Related
Please could someone help ! I'm trying to unlock my XT1032. I have the correct Sim-Unlock (network unlock) code from my old telco, but... it won't work because the phone is rooted, bootloader unlocked (S-ON) running CM13.
I figured that returning it to a stock build would allow me to unlock the phone, then I could re-root and return to CM13 on my new network.
However..... there are about a dozen guides on returning a Moto G to stock and the first one I tried left the phone stuck on the 'Warning: Bootloader is unlocked' message. Since then, I've tried several other guides and have got nowhere fast. I've been on this for four hours now and the only thing I seem to be able achieve is to get TWRP or CWM recovery on there by flashing from fastboot. Every other image I try either gives 'preflash validation failed' messages, sticks on the Bootloader Unlocked screen or gets it stuck in a bootloop!
I just want to switch networks... Why is this so bloody difficult ?
What Firmware did your XT1032 originally come with? or which Carrier?
Kitkat I think, and it's Tesco (UK).
I subsequently did the OTA update to Lollipop and then.... WHOAAAAA.... hold on... it's booting !!!
I don't know how, or what I've done to get this far, but the only thing I can think of that's changed is that the battery is now at 100% charge. It appears as though it's successfully flashed the 5.1 untouched ROM from http://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/?id=7981#downloads
But, I've tried flashing that loads of times this evening and it's failed everytime.
Having said that it's booting, it's sitting here on the Motorola logo - and it hasn't got that far in the last five hours.... I'll be back shortly !
Update: It worked ! It completed the boot, I put the new SIM in, it asked for the unlock code and this time it worked OK. Now I'm tackling putting CM13 back on it. I think I'll stick with TWRP rather than CWM recovery, as long as TWRP can handle the automatic updating for the CM nightlies.
I have no idea what went wrong there - maybe it was just that the battery had to be at 100% ?? Who knows... Thankfully I doubt I'll be tackling that again !
I don't know if things have changed, but I would be careful with OTA Updates in CM. People have hard-bricked (phone is effectively destroyed) applying updates in this way. I also suggest you avoid official Motorola updates, rather use the factory firmware images available here: (which already include the content of OTA Updates)
[INDEX] Moto G [Falcon][Peregrine] Factory Firmware Images​
Thanks for replying anyway mate. In the end, it's all good now. Unlocked and back on CM13 and on my new network !
Ahhh... not so good after all. The phone reboots every time you try to uninstall an app. I've tried flashing back to CM12.1, the latest stable release, and it does the same, so I've obviously screwed something up along the way.
Could someone help me flatten this thing completely and get it working normally please?
I've tried reflashing loads of times, even tried Cyanogen Recovery instead of TWRP but nothing I do gets rid of this reboot problem.
Can anyone assist please?
OK, so I've followed the procedure detailed here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g/development/rom-stock-motorola-lollipop-rom-t3017510 and flashed the Untouched 5.0.2. EU Stock ROM successfully, but it still reboots when you try to uninstall any app.
Whatever it is that's causing this is not getting overwritten by the flashing procedures I'm using is it ?
HELP !!!!!
@aneng64 - You have not done what I told you to do. Read my post again.
Yes I did... and I still had the same problem. It was only once I stopped trying to flash zips from TWRP and used mfastboot to flash the whole set individually (non-hlos, motoboot etc) that I got it to behave. The issue, incidentally, seemed to be the same one mentioned elsewhere here that also causes settings to crash when you try to go into settings, security.
Once it was stable with a stock ROM, I was able to flash CM13 again and it's now sorted. Thanks for your help anyway.
I have an HTC One M9 (Sprint) software version 2.11.651.19 (OPJA2) with Android v5.1
Within the last couple months I unlocked the devices bootloader, and rooted it. Last night I left the phone under my laptop and I'm thinking it got way way way too hot, somehow the thing is still alive, however when I went to turn it on in the morning, I had no wifi or cellular capabilities. At first I assumed this was a hardware issue, however I then unrooted the device on a whim, and this fixed it (Until I turned it off again, to my dismay).
I'm thinking somehow my phone overheated (Which explains why my battery life won't go over 47%) and somehow my flash memory must have been corrupted because I can no longer boot into recovery mode, which is my serious catch 22. Since I figure this is some issue related to my firmware, which I would LIKE to reflash (This is my goal here). To my dismay, in order to flash a stock RUU or firmware to the device, you must have your bootloader relocked. However in order to relock your bootloader you must have root, and like an idiot I unrooted it. I can't reinstall SuperSU through my TWRP recovery because my phone refuses to boot into recovery mode. I attempted to re-flash TWRP to the device through download mode, the flashing is completed successfully, however I still cannot boot into my recovery. To break it down simply:
-Want to reflash stock firmware
-Must have root to reflash stock firmware/RUU
-Don't have root because I uninstalled it
-Can't re-root because my recovery is corrupted
-Can't re-flash TWRP (Already tried and it's not working)
-Can't re-root because I can't flash TWRP
-Can't reflash stock firmware because I can't disable it with root
Regardless of this I attempted to use adb and echo to relock the bootloader however instead of getting # I get $, so I'm not really able to do this either. Is there ANY way I can repair my recovery, has anyone ever run into an issue like this before? Or am I just completely screwed, hahaha.
Do you think I might be able to reflash Android V5.1 to try and fix the corruption and then maybe that would allow me to get into recovery mode so I can flash Super SU so I can at least factory reset my device with TWRP, or possible reload stock firmware and factory reset from there?
Thanks guys for any help you can provide.
*EDIT
If anyone wants to provide any advice great, but for now I'm going to try using HTC Sync Manager to load Marshmallow (v6.0) onto the HTC and see if this may allow me to actually get into recovery mode. Downloading the file from here: *nevermind can't post links yet, under 10 posts, you can find it on HTC's website* (This is for the HTC One M9, Sprint) in case anyone else EVER has to run into this awful issue, lol.
Moderators please feel free to update the thread to SOLVED status, I was able to update my phone to marshmallow to resolve the issue. This time around I WILL be backing up my phone, probably not going to root it this time around either, I have like 3 other phones so I'll just root them instead, lol. If you would like the download link I am happy to provide it VIA PM so you can update my OP with the link for the full fix. My phone is able to get wifi and texts now without an issue, unfortunately all my data is wiped but honestly I don't really care!!
Thanks everyone!
Good job on solving your issue.
If you have further questions or want to help out others, you can do so here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sprint-one-m9/help
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sprint-one-m9
Thread closed
Hello. This looks like the place I can get the best help.
Got a Xiaomi Mi5 last week - cheap and very cheerful. Having read online about possible fake roms and bloatware I thought the safest option would be to load the official stable rom to be safe.
Attempt 1
Following the MIUI guidance I downloaded the ROM, copied it to my phone in Windows explorer and then used the MIUI updater tool within the phone to load the new ROM.
http://en.miui.com/a-232.html
Everything went swimmingly for a couple of hours, but then the phone began crashing.
Attempt 2
By this stage I realised the above method was no longer available to me. So I got unlocking privalidges, unlocked my phone. Then, using MiFlash I flashed the latest ROM to the phone. Now the crashing problems happen within about a minute. It actually froze the screen first time round so I did it again.
Added fun issue - left my phone on overnight to charge. And it had stopped charging at 58%.
Attempt 3
Downloaded the EU MIUI Rom. Accessed TWRP in my phone and tried to use it to wipe and install. Not sure the wipes were fully effective - got a lot of red writing. And when I went to install the new ROM the internal storage was 0MB.
Had a look at guidance, and I forget what I did, but was finally able to see the zip file on my phone through TWRP. I got the "7" error. Have read how to fix this but seems too risky considering whats gone before.
Desired solution
I would just like any ROM on my phone which works. Don't really care which, I have followed each guide religiously. It may well just be a faulty phone but I don't want to send it back to China without ruling out the problem being me screwing with the software. Especially as I assume i've technically voided warranty... (I can reload Global Developer and relock it though so have hidden it pretty well. Only difference I can tell is that I now get a menu in recovery mode when before I got instruction to go to PCsuite).
Also - I seem to remember there originally being a downloaded_rom file in the internal memory which is no longer there. If im sending it back do I need to recreate one to hide my activity?
Appreciate any advice.
Moley1985 said:
Hello. This looks like the place I can get the best help.
Got a Xiaomi Mi5 last week - cheap and very cheerful. Having read online about possible fake roms and bloatware I thought the safest option would be to load the official stable rom to be safe.
Attempt 1
Following the MIUI guidance I downloaded the ROM, copied it to my phone in Windows explorer and then used the MIUI updater tool within the phone to load the new ROM.
http://en.miui.com/a-232.html
Everything went swimmingly for a couple of hours, but then the phone began crashing.
Attempt 2
By this stage I realised the above method was no longer available to me. So I got unlocking privalidges, unlocked my phone. Then, using MiFlash I flashed the latest ROM to the phone. Now the crashing problems happen within about a minute. It actually froze the screen first time round so I did it again.
Added fun issue - left my phone on overnight to charge. And it had stopped charging at 58%.
Attempt 3
Downloaded the EU MIUI Rom. Accessed TWRP in my phone and tried to use it to wipe and install. Not sure the wipes were fully effective - got a lot of red writing. And when I went to install the new ROM the internal storage was 0MB.
Had a look at guidance, and I forget what I did, but was finally able to see the zip file on my phone through TWRP. I got the "7" error. Have read how to fix this but seems too risky considering whats gone before.
Desired solution
I would just like any ROM on my phone which works. Don't really care which, I have followed each guide religiously. It may well just be a faulty phone but I don't want to send it back to China without ruling out the problem being me screwing with the software. Especially as I assume i've technically voided warranty... (I can reload Global Developer and relock it though so have hidden it pretty well. Only difference I can tell is that I now get a menu in recovery mode when before I got instruction to go to PCsuite).
Also - I seem to remember there originally being a downloaded_rom file in the internal memory which is no longer there. If im sending it back do I need to recreate one to hide my activity?
Appreciate any advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greetings and welcome to assist. Xiaomi phones are encrypted by default so you need to wipe your phone in fastboot to access your storage again and you also need to flash latest su zip to disable dm verity. That should clear you internal memory issues and allow you to flash a zip through twrp
Good Luck
Sawdoctor
I've only had this phone for a few weeks, bought new from Target. It is a US BLN-L24. It originally was running Marshmallow but I updated it to Nougat via the official updater (BLN-L24C567B360).
The first time I got this issue was when I rooted the stock ROM with Magisk. I later installed Apps2SD Pro (for linking apps to 2nd partition on SD card). It mounted this partition, I rebooted, the device then asks for a PIN# which I didnt have and never set. Afterwards I rebooted to @OldDroid's TWRP, it couldnt mount data partition, some error about not being able to find the crypto footer. I then used the dload method to rollback to MM, then updated to Nougat again, and rerooted, this time with systemless SuperSU instead..
Then eventually everything went fine for awhile, but it happened again. So I decided to try a custom Nougat ROM. I went with Resurrection Remix 7.1.2. And then.....it happened again. This time I had rooted with Magisk. I tried yet again, but with SuperSU. And yet again with Phh's Superuser.
I've also tried AOKP, AOSPA, LineageOS, OctN, all Nougat, the issue returns with all of them.
So, no matter what root solution I use, the encryption issue eventually returns. Magisk, SuperSU, and Phh are all supposed to disable data partition encryption. But it seems they aren't.
What I've tried so far:
1. 3 different root solutions, same results
2. Formatting data and wiping all partitions in TWRP immediately before installing a ROM zip, which is supposed to remove the encryption
3. A custom kernel (CycloX)
4. Formatting my MicroSD, as exFAT, every time I check it for errors in Windows 10 corruption is found and repaired, but it always returns. I had initially thought that the encryption might be related to the SD
It has happened numerous times, on different ROMs including stock, and MM/Nougat, and with different root solutions. I know when it happens, I get stuck on the boot logo forever. TWRP reports that data can't be mounted. At one point my phone randomly rebooted into eRecovery and I was shown a message stating that data partition was corrupted. Sometimes it happens as little as 15 mins after booting into a freshly installed ROM, sometimes it takes a few days, but it always comes back no matter what. So far several dozen times.
I'm at a loss as to what is the cause. It could be a hardware defect, a firmware defect/bug, or something I'm doing wrong/missing. So I really have to ask if others are experiencing this too, and what you did to resolve it, I'm sure I'm not the only one. Please provided detailed steps. This is driving me crazy. I bought the 6X to replace my Samsung Note 4 which recently died after 3 years of loyal service. I'm liking this phone alot, it's very powerful, but this is killing me.
If anyone can help then I would greatly appreciate it. If I can't get this resolved then I'll just sell the phone on Craigslist after returning it to stock.
Thanks!
C'mon guys, really need some help here. I know I can't be the only one with the encryption issue, since the 6X is encrypted by default.
AnonVendetta said:
C'mon guys, really need some help here. I know I can't be the only one with the encryption issue, since the 6X is encrypted by default.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I think you are the only one with this issue. Flashing Magisk alone will remove auto-encryption. But then you already flashed custom roms.
After 4 more days of testing, I still haven't been able to find a solution. The issue has been less frequent ever since I started using the stock charging brick that came with the phone, before I was using a slightly larger LG brick, I thought it would charge faster. But maybe it was supplying too much power, which partly explains why the phone would sometimes act erratically on the battery charging screen while turned off.
But it's not solved, sometimes I still can't boot, it just gets stuck on the ROM boot logo, makes no difference whether it's stock or custom ROM. I can get past the "your device is unlocked" part though.
I no longer think encryption is the biggest part of the issue, I think the /data partition is getting corrupted. This partition uses the F2FS filesystem by default. The last few times I got stuck I booted into TWRP. But instead of doing a factory reset, I used the repair filesystem option on /data, TWRP says it repaired, then the ROM boots fine. But the problem always comes back. It seems to happen most frequently when I completely power off the device then turn it back on, but not every time.
Today I called Huawei customer service and explained, though I didn't mention TWRP, root, etc. They want me to follow up on an email by sending pics of the phone, then mail it to them so they can diagnose and fix the issue. I just restored the stock MM firmware and made sure the bootloader was locked. It was just placed it in the mail, so I'll wait until I get it back then test further to see if this happens again.
AnonVendetta said:
After 4 more days of testing, I still haven't been able to find a solution. The issue has been less frequent ever since I started using the stock charging brick that came with the phone, before I was using a slightly larger LG brick, I thought it would charge faster. But maybe it was supplying too much power, which partly explains why the phone would sometimes act erratically on the battery charging screen while turned off.
But it's not solved, sometimes I still can't boot, it just gets stuck on the ROM boot logo, makes no difference whether it's stock or custom ROM. I can get past the "your device is unlocked" part though.
I no longer think encryption is the biggest part of the issue, I think the /data partition is getting corrupted. This partition uses the F2FS filesystem by default. The last few times I got stuck I booted into TWRP. But instead of doing a factory reset, I used the repair filesystem option on /data, TWRP says it repaired, then the ROM boots fine. But the problem always comes back. It seems to happen most frequently when I completely power off the device then turn it back on, but not every time.
Today I called Huawei customer service and explained, though I didn't mention TWRP, root, etc. They want me to follow up on an email by sending pics of the phone, then mail it to them so they can diagnose and fix the issue. I just restored the stock MM firmware and made sure the bootloader was locked. It was just placed it in the mail, so I'll wait until I get it back then test further to see if this happens again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, can you help me? I have the same model BLN-L24C567B360. I got this phone today and updated today as well right out of the box. My problem is that I installed TWRP 3.1.1.0 Berlin version for this phone and it doesn't work at all. Now I have my phone working ROM but with no recovery option. Can you give me a link with the files I need? I was thinking on putting back the original recovery.img file back but unfortunately I never thought on doing a backup of it. I read on the top that you have all original stock files. Thanks
@jaimejdv: Are you having the same encryption/corruption of the data partition that I'm getting? Because if not then you should start your own topic.
If you have installed the correct TWRP by OldDroid, via fastboot, then there is no reason it shouldn't be working. Instructions are available in other topics, I won't list them here.
There are some Marshmallow downgrade files on Huawei's website, go search for them and follow the instructions in the PDF they provide.
And BTW, I really don't appreciate you trying to hijack my topic. I understand you need help, but I posted this topic because I'm specifically having trouble with encryption/corruption. This isn't meant to be a generalized help thread.
Right now Huawei has my phone, I'm waiting on them to fix and return it so I can do more testing. If it doesn't work as expected, I'll be selling it on Craigslist.
AnonVendetta said:
@jaimejdv: Are you having the same encryption/corruption of the data partition that I'm getting? Because if not then you should start your own topic.
If you have installed the correct TWRP by OldDroid, via fastboot, then there is no reason it shouldn't be working. Instructions are available in other topics, I won't list them here.
There are some Marshmallow downgrade files on Huawei's website, go search for them and follow the instructions in the PDF they provide.
And BTW, I really don't appreciate you trying to hijack my topic. I understand you need help, but I posted this topic because I'm specifically having trouble with encryption/corruption. This isn't meant to be a generalized help thread.
Right now Huawei has my phone, I'm waiting on them to fix and return it so I can do more testing. If it doesn't work as expected, I'll be selling it on Craigslist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can stop crying now, I won't be using your "topic" anymore. I just replied to you asking for files that you already have.
And BTW, I don't need them anymore but thanks anyways.
Yoooooo did Huawei do anything yet?
I just got the phone back in the mail this morning from Huawei, after waiting about 3 weeks. And.....THEY DIDN'T EVEN FIX IT!!! They sent it back unrepaired, with a note saying it wouldn't be fixed because their technician found water damage. But I'd say that's just a generic canned excuse to not fix it. I bought this phone very recently from Target, I never exposed it to liquids at all. I'm very careful with my phones, I have 3 old ones for over 5 years and they still look good and work fine. I don't do stupid crap like using my phone in the rain, dropping in sink, etc.
So, I unlocked the bootloader, flashed TWRP, then installed Resurrection Remix and Magisk. I did no other changes whatsoever. And sure enough, within 6 hours it was just hanging up forever on the boot logo. I went back into TWRP and got the same error about the data partition not having a crypto footer. I can repair the partition in TWRP without factory resetting, and the issue goes away for awhile, but eventually returns.
At this point I'm really angry, having spent around $230 for this phone. So I'm just going to reflash it to stock firmware and sell it on Craigslist at a loss. I don't think I'll ever buy a Huawei phone again, not just because of this phone, but also because their customer service is crap and can barely speak English, as well as their failure to honor the warranty.
I don't know what phone I'll get next, I'll probably shell out for a new ZTE Axon 7 on Amazon, with a warranty. Which also has the added advantage of having better specs than the 6X.
Oh well, life moves on.....
AnonVendetta said:
I just got the phone back in the mail this morning from Huawei, after waiting about 3 weeks. And.....THEY DIDN'T EVEN FIX IT!!! They sent it back unrepaired, with a note saying it wouldn't be fixed because their technician found water damage. But I'd say that's just a generic canned excuse to not fix it. I bought this phone very recently from Target, I never exposed it to liquids at all. I'm very careful with my phones, I have 3 old ones for over 5 years and they still look good and work fine. I don't do stupid crap like using my phone in the rain, dropping in sink, etc.
So, I unlocked the bootloader, flashed TWRP, then installed Resurrection Remix and Magisk. I did no other changes whatsoever. And sure enough, within 6 hours it was just hanging up forever on the boot logo. I went back into TWRP and got the same error about the data partition not having a crypto footer. I can repair the partition in TWRP without factory resetting, and the issue goes away for awhile, but eventually returns.
At this point I'm really angry, having spent around $230 for this phone. So I'm just going to reflash it to stock firmware and sell it on Craigslist at a loss. I don't think I'll ever buy a Huawei phone again, not just because of this phone, but also because their customer service is crap and can barely speak English, as well as their failure to honor the warranty.
I don't know what phone I'll get next, I'll probably shell out for a new ZTE Axon 7 on Amazon, with a warranty. Which also has the added advantage of having better specs than the 6X.
Oh well, life moves on.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with them. Pretty crappy that they used a lame excuse like water damage to deny responsibility in fixing the issue.
I agree with you, I will never buy Huawei again. The phone itself is great but the audio is so so bad Im trying to sell mine at a loss as well but no ones calling so Im tinkering with it again. I would be absolutely livid if I spent the money on one of the flagship Huawei phones. Oh well live and learn I guess, at least the 5T comes out sometime next month.
S8+ /S8 Global Unlocked Variants, (ie: G955FD, etc) Desperately need help w/issue After 8.0 Update...
Hi, I have a G955FD & have family members with this same model, as well as the Global unlocked regular S8-dual sim. We all have the same issue after the Samsung 8.0.0 update. The phone is no longer reliable. Randomly, these devices will not have any ring on incoming calls. If they don't leave a VM, then you have no indication of a missed phone call. In addition, random periods where text messages will also just not come thru. Difference on the texts is, when you reboot, they all populate in the message app and notifications. But the incoming calls are not known and lost forever w/o a VM left for you by caller.
I have been in contact with Samsung, although they indicate right off that I have no warranty because I didn't buy a carrier device from an authorized vendor for my local use, they were open & helpful to reveal that they are aware of '8.0 ringer issues' on the unlocked global devices. BTW, this must be a huge number of people across the world with this problem, but like my friends/family, originally think they have signal/carrier issues etc. Samsung says that it should be addressed in a patch or update..... but, WHEN? I have had a messed up phone for over 3months and counting.
The only thing that can be done to attempt having the phone work 'more often' is to do a restart every hour all day long and hope that your phone will ring when someone is calling.
I, personally, being the family tech guy, am the one working on the issue so I'm here to ask for help/input.
Been dealing with this issue for over 3 months now, here's some of what I have done and what I'd like help with please...
I have attempted 5x to install a custom ROM from XDA to alleviate this issue completely, but as of now, still unsuccessful. I've been rooting/hacking my android devices since my 1st but somehow can't get the process to work thru. At this point, using Odin, I have no issue to get my phone running TWRP and rooted. Somehow, after that point something isn't going right and my phone has to be re-odin flashed with OEM ROM and then wait 1 week for OEM unlock to re-appear to try again. So, If I could complete this process next time the OEM-unlock is back up, my problem would be over.
Now, since I am having issue with completing a custom ROM install... I thought, why not flash a previous OEM ROM (7.0 NOUGAT) and again, my problem should be over and I could wait until a 9.0 update to see how that goes. So far, any 7.0 stock ROMS I have been able to find/download, have 'failed' install in Odin. (I have standard Odin, patched and Prince Comsey) so I always try them all before I say it's a true fail.
Can anyone help me to understand why, with all the root/roms Ive done, cannot get custom ROM to complete install. I was trying for the CarHD or Batman. after rom flash, something goes wrong and the phone either goes bootloop or failed verify. (BTW, couple X I did flash the no-verify to alleviate that issue but still get bootloop or no new rom boot up)
The other thing I'd love to be able to do right now that 'should' be a piece of cake, (but hasn't been) until I figure out the custom rom install issue, is to ask for anyone that can post a link to a valid ODIN-flashable Stock 7.0 NOUGAT ROM for my S8+ G955F/FD. That would solve everything for now and I'd just disable updates for the interim. As previously mentioned, the couple I have found would only FAIL on Odin flash attempts. Seeing that this is a global, unlocked device, is it possible to flash a stock rom or flash a diff CSC that can get me North America Tmobile setup (my USA provider) I noticed that the global phone has no options to disable LTE or turn wifi calling on/off etc.
I apologize if I have jumped around in my post, not provided enough details or not written very eloquently, but I am happy to provide any other needed info to move forward if any of you have ideas here. I'm just at the end of my rope with this right now.
Any help, input here is much appreciated! TIA! mark~
Trying to be helpful here.
For some folks flashing with Odin the first run through errors/fails. That issue was a PITA. I found a post somewhere which said when you hook up the phone to flash with Odin, the first attempt will fail, but to leave the phone connected, go back into download mode, and flash again. Do not unplug the phone when you do this.
For some reason there's a kink in Odin with some folks.
That info, wish I could recall who by - they deserve the recognition, anyway it solved all my Odin errors.
JeffDC said:
Trying to be helpful here.
For some folks flashing with Odin the first run through errors/fails. That issue was a PITA. I found a post somewhere which said when you hook up the phone to flash with Odin, the first attempt will fail, but to leave the phone connected, go back into download mode, and flash again. Do not unplug the phone when you do this.
For some reason there's a kink in Odin with some folks.
That info, wish I could recall who by - they deserve the recognition, anyway it solved all my Odin errors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey jeff, thanks for checking in when the OEM unlock button returns again tomorrow, I'll keep this in mind on my next attempt. i did encounter that fail several times with some OEM firmware flashes (trying to go back to 7.0) and this should resolve that problem. overall though, my real issue seems to be when attempting a root/custom rom instead of a stock replacement... and 'after' i get TWRP completed. I'm doing something wrong with a button hold sequence or something else. maybe need flash 'do not verify' right off too. I'm gonna go extra slow/careful following each step from a great, detailed post for TWRP/ROOT/ROM procedure that i found here over weekend written by 'jesec' what i hate the most is, i only have 1 shot doing this with the oem unlock button, if messed up, have to re-flash a stock rom and wait another 7 days to try this all again.
i still cannot believe its been about 13wks and samsung says they are aware, yet still has not patched this problem. i love my samsungs but im so fed up, i almost ordered a oneplus 6 this weekend just because of this random no ring issue.
thanks much!