Downgrade/flash camera firmware - Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

Hey Guys, trying to fix the green camera problem here, and I know 99% of people (who are most likely right) would tell me to RMA it to the destruction experts at Asus, but let's say there was reason to believe it wasn't the hardware rear camera piece with some degree of confidence. What I'm trying to do here is downgrade the camera firmware specifically. I was on .28, camera was on 0x9900 (I think, pretty sure not at home), do I downgraded via method, I'm back on HC yet camera firmware remains the same new version. Anyone know how to force a camera firmware flash/downgrade. I know it may very well be, and probably is a dead end but at this point my rear camera can't get any more broker. Thanks guys!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

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shoot, sorry, mods please move to Transformer Prime General. Apologies
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

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It's a question, so the Q&A section fits perfectly. :cyclops:

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Yea, in my early morning stupor I posted it in the Galaxy S2 forums before it was moved. Any ideas guys? I don't even think the camera firmware is appropriate for the ROM I have installed...was going to try various official prime roms til they match but if I could figure out how to force/trigger the camera firmware flash it'd be IMMENSELY helpful.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

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Is the camera a common problem on the prime? I barely used mine but noticed since starting the CM10 nightlies that it stopped working. I only get a green & pink static display. I searched the relevant forum for a fix but found none. Is it likely the hardware?

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VERY common problem. First thought to be a hardware problem I have reason to believe that A) The camera firmware is stored on the rear camera module (that is, if it were transplanted between 2 primes, one with HC and one with the latest .28 build, you'd see a camera firmware mismatch that follows the CAMERA, not the tablet) and B) I believe a seemingly good camera can behave badly either due to firmware mismatch between ROM and camera (that is, you update your tablet, but the camera rom update fails) OR, what I believe to be slightly more likely is that CERTAIN camera firmwares have this problem. What would be worse about this problem is that it would seem to have been CAUSED by Asus' updates, possibly as a result of updating the tablet but not the camera.
As of right now, I do not have enough proof to state the above definitively (but working on it). Here's what I know so far:
a) Downgrading to HC (8.8.3.33 I think) does NOT downgrade the camera firmware
b) I have discovered a command that I believe DOES update the firmware, yet it fails upon checking version numbers. See Below
# mv TF201-RS_M6Mo-0x9891.bin TF201-RS_M6Mo-0x9901.bin
mv TF201-RS_M6Mo-0x9891.bin TF201-RS_M6Mo-0x9901.bin
# /system/bin/isp_fw_update -isp
/system/bin/isp_fw_update -isp
Current camera isp version = TF201-0x9900
New camera isp ROM version = TF201-0x9891
Current camera isp version:TF201-0x9900
The camera isp ROM is older than current camera isp ROM
Exit camera isp FW update procedure
# PWD
PWD
PWD: not found
# pwd
pwd
/system/etc/firmware/camera
#
The first commands are me trying to fool the program by simply renaming the file, but you can see the result (this is on HC for WW ROM). Obviously I failed to fool it
There are more than a few tricks I mean to try. Ideally I'd like to decompile isp_fw_update so that it doesn't check version for downgrade. I've attached it here to see if anyone else can shed some light on the subject. I'm considering also hex-editing the camera firmware for the ROM (located in /system/etc/firmware/camera) that isp_fw_update looks at TO flash and editing the firmware number in the file. Wish me luck, and if anyone else can offer any help please jump in. I'll let you guys know what I find! (note, extract file from the zip, stupid xda uploader...)
EDIT: I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DOWNGRADED THE FIRMWARE, YET PROBLEM REMAINS. I haven't given up yet though! Gonna try slowing working my way up the firmware flash trail again from here and see if I get lucky

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Hope you can fix it. Me too got a green camera issue...
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

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Please let us know if this works because I have the problem as well. I was going to RMA but wanted to see it the next firmware fixes it just in case it is a software issue plus I don't use the camera all that often. If not I'm going to RMA.
FYI - I had a great experiance when I had to RMA because all the blacks on my display turned red. They fixed that and turnaround time was less than 2 weeks.

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theandies said:
Please let us know if this works because I have the problem as well. I was going to RMA but wanted to see it the next firmware fixes it just in case it is a software issue plus I don't use the camera all that often. If not I'm going to RMA.
FYI - I had a great experiance when I had to RMA because all the blacks on my display turned red. They fixed that and turnaround time was less than 2 weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea...regarding RMA, I've seen MORE than enough reports of both smashed, scratched primes as well as unnecessary motherboard replacements (which thanks to Asus' ****ty devs, breaks the unlock tool) to avoid that whole process. I've also heard of people having one thing fixed and another being broken. Honestly I can't bring myself to mail my tablet to those screw-ups having seen picture after picture of their "work". I'd do just about anything to get them to SELL me a working camera as I trust my own work 1000x more than the high-school drop-outs they've outsourced RMA to. Already e-mailed Tien asking if I could PURCHASE and PAY for a working camera module so I could fix it myself and he basically told me to screw myself. Awesome to know even when you're willing to work WITH a company to correct their mistakes they tell you to go to hell. Awesome.
Anyways, still trying my luck with firmware. Updated to .14, flashed camera firmware, still no luck Not finished trying yet though!
EDIT: Another good idea I have that I can't really try (at least not until parts start ending up on ebay) would be to swap in the camera for the TF700/TF300. I realize it might not work, but I figure the chances that it plugs into a standardized plug into the board is fairly high (high enough that I'd gamble on buying a camera module). As far as the firmware goes, there are a number of ways to go about handling that. I could easily unlock the device, never update from Asus again and it should never flash over the camera firmware. Another option would be to place the camera firmware for the TF700/300 in the same location as the normal firmware is in the TF201 and let it flash that file that way. I feel I've got a good enough handle on how firmware updating works (for the isp) that I can say with a good degree of confidence that would work.

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reply
compuw22c said:
I'd do just about anything to get them to SELL me a working camera as I trust my own work 1000x more than the high-school drop-outs they've outsourced RMA to. Already e-mailed Tien asking if I could PURCHASE and PAY for a working camera module so I could fix it myself and he basically told me to screw myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please see this URL: http://asusparts.eu/Asus-04081-00060000
Please see this picture: *http://asusparts.eu/images/Articles/leaf/04081-00060000_leaf.jpg
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CMOS CAMERA MODULE 8MP
Partnumber: 04081-000600000
Costs excl. shipping at the time of writing incl VAT are almost 56 EUR
Hope this helps.
Keep up the good work. I really think you are on something here. Thanks for persisting in finding your goal. If it wasn't for people like you we would probably be living in cave holes. Thanks again.

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compuw22c said:
Yea...regarding RMA, I've seen MORE than enough reports of both smashed, scratched primes as well as unnecessary motherboard replacements (which thanks to Asus' ****ty devs, breaks the unlock tool) to avoid that whole process. I've also heard of people having one thing fixed and another being broken. Honestly I can't bring myself to mail my tablet to those screw-ups having seen picture after picture of their "work". I'd do just about anything to get them to SELL me a working camera as I trust my own work 1000x more than the high-school drop-outs they've outsourced RMA to. Already e-mailed Tien asking if I could PURCHASE and PAY for a working camera module so I could fix it myself and he basically told me to screw myself. Awesome to know even when you're willing to work WITH a company to correct their mistakes they tell you to go to hell. Awesome.
Anyways, still trying my luck with firmware. Updated to .14, flashed camera firmware, still no luck Not finished trying yet though!
EDIT: Another good idea I have that I can't really try (at least not until parts start ending up on ebay) would be to swap in the camera for the TF700/TF300. I realize it might not work, but I figure the chances that it plugs into a standardized plug into the board is fairly high (high enough that I'd gamble on buying a camera module). As far as the firmware goes, there are a number of ways to go about handling that. I could easily unlock the device, never update from Asus again and it should never flash over the camera firmware. Another option would be to place the camera firmware for the TF700/300 in the same location as the normal firmware is in the TF201 and let it flash that file that way. I feel I've got a good enough handle on how firmware updating works (for the isp) that I can say with a good degree of confidence that would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First time I sent my Prime in for several issues, it came back with an unknown serial number (changed mobo for no reason), adhesive / scratching / denting on the device, wifi not fixed. Then I sent it again, still unable to unlock.
All the money they spent fixing my Prime, they could have just given me a new one. Replaced screen 2x, replaced mobo, replaced casing, replaced camera, replaced wifi modules...
Useless people..