Database Info

Falcon down

Hi all,
I'm after some help with a 1st gen Moto G. It belonged to my mother, and was happily running CM for years before dying on her one day. She posted it back to me months ago...I failed to fix it then, and I'm not having much luck this time either.
It sits on the bootloader ok, and I can fastboot interact with it, but although attempts to revert to stock, or update TWRP etc look like they've worked, nothing ever changes. It's as if its storage has gone read-only.
CM is still there, but bootloops 9 times out of 10. Occasionally it'll start properly, before rebooting seconds later, probably because it can't write anything and it crashes out.
I can however, boot (not flash) the latest TWRP and play around with that, but even simple file operations like trying to delete anything fails ("process ended with ERROR 1"). I've tried clearing, factory resetting, reformatting, etc, but nothing has an effect. CM and the old files are all still there.
I don't need this phone, nor the files on it - it'll go in the trash if it can't be fixed - so not worried about damaging it any way in an attempt to revive it
Thanks

Everything you describe suggests Emmc corruption. Threads are created about it regularly. It's an issue that can effect any android phone, and while age could be the key factor - my launch-day Falcon has never had an issue. There is no cure.
However, try the below just in case I am wrong.
Flash the latest Factory Firmware Image for your model using mFastboot. If this is not successful, it would help to see a log of the flashing process. Copy and paste command prompt screen. Take screenshots if necessary.
mFastboot download: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347778493
Firmware Images: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g/general/index-moto-g-falcon-factory-firmware-t3110795
Fastboot Tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2542219​

lost101 said:
Everything you describe suggests Emmc corruption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, interesting. It's not something I've come across before, so it's good to at least know what's (probably) wrong with it.
lost101 said:
However, try the below just in case I am wrong.
Flash the latest Factory Firmware Image for your model using mFastboot. If this is not successful, it would help to see a log of the flashing process. Copy and paste command prompt screen. Take screenshots if necessary.​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if this was the best way, but I booted TWRP and attempted to install via ADB sideload (couldn't think of any other way to get the zip across).
fastboot transfered about 26% of the file before exiting.
TWRP reported:
Code:
installing zip file '/sideload/pacakge.zip'
>>> XT1032 Retail Europe 5.1 (Untouched) <<<
Installing Android
Please wait...
symlink: no of symlinks failed = 1
Updater process ended with ERROR: 7

imilne said:
Not sure if this was the best way, but I booted TWRP and attempted to install via ADB sideload (couldn't think of any other way to get the zip across).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do as I instructed to remove all doubt of Emmc corruption.

Apply Monthly System Update to Systemless Root ... REALITY CHECK!

Hi everyone
More than a question, I wanted to share some steps I plan to follow to apply the monthly system update and check I am on the right track. I had a Google Pixel 2 for a few months and I am learning more about the model every day.
Previously, I tried to follow different procedures found here on XDA such as applying OTA with boot images temporarily restored but I ended up with a bootloop not event TWRP could fix since all data was encrypted.
Objective:
Update the system to the latest Pixel 2 update (in this case Feb 2018) avoiding bootloops or bricks
Current Status:
Pixel 2 Walleye with Jan 2018 update
Rooted systemlessly with Magisk
No Magisk modules installed
/system modified since I have AdAway and other apps
No BusyBox installed
No Custom Recovery installed
Proposed steps:
Uninstall Magisk completely
Remove root apps from Device Admin (such as Greenify, Tasker, etc.)
Download latest factory image from Google
Extract the following from the image zip:
bootloader.img
radio.img
boot.img
dbto.img
cache.img
system.img
recovery.img​
Restart phone into booloader
Fastboot bootloader.img
Reboot the bootloader
Fastboot the following commands in this order:
radio.img
boot.img
dbto.img
cache.img
system.img
recovery.img​
Reboot phone
Install Magisk by patching boot
Re-run root apps (AdAway, etc.)
Renable root apps as Device Admin (Tasker, Greenify, etc.)
Is the above safe enough to avoid bootloop and also not lose apps and data installed?
I am aware any modifications to /system will be lost.
Have a look, let me know if on track, and if you want, give me your blessing.

Yesterday I used Dueces bootloop recovery script to update without losing anything.
I had magisk + TWRP installed
Download full update not OTA, extract to program tools directory or where you keep your goodies. Pull all factory update in folder with deuces recovery script.
From stk rooted ROM reboot bootloader,
Run dueces script from bootloader
After finished script No to format data
Reboot system when done.
From there you should be good to go, you will need to repatch but image in magisk and all that but i lost no data and had no issues
So I was on 1.171019.019 installed 1.172019.21 from fastboot with script and wiped nothing and lost nothing..
** My directions are probably incomplete so follow his instructions in his OP.

This has been discussed all over the place on the forums but you're over complicating the update process. Here's what you do:
Code:
Download the latest Pixel update
extract the update in your ADB folder on a computer
reboot to bootloader
look for the flash-all.bat and remove the -w at the bottom of that code, Save that file (the -w is what causes the device to be wiped)
run flash-all.bat
once that finishes you can fastboot boot twrp.img
it won't decrypt (Feb update broke TWRP decryption) but go read only and get into ADB Sideload mode
adb sideload kernel.zip
adb sideload magisk.zip
reboot
This is what I've done everytime (minus the adb sideload) and I have had zero issues. No loss of data being the biggest concern. Did this using the march update just yesterday and now I'm good to go.
It is worth saying when you start trying to flash (roms, kernels ect..) and you get a little crazy, Dueces Bootloop Recovery script is 100% something to have on deck if something /does/ go wrong.

nolimit78 said:
adb sideload kernel.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kernel.zip from where? The OTA? One you saved with TWRP on it?
I currently have TWRP and Magisk (default - nothing changed yet) installed on the February update. Is this going to be a monthly thing - flash the update, reinstall TWRP, reinstall Magisk? Not a complaint, just want to know what I'm doing. (Samsung, for all its faults, was a little easier after 6 years of not even having to look at what I was doing. I'll get comfortable with the Pixel, but this is my first update with TWRP and Magisk installed - it did the February update almost before I could read the screen.)

Rukbat said:
kernel.zip from where? The OTA? One you saved with TWRP on it?
I currently have TWRP and Magisk (default - nothing changed yet) installed on the February update. Is this going to be a monthly thing - flash the update, reinstall TWRP, reinstall Magisk? Not a complaint, just want to know what I'm doing. (Samsung, for all its faults, was a little easier after 6 years of not even having to look at what I was doing. I'll get comfortable with the Pixel, but this is my first update with TWRP and Magisk installed - it did the February update almost before I could read the screen.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The kernel.zip is whatever kernel you'd like to use (flash or elemental) but it's not required. I just rename for shorter commands for ADB Yes, you've hit the nail on the head. If you're going to be stock/rooted, you'll have to do this every month to stay current.

And we're still waiting for Dees_Troy to figure out how to add decryption back to TWRP, so it's reinstall everything - including fingerprints - every month. Oh, well. (Hey, no pressure, Dees_Troy - I appreciate just having TWRP on this thing.)

Rukbat said:
And we're still waiting for Dees_Troy to figure out how to add decryption back to TWRP, so it's reinstall everything - including fingerprints - every month. Oh, well. (Hey, no pressure, Dees_Troy - I appreciate just having TWRP on this thing.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my process outline, you don't have to remove fingerprints.

To boot to TWRP to handle files that you already copied to the phone? TWRP doesn't decrypt the names any more, does it? So all you see is garbage (encrypted hash, I guess). If I want to restore a backup I have to remove the PIN, which seems to remove the fingerprints. Or are you saying to restore the PIN and the fingerprints are still active?

Rukbat said:
To boot to TWRP to handle files that you already copied to the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this is only to apply the update and flash a custom kernel and magisk
Rukbat said:
TWRP doesn't decrypt the names any more, does it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it sure doesn't. This was caused by the Feb Update
Rukbat said:
If I want to restore a backup I have to remove the PIN, which seems to remove the fingerprints.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, to do anything in TWRP (outside of ADB Sideloading) you'll need to remove the PIN.

And evidently something else. I removed the PIN, updated, and the phone's been sitting on the G screen for half an hour. So I rebooted to the bootloader, locked it, and now I'm flashing 021. I have a bad feeling that I'm going to be stuck.
---------- Post added at 05:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:10 PM ----------
As I feared. So I followed Google's instructions to flash the factory image. It went fine, until I got:
Created filesystem with 11/7389184 inodes and 511894/29553659 blocks
Erase successful, but not automatically formatting.
Can't determine partition type.
FAILED (remote: GetVar Variable Not found)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then it wrote the system, but
writing 'system'...
OKAY [ -0.000s]
sending sparse 'system' (524284 KB)...
FAILED (remote: No such partition.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It never reboots. If I reboot at that point, I get the recovery screen.
If I reboot into the bootloader and lock it, I get the bootloader with "ERROR: LoadImageAndAuth Failed: Load Error" at the bottom.
I was able to load twrp.img and use it to sideload twrp.zip, but that still doesn't get me back to Android. I tried b ooting into A and B and got the same result - TWRP.
What next? Is there a fix, or does this one have to be replaced also?

Rukbat said:
And evidently something else. I removed the PIN, updated, and the phone's been sitting on the G screen for half an hour. So I rebooted to the bootloader, locked it, and now I'm flashing 021. I have a bad feeling that I'm going to be stuck.
---------- Post added at 05:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:10 PM ----------
As I feared. So I followed Google's instructions to flash the factory image. It went fine, until I got:
Then it wrote the system, but
It never reboots. If I reboot at that point, I get the recovery screen.
If I reboot into the bootloader and lock it, I get the bootloader with "ERROR: LoadImageAndAuth Failed: Load Error" at the bottom.
I was able to load twrp.img and use it to sideload twrp.zip, but that still doesn't get me back to Android. I tried b ooting into A and B and got the same result - TWRP.
What next? Is there a fix, or does this one have to be replaced also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh my gosh. Stop sending your phone back.
Update your platform-tools. Change cables. Change ports. Use the search function.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I'm not exactly new at this. Different cable, every USB port (including a 2.0 port, new download of both Google's driver and adb/fastboot, a new download of the firmware (and the sha256 is correct).
The next thing I'm going to try, as soon as I finish eating, is another computer. If that fails, and I'm pretty sure it will, I'll call Google tech support. Since it happened twice during an OTA, on two different phones, I may be able to get someone who knows how to feed the firmware into a nearly dead phone. I'm just looking for ideas I haven't had, when I post here. I'm about out of ideas. Again.

Evidently some computer manufacturers don't exactly build what they claim to build. My desktop has 2 USB 3.0 ports (which I already knew wouldn't work) and - supposedly - a USB 2.0 port. Flashing the firmware on the "2.0" port didn't work. Evidently it's not 2.0.
So I resurrected an old Windows 8.0 laptop. I think it has 0 cores running at 0MHz - it's SLOW! But it finally flashed the February update. Tomorrow (it's going on midnight here, and the phone is still downloading the last Google backup) I'll update to March.
Madness - but at least I have a working phone, and know how to get it working again if I need to (and have a few lifetimes to do it). And I have another laptop in the closet that actually works. That one gets resurrected next.

So what you're experiencing isn't new or an issue with your phone that you'd need to RMA the device. It's a learning curve because the A/B partitions are a completely different beast compared to older/other Android devices. Use Duece's Bootloop Recovery script to fix your problems. It'll work and you'll be good to go. Just be sure not to wipe. During my testing, I had to figure out all this myself and was /REALLY/ close to RMA'ing my device. But I continued to research and plugging away and found that that script helps users in your situation, as I've been in that very same situation myself.

No, it's a learning curve because, even though the USB ports on the back of the case are labeled 2.0, and have black plastic, they act like 3.0 ports with a Pixel 2. Doing exactly what both I and Google tech support did with the supposed 2.0 ports, on the aging laptop with real 2.0 ports, solved the "problem" that both Google and I were having. The phone was fine, what we were doing was right, the Acer desktop has a documentation error, and that was the only problem. (Even Google didn't seem to be aware of the USB 3.0/Pixel2 incompatibility, which many of the people in the Pixel 2 forums at XDA are.)

Follow the guide in my signature, it works, and you don't have to muck around with removing PINs and fingerprints.

Thanks for paying attention, but what really bothers me is having to remove the fingerprints in order to do a backup or restore in TWRP. I'm used to just booting to it and flashing a backup if I need it for some reason. If only Google would leave the fingerprint file alone when we went to None for the lock screen, just putting the PIN back would bring the fingerprints back. There's really no reason to delete that file. Maybe delete individual prints at the user's discretion (like changing passwords every once in a while), but not delete the whole thing just because I want to back up my current configuration.

What I do is uninstall Magisk. Then do the normal update from the update page in settings. After this I copy Magisk zip file to a usb drive. I boot into twrp using ADB. It doesn't decrypt but that doesn't matter. Use the USB as storage and install Magisk zip file through TWRP. Reboot and you are done updating with Magisk installed.

That sounds like an easy way of doing it, but doesn't the update balk at the patched boot file? Mine balked at something yesterday, which is what started all the mess yesterday. (Or does Magisk have a "remove and replace the boot file" button?)

nolimit78 said:
This has been discussed all over the place on the forums but you're over complicating the update process. Here's what you do:
Code:
Download the latest Pixel update
extract the update in your ADB folder on a computer
reboot to bootloader
look for the flash-all.bat and remove the -w at the bottom of that code, Save that file (the -w is what causes the device to be wiped)
run flash-all.bat
once that finishes you can fastboot boot twrp.img
it won't decrypt (Feb update broke TWRP decryption) but go read only and get into ADB Sideload mode
adb sideload kernel.zip
adb sideload magisk.zip
reboot
This is what I've done everytime (minus the adb sideload) and I have had zero issues. No loss of data being the biggest concern. Did this using the march update just yesterday and now I'm good to go.
It is worth saying when you start trying to flash (roms, kernels ect..) and you get a little crazy, Dueces Bootloop Recovery script is 100% something to have on deck if something /does/ go wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the feedback!
One question I had for a while: flashing the data.img wipes what? Doesn't it wipe the apps you have installed?

I messed up with Huawei Mate 9. Please Help.

Guys i have a really really big problem with mate 9 (MHA-L29). I broke both twrp and system same time (please don't ask why.)
Now, my phone don't open, just fastboot&rescue mode, useless huawei recovery (which can't format data neither install stock rom). Besides, i can't install stock rom because i tried once, and i downloaded wrong system file, and i can't format the phone now. Because of that, stock rom that i download sd card not working too. Because there is a dload file in phone.
worst of all, i can't install twrp again, because my fastboot screen tell me that: "Phone Unloced" (with red) "FRP Lock" (with green). When i try to install twrp, adb says "Failed, remote command not allowed"
Now, if can install the twrp, all my problems will be solve. There is 1 custom rom (RomAur) and 1 system backup.
How can i install twrp with this situation?

Please someone help me i spend 2 days and still nothing! How can i open this phone? Stock rom, with/without root, custom rom whatever, just tell me how can i open this phone

up

You get that command when trying to flash the wrong recovery partition, was your room nougat or Oreo based?? If nougat it's fastboot flash recovery recovery.img and Oreo fastboot flash recovery_ramdisk recovery.img I think you are trying to flash the wrong partition

shae23 said:
You get that command when trying to flash the wrong recovery partition, was your room nougat or Oreo based?? If nougat it's fastboot flash recovery recovery.img and Oreo fastboot flash recovery_ramdisk recovery.img I think you are trying to flash the wrong partition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, my twrp is not wrong, i installed before, and i used long time, till broken. I installed wrong twrp recovery over correct recovery (i was trying to chance recovery because project treble). Thats why my twrp broken. Now i try to correct one, but adb says "not allowed". My custom rom nougat based.

cannurkars said:
No, my twrp is not wrong, i installed before, and i used long time, till broken. I installed wrong twrp recovery over correct recovery (i was trying to chance recovery because project treble). Thats why my twrp broken. Now i try to correct one, but adb says "not allowed". My custom rom nougat based.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With FRP lock you'll have to use DC-Phoenix.
But it costs €19 (For 3 days usage).
Simply put you can bypass FRP with it by force closing DC-Phoenix when it has activated the backdoor, after this you can flash anything from fastboot (until you reboot).
So you could use it to flash back TWRP.
Or you can use it to install stock firmware

ante0 said:
With FRP lock you'll have to use DC-Phoenix.
But it costs €19 (For 3 days usage).
Simply put you can bypass FRP with it by force closing DC-Phoenix when it has activated the backdoor, after this you can flash anything from fastboot (until you reboot).
So you could use it to flash back TWRP.
Or you can use it to install stock firmware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try it. Thank you very much.

cannurkars said:
Guys i have a really really big problem with mate 9 (MHA-L29). I broke both twrp and system same time (please don't ask why.)
Now, my phone don't open, just fastboot&rescue mode, useless huawei recovery (which can't format data neither install stock rom). Besides, i can't install stock rom because i tried once, and i downloaded wrong system file, and i can't format the phone now. Because of that, stock rom that i download sd card not working too. Because there is a dload file in phone.
worst of all, i can't install twrp again, because my fastboot screen tell me that: "Phone Unloced" (with red) "FRP Lock" (with green). When i try to install twrp, adb says "Failed, remote command not allowed"
Now, if can install the twrp, all my problems will be solve. There is 1 custom rom (RomAur) and 1 system backup.
How can i install twrp with this situation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
During startup the menu there is a option to go in Huawei e-recovery, when you are at the start up menu hold volume up for about 5 second.

ConnerZhao929 said:
During startup the menu there is a option to go in Huawei e-recovery, when you are at the start up menu hold volume up for about 5 second.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it wasn't work for me. But thank for your attention. I'm glad to find a good person to help me and my problem solved about 1-2 hour ago.

Special Request
Hey ante . Is it possible to help me ? I rooted my phone 2 days back and messed it up while downloading a framework app which ended me up in a bootloop. I have been reading and following your posts of you helping others. I don't really get the steps what I should follow.
My phone is unlocked. FRP shows Unlock.
Rooted on oreo and I tried e-recovery and fastboot steps you mentioned in other threads using kernel and ramdisk etc. ( After this I have lost access to TWRP and I am simply getting EMUI Screen with options for Factory Data Reset and Wipe Cache Partition. I don't know where it is going to lead me next :-/.
Also downloaded Huawei Extractor and tried to extracted specific files but the firmware file I have doesn't have CUST.img file.
Also the site link you mentioned for download firmware is in some other language and I am unable to search for my firmware.
I also tried the placing update file in the dload on my sd card but fails at 5%. The file was correct and I am sure I did'n download the wrong firmware.
Currently it shows this on the fastboot screen.
Andorid reboot reason
: AP_S_ABNORMAL 32
NA
Just don't know what I should be doing ? PLEASE HELP BRO?
ante0 said:
With FRP lock you'll have to use DC-Phoenix.
But it costs €19 (For 3 days usage).
Simply put you can bypass FRP with it by force closing DC-Phoenix when it has activated the backdoor, after this you can flash anything from fastboot (until you reboot).
So you could use it to flash back TWRP.
Or you can use it to install stock firmware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

AniMaL92 said:
Hey ante . Is it possible to help me ? I rooted my phone 2 days back and messed it up while downloading a framework app which ended me up in a bootloop. I have been reading and following your posts of you helping others. I don't really get the steps what I should follow.
My phone is unlocked. FRP shows Unlock.
Rooted on oreo and I tried e-recovery and fastboot steps you mentioned in other threads using kernel and ramdisk etc. ( After this I have lost access to TWRP and I am simply getting EMUI Screen with options for Factory Data Reset and Wipe Cache Partition. I don't know where it is going to lead me next :-/.
Also downloaded Huawei Extractor and tried to extracted specific files but the firmware file I have doesn't have CUST.img file.
Also the site link you mentioned for download firmware is in some other language and I am unable to search for my firmware.
I also tried the placing update file in the dload on my sd card but fails at 5%. The file was correct and I am sure I did'n download the wrong firmware.
Currently it shows this on the fastboot screen.
Andorid reboot reason
: AP_S_ABNORMAL 32
NA
Just don't know what I should be doing ? PLEASE HELP BRO?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's your firmware now?
You can get that info in Fastboot using
Code:
fastboot oem get-product-model
fastboot oem get-build-number
Since your recovery and fastboot still functions you probably will only need to use HWOTA to get back to stock.
It can be found here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-9/how-to/guide-mate-9-flash-oreo-update-package-t3699522
But post your cust/build before proceeding.
Also cust.img is found in UPDATE.APP in the hw data zip.

Problem Solved - Somewhat
Hey ante. Thanks for the promt reply. I got it solved by using CHIMERA tool.
Would like to suggest others also stuck with same issue to use CHIMERA.
Note - It is a paid tool and 100% legit and it can help with all problems related to FRP, Bootloader Lock / Unlock & also flashes back to factory firmware.
However what I am facing now I have flashed another version of firmware which isn't my region and some features of my phone like fingerprint scanner and other things are not working but phone is back to live. So Im glad and looking forward to searching for clean Oreo Firmware for my region to flash using CHIMERA Again.
Also, the sick and stupid part of it. I went to the service center and a person non-technical told me straight that you lost your device and it's of no use now. We cannot fix such issues 99% but I'll still ask my team and let you know after 3 days.
Thank God I didn give them and wasted my time and money.
As soon as I returned, I followed up to things and got it done myself. :good:
Anybody can possibly suggest a official firmware Oreo EMUI for Middle East Region!? If not which one can be flashed instead and where to download from?

[GUIDE] Getting started - Unlock->TWRP->root->OTA updates

As there seems to be no such guide yet and it took me quite a while to get all this information together, I thought of giving back something by putting information together for others to start.
This guide is meant for the CLT-L29 (dual SIM). Rebranding and switching your CLT-L09 (single SIM) to dual is not subject of this guide and is not adviced.
This is for a Huawei P20 Pro CLT-L29 with factory reset. Please bear with me if there really is a step missing as I try to reproduce this for the documentation with an already bootloader unlocked and previously rooted phone (root should be gone after [factory] resetting via eRecovery).
A collection of all tools used can be found here.
As always, you are doing this on your own risk, no one else can be held responsible for this.
Cheat sheet
eRecovery
The recovery sitting in the "recovery" partition. eRecovery is Huawei's recovery that is able to fix your phone by downloading the latest OTA update via WiFi if you got stuck in a boot loop for several reasons.
To boot into eRecovery:
Power down your phone (if you are stuck in a boot loop simply continue with the next step).
Hold volume up until you end up in eRecovery.
Setup your WiFi access and let it recover your phone.
If unsure, "wipe data/factory reset" to get rid of any leftovers you messed up.
Reboot and be happy that you have not fully bricked your phone.
TWRP
The recovery typically flashed to the "recovery_ramdisk" partition. TeamWin Recovery Project is what you typically use to flash ROMs, to root the phone and to install OTA updates.
Do NOT flash TWRP into "recovery" partition or you will lose eRecovery and the ability to easily recover your semi-bricked phone via WiFi!
To boot into TWRP (once flashed):
Power down your phone (if you are stuck in a boot loop simply continue with the next step).
Hold volume up and power until you end up in TWRP.
Unlock your bootloader
Get your bootloader unlock code from here https://emui.huawei.com/en/unlock_detail (available until mid of July I think). Some report to have to wait 24/48h to get their code via mail, I got mine directly.
Register via mail and do not get confused that you can not select USA or Germany or whatever country, simply use location Hong Kong.
Make sure you select "EMUI above 5.0" when entering your phone data (P20 Pro comes with EMUI 8.x).
Connect your phone via ADB. There are tons of HowTos about this, so I will not be covering this here.
Use Tool All In One to check that you can talk to your device via ADB. It will also help you installing the correct ADB USB drivers.
Unlock your bootloader using Tool All In One.
Reboot back into system.
Flash TWRP
Make sure no lock screen or other locking is set:
"Settings > Security": Remove fingerprint, face or password locking, simply set to none.
Enter developer mode, should already been done for unlocking the bootloader.
Setting > System > Developer options: Disable the display lock.
Download latest ADB & Fastboot as I will continue with the rest on command line.
Verify connection to your phone with "adb devices", this should list your phone.
Reboot into fastboot by using "adb reboot bootloader".
Verify connection to your phone with "fastboot devices", this should list your phone.
Flash TWRP by Pretoriano80 with "fastboot flash recovery_ramdisk twrp_clt_0.1.img". This TWRP is able to access the encrypted internal storage! TWRP is flashed to "recovery_ramdisk". This ensures that you can still access eRecovery if something goes wrong.
Remove the USB cable.
Reboot into TWRP. If you do not boot directly into TWRP the Huawei eRecovery might replace TWRP again. Once you booted into TWRP you are fine for future reboots.
Use "Keep Read Only" for the system partition.
Make a backup!!!
Backup your phone to internal storage (USB stick via USB-OTG adapter failed for me):
Select "Backup".
Tick all partitions (scroll down and tick all).
Swipe to Backup.
Select "Reboot System", "Do Not Install".
Back in Android make a copy of your backup located in your internal storage "/TWRP/" to an external location like your PC. Keep the backup on your phone to be able to go back quickly to this point via TWRP.
Root the stock ROM
Place "Magisk-v16.4-Beta.zip" onto the internal storage.
Power off the phone and remove the USB cable.
Boot into TWRP.
Install root and Magisk Manager:
Select "Install".
Select "Magisk-v16.4-Beta.zip"
Tick "Reboot after installation is complete".
Swipe to confirm Flash.
Select "Do Not Install".
Back in Android start "Magisk Manager" and check that it is green and therefore rooted.
Install an OTA (Over The Air) stock update
PC method
Method involving ADB based on this guide.
First make sure no OTA update gets installed automatically as this will end up in booting into TWRP and failing with the update.
Go to "Settings > System > System Update".
Open the three dots menu on the top right and select "Update Settings".
Disable automatic update download via WiFi as once updates are downloaded the phone will bug you to update and maybe tries to update itself during the night!
Start in Android but do not download the OTA update yet.
Verify connection to your phone with "adb devices", this should list your phone.
Reboot into fastboot by using "adb reboot bootloader".
Verify connection to your phone with "fastboot devices", this should list your phone.
Flash "recovery_ramdisk_nocheckP20.img" with "fastboot flash recovery_ramdisk recovery_ramdisk_nocheckP20.img". For official OTA updates that you would regularly get, the "nocheck" feature should not be needed but does not harm. This will remove TWRP and you have to flash it again after the OTA update has finished.
Reboot into Android by using "fastboot reboot".
Remove the USB cable.
Download your OTA update via "Settings > System > System Update".
Let the phone reboot to install the OTA update and follow the update until you are back in Android with your new firmware version.
Install TWRP and root again.
Standalone method
Deprecated/wrong method based on this guide.
Read first!!!
While this method should do no harm it will only ever update to CLT-L29 8.1.0.128a(C432) [hw/eu] as this is what is inside the file "update.zip" that you can currently download and that gets installed by "HuRUpdater_0.3.zip" in the same folder. This was not clearly explained in the source thread, therefore sorry about this wrong information. If you intend to update to this stock ROM continue, otherwise use the "PC method".
I will check about the best way to install OTA updates without PC interaction in the next couple of days (currently waiting for 130+ getting rolled out for me for some investigations regarding the OTA process).
First make sure no OTA update gets installed automatically as this will end up in booting into TWRP and failing with the update.
Go to "Settings > System > System Update".
Open the three dots menu on the top right and select "Update Settings".
Disable automatic update download via WiFi as once updates are downloaded the phone will bug you to update and maybe tries to update itself during the night!
Place the following files into a folder on the internal storage (for sure not all are required but this is part of the little information not clear right now):
"HuRUpdater_0.3.zip"
"recovery.img"
"update.zip"
"update_all_hw.zip"
"update_data_public.zip"
Go to "Settings > System > System Update" and check for an update.
Download the OTA update.
Do not reboot when prompted.
Make sure no lock screen or other locking is set:
"Settings > Security": Remove fingerprint, face or password locking, simply set to none.
Enter developer mode, should already been done for unlocking the bootloader.
Setting > System > Developer options: Disable the display lock.
Power down the phone.
Boot into TWRP.
Install "HuRUpdater_0.3.zip". Do not get irritated if it tells you it is for CLT-L09 instead of CLT-L29, everything is fine.
Wipe dalvik cache before rebooting.
Reboot back into Android.
Check "Magisk Manager" to see if root got removed. TWRP might get removed as well. If TWRP or root got removed, repeat the install for one or both like before.
In my case only root got removed but TWRP was kept functional. If this is the case for you as well, simply flash "Magisk-v16.4-Beta.zip" via TWRP again.
Changelog
2018-06-21
Updated/corrected wrong information collected about installing OTA updates standalone (without PC). Until further notice use the PC method.

Great post. Thank you

Very good post!
Thank you to collect all this important info!
[emoji481]
P20 Pro & Tapatalk

can i use your step above to rebranding from L29c636 to l29c432? Thanks

Barcovn said:
can i use your step above to rebranding from L29c636 to l29c432? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure, not tested and not topic of this thread.
For my understanding, why do you want to rebrand it to C432 which is the region code as far as I understand.
Is there a BIG benefit of getting OTA updates earlier or why do you want to mess around with it ?

Xcelsior said:
Not sure, not tested and not topic of this thread.
For my understanding, why do you want to rebrand it to C432 which is the region code as far as I understand.
Is there a BIG benefit of getting OTA updates earlier or why do you want to mess around with it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, i mean change the region code. as i use the p20 pro since April, newer firmware ususal fix/improve performance for phone or camera. however it seem the c636 update is much slower then C432. currently i have problem with facebook lagging which inhope newer firmware fix it

This is good! I'll sticky it when I get a chance later tonight. I'm mobile atm

Maybe I'm missing something.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hu...de-how-to-root-debrand-remove-retail-t3788326
It's been here for some time.
Nothing wrong with your guide it's decent but the info provided is actually already here mate.
Root, twrp, de-brand, OTA, it's all there

dladz said:
Maybe I'm missing something.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hu...de-how-to-root-debrand-remove-retail-t3788326
It's been here for some time.
Nothing wrong with your guide it's decent but the info provided is actually already here mate.
Root, twrp, de-brand, OTA, it's all there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They're a bit different. The debrand thread is obviously good but much more specific to debranding. This is a more generic for general How-To's

dladz said:
Maybe I'm missing something.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hu...de-how-to-root-debrand-remove-retail-t3788326
It's been here for some time.
Nothing wrong with your guide it's decent but the info provided is actually already here mate.
Root, twrp, de-brand, OTA, it's all there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was reading this one as well but like matt4321 already said, it is actually for a different purpose.
And even the "ROOT ONLY" instructions are either widespread over the whole P20 Pro forum, incomplete or even outdated:
Linking to other threads with endless, partly revised instructions (on page n of the thread).
Referring to wrong official TWRP that can not use internal storage.
Hard to understand for beginners on this device (not even talking about someone who is entirely new to all of this).
Missing steps or expecting that you have already successfully flashed your first ROM (talking about advanced things like rebranding).
Don't get me wong, I am used to read a lot when it comes to custom ROMs (if you check the old part of my signature you can see that I am not actually a newbie here and my roots actually reach back to when all of the Android stuff startet at all, back when XDAs flashed HTC HD2 WinMo to Android). However I really missed a guide that actually collects all the basic information for beginners without going off roads too early.

These are more or less the steps I'm used to when I owned my nexus phones.
I have some questions:
If I root my phone and install, let's say adaway, will I be able to receive OTA? Or I will have to flash a new image manually?
If after root I relock bootloader, will I be able to unlock it again later for further modding?
This method implies that I can return to stock anytime and relock bootloader?
Thanks for the guide and answers , great job

mangusZen said:
If I root my phone and install, let's say adaway, will I be able to receive OTA? Or I will have to flash a new image manually?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, exactly what I am doing. I need root for some apps and besides that I am happy with the stock OTA ROM, at least for the moment. OTA updates work fine so far.
The only thing as explained in my guide is that OTA updates will fail as they boot into TWRP instead of original fastboot. Therefore you need to explicitly boot into TWRP and install the downloaded OTA update with "HuRUpdater_0.3.zip".
mangusZen said:
If after root I relock bootloader, will I be able to unlock it again later for further modding?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I have read so far re-locking your bootloader is not advised. You seem to be unable to unlock it again or at least need to request another unlock code from Huawei.
At least this is my understanding of the situation so far.
mangusZen said:
This method implies that I can return to stock anytime and relock bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Returning to stock is even easier if you keep eRecovery working as explained in the guide (flashing TWRP only to recovery_ramdisk partition). With eRecovery you can wipe TWRP and root and let eRecovery download and install the latest official stock ROM.
Regarding the bootloader re-locking, see my answer above.

Xcelsior said:
Yes, exactly what I am doing. I need root for some apps and besides that I am happy with the stock OTA ROM, at least for the moment. OTA updates work fine so far.
The only thing as explained in my guide is that OTA updates will fail as they boot into TWRP instead of original fastboot. Therefore you need to explicitly boot into TWRP and install the downloaded OTA update with "HuRUpdater_0.3.zip".
From what I have read so far re-locking your bootloader is not advised. You seem to be unable to unlock it again or at least need to request another unlock code from Huawei.
At least this is my understanding of the situation so far.
Returning to stock is even easier if you keep eRecovery working as explained in the guide (flashing TWRP only to recovery_ramdisk partition). With eRecovery you can wipe TWRP and root and let eRecovery download and install the latest official stock ROM.
Regarding the bootloader re-locking, see my answer above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so to install OTA I have to use hurupdater method and flash the OTA package manually.
For what I read and understood, but I may be wrong, the problem with relocking bootloader is encountered by who used the funkyhuawei method, that alters bootloader in some way, especially to achive the mono sim - dual sim switch.
With this you cant for now re unlock the bootloader again.
But I could be wrong and be like that for everyone, will see if someone will come up with some clarifications.
It would be nice to have the ability to return to stock, lock bootloader and use warranty
[emoji14]
Thanks for your work and answers

mangusZen said:
Ok, so to install OTA I have to use hurupdater method and flash the OTA package manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that is basically what "HuRUpdater_0.3.zip" will do, it will flash/install an OTA update that has previously been downloaded.
Wipe cache afterwards and be happy with your new up to date stock ROM version.

Xcelsior said:
Yes, that is basically what "HuRUpdater_0.3.zip" will do, it will flash/install an OTA update that has previously been downloaded.
Wipe cache afterwards and be happy with your new up to date stock ROM version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to rename the downloaded OTA packages for huru to work, right?

mangusZen said:
I have to rename the downloaded OTA packages for huru to work, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not for me. Just downloaded the OTA update via the EMUI system menu in Android, rebooted into TWRP and installed (aka executed) HuRu.
HuRu did the rest for me.
Tested with 120 -> 128 OTA update.

Hi It is late at night and I am not sure if I typed fastboot flash recovery twrp_clt_0.1.img instead off fastboot flash recovery_ramdisk twrp_clt_0.1.img. How can I make sure I still have erecovery? super newbie to android rooting, please help Thank you

Amowiel said:
Hi It is late at night and I am not sure if I typed fastboot flash recovery twrp_clt_0.1.img instead off fastboot flash recovery_ramdisk twrp_clt_0.1.img. How can I make sure I still have erecovery? super newbie to android rooting, please help Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simplest way would be to try to boot into eRocovery:
Power off the phone.
Power on the phone until you see the "you are a baddy because you unlocked your bootloader" screen.
Hold volume up (you can already hold it when powering on the phone) until you end up in eRecovery or TWRP.
If you end up in TWRP it should still be possible to recover your eRecovery with a proper backup of the "recovery" partition from any other P20 Pro.

Xcelsior said:
Simplest way would be to try to boot into eRocovery:
Power off the phone.
Power on the phone until you see the "you are a baddy because you unlocked your bootloader" screen.
Hold volume up (you can already hold it when powering on the phone) until you end up in eRecovery or TWRP.
If you end up in TWRP it should still be possible to recover your eRecovery with a proper backup of the "recovery" partition from any other P20 Pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you so much for such a quick reply, can confirm that my brain was not so fried and I didn't wipe my ercovery
thank you for your amazing guide, everything worked perfectly

mangusZen said:
Ok, so to install OTA I have to use hurupdater method and flash the OTA package manually.
For what I read and understood, but I may be wrong, the problem with relocking bootloader is encountered by who used the funkyhuawei method, that alters bootloader in some way, especially to achive the mono sim - dual sim switch.
With this you cant for now re unlock the bootloader again.
But I could be wrong and be like that for everyone, will see if someone will come up with some clarifications.
It would be nice to have the ability to return to stock, lock bootloader and use warranty
[emoji14]
Thanks for your work and answers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually you don't in some cases, if your simply rooted with twrp and you want to install an OTA that's been advertised to your device. All you need to do is install the nocheck recovery IMG and then take the update, reinstall twrp and magisk after the update and you're done.
If it's an update that's not advertised to your device yet then hur updater is the way.

Help me fix my Honor 6X bricked with HWOTA8 [10$ reward for the winner]

Hey yall,
so I finally managed to successfully brick my honor :laugh:
Everything was pretty much fine, I was messing with trying different ROMs. Then I used the "Change location" option in HWOTA8 (it probably flashed some extra files) and my systems "erecovery" or something likely essential "dissappeared".
Fastboot works, I tried flashing 'system' and recovery images with no success. It won't accept TWRP or any other image as I get "partition size get error"
When I try to boot into recovery or system, I get the error
Error Mode message: Func no 11 [recovery image], Error NO 2 [load failed]
I tried dload methods with (B132, B340 and some other versions, I get the Error Mode anyway)
What I think is the core of the problem could be one of following:
boot.img,
erecovery
frp
I get a boot loop no matter what I do.
The phone model is BLN-L22 indian (debranded from BLN-L21) and the last flashed ROM was Oreo
The FRP and Bootloader are unlocked.
I think it could work if I'd flash every partition, but it doesn't seem to work with images I got from "update.app"
Could you recommend me some repair/flashing tools/flashing files?
Any help in the investigation is greatly appreciated

Update: Just bought DC Phoneix
Now I managed able to boot into the "update via usb" screen. (with the help of DC Phoneix)
I can access adb, altho I cannot use adb shell, because it cannot access /bin/sh
Does having access to adb give me any advantage?

Solved using this <3. Now I'm at android 4
https://forum.xda-developers.com/honor-6x/how-to/guide-unbrick-honor6x-boot-fastboot-t3904381