Database Users

Stop !!! Do not upgrade to lollipop via twrp !!!

Update : Oct 24, 2015 It looks like the bricking scare is over, and there is an updated guide on how to upgrade to the latest Lollipop without bricking :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-hd/general/how-to-upgrade-to-lollipop-root-gapps-t3163950
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT :
There are now several reports of super hard bricks (not even Amazon logo shows up) when people attempted to load 5.2.2 version via TWRP.
My best guess is that it has something to do with the 5.x update from Amazon that people request before downgrading to 4.5.3. If Amazon is providing a newer 5.x. update, it can be blocking the older 5.2.2 from working after the downgrade-upgrade procedure. When it bricked before, it would at least show "Amazon" logo, but now even the logo is gone.
One would have to capture this current 5.x update, and see what's in it. It's probably updating another partition out of those that were previously untouched :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire...idden-t3122246
All the downgrade-upgrade guides are on hold for now ... You are still safe to exist in the 4.5.x space (with root).

bibikalka said:
One would have to capture this current 5.x update, and see what's in it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume I can capture file by reversing rename of DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk but leaving OTA updating blocked. Is that the method?
EDIT: Well, just did rename. No download yet. I've got otaverifier blocked. If nothing soon, I'll enable that and block dcp.

This update was strange and left a very small .data file in cache after saying a download was complete, ready to upgrade. Could not locate a bin file. I will/would try capturing a link via adb logcat.
could be a small update that just preps us to move back to the normal releases.
Just educated guesses.

siegesoldier said:
This update was strange and left a very small .data file in cache after saying a download was complete, ready to upgrade. Could not locate a bin file. I will/would try capturing a link via adb logcat.
could be a small update that just preps us to move back to the normal releases.
Just educated guesses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All that downloaded for me were apk update files, no .data, but device>updates shows:
10.0.42-D-20150925-NA-4 is ready to install
I ran logcat during download and a couple of manual installs (pressing Install button, but I do have updates blocked). I didn't see anything obviously related to update in the logcats, but not sure what to look for. Since I didn't get the .data, will I find anything helpful in logcat? What should I look for? thx
p.s., Or must I unblock updating to capture?

siegesoldier said:
This update was strange and left a very small .data file in cache after saying a download was complete, ready to upgrade. Could not locate a bin file. I will/would try capturing a link via adb logcat.
could be a small update that just preps us to move back to the normal releases.
Just educated guesses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, this is weird. I wonder if one should flash 4.5.3 bootloaders with TWRP in Lollipop first as per this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=62011272&postcount=2 , and let it try to upgrade. This way whatever files it downloads, they will be sitting in /cache. But nothing will be run as it is a non-Amazon recovery.
Another poster indicated that the tablet rebooted about 3 times, and then he got new icons and Amazon launcher :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63116048&postcount=141

bibikalka said:
I wonder if one should flash 4.5.3 bootloaders with TWRP in Lollipop first as per this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=62011272&postcount=2 , and let it try to upgrade. This way whatever files it downloads, they will be sitting in /cache. But nothing will be run as it is a non-Amazon recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm more than willing to try to capture this if one of you can tell me how.
I don't quite follow the above. I'm running rooted 5.2.2. So I'd flash bootloaders and TWRP per guide, install OS 4.5.5, boot to OS and try to upgrade? Is this any different from someone already on 4.5.5 trying to upgrade? thx

DoLooper said:
I'm more than willing to try to capture this if one of you can tell me how.
I don't quite follow the above. I'm running rooted 5.2.2. So I'd flash bootloaders and TWRP per guide, install OS 4.5.5, boot to OS and try to upgrade? Is this any different from someone already on 4.5.5 trying to upgrade? thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not this complicated. I think you could flash 4.5.3 bootloaders + TWRP under 5.2.2, enable OTA updates, and continue working. When it decides to self-reboot (after the update is copied to /cache), it won't find stock 5.2 recovery. Instead, it'll hang (4.5.3 bootloaders cannot boot 5.2.2). At this point you can manually reboot into TWRP, and see what's in /cache. Then you just reapply 5.2.0 bootloaders + 5.2.0 recovery, and boot back into 5.2.2 (and do disable OTA here !!!) Hopefully it does not write into recovery partition before auto-rebooting, so that TWRP survives intact.

bibikalka said:
Not this complicated. I think you could flash 4.5.3 bootloaders + TWRP under 5.2.2, enable OTA updates, and continue working. When it decides to self-reboot (after the update is copied to /cache), it won't find stock 5.2 recovery. Instead, it'll hang (4.5.3 bootloaders cannot boot 5.2.2). At this point you can manually reboot into TWRP, and see what's in /cache. Then you just reapply 5.2.0 bootloaders + 5.2.0 recovery, and boot back into 5.2.2 (and do disable OTA here !!!) Hopefully it does not write into recovery partition before auto-rebooting, so that TWRP survives intact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I'll try this later or tomorrow. Still wonder though, couldn't you--anyone on 4.5.5--leave OTA package blocked but rename OTAsoftware extension back to apk, allowing the update to download but not install?

)':
Hello, I am french sorry for my english
My kindle fire is bricked
how to repair !! :crying::crying:
help me please :/

bibikalka said:
. . . At this point you can manually reboot into TWRP, and see what's in /cache. Then you just reapply 5.2.0 bootloaders + 5.2.0 recovery, and boot back into 5.2.2 (and do disable OTA here !!!) Hopefully it does not write into recovery partition before auto-rebooting, so that TWRP survives intact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@bibikalka OK, ready to do this and (more or less) prepared to get replacement Fire . Just one question: Why do you think there will be anything in cache after the update and reboot attempt? i.e., wouldn't deleting it be part of the update process? Thanks! (Edit: NVM--I see your explanation above.)
EDIT @bibikalka, @everyone Thought the update was out for my region, but guess not: With DeviceSoftareOTA.apk named as originally and otaverifier enabled, Device>Updates just returns "no updates." Disabled otaverifier again and will wait on this.
I believe the update will download with DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk properly named--and hope it won't update with otaverifier disabled. So maybe I can get it. Anyway, I'll check for it over next few days, but maybe someone else will try this method first. (I am west-coast US and it seems always last to get updates.)

DoLooper said:
@bibikalka OK, ready to do this and (more or less) prepared to get replacement Fire . Just one question: Why do you think there will be anything in cache after the update and reboot attempt? i.e., wouldn't deleting it be part of the update process? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it will prepare to update by staging the required files in /cache, but then it'll try to reboot to apply those files (usually updates are applied in recovery ...). So when reboot fails (as it should with TWRP & 4.5.3 bootloaders which don't boot Lollipop), you intercept the stuff in /cache and see what it has.
Added: If this works, do wipe /cache before leaving TWRP (when you restore 5.2 bootloaders). This way it won't pick up the scripts and run them ...

See edit here. Forgot that I'm always last to get an upgrade. Hope someone who might get it sooner will use bibkalka's method so we can get this show back on the road.

After downloading the 5.0.1 update once I have been unable to get it again. My build number has not updated so its possible they pulled it. Root etc still works so it doesn't look like it applied.

Hello, just wanted to say that I can testify to the fact that after updating to 5.2.2, then downgrading and going into TWRP, flashing all the zips, and then wiping cache before rebooting..... gets you a BRICK!! I've stupidly done it.... to my replacement from Amazon! Hopefully sometime in the future someone can get me out of this one....

hello there recently my rooted fire os 5 with xposed playstore just updated to 5.0.1 by it self and i swear i did have com.amazonotaverifier blocked its weird because it updated when i left my fire hd 6 on charge
it just updated itself to fire os 5.0.1 il stay on that fire os because people are saying you get bricked if you do the whole procedure like downgrade back to 4.5.3 and root and get custom recovery and flash all the zips = brick

2nd try to get 5.0.1 update
I didn't capture the update, but maybe learned something about OTA. Two things I hope someone can explain.
First, I've had extension of DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk renamed back to (plain) .apk since last attempt to capture update. Today:
1. "Check for updates" returned: 10.0.43.-D-20151007-NA-5 is ready to install
(last week there was one named: 10.0.42-D-20150925-NA-4)
2. I dd'd the 4.5.3 bootloaders and twrp (with otaverifier blocked)
3. Unblocked otaverifier, but the only thing that downloaded to /cache was "amazonmp3_10004310.apk" (update to mp3 player, i guess).
(last week they were apks for map and photo apps)
4. Hit "check for updates" again, but now it said "none" and /cache was empty.
(same thing last week)
Does anyone know about updates named like "10.0.43.-D-20151007-NA-5?" I've only seen them since I "corrected" the deviceSoftwareOTA.apk extension, and only apk files get downloaded. A couple logcats I got, however, have many more update entries than I've seen before, but I don't understand logcats very well. If someone who knows logcats could have a look, I'd appreciate it. Just tell me where to post. I think it would help us to know if these updates do more than update the accompanying apks.
------------------------
EDIT: NVM below! I'm getting # prompt because I recently set "adbd insecure" app to start at boot <doh> .
Second, I decided to start over and see if there was a different update waiting. So:
1. Went to twrp and flashed 5.2.0_stock_recovery_uboot.zip (for 5.0 stock recovery and bootloaders, i hope), wiped cache, and booted to OS.
2. Got l o o o n g startup. When OS finally loaded, "adb shell" hung CMD. I had to run TASKKILL /F /IM adb* >nul 2>&1 before adb shell was recognized. And when it was, it consistently returned # prompt: ([email protected]:/ #)
I'm definitely rooted, all google works, version still shows 5.0.0, build date July 20, but even after rebooting both tablet and computer, "adb shell" still always returns # prompt.
Can anyone tell me what's going on here? (Sorry this is tldr; hope a few of you slog through.) Thanks.
EDIT: it's late, maybe I'm nuts, but seems "adb shell" should return $ prompt, then "su" returns #.

DoLooper said:
I didn't capture the update, but maybe learned something about OTA. Two things I hope someone can explain.
First, I've had extension of DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk renamed back to (plain) .apk since last attempt to capture update. Today:
1. "Check for updates" returned: 10.0.43.-D-20151007-NA-5 is ready to install
(last week there was one named: 10.0.42-D-20150925-NA-4)
2. I dd'd the 4.5.3 bootloaders and twrp (with otaverifier blocked)
3. Unblocked otaverifier, but the only thing that downloaded to /cache was "amazonmp3_10004310.apk" (update to mp3 player, i guess).
(last week they were apks for map and photo apps)
4. Hit "check for updates" again, but now it said "none" and /cache was empty.
(same thing last week)
Does anyone know about updates named like "10.0.43.-D-20151007-NA-5?" I've only seen them since I "corrected" the deviceSoftwareOTA.apk extension, and only apk files get downloaded. A couple logcats I got, however, have many more update entries than I've seen before, but I don't understand logcats very well. If someone who knows logcats could have a look, I'd appreciate it. Just tell me where to post. I think it would help us to know if these updates do more than update the accompanying apks.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These updates appear to be just individual apps, nothing to do with the system. You can google the version numbers, and it'll find that stuff.
The only hope is to checksum all partitions, and find the one that was updated in the latest version 5, but otherwise does not change in earlier versions. One could right a script for that. Then we could overwrite it.
But I suspect the new update may have written into one of the partitions that have other stuff, so the checksum identification won't help.

bibikalka said:
The only hope is to checksum all partitions, and find the one that was updated in the latest version 5, but otherwise does not change in earlier versions. One could right a script for that. Then we could overwrite it.
But I suspect the new update may have written into one of the partitions that have other stuff, so the checksum identification won't help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would that mean 5.0.1 would not be rootable?

Hello, I am curious, would it be possible to use "fastboot boot recovery.img" instead of actually flashing it in order to get root in the new 5.2.2 (build date sep 23)? It seems this would solve the hard brick problem with flashing twrp.
I'm on a never-rooted 2014 HD6 with gapps & OS 5.2.2. Very interested in rooting this tablet.

hi,
my Eng is not good, i don't understand the title
Stop !!! Do not upgrade to lollipop via twrp !!!
on today i'm receive Fire HD 7 from my phone provider. This is free.
i was rooted it with kingroot. It was succesfull. But i want setup it with android with vietnames because my boy are 10 age.
it run fire os 4.5.3 now.
can i upgrade to android 5.x?
thank for read

[Solved] OTA update fails on Yoga Tab 2 1050F

Hi,
i have the Yoga Tab2 1050F. The last OTA update fails to install.
I am currently on S100067_1507101258 and the update is for S100196_1511230539.
All earlier OTA's installed fine. I had my Tab rooted, but i unrooted it before installing the OTA update.
I also did a factory reset, the update still fails.
I only get an "Error" on the display with the tilted android avatar.
I saved the last OTA file, which is around 50MB large.
I also tried an update via the internal sd and the external sd card. None of these helped.
Can anyone help find the cause and help me install the latest update?
Regards
Jay

jayp57 said:
Hi,
i have the Yoga Tab2 1050F. The last OTA update fails to install.
I am currently on S100067_1507101258 and the update is for S100196_1511230539.
All earlier OTA's installed fine. I had my Tab rooted, but i unrooted it before installing the OTA update.
I also did a factory reset, the update still fails.
I only get an "Error" on the display with the tilted android avatar.
I saved the last OTA file, which is around 50MB large.
I also tried an update via the internal sd and the external sd card. None of these helped.
Can anyone help find the cause and help me install the latest update?
Regards
Jay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the thing is that not always the 'unroot' works for doing a system update, the unroot (have you performed the full one?) could leave behind modified binaries or maybe apps you installed have did that (for eg if you installed busybox it will leave the new binary) and the first step of the OTA update is to do a check of all the files that are going to be updated (patched) and if one of them doesn't match the sha1 checksum the update will abort (will not change anything on your tab when aborting). you can fix it by:
1. (complicated) restore the orginal files (you can check the recovery log on your cache partition to see where it failed)
2. (recommended) flash a stock rom matching your existing Android (you are on lollipop so you can use this for a stock lollipop install)
ps. factory reset doesn't save, that one just erases 'data' partition, has nothing to do with the ota (that usually updates files on the 'system' one or the 'boot/recovery/fastboot' partitions)

Thanks ionioni for your answer.
I don't want to flash a stock rom, that is not OTA. Just for security reasons. This would be my last resort.
I prefer to "repair" it. I am familiar with your tmp-root tool.
Do i have to mount something when i am in tmp-root, to search the su root files?
I think they reside in /system/lib and /system/bin.
Regards
Jay

jayp57 said:
Thanks ionioni for your answer.
I don't want to flash a stock rom, that is not OTA. Just for security reasons. This would be my last resort.
I prefer to "repair" it. I am familiar with your tmp-root tool.
Do i have to mount something when i am in tmp-root, to search the su root files?
I think they reside in /system/lib and /system/bin.
Regards
Jay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you start with tmp_root it will open an early adb shell as root (regardless of whether your tab was or not rooted)
check after you shell in to see if the /cache is mounted (input a simple mount) and if it is not you need to mount it
afterwards you will need to go and do an adb pull on your recovery log (if i recall is on /cach/recovery ) and check inside to find on what did the ota failed
however this is cumbersome and even if you find on what it fails you still will have to find the original files (and after you try to OTA again it can fail many more times on other files as the OTA is aborted on the first non matching file and if there are many you will need to repeat these steps over again). i never did this, i am just saying that it could be done, but why would one waset maybe hours just so he can bring his system back to the same state it could bring in 3 minutes by flashing a stock rom? but if you want the complicated way feel free
if i were you i would just flash the stock rom in 3 minutes (that is how long it takes) and move along
what security reasons you are talking about?

I am just carefull. The images might be tampered.
But i get your point. It might get cumbersome to fix each file.
I'll try your method and flash the lollipop image.

jayp57 said:
I am just carefull. The images might be tampered.
But i get your point. It might get cumbersome to fix each file.
I'll try your method and flash the lollipop image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh, i see... i doubt they are tampered by anyone (except Lenovo of course ) the files i provide have already been used by others (and if they were to be tampered they would have failed future OTA's, the boot image is checked and it won't load if modified etc)
as a personal thought, to tamper a stock rom (to whatever purpose one would want) so that they cannot be detected by a future ota requires a level of knowledge that i think keeps us safe (i think one who is able to do such a thing would not 'waste' his time and resources on doing it to a normal/casual user like we are), so if you are able to take ota's you can safely assume that the files are the ones Lenovo put in there (not to say that Lenovo could not do funny things tho)
i wish you to become so important that one day this could be a real concern

yeah you are right.
thanks for your support. i managed to update my tablet.

Hi. I have the same problem. Did you have flash lollipop firmware again ? the ota works ?
Do you know where to get lollipop firmware for 1050F ? in all-in-one subject there is only kitkat firmware for 1050F.
Thank you.

saupiquet said:
Hi. I have the same problem. Did you have flash lollipop firmware again ? the ota works ?
Do you know where to get lollipop firmware for 1050F ? in all-in-one subject there is only kitkat firmware for 1050F.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the link is in my first reply here

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...

Final Official Oreo 8.1.0 Release - OPP28.85-16 OTA

I've just captured the Official OPP28.85-16 OTA for retail cedric and I'm posting it here. I'm on retbr channel but this will work on any retail device. If you're on another updated channel, I don't know what would happen if you installed this.
Notice that to install this YOU MUST be on NPPS25.137-93-2-5 to install these, since OTA's are not full firmwares like fastboot files, but instead they're patchings tailored to be applied upon a specific firmare - NPPS25.137-93-2-5 in this case.
Another particular detail is that the OTA file (gotten directly from my credric) lists the Blur Version as Blur_Version.25.361.10.cedric.retail.en.US, but curiously, the fastboot version for the same firmware ( which you can download here) lists it as Blur_Version.28.41.15.cedric.retail.en.US
Someone also reported in another thread that they just sideloaded this upon the Second Soak test. I wouldn't doubt it since this is what should happen to regular soak testers, but if you do it, DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK
I also won't post instructions on how to install this since they're already available here
Download
Gdrive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/149hrGFpuWUgAvJr02McYNwJVaqSvllYO/view?usp=sharing
That's it.

changelog?

Has anyone already tried it?

Since this is a (Delta) OTA Update that expects NPPS25.137-93-2-5 (Blur_Version.25.361.10) it should be correctly named "block_delta-ota-Blur_Version.25.361.10-28.41.15.cedric.retail.en.US" in my view.
Someone also reported in another thread that they just sideloaded this upon the Second Soak test.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on the 2nd soak test update OPP28.85-13.
Just tried to flash the update from SD card and ADB sideload.
Update failed due to wrong version.
E3002: Package expects build thumbprint of 8.1.0/OPP28.85-16/0400:user/release-keys or 7.0/NPPS25.137-93-2-5/10:user/release-keys; this device has 8.1.0/OPP28.85-13/789a:user/release-keys.

JoeDoe0 said:
Since this is a (Delta) OTA Update that expects NPPS25.137-93-2-5 (Blur_Version.25.361.10) it should be correctly named "block_delta-ota-Blur_Version.25.361.10-28.41.15.cedric.retail.en.US" in my view.
I'm on the 2nd soak test update OPP28.85-13.
Just tried to flash the update from SD card and ADB sideload.
Update failed due to wrong version.
E3002: Package expects build thumbprint of 8.1.0/OPP28.85-16/0400:user/release-keys or 7.0/NPPS25.137-93-2-5/10:user/release-keys; this device has 8.1.0/OPP28.85-13/789a:user/release-keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems like it can be updated. from. soak test then, but I never heard nor did I find anything about OPP25. 85-16 build. maybe there was a third soak test and we don't know about it

Works perfect
Hi,
i used the above Image in Germany and i am now on Oreo 8.1
Everything works perfect. First i had a little bit trouble due to an old Version of ADB Tools, but after Update ADB to current Version the Update to Oreo took something around 30min.
Build 28.85-16
Oreo 8.1
Software Channel reteu
Patch Level 01.08.2018

bori321 said:
Hi,
i used the above Image in Germany and i am now on Oreo 8.1
Everything works perfect. First i had a little bit trouble due to an old Version of ADB Tools, but after Update ADB to current Version the Update to Oreo took something around 30min.
Build 28.85-16
Oreo 8.1
Software Channel reteu
Patch Level 01.08.2018
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On which version you were before update?

Firmware
Hi,
before update to Oreo i flashed NPPS25.137-93-2-5 Firmware and after that the Image from this thread.
Worked perfect.
Alex
I tried to post a Screenshot but it was not possible because i am a new member...

Update failed due to wrong version.
E3002: Package expects build thumbprint of 8.1.0/OPP28.85-16/0400:user/release-keys or 7.0/NPPS25.137-93-2-5/10:user/release-keys; this device has 8.1.0/OPP28.85-13/789a:user/release-keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
freeZbies said:
seems like it can be updated. from. soak test then, but I never heard nor did I find anything about OPP25. 85-16 build. maybe there was a third soak test and we don't know about it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update fails from OPP28.85-13 since it expects either OPP28.85-16 which is the latest Oreo build (that I want to update to) or the latest Nougat NPPS25.137-93-2-5.
There is no OPP25. 85-16 build! I think you misread the error message.
BTW I updated from OPP28.85-13 to -16 using the full fastboot version and it worked out perfectly.

JoeDoe0 said:
Update fails from OPP28.85-13 since it expects either OPP28.85-16 which is the latest Oreo build (that I want to update to) or the latest Nougat NPPS25.137-93-2-5.
There is no OPP25. 85-16 build! I think you misread the error message.
BTW I updated from OPP28.85-13 to -16 using the full fastboot version and it worked out perfectly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, I actually misread it, now I see it.
Anyways, flashing it from fastboot doesn't prove anything. but seems like Cedric can be upgraded from the soak test to final version using this ota. Idk because I used fastboot myself too, since I had already modified my system partition.

AsusZenFone3Deluxe said:
changelog?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seriously?
stop joking, Motorola doesn't release changelogs.
but I'll try:
updated from nougat to oreo?
duhhh

how is speaker quality in this build ?
because there is some issues in previous oreo builds

Speaker
Hi,
i would say that for my ears the speaker sounds better than it was with Nougat.
After a few days of testing everything works really good and i have not found anything not working or any problems.
Alex

bori321 said:
Hi,
before update to Oreo i flashed NPPS25.137-93-2-5 Firmware and after that the Image from this thread.
Worked perfect.
Alex
I tried to post a Screenshot but it was not possible because i am a new member...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do you get back to NPPS25.137-93-2-5

I followed the steps from this Thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/g5/development/stock-upgrade-to-official-stock-oreo-8-t3823598
- Unlocked bootloader (don't know of this is necessary)
- back to NPPS25.137-93-2-5 via the commands from the thread i linked (without the lines:
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
)
- via ADB sideload with the Oreo download from this thread to Oreo.
Alex

ahmedAZ said:
how is speaker quality in this build ?
because there is some issues in previous oreo builds
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my experience the quality is better than on previous oreo builds.
ahmedAZ said:
how do you get back to NPPS25.137-93-2-5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you have an unlocked bootloader download NPPS25.137-93-2-5 Flashable Zip here and flash it with twrp
bori321 said:
I followed the steps from this Thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/g5/development/stock-upgrade-to-official-stock-oreo-8-t3823598
- Unlocked bootloader (don't know of this is necessary)
Alex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to flash official Motorola files there's no need to unlock the bootloader.
you've just unnecessarily voided your warranty

@freeZbies
Hey is that twrp stock rom (137-93-2-5) the only thing we need to flash before going for the ota ? Cause I've been told that we needed to be on a completely unmodified system partition in order to receive the ota. In that case just flashing twrp stock wouldn't be sufficient right?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/g5...o-official-stock-oreo-8-t3823598/post77713117

Chekm8Qc said:
@freeZbies
Hey is that twrp stock rom (137-93-2-5) the only thing we need to flash before going for the ota ? Cause I've been told that we needed to be on a completely unmodified system partition in order to receive the ota. In that case just flashing twrp stock wouldn't be sufficient right?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/g5...o-official-stock-oreo-8-t3823598/post77713117
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont know if the twrp version would be valid. To apply an OTA, your system must matchbit by bit, so the most guaranteed way is to flash that firmware via fastboot, but you could try flashing the twrp version, and in case it works, you could post the results here.
just dont forget that if the ota fails youll soft brick ur phonr and will only be able to recover it via fastboot

freeZbies said:
I dont know if the twrp version would be valid. To apply an OTA, your system must match stick bit by bit, so the most guaranteed way is to flash that firmware via fastboot, but. you could try flashing the twrp version, and in case it. woeks you could post the results here.
just dont forget that if the ota fails youll soft brick ur phonr and will only be able to recover it via fastboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I'll keep that in mind
Being soft bricked,, wouldn't I be able to use twrp still? Like to flash a valid rom or one of my backups?
Anyways I can't really try it that way since the update hasn't come to me yet I'm on software channel Retca.
Edit : right I forgot that I could just use the official ota available here if I would like to test it.

Chekm8Qc said:
Thanks I'll keep that in mind
Being soft bricked,, wouldn't I be able to use twrp still? Like to flash a valid rom or one of my backups?
Anyways I can't really try it that way since the update hasn't come to me yet I'm on software channel Retca.
Edit : right I forgot that I could just use the official ota available here if I would like to test it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
being soft bricked doesnt necessarily mean you can recover it through twrp. OTA's are different of twrp flashables in that it modifies things beyond system partition. I've seen reports from people with other motorola devices who applied an OTA while having a modified system partition, and even though they were able to boot to twrp, flashing a custom Rom or restore a backup wouldn't make the phone boot. Their phones weren't hard bricked, but still they had to fastboot to recover their phones. Anyways, why don't you flash the Twrp flashable if, it's already available (considering you have an unlocked bootloader).
I'm case you have a locked bootloader you may fastboot without executing "fastboot erase userdata" in case you want to try. I did it without losing my data (although I was already in Opp 28.85-16)
but after all I really advice you to flash the twrp zip if u can

[MUSTANG] FireOS 7(pie) released

Amazon has finally released FireOS 7 for the Amazon Fire 7 2019! What does this mean?
This means that developers have newer blobs and kernel to work with for Mustang roms! This could be good for development. I don't know if ggow will come back to this device, but I'll personally be trying to get LineageOS 16.0 working on here. I have mirrored the kernel on Github for convenience's sake. https://github.com/turtleletortue/android_kernel_amazon_mustang
One thing to note, do not install FireOS 7 if you want to continue using custom roms. I'm not sure, but it'll likely break amonet and leave you stuck on stock. So until we get an ok either way, just stay on the version you are on.
That being said, have a great day all of y'all! Hopefully something good comes out of this.

Karnak's Pie Source Code (mirror) here: https://github.com/R0rt1z2/android_kernel_amazon_karnak

I've downloaded the bin file, hoping it might be simple to extract the separate boot, recovery and system images from it but alas it's beyond the scope of my knowledge.
I'll try poking it later with binwalk or some other unpacking tools (I've got some amlogic tools on my laptop too) in case they provide me some hints but if anyone reading this can offer suggestions, I'd be happy to experiment

After re-reading the original post re: downgrade and root FireOS, I have bitten the bullet and am currently in process of flashing this.
I have pushed the .bin to device, renamed as .zip.
I've flashed zip, then flashed TWRP before rebooting to recovery and flashing magisk.
I am now looking at the "Amazon" logo whilst the device does its first-boot. Wish me luck!
I will report back as soon as I have more news
edit after 10 mins.
No change. Still looking at the amazon logo
30 mins - still no boot. rebooting to twrp to try again, but without magisk
45minutes - bootloop. amazon logo for a few seconds, black screen, looping indefinitely
Have flashed LOS14.1 as it's the only OS zip file I had sitting on internal storage. Waiting for it to do its first boot
No joy
In the end, the only way o could get device to boot up again was to flash fireos 6, from the original root guide

At this time, the link on the Amazon website for the current version of OS7 is wrong. It will download OS6 (6.3.1.5) instead. The correct link is below.
OS7 for Fire 7 (Mustang):
https://fireos-tablet-src.s3.amazon..._7_9th_Gen-PS7315_user_1958_0018354775684.bin
Click the link for a direct download.

MontysEvilTwin said:
At this time, the link on the Amazon website for the current version of OS7 is wrong. It will download OS6 (6.3.1.5) instead. The correct link is below.
OS7 for Fire 7 (Mustang):
https://fireos-tablet-src.s3.amazon..._7_9th_Gen-PS7315_user_1958_0018354775684.bin
Click the link for a direct download.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you had success in installing it? Rooting it, etc?

wodgey said:
Have you had success in installing it? Rooting it, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a stock tablet and copy the update.bin to '/sdcard' and reboot it can be installed by instigating a system update check. Even with a stock set up though the tablet won't boot if you flash OS6 bootloader files (TZ and LK). If you try and unlock with a modified version of amonet (keeping the OS7 bootloader files) you get a bootloop.
Unlocking and rooting may yet be possible but it is 'above my pay grade'.

MontysEvilTwin said:
If you have a stock tablet and copy the update.bin to '/sdcard' and reboot it can be installed by instigating a system update check. Even with a stock set up though the tablet won't boot if you flash OS6 bootloader files (TZ and LK). If you try and unlock with a modified version of amonet (keeping the OS7 bootloader files) you get a bootloop.
Unlocking and rooting may yet be possible but it is 'above my pay grade'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ok. I see. That makes sense. Thank you for explaining so concisely, yet in words I can understand