yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Chromecast] tvall:
If I read the documentation correctly:

First you use dd or win32diskimager to write flashcast to a USB drive. Afterwards you plug it in to a chromecast to finish the process of setting up flashcast (part of that is preparing a fat32 partition). Then you plug the drive back in to a PC to copy the mod you want to install.

You can then use that drive to install mods on other chromecasts. You don't have to write flashcast again, its already there.
[Google Chromecast] ddggttff3:
Exactly this. Once a drive is setup, you can use it on as many chromecasts as you want. it is NOT device specific.
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
I understand it's done once unless there is an update, actually there was one but before my time. If the USB drive used is somehow altered for future use, it's now dedicated for Chromecast use. If so, it's not perfectly clear, at least not to me.

---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:10 PM ----------

Do you have reinstall the bin file on it again?
[Google Chromecast] ddggttff3:
no, you only do that once, unless you are upgrading flashcast versions.
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Okay, let's say I have a second Cromecast. My previously used USB drive has the PWNED! zip on. If I flash the second Chromecast, does the zip install as well as Flashcast?
[Google Chromecast] ddggttff3:
yes, and flashcast is not something that is installed to a chromecast, flashcast is just a tool that is used to flash things to the chromecast.
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Thanks, got it now.
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Actually I had just purchased a second CC. I used the same USB drive as before, installed Flashcast, PWNED! and Kyocast with no problems.

Does standard formatting remove Flashcast from the USB drive?
[Google Chromecast] Wh1t3Rose:
No. All a factory reset does is wipe data so the system is still intact.
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Duh? I was asking about standard formatting the FlashCast USB drive not what the RESET on the CC does.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
So I tried rooting a Chromecast today, plugged in my Flashcast stick, applied power while holding the button, got the line of multicolored dots then solid red LED. No FlashCast screen...

After some troubleshooting with chkflsh (run as Administrator) and a few low-level formats and read/write tests I came to the conclusion that my stick went bad. :(

Prepared a different stick with FlashCast and all went fine.

Moral of the story: Again, the previous advice holds - if you get solid red LED but the Chromecast should be rootable, try a different stick to be sure. You never know when your stick might just give up the ghost. They always told us these things had a limited lifespan...:rolleyes:
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
You think that DISKPART might revive it? I'm wondering if it would take that to truly remove every bit of Flashcast. My old Sandisk Cruzer Flashcast drive still shows the U3 out of the box stuff on it as a separate drive from Disk Management. I think DISKPART will clean that up.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
DISKPART would work to clear the partitions. In my case I used chkflsh to completely wipe the stick (full block level erase) and while the erase seemed to have worked, the subsequent verify I ran failed all over the place.

It's an old 128MB stick, so not too it sad about it.
[Google Chromecast] aamir123:
I have this type of usb otg, what else would I need to root chromecast?

http://www.microcenter.com/product/404510/USB_OTG_Micro_USB_Male_to_USB_A_Female_Adapter

---------- Post added at 01:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 PM ----------

I have this type of usb otg, what else would I need to root chromecast?

http://www.microcenter.com/product/404510/USB_OTG_Micro_USB_Male_to_USB_A_Female_Adapter
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
You need a way to "inject" power to that equation.

This USB A female to 2x (power+data, power) USB A male cable would work, though I'd probably try to find a cheaper source.

I got a similar one off eBay (USB 2.0 A Female to Dual USB A Male Power Y Cable) for significantly cheaper...

Your hookups would be:

USB stick with FlashCast -> USB Y cable jack (USB A female)

USB Y cable Power plug (USB A male) -> USB power adapter (like the one that comes with Chromecast)

USB Y cable Power+Data plug (USB A male) -> your USB OTG cable's jack (USB A female)

your USB OTG cable's plug (MicroUSB male) -> Chromecast

The above is okay if you're not going to use it often, but if you plan to flash often or you're just lazy like me, you might want to get a USB OTG cable that has a MicroUSB plug and jack. I got this one and this identical one.
[Google Chromecast] aamir123:
thanks I was hoping for a local solution, so I can do this quickly, but I guess I'll wait for the mail.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
It's a bit of a specialty item, though hard drive soften have a version that's Mini-USB rather than USB A jack on the non-Y end. A Mini-USB jack to USB A jack adapter is even more rare, but if you happen to have one, that would work.

Good luck!
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Here's one that I got from eBay, at least it's in the USA: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400517577311?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
[Google Chromecast] tchebb:
I have just released FlashCast version 1.1.1. A changelog and downloads are available on GitHub here.
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Now, installing this update using a previously rooted Chromecast has no effect on it as I understand it now, correct?
[Google Chromecast] tchebb:
It does not. FlashCast is never installed onto the Chromecast. It is stored entirely on the USB drive and is simply used to flash other images that do modify the device. Version 1.1.1 is a minor release, which means that most people who use it won't see or care about the changes. This version does add a minor feature required for PwnedCast's latest OTA (currently in development) to work, but the OTA system does not use the version of FlashCast posted in this thread. Instead, it uses a custom-built version stored in the recovery partition, which will automatically be updated to v1.1.1 (if you use PwnedCast) when the OTA is released.
[Google Chromecast] preusstang:
So in order to update my FlashCast flash drive, I wrote the .bin file to my flash drive and ran it on my already rooted chromecast. I saw the screen saying it was installing. The chromecast rebooted and all my settings we're still there. My flash drive should now be ready for future eureka_image.zip files, correct?
[Google Chromecast] tchebb:
Yes.
[Google Chromecast] Tim4828:
Sorry about noob question. After I install FlashCast, for some other reason I wanted to restore back to original Google Chromecast firmware, can this be done?
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
No, mainly because there isn't a flashable stock firmware released. If there was, then sure. But you'd immediately lose root and not be able to get it back with any current means.
[Google Chromecast] Tim4828:
Thank you. :good: Reason I asked was because of the warranty claim.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Stores generally won't care unless they think you're abusing the system or something. Not sure what Google's policy is if you buy direct.
[Google Chromecast] gotojanoo:
Hello Guildies.

I bought the OTG cable from amazon and I made 3 different usb flash drive but somehow no luck. When I press button and connect power cable flash drive flashed couple times and then nothing happened.Never got white light or rebooted.I am following OP and even I read so many post and watched video but somehow no luck.Any help will be greatly appreciate.My firmware is 13300. I am trying flashcast 1.1 and 1.1.1 both not working somehow.I know its user error but i tried everything I could.

Thanks
[Google Chromecast] tchebb:
If you currently have non-rooted 13300, I'm afraid FlashCast won't work. The bootloader vulnerability it uses simply isn't present, and we have yet to find any new vulnerabilities.
[Google Chromecast] gotojanoo:
Thanks a lot OP for your reply.SO 13300 is not rootable I guess.Oh well wasted 8 bucks for OTG cable lol. I heard that13300 is rootable but I guess not.
[Google Chromecast] mojolive:
I am having some trouble to understand the instructions, need a little help..

So, i understand that I need 2 files to make this work. 1 .bin file and the file flashcast-1.1.1.zip

The first file, is a “bin” file… where do I get this file from .. i am having trouble finding the ".bin" file.. I have looked inside the Flashcast-1.1.1 file, but can not find it.. can someone post a link please? or tell me where to fine it

2nd step, then I need to download the file from FlashCast's GitHub repository

Which is named, Flashcast-1.1 and then I copy it to the usb drive that I just wrote the “.bin” file to..

once it is copied onto the USB drive I can do the rest.. I just do not get where the bin file is located..

can some one help me.. to understand all this.
[Google Chromecast] Kyonz:
The bin file is within the zip on the github release.

Or to make life easier you can download the release zip for the current version here: https://github.com/team-eureka/eure...download/flashcast-v1.1.1/flashcast-1.1.1.zip
[Google Chromecast] mojolive:
Hi thank you .. for helping:)
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Watch the video at the top of this thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2529903
[Google Chromecast] evoandroidevo:
Okay so i have flashcast written to a USB drive i press the button for and light goes red for 9 secs but when i plug in my usb drive back in to my computer it doesn't get recognised by the computer but it doesn't ask to format it anymore tho anyone help with this?
[Google Chromecast] kraqh3d:
Connect the CC to you TV and boot it with the stick connected. Do you get the FlastCast screen? If you do, the stick should have a fat32 partition it that your computer should recognize. If you're running windows, try the disk manager from the administrative menu. The device should be there and tell you if its got a partition or not. If it does, you should be able to give it a drive letter, but it should've just recognized it automagically. If you don't see the FlashCast screen then it didn't work. Try again. Are you sure you have the exploitable bootloader?
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
Did your USB light come ON and the Cromecast LED turn white? It takes a bit of time, then the CC's LED will turn pink, red and white as it reboots at which time your can unplug power to it.
[Google Chromecast] dave5777:
You better check your S.N. mine did the same thing it was unrootable.

Rootable SN list

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2537022
[Google Chromecast] evoandroidevo:
Ill try again with my TV when I get home from work but is there anyway to check that my chromecase it rootable besides the SN because I went to bestbuy and check all the SN and I found a 3903 which I am using to do all this with

Yep plug in the power turns red then about 10sec and it turns white and the USB light stops being used

When I went to go buy the chrome cast I made sure it was in the range so I could do this with it
[Google Chromecast] wptski:
A 3903 should be good. If you disconnect your router from the outside world, setup the Chromecast and check for build 12072 is the only other way than just trying to flash it.

The LED should turn red while you hold the button, USB is accessed, LED turns white for some time, turns pink, red than white again and then it's done.
[Google Chromecast] mojolive:
I am having a little problem getting it to flash the flashcast on to my chromecast..

I am on base 12072 and I have managed to get the .bin on to the usb jumpdrive, and also cpyed the flashcast over to the usb jumpdrive.. but cant seem to get it to write the flashcast to the chromecast..

I am holding the buttom on the chromecast down, pluging in the power tot he usb hub.. and then it will turn white for about 7 sec. and then red again .

when looking at the tv.. i see the flashcast screen .. but mine is just staying red.. I have 2 chromecasts.. both with firmware 12070.. and nether will boot with the flashcast image..

I do not have an ota usbcable.. I am using a powered hub.. with the correct cables.. but something is not working.

can someone give me any ideas.. ?? is the firmware base.. 12072 rootable for all people with this firmware.. or do i need to make sure I have something else.?
[Google Chromecast] tchebb:
FlashCast is not something that gets "written" to the Chromecast, as stated in the original post. Now that you've set up your USB drive with FlashCast, you need to use it to flash a rooted image such as PwnedCast.
[Google Chromecast] mojolive:
Hi I just want to say thank you for helping me.. Now I will try that.. I have been doing this for like 10 hours.. haha.. Stupid me..

thank you again for this info..

---------- Post added at 02:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------

Hi not to make double posts.. But had to thank you .. it works.. You are awesome. thanks.
[Google Chromecast] Zuckstone:
Most, if not all, hub will NOT work. Hubs isolate each connection, so devices don't see each other.
[Google Chromecast] player911:
I used a double USB cable that came with my external HDD enclosure with a microusb at one end. Its like a Y cable. Plugged my USB flash drive on one side and a portable mobile battery backup on the other. The point of a Y is to use 2 USB ports to provide extra power if needbe. So power gets passed through all 3 sides. Typically only 2 will pass data though. So you have to make sure you plug everything in right.

Helps having a USB with a LED to make sure it gets power also and flickers when data is transferred.

-sent from my LG G2 using XDA Premium 4
[Google Chromecast] pjkiener:
not sure if this has been asked... sorry, I'm running out of the office and don't have time to search. I just opened my new Chromecast lastnight, plugged it in, updated it, and started watching youtube videos on the tv. Does this mean I won't be able to root it anymore, since it is now updated?

Thanks in advance...
[Google Chromecast] Olegred:
It can't be rooted now.

Once you update, I understand, it installs update with locked bootloader.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Yes, any stock OTA update will patch the bootloader vulnerability, which is key to current root method (FlashCast), thus removing the ability to root afterward.
[Google Chromecast] banccalif:
I've had my device for 3 months and it's still in the box cuz I was waiting for local content streaming.. Now that it is available what other reason is there to root?
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
In addition to the cool teaser stuff Team Eureka showed, control what DNS Chromecast uses, stop getting OTA updates (if it ain't broke don't fix it) and whatever else people come up with.

Sent from a device with no keyboard. Please forgive typos, they may not be my own.
[Google Chromecast] yoonus:
Rooted and wow.. waiting for some apps

Wow!! finally rooted and installed flashcast and PWN on chromecast.

Had few difficulty during the process.

First, I disconnected from Internet by pulling input cable to cable modem.

Then connected CC and set it up to verify the buildnumber.

CC would boot to setup screen, then restart. It would then display "Restoring factory default".

Once that is complete, CC stays with red light. Either black screen or screen with 3 or 4 very small dots (in blue, green, red, yellow).

Saw this post talking about sticky power button and same symptoms.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-chromecast/302987-my-chromecast-died.html

I then, played with the button few times (press, release, press, release). NO long press.

Connected again to the TV and it worked as expected. Screen stayed at setup.

verified buildnumber is 12072.

I used a ubuntu box to dd flashcast to USB stick. See below command.

sudo dd if=flashcast-1.1.1.bin of=/dev/sdb1

When I connect the CC, USB and OTG cable, chromecast stayed in red light.

Lights on USB stick was flashing fine. I followed the video and the steps in flashcast thread.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2529903

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2452838

Tried this many times with same result.

I verified OTG cable by connecting it to the phone. No issues.

Finally went to windows. Installed Win32DiskManager and wrote flashcast-1.1.1.bin to USB stick.

Rooting worked in the first try like a charm.

Next copied PWN to USB. Connected everything together. Chromecast started flashing PWN image. I could see white light all the time on CC.

CC would restart after flashing. But it would start flashing PWN again. This happened one more time.

When flashing was in-progress 3rd time, I just realized power button might have stuck. So just pressed and released it couple of times.

This time, CC restarted with PWN logo.

All good. Need to setup chromecast and try few app now.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Great! Seems the sticky button is not so rare, I guess.
[Google Chromecast] yoonus:
True. If anyone is picking a CC with serialnumber 3908XXX pls be aware of it.

Any idea why dd failed? Do we need to write using specific blocksize?
[Google Chromecast] gregulator:
Just ordered a powered otg cable, should be here Saturday. I bought my CC week of release but haven't plugged it in because the TV I was planning to use it with was not able to be used because my basement was under construction. I just got everything finished last weekend and am looking to set it all up with rooted ROM. Also still have my 3 months of free Netflix code to use by the end of the year that came with purchase. Haha

Sent from my dirty unicorn'd note 2
[Google Chromecast] necroscopev:
Stuck Red Light

Can anyone that had the problem where the light on the CC just stayed red instead of flashing white and rebooting during the initial time of trying to get the USB stick formated offer any advice on what they finally did? I have been at this for hours and I have tried everything I have read in this thread and no luck. I have a CC with serial 3908XXX, I have tried 6 different USB sticks with no luck. I have even used diskpart to undo the bin image, re-format back to fat32, then reflash the flashcast.bin. I always make sure to eject afterwards. The CC has never been plugged into a TV so it shouldn't be an issue of an OTA update. Any help is REALLY appreciated!
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Check your Chromecast's button. On some units it has a tendency to get stuck in the pressed position.

Try booting it once normally. It should go through and give you a blinking white LED. That means it isn't connected to WiFi (which is good).

If you get to that point, the unplug and try FlashCast again.

Do you see a single row of a handful of colored dots on the screen?
[Google Chromecast] necroscopev:
I do get the blinking white LED when booting up not holding the button. When i try using the flashcast with the proper method while plugged into the TV I actually get nothing, just a black screen, no dots. I read that some people had luck using dd instead of winimage, I tried a few different command lines to do different images, but same result. Does anyone know the exact dd command they ran to flash the bin file that worked? Maybe that will help....
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Just in case you aren't already doing so, be sure to right-click win32diskimager and Run as Administrator. Things that try to access hardware, especially at lower levels, tend not to work correctly when run normally.
[Google Chromecast] necroscopev:
Thanks, but I made sure i was doing that too. I really hope I didn't get a bum one, it took me forever to find one with a rootable serial number. :(
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
I think it's time to plug it into a TV to at least make certain it's not broken somehow.

Sent from a device with no keyboard. Please forgive typos, they may not be my own.
[Google Chromecast] necroscopev:
OK I did, brings me right to the setup screen for CC. Maybe I have one that got updated at the store somehow, but the package didn't look open at all.
[Google Chromecast] csd181:
It looks like i have the same problem. The box was sealed. I formatted the usb drive. I will try one more time, if it does not work, i will return it.
[Google Chromecast] yoonus:
Disconnect router from internet (pull the inputer LAN cable). Configure CC and verify the buildnumber.

If this goes thru, then you know CC is not dead and has vulnerable build.

Make sure the OTG cable is good. What I did was,

1. connect it the phone with USB stick (FAT formatted) plugged in and access file.

2. Use it to power the CC. CC charger pin -> OTG female microUSB -> OTG male microusb to CC and plug CC to TV

---------- Post added at 11:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 AM ----------

I received another rootable unit from Amazon. Planning to return the one I got from bestbuy. This was rooted and has PWN installed.

How do I revert back to google image?
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Would you guys mind sharing your full serials? Maybe Google is somehow recycling returned serial numbers or sending out recertified ones now.

...or someone got their hands on the same stickers used to seal the box or are opening it without separating the VOID adhesive marker, which is pretty faint to begin with in most cases.

---------- Post added at 05:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------

No way at the moment. mostly because nobody's posted a flashable non-rooted image. Being that there are a few here that want a rooted unit, you might want to see if anyone would like to trade (if that's not against forum rules, which I don't believe it is?).
[Google Chromecast] csd181:
Bhiga,

Here is my serial number for Chromecast that I was trying to root yesterday evening.

3906101ZWZT0

I have to try this one again. In the meantime, I picked up another one from BB with S/N starting 3917. Hopefully that one will work.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Thanks. If the 3917 doesn't work either then I'd suspect perhaps a faulty OTG cable or something else involved.
[Google Chromecast] necroscopev:
Sure, my current serial is: 3902101Z9PY5

---------- Post added at 02:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:37 AM ----------

I would TOTALLY be down to trade my un-rooted CC for someone who has a rooted one and wants to return theirs! If someone wants to, hit me up.
[Google Chromecast] karanits:
So no hope for me who has a 3B26XXXX serial number? I get stuck at the red light for booting flashcast.
[Google Chromecast] bhiga:
Sorry, no root for you. At least not until another root method is discovered and released.
[Google Chromecast] karanits:
One more thing I just did a set up of the 3B26XXX serial CC without internet connection . I see that its on Build 12940.

I don't see any discussions of some new root method. Should I let CC update? I don't mind waiting.
[Google Chromecast] Sojourner353:
I don't own a CC myself but has anyone looked at a JTag option for dumping the vulnerable bootloader then using a JTag to downgrade units that need it?

In the past have used a JTag many times mainly on Modem/Routers and some other electronic devices to do similar things, just a thought.
[Google Chromecast] efrant:
Thread "stickied".
[Google Chromecast] tvall:
We have the source code for the bootloader, and can make any changes we wish. All that is needed is a way to flash it.
[Google Chromecast] Sojourner353:
I'm in Australia so getting a CC is ridiculously expensive at the moment but it's my plan to get one as soon as possible and when I do I will look into a JTag option, looking at the innards of the CC on ifixit it seems there is deffinantly pins there to JTag it.
[Google Chromecast] ddggttff3:
there are JTAG pins, but according to the guys at gtvhacker, they are disabled at a hardware level so they are unusable for anything minus UART, which the bootloader does not accept input from.

---------- Post added at 05:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------

Not fully true, it may be open source, but it is also signed after compiling, so we can only run bootloaders released for the device from google. What we COULD do though is use the backupsys partition in the chromecast which is normally unused, and install a custom boot environment, ex u-boot, and just have the chromecast boot off of that.