[ZenFone 2 General] sukhwant717:
For those who bricked their phone and facing any of the following issue (Black screen, vibrating only, no fastboot, unable to start, unable to install firmware etc.)

If you got No Fastboot, No recovery, No Display, hard bricked your device.You must perform sequential steps indicated below, process will include many small steps. Plz make sure to perform all steps in same sequence and same manner as prescribed. Remove all drivers related to mobile you have installed earlier.

Step 1: Install the Intel Soc USB driver:

(if you are using windows 8 or 10. it is very important to disable driver signature enforcement. see the sections related to your windows below. (note: if you will reboot pc after disabling it will be enabled again)).

This Is the driver which help a computer connecte to your Zen2 IntelSoc mode. To install these driver you need to perform special steps if you are using windows 8 / 8.1, 10 . you need to disable driver signature enforcement before installing drivers. below i have mentioned steps needed to install driver for various versions of windows. but first download the needed driver from link given below.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwR0JGeFI2U3FUZ2c

Step 1.1 - how to install these drivers:

(Note: if you see the image like below attached thumbnail and you click install software any way 2 times means drivers are installed correctly. if you don't see image below while installation it means you need to disable driver signature enforcement)

If you're using Windows 7:

Right-click the file - iSocUSB-Driver-Setup-1.2.0 choose "Run as Administrator".

Make The installation steps as usual until you see a small window "Windows Security" requires authentication settings then click on the "install this driver software anyway"

After This step, the driver installation is finished, continue to section 1.2 for connecting IntelSoc.

If you're using Windows 8 / 8.1 :

On Keyboard press Windows + I to show charm bar in the right corner,

click on the option setting. Choose "Change PC Settings" to enter the PC Settings.

Choose the General tab and navigate to Advanced Startup section, continue click Restart now.

This will reboot windows and allows you access to the advanced mode, now select the following options: Troubleshoot - -Startup Settings Advanced Options and then click the Restart button to restart the computer.

now you will see screen with various options numbered from 1. Find disable driver signature enforcement. And press the appropriate number on keyboard your pc will reboot

Now Right-click the file - iSocUSB-Driver-Setup-1.2.0 choose "Run as Administrator".

Make The installation steps as usual until you see a small window "Windows Security" requires authentication settings then click on the "install this driver software anyway"

After This step, the driver installation is finished, continue to section 1.2

If you're using Windows 10 :

On Keyboard press Windows + I or click Start, select Settings.

In The Settings window, select the Update & security.

Continue Choose recovery and then advanced startup and click "Restart now".

When The computer has access to the Advanced screen you will see screen with various options numbered from 1. Find disable driver signature enforcement. And press the appropriate number on keyboard your pc will reboot

Now Right-click the file - iSocUSB-Driver-Setup-1.2.0 choose "Run as Administrator".

Make The installation steps as usual until you see a small window "Windows Security" requires authentication settings then click on the "install this driver software anyway"

After This step, the driver installation is finished, continue to section 1.2

1.2 Connect Zenfone with computer IntelSoc Mode:

Now you must complete this step before installing xfstk downloader. it helps to setup device's connection to PC

on your pc open device manager and find Intel Soc.

Click to expand it. You will see a single option under here.

Connect your phone to computer via USB cable,

now back to the phone, hold power button for 10 seconds to shutdown completely, then press simultaneously the key "power" + "volume down", until phone vibrates. Or computer makes detection sound, wait a few seconds. it will add an item immediately below intelSoC in device manager ?MOOREFIELD? new devices is connected successful.

Now Download intel android USB Driver and install normally from link below:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwSU5CdDNuUElEcUE

( only after installing the above driver with correct steps and connecting Soc then only install xFSTK).

Step: 2 Installing xfstk-downloader:

installation of xFSTK is very simple. download xFSTK setup from the link below. to install. right click the setup file and run as Administrator. click next next simply until you finish the installation process

Here is the download link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRweDdfMjlPOGEyTW8

Now to Unbrick Process.

( only after installing the above driver with correct steps) go ahead to unbrick process.

Unbrick Process:

-The Necessary files:

ZE551ML: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwV0QyWFRXbjMxaFk

ZE550ML: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwY1AyLUdKdkI3OWM

After downloading the necessary files extract it. it will contain 3 files:- dnx_fwr.bin, ifwi.bin, droidboot_dnx.img.POS_sign.bin.

-Run XFSTK Downloader as Administrator, click the second tab at bottom MRD A0 / B0 + MOOR A0 + CRC .

-Then Go to Options to change the value in the Value Section Override Flag GP 0x80000807. Tick GP value over ride, change device detection time out value to 220 and Click OK is complete initial preparation. (important note: never use wrong gp flag value it may complicate things)

+ First select Firmware files FW DnX: and IFWI: by clicking small three dots:- IFWI DNX 2 dnx_fwr.bin and ifwi.bin file.

+ Now select operating system : skip the first box, in second box select file droidboot_dnx.img.POS_sign.bin

now switch off your mobile by holding power button for long and connect to pc.

now click begin download on xFSTK. after that simply power on mobile.

-Here You may see error multiple times just try to power off device completely and turn on again. flash again and again Until you see success: FW+OS Download complete!

After that you may see a 4 color screen, just like some TV stations stop broadcasting on TV. You have to wait a little. after few seconds or minutes device will boot into bootloader. wait 10 to 15 min if no success, If not repeat the xFSTK process again. once you get fastboot screen on device go ahead to flash RAW firmware

Now there are two ways to flash RAW firmware one is Asus Flash Tool (AFT) other is without AFT with help of commands. Personally, i like command method as it is much more reliable than Asus Flash Tool. both methods are provided here under.

Flash Raw Firmware Using Asus Flash Tool:

Required Files:

Asus Flash Tool: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwUDZqa0M4SWRObVE

Raw Firmware File:

ZE551ML: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwb2x1SHg2UUlsT0U ( Link updated to google drive and latest raw firmware 2.20.40.194)

ZE550ML:https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwcTBDaXZOYUNBdHM

Download Asus Flash Tool and install. Run asus flash tool as administrator. And select the phone model. Then select the downloaded raw file and click start button to flash.

Note: sometimes flash process may go endless. If this happens remove the usb from computer. Kill asus flashtool process from task manager. Now run tool again and flash.

Flashing Firmware Without AFT:

For this you need two things first is adb tool and second is raw firmware file both links are provided here under:

Fastboot and adb tool: ( includes setup as well as independent files ) latest version updated

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwMGVuT0cwRlp2UG8

Adb fastboot tool for 64 bit windows and for those who are facing issue to load zip files while adb sideload. or unable to load system.img

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwUkFRMl81b1pWa0k

Raw firmware ( you can use any earlier downloaded RAW firmware file)

ZE551ML: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwb2x1SHg2UUlsT0U ( Link updated to google drive and latest raw firmware 2.20.40.194)

ZE550ML: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B72QQTXqZSRwcTBDaXZOYUNBdHM

Now very first of all, rename .raw firmware file to .zip file and extract all files from it.. now place all files in adb and fastboot folder. ( Note: to extract raw file to avoid extension issue please give firmware file a complete new name ie: "user.zip" or anything you like

now in folder ( where you placed files from raw firmware and adb and fastboot tool folder) at empty place anywhere in folder hold Shift on computer keyboard and right click with mouse. Now click open command window here.

perform the following commands

1. fastboot devices ( see if it is recognized: else plug out usb and plugin again)

2. fastboot oem erase_osip_header

3. fastboot oem start_partitioning

4. fastboot flash /tmp/partition.tbl partition.tbl

5. fastboot oem partition /tmp/partition.tbl

6. fastboot erase system

7. fastboot erase cache

8. fastboot erase data

9. fastboot erase APD

10. fastboot erase ADF

11. fastboot oem wipe splashscreen

12. fastboot oem stop_partitioning

13. fastboot flash splashscreen splash_sign.bin

14. fastboot flash token MFG_BOM_Full.bin

15. fastboot flash ifwi ifwi-prod.bin

16. fastboot flash boot boot_sign.bin

17. fastboot flash recovery recovery_sign.bin

18. fastboot flash fastboot droidboot_sign.bin

19. fastboot flash APD APD.img

20. fastboot flash system system.img

21. fastboot reboot

Phone will successfully reboot into system. don't worry, first boot gonna take a little longer time. so have patience and watch some funny video till phone boots up.

Now you can install any firmware version via adb sideload. make sure to install latest lollipop firmware before flashing Marshmallow. follow the guide to sideload.

How to Install firmware using adb sideload:

First of all go to setting > About >Software information > tap build number 7 times to enable developer options. now under setting go to developer options and find USB debugging here. tick to enable USB debugging

Now go to Asus website and download the desired firmware and place that file in adb fastboot tool folder. rename the files to your desirable short name ( lets take an example rename it to User.zip). now move your mouse cursor in folder anywhere at some empty place, press and hold the keyboard shift Button now right click your mouse button and open command window here. in cmd type adb devices and press enter ( note it will prompt an option on mobile to authorize the computer for adb. Please authorize this computer. ) after this your device will be listed under adb devices with some number. if not type command once again, if no success this time please ensure you have installed usb driver and authorized computer.

after adb recognize the device. run the following command

"adb reboot recovery"

phone will reboot into recovery ( Note you can go to recovery manually as well. for doing so power down your device. after that press and hold volume + button and press power button as mobile shows asus logo leave power button but keep holding volume button. you will boot into fastboot mode use your volume up and down key to go to option recovery mode. now click power button. phone will reboot into recovery mode.

once phone reboot into recovery mode find option apply update from adb and press that option with the help of power button

now go to cmd and run the following command

" adb sideload user.zip " ( Note: User.zip is the firmware file you download from asus and placed in adb tool folder and renamed so can be replaced with the name you renamed your file)

now let the computer do its work sit back and relax. once file loaded successfully reboot device.

( note first boot always takes little longer time so don't panic have patience and wait till phone boots completely

if you have any question please post here. use hide button while replying to avoid unnecessary length of post..

If the guide was helpful to you and your device is alive again. Hope you can hit the Thanks button. it will not take much effort or long time. Thank you.