Develop Bugs

[Q] Confused and Overwhelmed. After some Clarity!

Hello!
I recently purchased a HTC Desire HD through a carrier in Australia after being a nokia dumbphone owner for my "connected life". I have done some reading into the Custom ROM scene and I am loving the potential benefits and modifications that are possible with them, however being new to Android, new to Smartphones and new to Custom Roms I am to say the least a little confused.
I decided this carrier added bloatware just has to go and after a little reading I like the idea of LeeDrOiD HD v1.2.
I have attempted to follow the instructions in the Leedroid HD thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=842802
Which tells me i Need to flash.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=842819
Which in turn tells "You will need the ENG HBOOT installed on your device to flash this recovery!"
and of course I could not find any details on what ENG HBOOT is let alone how to install it.
How deep does the rabbit hole go Alice? The multiple tears are becoming confusing and complicated and I am wondering if this is just a LeeDroid thing, or are these steps necessary for all custom roms? Or just the Desire HD. I am fairly confident with the safety of replacing a rom but the more steps by more people are adding uncertainty in the safety of the whole procedure and of course raising the probability of an under informed and maybe slightly reckless newby to brick a perfectly acceptable phone.
Is anyone able to reccomend a resource to better acquaint a Newby with this new territory? Is thier a more comprehensive guide to installing LeeDroid or "Rom-ing" an android phone.

Hi,
Give me a few minutes to pull together a few guides for you.
This Guide with Video is very helpful at performing all the little tasks that allow you to flash custom ROMs.
In short the ENG HBOOT allows the flashing of an unsigned recovery "Clockwork Mod", which then allows you to flash custom ROMs. Flashing the ENG HBOOT is a one time process, once you have done it there is no need to do it again.
Just a few questions,
1). Do you have a Stock HTC Unbranded & Unlocked ROM or a Carrier Branded ROM?
2). Have you rooted you DHD yet?

This is the way I personally went about the whole process, its a guide that zexbig posted and can be found HERE
Summary:
1) Download Paul's Visionary+ tool (I have used version r12) (google removed this app from market) so You will have to download it from Paul's website.
This tools enables root and removes new HTC protection.
2) Install engineering version of HBOOT to get S-Off (HTC bootloader, something like BIOS for Your PC)
This step is optional and it's not required in order to flash custom ROM's on Your DHD but gives You more freedom with Your device.
3) Install custom recovery image (recovery is special program which is invoked from HBOOT
in order to flash ROM onto Your device.
Detailed description:
1) Download Paul's Visionary+ tool
1.1) Click here to download http://android.modaco.com/content/ht...ne-click-root/ or download it from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/atta...3&d=1290501865
1.2) Install Visionary+ on Your DHD
1.3) Run it, enable "Set system r/w after root
1.4) Click "Temproot Now!" - Wait until it's finished
1.5) Click Attempt Permroot Now!
1.6) DHD automatically reboot's
To test that everything went fine download from market application "terminal emulator"
run it, type su
If You get after that sign # it mean's that everything went fine.
Time for next step!
2) Install engineering version of HBOOT to get S-Off
2.1) Download sfjuocekr DHD script for flashing HBOOT from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=835746
2.2) Unzip it and copy it to Your SDCard (It's important that You have on Your SDCard root directory with name DHD and all files inside this directory.
(I have run into the strange problem for which I'm not sure is it problem with my PC or DHD, each time when I connected my DHD via USB cable my SDCard was automatically mounted as Disk Drive instead of just being in "Charge only" mode. I resolved this by removing back cover and ejecting SDCard and inserting it again while phone was operational, which is very unsafe thing to do!).
2.3) Run Terminal Emulator
2.4) Type su
2.5) Type "sh /sdcard/DHD/check
(Please be aware that You have to type "sh" in front of command)
2.6) If everything went OK type
sh /sdcard/DHD/backup
2.7) If this also went OK proceed with
sh /sdcard/DHD/hboot
This command will install engineering hboot which have S-Off turned off.
3) Install custom recovery image
3.1) Since ROM manager now officially support's Desire HD, we will use it to download and install custom clockwork image.
3.2) Run android market app on Your DHD and download and install ROM Manager app from market.
3.3) Download and install ROM manager.
3.4) Run ROM manager and select first option (Flash ClockWorkMod Recovery).
3.5) Wait until ROM Manager say's that installation went successfully (Current version of ClockWorkMod is 2.5.1.3)
3.6) After installation tap in Rom manager option Reboot into Recovery to test that everything went well.
3.7) DHD should reboot in clockwork recovery manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-Visionary is now v14+, not 12 as posted.
If you have any problems, just let us know.

Quick Response thanks!
It is unfortunatly a Carrier Branded rom. Full of widgets that are just links to webpages. What is even worse is I bought my phone through a company who leases lines off the carrier so because I am technically not with the carrier I can't use their aps even if i wanted to.
I believe I have temp rooted it so far. I have downloaded VISIONary +

Epic.. Thank you kindly. I am in the process.

I don't understand why carriers have to ruin the whole "Android Experience" by bundling awful apps that nobody wants, otherwise they would of downloaded them themselves.
The last guide I posted is the one I used. Once you have followed all of the steps then your in a position to flash a custom ROM. If you are planning to overclock or underclock then you will also need to find a suitable "Kernel" to flash with your ROM. Most ROMs do come complete with a custom kernel but that may not be the best for your particular needs.
Once bit of advice. Always, always a backup of your ROM before you flash anything else.
Flashing custom ROMs is easy once the above steps are complete.
1). Download your chosen ROM.
1a). Optional Download your chosen Kernel.
2). Transfer ROM (+ Kernel) to your SD Card, place in the root of the card.
3). Boot into Recovery. Power off (Ensure HTC Fast Boot is disabled), Power on whilst holding VOL DOWN, using volume keys select Recovery, press power to enter.
4). Create Backup, backup and restore > backup.
5). Wipe All Data including cache
6). Install .zip from SD Card, Select the correct ROM zip and confirm.
7). Optional, repeat with Kernel, if necessary.
8). Reboot.
9). Bask in glory, you have conquered your smartphone.
Again, if you want more info feel free to ask. We all had to learn once, or twice.

For Clarification on HBOOT loading.
2.2) Unzip it and copy it to Your SDCard (It's important that You have on Your SDCard root directory with name DHD and all files inside this directory.
(I have run into the strange problem for which I'm not sure is it problem with my PC or DHD, each time when I connected my DHD via USB cable my SDCard was automatically mounted as Disk Drive instead of just being in "Charge only" mode. I resolved this by removing back cover and ejecting SDCard and inserting it again while phone was operational, which is very unsafe thing to do!).
I do want to be viewing the Android device as a disk drive?
Secondly Do I create a folder on the SD card in the root directory called DHD and then drop the 3 files contained in the Zip file into that folder?
Example
Root Directory
>.data
>Alarms
>Android
>bugreports
>DCIM
>DHD --Newly created folder
>>DHD-dumb --dragged and dropped
>>DHD-smart --dragged and dropped
RTFM.txt --dragged and dropped
>downloads
etc..

Yes you do want to view it as a disk drive.
You are also correct with the folders.
SDCard/DHD/ - place files here -

Ok my description failed.
Instead of the folders listed above
">>DHD-dumb --dragged and dropped
>>DHD-smart --dragged and dropped
RTFM.txt --dragged and dropped"
should I be taking the contents of (smart or dumb?) and placing that in the DHD created directory?
obviously the commands in the terminal dont correspond to having the files in a sub folder. I appologise for you having to answer obvious questions however I am a little weary of bricking.

I'd rather you post a question and get it answered before you post a problem and have an expensive paperweight.
Take the "DHD-smart" folder from wherever you extracted it, place that on your SD Card, then rename that folder to just "DHD".

Excellent. All Is working as planned. I'm in the process of D/L ing Leedroid rom.
Thanks for your help again.
I'll post back once I have things up and rolling.

No problem at all.
Just remember to make a backup from within "Recovery", it will save you one day.

I appologise I forgot to Post back.
Everything is running sweetly now, absolutley no bugs with the Root or new LeeRoid rom.
Thanks again for your help.

Daft Templar said:
I appologise I forgot to Post back.
Everything is running sweetly now, absolutley no bugs with the Root or new LeeRoid rom.
Thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the ranks of Android hackers. Health warning: flashing is addictive.
Sent from my performance enhanced Desire HD.

Yes it is
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

[Guide] All things Iconia A100 (guide to modding) - updated 8.13.13

Since the information for this device is so fragmented, I decided to attempt to keep it all in one (or a series of) posts. I aim to link to the original posts as well as outline what do to with your device from the time it leaves to box to running the latest and greatest modified rom or CM9 or whatever else is out there. I will not link directly to anything, rather I will link to the thread, and I very seriously recommend reading at least the post, if not the thread, before you begin ANYTHING.
This guide is a work in progress, it is not complete, and I will work on it bit by bit until it's completed!
Section 1: So its shiny and new...how can I MOD IT?
This will be assuming the new shiny toy in question is indeed an Acer Iconia Tab A100, this is not meant to cover any other devices. And, this is assuming it's coming with Honeycomb installed, in stock form. If its used, or comes with ICS, the next section will amuse you.
First thing most users that want to mod their devices do is root their device. Now, rooting is not unlocking, as carrier unlocking is not boot loader unlocking. Rooting a device allows you to access the system in a much more in depth manner, including read/write (R/W) access to the /system partition, among other things. It allows use of programs such as Titanium Backup (TB or TiBu) ROM Toolbox, overclocking or other clock setting utilities such as SetCPU or CPU Master for overclocking (if the kernel supports it) underclocking and undervolting.
So...how do I do that rooting thing? Well assuming you are running Honeycomb and are wanting to update to ICS plus root and unlock the bootloader, we will use the info from this thread Simple Root Method by ZeroNull to update you to ICS and then gain Root access on that new ICS install!
What about rooting Honeycomb? Well most users are already running ICS and prefer it, and those on Honeycomb are likely wanting to update to ICS, so I will leave this out for now. If I have the time I will come back and include the link for that as well.
Now, ICS is installed, and you're rooted, what else can I do? Well you can unlock your bootloader, and load up a custom recovery such as CWM or TWRP and using those, install Custom ROMS! For this, we visit this thread here Install unlocked bootloader by ZeroNull. Follow ALL directions in this thread for a fully unlocked bootloader!
Custom recoveries, what are they and how do I get that shiz? Custom recoveries, CWM and TWRP, allow the user to flash anything they want, provided its for their device and properly packaged. This included custom roms, some tools, and allows you to "wipe" various parts of the device's storage and backup/restore to a previous installation. Powerful, and dangerous, do not go pushing buttons to things you do NOT understand! Also, you MUST delete or rename /system/etc/install-recovery.sh prior to flashing recovery! This will restore stock recovery every time android boots, wiping out your custom recovery. The only time you want that file there is if you are using the crossix mount swap mod, which replaces that file with a modified version that leaves recovery alone.
Safe to do wipe:
Wipe cache, data, dalvik cache, system. Theonew also reports Flex and boot can be wiped as well as SD-EXT. This is not to be confused with External SD, this is a separate partition on your External SD card, wiping it will NOT wipe external SD, only what's installed on that partition, the rest is safe and requires a separate wipe.
If you wipe system you MUST install a new rom or restore from backup!
If you wipe boot please restore or install a new ROM before rebooting! Safety first.
Not safe to wipe:
Don't wipe anything else, and always install a new rom or backup after wiping system!
Never reboot system after wiping without first restoring or installing a new ROM!
Post 2 will cover custom recovery functions in more detail, for both recoveries.
Now that you have an unlocked bootloader, what can I do? Install that custom recovery! There is two flavors, CWM and TWRP, CWM available here CWM Recovery by ptesmoke. Follow the instructions in this post to the letter! Only attempt this after you have ICS, rooted, and unlocked the boot loader correctly! Next we have TWRP Recovery here TWRP Recovery by ZeroNull. Again, follow the instructions to the letter, and attempt only after ICS, root and unlocked boot loader are finished.
Ok, gots me some custom recoveries, what about custom roms? This is why we just did all that work, to prepare for this! Custom ROMs! I'll be listing some (all?) ROMs that you can use, besides stock HC and ICS.
The list in order of version, oldest to newest, updated to retired:
4.0.3
KEBBERSROM by Hardslog Stock based 4.0.3
Flex Reaper by civato ICS 4.0.3 Modified Stock
Green ICS by lgcmn & ZeroNull ICS 4.0.3 Modified Stock
4.0.4
KEBBERSROM SHELLSHOCK by Hardslog 4.0.4, based on A500 and A700 ROMs
Nightly Builds of CM9 by pio_masaki ICS 4.0.4
Aoikaze Modified CM9 by pio_masaki ICS 4.0.4
4.1.1
CM10 Preview builds by waydownsouth 4.1.1
4.1.2
Unofficial CM10 builds by pio_masaki (stock and modded, Phone UI and Tablet UI)
Jellytime Sosei by pio_masaki Jellybean 4.1.2
Cyanosaki_Flex by Hardslog
4.2.2
CarbonROM JB 4.2.2 Unofficial by pio_masaki
These are most of the ROMs. There are others that seem to no longer be in active development and are based on the old leaks that vache was kind enough to grab for us. Development is currently only active in the KEBBERSROM builds by Hardslog, and occasional updated in the CM10 builds by pio_masaki.
That ends Section 1, preparing for awesomeness, and Post 2 will continue with installing your new custom ROM!

Section 2: Recoveries and what they can do for you.
This section will cover recoveries and what they can do, and how to do it. I will be starting with TWRP, as I use that on all of my devices, and after that I will include a CWM section, as a lot, if not most, use that. They are similar in what they do, but different in where things are.
TWRP Recovery
Official TWRP for A100 by linuxsociety
This assumes you have already done everything in section 1, including installed ICS, rooted it, unlocked your bootloader, and installed TWRP custom recovery. Links for this information is provided in Section 1, in the post above.
First thing you should ALWAYS do when you enter recovery, before doing ANYTHING ELSE, is make a nandroid backup!
Getting into recovery: Depending on what ROM you use, this is done a couple ways. First is an AOSP ROM, like CM9/AOKP, which you can hold the power button, then select Reboot, then Recovery. In modified stock or rooted stock ROMs, this menu doesn't exist, you can either use an app like Quick Boot, and select recovery, or power off, then hold the Volume - key (closest to the rotation lock switch) and while holding it, hold power, once the acer screen comes up and starts saying Recovery kernel, release both and recovery will boot provided an update.zip is NOT on the root of your external SD card. This method works for any ROM.
Now I'm in recovery, what do I do? As I mentioned, make a nandroid backup before you do ANYTHING else! From the first screen (home screen) in TWRP select Mount. In mount you can leave everything alone and at the bottom will be two options with Circles. Select Using external SD Card for Backup. This will store your backup on your external SD card, never use internal SD if possible. After you select use external SD, press the Home button in the upper right corner. Now, back on the Home screen, select Backup. Double check the boxes checked are System, Data, Boot and Recovery. At the bottom is a nice little slide bar, slide that over and sit back. Takes about 4-5 minutes depending on how full your device storage is. This does NOT backup internal SD! After this is done, you have created a nandroid backup that when restored will put the system exactly how it was last time you used it. You can make multiple backups of multiple ROMs without issue, just however big your SD card is to hold them.
The restore menu, or the OOPS SAVE MEH menu is your best friend. This will restore you back to the last state your device was in for the backup that is restored. By default TWRP saves by date and time, however you can rename this with any file manager, never caused me any issues. Theonew reminded me of an MD5 issue that can happen on renaming backups, if this does happen, rename it back to the stock naming system to fix it. Generally I'll just append the ROM name to the front, so instead of 2012-6-14--18-25-01 it'll be CM9-2012-6-14--18-25-01. Make sense? That way to restore it in case of error, just drop the name. Easy. Theonew also did some testing, and confirmed that spaces in the folder name WILL cause MD5 errors and fail the restore, please use ONLY dashes and underscores (- and _ lol) in the folder name! To restore make sure you are on the Home screen, then select Restore. In the window you will see a list of your current backups, select one. Next screen has check boxes, make sure System, Data, Boot and Recovery are checked, then slide the bar to begin. This takes a bit, make sure you let it finish! Once done, your system will be at the last point it was used for that backup.
Advanced restore...I'm to lazy to reload and reset up my stuff after a ROM flash, so this is the fast and dirty way of doing it. If you flash a ROM and you don't feel like manually restoring your apps, you can uncheck System, Recovery and Boot, and leave only Data checked. This will restore your user installed apps and settings over the current ROM install. I don't recommend this for different ROMs, only for updates of the same ROM! Up to you but if you get alot of issues, you'll know why. After advanced restoring, go to the Home Screen and select Advanced, then Fix Permissions. Press Home again and select Wipe. Wipe Cache and Dalvik Cache, then reboot system.
Alright, enough already lets get our flash on! From the Home screen, select Wipe, then press on Cache, Dalvik Cache, Factory Reset, and System. Optional you can wipe Battery Stats if your battery seems off. Leave the rest alone. Once these are all wiped, go back to the Home screen, and press Install. The window on the left is your device folders, window on the right is contents of the current folder. I hope you remembered where your rom.zip is, because you select it here. Press on the zip for the ROM of your choice, then slide the bar to flash it. After that is done, select the left button Wipe Cache and Dalvik, then select Reboot system.
OK LETS ROCK THAT ROM! Woah, slow down scooter, there's a few things to do, or not do, first. After it boots, meaning it's past the boot animation and is sitting on the Welcome screen, set it down and leave it alone for 10 minutes or longer. Don't sign in, don't do anything, just leave it be for 10 minutes. If you can't think of what to do to manage the time you have to wait for awesomness of custom ROMs, read the thread of the ROM you chose. Set the thread for 50 posts and just read. After 10 minutes, hold the power key, and either choose Power off or Reboot, Reboot depending on ROM used. After it finishes rebooting (that was alot faster wasn't it?) you can go ahead and do the Welcome stuff, log in to Google, setup your device, download your apps, restore your apps etc. After restoring your apps (try not to restore app + data if possible, though I know games and stuff you'll want to) reboot one more time. After that second reboot, use the tablet as normal. From my experience this offers the BEST possible ROM usage, a vast reduction in lag, bugs, and oddness.
What else can I do with the TWRP Recovery? Well, the most useful tools are Backup, Restore (and advanced restore) and the wipe menu, plus fix permissions. Those generally can fix anything thats wrong. If you notice alot of lagging, FCs or general unruliness, wipe Cache, Dalvik Cache, and Fix Permissions. Another useful ability is ADB, which is beyond the scope of this section, but may be included generally in a later section. ADB can be used to repair otherwise bricked devices, and offers a very large amount of tools that you don't normally get to use in Recovery. Keep in mind ADB is powerful, and can quickly destroy your device, so please, be careful using it.
Placeholder for CWM Recovery section - coming soon!
CWM Recovery for A100 by ptesmoke

Section 3
Additional Recovery tools:
Blackhole Wipe/Nullifier by pio_masaki
These are tools I created to make wiping a little easier, but please read the post completely before deciding to use it! There are multiple versions, and they can and will wipe internal SD, as well as take up to 40 minutes to run (1, not all). Please ask questions if you have them there and I will help as best I can!
AROMA Recovery Touch Recovery
A touch file manger to be used in recovery, even on non touch CWM! Good for renaming backups as soon as you make them (I tend to forget afterwards and get confused by 6 backups with just dates). Also moving a downloaded zip from internal to external or whatever before running a system wipe, any number of things. Please read the post completely before using this tool! It can cause damage if not used properly and with care!
Kernels:
linuxsociety / godmachine's A100 OC Kernel
Plenty of extra balls thrown in for good measure, a good place to look if you like high benchmarks and plenty of extra goodies baked in. Available in a few flavors, with some GPU OC thrown in for good measure.
ezterry's A100 OC/UV Kernel
The only other option for a kernel that we have besides stock and CM9's included kernel. Excellent kernel, really wakes up the A100, allows up to 1.5 GHz for some extra umph and undervolting to help conserve power on our very weak batteries.
PRO TIPS:
The 10 minute rule:
The reason I mention waiting 10 minutes on first boot of a ROM install is this: Alot of things happen the first time the ROM runs, alot of scripts run, the kernel has to settle and search and move things, files are flying all over the nand. Think of a tornado in a cubicle. That's first boot for your device. Allowing it 10 minutes uninterrupted allows all of that to happen and settle down. The following reboot lets all that new info fire up from it's new home and continue settling in. After restoring and downloading apps, that reboot allows that new info to settle into it's new home and the system to catch up. This isn't device specific, rather a general rule of thumb for all devices. Does not really apply to restores unless something is changed.
Undervolting:
Undervolting on this device is only available on ezterry's excellent kernel. The following is a rough guideline of how to do it, and do it right:
Start small, don't just dump it -200 and expect it to work. For the time you're testing, make sure it is NOT set for boot. If something goes wrong you don't want it doing it everytime it boots, right? Go in small increments, -25 is usually OK. For now, don't overclock. Starting at 1 Ghz, lower every speed range down -25, and run the device for at least 10-20 minutes, normal use, hard use, benchmark, browse the web, watch a HD movie. If all is fine and its not lagging, freezing, force closing or heating up more then usual, move everything to -50, and repeat. My device freezes at -150 but runs stable at -145. Every device and chip is different, mine may do -145 yours may do -175 or only -50.
Overclocking
Overclocking is available on ezterry's bodacious (already used excellent) kernel, up to 1.5 GHz, and the CM9 kernel up to 1.4GHz. As with undervolting, this should be done in small steps and tested between to find your max. Generally 1.5 GHz is fine for every device, however all devices and chips are slightly different, and some may not be stable at it. Mixing undervolting and overclocking can be tricky, but following the steps above for undervolting you can find that sweet spot for your device.
Batteries and why they fail
This section is entirely my opinion, other's swear one way, other's another, but this is what I've concluded from multiple posts for this device.
Consider 10% to be 0%. There have been more then a couple posts that say they let their battery fall below 10% and they can NOT get the device to work properly again afterwards. I think there's a few reasons for this, and I'll explain them now. First, a lot of batteries tend to have some kind of breaker protection if the voltage drops below a certain level. This is to prevent damage to the cells, which it does, however we can't close that breaker to restore activity from the battery, IE, it's dead anyways. This threshold varies from one device to another, one battery pack to another, some can go to 0% and be ok, others can't. I say voltage level, because while draining the voltage can spike up, and it can also spike down, which can fall below this threshold even though it says you have 5% battery life remaining, and trigger the protection.
The acer does not seem to power on without a working battery. If the battery is "dead" it doesn't seem to boot. Its basically a brick until either the battery is replaced (by acer I would assume) or the motherboard is replaced due to some sort of damage causing this. Replacing the motherboard costs almost as much as a new unit, so at this point, just save up some more and buy a new one.
For this, I never go below 10% if ever possible. Even on my phones.
Another thing I try not to do is charge in bursts, or at random times. Basically, I plug in at 10%, then allow full charge to 100%, I don't charge in between those ranges, and I don't charge for periods less then 100%. So I don't plug in at 48% then unplug at 60%. I've learned this one from my Evo 4g, the battery was fantastic for months, then I started using the car charger to top off, and the battery life over the course of 2 weeks took a very noticable hit on overall life. I lost easily 4 hours a day usage on it. This on a phone and ROM combo that got me 16 hours a day.
Again this entire section is just what I've noticed and is purely my opinion, please do whatever you please with your device, it is yours after all!
ADB and Fastboot...is it really a faster boot?
No, fastboot isn't a toggle to boot at warp 9. Fastboot is a mode you can put your bootloader into for flashing the system for upgrades, repairs, mods, or general havok if you're not careful. The bootloader is what you see when you first turn on your device, that lovely Acer logo with the text up in the left corner (usually saying bootloader version and Unlocked Mode if unlocked, or nothing if it's locked). If you go into fasboot, it will say download usb protocol, so if you see that, you're in fastboot mode for whatever reason.
How do I get into fastboot mode?
Well you can do this in a couple ways, either Quickboot app (reboot bootloader), if you're on CM9, the power menu will give the option, or you can use ADB for it.
adb reboot bootloader
I'll explain some more about adb after fastboot, I know its odd, but one does have something to do with the other at times.
Once you've rebooted to the bootloader (device will turn off, vibrate, then boot to acer screen) you can then issue your fastboot commands assuming 2 things:
Acer USB drivers are installed and working correctly (if you use adb to reboot, then it is)
Your tablet is connected to your PC over USB.
Now, at this point, its up to you to do whatever you want, but BE CAREFUL USING FASTBOOT FLASH! It doesn't care or check what you're flashing, it'll just flash it. For example, I flashed CWM Touch recovery to boot once because I was distracted and mixed up the images for whatever reason. End result: Can't boot android. Why? Because boot was recovery, it only booted to CWM Touch recovery. Booting to actual recovery booted to TWRP, which was my previously installed recovery. I got it back easy enough once I figured out what I did wrong, but not all mistakes are reversible, or fixable!
General Fastboot uses and commands...
general layout goes like this:
fastboot (this is calling the command) flash (this is what fastboot will do) recovery (where it will send it to) recovery.img (the file it will send)
So, it looks like this:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
it will then flash whatever img to whatever partition you said, and let you know when it's done. You can flash any img to any partition, provided it fits, which means you do have to be careful about what you flash to where!
when you are finished with fastboot:
fastboot reboot
There are plenty of other commands, but the general basic use of fastboot is to flash a recovery or bootloader, so that is what I laid out above.
This section is hugely in need of improving, I know, but the guide in general is still rough, my apologies.
What about ADB?
ADB, or Android Debugging Bridge, can be used in System or in custom recoveries to interact with the device behind the curtain, meaning what you do isn't readily apparent on the device itself, unless you do something obvious like reboot it. ADB has a ton of commands, in particular in ADB Shell mode (you drop into the device shell itself, issuing commands from within itself, not from the PC).
Some random ADB commands:
adb reboot (where to reboot to) so:
adb reboot recovery
adb pull (what file to copy) /(where to copy file to) so for example, a recovery log to the adb working folder:
adb pull /cache/recovery/last_log recovery.txt
adb push /(file to copy to) /(file to send to device) so for example, placing that recovery file back into the device:
adb push recovery.txt /cache/recovery/last_log
Thats all the time I have for now, sorry in advance, I'm still working on all of this, I swear lol
Placeholder for additional tips and usage, some ADB stuff, and anything else I can think of.
Placeholder for Toubleshooting.
Placeholder for FAQS.

System Modding
justjackyl's Iconia A100 CM10 Setup & Use Tips/Tricks
A good guide to check out to try to get the most out of your A100 on CM10 (or any JB ROM like Sosei/black bean). A must read for those new to CM10/JB on these devices or in general. Not an outright mod, but a good source of information about some modding you should browse.
Hulu Flash Hack by NoSudo
What the Hulu Flash Hack by NoSudo does is allow you to use our android browser (setup according to the thread) to watch sites like Hulu to play on your android flash player. Its basic function is to scan for, then backup, then place a modified libflashplayer.so file. Setup with script manager and run at boot for best results. As always, read the thread for more information.
Mount Swap by crossix
What the Mount Swap by crossix does is pretty awesome, it mounts your external SD as internal, meaning your 32GB external SD card shows as internal, and is used for your apps, data, downloads, whatever, as if it was your internal SD. Internal SD is then mounted as external SD. It's operation is based on install-recovery being replaced with crossix's version. Instead of replacing recovery, it runs the mount swap. Requires Root, as the file is placed into /system/etc. Designed for stock/modified stock ROMs, it can be used with AOSP/AOKP ROMs by using script manager and setting it to run as Root at Boot. Please read the thread for the files and information on how to use it.
Adapted to ICS Build Prop Mods by patrick_spd4u adapted from crossix
What the Build Prop mods do is pretty basic, however can greatly increase the abilities of the A100, including faster boot times, more apps/games available for download in the Play Store, and tons of other stuff. Adapted from crossix's mods for HC.
Guide to 2 ways of running the crossix mount swap script, Acer based and AOSP/AOKP based
Direct paste from a post I made about this earlier...details using ES File Manager, however you can adapt it for any root file manager.
Using your tab, download the crossix mod zip file.
Unzip the file to get your epic mount swap mod by crossix, it can be unzipped anywhere.
At this point, I'm using ES File Manager but you can use Root Explorer or whatever. I'll be giving directions for ES.
Go into settings, scroll down and check the box for Up to Root.
Scroll a little futher down, same menu, and check the box for Root Explorer. Tap Yes, then allow when SU asks.
Now check the box next to Mount File System.
A little notice should pop up saying system is writable. If it fails at this point, you'll need to reroot, though it should work fine.
Press back, and go to where your crossix install-recovery.sh file is, hold your finger on it, and select Copy from the menu.
Press back and keep pressing it until you get to /. You'll see folders like acct, cache, config, d, etc.
Scroll down to system, and tap on it to go into system
Tap on etc to enter the etc directory.
You should now be in /system/etc, check up top there will be the address bar showing where you are.
You shouldn't have an install-recovery.sh file there, but if you do, long press it and select rename, then rename it install-recovery.bak.
On the upper buttons, select paste.
Now hold on the install-recovery.sh and select Properties, all the way at the bottom of that menu.
Next to where it says permissions, click Change
You will get a new window showing 3 rows of 3 colums of boxes with Xs.
Check the boxes so it looks like this:
XXX
XXX
XXO
Click on OK, then OK again, you should be back to the main ES window. Go ahead and hit home, or hit back over and over to exit.
Stock or Modified stock ONLY
Reboot the device by whatever method you prefer.
Once it finishes booting, wait a minute, then check your Settings>storage and your external SD card should show as internal. You only need to do this 1 time, it will continue to do this after.
AOSP/CM9/AOKP ONLY
Go to the Play store and download Script Manager(smanager).
After it installs, open the app then select Browse as root, Allow when SU asks, then click OK.
It will likely be listing /mnt/sdcard as your default directory, press the folder with .. to go back up until it says /
Click on system, then etc
It should now show /system/etc
Find your install-recovery.sh file, and it will open a new window.
Pay close attention here!
Right under the buttons that say Run Exit Edit Save are some icons,
Fav Su Boot Net Wick Ntfy
Press on Su and Boot, then click on Save.
Now exit smanager and reboot.
Wait a minute, then check settings>storage and your external SD should show up as Internal.
Don't disable smanager from running at boot! If you disable it, your script won't run. smanager must remain installed, or the script won't run.
Thanks to:
ZeroNull: For being one of the pioneers for getting our devices cracked open for our amusement!
ptesmoke: Also for being a pioneer in getting custom recoveries on our devices!
vache: For releasing the ICS leaks way ahead of schedule and hosting them for us to use and abuse!
civato: For releasing his Flex Reaper ROMs on our devices, his modified stock ROMs are still (IMO) the slickest available!
da-pharoah: For helping me understand how recoveries work a little better, allowing me to create Blackhole Wipe/Nullifier, and general encouragement for creating things for this device! (G2x and KF forums)
ezterry: For creating an OC/UV kernel that so far is the best EVER for any ROM on our device!
Theonew: reading ALL of that, and providing some nice info I missed and left out, and catching typos (Almost made it...)
crossix: that mount swap mod is just awesome, I never run a ROM without it!
NoSudo: creating a method to easily modify the system to watch HULU and other sites that normally won't allow it!
There's more I'm forgetting, I'll be adding more as I remember, I promise.

Even though I knew everything you posted, it was very interesting and I recommend everyone (even if you don't need it or already know) to read this guide. Its a marvellous read with some humor to keep you going. One thing though:
- You stated that its only safe to wipe "cache, dalvik cache, data, and system". Technically, this is not true. Flexrom and boot partitions are also safe to wipe (and for some roms for certain devices, the boot partition must be wiped for stable kernel performance, etc.). It's also a good idea to wipe sd-ext if you have it set up (in most cases). Once again, excellent guide (you even did a part of my job ).

Theonew said:
Even though I knew everything you posted, this is a brilliant guide and I recommend everyone (even if you don't need it or already know) to read this guide. Its a marvellous read with some humor to keep you going. One thing though:
- You stated that its only safe to wipe "cache, dalvik cache, data, and system". Technically, this is not true. Flexrom and boot partitions are also safe to wipe (and for some roms for certain devices, the boot partition must be wiped for stable kernel performance, etc.). It's also a good idea to wipe sd-ext if you have it set up (in most cases). Once again, excellent guide (you even did a part of my job ).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While sd-ext is safe to wipe, using factory reset wipes that for you, and I think, could be wrong, but cwm does it on data wipes. Part of why I missed it was I confused it with my phone, where wiping sd-ext bricks the phone, and also people mix it up with external SD. I'll add it in as its a very valid point, and I shouldn't let personal things interfere with the guide.
As for boot, our devices don't need that wiped and honestly asks for problems if someone doesn't restore or install a rom to cover it. I've never wiped it on any device, however I will also add that in as it is good info. I left it out of "safe" to prevent possible issues from wiping it.
I forgot about flex and I honestly don't know what it is for lol. Again thanks for reminding me and I'll add it in.
Of course I'm open to posts like these please give some input on what I missed or need to correct, I want this to be the go to guide for the a100 for anything needed!
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

pio_masaki said:
I forgot about flex and I honestly don't know what it is for lol....Of course I'm open to posts like these please give some input on what I missed or need to correct, I want this to be the go to guide for the a100 for anything needed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your 4th to last sentence of the "Advanced Restore" section, you have a typo . Anyways, according to here: forum.tegraowners.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=149, Flexrom is "a partition on the nand that acer made to hold some proprietary apks and build information".

Oh damn almost made it without a typo...not bad for just running through all of that without really checking on it..other then it was english.
Corrections and additions added to the posts, thanks!

pio_masaki said:
Oh damn almost made it without a typo...not bad for just running through all of that without really checking on it..other then it was english.
Corrections and additions added to the posts, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more thing - This occurred for one of my other devices, but the problem may still exist here. I haven't tried it with TWRP, but renaming CWM backups can cause a md5 mismatch error to occur. If this happens, simply rename it back to a date (in the default format).

I've never ran into that issue on any of my devices in CWM or TWRP, however I have heard of it occuring, definatly something I should add in there. Full of good catches tonight aren't you?

Awesome write up, thanks you guys!!
What about Zeronull's .014 v1.2 rom? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574897

I'm still digging through all the threads for the ROMs, however I included the currently developed or recently released ROMs first, ZN has since released Green ICS, which is included already. I do plan to list every ROM, but it'll take some time to finish this guide up with as much info as possible, then go back and add things in.

pio_masaki said:
I've never ran into that issue on any of my devices in CWM or TWRP, however I have heard of it occuring, definatly something I should add in there. Full of good catches tonight aren't you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tested it to see if it occurs, and it turns out that it does. I made a backup with CWM, renamed it then tried to restore, and it immediately gave me the "md5 mismatch" error.

Theonew said:
I tested it to see if it occurs, and it turns out that it does. I made a backup with CWM, renamed it then tried to restore, and it immediately gave me the "md5 mismatch" error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is so weird I never have that issue cwm or twrp. I use es file manager..maybe why?
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

pio_masaki said:
That is so weird I never have that issue cwm or twrp. I use es file manager..maybe why?
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I renamed it using Root Explorer. Have you tried renaming them to something including spaces?

Theonew said:
I renamed it using Root Explorer. Have you tried renaming them to something including spaces?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, as its a Linux based environment I use dashes and underscores never spaces in directory names. That shouldn't cause md5 fails because the md5 is based per zip not the folder name. If you could try an experiment and rename with es I'd appreciate it, and maybe with and without spaces. I'll try root explorer when I get home and see if it causes issues.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

pio_masaki said:
No, as its a Linux based environment I use dashes and underscores never spaces in directory names. That shouldn't cause md5 fails because the md5 is based per zip not the folder name. If you could try an experiment and rename with es I'd appreciate it, and maybe with and without spaces. I'll try root explorer when I get home and see if it causes issues.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done. The error seems to only occur when spaces are used in the name.

Theonew said:
Done. The error seems to only occur when spaces are used in the name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for taking the time to figure that one out, I've been testing a new rom on my phone plus a new test T20 kernel for ezterry and getting cm9 build 5 up, just kinda managed to forget that experiment lol
I'll have some time...maybe...to append that new bit into that section tonight. The "free" time has been spent trying to get aokp for the a100 but my lack of experience, random problems with the repos and devs ignoring my PMs its been going slow. And by slow I mean nowhere.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

Great read. Sorta like flashing for dummies. Thaanks for your work.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk

It's great to have all this information compiled in one location. Looking forward to your next installment. THX

Creating a Backup/Recovery/Dump

Forum:
If this specific question is in another thread, please forgive me and redirect me.
If not, any instruction would be greatly appreciated.
Equipment:
Visual Land, Prestige 7
Model # VL - 107
ICS 4.0.3
Baseband 1.0
Kernel 3.0.8+
Build # 86F5-D1-H1-MO1-1718.20120327
Objective:
To create a backup/recovery img/dump of the existing stock ROM, without having to add "clockwork", "cynogen", etc...
Software on Hand:
Windows 7
Livesuit 1.09
Virtualbox
Ubuntu via Virtual Machine
Please detail everything and speak to me as if I were a little child...
Thanks in advance!

I'm sure you have a recovery on your phone that's a tool to create a backup of stock rom on your sdcard
enter recovery (usually volup+menu or something like that) or you have some options in phone menus to backup device
that will create a set of img files on sdcard that's your backup also you can restore your phone from this backup if you get in trouble
so it's a good idea to have one !

Can this be done with ADB?
ruscan.calin said:
I'm sure you have a recovery on your phone that's a tool to create a backup of stock rom on your sdcard
enter recovery (usually volup+menu or something like that) or you have some options in phone menus to backup device
that will create a set of img files on sdcard that's your backup also you can restore your phone from this backup if you get in trouble
so it's a good idea to have one !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a negative...
The tablet is completely stock - straight from the box.
In turn, I do not have a recovery (such as clockwork, cyanogen, etc.) that would allow me to make a backup img.
And, I would like to start/learn by making a backup img without such a recovery; i'm assuming this requires using ADB.
Therefore, I need detailed instructions on how to create said backup img...
I have not found any settings or options in the tablet itself that performs this function either.

gth826a said:
That's a negative...
The tablet is completely stock - straight from the box.
In turn, I do not have a recovery (such as clockwork, cyanogen, etc.) that would allow me to make a backup img.
And, I would like to start/learn by making a backup img without such a recovery; i'm assuming this requires using ADB.
Therefore, I need detailed instructions on how to create said backup img...
I have not found any settings or options in the tablet itself that performs this function either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand now this is a tablet so it's common problem for some
well you have to find a way to root device to get access to system files then use a rom dumping tool just take a look here or here
nobody can tell you for sure how to do that this is device specific I do not know to much about that particular tablet just try

I just got this tablet today, and it's rooted out of the box.
Not sure if that helps you, but I wanted to contribute if I could.
[signature]

Recovery for Galaxy Ace 2 - i8160
Hi,
Any chance of a simple recovery for the Galaxy Ace2 i8160 ?

VL107 Update Down To 4.0.3/4.0.4
Hello,
I've been trying to figure out how to change my VL-107's OS, and a Recognized Contributor pointed me to this thread.
I've downloaded LiveSuit, but I can't figure out how to make it work. If at all possible, I need two things: an .img file for 4.0.3 or 4.0.4, and instructions on how to apply this update via command prompt or a program that utilizes command prompt.
I have Windows 8.1, my VL-107 (Visual Land Prestige 7), and LiveSuit (which I'd really rather not use).
The only experience I have in flashing involved using command prompt, and I'm much more comfortable doing this than relying on a program to do everything "behind the scenes". Otherwise, I would also be willing to put an .img file on my tablet's "SD card" and apply the update through Recovery mode.

Root Telstra T-Hub 2 (Technicolor)

Wanting to root my new Telstra T-Hub 2, made by Technicolor.
There appears to be no USB drivers available (nothing via Google)
There also appears to be no way to get into the Download Mode for connection to Odin. (again nothing on Google)
So these two points have left me a bit lost.
It is running Android (GB) 2.3.7
Any one have any ideas????

Rabs_1976 said:
Wanting to root my new Telstra T-Hub 2, made by Technicolor.
There appears to be no USB drivers available (nothing via Google)
There also appears to be no way to get into the Download Mode for connection to Odin. (again nothing on Google)
So these two points have left me a bit lost.
It is running Android (GB) 2.3.7
Any one have any ideas????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got ADB working on my T-Hub 2 by using the generic Google drivers, and edited the adb_usb.ini to just say 0x069B
So far I have problems rooting it.

wocko1 said:
I got ADB working on my T-Hub 2 by using the generic Google drivers, and edited the adb_usb.ini to just say 0x069B
So far I have problems rooting it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BUMP

I have this Tablet as-well and having the same problem.
any ideas on the best way to root this thing?
wocko1 do you have any more details on how to got that far?
Thanks guys.
Rabs_1976 said:
Wanting to root my new Telstra T-Hub 2, made by Technicolor.
There appears to be no USB drivers available (nothing via Google)
There also appears to be no way to get into the Download Mode for connection to Odin. (again nothing on Google)
So these two points have left me a bit lost.
It is running Android (GB) 2.3.7
Any one have any ideas????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

was it released in any other countries as another device?
even if we got root on it what can we do for a custom ROM if noone can dev for it

Madaz2 said:
was it released in any other countries as another device?
even if we got root on it what can we do for a custom ROM if noone can dev for it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We as owners/users of T-Hub 2 devices require sensible answers to important questions.
We need usb drivers for the T-Hub 2, either from Telstra or from Technicolor the manufacturer of the device so that we can attain " ROOT ACCESS" via a usb cable connection to a computer.
Unless we can get "ROOT ACCESS" we cannot move applications to an external SD card (32 GB in my case) or use Titanium Backup or certain Antivirus programs that require "ROOT ACCESS".
Please accept the undeniable fact that 1 Gigabyte of storage on the internal SD card is totally insufficient and pathetic, almost as pathetic as the fact that we are still stuck with "Gingerbread" which puts us three versions behind on Android which is now up to "JellyBean" v2.
The fact is, I believe the Android operating system running on the T-Hub 2 is, like all other versions of Android, based on the Linux kernel which is software using the GNU General Public License, which allows people to see, copy, use, and modify for their own needs.
If indeed I am correct in my assumption then Telstra/Technicolor could be in breach of a world standard which would mean that the proprietary blocks and gates that they have built to prevent access to the kernel on the T-Hub 2 are illegal.

Download Mode discovered...and more...
I thought this:
Hold "Volume-" and "Volume+" and "Power Button" boots into download mode. This is incorrect.
This gets you to recovery mode (which shows the Android robot fallen over).

Help!
wocko1 said:
I got ADB working on my T-Hub 2 by using the generic Google drivers, and edited the adb_usb.ini to just say 0x069B
So far I have problems rooting it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have been looking for the drivers everywhere, and so far none of them have worked. Even tried wireless adb to no avail. Also tried gingerbreak but still nothing. Sick of looking at the bloatware. Someone please help!

anyone had more success now that it has ICS 4.0.4

Yes, it can be rooted, but...
Hi,
Yes, much more progress. I've gained ADB root access using the restore method (i.e., restoring a backup which has been modified to install a file to a strange path, e.g,: ../../../system/bin/su), I recommend creating your own restore file rather than using one of the many out there and using it to install the necessary SU software to the appropriate locations.
If your device isn't detected by ADB, check that the device ID has been added to the ADB config file. The Thub2 ID is not recognised automatically. Also, when using fastboot remember to specify this ID or it won't find your THub.
The biggest issue with the THub2 is that Telstra have (in an oddly intelligent move) adopted SquashFS for the root file system; this is the FS used on things like linux liveCD's, and it's 100% RO (well, 99% RO . I have gotten around this in a number of ways. 1: I copied the SquashFS partition using DD to an Ext4 partition, then forced a dirty unmount of the SquashFS partiition chained to a mount of the new Ext4 partition to /system. RW access no problems, SU installs OK, but no persistence without forcing the dirty unmount each boot. 2: I copied the SquashFS partition to my ~ using DD, mounted and edited the partition, then re-flashed to the thub. worked much better, persistence across reboots, but dangerous and dodgy method that could risk many NANDs. 3: I cross-compiled a busybox containing UnionFS to Android.
Option 3 is by far the best option. UnionFS provides a transperent RW layer for SquashFS filesystems, writing the updates that couldn't be written to a RO system like squash to another partition (e.g., Ext4 on SD card). Mount a UnionFS system over /system to enable write access to the system. Maybe a better idea to mount it at /, but that raises other problems I couldn't be bothered dealing with.
I mentioned above that SquashFS is on 99% RO (in all my other experiences, it has been well and truly 100% RO, so this indicates something else a-going on that we should be able to use; I haven't looked into it yet.). For some reason, files installed to the Thub2 using the Restore method are persistent. Very useful, and should lead to a cleaner method.
So rooting so far:
Root with Restore method to install (1 & 2., SU bins, or 3., UnionFS Busybox)
Remount / as RW
-->Path 1 & 2
Dirty unmount /system && dirty unmount /system2 && mount /dev/block/etc.. NOTE: Once you dirty unmount /system, you will need to reference the location of the Ext4 partiition using the absolute (real) name of the device. You will also need to invoke busybox from a fully qualified path, eg. /data/local/tmp/busybox, as the internal /bin applications are no longer available (eg., mount).​
-->Path 3
No need to umount /system, just mount the UnionFS system over the top.​
Finally, for Paths 1 & 3...
Install Superuser application and be free!​
So to sum up; I have easily rooted the Thub2 to root over ADB using a number of methods, however the Restore method works 100% of the time. I have mounted an Ext4 system to /system in order to have RW, but this isn't persistent. I have re-flashed the SquashFS with modified content, and this works a treat, but is RO and dangerous to NAND. I have mounted a UnionFS system over the SquashFS system, and this seems to provide the best all round performance.
I also wrote a short and nasty .apk to mount the UFS system without terminal, so that's a go as well.
Have fun pulling it all apart; I don't read these message boards, so I probably won't se any questions. More than enough to get rooted though.

THub Drivers and ADB Access
THUB 2 DRIVER INSTALLATION AND ADB ACCESS
This method sets out how to install drivers for the THub 2 and access ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
Access to ADB is the usual way that you use to Root an Android device.
Please note that not all ADB versions work. If you download and try a root method, you may have to copy the ADB.exe and support files across so that the root method can at least have a chance of working.
INSTALLING GOOGLE UNIVERSAL ANDROID DRIVERS
1. Ensure that Debugging has been enabled – Settings  Developer options  USB debugging and make sure the box is checked
2. The following is for Windows 7, other versions will be similar
3. Unzip the file and copy contents to a folder on the C: drive. I copied it to a folder I named THub
4. Plug the THub into your PC and it will try to find suitable drivers – some drivers may load and install but at least one will come up with “No driver found”
5. Open “Computer”
6. Click on “System properties”
7. Click on “Device Manager”
8. Under “Other devices” you will see T-Hub2 with an icon with a yellow exclamation mark.
9. Right-click the device and select "Update Driver"
10. Select "Browse my computer for driver software"
11. Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers"
12. Click “Show All Devices”
13. Click “Have disk …”
14. Browse to where you put the extracted files
15. Select and open “Android_winusb.inf”
16. Select “Android Composite ADB Interface”
17. Click “Next” and then Click “Yes” (Ignore warning)
18. Wait until the software installs
19. You should now have Android Composite Interface” under the “Android Phone” listing
If you have problems, ensure Debugging is selected and try unplugging the THub and reconnecting it
ACCESSING ADB
1. Ensure that Debugging has been enabled – Settings  Developer options  USB debugging and make sure the box is checked
2. The following is for Windows 7, other versions will be similar, It also assumes that the file has been down loaded, unzipped and installed in a folder called THub on you C: drive
3. Connect the THub to your PC
4. Click in the “Start” icon, lower left icon on your PC Desktop
5. In the entry box type in “CMD” and push “Enter”
6. You will be at the “Command Prompt”
7. You need to navigate to the “THub” folder, the following are my entries, and yours should be similar.
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Terry>cd .. and “Enter”
C:\Users>cd .. and “Enter”
C:\>
C:\>cd THub and “Enter”
C:\THub>
8. At the THub folder type in “ADB devices” and “Enter”
9. You should get an output similar to this:
* daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *
* daemon started successfully *
List of devices attached
01545CAB0B015004 device
C:\THub>
10. You now have ADB access
11. Try “adb shell” and “Enter” to enter ADB and then “ls” and “Enter” to get the THub Root folder listing
What next, I don’t know but at least we have ADB access?
I have been trying to copy system files to my SD card to have a look at them but have no success.
Does anyone know how?
Here is the site I uploaded the files to:
"You can fill in the missing bits"
xxx.mediafire.com/download/voku3wnuff5s2ef/THub.zip
NOTE: There is also a file called “UniversalAdbDriverSetup6.msi”.
I don’t know what it is for, but I installed it anyway. It MAY be necessary for the above method.

Firstly, I understand this is an old thread but quite a lot of us Australians have this THub 2 now because Telstra seem to basically be handing them out like shots at a party.
As far as I know this thing still has no root access. You can get into ADB with it without too much trouble.
But what I really want to know is how I can get root access with SuperSU so I can install something like AdAway to remove the seemingly ridiculous amount of advertisements that apps and etc. come with.
In addition to that, after installing just TWO small apps. It seems the device's internal memory is already full and it cannot install any more apps.. I need root access in order to run Apps2SD so I can move some apps to the SD card that I have purchased for it.
Does anyone, and I mean anyone have any ideas about how to root this thing? There has to be some Australian who has a rooted version with SuperSU running.
I tried 'towelroot' but the device just rebooted (meaning it failed) and then when I ran the .apk again it said that the device was unsupported.
It's one thing to be able to get access to the root partition (which is possible over ADB) but it's another to be able to run apps with root privileges.
For any information.
The specs are:
Manufacturer - Technicolor
Operating System - Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4
Processor - 1 GHz dual core
Screen - 7″ (1024 x 600 pixels)
Camera - 1.9 MP rear camera, 1.2 MP HD front camera
RAM - 1GB
Storage - 2 GB Internal with an expandable Micro SD card slot (1GB internal usable)
Battery - 6000 mAh (non-removable)
I know it's nothing amazing, but if I could root the device and change the DPI, remove advertisements and install a few hacks. I'd get so much more out of the device.
I picked it up in almost perfect condition second-hand off eBay for only $15. They're worth $360 AU brand-new.
If anyone has any information at all, please do post something. My apologies again for bumping a super old thread but otherwise I was going to just start my own.

Possible to restore system partition
Hi Guys,
I done goofed.
I killed my T-Hub by flashing a corrupted system partition and now the device wont boot and only displays the Telstra logo at the boot loader. I do have a backup of my system partition however I cant work out how I would perform the restore. The boot loader will not allow an ADB connection so no luck there.
Im thinking JTAG may be my only option. I have experience with this on other devices but i cant find the JTAG terminals on this thing? I must have tapped about 60 different combinations of testpoints now and have only been able to get console out of the radio module which is obviously no good for talking to the kernel.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Swamp

SwampCrack1210 said:
Hi Guys,
I done goofed.
I killed my T-Hub by flashing a corrupted system partition and now the device wont boot and only displays the Telstra logo at the boot loader. I do have a backup of my system partition however I cant work out how I would perform the restore. The boot loader will not allow an ADB connection so no luck there.
Im thinking JTAG may be my only option. I have experience with this on other devices but i cant find the JTAG terminals on this thing? I must have tapped about 60 different combinations of testpoints now and have only been able to get console out of the radio module which is obviously no good for talking to the kernel.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Swamp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm completely new to this. What ROM would i look for to install on the THUB if any? And if i could install it?

clearburn said:
I'm completely new to this. What ROM would i look for to install on the THUB if any? And if i could install it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but no one has developed a ROM for this device, there is no demand

Madaz2 said:
sorry but no one has developed a ROM for this device, there is no demand
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I thought there might have been a rom from the basic device that didn't have all of the Telstra stuff on it.
It is currently a brick

if you can root it then you could install Titanium backup and uninstall the bloatware off of it

Some moderate success
I have had some moderate advancements of late.
I can get temporary ADB root using the directory traversal exploit
.
While the above method gets you a root terminal session, as it screws with some settings the device is nearly unusable due to screen flicker and general lag. I guess the exploit breaks some settings. Does anyone know how to leave the exploit in place and restore the settings file to eliminate the flickering and lag?
I have been able to export the system partition, edit it (add su.bin and SuperUser.apk) then swap the system mount so the device uses my edited system partition as described by malleus. When I try to flash my partition the device reboots and is in a semi brick state (reboot loop, stuck on boot loader Telstra logo).
I was able to obtain the OTA update files by getting an old 2.3.7 device, rooting it then grabbing the OTA files using ADB once it had downloaded them. These OTA's can be flashed from an SD card (ext4 format) in 3e recovery. This was a good bit of progress as it means I can restore from a bricked state. If anyone needs them, the files I have are:
Product_4.0.4_3.38-FOTA
Product_4.0.4_3.48-FOTA
This is all new territory for me but i think I am getting close to achieving full, persistent root in 4.0.4.
Any help would be appreciated.

I would be very interested in your progress as I have one of these but in default state it is only usable as a phone on the DECT base.....
Having some useful apps running off an SD card would help no end (like multimedia remote for my home theatre system)
Cheers,
Alex B
SwampCrack1210 said:
I have had some moderate advancements of late.
I can get temporary ADB root using the directory traversal exploit
.
While the above method gets you a root terminal session, as it screws with some settings the device is nearly unusable due to screen flicker and general lag. I guess the exploit breaks some settings. Does anyone know how to leave the exploit in place and restore the settings file to eliminate the flickering and lag?
I have been able to export the system partition, edit it (add su.bin and SuperUser.apk) then swap the system mount so the device uses my edited system partition as described by malleus. When I try to flash my partition the device reboots and is in a semi brick state (reboot loop, stuck on boot loader Telstra logo).
I was able to obtain the OTA update files by getting an old 2.3.7 device, rooting it then grabbing the OTA files using ADB once it had downloaded them. These OTA's can be flashed from an SD card (ext4 format) in 3e recovery. This was a good bit of progress as it means I can restore from a bricked state. If anyone needs them, the files I have are:
Product_4.0.4_3.38-FOTA
Product_4.0.4_3.48-FOTA
This is all new territory for me but i think I am getting close to achieving full, persistent root in 4.0.4.
Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Has anyone made any progress on this?
I have two of these tablets that have sat unused since I got them from Telstra. I really just want to update it to at least 4.1, but there's no official release from Telstra for the T-Hub, and I don't think there will be. Are ports entirely unfeasible?
Do you think I could contact Technicolor? What should I say?
P.S. there is a recovery mode, because I've booted into it.
hxxp://imgur.com/O0uq4Uk

Rooting Every Spreadtrum SC6820/SC8810 phones ! (1.5)

Hello,
In this thread I will teach you every method I had to use to root any Spreadtrum devices, Starting with the riskless ones to the reckless ones.
I have to warn you that the last root method (using ResearchDownload to load a modified system.img) may be dangerous ! (because of possible partition table changes)
The others methods are pretty safe, don't be afraid by them if you do exactly what I wrote.
Theses processors are also named SP6820 and SP8810, it's exactly the same processor, it's just some misnaming from Chinese sellers.
Theses methods do work on the newest Spreadtrum CPUs, like the SC7710 (the 3G WCDMA model), and the more powerful SC8825/SC6825 (dual core).
Why buying a Spreadtrum based phone ?
They are really cheap, and they work amazingly well ! They can play some games and emulators very well, that's unexpected for such low end devices (50$ or less)
They usually only have 256MB of RAM but despite that, they still runs well ! (I tested a lot of games and some 3D games are working flawlessly, pretty amazing) - I discovered that they are using zram (or other swap methods) to provide more RAM by compressing it when needed. That's pretty neat and really helps with such a small amount of RAM !
They are very good as a portable multimedia device, to read mails, browsing the web, play some games, mp3, videos.
As a 2G phone they are competent, but the 2G modem is not as good as the one in MTK processors. (It takes longer to load something in the same conditions)
Boot very fast, and have decent battery life. (3-4 hours of video out of a 1200 mAh battery - 5-6 hours out of a 1800 mAh)
Why you should not ?
Not true anymore, but they were extremely difficult to root in some cases.
They don't seem to be well tested ... You can have a microphone so quiet nobody will be able to ear you. But it's easy to fix as you can see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=38731407
They don't have any form of usable 3G support. (except the SC7710 who have WCDMA 850/2100 compatibility)
They usually have only 256MB of RAM again. So that can be a problem when you are, for example, using Opera Mobile Classic with more than 3 tabs. And make the transition between apps longer.
SC6820 and SC8810 model are all using Android 2.x, even if some are marketed as Android 4.0 phone (very big and blatant lie !)
They usually use android 2.3, but some are only Android 2.2 phones ! (The fake Android 4.0.3 for instance is usually only android 2.2)
SC6825 and SC8825 seems to only have a (real this time) Android 4.0.3 firmware. 4.1 are better is often advertised, but it's again ... lies ... Android 4.0 is not really suitable for phones with only 256 MB of RAM, so SC6825/8825 phones are pretty rough on the edges. Using more than one tab on the default web browser is asking for troubles for example.
They all use the MocorDroid Firmware. It's some kind of fork of Android that use NON-Standards and sometime buggy Launchers and they often use alternative keyboards like Go Keyboard which is kind of a bad choice considering the RAM and ROM constraints on theses devices ...
The only difference between the SC6820 and the SC8810 is the support for the Chinese form of 3G.
If you don't live in china, that means this two processors are essentially the same. (Don't trust sellers, the 8810 is NOT WCDMA "3G" compatible)
Some phones with the fake Android 4.0.3 based on 2.3.5 will brick themselves nearly 2 months after you first used it. It's a really weird behavior of this early Spreadtrum firmware. So if you have this firmware, just do whatever it takes to root it, make a backup and install CWM as soon as possible to be able to recover from this possible breakage. It's only a problem with a fraction of Spreadtrum phones, but you will be very happy if you have installed CWM before encountering it ^^ (applicable only if you bought one in 2012)
A lot of fakery in the Spreadtrum scene. For example fake MTK6515/MTK6572 phones that are in fact just SC6820/SC6825 phones with a firmware modified to lie its processor ID to populars android benchmarking tools like Antutu Benchmark.
If you are searching for a 512MB RAM phone, you'd better go for an MTK(6575/6572 or better) Phone. As you will never find a real 512MB Spreadtrum phone in the jungle of lies you are looking at ...
On all model with 2.3.5 based firmware (SC6820 and SC8810 essentially), you can have a lot of problems with the SIM card detection on some sim cards. For example I can't call somebody with mine, but I can answer a call or send/receive SMS ... Very weird bug ...
This bug seems to be related on the type a sim card you have. With some their is no problem at all.
I can confirm that it's working flawlessly on SC6825 and 8825 based phones with the real 4.0.3 based firmware.
Why rooting it ?
Because a lot of them come with a lot of sh*tty softwares, including the bad launcher and keyboard.
Because they can come with a "Virus" that can send SMS messages to china (so you have to pay for unwanted international SMS cost)
I myself have this Virus on one of my phones, as of now, I haven't noticed anything unusual. Just the useless, unkillable com.android.caivs.app process eating 15 MB of RAM doing nothing. (It is a significant waste of ram on such devices)
(As of now I only seen this malware on Feiteng devices - You can share your experience with this thing down bellow)
More about CAIVS here: http://web.archive.org/web/20110812021151/http://www.cseed.cn/chinese/news/portfolio2.htm
That virus was on most of the earliest Spreadtrum phones but don't seem to be a worry nowadays. But I haven't tried any new Feiteng devices. They were so poor in quality that I will never buy feiteng again so find it by yourselves if you feel adventurous xD
How-to do that ?!
If you are lucky you will be able to root your phone by traditional means.
If you are not, you can root them by manually adding the root utilities to the ROM.
I will describe every methods that you should try in order of difficulty and risks.
Before doing any of that, go to the android setting -> applications -> Development -> Check USB Debugging.
Universal Root utilities
Theses methods are safe, and the second one is, as of now, working on every Spreadtrum phones flawlessly !
1.1 - Z4Root
Just try z4root !
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=833953
z4root is a little tool to root Android 2.2 and sometime work on 2.3
It's known to work on devices with the fake Android 4.0.3 based on 2.2 and MocorDroid 2.2.2
It may work on more of them, just try, there is no risks at all.
Make sure you have at least 50 MB of available space on the /data partition before trying this. (not the SDCard, the Applications Space)
Try a temporary root to see if it works, then you can do the permanent root.
You will maybe have to try it 2 or 3 times before it works.
Even if it doesn't work, reboot the phone after this. Because it can eat your battery while running in the backgroung if it fails.
1.2 - vRoot
vRoot is a chinese tool to root many devices !
It's proved to work very well with Spreadtrum (and MTK) devices. I used it successfully on a lot of Spreadtrum devices, even the most recent ones (SC8825).
You only need a Windows Computer (I personally use it on Windows 7 32bits).
Then download it from here: http://www.mgyun.com/en/getvroot
Install it and then open it.
As of now you only need to plug your USB cable to your computer, and then click on the Root button. (you don't need to do anything else, don't touch your phone)
Once it's done and the phone rebooted you will be rooted !
The root app is some kind of custom chinese one, but it's working properly.
Don't try to replace it with SuperSU as SuperSU don't seem to work properly on Spreadtrum devices.
If you want to understand what the root app is saying, try to set the language on your device to English.
2 - Custom Firmware Flash
Please never use any custom firmware available in .pac file format ! Or at least, don't use them before doing a full backup of your current firmware !
Feiteng A7100 (only if you have the mt6515_c910_ht_en_4.0_v01 rom/firmware on it !!! If not, don't touch it, you will end up with a brick ! Or screen reversed, or other strange bugs): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2149396
If you have a Feiteng A7100 I really recommend NOT TO USE this rom ! Why ? Because it only works on a fraction of A7100, newer releases of the same phone don't use the same firmware. With this tutorial here, you can root your A7100 easily and way safer. Please go to "4-" on this tutorial to know how to root your A7100.
If you append to find some others Custom roms for spreadtrum devices, or are making one, please send me a PM, I will link them here.
3 - Fastboot to the rescue !
If every fast, simple and secure methods are not working, then this will be difficult my friend !
3.1 - Find Fasboot
First, let check if we have fastboot in your phone !
Fastboot is a little tool inside the bootloader. It's here to help you flash the firmware.
Not every Spreatrum phones have it, so let's check if you are lucky !
You can access it by powering on the phone up while holding a key.
First power off your phone.
Then hold some button like volume+
while pressing this button, press and hold down the power button.
Keep holding the two buttons until the screen light up.
You should now have something on your screen. Maybe a system diagnostic tool (a menu with a set of system tests, that's totally useless) or maybe the recovery mode (a screen with a warning sign, and now your phone is stuck here until you pull out the battery) or, and that means victory, a screen that says "Fastboot".
If you are not on fastboot, but are on the Recovery or the System Test, turn the phone off again and try another button press at boot time exactly like I said before.
This time, try the Home button if you have one, or the Volume-.
You should also try buttons combinations. Like volume up and down at the same time. Home + vol Up, etc and maybe the 3 at the same time ...
(if you just boot as if nothing was pressed, you maybe have to unplug the battery, wait for a while and put it back before powering the phone on. Theses things are also not working when the usb/charging cable is plugged in - if some keys combinations are not doing anything, it's perfectly fine, it means they don't trigger any hidden boot mode)
If nothing bring fastboot up, you have to use the Spreadtrum Debug tool "ResearchDownload" ...
So Skip to "4-" ! ^^
3.2 - Install the drivers
If you append to find Fastboot, we will have to install the PC part of it !
Like every android phone, you have to install adb and his drivers to access the Android Debug Bridge.
You can find them and learn how they work here: http://dottech.org/21534/how-to-ins...ows-computer-for-use-with-your-android-phone/
On Ubuntu or Debian Linux you just have to install them that way:
Code:
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
You also have to install the phone drivers if you are using Windows:
ADB Drivers: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?c5nf3rlhxmxhu4x
Debug Drivers: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?2tyg0k2xp3ejgyg
Mirror: http://www.mediafire.com/?o9km8vl287ev24j
Then you will have to tell adb what phone to use. By that I mean adding the PCI ID to a text file to tell adb that this peripheral is compatible.
The Spreadtrum PCI ID is 0x1782
add this line to "Your user directory/.android/adb_usb.ini"
Code:
0x1782
3.3 - Using fastboot to load CWM (Clockwork Mod)
CWM work on some of theses Spreadtrum devices, most of the time, the screen is reversed, but it works !
On some phone, you will be presented with a blank screen, but CWM will work ... That will just be very difficult to navigate ... (don't bother and use another method if you append to be in this boat)
Here are the recovery images available for Spreadtrum device to my knowledge:
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?u6uyignmdcpillt - extracted from a random SC6820 that I don't remember
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bosnfcq9n65mtc5 - i9270+
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?xem49dy5dh99ml0 - 5830, S5830, Q5830, Q206 and GT-N9300 (maybe more)
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?adfwq6b5268qb58 - S9300 (SC6820A S3 Clone)
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?y2f7aaan4b00l1m - Feiteng GT-A7100 and probably more Feiteng devices.
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?lg7m6v49efzpnjk - 6500-TV or S560
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?6xn977jjsuusjan - N9300 (I9300 Clone)
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?d68wc334qn47tdd - S930 or N8820
If your device is not listed or the one for your device doesn't work, try them all, even if your phone is SC6820 and the recovery was made for SC8810, if none are working, we will have to flash the entire system partition, which is a lot more difficult and dangerous ...
Flashing CWM to the phone:
Linux Only: Initialize ADB:
Code:
sudo adb kill-server
sudo adb start-server
Boot your phone in fastboot mode.
Be sure your device shows up:
Code:
fastboot devices
if your device show up, it's time to flash
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
It's flashed ! Let's reboot now.
Code:
fastboot reboot
Start on CWM, if it works, you can start to root the phone !
Download this patch: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?131nsw87afzwb5v
Put it on the root of your SD Card.
Now you will have to boot on CWM, he is on the same key combination than the old useless recovery was. (Most of the time Volume- and Power)
You can also try this command with adb:
Code:
adb reboot recovery
Now it's the perfect time to do a full backup of your firmware with CWM, so please do so, that can come in handy. (please go to the end of this tutorial after rooting your phone to know how to make a FULL backup. CWM will only make a partial one.)
choose apply update.zip
Choose the file you have put on your sd card before
Apply it then reboot.
This update.zip have pushed everything needed to root your phone in the right place, you should be rooted now !
If you have an error like:"Can't mount /sdcard" you may have to try with another SD Card and be sure your SD Card if formated as Fat32.
3.4 - Using Fastboot to load a modified system partition image
Please follow the instructions down bellow on how to "5 - Create a rooted system partition image"
When you have done your Rooted system partition image, flash it like that:
Code:
sudo fastboot devices
#if your device show up, it's time to flash
Code:
sudo fastboot flash system system.img
#It's flashed ... Now let's reboot with all the apprehension of the world
Code:
sudo fastboot reboot
If it boots (should boot), you will be up and rooting !
4 - Spreadtrum ResearchDownload tool to the rescue !
First, if you have fastboot, use fastboot ! It's simple, more reliable, faster. It's bottomline better !
If you don't have fastboot or can't figure out how to bring him up on your phone despite trying for about an hour. This tool will most likely work.
First, you should use Windows XP 32bits. Even real XP or in virtualbox.
It might work on windows 7 32 bits and 64 bits but you will have to tweak the system to allow installation of non signed devices drivers ...
ResearchDownload work as this:
First you start the Channelserver - This thing is here to make a bridge between the tools and the driver.
Then you start ResearchDownload.
Now you can make a full firmware flash (you should not !! It's a terrible idea !) or flash a single partition. But to do that, unfortunately, you should have a compatible set of fdl files.
Finding them on google is impossible, you have to extract them from your full firmware .pac file.
If you can't find your firmware on the Internet, you will have to try every single one you can find from others firmwares. I gathered all the fdl files I could find in a single package, so it won't be that difficult.
It's highly probable that you will find one that will work with your phone. This thing have to boot the phone and flash the Nand Flash chip. I'm pretty sure there is not a lot of different ways to do this on a single processor.
I really don't know the risks of using a wrong fdl set. But we haven't seen any risks at all yet. Some will work on your phone, others will just do nothing. You will just have to try every single one until one work.
I named the folders with the names of the phones I know working with theses. So it will be easier to find the good one. (A7100, 6500-TV, 5830, Q206 and S930 users will feel very lucky ^^)
4.1 - Learn how ResearchDownload Work
First you have to install the drivers, you can find them here:
ADB Drivers: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?c5nf3rlhxmxhu4x
Debug Drivers: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?2tyg0k2xp3ejgyg
Then you have to plug your phone to your computer with your micro usb cable. Your phone have to be powered on.
Be sure every pieces of hardware are detected and installed correctly.
As you can see, this phone is not just detected as an ADB device, or as a mass storage device.
It actually have an internal serial port to usb adapter !
In other words that means this processor provide a way to flash his nand very easily even if it is fully bricked. It's a rare and pretty good feature you don't see that often. In fact, most of the time you have to solder a real serial port yourself on the phone motherboard, then have to use a Serial to USB adapter to have this level of access to the hardware.
So yes, back to tutorial.
Now you will have to unplug your phone and turn it off.
You have to download the debug tools, you can download them here: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?rngukh111vqfr8h
First you have to start the channel server, you will have to disable your firewall for this app, it's because this tool use a network protocol to communicate with the other tools.
Then open ResearchDownload.
ResearchDownload is a weird flashing utility, it can open a .pac firmware file and can make a .pac out of .img files. You also can flash .img files and that's what we will do. But unfortunately it can't make a full backup ... So be careful !
The cog logo is here to let you open a .pac file. We don't need that as we probably don't have it.
The "two cogs logo" let you configure the flash utility.
Click on this to bring a new window.
On the download settings window, click on select product then choose your type of phone. (SC8810 or SC6820, it doesn't really matters if you take the wrong one out of those two.)
Then uncheck "Select All Files" as you don't have any of theses.
You can see FDL1 and FDL2 are still checked, and you don't have those files ...
As they are needed to start the Flash utility, we will have to find them.
I came across only 3 different FDL1 files, but for theses FDL1 it seems every phone have his own FDL2.
You will have to find the ones that work for you.
Here is an archive of nearly every FDLs available: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?c6q2gxobccv32oj
Choose one FDL1, and one FDL2 located in the same folder. (you can choose a File with a right click on the FileName blank space in front of FDL1)
Click on OK.
Then click on the "Play button" saying start download.
It may show some warning, it's not a problem.
Now, press Volume Down on your phone, then you have to plug it on the USB Port, still holding the button.
You can release the button when the flash begins.
You may have to press an other button than Volume-. Some phones are reported to use the Home Button instead.
You may also have to remove, wait a while, and reinsert the battery before holding volume- or after the flashing procedure to be able to start the phone.
If ResearchDownload shows you an error or timeout, try another set of FDLs Files. Keep trying until you find one pair that work !
If it works the flashing process should start right away. Just a millisecond after Windows have detected and initialized the device when you plugged it.
When you have the right FDLs, you can go to the next step, flashing something useful ^^ (we haven't flashed anything as of now, just been searching for a compatible flashing bios)
If your working FDLs folder does not have the name of your phone, please tell me what phone you have and what FDLs you used so I can rename them.
4.2 - Using ResearchDownload to load CWM (Clockwork Mod)
Do exactly as said before, but check the "Recovery" checkbox on Download Settings. and choose one of theses CWM images:
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?y2f7aaan4b00l1m - Feiteng GT-A7100 and probably more Feiteng devices.
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?lg7m6v49efzpnjk - 6500-TV or S560
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?6xn977jjsuusjan - N9300 (I9300 Clone)
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?d68wc334qn47tdd - S930 or N8820
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?xem49dy5dh99ml0 - 5830, S5830, Q5830, Q206 and GT-N9300 (maybe more)
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bdl1qr7orsj4ebr - extracted from a random SC6820 that I don't remember
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?6g1t6057p6c8wpt - i9720+
* http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?adfwq6b5268qb58 - S9300 (SC6820A S3 Clone)
When you flashed one successfully, try to boot on recovery (Usually by holding Volume- while holding the power button until the screen light up).
If your device is not listed or the one for your device doesn't work, try them all, even if your phone is SC6820 and the recovery was made for SC8810, if none are working, we will have to flash the entire system partition, which is a lot more difficult and dangerous ...
Download this patch: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?131nsw87afzwb5v
Put it on the root of your SD Card.
Now you will have to boot on CWM, remember, he is on the same key combination than the old useless recovery was.
You can also try this command with adb:
Code:
adb reboot recovery
Now it's the perfect time to do a full backup of your firmware with CWM, so please do so, that can come in handy. (please go to the end of this tutorial after rooting your phone to know how to make a FULL backup. CWM will only make a partial one.)
choose apply update.zip
Choose the file you have put on your sd card before
Apply it then reboot.
This update.zip have pushed everything needed to root your phone in the right place, you should be rooted now !
If you have an error like:"Can't mount /sdcard" you may have to try with another SD Card and be sure your SD Card if formated as Fat32.
4.3 - Using ResearchDownload to load a modified system partition image
Now we are in deep **** ! This can be tedious ... You will need to drink a lot of coffee, then you will probably pull your hair off, but it's possible to root every single Spreadtrum devices this way !
Please follow the instructions down bellow on how to "5 - Create a rooted system partition image"
When you have done your Rooted system partition image, reboot on Windows, then flash it like that:
Do exactly as said on the paragraph on how ResearchDownload works, but check the "System" checkbox on Download Settings, and choose your modified system.img file to flash it on the device.
As it is still not tested at all, you will have to pray some kind of Spreadtrum God and hope it will be successful ...
The first boot after the flash can be very VERY long. It's perfectly normal.
After the flash is done, please make a full backup (see bellow how you can do that), so I can make a Clockwork recovery partition working with your phone.
You may need to flush your data partition with CWM to avoid some crazy bugs after the flash. You will have theses bugs because of the partitions realignment that might occurs as a result of using a slightly different FDL set as the manufacturer.
Don't even try to do a factory settings reset before installing CWM, as I don't know what monster can lie ahead if you do a factory reset without any working recovery installed
(If your phone doesn't boot after the flash, it is possible to flush the data and cache partition with ResearchDownload. I will explain it, if needed !)
5 - Create a rooted system partition image
Please always try the CWM method first ! There is no risks at all to destroy your phone if the recovery is not working. Here we are making a new system image to flash on the system partition, this partition contain the Android operating system. I will try to explain everything as good as I can, but if you make a mistake, if you don't read my warnings, you can brick your phone very easily !
That will be difficult ... And you will have to use a Linux computer, or Linux in Virtualbox, or in a Live CD, basically you will need Linux somewhere on your computer ^^
Why ? Because we will have to preserve unix permissions on an extracted tar archive ! Trust me, you will probably brick your phone if you do that on windows ...
#Install ADB
Code:
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
#Configure ADB
Code:
mkdir ~/.android
Code:
echo 0x1782 > ~/.android/adb_usb.ini
#Start the ADB server
Code:
sudo adb kill-server
sudo adb start-server
#Just let's check just in case if your device is already rooted
Code:
adb shell su -c id
Possible answers:
uid = 0 (root) gid = 0 (root) - your phone is already rooted ! (if you haven't noticed it, it's because superuser.apk is not installed, so just push it and install it via ADB and you are rooted !)
SU: Permission denied - You are not rooted ... Good luck then !
#Now we will backup the system partition !
Code:
adb shell tar -cf /mnt/sdcard/system.tar system
Please pay attention to the errors !
There will be missing files, and we will have to add theses by ourselves after the backup to pretend to have a full backup.
Here is the archive for the known missing files: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fm1z5ujc75bg268
If you have more than theses:
Code:
tar: can not open 'system/etc/dbus.conf': Permission denied
tar: can not open 'system/etc/bluetooth/audio.conf': Permission denied
tar: can not open 'system/etc/bluetooth/auto_pairing.conf': Permission denied
tar: can not open 'system/etc/bluetooth/input.conf': Permission denied
tar: can not open 'system/etc/bluetooth/main.conf': Permission denied
tar: system/lost+found: Permission denied
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
Then you should just give up, or tell me so I can send you the missing files.
Note: Lost+found is not important, it's just a folder automatically created by Linux to collect any corrupt files.
#Now we will pull this nearly full backup to our computer. Please keep it preciously somewhere secure.
Code:
adb pull /mnt/sdcard/system.tar
#Warning, theses next steps have to be made ONLY on Linux on an ext2/3/4 partition ! Please never attempts to do this on Windows or On Linux on a FAT32 partition.
#untar the archive
Code:
sudo tar -xvpf system.tar
#now we will restore the files we have not been able to backup.
#Download this archive if you haven't done this before: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fm1z5ujc75bg268
#Then extract it on the same folder as you extracted your system.tar file with this command:
Code:
sudo tar -xvpf btdbus.tar
#Now it's time to add the root utilities, you can download them from here: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?v69nm172heos17o
Code:
sudo tar -xvpf root.tar
sudo cp Superuser.apk system/app/Superuser.apk
sudo install -m 06755 su system/xbin/su
#Now we will get rid of this virus ! (the file name can be something else. Like caivs.apk, or some random numbers at the end)
Code:
sudo rm system/app/eyuSales_20121116.apk
#And now you will have to make a flashable system image with this tool, included in the root.tar archive
Code:
sudo ./mkyaffs system system.img
#Now you can reboot your phone in fastboot or use researchdownload to flash your new System image.
6 - Do a full nand backup
Here is how to do a full nand backup of your beloved Spreadtrum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=39270468
7 - Don't forget to remove to caivs Virus
When you are rooted, you can remove the Virus or any preinstalled apps using Link2SD.
I suggest you to remove everything you have preinstalled if it is available on the Google Play Store (except the keyboard or the launcher !!!). For example if you have an old version of ES File Explorer on your phone preventing you from updating it, you can remove it safely, then install the updated version from the the Play Store.
Never try to remove something that you don't know what it is !
For the Launcher or keyboard. You can remove them only if you installed a new one on the System partition and tested it successfully !
-----
I want to thanks every peoples at http://forum.china-iphone.ru and Yekdall for being one of the first to type something in English about spreadtrum firmware modding !

Data missing?
First of all, thanks a lot for tutorial! Unluckily there is missing the data that i should copy back into the tar and then the img-file. Could you upload the btdbus.tar and the root.tar?
Thanks again, have a nice day!

keulepeter said:
First of all, thanks a lot for tutorial! Unluckily there is missing the data that i should copy back into the tar and then the img-file. Could you upload the btdbus.tar and the root.tar?
Thanks again, have a nice day!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm uploading them right now ^^
By the way, what phone are you rooting ? I will try to make a "compatibility list", so I need the model number, and the brand name if any.
Good luck !
EDIT: I added the missing links

Are the sc8810 and sp8810 the same processors?

lynnox said:
Are the sc8810 and sp8810 the same processors?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes exactly the same, just a different way to name it.

ElectronikHeart said:
3 recovery images are available for Spreadtrum device to my knowledge:
1 http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?u6uyignmdcpillt
2 http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bosnfcq9n65mtc5
3 http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?xem49dy5dh99ml0
Try them all, if none are working, we will have to do that the other way ...
Download this patch: """"""Link missing as of now, I have to upload it"""""""
Put it on the root of your SD Card.
Now you will have to boot on CWM, he is on the same key combination than the old useless recovery was.
choose apply a update.zip
Choose the file you have put on your sd card before
Apply it then reboot.
This update.zip have pushed everything needed to root your phone in the right place, you should be rooted now !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
patch pls. (update.zip)
I'll try to load CWM even though at the moment I can only get into recovery. I have the exact same model as H_Bler's which is why I've been focusing more on his thread. From your description on how to access fastboot, I assume that it's the diagnostic mode when UpVol + Pwr is pressed. I never saw anything that said fastboot. The only thing unusual when I was going through the menus was I always got an error when I try the 4th or 5th option. Unfortunately, I can't really try it again because I can't access it anymore. That goes without saying the I can't work with IMG files as well.
5 - Spreadtrum ResearchDownload tool to the rescue !
Now we are in deep **** ! This is not tested as of now ... So come help me ! You will need to drink a lot of coffee, then you will probably pull your hair off, but we will know if it's possible to root every single Spreadtrum devices !
5.1 - Using ResearchDownload to load CWM (Clockwork Mod)
5.2 - Using ResearchDownload to load a modified system partition image
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something to look forward too.
I want to thanks every peoples at http://forum.china-iphone.ru and Yekdall for being one of the first to type something in English about spreadtrum firmware modding !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've also been going here. I even tried 3 of the ROMs but I always get the verification failed message. I know it might be too much, but exact links for the thread would really be much appreciated (to be honest, I can't even remember exactly where I got the ROMs. All I remember is that the thread had a lot of collapsible trees.
ElectronikHeart said:
I'm uploading them right now ^^
By the way, what phone are you rooting ? I will try to make a "compatibility list", so I need the model number, and the brand name if any.
Good luck !
EDIT: I added the missing links
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If and when I get my phone fixed/replaced. I'll try your method first. =P

jvrey5 said:
[Lot of things ...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the thing you have when you push up and power is the system test menu. It's located on the android system partition. It's not fastboot.
Fastboot should be something that says "Fastboot" in red letter, or something else unusual.
If you have not fastboot you should use Spreadtrum Researchdownload to flash your phone, I will write the tutorial about it soon.
I really can't link you the thread on the russian forum, first because it will probably confuse you, and also because it's spread everywhere on so many threads it's unbelievable ... That's why I'm doing this centralization work for you ^^
I will post a list of ROMS for recovery purpose. Your phone seem to be bricked. I don't know how you've done it (I really want to know what you phone is and how you've bricked it, that will help me to write the warnings necessary to avoid such cases).
I have 14 roms for Spreadtrum devices, maybe one will work for your phone.
I just want to know what your phone is ^^ Please tell the name of your phone on your posts everyone and if you know how to find it, the exact name of your firmware.
PS: I will upload the patch soon, I'm just searching for a file hosting service that will keep it up and not erasing it 2 hours after I uploaded it ^^
EDIT: Link to the update.zip for rooting you device via CWM added.

Tutorial updated: Spreadtrum debug tools method added.
It may now be possible to root even Spreadtrum devices without Fastboot mode available.
Please feel free to tell me if it works !

ElectronikHeart said:
Tutorial updated: Spreadtrum debug tools method added.
It may now be possible to root even Spreadtrum devices without Fastboot mode available.
Please feel free to tell me if it works !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
need help

Question
Dear Spreadtrum Master!
Please, can you help me with this problem:
I have a Star I8160 phone with Spreadtrum 6820 and 256 MB ROM. It seems, that everything is working fine, the ROM and the phone is fast, and cool. But when i try to use the phone as a phone, i talk to the phone, and the others just only hearing pieces of my sentences. Sometimes the phone is very-very silent, i need to shout for the others to hear. I thought, that this is a microphone problem, so i replaced the microphone. But nothing changed. I had 2 phones from this type, and both produces the same fault, so i think maybe the problem will be with the ROM. What do you think, is it possible? If so, can i replace my normal rom, which is DM_BASE_12A_w12.43 (sc6820_modem) 11-02-2012?

question
Hi ElectronikHeart, i need help
I have a feiteng a7100, and i flash a rom with ResearchDownload.exe, in the flash operations tab i choose the option to erase all flash. Now i have a brick phone. Do you have a copy of nv.bin? Do you know how to recover from it? how can i reflash nand?
thanks

gtxphoenix said:
Dear Spreadtrum Master!
But when i try to use the phone as a phone, i talk to the phone, and the others just only hearing pieces of my sentences. Sometimes the phone is very-very silent, i need to shout for the others to hear. I thought, that this is a microphone problem, so i replaced the microphone. But nothing changed. I had 2 phones from this type, and both produces the same fault,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Master hasn't been in the past few days so I'll try to answer your issue as best I can.
Usually, the phones are designed for a specific region/country. It's possible that your ROM was built for a different one. How sure are you that the ROM which you are replacing it with will work for you? (I assume that you have a backup and you know how to load ROMs) Also, you might want to try editing the build.prop it increase/maximize reception.
To be honest, this is actually a complicated approach. From what you said, it seems that you've made other troubleshooting steps on your own. Since you really did not mention all of them I'm basing my response on what you said.
Let's try to stick to the basics first. Why did you replace the microphone in the first place? If the same issue happens with 2 other phones from this type, I don't think the mic is the problem. Also, does this mean that you can hear them fine, but they have a hard time hearing you? Have you tried using the stock sound recorder on your phone? Is it also choppy? Have you tried using Skype? You don't really have to call anyone, you just need to make a test call.
When using the device as a phone (eg. making calls, sending SMS, MMS, or connecting to the internet using EDGE or 3G), you're actually relying mostly on your carrier/service provider. How many signal bars do you get? The easiest way to test signal related issues would be by using a different SIM or using a different phone. (When you try a different phone, I suggest using a GSM one - the ones that can only make calls or do SMS.) It's highly possible that there's already something wrong with your SIM.
---------- Post added at 01:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 AM ----------
jmss said:
Hi ElectronikHeart, i need help
I have a feiteng a7100, and i flash a rom with ResearchDownload.exe, in the flash operations tab i choose the option to erase all flash. Now i have a brick phone. Do you have a copy of nv.bin? Do you know how to recover from it? how can i reflash nand?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ElectronikHeart hasn't checked in the past few days, so I hope you don't mind me butting in.
When you say brick, does it mean that you don't even have recovery mode? If you don't, try to see if you can put CWM. Once successful, you can try to use the A7100 ROM if your original one was a mt6515_c910_ht_en_4.0_v01 rom using the update.zip

jvrey5 said:
The Master hasn't been in the past few days so I'll try to answer your issue as best I can.
Usually, the phones are designed for a specific region/country. It's possible that your ROM was built for a different one. How sure are you that the ROM which you are replacing it with will work for you? (I assume that you have a backup and you know how to load ROMs) Also, you might want to try editing the build.prop it increase/maximize reception.
To be honest, this is actually a complicated approach. From what you said, it seems that you've made other troubleshooting steps on your own. Since you really did not mention all of them I'm basing my response on what you said.
Let's try to stick to the basics first. Why did you replace the microphone in the first place? If the same issue happens with 2 other phones from this type, I don't think the mic is the problem. Also, does this mean that you can hear them fine, but they have a hard time hearing you? Have you tried using the stock sound recorder on your phone? Is it also choppy? Have you tried using Skype? You don't really have to call anyone, you just need to make a test call.
When using the device as a phone (eg. making calls, sending SMS, MMS, or connecting to the internet using EDGE or 3G), you're actually relying mostly on your carrier/service provider. How many signal bars do you get? The easiest way to test signal related issues would be by using a different SIM or using a different phone. (When you try a different phone, I suggest using a GSM one - the ones that can only make calls or do SMS.) It's highly possible that there's already something wrong with your SIM.
---------- Post added at 01:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 AM ----------
ElectronikHeart hasn't checked in the past few days, so I hope you don't mind me butting in.
When you say brick, does it mean that you don't even have recovery mode? If you don't, try to see if you can put CWM. Once successful, you can try to use the A7100 ROM if your original one was a mt6515_c910_ht_en_4.0_v01 rom using the update.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont have recovery mode, the phone doesnt turn on. I already try to put CWN but it doesnt work. I need nv.bin file for sc6820a for rewrite nand flash.

jmss said:
I dont have recovery mode, the phone doesnt turn on. I already try to put CWN but it doesnt work. I need nv.bin file for sc6820a for rewrite nand flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now we really need the Master

gtxphoenix said:
Dear Spreadtrum Master!
Please, can you help me with this problem:
I have a Star I8160 phone with Spreadtrum 6820 and 256 MB ROM. It seems, that everything is working fine, the ROM and the phone is fast, and cool. But when i try to use the phone as a phone, i talk to the phone, and the others just only hearing pieces of my sentences. Sometimes the phone is very-very silent, i need to shout for the others to hear. I thought, that this is a microphone problem, so i replaced the microphone. But nothing changed. I had 2 phones from this type, and both produces the same fault, so i think maybe the problem will be with the ROM. What do you think, is it possible? If so, can i replace my normal rom, which is DM_BASE_12A_w12.43 (sc6820_modem) 11-02-2012?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I had the same problem with one of mine. You just have to use a diagnostic tool from Spreadtrum and adjust the microphone amplification level. I will start a thread on that subject and link it there.
It seems to be a very common problem with Spreadtrum phones, but it is, most of the time, very easy to fix.
edit: here is the link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=38731407
WARNING: Don't ever flash if you don't have a working copy of the original firmware somewhere (a complete backup that you have tested your ability to flash back) The first step to do a complete backup, if the manufacturer don't want to send you the firmware, is to successfully root your firmware)
Don't flash if you have a microphone problem, nothing good will happen, this problem is not firmware related AT ALL.

jmss said:
Hi ElectronikHeart, i need help
I have a feiteng a7100, and i flash a rom with ResearchDownload.exe, in the flash operations tab i choose the option to erase all flash. Now i have a brick phone. Do you have a copy of nv.bin? Do you know how to recover from it? how can i reflash nand?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh god ! Why have you checked that option ^^
I may be able to dump my nv.bin file from the a7100 I just bought. (If I recall correctly, the nv.bin contain the imei so I will have to edit it to use your imei instead, imei are written in the battery compartment)
Can you try flashing it a second time entirely, It's possible that your uboot partition (what manage the early time boot operations), is not flashed properly.
Even without the nv partition you phone should be able to boot android, you will just not be able to use the phone as a phone. (make a call and everything)
Try with a better micro usb cable, Chinese ones can be very cheap and corrupt data on the way to the phone.
If your phone is still able to flash using ReasearchDownload that is.

Re: 4.5 - Do a full nand backup and help me make you a new CWM recovery
ElectronikHeart said:
4.5 - Do a full nand backup and help me make you a new CWM recovery
Please if you have rooted your phone using this method, and can't use the CWM method, that mean I can do a CWM that work on your device !
Now that you are rooted, you can make a full backup of your phone with ADB !
#open adb shell:
Code:
adb shell
Code:
I still have to explain this if someone needs it
Then send me you boot.img file and I will send you a recovery.img that you can flash to your recovery partition.
That will help new users to root a lot faster the same phone as you, and will make your life easier is you have to restore a backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
>>>
I have also the same kind of chinese android phone, having a model # S930 with the same cpu chipset SP8810 (aka. samsung galaxy s3 clone), i've successfully rooted my chinese android phone, and installed some very usable apps like link2sd & titanium backup pro, i want also to have a full backup of my phone using your methods & ideas, can you help me? where can i find my boot.img so that you can make me my recovery image for my phone? my phone don't have any compatible clockworkmod recovery, but it have a native recovery mode option which work on an update.zip or fastboot....i hope you can help me make my phone recovery image with a rooted features... Thanks!

earl22online said:
where can i find my boot.img so that you can make me my recovery image for my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, you already have tested every recovery already posted ?
To make a backup of your boot.img, you will have to do a full backup manually using the Android shell. I will make a tutorial about this, and link it here.
It's pretty easy as you already rooted your phone.
When you have your backup I will, post a recovery.img file suitable to your phone.
Please keep an eye to this post. I will post the tutorial very soon.

ElectronikHeart said:
Oh god ! Why have you checked that option ^^
I may be able to dump my nv.bin file from the a7100 I just bought. (If I recall correctly, the nv.bin contain the imei so I will have to edit it to use your imei instead, imei are written in the battery compartment)
Can you try flashing it a second time entirely, It's possible that your uboot partition (what manage the early time boot operations), is not flashed properly.
Even without the nv partition you phone should be able to boot android, you will just not be able to use the phone as a phone. (make a call and everything)
Try with a better micro usb cable, Chinese ones can be very cheap and corrupt data on the way to the phone.
If your phone is still able to flash using ReasearchDownload that is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already try with tree micro usb cables. when i try to flash with researchDownload it failed at nvitem (after FDL2).
can you post a link to your nv.bin to test it ?

jmss said:
I already try with tree micro usb cables. when i try to flash with researchDownload it failed at nvitem (after FDL2).
can you post a link to your nv.bin to test it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just bought my A7100, so you will need to wait 2 weeks for me to dump it. Maybe you should try asking to the guy who have made the rooted rom for the A7100 ?
I will, none the less, make a full backup of my phone as soon as I receive it.