LG K10 LGM250n rooting - LG K10 Questions & Answers

Starting this thread for i've found no viable method for rooting, custom ROMs, etc. for the 2017 european model of K10 ( which actually is supplied carrier unlocked in my country with ROM version LGM250AT-00-V12q-COM-DEC-18-2017+0 at this moment, )
First of all, there is *no way* to get into bootloader mode, by ADB or key combo at startup, tried everything suggested on forums , docs pages, whatnot. To be honest, the Internet is full of crap, there should be some censoring, or whoever isn't really fit to publish information or methods they don't master, simply refrain themselves from doing so.
What i have: actually managed to capture the original ROM file, M250n10n_00_OPEN_EU_OP_1218.kdz from the LG Updater tool , can be downloaded from below link. 7zipped for minimal size and password protected the archive, the password is 12345678, for just in case
h.t.t.p.s:././ drive.google.com/file/d/1_uYKC1ecAOvhqyqSr3h2-XSTWvZfHOWn/view?usp=sharing
Apparently, the .kdz file can be successfully unpacked with WindowsLGFirmwareExtract-1.2.6.1 , the boot image extracted from the .dz file, etc. At this point, my knowledge on this is exhausted , haven't done any phone hacking in the last 10 years, last and only time was an Alcatel OTC 960 (i think), with Android 2, don't remember squat now. Don't exactly have time for research and tinkering too much either, i'd rather pass over to someone with more up to date knowledge and experience.
The phone hardware is quite powerful for it's price class, 8 core CPU of which the high perf cluster (4 cores) runs on 1.5 GHz, the low power cluster on 1 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 RAM @667 MHz, 16 GB flash , a decent GPU , generic connectivity options, sd card support, overall a good phone for day by day use.
Full of bloatware though, dire need of rooting, cleanup and some advanced tweaking possibility ( which obviously requires rooting).

Booting into native recovery mode
.. it does work, to some extent. Method:
- connect to ADB make sure all debug stuff, oem unlock etc. is set
- issue command 'adb reboot recovery' command, phone will reboot into recovery mode, with a burnt out android dummy on screen
- press Power + Volume UP simultaneously for a second, the recovery menu will show up
The recovery menu offers a fair few options: reboot to bootloader, format, install update from fota partition or sdcard, mount /system or normal reboot. The reboot to bootloader option doesn't work, it will force a normal reboot. Interesting the manufacturer left this option at all, while non functional. or better, there must be some hidden option to be set which will actually unlock the bootloader, but it's definitely not the "enable OEM unlock" from the developer menu nor from the r&d diagnostic hidden menu.
The option to install an update in recovery mode, from sd card sounds promising though. I wonder if somebody has any experience with that, if so, please share it here.

Wipe recovery partition first, then go into recovery..its look like freeze coz recovery partition now empty but this is the way for fastboot

ElRongMcBong said:
Wipe recovery partition first, then go into recovery..its look like freeze coz recovery partition now empty but this is the way for fastboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then, how can we wipe recovery partition?

we're going in circles. no root, no wipe. but for root, need unlocked bootloader. and the default bootloader doesn't allow fastboot/rooting, etc. so it's a stall. please guys, if you have any ***working*** method, post only that.

So far, i have a working method to downgrade the firmware:
- install LG UP
- extract the "LGUP_c.dll" file from the firmware using WindowsLGFirmwareExtract-1.2.6.1-Release
- download and run Uppercut, it likely will detect the phone, keep it open then go to the LG UP installation directory c:\Program Files (x86)\LG Electronics\LGUP\model\ , duplicate the "common" folder ( or it'll vanish when Uppercut is closed)
- close Uppercut, it's useless, rename back the duplicate "common" folder, place the extracted "LGUPc.dll", rename it literally to "LGUP_common.dll" ; obviously, will need to delete the one from teh folder, that's garbage by Uppercut. Keep "WPDAPI.exe", it's needed.
- run LG UP , choose the .kdz file, both Upgrade and FOTA Upgrade work ( this last one flashes the /fota partition). Refurbish doesn't work, and no idea what it does, so far
- let LG UP do it's thing, at 100% upload , the phone will restart, then a white background shows with the upgrading message, etc. and a progress bar , the phone will either restart at 97 % of the progress bar, or go directly into normal OS load, then within the OS will see the upgrading continues for a few seconds, etc. It depends on the firmware version.
And here comes my problem. None of the available firmwares have the bootloader unlockable. The oldest, M250n10g_00_OPEN_EU_OP_0420.kdz is still from April, dated 3 months after the original release.
We need some of the very first firmwares, if indeed the claim by pvineeth97 is true that he could root it and install TWRP recovery. To be honest, the guy seems to be a hack, probably copy - pasted the method from the older K10 model, and he actually has no proof for having a working method for the 2017 model. Also, doesn't answer to private messages, so that's that... I saw a lot of "methods" by googling, everybody just adds the M250N model to the list, claims rooting works, etc. IT IS NOT TRUE, these are all false claims, just some idiots looking for cheap popularity, taking credit for some other peoples' work, and so on...
I can put the tools onto my gdrive and share the link, if someone else wants to try, but so far, we're short on a proper firmware image.

Try using the scatter file for MT6750.

adacsaba said:
So far, i have a working method to downgrade the firmware:
- install LG UP
- extract the "LGUP_c.dll" file from the firmware using WindowsLGFirmwareExtract-1.2.6.1-Release
- download and run Uppercut, it likely will detect the phone, keep it open then go to the LG UP installation directory c:\Program Files (x86)\LG Electronics\LGUP\model\ , duplicate the "common" folder ( or it'll vanish when Uppercut is closed)
- close Uppercut, it's useless, rename back the duplicate "common" folder, place the extracted "LGUPc.dll", rename it literally to "LGUP_common.dll" ; obviously, will need to delete the one from teh folder, that's garbage by Uppercut. Keep "WPDAPI.exe", it's needed.
- run LG UP , choose the .kdz file, both Upgrade and FOTA Upgrade work ( this last one flashes the /fota partition). Refurbish doesn't work, and no idea what it does, so far
- let LG UP do it's thing, at 100% upload , the phone will restart, then a white background shows with the upgrading message, etc. and a progress bar , the phone will either restart at 97 % of the progress bar, or go directly into normal OS load, then within the OS will see the upgrading continues for a few seconds, etc. It depends on the firmware version.
And here comes my problem. None of the available firmwares have the bootloader unlockable. The oldest, M250n10g_00_OPEN_EU_OP_0420.kdz is still from April, dated 3 months after the original release.
We need some of the very first firmwares, if indeed the claim by pvineeth97 is true that he could root it and install TWRP recovery. To be honest, the guy seems to be a hack, probably copy - pasted the method from the older K10 model, and he actually has no proof for having a working method for the 2017 model. Also, doesn't answer to private messages, so that's that... I saw a lot of "methods" by googling, everybody just adds the M250N model to the list, claims rooting works, etc. IT IS NOT TRUE, these are all false claims, just some idiots looking for cheap popularity, taking credit for some other peoples' work, and so on...
I can put the tools onto my gdrive and share the link, if someone else wants to try, but so far, we're short on a proper firmware image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are true, @adacsaba but try the scatter file method unique to MTK. I hope that works.

adacsaba said:
Starting this thread for i've found no viable method for rooting, custom ROMs, etc. for the 2017 european model of K10 ( which actually is supplied carrier unlocked in my country with ROM version LGM250AT-00-V12q-COM-DEC-18-2017+0 at this moment, )
First of all, there is *no way* to get into bootloader mode, by ADB or key combo at startup, tried everything suggested on forums , docs pages, whatnot. To be honest, the Internet is full of crap, there should be some censoring, or whoever isn't really fit to publish information or methods they don't master, simply refrain themselves from doing so.
What i have: actually managed to capture the original ROM file, M250n10n_00_OPEN_EU_OP_1218.kdz from the LG Updater tool , can be downloaded from below link. 7zipped for minimal size and password protected the archive, the password is 12345678, for just in case
h.t.t.p.s:././ drive.google.com/file/d/1_uYKC1ecAOvhqyqSr3h2-XSTWvZfHOWn/view?usp=sharing
Apparently, the .kdz file can be successfully unpacked with WindowsLGFirmwareExtract-1.2.6.1 , the boot image extracted from the .dz file, etc. At this point, my knowledge on this is exhausted , haven't done any phone hacking in the last 10 years, last and only time was an Alcatel OTC 960 (i think), with Android 2, don't remember squat now. Don't exactly have time for research and tinkering too much either, i'd rather pass over to someone with more up to date knowledge and experience.
The phone hardware is quite powerful for it's price class, 8 core CPU of which the high perf cluster (4 cores) runs on 1.5 GHz, the low power cluster on 1 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 RAM @667 MHz, 16 GB flash , a decent GPU , generic connectivity options, sd card support, overall a good phone for day by day use.
Full of bloatware though, dire need of rooting, cleanup and some advanced tweaking possibility ( which obviously requires rooting).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
You have helped me to get rid of bloatware ) thank you so much I was trying to install new firmware all day. Now I have clean phone.

adacsaba said:
we're going in circles. no root, no wipe. but for root, need unlocked bootloader. and the default bootloader doesn't allow fastboot/rooting, etc. so it's a stall. please guys, if you have any ***working*** method, post only that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No friend, By what I read here in the forum, it is not necessary to unlock the bootloader in this template

Someone checked this secret menu * # 546368 # * 250 #? has several options that I did not check for lack of experience anyone any solution to open the fastboot or unlock the bootloader
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
---------- Post added at 06:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:49 AM ----------
*#546368#*250# code

you can test your phone without problems...
Still no solution for root or how to make this phone google free :crying:

whitearmor said:
Hi,
You have helped me to get rid of bloatware ) thank you so much I was trying to install new firmware all day. Now I have clean phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello! How did you do it? could you explain? It would be good since you can not even root this team, because at least remove the bloatware from the system, recovering the space of the applications that still exist in the private folder on the same system.

I have a LG Tribute Empire (LM-X220PM). It is also based on the MTK 6750, my device seems to be on running 32-Bit instead of 64-Bit though.
I cannot enter fastboot mode either. I have all of these problems as mentioned in the OP. I was going to start a thread until I saw this. Does deleting the recovery partition really allow the device to boot into fastboot mode?
Because I was about to start looking into lglaf, the advanced flash functions might be a solid connect on a mediatek system. Because Mediatek Devices are normally unlockable. I just need to find my own device's firmware so I can look at the system and ramdisk. Everything about the phone screams there can be root. Maybe a system root though. I need to find the Dev Patched LG UP though to flash partitions. And read how to give LG Advanced Flash commands.

Delgoth said:
Does deleting the recovery partition really allow the device to boot into fastboot mode?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. You can wipe it but then it boots to the system which rebuilds recovery from the boot.
I have though about wiping the boot too, to see how it reacts, but there might be some catch.
Also the lgup hasn't been always so steady recognizing my device, m250n.
Also the LG's Bridge has sometimes recognized it to some totally different device.
Odd, but so far I've used it through virtualbox, which might have something do with it.
Delgoth said:
Because I was about to start looking into lglaf, the advanced flash functions might be a solid connect on a mediatek system. Because Mediatek Devices are normally unlockable. I just need to find my own device's firmware so I can look at the system and ramdisk. Everything about the phone screams there can be root. Maybe a system root though. I need to find the Dev Patched LG UP though to flash partitions. And read how to give LG Advanced Flash commands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LG has done their best to remove MTK stuff from m250n, don't know about your device...

CXZa said:
Nope. You can wipe it but then it boots to the system which rebuilds recovery from the boot.
I have though about wiping the boot too, to see how it reacts, but there might be some catch.
Also the lgup hasn't been always so steady recognizing my device, m250n.
Also the LG's Bridge has sometimes recognized it to some totally different device.
Odd, but so far I've used it through virtualbox, which might have something do with it.
LG has done their best to remove MTK stuff from m250n, don't know about your device...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like I need to figure out how to customize the flasher to my device then is all. LGUP 1.4 didn't recognize my device at all.

Delgoth said:
Sounds like I need to figure out how to customize the flasher to my device then is all. LGUP 1.4 didn't recognize my device at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might need to use your devices own dll which is inside the kdz file.
---> [LG TOOL] KDZ dll extractor

CXZa said:
You might need to use your devices own dll which is inside the kdz file.
---> [LG TOOL] KDZ dll extractor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or maybe these help, IDK... you probably have found them too...
https://www.mylgphones.com/lgup-dll-for-sprint-lg-tribute-empire.html
https://www.mylgphones.com/how-to-dump-backup-lg-tribute-empire-lmx220pm-firmware.html

CXZa said:
You might need to use your devices own dll which is inside the kdz file.
---> [LG TOOL] KDZ dll extractor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen that a lot of LG information is spread around. I normally have Samsung Devices I work with. So the whole flashing process is different. Different Tools, different build types.
Really I'm still trying to wrap my around the LG process. There seems to be many different ways to do things but are kind of device specific. I've only just recently learned about the patched LGUP but I can't find my firmware anywhere to get started with it and get it patched. So I'll look around to hopefully find a KDZ somewhere for the x220pm.
lol I feel like a newb again just because I switched OEM's.

Related

[GUIDE] How to UNBRICK your Optimus G - security error, bootloop etc

For whatever reasons (improper rooting/flashing, power outage during updating, freezing/removal of LG bloatwares or simple bad luck etc), if you bricked your Optimus G and is stuck with a Security Error or in a bootloop, fear not, as long as you can put it into Download and Recovery Mode, all is not lost.
I got the korean version of the (almost) Optimus G (Optimus LTE2, f160k) and ran into the same security error problem that happened out of the blue.
The steps that I undertook below resolved the problem for me and has been proven to work on Optimus G by fellow members.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=34516791&postcount=29
1) Download the latest KDZ from LG's server for your phone via the app below (kudos to the creator)
http://www.mediafire.com/?cgeb6o5osy2yl9c
2) Make sure you have LG United Drivers already installed, otherwise download from below
http://www.mediafire.com/?82nt1aeh04aqa3m
3) Download LG KDZ Updater
http://www.mediafire.com/?sj5y073xal03ntw
4) Download the manual adb wipe batch file
http://www.mediafire.com/?ru7erfxsz7p7s3p
5) Put your Optimus G into Download Mode by switching it off, attaching the usb cable to the phone, holding both the up and down volume buttons at the same time and lastly inserting the usb cable into the computer; wait for the drivers to finish loading if doing it for the first time.
6) Unzip the downloaded updater zip file and run KDZ_FW_UPD.exe. Use the settings below
Type: 3GQCT
Phone Mode: CS_Emergency
KDZ file: navigate to the folder which you have saved the downloaded KDZ from the step (1)
Click Launch Software Update and wait for the flash process to finish
7) Your phone will restart itself when IParam = 90 is displayed and proceed slower until you see IParam=1 again (which signals the end of flash, you can safely exit the program then and remove the cable from the phone). If phone boots up normally, congrats, skip the steps below and proceed to use the phone as per normal.
However, this most probably will not be the case for newer Optimus-es, as the data partition somehow wasn't wiped even when KDZ-ed, remaining 'dirty', thus causing bootloop or security infringement.
8) If the phone is stuck at the booting up LG/Telco logo, you will need to manually wipe the data partition.
9) Force the phone off by holding the power button for appx 15secs.
10) Put the phone into recovery mode by holding the volume up and home button concurrently, then press the power button. Let go of all the buttons after you see the LG logo on screen for the 2nd time and the screen goes blank thereafter (backlight may still be on). The phone will kind of reboot and then enters recovery mode. Repeat the process if you did not get it the first time.
11) With the phone in Recovery Mode, connect it to the computer, wait for the drivers to load (if doing it for the first time), unzip the wipe batch file downloaded earlier from step (4), double click on wipe.bat to execute the wipe command.
12) Your phone will auto reboot when wiped and (hopefully) boot as per normal.
Hope with this simple guide fellow members will feel safer when rooting or removing non essential LG wares from their Optimus G.
Tried this, however the phone get stuck on a bootloop. It's stuck on bootanimation. I also tried to clear data with the adb wipe files but i end up with a phone stuck on that
{
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"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
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"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
image.
Bell E973
I have E973 from Bell and it's been bricked since sunday after renaming couple of system apps.
I am trying to follow the instruction above but i can't download KDZ file with LG firmware downloader bc it just would not take my SN.
Error msg is "unsuccessful in connecting to server orphone infomations is wrong!"
Could anyone upload KDZ file for Bell E973 somewhere on the net that i can download?
It would be much appreciated..
razrgalaxy said:
I have E973 from Bell and it's been bricked since sunday after renaming couple of system apps.
I am trying to follow the instruction above but i can't download KDZ file with LG firmware downloader bc it just would not take my SN.
Error msg is "unsuccessful in connecting to server orphone infomations is wrong!"
Could anyone upload KDZ file for Bell E973 somewhere on the net that i can download?
It would be much appreciated..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go here, replacing <yourimei> with your actual imei (just numbers, nothing else), it'll spit out a bunch of text including an address with the kdz.
http://csmg.lgmobile.com:9002/csmg/b2c/client/auth_model_check2.jsp?esn=<yourimei>
Thanks thracky for quick response.
but it is just stck at blank window..
---------- Post added at 10:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 AM ----------
razrgalaxy said:
Thanks thracky for quick response.
but it is just stck at blank window..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried it on Chrome but no address with KDZ.
razrgalaxy said:
Thanks thracky for quick response.
but it is just stck at blank window..
---------- Post added at 10:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 AM ----------
Tried it on Chrome but no address with KDZ.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't include the <> characters with your imei, I just put those there to mark where the IMEI goes
Also, your IMEI should be 15 digits, and I've only used this on my computer, so I'm not sure if it works on mobile browser or not, and if that's how you're trying it.
razrgalaxy said:
I have E973 from Bell and it's been bricked since sunday after renaming couple of system apps.
I am trying to follow the instruction above but i can't download KDZ file with LG firmware downloader bc it just would not take my SN.
Error msg is "unsuccessful in connecting to server orphone infomations is wrong!"
Could anyone upload KDZ file for Bell E973 somewhere on the net that i can download?
It would be much appreciated..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2nd thracky's view.
would recommend u do it on the PC, use the app, enter your model E973, enter your imei (15 digits, usually means omitting the the last 0 or digit), shd be able to download your KDZ.
chadouming said:
Tried this, however the phone get stuck on a bootloop. It's stuck on bootanimation. I also tried to clear data with the adb wipe files but i end up with a phone stuck on that .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did u wipe in recovery mode?
can you put your phone into download mode again?
if yes, try the whole process again?
as long as your phone can still enter download mode, all is not lost, even if this method does not work,
good luck!
potatohead said:
did u wipe in recovery mode?
can you put your phone into download mode again?
if yes, try the whole process again?
as long as your phone can still enter download mode, all is not lost, even if this method does not work,
good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He couldn't get into recovery at all, that image he posted was what happened going into recovery.
I think he mangled his partition table, and I feel like KDZ wouldn't necessarily repartition everything based on my experience with tools for other phones like Odin for Samsung phones, where you explicitly have to tell it to repartition and give it a file to dictate the layout.
thracky said:
He couldn't get into recovery at all, that image he posted was what happened going into recovery.
I think he mangled his partition table, and I feel like KDZ wouldn't necessarily repartition everything based on my experience with tools for other phones like Odin for Samsung phones, where you explicitly have to tell it to repartition and give it a file to dictate the layout.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
learned something new, thanks
KDZ-ing of LG's phones of late seem to be not as 'thorough' as previous, it used to be the be all and end all; or maybe i didnt mangle my phone bad enough
has he tried upgrading via LG's update tool instead?
he may need to KDZ an older version first (if available) so LG tool can sense an upgrade is necessary, and hopefully, it is intelligent enough to repartition if one is necessary.
also, LG's update tool has in-built recovery/repair option, not sure how that works though, worth to explore?
potatohead said:
learned something new, thanks
KDZ-ing of LG's phones of late seem to be not as 'thorough' as previous, it used to be the be all and end all; or maybe i didnt mangle my phone bad enough
has he tried upgrading via LG's update tool instead?
he may need to KDZ an older version first (if available) so LG tool can sense an upgrade is necessary, and hopefully, it is intelligent enough to repartition if one is necessary.
also, LG's update tool has in-built recovery/repair option, not sure how that works though, worth to explore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep update tool was tried, recovery wouldn't work either. He wound up exchanging the phone anyways
I could not find the KDZ file
wish to know if there are any other ways to get the kdz?
I've asked some L-01E onwers, they replied that normal ways do not work japan version
look for help THX
ssfirme said:
I could not find the KDZ file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you give me your IMEI, I'll paste link download for you
keeping getting "upgrade error wparam 100 lparam 72"
Question for Sprint
potatohead said:
6) Unzip the downloaded updater zip file and run KDZ_FW_UPD.exe. Use the settings below
Type: 3GQCT
Phone Mode: CS_Emergency
KDZ file: navigate to the folder which you have saved the downloaded KDZ from the step (1)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question, on the Sprint version of this phone, would the type be CDMA?
Also, do you think anything else would be different?
*edit* Also, when I try to download the KDZ file, it is instead a .CAB file that has an .wdb, .wdh, and a .dll file inside.
Am I supposed to rename it? convert it?
Thanks!
I can not get it to download the KDZ file either. Is there anyway to post a link for a direct download?
trusteelfan said:
I can not get it to download the KDZ file either. Is there anyway to post a link for a direct download?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This should not be used for the Sprint or AT&T variants, please see instructions for restoring with LGNPST in the respective forums as we have .tot files for both AT&T and Sprint.
thracky said:
This should not be used for the Sprint or AT&T variants, please see instructions for restoring with LGNPST in the respective forums as we have .tot files for both AT&T and Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I have seen that but I do not know how to flash the TOT file. I have downloaded that, but do not know how to flash it.
I wouldn't work for me until I added 1 more step
First of all, thanks again to the poster and xda in general...y'all freakin rule.
I couldn't get this to work for the longest time, though I knew that these valuable instructions were the key to fixing my device.
The difference between total failure and absolute success for me was making sure to run "msxml.msi" in the KDZ updater before running "KDZ_FW_UPD.exe"
If you're stuck, try that!!!
Thanks once again for helping me fix my device!

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.

[Q] Root available for ASUS MeMO Pad 10 (ME103K)?

Greetings!
First of all, I am sorry if this is on the wrong section of the forum. Nevertheless i've tried few rooting applications which are stated to be compatible with this ME103K model, but with no results.. Also many fake sites trying to lure you to purchase something.
Is there anyone who could provide me information on how to root my ASUS ME103K tablet? Should I also try every rooting application available out there or is this useless? Can I verify if they are compatible without all the way installing and running them on the device? (Sorry don't know much about this stuff =)! )
Thank you very much in advance
I rooted ME103K on my own - by compiling a custom kernel
Executive summary: Go to youtube and watch video with ID "gqubgQjqfHw" (I can't post links yet, sorry! ) - or search Youtube for "Rooting MemoPAD10 (ME103K) with my custom compiled kernel"
Analysis:
I hated the fact that my recently purchased MemoPAD10 (ME103K) tablet had no open process to allow me to become root. I don't trust the closed-source one-click root apps that use various exploits, and require communicating with servers in.... China. Why would they need to do that? I wonder...
I therefore decided this was a good opportunity for me to study the relevant documentation and follow the steps necessary to build an Android kernel for my tablet. I then packaged my custom-compiled kernel into my custom boot image, and the video shows how I boot from it and become root in the process.
Note that I didn't burn anything in my tablet - it's a 'tethered' root, it has no side-effects.
If you are a developer, you can read in detail about the steps I had to take to modify the kernel (and su.c) and become root - by reading the questions (and answers!) that I posted in the Android StackExchange forum ( can't post links yet, see the video description in Youtube ).
If you are not a developer, you can download my custom boot image from the link below - but note that this means you are trusting me to not do evil things to your tablet as my kernel boots and my /sbin/su is run
Honestly, I haven't done anything weird - I just wanted to run a debootstrapped Debian in my tablet, and succeeded in doing so. But I am also worried about the cavalier attitude I see on the web about rooting your devices - if you want to be truly safe, you must either do what I did (and recompile the kernel yourself) or absolutely trust the person that gives it to you. I do wish Google had forced a UI-accessible "become root" option in Android, just as Cyanogen does (sigh).
The image I created and used in the video to boot in rooted mode, is available from the link show in the Youtube video details.
Enjoy!
ttsiodras said:
Executive summary: Go to youtube and watch video with ID "gqubgQjqfHw" (I can't post links yet, sorry! ) - or search Youtube for "Rooting MemoPAD10 (ME103K) with my custom compiled kernel"
Analysis:
I hated the fact that my recently purchased MemoPAD10 (ME103K) tablet had no open process to allow me to become root. I don't trust the closed-source one-click root apps that use various exploits, and require communicating with servers in.... China. Why would they need to do that? I wonder...
I therefore decided this was a good opportunity for me to study the relevant documentation and follow the steps necessary to build an Android kernel for my tablet. I then packaged my custom-compiled kernel into my custom boot image, and the video shows how I boot from it and become root in the process.
Note that I didn't burn anything in my tablet - it's a 'tethered' root, it has no side-effects.
If you are a developer, you can read in detail about the steps I had to take to modify the kernel (and su.c) and become root - by reading the questions (and answers!) that I posted in the Android StackExchange forum ( can't post links yet, see the video description in Youtube ).
If you are not a developer, you can download my custom boot image from the link below - but note that this means you are trusting me to not do evil things to your tablet as my kernel boots and my /sbin/su is run
Honestly, I haven't done anything - I just wanted to run a deboot-strapped Debian in my tablet. But I am also worried about the cavalier attitude I see on the web about rooting your devices - if you want to be truly safe, you must either do what I did (and recompile the kernel yourself) or absolutely trust the person that gives it to you. I do wish Google had forced a UI-accessible "become root" option in Android, just as Cyanogen does (sigh).
The image I created and used in the video to boot in rooted mode, is available from the link show in the Youtube video details.
Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello ttsiodras,
I had the same problem as OP and didn't want to go the "chinese route" either, especially since there seem to be conflicting reports on whether it works on the ME103k or not so I tried your solution - with mixed results...
Disclaimer: I'm totally new to Android (colour me unpleasantly surprised) and have little experience in Linux, so for further reference I would consider myself an advanced noob. Please keep this in mind when evaluating my claims or judging what I have done so far or am capable of doing by myself in the future.
What I did:
- become developer in the ME103k by tapping the system build repeatedly, then allowing debugging via USB
- use ADB to boot into the bootloader
- use fastboot to boot your boot.rooted.img
What happened:
- I did get root access
- the tab now always boots into the bootloader, even when told via ADB or fastboot to boot normally or into recovery. Pushing buttons etc doesn't seem to work either
- my attempts to do a recovery via the vanilla Asus method has failed due to the same fact that boot never gets past fastboot
Since you claimed in your description that there would be no side-effects since it is a tethered root I am somewhat puzzled as to what exactly happened. From what I understand - which admittedly isn't a lot - what should have happened is that your boot image is loaded, giving me root access until the next reboot without changing anything about the default boot process or image. I read somewhere else that this is how people test out different kernels with fastboot before deciding on which one they want to use on their devices. The whole boot process being changed and corrupted in a way that makes the tablet non-rebootable without having the cable and an adb- and fastboot-capable machine nearby is not really what I would have expected going by your description.
Of course it is entirely possible (and probably even rather likely) that I got something wrong along the way or there is a simple fix to my problem I am not aware of.
As for possible steps maybe you or someone else in the forum could point me to a way to return my tablet to factory settings before risking damaging it beyond repair. I'm assuming that it should be possible and rather straightforward to recover the original setup with the firmware provided by Asus (downloaded the newest version from the homepage) but to be honest I'm a bit scared to go ahead with it before knowing for sure how to do this safely.
One thing seems certain: I won't be able to do it the way Asus says I should unless I can somehow get into normal or recovery boot modes again. I do however still have root access and am able to run fastboot and ADB including shell on the tablet, so it should be possible.
I would certainly appreciate any help very much
Thanks
drsiegberterne said:
. . . From what I understand - which admittedly isn't a lot - what should have happened is that your boot image is loaded, giving me root access until the next reboot without changing anything about the default boot process or image. I read somewhere else that this is how people test out different kernels with fastboot before deciding on which one they want to use on their devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your understanding is correct - that's exactly what should have happened.
I can assure you that the kernel I compiled is formed from the Asus sources with the 2 patches I made that have *nothing* to do with the bootloader - they patch the way that the kernel allows dropping privileges and thus allowing root level access.
Something else must have happened - did you by any chance "burn" the image? i.e. `(DONT DO THIS) fastboot flash boot boot.rooted.img` instead of `fastboot boot boot.rooted.img`?
I did not advocate for burning precisely because it is unpredictable - manufactures sometimes require signing images with their private keys before allowing a boot image to boot (AKA "locked bootloaders") which means that any attempt to burn may lead to weird configurations. . .
If you did burn it, maybe you can try burning the original "boot.img" from the Asus OTA (Over the Air) update .zip file (avaible as a big download at the ASUS site - "UL-K01E-WW-12.16.1.12-user.zip" )
I know of no way to help you with the current state of your tablet, except to "ease the pain" by saying that rebooting to fastboot is always "recoverable" - you can always boot into my own (rooted) kernel or the original (from the ASUS .zip file) with `fastboot boot <whatever_image>`. No "harm" can happen from this - as you correctly said, it's the way to try new kernels and images.
UPDATE - after more reverse engineering:
I had a look into the contents of the boot loader running inside the ME103K, and I am pretty sure that if you execute this at fastboot...
# fastboot oem reset-dev_info
# fastboot reboot
... you will get back to normal, un-tethered bootings of your ME103K.
Thanassis.
ttsiodras said:
Your understanding is correct - that's exactly what should have happened.
I can assure you that the kernel I compiled is formed from the Asus sources with the 2 patches I made that have *nothing* to do with the bootloader - they patch the way that the kernel allows dropping privileges and thus allowing root level access.
Something else must have happened - did you by any chance "burn" the image? i.e. `(DONT DO THIS) fastboot flash boot boot.rooted.img` instead of `fastboot boot boot.rooted.img`?
I did not advocate for burning precisely because it is unpredictable - manufactures sometimes require signing images with their private keys before allowing a boot image to boot (AKA "locked bootloaders") which means that any attempt to burn may lead to weird configurations. . .
If you did burn it, maybe you can try burning the original "boot.img" from the Asus OTA (Over the Air) update .zip file (avaible as a big download at the ASUS site - "UL-K01E-WW-12.16.1.12-user.zip" )
I know of no way to help you with the current state of your tablet, except to "ease the pain" by saying that rebooting to fastboot is always "recoverable" - you can always boot into my own (rooted) kernel or the original (from the ASUS .zip file) with `fastboot boot <whatever_image>`. No "harm" can happen from this - as you correctly said, it's the way to try new kernels and images.
Thanassis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Thanassis,
thanks for your quick reply and your efforts. I'm actually around 85% sure I did not flash the image but since I had no Linux on my computer at the time (I know shame on me) I used a Mac and the command line was a bit different. Since I had never used ADB or fastboot I relied on some guide that explained how to even get into the bootloader and might have gotten something wrong.
On the other hand I later read out the commands I used in the Mac shell and couldn't find anything other than the things I should have done and described earlier, so as far as I can tell this all should never have happened. It may be interesting to point out here that the "stuck in fastboot" mode happened immediately after the first time I loaded your kernel and I most definitely just wrote fastboot boot boot.rooted.img at that point.
As for fixing the problem now it's not only about the inconvenience of the whole thing. I also later (after I was already stuck in fastboot mode) installed some apps for helping me manage privileges of different apps (xposed framework and xprivacy) which turned out to not be compatible in some way or another. So now not only is my tablet not booteable in a normal way but its also cluttered with even more useless stuff than before and I would really like to just reset it before thinking about any other possibilities.
If I flash boot the original ASUS boot image found in the file you described and which i dowloaded already, shouldn't that fix the problem if I accidentally did flash your boot image? Or will there be even more trouble?
Alternatively isn't there a manual way to flash the whole zipped recovery image or am I misunderstanding what this ASUS file actually contains?
And which of the two options is safer to try first or in other words - which one might break the tablet once and for all?
Thanks again and sorry for my incompetence
drsiegberterne said:
Hi Thanassis,
If I flash boot the original ASUS boot image found in the file you described and which i dowloaded already, shouldn't that fix the problem if I accidentally did flash your boot image? Or will there be even more trouble?
. . .
Alternatively isn't there a manual way to flash the whole zipped recovery image or am I misunderstanding what this ASUS file actually contains?
. . .
Thanks again and sorry for my incompetence
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, don't be sorry We are all either choosing to learn in this world (i.e. make mistakes and learn from them), or choose to remain stuck in ignorance. I applaud your efforts in properly rooting the tablet. . .
To the point - remember, you are root now ; whatever apps you installed, you can definitely uninstall them. You don't necessarily need to wipe it.
If you do want to, I'd suggest booting in recovery and doing it the normal way that Asus recommends. Since you said "buttons don't work", you may want to try using the original recovery .img - i.e. "fastboot boot recovery.img". I'd love to suggest a link from ASUS, but they don't host it (which is bad - they really should) - so instead go to "goo" dot "gl" slash "noegkY" - this will point you to a discussion where a kind soul is sharing his ME103K recovery.img.
Booting from the recovery will allow you to install the ASUS OTA update - and probably try cleaning cache partition, etc
Good luck!
ttsiodras said:
No, don't be sorry We are all either choosing to learn in this world (i.e. make mistakes and learn from them), or choose to remain stuck in ignorance. I applaud your efforts in properly rooting the tablet. . .
To the point - remember, you are root now ; whatever apps you installed, you can definitely uninstall them. You don't necessarily need to wipe it.
If you do want to, I'd suggest booting in recovery and doing it the normal way that Asus recommends. Since you said "buttons don't work", you may want to try using the original recovery .img - i.e. "fastboot boot recovery.img". I'd love to suggest a link from ASUS, but they don't host it (which is bad - they really should) - so instead go to "goo" dot "gl" slash "noegkY" - this will point you to a discussion where a kind soul is sharing his ME103K recovery.img.
Booting from the recovery will allow you to install the ASUS OTA update - and probably try cleaning cache partition, etc
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem here is that he doesn't seem to have the same version as on my tablet. I have the newest version with Lollipop while this seems to be at least a couple of patches earlier with a completely different version of Android. Won't I risk breaking things even more if I try to apply this - as in trying to recover a recovery that is not on my tablet since certainly the recovery.img doesn't contain all the information needed since it's only 10 MB.
As you can probably guess the whole discussion in your link about what part of the system is broken and how to fix it goes right over my head. It also seems like they did not find a satisfactory solution in the end (short of sending the tablet to ASUS). As you can imagine I'm at quite a loss what to try and what not out of fear to make things worse. At least for now I can still use the tablet to do the things I need it to do.
Thanks for your help anyway, I will try to read up more on the topic and decide what to do next.
drsiegberterne said:
The problem here is that he doesn't seem to have the same version as on my tablet. I have the newest version with Lollipop while this seems to be at least a couple of patches earlier with a completely different version of Android. Won't I risk breaking things even more if I try to apply this - as in trying to recover a recovery that is not on my tablet since certainly the recovery.img doesn't contain all the information needed since it's only 10 MB.
Thanks for your help anyway, I will try to read up more on the topic and decide what to do next.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand how you feel - your tablet is operational now (OK, with the annoyance that you need to boot it in "tethered mode") - so you rightfully fear that you may mess things up with further steps.
Just to clarify something - the recovery img is something that works on its own ; it has no dependency on what kind of Android image is installed in the /system partition.
If you do decide to do it, "fastboot boot recovery.img" will bring you to a spartan menu, showing options that allow you to apply an update (i.e. the ASUS update you downloaded!), clean the /cache partition, etc.
Choose "install update from SD card" (use volume up/down to choose, power btn to select), and navigate to your SD card, where you will have placed the big .zip file from ASUS.
The recovery process will begin, and your tablet will be "wiped" with the image from ASUS. Reboot, and be patient while the tablet boots up - it will be just like the first time you started it (i.e. install from scratch).
Whatever you decide - good luck!
ttsiodras said:
I understand how you feel - your tablet is operational now (OK, with the annoyance that you need to boot it in "tethered mode") - so you rightfully fear that you may mess things up with further steps.
Just to clarify something - the recovery img is something that works on its own ; it has no dependency on what kind of Android image is installed in the /system partition.
If you do decide to do it, "fastboot boot recovery.img" will bring you to a spartan menu, showing options that allow you to apply an update (i.e. the ASUS update you downloaded!), clean the /cache partition, etc.
Choose "install update from SD card" (use volume up/down to choose, power btn to select), and navigate to your SD card, where you will have placed the big .zip file from ASUS.
The recovery process will begin, and your tablet will be "wiped" with the image from ASUS. Reboot, and be patient while the tablet boots up - it will be just like the first time you started it (i.e. install from scratch).
Whatever you decide - good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, a little update from the battlefront:
I tried the recovery image and did get into the menu, however the recovery failed with the same two error messages as in your earlier link ("footer is wrong" and "signature verification failed"). My output from fastboot getvar all is also very similar to the one from that guy except I have a different bootloader version than him (3.03).
Another thing I noticed is that if I boot the standard boot.img found in the ASUS zip it will recognize the internal sdcard normally, however when I boot your rooted image the internal memory doesn't seem to be recognized, at least not through the pre-installed file manager. Downloading a file to the internal storage also failed while rooted but all the apps and the OS itself so far seem totally unaffected otherwise.
My last resort at the moment is the fastboot flash boot boot.img but I have little hope it would change anything since in the thread you linked they proposed just that and if it had worked they probably would have mentioned it.
Can it theoretically break the tablet even more? I would hate to have to send it in because I completely bricked it...
drsiegberterne said:
Okay, a little update from the battlefront:
Another thing I noticed is that if I boot the standard boot.img found in the ASUS zip it will recognize the internal sdcard normally, however when I boot your rooted image the internal memory doesn't seem to be recognized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the case for me - everything works fine (including internal and external sdcard), so it's definitely not my kernel causing this.
drsiegberterne said:
My last resort at the moment is the fastboot flash boot boot.img but I have little hope it would change anything since in the thread you linked they proposed just that and if it had worked they probably would have mentioned it.
Can it theoretically break the tablet even more? I would hate to have to send it in because I completely bricked it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing is always dangerous (from what you've said, I actually theorize that you did, actually, flash already...)
I doubt this will solve the boot issue, to be honest - if I were you, I'd continue to boot tethered (with my image when you need root access, and (maybe) the Asus image when you don't). Myself, I always boot my own bootimage, since I have zero problems with it, and it allows me to run a complete Debian distro in a chroot (thus making my tablet a full-blown UNIX server - e.g. I run privoxy on it to filter all stupid ads in all apps on the tablet, etc).
No matter what you decide, good luck!
Thanassis.
ttsiodras said:
Not the case for me - everything works fine (including internal and external sdcard), so it's definitely not my kernel causing this.
Flashing is always dangerous (from what you've said, I actually theorize that you did, actually, flash already...)
I doubt this will solve the boot issue, to be honest - if I were you, I'd continue to boot tethered (with my image when I need root access, and (maybe) the Asus image when I don't). Myself, I always boot my own bootimage, since I have zero problems with it, and it allows me to run a complete Debian distro in a chroot (thus making my tablet a full-blown UNIX server - e.g. I run privoxy on it to filter all stupid ads in all apps on the tablet, etc).
No matter what you decide, good luck!
Thanassis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already tried to flash the original boot.img yesterday but it didn't change anything as you correctly assumed so I guess for now there is nothing more to do. I might write to the Asus support and maybe send the tablet in if it is free of charge for me (which I doubt). The only other option is to spend the next months to get sufficiently versed in Android to actually fix the problems myself but even for that I would probably need some files or source code from Asus. I find it rather disappointing the way these "closed" systems work nowadays, with the advancement of Linux and Open Source I really would have expected the opposite to be true but apparently people care more about convenience than actually being able to use the tools they buy in the way they want to.
Getting these Android devices like buying a hammer that can't hammer things in on Sundays.
drsiegberterne said:
I find it rather disappointing the way these "closed" systems work nowadays, with the advancement of Linux and Open Source I really would have expected the opposite to be true but apparently people care more about convenience than actually being able to use the tools they buy in the way they want to
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I share the sentiment - it's really sad.
Undoing the tethered root
drsiegberterne said:
I already tried to flash the original boot.img yesterday but it didn't change anything as you correctly assumed so I guess for now there is nothing more to do. I might write to the Asus support and maybe send the tablet in if it is free of charge for me (which I doubt). The only other option is to spend the next months to get sufficiently versed in Android to actually fix the problems myself but even for that I would probably need some files or source code from Asus. I find it rather disappointing the way these "closed" systems work nowadays, with the advancement of Linux and Open Source I really would have expected the opposite to be true but apparently people care more about convenience than actually being able to use the tools they buy in the way they want to.
Getting these Android devices like buying a hammer that can't hammer things in on Sundays.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi drsiegberterne - I had a look into the contents of the boot loader running inside the ME103K, and I am pretty sure that if you execute this at fastboot...
# fastboot oem reset-dev_info
# fastboot reboot
... you will get back to normal, un-tethered bootings of your ME103K.
Hope this solves your problem!
Kind regards,
Thanassis.

Workarounds for low internal memory

I bought the XZ1C from USA to India as it is not available at all in Indian markets (and never will be - because no compact devices were launched in India). I love this device except for one thing. Low internal memory - and I bet others might also be annoyed by this. There's two workarounds that I could immediately think of but can't be implemented with this Device.
1. Adoptable storage : Adopt external SD card as internal storage - this is one of the coolest features Oreo has to offer, but can't be used in this device. I went through a lot of blog posts and followed the steps, also read about the adoptable storage leading to no solution. I have a Samsung 128GB EVO SD card and I tried to adopt it as an internal storage in more than one ways with no success.
2. Move apps to SD : I thought I could move at least some apps if not all to external SD but this feature that was introduced in Android 2.2 (I remember using it on my Samsung Galaxy Apollo i5801) and re-introduced in 5.0. But this is also not working. I also tried enabling 'Force allow apps on external' under developer options which didn't work.
As I don't have this phone officially supported in my country, I want to check if someone can contact Sony support in their country (US, UK, Germany) to help fix this through an update maybe?
Another purpose of this thread is to discuss alternate workarounds if anyone has tried any and worked for them.
Unfortunately you're out of luck. I don't think any Xperias to date has ever supported adoptable storage.
As for moving apps to SD, it was never an option for this phone. I don't know if this was a decision with Sony's Oreo implementation across all models, or just certain models, or what, but you can't do that.
You'd probably have to look at root options, but beware, unlocking the bootloader to root comes with consequences and compromises.
mhaha said:
Unfortunately you're out of luck. I don't think any Xperias to date has ever supported adoptable storage.
As for moving apps to SD, it was never an option for this phone. I don't know if this was a decision with Sony's Oreo implementation across all models, or just certain models, or what, but you can't do that.
You'd probably have to look at root options, but beware, unlocking the bootloader to root comes with consequences and compromises.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you. I am going to wait for a while and see if Sony pushes an update that provides move apps to SD option (which I highly doubt they will). But if there comes a point where I desperately need space, I will root the phone. Out of 6 phones that I've used in past 6 years, this is the first one I haven't rooted and ain't planning to.
Possible Solution
I've looked at a thread from the sony forums. Some people were able to get the microSD card to work by factory resetting the phone with the SD card inside. Hope this helps.
What I've done now is to factory reset the phone with the sd card inserted and boot and setup the phone with the sd card in place this time. Then format it again thru the phone (I have not activated sd card encryption yet) and all of a sudden spotify, netflix, ... work with the sd card just as expected.
So perhaps one of you, who experience the same thing, might want try out if this is reproduceable.
Keep the sd card in the phone
Factory reset (I did it via the Xperia companion desktop software)
Boot it up again
Format SD Card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Antilogy said:
I've looked at a thread from the sony forums. Some people were able to get the microSD card to work by factory resetting the phone with the SD card inside. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't understand what u guys are talking about.
Either use SD card as internal memory (I know for sure that is disabled by Sony, for good reasons..) or simply make Netflix, Spotify etc use sd card to keep music / movies... Because If it's the second case, I can do that without any problem, just inserted my Samsung Evo 128 gb use it on the go, no pb,no particular steps...
Dany XP said:
Don't understand what u guys are talking about.
Either use SD card as internal memory (I know for sure that is disable by Sony, for good reasons..) or simply make Netflix, Spotify etc use sd card to keep music / movies... Because If it's the second case, I can do that without any problem, just inserted my Samsung Evo 128 gb use it on the go, no pb,no particular steps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means the TC should be able to do that.
Antilogy said:
That means the TC should be able to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What r u referring to?
( and "tc" =?... This ain't Twitter u know.. U can write as long as u can ?)
Dany XP said:
Don't understand what u guys are talking about.
Either use SD card as internal memory (I know for sure that is disabled by Sony, for good reasons..) or simply make Netflix, Spotify etc use sd card to keep music / movies... Because If it's the second case, I can do that without any problem, just inserted my Samsung Evo 128 gb use it on the go, no pb,no particular steps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dany XP said:
What r u referring to?
( and "tc" =?... This ain't Twitter u know.. U can write as long as u can )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry. I meant to say topic creator. In this case that would be @kaustubhg123.
You can actually use a little neat trick:
Unlock your bootloader
Install XperiFix ( https://www.xperifix.com ) - XDA Thread to restore camera and X-R,BionZ functions (thanks a lot Sony, for nothing)
Xperifix auto install Magisk 16
Use [Magisk Module] Magic Folder Binder (fbind) module to "join" your internal folders with SDCARD and bind folders like Downloads, DCIM, .android
For example if you download a file, even if the phone downloads it to the internal memory it will be actually on the SDCARD. fbind also moves the old data to sdcard when you configure fbind.
mhaha said:
Unfortunately you're out of luck. I don't think any Xperias to date has ever supported adoptable storage.
As for moving apps to SD, it was never an option for this phone. I don't know if this was a decision with Sony's Oreo implementation across all models, or just certain models, or what, but you can't do that.
You'd probably have to look at root options, but beware, unlocking the bootloader to root comes with consequences and compromises.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still very very green to android and to using Xperia Android phones ... what consequences and compromises are to be faced wtih rooting bootloader? From looking at former threads from over 4yrs ago it seemed that rooting was THE holy grail and raison de T'etre for having an Android (reason for being/having).
Supa_Fly said:
I'm still very very green to android and to using Xperia Android phones ... what consequences and compromises are to be faced wtih rooting bootloader? From looking at former threads from over 4yrs ago it seemed that rooting was THE holy grail and raison de T'etre for having an Android (reason for being/having).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sony have given developers and java enthusiasts the finger with this latest bootloader. There isn't a way to save the encrypted keys (unique to your phone) before unlocking it. So you can unlock it to do development, but it's a one way step, which breaks the camera and a few other functions.
In the past my two main reasons for rooting were to theme the phone a different colour and to save battery. Theming can be done without root now and my battery lasts three days anyway.
Having said that, I have just flashed sToRm//'s TWRP + KERNEL + ROOT + DRM fix/restore (because there’s a rooting enthusiast inside every android owner) and everything is working perfectly. The camera is working and all the software functions correctly.
But rooting the phone to get you control over moving apps to the SD card is a bit extreme and a lot of work for a very minor inconvenience. What are you doing with a small compact phone if you want to use two or three hundred apps?
Dany XP said:
Don't understand what u guys are talking about.
Either use SD card as internal memory (I know for sure that is disabled by Sony, for good reasons..) or simply make Netflix, Spotify etc use sd card to keep music / movies... Because If it's the second case, I can do that without any problem, just inserted my Samsung Evo 128 gb use it on the go, no pb,no particular steps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What good reasons?
I have enabled all apps to save their things on SD card (The camera app stores all photos on SD by default but the stupid Album app stores its thumbnails data on internal memory for no reason). My main big issue is with WhatsApp which stores its data on internal memory and provides no option to store it on SD card. WhatsApp is almost 11GB on my phone now.
mhaha said:
As for moving apps to SD, it was never an option for this phone. I don't know if this was a decision with Sony's Oreo implementation across all models, or just certain models, or what, but you can't do that..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Xperia V & Z1c both allowed apps to store their data on SD (Spotify, Audible, etc.) but can't do it on this phone :/ Apparently, Oreo blocks us from using our SD card in this way.
luminoso said:
You can actually use a little neat trick:
Unlock your bootloader
Install XperiFix ( https://www.xperifix.com ) - XDA Thread to restore camera and X-R,BionZ functions (thanks a lot Sony, for nothing)
Xperifix auto install Magisk 16
Use [Magisk Module] Magic Folder Binder (fbind) module to "join" your internal folders with SDCARD and bind folders like Downloads, DCIM, .android
For example if you download a file, even if the phone downloads it to the internal memory it will be actually on the SDCARD. fbind also moves the old data to sdcard when you configure fbind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so, luminoso, in that case, can i transfer apps from phone to sd card?
because you are talking about bind the download folder, but having 10gb on my whatsaap i was really interested in move this ffrom phone storage to sd card
reckfield said:
so, luminoso, in that case, can i transfer apps from phone to sd card?
because you are talking about bind the download folder, but having 10gb on my whatsaap i was really interested in move this ffrom phone storage to sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can bind whatsapp folder in that case
luminoso said:
You can bind whatsapp folder in that case
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decided to go ahead with xperifix, i have g441 compact xz1 european version, last firmware a.12a.179. i tried several times , but its not working with xperifix 2.5 last version
i attached some logs
error: device unauthorized.
This adb server's $ADB_VENDOR_KEYS is not set
Try 'adb kill-server' if that seems wrong.
Otherwise check for a confirmation dialog on your device.
06-6-2018_18-14-51 ===> List /system
Luminoso, do you have any idea¨?
reckfield said:
I decided to go ahead with xperifix, i have g441 compact xz1 european version, last firmware a.12a.179. i tried several times , but its not working with xperifix 2.5 last version
i attached some logs
error: device unauthorized.
This adb server's $ADB_VENDOR_KEYS is not set
Try 'adb kill-server' if that seems wrong.
Otherwise check for a confirmation dialog on your device.
06-6-2018_18-14-51 ===> List /system
Luminoso, do you have any idea¨?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Patching of your twrp recovey is needed.
I had to patch it with the last recovery (26. May) https://forum.xda-developers.com/xp...t/recovery-twrp-3-1-1-stock-security-t3706704
if you do it your twrp is not safe !
At first download Android kitchen, extract it.
Copy your twrp file into the folder and open unpackimgbat
After finish you have a folder called "ramdisk", open it.
Inside you open the file "prop.default" with your texteditor.
find the following two parameter and set them to 0:
ro.secure=1
ro.adb.secure=1
save the file, go one folder up and click on repackimg.bat.
You have a "new-recovery.img" file.
Boot your device into fastboot:
fastboot flash recovery <path of your new recovery.img>
The solution works, but device security is in danger.
You can use it, or wait for a new twrp.
Raz0Rfail said:
Patching of your twrp recovey is needed.
I had to patch it with the last recovery (26. May) https://forum.xda-developers.com/xp...t/recovery-twrp-3-1-1-stock-security-t3706704
if you do it your twrp is not safe !
At first download Android kitchen, extract it.
Copy your twrp file into the folder and open unpackimgbat
After finish you have a folder called "ramdisk", open it.
Inside you open the file "prop.default" with your texteditor.
find the following two parameter and set them to 0:
ro.secure=1
ro.adb.secure=1
save the file, go one folder up and click on repackimg.bat.
You have a "new-recovery.img" file.
Boot your device into fastboot:
fastboot flash recovery <path of your new recovery.img>
The solution works, but device security is in danger.
You can use it, or wait for a new twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks raz0rfail, it seems that has a solution in this.
three considerations allow me to ask you.
1. firstly, im encouraged to follow your instructions, but im entering a completely new field, Idont know whats android kitchen , how to copy "my twrp file into the folder", and after carrying out this instructions, should I open again xperifix, and launch the rooting process? if so, There is any risk xperfix overwrite the "previous patched" twrp as you told me in the last post?
2. when will the new twrp launch? because the last update on twrp's website was december 2017
3. Storm's xperifix 3.0 it is worth it to wait its release? because maybe waiting one month more, probably my twrp problem could be solved?
I'm confused, but thank you for you reply, at least you give me a little of chance of fix this problem
reckfield said:
Thanks raz0rfail, it seems that has a solution in this.
three considerations allow me to ask you.
1. firstly, im encouraged to follow your instructions, but im entering a completely new field, Idont know whats android kitchen , how to copy "my twrp file into the folder", and after carrying out this instructions, should I open again xperifix, and launch the rooting process? if so, There is any risk xperfix overwrite the "previous patched" twrp as you told me in the last post?
Xperifix will always download the twrp image from his servers, you have to go a little around to use your twrp file, or he updates his img-file on his server.
2. when will the new twrp launch? because the last update on twrp's website was december 2017
Your device twrp has nothing to do with the generic release from twrp. Read the text below your qoute.
3. Storm's xperifix 3.0 it is worth it to wait its release? because maybe waiting one month more, probably my twrp problem could be solved?
I don't know what he will change, but if he always redownload the twrp file from his server, he has to update the img-file.
I'm confused, but thank you for you reply, at least you give me a little of chance of fix this problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK I will start from scratch with explaining:
TWRP (TeamWin Recovery Project) brought a TWRP version out called 3.2.1 or so, but released twrp version is generic for all android devices.
So some devices have special requirements for a working twrp recovery and a Device Developer patch the generic twrp version to get it working on this device.
It needs time but on many devices it's mandatory.
So i meant in the last thread entry not the generic twrp version from TWRP creator, i meant the modificated version from our device developer which creates our twrp version.
Currently he hasn't released a version which works with the last XZ1 compact firmware 47.1.A.12.205.
And if you use a different twrp which not works on your new firmware, you will get the message $ADB_VENDOR_KEYS is not set or the message adb device is unauthorized.
My tutorial shows you how to modificate your twrp version which you get from Xperifix to get it working with the new firmware.
But if you use my twrp, your device isn't secured as you used a the correct twrp recovery from our device developer.
So you can decide if you want to use the new firmware and magisk and my cam and stay a little unsecure or you wait if the device has created a working twrp for the firmware and xperifix has updated the img-file on his server.
Execution steps for patching your twrp recovery image and get cam and magisk working again on new firmware.
At first download Android Image kitchen from here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2073775
Download minimal adb and fastboot from here:
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=962187416754459552
Extract both Zip-Files on a place you want.
Then you have under C:\Xperifix\DATA\TWRP an .img-File called xz1c-twrp.img if Storm didn't change the paths.
Copy this file into the folder where you extracted Android Image Kitchen.
Execute Unpackimg.bat and change parameter in the file as described. Then execute repackimg.bat.
Open cmd.exe with windows-key + r-key. Enter cmd.exe and execute it.
Open the folder where you have extracted minimal adb and fastboot and copy the filepath of it.
switch back to cmd and enter the command cd + your path and press enter.
You should now be inside your folder inside cmd.
Then open the folder where you have extracted android Image Kitchen and right click on the new-recovery.img and in contextmenu click copy path.
switch back to cmd and enter the following command:
fastboot flash recovery and right click and click on insert to insert the image path. But don't execute it!
Next step have to do with Xperiix:
Reboot your phone into fastboot and start executing XperiFix.
if You got the message in XperiFix that the recovery is flashed unplug your phone and boot it again into fastboot.
Now execute the command inside cmd.exe
click up on your keyboard to get the last command inside cmd and replace the word "flash" with "boot" and your phone start booting into correct twrp image.
Now let Xperifix work until it's finished and you should have a working cam and magisk.
Raz0Rfail said:
OK I will start from scratch with explaining:
TWRP (TeamWin Recovery Project) brought a TWRP version out called 3.2.1 or so, but released twrp version is generic for all android devices.
So some devices have special requirements for a working twrp recovery and a Device Developer patch the generic twrp version to get it working on this device.
It needs time but on many devices it's mandatory.
So i meant in the last thread entry not the generic twrp version from TWRP creator, i meant the modificated version from our device developer which creates our twrp version.
Currently he hasn't released a version which works with the last XZ1 compact firmware 47.1.A.12.205.
And if you use a different twrp which not works on your new firmware, you will get the message $ADB_VENDOR_KEYS is not set or the message adb device is unauthorized.
My tutorial shows you how to modificate your twrp version which you get from Xperifix to get it working with the new firmware.
But if you use my twrp, your device isn't secured as you used a the correct twrp recovery from our device developer.
So you can decide if you want to use the new firmware and magisk and my cam and stay a little unsecure or you wait if the device has created a working twrp for the firmware and xperifix has updated the img-file on his server.
Execution steps for patching your twrp recovery image and get cam and magisk working again on new firmware.
At first download Android Image kitchen from here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2073775
Download minimal adb and fastboot from here:
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=962187416754459552
Extract both Zip-Files on a place you want.
Then you have under C:\Xperifix\DATA\TWRP an .img-File called xz1c-twrp.img if Storm didn't change the paths.
Copy this file into the folder where you extracted Android Image Kitchen.
Execute Unpackimg.bat and change parameter in the file as described. Then execute repackimg.bat.
Open cmd.exe with windows-key + r-key. Enter cmd.exe and execute it.
Open the folder where you have extracted minimal adb and fastboot and copy the filepath of it.
switch back to cmd and enter the command cd + your path and press enter.
You should now be inside your folder inside cmd.
Then open the folder where you have extracted android Image Kitchen and right click on the new-recovery.img and in contextmenu click copy path.
switch back to cmd and enter the following command:
fastboot flash recovery and right click and click on insert to insert the image path. But don't execute it!
Next step have to do with Xperiix:
Reboot your phone into fastboot and start executing XperiFix.
if You got the message in XperiFix that the recovery is flashed unplug your phone and boot it again into fastboot.
Now execute the command inside cmd.exe
click up on your keyboard to get the last command inside cmd and replace the word "flash" with "boot" and your phone start booting into correct twrp image.
Now let Xperifix work until it's finished and you should have a working cam and magisk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the descriptions are absolutely precise to follow and thanks you,
in the folder data, according your description there must be this directory C:\Xperifix\DATA\TWRP an .img-File.
on my xperifix there is not such folder. attach you some images, (I also reinstall xperfix 2.5 ruling out if I lost some folders)
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

ASUS ZenPad Z8 (ZT581KL) (P008) (Verizon) - Firmware

I found some firmware files for the Asus Zenpad Z8 ZT581KL for Verizon. Neither Asus or Verizon host any firmware for this device, despite having other similar device firmware available (like the ZT500KL, etc), which sucks.
VZW_ZT581KL_V3.4.16_all_user_M101901_16.0.0_160519.zip
ASUS Factory VZW_ZT581KL_V5.4.1_all_user_M101901_16.0.0_170202 androidhost.ru.zip
ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516.zip
ZT581KL_Z581KL_EMERGENCY_DLOAD.7z
ZT581KL_FUSE_Security_Keybox_160728.rar
Z581KL_initrd_diff.zip
ASUS.Flash.Tool.v1.0.0.45.zip
Running a stock, factory reset device, I was able to flash VZW_ZT581KL_V3.4.16_all_user_M101901_16.0.0_160519.zip using Asus Flash Tool 1.0.0.45, which successfully downgraded Tablet from V3.4.23 to V3.4.16.
I tried flashing ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516.zip but it did not work and error-ed out with no brick or anything. Usually the firmware is in a .raw format so you can flash either via zip file which has raw file in root folder of archive, or via the raw file itself. I tried both and was not successful. For some reason this archive had a .bin file instead of a .raw file. I tried renaming them but still didn't work. However, I was able to extract the .bin to find the firmware files inside just like the other version firmwares (that were in raw). One thing I have not tried yet, is to try manually flashing the individual firmware files from the extracted bin, and see if that works--or if someone else with this tablet wants to try, here are the files. If successful, it might lower kernel version down more to allow root exploits to root device.
I have not tried flashing V5.4.1, but I'm confident it will work. I do not know if via the Asus Flash Tool/Asus Tablet will allow doing a flash to V5.4.1 and downgrade back down to V3.4.16, but just did V.3.4.23 (stock orig fw already on device) to V.3.4.16 and it worked. I did receive an OTA to upgrade to V3.4.18 (or was it V.3.4.21, I can't remember) and took the upgrade (then flashed back to V.3.4.16), so it appears that when doing an OTA it will "leap-frog" to the next higher version release until you are on the newest build, so the first OTA you get won't do a direct upgrade from V3.4.16- to V5.4.1 or V5.4.5, but will upgrade it in an incremental way, via the next higher version release.
Hopefully someone can try to root their tablet if any of these files are of any help. I might work up courage to try 3.38 again via manual fastboot, but if you do it and succeed, I would love to hear about it.
The other files hosted ZT581KL_Z581KL_EMERGENCY_DLOAD.7z and ZT581KL_FUSE_Security_Keybox_160728.rar have to do with re-flashing the Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC (un-bricking), and the other one something to do with clearing/setting FUSE when the phone leaves factory or something, I'm not sure. Hopefully they can be of some use to someone to unlock this device. It would be nice. So here u go.
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=289525 - link to ASUS_ZenPad_Z8_ZT581KL_P008_Verizon files
Has anyone tried flashing 'ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516' yet? Just wondering if it was successful; I haven't tried it yet.
smokejumper76 said:
Has anyone tried flashing 'ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516' yet? Just wondering if it was successful; I haven't tried it yet.
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can you tell me how to extract the .raw from .bin, I will try to flash the device.
fuyangui said:
can you tell me how to extract the .raw from .bin, I will try to flash the device.
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I used 7zip to extract the firmware from the archive.. Open 'ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516.zip' with 7zip. It should come up with a folder named 'ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516'. Go in that folder. There will then be a file shown called 'userdata.bin'. In 7zip, if you right click that file, then select 'Open Inside', it should open inside the .bin file and show the firmware files. From there, you can extract them somewhere. Hopefully, you can try to apply each .img file separately (fastboot), one at a time, and see if it works. Thank you!
Sorry to resurrect this old thread but I might have some info that will help others.
First off thanks for the OP for the download links as I cannot find the OEM ROMS anywhere for this device.
Second here are some more instructions that you may need if you are having issues with this device.
Use ASUS FLash Tool v1.0.0.45, it has the device model that you need and was the one that worked for me. Then download ASUS Factory VZW_ZT581KL_V5.4.1_all_user_M101901_16.0.0_170202 androidhost.ru.zip from the link the OP posted, it should be the first file, then this is the step that I missed and took forever to figure out. You have to open that zip file and extract the .raw file, so you should have a file called ZT581KL_all_VZW_user_V5.4.1.raw. That is the file that you need to select in the Asus Flash Tool by clicking the little box with a down arrow inside it, then boot your tablet into Fastboot (Hold down the Power and Volume Down buttons) then once in fastboot, make sure you select the right model for this tablet it should be, ZT581KL, then I left Wipe Data as no, then connect your tablet to your computer with a USB cable, and you should see your Serial Number and a round icon under the State column. Then once that is all correct click the Start button, you may get an error about some FPS thing that can't be downloaded or something just hit OK, then you should see under the Description column that it's flashing the ROM, wait for a while and you should then have a "Flash Image Successfully (The serial number for your device will show here)" under the description and your tablet will reboot.
My tablet was originally on v5.4.5, this ROM will take you back to v5.4.1 but then through the tablet settings you can do an upgrade to v5.4.4 then do another one and it will be at v5.4.5 then you are all set.
So the issue I was having with the tablet was after a factory reset it would freeze at the setup screen and not let me continue, it took me forever to find out how to get it fixed and the instructions above worked for me, so if anyone else is having similar issues then hopefully this will help. I literally spent days and searched through about 70 forums to try and find a fix for it, I even reached to Asus for help, which they basically told me I had to pay to send it in and have it fixed, I was just about to give up when I came upon this thread and the OP's download links, so thanks again smokejumper76. If anyone has any questions about my instructions feel free to reply/comment.
Thanks!
Downgrade success
I used the files provided by OP and was able to successfully flash from 5.4.1 to 3.4.16. I got this tablet from a friend a few years back that he acquired from his work when it went out of business. It has the frp lock on it and im looking at the few available options. So, since this tablet had been sitting for two years. Its Guinea pig time. I'll flash the 3.3.8 and check back. It seems you can go forward or backward in so versions with the flash tool. So I'm not too worried about brick. If I can just get usb debugging on I'll be gold. Possible exploits if it runs.
Well. The 3.3.8 is not packaged properly for flashing. And that 600mb file expands to 9gb. There is a file "system.img" inside that's roughly the right size as the system and has the correct file structure. I have a friend who is going to help me repack that rom correctly for flashing. Meanwhile I am going to look into the 3.4.16 rom and see if I can't set usb debug to on and flash the modded image. From there I should be able to sideload su. I'll report back.
mofugggz said:
Well. The 3.3.8 is not packaged properly for flashing. And that 600mb file expands to 9gb. There is a file "system.img" inside that's roughly the right size as the system and has the correct file structure. I have a friend who is going to help me repack that rom correctly for flashing. Meanwhile I am going to look into the 3.4.16 rom and see if I can't set usb debug to on and flash the modded image. From there I should be able to sideload su. I'll report back.
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Any update? Thank you for your efforts!
smokejumper76 said:
Any update? Thank you for your efforts!
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I have the same tablet as well. Root would be great, any chance of unlocking the BL?
klister said:
I have the same tablet as well. Root would be great, any chance of unlocking the BL?
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hi
any advance with this?
Enviado desde mi P008 mediante Tapatalk
WHat is the password to the files
I used the emergency download file to unbrick the Japanese version of z581kl. However, maybe the partition structure is different, when I try to write to the system partition, it says that there is no partition. What should i do? I'm sorry for my bad English.
allisondanielle said:
WHat is the password to the files
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https://www.asusflashtool.com/ - Description Page with Password
Unzip Password: asusflashtool.com
I installed ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516.zip on my z581kl.
That resulted in Android 6.0 AOSP working!
There is a bug that screen rotation is not possible, but everything else is fine.
There is a bug that the screen cannot be rotated, but other than that, everything is fine. After installing TWRP, you need to mount /system and the location of system.img, and then execute the following command from the TWRP terminal.
mkdir new-system
mount system.img new-system
cp -a -R -p new-system/* /system
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清水侑磨 said:
I installed ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516.zip on my z581kl.
That resulted in Android 6.0 AOSP working!
There is a bug that screen rotation is not possible, but everything else is fine.
There is a bug that the screen cannot be rotated, but other than that, everything is fine. After installing TWRP, you need to mount /system and the location of system.img, and then execute the following command from the TWRP terminal.
mkdir new-system
mount system.img new-system
cp -a -R -p new-system/* /system
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)View attachment 5251235View attachment 5251237View attachment 5251239
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I flashed the zt581kl image using EDL mode as described in this blog because the partition structure of the zt581kl is different from that of the zt581kl.
z581klでEDLモードに入る方法
xxxxx
itgameinfo.blogspot.com
Hi. New to the forum. I’m looking to downgrade my asus zt581kl so that I can root. Can someone show me the exactly step by step to downgrade my table? The above replies are a bit confusing to follow.
Tmupt said:
Hi. New to the forum. I’m looking to downgrade my asus zt581kl so that I can root. Can someone show me the exactly step by step to downgrade my table? The above replies are a bit confusing to follow.
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Maybe start here:
https://www.getdroidtips.com/v5-4-1-nougat-verizon-asus-zenpad-z8/
I've been messing around with some of the files, and I was able to brick and unbrick the device following the firehose SOP PDF instructions. It basically flashes a barebones boot w/o any OS, and you have to flash a complete firmware to it to restore it back.
I was also able to install TWRP but it showed 0 space avail, I think because I didn't wipe it. I'll play with that later.
Used these links (use google translate)
z581klでEDLモードに入る方法
xxxxx
itgameinfo.blogspot.com
zenpad 3 8.0に簡単にTWRPを導入する+fastbootの裏技
xxxxx
itgameinfo.blogspot.com
I need to ask @清水侑磨 about how to flash ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516.zip. I think the userdata.bin file is a NAND dump created by Chinese Miracle 2 / Infinity Box but I'm having problems getting it to read the partitions. I was able to get the tablet in EDL mode, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.
Anyone have a QPST .QCN file for ZT581KL for this device? Flashing 3.3.8 from that preburn file will nuke your IMEI. Mine got changed to all 1s and lost provisioning connectability w/ carrier. in fastboot/adb, so I need to restore it. If anyone could make a QCN (with your IMEI removed of course) so I can do that I would be most appreciative.
smokejumper76 said:
I've been messing around with some of the files, and I was able to brick and unbrick the device following the firehose SOP PDF instructions. It basically flashes a barebones boot w/o any OS, and you have to flash a complete firmware to it to restore it back.
I was also able to install TWRP but it showed 0 space avail, I think because I didn't wipe it. I'll play with that later.
Used these links (use google translate)
z581klでEDLモードに入る方法
xxxxx
itgameinfo.blogspot.com
zenpad 3 8.0に簡単にTWRPを導入する+fastbootの裏技
xxxxx
itgameinfo.blogspot.com
I need to ask @清水侑磨 about how to flash ZT581KL_T3.3.8_pre_burn_image_20160516.zip. I think the userdata.bin file is a NAND dump created by Chinese Miracle 2 / Infinity Box but I'm having problems getting it to read the partitions. I was able to get the tablet in EDL mode, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.
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Sorry for the late reply.
To boot AOSP, instead of burning the system.img from edl or fastboot, use adb.
The method is as follows
1、Start TWRP.
2、Connect your PC to USB.
3、Go to the directory where system.img is located, and press
adb push system.img /sdcard/
4、Enter the shell
adb shell
5、Mount system.img.
mkdir new-system
mount system.img new-system
6、Copy the contents of the mounted system.img to the system partition.
cp -a -R -p new-system/* /system
(If this fails, check that the system partition is mounted. If the system partition is mounted but you cannot write to it, format the system partition.)
7、After rebooting, you should see an Android message
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