Related
Hi all
I am opening up this Q&A thread as extension to my ROM threads, for the simple reason that ever since there is a limitation preventing new users from posting in development threads, I get flooded with PM's. So I intent to move any Q&A, help requests, as well as free and open discussions between users here.
Since the A750 and A789 are so similar, and I put the same stuff in them, I extent both into this one Q&A thread, and in fact, much of it knowledge applies to other Lenovo's like the P700, P700i, S880, A660 which are again very similar and I even use them as basis of my ROM.
Also, I am not intending to be topic police. Like in my other threads, I do not mind if you guys share knowledge about APKHOT or Smileyvvv or Etotalk ROM. As long as it is helpful. Also, I may not always reply myself, so feel free to help each other.
Link to the original threads:
[ROM][2012.xx.xx] Lenovo A750 custom ROM (GB&ICS). <last page>
[ROM][2012.xx.xx] Lenovo A789,P700i,A660 factory&custom ROM (ICS). <last page>
Other related threads (not all mine):
CWM flashing tutorial (update using recovery)
MT6575 flashing tutorial (update using flash utility
Lenovo Original recovery tutorial
[SCRIPTS] Unpack / repack MT65xx boot.img, recovery.img or logo.bin
[REF] Unpacking and repacking stock rom .img files
[UTIL][APP]Lenovo Security / LeSec app (anti-virus/spam/theft/firewall)
[TOOL][TUT]Backup and Restore Mediatek based phone's IMEI
How to DIY : Self root/gapps/playstore/locationfix/clean my ROM
This is a guide on how to root & cleanup your China ROM yourself. It will probably work on all ICS China phones. But it requires & starts with the availability of a recovery image for your phone
There are in fact a few steps:
- Get a proper recovery image for your phone.
- Root it by installing Chainfire's root package
- Install Google GMS ('GAPPS') to get Play Store and Localisation to work
And optionally
- Install Mobile UncleToolset
- Install an extra small fix with location services
- Install an extra small fix with latest APN list
- Install an extra fix to remove well known Chinese system apps
Recovery image
The Recovery Image allows you to boot into an alternative small Linux that you can then use to update the main Android. Updates usually come in "update.zip" scripted files. And the recovery has some other utilities like backup or wipe the entire phone. Getting a working recovery for your phone is step number one, because if you have a recovery, you can do everything else.
To check if you already have a recovery: Well, try to boot into it. The boot sequence may vary with the phone, but on MediaTek phones it is usually to replace the battery and then press&hold both volume buttons while powering up. I have seen it where you need to actually press the power button a split second before pressing both volume buttons. Try a few times, replacing the battery each time.
If you get to a screen that reads CWMR or CWMR Touch (short for ClockWorkModRecovery), you are all set and can continue with rooting. CWMR it is the most common open recovery image. If your recovery is closed, then you need to search the web for a working recovery for your specific model. Each brand and model needs its own recovery, because screen drivers, buttons and partition tables may differ.
Search the web is the best advise. Search wide and search deep. If you cannot find any recovery, then see if you can find a full ROM for your phone. If you have a working ROM image, then there are people on XDA that can make a recovery for you, but typically you need to show/prove that you have really tried to find one yourself.
Flashing a recovery
If you do find a recovery, that you suspect is the correct one for your ROM, then comes the scary part: Flashing the recovery to the phone.
This paragraph is specific to Mediatek based phones. On different hardware you also need a recovery, and once you have a recovery, you can use the other parts of this post, but how to flash other hardware, I do not know, sorry
Flashing using the flash tool is scary to new users. Because new users suspect that if they mess it up, the phone dies. And this is correct! But if you only flash the recovery.img part, you should be fairly safe. Read this manual on flashing. Getting the USB driver installed is sometimes a bit tricky, you may also want to read post #21 and post #25 for help.
I have seen several people asking 'where to find the scatter file'. Well, it comes with the ROM you want to flash. If your ROM file does not come with a scatter file, then is not a ROM file that can be flashed with the flash utility, but with an open recovery.
Rooting
Once you have a working recovery, the rest is simple. For rooting, simply install (from inside the recovery) chainfire's "CMW installable ZIP"
Link to his post: (ignore his big red 'requires root' warning). The file you need is labeled "CWM installable ZIP" at the bottom. Direct link to the file you need to install via recovery update.zip
This usually works by putting the zip file on the SD card (its name can be anything, though for some limited recoveries it sometimes must be named 'update.zip'), booting into recovery, and selecting the zip file to update.
Google GMS (Market/Play Store, Location, etc)
Simply install the latest Google Mobile Services (better known as GAPPS) from CyanogenMod V9. This is their explaining wiki from CyanogenMod
The file you need is called gapps-ics-20120429-signed.zip for ICS and gapps-jb-20121212-signed.zip for JB and can be found here. You probably also want to wipe your cache partition after doing this.
Mobile Uncle toolset
Just install this program apk (so not through the recovery, just install it normally). Or search the web for the latest one.
Fix location services
If location services does not work, do apply Google GMS (GAPPS) above. If it still does not work, it may be because the phone is programmed to use Chinese location services. This patch will tell it to use GMS. The patch will apply, and probably even work, on all ICS phones. But was originally made&tested on a Lenovo A750 ICS. Its called V1.3 because many people have downloaded the A750 v1.3 patch and used it on many MT6575 phones. It is still the same patch, except the update.zip is tweaked to work on any ICS phone, not only MT6575 ones.
Sometimes you also need to go into MobileUncle tool, the MTK Engineer mode, and in location settings. Depending on your exact model, somewhere in there is a NetLoc or NetLocation and a GeoCoding setting, with options of MEDIATEK and GOOGLE. Ensure they are set to GOOGLE.
After messing with location settings, it is best to also wipe cache.
Fix APN list (or My 3G does not connect!)
You can always add your own APN (Access Point Names) from the settings menu. Just add your own, and select that over the pre-build one. But this package will update with the latest list as maintained by CyanogenMod 9. The update.zip was made in such a way it should work on all ICS phones, Mediatek or other.
Clean well known Chinese system apps
<patch still coming>
==========================================
List of known recovery images for Mediatek Flash tool:
Lenovo A750 : 592zn : See also this post #607, nandroid backup does not work.
Lenovo A789 : 592zn or APKHOT
Lenovo P700i : My own, based on APKHOT with CWM.
Lenovo P700 : My own, based on CWMT / 592zn. nandroid backup will not work.
Lenovo A660 : My own, based on APKHOT with CWM
Lenovo S560 : My own, based on APKHOT with CWM (as yet untested)
Additional Recovery Images in this post.
If you feel you searched all over the web, and could not find a recovery for your model, and you next feel you should ask me or one of the other people on XDA to make you one (which I am not encouraging), than please be aware we need at least a 'standard ROM' for your phone to start from. Without it, I can do nothing. So go back out there, and find a standard ROM, does not matter what language, as long as it is for your specific phone model and known to work.
Also, as an extra warning : If you are flashing, and you experiment with 'suspicious' ROM sources, *never ever* flash the preloader, mbr, ebr uboot. Only flash those from a trusted source and if they belong to your exact brand and model phone.
One more reserved
lolo250612 said:
Hello from France,
Just a little message to thank you very much for your very useful "Lenovo A789 factory&custom ROM (ICS)" thread. I have just bought a A789 from etotalk, and your posts really help to master the beast.
I can't participate to the thread because I am a new member and consequently can't post message to this development thread. And this very sad, because I have discovered a shortcoming of this phone. Apparently, the ICS entire phone encryption does not work and, according to some information I have gathered around the web, it may be due to the fact that the internal sd partition is not ext4 which seems to be required.
It may be due to the fact that the kernel does not support ext4. If this was the case, I would be very pleased to activate the option, recompile it and share the result with other people at xda. I have done it for two types of Samsung Galaxy phones.
In this case, the two problems I would be faced with are:
1) Getting the kernel sources. For Samsung it is quite easy. For Lenovo, I am not able to find them (I can't read Chinese).
2) The process to package the new compiled kernel to a zip, compatible with cwm.
Anyway, thanks for your help and to share your knowledge.
Sheers,
Laurent
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cybermaus said:
well, not sure about encryption, but I can *assure* you that the phone supports ext4, because in fact the root; system; cache; secro and data partitions are all in ext4 . I know that quite certain, because to unpack/repack, I need to recreate an ext4 loop device.
Internal SD is indeed FAT partition. But it is normal for SD to be FAT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible the encryption fails on the FAT of the SD card. It is an internal device, if that encryption utility tries to parse all the internal partitions, it may fail on FAT, but I am guessing here. However, then it would fail on pretty much all recent china phones, they all seem to have this internal SD card. You could try to simply format the internal SD as ext4.
I do not think it would fail on the recovery or boot sections. Those are all nicely wrapped up in the first partition of the emmc chip (emmc0p0 or something) in a proprietary filesystem, as I suspect true for all Androids. So your tool would know to exclude that the first one. However, if you want, you can get the original recovery you asked about from the original A789 ROM in my Dev-Host.
Edit: Encryption issue solved, see post#9 below
I already managed to build a multilang framework-res.apk for the A789 ROM. But now there are all those apps that need to be made multilang also - settings.apk and more... a lot of work.
Is it possible to take a P700 ROM with A750 kernel and flash it to the A750? Or a P700i ROM and A789 kernel for the A789? They seem to be almost identical.
Any plans to integrate the long press home button function in A750_ROW_S114_cybermaus_ICS_V3.1? Would like to test this rom but this missing feature is essentail for me...and onother question: V3.1 is also for A789, right? Same problem with long press home feature?
@oz42
Well, I am a little disappointed about that question. Putting the P700_ROW on the A750 is *exactly* what my V3 series is. Works wonderful. It's the reason I have been updating this thread for the last two weeks. Problem is that the only extra language is Vietnamese. You may want to re-read posts #2 and #585 in the A750 thread.
I suspect the same is true for P700i and A789, but I did not find a P700i_ROW rom yet. I did find a S880_ROW, and when I have time (later this weekend) I will check if that has proper multilanguage (edit: No. It adds ru, vi, id to en and zh. Not quite what I had hoped for)
@metzner
Yes. When I know how. But I do not have a clue at this moment. I am very pleased about the V3.1, but the missing long press is annoying me at times.
No, V3.1 is not for A789 (yet). They have different partitions, different schreen driver. YOU CANNOT flash a A750 on A789 (or any MT6575 on MT7577) without 'porting' the ROM. I do have a Frankenstein ROM, using p700_ROW with kernel/partition/modules/baseband from A789. But it was not tried out yet.
A789: Encryption problem
I have installed aLogcat to determine what could block the encryption service on the different ROMS I have tested on my A789. The interesting part revealed to be:
E/Cryptfs ( 87): Orig filesystem overlaps crypto footer region. Cannot encrypt in place.
Googling for this problem, it appears that there is a strong probability that the culprit is CWMR that I have installed almost right after getting my phone. See: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792101 or http://rootzwiki.com/topic/25652-fixing-galaxy-tab-2-encryption/.
So if somebody has a package that can be safely used with mt6575-flashing tools, to recover the stock recovery or, much better, to install a "clean" version of CWMR, I would be glad to test it and see if it is actually the origin of the encryption problem.
Edit:
@Cybermaus: I have just noticed that you have already addressed part of this message. I have already tried to format the internal sd as ext4 with Minitool partition Wizard on Windows. This fails also. Moreover, the system reports a failure on this partition and ask to reformat it as vfat. I will try by putting back the original recovery from your 4shared. Thanks a lot.
@lolo250612
If I read that post you found, the problem is not so much CWMR or CWMRT itself, but the fact it wipes and formats /data completely, without leaving 16KB of unused space at the end of the partition.
That means replacing it with factory recovery will not help, unless if you then also wipe using that factory recovery, and that factory recovery does leave 16KB. You could also try wiping it from the settings menu.
After you have tried the factory , let me know. I think I can make an empty /data for you that is 16KB shorter than the partition, but you would have to apply it using the flash-utility method.
Edit: checking, I found that the userdata.img that is inside the original S228 factory flash ROM is already 1024K short of 768M. So 767M. No need to build one with only 16K short, just use the one you already have.
Hi cybermaus
Thanks for your contribution. Please help me if you've free time.
Does this custom ROM support traditional Chinese character?? I'm sure Chinese support would include simplified Chinese.....
@loimlo
The A750 V1 and A789 V2has two forms of Chinese, which I cannot read, but I suspect are traditional and simplified. The A750 V3 has one form of Chinese, which I still cannot read, so I am not sure which of the two, but here is a screenshot of it, let me know which it is.
Amadis223 said:
Hi, I wrote with yuweng on this subject. And it is very strange. He says, that mt6575 has only ext4 filesystem, but I,am sure,that I have mt6575 and yaffs filesystem. What do you think ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, all the MT6575 and MT6577 based ROM's that I have dissected have ext4. This is probably because mediatek provides ext4 in their development kit. So yeah, I think all mt6575 are on ext4, and not yaffs. I think maybe the mt6573 has yaffs.
cybermaus said:
@lolo250612
If I read that post you found, the problem is not so much CWMR or CWMRT itself, but the fact it wipes and formats /data completely, without leaving 16KB of unused space at the end of the partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you.
Edit: checking, I found that the userdata.img that is inside the original S228 factory flash ROM is already 1024K short of 768M. So 767M. No need to build one with only 16K short, just use the one you already have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have flashed userdata.img. That WORKS :victory:. The phone reboots and then encryption starts. Done in less than 5 minutes. Great. Now, just have to tried one of the utility around that allows to have an encryption password different from the lock one. Many thanks for your help :good:.
hi there,
I just got a Lenovo A789 and i just installed A789_S228_cybermaus_V2.1 and it works perfecly...
i'm new to android and i can't get cellular data to work ( i have reason to believe that it worked in original ETOTALK rom, but im not sure ).
1) i do have a data plan
2) cellular data / mobile data is turned on
3) 3G card with cellular data plan is in slot 1
wrong basebands or apn settings (Portugal, Vodafone) ? ( i can see them in mobileuncletools but i cant change them )
help?
note: i cant follow most of android tips that i googled because some of the menus to edit APN settings do not exist on this rom :\
@spinal2k
Well, the simply solution would be to try and apply the A750 V1.4 as listed in post#2. It only applies location fix and new APN list, so its safe on the A789, even if it was originally for A750.
Second option would be to Google for the keyword APN together with your provider and country names.
Last option is to tell us the mcc/mnc that mobile uncle found, as well as your current APN settings, and maybe we can figure it out.
Edit: you can change APN in Settings->Wireless->More->MobileNetworks->AccessPointNames
cybermaus said:
Last option is to tell us the mcc/mnc that mobile uncle found, as well as your current APN settings, and maybe we can figure it out.
Edit: you can change APN in Settings->Wireless->More->MobileNetworks->AccessPointNames
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, thanks for the tip... how can i see mmc/mnc on mobileuncle tools?
According to that wikipedia page, my MMC/MNC is 268/01 and that it uses GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / UMTS 2100.... On mobile uncle engineer mode i can see that on the 1st sim card UMTS 2100 doesn't exist ( only UMTS 2000 )... :\
acoording to the "you can change APN in..." i can't changed them, just see them... they look fine to me, they're not wrong...
:\
@spinal2k
Don't tell me the ones from that Wiki page, but the ones you find in the APN settings. And then also the "market name" of the service you have. You cannot change, but you can add a new APN, and then select that to use.
But simply applying the V1.3 may be easier, it has the APN list maintained by Cyanogenmod, and will probably solve it anyway.
cybermaus said:
@spinal2k
Don't tell me the ones from that Wiki page, but the ones you find in the APN settings. And then also the "market name" of the service you have. You cannot change, but you can add a new APN, and then select that to use.
But simply applying the V1.3 may be easier, it has the APN list maintained by Cyanogenmod, and will probably solve it anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh, i couldn't see that i could add new.... Now i added an optional apn ( even though the one listed was on official carriers page ) ... now its working...
Thank you for the tips... keep them updates coming
note: i did update with A750 v1.3 and i saw no changed in apn list...
A750 V3.1 battery life
I have been using the cybermaus V1.3 ICS for ages, and it works really well. Recently tried the V3.1 ICS.
Also seems to work really well as well, and a definite plus is the 3G signal strength - I see a definite improvement.
There is a dealbreaker problem for me, though - the battery life is noticeably worse than the excellent life on the V1.3 rom. I'm a noob - tried clearing user cache/dalvik, but not reset (I want to keep my apps/data).
Any suggestions before I go back to V1.3 - thanks.
zapzog said:
Any suggestions before I go back to V1.3 - thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, a request more than a suggestion: your battery is now a few months old, so slightly less good then when new, but you got used to it. But now, due to the flashing of a new ROM, you are playing on it more, and it is in your attention very much.
I cannot properly test myself, I have to tether it daily for data access. So please try to get a proper test of it:
Stay with V3.1 a few bit longer, at least 2 battery cycles extra. (you can barely have had one) so you get a better baseline. Charge the same method as before (I find that charger works better than PC-USB) After two more cycles, when you have a proper idea on the life, go back, and get a renewed baseline on V1.3 also. And then report your results
My M9S-Pro finally arrived. It's a modest AmLogic S905 chip with a Mali-450, notably only because it has Ethernet, three USB ports, 3 GB of RAM and a 32 GB ROM.
My kids use the Nexus Player as a gaming device, but I am constantly running out of space even with Marshmallow's USB space reallocation (which does not work perfectly by any means). I bought this hoping to replace the Nexus Player which only has 8GB (+ whatever Marshmallow offers, and whatever some apps will allow transfer to external storage).
Right off the bat, it boots quickly and is stable. It included Kodi, some generic TV streamer with pay TV streams in foreign languages, a file manager, Antutu, various video players, and Netflix. The USB port puts out enough current to power an external 2.5" HDD.
Antutu score is 31,300 if that matters to you.
I found a version of TWRP that worked great and I rooted this by flashing the same beta-SuperSU as I used on my Nexus Player.
It uses an IR remote with shortcuts to different apps and a mouse function. It's slow but usable. I use it with an airmouse with a better experience.
I am running HAL Launcher which is just about the best experience you can hope for with a Chinese box. I also added the keylist for the Bluetooth controllers from the OUYA that I had years ago, and my kids use it for a gaming box.
It's a good value for me, but if you use Android TV boxes for streaming only you don't need the space and should probably get a cheaper box - maybe one running 6.0+ so it supports the latest version of Kodi.
Now that I have TWRP and root, I am looking for an AOSP experience.
Are these available for AmLogic systems? I've seen RemixOS for certain AmLogic boxes, but they're all a bit different and haven't tried experimenting with that yet.
How did you get this device rooted and how did you boot it into TWRP?
If rooted the Docooler, could I run a Long Term Release of Ubuntu or Mint on it. I've used Linux with our Brother MFC-J835DW and its simple to print from any Application. Android not good at all. 2nd is with Ubuntu I can set up multiple guest users in various Languages "English" " "Spanish" etc. so a guest can log on , browse, print, done.
On Android it seems to remember Users, not sure how to delete,
Very hard to print "share",
Doesn't appear to allow set up to multiple users so can only run as 1 language.
I really like that these boxes have separate monitors, keyboards, and appear not to require a fan as we are at the beach with a lot of salt air. All my connections require DiElectric Grease from Autozone so as not to corrode. Even better would be a sealed heat sink case.
Ken PlayaLindaHotel.com
root m9s-pro docooler amlogic s905 how
how root and install twrp in that model please tell me
Send me the links of software that must to download
hello, i have the m9s pro 32gb and i have slow speed in WiFi connection. Does anyone have the same problem and how can i solved? thanks in advance
Hello everyone, where can I get the original stock firmware? tnx
shdware said:
My M9S-Pro finally arrived. It's a modest AmLogic S905 chip with a Mali-450, notably only because it has Ethernet, three USB ports, 3 GB of RAM and a 32 GB ROM.
My kids use the Nexus Player as a gaming device, but I am constantly running out of space even with Marshmallow's USB space reallocation (which does not work perfectly by any means). I bought this hoping to replace the Nexus Player which only has 8GB (+ whatever Marshmallow offers, and whatever some apps will allow transfer to external storage).
Right off the bat, it boots quickly and is stable. It included Kodi, some generic TV streamer with pay TV streams in foreign languages, a file manager, Antutu, various video players, and Netflix. The USB port puts out enough current to power an external 2.5" HDD.
Antutu score is 31,300 if that matters to you.
I found a version of TWRP that worked great and I rooted this by flashing the same beta-SuperSU as I used on my Nexus Player.
It uses an IR remote with shortcuts to different apps and a mouse function. It's slow but usable. I use it with an airmouse with a better experience.
I am running HAL Launcher which is just about the best experience you can hope for with a Chinese box. I also added the keylist for the Bluetooth controllers from the OUYA that I had years ago, and my kids use it for a gaming box.
It's a good value for me, but if you use Android TV boxes for streaming only you don't need the space and should probably get a cheaper box - maybe one running 6.0+ so it supports the latest version of Kodi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dow did you root the device?
@alexxdj,
You'll need to do two things.
First, download TWRP for AmLogic devices. The link is below for a whole bunch of them.
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/16228-twrp-for-amlogic-devices
I don't remember which one I used, but I believe it was for a Minix S905 device. As long as it's S905, they are similar enough that you should be okay. Make sure it is scaled properly when you use it.
Then you'll need to download ChainFire's SuperSU.
https://download.chainfire.eu/743/supersu
Copy both files to a SD card. TWRP will be bootable, but you will need to press/hold the button that's hidden in the audio out jack. I simply used a pin. So, unplug the unit, insert the SD card, insert the pin, then plug it back in and wait for it to boot to TWRP.
If all looks well, great. You will need a mouse for this part.
Flash SuperSU as normal. Reboot.
After I booted, I actually had to run the supersu APK to make it work properly. I used Root Explorer (since it opens files in zip files with ease) to do this.
I hope this helps.
thanks for your information but where is this hidden button? I cant find it!!!
It's in one of the audio jacks in the back of the unit. Open it up if you need to see it: it comes apart easy and goes back together easy.
Otherwise get a long pin or needle and poke in the jacks until you feel it click.
shdware said:
It's in one of the audio jacks in the back of the unit. Open it up if you need to see it: it comes apart easy and goes back together easy.
Otherwise get a long pin or needle and poke in the jacks until you feel it click.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i found it is the spdif jack thanks. do you remember if needs to rename the recovery? Because i downloaded the recovery for minix s905 but i cant boot it to twrp
Try naming it 'recovery.img'
The recovery should not be zipped. Extract the IMG file if it is.
yes i know that. maybe i tried wrong recovery. after 2 times failed to boot to recovery. when i release the button? when i show the android and starts to erase?
alexxdj said:
i found it is the spdif jack thanks. do you remember if needs to rename the recovery? Because i downloaded the recovery for minix s905 but i cant boot it to twrp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I press and hold it until the TWRP logo appears.
I think you have the wrong recovery. Try the MINIX MX one. AmLogic makes a lot of devices, and the S805, S812, S905, and S912 all require different recoveries.
You need to make sure it's for the S905. Google is your friend here.
After I successfully rooted, I ultimately decided to flash TWRP itself on my box.
i tried 50 recovery for s905 form yesterday but nothing. Cant boot to twrp!!
alexxdj said:
i tried 50 recovery for s905 form yesterday but nothing. Cant boot to twrp!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apologies, I didn't realize the URL to Freaktab was truncated. I've corrected it now.
TWRP for AmLogic Devices
Try a few of these. There are only 31, and over half of them can be discounted because they are not for the S905.
If I remember right, I used this one:
/TWRP_MiniMX.img
shdware said:
Apologies, I didn't realize the URL to Freaktab was truncated. I've corrected it now.
TWRP for AmLogic Devices
Try a few of these. There are only 31, and over half of them can be discounted because they are not for the S905.
If I remember right, I used this one:
/TWRP_MiniMX.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You remember right!!!! this recovery was. thanks for your help friend.
@Gi3drius, @k_graham, @stilonas -
I've provided a tutorial. Read the comments and let me know if they help.
is there any update for this tx box?? and why do you want to install TWRP? I use it only fr install roms but I can´t find any for this model
Hello,
I've purchased this one: http://www.dx.com/p/x96-tv-box-andr...-2gb-ram-16gb-rom-us-plug-449347#.WPuxONryuUk
Just wondering what ROMs and recoveries work. I've searched a bunch and found some dead links and conflicting information so I'm hesitant to flash it especially where I do not have a stock image to go back to if it renders it bricked.
If anyone can help out, it would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
Scott
Note: Keeping a repository here as I find more information about this box: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bzj6JjnAJZjjczVIbFlHS3VUWlU
Working on it
Custom TWRP and stripped down/modded firmware is on the way.
I hope we can get a pure Android Rom working on it
Again: Working on it
Fully unbranded and hopefully with unlocked custom bootanimation (Original Google would be my prefered option over Mbox).
Give me a bit of time and you will find flashable ZIP soon
All done
Another question about the box: is-it possible to have Android TV instead of a modded android marshmallow? Because the interface would be a lot easier to use.
Android TV is a complete different story and you can't really compare the two like this.
Android TV uses the Leanback launcher if I am not mistaken.
Already tried to include it into a testrom but so far no real luck as it uses a lot more binaries that are not included in the standard system.
Will have to create some symlinks, add binaries and do a lot of testing - not to mention finding all the included apps for android TV and figuring out how to make them work.
If the interface is your only trouble check some nice launchers first, like Apex for example.
Once I have something cooked up that actually works as expected you will find it in this section somewhere
Also interesting to test that , as mine is not even root ^^
Rom
Any news about the firmware for this device?
Nope, still no updates coming from the chinamen, seems they already abandoned firmware updates and moved on to different devices.
See this thread (beta 6 I used for.mine)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...gic/rom-x96-2-16gb-root-supersu-twrp-t3596525
I join the thread because because of a storm my X96 looks brick. I've been looking everywhere but I do not find the guide for unbrick. I wanted to save it not to throw it but I do not know where to download the firmware how to do unbrick. I know I'm in the wrong thread but I did not want to open it a lot like this and make it confusing. Thank you all
As long as you get into the TWRP recovery on the SD card all should be fine - assuming the box is a X96.
If that fails only the burn tool or burn card maker can help with a genuine firmware to get going again.
Hi guys sorry to bump an old thread. I'm still trying to find the TWRP zip for these so I can do a complete back up and then paste on other boxes.
Have an X96 Amlogic S905X Quad Core 2G/16G Android 6.0 Wifi HD 4K TV Box.
I flashed the FULLY UNBRANDED Kodi 17, everything looked fine but the box's red light just stays on after the reboot.
Does not go into TWRP at all or nothing on screen.
It now a paperweight?
Downloaded the Stock firmware (Android 6.0.1 X96 Amlogic S905x 20161122) and am trying to start box with a bootable SD-card.
BurnCardMaker asks for an IMG file with all the relevant (aml_autoscript, factory_update_param.aml, firmware.zip, recovery.img, u-boot.bin, etc) files in but i cannot find this IMG file.
Without these BurnCardMaker does not work at all or nothing happens on TV box at least.
Must also say, i use a 64gig SD card but it worked for the initial flash.
Am i wasting my time with this box now?
Thanks for help.
UPDATE: I was able to debrick the phone. Read my later post for details.
----------------------
Hi All,
Thank you all for having amazing community of hackers and developers here. You guys rock.
I started my search for a new rugged rootable phone recently and I settled on Poptel P60. It is a great phone though slightly bigger than what I normally get. Nontheless, the specs are excellent and the price is fair!
I've had a limited success rooting and customizing this phone. The OEM interface is almost bearable but overall the "Customized UI" felt like a downgrade from stock Oreo. It has a very annoying feature of reverting to stock launcher on startup, even when I selected Nova as my default one. The stock launcher is not that great. This, and the lack of ability to use x.flux, Titanium Backup and other root-only apps drove me to try hacking things again.
After emailing the manufacturer they provided the firmware but it is in CPB format. I tried at least 3 different converters for CPB to MTK Scatter and they all either freeze or hang. No luck.
Instead I did a rom readback with SPFlashTool and then cut up the partitions with Wwr. Now I've finally had the recovery partition! I used CarlivImageKitchen to port TWRP from a similar device, Ulefone Armor 5. The chipset and resolution are same. After some trial and error it worked! I had to use USB-OTG for input and external sd card had a weird label, but I was able to install Magisk from the SD card to root, followed by XPosed, full package. It worked! If anyone needs my ported TWRP Recovery for Poptel P60 just ask!
However, the manufacturer UI did complain a lot about the phone being rooted. Eventually, somehow, Magisk stop receiving root requests. They never showed up and timed out! Very strange, because apps that already received root continued working. I tried a lot but could not fix the issue. I was fed up. I wanted to do a manufacturer reset (in hopes of starting from scratch and then attempting to port Lineage or something) but, as I've mentioned, I have not received a firmware compatible with SPFlashTool. I tried to make one from Armor 5. The partitions were almost the same (both are MT6763 devices). One was out of order, and offsets were different and I patched all those. To be clear, I used all the partitions and layout extracted from my rom readback that was cut up by Wwr. I only used the Armor 5 scatter as a reference for file format. I edited the layout to match everythign I saw in Wwr.
This is where the horror begins. I tried flashing (Download Only) with SPFlashTool but got some error saying something changed. "Do you want to do Format & Download instead?". Being an inexperienced idiot that I am, I said yes!
Now, the phone appears bricked. No lights. No screen output. Cannot enter fastboot. Cannot enter recovery. Cannot boot.
I have a feeling the preloader got corrupted. I'm not sure this is the case because I've omitted the preloder from download. At least the first time the phone started acting bricked. The device still shows as Mediatek USB VCOM device and flashing gets initiated but all attempts to flash result in errors. MA checksum mistmatch or something along that order. I've tried a lot of things and I'm stuck! For good or for worse I've tried flashing Ulefone Armor 5 preloader but I'm getting the same error when trying to flash it.
Here is what I have...
- Stock firmware in SPB format. I can't use it and nothing I tried worked for converting it.
- ROM dump made with SPFlashTool
- Wwr was able to extract every partition except preloader. This includes nvram, etc. I'm not sure why it was not able to extract the bootloader.
- TWRP port that worked. Seems not useful if the phone does not start.
- Preloader for Ulefone Armor 5, (same chipset and resolution)
Clearly I am an idiot for using "Format & Download" option. I've found posts later suggesting against it. I am also over my head for trying to tackle a new device by myself, though I have had a marginal success with porting TWRP and installing Magisk.
Now, I feel like idiot and I am stuck! I beg you, XDA developers, if you have any advice (besides not being an idiot in the future), please share!
Try bringing it back to the carrier and just say that you don't know why it is broken. Maybe they could help you out.
Say maybe something like you wanted to do a factory reset and now everything is broken.
SkylinesHD said:
Try bringing it back to the carrier and just say that you don't know why it is broken. Maybe they could help you out.
Say maybe something like you wanted to do a factory reset and now everything is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't work, heh. I bought this phone on eBay and rights now it's currently sold by a handful of sites. It is on warranty but returning it back to China would be complicated. At any rate, I live on the edge outside of warranty!
I was just about ready to give up and feel like the biggest reckless loser on Earth... Days of tinkering around with nothing but a phone brick to show for it. Poptel tech support wouldn't provide me with MTK scatter. All they gave me was this SPB firmware that nobody uses and it crashes every converter I threw at it. Useless.... No fastboot. No recovery. No functional bootloader.
The amazing GOOD NEWS is I have debricked the phone... I used a bootloader from another phone's firmware: Cubot_Power_MT6763_180607_8.1.0. Unlike Ulefone Armor 5's preloader this one worked! It seems like it's the only thing I was missing because the phone starts up and everything seems to work. I must have done a good job with all other partitions but I'll try to watch for signs of anything else broken. Right now it seems fine.
I'm not sure if the bootloader was completely gone, corrupted, or an incorrect one was used. All I know is I was able to download Cubot Power's working bootloader (also MT6763) with SPFlashTool. Nothing like a feeling of unbricking your phone!
I will post more updates if that's ok... I'm hoping to port Lineage on it (I've never tried that before) or at least find a way around the manufacturer's clunky UI. The hardware is great otherwise. If anybody wants a working ported TWRP image or the scatter I used for debricking just ask! I will make a post later if I have more success with customizing the phone. The phone is debricked and I have a scatter and images to fall back on if anything goes wrong. Woot! Thank you everyone who developed these great tools.
I have the same phone been looking for info. there's a thread on 4pda with poptel p60 that has the scatter file and firmware. Any chance you could post the twrp for this phone? having trouble trying to port myself cant figure out port 6763 from the guides available.
4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=933002
Firemware:
drive.google.com/uc?id=1PXA9s2ZgHoH6ZWP5ZJPckE4KyJBwPKuw&export=download
idaman0 said:
Hey man,
Was wondering if you saw my post on your thread. Looking for TWRP for the Poptel P60.
Thanks,
telegram @drmethyl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man! Sorry for a slow reply. Was traveling for a few days.
Here is what I have. I started with a TWRP for Armor 5 (also MT6763) and I ported it for Poptel P60 using one of the guides on the forums. It works but it's not perfect. The touchscreen doesn't work, so you have to use USB OTG. Also, internal and external SD card mounts work but labels are confusing, so please be extra careful if wiping/formatting those. I advise popping the SD card out of the phone if wiping/formatting, just in case.
My experience with the phone is it is not the most friendly for rooting. Poptel's customizations are pesky and get in the way. The launcher keeps resetting to default on startup, even after you specify a different one. If you uninstall/disable the OEM launcher there will be red a label on top right of the screen, saying "Customization" that I have not found a way to get rid of. There are other things too, like I keep losing ability to add superuser permission to new apps... Can't figure out why, but sometimes reinstalling Magisk helps. Be very careful when using Magisk Hide, this can turn off your ability to use SIM cards, at least temporarily until you disable hide and restart. Other things is superuser apps don't always launch on startup. Anyway, I don't want to discourage you too much... Here is my twrp port.
https://mega.nz/#!MNVGhaYS!63ovQeowwoP1oE3v6-_ZS8gKx_-mxOh4G4qWcKRbuiQ
Another thing I discovered is GSI builds work mostly well on the phone... with all except one thing, which is mobile data, which seems broken.. Sadly, that's a deal breaker. OEM software is so pesky... It would be so nice to run a clean Android.
Let me know how it goes.
zeromemory_wtf said:
Hey man! Sorry for a slow reply. Was traveling for a few days.
Here is what I have. I started with a TWRP for Armor 5 (also MT6763) and I ported it for Poptel P60 using one of the guides on the forums. It works but it's not perfect. The touchscreen doesn't work, so you have to use USB OTG. Also, internal and external SD card mounts work but labels are confusing, so please be extra careful if wiping/formatting those. I advise popping the SD card out of the phone if wiping/formatting, just in case.
My experience with the phone is it is not the most friendly for rooting. Poptel's customizations are pesky and get in the way. The launcher keeps resetting to default on startup, even after you specify a different one. If you uninstall/disable the OEM launcher there will be red a label on top right of the screen, saying "Customization" that I have not found a way to get rid of. There are other things too, like I keep losing ability to add superuser permission to new apps... Can't figure out why, but sometimes reinstalling Magisk helps. Be very careful when using Magisk Hide, this can turn off your ability to use SIM cards, at least temporarily until you disable hide and restart. Other things is superuser apps don't always launch on startup. Anyway, I don't want to discourage you too much... Here is my twrp port.
Another thing I discovered is GSI builds work mostly well on the phone... with all except one thing, which is mobile data, which seems broken.. Sadly, that's a deal breaker. OEM software is so pesky... It would be so nice to run a clean Android.
Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry man, didn't end up using yours theres a twrp on 4pda now with a mod to flash to keep root. I'll upload for you here if you don;t have an account there.
The patch for the Light-kastomizator v.12 factory firmware.
I decided not to bother with the draining and distribution of modified firmware as a whole, easier to apply the patch, and ... you're done!
If that - the factory firmware v.12 lies with us -HERE, no problem you can return everything back, or (if there is something Kolupaev), first ask her, and then patch.
#
What is done
Будут удалены:
/system/tts
/system/app/QK_LogSystemAbroad_wm_bl
/system/app/QK_Sos
/system/app/QK_PrivacySpace
/system/app/QK_PersonalAssistScreenAbroad_V2
/system/app/BY_3RD_OperaMiniBrowser_OEMBranding
/system/app/BY_3RD_OperaNews_OEMBranding
/system/app/Drive
/system/app/Duo
/system/app/Gmail2
/system/app/GooglePrintRecommendationService
/system/app/LatinImeGoogle
/system/app/Maps
/system/app/Music2
/system/app/PartnerBookmarksProvider
/system/app/Photos
/system/app/YouTube
/system/app/Videos
/system/presetapp/BY_3RD_OperaMiniBrowser
/system/presetapp/BY_3RD_OperaNews
/ system / priv-app / MtkCellBroadcastReceiver
/ system / priv-app / ConfigUpdater
/ system / priv-app / GoogleFeedback
/ system / priv-app / FilesGo
/ system / priv-app / GooglePartnerSetup
/ system / priv-app / QK_MagazineAbroad
/ system / priv-app / Velvet
The system additionally installed:
ES_Provodnik_3.2.5.5 (graphic mode "Panatta-sport")
the SD Maid Pro - system Cleanup (Lite Mod "Breathe of fate" )
Changes:
By default the system is set to Russian language , region and time zone Russia / Moscow. Setupwizard (first assistant settings) is not cut off.
GBoard keyboard replaced by fashion Antonbeard GoogleKeyboard(with a limited access to the Internet is built dictionaries -.. English and Russian)
Google-search is replaced by the latest beta (it is possible to change the style and transparency of the widget)
have been added and changed some default sounds and ringtones, and the default there as a very sadly.
Blocked by advertising the hosts file.
Improved energy efficiency due to shutdown of background update service does not fall asleep GAPPS and downloaders (allowed these services Doze mode).
#
Setting:
1. Throws on micro SD-card this patch.
2. Downloading the last zip-installer " Magisk-v ..... the zip " and also copy it to the SD-card, turn off the phone.
3. Through the SP Flash Tool sewn recovery "TWRP" (the system can not be loaded !!!).
4. Vaypaem userdata (reset to factory settings) through better "factory mode" (volume down inc +) / select "Clear eMMC".
After reset immediately loads in the TWRP (inc + volume up), and from the sd-card in turn apply patches "LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip" and "Magisk-v ..... zip". Reboot from the installation refuse twrp-applications.
Done, you have custom firmware!
(If twrp and Ruth is already installed,
After the completion of all the manipulations, it is desirable to flash the stock (factory) rekaveri, then no problem can be used to reset the system from the Android menu and install the firmware update OTA (over the air).
Download: LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip
PS. Sberbank + contactless payment working properly, despite the fact that the system has been modified and installed Ruth! :derisive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3.2.3 TWRP by Jemmini for "Poptel P60" ( with the phone port Blackview BV9500): Attached file recovery.img (17,27 MB)
The port used by the kernel to flash Android 8.1.0 version of "POPTEL_V12_20181030"
WARNING !! After installing recovery, subject to permit changes in the system partition, install ROOT is required, otherwise the system will not boot. if not to accept the possibility of changing the system partition and establish the patch-root subsequent restart in overwrite TWRP recovery returned drain-
Attached fileMT6763_Android_scatter.rar(1.28 kb)
#
Getting ROOT
For ROOT set out under TWRP (pre throwing off the memory card), this patch: Attached fileMagisk-v18.0.zip (3,99 MB)
#
Stokovye boot / recovery
from said EEPROM: Attached filestock.rar (22,75 MB)
#
What does not work:
1) Do not see "the internal memory" (can not decipher the "data" section and ask when starting TWRP password).
Solution:
download the patch: Attached filedisable_encryption_P60.zip (133.89 KB)
throw it on the memory card, boot into TWRP, go to the "mount" to put a checkbox on the vendor , then go to the "install" and install the patch.
After installation make data in the "cleaning" cleaning (possibly cleaning does not help but the formatting of data should definitely help)
after data manipulation TWRP be able to work with the data section
2) is not working USB / MTP mode into TWRP
#
Information for those who are "in the tank" :
When TWRP presence in the smartphone in any case and under no circumstances should you do reset through the system.
Resetting takes place only directly through TWRP (standard cleaning sections)
If you run the command via the android in the first place, it can not be executed because it does not understand the TWRP.
and secondly, you get a constant load in TWRP because it has not yet executed the command android you will always be send to recovery /
Solution for "tank": need to install flow-recovery to be completed through a reset command or cancel it.
Another solution I personally do not know
Just do not forget about gratitude : Jemmini,- for the compilation of the TWRP which served as donorUrree,- order TWRP and testing (nothing would have happened without it)Message edited Lomaster_Serg - 6.1.19, 03:02
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rapidgator.net/file/84ccd2d612ade0256eb927895d4ed37e/LiteMod_Poptel_P60_v.12.zip.html
rapidgator.net/file/c77fec40e349f8083eda14bf7058425c/recovery.img.html
rapidgator.net/file/6621d517cef9aa10abc78b40bcdc8b26/stock.rar.html
rapidgator.net/file/7a7db29c0d35eee169b76698aac6b50b/MT6763_Android_scatter.txt.html
drive.google.com/uc?id=1PXA9s2ZgHoH6ZWP5ZJPckE4KyJBwPKuw&export=download
I bought a MECOOL KM9 android box from the flea market. The Android on it was something custom from some IPTV service provider. On the bottom it says KM9 so I downloaded firmware from here. Using Aml_Burn_Tool the flashing got stuck at 30%, left it for about two hours didn't budge. After this the computer does not recognize the device (no plug-in sound, tested on two computers) and there is no output on HDMI.
So, I got to method two, which is the SD card burned with Burn Card Maker (multiple versions). Tested several firmware, several SD cards, no luck.
Opened up the device to get the serial output, you can find the output attached. Taking a closer look at the board I saw that is marked as: KM1 X2 DDR3 v1.4. The pcb doesn't look like the KM1's pcb and the SoC is different too. My board has Amlogic S905X2, the KM1 has Amlogic S905X3. Also, the pcb doesn't look like the KM9 board either.
The output log is the same regardless having an SD card or pressing de recovery button. It stops with "sdio read data fail". I don't think the EMMC is broken, earlier in the log it says "Load FIP HDR from eMMC" and there is no error. Also, if I have a bootable SD, shouldn't the EMMC be skipped?
As a last resort I tried shorting pins on the NAND chip, the computer still wouldn't detect it however if i short pins the serial output changes, again file attached.
Any ideas? Can I bring it back to life? At least does anyone have this board and firmware for it?
Thank you,
Alex
fyrewurx said:
I bought a MECOOL KM9 android box from the flea market. The Android on it was something custom from some IPTV service provider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In which country? Do you have the provider information? That information might help identify or locate the original build of the firmware.
fyrewurx said:
Opened up the device to get the serial output, you can find the output attached. Taking a closer look at the board I saw that is marked as: KM1 X2 DDR3 v1.4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's too late now, but it would have been best to connect the uart and dump the original firmware before flashing anything. I understand that the label on the cover is wrong and that it does not match the board, but if you had a backup you could start over. Now, the drm keys (if any) are probably gone and the wrong dtb seems to have been flashed. Maybe it still can be fixed since the bootloader does still boot somewhat, but that may not be the original bootloader but rather the one that was flashed before the flashing failed.
fyrewurx said:
Also, if I have a bootable SD, shouldn't the EMMC be skipped?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are different types of SD booting. For the lowest level booting, the emmc is skipped only if no bootable bootloader is found on the emmc.
It also will be skipped if the emmc clk resistor is removed. 4R1 may be the emmc clk resistor. Check if it is zero ohms. If it is not zero ohms, check the other side of the board.
Once the device is always booting from the SD card, try various videostrong (not skyworth!) firmware for S905X2 devices, like the KM3 and others (such as the KM9 Pro, which uses the X2). I don't see any information for this KM1 X2 device. It may be a custom variant for OTT providers.
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer.
All I can remember is that it was something Polish. You are right, having the original firmware would have been great. I usually check how much info there is on the internet (mainly xda) about the device I want to flash. If there is a lot, I don't bother with backup. Miiiistake. I didn't knew about the clk resistor and I assume others either because people don't mention on the internet. They recommend shorting the pins which is not a great idea in my mind. I did it with a random 330 ohm resistor to be on the safer side. I will definitely try to get the box to boot from SD and then try firmware from KM1 to KM whatever they got up to with the X2.
From your experience are these devices picky about the SD card? It would be easier if I test only with one card.
The DRM keys you mentioned, would stop the device from booting or the box just wont play Netflix and other streaming services? Even without Netflix I would like to get the box going.
I will have to lookup what a DTB file is, I have no idea. The board looks to be custom as there is one other picture I found about the device here.
Just for my knowledge, the bootloader for these devices is also in the main EMMC? I am used to x86 where you have an external memory to keep first stages of bootloader.
I attached closeups on the EMMC and the back, maybe we need them further on.
Thanks again for the reply,
Alex
fyrewurx said:
The board looks to be custom as there is one other picture I found about the device here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on those photos, there is a chance that your board is (or is compatible with the firmware from) the KM9 PRO or the KM9 PRO DELUXE.
If this is the case, the state that your device is in now is probably a result of trying to flash an android 9 firmware image to a device that had an existing installation of android 10. If so, there is a decent chance that you can fix it.
You may be able to get a uart shell prompt by experimenting with shorting the emmc clk at various times, so that the attempt to load the invalid dtb (from the flashed firmware) fails. If you can get a uart shell prompt, you can start burn mode (uart shell command "update"), and then use command line tools to flash the km9 pro or km9 pro deluxe firmware.
Otherwise, remove the emmc clk resistor (once it is located), and raw copy the bootloader (from km9 pro or km9 pro deluxed) to the sd card. It isn't necessary to put the resistor back when you are done, a jumper wire can be used since it is zero ohms.
Functioner said:
Based on those photos, there is a chance that your board is (or is compatible with the firmware from) the KM9 PRO or the KM9 PRO DELUXE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The KM9 devices use DDR4 memory, my board has DDR3. Can the firmware still be compatible?
I don't know. Maybe if the dtb has support for both types of ram. You'd have to check the dtb.
If you flash the dtb while watching the uart output, you'll know if it will work. But first you'd need to be able to start fastboot or have access to the uart shell, in order to flash it.
Support for both types of ram is not uncommon. For example, the sdmc dv8555 (S905x2) has multiple hardware versions, some with ddr3 and some with lpdd4, and both boards use the same firmware.
The original dtb and bootloader on your device are probably gone. They probably were overwritten before the flashing failed at 30%. You don't have much to lose by trying the other firmware, except perhaps a lot of your time.
I will try for sure. As you sad, there's nothing to loose. I probably shouldn't even bother (it was less then 10 dollars), but I hate contributing to e-waste, specially when the hardware is fine, the issue is software. And it's kinda my fault .