[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] HiSurfer:
update big fail - help really needed

Hi all, it's time to say that I'm in big trouble with what was once the nice me301t... :crying:

Earlier I decided to update to 4.2 and once completed it, boot stuck on asus logo. I have to admit I didn't unroot before updating it as I thought it wouldn't have been big trouble, reading others to whom it worked fine. My device is also encrypted...

Nevertheless, I start looking for info around but all things I tried lead me to nothing; I don't really know if I have now a fancy sort of mirror...

Things I've tried:

- download the Asus firmware files here, v.4.1 and 4.2, WW version; unzip once and copy the so obtained zip file in the SD card. I did also change its name to " update.zip " in an effort to make the bootloader see it but nothing.

- tried to run RCK, start doing something and then the android logo with a red exclamation mark, stop.

- wipe data option, start to load something, reboot and still stuck on Asus logo

- connected as fastboot, tried fastboot update update.zip (the renamed firmware file), it fails with the following errors:

archive does not contain 'android-info.txt'

archive does not contain 'android-product.txt'

error: update package has no android-info.txt or android-product.txt​

By chance, I found out that the blob file (inside the embedded zip file) contains the partitions like a nandroid backup, so I decided to give it try considered that nothing works:

- unpacked the blob file included in the firmware zip file using the blob tools available from the forum (here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1068548&page=3) - copy & renamed the files as suggested to make it easier:

•blob.HEADER - Header stuff (ignore it)

•blob.APP - system.img

•blob.LNX - boot.img

•blob.SOS - recovery.img (e.g. regular boot.img)

•blob.EBT - bootloader.bin (ignore)​

- used fastboot to flash the files back in the device and most of them were accepted except for the system file. reboot and still nothing.

- tried to use command fastboot -w to see whether the cache partition would have been erased but it returned the error "unknown error"

After that I tried with the following steps found in another thread in XDA (http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=517874) but still nothing:

Code:

fastboot erase boot

fastboot erase recovery

fastboot flash system system.img {this file returns an error}

fastboot flash boot boot.img

fastboot flash userdata data.img {this file is clearly not available}

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

fastboot reboot​

Right now, I can boot in recovery and I see the three icons RCK, Android and Wipe Data - but any of those options return a red error: unrecoverable bootloader error (0x00000000). and everything stops there.

I think I messed it up for good... :crying: although, thinking side ways, I used the files that Asus provided.

I didn't yet try to unpack the 4.1 blob files and use those, I'll try soon and let you know the results. Besides, the battery was pretty full before doing the update but anyone knows whether it is charged while in bootloader?

I had seen in the past that fastboot/adb should work even if the device is completely drained out as the usb cable provides some power although not charging the battery...

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated; as really last resort I'll try to contact Asus support even if your feedbacks about it leave me worried.

Thanks in advance to all!