So i have a Acer a501 I got a few months back and I wanted to get Jellybean on it (or at least ICS) so I started looking around and found out that I would need to root it and install a custom rom as Acer decided not to release the ICS update for the a501. So I set out on the journey to root my tablet. Seemed easy enough following a guide I found here on the forums. And it worked! or so I thought. Turns out the rooting process installed a a500 rom on my tablet thereby disabling 3g and gps capabilities. I ignored this cause I figured I could just upgrade to a ICS rom for the a501 and I would get that functionality back. Well to do that I needed to install an ICS bootloader, another guide, this time asking for the SKB which wasn't mentioned in the previous tutorial. So I wanted to go back to stock HC and start over, another guide, the last guide telling me to how to get back to stock involved downloading a rom, decrypting it, wiping the device, and formatting the /system directory (RED FLAG) but being trusting I tried it anyway. Now I am left with a a501 tablet that stays on the "android" screen when booting normally and can get into the CWM recovery menu that was installed during the original root guide.
I have searched the forum all day and cannot find anything that can get me back to stock or even just onto a custom rom. So can someone please point me in the direction of a "noob-proof" guide or something that will step by step tell me what my options are and how to accomplish this? Alot of guides seem like they will work out but then all of the links to "REQUIRED" programs are dead. I need something current that can get this tablet working again be it on Honeycomb like before or on ICS (preferred).
Recovery I have is "ClockworkMod Recovery v5.0.2.3(thor2002ro rev1.5"
Have a try afterota on a500 development section, try to flash the skrylax v8 bootloader first and reflash the ics rom
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Going to sell my Acer Iconia a500 so now i need to get everything back as it comes from factory. Right now i'm rooted with the custom rom Lightspeed 1.0.7. I found this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1155664 and thought i could follow those easy instructions. I'm probably stupid but i can't get it to work.
First i tried with the cwm method, but i can't find a way to unroot (using Iconia root 1.3 did not work, not sure what other ways there are?) therefore flashing the Acer_A500_0.000.00_1.016.01_COM_GEN1 does not work.
Tried instead with Restoring to factory defaults via Terminal #2. installed the things needed but it wouldn't let me run itsmagic (/data/data/com.interphaze.AcerRecoveryInstaller/files/itsmagic)
Could anyone guide me as to how i get everything back to stock?
All help is much appreciated!
edit: i installed one of the full packages from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1113878 (Acer_A500_7.006.03_COM_GEN1) everything should be stock now right? and it should be possible for otas?
Even with rooted stock you can receive updates, its just the custom ROMs that won't receive it (like Lightspeed). If you go into settings, about tablet it should tell you what you are running. If it is one of the versions listed in that thread you should be good to go. Also make sure you aren't rooted and that CWM is no longer there.
sydeu said:
Going to sell my Acer Iconia a500 so now i need to get everything back as it comes from factory. Right now i'm rooted with the custom rom Lightspeed 1.0.7. I found this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1155664 and thought i could follow those easy instructions. I'm probably stupid but i can't get it to work.
First i tried with the cwm method, but i can't find a way to unroot (using Iconia root 1.3 did not work, not sure what other ways there are?) therefore flashing the Acer_A500_0.000.00_1.016.01_COM_GEN1 does not work.
Tried instead with Restoring to factory defaults via Terminal #2. installed the things needed but it wouldn't let me run itsmagic (/data/data/com.interphaze.AcerRecoveryInstaller/files/itsmagic)
Could anyone guide me as to how i get everything back to stock?
All help is much appreciated!
edit: i installed one of the full packages from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1113878 (Acer_A500_7.006.03_COM_GEN1) everything should be stock now right? and it should be possible for otas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually, you can do this by installing Acer recovery, and run one of the full roms from;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1113878
Really doesn't matter which package, but I would run a 3.2, Com Gen 1
I am running into a consistent amount of bull**** trying to root my Acer Iconia A500. This shouldn't be more than a 10-15 project and yet its taken me all night...to get absolutely nowhere. My device will not root gingerbreak or iconiaroot. I get bull**** messages and whatnot every time and I'm getting tired of resetting my device and this trial and error bull**** has to stop. somebody please help.
I could go into detail about the processes I've taken and the results I get.
My guess is you are already on 3.2 which means those 2 programs won't work. You have to revert back to 3.01 then run iconia root and run acer revovery program to replace the stock recovery with cwm. Visit this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1276227 follow method #2. And make sure you do step #2 because alot of people miss that step and mess it up. Also, it is alot easier to have iconia root and acer recovery program already installed before you downgrade so that you can complete the root. 3.01 is very unstable and you will get alot of force closes after you downgrade. Once you've completed all the steps in method 2 you will be able to install a custom rom or a rooted stock rom like this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1422504
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20680452&postcount=137
use this for anything 3.2 or over. you dont have to roll back to an earlier release
I can list any number of things that I've done/tried, but there have been so many! I'm not a noob when it comes to flashing ROMs, but I'm a new to the Acer Iconia Tab A500 and that's the problem, I think.
Anyway, I got the A500 with Honeycomb and I let it do the ICS OTA. No problem. Then I rooted it. No problem. I got to here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=31546261#post31546261
Then I decided to change the bootloader and that's when I borked something up. It would still boot into ICS just fine, but I couldn't get into recovery. I decided to try downgrading to Honeycomb 3.0.1 using the "unstable" update.zip, but that just ruined everything as now I'm completely stuck. I can't boot at all, it just hangs at the black screen with white Acer letters and red "boot verification failed" in the top left corner. Recovery gets me the dead Android image with the black exclamation point in a red triangle.
I have looked all over and I've read dozens of XDA threads...and I'm sure I'm missing the one thing I need to do to fix this, but heck if I know what it is. I have the Acer drivers installed on my computer, I have a variety of tools (nvflash, blackthund3r's apxflash, etc) waiting to be used if necessary.
So, please, I implore you...treat me like I'm dumb and walk me step-by-step through whatever it is I need to do to get my A500 back up and running! Thanks for your help!
UPDATE: Many hours later, I fixed it! I did another update using the full, stock image of Acer_A500_7.006.01_COM_GEN2 (just guessing about whether it would work or not) and it seems to have done it. Sure, I'm back on Honeycomb 3.2, but it worked. And then I was able to use AfterOTA to root and get the CWM bootloader on there.
So my next question: what do I need to do in order to get ICS? Can I just flash an ICS ROM from CWM, or do I need to update the bootloader in some way?
Thanks!
moonlightinwhite said:
I can list any number of things that I've done/tried, but there have been so many! I'm not a noob when it comes to flashing ROMs, but I'm a new to the Acer Iconia Tab A500 and that's the problem, I think.
Anyway, I got the A500 with Honeycomb and I let it do the ICS OTA. No problem. Then I rooted it. No problem. I got to here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=31546261#post31546261
Then I decided to change the bootloader and that's when I borked something up. It would still boot into ICS just fine, but I couldn't get into recovery. I decided to try downgrading to Honeycomb 3.0.1 using the "unstable" update.zip, but that just ruined everything as now I'm completely stuck. I can't boot at all, it just hangs at the black screen with white Acer letters and red "boot verification failed" in the top left corner. Recovery gets me the dead Android image with the black exclamation point in a red triangle.
I have looked all over and I've read dozens of XDA threads...and I'm sure I'm missing the one thing I need to do to fix this, but heck if I know what it is. I have the Acer drivers installed on my computer, I have a variety of tools (nvflash, blackthund3r's apxflash, etc) waiting to be used if necessary.
So, please, I implore you...treat me like I'm dumb and walk me step-by-step through whatever it is I need to do to get my A500 back up and running! Thanks for your help!
UPDATE: Many hours later, I fixed it! I did another update using the full, stock image of Acer_A500_7.006.01_COM_GEN2 (just guessing about whether it would work or not) and it seems to have done it. Sure, I'm back on Honeycomb 3.2, but it worked. And then I was able to use AfterOTA to root and get the CWM bootloader on there.
So my next question: what do I need to do in order to get ICS? Can I just flash an ICS ROM from CWM, or do I need to update the bootloader in some way?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and No.
Now that you are on HC 3.2, you're going to need to do the process again.
IE: Unlocked Bootloader and CWM
The problem you had at first, is that when you flashed the UNL bootloader and CWM, you missed 1 tiny step. (lot of people forget to do this) And that is to delete the boot-recovery.p file from the /System. If you do not, you can install CWM, however, when you boot into stock ICS, your CWM gets overwritten. Another little trick from Acer
In the Dev Section, in the stickies part, Civato posted a link to a full ICS Stock Root Rom, With all the nasty stuff removed. (bootloader, recovery files). Download it, put it on your Ext Sd card.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31572588&postcount=6
Then do the unlocked bootloader + Cwm again. Only THIS TIME, when it finishes, boot the tab immediately to CWM (vol- and PWR). And install the modified stock rom, or one of the custom roms.
Don;t forget to get your HC UID number written down before starting the process. Also it's good after ICS to get your ICS UID number also written down.
MD
Hello...
I've spent about a good week and a half trying to root and install ICS on the A500 at where I work. My goal is to get ICS or higher on this device so that it can be used for testing purposes. I was able to root and install CWM but have not been able to flash ICS or JB. Am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction.
I have tried to flash cm-10-20121027-UNOFFICIAL-a500.zip and cm-9-20121221-NIGHTLY-a500.zip but what I get in both cases is my device hanging on the Acer logo. My last attempt I left the device like that over the weekend and this morning it was still displaying the logo.
The CM9 nightly wouldn't install at first until I came across a post that said to remove the first line of the install script, which I did, and the install seemed to happen but as I mentioned the device hung up at the Acer logo.
No idea how to move forward here... there are hundreds of posts and updates on the topic but quite frankly there are terms that I've never heard of, all sorts of caveats, specific recoveries that need to be used, dead links, etc... am making no progress.
I do have a backup up of HC, so am able to revert easily via CWM.
Current Android is 3.2.1, build is Acer_A500_7.014.02_COM_GEN2
@eyepoker..... I honestly don't see where your problem is provided you are prepared to load a custom ICS rom from any of the Developers in thread #3. Without picking out a favorite I would suggest any of "Civatos" FLEXxxxx ..... SHELLshock..... roms will give you a highly customized ICS Rom.
Be aware that you will have to load first an ICS Bootloader..... you cannot run these custom roms on a HC Bootloader, but in "Civatos" posts there are links to tutorials on how to do this.
The issue is that i can't flash a rom, it doesn't work. The device hangs with the Acer logo displayed and advances no farther after a flash and reboot.
Should my take away be that the latest CM nightly and the unofficial don't work? Should i not bother with CM? Is ClockworkMod old now - is there something else I should be looking for?
I'll look at the bootloader stuff you mentioned.
@eyepoker..... With respect you know your tab better than I, however unless you have bricked it (you don't say it is nor does anything you say about it suggest that is the case) then there is no earthly reason why you cannot load a ICS rom onto it. Now I am not going to say that there is a problem with the NIGHTLY updates of CM roms but is it possible that an app that you have previously installed is causing a problem with CM?
To prove to yourself that your tab can run ICS why don't you try the following.....
1) Follow the instructions in Civato's thread to load an unlocked ICS Bootloader..... I would recommend "v.8"
2) Download one of his ShellShock or Flex roms and put the zip file onto your External SD card - DON'T unzip the file leave it in it's zipped state.
3) Boot into CWM Recovery - do the necessary "wipes"
4) From within CWM install the zip from your SD Card
I am quite certain that the rom will install.
If the above doesn't work then I think there is far more wrong with your tab than it being unable to flash a rom.
So, I received an Acer A501 that was stuck in boot animation loop...
The ONLY way I could get it to take an update.zip was to use an A500 ICS one.
Now I can boot the tab fully, and I've rooted it and installed Acer Recovery Installer, then installed all kinds of custom recoveries, but NONE OF THEM WILL LOAD AN A501 ICS update.zip...
They all fail with an error 7 where the file's device designation doesn't match the designation of my tab because I'm running an A500 rom instead of the A501 I desperately want to run...
How do I get over this ?
All I want is a totally stock WORKING A501 ICS...I've been working on this for about 30 hours straight now, and can't get it. I cruise this board quite a bit, but rarely post as I'm not a developer, nor a programmer, and as a user, I actually do try my best to read, read, read and work it out for myself, but this has been the worst experience of the approximately 10 devices I've "fixed"...the information is so shattered and spread around its been impossible for me to figure this out on my own.
I'm pretty sure there's a stock EUU in blackthund3rs sticky in the dev forum.
I can't remember, but I don't think you can flash an update.zip via twrp or cwm.
Use power volume down buttons and make sure the update.zip is no named update.zip.zip or Update.zip.
There were issues with Acer recovery installer - you might wanna use fastboot or apxflash tool...
The other failsafe method for returning to stock is using an EUU via cpuid/sbk.
ALL the info and links you need are provided in the stickys, or see the root guide in my sig...if links are not working pls let me know
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I do appreciate the reply. Thank you.
I gave up, the device is going to stay thinking its a 500, getting it back to a WORKING 501 was far more difficult that it should have been...and yes, virtually all links are dead and gone, I ran across more dead links than live ones, and never did see a 501 ICS EUU(whatever that is, no one ever defined the term EUU anywhere I could find...).
PS: Virtually everything I found deals with the 500, not the 501, and while the roms may work between the two devices, the 501 is definitely a different device. Losing the 3G and GPS was disappointing, but didn't really impact the practical functionality of this *particular* 501.
PSS: Also, virtually all info dealt with HC, and this 501 was already on ICS when I got it, getting it back to HC was something I couldn't accomplish, every time I tried, it left the device boot looped and useless...
An EUU is the Acer updating tool, it wipes your data and as I said, you do need your cpuid/sbk, and the Acer and usb drivers. Connect to your pc and run the file.
Here's a link to ics 501
http://d-h.st/Dgf
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