Stuck at Boot-Startscreen

Taiga Woods · 27 Oct 2021, 09:54

Hi there,
last night I updated my phone. Afterwards it got stuck at the start screen. I cannot turn it off either. After several tries I reinstalled the whole system with the ubports installer. Installation worked without errors. But the same thing: Phone still got stuck at start screen (where there is written "Nexus5-Powered by ubuntu").
What should I do? Any advice?
Best regards

Mic_ · 27 Oct 2021, 11:24

@taiga-woods I have the same problem! I cannot boot. Recovery mode is working. Never had that since 2015. I only see the boot screen.

If it appears after a reinstallation - what is that!?

Mic_ · 27 Oct 2021, 11:25

@mic_ Problem appears directly after installing release update today...

AppLee · 27 Oct 2021, 12:21

Hi @mic_
Are you on devel ?
Maybe there is a change there that broke the bootloader ?!

I see various cases of such issue in the forum lately.
I doubt it's a coincidence.

Lakotaubp · 27 Oct 2021, 15:50

My PinePhone started this about a week ago. Some days it starts ok after updates others it can take a few restarts. Usually holding the power button for a minute or so switches it off. No problem with OP5, but very odd these issues are appearing.

As an aside The OP6/6T has had a fix for booting issues mreged into the devel channel so that one should be OK.

Taiga Woods · 27 Oct 2021, 16:22

@Mic_ Mine isn't working at all, that means Recovery Mode does't work, too. Nothing works.

@AppLee Mine was on devel. I'm really afraid something is seriously broken thanks to the latest update (but I have no idea how that might have happened, I'm not a developer...)

One thing I haven't tried so far is wipe all the data from the device when installing. Should I try that?

AppLee · 27 Oct 2021, 16:24

@taiga-woods
At first you can try to install the stable channel.
Edit: No need to wipe the data IMHO
If it's an issue with the update, this should fix it by reverting to OTA19.

If the problem remains, then I'm dry...

Taiga Woods · 27 Oct 2021, 16:30

@applee yeah I did install the stable channel in today's re-installation.
I didn't follow the news lately, when is the expected release of OTA-19?

At least I can use my old BQ 4.5. However, with this new experience in mind, I will definetely not update that phone now...

Lakotaubp · 27 Oct 2021, 17:07

@taiga-woods The installer says there is a successful install? If so try booting when connected to a power supply to rule out sudden battery failure. An OTA update will not brick the phone. It might cause problems but that's all. Not sure why the install of stable is not booting though. Remember having to tap mine on a table at times (the power button) that's a well known issue.
edit: Did you use 0.9.1 installer? if do try 0.8.9 or .8

Taiga Woods · 28 Oct 2021, 11:16

Update: It works again, finally. It took me ca. 11 re-installations via the ubports-installer. The first attempts I tried the stable version with the outcome mentioned above. When trying the devel-version I got one step further and the phone stuck not at the first start-screen ("Nexus5-powered by ubuntu") but on the second, the ubuntu start-screen. This tiny success kept me going. Next (after another two installations, I got stuck at the point where I had to type in my password (I was almost there, but couldn't log in...).
Well, eventually, it somehow works now with the stable version. Let's see if it holds up.
Thanks to all of you who tried to help me. CU

Taiga Woods · 3 Nov 2021, 16:56

It stopped working againg. I've tried reinstalling several times. It still got stuck at the bootscreen when installing the stable version. With other versions I managed to log in after a very long boot-time. Then a new problem appeared: Wifi-connection is dead. The menu item for internet connection disappears which makes me wonder whether UT even recognizes my phone's LAN hardware.
Anyway, I don't think this will be an easy fix. I'll just leave it here. Of course I would be very thankful if you have any suggestions how to solve this.

...
I'm looking for a new UT phone now. Suggestions? Which one makes the least trouble at the moment?
After BQ4.5 and Nexus5 most newer smartphones will work fine for me.

flay · 11 Nov 2021, 22:50

@taiga-woods said in Stuck at Boot-Startscreen:

Update: It works again, finally. It took me ca. 11 re-installations via the ubports-installer. The first attempts I tried the stable version with the outcome mentioned above. When trying the devel-version I got one step further and the phone stuck not at the first start-screen ("Nexus5-powered by ubuntu") but on the second, the ubuntu start-screen. This tiny success kept me going. Next (after another two installations, I got stuck at the point where I had to type in my password (I was almost there, but couldn't log in...).
Well, eventually, it somehow works now with the stable version. Let's see if it holds up.
Thanks to all of you who tried to help me. CU

Thanks for this @taiga-woods. I have the same issue with my Nexus 5 on Devel. Same update caused it. Will give it all a try tomorrow. I'd not care so much but I have an oauth key on there I need.

note: Google (and Amazon <shrug>) offer no functional recourse if you bork your key!

Cheers,

Christopher