Following this thread:

https://githubmemory.com/repo/espressif/esptool/issues/662

I eventually tried:

$ sudo python /home/johnz/.local/lib/python3.8/site-packages/esptool.py write_flash_status --non-volatile 0
esptool.py v3.2
Found 1 serial ports
Serial port /dev/ttyUSB0
Connecting....
Detecting ...

Hello! I have a similar problem. I may have touched the wrong pins when debugging a soldered breadboard. The test sketch I was using seems to have been permanently written to somewhere on my ESP32-WROOM-32. I'm trying to erase everything and bring back factory condition. This is my latest attempt ...