yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
Well, you can try this.

Go to http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1816560

Scroll down the list till you find the a500 ICS update Roms. Download a couple of them.

Then go here and get the acer update decrypter http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1869505 instructions for the tool are there.

You may not have to decrypt the Files. They may already be decrypted. You will know when you try to open them using 7zip or Winzip app.

DO Not Extract the files, just open it. Pull the update.zip to your PC desktop.

Copy the update.zip to your Ext SD card. Do not put it in a folder.

Boot your Tab holding Vol+ and PWR untill you see the package installation, then release buttons.

You may have to try 2 or 3 different update files, but one of them should work. They should be FULL Update files (300+mb)

It will install a fresh stock ICS, so if you had a unlocked bootloader, CWM recovery, and user data, say hasta la vista to them.

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
Thanks @Moscow Desire

Thanks buddy! I am trying this. Downloaded an encrypted ROM earlier, and the decrypter was old, hence couldn't decrypt. Now, I have found a decrypted ICS ROM, and have gotten as far as the green robot with a rotating polyhedron on its tummy and a progress bar. Let's hope this works out fine. Been waiting for the last 40 min and the update progress bar is still at around 25%.

How long do you think this should take?
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
Still stuck

Still stuck at the same point, almost 3 hours. Whatever shall I do?
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
Charge your tab, then try a different one.

It seems one won't work, but the other will.

The process shouldn't take but 15 minutes max.

I've heard where some folks had to do it 2 or 3 times with the same update.zip, but I would try a different one. Eventually it will work.

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
Still struggling

Finding it hard to find either

(a) a working decrypter with a working key ($12 doesn't work anymore it seems)

(b) a decrypted update.zip, not too finicky about the version as long as it works

Do provide a resource for the above if you can.
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
Tell me the name of the Rom files you tried to decrypt, and the download link to them.

I'll check them out. Might already be decrypted.

Looks like it'll take awhile. After downloading, I'll pull the update.zip's and post them for you to a different server. Downloading slow......

EDIT: Decrypter tool works fine. Just decrypted 4 of the update files. You have to wait a couple minutes after hitting the START button. And there's no animation telling you what's going on, but after a couple minutes it finishes. I would also suggest closing and starting the app again after you finish with one. This clears the "Done" message.

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
Dowmload links for the decrypted update.zip's for the A500. For those having issues using the Decrypter tool..

Note: Remove the build numbers from the filename. They were only added to keep order. Rename to "update.zip"

41-124-01-update.zip

41-125-03-update.zip

41-203-01-update.zip

41-206-01-update.zip

Don't ask me which is better than the other. I don't know. But if you're tab's stuck at the Acer display, a working tab is better than a non-working tab ;)

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
Thanks

Thanks MD!

(Sorry I was away for a few days).

Gonna try this and let you know what happens.

Thanks again, you're a sweetheart.
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
update

Tried rooting with 41-206-01-update.zip

Curiously the progress bar (with Green android robot and rotating polygon) still stuck at around the same place (25%).

Gonna try another of these files and let ya know.
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
curiouser and curiouser

Trying 41-124-01-update.zip now.

On trying the same, it first came up with the belly up robot with triangle.

On retrying, the update progress bar again stuck at around the same point.

Well, still 2 more of these to try.

I wonder if someone else has faced a problem similar to mine.
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
Hoping one of them will work ;)

Stuck at the Acer logo, usually represents 1 thing. Bad data in the Data partition. (corruption). Usually, runing one of the updates (some of them don't work) will set everything in order.

If not, well, not looking good.

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
:(

Ok. Tried all four. All of them get stuck at exactly the same point during the update progress.

Now, I'm stalled.

Any ideas, anyone?
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
Well, the "normal easy method" didn't work.

Ok, check this post. Guy had more or less the same issue. In the end, he started running EUU roms. EUU roms are exe files rum from the PC while connected to your tablet.

You can download them from the same sticky post in the Dev forum I believe.

It's the "flash everything" approach. Basically, he wound up back on HC 3.2, which is ok as you can normal OTA update to ICS.

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=31572588&postcount=6

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
:)

Thanks, MD.

Will try this and let you know either way.

Thanks for your time. Highly appreciated.
[Acer Iconia A500] cubanorafter:
Moscow,

I was also in the same boat, my tab was stuck at ACER screen after I rebooted one day.

I had NO custom ROM, everything was stock except I had root...

I followed your directions here and it works!!! :) :good::good::good::good:

I have followed your posts over the past year and appreciate you and everyone else here.

One question about those 4 packages you posted, everything is now stock? Stock ROM and Stock bootloader, etc...?

Just want to make sure!

Thanks again!!!

Malachi
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
hey cuban

Can you guide me to the stock ROM you used to reboot your tablet?
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
No problem!

Yeah, you're going to be back on stock bootloader and no CWM. However, you're up and running!

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] cubanorafter:
Mannubhat, I downloaded all four of these but the first one I tried worked.

41-124-01-update., renamed to update, put on root of sdcard, boot tab volume+ and power, and that was it.

Good luck!
[Acer Iconia A500] mannubhatt:
Already tried my man. Didn't work.

You lucky you.
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
I'm uploading something to the server that "might" help.

Will PM you after it uploads. EDIT: Never mind, you have a 500.

Have you tried running one of the EUU's? Not sure if you have to have a UID number or not.

Also, there is TimmyDeans method. But I think it needs a UID number also.

MD
[Acer Iconia A500] karthi3d81:
not having the UID.. tablet not getting into APX mode

its been pleasant using a500 for last 9months .. when i was using adownloader to download movies.. and was playing music with mixzing.. browsing with chrome browser.. it was just starting to slow down as i started the chrome .. before even i tried closing the chrome and adownloader.. tablet hung up. then it automatically restarted and stuck up in acer logo. its been two weeks im struggling with the acer logo only.

after reading the thread i understand i need the UID and have the tablet in apx mode.. blackthunder is not helping to enter into apx mode, either the manual way of using reset button does not help.

can anyone help me in following flashing the rom and fix the bootloader get my a500 working..

I donot have the UID

---

Just a extra wish is it possible to port windows/ubuntu into the a500 tablet.. which i always wanted to happen.
[Acer Iconia A500] stillmc25:
Same problem

mannubhatt,

How have you made out on this problem? I am having the same problem: my stock A500 would not go past the Acer screen on boot. I have tried all the ROMs provided multiple times. As with you, they would only get 25% of the way through before hanging. Occasionally I would get one to go 90% of the way through, but none of them would complete. I haven't tried hooking it to a PC yet, which will be my next step. I will let you know if anything works. For now I have an expensive paperweight.
[Acer Iconia A500] karthi3d81:
sending it to acer service

Mine is still in warranty .. sending it to acer service.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
there has been a couple of reports about the tab all of a sudden getting stuck on the acer logo, this is a hardware issue and tabs were sent back to acer for repair.

one thing i do know...if you are stuck here after flashing then you must use an EUU or nvFlash based rom to fix it and you will need your uid for this. read: you WILL need a pc, adb and fastboot installed along with the acer drivers, see the cpuid thread for details.

JdgM3NT4L has a guide to revert to stock using an acer stock update.zip here if this doesnt fix you and disregarding any hardware issue then I dont know what will...

Once back on HC run adb devices to get yr uid or run a nandroid backup, yr uid.txt is stored in the backup folder or mot recovery's will display your uid on the home screen cwm1.7.2 and cwm 1.7.3 do and i think from memory twrp does too.

Remember before upgrading from HC Get yr cpuid backed up and stored safely...
[Acer Iconia A500] ill_dawg:
mine got stuck the other day when I tried to do a nand restore back to HC. Just flashing a stock rom wouldn't unstick it. I had to do a rotation-lock-toggle wipe to clear everything out, then it booted up just fine, albeit sans the contents of my internal memory. I had been meaning to clear that out anyhow.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
yes u r correct, u must do a full wipe first. the toggle wipe u did can only be done with stock bootloader
[Acer Iconia A500] karthi3d81:
how to find my hardware is gone...

on doing flash with blackthunder or nvflash, gets stuck at uploading... getting the below error.. not able to get into recovery or update.zip is not working..

**********************************************************

* Press any key when your A500 is in bootloader mode *

**********************************************************

Press any key to continue . . .

Flashing HC-Bootloader...

Nvflash started

[resume mode]

Formatting partition 4 please wait.. Command Execution failed cmd 13, error 0x120002

FAILED!

command failure: format partition failed (bad command)

bootloader status: unknown operation (code: 1) message: flags: 0

Nvflash started

[resume mode]

Can any suggest how to find problem with the hardware or any workaround to get the recovery & rom flashed.. i had got my cpuid.. All methods gets hang at uploading stage...
[Acer Iconia A500] sladeb:
i am having the same issue

i have gone through both strings posted here, (list of ROMS, and this one) and i seem to get a ROM that stops at 25% or 75% complete but never finishes. if i restart the one that gives me a status bar, it takes 2-3 time rebooting to get the status bar back. i bet i have downloaded about 10-15 ROMs and only one or two give me a status bar like somethisng is working. is my tablet too far gone?

thanks in advance.
[Acer Iconia A500] howie14:
One more...

Mine got locked on the ACER logo today, I tried to reset. I've tried all four downloads suggested here and they get stuck at various points between 25 and 95%.

Now I'm trying the toggle thing and it just sits there telling me, "BOOTLOADERCV0.03.12-ICS: STARTING FASTBOOT USB DOWNLOAD PROTOCOL" and then it sits on that.

As a total NOOB and a guy who was just using the think without rooting or experimenting in any way, I could really use some advice in really simple language as I don't know what I'm doing. I suspect someone like me may now be out of options.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
No plenty of options left

You have stock ics bootloader.

A) flash a stock update.zip

B) flash the unlocked ics bootloader and then flash a custom rom

C) Roll back to HC with EUU

Cpuid required for B and C

Unlocked bootloader sticky in dev forum.

Guides in my sig for everything else
[Acer Iconia A500] lnz423:
Hey i'm a noob also and I've been having the same issue with my A500. It's completely stock, and suddenly got stuck on the Acer logo one day and I haven't been able to boot it yet.

Could someone explain the process of using the executable files on a computer to get it back to stock? (EUU) I would really like to try that (I don't have an SD card) but I don't know how the process works.

Thank you.
[Acer Iconia A500] backitude:
If you're getting that message, you're pressing and holding the wrong volume button on boot. I know because I'm in the same boat. Can't find any fixes that will fix this issue. Acer forums would indicate this is a problem for hundreds of users, mostly off warranty by this point. Never rooted, never flashed... and we still brick a device.
[Acer Iconia A500] tdx3000:
i download the update posted by moscow copy to sdcard rename to update.zip boot to recovery vol+ & power it try to load the update and stuck at the android and red triangle.

what can i try next any idea ?
[Acer Iconia A500] dredknot:
any update from anybody? Trying to fix the bosses tablet and I cant downgrade ( or upgrade ) to anything. always gets stuck at the 25% mark
[Acer Iconia A500] bdoggg:
Finally!!

I'm a noob on here. My A500 was stuck on "ACER" for the last 6mos. It was still under warranty, so I sent it to ACER and they sent it back to me in the exact same condition with no explanation or anything, lol. Not even a note saying, " You are S.O.L." So, after reading and trying to decipher all the lingo here, I was able to get it to get past the ACER screen and back to a operational condition. Here's what I did:

1. Downloaded the files "41-124-01-update.zip" and "41-125-03-update.zip".

2. Using "41-124-01-update.zip", I renamed it " update"(you know...right click...select "rename" and typed the word "update", because the name" update.zip" didn't DO JACK S@#$!! And that's after trying at least ten other files and naming them "update.zip").

3. Loaded the renamed file on a mini-SD Card(FAT32'd it) and installed the card into the slot.

4. Pressed the volume button to the left and the power button at the same time until the pwr light came on. Continue to hold the left side of the volume button down until it goes into recovery mode to read the sd card(you will know when that happens!!). It started reading the card and 2 to 4 mins later, I was going thru the hassle of setting up my tablet again. Small price to pay in my book, lol.

Thanks Moscow for offering up the files and I hope this helps someone with their piece of crap A500. And a big middle finger to ACER!!

Bdoggg
[Acer Iconia A500] rafaelnd14:
Help me Please !

---------> My Iconia a500 just in android Red Triangle, not installs new android just in android red triangle. Help me please ???? I make all your instructions but yet not installs the android. It already stopped for two month. You can say me how format my Micro Sd "just configs" in Windows 7 ? I put one Micro Sd of 1gb of SANDISK with format FAT32

and allocation unit size 4096 bytes, but dont work.
[Acer Iconia A500] msgreenf:
I have the same problem stated above. I just get the android with ! point when i try to flash any of the packages in this thread with them renamed as update.zip.

Any ideas?
[Acer Iconia A500] msgreenf:
I can get it into fastboot mode but I don't know my SBK and I am getting a serial of 12913807815. Can someone help me generate the SBK?
[Acer Iconia A500] msgreenf:
I am on the ICS boot loader. All stock.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
People! If the update.zip does not work u must use nvflash to recover....an EUU will do the trick, so will v8 bootloader package, and so will tdv4....links are in my sig....YOU MUST HAVE yr cpuid to flash via nvflash....see sig.. If you are on stock ics then u will need to use the downgrade method.
[Acer Iconia A500] msgreenf:
but the only thing I have is my serial...how can I generate my CPUID?
[Acer Iconia A500] bdoggg:
Look at bottom of the previous post by Dibb
[Acer Iconia A500] Fallenhero1:
Tried the above roms....as I was stuck on logo...they do there thing to 100% and reboot but I still get the logo how long does it take to put ics back on...as I am not sure weather I am not waiting long enough or its not working...as others have said there only getting like 25% percent of the way where I am completely the install
[Acer Iconia A500] traditionalpanda:
Similar Issue

I'm reviving this thread cause I'm having a similar issues -- I bought a bricked A500 so I can use the screen on my working A500 but I'd like to fix the broken one still if possible.

So it's stuck on the Acer splash like this thread is entitled.

I tried reset with pin and volume up

I tried reset with lock screen toggle

I tried soft recovery with the update.zip's listed earlier in this thread

The only thing with those is I had to use my good A500 to put the files on the sd card cause I don't have a card reader currently

I tried A500 Manager to get the CPUID but my PC doesn't recognize the thing as more than an MTP USB Device and fails to install correctly-- my working A500 is recognized as a mobile device called A500 -- I tried manually updating the driver to no avail

at some point during my attempts I saw it was running an ICS bootloader
[Acer Iconia A500] diego.m:
Same problem, as many have apparently, 2 months after warranty expiration (2 yrs in Italy). Never more an Acer product.

I did some attempts to recover but it happened when I was away and had only access to the PC of the hotel so I couldn't find your message which is the best and most clear I found on the internet.

What should happen? Should I see something different than the acer logo? If not, how long should I wait? :confused:

:o ehm... How do I know? If I can open the zip on the PC and see files in it, am I OK? :confused:
[Acer Iconia A500] Moscow Desire:
All devices have issues Mate. Acer is no exception. Should keep an eye on the Sammy's and Asus's and even the over-rated Nexus.

When you boot to the stock recovery, "With" a proper update.zip on the root of your Ext Sdcard, while holding, you should within 10 seconds see text in the upper left corner stating it's installing. Then, if I remember correctly, you should see the android guy, with a progress indicator.

Ok, Acer distributes their roms and updates in an encrypted format. Yes, you will know if it's encrypted, by merely attempting to open in 7zip (or winzip). If you can open the zip, then somebody has already decrypted it. (if you ever need the decrypting tool, it's in the Themes and apps forum).

You pull the update.zip and copy it to ext sd. Boot to the stock recovery.
[Acer Iconia A500] karbar32:
Hello, another noobie incoming....

My Acer 500 stopped working Friday, with the very same freeze at Acer startup screen detailed here. Reset button didn't work (there's a post here that said he pressed the vol/up button while pressing the Reset button-I've only been inserting the tip of a paper clip to press button, which is the correct way?

Did the hold power button while pressing vol/up then sliding lock button back and forth. "Erasing Cache" appeared, but screen goes back to Acer startup and nothing.

Found this thread from a poster at Androidtablets.net. Downloaded one of the zip files posted here. Went to copy to an SD card, but discovered the SD reader on my pc doesn't work-I've never used it before. Can the file be placed on a USB drive instead? While trying the power button/vol up reset, I had the wrong side (vol/down) held, and saw

"Bootloader vo.03.12-ICS Fastboot USB Download Protocol"

in the corner. I didn't want to try a USB until I checked with someone with experience on what this means.

BTW, how quickly do you have to toggle the Lock switch when doing the pwr/vol up button hold procedure? My hands are....very large. It has been very difficult to hold the tablet in a position to firmly press down both buttons, release the power button, and toggle the Lock switch. The switch never got used, so it is very stiff to slide bac and forth-not to mention, incredibly small, for my fingers. Could not moving quickly enough be why the method hasn't been working? A poster noted seeing the green Android robot onscreen after trying. That happened once after multiple attempts yesterday... But all other tries have had either the Acer logo return, and a few times, the animated Android words on screen, with no movement beyond that. Just wondering if I'm not moving fast enough for it to work.
[Acer Iconia A500] ivibre:
response to word: noob, as we all either are or were

I have same prob. got the download link and am in process of trying to install. still getting the dead android. i didn't think it would be complicated but am at least getting the cache to delete.

What I suppose I hope to convey to you is this: Don't give in, up or out. Don't be ashamed not to know. The people here are more than gracious and helpful. That's why they are doing what they do. This short note is for them too "thank you".

Why Acer elected to be so kind as to rescind the files I don't know. Perhaps if we all voted to restore the information they might reconsider and provide us with a bit of help here. I spent >400 on my tablet and when it died, it was in the middle of a download/update, my warranty having expired the day prior. Go figure. . . . The battery died while upgrading/downloading but bottom line was that I forgot the pattern which I'd just set the night before. Now that it is stuck on Google, I tried to sign in and Google sent me an email, "someone tried to sign in to your tablet". Ha! Yes, it was ME, can you let me in please? Without any further adoo doo from Goo goo, (but a grand suggestion from a Moderator to which I am ever so grateful and which contained some simple instructions) which got something going and I have tried one download, no bananna, am onto second try with two more possibilities remaining, haven't given up yet. Came to XDA just now today to see if I were missing something else and came across your post - feeling compelled to reply, am. So there!

You are welcome to follow my posts if you like and welcome to write even though I'm old as dirt and dum asa rock, worked for Apple Inc. years ago, I remain, "still a noob". Smiles4Miles
[Acer Iconia A500] ivibre:
Further info A500 locked at Google sign-in screen

I see one of my errors right off the batt. I extracted the files and renamed it from there. I also set permissions allowing the a500 read or write. So, here is further query: Should the A500 be in fastboot or the (apx?) mode. Should it be connected to the laptop at all? This is what I do understand: rename the files (without extraction) to update.zip. Already tried the other way (ha ha on me).

Should the SD card be read/write or read only. Locked or unlocked. FAT or NTFS. Connected or not to laptop. I remain extremely grateful and also scared out of my wits of bricking. I do know that it was in an update when it lost power. I do know that the update didn't finish as there is the arrow (for download) in the status bar. It is in debug mode already. Google sent me an email when I tried to log on but the internet icon has a question mark in it still (no connection). I do have ACER USB connect installed on both laptop and tablet. I did the push the paperclip thing last week before you wrote instructions (while you were out of town) so I have no idea what that did but it doesn't appear to be changed.

Whew!