[GUIDE][ROOT][RECOVERY][4.4.2] Lenovo A3500-H

[Sam Nakamura]

Hi Sam,

thanks for all the info and links. I 've a few questions. I have my A3500-H running 4.4.2. It is rooted and has the (touch) TWRP recovery 2.8.0.0.

After reading your posts I decided to go for lineageOS 13 (downloaded from the link you provided above). Got gapps ready too.

1) can I use TWRP 2.8.0.0 to flash it ?
2) in case the answer to 1 is no, what do I do to install TWRP 3.0.2 ? Install and use the official TWRP app?
3) I suppose I don't need any of the fixes (audio, GPS, Bluetooth) you are mentioning above because they were for cm13, right?

Thanks for everything

First of all do backup your current setup with the TWRP already installed, of course you can try it with the older version of TWRP but TWRP 3.0.2 is recommended and works absolutely flawlessly, in case you want to upgrade your recovery, download TWRP 3.0.2 image and boot up TWRP again, now click install, then press the button "install image" and choose the TWRP 3.0.2 image, swipe to flash, choose recovery partition, swipe again and go to TWRP's reboot option, reboot recovery...
Now you should have TWRP 3.0.2 installed...
(in case you already backed up your current working setup) you can go to TWRP advanced wipe and tick all boxes exept "internal storage", wipe it...
Flash ROM and suitable GApps (I use opengapps.org, arm, android 6, pico), if you have Sound issues you can simply flash the fix at any later time but if I remember correctly it's only for cm13, lineageOS should be fine though...
I already wrote a instruction on how to flash SuperSU, there's a need to adjust the installation of the superSU zip to force a non-systemlessly installation as it will bootloop otherwise, I link it to there...

https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/guide-lenovo-a3500-h-t2879208/post74004759

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

 

[EPa]

Installed TWRP 3.0.2 (image provided in the above posts) using the official app.

Rebooted. Got into recovery. Started the process. Used the standard "factory reset" from menu "wipe". Said something about not finding /cache and stuck.

Shutdown and reboot to recovery. Try to flash lineageOS, says it can't mount /system (!).

Trying repair file system, reports size of /system is 0 (!) and repair fails.

Then I choose to change it, select ext4 (which already was), it formats it, succeeds and updates partition details.

Then try repair, it succeeds.

Then go on to flash lineageOS and it is stuck at the beginning just after the message
"detected filesystem ext4 for /dev/block/mmcblk0p5" for at least 10 minutes..

..just now it repeated the same message..
It is not frozen or hung, the progress bar flashes from left to right but doesn't fill up or anything.
...
As I am writing this, it finished!

Nevertheless, I will still post this, so that others can be warned that,

*** that f*cker progress bar doesn't fill up or give any sign of progress ***

so be patient!

---------- Post added at 05:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:09 PM ----------

Sam thanks for your answer, I just saw this now, after my previous message. I am now booted to lineageOS, setting things up.

Thanks again

 

[Sam Nakamura]

Installed TWRP 3.0.2 (image provided in the above posts) using the official app.

Rebooted. Got into recovery. Started the process. Used the standard "factory reset" from menu "wipe". Said something about not finding /cache and stuck.

Shutdown and reboot to recovery. Try to flash lineageOS, says it can't mount /system (!).

Trying repair file system, reports size of /system is 0 (!) and repair fails.

Then I choose to change it, select ext4 (which already was), it formats it, succeeds and updates partition details.

Then try repair, it succeeds.

Then go on to flash lineageOS and it is stuck at the beginning just after the message
"detected filesystem ext4 for /dev/block/mmcblk0p5" for at least 10 minutes..

..just now it repeated the same message..
It is not frozen or hung, the progress bar flashes from left to right but doesn't fill up or anything.
...
As I am writing this, it finished!

Nevertheless, I will still post this, so that others can be warned that,

*** that f*cker progress bar doesn't fill up or give any sign of progress ***

so be patient!

lol :laugh: yeah, that's right, the progress bar sucks and let's you think it's stuck... But it will succeed in the end
-----------
By the way, I never use factory reset when changing ROMs, safest way is definitely to use TWRP's advanced wipe option to wipe all but internal storage..

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

 

[EPa]

Trying to use Magisk 14.0 for rooting (TWRP 3.0.2, LineageOS 13). Anyone done it?

In my case flashing it fails with

"! Unable to detect boot image"

Any clues?

 

[Sam Nakamura]

Trying to use Magisk 14.0 for rooting (TWRP 3.0.2, LineageOS 13). Anyone done it?

In my case flashing it fails with

"! Unable to detect boot image"

Any clues?

Copy the boot.img from the rom zip folder, install latest magisk manager apk and open it, hit install, choose "patch boot image", point it to the location where boot.img was saved before, let magisk manager patch the boot image "externally", (maybe needs 2 or 3 attempts before successful) it will store the new patched boot in /MagiskManager, go to TWRP and flash the patched boot image from there by using "install image" (boot partition)...
It's working great except Titanium Backup won't recognize "root" and therefore will be not usable, as I depend on it to function I choose SuperSU...

-> use stable Magisk 14.0 to avoid issues, Magisk beta did not work well for me at least...


Edit: don't get me wrong, I'm happy to help but all of your questions could have been solved by using search and reading, I already explained (almost) everything detailed...

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

 

[EPa]

I seem to have a problem with GPS not fixing a single satellite.

Reading above it seems the problems and the posted fix concern nougat..

Sam, can you confirm you have no problems with GPS on your out of the box LineageOS 13? Or have you done something about it (I read the whole thread, hope I didn't miss it) ?

 

[Sam Nakamura]

I seem to have a problem with GPS not fixing a single satellite.

Reading above it seems the problems and the posted fix concern nougat..

Sam, can you confirm you have no problems with GPS on your out of the box LineageOS 13? Or have you done something about it (I read the whole thread, hope I didn't miss it) ?

Sorry, I don't use GPS at all but I can check later when being home again...


Edit: @EPa you can still backup and check if the GPS fix does work for lineageOS 13, in case of issues restore the backup...
In case it works please report it

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

 

[EPa]

Thanks, I appreciate it..

 

[EPa]

Tried flashing the fixes.

Both fixes (post #46 and #111, the second one needing some work to turn into a flashable zip) don't work on LineageOS 13.

They actually make matters worse since with them flashed, my (offline) navigation program reports that gps is disconnected, while before it just searched on and on..

Tested also with Google maps and the LineageOS included YGPS app, left the device under clear sky for at least 15 minutes, nothing.
@Sam Nakamura I'd appreciate it if you could test and report, and even more if you could look for a fix..

Otherwise I can see myself trying the nougat roms since I need GPS more than Bluetooth functionality.

In any case thanks.

 

[jimmy19742]

Hi Sam,

thanks for all the info and links. I 've a few questions. I have my A3500-H running 4.4.2. It is rooted and has the (touch) TWRP recovery 2.8.0.0.

After reading your posts I decided to go for lineageOS 13 (downloaded from the link you provided above). Got gapps ready too.

1) can I use TWRP 2.8.0.0 to flash it ?
2) in case the answer to 1 is no, what do I do to install TWRP 3.0.2 ? Install and use the official TWRP app?
3) I suppose I don't need any of the fixes (audio, GPS, Bluetooth) you are mentioning above because they were for cm13, right?

Thanks for everything

It's not Sam but me Jimmy

My Lenovo is A 3500-H

You can install Lineage OS with your current recovery.IThe ROM works smoothly but I recommend you Resurrection Remix 5.8.4 which is based on Android 7.1.2..It also works great.Known issue-Bluetooth doesn't work and that's all.

You can update your TWRP at any time following these steps ( Hat off to Sam)

1)BOOT IN RECOVERY
2)SELECT "INSTALL"
3THEN SELECT"IMAGE"
4)Navigate to destination folder of TWRP3.0.2.img
5)THEN SELECT THE PARTITION "RECOVERY"
6)SWIPE RIGHT
7VOILA-YOU ARE DONE

I'll post some screenshots from my Lenovo A 3500H in a while

---------- Post added at 03:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 AM ----------

I didn't see that Sam had answered !
Sorry!

 

[jimmy19742]

That RR 5.8.4

 

[EPa]

It's not Sam but me Jimmy

My Lenovo is A 3500-H

You can install Lineage OS with your current recovery.IThe ROM works smoothly but I recommend you Resurrection Remix 5.8.4 which is based on Android 7.1.2..It also works great.Known issue-Bluetooth doesn't work and that's all.

You can update your TWRP at any time following these steps ( Hat off to Sam)

1)BOOT IN RECOVERY
2)SELECT "INSTALL"
3THEN SELECT"IMAGE"
4)Navigate to destination folder of TWRP3.0.2.img
5)THEN SELECT THE PARTITION "RECOVERY"
6)SWIPE RIGHT
7VOILA-YOU ARE DONE

I'll post some screenshots from my Lenovo A 3500H in a while

---------- Post added at 03:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 AM ----------

I didn't see that Sam had answered !
Sorry!

Jimmy thanks for the input.

I have already installed TWRP 3.0.2 and if this GPS problem can't be fixed in LineageOS 13 I think I'll go with your suggestion.

Thanks.

 

[Sam Nakamura]

Tried flashing the fixes.

Both fixes (post #46 and #111, the second one needing some work to turn into a flashable zip) don't work on LineageOS 13.

They actually make matters worse since with them flashed, my (offline) navigation program reports that gps is disconnected, while before it just searched on and on..

Tested also with Google maps and the LineageOS included YGPS app, left the device under clear sky for at least 15 minutes, nothing.
@Sam Nakamura I'd appreciate it if you could test and report, and even more if you could look for a fix..

Otherwise I can see myself trying the nougat roms since I need GPS more than Bluetooth functionality.

In any case thanks.

In case I stumble across any fix regarding this issue I'll report it to here but as I never use GPS on this device I won't invest too much time...
Switching to RR 5.8.4 for GPS seems to be a good idea

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

 

[EPa]

In case I stumble across any fix regarding this issue I'll report it to here but as I never use GPS on this device I won't invest too much time...
Switching to RR 5.8.4 for GPS seems to be a good idea

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

Yes thank you.

And could you please run a quick test and report if you also have an issue with GPS on LineageOS 13?

 

[mihael zzzzz]

Crdroid,xoasp

Xosp
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R7P_zeSt5KO9geHqWCzLKKTzoeR1sroC/view

Crdroid
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10qM5emaamMl8b8QAHU0evPJgRa1MKxvt/view
I will have test.

 

[Sam Nakamura]

Xosp
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R7P_zeSt5KO9geHqWCzLKKTzoeR1sroC/view

Crdroid
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10qM5emaamMl8b8QAHU0evPJgRa1MKxvt/view
I will have test.

Is it a different XOSP than from 4pda.ru?
Is Crdroid from you, did you port it?

Thanks for sharing... :highfive:

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

 

[mihael zzzzz]

Is it a different XOSP than from 4pda.ru?
Is Crdroid from you, did you port it?

Thanks for sharing... :highfive:

Sent from my OnePlus3T using XDA Labs

Yes its my port.But I can not fix the camcorder and other bugs.

 

[wujekbrezniew]

Funny part.
Works with Kiano Elegance 8 (of course with full functionality of CWM recovery), the other mt6582 device, but with some graphical bugs (something like crt signal problems).

 

[mihael zzzzz]

New my ports https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/aex-n-viper-n-lineage14-port-t3711287

 

[jimmy19742]

To Sam's Nakamura.
Hi Sam! I lost root privilege awhile ago so I installed Magisk manager but it didn't work till I converted to SYSTEMLESS .Then I got the boot image patched , flashed it but when I tried to flash Magisk 14.0 ,got the message'BOOT IMAGE NOT FOUND",
Got the same message when flashing SuperSU.
Where might the problem be?
Thank You in Advance!
Also I'm constantly out of space though I have a few applications installed and my emmc is 16GB.Applyinga screenshot.

Edit:Look how much space the system files occupy (impossible) and how much the applications.
Maybe I should flash the original image back to fix the space issue?