Upgrade Nameless 12.1 to 13.0 for OnePlus 9R without data loss (20221106)

UpgradeNameless12.1to13.0_OnePlus9R_noDataLoss.md

Where we at now

OnePlus 9R, unlocked, Nameless ROM 12.1, version Nameless-AOSP_kabeb-12.1-20220413-1509-Official

OOS 11 firmware based, Nameless Recovery, with Magisk Root.

The grand goal is to upgrade to Nameless 13.0, possibly without data loss ✌.

Things you need:

• DDR Type for 8T & 9R : This is important!

• Firmware zip, C33 is fine, download according to DDR type, OnePlus Firmware Updatesshared by "bowow";

• Nameless 13.0 ROM zip, (https://sourceforge.net/projects/nameless-aosp/files/kebab/), Nameless-AOSP_kebab-13.0-20221023-0749-Official as writting;

• Images file: boot.img, vbmeta.img, vbmeta_system.img and recovery.img, all from Nameless Wiki: OnePlus 8T/9R;

• copy-partitions script: copy-partitions-20220613-signed.zip from LineageOS Tools. Don't worry, it just requires a sideload trick;

• OrangeFox Recovery, OrangeFox-R12.1-Unofficial-OnePlus8T_9R-V12.img from github.com/Wishmasterflo/twrp_device_oneplus_lemonades ;

Steps to upgrade:

1. Make sure adb debug permission is granted on the computer to use;

2. Reboot the phone into fastboot mode : Turn off the phone, then hold Power + Volume +&- buttons pressed for 5 seconds ;

3. Flash Images file as in Wiki page says:

   fastboot flash boot boot.img
   fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta vbmeta.img
   fastboot flash --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta_system vbmeta_system.img
   fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
   

   Now if you are experiencing exactly what I experienced, you phone should be in a state of start loop: it truns on and off again and again after the unlock warning screen regradless what buttoms you press or not. Don't panic now, I got your back 😂.

4. Long hold power button to turn off the phone for good. Then boot into fastboot mode as shown in step 2, then

   fastboot boot recovery.img
   

   to boot directly into Nameless Recovery. In the recovery, there is "Install update", there you enable adb sideload. As per the Wiki page, you may now flash Firmware and ROM zip using adb sideload xxx.zip commands (which however should also fail because of the firmware version), the firmware flash will succeed, but ROM flash won't. Its's OK, just make sure firmware is flashed;

5. Now in sideload mode:

   adb sideload copy-partitions-20220613-signed.zip
   

   this takes a few minites maybe but it'll report success;

6. Now back in fastboot mode, use the command to boot into OrangeFox Recovery:

   fastboot boot orangefox_recovery.img
   

   Also there is adb sideload available here. Enable that and then :

   adb sideload Nameless_ROM_13.1.zip
   

   (I am not sure, maybe this can be done in a Nameless 13.1 Recovery too now since copy_partition did our preparations, but I didn't try)

   and wola, Nameless 13.1 is in! And now your phone is with Nameless 13.1 ROM and Recovery, previous data should be intact too. In case there are problems, backup and then wipe data in recovery.

If you want Magisk, download lasted Magisk apk file (V25.2 now as I write this) and sideload too.

I want to thank @Muhd from Telegram group Nameless-AOSP | OnePlus Hub for his/her generous help, and also @Ryano89, @haiderijaz and @ProAF for your help along the way. All your work is gratefully appreciated.