Please excuse asking questions as a first post, but I'm at the stage where I'm stumped and a search isn't helping.
Mlais MX28 fresh from MM pre-rooted. Managed to get the ROM backed up and CWM installed with Rua1's excellent MTK Droid Root & Tools. However, removing the Chinese useless (for me - no offence intended) apks proved not to be happening from the one-click button in that excellent piece of software. No bother, thought I, I'll just use adb and remove the relevant apks manually from /system/app. Famous last words.
Here's where things get really odd. I can mount root fine using the usual procedure but mount -o rw,remount /[email protected] /system works once and once only. Even stranger is that the first time gets you a rw mounted filesystem for about 10 seconds, at which point it gets remounted ro and no amount of faff will get it back to rw without a full power off and restart. All it does is spits out
Code:
mount: Read-only file system
Any ideas, please? I suspect there's some write protection going on but I haven't the first idea where to look.
Edit: Having done a little more searching on this issue, it seems there's a few Acers with the same behaviour, caused by a compiled-in kernel option. Looks like it may well be "wait for a custom ROM" is the answer. Not sure if rolling our own is possible unless anyone knows where to get the Mediatek sources for this device from?
Anyway, :good: to all those who have viewed my question. It's appreciated.
Edit 2: There's an S4UI ROM on needrom<dot>com that is rumoured to have solved this issue. Note that if you have installed CWM using the "magic" MTK Droid Root & Tools method, chances are you can't mount /system rw using ADB in CWM either - I suspect they share the same kernel. I haven't tried the S4UI ROM myself as the recovery needed to install it seems to be in Chinese. Possible solution for anyone with a grasp of that language and script but that someone isn't me
[Q] Mlais MX28 Recovery in Chinese Any help with translation
Hello, bud Any help yet also gut stuck in this.
I'm afraid not at the moment. The S4UI ROM on needrom does indeed enable /system rw but the WiFi and Bluetooth will not activate. Replacing mtk_stp_wmt.ko in /system/lib/modules/ with the version from the stock ROM that should fix this issue, doesn't fix this issue. It's a shame as the S4UI ROM is rather pleasant to use and if I could get that fully operational I expect I would be quite happy with this device. Oddly, the stock ROM came back with a different MAC for the WiFi. As I restored from a backup created with MTKDR&T, this is a little perplexing.
I'll update if I find any more clues.
{Possible solution/nasty hack]
Here's a way to get full /system access on the stock ROM. It requires
Clockwork Mod recovery
ADB
Courage
Install/create Clockwork Mod with MTKDR&T. Now boot into recovery by holding Vol+ and power until the boot selection screen appears and then select recovery with Vol+ and press Vol- to accept.
Do not mount /system in CWM.
On your ADB equipped computer, start
Code:
adb shell
Now issue the following at the root shell prompt:
Code:
tune2fs -e continue /dev/block/mmcblk0p5
Reboot the system and enjoy the power of full root.
This may well be a nasty hack. I was convinced the issue was a protected kernel module but it seems the ext4fs image of the system block is corrupt in some way and the default error action is to mount -o ro. We're disabling that default action and letting the mount remain unchanged.
As always with these things, proceed at your own risk. If you break it, you have the privilege of keeping both bits.
Good way around mate, but risky as no CWM yet installed, seem's the mobile gut some bug problem, should expect an official update rom soon enough, Root method you used for this? i intend flashing Clockwork Mod can seem to understand fully as i'm new to android development and customizing, again problem with battery do you get a full day (few moment on screen) light usage? Feel its no actual 25000mah on board.
codedmax said:
Good way around mate, but risky as no CWM yet installed, seem's the mobile gut some bug problem, should expect an official update rom soon enough, Root method you used for this? i intend flashing Clockwork Mod can seem to understand fully as i'm new to android development and customizing, again problem with battery do you get a full day (few moment on screen) light usage? Feel its no actual 25000mah on board.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears there's an fsck implementation in the shell of CWM as well.
Code:
e2fsck -pfv /dev/block/mmcblk0p5
That should fix most of the errors in the filesystem.
The device came with su and SuperSU installed but it was fairly useless without /system access.
CWM can be easily installed using MTK Droid Root & Tools to extract the boot image, auto-patch, build CWM and install the lot. It really is a slick piece of software.
As for the battery, an even bigger issue is the supplied charger which is puny. Of course, looking at the battery and then looking at a proper, honest-to-goodness 2.2Ah Panasonic 18650 cylindrical cell you have to wonder if 2.5Ah isn't awfully optimistic.
Chron0s said:
It appears there's an fsck implementation in the shell of CWM as well.
Code:
e2fsck -pfv /dev/block/mmcblk0p5
That should fix most of the errors in the filesystem.
The device came with su and SuperSU installed but it was fairly useless without /system access.
CWM can be easily installed using MTK Droid Root & Tools to extract the boot image, auto-patch, build CWM and install the lot. It really is a slick piece of software.
As for the battery, an even bigger issue is the supplied charger which is puny. Of course, looking at the battery and then looking at a proper, honest-to-goodness 2.2Ah Panasonic 18650 cylindrical cell you have to wonder if 2.5Ah isn't awfully optimistic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very Well concerned,
once again good job, but how do i go about implementing this,
would you be kind enough to put in some more details on the file system code and CWM flashing with MTK Droid root & Tool did you manage to get a translation on the chinese langauage recovery problem,
(a tutorial is just fine) Thanks alot bud.
Okay, give me a little time to set it all up for screenshots as I don't generally use Windows unless I have to. It's all fairly straightforward. The CWM installation is four clicks and some waiting and repairing the /system block is a couple of commands.
Oscarblue48 has a tutorial on installing CWM on Mediatek devices here or here if your MX28 isn't rooted which is the procedure I followed. Then it's just a case of booting into CWM, connecting your device to USB and using adb's shell to fsck the filesystem on that block.
really nice, okay as you say,
i would look forward to it (some screen shots aid), in the main time with full study & concentration on the CWM tutorial you gave, quite interesting if you ask me.
#back to studying, looking forward to a bug free final optimization of the Mlais MX28 as its a great buy for such a price.
codedmax said:
really nice, okay as you say,
i would look forward to it (some screen shots aid), in the main time with full study & concentration on the CWM tutorial you gave, quite interesting if you ask me.
#back to studying, looking forward to a bug free final optimization of the Mlais MX28 as its a great buy for such a price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delay, I ran into a few issues and had to work out what was going on. Basically the e2fsck in CWM cannot write back to the block device so is useless. I extracted the system.ext4.img, added it as a file backed memory disk on my main computer and ran an e2fsck from there, which found and fixed the errors in the FS image. Writing that back after changing a few MD5sums in the file MTKDR&T creates allowed me to flash it back.
However it makes absolutely no difference to the mount behaviour. It still drops back to ro without the tune2fs -e continue set so that is, barring someone else coming up with a more elegant fix, the workaround. In a nutshell, follow the guide for either root or CWM recovery installation that others have posted linked above (no point wasting board space on repetition) and then simply follow my instructions for setting the error behaviour on the mmcblk0p5 slice and you should be good to go.
It's still an awful hack IMHO but, since there's nothing else so far that works, it's the uncomplicated way to get full root. Most of us will install CWM anyway, so it's no big chore just to boot into recovery and type one command "tune2fs -e continue /dev/block/mmcblk0p5" at the ADB shell.
Chron0s said:
Sorry for the delay, I ran into a few issues and had to work out what was going on. Basically the e2fsck in CWM cannot write back to the block device so is useless. I extracted the system.ext4.img, added it as a file backed memory disk on my main computer and ran an e2fsck from there, which found and fixed the errors in the FS image. Writing that back after changing a few MD5sums in the file MTKDR&T creates allowed me to flash it back.
However it makes absolutely no difference to the mount behaviour. It still drops back to ro without the tune2fs -e continue set so that is, barring someone else coming up with a more elegant fix, the workaround. In a nutshell, follow the guide for either root or CWM recovery installation that others have posted linked above (no point wasting board space on repetition) and then simply follow my instructions for setting the error behaviour on the mmcblk0p5 slice and you should be good to go.
It's still an awful hack IMHO but, since there's nothing else so far that works, it's the uncomplicated way to get full root. Most of us will install CWM anyway, so it's no big chore just to boot into recovery and type one command "tune2fs -e continue /dev/block/mmcblk0p5" at the ADB shell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greetings bud, gut CWM installed, all thanks to you (indeed greatful), have you been lucky with any custom rom as of now that works efficently on your device?
I seem to find a few bug here and there on the manufacturer stock, puny wifi & gps lock in, slight screen maulfuctions a little times.
As with most mtk gps can not finding a lock in hows it with your device.
codedmax said:
Greetings bud, gut CWM installed, all thanks to you (indeed greatful), have you been lucky with any custom rom as of now that works efficently on your device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the custom ROMs on needrom work correctly which is a shame. The stock ROM's UI is awful.
codedmax said:
I seem to find a few bug here and there on the manufacturer stock, puny wifi & gps lock in, slight screen maulfuctions a little times. As with most mtk gps can not finding a lock in hows it with your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now you have root you can use FasterGPS from FDroid to intialise the gps.conf file with appropriate settings for your location. My GPS is rock solid now, even in a moving vehicle. Not had any screen malfunctions. What version is your stock ROM? Mine's the 20140221 update.
Chron0s said:
None of the custom ROMs on needrom work correctly which is a shame. The stock ROM's UI is awful.
Now you have root you can use FasterGPS from FDroid to intialise the gps.conf file with appropriate settings for your location. My GPS is rock solid now, even in a moving vehicle. Not had any screen malfunctions. What version is your stock ROM? Mine's the 20140221 update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello great bud,
Sorry for late reply, been up with alot on my plate from work lately, gps has been improved upon using that wonderful app "FasterGPS" now able lock in under a split couple of min not as before were it take like forever *Nice*
gut the same stock version "20140221" gusse its down to my own unit with the screen ish
Did a little searching around found a recent update from a online retailer outlet via their forum "merimobiles"
forum.merimobilesdotcom.previewdnsdotcom/showthread.php?465-Unified-thread -for-Mlais-MX28-stock-ROM-updates
Hope im not infringing on any xda TOS as i just seek some help.
Thanks
Please i need help, i have a mlais mx28 buy in buyincoins, with the refer gordete200, it´s all ok.
i´m very happy with the mlais mx28, but i used a 8 gigas sd card, it´s all ok.
My problem: i have install with flashtools the new rom stock update : mx28_0312_N2.rar from the official mlais mx28 web
When i have install this ultimate ( update ) ROM, it´s was with reebots, and the wifi and blutooth crash 0_0 !!! what happend?
I back to the Rom stock : 0115 but the sd partitions was changed : 1 gb for apps, and 1.75 gb for internal memory, it´s very strange, before install the Update, i had 2,3 gb for apps and 256 gb for internal memory...
I´m very worry, the actual problem is the sd card:
With 8 gb sd card class 10, it´s all ok, all correct, but when i put the 16 gb sd card class 10, it´s don´t mount sd correctly always.
I´m very crazy for all...
codedmax said:
Hello great bud,
Sorry for late reply, been up with alot on my plate from work lately, gps has been improved upon using that wonderful app "FasterGPS" now able lock in under a split couple of min not as before were it take like forever *Nice*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good stuff. Once you have the gps.conf set up, try using Mobileuncle Tools to pull in the EPO (extended prediction orbit, basically a nice big list of keplers for the satellites so it knows which to expect to be in view at a given time without having to scan the sky for what's actually there) data which should stabilise the GPS even further.
codedmax said:
gut the same stock version "20140221" gusse its down to my own unit with the screen ish
Did a little searching around found a recent update from a online retailer outlet via their forum "merimobiles"
forum.merimobilesdotcom.previewdnsdotcom/showthread.php?465-Unified-thread -for-Mlais-MX28-stock-ROM-updates
Hope im not infringing on any xda TOS as i just seek some help.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if it's the bodged Trebuchet they're using? It's a bit of a disaster as they've taken the CM launcher, bodged bits of MIUI into it and given the whole thing a "that'll do" look and feel. I replaced it with the real Trebuchet after a thorough decrapify, along with the AOSP stock keyboard. There's a "modified" apk of Trebuchet (all the dev did was lower the base API level so it would install on 4.1) floating about on the 'net somewhere. The various KitKat-alikes work fairly well but I wanted something open source that I could slam into /system/app without worrying.
It has taken a lot of faff to get to this stage but I now have a very usable and fast device for not a great deal of outlay.
gordo100 said:
Please i need help, i have a mlais mx28 buy in buyincoins, with the refer gordete200, it´s all ok.
i´m very happy with the mlais mx28, but i used a 8 gigas sd card, it´s all ok.
My problem: i have install with flashtools the new rom stock update : mx28_0312_N2.rar from the official mlais mx28 web
When i have install this ultimate ( update ) ROM, it´s was with reebots, and the wifi and blutooth crash 0_0 !!! what happend?
I back to the Rom stock : 0115 but the sd partitions was changed : 1 gb for apps, and 1.75 gb for internal memory, it´s very strange, before install the Update, i had 2,3 gb for apps and 256 gb for internal memory...
I´m very worry, the actual problem is the sd card:
With 8 gb sd card class 10, it´s all ok, all correct, but when i put the 16 gb sd card class 10, it´s don´t mount sd correctly always.
I´m very crazy for all...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a backup of the original ROM and scatter (partition layout) file? You really should (read: MUST) back up these devices before flashing new firmware as there's often bits missing, as you found with the WiFi and Bluetooth issue. MTK Droid Root & Tools will create a useful backup of the partition layout and contents for you without too much difficulty.
Please do not write to the preloader partition with the SP flash tool. Once the preloader is corrupt, your device is a brick which only JTAG will recover. I seriously doubt anyone has a JTAG solution for this device right now. There is no need to rewrite the preloader at all in any case so simply deselect the preloader block in SP Flash tool before downloading.
As for the SD cards, you need to make sure your card is formatted FAT, not NTFS, and the card must be partitioned correctly, i.e. the FAT partition must be the first primary. The MX28 will accept a card of up to 32GB if I recall correctly, which is the limit of SD-HC. Clockwork Mod can format your card for you.
Chron0s said:
Do you have a backup of the original ROM and scatter (partition layout) file? You really should (read: MUST) back up these devices before flashing new firmware as there's often bits missing, as you found with the WiFi and Bluetooth issue. MTK Droid Root & Tools will create a useful backup of the partition layout and contents for you without too much difficulty.
Please do not write to the preloader partition with the SP flash tool. Once the preloader is corrupt, your device is a brick which only JTAG will recover. I seriously doubt anyone has a JTAG solution for this device right now. There is no need to rewrite the preloader at all in any case so simply deselect the preloader block in SP Flash tool before downloading.
As for the SD cards, you need to make sure your card is formatted FAT, not NTFS, and the card must be partitioned correctly, i.e. the FAT partition must be the first primary. The MX28 will accept a card of up to 32GB if I recall correctly, which is the limit of SD-HC. Clockwork Mod can format your card for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for your help. I have a back up of my mlais, i have a back up with mtk droid and tools 2.5.3 ( new version ), but when i put it on the flash tools, the cache and user is missing, and it´s imposible to download it. and then i put a recovery CWM on the mlais with droid and tools ( very easy ), and use a nandroid back up, it´s no problem, but the internal sd partition is always changed : 1 gb for apps and 1.75 for sd internal, i´m very sad because i would like back to the 2,3 gb for apps ( original partition )
Yes... always fat32 sd cards of course, but i have problems with the sd up to 8 gb, the mlais freeze, or sd desmount ( it´s imposible sometimes write in sd external ) i don´t find the problem with this... i have the rom stock : 115.
Other problem, i would like to up the ultimate ROM stock 221. but the wifi and bluetooth crash, and reboot the phone sometimes ( terrible...) , what can i do ? your solution is don´t stick the PRELOADER on the Flashtool when i upload the firmware ? it´s correct? ( i think that if don´t mark the preloader it´s imposible flash... ?¿ )
Many thanks for your help !
gordo100 said:
Other problem, i would like to up the ultimate ROM stock 221. but the wifi and bluetooth crash, and reboot the phone sometimes ( terrible...) , what can i do ? your solution is don´t stick the PRELOADER on the Flashtool when i upload the firmware ? it´s correct? ( i think that if don´t mark the preloader it´s imposible flash... ?¿ )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, what I'm saying is we don't yet know why the WLAN and Bluetooth stop working when a different ROM from the one flashed at the factory is installed. There is clearly some mechanism at work here that is blocking those two devices after an update and it's not the usual shared objects as it is on other devices. It also doesn't seem to be NVRAM related as the MAC and BDaddr remain once the old firmware is re-flashed.
This same problem occurs with all the custom ROMs on needrom.
The reason I say do not needlessly flash the preloader is the danger of a full brick from which you cannot recover. The preloader code very rarely changes - its only purpose is to provide an interface to SP flash tools or boot; think "BIOS" in PC terms - so it is a pointless risk. You most certainly can flash the other blocks with the preloader block deselected.
The bottom line right now is stick with the factory ROM, install CWM, apply the system mount fix and use Xposed and suchlike to customise until we come up with something a little more sensible or at least find out why the WLAN and Bluetooth stop working.
Given that the Wiko Darkmoon is based on the same SoC and has full sources available <EDIT: It isn't. It's just the kernel as usual.>, it may be prudent to wait until someone with more clue than I has a look at what makes these things tick.
Chron0s said:
No, what I'm saying is we don't yet know why the WLAN and Bluetooth stop working when a different ROM from the one flashed at the factory is installed. There is clearly some mechanism at work here that is blocking those two devices after an update and it's not the usual shared objects as it is on other devices. It also doesn't seem to be NVRAM related as the MAC and BDaddr remain once the old firmware is re-flashed.
This same problem occurs with all the custom ROMs on needrom.
The reason I say do not needlessly flash the preloader is the danger of a full brick from which you cannot recover. The preloader code very rarely changes - its only purpose is to provide an interface to SP flash tools or boot; think "BIOS" in PC terms - so it is a pointless risk. You most certainly can flash the other blocks with the preloader block deselected.
The bottom line right now is stick with the factory ROM, install CWM, apply the system mount fix and use Xposed and suchlike to customise until we come up with something a little more sensible or at least find out why the WLAN and Bluetooth stop working.
Given that the Wiko Darkmoon is based on the same SoC and has full sources available <EDIT: It isn't. It's just the kernel as usual.>, it may be prudent to wait until someone with more clue than I has a look at what makes these things tick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks Chronos!, The problem is also with the official ROMS on mlais.com/mlaismx28 i don´t understand it...
Please i need help to back restore the partitions of my sd internal ( ROM ), i would like back to 2,3 gb for apps, actually i have only 0,98 gb and 1,75 gb internal store.
I think that the solution is back up for flash tools and reflash with the rom stock ( the back up of mlais mx28 of my friend, he have other new mx28 )
But my BIG problem with the flash with flash tools is the USER DATA and CACHE is always empty, and then it´s imposible to reflash it it´s always and error : Rom changed PTM ...
Please, what can i do for have USER DATA and CACHE with mtk droid and tools 2.5.3 versión?? ( in this version to click User data and Cache with to do the back it´s imposible, this option is missing in 2.5.3. version )
http://dl.xda-developers.com/attachdl/b2f11c741aab592a8f66616d932af983/533c2dcc/2/6/6/4/5/2/2/Sin_t_tulo.jpg
[ROM] Official Update
Hello guys, there's a new rom update for the mx28
Official Mlais MX28 version: Mlais_MX28_20140312
www.needrom.com/mobile/mlais-mx28-2/
Try it out seems, it works perfect.
Cheers!!
Related
can someone tell me if is possible port Android on this amazing device??
someone is working on this???
I wuold like a lot if someone port Andoid on oHD!!!
lukas_ita said:
can someone tell me if is possible port Android on this amazing device??
someone is working on this???
I wuold like a lot if someone port Andoid on oHD!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was working on it for a long time. Unfortunately it is impossible, due to limited bootloader space (not enough for an android one) and no recovery partition. Also it would need a totally new partition layout (as it only has two accessable internal and one external drive, so no cache, recovery access, nor swap.
And also do not forget about the hardware incompatibility. Even if we manage to boot it, you will hardly be able to even make a phone call. Not to say use WiFi, or GPS, BT, or anything.
hi i joined because of some interest in this,
first of all let met tell you that i own a samsoung i8320 (vodafone h1).
this in some way helps because we now have a 'working' limo kernel, in my opinion it might help us out here.
the problem i have is that i never ever yet have been able to do 'any of the work here under' - the fact that i know howto doesn't make me capable of doing, (its like the fact that you know a plain fly's because of big wings and an engine, doesn't make you a pilot)
---------
the H1 uses a rather standard linux kernel as far as i can tell from the source could, though i havn't been able to run it inside quemu yet..
some guys allready interested in porting android say that they got android running but without functions like phone or wifi. this is because thay used an android kernel rather than the samsung one.
step 1:
so what if you would strip the samsung rom from all 'userland' software, keeping only the kernel, its drivers and busybox stuf.
creating a root shell only - you may even be able to make it mount as /boot rather than /
step 2:
now ad ad adtional filesystem on the internal phone memory or an external sdcard ... format it as you like (ext3 with noadtime could do, but other options are also availible).
this should now be where the remaining of the android rom should be. you could now always update most of your your android and apps exept for your linux kernel or drivers. without reflashing. this idea is largely based on apps-2-sd so we all know its been done before.
fonix232 said:
I was working on it for a long time. Unfortunately it is impossible, due to limited bootloader space (not enough for an android one) and no recovery partition. Also it would need a totally new partition layout (as it only has two accessable internal and one external drive, so no cache, recovery access, nor swap.
And also do not forget about the hardware incompatibility. Even if we manage to boot it, you will hardly be able to even make a phone call. Not to say use WiFi, or GPS, BT, or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The i8910 community is great....this phone is great...a porting of android on this phone wuold mean a great number of donations!
cannot you use E\ (massmemory...8Gb or 16Gb) like partition?
This issue was resolved by Meghd00t's new REPART.IMG file. See this post on that thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26060323&postcount=151cool:
I have the 8gb model Nook Tablet and (mistakenly) tried to flash CWM & CM7a to the EMMC of my tablet. At that time, there were no warnings about how the internal flash version would brick the NT8.
Now, my tablet will not boot to ANYTHING on the internal memory. I do NOT get the stock "reset" warnings - or even a flash of light. No matter how I try to boot it (with or without cable, with or without the Nook button) or how long I hold the buttons down, it still remains with a BLACK SCREEN.
However, the SDCard will boot properly.
I followed the instructions on this thread ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1515788) precisely to reset the BootData. I did NOT receive any errors. However, it still will not boot internally.
I then tried sigmabeta's process to flash CM9 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25661314) to the internal emmc (which is supposed to work on NT8). The flash process (via SD/CWM) went properly and I did not receive any errors. However, I still cannot get anything to boot (except my SDCards).
If I put my CM7a (bootable) SDCard (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1481826) into the NT8, it boots and runs great! Likewise meghd00t's recovery/CWM sdcard boots and runs properly.
I can do ADB & FASTBOOT and I have even done the dd to download my partitions (for backup) and then dd copies from online onto the device's partitions. Still no joy.
However, even after dd'ing a downloaded copy of p5 to the device, ADB still reports my TRUE serial number? It seems that the dd to part5 did not take?
The only other thing that I have found, that seems significant, is the fact that when I am in CWM, I cannot mount the EMMC. I can ADB/shell into the device but that did not allow me to mount the emmc either.
Any ideas how I can get this thing to boot internally? How can I force the device to mount the emmc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have tried all the unbrick methods out there with no luck, then throw it to the wall and see it is fixes .
~ Veronica
Final "fix"
lavero.burgos said:
If you have tried all the unbrick methods out there with no luck, then throw it to the wall and see it is fixes .
~ Veronica
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure that I have tried ALL of them, that is why I am still searching. Also, people come up with new ideas that have not previously been published.
Thanks for all YOUR help. Especially the dd to fix bootdata.
Sure wish someone would come up with a solution for this problem. There seems to be quite a few of us who are looking for answers.
Sent from my Nook Tablet using XDA
I have been reading for a while and I didn’t want to the answer because the answers are already in the Dev. area. I rather have people do some research and learn to solve their own problem rather than listen to someone else that might misled to do something even worse.
NT already has a recovery in place; factory restores (eight failed boot method). Most people do not know this and try something in an environment that they are not familiar with, Ubuntu. If you are using Windows, then you can resolve it in Windows. You do not need to repartition, format, or delete partitions. I have learned that many people like to format things apparently.
The most common problem seems to be; my NT does not turn on or my nook only boot with sdcard. It is not technically true; your NT actually turns on. The backlight just doesn’t turn on because you format/replace the x-loader/bootloader. X-loader loads the bootloader. You know the bootloader work if you see the “n” logo screen. If your NT restart after the "n" logo screen, it mean bad recovery.img/boot.img.
How did this happen? You flash the wrong MLO file to your x-loader, you used an old CWM (experimental one) and formatted your sdcard or you like to format things.
How do I resolve this? First thing is to make a proper CWM sdcard, one with proper partition table. You can compile your own CWM recovery when you compile CM7. Second, flash stock 1.4.2 rom, which contain the latest x-loader, bootloader, boot, and recovery files that works on both 8GB/16GB NT. This will restore your NT to stock android gingerbread.
If you happen to format the rom partition, you need to restore it with a backup and perform the eight failed boot method. This will restore your proper rom partition data along with the stock android. It is all in my thread in the Dev. area.
If you happen to screw up your partition table, obviously this will not help you until you fix your partition table.
Existing solutions
succulent said:
I have been reading for a while and I didn’t want to the answer because the answers are already in the Dev. area. I rather have people do some research and learn to solve their own problem rather than listen to someone else that might misled to do something even worse.
NT already has a recovery in place; factory restores (eight failed boot method). Most people do not know this and try something in an environment that they are not familiar with, Ubuntu. If you are using Windows, then you can resolve it in Windows. You do not need to repartition, format, or delete partitions. I have learned that many people like to format things apparently.
The most common problem seems to be; my NT does not turn on or my nook only boot with sdcard. It is not technically true; your NT actually turns on. The backlight just doesn’t turn on because you format/replace the x-loader/bootloader. X-loader loads the bootloader. You know the bootloader work if you see the “n” logo screen. If your NT restart after the "n" logo screen, it mean bad recovery.img/boot.img.
How did this happen? You flash the wrong MLO file to your x-loader, you used an old CWM (experimental one) and formatted your sdcard or you like to format things.
How do I resolve this? First thing is to make a proper CWM sdcard, one with proper partition table. You can compile your own CWM recovery when you compile CM7. Second, flash stock 1.4.2 rom, which contain the latest x-loader, bootloader, boot, and recovery files that works on both 8GB/16GB NT. This will restore your NT to stock android gingerbread.
If you happen to format the rom partition, you need to restore it with a backup and perform the eight failed boot method. This will restore your proper rom partition data along with the stock android. It is all in my thread in the Dev. area.
If you happen to screw up your partition table, obviously this will not help you until you fix your partition table.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. I do appreciate it and I will be trying some of your suggestions later today when I get home.
One problem (that seems to be easing up a bit) is the fact that few posters distinguish WHICH version of the NT that they are working with. The NT16 "solutions" became the NT8 "problems." It would be great if everyone posted WHICH version they have.
The other issue is (as you stated) when you follow a guide to fix an issue, it CAN mess up your device even worse that it was. Then, you have TWO issues to deal with - rather than just one as before. I am afraid that is where I am now.
One question: You mention "compiling" CWM. Are you referring to the technical term of compiling code into an executible? Or, are you simply referring to the process of putting a working image onto an SDCard? I can do the latter without issue but I have never compiled code.
I do use Ubuntu Linux so many of the Windows driver issues are moot for me. However, I do have a dual boot with XP in on the other side - just in case I need to do some Windows-only stuff.
I really appreciate the help. I am no novice but I am not a developer either. I can usually search, read, try, and work out the problems that I (and other less technical users) experience. That is what my website is all about - translating the really "tech" jargon into everyday language for non-techies to follow. But this one has stumped me (and at least a few others) for the past couple of months.
succulent said:
I have learned that many people like to format things apparently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my NookTablet using Tapatalk
I've noticed this as well. People really need to do more reading before randomly selecting/flashing things.
Hi all
I am opening up this Q&A thread as extension to my ROM threads, for the simple reason that ever since there is a limitation preventing new users from posting in development threads, I get flooded with PM's. So I intent to move any Q&A, help requests, as well as free and open discussions between users here.
Since the A750 and A789 are so similar, and I put the same stuff in them, I extent both into this one Q&A thread, and in fact, much of it knowledge applies to other Lenovo's like the P700, P700i, S880, A660 which are again very similar and I even use them as basis of my ROM.
Also, I am not intending to be topic police. Like in my other threads, I do not mind if you guys share knowledge about APKHOT or Smileyvvv or Etotalk ROM. As long as it is helpful. Also, I may not always reply myself, so feel free to help each other.
Link to the original threads:
[ROM][2012.xx.xx] Lenovo A750 custom ROM (GB&ICS). <last page>
[ROM][2012.xx.xx] Lenovo A789,P700i,A660 factory&custom ROM (ICS). <last page>
Other related threads (not all mine):
CWM flashing tutorial (update using recovery)
MT6575 flashing tutorial (update using flash utility
Lenovo Original recovery tutorial
[SCRIPTS] Unpack / repack MT65xx boot.img, recovery.img or logo.bin
[REF] Unpacking and repacking stock rom .img files
[UTIL][APP]Lenovo Security / LeSec app (anti-virus/spam/theft/firewall)
[TOOL][TUT]Backup and Restore Mediatek based phone's IMEI
How to DIY : Self root/gapps/playstore/locationfix/clean my ROM
This is a guide on how to root & cleanup your China ROM yourself. It will probably work on all ICS China phones. But it requires & starts with the availability of a recovery image for your phone
There are in fact a few steps:
- Get a proper recovery image for your phone.
- Root it by installing Chainfire's root package
- Install Google GMS ('GAPPS') to get Play Store and Localisation to work
And optionally
- Install Mobile UncleToolset
- Install an extra small fix with location services
- Install an extra small fix with latest APN list
- Install an extra fix to remove well known Chinese system apps
Recovery image
The Recovery Image allows you to boot into an alternative small Linux that you can then use to update the main Android. Updates usually come in "update.zip" scripted files. And the recovery has some other utilities like backup or wipe the entire phone. Getting a working recovery for your phone is step number one, because if you have a recovery, you can do everything else.
To check if you already have a recovery: Well, try to boot into it. The boot sequence may vary with the phone, but on MediaTek phones it is usually to replace the battery and then press&hold both volume buttons while powering up. I have seen it where you need to actually press the power button a split second before pressing both volume buttons. Try a few times, replacing the battery each time.
If you get to a screen that reads CWMR or CWMR Touch (short for ClockWorkModRecovery), you are all set and can continue with rooting. CWMR it is the most common open recovery image. If your recovery is closed, then you need to search the web for a working recovery for your specific model. Each brand and model needs its own recovery, because screen drivers, buttons and partition tables may differ.
Search the web is the best advise. Search wide and search deep. If you cannot find any recovery, then see if you can find a full ROM for your phone. If you have a working ROM image, then there are people on XDA that can make a recovery for you, but typically you need to show/prove that you have really tried to find one yourself.
Flashing a recovery
If you do find a recovery, that you suspect is the correct one for your ROM, then comes the scary part: Flashing the recovery to the phone.
This paragraph is specific to Mediatek based phones. On different hardware you also need a recovery, and once you have a recovery, you can use the other parts of this post, but how to flash other hardware, I do not know, sorry
Flashing using the flash tool is scary to new users. Because new users suspect that if they mess it up, the phone dies. And this is correct! But if you only flash the recovery.img part, you should be fairly safe. Read this manual on flashing. Getting the USB driver installed is sometimes a bit tricky, you may also want to read post #21 and post #25 for help.
I have seen several people asking 'where to find the scatter file'. Well, it comes with the ROM you want to flash. If your ROM file does not come with a scatter file, then is not a ROM file that can be flashed with the flash utility, but with an open recovery.
Rooting
Once you have a working recovery, the rest is simple. For rooting, simply install (from inside the recovery) chainfire's "CMW installable ZIP"
Link to his post: (ignore his big red 'requires root' warning). The file you need is labeled "CWM installable ZIP" at the bottom. Direct link to the file you need to install via recovery update.zip
This usually works by putting the zip file on the SD card (its name can be anything, though for some limited recoveries it sometimes must be named 'update.zip'), booting into recovery, and selecting the zip file to update.
Google GMS (Market/Play Store, Location, etc)
Simply install the latest Google Mobile Services (better known as GAPPS) from CyanogenMod V9. This is their explaining wiki from CyanogenMod
The file you need is called gapps-ics-20120429-signed.zip for ICS and gapps-jb-20121212-signed.zip for JB and can be found here. You probably also want to wipe your cache partition after doing this.
Mobile Uncle toolset
Just install this program apk (so not through the recovery, just install it normally). Or search the web for the latest one.
Fix location services
If location services does not work, do apply Google GMS (GAPPS) above. If it still does not work, it may be because the phone is programmed to use Chinese location services. This patch will tell it to use GMS. The patch will apply, and probably even work, on all ICS phones. But was originally made&tested on a Lenovo A750 ICS. Its called V1.3 because many people have downloaded the A750 v1.3 patch and used it on many MT6575 phones. It is still the same patch, except the update.zip is tweaked to work on any ICS phone, not only MT6575 ones.
Sometimes you also need to go into MobileUncle tool, the MTK Engineer mode, and in location settings. Depending on your exact model, somewhere in there is a NetLoc or NetLocation and a GeoCoding setting, with options of MEDIATEK and GOOGLE. Ensure they are set to GOOGLE.
After messing with location settings, it is best to also wipe cache.
Fix APN list (or My 3G does not connect!)
You can always add your own APN (Access Point Names) from the settings menu. Just add your own, and select that over the pre-build one. But this package will update with the latest list as maintained by CyanogenMod 9. The update.zip was made in such a way it should work on all ICS phones, Mediatek or other.
Clean well known Chinese system apps
<patch still coming>
==========================================
List of known recovery images for Mediatek Flash tool:
Lenovo A750 : 592zn : See also this post #607, nandroid backup does not work.
Lenovo A789 : 592zn or APKHOT
Lenovo P700i : My own, based on APKHOT with CWM.
Lenovo P700 : My own, based on CWMT / 592zn. nandroid backup will not work.
Lenovo A660 : My own, based on APKHOT with CWM
Lenovo S560 : My own, based on APKHOT with CWM (as yet untested)
Additional Recovery Images in this post.
If you feel you searched all over the web, and could not find a recovery for your model, and you next feel you should ask me or one of the other people on XDA to make you one (which I am not encouraging), than please be aware we need at least a 'standard ROM' for your phone to start from. Without it, I can do nothing. So go back out there, and find a standard ROM, does not matter what language, as long as it is for your specific phone model and known to work.
Also, as an extra warning : If you are flashing, and you experiment with 'suspicious' ROM sources, *never ever* flash the preloader, mbr, ebr uboot. Only flash those from a trusted source and if they belong to your exact brand and model phone.
One more reserved
lolo250612 said:
Hello from France,
Just a little message to thank you very much for your very useful "Lenovo A789 factory&custom ROM (ICS)" thread. I have just bought a A789 from etotalk, and your posts really help to master the beast.
I can't participate to the thread because I am a new member and consequently can't post message to this development thread. And this very sad, because I have discovered a shortcoming of this phone. Apparently, the ICS entire phone encryption does not work and, according to some information I have gathered around the web, it may be due to the fact that the internal sd partition is not ext4 which seems to be required.
It may be due to the fact that the kernel does not support ext4. If this was the case, I would be very pleased to activate the option, recompile it and share the result with other people at xda. I have done it for two types of Samsung Galaxy phones.
In this case, the two problems I would be faced with are:
1) Getting the kernel sources. For Samsung it is quite easy. For Lenovo, I am not able to find them (I can't read Chinese).
2) The process to package the new compiled kernel to a zip, compatible with cwm.
Anyway, thanks for your help and to share your knowledge.
Sheers,
Laurent
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cybermaus said:
well, not sure about encryption, but I can *assure* you that the phone supports ext4, because in fact the root; system; cache; secro and data partitions are all in ext4 . I know that quite certain, because to unpack/repack, I need to recreate an ext4 loop device.
Internal SD is indeed FAT partition. But it is normal for SD to be FAT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible the encryption fails on the FAT of the SD card. It is an internal device, if that encryption utility tries to parse all the internal partitions, it may fail on FAT, but I am guessing here. However, then it would fail on pretty much all recent china phones, they all seem to have this internal SD card. You could try to simply format the internal SD as ext4.
I do not think it would fail on the recovery or boot sections. Those are all nicely wrapped up in the first partition of the emmc chip (emmc0p0 or something) in a proprietary filesystem, as I suspect true for all Androids. So your tool would know to exclude that the first one. However, if you want, you can get the original recovery you asked about from the original A789 ROM in my Dev-Host.
Edit: Encryption issue solved, see post#9 below
I already managed to build a multilang framework-res.apk for the A789 ROM. But now there are all those apps that need to be made multilang also - settings.apk and more... a lot of work.
Is it possible to take a P700 ROM with A750 kernel and flash it to the A750? Or a P700i ROM and A789 kernel for the A789? They seem to be almost identical.
Any plans to integrate the long press home button function in A750_ROW_S114_cybermaus_ICS_V3.1? Would like to test this rom but this missing feature is essentail for me...and onother question: V3.1 is also for A789, right? Same problem with long press home feature?
@oz42
Well, I am a little disappointed about that question. Putting the P700_ROW on the A750 is *exactly* what my V3 series is. Works wonderful. It's the reason I have been updating this thread for the last two weeks. Problem is that the only extra language is Vietnamese. You may want to re-read posts #2 and #585 in the A750 thread.
I suspect the same is true for P700i and A789, but I did not find a P700i_ROW rom yet. I did find a S880_ROW, and when I have time (later this weekend) I will check if that has proper multilanguage (edit: No. It adds ru, vi, id to en and zh. Not quite what I had hoped for)
@metzner
Yes. When I know how. But I do not have a clue at this moment. I am very pleased about the V3.1, but the missing long press is annoying me at times.
No, V3.1 is not for A789 (yet). They have different partitions, different schreen driver. YOU CANNOT flash a A750 on A789 (or any MT6575 on MT7577) without 'porting' the ROM. I do have a Frankenstein ROM, using p700_ROW with kernel/partition/modules/baseband from A789. But it was not tried out yet.
A789: Encryption problem
I have installed aLogcat to determine what could block the encryption service on the different ROMS I have tested on my A789. The interesting part revealed to be:
E/Cryptfs ( 87): Orig filesystem overlaps crypto footer region. Cannot encrypt in place.
Googling for this problem, it appears that there is a strong probability that the culprit is CWMR that I have installed almost right after getting my phone. See: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792101 or http://rootzwiki.com/topic/25652-fixing-galaxy-tab-2-encryption/.
So if somebody has a package that can be safely used with mt6575-flashing tools, to recover the stock recovery or, much better, to install a "clean" version of CWMR, I would be glad to test it and see if it is actually the origin of the encryption problem.
Edit:
@Cybermaus: I have just noticed that you have already addressed part of this message. I have already tried to format the internal sd as ext4 with Minitool partition Wizard on Windows. This fails also. Moreover, the system reports a failure on this partition and ask to reformat it as vfat. I will try by putting back the original recovery from your 4shared. Thanks a lot.
@lolo250612
If I read that post you found, the problem is not so much CWMR or CWMRT itself, but the fact it wipes and formats /data completely, without leaving 16KB of unused space at the end of the partition.
That means replacing it with factory recovery will not help, unless if you then also wipe using that factory recovery, and that factory recovery does leave 16KB. You could also try wiping it from the settings menu.
After you have tried the factory , let me know. I think I can make an empty /data for you that is 16KB shorter than the partition, but you would have to apply it using the flash-utility method.
Edit: checking, I found that the userdata.img that is inside the original S228 factory flash ROM is already 1024K short of 768M. So 767M. No need to build one with only 16K short, just use the one you already have.
Hi cybermaus
Thanks for your contribution. Please help me if you've free time.
Does this custom ROM support traditional Chinese character?? I'm sure Chinese support would include simplified Chinese.....
@loimlo
The A750 V1 and A789 V2has two forms of Chinese, which I cannot read, but I suspect are traditional and simplified. The A750 V3 has one form of Chinese, which I still cannot read, so I am not sure which of the two, but here is a screenshot of it, let me know which it is.
Amadis223 said:
Hi, I wrote with yuweng on this subject. And it is very strange. He says, that mt6575 has only ext4 filesystem, but I,am sure,that I have mt6575 and yaffs filesystem. What do you think ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, all the MT6575 and MT6577 based ROM's that I have dissected have ext4. This is probably because mediatek provides ext4 in their development kit. So yeah, I think all mt6575 are on ext4, and not yaffs. I think maybe the mt6573 has yaffs.
cybermaus said:
@lolo250612
If I read that post you found, the problem is not so much CWMR or CWMRT itself, but the fact it wipes and formats /data completely, without leaving 16KB of unused space at the end of the partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you.
Edit: checking, I found that the userdata.img that is inside the original S228 factory flash ROM is already 1024K short of 768M. So 767M. No need to build one with only 16K short, just use the one you already have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have flashed userdata.img. That WORKS :victory:. The phone reboots and then encryption starts. Done in less than 5 minutes. Great. Now, just have to tried one of the utility around that allows to have an encryption password different from the lock one. Many thanks for your help :good:.
hi there,
I just got a Lenovo A789 and i just installed A789_S228_cybermaus_V2.1 and it works perfecly...
i'm new to android and i can't get cellular data to work ( i have reason to believe that it worked in original ETOTALK rom, but im not sure ).
1) i do have a data plan
2) cellular data / mobile data is turned on
3) 3G card with cellular data plan is in slot 1
wrong basebands or apn settings (Portugal, Vodafone) ? ( i can see them in mobileuncletools but i cant change them )
help?
note: i cant follow most of android tips that i googled because some of the menus to edit APN settings do not exist on this rom :\
@spinal2k
Well, the simply solution would be to try and apply the A750 V1.4 as listed in post#2. It only applies location fix and new APN list, so its safe on the A789, even if it was originally for A750.
Second option would be to Google for the keyword APN together with your provider and country names.
Last option is to tell us the mcc/mnc that mobile uncle found, as well as your current APN settings, and maybe we can figure it out.
Edit: you can change APN in Settings->Wireless->More->MobileNetworks->AccessPointNames
cybermaus said:
Last option is to tell us the mcc/mnc that mobile uncle found, as well as your current APN settings, and maybe we can figure it out.
Edit: you can change APN in Settings->Wireless->More->MobileNetworks->AccessPointNames
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, thanks for the tip... how can i see mmc/mnc on mobileuncle tools?
According to that wikipedia page, my MMC/MNC is 268/01 and that it uses GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / UMTS 2100.... On mobile uncle engineer mode i can see that on the 1st sim card UMTS 2100 doesn't exist ( only UMTS 2000 )... :\
acoording to the "you can change APN in..." i can't changed them, just see them... they look fine to me, they're not wrong...
:\
@spinal2k
Don't tell me the ones from that Wiki page, but the ones you find in the APN settings. And then also the "market name" of the service you have. You cannot change, but you can add a new APN, and then select that to use.
But simply applying the V1.3 may be easier, it has the APN list maintained by Cyanogenmod, and will probably solve it anyway.
cybermaus said:
@spinal2k
Don't tell me the ones from that Wiki page, but the ones you find in the APN settings. And then also the "market name" of the service you have. You cannot change, but you can add a new APN, and then select that to use.
But simply applying the V1.3 may be easier, it has the APN list maintained by Cyanogenmod, and will probably solve it anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh, i couldn't see that i could add new.... Now i added an optional apn ( even though the one listed was on official carriers page ) ... now its working...
Thank you for the tips... keep them updates coming
note: i did update with A750 v1.3 and i saw no changed in apn list...
A750 V3.1 battery life
I have been using the cybermaus V1.3 ICS for ages, and it works really well. Recently tried the V3.1 ICS.
Also seems to work really well as well, and a definite plus is the 3G signal strength - I see a definite improvement.
There is a dealbreaker problem for me, though - the battery life is noticeably worse than the excellent life on the V1.3 rom. I'm a noob - tried clearing user cache/dalvik, but not reset (I want to keep my apps/data).
Any suggestions before I go back to V1.3 - thanks.
zapzog said:
Any suggestions before I go back to V1.3 - thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, a request more than a suggestion: your battery is now a few months old, so slightly less good then when new, but you got used to it. But now, due to the flashing of a new ROM, you are playing on it more, and it is in your attention very much.
I cannot properly test myself, I have to tether it daily for data access. So please try to get a proper test of it:
Stay with V3.1 a few bit longer, at least 2 battery cycles extra. (you can barely have had one) so you get a better baseline. Charge the same method as before (I find that charger works better than PC-USB) After two more cycles, when you have a proper idea on the life, go back, and get a renewed baseline on V1.3 also. And then report your results
Hi! So I'm wondering if anyone know if there is\have been any development for
the Tizzbird Stick N1 (M\G) ?
We have this Android-stick in stock at my store, but I'm not sure if I'm going to get it or not yet. Depends the development, as I'd really like to see the capabilities for it. I believe it's a lowbrand tho. so I might be out of luck.
Anyone know anything?
I searched the forums, and did a google search. Didnt find much.
regards,
Dag M.
Hi there!
I own one of those, and there are a handful of (german-speaking) people activly posting in this forum http://forum.tizzbird-tv.de/ about the Tizzbird N1. - The problem with that forum is that they heavily censor it - as soon as anyone posts info on how to "get in", or if someone asks uncomfortable questions - those posts gets deleted.
They sell it really cheap for 30€ (not all the time, but twice for one day @ redcoon) and although the Wifi-Chip (or the drivers for it) are really crappy, the media player part is really nice.
update: I've did a little research, and here is a little list of relevant links about the tizzbird n1:
==== Marketing Product Pages ====
http://valueplus.co.kr/english/product/product_player_n1.html
http://www.tizzbird.com/eng/index.php?mm_code=719&sm_code=755
http://tizzbird-tv.de/tizzbird/tizzbird-n1.html
==== Official Firmware ====
http://www.tizzbird.com/eng/index.php?mm_code=726&sm_code=727&board_search_head_word=stick+n1
http://download.tizzbird-tv.de/TizzBird_N1G_update_GMS_V3_20_13072719.tzbird
==== German Support Forum (posting info about root-access prohibited) ====
http://forum.tizzbird-tv.de/viewforum.php?f=11
==== GPL-Code for Tizzbird N10, N20 & N30 - but not for N1? ====
http://www.tizzbird.com/eng/index.php?mm_code=752&sm_code=754
==== Kernel Sources ? ====
http://www.cnx-software.com/2012/03...k-n1-android-ics-hdmiusb-dongle-media-player/
http://www.cnx-software.com/2012/07...hips-tcc8925-mini-pcs-cx-01-z900-tizzbird-n1/
https://github.com/cnxsoft/telechips-linux
Yeah, the pretend to be "community friendly and supportive" but once you actually start digging in, they get quite agressive and boot you out.
Anyways, I got a N1 a couple of days myself now (snagged it for 30 bucks at another RedCoon sale ) and I am surprised.
Got it pretty much only to tinker around with it and this thing suits more perfectly for that than I imagined.
Esp. that fact they used a simple SD card as "internal flash storage" - my guess is because a simple SD is cheaper than an actual eMMC flash chip, but it's so cool on so many levels for us.
I already found out how to replace the 4GB SD with a bigger one (have a 16GB in mine ATM).
I'll post some more details about it here later, got a few things I want to test and/or prepare first (thinking of some "easy to use cloning script"), but long story short:
You need to copy the bootloader to the very end (last few blocks) of the SD you want to use.
Once the BL is at the proper place it already boots from the new SD again, to be sure everything is as it's supposed to be one should apply an update via USB (I'm not 100% sure about a possible pointer to the BL that needs to be corrected, which the update does).
After that the partition information has to be edited to make the userdata partition larger and you're done.
thanks for the info HellcatDroid!
It would be great if you could elaborate on how to put the bootloader at the end of the sd-card.
Also I would love to get info how to get root into the stock firmware, that crippled down root-firmware that they allow to exist in the official tizzbird forum doesn't really satisfy my needs
I did it via a hex editor, but it should be doable with a few "dd" commands as well - that's one of the things I still want to try, find the propper dd params to copy the BL over.
If you dumped the original SD into a file using dd, at the very end of the image file you will find the bootloader and the very last block of the SD is a "header" telling the bootrom of the N1 a few things about it, so it can properly locate and load it.
So what you got to do is to copy those last ~230k from the image to the end of the new SD card.
As said, I'll try to write a small shell script that does it.
The rooting is even more easy (Stonecold would kill me if he'd read this, lol):
For when running on Linux (no can do on Windows, as Windows doesn't know the ext4 FS):
Since you got the SD in your PC anyways already, just mount partition 2 (e.g. if the SD is sdc on your PC, mount /dev/sdc2).
That is the partition where the Android system is sitting on.
Then just copy over the files needed for root to where they need to go, chown/chmod them properly, unmount and done
I used the "update-supersu.zip" I had for my Nexus7 to grab the required files.
But I'm planning to make a simple rooting script as well.
So if all goes as planned it'll come down to
- insert original SD
- run script 1
- insert new SD
- run script 2
- to root run script 3
brilliant! I would love to see those scripts
way easier than start tinkering with that stuff myself
One thing I wonder about - over at the official forum you said that a simple dd copy didn't work - is that if the target sd-card is bigger or also for an sd-card of equals size? because with equal size simple dd copy of the sd-card should still work, even if some things need so be exactly at the end.
Yup, just a dd didn't work because the new SD card was larger and the bootloader ended up being somewhere in the middle of the card instead of at the end.
While your thought of "dd to equal size cards" is totally correct, it might still fail due to the fact every card is not 100% exact same size counting down to last byte.
There ususally is a tiny size difference (a few bytes to kbytes) between cards, even if they are supposed to be same, so the bootloader might end up truncated or not exactely at the end.
If, however, the size of the cards is 100% the same, down to the last byte, then yes, a simple dd clone would work.
HellcatDroid said:
... There ususally is a tiny size difference (a few bytes to kbytes) between cards, even if they are supposed to be same, so the bootloader might end up truncated or not exactely at the end. ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh! Didn't know that. I thought same marketing size means not the same size they write on the box, but at least the same size between those that are marketed with the same GB numbers on their stickers.
OK, here we go, I slapped together a few scripts for prepping a new (and larger) SD card to work in the N1 and while having the SD in the PC to aplly some root.
* hints at attachment of this post
The scripts might still have problems and not work on any Linux out there, but it's a start.
If there's more people interested and joining in on this I might continue but for now I got what I wanted - more storage and root.
Hi
I think I destroyed my MiniSC cand! The N1 is dead. I tried to insert the card in a linux and gparted did not see anything. What can I do?
thank you for your help
somade said:
Hi
I think I destroyed my MiniSC cand! The N1 is dead. I tried to insert the card in a linux and gparted did not see anything. What can I do?
thank you for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you post how you got there? what did you do to the sd-card that destroyed it?
Hi.
If you got a dump from a working state of the SD you can just dd it back onto the card.
If you don't, it can still be recovered but might need bit more work.
Two options:
find someone who gives you a dump of their card and use the write-card script from my above post to write it to your SD.
Problem with this: a working dump contains copyrighted code, like the bootloader, it technically it's "not OK" to share it
we come up with another script that only contains an "empty" image (i.e. only partitioning information) and that takes the bootloader and recovery from the official update and gets the card into a state that it boots into recovery and lets you install a working system using the official update from USB (option in the recovery menu)
Option 2 would be nicer, IMO.
I'll try to make up said script
Thank you for your immediate answer!.
Actually I dont know what has happened, maybe the sharp instrument I used to remove the plastic cover scratch it...But now when I put it in a card reader the led of the reader switch off and the card is heated!!!. And also when I put it in the N1 the blue led turns off!.
So I bought a new empty micro Sd .
Waiting for your script to partition the new card and then boot in recovery mode and install a firmware....
Because I am not expert to linux please give me a lot of details how to do this.
Thanks again!
HellcatDroid said:
we come up with another script that only contains an "empty" image (i.e. only partitioning information) and that takes the bootloader and recovery from the official update and gets the card into a state that it boots into recovery and lets you install a working system using the official update from USB (option in the recovery menu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think the bootloader is even part of the offical updates? wouldn't it be "best practice" to leave the bootloader partition alone as long as possible (and normally firmware updates don't need to change the bootloader)
update: something else I've just found, those might be kernel sources for our Tizzbird N1:
http://www.cnx-software.com/2012/07...hips-tcc8925-mini-pcs-cx-01-z900-tizzbird-n1/
-->
https://github.com/cnxsoft/telechips-linux
Yep, the bootloader is in the update - at least in the 3.20 one.
And yes, usually the bootloader shouldn't be touched because that's usually the one thing that can "perma-brick" Android devices.
However, sometimes the manufacturer updates it (fixing bugs, adding functionality) - on my Nexus7 they updated the bootloader on pretty much every update and also Samsung updates their bootloaders every now and then (and every single update flashes the current one).
Last, not least, on the N1 the bootloader isn't on a partition but at unpartitioned space at the very last blocks of the SD (=> reason for a simple dd to a larger card not booting).
Ohyay at the possible kernel sources!
It'd be so cool if that's really sources able to build a kernel for the N1 with - I think we might be able to even get custom recovery (CWM and the likes) on the N1 if those sources work
OK, while trying to recreate a working SD card w/o using a dump of a working one I found out a few more things - some of them still need figuring out if we wanna do it properly.
There seem to be TWO bootloaders!
A stage1 bootloader of ~1kB size located at the third and second last block of the SD. If it's missing the N1 can't boot and it looks like ARM code (haven't tried to disassamble it yet), I assume the bootrom loads and executes that piece of code which in turn parses the header (see below) and load/starts the stage2 bootloader (the one also found in the FW update).
The very last block of the SD is a "header block" with some information beeing parsed either by the bootrom or (more likely) the stage1 bootloader.
The headerblock contains (among numerous other unkown data) the size of the ("stage2") bootloader (the one that then actually loads and boots the Linux kernel of the Android OS, this is also the one contained in the FW update) and the usable size of the SD card! (everything works fine though if the SD size is wrong and a proper FW update updates the header during writing of the bootloader and also sets the correct size).
Also, the headerblock has a checksum of which I have no clue on how it is generated.
All that is just educated guesses and might be totally off, but for now it looks like it's not too far off.
So, for now we can assume the following boot sequence:
Boot-ROM
-> loads stage1 bootloader from fixed position "SDsize - 3 blocks" (1 block = 512bytes)
stage1 bootloader at fixed position on SD
-> checks checksum of headerblock (?), gets size of stage2 bootloader from headerblock, locates stage2 bootloader based on it's size and loads/executes it
stage2 bootloader on variable position on SD
-> base initialisation of hardware
-> checks for recovery trigger (the red button on the remote control) and boots kernel from partition 6 if trigger present
-> boots kernel from partition 1 if recovery was not triggered
-> enters fastboot mode when booting the kernel fails
Kernel
-> loads base drivers and boots up the system
you're brilliant Hellcat!
And did you also find both bootloader stages inside the firmware updates?
Another question that came to my mind while reading your post (fastboot..)
Is there a way to use the Tizzbird as USB-slave? So to make use of adb and fastboot and such stuff? Okey adb could also be used via network I guess..
somade said:
Hi
I think I destroyed my MiniSC cand! The N1 is dead. I tried to insert the card in a linux and gparted did not see anything. What can I do?
thank you for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Somade, do you have a linux running on your pc? If no, download and get a knoppix running. and then contact me via pm. I have the original n1 image so no problem to recover the n1.
sebastian.heyn said:
Somade, do you have a linux running on your pc? If no, download and get a knoppix running. and then contact me via pm. I have the original n1 image so no problem to recover the n1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to our rouge and non-censored Tizzbird N1 forum Sebastian!
I wonder if you found us here, if the German Tizzbird support also already knows about us
update: I just remembered, I've sent you the link as PM over in the official forums, thats how you landed here.
Sharing your sd-card image might be a copyright violation, and if you're profile name is strongly linked to you're real identity you should definitly be cautious with such things on public forums...
kaefert said:
And did you also find both bootloader stages inside the firmware updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, unfortunately the stage1 bootloader is not in the update :-/
kaefert said:
Is there a way to use the Tizzbird as USB-slave? So to make use of adb and fastboot and such stuff? Okey adb could also be used via network I guess..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it works, even officially XD
Go to the TizzBird settings -> "System Settings" -> "Advanced Settings"
It has an option "OTG Mode" there, set it to "Debug".
If you have your N1 connected to your PC via the micro-USB port (and hence your PC powering the N1!) you can use ADB and fastboot just as usual
I have not yet tried if that option is persistant, i.e. it survives a power loss.
When booting the kernel fails it should fall back to fastboot mode, so flashing a new kernel w/o pulling the SD should be possible - need to test this a bit more, though.
What works is, if you're rooted and and you fire the command "reboot bootloader" from a root shell, that gets you into fastboot mode no matter what (given you applied above mentioned setting first).
But needing a running system to get into fastboot mode kinda defeats the purpose of it - this aint Ouya which is a total fail when it comes to fastboot XD
---------- Post added at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 AM ----------
kaefert said:
I wonder if you found us here, if the German Tizzbird support also already knows about us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eventually they will, I'd say.
And I'd love to see their faces when they do XD
UPDATE: I was able to debrick the phone. Read my later post for details.
----------------------
Hi All,
Thank you all for having amazing community of hackers and developers here. You guys rock.
I started my search for a new rugged rootable phone recently and I settled on Poptel P60. It is a great phone though slightly bigger than what I normally get. Nontheless, the specs are excellent and the price is fair!
I've had a limited success rooting and customizing this phone. The OEM interface is almost bearable but overall the "Customized UI" felt like a downgrade from stock Oreo. It has a very annoying feature of reverting to stock launcher on startup, even when I selected Nova as my default one. The stock launcher is not that great. This, and the lack of ability to use x.flux, Titanium Backup and other root-only apps drove me to try hacking things again.
After emailing the manufacturer they provided the firmware but it is in CPB format. I tried at least 3 different converters for CPB to MTK Scatter and they all either freeze or hang. No luck.
Instead I did a rom readback with SPFlashTool and then cut up the partitions with Wwr. Now I've finally had the recovery partition! I used CarlivImageKitchen to port TWRP from a similar device, Ulefone Armor 5. The chipset and resolution are same. After some trial and error it worked! I had to use USB-OTG for input and external sd card had a weird label, but I was able to install Magisk from the SD card to root, followed by XPosed, full package. It worked! If anyone needs my ported TWRP Recovery for Poptel P60 just ask!
However, the manufacturer UI did complain a lot about the phone being rooted. Eventually, somehow, Magisk stop receiving root requests. They never showed up and timed out! Very strange, because apps that already received root continued working. I tried a lot but could not fix the issue. I was fed up. I wanted to do a manufacturer reset (in hopes of starting from scratch and then attempting to port Lineage or something) but, as I've mentioned, I have not received a firmware compatible with SPFlashTool. I tried to make one from Armor 5. The partitions were almost the same (both are MT6763 devices). One was out of order, and offsets were different and I patched all those. To be clear, I used all the partitions and layout extracted from my rom readback that was cut up by Wwr. I only used the Armor 5 scatter as a reference for file format. I edited the layout to match everythign I saw in Wwr.
This is where the horror begins. I tried flashing (Download Only) with SPFlashTool but got some error saying something changed. "Do you want to do Format & Download instead?". Being an inexperienced idiot that I am, I said yes!
Now, the phone appears bricked. No lights. No screen output. Cannot enter fastboot. Cannot enter recovery. Cannot boot.
I have a feeling the preloader got corrupted. I'm not sure this is the case because I've omitted the preloder from download. At least the first time the phone started acting bricked. The device still shows as Mediatek USB VCOM device and flashing gets initiated but all attempts to flash result in errors. MA checksum mistmatch or something along that order. I've tried a lot of things and I'm stuck! For good or for worse I've tried flashing Ulefone Armor 5 preloader but I'm getting the same error when trying to flash it.
Here is what I have...
- Stock firmware in SPB format. I can't use it and nothing I tried worked for converting it.
- ROM dump made with SPFlashTool
- Wwr was able to extract every partition except preloader. This includes nvram, etc. I'm not sure why it was not able to extract the bootloader.
- TWRP port that worked. Seems not useful if the phone does not start.
- Preloader for Ulefone Armor 5, (same chipset and resolution)
Clearly I am an idiot for using "Format & Download" option. I've found posts later suggesting against it. I am also over my head for trying to tackle a new device by myself, though I have had a marginal success with porting TWRP and installing Magisk.
Now, I feel like idiot and I am stuck! I beg you, XDA developers, if you have any advice (besides not being an idiot in the future), please share!
Try bringing it back to the carrier and just say that you don't know why it is broken. Maybe they could help you out.
Say maybe something like you wanted to do a factory reset and now everything is broken.
SkylinesHD said:
Try bringing it back to the carrier and just say that you don't know why it is broken. Maybe they could help you out.
Say maybe something like you wanted to do a factory reset and now everything is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't work, heh. I bought this phone on eBay and rights now it's currently sold by a handful of sites. It is on warranty but returning it back to China would be complicated. At any rate, I live on the edge outside of warranty!
I was just about ready to give up and feel like the biggest reckless loser on Earth... Days of tinkering around with nothing but a phone brick to show for it. Poptel tech support wouldn't provide me with MTK scatter. All they gave me was this SPB firmware that nobody uses and it crashes every converter I threw at it. Useless.... No fastboot. No recovery. No functional bootloader.
The amazing GOOD NEWS is I have debricked the phone... I used a bootloader from another phone's firmware: Cubot_Power_MT6763_180607_8.1.0. Unlike Ulefone Armor 5's preloader this one worked! It seems like it's the only thing I was missing because the phone starts up and everything seems to work. I must have done a good job with all other partitions but I'll try to watch for signs of anything else broken. Right now it seems fine.
I'm not sure if the bootloader was completely gone, corrupted, or an incorrect one was used. All I know is I was able to download Cubot Power's working bootloader (also MT6763) with SPFlashTool. Nothing like a feeling of unbricking your phone!
I will post more updates if that's ok... I'm hoping to port Lineage on it (I've never tried that before) or at least find a way around the manufacturer's clunky UI. The hardware is great otherwise. If anybody wants a working ported TWRP image or the scatter I used for debricking just ask! I will make a post later if I have more success with customizing the phone. The phone is debricked and I have a scatter and images to fall back on if anything goes wrong. Woot! Thank you everyone who developed these great tools.
I have the same phone been looking for info. there's a thread on 4pda with poptel p60 that has the scatter file and firmware. Any chance you could post the twrp for this phone? having trouble trying to port myself cant figure out port 6763 from the guides available.
4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=933002
Firemware:
drive.google.com/uc?id=1PXA9s2ZgHoH6ZWP5ZJPckE4KyJBwPKuw&export=download
idaman0 said:
Hey man,
Was wondering if you saw my post on your thread. Looking for TWRP for the Poptel P60.
Thanks,
telegram @drmethyl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man! Sorry for a slow reply. Was traveling for a few days.
Here is what I have. I started with a TWRP for Armor 5 (also MT6763) and I ported it for Poptel P60 using one of the guides on the forums. It works but it's not perfect. The touchscreen doesn't work, so you have to use USB OTG. Also, internal and external SD card mounts work but labels are confusing, so please be extra careful if wiping/formatting those. I advise popping the SD card out of the phone if wiping/formatting, just in case.
My experience with the phone is it is not the most friendly for rooting. Poptel's customizations are pesky and get in the way. The launcher keeps resetting to default on startup, even after you specify a different one. If you uninstall/disable the OEM launcher there will be red a label on top right of the screen, saying "Customization" that I have not found a way to get rid of. There are other things too, like I keep losing ability to add superuser permission to new apps... Can't figure out why, but sometimes reinstalling Magisk helps. Be very careful when using Magisk Hide, this can turn off your ability to use SIM cards, at least temporarily until you disable hide and restart. Other things is superuser apps don't always launch on startup. Anyway, I don't want to discourage you too much... Here is my twrp port.
https://mega.nz/#!MNVGhaYS!63ovQeowwoP1oE3v6-_ZS8gKx_-mxOh4G4qWcKRbuiQ
Another thing I discovered is GSI builds work mostly well on the phone... with all except one thing, which is mobile data, which seems broken.. Sadly, that's a deal breaker. OEM software is so pesky... It would be so nice to run a clean Android.
Let me know how it goes.
zeromemory_wtf said:
Hey man! Sorry for a slow reply. Was traveling for a few days.
Here is what I have. I started with a TWRP for Armor 5 (also MT6763) and I ported it for Poptel P60 using one of the guides on the forums. It works but it's not perfect. The touchscreen doesn't work, so you have to use USB OTG. Also, internal and external SD card mounts work but labels are confusing, so please be extra careful if wiping/formatting those. I advise popping the SD card out of the phone if wiping/formatting, just in case.
My experience with the phone is it is not the most friendly for rooting. Poptel's customizations are pesky and get in the way. The launcher keeps resetting to default on startup, even after you specify a different one. If you uninstall/disable the OEM launcher there will be red a label on top right of the screen, saying "Customization" that I have not found a way to get rid of. There are other things too, like I keep losing ability to add superuser permission to new apps... Can't figure out why, but sometimes reinstalling Magisk helps. Be very careful when using Magisk Hide, this can turn off your ability to use SIM cards, at least temporarily until you disable hide and restart. Other things is superuser apps don't always launch on startup. Anyway, I don't want to discourage you too much... Here is my twrp port.
Another thing I discovered is GSI builds work mostly well on the phone... with all except one thing, which is mobile data, which seems broken.. Sadly, that's a deal breaker. OEM software is so pesky... It would be so nice to run a clean Android.
Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry man, didn't end up using yours theres a twrp on 4pda now with a mod to flash to keep root. I'll upload for you here if you don;t have an account there.
The patch for the Light-kastomizator v.12 factory firmware.
I decided not to bother with the draining and distribution of modified firmware as a whole, easier to apply the patch, and ... you're done!
If that - the factory firmware v.12 lies with us -HERE, no problem you can return everything back, or (if there is something Kolupaev), first ask her, and then patch.
#
What is done
Будут удалены:
/system/tts
/system/app/QK_LogSystemAbroad_wm_bl
/system/app/QK_Sos
/system/app/QK_PrivacySpace
/system/app/QK_PersonalAssistScreenAbroad_V2
/system/app/BY_3RD_OperaMiniBrowser_OEMBranding
/system/app/BY_3RD_OperaNews_OEMBranding
/system/app/Drive
/system/app/Duo
/system/app/Gmail2
/system/app/GooglePrintRecommendationService
/system/app/LatinImeGoogle
/system/app/Maps
/system/app/Music2
/system/app/PartnerBookmarksProvider
/system/app/Photos
/system/app/YouTube
/system/app/Videos
/system/presetapp/BY_3RD_OperaMiniBrowser
/system/presetapp/BY_3RD_OperaNews
/ system / priv-app / MtkCellBroadcastReceiver
/ system / priv-app / ConfigUpdater
/ system / priv-app / GoogleFeedback
/ system / priv-app / FilesGo
/ system / priv-app / GooglePartnerSetup
/ system / priv-app / QK_MagazineAbroad
/ system / priv-app / Velvet
The system additionally installed:
ES_Provodnik_3.2.5.5 (graphic mode "Panatta-sport")
the SD Maid Pro - system Cleanup (Lite Mod "Breathe of fate" )
Changes:
By default the system is set to Russian language , region and time zone Russia / Moscow. Setupwizard (first assistant settings) is not cut off.
GBoard keyboard replaced by fashion Antonbeard GoogleKeyboard(with a limited access to the Internet is built dictionaries -.. English and Russian)
Google-search is replaced by the latest beta (it is possible to change the style and transparency of the widget)
have been added and changed some default sounds and ringtones, and the default there as a very sadly.
Blocked by advertising the hosts file.
Improved energy efficiency due to shutdown of background update service does not fall asleep GAPPS and downloaders (allowed these services Doze mode).
#
Setting:
1. Throws on micro SD-card this patch.
2. Downloading the last zip-installer " Magisk-v ..... the zip " and also copy it to the SD-card, turn off the phone.
3. Through the SP Flash Tool sewn recovery "TWRP" (the system can not be loaded !!!).
4. Vaypaem userdata (reset to factory settings) through better "factory mode" (volume down inc +) / select "Clear eMMC".
After reset immediately loads in the TWRP (inc + volume up), and from the sd-card in turn apply patches "LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip" and "Magisk-v ..... zip". Reboot from the installation refuse twrp-applications.
Done, you have custom firmware!
(If twrp and Ruth is already installed,
After the completion of all the manipulations, it is desirable to flash the stock (factory) rekaveri, then no problem can be used to reset the system from the Android menu and install the firmware update OTA (over the air).
Download: LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip
PS. Sberbank + contactless payment working properly, despite the fact that the system has been modified and installed Ruth! :derisive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3.2.3 TWRP by Jemmini for "Poptel P60" ( with the phone port Blackview BV9500): Attached file recovery.img (17,27 MB)
The port used by the kernel to flash Android 8.1.0 version of "POPTEL_V12_20181030"
WARNING !! After installing recovery, subject to permit changes in the system partition, install ROOT is required, otherwise the system will not boot. if not to accept the possibility of changing the system partition and establish the patch-root subsequent restart in overwrite TWRP recovery returned drain-
Attached fileMT6763_Android_scatter.rar(1.28 kb)
#
Getting ROOT
For ROOT set out under TWRP (pre throwing off the memory card), this patch: Attached fileMagisk-v18.0.zip (3,99 MB)
#
Stokovye boot / recovery
from said EEPROM: Attached filestock.rar (22,75 MB)
#
What does not work:
1) Do not see "the internal memory" (can not decipher the "data" section and ask when starting TWRP password).
Solution:
download the patch: Attached filedisable_encryption_P60.zip (133.89 KB)
throw it on the memory card, boot into TWRP, go to the "mount" to put a checkbox on the vendor , then go to the "install" and install the patch.
After installation make data in the "cleaning" cleaning (possibly cleaning does not help but the formatting of data should definitely help)
after data manipulation TWRP be able to work with the data section
2) is not working USB / MTP mode into TWRP
#
Information for those who are "in the tank" :
When TWRP presence in the smartphone in any case and under no circumstances should you do reset through the system.
Resetting takes place only directly through TWRP (standard cleaning sections)
If you run the command via the android in the first place, it can not be executed because it does not understand the TWRP.
and secondly, you get a constant load in TWRP because it has not yet executed the command android you will always be send to recovery /
Solution for "tank": need to install flow-recovery to be completed through a reset command or cancel it.
Another solution I personally do not know
Just do not forget about gratitude : Jemmini,- for the compilation of the TWRP which served as donorUrree,- order TWRP and testing (nothing would have happened without it)Message edited Lomaster_Serg - 6.1.19, 03:02
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rapidgator.net/file/84ccd2d612ade0256eb927895d4ed37e/LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip.html
rapidgator.net/file/c77fec40e349f8083eda14bf7058425c/recovery.img.html
rapidgator.net/file/6621d517cef9aa10abc78b40bcdc8b26/stock.rar.html
rapidgator.net/file/7a7db29c0d35eee169b76698aac6b50b/MT6763_Android_scatter.txt.html
drive.google.com/uc?id=1PXA9s2ZgHoH6ZWP5ZJPckE4KyJBwPKuw&export=download