UBports installer does nothing on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

[francois-m]

Hi,

I did many tries with no success to install UBports on a Redmi Note 7. Yet already installed with success on my previous Nexus 5, last year. I carefully read these instructions: https://github.com/mrdrhax/xiaomi-redmi-note-7-installation-manual

I have created the MI account, bound the device to the MI account, unlocked the bootloader, activated developer mode and USB file transfer mode... Then launched the UBports installer v0.9.1-beta from Win10: it detects the Redmi Note 7, I click Next leaving all default values on each step, download the vendor.img file, select it and finally click on the Continue button. And nothing happens...

Win10 tasks manager shows a zero-activity on the UBports process. If I restart and uncheck the Bootstrap option (fastboot), the installer displays "Rebooting... (rebooting system) but nothing happens on the device. I tried in console mode the commands "adb devices" or "adb reboot" and they work, all commands adb seem to work, same for fastboot commands (with device in fastboot mode). Here the Redmi specs: MIUI Global 12.0.3 stable, Android 10 QKQ1 The bootloader unlock has succeeded since the little unlocked lock icon at the top is displayed on boot screen.

I switched to my Lubuntu laptop, launched the UBports installer, and got exactly same problem: no response after clicking on the final "Continue" button. I also tried to re-download the vendor.img image, tried with unpacked or packed version... Rebooted the Redmi dozens of times, and also my Win10 and Lubuntu, reinstalled adb/fastboot, what did I forget?? Should I have flashed another firmware? I updated the device to the last proposed update (12.0.3). After 3 hours of retries, I do not have more ideas. Can I execute some console commands adb/fastboot to do a manual installation? Any hints?

Thank you in advance for your help and ideas.

Francois

[leo341500]

i have that exact issue as well, i tried on windows 10 pro, ubuntu, and macOS.

[francois-m]

I finally applied the last official firmware V12.5.1.0.QFGMIXM from this page: https://xiaomifirmware.com/roms/miui-roms-for-xiaomi-redmi-note-7-lavender/, but nothing changed: the ubports installer still does nothing. I then decided to try flashing using manual commands through fastboot protocol, such as: "fastboot flash vendor vendor.img", some work has been done, but then my Redmi N7 fails to reboot (reboots endlessly). I'm looking for a manuel process.

Where could I find all needed images and partitions names to flash to?

[francois-m]

Ok, I found images. Just look at the lavender config file (here: https://github.com/ubports/installer-configs/blob/master/v2/devices/lavender.yml). It shows all url images to download (lines #62, #72), and steps to follow. I successfully flashed images into corresponding partitions, and executed manually fastboot commands.

I suppose that the config contains an error on line #93: instead of "adb:reboot:", I suppose that we have read "fastboot:reboot:" (which means to manually execute "fastboot reboot bootloader"), since this action is associated with the "bootstrap:true" condition.

Now, I can reboot my RN7, and it reboots on recovery mode since the "recovery.img" has been flashed into the 'boot' partition, according to the config steps (lines #122/123). I'm wondering if it's another error...

For now, I'm stuck on the step [line #149] which is "systemimage:install:" command. I don't know where this command is supposed to be found. Still searching on the device with the adb shell, maybe there?

[francois-m]

I understand that line #93 is not an error; at this point, the installer uses adb commands for communicating with the device, and line #93 wants the device to reboot in bootloader mode (aka fastboot). Fastboot commands go on after that reboot. Still stuck on the "systemimage:install" step.

[leo341500]

At this point i'm kinda lost but good to see you're making some progress. If you get anything done, i'll go ahead and try it out with mine.

[francois-m]

Back here after 4 more hours... I cannot figure out what i am supposed to to on step "systemimage:install:".

I imagine that this step implements all actions described here? https://docs.ubports.com/en/latest/porting/build_and_boot/Halium_install.html

The 'halium-install' script needs bash, and has to be executed on a linux. Nothing here for Win10? On Win, how does ubports-installer work? Does it just download rootfs and system images from some repository? How to send them to the device with adb/fastboot? And where?

Anyone please? Any ideas?

[francois-m]

Today's news: I launched the halium-install script from Ubuntu, no errors occured. But the device does not boot on system. Boot is restricted to recovery mode (UBports recovery image or TWRP image), or bootloader. I read many pages about Halium-9, GSI, build processes, but found nothing to go ahead and get some success. Rather disappointed of such a complex process and so many tries, when UBports announces a very simple install. I keep my old Nexus5 for now, and will retry later on my new RedmiNote7 :-(

[francois-m]

Finally it works! Thanks to the installer v0.8.8. Not so easy at first try, probably because of my previous failed installs. I reverted back to the Android firmware, relaunched the ubports installer 0.8.8, had to manually reboot the RN7 once or twice, and it now boots onto Ubuntu Touch! Happy to be there after this long way. Thank you very much for your hint @Lakotaubp (https://forums.ubports.com/topic/6808)

[leo341500]

On my way to try it out

[francois-m]

Wait a couple of hours... I'm restarting the whole process, reverting back to an older rom version with Android 9 (my RN7 came with MIUI 12.0.3 + Android 10), because the gps could not work. According to @stanwood, the cause could be the Android 10 (see posts https://forums.ubports.com/topic/6026/redmi-note-7-state-of-play/37?_=1633724328776). I will give you news quite soon.

[leo341500]

Ah yep gps isn't working here either (came with android 10/miui 11)

[francois-m]

I restarted from scratch (firmware miui 11 / android 9), then UBports installer v0.8.8, then flashed last vendor.img but gps is still down. But fingerprint security which did not work before now works. Does fingerprint security works on your UBports install?

[leo341500]

Yes fingerprint does work on my end

[francois-m]

And does video with front camera freeze?

[leo341500]

No, works fine. Though the app switcher somehow becomes inoperable in portrait mode if the music app is open and playing a file.

[francois-m]

Strange differences. My video freezes, as for many owners of Redmi Note 7. Seems that XDA guys could find some reasons for that. If I find time, I will ask them.

[francois-m]

Do you remember the exact firmware version installed on your phone? Global / Europe / Chinese / Indian...?

[leo341500]

The task switcher thing randomly stopped happening so now only the gps issue is left on my end. Oh i completely forgot, i'm running release candidate, not stable.

[leo341500]

And it was global. I'm french but this specific note 7 is a global.

[francois-m]

I'm french too, but let's keep talking english on this forum. Interesting to know that you have the RC, I could give it a try.

[leo341500]

Yeah i'm installing this phone for someone else that needs the functions present in the RC, so thats why i'm running it.

[francois-m]

Just restarted all, and choosed the RC version, but camera still freezes. I don't know where are the diffs between your device/install/config and mines... Do you think that you could describe here your process details for comparison?

[leo341500]

I installed by following the instructions on ubports installer 0.8.8 and selecting "wipe personal data". Only difference is that i started from android 10, miui 11. Thats literally it

[francois-m]

Okay, thank you very much. I will retry later on. I give up for now, too many tries. Bye

[leo341500]

Thank you for figuring out how to install in the first place, was very helpful to me : )

[francois-m]

Last question: which OS did you use for install?

[leo341500]

Windows 10 pro x64

[francois-m]

Thanks