[ZTE Axon 7 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other Deve] jcadduono:
INTRODUCTION

I'm providing a set of files that allow you to unlock your bootloader or recover from the closest thing you can get to a hard brick.

MiFlash is capable of flashing anything to your phone while it is in Emergency Download mode.

Yes, this is voodoo magic and it works! Recover from any and all bricks! Some might call it necromancy. ;)

However, it can be also be used even if the device is perfectly alright to simplify upgrading procedures and make ROM flashing fairly painless.

This is for A2017U (North America) and A2017 (China) models only! Do not attempt this on A2017G.

INSTRUCTIONS

If you are flashing TWRP on a locked bootloader, you must first enable OEM unlocking on your device.

You can do this by navigating to Settings -> About phone -> Tap "Build number" 7 times.

Now navigate to Settings -> Advanced settings -> Developer options -> Enable "OEM unlocking".

Follow the steps below with the FASTBOOT_UNLOCK package first, then go into fastboot mode and use the

"fastboot oem unlock" command to unlock (and wipe) your device. Download adb and fastboot below.

Install the Qualcomm QUSB_BULK drivers from below.

You should be able to simply extract them, then right click qcser.inf and press Install.

If you don't have this option, then use devmgmt.msc (Device Manager) to update the driver after entering EDL mode by

selecting manual install and browsing to the qcser.inf file there.

Once the drivers are installed, your device should be recognized as a COM port called "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008".

Now install MiFlash (download below).

Open MiFlash and use the [select] button to select the A2017U_*_EDL folder package that you wish to flash.

Boot into EDL mode. (hold Volume Up + Volume Down + Power until you're stuck on a black screen)

Now just hit [flash] - watch the progress bars move and wait for the device row to turn green with flash complete!

If you are flashing TWRP, use the [Power] + [Volume Up] key combo to exit EDL mode and enter recovery. Release the keys when you see the ZTE logo.

You must have an unlocked bootloader to enter TWRP!

If the flash fails or is unable to communicate with the device, use the [Power] + [Volume Up] + [Volume Down] key combo to restart EDL mode.

Release the keys after 5 seconds then wait another 5 seconds before using the [refresh] or [flash] buttons on MiFlash.

EDL PACKAGES

FASTBOOT_UNLOCK

This will unlock all fastboot operations, including OEM unlock and fastboot boot/flash.

WARNING: Unlocking your bootloader will erase all userdata on the device! Your device will be completely reset to factory defaults!

Click here to download! (ZIP, 195.8 KiB)

B29_TWRP (Marshmallow 6.0)

This will install TWRP 3.0.4-1 and unlock fastboot operations while restoring B29 boot stack.

Click here to download! (ZIP, 59.4 MiB)

B15-NEW_TWRP (Nougat 7.0)

This will install TWRP 3.0.4-1 and unlock fastboot operations while restoring B15-NEW boot stack.

Click here to download! (ZIP, 60.6 MiB)

B15-NEW_FULL (Nougat 7.0)

This will install the entirety of the B15-NEW firmware and boot stack, including signed OEM system and boot. OTA capable and unlocks fastboot operations.

Click here to download! (ZIP, 2.4 GiB)

B19-NOUGAT_TWRP (Nougat 7.1.1)

This will install TWRP 3.0.4-1 and unlock fastboot operations while restoring B19-NOUGAT boot stack.

Click here to download! (ZIP, 61.0 MiB)

B19-NOUGAT_FULL (Nougat 7.1.1)

This will install the entirety of the B19-NOUGAT firmware and boot stack, including signed OEM system and boot. OTA capable and unlocks fastboot operations.

Click here to download! (ZIP, 2.4 GiB)

TOOLS

Xiaomi MiFlash Installer

Version: 2016.08.30.0

Click here to download! (MSI, 31.0 MiB)

Qualcomm QUSB_BULK Drivers

Version: 2.1.1.0 (2014-01-25)

WHQL signed.

Once the drivers are installed, your device should be recognized as a COM port called "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008".

Click here to download! (ZIP, 2.7 MiB)

ADB & Fastboot

Visit the SDK Platform Tools download page

Using this, you should safely be able to recover from any brick!

Once in TWRP, you can flash a full OTA or restore your backups and be on your way. :)

It is tested and working on Windows 10 64-bit.

All zips are signed with Android SignApk and can be verified with TWRP. (they won't install, just say it's not a valid zip after verifying)

A2017 (China) can use this to convert their phone to A2017U if they want. DO NOT flash on A2017G.

POSSIBLE ISSUES & SOLUTIONS

OTA update zips may fail in stock recovery even after flashing FULL EDL packages. This is because MiFlash does not erase blocks before writing the system image. You can run this command from TWRP terminal or adb shell to erase system partition before flashing the EDL package:

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/system bs=272144

Once this is done, OTA zips should succeed in stock recovery after flashing a FULL EDL package.

CREDITS

This was based on the A2017 B07 EDL zip provided by [MENTION=540283]tenfar[/MENTION] at this XDA thread.

HISTORY

2017-04-10 - Added B19-NOUGAT FULL and TWRP package

2017-02-11 - Added B15-NEW FULL signed OTA capable package

2017-02-11 - Added fastboot operation unlock package

2017-02-11 - Separated MiFlash, Qualcomm QUSB_BULK Driver, and EDL packages, removed 7z archives

2017-02-09 - Added B15-NEW TWRP package

2017-02-09 - Added B29 TWRP package