[INFO] Successfully Flashed A2017G B02 to A2017U

Search This thread

jkuczera

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2008
84
59
A2017G B02 successfully flashed and booted on A2017U (using update.zip). WiFi/Bluetooth and GPS working. Only broken piece is the cellular.

There are a few more color choices in themes but no 'Android Stock' theme. And a glove mode which would likely be useful here in northern Canada.

This should be good news for development as there appears to be only the modem differentiating the ROMs.

Now to see how well I can return to A2017U :) [UPDATE] Returning to A2017U I had to delete my call logs. The database version was newer in the A2017G, and it created a launcher crash loop. I used titanium backup to delete the call logs.

Don't do this. You could quite likely brick. But if you're going to anyway:

Point 1 : If this doesn't make sense to you, don't do it; you're in over your head.

Get a backup of ALL of your partitions using dd.

I copied the A2017G B02 update.zip to the root of my SD card, and flashed the recovery.img from that update.zip overtop of TWRP from within TWRP using dd. Refer to Point 1. Booted the phone to system, went to updates, and did the factory update from root of SD card. Remember, you will be stock A2017G which means no root/TWRP. You will have to use the method here assuming you now have an A2017G to get TWRP back on the device. I then flashed my NON-HLOS.bin from the backup I made earlier over modem partition.

The launcher sucks more than the stock one on A2017U as there is no menu button.

I believe you could just flash system.img (system.new.dat) and boot.img to get the same experience as that's the only two I flashed to return to A2017U (I had to flash NON-HLOS.bin back to A2017U).
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2016-08-30-22-32-42.jpg
    Screenshot_2016-08-30-22-32-42.jpg
    117.5 KB · Views: 1,045
  • Screenshot_2016-08-30-23-22-15.jpg
    Screenshot_2016-08-30-23-22-15.jpg
    158 KB · Views: 1,031
  • Screenshot_2016-08-30-23-25-45.jpg
    Screenshot_2016-08-30-23-25-45.jpg
    254 KB · Views: 1,054
  • Screenshot_2016-08-30-23-25-50.jpg
    Screenshot_2016-08-30-23-25-50.jpg
    151.5 KB · Views: 983
Last edited:

cctbrkr

Member
Aug 24, 2016
15
4
Calgary
Nice work! I guess this answers my questions as to whether the flash would unlock the different bands not included on the north American variant
 

rikin93

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2016
368
277
Someone flash the U version to G please since the U version is a lot better than G atm haha
 

TeutonJon78

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2010
574
287
Nice work! I guess this answers my questions as to whether the flash would unlock the different bands not included on the north American variant

Well, that would be part of the modem part, which isn't the same. The only way to get that to happen would be to use the QC recovery tools that let you tinker in the actual modem bits.

Someone flash the U version to G please since the U version is a lot better than G atm haha

Unfortunately, we can't do that well since there aren't any U factory images yet. It would have to be cobbled together from backups people make of all the different partitions, and even then it would have to be done via a bootloader unlocked version, which is only the U model.

Com' on ZTE -- release those factory images.
 

test878

Senior Member
Aug 29, 2009
65
12
A2017G B02 successfully flashed and booted on A2017U (using update.zip). WiFi/Bluetooth and GPS working. Only broken piece is the cellular.

There are a few more color choices in themes but no 'Android Stock' theme. And a glove mode which would likely be useful here in northern Canada.

This should be good news for development as there appears to be only the modem differentiating the ROMs.

Now to see how well I can return to A2017U :)

Can you try something before you switch back? If you have a good router (ac, multiple streams, 5ghz) can you check your link speed? You can use an app like aida64 to spit that info out in the network tab. The reason I ask, is because 2017U (actual models not software) reports 433Mbps being the max, while 2017G reports 866Mbps. We are trying to figure out if the US model got the cheaper wifi chip or if they screwed up the code.
 

jkuczera

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2008
84
59
Can you try something before you switch back? If you have a good router (ac, multiple streams, 5ghz) can you check your link speed? You can use an app like aida64 to spit that info out in the network tab. The reason I ask, is because 2017U (actual models not software) reports 433Mbps being the max, while 2017G reports 866Mbps. We are trying to figure out if the US model got the cheaper wifi chip or if they screwed up the code.

Yepper
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2016-08-31-01-27-13.jpg
    Screenshot_2016-08-31-01-27-13.jpg
    189.8 KB · Views: 700

jkuczera

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2008
84
59
Nice to know that it's just a software thing.

Can you also try going far from your router, into an area with low signal, and turn on the "Signal Boost" option? Would be interesting to see if that's another software thing.

From the graphic on 'signal boost', it's for cellular (telephony) only. Wifi is not pictured or mentioned.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crombull

TeutonJon78

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2010
574
287
Just flashed the modem.img from my A2017U backup and now telephony is working as well. :D

So, you're running the 2017G with the U modem?

Holy snap, Chief post steps and where you got these files, wanna give it all try old. :)

With root, you should be able to dd or cat out all of the partitions from a root shell. Then you can backup all of the partitions as they exist in flash (blank space and all).
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrakenFX
With root, you should be able to dd or cat out all of the partitions from a root shell. Then you can backup all of the partitions as they exist in flash (blank space and all).

Only problem I have is not knowing their extension :D , I know how to use "dd" but isn't a issue dumping without the right extension? (.img, .bin, etc) and I meant I How-To guide for others users if they wanna try. :eek:
 

jkuczera

Senior Member
Dec 16, 2008
84
59
So, you're running the 2017G with the U modem?

Yes

Holy snap, Chief post steps and where you got these files, wanna give it all try old. :)

Refer to updated OP

Only problem I have is not knowing their extension :D , I know how to use "dd" but isn't a issue dumping without the right extension? (.img, .bin, etc) and I meant I How-To guide for others users if they wanna try. :eek:

DD does not care about file extensions. It also doesn't care if you should flash to the wrong partition and permanently brick your device.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: TeutonJon78

Top Liked Posts

  • There are no posts matching your filters.
  • 5
    A2017G B02 successfully flashed and booted on A2017U (using update.zip). WiFi/Bluetooth and GPS working. Only broken piece is the cellular.

    There are a few more color choices in themes but no 'Android Stock' theme. And a glove mode which would likely be useful here in northern Canada.

    This should be good news for development as there appears to be only the modem differentiating the ROMs.

    Now to see how well I can return to A2017U :) [UPDATE] Returning to A2017U I had to delete my call logs. The database version was newer in the A2017G, and it created a launcher crash loop. I used titanium backup to delete the call logs.

    Don't do this. You could quite likely brick. But if you're going to anyway:

    Point 1 : If this doesn't make sense to you, don't do it; you're in over your head.

    Get a backup of ALL of your partitions using dd.

    I copied the A2017G B02 update.zip to the root of my SD card, and flashed the recovery.img from that update.zip overtop of TWRP from within TWRP using dd. Refer to Point 1. Booted the phone to system, went to updates, and did the factory update from root of SD card. Remember, you will be stock A2017G which means no root/TWRP. You will have to use the method here assuming you now have an A2017G to get TWRP back on the device. I then flashed my NON-HLOS.bin from the backup I made earlier over modem partition.

    The launcher sucks more than the stock one on A2017U as there is no menu button.

    I believe you could just flash system.img (system.new.dat) and boot.img to get the same experience as that's the only two I flashed to return to A2017U (I had to flash NON-HLOS.bin back to A2017U).
    4
    Wonder if there's a way to obtain the NON-HLOS.bin modem from a 2017U unit...

    Just flashed the modem.img from my A2017U backup and now telephony is working as well. :D
    2
    Can you try something before you switch back? If you have a good router (ac, multiple streams, 5ghz) can you check your link speed? You can use an app like aida64 to spit that info out in the network tab. The reason I ask, is because 2017U (actual models not software) reports 433Mbps being the max, while 2017G reports 866Mbps. We are trying to figure out if the US model got the cheaper wifi chip or if they screwed up the code.

    Yepper
    1
    Nice to know that it's just a software thing.

    Can you also try going far from your router, into an area with low signal, and turn on the "Signal Boost" option? Would be interesting to see if that's another software thing.

    From the graphic on 'signal boost', it's for cellular (telephony) only. Wifi is not pictured or mentioned.
    1
    Just flashed the modem.img from my A2017U backup and now telephony is working as well. :D

    Holy snap, Chief post steps and where you got these files, wanna give it all try old. :)