Bootloop on Redmi Note 9 (English/Français)

Hello,
I recently installed /e/OS on my father’s old phone (a Samsung Galaxy S8) and convinced by the concept I decided to try it on my Redmi Note 9.
I followed the guide available here: https://doc.e.foundation/devices/merlinx/install
Everything worked fine until I got to the part where you have to go into sideload mode, where I can’t get adb to detect the device with /e/OS Recovery.
So I tried using TWRP instead. This eventually worked, installation completed successfully (according to what was written) but the PC was displaying Total xfer: 0.98x instead of Total xfer: 1.00x. After that, every time it booted, it went to the fastboot and not to the OS.
When I tried to flash TWRP again it would automatically reboot but I could go back to the fastboot via adb. I tried to download it elsewhere to get a black screen this time, but again I could go back to fastboot via adb. I tried /e/OS Recovery several times with the same results.
I installed TWRP again but this time my phone is stuck in a bootloop, impossible to access the fastboot via the keys, and adb can’t find it so I can’t access it that way either.
I hope someone has an idea, but to tell you the truth, I think it’s dead.
I’d anticipated this and taken the necessary steps, but it’s still pretty frustrating.

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Bonjour,
J’ai récemment installer /e/OS sur l’ancien téléphone de mon père (un Samsung Galaxy S8) et convaincu par la proposition j’ai décidé d’essayer son mon Redmi Note 9.
J’ai suivi le guide disponible ici : https://doc.e.foundation/devices/merlinx/install
Tout fonctionnait très bien jusqu’à arriver à la partie où il faut aller en mode sideload, je n’arrive pas à faire en sorte qu’adb détecte l’appareil avec /e/OS Recovery.
J’ai donc essayé d’utiliser TWRP à la place. Ce qui a fini par fonctionner, installation s’est complété avec succès (d’après ce qui était écrit) mais le PC affichait Total xfer: 0.98x au lieu de Total xfer: 1.00x. Après ça, à chaque démarrage il allait sur le fastboot et pas sur l’OS.
Quand j’ai voulu flasher TWRP à nouveau il se mettait à redémarrer automatiquement mais je pouvais retourner au fastboot via adb. J’ai essayé de le télécharger ailleurs pour avoir cette fois un écran noir mais là encore je pouvais retourné au fastboot via adb. J’ai réessayer plusieurs fois /e/OS Recovery avec les mêmes résultats.
J’ai installé encore un fois TWRP mais cette fois mon téléphone est bloqué dans une bootloop, impossible d’accéder au fastboot via les touches, et adb ne le trouve pas donc je ne peux pas non plus y accéder de cette manière.
J’espère que quelqu’un à une idée mais à vrai dire je crois que c’est mort.
J’avais prévu cette éventualité et pris les mesures nécessaires mais c’est assez frustrant malgré tout.

Hi @Patfine welcome to the /e/ forum.

This is a dynamic partition device. These do not respond well to “user error”.

One thing at a time …

If you think the device seems bricked …

Do you have the original login to the unlock tool you used?

If yes, go there.

I used XiaoMiTool V2 - Modding of Xiaomi devices made easy … see also https://xdaforums.com/t/tool-win-lin-mac-miunlocktool-unlock-bootloader-of-xiaomi-devices-on-mac-linux.3782444/ this is a Linux tool.

When I logged in again after a “bricked situation” it recognised my phone and offered an “un-brick” option … please beware not to upgrade beyond the Android version recommended in your install /e/OS guide.

Also some reading here https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-unlock-how-to-restore-the-state-of-unlocked-bootloader-in-merlin-xiaomi-redmi-note-9-xiaomi-redmi-10x-4g.4220013/

I made this comment at the time Xiaomi, Downgrade MIUI V12.0.5.0 and ARP (anti roll back protection) … … things have probably changed since I had a merlin now merlinx on /e/OS but I think that you have to be sure not to upgrade to a point where you might have to downgrade Android version for /e/OS … and beware of certain MIUI versions … maybe enquire at Xiaomi Community

1 Like

Thanks a lot!
It helped my researches. I find this guide and I managed to fix it : https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-how-to-fix-a-hard-bricked-redmi-note-9-merlin-hard-brick.4347025/
I get MIUI 13 (Android 12) but we need Android 11 to install /e/ so I downgraded to MIUI 12.5.
But now I have the same problem, in recovery mode (with /e/OS Recovery), adb doesn’t find my phone (even if I go to Advanced>Enable ADB) :

C:\Program Files\platform-tools>adb devices
List of devices attached


C:\Program Files\platform-tools>adb sideload e-2.4-t-20240926436899-community-merlinx.zip
adb: sideload connection failed: no devices/emulators found
adb: trying pre-KitKat sideload method...
adb: pre-KitKat sideload connection failed: no devices/emulators found

I’m thinking of trying to install /e/ using SP Flash Tool :
https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/restore_murena_mediatek
Do you think it’s a good idea?

Edit: I don’t think it’s possible, I don’t find any scatter file in the rom…

Just a thought on failure of adb devices … are you aware that if you do Factory reset at any time then USB debugging will be unset, that is to say closed or not available. So it can be important that you make sure Developer options > USB debugging is still allowed immediately before trying to use adb.

Using Windows, please check with Device manager that your Xiaomi in Recovery is not showing as " :warning: Problem device". If so run Windows update with the device selected to update drivers. Windows will often provide minimal drivers for regular use of the phone, but a different “combination driver” is needed for fastboot and recovery.

I tried to use adb without any factory reset and there’s no difference (I’m sure USB debugging is allowed.
I don’t find something like that in Windows Device manager.
I tried TWRP one again, it seemed to be working and adb sideload worked, but installation stopped at 46% (instead of 47%) and it didn’t work…

Edit: I made this new topic because the bootloop issue is fixed. Thanks for your help!