[Q] Need help to Root MTK6573 A9220 phone - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi, I bought a Chinese made Galaxy Note A9220, and have been using for 2 weeks, I like the big screen, battery life is reasonable, but the ROM storage is at the low side, I am not able to install many favorite apps/games in it, so I need help from forumers to provide guidence or instruction to Root this device so I can remove some of the unwanted apps/games stored in the system. I have searched through many Chinese websites and tried many Root apps, so far no luck.
Basically the phone comes with specs as below:
- Phone Model : A9220
- Model number : e1108_v73_jbl1
- Android version : 4.0
- Baseband version : MAUI.11AMD.W11.37.SP.V17.F1, 2012/03/20 18:09
- Kernel version : 2.6.35.7 Tue Apr 10 15:29:22 CST 2012
- Build number : ALPS.GB.FDD2.MP.V4.5
- Custom Built Version : 1334042976
- CPU MTK 6573 512 rom 512 ram
You help is very much appreciated.
Thank you.

---

A9220 (MTK6573 Processor) Rooted system.img
Dear Friend,
I have same Specification with A9220 phone, I rooted myphone using SuperOneClick.
This is our Phone, Do not flash, if this is not your phone.
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Please download rooted system.img from this link http://www.mediafire.com/?ytxpjyvnftc2fv9
Flash it with SP Flash tools.
Also I attached here boot.img,recovery.img, MT65x3 drivers and Scatters files.
Note:-
This is latest update kernal version by Tue ' Apr 10 2012
Home button corrected for waking up phone, Previously we have to press always power button to wake the phone up.
Its 100% rooted
Removed Chinese Apps.
Default Set to English, When you reset your phone.
Internal Memory now 150MB free available.
No bugs at all
My advise is,
Use Link2SD for installing more apps.
Use Go lanucer EX with Ice creame sandwich theme
My Phone looks great and works flawlessly.
Latest Original ROM for A9220 Model Only download link is http://upload.sunsky-online.com/res/drivers/MPH-6030.zip
Attached Screen Shots & Attachments for Original Boot.img and Recovery.img

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Hi johnpugazh,
First of all, thank you very much for replying, and providing the solution.
I am confuse, should I root the phone with SuperOneClick, then proceed to flash your System.img file? I was not able to root the phone with SuperOneClick, can you advise which version that you are using?
I am new to the Flash tool, please advise
1) I downloaded the SP_Flash_Tool_v3.1206.01, is it the correct version to flash the 6573 phone?
2) Is it ok for you to provide guides to Flash just to make sure the correct procedure is followed.
Thanks again.

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Boot Img needed
Hi Friend,
Please can you also share us the boot.img or the entire file for this phone as we have a similar phone which is called Micromax A75 running on android 2.3 dual sim.
Please assist.
BR.
VK

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warning plasticguy,
you must be sure that the phone is same..... i brik 2 phone whit wrong system.img... if you no have a full original backup you must think very well before flash it. If system.img is wrong, your phone brick... only if you have a original system.img you will be able to restore it...
Thanks tojohnpugazh
i have a dapeng A9230 another clone of note with android 2.3.6.... i will try your system.img on my phone.... you can share your recovery.img and boot.img too?
and... I have for this phone a full backup for restore my phone, yes .-)
Angelo
Added: Ok... the system.img is good for DAPENG A9230 too .-)

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johnpugazh said:
Dear Friend,
I have same Specification with A9220 phone, I rooted myphone using SuperOneClick.
Please download from this link https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D7266206_4608419_752336
Flash it with SP Flash tools.
Note:-
This is latest update kernal version by Tue ' Apr 10 2012
Home button corrected for waking up phone, Previously we have to press always power button to wake the phone up.
Its 100% rooted
Removed Chinese Apps.
Default Set to English, When you reset your phone.
Internal Memory now 150MB free available.
No bugs at all
My advise is,
Use Link2SD for installing more apps.
Use Go lanucer EX with Ice creame sandwich theme
My Phone looks great and works flawlessly.
Attached Screen Shots
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there,
Is it possible to flash cwm recovery ti the MTK6573 A9220 and if it is possible, how can I do it?
Thank you

---

Hi johnpugazh,
After referring to many info and tutorial on "how to flash using SP Flash Tools" from some forums, I eventually tried to flash your System.img, and succeeded to root the phone. The flashing is straight forwards, just that the VCOM driver installation is tricky for me...
Thank you very much for your help. I have been struggling for 3 weeks looking for solution to root this phone, I visited many Chinese Forums and tried their methods, no luck to get it rooted.
Now I am following your advise to install Link2SD to free up more internal storage, and will install more more apps...
Thanks again.

---

Dear plasticguy,
Same I was also, I learned from flahsing Star x18i/HD7000. I applied same here for A9220 5" Galaxy note clone.
Please note There is serveral models available same like this. This one is special with TV option. Others don't have it. Which is A9220.
The other one i9220 5" don't have TV option.
But both rom works for both model. If you flash i9220 ROM to A9220 you will loose TV option.
---------- Post added at 10:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 AM ----------
Dear sagaff,
I am also looking for custom recovery, It is not yet available. Once I get it I will post it.

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Hi johnpugazh,
I faced problem installing the Link2SD..."Mount script error - mount script can not be created", can you please advise?
AND, we definitely have the same phone.
Thank you.

---

Hi johnpugazh,
I could not figure out how I did it, but now the Link2SD is working, I did not link all system apps, just a few apps and keyboard input, I am now able to see 93M in the storage, wow, this is so great.
I used the MiniTools to partition my 16G-SDcard to Ext2 (~ 1.9G, Primary), the rest FAT32 Primary.
Initially I face problem with "Mount script error" when I first run the Link2SD, after searching the XDA forum, downloaded "ext2.ko" file, follow instruction to copy to /system/lib/modules, I was using the terminal emulator instead of ADB, but face problem with . The instruction as below:
1) download and extract ext2.ko to sdcard
2) copy ext2.ko to /system/lib/modules
but faced problem with "ext2.ko copy failed", refer to forum again, need to rw
the /system, type in the emulator
==> # mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
==> # cp /sdcard/ext2.ko /system/lib/modules
3) after copying, type "insmod /system/lib/modules/ext2.ko"
but faced problem with error "insmod: init_module '/system/lib/modules/ext2.ko' failed (Exec format error)"
did not know what to do next, so tried to install Link2SD 1.7, reset the phone, still the same "mount script error", so tired, search forum again... later decided to use minitool to change the partition from "ext2 to fat32", then run the Link2SD again, this time, no error, and it worked...but I still don't what made it work...
Thank you.

---

Dear plasticguy,
MTK6573 phones kernel will not support ext2,ext3 and ext4. fat and fat32 will support.
1. SD card must have two partition, formatted both in fat32 system as primary. Use the minitools partition wiz.
2. 2nd partition maximum 512mb to 1gb enough for apps.
3. Install link2sd and open it, then choose FAT32 option and restart your phone.
4. after restarting open link2sd, goto settings->Autolink enable it, Install Location choose Internal, So all user apps are installed in 2nd partition.
Thats it
5.Now goto link2sd press filter option choose user mode. Now goto menu use multiselect -> select all->Action->create link, before create link uncheck launcher and widgets, and the proceed for create link, thats all wait for complete the action and reboot the phone.
6. Finally after reboot goto link2sd->menu->Storage Info, you can see 3 partition Internal, SD CARD, SD CARD 2nd Part free space's.
Have fun
Note:- System apps,Launcher and widgets leave it in internal memory. You can move user apps to 2nd partition. This will speedup your phone at startup

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Hi johnpugazh,
Thank you very much for the info, so that means the last step that I did to change the partition to fat32 made the Link2sd work. Right now I am still in version 1.7, will probably update to 2.0.4
I love this phone, the resolution is just right for me as I am presbyopia, need big screen with large font size. Another good thing is, this phone is Dual-SIM, so I don't have to carry 2 phones out anymore.
Now I am on the Go Launcher EX with ICS theme, change the font size to 15, perfect for my eyes, hopefully this phone can last for long time, but then, I am already planned to get the MTK6575 version as my next phone
Hopefully there are more MTK6573/6575 A9220/I9220 phone users coming in this forum to share their experience in using the phone, and the modifications know-how on the phone so we can learn together.
Thank you.

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Hi Plasticguy,
Please can you confirm if your phone is running android 4.0 (ICS)?

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Hi vkrajuu,
The information in the Setting/About phone stated Android version 4.0, but when I check in the Factory Mode/Version (Power button and "-" Volume button), the information was Android Ver. 2.3.6, and I believe the 2.3.6 is the correct one...may be the MTK6573 is not powerful enough to run the ICS, I think.
You have exactly the same type of phone (like the photos showed by johnpugazh)? How did you Root your phone? Or it came pre-rooted?
I saw in the "TaoBao" that there are at least 6 types of i9220/N7000/A9220, the latest is the MTK6575 inside with more Rom storage.
Thank you.

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MTK6575 1Ghz 5" (Galaxy Note Clones)
Your are right plasticguy. MTK6573 chips can't not run Android 4. MTK6575 is capable for Android 4.
Yes, I am also going to buy MTK6575 processor phone with 5.3". I am looking for 1GB RAM. Now available models are only 512MB RAM.
There is 3 to 4 types of MTK6575 Processor models with 5" and 5.3" available.
My preference are
1. Goophone i9220 5.3" MTK6575 1Ghz, 1GB RAM(now available 512MB only), 4GB ROM Link http://www.szsuff.com/sdp/432923/4/pd-2422217/10294120-2380965/Goophone_i9220_5_3_inch_Capacitive_Screen_Android_.html
2. Star N8000 5" MTK6575 1Ghz 512MB RAM, 4GB ROM with TV options available Link http://www.sunsky-online.com/product/default!view.do?subject.id=249228
3. i9220 Pad 5" MTK6575 1Ghz 512GB RAM 4GB ROM without TV option Link http://www.sunsky-online.com/view/248719/i9220+Pad+Black++GPS+++AGPS++Android+4.0.3+Version++5.0+inch+Capacitive+Touch+Screen+Mobile+Phone+with+Wifi+Bluetooth+FM+function++Dual+Sim+cards+Dual+standby+Dual+Cameras++WCDMA+++GSM+Network++Band++WCDMA+++850+1900+2100MHZ++Band++GSM+++850+900+1800+1900MHZ.htm

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Hi johnpugazh,
The 1st option is thinner compared to the others, I have also checked the Taobao, too many options, let's just wait for "better" one.
By the way, you mentioned that you used SuperOneClick to root the A9220, can you share how you did it? What software/apps/driver needed?
I have tried ZergRush, SuperOneClick 2.2, Root_MOTO 2.3.6, MobileUncle, but all did not work, I saw a lot of "fault" and "Error" statements during the rooting process, could be my driver not correct? I checked in the Device Manager, under "Android Phone", the drive showed as "Android Composite ADB Interface", I remembered seeing the other 2 without driver (Base Unit...), I could not remember now as I tried to connect to PC again after rooting, I only saw Android Phone.
Thank you.

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Hi johnpugazh,
I am like plasticguy, wishes very much to know how you root your A9220. I too tried many tools including SuperOneClick, unlockroot, many Chinese software but of no avail.
Many thanks for the instruction and rooted image it works like a dream.

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johnpugazh said:
Dear Friend,
I have same Specification with A9220 phone, I rooted myphone using SuperOneClick.
This is our Phone, Do not flash, if this is not your phone.
Please download rooted system.img from this link http://www.mediafire.com/?ytxpjyvnftc2fv9
Flash it with SP Flash tools.
Also I attached here boot.img,recovery.img, MT65x3 drivers and Scatters files.
Note:-
This is latest update kernal version by Tue ' Apr 10 2012
Home button corrected for waking up phone, Previously we have to press always power button to wake the phone up.
Its 100% rooted
Removed Chinese Apps.
Default Set to English, When you reset your phone.
Internal Memory now 150MB free available.
No bugs at all
My advise is,
Use Link2SD for installing more apps.
Use Go lanucer EX with Ice creame sandwich theme
My Phone looks great and works flawlessly.
Latest Original ROM for A9220 Model Only download link is http://upload.sunsky-online.com/res/drivers/MPH-6030.zip
Attached Screen Shots & Attachments for Original Boot.img and Recovery.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear John,
I have the same phone model as yours and did exactly the same as per your instruction that is using the rooted system.img and recovery.img in your attachment. The flashing went well. When its done, when I booted my phone it just got stuck at the initial blue android logo.. what should I do.. really need and appreciate your kind help. Please.

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Hi sagaff,
I thought we only need to flash the system.img to root the phone as following johnpugazh's instruction? I only flashed the "system.img" to root the phone, and that will change the kernel version to the latest.
Did you also flash the boot.img as provided by him? Not sure if you need to flash both recovery.img together with boot.img in order to boot correctly.
Thank you.

---

Hi all,
I was trying out the "Setcpu" to overclock the MTK6573, but failed to do so as it is not supported by the "Setcpu".
I found another app that is supporting the overclock, it is "MTK CPU-Control Test", at original 1350mV, overclocked to 806MHz is stable, now still playing with it...please try it out and share your experience.
Thank you.