[X3non]

I tried " gzip -n -k -9 "path" " and got an archive which has packed size as 7 580 234
"recovery.img-zImage" has packed size as 7 580 236, so in HxD I tried "Edit > Insert bytes... > [Bytecount -> 1, Hex values -> 00]. Had to do it three times, but I got 7 580 234 (lower), 7 580 235 (lower) at 1st & 2nd attempts, and 7 580 237 (higher) at the third.

you should only need to add 2 byte count with value 00 and ensure the cursor is at the last offset

[Detective_Khalifah]

I tried " gzip -n -k -9 "path" " and got an archive which has packed size as 7 580 234
"recovery.img-zImage" has packed size as 7 580 236, so in HxD I tried "Edit > Insert bytes... > [Bytecount -> 1, Hex values -> 00]. Had to do it three times, but I got 7 580 234 (lower), 7 580 235 (lower) at 1st & 2nd attempts, and 7 580 237 (higher) at the third.

you should only need to add 2 byte count with value 00 and ensure the cursor is at the last offset

My fault for not explaining everything I tried - which gives 7 580 235. What you explained is my first attempt; I tried other methods like typing 0 -- which always displays "00", trying "Random bytes" when "Hex values" didn't work,...

[X3non]

My fault for not explaining everything I tried - which gives 7 580 235. What you explained is my first attempt; I tried other methods like typing 0 -- which always displays "00", trying "Random bytes" when "Hex values" didn't work,...

i see, have you tried using this particular kernel in twrp and it doesn't boot?
i take it that you changed 1F 08 00 71 to 1F 00 00 71, try changing it to 1F 20 03 D5, then attempt to make the size match

[Detective_Khalifah]

i see, have you tried using this particular kernel in twrp and it doesn't boot?
i take it that you changed 1F 08 00 71 to 1F 00 00 71, try changing it to 1F 20 03 D5, then attempt to make the size match

Haven't tried booting it; didn't go past making the sizes match, to think or oacking image and flashing.
What's that combination for? Will try it ASAP.

[Detective_Khalifah]

i see, have you tried using this particular kernel in twrp and it doesn't boot?
...

Eventually repacked and booted - touch was gone; flashed and touch was awake.
Fixed "Data encryption" issue using "Method 2 - Flashing no-verity-opt-encrypt.zip in TWRP" of your guide. I even got to make a Nandroid backup of /system & /data. When I think about it, though, I'd call it "Method 2++", as it wasn't purely Method 2 alone -- had to work my way around the methods to get it working.

[X3non]

Eventually repacked and booted - touch was gone; flashed and touch was awake.
...

so touch works with the packed size 1byte less? ie 7 580 235

[Detective_Khalifah]

Eventually repacked and booted - touch was gone; flashed and touch was awake.
...

so touch works with the packed size 1byte less? ie 7 580 235

That is correct