[Google Pixel XL Guides, News, & Discussion] Tekkerpharm:
Im LOST RIght Now

Hey all,

My names Evan, been an onlooker for a long time, never posted before.

You guys are my heros and have helped me many times over the years by just following the guides and trouble shooting and it has made me a very tech savvy guy and Im grateful for it, IVe never been this stuck before and I need your help.

Im drowning in a sea of cluster-f*ckery here trying to get this Pixel XL to hold root, heck to even get TWRP to boot properly (Its currently flickering light a cheap lightbulb)

I have read every guide, every post, spent probably 8 hours a day for 3 days now trying to make this thing function. I quit. I surrender. Im waving the white flag and asking for your help.

Ive had it rooted with Magisk twice, it lost root both times sporadically... ie. no rhyme nor reason as to when it just occurred. Booting recovery only works sporadically as well. I honestly never know what each boot will bring its quite the adventure.

Now I will explain what Im doing and Im asking some questions along the way bare with me.

I downloaded and updated the ADB Fastboot binaries

I downloaded and updated my Google drivers (I run Windows 7 Pro)

I downloaded the latest factory image from google for the XL... phone was Running the latest security patch fully updated.

I start off by formatting and wiping everything so its a clean install

Fastboot erase cache

Fastboot erase boot

Fastboot --slot all format system

Fastboot --slot all format vendor

Fastboot --slot all flash boot (...path to file)boot.img (taken form the expanded factory image)

Fastboot --set-active=a

I then for sake of being thorough Fastboot flash every single image from aboot to xbl

Then I go to the Flash-all folder where the bootloader, vendor, system, system other and radio are and use the flash-all.bat with the --slot all command and no -w option so I dont get a userdata error.

At this point the phone reboots automatically to system, and the laptop usually detects it, I go into the phone settings turn back on the dev options and all that stuff, download the twrp installer zip to it (latest version) and elementalX kernel, magisk18.0 and verified boot zip and magisk manager and even the topjohnwu safetynet app and selinux app for later so that its on the phone.

I use an ADB command to reboot it to bootloader

Fastboot boot (path to...)twrp.img

NOW sometimes it boots to twrp, sometimes it flickers, I have no idea why

If it DOES boot into recovery HERE IS WHERE I GET LOST.

Do I

a) mount the system right away

b) delete the fstab file from the etc folder in advanced options

c) wipe before flashing the twrp installer

d) use the reboot option to reboot back to recovery and do I reboot it to slot b before hand or after and how do I know its actually in slot b

If I am able to reboot it back to recovery do I

a) remount the system and delete ye ole FSTAB again

b) should I be rebooting to the system first before I flash the rest of the goodies

c) Im sorry this is such a long post

If it reboots to recovery I flash each zip independantly starting with Magisk (no errors UNLESS I boot to slot B then it gives me the errors) then Elemental Kernel (No errors) and then the Verified Boot zip (Sometimes it says image is already signed so I force it to resign it sometimes I tell it to ignore it but either way it doesnt seem to make a difference) and then reboot to system saying NO to the final twrp app install option.

NOW it sometimes boots to system but there is no root no kernel no bugger all OR sometimes it bootloops, and twice it booted and in magisk I was able to install and finish the root....

I am at a loss

Please help

Your drowning-in-techno-sorrows-Canadian-friend,

EVan M