Recovering hardbricked phone from Qualcomm QS-Loader 9008 state [Z010DD/Z010D]

sree27

Member
Feb 3, 2017
18
4
3
Since a lot of people flashed the wrong firmware (thanks to Asus for launching multiple devices under the same name :rolleyes: ) on their Max, I've come across multiple threads here regarding Hardbricke and Qualcomm QD-loader 9008 state. I too have been a victim of the same issue and my phone was dead for around a year, before managing to get it to work again. I'm going to list out the procedure and relevant links here.
ps: I've tested this method on my Z010DD device. This should work with Z010D devices as well.

1. Download and install QPST from the link given https://androidmtk.com/download-qpst-flash-tool
2. Install Qualcomm drivers from here https://gsmusbdrivers.com/download/android-qualcomm-usb-driver/
3. Download the QFIL, QCN and RAW firmware for your device (Snapdragon 410 - MSM8916 and Snapdragon 615 - MSM8939) from here https://www.firmware27.com/2017/10/asus-zenfone-max-z010d-zc550kl-firmware.html and unzip both of them in separate directories
4. Open QFIL from the start menu and connect you dead phone to PC (Make sure your phone is detected as Qualcomm QD-Loader 9008. If not, uninstall Qualcomm drivers, reboot PC, reinstall and try again until you succeed)
5. Select 'Flat build' as Build type. Select prog_emmc_firehose_8936.mbn (or prog_emmc_firehose_8939.mbn) from the QFIL firmware directory as 'Programmer path'. Click on 'Load XML' and select 'rawprogram0.xml' and 'patch0.xml'.
6. Click on download and wait for the flashing process to complete ( takes some time. If you encounter sahara fail error, the uninstall and reinstall driers as stated in step 4)
7. Phone will reboot to service firmware (which is aosp and in chinese). Enable usb debugging and rebot to bootloader
8. Flash TWRP for your device and flash magisk
9. Reboot to fastboot and flash the files NON-HLOS.bin and NON-HLOS_IN.bin from your stock rom zip(available on Asus official Website) using command
Code:
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS_IN
10. Reboot to system and add your original imei using the tool here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OBAp69EA4KGHdYXA5DrwMLCIuAqNYMu4
11. Reboot phone and reset your serial number as instructed below
Code:
You need to root your phone and download Terminal Emulator and type the following command:-

1. su
2. dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/factorybak of=/sdcard/factory
Wait a sec...
3. dd if=/sdcard/factory of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/factory
reboot
12. Verify serial number and IMEI are present in your device. If yes, open QFIL->Tools->QCN backup restore. Select the QCN file for your device downloaded in step 3 and restore.
13. The device should reboot. If it fails, try restoring again (took me 8 tries).
14. Your phone should be getting network signals now. If now, try QCN restore again
15. Flash RAW firmware for your device
16. Boot to stock rom, setup everything and verify if you are getting signal. If yes, congratulations:fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
If any step so far failed and nothing is working for you, then you can revert to QD-Loader 9008 mode by using code
Code:
adb reboot edl
and start over from beginning

Nb: If you are not able to unlock bootloader after getting everything else working, verify if your serial number is present. It is the main reason unlocking is not working

Huge thanks to all people who helped me
@amanksinghhh @SakilMondal @audahadi @ShadowReaper1 @dark wiz @Saktis_STi @rashidhabib and the many people whose xda pofile names I don't know.
 
Last edited:
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Reactions: gabi.ailincai
Oct 1, 2018
13
0
0
buddy the link to the firmware file that u have given is not working. I have tried downloading it on multiple occasions but till today i haven't been able to download either of the files. Kindly if u can provide me any other link to these file from where i can download them it would be of a lot of help. My phone is dead from pas t 7 days and have been trying to revive it but to no success. Kindly help please.
 

MJMarra34

Member
Mar 22, 2018
20
0
0
Hey Man. I'm currently working on my phone. I already tried removing the battery but I'm still getting the error:

Download Fail: Switch to EDL Fail.

hopes are going narrow. Now I don't know what to do.
 
Oct 1, 2018
13
0
0
Restore to normal mode from factory mode.

Thanks a lot for the detailed procedure. Restored my phone back to start. However my phone is stuck on factory mode and i'm unable to restore it back to normal mode. Also tried the Exit factory mode file given in the link of firmware download section. However whenver i try to write it with the help of QIFL it says sahara fail error and my phone's stuck in factory mode still. And also haven't been able to receive any network signal in the phone after inserting sim in the phone. Kindly help.

Since a lot of people flashed the wrong firmware (thanks to Asus for launching multiple devices under the same name :rolleyes: ) on their Max, I've come across multiple threads here regarding Hardbricke and Qualcomm QD-loader 9008 state. I too have been a victim of the same issue and my phone was dead for around a year, before managing to get it to work again. I'm going to list out the procedure and relevant links here.
ps: I've tested this method on my Z010DD device. This should work with Z010D devices as well.

1. Download and install QPST from the link given https://androidmtk.com/download-qpst-flash-tool
2. Install Qualcomm drivers from here https://gsmusbdrivers.com/download/android-qualcomm-usb-driver/
3. Download the QFIL, QCN and RAW firmware for your device (Snapdragon 410 - MSM8916 and Snapdragon 615 - MSM8939) from here https://www.firmware27.com/2017/10/asus-zenfone-max-z010d-zc550kl-firmware.html and unzip both of them in separate directories
4. Open QFIL from the start menu and connect you dead phone to PC (Make sure your phone is detected as Qualcomm QD-Loader 9008. If not, uninstall Qualcomm drivers, reboot PC, reinstall and try again until you succeed)
5. Select 'Flat build' as Build type. Select prog_emmc_firehose_8936.mbn (or prog_emmc_firehose_8939.mbn) from the QFIL firmware directory as 'Programmer path'. Click on 'Load XML' and select 'rawprogram0.xml' and 'patch0.xml'.
6. Click on download and wait for the flashing process to complete ( takes some time. If you encounter sahara fail error, the uninstall and reinstall driers as stated in step 4)
7. Phone will reboot to service firmware (which is aosp and in chinese). Enable usb debugging and rebot to bootloader
8. Flash TWRP for your device and flash magisk
9. Reboot to fastboot and flash the files NON-HLOS.bin and NON-HLOS_IN.bin from your stock rom zip(available on Asus official Website) using command
Code:
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS_IN
10. Reboot to system and add your original imei using the tool here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OBAp69EA4KGHdYXA5DrwMLCIuAqNYMu4
11. Reboot phone and reset your serial number as instructed below
Code:
You need to root your phone and download Terminal Emulator and type the following command:-

1. su
2. dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/factorybak of=/sdcard/factory
Wait a sec...
3. dd if=/sdcard/factory of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/factory
reboot
12. Verify serial number and IMEI are present in your device. If yes, open QFIL->Tools->QCN backup restore. Select the QCN file for your device downloaded in step 3 and restore.
13. The device should reboot. If it fails, try restoring again (took me 8 tries).
14. Your phone should be getting network signals now. If now, try QCN restore again
15. Flash RAW firmware for your device
16. Boot to stock rom, setup everything and verify if you are getting signal. If yes, congratulations:fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
If any step so far failed and nothing is working for you, then you can revert to QD-Loader 9008 mode by using code
Code:
adb reboot edl
and start over from beginning

Nb: If you are not able to unlock bootloader after getting everything else working, verify if your serial number is present. It is the main reason unlocking is not working

Huge thanks to all people who helped me
@amanksinghhh @SakilMondal @audahadi @ShadowReaper1 @dark wiz @Saktis_STi @rashidhabib and the many people whose xda pofile names I don't know.
 

sree27

Member
Feb 3, 2017
18
4
3
Thanks a lot for the detailed procedure. Restored my phone back to start. However my phone is stuck on factory mode and i'm unable to restore it back to normal mode. Also tried the Exit factory mode file given in the link of firmware download section. However whenver i try to write it with the help of QIFL it says sahara fail error and my phone's stuck in factory mode still. And also haven't been able to receive any network signal in the phone after inserting sim in the phone. Kindly help.
There is a tool which is used to switch from factory mode to normal mode. But QCN should be flashed and serial number should be restored before switching to normal mode. QCN restore is hard but it'll work in a few tries. Uninstall drivers and QFIL and retry. That's the only solution I can recommend

Link to factory mode changer : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U6CbCrteFbEMgME_kfn37XTOo7Yqz9Ct/view
 

krousnik

Member
Oct 29, 2011
11
0
0
Hy guys!!! I have the 410 version but my windows won't detect Qualcomm QD-loader 9008 it detects it like Qualcomm QD-loader 9006.
Is there a way to fix this?
 
Last edited:

sree27

Member
Feb 3, 2017
18
4
3
buddy the link to the firmware file that u have given is not working. I have tried downloading it on multiple occasions but till today i haven't been able to download either of the files. Kindly if u can provide me any other link to these file from where i can download them it would be of a lot of help. My phone is dead from pas t 7 days and have been trying to revive it but to no success. Kindly help please.
This is a really late reply and I apologise for that. Hope I'm not too late

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1raOSoIsfSBAQuofLPpsAZczJStZNqbkN/view