[Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers] hacktron:
This past Aug I upgraded via OTA update to Android P 9.0 - Didn't like the updates but mostly was just visual disappointment with the GUI stuff. Earlier today I noticed my device asking me to restart to apply a new update, and being hesitant I decided to hold off.

Few hours later pulled my device out of my pocket to find a screen displaying in recovery mode only two options

1) Try Again

2) Factory data reset

I tried to just reboot by holding down the power but again it default loops to recovery mode with those two options.

Recovery mode displays the following information (which basically tells me my device decided to update itself even though I was holding off on it)

9/PPR2.181005.003/4284323

After realizing this was a real issue I found that I am able to get into fastboot mode and download mode however I am not sure this can help me.

Below is a list of the fastboot set variables

(bootloader) keep_efs:no

(bootloader) is_oem_unlocked:no

(bootloader) have_oem_lock_id:yes

(bootloader) avb_stored_rollback_indexes:

(bootloader) avb_user_settable_key_set:no

(bootloader) avb_version:1.0.0

(bootloader) hw-color:RCW

(bootloader) hw-variant:GA00138-US

(bootloader) hw-revision:rev_10

(bootloader) cid:00000000

(bootloader) erase-block-size:0x1000

(bootloader) logical-block-size:0x1000

(bootloader) unlocked:no

(bootloader) off-mode-charge:1

(bootloader) battery-soc-ok:yes

(bootloader) battery-voltage:4249

(bootloader) version-laf:1.0.7

(bootloader) version-baseband:g8998-00253-1805232234

(bootloader) version-bootloader:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-abl:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-aes:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-cmnlib:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-cmnlib64:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-devcfg:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-hyp:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-keymaster:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-pmic:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-rpm:TMZ20k

(bootloader) version-xbl:TMZ20k

(bootloader) variant:MSM UFS

(bootloader) partition-type:laf_b:raw

(bootloader) partition-size:laf_b: 0x3000000

(bootloader) partition-type:laf_a:raw

(bootloader) partition-size:laf_a: 0x3000000

(bootloader) partition-type:dtbo_b:raw

(bootloader) partition-size:dtbo_b: 0x800000

(bootloader) partition-type:dtbo_a:raw

(bootloader) partition-size:dtbo_a: 0x800000

(bootloader) partition-type:boot_b:raw

(bootloader) partition-size:boot_b: 0x2800000

(bootloader) partition-type:boot_a:raw

(bootloader) partition-size:boot_a: 0x2800000

(bootloader) partition-type:vendor_b:ext4

(bootloader) partition-size:vendor_b: 0x1F400000

(bootloader) partition-type:vendor_a:ext4

(bootloader) partition-size:vendor_a: 0x1F400000

(bootloader) partition-type:persist:ext4

(bootloader) partition-size:persist: 0x2000000

(bootloader) partition-type:userdata:ext4

(bootloader) partition-size:userdata: 0x1C26BFB000

(bootloader) partition-type:system_b:ext4

(bootloader) partition-size:system_b: 0xA0000000

(bootloader) partition-type:system_a:ext4

(bootloader) partition-size:system_a: 0xA0000000

(bootloader) has-slot:laf:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:bootloader:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:vendor:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:dtbo:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:vbmeta:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:cmnlib64:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:cmnlib:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:keymaster:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:devcfg:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:hyp:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:pmic:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:abl:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:rpm:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:tz:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:xbl:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:radio:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:modem:yes

(bootloader) has-slot:system:yes

(bootloader) current-slot:a

(bootloader) has-slot:boot:yes

(bootloader) slot-retry-count:b:0

(bootloader) slot-unbootable:b:yes

(bootloader) slot-successful:b:no

(bootloader) slot-retry-count:a:1

(bootloader) slot-unbootable:a:no

(bootloader) slot-successful:a:no

(bootloader) slot-count:2

(bootloader) slot-suffixes:a,b,

(bootloader) secure:yes

(bootloader) serialno:711KPFX0872315

(bootloader) product:taimen

(bootloader) max-download-size:0x20000000

(bootloader) kernel:uefi

(bootloader) qem:0

I feel that since it's sort of locked up I am kinda screwed software wise. IDK...

I also run into a screen sometimes just before powering down that reads "Can't find valid operating system. The device will not start Visit this link on another device g.co/ABH ID C382B665"

--

I do not want to wipe the userdata because I have information that is far more valuable then this device is worth.

I am wondering if anybody has some suggestions on ways to obtain the userdata?

I would rip this device apart if I have to just to have a better chance of securing my data so please let me know if you have any ideas.

Thanks!