[Moto E General] aravindvnair99:
This DevDB project and it's related files are by Aravind V. Nair. I'm stating this because so many people are trying to impersonate me. For example, [MENTION=7481123]Balaji Sriram[/MENTION] More info: Balaji Sriram impersonating Aravind V. Nair

Big thanks to [MENTION=5795557]ariel.buszczak[/MENTION] for his continuous support in every way he could! :)

Big thanks to [MENTION=4267972]waulliano[/MENTION] for uploading the backup.img for XT1022! Download from here :)

Introduction?

Yes, of course. Hi there!

I have a bricked Motorola Moto E 1st Generation XT1022 condor. I watched so many threads on various forums to try and unbrick, but unfortunately all threads just got abandoned. Hence, I have come up with a DevDB project to try and unbrick Motorola Moto E 1st Generation XT1022 condor if possible. Please note, this project is only for Motorola Moto E 1st Generation XT1022, XT1021 and XT1025 condor. Between, I also have an unbricked working Motorola Moto E 1st Generation XT1022 condor along with the bricked one for test purposes.

This XDA DevDB project is aimed at developers mainly to gather all possible ways to unbrick a hard-bricked Motorola Moto E 1st Generation XT1022 condor, but not restricted to people who want to try their luck at unbricking their Motorola Moto E. Please don't post 3-line request like "my device is bricked, please help" as you will be ignored. If you can't do the research required to provide the right details plus finding the correct files required then, this DevDB project is not for you. The programs, its associated files & threads, etc are NOT going to be being actively developed very soon (July 10th 2017) as I get busy and involved with other things. But the thread remains open for user to post more information, additional files, updates from the public, etc. It's not here for lazy people to scream fix my device, can those type of users please speak to your retailer, cell phone service shop??

Rules and regulations:

DO NOT share anything from this thread. DO NOT mirror anything without prior permission. I have recently busted so many people who have tried to do so despite my warning and even got them banned.

How can I get in touch with you?

Or

Or

Or

Where can I find the files and instructions?

Please check here: Motorola Moto E XT1022 condor files - GitHub (Aravind V. Nair)

How do I support you?

Hit the thanks button below and the 5-star button above to show your support. Also, you can 'star' and 'watch' my GitHub repository Motorola Moto E XT1022 condor files - GitHub (Aravind V. Nair).

Follow me on social media networking sites if you wish.

Donate to me if you wish by clicking here

What is the goal of this project?

The goal of this project is to gather all possible ways to unbrick a hard bricked Motorola Moto E 1st Generation XT1022 condor. Methods 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are perfectly working. Your mileage will vary with other methods. Please don't give up on first try. You need to try a lot of times and test your luck.

What is the proof that this has worked?

I have attached photos to this DevDB post. Please have a look at them.

Will this work for everyone?

As long as you haven't corrupted any of your phone's hardware, you do have chances of unbricking. If the NAND adapter or related parts are not functional, don't even expect to unbrick. A lot of you have tried weird files on the internet, so chances will reduce accordingly.

Where can I find the changelog?

I frequently update and patch things in my GitHub repository as I get time. Be sure to check the changelog here.

How do I find out which bootloader I have?

Sorry, I don't think that's possible when the phone is bricked. I'm not sure though. But definitely, your bootloader version would be the version from your last working stock OS (or custom OS, only if you flashed the motoboot.img or any other equivalent bootloader image).

If fastboot works,

fastboot getvar all

Can I restore factory aka original firmware if my bootloader is locked?

Yes, you can. However attempting to downgrade to an older version of Android may fail and isn't a good idea. Even with an unlocked bootloader, downgrading cannot be guaranteed. It's also important to be aware that flashing the wrong bootloader (motoboot.img) for your model can have serious consequences. Always identify your model of Moto E and verify the files before flashing.

If you downgrade your phone, it is advised to avoid all OTA updates. These updates can result in a hard-brick (phone will not turn on) if you have a newer bootloader than the one expected. For example, most of you had the Lollipop bootloader, but have downgraded to Android KitKat and thus bricking your phones.

How to disable OTA Updates?

Without root access

Settings > Apps > [swipe left to 'All'] > MotorolaOTA (or Motorola Update Services or something similarly named) > Disable​

With root access

Google Play Store has many apps that will allow you to 'freeze' the OTA Update service. Titanium Backup is a common example.

Alternatively, with a 'root access' file explorer, you can delete or rename the following files:

/system/etc/security/otacerts.zip

/system/priv-app/3c_ota/3c_ota.apk​

These additional files can be removed or renamed: (If you still get an OTA Update notification)

/system/priv-app/3c_checkin/3c_checkin.apk

/system/priv-app/3c_devicemanagement/3c_devicemanagement.apk

/system/priv-app/3c_notification/3c_notification.apk​

I'm a developer or programmer or want to help. Could you please give some reference links?

Yes, of course. All contributions are welcome! Code, documentation, graphics or even design suggestions are welcome; use GitHub to its fullest. Submit pull requests, contribute tutorials or other wiki content -- whatever you have to offer, it would be appreciated!

Please feel free to get in touch with me. I'll always be available even after the deadline. Refer CONTRIBUTING.md on my GitHub repository for reference material and other things.

What are the possible methods of unbricking?

Refer Unbrick methods.md on my GitHub repository.

Where can I download the firmware files?

Check my GitHub README.md file for all files for all models or alterantively Moto E Factory Firmware Images by [MENTION=1006674]lost101[/MENTION]

Moto E won't power on. Only white light LED comes up when connecting powers source. Can I charge on AC, etc.

This has nothing to do with clearing cache, recovery and other nonsense. It is just a problem of overly discharged battery when the battery voltage drops below the 3.8 V, which is the minimum voltage of LiPo aka Lithium ion Polymer battery. Unlike other phones, all Motorola devices come with LiPo batteries.

When the battery reaches less than 0%, i.e., less than 3.8 V the phone will not allow it to turn on, as it is harmful for the battery and it might burst. So for these physical security reasons, the phone's adapter chipset/regulator stops the battery from charging. I faced the same problem many times while bricking and unbricking. One thing you could try is to jumpstart the battery by providing excessive power at your own risk, or consider replacing the battery. It is advisable, to never let the battery fall below 10 %. Below 0 %, the internal resistance or rather the impedance of the battery increases to a very very high constant, thus rendering the battery in a 'cannot be charged state'. I won't by trying to fix via firmware as it is very dangerous to charge a battery in such a state. We do not want another bomb apart from the already existing Samsung Galaxy Note 7, do we? :laugh: :D

Please check your battery voltage using a multimeter or voltmeter and contact me with the same. Please be very careful when removing the battery as Moto E has a loose pin and is easy to break. Caution advised!! For checking using multimeter, set to DC 20 Volts and use the correct input pins. For voltmeter, just use any DC voltmeter having a range of 0-5 Volts.

If the voltage is below 3.8 V, you have to replace the battery. If it is between 3.3 - 3.5 V, you have chances of resurrecting the battery. So try using a above 2 A charger (connecting to laptop won't work as that is just 0.5 A) and leave it like that for about 5 days continuous. Below 3.3 V, please replace the battery. It's not advisable to try and jumpstart.

For the prerequisites, you need a T4 Torx screwdriver and a new Moto E battery. Please buy genuine things. You could have a look at Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, IFIXIT, Snapdeal, etc and also offline stores. Search with the model number of the battery. For XT1022, XT1021 and XT1025, it is Motorola EL40 manufactured by SONY Electronics with a typical mAh of 1980 and minimum of 1860 mAh aka 1860/1980 mAh (min/typ) and 7.1/7.5 Wh (min/typ).

PLEASE DO NOT USE AC TO CHARGE DC BATTERIES DIRECTLY.

You have a high risk of causing serious damage. You might end up killing yourself! Please do not try this. To charge in this manner, you need a bridge rectifier. Noobs, please don't even venture here or think of making it. The battery will not get charged because AC supply changes its polarity after each half cycle. In India, it changes 50 times per second, Brazil 60. Therefore, the battery will be charged in one half cycle and discharged in the next half cycle. So basically, you are damaging the battery due to frequent charging and discharging cycles. Please do not try this!! There is high risk of fire damage and explosion. Those of you who already tried this, please discard the battery immediately to a recycling firm or any other relevant organisation for your country or city. It is not advisable to keep a spoilt battery at home. Using a resistor is not a good idea either as a resistor obeys Ohm's Law which states that the current flowing through any conductor, in this case the battery, is directly proportional to the potential difference across the terminals. So you wouldn't have a steady output. A diode would be preferable. Those who have no clue about these, please do not venture here. I reiterate, I won't be held accountable for any damage caused by you to yourself or your belongings or to anything else.

I was using the Moto E and it suddenly died. What do I do?

Step 1: Open up the phone as I have mentioned earlier. (If you read whatever I have written, you should be knowing what I'm talking about.)

Step 2: Detach the battery. Be very careful not to destroy any internal parts such as the connector which is very fragile.

Step 3: Connect the official charger. (Other chargers didn't work for me always during my testing.)

Step 4: Wait for the screen to say 0% or battery not connected or even if the screen turns on, consider yourself lucky.

Step 5: Attach the battery and reassemble the phone without removing the Moto charger.

Step 6: Go to fastboot, unlock the bootloader and use my fastboot unbrick script for your OS (I have made for Linux, Windows and MacOS). Leave it on charger for a day or two after this.

Step 7: Voila!

This is caused due to undercharging, overcharging or excessive battery drain cycles. In case the phone doesn't power on after connecting battery, check that the EMF of the battery is above 2.9 V with a multimeter as mentioned before.

How to power on Moto E without charger and unbrick?

Safest way is to use the original Motorola charger. As far as I have seen, all the original Motorola chargers have the 4th pin available. For the geeks:

Pin 1: VDD (+5V)

Pin 2: D- (Data-)

Pin 3: D+ (Data+)

Pin 4: ID (ID)

Pin 5: GND (Ground)

The additional pin added to the conventional USB port is the ID pin added to the 4th electrical pin which allows to recognize the device. The technical name is micro USB - B for the one on the charger and mini USB - A for the one on the charger. You can bypass power using this concept. This too is strictly not for noobs.

Errors:

Preflash validation failed

Buy a new phone. I doubt anyone can help you now...

Not able to flash GPT / Motoboot

You are not using the right firmware. Try another firmware.

FAILED (blank-flash: sdl-transfer-image: sdl-hello: invalid HDLC frame)

or

FAILED (blank-flash: sdl-transfer-image: sdl-hello: error sending packet)

Your bootloader files do not match your bootloader version, use another bootloader.

Stuck on Opening device: . COM ??

or

Greeting device for command (Or any other) mode

or

Switch To FireHose (Or any other) mode

Press and hold power button until detection or until flashing begins.

I'm fed up!! Nothing is working for me!!

Calm down!! Replace your motherboard and/or battery and/or screen, whichever is spoilt. That's the easiest option. But it wouldn't be a good choice to buy new parts now. The phone is quite old. I suggest you buy a new phone instead. That would be a wiser idea. Methods 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are perfectly working. Your mileage will vary with other methods. Please don't give up on first try. You need to try a lot of times and test your luck. You are the one who brought your device to this condition. Only you can help yourself.

Does this project have a website?

Yes, a very basic one though. Check here.

Please go through this XDA DevDB main post and my GitHub repository for the same before commenting, messaging or posting.

XDA:DevDB Information

Unbrick hard bricked Motorola Moto E, Tool/Utility for the Moto E

Contributors

aravindvnair99, Thanks for all support! :)

Source Code: https://github.com/aravindvnair99/Motorola-Moto-E-XT1022-condor-unbrick

Version Information

Status: Stable

Current Stable Version: 309

Stable Release Date: 2018-05-29

Current Beta Version: 309

Beta Release Date: 2018-05-29

Created 2017-05-01

Last Updated 2018-05-29