[Asus Zenfone Max Guides, News, & Discussion] sree27:
Since a lot of people flashed the wrong firmware (thanks to Asus for launching multiple devices under the same name :rolleyes: ) on their Max, I've come across multiple threads here regarding Hardbricke and Qualcomm QD-loader 9008 state. I too have been a victim of the same issue and my phone was dead for around a year, before managing to get it to work again. I'm going to list out the procedure and relevant links here.

ps: I've tested this method on my Z010DD device. This should work with Z010D devices as well.

1. Download and install QPST from the link given https://androidmtk.com/download-qpst-flash-tool

2. Install Qualcomm drivers from here https://gsmusbdrivers.com/download/android-qualcomm-usb-driver/

3. Download the QFIL, QCN and RAW firmware for your device (Snapdragon 410 - MSM8916 and Snapdragon 615 - MSM8939) from here https://www.firmware27.com/2017/10/asus-zenfone-max-z010d-zc550kl-firmware.html and unzip both of them in separate directories

4. Open QFIL from the start menu and connect you dead phone to PC (Make sure your phone is detected as Qualcomm QD-Loader 9008. If not, uninstall Qualcomm drivers, reboot PC, reinstall and try again until you succeed)

5. Select 'Flat build' as Build type. Select prog_emmc_firehose_8936.mbn (or prog_emmc_firehose_8939.mbn) from the QFIL firmware directory as 'Programmer path'. Click on 'Load XML' and select 'rawprogram0.xml' and 'patch0.xml'.

6. Click on download and wait for the flashing process to complete ( takes some time. If you encounter sahara fail error, the uninstall and reinstall driers as stated in step 4)

7. Phone will reboot to service firmware (which is aosp and in chinese). Enable usb debugging and rebot to bootloader

8. Flash TWRP for your device and flash magisk

9. Reboot to fastboot and flash the files NON-HLOS.bin and NON-HLOS_IN.bin from your stock rom zip(available on Asus official Website) using command

fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS_IN

10. Reboot to system and add your original imei using the tool here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OBAp69EA4KGHdYXA5DrwMLCIuAqNYMu4

11. Reboot phone and reset your serial number as instructed below

You need to root your phone and download Terminal Emulator and type the following command:-

1. su
2. dd if=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/factorybak of=/sdcard/factory
Wait a sec...
3. dd if=/sdcard/factory of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/factory
reboot

12. Verify serial number and IMEI are present in your device. If yes, open QFIL->Tools->QCN backup restore. Select the QCN file for your device downloaded in step 3 and restore.

13. The device should reboot. If it fails, try restoring again (took me 8 tries).

14. Your phone should be getting network signals now. If now, try QCN restore again

15. Flash RAW firmware for your device

16. Boot to stock rom, setup everything and verify if you are getting signal. If yes, congratulations:fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:

If any step so far failed and nothing is working for you, then you can revert to QD-Loader 9008 mode by using code

adb reboot edl

and start over from beginning

Nb: If you are not able to unlock bootloader after getting everything else working, verify if your serial number is present. It is the main reason unlocking is not working

Huge thanks to all people who helped me

[MENTION=9299048]amanksinghhh[/MENTION] [MENTION=6151980]SakilMondal[/MENTION] [MENTION=4898058]audahadi[/MENTION] [MENTION=7550463]ShadowReaper1[/MENTION] [MENTION=9126707]dark wiz[/MENTION] [MENTION=8893939]Saktis_STi[/MENTION] [MENTION=9005105]rashidhabib[/MENTION] and the many people whose xda pofile names I don't know.