[Device Roadmap] Android 9 (Pie) & 10 (Q) : Test builds to support new devices

Reporting my experience on flashing a
Samsung Galaxy S2 tablet, SM-T813 with an sdcard mounted
with
https://eu.dl.twrp.me/gts210vewifi/twrp-3.4.0-0-gts210vewifi.img
and
e-0.10-p-2020081167314-test-gts210vewifi
through a
linux Mint 19.3 cinnamon (adb and heimdall installed)

Steps

  1. I’ve found the device already factory reset

  2. start the device, and finish the setup avoiding all requests from Goo and Sam

  3. enable the developer mode on the device (seven taps on build) and turn the device off then back on but in download mode, i.e. pressing Home + Volume Down + Power

  4. on linux terminal
    a) > adb devices to verify the usb connection
    b) > heimdall print-pit > info.txt to save informations from the device
    c) > adb reboot bootloader to reboot into download mode
    d) > heimdall flash --RECOVERY twrp-3.4.0-0-gts210vewifi.img --no-reboot

  5. Entering TWRP recovery mode
    For me, being not a a “flashaolic”, the tricky part was the proper timing between the two steps here below. Along this step I broke into a cold sweat, since I supposed I entered into a boot loop. Note that if you do not enter TWRP at this stage, you have to repeat the steps c) and d) above.
    Again: the proper timing is the key to escape the cold sweat !
    a) press Volume Down + Power to turn off the device
    b) after the shut down (dark screen) press Home + Volume Down + Power to enter into TWRP recovery mode.

  6. Make a backup of the device in factory state for an improbable, but still useful, future restore (TWRP)
    a) mount an USB OTG (where to save the backup)
    b) wipe > Format data to remove the encryption
    c) Backup > check System + Boot
    d) Select storage > USB OTG and wait until finished
    e) unmount USB OTG and remove the key

  7. Still on TWRP: wiping the device
    a) wipe > advanced wipe > check Dalvik cache + System + Data and swipe to wipe
    b) back to TWRP main screen

  8. Copying the eOS zip file from linux to the device and flashing it.
    a) from linux terminal
    > adb push e-0.10-p-2020081167314-test-gts210vewifi.zip /sdcard1/
    b) wait until the copy is finished
    c) on TWRP
    go back to home screen, tap install and navigate to sdcard1 (panel on the left), keeping Zip signature unchecked
    d) swipe to confirm flash and wait

  9. reboot and setup with eOS

All ended well and now I can start using my very first tablet.

As far I can see, it works properly, but I still encounter problems that I find in my S8 smartphone. For example, on this tablet I cannot add my (webdav) Gandi account with the embedded DAV5x fork, while it works properly with my /e/ account.
On my S8 I have installed DAVx5: there I can add my own Gandi account but not the /e/ one.

Shall I report here other problems or on gitlab ?

2 Likes