Instructions for installing a kosher ROM on TCL Flip2/Classic T408DL

darth

Thank you [Login to see the link] for making this possible! Thank you [Login to see the link] and [Login to see the link] and [Login to see the link] and [Login to see the link] for helping me figure out different things about this phone. If anyone has any other ROMs they would like to add to this list please email me at [Login to see the link]

Prerequisites: [Login to see the link], [Login to see the link], [Login to see the link], Fastboot Drivers, brains.

Warning you are flashing custom firmware and can potentially brick your device! This process will delete everything on your device and there is no way around this! Make sure you are choosing a ROM that is for your specific device!

Download a ROM from the list below and extract the super.bin
Download [Login to see the link] and extract them
Place all your files in the ADB folder
Install MTK drivers and Fastboot drivers
Run Auto Booter
Plug in your phone into the computer while it is powered off
Once your phone screen says: =>FASTBOOT mode... on it run fastboot flashing unlock in adb
Press 'volume +' key to unlock the bootloader
Once bootloader is unlocked run the following codes to disable avb and flash the new rom

fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta vbmeta.bin
fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta_system vbmeta_system.bin
fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta_vendor vbmeta_vendor.bin
fastboot flash super super.bin This step takes 35-45 minutes (If you see "Invalid sparse file format at header magic" you can ignore it safely.)
For Roms that need the cursor app download [Login to see the link]:
fastboot flash boot boot.bin

Once completed run fastboot reboot to restart your device

You now have a kosher rom!

Quicker method (But potentially leaves room for more exploits) :

Follw steps 1-8 from previous instructions
Download [Login to see the link] [Login to see the link]
Run the following codes to flash vbmeta and recovery and reboot into recovery:

fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta vbmeta.bin
fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta_system vbmeta_system.bin
fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta_vendor vbmeta_vendor.bin
fastboot flash recovery recovery2.img
fastboot reboot recovery

Once in Recovery run the following commands to flash super:

adb shell su -c chmod a+rw /dev/block/by-name/super
adb push super.bin /dev/block/by-name/super
For Roms that need the cursor app download [Login to see the link]:
adb shell su -c chmod a+rw /dev/block/by-name/boot
adb push boot.bin /dev/block/by-name/boot

Here are links to ROMS:
THESE ROMS DO NOT ALLOW APP INSTALLATION (Even if you try the methods posted on the other thread!)
Tested on t408dl, 4058E and 4058L (Tested on phones both pre and post update):
[Login to see the link] Removes: Browser, Texting, Email, Gallery, Camera, Music, Recorder.
[Login to see the link]: Removes: Browser, Texting, Email, Video.
[Login to see the link]: Removes: Texting, Browser, Video, Email, and Hotspot. Includes: Waze, Weather, and Siddur.
[Login to see the link]: Removes: Browser and Email. Includes: Voice Access.
[Login to see the link]: Removes: Browser, Video, and Email. Includes: Voice Access.
[Login to see the link]: Removes: Browser, Video, Email, and Hotspot. Includes: Waze, Weather, and Siddur.
[Login to see the link]: Removes: Browser. Includes: Waze, Weather, Siddur, and Hotspot.

I will be posting more as I make them

If you previously installed my mouse boot.img and you are updating to a newer version of my rom you should update to [Login to see the link] as it is the one that goes along with my updated rom.

Helpful Tips:

To set key for voiceaccess:
Go to notifications, activate VoiceAccess by clicking on the VoiceAccess notification, say: "Open voice Access Settings", once in settings you can go to 'configure activation key', then to 'activation key', click on the key you want to set (quick dial on back of phone or message shortcut), say: "touch ok", you should be all set!
To toggle mouse press the favorites key (star icon). When mouse is on keys 7 and 9 scroll up, and keys * and # scroll down, key 3 opens options/right clicks. Once deactivated the mouse icon remains on screen for around 10 seconds.

Techgen

darth Thanks, the more clear we can be on providing instructions, the less questions we'll have to field (hopefully). Too bad you can't provide a link to brains... 😆

dovwcom

darth I have regular Waze, Google Maps, 1Weather and WhatsApp with List Launcher from [Login to see the link] working on my Tracfone T408DL together with mouse toggle even after disconnecting phone from PC through grab as [Login to see the link] (as long as I don't reboot, keep the phone charged and have lockscreen disabled). My Browser and Email are suspended through adb as per OP.

Note 1: I couldn't scroll up with the mouse nor do drag (for one time setup and settings Genymotion's scrcpy was very helpful because that worked fully on my apps)

Note 2: a4fmouse.apk from the Apps4Flip site click on selections doesn't work for me

Note 3: I want to install Google Voice and in order to get it working tried several ways to install Core Gapps zip (which I pushed to my SDcard) with Magisk but got errors on trying to add the module- in general should Magisk modules install on this neutron.img? Is there a way to get the Google prereqs working on this phone?

dovwcom

darth I have read all of the massive TCL t408dl thread and additional material elsewhere on these forums and yet it's not at all clear to me what the phrase "Kosher" ROM means to you and others. To me the basic of being Kosher is that in addition to a default lack of browser, texting and internet based apps there is some level of security preventing ROM/app installation. In general and in the case of your ROM does that require additional MDM software? Please clarify....

whatelseshouldido

darth The MTK Drivers link expired. Can you please upload it to google drive or send a link to the correct drivers?

Flippy

darth [Login to see the link]: No Browser or Email, added Voice Access.

Can you make a version with email, and a few added apps (waze+weather etc.)
What about hotspot, is it blocked?
Is software reset blocked? Or will it reset to the same software thats running (no browser)?

Hi1

darth your giving instructions gow to install the kosher rom and after finishing the instructions you have 2 links talk only or talk and text so my question is what is the default kosher rom if I just follow the instructions?

dovwcom

ChaseChiller this thread is for kosher ROMs that don't allow app installation - if you're looking for a ROM that doesn't have any restrictions [Login to see the link] created two boot images which do allow apps to be installed - and his work is linked to by darth in the OP of the currently 700+ thread that started this all.

Hi1 if you follow instructions in the first instruction you'll extract the super.bin from one of the two ROMs linked to at the end which are the talk only ROM and the talk and text ROM so obviously whichever of those two you take the super.bin out of will be the ROM you get 🙂

darth your instructions have flashing the super.bin which by default may take 35-45 minutes - is there any reason that you haven't updated your instructions to suggest first flashing [Login to see the link] 's recovery.bin which cuts flashing the super.bin down to less than two minutes?

cymbal

darth Thank you so much!! I used the Talk only Rom. First I downloaded ADB (I used this tutorial [Login to see the link]), then I followed the instructions. Worked perfectly.

I used Biden2020prez for MTK Drivers.

darth I want to block camera, music, and recorder. Can I remove it through ADB?

techy

lgexalter1 Thats what I thought. Do you know where I can get one?
Also, do I need to run this?

darth
fastboot flashing unlock
fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta vbmeta.bin
fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta_system vbmeta_system.bin
fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta_vendor vbmeta_vendor.bin
fastboot flash recovery recovery2.img
fastboot reboot recovery

Hi1

darth what's the difference between the recovery2.img and flashing super without recovery2.img (I'm talking about the kashrus)?

asker

darth can I use windows 7 for this?

mg5077

darth can you please make the talk only option 3 without video

hassanK

darth Great work, I do have 1 question though, my phone model is the TCL Flip (4058E) you said it was tested on t408dl and 4058I so would it brick my phone if i try it on my model?

EDIT: I saw your latest comment that it should work on all 4058 models, what happens in the case of a brick though? or if i want to revert to the Original firmware, how would i go about doing this?

Biden2020prez

Biden2020prez The bad news is, the super I tried flashing was one that I resigned every system app, and:
I bricked my phone. It's a boot loop. The strange part is that I can't even boot to recovery.

So now I am flashing this via fastboot:

darth [Login to see the link]: Removes: Browser, Email, and Hotspot. Includes: Waze, Weather, and Siddur.

If it's still bricked, I'll do a full firmware reflash using FuriousGold. (I'll keep you posted.)

Edit: I ran fastboot flash super super.bin, and now it seems to be stuck on the free filter bootanimation. I guess I'll reflash the full firmware.

COMPROT

darth thanks a million, hopefully you will soon make the regular talk and text without video thanks a again

a-one

darth what's the difference between the first method and the recovery method?

Reifam

darth Does the text option block picture text?

kolelguy

hi, I'm filtering a few TCL phones now I wanna use the faster way .

darth Quicker method (But potentially leaves room for more exploits) :

any one sew any problems with it or is it the same good as the longer way.

Techgen

beginer >
darth

pelfman1

darth Do have a ROM that is same as stock that simply allows apk install? I think that would be a great way for people to use this phone with the apps found on this site. Keep us posted

darth

COMPROT darth Look at the end of the post.

littlebob

darth
are you planning on making a rom with more of the apps that are on apps 4 flip available? i.e. google maps, uber?

Cseal89

darth how do i enable step 5?

a-one

darth is the ROM updated with the new Hebrew Keyboard and apps launcher❓

Biden2020prez

Another prerequisite: [Login to see the link]
Install these before starting.

Another tip: You can remove system apps using

adb shell pm suspend --user 0 application.to.remove

Example: adb shell pm suspend --user 0 org.chromium.chrome removes the browser.

mailech

Biden2020prez downlead is unavailable

Biden2020prez

Techgen I don't think we should spend too much time on instructions because hopefully we will have a kosher firmware which will be preferable.

Techgen

Biden2020prez True. BTW I just looked on Amazon, and it seems like its sold out 😦
EDIT: Just got one on ebay

Apps4Flip-Admin

Techgen A few frum cell phone store owners said they are going to start stocking up on the tcl flip 2 now that a good free kosher option looks doable. I’m not sure if that’s why Amazon’s out of stock but you never know.

I plan on working on a simple thorough guide for the main apps4flip site but I plan on waiting until we have the full kosher rom to do it so I don’t have to write the guide up twice

Techgen

Apps4Flip-Admin I was thinking the same.
Maybe it's better to keep it a little complicated in the meantime...

chaimzalman

What happens when you initiate recovery mode?

Biden2020prez

chaimzalman Want to explain your question?

chaimzalman

Biden2020prez if you remove the browser you can still reset the phone?

Biden2020prez

Yes. We are working on a way to allow Factory reset but keep browser removed.

Biden2020prez

Darth your link for drivers was removed because of violation of google drive terms. I had the same issue when i uploaded. Try putting it in a zip

Flippy

The download link for MTK Drivers is expired. Is this the correct one?
[Login to see the link]

Once it extracts the folders, which is the correct one to install?

Driver Auto Installer .1524
Driver Auto Installer .1612
Driver Auto Installer .1632
MTK Driver ext

Flippy

neutronscott I had trouble with that originally. I ended up installing one or two and getting it, but can we set the record straight?

Flippy The download link for MTK Drivers is expired. Is this the correct one?
[Login to see the link]

Once it extracts the folders, which is the correct one to install?

Driver Auto Installer .1524
Driver Auto Installer .1612
Driver Auto Installer .1632
MTK Driver ext

ZTEGuy

dovwcom Note 2: a4fmouse.apk from the Apps4Flip site click on selections doesn't work for me

the mouse doesn't work on android 11 phones

Apps4Flip-Admin

dovwcom In general removing with adb is not a great way to remove the browser and make a phone kosher. The best way to do it is to remount the system as read write and remove the actual browser and email apks. This way even if you reset the browser and email apps are still removed.

dovwcom

ZTEGuy I know about that bug and nevertheless a) Genymotion's scrcpy works like a treat when I have the luxury of using adb and b) [Login to see the link] 's grab binary together with the script run as nohup to enable virtual mouse from the Quickdial works even untethered (not attached to PC) for the most part except that among other things it doesn't do scroll up so I tried to use a4fmouse.apk together with it because I knew that has an a4f scroll mode but it didn't work at all neither with [Login to see the link] 's script toggled nor without unlike scrcpy that just works regardless

dovwcom

darth Apps4Flip-Admin I understand. So 2 questions:

1) Taking the features from the original FilterLG filter and applying them here I have marked the features that I understand are in your ROM with an x and left the rest with just a dash beforehand please comment if different:

FilterLG app basics
X Blocks internet access on the device (no browser even after reset)
x Blocks installing additional apps
– Blocks software updates
– Blocks ability to wipe/reset the device
– Blocks using device as a hotspot
– Blocks using a public wifi
– Blocks using voice commands
– Blocks setting a pin code on the device
– Blocks encrypting/decrypting the device
– Blocks Safe/Recovery/Download modes
– Enforced wallpaper on the device

Extras
x Block Email (even after reset)
x Block Text Messaging (even after reset)
X No Gallery (this feature in tcl408dl ROM and not filterlg)
– Block Video Player
– Block SD Card
– Block Camera
– Block Bluetooth

2) Would the FilterLG safely work on the TCL408dl out of the box?

darth

dovwcom I have also blocked: Software updates, Using public wifi. As far as video player thats included in gallery, I can block camera if people wanted, you can wipe or reset device but it wont change any of the settings in place. I dont think this phone has voice commands (and why would you want to block that?)

What else do people want blocked? Does anyone really want to blovk Camera or Bluetooth or Wallpaper? I can look into blocking hotspot and pin code.

If anyone has any other recommendations of what they want please let me know. I am not going to be making any ROMs with apps like Waze until I have an easy solution for activating the mouse.