Guide-Linux-Nabu/guide/English/prepare-en.md

Running Linux on the Xiaomi Pad 5

Preparing your device →

Prerequisites

• Brain

• Vbmeta image

• Recovery Image

• ADB & Fastboot

Notes:

Warning

All your data will be erased! Backup now if needed.

These commands have been tested.

Ignore udevadm warnings

Do not run the same command twice

Do not run all commands at once, execute them in order!

Flash vbmeta_disabled.img via fastboot

fastboot flash vbmeta_ab <vbmeta_disabled.img>

Replace <vbmeta_disabled.img> with path to vbmeta_disabled.img

Boot Orange Fox recovery through PC

fastboot boot <recovery.img>

Replace <recovery.img> with path to recovery.img

Start ADB shell

adb shell

Unmount all partitions

twrp unmount /data

Resize partition table

sgdisk --resize-table 64 /dev/block/sda

Run parted partition editor

parted /dev/block/sda

List partitions with print and remember userdata number

...
31      10.9GB  126GB   126GB                userdata
...

In this cae userdata has number 31

Remove userdata with rm <номер>

If userdata has number 31, command looks like rm 31

Create userdata partition

• Calculate userdata size using equation: X = 10.9 + [userdata size in GB]
• Run command mkpart userdata ext4 10.9GB XGB (replace X with calculated vaule)

If userdata size is 16 GB, then X = 10.9 + 16 = 26.9
So command is mkpart userdata ext4 10.9GB 26.9GB

Create efi partition

mkpart esp fat32 XGB YGB

Replace X with value calculated in prevous paragraph
Replace Y with X+1
If userdata size is 16 GB, then command is mkpart esp fat32 26.9GB 27.9GB

Create partition for linux

• for 128 GB model: mkpart linux ext4 YGB 126GB
• for 256 GB model: mkpart linux ext4 YGB 254GB

Replace Y with X+1
If userdata size is 16 GB, then command is
mkpart linux ext4 27.9GB 126GB for 128 GB model
mkpart linux ext4 27.9GB 254GB for 256 GB model

Quit from parted

quit

Format created ESP patition

mkfs.fat -F32 -s1 /dev/block/platform/soc/1d84000.ufshc/by-name/esp -n ESPNABU

Create dtbo backup

adb shell "dd if=/dev/block/platform/soc/1d84000.ufshc/by-name/dtbo$(getprop ro.boot.slot_suffix) of=/tmp/normal_dtbo.img"; adb pull /tmp/normal_dtbo.img

Backup will be saved to current directory

Check if Android still starts

Just restart the tablet, and see if Android still works. If isn't boot or looping or animation, wipe data in recovery.

Next step: Installing Linux