Database Users

Help! Can't boot / cant get into recovery. ..

I was unlocked and rooted and ready to install CM7. I followed all the instructions in the Official Atrix CM7 OP to the T, but when it rebooted, I got stuck on the boot screen with "unlocked" and the red M logo.
I tried to repeat the process several times and ended kind of giving up, factory wiping, and then trying to restore my backup. It appeared to restore successfully, but when I rebooted the phone now wont boot at all. I can't even get it into recovery. No combination or order of button presses or battery pulls / usb plugins will turn it on. I just have a green light like it's charging but nothing is working.
Is it possible to brick your phone even after you have been successfully unlocked and rooted just while you are trying to install CM7?
Please help. I am really desperate here. . .

jimjenkins said:
I was unlocked and rooted and ready to install CM7. I followed all the instructions in the Official Atrix CM7 OP to the T, but when it rebooted, I got stuck on the boot screen with "unlocked" and the red M logo.
I tried to repeat the process several times and ended kind of giving up, factory wiping, and then trying to restore my backup. It appeared to restore successfully, but when I rebooted the phone now wont boot at all. I can't even get it into recovery. No combination or order of button presses or battery pulls / usb plugins will turn it on. I just have a green light like it's charging but nothing is working.
Is it possible to brick your phone even after you have been successfully unlocked and rooted just while you are trying to install CM7?
Please help. I am really desperate here. . .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you using the right recovery? romracer or rom manager!

i am using the tenfar CWM included in the Atrix 4G Automatic Unlock script package. will this not work?
if not, how do I replace it with the right recovery if I cant even get into the phone?

jimjenkins said:
i am using the tenfar CWM included in the Atrix 4G Automatic Unlock script package. will this not work?
if not, how do I replace it with the right recovery if I cant even get into the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, that the old recovery you can use the rom manager if you have , or romracer latest recovery you can find that in the development section, also ther was instruction in the cm7 thread.

you should have left it alone at the M boot screen because it takes about 5-10min to boot after unlock and flash...
everything you do now will have to be through fastboot DO NOT SBF FLASH ANYTHING!!!
Go here to use Fastboot
then download the system.img and boot.img from here
use fastboot to push the boot.img and system.img to your phone
if it gets stuck at the M boot screen let it sit for at least 10min
EDIT: get Romracer recovery from here and push that through to your phone through fastboot

Yeah youre going to have to fastboot wipe recovery then fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Just download rom racers and rename it..recovery.img
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

Great. Sorry to be such a noob, but do I decompress the CWM-recovery-atrix5.zip file and push the recovery.img file that's inside it? or push the CWM-recovery-atrix5.zip itself?
Also - every time I am able to get my phone into fastboot mode, it says my battery is too weak to flash anything. I cant seem to get the battery to charge enough to execute any fastboot commands. Any way around this? a powered usb hub?

jimjenkins said:
Great. Sorry to be such a noob, but do I decompress the CWM-recovery-atrix5.zip file and push the recovery.img file that's inside it? or push the CWM-recovery-atrix5.zip itself?
Also - every time I am able to get my phone into fastboot mode, it says my battery is too weak to flash anything. I cant seem to get the battery to charge enough to execute any fastboot commands. Any way around this? a powered usb hub?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can borrow another Atrix user's battery, or take yours to an AT&T store and see if they can charge it for you.
If you're able to get back into recovery then you can just flash the zip.
If not, you'll need to extract the recovery.img to use it with fastboot, or just download it directly from the OP in romracer's thread. (The left hand link is just the .img, the right hand side is the CWM .zip) Then place it in the same directory as fastboot.

So I can literally flash a different recovery from within another?

jimjenkins said:
So I can literally flash a different recovery from within another?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes but it MUST be working proper first ! its ok to use rom managers cwm but i just prefer the otherone alawys have but n e way there are only 2 that are current (uptodate )
thoughs 2 and with romracers you can. chose
a color that you like not just blue
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

Its the recovery from tenfar CWM. When I can get it into recovery it seems to be working - with the obvious exception of successfully installing CM7
So I can flash romracer recovery from inside tenfar recovery?
sorry if im being redundant - just dont want to screw it up!
thanks

Just download rom racers cwm. Img, head into fastboot and then fastboot flash recovery recovery-****** (whatever yer recovery image color u chose is)
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

I was able after a full day of leaving the phone plugged in, to charge it up. Then I flashed the rom racer recovery, rebooted into recovery (new version), installed CM7, installed gapps, and voila! A working CM7 Atrix. thank you soo soo much guys.

Can't boot android/recovery
ClearFire said:
you should have left it alone at the M boot screen because it takes about 5-10min to boot after unlock and flash...
everything you do now will have to be through fastboot DO NOT SBF FLASH ANYTHING!!!
Go here to use Fastboot
then download the system.img and boot.img from here
use fastboot to push the boot.img and system.img to your phone
if it gets stuck at the M boot screen let it sit for at least 10min
EDIT: get Romracer recovery from here and push that through to your phone through fastboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please help!!!
The phone stuck in boot screen and overheat, then restart.
In recovery mode is just black screen.
Phone has Neutrino 2.6GT+ ROM whit Clemsyn's OC kernel 1.6GHz and it has unlocked bootloader.
Can I change the kernel without booting in os or recovery?
This problem show after I was extracting very big zip file and phone overheat.

firecode95 said:
Please help!!!
The phone stuck in boot screen and overheat, then restart.
In recovery mode is just black screen.
Phone has Neutrino 2.6GT+ ROM whit Clemsyn's OC kernel 1.6GHz and it has unlocked bootloader.
Can I change the kernel without booting in os or recovery?
This problem show after I was extracting very big zip file and phone overheat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am actually having this same problem.

My warranty-replacement (unrelated ear-piece failure) had 2.3.6 pre-installed. Thinking little of it, I unlocked the BL and rooted the phone as usual. After this, I tried to install a couple of the ROM's (Neutrino and Morrisoft) which I was most happy with on my previous Atrix.
After flashing either Neutrino or Morrislee's ROM, the phone hung on the M screen. Waiting approximately 30 minutes with no change, I pulled the battery.
When trying to enter recovery mode, the phone would state, "entering recovery mode..." Then go black.
I ended up using RSDLite and sbf flashing the stock 2.3.6 sbf file back to the phone. Then, I had to re-unlock the bootloader and re-root.
This never happened up to, and including 2.3.4, but did twice last night on these ROM's using 2.3.6, and I've flashed many ROM's and Kernels.
It happened to a lesser extent when trying to flash Clemsyn's stock enhanced kernel to the stock ROM, as I was able to enter recovery mode. Entering recovery mode, it would give errors: mounting cache, mounting system errors, and errors to accessing recovery and recovery log files.
Restore recovery would fail in this state, giving me the above errors as well.
Trying to mount the cache and system in recovery would fail. Trying to format cache and system then mounting these could occur temporarily, but would revert back to unmounted when a restore was attempted.
For these problems I pushed a recovery through fastboot.

Just one word: Fastboot. See if Fastboot works and flash everything from there. Or, as Alterna suggested, flash through RSDLite, but that a little dangerous and can brick your phone if you don't know what you are doing. Hope it helps.

Problem sloved!!!
Alterna said:
My warranty-replacement (unrelated ear-piece failure) had 2.3.6 pre-installed. Thinking little of it, I unlocked the BL and rooted the phone as usual. After this, I tried to install a couple of the ROM's (Neutrino and Morrisoft) which I was most happy with on my previous Atrix.
After flashing either Neutrino or Morrislee's ROM, the phone hung on the M screen. Waiting approximately 30 minutes with no change, I pulled the battery.
When trying to enter recovery mode, the phone would state, "entering recovery mode..." Then go black.
I ended up using RSDLite and sbf flashing the stock 2.3.6 sbf file back to the phone. Then, I had to re-unlock the bootloader and re-root.
This never happened up to, and including 2.3.4, but did twice last night on these ROM's using 2.3.6, and I've flashed many ROM's and Kernels.
It happened to a lesser extent when trying to flash Clemsyn's stock enhanced kernel to the stock ROM, as I was able to enter recovery mode. Entering recovery mode, it would give errors: mounting cache, mounting system errors, and errors to accessing recovery and recovery log files.
Restore recovery would fail in this state, giving me the above errors as well.
Trying to mount the cache and system in recovery would fail. Trying to format cache and system then mounting these could occur temporarily, but would revert back to unmounted when a restore was attempted.
For these problems I pushed a recovery through fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My problem like that and I use automated unlock tool to recover recovery, this recovery show some errors but I successfully flash cwm touch and reinstall Nutrition 2.6GT+

[Q] Having trouble un-bricking. Factory image fails?

A woman I work with brought in her sons A500 for me to look at today and it's just bootlooping at the 'android' logo. Normally I would boot into the bootloader and use fastboot to push the factory images back. Apparently that can't be done with the A500.
So I did the next best thing. I downloaded a 340ish mb factory image and tried restoring it using the factory recovery but it gets a third of the way through then fails. I don't have any real info on the tab other than it's a wifi only A500.
So my question is this: is there a way to get into fastboot mode? And if not, is there an odin-type program or download mode that I can flash these files from my computer? The device doesn't seem to want to cooperate right now...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

InGeNeTiCs said:
A woman I work with brought in her sons A500 for me to look at today and it's just bootlooping at the 'android' logo. Normally I would boot into the bootloader and use fastboot to push the factory images back. Apparently that can't be done with the A500.
So I did the next best thing. I downloaded a 340ish mb factory image and tried restoring it using the factory recovery but it gets a third of the way through then fails. I don't have any real info on the tab other than it's a wifi only A500.
So my question is this: is there a way to get into fastboot mode? And if not, is there an odin-type program or download mode that I can flash these files from my computer? The device doesn't seem to want to cooperate right now...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this is going to depend on what junior did to it
For starters, you can check and see if he rooted it, and flash CWM recovery
With tab off, Hold VOL- then PWR for a few seconds. See if you see text in the upper left corner then release buttons. If it boots into a menu system, then Juniors been messing around.
If you get the menu, post back and we'll give you some things to do. If not...
Second recovery is the stock acer recovery;
Tab off. Hold Vol- then PWR.
Now this recovery will usually look for a file called update.zip on the SD, or a stock Acer image.
If you hang on a few minutes, I'll post a link to TimmyDeans recovery that should get you going.
EDIT: Here's the link;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20680452&postcount=137
(read the pdf in the file for instructions.)
Any issues, try and contact TimmyDean

Unfortunately, the very first step requires that I turn on usb debugging, and this particular iconia won't boot. I was able to find a factory image that the factory recovery would accept. It went through the whole process of restoring, and now I have "boot verified failed ..." at the acer screen.
I'm still able to get into recovery, but reflashing yields the same result.

Which recovery"
CWM or Acer recovery? (vol+ or Vol-)

FACTORY recovery. From acer. If it were cwm I would have specified.

Anybody? I saw nvflash referenced somewhere here...is there an odin-like tool I can use to flash from my PC?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

You need to find the Update file your area, is it an international tablet, branded by carrier or what?
The update zip must have all criteria matching or it will fail...

Wifi only us spec a500. Not carrier branded.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

InGeNeTiCs said:
Anybody? I saw nvflash referenced somewhere here...is there an odin-like tool I can use to flash from my PC?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The nvflash was probably related to Method 1 of this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1276227
It does require the CPUID, however..

InGeNeTiCs said:
Wifi only us spec a500.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If USA then you Need a GEN2 at the end of your Download for STOCK ACER ROM.
I would recomend:
1. Downloading a HC v3.1 Gen2 verson stock (not 3.2, or 3.2.1)
2. Rename the File to "Update.zip", place it on SDCARD.
3. boot up into your stock acer Recovery, let it install.
-play with tab for while (don't use OTA Update -cus 3.2+ has problems, more restrictions)
-on HCv3.1 will be easier to ROOT and go to custom ROM or later you can update thru OTA to v3.2.1 (not recomended)
at least you will be able to get Tab working and have more options with Easy Root methods.

[Q]Can't mount tablet as USB Storage Device, ums lunfiles issue

Hello folks,
To start, the tablet is an a500. It's running the ICS bootloader V8 with Thor's 1.7.3 recovery.
On my Nexus S, I was able to mount the device as USB mass storage from the recovery, drop a new rom on it from the computer and flash as usual. I can't do that with the a500 because it gives me the "Unable to write to ums lunfile" error. Thinking back, the recovery has always given me this error, but I've gotten around it by successfully mounting it from the booted tablet instead of from the recovery - I can't do that this time because booting hangs on the Tegra Owners screen and doesn't continue any further.
Things I'm wondering about
-Am I on the right recovery for the V8 bootloader? this indicates that I should switch to this
-Can someone point me to how to properly flash recoveries/roms via adb/fastboot?
-What can I do to be able to mount the a500 through the recovery?
I've tried to do some more research and I think my data might be pooched again. A few posts mentioned that formatting the data enabled them to mount their tablet as a USB device to load roms onto it. When I was still running the HC bootloader, I was able to successfully format the data using the hardware reset (power, volume+, screen lock). I'm trying to do that again, but it just boots straight into the V8 bootloader.
1) rotate lock set to the locked position
2) hold volume+
3) hold power until tablet vibrates, then release power and switch the rotate lock to the unlocked position
... but instead of giving the Formatting Data text, it boots straight into the bootloader menu. BLAST!

Wermut said:
Hello folks,
To start, the tablet is an a500. It's running the ICS bootloader V8 with Thor's 1.7.3 recovery.
On my Nexus S, I was able to mount the device as USB mass storage from the recovery, drop a new rom on it from the computer and flash as usual. I can't do that with the a500 because it gives me the "Unable to write to ums lunfile" error. Thinking back, the recovery has always given me this error, but I've gotten around it by successfully mounting it from the booted tablet instead of from the recovery - I can't do that this time because booting hangs on the Tegra Owners screen and doesn't continue any further.
Things I'm wondering about
-Am I on the right recovery for the V8 bootloader? this indicates that I should switch to this
-Can someone point me to how to properly flash recoveries/roms via adb/fastboot?
-What can I do to be able to mount the a500 through the recovery?
I've tried to do some more research and I think my data might be pooched again. A few posts mentioned that formatting the data enabled them to mount their tablet as a USB device to load roms onto it. When I was still running the HC bootloader, I was able to successfully format the data using the hardware reset (power, volume+, screen lock). I'm trying to do that again, but it just boots straight into the V8 bootloader.
1) rotate lock set to the locked position
2) hold volume+
3) hold power until tablet vibrates, then release power and switch the rotate lock to the unlocked position
... but instead of giving the Formatting Data text, it boots straight into the bootloader menu. BLAST!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard reset will not work this way on v8, u need to use fastboot...
Boot to fastboot pwr/vol UP
Connect to pc via micro USB cable
Open cmd prompt type:
fastboot devices
U should see a ?
Type:
fastboot erase userdata
fastboot erase cache
fastboot reboot
It might pay to reflash your recovery while you're there
Grab your chosen recovery
(I used cwm1.7.3 that came in civatos nvflash v8 pckge and renamed it recovery.img)
and copy it to the fastboot folder
Fastboot erase recovery
Fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Fastboot reboot
Yes, v8/cwm 1.7.3 should work fine, not sure why u have errors mounting....someone else maybe able to help with that...
good luck
dibb
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

This is a super helpful post. Many thanks!
I'll try this in the next couple of days and report back.

Hello Dibb, thanks again for trying to help.
Using fastboot, I successfully:
-erased user data
-erased cache
-erased recovery
-reflashed the 1.7.3 recovery.
I didn't have any luck mounting the tablet in windows, so I tried the above steps again, but this time flashing the TWRP 2.1.3.
The recovery booted OK, so I know I did that correctly, but still no luck mounting.
Next, I tried redoing the bootloader/recovery using Blackthund3r's A500 APX Flashing utility back to the Bundle 17 (A500 and A501 BL v8 / Thor Recovery 1.7.3, ICS Unlocked / Skrilax Bootloader v8 and Thor Recovery 1.7.3 for the A500 and A501) to maybe get a fresh start. I rebooted into the recovery, but still no luck mounting the tablet.
I think I need to try pushing a rom straight onto the tablet using either fastboot or adb, but I'm not sure how to do it. I did some research and came up with the following cmd code:
fastboot flash boot boot.img
All of the roms that I've ever downloaded come in zips that you flash straight from the recovery, they're not .img files. Is there a way to push zips onto the SD card using adb/fastboot? I see a boot.img inside these zips, but I feel that if I flash that after extracting it from the rom zip, I'm not going to be getting any gapps or any of the other potentially important stuff in that zip. Do you mind explaining that, and maybe including some more awesome instructions on how to push a rom onto the tablet from windows, without having to mount the SD?
Thanks in advance!

K, lets back up a bit.....a quick question first
Are u just wanting to flash a custom rom via recovery?
As long as you have the unlocked bootloader (which you do) just flash via "install from zip" option from either
internal or external storage.....or am I missing something?
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Yep, that`s exactly what I want to do.
My problem is that there's nothing on the internal disk (I have no SD card for the a500) and I can't put anything on the SD card because it won't mount to show up in windows for me to drag a zip onto it.

Roger that then
And no card reader either I take it?
Edit: what rom are u running right now

That's right, no card reader either. I do have a USB key, maybe I can put a new rom on that and mount the usb key in recovery?
I'm not sure what rom I'm on right now, it's been so long since the tablet successfully booted into a rom. The last one I think was Thor's JB v17 from tegraowners.

Yeh try the USB key first....
I didn't realise you couldn't boot your OS, thought you meant the recovery screen, no matter...
do you have your cpuid backed up somewhere....anywhere....pleeeaasssee say you do!!!
I'm just writing up a post now in case the USB key won't work...

Yep, I've got the CPUID, drivers, sdk, adb and fastboot work too.
I'm going to try the USB key method.

Wermut said:
Yep, I've got the CPUID, drivers, sdk, adb and fastboot work too.
I'm going to try the USB key method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awsum that's great:highfive::good:
adb push name-of-your-rom.zip /sdcard
I'm sure you will still need to mount it tho but this is not my speciality.....
If the key won't mount I'd strongly suggest you download timmydeans v4 - it does not require an sdcard. http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?fo4wqjeald4s3rj
This will downgrade you back to stock HC3.2.1 which is pre-rooted and comes with cwm....this will wipe everything and reset yr tab, that will deal with yr boot issue - and hopefully the mount issues too....

Holy**** the USB key worked, just installed CM10-FLEX_V6Supercharged_Rev2.3c.
Lets hope I don't have any SOD issues, which is what led me to upgrading my bootloader, which is what started all of this!
I searched the rom that you have in your sig, (I suppose you think it's pretty stable?), but I didn't manage to find it. Throw a link? Does it come with a kernel?
Thanks so much!!

Phew!!
Ive been using the v6 supercharge cm10 JB rom for a week or so and its fantastic http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1935582
The one in my sig is ics but u know us tinkerers we have to have the latest and greatest.lol...
I never go too far from civato's roms - I'm a big fan! So can't offer feedback for anything else....
You should have no probs with SOD...mainly an issue with hc bootloader/ics rom and not wiping....thing of the past these days!
Well I'm pleased you got sorted without too many probs - happy tabbing
rgds dibb
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Bricked a500- stuck on boot menu.

Yes I am a noob, but a noob in need of help.
I recently decided to root my Acer Iconia a500 16gb WIFI version, running on stock ICS. I realised i had to unlock my bootloader to install CWM etc. So I followed a tutorial, and used blackthund3rs A500 APX Flash Utility v0.4. I used the flash package "Skrilax_CZ's bootloader V8".
So I thought all was going well, however when rebooting it, it just sits on "Skrilax_CZ's bootloader V8: Booting primary kernel image". I'm assuming its bricked, as it doesn't go beyond this point. I can get a few other options by doing the "PWR+VOL" combination and it opens boot-menu mode with the options:
-Reboot
-Fastboot Mode
-Boot Primary Kernel Image
-Boot Secondary Kernel Image
-Boot Recovery
-Set Boot secondary Kernel Image
-Set debug mode off/on
-Wipe Cache
The only option that does the slytest thing is putting it in fastboot mode. When putting it in this mode, it registers in "A500MANAGER" (when connected to my pc via USB) as the device being in fastboot mode. But I dont know what to do from there.
I've looked at multiple threads and cant find anything to fix this problem.
Please Help! Thanks!

boxyJ said:
Yes I am a noob, but a noob in need of help.
I recently decided to root my Acer Iconia a500 16gb WIFI version, running on stock ICS. I realised i had to unlock my bootloader to install CWM etc. So I followed a tutorial, and used blackthund3rs A500 APX Flash Utility v0.4. I used the flash package "Skrilax_CZ's bootloader V8".
So I thought all was going well, however when rebooting it, it just sits on "Skrilax_CZ's bootloader V8: Booting primary kernel image". I'm assuming its bricked, as it doesn't go beyond this point. I can get a few other options by doing the "PWR+VOL" combination and it opens boot-menu mode with the options:
-Reboot
-Fastboot Mode
-Boot Primary Kernel Image
-Boot Secondary Kernel Image
-Boot Recovery
-Set Boot secondary Kernel Image
-Set debug mode off/on
-Wipe Cache
The only option that does the slytest thing is putting it in fastboot mode. When putting it in this mode, it registers in "A500MANAGER" (when connected to my pc via USB) as the device being in fastboot mode. But I dont know what to do from there.
I've looked at multiple threads and cant find anything to fix this problem.
Please Help! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like the A500 manager didn't do something right. Happens sometimes.
Here is what I would do. I assume you don't have the Android SDK installed. No need to, as some of the bootloader/CWM packages have the necessary files needed.
1. Boot to the bootloader, select the option "Fastboot Mode"
2. Make sure you have downloaded to PC a CWM package for ICS/JB. Usually the manual packages have the necessary files, such as the CWM image, fastboot.exe, adb, and some dll files. Unzip them to your PC. (Also helps to download a custom ICS or CM10 rom to your sd card first)
3. Open a command window in the same folder you have the files.
4. type "fastboot flash recovery xxxxxxxx.img" (xxxxxxxx is name of cwm recovery img file, do not put the " in) then hit enter.
5. After completion, immediately boot tablet into recovery. I believe holding Vol- and PWR does this. Or, Vol+ and PWR boots to the bootloader menu. Either way.
In recovery, do your wipes and or formats as per ROM installation instructions.
Install ROM
Enjoy. If you have problems locating one of those packages, give a shout back.
MD

Thanks for the fast reply,
I am a noob, so could you perhaps link me a CWM package for ics to download?
Thanks

boxyJ said:
Thanks for the fast reply,
I am a noob, so could you perhaps link me a CWM package for ics to download?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I'll post a link in awhile.
MD

Files
Ok, so here are your files.
Unzip the contents of the zip file to a folder on your PC
Boot your tab to the bootloader menu, select Fastboot.
Connect tab to PC, then wait 30 seconds or so (windows has to recognize it)
Then, go to that folder. Hold "Shift" + "Right Mouse Click".
Select "Open Command Window"
Type in the following;
fastboot flash recovery recovery_thor17_403.img
and hit enter. Should transfer good.
When finished, boot tablet to recovery like I mentioned earlier. DO NOT boot to the system. Or you'll be doing this all over again.
Install ICS or CM10 rom following the instructions on the ROM post. I suggest starting out with Civato's ICS Flex****** rom first, or one of the stock rooted ones.
Should be good...... I hope.
MD

Thanks again.
I did the fastboot recovery thing. But when I go to reboot, I have to turn it on and select "Boot Recovery", when I do its stuck on the screen "Skrilax_CZ's bootloader v8: Booting recovery kernel image"
Is this whats supposed to happen or am I supposed to see a different screen?

boxyJ said:
Thanks again.
I did the fastboot recovery thing. But when I go to reboot, I have to turn it on and select "Boot Recovery", when I do its stuck on the screen "Skrilax_CZ's bootloader v8: Booting recovery kernel image"
Is this whats supposed to happen or am I supposed to see a different screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shut down the tab. Reboot holding V- and PWR release when you see the text. Should reboot to recovery.

If not, your partitions are probably hosed.
Then it's Timmy Deans Rollback tool time. Will have to turn you over to dibs_nz for that one.
MD

Moscow Desire said:
Shut down the tab. Reboot holding V- and PWR release when you see the text. Should reboot to recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That brings me to the screen "Skrilax_Cz's bootloader V8: Booting recovery kernel image." But it doesn't go any further?

Well crap.
Sounds like some partitions are messed.
Try this NVFlash package;
http://d-h.st/32X
It's a version 3 bootloader using NVFlash. Might work.
Put your tab in APX mode (I believe you press and hold the pinhole reset, then PWR. After 3 seconds, release PWR, 2 seconds later release pinhole. Might have to reverse it, don't remember)
Plug tab in. PC should recognize.
Unzip to a folder, open a command window, and run the batch file (type it into the command window, xxxxxxxx.bat then hit enter)
If there's an error, it should show in the command window.
Here is a link to Timmy Deans roll back package;
http://d-h.st/0x7
The issue here, is you need a UID number, which I HOPE you wrote down when you did the V8 bootloader!
MD

Well I cant manually put it into APX mode, tried a few times. Also there is no bat file in that download... as for Timmy Deans roll back package, is it a simple method taht should work? At this point I just want to get my tab working again . And yes I do have my UID number.

Ok,ok.
So this morning I tried to fix it again. And I think i managed to put it in APX mode. Also, I started up APX flash tool and all, did that. Suddenly a cmd window opened and started doing stuff. And now the tablet says in the top right corner "Acer Iconia APX mode", and a yellow glowing 'acer' title in the middle (which is different from what I've been seeing). Another cmd window opened by itself saying "Nvflash started [resume mode]. Where do i go from here??
Thanks!

So I think I've gotten a better understanding of how this all works today. I've tried multiple ways of flashing recovery imgs ect, flashing the bootloader and all that stuff. And all the times I've done this, it always stops at "Nvflash started [resume mode]" and doesn't go any further.
So I'm not really sure what else there is to do.
Please, I need guidance. (below is my last attempt, and what It said in the cmd window).
Flashing bootloader: bootloader_v8.bin ...
Nvflash started
[resume mode]
Formatting partition 4 please wait.. Command Execution failed cmd 13, error 0x12
0002
FAILED!
command failure: format partition failed (bad command)
bootloader status: unknown operation (code: 1) message: flags: 0
Nvflash started
[resume mode]

Please let us know if/how you fixed this problem! Some of us are in the same boat.

timmytutone said:
Please let us know if/how you fixed this problem! Some of us are in the same boat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U guys need to run the babsector.rar file to reset yr tabs partitions and you must have yr cpuid/sbk.
The file and instructions to use it are in post 2 of the root guide in my sig.
If u get any errors you must post the output. You may have a faulty memory chip. If that's the case, a new motherboard is the only fix.
dibb
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4
EDIT: Link to post2 (babsector.rar file)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=35500589

dibb_nz said:
U guys need to run the babsector.rar file to reset yr tabs partitions and you must have yr cpuid/sbk.
The file and instructions to use it are in post 2 of the root guide in my sig.
If u get any errors you must post the output. You may have a faulty memory chip. If that's the case, a new motherboard is the only fix.
dibb
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4
EDIT: Link to post2 (babsector.rar file)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=35500589
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the reply. I gave up this afternoon and just flashed the ota 4.0.3 version from Acer and it seems to be running really good. The only reason I was looking to flash something new is because the update from honeycomb to ics didn't take very well and I've always been dealing with problems from it. If the flashed version is still running well I might not try a different Rom again. I'll be putting your tip in my notes in case I do. Thanks again.

dibb_nz said:
U guys need to run the babsector.rar file to reset yr tabs partitions and you must have yr cpuid/sbk.
The file and instructions to use it are in post 2 of the root guide in my sig.
If u get any errors you must post the output. You may have a faulty memory chip. If that's the case, a new motherboard is the only fix.
dibb
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4
EDIT: Link to post2 (babsector.rar file)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=35500589
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I rooted and then flashed a Custom Recovery Image. Then I followed the instructions under the babsector portion of your post. I got to this part: Go back into apx mode and run 501 B.bat, Reboot into recovery and do the wipes, Reboot!!!
I wasn't sure what "do the wipes" referred to so I did ALL the wipes. Cache/Dalvik/Battery/ and Data(?) When I rebooted it went back to the green screen and says in yellow: "Invalid primary (LNX) image." and has the same menu as when I rebooted after 501 A.bat
Now what?
EDIT:
So I was sitting there with the green screen/yellow error and decided to boot into recovery again. I then reflashed my custom rom, and did a normal reboot. Everything is working now! My FIRST custom rom after owning android devices since the ancient Motorola i1 way back in the day. I'd still like to know if what I did was right or what happened, so I can detail it in my instructions for my next custom rom project.

timmytutone said:
So I rooted and then flashed a Custom Recovery Image. Then I followed the instructions under the babsector portion of your post. I got to this part: Go back into apx mode and run 501 B.bat, Reboot into recovery and do the wipes, Reboot!!!
I wasn't sure what "do the wipes" referred to so I did ALL the wipes. Cache/Dalvik/Battery/ and Data(?) When I rebooted it went back to the green screen and says in yellow: "Invalid primary (LNX) image." and has the same menu as when I rebooted after 501 A.bat
Now what?
EDIT:
So I was sitting there with the green screen/yellow error and decided to boot into recovery again. I then reflashed my custom rom, and did a normal reboot. Everything is working now! My FIRST custom rom after owning android devices since the ancient Motorola i1 way back in the day. I'd still like to know if what I did was right or what happened, so I can detail it in my instructions for my next custom rom project.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude I know it's been 4 years since you wrote that but I just wanted to say you really saved my life, THANK YOU!!!
About 2 months ago I tried to unlock my tablet's bootloader but I gave up after reading different articles and obviously ended up with a really bad headache. Last night I realized Android 3 is really old and I almost can't install anything on it. So basically I gave it another shot and been reading and downloading different files for almost 3 hours. Today I managed to unlock bootloader and use your short instruction (more likely a walk-thru that how you fixed your problem) and it worked!!! I owe you man... I owe you
I even took it to so many different mobile centers about 3 weeks ago but they said its files are not anywhere/we can't do it/it's too risky/it's not possible deal with it

Happy to help!

[Q] soft-bricked? my acer iconia a500 please help!

Ok, I seem to be making things worse and worse, so I've come here to beg for help.
TLDR:
my acer iconia a500 was running skrilax_CZ's bootloader V8, I screwed it up (I think) by trying to install ClockworkRecovery.
I was still able to boot into Tegraowners_JB-MR1_ROM_v11t4
I messed a BUNCH more stuff up. a bunch!
Now, I can still see the internal and external SD but when i try to use blackthund3r's tools to root/recovery/custom-mod
it gets stuck when trying to enter APX mode. "No APX devices detected"
I do have the CPUID and the SBK
Longer explanation and details:
I installed Acer's USB drivers: USB_Acer_1.06.1500_A30H_A
I rooted the device using: ICS_rooting_A10x_A5xx --> runit-win.bat
I used blackthund3r's tools: A500APXFlash.exe and A500Manager.exe
I installed a custom bootloader rom: V8-Thor_1.7.3_recovery.a500apx
I installed Tegraowners_JB-MR1_ROM_v11t4 and gapps-jb-20130301-a500-v2
I was happy as a clam for 2 days playing with my fancy tablet.
I installed Superuser App
I made a nandroid backup at least once from the v8 bootloader.
I made a batch Titanium backup
I then tried installing clockwork recovery mod, and I think that's when i screwed myself.
Suddenly the power on + down_volume switch just led to a screen that said "Skrillax_CZ's bootloader V8"
"Booting recovery kernel image" and then it would hang there forever.
I could still boot into Tegraowners_JB-MR1_ROM_v11t4 so I tried to run a restore from Titanium Backup,
it froze halfway through with the message "superuser access denied"
I rebooted, and suddenly most of the widgets/apps are gone, and the back/home/and application navigation
button that are usually on the bottom left corner are also gone!
then I did a bunch of crazy/desperate stuff with blackthund3r's tools, (something involving trebuchet?)
and I finally blacked out amidst tears and despair around 5 am this morning.
so
now, when I use A500APXFlash.exe and A500Manager.exe it tries to put the tablet into APX mode, and the
tablet goes to a blackscreen, with a white LED on the power button, but I get the error "No APX devices detected"
I also tried inserting a paper clip then turning the power on, same result.
I do have the CPUID and the SBK
Please help if you can, and please dumb down your explanations if possible, this is my first tablet and
i'm totally new to android, etc.
Thanks for your time
-Joel
couple more details, it boots to the point where you swipe to unlock it, but when i do, i get a popup that says Trebuchet has stopped,
and when i click ok, it just comes back infinitum
oh, and when i use A500 Manager.exe it says that it's connected and usb debugging is ON, but I have no way of getting into the settings
to confirm that?
I don't want to come across as lazy, I literally have 8 tabs open from xda-developers and 3 from tegraowners. I also just tried afterotav_109 but that didn't do anything.
I found
the following files in
Computer\Acer Iconia Tab A500\Internal Storage\0\.AcerRecoveryInstaller
(see attached picture)
I'm guessing I can't rename recovery.old to recovery, or something easy like that?

small update, installed android SDK and adb shell
when I launch adb shell I can see the various directories on the tablet internal and external SD. I'm in the process of scouring the forums for info about how to use the adb tool to fix my problem, am I even on the right track?
thanks for any feedback y'all can provide
-Joel

j8ner said:
Ok, I seem to be making things worse and worse, so I've come here to beg for help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to reply to each part of your post, just in case someone else is having the same probs...
Longer explanation and details:
I installed Acer's USB drivers: USB_Acer_1.06.1500_A30H_A
I rooted the device using: ICS_rooting_A10x_A5xx --> runit-win.bat
I used blackthund3r's tools: A500APXFlash.exe and A500Manager.exe
I installed a custom bootloader rom: V8-Thor_1.7.3_recovery.a500apx
I installed Tegraowners_JB-MR1_ROM_v11t4 and gapps-jb-20130301-a500-v2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TBH installing T/O's rom you should really be asking on their forum - their roms are a little different to the ones on xda - like, you don't need the v8 unlocked bootloader you can run it on HC or ICS Bootloaders.
android adb/usb drivers?? you dont mention them are they on your PC?
I then tried installing clockwork recovery mod
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didnt you already have cwm 1.7.3?
How did you try to install it? and yeh this is probably where you went wrong.
You must install custom recoverys using either fastboot or an appropriate flashable zip
Suddenly the power on + down_volume switch just led to a screen that said "Skrillax_CZ's bootloader V8"
"Booting recovery kernel image" and then it would hang there forever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For future reference what you should have done here is run the 1.7.3.apx with apxflash tool.
I could still boot into Tegraowners_JB-MR1_ROM_v11t4 so I tried to run a restore from Titanium Backup,
it froze halfway through with the message "superuser access denied"
I rebooted, and suddenly most of the widgets/apps are gone, and the back/home/and application navigation
button that are usually on the bottom left corner are also gone!
then I did a bunch of crazy/desperate stuff with blackthund3r's tools, (something involving trebuchet?)
and I finally blacked out amidst tears and despair around 5 am this morning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it gets like that sometimes dont panic its fixable!
so
now, when I use A500APXFlash.exe and A500Manager.exe it tries to put the tablet into APX mode, and the
tablet goes to a blackscreen, with a white LED on the power button, but I get the error "No APX devices detected"
I also tried inserting a paper clip then turning the power on, same result.
I do have the CPUID and the SBK
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If thats the error it means the drivers are screwed up. Completely uninstall the acer drivers, reboot and reinstall. But w8 theres more....
Make sure you got the adb/fastboot drivers here
Please help if you can, and please dumb down your explanations if possible, this is my first tablet and
i'm totally new to android, etc.
Thanks for your time
-Joel
couple more details, it boots to the point where you swipe to unlock it, but when i do, i get a popup that says Trebuchet has stopped,
and when i click ok, it just comes back infinitum
oh, and when i use A500 Manager.exe it says that it's connected and usb debugging is ON, but I have no way of getting into the settings
to confirm that?
I don't want to come across as lazy, I literally have 8 tabs open from xda-developers and 3 from tegraowners. I also just tried afterotav_109 but that didn't do anything.
I found the following files in Computer\Acer Iconia Tab A500\Internal Storage\0\.AcerRecoveryInstaller
(see attached picture)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Acer recovery installer? OK so I assume you used that to try and flash a recovery? This app works best on HC Bootloader - the only way to use it with ICS is IF you already have the v8.
Also, you must make sure you run the correct recovery for whatever version of ROM you are wanting to flash. So check the OP of your chosen rom for which recovery you need. Most of the ics/jb custom roms here on xda work with cwm 1.7.3, TWRP or public recovery. BUT these wont work on HC
I'm guessing I can't rename recovery.old to recovery, or something easy like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use an appropriate recovery.img and flash via fastboot
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK so lhow do we get you fixed???
You need to do a complete FORMAT (factory data reset) of your system to get it back to a state where you can use the tools.
Install the adb drivers first!
Lets see if fastboot mode is available.
As long as you see skrilax_cz v8 bootloader on your screen connect yr micro usb cable - power down and boot up holding VOLUME UP button...you should see the fastboot menu now follow the instructions here on using the fastboot commands to WIPE userdata and cache
THEN if you have the correct recovery.img you can flash this too (see that post) if not run the apxflash tool again using cwm 1,7,3.apx file.
Now, once you have run it BOOT DIRECTLY to recovery and flash your rom. (Doesnt matter which one as long as its ICS or JB...)
This is important...if you try and boot yr tabs OS, you'll get either booting primary kernel error or be stuck on the acer logo -
IF fastboot is not available then run the apxflash tool to install recovery instead then using that same post it shows you how to do a full format wipe, with cwm.
I hope this isnt too over the top for you...I've tried to explain things so you can understand a bit better - but I may have to 'dumb' things down a bit more, let me know
good luck with it
dibb

thank you so much for replying, i'll get right on this
Dibb thank you very much, as soon as I get back I'm going to go through your directions step by step.
I really appreciate your help, and I'll post an update later tonight.

in fastboot, please advise
dibb_nz said:
Acer recovery installer? OK so I assume you used that to try and flash a recovery? This app works best on HC Bootloader - the only way to use it with ICS is IF you already have the v8.
Also, you must make sure you run the correct recovery for whatever version of ROM you are wanting to flash. So check the OP of your chosen rom for which recovery you need. Most of the ics/jb custom roms here on xda work with cwm 1.7.3, TWRP or public recovery. BUT these wont work on HC
You can use an appropriate recovery.img and flash via fastboot
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK so lhow do we get you fixed???
You need to do a complete FORMAT (factory data reset) of your system to get it back to a state where you can use the tools.
Install the adb drivers first!
Lets see if fastboot mode is available.
As long as you see skrilax_cz v8 bootloader on your screen connect yr micro usb cable - power down and boot up holding VOLUME UP button...you should see the fastboot menu now follow the instructions here on using the fastboot commands to WIPE userdata and cache
THEN if you have the correct recovery.img you can flash this too (see that post) if not run the apxflash tool again using cwm 1,7,3.apx file.
Now, once you have run it BOOT DIRECTLY to recovery and flash your rom. (Doesnt matter which one as long as its ICS or JB...)
This is important...if you try and boot yr tabs OS, you'll get either booting primary kernel error or be stuck on the acer logo -
IF fastboot is not available then run the apxflash tool to install recovery instead then using that same post it shows you how to do a full format wipe, with cwm.
I hope this isnt too over the top for you...I've tried to explain things so you can understand a bit better - but I may have to 'dumb' things down a bit more, let me know
good luck with it
dibb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DIBB IS TEH AWSEOMEMEMEST!!!!!!!
fastoot mode worked!
one thing that threw me off is that I had to figure out that I needed to type
Code:
fastboot.exe flash [B]recovery[/B] recovery_thor17_403.img
the guide here
doesn't specify which partition to use so I got an error message until I guesstimated I wanted the boot partition.
Anyway, once you fixed my bootloader, I restored the full system from a backup I had made on the first of the month.
thank you thank you for your awesome help!
now I can break it again and again!
made a minor edit, changed boot --> recovery in the "code" section above

j8ner said:
DIBB IS TEH AWSEOMEMEMEST!!!!!!!
fastoot mode worked!
one thing that threw me off is that I had to figure out that I needed to type
Code:
fastboot.exe flash [B]recovery[/B] recovery_thor17_403.img
the guide here
doesn't specify which partition to use so I got an error message until I guesstimated I wanted the boot partition.
Anyway, once you fixed my bootloader, I restored the full system from a backup I had made on the first of the month.
thank you thank you for your awesome help!
now I can break it again and again!
made a minor edit, changed boot --> recovery in the "code" section above
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad u got it
Not sure why you had to use fastboot.exe as the command tho? but as long as it worked and you're up and running, that's the main thing!
happy flashing
dibb
Edit: have edited guide to show recovery partition - thank for picking that up
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4 Beta