Can't install on Nexus 4 that has Ubuntu touch

[James T]

Having successfully installed ubports (15.04 stable) on a "new" Nexus 4, and transferred everything useful, I figured it would be good to put a newer version on my old device, so I selected 16.04rc as the version to install.

However when I run the installer, I get an error about a failed adb push (see below)

{"message":"Command failed: adb -P 5038 push \"/home/james/.cache/ubports/pool/ubports-f2bcfd75eb7d6fc4fce749774ed6338f84de3fc19bac8e03147e2d39a2596c99.tar.xz\" /cache/recovery/\n","stack":"Error: Command failed: adb -P 5038 push \"/home/james/.cache/ubports/pool/ubports-f2bcfd75eb7d6fc4fce749774ed6338f84de3fc19bac8e03147e2d39a2596c99.tar.xz\" /cache/recovery/\n\n    at ChildProcess.exithandler (child_process.js:282:12)\n    at emitTwo (events.js:125:13)\n    at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:213:7)\n    at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:921:16)\n    at Socket.stream.socket.on (internal/child_process.js:348:11)\n    at emitOne (events.js:115:13)\n    at Socket.emit (events.js:210:7)\n    at Pipe._handle.close [as _onclose] (net.js:549:12)","killed":false,"code":1,"signal":null,"cmd":"adb -P 5038 push \"/home/james/.cache/ubports/pool/ubports-f2bcfd75eb7d6fc4fce749774ed6338f84de3fc19bac8e03147e2d39a2596c99.tar.xz\" /cache/recovery/","level":"debug","timestamp":"2018-10-10T19:47:56.306Z"}{"level":"error","message":"Devices: Error: Adb push error: ","timestamp":"2018-10-10T19:47:56.317Z"}
{"level":"error","message":"Devices: Adb push error: ","timestamp":"2018-10-10T19:47:56.317Z"}
{"level":"debug","message":"Running platform tool exec cmd adb -P 5038 shell stat -t /cache/recovery//ubports-f2bcfd75eb7d6fc4fce749774ed6338f84de3fc19bac8e03147e2d39a2596c99.tar.xz","timestamp":"2018-10-10T19:47:57.353Z"}
{"message":"Command failed: adb -P 5038 shell stat -t /cache/recovery//ubports-f2bcfd75eb7d6fc4fce749774ed6338f84de3fc19bac8e03147e2d39a2596c99.tar.xz\nerror: no devices/emulators found\n","stack":"Error: Command failed: adb -P 5038 shell stat -t /cache/recovery//ubports-f2bcfd75eb7d6fc4fce749774ed6338f84de3fc19bac8e03147e2d39a2596c99.tar.xz\nerror: no devices/emulators found\n\n    at ChildProcess.exithandler (child_process.js:282:12)\n    at emitTwo (events.js:125:13)\n    at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:213:7)\n    at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:921:16)\n    at Socket.stream.socket.on (internal/child_process.js:348:11)\n    at emitOne (events.js:115:13)\n    at Socket.emit (events.js:210:7)\n    at Pipe._handle.close [as _onclose] (net.js:549:12)","killed":false,"code":1,"signal":null,"cmd":"adb -P 5038 shell stat -t /cache/recovery//ubports-f2bcfd75eb7d6fc4fce749774ed6338f84de3fc19bac8e03147e2d39a2596c99.tar.xz","level":"debug","timestamp":"2018-10-10T19:47:57.377Z"}

I tried doing a reset from the ubuntu system settings app but that didn't change anything.

The GUI also claims I don't have an up-to-date installer, but the version 0.1.21-beta is the same as the version on GitHub.
Does anybody have any suggestions?

[Lakotaubp]

@james-t I might have miss understood but update 15.04 to the dev channel in system settings then you should be able to go to 16.04 dev again by updating from system settings. Then you can stay there or go to 16.04 stable or rc the same way.

[advocatux]

@james-t @Lakotaubp is right. Another method is this: you can switch channels running sudo system-image-cli -vvvv --switch ubports-touch/16.04/rc

(The -vvvv option is in case you want the terminal output more verbose, you can skip it otherwise)

[Thomas_ww]

@james-t I made an update from 15.04 to 16.04

System Settings / Updates / Update settings / Channels / Release candidate
System Settings / Updates

it properly worked.

[James T]

Sorry, I didn't make it clear -- the old device doesn't have Ubports, it currently has Canonical's Ubuntu Touch, and my understanding was that the Ubports update system doesn't support upgrades from the Canonical base.

[Lakotaubp]

@james-t https://docs.ubports.com/en/latest/ all the info is in here under install : )

[Thomas_ww]

@james-t use the Installer https://ubuntu-touch.io/de_DE/get-ut . I used the debian-Package for Linux-Mint. it will install 15.04 on Nexus.

Then make an update to 16.04
System Settings / Updates / Update settings / Channels / Release candidate
System Settings / Updates

[James T]

Problem solved. It was nothing to do with the phone or the installer! It was an unstable USB connection!