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[Q] a500 Not entering APX mode for ICS bootloader

I have had my a500 since mid-2011 and within having it for 30 Minutes, I rooted it using ginger-break. Then I Used Acer Recovery Installer from the Market to Install Thor's CWM Recovery and Lightspeed rom. I updated to the Lightspeed ICS 4.4 I believe and now Im looking to upgrade to Flexreaper but I need ICS bootloader to do so. I have tried this Method with the tools such as APX tool and afterota, But since I never updated with a stock OTA update from acer the afterota does not work and I have gotten my cpuid and the SBK and both work. I have entered APX mode both manually and through APX tool. But at this point I continue to get errors like cannot locate APX device. I do know that I have the drivers downloaded from the acer website for the a500 and the APX device shows up as "Acer Piccaso Boot Recovery" but It will not show up with the "Acer Bootloader" on the tablet as the APX tool describes. I am currently downloading a stock rom and trying again just incase it was the ROM causing any issues. The Stock rom will be rooted and the recovery will be unlocked. Any ideas on whats happening? Did i mess up by not OTA updating? Is my device an older "version" and I can not properly enter the stock bootloader?

Hi cpgifford,
Did you get anywhere with your bootloader update? I am in a similar situation - rooted in GB - updated to ICS and APX mode does not seem to work.

Had the same problem.
The solution is:
When you are conected to your pc.
You must set your device in apx mode by hand.
Hold the little reset button with a needle or something and hold the power button for I think max 5sec.
If windows say new device found(sound) release the buttons.
If now displays black and the power button is on(led)
You are in apxmode.
Now you can flash the bootloader.
I did it with the blackthun3r tool
I hope that will help you,
when i had the problem i was scared because my devise won't boot any more.
After it all was fine.
Regards Sorgenbringer
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A500 mit Tapatalk 2

Sorgenbringer said:
Had the same problem.
The solution is:
When you are conected to your pc.
You must set your device in apx mode by hand.
Hold the little reset button with a needle or something and hold the power button for I think max 5sec.
If windows say new device found(sound) release the buttons.
If now displays black and the power button is on(led)
You are in apxmode.
Now you can flash the bootloader.
I did it with the blackthun3r tool
I hope that will help you,
when i had the problem i was scared because my devise won't boot any more.
After it all was fine.
Regards Sorgenbringer
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A500 mit Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if this /\ doesn't work then make sure you have no software that dictates your drivers like driver manager, also disable you antivirus and any cleaning software like advanced system car

Thanks for the update - I will work up the courage to try and flash the bootloader again. atm I am rocking ICS on the GB bootloader so I am not in too much of a rush however all the roms will eventually require the ICS bootloader for more advanced features.

helpw with unbricking a500
Hello all,
I tried to installed ICS based on this post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1622425.
here are the steps i did
1. downloaded all the items required that is APX flash tool and Thor 1.7.3 recovery, V8-UNL-ICS-HC-bootloader-MULTI-cwm.zip
2. got my cpuid and sbk
3. connected the iconia to computer with usb cable
4. started the apx flash tool.
5. entered my sbk by copy from text file and pasting in the dialog box of flash tool. and clicked the right arrow
6. selected the 'V8-UNL-ICS-HC-bootloader-MULTI-cwm.zip' file.
7. saw the acer logo and the a500 in apx mode
8. finally the flash tool said done and asked to boot the tablet.
9. after booting the tablet, i found that it only says 'Skrilax-CZ's bootloader V8 Bootin primary kernel image"
I am now completely lost as how I can move forward to install the Thor 1.7.3 revoery and the ICS ROM on here.
I am unable to make this tablet go into APX mode as suggested in the post by civato, both manually as well as using the blackthund3r a500 manager. A500 manager reports 'A500 detected in normal mode. debugging enabled.
I would appreciate any help on resolving this.
Thanks
sp

The bootloader is already on your tab. Turn the tab off, press and hold vol- and press the power button to turn it on and see, if it boots into recovery.
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2

1andoid said:
Hello all,
.
.
.
4. started the apx flash tool.
5. entered my sbk by copy from text file and pasting in the dialog box of flash tool. and clicked the right arrow
6. selected the 'V8-UNL-ICS-HC-bootloader-MULTI-cwm.zip' file.
...
I am unable to make this tablet go into APX mode as suggested in the post by civato, both manually as well as using the blackthund3r a500 manager. A500 manager reports 'A500 detected in normal mode. debugging enabled.
I would appreciate any help on resolving this.
Thanksnot
sp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
b
I'm a wee bit confused here.
Step 4 OK
Step 5 OK
Step 6 ??
The apxflash tool usually uses the a500.apex files UNLESS u choose use yr own files option
The zip u flashed is what u need to use Civ's manual nvFlash method
BUT apxFlash IS able to use the .bin and .img from the extracted files inside the zip and
I.m wondering if this has caused yr issue with entering apx mode again, I don't think it should have,
but there's been some weird things happening lately so its hard to say!!!!
But for future reference it may be good practice to use the apxFlash-in-app bundles for the initial flash OR
run the zip file via manual nvFlash just in case there is conflict.....
Once u have the patched BL on yr tab feel free to experiment to yr hearts desire, lol....
Just stick with the program for yr initial flash!!!
U now have fastboot available to u, any particular reason u r needing to use the automated tools?
Check yr drivers and reinstall if need be and reboot both devices....
dibb
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium HD app

help

So I have the acer a500 with the stock ics and rooted. i was using my tablet just fine last night and later on went to use it again and now its stuck on the acer screen. i have tried the resets for recovery aND IT does not work. its still stuck on the acer screen. can anyone help me? please. my tablet is the gen2 when i received the ics update if that helps. and as mentioned it was fine until last night. is there a way i can reinstall it with the sd card? i would love the stock image if possible.

Wrong forum section.

nishka256 said:
So I have the acer a500 with the stock ics and rooted. i was using my tablet just fine last night and later on went to use it again and now its stuck on the acer screen. i have tried the resets for recovery aND IT does not work. its still stuck on the acer screen. can anyone help me? please. my tablet is the gen2 when i received the ics update if that helps. and as mentioned it was fine until last night. is there a way i can reinstall it with the sd card? i would love the stock image if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download a stock acer image and place it on a MicroSD under the name of update.zip then boot into recovery
But yes it is the wrong forum section - should be in Q&A doesn't bother me too much but it irritates devs because it's the development forum
Sent from my Iconia A500 using Tapatalk 2

ok
hi, thank you, please im not good at this. can you tell me a link for the stock? and tell me how do i boot it?
thank you

so can anyone direct ne to a sstock zip file of ics for the gen2 acer a500 tablet that works. i have no idea how my tablet got messed up. its stuck on the acer screen. ive tried so many things. i have tried the reset pinhole button, i have downloaded a lot of zip files or roms and tried to do the volume, power button and all i get is a robot with red triangle. i cannot use usb because my computer wont read it not even after downloading drivers. anyone help me please?

nishka256 said:
so can anyone direct ne to a sstock zip file of ics for the gen2 acer a500 tablet that works. i have no idea how my tablet got messed up. its stuck on the acer screen. ive tried so many things. i have tried the reset pinhole button, i have downloaded a lot of zip files or roms and tried to do the volume, power button and all i get is a robot with red triangle. i cannot use usb because my computer wont read it not even after downloading drivers. anyone help me please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what may have happened but the easiest way to fix your tab is to downgrade back to HC using an acer utility called an "EUU". you will need your cpuid for this so i hope you have saved it somewhere.
Look here for 'jazzyjames' tutorial How to rollback to HC - for instructions on how to do this and a link to timmydeans HC EUU - also take a look thru my cpuid post (link in sig) for loads of info and links and even how to get yr cpuid if u dont have it

thanks i tried it and follow instructions numerous times. evry time i get to the step where it says "entering acer download mode on my tablet" on the EUU program on my laptop it says it "failed" so i try and try again with the same results. im running out of options. i dont know what to do.

maybe give this a shot. I've never had to use it myself but it's probably worth a shot.
How to unbrick your tablet -
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1699277

oh heck that doesnt sound too good, i've not heard of the actual EUU "failing" guess thats the result of the usb issue you spoke of!
The "update.zip" method, you have 2 choices here See this thread for all the Official Acer Stock Roms - Ensure you download a "Full" rom and not just one of the update packages....instructions are in the first post...
You need to extract the update.zip and it may need to be decrypted as I said instructions for all this are in the OP!!
method2 - I've tried this once!! I got pretty frustrated real quick. Its a buggy chinese rom - took me a good hour to finally get into flashing a recovery, but it did work and plenty of others
have posted success with it... drkalo has a guide right here
Failing that m8 yr options are very, very few...
Try on a different computer so we can rule that out...or not!
or try to troubleshoot the usb issue....there are the only 2 ways via sdcard or pc/usb...
thinking about it now, in your post you said
"i cannot use usb because my computer wont read it not even after downloading drivers. anyone help me please?"
Not sure I follow, wouldnt have thought you'd get all that way to download mode without USB drivers to begin with.
You have debugging enabled in settings and you connect your cable to your pc but your tab does not show up on your PC in Device Manager???
Are you still on the stock bootloader??what about recovery??

this is what comes up
this is what comes up after trying this methid

nishka256 said:
this is what comes up after trying this methid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So this window that pops up saying 'failed' and with instructions to go into apx mode - did u do this? what happened after you did it?
I haven't seen this particular error but normally with the downgrade process you do not have yr tab connected UNTIL you see the "cant detect your iconia tab" window (with similar instructions to enter apx mode manually) did you see this window at all? you do not enter your cpuid until AFTER you have put yr tab in apx mode and connected to yr PC, then the green status bar shows and then you should see "Congratulations".
To check you are in apx mode your tab screen is black and the power light is ON.
Now before you connect yr tab to yr PC open up Device Manager (pc) so you can make sure the apx/usb driver loads when you connect the cable - it will show under "USB Controllers". Once you can confirm the drivers are installed then you should be all good
The drivers are a bit of a pain as there are different ones for each different 'mode' of your tab i.e
USB driver that allows you to see the contents of yr tab from yr PC
ADB driver that allows yr tab and pc to communicate by sending commands to yr tab via yr PC
APX Driver which you normally only see while running HC, but yr PC can sometimes report an error with the "apx device" if the drivers have not installed properly
Acer Boot/Recovery Driver which NEEDS to be installed for any type of nvflash or EUU flash to be successful
Fastboot Driver if you have flashed bootloader v3 up this driver will load when you enter "Fastboot"
This is why folks have trouble with drivers and why we keep telling them "reinstall the drivers!!!" The Acer drivers from acer support AND the Google adb drivers which you can get from the first post of my cpuid thread (link in sig) the zip also has the fastboot drivers and saves you having to download the full android sdk. Having device manager OPEN while attempting any type of flash definitely helps you see whats happening - or not - driver wise...

[Q] Is my A500 bricked when trying to update to CWM 1.7 touch

Hello all I think I have hosed my tablet. I had Thor's CWM mod (1.3.4) installed and working just fine then I tried to flash to the CWM Touch recovery (1.72 I believe) for my device. I performed the upgrade via the old version of CWM and all went well. Then next boot into recovery nets a "Booting recovery kernel image" message but it never boots. I have waited for an hour and still no luck. I have tried to connect via APX mode and use a couple of utilities to flash back to Thor's version but had no luck. I can see the device does go into APX mode and the tools do seem to recognize that fact but once I am in APX mode adb devices returns nothing. If I run PBJ20upgrade it works to the point where I can enter my CPUID then fails and tells me the ID is not valid. I have my serial number and I am using that with a 0 in front of it in the PBJ20upgrade tool but it still fails. Is there any hope for my poor A500?
I should also note that I can't boot normally now for some reason either so anything that requires a boot to the OS will not work for me. If I try to boot into the OS I just get the "Acer" screen again I have waited for an hour with no boot.
I have also tried to put an update.zip file out on the sd card and boot into recovery but that will not work either.
I also tried this and it just hung at the "Erasing Cache..." message.
After a couple of minutes, Power Up/Turn on the Tablet while holding the Volume + (that's the right volume rocker next to the Screen lock).
When you feel the vibration while powering on and while holding the Vol. +, switch the Screen Lock On, Off, On and Off.
You should see a two line on the screen and it should restart after that. (you may now release the Volume +)
Thanks

I think theres something messed up with the internal SD. Look at this post and download the tool provided. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27852564&postcount=25 you will have unlocked ics bootloader v8 with cwm 1.7.3 on your tab after using it. Then you can flash any bootloader with blackthunders apx tool.
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2

Thanks I downloaded and tried the tool but I get this error after runnung a501 a.bat.
"Command send failed (usb write failed)". I can see that the tablet enters APX mode then once the tool runs I get that error.
One question would I use the last 15 digits of my serial number to generate my SBK? I have tried blackthunders APX tool and that won't work also the Acer Utility tells me it fails because of the wrong number

Then your sbk and cpuid are wrong.
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2

Thanks would I use the last 15 digits of my serial number for my CPUID?

Your cpuid should be 16 digits long.
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2

Right I read that it should be the last 15 digits of my serial number with a 0 in from to make a total of 16 digits. Is that correct?

Yepp.

Mine must really be hosed then. Maybe there is actually a hardware failure. If figures it's only a couple of days out of warranty.

There is still hope. Was your a500 ever connected to your pc? Then search USB Deview on Google and download it. Start it, and in options, activate show disconnected devices. Look for your a500. In the serial column stands a 16 digit number. Thats your cpuid.
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2

I have tried that but I guess I haven't connected to my PC before this happened. I do have my serial number and if it's just a 0 then the last 15 digits of my serial I don't understand why any of the APX tools will not work.

Found something that should be interesting for you: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751978
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2

VelosCohagen said:
Found something that should be interesting for you: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751978
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That did the trick thanks so much. It turns out the UID was not the last 15 digits of the serial number. The UID I got back is not even close to the last digits of my serial.

[Q] Please help! Recovery Problems

Hey,
when I try to get into the recovery (with Volume and Power Button) the a500 is saying "secure boot: image SOS checksum fail".
I got my correct UID and the corresponding SBK.
I read all of the help threads but no described way works... :crying:
- My bootloader is: 3.01 (not clever I know)
- Build-Number: FLEXREAPER-R12.5 base: A500_1.031.00_ww_GEN1 (still booting and working but very unstable)
- Kernel:2.6.39.4+
- Andriod Version 4.0.3
I tried:
- APXFlashTool (hangs on stage 2)
- "EUUs_SBK_Acer_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1" (says I need a newer Version?)
- I tried to install a recovery over Acer recovery (it installed recovery but at booting in recovery again secure boot: image SOS checksum fail)
So please XDA-Devs help me before I play Frisbee with the A500 :laugh:

When using the euu, don`t connect your tab until there comes a popup how to get tab in apx mode. This can take up to 5 minutes. Then connect it, enter the cpuid, and it should work.
Gesendet von meinem Iconia A501 mit Tapatalk 2

I give it a try tomorrow... hope it works. Will write my experience

one step further
tetsted it like VelosCohagen said and comming one step further... Now I can type my UID in the EUUs updater and start the flashing process, but after 2-3 minutes when the white text "entering acer download mode" in the left-top corner appears, it stucks there. The updater breaks up with the flashing process and the tablet stuck at entering Acer download mode
So, any help?
thanks, Tobias

daoberle said:
tetsted it like VelosCohagen said and comming one step further... Now I can type my UID in the EUUs updater and start the flashing process, but after 2-3 minutes when the white text "entering acer download mode" in the left-top corner appears, it stucks there. The updater breaks up with the flashing process and the tablet stuck at entering Acer download mode
So, any help?
thanks, Tobias
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A different PC, or a different USB cable. You can't just use any ordinary cable. I use my HTC Desire's cable.
MD

Moscow Desire said:
A different PC, or a different USB cable. You can't just use any ordinary cable. I use my HTC Desire's cable.
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried it with different cable other PC and reinstalled the acer USB driver... still same Problem

Need help with blackthund3rs A500 flash util?

So i am trying to unlock my A500's bootloader by using black thund3r's flashing tool. My first problem is when i try flashing it, it gets stuck on the " entering download bootloader" or something like that. This is also while using my custom BCT. Then i try the same thing this time using the default BCT that comes with the program. This time it gets stuck on stage two " uploading". I have no idea what to do or what im doing wrong, can anyone help?
By the way my tab is on ICS and i was trying bundle 4 for the bootloader.

19HD93 said:
So i am trying to unlock my A500's bootloader by using black thund3r's flashing tool. My first problem is when i try flashing it, it gets stuck on the " entering download bootloader" or something like that. This is also while using my custom BCT. Then i try the same thing this time using the default BCT that comes with the program. This time it gets stuck on stage two " uploading". I have no idea what to do or what im doing wrong, can anyone help?
By the way my tab is on ICS and i was trying bundle 4 for the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally this error means one of two things:
The drivers are failing to install correctly thereby
not allowing yr tab to enter download mode. Or
They are installed and you've okayed the flash without
before yr tab has entered apx mode...."white text on screen"
I'd try a different bundle first (#17) and
Use the manual method to put yr tab in apx mode
Connect yr cable and check device manager for the
acer-usb-boot-recovery driver (under USB controller)
failing that, rolling back to HC via timmydeans rom, and
trying again...
BTW, what rom and BL do currently u have?
And how did u get yr cpuid?

dibb_nz said:
Normally this error means one of two things:
The drivers are failing to install correctly thereby
not allowing yr tab to enter download mode. Or
They are installed and you've okayed the flash without
before yr tab has entered apx mode...."white text on screen"
I'd try a different bundle first (#17) and
Use the manual method to put yr tab in apx mode
Connect yr cable and check device manager for the
acer-usb-boot-recovery driver (under USB controller)
failing that, rolling back to HC via timmydeans rom, and
trying again...
BTW, what rom and BL do currently u have?
And how did u get yr cpuid?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try this in a couple hours, thanks for replying.
I currently have the regular official 4.03 ics that I rooted with blackthund3rs root tool. As for the bootloader it should be the original ics one. Finally I got my cpuid and sbk with the a500 manager.

thank you so much man i did what you told me to and it worked perfectly, with bundle 4. Now how do i get clockwordmod on it? I'm kind of a noob so sorry if this is a simple question.

Okay so it turns out that it didnt work, im still on the locked boot loader . I've tried diffrent bundles even the one's form civato's post, but it still won't work it always gets stuck on stage two. Plz i need help.

19HD93 said:
Okay so it turns out that it didnt work, im still on the locked boot loader . I've tried diffrent bundles even the one's form civato's post, but it still won't work it always gets stuck on stage two. Plz i need help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U got 2 choices
Try afterOTA tool or
roll back to HC to reset yr tab - have a read of this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1839313
Or use timmydeans v4 and jazzys guide
All the info and links are in the first link in my sig
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2