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[Tool] Nvflash unbricking released!

Hi,
As most of you probably already know by now, I have released a fully functional nvflash for Transformer yesterday
More information is available at http://androidroot.mobi/2011/06/13/nvflash-on-asus-transformer/
UPDATE 15-06-2011:Bumble-Bee (Apache14) is just as much to thank for this as me! Both of us (from AndroidRoot.Mobi) have worked hard on making this happen! Thanks to Roach for providing the nvflash-ready Prime 1.4 ROM!
UPDATE: The Prime 1.4 linked is European (WW) build! Roach will release 1.5 soon probably and there'll be both WW and US available. I'm planning to write a quick guide on how to root when running stock 3.1 already (it's pretty easy!)! E.g. to stay on full stock and *just* have root
Windows nvflash
Linux nvflash
Quick guide to unbricking:
Connect cable to computer and turn device on while holding down Volume Up. Screen will stay off, but USB will come on.
(Windows only) Find “APX” device in Device manager and update driver, then point it at usbpcdriver directory from the zip
Run download.sh (linux) or download.bat (windows)
???
Profit

Awesome! Thanks a lot!!

rayman84 said:
Hi,
As most of you probably already know by now, I have released a fully functional nvflash for Transformer yesterday
More information is available at http://androidroot.mobi/2011/06/13/nvflash-on-asus-transformer/
Windows nvflash
Linux nvflash
Quick guide to unbricking:
Connect cable to computer and turn device on while holding down Volume Up. Screen will stay off, but USB will come on.
(Windows only) Find “APX” device in Device manager and update driver, then point it at usbpcdriver directory from the zip
Run download.sh (linux) or download.bat (windows)
???
Profit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW, It's "just like that"? Really that's all what you have to do to unbrick a device? I guess times when flashing roms was dangerous have passed
Great job

Very thanks and keep up the good work!!!

unbrick tool came before root tool. lol
but it's a very useful program for all of us.
thanks for this!
i have a question though, my Samsung Vibrant was HARDWARE LOCKED, which makes button combinations to enter recovery/download modes impossible.
Is there any possibility that my TF has a hardware lock too which will prevent me from accessing the USB when it gets bricked?
i have experience in rooting and/or jailbreaking but i havent rooted my TF yet, coz the only way to root right now is kind of "not layman friendly". and i hate the terms BLOBS. lol
thank you.

So I'm rooted running prime 1.4 could some one explain in laymans terms what difference this makes to me and what if anything I need to do to benefit to my TF
DESIRE HD using leedroid. ASUS TRANSFORMER using prime

atlaswingpasaway said:
unbrick tool came before root tool. lol
but it's a very useful program for all of us.
thanks for this!
i have a question though, my Samsung Vibrant was HARDWARE LOCKED, which makes button combinations to enter recovery/download modes impossible.
Is there any possibility that my TF has a hardware lock too which will prevent me from accessing the USB when it gets bricked?
i have experience in rooting and/or jailbreaking but i havent rooted my TF yet, coz the only way to root right now is kind of "not layman friendly". and i hate the terms BLOBS. lol
thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Either you didn't read the post or you might be dyslexic. If you unbrick your device you're pushing a custom ROM which means you automatically get root.

combat goofwing said:
So I'm rooted running prime 1.4 could some one explain in laymans terms what difference this makes to me and what if anything I need to do to benefit to my TF
DESIRE HD using leedroid. ASUS TRANSFORMER using prime
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need this your already rooted. This is a easy way to root and it can also revive bricks, custom flash different partitions and who knows what other functions can be done with nvflash.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

Will this wipe your data partition if using this to get a rooted custom rom on?

seshmaru said:
Either you didn't read the post or you might be dyslexic. If you unbrick your device you're pushing a custom ROM which means you automatically get root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it might be both! lol sorry my bad.
im new to tablet/honeycomb rooting so i dont know much about this.
so... im on stock 3.1 right now (i guess the build number wont matter anymore?)
and no root. should i just follow the OP instructions or what?

Canadoc said:
Will this wipe your data partition if using this to get a rooted custom rom on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using the script included it will wipe all user data. But it may be tweaked later.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

atlaswingpasaway said:
it might be both! lol sorry my bad.
im new to tablet/honeycomb rooting so i dont know much about this.
so... im on stock 3.1 right now (i guess the build number wont matter anymore?)
and no root. should i just follow the OP instructions or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes if u want a custom rom with root. No more downgrading firmwares anymore like before

Cannot mount SD card in clockwork mod?
EDIT: Nevermind. I tried a different microsd card and it worked fine. False alarm... Move along... nothing to see here
I used the NVFlash utility to flash Prime 1.4 without a hitch but now that I'm trying to deploy the overclock kernel clockwork mod is not playing nice. I get an error E: Can't mount /sdcard when trying to choose a zip file. My understanding is that /sdcard is not the microsd anyway. How do I resolve this? I already tried reformatting the microsd card on my pc but that didn't solve the issue.
Thanks!
-Matt

I thought /Removable/sdcard/ was the sdcard.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

david279 said:
I thought /Removable/sdcard/ was the sdcard.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/Removable/MicroSD/ is the MicroSD card slot on the TF104
/SDCard is the 30gigs on the 32gb NAND

Also check the CWM installed. If it's the old one it erases your sd card and internal card on data wipes. You don't want that.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

david279 said:
I thought /Removable/sdcard/ was the sdcard.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's /Removable/MicroSD
But I think the key thing here is that /sdcard is whatever the booting process mounts as /sdcard. This is why CWM has no problem listing the zip files for ROMs, etc. as being from the sdcard. It has accessed it through the actual block device which doesn't change. The whole internal sdcard that we see is some trickery that allows us to have access to all the space on our internal memory, but CWM doesn't know or care about that.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App

So...
No rooting, and no CWM..
Just use the tools and profit?

It flashes CWM for future flashing fun.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

i just dont seem to get it.. . so does this give my stock 3.1 root?

Nvflash

Hey
I habe a Short question...
As we Do now have an unlock Tool... Does that give us Access to nvflash?
Do we now have nvflash in any way?
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using xda app-developers app

no, not now. But there is a solution for the prime, so hopefully it will come our way,too

Shouldnt wheelie theoretically also work for the tf300t?
Or the prime workaround? I mean isnt the 300 tegra 3, too?
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using xda app-developers app

NVFlash and Wheelie should work fine. The problem is that the method to use NVFlash requires a modded bootloader. There's a chance (possibly small; possibly large; either way, too much for me) you could brick your TF300 by flashing it. I would recommend waiting until someone comes up with a TF300-specific solution.

Well is there someone working on it?
Sent from my HTC EVO 3D X515m using xda app-developers app

No clue. AndroidRoot.mobi have a sentence at the bottom of the Prime guide saying that they're working on adding support for other devices. There aren't too many tablets that can use NVFlash (Tegra 3 required for this specific version of NVFlash), so besides the TF300 and TF700, what else is left? Acer Iconia A510 and A700? And considering that the Asus tablets will most likely have similar hardware to the Prime, I think the TF300 will just have to wait a short amount of time. I'm just as anxious as anyone else to see this happen.

Access to nvflash is the only thing stopping me unlocking my tf300. I want to wait until it is really difficult to brick.

EndlessDissent said:
NVFlash and Wheelie should work fine. The problem is that the method to use NVFlash requires a modded bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean wheelie flashes an own bootloader in the background?

dark alex said:
You mean wheelie flashes an own bootloader in the background?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. You can go to AndroidRoot.mobi and check the instructions. You have to flash the bootloader with fastboot. Then, wheelie will work to access nvflash commands.

Well you told me that it "might" work. So did someone already try it and your warning is just because flashing might fail due to for example a crash?
Or did you mean it might be incompatible at all?

I mean that since the Prime and TF300 are built similarly, there's a chance that the modded Prime bootloader would work for our tablets. There's a bigger chance that it would just brick our tablets. I only said "might" because it hasn't been tested, let alone proven, to work or not work. If you'd like to try the AndroidRoot.mobi method with the Prime bootloader, you're welcome to do so and report back whether or not it worked. But don't blame anyone if you brick your tablet instead.

EndlessDissent said:
I mean that since the Prime and TF300 are built similarly, there's a chance that the modded Prime bootloader would work for our tablets. There's a bigger chance that it would just brick our tablets. I only said "might" because it hasn't been tested, let alone proven, to work or not work. If you'd like to try the AndroidRoot.mobi method with the Prime bootloader, you're welcome to do so and report back whether or not it worked. But don't blame anyone if you brick your tablet instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I do not really know the differences from programmatic side (probably other partition sizes and positions and so on) I do not want to try this method for now. The reason is that I to neighter know exactly how the bootloaders on tablets work, no what you have to look at before you can try this more or less safely.
This is the reason why I will wait and try to find out more.

Any updates on when nvflash will support our TF300's?

It looks like the guys that developed the nvflash unbrick process for the TF101 put the steps of how they did here:
http://androidroot.mobi/2011/06/13/nvflash-on-asus-transformer/
I wonder if someone with a bootable TF300 would be able to extract the info needed for the TF300? It looks like the same process should work for the TF300, just with the change of the partition table configuration, etc.

jrfaulkin said:
I wonder if someone with a bootable TF300 would be able to extract the info needed for the TF300? It looks like the same process should work for the TF300, just with the change of the partition table configuration, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the TF300T you also need the secure boot key. I'm not sure how they got nvflash for the TF201, but AFAIK the only way you can get the SBK is from Asus.

so basically what your saying is we're ****ed

mikeseguin said:
so basically what your saying is we're ****ed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well not exactly, I'm only saying that (hard) work getting the partition table and such won't do it alone. We also need another shot of the luck or whatever else it took for the TF201 SBK to be disclosed. But since it was possible for the TF201 it should be possibe for the TF300.

Rooting Newest Firmware Update?

Hey all, just got my TF700 on Friday. So stoked.
I am about to root my tablet, but I want to make sure the current tools with work (sparkym3 and Debugfs) with the newest update. I would rather root the latest release than root what I have and use Voodoo. I have had issues doing that in the past.
My current firmware is IML74K.US_epad-9-4-5.26-20120720
How many update as I away from current? Will the current tools work with the most recent updates? Which method do you guys recommend?
Thanks!

I have not been able to get those two methods to work for me on the newest update. I think I am a rare exception, most seem to have success. I have even returned a tablet becuase of defect and the second would not root either. It wasnt a big deal because i knew i was going to unlock the bootloader and then i could install a custom recovery and rom and achieve root that way. If you are planning on unlocking I suggest you do a little more research in the NVFlash page because if you update from your current firmware that will no longer be an option. Just my 2 cents

(Imo) i would just root what you have now and use voodoo. Checkout the nvflash thread while your at it. ( doesn't work with .30 update, i wish i had noticed that before i upgraded to .30 )
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

I know it was mentioned but just for good measure... If you plan on unlocking at all make sure you do it before upgrading to .30 so that you can get nvflash setup for your device.
Sent from my Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

Is .30 the next update? How many update am I away from current?
I have some thinking to do, I wasn't planning on unlocking (at least until CM and AOKP officially support the TF700) but if NvFlash won't work on any other updates I may need to rethink.

And to be honest, I don't really see the purpose in unlocking. I ROMed my TF101 but ASUS does such a good job of only altering AOSP with small (and beneficial) changes I may just leave my Infinity as is. Especially if I have to stick with the shipped firmware and once I update NvFlash won't work. I guess I can always just flash ROMs without NvFlash though...
But my two questions above still stand.
One more question as this is the first device I have owned that had NvFlash available. What is the benefit of having NvFlash vs just CWM? Just protection in case I do something really stupid?
Sent from my EPAD using Tapatalk 2

You are one update away from the latest which is .30. (soon to be two) The debugfs root method will root you.
you should check out my thread on root and jellybean: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1908304
Nvflash allows you to flash anything even if the bootloader is corrupted or prevents it, it also allows you to downgrade when the bootloader prevents it e.g. .30 to .26. it is also required to flash custom bootloaders which is useful if someone develops a dual-boot bootloader. You can even relock and reunlock your bootloader with nvflash. If you don't plan on using non-stock fw though, stay locked so that you can get your updates and support.

Thanks for the help guys.
So what I'm thinking is just to root, unlock, and NOT flash NvFlash. It isn't terribly dangerous not to use right? I mean as long as I have CWM installed I am pretty safe unless I do something completely stupid right?
Sent from my EPAD using Tapatalk 2

I_EAT_BABIES said:
Thanks for the help guys.
So what I'm thinking is just to root, unlock, and NOT flash NvFlash. It isn't terribly dangerous not to use right? I mean as long as I have CWM installed I am pretty safe unless I do something completely stupid right?
Sent from my EPAD using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have .26 and are going to unlock, you may as well create your nvflash files. It isn't so much as flashing nvflash. Nvflash is already hardcoded in the tegra chip. You would just be creating the encrypted files needed to utilize it on your device. You save these in triplicate in case the worst happens. Unlocking is necessary for generating the nvflash files, but it voids your warranty and leaves you unable to recieve OTAs (you can still update manually using methods listed in the development forums).
I'm not explicitly recommending that you unlock, but if you do, it's best to do it on the .26 update, so you can get those nvflash files from your device.

So if I do install NvFlash can I still waiting install official updates from Asus by downloading them from Asus website?
I really want to try Asus's stock Jelly Bean ROM, so anything that removes that as an option is not for me.
Thanks for the clarification.
Sent from my DROID SPYDER using Tapatalk 2

you don't install nvflash. you use it to interface with the device's apx mode.
as for the official firmwares, you can still install those even if you are unlocked. you just have to do it manually.

Yup, you can just download the firmware zip from asus's website:
http://www.asus.com/Tablet/Transformer_Pad/ASUS_Transformer_Pad_Infinity_TF700T/#download
Unzip it once(it'l be another zip) and flash that in TWRP. (not sure if it works in cwm. I am biased but I definately recommend twrp:angel Make sure you uncheck flash recovery. reinstall recovery using fastboot because the update deletes it.

I_EAT_BABIES said:
So if I do install NvFlash can I still waiting install official updates from Asus by downloading them from Asus website?
I really want to try Asus's stock Jelly Bean ROM, so anything that removes that as an option is not for me.
Thanks for the clarification.
Sent from my DROID SPYDER using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you need to unlock to take a bootloader backup, which you will not able to take OTA Jelly Been, however, you can download the new Jelly Bean from Asus website and manually flash it.

OK I feel like I understand now. There really aren't any downsides to setting up NvFlash (Asus warranty not an issue, I have Best Buy's super program where I can return the tablet even if I just scratch the screen if I want to).
My initial impression was that if I unlocked I would not be able to update any stock firmware period, and that if I set up NvFlash I could not move from .26.
If I understand correctly I just have to be on .26 to set up NvFlash, and can manually install official Asus firmware after unlocking.
Thanks for the help all! I am not new to flashing ROMs etc. but have never had the ability to use NvFlash.
Have a great night all!

nVFlash with Jellybean

is such a thing possible at all with the tf700? i'm hesitant to root/unlock/flash roms until there is an unbrickable option out...

NVFlash works fine - it doesn't matter what version of Android your tablet is currently on. The only pre-requisite is that you have saved your TF700 "blobs" while you were on the .26 firmware or earlier. Once you have the saved the files, NVFlash will *always* work, regardless of the Android version.
If you've already upgraded to .30 or JB *before* saving your blobs with NVFlash, then you are stuck, there is currently no way to obtain the "blobs" needed to use NVFlash if you are past the .26 firmware before saving your blobs.
Hope that makes sense...
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

jtrosky said:
NVFlash works fine - it doesn't matter what version of Android your tablet is currently on. The only pre-requisite is that you have saved your TF700 "blobs" while you were on the .26 firmware or earlier. Once you have the saved the files, NVFlash will *always* work, regardless of the Android version.
If you've already upgraded to .30 or JB *before* saving your blobs with NVFlash, then you are stuck, there is currently no way to obtain the "blobs" needed to use NVFlash if you are past the .26 firmware before saving your blobs.
Hope that makes sense...
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am kind of a newbie so excuse my lack of knowledge. Is it possible to use the nvflash backups from another Tf700 to restore a possible bricked one?

Do you think we will get nvflash for jellybean in the future?

georgecarstoiu said:
I am kind of a newbie so excuse my lack of knowledge. Is it possible to use the nvflash backups from another Tf700 to restore a possible bricked one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO, the nvflash backup is for your device only.

I wonder whether the guys from Asus service use nvflash to rewrite everything in case the bootloader gets messed up as many users did with TWRP 2.2.2.0 or CWM 6.0.1.3?
I read somewhere in the forums that they actually have to replace the entire motherboard in this kind of a situation. Any truth to this?

Yep. All hard bricks with the TF201 got new main boards. No one can unlock either after they get their tablets back from RMA after this. There's a big thread about not being able to unlock on the prime forum.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

paddycr said:
Yep. All hard bricks with the TF201 got new main boards. No one can unlock either after they get their tablets back from RMA after this. There's a big thread about not being able to unlock on the prime forum.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So let me get this right...if the motherboard is changed than you can no longer unlock the device and port other OSs? Are they putting in a superboard of some sort that cannot be unlocked?
I find this hard to believe especially when you can get the unlocking tool from the Asus website. At least let's hope it's not like this, otherwise my tablet would lose some of its appeal.

georgecarstoiu said:
So let me get this right...if the motherboard is changed than you can no longer unlock the device and port other OSs? Are they putting in a superboard of some sort that cannot be unlocked?
I find this hard to believe especially when you can get the unlocking tool from the Asus website. At least let's hope it's not like this, otherwise my tablet would lose some of its appeal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard to believe?? Please, be my guest:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1764917
Sent from my Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T using xda premium

georgecarstoiu said:
So let me get this right...if the motherboard is changed than you can no longer unlock the device and port other OSs? Are they putting in a superboard of some sort that cannot be unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but the problem is that after a motherboard exchange, the CPU ID doesn't match the serial number anymore. The unlock tool must contact ASUS to get the unlocking token (unique for each motherboard), and it fails if the CPU ID doesn't match in their database anymore. It simply can't get the right token anymore.

Ok....this makes a lot of sense actually. Let's see if the same thing applies to TF700. I'll keep you posted to whether I'll be able to unlock my tablet once it gets returned.

[Q] APX mode NVFlash with Jelly bean and 10.x bootloader

Dear all,
I didn't arrived to get proper answer on this topic.
On NVFlash page here http://androidroot.mobi/2012/09/23/nvflash-for-tegra3-transformer-tf700t/, it is said that
http://androidroot.mobi/2012/09/23/nvflash-for-tegra3-transformer-tf700t/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And here
Quote:
Originally Posted by calvinb1 View Post
Sbdags,
Did you ever get confirmation that nvflash files can still be restored on this new bootloader? I know you had some concerns a while back that Asus 'may' have tinkered with the bootloader to prevent restores but I do think think I ever saw a confirmation that it still works. I have my nvflash files backed up and want to make sure I don't loose the ability to recover from a soft brick in the event something goes drastically wrong.
Cheers!
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
Yes nvflash works fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm personnaly in a 10.6.1.14.4 bootloader. But I would be interested getting all files to prevent a day a soft or hard brick.
Then is there a way for me to get those files?
If this topic has ever been discussed (even if I ever looked for it on the forum), do you have any reference I could look into?
Thank you a lot for your help

florck said:
Dear all,
I didn't arrived to get proper answer on this topic.
On NVFlash page here http://androidroot.mobi/2012/09/23/nvflash-for-tegra3-transformer-tf700t/, it is said that
And here
I'm personnaly in a 10.6.1.14.4 bootloader. But I would be interested getting all files to prevent a day a soft or hard brick.
Then is there a way for me to get those files?
If this topic has ever been discussed (even if I ever looked for it on the forum), do you have any reference I could look into?
Thank you a lot for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No way for you to gain NvFlash access, sorry.Only devices with 9.4.5.26 or lower firmware are eligible for NvFlash (you can't downgrade to 9.4.5.26, only to 9.4.5.30).
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD

Pretoriano80 said:
No way for you to gain NvFlash access, sorry.Only devices with 9.4.5.26 or lower firmware are eligible for NvFlash (you can't downgrade to 9.4.5.26, only to 9.4.5.30).
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Pretorian. Is this due to new asus protections and we have very few hope, or dev just need some more time to adapt this ?

florck said:
Thank you Pretorian. Is this due to new asus protections and we have very few hope, or dev just need some more time to adapt this ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its the former. In the 9.4.5.30 and above bootloaders, Asus locked it. Meaning when you "unlock" you are really only unlocking recovery and fastboot but the bootloader remains locked and signed with a cryptographic key. It prevents any previous Asus bootloader and any non-OEM bootloader from ever being loaded again. So far, there has been no success at circumventing (hacking) the locked bootloader and its not looking promising. There is a petition out for NVFlash asking Asus to allow wheelie to prevent bricking but I doubt if that goes anywhere.
The next best thing is @_that as you've already experienced. He is a human recovery. They have a 95+% fix rate for Transformer soft bricks here at XDA.