Bricked Volla X Phone
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With any support questions for 3rd party devices you could also contact Volla support, they are very friendly.
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@aarontheissueguy Thanks, I will reach out to Volla and hopefully get this paper weight up and running again
Happy new year!
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@pace said in Bricked Volla X Phone:
So what is the best way to unbrick the Volla X, and where can I get the files to unbrick it?
I use macOS and linux, but could spin up a virtual windows machine as well.I think the posted Tutorial/HowTo already explains it very well and seems to be right way to fix a Volla Phone with MediaTek SoC in general
I mainly flash Qualcomm based phones and my BQ Ubuntu Phone was the only MediaTek phone I have flashed so far with... indeed... SP Flash Tool
So I would probably try the same thing with the Volla phone! -
I got the correct files from Volla, and setup the SP_Flash tool, I tried this on both windows and linux but the tool just won't connect to the phone... even after i tried to install the windows drivers.
I know this is a SP_Flash tool issue, but it isn't that easy to recover the phone, and if UBPorts keeps bricking it, then I wouldn't advise using UBPorts at all right now for other volla x users.
Gripe over
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@pace If your using Ubuntu not sure but you used to need to remove mode manager? for it to work. Anyway should be in here https://web.archive.org/web/20180118130643/http://www.mibqyyo.com/en-articles/2015/09/16/ubuntu-android-installation-process-for-bq-aquaris-e4-5-and-e5 Not sure what bricked your but not seen lots of bricked x here. Also is the adb connection working ok always worth checking that and the cable.
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@pace
Besides the Linux ModemManager thing : Have you tried connecting to the phone while it's turned off ?!I have just read something similar about another MediaTek phone a few days ago!
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@nero355
Yes, phone must be off and connected only when asked by MTK FT.Also, only USB 2.0 ports on PC should be used.
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I've just had a similar experience. I managed to brick my phone by installing Waydroid from the OpenStore. It installed the main part of the software, but not "the fixes" so I re-installed the software. My phone rebooted to the Volla splash page and would go no further.
Used the volup/on key to get to the recovery menu. Never been here before so very wary of which buttons to press. Not wary enough as it turns out. I tried to re-install UB Ports from the UB ports installer but the phone was not detected so selected Volla Phone X and started the download. The installer unlocked the bootloader. Download failed and then unable to get back to recovery menu, just stuck at the Volla splash screen. After several attempts I managed to get back to Fast boot as required by the UB Ports installer. It detected the phone and I tried to download Volla OS to see if I could get the phone back up and running again. I failed to notice that The UB ports installer detected it as a Volla Phone rather than the Volla Phone X (my mistake, should have paid attention). When the download completed the phone was completely dead. Black screen no response to any button presses.Saw this post and thought everything would be OK but it doesn't appear to help. The files mentioned are not accessible.
Contacted support@volla.online and they say "We can not share our firmware as it is protected company property", fair enough I suppose. They offered to repair the phone for about 50 Euros if I send it to them.
Unable to send it to them as Germany does not accept any items with Lithium cells fitted (I am in the UK).
Is there a simple set of instructions, complete with all the needed files to sort this mess out?
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JrgkqPE36h-jRqmX_I4isQjCk_ZjWxJ8/view?usp=sharing
https://rubencarneiro.github.io/rubencarneiro.io//Volla-phone-Repair/
Are these the files you are having a problem with just so others know. Not having a Volla I am of lttle help on this.
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Thank you for your very prompt response.
Downloaded file to Windoze PC (the FS Flash tool refuses to run on my Ubuntu 20.04 desktop due to missing libraries).
Managed to download scatter file from the file provided above. Failed first time but success on the second attempt. The Volla Phone X now gets as far as the UB Ports recovery and I have initiated a factory reset. It is progressing, but it is VERY slow.
I will report back later as to how I get on.
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@ian said in Bricked Volla X Phone:
Downloaded file to Windoze PC (the FS Flash tool refuses to run on my Ubuntu 20.04 desktop due to missing libraries).
I had the same issue with Kubuntu 20.04 LTS so I had to boot my old Windows 7 laptop for that part too when I flashed my BQ phone the last time!
I hope you can fix your phone now and if not let me know if I can help you somehow by sending the phone to The Netherlands first and then to Germany for RMA
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The reset got as far as 7% (with a little red icon to the right that I couldn't see because of the rounded corners on the Vollas) and then rebooted to a UT splash screen. This was after about half an hour from starting the factory reset. I was then able to configure my settings on my "new" phone and start it up.
A quick check for updates and now back to the latest version of UT.
Now I just need to try and get some of my data back onto the phone.
Many thanks for posting the links Lakotaubp! Also thanks to Nero355 for the offer of sorting out getting the phone back to Germany.
What a community - thanks everyone!
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@ian Pleased that you are sorted and hope you can now enjoy UT on your Volla to the full. You know where we are if needed and remember you are part of the community too.
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In the spirit of never throw anything away (you never know when you may need it) I still have a 1.5G image for Ubuntu 16.04.1 desktop in my downloads folder if you want to have a go at getting SP Flash tool going under linux.
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@ian said in Bricked Volla X Phone:
In the spirit of never throw anything away (you never know when you may need it) I still have a 1.5G image for Ubuntu 16.04.1 desktop in my downloads folder if you want to have a go at getting SP Flash tool going under linux.
NICE!!!
:thumbs_up_light_skin_tone: :thumbs_up_light_skin_tone:Please upload it somewhere convenient and let me know the URL via PM/DM or whatever it's called on this forum
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@nero355 You should have a chat message from me with a link to the .iso file on Dropbox.
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Hi all, sorry to keep this old thread going but you guys seem to be helpful (again many thanks for your help). I thought it might be useful to keep this thread going rather than starting a new one to keep all the info together.
Now that the UT for the Volla Phone X is based on Halium 10 as of OTA-22 how would you go about unbricking a VPX?
The scatter file provided above was for Halium 9. Is there one for Halium 10? Should we use the file above (based on 9) and if so how do we move forward to Halium 10? Does the UT installer take care of this or do we need to install OTA-22 again before moving forward? How do we get hold of OTA-22?
Any ideas?
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@ian Also try asking here https://t.me/WelcomePlus
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@ian Also will not using the installer work? The Volla X is there. Just don't check the wipe data option.
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@lakotaubp The question was asked out of curiosity. How do I get back from the void now the rules have changed? I'm not there yet but I am teetering on the edge and thought I would ask the question in case things go wrong.... again.
My VPX is refusing to upgrade to OTA-23 leaving me stuck on OTA-22. Stuck at the UBports recovery screen. Rebooting gets my phone working. I tried using the installer with no wipe and no partition but that fails due to 'not enough room on target device' for some but not all files. I have started a thread about that under VPX in case I am not alone with that.