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Hi guys,
1. What is the advantage/disadvantage of flashing a custom kernel?
2. I recently flashed Cyanogenmod. It automatically installs a custom kernel right?
3. Using the Nexus 7 toolkit I reverted my N7 to stock recovery (from CWM) How should I make sure that it's been reverted to the latest stock version?
4. What does N7's stock factory image contain? (Stock ROM + Stock recovery + Stock kernel?) (found here: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images)
5. Is this correct? You can install a custom ROM without changing the kernel but in order to have more customization you have to flash a different kernel than the stock one.
6. Is this the correct order? Unlocking bootloader>rooting>Flashing custom recovery>Flashing custom kernel>Flashing custom ROM>...?
7. Difference between unlocking bootloader and rooting.
8. How to find out N7's latest stock kernel version.
Many thanx
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
valapsp said:
1. What is the advantage/disadvantage of flashing a custom kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same as those for a stock kernel. That is to say, every kernel has advantages and disadvantages. Some trade performance for battery life, others do the reverse. Some are more feature-heavy and potentially more unstable, others are feature-light but designed to be rock solid. With custom kernels on a Nexus device, you avoid one of the biggest dangers of custom kernels (instability due to lack of kernel source for developers to base their work on), but you still need to be careful. You don't necessarily know how proficient the author of a given kernel is, and the wrong one can make your device unusable/kill it.
valapsp said:
2. I recently flashed Cyanogenmod. It automatically installs a custom kernel right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it does. I don't remember which one though, since I don't use CM.
valapsp said:
3. Using the Nexus 7 toolkit I reverted my N7 to stock recovery (from CWM) How should I make sure that it's been reverted to the latest stock version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to be more specific-- the latest stock ROM, or the latest stock recovery? If you're wondering about the ROM, you can check in Settings > About tablet > Status. When it comes to determining recovery version, I'm not so sure.
valapsp said:
4. What does N7's stock factory image contain? (Stock ROM + Stock recovery + Stock kernel?) (found here: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it contains stock ROM and kernel.
valapsp said:
5. Is this correct? You can install a custom ROM without changing the kernel but in order to have more customization you have to flash a different kernel than the stock one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally correct. There's a subset of features that are kernel-dependent, not ROM dependent, so you should think of it as ROM customizations vs. kernel customizations. Some examples of the former include PIE menus and Paranoid Android's Halo feature. Examples of the latter might include tap2wake (double tap on a powered-off screen to turn it on), NTFS drive support for OTG, and so on.
valapsp said:
6. Is this the correct order? Unlocking bootloader>rooting>Flashing custom recovery>Flashing custom kernel>Flashing custom ROM>...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and no? It's one way of going about it, save for the last two things, which should be reversed. Since some ROMs include custom kernels, flashing a kernel and then a ROM runs the risk of having your kernel choice overwritten.
If all you need to do is flash a different ROM, you can go straight form unlocking the bootloader to flashing a recovery. You can also flash ROMs and kernels independently, so long as whatever kernel/ROM you're running initially doesn't have known incompatibilities with your new ROM/kernel.
valapsp said:
7. Difference between unlocking bootloader and rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocking your bootloader is like getting the key to a house. Rooting is getting permission from the landlord to do whatever the heck you want to the house. A locked bootloader means that the device is checking to ensure no unauthorized code is running at boot time, which prevents custom recoveries from being installed. Rooting only really matters when the device is booted up.
valapsp said:
8. How to find out N7's latest stock kernel version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google. Sorry, can't help you with this one.
That was a great answer @Rirere
Rirere said:
Same as those for a stock kernel. That is to say, every kernel has advantages and disadvantages. Some trade performance for battery life, others do the reverse. Some are more feature-heavy and potentially more unstable, others are feature-light but designed to be rock solid. With custom kernels on a Nexus device, you avoid one of the biggest dangers of custom kernels (instability due to lack of kernel source for developers to base their work on), but you still need to be careful. You don't necessarily know how proficient the author of a given kernel is, and the wrong one can make your device unusable/kill it.
I believe it does. I don't remember which one though, since I don't use CM.
You need to be more specific-- the latest stock ROM, or the latest stock recovery? If you're wondering about the ROM, you can check in Settings > About tablet > Status. When it comes to determining recovery version, I'm not so sure.
I believe it contains stock ROM and kernel.
Generally correct. There's a subset of features that are kernel-dependent, not ROM dependent, so you should think of it as ROM customizations vs. kernel customizations. Some examples of the former include PIE menus and Paranoid Android's Halo feature. Examples of the latter might include tap2wake (double tap on a powered-off screen to turn it on), NTFS drive support for OTG, and so on.
Yes and no? It's one way of going about it, save for the last two things, which should be reversed. Since some ROMs include custom kernels, flashing a kernel and then a ROM runs the risk of having your kernel choice overwritten.
If all you need to do is flash a different ROM, you can go straight form unlocking the bootloader to flashing a recovery. You can also flash ROMs and kernels independently, so long as whatever kernel/ROM you're running initially doesn't have known incompatibilities with your new ROM/kernel.
Unlocking your bootloader is like getting the key to a house. Rooting is getting permission from the landlord to do whatever the heck you want to the house. A locked bootloader means that the device is checking to ensure no unauthorized code is running at boot time, which prevents custom recoveries from being installed. Rooting only really matters when the device is booted up.
Google. Sorry, can't help you with this one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all many many thanx to you because of your help. Yes I meant stock RECOVERY in question 3 also the way you explained question #7 is awesome.
Now I'm running stock ROM on CWM recovery and Franco kernel. My question is that will I be able to upgrade to Android 4.3 with this recovery and kernel? Or I have to flash the stock kernel or stock recovery or both?
Also how can I extract the stock kernel from the factory stock image file?
Thanx again.
valapsp said:
First of all many many thanx to you because of your help. Yes I meant stock RECOVERY in question 3 also the way you explained question #7 is awesome.
Now I'm running stock ROM on CWM recovery and Franco kernel. My question is that will I be able to upgrade to Android 4.3 with this recovery and kernel? Or I have to flash the stock kernel or stock recovery or both?
Also how can I extract the stock kernel from the factory stock image file?
Thanx again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OTA updates are normally only applied to the rom/system, so in theory you should be able to just run the OTA update with the stock rom, the worst that would mainly happen is losing rooting because the system partition gets replaced with a fresh install of the newest operating system (but your /data retains your settings and user data).
I use TWRP recovery instead of CWM, and TWRP when you're bout to exit it will detect if your system has Supersu or not and will offer to install it for you (from there once you boot into the system you can use it to install the su binary for you thus re-rooting).
In the end it's a personal choice. With custom roms like I'm using, there's no real "OTA" update (just a notice that the rom creators use to notify you of new versions which are downloaded to the device, and you just reboot into recovery to flash them). Custom roms typically get updated a few days to a few weeks after google updates if they're AOSP based.
The stock kernel would normally be the boot image, I don't know how you would do it with clockwork mod, but in TWRP you can simply make a backup of the boot partition to retain the original stock kernel. (It will of course only work on AOSP-based roms if you choose to just flash the stock kernel, but the ones that are made for the rom, or custom kernels tend to offer optimizations over the original stock one).
Thanks, I meant extracting the stock kernel from factory image file found here:
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
By the way I don't have the stock kernel anymore to back it up.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
valapsp said:
Thanks, I meant extracting the stock kernel from factory image file found here:
https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
By the way I don't have the stock kernel anymore to back it up.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh I see, well if your's is the Wifi-only version then would be something like this https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#nakasijdq39
The firmwares are basically gzipped tarballs (in a linux system tar zxvf would normally unpack em, otherwise 7zip for windows does a good job of unpacking it into a folder).
Alternatively you can just download the kernel itself (Post #3) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2151154
Edit: Yes if you un-gzip/untar the original firmware, then unpack image-nakasi-jdq39.zip inside of that, there will be a boot.img that's where the kernel lives. The boot.img can be flashed via fastboot to the boot partition (I'd advise reading up on this first before actually doing it). Though like linked above, there are some recovery-flashible versions of the stock kernel you can use instead.
kbeezie said:
Ahh I see, well if your's is the Wifi-only version then would be something like this https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#nakasijdq39
The firmwares are basically gzipped tarballs (in a linux system tar zxvf would normally unpack em, otherwise 7zip for windows does a good job of unpacking it into a folder).
Alternatively you can just download the kernel itself (Post #3) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2151154
Edit: Yes if you un-gzip/untar the original firmware, then unpack image-nakasi-jdq39.zip inside of that, there will be a boot.img that's where the kernel lives. The boot.img can be flashed via fastboot to the boot partition (I'd advise reading up on this first before actually doing it). Though like linked above, there are some recovery-flashible versions of the stock kernel you can use instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, I actually did unzip the stock firmware seconds ago and was posting the results then I saw your edit.
Just there are some confusions here: what is that userdata.img? also what is bootloader-grouper-4.18.img
valapsp said:
thanks, I actually did unzip the stock firmware seconds ago and was posting the results then I saw your edit.
Just there are some confusions here: what is that userdata.img? also what is bootloader-grouper-4.18.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bootloader img would be the original stock bootloader for the Nexus 7, chances are you never replaced it, you only unlocked it. There's usually no reason to replace the bootloader with a custom one since all you need to do is unlock it.
userdata.img would be the /data partition. The firmware download basically has a image for all of the partition in the original out-of-the-box stock state. Technically you don't even to flash it, as long as you wiped /data before rebooting (since that would be the same as a clean install if you instead flashed the system and boot partition).
Edit: If I were messing with it to get back stock rom (but not messing with recovery, cuz custom recovery is still handy to have), I would only flash the boot.img and system.img , then log into Recovery and wipe data (ie: factory reset which wipes cache and /data but doesn't touch /data/media), Then I would be able to reboot into a clean stock install of the rom.
(from there I could just make a backup from recovery so I wouldn't have to do a fastboot flash again).
kbeezie said:
The OTA updates are normally only applied to the rom/system, so in theory you should be able to just run the OTA update with the stock rom, the worst that would mainly happen is losing rooting because the system partition gets replaced with a fresh install of the newest operating system (but your /data retains your settings and user data).
I use TWRP recovery instead of CWM, and TWRP when you're bout to exit it will detect if your system has Supersu or not and will offer to install it for you (from there once you boot into the system you can use it to install the su binary for you thus re-rooting).
In the end it's a personal choice. With custom roms like I'm using, there's no real "OTA" update (just a notice that the rom creators use to notify you of new versions which are downloaded to the device, and you just reboot into recovery to flash them). Custom roms typically get updated a few days to a few weeks after google updates if they're AOSP based.
The stock kernel would normally be the boot image, I don't know how you would do it with clockwork mod, but in TWRP you can simply make a backup of the boot partition to retain the original stock kernel. (It will of course only work on AOSP-based roms if you choose to just flash the stock kernel, but the ones that are made for the rom, or custom kernels tend to offer optimizations over the original stock one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, how many times does should matter? Theoretically, you should be able to do OTAs while rooted by downloading the ZIP and flashing in recovery, but if you've made changes to /system (uninstalling a system app, or adding a helper), you might get the stupid script_assert error. Of course, you could just push the whole /system back to your device...although that can be just as annoying.
I wish there were away to turn off the script_asserts safely, but they do exist for a reason.
@valapsp
Small but important clarification.
valapsp said:
5. Is this correct? You can install a custom ROM without changing the kernel but in order to have more customization you have to flash a different kernel than the stock one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Essentially 100% of custom ROMs install a kernel. (Actually, a kernel plus a ramdisk packaged together as a single ("bootable image") file, typically named "boot.img".) So your preexisting boot image containing the kernel is always overwritten during a ROM installation. See next answer.
valapsp said:
6. Is this the correct order? Unlocking bootloader>rooting>Flashing custom recovery>Flashing custom kernel>Flashing custom ROM>...?
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Click to collapse
Almost, but not quite. If you want to use a different kernel than what ships with a given ROM, you flash it after you have installed the ROM, not beforehand. See prior answer.
One more thing. Since you are new to this stuff, I'll make a suggestion:
Learn how to create and restore full Nandroid backups (using the custom recovery) immediately. And get in the habit of copying them off your tablet to your PC. You will thank me later for this advice.
have fun
Rirere said:
Unfortunately, how many times does should matter? Theoretically, you should be able to do OTAs while rooted by downloading the ZIP and flashing in recovery, but if you've made changes to /system (uninstalling a system app, or adding a helper), you might get the stupid script_assert error. Of course, you could just push the whole /system back to your device...although that can be just as annoying.
I wish there were away to turn off the script_asserts safely, but they do exist for a reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Rirere...
This is my understanding as well... (sort of! - I've always been a bit hazy on this topic).
My take on it is this...
The OTA would only fail, if it found files in /system that SHOULD BE THERE, but have been removed, modified, or replaced by the user (or via some app run by the user).
Logically (one would think), the OTA can't check for files THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE (How would it know what to look for?) but have been ADDED by the user... like the su binary that confers root.
So, an OTA on pure ROOTED (but in all other regards, unadulterated) stock you would expect to succeed... you'd just lose root (and from what I've read elsewhere, your Custom Recovery). Both of which are trivial to recover.
Is my understanding correct... or have I missed something?
Rgrds,
Ged.
GedBlake said:
Hi, Rirere...
This is my understanding as well... (sort of! - I've always been a bit hazy on this topic).
My take on it is this...
The OTA would only fail, if it found files in /system that SHOULD BE THERE, but have been removed, modified, or replaced by the user (or via some app run by the user).
Logically (one would think), the OTA can't check for files THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE (How would it know what to look for?) but have been ADDED by the user... like the su binary that confers root.
So, an OTA on pure ROOTED (but in all other regards, unadulterated) stock you would expect to succeed... you'd just lose root (and from what I've read elsewhere, your Custom Recovery). Both of which are trivial to recover.
Is my understanding correct... or have I missed something?
Rgrds,
Ged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you are correct! Theoretically, the script could rather easily check for added files by checksumming the entire /system partition before running the update (using a fast hash algorithm-- you're only looking for the presence of any changes, afterall). And I did have one OTA that went fine, other than losing root back on my Galaxy Nexus.
Again though, it's a classic case of should versus real life. Some root methods might alter things in /system without your knowing, or root actions might alter permissions. Either way, it's a tricky, nasty little game.
So far as recoveries go: yeah, OTAs have a nasty habit of trying to do that. Some of the more advanced recoveries can resist being overwritten though/slipstream a root ZIP into the update process.
GedBlake said:
The OTA would only fail, if it found files in /system that SHOULD BE THERE, but have been removed, modified, or replaced by the user (or via some app run by the user).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Typically the OTAs also update the boot image, so the boot partition (LNX) is also checked. The stock recoveries almost always use the same kernel (with a different ramdisk) as the boot image, so they are usually rewritten too.
Owners of tilapia N7 devices have reported successful flashing of everything but radio firmware images when they used a custom recovery to process the OTA bundle. Not a disaster, as their devices will still function with old radio firmware, but it puts them in an unusual position of being unable to use the OTA to subsequently update the radio, even if they restore the stock recovery (the system files and boot images will have been changed, so almost all of the checksums will fail). At that point, using fastboot is an alternate option, but then the newbs will need to read about OTA images, unpack them, yadda yadda yadda.
IMO it is just a dumb idea applying OTAs to anything but a pure stock device. And when I say pure stock, I mean including the stock recovery. The boot loader can be left unlocked, but that's about it.
There are a lot of ways to skin the cat, but IMO the best way to proceed is to operate with two parallel but independent tracks of Nandroid backups/restores: one track is a sequence of pure stock, and the other your customized ROM du jour.
Let's presume you have a Nandroid backup of the pure stock ROM. Make a backup of your current (customized) ROM & get it copied off the tablet (in the event of a disaster), restore the pure stock ROM nandroid backup, flash the stock recovery back to the tab, and then take the OTA.
At this point:
[ unlocked bootloader ] soft-boot (no flashing) a custom recovery using fastboot, and then make yet another Nandroid backup of the newly updated stock ROM including the recovery image. (This becomes the new baseline for future OTAs)
[ locked bootloader ] re-root with motochopper, capture the (new) stock recovery partition using 'dd', flash a custom recovery ('dd' or other method), make a Nandroid of this. (These two backups become the new baseline for future OTAs)
Then, repeat any rooting customizations (if you are a "lightly customized rooted stock" kinda person), and restore apps (Market apps only!) with TiBu.
This may seem like a great deal of work, but it is the only way to insure that you can revert to a prior starting position. Look: after going down a road like this you can even restore the old customized ROM backup to make TiBu app backups after the fact, simply because you can return to any point in time if you have made a backup (and kept a copy of it off the tablet).
Everybody makes mistakes - even the experts. But the lazier folks are (read: toolkit user) the more likely is a disaster. Everybody needs to make backups.
What will happen if I change some values in build.prop editor? I won't be able to install stock ROMs anymore? Or what?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
valapsp said:
What will happen if I change some values in build.prop editor? I won't be able to install stock ROMs anymore? Or what?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on how you mean "install", you can always install via .img or recovery flashing method, but course that will overwrite your build.prop with the provided version and you would just have to re-edit the values again.
Did you mean OTA wise? If the update doesn't check for the hash of the build.prop, it will likely just replace it with a newer version if anything has changed from the last version to the new version.
As others have said, worse case scenario, the OTA fails to proceed due to errors and you would just have to manually update it yourself, as you could just flash a new boot.img and system.img from google's site (just have to remember anything you added on top of system or custom kernels will of course be reverted, so they will need to be reapplied).
Settings and user apps and such all live in /data , so it should just simply boot up as an upgraded system but with everything else intact (course I always make a backup via my custom recovery just in case).
kbeezie said:
Depends on how you mean "install", you can always install via .img or recovery flashing method, but course that will overwrite your build.prop with the provided version and you would just have to re-edit the values again.
Did you mean OTA wise? If the update doesn't check for the hash of the build.prop, it will likely just replace it with a newer version if anything has changed from the last version to the new version.
As others have said, worse case scenario, the OTA fails to proceed due to errors and you would just have to manually update it yourself, as you could just flash a new boot.img and system.img from google's site (just have to remember anything you added on top of system or custom kernels will of course be reverted, so they will need to be reapplied).
Settings and user apps and such all live in /data , so it should just simply boot up as an upgraded system but with everything else intact (course I always make a backup via my custom recovery just in case).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, and does backing up thru cwm also back up the build.prop?
valapsp said:
Thanks, and does backing up thru cwm also back up the build.prop?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but not in the way you're thinking. If you back up the whole system, CWM will package each partition up (/system /data , etc), so when you flash a new rom or system on, you can't just selectively restore build.prop since restoring in CWM Would also restore the entire system partition.
You can while in recovery, mount /system and do something like
adb pull /system/build.prop , and save a copy of it on your computer, so you can go back in and change the affected values back if for some reason you needed to.
If you're familiar with ghosting, nandroid backups (what CWM and most others do, minus some variations), are basically exact clones of all the files on each partition. Older recoveries actually took an image snapshot, newer ones basically pack all the files in a compressed archive (With some kind of note of what partition type it was, ext4, etc). The latter can easily be unpacked with tar, or 7zip, etc, but disk images are a different matter.
I can't remember which one CWM does exactly since on my DZ I use 4EXT, and on my Nexus devices I use TWRP.
kbeezie said:
Yes, but not in the way you're thinking. If you back up the whole system, CWM will package each partition up (/system /data , etc), so when you flash a new rom or system on, you can't just selectively restore build.prop since restoring in CWM Would also restore the entire system partition.
You can while in recovery, mount /system and do something like
adb pull /system/build.prop , and save a copy of it on your computer, so you can go back in and change the affected values back if for some reason you needed to.
If you're familiar with ghosting, nandroid backups (what CWM and most others do, minus some variations), are basically exact clones of all the files on each partition. Older recoveries actually took an image snapshot, newer ones basically pack all the files in a compressed archive (With some kind of note of what partition type it was, ext4, etc). The latter can easily be unpacked with tar, or 7zip, etc, but disk images are a different matter.
I can't remember which one CWM does exactly since on my DZ I use 4EXT, and on my Nexus devices I use TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, an easier way is to copy the build.prop thru a file manager.
But since I'm on my geek mood today I wanna know if it's possible to extract the backed up (Nandroid) file and find the build.prop somewhere there.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
valapsp said:
Thanks, an easier way is to copy the build.prop thru a file manager.
But since I'm on my geek mood today I wanna know if it's possible to extract the backed up (Nandroid) file and find the build.prop somewhere there.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's a backup done with 4EXT or TWRP most certainly since it's just a tarball package (or tar+gzipped if you enabled compression) and can be easily unpacked by tar, or any popular archive utility like 7Zip for windows. (restoration generally just looks at the file info to see what partition type it's supposed to be, formats the partition as such, and then just un-tars the content, with the permissions and such retained).
If it's older where it's an actual jaffs (may have spelled that wrong) disk image, I'm not sure off the top of my head how you would mount it as a disk , and then mount the ext4 or ext3 partition in order to get to it. I would assume ClockworkMod would have upgraded their backup method to the same as TWRP or 4EXT, but it's possible that they didn't for compatibility reasons.
I have been trying to get the KitKat leak working in a safestrap rom slot for days. Each time it failed, and I concluded that it was currently incompatible with the hijack Hashcode was using. So, I tried flashing my KK rom to the stock slot, and then I immediately flashed supersu. Voila, KitKat with root on my locked at&t moto x!
The interesting thing is that this method should work for any rom that is compatible with the stock kernels (because locked bootloader wont allow any other kernel). Hopefully this will 'open the floodgates' to flashing AOSP roms on locked devices that can run safestrap.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU MESS UP YOUR PHONE. With that said, this doesn't touch your bootloader, and you should be able to restore back to stock if there is a problem.
Here are the steps I followed on my locked ATT moto x starting with the at&t stock .51 rom:
1) extract ext4 filesystem image from leak's system.img
2) used android kitchen (thanks dsixda) to cook a flashable rom and fixed some symlinks with help from the updater-script found in dhacker29's 4.4 rom
3) root (pwnmymoto - thanks jcase)
4) install safestrap (thanks Hashcode)
5) copied the rom I cooked to sdcard
6) copied supersu flashable zip to sdcard (thanks chainfire)
7) booted to SS TWRP recovery
8) switched to stock rom slot
9) flashed my cooked rom
10) immediately flashed supersu
11) rebooted into bootloader
12) flashed kitkat kernel: fastboot flash boot boot.img
13) cleared cache and userdata
(I left the modem from the 4.2.2 .54 update)
Rebooted to kitkat with root!
I haven't tested bluetooth, but wifi and gps work. Strangely, the safestrap 'recovery or continue' screen is still there, but the /ss directory is empty. (I would like to know how to manually remove ss, as it is almost certainly not working now.)
I would be happy to share my flashable 4.4 rom, but I noticed that the original leak was taken down. What/where is the smart place to get this up?
I found a place to upload the rom: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=47451659#post47451659
Hopefully the instructions there are clear...
Can I ask how you extracted from the system.img? I tried to follow the guide that uses ext4_unpacker, but it won't open it. It just says unknown file format. Guessing you did it on a Linux machine?
Ctrl-Freak said:
I have been trying to get the KitKat leak working in a safestrap rom slot for days. Each time it failed, and I concluded that it was currently incompatible with the hijack Hashcode was using. So, I tried flashing my KK rom to the stock slot, and then I immediately flashed supersu. Voila, KitKat with root on my locked at&t moto x!
The interesting thing is that this method should work for any rom that is compatible with the stock kernels (because locked bootloader wont allow any other kernel). Hopefully this will 'open the floodgates' to flashing AOSP roms on locked devices that can run safestrap.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU MESS UP YOUR PHONE. With that said, this doesn't touch your bootloader, and you should be able to restore back to stock if there is a problem.
Here are the steps I followed on my locked ATT moto x starting with the at&t stock .51 rom:
1) extract ext4 filesystem image from leak's system.img
2) used android kitchen (thanks dsixda) to cook a flashable rom and fixed some symlinks with help from the updater-script found in dhacker29's 4.4 rom
3) root (pwnmymoto - thanks jcase)
4) install safestrap (thanks Hashcode)
5) copied the rom I cooked to sdcard
6) copied supersu flashable zip to sdcard (thanks chainfire)
7) booted to SS TWRP recovery
8) switched to stock rom slot
9) flashed my cooked rom
10) immediately flashed supersu
11) rebooted into bootloader
12) flashed kitkat kernel: fastboot flash boot boot.img
13) cleared cache and userdata
(I left the modem from the 4.2.2 .54 update)
Rebooted to kitkat with root!
I haven't tested bluetooth, but wifi and gps work. Strangely, the safestrap 'recovery or continue' screen is still there, but the /ss directory is empty. (I would like to know how to manually remove ss, as it is almost certainly not working now.)
I would be happy to share my flashable 4.4 rom, but I noticed that the original leak was taken down. What/where is the smart place to get this up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to see locked BLs getting some love. Any chance of KK screenshots? No one seems to have uploaded them on any thread. How has your experience been with it so far?
freak4dell said:
Can I ask how you extracted from the system.img? I tried to follow the guide that uses ext4_unpacker, but it won't open it. It just says unknown file format. Guessing you did it on a Linux machine?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This took me a day to figure out. I used simg2img in ubuntu.
anirudh412 said:
... How has your experience been with it so far?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only material problem I am having is battery life - it seems noticeably worse that the att .54 ota version.
this is beta release. for t900 only.
I'll write full instruction later. For full description see http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2011403
I'm not sure that everything is stable, so I dont publish source code. I dont want to distribute buggy sources. thanks for understanding.
for stock firmware only. for now. use stock firmware as primary. you can flash cm as additional.
Installation:
1. https://yadi.sk/d/9t2yfkIPc7yPj - this is modded recovery. flash via odin (updated 19/10. Thanks to @arcadia2uk for fix flashing bug)
2. https://yadi.sk/d/TtXcwe6Hc54cR - patched stock kernel
https://yadi.sk/d/r2lnH3N3c54eF - multirom main program
flash through modded recovery patched kernel and multirom.
uninstallation:
https://yadi.sk/d/r9ZLm0vCc68um - flash this uninstaller through recovery, then flash original twrp
known issues:
- 1920x1200 resolution in twrp
- in List Roms installed roms dont shown
- in multirom boot menu touchscreen downt work. use buttons (vol-,vol+,power)
multirom apk from play store doesnt support this release.
reserved
more reserved
bonuzzz said:
this is beta release. for t900 only.
I'll write full instruction later. For full description see http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2011403
I'm not sure that everything is stable, so I dont publish source code. I dont want to distribute buggy sources. thanks for understanding.
for stock firmware only. for now. use stock frimware as primary. you can flash cm as additional.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, I have to try this later on. I noticed that after having installed CM11, I can no longer flash touchwiz (I deleted my back-up, as I no longer needed it...), why I probably have to start all over and use Odin to re-install stock and then install multi ROM on top of it. I will look into it once I get some time over.
When you are saying "stock firmware", could this be any customized touchwiz ROM?
PS the link to the MultiROM decription does not work, here is the correct one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2011403
arcadia2uk said:
Nice, I have to try this later on. I noticed that after having installed CM11, I can no longer flash touchwiz (I deleted my back-up, as I no longer needed it...), why I probably have to start all over and use Odin to re-install stock and then install multi ROM on top of it. I will look into it once I get some time over.
When you are saying "stock firmware", could this be any customized touchwiz ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, every touchwiz rom
I have to recompile cm kernel to support multirom. I'll do it later. It depends on Valera's decision whether support t900 or not.
bonuzzz said:
this is beta release. for t900 only.
Installation:
1. https://yadi.sk/d/Sm4V4SMDc54ay - this is modded recovery. flash via odin
uninstallation:
https://yadi.sk/d/Sm4V4SMDc54ay - flash this uninstaller through recovery, then flash original twrp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't seem correct that the modded recovery and the installer has the same d/l link?
---------- Post added at 11:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 PM ----------
bonuzzz said:
yes, every touchwiz rom
I have to recompile cm kernel to support multirom. I'll do it later. It depends on Valera's decision whether support t900 or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When trying to flash the recovery with Odin there's an error message saying that the MD5 Hash value is invalid, recovery_mr_t900.tar.md5 is invalid.
I recompiled recovery and refreshed links. try again to flash.
bonuzzz said:
I recompiled recovery and refreshed links. try again to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin is still diplaying the message that md5 is invalid.
Maybe a file w/o md5 would work?
arcadia2uk said:
Odin is still diplaying the message that md5 is invalid.
Maybe a file w/o md5 would work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unpack archive and try to flash recovery.img with flashify. maybe change version of odin. i use 3.09.3
bonuzzz said:
unpack archive and try to flash recovery.img with flashify. maybe change version of odin. i use 3.09.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I renamed the tar file by taking away the .md5, that worked.
The boot with the stock ROM went fine. However, I tried install my cm11 by restoring a backup and got stuck, or so I thought it actually came to life after having looked a SOD for 5 min. so I guess it went well. Next problem is that when I'm on the MultiROM boot menu it doesn't give me the option to select the alternative ROM, but makes the countdown and then boots internal. There is no possibility for me to select my alternative ROM as the blue strip does not react to touch. Well, I hope you understand what I mean...
---------- Post added at 09:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 AM ----------
bonuzzz said:
unpack archive and try to flash recovery.img with flashify. maybe change version of odin. i use 3.09.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might also be linked to the fact that the recovery is trying to validate the ROM as a v2awifi, while it should be v2wifixx on the T-900.
I assume the recovery.img need to be modified?
---------- Post added at 10:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 AM ----------
It's actually as simple as touch mode that is disabled in the bootmenu, and you have to use up/down keys to select and power key to confirm your ROM choice (I bet it says this in the OP already...)
Now when that is cleared out it seem to be running great, but as I need to test drive another T-900 Rom I have to uninstall it as I need original TWRP to flash that ROM, due to the naming convention.
After all this gave me the opportunity to test the uninstaller that also worked well
.
So the only issue is the Recovery naming convention the T-900 should be v2wifixx.
This is how I came to have the v2wifixx:
TWRP 2.8.0.0 downloaded from http://www.techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/v2wifixx where I selected openrecovery-twrp-2.8.0.0-v2wifixx.img.tar and flashed it with Odin 3.07. This is the most common version for T-900 owners, as they followed the posted instructions HERE. It's also the version for which Valeria ported the cm-11.
I dont have t900, so i dont know these details
v2wifixx or v2awifixx?
bonuzzz said:
I dont have t900, so i dont know these details
v2wifixx or v2awifixx?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
v2wifixx is the one. (no a after the 2)
But as I mentioned, apart from the small glitches you mention in the OP everything runs smoothly, and what a relief it is to quickly transfer between different ROMs. Great work, I just wished we had a decent touchwiz ROM for the T-900... Thank you, Great work (but I'm getting used to it ) With this, the only thing I had wished for is a 64G internal SD, rather than the 32G I have, unfortunately you can't perform miracles Bonuzzz.
I've been looking into MultiROM before, bet never saw the need for it, but after this experience I have also installed it on my HTC One (m8) which allows me to test ROMs quickly and smoothly, what a difference it makes.
Updated 10/18/2014 08:40am EST
Temporary work around:
1. backup you TouchWiz ROM* (TW),
2. install cm11(s) prior to MultiROM and make a backup,
3. recover your TW, and
4. proceed with MultiROM install after Bonuzzz's instructions in post 1
Once a fixed recovery is available, simply flash this new recovery image and you're good to go. As of that point you can update cm11 nightly's on the go.
HOW to Updating/changing ROMs
Primary ROM (Internal)
- Flash ROM's ZIP file as usual, do factory reset if needed (it won't erase secondary ROMs) (note: don't forget fixed kernel)
- Go to Advanced -> MultiROM in recovery and do Inject curr. boot sector.
Secondary Android ROMs
- If you want to change the ROM, delete it and add new one. To update ROM, follow these steps:
- Go to Advanced -> MultiROM -> List ROMs and select the ROM you want to update.
- Select "Flash ZIP" and flash ROM's ZIP file.
* I installed Bonuzz's Custom ROM 1.0.1 (for the P-900) and flashed his MultiROM kernel (see post 1) on top of it. And with no other modifications it seems to work perfectly well. I have only encountered a single minor issue, auto screen-rotation didn't work, but mine is always locked in landscape anyway. I froze the TouchWiz launcher and using Google Now Launcher instead, it couldn't be done w/o freeze, and also fixed an issue with incorrect cropping of my wallpaper. After all everything is good, and as always a great performance by Bonuzzz. Thank you/arc
reuploaded recovery. try again.
bonuzzz said:
reuploaded recovery. try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like you accidentaly re-uploaded the same file, I have the same error message saying:
This package is for device: v2wifixx; this device is v2awifi.
E:Error executing updater binary in zip '/tmp/mr_update.zip'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
arcadia2uk said:
It looks like you accidentaly re-uploaded the same file, I have the same error message saying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you talked about multirom file but wrote recovery. i tried to find problem in wrong place.. redownload again
bonuzzz said:
you talked about multirom file but wrote recovery. i tried to find problem in wrong place.. redownload again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sent you an e-mail about the problem a few minutes ago
Am I correct to assume that the only way to install cm-11 with gapps is by flashing a backup under MultiROM?
Or, at least until you can get the Advanced/MultiROM/List ROMs option corrected, since that seems to be to only place where you can flash a .zip on top of an existing ROM, and this install option only allow you to make a simple flash, or have I missed something?
bonuzzz said:
reuploaded recovery. try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do I feel that you're abandoning this project, when you're this close....
Hey all... Just a simple question... I have the Cataclysm mod .zip from jan5 measuring around 35mb.... Would like to know if I flash the same over the Feb update when the same comes out... Would the same work and I'll get all the features on that or not.....
Would be trying nonetheless but wanted to know....
likely no.
I had the same question... if no is no - great... just want to rephrase it...
My understanding of the Cata MOD - is that it installs on top of stock. If that is the case, when the FEB security update is released why not install it as originally planned for the Cataclysm updates? (where the vendor.img was NOT included)...
In theory this may work? IF not - why?
Ok - I'm going to grab the February release and take the approach of only flashing the CATA MOD file ontop of the system/vendor images... I'll report back here if it works... as stated I believe in theory it should work just fine.
Would be a great way to continue to enjoy CATACLYSM ROM... best ROM out there...
luigidk said:
Ok - I'm going to grab the February release and take the approach of only flashing the CATA MOD file ontop of the system/vendor images... I'll report back here if it works... as stated I believe in theory it should work just fine.
Would be a great way to continue to enjoy CATACLYSM ROM... best ROM out there...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please make sure to report back, I'm curious about this too. I'm fairly sure it isn't the best idea, though
redsmith said:
Please make sure to report back, I'm curious about this too. I'm fairly sure it isn't the best idea, though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll do a nandroid backup first.
Then - will flash the new system.img, the CATA MOD, then the new Vendor.img... based on my previous notes on how to install just the MOD file - this SHOULD work. I suppose one gotcha may be if the kernel needs to change - in that case I'd just immediatly flash a custom kernel over the stock cata kernel that comes with the MOD flash. I use GOD's Kernel - http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/orig-development/kernel-t3276585
I note that the boot image and radio images have not changed in this release - so we're talking pretty straightforward testing here!
My understanding was that Atl4ntis developed the MOD file just for this reason - and also decoupled the CATA MOD work from the main stock rom. The end result was a unique ROM whereas it truly 'sat on top' of stock...
This is one reason I liked the rom so much - it was for all purposes a stock ROM - with the bells and whistles that CATA had - sitting on top as extras... at least that is how I looked at it.
IF this doesn't work - I'm likely just going to go back to stock ROM anyway as I don't trust anyother ROM's stability - based on past experience - CATA is the ONLY ROM that was stock-stable.
Still frustrated that people on this site killed Cataclysm for us.... Whatever political crap that was going on was BS - here was a GREAT developer who just plain delivered and delivered and delivered... and made things better for many of us. To be slammed in any way or manner is beyond petty.
luigidk said:
I'll do a nandroid backup first.
Then - will flash the new system.img, the CATA MOD, then the new Vendor.img... based on my previous notes on how to install just the MOD file - this SHOULD work. I suppose one gotcha may be if the kernel needs to change - in that case I'd just immediatly flash a custom kernel over the stock cata kernel that comes with the MOD flash. I use GOD's Kernel - http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/orig-development/kernel-t3276585
I note that the boot image and radio images have not changed in this release - so we're talking pretty straightforward testing here!
My understanding was that Atl4ntis developed the MOD file just for this reason - and also decoupled the CATA MOD work from the main stock rom. The end result was a unique ROM whereas it truly 'sat on top' of stock...
This is one reason I liked the rom so much - it was for all purposes a stock ROM - with the bells and whistles that CATA had - sitting on top as extras... at least that is how I looked at it.
IF this doesn't work - I'm likely just going to go back to stock ROM anyway as I don't trust anyother ROM's stability - based on past experience - CATA is the ONLY ROM that was stock-stable.
Still frustrated that people on this site killed Cataclysm for us.... Whatever political crap that was going on was BS - here was a GREAT developer who just plain delivered and delivered and delivered... and made things better for many of us. To be slammed in any way or manner is beyond petty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
didnt work... started from scratch and flashed the stock system image with having the userdata formatted as wel... then proceeded to flash the cata mod (JAN5) update almost around 35mb.... also had checked previously that it had it's own boot.img so after flashing cataMOD.. went to bootloader and flashed the stock boot.img...
came up and got stuck at android bootlogo.... waited 15mins and went to stock again.... but there is some light at the end of the tunnel... i was using slimROM devloper's @Yank555 rom(YAOSP) is freaking awesome and the most stable.... also has my beloved feature "SLIMDIM" which dim's the nagiation bar...
here is the link:-
https://twitter.com/yank555lu >>> for following development...
and the Android-fileHost link:-
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=45668
rohit25 said:
didnt work... started from scratch and flashed the stock system image with having the userdata formatted as wel... then proceeded to flash the cata mod (JAN5) update almost around 35mb.... also had checked previously that it had it's own boot.img so after flashing cataMOD.. went to bootloader and flashed the stock boot.img...
came up and got stuck at android bootlogo.... waited 15mins and went to stock again.... but there is some light at the end of the tunnel... i was using slimROM devloper's @Yank555 rom(YAOSP) is freaking awesome and the most stable.... also has my beloved feature "SLIMDIM" which dim's the nagiation bar...
here is the link:-
https://twitter.com/yank555lu >>> for following development...
and the Android-fileHost link:-
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=45668
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you also flash the vendor.img after flashing the CATAMOD?
luigidk said:
Did you also flash the vendor.img after flashing the CATAMOD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope
Hi, worked for me.
I manually flashed the latest factory images. (bootloader, radio, recovery, boot, system, cache, vendor, userdata)
Then I flashed twrp.
Booted into twrp and installed latest Cat-Mod, SuperSU 2.52, franco-r9.
Rebooted into bootloader and flashed vendor again and formatted userdata.
Hope this helps,
Pat
myuzi said:
Hi, worked for me.
I manually flashed the latest factory images. (bootloader, radio, recovery, boot, system, cache, vendor, userdata)
Then I flashed twrp.
Booted into twrp and installed latest Cat-Mod, SuperSU 2.52, franco-r9.
Rebooted into bootloader and flashed vendor again and formatted userdata.
Hope this helps,
Pat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can confirm that everything works... i guess flashing the vendor did the trick...
myuzi said:
Hi, worked for me.
I manually flashed the latest factory images. (bootloader, radio, recovery, boot, system, cache, vendor, userdata)
Then I flashed twrp.
Booted into twrp and installed latest Cat-Mod, SuperSU 2.52, franco-r9.
Rebooted into bootloader and flashed vendor again and formatted userdata.
Hope this helps,
Pat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great news!
- with the bootloader being the same, as well as the radio - is there a need to flash anything other than system.img, CATA MOD, and vendor.img.
- also - why did you manually flash, rather than flash the images with TWRP? (note, when flashing images with TWRP I see an option to install to either boot or recovery - and I'm still trying to determine which to use... in the meantime I'm installing the drivers on my PC so I can manually flash also.
- for manually flashing - can you flash in order: system.img, catamod, vendor.img? without rebooting between steps? (I figure I can flash a kernel later in TWRP)
myuzi said:
Hi, worked for me.
I manually flashed the latest factory images. (bootloader, radio, recovery, boot, system, cache, vendor, userdata)
Then I flashed twrp.
Booted into twrp and installed latest Cat-Mod, SuperSU 2.52, franco-r9.
Rebooted into bootloader and flashed vendor again and formatted userdata.
Hope this helps,
Pat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a question though.. i somehow have decrypted my phone... is any adversity of the same.. should i encrypt it back again.. and if yes.. how...
luigidk said:
Great news!
- with the bootloader being the same, as well as the radio - is there a need to flash anything other than system.img, CATA MOD, and vendor.img.
- also - why did you manually flash, rather than flash the images with TWRP? (note, when flashing images with TWRP I see an option to install to either boot or recovery - and I'm still trying to determine which to use... in the meantime I'm installing the drivers on my PC so I can manually flash also.
- for manually flashing - can you flash in order: system.img, catamod, vendor.img? without rebooting between steps? (I figure I can flash a kernel later in TWRP)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey.. the catamod would be flashed from twrp.. would suggest taking the steps that work.. should be simpler..
rohit25 said:
hey.. the catamod would be flashed from twrp.. would suggest taking the steps that work.. should be simpler..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agreed - and more consistent - don't have to check whether all images need flashing!
Did you flash CATAMOD last - or before Vendor (I can't remember if it matters!)
luigidk said:
agreed - and more consistent - don't have to check whether all images need flashing!
Did you flash CATAMOD last - or before Vendor (I can't remember if it matters!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
catmod first.. i had the jan6 variant so that had the vendor in it... then had to boot to bootloader and then flash vendor again.....
rohit25 said:
a question though.. i somehow have decrypted my phone... is any adversity of the same.. should i encrypt it back again.. and if yes.. how...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I always format userdata before booting into android, so the phone will be decrypted. The choice is yours if you want to encrypt or not. There really isn't much benefit to decrypt on the 6P since it's plenty fast as is. I'm just a creature of habit.
I've successfully upgraded to MMB29Q - and have stayed on CATACLYSM ROM - using the last CATA MOD.
For me this is a big deal as it is the first time I've done a manual update using fastboot commands. but thanks to everyone in XDA - went very well (Note: I've always used some type of toolkit in the past, or everything was already baked into a FULL ROM install...)
Also - first time I'm going 100% no root - so I can keep running AP
I flashed these images from the MMB29Q image - in order:
- bootloader.img
- radio.img
- boot.img
- system.img
- booted into recovery:
- used TWRP to flash CATA MOD
- booted back to bootloader:
- flashed vendor.img
- used TWRP to flash a permissive kernel (God's Kernel)
- used TWRP to copy/chmod the latest HOSTS file from ADAWAY (no longer using Adaway directly as I'm not running root)
- used TWRP to flash latest V4A install (atmos/sony version)
- used TWRP to flash sony music player install
- rebooted
everything is 100% - no root - AP working and CATA enhancements in place
luigidk said:
I've successfully upgraded to MMB29Q - and have stayed on CATACLYSM ROM - using the last CATA MOD.
For me this is a big deal as it is the first time I've done a manual update using fastboot commands. but thanks to everyone in XDA - went very well (Note: I've always used some type of toolkit in the past, or everything was already baked into a FULL ROM install...)
Also - first time I'm going 100% no root - so I can keep running AP
I flashed these images from the MMB29Q image - in order:
- bootloader.img
- radio.img
- boot.img
- system.img
- booted into recovery:
- used TWRP to flash CATA MOD
- booted back to bootloader:
- flashed vendor.img
- used TWRP to flash a permissive kernel (God's Kernel)
- used TWRP to copy/chmod the latest HOSTS file from ADAWAY (no longer using Adaway directly as I'm not running root)
- used TWRP to flash latest V4A install (atmos/sony version)
- used TWRP to flash sony music player install
- rebooted
everything is 100% - no root - AP working and CATA enhancements in place
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
looks good... and not using toolkits is big WIN... manual is much better..
Hi all, I posted this in the 6P bootloop thread, but didn't get a response. As that is a pretty LONG thread, i'm thinking my question may have gotten lost in the jumble.
Quick run down.
A few months back my 6P started the BLOD. I found the fix listed on these pages, applied it, and have been happily using my phone ever since. Phone is bone stock 7.1.2 other than the TWRP recovery and the modified EX kernel for 4 cores.
Since the fix, my phone FINALLY got the OTA update to go to Android 8.0 and i obviously want to get it done. My concern is HOW to do this without causing more headache.
Can anyone point me in the right direction? Should i use the OTA update or download the factory image from Google?
I've got some knowledge as i used to be into the "rooting" scene back in the day, but haven't for a while, so i feel a little lost.
Thanks for any help.
johnnyphive said:
Hi all, I posted this in the 6P bootloop thread, but didn't get a response. As that is a pretty LONG thread, i'm thinking my question may have gotten lost in the jumble.
Quick run down.
A few months back my 6P started the BLOD. I found the fix listed on these pages, applied it, and have been happily using my phone ever since. Phone is bone stock 7.1.2 other than the TWRP recovery and the modified EX kernel for 4 cores.
Since the fix, my phone FINALLY got the OTA update to go to Android 8.0 and i obviously want to get it done. My concern is HOW to do this without causing more headache.
Can anyone point me in the right direction? Should i use the OTA update or download the factory image from Google?
I've got some knowledge as i used to be into the "rooting" scene back in the day, but haven't for a while, so i feel a little lost.
Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, for starters do NOT take the OTA. It will either fail or boot loop your phone. Due to the fact you have a modified boot.img you will need to update manually using fastboot with the full image. Re-apply the modified kernel after you finish updating the partitions, but BEFORE booting the first time. You can follow most guides on how to manually update a full image using fastboot, just add the step of flashing the modified kernel before booting.
Thanks for the reply and the help. If i could ask for a little more help, as this is my only phone.
Can you explain the difference between the modified boot.img and the modified kernel?
If i download the factory image from here (https://developers.google.com/android/images) is it ok to the get the latested one (Nov 2017) or do i need to get the original one (Sep 2017 as i'm on Fi)
Once i flash the factory image, is it going to replace the modified boot image as well as the modified kernel?
Follow the OP on this thread (https://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/general/guide-fix-nexus-6p-bootloop-death-blod-t3640279) in the downloads section there appear to be 2 files i would need, the "Boot.img from stock 6.17, 8.0 firmware" and "EX kernel version 5.03". Am i understanding that correctly?
Like i said, this is my only phone, and i'm probably just being overly paranoid about bricking it, but any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
johnnyphive said:
Thanks for the reply and the help. If i could ask for a little more help, as this is my only phone.
Can you explain the difference between the modified boot.img and the modified kernel?
If i download the factory image from here (https://developers.google.com/android/images) is it ok to the get the latested one (Nov 2017) or do i need to get the original one (Sep 2017 as i'm on Fi)
Once i flash the factory image, is it going to replace the modified boot image as well as the modified kernel?
Follow the OP on this thread (https://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/general/guide-fix-nexus-6p-bootloop-death-blod-t3640279) in the downloads section there appear to be 2 files i would need, the "Boot.img from stock 6.17, 8.0 firmware" and "EX kernel version 5.03". Am i understanding that correctly?
Like i said, this is my only phone, and i'm probably just being overly paranoid about bricking it, but any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the latest November image. The boot.img contains the kernel and ramdisk, critical files necessary to load the device before the filesystem can be mounted. When you flash the new boot.img contained in the Google image, it will overwrite the patched kernel. You then need to re-patch it by installing EX kernel before booting. EX writes to (modifies) the stock boot.img. There are also pre-modifed boot.img files floating around. You will probably get more detailed help in the dedicated thread. Learning to flash manually (or remember how) is not really a big deal and a necessary skill for modding (and for getting yourself out of trouble). Good luck. :good:
v12xke said:
Use the latest November image. The boot.img contains the kernel and ramdisk, critical files necessary to load the device before the filesystem can be mounted. When you flash the new boot.img contained in the Google image, it will overwrite the patched kernel. You then need to re-patch it by installing EX kernel before booting. EX writes to (modifies) the stock boot.img. There are also pre-modifed boot.img files floating around. You will probably get more detailed help in the dedicated thread. Learning to flash manually (or remember how) is not really a big deal and a necessary skill for modding (and for getting yourself out of trouble). Good luck. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so 1 last time (sorry)
1 - Downloaded the latest 8.0.0 factory image from google (this contains the bootloader, radio, and partitions (.zip).
2 - Get phone to fastboot and apply the above 3 new images
3- before rebooting, flash oreo4core (new, modified boot.img), TWRP recovery.img
4- reboot to recovery (TWRP) and apply the modified EX kernel
5 - reboot and (hopefully) profit
Am i missing anything, or doing anything that isn't needed?
johnnyphive said:
Ok, so 1 last time (sorry)
1 - Downloaded the latest 8.0.0 factory image from google (this contains the bootloader, radio, and partitions (.zip).
2 - Get phone to fastboot and apply the above 3 new images
3- before rebooting, flash oreo4core (new, modified boot.img), TWRP recovery.img
4- reboot to recovery (TWRP) and apply the modified EX kernel
5 - reboot and (hopefully) profit
Am i missing anything, or doing anything that isn't needed?
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<<Disclaimer: I don't use the 4 core kernel, so I don't know if it comes with installer script or someone has just modified the latest boot.img>> Unzip the "partitions" zip you refer to and extract those image files to the same folder as bootloader and modem. For example, you can keep TWRP recovery if you don't flash the recovery.img. That is how you preserve your custom recovery. So in other words you'll now have a folder (your ADB folder?) with 5 image files.... bootloader, radio, boot, system, and vendor all in one folder. <<Note: it is my understanding you just substitute the latest oreo4core file (should be boot.img?) If this is true, copy that file into your ADB folder and let it overwrite the stock boot.img. Stop. Copy over flash-all.bat, change the *.bat extension to *.txt and open in notepad. You will see (and can copy/paste) the fastboot commands to get you started with bootloader and radio. Then flash the last 3 (boot, system, vendor). At this point you can reboot into the OS. Since you substituted the oreo4core boot.img file for the stock boot.img there is no need to use TWRP to flash anything. That and since you skipped flashing the recovery.img, TWRP is still there.
v12xke said:
<<Disclaimer: I don't use the 4 core kernel, so I don't know if it comes with installer script or someone has just modified the latest boot.img>> Unzip the "partitions" zip you refer to and extract those image files to the same folder as bootloader and modem. For example, you can keep TWRP recovery if you don't flash the recovery.img. That is how you preserve your custom recovery. So in other words you'll now have a folder (your ADB folder?) with 5 image files.... bootloader, radio, boot, system, and vendor all in one folder. <<Note: it is my understanding you just substitute the latest oreo4core file (should be boot.img?) If this is true, copy that file into your ADB folder and let it overwrite the stock boot.img. Stop. Copy over flash-all.bat, change the *.bat extension to *.txt and open in notepad. You will see (and can copy/paste) the fastboot commands to get you started with bootloader and radio. Then flash the last 3 (boot, system, vendor). At this point you can reboot into the OS. Since you substituted the oreo4core boot.img file for the stock boot.img there is no need to use TWRP to flash anything. That and since you skipped flashing the recovery.img, TWRP is still there.
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Thank for the help! Everything seems to be up and running. I know you said you don't use the "4 cores" (can only assume your either on a different phone or yours isn't affected by the BLOD), but do you know if i still need to apply the EX kernel update, or know of a way to tell if it's already been applied?
Thanks again for all the help. I was pretty much in the right direction, but being as how i'd been away from it for a while, i wanted some backup
johnnyphive said:
Thank for the help! Everything seems to be up and running. I know you said you don't use the "4 cores" (can only assume your either on a different phone or yours isn't affected by the BLOD), but do you know if i still need to apply the EX kernel update, or know of a way to tell if it's already been applied? Thanks again for all the help. I was pretty much in the right direction, but being as how i'd been away from it for a while, i wanted some backup
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I don't think you can flash EX kernel from now on. I think you have to use a modded boot.img that will contain his kernel/ramdisk. This is my guess. You really should be getting your information in the dedicated thread where everyone is actually installing and using it. Google "oreo 4 core" and you will find the XDA thread is the first hit. Good luck. :good: