Several Questions - General Questions and Answers

I'm interested in building an updated, de-googled, de-bloated, ROM for a TCL A30 , model TCL5102D, mt6762/6765. First off was whether to post in tha Alcatel Section. My understanding is that Alcaltel is no more and those phones are now marketed as TCL. Prior Alcaltel posts may be helpful - perhaps the moderators could rename the section "Alcaltel/TCL" rather than adding a New TCL section.
I fouund mtkclient in the forum and it works on my device. I have not TWRP rooted it yet but have pulled boot.img, vbmeta.img and the entire system image. I have also found the TCL source code site, downloaded an earlier device with Mediatek Helio 22P chips and adb pulled /proc/config.gz. GPL source for my specific device has yet to be published by TCL.
I've yet to pull the vendor blobs and have only found guides in the Lineagos documentaion. It's pulling from a zip'd image rather than a device and TCL does not have images for any of their current phone. Also could not find a dump for this particular phone.
My first challenge is trying to build the kernel. The TCL source code, kernel 4.19.127, is not structured like the AOSP kernel source and aarch64, gcc builds hang up on the lcdscreen driver. The screen driver was backported in later 4.19.x versions which built with the config.gz and upstream kernel.org source.
What I'd like to do is to do is update the TCL source to the latest stable 4.19 code base but my web searches have not come up with any examples on how to do this. Could also build with the AOSP 4.19-stable source with the pulled config.gz - chances that it would work?
If I can prebuild the kernel, then make a decision in regards to a LineageOS build vs a GSI build. Maybe even build within GrapheneOS (uses prebuild kernels).
Where, in the forum, should I start the line of questions? Can anybody point me to a guide on howto build an kernel with an up-to-date source?

hi, your best place to go would be here and here

I have a TCL a30 android 11. I'm looking for any possible way to unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery. This all started with trying to use a visible sim card in the phone and me not being able to change the APN settings. I've been working on a way for a while now and have gotten absolutely nowhere. If anyone has any insight, it would be greatly appreciated.

danvep5014 said:
I have a TCL a30 android 11. I'm looking for any possible way to unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery. This all started with trying to use a visible sim card in the phone and me not being able to change the APN settings. I've been working on a way for a while now and have gotten absolutely nowhere. If anyone has any insight, it would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TCL A509DL NO FASTBOOT-ABILITY??
Hey there guys and girls. I just bought a cheap TCL A509DL to experiment with and immediately hit a roadblock of megalithic proportions...no fastboot mode available on this cracker-jack prize equivalent phone. Seriously...no way to boot into...
forum.xda-developers.com

971shep said:
TCL A509DL NO FASTBOOT-ABILITY??
Hey there guys and girls. I just bought a cheap TCL A509DL to experiment with and immediately hit a roadblock of megalithic proportions...no fastboot mode available on this cracker-jack prize equivalent phone. Seriously...no way to boot into...
forum.xda-developers.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm working on how to get the device to be recognized in mtkclient. Regardless of what button combination I use, the device fails to be recognized. Any specific way it needs to be done on the TCL A30?

I took the phone apart to look for some test points and I can't find any. Did anyone have success in getting this device to work with mtkclient? I've tried every button combination possible. If anyone has any insight it would be greatly appreciated. This is getting extremely frustrating. Been trying for the past week. Once I get passed that point we will be good to go but I'm at a wall right now.

danvep5014 said:
I took the phone apart to look for some test points and I can't find any. Did anyone have success in getting this device to work with mtkclient? I've tried every button combination possible. If anyone has any insight it would be greatly appreciated. This is getting extremely frustrating. Been trying for the past week. Once I get passed that point we will be good to go but I'm at a wall right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I start mtkclient with the phone connected via usb but powered off. Mtkclient messages that it is trying to establish a connection. Then just power up with the power key only. You should get messages that you connected in brom mode.

I was finally able to get it. Had to use adb reboot edl. Did the trick. Now I'm trying to build a rom with oxygen os but i keep getting stuck in a boot loop.

Boot loops can have many causes.. In the case of a custom rom, it is often that boot verification of the file systems fails, ie a file system checksum is different. In the thread I linked above, the way around this was to overwrite the three different vbmeta.* files with a blank file..

Related

[ROM[6.0.1][VFD-1400][OFFICIAL] Vodafone Prime Tab 7

Pretty tricky to find anything for this tablet, but I managed to find a way to get an official image.
What you need:
Alcatel Mobile Upgrade Q 5.1.7 (or newer), get it here.
This will overwrite all your data on the device.
1. Install Mobile Upgrade Q
2. Run "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mobile Upgrade Q\tool\usb_driver\installdriver\DriverInstaller.exe" to install the USB Drivers.
3. Enable USB Debugging
4. adb reboot edl
5. Mobile Upgrade Q and select "VF1400" (note it also lists 9030G and 9030Q, the unbranded variants of this tablet (yet unreleased?), but unfortunately you can't flash these, it will just download the Vodafone branded image)
6. It will download the image files into "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mobile Upgrade Q\bin\download" (note while it's downloading the image files, these are just filled with 0s)
7. After it downloaded the image it starts flashing ("initialisation") and you can copy the files to some place safe (from bin\VF1400-2AVDXXX), it deletes some after it's done
B1BEB0B0CD00.mbn is the boot image, R1BEB0B0CD00.mbn the recovery. Some of the files have partition information, probably can use these to flash with QPST.
Going to have a look into compiling a TWRP, now that I have the kernel
Also, Alcatel seems to have released a *very incomplete* kernel source (build scripts and other things missing) over at https://sourceforge.net/projects/alcatel/files/, see OT_VDF_1400_20160520.tar.xz.
A bummer since the kernel in the official image seems to have all kinds of debugging stuff enabled.
Some more findings. You can coax SUGAR QCT_SP (and maybe Alcatel Mobile Upgrade Q 5.1.7?) into flashing any images.
Before starting SUGAR QCT_SP, copy your backup of the VF1400-2AVDDE1 folder into bin/. It should flash these files.
I flashed a ported recovery, but I couldn't boot it (always boots stock recovery). I guess because of secure boot? Read something about the recovery-from-boot.p file...
Don't worry about bricking, you can get the tab into edl mode with an edl cable. http://xiaomitips.com/guide/miui-deep-flash-engineering-cable-solution-to-non-edl-device/
Some progress, if anyone cares :laugh: (doubt it).
Flashed boot with altered build.pros, selinux is off, but adb root kills the adbd.
Same on recovery, but kind of pointless with zip verification. Now it's either compile a recovery or add a custom key too boot and sign the supersu zip myself.
Also flashed a slimmer system, minus all the google apps I don't use anyway. Stock image carries 1GB of empty space that is being flashed every time
One more interesting thing: You can get into fastboot by flashing a recovery with the wrong kernel and then booting to recovery. Fastboot is crippled though and does nothing useful, can't even flash with it.
Btw to turn off the device if you are stuck in a bootloop to recovery: With usb cable unconnected, hold Power and Volume down. It screen goes black after 5 sec, keep holding the buttons. It should come up again and very shortly after, let go of the buttons screen when the screen goes black a second time.
So, at the moment there is no way to root?
Geeting the device tomrrow
Yes there is. After getting rid of selinux, you can get temporary root using dirty cow, or bake supersu into the boot or system image.
Also I'm working on porting a recovery. It works, more or less already.
I just flashed SuperSU via the recovery I ported. Seems to work
Nice! Is it possible to Upload your Recovery? Simply flash via Fastboot?
gella1992 said:
Nice! Is it possible to Upload your Recovery? Simply flash via Fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can upload it later.
Fastboot is crippled and you can't boot into it directly, at least on mine. Try booting into it (hold power + vol down). Otherwise see my earlier posts on how to do the initial flash. A little inconvenient, but it's only once
Will post detailed instructions with the recovery.
gella1992 said:
Nice! Is it possible to Upload your Recovery? Simply flash via Fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/recovery-vodafone-prime-tab-7-t3548560
Working on a frankenkernel with some salvaged parts from the incomplete kernel source from alcatel: https://github.com/852Kerfunkle/android_kernel_vodafone_vfd1400
Works for booting into recovery.
While trying some things with caf android builds, I flashed aboot, thinking I could always get back into download mode with the makeshift EDL cable. Turns out you can't.
Do not mess with aboot unless you are 100% sure (unlike me). The device will only register as HS-USB Diagnostic 900E. Even with an EDL cable.
For anyone who did: your device is not dead, but it's a bit of a mission.
1. Take of the back cover: Remove the screw behind the sim/sd latch and open the device with one of these plastic opener thingies, start at the latch.
2. Bridge the pin marked on the image (take a cable and connect the pin to the ground of the usb connector, i.e. the metal bit).
3. Plug in the usb cable.
4. It should register as HS-USB QDloader 9008 (assuming you have the right drivers).
5. Flash with Sugar.
Hopefully everything is working great again!
Do you think it would be possible to port a Lineage OS to this Tab?
I know how to compile from source, but actually not developing a Rom
gella1992 said:
Hopefully everything is working great again!
Do you think it would be possible to port a Lineage OS to this Tab?
I know how to compile from source, but actually not developing a Rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's working alright again, thanks
I tried, no luck yet. Am stuck on a crash in libsdm. Once I had it boot to the point where it was initialising the apps (dexopt or whatever?), but it crashed right after.
For now I am focusing on codeaurora android. If I get that working, maybe the caf parts can be used to make a working LineageOS build.
I also have little to no idea how to do anything android related, so most of the time is spent reading and googling silly errors. Just give it a go, if you get stuck I can help out with what I found so far.
At the moment I am busy. Will give it a try when I have more time :fingers-crossed:
fused#1 said:
Working on a frankenkernel with some salvaged parts from the incomplete kernel source from alcatel:
Works for booting into recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you still working on this ?
I'm currently considering the option of running a git diff against the CAF msm-3.18 "LA.UM.5.1-03210-8x37.0" TAG/branch, which the released incomplete kernel source appears to be based on.
Then going through the patches and applying them one by one on the newest CAF 8937 TAG/branch.
Although getting LA.UM.5.1-03210-8x37.0 to work with the patches applied would be nice already.
My ultimate goal is OMNI, im not interested in CM/Lineage.
Problem is at the moment i don't have much time for this.
But we'll see :good:
nevexc said:
Are you still working on this ?
I'm currently considering the option of running a git diff against the CAF msm-3.18 "LA.UM.5.1-03210-8x37.0" TAG/branch, which the released incomplete kernel source appears to be based on.
Then going through the patches and applying them one by one on the newest CAF 8937 TAG/branch.
Although getting LA.UM.5.1-03210-8x37.0 to work with the patches applied would be nice already.
My ultimate goal is OMNI, im not interested in CM/Lineage.
Problem is at the moment i don't have much time for this.
But we'll see :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey,
That's pretty much what I was doing before I got caught up in other stuff
Was stuck at trying to figure out how to actually build caf android. Which of the files on the rom belong the the proprietary blobs and how to properly include them in the makefiles so it actually builds...
Hit me up with a PM, maybe we can coordinate our efforts :fingers-crossed:
Thanks for this Guide, but I have a quick question:
I am currently trying to restore my VF-1497 to a stock rom with Mobile Upgrade Q 5.1.7, but the Upgrader always kicks my Tablet out of edl, and throws the error:
'There is no greater version available to upgrade your phone, actual version of your phone is the latest'
Is there any way to restore this device back to stock?
Thank you in advance
ASP
Hi is there a custom "clean" firmware for vdf1400 that can go instead of the latest 6.0.1 150fkg1

I'm stuck trying to flash a GSI, I can't figure what I'm doing wrong

Hi!
I'd like to get rid of the HTC original firmware on my U12+.
I just tried to flash GSIs of LineageOS 17 by AndyYan then AOSP 10.0 by phhusson, without luck.
I have a factory unlocked HTC U12+ (fastboot mode showing Secure Boot : Development, Secure State : S-Off, Device State : Unlocked(U)) so I went straight to the "flash GSI without TWRP" part of the official XDA tutorial: I factory reset the phone, rebooted in bootloader, then erased system and successfully flashed lineage-17.0-20191117-UNOFFICIAL-treble_arm64_avN.img.
But after reboot, I got a bootloop.
I've wanted to try the TWRP method, but upon launch it asked my password for decryption. While I'm sure of the code I've used and typed, decryption doesn't work, so TWRP didn't help.
Then I've flashed the AOSP GSI via fastboot, but then I got a "This device is corrupt. It can't be trusted and will not boot" error message.
So as suggested on another thread I've used the SD card method to flash a RUU, specifically 2Q55IMG_IMAGINE_DUGL_O80_SENSE10GP_HTC_Europe_1.30.401.2_Radio_sdm845-000201b-1807311356_release_528103_signed_2_4.zip. It flashed successfully, but then it booted to the static white HTC logo on black background and stayed there for 20 min.
I can still boot to fastboot mode/download mode, but I don't know what to do.
I can't figure what I'm doing wrong, can you help me, please?
After another attempt I've managed to go back full stock using the microSD card method.
Then I've been able to boot TWRP, which first showed a "Mount" "Decrypt data" screen, asking for a password. The 6 digits code I've used previously doesn't work. So TWRP "failed to decrypt data", also was "unable to mount storage" and "failed to unmount /system_root (device or resource busy)". As suggested, I formatted/wiped data to remove encryption.
Then I performed a factory reset, adb pushed system-quack-arm64-ab-vanilla.img to /data, then flashed it successfully to the system partition, as requested in the afore mentioned official tutorial. On reboot I get another bootloop. Bootscreens shows the HTC and Powered by Android wordmarks and also "** ORANGE **" on the top left corner of the screen.
What am I missing?! :-/
After first boot of flashed RUU at the HTC logo reboot the device. Got there myself, rebooted(using power button) and the OS booted up perfectly.
TWRP doesn't decrypt latest Pie with July Patch. So you will not decrypt it. (Wiping does not decrypt).
I used temporary TWRP, flashed permanent (with touchscreen patch), installed Magisk, Rooted, installed LeeDroid from Magisk for example.
Make sure you have a correct RUU for your CID version.
I am not sure how a project treble ROM will work on this device. You still need signed HTC drivers. I don't think we are ready now for 10 on this device for daily use. HTC did quite awful with the Pie update and many bugs are still not fixed after 6 months.
GSI tutorials advise against rooting before flashing. They advise to keep the phone full stock. What do you think about this?
I was unable to determine CID and MID yesterday from fastboot mode or TWRP, so I've downloaded the latest RUU for dual SIM and EMEA model, as my U12+ is dual SIM and I live in Europe.
Now that the phone is back to full stock, I just installed a terminal app right on the phone and executed the following:
getprop ro.cid : 11111111
getprop ro.boot.mid : empty
I understand that the phone is "SuperCID", but I don't really understand what that implies.
Regarding Treble, Treble Info by Hackintosh Five reports (translated from French by me): "Your device supports the old Project Treble version, using VNDK version 26.0."
But the U12+ is listed as supported on phhusson's wiki. A few issues are listed, but I'm fine with them.
I've read a tutorial that asks to "extract the GSI and vendor+boot zips", but then doesn't what to do with the vendor+boot zips. Do you know?
Lastly, do you know what the **GREEN** or **ORANGE** overlay means on the boot screen?
Thank you for your help!
Romano2K said:
GSI tutorials advise against rooting before flashing. They advise to keep the phone full stock. What do you think about this?
Thank you for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SuperCID implies you can install any RUU (not specific CID). So you can "transform" your US version into european or asian... for a specific reason. No need to do that. Usually there was a specific base that was needed to install a custom ROM or Custom Recovery or people just wanted a different version because they lived in a different part of the world from where the phone was purposed.
I am guessing the **GREEN*** overlay has smth to do with the RUU (if it's embedded in the Boot animation zip (basically pictures+ sound)) or has smth to do with the nature of your tempering (S-OFF/SuperCid etc.)
with this device and serves as a warning for users/devs/internal testing.
You should find your answers on a different section. More active. I see no activity here. And it's HTC's fault for dying" on us. I myself bought the U12 just to own (probably) the last flaghsip device they make. Here's to the comeback.... but I am not sure it will be real. HTC was one of the fastest to update, for example.. until 2019. We are still with bugs and on the July patch. Right not, in reality I am just hoping for one last Pie update to fix bugs and that's it. Will give this device a 1 year run and buy something better.
So go to the Android general section where you can ask how can you compile your ROM on this device. They should help. I can not offer sufficient knowhow on this topic.
Thank you for these clarifications
The **GREEN** or **ORANGE** overlay is shown for a few seconds on the vendor logo, before boot animation. It wasn't showing before I started messing with firmwares, but nevermind
Yes unfortunately HTC is kind of dead on the smartphone front. They deserved it at the end, U12 Plus' firmware is badly translated and full of bloatware. I've been a long fan, I've had four Orange branded Windows Mobile phones and PDA phones from 2002 (17 years ago!) to 2007, then a few Android smartphones (HTC Desire <3), so I think it's sad.
Anyway I've been able to flash AOSP 10.0 GSI by phhusson with his help.
So I've just shared a quick tutorial:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/u12-plus/how-to/guide-how-to-install-generic-image-gsi-t4019151
Thank you for your help Deonix!
Romano2K said:
Thank you for these clarifications
The **GREEN** or **ORANGE** overlay is shown for a few seconds on the vendor logo, before boot animation. It wasn't showing before I started messing with firmwares, but nevermind
Yes unfortunately HTC is kind of dead on the smartphone front. They deserved it at the end, U12 Plus' firmware is badly translated and full of bloatware. I've been a long fan, I've had four Orange branded Windows Mobile phones and PDA phones from 2002 (17 years ago!) to 2007, then a few Android smartphones (HTC Desire <3), so I think it's sad.
Anyway I've been able to flash AOSP 10.0 GSI by phhusson with his help.
So I've just shared a quick tutorial:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/u12-plus/how-to/guide-how-to-install-generic-image-gsi-t4019151
Thank you for your help Deonix!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Will look into your tutorial. So thank you. If the boot animation.zip was modified you will find in in root/system/[search for it] -you can lookup up each image that forms the animation to check. I myself modified the ZIP to not include the annoying audio, so i deleted it. )
So is the GSI good for daily use? I would mess around with it until i sell my HTC U11. Still using the U11 as a daily driver for the past 2 weeks. And by selling it i mean practically giving a perfectly good phone away for scrap... because it's old.
Deonix said:
I myself modified the ZIP to not include the annoying audio, so i deleted it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's clever! The HTC boot sound was annoying when I had trouble booting the bootloader, because of the tactile buttons.
Deonix said:
So is the GSI good for daily use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At this point I have a big problem with AOSP 10.0: brightness is blocked at 100%. There's a workaround involving adb, but for some reason adb isn't working with this firmware, even though I've activated developer options and USB debugging. I haven't had the time to tinker yet, I'll give it a try asap and I'll report back!
Thank you again for your help
Romano2K said:
Thank you for these clarifications
The **GREEN** or **ORANGE** overlay is shown for a few seconds on the vendor logo, before boot animation. It wasn't showing before I started messing with firmwares, but nevermind
Yes unfortunately HTC is kind of dead on the smartphone front. They deserved it at the end, U12 Plus' firmware is badly translated and full of bloatware. I've been a long fan, I've had four Orange branded Windows Mobile phones and PDA phones from 2002 (17 years ago!) to 2007, then a few Android smartphones (HTC Desire <3), so I think it's sad.
Anyway I've been able to flash AOSP 10.0 GSI by phhusson with his help.
So I've just shared a quick tutorial:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/u12-plus/how-to/guide-how-to-install-generic-image-gsi-t4019151
Thank you for your help Deonix!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did Bluetooth work for you on AOSP? Tried to install a few GSIs over the last couple of days but I cannot get Bluetooth working for calls or media. Apparently it's a known issue but none of the fixes I can find here on the forums seem to work for me. Just wondered what your experience was on another U12. I even tried your guide but still no Bluetooth for me.
Useful post about the GREEN message.

What roms are available for Ulefone Armor 5s?

Hello, I've tried to install multiple roms on my phone and none of them work.
I tried to install many versions of twrp without success. Some of them include twrp for Ulefone Armor 6, Armor 2, twrp for mediatek mt6750, mt6739, and even supposedly twrp for Ulephone Armor 5 (not to be confused with my model, which is 5s) and others.
I even tried orangefox, philz, redwolf and clockworkmod.
None of them worked. What happened is when I tried to boot into recovery, it would turn on, turn off, turn on again and boot into the stock OS.
I even tried to install ROMS without a custom recovery, using fastboot.
I tried a custom version of lineage os, supposedly made for ulefone armor 5 (I tried the arm64 a only version.) : https [column//] sourceforge [dot] net/projects/andyyan-gsi/files/lineage-16.x/
I tried resurrection remix too (oreo arm64 a only)
the command I used is fastboot flash system custom_rom.img
After installing each rom, each time I tried to boot a custom rom, it would turn on, show me the message that my device is in the orange state, shut off, reboot and repeat. So yeah, I bricked my phone. Then, I installed the firmware for ulefone armor 5s with SP flash tool and I'm back to square one.
I don't know if I should try graphene os, since inside a folder containing the image files, there is a text file which states that a sargo board is required, whatever that means. ("require board=sargo")
So yeah, I don't know what to do. I need a rom that is open source, and without gapps.
Any help is appreciated.
I'm even willing to try ubuntu touch, if that works
I'm even willing to try ubuntu touch, if that works
3simplex said:
This phone is a tank, I don't want to be stuck with Android 9 forever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do a Google search for:
"Custom ROMs for (your specific model number)"
If there are any ROMs for your device, that search will find them, if it does not find anything then there is nothing for your device. This means that if you want to use custom ROMs on your device, you will have to build your own TWRP or port TWRP from a similar device to work on your device then you will have to build your own custom ROMs or port custom ROMs from a similar device. If you're wanting or waiting for someone to build them for you, you are in for a very long wait. Developers build ROMs for the devices they personally own, they do not build ROMs for devices that other people own if the developer does not own the device. In other words, around here, we help people find what they are looking for but we will not do the work for them. If you want it but it doesn't exist, you will have to be the one to create it for yourself, not someone else.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
3simplex said:
Great advice we are obviously idiots, thanks for pointing it out for us. I will Google search and see if I can find your balls. Hmm, nope I guess they don't exist. Troll elsewhere douche.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who is trolling? Trolls get reported here, which I could do to you for the words you are using. I'll give you a pass this time because I'm a nice guy but that is your only freebie from me, your next disrespectful post will not receive the same exception.
What I posted is how things go here and what to expect, you just didn't want the truth. If that offends you, then that is a failing on your part. You're more than welcome to find another android website where they are willing to lead you by the hand and spoonfeed you when you want something that you are too lazy to find, do for yourself or have the ability to achieve on your own mental merit, because you surely won't find that here at XDA. If you choose to stay at XDA, be prepared to do the real work yourself.
Accept it or not, that is the way it is. Spouting childish insults won't change that.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

[Q] ZE554KL/Z01KD*

Hello there!
I know this thread is going to annoy some of you, but it’s my last attempt before giving up.
I’ve got a Zenfone 4 (Z01KDA) lying around and this phone is nice. But no one ever developed or ported any ROM to it, even if the bootloader is unlockable and there is an official version of TWRP. The source code is also available on the official Asus website.
So, here’s my question: is there any way for someone here to port a Z4 Max ROM to the Z4? I’m no developer, I just know how to tinker a bit with phones but not much.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Dunno if this answer could help (even i am no dev myself), but it seems even this device got it's development abandoned tbh.
I remember the latest actual development for both X00ID and X00HD fell during late 2021 (at this point 1yr ago) with PBRP (apparently TWRP got deprecated and retired by, i assume, issues with the code- i think) and LOS suddenly got vaporized on the download links.
The source codes are around (i have like a post into this device's forum that collects such), and the already compiled LOS for the X00HD doesn't seem to work at all.
I assume that before effectively porting it for the Z4, it is needed to fix something with the partitions firsthand (i tried to flash it with PBRP on my X00HD, via getting the ROM on webarchive, and got terrible results- even by disabling DM Verity on install and signature verification).
Got stuck over the boot animation and wasted my time trying to figure things out-
turns out the reason why it refuses to boot is mainly one reason:
the /cache partition gets formatted as SquashFS, making the OS stuck on boot. If i format the same partition as Ext4, just to make it work, Lineage refuses as a whole to boot and redirects me to recovery or fastboot.
Nowadays i'm unsure if the fault falls on PBRP or i lack the Lineage Recovery .img file to make that function proper (since the original post mentions about having both- but the X00HD has no source code for it either and only the X00ID has it: both compiled as an .img and source on GH).
Upon further inspection and comparing the .zip files to an official Asus update.zip file, it seems the dev hasn't setup a cache.img file at all into the flashable zip last time it got touched.
Just sharing my slice of experience since now i'm getting why (presumably) the Lineage DL links got nuked. Maybe too many defects went around and the dev abandoned things as a whole.
I hope someday this device will get taken back to development, since sources are still available (sadly, i couldn't contribute compiling because of a proper lack of resources to do so) and unsure if the Z4 can get a Custom ROM by either reverse engineering the X00ID or X00HD's codes.
Nowadays i'm practically stuck to the Pie Beta ROM with root perms, still waiting for someone to come and resume where the previous dev left things out at.

The struggle... (64 bit recovery porting)

I've got the Oukitel WP16 which a 64 bit and has an octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 MT6771V on Android 11. Actually a pretty decent rugged phone. Originally tried to root it through fastboot and bricked it about 2 weeks after getting it. For the life of me, I couldn't bring it back to life. Finally after 4 months of it just sitting in a drawer, I went about flashing it to bring it back to life a little differently than I was before and it stuck. Very thankful that it was working again because in those months I had destroyed 3 of your average break if you touch them phones. However me being me, getting it going again wasn't enough. So I gave rooting it a try again. Got it! Rooted with Magisk. Now because I have one of those devices I believe is under rated and under developed, I can't find any kind of development done on it whatsoever and want to build/port TWRP so I'm able to try a GSI ROM. My problem is that every tutorial I read or watch has nothing like what is my stock ROM. Either names of files are different or I find the files in other folders, I've got more folders than what I'm trying to port, and, I would need to double check again, but I wanna say that I've even found them in different partitions. So my question is, what do I do? Like fstab is not in the recovery but in something else. That something else that has fstab in it, my port doesn't have that folder at all. And there are others like that. I've tried several, I repeat SEVERAL different tutorials and cannot figure out what to do. I know it's beyond the capabilities of the tool, but I even tried one of those Hovatek port tools. Obviously didn't work because of the kernel. So to say I'm lost is an understatement. This isn't the first phone I've tried this with. Had another 64 bit with the same chipset that actually had a unofficial TWRP built for it. But when it came to try to port a ROM, I was left with files in different folders and things that weren't in the ROM i was trying to port. I eventually just have up because I kind of had to since scuba diving with the phone here in the Mexican Caribbean finally took it's toll on the phones external hardware. But yeah, back to my only question. What do I do in this situation? I'm mainly concerned about it because this WP16 has a night vision camera on it which I use quite often and don't want to lose that. Recovery has nothing to do with the camera but the ROM I'd like to port will. So figuring out what to do with the recovery could eventually lead me to my answer with the ROM. Anyway, kind of a long winded explanation just to get to what may seem like a simple question to some. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
finnroth69 said:
I've got the Oukitel WP16 which a 64 bit and has an octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 MT6771V on Android 11. Actually a pretty decent rugged phone. Originally tried to root it through fastboot and bricked it about 2 weeks after getting it. For the life of me, I couldn't bring it back to life. Finally after 4 months of it just sitting in a drawer, I went about flashing it to bring it back to life a little differently than I was before and it stuck. Very thankful that it was working again because in those months I had destroyed 3 of your average break if you touch them phones. However me being me, getting it going again wasn't enough. So I gave rooting it a try again. Got it! Rooted with Magisk. Now because I have one of those devices I believe is under rated and under developed, I can't find any kind of development done on it whatsoever and want to build/port TWRP so I'm able to try a GSI ROM. My problem is that every tutorial I read or watch has nothing like what is my stock ROM. Either names of files are different or I find the files in other folders, I've got more folders than what I'm trying to port, and, I would need to double check again, but I wanna say that I've even found them in different partitions. So my question is, what do I do? Like fstab is not in the recovery but in something else. That something else that has fstab in it, my port doesn't have that folder at all. And there are others like that. I've tried several, I repeat SEVERAL different tutorials and cannot figure out what to do. I know it's beyond the capabilities of the tool, but I even tried one of those Hovatek port tools. Obviously didn't work because of the kernel. So to say I'm lost is an understatement. This isn't the first phone I've tried this with. Had another 64 bit with the same chipset that actually had a unofficial TWRP built for it. But when it came to try to port a ROM, I was left with files in different folders and things that weren't in the ROM i was trying to port. I eventually just have up because I kind of had to since scuba diving with the phone here in the Mexican Caribbean finally took it's toll on the phones external hardware. But yeah, back to my only question. What do I do in this situation? I'm mainly concerned about it because this WP16 has a night vision camera on it which I use quite often and don't want to lose that. Recovery has nothing to do with the camera but the ROM I'd like to port will. So figuring out what to do with the recovery could eventually lead me to my answer with the ROM. Anyway, kind of a long winded explanation just to get to what may seem like a simple question to some. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your device already have TWRP [Firmware version: OUKITEL_WP16_RU_V04_20220621 ] but you not need Custom Recovery for install GSI. Use stock recovery.
About GSI with a night vision camera support so is much expensive solving that. You can try but need very experience and patience of the tests and solutions.
lopestom said:
Seriously? Thank you! I'm guessing the link is gonna be in 4pda being that it's Russian? I've spent a month searching and haven't found anything whatsoever. And since I don't read Russian, I always overlook 4pda even though it's been a great resource in the past. And yes, I'm aware you don't "need" custom recovery for GSI's. It does make things a little easier for me though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The recovery issue will be solved since there is a recovery out there. That still doesn't solve the mystery and problem i have of files being in different places though. In that case what do I do if the files isn't in the same place in the port as it is in the stock, or the other way around? Add the stock file to the same folder it is in for the port? Or should I make a new folder in the port that's name is the same as in the stock? If neither, what do I do?
finnroth69 said:
Seriously? Thank you! I'm guessing the link is gonna be in 4pda being that it's Russian? I've spent a month searching and haven't found anything whatsoever. And since I don't read Russian, I always overlook 4pda even though it's been a great resource in the past. And yes, I'm aware you don't "need" custom recovery for GSI's. It does make things a little easier for me though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No! Search my repository in the github in the release option.
finnroth69 said:
The recovery issue will be solved since there is a recovery out there. That still doesn't solve the mystery and problem i have of files being in different places though. In that case what do I do if the files isn't in the same place in the port as it is in the stock, or the other way around? Add the stock file to the same folder it is in for the port? Or should I make a new folder in the port that's name is the same as in the stock? If neither, what do I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I wrote before, it is very difficult to solve issues like the original stock ROM camera. There are even one or two people who managed to get this to work.
Now what you don't understand: If you want a Custom ROM, use GSI and adapt, solve, analyze and test by changing some stock ROM files in GSI. You must understand that you need experience and time. You can even compile a Custom ROM - any GSI - specifically for your device. So you just need to have the source code of your device, have the GSI source code and know how to compile the file so that you can do the tests. Again, you must understand that you need experience and time.
If you haven't researched what is GSI and still think that Custom ROMs portability that happened before until Android 7.1 then look, read and update yourself.
In your questions, be as detailed as possible. You write a lot of parts and you scramble the words.
As for having GSI normally I already wrote where there is an instruction to install and you follow. As for TWRP, look it up on my github.
As for solving something in the GSI, if you managed to install it and still used the phh options to try to fix any bad part, then it is only you who will be able to solve any error/adaptation/bug/extra installations that there.
Trust me when I say I understand what you're saying. I have done some testing I have watched tutorials, I have studied. but everything that I have seen is basically switching a file from a folder on the stock ROM to a folder in the ported ROM with the same name as what's in the stock ROM, and possibly adding a little script to something. What I'm trying to figure out is what I asked. Fstab is not in recovery on my phone's stock ROM. It is in something else. But fstab is in and a part of recovery for TWRP. So even though there might be a TWRP for my phone doesn't help me to know if I should be creating that same folder that's in my stock ROM in the ported one for fstab or other files that are like it. I have downloaded the TWRP from your profile and I've gone to the 4pda and discovered that you're the dev who ported it with and without encryption. Nice work and thank you! I would like to move beyond being a flash baby though. So I'm simply trying asking that one specific question to help me learn because it is something I am lost on. Whether it is to port recovery, port a ROM, or whatever, I don't know what to do when the location of the files I need to port from the stock aren't matching with the with the location of the files in the port itself. Fstab is just one example. I'm gonna send you a friend request. Later when I fire up my laptop, I'll take screenshots to physically show you exactly what I mean. Please be patient and don't get upset at me for trying to learn. As well as please take your time in responding. It's no rush since I've got a business to run and this is something I'm trying to teach myself on the side. It really is something I'm lost on, and if I'm lost on it, how many others has it confused as well?
As for the camera app issue. We can forget I asked that also. I understand completely what you're saying about it being far beyond my reach right now. Thank you for the heads up on that.
Mr. Lopestom can you please help me with your recovery images? I cannot seem to get any of them to boot. I've tried the with script found on 4pda, without that script, I've tried flashing an empty vbmeta, but nothing is getting the images to boot. See attachment for script I'm talking about. Attachment only shows me running it, but I have tried without.
What sense does it make to flash an empty VBMETA ? You typically pull the existing VBMETA and pass this file to Fastboot what rewrites 2 bytes in that file.
finnroth69 said:
Mr. Lopestom can you please help me with your recovery images? I cannot seem to get any of them to boot. I've tried the with script found on 4pda, without that script, I've tried flashing an empty vbmeta, but nothing is getting the images to boot. See attachment for script I'm talking about. Attachment only shows me running it, but I have tried without.
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Click to collapse
The problem is not in the vbmeta file. You can use this one if you can: Post in thread 'Looking for a walkthrough on installing a custom ROM on a BLU G90 PRO' https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...om-rom-on-a-blu-g90-pro.4253737/post-85180967
The big fact is that the company put a recovery.img stock file inside /vendor/etc/ and you should know how to deal with it. So only removing this recovery.img and repacking modified vendor.img made by u; install that in your device so you can have TWRP.
jwoegerbauer said:
What sense does it make to flash an empty VBMETA ? You typically pull the existing VBMETA and pass this file to Fastboot what rewrites 2 bytes in that file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure to be honest with you. Like I told lopestom, I'm just trying to teach myself as I can in my free time. A lot of what I do is imitate what I see or read. While reading post about flashing twrp i had read something about flashing an empty vbmeta file.

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