[Lenovo P2 Guides, News, & Discussion] Lodd:
There are currently 2 variants of the Lenovo P2, p2a42 (32GB, global version) and p2c72 (64GB, china version).

The p2c72 is slightly different, enough to cause confusion among people who have just bought it.

There are a few scattered threads asking about the p2c72. This thread aims to bring together all that info.

It will also list down which ROMs are safe to flash for the p2c72 without bootloop.

Changing p2c72 to the p2a42 (english) ROM.

Yes, this is possible and easily done. Bootloader unlock is not needed.

a) If you're lucky, the seller will have changed the ROM for you to p2a42. (Confirmed to be true with all Gearbest and Banggood purchases. I recommend you just purchase from here. Don't forget to use vouchers.)

b) If the phone you get still has the p2c72 ROM, try placing a non-china sim and rebooting. It will ask you to update and then reboot. You should now have the p2a42 ROM.

c) If (b) doesn't work, you will have to flash the p2a42 ROM through lenovo stock recovery: (this is based on the experience of lmcdermo)

1) Download the nougat TWRP file from http://www.stechguide.com/install-android-7-0-nougat-firmware-on-lenovo-p2/

2) Save it on your phone (internal sd card) as update.zip

3) Power off your phone. Boot into recovery by holding down "Volume Up + Power Button". The moment it boots, keep holding "Volume Up" but release "Power Button".

4) It should now boot to lenovo stock recovery

5) Click "Install Update Package" and select "update.zip"

6) Wait a few minutes for it to finish installing. When done, reboot.

7) If there are any issues, go back to recovery and wipe cache.
​

d) If (c) still doesn't work, you will have to flash the p2a42 ROM through fastboot. Be advised that numerous users without bootloader unlock have mentioned that this method gives bootloops. However, it should work fine for those with bootloader unlock to unbrick their phones.

1) Download the stock ROM file http://www.mediafire.com/file/mm9b6hlwbaxpdnj/P2a42_S048_161111_ROW_fastboot_Lodd.7z and extract it. It includes minimal adb and drivers.

2) Install minimal ADB and fastboot.

3) Install all 3 drivers (outside of the SW folder).

4) Then move all the files in folder SW to the minimal adb folder. It should be at 'C:\Program Files (X86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot'.

5) Power off your phone. Boot into fastboot by holding down "Volume Down + Power Button". Connect phone to computer.

6) Run minimal adb and type 'fastboot devices' to confirm it's connected.

7) Then type 'flashall'. This will run the included flashall.bat file (which you copied over from the SW folder)

8) Wait a few minutes for it to finish flashing. When done, type 'fastboot reboot'
​

Unlocking Bootloader & Installing TWRP

You can install TWRP the same way as you would for a p2a42 phone.

Getting Root

(to be expanded..)

You can obtain root the same way as you would for a p2a42 phone.

1) From TWRP change File System of the "data" partition to EXT4 format

2) Download either supersu or magisk. Install.

3) Boot your ROM and install SuperSU or Magisk Manager (respectively)

Safe ROMs to flash

1. TWRP v3.1.1-0 (not a ROM, but important to have)

2. Lineage OS 14.1

3. Resurrection Remix v5.8.3

ROMs above verified by me. Wmateria and Billytromp have also gotten TWRP and custom ROMs to work on p2c72.

This will be updated as we go.

Edit: Added method to flash p2a42 from stock recovery. Fastboot method has been reported to cause bootloops when bootloader is locked.