Want to flash TWRP Flashable 7.0 to downgrade from Soak Test. How to avoid IMEI loss?

[xSamukaBRx]

Hello everyone, i installed the leaked soak test with the "apply update from SD card" on stock recovery after locking my bootloader.
One week later, i unlocked it again and flashed TWRP for rooting with magisk.
Even with root tweaks i still face problems with soak 8.1, due to the lack of custom kernels.
So i decided to flash Stock N (1st April) with the TWRP Flashable zip from @Jleeblanch , how i avoid IMEI loss doing that? If i backup Oreo's EFS with TWRP, it will be compatible if i try to restore it after flashing, or it's not even necessary?

 

[HeethJain21]

The TWRP flashable zip files by @Jleeblanch does not have the commands "fastboot erase modemst1" and "fastboot erase modemst2" so your IMEI will be fine. However Stock Oreo does mess up with IMEI.

Flash TWRP flashable Stock Nougat by Jleeblanch. You will not lose IMEI, but there will still be a problem of persist (i.e you will lost IMEI if you flash Stock ROM via fastboot). So to fix persist, follow this thread: [Guide] [XT16XX] [Solve] Moto G4/Plus IMEI=0 issue

Losing IMEI is a persist related problem (Soak Test 8.1, and all 64bit Pie ROMs are causing this). So if you fix persist, then you will never lose IMEI.

I recommend you to take backup of EFS before this process (i.e while having a bad persist and working EFS) and also after fixing persist (i.e while having a good persist and working EFS).

EFS backup by Lyuu's TWRP takes a backup of EFS, fsg and persist.

Since you upgraded to Soak test from a locked bootloader, I strongly oppose moving back to Stock Nougat. Even if you go back to Nougat, MAKE SURE THAT YOU NEVER DO ANY OTA UPDATE. Whenever Official Oreo comes out, either flash it by fastboot or by TWRP flashable zip file (Jleeblanch said that he will make one for Official Oreo too once it's released)

 

[xSamukaBRx]

The TWRP flashable zip files by @Jleeblanch does not have the commands "fastboot erase modemst1" and "fastboot erase modemst2" so your IMEI will be fine. However Stock Oreo does mess up with IMEI.

Flash TWRP flashable Stock Nougat by Jleeblanch. You will not lose IMEI, but there will still be a problem of persist (i.e you will lost IMEI if you flash Stock ROM via fastboot). So to fix persist, follow this thread: [Guide] [XT16XX] [Solve] Moto G4/Plus IMEI=0 issue

Losing IMEI is a persist related problem (Soak Test 8.1, and all 64bit Pie ROMs are causing this). So if you fix persist, then you will never lose IMEI.

I recommend you to take backup of EFS before this process (i.e while having a bad persist and working EFS) and also after fixing persist (i.e while having a good persist and working EFS).

EFS backup by Lyuu's TWRP takes a backup of EFS, fsg and persist.

Since you upgraded to Soak test from a locked bootloader, I strongly oppose moving back to Stock Nougat.

Rajat's 64bit TWRP doesn't have EFS Backup option here. I will try Lyuu's
Thanks for the help.

 

[HeethJain21]

Rajat's 64bit TWRP doesn't have EFS Backup option here. I will try Lyuu's
Thanks for the help.

Read the second post again, I have edited it.

 

[xSamukaBRx]

Since you upgraded to Soak test from a locked bootloader, I strongly oppose moving back to Stock Nougat. Even if you go back to Nougat, MAKE SURE THAT YOU NEVER DO ANY OTA UPDATE. Whenever Official Oreo comes out, either flash it by fastboot or by TWRP flashable zip file (Jleeblanch said that he will make one for Official Oreo too once it's released)

I kinda fear it auto-updating, so i'll make sure to delete the "3c_ota" app from /priv-app
EDIT: Already know the risks of taking OTA with unlocked bootloader or after downgrade...

 

[xSamukaBRx]

Since you upgraded to Soak test from a locked bootloader, I strongly oppose moving back to Stock Nougat. Even if you go back to Nougat, MAKE SURE THAT YOU NEVER DO ANY OTA UPDATE. Whenever Official Oreo comes out, either flash it by fastboot or by TWRP flashable zip file (Jleeblanch said that he will make one for Official Oreo too once it's released)

What about Lineage-based 7.1.2 32 bits ROMs? Can i flash them without issue? Already flashed Stock N
with TWRP, and It worked fine. Just want to know.
Please don't tell me i need the fastboot Stock N, i can't flash that anymore i think. :crying:

 

[HeethJain21]

What about Lineage-based 7.1.2 32 bits ROMs? Can i flash them without issue? Already flashed Stock N
with TWRP, and It worked fine. Just want to know.
Please don't tell me i need the fastboot Stock N, i can't flash that anymore i think. :crying:

Yes you can flash Custom ROMs from TWRP, however, I don't think you should right now.
I got my device hard bricked randomly from Custom ROM. idk what caused it, maybe some changes which I did or something else. If a similar thing were to happen with you, there's no guarantee whether the current blankflash would work or not.

 

[xSamukaBRx]

Yes you can flash Custom ROMs from TWRP, however, I don't think you should right now.
I got my device hard bricked randomly from Custom ROM. idk what caused it, maybe some changes which I did or something else. If a similar thing were to happen with you, there's no guarantee whether the current blankflash would work or not.

Even through i just want a pure lineage OS instead of a custom based on it (too many stuff comes with a risk, right?), i better not try...