How I fixed my bricked Nexus 5 (corrupted userdata, bootlooping)

[Alex WS]

Hi everyone,

First of all - apologies if this is in the wrong forum. First time I post something, so not too sure if this is the right place.

I've been struggling with my Nexus 5 for the past 3 days after I attempted a factory reset. After trying everything I could find, I managed to combine some strategies from different threads, and got some help from a friend who is a linux specialist. As it has been REALLY HARD for me to fix this, I thought I would post the solution in case anyone is seeing the same issue.

Summary of my issue:

I attempted a factory reset to cleanup the phone. That was really all I intended to do.
The factory reset got stuck on "erasing". After 30 minutes waiting, I forced the phone to reboot. Then everything went downhill.
My Nexus 5 started bootlooping. It wouldn't even get in recovery mode.

I've flashed ClockWorkMod Recovery, and tried to format everything and start again. The processes to wipe partitions would fail.
Flashing stock also failed, as things would hang on "erasing cache".

I found references on multiple threads about things to try - from flashing other ROMs, to formatting the file system manually, and basically trying every step of a flashing a stock installation manually.

The bottom line is everything would hang because the system could not mount the /data partition.
When I tried to use "e2fsck" to check /userdata partition, it would give me an error about the file system being corrupted, and suggesting to use a different superblock.

Some threads here in XDA suggested to use CWM and TWRP to format the partition, as that would usually fix the problem. It didn't work in my case.
The system would basically hang when trying to format /data, with any method I tried.
When using the "dmesg" command, I would also see lots of errors with superblocks when trying to mount "/data".
I considered it could be a hardware issue, but I was not seeing problems with the other partitions (/cache, /system, /recovery, and so on).

Solution:

I fixed the problem by removing the partition, recreating it with "ext2" file system, then upgrading to "ext4" manually, and finally flashing the system images again WITHOUT flashing userdata.
Every time I flash "userdata", the partition just gets corrupted.

This is the step by step on how I did it:

1) Start the phone on bootloader by holding power button + volume down. Flash CWM recovery through fastboot.
Download CWM recovery from here: https://clockworkmod.com/rommanager

I'm using windows, so I opened a command prompt on the "Android SDK\platform-tools" folder.
run: "fastboot flash recovery <CWM_Recovery_Folder>\recovery-clockwork-6.0.4.5-hammerhead.img"

2) Reboot in recovery mode, so that it would load ADB. In the command prompt I ran "adb shell" so I could use the linux tools

Use "parted /dev/block/mmcblk0" to open the parted tool for the mmc block.
Use command "print" to list all partitions. You should see something like this:

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 524kB 67.6MB 67.1MB fat16 modem
2 67.6MB 68.7MB 1049kB sbl1
3 68.7MB 69.2MB 524kB rpm
4 69.2MB 69.7MB 524kB tz
5 69.7MB 70.3MB 524kB sdi
6 70.3MB 70.8MB 524kB aboot
7 70.8MB 72.9MB 2097kB pad
8 72.9MB 73.9MB 1049kB sbl1b
9 73.9MB 74.4MB 524kB tzb
10 74.4MB 75.0MB 524kB rpmb
11 75.0MB 75.5MB 524kB abootb
12 75.5MB 78.6MB 3146kB modemst1
13 78.6MB 81.8MB 3146kB modemst2
14 81.8MB 82.3MB 524kB metadata
15 82.3MB 99.1MB 16.8MB misc
16 99.1MB 116MB 16.8MB ext4 persist
17 116MB 119MB 3146kB imgdata
18 119MB 142MB 23.1MB laf
19 142MB 165MB 23.1MB boot
20 165MB 188MB 23.1MB recovery
21 188MB 191MB 3146kB fsg
22 191MB 192MB 524kB fsc
23 192MB 192MB 524kB ssd
24 192MB 193MB 524kB DDR
25 193MB 1267MB 1074MB ext4 system
26 1267MB 1298MB 31.5MB crypto
27 1298MB 2032MB 734MB ext4 cache
28 2032MB 31.3GB 29.2GB ext4 userdata
29 31.3GB 31.3GB 5632B grow

3) Remove the existing data partition by running command "rm 28" .

4) Recreate the partition and the file system with "mkpartfs". I didn't use all parameters at once, but just informed the proper values as requested by the tool:

(parted) mkpartfs
mkpartfs
mkpartfs
Partition name? []? userdate
userdate
userdate
File system type? [ext2]? ext2
ext2
ext2
Start? 2032MB
2032MB
2032MB
End? 31.3GB
31.3GB
31.3GB

5) The partition should now be recreated as "ext2" file system. I've set the partition name with:

(parted) name 28 userdata
name 28 userdata
name 28 userdata

If you print again, you should see the new partition as ext2 file system:

(...)
28 2032MB 31.3GB 29.2GB ext2 userdata
(...)

6) Upgrade the FS from ext2 to ext4 by using make_ext4fs:

make_ext4fs -l 29236371456 -b 4096 -g 32768 -i 8192 -I 256 -j 32768 -L msdos -a /data /dev/block/mmcblk0p28

Now here is the interesting part. When I tried to run "flash-all" from the google stock image, this is what I would see when it ran the format script on the userdata partition:

OKAY [ 13.186s]
formatting 'userdata' partition...
Creating filesystem with parameters:
Size: 29236371456
Block size: 4096
Blocks per group: 32768
Inodes per group: 8192
Inode size: 256
Journal blocks: 32768
Label:
Blocks: 7137786
Block groups: 218
Reserved block group size: 1024
Created filesystem with 11/1785856 inodes and 156120/7137786 blocks
sending 'userdata' (139109 KB)...
writing 'userdata'...
OKAY [ 16.625s]
finished. total time: 29.811s

When I manually ran the make_ext4fs, the only difference was I added a label "msdos" and this was the result:

Creating filesystem with parameters:
Size: 29236371456
Block size: 4096
Blocks per group: 32768
Inodes per group: 48
Inode size: 256
Journal blocks: 32768
Label: msdos
Blocks: 7137786
Block groups: 218
Reserved block group size: 1024

Almost the same thing, but with a difference in "Inodes per group": stock script shows 8192, and running manually it shows 48.
I have no idea why is that. Honestly I know very little about linux and its file systems, so I don't know what that means.

After I did this, I was FINALLY able to mount the "/data" partition.

8) Checked the file system with e2fsck. It now worked fine:

~ # e2fsck /dev/block/mmcblk0p28
e2fsck /dev/block/mmcblk0p28
e2fsck 1.41.14 (22-Dec-2010)
msdos: clean, 11/10464 files, 45158/7137786 blocks
~ #


9) Manually flash google stock system, cache, boot, and bootloader.

I was using this image: hammerhead-ktu84p-factory-35ea0277.tgz
I uncompressed this to a folder, and also uncompressed the image-hammerhead-ktu84p.zip.
So I ran:

fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash cache cache.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img

After this, I rebooted the system and it loaded, after loooooong 3 days reading through everything I could on XDA!

These were some of the threads that helped me in one way or another to get to this solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26285877&postcount=12
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/help-nexus-5-bricked-clearing-cache-t2564509
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/stuck-erasing-doing-factory-reset-t2530342
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/orig-development/nexus-5-f2fs-t2668486
http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...o-repairing-corrupted-data-partition-t2577447
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1441928
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/help-nexus-5-bricked-clearing-cache-t2564509
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/help-stuck-bootloop-t2515338
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/stuck-google-logo-recovery-mode-t2898337


I really hope no one else had the same "luck" as I did, since this problem has been a nightmare.
But in case you unfortunately do... hope this helps!

 

[thegtfusion]

Great guide. Might become handy for other users. It should be stickied

 

[dicecuber]

Why would you force reboot while factory resetting in the first place lol

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[jayRokk]

Good guide but a bricked phone is rendered useless, hence the name 'bricked.' If your phone can still power on, it is not bricked. You said your self you got it out of a bootloop. That's essentially all you had, a bootloop, and you were able to figure out what was wrong with it.

Just a heads up so we don't throw that term around loosely since a lot of people do so.


You can't bring a phone back from a brick. I think JTAG is an option but its for Samsung phones only. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

 

[Alex WS]

Why would you force reboot while factory resetting in the first place lol

Sent from my Nexus 5

Yeap, I know it sounds stupid but the factory reset was hanging, lol.
I tried multiple times and it would hang every time. I left it running for more than 3h once and nothing happened.

 

[Alex WS]

Good guide but a bricked phone is rendered useless, hence the name 'bricked.' If your phone can still power on, it is not bricked. You said your self you got it out of a bootloop. That's essentially all you had, a bootloop, and you were able to figure out what was wrong with it.

Just a heads up so we don't throw that term around loosely since a lot of people do so.


You can't bring a phone back from a brick. I think JTAG is an option but its for Samsung phones only. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

Thanks for clarifying! I thought bricked also meant "the phone is about to go useless, but there is a tiny hope", lol.
Is there a way to correct the thread name?

You're right - it was only bootlooping.

 

[radkor]

There's soft-brick and hard-brick.

Wysłane z mojego Nexus 5

 

[timnim]

rm 28

3) Remove the existing data partition by running command "rm 28": im getting a error on this step .

need help..

 

[audit13]

How did the phone become bricked? What was the phone doing before trying to unbrick?

 

[timnim]

How did the phone become bricked? What was the phone doing before trying to unbrick?

dont know how it got bricked..in morning when i wake up its suddenly start showing the boot only for hours. I've tried flashig it.evertime got flash write failure for bootloader and other images except boot.img .i've checked for emmc its fine and showing the device partion.
I'm using nexus 5 16gb device.pls anyone help

 

[audit13]

I assume the bootloader is unlocked since you are able to flash the boot.img. Try this: re-lock the bootloader, reboot to fastboot and see if the bootloader remains locked. If the bootloader unlocks itself, this is an indication that the memory chip is damaged. Also try flashing the older stock ROM available.

 

[timnim]

I assume the bootloader is unlocked since you are able to flash the boot.img. Try this: re-lock the bootloader, reboot to fastboot and see if the bootloader remains locked. If the bootloader unlocks itself, this is an indication that the memory chip is damaged. Also try flashing the older stock ROM available.

havn't tried to lock the bootloader but tried all these after reading too many posts but dont't what the issue is?...pls have a look into this..
_____________________________________________
C:\Program Files (x86)\WugFresh Development\Nexus Root Toolkit\data>adb shell
~ # list users
/sbin/sh: list: not found
~ # df
Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
tmpfs 949780 128 949652 0% /dev
tmpfs 949780 0 949780 0% /storage
tmpfs 949780 0 949780 0% /mnt/secure
tmpfs 949780 0 949780 0% /mnt/fuse
~ # cat /proc/partitions
major minor #blocks name

179 0 15388672 mmcblk0
179 1 65536 mmcblk0p1
179 2 1024 mmcblk0p2
179 3 512 mmcblk0p3
179 4 512 mmcblk0p4
179 5 512 mmcblk0p5
179 6 512 mmcblk0p6
179 7 2048 mmcblk0p7
179 8 1024 mmcblk0p8
179 9 512 mmcblk0p9
179 10 512 mmcblk0p10
179 11 512 mmcblk0p11
179 12 3072 mmcblk0p12
179 13 3072 mmcblk0p13
179 14 512 mmcblk0p14
179 15 16384 mmcblk0p15
179 16 16384 mmcblk0p16
179 17 3072 mmcblk0p17
179 18 22528 mmcblk0p18
179 19 22528 mmcblk0p19
179 20 22528 mmcblk0p20
179 21 3072 mmcblk0p21
179 22 512 mmcblk0p22
179 23 512 mmcblk0p23
179 24 512 mmcblk0p24
179 25 1048576 mmcblk0p25
179 26 30720 mmcblk0p26
179 27 716800 mmcblk0p27
179 28 13404138 mmcblk0p28
179 29 5 mmcblk0p29
179 32 4096 mmcblk0rpmb
~ # mount
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
tmpfs on /dev type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,nosuid,relatime,mode=755)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=600)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,relatime)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,seclabel,relatime)
selinuxfs on /sys/fs/selinux type selinuxfs (rw,relatime)
tmpfs on /storage type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=050,gid=1028)
tmpfs on /mnt/secure type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=700)
tmpfs on /mnt/fuse type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=775,gid=1000)
~ # mount -o,rw /system
~ # mount
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
tmpfs on /dev type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,nosuid,relatime,mode=755)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=600)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,relatime)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,seclabel,relatime)
selinuxfs on /sys/fs/selinux type selinuxfs (rw,relatime)
tmpfs on /storage type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=050,gid=1028)
tmpfs on /mnt/secure type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=700)
tmpfs on /mnt/fuse type tmpfs (rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=775,gid=1000)
/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/system on /system type ext4 (rw,seclabel,
relatime,data=ordered)
~ # moutn -o,rw /cah←[J
/sbin/sh: moutn: not found
~ # mount -o,rw /cache
mount: mounting /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/cache on /cache failed: I
nvalid argument
~ # mount -o,rw /data
mount: mounting /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/userdata on /data failed:
Invalid argument
~ # mount -o,rw /sdcard
mount: can't find /sdcard in /etc/fstab
~ # ls -l
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 boot
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 cache
-rwxr-x--- 1 root root 288392 Jan 1 00:00 charger
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 data
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 datadata
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 3976 Jan 1 00:00 default.prop
drwxr-xr-x 10 root root 4480 Jan 1 09:39 dev
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 emmc
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 etc
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 external_sd
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9375 Jan 1 00:00 file_contexts
-rw-r----- 1 root root 953 Jan 1 00:00 fstab.goldfish
-rw-r----- 1 root root 2653 Jan 1 00:00 fstab.hammerhead
-rwxr-x--- 1 root root 179556 Jan 1 00:00 init
-rwxr-x--- 1 root root 2708 Jan 1 00:00 init.rc
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 internal_sd
drwxrwxr-x 5 root system 0 Jan 1 09:39 mnt
dr-xr-xr-x 127 root root 0 Jan 1 00:00 proc
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2161 Jan 1 00:00 property_contexts
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 recovery
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 0 Jan 1 00:00 res
drwx------ 2 root root 0 Dec 1 2013 root
drwxr-x--- 2 root root 0 Jan 1 00:00 sbin
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 sd-ext
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 11 Jan 1 09:39 sdcard -> /data/media
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 711 Jan 1 00:00 seapp_contexts
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 74942 Jan 1 00:00 sepolicy
d---r-x--- 2 root sdcard_r 40 Jan 1 09:39 storage
dr-xr-xr-x 12 root root 0 Jan 1 09:39 sys
drwxr-xr-x 14 root root 4096 Jan 1 00:00 system
drwxrwxr-x 2 root shell 0 Jan 1 09:39 tmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 272 Jan 1 00:00 ueventd.goldfish.rc
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2204 Jan 1 00:00 ueventd.hammerhead.rc
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5897 Jan 1 00:00 ueventd.rc
~ # cat recovery.fstab
cat: can't open 'recovery.fstab': No such file or directory
~ # cat recovery.fstab.bak
cat: can't open 'recovery.fstab.bak': No such file or directory
~ # system /bin
/sbin/sh: system: not found
~ # system/bin
/sbin/sh: system/bin: Permission denied
~ # e2fsck
Usage: e2fsck [-panyrcdfvtDFV] [-b superblock] [-B blocksize]
[-I inode_buffer_blocks] [-P process_inode_size]
[-l|-L bad_blocks_file] [-C fd] [-j external_journal]
[-E extended-options] device

Emergency help:
-p Automatic repair (no questions)
-n Make no changes to the filesystem
-y Assume "yes" to all questions
-c Check for bad blocks and add them to the badblock list
-f Force checking even if filesystem is marked clean
-v Be verbose
-b superblock Use alternative superblock
-B blocksize Force blocksize when looking for superblock
-j external_journal Set location of the external journal
-l bad_blocks_file Add to badblocks list
-L bad_blocks_file Set badblocks list
~ # -p
/sbin/sh: -p: not found
~ # p
/sbin/sh: p: not found
~ # e2fsck -p
Usage: e2fsck [-panyrcdfvtDFV] [-b superblock] [-B blocksize]
[-I inode_buffer_blocks] [-P process_inode_size]
[-l|-L bad_blocks_file] [-C fd] [-j external_journal]
[-E extended-options] device

Emergency help:
-p Automatic repair (no questions)
-n Make no changes to the filesystem
-y Assume "yes" to all questions
-c Check for bad blocks and add them to the badblock list
-f Force checking even if filesystem is marked clean
-v Be verbose
-b superblock Use alternative superblock
-B blocksize Force blocksize when looking for superblock
-j external_journal Set location of the external journal
-l bad_blocks_file Add to badblocks list
-L bad_blocks_file Set badblocks list
~ # c
/sbin/sh: c: not found
~ # e2fsckc
/sbin/sh: e2fsckc: not found
~ # e2fsck c
e2fsck 1.41.14 (22-Dec-2010)
e2fsck: No such file or directory while trying to open c
Possibly non-existent device?
~ # e2fsck -c
Usage: e2fsck [-panyrcdfvtDFV] [-b superblock] [-B blocksize]
[-I inode_buffer_blocks] [-P process_inode_size]
[-l|-L bad_blocks_file] [-C fd] [-j external_journal]
[-E extended-options] device

Emergency help:
-p Automatic repair (no questions)
-n Make no changes to the filesystem
-y Assume "yes" to all questions
-c Check for bad blocks and add them to the badblock list
-f Force checking even if filesystem is marked clean
-v Be verbose
-b superblock Use alternative superblock
-B blocksize Force blocksize when looking for superblock
-j external_journal Set location of the external journal
-l bad_blocks_file Add to badblocks list
-L bad_blocks_file Set badblocks list
~ # e2fsck -y /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/persist
e2fsck 1.41.14 (22-Dec-2010)
/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/persist: recovering journal
Superblock needs_recovery flag is clear, but journal has data.
Run journal anyway? yes

e2fsck: unable to set superblock flags on /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name
/persist

~ # cat /proc/partitions
major minor #blocks name

179 0 15388672 mmcblk0
179 1 65536 mmcblk0p1
179 2 1024 mmcblk0p2
179 3 512 mmcblk0p3
179 4 512 mmcblk0p4
179 5 512 mmcblk0p5
179 6 512 mmcblk0p6
179 7 2048 mmcblk0p7
179 8 1024 mmcblk0p8
179 9 512 mmcblk0p9
179 10 512 mmcblk0p10
179 11 512 mmcblk0p11
179 12 3072 mmcblk0p12
179 13 3072 mmcblk0p13
179 14 512 mmcblk0p14
179 15 16384 mmcblk0p15
179 16 16384 mmcblk0p16
179 17 3072 mmcblk0p17
179 18 22528 mmcblk0p18
179 19 22528 mmcblk0p19
179 20 22528 mmcblk0p20
179 21 3072 mmcblk0p21
179 22 512 mmcblk0p22
179 23 512 mmcblk0p23
179 24 512 mmcblk0p24
179 25 1048576 mmcblk0p25
179 26 30720 mmcblk0p26
179 27 716800 mmcblk0p27
179 28 13404138 mmcblk0p28
179 29 5 mmcblk0p29
179 32 4096 mmcblk0rpmb
~ # df
Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
tmpfs 949780 128 949652 0% /dev
tmpfs 949780 0 949780 0% /storage
tmpfs 949780 0 949780 0% /mnt/secure
tmpfs 949780 0 949780 0% /mnt/fuse
/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/system
1033516 1020920 12596 99% /system
~ #
C:\Program Files (x86)\WugFresh Development\Nexus Root Toolkit\data>fastboot dev
ices
034dd8de828dd06c fastboot

C:\Program Files (x86)\WugFresh Development\Nexus Root Toolkit\data>fastboot for
mat system
Creating filesystem with parameters:
Size: 1073741824
Block size: 4096
Blocks per group: 32768
Inodes per group: 8192
Inode size: 256
Journal blocks: 4096
Label:
Blocks: 262144
Block groups: 8
Reserved block group size: 63
Created filesystem with 11/65536 inodes and 8536/262144 blocks
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
erasing 'system'...
OKAY [ 0.187s]
sending 'system' (18800 KB)...
OKAY [ 0.813s]
writing 'system'...
FAILED (remote: flash write failure)
finished. total time: 1.188s

C:\Program Files (x86)\WugFresh Development\Nexus Root Toolkit\data>fastboot for
mat cache
Creating filesystem with parameters:
Size: 734003200
Block size: 4096
Blocks per group: 32768
Inodes per group: 7472
Inode size: 256
Journal blocks: 2800
Label:
Blocks: 179200
Block groups: 6
Reserved block group size: 47
Created filesystem with 11/44832 inodes and 5813/179200 blocks
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
erasing 'cache'...
FAILED (remote: failed to erase partition)
finished. total time: 0.219s

C:\Program Files (x86)\WugFresh Development\Nexus Root Toolkit\data>fastboot for
mat bootloader
Formatting is not supported for file system with type ''.

_______________________________________________________

 

[audit13]

Try the suggestion about relocking there bootloader and checking to see if it stays locked. If it doesn't stay locked, I would replace the motherboard.

 

[GoJets!]

When trying to delete partition 28, I get:

Error: Input/output error during write on /dev/block/mmcblk0

Anybody else got this and found a way to solve it?

 

[willyinpr4u]

I assume the bootloader is unlocked since you are able to flash the boot.img. Try this: re-lock the bootloader, reboot to fastboot and see if the bootloader remains locked. If the bootloader unlocks itself, this is an indication that the memory chip is damaged. Also try flashing the older stock ROM available.

Thanks, I've been reading for quite some time looking for a solution to fix my Nexus 5 (I bought it brick just to fix it), and it does exactly what you mention here in your post. It recognize fastboot, it lock the bootloader but when the phone reboot, it display bootloader unlock. It doesn't let me flash the recovery img. by computer.
Thanks

 

[audit13]

The motherboard's flash memory is defective which means you'll need to replace the motherboard to have functional phone.