How to install /e/os on a Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 (TWRP)

blo72 · June 6, 2021, 2:20pm

I would like to install /e/os on a Galaxy Tab S5e SM-T720 and I’m blocked at the first step (TWRP).
https://doc.e.foundation/devices/gts4lvwifi/install

As TWRP is not (yet) installed, I downloaded twrp-3.3.1-5-gts4lvwifi.img
On the tablet, the usb debug mode is activated and the bootloader is unlocked

On my PC (I use Linux) adb devices returns the tablet ID

$ adb devices
List of devices attached
R52M712VYQN device

$ adb reboot bootloader
The tablet restarts in Download mode

$ fastboot devices
returns no information !!

$ lsusb
Bus 003 Device 005: ID 02e8:645d Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd GT-I9100 Phone [Galaxy S II] (Download mode)

I tried to install TWRP with heimdall but without success…

$ heimdall flash --RECOVERY twrp-3.3.1-5-gts4lvwifi.img
Initialising connection…
Detecting device…
Claiming interface…
Setting up interface…
Initialising protocol…
ERROR: Failed to send handshake!ERROR: Protocol initialisation failed!
Releasing device interface…

So, I am looking for a step by step to install TWRP on a Galaxy Tab S5e.
Any help is welcome !

Regain your privacy! Adopt /e/ the unGoogled mobile OS and online services phone

piero · June 6, 2021, 2:38pm

it is normal for a Samsung Device, we must use heimdall instead of fastboot

trashHeap · June 6, 2021, 11:18pm

I flashed this same tablet successfully a couple of nights ago, by following the lineageOS instructions https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/gts4lvwifi/install

just sideloading /e/OS instead of lineageOS at the last step.

piero · June 7, 2021, 11:25am

Thank you @trashHeap to point it out,
There are specific steps for this device and probably other of its generation, i have to include those exeptions in my guide.

blo72 · June 7, 2021, 4:31pm

Thank you @trashHeap
If Heimdall fails then I will try with Odin as soon as I have a Windows machine.

blo72 · June 7, 2021, 4:36pm

Thanks you @Piero
I will repeat the procedure: I had not entered the command $ heimdall print-pit

blo72 · June 10, 2021, 2:52pm

So I have tried Heimdall again… but no success !

I followed the guide from @piero
howto-install-e-on-a-samsung-device-from-a-gnu-linux-pc-successfully/22384#unlock
$ heimdall print-pit
Heimdall v1.4.2

Initialising connection…
Detecting device…
Claiming interface…
Setting up interface…

Initialising protocol…
ERROR: Failed to send handshake!ERROR: Protocol initialisation failed!

Releasing device interface…

$ sudo heimdall print-pit --verbose --no-reboot
Heimdall v1.4.2

Initialising connection…
Detecting device…
Manufacturer: “Samsung”
Product: “SDM710”

        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: 82
max packet size: 0010
polling interval: 09

interface[1].altsetting[0]: num endpoints = 2
Class.SubClass.Protocol: 0A.00.00
endpoint[0].address: 01
max packet size: 0200
polling interval: 00
endpoint[1].address: 81
max packet size: 0200
polling interval: 00
Claiming interface…
Setting up interface…

Initialising protocol…
ERROR: libusb error -7 whilst sending bulk transfer. Retrying…
ERROR: libusb error -7 whilst sending bulk transfer. Retrying…
ERROR: libusb error -7 whilst sending bulk transfer. Retrying…
ERROR: libusb error -7 whilst sending bulk transfer. Retrying…
ERROR: libusb error -7 whilst sending bulk transfer. Retrying…
ERROR: libusb error -7 whilst sending bulk transfer.
ERROR: Failed to send handshake!ERROR: Failed to receive handshake response. Result: -7
ERROR: Protocol initialisation failed!

Releasing device interface…

piero · June 10, 2021, 4:43pm

The download link you share, only propose outdated versions of Heimdall (1.4.0)
The first step according LOS documentation is to flash the “vbmeta.tar” over the stock firmware with odin,
how doing that with heimdall as we don’t know on witch /partition flash it !

blo72 · June 13, 2021, 4:08pm

So I had tried Odin with a Windows machine but the process fails at the first step.
Custom Binary (vbmeta) Blocked By OEM Lock.

Actually, I’m not sure I’m in the “right” Download mode.

If I follow the @trashHeap instructions https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/gts4lvwifi/install

Power off the device, and boot it into download mode.
With the device powered off, plug in the device while holding Volume up + Volume Down + Power.
For me, I have been unable to access Download mode, the tablet boots up normally !

To access the Download Mode, I’ve used adb reboot bootloader or, with the device powered off, plug in the device while holding Volume up + Power and choose Reboot to bootloader.

BUT I have never seen the onscren instructions coorelate to “Continue” and/or “Unlock Bootloader”.

trashHeap · June 13, 2021, 8:51pm

This was an issue for me. You have to both, unlock the bootloader from the menu within the bootloader as per the lineageOS “pre-install” instructions and unlock the bootloader from the developer menu afterwards.

Also I found that you have to keep unlocking the bootloader everytime it reboots into official firmware. Otherwise it keeps… relocking? It will also overwrite recovery every reboot as well as long as it’s running official firmware.

I also had difficulty finding the bootloader unlock from the developer menu, until I found out Samsung hides the option until the device has been online for seven days. You can player with the date/time settings to trick it that this has passed. I mentioned this over in the S5e documentation thread, along with a link to the instructions: Samsung - Galaxy Tab S5e (Wi-Fi) - gts4lvwifi - Documentation Suggestions

Timing on this was kind of a bitch. It will also ONLY go into download mode if it reads a data connection to a PC via USB at the same time. Hooking it up to a charger and holding those buttons will not be sufficient to boot it into download mode.

It was challenging to flash. Works like a dream once you jump through all the hoops though.

piero · June 14, 2021, 3:19pm

[“blo72”]
Actually, I’m not sure I’m in the “right” Download mode.

blo72 · June 14, 2021, 4:30pm

I am making progress, I have installed TWRP but when I try to install /e/OS with adb sideload the process stops at 21% and the tablet reboots !

adb sideload e-0.17-q-20210529117214-dev-gts4lvwifi.zip
serving: ‘e-0.17-q-20210529117214-dev-gts4lvwifi.zip’ (~21%) adb: failed to read command: Success

And now I see a warning message : This tablet’s bootloader is unlocked and its software integrity can’t be verified…
The tablet is not running Samsung’s official software…
And I return in TWRP !

piero · June 14, 2021, 5:16pm

For the last step, don’t forget to reboot in recovery after “format /data”.

.

trashHeap · June 14, 2021, 6:16pm

I never had that problem but another option would be to do a “adb push e-0.17-q-20210529117214-dev-gts4lvwifi.zip /sdcard/” after you wipe/format the various partitions. And then use TWRP to flash the .zip file.

piero · June 14, 2021, 6:49pm

first, have you seen some errors messages during wipe or format ?

An idea : does the mentioned “VBmeta” have to be flashed now with TWRP ?
before installing /e/ ?
Or was it needed for older versions like Pie or older TWRP ?

blo72 · June 14, 2021, 7:52pm

May be a good idea.
I will try to flash with a sdcard later.

blo72 · June 14, 2021, 7:56pm

No special errors during wipe or format.
I will try to re-flash VBmeta with TWRP later.

blo72 · June 14, 2021, 8:08pm

Maybe a stupid question but what is the use of the file recovery-e-0.17-q-20210529117214-dev-gts4lvwifi.img ?

piero · June 14, 2021, 8:11pm

It is an AOSP based recovery (less features than TWRP)

Try it ! . it is reputed working ! .

piero · June 14, 2021, 8:37pm

For installing AOSP 10 based OS, earlier is recommanded ( 3.5.x-x )