Database Users

Koodo I337M S4 Bricked?

I have a SGH-I337M S4 via Koodo in Canada. I've spent 15 hours on this so far and am now really confused.
History: I installed Cyanogenmod a couple years ago. Recently wanted to change from that so I decided to install stock first via SamMobile for SGH-I337M Koodo. I downloaded 5.0.1 from here sammobile
I had it installed fine and then went to root, so I used Odin, enabled USB debugging - and installed CF Auto Root. That worked.
Then I went to install Clockwork Recovery mod and it errored out and I don't recall exactly what happened but now I'm stuck with the yellow exclamation point saying "Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again.
In the TOP LEFT of screen is says:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: SGH-I337M
CURRENT BINARY: CUSTOM
SYSTEM STATUS: CUSTOM
KNOX KERNEL: LOCK: 0X0
KNOX WARRANTY VOID: 0X1
CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0X30
SECURE DOWNLOAD: ENABLE
WRITE PROTECTION: ENABLE
eMMC BURST MODE: enabled
1) I tried to do emergency recovery through KIES but my phone isn't being recognized in Kies.
2) I uninstalled Samsung USB drivers and tried just KIES alone
3) I tried just USB drivers with flashing stock firmware via Odin in download mode - it errors out and says no partition found or says FAIL in red.
I've read a lot but i'm not that technical when it comes to this.. not sure what to do at this point. I can get into download mode but I can't get anything to work.
Is the phone ruined??

No, the phone is definitely not ruined.
Are you using the original Samsung USB cable that came with phone? Tried different USB ports? Tried different versions of Odin?
With the phone on the "encountered and error screen", connect the phone to Odin and try to flash.
If Odin can't pull the partition information, you'll need to flash stock with a lit file for the phone. Your phone has 16 gb of internal memory?

audit13 said:
No, the phone is definitely not ruined.
Are you using the original Samsung USB cable that came with phone? Tried different USB ports? Tried different versions of Odin?
With the phone on the "encountered and error screen", connect the phone to Odin and try to flash.
If Odin can't pull the partition information, you'll need to flash stock with a lit file for the phone. Your phone has 16 gb of internal memory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Audit,
Thank you for the reply. I was able to try the original USB cable now and loaded the stock Koodo firmware through Odin and it worked flawlessly. Once loaded and rebooted, it went right to the homescreen and skipped past all the normal setup stages, so I assume something on the phone was there already but just corrupted on a bad upgrade.
Never again using an older USB cable.
Whew, that was a learning lesson. Now I'd like to:
1) re-root again
2) Install custom recovery (clockwork?)
3) Install the marshmallow OS via Broken I believe.
I will keep the thread posted for others who need help and for my own reference.

Don't use cwm, use twrp and flash supersu via twrp to get toot. This has method has always worked with me. Also, I am sticking with twrp 2.8.7.1 for now as that is what works for me.
Root is not required to install a custom recovery or custom rom.
The data files were still on the phone because flashing with Odin doesn't normally overwrite the data partition.
I suggest using twrp to backup your phones efs partition and keep it safe in case it gets corrupted during a bad flash.
Alternatively, you could have flashed twrp from the error screen with Odin, performed a full wipe in twrp, and flashed the custom rom of your choice.

audit13 said:
Don't use cwm, use twrp and flash supersu via twrp to get toot. This has method has always worked with me. Also, I am sticking with twrp 2.8.7.1 for now as that is what works for me.
Root is not required to install a custom recovery or custom rom.
The data files were still on the phone because flashing with Odin doesn't normally overwrite the data partition.
I suggest using twrp to backup your phones efs partition and keep it safe in case it gets corrupted during a bad flash.
Alternatively, you could have flashed twrp from the error screen with Odin, performed a full wipe in twrp, and flashed the custom rom of your choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not know that. I thought I required root first and then had to install a custom ROM. Interesting.
Ok, so the plan then is to find twrp for my phone model and install that first... I'll search and try to do that now.

Flash the tar version of twrp in Odin as that is the easiest way in my opinion.

audit13 said:
Flash the tar version of twrp in Odin as that is the easiest way in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done. I used the latest one for the tar and I have v2.8.4.0 right now. I held volume up and power and it went to Teamwin with a bunch of options. Install/wipe/backup/restore/mount/settings/advacned/reboot
On the TWRP website it says: "Note many devices will replace your custom recovery automatically during first boot. To prevent this, use Google to find the proper key combo to enter recovery. After typing fastboot reboot, hold the key combo and boot to TWRP. Once TWRP is booted, TWRP will patch the stock ROM to prevent the stock ROM from replacing TWRP. If you don't follow this step, you will have to repeat the install."
1) I'm not sure what it means by typing that. I'd like to keep TWRP as I install my custom rom. I have the custom rom on an external SD card along with GApps. Should I insert the sd card and then boot to recovery, wipe all data and install from zip on sd card? Is that correct?
2) How do I keep TWRP from not getting overwritten?
Thanks so much for the help. Really appreciate it after a weekend of terror.

I backed up the EFS portion and it wrote it to the internal storage of the phone I believe... data/TWRP something. I did not have my external card in when I did that. Is that the correct way and how would I access that backup if I needed to?
Sorry for the questions. Trying to learn without running in circles.
After I backed up the EFS it also asked me to install SuperSU and I did that - then it rebooted automatically.

If you flash twrp and then just boot the phone to the rom, the boot process will restore stock recovery. If you flash twrp, you need to boot into twrp before booting the stock room for the first time after flashing twrp.
Copy files to internal memory or sd card. If using an sd card, place card into the phone, boot to twrp, and flash.
If twrp doesn't detect root, it will try to root the phone for you. I always choose no so I can flash supersu.
Btw, upgrade to 2.8.7.1 as you may get errors because the recovery is too old.
While in twrp, connect the phone to the computer and use explorer to drag and drop the twrp backup files to your computer.

audit13 said:
If you flash twrp and then just boot the phone to the rom, the boot process will restore stock recovery. If you flash twrp, you need to boot into twrp before booting the stock room for the first time after flashing twrp.
Copy files to internal memory or sd card. If using an sd card, place card into the phone, boot to twrp, and flash.
If twrp doesn't detect root, it will try to root the phone for you. I always choose no so I can flash supersu.
Btw, upgrade to 2.8.7.1 as you may get errors because the recovery is too old.
While in twrp, connect the phone to the computer and use explorer to drag and drop the twrp backup files to your computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if I can post links due to the new account, but the latest files for me are found on dl.twrp.me/jfltecan/ and the only tar image is twrp-2.8.4.0-jfltecan.tar
I will have to go over your other comments on my own to see the functionality. As of now, this is what I have:
1) Stock firmware
2) TWRP installed
3) TWRP asked if I wanted to root (I said yes, figuring that's what you meant)
4) TWRP installed SuperSu and rebooted
5) I downloaded Root Checker and it verified root.
I did just test it by powering off phone and then booting into recovery. Teamwin came up - so I assume that it's all working correctly and the stock ROM did not overwrite anything?
Questions:
1) Now I can boot into recovery mode and install the custom ROM via a zip file on sdcard?
2) Do I install GApps via recovery mode after I install a custom ROM?
3) Should I wipe/format before installing and if so, which one - "Advanced" or "Format" buttons?

I did a factory reset via TWRP then installed the custom ROM. Seems to be working quite well. Maybe I will try it a couple times in order to get the hang of it.
In order to determine that TWRP is the default recovery - it should load when I go into recovery mode correct?

If the phone boots to twrp once, it should not revert to stock recovery in the future.

Is there a stable ROM for a S4 i337m that is newer? I'm having some trouble finding a solid list that is known to work. I don't want to install a wrong version and mess up. I did try the "broken" ROM but 50% of time when someone phones me, they can't hear me speaking so I'm going to have to go back to stock firmware for now.

You could try ROMs made for the 9505 and i337.

HELP! SM -G901F, TWRP can't find storage partition to mount

Guys this is help less.
After rooting my device I followed some instructions to get the Lineage 14. I flashed a BootLoader and a Modem as instructed and went forth to mount USB in order to transfer the custom rom into the device. But this is where the problem is.
It says E: Cant find partition to mount storage. I've tried to reboot, wide, data, storage, system and cache and repair the partition I don't know what else to do.
Anyone else can help? Btw I am fairly new to this stuff so please dumb it down for me.
Another thing, when I go to reboot my recovery it says my device isn't rooted and asks to install superSu, however it was rooted before I entered download mode and started installing bootloader and modem.
Now I have no operating system in the device so i can literally only use Recovery or download mode.
Is my device bricked? I don't know. :crying: :crying:

Pobi123 said:
Guys this is help less.
After rooting my device I followed some instructions to get the Lineage 14. I flashed a BootLoader and a Modem as instructed and went forth to mount USB in order to transfer the custom rom into the device. But this is where the problem is.
It says E: Cant find partition to mount storage. I've tried to reboot, wide, data, storage, system and cache and repair the partition I don't know what else to do.
Anyone else can help? Btw I am fairly new to this stuff so please dumb it down for me.
Another thing, when I go to reboot my recovery it says my device isn't rooted and asks to install superSu, however it was rooted before I entered download mode and started installing bootloader and modem.
Now I have no operating system in the device so i can literally only use Recovery or download mode.
Is my device bricked? I don't know. :crying: :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can boot recovery, all is not lost.
First, are you sure that you flashed the correct bootloader/modem for your s5 model (G900 T, P, V, F, etc? Odin should not let you flash the wrong one, but anything is possible.
If Bl/modem is correct, them the next thing is to get the custom rom onto the phone.
-make sure you have downloaded everything you need (rom, root method(pref Magisk), gapps if wanted)
- boot into recovery, I'm recommending and assuming that you are using the latest Twrp, if not, d/l official Twrp for your model, and flash that with Odin
-In twrp select wipe, format data, just in case.
-now you should be able to mount usb storage, using the option in twrp
- now you should be able to mount your phone to your PC and transfer the rom, put it somewhere easy to find on the phone. also copy gapps and Magisk zips
-now, still in twrp, select install, select rom zip, select add more, select Magisk zip, also flash gapps at this time if you want to use them.
-click the button to flash
-click wipe cache/dalvik
-click reboot
-pray ?

BlueCyclone said:
If you can boot recovery, all is not lost.
First, are you sure that you flashed the correct bootloader/modem for your s5 model (G900 T, P, V, F, etc? Odin should not let you flash the wrong one, but anything is possible.
If Bl/modem is correct, them the next thing is to get the custom rom onto the phone.
-make sure you have downloaded everything you need (rom, root method(pref Magisk), gapps if wanted)
- boot into recovery, I'm recommending and assuming that you are using the latest Twrp, if not, d/l official Twrp for your model, and flash that with Odin
-In twrp select wipe, format data, just in case.
-now you should be able to mount usb storage, using the option in twrp
- now you should be able to mount your phone to your PC and transfer the rom, put it somewhere easy to find on the phone. also copy gapps and Magisk zips
-now, still in twrp, select install, select rom zip, select add more, select Magisk zip, also flash gapps at this time if you want to use them.
-click the button to flash
-click wipe cache/dalvik
-click reboot
-pray ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man! Thank you so much for your reply. I installed CPE1 bootloader and modem driver, honestly I don't even know what they do. Was this a wrong thing to do?
I rooted my device using cf auto root, then flashed the bootloader and modem using Odin. After that I (stupidly) tried to boot my stock OS and it was stuck in a bootloop.
Unfortunately I won't be able to try your instructions this till tomorrow evening but I'll keep you posted!! do you mind if I pm?
Edit: I was using twrp 2.8.7 I believe, could this have been the problem? Also I updated twrp to latest and tried micro sd as storage and flashed a Rom but the phone is still bootlooping

Pobi123 said:
Hey man! Thank you so much for your reply. I installed CPE1 bootloader and modem driver, honestly I don't even know what they do. Was this a wrong thing to do?
I rooted my device using cf auto root, then flashed the bootloader and modem using Odin. After that I (stupidly) tried to boot my stock OS and it was stuck in a bootloop.
Unfortunately I won't be able to try your instructions this till tomorrow evening but I'll keep you posted!! do you mind if I pm?
Edit: I was using twrp 2.8.7 I believe, could this have been the problem? Also I updated twrp to latest and tried micro sd as storage and flashed a Rom but the phone is still bootlooping
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I see you have S5 plus. I'm not familiar with that device to know which baseband it should be.
One thing you might try is to boot recovery and clear cache/dalvik and then try booting the custom rom.
If all else fails, you might try Samfirm
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/tool-samfirm-samsung-firmware-t2988647
That should give you a stock firmware file to flash with odin.
You can pm if you need to, I don't own an S5+, nor am I a veteran flasher but I will try to help if I can.

BlueCyclone said:
Ok I see you have S5 plus. I'm not familiar with that device to know which baseband it should be.
One thing you might try is to boot recovery and clear cache/dalvik and then try booting the custom rom.
If all else fails, you might try Samfirm
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/tool-samfirm-samsung-firmware-t2988647
That should give you a stock firmware file to flash with odin.
You can pm if you need to, I don't own an S5+, nor am I a veteran flasher but I will try to help if I can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive tried the suggestion you gave me, no success. However I honestly dont know if it could be my fault. I'm gonna flash the stock firmware and restart the whole root process.
Thanks for your help man!

Pobi123 said:
Ive tried the suggestion you gave me, no success. However I honestly dont know if it could be my fault. I'm gonna flash the stock firmware and restart the whole root process.
Thanks for your help man!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok sorry I couldn't be more help
Oh, you don't need to use of cfautoroot anymore, you can just flash Magisk after the rom, and then use Magisk manager to manage all your root permissions.
So if you are going back to stock, I would:
-Flash stock in Odin
-probably boot stock once to verify (first boot takes long)
-odin flash latest twrp(uncheck auto-reboot, just battery pull after it says pass)
-power on phone with key combo to boot recovery
- format data
-flash rom/gapps?/Magisk
-wipe cache/dalvik
-reboot system (first boot will take long)
Hope you get your phone working again

BlueCyclone said:
Ok sorry I couldn't be more help
Oh, you don't need to use of cfautoroot anymore, you can just flash Magisk after the rom, and then use Magisk manager to manage all your root permissions.
So if you are going back to stock, I would:
-Flash stock in Odin
-probably boot stock once to verify (first boot takes long)
-odin flash latest twrp(uncheck auto-reboot, just battery pull after it says pass)
-power on phone with key combo to boot recovery
- format data
-flash rom/gapps?/Magisk
-wipe cache/dalvik
-reboot system (first boot will take long)
Hope you get your phone working again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good News! Phone is back in full working order after flashing stock firmware. It was kinda scary though, I had to fix an error in Odin and then the phone wouldn't even boot up! Left it over night, booted it again and it worked fine Thanks a lot for your help, I'll try not to soft brick my device again

[Help] TWRP can't install stock rom and lost encryption. Phone no OS installed.

I was on beta 3 and decided to flash a new version of OOS. I flashed 9.0.11 -> reflashed TWRP and magisk but when I rebooted, it went straight back to TWRP.
I had to switch to a different slot and the phone booted to OOS beta 3 again. Tried to flash 9.0.11 and reflashed beta 3 again but the same thing happened.
Then i swiped everything except for USB storage and Internal Storage in TWRP and now the phone is without OS.
I rebooted to TWRP and now TWRP lost the encryption and I can't flash anything anymore.
Does anybody know how to recover from this?
I'm using the official TWRP build.

Dont panic just download a fast boot rom for version 9.0.11 and run it from fastboot using terminal. Then you will need to flash Magisk in order to have root access.

devam1995 said:
Dont panic just download a fast boot rom for version 9.0.11 and run it from fastboot using terminal. Then you will need to flash Magisk in order to have root access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you do that using the terminal? I tried following this topic https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6t/how-to/rom-stock-fastboot-roms-oneplus-6t-t3862516 but I got this error
https://imgur.com/wy1immW

TWRP still can't flash OOS
So I was able to boot the phone up again using MSMdownloadTool but the problem still persist. I was supposed to be at OOS 9.0.11 but upon checking I found out I was still on open beta 3. Tried to flash 9.0.11 via TWRP and the same thing happened. I was on slot B so when I flashed OOS and rebooted, it rebooted to slot A and brought me straight back to TWRP. It won't boot again until I switch back to slot B to boot and slot B was still on open beta 3. Any thoughts?

twistingthai said:
So I was able to boot the phone up again using MSMdownloadTool but the problem still persist. I was supposed to be at OOS 9.0.11 but upon checking I found out I was still on open beta 3. Tried to flash 9.0.11 via TWRP and the same thing happened. I was on slot B so when I flashed OOS and rebooted, it rebooted to slot A and brought me straight back to TWRP. It won't boot again until I switch back to slot B to boot and slot B was still on open beta 3. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash a patched
Code:
boot.img
when I got the problem, I did that and it worked, booted me to system but if that doesn't work then you have to flash Magisk.

twistingthai said:
So I was able to boot the phone up again using MSMdownloadTool but the problem still persist. I was supposed to be at OOS 9.0.11 but upon checking I found out I was still on open beta 3. Tried to flash 9.0.11 via TWRP and the same thing happened. I was on slot B so when I flashed OOS and rebooted, it rebooted to slot A and brought me straight back to TWRP. It won't boot again until I switch back to slot B to boot and slot B was still on open beta 3. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone has A/B partitions and is able to store a backup version of the OS so if a new installed version doesn't boot it will revert back to the old one.
When Flashing, you need to flash "BOTH" slots.
If you used the MSM tool to boot, you just booted and not flashed.
The MSM tool will flash your phone, restore the stock recovery and relic the bootloader. It will look like it came out of the box.
I don't know how to get you from wrapped around the axle except to tell you to run the MSM tool and let it wipe the phone and get you back to stock. You can then unlock the BL again and install TWRP, etc if you like.

twistingthai said:
I was on beta 3 and decided to flash a new version of OOS. I flashed 9.0.11 -> reflashed TWRP and magisk but when I rebooted, it went straight back to TWRP.
I had to switch to a different slot and the phone booted to OOS beta 3 again. Tried to flash 9.0.11 and reflashed beta 3 again but the same thing happened.
Then i swiped everything except for USB storage and Internal Storage in TWRP and now the phone is without OS.
I rebooted to TWRP and now TWRP lost the encryption and I can't flash anything anymore.
Does anybody know how to recover from this?
I'm using the official TWRP build.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are booting into TWRP because you did not format your data partition. When flashing OOS, you need to not only wipe data, but also under the Wipe menu, select format data. It should prompt you to type "yes".

parker.stephens said:
You are booting into TWRP because you did not format your data partition. When flashing OOS, you need to not only wipe data, but also under the Wipe menu, select format data. It should prompt you to type "yes".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This! Thanks to you I was able to flash OOS again. But do I need to format the data everytime I flash OOS because it will be a pain . This is the first time I had to format data when updating OOS. Thanks alot.

twistingthai said:
This! Thanks to you I was able to flash OOS again. But do I need to format the data everytime I flash OOS because it will be a pain . This is the first time I had to format data when updating OOS. Thanks alot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to help. I was sick of having to put the device into Qualcomm mode just to get it to boot up, then I decided to try reformatting data and it worked.

flashing 10.3

Hey guys
I made a post and got no replies but have been looking into it more and remember I need adb to flash the 10.3 update, I've got all the files ready but from reading I'm confused as to how to flash via adb.
I've read you need the phone in twrp while doing flashing you need to flash the other slot blah blah blah , doesn't make sense to me...
Can anyone help me out? I've seen stuff has changed since the 10 update and I'm at a loss right now..
Thanks for any help in advance

CptUnicorns said:
Hey guys
I made a post and got no replies but have been looking into it more and remember I need adb to flash the 10.3 update, I've got all the files ready but from reading I'm confused as to how to flash via adb.
I've read you need the phone in twrp while doing flashing you need to flash the other slot blah blah blah , doesn't make sense to me...
Can anyone help me out? I've seen stuff has changed since the 10 update and I'm at a loss right now..
Thanks for any help in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You nearly never need adb to update.... Dable in some circumstances with fastboot.
Just...update. You don't specify what OS you run now, rooted , twrp etc...
Read my thread about OOS stable in Guide News section and ask there if it's not clear

Striatum_bdr said:
You nearly never need adb to update.... Dable in some circumstances with fastboot.
Just...update. You don't specify what OS you run now, rooted , twrp etc...
Read my thread about OOS stable in Guide News section and ask there if it's not clear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers. I've read to much and watch to many videos and I've just completely confused myself buddy. I'll check your post out now someone else linked me to a proper guide I was unable to use.
I'm on havoc right, magisk 20 and twrp 3.2.3-2

CptUnicorns said:
Cheers. I've read to much and watch to many videos and I've just completely confused myself buddy. I'll check your post out now someone else linked me to a proper guide I was unable to use.
I'm on havoc right, magisk 20 and twrp 3.2.3-2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're seriously late in versions of TWRP and Magisk. Update twrp with latest installer.
Then in twrp flash OOS, then twrp installer again
Reboot to recovery to switch slots
Flash again OOS and TWRP installer again
Reboot to twrp and flash Magisk then reboot system
If there's issues with encryption in recovery you can eventually use an OTG disk if you have one or ADB sideload
Last possibility is fastbooting oos ROM

Striatum_bdr said:
You're seriously late in versions of TWRP and Magisk. Update twrp with latest installer.
Then in twrp flash OOS, then twrp installer again
Reboot to recovery to switch slots
Flash again OOS and TWRP installer again
Reboot to twrp and flash Magisk then reboot system
If there's issues with encryption in recovery you can eventually use an OTG disk if you have one or ADB sideload
Last possibility is fastbooting oos ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brilliant thanks! I've updated twrp and magisk now, had no internet so couldn't update. Do I not need to wipe the internal storage at all when flashing stock oos ontop of havoc?
And for the slot just so I know for certain;
I flash slot A with oos, twrp.
Now I reboot go to slot B, do the exact same.
Reboot again, flash new ROM , twrp/magisk.
Profit? I read you post detailing the slots, that's the part that confuses me. I'm going to have another read so I fully understand what I am actually doing instead of doing everything blind.

CptUnicorns said:
Brilliant thanks! I've updated twrp and magisk now, had no internet so couldn't update. Do I not need to wipe the internal storage at all when flashing stock oos ontop of havoc?
And for the slot just so I know for certain;
I flash slot A with oos, twrp.
Now I reboot go to slot B, do the exact same.
Reboot again, flash new ROM , twrp/magisk.
Profit? I read you post detailing the slots, that's the part that confuses me. I'm going to have another read so I fully understand what I am actually doing instead of doing everything blind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anytime you go from AOSP to OOS, or back you generally have to wipe DATA. If you don't OOS will dump you off at recovery, wipe data and then it will boot generally.
As for the slots, when flashing a ROM it always flashes to the opposite slot. So if you are currently on Slot A and you flash a ROM, it will flash to Slot B. The ROM will also overwrite install it's own recovery. So you install TWRP again if you want. Then you reboot to recovery, it will automatically switch to the new slot since you installed a new ROM. Now on the slot where the new ROM is installed, we could install Magisk or Gapps, things like that if needed. If we wanted to update the original slot (A) we would install the ROM again. As well as TWRP again. Reboot to recovery again, Magisk, etc.
ROMs install to opposite slots. After a ROM installation, rebooting to recovery will switch slots for you. Most other items install to the current slot (that is why you need to reboot before install things like Magisk, Gapps, etc). Hopefully that helps clarify things? If not ask.

OhioYJ said:
Anytime you go from AOSP to OOS, or back you generally have to wipe DATA. If you don't OOS will dump you off at recovery, wipe data and then it will boot generally.
As for the slots, when flashing a ROM it always flashes to the opposite slot. So if you are currently on Slot A and you flash a ROM, it will flash to Slot B. The ROM will also overwrite install it's own recovery. So you install TWRP again if you want. Then you reboot to recovery, it will automatically switch to the new slot since you installed a new ROM. Now on the slot where the new ROM is installed, we could install Magisk or Gapps, things like that if needed. If we wanted to update the original slot (A) we would install the ROM again. As well as TWRP again. Reboot to recovery again, Magisk, etc.
ROMs install to opposite slots. After a ROM installation, rebooting to recovery will switch slots for you. Most other items install to the current slot (that is why you need to reboot before install things like Magisk, Gapps, etc). Hopefully that helps clarify things? If not ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That does clear up things for me, I've either mis-read or not read that when on slot A you are actually flashing slot B and Visa versa.
I'll be flashing both my slots to 10.3.1 just so they're fully updated. ( A is my main)
Finally part from me, when I'm going to flash my custom ROM (havoc again) I've just got to repeat said steps but flashing havoc instead of OOS then on the last reboot, recovery and magisk?

CptUnicorns said:
Finally part from me, when I'm going to flash my custom ROM (havoc again) I've just got to repeat said steps but flashing havoc instead of OOS then on the last reboot, recovery and magisk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair warning, I don't use Havoc. I use Lineage, here is how I install AOSP ROMs, (link) However, yes, on the final reboot would be when you install Magisk (Gapps as well if you need them). In theory recovery should already be installed, but installing it again won't hurt anything (installing recovery wipes out Magisk, so install Magisk after recovery if you do that). Remember you need Havoc on both slots (you don't want OOS on one and Havoc on another). So flash it twice.

OhioYJ said:
Fair warning, I don't use Havoc. I use Lineage, here is how I install AOSP ROMs, (link) However, yes, on the final reboot would be when you install Magisk (Gapps as well if you need them). In theory recovery should already be installed, but installing it again won't hurt anything (installing recovery wipes out Magisk, so install Magisk after recovery if you do that). Remember you need Havoc on both slots (you don't want OOS on one and Havoc on another). So flash it twice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great stuff. Thought I understood from how you explained it. I'll check that guide as well and have it to hand just incase.

OhioYJ said:
Fair warning, I don't use Havoc. I use Lineage, here is how I install AOSP ROMs, (link) However, yes, on the final reboot would be when you install Magisk (Gapps as well if you need them). In theory recovery should already be installed, but installing it again won't hurt anything (installing recovery wipes out Magisk, so install Magisk after recovery if you do that). Remember you need Havoc on both slots (you don't want OOS on one and Havoc on another). So flash it twice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something didnt want to play when I was flashing... Got to flashing gapps and magisk, gapps flash gave me a error 64 and i got magisk installed, booted, now I've got no twrp and when I use fastboot it just softbricks then restarts after about 5 minutes, I'm gonna try booting from 3.2.3-2 as that was fine and hope I can boot into recovery and just go lineage I think for something new
EDIT
So I used fastboot --set-active=a, managed to get back to twrp so now its flashed on both again. In the process of flashing lineage now, hopefully this wont chuck another error at me for gapps

Flash a Custom Rom in 2020?

For the past 24+ hours I've been trying to flash a few custom roms on my UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER OP6T, but the phone TURNS OFF a few seconds after the boot sequence/animation.
I've read about the A/B slots and tried the Roms' flashing instructions, along with a few suggestions from others, but I cannot get any Custom Rom on my phone...
Here are the steps I've taken to flash (a few times I tried different things that I'll put in parenthesis). Is there anything ya'll see that I'm doing wrong?:
Starting from OOS 10.3.2 Fastboot Recovery and all required files on an OTG USB Drive
fastboot to TWRP....img
Confirmed I'm on Slot A
Wipe Data/Dalvik
Install OOS...zip (10.3.2)
Install TWRP...zip (3.3.1.32)
Reboot Recovery
(Format Data)
Confirmed I'm on Slot B
Install OOS...zip (10.3.2)
Install TWRP...zip (3.3.1.32)
Reboot Recovery
Confirmed I'm on Slot A
Install Xtended (v8 4/13)
(Wipe Data/Cache)
Install TWRP...zip (3.3.1.32)
Reboot Recovery
Confirmed I'm on Slot B
Install Xtended (v8 4/13)
(Wipe Data/Cache)
Install TWRP...zip (3.3.1.32)
Reboot Recovery
Confirmed I'm on Slot A
Install GAPPS (Arm64 10.0 Nano)
(Format Data)
Reboot System

My Guide for Lineage, however it will work for most AOSP based ROMs.
I assume you arent manually switching slots. Don't, there is no need, in fact dont worry about it. Slots will switch automatically after flashing a ROM when you reboot recovery. There is no cache partition, stop wiping this, its not doing anything. There are two slots, but only one data partition that is shared, there isnt a reason to keep wiping it.
On most instructions adding or removing steps will make things not work. Unfortunately for this device there is a lot of out dated information and information that just doesnt work. My guide has been tested with 10.3.3, and the latest version of LOS, however if you have a T-Mobile 6T you are on your own. (I have a regular 6T)

OhioYJ said:
My Guide for Lineage, however it will work for most AOSP based ROMs.
I assume you arent manually switching slots. Don't, there is no need, in fact dont worry about it. Slots will switch automatically after flashing a ROM when you reboot recovery. There is no cache partition, stop wiping this, its not doing anything. There are two slots, but only one data partition that is shared, there isnt a reason to keep wiping it.
On most instructions adding or removing steps will make things not work. Unfortunately for this device there is a lot of out dated information and information that just doesnt work. My guide has been tested with 10.3.3, and the latest version of LOS, however if you have a T-Mobile 6T you are on your own. (I have a regular 6T)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the comment! I just followed your guide, but still seeing the boot animation for a few seconds, then the phone vibrates and turns off.
For kicks, I decided to Format Data and I see the boot animation longer, all the way to the end when it's about to start Android, but then it vibrates and shuts off. Strange.
I'm thinking there is something different about my phone... It's a global, unlocked version and I've rooted/flashed hundreds of roms over the years on various devices, so all of this should be a piece of cake................. Thanks!

oooscasianooo said:
Thanks for the comment! I just followed your guide, but still seeing the boot animation for a few seconds, then the phone vibrates and turns off.
For kicks, I decided to Format Data and I see the boot animation longer, all the way to the end when it's about to start Android, but then it vibrates and shuts off. Strange.
I'm thinking there is something different about my phone... It's a global, unlocked version and I've rooted/flashed hundreds of roms over the years on various devices, so all of this should be a piece of cake................. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried without Gapps?

After the shutdown go back to twrp and extract the content of /sys/fs/pstore/* and upload the files here.

onliner said:
After the shutdown go back to twrp and extract the content of /sys/fs/pstore/* and upload the files here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I actually gave up and setup stock OOS again, so it took a while to get a TWRP backup, etc. etc.
So after the backup, I installed Xtended + TWRP, reboot to recovery, installed Xtended + TWRP, wiped dalvik, and reboot to system.
Boot animation shut down issue as usual.
Afterwards, I copied the pstore folder (attached zip).
Thanks!

onliner said:
After the shutdown go back to twrp and extract the content of /sys/fs/pstore/* and upload the files here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything in the logs I can look for?
This is driving me crazy. I flashed MIUI just fine (because it had the .bat file that does everything for you). Essentially it's doing the same thing as flashing OOS & Rom on A/B, right?
Just tried flashing the newest Xtended Rom (May 11th), same issue. Phone vibrates and completely turns off while the boot animation is running.

OhioYJ said:
My Guide for Lineage, however it will work for most AOSP based ROMs.
I assume you arent manually switching slots. Don't, there is no need, in fact dont worry about it. Slots will switch automatically after flashing a ROM when you reboot recovery. There is no cache partition, stop wiping this, its not doing anything. There are two slots, but only one data partition that is shared, there isnt a reason to keep wiping it.
On most instructions adding or removing steps will make things not work. Unfortunately for this device there is a lot of out dated information and information that just doesnt work. My guide has been tested with 10.3.3, and the latest version of LOS, however if you have a T-Mobile 6T you are on your own. (I have a regular 6T)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a TMobile 6t I can confirm I have had to manually change the slots during the flashing process to get custom ROMs installed.

mrmcshagbag said:
If you have a TMobile 6t I can confirm I have had to manually change the slots during the flashing process to get custom ROMs installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found out that I do have the T-Mobile version that the seller flashed to International Software haha
When I reboot to recovery, I do see that the slots are being changed though.
Would you mind post the exact steps you took to successfully flash a ROM/GAPPS?

oooscasianooo said:
I found out that I do have the T-Mobile version that the seller flashed to International Software haha
When I reboot to recovery, I do see that the slots are being changed though.
Would you mind post the exact steps you took to successfully flash a ROM/GAPPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fastboot boot TWRP Marion version
Flash oos
Flash Marion TWRP zip
Check my slot
Reboot recovery
Changed slot since it didn't change
Reboot recovery
Flash oos
Flash Marion TWRP zip
Changed slot
Reboot recovery
Flash custom rom
Flash Marion TWRP zip
Change slot
Reboot recovery
Flash gapps
Flash magisk 20.4
Reboot to system
Those are the steps I had to take before I finally got a custom rom to work. I tried doing the methods posted which would have probably worked if the slots were changing on there own but they weren't for me.

mrmcshagbag said:
Fastboot boot TWRP Marion version
Flash oos
Flash Marion TWRP zip
Check my slot
Reboot recovery
Changed slot since it didn't change
Reboot recovery
Flash oos
Flash Marion TWRP zip
Changed slot
Reboot recovery
Flash custom rom
Flash Marion TWRP zip
Change slot
Reboot recovery
Flash gapps
Flash magisk 20.4
Reboot to system
Those are the steps I had to take before I finally got a custom rom to work. I tried doing the methods posted which would have probably worked if the slots were changing on there own but they weren't for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Do you mean the "mauronofrio" version?

oooscasianooo said:
Thanks! Do you mean the "mauronofrio" version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes couldn't remember the exact name but I knew you would be able to find it haha

mrmcshagbag said:
Yes couldn't remember the exact name but I knew you would be able to find it haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahaha thanks! I was thinking, "is there a T-Mobile version of TWRP?!" haha!