Android on Alcatel Idol 4S Windows edition - Alcatel Idol 4S Questions & Answers

Hi everyone!
I was wondering if it's possible to flash android on the Alcatel Idol 4s Windows edition. The reason why i am asking is because i noticed that the TCL 950 (android smartphone) shares exactly the same SOC and specs with the Alcatel Idol 4s and it is actually made by the exact same company (TCL). It is basically the exact same phone, with a different brand on it and a different OS.
So i was wondering, would it be possible to flash the TCL 950 firmware on the Idol 4S windows in order to install Android on it? If yes, did any of you guys had the chance to find the firmware for the TCL 950? Cause i searched for it but didn't have any luck...
Thank you so much in advance!
I saw also that @compu829 commented a while back on the argument

steinwayer said:
Hi everyone!
I was wondering if it's possible to flash android on the Alcatel Idol 4s Windows edition. The reason why i am asking is because i noticed that the TCL 950 (android smartphone) shares exactly the same SOC and specs with the Alcatel Idol 4s and it is actually made by the exact same company (TCL). It is basically the exact same phone, with a different brand on it and a different OS.
So i was wondering, would it be possible to flash the TCL 950 firmware on the Idol 4S windows in order to install Android on it? If yes, did any of you guys had the chance to find the firmware for the TCL 950? Cause i searched for it but didn't have any luck...
Thank you so much in advance!
I saw also that @compu829 commented a while back on the argument
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still haven't found the firmware myself. As long as it was signed with the same certificate and windows phone, it should be possible.

compu829 said:
I still haven't found the firmware myself. As long as it was signed with the same certificate and windows phone, it should be possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After doing some heavy research i managed to find it!! Here it is, the TCL 950 firmware
http://pan.baidu.com/s/1geDBRnt
It is the official firmware directly from TCL i managed to talk with their assistance in China
@compu829 how can i flash this firmware now on my idol 4s??
Thank you so much in advance

@steinwayer I will need to download and extract it. I'll take a look later today.

Thanks @compu829
Did you find anything interesting ?

I'm interested in the possibilities here too. Thanks for your research and sharing it!

steinwayer said:
Thanks @compu829
Did you find anything interesting ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't download it. Can you? If so can you put it somewhere like mega.co.nz?
I was able to download the package and re-upload it to mega with some help from my friends. Here is the link: https://mega.nz/#!ITJhjYIS!R_iUZhGZMcslAK_u1wdsJ-7q-0D5ma_KrHl4pu2CPqo
I took a quick look, and it is pretty much all mbn files that the factory would flash during assembly, so you will (most likely) need a copy of QPST. We may also be able to use WDRT to flash it. In either case, flashing will fail miserably if the certificates don't match.

So how would you suggest to do this @compu829?

steinwayer said:
So how would you suggest to do this @compu829?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
compu829 said:
... In either case, flashing will fail miserably if the certificates don't match.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^ You probably won't be able to easily. At this point, no one here knows, but as @compu829 stated, if the certificates don't match (which they most likely don't), then you're not going to be flashing it at this point.

Would it not be possible to "force" the flashing of that image? Afer all the devices are exactly the same from an hardware perspective..

steinwayer said:
Would it not be possible to "force" the flashing of that image? Afer all the devices are exactly the same from an hardware perspective..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same hardware != same implementation. There's mechanisms that will only allow certain things to be flashed, while all protections are still enabled on the device. Since it's a newer phone, I imagine qualcomm's security mechanisms are stepped up as opposed to how they are on older SoC implementations.
If anything, it will NOT be an easy feat to accomplish, so I will say no to a way of "forcing" it to flash at the moment.

It makes perfect sense
What i was thinking tho is that probably the two devices have even a different bootloader. Meaning that it would be a total wipe of the entire disk including swap partition and try to flash that rom.
I was thinking: imagine a bricked device, sometimes is possible to wipe out completely the memory on it and just flash the right rom. Sadly i do not habe much experience in mobile devices.. been developing only for desktops for years.
But if you guys manage to accomplish that it would be great.
The alcatel idol 4s is a great phone for both specs and design and is currently EXTREMELY cheap to. Buy on ebay (you can even find it at 100 bucks) mainly because of its OS
Being able to turn it into an Android phone would be an amazing feat

snickler said:
Same hardware != same implementation. There's mechanisms that will only allow certain things to be flashed, while all protections are still enabled on the device. Since it's a newer phone, I imagine qualcomm's security mechanisms are stepped up as opposed to how they are on older SoC implementations.
If anything, it will NOT be an easy feat to accomplish, so I will say no to a way of "forcing" it to flash at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, a very important factor is that the phones are made by the same shenzhen manufacturer most likely in the same plant. The only thingthey really change is the logo on the back, which comes later on, and the OS.from aanufacturing perspective it would not make much sense to lock with certificates the devices,slowing quite a bit he manufacturing process.it would have sense if the two devices were to be released in the same country, but in this case, tcl 950 is just available in asia, where idol 4s isnot. How can we verify this certificate thing @compu829 ? We have an Idol 4s

hello @snickler do you think that doing this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwkx5CFRFKo
would give me a chance of success?
Also, in case of failure for differente certificates, do you think the process would not even start or would it start and brick my device?
Thanks

Update: I am trying to let QFIL to see my device.
First i put my device in flash mode by shutting it down and then immediately pressing and holding the volume up key. It goes in flash mode. I launch QFIL , connect the phone over the USB port, but the tool does not see my device.. i tried installing several qualcomm usb drivers, but till now no luck.
You guys have any suggestions??
@snickler @compu829 ?
Thanks in advance

It won't work. This is for phones stuck in QDLoader 9008 mode (DEAD MODE) and DLOAD mode. The Sahara protocol only accepts signed programmers that are stored in the UEFI. You also need the exact flashers for the particular phone for it to work as it's specific to the phone's bootloader (which is definitely signed)

snickler said:
It won't work. This is for phones stuck in QDLoader 9008 mode (DEAD MODE) and DLOAD mode. The Sahara protocol only accepts signed programmers that are stored in the UEFI. You also need the exact flashers for the particular phone for it to work as it's specific to the phone's bootloader (which is definitely signed)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which method would you suggest me to try??

steinwayer said:
Update: I am trying to let QFIL to see my device.
First i put my device in flash mode by shutting it down and then immediately pressing and holding the volume up key. It goes in flash mode. I launch QFIL , connect the phone over the USB port, but the tool does not see my device.. i tried installing several qualcomm usb drivers, but till now no luck.
You guys have any suggestions??
@snickler @compu829 ?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know what QFIL is, but vol up and power will put the windows phone in a flash mode that is compatible with WDRT. This mode is completely different than the Qualcomm mode. You most likely need to intentionally brick your device to enable Qualcomm recovery mode.

steinwayer said:
Which method would you suggest me to try??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No method. It's probably not best to randomly try things without understanding the underlying mechanisms and the implications of what could happen in the end.
Honestly, IMO, if you want Android then buy an Android phone. I understand that it would be cool to be able to swap out, but the likelihood of this happening right now is close to zero.

snickler said:
No method. It's probably not best to randomly try things without understanding the underlying mechanisms and the implications of what could happen in the end.
Honestly, IMO, if you want Android then buy an Android phone. I understand that it would be cool to be able to swap out, but the likelihood of this happening right now is close to zero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If only i could put my hands on the software they use at tcl to flash their devices...
This is oje of the reasons why smartphones are still way behind computers. Not much freedom of choice and yet theorically it would be more than possible to allow a certain level of freedom on it

Related

[Q] TF701 bricked to APX. blob file issue.

Dear All,
I hope somebody can help me with hard bricked TF701T.
My sad story: I was very happy when bought brand new TF701. It came with US 4.22 android and with non working RCK, so I was not able to make a proper backup. Device has the following problems before my first upgrdae to 4.3:
1. Periodically, screen slightly blinking (5-10 percent of normal to little more dark and back, for one-two second).
2. Several times my tab was restarting by itself, especially when I was using file manager (ES explorer)
3. Also, when lot of people was able to make an upgrade using asus menu, my tab always replied me that SW is new and upgrade is not needed.
That's why I downloaded the official "US_epaduser_10_26_1_18_UpdateLauncher.zip" from asus site, putted it into the root / and after restart, system message came - new version is available. So I did it, upgrade to 4.3 was successful.
After that, screen stop to blink. But problem with non working RCK still present. So my next step was installation of CWM, using fastboot ADB. Everything was fine, but my first test backup has been not completely fine - after system & files, md5 checksum was generating for more than one hour, and backup was not completely performed (I've interrupted the process after one hour "md5")
My last successful step was rooting of my poor tab..
Finally, I obtained the 4.3 with root access, working CWM and no more 3 of listed above problems. The only md5 issue was pending.
Than I have performed my FATAL error.. I start playing with nvram - thanks to easy flasher tool (but it is my fault, no question)
As result, I have TOTALLY DEAD TF701. Boot loop with ASUS logo, fastboot (- & power) is not available anymore;
The only thing I have it is APX availability, but according to my internet research there is no chance to unbrick tf701t for now. At list NvFlash is not recognized my device. Latest version of NvFlash tool answering me:
*************************************************************
C:\nvflash-tools-win32>wheelie --blob blob.bin
Wheelie 0.1 - Preflight for nvflash.
Copyright (c) 2011-2012 androidroot.mobi
========================================
Waiting for device in APX mode...
[=] Chip UID: 0x2000000016ff0440
[-] Failed to read RCMVERS from blob file.
*************************************************************
(If smb knows what must be in the RCMVERS file - digital signature, CPU info or what? pls reply me)
Please, if somebody has same problem and there is any chance to unbrick my tab, reply me!!!
Btw, I have tried to call asus support, the only help I obtain was a negative experience.
stream1313 said:
Dear All,
I hope somebody can help me with hard bricked TF701T.
My sad story: I was very happy when bought brand new TF701. It came with US 4.22 android and with non working RCK, so I was not able to make a proper backup. Device has the following problems before my first upgrdae to 4.3:
1. Periodically, screen slightly blinking (5-10 percent of normal to little more dark and back, for one-two second).
2. Several times my tab was restarting by itself, especially when I was using file manager (ES explorer)
3. Also, when lot of people was able to make an upgrade using asus menu, my tab always replied me that SW is new and upgrade is not needed.
That's why I downloaded the official "US_epaduser_10_26_1_18_UpdateLauncher.zip" from asus site, putted it into the root / and after restart, system message came - new version is available. So I did it, upgrade to 4.3 was successful.
After that, screen stop to blink. But problem with non working RCK still present. So my next step was installation of CWM, using fastboot ADB. Everything was fine, but my first test backup has been not completely fine - after system & files, md5 checksum was generating for more than one hour, and backup was not completely performed (I've interrupted the process after one hour "md5")
My last successful step was rooting of my poor tab..
Finally, I obtained the 4.3 with root access, working CWM and no more 3 of listed above problems. The only md5 issue was pending.
Than I have performed my FATAL error.. I start playing with nvram - thanks to easy flasher tool (but it is my fault, no question)
As result, I have TOTALLY DEAD TF701. Boot loop with ASUS logo, fastboot (- & power) is not available anymore;
The only thing I have it is APX availability, but according to my internet research there is no chance to unbrick tf701t for now. At list NvFlash is not recognized my device. Latest version of NvFlash tool answering me:
*************************************************************
C:\nvflash-tools-win32>wheelie --blob blob.bin
Wheelie 0.1 - Preflight for nvflash.
Copyright (c) 2011-2012 androidroot.mobi
========================================
Waiting for device in APX mode...
[=] Chip UID: 0x2000000016ff0440
[-] Failed to read RCMVERS from blob file.
*************************************************************
(If smb knows what must be in the RCMVERS file - digital signature, CPU info or what? pls reply me)
Please, if somebody has same problem and there is any chance to unbrick my tab, reply me!!!
Btw, I have tried to call asus support, the only help I obtain was a negative experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I am aware the nvflash tools are not yet released for the TF701T, so who knows what bootloader you have now flashed. Unless some miracle happens you look hard bricked
I'm guessing you didn't notice the devices nvflash supports which is an unfortunate and costly mistake.
sbdags said:
As far as I am aware the nvflash tools are not yet released for the TF701T, so who knows what bootloader you have now flashed. Unless some miracle happens you look hard bricked
I'm guessing you didn't notice the devices nvflash supports which is an unfortunate and costly mistake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for reply. Definitely it's my fault for 100%, because I've not checked the nvflash possibility, before I start playing with blob Really stupid story, especially I have already performed all the needed things as rooting, update, CWM.
The main reason I'm posting here is to check, does anybody who has a deep knowledge of such devices design, already experienced with TF701T recovery?
I hope at list single person in the world (not counting asus engineers, as far as their company politic became similar to microsoft or oracle) knows the backdoor way to this tab recovery..?
Help needed
stream1313 said:
Thank you for reply. Definitely it's my fault for 100%, because I've not checked the nvflash possibility, before I start playing with blob Really stupid story, especially I have already performed all the needed things as rooting, update, CWM.
The main reason I'm posting here is to check, does anybody who has a deep knowledge of such devices design, already experienced with TF701T recovery?
I hope at list single person in the world (not counting asus engineers, as far as their company politic became similar to microsoft or oracle) knows the backdoor way to this tab recovery..?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey people... Nobody can help me?
Asus help us
Hello ASUS !!!
You have to HELP us, in order to keep your consumer with you. Other vice people will start to think that your ASUS brand is not a trustful brand anymore. Using such tricks as providing consumer with possibility to open a "Pandora's box" with bootloader unlock, and after you pushing consumer to pay about 300 $ for "motherboard replacing".
Following such kind of policy you will collect some money but definitely you will loose much more.
Sincerely,
Stream1313
PS: I was started to use the "unlock" etc not because I do not have other business t do but because of the serious problem in your DEFAULT STOCK software.
To: Moderator - please do not delete this post, hopefully some ASUS people will read it.
This is not asus' fault at all. When you unlock your bootloader you void your warranty, as with all devices not just asus transformers. When you modify your device, and tamper with it, its no longer what asus sold it to you as. If you used easy flasher which is for the tf101 and not 701, there is no one to blame for this mistake but yourself. Especially when you flash a bootloader for a different device. Unless you have a JTAG theres not much to do. Even then who knows. Im not bashing you here, just so you know. Good luck with your device, although im afraid its a pretty expensive paperweight by now.
Sent from my GS3 on PAC 4.4 using Tapatalk 4
lol
ebildude123 said:
This is not asus' fault at all. When you unlock your bootloader you void your warranty, as with all devices not just asus transformers. When you modify your device, and tamper with it, its no longer what asus sold it to you as. If you used easy flasher which is for the tf101 and not 701, there is no one to blame for this mistake but yourself. Especially when you flash a bootloader for a different device. Unless you have a JTAG theres not much to do. Even then who knows. Im not bashing you here, just so you know. Good luck with your device, although im afraid its a pretty expensive paperweight by now.
Sent from my GS3 on PAC 4.4 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear ebildude123,
Seems you have some relationships with ASUS, is it? See, I'm not trying to say that it's not a my fault. If you read my post carefully, it is clearly described that I'm confirming - it is 100% my fault. but I want to say about other things:
At first, I started because of the following ASUS DEFAULT PROBLEM's: suddenly screen was blinking, w/o any reason; tab was restarting by itself, at list once per 2-3 days; Default backup was not working, battery life time was low etc.
My main message is: ASUS distributed the unlock SW on site, together with USER LEVEL SW. It is incorrect, IMHO. They should distribute it within advanced users and developers, using some more safe mechanism. As minimum they have to sign this download as potentially DANGEROUS for unexperienced user.
But currently it is open to everybody so it is like a Pandora's box, which is asking - "open me" and as result many of people getting hard bricked tabs. Then, ASUS forcing them to pay 300$ or whatever. Actually, I do not crying too much for my bricked device (I have my laptop and desktop with me, as well as my linux server) Also I know that I just need to wait a little more for compatible nvflash.. ...but I do not think that I will purchase another ASUS device in the future..
IMHO - if you DISTRIBUTING on your site the bootloader unlock tool, you have to provide nvflash or any other way to restore the tab / phone, but not pushing stupid idea about "mainboard replacement" for almost device price itself. So you have your opinion - and it is mine. Ok? Good luck
stream1313 said:
Dear ebildude123,
Seems you have some relationships with ASUS, is it? See, I'm not trying to say that it's not a my fault. If you read my post carefully, it is clearly described that I'm confirming - it is 100% my fault. but I want to say about other things:
At first, I started because of the following ASUS DEFAULT PROBLEM's: suddenly screen was blinking, w/o any reason; tab was restarting by itself, at list once per 2-3 days; Default backup was not working, battery life time was low etc.
My main message is: ASUS distributed the unlock SW on site, together with USER LEVEL SW. It is incorrect, IMHO. They should distribute it within advanced users and developers, using some more safe mechanism. As minimum they have to sign this download as potentially DANGEROUS for unexperienced user.
But currently it is open to everybody so it is like a Pandora's box, which is asking - "open me" and as result many of people getting hard bricked tabs. Then, ASUS forcing them to pay 300$ or whatever. Actually, I do not crying too much for my bricked device (I have my laptop and desktop with me, as well as my linux server) Also I know that I just need to wait a little more for compatible nvflash.. ...but I do not think that I will purchase another ASUS device in the future..
IMHO - if you DISTRIBUTING on your site the bootloader unlock tool, you have to provide nvflash or any other way to restore the tab / phone, but not pushing stupid idea about "mainboard replacement" for almost device price itself. So you have your opinion - and it is mine. Ok? Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha no relationship with Asus. I guarantee it. While I agree unlock tool shouldn't be thrown around, that's not what bricks your device, it's what you flash that does. Personally I think they should use fastboot unlock instead but meh. Yes of course everyone has their own opinions. I respect yours and hope you respect mine as well. Good luck with nvflash but I have doubts your current blob would work even if they made a tool compatible with tf701 tegra4.
Sent from my GS3 on PAC 4.4 using Tapatalk 4
lol, hope your post do not really had any Asus roots)
now I need advice, if possible..
what do you think about Linux installation, which is described in network, according to them even bricked tf701 is recoverable?
Pls, if somebody already experienced, reply me!
Sent from my Xperia Arc S using xda app-developers app
stream1313 said:
lol, hope your post do not really has any Asus roots)
now I need advice, if possible..
what do you think about Linux installation, which is described in network, according to them even bricked tf701 is recoverable?
Please, if somebody already experienced, reply me...
Sent from my Xperia Arc S using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anybody here?
stream1313 said:
anybody here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
APX mode with no nvflash blobs = hard bricked device. Your device needs specific blobs encrypted with the key. You can't even boot to working bootloader.
Even Asus don't **** around with them they just replace the mother board.
Suggest you do the same, it's THE ONLY WAY you are going to get your device back. Linux will not help you here.
sbdags said:
APX mode with no nvflash blobs = hard bricked device. Your device needs specific blobs encrypted with the key. You can't even boot to working bootloader.
Even Asus don't **** around with them they just replace the mother board.
Suggest you do the same, it's THE ONLY WAY you are going to get your device back. Linux will not help you here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi sbdags,
Thanks for your message, currently I just trying to keep my brick charged, to prevent battery dead.. Will wait till smb from ASUS or from outside will broke the bloody encrypted bootloader, because I do not have possibility to replace he main board ((
Well, three years later and my TF701 bricked itself over night. Only thing I see is APX in the windows device manager. I managed to get a driver for that but am now stuck with the next steps, if there are any at all.
Kashban said:
Well, three years later and my TF701 bricked itself over night. Only thing I see is APX in the windows device manager. I managed to get a driver for that but am now stuck with the next steps, if there are any at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep!
maybe i got a solution, but untested for mass unbrick)
i'm already unbrick few devices.
need someone with bricked device and tech skills to test for public use.
mr.bin said:
yep!
maybe i got a solution, but untested for mass unbrick)
i'm already unbrick few devices.
need someone with bricked device and tech skills to test for public use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for being late.
That would be great and yes, I do have the tech skills. What do you want me to test?
Kashban said:
That would be great and yes, I do have the tech skills. What do you want me to test?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent PM with instuctions.
Please keep inform about results.
mr.bin said:
yep!
maybe i got a solution, but untested for mass unbrick)
i'm already unbrick few devices.
need someone with bricked device and tech skills to test for public use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have recently experienced a hard brick on an asus tf700t running KatKiss-7.1_TF700T_026
APX mode & only a TWRP backup
I would also like to try your method to unbrick
Thanks in advance
perpetualxda said:
I also have recently experienced a hard brick on an asus tf700t
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my solution works only for tf701t not tf700t
mr.bin said:
my solution works only for tf701t not tf700t
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a bricked tf701t and good tech skills if you need additional testers. I'm looking forward to the progress of your solution.
jeneral69 said:
I have a bricked tf701t and good tech skills if you need additional testers. I'm looking forward to the progress of your solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent PM with instuctions.
Please keep inform about results.
If your tab "soft" bricked, then that must help...

[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

[SOLVED!] ULTRA Brick - Oreo Firmware OB16 Over Nougat ROM/kernel/TWRP DESTRUCTION?

Or as bricked as these Qualcomm devices CAN be?
Hey all,
The TL;DR is basically where the list starts
I was running Blu's TWRP v45, the latest PureFusion, Blu's latest Custom kernel, had OB15 firmware underneath. I had been SO USED to simply downloading the newest firmware from kamilmirza's AFH page and just flashing it + it being totally fine that I did it without thinking for OB16. I wasn't too worried because about a week ago I had flashed the unofficial Oreo Lineage and it worked just fine! Plus, I just assumed if it died I could just restore a backup or re-flash the older OB. But as soon as I flashed the new firmware/modem by itself this time on an otherwise perfectly running device, I only saw the OnePlus splash screen. No booting, no access to recovery, no NOTHIN.
I tried flashing the beta TWRP version afterward via fastboot but no dice. Also tried temporary booting via fastboot to it, flashing Blu's again, booting to that. Everything the same result. Splash screen & nothing more. I then went to the extent of trying to format all the partitions and flash a boot.img or do a "-w update" or "flashall" command via fastboot. Because everything out in the universe is a recovery-flashable-zip, it seems like there's no way I can flash the necessary OTA stuff to bring it back to life!
My only remaining idea is getting this damn unbrick tool to work (duhh). I can see the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 in device manager after doing the Vol Up (only) and plugging the cable in. BUT the MSMDownloadTool just cannot see the device. Not in bootloader, not in the weird Vol-Up/cable state. [This is with Qualcomm drivers QUD.WIN.1.1 Installer-10037.3 Setup.exe, the official OnePlus drivers, ADB & Fastboot installed.]
Sorry for long explanation. In the end, what I'm left with is:
Blank formatted partitions (I hope... I'm not even positive they wound up formatted from the fastboot commands)
Fastboot is detected, but no ADB devices are found
Can get to bootloader, but nothing else
No recovery access - Flashing beta akhilnarang Oreo recovery does nothing. Flashing stock recovery does nothing. Flashing Blu_Spark recovery does nothing. (The fastboot commands succeed though each time somehow)
So far the only suggestion I've received is trying the MSMDownloadTool/unbrick process on another computer.
Does anyone have ANY ideas? From my experience, it seems like what might help me would be if a folder with the specific partition images existed for the OTAs, like how Google offers. (boot.img, recovery.img, user-data.img, system and so on). Am I wrong in thinking that? OnePlus has told me this simply does not exist and cannot give me anything like that (don't know why, when they already offer all the OTA flashables...)
PS - OnePlus support just absolutely refuses to even let me communicate to a "level 2" representative to ask a couple of the more technical questions about it. I can't understand why. They are insisting I start an RMA and send it for repair. They even initially scheduled a time for me to talk to higher level rep and then thought up a reason to cancel it via email an hour or so later...
Edit: Just in case the thread gets large and people don't read further posts, this is using:
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Test mode for the driver signing is enabled. Have the watermark bottom right of desktop
It's with the stock DASH cable
Tried multiple ports
Unfortunately it just doesn't show up in MSM at all, even with hitting 'enumerate' button multiple times
Tried starting the tool BEFORE the device is plugged in, as well as after
This is what Device Manager shows (attached) but just nothing in MSM all the way up & down
HOW IT GOT SOLVED:
At the end of the day, I had to fight and convince OnePlus support to grant me a remote session with Level 2 Support.
(Attached final image) These two password protected RAR files had almost identical tools as the Unbrick tutorial on XDA.
The major difference was that MSMDownloadTool was version 3.0.8 ***does anyone have this version??*** I can't get into these RARs. The 3.0 tool circulating did not work for me. We might need the newer version as time goes on?? Otherwise, the process was identical.
Unfortunately, the image they used was for 7.1.1. I had to unlock the bootloader and after doing that and getting OB15 & the RR build I wanted, etc, I then realized my phone was force-encrypted as well.
The only toolkit that worked for force decrypting once everything else worked was:
OnePlus_3_3T_5_64bit_TOOLKIT_by_Neisor
Finally, something like 3 clean flashes later, we Gucci.
Thanks for the attempted help to those that did! Hopefully this can help someone else.
Which Windows do you have? Have you tried MSMtool in safe mode? Or disabling Driver Signature Verification (any Windows after XP). I have got my phone so messed up that it was showing many lines with red "failed" text nearly on everything. No OS, no recovery, no boot, I think even modem was failed. This screen but I had way more fails https://forums.oneplus.net/attachments/win_20160928_21_31_49_pro-jpg.459494/
As long as you can turn your phone off and on, it's doable. But you need to do that USB plugging + volume up thing while phone is totally off (you can hear Windows making bling when you connect it while pressing volume up, but phone itself stays screen off). And there shouldn't be anything on the screen before/while MSMtool do its job.
You can try different USB ports too.
Eremitus said:
Which Windows do you have? Have you tried MSMtool in safe mode? Or disabling Driver Signature Verification (any Windows after XP). I have got my phone so messed up that it was showing many lines with red "failed" text nearly on everything. No OS, no recovery, no boot, I think even modem was failed. This screen but I had way more fails https://forums.oneplus.net/attachments/win_20160928_21_31_49_pro-jpg.459494/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha yes...... That's why I made this post though! It SEEMS like it should be possible to recover from this since fastboot commands + bootloader work! It SEEMED like it would be easy to recover from if anything went wrong... But, here I am.
Oh yeah forgot to mention ~
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Test mode for the driver signing is enabled. That part of the process went totally fine with BIOS and installing stuff, etc.
Also, shot in the dark but might @Funk Wizard have any ideas? Sorry to call out for this
Hopefully someone knows better how to solve this. For me the MSMtool part is always the hardest part too, usually it finds the phone, but throws some strange "Sahara communication failed" error. I noticed that even different USB cable can be a problem, but since your Windows finds "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008" I guess that's not the case. Does it say something after that "Qualcomm 9008" -thing? For me it shows (COM3 or COM4 depending on which port it's in).
btw, I messed up my phone in nearly similar case, flashing wrong firmware when using leaked H2OS ROM.
Eremitus said:
Hopefully someone knows better how to solve this. For me the MSMtool part is always the hardest part too, usually it finds the phone, but throws some strange "Sahara communication failed" error. I noticed that even different USB cable can be a problem, but since your Windows finds "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008" I guess that's not the case. Does it say something after that "Qualcomm 9008" -thing? For me it shows (COM3 or COM4 depending on which port it's in).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah sorry again for not being more clear lol
It's with the stock DASH cable
Tried multiple ports (but no USB 2 ports hmm)
Unfortunately it just doesn't show up in MSM at all, even with hitting 'enumerate' button multiple times.
Also tried starting the tool BEFORE device plugged in as well as after
This is what Device Manager shows (attached) but just nothing in MSM all the way up & down
If I find a solution I'll definitely put it in OP for others
purplepenguin said:
Yeah sorry again for not being more clear lol
It's with the stock DASH cable
Tried multiple ports (but no USB 2 ports hmm)
Unfortunately it just doesn't show up in MSM at all, even with hitting 'enumerate' button multiple times.
Also tried starting the tool BEFORE device plugged in as well as after
This is what Device Manager shows (attached) but just nothing in MSM all the way up & down
If I find a solution I'll definitely put it in OP for others
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, ok.
Stock dash cable works, so that part is ok. Also usb3.0 ports should work too, atleast for me. So everything else seems to be ok except the MSMtool itself
Try different cable, bin there done that!!
purplepenguin said:
Yeah sorry again for not being more clear lol
It's with the stock DASH cable
Tried multiple ports (but no USB 2 ports hmm)
Unfortunately it just doesn't show up in MSM at all, even with hitting 'enumerate' button multiple times.
Also tried starting the tool BEFORE device plugged in as well as after
This is what Device Manager shows (attached) but just nothing in MSM all the way up & down
If I find a solution I'll definitely put it in OP for others
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you find a solution, since my experience sounds similar to yours Ill share it and maybe you can find something to help out.
I was exactly where you are for about 3 hours last night.
Boot would always get stuck at the splash screen. Could boot into Fastboot, tried using the Skipsoft tool to fastboot flash a stock image but it kept failing.
As far as the Unbrick Tutorial goes, I know the first thing I kept messing up was thinking I needed to press the power button while holding the volume up and connecting to the PC
Also when I tried to manually update the driver on "Qualcomm 9088" it said it was already up to date.
Then I just ran the MSMTool it flashed 6.0.1 back on my phone and I was back in business.
Im sure this is the guide you followed: Here
I found another on the oneplus forums that is essentially the same but goes into a little more detail in the steps: Here
Since I was back completely Stock including Recovery I went ahead and sideloaded OB16 to get the firmware and modem then went about rooting, unencrypting etc...
Lost a few days worth of files but I'm back running LunuxOS Oreo right now.
Good luck I know how you feel. :good:
I've got it revived! I'll update OP. Sadly, it required OnePlus's intervention.
Hi. Trying to do brute force to get the passowrd here, don't you know how many characters that was? It will take days in my machine to search from 3 to 9 characters...
I think it is impossible to you to know, but if you know if they used only letters or something like that, it would be very useful
guilhermeferrari said:
Hi. Trying to do brute force to get the passowrd here, don't you know how many characters that was? It will take days in my machine to search from 3 to 9 characters...
I think it is impossible to you to know, but if you know if they used only letters or something like that, it would be very useful
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry man. The OnePlus guy was ready an hour early before our appointment time. So I didn't have time to set up screen recording or anything
if I had to narrow it down more itd only be like 4-9 chars lol I know that's not much help... Definitely let me know if you get it open though please! It would probably help a lot of us!
purplepenguin said:
Sorry man. The OnePlus guy was ready an hour early before our appointment time. So I didn't have time to set up screen recording or anything
if I had to narrow it down more itd only be like 4-9 chars lol I know that's not much help... Definitely let me know if you get it open though please! It would probably help a lot of us!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I know the password. It's 10 character long. 7+3(7english small latter with 3 Numbers).
L2 Driver password is very very very very very loooooooong. can't even count accurately.
namefaisal said:
Well, I know the password. It's 10 character long. 7+3(7english small latter with 3 Numbers).
L2 Driver password is very very very very very loooooooong. can't even count accurately.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jeez so wait you got it open or not?? Confused lol
Got the newer download tool ??
Yeah, I got it open
purplepenguin said:
Jeez so wait you got it open or not?? Confused lol
Got the newer download tool ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's the new 3.08 msmdownloadtool. OnePlus3T_28_A.57_171012.zip
I know the password and I won't share that but I will upload an UNLOCKED zip on google drive tonight. L2 Drivers too.
New Files without Password
namefaisal said:
Yeah it's the new 3.08 msmdownloadtool. OnePlus3T_28_A.57_171012.zip
I know the password and I won't share that but I will upload an UNLOCKED zip on google drive tonight. L2 Drivers too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Latest 3.08 msmdownloadtool re-archived without password from OnePlus3T_28_A.57_171012.zip
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kp2SBmhAByydol97o0yVlurVue9Ow8Aq/view?usp=sharing
And the L2+ driver.zip re-archived without password
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JL_sRg86CczUeZ2cfw8GY6rxc43myif8/view?usp=sharing
@Sam Nakamura
namefaisal said:
Latest 3.08 msmdownloadtool re-archived without password from OnePlus3T_28_A.57_171012.zip
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kp2SBmhAByydol97o0yVlurVue9Ow8Aq/view?usp=sharing
And the L2+ driver.zip re-archived without password
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JL_sRg86CczUeZ2cfw8GY6rxc43myif8/view?usp=sharing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This totally worked for me. Yes it put me back on 7.1.1 but I have been having issues trying to flash Oxygen ROMS and getting them to take. Phone is back to bone stock which I wanted for now and is working great. Thank you for sharing,
cdorrell12000 said:
This totally worked for me. Yes it put me back on 7.1.1 but I have been having issues trying to flash Oxygen ROMS and getting them to take. Phone is back to bone stock which I wanted for now and is working great. Thank you for sharing,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are most welcome.
Sadly everyone gets unbricked with these files but My device didn't. I have to send the device to the service center now. It seems my case is a hardware issue. Tough luck
namefaisal said:
Latest 3.08 msmdownloadtool re-archived without password from OnePlus3T_28_A.57_171012.zip
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kp2SBmhAByydol97o0yVlurVue9Ow8Aq/view?usp=sharing
And the L2+ driver.zip re-archived without password
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JL_sRg86CczUeZ2cfw8GY6rxc43myif8/view?usp=sharing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot saved my day !!
purplepenguin said:
@Sam Nakamura
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I just saw your mentioning somehow I missed it, happy you got your phone back already, unfortunately not independent for big OP, did you guys already share this new 3.08 MSM-download-tool to the well established threads or did you I missed this too? This information and according files should be shared with the community and easy to find for those poor souls who unintentionally killed their beloved device...
---------
Edit: further sharing isn't necessarily needed, you did already a pretty good job by naming the thread and describing the situation thoroughly, only suggestion could be to link the updated MSM-download-tool download to the first post with some hint, just an idea though...
Cheers
Sent from my OnePlus 3T using XDA Labs

Unlock ANY Pixel from Carrier

____________________________________________________
UPDATE AS OF 16 OF MAY 2023:
The security patch of December of 2022 fixed the patch, so it doesn't work on this version and newer ones.
The project is still alive and I am working to get the exploit to work on newer version, but for now haven't found any.
However due to the complex nature of the project and that I have little free time, expect this to take sometime until a new exploit is available.
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions please let me know! Any help is welcome
____________________________________________________
Hey everybody!
So recently I bought a Google Pixel 4 XL. The thing is that in Europe they are too expensive compared to the US, so I bought one that was from AT&T(used of course). However is that I need to use my SIM on the phone, but of course, the phone refused to allow me to use my SIM from Spain. ⛔️
So after hours of research, I found a way to unlock it. Here are the steps:
1. Remove your SIM card if it is on the phone
2. Do a factory reset
3. Do OFFLINE SETUP. Also, DON'T PUT ANY PASSWORD OR ANY TYPE OF SCREEN LOCK
4. Once you are on the main screen, enable USB Debugging.
5. Connect the phone to the computer (I assume you already have the USB drivers, platform-tools downloaded and knowledge on how to use ADB commands. If you don't have the SDK downloaded, head to this link and follow the instructions)
6. Inside the platform-tools folder, open a terminal window and run "adb shell"(on mac, once you are on the directory you have to run "./adb shell") and then "pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.work.oobconfig" (run them without quotes)
After this, you can already connect the phone to the internet and put your SIM in.
This didn't unlock the phone though . What we have just done is this:
When we connect the phone to the internet, it verifies if it should lock the SIM or not. So we did a setup without internet, so the phone can't do that. After that, we uninstall the package responsible for doing this.
So when we connect it to the internet, it won't check the SIM lock
However, the bootloader is still locked and grey out. This is because this app is responsible to grey or not the bootloader switch. If it is from a carrier, the package will disable the switch, and if not you will have the ability to unlock it. As we kill the app before it could do its job, the bootloader will be waiting until the package gives its answer.
Special thanks to this Jorge Cortés to make this post possible.
If you find the post useful, consider buying me a cup of coffee please with Revolut.
If anyone has problems/doubts please let me know!
Esim is unlocked as well?
Didn't try but should work, as the phone never check if it is from a carrier or not.
#mcl said:
Didn't try but should work, as the phone never check if it is from a carrier or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On another post someaone said esim is working on pixel 4 verizon unlocked trought this steps. So as you say, it works.
Thanks
Danny17va said:
On another post someaone said esim is working on pixel 4 verizon unlocked trought this steps. So as you say, it works.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. Just for curiosity, who did the test on unlocked Verizon Pixel?
Is there any work around to unlock to bootloader too??
Daniyal48 said:
Is there any work around to unlock to bootloader too??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey,
I am working on that. As it turns out there is a way to flash firmware to any device with a Qualcomm chip, even if the bootloader os locked. It's called EDL mode. This mode was designed to force flash firmware in bricked devices that can't use fastboot or adb.
I already find the app I need to flash, actually there a a lot of different ones( I chose QPST) but it needs some strange files that I didn't find yet, and it won't allow em to use the google firmware neither .
So when I find those files I will write a detailed guide on how to unlock the bootloader , but for now I only know how to use any SIM on a locked Pixel device.
#mcl said:
Hey,
I am working on that. As it turns out there is a way to flash firmware to any device with a Qualcomm chip, even if the bootloader os locked. It's called EDL mode. This mode was designed to force flash firmware in bricked devices that can't use fastboot or adb.
I already find the app I need to flash, actually there a a lot of different ones( I chose QPST) but it needs some strange files that I didn't find yet, and it won't allow em to use the google firmware neither .
So when I find those files I will write a detailed guide on how to unlock the bootloader , but for now I only know how to use any SIM on a locked Pixel device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried the same on a OnePlus device but they have MSM Tool to thet let you work in edl mode but I haven't found any tool for Pixel devices yet
Daniyal48 said:
I have tried the same on a OnePlus device but they have MSM Tool to thet let you work in edl mode but I haven't found any tool for Pixel devices yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah unlike Oneplus Google didn't release any software designed specifically to the Pixel lineup, so you have to use the generic Qualcomm tools.
#mcl said:
yeah unlike Oneplus Google didn't release any software designed specifically to the Pixel lineup, so you have to use the generic Qualcomm tools.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you name other generic Qualcomm tools so I can experiment with them??
Yeah of course, there is QFIL also and some others that aren't official. I downloaded them from Androidmtk website.
With this link you go to the qpst download and use instructions section of their webpage. At the bottom you will find similar programs, but I didn't get to try them. You can try them, but make sure they are for Qualcomm Chipset, because some of them are for mediatek phones.
#mcl said:
Yeah of course, there is QFIL also and some others that aren't official. I downloaded them from Androidmtk website.
With this link you go to the qpst download and use instructions section of their webpage. At the bottom you will find similar programs, but I didn't get to try them. You can try them, but make sure they are for Qualcomm Chipset, because some of them are for mediatek phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay thank you I hope i find a solution with this
Daniyal48 said:
Okay thank you I hope i find a solution with this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, good luck researching .
I will keep searching as well to see if I can find those files
#mcl said:
No problem, good luck researching .
I will keep searching as well to see if I can find those files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you find any files please also send them to me. Can we use a working Device to get these files from. Like we extract these files for a normal pixel 4 xl and then flash it to ours?
Daniyal48 said:
If you find any files please also send them to me. Can we use a working Device to get these files from. Like we extract these files for a normal pixel 4 xl and then flash it to ours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, if I find them I will make them available for anyone .
Yes in theory you can extract this files from your phon, however as mine is locked I need them from an unlocked pixel I suppose, but I didn't try to extract the files from my home and the flash them again, it could work. In the QPST you even have a section to that, it's a backup I Believe but not sure about the name.
If you try and it works let me know!
#mcl said:
Of course, if I find them I will make them available for anyone .
Yes in theory you can extract this files from your phon, however as mine is locked I need them from an unlocked pixel I suppose, but I didn't try to extract the files from my home and the flash them again, it could work. In the QPST you even have a section to that, it's a backup I Believe but not sure about the name.
If you try and it works let me know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I am also looking for an unlock Pixel 4 XL if I find one I will try extracting these files and post it somewhere on the internet so anyone can access it
Yeah that is a way, but I was thinking that maybe these files are inside of the IMG files of the firmware from Google, and that firmware isn't lock , so if anyone manage to find those files there you wouldn't need to buy another pixel to extract the firmware.
I also think that in reality you don't need the firmware but rather some files for your Qualcomm Chipset to get the Sahara protocol working and I believe later on you flash the firmware, however I am not sure about that as I didn't try it.
I think this because you can find some Qualcomm snapdragon 855 programmer files (which had the extension we need), so they may be basic files that activates the Sahara protocol (which is the one used when the phone is in this mode) and only after I believe you can flash the firmware using some commands.
I would like to try out this but I can't as it could brick my phone and I don't have other to use, and I don't have any other pixel, this is my first and only Pixel ever.
So if you have an older pixel and you want you could try this theory...
#mcl said:
Yeah that is a way, but I was thinking that maybe these files are inside of the IMG files of the firmware from Google, and that firmware isn't lock , so if anyone manage to find those files there you wouldn't need to buy another pixel to extract the firmware.
I also think that in reality you don't need the firmware but rather some files for your Qualcomm Chipset to get the Sahara protocol working and I believe later on you flash the firmware, however I am not sure about that as I didn't try it.
I think this because you can find some Qualcomm snapdragon 855 programmer files (which had the extension we need), so they may be basic files that activates the Sahara protocol (which is the one used when the phone is in this mode) and only after I believe you can flash the firmware using some commands.
I would like to try out this but I can't as it could brick my phone and I don't have other to use, and I don't have any other pixel, this is my first and only Pixel ever.
So if you have an older pixel and you want you could try this theory...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Pixel 2 XL but it doesn't boot into EDL i tried fastboot commands and also abd commands but it doesn't even go there...I have Pixel 3 XL on the way I will try on that but that is already unlocked
#mcl said:
Yeah that is a way, but I was thinking that maybe these files are inside of the IMG files of the firmware from Google, and that firmware isn't lock , so if anyone manage to find those files there you wouldn't need to buy another pixel to extract the firmware.
I also think that in reality you don't need the firmware but rather some files for your Qualcomm Chipset to get the Sahara protocol working and I believe later on you flash the firmware, however I am not sure about that as I didn't try it.
I think this because you can find some Qualcomm snapdragon 855 programmer files (which had the extension we need), so they may be basic files that activates the Sahara protocol (which is the one used when the phone is in this mode) and only after I believe you can flash the firmware using some commands.
I would like to try out this but I can't as it could brick my phone and I don't have other to use, and I don't have any other pixel, this is my first and only Pixel ever.
So if you have an older pixel and you want you could try this theory...
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Mbn Files from Pixel 4 Request
As title states, I am looking for the mbn files from the pixel 4. I downloaded the modem partition and could not seem to extract it and thought someone that owns a pixel 4 might have better luck than me. Thanks! The directory might be...
forum.xda-developers.com
Are these files related to our issue

Development Prototype ABL Binary from Nokia XR20 for Bootloader Unlock.

Few months ago a customer asked me to flash couples of Nokia XR20 prototype unit for him, so I managed to get prototype ABL dump of this phone.
WARNING: This is not a guide! DO NOT TRY IT ON OTHER SNAPDRAGON 480 BASED NOKIA PHONES INCLUDING G50, X10, X20, X100, G300 - UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
To use it:
1. Enable flashing permission with HDK (an internal flash tool used by triple-color company, sorry can't disclose more details about that). Please search for related service online, we don't provide or promote such service.
2. Download Prototype ABL from following URL:
Click here
3. Flash prototype ABL and OEM unlock enabled frp partition manually, then you can confirm bootloader unlock:
Code:
fastboot flash abl TTG-abl.elf
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot flashing unlock
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
4. Once bootloader unlock completed, please reinstall stock OS to restore ABL back to normal.
SHA256 checksum of ABL image: ac8143f6e0b449c39127aedd6463e2b9242cf37ce90a86c2988b885e34b0587f
Root Key Hash of ABL image: 622D3D5FE38C4198DDFABB264034EFDE58B986B510393A0CF163E803A3FD985E
Proof of concept is attached below, thanks to @singhnsk for testing.
Bro, Nokia x10 please?
HDK.
Where can I get?
Full name please of this app.
mishak750 said:
HDK.
Where can I get?
Full name please of this app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope, you can't use it, even if you get the full name
hikari_calyx said:
Few months ago a customer asked me to flash couples of Nokia XR20 prototype unit for him, so I managed to get prototype ABL dump of this phone.
WARNING: This is not a guide! DO NOT TRY IT ON OTHER SNAPDRAGON 480 BASED NOKIA PHONES INCLUDING G50, X10, X20, X100, G300 - UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
To use it:
1. Enable flashing permission with HDK (an internal flash tool used by triple-color company, sorry can't disclose more details about that). Please search for related service online, we don't provide or promote such service.
2. Download Prototype ABL from following URL:
Click here
3. Flash prototype ABL and OEM unlock enabled frp partition manually, then you can confirm bootloader unlock:
Code:
fastboot flash abl TTG-abl.elf
fastboot flash frp frp_oemunlock.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
fastboot oem unlock-go
4. Once bootloader unlock completed, please reinstall stock OS to restore ABL back to normal.
SHA256 checksum of ABL image: ac8143f6e0b449c39127aedd6463e2b9242cf37ce90a86c2988b885e34b0587f
Proof of concept is attached below, thanks to @singhnsk for testing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
man, I'm jealous of XR20 users!
here's hoping that someone will find a X10 prototype soon!
AltFantasy said:
man, I'm jealous of XR20 users!
here's hoping that someone will find a X10 prototype soon!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THAT CAME TRUE, **** YEAH!!!
Posted new topic in X10/ X20 phone section, before reading everything up here...
Seems "up the sh*t creek without a paddle" situation.
Damn Nokia, but if anyone would get it working- I'll subscribe to this topic too.
Cheers!
Visionu said:
Bro, Nokia x10 please?
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Click to collapse
Prototype ABL binaries from Nokia X10 and X100, for bootloader unlock purpose.
If you've followed my prototype ABL image release topics so far, then you should know where it comes from. This topic will be edited later if X20 one is available. WARNING: This is not a guide! Prototype ABL binaries are provided as-is...
forum.xda-developers.com
Here you go
Trying not to be offtopic, why a decent phone, from a well known brand like Nokia, that often offered android one devices has now low to zero interest from developers? It's not polemic, I am just curious
phaleg said:
Trying not to be offtopic, why a decent phone, from a well known brand like Nokia, that often offered android one devices has now low to zero interest from developers? It's not polemic, I am just curious
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Politics+proffits= end user loss
as it comes to coders, it's only so far we get allowed to delve in to, there was time, when I have physically remodded ZTE phone, from non funcioning device in to best phone at the time ALL- during one day on PC using no more that 3 tools and 2 ROM's... now you are constrained to even to get an access to bootloader or the way to extract it without phone started. Silly win for the google (nokia) developers in constraining modifications, with time, (loss of sales) that might change, hence "politics"
Anyone managed to enable boot loader access? Mine had already A13 (funk it) with oem function access disable (grey) in developer mode
phaleg said:
Trying not to be offtopic, why a decent phone, from a well known brand like Nokia, that often offered android one devices has now low to zero interest from developers? It's not polemic, I am just curious
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because HMD just keeps on locking down everything, and tries to stop people from even unlocking the bootloaders by using broken bootloaders for retail units.
Hikari_Calyx once wrote a whole article on Medium on why it's stupidly hard to unlock the retail units (that are made by HMD), but TL;DR: HMD locks the bootloaders even further every time a new security/feature update is released to its phones by itself, and it even janks the code that makes up the phones' bootloaders, forcing people to use prototype ABL images to unlock the phones.
The fact that you even need prototype/unreleased models of the damn retail units to unlock those units themselves is stupid enough...
As for the older models (e.g: 8 PureView, or 6.1, or whatever before 2021-or-so, I suppose? because there are exceptions, like the G10/G20) though, they're fine. All you need is an unlock key (though, unfortunately, you have to buy the key...), and adb, then use the unlock key, and you're done! Nokia even provided a bootloader unlocking service before (although, they only offered it for a limited time, and it doesn't even work across all of their phones! - they only supported the Nokia 8, and the phone had to run on Android 8 with an old security patch, or else they wouldn't allow the unlocking!)
alegatorul said:
Anyone managed to enable boot loader access? Mine had already A13 (funk it) with oem function access disable (grey) in developer mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that option is useless. Ignore that.
AltFantasy said:
because HMD just keeps on locking down everything, and tries to stop people from even unlocking the bootloaders by using broken bootloaders for retail units.
Hikari_Calyx once wrote a whole article on Medium on why it's stupidly hard to unlock the retail units (that are made by HMD), but TL;DR: HMD locks the bootloaders even further every time a new security/feature update is released to its phones by itself, and it even janks the code that makes up the phones' bootloaders, forcing people to use prototype ABL images to unlock the phones.
The fact that you even need prototype/unreleased models of the damn retail units to unlock those units themselves is stupid enough...
As for the older models (e.g: 8 PureView, or 6.1, or whatever before 2021-or-so, I suppose? because there are exceptions, like the G10/G20) though, they're fine. All you need is an unlock key (though, unfortunately, you have to buy the key...), and adb, then use the unlock key, and you're done! Nokia even provided a bootloader unlocking service before (although, they only offered it for a limited time, and it doesn't even work across all of their phones! - they only supported the Nokia 8, and the phone had to run on Android 8 with an old security patch, or else they wouldn't allow the unlocking!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's sad that Nokia so fiercely fights people that would like to use android "open" as it should be :/
phaleg said:
It's sad that Nokia so fiercely fights people that would like to use android "open" as it should be :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nah, blame HMD for that.
Nokia is trying to distance itself from its past with their legendary phones (like the N95, E95, N97, 3310, and soooo much more!) now, starting from when they redesigned their logo to a more.... minimalistic look, I guess? and their booths in tech events (e.g: CES) now market their IoT tech, routers, and whatnot...
As for HMD, though, they'll keep on using the old logo, because muh homage to le legendary phones and all that, blah blah. (even though their "new" N95 prototype (you can view it in MrMobile's video about the old Nokia N95) is just essentially very uniform (with just a kickstand built into the camera unit, and speakers that slide out from the left side of the phone....))
HDM or Nokia, logic is the same, it is strange to be so stricth about modding android from a company that used to produce devices with Android one (if I am not mistaken, was the type of android very stock without producers modifications in the SW)
Right, now back as we should on topic..
How did you manage to unlock the bootloader & install twrp or similar app?
alegatorul said:
Right, now back as we should on topic..
How did you manage to unlock the bootloader & install twrp or similar app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if my guide will also work for your device (though, I suspect it'll still work with the XR20, since all you have to do is flashing the ABL, then do the unlocking commands and all), but here's my guide on how to unlock the bootloader.
Do note, however, that my guide is for a different device (the X10), so it has a few differences here and there, from the XR20 (the unlock commands, and the ABL files). Hikari_Calyx has already given you the commands and files in his post, so just grab that from there.
As for TWRP, you'll have to port the recovery to your phone, which means learning programming and dealing with image layouts and whatnot...
phaleg said:
HDM or Nokia, logic is the same, it is strange to be so stricth about modding android from a company that used to produce devices with Android one (if I am not mistaken, was the type of android very stock without producers modifications in the SW)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahaha, nah, just because a phone runs Android One, doesn't mean its manufacturer will do such a thing. Android One is just the software/operating system part of the phones, and as for the bootloader (which is in the firmware part of the phone), they can just modify it however they want, for the sake of "security" and "stability" and blah blah blah.
It's just like if PC motherboard manufacturers like MSI and ASUS lock people to just using Windows, without any capabilities to use other OSes (e.g: Linux), then claim that they haven't done any modifications to the OS.
AltFantasy said:
hahaha, nah, just because a phone runs Android One, doesn't mean its manufacturer will do such a thing. Android One is just the software/operating system part of the phones, and as for the bootloader (which is in the firmware part of the phone), they can just modify it however they want, for the sake of "security" and "stability" and blah blah blah.
It's just like if PC motherboard manufacturers like MSI and ASUS lock people to just using Windows, without any capabilities to use other OSes (e.g: Linux)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers mate.
I'll try with unblocking...
Anyway, the phone is 1 month old under warranty still

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