[Moto G4 Plus Questions & Answers] markbnj:
OK Please note (4-25-17) this message is a work in progress, as I slowly restore my system.

This is a listing and hopefully helpful listing of what I did (right and wrong)

in upgrading my Systemless-rooted (suuser) phone from 6.01 to 7.00 (nougat)

# 1. it did not work, and I went back to 6.01 successfully using the twrp recovery

I have previously used Bender's guid (here) to get the system-less root on 6.01.

essentailly, here's the best plan. Use the Minimal ADB and Fastboot package (MADB &F) (here)

(Explanation: the MADB&FB package will allow you do do LOTS of stuff related to updating your phone, with very little grief.)

it also includes the ability to automatically "push" a package over your usb connection if the ZIP file doesnt load right. **THIS will come in handy later!

Once MADB&F is installed, make note of your directory, and then make sure you start your dos window (for pc users) as an administrator!

BTW, if I HADN'T made the "TWRP backup" of my system, I'd be Sh*t out of luck right now...", because I screwed up the 7.0 upgrade.

the technical problem was that I had no data, no modem, no way of getting data/voice in/out.

SIMPLY using the TWRP restore fixed me!!!

(so far, we have MADB&FB, downloaded and bender's (chainfire) rootless guide.

Next you want to download the current firmware image for your phone. This will be a lifesaver, I promise!

3) Download a TWRP image (this will MAGICALLY load on your pc when you tell it you need help! Look HERE

(Athene is the Motorola Codename for the motoG4+)

3) copy the athene TWRP image into your madb&FB directory to make it easy to load

4) next, (you still haven't touched your phone yet, you realize: (skipping some basics here, you can search here on XDA to find more info)

a) plug your phone into your pc

b) make sure you are a developer

c) make sure your phone shows you are connected to your pc for file transfers, NOT for charging

5) in your MADB&FB directory, (aka a dos/(admin) window) type the following:

all commands at this point will take place in whatever directory you installed Minimal ADB & Fast boot (MADB&FB)

Connect your phone to your PC and open MADB&FB, check the connection with:

adb devices

return should include your "serial-no" and "device".

6) next, on pc, tell the system to reboot your phone to the bootloader!

Reboot into bootloader with:

adb reboot-bootloader

and check again with:

fastboot devices

7) Next you are going to download TWRP to your phone (not permanently, just for a bit!)

fastboot. flash recovery twrp-3.0.2-0-athene.img

Now you have TWRP (Team Windows RECOVERY PROJECT) loaded.

SO.. THIS is where you create a backup of your current stuff using the backup options.

NEXT:

take the suUser2.78 (stateless rooting), and once your backup is done, install it from TWRP

Then (I was) back to 6.01 rooted.

NEXT: 7.0 and then rooting... (will update tomorrow)

did a successful upgrade to 7.0,

then unsuccessfully tried to sideload supersu2.78, which bricked loader

then downgraded again to 6.01 (and rooted again, ok)

will continue tomorrow.

need working phone for now..

cheers to all, and to all, a happy spelunking!