[Moto E (2020)] GewdGrief:
Hi all. I'm a complete newb to this, so please excuse any incorrect terminology. I appreciate any help given!

Here's the situation in brief:

This Moto E (XT2052-1) is completely unmodded. Nothing rooted, nothing unlocked, nothing flashed before. About 1.5 years in use.

It goes through a bootloop, and then "falls through to fastboot."

It reports "No bootable A/B slot" and fastboot getvar current slot yields "not found". I can't get it to switch to either slot.

can't find current slot

C:\platform-tools>fastboot getvar current slot
(bootloader) current: not found
getvar:current FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: usage: unknown command slot

can't assign a slot

C:\platform-tools>fastboot set_active a
Setting current slot to 'a' (bootloader) Command is not allowed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

I think flashing stock ROM (specifically the boot image?) will fix the issue, but I'm running into problems

doesn't let me flash boot image, needs vbmeta image

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash boot_a boot.img
Sending 'boot_a' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.764s]
Writing 'boot_a' (bootloader) *****************************************************
(bootloader) WARNING: Flashing vbmeta image is required prior to
(bootloader) flashing boot image.
(bootloader) *****************************************************
(bootloader) flash permission denied
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

trying boot with boot image without flashing

C:\platform-tools>fastboot boot boot.img
Sending 'boot.img' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.765s]
Booting (bootloader) permission denied!
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

And then flashing the boot image again after flashing the vbmeta image (... successfully? not sure)

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash boot_a boot.img
Sending 'boot_a' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.768s]
Writing 'boot_a' (bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

I'm not sure if I'm missing a step, or if I need to change toggle a setting somewhere, or what.

I don't want to wipe it, but I understand it might prove to be necessary.

Here are the nitty gritty details:

It started bootlooping and then "falling back to fastboot" about 3 days ago. I don't think there was any damage or instigating event. It says to connect to a computer to fix it with "Software Repair Assistant" (which doesn't seem to exist). Here's the "Bootloader logs" text after turning it on and attempting to start it:

Many guides say to use LMSA to detect and fix, but I've also seen people warning of it flashing incorrectly, so I'm wary of it.

The problem seems to be with the A/B slot, so I've done research to understand what that means. I found this guide from droidwin.com useful, and have managed to do the following:

Downloaded and unzipped SDK platform tools.

I'm barely familiar with command line, but fastboot has been fine.

Tried fastboot set_active a, as well as b and other

Found appropriate (I think) stock ROM from here. It has the boot image, as well as many other files. I'm not familiar with how ROM is packaged.

Tried to flash the boot image from the stock ROM. It said I needed to flash the vbmeta image first.

Flashed the vbmeta image, onto both vbmeta_a and vbmeta_b (after much trial and error)

This took a while because I actually got ahold of and downloaded... let's say several stock ROM packages. Cycled through until I found one that was actually accepted.

Tried flashing the boot, but now Preflash validation failed

Here are all the relevent outputs from the command line

C:\platform-tools>fastboot devices
[...omitted...] fastboot

C:\platform-tools>fastboot getvar all
[...Let me know if I omitted something important...]
(bootloader) version: 0.5
(bootloader) version-bootloader: MBM-2.1-ginna_retail-b0c61b8e633-220530
(bootloader) product: ginna
(bootloader) board: ginna
(bootloader) secure: yes
(bootloader) hwrev: PVT
(bootloader) radio: 4
(bootloader) storage-type: emmc
(bootloader) emmc: 32GB SAMSUNG QD63MB RV=08 PV=01 FV=0000000000000001
(bootloader) ram: 2GB SAMSUNG LP3 DIE=8Gb M5=01 M6=06 M7=00 M8=1F
(bootloader) cpu: SDM632
(bootloader) serialno: [...omitted...]
(bootloader) cid: 0x0032
(bootloader) channelid: 0x8d
(bootloader) uid: 101ECD4600000000000000000000
(bootloader) securestate: oem_locked
(bootloader) factory-modes: disabled
(bootloader) iswarrantyvoid: no
(bootloader) max-download-size: 536870912
(bootloader) reason: Fall-through from normal boot mode
(bootloader) imei: [...omitted...]
(bootloader) imei2:
(bootloader) meid:
(bootloader) date: 11-10-2020
(bootloader) sku: XT2052-1
(bootloader) carrier_sku: XT2052-1
(bootloader) battid: SB18C66367
(bootloader) iccid:
(bootloader) cust_md5:
(bootloader) max-sparse-size: 268435456
(bootloader) current-time: "Tue Apr 6 2:44:35 UTC 2021" [idk why it says that time]
(bootloader) ro.build.fingerprint[0]: motorola/ginna_retail/ginna:10/QPG
(bootloader) ro.build.fingerprint[1]: S30.82-141-15-2/e9f0a:user/release
(bootloader) ro.build.fingerprint[2]: -keys
(bootloader) poweroffalarm: 0
(bootloader) ro.build.version.full: <not found>
(bootloader) ro.build.version.qcom: LA.UM.8.6.2.r1-06600-89xx.0
(bootloader) version-baseband: M632_19.00.03.50.04R GINNA_GWLC_CUST
(bootloader) kernel.version[0]: Linux version 4.9.206-perf+ (nobody@andr
(bootloader) kernel.version[1]: oid-build) (gcc version 4.9.x 20150123 (
(bootloader) kernel.version[2]: prerelease) (GCC) ) #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri A
(bootloader) kernel.version[3]: pr 1 01:56:14 CDT 2022
(bootloader) sbl1.git: sbl1.git
(bootloader) rpm.git: rpm.git
(bootloader) tz.git: tz.git
(bootloader) devcfg.git: devcfg.git
(bootloader) keymaster.git: keymaster.git
(bootloader) cmnlib.git: cmnlib.git
(bootloader) cmnlib64.git: cmnlib64.git
(bootloader) prov.git: prov.git
(bootloader) aboot.git: MBM-2.1-ginna_retail-b0c61b8e633-220530
(bootloader) frp-state: protected (77)
(bootloader) ro.carrier: retus
(bootloader) current-slot:
(bootloader) running-boot-lun: 0
(bootloader) running-slot:
(bootloader) slot-suffixes: _a,_b
(bootloader) slot-count: 2
(bootloader) slot-successful:_a: No
(bootloader) slot-successful:_b: No
(bootloader) slot-bootable:_a: No
(bootloader) slot-bootable:_b: No
(bootloader) slot-retry-count:_a: 0
(bootloader) slot-retry-count:_b: 0
(bootloader) pcb-part-no: SB28C75450
(bootloader) is-userspace: no
(bootloader) is-logical:
all: listed above
Finished. Total time: 0.233s

C:\platform-tools>fastboot set_active a
Setting current slot to 'a' (bootloader) Command is not allowed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot set_active other
Setting current slot to 'a' (bootloader) Command is not allowed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot set_active b
Setting current slot to 'b' (bootloader) Command is not allowed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot getvar current slot
(bootloader) current: not found
getvar:current FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: usage: unknown command slot

C:\platform-tools>fastboot getvar product
product: ginna
Finished. Total time: 0.003s

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash boot_a boot.img
Sending 'boot_a' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.764s]
Writing 'boot_a' (bootloader) *****************************************************
(bootloader) WARNING: Flashing vbmeta image is required prior to
(bootloader) flashing boot image.
(bootloader) *****************************************************
(bootloader) flash permission denied
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash vbmeta --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta.img
fastboot: error: Failed to identify current slot

C:\platform-tools>fastboot getvar has-slot:vbmeta
has-slot:vbmeta: yes
Finished. Total time: 0.005s

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
fastboot: error: Failed to identify current slot

C:\platform-tools>fastboot boot boot.img
Sending 'boot.img' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.765s]
Booting (bootloader) permission denied!
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot boot_a boot.img
fastboot: usage: unknown command boot_a

C:\platform-tools>fastboot boot_b boot.img
fastboot: usage: unknown command boot_b

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flashing unlock
(bootloader) This command requires you to first unlock the bootloader.
(bootloader) A unlock code may be required.
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot getvar iswarrantyvoid
iswarrantyvoid: no
Finished. Total time: 0.004s

[--WITH WRONG ROM--]
C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash vbmeta_a vbmeta.img
Sending 'vbmeta_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.011s]
Writing 'vbmeta_a' (bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

[--WITH CORRECT ROM--]
C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash vbmeta_a vbmeta.img
Sending 'vbmeta_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.011s]
Writing 'vbmeta_a' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.064s

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash boot_a boot.img
Sending 'boot_a' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.768s]
Writing 'boot_a' (bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash boot_b boot.img
Sending 'boot_b' (32768 KB) OKAY [ 0.759s]
Writing 'boot_b' (bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash vbmeta_a --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta.img
Rewriting vbmeta struct at offset: 0
Sending 'vbmeta_a' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.010s]
Writing 'vbmeta_a' (bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash vbmeta_b --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta.img
Rewriting vbmeta struct at offset: 0
Sending 'vbmeta_b' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.010s]
Writing 'vbmeta_b' (bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote: '')
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\platform-tools>fastboot flash vbmeta_b vbmeta.img
Sending 'vbmeta_b' (4 KB) OKAY [ 0.010s]
Writing 'vbmeta_b' OKAY [ 0.006s]
Finished. Total time: 0.063s

C:\platform-tools>fastboot BE NORMAL PLEASE
fastboot: usage: unknown command BE

That's about what I've got so far. At one point I did fastboot reboot fastboot and got into fastbootd, but I had no idea what I was doing there and promptly left.

I'm almost ready to give in and try factory resetting it, but I feel like I'm just missing a piece of the puzzle. Maybe several. I don't know. I have so many tabs open.

Again, any help you can give is welcome! Please keep in mind, I only started learning about any of this yesterday (brand new words in my repertoire: image, flash, bootloader, fastboot, slot, stock, ROM, RETUS, NFC, and much, much more!). I may not be the most articulate, but I'm certainly trying :^)

[Edit: and let me know about any formatting faux pas I may have committed! With text color or code blocks or whatever it may be. I messed with the options probably a little more than I should have, heh]