Unable to install UBports on MX4 Ubuntu edition

Stefano · 8 Oct 2017, 18:14

1.Download the recovery and flash it with fastboot
2. Reboot to recovery and in terminal type:
sudo ubuntu-device-flash --server=http://system-image.ubports.com touch --device=arale
--channel=15.04/stable

No bootstrap, no recovery options...
It should work without any problem.

UKPhil · 8 Oct 2017, 20:54

I had an issue installing UBPorts on my M10. No matter what I did I could not install it on mine. However, I had installed it on my E5 using MDT with no issues.

I was then told to download the devmode version of MDT. I did this and removed the previous version I had insalled. This found my device and installed a clean version of UBPorts on my device. Then I was able to install it all OK via the server image on the devices website page.

If you are still having issues let me know and I can send you the line to install the version I used.

halucigenia · 9 Oct 2017, 06:14

@Stefano Thanks, I will try that tonight and let you know if it works.

halucigenia · 9 Oct 2017, 16:45

@Stefano That did not work
sudo fastboot flash recovery recovery-arale.img
< waiting for device >

Device then rebooted to original Ubuntu Touch.

Is there anything that I can do from the terminal on the MX4 or via ssh?

Stefano · 9 Oct 2017, 17:41

@halucigenia Try different usb cable. I use to have MX4 and the connection was unstable, once replaced, it worked every time.Or try to hold it by an angle and push to side.

halucigenia · 10 Oct 2017, 09:46

@Stefano Different cables make no difference, the same cables that work with the Flyme device don't work with the UT device.

In fact the same cables used to work with the UT device previously for example when I last transferred music/photos to and from the UT device, I can't do data transfers with the UT device now from any PCs with any cables, and that is even after replacing the USB module.
I guess that it could be a hardware fault somewhere else in the device.

If it were a software fault though what might I look at?

Stefano · 10 Oct 2017, 11:50

@halucigenia So have you installed Flyme to MX4 Ubuntu edition and now can't flash Ubuntu Touch back, right?
Check if your bootloader is unlocked, if not there is problem.
Bootloader has to unlocked in order to do Ubuntu Touch installation.
It seems to be locked bootloader.

halucigenia · 10 Oct 2017, 13:49

@Stefano No, I have two devices one Flyme, the other UT.
It is not a locked bootloader.

I have swapped the USB modules in each device and still the Flyme one works and the UT one does not.
It is not the USB modules at fault.

I have tried different cables and attaching the cables to different ports on different computers.

There is definitely an issue with the UT device. It is not accepting any connections via USB.

Stefano · 10 Oct 2017, 13:59

@halucigenia that's interesting. Never heard of anything like that. Have you enabled Developer mode on UT device?
When you connect UT device to a PC can you copy files, does your PC recognise it? Does it recognise when in recovery mode? (adb shell, adb devices? ) Fastboot devices in fastboot list your device or not.?

halucigenia · 10 Oct 2017, 15:34

@Stefano Developer mode is enabled on the UT device.
Nothing seems to detect it at all. PC as a data drive Linux or Windows, adb shell, adb devices, fastboot, nothing. Charging OK though.
I was hoping that it's just services not starting or something but I am not sure what to look for.

Stefano · 10 Oct 2017, 15:49

Sorry to hear that. It's a mystery what's happening to your MX4. I wish I could help, but a I can't.

halucigenia · 10 Oct 2017, 16:46

@Stefano Thanks for trying.

UKPhil · 11 Oct 2017, 05:36

When I was trying to install on my device I tried different cables and ports and nothing seemed to work. Know how frustrating it can be, but you will get there.

Lakotaubp · 11 Oct 2017, 07:00

Guess you have but have you tried using the SP flash tool. I used it to put flyme on ut mx4 might work for you.

halucigenia · 11 Oct 2017, 09:34

@UKPhil Thanks for the encouragement

halucigenia · 11 Oct 2017, 09:54

@Lakota I will look into the SP flash tool. Thanks for the advice.

Marathon2422 · 11 Oct 2017, 23:37

@halucigenia Just curious,coming from flyme,did you go into dev mode,and permit OEM unlock.
Or from UT,switch to dev mode while unplugged then connect and watch that dev page,you should get a window asking to Allow PC to connect,(maybe !!)

UKPhil · 12 Oct 2017, 02:31

@halucigenia have a gowith the process that I mentioned and see how you get on. This was the only thing that worked for me after being ready to throw it all in and go down the andriod route.

halucigenia · 13 Oct 2017, 16:58

@UKPhil I can't get the devmode version of MDT to run
I ran
sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd

I ran sudo snap install magic-device-tool --devmode

snap list
Name Version Rev Developer Notes
core 16-2.28.1 3017 canonical core
magic-device-tool 1.0 289 marius-quabeck devmode

When I run magic-device-tool as my normal user
I get the message "snap-confine has elevated permissions and is not confined but should be. Refusing to continue to avoid permission escalation attacks"

When I run sudo magic-device-tool
I get the message "cannot change profile for the next exec call: No such file or directory"

Looks like snap is incompatible with my kernel
snap --version
snap 2.28.1
snapd 2.28.1
series 16
ubuntu 17.04
kernel 4.11.12-041112-lowlatency

I think snap needs an "Ubuntu supported" kernel.
I will try again when I can reboot into another kernel.

halucigenia · 15 Oct 2017, 13:04

The devmode version of MDT doesn't connect to the phone either.

There must be something wrong in that adb / fastboot are not running on the phone.
Time to give up and just keep on using Cannonical UT until I get a fairphone 2 or something?