HP TP recognizes USB drive (with external power) but empty folder. Please help! - TouchPad General

Hello All,
Years ago, I installed CyanogenMod 10.1. The TP works OK. Here's the info:
- Android version: 4.2.2
- Kernel version: 2.6.35-cyanogenmod [email protected] #1 Tue Dec 10 17:10:10 CST 2013
- CPU: ARMv7 Processor rev 2 (v7l)
- CyanogenMod version: 10.1-20131210-SNAPSHOT-VPN-tenderloin
- Build date: Tue Dec 10 17:05:54 CST 2013
- Build number: cm_tenderloin-userdebug 4.2.2 JDQ39E 8d5ffaac34 test-keys
From what I know, external USB can be connected to HP TP via OTG cable and external power. So in an effort to use this HP TP (which has been collecting dust) as a digital frame, I follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc7tlPwFQpg&t=198s
The guy has links to buy OTG cable and Y adapter:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QX7KYU/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041CFFBM/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
So I bought (2) OTG cables and (2) Y adapters from the above links.
The power adapter I use is a working 2A one (brand name: Amazon). I formatted the USB thumb drive. Then loaded a few jpeg files to the thumb drive.
When I followed the above Youtube video to plug the USB drive, the app 'ES Explorer' does recognize the USB drive but it shows 'Empty folder'. I changed out OTG and Y cables but still the same: the HP Touchpad won't recognize the jpeg files on the thumb drive.
Please tell me what I did wrong and show me how to fix it.
I'm open to two solutions:
1) Open the HP TP up and solder a SD/micro SD module (I'm a circuit technician and have no problems doing that).
2) Wipe out the HP TP and install another Android version newer and/or capable of reading external thumb drives (I hate wasting a nostalgic HP TP).
Thank you very much for your help.

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quangmsc said:
1) Open the HP TP up and solder a SD/micro SD module (I'm a circuit technician and have no problems doing that).
2) Wipe out the HP TP and install another Android version newer and/or capable of reading external thumb drives (I hate wasting a nostalgic HP TP).
Thank you very much for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the OTG cable that I use and another one that could not find on line:
Click HERE for 4 Port Micro USB
I had use it with a 16GB USB drive on Evervolv 7.1.2 for curiosity to see how it works and I was very impress with the speed. I was able to play movies from the USB drive and at the same time also connected an USB Ethernet ( I had to incorporate the driver into the kernel ).
It is possible to have more than one USB device connected at same time, like USB drive, Keyboard, mouse and wire Ethernet. The tablet is like a laptop with connections by wire.
If ES Explore recognize the USB drive then the OTG cables is good, but you need another software to be able to read the files. I tried it Total Commander and there was another software to mount the partition, I think it was Paragon:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paragon.tcplugins_ntfs_ro&hl=en_US
Install that to mount the USB drive and then the files should be available in ES Explore if not then try Total Commander and use the plug in for it.

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Thanks but unfortunately none of those work because those methods only work for at least Android 4.4. Please let me know how to 1) wipe the TP and 2) find a stable and newer Android OS / CyanogenMod to install on the TP which will only be used as a digital frame and not anything else (no internet browsing, games, etc.).
All I see is this:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/development/rom-evervolv-hp-touchpad-t3923512
or
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/development/rom-evervolv-7-0-0p1-wifi-t3456292
but both don't have step by step installation guides.
Thanks @HP_TOUCHPAD

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quangmsc said:
Thanks but unfortunately none of those work because those methods only work for at least Android 4.4. Please let me know how to 1) wipe the TP and 2) find a stable and newer Android OS / CyanogenMod to install on the TP which will only be used as a digital frame and not anything else (no internet browsing, games, etc.).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to easily wipe the tablet and make it a 100 % Android device and install any ROM then follow this guide.
There is a lot to read, but very simple, flash Automatic_Wipe_ALL and it does everything.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/hp-touchpad-optimize-android-swap-t3901773
The Tablet can read and write up to FOUR USB drive connected at the same time, attached are screenshots using Evervolv 7.1.2 with Total Commander and the plug in for the USB.
https://www.ghisler.com/android.htm
USB drive tested: 16G SandDisk, 16G Lexar, 8G Patriot
All three USB can be connected at the same time and be access using total commander file manager.
Also I plug in the MicroUSB Ethernet and works with the USB connected.

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HP_TOUCHPAD said:
If you want to easily wipe the tablet and make it a 100 % Android device and install any ROM then follow this guide.
There is a lot to read, but very simple, flash Automatic_Wipe_ALL and it does everything.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/hp-touchpad-optimize-android-swap-t3901773
The Tablet can read and write up to FOUR USB drive connected at the same time, attached are screenshots using Evervolv 7.1.2 with Total Commander and the plug in for the USB.
https://www.ghisler.com/android.htm
USB drive tested: 16G SandDisk, 16G Lexar, 8G Patriot
All three USB can be connected at the same time and be access using total commander file manager.
Also I plug in the MicroUSB Ethernet and works with the USB connected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I downloaded 'TWRP Recovery Version 3.2' to my computer, unzip and copy the files to the HP TP root directory. Unplug the TP from computer. Turn off the TP completely then boot it up again. No recovery menu to choose other than WebOS Recovery and some other menu options unrelated to automatic wipe out. So I'm stuck there.
Can I use this one instead?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP-FH6fS2GI
He basically shows step by step how to uninstall everything by plugging the TP to a computer which already has Nova installed.
Part 2: Let's say everything is wiped out, which android version would you recommend given my simple use of the TP? This is Android Pie 9.0 on Youtube (same instructor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAuNSoe6euI
Thanks again.

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quangmsc said:
Thanks. I downloaded 'TWRP Recovery Version 3.2' to my computer, unzip and copy the files to the HP TP root directory.
TWRP 3.2.1 needs to be flash using another recovery, if the uImage.Recovery is copy into boot then the file moboot.default needs to be edited and add uImage.Recovery to show in the moboot menu. It is best to flash it as it will create the entry for moboot menu. But now there is a copy there and the /boot maybe full and it needs to be clean.
Unplug the TP from computer. Turn off the TP completely then boot it up again. No recovery menu to choose other than WebOS Recovery and some other menu options unrelated to automatic wipe out. So I'm stuck there.
As mentioned the entry uImage.Recovery must be add to a file in the /boot partition.
Can I use this one instead?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP-FH6fS2GI
He basically shows step by step how to uninstall everything by plugging the TP to a computer which already has Nova installed.
Part 2: Let's say everything is wiped out, which android version would you recommend given my simple use of the TP? This is Android Pie 9.0 on Youtube (same instructor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAuNSoe6euI
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow this guide to Wipe it all, the only thing to do is one click and is done.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/hp-touchpad-novacom-repair-android-t3960435
boot the Linux ISO file into a PC or virtual machine, place the tablet in WebOS recovery mode connect the tablet to PC and click on Wipe ALL, then install any ROM.
I recommend Evervolv 7.1.2 as that is the one that I used for the screenshots with the USB connected.
Then go to this guide and install the ROM:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/hp-touchpad-optimize-android-swap-t3901773
To flash a ROM, copy the zip files to the Tablet and using TWRP select and flash.
If you have novacom install on your PC and know how to use it then follow this guide to wipe all.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/rom-guide-alternative-method-to-install-t3575861
All those options allows to load Wipe_All to have everything done automatically. Select the best option for you but the outcome is the same.

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HP_TOUCHPAD said:
Follow this guide to Wipe it all, the only thing to do is one click and is done.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/hp-touchpad-novacom-repair-android-t3960435
boot the Linux ISO file into a PC or virtual machine, place the tablet in WebOS recovery mode connect the tablet to PC and click on Wipe ALL, then install any ROM.
I recommend Evervolv 7.1.2 as that is the one that I used for the screenshots with the USB connected.
Then go to this guide and install the ROM:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/hp-touchpad-optimize-android-swap-t3901773
To flash a ROM, copy the zip files to the Tablet and using TWRP select and flash.
If you have novacom install on your PC and know how to use it then follow this guide to wipe all.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/hp-touchpad/general/rom-guide-alternative-method-to-install-t3575861
All those options allows to load Wipe_All to have everything done automatically. Select the best option for you but the outcome is the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I created a bootable USB drive having 'HP_Touchpad_Novacom_Repair_Android'. Change my laptop boot priority to USB and used 'unetbootin-windows-677' to 'Wipe All' the Android version. After that, every time the HP TP is booted, only a moboot 0.3.8 menu appears with these options:
- boot Recovery
- boot webOS recovery
- reboot
- shutdown
Now, I have downloaded these zip files:
- ev_tenderloin-7.1.2-nightly-2017.11.03
- HpTp_MaXtreme_1674_CPU_Universal_Optimize_Swap_Evervolv_7_1_2_Nougat
- open_gapps-arm-7.1-pico-20200520
I need to copy these zip files to the tablet but I don't know how: Turn the tablet on and select 'boot webOS recovery' and the white USB logo appears. Then connect the tablet to a laptop with Windows 10 running Then a message pops up 'We're setting up Palm device'. I open Windows Explorer to copy the zip files to the tablet but there's no 'Palm' folder (before Android was wiped out, I do see 'Palm' folder in Windows Explorer). Can you tell me how to copy the zip files to the table then? Should I copy those zip files to the bootable usb thumb drive then run unetbootin-windows-677 on the laptopn and copy the zip files over to the tablet?

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quangmsc said:
So I created a bootable USB drive having 'HP_Touchpad_Novacom_Repair_Android'. Change my laptop boot priority to USB and used 'unetbootin-windows-677' to 'Wipe All' the Android version. After that, every time the HP TP is booted, only a moboot 0.3.8 menu appears with these options:
Great Job! now you have a Linux OS with built in Novacom drivers that will always work no matter what.
- boot Recovery
- boot webOS recovery
- reboot
- shutdown
The tablet has been completely wipe and only the Android partitions were created.
boot Recovery is TWRP 3.2..1 by @flitman that allows to flash any Android ROM and works 100 % all the time.
Now, I have downloaded these zip files:
- ev_tenderloin-7.1.2-nightly-2017.11.03
- HpTp_MaXtreme_1674_CPU_Universal_Optimize_Swap_Evervolv_7_1_2_Nougat
- open_gapps-arm-7.1-pico-20200520
I need to copy these zip files to the tablet but I don't know how: Turn the tablet on and select 'boot webOS recovery' and the white USB logo appears. Then connect the tablet to a laptop with Windows 10 running Then a message pops up 'We're setting up Palm device'. I open Windows Explorer to copy the zip files to the tablet but there's no 'Palm' folder (before Android was wiped out, I do see 'Palm' folder in Windows Explorer). Can you tell me how to copy the zip files to the table then? Should I copy those zip files to the bootable usb thumb drive then run unetbootin-windows-677 on the laptopn and copy the zip files over to the tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WebOS Recovery is only use to repair the Tablet ( troubleshooting )
Recovery TWRP is the App that is use to flash any ROM.
Boot into TWRP connect the Tablet to any PC, Micro SD will show ( is like a portable USB storage ) It works on any PC there is no need to have the novacom drivers install.
Copy all the zip files to the Micro SD card or USB ( it has different names )
Go to TWRP on the Tablet and select the zip files to flash, when done reboot.
It is very simple the only thing to do is select and flash that is it.
Here are some youtube videos about HP Touchpad Novacom Repair for Android, that shows how is use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pKNPYKGp-o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9M-peqf45I

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HP_TOUCHPAD said:
WebOS Recovery is only use to repair the Tablet ( troubleshooting )
Recovery TWRP is the App that is use to flash any ROM.
Boot into TWRP connect the Tablet to any PC, Micro SD will show ( is like a portable USB storage ) It works on any PC there is no need to have the novacom drivers install.
Copy all the zip files to the Micro SD card or USB ( it has different names )
Go to TWRP on the Tablet and select the zip files to flash, when done reboot.
It is very simple the only thing to do is select and flash that is it.
Here are some youtube videos about HP Touchpad Novacom Repair for Android, that shows how is use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pKNPYKGp-o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9M-peqf45I
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. I was able to installed Nougat on TP. Try to install Paragon exfat/ntfs software but the software shows it's not compatible with HP TP Nougat 7. Installed Total Commander then install the plug-in (USB Stick, free trial btw) then the tablet restarted by itself. As it turns out, the battery drained from 50% to 0% right after installing the plug-in.
So now I'm monitoring the tablet to see if there are problems.
Also, System Storage and (Android Stock) Gallery both don't see the pictures of the usb thumb drive. The only one app can see the usb drive is Total Commander. I clicked on the pictures but there's no photo browsing app associated with Total Commander so I can't see the photo slides. If you happen to know such a photo viewing app compatible with Total Commander, please let me know.

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quangmsc said:
Thanks a lot. I was able to installed Nougat on TP. Try to install Paragon exfat/ntfs software but the software shows it's not compatible with HP TP Nougat 7. Installed Total Commander then install the plug-in (USB Stick, free trial btw) then the tablet restarted by itself. As it turns out, the battery drained from 50% to 0% right after installing the plug-in.
So now I'm monitoring the tablet to see if there are problems.
Always keep the tablet charging, it will prolong the battery life.
Also, System Storage and (Android Stock) Gallery both don't see the pictures of the usb thumb drive. The only one app can see the usb drive is Total Commander. I clicked on the pictures but there's no photo browsing app associated with Total Commander so I can't see the photo slides. If you happen to know such a photo viewing app compatible with Total Commander, please let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a limitation of Android but some apps would be able to read the USB, to look here:
https://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-s-10-5/563616-possible-view-videos-photo-slide-show-usb-connected-flash-drive-card-reader.html
I know that using a USB stick is the most cost effective and easy way to set up, but also keep in mind a wireless hard drive, of you can set up a share folder from a PC and connect the Tablet and show all the photos from a network location. There are many ways the tablet can produce a slide show.

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HP_TOUCHPAD said:
That is a limitation of Android but some apps would be able to read the USB, to look here:
https://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-s-10-5/563616-possible-view-videos-photo-slide-show-usb-connected-flash-drive-card-reader.html
I know that using a USB stick is the most cost effective and easy way to set up, but also keep in mind a wireless hard drive, of you can set up a share folder from a PC and connect the Tablet and show all the photos from a network location. There are many ways the tablet can produce a slide show.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I click on a photo on USB stick in Total Commander, a menu pops up 'with 2 options:
- Download+Open with
- Download+Edit
But whatever option you choose, nothing happens. It can't even view a photo. So I guess Total Commander is trying to associate a photo with an photo viewing app but it can't find such an app.
For ES Explorer, it can open a photo but no slideshow ( I heard that previous version of ES Explorer had that feature) so you have to manually click on the next photo.
Don't bother with Google Photos because it can't detect photos on the USB stick. So for now, I copy some of my pictures on the HP TP internal storage and play the slideshow by running Google Photos.
Hoping one day either ES Explorer or Total Commander can do slideshows.
Thanks for all your tremendous help.

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