Related
Hi guys,
I recently learned that some Android devices, including the Galaxy S II (but otherwise mostly just tablets), have USB host functionality which allows them among many things to use external storage devices.
Most often these are formatted using the FAT 32 file system, which Android seems to be able to read fine. I was wondering if anyone knows of a way to access other file systems like NTFS or (and this is what I'm really interested in) Mac OS Extended/ HFS Plus (Journaled) which might be set up on the redundant drive.
It might already be the case that Android can understand these file systems (I don't know as I haven't been able to get the relevant I would need yet), but otherwise it'd be really useful to know if there's an app already out there or some other workaround.
Thanks for your help, xdadevs
Having searched you don't find much info, especially if you're looking to get HFS access on a device that isn't rooted and doesn't have a custom ROM installed.
So, does anyone know of any apps out there that don't require a root?
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!!
Hello Droids
I have a strainge special problem Im working on for several weeks. I bougth the 64GB version of the S6 Edge after a few days with the plan to cut just 40GB as a bootable USB storage using DriveDroid or something similar.
Now Im not able to get my device G925FXXU2COH2 with Android 5.1.1 rooted (or am not willing to for loosing KNOX waranty) so I thought about several possibilities to not just get the device rooted in general but simply give the App (DriveDroid or something else) enougth rights to modify the USB channel.
Is it possible in any way to give the App that rights?
Would it help just to move it into System directory in any way?
Could i just go into recovery mode and pl,ace it there while in ADB shell?
Would it especialy possible to place it anyway into the recovery partition and then tell the phone to make a factory reset?
Could that for example be done using the service menu build into the Samsung Galaxy?
Im a developer with more or less good knowledge of working an Android and while developing I often need to stay at someone elses PC (company, presentation at customer and so on) so I thought if it would be nice to cary a bootable version of Ubuntu at my phone as my working environment. Thats all, no more no less
I would be very happy if someone could solve this for me
Best Regards
Remote Shares is a must for me, I can't get by without it, "mounting" 5TB hard drives on android to access videos, books, magazines, backups, move stuff to and from my XZU with ease, just as if I was moving it inside the phone's storage, it was day to day stuff for me, I was happy with my KitKat stock rooted, but it started failing badly, had to move on, why not upgrade my system? but really didn't think custom ROMs (not based on sony stock) wouldn't have one of Sony's greatest features...
Can anyone with knowledge point me in the right direction?
What do I need to learn to be able to add this feature to my current rom (RR LP 5.5.9)? is it kernel related? add or edit some files in /system?, perhaps I can create some script in a shell to mount at boot? although I'd rather have Sony's original method with switches to mount or unmount at will, not a permanently mounted hdd.
Please help, I think this can be useful to more people.
I'm willing to give my time for this, just need to know where to start, but if possible without having to learn the whole Android OS...
Sent from my Xperia+Z+Ultra using Tapatalk
Hi all, I am new to the forums and I think that I need some help with a custom android project.
[Background]
I have bought a Meraki MC74, This phone is a VOIP office desk phone that has a nice 7 inch LCD screen that make for a ballin' custom intercom phone/general android device.
Cisco Meraki has dropped support for this phone, so even if I wanted to pay for a subscription, I couldn't. So custom android it is
[So what I know]
I know that the OEM OS is android 4.X.X with a custom Cisco Meraki dialer to do Meraki's cloud mumbojumbo. I was able to use ADB and Fastboot to flash ClockworkMod, and a custom version of Android 4.1.2 to get the device somewhat working. (it had lots of bugs and problems; but it was running android free of the Cisco Dialer!)
I was able to do this with the help of fellow xdadevelopers forum user "andrewmospak" (If you're reading this; I'm the dude from Ebay. And of course, thanks bro for the help so far!)
The storage is on a 4 GB Kingston EMMC.
[What I wanted for an end goal]
I wanted to have an interesting discontinued Meraki Desk phone that runs android and get all the functions of the phone working within android.
I also wanted to expand the storage from 4GB to 32GB. ( involving de-soldering existing EMMC and solder in the bigger EMMC.)
[What caused me to write this]
I would be fine if I wanted to stop there, but I wanted to try to install a GSI of android 9 in place of 4.1.2.
Again, this wouldn't be a big deal but I had to go and screw this up. I tried to resize some of the partitions (namely system to accommodate the bigger image of the android 9 GSI)but I accidentally completely killed the system,cache, and recovery partitions.
So, as one of the first steps of trouble shooting, I went to the hardest solution. The de-soldering of the EMMC.
I reached out to Andrewmospak again and asked for a full system emmc dump to try to flash his working file system to a spare 4GB EMMC to see an example of the file system of a working android EMMC. I received the image and flashed it to a spare Toshiba chip and soldered that to the phone, but I was unable to get the phone to boot into android right away, only able to load up fastboot.
Interestingly, I know that the EMMC is working because fastboot reports the S/N as the S/N of Andrewmospak's device and not the one written on my device.
[What I don't know]
Should some of the partitions on the EMMC not be recognized by Gparted in Debian? Like the User/System and others are partitioned ext4 while others are just not recognized.
Why when trying to flash partitions using Fastboot, wont fastboot recognise a recovery partition. It would just say that the partition just doesn't exist. same story with boot.
[What needs help]
I would like to know why fastboot wont see flashable volumes when using the EMMC dump flashed to another spare Toshiba EMMC, it is clearly there.
I would like to know how to reconstruct a volume to fix missing ones, and the number of partitions android needs to run.
Would I be able to flash an image of my working device to a 32gb emmc and just expand the system and user partitions into that extra space?
I will appreciate all help given to assist me and others that want a working device instead of a paperweight. ogChamp: :fingers-crossed:
That is an awesome project, and a great idea for an office line. I'll look into this!
Use MC74 for dashboard
I'm really interest to know, if you can have run a web browser on the MC74.
My needs are not fancy, I want to run a web browser on the touch screen, and have network connection with the ethernet jack in the back. I want to use it to interact with a touch dashboard for my home automation trough the webbrowser.
Thank you
Is it possible you didnt get the hidden boot partition in the emmc device? I know it isn't accessible through a sd card reader but can be seen through a SDIO controller interface.
page 15 of this document discusses this:
Google this: "us-17-Etemadieh-Hacking-Hardware-With-A-$10-SD-Card-Reader-wp.pdf" first link on blackhat.com
This project interests me as these devices are dirt cheap and i could use a few multipurpose desk phones
Thank you for starting this work. I have been waiting for this day since past couple of years now.
When you get a chance, could you please post the steps up to the point where you decided to swap the emmc?
sasha0413 said:
Hi all, I am new to the forums and I think that I need some help with a custom android project.
[Background]
I have bought a Meraki MC74, This phone is a VOIP office desk phone that has a nice 7 inch LCD screen that make for a ballin' custom intercom phone/general android device.
Cisco Meraki has dropped support for this phone, so even if I wanted to pay for a subscription, I couldn't. So custom android it is
[So what I know]
I know that the OEM OS is android 4.X.X with a custom Cisco Meraki dialer to do Meraki's cloud mumbojumbo. I was able to use ADB and Fastboot to flash ClockworkMod, and a custom version of Android 4.1.2 to get the device somewhat working. (it had lots of bugs and problems; but it was running android free of the Cisco Dialer!)
I was able to do this with the help of fellow xdadevelopers forum user "andrewmospak" (If you're reading this; I'm the dude from Ebay. And of course, thanks bro for the help so far!)
The storage is on a 4 GB Kingston EMMC.
[What I wanted for an end goal]
I wanted to have an interesting discontinued Meraki Desk phone that runs android and get all the functions of the phone working within android.
I also wanted to expand the storage from 4GB to 32GB. ( involving de-soldering existing EMMC and solder in the bigger EMMC.)
[What caused me to write this]
I would be fine if I wanted to stop there, but I wanted to try to install a GSI of android 9 in place of 4.1.2.
Again, this wouldn't be a big deal but I had to go and screw this up. I tried to resize some of the partitions (namely system to accommodate the bigger image of the android 9 GSI)but I accidentally completely killed the system,cache, and recovery partitions.
So, as one of the first steps of trouble shooting, I went to the hardest solution. The de-soldering of the EMMC.
I reached out to Andrewmospak again and asked for a full system emmc dump to try to flash his working file system to a spare 4GB EMMC to see an example of the file system of a working android EMMC. I received the image and flashed it to a spare Toshiba chip and soldered that to the phone, but I was unable to get the phone to boot into android right away, only able to load up fastboot.
Interestingly, I know that the EMMC is working because fastboot reports the S/N as the S/N of Andrewmospak's device and not the one written on my device.
[What I don't know]
Should some of the partitions on the EMMC not be recognized by Gparted in Debian? Like the User/System and others are partitioned ext4 while others are just not recognized.
Why when trying to flash partitions using Fastboot, wont fastboot recognise a recovery partition. It would just say that the partition just doesn't exist. same story with boot.
[What needs help]
I would like to know why fastboot wont see flashable volumes when using the EMMC dump flashed to another spare Toshiba EMMC, it is clearly there.
I would like to know how to reconstruct a volume to fix missing ones, and the number of partitions android needs to run.
Would I be able to flash an image of my working device to a 32gb emmc and just expand the system and user partitions into that extra space?
I will appreciate all help given to assist me and others that want a working device instead of a paperweight. ogChamp: :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't get to recovery mode -- wanna help
I'd like to help and write and app that is a (open) SIP client for the MC74. I bought an apparently new MC74 but I can't get it into recovery mode. Any help in doing this (so I can install a rooted Android)?
Holding down VolUp while connecting the POE ethernet to the WAN port doesn't work. The display remains blank then every several seconds the dislpay backlight flashes for a moment. Holding down Mute and connecting power has no effect, just boot normally to the Meraki logo screens then a minute later the normal keypad and menu display. (VolDn and powerup boots normally). I've tried this with USB flash drive (with some random recovery.img file on it) in the side USB port -- then I get an icon of a broken Android robot (presumably meaning it tried something with booting off the USB.
Has my MC74 been locked down somehow? What can I do to get a rooted Android on it?
ribo said:
I'd like to help and write and app that is a (open) SIP client for the MC74. I bought an apparently new MC74 but I can't get it into recovery mode. Any help in doing this (so I can install a rooted Android)?
Holding down VolUp while connecting the POE ethernet to the WAN port doesn't work. The display remains blank then every several seconds the dislpay backlight flashes for a moment. Holding down Mute and connecting power has no effect, just boot normally to the Meraki logo screens then a minute later the normal keypad and menu display. (VolDn and powerup boots normally). I've tried this with USB flash drive (with some random recovery.img file on it) in the side USB port -- then I get an icon of a broken Android robot (presumably meaning it tried something with booting off the USB.
Has my MC74 been locked down somehow? What can I do to get a rooted Android on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way That I was able to boot into recovery was to hold mute and volume down NOT IMMEDIATELY hold the two only after the LCD backlight turns on. Only then you will be in recovery.
realc3blues said:
Is it possible you didnt get the hidden boot partition in the emmc device? I know it isn't accessible through a sd card reader but can be seen through a SDIO controller interface.
page 15 of this document discusses this:
Google this: "us-17-Etemadieh-Hacking-Hardware-With-A-$10-SD-Card-Reader-wp.pdf" first link on blackhat.com
This project interests me as these devices are dirt cheap and i could use a few multipurpose desk phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My linux machine recognizes the mystery partitions but not their contents or partition scheme with some cheap USB to SD adapters. I think it works well. Thanks for the recommendation though!
ribo said:
I'd like to help and write and app that is a (open) SIP client for the MC74. I bought an apparently new MC74 but I can't get it into recovery mode. Any help in doing this (so I can install a rooted Android)?
Holding down VolUp while connecting the POE ethernet to the WAN port doesn't work. The display remains blank then every several seconds the dislpay backlight flashes for a moment. Holding down Mute and connecting power has no effect, just boot normally to the Meraki logo screens then a minute later the normal keypad and menu display. (VolDn and powerup boots normally). I've tried this with USB flash drive (with some random recovery.img file on it) in the side USB port -- then I get an icon of a broken Android robot (presumably meaning it tried something with booting off the USB.
Has my MC74 been locked down somehow? What can I do to get a rooted Android on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to hold down the VOLUME DOWN button before powering on the unit, and then continue to hold it. The phone will go into Fastboot mode. The screen will be blank, but backlit, and usually the LED lights up red. Here, you can flash a custom recovery firmware image (such as the ClockworkMod one that's floating around) that allows you to make changes to the system and user partitions. The thing you're seeing with the Android robot is expected. That's the default recovery firmware. Once you flash custom recovery firmware in Fastboot mode, you then unplug the unit, hold down the MUTE button, plug the device in, and continue to hold the MUTE button. It may take some time for it to get into the recovery firmware, but be patient. FYI, VOLUME UP is used for that feature where you can switch between two "slots" for firmware. I don't really know what that is, but I know that it's a thing with Android. It's pretty much unused on the MC as far as I can tell.
Has anyone considered working backwards with the version of Android running on the MC, rather than installing an entirely new version? So, instead of trying to get new firmware to work on the unit, why not work with whatever's on the device by default and pull out what you don't need? I know that some people have gotten different versions of Android to work on the unit, but this leads to bugs or hiccups. I'd imagine that this is because the kernel for that firmware isn't specifically made for the MC, but don't take my word for it. That's just a guess.
Due to the current pandemic situation that's going on here, I've decided to occupy my time by examining the MC in depth. I've managed to get ADB shell working when the device has booted normally, allowing me to examine the filesystem and pull out whatever Meraki included with the firmware. Even got the rainbow LED to stop obnoxiously glowing! I'm currently working on getting the system UI to work (there's no status bar or app switcher).
Got adbd running on MC74, Sort of got Linphone going
@sasha0413 and @jazzcandle, I got the boot.img updated so I could set 'ro.secure=0' in /default.prop in the boot up ramdisk. So now I can 'adb' into it by TCP or USB. Thanks for the help. (My MC74 calls itself a 'test-phone' so it may be a little different software. The problem was that the 'recovery' mode installed on it was pretty subtle, nothing showed on the screen.
My MC74 runs '4.2.5-meraki' version of JellyBean api 17, because I'm not good at porting newer versions of Android -- and because there may be modifications / drivers that Meraki put in to support the hardware, I'm working on a phone app with the original JellyBean.
I managed to get an old version of 'linphone' working to the extent that I can make a call -- and can be heard -- but I haven't mastered the speakers (Android AudioManager/MediaPlayer, etc) so I can't hear the phone call. I can play audio speakerphone speaker, but can't play it on the handset speaker. Figuring out the Android Audio system for JellyBean is hard, the implementation has change a lot since then.
---------- Post added at 14:11 ---------- Previous post was at 14:04 ----------
[/COLOR @jazzcandle I installed com.teslacoilsw.launcher-4.1.0-41000-minAPI16.apk as a launcher and told use it as the launcher rather than /data/app/com.meraki.dialer2-1.apk
How did you stop the RGB LED from cycling through the colors? Does something like: /system/app/DroidNode.apk or /system/app/DroidNodeSystemSvcs.apk start the led cycling, then perahps com.meraki.dialer2 stop it -- when it initializes?
ribo said:
My MC74 calls itself a 'test-phone' so it may be a little different software. The problem was that the 'recovery' mode installed on it was pretty subtle, nothing showed on the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is something that stumped me early on as well. But have no fear, all MCs run the same firmware, and you're not running different "test" firmware. The "test phone" value you're referring to is only seen in the recovery partition in the "default.prop" file, where "ro.product.model" is set to "BCM28155_TEST_PHONE". When booting normally, this value is set to "Meraki MC74" instead.
ribo said:
I managed to get an old version of 'linphone' working to the extent that I can make a call -- and can be heard -- but I haven't mastered the speakers (Android AudioManager/MediaPlayer, etc) so I can't hear the phone call. I can play audio speakerphone speaker, but can't play it on the handset speaker. Figuring out the Android Audio system for JellyBean is hard, the implementation has change a lot since then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way audio output works on the MC is a bit strange. In fact, it's not really Android's fault from what I can tell. However, I found that you have to "poke" the audio HAL to get it functioning somewhat normally (ie. getting audio to actually play through the speakers). You can do this by running the following command in the shell:
$ tinymix 1 1
At this point, you should be able to hear audio output through the speakers. Additionally, you should be able to switch between handset and speakerphone mode (so long as the app you're using allows you to do this).
ribo said:
I installed com.teslacoilsw.launcher-4.1.0-41000-minAPI16.apk as a launcher and told use it as the launcher rather than /data/app/com.meraki.dialer2-1.apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should delete the Dialer apk, you don't need it. In fact, you should delete the DroidNode.apk and DroidNodeSystemSvcs.apk files as well.
ribo said:
How did you stop the RGB LED from cycling through the colors? Does something like: /system/app/DroidNode.apk or /system/app/DroidNodeSystemSvcs.apk start the led cycling, then perahps com.meraki.dialer2 stop it -- when it initializes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to modify "init.bcm911130_me1.rc" within "boot.img" and either remove or comment out the following:
Code:
service lightsd /system/bin/lightsd
class main
socket lightsd stream 600 system system
user root
Controlling RGB LED on MC74
Thanks jazzcandle, I'll look into /system/bin/lightsd to see what it does.
lightsd seems to open ANDROID_SOCKET_lightsd and listen to /dev/socket/lightsd
It seems to directly write to these /sys files to change the LEDs through which must be controlled through the SOC's GPIO pins..
/sys/class/leds/red/brightness
/sys/class/leds/green/brightness
/sys/class/leds/blue/brightness
/sys/class/leds/white/delay_off
/sys/class/leds/white/brightness
/sys/class/gpio/export
/sys/class/gpio/gpio11/directionout
/sys/class/gpio/gpio11/value
am broadcast -a com.meraki.LIGHTSD_START
I would be great to know what all the GPIO devices did and their a addresses.
I've left the Dialer2, DroidNode and DroidNodeSystemSvcs apps running at this point to see what they do and how they are used. I agree that eventually they need to be removed because they connect to cisco/meraki web services when they start up.
I noticed that the com.meraki.dialer2.LEDController class is how the dialer controls the LEDs:
public void notifyLeds(LedMode mode, int red, int green, int blue) {
this.r = red;
this.g = green;
this.b = blue;
this.m = mode;
sendLightCommand();
}
class LightCmd implements Consumer {
public void accept(Object o) {
Intent i = (Intent)o;
i.putExtra("red", r);
i.putExtra("green", g);
i.putExtra("blue", b);
Log.i(TAG, String.format("Broadcasting color change to rgb(%d, %d, %d)",
new Object[]{r, Integer.valueOf(g), Integer.valueOf(b)}));
ctx.sendBroadcast(i);
}
}
private void sendLightCommand() {
Consumer cons = new LightCmd();
getIntent().ifPresent(cons);
}
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Methods ilke 'notifyLeds' takes a mode (Solid, Pulse, or Rainbow) and the R, G, B values and uses the sendLightCommand() method which broadcasts an intent that will probably be handled by something like the /system/bin/lightsd daemon. (I'm trying to document all these things for customizing/developing a SIP app.
I notice that the MC74 app is built on the PJSIP ( org.pjsip.pjua2 package) I was thinking of use the org.linphone SIP package. Anyone have experience with these SIP packages?
ribo said:
(I'm trying to document all these things for customizing/developing a SIP app.
I notice that the MC74 app is built on the PJSIP ( org.pjsip.pjua2 package) I was thinking of use the org.linphone SIP package. Anyone have experience with these SIP packages?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for documenting this, this is awesome info. A while back I built a rudimentary SIP client for MC74 based on the AJVoIP SIP package. I gave up on it once my trial period for that package expired. It was quirky, with flaky audio and no LED control (which both now could be solved by the info in this thread), but I did have hookswitch (hangup/answer by picking up the handset) working.
In the spirit of documentation, the hookswitch is an ambient light sensor that gets covered or uncovered by the handset's earpiece. The original Dialer2 app reads the raw value and compares it to a calibrated set point to determine on/off hook state. Reading the path
Code:
/sys/devices/virtual/input/input0/event0/device/raw_adc
with a FileReader will get you the current value. For my device, off hook (answered) is a value below 110. On hook (hung up) is a value above 110. For my testing I just polled this file every 250ms but you could attach a FileObserver to it or something.
jazzcandle said:
Has anyone considered working backwards with the version of Android running on the MC, rather than installing an entirely new version? So, instead of trying to get new firmware to work on the unit, why not work with whatever's on the device by default and pull out what you don't need?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is actually what I am working on with a unit that I got.
The phone I have (from the build.prop file):
Code:
ro.build.version.release=4.2.3-phone-5068355-southern-userdebug
ro.product.model=Meraki MC 74
ro.product.brand=Meraki
ro.product.name=capri_me1
ro.product.device=capri_me1
ro.product.board=capri
Currently trying to work on getting ADB working from within the phone and not just within the Clockwork recovery that I got loaded on it.
Getting a pretty close stock experience on the MC74 is totally possible with some dedication and work. For reasons I cant get into, I am unable to provide the steps / files that it took to get where I am, but I have a functional MC74 with working handset & speakerphone. The only next thing I need to work on is getting the "IR" sensor to hangup in specific Dialer applications.
https://imgur.com/a/FFVq1sL
I am using Grandstream Softphone dialer.
drraccoon said:
Getting a pretty close stock experience on the MC74 is totally possible with some dedication and work. For reasons I cant get into, I am unable to provide the steps / files that it took to get where I am, but I have a functional MC74 with working handset & speakerphone. The only next thing I need to work on is getting the "IR" sensor to hangup in specific Dialer applications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to achieve the same, except GS dialer is not scaled correctly.
Not able to post link to image, as I don't have 10 messages.
So it is a/6aQYsz6 on imgur
Did not bother to fix it, as my intent is custom PJSIP dialer (someday
Headset sensor, led, mixer - figured out.
The only mystery is "mute" button and the red LED behind it.
sasha0413 said:
Hi all, I am new to the forums and I think that I need some help with a custom android project.
[Background]
I have bought a Meraki MC74, This phone is a VOIP office desk phone that has a nice 7 inch LCD screen that make for a ballin' custom intercom phone/general android device.
Cisco Meraki has dropped support for this phone, so even if I wanted to pay for a subscription, I couldn't. So custom android it is
[So what I know]
I know that the OEM OS is android 4.X.X with a custom Cisco Meraki dialer to do Meraki's cloud mumbojumbo. I was able to use ADB and Fastboot to flash ClockworkMod, and a custom version of Android 4.1.2 to get the device somewhat working. (it had lots of bugs and problems; but it was running android free of the Cisco Dialer!)
I was able to do this with the help of fellow xdadevelopers forum user "andrewmospak" (If you're reading this; I'm the dude from Ebay. And of course, thanks bro for the help so far!)
The storage is on a 4 GB Kingston EMMC.
[What I wanted for an end goal]
I wanted to have an interesting discontinued Meraki Desk phone that runs android and get all the functions of the phone working within android.
I also wanted to expand the storage from 4GB to 32GB. ( involving de-soldering existing EMMC and solder in the bigger EMMC.)
[What caused me to write this]
I would be fine if I wanted to stop there, but I wanted to try to install a GSI of android 9 in place of 4.1.2.
Again, this wouldn't be a big deal but I had to go and screw this up. I tried to resize some of the partitions (namely system to accommodate the bigger image of the android 9 GSI)but I accidentally completely killed the system,cache, and recovery partitions.
So, as one of the first steps of trouble shooting, I went to the hardest solution. The de-soldering of the EMMC.
I reached out to Andrewmospak again and asked for a full system emmc dump to try to flash his working file system to a spare 4GB EMMC to see an example of the file system of a working android EMMC. I received the image and flashed it to a spare Toshiba chip and soldered that to the phone, but I was unable to get the phone to boot into android right away, only able to load up fastboot.
Interestingly, I know that the EMMC is working because fastboot reports the S/N as the S/N of Andrewmospak's device and not the one written on my device.
[What I don't know]
Should some of the partitions on the EMMC not be recognized by Gparted in Debian? Like the User/System and others are partitioned ext4 while others are just not recognized.
Why when trying to flash partitions using Fastboot, wont fastboot recognise a recovery partition. It would just say that the partition just doesn't exist. same story with boot.
[What needs help]
I would like to know why fastboot wont see flashable volumes when using the EMMC dump flashed to another spare Toshiba EMMC, it is clearly there.
I would like to know how to reconstruct a volume to fix missing ones, and the number of partitions android needs to run.
Would I be able to flash an image of my working device to a 32gb emmc and just expand the system and user partitions into that extra space?
I will appreciate all help given to assist me and others that want a working device instead of a paperweight. ogChamp: :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I am interested but I don't have the device.
First of all:
I would be fine if I wanted to stop there, but I wanted to try to install a GSI of android 9 in place of 4.1.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can install a GSI on a 4.1.2 based device, but you can't without creating a vendor partition, GSI is a part of the Project Treble released with Oreo. It requires a vendor partition to work. On 4.1.2, there's simply no device with a partition called vendor, so you can't flash a GSI.
But, if you have a fully working Android Pie tree, you can make a vendor partition yourself.
alex39wkd said:
I was able to achieve the same, except GS dialer is not scaled correctly.
Not able to post link to image, as I don't have 10 messages.
So it is a/6aQYsz6 on imgur
Did not bother to fix it, as my intent is custom PJSIP dialer (someday
Headset sensor, led, mixer - figured out.
The only mystery is "mute" button and the red LED behind it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you didn't mention that you couldn't share any information like the reply previous to yours, would it be possible for you to share what you used to get there?
As someone with only linux, networking and voip knowledge and that never played around with Android ROMs/ADB before, that would get me started as I can ATM only get to ADB.
Also, did you use the version of android already on the Phone or Flashed it with a new ROM?
Thank you!
jtthecanadian said:
As you didn't mention that you couldn't share any information like the reply previous to yours, would it be possible for you to share what you used to get there?
As someone with only linux, networking and voip knowledge and that never played around with Android ROMs/ADB before, that would get me started as I can ATM only get to ADB.
Also, did you use the version of android already on the Phone or Flashed it with a new ROM?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used "adb pull" (in recovery mode) to dump boot partition, just used path to it in /dev/...
Used android tools to decompress and unpack boot.
Changed ro.secure to 0 and something like "meraki usb debug" to 1
Repacked boot partition
Used adb to switch to fastboot
Flashed boot and boot2 with this image
Now it is accessable as normal Android phone, for whatever you might want to do with it.
Is anyone able to provide a working ROM for this device? I'm extremely confused about how to get this working. I would greatly appreciate any advice.