[Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus Guides, News, & Discussion] Hnk1:
Hi everyone,

This guide is intended for only snapdragon version of Lenovo devices which supports QFIL (Qualcomm Flashing Tool). For MediaTek Devices, you need different tools.

However, please understand that the device which I had to test in length was LENOVO K5 PLUS and thus, recovery, stock images and development is for K5 plus. As long as you have stock rom, custom recovery or custom rom of your specific device which you own, you can follow this guide for any snapdragon device but booting your device into DIAG mode might need different commands.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Recover Your Device

EFS

Driver Guide

TWRP

Root

Backup device

Stock and Custom Roms

Future Issues

FAQ

Credits
​

(Don't know what is brick or ANDROID BASICS, click here to quickly go through them)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This guide is for those who understand the risk of their actions.
I have fully tested this guide and I found no issues, however,
I am not responsible for world wars, broken phones,
flying machines, dead SD cards, [B]girlfriend breakups[/B]
or any damage by your actions and only join in the forum
with [B]popcorn[/B] to enjoy myself at your suffering in case you
didn't follow the instructions and later blamed me for it.

IMPORTANT :

I suggest you start this guide by directly going to POST 5 BACKUP FULL DEVICE before you intend to do any experiments with your device. Make a FULL BACKUP WHICH IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OR YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE OTAs LATER)

Requires no root

DRIVERS ARE MUST HERE

You can simply download all the drivers from post three and install them all. In case you have troubles, you can refer HERE for more details.

WHAT YOU NEED

1. DRIVERS

2. USB DEBUGGING

3. ADB

4. TOOLS & STUFF (all in attachments)

5. Little Common Sense

6. Zero Skills

USB DEBUGGING ON

1.Activate the Developer options (Settings> About phone> Device Information> to tap 7 times in Build number)

2. Enable USB debugging (Settings> Developer> USB Debugging)

3. Enable OEM unlock (Settings> Developer> Unlock OEM)

4. Done

SETUP A WORKING ADB

Download platform tools from here in attachment

Extract them to any location.

Navigate to the location where you have extracted platform.zip

Hold crtl+shift on keyboard and then use your mouse to right click on an empty area of the folder.

Select open command prompt here

An cmd window will open

You are ready to go

Alternatively,

if that does not work for you. Simply download the platform.zip and extract it to C:/platform-tools.

Rename platform tools folder to adb

Go to cmd from start menu

Type in these commands until you see C:\> in cmd.

You will need to type twice most probably.

cd..
cd..

then type the following once you are at C:\>

cd adb

You will be in ADB folder, which will be now like C:\adb>

Now you have a working adb

RECOVER YOUR BRICKED DEVICE

There are actually 3 methods in theory to recover your phone. However,I also found that sometimes you can not flash your device using download mode and in this case, fastboot mode is the only route which means you will need to use TWRP or find a method to go into EDL from fastboot. So after you brick your device, your device can present in the following states.

No recovery or download mode but fastboot mode

Download mode

Recovery mode

Phone goes into download mode on its own

Possible Solutions

TWRP Method if you have a custom recovery or only fastboot(tested and works)

QFIL (tested and works) if you can boot into download mode

Lenovo Updater (untested)

ONLY FASTBOOT ACCESSIBLE NO DOWNLOAD/ RECOVERY.

Phone goes directly into download mode but QFIL unable to flash at all. Need to find a way to boot into EDL. Currently under working. Check this here Gold for those who need to boot to edl from fastboot

Fail with status when trying to flash using QFIL

Download Fail:System.Exception: Failed to Switch to Emergency Download mode

at QC.QMSLPhone.Phone.QPHONEMS_SwitchToEDL()

at QC.SwDownloadDLL.SwDownload.SwitchToEDL()
Download Fail:Switch To EDL FailSystem.Exception: FireHose Fail

at QC.SwDownloadDLL.SwDownload.SwitchToEDL()

at QFIL.Tech.DownloadTech.SwitchToEDL()
Finish Download

Two ways possible. Flashed TWRP and it worked by restoring previous backup. Works like a charm

Fastboot to edl needs some work. If that could be achieved. It will be brick proof.

TWRP METHOD

Pre Requisites

Fully working TWRP with root (preferable)

backup of your device (highly recommended) or download stock flashable roms HERE

STEPS

Boot into fastboot mode (bootloader) by switching off your phone and then press volume - and power

Flash TWRP recovery using fastboot commands HERE

Flash your previously made backup using RESTORE function in TWRP

To flash recovery partition, you will need to select flash IMG instead of preset ZIP when you navigate to INSTALL. You will find it on lower left side

DOWNLOAD STOCK RECOVERY FOR YOUR DEVICE HERE

You will need to unroot your device as well from supersu settings if you want to return to FULL STOCK

In case you only have fast boot mode and no recovery AND no download mode

Pre Requisites

You must have a fully working TWRP and possibly rooted

flashable zips of your stock roms or any previously made backup

STEPS

Simply place your update.zip in your sd card if you are using stock images

Or you can copy your previously made TWRP backup in sd card

Restore using TWRP if you have a backup

or flash via TWRP if you are flashing stock Images

Done

I highly suggest you wipe your device in TWRP including system

QFIL METHOD

Download stock image for your device. Make sure you choose the correct file for your device or you can hardbrick your device

Install QPST and QFIL software from attachments.

You may need to install Microsoft Tools which are provided in attachment for QPST to work

I assume that you have already proper drivers installed

Extract your device stock images in any given location of your choice but prefer it like D:/stock images etc

Open QFIL from start menu

Refer to image attachments 1,4,5,6,7 for the next steps

Browser Programmer Path and navigate to where you have extracted stock images.

Select the file with the given extention .(firehose)

Next load XML file and select the image.

It will ask for another file which you will be able to locate in the same folder\

Connect your device and see if the port is detected as QD LOADER

Select DOWNLOAD under LOAD XML

Sit back and enjoy. It should take 5-10 minutes

NOTES FOR QFIL

Bootloader Method does not seem to work. Even after changing drivers and replacing them.

Works with keys too. Hold Volume + and power after switching off device and select download!

Requires EDL method

Lenovo Serial driver required

Adb reboot edl

Then install drivers for Qualcomm port

Flash as instructions

Erase Misc after flash

Wait for device to turn on

STATUS : COMPLETE

Last updated 26.08.16