Flashtools (MiFlash4Linux, Recovery from QDL/DLOAD, Partition resize)

[m11kkaa]

Introduction
This is a collection of Tools and Resources for Flashing Mi2(s)(c).

MiFlash4Linux
https://github.com/M1cha/aries-image-builder

Core Recovery Package for MiFlash
This is a small package to Recovery MI2 from any bricked state. It has the following advantages over the official ones from Xiaomi:

• They don't flash any ROM, just the core system(bootloaders, modem and recovery)
• They are small which means both Download and Installation are faster
• It directly installs custom Bootloader and TWRP. That means you easily get your device back to a modded status.

Please follow the official MiFlash guidelines for installation with the following differences:

• the DLOAD config is called rawprogram_core.xml
• the fastboot script is called flash_core.bat(or flash_core.sh for linux)
• there's a script called flash_partition_table_and_core which is a alternative to flash_core.bat/sh.
  It can be used to change the partition table.
  USE THIS WITH THE CUSTOM BOOTLOADER INSTALLED BY ONE OF THE CORE PACKAGES ONLY. Xiaomi's bootloader will format your whole MMC device. THIS WOULD ERASE YOUR EFS AND YOU CAN'T MAKE CALLS ANYMORE

Changing the partition table
There are multiple packages available:
separated: Xiaomi's original layout with a virtual internal sdcard
separated_single: same as separated but without Dualsystem and bigger system partitions
unified: Xiaomi's new layout with /data/media support
unified_single: same as unified but without Dualsystem and bigger system partitions
unified_single_xiaomi: Xiaomi's version of unified_single

aries_core_unified_single.zip -> only MIUI > 5.4.x or M1cha's CM12.1 or latest AOSP5 works (only they can see Internal Storage, that now is a virtual sd-card in /data/media/0)

aries_separated_single.zip -> other roms

Installation:

• Backup all your data(including internal sdcard, and EFS just to be safe)
• if you don't use the custom Bootloader yet, flash this package using flash_core.bat/sh first. See the big red warning above for more information
• flash the package using flash_partition_table_and_core.bat/sh
• boot into recovery(which is TWRP now), recreate the filesystems for all partitions(system,data,cache,sdcard to ext4) in the wipe menu and reinstall your ROM.

Version Information
Bootloader: https://github.com/M1cha/mi2_lk/commits/LA.AF.1.1-02810-8064.0
TWRP: v2.8.7.0
core partitions: aries_images_5.7.16_20150626.0000.4_5.0_cn_a63cddccfa.tgz

Download links for Mobile users:
aries_core_unified_single_xiaomi.zip
aries_core_unified_single.zip
aries_core_unified.zip
aries_core_separated_single.zip
aries_core_separated.zip

XDA:DevDB Information
Flashtools, Tool/Utility for the Xiaomi Mi 2

Contributors
m11kkaa
Source Code: https://github.com/M1cha/aries-image-builder


Version Information
Status: Stable

Created 2015-02-21
Last Updated 2015-07-27

 

[linuxxxx]

First (as always)

Sent from my A0001

 

[m11kkaa]

the singleboot packages causes the latest version of CM12 to fail booting because of SELinux enforcing. I'll upload a fixed package asap.

 

[m11kkaa]

everything has been fixed and is up again.
Pls download everything again(especially MiFlash4Linux if u use that).

 

[acastrocab]

i think i will wait util the release of GRUB4Android....

 

[m11kkaa]

i think i will wait util the release of GRUB4Android....

the purpose of this thread is not G4A
G4A doesn't allow u to change the partition table. I may publish a simple tool for it though.(so u don't need a computer).

 

[MyNameIsKappa]

the purpose of this thread is not G4A
G4A doesn't allow u to change the partition table. I may publish a simple tool for it though.(so u don't need a computer).

Hey m11kkaa, I'm sorry for the noob question, but where can I download the files for windows? And how should I use them? I can't understand from the OP. Thanks in advantage for your help

 

[laolang_cool]

Hey m11kkaa, I'm sorry for the noob question, but where can I download the files for windows? And how should I use them? I can't understand from the OP. Thanks in advantage for your help

On the top of the page just followed by the title, there is a "Download" tab, you could find the miracle at there ;p

 

[ancics]

Hey m11kkaa, I'm sorry for the noob question, but where can I download the files for windows? And how should I use them? I can't understand from the OP. Thanks in advantage for your help

I can't find the links too, but i saw this link in another thread... http://xdaforums.com/devdb/project/?id=8360#downloads

 

[m11kkaa]

I can't find the links too, but i saw this link in another thread... http://xdaforums.com/devdb/project/?id=8360#downloads

You can see this with a computer only.(Tapatalk doesn't work)
http://puu.sh/gamlY/dd7e4904f9.png

 

[ancics]

Hey M1cha, thank you! Great job!
I have some issues about the procedure:
1. I am not sure if already had a custom bootloader, so first i'll flash the package flash_core.bat :
- turn on mi2s in fastboot mode
- plug usb, device should appear in miflash(the program should be configured as the photo?)
- and click flash
- reboot phone, enter in fastboot mode again and do the same procedure with flash_partition_table_and_core.bat

Is that right?
It's easy to recreate the ext4 filesystem in TWRP? always used CWM....

 

[MyNameIsKappa]

You can see this with a computer only.(Tapatalk doesn't work)
http://puu.sh/gamlY/dd7e4904f9.png

Oh that's why, I'll download it from a computer, thanks!

Sent from my MI 2S using XDA Free mobile app

 

[cogano]

@m11kkaa: thnx for the linux tools/scripts, it made my migration from CWM to single-system partition + new bootloader + TWRP easier.

BTW, I just wanted to migrate and keep my current CM11 for the time being. I had to fight a bit with restore from backup because I was not aware of the incompatibility between CWM and TWRP, luckily enough it eventually was sufficient to:

1. reformat system, data and cache in TWRP
2. flash the old CWM temporarily and restore boot, system and data
3. flash TWRP again and make new backups.

Proposal:

• It would be good if you can change the heading style of "Installation" in the OP to be the same as e.g "Introduction", because now it looks like part of "Singleboot Partition Layout" section only. It is confusing IMHO.
  
• In my case (i.e. flashing both flash_core.sh and then flash_partition_table_and_core.sh), I had to recreate ext4 FS not only on the system partition in TWRP, but also on the data partition (it could not be mounted and TWRP announced 0 MB size) and eventually also on the cache partition. This seems to contradict the info in OP, part "Singleboot Partition Layout", which mentions that data will be preserved.

 

[m11kkaa]

@cogano thx for your feedback
it's weird that u had to recreate the filesystems because the positions of these partitions still are the same. I resized system1, modem1 and boot1 to 2KB and system, modem and boot to 2*oldsize-2KB. I checked the offsets and they still are the same.

 

[cogano]

I have another phone and plan to do the same some time in the next week.
I'll try to avoid the trial&error approach and keep notes between the steps.

P. S. I am quite proficient with Linux administration. However I have to admit that upgrading android devices is usually a risky thing: I would have to read lot of guides - often unclear and confusing - or just give it a go and resolve the problems as they appear. The latter one eventually seems to be faster

 

[m11kkaa]

I have another phone and plan to do the same some time in the next week.
I'll try to avoid the trial&error approach and keep notes between the steps.

P. S. I am quite proficient with Linux administration. However I have to admit that upgrading android devices is usually a risky thing: I would have to read lot of guides - often unclear and confusing - or just give it a go and resolve the problems as they appear. The latter one eventually seems to be faster

thx "parted /dev/block/mmcblk0 p" will help to debug these things.
If you don't have a ROM/Recovery with parted you can reboot to dload from the bootloader which will provide ur whole MMC as a usb drive to your computer.

 

[superiyezi]

i didn't see the download tab at first, so i downloaded the whole zip from the github and excuted the ./build.sh in Cygwin. Anyway, it works!

 

[cogano]

you can reboot to dload from the bootloader which will provide ur whole MMC as a usb drive to your computer.

What a great feature!

 

[Fortinho]

i didn't see the download tab at first, so i downloaded the whole zip from the github and excuted the ./build.sh in Cygwin. Anyway, it works!

There's a Download "card" on top.

 

[T3sla]

What are the partitions sizes after flashing the singleboot partition layout?