Failed to flash stock image (maybe full bricked?) - Shield Tablet Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all,
Today I tried to flash an older version of the stock rom (v1.2.1) and thought I didn't need to flash userdata.img. That was a big mistake..
Now the tablet stuck at a bootloop. After that I thought I could simply flash twrp over the bootloader to peform a /cache & /data wipe so that I can fix the bootloop.
And now we come to the other BIG problem. I can't access the bootloader. It directly boots up the tablet with the Nvidia logo. Is there any solution to fix the tablet?
I tried at the bootloop to enter via adb into the bootloader but my PC isn't recognize my device (probably no usb debugging).
There is no way to rescue it? No apx drivers out there?

Your message seems to be unclear about one very important thing:
1. Are you able to successfully access the bootloader? I don't mean your custom recovery. I mean the black screen with very small font words with your serial and shows whether your bootloader is Locked or Unlocked.
From where I'm sitting, it looks like you flashed v1.2.1 without using "flash -w", as well as forgetting to flash ALL the stock img files. Next, it looks like you're expecting a direct boot into the bootloader, which is not possible. You need to hold down the Vol_down button and then hold the Power button until the screen comes on, THEN you need to let go of the Power BUT KEEP HOLDING the Vol_down. If done correctly, you should be at the bootloader.
From the bootloader, you will not be able to run adb commands. Instead, the bootloader takes "fastboot" commands. All this is assuming you've installed the latest nVidia Shield Family drivers from the nvidia gameworks download site.

amartolos said:
Your message seems to be unclear about one very important thing:
1. Are you able to successfully access the bootloader? I don't mean your custom recovery. I mean the black screen with very small font words with your serial and shows whether your bootloader is Locked or Unlocked.
From where I'm sitting, it looks like you flashed v1.2.1 without using "flash -w", as well as forgetting to flash ALL the stock img files. Next, it looks like you're expecting a direct boot into the bootloader, which is not possible. You need to hold down the Vol_down button and then hold the Power button until the screen comes on, THEN you need to let go of the Power BUT KEEP HOLDING the Vol_down. If done correctly, you should be at the bootloader.
From the bootloader, you will not be able to run adb commands. Instead, the bootloader takes "fastboot" commands. All this is assuming you've installed the latest nVidia Shield Family drivers from the nvidia gameworks download site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your answering. I flashed all .imgs, the blob file and the .dtb file . Everything but not the userdata.img. I can't access the bootloader with holding down the vol down + power button. I only can access the apx mode with power + vol up.

ThunderArts said:
Thanks for your answering. I flashed all .imgs, the blob file and the .dtb file . Everything but not the userdata.img. I can't access the bootloader with holding down the vol down + power button. I only can access the apx mode with power + vol up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I notice in your sig that you do in fact seem to have a fully working new replacement tablet. That got me thinking along the following:
1. new tablet is fully functional, old one is not
2. both tablets have the same hardware spec
3. pull firmware from new one, and somehow get it onto the old one
4. hopefully old tablet should work!
The biggest problem is step 3... I only know of nvflash that might be able to help here, but I've never used it myself so I'm completely useless here. Maybe someone more knowledgeable could help out here, but otherwise it seems like you might be out of options.
If you do want to take a stab at nvflash yourself, THIS PAGE has a nice writeup of what some commands do, BUT BEWARE! It's not for our device, so don't just copy-paste commands! As long as you're not writing things to the new tablet, it couldn't hurt to try stuff, right?

It wish someone could help me with NvFlash because I have no knowledge with it.
So it's possible to make a copy of the system of my working tablet and flash it on my old tablet with NvFlash?
I hope someone helpful with NvFlash experience could help me out.
Btw I need to have an un-blob'd stock rom version to get it back alive? Afaik is there no public version.

NVflash is only useful if you have backed up using it BEFORE you brick it.

sbdags said:
NVflash is only useful if you have backed up using it BEFORE you brick it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a replacement tablet. I could make a backup from it and use it with my bricked tablet. Do you know how this could work? (As I said I don't have experience with Nvflash yet.)

-deleted-

ThunderArts said:
I have a replacement tablet. I could make a backup from it and use it with my bricked tablet. Do you know how this could work? (As I said I don't have experience with Nvflash yet.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No the blobs are specific to the device.

sbdags said:
No the blobs are specific to the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay. So it seems that there is no way to rescue it. Btw is there no accessible bootloader in OTA 1.2.1 because I flashed the boot.img without any error and I don't understand why I can't access it.

sbdags said:
NVflash is only useful if you have backed up using it BEFORE you brick it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you actually back up anything for nvflash? afaik there's nothing that works on the tegra k1 yet

Bogdacutu said:
can you actually back up anything for nvflash? afaik there's nothing that works on the tegra k1 yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed - I was just talking about nvflash use in general. I haven't seen it used since tegra 3.

Related

recover options for bricked TF700 Please Help!!!

I just got my TF 700 and rooted an unlocked it, and all was ok, but then installed an app from the app store and now I only get "booting recovery kernel image" I was able to boot to APX mode install the driver and use Universal root toolkit for the TF and install the firmware from ASUS website but I think the boot image file is the problem. The transformer.bct is not for the TF700. Thanks in advace for any help.
xdatester11 said:
I just got my TF 700 and rooted an unlocked it, and all was ok, but then installed an app from the app store and now I only get "booting recovery kernel image" I was able to boot to APX mode install the driver and use Universal root toolkit for the TF and install the firmware from ASUS website but I think the boot image file is the problem. The transformer.bct is not for the TF700. Thanks in advace for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you able to boot in recovery?
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Pretoriano80 said:
Are you able to boot in recovery?
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I cannot boot into recovery only APX mode and use nvflash. I am able to flash files. I have flashed the factory firmware from Asus. I think it is the boot image that is still bad. I used the recovery tool BRK_RootKit_v8.0_final to flash the image file but it tries to flash the original TF transformer.bct boot file. I think If I had the correct transformer.bct for the TF700 it would work.
xdatester11 said:
No I cannot boot into recovery only APX mode and use nvflash. I am able to flash files. I have flashed the factory firmware from Asus. I think it is the boot image that is still bad. I used the recovery tool BRK_RootKit_v8.0_final to flash the image file but it tries to flash the original TF transformer.bct boot file. I think If I had the correct transformer.bct for the TF700 it would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK the nvflash method doesn't work for TF700 and is possible that you really bricked your device... The only solutionn i can see is to flash a recovery in fastboot mod and flash the Asus stock from there,but if you can't even boot in fastboot then i don't see any other way to recover the device.
xdatester11 said:
No I cannot boot into recovery only APX mode and use nvflash. I am able to flash files. I have flashed the factory firmware from Asus. I think it is the boot image that is still bad. I used the recovery tool BRK_RootKit_v8.0_final to flash the image file but it tries to flash the original TF transformer.bct boot file. I think If I had the correct transformer.bct for the TF700 it would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping someone would be willing to make a backup of their file using nvflash. I think the zip should help.
xdatester11 said:
I was hoping someone would be willing to make a backup of their file using nvflash. I think the zip should help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
attachment
NVFlash works with the TF700??? That's news to me!
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
xdatester11 said:
I was hoping someone would be willing to make a backup of their file using nvflash. I think the zip should help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry mate,but according to this --> http://androidroot.mobi/2012/07/15/nvflash-for-tegra3-transformer-prime/ <-- i don't think you will be able to use nvflash for recovery and it clearly states that you need to get fastboot working in order to use that method. (to get in fastboot mode press Volume down + Power and release the buttons when the message about having 5 second to press Volume Up shows...if this work you will get to a menu with the "USB icon" wich means boot in fastboot mode).
P.S : Can you tell us why you had to mess with nvflash?That is the most advanced way to recover/backup the Transformer 101/201 series and you have really high chances to brick your device for good.
EDIT: I don't think someone here will be able to make a backup for you with nvflash...it will only lead to more bricks.
EDIT 2: Can you please tell us the name of the app that bricked your device so we can avoid other people bricking their device?
The app was transformer reboot recovery I think.
I only used nvflash because it was the only option left as the tab wouldn't work with adb or fastboot.
I guess I'll keep it as a paper weight.
xdatester11 said:
The app was transformer reboot recovery I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
weird, ive been using that app for a couple of days with no issues. but now I think I will uninstall it until someone can confirm that this causes problems.
henbone11 said:
weird, ive been using that app for a couple of days with no issues. but now I think I will uninstall it until someone can confirm that this causes problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,i also used that app with no issue,but one of the developers behind TWRP advised to not use it at all,because if for some reason your recovery gets corrupted (that app send a custom command to boot into recovery) the device will boot loop trying to get in recovery and without nvflash we don't have many options to recover from that.
"
KEEP AWAY from that app for the moment,just stick with the old good " Volume Down + Power and then Volume UP " method to get into recovery.
Same issues here as well
I had rooted the TF700 ( as i wanted to download a market fix for my region, as i wasnt able to download GTA III) and had installed the eris market fix app :sillymy stupidity) it changed certain values to the original market application. After a reset/ reboot i was stuck at the powered by Nvidia Screen. I tried colding booting/ wiping etc non would work. I tried reinstalling the boot/system files through fastboot still no luck. what i cant understand is the fastboot setup seems to work when i id the Device it shows:
"? Fastboot"
i can reboot, push the system/ boot and recovery files, but cant boot into recovery mode. i have even pushed the twrp 2.2 file through fastboot. My only bet would be to boot into recovery so that i could mount and push custom roms.
I have even tried flashing the rom update through the following command "Fastboot flash update filename" however i get the archive cannot find android-info.txt error .
Is there anyway i could boot into recovery. (previously i could boot into recovery, but when i formatted/ erased the system and boot files i only get 2 options 1. Wipe Data & Cache & 2. Fastboot (USB). I tried holding the vol down button and the power button but that just puts me into blank screen mode and the APX driver pops up on the device manager.
I had to uninstall all my current drivers supporting asus and manually select the asus fastboot interface to get the fastboot working.
Any ideas would be helpful.
shasan2 said:
I had rooted the TF700 ( as i wanted to download a market fix for my region, as i wasnt able to download GTA III) and had installed the eris market fix app :sillymy stupidity) it changed certain values to the original market application. After a reset/ reboot i was stuck at the powered by Nvidia Screen. I tried colding booting/ wiping etc non would work. I tried reinstalling the boot/system files through fastboot still no luck. what i cant understand is the fastboot setup seems to work when i id the Device it shows:
"? Fastboot"
i can reboot, push the system/ boot and recovery files, but cant boot into recovery mode. i have even pushed the twrp 2.2 file through fastboot. My only bet would be to boot into recovery so that i could mount and push custom roms.
I have even tried flashing the rom update through the following command "Fastboot flash update filename" however i get the archive cannot find android-info.txt error .
Is there anyway i could boot into recovery. (previously i could boot into recovery, but when i formatted/ erased the system and boot files i only get 2 options 1. Wipe Data & Cache & 2. Fastboot (USB). I tried holding the vol down button and the power button but that just puts me into blank screen mode and the APX driver pops up on the device manager.
I had to uninstall all my current drivers supporting asus and manually select the asus fastboot interface to get the fastboot working.
Any ideas would be helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1The first step is to get your recovery back and working...here's a how-to:
1) Download the recovery from here
2) Follow the instruction on how to flash the recovery in fastboot mode
If the flash went good and you can get in recovery mode follow this steps:
1)Download the 9.4.5.26 firmware from Asus site (the SKU for your region)
2)Extract the .zip file somewere on your desktop (the result will be another .zip file,use it for step 3)
3)Put the extracted zip to a MicroSD card
4)Insert the MicroSD card in your tablet and boot into recovery
5)Install the zip from recovery and restard when done
If all goes well your tablet will be again up and running
Ray of Teamwin
:good::good::good:Thanks a million, seeing the team win screen relieved me. The only problem is i cant boot into recovery (teamwin screen is visible)through the wipe data mode, wherein everything is wiped and it reboots automatically. I cant seem to force the table into recovery without this is there any fastboot command which i can use to force the tablet into recovery.
Need Stock Boot, Recovery, System img
Still no luck with the recovery mode. Every time i wipe the device it automatically reboots. I was wondering if i could get hold of stock recovery, boot and system .img files so that i can push them or flash them through fastboot.
i tried using the blob pack and unpack but i cant seem to get around the blob header thing.
Anyone to spare me stock .img files
End of Infinity
Okay my frustration has led me to "fastboot erase bootloader" and now i am permanently stuck in APX mode.
However as nvflash is not avaliable for tf700t i guess i wont be using this for quiet sometime. Unless nvflash is made available
shasan2 said:
Okay my frustration has led me to "fastboot erase bootloader" and now i am permanently stuck in APX mode.
However as nvflash is not avaliable for tf700t i guess i wont be using this for quiet sometime. Unless nvflash is made available
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a thread (I can't find it again) that talks about this "Reboot into Recovery" app and how it might be bricking TF700T's. This guy wrote in, because he could not get to the recovery menu at all any more and could not do the "PWR+VOL-DOWN" combo. Nothing would happen. Maybe this was the thread, I don't know.
An XDA Mod in another thread said the app *might* be bricking them, but was waiting for confirmation before posting that it does.
I wish to confirm that IT DOES BRICK TF700T's! IT DOES!!!
And there is NOT A DAMN THING you can do! Your PC will not even recognize that the device is connected! You cannot get to the little icons to pick USB Mode, or whatever it's called.
This is the free app, not the other pay one in the Market. I don't know about that one, but this one is called, "Reboot into Recovery" and if you can somehow find that thread if I don't and just copy my post there, I would really appreciate it! I just want to warn people, ya know?
Also, using ANY of the "ROM Managers", whether it's CWM's, or GooMgr's, will take away all ability to get to a recovery menu at boot, at all! The device will still work and everything and boot to your Home Screen and everything. It won't be bricked like the app listed above does to it, but it will take away your recovery menu altogether and the PWR+VOLDOWN thing won't work any more either.
You can Unlock the TF700T, you can Root it. But you cannot use ANY ROM Mgr and you cannot use that Reboot into Recovery app.
But the app I listed above WILL BRICK YOUR DEVICE BEYOND ANY RECOVERY METHOD!
Please pass this on, I am confirming the experience. It doesn't matter if others say it worked for them. It is bricking them at random and even one of the guys who reviewed the app (diff guy than the one who posted here) said it bricked his. It is happening! It is not the user messing up! I did do it right!
Thanks!
I'm not sure if you are talking about the app named "Transformer Reboot to Recovery", but that particular app works fine on the TF700 - I use it all of the time.
The only time that it *can* cause problems is if your recovery is already corrupt or there is some other issue, in which case it can cause a bootloop.
But, if there are no issues, it works fine... There is a risk involved, like I said, if there are pre-existing problems with your device, but if you know that everything is working fine on your device, the app mentioned above works fine.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
jtrosky said:
I'm not sure if you are talking about the app named "Transformer Reboot to Recovery", but that particular app works fine on the TF700 - I use it all of the time.
The only time that it *can* cause problems is if your recovery is already corrupt or there is some other issue, in which case it can cause a bootloop.
But, if there are no issues, it works fine... There is a risk involved, like I said, if there are pre-existing problems with your device, but if you know that everything is working fine on your device, the app mentioned above works fine.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offense, but I think a huge problem in forums, is that people don't read carefully.
1) I think you are referring to the paid app. Read what I said about that.
2) You're saying what you're saying, in a thread started by a guy who had a running device and who didn't after using the app.
3) I said that it bricks them AT RANDOM.
4) Another problem with forums, is that whenever someone has a problem, A LOT of users want to post responses that ignore the users' experience and they want to act like the problem doesn't "really" exist. If multiple people are posting the same problem, then IT DOES EXIST. It just doesn't exist for YOU! But something working for you, does not mean it works for everybody and it does not mean there is a problem with their device, nor that they did something wrong.
5) And yet another problem with forums, is that when someone like me points things like this out, many users will respond by jumping on me, instead of those who try to make the guy feel like he's hallucinating and who, instead of trying to help him out, or just keep their mouths shut if they have nothing helpful to offer, think the right thing to do is to argue with the person having the problem.
These forums are for help and information. If someone has neither to offer the person, or at least warn others, then why are they responding at all? And why would anyone defend someone doing that?! It's ridiculous! But that's what typically happens, especially in XDA doe some reason (lots of snobs here, who like to prove they are, by doing as I just described).
The bottom line is, you do not run the app I talked about and even if you did, that does not take away from the experience that some have had and the best thing, is to avoid the app, because there's a risk involved and there is no recovery from it. I decided to warn people. You decided to tell us that we're hallucinating and that people should use the app. You did not carefully read what I wrote, or you would have checked the Market to see what the name of the app that does not have a pay version is. The one I am talking about does not.
I will tell you this. I am posting this from my laptop, because I had to return my Tablet and have a replacement shipped and now I have to spend a few days getting it all set up again the way I had it.
Avoid the ROM Mgr apps on the TF700T. And avoid the free app called "Reboot into Recovery". A user told me about it for my device, who had seen it used successfully. However, if you look at the reviews in the Market, you'll see that one of them says it bricked his *WORKING* *FINE* tablet and this thread right here has told you about two more. So just believe it and don't criticize, huh?
Okay Mods, feel free to jump on me again, just like last time.
I agree with many of your points, Zeuszoos, and thanks for pointing that out, but I believe there are many senior members at XDA willing to help if they have knowledge/abilities to do so, that's been my experience so far and hopefully it can be yours too. Of course, a little SEARCH won't hurt before posting one's problem, as you reasonably mentioned yourself
"reboot to recovery" has been in my apps STICKY thread in the sections "apps to avoid" (RED) for quite some time now after first reports of bricking users' devices started popping up and I believe it has helped some users who did a little reading before clicking...

help- bricked it, no recovery, what now?

Hey yall. I had the phone for 6 days before I bricked it. I am wondering if there is any stock recovery mode or anything or what I shsould do? I think something went wrong due to using the root toolbox pro app. I have done some backups within the ap as well as Titanium Backup but now the phone will not boot up and I dont know if/how to put it in factory recovery mode. Soft reset does nothing. The Motorola logo will show on startup but then the screen just blacks out forever, not off, just colored black.
A few details, the phone was rooted with Motofail2go, with no recovery and bootloader still locked as far as I know.
Should I take it to Sprint for a factory reset? Is this even an option? What are my other options?
Next time I will probably use the Moto unlock key so I can open the bootloader all legit like and have a recovery mode...
Try holding power button and the down volume key to power off. Once you power off press and hold them again. This should boot you into fastboot, Motorola's adb shell basically. This can take a couple tries, make sure the phone is powered down completely before hitting volume down and power button to get into fastboot. If you can boot into fastboot you can unlock using this guide: http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/20/how-to-unlock-the-motorola-photon-q-bootloader/
Once unlocked flash the custom recovery of your choice (I like twrp). You can boot into custom recovery by holding volume up and the power button from a powered down state. Here is the link for instructions on how to flash twrp:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1887070
Then you can download one of the stock backups for the Q posted in the development section and restore them using the custom recovery. Most of the ones I have seen have been compatible with twrp.
The only way to download the stock rom backups is to remove the sd card from your phone, plug your sd card into a PC or other device with a card reader, download the stock backups, and place the stock backup rom files on your sd card. Finally place the sd card with the stock backup downloads into your phone.
These backups and information on how to go through this process can be found in this thread on page 2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2001226
The key is to make a backup of your existing rom with twrp and then move the stock backups from your sd card to the twrp/backups/yourdeiceserial/ directory. That creates a backup directory which twrp knows to look for backups in.
Don't feel bad, I've been in that state several times since getting the Q, live and learn.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
UnicronAlpha99 said:
Try holding power button and the down volume key to power off. Once you power off press and hold them again. This should boot you into fastboot, Motorola's adb shell basically. This can take a couple tries, make sure the phone is powered down completely before hitting volume down and power button to get into fastboot. If you can boot into fastboot you can unlock using this guide: http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/20/how-to-unlock-the-motorola-photon-q-bootloader/
Once unlocked flash the custom recovery of your choice (I like twrp). You can boot into custom recovery by holding volume up and the power button from a powered down state. Here is the link for instructions on how to flash twrp:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1887070
Then you can download one of the stock backups for the Q posted in the development section and restore them using the custom recovery. Most of the ones I have seen have been compatible with twrp.
Don't feel bad, I've been in that state several times since getting the Q, live and learn.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that does not work you could drop it in water or something. You have not officially unlocked boot loader so you still have warranty. Or you could just tell sprint it quit working and act completely clueless. At least its bricked with warranty still intact.
matt2k12 said:
Hey yall. I had the phone for 6 days before I bricked it. I am wondering if there is any stock recovery mode or anything or what I shsould do? I think something went wrong due to using the root toolbox pro app. I have done some backups within the ap as well as Titanium Backup but now the phone will not boot up and I dont know if/how to put it in factory recovery mode. Soft reset does nothing. The Motorola logo will show on startup but then the screen just blacks out forever, not off, just colored black.
A few details, the phone was rooted with Motofail2go, with no recovery and bootloader still locked as far as I know.
Should I take it to Sprint for a factory reset? Is this even an option? What are my other options?
Next time I will probably use the Moto unlock key so I can open the bootloader all legit like and have a recovery mode...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both of the methods above are very effective. When I had the first photon I bricked it and just dropped it in water and did a claim. Depending on the insurance you have that way may cost you $100. The other method should work. When I first got this phone I did the exact same thing and to go back and unlock then flash twrp and in stall a stock backup someone had posted.
Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk 2
UnicronAlpha99 said:
Try holding power button and the down volume key to power off. Once you power off press and hold them again. This should boot you into fastboot, Motorola's adb shell basically. This can take a couple tries, make sure the phone is powered down completely before hitting volume down and power button to get into fastboot. If you can boot into fastboot you can unlock using this guide: http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/20/how-to-unlock-the-motorola-photon-q-bootloader/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. Is there anything extra extra special about getting into factory fastboot mode? I can't seem to get it done. Is there an official set of instructions anywhere? Does the phone need to be plugged into the PC? It was always my understanding (for the last week) that Power and Vol Down was the soft reset mode which reboots the phone. Therefore it always tries to reboot in normal mode. This is what keeps happening. It never powers completely down using this method.
Anyhow, once I follow your instructions, the Moto logo appears, no Sprint logo appears, the phone "powers on" but the screen is blacked out (not off). After waiting for a while at the blank/black screen, or holding down several buttons like vol or camera I get the first attachment: "Process system is not responding. Would you like to close it?" When I wait nothing happens. When I push OK nothing happens. By chance, I held down power during the notification and the power menu came up behind the ANR notice (second/third attachments). So obviously there are some things working but the main system isn't booting up. And either factory fastboot is nuked or I can't figure it out. When I power down from this accessible power menu and try to do the fastboot (Power / Vol Down) I still havent gotten it to work.
Any other ideas before I take drastic measures?
Since I bought it from Amazon would that be my best route for return or should I go thru a Sprint store?
Thanks in advance.
Hi again yall. You know once I got to thinking about it, I decided to check out the return policy on Amazon Wireless. They will accept any device under warranty for the first 30 days and it is up to Moto for the next 11 months of warranty coverage. They email me a packing label and it ships out 1 day and they ship out the new phone 1 day shipping. Hard to beat, just takes 2 days of shipping and some more fun times with my Epic, 10.1CM style, in the meantime.
Who's to say it wasnt some sort of hardware or software glitch that bricked the phone rather than my screwing around? Nobody knows and it isn't up to the consumer to prove his innocence. I bought everything legally, all the apps at the app store, and only ran the motofail2go root method. Wasn't running any custom Roms, Mods, or anything. I don't feel bad after they got me for another 2 grand for 24 months, and since I have been with Sprint for 10 years;l I have spent well over 10k or 15k with them lifetime.
If any other method pops up between now and when I ship it out I may give it a shot but if not, ah well, capitalism.
matt2k12 said:
Thanks for the response. Is there anything extra extra special about getting into factory fastboot mode? I can't seem to get it done. Is there an official set of instructions anywhere? Does the phone need to be plugged into the PC? It was always my understanding (for the last week) that Power and Vol Down was the soft reset mode which reboots the phone. Therefore it always tries to reboot in normal mode. This is what keeps happening. It never powers completely down using this method.
Anyhow, once I follow your instructions, the Moto logo appears, no Sprint logo appears, the phone "powers on" but the screen is blacked out (not off). After waiting for a while at the blank/black screen, or holding down several buttons like vol or camera I get the first attachment: "Process system is not responding. Would you like to close it?" When I wait nothing happens. When I push OK nothing happens. By chance, I held down power during the notification and the power menu came up behind the ANR notice (second/third attachments). So obviously there are some things working but the main system isn't booting up. And either factory fastboot is nuked or I can't figure it out. When I power down from this accessible power menu and try to do the fastboot (Power / Vol Down) I still havent gotten it to work.
Any other ideas before I take drastic measures?
Since I bought it from Amazon would that be my best route for return or should I go thru a Sprint store?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using adb. If your computer has drivers on it for phone you might able to get into fast boot. If that does not work I would try Sprint store first. Have locked my phone up several times while hacking wife off in progress and have used adb every time. Only time i have been truely scared is when i soft bricked my nexus 7. had to stay at work for two hours after i got off to get it to recover because i was scared of her lol.
---------- Post added at 02:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 PM ----------
If you get adb to recognize device you could take chance and officially unlock boot loader. Then flash twrp. There is a thread in general section about having trouble getting official update. It has a stock recovery in it. Trick would be moving files to recovery section of twrp
I have gotten the phone to soft power down and get into fast boot and custom recovery. It's a bit tricky with timing, I usually wait for the screen to go black after soft reset, let go, and immediately hold power and volume down. If you can not boot into fastboot I honestly don't know what you can do either than return the phone.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
UnicronAlpha99 said:
I have gotten the phone to soft power down and get into fast boot and custom recovery. It's a bit tricky with timing, I usually wait for the screen to go black after soft reset, let go, and immediately hold power and volume down. If you can not boot into fastboot I honestly don't know what you can do either than return the phone.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help Unicron. I think Brandons method might be my only alternative... but you know what? I already have the box packed up to ship back to Amazon! I am still a noob; I dunno if I could go the distance on this one. I have been updating my Android SDK files since I got the phone but I never got it to recognize boot up thru ADB fastboot. disclaimer* I havent tried it in a couple days since all teh SDK updates completed.
I dunno though I am a big time DIYer when possible. If it werent for the massive amount of tape I put on the box and packing label I would already be trying this method. I can't convince myself just yet. Amazon makes it too easy. I could have the *new* phone by Friday. Then I wouldn't be wasting my remaining work week trying to hack into my personal Christmas present in order to make it function...........................................
Edit - Yes I'm impatient. My job is too demanding and I am trying to set a good precedent for 2013. Wasting the first 3 work days on a phone is not how I intend to start off the year. There is probably a valuable lesson to be learned from this as far as hacking experience and to be honest with the responses here I think I could get it to boot up from PC in SDK/ADB mode and go from there. I just didnt know if that was possible until after I made the claim with Amazon. I still have an entire day today and tomorrow if I want to indulge myself. It doesnt matter if I mail the package today or Wednesday, I can still get it by Friday. I believe this thread is still valuable because we have patterns of repeating past failures and I may find use of it when I recieve my new phone and, darn it, it mysteriously bricks as well. in the same fashion.... the only thing I was really trying to do was get all my apps on my SD card... sad huh?
Edit 2 - Opened up the box, tried fastboot and adb, nothing. Off she goes.
I don't blame you, it sounds easier to exchange in your case any way. The main suggestion I have is if you are getting into any type of build.prop or operating system tweaks that have potential to lead to boot loops or cause the phone not to boot, then unlock the bootloader and install custom recovery.
The Moto-fail method seems limited to only be able to run apps that require root. For me this has no use as I want to be able to have complete control over all aspects of the Android OS. There is not a huge mod community for the Q as yet but I believe Cyanogen will be a reality as Interloper continues working on it. I came from an Epic with Cyanogen and soft-bricked it a minimum of 50 times. CWM was very forgiving on that phone, the Q is a lot more finicky and frustrating.
If you have insurance through the carrier then you are going to pay $150 for a refurb if something goes wrong and you hard brick the phone. If you unlock bootloader and install custom recovery then you have a fail-safe in the form of nandroid backups and restores. Then you can mod away with little fear.
Good luck on the new phone and I hope you don't give up after six days of modding with the Q!
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
matt2k12 said:
Thanks for the help Unicron. I think Brandons method might be my only alternative... but you know what? I already have the box packed up to ship back to Amazon! I am still a noob; I dunno if I could go the distance on this one. I have been updating my Android SDK files since I got the phone but I never got it to recognize boot up thru ADB fastboot. disclaimer* I havent tried it in a couple days since all teh SDK updates completed.
I dunno though I am a big time DIYer when possible. If it werent for the massive amount of tape I put on the box and packing label I would already be trying this method. I can't convince myself just yet. Amazon makes it too easy. I could have the *new* phone by Friday. Then I wouldn't be wasting my remaining work week trying to hack into my personal Christmas present in order to make it function...........................................
Edit - Yes I'm impatient. My job is too demanding and I am trying to set a good precedent for 2013. Wasting the first 3 work days on a phone is not how I intend to start off the year. There is probably a valuable lesson to be learned from this as far as hacking experience and to be honest with the responses here I think I could get it to boot up from PC in SDK/ADB mode and go from there. I just didnt know if that was possible until after I made the claim with Amazon. I still have an entire day today and tomorrow if I want to indulge myself. It doesnt matter if I mail the package today or Wednesday, I can still get it by Friday. I believe this thread is still valuable because we have patterns of repeating past failures and I may find use of it when I recieve my new phone and, darn it, it mysteriously bricks as well. in the same fashion.... the only thing I was really trying to do was get all my apps on my SD card... sad huh?
Edit 2 - Opened up the box, tried fastboot and adb, nothing. Off she goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW, pressing vol down + power til it resets then pressing the camera button + power once the screen is black gets you to the Boot Mode Selection Menu, where you can start recovery, fastboot, BP tools (still not sure what that is entirely) and some others. Seems to be a fairly reliable/easy method for getting to both recovery and fastboot from any point.
befrosty8612 said:
FWIW, pressing vol down + power til it resets then pressing the camera button + power once the screen is black gets you to the Boot Mode Selection Menu, where you can start recovery, fastboot, BP tools (still not sure what that is entirely) and some others. Seems to be a fairly reliable/easy method for getting to both recovery and fastboot from any point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure wish I would have known that ahead of time. Does this work without any recovery mode and with the bootloader still locked?
matt2k12 said:
Sure wish I would have known that ahead of time. Does this work without any recovery mode and with the bootloader still locked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does work without any recovery mode and I believe it still works without the bootloader being unlocked, I didn't know about this myself until after I had already unlocked it. Sorry I couldn't help out sooner.
befrosty8612 said:
It does work without any recovery mode and I believe it still works without the bootloader being unlocked, I didn't know about this myself until after I had already unlocked it. Sorry I couldn't help out sooner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, I am wanting to do the backdoor root method again but, of course, may brick it. I dont think Amazon will keep sending me new ones.... but maybe!
befrosty8612 said:
FWIW, pressing vol down + power til it resets then pressing the camera button + power once the screen is black gets you to the Boot Mode Selection Menu, where you can start recovery, fastboot, BP tools (still not sure what that is entirely) and some others. Seems to be a fairly reliable/easy method for getting to both recovery and fastboot from any point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For anyone concerned, I knew it would only be a matter of time until bricking my new device. This damn Root Toolbox Pro did it to me again, and on a simple, menial task. I am going to be working thru the motions on getting this to work.
Using the instructions quoted I did get stock recovery to work or at least flash on the screen for a split second. Seems like there is a timer on the recovery screen. I am having trouble with the fastboot prompt though on the PC. Do I do it in the "platform-tools" folder which contains fastboot or in the "tools" folder of the main SDK directory? I am really a noob, can you give me the cliff notes of how to get into ADB, fastboot, etc on the Photon Q in order to do a factory reset? I already have Android SDK installed and completely up to date so that is done. And Fastboot is installed. I'm just having trouble crossing the finish line here... I can get the fastboot page opened in the stock recovery but from there I'm lost. I dont know what to type into the command prompt, in what directory, or what.... Also when I open the command prompt in the SDK folder on the PC with fastboot in the directory and type "adb reboot bootloader" it says "device not found". Maybe (surely) that is the wrong prompt?
FWIW my phone is showing the dead android guy. I didnt do anything besides try and clear up my Play Store download list which required a reboot. The phone never started back up. I dont know how much damage was done or info was lost or whatever, but seeing as how I was rooted but still locked, I had no custom recovery. So no back ups. Is there anything to restore or am I looking at a full wipe and restore?
matt2k12 said:
For anyone concerned, I knew it would only be a matter of time until bricking my new device. This damn Root Toolbox Pro did it to me again, and on a simple, menial task. I am going to be working thru the motions on getting this to work.
Using the instructions quoted I did get stock recovery to work or at least flash on the screen for a split second. Seems like there is a timer on the recovery screen. I am having trouble with the fastboot prompt though on the PC. Do I do it in the "platform-tools" folder which contains fastboot or in the "tools" folder of the main SDK directory? I am really a noob, can you give me the cliff notes of how to get into ADB, fastboot, etc on the Photon Q in order to do a factory reset? I already have Android SDK installed and completely up to date so that is done. And Fastboot is installed. I'm just having trouble crossing the finish line here... I can get the fastboot page opened in the stock recovery but from there I'm lost. I dont know what to type into the command prompt, in what directory, or what.... Also when I open the command prompt in the SDK folder on the PC with fastboot in the directory and type "adb reboot bootloader" it says "device not found". Maybe (surely) that is the wrong prompt?
FWIW my phone is showing the dead android guy. I didnt do anything besides try and clear up my Play Store download list which required a reboot. The phone never started back up. I dont know how much damage was done or info was lost or whatever, but seeing as how I was rooted but still locked, I had no custom recovery. So no back ups. Is there anything to restore or am I looking at a full wipe and restore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As abnormal as it seems, your situation seems pretty normal... at least from my shoes. I went through the same scenario... I didn't know what adb was, or fastboot, etc. So, here's what I know
the fastboot commands work even if adb doesnt see it in the list of devices attached. Somehow it just works (as long as the phone is in fastboot mode).
If you're able to get to the fastboot mode, things should be okay. Just open a windows explorer window to the Platform-Tools, hold the shift key and right click on a blank space within the window, then click open command window here.
you should be able to pass any adb (if the phone is on and recognized) or fastboot (if phone is in fastboot mode) commands from that command prompt.
Also, if you have a stock recovery, CMW, or TWRP image, this is the folder to copy those .img files to. Once you get your phone into fastboot mode and its plugged into the computer, just type into the command prompt:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
If you're just looking to reboot the phone into recovery
If you have a CWM or TWRP recovery just replace the recovery.img with whatever the .img file that you have. Also, as a tip instead of writing the entire file name, just press the first couple letters then press the tab key within the command prompt, it should fill in the rest. keep pressing tab until you get to the .img file name you want.
To avoid doing this again, maybe I can help... what were you trying to do to begin with? From the sound of it, you were trying to root the phone with the Root Toolbox Pro but it bricked, and then you tried to reboot into recovery and then got the red android... ?
befrosty8612 said:
As abnormal as it seems, your situation seems pretty normal... at least from my shoes. I went through the same scenario... I didn't know what adb was, or fastboot, etc. So, here's what I know
the fastboot commands work even if adb doesnt see it in the list of devices attached. Somehow it just works (as long as the phone is in fastboot mode).
If you're able to get to the fastboot mode, things should be okay. Just open a windows explorer window to the Platform-Tools, hold the shift key and right click on a blank space within the window, then click open command window here.
you should be able to pass any adb (if the phone is on and recognized) or fastboot (if phone is in fastboot mode) commands from that command prompt.
Also, if you have a stock recovery, CMW, or TWRP image, this is the folder to copy those .img files to. Once you get your phone into fastboot mode and its plugged into the computer, just type into the command prompt:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
If you're just looking to reboot the phone into recovery
If you have a CWM or TWRP recovery just replace the recovery.img with whatever the .img file that you have. Also, as a tip instead of writing the entire file name, just press the first couple letters then press the tab key within the command prompt, it should fill in the rest. keep pressing tab until you get to the .img file name you want.
To avoid doing this again, maybe I can help... what were you trying to do to begin with? From the sound of it, you were trying to root the phone with the Root Toolbox Pro but it bricked, and then you tried to reboot into recovery and then got the red android... ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. So, all I have to do is: go to fastboot and flash a stock recovery image file and it will automatically wipe the phone, cache, everything, and restore the operating system? Sounds awfully easy! I found some stock files in this post : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2001226&page=2 Are these the ones you used before?
Last question: I can flash CWM or TWRP but wont be able to access them if my bootloader is locked, correct? So flashing a stock recovery will allow me to have my stock phone back again, locked and un-rooted? I guess if I cant get it to work with the stock recovery then I can unlock the bootloader and do a CWM or TWRP recovery and then flash the stock .img files?
Thanks again for your help. I already had root with the motofail2go method which I like using but seems like when I try and use some generic root feature from apps from the app store that it will crash/brick the phone cuz obviously those apps are generalized and likely to brick certain percentage of devices....
Ok what does this mean? Something with the bootlaoder obviously. Does it need to be unlocked?
Code:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>fastboot flash recover
y qrecovery1.img
(bootloader) Variable not supported!
target reported max download size of 31457280 bytes
sending 'recovery' (5962 KB)...
OKAY [ 0.479s]
writing 'recovery'...
(bootloader) Preflash validation failed
FAILED (remote failure)
finished. total time: 0.755s
C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>
And on the phone screen it says "invalid image size for partition recovery" twice for both times I tried this method.
You will need to flash the system image as well if you want those, as the recovery image will only flash the recovery. The files in that link are for twrp only... so you'll have to be able to get there first.
With the custom recoveries, I'm not 100% sure whether or not you will be able to use them without being unlocked. I would wait to see if anyone else can answer that question for you, but if you did try it without an unlocked bootloader, you at least have the stock recovery to fall back on if needed.
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 09:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 PM ----------
I'm thinking it could either be that your phone is full and the image you're flashing is too large to fit on the space available...
Or you're trying to flash custom software on a locked phone.
Hopefully someone is able to answer that a little better...
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app
You can't alter the stock recovery (flash a custom recovery like twrp or cwm) in fastboot without having the bootloader unlocked. Your options are to unlock your bootloader, flash custom recovery, create a backup of your current setup, download one of the stock working backups, place it in the backups folder for twrp on your external sd card, and restore one of the known working backups in the development section (befrosty linked to one). Or you could use RSD lite to return to stock using a stock factory firmware flash. That involves connecting your phone to your PC and flashing the phone back to factory stock. Information on RSD Lite and links to the FXZ's can be found here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2095536
Sent from my XT897 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Bricked TF700

Hi.
I own a TF700T and seems to have bricked it. Last status was: I had the latest stock ROM with root running and wanted to get a CM11 based 4.4.2 image from here. I downloaded it and used rom manager to get it installed. But the install script failed at some point and I thought the recovery might be outdated. So I used ROM Manager to update recovery... I tried CWM and TWRP option. Finally I booted up into recovery trying again to install those damn rom - I used the option to wipe all data / settings from the main menu and tried again to install the ROM which again failed (I do not remember the error message clearly). I gave up. I used the "reboot" option.
Now:
- Powering up gets me into the screen with the ASUS logo (left upper corner says "the device is unlocked"). Here it is stuck forever.
- Power + Vol-Down is same as just Power - I do not get into flashboot with those 3 small icons... I just get the ASUS logo and nothing else happens. Reset hole does not change situation. The device is pretty much "always on" now (till battery is exhausted) as long-press Power turns off and immediately on again
- Only thing that seems to work: Power + Vol-Up ends up in APX mode - my computer recognizes the device via USB at this point
Unfortunately I never did any set up to nvflash.
Do I have any chance to get this thing alive again?
Thanks a lot in advance,
q2.
Quentin2 said:
Hi.
I own a TF700T and seems to have bricked it. Last status was: I had the latest stock ROM with root running and wanted to get a CM11 based 4.4.2 image from here. I downloaded it and used rom manager to get it installed. But the install script failed at some point and I thought the recovery might be outdated. So I used ROM Manager to update recovery... I tried CWM and TWRP option. Finally I booted up into recovery trying again to install those damn rom - I used the option to wipe all data / settings from the main menu and tried again to install the ROM which again failed (I do not remember the error message clearly). I gave up. I used the "reboot" option.
Now:
- Powering up gets me into the screen with the ASUS logo (left upper corner says "the device is unlocked"). Here it is stuck forever.
- Power + Vol-Down is same as just Power - I do not get into flashboot with those 3 small icons... I just get the ASUS logo and nothing else happens. Reset hole does not change situation. The device is pretty much "always on" now (till battery is exhausted) as long-press Power turns off and immediately on again
- Only thing that seems to work: Power + Vol-Up ends up in APX mode - my computer recognizes the device via USB at this point
Unfortunately I never did any set up to nvflash.
Do I have any chance to get this thing alive again?
Thanks a lot in advance,
q2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately ROM Manager does not work with the TF700 and you are not the first one to find out the hard way...
If you cannot find a way to boot into the bootloader to have fastboot, there's nothing you can do anymore without the NVflash blobs.
Did you try holding Vol - and then pressing the reset button in that little pinhole on the side of the tablet?
If you have ADB drivers installed on your PC you could try if you can establish an ADB connection at any point. If you did, you could issue the command: "adb reboot bootloader", which would enable you to flash a recovery and/or bootloader. This probably won't work since you need to be in the recovery or have Android booted for ADB to work, but worth a try anyway...
Admittedly these are very thin straws - but what have you got to loose?
Also: Just a few days ago a user here was stuck on a bootloop to recovery and couldn't get out of it. He left it alone overnight and all the sudden the bootloop sorted itself out... I have no explanation for it and it is unlikely to happen in your case, but you never know...
Good luck!
Thanks for replying.
Yes, I did keep Vol-Down (means Vol-Left) pressed while pinching the reset button. It did not help.
I will experiment a bit more. It's not really a boot "loop" - it gets stuck at the ASUS logo and this does not change anymore. Not overnight.
So far I could only see it being recognized as USB device in APX mode. Can you give me a bit background here? I have nvflash here. The blobs are not available anywhere on the net? Or why is that all a big fuzz? I used to have a Notion Ink Adam and APX saved my life several times, but the blobs were available to everybody. Nobody has the blobs here? Or are they device-specific?
I cannot believe that a today's device with a non-bricked bootloader and working APX is totally lost and even the manufacturer will only offer a costly RMA to replace the whole mainboard!?
Best regards,
q2.
Quentin2 said:
Thanks for replying.
Yes, I did keep Vol-Down (means Vol-Left) pressed while pinching the reset button. It did not help.
I will experiment a bit more. It's not really a boot "loop" - it gets stuck at the ASUS logo and this does not change anymore. Not overnight.
So far I could only see it being recognized as USB device in APX mode. Can you give me a bit background here? I have nvflash here. The blobs are not available anywhere on the net? Or why is that all a big fuzz? I used to have a Notion Ink Adam and APX saved my life several times, but the blobs were available to everybody. Nobody has the blobs here? Or are they device-specific?
I cannot believe that a today's device with a non-bricked bootloader and working APX is totally lost and even the manufacturer will only offer a costly RMA to replace the whole mainboard!?
Best regards,
q2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the TF700 the nvflash blobs are device specific - sorry.
Damn. That was the only answer I didn't want to read
Thanks a lot. So chances are gone, only RMA could help... I will ask friendly at Asus what costs they will charge...
q2.
Update:
Reply is here.
They only want to exchange mainboard. They of course know (and it seems that this is the only thing they know) that my bootloader was unlocked, therefore this is no case of guarantee for them. I know, I wrote to them that I just want to know how much they wanna charge me to fix this issue.
But: they don't want to tell me how much. They say they do not even know which revision and what hardware is inside my tablet, not even from my serial number. And I must first send them my tablet and they will charge me 95 Euro to check what's going on. And then they will tell me how much it will cost (and according to other threads I saw prices of over 400 Euro for a mainboard change - the TF701 successor model cost 450 Euro new in store)...
I somehow feel the need to reply that if they would've put only half the energy the put into logging who has unlocked the bootloader into the fact of making APX usable as a emergency recovery (as obviously not even Asus is able to generate a working blob for my device), they would have higher customer satisfactory statistics. I still just cannot believe a today's device lacks of all recovery options after a bootloader fails for some reason - as well as I cannot understand why Koush did not display a warning in ROM manager if problems are known to the community with this specific device (I mean the problem did not arise last week and ROM manager had tenths of updates since then).
I know that in the end all was my fault. And all flashing is done on our own risk. I will have to deal with it.
Phew...
Unlucky. It should be be stickied here somewhere that ROM Manager bricks the TF700 but then there is no guarantee it would be read. It is well known on this forum but that doesn't help people that don't visit frequently.
You can replace the mainboard yourself fairly easily. Watch the you tube vids on how to do it,. That is what I would do if I was in your position.
berndblb said:
For the TF700 the nvflash blobs are device specific - sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to backup my blobs before I leave all stock then?
Thanx! Zeddock
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
zeddock said:
Is there a way to backup my blobs before I leave all stock then?
Thanx! Zeddock
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2455925&highlight=nvflash
Any Solution?
Quentin2 said:
Hi.
I own a TF700T and seems to have bricked it. Last status was: I had the latest stock ROM with root running and wanted to get a CM11 based 4.4.2 image from here. I downloaded it and used rom manager to get it installed. But the install script failed at some point and I thought the recovery might be outdated. So I used ROM Manager to update recovery... I tried CWM and TWRP option. Finally I booted up into recovery trying again to install those damn rom - I used the option to wipe all data / settings from the main menu and tried again to install the ROM which again failed (I do not remember the error message clearly). I gave up. I used the "reboot" option.
Now:
- Powering up gets me into the screen with the ASUS logo (left upper corner says "the device is unlocked"). Here it is stuck forever.
- Power + Vol-Down is same as just Power - I do not get into flashboot with those 3 small icons... I just get the ASUS logo and nothing else happens. Reset hole does not change situation. The device is pretty much "always on" now (till battery is exhausted) as long-press Power turns off and immediately on again
- Only thing that seems to work: Power + Vol-Up ends up in APX mode - my computer recognizes the device via USB at this point
Unfortunately I never did any set up to nvflash.
Do I have any chance to get this thing alive again?
Thanks a lot in advance,
q2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I'm stuck in same boat I tried to wipe out settings completely and clockwork mode was stuck and I was able to wipe recovery with TWRP or so I thought tried to reboot into recovery got stalled and now stuck on asus screen. I'm not opposed to buying a new motherboard but I find it very hard to believe that no one has come up with a solution to flashing the mainboard with the original firmware. I'm tempted to ask asus but I know the bill will be more then the tablet. Did you find an easier solution or do I just have to swap out the mainboard?
sbdags said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2455925&highlight=nvflash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx, but it seems like to backup blobs I have to do the very thing that will risk me needing backup of my blobs? ... install a custom bootloader before I have a backup?
Is this right?
Is this a safer method?
zeddock
zeddock said:
Thanx, but it seems like to backup blobs I have to do the very thing that will risk me needing backup of my blobs? ... install a custom bootloader before I have a backup?
Is this right?
Is this a safer method?
zeddock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's correct. You have to flash a modified bootloader and recovery. Done correctly this is not risky at all. But if there is a single line in the instructions you are not sure you understand, you are not quite ready.
There are quite a few tutorials on flashing in fastboot on this forum. Read them.
But generating your nvflash blobs you have to do without a safety net. It's worth it though! I have become much more adventurous with my tablet since I have the blobs squared away...
berndblb said:
Done correctly this is not risky at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you define risk?
Flashing a bootloader (without having nvflash access) is always risky by my definition, it *can* permabrick your tablet if something goes wrong at the wrong moment. But it's the best we have.

[Q] No fastboot anymore, only XDA Mode possible,

Hello Friends and first I have to say sorry for my english.
OK, I try to tell whats happend.
2 Days ago I would like to flash a new rom on tf700t. For that it was neccessary to change from TeamWinRecovery to ClockworkModRecovery.
To do this at the easiest way, I have done this Job with the Rom Manager App.
That was my first error.
After Installing I reboot my tf700 and was surprised, TeamWin was still there...
Ok I have created a full backup, after that I performed a full wipe.
After that I have rebootet again, but know TeamWin was not there anymore, Clockworkmod was also not not there.
Booting with Power + Vol Down Fastboot mode is starting (I think so) 3 Symbols in the Middle.
Starting RCK Mode, but nothing happens, only a text left above, Recovey Rom is loading (or somthing like that)
Booting with Power + Vol Up APX Mode is running. Black Screen and Pong on my PC. Nvidia Driver installed.
OK later, verry late at night I have by mistake Used The Wipe Button, I dont wont to do that but I have pressed the wrong button.
Now the follow things happend by Booting.
Only Presss Power:
Tab is starting to Asus Logo in the middle, in the left corner abowe The Device Is Unlockes. Nothing else happens.
Press and hold Power and Vol down: The same like above No Pong on PC, the same screen like starting the tab normaly.
Press and hold Power and Vol up: APX Mode ist starting.
I have many Full Backups TWRP.
I have the Stock Asus Rum on SD Card.
I have the nvflash Package for my tf700t.
I have the flatlinetf700t.img
And many other files.
Oh I dont have createt bevor any blop files.
What I will ask you is: Is it possible to repair the Tab by using nvflash?
I think the bootloader is defect...
What is needed for that
wackaman said:
What I will ask you is: Is it possible to repair the Tab by using nvflash?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not without the blobs.
"Wipe data" + broken recovery + no blobs for nvflash = hard brick. There is no known fix.
Is it possible tu use blob files from an other tf700t 64gb??
I have here a original asus tf700 Stock rom, wich I have full extracted twice. So now I have the rom as a blob file wich was in the zip. 800 MB.
What can I do with that file?
Here I found something to use the android toolkit but it cant work, there is no fastboot mode anymore. If I try to use fastboot, power and Vol down, nothing happens, there is no device installed at pc, only in adb mode, but android toolkit could not handle adb mode.
Read
Last hope is to use some other blob files..
Whats about RMA? Prices for that job?
Thanks.
wackaman said:
Is it possible tu use blob files from an other tf700t 64gb??
I have here a original asus tf700 Stock rom, wich I have full extracted twice. So now I have the rom as a blob file wich was in the zip. 800 MB.
What can I do with that file?
Here I found something to use the android toolkit but it cant work, there is no fastboot mode anymore. If I try to use fastboot, power and Vol down, nothing happens, there is no device installed at pc, only in adb mode, but android toolkit could not handle adb mode.
Read
Last hope is to use some other blob files..
Whats about RMA? Prices for that job?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need the blob files from your device. They store keys particular to yours. When you started the nvflash process it sounds like you never completed it. That means you have no means of recovering.
List the files you have.
RMA will set you back between 200 to 300 dollars but ask Asus for a quote. You might be better off selling it for parts and getting something newer.
What I have is all from here, means the nvflash files for my tf700t.
I also have the original asus stock rom for my device and some other roms, twrp backups and so on...
The most is not usable while there is no fastboot / adb mode possible.
I have never read something about some blob files needed for other devices...
I dont understand what for blob files I need to bring recovery back. Thats all I want to have.
I tried to flash via nvflash the stock asus extracted till to a blob file. I remember nvflash wrote than somewhat like, no blob files found...
Maybe its really time to say goodby to this ....
wackaman said:
What I have is all from here, means the nvflash files for my tf700t.
I also have the original asus stock rom for my device and some other roms, twrp backups and so on...
The most is not usable while there is no fastboot / adb mode possible.
I have never read something about some blob files needed for other devices...
I dont understand what for blob files I need to bring recovery back. Thats all I want to have.
I tried to flash via nvflash the stock asus extracted till to a blob file. I remember nvflash wrote than somewhat like, no blob files found...
Maybe its really time to say goodby to this ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you followed the instructions on that page including the wheelie part to extract and save your blobs then your device is salvageable. The question is did you?
If yes you can use this guide to restore.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1927818&highlight=nvflash
If no, sell the device for parts as it is dead.
Thanks again.
I have asked Asus for Support and I post again after an answer from asus.
**** happens. That with the strongly recommed to do to make this device bricksave has to be placed on every first sites about this Thing.
Are there more devices who needs those files (means blobs)
wackaman said:
Thanks again.
I have asked Asus for Support and I post again after an answer from asus.
**** happens. That with the strongly recommed to do to make this device bricksave has to be placed on every first sites about this Thing.
Are there more devices who needs those files (means blobs)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a used motherboard on Ebay and replace it yourself. Sure to revive your darn tab for much less. What is it an Asus technician can do that you can't? It ain't rocket science after all. Go to this site and learn how to take it apart.
I dont know, what asus can do...
I have now looked many days for a mainboard for my device. Only 32GB Version are listet by ebay.
Maybe I have to wait...
wackaman said:
I dont know, what asus can do...
I have now looked many days for a mainboard for my device. Only 32GB Version are listet by ebay.
Maybe I have to wait...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Asus will do nothing other than charge you hundreds of dollars to replace the main board.
wackaman said:
I dont know, what asus can do...
I have now looked many days for a mainboard for my device. Only 32GB Version are listet by ebay.
Maybe I have to wait...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you are giving up and looking for a new mother board, you can PM and we could try a few different things to see if we could wake it up... If you have some spare time to waste then you could give it a shot, hahaha....

[Q] Trouble unlocking Transformer Infinity

So I want to install the latest 4.4.4 Kit Kat on my Transformer Infinity because the latest Jelly Bean on it is extremely slow. Through research and google I found that the only way to root it was go back to an earlier version of Jelly Bean. Otherwise the motochopper program was denied access so I was unable to root it. So I found the right Jelly Bean update and stuck it on my SD card and it showed up in the notifications as an update to fall back to. Installed it and the motochopper app worked and rooted the tablet. I tried to use the Asus unlocker tool but it always says to try back later as it is trying to unlock it. Some info on the internet says that app doesn't work with jelly bean some says it does. So I thought i would roll back to Ice Cream Sandwich. In order to do that the info. on the internet says to hold the down volume button along with the power button and you can go to some menu that will allow you to install earlier version of android. Which I have an ICS for the infinity on the SD card. Problem is the volume down button plus power button does nothing. It has no effect. I'm at my wits end here. Everything I have found on the internet doesn't work. I'm fairly new to rooting, unlocking, and installing a custom android. I have done this once for a Kindle Fire tablet and it was MUCH easier then this Infinity tablet.
You do not need to downgrade to ICS (and you can't - at least not with stock firmware) The unlock tool version 8 works fine on JB roms - if it works at all. You really have to keep trying. For some people it literally took 50 tries or more and all the sudden it worked... And for some it never worked. There's no rhyme or reason for this except that Asus is not trying very hard to make this work for us. They enable it, but do not support it.
Google "unable to unlock TF700" and you will get a dozen threads discussing this and a few more strategies you can try.
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk
That was kind of how the root tool worked I had to try it over and over I think about the 5th or 6th time it worked.
Well that was relatively painless then - happy flashing
I'm not quite to 50 times yet but I still get "an unknown error has occured. The network may be down please try again later" error.
So i'm all rooted and unlocked now. I have a snapshot version of 4.4.4 for transformer infinity. The cyanogen mod program says the TF700T isn't supported and aborts. I've tried the Clockwork Rom recovery program and it says the TF700T isn't supported either only the TF200 is it says. What is the best way to install this ROM?
So I tried Rom Toolbox. When the tablet reboots to boot into the recovery where you can install the rom it just sits at the asus logo screen forever. I don't think I have a recovery boot anymore. When I hold the power button and volume down button which is supposed to allow you to boot into recover nothing ever happens.
It's probably a little late, but to install a custom rom you have to install a recovery compatible with your bootloader and the rom you intend to flash.
You flash this recovery (TWRP or CWM) in fastboot, then you can boot into it to install a rom.
If you can't boot into the bootloader with Power and Volume Down and you did not generate nvflash blobs prior to all this, I'm afraid it's a brick.
Try every combination you can think of: Holding the buttons a very long time, use the reset pin hole on the side in conjunction with Volume Down, let it sit for hours and hope it sorts something out.
You need some magic to give you access to the bootloader menu and fastboot - that's your last hope.... Sorry
I can still boot into the version of jelly bean I have on the tablet fine. I did manage to get it to finally boot into a recovery console. it might have been a fluke I tried like 20 times and it finally just booted into it from the Rom Manager program. I tried installing my rom image but it would fail every time. I just rebooted and it went back into jelly bean. No idea what to do from here. The power button and volume down still don't do anything. And I haven't been able to reproduce getting it to boot back into the recovery again. At least it isn't bricked but I hate this tablet so much I might just take a hammer to it and give up.
If you have the time can you walk me through putting a decent version of 4.4.4 on here if it will work? Apparently I either don't know what i'm doing, the guides I have tried online are missing important steps, or my tablet is just "special". I do know that it is rooted and unlocked and that is where its at right now.
This guide seems like a good place to start but I don't see how to get through it when the volume down and power button doesn't do anything
http://forums.androidcentral.com/as...6920-tutorial-flashing-custom-rom-tf700t.html
kahless1979 said:
If you have the time can you walk me through putting a decent version of 4.4.4 on here if it will work? Apparently I either don't know what i'm doing, the guides I have tried online are missing important steps, or my tablet is just "special". I do know that it is rooted and unlocked and that is where its at right now.
This guide seems like a good place to start but I don't see how to get through it when the volume down and power button doesn't do anything
http://forums.androidcentral.com/as...6920-tutorial-flashing-custom-rom-tf700t.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know when I'm upset with this thing I start doing things wrong....make sure you are actually using the vol down button and not the Up button. It's an easy thing to do when you're in PO'ed mode.
You're lucky to be unlocked! I bet I have run that unlock tool a million times to no avail.....
kahless1979 said:
If you have the time can you walk me through putting a decent version of 4.4.4 on here if it will work? Apparently I either don't know what i'm doing, the guides I have tried online are missing important steps, or my tablet is just "special". I do know that it is rooted and unlocked and that is where its at right now.
This guide seems like a good place to start but I don't see how to get through it when the volume down and power button doesn't do anything
http://forums.androidcentral.com/as...6920-tutorial-flashing-custom-rom-tf700t.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot use ROM Manager on the TF700!!! That is the fastest way to a hard brick I know on this tablet. Forget ROM Toolbox, ROM manager and all the other tools! You have to get ADB and fastboot working on your computer and my guide you linked to is a good start.
I have no idea why you cannot boot into the bootloader if your rom boots fine????
You are pushing Power and Volume Down until you feel the tablet vibrate TWICE?
Get the ADB drivers installed on your PC and with the tablet booted into your rom type this in a command prompt:
Code:
adb devices
What do you get?
berndblb said:
You cannot use ROM Manager on the TF700!!! That is the fastest way to a hard brick I know on this tablet. Forget ROM Toolbox, ROM manager and all the other tools! You have to get ADB and fastboot working on your computer and my guide you linked to is a good start.
I have no idea why you cannot boot into the bootloader if your rom boots fine????
You are pushing Power and Volume Down until you feel the tablet vibrate TWICE?
Get the ADB drivers installed on your PC and with the tablet booted into your rom type this in a command prompt:
Code:
adb devices
What do you get?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Volume Down and Power yields one vibration and nothing happens after that. I have tried holding them down longer to no avail and released them after one vibration and nothing still.
I would use ADB to push the rom to the tablet and that is what I did with a Kindle Fire a couple years ago and worked great. But your guide still calls for being able to use the volume down and power button. I guess I got a real lemon of a tablet here.
I get List of devices attached
C7OKAS090001 device
kahless1979 said:
Volume Down and Power yields one vibration and nothing happens after that. I have tried holding them down longer to no avail and released them after one vibration and nothing still.
I would use ADB to push the rom to the tablet and that is what I did with a Kindle Fire a couple years ago and worked great. But your guide still calls for being able to use the volume down and power button. I guess I got a real lemon of a tablet here.
I get List of devices attached
C7OKAS090001 device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's good. You seem to have ADB access. Try this command:
Code:
adb reboot - bootloader
That should reboot your tablet into fastboot mode. If it does, use this command:
Code:
fastboot devices
That should return a (different) alpha-numeric string and you would be in business to flash. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...
adb reboot - bootloader
That command restarted my tablet.
So just type "adb fastboot devices" at the command prompt?
kahless1979 said:
adb reboot - bootloader
That command restarted my tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The correct command is:
Code:
adb reboot-bootloader
_that said:
The correct command is:
Code:
adb reboot-bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took out the spaces between the hyphen. Same thing, it rebooted the tablet right back to the android desktop.
kahless1979 said:
I took out the spaces between the hyphen. Same thing, it rebooted the tablet right back to the android desktop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm stumped... @_that you have an idea why it doesn't boot into the bootloader? I thought maybe the Volume button is bust - but now...IDK
berndblb said:
I'm stumped... @_that you have an idea why it doesn't boot into the bootloader? I thought maybe the Volume button is bust - but now...IDK
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible I messed something up when I downgraded from Jelly Bean 4.2.1 to 4.03? The reason I had did that was a guide somewhere for this tablet said the ADB motochopper program wouldn't root 4.2.1. Which I could never get it to work. But did fine once I went to 4.03. I did that by downloading that update from asus's website and putting it on my SD card and it found the update and asked me if I wanted to fallback to an older one.
kahless1979 said:
I can still boot into the version of jelly bean I have on the tablet fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kahless1979 said:
Is it possible I messed something up when I downgraded from Jelly Bean 4.2.1 to 4.03?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what version of Android is now actually running on your device? 4.2.1 or 4.0.3 (which is ICS)?
You also speak repeatedly of some version 4.4.4 you are trying to install - the latest version of Android as of today is 4.4.2.
Note that there are multiple ways to hard brick your tablet if it is unlocked - don't do anything you don't understand.

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