The Volla X23 (GX4) Thread

Hardware Adaptation
91

Few weeks later, there was some spare time again. In short: Installing VollaOS on a Gigaset GX4 (the non-pro version) worked. :slight_smile:
The notes at Volla Installation guide also helped.

With the Gigaset GX4 (not PRO), these are the things which happened with the previously bricked device (bootloader was not reached, but preloader could get accessed):

  • SP Flash Tool V5 does not seem to work under Windows nor Linux, since it rejects the Scatter-loading File file.
  • SP Flash Tool V6 has worked for restoring the boot loader. Here are my steps:
    • Unplug the USB cable from Gigaset GX4 device. (almost-Volla-X23, but smaller RAM and storage)
    • Install UBPorts Installer (e.g. via snap install ubports-installer, I have 0.9.7-beta).
    • Download the VollaOS files (Select device manually → Volla Phone X23 for Gigaset GX4 → Select → select Volla OS → Install → Wait until the zip file is extracted.)
    • Exit UBPorts Installer. (I do not know, whether it could interfere with SPFlashTool.)
    • Download and run MediaTek Smart Phone Flash Tool V6 v6.2228.00 on Ubuntu Linux (executable file: SPFlashToolV6)
    • in SPFlashToolV6: Select the Download-XML file: ~/snap/ubports-installer/<some_number>/.cache/ubports/vidofnir/firmware/unpacked/download_agent/flash.xml
    • probably not relevant:
      • insert battery + [do or do not] press vol-up & vol-down & power, then connect USB cable
      • in terminal: Now, I tried to use MTK Client (see above) with python3 mtk payload, but this failed with Status: Handshake failed, retrying... (without booting to BROM mode via all-button-pressed boot), or with TypeError: 'NoneType' object is not subscriptable within BROM mode (started via vol-up + vol-down + power). ⇒ Probably this step is not relevant.
    • Remove battery and unplug USB cable from device
    • in SPFlashToolV6: I de-selected the checkboxes of preloader and preloader_backup, since breaking these would probably fully brick the device. This forced the Download Only mode.
    • Insert battery and USB cable. If the device does not start automatically, press the power button.
      ⇒ My device now cycled between black screen and Volla logo. For about a second in the end of the black screen phase, it is visible at the computer as USB device:
      MediaTek Inc. MT65xx Preloader (Yes, it is not a MT65xx, but a MT67xx device.) The ID is 0e8d:2000.
    • in SPFlashToolV6: Click onto Download to start flashing.
    • Wait until flashing is done. It fails with ":warning: error_msg:"
    • The device does not reach normal OS, but can be rebooted to fastboot mode or bootloader.
    • Reboot the device to bootloader.
    • Use UBPorts Installer to install your OS.

Since last time I did something wrong when installing VollaOS, this time I first tried to install Ubuntu Touch. On the first glance, this OS seems to work without any problems after the installation.

Then, I started UBPorts Installer again, connected the device, rebooted to Bootloader (Fastboot menu), and flashed VollaOS. This also seems to work without any problems.

Thank you for your stories. They helped a lot. :slight_smile:

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