[Google Pixel XL ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Mentalmuso:
<--- Installation Instructions --->

This is a dynamic post, or in other words, it may change from build to build, when it does, i will inform users with the new ROM link post.

First off, this post is a little late, i should have done this earlier but it is what it is and its here now. At this time this is directly related from updating from WETA 1.0.5a (may work on others) to WETA 2.0.

- Boot Slots -

If you are new to the Pixel and are about to start flashing, there is something you need to realize. The Pixel devices have two sets of partitions to boot from. This allows seamless updating on googles part. Google it.. Anyway, in the ROM aroma menu you will notice options to select which boot slot to flash to, A or B. You need to flash to the correct slot, which would be the slot you are already booting into. You need to check this by booting into bootloader and it will be listed there. It states your boot slot in TWRP also when you select reboot. Though i would trust Bootloader more at these early stages.

Both methods below will work also if you are coming from stock. You just need to get yourself TWRP'd and Rooted.

Method #1 - No Wipe (dirty)

This method isn't usually recommended when jumping bases, but worked ok this time around. These are the steps i took that were successful for me.

I started out being on NDE63V WETA 1.0.5, TWRP, Rooted

1. Boot into bootloader and check what boot slot is active, take note of it.

2. Boot into TWRP

- dont do any wiping whatsoever.... the weta install automatically wipes dalvik and cache.

3. Flash NMF26O vendor.img using TWRP

4. Flash WETA 2.0 selecting the correct boot slot from step one in aroma.

5. Reboot system, this can take 5-6min as it rebuilds Dalvik

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Method #2 - Clean install (Wiped data) or (img flash only no wipe)

OK, so we are jumping from 7.1 to 7.1.1. There are going to obviously be some changes, thats why i was surprised that Method #1 actually works without issue.. Having said this, when using the method above (method #1) but wiping all your data instead.. This creates a problem with acore crashing constantly on boot. This led me to trying to understand the system apps a little better, and from what i can see, all the system apps are odexed but the odex files live on another partition that gets loaded up on first boot. With changes between the old and the new firmware and its apps there is a good chance the odex file from the old firmware doesnt play well with the updated apk. And the only way to get those odex files onto your device is to flash the firmware package. Regardless... if you want a clean install this time around, follow these steps

1. Backup everything, because you may lose everything, or you may not.

2. You are going to need the stock firmware package and a pc, (aosp download page)

3. You are going to need fastboot drivers, google how to install adb and fastboot. You should already have them if you own this or any nexus devices.

4. OK this is where you flash the whole firmware package. If you do it as is, you will wipe all data on your phone. This includes photos and music. So again backup if you care.

- NOTE, you can preserve all of your data by opening the flash-all.sh(linux) or flash-all.bat(windows) script in a note pad and deleting the (-w) in the line (fastboot -w update image-marlin-nmf26o.zip)

- the process goes like this, open a terminal, cd into the firmware folder, and run the flash-all script (sh flash-all.sh for linux) (double click the flash_all.bat file for windows)

- Now you have all the stock img's flashed to your device on the active boot slot

5. You can now start the rom install process, you are going to need to re flash TWRP and SuperSU.

6. Now all you have to do is Flash the WETA rom. Select the boot slot that you have active in bootloader. Check it first then flash to it.

7. Reboot system, boot may take 5-6min

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