[RECOVERY][UNOFFICIAL]TWRP 3.6.0 for 2020 Galaxy Tab A7 10.4[SM-T500]

[paziusss]

​

/*
* Disclaimer
*
* Your warranty is now void.
*
* We're not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
* thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
* do some research if you have any concerns about features included in this ROM
* before flashing it! YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if
* you point the finger at us for messing up your device, we will laugh at you.
*/

Introduction

Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP) is an open-source software custom recovery image for Android-based devices. It provides a touchscreen-enabled interface that allows users to install third-party firmware and back up the current system, functions often unsupported by stock recovery images. It is, therefore, often installed when rooting Android devices, although it isn't dependent on a device being rooted to be installed.

• TWRP version: 3.6.0_11
• For device: gta4lwifi
• Device tree: https://github.com/pazos/android_device_samsung_gta4lwifi
• Maintainer/Authors build: paziusss

Known limitations

• FBE encrypted storage (Internal Data) not able to be decrypted in TWRP.

Changelog

• 2021-12-08:
  • Added: exfat support
  • Added: mass storage support
  • Fixed: USB composition rules
  • Supressed audit messages in logcat
  • Misc changes (see device tree for details)

• 2021-12-05: Initial release

Motivation and credits.

AFAICT there're two TWRP builds on xda for the SM-T500, made by ragarcia87 and agreenbhm

The main motivation for Yet Another TWRP build was getting fastboot working, so we can follow official instructions to flash GSI builds on our devices.

Credits to u/agreenbhm for the device tree: https://github.com/agreenbhm/android_device_samsung_gta4lwifi
Credits to u/ragarcia87 for the thread, which I used as a template for this one

Installation Instructions

Spoiler

From computer:

• Download Odin Flashable Tar from bellow
• Put tablet into Odin Download Mode
• Flash Blank vbmeta via Userdata
• Flash Odin Flashable Tar via AP

From TWRP:

• Download recovery.img from below
• Copy recovery.img to device
• Install > Install Image > recovery.img to Recovery
• Reboot > Recovery

Flashing system/vendor/product/odm partitions

Spoiler

Logical partitions are read only from TWRP. If you want to flash them you'll need to reboot in fastbootd.

• Boot in TWRP
• Go to reboot and select fastboot.
• Wait until you see a TWRP dialog saying "entered in fastboot"
• Once you flashed all desired partitions reboot to recovery
• In recovery wipe -> format data.

Notes on GSI flashing:

• /product partition is unused in GSI builds. You can flash an empty image to gain 1GB for other logical partitions.
• /system partition will be resized to the size of the GSI image you're flashing.

 

[Magendanz]

Thanks for migrating this to Android 11! One issue I'm seeing is that I can't mount the Micro SD card.

Also, the link for your device tree seems to be broken. Could you please update?

 

[paziusss]

Hi Magendanz. Thanks for your feedback.

I have no issues mounting the MicroSD card. Do you have some logs?

Updated DT link!

About the device tree: I'm having trouble pushing the changes to github because my slow connection. Will see if I got them pushed somehow. If not I will revert blobs to agreenbhm version.

Thanks for migrating this to Android 11! One issue I'm seeing is that I can't mount the Micro SD card.

Also, the link for your device tree seems to be broken. Could you please update?

 

[Magendanz]

I have no issues mounting the MicroSD card. Do you have some logs?

Here's the log...

 

[paziusss]

Hi!

Indeed, I didn't test with exfat. Should be fixed soon. Also adb sideload don't work in the version attached.

I will make the changes ASAP and give a better commit history in device tree

 

[paziusss]

Hi. Device tree updated with support for exfat and ADB sideload fixed.

Will upload the binaries in a few hours!

 

[stompysan]

Thanks for bringing a nicer TWRP for GSI loading to our devices. I flashed this with no issues, but I am really struggling to get my device to boot any GSI. I am sure it is something that I am doing wrong on my end, since I have not messed with Samsung devices or any GSI installations before. Is there a change to have a more in-depth guide written up on installing a GSI on our device, or is there one already available that has similar instructions? I am planning on starting from scratch once I get home, and would like to have all of my ducks in a row before attempting again.

 

[paziusss]

Thanks for bringing a nicer TWRP for GSI loading to our devices. I flashed this with no issues, but I am really struggling to get my device to boot any GSI. I am sure it is something that I am doing wrong on my end, since I have not messed with Samsung devices or any GSI installations before. Is there a change to have a more in-depth guide written up on installing a GSI on our device, or is there one already available that has similar instructions? I am planning on starting from scratch once I get home, and would like to have all of my ducks in a row before attempting again.

Sure, I'll write a deep guide when I get basic stuff sorted out.

For starters, it is:

On TWRP -> Reboot -> Fastboot

Let the device reboot, wait until you see TWRP "entered fastboot"

Check your computer sees the device with

fastboot devices

(retry until it does)

Now erase system and flash a new image:

fastboot erase system
fastboot flash system whatever-aosp-gsi-ab-arm64.img

Finally reboot to recovery

fastboot reboot recovery

And format data:

Wipe -> Format data

Now you can reboot to the system. It will work.

I've tested it with Google AOSP builds, PHH builds and LineageOS builds based on PHH.

Bugs you'll find on any GSI build:

1. MTP doesn't work (needs a kernel change)
2. Brightness slider doesn't work (can be fixed easily without kernel change)
3. Probably more that I didn't found yet

 

[paziusss]

Hi. I've updated recovery binaries and added a changelog.

Please report the issues you find.

 

[EdwardTCM]

Sure, I'll write a deep guide when I get basic stuff sorted out.

For starters, it is:

On TWRP -> Reboot -> Fastboot

Let the device reboot, wait until you see TWRP "entered fastboot"

Check your computer sees the device with

fastboot devices

(retry until it does)

Now erase system and flash a new image:

fastboot erase system
fastboot flash system whatever-aosp-gsi-ab-arm64.img

Finally reboot to recovery

fastboot reboot recovery

And format data:

Wipe -> Format data

Now you can reboot to the system. It will work.

I've tested it with Google AOSP builds, PHH builds and LineageOS builds based on PHH.

Bugs you'll find on any GSI build:

1. MTP doesn't work (needs a kernel change)
2. Brightness slider doesn't work (can be fixed easily without kernel change)
3. Probably more that I didn't found yet

Will it work with Pixel Experience?

 

[paziusss]

Will it work with Pixel Experience?

I didn't try. Install instructions are the same for all GSI roms. You can get a big list of GSIs in https://github.com/phhusson/treble_experimentations/wiki/Generic-System-Image-(GSI)-list

Some roms are bigger than stock, so you'll need to delete/wipe your product partition first. OP has instructions about it. I personally prefeer to flash an empty product.img instead of deleting the logical partition, to avoid TWRP warnings trying (and failing) to mount the partition.

 

[EdwardTCM]

I didn't try. Install instructions are the same for all GSI roms. You can get a big list of GSIs in https://github.com/phhusson/treble_experimentations/wiki/Generic-System-Image-(GSI)-list

Some roms are bigger than stock, so you'll need to delete/wipe your product partition first. OP has instructions about it. I personally prefeer to flash an empty product.img instead of deleting the logical partition, to avoid TWRP warnings trying (and failing) to mount the partition.

Alright Thanks

 

[EdwardTCM]

Sure, I'll write a deep guide when I get basic stuff sorted out.

For starters, it is:

On TWRP -> Reboot -> Fastboot

Let the device reboot, wait until you see TWRP "entered fastboot"

Check your computer sees the device with

fastboot devices

(retry until it does)

Now erase system and flash a new image:

fastboot erase system
fastboot flash system whatever-aosp-gsi-ab-arm64.img

Finally reboot to recovery

fastboot reboot recovery

And format data:

Wipe -> Format data

Now you can reboot to the system. It will work.

I've tested it with Google AOSP builds, PHH builds and LineageOS builds based on PHH.

Bugs you'll find on any GSI build:

1. MTP doesn't work (needs a kernel change)
2. Brightness slider doesn't work (can be fixed easily without kernel change)
3. Probably more that I didn't found yet

I flashed phhusson's GSI rom but my galaxy tab a7 keeps boot looping

 

[EdwardTCM]

Sure, I'll write a deep guide when I get basic stuff sorted out.

For starters, it is:

On TWRP -> Reboot -> Fastboot

Let the device reboot, wait until you see TWRP "entered fastboot"

Check your computer sees the device with

fastboot devices

(retry until it does)

Now erase system and flash a new image:

fastboot erase system
fastboot flash system whatever-aosp-gsi-ab-arm64.img

Finally reboot to recovery

fastboot reboot recovery

And format data:

Wipe -> Format data

Now you can reboot to the system. It will work.

I've tested it with Google AOSP builds, PHH builds and LineageOS builds based on PHH.

Bugs you'll find on any GSI build:

1. MTP doesn't work (needs a kernel change)
2. Brightness slider doesn't work (can be fixed easily without kernel change)
3. Probably more that I didn't found yet

I'm trying to flash the ROM I downloaded but I keep getting Sparse errors and when it finishes I get this FAILED (remote: Operation not permitted)
Edit: Maybe this is happening because of the ROM being A only

 

[paziusss]

I flashed phhusson's GSI rom but my galaxy tab a7 keeps boot looping

You need one of the ARM64 AB variants. No matter if it is vanilla, floss or gapps.

 

[wesleyvanneck12345678]

thank you for twrp and fastboot but i noticed that most gsi images are bugy no brightness or randemly rebooting

 

[EdwardTCM]

You need one of the ARM64 AB variants. No matter if it is vanilla, floss or gapps.

OOOH I thought it was A Only

 

[EdwardTCM]

I'm trying to flash the ROM I downloaded but I keep getting Sparse errors and when it finishes I get this FAILED (remote: Operation not permitted)

Sure, I'll write a deep guide when I get basic stuff sorted out.

For starters, it is:

On TWRP -> Reboot -> Fastboot

Let the device reboot, wait until you see TWRP "entered fastboot"

Check your computer sees the device with

fastboot devices

(retry until it does)

Now erase system and flash a new image:

fastboot erase system
fastboot flash system whatever-aosp-gsi-ab-arm64.img

Finally reboot to recovery

fastboot reboot recovery

And format data:

Wipe -> Format data

Now you can reboot to the system. It will work.

I've tested it with Google AOSP builds, PHH builds and LineageOS builds based on PHH.

Bugs you'll find on any GSI build:

1. MTP doesn't work (needs a kernel change)
2. Brightness slider doesn't work (can be fixed easily without kernel change)
3. Probably more that I didn't found yet

To anyone who wants to try the Pixel Experience rom
USE A/B NOT A ONLY

 

[EdwardTCM]

To anyone who wants to try the Pixel Experience rom
USE A/B NOT A ONLY

Btw the wifi doesn't work

 

[EdwardTCM]

One Issue when downgrading to TWRP 3.5 is that it will boot loop