Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro favourite smartphone 2021 #1 (closed)

purchased a device with boot loop very cheaply 2021-10-29 in Leopoldau

FASTBOOT shown with power & vol down, recognized by adb on linux with fastboot devices

needs to be unlocked first

/e/ install instructions https://doc.e.foundation/devices/miatoll/install - unlock instructions outdated there

registered a XIAOMI account

installed on windows the Mi Unlock app - but device is not shown (fastboot seems to work, see log)

unlocking FAQs https://c.mi.com/thread-2262302-1-0.html - say that it needs working device to set it for unlocking with xiaomi account

We are not alone https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/redmi-note-9-pro-joyeuse-soft-brick.63376/

When we get to the MIUI logo so he's passed boot, and loading system, (and data).

Unbrick tutorial https://www.getdroidtips.com/unbrick-redmi-note-9/ recommends fastboot erase misc

Not sure if this is is a reliable source:

MI flashtool https://www.getdroidtips.com/download-xiaomi-mi-flash-tool-flash-miui-rom-mi-devices/

USB driver for Windows https://www.getdroidtips.com/download-latest-xiaomi-usb-drivers/ (not needed I guess)

• Unlock Anleitung https://www.chinahandys.net/anleitung-unlock-xiaomi/ (Device muss funktionieren)

• xiaomi.eu ROM https://www.chinahandys.net/anleitung-xiaomi-eu-installieren/

• XIAOMI V2 modding and test tool https://www.xiaomitool.com/V2/ also runs on linux source: https://github.com/francescotescari/XiaoMiToolV2/releases/tag/v20.7.28 (project last active 2020)

Flashing via XMT2_Linux_20.7.28.run tool stock ROM miui_JOYEUSEGlobal_V12.0.4.0.RJZMIXM_fc04d4fa6c_11.0.zip via ADB in 4 minutes. Percentage on phone jumps.

Updating MIUI

MIUI sideload failed: Adb execution exception: status 1 (Unknown Source)

https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/redmi-note-9-pro-joyeuse-soft-brick.63376/post-631434 recommends flashing persist.img

https://www.droidwin.com/unbrick-redmi-note-9-pro-fastboot-commands/ recommends flashing 20+ files

Trying V12.5.1, unzip the image, then

$ chmod a+x ./flash_all.sh

Run the script

$ ./flash_all.sh

Results in

FAILED (remote: Erase is not allowed in Lock State)

Trying Recovery miui_JOYEUSEEEAGlobal_V12.5.1.0.RJZEUXM_d88e19ab8c_11.0.zip update which can be installed using the official updater app inside your device settings.

A Fastboot ROM would need unlocked device https://xiaomifirmwareupdater.com/faq/

error: update package 'miui_JOYEUSEEEAGlobal_V12.5.1.0.RJZEUXM_d88e19ab8c_11.0.zip' has no android-info.txt

XIAOMI WIKI

https://xiaomiwiki.github.io/wiki/Flash_official_ROMs.html

ADB tool https://szaki.github.io/XiaomiADBFastbootTools/

erasing 'boot'... FAILED (remote: Erase is not allowed in Lock State)

fastboot images one by one: https://www.droidwin.com/unbrick-redmi-note-9-pro-fastboot-commands/

requires unlocked bootloader

XIAOMI schaltet nach etwa 10' aus wenn im FASTBOOT Modus und nichts angesteckt ist.

Telegram group https://t.me/joyeusediscussion

Address this problem to, "https://t.me/unbrickRU".

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/root-xiaomi-redmi-note-9-pro-joyeuse.4286605/

You will see they recommend using Ofox recovery over TWRP. After joining, type .... "/notes" and then type "#ofox-miatoll"

No need to use TWRP for obtaining root on this device. Patch boot as per this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/how-to-unlock-root-redmi-9s-9-pro-using-official-tools-only-fully-working.4108913/

Official latest ROM https://c.mi.com/oc/miuidownload/detail?device=1900378

List of fastboot commands: https://www.droidwiki.org/wiki/Fastboot_(Tool)#Images_flashen

Tried these two fastboot commands:

fastboot format cache
mke2fs 1.45.5 (07-Jan-2020)
Warning: RAID stripe-width 1 not an even multiple of stride 2.
/tmp/TemporaryFile-l8aXdD: Unimplemented ext2 library function while setting up superblock
/usr/lib/android-sdk/platform-tools/mke2fs failed with status 1
mke2fs failed: 1
error: Cannot generate image for cache

fastboot format userdata
Segmentation fault (core dumped)

no effect

After more than a week shutting down the phone (fastboot not used) and heating the device it suddenly boots! Configured Android 11.

Activated Unlocking with new account.

Waiting for 10 days, then continue on Windows PC https://c.mi.com/thread-2262302-1-0.html

Rebooting failed, again stuck in MIUI boot screen.

Telegram UnbrickRU recommends:

• Remove battery
• And disconnect all cable camera
• After connect the battery cable and turn on

Disassembling https://vrm24.com/instructions/how-to-disassemble-xiaomi-redmi-note-9-pro/

Video with camera fix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AysIeS0p32E with some text on https://de.ifixit.com/Anleitung/Redmi+Note+9+Pro+Restarts+Replacement/145752

Redmi boots now. Upgrading stock OS OTA.

Re-assembling camera with electrical adhesives.

Documentation in blog https://roland.alton.at/roland/rolog/upcycling-xiaomi-redmi-9-note-pro

Miatoll is the codename of unified branches of Curtana, Joyeuse (model name of redmi 9 note pro)), Excalibur and Gram. So we will flash https://doc.e.foundation/devices/miatoll as soon as unlocking has been confirmed by MI.

Device does not show up on list. Not sure if

  fastboot devices

works on Windows. It does not on Virtual Windows, but works from Linux host.

  fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability

Finally, after waiting for a week, I could see on the Windows miflash tool the device when in fastbbot mode, logged in with xiaomi account and could unlock. All data was wiped.

Now we get with fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability

(bootloader) get_unlock_ability: 1

Boot into recovery and choose MI Assistant -> we are supposed to be in sideload mode.

adb devices
List of devices attached
95e9de85	sideload

Flashing another image does not work with the default XIAOMI bootloader / MI Assistant, we need another recovery software.

We use OrangeFox https://orangefox.download/de-DE/device/miatoll and follow this guide https://wiki.orangefox.tech/en/guides/installing_orangefox . We unzip it and then

   fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

Now we boot with VolumeUp OrangeFox and do a factory reset (format all partitions, as I do not have data on this evice). Then I choose ADB & sideload and we can flash with

   adb sideload e-0.18-r-20211017141319-dev-miatoll.zip

After next boot, the e logo appears and we have a de-googled phone.

mentioned in issue #1 (closed)

ROM review https://pupontech.com/redmi-note-9-pro-joyeuse-modders-guide/

Best kernels https://www.pling.com/p/1599207/

recommended is Wave OS - 1,1 GB! https://wave-os.sourceforge.io

ArrowOS - also Android 12 - FM also crashes? https://www.pling.com/p/1615560/

SparkOS https://github.com/Spark-Rom now supports all lenses https://www.pling.com/p/1517880/ - builds only available until Aug 21

Upgraded to e/0.21 - phone works fine and stable.

Upgrading firmware to fw_joyeuse_miui_JOYEUSEEEAGlobal_V12.5.6.0.RJZEUXM_90d3bd36af_11.0 from https://xiaomifirmwareupdater.com/ via Recovery. No changes, still all 4 cameras accessible with UltraCVM App (Gcam based) - can not hear FM radio (selecting stations works, though).

mentioned in issue #16