Semi broken Xperia 1 III

/e/OS Devices Sony
1

Hello,
I am in the process of installing /e/OS on my Sony Xperia 1 III.
After sideloading the recovery image onto the device and trying to enter the recovery menu I noticed that this phone apparently doen’t have a recovery mode preinstalled and that a flashing tool from Sony is required to get a recovery mode.
Now, after restarting the device normaly I get a message that the system has an internal error. Most apps also don’t work, the network search doesn’t find any networks, the battery icon only shows a question mark, connecting the phone to a pc doesn’t indicate anything on either side and neither does a connection to a charger. The only sign of interaction I get is that the fastboot notification light shuts off when I unplug the phone.
I’m most afraid about the circumstance that the phone doesn’t seem to recognise any form of power source.
Thanks in advance.

2

Sideloading is not a method to install a custom recovery…

Install /e/OS on a Sony Xperia 1 III - “pdx215”

3

might have been a bit stupid to try it the way I have done it with my Xiaomi.
So does it mean my device is bricked now?

4

Sideloading is not a method to install a custom recovery…even on an Xiaomi

To have overview of the process, you can read

In parallele of following

Install /e/OS on a Sony Xperia 1 III - “pdx215”

5

I don’t know if I’m using the wrong term here but on my Xiaomi I loaded the recovery image from my pc to the phone. Then I could enter the /e/OS recovery mode. I selected factory reset and then I could load the OS from the pc.

1 Like
6

So this shows the general install process. I am aware that I fucked up by flashing only the custom recovery image onto the device. Now I can neither access it nor can I reach the device through normal data transmission or through the terminal in fastboot mode. I currently don’t have the option to check if it is possible to get files onto the device via sd card. But in general the proper installation guide doesn’t really help me right now since it already is broken and I’m seeking for expertise on how to revert to a fully functioning device so that I can do it the right way, unless my phone is just bricked now.

7

For your information, this phone have no RECOVERY /partition, recovery software is part of a boot partition.

You need to fastboot flash dtbo, vbmeta and vendor_boot prior to temporary fastboot boot recovery…

.

8

I just installed /e/OS on my Xperia 1 III and it’s working great!

  1. Get the unlock code from Unlock bootloader | Developer World
  2. Save it somewhere in case you can’t get it again.
  3. Unlock bootloader using the instructions at How to unlock bootloader | Developer World
  4. Command is fastboot oem unlock 0xABCDEF1234567890 where ABCDEF1234567890 is your unlock code.
  5. Then follow the instructions at Install /e/OS on a Sony Xperia 1 III - “pdx215”

Once installed you want the Sony Photography Pro 1.6.A.0.27, other versions don’t support the 1 III.

9

It appears that Sony Xperia 1 III (pdx215) and V (pdx234) is basically unbrickable, as long as you are not actively trying to brick those.

I made errors while flashing both of them. I have been extremely stressed after seeing nothing works correctly.

I just reread whole instruction and followed it exactly. I have some experience flashing Samsung Galaxy S10+ (beyond2lte SM-G975F/DS).

Just read instructions, then read them again. Then while flashing read 2-3 step at the time, perform single step, again read 2-3 steps ahead, perform single step. You will get it working. Be aware there are files, which sounds same, but they are not! E.G. recovery.zip and recovery.img are completely different files. Verify each step before progressing any further. You will save a lot of time.

2 Likes
10

Well I did learn to follow the exact phone specific instructions in the meantime.

As I have proven it is easily possible to brick the device if you don’t follow the respective instructions.I managed to get a second phone properly running but the one I broke is now most likely unrestoreably broken.
I tried restoring the original OS with the input piero provided, unfortunately without any success.
If you are interested this is where the story ended

https://xdaforums.com/t/soft-bricked.4719998/

The mainboard is now at a point where it goes into a boot loop which breaks when the Sony logo appears. I tried any way of restoring the original OS I could find and I don’t see any viable options left.
As I said, I managed to get the second phone running and I think my best shot is to wait and buy a broken spare phone for the mainboard.

11

a device can’t charge when in bootloader / fastboot mode