[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Spitras:
Downgrade from LP 5.0 to KK 4.4

Hello,

Since some of you been asking for full translation and files uploaded from Russian Lenovo forums, here it is.

This is not my guide, original site: lenovo-forums.ru

Thanks for VVizard for this guide. Im not responsible for any damage to your equipment. You need to understand what you're doing.

Latest Phone Flash tool version here

Downgrading procedure:

1. Download stock firmware for your tablet. Either it is F, L or LC variants for Phone Flash Tool. This should be original, unmodified stock firmware, not TWRP backup or something.

2. Download the archive TABS8-50_Otkat.rar. Extract this rar to original firmware folder. You need to copy and replace existing files. (Suggestion: You might want to have 2 copies of original firmware, one unmodified, another with this rar extracted, just in case of course)

3. Run Phone Flash Tool

4. Browse -> open the file from the firmware (step 2) -> pft_flash_lte_normal.xml (Dont mind if it says lte, if your tablet is F and you downloaded F firmware it will flash F)

5. Turn off your tablet

6. Enter Fastboot mode. Volume down (-) and power button.

7. Plug tablet to PC, it should be detected by Phone Flash Tool.

8. Click Flash

9. If Phone Flash Tool shows FINISHED - in any way do not disconnect from a computer! Tablet still continues flashing on its own.

10. After couple of restarts tablet should boot as normal.

11. Finished. You can use your tablet with KK firmware now.

12. Don't forget to set Region Code

How to install 5.0 Again:

Via OTA updates all over again, from version S000143

The recovery of the tablet

Perhaps you once wanted to downgrade from 5.0 to 4.4 - and now the tablet doesn't work, error like Boot failed: EFI Hard drive and tablet load Bios but does not start. A little instruction.

1. Downlaod repair_Bios.rar and unzip it to the root of any drive.

2. Run Phone Flash Tool (version 5.2.4)

3. Browse -> open the file from the archive -> flash.xml

4. Turn off the tablet

5. Hold volume buttons (both) and the power button. The tablet should go into Fastboot Starting...

6. Plug tablet to PC, Phone Flash Tool should detect it (Some issues have been reported when plugging into front USB ports, USE ONLY BACK USB PORTS)

7. Click Flash

Since my tablet is S8-50F, after repair_Bios.rar in droidboot it was determined as S8-50LC. Don't worry, after a full flash everything will fall into place everywhere and will be determined correctly.

During the firmware repair_Bios.rar long "does nothing". Do not worry, just wait.

8. The firmware should pass successfully, the tablet itself will boot in FASTBOOT MODE.

9. Use Downgrading procedure to get back to stock KK firmware.

10. Read all instructions carefully

11. Flash a manual roll back from LP 5.0 to KK 4.4.

After 8th paragraph do not turn off Tablet, let it stay in Fastboot Mode until you figure out how to downgrade!

I Hope it will be useful to someone as it was for me.

PS. After downgraded to KK i updated to LP via OTA again. LP build is terrible, even Youtube is lagging after clean installation, everything is buggy, im thinking going back to KK until lenovo releases more OTA's or someone manages to build CM for it :)