yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Acer Iconia A500] blackthund3r:
Quick point dibb, you can't flash a bootable recovery without a patched boot loader, but you can install recovery without rooting (although if it's stock the ROM will overwrite the recovery)
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Hold the train!!!!!:

do u mean u need to have the patched b/l before u can flash a custom recovery?? therefore acer recovery installer will not install a custom recovery unless you have a patched b/l first??

via fastboot do u mean??

sorry for the q's BT, but i need to get things clear in my head...i am confuzzled:confused::confused::confused:
[Acer Iconia A500] moebigsley:
I'm in the same boat as Dibb, this tool seems like a miracle, but do we need a patched bootloader first? The description implies that IT patches the bootloader.
[Acer Iconia A500] blackthund3r:
On ICS that is correct. You can flash it when rooted but it won't boot (SOS verification error)

Any way. Fastboot is a good way but you can also install recovery via nvflash (with a BL) or via Android (ie dd or Acer Recovery Installer) once you have a patched bootloader
[Acer Iconia A500] gersma:
ok, I'll make one saturday and send it to you ASAP.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
alrighty learn summit new every day round here!!! thanks for that m8 :good:
[Acer Iconia A500] blackthund3r:
You're very welcome :)
[Acer Iconia A500] moebigsley:
However, this tool will install the needed boot loader, correct? That's what it does, right? Roots, installs BL, installs custom recovery.

I hate to be so remedial, but I also want to be sure I am not wrong. It seems like such a boon to casual enthusiasts like myself who know just enough to be very dangerous.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Hehe I like to think of it as learning thru experience!!!!

And yes m8 this will do it all 4 u.

If u have troubs withit generating yr sbk, our Fab devs blackthund3r and lcd047 have provided us with a tool to do so.. check Op or BT's sig 4 links
[Acer Iconia A500] midnclb:
thanks to all from my post onward the conversation practically went on the questions I had left lol , thanks again!
[Acer Iconia A500] jgriff63:
I'm stuck in APX mode. When I run this, it won't see my tablet. I connect, pc sees "APX device" attached, drivers install, but it doesn't detect the tablet. Any ideas? Same problem with ADB, BlackThunder. What the heck could be missing here? I have re-installed drivers several times.
[Acer Iconia A500] blackthund3r:
Head to device manager and right-click the APX device. Then direct it at the Acer Driver folder and tell it to install the driver from there
[Acer Iconia A500] jgriff63:
No change. But when I change the usb driver to Acer boot usb from Acer Picasso boot, I can get BlackThunder's tool to see it, but no ADB, no Afterota.

.
[Acer Iconia A500] blackthund3r:
ADB only works when the device actually boots and Afterota depends on the device actually booting to get your codes. I offer similar functionality to gersma but over several tools so you can enter your own SBK etc. If you have your CPUID get your SBK from http://a500bootloaderflash.tk/sbkcalc/ then use my flash tool to install the patched bootloader and install CWM Recovery. It's one of the later bundles on a500bootloaderflash.tk's repo :)
[Acer Iconia A500] jgriff63:
I have my cpuid and sbk...it sees the tablet, and it starts to flash, then gets stuck at stage 2. I was trying to flash package 4. Well, I have tried to flash several of them. I am beginning to think there is a hardware problem.
[Acer Iconia A500] blackthund3r:
Downgrade to honeycomb then reupdate to ICS. I don't know why but this fixes 99% of issues.
[Acer Iconia A500] oleg1981:
when im truing to run the afterota im getting an error! UAC is enabed. disable it and restart the computer. what is UAC?

and is there any tutorial how to use this afterota easy way? without all the smart words? just pres this press that!?
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
UAC = USER ACOUNT CONTROLL

It is this thing unther windows (7), which always ask you for permissen if you wont run an exe.

You can disable it.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] subnoize soulja:
Im trying to use this program right now... I recently returned to stock to upgrade to ICS to then again re-root to have the regular ICS bootloader on my tablet but after installing the USB driver from the acer website and installing them then disabling Uac i open afterota and it doesnt find my tablet??? Are they other drivers to be installed and where can i find them..?? Sorry for the question just in a hurry and dont have much time to look through forums right now ... thanx in advance
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
I think the driver with HC boot loader and ICS boot loader were different... . If AFTEROTA does not load them, let windows do it.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] subnoize soulja:
after flashing a recovery and bootloader do we have to install superuser ourselves or does this do that too??? I just flashed and everything worked with no problems but there is no superuser? Not sure if this program does it for us or if we have to no biggie just curious incase i did something wrong!!!
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
...if it is not a part of your custom ROM, you should root your self.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] iamkoza:
I'm having some issues with my a500... I have the 1.033 build OTA 4.0.3. i had recently sent my tab in to acer for repair, they said they replaced the mainboard.. after updating ota to 4.0.3 again my autorotate issues came back... i want to root and install a custom recovery just so I can try flashing the leaked 1.054 ota that supposedly fixes autorotate.... however....

I ran blackthunder's ics root 7, and obatined root with superuser... however when I try to install thors rocovery and the unlocked bootloaders using afterota... it runs through the entire process and says it is successful... however, when I restart the tab I still have the locked bootloaders installed.... something is weird with my apx mode, because the tablet will go in to apx mode, but no icons or messages ever appear... the screen just stays black... i tried using blackthunders apxflashing utility, and I get to the point where it says I am in apx mode... and it goes to flash the bootloaders but the message on my tab never comes up so the flash is unsuccessful... it seems like my tab is refusing to go in to bootloader mode no matter what method I try. I'm stumped at this point... any advice?
[Acer Iconia A500] Kinz1980:
I am not sure what this means. I seem to be rooted with superuser running. I tried to us the afterota program as well usb debugging on and it says err under USB. I have read through so many things today that I have no clue where to go anymore.

I am trying to unlock the bootloader so I can install some others roms. Am I so lost right now? Am I in the right spot? I have rooted to other phones and did not have this much trouble. What is the one simple step I am missing?????????:crying:
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
What I wanted to say is that on HC boot loader there were different drivers then on ICS boot loader.

I used AFTEROTA on both ways up and then downgrade. It worked for me but I had to install the driver two times for HC and for ICS.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] Kinz1980:
i have installed the drivers about ten times now and it still says connect and enable usb debug. I am not sure what to do now?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
If you're having troubles then try apxFlash tool instead...other than that a bit more info would be handy...
[Acer Iconia A500] Kinz1980:
I am not sure where to begin. I have read through many threads and problems that others have had. I was trying this tool because I am unable to get my cpuid. I I was thinking this might be a easier way but I am not getting very far. It says the drivers are okay then it says error on the use. I have tried multiple cables and the three different ports on the laptop. Am I missing something stupid simple.? What other information would be helpful?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Are u stock ics?

I've found the same thing with drivers when using this tool which is why I suggested apxflash, or if u feel up to it civs manual nvFlash.

But first things first, getting yr cpuid - if u don't have an HC nandroid backup then u will need a working adb connection and for that u need the android drivers. You'll also need a cable - a micro usb data cable.

To get yr tab into BL mode where the flashing happens, requires the acer drivers.

I'm assuming you're running stock ics becoz thats what this tool requires.

All the info u need to update the BL can be found in the guides in my sig, if it's still not clear then don't try flashing anything till it is!

Yr first mission is to get yr cpuid, we can worry about the rest later
[Acer Iconia A500] oleg1981:
hi all. i have a question. i was using this tool to root my device. but i did not installed any roms on it or patched bootloader. i just rooted it and thats it. i have stock ICS that it came form the shop. now i want to make a factory reset! what i need to do?

the recoveri is stock 4.0.3 from acer recovery installer.
[Acer Iconia A500] iamkoza:
i just tried a second computer... same exact error... really frustrated
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
You'll need to rollback to HC with timmydeans v4. This will downgrade u to HC 3.2.1 which is rooted and has cwm installed, this will also wipe all yr data.

Once that's done u can flash the BL/recovery again and then install yr rom -

I'm not sure if any of the stock Roms are worth installing- I'd try ezterry or flex based roms for super hassle free running '-
[Acer Iconia A500] giannis-21:
do i need to delete the boot-recovery file from /system in order to flash the new bootloader and cmw? thanks
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
Using AFTEROTA you do not to delete anything manually, the tool is doing everything for you :)

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] Moustapha Aly:
Heeeeeelp plzzzzzzzz

i use the program and i pressed stock for A50x

then it told me its finished

and it make reboot my iconia

then when i am trying to open it open but stops @ Acer logo

is my device damaged so ?!!!!

plz help my to relife my device :(
[Acer Iconia A500] gersma:
The instructions on how to return to honeycomb stock are on the "stock" tab of the program, read them very carefully, there are also links there to the things you need to download. A honeycomb stock rom for example ...
[Acer Iconia A500] Moustapha Aly:
you mean i must download the stock room and then setup it on my tab ?( i red the instruction and i understood how to install it)

if yes , so how could i install a custom room that i downloaded !!
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
Back to stock is not the same procedure like installing a custom ROM. The procedure back to stock is special.

When you finish the stock ROM instalation, you will be able to root, install a recovery and flash a custom ROM.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] hhairplane:
Windows 8 Compatibility please...
[Acer Iconia A500] cgigate:
windows 8 is dead - DOA
[Acer Iconia A500] george800:
Please help! I have similar problem as above.

I wanted to go full stock

I used Afterota and I pressed stock for A50x

I had this rom in the SD card "Acer_A500_4.010.38_COM_GEN1" renamed to "update.zip"

After finished I rebooted Iconia with power+voldown

It found the update.zip, installed and reboot

Then when I am trying to open it stays in the android screen for ever

What can I do?

PS. I also tried this rom "SD_Acer_A500_7.006.03_COM_GEN1.zip" with the same results
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
...hmm..., just an idea to try:

When starting the tab, hold down the power button and vol+, when it vibrates start to move the screen lock button right, left, right, left, till you see the first lines written on the screen. Maybe this hard reset helps. In my case it did... .

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] george800:
This is very strange. As I said above I used Afterota v1.09 to go back HC stock bootloader & recovery. The progress was OK.

Then I installed the above HC stock Roms but the device was stuck at android logo.

Finaly as a desperate move I tried this ICS ROM: "Acer_A500_7.014.16_041.206.01_COM_GEN1". The installation was OK and the device rebooted. After Acer Logo and Android Logo apeared a message that my device was updating. After the update finished it went to homescreen with all the programs and settings I had before I tried to re-stock it.

Only now I have locked bootloader ICS 3.12-ICS and "Acer-AV041_A500_1041.00_WW_CUS1" Rom Edition wich is also unrooted. My Rom before I started all of this was "Acer_AV041_A500_1.031.00_WW_GEN1" rooted and ICS 3.14MUL unlocked bootloader.

Anyway!!!!

@meduza2: thanks for the reply
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
No worries m8 :)

I am glad that your tab is working again! Just get root and flash what ever you wish :)

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] george800:
@meduza2: Thanks! Can I ask you something?

My Iconia (always more often) flashes in the launcher, flickers and most of the times everything disappear apart the wallpaper...

Do you have the same problem?

It happens to me all the time (especialy when I move icons at homescreen or put shortcuts to homescreen from the drawer) with every launcher I 've tried. I was in unlocked ics bootloader and stock rom. The same happened with the locked bootloader. I tried the CM10 Rom same results. I removed all widgets from the homescreen with no luck. I just have to reboot. It is very annoying.

If it's in the ICS Bootloader then all must have the same problem or not? Or could it be on the unroot process?

That's why I wanted to go back to HC Bootloader and test it.
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
...well, I am not a boot loader expert at all..., as you can see in my signature I am still on my original boot loader. For me there is no reason to upgrade. But I did once and then I downgraded again using this great tool.

You could try to format the internal SD data & media partition.

Here is a simple instruction:

http://forum.tegraowners.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=83

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] demmo81:
ok i have a problem guys...

the tablet is not booting in and i cant log in recovery at all i think bcz i used wrong bootlader and now the tablet is stuck ...

i tried after OTA and i choose unsoftbrick and i choose the HC files and when it begins its stuck on Flashing Recovery forever.....

What to do:(
[Acer Iconia A500] demmo81:
OK I managed to bring the tab alive again and now it updated to ICS 4.0.3 with 0.3 ICS bootlader

Now when I use this app and installing boot loader and recovery it goes as normal but the recovery is not working :P

Also when I open the app again it shows me the same confirgrations as before... any idea why its not installing the boot loader?
[Acer Iconia A500] Moustapha Aly:
OK , how to use the app to install jellybean rom!
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
You flash a ROM via recovery. It is not what AFTEROTA is for.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] Moustapha Aly:
So ,could you help me with a link for how to install this rom cuz I downloaded it but still can't understand how to make it :(
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
...I do not know what JB ROM you are talking about..., there is sure a installation discribtion on the developers home page, where you downloaded the ROM. Useally it is a zip file which you flash in the recovery. You tab has to be rooted and recovery has to be installed.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] bond32:
So my dad is sending me this tablet. It will be stock, I see a number of different methods but it seems this is the best to get the tablet rooted, install new bootloader and recovery, and start installing roms. Am I correct to just dive in with this tool?
[Acer Iconia A500] meduza:
...at least for me, is AFTEROTA in deed the easiest and savest tool for up and downgrading the boot loader or going back to stock.

m.
[Acer Iconia A500] powerhouselb:
Love the tool

Very useful to a noob like me. Made the whole Rooting experience a little easier.
[Acer Iconia A500] Diablo67:
I guess this is just for coming from a nonrooted stock rom?Im on GB custom rom with CWM GB recovery and i tried to use your app to install the TWRP touch recovery with the ICS bootloader and it said success at the end,telling me to reboot to see the changes,but when i booted to recovery it was still CWM GB and no bootloader,am i doing something wrong?
[Acer Iconia A500] ZACQ8:
I think Acer Recovery Installer from market is suitable for you to change your recovery if you have already rooted.

This great tool is for those who are on Ota update unrooted and wants to change to patched bootloder+custom recovery
[Acer Iconia A500] pkopalek:
I assume that the 'flashing recovery...' step in the 'Standard' tab (number 3/4 as it's going through its process) to flash ICS and Ra recovery shouldn't take more than 5 minutes once it's at APX mode?

Windows 7 stable machine, fully ICS OTA'd a500 here. Good USB cable (tested with other devices moments before).

The first time I went to flash, it suggested I let a kernel with rw enabled get flashed. I pressed OK, and let it do its thing. The tablet screen went black for a while, and eventually the tool said that it was OK to shut down the tablet (press and hold power button) and boot it back up. Which I did. And the tablet came up just fine.

This second time I went to flash the bootloader (ics + ra), it asked the same question about the rw kernel again. This time, I said no (assuming that it just didn't know it had already done that job).

Now in APX mode, I don't know if it's safe to turn off/reboot the a500, or disconnect the cable, or what I should do.

I don't think it's flashing the recovery.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
its not an ideal test - the acer is very picky when it comes to cables and drivers

did u use the tool to root first?

Not sure why you flashed again as you said your tab booted up fine?

You should use "safely remove hardware icon" in the system tray of your pc - to safely disconnect your tab....

disconnect yr cables

close the tool down

reboot both pc and tab

what happens on your tab now?

do you have recovery - pwr plus vol down?
[Acer Iconia A500] pkopalek:
Turns out I wasn't stuck in APX mode. But the tool was sitting there saying 'flashing recovery' for ten minutes, and nothing happened. I rebooted the tab normally (and it boots up just fine).

No, I didn't do any 'rooting' first. First, I got this 'afterota' utility and went through the driver install, connection, and cpuid/etc numbers that it wants to find.

It looks an awful like Windows doesn't see an APX driver.

I'm about to reboot windows now, and start the whole process over. Should I be starting with a one-click root, to begin with, before I even do this bootloader/kernel stuff in Afterota?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
i've just tried the tool to install ra recovery - it flashed it fine...

on the info tab...as long as you get all ok's here then u should be good to go

i was already rooted before trying this so im unable to say

check the "advanced tab" if the option to root is greyed out then you shouldnt have to - if it isn't (greyed out) then click to root.

The process should not take long - i did this in the same time it took you to reply!!
[Acer Iconia A500] pkopalek:
Interesting.

Yes, the 'root' option is available, but it explicitly states 'through cwm' which, clearly, as the device is completely stock, I don't have CWM yet!

I mean, I don't think I do (unless cwm means something other than clockworkmod).

Derp. Doing the same thing now.

I chose 'flash ics bootloader and Ra recovery' and it is first having me flash some rw kernel. It says it rebooted into APX mode (and, in fact, Windows had to install the driver for it, and it was called the ACER Recovery-something driver, and installed fine), but it doesn't appear to be in APX mode. It's just a black screen. Saying 'flashing recovery'. Just sitting there.

Strange.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
yr tab should display Acer APX Mode - if it doesnt check safe remove hardware for an APX device, is it there?

Might pay to root then flash using cwm option - just until you get everything running stable...then flash ra after that

EDIT: what can also happen after unsucessfully flashing is the Acer drivers need to be reinstalled - check again the info window b4 flashing
[Acer Iconia A500] pkopalek:
Root then flash using cwm option?

I am not going to worry about getting this thing back to stock, ever.

Is that the 'advanced' area where it says to root via cwm? I'm all about that.

ALL I'M TRYING TO DO is get this thing oc'd to 1.5ghz.

That's the entire goal of this. To leave the stock ROM on there, and data intact, and have the oc kernel on there, and move on with life.

Does this bootloader thing wipe all of the data on the thing anyway??
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
yes

no the bootloader thing doesnt wipe your date...if u muck things up doing it, well thats when u will lose everything

BEFORE you go any further...I'd be backing up everything u dont wanna lose...just in case...I hope u saved all your important details to the text file as the tool suggests...

O/C'ing aint my dept...but i would say to flash the oc kernel you will need at least root if not the unlocked bootloader...The install instructions for this will be in the OP of whatever kernel you use...

Its been my experience tho' that the stock rom is crap...and if you do not at least clear out some of your apps etc...then YOU WILL have apps f/c's, wifi disconnects, and other 'weird' glitches...i'm sorry but it is what it is....

think and read very carefully before doing anything else....its when we're in a rush that we make silly mistakes and end up in a far worse position, take it from one who knows!!!!...just my 2c
[Acer Iconia A500] pkopalek:
Thank you for your helpful reply.

I've read until my eyes hurt and as a result of many writings addressing hc (older) softwares that this pad came with, there's a large number of threads that have snippets of information edited in about ics.

I'm going to try the apx tool and see where flashing in apx gets me. My goal is a new kernel. And most roms I read about have erratic issues or random reboots or even simply (in the flex a700 based Rom) the mouse cursor is off. I'm trying to find a perfectly functional, stock rom. Any ideas?

Thanks again for your help. I've been in xda for years and you're what makes the community amazing.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
The problem with roms especially JB is that acer have not updated our tab specifically - without the source our devs have done an awesome job giving us what acer couldn't - actually its pretty much been this way since 3.2:) So what i'm saying is there are gonna be issues but I reckon the biggest issues are people not reading the OP's...all the info is ALWAYS there...but of course people think the acer is like their phones i.e. root and flash cwm...and it doesn't work like that....wow, even 3.2 is still locked down - unrootable for us mere mortals, lol...

At the moment I've just flashed back to v6 supercharge cm10, I've never had any issues at all with it...like all civato's roms stable, customizable, overclockable..

theres flexreaper ics rom and reflexxx rom too, something for everyone....

I think ezterry has a stock rom, it will be in the dev section

otherwize if u positively have to stay stock, civato has some pre-rooted stock acer here http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1633907

any particular reason u want to o/c?? 1.5 might be pushing it, try 1.4 first and then if you have to, go up from there...also try posting in the rom thread if you are really looking to do/have something specific, no doubt someone will help point u in the right direction!!!

thanks for yr lovely comment - I do it so people can get the most out of their tabs, it really is an amazing little machine....and best to spend time here than in one of the hundreds of -please-help-me-I-think-I'm-bricked threads...that takes ALOT of time and patience, lol so its easier to help now...but i appreciate your kind words

Good luck with it all - if u have any other questions just ask away!!!

one final thing - installing ANY custom rom will require a FULL WIPE/FORMAT

you may try to get away with not doing it but it won't do much good -

and if you do flash stock you will lose your custom recovery if you do not delete the "recovery-from-boot.p" file in /system - then you'll have to go thru the whole process again - this does not apply to custom roms!!!

i think thats it;)