Develop Bugs

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.

Bricked Phone After Magisk Install

Today, my phone got bricked after I installed Magisk, am i am looking for a way of sorting it out. The phone was running Android 9 DP3 when rooted, and I was following HighOnAndroids root guide on Youtube for reference,
I unlocked my bootloader and successfully installed TWRP. After this, I installed Magisk, which went throuygh perfectly fine. However, after rebooting the phone, I am stuck on the google splash screen, with a small progress bar that stays for the duration of the time on this screen. After about 2 minutes, the phone reboots into TWRP again.
Does anyone know how I could return to stock Android or at least escape this issue?
Many thanks
James

Jameswebb97 said:
Today, my phone got bricked after I installed Magisk, am i am looking for a way of sorting it out. The phone was running Android 9 DP3 when rooted, and I was following HighOnAndroids root guide on Youtube for reference,
I unlocked my bootloader and successfully installed TWRP. After this, I installed Magisk, which went throuygh perfectly fine. However, after rebooting the phone, I am stuck on the google splash screen, with a small progress bar that stays for the duration of the time on this screen. After about 2 minutes, the phone reboots into TWRP again.
Does anyone know how I could return to stock Android or at least escape this issue?
Many thanks
James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use duces script to flash June google factory image.

jlokos said:
Use duces script to flash June google factory image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed the guide on the DeucesScript XDA page but the command window keeps saying "'fastboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."

Jameswebb97 said:
I followed the guide on the DeucesScript XDA page but the command window keeps saying "'fastboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need this information (the stuff I made bold + the hyperlink):
Code:
If you are having issues with this script:
Download the latest fastboot and adb Platform Tools UPDATED Dec. 22, 2017!!! This is the most common problem!!!
Download/Update Google USB Drivers
Video: Force-Installing the Android USB Drivers Fastboot & ADB
[B]Verify you have the [URL="https://wiki.lineageos.org/adb_fastboot_guide.html"]environment variable (path)[/URL] set for adb and fastboot[/B]
Try a different USB port
Try a different cable
Format Userdata in Stock Recovery
Try to boot stock before doing mods like Locking Bootloader / Kernel / TWRP / Magisk

Jameswebb97 said:
I followed the guide on the DeucesScript XDA page but the command window keeps saying "'fastboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
umph....hate to tell you, but you have a long way to go...
so before going on this "journey", I would suggest you booting into TWRP again, and try installing (not adb sideloading, just in case you're doing that) Magisk again. Also, be sure you are using the latest (might be considered "beta") 16.4 for taimen... I'm thinking your boot.img or dtbo.img simply may have gotten glitchy and repatching (by installing Magisk again) might fix it...
Also, if you want to go a step further, you might want to consider using the official Magisk uninstaller. Since Magisk makes a copy of your stock boot and dtbo image, it may put that back so you can get it in working order to get into the system (although without root), and then figure things out and/or reinstall Magisk (through TWRP is best) while all things Magisk was removed...
Good luck and hope this helps....

Make sure you are trying to open from the correct location, and put .\fastboot

EvilDobe said:
You need this information (the stuff I made bold + the hyperlink):
Code:
If you are having issues with this script:
Download the latest fastboot and adb Platform Tools UPDATED Dec. 22, 2017!!! This is the most common problem!!!
Download/Update Google USB Drivers
Video: Force-Installing the Android USB Drivers Fastboot & ADB
[B]Verify you have the [URL="https://wiki.lineageos.org/adb_fastboot_guide.html"]environment variable (path)[/URL] set for adb and fastboot[/B]
Try a different USB port
Try a different cable
Format Userdata in Stock Recovery
Try to boot stock before doing mods like Locking Bootloader / Kernel / TWRP / Magisk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive tried all of this now, i got the script working, but now the phne says it is corrupt and i cannot get into recovery. Is this game over do you think?

simplepinoi177 said:
umph....hate to tell you, but you have a long way to go...
so before going on this "journey", I would suggest you booting into TWRP again, and try installing (not adb sideloading, just in case you're doing that) Magisk again. Also, be sure you are using the latest (might be considered "beta") 16.4 for taimen... I'm thinking your boot.img or dtbo.img simply may have gotten glitchy and repatching (by installing Magisk again) might fix it...
Also, if you want to go a step further, you might want to consider using the official Magisk uninstaller. Since Magisk makes a copy of your stock boot and dtbo image, it may put that back so you can get it in working order to get into the system (although without root), and then figure things out and/or reinstall Magisk (through TWRP is best) while all things Magisk was removed...
Good luck and hope this helps....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is good advice, thanks. i have a new problem (ugh), where i got the script working through changing the paths, but now the phone says that it is corrupt and i cannot access TWRP. Game over?

Jameswebb97 said:
Ive tried all of this now, i got the script working, but now the phne says it is corrupt and i cannot get into recovery. Is this game over do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the unlocked bootloader it'll always say the device is corrupt. Manually put the device into the bootloader & flash the DeucesScript. You're basically starting over at this point but it is possible to get up & going again.

Jameswebb97 said:
This is good advice, thanks. i have a new problem (ugh), where i got the script working through changing the paths, but now the phone says that it is corrupt and i cannot access TWRP. Game over?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EvilDobe said:
With the unlocked bootloader it'll always say the device is corrupt. Manually put the device into the bootloader & flash the DeucesScript. You're basically starting over at this point but it is possible to get up & going again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EvilDobe might be right...but I have a bit to offer before maybe starting all over...
I doubt you needed to edit the script and "change the paths." Most likely you merely did not have the images (you extracted from the .zip of the Full Factory image you got from the Google Developers site) inside the "platform-tools" folder with the adb & fastboot .exe and all the other files and folders.
In any case, I suggest you get the TWRP image file [.img] (NOT the installer .zip necessarily), put the .img file "... inside the "platform-tools" folder with the adb & fastboot .exe and all the other files and folders." (I've seen some users simply cut and paste those 2 .exe files only to the extracted folder -- this is why I state it this way) Then, power down your device. After it's off, hold down the Volume Down button and press & hold the Power button (this is the manual way to get into the Bootloader Mode). Once there, plug your phone into your computer (USB-A to USB-C would be best) and open a command prompt/powershell ("run as administrator" or with administrative priveleges) and direct it to the platform-tools folder (i.e. if I put it on my desktop, it would be "C:\Users\MyName\Desktop\platform-tools"), you can temporarily boot into TWRP via command
Code:
fastboot boot twrp-3.2.1-2-taimen.img
When in TWRP (hopefully), I suggest trying to do what I advised before -- try either Magisk installer to repatch the boot and dtbo image, or Magisk Uninstaller to attempt to replace your boot and dtbo to stock.
*NOTE: Of course, this is assuming you are running Microsoft Windows (if not, you will need to input .\ as @naiku suggested) and also the whole "device is corrupt" is due to "funky" boot image issues. If not, I/we can guide you to flashing the Full Factory back onto the phone (hopefully without losing data and settings)...
Good luck and hope this helps...

simplepinoi177 said:
EvilDobe might be right...but I have a bit to offer before maybe starting all over...
I doubt you needed to edit the script and "change the paths." Most likely you merely did not have the images (you extracted from the .zip of the Full Factory image you got from the Google Developers site) inside the "platform-tools" folder with the adb & fastboot .exe and all the other files and folders.
In any case, I suggest you get the TWRP image file [.img] (NOT the installer .zip necessarily), put the .img file "... inside the "platform-tools" folder with the adb & fastboot .exe and all the other files and folders." (I've seen some users simply cut and paste those 2 .exe files only to the extracted folder -- this is why I state it this way) Then, power down your device. After it's off, hold down the Volume Down button and press & hold the Power button (this is the manual way to get into the Bootloader Mode). Once there, plug your phone into your computer (USB-A to USB-C would be best) and open a command prompt/powershell ("run as administrator" or with administrative priveleges) and direct it to the platform-tools folder (i.e. if I put it on my desktop, it would be "C:\Users\MyName\Desktop\platform-tools"), you can temporarily boot into TWRP via command
Code:
fastboot boot twrp-3.2.1-2-taimen.img
When in TWRP (hopefully), I suggest trying to do what I advised before -- try either Magisk installer to repatch the boot and dtbo image, or Magisk Uninstaller to attempt to replace your boot and dtbo to stock.
*NOTE: Of course, this is assuming you are running Microsoft Windows (if not, you will need to input .\ as @naiku suggested) and also the whole "device is corrupt" is due to "funky" boot image issues. If not, I/we can guide you to flashing the Full Factory back onto the phone (hopefully without losing data and settings)...
Good luck and hope this helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pleased to be editing this comment; managed to get it working following your step by step. Think i'm going to stay away from rooting something this expensive in the future! Thanks so much!

Jameswebb97 said:
Pleased to be editing this comment; managed to get it working following your step by step. Think i'm going to stay away from rooting something this expensive in the future! Thanks so much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't go that far with staying away. When I come across people IRL that want to start doing this stuff I always tell them to read the instructions, step through them, read the instructions again, ask questions (as you did here) BEFORE you get started, read the instructions again, and only when you're confident start messing with your device. This is a fun, and at times stressful, hobby. It's great when everything goes according to plan but it's an omg omg omg omg omg omg moment when you mess something up.
Start with baby steps. The straight upgrade to P is fairly simple provided your device is unlocked. Get that working & you'll be set. I have root on my DP3 & the only thing I've done so far is delete some apps from system that I know I don't want/need. If your main goal is to just enjoy your phone, test out Android P, and maybe go back... root isn't needed. Once everything is squared away & you're running for a day or so you can always fastboot to recovery, make a backup, and then try to add root. I hope you don't shy away & get deeper into the hobby. It truly starts to get fun when you begin to understand more of what is going on.

Jameswebb97 said:
Pleased to be editing this comment; managed to get it working following your step by step. Think i'm going to stay away from rooting something this expensive in the future! Thanks so much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey I'm so glad you got it working! Leave me a "Thanks!" would make it up to me ... I'm always happy to help out and get things figured out...yet I don't get the satisfaction of knowing if it does end up helping a lot of the time because a good number don't come back with their experience...so thanks for that! Glad you got it going...
EvilDobe said:
I wouldn't go that far with staying away. When I come across people IRL that want to start doing this stuff I always tell them to read the instructions, step through them, read the instructions again, ask questions (as you did here) BEFORE you get started, read the instructions again, and only when you're confident start messing with your device. This is a fun, and at times stressful, hobby. It's great when everything goes according to plan but it's an omg omg omg omg omg omg moment when you mess something up.
Start with baby steps. The straight upgrade to P is fairly simple provided your device is unlocked. Get that working & you'll be set. I have root on my DP3 & the only thing I've done so far is delete some apps from system that I know I don't want/need. If your main goal is to just enjoy your phone, test out Android P, and maybe go back... root isn't needed. Once everything is squared away & you're running for a day or so you can always fastboot to recovery, make a backup, and then try to add root. I hope you don't shy away & get deeper into the hobby. It truly starts to get fun when you begin to understand more of what is going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And it's as @EvilDobe means.....
I remember back in the days of the Motorola Droids (OG Droid1, Droid 3, & Droid 4) where you could really mess things up and come out with a big ol' "brick" "paperweight" as there were many instances where you could not come back from (i.e. updating to a certain point, then attempting to downgrade when Google/Motorola/Verizon put blocks that breaks it). But this isn't the case these days. @Jameswebb97, at least with the Pixel 2's, Oreo and/or P(Android OS 9), it's actually more difficult than easy to get that too far gone. The only reason why I can help so many troubleshooting their issues is because I, myself, have wrecked my current device in some serious ways! So I can relate and have experience in helping in the same situations. I've gotten it to where it says "device is corrupt," (which isn't all that uncommon), BUT with the added desperate troubleshooting where I had to wipe/erase, changing partition types, format several partitions, even go about "resizing" the partition to match the "target extraction size" of the Full Factory flash, and even as far as learning to manually flash the various system partitions and that there are two (system_a & system_b) but, in Google's infinite wisdom(?), one flashes to system_a and the other to system_other!!! And I haven't even started on reading others' issues when going after the Slot A and Slot B complications -- I didn't even attempt to touch this in that troubleshooting story.
My point is: I think I've broken my device farther than most people and got it so close to the brink, and yet I was able to bring it back and am still using that same device today (most people would usually, at that point, go and get a RMA replacement). Honestly, as long as you have access to Bootloader Mode (which Google, in their infinite wisdom, seems to have placed it in the main board memory or separate memory rather than storage as to make it always accessible which makes it hard to "lose"), you have a really good (seemingly perfect) "safety net" in which you can always flash back to a working, stock state -- which is why it's the best policy to just make good backups before experimenting so, if anything, you get back to this state and restore all your data. I'm not trying to convince you to root or to try custom ROMs or anything -- even though there are many great reasons and capabilities of rooting -- I am simply appealingl to your sense of curiosity and reassure you so you aren't held back and you don't restrict and limit yourself if you don't want to, but are to fearful to experiment.
I hope you don't take this post as "lecturing" or anything, just some thoughts I hope you consider...
Glad it worked out in the end for you!

NOST - Improved Version of OST LA 6.0.4 (v0.6, 02. Mar 2019)

"NOST" - short for "No Service Tool" (or "Nokia Service Tool" but that sounds too official and boring ) is a small hobby project I've been working on in the last couple of days.
It aims to make the service tool for Nokia 8 (and HMD Phones in general) more useable, user-friendly, and straigtforward to use, and after having to test it myself, and also
making a small beta test in the Telegram group for Nokia 8, I feel like posting it here so others can try it out too if they want.
First, to be clear: NOST is not completely my work. It is based on OST LA 6.0.4, which was made by HMD/Foxconn. Unlike the previous OST Patches, NOST does not replace
the executable with a hacked one, but instead wraps it and patches the methods that need patching at runtime. The result is that the changes are completely opensource
and readable by others, while the underlying OST files are not modified at all. I tried to base it on a different (i.e. newer) version of OST, but those are pretty much unpatchable,
at least not with a serious amount of reverse engineering, which brings not only time issues but legal ones as well.
NOST changes a couple of things, compared to the unmodified OST LA:
It removes the need for authentification against HMD/FIH servers (really, shoutout to the one who made the original hack, even though I could not use their code)
Moved the logs folder to the same folder as the application, as opposed to somewhere on the system to make debugging easier
The options for flashing firmware images appear reliable now. (At least for me they only appeared sometimes if not never on the original OST).
Removed one of the options that if it appeared crashed the flashing process ("Check System AP Status")
One user of the Telegram group had issues where OST would crash because it detects an invalid locale setting in Windows. NOST just catches that issue and defaults to english
Removed the "Edit Phone Information" button. It never worked and it's only purpose was to make the "Next" button appear, which works like it should now as well.
NOST refuses to flash your phone if your bootloader isn't unlocked critically. The old OST would just try to flash but never make any progress which confuses inexperienced users.
Perhaps the most important change: NOST allows to flash modified firmware images without the need to extract and modify them by hand.
With the original OST, people who wanted to reflash their phone had to download a firmware bundle, extract and edit it to be able to use it with OST LA 6.0.4, since the newer versions
had unpatchable issues that prevent using them. Repacking the images in a format OST expects wasn't possible either since that enabled some sort of signature algorithm on the modified
images and caused the flashing to fail. NOST solves this problem by allowing the use of a different packaging format. Those binaries still need to be extracted but it is done transparently in
the background without the user having to download any other tools. The formats that can be used in images are .zip and .qlz
.zip Firmwares:
.zip firmware files are simply archives of the (edited) files that would normally be extracted from an .nb0 file. This means, if you extract a .nb0 with the extractor found on XDA, the contents
of the *_unpacked folder it creates should be the contents of your .zip.
.qlz Firmwares:
.qlz files are based on QuickLZ compression, which gives them a small size but also a low decompression time.
The tool to generate them is called exdupe. Generating these images is pretty straigtforward. Assuming you are on windows, download the exdupe
tool from the link above (or take it from the NOST Tools/ folder) and copy it into the folder that contains the unpacked .nb0.
Code:
- exdupe.exe
- <nb0 name>_unpacked/
- <nb0 name>.mlf
- ....
Open a commandline in that folder, and run the following command:
Code:
exdupe.exe <name of the folder to compress> <name of the firmware file>.qlz
You should already see how fast it compresses the firmware folder now. As a reference: Compressing the latest Nokia 8 firmware (about 4GB) takes maybe 30 seconds and yields a 2GB file.
Repacked Firmware Bundles:
I created .qlz images of the May and November firmwares, as well as one of the various Pie Maintainance Releases.
You can find them here: https://tmsp.io/fs/xda/nb1/firmware
I already successfully reverted from December Security Patch to November using NOST, and then updated back using OTA Sideloading without problems.
As always when working with flashing tools, proceed with caution!
How to unlock to critical:
KonikoO said:
For those who wonder how to unlock into critical state :
Reboot into bootloader download mode and execute those commands :
fastboot flash unlock *unlock .bin*
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
Afterwards you should be able to flash provided .qlz with NOST.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download:
The actual tool: https://github.com/StollD/NOST/releases
Drivers: https://github.com/StollD/nokia-driver-installer/tree/master/out
Source Code: https://github.com/StollD/NOST
License:
OST LA 6.0.4 is copyrighted by the respective authors. It is not modified permanently.
The custom NOST code is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
Icon by Freepik © Flaticon

I tried this is working,nice tool.
Thanks dev.

Thank you THMSP! very cool?
Sent from my TA-1004 using XDA Labs

Can flash the May and November update but cannot flash latest Pie with this tool. I flashed Pie but returned back to November update?

Lee Castro said:
Can flash the May and November update but cannot flash latest Pie with this tool. I flashed Pie but returned back to November update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can revert back from Pie to Oreo using this. What is the issue with Pie for you?

THMSP said:
Yes, you can revert back from Pie to Oreo using this. What is the issue with Pie for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I mean is if I flash the Pie file you provided I just returned back to Android 8.1 Novemeber update no changes at all. Maybe there something wrong with the Pie file you uploaded. But the rests are all working fine with the tool.

Lee Castro said:
What I mean is if I flash the Pie file you provided I just returned back to Android 8.1 Novemeber update no changes at all. Maybe there something wrong with the Pie file you uploaded. But the rests are all working fine with the tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the hint, I will take a look. Probably just derped when pulling partitions and renaming the images (might have worked in my November folder by accident).
EDIT: I repulled the images from Pie (I indeed somehow worked in my November folder when making the image), repackaged them and updated the version in the drive folder. You should now be able to flash Pie. Sorry for the mistake.

THMSP said:
Thanks for the hint, I will take a look. Probably just derped when pulling partitions and renaming the images (might have worked in my November folder by accident).
EDIT: I repulled the images from Pie (I indeed somehow worked in my November folder when making the image), repackaged them and updated the version in the drive folder. You should now be able to flash Pie. Sorry for the mistake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again,This is really a big help.

Wow, this is something we've been all seeking for a long time now ! For those who wonder how to unlock into critical state :
Reboot into bootloader download mode and execute those commands :
fastboot flash unlock *unlock .bin*
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
Afterwards you should be able to flash provided .qlz with NOST.

hey there! wonderful tool to have. Thank u so much

Not working in my laptop say a software need a to update

Blackhacker07 said:
Not working in my laptop say a software need a to update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have dependency issues I would suggest to install OST LA 6.0.4 first, so you get its dependencies, until I can make a proper installer for NOST.

THMSP said:
If you have dependency issues I would suggest to install OST LA 6.0.4 first, so you get its dependencies, until I can make a proper installer for NOST.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you perhaps figure out how to get rid of the unlocked bootloader message?

ironman38102 said:
Could you perhaps figure out how to get rid of the unlocked bootloader message?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talking about the error message that appears when you press the Next button to start flashing?
If yes, your bootloader needs to be unlocked to critical, then the message won't appear.
If you are unsure if your bootloader is unlocked to critical, do "fastboot oem device-info", it will tell you.
If you mean the message that your phone displays when booting with an unlocked bootloader then sorry, I doubt that's possible (I think it is embedded into the bootloader).

THMSP said:
Are you talking about the error message that appears when you press the Next button to start flashing?
If yes, your bootloader needs to be unlocked to critical, then the message won't appear.
If you are unsure if your bootloader is unlocked to critical, do "fastboot oem device-info", it will tell you.
If you mean the message that your phone displays when booting with an unlocked bootloader then sorry, I doubt that's possible (I think it is embedded into the bootloader).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually its in splash.img that can be dumped. Its the hex editing possibly that might be a problem for someone not familiar with it

How to flash it's says this...

Blackhacker07 said:
How to flash it's says this...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean?

KonikoO said:
Wow, this is something we've been all seeking for a long time now ! For those who wonder how to unlock into critical state :
Reboot into bootloader download mode and execute those commands :
fastboot flash unlock *unlock .bin*
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
Afterwards you should be able to flash provided .qlz with NOST.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for this advice. I wouldn't have ever figured out how to unlock critical on my own and that was the thing that was preventing me from flashing. I tried searching the other OST LA flashing threads as well but this info seemed to have been missing, or then i completely missed it. Thank you so much anyways. If anybody else is trying to figure out why their OST LA or NOST is giving them the se_err_adb_cmd_get_fail_result error, this should help. I just used the unlock.key in place of the *unlock.bin* in your command and it worked.

Can you please upload Oreo December update stock and patched boot image. TIA

Yesterday I noticed that my Pie Image was still not quite useable, since it contained a corrupted system partition.
This seems to have happened because of my Magisk Setup and me only replacing the boot partition image and not uninstalling Magisk completely.
I rebuilt the image, to be fully stock, and also included the latest B07 update that @hikari_calyx uploaded yesterday. You can get it from the drive link in the OP.

[GUIDE] LineageOS 17.1 ROM for Galaxy A50 Android 10 Q

The phone must be installed TWRP Recovery. Use at your own risk, I'm not responsible for bricking your device.
Installation Instructions:
1. Enter TWRP Recovery Mode: Turn power off; Press and hold Volume Up key + Power key, when samsung logo appears release power key only, keep pressing volume up until TWRP recovery appears
2. Select Wipe - Format Data - type "yes" and confirm
3. Copy GSI ROM to your phone
4. Install - Install Image - select lineage-17.1-20200413-UNOFFICIAL-treble_arm64_bvN.img - select System Image and Confirm to flash.
5. Select Reboot - System ( boot without magisk )
6. Setup the Phone
7. INSTALL GAPPS: Enter TWRP Recovery Mode
8. Copy GAPPS zip file from PC to Phone
9. Select Wipe - Advanced Wipe - select "System" - Repair or Change File System - Resize File System - Confirm to Resize.
10. Select Install - select open_gapps-arm64-10.0-nano-20200408.zip and Confirm Flash
11. Reboot - System
12. ROOTING: Enter TWRP Recovery Mode
13. Copy magisk manager apk from pc to phone
14. Reboot to Recovery ( boot with magisk )
15. Connect the phone to internet
16. Install magisk manager
Done!
Download:
LineageOS 17.1 ROM
Open Gapps
WATCH VIDEO HOW TO INSTALL IT: https://youtu.be/u9gDx6VEORo

Thanks. So this is GSI? Bugs?

Youtube comments mention:
Fingerprint not working.
MTP not working.
Face lock also not working.
but also he say's; "This is Generic GSI ROM, it means. it has some basic feature and limitations"
---
Edit: I couldnt get this to install, followed the how-to and when i tried to reboot i got "no OS installed" in twrp. tried 3 times, but no joy, A505FN

Hello everyone
iam in the Process of considering to put LOS on my device.
But the i saw the remarks from InFam0us-1985
Is it therefor not adviceable to use this on a Samsung Galaxy A505FN because this is exactly what i have
Saludos from Spain

DId i Brick my Samsung Galaxy A505FN?
Hello one Question:
"did i Brick my device if for some reason after Trying to flash TWRP it fell back in to OEM-locked and i’ am now in a Boot Loop, ore is the any Hope?
I used Heimdal and at first it did the Job but then it would not start again as expected.
After some attempts to flash it Properly it suddenly fell back in to OEM-Locked!
Pleas if you now some advice it be greatly aprichiatet
My device is a Samsung Galaxy A505FN (Spain)

I found a way to Unbrick my device
Just to let anyone that pass her know i finally found a way to unbrick my device here it is:
After it falls back in to OEM-Lock i found you can unlock it again by doing whats explained in the Video.
Have fun be Careful when messing around with rooting
Saludos Hans

hans2020 said:
Just to let anyone that pass her know i finally found a way to unbrick my device here it is:
After it falls back in to OEM-Lock i found you can unlock it again by doing whats explained in the Video.
Have fun be Careful when messing around with rooting
Saludos Hans
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIA, OEM locked you can always flash stock?

I’ am not sure if thats True
InFam0us-1985 said:
AFAIA, OEM locked you can always flash stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All i know in case of my Samsung Galaxy A50 it is Possible!
To lift the OEM-Lock mode again.
i do not know if that is true for every Device.
Ultimately i was successful to install full Root-access!
I had great difficulty tho to use Heimdall ore any tool on Linux so i ended up using Odin in a VirtuelBox with WinXPpro
but do to no support of Long file names i had to trick there, to to make it work.
I just shorten the Names of every .tar to the first 2 letters.
I was able to successfully flash TWRP with Heimdall but not the Android ROM for my Phone.
I still wonder how to make it work!
There was one Thing i Noticed when Using Odin it seams in the Process he flashes vbmeta.img twice.
That impossible with Heimdall it creates a error message.
Well if anyone - that passes here - knows how to flash a Android 10 ROM of a Samsung Galaxy A50 using Heimdall let me know i tried very very hard to no avail.
I was surprised to learn there is no Good Tool for Linux-user doing this Task.
i only found Old Tutorials!
Is it truly possible that Heimdall dose not support modern Phone-flashing anymore properly?
As of now if a Linux-user ask me about Rooting i would advice him/her to do it in a VritualBox with windows installed.
If you have a License of a Windows Version Higher then XP good otherwise you have to Shorten File names if the very long to make it work.
I scarcely use windows anymore that why i only have a old WinXPpro legally in my Possession.
Unbelievable that the Linux-Community should not have a modern Flash Tool!???
Saludos
Hans
---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 PM ----------
Hello to @everyone
I had great difficulty to do this as a Linux User using Heimdall and eventually had to give up (after trying for 3 full days)!
I ended up doing it using Windows out of a VirtualBox!
It was Possible tho to successfully flash TWRP using Heimdall!
It also showed Success when Flashing Android 10 Version for my Phone but would not work.
Using the same Firmware with Odin it worked just fine.
When i compared the Flash-Protocol of Odin with what i did i only Noticed that Odin would flash vbmeta.img twice in the Process something that cant be done with Heimdall as it produces the duplicate error.
I wonder if this is the Reason it would not work.
I was also surprised to Learn, that there is virtual now Tutorial out there using Heimdall on a Modern Phone (last 12 Month ore less).
Is it truly Possible that There is now good solution for Linux Users?
I also Looked in to Fastboot and ADB and other Tools for Linux Platform and they all seam to be outdated!
Also all this Tools could not accomplish the task at hand.
Now if its me and anyone knows how to make it Work on Heimdall let me know as it is a Pretty good tool after all and by now i know it well. I would gladly start to make a tutorial and provide it here for free if i know how to make it work.
I have a txt file where i made a complete Protocol of all i tried if someone is curious ill send it to you.
Saludos Hans
##################################################################
I send some more Details of my Challenge in hope someone my know what it is i have to change!
My Device:
Samsung Galaxy A505FN
I created a .txt file protocol of all i did, i gladly provide it if someone ants to see it.
I analyzed the Whole Firmware-archive and the Pit file of my Phone to eventually find the Problem.
Note:
The Firmware was the correct one as it worked just fine using Odin!!
Analyzing all this, i only noticed two things:
First:
There are 3 seemingly identical files in the Archive and two so called
fota.zip files witch are not Identical
(one in the AP-Packet and one in the CSC-Packet)
Those where:
– cache.img one in the AP-Packet and one in the BL-Packet
– vbmeta.img one in the AP-Packet and one in the BL-Packet
– product.img one in the AP-Packet and one in the BL-Packet
Second:
Once i used Odin to finally flash successfully i noticed that in the Flash-protocol of Odin it seams Odin flashes the vbmeta.img twice in the process!?
Heimdall would not allow me to do so giving me the “Duplicate Error message”
Furthermore i tried one more thing in my desperation to make it work:
i thort: “maybe the order in wish the files a flashed chronologically matters”
So i did exactly that, trying to flash in the same chronological sequence as Odin did.
Note:
Every time i flashed, Heimdall would successfully finish the process but the Phone would not start with android
no matter what i tried.
ALSO i did successfully flash TWRP to my Phone using Heimdall
SO Heimdall works just fine on my system!
I spend a Long Time searching the Internet for a workable Tutorial or glue’s as to what is missing and how i could make it work.
I really want to succeed doing this, as i want to provide my folks offer her in Germany and also English and Spanish speaking Linux-Community with a Tutorial to do this!
I did also drop this Question and Challenge i face in some other Forums no useful answer returned so far
The latest Governmental Abuses and infringement on Peoples Privacy using Corona as excuse, makes it abundantly clear how important this kind a work is!
As for now i think, the only true option for a Linux-User is to run Odin from a Virtual-Box Windows installation, given
you have a legal copy in you're possession and have higher then Windows XP
(else you must change the Filenames of the .tar archives as WIndows XP and lower did not support excessively long filenames.)
Also you have to Install you're Phone USB drivers and have them up and running properly!
Internet access to you're VB makes it all more comfortable, but you can also use Shared folders with the Host-System to do the job.
Note:
I did indeed tried the "WINE-plugin-environment" (Windows 10) under Linux. i could not get it to work.
It was to much messing around make it recognize the USB-connection to the Phone!
I could not get it to work, I don't know if you can?
I guess that would be a nice way for Linux-users if it could be made to work!
What do you guys think, can this be solved?
Pleas let me know if you know the answer to my Challenge!
You're help is not only needed but would be greatly appreciated
Sincerely yours
Hans from Germany

well I Found this from 2017;
Yes you can do fastboot and adb cmd in Linux but you have to install adb and fastboot drivers to Linux by using
1) sudo add-apt-repository ppahablet-team/tools && sudo apt-get update
2) sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
That's it you get your fastboot and adb cmd’s all the cmds are same just as windows just you need to add sudo in front if not in root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
source: https://www.quora.com/Can-I-flash-Android-devices-using-Linux
so maybe have a read of this too; https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...actory-images-android-using-fastboot-0175277/

Well i do know
Of course i know how to Install a Software on Linux and i did indeed installed those Two
But both of them would not even Detect my device jet Heimdall and Odin had no problem doing that.
Anyhow i might go about and try those Two harder.
And no Iam not confused
thank you anyway
Saludos Hans
InFam0us-1985 said:
well I Found this from 2017;
source: https://www.quora.com/Can-I-flash-Android-devices-using-Linux
so maybe have a read of this too; https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...actory-images-android-using-fastboot-0175277/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I cant call or receive call and send and receive messages via sim
Please help
I cannot call and receive calls
Cannot send and receive messages ,one time passwords, through message
Cannot login through whatssapp .
volte is not enabled
And no option for it to enable
I am from India using jio sim card .
Please help.
If any custom rom is used in my SM-A505F i cant do calls or receive calls nor send or receive messages.
country id : INS
Original firmware of A50 : Atb6

Will this image work with the SM-A505G version?

USB File Transfer Does Not Work
After flashing the ROM, when I connect my phone to my PC with the USB cable to transfer files, it does not work. No errors on my PC. I tries switching between modes and back to File Transfer as some suggested, but no luck.
Has anyone experienced this and if so, any solution?

OmariCelestine said:
After flashing the ROM, when I connect my phone to my PC with the USB cable to transfer files, it does not work. No errors on my PC. I tries switching between modes and back to File Transfer as some suggested, but no luck.
Has anyone experienced this and if so, any solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what you get with a GSI, finger print wont work either.

InFam0us-1985 said:
This is what you get with a GSI, finger print wont work either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it's the only Custom ROM where the finger print works. My only problem was with the USB File Transfer.

OmariCelestine said:
Actually it's the only Custom ROM where the finger print works. My only problem was with the USB File Transfer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try with a custom kernel

the project is down? Because I love LineageOs, but the A50 is abandoned :/
---------- Post added at 06:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:57 AM ----------
OmariCelestine said:
Actually it's the only Custom ROM where the finger print works. My only problem was with the USB File Transfer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need to run into Twrp and it work. But only in TWRP

hey man, the project is being upgraded? Tanks for your time

InFam0us-1985 said:
Youtube comments mention:
Fingerprint not working.
MTP not working.
Face lock also not working.
but also he say's; "This is Generic GSI ROM, it means. it has some basic feature and limitations"
---
Edit: I couldnt get this to install, followed the how-to and when i tried to reboot i got "no OS installed" in twrp. tried 3 times, but no joy, A505FN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got the same problem here. i guess i'm staying on the stock firmware

I have installed lineage-17.1-20210212-UNOFFICIAL-treble_arm64_bvS.
Fingerprint and MTP working.

Teclast M40 Pro Discoveries

Teclast M40 Pro Discoveries​Various helpful points of knowledge to unlock your bootloader, to root, and use your tablet.
Problem: Where can I obtain the official firmware?
Solution: Teclast Website
Usage: type M1A3 in search
Problem How can I unpack "pac" files?
Solution: Build C utility divinebird / pacextractor
Solution: Download pre built Linux executable pacextractor.zip
Usage: >./pacextractor Firmware.pac
Bash:
git clone https://github.com/divinebird/pacextractor
cd pacextractor
make
Problem: I need tools to flash my device
Solution: Download the latest SPD Upgrade Flash Tool SPD_Upgrade_Tool
Problem: msvcr100.dll missing error in Windows whilst running SPD (Factory/Research/Upgrade) Tools
Solution: Download and install 2010 Visual C++ Distribution
Problem: I want to unlock my bootloader. (Window and Linux kit)
Solution: Download TeclastM40Pro_Unisoc_UnlockTools.zip
Usage: Read readme file.
Problem: How can I remove the dm_verify warning on boot up after unlocking the bootloader?
Untested Solution: digitally sign the vbmeta partition and write it back. See [Tutorial] How to create a custom signed vbmeta.img
Problem: I want to root my device.
Solution: Modify boot.img with Magisk, then sign.
Usage: Upload to your device's download directory, the current boot.img read from your device, or from the same version firmware. Then install Magisk app from here. Use Magisk to patch the boot.img. Sign the partition. Then flash back the signed magisk version of boot.img to "boot_a" partition. Guide to flashing single partition at Hovatek Website
Problem: I need to emergency flash my device?
Solution: Currently only from Windows, use SPD Upgrade Tools to reflash firmware.
Usage: From the tablet powered off, or if boot looping. Hold down the power-button and volume-down for five seconds, release the power-button, and keep the volume-down button still held for another five seconds, then release or release if the detected earlier. Windows and SPD tools should then detect your device to flash.
Problem: I want to improve my Telcast M40 Pro
Solution: List of suggested apps below;
FDroid App Store F-Droid Website
Aurora > via FDroid. App store allowing the direct download from Google Playstore, without your own account.
Lawnchair > via FDroid. Fast open source sophisticated launcher.
AdAway > via FDroid. Removes adverts whilst using apps.
TrackerControl > via FDroid. Manages apps access to internet, and blocks spyware and trackers.
.

Problem: I want root mode without the effort of hacking a rom partition.
Solution: For those with World version Teclast M40 Pro device, here is a signed rooted boot partition I created. Read the readme file inside the zip. You will require an unlocked device, windows setup with USB drivers for Teclast, the complete firmware from Teclast website, and SPD Update Tools installed. If you're successful, then on rooting you will need to install Magisk app to get root active. Magisk will reboot once to finalise.
Download : TeclastM40Pro_ROW__v1p0_signedboot_magiskrooted.zip
Download : TeclastM40Pro_ROW__v1p2_signedboot_magiskrooted.zip

SPD Upgrade Tools is closing while trying to flash stock firmware, both with M40 Pro locked and unlocked bootloader. What should i do?

laurorual said:
SPD Upgrade Tools is closing while trying to flash stock firmware, both with M40 Pro locked and unlocked bootloader. What should i do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for replying late. I got no indication of the response. To the problem, I can only suggest getting a different version of SPD or m aking sure your computer system is properly updated. I hope you've already solved the issue!
Maybe you're experiencing, "Problem: msvcr100.dll missing error in Windows whilst running SPD (Factory/Research/Upgrade) Tools" See above for solution.

I've noticed a new ROM for world edition, "M40 Pro(M1A3)_Android 11.0_ROW V1.02_20220525", but not getting any system update options for OTA. People flashing their systems may want the latest firmware!

Thanks to your Magisk file I was able to root my tablet, but when updating to the latest version it goes into bootloop, I have tried updating the original firmware image again, but it also goes into bootloop.
Is there any way to install Magisk modules?
Thanks for your post, it helped me a lot to unlock my tablet.
Edit: My version is the M1A1 firmware V1.03_20210804
Edit 2: Finally, when updating my tablet with the root file that is in the post, it did not allow me to install any Magisk module, the solution is to download version 24.3, and update automatically, without changing to a higher version of Magisk

Glad you worked it out Miny !!! Sorry the warning emails for new posts have been going to a gmail account I no longer use.
Also your hardware maybe different and require it's own unique firmware and boot images. It seems the cracking in similar though.

Some questions:
Do I need to unlock my bootloader in order to be able to get root with magisk?
The tools for unlocking the bootloader uses
Code:
fastboot flashing unlock_bootloader
. My version of fastboot (33.0.3p1-android-tools) doesn't have that command. The included one (0.0.0-09219) does, but I wan't to be careful about running softwar from untrusted sources. Where is that version of fastboot from?
Does any of the steps necessary to get root access delete my data?

Hi there.
I have a m40pro (M1A1) running android 11, do you know if I can install firmware Z3A1 to get android 12? Or will be bricked?
Thanks in advance

rubsbcn said:
I have a m40pro (M1A1) running android 11, do you know if I can install firmware Z3A1 to get android 12? Or will be bricked? Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To tell you the truth, not sure. Most SoC are impossible or near impossible to brick. They usually allow for an injection or have a read only boot section. Other words you could test. Also research difference in hardware between models, and that may indlicate if something may not work. The kernel/drivers are the improtant aspect.

jorkusjorkus said:
Some questions:
Do I need to unlock my bootloader in order to be able to get root with magisk?
The tools for unlocking the bootloader uses
Code:
fastboot flashing unlock_bootloader
. My version of fastboot (33.0.3p1-android-tools) doesn't have that command. The included one (0.0.0-09219) does, but I wan't to be careful about running softwar from untrusted sources. Where is that version of fastboot from?
Does any of the steps necessary to get root access delete my data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What OS are you using? Google is constantly changing Android Studio and the added modules. Then others may build with options removed. Personally I use Archlinux and load up standalone android-tools from the community repository. Currently v33.0.3-3
Try fastboot --help
Your version may have
Code:
fastboot flashing unlock_critical

minyfriki said:
Thanks to your Magisk file I was able to root my tablet, but when updating to the latest version it goes into bootloop, I have tried updating the original firmware image again, but it also goes into bootloop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I found works, is when using SPD Research Tool, load up the firmware.pac and then go into settings and click "Select All Files" and again to unselect, which leaves the default required items.
Then manually change BOOT to the Magisk img. Then click on all VBMETA types, and UBOOT_LOADER (may not be required though). Then flash.
You should get bootable tablet (no looping). Warning: UserData partition is written over.
I'll share my Magisk image for v1.2

e8hffff said:
What OS are you using? Google is constantly changing Android Studio and the added modules. Then others may build with options removed. Personally I use Archlinux and load up standalone android-tools from the community repository. Currently v33.0.3-3
Try fastboot --help
Your version may have
Code:
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the same version as you on the same OS. After some research it seems like unlock_bootloader was removed in this commit from 2018. From what I can tell, unlock_critical does something else (unlock_bootloader runs
Code:
fb_queue_download("unlock_message", data, sz); fb_queue_command("flashing unlock_bootloader", "unlocking bootloader");
while unlock_critical runs
Code:
do_oem_command("flashing", "unlock_critical" and doesn't take the signature argument);
)
I'll see if I can compile the older version with the needed command.
What about my other questions?

Issue: Android not starting. I had the infinite restart when plugged in the usb. I tried to reload the installation package (succeeded), but didn't fixed the issue. Battery was not charging yet. When I started the Teclast M40 pro, the logo showed up, but the tablet turned off again.
Solution: I have disassembled the cover, unplugged the 5 pin plug from the battery for half hour and plugged again. When I tried to turn it on, everything was fine.

dougcwb said:
Solution: I have disassembled the cover, unplugged the 5 pin plug from the battery for half hour and plugged again. When I tried to turn it on, everything was fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that's weird Doug. Remember this, if you don't already know, that you can do a cold start by holding down the power button for over 10 seconds, on most devices.
I guess you're running now on rooted tablet !!!

e8hffff said:
Wow that's weird Doug. Remember this, if you don't already know, that you can do a cold start by holding down the power button for over 10 seconds, on most devices.
I guess you're running now on rooted tablet !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the installation package process that the Teclast sent me. The last thing they told me to do was keep trying to install the package (wft?). Well, I just open the tablet, unplugged the battery for a while and after that it worked.
Maybe this resolved 2 things:
1-the battery was not properly connected in the first place, so when I plugged the 5 pin to the board it connected as it should.
2- Maybe there is a "memory" in the board attached to the battery that was bricked (or something like that) when I pulled off the plug, this memory was reseted.
BTW, when the tablet came to life again, the battery was at 87%.