Was your device a GX4 or GX4 pro? In the Volla Install thread, a user unbricked a rephone by setting the device in BROM mode and using SP flash 5 to do ‘Firmware Upgrade’ instead of ‘Download’ Volla Installation guide - #23 by lispy
On the basis of Reparatur Ihres Volla-Gerät inkl.5€ Erstattung der Einsendekosten it looks like firmware install is 50 Euro.
Ok, I have a Rephone. I was also the guy posting over at UBPorts about the Phone repaircompany but I never really got in touch with them because reflashing it from the UBPorts downloaded Files from ~/.cache/ubports-installer/firmware/ helped. Also, if you try to flash it using Download and it breaks with an error, try to uncheck “userdata”. This worked for me. After that I had the Volla bootscreen but the device didn’t boot until I reflashed everything (including) userdata with Firmware Upgrade + Download". Of course you always need to force the auth on the device using mtk payload command and connecting with Vol-up/Vol-Down/Power.
2 Likes
That is good news.
Since mine is a GX4 (not Pro), I’m curious whether this helps for my device with smaller storage size.
At some other source, they hinted for not flashing the preloader partition, since this could finally brick the device. What do you think wrt. this topic?
And what operating system did you use for un-bricking the devices?
Like I said, my phone was dead and bricked, so I didn’t bother with the preloader and wiped it.
I used the Scatter and img files that were downloaded by the UBPorts installer ~/.cache/ubports-installer/firmware/.
1 Like
You don’t need an auth file, only the scatter: MT6789 da2 patching results in TypeError / Support for newer V6 / bootrom patched based devices (MT68xx/MT69xx) · Issue #758 · bkerler/mtkclient · GitHub. Could you please confirm your device and its current state?
1 Like
Ah, it was not a PRO version just the GX4. I could probably have used the ‘upgrade firmware’ path (had brom mode) but I don’t have time at the moment so I passed the device on. I’ll ask and see where they are.
I ran into a curious problem…
I had SFOS flashed on my X23 up until few days ago when I decided to flash VollaOS on it, purely out of curiosity since I don’t daily drive it due to missing Waydroid implementation.
So I dicked around VollaOS for a bit, and then decided to flash back SFOS. I did the fastboot of all 3 .img files just like before, and setup went fine…until I closed the tutorial and rebooted the device. After I type the encryption password, all I get is a spinning circle on the top half of the screen…and that’s it.
After 7th flash with various ways to ‘prepare’ the phone (flashed VollaOS, flashed Ubuntu Touch,…) I can’t get past this point at all. I have enough foresight to setup password for SSH login, and was able to pull some messages from the journalctl, some of them I found interesting:
Oct 18 21:06:43 PhoneX23 encsfa-fpd[2376]: Device /dev/sailfish/home does not exist or access denied.
Oct 18 21:06:43 PhoneX23 encsfa-fpd[2376]: Device /dev/sailfish/home does not exist or access denied
And yeah, that folder doesn’t exist (in fact, there’s no LVM volumes at all, lvs comes out empty).
[root@PhoneX23 defaultuser]# ls -alh /dev/sailfish/home
ls: /dev/sailfish/home: No such file or directory
[root@PhoneX23 defaultuser]# ls -alh /dev/sailfish/
ls: /dev/sailfish/: No such file or directory
[root@PhoneX23 defaultuser]# ls -alh /dev/mapper
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 100 Oct 18 21:47 .
drwxr-xr-x 19 root root 7.6K Oct 18 21:47 ..
crw------- 1 root root 10, 236 Oct 18 21:47 control
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 254, 1 Oct 18 21:47 home_encrypted
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Oct 18 21:47 system_a -> ../dm-0
And of course, journalctl is spammed with messages like these
Oct 18 21:56:12 PhoneX23 kernel: [ccci1/cif]total cnt=2075;rxq0 isr_cnt=6;rxq1 isr_cnt=67;rxq2 isr_cnt=0;rxq3 isr_cnt=0;rxq4 isr_cnt=1486;rxq5 isr_cnt=508;rxq6 isr_cnt=8;rxq7 isr_cnt=0;rxq8 isr_cnt=0;rxq9 isr_cnt=0;rxq10 isr_cnt=0;rxq11 isr_cnt=0;rxq12 isr_cnt=0;rxq13 isr_cnt=0;rxq14 isr_cnt=0;rxq15 isr_cnt=1;rxq16 isr_cnt=0;rxq17 isr_cnt=0;rxq18 isr_cnt=0;rxq19 isr_cnt=0;rxq20 isr_cnt=0;rxq21 isr_cnt=0;rxq22 isr_cnt=0;rxq23 isr_cnt=0;
Oct 18 21:56:12 PhoneX23 ofonod[2270]: Power request failed: OPERATION_NOT_ALLOWED
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 ofonod[2270]: Power request failed: OPERATION_NOT_ALLOWED
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-c] cpu=0 o_k=0 lbit=0x1 cbit=0xff,fe,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526343015792,15000000] 14
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-c] cpu=7 o_k=7 lbit=0x81 cbit=0xff,7e,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526420524331,14922492] 14
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-c] cpu=6 o_k=6 lbit=0xc1 cbit=0xff,3e,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526420556639,14922458] 14
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-c] cpu=4 o_k=4 lbit=0xd1 cbit=0xff,2e,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526420579792,14922435] 14
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-c] cpu=1 o_k=1 lbit=0xd3 cbit=0xff,2c,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526420587716,14922427] 14
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-c] cpu=2 o_k=2 lbit=0xd7 cbit=0xff,28,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526420613023,14922402] 14
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-c] cpu=3 o_k=3 lbit=0xdf cbit=0xff,20,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526420645254,14922370] 14
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [thread:216] 2023-10-18 19:56:13.965784 UTC;android time 2023-10-18 19:56:13.965784
Oct 18 21:56:13 PhoneX23 kernel: [wdk-k] cpu=5 o_k=5 lbit=0xff cbit=0xff,0,7,1,662076693,ff,0,0,0,0,[526420657254,14922358] 14
Oct 18 21:56:14 PhoneX23 ofonod[2270]: Power request failed: OPERATION_NOT_ALLOWED
Oct 18 21:56:15 PhoneX23 ofonod[2270]: Power request failed: OPERATION_NOT_ALLOWED
Oct 18 21:56:15 PhoneX23 kernel: [name:spm&][SPM] system_bus didn't enter MCUSYS off, MCUSYS cnt is no update
Oct 18 21:56:15 PhoneX23 kernel: [name:spm&] Pending Wakeup Sources: USB suspend lock
Oct 18 21:56:16 PhoneX23 ofonod[2270]: Power request failed: OPERATION_NOT_ALLOWED
Oct 18 21:56:16 PhoneX23 kernel: timesync host boottime 529116068337
Oct 18 21:56:16 PhoneX23 kernel: [sm5602] fg_read_soc(761): soc=1002(0x644b)
Oct 18 21:56:16 PhoneX23 kernel: [sm5602] fg_get_property(1951): sm->batt_soc: 1002, val->intval: 100
Oct 18 21:56:16 PhoneX23 kernel: [DLPT] imix_r==0, skip
Oct 18 21:56:17 PhoneX23 ofonod[2270]: Power request failed: OPERATION_NOT_ALLOWED
If anyone has any idea where to poke or what to poke to get this sucker going, I’d be grateful. Worst case scenario, I am considering getting Volla 22 instead to daily-drive that, at least until X23 gets some more love.
EDIT: Managed to stumble on what seems to be an official-ish repo for Sailfish for X23: Github
With some modifications to the flash.sh and copying boot.img from the MEGA link, I flashed it…and get the same result…
Is it possible you need to wipe the user data partition with android recovery before you re-flash sfos?
I’d get a Volla22/GS5 or rephone while you can still get them new.
Maybe. ‘lsblk’ in the SFOS shell is a fucking mess to put it lightly 
I’ll try some more partition magic later on and see if that helps.
I’ll yoink the Volla22 then, since the Xperia 10 is starting to be…unusable with weak battery and RAM.
1 Like
Few weeks later, there was some spare time again. In short: Installing VollaOS on a Gigaset GX4 (the non-pro version) worked. 
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 Filefile. -
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 have0.9.7-beta). - Download the VollaOS files (
Select device manually→Volla Phone X23for Gigaset GX4 →Select→ selectVolla 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 v6.2228.00on Ubuntu Linux (executable file:SPFlashToolV6) - in SPFlashToolV6: Select the
Download-XMLfile:~/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 withStatus: Handshake failed, retrying...(without booting to BROM mode via all-button-pressed boot), or withTypeError: 'NoneType' object is not subscriptablewithin 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
preloaderandpreloader_backup, since breaking these would probably fully brick the device. This forced theDownload Onlymode. - 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 is0e8d:2000. - in SPFlashToolV6: Click onto
Downloadto start flashing. - Wait until flashing is done. It fails with "
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.
4 Likes
New build available at Jobs · sailfishos-porters-ci / halium-vidofnir-ci · GitLab complete with kernel, boot and vendor_boot images.
4 Likes
strange… i bought a gigaset gx4 pro and flashed volla os on it, that was unsuccessful first time, then i flashed ubports for volla x23, that was successful, then volla os, it booted to welcome screen, where one can select the language and then i flashed sfos #5696826776: run-build-testing but that doesn’t boot, also the previous devel build doesn’t boot. Has anyone got an idea what i could try?
I have the feeling that the volla os version could be too new
Volla OS should be V12 … Volla dev confirmed the build worked when he installed on V12, Please check what the base OS is, and if its V12 then get back to me.
it is VollaOS 12.1 from February 28, 2024, if you mean that by V12. would be nice if there was an option in ubports to select an older version of vollaos, like for ubuntu touch
i found old versions of volla os here: https://ota.volla.tech/ so i’m downloading the september version, which was before your october release, i think with that it should work. i will follow this guide to sideload the september version https://xdaforums.com/t/how-do-i-downgrade-vollaos.4531673/
oh actually you released in december… i’m quite tired at this point. i will try this anyway and maybe the december version tomorrow, if this doesn’t work
great, let me know how it goes, will be good to know what is the best base version
unfortunately it doesn’t work:
adb devices
List of devices attached
GX4PCTR300021 device
adb sideload volla-12.1-20230911-stable-vidofnir-signed.zip
adb: sideload connection failed: closed
adb: trying pre-KitKat sideload method…
adb: pre-KitKat sideload connection failed: closed