yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android General] syserr:
I understand your concern. Attached is a part of a MediaTek PDF that I found. I believe this dual storage system... one in NVRAM block and one in /data/nvram is by their design. They want there to be multiple areas where this information is stored. It appears that they have a versioning scheme that should do the right thing. Basically if your NVRAM block settings are newer, then those should be pushed down to /data/nvram... OR... at least the /data/nvram should be ignored. It is possible of course for the /data/nvram to "seem" like a newer version.

I think this is why some people have problems with their MEID not "sticking" between trying different ROMs or after they do a "Factory Reset / Wipe Data."

In my testing, if you WIPE the NVRAM block and remove /data/nvram, you get /data/nvram repopulated on the system first booting up. This must be done by stuff in boot.img. Then if you put a file in /data/nvram/ called "BackupFlag" (4 or 5 bytes long) then the /data/nvram/ information gets pushed into the NVRAM block. I've asked ursulavasey to try this method.

The PDF is here: http://read.pudn.com/downloads110/ebook/457724/UEM_NVRAM_Customizable.pdf

(I need to clarify, this PDF seems old... it may even pre-date Android, but I think this mindset survived into our devices.)
[Android General] sam_pon:
every time i asked you something i find you give me more and more informations , really i am very proud to know someone like you , you really have an excellent mind , thanks a lot my brother , you tought me many many things , the only point that i did not get till now is : if i want to know the hidden block which contains the nvram ( not nvram in data folder ) how i can know the address and the long of it , i think if we know it we can write the original nvram , and it Will not be touched if we make a factory setting .

again and again thanks for your support.
[Android General] syserr:
Thanks! :good:

The NVRAM block start address for any MTK device will be in the scatter file. I've posted around instructions on overwriting it, just a few days ago -- maybe in the main thread -- I can't remember. Anyway, how long it is.. you get that from going to the next address in the scatter. (I will teach you how to fish, not just give you a fish. hehehe)

This is how I know the start address is 0xA60000.

To get length, you subtract in HEX -> 0xD60000-0xA60000 = 0x300000
[Android General] porga:
Does SE_SRS_A2107A-H_ATT_A404-signed.zip (updated Oct 8, 2013) have more languages to select during initial setup? I need Croatian language, that vanilla Android has and stock version of a2107a-H sold in Croatia does not. That is for my friend, who isnt so good with English.

Help appreciated.
[Android General] syserr:
Currectly, no. (UPDATE: that should be Currently) Someone else asked about German. You may have got my attention (side track) to look into this further. It appears to be a need. I must also caution you, that if you have a dual SIM model, people have found that this ROM doesn't allow their SIM to work. I don't know if this is "always" or "somtimes" that this happens.

porga, if you have a totally stock tablet, I wouldn't mind having you grab some dumps of your stock ROM.
[Android General] porga:
Stock tablet, factory settings yesterday. Just tell me what to do and I will make export and upload you somewhere. It suits me as well, because I can always go back to stock if something goes wrong.

I did not found stock image anywhere on the web though.

And interesting thing. Today I called Lenovo support here in Croatia, asking them for firmware download, and how come that tablet officially sold in Croatia does not have Croatian translations (and Vanilla does - for exmple my Prestigo PMP5080CPRO).

Guy did not knew what to say, and for rom download he told me that it can be downloaded on some forums, nothin officially.

:)

---------- Post added at 09:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:14 PM ----------

Also, this model IS Dual-SIM
[Android General] syserr:
That is totally what I expected from Lenovo. :mad: But thanks for trying. To my knowledge no one has ever gotten a firmware download from Lenovo for the A2107A (any model). I've captured a few OTA updates as others have, but that is it.

Yes please follow the steps here:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46544197&postcount=41

You might feel more comfortable with procedures etc after watching this video, although don't follow it of course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V7m9UCM4-c
[Android General] sam_pon:
:good::good::good:

as i told you before , you really a very good person , because rarely to find someone teach you how to fish :)

Now , i have another question ::confused::laugh::laugh:

in your explanation how to make a backup of my android , what is the benifit of opening scatter file by the flash tool , and if we read from 0000 to 0x323E4000 is that mean it will come as one file only , and what is the ext for the result file .

thanks my friend , i am really enjoy my discussing with you ;);)

what will make me crazy , that in your flashing video , you made a whole nand format , and after the flashing your wifi has its mac address without any changing , and maybe your IMEI not changing , is that because the meta mode or because the wipping data which you made before normal start .

Thanks and Thanks And Thanks .
[Android General] syserr:
sam_pon,

Good catch, and good to talk about. "Why open a scatter file, if we are going to dump a raw block of flash?" The reason is... the SP Flash Tool is DUMB. Bad programming/design! There is no technical reason you would need a scatter file to dump flash in the way I'm explaining. That block read will come has just one big file.

Some extraneous teaching, Linux's bash shell has the ability to convert HEX to DEC numbers:

So... the big file that will contain everything in the right spot will be 803MB

Regarding your second question about after format and flash keeping WIFI MAC and IMEI, In that example video, the NVRAM block is never over written. We are basically hoping that it's still correct. During download, the SP Flash Tool only writes over blocks that do not have __NODL in front when looking at the scatter file:

The only way to write these memory locations is with the "Write" tab in SPFT that you have to enable by going in the pull down menu. (They obviously don't want you to accidentally use it.)

If I write over the NVRAM block with my original backup of the block using SPFT... all is good. But the other piece of the pizzle, I just need to make sure I Wipe User/Data/Cache before booting. Then the only authoritative copy is the NVRAM block, so it will be pulled down into /data/nvram. The MEID should be restored.

If I WIPE the NVRAM block (make all zeros) and /data/nvram (by Wipe User/Data)... And boot up, I find that I DO have my WIFI MAC, but the MEID is "unknown." If I restore /data/nvram or use MTDRT to restore it, it SEEMS to restore the MEID. One reason I'm skeptical that it is not, is because of peoples 3G no longer working. And this is why I'm trying to get a few people to test restoring the NVRAM in different ways. I don't have a 3G data plan to test.. :(
[Android General] MoodyWaters:
Thank you very much

Hi syserr, today I installed your rooted ROM. I screwed my A2107A-F up a little bit, but with your ROM I put it back on the road . Thank you very much! I'll keep an eye on this thread!
[Android General] sam_pon:
That means if I made a whole nand format this format will not touch nvram block , and if I want to flash any rom by sp flash tool just be sure that I did not select write nvram , and by this way I will be save.

Correct me please if I misunderstand you .

And the second point about the backup , I will get a big file with extention .img and that file could be restored again any time by using sp flash tool in write memory ( as you told me for writting the nvram ) ,

Is there any program can divid this file to files by starting address and length .

If there is , it will be very nice

Thanks for supporting me , and for answering my questions .

Have a good day my best friend
[Android General] porga:
OK, ROM is exported per your instructions. I am uploading it on Dropbox now. I made a photo of Firmware version (VolumeUP + Power button - factory settings).

As soon as it is uploaded, I can sen you the link. Do you want it public or on PM? What do you say, will it be possible to add Croatian language to this Androud setup?

Similar to this guide:

How to add Indian Languages to Android ICS (4.0.3)

maybe it will be even easier, bacause original AOSP has support for Croatian and many other languages?

We ahve something discussed here: HowTo add languages to AOSP ROMs
[Android General] syserr:
Thanks for the appreciation!

It is sad that this was so hard before the last month or so. People move to the "thrilling" stuff quickly and bypass what I think are crucial checkpoints along the way.
[Android General] syserr:
To be clear, "NVRAM" won't show up normally in the Download tab, or any other blocks with __NODL. So you have to work hard to replace it. If you backup your whole flash in the way I recommend, then it gets the NVRAM block in the backup. The great thing about the whole block method, is you really can't mess it up. All partitioning and blocks are dumped as is in the linear order. Some people would call this a "bit copy" just like what UNIX dd command would do. Then to replace everything in your flash you would go to the Write tab (after enabling it in pull down menu) in SPFT. You would choose to start writing at hex 0x0000 address and choose your WHOLEBACKUP filename or whatever you named it. It will write your tablet back to EXACTLY how it was. With one exception, no User/Data and no Cache because those are big blocks that we didn't get backups of because it's very slow and fills up alot more disk on PC. So you Wipe Data/Cache in Recovery, and it's as if you never screwed up your tablet. :cowboy:

(don't think too much about .img file extentions... they are just decoration for the whole backup and restore)

Are you asking if you can cut up a "whole backup" image into the blocks? If you are... yes, that is exactly what I did to make my SP ROMs in the first post. SPFT has no "Upload" function to complement the "Download" function. So I made the SPF ROMs by cutting up the whole backup with UNIX dd. (I run Linux almost always for many years, when I need Windows tools such as SPFT I run them in VMware)
[Android General] syserr:
Hi porga,

PM would be fine. If I can ensure everything is in good shape, then I can cut it up into an SP ROM for folks with dual SIM models.

The tricky thing about the links you posted, are those are for people able to compile from source. I'd like to get there with this tablet, but I fear by the time I get there -- no one will be using this tablet. :o I will see about hacking languages into an already existing ROM. Your best bet may be to try LeWa or Foxtrot ROMs. I think LeWa for this tablet was ported by Russians. I think Foxtrot by FoxtrotKZ was built in Kazakhstan. Their base ROMs could have very well had Croatian. (They appear slightly slower than the AT&T ROM thought that I've hacked.)

Part of the reason I am spending so much time on an old tablet, is that the knowledge transfers to pretty much all devices based on MTK chips. I think MTK will be even more popular in the coming years.
[Android General] porga:
Hi, I sent you PM. Please try to work something out for this language thing (unlock in current firmware). Can you point me to alternative ROMS and tutorials, please?

Also, can you give me exact guide how to flash this ROM image that i extracted back to the devide, so I can do it in case something goes wrong with alternative ROMs.

Thanks in advance.
[Android General] syserr:
That game ran crappy for me. And other's have chimed in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM3Sdwf2i4M

Look at the first comment:
[Android General] syserr:
This is really weird. I've been working on the ROM you uploaded for me.

Quote myself:

I'm not able to run your ROM DUMP in full or in part on my -F or -H. Very strange. So much of it, from a hex editor, looks just like my -F ROM. For example the DSP_BL block was built within 4 minutes of my -F DSP_BL block on the same build machine at Lenovo.

I think Lenovo was rev'ing HW all through the run. I'm getting frustrated. :mad: I've found that the Vodafone version (-H like) came out with an Android 4.0.4:

http://gfxbench.com/device.jsp?benchmark=gfx27&D=Lenovo+Smart+Tab+II+7+(Vodafone)&testgroup=system

I'd like to get a hold of one of those, or at least a ROM dump of a stock system. Too bad most on ebay will not ship to the US.

UPDATE:

(I fall back from saying they rev'ed hardware all through their run, just very very different software. sigh)

After slicing and dicing your rom dump into partition blocks for about an hour, I have success. (It's a manual process since somethings I can't put into an algorithm yet.) I'm running your firmware on both my -F and -H currently.

porga, your -H ROM has the exact LenovoDesktop and preloaded apps that I have on -F. Aside from 3G support, the only difference I see is you have a few more languages (of course not the one you want though).

So thank you porga, with builds so similar I can now figure out what has to happen to make a -H ROM into a -F ROM. Although, both ROMs I'm testing how (your -H and my -F) have the PMT with the FAC partition/block in them. One step at a time.
[Android General] porga:
Does that means I have to wait? Can you give me instructions (step by step) how I can flash that ROM back to tablet?

Because I would like to try Foxtrot to see what we gain with it.
[Android General] syserr:
I understand. I'll try to flash your dump one more time as a whole. If that works, you will have all you need to get right back where you started. If it doesn't work, you probably have everything you need, but I can't guarantee.

I hope to give you an update in an hour.

Update:

I wasn't able to boot off your whole dump. But like I said, if I cut it up so it's what SPFT expects during the "Download" process it works fine. If I were you, I'd go ahead and try Foxtrot. I'll get restore instructions posted. And also send you back your dump, but now in "download" format.
[Android General] porga:
That sounds good. Now I have to find step by step flash Foxtrot guide. :) Anyone has it?
[Android General] NEO130:
What guide you need ? It`s a zip file and you flash it in recovery modus. But you must have a root lenovo and recovery cvm 6015 file to flash.
[Android General] syserr:
(I'll throw out something tonight) Something to note though, since you have different partitioning than a typical -H model, you must use SPFT to re-Format. If you throw a custom recovery on (CWM) and install Foxtrot, it will fail to boot -- as Foxtrot is counting on the SYSTEM partition being #6, but in your case currently the SYSTEM partition is #7.

What I'm saying... is old guides probably don't go over this situation very well.
[Android General] porga:
OK syserr, you are the expert. I'll wait for your instructions. Thanks and BR.
[Android General] syserr:
This is going to be cut and paste in my FAQ and probably reworked.

Summary

- Ensure you have Foxtrot's .zip on your SDCARD

- Use SPFT to get Typical -H formatting (partition table) and bas SP ROM

- Install CWM Recovery (might as well do this with SPFT too)

- Boot into CWM Recovery

- Wipe Data/Cache

- Choose Foxtrot's .zip to install

- Reboot :fingers-crossed:

#1 Download Foxtrot's zip and make sure it gets to your SDCARD

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8PcIZoLeGNuOUZ0bE5KVHpYZFE

#2 SPFT to get -H format (and other bits)

You are familiar a bit with SP Flash Tool, that's good. And hey my video almost walks you through exactly what you need.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V7m9UCM4-c

Download the SP ROM called "A2107_ClearSky" here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8PcIZoLeGNudkFDTWVoX240UEk LINK FIXED

Unpack it

Now copy CWM Recovery https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8PcIZoLeGNudHNndk90ZExrbjA

into the A2107_ClearSky directory

Fire Up SPFT open Scatter File -> MT6575*Scatter*txt file in that directory

Format Whole Flash (Meta Mode using technique in video)

Now Click on the list item "Recovery" and select a new recovery file -- the one you downloaded 4 lines ago

Download (Meta Mode using technique in video)

At this point your tablet will have a working ClearSky ROM and CWM 6 on it.

(you can play with this ROM if you like)

#3 Boot into CWM

(you might hit the reset button just to make sure it's off)

Press Power for 3 seconds, release

Quick press both VolUp and VolDown and hold for 5 seconds

You will see CWM

#4 Choose Wipe data/factory reset

#5 Choose Install zip from sdcard

Choose zip from sdcard

Choose your foxtrot.zip

#6 Wait for it to complete, then reboot. :fingers-crossed:

(I'm sure I have not been totally clear here, let me know if you get hung up on anything)
[Android General] MoodyWaters:
Motion sensor not working.

Hi, I wanted to tell you that I played some tilt-controlled games but I couldn't get the sensor to work with them. Have any of you experienced the same problem?
[Android General] syserr:
If I had to guess, I would say it's in the calibration data stored in the NVRAM block. You could try scrubbing both /data/nvram and the NVRAM block and letting the system repopulate that data.

That is.... if you don't have your original nvram.img (block) or nvram.tar (filesystem backup).
[Android General] porga:
I was on a business trip, so I didn't try this yet, but I will tonight or tomorrow.
[Android General] porga:
I have a problem: ! C:\ClearSky\A2107_ClearSky.7z: The archive is corrupt

i downloaded twice and tried to unpack with 7zip and winrar

---------- Post added at 11:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------

I tried downloading with IE10 and Google Chrome. Same result. It cant be opened, unpacked or repaired.

---------- Post added at 11:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:56 PM ----------

I tried downloading with IE10 and Google Chrome. Same result. It cant be opened, unpacked or repaired. My OS is Windows 7 32bit.
[Android General] syserr:
I'll get a non-corrupt copy up, asap. Sorry!
[Android General] syserr:
Vodafone Lenovo Smart Tab II

Well, I got a second chance and bid/won a Lenovo Smart Tab II. This SHOULD have Android 4.0.4 and I'm assuming a dual SIM. I did this not because I need the tablet, but I wanted the firmware. I think it will help us in having a decent ROM as these tablets settle into old age.

:fingers-crossed:

PS - after I dump the firmware, the unit will be for sale. :laugh:
[Android General] MoodyWaters:
This is embarrassing :laugh:

It just happens that I tested two bad lemons... Both TurboFly and Turbo Racing League don't work with the sensor although they're supposed to, not even after I followed your suggestions (I wiped \data with CWM, and then deleted the NVRAM partition using the SPFT); but then I tested other tilt-controlled games and voila! No problem whatsoever. And the laughing part comes when... in my wifi networks now appears a network called " NVRAM WARNING: Err = 0x10 ". Fortunately, I have my original nvram.img from a gscript backup, but unfortunately I don't know how to flash it without wiping all my data... and I don't know if it's worth it in the F model anyway. Do you think I should try to put the original nvram.img? and if you think so, then... Can you point me to a place where it's explained how to do it? (I've searched around but didn't find how)

Stay away from those apps I mentioned before, and of course thank you very much for your help. It's really appreciated.
[Android General] porga:
Will it be today? I would like to test.

BR,
[Android General] sam_pon:
i tried to flash only nvram.img by SP Flash Tool after formatting and flashing a clearsky rom , but without success ,

please My Brother Syserr lead us to how to flash nvram in the good way to be constant in its block with out deleting every factory reset.

thanks my dear for all what you doing to help us
[Android General] syserr:
A new upload of ClearSky.7z:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8PcIZoLeGNudkFDTWVoX240UEk

Again, sorry... I must have started the upload and gone to bed and never saw an error.
[Android General] porga:
OK, I have a problem. After formatting, I cannot get to download mode, so application can recognize tablet. Any advices?
[Android General] syserr:
To be sure... every time...

Disconnect USB

Hit Reset Button

(it is now all the way off)

Start SPFT action - Get SP Flash Tool trying to download or format or whatever - it will wait for device

Hold VolUp while plugging in USB
[Android General] porga:
Hmm, when I push usb in, in device manager exclamation mark appears on Alcatel.

---------- Post added at 11:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 PM ----------

Yes, VCOM was missing. Now it is downloading...
[Android General] syserr:
:good:

I'll try to collect all this information together in the FAQ.

It turns out the VCOM driver is only an .INF file and is basically just configuring drivers that are already on XP/Win7. So, to everyone out there with weird hardware IDs, you can just add yours if it's not found.

[DeviceList]
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0005&MI_02
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_17EF&PID_7438&MI_02
;lenovo without adb
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_17EF&PID_7549&MI_01
;lenovo with adb
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_17EF&PID_754A&MI_02
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_2006&PID_0005&MI_02
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0006
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_17EF&PID_7439
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_2006&PID_0006
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_0525&PID_A4A7
%DESCRIPTION%=DriverInstall, USB\VID_0525&PID_A4A7&MI_00

I added the first 2 because the other Lenovo entries didn't match my hardware. :cowboy:
[Android General] porga:
I just initiated installing new driver and selected to manually select. Alvatel and VCOM were offered. VCOM installes virtual COM port visible in device manager. Download started.

And Foxtrot is onboard now. Croatian language.... ;) thanks.

I just need to test does SIM card works

---------- Post added 28th October 2013 at 12:01 AM ---------- Previous post was 27th October 2013 at 11:49 PM ----------

Why do I get "invalid IMEI" during boot? Later it asks for PIN, and everything seems ok. However I cannot get it to connect to web through mobile.

---------- Post added at 12:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 AM ----------

OK, I used *#06# dial command, and both IMEI numbers are invalid. How can I restore them?
[Android General] syserr:
You had to "Format" with SP Flash Tool right? That would clear your NVRAM block, so this is not surprising.

You can try two ways:

1. restore your old NVRAM block with SPFT and rename your /data/nvram

or

2. you can adb shell (or Android Terminal app) in to get a shell prompt and run AT commands

or

3. some use MK Droid Root Tool, but I think people sometimes have trouble this way.

#2 is quick to try I'll paste the two methods here:

^ source http://chinagizmos.blogspot.com/2012/10/imei-problems-backup-restore-no-service.html

I verified (just now) this fixes the IMEI, but still I think restoring the NVRAM block would be better to ensure you get any other calibration data for your model.
[Android General] porga:
Please give me Nvram restore procedure. I did not make any nvram backup, will that be a problem? Include that step in tutorial too ;)

Regards and thanks for all help you are providing.