Related
Edit: Solution found look below!!!
As I posted in a different thread:
I managed to do it, but it was hackish
How I did it:
Used a terminal directly on the tablet, no adb.
I installed the acer chinese update. I 'dd'ed my old system and flexrom and rebooted. After that I checked for updates, and as luck had it, there was one. I tried it, but it failed half way through the procedure.
I rebooted again, then I 'dd'ed a boot.img on mmcblk0p2 from a 1.016 that matched my original system.img and flexrom.img. WITHOUT REBOOTING (I tried that before, it gives a bad kernel checksum and stops, but I assumed on update it would just patch if the file corresponds and re-sign), I then proceeded to do the update. It rebooted, entered recovery, and lo and behold, IT WORKED! So I'm 100% back to stock.
I would imagine that the same procedure would work when manually updating through recovery (using an extracted update.zip).
I used the kernel from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14033507&postcount=27
EDIT: The kernel is stock for ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1
Take a look at the thread linked below, get the 1.016.05_COM_GEN1 files (system, flexrom, and boot). If you are not offered an online update (System>About>Check for updates), you need the official update.zip from Acer. Extract the update.zip from the official Acer update THAT MATCHES YOUR FLEX VERSION using the XOR 12 method (see here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1065360&page=20 - note in that post the link is for 03_COM_GEN1, NOT 05_COM_GEN1. For 04_COM_GEN1 and 05_COM_GEN1 see here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14052165&postcount=184. For 03 and 04 you will need to find system.img, flexrom.img and boot.img, for 05 they are linked in the thread below).
EDIT: The thread with the images for ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 is here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1086785
EDIT: You might pull this off for other flex versions as well, but you would need all the files (system.img, flexrom.img, boot.img AND update.zip) from those versions.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ONLY WORKS IF YOU HAVE THE OFFICIAL UPDATE.ZIP FOR YOUR SPECIFIC FLEX VERSION
Wow, I was about to try that!!!
I'll do that now and see how it goes.
Thanks mate!
EDIT: Worked!
I would expect that the reason an update fails on the Chinese one is that it tries to patch the kernel (which is different from the one expected). The update is a bunch of diffs and patches, and almost no full files, so it cannot be applied over anything but the right files.
Yes that is true. The old kermel checksum check was failing.
huxflux2003 said:
EDIT: Worked!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear it Take that, you sneaky Acer bastards!
adancau said:
As I posted in a different thread:
I managed to do it though, but it was hackish
How I did it:
Used a terminal directly on the tablet, no adb.
I installed the acer chinese update. I 'dd'ed my old system and flexrom and rebooted. After that I checked for updates, and as luck had it, there was one. I tried it, but it failed half way through the procedure.
I rebooted again, then I 'dd'ed a boot.img on mmcblk0p2 from a 1.016 that matched my original system.img and flexrom.img. WITHOUT REBOOTING (I tried that before, it gives a bad kernel checksum and stops, but I assumed on update it would just patch if the file corresponds and re-sign), I then proceeded to do the update. It rebooted, entered recovery, and lo and behold, IT WORKED! So I'm 100% back to stock.
I would imagine that the same procedure would work when manually updating through recovery (using an extracted update.zip).
I used the kernel from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14033507&postcount=27
Take a look at the thread, get the 1.016 files, system, flexrom, and boot, and try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhhh a true milestone, well done.........
Nice work! Two questions:
Does the update work in the US?
I assume gingerbreak still works after the OTA update?
Thx
gingerbreak works
_motley said:
Does the update work in the US?
I assume gingerbreak still works after the OTA update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A warning first: You DO NOT need to do this if you haven't installed the chinese update.zip (update.acer.zip) before, as that is the only one that changes kernels. Also, if you have anything other than ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1, it's debatable if you want to do this (if you do read below), it might be better to wait for an official update.
The kernel above is stock for ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1
So it works if you have ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 images, or are ok with changing your flex to that (in which case you would need to flash a system.img and a flexrom.img for ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1, reboot, and then flash the kernel from the post above before heading off to recovery and updating - HOWEVER as far as I know no one has tried this, though IN THEORY it should work).
Gingerbreak still works, you can get root back after updating.
Just so I'm clear...
I'm at version 1.139.05 but I got here via the Chinese update.zip.
What do I need to do to get back to stock? Do I need to go back to my old system image and flexrom plus a new kernel?
Could someone post clearer instructions?
Thanks
adancau said:
A warning first: You DO NOT need to do this if you haven't installed the chinese update.zip (update.acer.zip) before, as that is the only one that changes kernels. Also, if you have anything other than ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1, it's debatable if you want to do this (if you do read below), it might be better to wait for an official update.
The kernel above is stock for ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1
So it works if you have ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 images, or are ok with changing your flex to that (in which case you would need to flash a system.img and a flexrom.img for ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1, reboot, and then flash the kernel from the post above before heading off to recovery and updating - HOWEVER as far as I know no one has tried this, though IN THEORY it should work).
Gingerbreak still works, you can get root back after updating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks guys, I did restore using the Chinese update.zip last week and I am currently sitting at kernel 2.6.36.3 with flashed system img=Acer_A500_1.104.05_COM_GEN1, but with recovered Chinese kernel modules for wifi etc. I also flashed a flexrom.img from this build as well. I didn't flash the boot.img from this build, but was thinking about it until huxflux2003 reported the check-sum failure.
So, I am trying to decide what I am going to do. It sounds easy enough to get back to stock now, but I may wait for the official update next month that has 3.1. At this point, I suppose we are assuming that it will be a full update.zip that will work on any tablet (god I hope so). It's about time they gave us a full recovery image...I will be beyond disappointed if they don't. Let's also just hope we can still gain root easily after this.
One more question, if I use all the images from ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 that were posted, does this have to match what I had originally had in any shape or form? It sounds like since all the pieces are from the same build, everything will be fine regardless of what you had to begin with. Is this right?
Thx
To your last question - Theoretically yes, it should work, and I guess you don't need to match what you originally had. I can only speculate, logically though it would makes sense. You definitely need all the images to be from the same build (system+flexrom+boot.img). You also need the official update for that build.
heyoh said:
Just so I'm clear...
I'm at version 1.139.05 but I got here via the Chinese update.zip.
What do I need to do to get back to stock? Do I need to go back to my old system image and flexrom plus a new kernel?
Could someone post clearer instructions?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To get back to stock you need the three images for your build - system, flexrom, and boot. If there is no online update available, you also need the update.zip for that build (extracted from an official acer update using the XOR 12 method - do a search).
Alternatively, I suppose you could switch to a new build for which you could find all the necessary files (but it hasn't been tried).
Flash system.img using dd. You might need to re-root. Reboot, flash flexrom.img. Reboot once more. Make sure your wifi works (you might need different kernel modules).
Look to see if there is an online update (Settings > About > Check for updates). If there is, cancel it. Flash boot.img on mmcblk0p2. DO NOT REBOOT.
If there was an online update available, now it's the time to perform it. After it's done you will get you back to stock 1.139.05.
If there isn't any update, make sure you have the update.zip on the root of your microSD. Turn off the tablet, then turn it back on holding the volume key closest to the power button. Do not let go of that button until you see some text in the corner. At that moment the update would begin. Once rebooted you will be back to stock.
Hope I've explained it better this time, and it works ok for you. If not, you need to go through the chinese update again. Good luck.
adancau said:
To your last question - Theoretically yes, it should work, and I guess you don't need to match what you originally had. I can only speculate, logically though it would makes sense. You definitely need all the images to be from the same build (system+flexrom+boot.img). You also need the official update for that build.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It worked for me too! Thanks again for the tip. I am now at the latest build and ahead of the US update schedule from what I can gather
It asked me to update after I flashed the ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 build system.img and flexrom.img. Even from the US it prompted just fine since I was on ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 build and not ACER_A500_1.104.05_COM_GEN1 as the former is what the differential patch targets.
I cancelled the update once I saw it presented and then blew on the boot.img from the ACER_A500_1.016.05_COM_GEN1 build. Then, without rebooting, I downloaded and applied the update (but with a little hiccup, see below). Now I am at Acer_A500_1.139.05_COM_GEN1 and didn't lose any user apps or settings etc.
Had a scary point though that I will share as it may help others. The first time I tried, the zip wouldn't downloadload and I was getting an HTTP 403 error. I cleared the systemupdater app and FWUpdateService data. I also killed the services and then I was stuck. Instead of conceding to reflashing the Chinese update.zip and starting over, I unzipped the Chinese update.zip and grabbed the boot.img from it. I then dd'ed that image back to the boot partition and rebooted again. It came back up and I this time I was able to do the system update successfully. Whew!
Followed instructions by OP and it worked perfectly! Back to stock and updated.
I think I'll be keeping these system images for next time I brick and have to flash the Chinese update.
Any chance of someone uploading the extracted update.zip for the new Acer_A500_1.139.05_COM_GEN1 so I can update manually using this method.
Thanks in advance
I used the above method to update to 1.139.04 from 1.016.04.
However my kernel is still 2.6.36.3-00001-gf991e5d instead of the 2.6.36.3 everyone else is reporting?
tianqi said:
I used the above method to update to 1.139.04 from 1.016.04.
However my kernel is still 2.6.36.3-00001-gf991e5d instead of the 2.6.36.3 everyone else is reporting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you directly flashed a 1.139.04 image your kernel has not been updated. You had to flash a 1.016.04 image, flexrom and boot, and then run the update.
You MIGHT have some luck regardless by running the update.zip now (I used it on mine one time when I updated like you did, and it seemed to work, but I have not noticed the kernel number). Be prepared to have to reflash if something goes wrong though.
I did reflash system, flexrom, and boot from 1.016.04...
Second time is still the same...
Kernel is still 2.6.36.3-00001-gf991e5d...
I need help! I need a stock, unmodified recovery partition image.
Anyone here with a vzw tab who DOES NOT yet have CWM installed?.
PLEASE contact me.
Thanks!
electron73 said:
I need help! I need a stock, unmodified recovery partition image.
Anyone here with a vzw tab who DOES NOT yet have CWM installed?.
PLEASE contact me.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have one that hasn't been moded but have no idea how to get you what you want. PM me if you know how to download and send to you and I'll do my best to help.
I'll check my laptop at home tonight. I believe I kept my heimdall backup before flashing cwm
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Just checked, mightve deleted it. Sorry man
aximtreo said:
I have one that hasn't been moded but have no idea how to get you what you want. PM me if you know how to download and send to you and I'll do my best to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh that would be awesome! Are you rooted? Let me find the commands in the meantime, I read somewhere it's a simple one command in terminal to extract the recovery partition into a file on sd card...
WHAT AN ORDEAL !!!!
But in the end: SUCCESS!
I managed to get my tab updated with the Verizon OTA update.
The problem is definitely CWM !!! A rude awakening is in store for everyone with the P6800 CWM installed, because it a) fails to verify the checksum of OTA files correctly on the i815, b) it thinks the tablet is a P6800, so the OTA file fails to run if it assert checks for "SCH-i815" hardware AND lastly c) modem updates don't work because the device /dev/cdma_update doesn't exist, so the modem.bin firmware_update call fails !!!
In short, I had to fumble the OTA file apart and do the update manually in two runs:
First file, kick the checksum, hardware check and modem update out, then manually run the ZIP through CWM. The zip subsequently (LUCKILY) updated the stock recovery and overwrote CWM with a new fresh stock recovery.
Second file had everything kicked out BUT the modem udpate and LTE patch, so with the STOCK recovery this file ran through just fine, updated the modem and then applied the LTE delta patch.
Phew!!!
Of course I had to manually restore root after the update, had backed up with voodoo, auto restore failed, so terminal and hacking it was...
Now I have the tab running on clean stock FD01, baseband and LTE FD01, rooted and stock recovery.
No more CWM, no more "hacking" with the ROM until some dev finally releases a "correct" CWM and at least ANY factory ODIN image is available to bring the tab back to stock if needed!!!
Kinda sick of the non-support for this tab. So much going on for the Galaxy Note and pretty much every other device. I'm starting to regret having bought this "special" Verizon version
Awesome find and great to know for whenever ics does come out. Could you please post the recovery img you got?
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
OK after getting so many responses I decided to just post everything here in hopes that it will help others, too:
All files are here:
http://www.mywo.org:88/XDA/sch-i815/index.php
Step by step procedure to update the Verizon Tab from ..FA02 to ..FD01 build IF YOU ARE stuck with CWM installed on your tab and the original OTA fails with errors:
Upload the SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.1.zip to the INTERNAL(!) SD card. This is important because CWM contains a bug that will only allow you to install from ZIPs stored on the INTERNAL SD storage.
Upload the SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.2.zip to the EXTERNAL(!) (micro SD) card. This is important, because after the factory recovery is restored, it will correctly (and only) look for ZIPs on the EXTERNAL card.
Best way just copy both files to both locations
Fire up CWM and do "install from ZIP" and select SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.1.zip
It should run (takes a while) and eventually tell you all is done. BOOT the tab. It should boot fine but in system it will show the new Android build FD01 but the baseband (radio) will still be the "old" one.
Now press and hold power and vol up again until you see the default Samsung recovery menu. Choose install from ZIP and select SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.2.zip. This will now upgrade the baseband only. When done, reboot and enjoy being back on the "factory upgrade path" with the tab.
I hope someone more savvy than me can "fix" CWM to work properly with VZW tabs (accept the checksum, not fail the check for "SCH-i815" and provide the correct /dev file links for radio upgrades). Until then, I recommend just leaving the tab as-is and not tinkering with the ROM. Not that there is any custom ROM available anyway :-(
I also pulled the NEW factory recovery image FD01_recovery.img with the following command:
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p6 of=/sdcard/FD01_recovery.img bs=4096
So in case anyone with a botched recovery wants to restore factory (Samsung 3e) recovery. This was actually the reason I had to go through all this... There is NO factory recovery image ANYWHERE to be found. I can't believe that I should be the first one ever to post one?? Anyway, hope it will help
I'm still quite new here, so I do really appreciate every click on that "thanks" button
P.S. for tinkerers and devs I also uploaded the original, untouched OTA file (0559c0e4e08e.update_SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.bin) as it came from Samsung or Verizon or whatever and ended up in the /cache partition.
THANK YOU!
Electron,
You sir, are a BOSS! Thank you so very much for doing the work, and sharing it. You just made things one hell of a lot easier on me, and anyone else that follows.
Regards,
-Rob
Also want to say thanks. You rock, dude. I wouldn't have known how to revert **** on my own.
Also, I feel like we need a sticky or something for sch-i815 owners to go to for device specific stuffs, especially since there is little knowledge/info out for this device.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
hmm i only ever installed ROM manager ... but i did root it ... problem is ... now i don't have a CWM recovery to flash the file ... any ideas?
phigmeta said:
hmm i only ever installed ROM manager ... but i did root it ... problem is ... now i don't have a CWM recovery to flash the file ... any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're in luck! You don't need to go through the whole ordeal because you do NOT have CWM! You can just update the regular intended way. Go into settings, about phone and then click check for system updates. If it presents you the OTA update, just do it the regular way.
My complicated "hack" is only necessary if you DO HAVE CWM installed.
Im sorry I did not explain well what my issue is.
I do not have CWM installed, however i did delete a few appilcations using titanium backup. This causes updates to not take. I would really like to just take it back to factory and start over (this time with less stupidity on my part)
I of course would assume that once its at factory i can then install updates again.
Right now when i try i get the "!" droid sign and a reboot
phigmeta said:
Im sorry I did not explain well what my issue is.
I do not have CWM installed, however i did delete a few appilcations using titanium backup. This causes updates to not take. I would really like to just take it back to factory and start over (this time with less stupidity on my part)
I of course would assume that once its at factory i can then install updates again.
Right now when i try i get the "!" droid sign and a reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey
OK unless someone can tell us how to "make" an ODIN flashable ROM for you, here is what I would do (and please don't get scared because it sounds a bit convoluted).
First, you need to be rooted. This is obviously the case.
IMPORTANT since you don't have CWM installed yet, SAVE your factory restore.img before proceeding, this saves you a lot of hassle later!
Open the android terminal, type su (accept the prompt) and then type (or copy/paste)
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p6 of=/mnt/sdcard/factory_recovery.img bs=4096
Check that you have a "factory_recovery.img" file on your sd card now it should be about 8M big.
Now you're safe to install CWM from the forum, look for the other thread(s) where this is being discussed and follow the instructions for the P6800 "international" version with 3G. CWM Thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1613638&highlight=cwm&page=3
Then (thanks to nicduim!) there is a full factory (rooted) CWM image floating around on the forums here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1613638&page=6
Which I used to restore my tab to "almost factory" with the missing bloat apps back in place.
I have a copy on my server here: http://ww.mywo.org:88/XDA/sch-i815/ it's the "2012-05-06.22.48.58.ZIP"
unzip that and put the contents on your INTERNAL SD card in the folder clockwordmod. So on your internal SD you should have /clockworkmod/2012-05-06.22.48.58 and inside there the files boot.img, recovery.img etc.
Use CWM recovery to restore this backup. If you never used CWM before. Press power button and volume up and hold both until you see the menu screen with text. You can go up/down with the volume buttons (go slow, it's very laggy) and with the power button you "select" an option. Select the "restore from backup" option and point it to the only folder being offered, the 2012-05-06.22.48.58.
The restore takes a while, then reboot the tab. Now you're back to stock! Last thing you need to do is get rid of CWM again because in the end it's still a bit buggy and will prevent the OTA update from running properly.
Since you luckily have a backup of the factory recovery in form of that factory_recovery.img file, just install and open terminal again, type su and then type (or copy)
dd if=/mnt/sdcard/factory_recovery.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p6 bs=4096
This overwrites CWM with your original Samsung Android recovery.
Now you just reboot as usual, connect to the internet and wait until the popup message shows up that a system update is ready, accept it and enjoy
If you don't want to wait for the automatic OTA, you can also stop before killing CWM and use my convoluted 2-step manual update which will get you to the exact same condition as the official OTA.
Hope all this makes sense
I was already on stock FD01 when I tried installing CWM for the P6800 that's floating around here somewhere. Odin said it was a success, but it looks like it didn't take. I've done it a few times, but still ended up w/ the stock recovery. However, after reading through your thread, I do not see a /dev/cdma_update in my I815 either. Is it possible that my attempt to install CWM (although unsuccessful) wiped out this file, among others?
Right now, I'm still at stock FD01 (rooted) and everything seems to be working. When I tried doing an OTA update, it just tells me that I have the latest update and no newer update is available.
One other thing, if I have to, I only have the stock recovery right now since CWM didn't take, can I simply flash both zip's using the Samsung stock recovery to put everything back in stock?
SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.1.zip
SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.2.zip
AlpineMan said:
I was already on stock FD01 when I tried installing CWM for the P6800 that's floating around here somewhere. Odin said it was a success, but it looks like it didn't take. I've done it a few times, but still ended up w/ the stock recovery. However, after reading through your thread, I do not see a /dev/cdma_update in my I815 either. Is it possible that my attempt to install CWM (although unsuccessful) wiped out this file, among others?
Right now, I'm still at stock FD01 (rooted) and everything seems to be working. When I tried doing an OTA update, it just tells me that I have the latest update and no newer update is available.
One other thing, if I have to, I only have the stock recovery right now since CWM didn't take, can I simply flash both zip's using the Samsung stock recovery to put everything back in stock?
SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.1.zip
SCH-I815_FA02c_To_FD01.2.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh wait, so you are saying that in "About device" your Android is 3.2
Baseband i815.04 V.FD01 I815FD01
and your Build number is already at HTJ85B.I815FD01.SCH-I815.I815FD01 ?
That would mean you are already updated. In this case, it should be pretty easy to fix your problem. Which apps did you delete with Titanium? I can back them up from my system and make them available for you. All you'd need to do is drop the backup files into your Titanium backups folder and then fire up titanium and restore them!
The /dev/cdma_update node is only required WITHIN CWM recovery, so that is nothing for you to worry about. The zip files above won't help you because they are incremental updates requiring your system to be at FA02, not FD01 !
Yes... I'm already in the latest update. I already backed up the bloatware using Titanium Backup before uninstalling. So I just need to restore them back in order to receive and apply OTA updates in the future?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent ICS Blue Tapatalk 2
Please Help
Hi. I'm rooted and removed all sorts of bloatware with Titanium. I did this a long time ago and did not back anything up because I'm used to running hardware with custom ROMs available, and not relying on OTA updates.
Since there aren't any custom ROMs for the i815, I'd like to get ready for the upcoming ICS update. To do so, I want to get FD01 loaded onto my device, but I can't update because I've apparently removed too much of the required bloatware.
Does anyone know WHAT pieces of bloatware I'd need to reinstall in order for the OTA update to apply? I'd assume I can restore them and then apply the update and re-root.
If anyone can help pinpoint what missing APKs might help, I'll give them a shot. And, to the extent I figure anything out, I'll repost here in the hopes that it helps someone else.
electron,
Your instructions worked ... thank you so much
@jkrell... the failed attempt at installing the update should return an error message(s). You just have to read through them until you find the culprit(s). Apparently I uninstalled a few odexed files that were needed. I couldn't update until i hunted them down and restored them.
I guess we all jumped at the opportunity to install the cwm recovery image, that we didn't even think about cmda updates....ooops. So far i had to do a complete factory restore after the update. I was getting soft bricked to the point where I had no choice. Good thing I sent all titanium backups to actual sd card, i was able to salvage 97% f my data..... with the exception of a few downloads i forgot to move.
Gamecih doesn't work anymore (either version). No more automative data hacks I'm not sure what's going on. I uninstalled adfree..used titanium backup to uninstall both versions and reinstalled both several times. Oh well.
It really sucks not having nandroid backups but it's not worth the trouble of having to do this everytime an OTA modem update gets pushed to my tab. Needless to say, I won't be odining the cwm based recovery image again.
I'm with the O.P. I wish i hadn't wasted my money on this tab. No true cwm for this tab, so no dev will ever waste thier time with this tab. The sch i815 will soon be forgotten about and some other tablet will be all the hype before summer ends....that's just how it is. 21 months left on my contract.... [email protected]#k my life. Lol
Thanks Smitty.
When I try to update, I just see the "!" logo and then the device reboots. Is there a log file somewhere I can look at to see what the errors are?
I hear ya on the gloom and doom, but this device has only been out for just over 3 months now. I'd expect a recovery and some custom ROMs to come eventually. I doubt I'll go the custom ROM route unless CyanogenMod is supported, because I have no complaints about the tablet's performance thus far. It's speedy, smooth and the battery lasts forever.
In my book, this is a great tablet and I'm satisfied with the purchase.
Hey everyone,
I'm having trouble getting my Nexus 7 to update to 4.2.2. My device is rooted, I recently performed a factory reset.
The update has never appeared in my "System updates" menu, so I looked around and saw that if you force stop "Google Services Framework" and clear its data, the update will appear in "System updates."
It did, but when it finishes downloading, it says "Verification failed."
I tried another factory reset, and I had to again force stop and clear data on "Google Services Framework" to get the update to appear, but again it downloads and say "Verification failed."
I'm stumped now. Do I have to unroot and reroot? Do I have to keep waiting for this update? Do anything with the bootloader? (I really hope not...)
Thanks everyone!
If some files in your system got changed for whatever reason, then you wont be able to update. You can flash the 4.2.1 stock rom and try ota update again.
Leonhan said:
If some files in your system got changed for whatever reason, then you wont be able to update. You can flash the 4.2.1 stock rom and try ota update again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is flashing the stock 4.2.1 rom the same thing as doing a factory reset to 4.2.1?
If it isn't, would flashing the 4.2.1 rom wipe my tablet?
Leonhan said:
If some files in your system got changed for whatever reason, then you wont be able to update. You can flash the 4.2.1 stock rom and try ota update again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If he is trying to do an OTA to 4.2.2, would it not be more straightforward to just flash the 4.2.2 factory image? The OP has already done a factory reset, so it doesn't look like he/she is particularly attached to his current setup.
Also - the language he used was vague - it sort of sounded like the OP observed "verification failed" in the main OS rather than in the recovery. Not sure.
But it doesn't matter - newbs should not be trying to use OTAs on modified /system images or tabs with altered boot images. It's just too detailed a process to describe compactly.
@Horadrius
Before you do anything further, you should back up everything on the "SD Card" to your PC. Yes, all of it. You can throw it away later if you find you didn't need it. But if you follow the instructions for the Google (factory) images install, everything gets wiped off of /data including your pseudo - SD card.
At a minimum, that will allow you to follow the SBS instructions for installing the 4.2.2 factory images, or - you can simply install a 4.2.2 Stock ROM from over in the dev forum.
Whatever you do, start getting in the habit of making backups - and at least occasionally also getting copies of those off of the tablet.
Oh boy, lot of information to digest here....and a lot of questions
it sort of sounded like the OP observed "verification failed" in the main OS rather than in the recovery. Not sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it was the main OS - Settings -> About Tablet -> System Update.
After force stopping Google Services Framework, the update showed up there, and when the download bar reached 100%, it said "verification failed." I did a factory reset, and now when I go to System Update it simply says that my system is up to date.
This makes me think I'm not "supposed" to have the update yet, and that it will arrive, eventually. Yes?
newbs should not be trying to use OTAs on modified /system images or tabs with altered boot images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, no updating the device from System Menu because I'm rooted/unlocked bootloader? I'll have to flash everything as it comes out?
@Horadrius
Before you do anything further, you should back up everything on the "SD Card" to your PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would Titanium Backup held in this regard? Or simply copy/paste the sdcard folder to my PC?
This whole process has been very frustrating. Is this the price you pay for rooting your device? Making simple system updates into a maze?
Horadrius said:
Oh boy, lot of information to digest here....and a lot of questions
Yes, it was the main OS - Settings -> About Tablet -> System Update.
After force stopping Google Services Framework, the update showed up there, and when the download bar reached 100%, it said "verification failed." I did a factory reset, and now when I go to System Update it simply says that my system is up to date.
This makes me think I'm not "supposed" to have the update yet, and that it will arrive, eventually. Yes?
So, no updating the device from System Menu because I'm rooted/unlocked bootloader? I'll have to flash everything as it comes out?
Would Titanium Backup held in this regard? Or simply copy/paste the sdcard folder to my PC?
This whole process has been very frustrating. Is this the price you pay for rooting your device? Making simple system updates into a maze?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like your download is bad if it fails at this stage. I believe it is saying the checksum of the download file doesn't match whatever is downloaded.
PS. not related to N7, why XDA use the re-captcha which I need to refresh several times to get something I can read
Horadrius said:
Yes, it was the main OS - Settings -> About Tablet -> System Update.
After force stopping Google Services Framework, the update showed up there, and when the download bar reached 100%, it said "verification failed." I did a factory reset, and now when I go to System Update it simply says that my system is up to date.
This makes me think I'm not "supposed" to have the update yet, and that it will arrive, eventually. Yes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It means that for some strange reason, running a checksum program on the downloaded OTA file failed to produce the expected checksum. The most likely way this can happen is that the file is truncated - the download stopped short of the full file. Don't know why this is happening, but there you go. There could be other failure causes that are more rare, but it doesn't mean you are not "supposed" to have the OTA. It means that the download process is failing.
The *stock* recovery does a number of even more sophisticated checking than this; but it appears from your description that the recovery never even gets booted.
Horadrius said:
So, no updating the device from System Menu because I'm rooted/unlocked bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and No. An unlocked bootloader causes no problems at all. ANY of the following CAN or WILL cause problems:
- attempting to run an OTA with a custom recovery installed instead of the stock recovery.
- having a modified boot partition (e.g. non-stock kernel, or slightly modified boot partition)
- having altered (or removed!) files in the /system partition that are targeted for patching.
- permissions changes performed by the installer script can cause root functionality to disappear
Horadrius said:
I'll have to flash everything as it comes out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you are asking here, but the basic answer is that if you stay on stock you can certainly apply OTAs easily. If you start altering things, you might or might not be able to apply an OTA; there are simply no guarantees.
[size=+1]OTAs are meant for stock installations - including a stock recovery. PERIOD. While it is possible that an OTA could succeed, it is unreasonable to have the expectation that it will do so.[/size]
Horadrius said:
Would Titanium Backup held in this regard? Or simply copy/paste the sdcard folder to my PC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I presume you are talking about the future here, as you said that you already did a factory reset at least twice. If you have subsequently added stuff back in, then I suppose you might be talking about the present tense.
But, yes - either TiBu or the Carbon app can be used along with a strategy where you simply back up the apps & data you are interested in, (plus any "flashable zips" that you used to customize your device in the first place), and you simply start from scratch with a factory install followed by re-rooting, and then restore your apps & data (using TiBu or Carbon).
One other thing you can do which is EASY is this: simply wait until a developer/ROM cook publishes a "Stock" flashable ROM based on the release that the OTA is upgrading to. Don't worry about the OTA, just wait a little bit. (These ROMs are already out for the WiFi-only model, BTW).
1) Take a backup as the first thing you do. It's easy and gives you some insurance.
2) Don't wipe (no "factory reset") - just install the Stock ROM over the top of your existing ROM.
that's it. If you were using a custom kernel, re-install it.
Horadrius said:
This whole process has been very frustrating. Is this the price you pay for rooting your device? Making simple system updates into a maze?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[size=+1]OTAs are meant for stock installations - including a stock recovery. PERIOD.[/size]
Interpret that as you desire. It is unreasonable for you to expect that you can diddle with your phone any way you please, and a patch install upgrade methodology will be robust in the faces of arbitrary changes on your part. You are the person creating the maze, not Google.
Moreover, it is your choice to take an upgrade - it's not mandatory. My guess is your tablet was quite pleasing to you before any OTAs started rolling out. Nobody is forcing you to do anything.
OK, one last thing. It is still possible that a manual OTA can succeed on your phone if it is lightly rooted - but there are no guarantees. The procedure does not require you to wait around until an OTA arrives on your phone, but it is not for the faint-hearted:
1) Download the appropriate Stock OTA File.
2) Re-install the stock recovery onto your tablet. You will have to dig it out of the Google full factory image for the version of the OS you are currently running. (available here)
Code:
fastboot flash recovery factory-4.2.1-recovery.img
3) Soft-boot into a custom recovery, e.g.
Code:
fastboot boot openrecovery-twrp-2.4.1.0-grouper.img
5) Using the command line and adb to communicate with the soft-booted recovery, create a recovery command file:
Code:
C:\myPCsux> adb push 6ece895ecb23.signed-nakasi-JDQ39-from-JOP40D.6ece895e.zip /cache/update.zip
C:\myPCsux> adb shell
# cd /cache/recovery
# cat > command
--update_package=/cache/update.zip
^D # ( that is a Control-D character )
# sync
# reboot recovery
This will either succeed or fail. Based on your comments though, you might just want to overflash a Stock-derived ROM over the top of your existing ROM (a "no-wipe" install).
[ROM][Factory Image][4.2.2] Nakasi -::- Odex, Deodex, Rooted -::- teshxx (02/14/13) <-- NOTE for WiFi (nakasi/grouper) ONLY
good luck with your tab.
Someone once said "Rooting is a lifestyle". There's some truth to that; it eats up your time. Perhaps it is not for you.
Thanks, bftb0.
Looking through your list of reasons for why my OTA might not work, none of them applied to me.
I didn't install any custom recovery (didn't install Clockwork Mod recovery specifically to avoid dealing with flashing roms) or kernels or modify any partitions, nor to my knowledge changed any files in the /system section.
I think I'm going to give this update a week or so to pop up on my update menu before I start tinkering again.
Don't get me wrong - I enjoy this kind of tinkering, and all the perks of rooting, but my knowledge is extremely limited, which is what makes it frustrating trying to find information. The only thing I've done before this is install Cyanogen on my HP Touchpad.
Anyway, do I need to install CWM recovery to flash (overflash?) that 4.2.2 rom you linked?
if you haven't done anything other than rooting(i.e. copying a file su to it), OTA would go through. Your problem is about the download process. It can go wrong for many reasons from the download is bad to what saved to the temp area(where the download is) is bad(rare but still possible).
chimpanzeexda said:
if you haven't done anything other than rooting(i.e. copying a file su to it), OTA would go through. Your problem is about the download process. It can go wrong for many reasons from the download is bad to what saved to the temp area(where the download is) is bad(rare but still possible).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's all I've done, root and unlock bootloader. The download only showed up when I cleared data and force stopped the "Google Services Framework" process. I reboot the system, and check for the update and nothing is there.
well, sounds like you have to flash it manually using fastboot then.
That said, I myself have no intention of doing the update any time soon as I don't find any specific problem with 4.2.1 and there isn't any specific feature i want in 4.2.2
Horadrius said:
Anyway, do I need to install CWM recovery to flash (overflash?) that 4.2.2 rom you linked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TL;DR Yes and No.
People that use toolkits seem to use hard-flashed installs of custom recoveries, as they don't really understand what goes on under the hood, even if the toolkit offers them a means to soft-boot any image the toolkit operator downloads. (I assume that the toolkits probably allow this; as I don't use them I don't know for sure.)
What I am saying is that the answer depends on your knowledge. So long as you have an unlocked bootloader, you can soft-boot any boot image you like - including custom recoveries.. (This also pre-supposes correctly-functioning device drivers, but that is a Windows/user training issue, it has nothing to do with Android).
When I say soft-boot, I mean that the image is transferred to the tablet, which then hands over control and starts executing that image - but it is not "flashed" to Flash memory, so the next time a boot occurs, the same boot images are still stored in either "boot" or "recovery".
In this configuration, the phone should be much more likely to complete an OTA as it will have the stock recovery present most of the time, and only temporarily present when you attach to your PC and kick things off with a custom recovery.
The OTA could still fail, but it probably would succeed for a very lightly rooted stock configuration (other than problems with losing root).
The only downside to this arrangement is that you can't be flashing roms or making nandroid backups or other forms of rooter activities when you are away from the PC.
For the IT-OCD or obsessive ROM hopper, that could be a good thing.
good luck... the rest is up to you.
Ok, I installed Clockwork Mod from a toolkit because going into fastboot and choosing "Recovery mode" led me to a picture of the Android guy with a red triangle on his back saying "No Command."
I'm just going to install 4.2.2 myself now. Question regarding that link - odex/deodexed - I looked up the difference but can't tell which one is appropriate for me - I'm guessing it's odex because that seems to be closer to stock.
Edit: It worked! Thanks for your assistance, everyone!
IMO, google should not ship odex image now that we have fast enough hardware. odex is just a form of 'pre-compilation' which only benefit first time load(or when the cache is cleared). Too little gain for such a complicated setup.
Ok. So here's the deal. I'm trying to update to 4.2.2 from 4.1.2, but in recovery I get assert failed, emmc this that and the other.
I'm currently on JZ054K trying to update to JOP40C. I am also fully stock. It's hurting my head using everything I learned from other devices.
*I don't want to do anything with the Nexus into the rooting process. I want to stay fully stock for once.
Please and thank you.
Curiousn00b said:
Ok. So here's the deal. I'm trying to update to 4.2.2 from 4.1.2, but in recovery I get assert failed, emmc this that and the other.
I'm currently on JZ054K trying to update to JOP40C. I am also fully stock. It's hurting my head using everything I learned from other devices.
*I don't want to do anything with the Nexus into the rooting process. I want to stay fully stock for once.
Please and thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "this that and the other" is the only thing which is relevant.
Post the exact error message. If you don't remember what it was, re-attempt the OTA and post a screen shot.
I'll take a photo today. I've been slacking. Away from the forums a bit.
Re: 4.1.2 > 4.2.x
That's the assert failed error. Fully stock neXus.
Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk 2
Curiousn00b said:
That's the assert failed error. Fully stock neXus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, thanks for that.
Time to come clean though - when you say "fully stock", do you mean
(a) The device has never been rooted ever, or
(b) The device was rooted at one time and then (believed to be) returned to stock.
The assert error that is occurring is a complaint that the boot partition ("LNX") fails a checksum.
This would really only happen under two or three circumstances:
(1) Somehow the boot partition got modded by a root user - eg replacement of the entire boot image such as a "new kernel" or even something tiny like a change to /default.prop, OR
(2) You developed a media (eMMC flash chip) error in your boot partition after the device left the factory, OR
(3) Google/Asus somehow screwed up either the checksum calculation or your N7 slipped out of Asus's factory with a non-standard flash of the boot partition.
Now (3) seems a little bit unlikely. There was a previous user in these forums that reported exactly this same thing happening with a stock (never rooted) device; iirc though, he had a different factory ROM than what you are reporting. So, both his case and yours could be condition (2).
The things which is strange about this possibility (2) is that if a media error occurred randomly in the boot partition, it would be in most cases be fatal to the booting of the device, and neither you nor that other user reported booting troubles. The media error would have to be in a non-critical location such as in the slack space after the end of the boot image but before the end of the partition.
The reason I mention this is because of the way that apply_patch_check() assert seems to work: note that there are 5 parameters total:
filename,length1,sha1val1,length2,sha1val2
This suggests that a successful apply_patch_check() checks the SHA1 signature of the starting file - over an exact byte count, and if that succeeds it actually performs a trial patching operation so that it can compute the SHA1 signature of the output (patched) file and verify that the patch-trial-file has the correct length. This means that partition slack space is probably not included in the first checksum.
This is an extremely conservative and excellent approach to patching things in the field. Note also that the OTA does not touch/modify a single file on your tablet unless everyone of these checks goes to completion.
Also, the stock recovery performs a signature check on the entire zip file that is downloaded by the OTA before any of these other checks begin - which means, that when a stock recovery is used it is impossible to have a bad download being responsible for the errors that you observe.
If your device was never rooted then it seems to me that the odds point towards a hardware error that occurs during the patching-test operation.
If your device is still in Warranty and truly was never rooted, I would encourage you to try and get a new replacement or RMA repair (not a refurb). You are going to have to haggle with Google and show them that assert failure image.
good luck
Re: 4.1.2 > 4.2.x
It bears mentioning that, since the OTA is a patch, it's going to error out if the system is as the OP describes it. I'm unaware of any update zip that patches 4.1.2 to 4.2.2 directly. Since he's skipped a couple updates, he's going to have to do some sideloading to catch up and get to an upgradable state.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
najaboy said:
It bears mentioning that, since the OTA is a patch, it's going to error out if the system is as the OP describes it. I'm unaware of any update zip that patches 4.1.2 to 4.2.2 directly. Since he's skipped a couple updates, he's going to have to do some sideloading to catch up and get to an upgradable state.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good catch najaboy
I didn't catch that (JZO54K -> JOP40C) reference, but oldblue910's OTA thread does list such an OTA as having been available in the past.
Plus, iirc the boot image check occurs late in the OTA installer script, possibly even the very last assert() before patching actually starts - so it is hard to imagine that all other checks would have succeeded had a mis-matched OTA been applied.
However, it is indeed odd for "back dated" OTAs to get downloaded automatically esp when more recent upgrades are available, i.e. JZO54K->JDQ39. And nowhere did the OP mention side-loading.
Looks like the OP's got some 'splainin to do...
Ok. So yes.
A. The Device is FULLY STOCK. Never touched anything on it. Brand new on Christmas day.
I've been watching QBking's videos about upgrading it, and yes. I thought the same thing. Going from 4.1.2 to 4.2.2 directly, I noticed that seemed a bit off. I've seen more than just me with this issue. A few on XDA, and few on other websites.
I have tried downloading the 4.2.1 update. I tried sideloading it once. It failed. Atleast I believe it did. I don't know if I had the right download though.
All help is appreciated. I thank you guys as well. This 4.2.2 update is just what the OTA checker keeps throwing at me. I've tried clearing the data/cache of Google Services Framework(I believe this made me redownload the update).
Curiousn00b,
I'm 99.99% positive that you were applying a valid OTA file.
For instance if you have JZO54K on your tablet, and you were going to apply a sideloaded OTA you could choose any of 3 OTAs
JDQ39 (4.2.2) from JZO54K
JOP40D (4.2.1) from JZO54K
JOP40C (4.2) from JZO54K
My comment in the prior post was only that the automatic download always seem to download the OTA update to the most recent (in this case JDQ39) release, so your mention of JOP40C ota seemed slightly off; but if there was some reason to pick an older update, sideloading should still allow that to work correctly.
Bottom line is that a fully stock, never unlocked, never rooted tablet should be capable of accepting a factory OTA, and I would thus consider your tablet to have some unknown defect.
Just to be clear (I recall that the previous person reporting your symptoms was on JRO03S), you are currently on JZO54K, correct?
I found multiple people with it via Google. Couldn't really find a fix for it.
And yes. I'm on JZ054K.
Tomorrow I'll try going to 4.2 from 4.1.2. I'm pretty sure I've tried it already. I remember seeing the C/D parts at the end of these 2 files.
Curiousn00b said:
Tomorrow I'll try going to 4.2 from 4.1.2. I'm pretty sure I've tried it already. I remember seeing the C/D parts at the end of these 2 files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the problem occurs during the initial checksum of the (currently installed) boot image, then none of the three OTAs (starting from the same JZO54K base) will succeed. If there is something very strange - say a read/write error during the trial patching operation, I suppose it is feasible that one could succeed and another not. But they all should start out looking for the identical bootloader SHA1 checksum as they should be expecting the same (jzo54k) starting condition.
Anyway, post your results.
Re: 4.1.2 > 4.2.x
This is after trying 2 of the updates.
One to 4.2 and other to 4.2.2.
The first on is 4.2.2
Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk 2
Curiousn00b said:
This is after trying 2 of the updates.
One to 4.2 and other to 4.2.2.
The first on is 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, I didn't really expect any of them to succeed.
Where to proceed from here? You really only have 3 choices:
- Use your tablet on 4.1.2 and never upgrade
- RMA for repair/refurb replacement
- Root it, fix the problem, and relock it (so that it is 100% stock again). No guarantess that some trouble won't develop down the road.
As I said before, neither you nor I have any explantion for why a never-rooted tablet would not be able to accept a valid factory OTA. Your tablet either:
(a) slipped out of the factory with an unknown bootloader variant, OR
(b) the boot partition managed to develop bit-rot that does not affect the tablet's ability to boot, OR
(c) there is some other unidentified hardware fault that occurs during the apply_patch_check() process
I would call Asus and see what they will do for you before you make a final decision. (Their warranty has a lot of weasel-words in it; they might tell you that it's not their problem.) If you want an RMA and they push back, I think you should keep repeating that the tablet is less than 3 months old.
good luck
I also noticed that I can't boot into recovery normally. I use ADB or the OTA way to reboot into recovery.
If I get into Bootloader and plug the USB in, the Nexus 7 will freeze at whatever selection I am currently on. Bootloader, Restart, Recovery, etc and nothing will happen.
When I click Recovery, I get a black screen with Google, nothing happens, plug the USB in, and still. Nothing happens. I don't know what's wrong with it.
Thanks for the help.
bftb0 said:
As I said, I didn't really expect any of them to succeed.
Where to proceed from here? You really only have 3 choices:
- Use your tablet on 4.1.2 and never upgrade
- RMA for repair/refurb replacement
- Root it, fix the problem, and relock it (so that it is 100% stock again). No guarantess that some trouble won't develop down the road.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My N7 has the same error about the boot partition. It's rooted, unlocked, and has CWM installed. I'm running 4.1.2 (JZO54K). I downloaded the JZO54K to JDQ39 zip file, and got the failure
script aborted: assert failed: apply_patch_check("EMMC:/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-name/LNX:5013504:c48f8e86c73fb2c2ba1794f5ec98e27c9e206ed5:5062656:af83f09e77a64ed7ede2adad2a16bd0c12d5d7fd")
when I tried to install it via CWM.
How would I fix this - I assume I need to get a copy of the 4.1.2 boot.img and flash it, but I'm not sure how to flash it. I can do it in Windows if I have to, but I'd rather use Linux if I can. I have the adb tools installed on Linux.
mvi57 said:
How would I fix this - I assume I need to get a copy of the 4.1.2 boot.img and flash it, but I'm not sure how to flash it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's right. It is easiest is to flash it with fastboot
Code:
fastboot flash boot boot.img
It can also be flashed to the block device
/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-name/LNX
from a root shell (say in a terminal emulator) using the "dd" utility if you are familiar with that.
A custom kernel or even a trivial re-packing of the boot image (say for a small /default.prop file change) probably is what caused the boot image to be changed from stock.
bftb0 said:
A custom kernel or even a trivial re-packing of the boot image (say for a small /default.prop file change) probably is what caused the boot image to be changed from stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't install a custom kernel, and as far as I know I didn't change default.prop either.
I reflashed the boot image, it went ok, but I still get the error trying to do the update. I guess I'll have to wipe and flash the whole 4.2.2 image to get it installed.
mvi57 said:
I didn't install a custom kernel, and as far as I know I didn't change default.prop either.
I reflashed the boot image, it went ok, but I still get the error trying to do the update. I guess I'll have to wipe and flash the whole 4.2.2 image to get it installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never mind, I flashed the bootloader-grouper-3.41.img instead of pulling boot.img from the .zip. It's working now.
mvi57 said:
Never mind, I flashed the bootloader-grouper-3.41.img instead of pulling boot.img from the .zip. It's working now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That observation is extremely counter-intuitive.
While the bootloader is responsible for booting the recovery, it is certainly not "running" after the recovery starts booting, so it's hard to understand why or how it could have any effect at all on the OTA processing.
Is it possible that the error which occurred after you re-flashed the boot image (LNX) was something different than the original error concerning the checksum on the boot partition?
You might want to consider flashing the v4.18 bootloader to the tablet if you plan on using any dev kernels.
bftb0 said:
That observation is extremely counter-intuitive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Poorly worded, sorry. After I flashed the boot.img I extracted from the zip file, the update ran fine. I looked at the error message again and noticed that one of the numbers matched the size of boot.img, and then realized I flashed the wrong file. I shouldn't do this stuff when I'm tired.
Thank you for all your help!
Hi everyone,
I'm using QBKing77's tutorial to manually upgrade my Nexus 7 to Kit Kat 4.4 (and up) but haven't been able to with ClockworkMod Recovery installed.
The video I'm using is on YouTube, titled: "Manually Update the Nexus 7 to Android 4.4 KitKat" and at the step at 3:38 I don't know what to do.
(sorry I'm unable to post links bc I'm a new user:crying
CWM doesn't have the 'Apply update from ADB' option that stock Recovery has (or at least I'm not sure what to do in its place).
If anyone knows how I can continue the upgrade process it would really help!
Thanks in advance :good:
hennimore said:
Hi everyone,
I'm using QBKing77's tutorial to manually upgrade my Nexus 7 to Kit Kat 4.4 (and up) but haven't been able to with ClockworkMod Recovery installed.
The video I'm using is on YouTube, titled: "Manually Update the Nexus 7 to Android 4.4 KitKat" and at the step at 3:38 I don't know what to do.
(sorry I'm unable to post links bc I'm a new user:crying
CWM doesn't have the 'Apply update from ADB' option that stock Recovery has (or at least I'm not sure what to do in its place).
If anyone knows how I can continue the upgrade process it would really help!
Thanks in advance :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, hennimore...
From your post, I assume you have already CWM installed... if so, then upgrading is pretty straightforward. Assuming further, that you can boot your Nexus 7 into Android normally, you can flash an OTA .zip directly from the Nexus 7 itself... without recourse to ADB or a PC.
The first thing to do is to determine the build number of the currently installed version of Android you're running. This is found in SETTINGS>>ABOUT TABLET>>... and at the bottom, will be the build number.
Next, go here where you will find an archive of all currently known OTA .zips for the Nexus 7 (2012)... listed by build number.
Using Chrome (or whatever Android browser you're currently using) download to your Nexus 7, the correct OTA .zip(s) appropriate to your situation. Depending on how old your current version of Android is, you may have to download more than one.
For example... if you're currently running Jellybean 4.2.2, build JDQ39 on a WiFi only 'nakasi/grouper' Nexus 7, the 'update path' is as follows... and the OTA .zips you'll need are...
----------------------------------------------------
JWR66Y from JDQ39
Updates Jellybean 4.2.2 TO Jellybean 4.3
KOT49H from JWR66Y
Updates Jellybean 4.3 TO KitKat 4.4.2
----------------------------------------------------
Keeping in mind this is just an example (your situation maybe different), these should be flashed IN THE ORDER GIVEN ABOVE... slowly bringing your Nexus 7 up to date. From Jellybean 4.2.2 through Jellybean 4.3 and finally arriving at the latest build of Android, KOT49H - KitKat 4.4.2.
It's important you download the OTA's relevant to the type of Nexus 7 you have... so for a WiFi only model, you need 'nakasi/grouper' OTA's... if it's a WiFi/3G model, then you need 'nakasig/tilapia' OTA's.
Now to flash...
Once you've downloaded the OTA zip (or zips) to your Nexus 7... shut down the device completely. Reboot it into the bootloader, with the VOL DOWN+hold, POWER ON key press sequence. Once in the bootloader, and using the VOL BUTTONS, navigate to the RECOVERY MODE option, and press the POWER BUTTON to select. Your device should now boot into CWM.
Once there, select the INSTALL ZIP option, followed by the CHOOSE ZIP FROM /SDCARD option. Navigate (via the 0/ folder) to the /download folder on the internal storage of the Nexus 7... where you should find the OTA .zip(s) you previously downloaded via Chrome or other Android browser. Select NO, YES or GO BACK accordingly.
I'm not sure it matters, but if you have to flash more than one OTA .zip to bring your Nexus 7 up to date, then I recommend booting normally in between flashes... just to make sure everything is working OK.
Unless you're running a really old version of Android, say Jellybean 4.1.2, I can't see it taking more than a couple of reboots into CWM. And if you're currently on Jellybean 4.3, then it's just one OTA .zip flash.
A few caveats...
If you've modified system files in any way, these OTA's will fail, as they expect to find unmodified versions of stock Android system files. If they've been changed, say as a result of a Custom ROM or Custom Kernel flash... then they can't be 'patched', ie., updated... and the OTA will abort, with no changes made.
Root and having a Custom Recovery (CWM or TWRP) installed however, won't block an OTA... although you will loose both during the OTA update procedure.
If you're familiar with fastboot, then it's relatively straightforward to re-acquire them after the OTA update(s).
Hope this helps... and good luck.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Wow really appreciate and very useful for me Mr blake. Thanks a lot. One question, im in stock 4.4 krts160 with root and unlock bootloader with twrp cwm, i m going to flash the newest ota, will this step erase my root and relock my bootloader? Or i watch in youtube post by rootjunkies that twrp can handle ota. What would you suggest the better way. And thanks again for the information.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
deny_kei said:
Wow really appreciate and very useful for me Mr blake. Thanks a lot. One question, im in stock 4.4 krts160 with root and unlock bootloader with twrp cwm, i m going to flash the newest ota, will this step erase my root and relock my bootloader? Or i watch in youtube post by rootjunkies that twrp can handle ota. What would you suggest the better way. And thanks again for the information.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, deny_kei...
You will loose root, and your Custom Recovery... whether that be TWRP or CWM.
I'm afraid it's unavoidable - it's always been that way with OTA's. You have to fastboot flash your Custom Recovery of choice again afterwards, and re-root... not difficult, but a bit of a nuisance nontheless.
Flashing an OTA, though, will NOT re-lock the bootloader.
The bootloader will remain unlocked until you purposefully choose to relock it with fastboot oem lock.
TWRP should be able to handle an OTA flash. I'm currently using CWM (with which I flashed the KitKat 4.4.2 OTA), but I've never had any problems myself applying OTA's with TWRP in the past.
Rgrds,
Ged.
GedBlake said:
Hi, hennimore...
From your post, I assume you have already CWM installed... if so, then upgrading is pretty straightforward. Assuming further, that you can boot your Nexus 7 into Android normally, you can flash an OTA .zip directly from the Nexus 7 itself... without recourse to ADB or a PC.
The first thing to do is to determine the build number of the currently installed version of Android you're running. This is found in SETTINGS>>ABOUT TABLET>>... and at the bottom, will be the build number.
Next, go here where you will find an archive of all currently known OTA .zips for the Nexus 7 (2012)... listed by build number.
Using Chrome (or whatever Android browser you're currently using) download to your Nexus 7, the correct OTA .zip(s) appropriate to your situation. Depending on how old your current version of Android is, you may have to download more than one.
For example... if you're currently running Jellybean 4.2.2, build JDQ39 on a WiFi only 'nakasi/grouper' Nexus 7, the 'update path' is as follows... and the OTA .zips you'll need are...
----------------------------------------------------
JWR66Y from JDQ39
Updates Jellybean 4.2.2 TO Jellybean 4.3
KOT49H from JWR66Y
Updates Jellybean 4.3 TO KitKat 4.4.2
----------------------------------------------------
Keeping in mind this is just an example (your situation maybe different), these should be flashed IN THE ORDER GIVEN ABOVE... slowly bringing your Nexus 7 up to date. From Jellybean 4.2.2 through Jellybean 4.3 and finally arriving at the latest build of Android, KOT49H - KitKat 4.4.2.
It's important you download the OTA's relevant to the type of Nexus 7 you have... so for a WiFi only model, you need 'nakasi/grouper' OTA's... if it's a WiFi/3G model, then you need 'nakasig/tilapia' OTA's.
Now to flash...
Once you've downloaded the OTA zip (or zips) to your Nexus 7... shut down the device completely. Reboot it into the bootloader, with the VOL DOWN+hold, POWER ON key press sequence. Once in the bootloader, and using the VOL BUTTONS, navigate to the RECOVERY MODE option, and press the POWER BUTTON to select. Your device should now boot into CWM.
Once there, select the INSTALL ZIP option, followed by the CHOOSE ZIP FROM /SDCARD option. Navigate (via the 0/ folder) to the /download folder on the internal storage of the Nexus 7... where you should find the OTA .zip(s) you previously downloaded via Chrome or other Android browser. Select NO, YES or GO BACK accordingly.
I'm not sure it matters, but if you have to flash more than one OTA .zip to bring your Nexus 7 up to date, then I recommend booting normally in between flashes... just to make sure everything is working OK.
Unless you're running a really old version of Android, say Jellybean 4.1.2, I can't see it taking more than a couple of reboots into CWM. And if you're currently on Jellybean 4.3, then it's just one OTA .zip flash.
A few caveats...
If you've modified system files in any way, these OTA's will fail, as they expect to find unmodified versions of stock Android system files. If they've been changed, say as a result of a Custom ROM or Custom Kernel flash... then they can't be 'patched', ie., updated... and the OTA will abort, with no changes made.
Root and having a Custom Recovery (CWM or TWRP) installed however, won't block an OTA... although you will loose both during the OTA update procedure.
If you're familiar with fastboot, then it's relatively straightforward to re-acquire them after the OTA update(s).
Hope this helps... and good luck.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for the helpful response! I should have also mentioned that I currently have AOKP running on my N7
(Version: aokp_grouper_jb_build-2 Build number: aokp_grouper-userdebug 4.1.1 JRO03L eng.roman.20120916.095343 test-keys)
I'm not sure how this affects the update process, but would definitely appreciate any other help you can offer.
Thanks again!
hennimore said:
Thanks so much for the helpful response! I should have also mentioned that I currently have AOKP running on my N7
(Version: aokp_grouper_jb_build-2 Build number: aokp_grouper-userdebug 4.1.1 JRO03L eng.roman.20120916.095343 test-keys)
I'm not sure how this affects the update process, but would definitely appreciate any other help you can offer.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, hennimore...
As you're running a Custom ROM, you can pretty much forget about OTA's... as they are only designed to upgrade official stock firmware from Google. If you were to attempt to flash any OTA on your Nexus 7 as it currently stands, it would abort almost immediately during the verification phase of the OTA update process. Because nothing in /system would match what the OTA expects to subsequently 'patch' (update) in the second half of the OTA update process.
Your only option, if you wish to have official stock KitKat installed on your Nexus 7, is to fastboot flash back to factory stock.
For this, you will need the full factory stock image for your Nexus 7, available here.
(Currently, build KOT49H KitKat 4.4.2 is not yet available as a full factory image... just KRT16S KitKat 4.4... but that's not a problem...'cos once you have KitKat 4.4 installed, you can then use an OTA to bring it completely up to date... as detailed in my previous post).
Instructions on how to restore factory stock are available here.
This process is more time consuming than it is technically difficult... because fastboot flashing back to factory stock essentially wipes the device... so before you can begin, you need to backup all of your apps and associated app data with Titanium (requires root), and then backup the entire contents of the Nexus 7's internal storage to your PC... for later restore AFTER you've fastboot flashed KitKat.
Fastboot flashing back to factory stock resets the device, as though it where new. You'll need to set up your WiFi password again... and re-enter your Google Account (gmail) details... and restore all your data from your PC... fastboot flash CWM or TWRP in order to re-root. Once rooted, you can then use Titanium to restore all your apps.
Longwinded and tediously time consuming, it certainly is... but it's the only way to get official KitKat on your Nexus 7 if you're currently running a Custom ROM.
Rgrds,
Ged.
GedBlake said:
Hi, hennimore...
As you're running a Custom ROM, you can pretty much forget about OTA's... as they are only designed to upgrade official stock firmware from Google. If you were to attempt to flash any OTA on your Nexus 7 as it currently stands, it would abort almost immediately during the verification phase of the OTA update process. Because nothing in /system would match what the OTA expects to subsequently 'patch' (update) in the second half of the OTA update process.
Your only option, if you wish to have official stock KitKat installed on your Nexus 7, is to fastboot flash back to factory stock.
For this, you will need the full factory stock image for your Nexus 7, available here.
(Currently, build KOT49H KitKat 4.4.2 is not yet available as a full factory image... just KRT16S KitKat 4.4... but that's not a problem...'cos once you have KitKat 4.4 installed, you can then use an OTA to bring it completely up to date... as detailed in my previous post).
Instructions on how to restore factory stock are available here.
This process is more time consuming than it is technically difficult... because fastboot flashing back to factory stock essentially wipes the device... so before you can begin, you need to backup all of your apps and associated app data with Titanium (requires root), and then backup the entire contents of the Nexus 7's internal storage to your PC... for later restore AFTER you've fastboot flashed KitKat.
Fastboot flashing back to factory stock resets the device, as though it where new. You'll need to set up your WiFi password again... and re-enter your Google Account (gmail) details... and restore all your data from your PC... fastboot flash CWM or TWRP in order to re-root. Once rooted, you can then use Titanium to restore all your apps.
Longwinded and tediously time consuming, it certainly is... but it's the only way to get official KitKat on your Nexus 7 if you're currently running a Custom ROM.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I'm sad to hear that I must flash back, but I appreciate the information! Thanks again for all of you help, hopefully I can complete the process without any hiccups!
Thanks Mr Blake i will considered using ota, nevertheless my last ota i got stuck in the softbrick although my nexus is stock,unlock an unroot.
Thanks for this useful information
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
I've been following your steps and seem to have hit a wall when I need to install the adb drivers. I went to the link included in your instructions and followed their tutorial for a Windows 7 PC. After coming back to your instructions, I continued to the step with the Command Prompt.
I entered the command correctly as written, however I get no results under the List of devices attached.
I'm not sure if this is related to the problem, but when I am in Device Manager trying to Locate Android Phone in the right pane, all that shows for me is 'Nexus 7' - which I would assume should work.
However, after Right-clicking on 'Nexus 7' (Android Composite ADB Interface doesn't appear) and selecting Update Driver, I continue through the steps to where I must manually update the driver, and I received a message stating, "The best driver software for your device is already installed"
Under that it says, "Windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date. MTP USB Device"
I'm not sure if you can make anything of this, but I figured I'd ask since you've been so helpful thus far :angel:
Hi guys,
I've been having problems to update to 4.4 in the Nexus 7 wifi version, the only thing I done is unlock the bootloader and root, once I tried the OTA upgrade it starts the process and then it shows up the Android little guy with an error, and doesn't shows the error of installation. I tried once the flashing the zip file using TWRP and it just failed. After the first failed the tablet just started to lag horribly. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
GedBlake said:
Hi, hennimore...
As you're running a Custom ROM, you can pretty much forget about OTA's... as they are only designed to upgrade official stock firmware from Google. If you were to attempt to flash any OTA on your Nexus 7 as it currently stands, it would abort almost immediately during the verification phase of the OTA update process. Because nothing in /system would match what the OTA expects to subsequently 'patch' (update) in the second half of the OTA update process.
Your only option, if you wish to have official stock KitKat installed on your Nexus 7, is to fastboot flash back to factory stock.
For this, you will need the full factory stock image for your Nexus 7, available here.
(Currently, build KOT49H KitKat 4.4.2 is not yet available as a full factory image... just KRT16S KitKat 4.4... but that's not a problem...'cos once you have KitKat 4.4 installed, you can then use an OTA to bring it completely up to date... as detailed in my previous post).
Instructions on how to restore factory stock are available here.
This process is more time consuming than it is technically difficult... because fastboot flashing back to factory stock essentially wipes the device... so before you can begin, you need to backup all of your apps and associated app data with Titanium (requires root), and then backup the entire contents of the Nexus 7's internal storage to your PC... for later restore AFTER you've fastboot flashed KitKat.
Fastboot flashing back to factory stock resets the device, as though it where new. You'll need to set up your WiFi password again... and re-enter your Google Account (gmail) details... and restore all your data from your PC... fastboot flash CWM or TWRP in order to re-root. Once rooted, you can then use Titanium to restore all your apps.
Longwinded and tediously time consuming, it certainly is... but it's the only way to get official KitKat on your Nexus 7 if you're currently running a Custom ROM.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!
Hey again, so I was able to get beyond the point where I originally was at a standstill, and now have 4.4 installed on my N7 (Build KRT16S)
So now my question is, do I need to re-root my device, then upgrade to 4.4.2? Or am I currently rooted?
I don't see the option for USB debugging in my settings any longer...
Thanks!!!
I have tried updated ota on my nexus 7 root without unlocking bootloader on 4.3 update and it works fine but you will lost root . Is your nexus root ,unlock bootloader with twrp and stock rom? If thats the case try to update via ota. Ive just manage upgrade to 4.4.2 with ota 10 minutes ago with above situation. I only lost my root not the unlock bootloader. The twrp cwm can handled ota. Thats my advise .
Lets hear advise from others because i also noob in nexus 7
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
hennimore said:
Hey again, so I was able to get beyond the point where I originally was at a standstill, and now have 4.4 installed on my N7 (Build KRT16S)
So now my question is, do I need to re-root my device, then upgrade to 4.4.2? Or am I currently rooted?
I don't see the option for USB debugging in my settings any longer...
Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, hennimore...
Sorry it's taken me a while to respond... been busy with family issues (I don't seem to have the time these days that I used to, to focus on Android stuff).
Anyway... taking your questions in order...
hennimore said:
So now my question is, do I need to re-root my device, then upgrade to 4.4.2? Or am I currently rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you've just flashed a clean install of KRT16S, then you certainly won't be rooted. Nor will you have a Custom Recovery installed. You'll be runing 100% totally unmodified stock Android KitKat. The only difference between your Nexus 7 and the average Joe Bloggs' Nexus 7 (who just bought his yesterday)... is your bootloader will be unlocked.
With regard to applying the new update... KOT49H
Well, there are three routes you could go down...
1). Await for the OTA to appear normally in the notification bar, or go to SETTINGS>>ABOUT TABLET > > SYSTEM UPDATES... and tap on the 'check now' button. When the update appears (and sooner or later it will), it will be flashed automatically via stock recovery. This of course, is the standard method by which 99.9% of all Android users get their updates.
2). If you don't fancy waiting, fastboot flash a Custom Recovery, like TWRP or CWM, and then download the KOT49H OTA .zip directly to your Nexus 7. Boot into your Custom Recovery of choice (via the bootloader), and flash it manually.
3). If you haven't done much with your Nexus 7 (ie, installed lots of apps and copied lots of stuff over), since you flashed the full factory image of KRT16S, and you don't mind repeating the process... then the full factory image for KOT49H has now been uploaded by Google, and is available here. Download and flash it the way you did KRT16S. It goes without saying, that this will reset and wipe your device again.
*****
Addendum: It seems that Google have made a bit a mess (of some) of the KitKat 4.4.2 factory stock image download links... and when clicked upon, will give a 404 error message.
The corrected download links can be found here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565531
*****
Whichever of these methods you use to upgrade to KOT49H from KRT16S... you'll need to fastboot flash a Custom Recovery afterwards if you wish to re-root.
With regard to USB debugging...
hennimore said:
I don't see the option for USB debugging in my settings any longer...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't... this is because Developer Options are hidden by default... presumably to prevent non-technically minded people from screwing things up.
To enable developer options (and by extension, USB debugging), go to SETTINGS>>ABOUT TABLET>>scroll down to BUILD NUMBER... on BUILD NUMBER, tap 7 times. You will see a 'toast' message that says something like "Congratulations, you are now a developer!". (If only it where that easy, eh).
Anyway, with Developer Options now enabled (which you should now find in SETTINGS), USB debugging can now be turned on.
Incidently, I've just seen a new option in Developer Options, called Process Stats - Geeky stats about running processes. I'm pretty sure this is new to KitKat, as I've never seen it before. Anyway, tapping on it does indeed yield some stats... which are interesting... Google however, consider them geeky. The implication being that anybody interested in such things is a geek. I just found it humorous, the use of the word geek by Google.
Humorous allusions aside about whether everybody on XDA is actually a geek...or not... I hope this helps.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Just wanted to say how grateful we are for having you gedblake here in n7 forum while this thread doesn't apply to me I still read it and was pleased to see the well written well explained replies.
Don't mean to hijack this thread or for it come over as all gushy etc but than you.:thumbup::beer:
Sent from my C5303 using xda premium
Meshe said:
Hi guys,
I've been having problems to update to 4.4 in the Nexus 7 wifi version, the only thing I done is unlock the bootloader and root, once I tried the OTA upgrade it starts the process and then it shows up the Android little guy with an error, and doesn't shows the error of installation. I tried once the flashing the zip file using TWRP and it just failed. After the first failed the tablet just started to lag horribly. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Ged, do you know any about my issues or suggestions? The 4.4.2 ota upgrade showed up and it too failed to upgrade from 4.3
Sent from my LT26ii using xda app-developers app
Meshe said:
Hi guys,
I've been having problems to update to 4.4 in the Nexus 7 wifi version, the only thing I done is unlock the bootloader and root, once I tried the OTA upgrade it starts the process and then it shows up the Android little guy with an error, and doesn't shows the error of installation. I tried once the flashing the zip file using TWRP and it just failed. After the first failed the tablet just started to lag horribly. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meshe said:
Hey Ged, do you know any about my issues or suggestions? The 4.4.2 ota upgrade showed up and it too failed to upgrade from 4.3
Sent from my LT26ii using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be a TWRP problem...
Hi, Meshe...
You don't state which version of TWRP you're using, and what (if any) errors where displayed when the OTA aborted. If, as you say, you have performed no significant modifications to your Nexus 7, other than unlocking the bootloader and flashing TWRP (and rooted it)... then the 4.4.2 OTA should flash...
...however, there seems to be something odd about the behaviour of TWRP v2.6.3.1.
To elaborate... there is a known problem using TWRP 2.6.3.1 when flashing franco's latest kernel. See here for details on this.
This problem seems to relate to TWRP v2.6.3.1 itself, and not to franco's kernel .zip. The kernel flashes without problems using an earlier version of TWRP, namely v2.6.3.0 and also with the latest CWM recovery...
Nobody seems to know why TWRP v2.6.3.1 fails to flash franco r76, but fail it does. It appears that something is 'broken' in TWRP v2.6.3.1.
So I'm suspecting that your difficulties flashing the KitKat OTA might be similarly related to whatever is broken in TWRP v2.6.3.1... assuming of course, that this is the version you're currently running.
-------------------------------------------------
Here's what I would do... flash either TWRP v2.6.3.0 (the previous version) or CWM v6.0.4.3 (links below), and try flashing the KitKat OTA again. (I used CWM when applying the KitKat 4.4.2 OTA and it flashed without problems).
TWRP Recoveries...
http://techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/grouper
http://techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/tilapia
ClockWorkMod Recoveries...
http://www.clockworkmod.com/rommanager
(It's important you get the correct version of CWM recovery for your Nexus 7, as there are four CWM recoveries listed for the Nexus 7; two for the first generation model, and two for the second generation model.)
You'd normally fastboot flash a custom recovery, but if you're already rooted, you can flash a custom recovery directly from the Nexus 7 itself, without going anywhere near a PC... by using the rather excellent flashify app.
To summarize...
1). Install flashify on the Nexus 7.
2). Download to your Nexus 7 any custom recovery other than TWRP v2.6.3.1.
3). Ensure the KitKat 4.4.2 OTA update .zip is located somewhere on the Nexus 7.
-----
4). Use flashify to flash the custom recovery (It will request root privileges).
5). Boot (via the bootloader) into your custom recovery.
6). Using that custom recovery, flash the OTA... again.
Finally, if the above doesn't work, and the OTA aborts again, write down any error messages that are displayed. They can sometimes prove invaluable in diagnosing the problem, in order to decide what the next step is to take. Whenever I embark upon some project, for which taking screenshots isn't an option, I always keep my camera handy, such that I can take photographs of the screen... affording me a complete photographic record of the process, errors included, that I can review later. Very useful when things go wrong... as sometimes they do.
Hope this helps... and good luck.
Rgrds,
Ged.
zolaisugly said:
Just wanted to say how grateful we are for having you gedblake here in n7 forum while this thread doesn't apply to me I still read it and was pleased to see the well written well explained replies.
Don't mean to hijack this thread or for it come over as all gushy etc but than you.:thumbup::beer:
Sent from my C5303 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, erm, I mean yes... thanks... @zolaisugly... not quite how to respond to that.(blushing/embarrassed).
But thank you for your kind words, they're hugely appreciated.
I just try to help as best I can... 'cos I know what it feels like when you think you're 'bricked' or otherwise have problems with your device, as I had last year, with my (the then new) Nexus 7....and it's a uniquely horrible feeling.
You can read about my fumbling efforts here.
But it was posts here on XDA that got me back on track... and got my Nexus 7 working again.
So now, I try to give something back to XDA... my way of saying thanks I guess... and always I remember the stress I went through back in November of last year with my Nexus 7... so I can empathise with those who might not be so knowledgeable, or confident, or sure of their own capabilities, as some of the more experienced XDA veterans. And I try to help... when and where I can. Nobody can know everything... and everybody begins somewhere.
--------------------------------------
To all...
The primary rule I've learned in this past year, is if you think you've bricked your Nexus 7, or have some other seemingly intractable problem, is...
--- DON'T PANIC ---
Panic is an emotional response, and is the enemy of logical, rational thought.
It clouds good judgement... and may lead you to make BAD DECISIONS. Which will likely lead you to make a BAD SITUATION... WORSE.
Don't make any rash, uninformed decisions. It's understandable you want to get your Nexus 7 working again... but do some research first. Review your options. Read... and understand what you're doing... before you do it.
Carpenters and people who work with wood, have an old saying...
~ "Measure twice, cut once." ~
This axiom, I feel, is just as true and applicable to technology as it is to making chairs, tables and putting up a set of shelves.
Use XDA... If you've got a given problem, chances are good, somebody has had it before you, or has it now. A solution may already have been posted.
Use the XDA search engine... or go to Google search, and type "XDA ..." followed by some keywords that distill the essence of your problem.
I've never known Google search to NOT display something that might be pertinent to an Android problem... and usually it's almost always XDA that comes at the top of the Google search results.
--------------------------------------
Right... I'll shut 'up now.. I've waffled on far too long. And I don't want to earn the ire of the moderators for taking this thread wildly off topic.
Rgrds,
Ged.
GedBlake said:
Wow, erm, I mean yes... thanks... @zolaisugly... not quite how to respond to that.(blushing/embarrassed).
But thank you for your kind words, they're hugely appreciated.
I just try to help as best I can... 'cos I know what it feels like when you think you're 'bricked' or otherwise have problems with your device, as I had last year, with my (the then new) Nexus 7....and it's a uniquely horrible feeling.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK well if you don't mind I'd like to pick your brain too . I am without a doubt no stranger to Android, rooting, custom roms, and so on, however this is my first experience with the nexus 7 (or with tablets in general for that matter), so there's just a couple of things I'd like to clarify if possible. I recently got a great deal on a 2012 32gb Nexus 7 WiFi, but I guess one reason why it was a great deal is because it came with 4.1.2 lol. So I have successfully unlocked the bootloader, rooted it, and flashed cwm recovery to it using wugs toolkit (what a great tool by the way!), and I originally assumed from this point on that I'd just be flashing custom roms like normal. After reading around for awhile I guess I must've confused myself, because now I'm not really sure what the "best" route to take would be anymore. First of all would I really need to flash every ota and build all the way up to 4.4.2 like described earlier? I found another thread that shows how to extract the boot, system, and bootloader images from the 4.4.2 ota off of Googles site, and then you could use wugs toolkit to flash them without losing data, would that work though considering I'm only on 4.1.2? Or should I just do all of the ota updates that pop up until I'm up to 4.4.2? I guess what I'm asking is what would be the best and or easiest way to get from 4.1.2 all the way to 4.4.2? I'm not concerned about losing data whatsoever just to clarify because I just got this so I haven't done hardly anything with it yet. I'm just under the impression that I can't even flash a 4.4 custom rom considering how old the version is on this, but I'm not sure if that's even correct or not.Anyway I'd really appreciate any insight or suggestions you might have because the last thing I want to do is rush into something and cause twice the work for no reason lol.
jeep447 said:
OK well if you don't mind I'd like to pick your brain too . I am without a doubt no stranger to Android, rooting, custom roms, and so on, however this is my first experience with the nexus 7 (or with tablets in general for that matter), so there's just a couple of things I'd like to clarify if possible. I recently got a great deal on a 2012 32gb Nexus 7 WiFi, but I guess one reason why it was a great deal is because it came with 4.1.2 lol. So I have successfully unlocked the bootloader, rooted it, and flashed cwm recovery to it using wugs toolkit (what a great tool by the way!), and I originally assumed from this point on that I'd just be flashing custom roms like normal. After reading around for awhile I guess I must've confused myself, because now I'm not really sure what the "best" route to take would be anymore. First of all would I really need to flash every ota and build all the way up to 4.4.2 like described earlier? I found another thread that shows how to extract the boot, system, and bootloader images from the 4.4.2 ota off of Googles site, and then you could use wugs toolkit to flash them without losing data, would that work though considering I'm only on 4.1.2? Or should I just do all of the ota updates that pop up until I'm up to 4.4.2? I guess what I'm asking is what would be the best and or easiest way to get from 4.1.2 all the way to 4.4.2? I'm not concerned about losing data whatsoever just to clarify because I just got this so I haven't done hardly anything with it yet. I'm just under the impression that I can't even flash a 4.4 custom rom considering how old the version is on this, but I'm not sure if that's even correct or not.Anyway I'd really appreciate any insight or suggestions you might have because the last thing I want to do is rush into something and cause twice the work for no reason lol.
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Hi, jeep447...
You're quite welcome to 'pick my brain', as you put it... but don't be too surprised if all you find in there is an oily rag, a half eaten sandwich and a dead D cell battery.
I'm by no means an Android expert; there are far more knowledgeable posters here on XDA... and they appear to be in possession of secret arcane Android knowledge, that is beyond my understanding.
However, I will try to help insofar as my knowledge allows. On to your question(s)...
First things first... if you're currently running Jellybean 4.1.2 on the device, then I think it would be a good idea to bring it up to date to KitKat 4.4.2 first... before you start flashing Custom ROMs.
Theoretically, it shouldn't make any difference if you where to flash a Custom ROM now, without bringing it up to date. But there might be an issue with the bootloader...
...which Custom ROMs WILL NOT update.
The bootloader can only (as far as I know) be updated by either...
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a) Allowing an Android update via the normal update route (or manually flashing the OTA yourself in recovery).
...or...
b) Fastboot flashing the full factory image that contains the new bootloader.
-- (however, see my Addendum toward the end of this post).
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I am not aware of any Custom ROMs that go anywhere near the bootloader partition. Which is probably a good thing actually, since a bad or incorrect bootloader flash has the potential for HARDBRICKING the Nexus 7.
My recollection is a little hazy... but I think with Jellybean 4.1.2, the bootloader was at version v4.13... since then, there have been two bootloader updates, v4.18, and the current version, which stands at v4.23.
You can check which bootloader you're currently on by booting into the bootloader as follows... shutdown the Nexus 7 completely. Press and hold the VOL DOWN button, whilst holding, press the POWER ON button. The Nexus 7 should now boot into the bootloader. On the lower left hand side of the screen, in a tiny font, you should find (amongst other things), the bootloader version number.
Now all of this detail about bootloaders might not matter... you could happily flash some new Custom ROM... and it might work without any problems with an old bootloader... but, on the hand, it might not.
So, I think, before you try tinkering around in the Custom ROM area... and If I where you, I would bring the Nexus 7 completely up to date, running Android 4.4.2 build KOTH49H (and the latest bootloader... v4.23).
The easiest and arguably the safest way of doing this, is to just allow the OTA updates normally, as and when they appear in the notification bar. Or, alternatively go to SETTINGS>>SYSTEM UPDATES > > and tap the CHECK NOW button. This is the method by which 99.9% of all Android users get their updates...
...and which is how I initially updated mine...in November of last year, when I first got my Nexus 7.
Running Jellybean 4.1, straight out of the box, once I connected it to mains power (updates won't occur if your battery is below a certain percentage), and acquired a WiFi signal... my Nexus 7 went through 3 or 4 reboots, upgrading from Jellybean 4.1 to Jellybean 4.1.1 to Jellybean 4.1.2 to Jellybean 4.2 (which introduced the world to Googles new and improved 11 month calender!). In December, Jellybean 4.2.1 was released, in time for Santa to arrive, which restored the missing month, December, in the date-picker.
Your succession of updates will be noticeably longer, as since then, we've had Jellybean 4.2.2, Jellybean 4.3, KitKat 4.4, and finally KitKat 4.4.2.
Along the way, with these updates, your bootloader will also be updated, silently and without you being notified of the fact. Most Nexus 7 owners are probably not even aware of the bootloader, much less if the latest OTA has updated theirs. So, the bootloader is not something you would need to normally flash directly yourself.
Of course there's nothing to stop you applying the OTA updates manually yourself, as I've written about here.
However you 'take' the updates, OTA's won't cause you to loose data... all your apps will still be there, as will your pics, videos and music files.
One last point concerning OTA updates... whether applied normally, or flashed manually... you will loose your Custom Recovery (in your case CWM)... and if you're rooted, you'll loose that as well... but it's easy enough to get both back after the update.
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Once your Nexus 7 is completely up to date, running KitKat 4.4.2, and before you do anything else, I recommend you make a Nandroid backup. I find it vaguely astonishing that so many people seem to miss this (IMHO) critical step.
Once you have a Nandroid backup under your belt... you can pretty much flash any Custom ROM or Kernel, safe in the knowledge that should anything go wrong with the flash, you can restore back to the point you where at before you flashed that ROM/Kernel or other 'mod'.
In fact, I don't think it would be a bad idea for you to create one now... whilst still running Jellybean 4.1.2... using your recently installed version of CWM.
Nandroid backups, whether created with CWM or TWRP, are a bit like 'restore points' in Windows... and I just think it's good practice and common sense, to have at least one good Nandroid backup stored on the device... before you start flashing stuff.
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Right... I think that covers most of your questions.
I'll try to keep an eye on this thread... in case you have any followup questions.
But I'm going to be pretty busy over the next week or so, what with Christmas on the horizon... so I may not respond immediately.
Good luck with your new Nexus 7... and, as ever... I hope this helps.
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Addendum
I've spoken at length about bootloaders and OTA updates. And I think this is your best and least risky way of bringing your Nexus 7 up to date.
Whist there is now available a full factory image for KitKat 4.4.2 build KOTH49 (see my sig for download links), I would avoid it at this time.
Apart from the fact it will completely wipe you're Nexus 7 (which is normal and to be expected) ... the STOCK FACTORY IMAGES, and the bootloaders that ship with them are currently in a bit of a mess. .. and may cause HARDBRICK.
See this thread for further details on this...
[WARNING][URGENT] N7 grouper (2012 WiFi) bootloader .img files from Google.
There are ways of working around this; (you need the bootloader from Build JWR66V)...
...but I suggest you stick with OTA's for now, to bring your device up to date...
Or at least until either Google sort out the 'dogs breakfast/pigs ear' they've made of the factory images... or until you've acquired sufficient knowledge and confidence in modifying a FACTORY STOCK image, such that it fastboot flashes a known GOOD BOOTLOADER.
Rgrds,
Ged.""