs, then lineage, and Proton. All are good roms, but not what I am looking for. But somewhere along the way things got wonky to say the least. Now, I am not blamming any rom or dev for "breaking" my device. I flashed these roms knowing there is a risk, and the roms listed above work for others. I'm pretty confident, there is something I did along the way that screwed things up. Some of the issues I have ran in to:
Before I flash anything, I learned a long time ago, make a backup and transfer all data on sdcard to your pc.
I generally use TTBU. But recently, when I tried to manually drag/drop my sdcard backup to my device, not all files gets transferred over. Basically all the .apk.gz files. Which happens to be the core of the the backup for the apps.
I started using another backup program, oandbackup, which transfers fine. But my apps/data only gets properly restored about 20% of the time. I say 20% because out of 10 flash back to stock and restores, only 2 will successfully work.
When flashing the rom I have been working on, I use lingeage recovery. But what worked yesterday, fails tomorrow. My method has been, flash lineage recovery, flash rom, boot, test rom, flash back to stock, restore. However, it doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes, it will flash fine, I reboot back to recovery and flash gapps, boot system and the loops begin. Flashing a different kernel fixes the bootloop. Oddly though, the stock kernel booted fine on the last flash (mind you, no changes in kernel or rom code). There is a slew of roadblocks and walls I have slammed in to, but this is just to give you an idea as to what I've been trying to work with.
Now, after flashing a custom rom and then flashing back to stock, I always wipe data. But the most recent issue I have encountered, I flashed back to stock. I was on "b" partition. After the initial flash, it boots to fastbootd. Oddly, I was stuck in stock recovery with the little android guy laying on his back. I hit power then vol up and got in to recovery where I selected fastboot and the fashing process continued. After my phone booted, I rebooted back to bootloader, switched to "a" partition, rebooted bootloader, and ran the stock flash script. This way, in my hopes, I would get a fresh and clean flash all the way around. Again, the whole recovery thing happened again, and I resolved it the same way. But when the rom rebooted, bootloops which eventually kicked me back to bootloader. I switched to slot "b" and the rom booted, went thru setup and restored my data, but most apps failed. Luckily, the 1 game I cared about restored this time.
So, yesterday, I wanted to check out stock recovery a little closer, and see if I could use adb. When I tried adb pull <random file on sdcard>, adb did not connect. So, I tried to reboot. Unfortunately, I got stuck at the google boot splash. To recover the device, I had to flash my boot.img.
This morning, I set out on a mission to try and get things fixed back up. I know slot "a" is not bootable, so I figured I would start there. I went to stock images and instead of downloading, I used the online flash tool. nSince I was on slot "b", it flashed to "b" even though I choose to wipe data and force flash all partitions. I tried booting slot "a" but it failed. So, I manually switched to slot "a" and ran the online flasher again. Now slot "a' and "b" both boot successfully. Then I started restoring my sdcard. It is 4.2gb of data. Honestly, not a lot IMO. But it took an extremely long time to restore it. After restoring my sdcard, I ran oandbackup, but I only restored data for 4 apps, which was successful. Everything seems to be running smoothly, and I was able to flash a custom kernel, root, etc with no issues. I guess, when I flash the final beta of my rom, I will see if I got things fixed up or not.
As I write this, I can't help but wonder, what is the root cause of all these issues? One thing I thought of was my cable. I was using one of the usb cables for my oneplus 6t. I switched to the stock cable to test things. I wiped all my data from the sdcard and then restored it with the stock cable. Things went A LOT quicker 928 minutes with op6t cable/2 minutes on stock cable). Since I have things to do today, I have to put this aside for now. But I wanted to get everyone's thoughts and input on this. Have I done something terribly wrong along the way that has caused these issues? Could the cable I was using be the root of all evil in this case? Is this just that wonky of a device, that it has happened to others and a great deal of patience is needed when trying to work on the pixel 4a 5g?

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