Alcatel Tetra AIO (start here)

[LgPWN'd]

Alcatel Tetra (5041C) All In One Thread
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UPDATE: 4-20 2020 added direct link to folder with free tools for linux and windows
new Url for our site with the tools and roms:

https://a-team-solutions-downloads.myddns.rocks/Site/ UPDATED 4-20 2020

this is active as of 2/26/20
OUR TG Chat Group for all our best advice and where our book of development Notes live,
Check it out.
https://t.me/Android_General_Chat UPDATE: still live on 4-20 2020

UPDATE:
direct shortcut to free version of our AIOtoolkit tools
Live on 4-20 2020

https://a-team-solutions-downloads.myddns.rocks/Free/AIO-ToolKit/

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This is where you want to start for the Alcatel tetra,
Here you will get root ,
You will get the latest fastboot fix to get a custom recovery and bootloader unlock,
Learn how to flash a gsi on the tetra and get it working correctly.
You will see our tool to get magisk working correctly on a pie gsi 's
You may find gsi images here that are modded to be device specific for the tetra.
You will find links to a device support group where u can get help with trouble shooting if you get into a jam.
And you will find access to a factory tool to unbrick a tetra in the last resort.

There will be no disrespectful language in this thread.
It will not be tolerated here you will be reported to the moderation team if you post
disrespectful/flame-war comments here.
This is not a general discussion thread.
This is The place to find everything you need for your tetra :
ROMs
Recovery
Mods/flashable zips
And precise correct instructions for the use of these.

Disclaimer :

I nor anyone at XDA nor any of the devs who's work you find here are responsible for your actions in choosing to use the tools and methods laid out in this thread.
If you follow the instructions here ,
you do so at
You're Own Risk.....
Bricks and loss of data may happen to your device as a result
You have been warned.

This thread is a work in progress please be patient.




Credits go to :


@diplomatic for mtk-su and his awesome kernel exploitation work which allowed me write access to the device partitions ! Thanks Man!

@clcombs262 for opening the old root question thread that got my associates and I together to work on this device!

@PizzaG for his work on this device, his trick for SugarMTK to get lk downgrade in the beginning. and giving us Sugar MTK login so we can use it to restore the countless times we bricked developing all of this stuff. You're Awesome Bro !

@Spades99 for tinkering and getting hotspot working without a plan on oreo roms , good Idea Bro!

@topjohnwu for magisk and all the wonderful things we get from that!
@AndyYan for the LOS 16 build I modified to be my daily driver rom.

@phhusson For his excellent work on the treble-project and for giving us gsi's to play with. Thanks Man You Rule!

@LgPWN'd For Fastboot-fix, Magisk-Gsi-Helper.zip, porting P.B.R.P and Red-wolf custom recoveries, fixing adb (kinda) in twrp.
and just about everything else...

Special thanks to a lady called Alexandria and @clcombs262 for getting me access to a server to build roms/recoveries for these devices . Hey Thanks A Million You are the Stuff !!!
Twrp Builder for the fist port of twrp for tetra

 

[LgPWN'd]

Fastboot fix:

Fastboot fix:

So most users don't have fastboot access
We have a fix for this.
Ok the very first thing you're going to want to do is gain some type of temporary root shell so that we can downgrade the bootloader by writing directly to the partition so that we can then issue a command to reboot to bootloader and use fastboot to unlock your bootloader and we're going to want to do that without using sugar mtk so that we don't end up with our unlocked device from eBay being relocked like a brand-new Tetra from Walmart.

So we are going to be using a kernel exploit called mtk-su to gain the temp root access.
Here is the kit

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JfLzT6F66yBj6Qor_t4P9340CwLz5Y18



Instructions For Windows Users:

Instructions from a booted Tetra that has no reboot to fastboot functionality:

Extract this zip.
open the folder location in a terminel/CMD/Powershell window...

enable developers options.> enable OEM unlocking.>enable USB debugging
make sure the drivers are installed for your phone on windows {likely they are }
first get device recognized by adb

./adb devices

accept the prompt on the device.
after this move on

copy paste these commands one by one into terminal...

./adb push exploit /data/local/tmp/exploit

./adb push U8M8Y0Y0CT00.mbn /data/local/tmp/lk.bin

./adb shell chmod +x /data/local/tmp/exploit

./data/local/tmp/exploit

NOTE: the file exploit is just Mtk-SU renamed to " exploit "

Wait for it to say new UID 0

should now see # instead of $ in the prompt...

then type this command

dd if=/data/local/tmp/lk.bin of=/dev/block/platform/bootdevice/by-name/lk

after that completes type this...

reboot bootloader

Now you should see the fastboot prompt...
ENJOY

Instructions For Linux Users:

instructions for linux are the same except,
remove the

  ./

from each adb command...

 

[LgPWN'd]

Unlocking the bootloader

Unlock bootloader:

WARNING THIS WILL ERASE ALL OF YOUR DATA

Well this is done the same as any other device with fastboot.

here's how for the neewbz out there.

fastboot oem unlock

then confirm by pressing the volume-up key on the device
and then type this code to reboot...

fastboot continue

Let your device fully boot up then go through the setup wizard again {I always skip through it} and re-enable developers options and adb debugging.

Your bootloader should now be unlocked and you will see a warning message each time it boots. this warning can safely be ignored, In fact it can also be removed completely but that's a subject for a different topic.

NOTE:
though your bootloader is unlocked there are 2 files inside the device that will replace your recovery with the stock one on boot if you don't remove them, but you also have to disable dm-varity in the fstab before you remove the files or you'll get a soft brick.
Fstab lives in /vendor/etc partition

the easiest way for most users to fix this is to follow the instructions in this gsi prep package by @PizzaG ,

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ir_S_fEX3SU3G-Fk7-YFl2z5NXfsIJ5l/view

the thing to remember is that you only need the backup to restore from his package, and DO NOT DO the LK DOWNGRADE from his package it's old and uses sugar MTK to replace LK and it messes up network stuff in the process.
You already completed the LK downgrade if you followed my instructions in the last post.

You should be ready to flash the recovery of your choice, do a backup from that recovery and then follow PizzaG's instructions on how to replace your backup with his one.
then if you wanted cricket-rom restore it all if not just restore /vendor and /system to get gsi working and fstab fixes and to auto remove the files that are in stock system to replace recovery on booting

 

[LgPWN'd]

Flashing the custom recovery

Flashing recovery and choices of recovery:

You can use any recovery that yourself or anyone else ports to the Tetra.
The TWRP images in the pizzaG package work but adb is broken in those.

So if you want TWRP that has ADB functionality "sideload etc."
grab the version here:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79815342&postcount=253

Other Better Alternatives:

Pitch Black Recovery Project Ported By LgPWN'd:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/unoficial-pitchblack-recovery-alcatel-t3946122

Red-Wolf recovery ported by LgPWN'd:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/red-wolfrecovery-alcatel-tetra-5041c-t3946121

So Choose your recovery, and flash it in fastboot...

fastboot flash recovery recovery-file-name

Example :

fastboot flash recovery TWRP.Tetra.img

after this to get to recovery without booting all the way back to system

fastboot oem reboot-recovery

You should now be in a custom recovery environment .

Remember if u want to use userdata partition u need to disable variety in fstab mentioned earlier, and u need to format data to f2fs to
Kill the encryption and then reboot to recovery to be able to use data partition.

Also there is a file that will cause the stock recovery to over write your custom one.
/system/bin/install-recovery.sh
Rename it or delete it from custom recovery before rebooting

Also some people have had errors using the menu to format data
From the p.b.r.p port.
If it happens to you, try it from one of the twrp images in pizzaG prep package
The older version works when the newer ones don't sometimes

Enjoy !

 

[LgPWN'd]

ROMs:

Most of the ones listed Here are good :

https://github.com/phhusson/treble_experimentations/wiki/Generic-System-Image-(GSI)-list

the thing to remember is that you need an image for an Arm A-only Device

 

[LgPWN'd]

How to root the Tetra

Reserved

To root or not to root....?

How to root the Tetra.

To root the tetra, follow up instructions to unlock Bootloader flash recovery
then flash your choice of root.zip

When using LOS roms I prefer to use the addon-su from LiniageOS extras
{google search that ^^^} which works out of box just flash and reboot

or you can also use Magisk which is many peoples favorite.
But to get magisk to work you'll need a few things,
first the latest magisk zip to flash, secondly to get it to show you a root prompt in gsi's you'll need to add back some missing library files.
Luckily Myself and @PizzaG have made a flashable zip that can be flashed from custom recovery to do just that.
It'll be in the attachments to this post.

AND NO THIS MAGISK FIXER WILL NOT WORK FOR ANYTHING BUT A TETRA 5041C !!!

so to get magisk running:
first flash :
Magisk_17.2+(GSI_Android_9-Helper)[7-12-2019].zip

then reboot back to recovery,
then flash magisk latest zip
reboot and enjoy root

 

[LgPWN'd]

Gapps to flash or not to flash....?
This is solely up to personal preference.
some users like google and the convenience of google apps,
some users Absolutely abhor Google and all of it's policies and data collection.


Where to get Google apps.

https://opengapps.org/

How to make them work with custom rom/GSI .
there's a great article on it already here:

https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-fix-device-not-certified-by-google-error/

 

[LgPWN'd]

Support Group

Device support:

Where to get help FAST if you're stuck.

We are doing most of our development work on a telegram group, here's the links for that, come ask questions, grab latest updates before they are released here on XDA etc.

https://t.me/Android_General_Chat

EDIT: URL FIXED TO POINT TO CORRECT PLACE 03/08/2020

 

[LgPWN'd]

A word about Carriers and networks
lock/unlock status:

Carriers or other third parties that have unlocked your tetra have done so by manipulating the data contained in your NVRAM and NVCONFIG and Simlock partitions....
so you can factory reset , flash boot.img or system.img or vendor.img and still retain your unlock, though you may need to adjust your APN settings depending on your choice of ROM.

How to keep from accidentally re-locking your network:

The only way this happens is when you flash those protected OEM partitions or corrupt the data in said partitions.
The sure-fire way to relock a tetra to At&t is to flash / upgrade it using SugarMTK tool
as it flashes EVERY partition with the latest stock released from the server in china or where-ever.

What you can do if it happens to you....

There's not a lot you can do about it. Your carrier will likely refuse to help, at least thats what other users have reported to me.

What you can do is contact any reputable Unlocking service and most times they can re-un-lock it for you.

BUT NOTE: you want to use someone that has the cable-unlocks via pc and usb cable, not the ones who offer some code as your device likely will never ask for the code if you changed things to get this far.

And

Why we can't discuss it further here...

WELP, the big deal here is liability and the Forum rules of XDA.
We are not to discus these things because they actively seek to bypass Carrier Network Restrictions
and as such it's against XDA rules.
However if you find yourself in this position, you might want to contact someone at our device support group for help/advice as we have had to fix this situation before.
we can at least point you in the right direction,
since here on XDA i'm not allowed to Promote/recommend anyone to help fix this because it'll cost you money PERIOD and that's basically considered advertising.

 

[LgPWN'd]

Bricked Devices

Bricked Devices.
Un-bricking.....

FIRST-OFF WHY HAVE YOU NOT MADE A COMPLETE BACKUP TO STORE SOMEWHERE OFF THE DEVICE TO HELP YOU IN THESE SITUATIONS?
that will be your saving grace in most soft-brick situations, where you can still get to recovery Via button combo or via

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img && fastboot oem reboot-recovery

To unbrick from a hard brick our only choice for now is SugarMTK.
you can find it in @PizzaG Gsi Prep package...

NOTE:
flashing with sugar restores ALL partitions of the device to factory stock release...
what this means is that even if your carrier or some service unlocked your device to use on networks other than At&t you will NOW be stuck with At&t or cricket or it's MVNO's
SUGAR MTK WILL LOCK THE NETWORK ON YOUR TETRA EVERY TIME

 

[LgPWN'd]

Reserved.

Tools
Miscellaneous

 

[LgPWN'd]

Reserved

Discussion of dual boot and other stuff
We are currently working on.

 

[nikothebarber]

I there an updated easy way for root yet preferably without pc

 

[lehmancurtis]

Thanks for the guide and fastboot fix. I'm running the LineageOS gsi based on pie, but along the way I have lost the ability to turn on wifi and bluetooth. I'm new to mtk roms, so I was wondering where the firmware for the radios is living.

 

[Pureindica]

Idealxtra

 

[Deleted member 5437200]

Idealxtra

??

 

[LgPWN'd]

So anybody struggling along here can ask about help or other devices such as Idealxtra on our support group on telegram

https://t.me/Android_General_Chat

Is there an updated easy way for root yet preferably without pc ?

Nope, you can however use mtk-su with a terminal emulator to get tmp root then u could use DD to make a copy of your boot.img
then u can use magisk manager apk to patch said boot.img, and then u can write that back to the device using mtk-su and terminal emulator. but this still requires you to have the device bootloader unlocked i believe or you'll brick

Thanks for the guide and fastboot fix. I'm running the LineageOS gsi based on pie, but along the way I have lost the ability to turn on wifi and bluetooth. I'm new to mtk roms, so I was wondering where the firmware for the radios is living.

i think its in vendor partition

 

[sazechman]

The link for the gsi prep package does not work. Anyone have a new link?

 

[Deleted member 5437200]

The link for the gsi prep package does not work. Anyone have a new link?

Visit our Website, TeleGram and get AIO ToolKit

 

[sazechman]

Website Down

Visit our Website, TeleGram and get AIO ToolKit

I have tried to get to your website "http://a-team-solutions.dynu.net/" to no avail. I have tried from many different sources both with and without vpn. I have posted in the thread for the site but have not received a reply. Is the site still available? I would gladly pay for the registered version if it solves my bricked phone problem.

Thanks