Some potential help for new Ascend Xt users...

[basizwizrdry]

I recently managed to snag one of these up at a local walmart recently (well, 2 actually) - So I would share my experience with the software aspects I have dealt with so far.

Upon opening the box, I removed the NanoSIM (before even powering it up) and gave the device a full charge - no setup yet or anything.

I then went through the initial setup, skipping everything - not signing into Wi-Fi, or added my google account. The system was on B130 or B140, I can't recall now. I enabled developer settings, enable usb debug and checked OEM Unlock (for bootloader). I then connected it to my PC (I already had the proper drivers installed, and Minimal ADB and Fastboot) and proceeded to unlock the bootloader via the official code from Huawei. This of course gives you the warning that the phone is not secure, every time you power up the phone from fully off (or restart)

Now that the bootloader was successfully unlocked, I installed TWRP from the thread "[TWRP]Unofficial[5/21/2017]huawei ascend xt" by madvane20 using Fastboot. This was perfectly successful. Upon first load of TWRP I swiped to allow modifications.

Once in TWRP I copied the B180_Full_Update.zip from "[Guide]Huawei Ascend XT - How to update from any version up to B180 after rooting" by clsA - to a 4GB MicroSD Card that I put in the phone. I mounted system and cust, as it instructs in the thread - then proceeded to do a factory reset, format data from within TWRP (I might have done an advanced wipe too, and checked everything but the external SD, but I can't quite recall) and then did a reboot directly back to recovery.

I then proceeded to make sure that system and cust was mounted again, and installed the B180_Full_Update.zip - wiping dalvik/cache after. Then I did a standard reboot system, but the phone failed to boot. It just stopped at the unsecure warning, where you can press power (or wait) to boot anyhow. It would respond to me pressing power, but not go past that part. I was slightly concerned at this point, but lucky for me a long press of the power button and holding volume up - took me back to TWRP. So all was not lost.

I then decided to fully wipe everything again - following the previous steps I mentioned - and this time install the SR2-SuperSU-v2.79-SR2-20170103215521.zip from the thread "AT&T Huawei Ascend XT H1611 Feb27, 2017 update all things Root and TWRP (guide)" By powerserge1 . This was installed immediately after the Rom zip. Then I wiped dalvik/cache and reboot. This time the phone did boot as described (AT&T logo and a few automatic reboots, before actually getting to the setup screen) - I was then on B180 with SuperSU installed. Unfortunately, wifi was not working!

So at that point I decided to flash the boot.img (inside the boot.zip) at the bottom of the first post on the thread "[Rom][11thMay]Ascend XT - Swift&Fast Slim B160/b170/b180 aio" By madvane20. I did this with my PC via Fastboot. At this point the Wi-Fi was fixed. Unfortunately while SuperSU was installed ( and I ended up updating it via Play Store) - Root was not working (tried root checker from the play store), and the SuperSU program was not actually functioning properly. But other than that the phone seemed fully functional, and up to date.

I should state now that I bought this phone just to use it as a cheap tablet (Wi-Fi only), I do not have AT&T Service - and did not try and unlock it. So I cannot speak to how it performs as an actual cellphone - Service quality, service features etc.

Of course, I felt a little uneasy about the phone working fine - but not correctly rooted. I don't really need root for my uses, but it's what got it actually booting in the first place, so I figure I may as well know it is working. So here's my last step...

I just simply reflashed the B180_Full_Update.zip in TWRP. Mounted everything, full wipe of everything and rebooted back to recovery - before flashing of course. I did not reflash SuperSU or mess around with the boot.img etc. Just a davlik/cache wipe before rebooting the system. This time the system booted fine (AT&T logo and a couple resets, like before) and wifi was working right off the bat. I was at B180 still (obviously), and no signs of root or SuperSU. This is fine by me.

SO after all of that, it seems I am on a stock (unrooted, all bloat) B180 version (from B130 or B140, no other versions in between). Updated fully via unlocked bootloader, and various software. I have not tried to root again, because I don't need it. I just do the basic debloating that android natively allows, disabling all the AT&T stuff and various built in apps I wont use.

Hopefully this will be some help to anyone following the same path that I have, or currently in any of the hangups I was in.

Also, for anyone trying to replace the Huawei Home Launcher with something like Nova Launcher (recommended) - be sure to go to Settings/apps/Huawei Home/Open by default then clear defaults. This will allow you to select a new default launcher.

Feel free to ask any questions, and I will help as best as I can!

 

[-n0cturne-]

Good outline! It's not all too hard to get going, most of the hassle is tweaking EMUI.

As far as your problem with supersu... Supersu, and magisk as well, work by patching the boot img - so when you flashed the default boot files, you uninstalled the part of supersu that does the work (though not the management utility that provides its interface). Also take care not to clear cache/dalvik immediately after installing magisk or supersu, as their installers often use it as a workaround to inject their system files. My advice: flas osm0sis's unSu script (forum/google search), reboot, reboot into twrp, reflash default boot img, clear cache/dalvik, flash supersu, and then reboot (can reboot back into twrp to wipe cache/dalvik again if you want, just verify supersu is working first).

Edit: use the most recent flashable version of supersu from its thread - installs aren't device-specific

 

[basizwizrdry]

Thanks for reading, and for the insightful reply - that does shed some light on things for sure.

I'm still not really interested in rooting the device, but if I decide that I need to - that should sort me out. I just have to make sure I reinstall SuperSU from TWRP, if I flash that stock (I'm guessing) boot image..

My main problem was that I wanted to get it the phone up to the latest software version, and I don't have an active AT&T SIM. Well, actually now that I think about it maybe I could have just used the gophone sim that was installed in the phone... hah! I am no stranger to flashing ROMS/Recoveries etc. so I didn't mind having to go manual to get the phone up to date. This phone is blessed in that you are able to unlock the bootloader - just sucks that I had to, just to get it on a later version of official software. I like keeping my devices stock, as much a possible - provided it meets my needs in that form. Obviously if It is what it takes to make a device usable, or bring it up from a software update abandoned state - I will use Custom ROMs, and ROOT features where needed. I try not to even waste my time with devices like that though, unless it is acquired for very cheap or free. There are just so many other choices out there, and the used market is very good to me.

I guess the thing that escaped me while doing research to start on this phone, was how best to get to the latest stock B180 software version - altering as little as possible to get there. The only direct solution that I found assumed (or required) that you were also rooted, and I didn't think about that in the right way. I just assumed that it wouldn't matter that I was not, and that a bigger problem might be that I was jumping a few software versions. I'll admit I kinda skimmed over that part that said "Also some roms may need to have SuperSU flashed after the Rom or the phone may not boot the first time after the upgrade." I just figured I didn't need root, so I didn't have to worry flashing Super SU. It makes sense now, due in no small part to your explanation!

I wonder if (starting at stock bootloader unlocked B140) I could have just flashed that B180 full update zip from TWRP, and then PC fastboot flashed that boot image - forgo flashing superSU in TWRP - and then be good to go (Wi-Fi Working as well)? Assuming I was not interested in being rooted of course. I'm guessing not, and I'm not sure why.

 

[basizwizrdry]

As a follow up... I started working on the other phone I bought - brand new, on B140 Software Version.

Unlocked bootloader > flashed TWRP > full wipe/format everything > flashed B180 zip > and fastboot flashed boot image - presto change-o! Stock B180 with wifi working fine (no root, as desired). Still have the unlocked bootloader message upon power on, but that's unavoidable. This is pretty much the most direct method for manually updating to the latest software version.

I also used DC-Unlocker Successfully on both phones for about $4 USD each.