yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Paget96:
yes you bricked your device.

you rooted that device, but not unlock dootloader.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
Hi,

I just tried to boot into bootloader, not to unlock it or anything else. I simply rooted the device, I didn't try to install any custom recovery (not that there would be one anyway, AFAIK) or anything like that. If I'm missing something here, would you mind to explain? Thanks. :)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Paget96:
Ok, I understand :)

This device have stock recovery???
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
Yes, everything is stock, the only thing I did was rooting it with Kingo Root, like so: http://xdaforums.com/android/help/root-azpen-a729-t3003908

Unfortunately there isn't much information out there yet for the A729, it seems to be fairly recent. Treecheetahdolo here managed to unbrick his A727, but unfortunately there is no firmware (yet?) available for the A729 on azpens site to try this... :(
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Paget96:
Go to recovery and wipe data and cache.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
I'd like to, but I'm not able to go into recovery unfortunately... It's supposed to be vol-down + power button (http://www.azpenpc.com/service/detail.php/id-9.html), at least for the earlier devices, but this doesn't seem to work here, it always gets to the Azpen logo screen and gets stuck there... I tried every other key combination I could think of, but to no avail. Either the device is seriously bricked, or there's a secret key combination here to go into recovery that azpen didn't communicate... :rolleyes:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
The [Vol- ] [POWER] combo works, but you have to hold them until the unit powers on, (like forever). If it won't go past the Azpen LOGO, I would recommend contacting your local supplier. ;)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
Ok, so if, when you boot into recovery, it still passes through the Azpen logo, then there might definitely be a problem... :-/ Mrdownboy, you have a A729, right? Did you already boot into the bootloader at some point? This thing does have a bootloader, right? :p I contacted Azpen to see if they have a firmware image that I could try to flash, before trying to going through a RMA procedure with my rooted tablet... :p We'll see. Anyway, thanks! :)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
Hey maksmtl,

I haven't tried accesing the bootloader yet, I'm still on the process of acquiring another brand new A729 for dumping the ROM and then start from there. I'll call Azpen tomorrow and ask them about a stock fw, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Once I have a stock ROM, I'll start looking into a custom recovery. Baby steps...

---------- Post added at 01:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------

I don't quite understand what you are saying here... You have to hold [Vol-] [POWER] until the unit powers on, (forever...). Then just sit back and relax. If after 15 mins you're not on recovery, and it's boot-looping, it might need a STOCK ROM re-flash.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
Hi mrdownboy,

what I meant is that, I thought that, as with e.g. a Nexus device, when you boot into recovery it directly goes there, without going through the google logo screen first as it would in a normal boot. So I thought/was hoping, that on the Azpen it would do the same thing, not going through the logo screen when booting into recovery. That's why I thought that I didn't have the right key combination, because it would always boot into the azpen logo screen, where it then gets stuck. From what you said, I understood that the azpen still goes through the logo screen first, before going into the recovery menu, or did I misunderstand you here? When I press and hold [Vol-] + [POWER], the device boots directly into the azpen logo screen after 8 seconds or so, after that nothing happens anymore. I also tried to keep holding the buttons after the logo appears, but that doesn't seem to change anything neither, unless you really have to do that for an insanely long time...? :p
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
Did you get into recovery?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
Nope... :( But again, just to be sure, since I'm still a bit confused here: when you go into recovery it DOES go through the Azpen logo screen first, right?

I wrote to Azpen as well about a firmware for the A729, since they have firmwares for other models, but I didn't get a response yet. But then again, if if I had a firmware, I'm not even sure if I could flash it with PhoenixUSBPro tool, if the device can't go into recovery, I doubt it can go into download mode... Btw, be careful in your development if you don't want the same thing happening to you when booting into the bootloader... :p It would be definitely cool to have a custom recovery and eventually cutom ROMS however! :)

If I can't recover my device I don't even know if I'll try going through a RMA though, since it might be too expensive sending the tablet in, considering its initial cost... :rolleyes:
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
If you call them right now, you'll be surprised how good they are at personal customer service. They WILL offer options, but they don't have the firmware available for public release yet. Is your model the A729BT or the A729 Non-BT? I really want to do a ROM dump, but it's proven way more difficult than I initially thought. If there is a way to dump a ROM w/o rooting it would be excellent.

Also, I don't think they have a bootloader installed.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
I talked to the Azpen support, and they told me to push the volume button in the middle (I guess that comes down to the same as pressing vol- and vol+) and the power button. In my case that didn't work, but my tablet seems to be definitely bricked... I have the BT model from TigerDirect.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] glabifrons:
I just tried it again by pressing in the middle (in case there was a 3rd switch) and could feel both the up and down button click, and it booted all the way up (the logo came and went 3 times as it was booting up). I held all three (incl power) buttons down until it had the full Android display up (with the lock slider).

So... sounds like the guy was wrong - even on a fully functional unit, that won't bring up the menu. :(

It does have a recessed reset button (you can only hit it with a paper-clip or similar). I've seen some devices where you have to hold that down for ridiculous periods of time. I'm surprised the guy didn't mention that.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PoFolk:
Please don't panic. I've found myself in the same situation with my A729 where key press sequences and back panel reset were to no avail. As a matter of fact, just last night I found myself where you are now. After booting into the bootloader through ADB, my Azpen had that same zomie stare that your's is experiencing.

Here's what I did. I turned it over screen down and walked away. Simply let the battery deplete over night. When you attempt to turn it on tomorrow it will complain of insufficient power. Plug it into your charger for about a half-hour, press and hold down the Volume "UP" button and then press the power button (You've heard this drill before, but THIS time you've given the instrument time to "forget" the last instruction given to it.) Let me know if this time (finally) your Azpen A729 boots into the recovery screen.

Most importantly, don't panic. Let the battery deplete firstly and then attempt the recovery mode.

- PoFolk
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
Hi PoFolk,

that sounds very promising! My Azpen is draining its battery right now. :) I actually had a suspicion that the tablet wasn't completely shut off, since every time I plugged in the charger, it would boot into the Azpen screen right away... But I didn't think about letting the battery die to give it a fresh start. Crossing fingers right now...

Oh, and I'm not panicking actually, I was almost expecting some problems with such a cheap tablet. I would probably be panicking more if this was my Nexus 7, which I just gave a new youth through F2FS. ;)

Anyway, I'll let you know how it went tomorrow, thanks! Btw, are you sure about Volume "UP"? That would be new. :p
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PoFolk:
Works for me:

1) Depress "UP" volume button throughout this procedure.

2) Depress power button and release when Azpen bootloader logo appears.

3) Sing or hum a tune whilst the Azpen logo stares at you, all whilst you're depressing the volume "UP" button. (yes, it seems like an eternity)

4) Android system recovery screen pops up.

5) Don't try anything fancy just yet. Select "reboot system now".

6) Light up a cigar or draw a beer. Your Azpen should be restored.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
Oh, so you didn't even have to do a factory reset?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PoFolk:
Only if it's necessary. Following this thread it's my understanding that you didn't introduce another variable into the equation, i.e., attempting a flash or such. If all you did was to launch the bootloader from the ADB command and found yourself with an unresponsive Azpen A729, I'm pretty confident that a simple reset from the recovery options will take you back to what you had previously.

Once that's done, we need to talk. I''m trying to render an initial ROM for the A729, one to fall back upon as we explore the proprietary VooDoo of the Azpen NAND hierarchy.

Do you explore your Azpen through Linux or some other OS?

- PoFolk
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] maksmtl:
It worked! That's awesome, thank you! :D

As for exploring the Azpen, so far I only connected it to my computer (Windows) once to root it and then to try to boot into the bootloader, that's all... :p Haven't explored much beyond that. For starters, a custom recovery, like TWRP, would be nice, but how would one flash anything, if you can't even go into bootloader...
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PoFolk:
Whew! Glad to see you're back to where you were with a rooted Azpen A729.

Indeed! Our challenge is how may we flash this Azpen gizzmo when the world stops upon entry into the bootloader from the ADB interface? I'm looking into options of utilizing the powerful (and treated with utmost respect) dd command.

Where we go from here is still uncertain. To recapitulate: We soft-bricked our Azpens simply by executing the ADB reboot-bootloader function. From there our Azpens woke up clueless in the bootloader. There's a script (as yet unknow to us) that's attempting to run in the bootloader, confused that it didn't get there by way of a normal power up, and that script either loops or remains static until we kill the power. Only then (power depletion) can we bring the device up into recovery mode.

Oh well. we're learning bits and pieces of this mystery shrouded Android VooDoo. What I find so disconcerting is that under the hood it's simply Linux that's been infested with proprietary junk. </end vent>

-PoFolk
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
Should we open a [Q&A] Thread for the Azpen A729? Or maybe we can use this one as THE Q&A?
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PoFolk:
A Q&A Thread? Don't know, really. Is there sufficient interest in this Azpen tablet that would warrant such a thing. Seems to me that there's only two of us, but I see by your entry date that you've been around the forum at least a hundred times and have seen threads come and go. As for me, I'm too new to say.

I do anticipate other Azpen A729 owners being drawn as flies into the ADB reboot-bootloader spider web. Their web queries for help may very well bring them here. (forgive me please my wordplay)

-PoFolk
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
If anything it'll help to organize everything for us; and the rest of the world.

There is nothing else out there about this tablet, and this is the biggest thread for it.

;)
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lawrencekellie:
Me too

I just purchased this critter, A729. I would like to root it to get the bloatware off. I will follow this thread.

Am I to understand (by reading this thread) that one can "root" the a729, but after that, you can't do anything? Or if you follow the "whistling" instructions, you can then use it rooted?

Thanks.

Lawrence
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
Most of the bloatware on this Tablet can be removed without rooting. And you can disable [In Settings > Apps] almost everything else. As of today, there is no custom recovery or custom ROMs, yet. The rooting guide is on my signature.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PoFolk:
Lawrence,

Mrdownboy is spot on. Yes, you can easily enough disable the bloatware and no, custom ROMs are not yet available. Even if they were, Fastboot seems only to create havoc with the Azpen A729 and quite frankly I don't see any 'popular' means of flashing to the device even if you did have a ROM.

However, if you do root the device and are familiar and steady-handed with the dd command you can modify files in those partitions that are accessable, e.g., dev/NANDA (bootloader) and dev/NANDD (/system). There you could play with the bootloader logo as well as the bootanimation.zip found in /system/media. Other than that, at this point in time it's scarey to mess with an Azpen A729 unless you can figure out how to extract the rootfs / directory. For me, it's frustrating. I'm new to what I call Android VooDoo and it all appears to be open source Linux with the addition of superfluous, proprietary junk that prevents me from getting under the hood. </vent>

That said, if you do commit to rooting your A729 and sucessfully explore its inner sanctum, please share your findings here as others will also. As a team we just might crack it.

PoFolk
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rhavasy:
Another Interested Party

All,

I too am the proud ashamed owner of a TigerDirect 729. My intent in buying was to get the cheapest, "I don't care if I lose or break it," tablet to use for streaming TV when I travel for work via a TiVO Stream. Why a cheap tablet you ask? Well, because TiVO refuses to stream to "modified" devices, so my old Asus Transformer TF101 and my Nexus 4 are both excluded since they're rooted and otherwise modified. I fugured hey, why not a cheap tablet. I don't care what it runs as long as it does this ONE thing. Imagine my surprise to find that this POS is partially rooted right out of the box and so TiVO won't stream. You had ONE JOB Azpen...

I used to spend a lot of time unlocking and later rooting devices. Going all the way back to original Windows Mobile 6 devices like my beloved HTC Herald. I just don't have the time to throw hours at these things anymore, and so far this one sounds like a challenge... I've already spent more hours than I'd care to just trying to get ADB drivers that work on my Windows 8.1 machine. Still haven't cracked that ... even with a full Android SDK install. Nexus 4 works fine. A729 not so much...

Interestingly, my main motivation for rooting in the first place was actually to get SuperSU installed so I could then uninstall it which has been reported in some cases to fool TiVO into believing the device is no longer modified. I'll heed mrdownboy's warning though and hold off on that until it's proven to work.

I'll help the best that I can if this thread continues ... I wouldn't mind seeing a device-specific section. Hopefully TigerDirect will sell enough of these things that a few people get interested.
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrdownboy:
[Off Topic] 128GB microSD confirmed working.

I just bought an AData 128GB microSD card. I formatted in FAT32 and the tablet picked it up right away. Now to figure out how to do the Internal to SD memory swap. :D

I also bought a knockoff PS3 gamepad for $9.99 and it works great with SixAxis!!

I haven't even spent $100 on this tablet yet!
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rusovish:
Just make wipe data and cache. To enter recovery force to shutdown tablet by pressing power, when done press vol+ vol- and power and hold, when logo apears release power but keep vol+ vol-. after 10, 15seg you will see recovery menu. Perform wipe data and wipe cache, then reboot.

100% tested on my AZPEN A729

Post results for comunity
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mmortal03:
I'm interested in a Q&A thread, or making this one that. :)

My issue on my A729 is that whenever the screen turns off, the Wi-Fi turns off. I've disabled all the power saving stuff that I can find, but none of that solves the problem. Is there some other factory installed software on there that is doing it that I'm not aware of?

I've also noticed that there is some sort of software update app on there that runs every so often, suggesting apps in the drop down menu. I've removed a number of things ,but I haven't found the one that is doing this. It seems like it is built into the system software update somehow. I'm not looking to root mine at the moment, so, hopefully there is a way to remove this junk without doing so.
[LG Optimus 3D] jocazmaj:
Hi guys,

I'm no dev so I hope that somebody with experience can help me with this.

I need a stock kernel for Optimus 3D P920 v30A EU Open Official rom because after experimenting a little with other kernels after the last one(ibluemind's latest) the phone doesn't boot with any other kernel than ibluemind's.

Now please don't post solutions like flash stock rom etc. because I don't have the time to do all that stuff and the subject here isn't why or how to flash roms or kernels, I just want that stock kernel if it's possible. :fingers-crossed:

Thanx in advance. :)
[LG Optimus 3D] Noxialis:
Unfortunately, the only way to get the stock kernel back is to flash stock.

You can try something more tedious, if you really can't be bothered flashing back: Extract the kernel from the source.

Download the img of your ROM (v30A EU) and find a way to open it (I'd help you out even more by including a "how to" but unfortunately, I have no experience in meddling with img files). Just search around, it shouldn't take you a whole day to figure out everything you need to do.

And at least, you're on the majority (P920), it's easier to do things because most of the people here are on P920. I'm on SU760 so I have to do a bit more things for the phone.
[LG Optimus 3D] jocazmaj:
Thanx for trying to help.

I've been here for a long time and tried almost every single rom from ported ICS to custom version of v30A. That's a lot of wasted time my friend.

Soft bricked my phone many times so it's not a problem for me to flash stock rom , I just don't have the time for setting up everything all over again.

I've got the rom but It's in .kdz form or if I extract it its in .bin+.fls.(rom+baseband).

But even if I convert BIN>IMG I don't know how to extract the kernel.

I don't know what files are related to kernel.

I already said that I'm not a dev.

But making the stock kernel from v30A flashable would really be useful for everyone.
[LG Optimus 3D] Noxialis:
Do you have a recovery? TWRP or CWM?

Try wiping System, maybe that can help.
[LG Optimus 3D] jocazmaj:
Wkpark bootloaders v1.25 and TWRP 2.1.2.1.

The problem is that I deleted the damn backup of my stock rom. :mad:

That would solve the problem but I don't have it.

About wiping the system I really don't follow you. If you wipe the system there is no SYSTEM to boot the phone with. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

What was you point?
[LG Optimus 3D] Noxialis:
It follows, hahaha xD My apologies for making an incomplete statement.

Wipe the system then flash a new one in, although, I think you'd prefer to stay on a stock ROM.

I haven't come across any other kernel besides a v28B, so I really can't help you out with kernel choices (I avoid ones whose dev. has left us). If anything, flash Iodak's kernel and see if it will work. Don't mind the version difference for now.
[LG Optimus 3D] Noxialis:
I got something for you.

Search for the Jeckyll and Hyde kernel by developer "samno" it's great, in fact, it's what I'm using right now on OptimusRS's Simple ICS ROM.
[LG Optimus 3D] jocazmaj:
Thanx, I forgot about that one.

I'll try it out. :) :good:
[Nexus 7 (2013) Q&A] lamoid:
OK so: I updated my N7(2013) to lollipop 5.0.1 using the Skipsoft toolkit and now I cannot restore my data from a backup on my windows 7 x64 PC.

The N7 is unlocked, rooted, and running lollipop 5.0.1. A few weeks ago the USB port stopped working due to the well-known physical weakness of the N7's USB socket. Fortunately I had made backups and copied them to my PC (windows 7 x 64 up-to-date) via USB just prior to the failure. The backups were a TWRP nandroid made from recovery, a TiBackup of all the apps and app data, and I copied the entire contents of sdcard (/storage/emulated/legacy) to a folder on my pc via drag-and-drop using explorer. (MTP mode on the N7 seen as "Nexus 7\Internal storage" by windows.)

Prior to sending it in for repairs I deleted all my personal data from sdcard, did a factory reset using TWRP recovery, and verified that the phone would boot into android lollipop 5.0.1. I paid iResQ to fix the port, which they did.

When I got it back, I hooked up the N7 to the PC via USB and attempted to copy the files back to sdcard, by dragging them in the opposite direction using explorer. I did not work. "Nexus 7\Internal storage" is read only! I was unable to change the permission on the N7 using explorer. (Apparently since the hated MTP mode makes the PC think that the N7 is not a storage device with permissions). I tried using adb push (did not work). I tried to change the permissions of sdcard on the N7 itself using root explorer (and ES file explorer and xplorer -- did not work). I tried adb shell followed by su then chmod (did not work). I tried "mkdir test" at the su prompt to see if that would work and was told "mkdir failed for test, Read-only file system".

So how do I restore my apps and data? How do I make "/" read-write? Does lollipop make an N7 into a ROM?

I think I'll go back to kitkat.

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

Some hours later~

I tried removing 5.0.1 and went back to kitkat, Android 4.4.4 (KTU84P). I am able to copy files from pc to sdcard via wireless using an explorer on the N7. Nevertheless, using an explorer on the pc I cannot copy a file from it to the n7 via usb . I don't get it. What is going on here?

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

The next day~

It appears to me that the problem with the MTP transfer from the PC to the N7 is on the PC side. Apparently when I plug the N7 into the PC via USB, a file transfer window is supposed to appear on the PC. It does not.

That does not explain why, however I was completely unable to write (via usb, wireless, adb, or on the N7 itself) to the virtual sdcard when the N7 was on lollipop 5.01 but works with KitKat 4.4.4. Any clues? Anyone?
[Nexus 7 (2013) Q&A] lamoid:
Amazing. All the people who read this forum and not a one has a clue as to why I cannot write to my N7.
[Nexus 7 (2013) Q&A] _MetalHead_:
Yeah that's gonna make people want to help you.

Since you seem wholely incapable of searching for yourself, here you go- http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=56720490
[Nexus 7 (2013) Q&A] lamoid:
Maybe you did not want to, but you did help me _MetalHead_. Thank you.
[Nexus 7 (2013) Q&A] _MetalHead_:
You're welcome. And I did want to help, but that comment that you posted was rather rude. Next time, instead of acting entitled, a simple "can anyone please help?" would have sufficed.

Anyways... I take it you got it fixed?