Got my gTab yesterday. [VERY EXCITED!]
Plugged in wall outlet, waited 4 hours to charge.
Connected to WiFi.
Updated TapnTap, as instructed.
My Vist Ultimate computer didn't see the gTab when I plugged it in, at least not so I could get to the root directory.
So I went to an old XP and tried that. It worked.
Wanted to Root it, so I installed (sorry if that's not the correct word) ClockworkMod v08.
So far so good.
Then rooted TnT Lite v 4.2
Still good.
Then rooted TnT Lite suppl 4.25
STILL okay.
Then went to gMail. Added my gMail account. (An account I use for business.) It took a LONG time to do whatever it was doing. So I went to do something else, thinking it would continue doing it's thing in the background. I was wrong. It messed up, and I kept getting error messages.
Next thing I know, I'm somehow in that infinite boot loop.
It was about 2 am, and I was tired, and... panicked!
Next thing you know I'm freaking out and went hog-wild (while following directions to the letter), to get my brand new toy to work.
I did nvflash windows, still infinite boot loop. I tried putting the vanilla recovery 3588 on there. Still infinite boot loop.
Kept at things, trying everything I read, and STILL... infinite boot loop.
Then I figured it was time to try to get my Vista computer working so I wouldn't have to keep transferring stuff from the Vista to the XP to the miscroSD card to the gTab, and followed directions about APX mode.
I was delirious, exhausted and scared, and kind of went postal (in a frenzied OCD sort-of way), trying everything and anything to get rid of the infinite boot loop.
Now it won't even power up. (AT ALL!) I think I gave it a heart attack, or possibly a stroke. And that's with not even owning it for 24 hours!
I've tried the long 45 second power hold, then the short one. [Did that about 37 times.] I've tried power and Vol+. Nope. Then did a few power and Vol-, just to really freak the poor sick, dead thing out. [Like kicking the proverbial dead horse, I guess. Trying to see if there was any life left in it.] I even read to turn off the lights to see if there was a faint glow. But nope. No glow.
I will now follow the directions from another post, and will let it just sit for 24 hours (if I can survive the wait) to let the battery discharge and then see if it will boot. [After this nightmare, there is no WAY I will take off the back and hit the reset button--thereby definitely voiding my warranty.] But I hope I'm not like the woman from the forum thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=968177
If I am, and can't get this thing to power up, do you think WOOT will let me return it???? I'm so upset that I broke my new toy so quickly. If anyone has any suggestions about getting this thing to boot up, I'd appreciate it. [at this point, I'd be happy to have it boot up in the infinite boot loop!]
Oh, and one last question, how does having it turned off (because I can't turn it on) and sitting there drain the battery to the point that it needs to start fresh after a mere 24 hours with no activity? Is that typical for tablets?
THANK YOU to anyone who can offer advice on what to try next or how to remedy this problem. Please keep in mind that I am good with PCs and laptops/netbooks, but am VERY new to this whole android and tablet things, so if you send instructions, please give implicit directions (as though you are instructing a 3-year-old), without feeling as if you are insulting me. [Please believe it's what I need, and will appreciate. As will the other wooters who just turned their gTabs into brinks] And know that you will be helping Roebeet by answering my questions, because the poor guy must be exhausted from all of us lay-peoples' foibles and mess-ups. [The man seems to be a God at this site!]
Did you do what is mentioned right after step 10 in this thread?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865245
"If your tablet bootloops…Also may be required to get market running correctly on some ROMs...
Press and hold the power button to shut the device down. Boot back into Clockwork. Select the advanced option at the bottom, then go to “partition SD card”, for the first option select 2048, and for the second option select 0. Then, redo steps 7-10. This erases all data on your tablet, including backups."
But first... switch to decaf and get some rest... ;-)
Panic doesn't help.
It might actually be powering up but staying in APX mode. I've seen one do that. If that's the case you can still nvflash it back to normal. Let it charge for 15-20 minutes and leave it on the charger. Try to start it up and see if your pc can see it.
You maybe got the bootloop because your tab had sleep death while syncing. Was the error you got by chance something like process.acore? If so that is a classic error that happens after syncing contacts, sometimes there are empty contacts with no data that make the tab go nuts. Simply deleting the bad contacts solves the problem.
A simple wipe data/cash/davlic would have been the first place to start. Breathing helps when stuff goes wonky.
If you can get it to recovery a repartition is totally necessary. Deffinetly... and maybe some whiskey ....
Good luck.
good luck with woot return, dont even think they do it.
I wouldn't worry about the warranty. You already voided it when you rooted the device.
I'm so sorry, guys, I didn't check off the subscribe notification, so I didn't know that anyone had written.
cdavisccs28, I didn't do that while the tablet was boot looping, but somehow it went from bootlooping to complete death.
K J Rad, it wasn't charging, and wouldn't boot. [And you can probably guess, I tried numerous times.]
Mantara, the death in the middle of syncing certainly didn't help it, and, as you suggested, might have been the last nail in the coffin. The whiskey suggestion was funny! Actually I, personally don't drink, but as you might have deduced, I'm a carrier. [AKA: I've been told that I drive people to drink.]
spike378 & filterking: Yup, I think you are both correct. How I managed to spike from "excited as a schoolgirl" to "completely tanking" in less than 24 hours amazes even ME! [And I know me, and am used to me! I think that was a personal record!] [If I don't laugh about it, I'll cry!]
THANK YOU ALL for replying! Your time and concern meant a lot to me, but I think this baby is totally bricked! Elvis has DEFINITELY left the building! If I do get another one (I'll have to start saving again), I might be too afraid to play with it. I really am good with PCs and notebooks, so I might just keep staying with what I know. YOU GUYS ROCK, for trying to help me, and I really appreciate it!
Same problem. I booted the device up, and connected it to WiFi. Then it gave a popup where it asked to update to the newest version. I said okay, and let it do its thing. Then it restarted into a bootloop. So, I turned the device off, and tried to turn it back on, except -- nothing. With the USB plugged in, it's not recognized by the computer at any time after I press the power button. I've been trying to get it to boot for an hour now and it's still just sitting there with a black screen. Not even a backlight is showing. Anyone know of any solution? Or is it time to ask for an RMA from Woot!?
h.nocturna, WOW, you didn't even get to the part where you started doing everything and anything (in a frenzy) to get it to work properly! That might be a good thing, h.nocturna, because you haven't voided your warranty! You might need to send it to Viewsonic to be fixed (since it messed up while you were doing their update), but at least you can do THAT! I mailed my brand new brick to my son up in college and gave him this site, and told him to have a blast, and do whatever he wanted with it. [He's known me his whole life, and said even HE "can't fathom my destroying something so completely in less than 10 hours."] I wish you luck!
Oh, one more question that will help the masses, I'm sure. So how do you get your computer to recognize the device as a hard drive, when it is plugged in to a Windows PC (without voiding the warrenty, of course)? [Vista Ultimate does not recognize it, and neither did Windows 7.] Please give step-by-step instructions for the lay-person. [By answering this question, at least we will solve THAT problem for folks!]
badtypist,
I wrote you a fix last night and when I went to save it the Forums had been shut down and do it didn't save to post --
and I had been on the road and was exhausted and just couldn't stay up long enough to redo it if and when they came back up. Sorry.
You simply needed to find one solution and then let us get down the procedure to follow to fix it.
Several people in the past have gotten to the point where you were. I read two fixes.
One was some people were able to get the tab to start again by playing with the
power switch -- hold it for long, long times and then press a short startup, etc. Somehow they got that to reset and start.
Somewhere else in the forums -- and I have never done this with either of my tablets --
there are a few threads where someone in this kind of situation opened up
the tablet card and simply unplugged the battery for 10- or more seconds. There also
is a reset button inside the case as shown in an old thread where someone opened a
G-Tab up and took pictures.
If any of those three choices get to where you can either use power / volume - to get
into NVFlash more ---- or to where we can load CWM -- then you are in fair shape.
LOTS AND LOTS OF BOOT LOOPS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PARTITIONING. Simply
getting into CWM and re-partitioning to 2048 and 0 and then using CWM to "Fix
Permissions" will get it working. CWM also will let you wipe the cache and wipe the
factory data, which sometimes will allow and NVFlash to come on up and work right.
You see, we were not dead by any stretch.
You might pass this on to the recipient of the tablet.
Also, so many people are trying to do so much that is over their heads -- and so many
people are borking their tablets -- that this site and the folks that can help -- just can't communicate. Sad day.
I wish you luck. Hope this helps.
Rev
EDIT: Well, I guess we missed the boat completely. Evidently she mailed of the G-Tab and checked
out for good!!!
Hi Rev! Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I TRIED to get back to you sooner, but I think this site was down, because it kept timing out and wouldn't let me get to the site OR the conversation thread! I tried a few times, then tried later, and now just tried again!
I think you guys are getting BLASTED with desperate lay-people from the over 10,000 tablets sold on Woot who have "borked" their tablets. (That's a funny word, Rev! I hope I'm using it properly! And please note, although the WORD is funny, the actual situation is NOT funny!)
Yes, I mailed the offending frustration-linked object to my son, and can't "take it back," but perhaps I will beg for and borrow enough money to try again, sometime soon! If I do, I will come back here again sine I feel I have bonded with the wonderful, sharing folks on this site. (I'm a she, by the way, not a "he.") I admire (okay, worship) the folks who help us lay-people out so we don't sit alone crying and trying to power/Vol+ in solitude!
I've read your other posts previously, Rev, and you are so wonderful to help us n00bs! So please remember "badtypist" (hopefully with good thoughts) and when you hear my name again, let's hope it's to say... THIS TIME I ROOTED IT CORRECTLY!!!!
Thanks again, for your time, Rev AND the rest of you, which wasn't wasted, because I sent my son this link and he will (in his spare time) read through it to fix HIS new tablet. [I think he kind of liked that his mom messed up! He got a VERY expensive new toy, if he can fix it.]
Perhaps I'll talk with you soon...
badtypist (and bad ROOTER. Or is it ROOTERIST? Or maybe ROOTIST? Whatever the proper term, I think we can all agree that I AM bad at it!)
Gtab Update Problems
So, I would agree with some of the posts above. I would also point out that you have two options (or some combination of the two):
1. Try to return the tablet, or put in a warranty claim (the warranty specifically does not cover modification\rooting)
2. Try to fix it yourself
I tend to choose #2 f I think the chances are better than 50/50 in my favor. Also, if the hardware is okay, you can have it fixed in 20 minutes.
The experience that the OP went through is EXACTLY why I discourage newer g-tablet owners from rushing in and flashing alternate firmware to their tablet. I am often chided for this recommendation, but I believe that it is unwise to modify a brand new tablet.
If you still want to mod it, you should have a backup plan. I save my update file to an external USB drive. You should then be able to re-install the stock update by placing it on a microSD card. You need to rename it to update.zip, and add a file that tells it to look at the microSD card for an update. I am a but fuzzy on the specifics, but that file is named "command", and I found it somewhere here in the forums.
As I plan on modding my newer woot tablet (or maybe my older Sears one). I will first set this up, and will work out the details.
Hi buzzzard, thanks for the great info! VERY helpful. I did see that video while researching the gTab, but didn't bookmark it, so I appreciate your adding it here! My son will see all your posts and will use all of your suggestions to try to raise my brand new gTab from the dead! [It wasn't even in zombie mode when I shipped it to my son, so we'll see what happens! I'll keep ya'll informed.]
wasserkapf, you are probably right about not jumping in with both feet for us n00bs. And I most certainly don't mean to be disrespectful in ANY way, but I have a (serious) question... if I'd kept the tap-n-tap and played with it for a while, how would that have changed things for me if I eventually decided to root it to a faster, better OS? [I'm not meaning this sarcastically, I really want to know what I'd have to learn in order to change the results I had, in case I ever do this whole process again, or in case others out there are (hopefully) learning by my mistakes.] What would you suggest lay-people should be learning about the gTab BEFORE attempting to root it? [The answer to this question wil help a LOT of folks!]
buzzzard,
I have always understood -- and I don't want to know bad enough to spend the time
researching it -- that the warranty is void when you load non-standard software.
And even if it were not, I have real questions about messing up a computer and then
taking it back to the seller as if it were faulty. Seems to me there is a dishonesty
component in that equation.
I think modders SHOULD accept the risk that they can trash their tablets -- and that
if they do then the loss is theirs.
Rev
P. S. -- I've tried to say this much without starting a flame war -- if you do I won't
answer you and will ask the moderator to close and hide the thread.
badtypist said:
wasserkapf, you are probably right about not jumping in with both feet for us n00bs. And I most certainly don't mean to be disrespectful in ANY way, but I have a (serious) question... if I'd kept the tap-n-tap and played with it for a while, how would that have changed things for me if I eventually decided to root it to a faster, better OS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For one, this will give you time to read up and learn more. I can tell that you are confused by all of this. You don't "root it to a faster OS". Rooting is a method to gain root privileges on the tablet. To you windows users, root is the equivalent of Administrator. There also is only one OS available for this tablet, and that is Android. Some have made modified/customized versions of Android, but it is still Android.
[I'm not meaning this sarcastically, I really want to know what I'd have to learn in order to change the results I had, in case I ever do this whole process again, or in case others out there are (hopefully) learning by my mistakes.] What would you suggest lay-people should be learning about the gTab BEFORE attempting to root it? [The answer to this question wil help a LOT of folks!]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There seems to be the misperception that you have to install a custom firmware to get root privileges or Android Market access. This can be done on the stock firmware, and then makes the tablet much more useful.
butchconner, I know you weren't talking to me, but I am taking full responsibility, and am hoping my son can resurrect my gTab, and I DO hope there will be no flaming, as well. ["There's no need for flaming. It's unsportsmanlike, kind-of rude and unproductive," said the mom to all reading this thread. So please don't flame so this won't get deleted for other poor people who "bork" their gTabs.]
badtypist,
wasserkapf was around when I got my first G-Tablet -- when we were all getting started last November.
You have no idea how bad the software was back then and the things we had to do to make things work.
It wasn't a question of 10 different ROMS and whether it was fast or not -- it was a question of making it work.
But I agree with wasserkapf (and I don't mean this comment particularly at you ) that
people are trying to do too much to fast. In addition to being a minister, I also was
an exec in the IT field for 30 years. I learned to read the docs, to move slow, to make sure each step was
successfully completed before moving on, to test things that
I'm not sure of -- and a whole host of other things that IT people use to operate their
company's systems without crashing it and losing data.
I helped a guy along the way who said he was inexperienced and that his tablet was in
the same kind of situation yours ways. He had gotten his G-Tab, charged it up, and had loaded EVERYTHING he could find on it.
Three or four different ROMS including an
experimental ROM he had been warned was risky. Yet he was having to ask what
recovery was and where to look for files and other basic questions.
I think everybody should get their tablet, upgrade to the latest version of stock, install z4root and
Titanium Backup and learn to use them, then install the latest version of Angry Birds and whatever useful software they need -- and then enjoy
that for a while while they learn the ins and outs of modding.
I help people because of the kind of person I am and because I am retired and have
some time to devote. But I also will be honest and tell you this -- I don't suffer
obnoxious, foolish people well -- and there are folks I just don't help because someone gave them good advice
and they didn't listen........I help folks who need and deserve to be helped.
The alternate ROMs are nice. And it's neat to add market and other useful stuff to
your tablet. But none of those kinds of things are so important that they are worth
what some folks do.
Nuff said. I don't respond to flames. And when you have been helping people as long
as I have, then you can have your opinion.
Peace,
Rev
Ok, before everyone jumps to conclusions on multiple accounts let me get this out there.
1. I am not a noob when it comes to forums and no how to search ie my search results:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=989241
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1067003
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=913958
2. I am not a noob when it comes to android devices and would call myself moderately knowledgable in the subject and really cant think of any other ideas also google nor sprint is not helping in the slightest ( and honestly I dont expect them too).
3. The story below is true and i DID NOT STEAL or receive a STOLEN phone, nor am i some jealous boyfirend. I am doing this for a friend, so here it goes.
My coworkers son commited suicide and has asked me to look at his phone to see if i can find away to unlock it so he can either know if anybody knew this was happening or most likely i think for closure of this whole ordeal. When given to me he had already given the phone to many gestures and gives me the google account lockout screen. the father just wants to see the latest messages on the phone as well as anything that might have come up. now this is what i have done so far:
PHONE: EVO 4G
Status: Stock AKA NOT ROOTED
1. I have taken out the SD card to see if i can grab anything off of there but the last time the text messages were backed up were on 7-31-2011, so that really doesn t help me there. I cant think of any other folders to look in in order to find anything else.
2. The phone was never set to USB debugging so there is no chance of rooting the phone (although i am not sure this would even unlock the phone at this point)
3. His father does not know the gmail account and I have only found a few other accounts through facebook and odd random searches that you can scarely do on the internet. After reading some other posts though I am not sure i could do what i was thinking with this because it only updates the computer and not the password on the phone.
4. Tried calling the phone. The phone doesnt even register as if someone is calling. The father said he didnt turn off the phone yet, and it makes since as i am creepily getting text messages as we speak.
So this is where i am at. I cannot think of too much more. Like i said i dont want the phone, it isnt stolen, and i am really just trying to help the guy out. Google told him becaus ethe kid is older then 18 ther eis nothing they can do and if that is there policy then that is BS especially in this situation. and sprint told him they can do a factory reset on the phone. so those are out of the question.
If you're positive that usb debugging is off, then there's not much you can do.
If you can reset the password to his Google account, and the phone has an internet connection, then inputting the new Google information should unlock the phone. I'm not sure if a connection is automatically created during this process. If you'd like, I can test the theory on my own Evo if you can't get any further.
Most people use the same password for everything. If you can find a password for anything, it's likely that's the password for his Google account. Check his computer as well. If he has saved his login information in his web browser, you should be able to pull that information.
Unfortunately you would have many more options if the phone was rooted. You could do a nandroid backup then sift through the data.img. I'm not sure if the stock recovery allows for anything that will help you. When you get into the stock recovery, it looks like you don't have any options. I believe holding both volume buttons simultaneously on the screen with the red triangle/exclamation point will give you a list of options.
If you cannot get into the phone, the SD card is probably going to be your best source of information - though it's unlikely that you'll get much. Browse through all of the directories. He could've switched SMS Backup apps and the information could be stored in a less obvious location. Try /sdcard/data and /sdcard/android/data.
If I can think of anything else I will post it. Both ADB and MyPhoneExplorer (I'm not positive that's the name) would be helpful in this situation, but without usb debugging on I don't think you'll be able to use them. Research further into enabling usb debugging without access to the OS.
I'm sorry for your friend's (and your) loss. I hope that in some way, even if not through the phone, he can find closure.
Sent from my Evo + MIUI using Tapatalk!
Thanks for the response good ideas, and I will try them. Turns out this kid never had a computer and in talking with the friends they only had his other email accounts so I will think of someway to get around that, but anyways thanks again.
Your best bet would be something like the Cellebrite UFED that was getting some attention a few months ago. There are other mobile forensics utilities - I'm not sure if they can be purchased by a single person or if there are guidelines these companies must follow before selling the devices. I'm also sure that they're not cheap, so unless you or your friend are very well off, you probably couldn't buy one yourself anyway.
I took a Computer Forensics course and we spent a week on mobile forensics. This was before Android was popular, and I believe that we used the device on a BlackBerry. The device (I don't remember the name) made an image of the contents which we then looked through using Forensic Toolkit or something similar.
If you know anyone in a computer program, ask if they have access to a similar device. We were allowed to use whatever tools were available during specified times (mainly for lab work, but we could use them for other reasons), so this would be your best bet for getting information off of the phone. Other places, like repair shops (and police departments) may have access to similar technology. If you can find someone empathetic to your situation with access to mobile forensics tools then you may be able to get somewhere.
It's a long shot, but I had the thought & wanted to bump your thread for you in hopes that someone with more knowledge could help you out.
If the device happens to have wifi on & is connected, you can also hack into it over the network. If this is the case and you need more information, shoot me a pm and I'll give you what information I know on ways to do so.
Sent from my Evo + MIUI using Tapatalk!
thanks for sharing.................