Database Users

MotoG4+ XT1644 6.01 to 7.0 Saga (for others to avoid)

OK Please note (4-25-17) this message is a work in progress, as I slowly restore my system.
This is a listing and hopefully helpful listing of what I did (right and wrong)
in upgrading my Systemless-rooted (suuser) phone from 6.01 to 7.00 (nougat)
# 1. it did not work, and I went back to 6.01 successfully using the twrp recovery
I have previously used Bender's guid (here) to get the system-less root on 6.01.
essentailly, here's the best plan. Use the Minimal ADB and Fastboot package (MADB &F) (here)
(Explanation: the MADB&FB package will allow you do do LOTS of stuff related to updating your phone, with very little grief.)
it also includes the ability to automatically "push" a package over your usb connection if the ZIP file doesnt load right. **THIS will come in handy later!
Once MADB&F is installed, make note of your directory, and then make sure you start your dos window (for pc users) as an administrator!
BTW, if I HADN'T made the "TWRP backup" of my system, I'd be Sh*t out of luck right now...", because I screwed up the 7.0 upgrade.
the technical problem was that I had no data, no modem, no way of getting data/voice in/out.
SIMPLY using the TWRP restore fixed me!!!
(so far, we have MADB&FB, downloaded and bender's (chainfire) rootless guide.
Next you want to download the current firmware image for your phone. This will be a lifesaver, I promise!
3) Download a TWRP image (this will MAGICALLY load on your pc when you tell it you need help! Look HERE
(Athene is the Motorola Codename for the motoG4+)
3) copy the athene TWRP image into your madb&FB directory to make it easy to load
4) next, (you still haven't touched your phone yet, you realize: (skipping some basics here, you can search here on XDA to find more info)
a) plug your phone into your pc
b) make sure you are a developer
c) make sure your phone shows you are connected to your pc for file transfers, NOT for charging
5) in your MADB&FB directory, (aka a dos/(admin) window) type the following:
all commands at this point will take place in whatever directory you installed Minimal ADB & Fast boot (MADB&FB)
Connect your phone to your PC and open MADB&FB, check the connection with:
adb devices
return should include your "serial-no" and "device".
6) next, on pc, tell the system to reboot your phone to the bootloader!
Reboot into bootloader with:
adb reboot-bootloader
and check again with:
fastboot devices
7) Next you are going to download TWRP to your phone (not permanently, just for a bit!)
fastboot. flash recovery twrp-3.0.2-0-athene.img
Now you have TWRP (Team Windows RECOVERY PROJECT) loaded.
SO.. THIS is where you create a backup of your current stuff using the backup options.
NEXT:
take the suUser2.78 (stateless rooting), and once your backup is done, install it from TWRP
Then (I was) back to 6.01 rooted.
NEXT: 7.0 and then rooting... (will update tomorrow)
did a successful upgrade to 7.0,
then unsuccessfully tried to sideload supersu2.78, which bricked loader
then downgraded again to 6.01 (and rooted again, ok)
will continue tomorrow.
need working phone for now..
cheers to all, and to all, a happy spelunking!

You can't root factory Nougat as is, it is well encrypted.
You need to replace first the kernel with the ElementalX one, or you will end up with bootloops.
Only after that you can do SuperSU, but only with the latest beta.

A few pointers from your story:
1)As you've found out the hard way, you won't be able to update to Nougat if you have root and/or TWRP, because the update requires a stock system - stock recovery, system and no modifications (bootloader status doesn't matter). In other words, you'll need to unroot and restore your stock recovery - might be easier to reflash the stock system, probably the quickest way to flash a stock ROM (and update to Nougat) is to use the fastboot ROM. https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/moto-g4-plus-xt1640-43-athene-npj25-93-t3549369 Of course, this will remove root and TWRP, as well as potentially wipe your data, so back up accordingly. This should flash the NPJ25.93-14 build on your device, which appears to be the latest global build.
1a)Also, if you flash Nougat this way, your bootloader and GPT partitions will be updated, so if you wish to downgrade to Marshmallow at any point, when flashing do not flash these partitions from the Marshmallow ROM. Fastboot should stop you, but a brick may occur if these get flashed.
1b) You may find in the Guides section TWRP backups of Nougat builds, I don't recommend using these to update your system with. Granted, they have most of the Nougat system in a TWRP backup, but some crucial firmware (e.g. the baseband) is not included, and may cause you issues if your device is not formally flashed to Nougat.
2) As SoNic67 has already mentioned, the stock kernel security will cause your device to bootloop should you choose to try to root following the Marshmallow method. If you wish to use SuperSU, follow this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...de-root-moto-g4-plus-supersu-android-t3587918 You may wish to use a more up to date TWRP than the official 3.0.2 (I recommend shrep's TWRP 3.0.3 n4 here:https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...covery-twrp-3-0-2-r3-moto-g4-g4-plus-t3494337) Whatever you do, ensure you flash first the ElementalX kernel before you flash the SuperSU v2.79 SR3 beta (https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/supersu/2014-09-02-supersu-v2-05-t2868133), or apply the systemless fix with earlier SuperSU versions as directed in the aforementioned rooting with SuperSU guide. Else you'll be having bootloops or your device will not boot whatsoever. Here's my steps in successfully rooting Nougat: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71817346&postcount=225. Good luck either way.

echo92 said:
A few pointers from your story:
[...]
1b) You may find in the Guides section TWRP backups of Nougat builds, I don't recommend using these to update your system with. Granted, they have most of the Nougat system in a TWRP backup, but some crucial firmware (e.g. the baseband) is not included, and may cause you issues if your device is not formally flashed to Nougat.
[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After updating my US retail xt1644 to nougat, by restoring totally-stock marshmallow then taking the OTA, I wiped data and made a *complete* TWRP backup using @Shreps' unofficial 3.1 TWRP build (https://moto.shreps.fr/Moto G4 (athene)/recovery/twrp-3.1.0-athene_shreps.img).
This version of TWRP allows backup/restore of the full set of firmware partitions including baseband, DSP, etc.
In other words, I believe the TWRP backup folder in the following .zip file provides a one-stop path to the latest xt1644 USRET firmware by doing a restore from TWRP 3.1.0.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4XobQzgZVHyRTlmSDMtYkdZeUU/view?usp=drivesdk
My only uncertainly is if the ota process modified the partition table in a way that might make this backup image incompatible with the xt1644 still in the marshmallow state.
I've often wondered if I (or a more skilled enthusiast) couldn't build a TWRP-flashable .zip that would setup the partition table, update the baseband, etc. This is what I've grown used to from devs on other phones I've had, but perhaps there's something about the way moto does things that makes this problematic.
Sent from my Moto G4 Plus using Tapatalk

bmeek said:
After updating my US retail xt1644 to nougat, by restoring totally-stock marshmallow then taking the OTA, I wiped data and made a *complete* TWRP backup using @Shrep's unofficial 3.1 TWRP build (https://moto.shreps.fr/Moto G4 (athene)/recovery/twrp-3.1.0-athene_shreps.img).
This version of TWRP allows backup/restore of the full set of firmware partitions including baseband, DSP, etc.
In other words, I believe the TWRP backup folder in the following .zip file provides a one-stop path to the latest xt1644 USRET firmware by doing a restore from TWRP 3.1.0.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4XobQzgZVHyRTlmSDMtYkdZeUU/view?usp=drivesdk
My only uncertainly is if the ota process modified the partition table in a way that might make this backup image incompatible with the xt1644 still in the marshmallow state.
I've often wondered if I (or a more skilled enthusiast) couldn't build a TWRP-flashable .zip that would setup the partition table, update the baseband, etc. This is what I've grown used to from devs on other phones I've had, but perhaps there's something about the way moto does things that makes this problematic.
Sent from my Moto G4 Plus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice one, hopefully that'll help more XT 1644 users I'm still not sure if TWRP can backup/flash the baseband by itself, but I don't have a XT 1644 to test. I imagine your backup will need a clean flash (wipe data/cache/Dalvik) to work?
The OTA process does update the partition table, but as far as I know, that should not prevent you from flashing back to Marshmallow/Nougat as you wish, so long as you did not try to downgrade the GPT/bootloader.
There was an effort to create TWRP flashables of the stock ROMs a little while ago (you can see the thread here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4/development/fxz-athene-twrp-flashable-fastboots-t3562147) which if I understood it created flashable radios and ROMs from the firmware files we have. We can't touch the GPT/bootloader since, as I recall, you need a signed stock firmware to do so (and besides, downgrading GPT might be asking for a brick). I recall some users mention they were able to run Nougat TWRP flashes on the MM bootloader/GPT without issue.
There were issues with simply flashing the Nougat 93-14 radio baseband files for some US users, losing LTE in the process and appears the only resolution was to flash the stock ROM - I don't know what the cause was (perhaps no/incorrect CDMA support in the radio files?). Your TWRP flash is from a US based phone so may have better luck in that department, and will likely behave on your device since that OTA has updated all the firmware on your device that TWRP isn't able to touch. I still am not sure if we can use this TWRP backup to update on a MM device without issue, but only one way to find out...

Help

Hello, the other day I accidentally wiped the system when using TWRP. So i found a stock rom but unfortunately it was this one https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/rooting-roms/real-official-stock-rom-xt1625-xt1642-t3575895 which is a 6.1.1 rom. Now my problem is that no updates have come through for android 7.
Regards,
Jack

What device do you have? It looks like you downloaded the MPJ24.139-64/65 build from the Motorola website and might have meant there's a mismatch between the expected build for your software channel and the build on your device. That would mean then Nougat wouldn't update.
If you desire Nougat and are willing to update to Nougat via fastboot, you could flash the March 2017 fastboot ROM (NPJS25.93-14-4). You may choose not to re-lock the bootloader if you desire flashing TWRP or a custom ROM. https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/stock-rom-npjs25-93-14-4-march-1-t3608138
Since I do not know what stock ROM you had previously on your device, I would exercise caution and ensure your data is backed up and off your device before attempting to flash the stock ROM. Though it's a stock ROM and fastbooting should be a safe option to upgrade with, it's still a flash affecting your system. Be careful.

echo92 said:
What device do you have? It looks like you downloaded the MPJ24.139-64/65 build from the Motorola website and might have meant there's a mismatch between the expected build for your software channel and the build on your device. That would mean then Nougat wouldn't update.
If you desire Nougat and are willing to update to Nougat via fastboot, you could flash the March 2017 fastboot ROM (NPJS25.93-14-4). You may choose not to re-lock the bootloader if you desire flashing TWRP or a custom ROM. https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/stock-rom-npjs25-93-14-4-march-1-t3608138
Since I do not know what stock ROM you had previously on your device, I would exercise caution and ensure your data is backed up and off your device before attempting to flash the stock ROM. Though it's a stock ROM and fastbooting should be a safe option to upgrade with, it's still a flash affecting your system. Be careful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, thanks for your reply. My device is the XT1642. I am surprised I managed to wipe the system. I never normally am this stupid when it comes to messing with flashes and wiping data.

Some questions regarding flashing the stock firmware

Hello, so basically when I was on the June update of my Moto G4 Plus, build NPJS25.93-14-8, software channel reteu, model XT1642 when I decided to unlock my bootloader and flash RR. Now I want to go back to the stock firmware for several reasons, but I have some questions about flashing it. I know how to flash it trough fastboot, but I have some other questions.
1. What are the risks if I flash it?
2. Can I just restore my twrp backup for the fully stock rom, flash the stock recovery and update to the last build through ota? will that work?
3. Will there appear other problems I have to worry about?
4. Can I just flash the June patch through fastboot so that I don't have to flash the updated modems, fsg, bootloader, etc. but instead update them through ota after flashing the stock firmware? Or will that cause bugs?
Thanks for the help and please don't throw hate at me, the last device that I hade with android had android 4.4 and a MediaTek chipset, then I switched to Windows Mobile till last year.

1) As long as you flash the same or newer stock firmware as the latest on your device, you should be okay.
As of writing, if you flash the June 2017, Sept 2017 or Dec 2017 stock firmwares (NPJS25.93-14-8, NPJS25.93-14-10 or NPJS25.93-14-13 respectively) then you shouldn't run into issues and be okay to take OTA updates provided you do a full flash. By a full flash, I mean flashing GPT, bootloader, system, OEM, DSP, modem and the erase steps. If you're flashing the NPJS25.93-14-8 firmware, flashing the same firmware should do nothing to your GPT, bootloader or modem, but is a good routine to ensure your device is clean.
As you're switching from RR to stock firmware, a data wipe/erase is recommended - you may be able to use Titanium Backup or another backup app to preserve your app data, then restore it after flashing the stock ROM (though ensure the backup is off your device). You will have to root your stock ROM to use Titanium Backup however.
The risks come when you flash stock firmware of an older patch level than the stock firmware currently on your device (custom ROMs do not matter in this regard) - strictly speaking, it's not the act of downgrading but attempting to take OTA updates whilst downgraded that causes hard bricks. In most cases, if not all, I've noted that a mismatch of the bootloader patch level and the system patch level are what cause issues for most users. You cannot downgrade bootloaders, so downgrading leads to the following situation:
Say you're on the June 2017 firmware:
June 2017 bootloader, June 2017 system (or RR).
You downgrade to Marshmallow or an earlier build of Nougat (say in this case Dec 2016 Nougat firmware):
June 2017 bootloader (bootloader will block downgrades with a security downgrade error), December 2016 firmware.
You try to take an OTA update. However, OTA updates are only designed for updating, and appear to assume (from looking at the script) your system patch level is the same as your bootloader. If you did not downgrade, this assumption would hold. However, as you've downgraded, you'll get this:
March/June 2017 bootloader *, March 2017 system.
Due to the OTA having authorisation to flash to your bootloader without prior checks, the older OTA corrupts your newer bootloader (as denoted by the *), leading to a hard brick. We do have a blankflash at the moment to help with this, though the easiest way to avoid this situation is to only flash firmware of the same or newer build that what is on your device. Motorola does not support downgrading and assumes the user takes responsibility for downgrading.
2)In theory yes. However, if TWRP was allowed to make modifications before you took the backup, the subsequent OTA might fail as your system partition would be detected as not read-only. Furthermore, you'd need a stock logo.bin, so if you've flashed a logo.bin to hide the bootloader unlocked warning, you'd have to pull that from the NPJS25.93-14-8 stock ROM. TWRP to my knowledge does not back that up.
3)As long as you take your time, and have not downgraded/hard bricked in the past, you should be okay. Ensure you back up as much data with Titanium Backup as previously mentioned, and ensure that you do a full flash, so your GPT, bootloader and system are at the same patch level. As mentioned previously, having your device on the same patch level should mean you have fewer issues with OTAs and stability.
4)I'm not sure what you mean by the June patch, do you mean the June OTA update, or do you mean the June stock ROM?

echo92 said:
1) As long as you flash the same or newer stock firmware as the latest on your device, you should be okay.
As of writing, if you flash the June 2017, Sept 2017 or Dec 2017 stock firmwares (NPJS25.93-14-8, NPJS25.93-14-10 or NPJS25.93-14-13 respectively) then you shouldn't run into issues and be okay to take OTA updates provided you do a full flash. By a full flash, I mean flashing GPT, bootloader, system, OEM, DSP, modem and the erase steps. If you're flashing the NPJS25.93-14-8 firmware, flashing the same firmware should do nothing to your GPT, bootloader or modem, but is a good routine to ensure your device is clean.
As you're switching from RR to stock firmware, a data wipe/erase is recommended - you may be able to use Titanium Backup or another backup app to preserve your app data, then restore it after flashing the stock ROM (though ensure the backup is off your device). You will have to root your stock ROM to use Titanium Backup however.
The risks come when you flash stock firmware of an older patch level than the stock firmware currently on your device (custom ROMs do not matter in this regard) - strictly speaking, it's not the act of downgrading but attempting to take OTA updates whilst downgraded that causes hard bricks. In most cases, if not all, I've noted that a mismatch of the bootloader patch level and the system patch level are what cause issues for most users. You cannot downgrade bootloaders, so downgrading leads to the following situation:
Say you're on the June 2017 firmware:
June 2017 bootloader, June 2017 system (or RR).
You downgrade to Marshmallow or an earlier build of Nougat (say in this case Dec 2016 Nougat firmware):
June 2017 bootloader (bootloader will block downgrades with a security downgrade error), December 2016 firmware.
You try to take an OTA update. However, OTA updates are only designed for updating, and appear to assume (from looking at the script) your system patch level is the same as your bootloader. If you did not downgrade, this assumption would hold. However, as you've downgraded, you'll get this:
March/June 2017 bootloader *, March 2017 system.
Due to the OTA having authorisation to flash to your bootloader without prior checks, the older OTA corrupts your newer bootloader (as denoted by the *), leading to a hard brick. We do have a blankflash at the moment to help with this, though the easiest way to avoid this situation is to only flash firmware of the same or newer build that what is on your device. Motorola does not support downgrading and assumes the user takes responsibility for downgrading.
2)In theory yes. However, if TWRP was allowed to make modifications before you took the backup, the subsequent OTA might fail as your system partition would be detected as not read-only. Furthermore, you'd need a stock logo.bin, so if you've flashed a logo.bin to hide the bootloader unlocked warning, you'd have to pull that from the NPJS25.93-14-8 stock ROM. TWRP to my knowledge does not back that up.
3)As long as you take your time, and have not downgraded/hard bricked in the past, you should be okay. Ensure you back up as much data with Titanium Backup as previously mentioned, and ensure that you do a full flash, so your GPT, bootloader and system are at the same patch level. As mentioned previously, having your device on the same patch level should mean you have fewer issues with OTAs and stability.
4)I'm not sure what you mean by the June patch, do you mean the June OTA update, or do you mean the June stock ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for taking your time and answering my silly questions. 4) I mean the June stock ROM. And I've forgotten...
5) If you relock the bootloader, will you be able to unlock it again? How exactly does this work? The device gets another ID that you use again on the Moto site? Or you unlock it with the key that you used the first time you unlocked?
6) I have seen people that flashed the stock firmware through fastboot without relocking the bootloader and the software status shown in bootloader mode changed from "Official" (like mine) to "Modified" and the phone would show "Your device has failed verification and may not boot propertly." instead of the one with the unlocked bootloader. Just like here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OQQn105Bp8 . Though I have seen that some of these packages on xda are "Signed by Moto". So the problem does not occur when flashing those images?

corlatemanuel said:
Thanks for taking your time and answering my silly questions. 4) I mean the June stock ROM. And I've forgotten...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have stock backup of current firmware, restore it and check build number in settings >about.
5) If you relock the bootloader, will you be able to unlock it again? How exactly does this work? The device gets another ID that you use again on the Moto site? Or you unlock it with the key that you used the first time you unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no benefits for relocking. if you want to lock you can, and it can be unlocked with same key.
6) I have seen people that flashed the stock firmware through fastboot without relocking the bootloader and the software status shown in bootloader mode changed from "Official" (like mine) to "Modified" and the phone would show "Your device has failed verification and may not boot propertly." instead of the one with the unlocked bootloader. Just like here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OQQn105Bp8 . Though I have seen that some of these packages on xda are "Signed by Moto". So the problem does not occur when flashing those images?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true, that Modified status comes when you try to modify stock ROM, for various meaning, say installing mods in system (not in case of systemless), or if you try to remove/add apps to system/oem, when you change something in stock ROM, then you will get modified status. (Modification in custom ROM will not change it, only stock ROM does.)
So if you have official status right now, you don't need to worry about it.
Otherwise, to remove modified status,
You need to take OTA, (which can be dangerous as echo92 told you above.),
Bootloader relocking is not necessary to remove Modified, you can still take OTA and it will work..
> Flash June's patch (if you are 100% sure about current firmware)
> take OTA of September
Taking OTA makes it again official. (There was no update for bootloader in September patch, if not official again, December will make it..)

____Mdd said:
You have stock backup of current firmware, restore it and check build number in settings >about.
There are no benefits for relocking. if you want to lock you can, and it can be unlocked with same key.
Not true, that Modified status comes when you try to modify stock ROM, for various meaning, say installing mods in system (not in case of systemless), or if you try to remove/add apps to system/oem, when you change something in stock ROM, then you will get modified status. (Modification in custom ROM will not change it, only stock ROM does.)
So if you have official status right now, you don't need to worry about it.
Otherwise, to remove modified status,
You need to take OTA, (which can be dangerous as echo92 told you above.),
Bootloader relocking is not necessary to remove Modified, you can still take OTA and it will work..
> Flash June's patch (if you are 100% sure about current firmware)
> take OTA of September
Taking OTA makes it again official. (There was no update for bootloader in September patch, if not official again, December will make it..)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok then, since I'm 100% sure that I was on NPJS5.93-14-8 I'll flash that firmware, but where exactly do I find the one that I need? Doesn't the region matter? I'm on XT1642, in Europe, on the software channel reteu. So which one package do I use? I found 2 of them on AFH from tywinlannister7. And also, quite many people flashed the wrong modem and got into trouble, from what I've seen on xda. So any precautions I should take in that matter?
P.S. I don't want to flash the December patch since it updates the bootloader and there is no blankflash for that version yet... Also can't find the September one.

corlatemanuel said:
Ok then, since I'm 100% sure that I was on NPJS5.93-14-8 I'll flash that firmware, but where exactly do I find the one that I need? Doesn't the region matter? I'm on XT1642, in Europe, on the software channel reteu. So which one package do I use? I found 2 of them on AFH from tywinlannister7. And also, quite many people flashed the wrong modem and got into trouble, from what I've seen on xda. So any precautions I should take in that matter?
P.S. I don't want to flash the December patch since it updates the bootloader and there is no blankflash for that version yet... Also can't find the September one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One by tywinlennister7, it is fine and confirmed working on different retails, (retin, retus, retla, many others.)
I have seen modem and other critical problems when one flashes old firmware (marshmallow roms), those all problems happened when old (MM) firmware is flashed.
You can take backup of all partitions by TWRP (fsg, data, system, boot, firmware, all options in shreps twrp), this all things can be helpful in case if something wrong happens, internal memory will be wiped so move them to external... Then flash....
About December, it's your wish to update or not.
If you are worried about blank-flash, then let me remind you again, you will need blank-flash only if you downgrade and take OTA. When you update to December's patch update, remove all older firmware on your computer and keep December's firmware zip only. If you need to flash stock, flash it, not other old..

List of Nougat firmware:
NPJS25.93-14-8 (June 2017) : https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=889764386195918175
This build appears to be targeted towards India, Brazil, EU and UK users, other territories may apply. This updates to NPJS25.93-14-10 (Sept 2017):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9tngVBGIajVQkQtLUUxR2NOTnc/edit
NPJS25.93-14-13 is the December 2017 update from NPJS25.93-14-10: https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=745849072291698845
As ____Mdd has mentioned, the blankflash is only useful if you hard brick your device, and even then that usually only happens if you go flashing older firmware than what's on your device and then take an OTA update. If you don't downgrade, then you won't have a use for the blankflash normally.
If you want to be sure you're getting the right updates, you can flash the NPJS25.93-14-8 stock ROM, which should leave your device on the same patch level (if it was previously on NPJS25.93-14-8 and you're certain about that), then let the OTA updates download the correct patch. As your device firmware should all be on the same patch level, OTA updates should be okay. Bear in mind you may not receive the December 2017 OTA yet, as I've only seen it deployed to India/Mexico so far. It should be coming to EU soon if it's not arrived.

____Mdd said:
You can take backup of all partitions by TWRP (fsg, data, system, boot, firmware, all options in shreps twrp), this all things can be helpful in case if something wrong happens, internal memory will be wiped so move them to external... Then flash....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I was busy this week but I'm back with just a couple more questions:
Which partitions should I back up with the Partition Backup app and with TWRP? What format should I choose for the Partition Backup app?
Can I lock the bootloader after flashing and booting the stock ROM or do I have to do it while flashing?
I have restored my TWRP backup for NPJS5.93-14-8 and rooted it for the backup app. Is there any other helpful information about my device that I should share with you?
What should I install on my PC? I currently have mfastboot-v2 on my C:\ drive in the adb folder, should I install the Minimal ADB and Fastboot as I have seen people using it for the stock ROM flash? Also, do I need to install any drivers in particular?
echo92 said:
2)In theory yes. However, if TWRP was allowed to make modifications before you took the backup, the subsequent OTA might fail as your system partition would be detected as not read-only. Furthermore, you'd need a stock logo.bin, so if you've flashed a logo.bin to hide the bootloader unlocked warning, you'd have to pull that from the NPJS25.93-14-8 stock ROM. TWRP to my knowledge does not back that up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So If I use this guide and relock the bootloader would I be okay? https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/guide-sucsessfull-ota-update-rooting-t3472658
Also, relocking wipes Data and Internal Storage, right?

corlatemanuel said:
Ok, I was busy this week but I'm back with just a couple more questions:
Which partitions should I back up with the Partition Backup app and with TWRP? What format should I choose for the Partition Backup app?
Can I lock the bootloader after flashing and booting the stock ROM or do I have to do it while flashing?
I have restored my TWRP backup for NPJS5.93-14-8 and rooted it for the backup app. Is there any other helpful information about my device that I should share with you?
What should I install on my PC? I currently have mfastboot-v2 on my C:\ drive in the adb folder, should I install the Minimal ADB and Fastboot as I have seen people using it for the stock ROM flash? Also, do I need to install any drivers in particular?
So If I use this guide and relock the bootloader would I be okay? https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/guide-sucsessfull-ota-update-rooting-t3472658
Also, relocking wipes Data and Internal Storage, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) If you want to make a backup, I would make a backup with the standard TWRP partitions selected (should be all of them but without cache). I've not used the Partition Backup app so cannot comment as to which formats to use, but standard formats for system and cache should be ext4, and data as f2fs.
2)Generally if you want to lock your bootloader, you should flash the stock ROM first, then boot to the stock ROM. In Settings > Developer Options, you will want to turn on OEM unlocking. Then, you can re-lock your bootloader with a full flash of all the commands. For more info and things to be aware of, have a look at this post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74971791&postcount=497 Be aware that if you choose to lock your bootloader, you may not be able to use backups of data you made as TWRP and backup apps may require an unlocked bootloader. Anything you kept on internal storage should be transferable back to your device though.
Re-locking likely wipes data and internal storage, so ensure you back up and keep the back ups off your device - on your computer is the best location - until you are done. Also, be warned that any SD cards you have formatted and adopted as internal storage will be unreadable and need erasing, unless you retain the encryption key. So if you have an adopted SD card, back that up too.
3)I would install Minimal ADB and fastboot (v1.4.2 or newer) as most of the newer guides are based on fastboot rather than mfastboot (which is Motorola's version of fastboot, if I recall). You may wish to have the Motorola device drivers installed too - https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_detail/a_id/79106/p/30,75,27,
4)That guide is quite old, plus only restores your device back to a state where OTA updates would be possible (i.e. flashing stock recovery, system, OEM). That guide you linked will not re-lock your bootloader. If you want the commands to re-lock your device bootloader, this guide should help: https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/stock-rom-npjs25-93-14-4-march-1-t3608138 Again, heed the warnings I note in the above link.

echo92 said:
1) If you want to make a backup, I would make a backup with the standard TWRP partitions selected (should be all of them but without cache). I've not used the Partition Backup app so cannot comment as to which formats to use, but standard formats for system and cache should be ext4, and data as f2fs.
2)Generally if you want to lock your bootloader, you should flash the stock ROM first, then boot to the stock ROM. In Settings > Developer Options, you will want to turn on OEM unlocking. Then, you can re-lock your bootloader with a full flash of all the commands. For more info and things to be aware of, have a look at this post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74971791&postcount=497 Be aware that if you choose to lock your bootloader, you may not be able to use backups of data you made as TWRP and backup apps may require an unlocked bootloader. Anything you kept on internal storage should be transferable back to your device though.
Re-locking likely wipes data and internal storage, so ensure you back up and keep the back ups off your device - on your computer is the best location - until you are done. Also, be warned that any SD cards you have formatted and adopted as internal storage will be unreadable and need erasing, unless you retain the encryption key. So if you have an adopted SD card, back that up too.
3)I would install Minimal ADB and fastboot (v1.4.2 or newer) as most of the newer guides are based on fastboot rather than mfastboot (which is Motorola's version of fastboot, if I recall). You may wish to have the Motorola device drivers installed too - https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_detail/a_id/79106/p/30,75,27,
4)That guide is quite old, plus only restores your device back to a state where OTA updates would be possible (i.e. flashing stock recovery, system, OEM). That guide you linked will not re-lock your bootloader. If you want the commands to re-lock your device bootloader, this guide should help: https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4-plus/how-to/stock-rom-npjs25-93-14-4-march-1-t3608138 Again, heed the warnings I note in the above link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So shreps' twrp can also backup the modems? I am on the 64-bit twrp from lannister7 (too lazy to check his name ) and it doesn't show the modems in "Backup", it only shows firmware, fsg, hw and ol the other stuff. And also, I have to flash the firmware twice if I want to lock the bootloader? I can imagine some really bad situations if you flash it with the OEM lock command included, some sh*t happens, you get an error and the device gets bricked whilst also being locked, and not being able to unlock it because of the "OEM Unlocking" option not being accessible, since the device would be bricked. So if I understand correctly, the OEM lock begin and OEM lock commands fully wipe the device, even the system, causing the need to flash everything again? Or the OEM lock commands require you to flash the stock ROM again because of safety issues?

corlatemanuel said:
So shreps' twrp can also backup the modems? I am on the 64-bit twrp from lannister7 (too lazy to check his name ) and it doesn't show the modems in "Backup", it only shows firmware, fsg, hw and ol the other stuff. And also, I have to flash the firmware twice if I want to lock the bootloader? I can imagine some really bad situations if you flash it with the OEM lock command included, some sh*t happens, you get an error and the device gets bricked whilst also being locked, and not being able to unlock it because of the "OEM Unlocking" option not being accessible, since the device would be bricked. So if I understand correctly, the OEM lock begin and OEM lock commands fully wipe the device, even the system, causing the need to flash everything again? Or the OEM lock commands require you to flash the stock ROM again because of safety issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think shrep's TWRP backs up the modem, only the FSG partition (which appears to be half of the modem/baseband function). Modems are provided in the stock firmware anyhow.
Yes, you have to flash the firmware first (without OEM locking commands), then enable OEM unlocking in Settings>Developer Options, as I mentioned in the other post I wrote. Else, you may not be able to re-lock your bootloader. With OEM unlocking enabled, if a flash failed, you may still be able to unlock your bootloader and flash a custom ROM. Hence, this way gives you a way out, as you have OEM unlocking enabled, hence I recommending that you flash twice. After enabling OEM unlocking, then you flash fully with the OEM locking commands included.
Again, this is why I always say have plenty of time and do not rush this process, as this is critical to your device properly functioning, and to read up as much as you can on the pros and cons of the process.
The two OEM lock begin commands at the beginning of the locking command list will erase your device. Entering the first of those commands will prompt you and alert you to the fact your device is going to be erased. It only erases your data and likely your internal storage/cache, it should not erase any other partitions as they are usually not user modifiable.
If you are certain that your device is fully stock and at the same patch level, then you can use the OEM lock begin commands and OEM lock commands to lock your bootloader. However, if any of your device firmwares is not on the same patch level as your bootloader, you will likely have a boot failure as the firmware fails the bootloader verification checks (as the bootloader expects only firmware of the same patch level). Hence, I strongly recommend to re-flash the firmware to ensure you have clean stock firmware with matching patch levels.
Again, this process of re-locking your bootloader will mean no TWRP (no backups) or root or Titanium Backup.

echo92 said:
Don't think shrep's TWRP backs up the modem, only the FSG partition (which appears to be half of the modem/baseband function). Modems are provided in the stock firmware anyhow.
Yes, you have to flash the firmware first (without OEM locking commands), then enable OEM unlocking in Settings>Developer Options, as I mentioned in the other post I wrote. Else, you may not be able to re-lock your bootloader. With OEM unlocking enabled, if a flash failed, you may still be able to unlock your bootloader and flash a custom ROM. Hence, this way gives you a way out, as you have OEM unlocking enabled, hence I recommending that you flash twice. After enabling OEM unlocking, then you flash fully with the OEM locking commands included.
Again, this is why I always say have plenty of time and do not rush this process, as this is critical to your device properly functioning, and to read up as much as you can on the pros and cons of the process.
The two OEM lock begin commands at the beginning of the locking command list will erase your device. Entering the first of those commands will prompt you and alert you to the fact your device is going to be erased. It only erases your data and likely your internal storage/cache, it should not erase any other partitions as they are usually not user modifiable.
If you are certain that your device is fully stock and at the same patch level, then you can use the OEM lock begin commands and OEM lock commands to lock your bootloader. However, if any of your device firmwares is not on the same patch level as your bootloader, you will likely have a boot failure as the firmware fails the bootloader verification checks (as the bootloader expects only firmware of the same patch level). Hence, I strongly recommend to re-flash the firmware to ensure you have clean stock firmware with matching patch levels.
Again, this process of re-locking your bootloader will mean no TWRP (no backups) or root or Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well how can I backup the modem, modemst1 and modemst2 partitions then? that app that I mentioned doesn't work, It doesn't backup anything, and the shreps TWRP doesn't include modem backup. Need help ASAP, everything else is ready except for the backup.
P.S. I'm really tired of my G4 Plus having the icon of a keyboard in This PC )
Edit: I'm dumb, just realised that the FSG IS the modemst1 and modemst2, right?

corlatemanuel said:
Well how can I backup the modem, modemst1 and modemst2 partitions then? that app that I mentioned doesn't work, It doesn't backup anything, and the shreps TWRP doesn't include modem backup. Need help ASAP, everything else is ready except for the backup.
P.S. I'm really tired of my G4 Plus having the icon of a keyboard in This PC )
Edit: I'm dumb, just realised that the FSG IS the modemst1 and modemst2, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me clarify my recent post of backup of modem,
All issue i have seen related to corrupted modems and HW partition are happened when one tried to flash older firmwares, those are marshmallow firmwares..
Till then, i have never seen any modem or corrupted hw partition while flashing latest firmwares..
Just make sure your downloaded firmware is latest or same as you have right now..

corlatemanuel said:
Well how can I backup the modem, modemst1 and modemst2 partitions then? that app that I mentioned doesn't work, It doesn't backup anything, and the shreps TWRP doesn't include modem backup. Need help ASAP, everything else is ready except for the backup.
P.S. I'm really tired of my G4 Plus having the icon of a keyboard in This PC )
Edit: I'm dumb, just realised that the FSG IS the modemst1 and modemst2, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As ____Mdd has mentioned, backups of modem is only required if you've flashed the wrong firmware at some point (due to the different variants of stock firmware). You've given us no indication of that.
modemst1 and modemst2 are, as I understand it, caches and temporary storage of details that are normally wiped during a stock ROM flash, and are then re-filled when the device reboots. FSG is different to modemst1 and modemst2 I think, being one part of the modem/baseband firmware.
As we've both mentioned, modem and FSG are both provided by the stock ROM (as NON-HLOS.bin and fsg.mbn).

I have made it! I've flashed the stock rom without any problem or error!
I want to thank you all because I wouldn't have been able to flash this without your help! I have also locked the bootloader, then I updated to September update and, shortly afterwards, to December update. Now, if I will ever flash custom ROMs again (which has a high probability) I will know how to restore to the stock ROM. So thanks, and I will leave the thread open if anyone will have the need of assistance with this process, or maybe I will have other questions in the future! So, for the third time, thanks for your valuable help guys!

Downgrading bootloader version

Does anyone know about this ?
The last version of the firmware that got OTA'ed to my phone is POTTER_RETAIL_7.0_NPNS25.137-93-8.
The only twrp backup of the firmware I have is while it was on POTTER_RETAIL_7.0_NPNS25.137-93-4.
When I tried to flash the phone with v 93-4 using fastboot, I got denied because of the version being older than that of the bootloader. But the problem is that I was able to erase prior to attempting writing ...
I need to re-install a stock rom in the phone, but POTTER_RETAIL_7.0_NPNS25.137-93-8 cannbot be found anywhere yet.
I though about twrp-flashing the phone with my 93-4 backup, but I am hesitant, I fear bricking the phone.
Is there any alternative to patience while waiting for POTTER_RETAIL_7.0_NPNS25.137-93-8_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip eventually appearing somewhere ?
Or, in other words, knowing that the last OTA to my phone installed v 93-8, is there any way to flash POTTER_RETAIL_7.0_NPNS25.137-35-5_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip for instance ?

CanadianGixxerman said:
I though about twrp-flashing the phone with my 93-4 backup, but I am hesitant, I fear bricking the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An older version (your twrp backup) will work with a newer bootloader, however you can't do any OTAs. An OTA will try to apply the same changes to the bootloader that were already made, resulting in a hard brick - though the OTA would fail anyway since you don't have an intact /oem partition. You will have a functional phone, and you can get back on track after 93-8 images or Oreo are released.
I know because I'm in a similar situation. I wanted to update from 93-4 to 93-8, and I had an intact /system image backup, but /oem was mounted before so I had to flash it via fastboot. Little did I know it was from the wrong channel (retus instead of reteu), resulting in the OTA updating everything except for oem and messing stuff up, so I just flashed a 93-4 twrp backup. Everything works, patiently waiting for Oreo.

bazinga137 said:
I just flashed a 93-4 twrp backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just curious. Did you have a full system image backup through twrp or just the system partition? I have a twrp backup of 93-8 stock boot, logo, oem, recovery, and system PARTITIONS which I thought would allow me to restore and take ota. However, since doing that I've read that system needs to be the full IMAGE backup through twrp. Confused so I haven't restored to take the 93-10 update which I got notification of yesterday.

craigl14 said:
Just curious. Did you have a full system image backup through twrp or just the system partition? I have a twrp backup of 93-8 stock boot, logo, oem, recovery, and system PARTITIONS which I thought would allow me to restore and take ota. However, since doing that I've read that system needs to be the full IMAGE backup through twrp. Confused so I haven't restored to take the 93-10 update which I got notification of yesterday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, I am not sure. I did a twrp back up with the default selected partitions. But it turned out that this backup is not reliable. The phone does boot up on it, but suffers from applications crashes all over. Last I discovered is that the phone itself was not working for a phone, meaning making receiving calls is not possible.

craigl14 said:
Just curious. Did you have a full system image backup through twrp or just the system partition? I have a twrp backup of 93-8 stock boot, logo, oem, recovery, and system PARTITIONS which I thought would allow me to restore and take ota. However, since doing that I've read that system needs to be the full IMAGE backup through twrp. Confused so I haven't restored to take the 93-10 update which I got notification of yesterday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It needs to be an image backup for OTAs. Unlike a regular backup, image backups are block-by block pristine copies, and restoring them preserves dm-verity and all /system checks. On the other hand the /oem partition cannot be backed up as an image (I asked GtrCraft, the official maintainer of twrp for some moto devices), and since OTAs also check if /oem has been tampered with, the update fails.
Updates will only pass if /oem has never been mounted, and you have a system image backup.

bazinga137 said:
It needs to be an image backup for OTAs. Unlike a regular backup, image backups are block-by block pristine copies, and restoring them preserves dm-verity and all /system checks. On the other hand the /oem partition cannot be backed up as an image (I asked GtrCraft, the official maintainer of twrp for some moto devices), and since OTAs also check if /oem has been tampered with, the update fails.
Updates will only pass if /oem has never been mounted, and you have a system image backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dumb question...How do I know if the oem partition is tampered with or has never been mounted? I am rooted with elementalx kernel and supersu. TWRP partition stock backup made immediately after taking 93-8 update and before flashing twrp, rooting, etc. I know I am hosed without the system IMAGE as far as ota's go, but I'm just trying to learn.

I'm in the same boat. Pretty much stuck on 93-8 forever until a new full image is released somewhere. I might just move onto a custom Oreo rom.

dunderball said:
I'm in the same boat. Pretty much stuck on 93-8 forever until a new full image is released somewhere. I might just move onto a custom Oreo rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I did that. I have tried a few cutom roms : Pixel Exprerience, Resurection Remix, AOSP extended, AOSiP and Dirty Unicorns. The latter and AOSiP are those I find the most reliable. Avoid PE and RR, too buggy, AOSP-E has issues with SIM/SDcard here.
But I will want to go back to stock moto rom when I can (ie : full 93-8 load fastboot flashable is released).
If moto had been quicker to release Oreo AND fix the wifi bug, I would not have given up on retus.

I guess I have an even more fundamental dumb question than my twrp restore issue and maybe it belongs in another thread. Aside from advanced excel formulas, I have no programming experience of any kind, let alone android. However, it seems to me that if I have a full firmware package for 93-4 (which I do) and a "blur" ota update file that takes it to 93-8 (which I do), I should be able to create a full 93-8 firmware package file myself from those two files without waiting on the file hosting sites. Maybe this is way too advanced a process but it seems to me this is 1+2=3 variety.

craigl14 said:
I guess I have an even more fundamental dumb question than my twrp restore issue and maybe it belongs in another thread. Aside from advanced excel formulas, I have no programming experience of any kind, let alone android. However, it seems to me that if I have a full firmware package for 93-4 (which I do) and a "blur" ota update file that takes it to 93-8 (which I do), I should be able to create a full 93-8 firmware package file myself from those two files without waiting on the file hosting sites. Maybe this is way too advanced a process but it seems to me this is 1+2=3 variety.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your device now being at 93-8 is what's in the way. It seems like you can restore your twrp 93-4 on it, but you won't be able to relock the BL, hence OTA will not work.

CanadianGixxerman said:
Your device now being at 93-8 is what's in the way. It seems like you can restore your twrp 93-4 on it, but you won't be able to relock the BL, hence OTA will not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the confusion. My restore issue is with the fact that I did not make a full system image twrp backup of stock 93-8. If I had, I would be able to restore and take ota's (assuming the oem issue doesn't interfere which I don't know about).
My last question is more fundamental and broader. There are quite a few people waiting on firmware updates. It just seems to me that if I have a full firmware package and an update package for that firmware, I should be able to create a newly updated full firmware package independent of what happens to be on my phone at any one time. Again, maybe really stupid and way beyond my capabilities.

I'm on a slightly same boat as OP, but I don't have my backup since I thought it was on my SD and wiped my phone, with the backup only there. I was on 93-8 when I wiped. Would getting a 93-4 backup work?
This question might of been answered but I did not see it when I read through this thread.

craigl14 said:
Sorry for the confusion. My restore issue is with the fact that I did not make a full system image twrp backup of stock 93-8. If I had, I would be able to restore and take ota's (assuming the oem issue doesn't interfere which I don't know about).
My last question is more fundamental and broader. There are quite a few people waiting on firmware updates. It just seems to me that if I have a full firmware package and an update package for that firmware, I should be able to create a newly updated full firmware package independent of what happens to be on my phone at any one time. Again, maybe really stupid and way beyond my capabilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took a full backup of my system image through twrp, and I was on 93-8. I'll upload it when I have time and you can give it a try.

CanadianGixxerman said:
[...] but you won't be able to relock the BL, hence OTA will not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you need to relock the BL to take an OTA?
craigl14 said:
My last question is more fundamental and broader. There are quite a few people waiting on firmware updates. It just seems to me that if I have a full firmware package and an update package for that firmware, I should be able to create a newly updated full firmware package independent of what happens to be on my phone at any one time. Again, maybe really stupid and way beyond my capabilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly you can't apply an OTA to the firmware images, if that's what you're thinking. They need to be signed by moto to be flashable through fastboot. And if you'd want to provide someone with a twrp backup of a firmware higher than theirs, their bootloader would need to be updated too, via an OTA.

bazinga137 said:
if that's what you're thinking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. That's exactly my question. So the answer is that Motorola controls the process. Makes sense. Any thoughts on my oem mounting question?

craigl14 said:
Thanks. That's exactly my question. So the answer is that Motorola controls the process. Makes sense. Any thoughts on my oem mounting question?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really can't think of a way of checking the mount count of Android partitions, and I haven't found anything online.
I discovered the mount counter thingy when sweeping through logs of a failed OTA. I'm really not sure where the OTA script reads it from.

craigl14 said:
Sorry for the confusion. My restore issue is with the fact that I did not make a full system image twrp backup of stock 93-8. If I had, I would be able to restore and take ota's (assuming the oem issue doesn't interfere which I don't know about).
My last question is more fundamental and broader. There are quite a few people waiting on firmware updates. It just seems to me that if I have a full firmware package and an update package for that firmware, I should be able to create a newly updated full firmware package independent of what happens to be on my phone at any one time. Again, maybe really stupid and way beyond my capabilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I made a full backup of 93-8, but still i can't lock bootloader. We need complete firmware, until then, Lineage OS is the answer.
---------- Post added at 11:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:52 PM ----------
bazinga137 said:
Why would you need to relock the BL to take an OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea, i saw this first time now on Motorola. On any other manufacturers i could lock bootloader, and even get OTA updates just by flashing stock recovery and having unlocked bootloader was not a problem.

If your device was formally updated to NPNS25.137-93-8 (March 2018 security patch), then you could try to flash the NPNS25.137-93-4 (Jan 2018 security patch) update again as you previously tried (link to the Jan 2018 stock firmware for EU/US and Asia devices: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/potter/official/RETAIL/ ). You may wish to ignore the security downgrade errors (you cannot downgrade bootloaders anyway, presumably to prevent you opening security vulnerabilities) when you flash, which should just be for GPT and bootloader. You may also see 'image signed with bad key' for recovery and boot as well, but verify those partitions, and the other partitions report [OKAY] after flashing. That way, you should have a NPNS25.137-93-4 system, with a NPNS25.137-93-8 bootloader, and when you boot you should have a device reporting with fully stock NPNS25.137-93-4. The next OTA you should receive is the NPNS25.137-93-8 OTA and then the NPNS25.137-93-10 April 2018 security patch OTA, which should bring you up to the latest stock firmware.
By reflashing the NPNS25.137-93-4 firmware, this should also restore your OEM partition to being untampered (read only status?), as should your system partition (which should be read only, I recall that swiping to allow modifications in TWRP sets your system partition to read-write, which causes the OTA to fail).
Normally, I would advise against downgrading and using OTA updates, as this is a prime way of hard bricking. However, in this case you are downgrading your device firmware to the firmware directly preceding the newest firmware you had (i.e. downgrading to NPNS25.137-93-4 from NPNS25.137-93-8), with the next OTA being NPNS25.137-93-8, which brings you back up to the build you had, this may be safe. To your device, you are flashing the same bootloader from the NPNS25.137-93-8 OTA as currently on your device, which should not hard brick.
If you previously had stock NPNS25.137-93-10, then I cannot recommend this procedure as you'll be downgrading two firmware versions (and you'll have to wait for newer stock firmware to be leaked), else if you try flashing NPNS25.137-93-4 onto the April 2018 firmware and try using OTA updates, you may hard brick and have a pricey paperweight. I also do not know if this will work by cross-flashing from the NPN25.137-92 series of updates either.
Of course, as the NPNS25.137-93-4 firmware is older than your bootloader, you will not be able to re-lock your bootloader (you'll need a newer firmware, probably the April 2018 or newer security patch stock firmware), but being back on full stock, you should be eligible for OTAs provided you only downgraded from NPNS25.137-93-8 (and that March 2018 security patch was the latest stock firmware on your device).
If you are truly concerned about hard bricking, then I would follow other member's suggestions in this thread and stay with TWRP flashables of the stock ROM, as they do not usually affect the bootloader.
Any questions or comments before you perform this procedure, please ask.

bazinga137 said:
I really can't think of a way of checking the mount count of Android partitions, and I haven't found anything online.
I discovered the mount counter thingy when sweeping through logs of a failed OTA. I'm really not sure where the OTA script reads it from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Weird. Sorry for hijacking this thread. But if my process were to take OTA after which it reboots, then IMMEDIATELY reboot into bootloader, fastboot BOOT into twrp (not flash it) and take a backup of boot, logo, oem, recovery and system (FULL IMAGE), how would that change oem?

CanadianGixxerman said:
Well, I did that. I have tried a few cutom roms : Pixel Exprerience, Resurection Remix, AOSP extended, AOSiP and Dirty Unicorns. The latter and AOSiP are those I find the most reliable. Avoid PE and RR, too buggy, AOSP-E has issues with SIM/SDcard here.
But I will want to go back to stock moto rom when I can (ie : full 93-8 load fastboot flashable is released).
If moto had been quicker to release Oreo AND fix the wifi bug, I would not have given up on retus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's buggy about PE? I was just about to try it...

[mini-GUIDE] BRICKED / DOWNGRADE / SAME / UPGRADE - also ALTERNATIVE to RSDlite

I am not responsible for your bricked phone or pigeon poo on your toupe. Do at your own risk.
Many thanks to @SupahCookie for idea and motivation!
INTENTIONALLY DOES --NOT-- LOCK BOOTLOADER!!!
Get factory images here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...ock-images-t3736767/post75236696#post75236696
THIS GUIDE IS FOR FACTORY/STOCK ROMs - NOT YOUR AVERAGE CUSTOM ROM which may not have bootloaders!!! (thanks!!!!! @echo92 )
FIX:
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GET TO FASTBOOT THIS SHOULD WORK.
IF YOU HAVE 8.x bootloaders AND ARE DOWNGRADING TO 7, use "Alternative to RSDlite" below.
1 boot to win - 7 or 10 works fine.
2 boot phone to fastboot, and connect phone to computer.
3 start RSDlite
pick a ROM. I believe I used a 7.1.1 rom
3Nov9-ADDISON_NPNS26.118-22-2-8_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip
RSDlite installed it and fixed the problem.
- -
I was then able to use RSDlite to install @rafikowy 's signed 8.0 . - going up from 7 to 8.
- -
- -
If you are on 8.x bootloaders and want to go to 7.x bootloaders, use this (RSDlite throws an error and stops):
ALTERNATIVE TO RSDlite:
1 I used 7zip to extract that 7.1.1 zip (or any ROM zip) into a folder x,
2 add all the adb and fastboot junk to folder x,
3 add the attached file (rename it to flash.bat) to folder x.
4 boot phone to fastboot and connect to computer.
5 click on flash.bat - it throws a lot of "slot" errors but works just fine.
6 reboot your phone if it hasn't already and go through the 7.x install stuffs.
7 you will not show an IMEI if you are coming from an 8.x bootloader. However, it IS there.
NOTE: you may need to add a line to the flash.bat if there are more/less sparsechunk's in your FACTORY/STOCK ROM...
THIS IS NOT FOR CUSTOM ROMs!!!!!!!
EDIT: 3-8-19: I just did this myself to go back very briefly to 7.1 - be sure you don't flash TWRP to it if your going to take OTAs - it will brick it. boot to TWRP if you need TWRP briefly: fastboot boot twrpimg.img
----------
If you can boot to fastboot screen, you can do anything.
Never OTA a ROM if you have modified recovery (TWRP, etc) or if magisk is present.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...p-flashing-t3813498/post77011495#post77011495
I changed the attached file to add pause and reboot and exit to make it slightly more automated.

I have successfully used this many times going back and forth. If you can boot to fastboot screen, you can save your phone and flash anything you want.

You may wish to advise users that if they downgrade to Nougat not to use Nougat OTA updates. The reason being that a downgraded stock Oreo device may still have the Oreo bootloader on it. Thus, attempting to use Nougat OTA updates may hard brick their device (as the bootloader is likely corrupted, meaning no fastboot).
Users could either use the Feb 2018 NPN26.118-22-2-17 firmware from your link https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/addison/official/RETAIL/ as that was the last Nougat firmware (and thus no Nougat OTA updates) or avoid using OTA updates whilst downgraded.

echo92 said:
You may wish to advise users that if they downgrade to Nougat not to use Nougat OTA updates. The reason being that a downgraded stock Oreo device may still have the Oreo bootloader on it. Thus, attempting to use Nougat OTA updates may hard brick their device (as the bootloader is likely corrupted, meaning no fastboot).
Users could either use the Feb 2018 NPN26.118-22-2-17 firmware from your link https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/addison/official/RETAIL/ as that was the last Nougat firmware (and thus no Nougat OTA updates) or avoid using OTA updates whilst downgraded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I used the above GUIDE to go up and down a number of times on my phone (about 20 total) , installing and running on both 7 and 8, and then went down to a Nov 7.1.1 and let it ota all the way up to 8.0 and that is what I am using now. I found that when i used a factory zip, and the above procedure, it corrected the bootloaders to the appropriate version that i was flashing - either RSDlite or the more manual path which ignores the errors worked for me.
Using the above procedure , you get the correct bootloaders, which are in the zip.
Please correct me if i am wrong!

KrisM22 said:
Interesting. I used the above GUIDE to go up and down a number of times on my phone (about 20 total) , installing and running on both 7 and 8, and then went down to a Nov 7.1.1 and let it ota all the way up to 8.0 and that is what I am using now. I found that when i used a factory zip, and the above procedure, it corrected the bootloaders to the appropriate version that i was flashing - either RSDlite or the more manual path which ignores the errors worked for me.
Using the above procedure , you get the correct bootloaders, which are in the zip.
Please correct me if i am wrong!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's intriguing - we saw previously on Z Play that users downgrading their stock firmware (e.g. https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-z-play/help/hard-brick-moto-z-play-patch-abril-t3782927 )and then using OTA updates hard bricked their device (hence the number of users asking for a blankflash, as fastboot no longer works). I don't know if these users hard bricked by downgrading their firmware too far and then flashed an OTA radically different to their previous firmware, or whether it's a risk that's taken by any downgrading of firmware.
When you used fastboot, did you see any 'security downgrade errors' when you flashed the bootloader, and is your bootloader version now C180, as you've flashed the Oreo OTA?

echo92 said:
That's intriguing - we saw previously on Z Play that users downgrading their stock firmware (e.g. https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-z-play/help/hard-brick-moto-z-play-patch-abril-t3782927 )and then using OTA updates hard bricked their device (hence the number of users asking for a blankflash, as fastboot no longer works). I don't know if these users hard bricked by downgrading their firmware too far and then flashed an OTA radically different to their previous firmware, or whether it's a risk that's taken by any downgrading of firmware.
When you used fastboot, did you see any 'security downgrade errors' when you flashed the bootloader, and is your bootloader version now C180, as you've flashed the Oreo OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES - that's why I wrote these 3 guides - before, it was quite possible to wind up with a bootloader mix - esp depending on the zip you use! - factory/stock only!!!
I added a line to the guide saying that it is only intended to be used for the factory/stock zips as these have (I believe) the bootloaders appropriate to the ROM.
Many thanks for pursuing this! - I wonder if we'll have to exclude certain ROMs that are in the factory lists?????

echo92 said:
That's intriguing - we saw previously on Z Play that users downgrading their stock firmware (e.g. https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-z-play/help/hard-brick-moto-z-play-patch-abril-t3782927 )and then using OTA updates hard bricked their device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have TWRP (or I assume any custom recovery) present when you try to ota, it can download just fine and then reboot to the update. I had TWRP and wound up in a situation where my phone would only boot to twrp no matter what I flashed or restored. I booted phone to fastboot, RSDlite'ed that 11-09-17 factory zip and all was well. In that particular case I did not fully install 7.x but immediately RSDlite'ed rafikowy's 8.0 signed stock and went on with my testing. Since then I always boot to TWRP rather than intalling it and do my thing. (thanks @jceballos )
When you used fastboot, did you see any 'security downgrade errors' when you flashed the bootloader, and is your bootloader version now C180, as you've flashed the Oreo OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry - since it throws a million errors I never look at it if it works.
The particular build I am on at the moment - is BL: C1.82
This one started from that Nov '17 build and ota'ed all the way to 8.0 Apr.
I root and unroot as needed per rafikowy's method but using a boot to TWRP - never an install TWRP.
I'll put up a new guide ref ota and recovery and brick.

KrisM22 said:
If you have TWRP (or I assume any custom recovery) present when you try to ota, it can download just fine and then reboot to the update. I had TWRP and wound up in a situation where my phone would only boot to twrp no matter what I flashed or restored. I booted phone to fastboot, RSDlite'ed that 11-09-17 factory zip and all was well. In that particular case I did not fully install 7.x but immediately RSDlite'ed rafikowy's 8.0 signed stock and went on with my testing. Since then I always boot to TWRP rather than intalling it and do my thing. (thanks @jceballos )
Sorry - since it throws a million errors I never look at it if it works.
The particular build I am on at the moment - is BL: C1.82
This one started from that Nov '17 build and ota'ed all the way to 8.0 Apr.
I root and unroot as needed per rafikowy's method but using a boot to TWRP - never an install TWRP.
I'll put up a new guide ref ota and recovery and brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) If you have TWRP, then using an OTA will fail - as you've not got stock recovery (and likely other modifications, including possibly a system partition set to read-write status). As you noted, having TWRP seems to cause a bootloop when rebooting - I'm not sure if the OTA sets a boot flag to stay in recovery until the update is completed. For the G4/Plus, there's a possible solution by wiping the misc partition but I don't know if there's a similar partition for Z Play devices: https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4/help/troubleshooting-twrp-boot-loop-ota-t3714325
The only other solution I've seen is a clean flash of the stock ROM to get your device booting properly.
Booting to TWRP rather than flashing would mean your stock recovery is still present on your device. The only downside is if you need to make modifications, you'd need your computer to boot to TWRP.
2)BL C1.82 seems to be the bootloader provided by the Oreo April 2018 security patch update, so your device looks to be on the right bootloader. It's still curious that the Nov 2017 firmware worked whereas countless other 'factory' stock ROMs caused hard bricks when downgraded to and then OTA updates were installed.
As you mentioned, custom ROMs don't have bootloaders and thus don't care about your bootloader version usually (though I've seen some ROMs require a certain bootloader). However, stock ROMs and stock OTA updates do have bootloaders, which is why downgrading can be risky.

echo92 said:
1) If you have TWRP, then using an OTA will fail - as you've not got stock recovery (and likely other modifications, including possibly a system partition set to read-write status). As you noted, having TWRP seems to cause a bootloop when rebooting - I'm not sure if the OTA sets a boot flag to stay in recovery until the update is completed. For the G4/Plus, there's a possible solution by wiping the misc partition but I don't know if there's a similar partition for Z Play devices: https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g4/help/troubleshooting-twrp-boot-loop-ota-t3714325
The only other solution I've seen is a clean flash of the stock ROM to get your device booting properly.
Booting to TWRP rather than flashing would mean your stock recovery is still present on your device. The only downside is if you need to make modifications, you'd need your computer to boot to TWRP.
2)BL C1.82 seems to be the bootloader provided by the Oreo April 2018 security patch update, so your device looks to be on the right bootloader. It's still curious that the Nov 2017 firmware worked whereas countless other 'factory' stock ROMs caused hard bricks when downgraded to and then OTA updates were installed.
As you mentioned, custom ROMs don't have bootloaders and thus don't care about your bootloader version usually (though I've seen some ROMs require a certain bootloader). However, stock ROMs and stock OTA updates do have bootloaders, which is why downgrading can be risky.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downgrading is a piece of cake if you don't use RSDlite - it throws an error and stops. Using the bat file it can happily throw all the errors it wants and all I care is at the end I have what I want.
It does indeed change the entire environment when you bat file the zip contents. You can bat file to get from 8 to 7 and then use RSDlite to flash a different 7 OR 8 zip file. There is no resulting difference in whether you RSDlite it or bat file it - the bat file simply comes from the .xml file that is within the zip. There is very little or no difference between that among addison factory/stock zips. Other zips are different (custom ROMs.)
Grab any factory/stock zip for addison and expand it and you will see modems, bootloaders, indeed absolutely everything you would find on that phone if you went to a store and bought it. SupahCookie simply added a couple lock command lines because it was intended for folks who somehow thought that if phone was locked they could take it back to the store and get their money back. Or some such. I found that ATT folk didn't care if you were on CM or whatever if you just needed to swap SIMs or whatever.
I DON'T want to lock the phone as it prevents me from modifying forever. Oh yeah that reminds me I was going to post the obligatory guide (again) about how to flash a white boot logo so you don't get that message - it's still there LOL but since the font is in white, you can't see it.

I have a Moto Z2 Play and used this to get out of a rather sticky situation.. My IEMI shows 0 now and I'm curious if there's a way to fix this? Also, You say you've done OTA updates? My phone is telling my I have some, is it safe to try?

Necrowr said:
I have a Moto Z2 Play and used this to get out of a rather sticky situation.. My IEMI shows 0 now and I'm curious if there's a way to fix this? Also, You say you've done OTA updates? My phone is telling my I have some, is it safe to try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for feedback and great on success.
IMEI will show zero if using oreo, It will show again if using N. Remember that if you go from O to N you need to use the "Alternative to RSD" as RSD will simply throw an error and stop.
If you have TWRP and/or Magisk you must get rid of them before ota - if twrp present you will soft brick and have to do alternative again - flash a stock recovery. Simply uninstalling/flash magisk will probably not be enough - it will likely d/l but error part way through update. If you are sitting on rafikowy's stock oreo, and haven't modified it, you should be fine. I know Apr and June are out there. I flashed his stock 8.0 and took June fine. Z2 should be no different though of course I can't guarantee it
If you have success, let us know what you have done so others looking in will know. Thanks!

KrisM22 said:
Thanks for feedback and great on success.
IMEI will show zero if using oreo, It will show again if using N. Remember that if you go from O to N you need to use the "Alternative to RSD" as RSD will simply throw an error and stop.
If you have TWRP and/or Magisk you must get rid of them before ota - if twrp present you will soft brick and have to do alternative again - flash a stock recovery. Simply uninstalling/flash magisk will probably not be enough - it will likely d/l but error part way through update. If you are sitting on rafikowy's stock oreo, and haven't modified it, you should be fine. I know Apr and June are out there. I flashed his stock 8.0 and took June fine. Z2 should be no different though of course I can't guarantee it
If you have success, let us know what you have done so others looking in will know. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually flashed to this: ALBUS_C_7.1.1_NPS26.118-24_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip Which is a 7.1.1 variant and it is showing 0 when I check settings and when I dial *#06#. However upon connecting to the computer and running mfastboot getvar imei it returned a value. I only did the steps above which would mean I don't have TWRP or Magisk (when I fastboot and click recovery I get "no command")
****** Additional information *********
XT1710-01 Duel Sim Variant
I started your steps, only being able to access fastboot. The device would throw an error (I don't recall exactly but it ended up showing me them in the bootloader logs) whenever I tried to start it, or go to recovery. #DefinitelyThoughtItWasDead

Necrowr said:
I actually flashed to this: ALBUS_C_7.1.1_NPS26.118-24_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip Which is a 7.1.1 variant and it is showing 0 when I check settings and when I dial *#06#. However upon connecting to the computer and running mfastboot getvar imei it returned a value. I only did the steps above which would mean I don't have TWRP or Magisk (when I fastboot and click recovery I get "no command")
****** Additional information *********
XT1710-01 Duel Sim Variant
I started your steps, only being able to access fastboot. The device would throw an error (I don't recall exactly but it ended up showing me them in the bootloader logs) whenever I tried to start it, or go to recovery. #DefinitelyThoughtItWasDead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What rom was on phone when you got it and what have you done to it? Has it ever run 8.x?
original country of phone?
The bat file will always throw a lot of slot errors.
https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/albus/official/RETUS/
or
https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/albus/official/RETAIL/
might have some stock ROMs of interest...

KrisM22 said:
What rom was on phone when you got it and what have you done to it? Has it ever run 8.x?
original country of phone?
The bat file will always throw a lot of slot errors.
might have some stock ROMs of interest...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It had 7.1.1 stock. I rooted it, and then flashed Resurrection Remix (which was yes 8.1 I believe) and the upgraded bootloader. I then found out my service wouldn't work with that.. so I attempted to flash back to stock which gave me a flurry of issues.. eventually getting to nothing but fastboot working. Flashed back to working with your guide to 7.1.1
If it helps in in fastboot it tells me BL: C0.CD

Necrowr said:
It had 7.1.1 stock. I rooted it, and then flashed Resurrection Remix (which was yes 8.1 I believe) and the upgraded bootloader. I then found out my service wouldn't work with that.. so I attempted to flash back to stock which gave me a flurry of issues.. eventually getting to nothing but fastboot working. Flashed back to working with your guide to 7.1.1
If it helps in in fastboot it tells me BL: C0.CD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROMs won't usually update the bootloader (even if they are newer) as stock ROMs typically only have the bootloader firmware.
You could look into flashing the stock Oreo albus 8.0 ROM https://forum.xda-developers.com/z2-play/how-to/fastboot-rom-oreo-retail-via-fastboot-t3786153 or the 8.0 June 2018 firmware https://forum.xda-developers.com/z2-play/how-to/fastboot-rom-albusretail8-0-0opss27-76-t3822195 but please check that firmware has been released for your device variant.
I don't know if updating your baseband to stock Oreo formally may fix your IMEI issue.

Necrowr said:
It had 7.1.1 stock. I rooted it, and then flashed Resurrection Remix (which was yes 8.1 I believe) and the upgraded bootloader. I then found out my service wouldn't work with that.. so I attempted to flash back to stock which gave me a flurry of issues.. eventually getting to nothing but fastboot working. Flashed back to working with your guide to 7.1.1
If it helps in in fastboot it tells me BL: C0.CD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"BL: C0.CD" even right after flashing that albus 7.1.1 using "alternative" above?
What happens if you flash one of the oreo roms from the links I gave you above?
Yeah, RR wouldn't change bootloaders... so you upgraded bootloaders independendently?- that could easily lead to a soft brick... -
I read RR on Z2 and it says nothing about bootloaders even though it says 8.1 based, so i wonder if it needs 7.x bootloaders? I did not read entire thread...
In a reverse, I would wonder if you put an 8 on there if you wouldn't see your IMEI. (On the Z if you flash 8 You won't see the IMEI until you return to 7.)(wondering if z2 is reversed)

KrisM22 said:
"BL: C0.CD" even right after flashing that albus 7.1.1 using "alternative" above?
What happens if you flash one of the oreo roms from the links I gave you above?
Yeah, RR wouldn't change bootloaders... so you upgraded bootloaders independendently?- that could easily lead to a soft brick... -
I read RR on Z2 and it says nothing about bootloaders even though it says 8.1 based, so i wonder if it needs 7.x bootloaders? I did not read entire thread...
In a reverse, I would wonder if you put an 8 on there if you wouldn't see your IMEI. (On the Z if you flash 8 You won't see the IMEI until you return to 7.)(wondering if z2 is reversed)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, right after flashing that is the BL that fastboot is showing me. I don't recall updating the bootloader so to speak, however RR did require an updated variant of twrp which I flashed 3.2.2 I believe to get (unsure if that would have changed the bootloader or not). I also tried flashing a stock Oreo (which you've stated stock Roms usually only have the bootloaders so maybe somewhere during this process I updated it?). I wish I had all the notes for what I did to give more precise information, but I'm in a position where I really need my phone so I kinda just panicked and started flashing things when my service wouldn't work.
I'm highly considering trying to run an OTA (though very afraid of bricking). - On a side note though, it wouldn't even tell me I had OTA's until I did the steps in the original post here (doing the different 7.1.1. and 8.0 flashes, it wouldn't ever tell me I had updates, and now it does).
*** Edit ***
Looks like I'm able to enter stock recovery, which makes me believe everything is stock at the moment.

Necrowr said:
Yes, right after flashing that is the BL that fastboot is showing me. I don't recall updating the bootloader so to speak, however RR did require an updated variant of twrp which I flashed 3.2.2 I believe to get (unsure if that would have changed the bootloader or not). I also tried flashing a stock Oreo (which you've stated stock Roms usually only have the bootloaders so maybe somewhere during this process I updated it?). I wish I had all the notes for what I did to give more precise information, but I'm in a position where I really need my phone so I kinda just panicked and started flashing things when my service wouldn't work.
I'm highly considering trying to run an OTA (though very afraid of bricking). - On a side note though, it wouldn't even tell me I had OTA's until I did the steps in the original post here (doing the different 7.1.1. and 8.0 flashes, it wouldn't ever tell me I had updates, and now it does).
*** Edit ***
Looks like I'm able to enter stock recovery, which makes me believe everything is stock at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you flashed a stock O that would have changed bl to O, but doing the above with the stock 7.1.1 would have changed them back to N. No matter (other than academic) that you don't remember the path - flashing a stock anything reverts it to that point in time. However, IMEI may have been moved - don't know. It will likely show on EITHER 7.x or 8.x stock - just don't know which.
If you flash a stock 8.x from those links I gave you above, it should offer you ota, ASSUMING there are any at this point in time(Z has 2). Adding Magisk at any point seems to hose you for receiving any more ota's - don't understand why, even with magisk uninstall, so that would mean going back to the latest stock and losing what you have (which is why I try to take a TBPro and copy that backup to PC (because re-flashing 8.x stock will likely reset internal storage.).
yes, if you enter stock recovery, you are likely at stock, though you could reflash the latest 7 or 8 stock to be sure, depending on which you want to use as base. Since 8 is having security fixes released, I choose 8 and will likely have no more interest (no time!) in 7.

So, ran the OTA and it was fine running the update and staying on N. I also downloaded the OTA for Oreo, when trying to update the recovery error'd out. It looked like the error said "Error in modem unexpected results" or something similar.

Necrowr said:
So, ran the OTA and it was fine running the update and staying on N. I also downloaded the OTA for Oreo, when trying to update the recovery error'd out. It looked like the error said "Error in modem unexpected results" or something similar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did it offer to let you d/l it again? you could try that.
However, there exist O stock zips in those links I gave you so you could just flash the latest...