How to: flash stock without loosing data (without reformatting)

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nicolap8

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2011
278
84
Hi all,
I had to reflash the stock, using the Lenovo Moto Smart Assistant. (Because the OREO OTA refused to install).
I connected the phone, followed the instructions (and backed up the data) but BEFORE starting the "rescue" process (and after completing the download) I modified a file!
Go in the "c:\ProgramData\LMSA\Download\RomFiles" folder, you will find the unzipped ROM folder, mine was "POTTER_NPNS25.137_93_14_cid50_subsidy_DEFAULT_regulatory_DEFAULT_CFC.xml"
Inside you have near 3GB of files.
Open with a text editor (notepad) "flashfile.xml" and delete this line (near the end):
Code: 
    <step operation="erase" partition="userdata"/>
Save the modified file and let the Smart(!) Assistant do the rescue.
After some minutes (be patient... nothing moves for a lot of time) the phone will reboot.
And your data is all at his place!

WARNING: in some cases the data format has a reason! Eg. if you flash a different ROM the system apps will find the old version settings and behave badly...
In my case I flashed the SAME ROM version so there really no reason to format.
Nicola
 
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G

goodjuju

Senior Member
Jul 25, 2013
139
15
Capitol DC
Wolfcity said:
My device is rooted with magisk and recognized by Smart Assistant. I used it to download full fastboot firmwares

Sent from my Moto G5 Plus using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hmm... mine is too - but LMSA does not recognize - strange. It recognizes only when unrooted. Is your phone XT 1687?

---------- Post added at 03:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------
nicolap8 said:
No. My phone was (and is) rooted.
The ROM was stock, with minor (unwanted) modification.

It's ADB working? Test it separately.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

It was last time - when I upgraded to 8.1 using Minimal ADB and Fastboot. Will double check.
 
G

goodjuju

Senior Member
Jul 25, 2013
139
15
Capitol DC
goodjuju said:
Hmm... mine is too - but LMSA does not recognize - strange. It recognizes only when unrooted. Is your phone XT 1687?

---------- Post added at 03:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------



It was last time - when I upgraded to 8.1 using Minimal ADB and Fastboot. Will double check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

ADB is working from minimal ADB and Fastboot app. Just upgraded to Oreo using the app first to reflash 28..85-17-1 then taking the OTA.
 
F

FLASH+HACK

Member
Apr 27, 2019
8
0
I tell you the problem is that the computer does not detect the phone is as if the data port on the phone does not work, if I open a CMD console and put the command: fastboot devices tells me that it is waiting for the device, but if I prendo the phone nothing and check the charging connector and it's fine, someone who has happened this and guide me. , I installed the drivers, tried other USB cable, and different PC ports
 
J

Jack_731

Member
Apr 2, 2020
22
1
nicolap8 said:
Hi all,
I had to reflash the stock, using the Lenovo Moto Smart Assistant. (Because the OREO OTA refused to install).
I connected the phone, followed the instructions (and backed up the data) but BEFORE starting the "rescue" process (and after completing the download) I modified a file!
Go in the "c:\ProgramData\LMSA\Download\RomFiles" folder, you will find the unzipped ROM folder, mine was "POTTER_NPNS25.137_93_14_cid50_subsidy_DEFAULT_regulatory_DEFAULT_CFC.xml"
Inside you have near 3GB of files.
Open with a text editor (notepad) "flashfile.xml" and delete this line (near the end):
Code: 
    <step operation="erase" partition="userdata"/>
Save the modified file and let the Smart(!) Assistant do the rescue.
After some minutes (be patient... nothing moves for a lot of time) the phone will reboot.
And your data is all at his place!

WARNING: in some cases the data format has a reason! Eg. if you flash a different ROM the system apps will find the old version settings and behave badly...
In my case I flashed the SAME ROM version so there really no reason to format.
Nicola
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hi,
Will this method work on Locked BLs, and if USB Debug is off?
My Phone - Moto One Power
 
S

Shuton

Member
Apr 7, 2013
8
0
Has anyone had success or failure with this method lately? I want to give this a shot but I am worried about losing my data that I really need so I thought to hear from other experiences before I take my chance on this.
 
sd_shadow

sd_shadow

Recognized Contributor / XDA Welcome Team
Sep 21, 2011
18,989
2
10,019
South Dakota
goo.gl
Motorola Droid X
Amazon Fire
Shuton said:
Has anyone had success or failure with this method lately? I want to give this a shot but I am worried about losing my data that I really need so I thought to hear from other experiences before I take my chance on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably only a 50% chance that it will work for your device.
Is the bootloader unlocked?
What are you trying to do?
 
S

Shuton

Member
Apr 7, 2013
8
0
sd_shadow said:
Probably only a 50% chance that it will work for your device.
Is the bootloader unlocked?
What are you trying to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

The bootloader is locked. My phone is stock and has never been rooted, which it somehow failed to boot one day with a "No bootable A/B slot" error. So I am trying to use the Rescue and Smart Assistant tool to fix it. I see that it would wipe the user data, so I am looking into options on how I can fix it without losing my data.
 
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    N
    nicolap8
    Hi all,
    I had to reflash the stock, using the Lenovo Moto Smart Assistant. (Because the OREO OTA refused to install).
    I connected the phone, followed the instructions (and backed up the data) but BEFORE starting the "rescue" process (and after completing the download) I modified a file!
    Go in the "c:\ProgramData\LMSA\Download\RomFiles" folder, you will find the unzipped ROM folder, mine was "POTTER_NPNS25.137_93_14_cid50_subsidy_DEFAULT_regulatory_DEFAULT_CFC.xml"
    Inside you have near 3GB of files.
    Open with a text editor (notepad) "flashfile.xml" and delete this line (near the end):
    Code: 
        <step operation="erase" partition="userdata"/>
    Save the modified file and let the Smart(!) Assistant do the rescue.
    After some minutes (be patient... nothing moves for a lot of time) the phone will reboot.
    And your data is all at his place!

    WARNING: in some cases the data format has a reason! Eg. if you flash a different ROM the system apps will find the old version settings and behave badly...
    In my case I flashed the SAME ROM version so there really no reason to format.
    Nicola
    View
    2
    N
    nicolap8
    Jack_731 said:
    Hi,
    Will this method work on Locked BLs, and if USB Debug is off?
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse
    The update part yes but I never tryed to skip the reformat with locked BL.
    I think that CAN work but I can't assure this.
    N
    @sd_shadow: thanks :)
    View
    1
    sd_shadow
    sd_shadow
    @nicolap8
    Thanks, I added similarly instructions to my
    LMSA: Lenovo's Motorola Smart Assistant thread
    with a link back to this thread as credit.
    View

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