[Moto G5S Plus Questions & Answers] Ricardo_d7:
Hello. So, I got my Moto G5s Plus around the last week of October or beginning of November. It is a great device, but I learned about the camera flaws by Motorola and unlocked the bootloader to fix it by following this XDA thread here for camera fixing and the Chromatix mod. I learned that I could edit build.prop without flashing the TWRP recovery but using it temporarily following the guide here. build.prop edit would enable cam2api for third party cam apps. The Chromatix mod threads/posts were for the G5 Plus, which I didn't realize at the time and didn't backup original Chromatix files. However, That went successfully and I could still use my phone with better camera quality. Note that prior to doing this fix and before unlocking the bootloader (I believe) I had updated my device from Nougat to Oreo. My bootloader is indeed unlocked.

Now, when the 1 October OTA Update came I was hesitent because I had came across some rooting/custom rom/custom recovery/mod articles while learning about unlocking the bootloader. Yet and before reading more to get educated on this, I applied the update to my phone. I was hoping it wouldn't brick it or that it would fail if it didn't work. It failed (because of the modification on the stock ROM) at the last bit of the update and rebooted my phone. My phone worked and it let me know nothing was changed by the failed update. However, my phone since then has shown as if it is up-to-date in system updates.

So, basically I have been trying to flash TWRP for my Moto G5s Plus after that was done. I want to see about backing up my stock ROM (or the most important parts) possibly getting a good custom ROM installed (which I believe they have their own official Android security updates from Google?). However flashing TWRP hasn't worked. I get the following in PowerShell (cmd):

PS C:\Android SDK\platform-tools> fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

Sending 'recovery' (10236 KB) OKAY [ 0.407s]

Writing 'recovery' (bootloader) Image not signed or corrupt

OKAY [ 0.172s]

Finished. Total time: 0.594s

Note that I renamed twrp-3.1.1-sanders.img to twrp.img as it was a suggestion I followed at the time. This I heard is normal, but when I go to Recovery Mode on my phone I see this:

Start Up Failed:

Repair message stuff

AP Fastboot Flash Mode (Secure)

Fastboot Reason: UTAG *bootmode* configured as fastboot

~~~

Error: failed to load kernel!

~~~

I also tried to find the latest stock ROM to flash because I believe I read I may need to do that. I found SANDERS_RETAIL_8.1.0_OPSS28.65-36-3_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip and tried to use "Apply update from ADB" from the stock Recovery (when it was working normally after powering off and not with kernel errors because of this). It failed.

I couldn't find the right answer(s). Thank you to anyone that can help me or others who have done the same!!

EDIT (11/19/2018):

So, last night I tried wiping my data in stock recovery and then I tried to do this again. It still didn't work. I also tried to apply the same stock zip as well as boot_magisk.img from this thread here https://xdaforums.com/moto-g5s-plus/development/stock-kernel-prerooted-8-1-0-t3863301.

PS C:\Android SDK\platform-tools> fastboot flash boot boot_magisk.img

Sending 'boot' (10702 KB) OKAY [ 0.391s]

Writing 'boot' (bootloader) Image not signed or corrupt

OKAY [ 0.141s]

Finished. Total time: 0.563s

It all still fails. However, now when I boot up my phone it goes straight to the bootloader instead of loading the OS right away. I can select START to start the phone normally from there.