Database Info

Magic bricked

Test methods need to unbrick my magic, so far I've tried one that I have not worked. If someone want to try things that I communicate them and I try.
After an upgrade of radio has been fried. I can not get into recovery, or fastboot. Even so I try to send commands and the command window stays and even restart <waiting for device> clicking to enter recovery fastboot or does nothing.
Excuse the translation but my English is very bad and I use the google translator

edugg said:
Test methods need to unbrick my magic, so far I've tried one that I have not worked. If someone want to try things that I communicate them and I try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow so much information don't know where to start!!!

hard to say..someone managed to the the phone to respond to fastboot/adb by starting up ADB..
wait for the waiting for device msg, then connect the phone to usb and turn it on.
if all method fails, bring it back to claim for warranty.

edugg said:
Test methods need to unbrick my magic, so far I've tried one that I have not worked. If someone want to try things that I communicate them and I try.
After an upgrade of radio has been fried. I can not get into recovery, or fastboot. Even so I try to send commands and the command window stays and even restart <waiting for device> clicking to enter recovery fastboot or does nothing.
Excuse the translation but my English is very bad and I use the google translator
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What OS are you using on your computer?

zeroplace said:
What OS are you using on your computer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tested with Windows 7, Vista and XP and the same.

You know any way to flash as factory?

Will it actually turn on or does it just flash a red led when you press power?

bonesy said:
Will it actually turn on or does it just flash a red led when you press power?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Starts, appears the splash but only gets to that point

In that case it isnt bricked its just stuck...Bricked is when it wont turn on at all
Do you have a nandroid backup?
Have you taken the battery out and the power lead so it has no power?
i have had this problem
If you have a backup get it ready, Once you have let the phone power down totally (battery out and no lead) hold back and press power (keep holding back) this should get you into fastboot.if it doesnt unplug the lead and try again.
If thats successful.... using your nandroid files
FASTBOOT COMMANDS
fastboot erase system -w
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash userdata data.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Sorry if you cant get this to work i have to go out and wont be back to check till tomorrow so just giving you all the info

bonesy said:
In that case it isnt bricked its just stuck...Bricked is when it wont turn on at all
Do you have a nandroid backup?
Have you taken the battery out and the power lead so it has no power?
i have had this problem
If you have a backup get it ready, Once you have let the phone power down totally (battery out and no lead) hold back and press power (keep holding back) this should get you into fastboot.if it doesnt unplug the lead and try again.
If thats successful.... using your nandroid files
FASTBOOT COMMANDS
fastboot erase system -w
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash userdata data.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Sorry if you cant get this to work i have to go out and wont be back to check till tomorrow so just giving you all the info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried many times to do this and nothing ever stays <waiting for device> and does nothing

Phone is not bricked, so this shouldnt be a problem.
If you cant get into fastboot with current setups, then use another recovery image and a custom rom.
(all that stuff is on SD-card.. its not that hard)
Update SDK.

daihiep said:
Phone is not bricked, so this shouldnt be a problem.
If you cant get into fastboot with current setups, then use another recovery image and a custom rom.
(all that stuff is on SD-card.. its not that hard)
Update SDK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! And how should the recovery image and custom rom be put into the Magic? Sledgehammer?
The problem that almost everyone seems to not understand is that it's impossible to access fastboot, adb or any other (known) means.
The magic will hang at the first splashscreen no matter which buttons are pushed during power up. If the track ball is pressed during power on, the led lights up blue (still hanging at first splash). All other combos of buttons during power on makes no difference at all.
I have tried keeping fastboot waiting while power cycling the device (as explained in another thread), but there are no reaction. I have tried in xp, vista and linux.
I have also tried with a gold card, but since the phone seems unable to get any further than the first splash, this will not work.
So unless someone has a _NEW_ method to actually enter fastboot/ADB mode, these devices are BRICKED!
People have been discussing what the criteria for calling a phone a brick, but as far as I have care my Magic can only function as a paper weight and can therefore be called bricked.

Help
I have the same problem , the fastboot can not acces, i stay at the vodafone logo.
Any ideas?
HHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPP.

frankiboy1 said:
Great! And how should the recovery image and custom rom be put into the Magic? Sledgehammer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
take out the sd card, put it in a usb adaptor and copy them over.
Also search for a thread "how i unbricked my phone"

frankiboy1 said:
Great! And how should the recovery image and custom rom be put into the Magic? Sledgehammer?
The problem that almost everyone seems to not understand is that it's impossible to access fastboot, adb or any other (known) means.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think before answering.
Btw, question answered by htcmagic.

daihiep said:
Think before answering.
Btw, question answered by htcmagic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I repeat: The problem that almost everyone seems to not understand is that it's impossible to access fastboot, adb or any other (known) means.
Having a recovery image and a custom rom on the SD card is useless if you are not able to get the phone accessing those files.
I have tried the "how I unbricked my phone" method (like I wrote in my first post) without any success. If you read the whole "how I unbricked my phone" thread you can see that there are several guys that did not have success with this method.
I have done a lot of thinking.... and searching...
Thanks

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=571457 try there

Wrong HBOOT = real brick
Guys,
With a wrong HBOOT (what happend to me), the phone is a real brick...
And they refused to repair it... I bought a new phone. But I keep the old one in case someone break his screen. Then I can get the mobo.

just curious.
superkikim said:
Guys,
With a wrong HBOOT (what happend to me), the phone is a real brick...
And they refused to repair it... I bought a new phone. But I keep the old one in case someone break his screen. Then I can get the mobo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you brick it?
Btw, have you tried to run any RUU update?
At least singapore one.

help- bricked it, no recovery, what now?

Hey yall. I had the phone for 6 days before I bricked it. I am wondering if there is any stock recovery mode or anything or what I shsould do? I think something went wrong due to using the root toolbox pro app. I have done some backups within the ap as well as Titanium Backup but now the phone will not boot up and I dont know if/how to put it in factory recovery mode. Soft reset does nothing. The Motorola logo will show on startup but then the screen just blacks out forever, not off, just colored black.
A few details, the phone was rooted with Motofail2go, with no recovery and bootloader still locked as far as I know.
Should I take it to Sprint for a factory reset? Is this even an option? What are my other options?
Next time I will probably use the Moto unlock key so I can open the bootloader all legit like and have a recovery mode...

Try holding power button and the down volume key to power off. Once you power off press and hold them again. This should boot you into fastboot, Motorola's adb shell basically. This can take a couple tries, make sure the phone is powered down completely before hitting volume down and power button to get into fastboot. If you can boot into fastboot you can unlock using this guide: http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/20/how-to-unlock-the-motorola-photon-q-bootloader/
Once unlocked flash the custom recovery of your choice (I like twrp). You can boot into custom recovery by holding volume up and the power button from a powered down state. Here is the link for instructions on how to flash twrp:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1887070
Then you can download one of the stock backups for the Q posted in the development section and restore them using the custom recovery. Most of the ones I have seen have been compatible with twrp.
The only way to download the stock rom backups is to remove the sd card from your phone, plug your sd card into a PC or other device with a card reader, download the stock backups, and place the stock backup rom files on your sd card. Finally place the sd card with the stock backup downloads into your phone.
These backups and information on how to go through this process can be found in this thread on page 2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2001226
The key is to make a backup of your existing rom with twrp and then move the stock backups from your sd card to the twrp/backups/yourdeiceserial/ directory. That creates a backup directory which twrp knows to look for backups in.
Don't feel bad, I've been in that state several times since getting the Q, live and learn.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app

UnicronAlpha99 said:
Try holding power button and the down volume key to power off. Once you power off press and hold them again. This should boot you into fastboot, Motorola's adb shell basically. This can take a couple tries, make sure the phone is powered down completely before hitting volume down and power button to get into fastboot. If you can boot into fastboot you can unlock using this guide: http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/20/how-to-unlock-the-motorola-photon-q-bootloader/
Once unlocked flash the custom recovery of your choice (I like twrp). You can boot into custom recovery by holding volume up and the power button from a powered down state. Here is the link for instructions on how to flash twrp:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1887070
Then you can download one of the stock backups for the Q posted in the development section and restore them using the custom recovery. Most of the ones I have seen have been compatible with twrp.
Don't feel bad, I've been in that state several times since getting the Q, live and learn.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that does not work you could drop it in water or something. You have not officially unlocked boot loader so you still have warranty. Or you could just tell sprint it quit working and act completely clueless. At least its bricked with warranty still intact.

matt2k12 said:
Hey yall. I had the phone for 6 days before I bricked it. I am wondering if there is any stock recovery mode or anything or what I shsould do? I think something went wrong due to using the root toolbox pro app. I have done some backups within the ap as well as Titanium Backup but now the phone will not boot up and I dont know if/how to put it in factory recovery mode. Soft reset does nothing. The Motorola logo will show on startup but then the screen just blacks out forever, not off, just colored black.
A few details, the phone was rooted with Motofail2go, with no recovery and bootloader still locked as far as I know.
Should I take it to Sprint for a factory reset? Is this even an option? What are my other options?
Next time I will probably use the Moto unlock key so I can open the bootloader all legit like and have a recovery mode...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both of the methods above are very effective. When I had the first photon I bricked it and just dropped it in water and did a claim. Depending on the insurance you have that way may cost you $100. The other method should work. When I first got this phone I did the exact same thing and to go back and unlock then flash twrp and in stall a stock backup someone had posted.
Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk 2

UnicronAlpha99 said:
Try holding power button and the down volume key to power off. Once you power off press and hold them again. This should boot you into fastboot, Motorola's adb shell basically. This can take a couple tries, make sure the phone is powered down completely before hitting volume down and power button to get into fastboot. If you can boot into fastboot you can unlock using this guide: http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/20/how-to-unlock-the-motorola-photon-q-bootloader/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. Is there anything extra extra special about getting into factory fastboot mode? I can't seem to get it done. Is there an official set of instructions anywhere? Does the phone need to be plugged into the PC? It was always my understanding (for the last week) that Power and Vol Down was the soft reset mode which reboots the phone. Therefore it always tries to reboot in normal mode. This is what keeps happening. It never powers completely down using this method.
Anyhow, once I follow your instructions, the Moto logo appears, no Sprint logo appears, the phone "powers on" but the screen is blacked out (not off). After waiting for a while at the blank/black screen, or holding down several buttons like vol or camera I get the first attachment: "Process system is not responding. Would you like to close it?" When I wait nothing happens. When I push OK nothing happens. By chance, I held down power during the notification and the power menu came up behind the ANR notice (second/third attachments). So obviously there are some things working but the main system isn't booting up. And either factory fastboot is nuked or I can't figure it out. When I power down from this accessible power menu and try to do the fastboot (Power / Vol Down) I still havent gotten it to work.
Any other ideas before I take drastic measures?
Since I bought it from Amazon would that be my best route for return or should I go thru a Sprint store?
Thanks in advance.

Hi again yall. You know once I got to thinking about it, I decided to check out the return policy on Amazon Wireless. They will accept any device under warranty for the first 30 days and it is up to Moto for the next 11 months of warranty coverage. They email me a packing label and it ships out 1 day and they ship out the new phone 1 day shipping. Hard to beat, just takes 2 days of shipping and some more fun times with my Epic, 10.1CM style, in the meantime.
Who's to say it wasnt some sort of hardware or software glitch that bricked the phone rather than my screwing around? Nobody knows and it isn't up to the consumer to prove his innocence. I bought everything legally, all the apps at the app store, and only ran the motofail2go root method. Wasn't running any custom Roms, Mods, or anything. I don't feel bad after they got me for another 2 grand for 24 months, and since I have been with Sprint for 10 years;l I have spent well over 10k or 15k with them lifetime.
If any other method pops up between now and when I ship it out I may give it a shot but if not, ah well, capitalism.

matt2k12 said:
Thanks for the response. Is there anything extra extra special about getting into factory fastboot mode? I can't seem to get it done. Is there an official set of instructions anywhere? Does the phone need to be plugged into the PC? It was always my understanding (for the last week) that Power and Vol Down was the soft reset mode which reboots the phone. Therefore it always tries to reboot in normal mode. This is what keeps happening. It never powers completely down using this method.
Anyhow, once I follow your instructions, the Moto logo appears, no Sprint logo appears, the phone "powers on" but the screen is blacked out (not off). After waiting for a while at the blank/black screen, or holding down several buttons like vol or camera I get the first attachment: "Process system is not responding. Would you like to close it?" When I wait nothing happens. When I push OK nothing happens. By chance, I held down power during the notification and the power menu came up behind the ANR notice (second/third attachments). So obviously there are some things working but the main system isn't booting up. And either factory fastboot is nuked or I can't figure it out. When I power down from this accessible power menu and try to do the fastboot (Power / Vol Down) I still havent gotten it to work.
Any other ideas before I take drastic measures?
Since I bought it from Amazon would that be my best route for return or should I go thru a Sprint store?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using adb. If your computer has drivers on it for phone you might able to get into fast boot. If that does not work I would try Sprint store first. Have locked my phone up several times while hacking wife off in progress and have used adb every time. Only time i have been truely scared is when i soft bricked my nexus 7. had to stay at work for two hours after i got off to get it to recover because i was scared of her lol.
---------- Post added at 02:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 PM ----------
If you get adb to recognize device you could take chance and officially unlock boot loader. Then flash twrp. There is a thread in general section about having trouble getting official update. It has a stock recovery in it. Trick would be moving files to recovery section of twrp

I have gotten the phone to soft power down and get into fast boot and custom recovery. It's a bit tricky with timing, I usually wait for the screen to go black after soft reset, let go, and immediately hold power and volume down. If you can not boot into fastboot I honestly don't know what you can do either than return the phone.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app

UnicronAlpha99 said:
I have gotten the phone to soft power down and get into fast boot and custom recovery. It's a bit tricky with timing, I usually wait for the screen to go black after soft reset, let go, and immediately hold power and volume down. If you can not boot into fastboot I honestly don't know what you can do either than return the phone.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help Unicron. I think Brandons method might be my only alternative... but you know what? I already have the box packed up to ship back to Amazon! I am still a noob; I dunno if I could go the distance on this one. I have been updating my Android SDK files since I got the phone but I never got it to recognize boot up thru ADB fastboot. disclaimer* I havent tried it in a couple days since all teh SDK updates completed.
I dunno though I am a big time DIYer when possible. If it werent for the massive amount of tape I put on the box and packing label I would already be trying this method. I can't convince myself just yet. Amazon makes it too easy. I could have the *new* phone by Friday. Then I wouldn't be wasting my remaining work week trying to hack into my personal Christmas present in order to make it function...........................................
Edit - Yes I'm impatient. My job is too demanding and I am trying to set a good precedent for 2013. Wasting the first 3 work days on a phone is not how I intend to start off the year. There is probably a valuable lesson to be learned from this as far as hacking experience and to be honest with the responses here I think I could get it to boot up from PC in SDK/ADB mode and go from there. I just didnt know if that was possible until after I made the claim with Amazon. I still have an entire day today and tomorrow if I want to indulge myself. It doesnt matter if I mail the package today or Wednesday, I can still get it by Friday. I believe this thread is still valuable because we have patterns of repeating past failures and I may find use of it when I recieve my new phone and, darn it, it mysteriously bricks as well. in the same fashion.... the only thing I was really trying to do was get all my apps on my SD card... sad huh?
Edit 2 - Opened up the box, tried fastboot and adb, nothing. Off she goes.

I don't blame you, it sounds easier to exchange in your case any way. The main suggestion I have is if you are getting into any type of build.prop or operating system tweaks that have potential to lead to boot loops or cause the phone not to boot, then unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery.
The Moto-fail method seems limited to only be able to run apps that require root. For me this has no use as I want to be able to have complete control over all aspects of the Android OS. There is not a huge mod community for the Q as yet but I believe Cyanogen will be a reality as Interloper continues working on it. I came from an Epic with Cyanogen and soft-bricked it a minimum of 50 times. CWM was very forgiving on that phone, the Q is a lot more finicky and frustrating.
If you have insurance through the carrier then you are going to pay $150 for a refurb if something goes wrong and you hard brick the phone. If you unlock bootloader and install custom recovery then you have a fail-safe in the form of nandroid backups and restores. Then you can mod away with little fear.
Good luck on the new phone and I hope you don't give up after six days of modding with the Q!
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app

matt2k12 said:
Thanks for the help Unicron. I think Brandons method might be my only alternative... but you know what? I already have the box packed up to ship back to Amazon! I am still a noob; I dunno if I could go the distance on this one. I have been updating my Android SDK files since I got the phone but I never got it to recognize boot up thru ADB fastboot. disclaimer* I havent tried it in a couple days since all teh SDK updates completed.
I dunno though I am a big time DIYer when possible. If it werent for the massive amount of tape I put on the box and packing label I would already be trying this method. I can't convince myself just yet. Amazon makes it too easy. I could have the *new* phone by Friday. Then I wouldn't be wasting my remaining work week trying to hack into my personal Christmas present in order to make it function...........................................
Edit - Yes I'm impatient. My job is too demanding and I am trying to set a good precedent for 2013. Wasting the first 3 work days on a phone is not how I intend to start off the year. There is probably a valuable lesson to be learned from this as far as hacking experience and to be honest with the responses here I think I could get it to boot up from PC in SDK/ADB mode and go from there. I just didnt know if that was possible until after I made the claim with Amazon. I still have an entire day today and tomorrow if I want to indulge myself. It doesnt matter if I mail the package today or Wednesday, I can still get it by Friday. I believe this thread is still valuable because we have patterns of repeating past failures and I may find use of it when I recieve my new phone and, darn it, it mysteriously bricks as well. in the same fashion.... the only thing I was really trying to do was get all my apps on my SD card... sad huh?
Edit 2 - Opened up the box, tried fastboot and adb, nothing. Off she goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW, pressing vol down + power til it resets then pressing the camera button + power once the screen is black gets you to the Boot Mode Selection Menu, where you can start recovery, fastboot, BP tools (still not sure what that is entirely) and some others. Seems to be a fairly reliable/easy method for getting to both recovery and fastboot from any point.

befrosty8612 said:
FWIW, pressing vol down + power til it resets then pressing the camera button + power once the screen is black gets you to the Boot Mode Selection Menu, where you can start recovery, fastboot, BP tools (still not sure what that is entirely) and some others. Seems to be a fairly reliable/easy method for getting to both recovery and fastboot from any point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure wish I would have known that ahead of time. Does this work without any recovery mode and with the bootloader still locked?

matt2k12 said:
Sure wish I would have known that ahead of time. Does this work without any recovery mode and with the bootloader still locked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does work without any recovery mode and I believe it still works without the bootloader being unlocked, I didn't know about this myself until after I had already unlocked it. Sorry I couldn't help out sooner.

befrosty8612 said:
It does work without any recovery mode and I believe it still works without the bootloader being unlocked, I didn't know about this myself until after I had already unlocked it. Sorry I couldn't help out sooner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, I am wanting to do the backdoor root method again but, of course, may brick it. I dont think Amazon will keep sending me new ones.... but maybe!

befrosty8612 said:
FWIW, pressing vol down + power til it resets then pressing the camera button + power once the screen is black gets you to the Boot Mode Selection Menu, where you can start recovery, fastboot, BP tools (still not sure what that is entirely) and some others. Seems to be a fairly reliable/easy method for getting to both recovery and fastboot from any point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For anyone concerned, I knew it would only be a matter of time until bricking my new device. This damn Root Toolbox Pro did it to me again, and on a simple, menial task. I am going to be working thru the motions on getting this to work.
Using the instructions quoted I did get stock recovery to work or at least flash on the screen for a split second. Seems like there is a timer on the recovery screen. I am having trouble with the fastboot prompt though on the PC. Do I do it in the "platform-tools" folder which contains fastboot or in the "tools" folder of the main SDK directory? I am really a noob, can you give me the cliff notes of how to get into ADB, fastboot, etc on the Photon Q in order to do a factory reset? I already have Android SDK installed and completely up to date so that is done. And Fastboot is installed. I'm just having trouble crossing the finish line here... I can get the fastboot page opened in the stock recovery but from there I'm lost. I dont know what to type into the command prompt, in what directory, or what.... Also when I open the command prompt in the SDK folder on the PC with fastboot in the directory and type "adb reboot bootloader" it says "device not found". Maybe (surely) that is the wrong prompt?
FWIW my phone is showing the dead android guy. I didnt do anything besides try and clear up my Play Store download list which required a reboot. The phone never started back up. I dont know how much damage was done or info was lost or whatever, but seeing as how I was rooted but still locked, I had no custom recovery. So no back ups. Is there anything to restore or am I looking at a full wipe and restore?

matt2k12 said:
For anyone concerned, I knew it would only be a matter of time until bricking my new device. This damn Root Toolbox Pro did it to me again, and on a simple, menial task. I am going to be working thru the motions on getting this to work.
Using the instructions quoted I did get stock recovery to work or at least flash on the screen for a split second. Seems like there is a timer on the recovery screen. I am having trouble with the fastboot prompt though on the PC. Do I do it in the "platform-tools" folder which contains fastboot or in the "tools" folder of the main SDK directory? I am really a noob, can you give me the cliff notes of how to get into ADB, fastboot, etc on the Photon Q in order to do a factory reset? I already have Android SDK installed and completely up to date so that is done. And Fastboot is installed. I'm just having trouble crossing the finish line here... I can get the fastboot page opened in the stock recovery but from there I'm lost. I dont know what to type into the command prompt, in what directory, or what.... Also when I open the command prompt in the SDK folder on the PC with fastboot in the directory and type "adb reboot bootloader" it says "device not found". Maybe (surely) that is the wrong prompt?
FWIW my phone is showing the dead android guy. I didnt do anything besides try and clear up my Play Store download list which required a reboot. The phone never started back up. I dont know how much damage was done or info was lost or whatever, but seeing as how I was rooted but still locked, I had no custom recovery. So no back ups. Is there anything to restore or am I looking at a full wipe and restore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As abnormal as it seems, your situation seems pretty normal... at least from my shoes. I went through the same scenario... I didn't know what adb was, or fastboot, etc. So, here's what I know
the fastboot commands work even if adb doesnt see it in the list of devices attached. Somehow it just works (as long as the phone is in fastboot mode).
If you're able to get to the fastboot mode, things should be okay. Just open a windows explorer window to the Platform-Tools, hold the shift key and right click on a blank space within the window, then click open command window here.
you should be able to pass any adb (if the phone is on and recognized) or fastboot (if phone is in fastboot mode) commands from that command prompt.
Also, if you have a stock recovery, CMW, or TWRP image, this is the folder to copy those .img files to. Once you get your phone into fastboot mode and its plugged into the computer, just type into the command prompt:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
If you're just looking to reboot the phone into recovery
If you have a CWM or TWRP recovery just replace the recovery.img with whatever the .img file that you have. Also, as a tip instead of writing the entire file name, just press the first couple letters then press the tab key within the command prompt, it should fill in the rest. keep pressing tab until you get to the .img file name you want.
To avoid doing this again, maybe I can help... what were you trying to do to begin with? From the sound of it, you were trying to root the phone with the Root Toolbox Pro but it bricked, and then you tried to reboot into recovery and then got the red android... ?

befrosty8612 said:
As abnormal as it seems, your situation seems pretty normal... at least from my shoes. I went through the same scenario... I didn't know what adb was, or fastboot, etc. So, here's what I know
the fastboot commands work even if adb doesnt see it in the list of devices attached. Somehow it just works (as long as the phone is in fastboot mode).
If you're able to get to the fastboot mode, things should be okay. Just open a windows explorer window to the Platform-Tools, hold the shift key and right click on a blank space within the window, then click open command window here.
you should be able to pass any adb (if the phone is on and recognized) or fastboot (if phone is in fastboot mode) commands from that command prompt.
Also, if you have a stock recovery, CMW, or TWRP image, this is the folder to copy those .img files to. Once you get your phone into fastboot mode and its plugged into the computer, just type into the command prompt:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
If you're just looking to reboot the phone into recovery
If you have a CWM or TWRP recovery just replace the recovery.img with whatever the .img file that you have. Also, as a tip instead of writing the entire file name, just press the first couple letters then press the tab key within the command prompt, it should fill in the rest. keep pressing tab until you get to the .img file name you want.
To avoid doing this again, maybe I can help... what were you trying to do to begin with? From the sound of it, you were trying to root the phone with the Root Toolbox Pro but it bricked, and then you tried to reboot into recovery and then got the red android... ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. So, all I have to do is: go to fastboot and flash a stock recovery image file and it will automatically wipe the phone, cache, everything, and restore the operating system? Sounds awfully easy! I found some stock files in this post : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2001226&page=2 Are these the ones you used before?
Last question: I can flash CWM or TWRP but wont be able to access them if my bootloader is locked, correct? So flashing a stock recovery will allow me to have my stock phone back again, locked and un-rooted? I guess if I cant get it to work with the stock recovery then I can unlock the bootloader and do a CWM or TWRP recovery and then flash the stock .img files?
Thanks again for your help. I already had root with the motofail2go method which I like using but seems like when I try and use some generic root feature from apps from the app store that it will crash/brick the phone cuz obviously those apps are generalized and likely to brick certain percentage of devices....

Ok what does this mean? Something with the bootlaoder obviously. Does it need to be unlocked?
Code:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>fastboot flash recover
y qrecovery1.img
(bootloader) Variable not supported!
target reported max download size of 31457280 bytes
sending 'recovery' (5962 KB)...
OKAY [ 0.479s]
writing 'recovery'...
(bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote failure)
finished. total time: 0.755s
C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>
And on the phone screen it says "invalid image size for partition recovery" twice for both times I tried this method.

You will need to flash the system image as well if you want those, as the recovery image will only flash the recovery. The files in that link are for twrp only... so you'll have to be able to get there first.
With the custom recoveries, I'm not 100% sure whether or not you will be able to use them without being unlocked. I would wait to see if anyone else can answer that question for you, but if you did try it without an unlocked bootloader, you at least have the stock recovery to fall back on if needed.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 09:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 PM ----------
I'm thinking it could either be that your phone is full and the image you're flashing is too large to fit on the space available...
Or you're trying to flash custom software on a locked phone.
Hopefully someone is able to answer that a little better...
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app

You can't alter the stock recovery (flash a custom recovery like twrp or cwm) in fastboot without having the bootloader unlocked. Your options are to unlock your bootloader, flash custom recovery, create a backup of your current setup, download one of the stock working backups, place it in the backups folder for twrp on your external sd card, and restore one of the known working backups in the development section (befrosty linked to one). Or you could use RSD lite to return to stock using a stock factory firmware flash. That involves connecting your phone to your PC and flashing the phone back to factory stock. Information on RSD Lite and links to the FXZ's can be found here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2095536
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app

Problem after unlocking bootloader - Bricked?

Hey guys, how are you?
Well, I wished to root my Moto G, so I (tryed?) to unlock the bootloader. Alright, done it, but then I ran into some trouble...
After the booting up, everything started forceclosing and since then, when I try to boot it, I get a black screen after the Motorola logo.
Now, I am really really worried about my phone. I got it a month ago. I'm so afraid I really f****d up my phone right now that my hands are shaking.
I'm new to Android, so sorry if the solution is pretty obvious. And if it's not, could explain it very carefully to me? I don't know what to do.
My best wishes to you, guys.

I'm assuming you used superboot if so that would happen.
The logo sort of blured out right just press volume down and power and it would work
Or did this happen when you were just trying to unlock bootloader?

TomGlass1 said:
I'm assuming you used superboot if so that would happen.
The logo sort of blured out right just press volume down and power and it would work
Or did this happen when you were just trying to unlock bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that happenned when I was trying to unlcok bootloader.
And well, my computer now doesn't even recognizes my phone.
EDIT: It appears as "Fastboot falcon S" in the Device Manager. Tried installing some drivers I found in the Internet, but it didn't work.

Explain exactly what happened please. Was the unlock successful and did you just bootup normally after or did u do anything else in fastboot mode? Why are you trying to install fastboot drivers again, as you already wouldve had them to unlock the bootloader. Did you try installing recovery or some root img from fastboot? You said its forceclosing, but it isnt starting at all now?
Some things you can do right now (if your bootloader is unlocked) is to flash a recovery (twrp,cwm) through fastboot and if you think most system files (or settings) are beyond repair, flash your firmware version though fastboot. Will point you to the guides for them, but post more info if you want help.

hemanthmahesh said:
Explain exactly what happened please. Was the unlock successful and did you just bootup normally after or did u do anything else in fastboot mode? Why are you trying to install fastboot drivers again, as you already wouldve had them to unlock the bootloader. Did you try installing recovery or some root img from fastboot? You said its forceclosing, but it isnt starting at all now?
Some things you can do right now (if your bootloader is unlocked) is to flash a recovery (twrp,cwm) through fastboot and if you think most system files (or settings) are beyond repair, flash your firmware version though fastboot. Will point you to the guides for them, but post more info if you want help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, just after I unlocked, when I was booting, I got a message saying that "xxxx has stopped working/failed to initialize/something like that". And then, when I rebooted, I got the usual message of the "bootlocker has been unlocked". After that, the Motorola logo started animating, but then I just got a black screen. I can't turn it off and the battery just got depleted (I'm charging right now).
When I try to connect it in my computer, the PC recognizes it as "MTP Device" or "Fastboot falcon S" when fastbooted. I can't install any drivers and the Motorola Device Manager doesn't recognizes it either.
Well, if there is some missing information, just ask me. I tried to describe my problem the best I could. Anyway, sorry for my bad English and thanks in advance for any effort trying to discover what's wrong.

Motorola Device Manager isn't helpful in this state as it doesn't handle things in fastboot. You already have all the required drivers (fastboot falcon S is the right driver afaik, falcon being motog codename) for flashing your stock firmware.
1. First, you can try the "Factory" option in bootloader (the third one, use volume down to move selector, volume up to select), though this might not really work for major issues.
2. When in fastboot mode, use "fastboot getvar all" to get the firmware details if you already didn't know about it.
3. Otherwise if yours is a standard gsm (non dualsim/non cdma), just download Blur_Version.174.44.9.falcon_umts.Retail.en.GB (UK stock for gsm, 4.4.2)
Download the mfastboot files to use rather than fastboot for flashing. You might need to modify your commands a bit for various firmwares.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=47820707 (refer this thread for flashing your stock firmware)
All the firmwares are in either of the links below (all around 400mb):
http://sbf.droid-developers.org/phone.php?device=14
(or)
http://www.filefactory.com/folder/c6cdedc45a775d27
I still don't get why many ppl are getting these errors after unlocking, very bad unlock method of moto if so ( I didnt get any such issues though).

When I use the "fastboot getvar all" command, it says "waiting for device". The phone is already connected, but the Moto G doesn't recognizes it's connected either.
I'm getting more and more afraid I really hardbricked it.

http://www.mymotocast.com/download/MDM?platform=windows
Tried installing these drivers? Your fastboot doesn't seem to be setup properly. How did you unlock without a working fastboot driver? You are trying that command in bootloader mode right?

Already installed it from the start. The message I got is always this:
"There aren't any updates for your device at the moment
Current Version: N/A"
My fastboot: Doesn't matter the operation I do, I always get this <waiting for device> and the phone is already connected into the computer. And the phone doesn't recognizes it is connected too.
And greeeeat news: my phone now doesn't charges either. I get stuck on a screen with a battery logo and 0%, when connected to the charger. Still, I still can access the fastboot mode. Well, am I lucky or not?

I'm pretty confused with this. How exactly did you unlock without a working fastboot (no waiting for device issue)? Did you change your pc drivers after unlock or trying this from a different pc? When you say "phone doesn't recognizes it is connected" you mean it says "Connect USB data cable" below "Device is UNLOCKED"? If so, maybe try another usb port cause it should normally say "Transfer Mode: USB Connected" regardless of proper drivers.
Your phone will chrarge no matter what though, no worry about that. It needs to say "Battery OK (Charging)" when connected to PC
No, as long as you have working your device isn't technically bricked in any sense. Don't worry, get that fastboot working again and anything can be fixed.
Also you didnt say whether or not you tried that "Factory" option in bootloader!

hemanthmahesh said:
I'm pretty confused with this. How exactly did you unlock without a working fastboot (no waiting for device issue)? Did you change your pc drivers after unlock or trying this from a different pc? When you say "phone doesn't recognizes it is connected" you mean it says "Connect USB data cable" below "Device is UNLOCKED"? If so, maybe try another usb port cause it should normally say "Transfer Mode: USB Connected" regardless of proper drivers.
Your phone will chrarge no matter what though, no worry about that. It needs to say "Battery OK (Charging)" when connected to PC
No, as long as you have working your device isn't technically bricked in any sense. Don't worry, get that fastboot working again and anything can be fixed.
Also you didnt say whether or not you tried that "Factory" option in bootloader!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG. I tried that "Factory" option before but it didn't work. Now I tried a second time and it worked. Thanks a lot! Really :laugh:
Anyway, now my phone is back again and rooted. Thanks for the help, guys!

Thaiane said:
Already installed it from the start. The message I got is always this:
"There aren't any updates for your device at the moment
Current Version: N/A"
My fastboot: Doesn't matter the operation I do, I always get this <waiting for device> and the phone is already connected into the computer. And the phone doesn't recognizes it is connected too.
And greeeeat news: my phone now doesn't charges either. I get stuck on a screen with a battery logo and 0%, when connected to the charger. Still, I still can access the fastboot mode. Well, am I lucky or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys the problem occurs due to corruption of /data folder. Even I had the same issue.
What you can do is
1. Connect your phone to PC in fastboot mode.
2. In fastboot, enter the command "adb erase userdata" and "adb erase cache" without quotes and reboot you phone. It will work for most of the devices, if it doesn't I have some other workaround too.

help
forgotter said:
Guys the problem occurs due to corruption of /data folder. Even I had the same issue.
What you can do is
1. Connect your phone to PC in fastboot mode.
2. In fastboot, enter the command "adb erase userdata" and "adb erase cache" without quotes and reboot you phone. It will work for most of the devices, if it doesn't I have some other workaround too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem. my phone stuck in blank screen after Unlock Bootloader. and then I try to do "adb erase userdata" and "adb erase cache". but my phone has no chenge, still stuck in.
I attach log when enter command adb above.
I'm sorry before. I can't spech English well

jidurrr said:
I have the same problem. my phone stuck in blank screen after Unlock Bootloader. and then I try to do "adb erase userdata" and "adb erase cache". but my phone has no chenge, still stuck in.
I attach log when enter command adb above.
I'm sorry before. I can't spech English well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The log you have posted contains only the help commands of adb and not the actual commands you gave.
Give a try to factory reset from fastboot mode on your phone. And do you a custom recovery installed in your phone?

forgotter said:
The log you have posted contains only the help commands of adb and not the actual commands you gave.
Give a try to factory reset from fastboot mode on your phone. And do you a custom recovery installed in your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried factory reset for several times, but no change as well.
yes, I get a CWM in my phone. and then, what have I do?

jidurrr said:
I've tried factory reset for several times, but no change as well.
yes, I get a CWM in my phone. and then, what have I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2704207
Go to the above forum.
Sorry for late reply was busy with studies.

I had flash stock firmware
through PC

Failed root

Hey,
Tried to root my phone and things got messy.
I'm at a point where when I try to access the bootloader I get the "No command" screen, which I can bypass with the Power+Up keys and reach the "Android Recovery" screen.
I used "Wipe Data/Factory Reset" which didn't help much.
I can't do much more than that because Windows doesn't recognize my device and so I can't apply anything through ADB.
I tried to install the drivers again, but still nothing. My phone doesn't appear on the Device Manager.
Windows does make a sound of connected USB when I enter bootloader, but soon as it hits the "No Command" screen I hear the sound of a disconnected USB device.
Any idea how to make Windows recognize the device again so I could try to install things back with ADB?
Thanks!

OK, managed to solve this part after some reboots.
I'm now failing to ADB the stock image.
The phone says on top of "Andoird Recovery" that it's 7.1.2/NZH54D.
That's the stock image I've downloaded and when I try to ADB it I get on the windows terminal
"cannot read 'sailfish-nzh54d-factory-127f0583.zip'".
How do I move on from this?

OK. Figured this one out as well.
I was flashing the wrong file. Needed to flash the OTA file "sailfish-ota-nzh54d-2163742b".
Now I have my Pixel up and running. OS seems to be there.
BUT... bootloader still not there. I still get the "No Command" page when I enter the bootloader and can only use ADB.
How do I move on from here? Still wanna root, add twrp and a different ROM.

I would start over from scratch. This guide is really good, it's for Pixel XL, but should be interchangable for Pixel 1 (non-XL), just be careful of the model specific files (salefish vs. marlin)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/guide-android-8-oreo-root-stock-rooted-t3660591

TheAsker70 said:
OK. Figured this one out as well.
I was flashing the wrong file. Needed to flash the OTA file "sailfish-ota-nzh54d-2163742b".
Now I have my Pixel up and running. OS seems to be there.
BUT... bootloader still not there. I still get the "No Command" page when I enter the bootloader and can only use ADB.
How do I move on from here? Still wanna root, add twrp and a different ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't you acces bootloader with "adb reboot bootloader"?
Also make sure u switched on usb debugging in developer options.
Sent from my Google Pixel using XDA Labs

If you get to the screen where you can choose to enter recovery, that is the bootloader. The no command thing is something you always get when you choose to boot to recovery. When on the screen before the no command thing, plug it into your PC. If the PC recognizes it, use fastboot to access it. "Fastboot devices" will show your phone. Adb devices doesn't work there. Bottom line is, it sounds to me you're getting to the bootloader. Just not realizing it.

TheAsker70 said:
OK. Figured this one out as well.
I was flashing the wrong file. Needed to flash the OTA file "sailfish-ota-nzh54d-2163742b".
Now I have my Pixel up and running. OS seems to be there.
BUT... bootloader still not there. I still get the "No Command" page when I enter the bootloader and can only use ADB.
How do I move on from here? Still wanna root, add twrp and a different ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The no command screen is a part of the recovery, not bootloader. My easiest suggestion for you is that with the phone powered on press the power button and select restart. Once the screen goes dark, press and hold volume down until it boots to the bootloader. If you can't get that to work then you sir have a problem.

Milly7 said:
The no command screen is a part of the recovery, not bootloader. My easiest suggestion for you is that with the phone powered on press the power button and select restart. Once the screen goes dark, press and hold volume down until it boots to the bootloader. If you can't get that to work then you sir have a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. I think I'm good now. Gave up on the ROM thing. Too much headache to maintain it. Sticking to stock. Imperfect, but less headaches.
I wanted to root my device mostly for Titanium backup.
The rest isn't that important to me.
Thanks for the help!

{Solved} Pixel 2 Bricked, need help.

Hey Guys. I'm new to the Pixel 2 and have found myself stuck and not sure what to do. I'm stuck at this screen and keep getting getting an error message staying "Slot Unbootable: Load Error". I am not able to get into fastboot to flash the "Deuces" script or to flash a new system image.
I have tried all of the basic stuff to get to my device to be recognized. I downloaded and installed the latest ADB & Fastboot and I have tried different cables and USB ports and still have no luck. I'm really worried and not sure what to do if I cannot get my device to accept fastboot commands so I can recover.
Please let me know if you have any ideas that may help me.
Jason
EDIT:
I still have no idea what I did, but I decided to use the Skipsoft Tool to see if it would work. Lucky for me it did and I was able to restore the factory image. Sorry for the fire-drill, I should have tried this before I posted. Thank you for the replies!!

Grab the latest Google platform tools and USB drivers. When your device is plugged in, do you see any unknown devices in your device manager? Or anything that looks like it could be your phone?

jascolli said:
Hey Guys. I'm new to the Pixel 2 and have found myself stuck and not sure what to do. I'm stuck at this screen and keep getting getting an error message staying "Slot Unbootable: Load Error". I am not able to get into fastboot to flash the "Deuces" script or to flash a new system image.
I have tried all of the basic stuff to get to my device to be recognized. I downloaded and installed the latest ADB & Fastboot and I have tried different cables and USB ports and still have no luck. I'm really worried and not sure what to do if I cannot get my device to accept fastboot commands so I can recover.
Please let me know if you have any ideas that may help me.
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen that before.
When you select reboot bootloader does that message go away?
Try it without the cable plugged in does it go away then?
I just want to know if you can actually get that message to go away or not at this point.
Also can you link the tools you are downloading

jascolli said:
I still have no idea what I did, but I decided to use the Skipsoft Tool to see if it would work. Lucky for me it did and I was able to restore the factory image. Sorry for the fire-drill, I should have tried this before I posted. Thank you for the replies!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For future learning, I'd recommend you familiarize yourself with how to do this without toolkits. A toolkit is nice, but it really helps to understand what the toolkit is doing so that if you have an issue you know what to do next.

Telperion said:
For future learning, I'd recommend you familiarize yourself with how to do this without toolkits. A toolkit is nice, but it really helps to understand what the toolkit is doing so that if you have an issue you know what to do next.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Solid advice, thank you.

I did this same thing and solved it the same way. I think things just get funky and the tool you mentioned to fix it.

nolimit78 said:
I did this same thing and solved it the same way. I think things just get funky and the tool you mentioned to fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm baffled. I could not for the life of me get fastboot to work. That Skipsoft tool is pretty impressive.

HELP!!!!
I have same problem, so which functions you use to fix it????
jascolli said:
Hey Guys. I'm new to the Pixel 2 and have found myself stuck and not sure what to do. I'm stuck at this screen and keep getting getting an error message staying "Slot Unbootable: Load Error". I am not able to get into fastboot to flash the "Deuces" script or to flash a new system image.
I have tried all of the basic stuff to get to my device to be recognized. I downloaded and installed the latest ADB & Fastboot and I have tried different cables and USB ports and still have no luck. I'm really worried and not sure what to do if I cannot get my device to accept fastboot commands so I can recover.
Please let me know if you have any ideas that may help me.
Jason
EDIT:
I still have no idea what I did, but I decided to use the Skipsoft Tool to see if it would work. Lucky for me it did and I was able to restore the factory image. Sorry for the fire-drill, I should have tried this before I posted. Thank you for the replies!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Same thing happened to me. I need help. Please tell me how you unbricked your phone

same problem
i have the same problem already download skipsoft program but dont have results can you tell me the steps what you do please
---------- Post added at 07:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 AM ----------
yuva_cool said:
Same thing happened to me. I need help. Please tell me how you unbricked your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you already unbricked your phone?

my pixel still cant be detected by that toolkit, can u list the step by step procedure what u did to unbrick the device?

I was having the exact same issue as OP. I wound up fixing it by entering fastboot and making it display barcodes until the battery died. Then I put a rubber band over the power button so the red led would blink (I wanted to completely drain the battery). When it stopped blinking, I hooked my dead phone up to my PC via a USB 3 port and held Power + vol down to boot into fastboot (the battery was still too low for the phone to boot normally -- it would just show the battery icon). Surprisingly, my PC recognized my phone (made the little USB sound) and I was able to fastboot flash-all the newest factory image on it!! No toolkits required!
I'm so happy because this was a last ditch effort before I sent my original phone back to google and would have to live with the RMA they sent me which could not be bootloader unlocked (this is a whole other issue!)
I hope this helps!
EDIT: Info I provided in a PM
Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of the process... I didn't want to push my luck and things are working now. But The photo I've attached was exactly what I was seeing except I was on the December update (Now I'm on the January update) ... and:
UFS: 128 GB Hynix
DRAM: 4096MB Micron LPDDR4
Device State: unlocked (I had been unlocked since April 2018)
Until I had entirely drained my battery, I couldn't do anything. Download mode and recovery mode were impossible to access. I forgot the specific error, but it was the same as a lot of other people who have been having this problem.
The only thing I could do was to restart bootloader, which removed the error message until I tried to do anything. I couldn't boot at all or do anything conducive to fixing my phone until I drained the battery entirely. I couldn't get any PCs to even acknowledge the existance of my phone until after the battery was drained.
Keep in mind, I NEVER got my RMA phone to work. I was only able to fix my original NEW phone that I had purchased directly from google.

Until I had entirely drained my battery, I couldn't do anything. Download mode and recovery mode were impossible to access. I forgot the specific error, but it was the same as a lot of other people who have been having this problem.
The only thing I could do was to restart bootloader, which removed the error message until I tried to do anything. I couldn't boot at all or do anything conducive to fixing my phone until I drained the battery entirely. I couldn't get any PCs to even acknowledge the existance of my phone until after the battery was drained.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the correct resolution to this issue.
I had the same issue, no usb in bootloader. I drained the phone and rebooted into the Bootloader flash A and B side bootloader the Aug 2018 (previously working for me) and A and B side Radio, as well as the System image. After that everything booted fine.
Attempted to install the January update the same way and it worked as well.
Seems like they messed up A and B side flashing
My steps::: For Lurkers having this issue.
1. Drain battery DEAD!
2. Boot Bootloader (Vol Down + Power)
3. fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-walleye-mw8998-002.0073.02.img (or whatever image)
3. fastboot set_active b (opposite of the one on screen)
4. fastboot reboot-bootloader
5. fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-walleye-mw8998-002.0073.02.img (or whatever image) (Again)
6. fastboot reboot-bootloader
7. fastboot flash radio radio-walleye-g8998-00253-1809191716.img (or whatever image)
8. fastboot set_active a (opposite of the one on screen)
9. fastboot reboot-bootloader
10. fastboot flash radio radio-walleye-g8998-00253-1809191716.img (or whatever image)
11. fastboot reboot-bootloader
12. fastboot update image-walleye-pq1a.190105.004.zip (or whatever image)
Phone boots properly, and is updated.

thedude9821 said:
I was having the exact same issue as OP. I wound up fixing it by entering fastboot and making it display barcodes until the battery died. Then I put a rubber band over the power button so the red led would blink (I wanted to completely drain the battery). When it stopped blinking, I hooked my dead phone up to my PC via a USB 3 port and held Power + vol down to boot into fastboot (the battery was still too low for the phone to boot normally -- it would just show the battery icon). Surprisingly, my PC recognized my phone (made the little USB sound) and I was able to fastboot flash-all the newest factory image on it!! No toolkits required!
I'm so happy because this was a last ditch effort before I sent my original phone back to google and would have to live with the RMA they sent me which could not be bootloader unlocked (this is a whole other issue!)
I hope this helps!
EDIT: Info I provided in a PM
Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of the process... I didn't want to push my luck and things are working now. But The photo I've attached was exactly what I was seeing except I was on the December update (Now I'm on the January update) ... and:
UFS: 128 GB Hynix
DRAM: 4096MB Micron LPDDR4
Device State: unlocked (I had been unlocked since April 2018)
Until I had entirely drained my battery, I couldn't do anything. Download mode and recovery mode were impossible to access. I forgot the specific error, but it was the same as a lot of other people who have been having this problem.
The only thing I could do was to restart bootloader, which removed the error message until I tried to do anything. I couldn't boot at all or do anything conducive to fixing my phone until I drained the battery entirely. I couldn't get any PCs to even acknowledge the existance of my phone until after the battery was drained.
Keep in mind, I NEVER got my RMA phone to work. I was only able to fix my original NEW phone that I had purchased directly from google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
omg after months of figuring it out ,and almost opt for warranty,finally my pixel is aliveeeee, thanks alot for the fix im so glad.. and whats more important for me is the data is still intact! i cant thank you enough.. google messed up december update pretty bad.

I just received my 4th RMA and the bootloader wasn't able to unlock. So to my surprise Google is giving me a full refund? I purchased my Pixel 2 back in Nov 2017 ?

Dajax2 said:
3. fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-walleye-mw8998-002.0073.02.img (or whatever image)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Dajax2 Super new to this and it may be a total waste since my bootloader screen says "Device State: locked" but in trying to flash or even sideload ota, the command returns "error: cannot load (file location/name): no such file or directory found". Again, total noob and I don't even know if I'm supposed to unzip the folder or not but have tried both ways with the same error.
It returns the serial number for fastboot devices but nothing for adb devices. I obviously didn't have OEM or USB debugging enabled prior. Hoping I can at least get in to retrieve data before giving up all hope :/

Solved. Enter barcode mode. In this screen, check for devices from adb or fastboot. It should be there. You are now able to switch slots and do all the fastboot things.

Great workaround that I would never have thought - good info here, thanks everyone!

dianea said:
Solved. Enter barcode mode. In this screen, check for devices from adb or fastboot. It should be there. You are now able to switch slots and do all the fastboot things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edit - My phone wasn't detected when on the barcode screen, just like from the main bootloader screen.
HOWEVER... to my surprise.. the above method of draining the battery completely to 0% actually worked. I'm a little dumbfounded why this allowed the bootloader to connect via fastboot again, but it did. I was able to flash the latest factory image (without wipe) and boot back up like nothing ever happened. Thank you so much for the tip. I passed this along to Google support and they also said they appreciate the troubleshooting and asked me to just send back the replacement phone with the RMA package/label.
---------- Post added at 06:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 PM ----------
thedude9821 said:
Keep in mind, I NEVER got my RMA phone to work. I was only able to fix my original NEW phone that I had purchased directly from google.
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Did they accept the RMA phone back and remove the temp auth on your card?

thedude9821 said:
I was having the exact same issue as OP. I wound up fixing it by entering fastboot and making it display barcodes until the battery died. Then I put a rubber band over the power button so the red led would blink (I wanted to completely drain the battery). When it stopped blinking, I hooked my dead phone up to my PC via a USB 3 port and held Power + vol down to boot into fastboot (the battery was still too low for the phone to boot normally -- it would just show the battery icon). Surprisingly, my PC recognized my phone (made the little USB sound) and I was able to fastboot flash-all the newest factory image on it!! No toolkits required!
I'm so happy because this was a last ditch effort before I sent my original phone back to google and would have to live with the RMA they sent me which could not be bootloader unlocked (this is a whole other issue!)
I hope this helps!
EDIT: Info I provided in a PM
Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of the process... I didn't want to push my luck and things are working now. But The photo I've attached was exactly what I was seeing except I was on the December update (Now I'm on the January update) ... and:
UFS: 128 GB Hynix
DRAM: 4096MB Micron LPDDR4
Device State: unlocked (I had been unlocked since April 2018)
Until I had entirely drained my battery, I couldn't do anything. Download mode and recovery mode were impossible to access. I forgot the specific error, but it was the same as a lot of other people who have been having this problem.
The only thing I could do was to restart bootloader, which removed the error message until I tried to do anything. I couldn't boot at all or do anything conducive to fixing my phone until I drained the battery entirely. I couldn't get any PCs to even acknowledge the existance of my phone until after the battery was drained.
Keep in mind, I NEVER got my RMA phone to work. I was only able to fix my original NEW phone that I had purchased directly from google.
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Dajax2 said:
This is the correct resolution to this issue.
I had the same issue, no usb in bootloader. I drained the phone and rebooted into the Bootloader flash A and B side bootloader the Aug 2018 (previously working for me) and A and B side Radio, as well as the System image. After that everything booted fine.
Attempted to install the January update the same way and it worked as well.
Seems like they messed up A and B side flashing
My steps::: For Lurkers having this issue.
1. Drain battery DEAD!
2. Boot Bootloader (Vol Down + Power)
3. fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-walleye-mw8998-002.0073.02.img (or whatever image)
3. fastboot set_active b (opposite of the one on screen)
4. fastboot reboot-bootloader
5. fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-walleye-mw8998-002.0073.02.img (or whatever image) (Again)
6. fastboot reboot-bootloader
7. fastboot flash radio radio-walleye-g8998-00253-1809191716.img (or whatever image)
8. fastboot set_active a (opposite of the one on screen)
9. fastboot reboot-bootloader
10. fastboot flash radio radio-walleye-g8998-00253-1809191716.img (or whatever image)
11. fastboot reboot-bootloader
12. fastboot update image-walleye-pq1a.190105.004.zip (or whatever image)
Phone boots properly, and is updated.
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Gifted both of you Ad-Free for this.
You saved me $300 and the annoyance of having to wait for shipping for either RMA or another phone on Swappa.