Infinite initial setup loop

[aoriol]

Hello,

My 4K Sony (model KD-55X8005C) is stuck on the initial setup screen and goes back to the Welcome (the screen where you're asked to pick a language) screen in an infinite loop after choosing any of the two options on the Location (the screen where it asks you whether you want to share the location with Google) screen after I did a settings reset.

I've googled this issue and found many people who have experienced the same exact issue (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf9JFNk_ju0 & https://community.sony.com/t5/4K-Ultra-HD-TV/Stuck-with-initial-setup-screens-on-my-Sony-Bravia-4k-A... & https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/45sw8t/sony_android_tv_saferecovery_mode/).

I have tried factory resetting the device (holding down the power button on the TV together with the up arrow on the remote control), installing a fresh firmware via a USB drive (it told me the firmware is already up to date and I couldn't find a way to force it to continue) but nothing seemed to work!

Is there a solution to this bug?

[angelacr]

@aoriol Not so fast!

I'm reading that Sony Xperia phones can boot into fastboot from off. http://www.phonearena.com/news/How-to-boot-intoenter-fastboot-mode-on-Android_id71802 look for Sony. I was going to try this tomorrow but if you are in the US you have enough today left!

[aoriol]

@angelacr I have tried "adb reboot fastboot" (both USB and tcpip) and it didn't work, to my great sadness.

Thanks again

[angelacr]

@aoriol I think we may be at cross purposes.

Forget adb. Sony phones can be made to boot into fastboot from the off state. The technigue is to connect a USB lead to a computer. With the phone off, hold the volume up biutton and then put the free end of the USB into the phone. That then initiates fastboot - although the screen may appear off terminal commands will be accepted. 

I just thought that may be worth a try with that method on a Sony TV before unscrewing your leg.

[MiCal1967]

Hi @aoriol

Did you check the self diagnostic screen?

Is there an error at SW ERR line?

[aoriol]

@MiCal1967, nope, no errors, just a bunch of zeroes as everywhere else.

[MiCal1967]

Then, in my opinion, your problem and many other users similar problem, is an Account(?) issue.

Could be Gmail account but could also be Netflix in case that there never occured a complete Factory reset.

Deleting Accounts or changing passwords from another device does not solve issue. Possibly Gmail and Netflix must be unpaired and somehow(?) removed from your TV set. I don't know why it also happens in safe mode.

[angelacr]

@MiCal1967 We know the cause. Either the cache or data partition is corrupt. How the cache/data became corrupt is immaterial. In my case, I never used Netflix and never changed from my single Google account. I did do a factory reset that didn't fully reset the machine. But that was after the machine started playing up. For what it is worth I suspect side-loaded apps, not fully compliant with  the Android TV specs, were doing unanticipated mischief.

The problem devolves down to how can the cache/data can be wiped. We know fastboot -w will do it.  But with no adb to use to call up fastboot it is proving difficult.

Anyone with any ideas how to get into fastboot directly.... please shout out very loud.

[MiCal1967]

@aoriol

Look at this:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/37267335/android-studio-wireless-adb-error-10061

Are you using the same router you had in UK? You see that sometimes a wired and wireless connection behave different way. On above example you see a wired is OK but a wired gives error 10061. This is an Android Studio issue.

[aoriol]

@MiCal1967, I've tried at least two different routers and it didn't make a difference. Adb won't work simply because ADB debugging is off.

[MiCal1967]

@aoriol

Hi

I am sorry if I was misunderstood. The suggestion is to use the exact same router, under the same kind of connection(wifi or wired) that was firstly used for adb connection. The same one you had used in UK. Possibly because of MAC address. "ADB debugging is OFF" you mean that you enabled developer options but didn't use any commands?