yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] chk27:
I'm currently on the last 7.1 stock + magisk, I would like to update to 8.1 using the dump here and taking advantage of the android A/B partition system.

Is it ok to:

get the active partition

edit the flash all command in order to flash only on the passive partition

change the active partition

in order to have 8.1 without losing a "backup" of my current working environment?

If so, if after the steps above I would like to have magisk back, do I have to boot it at least once?

or can I just proceed altering the boot image for TWRP, reflash the boot image, patch it with magisk and only then make it boot?

Thanks!
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
Pretty sure the jump to Oreo requires wiping data. Rooting Oreo is just as easy as nougat. Just flash the full BTS zip and roll.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Will using the command 'fastboot flashing unlock_critical' also wipe data? Or is it just the basic unlock that does that? I never unlocked ciritical, since I just wanted to temp flash TWRP and install magisk and a custom kernel. Wanted to know if it would wipe my system if I do that now.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
Yeah, it wipes, sames as unlock bootloader command. Usually best to get those out of the way first, then set up.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Thank you. Shouldn't be a problem to just back up with TWRP and then restore data after. I just wanted to make sure before I pulled the trigger.

---------- Post added at 10:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 AM ----------

LMAO .. I backed everything up in TWRP, did the unlock_critical, and found out that unlocking critical ALSO wipes your internal SD card. Ooops!

Thankfully, I have a full backup of my internal SD lying around from like a week ago and a TWRP backup from the same time. Only thing lost will be some text messages and app updates.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] chk27:
Thanks, this means that to keep data the only way it's the OTA? :(

How can that be different (it should use the A/B system as well, or doesn't it)?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Maxr1998:
Are you sure? I don't know why there should be a problem. As long as he was on stock Nougat (i.e. not a custom ROM) before, and has an unlocked bootloader, there shouldn't.

CC:
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] chk27:
Thanks, at the end I tried the ota and went well, lost root of course, but rerooted after the first boot. Lets see how 8.1 goes, I had no complaints on 7.1 with this phone.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
Might be OK, I think I confused LOS and Stock. I just wipe everything for cleanliness, I don't have jank problems that way.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
[MENTION=2385005]invisiblek[/MENTION] - Do you think we're ever going to be able to have a permanent installable TWRP, or is our A/B partition scheme and the recovery being baked into the boot image going to be a problem that can't be worked around?

Just guessing based on my limited knowledge of the subject, it seems like TWRP would need to re-insert itself into any kernel or boot image modification on-the-fly, or maybe installed on the "unused" partition and somehow called from there when booting into recovery? I'm willing to learn and help, but the A/B partition system is new to me still, as is a recovery that's in the ramdisk and not on its own partition.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tech_head:
It can be done. It's just not done yet.

They're is no recovery partition and it must be part of the boot image.

There is/was TWRP for 7.1.1.

A kernel like ElementalX would patch the boot after TWRP and Magisk would patch after that.

They have not released a boot image with TWRP for 8.1.

It's possible, but not done... Yet?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Wasn't sure if the Oreo update changed the game enough that it was a major pain in the behind.

Pretty much don't know any more than I did when I asked, since I already understand that recovery is part of the boot image (it was mentioned in my question), that there was a TWRP for 7.x.x, that there's not a TWRP out yet for 8.1 (because I wouldn't have asked if there was one), and that any patches to the boot image happen in the order you apply them (because that's how time works).

On that note, I guess I'll download the TWRP source and see if I can play with [MENTION=2385005]invisiblek[/MENTION] repos and tinker like an idiot. As long as I can continue to get into fastboot mode, I suppose it doesn't matter how many times I build a non-working version and flash it. Worst case is that I don't figure it out. Best case is that I do.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
Go-to the discord group. Problem isn't in twrp really. It's the way the hbtp daemon is used in the essential realm. It loads, but no touch screen. Many have tried and failed.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Hadookie:
Where's the discord group? :D
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
https://xdaforums.com/essential-pho...4-1-essential-ph-1-mata-t3703759/post74484740
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] matase:
do i lose data if I sideload from 7.1 to 8.1 oreo?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] mobileman88:
Not for me. It didn't. However, it's always a good practice to backup your important folders and appdata. I always copy out my important folders and also do a Titanium Backup which I transfer out of the phone before I attempt to do any major upgrades.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] nominath654:
stuck in bootloop and this isnt doing anything

so i know this will sound dumb but i did all the steps in the how to root essential phone thread but after flashing twrp i flashed magisk before flashing the stock boot img, my phone was stuck in a bootloop so i used this, it went through but i was still in a bootloop and twrp was still installed, i went to twrp and did a wipe, still in a bootloop so i ran this again and still stuck in a bootloop with twrp still installed, idk what to do.. please help... thanks! (ive already used this method before and it worked well so i know i have the right file downloaded) (update, so i got this to work properly, and completelte with only sparse errors at magi abut now when i try to boot to recovey it is stuck at the powered by android boot screen, same if i try to power on, in can still wipe and flash twrp.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] matase:
Thanks. I dont have any super important data, just a bunch of apps that i can redownload. I dont want to dowbload and organize everything again.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tech_head:
If you are on 8.x TWRP cannot be installed and boot normally.

The correct way to root is.

1. Install TWRP

2. Boot into TWRP

3. While in TWRP flash the stock boot image with TWRP.

4. While in TWRP flash Magisk

5. Reboot.

You can optionally install ElementalX. before Magisk.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] nominath654:
so should i wipe my phone, then install twrp and then follow those steps? also it usually says thet the zip is corrupt wheni try and sideload stuff from twrp
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tech_head:
I see no reason to wipe.

If it says the zip is corrupt, I suggest trying to extract a copy of the zip on your PC to see if it is.

TWRP reporting a corrupt zip is never going to work correctly.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Just use TWRP's install function. No need to sideload.

Also, no need to wipe your phone.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] nominath654:
Fixed

thank you guys so much, got my os back and just finished rooting! everything is working properly now.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Has anyone gotten the v141 OTA yet? Was hoping to download it and update via fastboot
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Ibanez33:
Just got the notification and trying to work out what the best plan is to get root again before installing.

If I shut down, fastboot stock boot image for my current build.

reboot take the OTA and let it install. (assuming at this point with the A/B partition its going to update whatever I'm not currently using )

so does that mean I can then, fastboot , flash twrp to boot on the old partition, boot it. push magisk and stock boot.img, restore boot image. Switch partitions A/B (depending on which one the update went to.) Install magisk to the new boot image.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Try opening magisk manager from the unrooted OS and patch the boot image there. Copy it to your PC, and then flash it with fastboot?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] jhs39:
I'm not sure if you can answer this or not. I had a Pixel XL which I think was the first phone with the A/B partitions. On that phone you could install TWRP as the physical recovery on the phone but it was considered best practice to use the temporary TWRP anyway and leave the stock recovery installed. Is the Essential different where that recommendation never applied? I never completely understood the functioning of the A/B partitions.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tech_head:
A/B is so that you can install an upgrade in place then reboot to the new slot.

Then once booted that other slot can be upgraded.

You end up with two versions of the OS.

If an upgrade fails you always have a booting copy of the OS.

I suppose you could install TWRP as permanent on the slot you don't want to use as an active OS.

I have never tried. I thought about it, but since I have a computer at work and home; it's not something I have tried.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
That sounds feasible, provided that there's a way to boot to your "off" slot from the running OS, and switch back from within TWRP
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Ibanez33:
I know you can via fastboot. The only issue I see is the one I just came across while getting magisk loaded on the latest update.

Which you can change the active slot from fast boot and boot the phone into whichever you want.

and you can change the active slot for reboots and backups, it doesn't actually change the active slot so anything you flash goes to the one you were on when twrp was loaded. (ended up switching slots to backup the boot.img of the update. reboot to change active slots then reinstall twrp. restore the boot image then load magisk.

There may be way round this but haven't found it yet.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tech_head:
Yeah, I haven't even had the initiative to try to find a way around.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Has anyone been able to get a TWRP backup of system.img for OPM1.180104.092 ?

Every time I try, the file maxes out at 4GB even, which is a bit small (It's something like 4.5GB reported). It won't copy to my PC, to USB-OTG, and won't properly restore when I attempt to.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] -DarkKnight-:
Anyone able to get an OTAzip of April security update?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] mobileman88:
Shall wait for the OP to be updated
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tech_head:
Yeah,

I'm waiting for the boot image.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Check the EX Kernel thread. I answered you there :)

Do you have 141 installed? If so, can you pull a TWRP backup of the system partition for those of us eagerly waiting for the OTA prompt or Essential to post the full zip to their developer site?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
Full .141 BTS is here.

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=228895

My flash-all bat wipes everything twice. Edit it to your needs
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Thanks a mint! Shouldn't NEED to wipe if I'm coming from stock 092, I would think.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
No, but i wrote for scorched earth. just mod the batch file to do what you want
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Excellent. Much appreciated yet again
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tvisforme:
My apologies if this is a silly question, but if/when the "Firmware Packages without vendor " .zip for the April update is posted, can that be flashed against an existing LOS 15.1 installation (to get the new radio) or would that cause problems?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] mobileman88:
What's BTS? I am on March stock right now
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] enrunn:
back to stock
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] mobileman88:
Ah. Ok. New acronym for me
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Currently running the batch file right now. I took out the wipes at the beginning and end. Had actually considered taking out all of the slot A commands and just running the thing on my off-slot, to preserve my existing setup. I mean, that's the whole point of having an A/B setup right?

I decided not to and just went all in with both A and B flashing. Let's hope it wasn't a bad idea LOL

-- Update --

All is well. I'm sitting pretty on 141 with ElementalX and Magisk 1600 stable.

I did NOT remove my device security before rebooting to TWRP, which would have been a problem if not for this USB-C/A Flash Drive

I highly recommend getting some sort of USB-OTG (on the go) solution for flashing things like custom kernel updates and magisk. It's so much easier to just boot to TWRP and flash than to disable the device security and fingerprint, then re-enable it after.

Also, if you're old, forgetful, and impatient like I am, you never remember to disable it until after you're in recovery the first time, looking at a jumbled up pile of garbage.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] rignfool:
Yes... And that's why I always have a boot image handy... To flash back and disable security...
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] RandomPooka:
Exactly! I know how stupid I can be, so I always make sure to have an emergency backup kit for when I do the stupid!

USB-OTG on an unencrypted exFAT drive can be used to flash to your phone, even if you didn't disable security, though.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] xDark_:
I'm curious as to how the OTG cable does this exactly? What's the procedure?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
Exactly, like 3 dollars and the headache is gone

---------- Post added at 08:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 PM ----------

It plugs into the type c port, and adapts to either a flash drive type a or has flash built in. You just select since it's not under the purview of the internal storage.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] matase:
Does this contain April update ? Which one do I need to download exactly to update from stock March update to this April ?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
for you LOS folks

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=673956719939833614

.141 novendor

Enjoy :)

---------- Post added at 12:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 AM ----------

Yes, .141 is April. Keep in mind my flash-all bat wipes. So either back everything up or remove the 2 fastboot -w commands at the beginning and end of the bat
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] matase:
I don't want to lose data. I usually use titanium backup with root but I haven't rooted this phone. I like to use one touch batch restore.

I guess I can't sideload like I did with official 8.1 update?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
Just remove the 2 -w commands in the bat, it's super easy. Do you know how to?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tvisforme:
Just to confirm, this is suitable for flashing onto invisiblek's LOS 15.1 ROM? The flash-all script does not appear to have wipes incorporated, correct? It can be used (with appropriate backups) on an active installation without having to reinstall anything?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] matase:
No I dont. :/.

I know how to sideload. What steps do I need to do different ?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aamadorj:
Thanks to [MENTION=5447216]aer0zer0[/MENTION], I just updated the firmware of my PH-1 running latest AOSiP.

Just unzip the firmware (no vendor) package, open a command prompt there, test fastboot is working (with "fastboot devices", for example) and finally fire up running the flash-all.

After the firmware is updated, just reboot and enjoy.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tomzefi:
This one. The last one on the list. It does a wipe too. Keep in mind.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tvisforme:
Thanks very much to [MENTION=5447216]aer0zer0[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2280111]aamadorj[/MENTION], I've just updated invisiblek's LOS 15.1 with this and it worked properly.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
In Windows, right click on the flashall bat, and select edit. It'll open note pad, delete the 2 fastboot -w lines, and remove the gap. Then save it.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] MDMTahiti:
Win10 issues with power shell

First, thanks for the tutorial. When rt-click in white space in ADB folder, it opens a power shell command window. The problem is when running the flash-all.bat, it starts in a command window in a windows sub-directory and hence never finds the files in the batch and then the process of course fails.

I can copy and paste the batch file at the > prompt in the power shell window, but then it fails not having access to the critical partitions.

Kindly set me straight!
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] sarcoptic:
Hey [MENTION=2385005]invisiblek[/MENTION] I stumbled across your lineage builds...can you give a quick update of what does/doesn't work so far?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Mike02z:
I had to use this backup as my phone got messed up.

It is reporting "invalid sparse file format at header magic" for the system_a and system_b files as well as vendor_a and b. It completes successfully but I get the red <!> "your device is corrupt" when I try to boot it. I have the latest October fastboot. Everything else flashes fine with no errors. Even the messages I get are not failing anything. Anyone have any ideas?

EDIT: After powering it off and back on it appears to be working.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] ad78:
i bricked mine and trying to install this. here's my error

Failed: remote flashing is not allowed for critical partition

my bootloader is unlocked

**edit it gave me an error but when i restarted the phone it erased everything and im back online!

thanks again for this factory image
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] aer0zer0:
in order to flash everything in the zip file, you also have to run this command in fastboot:

fastboot flashing unlock_critical

this will also prompt a wipe of the phone, like unlocking the bootloader.

from there, you can flash the entire zip fine

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 PM ----------

Invalid sparse file is from fastboot not being the "right" version. its a non-critical error, works fine. Did you fastboot flashing unlock_critical as well
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Mike02z:
Yes, unlocked critical as the first time I tried I was getting a lot of "Cannot flash critical..." I have several versions of fastboot and I was using the latest version since I needed that version for the Pixel 2 XL.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] tyrielwood:
I just want to tell you that your avatar image deserve all my respect! :good::good::cool:
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] wackydroid:
Got my PH1 today, so I've been reading up. This is a really exquisite piece of equipment!

It's been a long time since my EVO days, when I could do all this stuff without worry about bricking, but I'm too rusty after 2 years with a comfortably rooted Note 5 to try it so I'll wait til you geniuses get a nice, easy 1 or 2 step root exploit.

My guess is it's coming soon...

Thanks for all your hard work, kids. Can't wait to join in the fun!!
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] spotmark:
So 5 steps is too many? :p
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] wackydroid:
It's not the amount, it's what they are. For instance, Magisk... I've never even heard of it...

I don't want to take the chance of bricking this thing. I can be patient...it actually has very little bloat on it, but I want to be able to back up, manipulate where files go, etc...

:cool:
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] frhoward:
Glad to see Invisiblek on this device. You provide awesome work!!!

---------- Post added at 06:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

Magisk is the new SuperSU. I preferred it over SuperSU as it allowed you to tell certain apps or all apps that your phone was not rooted even though it was.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] spotmark:
It's better to educate yourself, instead of relying on some one-click method. You could be in worse shape if something goes wrong and you have no idea what it did or how to fix it.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] Kisakuku:
AFH mirrors for factory images:

Build NMJ32F factory image

Build NMJ20D factory image
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] waverbach:
Sprint

How about root for sprint versions?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] byte9:
Entitled much?
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] htcnerd1218:
I’m slow

Ive tried to run flash-all but won’t work. What specific files from this dump do I need for boot,recovery,radio,system etc?

Sorry for asking I just know how to fastboot flash each one by one.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] htcnerd1218:
Errors

I keep getting no command error... Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I'm using mac
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] ruvort:
Make sure your phone is in the bootloader screen. Then, open a terminal into the unzipped folder. After that, type "sh " and drag the flash all sh file to the terminal window. Press enter and it should begin the flash process.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] mrcooter:
Check the forums, root method works the same for Sprint or other carriers. I'm on Sprint, rooted previous and current release with no issues.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] waverbach:
But I'm on the NMI81 thing and the other build numbers are different.
[Essential Phone ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Other] mrcooter:
There is a return to stock zip in the root thread. Could also probably use this version in this thread, but I had used the other one. Most likely no difference between the two. Run the bat, which will update you to most current F release, then use the root method. If you are waiting for Sprint to push the update you may be waiting a while. The bat file will not wipe data, but back up everything just in case you need to wipe if it won't boot. I did this with no issues.