Failed to install TWRP on Samsung A520F with Heimdall

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1

Hi,
First, I have no windows system (only Mint and Ubuntu) on my computers.

I tried to follow e/OS installation steps described in

heimdall print-it seems to work (phone display information and reboot).

but after heimdall flash, I can not switch off the phone to reboot it on recovery mode and it reboot with the current system Android 8 (R16NW.1520FXXUGCTKA)

heimdall flash --RECOVERY twrp-3.7.0_9-0-a5y17lte.img --no-reboot --verbose
Heimdall v1.4.2

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Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
      Manufacturer: "SAMSUNG"
           Product: "Gadget Serial"

            length: 18
      device class: 2
               S/N: 0
           VID:PID: 04E8:685D
         bcdDevice: 021B
   iMan:iProd:iSer: 1:2:0
          nb confs: 1

interface[0].altsetting[0]: num endpoints = 1
   Class.SubClass.Protocol: 02.02.01
       endpoint[0].address: 83
           max packet size: 0010
          polling interval: 09

interface[1].altsetting[0]: num endpoints = 2
   Class.SubClass.Protocol: 0A.00.00
       endpoint[0].address: 81
           max packet size: 0200
          polling interval: 00
       endpoint[1].address: 02
           max packet size: 0200
          polling interval: 00
Claiming interface...
Setting up interface...

Initialising protocol...
Protocol initialisation successful.

Beginning session...

Some devices may take up to 2 minutes to respond.
Please be patient!

Session begun.

Downloading device's PIT file...
WARNING: Empty bulk transfer after receiving packet failed. Continuing anyway...
PIT file download successful.

Uploading RECOVERY
0%
3%
7%
...
94%
98%
100%
RECOVERY upload successful

Ending session...
Releasing device interface...

I saw on the TWRP documentation for A5 2017 that there may be a protection “dm-verity” preventing system modifications.

Here is the screen at the end of the heimdall flash execution

20230923_215210
20230923_2152101920×2560 128 KB

Is there a way to solve this that I missed ? I am not used to phone “hacking” and have no windows computer to operate.

I would like (and I also need) to experiment e/OS as some important applications do not accept to run on Android 8 forcing me to change my phone which works.

Thanks for your help :slight_smile:

2

Hi @fcodvpt welcome to the /e/ forum.

From your description of this Samsung behaviour, I think the most likely thing is explained in this link Your first boot into TWRP.

I am uncertain, but “Product: Gadget Serial” might indicate a different issue.

3

Hi @aibd,

Thanks for your welcome et for your helpful answer !

The complete It fixed the TWRP install with heimdall and I have been able to go to further in the installation.

Now I seem to be in a wrong state (I used TWRP 3.7 and did not have the same options as the install guide), there was errors on /data and now it seems to loop on “Encrytion unsuccessful” / “Factory data reset”.

I can loose the data of this phone so I clicked on “erase all data”, but I am now block on this “Encrytion unsuccessful” screen.

20230924_172035
20230924_1720351920×2560 226 KB

If someone has another pointer or another advice to do the right thing, it seem I am not so far from succeeding :smiley:

4

My first guess is that TWRP is too advanced. Try a version around 3.5.

5

Finally I have downloaded TWRP again (the same), but I found the “format data” button (click on the “wipe” button first). I quite did this missing step and now I have e/OS displayed !!

I now have to get started on e/OS :D, again thanks for your usefulp help for accessing TWRP on Samsung !

6

Unfortunately I have now a “no sim card” that does not seem so easy to fix.
The phone was bought by me and is not linked to a carrier.

7

You might try running the First Start Wizard with SIM card in place. This would require a Factory reset first – the factory reset will return you to /e/OS

8

I ashamed, I inserted the SD card and not the SIM card, it works !!!
I think I was tired :upside_down_face:
Sorry for bothering, thanks again for your help !

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