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I just purchased a N7 yesterday, and it's supposed to arrive in a couple of days. I'm using a Mac OS computer and comfortable with ADB, so which is better: root first before updating the firmware, or update to the most recent version of firmare and then root? And which rooting method do you recommend with a Mac?
Thanks for your suggestions!
mj56gt said:
I just purchased a N7 yesterday, and it's supposed to arrive in a couple of days. I'm using a Mac OS computer and comfortable with ADB, so which is better: root first before updating the firmware, or update to the most recent version of firmare and then root? And which rooting method do you recommend with a Mac?
Thanks for your suggestions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would update first then root, and use wug's toolkit to help you through the process.
mj56gt said:
I just purchased a N7 yesterday, and it's supposed to arrive in a couple of days. I'm using a Mac OS computer and comfortable with ADB, so which is better: root first before updating the firmware, or update to the most recent version of firmare and then root? And which rooting method do you recommend with a Mac?
Thanks for your suggestions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally have done the following steps:
- I've rooted it first;
- installed OTA RootKeeper (to keep the root after updating - the app must be configured before updating firmware);
- I've updated the firmware to the last version.
I performed all those steps using my notebook which has Windows 7 OS, so for Mac OS I cannot make any recommendation.
I hope this helps you.
Thank you both for the suggestions! Is the Wug's toolkit for Windows OS? Any such toolkit for Mac OS or Linux system? Thanks!
Leonhan said:
I would update first then root, and use wug's toolkit to help you through the process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good Dog. The OP said he had a Mac.
@OP
May as well do stock firmware upgrade first if it is needed.* On the rare chance that you get a device that suffers some kind of infant mortality - the device will be pure stock for the first little bit of operation (in case an RMA is needed). And the flashing operations which take place IF an OTA is needed will give flash memory a little workout.
Just bear in mind that the bootloader unlock operation will erase everything from /data (factory reset) when the "fastboot unlock" command occurs. So, if you operate the device as pure stock for a while, you will either need to backup stuff or regard your initial customizations as disposable.
fastboot methods are the most expeditious way to proceed on a Mac.
If you use TWRP 2.4.4.0 as your custom recovery, it will peek in /system to see if you are rooted and offer to root your device with SuperSU for you (just before you reboot from within TWRP).
The way I see it, the rooting procedure is 4 steps total:
(Note: use the "tilapia", not grouper recovery image if you have the 3G/LTE Nexus 7)
Code:
fastboot unlock
fastboot boot openrecovery-twrp-2.4.4.0-grouper.img
... make a pure stock Nandroid backup
... reboot TWRP and it will offer to install SuperSU for you
(optionally: fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.4.4.0-grouper.img )
Those 4 steps above will leave you with Pure Stock + Rooted ; even the recovery on the tablet will be pure stock until you flash it there (optional step 5 above).
It's up to you to get the Mac SDK (for fastboot & adb) installed and figure out using command lines - search for that, don't ask.
good luck
* I thought I saw a report recently that someone had JDQ39 on a device purchased less than 4 weeks after the last update - your device may not need upgrading yet.
bftb0 said:
@OP
May as well do stock firmware upgrade first if it is needed.* On the rare chance that you get a device that suffers some kind of infant mortality - the device will be pure stock for the first little bit of operation (in case an RMA is needed). And the flashing operations which take place IF an OTA is needed will give flash memory a little workout.
Just bear in mind that the bootloader unlock operation will erase everything from /data (factory reset) when the "fastboot unlock" command occurs. So, if you operate the device as pure stock for a while, you will either need to backup stuff or regard your initial customizations as disposable.
fastboot methods are the most expeditious way to proceed on a Mac.
If you use TWRP 2.4.4.0 as your custom recovery, it will peek in /system to see if you are rooted and offer to root your device with SuperSU for you (just before you reboot from within TWRP).
The way I see it, the rooting procedure is 4 steps total:
(Note: use the "tilapia", not grouper recovery image if you have the 3G/LTE Nexus 7)
Code:
fastboot unlock
fastboot boot openrecovery-twrp-2.4.4.0-grouper.img
... make a pure stock Nandroid backup
... reboot TWRP and it will offer to install SuperSU for you
(optionally: fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.4.4.0-grouper.img )
Those 4 steps above will leave you with Pure Stock + Rooted ; even the recovery on the tablet will be pure stock until you flash it there (optional step 5 above).
It's up to you to get the Mac SDK (for fastboot & adb) installed and figure out using command lines - search for that, don't ask.
good luck
* I thought I saw a report recently that someone had JDQ39 on a device purchased less than 4 weeks after the last update - your device may not need upgrading yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the detailed information and the kind help, bftb0! I really appreciated it.
I had a two-year-old version of Mac SDK, and only used adb before. Just finished grabbing the most recent version. I prefer command lines instead of button pushing. Once N7 arrives, I will start to have fun with fastboot...
bftb0 said:
Code:
fastboot unlock
fastboot boot openrecovery-twrp-2.4.4.0-grouper.img
... make a pure stock Nandroid backup
... reboot TWRP and it will offer to install SuperSU for you
(optionally: fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.4.4.0-grouper.img )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more question. Is the first step (unlocking) necessary for the later steps such as root access? The reason I'm asking is that, unlike rooting, unlocking is irreversible, and would avoid the warranty.
Edit: I guess that the bootloader has to be unlocked to flash a custom recovery, right?
Unlocking is necessary to use fastboot commands and it's not irreversible as you can relock it with "fastboot oem lock" but if you want to unlock it another time it will wipe your device again. And if you flash recovery with fastboot then yes your bootloader must be unlocked but you can relock it after.
Nico_60 said:
Unlocking is necessary to use fastboot commands and it's not irreversible as you can relock it with "fastboot oem lock" but if you want to unlock it another time it will wipe your device again. And if you flash recovery with fastboot then yes your bootloader must be unlocked but you can relock it after.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great! Thanks a lot for the help...
My wife has a rooted nexus 7 2012 wifi and she unintentionally accepted the ota Android 4.3 update. So of course it unrooted her.
I originally had a hell of a time rooting this tablet using wugfresh nexus toolkit. Took me several days to succeed and the same thing is happening again. My Windows 7 laptop keeps installing the wrong drivers even though I selected the option to disable the auto driver configuration. Also USBDeview never shows the installed Samsung adb drivers yet when I try to install them I am warned they are already installed. It's already been hours and who knows how many retries and reboots!
So even though I'm a newbie I decided to go the Android sdk route.
1. Where do I download the files I need to just root the darn tablet?
2. What do I do next?
Please keep it simple........
Anyone want to walk me through it on the phone?
Thanks
If you are new to using SDK, check this out for a well laid out tut on how to get set up and rooted.
I now have android sdk set up.
What are the commands I should issue to root?
Thanks
now you need to flash a custom recovery then flash a root zip file via windows command prompt...Have you figured out how to interface with your device and the windows command prompt? eg;
-a good first command is "adb devices" and see if it lists your device, if it does your golden...
-then you would issue "adb reboot bootloader"
-once in bootloader you would issue "fastboot flash recovery whateverrecoveryouchose.img"
-then while in bootloader toggle with the volume keys to "recovery" option and press power
-now you will be in your new recovery you just flashed and you can push the zipped root file you chose to the sdcard, "adb push rootyouchose.zip /sdcard/"
-once its been pushed you can flash it in recovery and reboot, and you are now rooted
-this is the latest cwm recovery that you could flash in fastboot as described above
-this would be the root file you want to push then flash in recovery
-this may be of some help, scroll down halfway
Thank you so much for helping. You can't know how much it is appreciated.
-a good first command is "adb devices" and see if it lists your device, if it does your golden...
Got that. It works!!
-then you would issue "adb reboot bootloader"
Worked! Got the Android on his back.
-once in bootloader you would issue "fastboot flash recovery whateverrecoveryouchose.img"
Is recovery image on my pc or the tablet?
Why do I have to indicate the img name here if I will later select it
When I write
Fastboot flash......... Img
I get
Unknown partition 'the image file name'
"error : cannot determine image filename for. '.......'
You need to have downloaded a recovery image, that is what you flash I linked to one on my last post, that file is called "recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.4.3-grouper.img" so you would issue,
fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.4.3-grouper.img
"fastboot flash recovery" is telling it to flash a recovery file and "recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.4.3-grouper.img" is the recovery file in this case to be flashed so, combined its, "fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.4.3-grouper.img"
I do not use Windows, I use a terminal instead of windows command prompt so I can't be specific as I am not too familiar with windows command prompt. With terminal it is much easier in my opinion but you need to be running nix or Mac OS to have a terminal
OK, still can't get past the final stage in rooting my wife's nexus 2012 nexus 7.
I have the proper drivers installed and it connects fine with my Windows 7 laptop.
From a Windows 7 command prompt
1. "abd devices "
Correctly returns the attached nexus
2. "abd reboot bootloader "
Correctly reboots the tablet
3. **here's where things breakdown :
I downloaded the latest twrp openrecovery img for grouper and renamed it (for simpler typing)
" openrecovery-twrp-grouper.img"
However, when I now issue the command
"fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-grouper.img"
I get an error :
Cannot open openrecovery-twrp-grouper.img
The same thing happened with the clockwork-touch recovery img. That is why I downloaded the twrp img which I am more familiar with anyway.
So, am I missing a step between rebooting the bootloader and flashing the recovery? After the bootloader is rebooted and I get the Android on his back with an empty belly, do I need to do something else before flashing?
Do I need to put the recovery image somewhere special in the nexus file structure?
I'm stuck.
Thanks
Anderson2 said:
OK, still can't get past the final stage in rooting my wife's nexus 2012 nexus 7.
I have the proper drivers installed and it connects fine with my Windows 7 laptop.
From a Windows 7 command prompt
1. "abd devices "
Correctly returns the attached nexus
2. "abd reboot bootloader "
Correctly reboots the tablet
3. **here's where things breakdown :
I downloaded the latest twrp openrecovery img for grouper and renamed it (for simpler typing)
" openrecovery-twrp-grouper.img"
However, when I now issue the command
"fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-grouper.img"
I get an error :
Cannot open openrecovery-twrp-grouper.img
The same thing happened with the clockwork-touch recovery img. That is why I downloaded the twrp img which I am more familiar with anyway.
So, am I missing a step between rebooting the bootloader and flashing the recovery? After the bootloader is rebooted and I get the Android on his back with an empty belly, do I need to do something else before flashing?
Do I need to put the recovery image somewhere special in the nexus file structure?
I'm stuck.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Anderson2...
If I may throw in my couple of cents...
The recovery.img file to be fastboot flashed (TWRP or CWM, it really doesn't matter which) needs be to stored on your PC... on the same PATH as the FASTBOOT.EXE file. The easiest way of accomplishing this, is to copy it directly into the folder that contains your FASTBOOT and ADB executables.
Where this folder is located on your PC depends on how you have fastboot setup, but it's usually stored in a folder called /Platform-Tools (if I remember correctly). But because I've never bothered myself installing the whole Android SDK (of which Fastboot is a part of) on my PC, I'm not sure of it's precise PATH (ie. it's location) but I think it's somewhere in the Android SDK folder.
For myself, I just maintain a simple folder on the Windows desktop containing the FASTBOOT.EXE and ADB.EXE files and a few necessary Windows .DLL files. When I wish to fastboot flash a Custom Recovery, I simply copy the Custom Recovery .img file (TWRP or CWM) into this folder, rename it to recovery.img (renaming it thus makes typing at the command prompt easier, and reduces the scope for potential typos)... boot the Nexus 7 into the bootloader, hook it up to my PC via USB. And then open a command prompt on the folder, and run...
Code:
fastboot devices
This is purely diagnostic, and hopefully confirms a working fastboot connection.
You should see something like this...
Code:
025d2d424bxxxxx fastboot
A serial number followed by the word fastboot. If you see this, you can go ahead and run...
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
(This command assumes an unlocked bootloader... indicated by an unlocked padlock symbol under the Google logo upon boot. If it isn't, you should unlock it with fastboot oem unlock BEFORE fastboot flashing the Custom Recovery).
My point is, though... the 'recovery.img' to be flashed must be in the same folder as the FASTBOOT.EXE file, or as you have discovered, you will get the error "Cannot open recovery-twrp-grouper.img".
If fastboot can't find it.. it can't open it.
Hope this helps.
Rgrds.
Ged.
GedBlake said:
Hi, Anderson2...
If I may throw in my couple of cents...
The recovery.img file to be fastboot flashed (TWRP or CWM, it really doesn't matter which) needs be to stored on your PC... on the same PATH as the FASTBOOT.EXE file. The easiest way of accomplishing this, is to copy it directly into the folder that contains your FASTBOOT and ADB executables.
Where this folder is located on your PC depends on how you have fastboot setup, but it's usually stored in a folder called /Platform-Tools (if I remember correctly). But because I've never bothered myself installing the whole Android SDK (of which Fastboot is a part of) on my PC, I'm not sure of it's precise PATH (ie. it's location) but I think it's somewhere in the Android SDK folder.
For myself, I just maintain a simple folder on the Windows desktop containing the FASTBOOT.EXE and ADB.EXE files and a few necessary Windows .DLL files. When I wish to fastboot flash a Custom Recovery, I simply copy the Custom Recovery .img file (TWRP or CWM) into this folder, rename it to recovery.img (renaming it thus makes typing at the command prompt easier, and reduces the scope for potential typos)... boot the Nexus 7 into the bootloader, hook it up to my PC via USB. And then open a command prompt on the folder, and run...
Code:
fastboot devices
This is purely diagnostic, and hopefully confirms a working fastboot connection.
You should see something like this...
Code:
025d2d424bxxxxx fastboot
A serial number followed by the word fastboot. If you see this, you can go ahead and run...
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
(This command assumes an unlocked bootloader... indicated by an unlocked padlock symbol under the Google logo upon boot. If it isn't, you should unlock it with fastboot oem unlock BEFORE fastboot flashing the Custom Recovery).
My point is, though... the 'recovery.img' to be flashed must be in the same folder as the FASTBOOT.EXE file, or as you have discovered, you will get the error "Cannot open recovery-twrp-grouper.img".
If fastboot can't find it.. it can't open it.
Hope this helps.
Rgrds.
Ged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! That is very helpful. I had assumed the recovery img should be on the tablet. No wonder fastboot could not find it! I'm sure that will solve my problem.
Thank you for helping. I'm slowly learning my way around the adb, fastboot commands as I'm sure I'll need them again when 4.4 unroots me again.
Anderson2 said:
Thank you very much! That is very helpful. I had assumed the recovery img should be on the tablet. No wonder fastboot could not find it! I'm sure that will solve my problem.
Thank you for helping. I'm slowly learning my way around the adb, fastboot commands as I'm sure I'll need them again when 4.4 unroots me again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, problem Anderson2... glad to help.
Adb and fastboot are indeed powerful and useful tools, and I would strongly recommend anybody wishing to 'modify' their Nexus 7 (everything from rooting to flashing Custom ROMs) to familiarise themselves with the fundamentals of their operation... rather than relying on toolkits.
There are actually ways of flashing TWRP or CWM Custom Recoveries directly from the Nexus 7 itself, without recourse to either fastboot or the need for a PC... by using apps like Flash Image GUI or Flashify. But these apps need you to be already rooted, unfortunately.
So to summarize how to acquire root the old fashioned way....
---------------------------------------
1). Unlock the bootloader first with fastboot oem unlock. For security reasons, this will factory reset the device... ie., WIPE everything on it.
...but I assume your Nexus 7's bootloader is already unlocked, given it's been rooted once before.
And so swiftly skipping forward to step 2...
2). Fastboot flash a Custom Recovery (CWM or TWRP) with fastboot flash recovery recovery.img... where 'recovery.img' is the Custom Recovery of your choice. Reboot the device by using the Custom Recovery's own reboot option.
3). Download Chainfire's UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip root package directly to your Nexus 7. This DOES need to be on the Nexus 7. Most Android browsers (including Chrome) download stuff to the /download folder on the devices internal storage. You'll need to remember the location, for when you come to flash it with either CWM or TWRP.
4). Boot the Nexus 7 into the bootloader. Although you can do it with adb reboot bootloader, you can also do it manually as follows...
- Shut down the Nexus 7 completely.
- Press and hold the VOL-DOWN button... whilst holding, press the POWER-ON button for about 5-10 seconds. The device should now boot into the bootloader.
5). Boot into your Custom Recovery... whilst in the bootloader, use the VOL-KEYS to navigate to the RECOVERY MODE option, and press the POWER BUTTON to select. The device will now boot into either CWM or TWRP Custom Recovery.... whichever one you fastboot flashed earlier.
6). Now to ROOT!
** If using TWRP... tap on the INSTALL button, and then navigate to the /download folder on the Nexus 7's internal storage, and where Chainfires UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip is awaiting. Tap on it, and Swipe to Confirm Flash.
** If using CWM... tap on the INSTALL ZIP option, followed by CHOOSE ZIP FROM /SDCARD... tap on the folder 0/... this gives you access to the internal storage of the Nexus 7... from which you can navigate to the /download folder, where again, Chainfires UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip is awaiting. Tap on NO (the first default option) or YES - Install UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip.
On every screen in the CWM filemanager (by which you navigate) there is ALWAYS a ++++Go Back++++ option at the bottom of the screen. So you can always backout out of anything. In CWM you can also use the VOL UP and DOWN keys to scroll, with the POWER-BUTTON to select an option.
Once you have flashed Chainfire's SuperSU root package, reboot the device with the Custom Recovery's own reboot option.
Upon reboot, and whichever Custom Recovery you're using , it ***MIGHT*** suggest you are unrooted... and offer to fix root for you. Ignore it, and continue to reboot.
---------------------------------------
And that's it... that's how you root a first generation Nexus 7 (2012).
Hope this is of use and... Good luck.
Rgrds,
Ged.
GedBlake said:
No, problem Anderson2... glad to help.
Adb and fastboot are indeed powerful and useful tools, and I would strongly recommend anybody wishing to 'modify' their Nexus 7 (everything from rooting to flashing Custom ROMs) to familiarise themselves with the fundamentals of their operation... rather than relying on toolkits.
There are actually ways of flashing TWRP or CWM Custom Recoveries directly from the Nexus 7 itself, without recourse to either fastboot or the need for a PC... by using apps like Flash Image GUI or Flashify. But these apps need you to be already rooted, unfortunately.
So to summarize how to acquire root the old fashioned way....
---------------------------------------
1). Unlock the bootloader first with fastboot oem unlock. For security reasons, this will factory reset the device... ie., WIPE everything on it. I assume your bootloader is already unlocked.
So swiftly skipping forward to step 2....
2). Fastboot flash a Custom Recovery (CWM or TWRP) with fastboot flash recovery recovery.img... where 'recovery.img' is the Custom Recovery of your choice. Reboot the device by using the Custom Recovery's own reboot option.
3). Download Chainfire's UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip root package directly to your Nexus 7. This DOES need to be on the Nexus 7. Most Android browsers (including Chrome) download stuff to the /download folder on the devices internal storage. You'll need to remember the location, for when you come to flash it with either CWM or TWRP.
4). Boot the Nexus 7 into the bootloader. Although you can do it with adb reboot bootloader, you can also do it manually as follows...
- Shut down the Nexus 7 completely.
- Press and hold the VOL-DOWN button... whilst holding, press the POWER-ON button for about 5-10 seconds. The device should now boot into the bootloader.
5). Boot into your Custom Recovery... whilst in the bootloader, use the VOL-KEYS to navigate to the RECOVERY MODE option, and press the POWER BUTTON to select. The device will now boot into either CWM or TWRP Custom Recovery.... whichever one you fastboot flashed earlier.
6). Now to ROOT!
** If using TWRP... tap on the INSTALL button, and then navigate to the /download folder on the Nexus 7's internal storage, and where Chainfires UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip is awaiting. Tap on it, and Swipe to Confirm Flash.
** If using CWM... tap on the INSTALL ZIP option, followed by CHOOSE ZIP FROM /SDCARD... tap on the folder 0/... this gives you access to the internal storage of the Nexus 7... from which you can navigate to the /download folder, where again, Chainfires UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip is awaiting. Tap on NO (the first default option) or YES - Install UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip.
On every screen in the CWM filemanager (by which you navigate) there is ALWAYS a ++++Go Back++++ option at the bottom of the screen. So you can always backout out of anything. In CWM you can also use the VOL UP and DOWN keys to scroll, with the POWER-BUTTON to select an option.
Once you have flashed Chainfire's SuperSU root package, reboot the device with the Custom Recovery's own reboot option.
Upon reboot, and whichever Custom Recovery you're using , it ***MIGHT*** suggest you are unrooted... and offer to fix root for you. Ignore it, and continue to reboot.
---------------------------------------
And that's it... that's how you root a first generation Nexus 7 (2012).
Hope this is of use and... Good luck.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you all very much. I greatly appreciate your help.
This post should be a sticky!
One more question, this nexus 7 2012 is my wife's. But I also own a nexus 7I this one a 2013 which is currently rooted with Android 4.3 and twrp Nandroid backups. I'm afraid that when the 4.4 ota upgrade comes along it might again unroot both our tablets. Are the rooting commands or procedures different for the 2013 nexus 7 (other than using a flo recovery img,) or do I do exactly the same as described above?
Again, you guys are wonderful to help us newbies out. Many thanks to all. Wish I could do something in return.
Anderson2 said:
Thank you all very much. I greatly appreciate your help.
This post should be a sticky!
One more question, this nexus 7 2012 is my wife's. But I also own a nexus 7I this one a 2013 which is currently rooted with Android 4.3 and twrp Nandroid backups. I'm afraid that when the 4.4 ota upgrade comes along it might again unroot both our tablets. Are the rooting commands or procedures different for the 2013 nexus 7 (other than using a flo recovery img,) or do I do exactly the same as described above?
Again, you guys are wonderful to help us newbies out. Many thanks to all. Wish I could do something in return.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello again, Anderson2...
Well, you sort of are already doing something in return.... you're asking questions.
Questions that require answers. Those answers, whoever posts them, may be of assistance to somebody else. Somebody else looking for a solution to a similar problem.
I always look upon these forums as a means of sharing. Not everybody can know everything. God knows, I don't know everything.... and I've been messing around with Android for three years now. So don't worry so much about it being a quid pro quo sort of arrangement.
I know what I know primarily as a result of my own experiences and what I've learned here from the many (in most cases, more knowledgeable) posters here on XDA. What you learn today, you can pass on to others, tomorrow (metaphorically speaking). We, all of us, stand on the shoulders of each other.
With regard to the second generation Nexus 7 (2013)... I'm afraid I really don't know much about it... but I'd be surprised if rooting it deviated significantly from rooting the first generation Nexus 7....
Namely...
1). Unlock the bootloader.
2). Flash a Custom Recovery.
3). Using that Custom Recovery, flash some SU root package... probably from Chainfire.
Anyway, I've found this tutorial here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2382051
...and it appears to follow a very similar template.
The Nexus 7 (2013) forum itself, which is also worth visiting, is located here....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-7-2013
Rgrds,
Ged.
I presume I'm stuck, but just in case…
I used TWRP to flash the latest LineageOS, and for some reason the bootloader got erased/corrupted (I'm not entirely sure how this can happen).
As a result, the tablet is now stuck in APX mode when booting up. Inconvenient to say the least…
I can still access TWRP, but any attempt to access Fastboot (ie adb reboot bootloader) results into the unit getting into NVIDIA recovery mode (ie APX)
And of course I don't have a backup of the boot keys.
Since I can access TWRP, is there anyway I can get access to the boot keys to reconstruct my bootloader ?
Regards
Ashram56 said:
I presume I'm stuck, but just in case…
I used TWRP to flash the latest LineageOS, and for some reason the bootloader got erased/corrupted (I'm not entirely sure how this can happen).
As a result, the tablet is now stuck in APX mode when booting up. Inconvenient to say the least…
I can still access TWRP, but any attempt to access Fastboot (ie adb reboot bootloader) results into the unit getting into NVIDIA recovery mode (ie APX)
And of course I don't have a backup of the boot keys.
Since I can access TWRP, is there anyway I can get access to the boot keys to reconstruct my bootloader ?
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Ashram56...
Just to confirm, we are talking about the Nexus 7 (2012) tablet here? Because if you can still access TWRP, the bootloader is not 'dead'. If the bootloader were corrupted or erased, the device would not boot at all... ever! Not even in TWRP!
If it is a Nexus 7, you should be able to manually boot the device into its bootloader by long pressing and holding the volume down button, and at the same time, press the power button.
With regard to doing it via a command prompt, I think you need...
Code:
fastboot reboot bootloader
...as ADB commands only work when Android is fully booted.
Hope this helps.
Rgrds,
Ged.
GedBlake said:
Hi, Ashram56...
Just to confirm, we are talking about the Nexus 7 (2012) tablet here? Because if you can still access TWRP, the bootloader is not 'dead'. If the bootloader were corrupted or erased, the device would not boot at all... ever! Not even in TWRP!
If it is a Nexus 7, you should be able to manually boot the device into its bootloader by long pressing and holding the volume down button, and at the same time, press the power button.
With regard to doing it via a command prompt, I think you need...
Code:
fastboot reboot bootloader
...as ADB commands only work when Android is fully booted.
Hope this helps.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this is a Nexus 7 2012
However that's the point: I can boot TWRP (hence adb mode), however if I select "adb reboot bootloader", or if I select "Bootloader" using the Power+Volume Down menu, I don't get into fastboot, I only get into APX, which is recovery
I was under the impression that the bootloader was corrupted, I'm glad this is not the case. Now I just need to figure out how to recover from where I am at this point
And to clarify even further:
- I tried to use TWRP to flash boot.img that I extracted from LineageOS, still boots into recovery
- Did the same with the recovery image, same behaviour
- I realized that I had performed (my bad) a complete "internal storage" wipe, after flashing originally, which might have caused the issue
Bootloader indeed seems to be intact, the info page on the recovery menu (ie before booting TWRP) states 4.23
Ashram56 said:
Yes this is a Nexus 7 2012
However that's the point: I can boot TWRP (hence adb mode), however if I select "adb reboot bootloader", or if I select "Bootloader" using the Power+Volume Down menu, I don't get into fastboot, I only get into APX, which is recovery
I was under the impression that the bootloader was corrupted, I'm glad this is not the case. Now I just need to figure out how to recover from where I am at this point
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect some confusion of technical terms is going on here.
Can you as describe, as precisely as possible, exactly what your Nexus 7 is displaying, when you enter what you think is, or might be, APX mode.
A picture/photograph would be even better.
APX/nvFlash mode is NOT Recovery. These are very, very different things.
Recovery is either the devices Stock Recovery, or a Custom Recovery, such as TWRP or CWM.
Rgrds,
Ged.
---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 PM ----------
Ashram56 said:
And to clarify even further:
- I tried to use TWRP to flash boot.img that I extracted from LineageOS, still boots into recovery
- Did the same with the recovery image, same behaviour
- I realized that I had performed (my bad) a complete "internal storage" wipe, after flashing originally, which might have caused the issue
Bootloader indeed seems to be intact, the info page on the recovery menu (ie before booting TWRP) states 4.23
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, just seen this post.
You dont use TWRP to flash .img files, you use fastboot, so for example, you'd use the following command lines...
Code:
fastboot flash boot [name-of-boot-file].img
...or...
Code:
fastboot flash recovery [name-of-recovery-file].img
...with the Nexus 7 booted into fastboot mode and USB connected to a laptop or a PC.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Hi, again Ashram56...
Some further thoughts regarding your situation...
Ashram56 said:
Bootloader indeed seems to be intact, the info page on the recovery menu (ie before booting TWRP) states 4.23
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that would be on the fastboot menu then, and not the recovery menu. I'm not trying to be needlessly pedantic here, but when dealing with this kind of thing, and when asking for advice, it's important to use the correct terms, otherwise confusion can arise.
Anyhow, your reporting of this indicates that your Nexus 7's bootloader is alive and well, which means the device is almost certainly recoverable.
Furthermore, bootloader v4.23 is the latest and the very last bootloader version this device will ever receive.
Whatever you chose to do, I'd strongly recommend against reflashing the bootloader again, as this process is the 'Achilles Heel' of the Nexus 7, and it's a potential terminal weakness. A bad bootloader flash, perhaps via a dodgy USB connection, can corrupt the bootloader, and render the device permanently hardbricked. And the only realistic solution to that is a motherboard replacement.
And which brings me to this...
Ashram56 said:
And of course I don't have a backup of the boot keys.
Since I can access TWRP, is there anyway I can get access to the boot keys to reconstruct my bootloader ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm aware that you mentioned in your original post, something you called 'boot keys'. I assume you refer to the Nexus 7 'flatline' procedure for generating bootloader 'blobs', described here...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2455927
Such 'blobs' can ONLY be used on the original Nexus 7 with which they were originally generated. They are NOT transferable from one N7 to another N7.
Running the 'flatline' procedure is a fairly high risk venture, and requires a good knowledge and a high level of familiarity with using fastboot commands, because it involves flashing a special build of the bootloader. I ran it myself, a few years ago, and it's a pretty nerve wracking experience, wondering if your Nexus 7 will ever boot again!
Mine did, and I now have my N7 bootloader 'blobs', stored on my laptop ~ but I have absolutely no idea at all, if they'd be of any use should I have need to dig myself out of an APX shaped hole!
Fortunately that hasn't happened yet, and my 'blobs' will now likely forever remain untested, as I rarely use my Nexus 7 these days.
------------------------------------
Ashram56 said:
I used TWRP to flash the latest LineageOS, and for some reason the bootloader got erased/corrupted (I'm not entirely sure how this can happen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...And it can't happen!. A TWRP flash of a Custom ROM, such as LineageOS, goes nowhere near the bootloader partition. It doesn't touch it at all. Same with a TWRP Nandroid restore. Bootloader partition is left alone, unmodified and untouched.
------------------------------------
Anyhow, and in conclusion, it sounds like your bootloader is still working, and you should therefore be able to recover the device.
The easiest way of doing this, is to download a Google Factory Stock image for the Nexus 7 and flash it via fastboot, and which you can find here...
https://developers.google.com/android/images#nakasi
------------------------------------
Good luck with getting your Nexus 7 up and running again, and I hope this helps.
Rgrds,
Ged.
You are correct to ask to be very precise, as words have different meaning, and can lead to confusion, as is the case here
I used the word "recovery" by mistake (I'm actually in HW Embedded design, and APX mode is called "recovery" mode in a lot of Tegra related literature). So to be clear, I will only refer to APX mode.
APX mode is essentially a mode the chip enters when it cannot find a valid bootloader, or when the bootloader fails to load a valid kernel (see similar details here for those who really want to get their head spinning: http://developer.nvidia.com/embedded/dlc/jetson-fuse-burning-secure-boot-28-2-ga , need registration to access the document though). You can also access this mode by asserting some HW pins at boot up (which are not exposed on the Nexus 7 2012 anyway)
Screen is black in this case, since the kernel has not loaded
Symptoms I have:
- I can access the "Boot select" menu, through Power+Volume- menu
- I can access from the "Recovery", which launches TWRP
- If I use the "Reboot" option from TWRP, or the "Bootloader" option from the "Boot select" menu in 1/, I get a black screen, and the tablet appears to be in APX mode (seen through simple linux lsusb command)
It turns out that in "some" instances I was able to actually turn on the tablet and boot the OS, but I can't figure what sequences (ie I can't find a reproducible way of booting correctly, 9 times out of 10 I get into APX mode).
I'll try to figure out further what the heck is going on. My suspicion is that the bootloader is attempting to load the kernel, and the first copy is corrupted. In most Tegra implementations, this should be covered through redudancy of the kernel at multiple locations (same for bootloader actually), but I'm not knowledgeable enough about Android to determine if this is the case as well here.
Thanks for the help in any case
And to add to that:
when in "Boot select" menu, units does appear in Fastboot mode, however "fastboot reboot bootloader" gets me into APX mode (black screen, tablet seen as APX device, fastboot and adb not functional), same as booting to Bootloader from TWRP or "select" menu.
I'm quite puzzled...
Just a note: one time out of 10 I can boot into the OS
I'll settle for that for the moment
Reviving this 4y old thread...
So, recently I unburied my Nexus 7, to use it as a secondary device for some home automation application.
Took me a while to find my bearings again, but here's a summary of where I stand:
- If I power on normally (ie power button) the tablet for the first time or do a reboot (either through the UI or the adb command), it enters "NVIDIA Tegra recovery mode", ie device driver appears as APX
- When is this mode, if I press the power button for 10s or so it powers off
- When fully off, if I simultaneously press Volume - + power button, I can enter the bootloader mode (ie Fastboot mode), with the small droid, the info text at the bottom left, and a big "Start" button on the upper right corner.
Info reported in the bottom left in that case:
Fastboot mode
Product name - grouper
Variant name - grouper
HW version - ER3
Bootloader version - 4.23
Basedband version - N/A
Serial Number - sequence of numbers
Signing - not defined yet
Lock state - Unlocked
- in this mode, the volume keys do not have any effect, I can't select anything, only "Start" is available. I can indeed "Start" the tablet using the power button
It starts Android (in my case LineageOS), but in safe mode only, so limited functionality
And I'm stuck, since I can't use the tablet.
I know it's a very old thread, but if anyone has any clue on how to resolve this, I'm interested
Regards
[EDIT] Some additionnal data
- First, looks like my volume buttons are actually broken. I don't get any response inside Android UI, that would explain why I can't select anything in when in fastboot besides "Start" option
- I reverted back to the stock image, but I'm still stuck in safe mode.
I can't install LineageOS back, since I can't navigate in fastboot menu and access twrp (unless I can do that using a fastboot command) ?
So, erm, yeah, I made a big mistake...
A few weeks ago I bought an old Nexus 7 2012 (grouper) for just $5 on eBay, that was 'untested.' Long story short, it worked fine but was super slow, as expected, so I unlocked the bootloader, rooted it and installed TWRP. At this point, I was quite proud of myself since I'd never had the balls to root my own device before, so I got the unofficial build of Lineage 14.1 for Nexus 7, and flashed it to the boot in TWRP, which i still suspect i did incorrectly, but panicked when it wasn't booting, so because I'm a massive noob at this I flashed the Lineage boot file to the recovery too, which I later learned you aren't meant to do, so this brings us to the now. The device won't boot past the Google logo unless I press volume down and power, which gets me to the android laying down screen with the options at the side, I tried to enter Recovery mode but obviously because I flashed the boot file to the Recovery it wouldn't boot to TWRP, still on the Google logo. I tried connecting it to my PC but to no avail, as it would be recognised but not as a nexus 7, as a 'removable MP3 device'. I didn't factory reset from TWRP before flashing, not that that matters now. The only potential solution I could think of would be using command line in windows to reinstall the stock Rom or Lineage directly. Thanks in advance, and please can I have the responses in plain English with very simple instructions, as I'm new to all this! Thanks.
David_1276 said:
So, erm, yeah, I made a big mistake...
A few weeks ago I bought an old Nexus 7 2012 (grouper) for just $5 on eBay, that was 'untested.' Long story short, it worked fine but was super slow, as expected, so I unlocked the bootloader, rooted it and installed TWRP. At this point, I was quite proud of myself since I'd never had the balls to root my own device before, so I got the unofficial build of Lineage 14.1 for Nexus 7, and flashed it to the boot in TWRP, which i still suspect i did incorrectly, but panicked when it wasn't booting, so because I'm a massive noob at this I flashed the Lineage boot file to the recovery too, which I later learned you aren't meant to do, so this brings us to the now. The device won't boot past the Google logo unless I press volume down and power, which gets me to the android laying down screen with the options at the side, I tried to enter Recovery mode but obviously because I flashed the boot file to the Recovery it wouldn't boot to TWRP, still on the Google logo. I tried connecting it to my PC but to no avail, as it would be recognised but not as a nexus 7, as a 'removable MP3 device'. I didn't factory reset from TWRP before flashing, not that that matters now. The only potential solution I could think of would be using command line in windows to reinstall the stock Rom or Lineage directly. Thanks in advance, and please can I have the responses in plain English with very simple instructions, as I'm new to all this! Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, David_1276...
Thankfully you didn't flash over the bootloader partition, because if you had, you would have a hardbricked Nexus 7 on your hands!
So, going off your description, you've overwritten the boot partition and/or the recovery partition with something that is not valid for either of those two partitions.
The easiest fix would be to simply reflash the Nexus 7 back to official Google factory stock, using fastboot. And then (perhaps) start afresh rooting it and maybe have another attempt at flashing Lineage. But the first objective would be to just get it booting properly again.
I'm assuming your PC/laptop is running some variant of Windows (I've no idea how any of the following would work with an Apple Mac or on a Linux system), and further, that your Nexus 7's bootloader is unlocked, as indicated by an unlocked padlock symbol at the bottom of the white Google splash screen upon boot.
Google Factory Stock Images
So, to reflash it back to Google factory stock, you'll need to download a factory stock image, which can be found at this link...
Nexus 7 WiFi only
https://developers.google.com/android/images#nakasi
There are two ways you can flash a factory image... You can either: just run the flash-all.bat file, which is part of the factory image, once unzipped... or unzip it (twice), and then flash each partition individually...
eg., this kind of thing...
Code:
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.img
However, a note of caution...
If your Nexus 7's bootloader is already on v4.23, then I recommend you do not reflash it - reflashing the bootloader is the riskiest part of this procedure, 'cos should the flash fail in some way, eg. as a result of a dodgy USB connection for example, the bootloader could become corrupted and potentially hardbrick the device. The latest and last bootloader version is v4.23 and if your device is already displaying that version number in the bootloader
screen (lower left hand corner), there's really no point in reflashing it again. However, if the version number is lower than v4.23, then you will need to bring it up-to date. The risk isn't huge, and providing you don't nudge or disconnect the USB cable during the 5 seconds it takes to flash it, you should be OK - but if it can be avoided at all, then it should be.
*****
Custom Recovery ~ TWRP
Once you've successfully reflashed your Nexus 7 back to Google factory stock, and should you wish to root it again or flash a custom ROM such as Lineage, you'll first need to flash a custom recovery, such as TWRP. Since at this point you won't be rooted, you'll need to use fastboot for this.
You can find the download links (and instructions) for the Nexus 7 TWRP .img files at this link...
https://twrp.me/asus/asusnexus72012wifi.html
There are two download mirror links at this website, one for Europe and the other for America. Select the one that works best for you.
To flash TWRP, your Nexus 7 should be booted into fastboot mode, and from your laptop/PC, type this command...
Code:
fastboot flash recovery [name-of-twrp.img file]
I usually rename the rather lengthy TWRP .img file to something short, like twrp.img, so the fastboot command is much easier to type, and would look like this...
Code:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
*****
Fastboot and ADB
On the subject of fastboot, you'll need the fastboot and ADB binaries for all of the above... That is, if you haven't already got them on your computer.
You can get them from here...
https://www.xda-developers.com/google-releases-separate-adb-and-fastboot-binary-downloads
Unzip the file, and copy these binaries into a folder (eg., Fastboot and ADB tools) on your computer, somewhere on the desktop. Anything you wish to fastboot flash, such as a boot image or a custom recovery image, MUST go in the same folder as these binaries... unless you've added this folder to the Windows PATH variable, then it doesn't matter what folder .img files go in.
--------------------------------------
Well, I think I've covered much of the basics. Sorry I couldn't go into more details right now. There are two reasons for this. First, I haven't flashed anything on my own Nexus 7 for a couple of years, so I'm a little hazy about some of the specifics. The second reason is time - I never seem to have enough of it these days, and because of this, it maybe a few days before I can get around to answering any follow-up questions you may have. So please be patient if I don't immediately reply to you.
--------------------------------------
Anyway, have a read of some of the threads on this Nexus 7 forum which cover some of this stuff in more detail, and perhaps take a look at my own posting history regarding the Nexus 7. I always try to be as exhaustive as possible when responding to XDA members with questions not too dissimilar from yours, so you may be able to glean something that might fill in any blank spots I may have missed.
Good luck, and I hope you get your N7 up and running again soon.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Edit & Additional...
Just remembered - I forgot to include some instructions on how to actually run fastboot commands...
With your Nexus 7 booted into the bootloader (from a powered off state - long press VOL-DOWN and simultaneously press POWER-ON), and connected to your computer, move the Windows mouse pointer over the folder which contains the Fastboot and ADB binaries, and which should also contain any .img files you wish to flash, such as TWRP... Press SHIFT and right mouse click at the same time, then select 'Open Command Prompt Here' from the context menu. A command prompt window should open, and from here you can run fastboot commands as described previously. It's probably a good idea to first run...
Code:
fastboot devices
This command doesn't actually do anything, except to confirm you have a working fastboot connection between your computer and your Nexus 7. It does this by displaying your Nexus 7's unique serial number, so something like this...
019d2424b14050b fastboot
If a serial number fails to appear, you likely have a Windows driver problem, and proceeding with further fastboot commands without resolving it would be pointless. Hopefully this won't happen - let me know if it does...
I hate to barge in on someone else's thread but my searches have been so frustrating and gedblake is so knowledgeable that I could not resist asking a simple question.
I have an old working and rooted nexus 7 with twrp 3.xxxx installed and su. It is still on android 4.4.2 with kernel 3.1.10-g4776c68
I would like to update it to a stable but more recent android. So my question is:
—what is the most recent stable unofficial android available and where do I find the download files?
I am open to lineageos if there is a stable version available for the nexus 7 2012.
Thanks.
maybeme2 said:
I hate to barge in on someone else's thread but my searches have been so frustrating and gedblake is so knowledgeable that I could not resist asking a simple question.
I have an old working and rooted nexus 7 with twrp 3.xxxx installed and su. It is still on android 4.4.2 with kernel 3.1.10-g4776c68
I would like to update it to a stable but more recent android. So my question is:
—what is the most recent stable unofficial android available and where do I find the download files?
I am open to lineageos if there is a stable version available for the nexus 7 2012.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, maybeme...
Hehe, flattery will get you everywhere... or so I'm told (just joking), but unfortunately, probably not on this occasion.
My Nexus 7, although it still works, largely just gathers dust these days. Even back in its heyday, 2012-2014, I rarely bothered flashing anything, other than factory stock when needed. I tinkered around with Xposed Framework for a short while and flashed some custom kernels, eg., Franco, but I quit doing all of that when the benefits appeared to be marginal, and then eventually I moved on to newer tablets and phones. So, I'm a little bit 'out of the loop', when it comes to the latest Custom ROMs.
So, I can only suggest you take a look here...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-7/development/rom-lineageos-14-1-nexus-7-2012-t3530261
And more generally, here...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-7/development
...if you haven't already done so.
Hope this is of some use to you, and that you find what you're looking for.
Rgrds,
Ged.
maybeme2 said:
I hate to barge in on someone else's thread but my searches have been so frustrating and gedblake is so knowledgeable that I could not resist asking a simple question.
I have an old working and rooted nexus 7 with twrp 3.xxxx installed and su. It is still on android 4.4.2 with kernel 3.1.10-g4776c68
I would like to update it to a stable but more recent android. So my question is:
—what is the most recent stable unofficial android available and where do I find the download files?
I am open to lineageos if there is a stable version available for the nexus 7 2012.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the OT.
My N7 is running THIS ROM.
I find this ROM to be fluid and fast (well, fast for a N7 anyway). Much much better than the stock.
As Ged said, you will find many others in the link provided by him including LOS.
TWRP Custom Recovery for the Onn Android Tablet series
This is the first fully-featured custom recovery for Walmart's MediaTek-based Onn tablets: ONA19TB002, ONA19TB003 and ONA19TB007. TWRP needs no introduction. If you have come here, you probably have some idea of what it is and what it's used for. This TWRP build does not need the bootloader unlocked or VBMeta verification disabled, although it's recommended that you at least unlock the bootloader.
DISCLAIMER
Everything described in this thread is done at your own risk. No one else will be responsible for any data loss, corruption or damage of your device, including that which results from bugs in this software.
FEATURES
Decrypted data partition
All USB modes functional: MTP, ADB, Mass Storage, OTG, Charging
Fast boot time
Adoptable storage mounting
Firmware image backup and restore
Works under locked bootloader
Android 9 build fits within the 16MB recovery partition -- no compromises or partition resizing necessary
INSTALLATION METHOD 1
Download the recovery to your PC and unzip the image
Unlock the bootloader (skip if you have already done this)
Enable OEM Unlock in Developer Options in Android Settings
Boot into fastboot mode either by holding vol. up+power to power it on and selecting "Fastboot mode", or by running the 'adb reboot bootloader' command from within Android.
Install fastboot and appropriate drivers on your PC if you have not set those up
Unlock the bootloader with the command
Code:
fastboot flashing unlock
...and follow the instructions on the screen. This will wipe your data.
Flash the custom recovery with
Code:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.3.1-ONA19TB002.img
(use the right file name path for your device)
Reboot to recovery with
Code:
fastboot oem reboot-recovery
INSTALLATION METHOD 2
This assumes you are familiar with SP Flash Tool or can figure it out on your own
Download the recovery to your PC and unzip the image
Get the appropriate scatter file for your device. The scatter file may be found in the device's firmware under /system/data/misc.
Set up SPFT Download tab as Download Only. Load your scatter file.
Under the recovery line, double-click Location and open your TWRP image.
Click Download and connect your powered-off tablet to your PC. SPFT will automatically flash the recovery to the emmc and disconnect when finished.
INSTALLATION METHOD 3
Head over to Amazing Temp Root for MediaTek ARMv8, read the requirements and directions, and grab the latest mtk-su.
Open a root shell with mtk-su
Flash the (unzipped) recovery with the command:
Code:
dd bs=1048576 if=twrp-3.3.1-0-ONA19TB002.img of=/dev/block/by-name/recovery
(replace the if= file name with your appropriate recovery image path)
Exit root shell
START RECOVERY
Three methods:
On a powered off tablet, hold Vol. up+power for about 3 seconds. In the menu that appears, select "Recovery mode"
With Android ADB, use the command 'adb reboot recovery'
From Android root shell, use the command 'reboot recovery' or just use any root app with OS reboot features
NOTES
Kind of important: Make a backup of your Crypto Footer as soon as you can. This is the encryption key to your data partition. When accessed from TWRP, this key can get "upgraded" so that you will get locked out of Android. TWRP uses a hacky workaround that saves and restores the original footer on every /data decrypt. But that method is not what I would call 100% reliable.
Make sure you have a backup of the untouched stock system and vendor images. There are no official firmware packages available to download.
Only mount system/vendor partitions in read/write mode if you have unlocked the bootloader. It is recommended to choose to leave system read-only at the startup prompt unless you have a specific reason to modify it. If the bootloader is locked, then dm-verity is enforced.* So merely mounting it once in r/w will cause a boot loop.
It's currently not possible to install incremental OTA updates using this TWRP. Use the stock recovery to update the FW. That will only work if you have never mounted system/vendor in write mode.
DOWNLOAD (Nov. 30, 2019)
Current version: 3.3.1-1
ONA19TB002 - Onn 8" model
ONA19TB003 - Onn 10.1" model
ONA19TB007 - Onn 10.1" w/keyboard model
Source code
ONA19TB002 | ONA19TB003 | ONA19TB007
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The team behind TWRP & OmniROM
@tek3195 for testing and feedback on the 8" model
Please post feedback since these are still pretty new and not exhaustively tested. Let me know if I should port it to other models in the series.
Reserved also
grabbing this one too cuz why not
Very nice! I'll download and test the 003 one soon.
I also have a 007 model to experiment with.
I tried about a dozen times to build TWRP and failed miserably LOL. Closest I got was one that would boot but the rotation was all messed up, USB wouldn't work, didn't mount some partitions... Yeah, it was a hot mess.
Do you happen to have sources available?
Hi @NFSP G35,
I'll have the source code soon. Most of the tricks involved patching bootable/recovery. So I need to commit those changes and include the proper patch set from my tree....
Amazing!! Gonna install and test 8" right now.
Has anyone tried a GSI on these tablets yet?
MishaalRahman said:
Has anyone tried a GSI on these tablets yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do know @tek3195 , the Onn 8 thread starter, has tried many of them as well as others here, somewhere on that thread he listed his tests and opinion of several of them.
I'm pretty sure others on that thread have also tried GSI's.
MishaalRahman said:
Has anyone tried a GSI on these tablets yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did try both Phhuson vanilla and also Liquid Remix (I'm keeping this one for now). I didn't flash them through twrp, but using fastboot via bootloader.
WoW! AwEsOmE! I cannot wait to try this! THANK YOU!!!!!!
Hey,
This is a neat thing to see for the Onn tablets. I have a question though. I own a device based on the mt8163, and am trying to help people with another device I don't own (the powkiddy x18 which also uses the mt8163). One of the things I wanted to do was to make a custom rom for the x18, since it's stock firmware is horrible. And of course, one of the first steps to custom roms is twrp. So I have a question for you that I hope you can answer for me. How did you make this build of twrp? I have seen no device trees for this device so I was kinda curious. If you can help me in any way, I'd be so grateful, and I'm sure the other people with the x18 would be grateful for help.
@diplomatic
Is there a different procedure for installing TWRP on a locked bootloader?
I can confirm that using SP Flash to load your TWRP.img will produce a bootloop when installing to a device with the BL locked. Reflashing the original recovery.img makes the problem go away. You mentioned in the OP that this TWRP will work on a locked BL so I thought I would share my case study with you in following the procedure you defined.
MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN PORTING THIS TO THE ONN!
You're welcome, @Spatry.... Can you describe how you ended up with a locked BL? Was it unlocked before? Have you ever tweaked vbmeta? Also, when you say bootloop, do you mean for Android or just for recovery? I'm not going to insist that it works under locked BL. I tested it once and it did boot up...
diplomatic said:
You're welcome, @Spatry.... Can you describe how you ended up with a locked BL? Was it unlocked before? Have you ever tweaked vbmeta? Also, when you say bootloop, do you mean for Android or just for recovery? I'm not going to insist that it works under locked BL. I tested it once and it did boot up...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Presently, I am running stock with Magisk patched BOOT on locked bootloader, stock vbmeta. The boot loop was at the ONN Android screen, I could not get it to even boot into recovery.
At one time I did run with the bootloader unlocked (with --disable-verification on stock vbmeta) and I ran Phusson's AOSP, Liquid Remix and Bliss. I found there was no benefit to me in running the other mods so I reverted back to stock courtesy of @CaffeinePizza and the bootloader re-locked to get rid of that annoying 5 second orange state.
In each instance, I always used SP Flash tools to load all .img files. I only used fastboot to install magisk_patched.img onto the stock installation. Unlocking the bootloader erases all data and I did not feel like reinstalling everything again, so I figured I would try to install TWRP per your instruction to see if it would work while the BL was still locked... Restoring the original recovery got rid of the bootloop. I do want to try your TWRP so I will try it with BL unlocked when I get some free time to do so.
Spatry said:
Presently, I am running stock with Magisk patched BOOT on locked bootloader, stock vbmeta. The boot loop was at the ONN Android screen, I could not get it to even boot into recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This sounds like you might have flashed a wrong/corrupt image to recovery. It may have to do with AVB checks rather than bootloader lock. But those conditions might be interdependent somehow so I can't tell you for sure. The fact that you are able to boot a patched image on a locked BL says it doesn't care too much about verification. I can tell you for sure that any recovery image must have avb metadata, not necessarily the required hash, for both Android and recovery to boot. Can you try to unzip the image file and flash it over again?
Hmm, the situation with the bootloader lock sounds eerily similar to the Nabi SE. The latter also had a similar implementation where there's not much in the way of locking things down, other than an (easily circumvented) SP Flash Tool signature check and different preloader keys. And here's the real kicker: the nearly-identical Fisher Price Nabi also ran on the MT8163, so it makes me wonder if it's possible to boot Pie on it, or perhaps a GSI assuming that Treble can be tacked onto it.
Also, do you have the source repo to this TWRP port of yours?
If anyone here gave me an XDA ad-free subscription, thanks a lot! I didn't get a notification of who it was. Using this site is a lot more bearable now.
diplomatic said:
If anyone here gave me an XDA ad-free subscription, thanks a lot! I didn't get a notification of who it was. Using this site is a lot more bearable now.
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Where do I find crypto footer to backup
diplomatic said:
If anyone here gave me an XDA ad-free subscription, thanks a lot! I didn't get a notification of who it was. Using this site is a lot more bearable now.
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Kinda cool without the ads isn't it. I know I sent one about a week ago or so. I think everybody ought to send you one, you deserve it. THANKS and AWESOME work.