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My N7 is unlocked, I upgraded to 4.2.2 factory stock, rooted, and flashed ClockworkMod Recovery 6.0.2.3 touch recovery. I ran into a very strange issue; if I flash the custom recovery on the tablet, then the tablet boots into a screen that asks me to type my password to decrypt storage not allowing me to enter the homescreen until I do so. Later, I found out that flashing back to stock recovery fixes the problem and my N7 is functional again. I've tried everything while on the custom recovery: erasing, formatting, writing userdata to the device without success.
I'm not really sure what question you are asking. Also, I think you might be leaving something out which ought to be clarified, the way you describe things seems to have some pieces missing. (And, you really should not be starting yet another thread on this)
You shouldn't be able to flash custom ROMs with a stock recovery; so, are you saying that you:
- flash a ROM with a custom recovery
- try and boot it -- but it fails with the "enter password" prompt (you mention "won't let me enter the homescreen")
- flash the stock recovery into place
- perform a factory reset with the stock recovery
- now the ROM boots?
Also, do you get the same result with TWRP?
bftb0 said:
I'm not really sure what question you are asking. Also, I think you might be leaving something out which ought to be clarified, the way you describe things seems to have some pieces missing. (And, you really should not be starting yet another thread on this)
You shouldn't be able to flash custom ROMs with a stock recovery; so, are you saying that you:
- flash a ROM with a custom recovery
- try and boot it -- but it fails with the "enter password" prompt (you mention "won't let me enter the homescreen")
- flash the stock recovery into place
- perform a factory reset with the stock recovery
- now the ROM boots?
Also, do you get the same result with TWRP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a help/troubleshooting post. I know it wasn't good to start another thread, but I felt that people that had already browsed my thread the first time wouldn't come back and now I found the reason behind my issue. I didn't flash a custom rom with stock recovery; I used fastboot on my pc to issue commands. My phone has the factory stock rom on it - then if I flash clockworkmod recovery, the next time I reboot, there's a screen that says I need to type a password to decrypt storage and I'm not able to access anything. If I go back into the bootloader and erase and write the stock recovery, I'm able to boot into the homescreen without the issue. Everything I've flashed to the tablet is done through my pc via fastboot. I never tried TWRP, but I don't like that recovery anyways.
UnlockedNand said:
It's a help/troubleshooting post. I know it wasn't good to start another thread, but I felt that people that had already browsed my thread the first time wouldn't come back and now I found the reason behind my issue. I didn't flash a custom rom with stock recovery; I used fastboot on my pc to issue commands. My phone has the factory stock rom on it - then if I flash clockworkmod recovery, the next time I reboot, there's a screen that says I need to type a password to decrypt storage and I'm not able to access anything. If I go back into the bootloader and erase and write the stock recovery, I'm able to boot into the homescreen without the issue. Everything I've flashed to the tablet is done through my pc via fastboot. I never tried TWRP, but I don't like that recovery anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, read and understood. Very bizzare, however. Almost sounds more like something caused by the bootloader (during the fastboot write) rather than it mattering which custom recovery is sitting there (it's not clear from the above, but it almost sounds like it is not even necessary to have ever booted the custom recovery from the device's recovery partition for the problem to appear)
Are you also saying that you can not flash a custom ROM from the custom recovery without this "enter password" phenomenon happening, or is it only this combo of pure stock ROM + recovery flashed via fastboot that exhibits the problem?
I have a lightly-rooted JDQ39 Stock (4.2.2) ROM with a custom recovery - no such troubles. But mine was installed by using factory-via-fastboot of 4.2.1, followed by a manually-triggered OTA to JDQ39, and then followed in turn by a fastboot flash of the recovery partition (TWRP 2.4.1.0). That last flash was certainly performed by the 4.18 bootloader.
No troubles, but that is certainly a different installation path.
Two more small questions for clarification purposes: when you installed the factory 4.2.2 ROM via fastboot, did you follow the exact sequence of the install-all.sh script:
Code:
fastboot erase boot
fastboot erase cache
fastboot erase recovery
fastboot erase system
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-grouper-4.18.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
sleep 10
fastboot -w update image-nakasi-jdq39.zip
... or did you omit anything (e.g. one or more of the erases, the bootloader flashing, etc)?
Yeah, it's like the bootloader writes bad information to the userdata partition if the recovery isn't stock. I haven't flashed a custom rom from the custom recovery, but I'm assuming the type your password issue would appear again. Yes, it's a combo of pure stock rom + custom recovery when this problem occurs. No, when I installed the 4.2.2 factory stock rom, I unzipped all the image files and typed these commands.
Code:
fastboot oem lock
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash bootloader <bootloader name>.img
fastboot flash boot <boot name>.img
fastboot flash system <system name>.img
fastboot flash userdata <userdata name>.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot erase cache
fastboot reboot
I've also gone back and manually erased, formatted, and wrote the userdata partition again. Maybe I should try downgrading the bootloader to 4.2.1, reflash userdata, and flash the custom recovery?
UnlockedNand said:
Yeah, it's like the bootloader writes bad information to the userdata partition if the recovery isn't stock. I haven't flashed a custom rom from the custom recovery, but I'm assuming the type your password issue would appear again. Yes, it's a combo of pure stock rom + custom recovery when this problem occurs. No, when I installed the 4.2.2 factory stock rom, I unzipped all the image files and typed these commands.
Code:
fastboot oem lock
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash bootloader <bootloader name>.img
fastboot flash boot <boot name>.img
fastboot flash system <system name>.img
fastboot flash userdata <userdata name>.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot erase cache
fastboot reboot
I've also gone back and manually erased, formatted, and wrote the userdata partition again. Maybe I should try downgrading the bootloader to 4.2.1, reflash userdata, and flash the custom recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm. Well, I can't say for sure, but I am willing to gamble that the bootloader relocates itself into a load-offset address so that it runs out of RAM rather than running directly out of Flash Memory. Much quicker that way. The implication of that is that once it is fully loaded into RAM and operational, you could actually erase the bootloader and suffer no ill effects - until you powered off the device. Then you would be in real trouble.
The point is, in the Google factory sequence, all of the partition flashing is done by the new bootloader (4.18), whereas in your case none of it is done that way - except for the custom recovery flash. Here's the Google sequence:
- erase all partitions using currently installed bootloader (4.13)
- flash new bootloader and boot into it ( 4.13 -> 4.18 )
- flash all 4.2.2 ROM partitions using new bootloader
whereas your sequence looks like:
- (no explicit erasures)
- flash partitions with old bootloader (4.13)
- reboot into new bootloader ( 4.13 -> 4.18 )
- erase cache
- flash recovery with new bootloader ( 4.18 )
very different!
Also, the "-w" switch used in the google sequence causes partition erasure and re-formatting (depending on partition type) prior to each partition's flashing.
Without going through the lock/unlock procedure, I suppose it would be possible to reflash all the partitions with 4.18 to see if the problem disappears. But, now that I said that, I realize my tab - which had an OTA upgrade - is sort of similar in that the partitions & files patched by the OTA were all initially flashed by 4.13 (by me), patched by the OTA, and then finally I flashed only the custom recovery with the 4.18 bootloader.
Doing further experimentation might mean attempting a bootloader rollback flash. I can't say that I've seen reports here of anybody trying it. And I can't say I blame them - there could be dragons hiding in that process.
Ah, I see. The sequence I followed flashing the partitions would erase and write the partitions automatically done by the fastboot script. The only instance where I erased, formatted, and flashed the partition was the userdata when I was troubleshooting. From reading other threads before, I believe people have done bootloader rollbacks without consequences to the rest of the partitions. The bootloader updates contain fixes, but aren't explicitly required for the rom to run, am I correct?
Guys, i need some help. i was messing with my nexus 7. then i tried to start fresh again by re-installing the stock 4.4.4. It's been a while since i flash Stock roms. So i find this tutorial, Erase boot, erase userdata etc. then when i tried to flash the bootloader, it always fail (unknown error). So im stuck with a OS-less Nexus 7 and no recovery. I can go to Fastboot. My device is recognizable through Fastboot devices. My old Rom was 4.4.4 stock. Please help me guys
Hello @vyrus027,
flash the files inside the factory image manually with these commands, it'll do the trick:
fastboot erase boot
fastboot erase recovery
fastboot erase system
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot format userdata
fastboot reboot
Keelah se'lai,
GethPrime
I was using 5.0.1, with stock bootloader, stock recovery, actually stock everything except SuperSU added.
I downloaded the 5.1 image from Google, and tried flashing it:
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-mako-makoz30f.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash radio radio-mako-m9615a-cefwmazm-2.0.1701.06.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot update image-occam-lmy47o.zip
Got some missing sig errors, and "failed to allocate xxxxxxxxx bytes" error. Thus after searching for more information I ended up unpacking image-occam-lmy47o.zip and running:
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash cache cache.img
Then rebooted. The result is an endless boot animation, regardless of anything I try. Tried restoring my TWRP backup, reflashing 5.1, reflashing 5.0.1, always the same. Last logcat line at boot:
E/kickstart( 233): Sahara protocol completed
Then it's just stuck there. For minutes. For tens of minutes. Looks like forever. Anyone else ever seen this problem, and happens to have a solution? (Preferably without losing my data)
Edit: After a few hours I restored the original (or so I hope) state, by wiping, then flashing 5.0.1, then restoring my backup. But now I don't dare to try flashing 5.1 again. Still would love to hear ideas from who might have seen this problem and knows a solution.
After you've flashed the factory image boot into the stock recovery and do a factory reset.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
IVBela said:
I was using 5.0.1, with stock bootloader, stock recovery, actually stock everything except SuperSU added.
I downloaded the 5.1 image from Google, and tried flashing it:
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-mako-makoz30f.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash radio radio-mako-m9615a-cefwmazm-2.0.1701.06.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot update image-occam-lmy47o.zip
Got some missing sig errors, and "failed to allocate xxxxxxxxx bytes" error. Thus after searching for more information I ended up unpacking image-occam-lmy47o.zip and running:
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash cache cache.img
Then rebooted. The result is an endless boot animation, regardless of anything I try. Tried restoring my TWRP backup, reflashing 5.1, reflashing 5.0.1, always the same. Last logcat line at boot:
E/kickstart( 233): Sahara protocol completed
Then it's just stuck there. For minutes. For tens of minutes. Looks like forever. Anyone else ever seen this problem, and happens to have a solution? (Preferably without losing my data)
Edit: After a few hours I restored the original (or so I hope) state, by wiping, then flashing 5.0.1, then restoring my backup. But now I don't dare to try flashing 5.1 again. Still would love to hear ideas from who might have seen this problem and knows a solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You only really need to flash the following (unless there is a new bootloader and radio):
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (if you are running custom recovery you can skip flashing this)
fastboot flash system system.img
metpage said:
You only really need to flash the following (unless there is a new bootloader and radio):
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (if you are running custom recovery you can skip flashing this)
fastboot flash system system.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was a new radio, but that worked (I accidentally booted normally after flashing it). The rest is the same that I did, except the cache, guess next time I'll try doing it without flashing that one. Do I not have to wipe the cache partition either? (And no custom recovery here, I boot TWRP from my PC via fastboot.)
Edit: Who understands this.... I tried it again tonight, flashed radio, then fastboot update image-occam-lmy47o.zip worked, no error this time, no unpacking, nothing. Just a successful update this time.
Guess that wipe was needed, maybe something was already corrupted before I tried flashing the first time.
Case closed.
Hi,
I have a problem with a Moto G4. I tried to root the device and think I f***** up a bit.
After successfully installing TWRP I tried to install SuperSu using adb sideload and afterwards the device wouldn't boot anymore. Only fastboot and the recovery are still working. If I try to boot the device it just turns off. A factory reset didn't help.
I tried installing a LineageOS but nothing changed. It still boots into fastboot.
Can anybody help?
squanch123 said:
Hi,
I have a problem with a Moto G4. I tried to root the device and think I f***** up a bit.
After successfully installing TWRP I tried to install SuperSu using adb sideload and afterwards the device wouldn't boot anymore. Only fastboot and the recovery are still working. If I try to boot the device it just turns off. A factory reset didn't help.
I tried installing a LineageOS but nothing changed. It still boots into fastboot.
Can anybody help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I forgot to say that I at first didn't install supersu systemless.
After I noticed that the device wouldn't boot anymore I tried installing it again systemless.
squanch123 said:
I forgot to say that I at first didn't install supersu systemless.
After I noticed that the device wouldn't boot anymore I tried installing it again systemless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, did you wipe your system and data in TWRP before flashing LineageOS? You do not require root to flash LineageOS, just an unlocked bootloader and a compatible TWRP recovery (taking care to note if you need the 32 bit or 64 bit TWRP recovery for the respective custom ROM).
Also, with rooting on our G4/Plus, if you are on stock Nougat, you must flash a custom kernel (e.g. ElementalX) before you root. You'll otherwise experience the boot failures you're experiencing. Thus, to root on stock Nougat, unlock bootloader, flash/boot TWRP, backup, then flash ElementalX, then flash SuperSU/magisk.
Without knowing the current state of your device, I would suggest re-flashing your device with the stock firmware. Can you remember what stock firmware you had on your device before rooting initially?
echo92 said:
Hmm, did you wipe your system and data in TWRP before flashing LineageOS? You do not require root to flash LineageOS, just an unlocked bootloader and a compatible TWRP recovery (taking care to note if you need the 32 bit or 64 bit TWRP recovery for the respective custom ROM).
Also, with rooting on our G4/Plus, if you are on stock Nougat, you must flash a custom kernel (e.g. ElementalX) before you root. You'll otherwise experience the boot failures you're experiencing. Thus, to root on stock Nougat, unlock bootloader, flash/boot TWRP, backup, then flash ElementalX, then flash SuperSU/magisk.
Without knowing the current state of your device, I would suggest re-flashing your device with the stock firmware. Can you remember what stock firmware you had on your device before rooting initially?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thanks for your reply
Yes, I wiped system data and cache before flashing lineage. I just tried it again and I am still stuck in fastboot.
Unfortunately I don't remember the stock firmware version. Should I just try to flush the custom kernel and supersu afterwards?
squanch123 said:
Hi, thanks for your reply
Yes, I wiped system data and cache before flashing lineage. I just tried it again and I am still stuck in fastboot.
Unfortunately I don't remember the stock firmware version. Should I just try to flush the custom kernel and supersu afterwards?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, did you know if the flash of LineageOS reported okay within TWRP? Just out of interest, which TWRP and which build of LineageOS are you flashing (e.g. are you using the 32 bit TWRP or 64 bit TWRP, and are you flashing the 32 or 64 bit Lineage OS)?
That's confusing that even pressing 'start' in fastboot reboots your device rather than booting, even with a custom ROM... What happens if you boot to TWRP and try to reboot via TWRP? Is there a system to boot to?
Without the stock system on your device, there's no point to re-flashing the custom kernel/SuperSU, since you should have LineageOS on your device. Do you have a TWRP backup you could restore before you tried to root? If not, then what's your device model number (and if you can remember it, what software channel you're on, e.g. retus, reteu etc). ?
echo92 said:
Hmm, did you know if the flash of LineageOS reported okay within TWRP? Just out of interest, which TWRP and which build of LineageOS are you flashing (e.g. are you using the 32 bit TWRP or 64 bit TWRP, and are you flashing the 32 or 64 bit Lineage OS)?
That's confusing that even pressing 'start' in fastboot reboots your device rather than booting, even with a custom ROM... What happens if you boot to TWRP and try to reboot via TWRP? Is there a system to boot to?
Without the stock system on your device, there's no point to re-flashing the custom kernel/SuperSU, since you should have LineageOS on your device. Do you have a TWRP backup you could restore before you tried to root? If not, then what's your device model number (and if you can remember it, what software channel you're on, e.g. retus, reteu etc). ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, everything was ok with the flash.
I am using lineage-14.1-20180516-nightly-athene-signed and twrp-3.2.1-0-athene. I didn't see any options to choose between 32 and 64 bit. (Download pages: https://download.lineageos.org/athene#!name https://eu.dl.twrp.me/athene/)
It doesn't matter how I try to boot (powerbutton, fastboot, recovery) I always directly end up in fastboot.
No I don't have a backup. When I got the device it was resetted so I saw no point in making one :/ It is an XT1622 and it should be reteu.
squanch123 said:
Yes, everything was ok with the flash.
I am using lineage-14.1-20180516-nightly-athene-signed and twrp-3.2.1-0-athene. I didn't see any options to choose between 32 and 64 bit. (Download pages: https://download.lineageos.org/athene#!name https://eu.dl.twrp.me/athene/)
It doesn't matter how I try to boot (powerbutton, fastboot, recovery) I always directly end up in fastboot.
No I don't have a backup. When I got the device it was resetted so I saw no point in making one :/ It is an XT1622 and it should be reteu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, so they should both be 32 bit, so no worries there. There do seem to be a few reports of boot issues on the more recent official LineageOS builds https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/development/rom-cyanogenmod-14-1-t3522101/page280 but I don't know if they are still existing on the build you've flashed.
As it's likely your device has been reset when you flashed LineageOS (I don't know if there are still files on your internal storage, which you can view in TWRP, so back up if you do have files), you may wish to look into a stock firmware flash. Here's the April 2018 NPJS25.93-14-18 firmware, which appears to be the build released to EU devices: https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/stock-rom-npjs25-93-14-4-march-1-t3608138 You do not have to re-lock your bootloader if you don't wish to - if you wish to leave your bootloader unlocked, then flash the stock firmware via fastboot with the following flashing commands:
Code:
fastboot flash partition gpt.bin
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot flash logo logo.bin
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash dsp adspso.bin
fastboot flash oem oem.img
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.2
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.3
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.4
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.5
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.6
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.7
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
fastboot erase cache
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot reboot
Flashing these files via ADB should put a fresh copy of the latest firmware onto your device, which should then boot. If it does boot, then you can proceed with rooting (flash TWRP, then back up, then flash ElementalX or vegito, then flash SuperSU or magisk).
echo92 said:
Okay, so they should both be 32 bit, so no worries there. There do seem to be a few reports of boot issues on the more recent official LineageOS builds https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/development/rom-cyanogenmod-14-1-t3522101/page280 but I don't know if they are still existing on the build you've flashed.
As it's likely your device has been reset when you flashed LineageOS (I don't know if there are still files on your internal storage, which you can view in TWRP, so back up if you do have files), you may wish to look into a stock firmware flash. Here's the April 2018 NPJS25.93-14-18 firmware, which appears to be the build released to EU devices: https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/stock-rom-npjs25-93-14-4-march-1-t3608138 You do not have to re-lock your bootloader if you don't wish to - if you wish to leave your bootloader unlocked, then flash the stock firmware via fastboot with the following flashing commands:
Code:
fastboot flash partition gpt.bin
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot flash logo logo.bin
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash dsp adspso.bin
fastboot flash oem oem.img
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.2
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.3
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.4
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.5
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.6
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.7
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
fastboot erase cache
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot reboot
Flashing these files via ADB should put a fresh copy of the latest firmware onto your device, which should then boot. If it does boot, then you can proceed with rooting (flash TWRP, then back up, then flash ElementalX or vegito, then flash SuperSU or magisk).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help!
I can boot the stock rom and I have root access. However if I start or shut down the device it goes to fastboot. From there I can boot or shut down the device and everything seems to work Do you know how I can boot directly without fastboot?
squanch123 said:
Thanks for the help!
I can boot the stock rom and I have root access. However if I start or shut down the device it goes to fastboot. From there I can boot or shut down the device and everything seems to work Do you know how I can boot directly without fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, try booting back to the bootloader, attach your device to your computer, then open ADB. In ADB, type 'fastboot oem fb_mode_clear' without the quotes. Press enter to submit, then reboot and see if your device boots to system rather than to fastboot.
This command should clear fastboot mode (though useful when flashing).
echo92 said:
Hmm, try booting back to the bootloader, attach your device to your computer, then open ADB. In ADB, type 'fastboot oem fb_mode_clear' without the quotes. Press enter to submit, then reboot and see if your device boots to system rather than to fastboot.
This command should clear fastboot mode (though useful when flashing).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that worked
Thank you very much for your help :victory:
I wanted to make this post about my adventure with my old Pixel 2. I was getting non-stop red lines out of the log in TWRP. Many times I would have problems mounting system and vendor partitions as well as vendor partitions needing "to be cleaned".
This led me to believe that I may have a corrupted partition, so I did some research into how the partitions are organized, and what happens when you flash a lot of ROMs. Perhaps you want to go back to the stock firmware? Perhaps - like in my case - you want to install a ROM such as GrapheneOS that's meant to lock the bootloader afterwards, and act more like the stock ROM.
What I didn't understand up until recently is how exactly the A and B slots of phones like the Pixel 2 work. They work because the firmware allows updating OTA to the opposite slot of what's active. That way - in the worst case scenario - you can actually boot into the opposite slot and regain access to your phone. I'm not an expert on this, but that's my basic understanding.
So now that that's covered, another important aspect is flashing ROMs. If you are like me and like testing many different ROMs, you may end up running into issues such as the one I stated above with TWRP.
The only way I was able to avoid these types of issues is to run some commands through fastboot.
One such command is
Code:
fastboot format system
This command will format the system partition and make it easier to install ROMs without running into issues.
Another command is
Code:
fastboot format vendor
This command was very important in my case, because the vendor partition was actually unusable for my slot A. Doing this command finally fixed that issue.
Another thing to note is ROMs can be installed in both slots. A lot of people don't do this, because they leave their bootloader unlocked and probably just run the ROM for half a day, and flash another. In my case, I needed to flash both slots in order to lock the bootloader in GrapheneOS, and allow the OS to update OTA. If you don't flash both slots, that won't work.
Just to clarify further, these are the commands (at the bootloader) I ran (from a command prompt in Windows) in order from start to finish when I was flashing a ROM I wanted to keep:
Code:
fastboot --set-active=a
fastboot format system
fastboot format vendor
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot --set-active=b
fastboot format system
fastboot format vendor
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash radio radio.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot update rom.zip
// Let the phone reboot into the new ROM, let it sit for a minute,
// then reboot into bootloader manually and then continue with fastboot:
fastboot --set-active=a
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash radio radio.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot update rom.zip
Once I've done this, and can confirm it successfully loads into the ROM I've installed, I can now say that I have a clean, fresh install in BOTH slots A and B.
I'll update this thread if I can think of anything else that can help newbies like me.
Cheers!
HCFL said:
I wanted to make this post about my adventure with my old Pixel 2. I was getting non-stop red lines out of the log in TWRP. Many times I would have problems mounting system and vendor partitions as well as vendor partitions needing "to be cleaned".
This led me to believe that I may have a corrupted partition, so I did some research into how the partitions are organized, and what happens when you flash a lot of ROMs. Perhaps you want to go back to the stock firmware? Perhaps - like in my case - you want to install a ROM such as GrapheneOS that's meant to lock the bootloader afterwards, and act more like the stock ROM.
What I didn't understand up until recently is how exactly the A and B slots of phones like the Pixel 2 work. They work because the firmware allows updating OTA to the opposite slot of what's active. That way - in the worst case scenario - you can actually boot into the opposite slot and regain access to your phone. I'm not an expert on this, but that's my basic understanding.
So now that that's covered, another important aspect is flashing ROMs. If you are like me and like testing many different ROMs, you may end up running into issues such as the one I stated above with TWRP.
The only way I was able to avoid these types of issues is to run some commands through fastboot.
One such command is
Code:
fastboot format system
This command will format the system partition and make it easier to install ROMs without running into issues.
Another command is
Code:
fastboot format vendor
This command was very important in my case, because the vendor partition was actually unusable for my slot A. Doing this command finally fixed that issue.
Another thing to note is ROMs can be installed in both slots. A lot of people don't do this, because they leave their bootloader unlocked and probably just run the ROM for half a day, and flash another. In my case, I needed to flash both slots in order to lock the bootloader in GrapheneOS, and allow the OS to update OTA. If you don't flash both slots, that won't work.
Just to clarify further, these are the commands (at the bootloader) I ran (from a command prompt in Windows) in order from start to finish when I was flashing a ROM I wanted to keep:
Code:
fastboot --set-active=a
fastboot format system
fastboot format vendor
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot --set-active=b
fastboot format system
fastboot format vendor
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash radio radio.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot update rom.zip
// Let the phone reboot into the new ROM, let it sit for a minute,
// then reboot into bootloader manually and then continue with fastboot:
fastboot --set-active=a
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot flash radio radio.img
fastboot reboot bootloader
fastboot update rom.zip
Once I've done this, and can confirm it successfully loads into the ROM I've installed, I can now say that I have a clean, fresh install in BOTH slots A and B.
I'll update this thread if I can think of anything else that can help newbies like me.
Cheers!
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Would this help in bootloop as well? I have a pixel 1st gen that does. I have flashed and or tried to anyways factory images...OTA and even was able to boot twrp and get lineage to flash, only to get a random reboot and bootloop. I would need to flash the factory image in order to get this phone operable. Should I flash a factory image and then do your steps or should I do the steps first and then flash the factory image?
Nope. Did not work. Seems as if the stock recovery is fubar