Need a Little Advice for a Re-flash [SOLVED]

[jakfish]

After doing the scary-mary flash to 1) Android Rooted 2) Linux 3) Sailfish, I realize that I don't truly need root, and for security purposes, I'm pondering reflashing the Android partition back to a stock Android.

I have my original scatter file, the original downloaded OSs, and what would be safest way to effect a reflash of stock Android but keeping Debian and Sailfish? My partition sizes are fine, can remain what they are.

Should I download the stock Android image and edit the scatter file?

Or should I try to do a reflash of all three OSs? (which would be fine; I've done very little work in either Debian or Sailfish, so overwriting is fine)

If I use my original scatter file and try to flash stock Android only, what would I edit in the scatter file?

It also occurs to me that even when I flashed an ostensibly rooted Android, I still had to run magisk. Could another option be to reflash with same scatter file and same downloaded OSs and simply not run magisk?

I'm obviously apprehensive about this, given my first flashing was difficult and I've carefully read the travails of other flash-ers.

Thanks,
Jake

[xananax]

I'm a noob but since no one is answering, I'll pitch in.

First:

I'm obviously apprehensive about this, given my first flashing was difficult and I've carefully read the travails of other flash-ers.

Yes. If you can not touch it, don't. I got bit hard and after 2 weeks of trying to restore my Gemini, I couldn't. Support also stopped answering.

If you still insist, though:

1 - If your Android is rooted, system files are accessible. Using Magisk/SuperSu etc *restores* security because it gates this access. Without Magisk, *all* apps have access to your root. I am not 100% sure about this as the whole Android system's internal swooshes somewhat above my understanding, but that's what I could gather.

2 - Rather than editing the scatter file, create a new scatter file from the Gemini Partition Tool with non-rooted android, choosing the same space options. Load this in the flash tool, and *uncheck*: Linux.img, Debian_boot.img, sailfish_os.img, userdata.img. AGAIN, n00b here and I stand by my first advice of not touching it, but that's what I'd try

[jakfish]

Thank you, xananax, for your help, even in midst of your own G difficulties.

Your idea about a new scatter file that flashes non-root Android only (by choosing only non-root in the flashtool) sounds very reasonable. I'll try that next time. The only rub is I can't remember the actual size of my partitions and my current scatter file doesn't make it clear, at least not to me.

By the time you posted, I had already gone ahead, using all files from original flash, and 1) reflashed linux.img (a dist-upgrade had screwed up my shut down). Did this as a test and it worked 2) reflashed boot and userdata images, very scary, but it also worked.

As for security, I installed all apps from the Playstore before running Magisk. Then completed root with Magisk. Then did a couple of root things. Then disabled superuser in Magisk setting.

It's not as ideal as a stock Android, but it was the best I could come up with.

A Netflix caveat: my procedure of only being semi-rooted while installing from Playstore made Playstore say that Netflix was "incompatible with my device" even after I installed and rooted with Magisk and chose to hide Magisk from Netflix.

I ended up installing a current Netflix apk listed from another phone. It installed and eventually Playstore recognized my Netflix installation. Research tells me that Playstore reads a cache of your machine and subsequent changes to your machine may outrace that cache. I'm certainly guessing but even today, Playstore continues to see Netflix as a legitimate install.

Thanks again for your reasoned suggestions. As for your own machine, will you try and send it back?

Jake

[jakfish]

I was able to reflash the stock Android and did so with the help of Planet and xananax's accurate advice.

It appears that the solution is to reflash with a new download of everything including a new scatter file ( https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=35479 ).

Make certain to put the downloaded, unzipped base firmware directory (in my case, it was labeled: gemini_x27_base with subdirectory Gemini_x27_12062018) in the FlashToolWindows directory. The Gemini_x27_12062018_base directory should also contain your Debian/Sailfish downloads if applicable.

The Gemini_x27_12062018_base directory needs your scatter file--if you put the scatter file in another directory, you can find it with the flash tool, but upon its selection, it won't allow you to choose the firmware files.

As a side note, when flashing, DO NOT choose the "Format all + download" option.

I was able to reflash with the same size partitions and create a stock Android along with Debian and Sailfish. But PC's email help states that you could conceivably resize your partitions as well. For both my flashes, I've simply used the size of the example partitions in http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/L..._Flashing_Guide

Jake