[Bug] Heltec Mesh Pocket contact list corruption / not functioning

[tehmaze]

Hardware: Heltec Mesh Pocket 10000mAh

A couple of days ago, my contact list got corrupted and showed only one contact, a nearby repeater that I marked as favourite. The name was still in tact, but it's public key read all 0xff bytes. Since then, I tried:

• factory reset the device, importing a previous configuration with contacts: this resulted in the symptoms described above; 340 contacts imported only one visible.
• factory reset the device, importing a previous configuration without contacts; unable to use "Add contact" feature and import new contacts (from clipboard)
• erasing the device, flashing it with the latest dev branch, importing a previous configuration without contacts; unable to use "Add contact" feature and import new contacts (from clipboard)

No matter what I try, I am unable to create new contacts. Can this be a software issue, or should I ask Heltec to RMA the device?

73s, maze

[pelgraine]

That's definitely an odd one. Not a Dev but thought I'd chime in as I've got two meshpockets and a stack of other nodes, and I've had a very similar bug before when trying to fix the battery readings on the T-Echo Lite, which makes me wonder if there's something happening with the power that's causing your issues. Given we can't remove the battery to do a hard reset, perhaps try leave it until it reads 0% and as close to 0 volts as you can and wait a couple hours to ensure its flat, then plug it into mains power to charge for a couple of hours, then wipe it and flash it again?

[oltaco]

No matter what I try, I am unable to create new contacts. Can this be a software issue, or should I ask Heltec to RMA the device?

That does sound very strange! Have you tried running an erase on it using the MeshCore erase from the web flasher?
You can also use UF2 mode and copy this erase file on, you will need to reflash MeshCore afterwards. https://github.com/meshcore-dev/nRF52-Flash-Format/releases/download/v1.1/FLASH_ERASE_nrf52_softdevice_v6.uf2

[tehmaze]

Yes I have tried to run the erase action from the web flasher as well as the erase option from nrf-utils. Will try to deplete the battery and wipe like suggested.

[oltaco]

Yes I have tried to run the erase action from the web flasher as well as the erase option from nrf-utils. Will try to deplete the battery and wipe like suggested.

That that you must run the MeshCore erase, unless nrf-utils is doing a full low level format it won't erase the ExtraFS area that MeshCore uses for its expanded filesystem.