Database Users

[Q] Stuck at stage two (unlocking bootloader)

Hi guys !
I'm trying to install a custom rom on my A500 but I don't get to unlock the bootloader...
I stuck with blackthund3r tool at :
Flashing Bootloader (EBT) stage two - uploading image...
I'm on ICS OTA 4.0.3 and the bootloader is 0.03.12-ICS
I follow all the threads talking about that but did'nt worked...
I checked all the drivers but I don't get it...
somebody have a useful advice ?
Thanks !

babysugar said:
Hi guys !
I'm trying to install a custom rom on my A500 but I don't get to unlock the bootloader...
I stuck with blackthund3r tool at :
Flashing Bootloader (EBT) stage two - uploading image...
I'm on ICS OTA 4.0.3 and the bootloader is 0.03.12-ICS
I follow all the threads talking about that but did'nt worked...
I checked all the drivers but I don't get it...
somebody have a useful advice ?
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
couple apxFlash pictorials here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=32905041&postcount=20
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=25891744&postcount=44
You need the drivers installed
1. Acer website for the acer drivers
2.zip file attached for google/fastboot drivers
Ive attached a .jpg too, u need to have the apx device listed in hardware/printers as shown
3. with apxFlash try dumping your ".bct" when u see that window
4. you can try the afterOTA tool too...
5. if the auto tools dont work then you will need to rollback to HC using tdv4 EUU
6. have a look thru the OP of the cpuid thread for more background info on all things acer http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25429111#post25429111

I've never had this much trouble before.
Ok. A little back story first. I'm not a moron, I have a myTouch 3G Sapphire 32a Fender rooted using the gold card method, LG G2x - P999 Rooted running CM10, and a SGH-T999 Stock rooted (That's a Galaxy S3 for those who don't know).
I have a friend that got an Acer Iconia a500 tablet a year ago. He's not a power user, doesn't know anything about rooting. All he did was play games on it. One day it wouldn't turn on, the screen was blank. Occasionally it would freeze at the Acer logo, but it would never boot up.
Now it's stuck in APX mod due to him pushing a bunch of buttons(idk how he got it into APX mode so don't ask), so there is absolutely no way to boot the tablet. He never turned on USB debugging, and I can't get into the tablet to turn it on because it's stuck in apx mode.
I must stress this!
I have been working on this tablet for 3 weeks now, and read countless posts about how to fix the exact problem that I'm having with this tablet, the only drawback is: step 1 is always, "Turn on USB Debugging." That is IMPOSSIBLE for me to do at this point.
Here is list of what I do know:
Hardware - Acer Iconia a500, APX Driver Version - 1.0.1.0 Released 4/1/2010 Shows as APX in Devices. Shows as Acer USB Boot-recovery driver in device manager.
Software
ADB info - Android SDK rev.20
ADB ver 1.0.29
Windows 7 64-bit completely up-to-date
Commands: adb get-state, get-serial ------- returns, unknown
Commands: adb remount, root, usb ------- returns, "error: device not found"
Command: adb devices -------- returns no value at all.
Programs used for rooting - AfterOTA 1.09, EUUS v3, blackThun3r A500 Manager
I have the CPUID, and SKB (I was somehow able to acquire those in one of my attempts to flash the stock rom)
What I don't know:
What version of Android OS is on the tablet. I'm pretty sure it has ICS, but he was deathly afraid of downloading any updates, even app updates even though I told him that all updates should be installed a.s.a.p. So there's a chance that it's still running HC.
Now here is my problem other than being stuck in APX mode. I have tried AfterOTA, it won't detect anything past Driver Installed on the Tablet information screen because USB debugging isn't enabled. So I can't use most of the functions of that program.
blackthund3r APX Flash v0.4 - Will get the tablet into the bootloader mode where it says:
Acer Iconia APX Mode in the upper right with a glowing yellow Acer logo in the center of the screen, nothing is flashing like the APX flasher says, I have reinstalled the drivers hundred of times with the same results.
Hangs at, "Flashing Bootloader (EBT) stage two - uploading image..."
EUUS v3 - Says, "Acer Iconia not detected"
(I had a screenshot posted here, but stupid forum limitations wouldn't let me. You could see what's going on if it let me post this.)
I do the reset procedure and it just goes back to the same message.
It will go into a screen on the tablet that says "Entering Acer Download Mode" Then EUUS tells me to do the reset procedure again, and this is a continuous loop that results in nothing being flashed. If I ignore that message and just continue nothing happens.
I also have a file called a500-hc.bat that runs nvflash and it gives an error that leads me to believe that a partition on the tablet is corrupted. Everyone says that EUUS v3 should fix this and flash back to original stock, but it obviously doesn't work.
Any help that I could get would be greatly appreciated. If you need any more information, just ask, and I'll do my best to get it. The tablet is (for lack of a better word) bricked, so I'm very limited on what sort of software info I can give you straight from the tab. Please Please Please help. And thank you in advance.

APX Flash Tool wont boot in Acer Download Mode

Hi experts
First of all i had an A500 and was able to do all fine but i ve sold it and now 1/2 year later i want to flash ICS Bootloader for better Roms to my girlfriends A500 because of many problems with sleep of death and thats annoying.
However, i used the blackthunder3r APX Flash Utility V0.4 and downloaded any bundle (i tried 4 differents) but when i switch the tablet in APX mode (doesnt makes a difference if manual or automatic.both put me in apx mode and the flash tool recognise it as APX device) then in the next step i get a pop up "Bootloader Check" and got asked if i have a Logo and "Entering Acer download mode" on my tablet but i have not.
This is my big problem and i m not able to solve it without your help. i m now trying it since about 3 hours now and knew that with the first tablet it took me only few minutes to have what i need.
drivers on pc seems to be all well but i cant start the flash process without getting into that Acer Download Mode.
right now there is HC 3.01 Bootloader on the tablet. i also tried to flash different Recoverys and flash an other Rom before doing the process but all the time i get stuck on the "bootloader check".
On the Tablet the power light is white and the screen is black (as it should be for APX mode) but i think the communication from the flash tool cant bring the tablet in download mode.
I m open for any tips because i dont have any clue what to do because i ve the feelin´ that i did everything.

try civatos manual nvFlash method...theres a guide in my sig
download the v8 package from civs OP
run v8.bat and cwm 1.7.3 option
do you see the system info window come up (on yr pc)
if you do follow steps and put yr tb in apx mode
does yr tab enter download mode now???
do any errors show??
Do not continue with the process if your tab wont enter download mode
otherwise use timmydeans HC 3.2.1 rom, pre-rooted and cwm preinstalled
then try the v8 bootloader from there OR OTA up to ICS
make sure u keep yr cpuid/sbk backed up somewhere
good luck
rgds dibb

Thanks for the reply but i solved it yesterday.
The problem was that i had flashed a Bootloader from HC to ICS on my old Tablet.
i dont know how or why but on my PC it showed me in blackthund3rs flash tool automatic the SBK Number of my tab ..... but it was the sbk of the old tab.
i figured it out by connecting my tab with afterota and recognised 2 different SBKs.
finally using the blackthund3rs flash tool, entering the correct SBK and then the tablet rebooted from APX Mode into Download Mode with Acer Logo.
For what every reason the flashtool found automatic a SBK of my old tablet and thought it is the SBK of the new one.
Now i m running ICS and all is fine... dont know why i didnt doule checked the SBK. i trusted the tool to much.
Thread can be close

[Q][SOLVED] A500 bricked, stuck in bootloader. Won't boot kernel or recovery.

I am sorry to start a new thread but I have been reading threads and trying things now for over 7 hours straight. I have bricked my mothers A500.
I installed Skrillex V8 bootloader to my own tablet with Thor 1.7.3 recovery and a CM10.2 rom, everything worked fine. My mother liked how my tablet had way more battery and seemed faster then her own so she asked me to do it to hers.
I did everything the same except I had deleted the files and had to find a different bootloader so I found the "lightspeed" version of Skrilex V8 and as it seemed to just be a re-skin figured it was fine.
I downgraded to the unstable 3.0.2 build then installed iconia root and a Thor recovery via acer recovery. I then installed the lightspeed bootloader via thor with intentions of then installing the newer thor and rom after.
This is where im stuffed, after installing the new bootloader it is screwed. I cannot enter recovery or boot the primary kernal. I attempt to enter fastboot and although the tablet goes into fastboot it outputs errors and has random lockups and freezing on the tablet which the computer identifies as it being disconnected.
I have tried searching the forums for an answer and have tried everything I can understand but I am truely boned. As I am writing this I am installing packages to my Ubuntu laptop so that I can obtain the UID through the terminal in hopes it will work with APX and blackthunders tools.
If I cannot get it working I will simply wipe and give my mother my tablet, But I would really like to try and get this son of a ***** working again. I am currently incredibly annoyed at it and am probably missing something obvious. Please help me.
[UPDATE 1]
I have managed to obtain my CPUID and thus my SBK through the method described here -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751978
I am still unable to use any tools as my PC will not recognize it in APX mode, I have reinstalled the drivers, restarted, tried multiple USB ports, uninstalled the failed unrecognized device and started from scratch a few times and I just cant seem to get it to detect them. Also tried other USB cables incase it was iffy, checked contacts on ports. There also cannot be any env variable or reg conflicts as I used my diagnostic machine to check it and it booted into its clean OS.
the APX seems to work with my linux unit though, but the blackthunder tools are for windows...
[UPDATE 2]
Using the tutorial here ->http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2444187
I made it boot into the APX mode with the yellow acer logo and the APX mode text at the top, however I left it for a while and it didnt seem to finish flashing, using lsusb I can see its still connected to the linux box but it is clearly not flashing properly.
I am going to leave it for a bit then try unplugging from linux and plugging into windows while in the yellow acer logo screen with verbose output and see if blackthunders tool detects it.
[UPDATE 3]
DO NOT try what i did in update 2, I believe i removed it when it was formatting the partition, it wont even boot to the bootloader now. black screen with white light on power button and cannot be detected as APX.
[UPDATE 4]
I treid a few more times at getting it into APX mode and it turns out its just being dicky and freezing randomly, however, by trying a few times (this is dangerous but i had nothing to lose at this point) to run the Nvflash script on my linux box eventually it run through and installed the v9 bootloader. This bootloader allowed me to go into Fastboot without the freezing or crashing or loss of communications i was experiencing before. I then using fastboot flashed a recovery appropriate to the v9 bootloader and am now using that to flash a 4.3 rom. This should completely fix all the problems.
I am now sure (as previously I could only guess that the problem was caused by a dicky install of the lightspeed bootloader (a custom variant of skrilex v8 designed to match the theme of the lightspeed rom).
[UPDATE 5]
Working
Adding solved to title as I know the feeling when you come across an old thread that talks about your problem and has no replies or help.
-V0L4T1LE
Been using XDA for years never bothered to post as have never had to spend more then a few hours to solve a problem, this one took me a long time though so I decided to ask for help. Nevermind, didnt need it.

Awsum and well done getting yrself sorted, thanx for posting
rgds dibb
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

Can you extract the partition 4 using nvflash --rawdeviceread to a file and share to me? My A500 is bricked and cannot download to it. only --rawdevicewrite works.
Thanks!

Cant Flash Custom Bootloader/Recovery on A500 (ICS OTA 4.0.3)

So ive been trying for almost a week now trying to put a custom ROM on my Acer Iconia A500, but my tablet doesnt want to do cooperate. I have tried EVERYTHING, from using blackthunders APXFlash tool to NvFlash and everything. My problem is my computer will pick up my tablet once its in APX mode. I go to my "Devices and Printers" and under everyting it has a picture of a object and under it, it says "APX". Also in the bottom right corner of laptop theres the "Usb" icon and if i click on it, it says "Eject APX", so i know my computer knows what it is. but no matter WHAT program i use, my A500 never gets any white text on it when its trying to go into the bootloader or anything. i can only get to the point where my device is in APX mode.Nothing seems to work AT ALL. And all the programs get to the point of trying to flash the bootloader and thats it. They just stop working or cant go any further for some reason. I also deleted my "boot.p" file in /system as well. I got my CPUID, i got my SBK, i got all of that using Afterota program. My tablet IS ROOTED. So im stuck right now. Tablet runs fine and good. Just dont wanna give up and really needing some help. Heres my tablet info:
Tablet Cpuid : 037C61C9408103D7
Tablet Sbk : 0xE4531F00 0x18070000 0xF74EE402 0x11DE2003
Android Build : Acer_AV041_A500_1.033.00_PA_CUS1
Bootloader : 0.03.12-ICS
I also tried downloading the "babsector.rar" file from the russian website and it says the file was removed, id SO GREATLY appericate it if someone who has it could re-upload it somewhere else or gimme a good working downloading link for it. One again please help me out if you have ANY suggestions or know how to fix my issue. THANKS

RECKLESS PAIN said:
So ive been trying for almost a week now trying to put a custom ROM on my Acer Iconia A500, but my tablet doesnt want to do cooperate. I have tried EVERYTHING, from using blackthunders APXFlash tool to NvFlash and everything. My problem is my computer will pick up my tablet once its in APX mode. I go to my "Devices and Printers" and under everyting it has a picture of a object and under it, it says "APX". Also in the bottom right corner of laptop theres the "Usb" icon and if i click on it, it says "Eject APX", so i know my computer knows what it is. but no matter WHAT program i use, my A500 never gets any white text on it when its trying to go into the bootloader or anything. i can only get to the point where my device is in APX mode.Nothing seems to work AT ALL. And all the programs get to the point of trying to flash the bootloader and thats it. They just stop working or cant go any further for some reason. I also deleted my "boot.p" file in /system as well. I got my CPUID, i got my SBK, i got all of that using Afterota program. My tablet IS ROOTED. So im stuck right now. Tablet runs fine and good. Just dont wanna give up and really needing some help. Heres my tablet info:
Tablet Cpuid : 037C61C9408103D7
Tablet Sbk : 0xE4531F00 0x18070000 0xF74EE402 0x11DE2003
Android Build : Acer_AV041_A500_1.033.00_PA_CUS1
Bootloader : 0.03.12-ICS
I also tried downloading the "babsector.rar" file from the russian website and it says the file was removed, id SO GREATLY appericate it if someone who has it could re-upload it somewhere else or gimme a good working downloading link for it. One again please help me out if you have ANY suggestions or know how to fix my issue. THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all thanks for an informative post!! I wish everyone gave as much info as you One thing you didn't mention was which PC OS you are using - 32bit are best
My problem is my computer will pick up my tablet once its in APX mode. I go to my "Devices and Printers" and under everyting it has a picture of a object and under it, it says "APX". Also in the bottom right corner of laptop theres the "Usb" icon and if i click on it, it says "Eject APX", so i know my computer knows what it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, everything is in order here, you're seeing exactly what you are supposed to
So now we need to know "what" doesn't "work".
The babsector file is best for trouble shooting as it will always post some sort of output. Its in post2 of the root guide in my sig.
1. Put your tab in apx mode and connect your "micro usb cable" to your pc
2. Run the first .bat file of babsector.
Now what exactly happens next, can you post a screenshot?
Can't help much further until you do this!!
If the first .bat file runs ok, you need to boot directly to cwm which babsector has just flashed.
Do a nandroid backup and then
a complete wipe including /data/media - you need to go in and specifically enable this from the 'mounts' menu. Wipe davlik and cache too.
Now flash your custom rom and power down.
Back into apx mode and run the 2nd .bat file.
Reboot and voila! you should be all good - fingers crossed!!!

dibb_nz said:
First of all thanks for an informative post!! I wish everyone gave as much info as you One thing you didn't mention was which PC OS you are using - 32bit are best
Right, everything is in order here, you're seeing exactly what you are supposed to
So now we need to know "what" doesn't "work".
The babsector file is best for trouble shooting as it will always post some sort of output. Its in post2 of the root guide in my sig.
1. Put your tab in apx mode and connect your "micro usb cable" to your pc
2. Run the first .bat file of babsector.
Now what exactly happens next, can you post a screenshot?
Can't help much further until you do this!!
If the first .bat file runs ok, you need to boot directly to cwm which babsector has just flashed.
Do a nandroid backup and then
a complete wipe including /data/media - you need to go in and specifically enable this from the 'mounts' menu. Wipe davlik and cache too.
Now flash your custom rom and power down.
Back into apx mode and run the 2nd .bat file.
Reboot and voila! you should be all good - fingers crossed!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK so when I put it in APX mode and connected to it, I ran the "A501 A" file and entered my SBK. But when I hit enter it will work just fine alllll the way up til it says something about sending file to bootloader, and then just fails. This is the SAME thing that happened when I use NvFlash and APXFlash! None of them can seem to access my boot loader and I never get anyway white text on my Acer saying it is! So idk what to do! I can't post any screenshots at the moment since I'm not home right now. I will once I get home. Also I can't even enter stock recovery on my tablet! I turn it off, and as its turning back on I hold the "Power" and "Volume Down" button, but just boots normally.....so Idk if this has to do with the problem or not....
Sent from my XT912 using Tapatalk

NEVER MIND GOT IT WORKING!!!!!! THANK GAWD. I just reinstalled the drivers and apx drivers and when i loaded up the a501 A file it sent everything correctly and smoothly! Now running a custom ROM! THANKS A MILLION!!!!!!!(;

Not for me =(
RECKLESS PAIN said:
NEVER MIND GOT IT WORKING!!!!!! THANK GAWD. I just reinstalled the drivers and apx drivers and when i loaded up the a501 A file it sent everything correctly and smoothly! Now running a custom ROM! THANKS A MILLION!!!!!!!(;
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that sux because I thought we were on the same page, except you got it working. I get stuck on uploading the bootloader stage 2 in apx program.
Also when I try to load recovery.
It does a laying down android with a triangle and a exclamation point in it.
I found the cpuid from navigating to the android file folders.
0428004342e0e297 which converts to this
0xC7E2C201 0xDBFDC006 0xDB922404 0x44312103
Is there a way to verify that I do in fact have the correct one?
I really want to update my rom, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

vicviper74 said:
Well that sux because I thought we were on the same page, except you got it working. I get stuck on uploading the bootloader stage 2 in apx program.
Also when I try to load recovery.
It does a laying down android with a triangle and a exclamation point in it.
I found the cpuid from navigating to the android file folders.
0428004342e0e297 which converts to this
0xC7E2C201 0xDBFDC006 0xDB922404 0x44312103
Is there a way to verify that I do in fact have the correct one?
I really want to update my rom, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I did was went to the Acer website and found my tablet and installed the HoneyComb driver that was right under my ICS firmware. (Since they didn't have any drivers for the latest ICS OTA 4.0.3) which these drivers will work fine. Next after I reinstalled those drivers I put my tablet in APX mode, connected it to my laptop. Made sure in the bottom right hand corner it had installed the APX drivers successfully and made sure under the usb icon it.said "APX". I then flashed the a501a file first and it went through and worked! Them from there I went to wipe what I needed and installed my custom rom!
Sent from my XT912 using Tapatalk

vicviper74 said:
Well that sux because I thought we were on the same page, except you got it working. I get stuck on uploading the bootloader stage 2 in apx program.
Also when I try to load recovery.
It does a laying down android with a triangle and a exclamation point in it.
I found the cpuid from navigating to the android file folders.
0428004342e0e297 which converts to this
0xC7E2C201 0xDBFDC006 0xDB922404 0x44312103
Is there a way to verify that I do in fact have the correct one?
I really want to update my rom, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
two tools in my root guide for sbk check and while you're there read up about the boot.p file if you ever want to get past the dead android screen, everything is explained in the first post

a500 APX Mode fixed(maybe), but would like some advice

So a couple of weeks ago I accidentally let my battery die, which I try not to do because I have trouble getting it to turn back on again and this time it did just that: my tablet wouldn't power on at all. I searched up my symptoms: Power light comes on, Doesn't vibrate, Black screen, and everything pointed to either my motherboard went kaput or APX Mode. A new motherboard for my model is upwards of 50$, so I tried looking into what APX Mode meant. I'm decent with computers but this was beyond me, or more so that I have no idea where to find the files/programs to flash(?) it. Anyway digging through the threads here I looked at a recent one here and on a whim I tried the suggestion, even though it was to another problem they were having with APX Mode. And it worked!
My tablet turned on fine, but I am skeptical of how long that will last. So, some questions that I hope someone can help me with are, what is a "fastboot", and does it hurt the system in any way if used repeatedly? Is there another way (an app or something) that will be able to tell me my UID and SBK other than through a Linux computer? Also, bootloading, does that root the device in any way? When I was looking around it didn't sound like it did, but then sometimes it did and now I'm just confused.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for looking!

All files needed for unlocking the bootloader, rooting and unbricking can be found in the root guide in my sig. Along with methods of retrieving the cpuid and also a guide to flash the bootloader using the apxflash tool - I try and keep download links up2date, let me know if you have any probs.
If your tab does have a faulty emmc and I'm not saying it does...it will eventually fail, being stuck at the Acer screen seems to be the most common symptom, followed by the inability to flash.
Fastboot gives the ability to perform wipes and flash via the windows command prompt...
Root is gained (on ics) with icsRoot tool...once done you can then nvflash the unlocked bootloader.
Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk

dibb_nz said:
All files needed for unlocking the bootloader, rooting and unbricking can be found in the root guide in my sig. Along with methods of retrieving the cpuid and also a guide to flash the bootloader using the apxflash tool - I try and keep download links up2date, let me know if you have any probs.
If your tab does have a faulty emmc and I'm not saying it does...it will eventually fail, being stuck at the Acer screen seems to be the most common symptom, followed by the inability to flash.
Fastboot gives the ability to perform wipes and flash via the windows command prompt...
Root is gained (on ics) with icsRoot tool...once done you can then nvflash the unlocked bootloader.
Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, thank you! I will definitely go through those. I checked the cpuid one last night in case it decided to die while I was sleeping, so that's good. Although my sister's tablet doesn't have that file on hers at all? And its the same model ... anyway.
emmc? Forgive me, I am not well versed in these abbreviations. It hasn't gotten stuck at the Acer screen yet since I've had it, but ... its always a possibility.
Hmm, I didn't have it connected to the computer when I tried fasbooting it — is it considered something else when you power the tablet on holding the Power Button + the Volume Up button? Maybe it wasn't in APX Mode at all then, but I don't know if that makes it better or worse. No other way would make it turn on, it was just a dead black screen no matter what I did, and then I tried that and the Acer logo popped up.
And, sorry just to be clear, there's no way to unbrick a tablet without rooting it?
Thanks so much

emmc = memory chip!
Per+vol down = custom recovery
Pwr+vol UP = fastboot
Drivers - From Acer and adb_fastboot drivers from android sdk (or the mini.zip in the guide)
Cpuid/sbk imperative to run most of the unbricking files which are based on nvflash.
Root - unavailable on hc 3.2, not needed to unbrick but usb debugging needs to be enabled in settings. For ics use icsRoot,
skrilax_cz unblocked bootloader - needed to install custom roms. Needs cpuid. Will also flash cwm recovery. Gives fastboot ability. So you can flash a new recovery thru Windows command prompt i.e. enter fastboot
Open command prompt
Type in: fastboot flash recovery "name_of_your_recovery'.img
EUU - Acer upgrade tool which gets you back to stock. PC based, needs cpuid and also used to unbrick.
update.zip - Acer stock updates, some are full os dates some are just incremental updates. Used also to help with softbrick like getting stuck on the Acer screen. Cpuid not required, flashed via ext sd card.
Think that's it in a nutshell...as stated get your cpuid NOW
Which build of Android is the tab running??
Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk