FlashFire for locked bootloader G4's

[joshw0000]

Hey guys, I just want to start a general discussion about using FlashFire on G4's with locked bootloaders. We have confirmation that we can install the latest Xposed with it. I've also created a standard backup using it (I have not tried restoring yet). I don't see what would prevent us from installing stock based roms with it.

Here's a screen shot of the backup it created. System, data, and boot all appear to the the correct sizes.

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[joshuadjohnson22]

Hey guys, I just want to start a general discussion about using FlashFire on G4's with locked bootloaders. We have confirmation that we can install the latest Xposed with it. I've also created a standard backup using it (I have not tried restoring yet). I don't see what would prevent us from installing stock based roms with it.

Here's a screen shot of the backup it created. System, data, and boot all appear to the the correct sizes.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Well I think the problem will be this, the app needs to be ran while android is running. If you are restoring the image and it is trying to replace system files it will probably crash at some point resulting in a boot loop. I haven't looked to see how this app works and maybe they have a way but I remember an app a few devs were working on to do the same and he was never able to get it working properly, it would just end up crashing and bootlooping/bricking. If they found a way around that this would be an incredible app!

You can try it out if you want but understand that you will probably softbrick. I highly recommend backing up your current system.img using the guide in the root method we have. That way you can put it in download mode and restore.

 

[player911]

Apps like this wont allow flashing system but we should be able to flash a custom recovery, which would allow rom flashing. It depends on software.

I would guess that the stock rom has verification checks for partitions on the phone. We would probably have to do a custom recovery, boot into TWRP, and immediately flash a custom rom without said checks. I think we'll get there eventually but I am waiting on the devs to do their thing.

We have KDZ stock files to flash if things go bad. I am not saying to try it but if anyone feels confident in testing, it should be recoverable if things screw up, but most likely you will brick your phone.

 

[konsolen]

Flashfire boot in a minimalistic os to work there.
You can also use partition flasher to flash system.img, boot.img and so on. To flash system img is no problem with locked boot loader at all. But the device can not boot with twrp installed with an locked Bootloader. The signature is not correct, so softbrick.

 

[tabp0le]

Apps like this wont allow flashing system but we should be able to flash a custom recovery, which would allow rom flashing. It depends on software.

I would guess that the stock rom has verification checks for partitions on the phone. We would probably have to do a custom recovery, boot into TWRP, and immediately flash a custom rom without said checks. I think we'll get there eventually but I am waiting on the devs to do their thing.

We have KDZ stock files to flash if things go bad. I am not saying to try it but if anyone feels confident in testing, it should be recoverable if things screw up, but most likely you will brick your phone.

You're a dev. lol. Anyways, we can flash stock roms with this. As long as it's running a stock kernel, it shouldn't be a problem. A modified kernel would most likely trigger secure boot error.

 

[CAG-man]

Apps like this wont allow flashing system but we should be able to flash a custom recovery, which would allow rom flashing. It depends on software.

I would guess that the stock rom has verification checks for partitions on the phone. We would probably have to do a custom recovery, boot into TWRP, and immediately flash a custom rom without said checks. I think we'll get there eventually but I am waiting on the devs to do their thing.

We have KDZ stock files to flash if things go bad. I am not saying to try it but if anyone feels confident in testing, it should be recoverable if things screw up, but most likely you will brick your phone.

On the contrary. Coming from Samsung, this is how roms are installed on those devices with locked bootloaders. It flashes the system images perfectly working around the Locked boot loader. Just don't try to flash a bootloaders.

 

[dlscott1111]

I was wondering how the s6 was running Roms. Was it an easy process? And why aren't they doing this on the G4?


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[joshuadjohnson22]

I was wondering how the s6 was running Roms. Was it an easy process? And why aren't they doing this on the G4?


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You probably need a dev to build a package accordingly. Remove kernel and stuff like that. No one wants to be the tester lol. It would be nice to have a tot file just in case instead of that PR that is breaking cameras. (talking aT&T version of course)

I would LOVE to try out an international rom if they can get it to work with our devices but I have a feeling we will only be able to run rom on the same update we have? Maybe not as long as it works with the kernel

 

[tabp0le]

Just as an update...I used FlashFire to successfully restore my stock kernel. Granted, there were no modifications, but it worked.

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[dlscott1111]

The more I hear about flashfire the more I like.


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[diedemus]

anyone with a stock at&t system want to pull a backup? that would be a good test for the guys running the pr rom. I'll guinee pig it

I did try restoring the 815 system and boot zip last night but I got nothing but force closes and didnt have time to mess with it because I needed my phone today

 

[joshuadjohnson22]

anyone with a stock at&t system want to pull a backup? that would be a good test for the guys running the pr rom. I'll guinee pig it

I did try restoring the 815 system and boot zip last night but I got nothing but force closes and didnt have time to mess with it because I needed my phone today

I would totally do it but I don't want to have to factory wipe my device :-/ Just a pain to set it up again lol, I'm sure someone with more time on their hands can do it. Exciting, hope you can get the 815 working, there may be some changes needed to get everything to work

---------- Post added at 08:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:42 AM ----------

anyone with a stock at&t system want to pull a backup? that would be a good test for the guys running the pr rom. I'll guinee pig it

I did try restoring the 815 system and boot zip last night but I got nothing but force closes and didnt have time to mess with it because I needed my phone today

looks like you need to try to get this 10f update that fixes touch issues, if we could get that going we will be in paradise unless the fix was in the kernel

 

[joshuadjohnson22]

anyone with a stock at&t system want to pull a backup? that would be a good test for the guys running the pr rom. I'll guinee pig it

I did try restoring the 815 system and boot zip last night but I got nothing but force closes and didnt have time to mess with it because I needed my phone today

Wait, would this image file work? http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-g4/development/root-images-h81010b-h81010e-t3168427 worth a shot. I'm not sure if that is the full system or not

 

[CAG-man]

I would totally do it but I don't want to have to factory wipe my device :-/ Just a pain to set it up again lol, I'm sure someone with more time on their hands can do it. Exciting, hope you can get the 815 working, there may be some changes needed to get everything to work

No factory reset needed. Just don't include the data and cache partitions in the backup. . Since the system partition is not editable without root it is never changed. When a factory reset is performed all that happens is the data and cache partitions are wiped.

Edit: This is why root survives a factory reset.

 

[joshuadjohnson22]

No factory reset needed. Just don't include the data and cache partitions in the backup. . Since the system partition is not editable without root it is never changed. When a factory reset is performed all that happens is the data and cache partitions are wiped.

Edit: This is why root survives a factory reset.

ok... I'll trust you. I have xposed installed so you will have to live with it if it made changes to system and the system.prop edit. I will want to send it directly to you first before I post it in case something stays lol PM me (it is backing up now btw)

---------- Post added at 05:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:36 PM ----------

No factory reset needed. Just don't include the data and cache partitions in the backup. . Since the system partition is not editable without root it is never changed. When a factory reset is performed all that happens is the data and cache partitions are wiped.

Edit: This is why root survives a factory reset.

also I backed up my system.img file before I rooted it using the adb commands maybe this will be useful too? Let me know.

EDIT: if you do not have the data partition exact won't it just have force closes and boot loops? I just have horrible memories on my G3 where I accidentally wiped data and even after flashing new roms i had force closes.

EDIT AGAIN: Currently uploading, I will PM you and the other requester @diedemus the file here in a minute. keep me posted

EDIT LAST: PM Sent

 

[diedemus]

grabbing it now, we'll see how it goes

*edit 1* First attempt gave me the security error..... on to round 2

 

[joshuadjohnson22]

grabbing it now, we'll see how it goes

*edit 1* First attempt gave me the security error..... on to round 2

Hmm interesting, Fingers crossed, what can you do differently the second time?

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[deejay6901]

just an update to flashfire... i was able to do a full backup for now. the black screen is a bit scary at first, u dont know if it hangs or not u just have to be patient. now i want to try if xposed will really work. *crossfingers*


edit.. xposed framework works!! finally!

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[joshw0000]

grabbing it now, we'll see how it goes

*edit 1* First attempt gave me the security error..... on to round 2

You're restoring this with FlashFire?

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[joshuadjohnson22]

You're restoring this with FlashFire?

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yeah, it seems to work but we don't know if we can manage flashing a different version of stock yet. He is testing that out. Would love to get someone with 10F to install the app and back up system, data (with a factory wipe) and boot using FlashFire and see if we can get the touchscreen fix.