Installation to Google Pixel 3a XL

wgarcia

@MrT10001 said in Installation to Google Pixel 3a XL:

@wgarcia

You need to install the latest fastboot and ADB drivers.

I have the latest I think.

Once that is done you need to download the fastboot flash version which will have the flash all.sh file in it.

I've downloaded several, didn't see any "flash-all.sh" utility. Do you have a link to the one that has it?

wgarcia

I finally managed to downgrade, quite unexpectedly.

I tried to install twrp recovery, to see if you could install the Android 9 image with it. I tried to flash it in fastboot mode with:

sudo fastboot flash boot twrp...img

(without sudo it wouldnt install)

and it got stuck in fastboot. I would not boot, or go to recovery, or anything.

Then I changed boot partition

fastboot set_active other

not that I had any idea on what I was doing, just as a result of desperation, since I saw this command somewhere. It moved from partition "a" to "b" but nothing changed.

Then out of boredom I went back to Google Chrome and Android Flash Tool and voilà, this time it downloaded and installed Android 9.

What a pain, it was a similar experience with an OP5 recently. It is a breeze to install UT, but downgrading Android can take you a full morning.

MrT10001

@wgarcia I have found both these devices pretty straightforward to downgrade/upgrade (hey but that is me :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: ).

Pixel3a if you get stuck on the Google logo.... I will write something up when I get a chance.

I do have a Windows machine and Linux machine, find windows is "easier" with some devices.

r0lle

@MrT10001
Regardless if I try to install 16.04 20.04 or 24.04 i get stuck in the google logo on my 3A
Yes I run de desired version of android according to the devices page

I think my recovery program is not working after the downgrade to version 9 android

All steps up to the step using fastboot works fine

Then it tries starting recovery mode and it hangs on the google logo, same result if I try to enter recovery from either power and volume-up or by using adb shell

Should I install twrp instead of the erroneous stock recovery?

r0lle

@wgarcia
Unpack the zip file with the Android operating system that you want to downgrade to

Follow the link on the device page to get the riht zip file (google provides several versions of the same android version installation package depending on your prefered installation tool set)

arubislander

@r0lle Mine would also do that on occasion. If you selected both Wipe userata and Bootstrap on the first try and it gets stuck on the logo on reboot, I would try booting to fastboot and then running the installer agani, but this time only selecting Wipe Userdata (so no bootstrap). If you did not select both Wipe Data and Bootstrap initially, you should first do both.

r0lle

Thanks for a quick reply!

I think I have not seen any options for bootstrapping or wiping data.

Lots of warnings for data to be wiped both when reinstalling android and while trying to install ubuntu;

Is it during the downgrading of android or while upgrading to Ubuntu that I should watch out for warious wiping options?

Thanks
R

MrT10001

@r0lle it is the installing of UT on the UT installer where you will see the check boxes.

r0lle

After some investigation I have found out that there indeed is a recovery option hidden behind an obscure and unusual sequence of operations:

Enter fastboot mode
use volume button to select recovery
Confirm using the power button
Wait until you see a green and dead android laying on its back with a service panel open an a yellow warning sign
When the android is showing you will have to wait for a while, a couple of minutes (1-5 minutes, I did not time the operation but it was far longer than what I had anticipated)
Press power and volume up on the same time and then let go quickly
Bingo! You're entering recovery!
Be happy, don't worry!

/r

r0lle

The above is for 3a, on my XL everything worked without need for any dark arts
/r