[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] HedonJames:
Finally got it!

It's been awhile since I first posted asking questions about flashing. But life's been busy, blah, blah, blah (yeah, I know, we're all busy) and I haven't had a chance to digest everything until this weekend. But I finally got it! I am rooted and unencrypted! A few white-knuckle moments wondering if something is going wrong underneath the hood, but I am rooted and unencrypted! Many thanks to all who provided assistance (especially Vampirefo, as the bulk of the info came from his NextBook Ares8 work!). As previously suggested by me when I first posted, I'd like to make a contribution to this thread in the only way I feel I am qualified to offer something: a one-stop "newbie flash guide" for the NextBook Ares11. IMO, this would help eliminate the most repetitive and stupid questions asked by newbies (myself included!) and free up the more experienced flashers to focus on the next step(s) of modifying this device! Perhaps a Linux install or dual boot?!

This is my attempt to write up that guide, attributing proper credit where credit is due. The information is all here in this thread...I just "glued" it together and added commentary from a newbie's perspective. To the best of my memory, this is what needs to be done to flash the NextBook Ares11 without bricking it. If there's anything I missed, or mis-stated, please let me know so it can be remedied. If it's not accurate, it's counter-productive. Any thoughts?

NEXTBOOK ARES 11 GUIDE - HOW TO ROOT/UNENCRYPT/FIX LOLLIPOP MEMORY LEAK

While I have a lot of experience with installing Linux on desktop and laptop computers, over-writing Windows, dual-booting with Windows, or custom configurations, I have NEVER flashed a tablet before. And while I can read instructions to the letter, nothing beats the experience of first-hand knowledge obtained from “doing it”, although a first-rate guide is a wonderful supplement to the hands-on experience. With all that said, I found this thread to be equal parts illuminating, enlightening, and frustrating. This thread seems to be written by folks with a lot of tablet-flashing experience, for other users with less tablet-flashing experience. For the user with NO flashing experience, there is a whole lot of foreign terminology and concept; plus it is written on a post-by-post basis, as better solutions and knowledge were discovered; and some of the steps require adaptation of NextBook Ares8 tools and solutions. It is practically impossible for a newbie to follow along, and VERY EASY for a newbie to “brick their device” by attempting to follow along. This results in additional pleas for assistance, which requires those inclined to help to determine what the newbie has done incorrectly before a revised solution can be offered. I think a “NextBook Ares11 Guide for Newbies” would be very helpful for those who have never flashed a tablet before, but are brave enough to try; and equally helpful to those more experienced flashers, by reducing the requests for more help and assistance.

In that spirit, here is my attempt to write that guide for newbie tablet flashers of the NextBook Ares11, based on my experiences of figuring out what was applicable, what was optional, and what was to be avoided. This guide is SPECIFIC to the NextBook Ares11, as the NextBook Ares8 is very similar, but slightly different. (The NextBook Ares8 can be flashed simply by following Vampirefo's referenced tutorial). None of this is new information, but simply a compilation of others' advice, compiled in a linear step-by-step fashion. I have tried to attribute credit to the poster who provided the information; if I missed you, or something is mis-attributed, please let me know so that it can be properly addressed. I am hoping this can be placed as a sticky on the first page of this thread, allowing newbies a “one-stop reference” to flashing the NextBook Ares11, thereby allowing the smarter & more experienced users the opportunity to continue this thread without the repetitive newbie questions typically asked. For brevity's sake, the NextBook Ares11 is referred to as Ares11 throughout this guide.

For those who care, here is the background of “how” and “why” to root android devices. I didn't quite understand all of it, but I got the basics which provided a better foundation of understanding of this thread. While not necessary to this guide, for those who are interested, there is value in this read:

http://www.rojtberg.net/668/how-to-root-android-using-ubuntu/

FWIW, ignore the section “Preparations”; we'll just preface with “sudo”, as typically done with Ubuntu. This article is not critical to the process, but is helpful in understanding “what” needs to be done, and “why” we're doing it. If you're interested in further understanding, don't do anything, just read!

Preparing to Flash the Ares11

Before you begin, download the following files to your computer, which will be needed during this process:

- Vampirefo's tethered recovery & superuser (root) files, compressed as zip files: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347758712

- extract downloaded NXA8QC116_root_kit.zip to folder and note location of extracted folder & files. I placed mine in my home folder /home/jim/downloads/android/NextbookAres11 (you can extract & place wherever you like, but you need to KNOW where the files are located)

- Shawn99452's encryption-disabled bootimage (post #28):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/prc577kbco53x1c/boot_noencrypt.img?dl=0

Prepare computer:

- download all files referenced above in “before you begin”

- Ubuntu/Linux users install android tools on desktop/laptop computer. From within terminal

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-device-flash

sudo apt-get install phablet-tools

Prepare Ares11:

- it goes without saying to BACK UP YOUR DATA!!! This process WILL overwrite any personal data on your device. Back it up for restoration when you're done.

- it also goes without saying that you PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! NEITHER I, NOR ANYONE ELSE ON THIS FORUM, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOUR DEVICE OR YOUR DATA! If you can't accept 100% of the risk, and 100% of the blame if something goes wrong, please do not proceed!!!!!

- if you're still willing, despite the warnings above, go to Settings>About Tablet and tap “Build number” 7 times to enable “developer mode” and to allow usb-debugging and “side loading” of apps

- with Ares11 connect to computer via usb cable, verify computer “sees” Ares11 by typing in terminal

adb devices

- if an alphanumeric identifier is returned, you're good to go; if nothing is listed, check cable connections, etc... If all else fails, type

adb kill-server

and try again. Once you see the alphanumeric device identifier, you are good to proceed

- copy previously extracted SuperSU246.zip to your Ares11 sdcard (it MUST be on sdcard)

- copy previously downloaded boot_noencrypt.img to Ares11 sdcard (it MUST be on sdcard)

How to Root - Windows Users??:

(taken from Shawn99452's post #26):

http://xdaforums.com/android/development/intel-android-devices-root-temp-cwm-t2975096

(needs to be confirmed by Windows users, I used Ubuntu)

How to Root - Ubuntu/Linux Users:

(taken from Vampirefo post #27 regarding Nextbook Ares8 at: http://xdaforums.com/android/development/root-nextbook-ares-8-twrp-recovery-t3133165)

Vampirefo's instructions, modified and summarized for Ares11 users as follows:

This zip contains, tethered twrp recovery, permanent twrp recovery, boot.img and SuperSU246.zip. (However, Nextbook Ares 11 flashers will only use the tethered twrp recovery and SuperSU246.zip file tools.)

Download complete zip file here: (already downloaded in the “Before you begin...” section)

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347758712

To root via tethered twrp recovery (this is for Ubuntu/Linux OS), from within Ubuntu/Linux computer/laptop:

- extract downloaded NXA8QC116_root_kit.zip to folder and note location of extracted folder & files. I placed mine in my home folder /home/jim/downloads/android/NextbookAres11; you can extract & place wherever you like, but you need to KNOW where the files are located

- if you haven't already, place SuperSU246.zip on your sdcard (see above regarding “Prepare Ares11”)

- navigate to folder where files were extracted 'NextbookAres11' folder is located, right click on folder and select “open in terminal” (you must be in the folder for tethered recovery to be used).

- from within terminal, type:

adb reboot bootloader

this will reboot the Ares11 into bootloader mode.

With Ares11 in bootloader mode, type:

sudo ./trigger 4

This will start the tethered TeamWin recovery program (twrp?) to unlock the bootloader to allow modification of bootloader & installation of root files.

- From within twrp, on your Ares11, select “install” and navigate to the sdcard directory where SuperSU246.zip was saved. Follow twrp instructions to "install"

- Once installation is completed, wipe cache/dalvik, and reboot

Finally, from terminal, type:

adb reboot recovery

App SuperSU should now be installed as an application. YOU NOW HAVE ROOT CAPABILITIES!

How to Unencrypt

- With root capabilities now enabled, switch from your desktop/laptop computer to your Ares11 tablet. From within the Ares11, download Flashify app from Play Store, as per thew-tab and whaevr (posts #35 & #36)

- from within Flashify, navigate to the sdcard directory where boot_noencrypt.img was saved and select for flashing

- as per whaevr (post #36)

(personally, I somehow lost the adb connection during the reboot; if the terminal adb functionality gets lost, you can manually reboot to recovery with Ares11 key combo to get into bootloader or recovery via Ares11 hard keys. Compliments of Vampirefo, here is a "cheat sheet" of hard keys for the Ares11:

Upon recovery reboot, your Ares11 will be unencrypted and will have root capabilities, but will otherwise be a brand new Android tablet “out of the box” and, as such, will need to be “rebuilt” by re-installing all applications that you want on your device.

How to Fix Memory Leak

The Ares11 is an Intel x86_64 architecture, as opposed to ARM, so we need that architecture of Xposed Installer in order to apply Lollipop Memory Leak Fix. Instructions from XDA forum member ansebovi can be found here:

http://xdaforums.com/zenfone2/general/guide-to-install-xposed-installer-t3116476

Files for download to Ares11 are linked here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3034811

As referenced in ansebovi's instruction link, I prefer the twrp flash, as we already used that tool above to gain root access, so it looks a little familiar. Also referenced by ansebovi, the Ares11 files for download are XposedInstaller_3.0_alpha4.apk, xposed-v75-sdk21-x86.zip, and xposed-uninstaller-x86.zip. (note the current version is now xposed-v78, but the sdk version MUST be 21 for Android 5.0; we are now interested in the xposed-v78-sdk21-x86.zip file)

- download all 3 and place on external sdcard

- install *.apk file by tapping from within Ares11 file manager

- switch to desktop/laptop and, with usb cable still connected, invoke tethered twrp recovery

adb reboot bootloader

this will reboot the Ares11 into bootloader mode.

With Ares11 in bootloader mode, type:

sudo ./trigger 4

This will invoke teamwin recovery program

- similar to installation of root, navigate to external sdcard and choose xposed-v75-sdk21-x86.zip for installation

- wipe cache/dalvik, and reboot

The Xposed Framework Installer is now installed on the Ares11. The Xposed Installer allows for MANY customizations and add-ons for Android. But for now, we're only interested in the Lollipop Memory Leak fix.

- from the Ares11, open the Xposed Installer app

- choose download, the third setting from the top and look for "Fix Lollipop Memory Leak" module

- go back one screen and choose "modules", the second setting from top; select "Fix Lollipop Memory Leak"

- Reboot device to enable selected Xposed modules

adb reboot

Your Ares11 Android 5.0 Lollipop leak has now been patched!