Database Develop

[Q&A] Collection

Disclaimer: I try my best to produce valid answers, but if you have no idea what you're doing, don't do it.
Terms and Definitions
NVflash / APX mode
This is the lowest level of software that can talk to an Nvidia Tegra device. Basically this is the Holy Grail of memory modification, which can even fix a damaged bootloader.
To use it, one boots the tablet with [Vol +] + [Power]. This will lead to the PC detecting an "APX" device. The screen stays blank.
This is no working solution for anything yet, as not only there is no leaked NVflash binary yet, but also the communication is encrypted via an unique 128bit AES key. This key is at no stage accessible, but can be used to encrypt data during boot. This is where the wheelie tool for previous transformers was of help. The Communication itself happens via a protocol called nv3p, which actually is open source, but as long as the key is unreachable, that's not a lot of use. NOTE: I will create an extra post with a lot more details about this.
Fastboot
The Android Bootloader.
This is the essential part of software which loads Android/a Recovery image/rooting ramfs/etc.
This is the most delicate part in the Android boot process, as fastboot is the lowest level of communication we have so far. In other words: The only way to fix a damaged bootloader would be NVflash, which is not yet available for this device.
Generally the Bootloader is locked as a method to prevent unauthorized access to data stored on the device. A locked Bootloader means no Fastboot.
Bootloader unlocking
To gain access to fastboot devices, the Bootloader needs to be unlocked. This can be as simple as installing an APK provided by the manufacturer or running "fastboot unlock".
Unlocking the Bootloader always leads to three resulting actions: Fastboot now works, all data on the device is wiped, the device's warranty is now void.
Unlocking the bootloader via unlock app can require you to have internet access and a valid google account. This can be problematic in the case of one-time-passwords, as the normal password will possibly not work (and you'll wonder why the heck it doesn't run).
Bootloader locking
This is (at least currently) not possible. Warranty void remains permanent.
RamFS
Simple file system in a file, which gets loaded into RAM. We use this for rooting.
Boot image
A file generally called "boot.img". This contains the kernel.
Recovery image
A partition image that contains a bootable linux kernel and file system, which server the purpose of creating and restoring nandroid backups and perform related tasks.
Brick - general
A device with messed up software, not being able to boot let alone perform any higher task other than being a brick.
Soft brick
A device not booting, which still responds to fastboot queries.
Hard brick / Brick
Fastboot doesn't work anymore. Maybe a visible boot loop, maybe nothing. The only point in which this differs from scrap is the ability to get into APX mode.
Chances are, there will be a way to use NVflash to fix this sometime.
Unbrick
Fixing a bricked device. Currently only soft bricked devices can be unbricked.
Root
General term for having super user abilities on a linux powered device. This can be used for reading/writing/executing restricted files, modifying things, loading custom ROMs etc.
Also having Root can mean "running with scissors", as there's not much left to prevent you from deleting important files and bricking your device.
Remember: Having Root is a very useful device, but with power comes responsibility. Also there is Android malware, which specifically targets rooted devices.
Rooting
The process of gaining Root. In early methods this generally starts with unlocking the device's Bootloader, then booting a Kernel with a purposely prepared ramfs to install and modify certain files.
As always, unlocking the Bootloader means all data will be wiped. By chance at some point someone will figure out a way to do this without unlocking.
ROM
A stock or custom Android ROM image. This contains everything needed for a running system. Custom ROMs contain tweaks, themes, improvements, styles, preloaded apps etc. Also more often than not, a load of bloat ware will be removed.
Bloat ware
Apps nobody needs/many fail to understand what they actually do/bring new ways to crash your device/sniff your precious data/revive long fixed and forgotten security leaks/the manufacturer adds to promote sales ("hey look, we've got an app for that pre installed").
Most importantly, cannot be removed from your device without Root.
Stock
A mint Android ROM, just like what the device gets shipped with.
Guides
Rooting
Requirements: Currently none
Compatible versions: anything > 10.14.1.47
Method: Booting custom Kernel and ramfs
Status: Proven
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2516215
Recovery
Creator: Drgravy
Version: 6.0.3.7
Status: Abandoned but functional
Requirements: Bootloader <= 10.14.1.47 (this will not work with 10.26.1.7. Trying to do so will not work, but still boot Android as usual.)
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2524401
Recovery
Creator: lpdunwell
Version: 6.0.4.5
Status: Experimental, WIP
Requirements: Bootloader >= 10.26.1.7
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2556944
Various information
Hardware assembly date
On the box, rear side label.
Partition information / Unbricking
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2546941
Keyboard key remapping
The physical keyboard has custom keys, with functions of debatable value. Here's how to remap them to suit your needs.
Note: This also works for other ASUS Transformers.
Warning: Backup any file you attempt to edit!
Method: The keyboard mapping is described in /system/usr/keylayout/asuspec.kl. The structure is pretty straight forward.
After saving the file, reboot the device.
Code:
Key: Function: Key number: Text:
lock Delete 142 "key 142 FORWARD_DEL WAKE UNLOCK"
search ALT 217 "key 217 ALT_LEFT WAKE UNLOCK"
HDMI configuration
The HDMI resolution can be adjusted. This can be handy under certain circumstances, although results may vary.
Method: Via terminal; disable frame buffer 1, change resolution, enable frame buffer 1
Info: To get a list of valid settings, run "cat /sys/class/graphics/fb0/modes".
This will reset at reboot.
This example enforces 1920x1200 @ 59Hz, in my case to force a HP Compaq monitor to keep running (without this it'll go to sleep for whatever reason).
Code:
echo 0 > /sys/class/graphics/fb1/device/enable
echo "D:1920x1200p-59" > /sys/class/graphics/fb1/mode
echo 1 > /sys/class/graphics/fb1/device/enable
Teardown
Teardown with two images and a brief description of the process: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2564143
Q&A
Q: "I have never rooted anything before. Can you send me some fairy dust to fix my bricked tablet if anything goes wrong?"
A: No. And if you are not absolutely sure of what you're doing, there's a fair chance you'll mess it up. Been there, done that.
Q: "What are known causes of bricked TF701?"
A:
Failed upgrade
Flashing incompatible boot.img and blob
Flashing something other than blob to staging
Removal of important files after rooting
Q: "I had a quick look at your instructions for xxx and I don't understand..."
A: Tough luck.
Q: "I re-read your instructions for xxx, searched the forum and I still cannot understand..."
A: Check if there's a matching thread. If there isn't create one with a diagnostically conclusive title. Use as much detail as possible.
Final notes
I hope this helps. As always, updates will follow.
Want to see your tutorial/guide/etc. here? Send me a detailed PM with the subject "TF701 Q&A extension".
You can help making this even better!
Found a mistake or believe I'm wrong about something? Let's discuss it.
Has this helped you? Consider clicking thanks.

THANK YOU for the hack to get a forward delete on the keyboard! That has been bugging me for a year!
Works just the same on the TF700 keyboard, btw.

Ask the mod to make it sticky, then it will always be at the top of the main thread.
Sent from my superfast Asus Infinity TF701with Dock

Snah001 said:
Ask the mod to make it sticky, then it will always be at the top of the main thread.
Sent from my superfast Asus Infinity TF701with Dock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
he is retired .... Doesnt reply to any request ...

berndblb said:
THANK YOU for the hack to get a forward delete on the keyboard! That has been bugging me for a year!
Works just the same on the TF700 keyboard, btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, the keymapping crap...
I found tons of "unpack this apk, edit soandso..." but I wanted to have it changed on a lower level. the remapping should work on most if not all transformers, and be easily portable to anything that has a hardware keyboard...

Rikodu said:
he is retired .... Doesnt reply to any request ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? Wut?????
Considering this is the first "Q & A" post, I will sticky it.
Provided the OP updates and maintains it.
MD

I'm pretty sure the resolution hack can be improved, but it's all I needed for now...
anybody write an app for that?

Moscow Desire said:
Huh? Wut?????
Considering this is the first "Q & A" post, I will sticky it.
Provided the OP updates and maintains it.
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go for it, it's sinking...
cheers

lpdunwell said:
go for it, it's sinking...
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seeing if you were paying attention..... :good:

lol

Maybe you could explain where to see the build date.
As far as I know its in the serial number after the characters. But in my case (and maybe others) I can´t see a date in 160074 .

done

hard bricked tf701t
Dear lpdunwell,
I have a bricked tf701, only asus logo available and loopboot, fastboot menu is broken as well. Only APX mode working, but I could not find appropriate nvflash for my pad (s I see there is no nvflash currently available for my tab)
In your explanation about bricked device, you wrote that there is possibility to recover tf701?
Please describe what nvflash version should I use to succeed?
Thanks in advance,
stream1313

stream1313 said:
Dear lpdunwell,
I have a bricked tf701, only asus logo available and loopboot, fastboot menu is broken as well. Only APX mode working, but I could not find appropriate nvflash for my pad (s I see there is no nvflash currently available for my tab)
In your explanation about bricked device, you wrote that there is possibility to recover tf701?
Please describe what nvflash version should I use to succeed?
Thanks in advance,
stream1313
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry mate we don't have nvflash and it is too late for you now anyway If you only have access to APX you are hard bricked. Best to sell it for parts and move on.... Or if you want to revive it send it to Asus to fix at a cost or source a replacement mainboard and do it yourself.

sbdags said:
Sorry mate we don't have nvflash and it is too late for you now anyway If you only have access to APX you are hard bricked. Best to sell it for parts and move on.... Or if you want to revive it send it to Asus to fix at a cost or source a replacement mainboard and do it yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi man.. Why do you think I have to forget about my toy.. It was my Christmas (New Year in Tbilisi, Georgia, opposite planet side) present to myself But it is all the lyric only
Pls explain - do you really think that for ex., several weeks / months later, smb will create the nvflash or any similar SW which will be able to fix my problem? Actually I believe that until all electronic components are ok, device is not "dead" forever... Why you so pessimistic exactly for 701 transformer tab? Pls if you have time reply me
Kind regards,
Stan

stream1313 said:
Hi man.. Why do you think I have to forget about my toy.. It was my Christmas (New Year in Tbilisi, Georgia, opposite planet side) present to myself But it is all the lyric only
Pls explain - do you really think that for ex., several weeks / months later, smb will create the nvflash or any similar SW which will be able to fix my problem? Actually I believe that until all electronic components are ok, device is not "dead" forever... Why you so pessimistic exactly for 701 transformer tab? Pls if you have time reply me
Kind regards,
Stan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the way nv flash works is you need to flash the special bootloader to extract your device blobs and device specific keys. As you haven't been able to do it and you CANNOT do it once you have bricked you will have no chance. How are you going to flash a bootloader that you need fastboot for?
Sorry to bring bad news but if you only have APX with no saved nv flash files (which is not yet avail for our device) then you currently have 0% chance of recovering.

sbdags said:
the way nv flash works is you need to flash the special bootloader to extract your device blobs and device specific keys. As you haven't been able to do it and you CANNOT do it once you have bricked you will have no chance. How are you going to flash a bootloader that you need fastboot for?
Sorry to bring bad news but if you only have APX with no saved nv flash files (which is not yet avail for or device) then you currently have 0% chance of recovering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for reply (as well as for my another, initial thread reply) I have only CWM backup of my tab, on the MD card. But I do not know, does this backup contain all needed stuff? At list, I did not found there saved nv flash or blob files. Just "blobgenerator" (462Kb) and "blobtester" (370Kb), also some system files with "nv" in the name. But I do not have Idea, does CWM saving the low level loader files, at list I was not able to recognize them there...
my apologize for too many questions as well as for my poor English - it is not my native lang
Kind regards,
Stan

stream1313 said:
Thanks a lot for reply (as well as for my another, initial thread reply) I have only CWM backup of my tab, on the MD card. But I do not know, does this backup contain all needed stuff? At list, I did not found there saved nv flash or blob files. Just "blobgenerator" (462Kb) and "blobtester" (370Kb), also some system files with "nv" in the name. But I do not have Idea, does CWM saving the low level loader files, at list I was not able to recognize them there...
my apologize for too many questions as well as for my poor English - it is not my native lang
Kind regards,
Stan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No having CWM backups saved won't help you as you have no way of getting to the bootloader which would then be used to open the recovery so you could restore. WIthout a working bootloader you can't proceed. NV Flash uses APX mode to restore the blobs via the wheelie binary. You haven't captured the blobs to restore and as they are encrypted to your device you can't use anyone elses.
It's a new main board or nothing I'm afraid.

sbdags said:
No having CWM backups saved won't help you as you have no way of getting to the bootloader which would then be used to open the recovery so you could restore. WIthout a working bootloader you can't proceed. NV Flash uses APX mode to restore the blobs via the wheelie binary. You haven't captured the blobs to restore and as they are encrypted to your device you can't use anyone elses.
It's a new main board or nothing I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, everything is clear. Thanks for your time man. But I beleive that Asus has some kind of "backdoor" for such cases, for internal usage, of course. Asus manifest about "mainboard replacement" probably just for business, normally must be some way to crack this protection. I hope somebody from Asus will share some useful info or even software for public usage... Maybe it's my dreams only, I'm realistic (I'm working as IT/IS/GSM/WCDMA, but I'm so far from programming..)
Again, thank you. Pls notify me in case of any news about K00C hack

Problems flashing CWM recovery
stream1313 said:
I see, everything is clear. Thanks for your time man. But I beleive that Asus has some kind of "backdoor" for such cases, for internal usage, of course. Asus manifest about "mainboard replacement" probably just for business, normally must be some way to crack this protection. I hope somebody from Asus will share some useful info or even software for public usage... Maybe it's my dreams only, I'm realistic (I'm working as IT/IS/GSM/WCDMA, but I'm so far from programming..)
Again, thank you. Pls notify me in case of any news about K00C hack
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry I am not yet familiar with how to ask questions.
I recently bought a TF701T having used a TF700T now for two years and before that the TF101, TF201 and TF300T.
All these tabs I installed a recovery: CWM or TWRP and flashed the best ROM I could find. Usually Cyanomod or CROMi-X.
Everything worked fine so I was very excited when I got hold of the TF701T with its incredible Q-ratings and smoothness.
Unlocking worked just fine but installing CWM just does not work: flashing with Fastboot works OK but when I boot into recovery the little green man falls down and stays there
FYI: I am on the latest BL: 10.26.1.28, so newer than the mentioned 10.26.1.18 !
Please could anyone respond ?
Regards, JOTX10 from the Netherlands.

[Q] Sony Xperia Z Patching Problems

Morning all,
First time poster here, I'll try to make this as concise as possible.
Short / TLDR Question: My Sony Xperia Z handset isn't able to install the 10.31.a.2.67 patch either via WiFi or the Sony Companion. Any ideas appreciated.
Longer Version I've recently picked up Sony Xperia Z to replace an older one that I'd damaged in stag do celebrations. Research indicated it would be cheaper to get a new one rather than spring for repairs. The OS version on the replacement is 4.1.2 with build number 10.1.a.1.350. It's a pre-owned one and looks like it's had a soft reset from the settings menu. I've run through and installed the stuff I need, configured it preferred but the last thing I can't do is to install the patch. I'm led to believe that the phone has been developed against as
1 - Plugging it into a desktop via the USB led it to enter debugging mode
2 - There is a root viewer application on the handset
3 - Developer options were turned on
I've tried to get the patch installed a number of times but to no avail. It'll download something (as shown via the GUI) but upon restart all I see is the Xperia logo, a successful boot and then the error message to state it won't install. I don't have access to any log files or error messages to let me take this further.
Because of the above, I'm thinking that a previous developer has possibly something to stop any further patches installing? The fixes I've tried this far: -
1 - Updating the patch from cable doesn't work. The Sony Companion can't detect the phone when connected via the USB
2 - Checking that the default applications are installed.
As such, I'm not sure where to turn next. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Update: I work as an IT professional and as such I'm comfortable with devices and operating systems. I'm not used to development or the sort of development that's involved with android devices.

backpackerd00d said:
Morning all,
First time poster here, I'll try to make this as concise as possible.
Short / TLDR Question: My Sony Xperia Z handset isn't able to install the 10.31.a.2.67 patch either via WiFi or the Sony Companion. Any ideas appreciated.
Longer Version I've recently picked up Sony Xperia Z to replace an older one that I'd damaged in stag do celebrations. Research indicated it would be cheaper to get a new one rather than spring for repairs. The OS version on the replacement is 4.1.2 with build number 10.1.a.1.350. It's a pre-owned one and looks like it's had a soft reset from the settings menu. I've run through and installed the stuff I need, configured it preferred but the last thing I can't do is to install the patch. I'm led to believe that the phone has been developed against as
1 - Plugging it into a desktop via the USB led it to enter debugging mode
2 - There is a root viewer application on the handset
3 - Developer options were turned on
I've tried to get the patch installed a number of times but to no avail. It'll download something (as shown via the GUI) but upon restart all I see is the Xperia logo, a successful boot and then the error message to state it won't install. I don't have access to any log files or error messages to let me take this further.
Because of the above, I'm thinking that a previous developer has possibly something to stop any further patches installing? The fixes I've tried this far: -
1 - Updating the patch from cable doesn't work. The Sony Companion can't detect the phone when connected via the USB
2 - Checking that the default applications are installed.
As such, I'm not sure where to turn next. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Update: I work as an IT professional and as such I'm comfortable with devices and operating systems. I'm not used to development or the sort of development that's involved with android devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By "patch" are you referring to firmware update?

androidtweaker1 said:
By "patch" are you referring to firmware update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes

backpackerd00d said:
Morning all,
First time poster here, I'll try to make this as concise as possible.
Short / TLDR Question: My Sony Xperia Z handset isn't able to install the 10.31.a.2.67 patch either via WiFi or the Sony Companion. Any ideas appreciated.
Longer Version I've recently picked up Sony Xperia Z to replace an older one that I'd damaged in stag do celebrations. Research indicated it would be cheaper to get a new one rather than spring for repairs. The OS version on the replacement is 4.1.2 with build number 10.1.a.1.350. It's a pre-owned one and looks like it's had a soft reset from the settings menu. I've run through and installed the stuff I need, configured it preferred but the last thing I can't do is to install the patch. I'm led to believe that the phone has been developed against as
1 - Plugging it into a desktop via the USB led it to enter debugging mode
2 - There is a root viewer application on the handset
3 - Developer options were turned on
I've tried to get the patch installed a number of times but to no avail. It'll download something (as shown via the GUI) but upon restart all I see is the Xperia logo, a successful boot and then the error message to state it won't install. I don't have access to any log files or error messages to let me take this further.
Because of the above, I'm thinking that a previous developer has possibly something to stop any further patches installing? The fixes I've tried this far: -
1 - Updating the patch from cable doesn't work. The Sony Companion can't detect the phone when connected via the USB
2 - Checking that the default applications are installed.
As such, I'm not sure where to turn next. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Update: I work as an IT professional and as such I'm comfortable with devices and operating systems. I'm not used to development or the sort of development that's involved with android devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whats your phone model number?

Hi all,
Thanks for looking at this thread.
To answer the questions
1 - yes, I mean the Sony pushed firmware updates
2 - Model number is C6603
Cheers

backpackerd00d said:
Hi all,
Thanks for looking at this thread.
To answer the questions
1 - yes, I mean the Sony pushed firmware updates
2 - Model number is C6603
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
download firmware from here
download flashtool from here
flash the firmware using flashtool

Thanks for the links. I'm assuming the flash tool has instructions? I've not flashed a handset before.

backpackerd00d said:
Thanks for the links. I'm assuming the flash tool has instructions? I've not flashed a handset before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click here for instructions

[Q] ASUS memopad 7 (ME176CX-1E041A) OTG?

Hi,
I am looking for a tablet for HAM radio / Shortwave listeners purposes.
One thing I need is a working OTG interface for attaching USB devices
to that tablet.
I read different/contradictionary informations about whether OTG works
with this tablet I am not sure, whether the tablets, they were talking about
were exactly the one I am on the way to buy.
So:
Does OTG work on a ASUS memopad 7 (ME176CX-1E041A) w/ Android 4.4 ?
And:
I read that Lollipop will install UEFI and will lock me out then, since there is
no rooting method....true?
Thank you very much for any help in advance!
Best regards,
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
Hi,
I am looking for a tablet for HAM radio / Shortwave listeners purposes.
One thing I need is a working OTG interface for attaching USB devices
to that tablet.
I read different/contradictionary informations about whether OTG works
with this tablet I am not sure, whether the tablets, they were talking about
were exactly the one I am on the way to buy.
So:
Does OTG work on a ASUS memopad 7 (ME176CX-1E041A) w/ Android 4.4 ?
And:
I read that Lollipop will install UEFI and will lock me out then, since there is
no rooting method....true?
Thank you very much for any help in advance!
Best regards,
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rooting method for lollipop is only less noob-friendly, but for future I recommend you updating to lollipop. For rooting whether kitkat or lollipop (the better but a bit harder way), take a look at this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/intel-android-devices-root-temp-cwm-t2975096
And OTG works quite good, even thumb drives work natively without some root using workaround.

Mis012 said:
The rooting method for lollipop is only less noob-friendly, but for future I recommend you updating to lollipop. For rooting whether kitkat or lollipop (the better but a bit harder way), take a look at this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/intel-android-devices-root-temp-cwm-t2975096
And OTG works quite good, even thumb drives work natively without some root using workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mis012,
thanks a lot for help me to start with all the things.
I want absolutely sure to understand what I am reading in all that tutorials and postings. Are there any "meta"-tutorials, which explain for example all these acronyms and abbreviations like
adb,odin,cvm,twpr,fastboot and a lot more? I want to learn, but what if I even dont understand the abbreviations of the tutorials and howtos? Lost?
Next:
I took a look at the rooting tutorial you linked (THX!) and didnt find my device in the list of supported devices? Out of luck? Or outdated informations? If outdated, how can I be sure, that
it still works?
(This is NO critism in any way, but I dont want "Just another brick in the wall"...
In this forum (or was it androidsforums? dont remember) I read postings of quite a few people who have created paper weights by upgrading to vanilla lollipop...
What are the benefits in comparision to kitkat to take the risk of an update?
Will lollipop fix the battery drain problem in standby of this nice device?
Can I attach a USBtoEthernet device to the usb port an get a net connection instead of using Wifi?
By the way: My ASUS mempad 7 is on the way to me....
Sorry for the bunch of question ... I am driven by a mix of curiosity and anxity...
Best regards and thank you very much for helping a newbie to get the road to
gain knowledge to help others in turn...
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
Hi Mis012,
thanks a lot for help me to start with all the things.
I want absolutely sure to understand what I am reading in all that tutorials and postings. Are there any "meta"-tutorials, which explain for example all these acronyms and abbreviations like
adb,odin,cvm,twpr,fastboot and a lot more? I want to learn, but what if I even dont understand the abbreviations of the tutorials and howtos? Lost?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adb - android debug bridge, gives you shell access to your device from computer and more. Search for Minimal ADB installer.
odin - Samsung flashing tool, has nothing to do with our tablet.
cwm - clockworkmod. custom recovery.
twrp - teamWin project recovery. has more functions, but refuses to work with our device
fastboot - something like adb, you use it for flashing partitions if you have unlocked bootloader
tuxic001 said:
Next:
I took a look at the rooting tutorial you linked (THX!) and didnt find my device in the list of supported devices? Out of luck? Or outdated informations? If outdated, how can I be sure, that
it still works?
(This is NO critism in any way, but I dont want "Just another brick in the wall"...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should be in the supported devices list. It's me176cx. I can say it works.
tuxic001 said:
In this forum (or was it androidsforums? dont remember) I read postings of quite a few people who have created paper weights by upgrading to vanilla lollipop...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you soft brick your device like me, you can just return to kitkat, or better go to store and want a rapair. I returned my to the store two days ago, hope they will give me a chance for lollipop. The update should work without problems on a new device.
tuxic001 said:
What are the benefits in comparision to kitkat to take the risk of an update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, it is lollipop vs kitkat - you can read on internet about why lollipop is better.
The best part - UEFI. with UEFI, you can install any computer OS (Windows, linux) on this tablet.
tuxic001 said:
Will lollipop fix the battery drain problem in standby of this nice device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe. there was some tutorial on xda how to fix it.
tuxic001 said:
Can I attach a USBtoEthernet device to the usb port an get a net connection instead of using Wifi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the OS will support it. I don't know if android can support this.
tuxic001 said:
By the way: My ASUS mempad 7 is on the way to me....
Sorry for the bunch of question ... I am driven by a mix of curiosity and anxity...
Best regards and thank you very much for helping a newbie to get the road to
gain knowledge to help others in turn...
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem.
DO NOT DO ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS WITH THE DEVICE UNTIL YOU GET LOLLIPOP!
Otherwise, you may end up with lollipop update not working > warranty or kitkat forever
And here are some links you should read (It' not that much of text, it only looks like that
https://www.happyassassin.net/2014/01/25/uefi-boot-how-does-that-actually-work-then/ - the autor should thank me, I recommend this article to everone here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317790 - minimal ADB and fastboot (you do not need it for Temp CWM recovery, it includes it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/intel-android-devices-root-temp-cwm-t2975096 - Temp CWM recovery
http://forum.xda-developers.com/memo-pad-7/general/asus-memo-7-me176cx-t2814046 - general thread about this tablet
http://doesn't-exist-yet.sorry/ - I will make a nice step by step guide on how to dual boot lollipop and other OS as soon as I will have my tablet back from service and I will have lollipop so I will have UEFI)

Mis012 said:
adb - android debug bridge, gives you shell access to your device from computer and more. Search for Minimal ADB installer.
odin - Samsung flashing tool, has nothing to do with our tablet.
cwm - clockworkmod. custom recovery.
twrp - teamWin project recovery. has more functions, but refuses to work with our device
fastboot - something like adb, you use it for flashing partitions if you have unlocked bootloader
It should be in the supported devices list. It's me176cx. I can say it works.
If you soft brick your device like me, you can just return to kitkat, or better go to store and want a rapair. I returned my to the store two days ago, hope they will give me a chance for lollipop. The update should work without problems on a new device.
First of all, it is lollipop vs kitkat - you can read on internet about why lollipop is better.
The best part - UEFI. with UEFI, you can install any computer OS (Windows, linux) on this tablet.
Maybe. there was some tutorial on xda how to fix it.
If the OS will support it. I don't know if android can support this.
No problem.
DO NOT DO ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS WITH THE DEVICE UNTIL YOU GET LOLLIPOP!
Otherwise, you may end up with lollipop update not working > warranty or kitkat forever
And here are some links you should read (It' not that much of text, it only looks like that
https://www.happyassassin.net/2014/01/25/uefi-boot-how-does-that-actually-work-then/ - the autor should thank me, I recommend this article to everone here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317790 - minimal ADB and fastboot (you do not need it for Temp CWM recovery, it includes it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/intel-android-devices-root-temp-cwm-t2975096 - Temp CWM recovery
http://forum.xda-developers.com/memo-pad-7/general/asus-memo-7-me176cx-t2814046 - general thread about this tablet
http://doesn't-exist-yet.sorry/ - I will make a nice step by step guide on how to dual boot lollipop and other OS as soon as I will have my tablet back from service and I will have lollipop so I will have UEFI)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mis012,
OH WHOW! This drives my curiosity up and my anxity DOWN! A BIG THANK YOU for your patience with a newbie (I have some experience with Linux and embedded devices (Beaglebone Black, AriettaG25(both ARM) though).
AND: My ASUS ME176CX has arrieved!!! YEAH!
And...strictly following your advice I just started to do the least suspicious with it: CHARGING! hahahaha!
Question (as you might already have expected :
The first thing I want to do is to lollipop my board.
Unfortunately there are two things to consider: I have to setup WLAN for my PC (yes, I am of the "generation copper" / Gentoo LInux. This will be some effort
but no unbeatable problem.
Next is: I am living in a house with LOT OF RF noise. My shortwave receiver sounds like an lawn mower when switched on indoors (that the reason for buying a mobile
PC to go outside and still have all decoders, frequency lists and informations available).
So I do not trust any broadcasted data stream that much...especially when it comes to firmware updates (IIIIIEEEEEKKKKSS!).
Is there any way to update via good ole files from a sdcard/internal flash in a non hackish, plain and secure way?
Earphone:
There neither a users manual nor Tech Specs inside the box.
And if I will insert an earphone into the earphone jack I may burn the output drivers of the audio chip inside,
if this earphone has a too low impedance. Mine has 14 Ohms.
Question:
What is the output impedance of the audio port?
Does it support a mic on the earphone (four contacts)?
Thank you very much in advance again for helping an old child to walk in new shoes!
Hopefully I will get around the hurdles in the beginning and can start to give answers.
Best regards,
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
Hi Mis012,
OH WHOW! This drives my curiosity up and my anxity DOWN! A BIG THANK YOU for your patience with a newbie (I have some experience with Linux and embedded devices (Beaglebone Black, AriettaG25(both ARM) though).
AND: My ASUS ME176CX has arrieved!!! YEAH!
And...strictly following your advice I just started to do the least suspicious with it: CHARGING! hahahaha!
Question (as you might already have expected :
The first thing I want to do is to lollipop my board.
Unfortunately there are two things to consider: I have to setup WLAN for my PC (yes, I am of the "generation copper" / Gentoo LInux. This will be some effort
but no unbeatable problem.
Next is: I am living in a house with LOT OF RF noise. My shortwave receiver sounds like an lawn mower when switched on indoors (that the reason for buying a mobile
PC to go outside and still have all decoders, frequency lists and informations available).
So I do not trust any broadcasted data stream that much...especially when it comes to firmware updates (IIIIIEEEEEKKKKSS!).
Is there any way to update via good ole files from a sdcard/internal flash in a non hackish, plain and secure way?
Earphone:
There neither a users manual nor Tech Specs inside the box.
And if I will insert an earphone into the earphone jack I may burn the output drivers of the audio chip inside,
if this earphone has a too low impedance. Mine has 14 Ohms.
Question:
What is the output impedance of the audio port?
Does it support a mic on the earphone (four contacts)?
Thank you very much in advance again for helping an old child to walk in new shoes!
Hopefully I will get around the hurdles in the beginning and can start to give answers.
Best regards,
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really don't know anything anout earphones, but I think tablets have some kind of protection, the worst what can happen is you will drain your battery faster, or the sound volume might be lower. Theoreticaly.
About the update: sorry that I didn't mention it, the best what you can do is to download the lollipop firmware from asus support site for this tablet, put it on your sdcard and start it up, then there will be a notification saying somethinhg like "do you wanna update?" You will say that you want and that's it. And you can press thanks if you find my posts helpful, I will feel more like a big boss if I will have more thanks, and it pleases my heart If you need to know anything else, just say You would help us all if you could find someone interested in making cyanogenmod (12.1 would be best) for our device. Just share this link where I write how the locked bootloader can be safely ignored by replacing it with another one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/memo-pad-7/help/me176cxk013-how-cyanogen-mod-t3154917

Mis012 said:
Really don't know anything anout earphones, but I think tablets have some kind of protection, the worst what can happen is you will drain your battery faster, or the sound volume might be lower. Theoreticaly.
About the update: sorry that I didn't mention it, the best what you can do is to download the lollipop firmware from asus support site for this tablet, put it on your sdcard and start it up, then there will be a notification saying somethinhg like "do you wanna update?" You will say that you want and that's it. And you can press thanks if you find my posts helpful, I will feel more like a big boss if I will have more thanks, and it pleases my heart If you need to know anything else, just say You would help us all if you could find someone interested in making cyanogenmod (12.1 would be best) for our device. Just share this link where I write how the locked bootloader can be safely ignored by replacing it with another one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/memo-pad-7/help/me176cxk013-how-cyanogen-mod-t3154917
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS PRESSED! GREAT! I didn't saw that and it is the first forum I visit, which has this feature!
And downloading an update and THAN flashing it, makes me feel a lot more comfortable...WLAN is only "somehow" here...
Here:
http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=ASUS+MeMO+Pad+7+(ME176C)
I found 1 firmware item to download:
Version WW_V12.10.1.17 (OS upgradesto Android Lollipop 5.0.1)
Now I am a little confused:
"Download device software and Update SOP (From “Manual” Item)" -- what the [] is a "SOP" ? I cannot find any SOP-Manual (or whatever SOP)
"Only apply to same SKU update, Example: WW->WW, CN->CN, TW->TW." ("SKU"? "WW"? "CN"? "TW"? ???? IEEEEKKKS! All this acronyms!!!
"Userfriendly" is definetly something completly different!
I need support for the ASUS support, I think
...Since I found in my ME176CX a software revision number starting with WW and the firmware also start with WW, I think I am ok.
I still dont know, what SKU is and I didnt find any SOP.
Will it be ok to put UL-K013-WW-12.10.1.17_KK-user.zip (unpacked???) onto my SDcard (where? The root dictionary of the card?) ,
put the SDcard into my tablet, and switch the tablet on (when fully charged) and "follow the instructions" ?
Sorry if doubling questions, but I feel better when asking question a second time than buying a tablet a second time...dont like Pink Floyd
at this point of my life...
Best regards,
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
THANKS PRESSED! GREAT! I didn't saw that and it is the first forum I visit, which has this feature!
And downloading an update and THAN flashing it, makes me feel a lot more comfortable...WLAN is only "somehow" here...
Here:
http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=ASUS+MeMO+Pad+7+(ME176C)
I found 1 firmware item to download:
Version WW_V12.10.1.17 (OS upgradesto Android Lollipop 5.0.1)
Now I am a little confused:
"Download device software and Update SOP (From “Manual” Item)" -- what the [] is a "SOP" ? I cannot find any SOP-Manual (or whatever SOP)
"Only apply to same SKU update, Example: WW->WW, CN->CN, TW->TW." ("SKU"? "WW"? "CN"? "TW"? ???? IEEEEKKKS! All this acronyms!!!
"Userfriendly" is definetly something completly different!
I need support for the ASUS support, I think
...Since I found in my ME176CX a software revision number starting with WW and the firmware also start with WW, I think I am ok.
I still dont know, what SKU is and I didnt find any SOP.
Will it be ok to put UL-K013-WW-12.10.1.17_KK-user.zip (unpacked???) onto my SDcard (where? The root dictionary of the card?) ,
put the SDcard into my tablet, and switch the tablet on (when fully charged) and "follow the instructions" ?
Sorry if doubling questions, but I feel better when asking question a second time than buying a tablet a second time...dont like Pink Floyd
at this point of my life...
Best regards,
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that the description is some weird user-unfriendly way to describe what I said. Just do what I wrote, there should be no problem. I will stay tuned, crossed fingers for you.

Mis012 said:
I think that the description is some weird user-unfriendly way to describe what I said. Just do what I wrote, there should be no problem. I will stay tuned, crossed fingers for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it and: I GOT LOLLIPOP! YEAH!
I find you guilty for being the source of this success!
Is there a way to check, whether the update is complete, valid in whole working?
Are there critical points to check (certain applications/functions)?
Best regards,
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
I did it and: I GOT LOLLIPOP! YEAH!
I find you guilty for being the source of this success!
Is there a way to check, whether the update is complete, valid in whole working?
Are there critical points to check (certain applications/functions)?
Best regards,
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you connect keyboard using OTG cable, and press F2 during startup, you should boot into UEFI. Did you encounter any problems with lollipop? Disabling "power saver" option in settings should give you smoother experiance, and solves problem with games playing slow. Anyways, I'm glad I could help. For further info, follow this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/memo-pad-7/general/asus-memo-7-me176cx-t2814046/page256

Mis012 said:
When you connect keyboard using OTG cable, and press F2 during startup, you should boot into UEFI. Did you encounter any problems with lollipop? Disabling "power saver" option in settings should give you smoother experiance, and solves problem with games playing slow. Anyways, I'm glad I could help. For further info, follow this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/memo-pad-7/general/asus-memo-7-me176cx-t2814046/page256
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm....F2 does not work for me...
I also tried the easter egg...but I got a lollipop, but no game...
Furthermore I cannot connect the ME176CX to my computer in a way that the computer recognized it as storage device...
"Software version" say "5.0" and not "5.0.1" or anything higher. The firmware I downloaded was marked as "5.0.1"
Did I really got a FULL and VALID update?
Best regards,
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
Hmmm....F2 does not work for me...
I also tried the easter egg...but I got a lollipop, but no game...
Furthermore I cannot connect the ME176CX to my computer in a way that the computer recognized it as storage device...
"Software version" say "5.0" and not "5.0.1" or anything higher. The firmware I downloaded was marked as "5.0.1"
Did I really got a FULL and VALID update?
Best regards,
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is 5.0.0 they have mistypen. As for the minigame, touching lollipop will change color, but holding will bring the minigame. Maybe F2 only works with powered hub, didn't try it as my tablet is still in service. Alternatively, you can try this:
1.connect usb keyboard with OTG cable
2.enter stock recovery (while powering on the tablet, hold volume down. In droidboot, select recovery using volume buttons and confirm with power button)
3.on the keyboard press and hold F2
4.select reboot to bootloader
5.on the keyboard press ENTER
steps may vary a bit, this method sounds weird to me but you can try. If it will not work, I will point you at a bit harder method.

Mis012 said:
It is 5.0.0 they have mistypen. As for the minigame, touching lollipop will change color, but holding will bring the minigame. Maybe F2 only works with powered hub, didn't try it as my tablet is still in service. Alternatively, you can try this:
1.connect usb keyboard with OTG cable
2.enter stock recovery (while powering on the tablet, hold volume down. In droidboot, select recovery using volume buttons and confirm with power button)
3.on the keyboard press and hold F2
4.select reboot to bootloader
5.on the keyboard press ENTER
steps may vary a bit, this method sounds weird to me but you can try. If it will not work, I will point you at a bit harder method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mis012,
Ok, got the Lollipop game (just a test, what works -- just to validate my update).
Entered droidboot as a "exercise" only (for getting used to it).
Found my serial number is 012345678012345678 (or similiar counting up).
Does that mean, that someone sold me a refurbished device as a new one? I read of this
kind of "serial number" appearing on devices, which were sent for repair...
Currently I am download&installing (Gentoo installs a wrapper, which one calls to get the whole
thing installed) android_sdk/android_studio to my Linux PC. Oh damn! THAT'S a huge
thing to download...I started 4 hours before and it still downloads (no, I /am/ generation copper,
but I use DSL ... no modem
While that process slowly but surely will fill up my Linux harddisk I was searching for a
GPS app, which DOES NOT LOG me for others, dont read my contacts, and do other, non
purpose related things AND uses openstreetmap (or better: dont use google services),
is able to do all its functions offline and is GPLed.
I testinstalled three...
All claims suspicious rights of accessing for example the microphone.
I deleted all.
Damn!
I think I have to learn A LOT MORE, before feeling halfway comfortable with this kind
of "new world order"
And as always Mis012...thank you very much for your support and patience!
Best regards,
tuxic
PS: Next I will try F2 again...

tuxic001 said:
Hi Mis012,
Ok, got the Lollipop game (just a test, what works -- just to validate my update).
Entered droidboot as a "exercise" only (for getting used to it).
Found my serial number is 012345678012345678 (or similiar counting up).
Does that mean, that someone sold me a refurbished device as a new one? I read of this
kind of "serial number" appearing on devices, which were sent for repair...
Currently I am download&installing (Gentoo installs a wrapper, which one calls to get the whole
thing installed) android_sdk/android_studio to my Linux PC. Oh damn! THAT'S a huge
thing to download...I started 4 hours before and it still downloads (no, I /am/ generation copper,
but I use DSL ... no modem
While that process slowly but surely will fill up my Linux harddisk I was searching for a
GPS app, which DOES NOT LOG me for others, dont read my contacts, and do other, non
purpose related things AND uses openstreetmap (or better: dont use google services),
is able to do all its functions offline and is GPLed.
I testinstalled three...
All claims suspicious rights of accessing for example the microphone.
I deleted all.
Damn!
I think I have to learn A LOT MORE, before feeling halfway comfortable with this kind
of "new world order"
And as always Mis012...thank you very much for your support and patience!
Best regards,
tuxic
PS: Next I will try F2 again...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you do not install sdk only because of adb, because you can get adb separetely and it has less the 10 MB.
About GPS, it looks like this tablet cannot fix location without being cannected to wi-fi.
About the serial number, it really seems weird, but you should be able to change it to something else if you want to.
And it looks there is a new OTA, I recommend not to install it, maybe it will remove UEFI acess or something. Now, it looks like a fix for lollipop problems some people had, but a lot of them have no problems after freezing the power saver app.

Mis012 said:
I hope you do not install sdk only because of adb, because you can get adb separetely and it has less the 10 MB.
About GPS, it looks like this tablet cannot fix location without being cannected to wi-fi.
About the serial number, it really seems weird, but you should be able to change it to something else if you want to.
And it looks there is a new OTA, I recommend not to install it, maybe it will remove UEFI acess or something. Now, it looks like a fix for lollipop problems some people had, but a lot of them have no problems after freezing the power saver app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mis012,
No, no..(.the SDK is still downloading)...
I install the SDK cause I am curious and may (if TIME and BRAIN allows me) be I can
program something. I am on LINUX here (I mean: my PC is a GENTOO box), so often
tutorials are not that straight forward to read (and helper applications on PC side are
not running here).
GPS is only running when WIFI is connected? Holy CRAP...Google wants to be sure,
that tey are able to track """anonymously"""".
Software "problem"/"feature" which was installed with Lollipop or is it a hardware
restriction? Oh damn...one reason for buying this tablet has gone...
Next update will remove/close UEFI? Will be this the next feature, which I will loose?
But still the nice shiny glass surface will remain...(not without sarcasm... )
IF UEFI will be locked/removed...will we have a chance, to get full control over
this tablet again?
Who is checking for the sanity of this new update?
The droidboot/F2 hack does not work with my keyboard (KBtalking PURE 60).
I could reconnect my IBM model M keyboard of my PC to the tablet, but this
beauty will pull over 100mA through the USBtoPS2 converter....
Better not.
I have an USB hub here...will try that next.
Is there anything I definetly should NOT do, when booted into UEFI?
Will OTAs be available as files later or here or somewhere else?
Do you know of people having such a odd serial number AND have
a proofen new device?
Oh, why oh why one needs to check for everything these days???
Best reagards,
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
GPS is only running when WIFI is connected? Holy CRAP...Google wants to be sure,
that tey are able to track """anonymously"""".
Software "problem"/"feature" which was installed with Lollipop or is it a hardware
restriction? Oh damn...one reason for buying this tablet has gone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's working fine for me without WiFi, tested it last week. I've heard some people reporting problems with the GPS, can't reproduce them personally.
tuxic001 said:
Next update will remove/close UEFI? Will be this the next feature, which I will loose?
But still the nice shiny glass surface will remain...(not without sarcasm... )
IF UEFI will be locked/removed...will we have a chance, to get full control over
this tablet again?
Who is checking for the sanity of this new update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed the update yesterday, it updated something in the BIOS or UEFI or however that it called, not completely sure if they patched that. I don't have an OTG adapter (?, the micro USB to USB adapter) yet (ordered one already) so can't say if they broke that. Will test once it has arrived.
tuxic001 said:
Will OTAs be available as files later or here or somewhere else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can download the latest OTA update from the link I posted it http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61926393&postcount=2587 (scroll down a bit, the URL starting with fota.asus.com has the OTA update, can't post the link directly here for some reason) and install it using the temp CWM recovery for example. Not sure if you can also simply copy it to your sdcard, never tried that. Just keep in mind, I don't know what ASUS will do with your UEFI/bootloader with this update, it's generally working fine for me though. If you've disabled power saver in the previous lollipop version there is generally no big reason to update, there were only a few minor changes (I noticed nothing)...
tuxic001 said:
Do you know of people having such a odd serial number AND have
a proofen new device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just checked, I have the same serial number listed there. I don't know but I don't think it's the real serial number so I wouldn't worry about it. I've installed a few updates already and own the device for about a month already so can't tell for sure, but I'm pretty sure I wondered about this serial number already when I got the device a month ago.

tuxic001 said:
Hi Mis012,
No, no..(.the SDK is still downloading)...
I install the SDK cause I am curious and may (if TIME and BRAIN allows me) be I can
program something. I am on LINUX here (I mean: my PC is a GENTOO box), so often
tutorials are not that straight forward to read (and helper applications on PC side are
not running here).
GPS is only running when WIFI is connected? Holy CRAP...Google wants to be sure,
that tey are able to track """anonymously"""".
Software "problem"/"feature" which was installed with Lollipop or is it a hardware
restriction? Oh damn...one reason for buying this tablet has gone...
Next update will remove/close UEFI? Will be this the next feature, which I will loose?
But still the nice shiny glass surface will remain...(not without sarcasm... )
IF UEFI will be locked/removed...will we have a chance, to get full control over
this tablet again?
Who is checking for the sanity of this new update?
The droidboot/F2 hack does not work with my keyboard (KBtalking PURE 60).
I could reconnect my IBM model M keyboard of my PC to the tablet, but this
beauty will pull over 100mA through the USBtoPS2 converter....
Better not.
I have an USB hub here...will try that next.
Is there anything I definetly should NOT do, when booted into UEFI?
Will OTAs be available as files later or here or somewhere else?
Do you know of people having such a odd serial number AND have
a proofen new device?
Oh, why oh why one needs to check for everything these days???
Best reagards,
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About the UEFI acces removal I said maybe. Mayba not. But who knows these days?
And about the gps, it dit it on kitkat and someone said it does this on lollipop too. I would recommend booting in windows and trying then, if it will not work then it will never. But GPS apps for windows? Noooo, who would mess up with that? The next step would be Android-x86.
As for the UEFI, here comes the noob-unfriendly variant:
0. root the tablet (may not be needed, I haven't tried)
1. download the efibootmgr compiled for android http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61108700&postcount=2083
2. place the file from inside the zip somewhere
3. using android termianl app, cd in folder with efibootmgr
4. with help of this file http://linux.dell.com/files/efibootmgr/efibootmgr-0.5.4/efibootmgr.txt set next boot to UEFI setup utility. You will most likely need root.
5. Power off the tablet and power it on again
6. You should be in UEFI setup utility. Now you may be able to browse the menus.
7. You will most likely still need a powered usb hub to connect keyboard and do anything.
I hope I will not need a powered usb hub, I do not have one.

Mis012 said:
About the UEFI acces removal I said maybe. Mayba not. But who knows these days?
And about the gps, it dit it on kitkat and someone said it does this on lollipop too. I would recommend booting in windows and trying then, if it will not work then it will never. But GPS apps for windows? Noooo, who would mess up with that? The next step would be Android-x86.
As for the UEFI, here comes the noob-unfriendly variant:
0. root the tablet (may not be needed, I haven't tried)
1. download the efibootmgr compiled for android http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61108700&postcount=2083
2. place the file from inside the zip somewhere
3. using android termianl app, cd in folder with efibootmgr
4. with help of this file http://linux.dell.com/files/efibootmgr/efibootmgr-0.5.4/efibootmgr.txt set next boot to UEFI setup utility. You will most likely need root.
5. Power off the tablet and power it on again
6. You should be in UEFI setup utility. Now you may be able to browse the menus.
7. You will most likely still need a powered usb hub to connect keyboard and do anything.
I hope I will not need a powered usb hub, I do not have one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mis012,
UEFI:
Thanks for the deeply-hack-mode-variant!
But I will wait with my experiments until it is clear whether we will still have full access to our beloved ME176CX or not.
Here is a little bit of knowledge, which I can give back:
I had asked on xda-developers whether and how it is possible to mount the tablet as storage device.
Now I found a way to do so on Linux.
You need to install on Linux (this is Gentoo notation...other distros may
have similiar nameings)
dev-lang/go-1.4.2
dev-libs/go-usb-9999
dev-libs/go-fuse-0_p20150422
media-libs/libmtp-1.1.8
On the tablet switch off PTP and switch on MTP.
Connect the device with you Gentoo box and start (as root)
go-mtpfs <mountpunt>
(YES! No device name is required here).
After that the mountpoint contains two directories:
drwxr-xr-x 0 root root 0 1970-01-01 01:00 Internal storage
drwxr-xr-x 0 root root 0 1970-01-01 01:00 SD card
which which is, is obvious.
It is ok, that the command "hangs" ... works as designed.
It stops hanging after the umnount (see below).
Now you can add files into these directories as root.
To umount use (again as root)
umount <mntpoint>
This way there is no need of WiFi transfers or fiddling with this
tiny memory chips.
Best regards,
tuxic

tuxic001 said:
Hi Mis012,
UEFI:
Thanks for the deeply-hack-mode-variant!
But I will wait with my experiments until it is clear whether we will still have full access to our beloved ME176CX or not.
Here is a little bit of knowledge, which I can give back:
I had asked on xda-developers whether and how it is possible to mount the tablet as storage device.
Now I found a way to do so on Linux.
You need to install on Linux (this is Gentoo notation...other distros may
have similiar nameings)
dev-lang/go-1.4.2
dev-libs/go-usb-9999
dev-libs/go-fuse-0_p20150422
media-libs/libmtp-1.1.8
On the tablet switch off PTP and switch on MTP.
Connect the device with you Gentoo box and start (as root)
go-mtpfs <mountpunt>
(YES! No device name is required here).
After that the mountpoint contains two directories:
drwxr-xr-x 0 root root 0 1970-01-01 01:00 Internal storage
drwxr-xr-x 0 root root 0 1970-01-01 01:00 SD card
which which is, is obvious.
It is ok, that the command "hangs" ... works as designed.
It stops hanging after the umnount (see below).
Now you can add files into these directories as root.
To umount use (again as root)
umount <mntpoint>
This way there is no need of WiFi transfers or fiddling with this
tiny memory chips.
Best regards,
tuxic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my Arch Linux system with Gnome/Cinnamon and on Linux Mint/Ubuntu (with a few hacks) it is mounting the device automatically without root or any command, I simply connect it to USB and the device is showing up in the file explorer.

cyandro said:
On my Arch Linux system with Gnome/Cinnamon and on Linux Mint/Ubuntu (with a few hacks) it is mounting the device automatically without root or any command, I simply connect it to USB and the device is showing up in the file explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there are distros out there, which has setup the udev-rules and mtp-mimic already.
Gentoo leaves all that as a task (and exercise) for the user.
Unfortunately I received no reply to my question how to access the ME176CX via usb storage.
So I found it myself...
Now I know, how it works
By the way: Is there any way to disable this [CENSORED] auto completion and word guessing "feature"
of the build-in keyboard. I disabled all suspicous settings under "Language and Input" -- but it
does not help.
"cat /proc/cpuinfo" will instantly be corrected to "cat /proc/Clinton"
which does not work in this case
For programming and system peeking purposes this is a total NO GO!
Help me please with the settings...I am over 30 !
Best regards,
tuxic

[BRICKED] fastboot mode with black screen

So.. My Huawei P10 won't boot neither into system nor recovery, the screen is off and there's no LED indication.
It is recognized in fastboot, I can erase and flash both system and recovery, though rebooting the device does nothing, it just shows up in fastboot again, still with screen off.
Is there any way to save this phone? I installed a new battery too.
dc pheonix and hcu client did not help either.
:crying:

I have the same issue. Hard brick, doesnt turn on after I upgraded to oreo.

Guys, I have this issue, too and worked a bit with DC Phoenix support.
The reason why my P10 didn't boot anymore is simple: I just flashed the wrong firmware files for rolling back from Pie to Oreo.
Now I have a shiny black piece of junk.
I tried to flash with DC Phoenix, also with test point. The device was recognized as serial device, so the test point was working. But DC Phoenix failed at flashing.
DC support says, that Dec 18 security patches are preventing to flash old firmwares but DC needs to flash the original factory firmware, OTA isn't working.
So at the end of an 8 hour day trying to fix my P10 my result was a nice chat and a fast refund of my 19€ for DC pheonix.
If you can't get it working even with test point method, your phone is is a piece of junk.
Mostly it's caused by doing something wrong at downloading firmwares or flashing them, also while flashing wrong Magisk modules, Xposed or wrong boot images.
Since Pie don't have a boot partition anymore it's important to download a rollback firmware (2 files instead of 3) so the recovery is able to reformat before flashing.

Jannomag said:
Guys, I have this issue, too and worked a bit with DC Phoenix support.
The reason why my P10 didn't boot anymore is simple: I just flashed the wrong firmware files for rolling back from Pie to Oreo.
Now I have a shiny black piece of junk.
I tried to flash with DC Phoenix, also with test point. The device was recognized as serial device, so the test point was working. But DC Phoenix failed at flashing.
DC support says, that Dec 18 security patches are preventing to flash old firmwares but DC needs to flash the original factory firmware, OTA isn't working.
So at the end of an 8 hour day trying to fix my P10 my result was a nice chat and a fast refund of my 19€ for DC pheonix.
If you can't get it working even with test point method, your phone is is a piece of junk.
Mostly it's caused by doing something wrong at downloading firmwares or flashing them, also while flashing wrong Magisk modules, Xposed or wrong boot images.
Since Pie don't have a boot partition anymore it's important to download a rollback firmware (2 files instead of 3) so the recovery is able to reformat before flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
were you able to send flash erecovery through adb ? or did it show success read and failed write?
thank you

NowLearn said:
were you able to send flash erecovery through adb ? or did it show success read and failed write?
thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For adb it’s needed that the phone starts completely into system or twrp - both not possible for me.
With fastboot it’s not possible to flash eRecovery, just recovery.

Jannomag said:
Guys, I have this issue, too and worked a bit with DC Phoenix support.
The reason why my P10 didn't boot anymore is simple: I just flashed the wrong firmware files for rolling back from Pie to Oreo.
Now I have a shiny black piece of junk.
I tried to flash with DC Phoenix, also with test point. The device was recognized as serial device, so the test point was working. But DC Phoenix failed at flashing.
DC support says, that Dec 18 security patches are preventing to flash old firmwares but DC needs to flash the original factory firmware, OTA isn't working.
So at the end of an 8 hour day trying to fix my P10 my result was a nice chat and a fast refund of my 19€ for DC pheonix.
If you can't get it working even with test point method, your phone is is a piece of junk.
Mostly it's caused by doing something wrong at downloading firmwares or flashing them, also while flashing wrong Magisk modules, Xposed or wrong boot images.
Since Pie don't have a boot partition anymore it's important to download a rollback firmware (2 files instead of 3) so the recovery is able to reformat before flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I tried the same, and also got the security patch warning, though little did I know I could get a refund. I did not try the 'test point' method. Not sure if I get it, do you connect/solder usb-cable onto the phone's motherboard?

You need to connect the test point to ground, you can use the shielding right beside of it. Take a small wire or tweezers for it.
I did it like this:
- connect the phone to pc, it should be recognized as fastboot device
- Short test point with ground
- hold down the power button until the computer recognizes the device again
- install the serial driver
DC should work now. But if it doesn’t, write it in the dc forums and you’ll get refund

Huawei P10 Successfully Recovered from Fastboot black screen on latest Security 9.
Alham Do Lillah With the help of Allah Almighty today I successfully recovered my p10 from black display stuck in fastboot mode on latest Security 9..
I used 2 tools
1: Dc phoenix
2: chimera

chsaim said:
Alham Do Lillah With the help of Allah Almighty today I successfully recovered my p10 from black display stuck in fastboot mode on latest Security 9..
I used 2 tools
1: Dc phoenix
2: chimera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you explain exactly how?

Jannomag said:
Can you explain exactly how?[/QUOTE
you need to know exactly build number and flash latest firmware according to build number with chimera tool.
make sure that phone is in fastboot mode... am sorry if i cant explained well ... for more details write me at [email protected]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Yes, please share some information how can we recover our dead p10. It would greatly help the community. Thank you

I tried it with DC and Chimera. Both aren't working for me, because of the security patches. Huawei did some deep changes between October and December 2018 and made it very hard to flash even with test points - another reason for me to leave Huawei to my alltime smartphone enemy Samsung...
The DC-Phoenix and Chimera teams are working hard on a solution, take a look at their forums and you'll notice that many people have this problems, just because Huawei ****ed it up.
I mean, we did all something wrong, otherwise this threat won't exist. But Huawei made it hard for us to revive the devices and this reminds me of Apples politics. Huawei doesn't need to give support to unlocked phones but it's very unfair to prevent their customers from doing what they want including unlocking.
Back to topic:
Follow the forums of DC and Chimera. If you found any solution or fix, please post it here.
My device, also bricked while flashing the wrong firmware for rolling back from pie, shows just black screen and fastboot is working.
Test point didn't work, also Chimera couldn't flash anything.
My device gets quiet warm while in fastboot, so I disconnected the battery to prevent deep discharging.

Dear the same situation was happened with my p10 but i recovered... So if you want to recover your phone then give ultra view id and pass....... If you have chimera and dc phoenix you can make it possible.. But remember you must need to know exactly build number
If any one needs my help here is my WhatsApp contact me anytime... +923007969629

If you can share the steps. It would help the community thank you @chsaim

Yes, please share the steps to help the community.
Thanks!

There's absolutely no reason for not sharing the steps in a simple tutorial. Instead @chsaim is begging for remote access to our computers, I don't know why.
I chatted a lot with Chimera support and they told me that there's currently not way to recover, with faulty partitions caused by flashing, with the Dec.2018 security patches and newer. This included the firmware 382, on some 380 devices it doesn't work either.
They also want to send me an E-Mail when they find a solution for this. For now I got my money back from them - great support, also the DC team.
I'm happy to get a used mainboard from local market and now have my P10 as spare phone.

yeap.same **** again with Huawei phones.ı want to try pie rom and when ı try rollback oreo phones turn off and not open again.this is not like a other hard or soft brick problem because I have a experiance about other problems.phone cant charge or pc can't see the device ı cant see red led too.just dead.ı use this phone 2 years but never buying huawei again neverrrr.anybody found a solition ?

Jannomag said:
You need to connect the test point to ground...
- connect the phone to pc, it should be recognized as fastboot device
- Short test point with ground
- hold down the power button until the computer recognizes the device again
- install the serial driver
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Testpoint should be connected till pc recognize it properly or connected all the time during flashing? Do you have any logs at what point dc crashed in your case?

lukastob said:
Testpoint should be connected till pc recognize it properly or connected all the time during flashing? Do you have any logs at what point dc crashed in your case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can access fastboot with dc-phoenix. Once I tried to send erecovery, recovery, or kernel w
Through cmd. It reads but it can't write. That's where I get stuck. If dc it's able to write then I would be able to recover my dead phone. Thank you

lukastob said:
Testpoint should be connected till pc recognize it properly or connected all the time during flashing? Do you have any logs at what point dc crashed in your case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Test point needs to be shorted until the computer recognizes the P10 as an USB serial device. You need drivers for this, which you can get from DC Phoenix.
DC couldn't flash the bootloader:
Code:
BOOTLOADER File to update: Kirin960_T0_A7.0_V1
20.02.2019 21:34:26 Starting to write device...
Writing bootloader...
Error writing Bootloader
20.02.2019 21:35:36 Writing device finished - INCOMPLETE

is there anyone has the latest version of s1tool? (not 2015 version)

Is there anyone have the latest version of s1tool? (not the 2015)
my phone is in bricked mode (error flashing partition.sin using flashtool), now it is in SOMC Flash Device. using the 2015 version of S1tool tells me that my device is not supported. my phone is on the late-2016 line.
if there's no recent version of s1tool, can you guys tell me the alternative ways to unbrick my phone? (can't send the phone to sony, warrantly expired a long long time ago, can't afford to buy a solder station, box)
thanks. i would gladly donate some money to those who successfully helped me to unbrick my phone. i can't afford another one for now. ?

S2tool, what model?
Uh, i think there is more recent software such as S2tool. Look it up; you also don't state the model of phone so it's hard to provide help.

502so but it has f8131 rom. tried to downgrade to it's factory rom. error at flashtool flashing my created ftf, at partition.sin. now my phone won't boot again.

&(*) said:
Uh, i think there is more recent software such as S2tool. Look it up; you also don't state the model of phone so it's hard to provide help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
502so but it has f8131 rom. tried to downgrade to it's factory rom. error at flashtool flashing my created ftf, at partition.sin. now my phone won't boot again.

Softbrick or hardbrick? Are you still able to get a response (green or blue led) when plugging it in to a pc via flashmode and/or fastboot?

&(*) said:
Softbrick or hardbrick? Are you still able to get a response (green or blue led) when plugging it in to a pc via flashmode and/or fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hardbrick to me. flashmode doesn't work anymore. fastboot still can boot. but it's useless anyway. all flashing/ unlock commands just give me "command not allowed" error. if i ground one of the pins of the phone and disconnect the battery before i connect it to pc, i got SOMC Flash Device in Device Manager. Tried faking it as Qualcomm HS USB Loader 9008 and get QFIL to read partition table. No response and then timeout error. S1tool 19V2015 version (this is the latest i could find on google) just gives me "HARDWARE NOT SUPPORTED" error.

Yeah, I don't think s1tool is compatible with that boad (X performace); try SETool2 ( https://files.setool.net/support/SETool2/ ) & read ( https://support.setool.net/showthread.php?3-UPDATES-AND-NEWS/page666 ).

&(*) said:
Softbrick or hardbrick? Are you still able to get a response (green or blue led) when plugging it in to a pc via flashmode and/or fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
&(*) said:
Yeah, I don't think s1tool is compatible with that boad (X performace); try SETool2 ( https://files.setool.net/support/SETool2/ ) & read ( https://support.setool.net/showthread.php?3-UPDATES-AND-NEWS/page666 ).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i launch the tool, it says smartcard not found. doesn't it requires the box? it costs hella more than my phone ?

Are you downloading it from this link ( https://mega.nz/folder/s5knUKJa#JFUJb-9-AJr27vTl_MJ9GQ )? I see another .rar archive named scripts did you unpack it and read the instructions? Btw, is your bootloader unlocked? Don't give up, there is a free version out there. Write on the forum for SE2Tool and see.

&(*) said:
Are you downloading it from this link ( https://mega.nz/folder/s5knUKJa#JFUJb-9-AJr27vTl_MJ9GQ )? I see another .rar archive named scripts did you unpack it and read the instructions? Btw, is your bootloader unlocked? Don't give up, there is a free version out there. Write on the forum for SE2Tool and see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, my bootloader is locked. obviously came from softbank japan. checked it too before flashing.
EDIT:- if i can even use setool, holding down the volume down button while connecting to the computer just end up with blinking green led light on my xperia. the computer doesn't detect it. when i use testpoints, the computer detects as SOMC Flash Device. here's what i did so far to attempt flash using testpoints
1) flashtool method:- not working. mtp error. shows message like "for 2011 device line, make sure to turn off mtp". i can't even boot my phone to go to settings to turn off that thing
2) emma method:- not working. doesn't detect anything
3) s1tool method:- hardware not supported error
4) setool2 using the link you've provided:- smartcard not found. i don't have and can't even afford the box.
5) qfil method:- faked the somc flash device as qualcomm hs usb loader 9008. doesn't work. timeout error.
* before i see the somc flash device, the computer detects it as QUSB_BULK
* i will probably donate some money to someone who can bring my phone back to life again

Try what I posted in the previous reply ( https://mega.nz/folder/s5knUKJa#JFUJb-9-AJr27vTl_MJ9GQ ). There are other scripts you might of missed. I don't see how a smartcard device is needed, though I could be wrong. That should be the correct software to fix boot and unbrick your device. There might be a post on the many pages of the forum that provides SE2Tool to help you find the solution. Are you sure you have the right points, when the light stops blinking that is your indication the board has been put into flash mode. You might have to pack the boot partition into a different format (.ftf) to get it to flash with the software ( https://sony.yt/topic/5324-s1tool-t...l-xperia-qsd8250-msm7227-msm8255-smartphones/ ). Was able to unbrick a docomo Z1C with the suggested method. When you do accomplish the task, write a tutorial for other's.

&(*) said:
Try what I posted in the previous reply ( https://mega.nz/folder/s5knUKJa#JFUJb-9-AJr27vTl_MJ9GQ ). There are other scripts you might of missed. I don't see how a smartcard device is needed, though I could be wrong. That should be the correct software to fix boot and unbrick your device. There might be a post on the many pages of the forum that provides SE2Tool to help you find the solution. Are you sure you have the right points, when the light stops blinking that is your indication the board has been put into flash mode. You might have to pack the boot partition into a different format (.ftf) to get it to flash with the software ( https://sony.yt/topic/5324-s1tool-t...l-xperia-qsd8250-msm7227-msm8255-smartphones/ ). Was able to unbrick a docomo Z1C with the suggested method. When you do accomplish the task, write a tutorial for other's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
opening setool2 from link provided https://mega.nz/folder/s5knUKJa#JFUJb-9-AJr27vTl_MJ9GQ
same error. smartcard not found. probably needs that expensive box. is there any loader though? to bypass this error?

Write who provided the software on the SE2Tool forum and ask if you are using it correctly; I'm pretty sure you don't need a device to run it and the software should suffice for what you need it to do.

SE2Tool Forum?
Did you write/receive a reply from the software engineers for SE2Tool?

&(*) said:
Did you write/receive a reply from the software engineers for SE2Tool?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too bad I couldn't find the SE2Tool forum even it's app. Googling just results in nonsense results. No regarding Sony phones.

The link I provided for the software download is the forum. Write them, someone will help you.

&(*) said:
Are you downloading it from this link ( https://mega.nz/folder/s5knUKJa#JFUJb-9-AJr27vTl_MJ9GQ )? I see another .rar archive named scripts did you unpack it and read the instructions? Btw, is your bootloader unlocked? Don't give up, there is a free version out there. Write on the forum for SE2Tool and see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
&(*) said:
The link I provided for the software download is the forum. Write them, someone will help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently not.
https://support.setool.net/showthre...X-Performance-502SO-Hard-Bricked&goto=newpost