yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
afterOTA will do this behind the scenes

if u use apxFlash or nvFlash then yes you will need to enter yr sbk manually

if u need to use a rollback rom or official EUU Tool - you will need to enter your cpuid

being nervous is ok - you normally need root before you move it as its a system file...so just go back and check /system again...you can rename it "....boot.p.old" if that makes u less nervous:eek:

yes but I advise a Backup before you do....if anything goes awry at least you'll have that!!!

then flash your rom and reboot

As far as roms go - I've only ever used civato's ones so I'm not much help there, sorry - and I spend so much time 'bricking and unbricking' (research purposes of course!!) I don't really get alot of time just 'playing', lol...but I will say this - most of the custom roms on here are pretty damn good, they're well supported and stable....just check the last couple of pages of the rom thread itself...if theres any user issues at all, you'll find them there....oh and in the OP itself

best of luck m8!!!
[Acer Iconia A500] sany:
Do you think I need to go and do this, as I have already rooted, and completed unlocked bootloader and recover via afterOTA, I might be renaming the one that came with the modified bootloader?

How will I do this? sorry for pestering
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
its only required if you are flashing a Stock Rom - all of the custom roms are pr-rooted and this file has already been deleted...

If the file is in /system it will remove your newly flashed custom recovery and put back the Acer Stock Recovery {i.e. dead android on its back} if this happens you just need to flash the recovery again

thats ok, we were all new to this stuff at some stage;)

in the recovery menu you will see an option "backup and restore"

select it and then you will see another menu - select "Full Backup" and let it do its thing...

once its done go back to the main menu and select "Flash Zip from SD Card" then choose the zip of the rom.

Just a note:

In recovery menu your SD Card refers to your external sd card

Your Internal Memory of the Tab itself is called Internal Storage

dibb

heres a pic - its an older version of cwm but gives the general layout

I gotta get some sleep - will check back in the morning...dibb
[Acer Iconia A500] appple:
Hope you had good rest yesterday.

I will try to do this in next few days.

Do you know what the a500 B of Babsector do? Just wondering
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
sorry i'm not too familiar with this tool - I've never had to use it as timmydeans v4 has always worked for me...

From what I can gather, running the 1st bat files uses a different partition to flash cwm 1.7.3 so you can enter recovery and perform a format of /system.

In other words it seems 'resetting the partitions' (like timmydeans tool does) is not enough - you must then do a format of the system partition thru cwm and then run the b.bat to put the original partition table back on yr tab....

You will need to flash a rom directly after using it....formatting system will leave you without an OS but this is not mentioned in anything I've read - you can read more about it here

EDIT: found a good thread for you to read here explains how to use babsector

BTW i'm working the next 3 days so may not be around as much as i'd like....

will check in when i can

rgds dibb
[Acer Iconia A500] appple:
Merry Christmas dibb

You are right about this little tool, (I was the last poster in that thread when I got stuck before the A500 B zip)

I was almost ready to try the Fastboot thing you showed me earlier, then after I read this thread, I decided to give the Babsector one more try, using the manual method to get in APX mode per your guide (last time I used the blackthund3's tool), VOILA, it WORKED!! I flashed Civato's Flex-Resurrection_Rev1

and it's rocking (I stayed with 4.0.4 because I want to swap my internal(8GB) with an external (32GB)

h??p://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1445720 ), now going to do this, hope it will go smoothly.

Hope you did not have to work too hard, and enjoying your Christmas now.

Thanks again for your help.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
@appple great news glad it worked:)
[Acer Iconia A500] twoheart77:
N00b trying to upgrade to ICS.

I have a acer iconia a501, There is no ics update here in Canada I believe. It currently has unrooted HC 3.2 kernal 2.6.36.3+ with a build number of Acer_A501_4.452.01_PA_ROG. some of the guides seem pretty long to me. I have tried to install android sdk, however it does not seem to function under windows 8. is there another way to do this?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Go to the bottom of this post and download adb_fast.zip - this is a mini sdk kit with just the drivers - you do have the acer drivers as well, yes?

there have been a couple of issues reported using win8, so try a different micro usb cable and a different usb port on your pc...the acer is very picky when it comes to cables...

If you have access to a linux machine you'll have no probs at all flashing the v8 bootloader:)
[Acer Iconia A500] bytor1:
Thank you
[Acer Iconia A500] anonymous93:
Thank you Dibb for responding to me in the other thread. I've got the update downloaded from your post 2 and I have an external SD card to load it onto. Am I correct in thinking there's no connection required between my computer and tablet? I rename the file to update.zip, load it onto the SD card, put that in the tablet and use the power/volume- buttons correct?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Yeh u got it....I think the update.zip is good to go just copy it to yr ext sd. Best to do full wipe too m8 via Android settings...you'll be back to full stock so no custom anything....If it's the 3.1 zip u can take the ota to ics or flash the v8 unlocked bootloader from there, to get cwm...and a custom rom
[Acer Iconia A500] teethman:
Thanks alot man ..... I used tdv4 to unbrick my A500, it come back to life .....:thumbup::thumbup::):)
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Awesome news...have u flashed another rom or are u still on 3.2
[Acer Iconia A500] Goldenmeadow:
Question about Step 3

Hi!

I have completely stock A500, 4.0.3

Now I'm ready to root and upgrade Android.

[EDITED]-SOLVED I read first post and have question about Step 3 - renaming/deleting the boot.p file. How do I do it exactly? blackthund3rs ICSRoot file is exe and should be run from computer. What about tablet? Do I need to put it into APX mode, recovery?

ANSWER - no, tablet is in normal mode

But now I have question about step 5.

[EDITED]-SOLVED I flashed Skrilax bootloader with TWRP recovery.

Now I'm booting into recovery - Vol+ and Power. I get bootloader screen. There I select BOOT RECOVERY but I get Adroid guy with red triangle... What is wrong with it? Should I flash CWM?

ANSWER I flashed Thor CWM in fastboot mode as Secondary Kernel Image.

So now my next question: is it normal that I can't boot into RECOVERY from bootloader's menu but have to use Secondary Kernel Image?

Thanks!
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
When you reboot - the boot.p file overwrites your newly flashed custom recovery with the stock recovery i.e. the dead android, which is why you need to delete or rename it.

IcsRoot is run on yr pc via Micro usb cable to your tab.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
You need root to delete the boot.p file, it's in /system
[Acer Iconia A500] sseng587:
need help

I can't go pass bootloader flashing ebt stage two. below I tried to use the babsector, but still getting writing failed. What can I do from now?

[IMG="screenshot"]http://oi57.tinypic.com/xmomj7.jpg[/IMG]
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
I think your tab is toast...suffering from the faulty memory chip issue, there is no fix apart from a new motherboard. ...there are some workarounds posted by others but they only delay the inevitable. ..reflowing solder by heating in an oven has been successful for some.
[Acer Iconia A500] sseng587:
Okay thanks for the info. Oh well,

I guess its time for me to say goodbye to my acer tab after 3 years, lol
[Acer Iconia A500] arun.b:
Worked

Yes!!! I got my tab in working condition. :p

First thanks to Moscow Desire, dibb_nz, drkalo, Civato.

! I loss my hope But Its proved that not corrupted or faulty memory cheap :cowboy:

Started time over the year. No CPU ID

But Ubuntu method is worked 100%

Then Trying BABSECTOR over 1000 times 2 times got the V8 Multi bootloader but unsuccessful due to flashed ICS Update zip.

Then 3rd time get using BABSECTOR image 501 B.bat

and then flashed custom thor 1.7.3 recovery

and then flashed civato original & custom rom with no success :(

Finally flashed 3.2 back to 3.0.1 and its worked for me. link http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1276227 http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1585907

:laugh: THANKS :laugh:
[Acer Iconia A500] Vhanuman:
Followed the steps without any issues. Hoever after instaling any custom rom ( tried various combination of recover and ROM) it stays on android logo for very long time. Sometimes android logo is flashing, but the ROM never boots
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
You do not need to flash a recovery, the v8 bootloader installs cwm for you.

The steps are:

Flash bootloader.

Boot to recovery.

Full wipe data and cache.

Flash rom.

Reboot.

If you reboot before flashing a rom you end up stuck on the Acer screen. To fix this just reflash by follow the steps as above
[Acer Iconia A500] Vhanuman:
Thanks dibb_nz for your response....

As part of flash bootloader ( i am using linux)...i followed the following steps...

/nvflash --bct bct.bct --setbct --bl bootloader_apx.bin --configfile flash.cfg --odmdata 0x300d8011 --sbk <mysbk> --sync

./nvflash -r --format_partition 4

./nvflash -r --download 4 bootloader_v8.biin

./nvflash -r --format_partition 6

./nvflash -r --download 6 recovery_thor17_403.img (here i tried with different recoveries)

./nvflash -r --go

---- Got the message in APX mode that it PASSED

and then did full wipe data & cache...and install rom from ext-sdcard....

I left it run for entire night again and it was still on android logo....

So, not sure what i am missing.......
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Which rom u using??
[Acer Iconia A500] arunda:
ATF (Advance Turbo Flasher) tool ?

Can we use like ATF (Advance Turbo Flasher) tool for repair faulty Emmc ??

---------- Post added at 06:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 AM ----------

Can we use like ATF (Advance Turbo Flasher) tool for repair faulty Emmc ??
[Acer Iconia A500] MilkyPL:
Will timmydeans root tool -tdv4- work on a501?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
If you have the Cpuid, then yes, your tab will be on HC, it will have root, and a custom recovery, it will not have 4G tho....you will need to flash a specific 501 rom for that...

To flash an XDA ics or jb rom, you will need to flash the skrilax unlocked bootloader.
[Acer Iconia A500] HeyRicardo:
The first one doesn't work (zip appears broken or not available); the other points out to have stock ICS, but is it google's stock or acer's stock?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
wot r u trying to fix? I may know a better way for u, if I know what is wrong....it may be cheaper and easier to but a new, more modern device, than muck about with the acer :(
[Acer Iconia A500] marcx987:
anyway to do this while on windows 10? tvd4 doesnt work gives me a "Your operating system isn't compatible with the upgrade application. Please download .NET Framework 2.0 or above from Microsoft website."

error and .net2.0 sp2 is installed and verified using the .net verfication tool so its there. Tried blackthunder flash tool but didnt see apx device when i can see it APX via "safely remove hardware" on task bar and in acer boot recovery driver in device manager

Or anyway to do the process manually via command line?

Edit: Just reinstalled win 7 on spare hdd on laptop. Now having other issues. Following the guide at the beginning tried using the tdv4 zip but when going through the process it asks me to connect the tablet and it will pull serial number but since can't get into the os and trying to get it running from apx can't get past that.

I downloaded the blkthunder flash and the euus rom and it got stuck at stage two flashing bootloader uploading image. The tablet had acer download thing on the screen as well so idk what's the issue
[Acer Iconia A500] Nova4Roberto:
test
[Acer Iconia A500] anonymous93:
:( I got the following:

erasing cashe before SD update...

SD update cmd: recovery

--update_package=sdcard:update.zip

booting recovery kernel image

RECOVERY VERIFIED FAILED...

Do I try step 2 in post 2? If so what do I do with the tdv4 file?

ETA: I think I need to be able to connect my tablet to computer at this point. If that's the case I have been unable to find my cable. I'll have to hunt it down or buy a new one. Thank you so much for your help so far.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
To Run EUU'S or tdv4 you must have yr cpuid. ..see cpuid guide.

There are other update.zips u can try...This one is a international version, u may need a different one.

Recovery verified failed error usually fixed by running patched bootloader v8 to get cwm ..... u will need cpuid!!

What lead up to yr problems. .wot rom and bootloader were u on...did u have cwm...few more details will help!!°

Seont from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
[Acer Iconia A500] anonymous93:
I don't have my cpuid at this point. It looks like I'll have to use step 9 from your cpuid post to get that. Assuming I can get my tab into apx mode. Still have to find/buy my connection cable.

In the meantime, I'll keep trying other update.zips. I didn't realize that if one didn't work another one might.

I was on the stock rom, it was just rooted using that easy root method. I have no idea what bootloader or if I had a cwm. I wish I could give more details. It was working fine, but I just wanted to go back to an unrooted device. I had tried loading an update.zip or two but it didn't work. Tablet was still working though. Then yesterday I tried the volume+/power and switching the screen lock switch. That's when the tablet no longer would boot up. It gets hung up on the flashing "android" loading screen.

If I ever get this fixed I sure won't be messing with it again.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
The 3.1 in the post is a nz/Australia ota version. ..not really different just helps with updating via ota. It should still work for what we want it to do.

Do u mean the Blue android boot animation?

When you did the rotation lock thing, did it display any text on screen...erasing user data and cache.?...think I'd be trying it again..
[Acer Iconia A500] ayamjago:
hi dibzz... i was finally able to get into the apx mode and the picasso device showed up. however i'm stuck in the apx mode. i tried several times to no success. any idea?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Black Screen - power light on, post 3 above...it's not stuck, only waiting for input from you! Via the command line using nvflash!
[Acer Iconia A500] ayamjago:
ok so i finally able to root using the timmydean and i'm on rooted stock HC but... that's A500 HC *grins* mine is A501

then i tried to flash the A501 rom, but stucked at acer logo. is this because of A500 HC recovery and my trial to use A501 rom? how do i get out of this now?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Lol, you can just flash a 501 rom now using cwm...:)
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Edit:

Either flash the v8 bootloader to install a ics or jb rom..or use an hc rom if u want to stay with hc
[Acer Iconia A500] ayamjago:
umm... sorry for more noob question.

so i can flash the V8 using the apxflash? i don't need to be able to get pass the acer logo to flash V8 right? i just need the apx mode. then i can flash the a501 ICS rom (is there a a501 jelly bean rom out there?)

thanx for the patience, miss dibbz
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
It's worth a go (apx mode) as long as apxflash tool recognizes the tab u should be good... just remember not to get yr roms and bootloader mixed up. The v8 is ics/jb only. HC bootloader is HC rom only.

Have yr rom on yr ext. sd, as soon as you have the v8 on there, boot straight to cwm and flash it.

The only difference between a500 and a501 is 3g...The roms themselves are basically the same.

Hopefully you should be all good:)
[Acer Iconia A500] ayamjago:
so i will follow this guide for nvflash http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1773323

then when it's done, on the first restart i go to recovery to flash the rom

HOREEEEEE

thank you for the patience once again... you have done a very good deed indeed
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Does that mean you are all good now???

I hope so:)
[Acer Iconia A500] anonymous93:
I've got my cpuid & sbk, finally. :)

It looks like the next step is to use tdv4 and(or?) nvflash to flash a rom to my tablet while it's in apx mode. Is the APX flash tool link in your sig the steps I should be following?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Yep tdv4 to downgrade to HC...or the ics v8 bootloader with apxfkash tool....Prolly better for u to run babsector file to reset the partition system on yr tab...then flash yr rom
[Acer Iconia A500] anonymous93:
Ok I've done these:

How to use babsector -

Turn your tab off and put it in apx mode manually. Press and hold reset button, hold power for 3 secs after the light comes on and release it, after another second release the reset button. Your screen is black and the power light is on.

Download and extract the .rar to a folder on your PC

Connect your tab to your PC

Navigate to the babsector folder and click on 501 A.bat

Reboot into recovery

Go to Mounts and Storage and Format System twice and Power Off

Go back into apx mode and run 501 B.bat

I have questions about the next step:

Reboot into recovery and do the wipes and flash your rom

Reboot!!!

By "do the wipes" do you mean format system twice again?

And I have no idea how to flash a rom. Is there a post somewhere that shows how or will there be instructions once I do the format?

I downloaded the euus from your post, that should be extracted like the babsector file correct?

Edit: According to this link you provided http://www.acertabletforum.com/forum/acer-iconia-tab-a500-help/5516-problems-iconia-a500-2.html It looks like I load the euu rar file onto external sd card, boot into recovery and Choose install zip file from SD Card. This thread doesn't say anything about formatting the system again though. Do I format after I run the 501b.bat? And then after I format (if I do) I don't restart the tab correct? I just install at that point?

Sorry for all the noob questions, I'd rather do it right the first time than mess it up and have to start all over.
[Acer Iconia A500] anonymous93:
I DID IT!!

I did not format it at the second step (let me know if I should have and what I should do), I downloaded a full zip rom and installed it and it's working! I'm so glad to have my tablet back! Now to get all my apps and settings back.

THANK YOU for your help Nibb!
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Lol, yay pleased u got it...If u haven't done a full data wipe then do so before u stick all yr apps etc...happy tabbing:thumbup:
[Acer Iconia A500] appple:
Hi, Dibb

My Acer Iconia A500 has been working very well since you helped me 5 month ago (see first 2 pages of this thread)

Two days ago the screen was frozen, I turned it off by holding the power button, since then, I can not reboot the tab, it hangs at booting primary kernel image.

I have Skrilax_CZ V8 bootloader, CWM recovery 1.7.3, and the Flex-Resurrection_Rev1-Aroma-Public Rom.

-----------------------

I searched here, tried the methods you mentioned

"Boot to recovery, and this time, do all your wipes

Wipes Menu

a. wipe Data/factory reset

b. wipe cache

c. wipe Dalvik

Go to Mounts and storage

a. Format system

b. Format Flexrom

Install rom, and make sure it's a rom with an ICS kernel.

As a last chance if the above normal things don;t work,

you may have corrupted data somewhere, and in this case, go to Backup and Restore and toggle Data Media."

------------------------

And tried use fastboot

"You can also wipe userdata from fastboot: "fastboot erase userdata, fastboot erase cache

-----------------------

I did it several times, after installed the Flex Rom, ( I also tried the Lightspeed_4.8,) it still stuck on the booting primary kernel image, What should be my next step?

I also tried to wipe the cache, data, Dalvik again after the Rom installation.

I saw somewhere you mentioned that re-flash the BL, recovery.img, not sure if I should try. I do have the CPUID and SBK numbers.

Thanks for your help, and anyone else out here.
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Yes you are correct, apx mode is all you need for the v8.....can't help with 501 jb rom tho not sure bout that sorry
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Hi apple! I just reflash the v8, boot to cwm and do the wipes then flash a rom. ..I just find it easier that Way only takes 10 mins
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
Oh dear, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but yr tab is one of those with the faulty memory chip. ..There is no way to recover from this, you need a new motherboard. ..you can source one from eBay for around 50 $US...and there have been good reports on these....I'll try to track down some links on how to install. Just give me a day or so, spare time is hard to come by atm...think I have a wiring pdf somewhere too....u might want to post a new thread asking for help from those who have already done this....

Good luck with it and let us know how you get on,

regards dibb
[Acer Iconia A500] appple:
Thanks dibb, again

I will think about the motherboard, not sure it's worth it, it is 2 yr old tab, maybe the newer tab is a lot better. Just for my curiosity, which error message tells you it's the faulty memory chip?
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
The set partition 2 3 thing - its only ever seen when u have the faulty chip. Further down it tells u this along with the nvflash error code.

You might be able to recoup some funds by selling for parts. screens/digitizers get broken and a few folks have asked about replacements. Just a thought.
[Acer Iconia A500] appple:
Ok, while waiting for the motherboard, I decided to give the tab couple more tries.

I thought I would put it back to stock.

I did EUUs which did not work.

Then I flashed the Acer_A500_4.010.38_COM_GEN1.zip using the 1.7.3 recovery, and to my surprise, it starts to boot into Android, and I got the HC 3.1 on the tab.

It seems working ok, except when the screen turns off after a period of inactivity, it goes to power off, not right away though, but after few hours, when I come back to turn it on, I have to reboot.

I also gets this message about program update to 7.006.01, I think it's the OTA update to 3.2

Here are my few questions?

1. Should I do the OTA update now, or wait? My goal is to get back to custom ICS rom later.

2. Do the cupid and SBK # change when I have it back to HC 3.1? Do I need to get them again?

3. Right now, the tab has no recovery (or no custom recovery, when I push the Power + Vol-, I get android with a yellow triangle), the unlocked bootloader (Skrilax_CZ, V8) is still there, the guide here shows flashing the recovery and bootloader together, do I need to do that together or is there a way to do just the recovery?

4. Oh, I think I need to root it again before the custom recovery/bootloader, right? if I have the the bootloader already, is that mean it is rooted already?

Now I see the light at the end of tunnel, I really don't want to mess it up, please help me get out of the tunnel :), Thanks
[Acer Iconia A500] dibb_nz:
My thoughts are the less flashing the better...remember the chip...it could go anytime but Yeh in the meantime. . .

2. They do not change however, ics reports the serial number not the cpuid.

U should be fine.

3. U can "fastboot" a recovery using a proper recovery.img (not a .zip) i thought I attached one in the guide??

Or reflash the v8 using option 17 in the apxflash tool.

The 3.1 zip keeps the v8 but being stock rom it replaces yr custom recovery with stock one.

1. Should you OTA??? Up to you:) but if u want custom jb, and all things being equal...then flash one after you have cwm/twrp....This means you must also full wipe (guide shows u how using fastboot).

Personally I'd wait for yr mobo for that, unless you dont mind being tab-less in case it goes pear shaped....

Rgds dibb