[Eee Pad Transformer General] LockonStratos00:
Success on changing SKU on ASUS TF300T from CN_epad to US_epad - Method #2

A colleague from work got his TF300T from China and as you may know, Google services are forbidden there. So, the TF had no Google Play nor any other Google services installed on it (really useless without). The firmware version was the CN_epad-9.4.3.30. Also, the oficial unlocker for the bootloader wouldn't work because according to the TF300T's ASUS download page, it's not compatible with CN firmwares.

Along with other colleagues, we decided to give it a try to the method #2 since the user won't be needing root nor unlock.

So I downloaded the ADB files from here and installed them (you can get the ADB files for Windows as well but you have to make sure that you have previously installed the USB drivers for the pad). Then, I went to the TF300T's Asus download page and I downloaded the US_epad-9.4.3.30 firmware (http://www.asus.com/Tablet/Transformer_Pad/ASUS_Transformer_Pad_TF300T/#download). I extracted the content of the ZIP file and I got a new ZIP file. Inside it, I found the BLOB file.

I copied the BLOB file (only the uncompressed BLOB file) into the TF's internal memory (in sdcard/) and connected the USB cable to my notebook.

Then, I executed the command "adb devices" just to make sure that the device was being recognised by the ADB and started doing the method #2 procedure.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1622628

1. Upload the BLOB file to internal storage of your tab. (mounted as /sdcard)

2. Connect tablet to the computer and start ADB shell session.

3. When you will be in adb shell execute following commands:

Code:

mv /data/local/tmp /data/local/tmp.bak

ln -s /dev/block/mmcblk0p4 /data/local/tmp

exit

4. Now reboot your tab through:

Code:

adb reboot

5. Once you see ASUS loading screen you should be able to start ADB shell session again (if not just wait), than (in shell) execute:

Code:

dd if=/sdcard/blob of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p4

6. The command prompt will be empty as wnen nothing happen, do not panic wait until the end of the process. DO NOT INTERRUPT (it will take apx.3-10 min)

7. When you see the following message:

Code:

1066806+1 records in

1066806+1 records out

546204969 bytes transferred in 250.309 secs (2182122 bytes/sec)

(the numbers in resulted message may be diffrent but it has to have the same structure)

You can safety reboot the device by exiting shell and executing :

Code:

adb reboot

8. Once rebooted you will see ASUS EeePAD flashing progress bar. Be patient and wait till the end.

9. Tablet will reboot itself and start loading new system. (as it is first boot it may take few minutes)

10. Be happy from your new firmware.​

After the first reboot and entering the "dd if=/sdcard/blob of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p4" command, the process took 318 seconds according to the report. Then, I rebooted the device again exiting ADB shell and inputting "adb reboot". A blue progress bar appeared in the pad upon the restart and it took like 5 minutes to complete the process. Then, the OS started to optimize the new applications and that's it! A fresh installed US firmware with Google Services in the Chinese TF300T. No unlock, no root needed.

This must work also with the other SKU versions (WW, TW, JP).