yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] KeinName_exe:
Tried flashing TWRP 3.7 on X-205 (LTE)

Touch in recovery dont work so i cant use custom firmware...
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] zaxiby:
What am I doing incredibly stupid. I can't flash a custom ROM to this to save my life.

I have a Tab A8 SM-X200 A 12. I Downloaded the latest firmware with Frija.

Rooted it with a Magisk patched boot.img. Installed TWRP through Odin. I could

boot either into TWRP or the rooted, but otherwise stock firmware. Before flashing

a ROM, I would format the data folder to ext4, wipe everything, enter fastboot mode from TWRP and do the

fastboot flash command with no errors. See screenshot. Fastboot reboot would take me back to TWRP.

When I did TWRP > Reboot > System, the device returned to TWRP. When I did TWRP > Power Off,

The unit would hang on "The tablet is not running Samsung's official software" nag screen, and not turn off.

I have tried 2 different ROMs, lineage-19.1-20220814-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bgS.img and

lineage-20.0-20221111-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bvS.img. My stock tars for ODIN are AP_X200XXS1BVJ1, BL_X200XXS1BVJ1, and

CSC_XAR_X200XAR1BVI6. Could it be that the CSC_ file is BV16, and AP_ and BL_ are BVJ1 are a problem?

Using TWRP_3.7.0_12-0_X200XXS1BVJ1.tar.md5, Magisk-v25.2, and Platform Tools 33.0.3.

Treble Info: no seamless upgrades, system-arm64-ab.img.xz, Treble and VNDK, System as root A/B, Dynamic partitions.

For laughs and giggles I tried flashing the img files from TWRP and it went into a bootloop.

Remember the good old days of zip files? I don't need encryption for this tablet. It's a Lazy Boy companion.

Attached: Screenshot of the fastboot process, the fstab file, the TWRP recovery log, and twrpflags.txt.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] lewmur:
The only thing I see different is that you formatted the data to ext4 instead of just using TWRP /Wipe and selecting Format Data option.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] zaxiby:
Thanks for the reply. I did use > TWRP /Wipe and selecting the Format Data option, to format data.

To expand, with TWRP I formatted data to EXT2 first, then EXT4. You can't go straight to EXT4.

Thanks to whoever discovered that trick.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] lewmur:
I don't understand the "To expand" part. Just choosing the "Format Data" option under /Wipe, is all that's needed.

edit: "That trick" may be what's causing your problem. As to the CSC and AP versions not being the same, shouldn't matter if the stock ROM booted OK. The CSC is being erased when you format the data partition.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] zaxiby:
Again, thanks. On the initial wipe, TWRP can't read the data folder because it's encrypted.

Should I just ignore that?
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] lewmur:
No. The whole purpose of formatting the data partition is to get rid of the encryption long enough to flash the new ROM. But it doesn't require formatting to ext2 and then ext4. You just choose the Format Data option under Wipe and TWRP will do it.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] zaxiby:
In the "Wipe/Format Data screen, I typed yes, then enter, got the following.

Unable to mount storage

Simulating actions...

Updating partition details...

Failed to mount 'data' (invalid argument)

Is this normal?
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] lewmur:
This is the option to choose. Do this before factory reset.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] lewmur:
Yes, that is normal. To test if it worked, reboot recovery, select Advanced/File Management/sdcard and instead of a bunch folders with funny names, you should see just one folder named TWRP
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] zaxiby:
Advanced/File Management/sdcard shows empty.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] lewmur:
If you select /Backup and choose Internal Storage, how much available space does it show?
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] zaxiby:
I found out what I was doing stupid. I wasn't doing "Swipe to Factory Reset first". TWRP now shows up in sdcard.

I did do that first, days ago, but I didn't know about encrypted data. More than one thread advised this >

Wipe/Advanced Wipe/Select Data/Repair or Change file System/Change File System. Then do the EXT4 trick.

I'm rebooting into fastboot, and going to try flash.

Many thanks for your time, regardless what happens.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] lewmur:
Yes, I have seen that advice before for other tablets. I've NEVER used it. It's always seemed redundant.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] cyb7:
Exactly the same behaviour I had. See: https://xdaforums.com/t/gsi-12-unofficial-lineageos-19-sm-x200.4495865/post-87923811
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] zaxiby:
I think I tried the proper way first, but got those errors. That's when I discovered the "Trick" which gave no errors.

After no flashing success, I carefully read all steps, but my brain replaced the correct way with the "Trick".

Said I was stupid. Anyway , the flash went flawlessly., and thanks a ton!
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] openback:
I'm having the same issue as others where the touchscreen doesn't work in TWRP. I've flashed the 3 different versions with Odin and they've all been the same. Any ideas?
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] Mackie Messer:
Is there any solution for the non-working touchscreen?
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] hoody424:
Same here. Touchscreen without function.

Hope u'll get this fixed soon^^

adb.exe shell

recovery --wipe_data

recovery --wipe_cache

also lead to a boot loop after flashing
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] Magendanz:
Updated for the new Android 13 OEM release...

Downloads:

twrp_3.7.0_12-1_X200XXU1CVL5.tar.md5

twrp_3.7.0_12-1_X200XXU1CVL5.img

Change Log:

v3.7.0_12-1 (2023-01-22):

Updated to X200XXU1CVL5 (Android 13) OEM stock kernel (Dec 2022 Update).
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] andr_SMOLKEYS:
Is there no build for the SM-X205?
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] devasure:
This turorial worked for my A8(x200XXU1AUL5).Android 11.

The method I followed is given below:

*Unlocked device bootloader

*In odin,loaded BL,TWRP.tarmd5(in AP,and CSC.

(I don't remember if the TWRP.tar.md5 was this one

twrp_3.7.0_12-1_X200XXU1CVL5.tar.md5

or this one

twrp_3.6.2_11-1_X200XXU1AVG1.tar.md5)

*Flashed the files,and when Odin showed PASS and phone screen started to black ,pressed Power+Vol up keys together and got the device into TWRP

*Once in TWRP,I flashed majisk.zip that I had kept on my ext.sd card.(just rename your majisk manager app to majisk manager.zip or majisk.zip to make the zip for flashing)

*After flashing magisk manager.zip,I did not do any data wipe or cashe wipe.I just rebooted into system.That is all.

NB.twrp.img file did not work in my case.

Dont do any any data wipe.It caused bootloop on my first attempt.Just flash majisk.zip and reboot to system
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] SevastianXDA:
On latest version of your TWRP, stuck in touchscreen, SOS. ;(
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] Magendanz:
I'm guessing that you didn't update to the X200XXU1CVL5 (Android 13) OEM firmware before you installed. it.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] SevastianXDA:
Not sure, I'd guess so (I think it might've been on Android 13, although I'm not sure, but definitely not latest), but I recommend you add a very visible note about this to the main post and also explain the fix for this, which is that you'll need a USB Type A to Type C adapter and a mouse to connect to the tablet and use TWRP that way.

Since well, I assume there's no way for me to flash the latest firmware (via Odin?) nor will it let me to boot into the system anymore, always brings me to recovery.

If the possible fixes I talked about being impossible to do is false or u know of any other fix, please tell me how, if not, I'll be going to the store tomorrow to buy an adapter.

Ultimately, I want to end up using the LineageOS GSI or if it's too bad/unstable at least root the stock ROM and debloat it of it's crap.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] Magendanz:
You might be confusing me with a custom service rep. I build TWRP for my own use and share those builds with the XDA community in the hope that others can benefit and start building their own custom ROMs. After all, my OP starts with a note that says, "This is unofficial and unsupported." As much of a hassle as it was for you to discover that the OEM bootloader isn't compatible with all versions of the kernel, I'm guessing that it's still easier than if you'd started from scratch like I did.

Rather than complain that an unofficial and unsupported build of a custom recovery needs fixes, I suggest you embrace the fact that you're taking some risks by following this path and that some more advanced knowledge of how the boot sequence works may be required. You should also easily be able to enter Download mode and flash the latest OEM firmware without needing a USB adaptor.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] SevastianXDA:
Oh, via Odin? That's great then! Do you know where exactly I'd need to flash it? Like, AP, BL, CSC, CP?
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] SevastianXDA:
Flashed latest firmware, still no touchscreen.

(Downloaded latest stock ROM from Frija, then flashed BL, AP and CSC (with HOME_CSC). No CP file since the tablet is Wifi only.)

View attachment 5828169
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] Magendanz:
Use the CSC, since you need to wipe the userdata partition.
[Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021)] SevastianXDA:
I wiped it via the recovery and it boot me to system so not an issue, I bought a usb to type c adapter and my mouse works.
[Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC Questions & Answers] n53r10us:
Hey guys,

van someone tell me a good stable Rom with white QS background?

Or is there a way to get it on maybe Arrow OS as example?
[Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC Questions & Answers] Noter2017:
ArrowOS 12.1 does have it
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
The impetus for my project was the purchase of a (surprise!) late production line NSTG with a flawless light-dispersing layer. And I thought...this deserves a rethink. Thanks to @Renate for help with the status bar background color and clock color. The rest is a combination of DesktopVisualizer, Simi Folder, Tasker apps (only 2), Minimalistic Text, a little judicious wallpaper design, and fooling with the framework-res.apk.

View attachment 5720341

Features:

-glowlight instruction banner removed from screensaver image

-status bar background changed to white

-modernized "now reading", "back", and "menu" buttons

-date/greeting widget (updates automatically)

-weather widget (3 hr updates from data scraped at 3 am)

-"Now Reading" bookcover widget with reader "badge"

----image is automatic for non-DRM epubs, requires one button press for others

----image (whether automatic or manual) is possible to set as screensaver

----image is "smart", duplicating function of "reading now" button,

and

knowing which reader to open for which book (button also is now "smart")

-icons in dock are Simi folder shortcuts (except for drawer icon) and open groups of apps (stock reader, Kindle, EBookDroid, as an example)

-QuickTiles fully integrated

Edit: the current version now also supports PerfectViewer as a reader option

More screenshots below.

(YouTube insisted on muting the short segment featuring Ella Fitzgerald, if you can believe it...)

"How-to" guide begins in post #11

Edit 7-14/24: or check out The Phoenix Project--Phase 2 for a much easier approach.
[Nook Touch General] aiamuzz:
WHOA !!! Seriously ?

hahahahahaha ... LOVE IT !!!

What is this ? ... a concept yet to be realised or an actual working 'Neu Home' for our awesome little NSTG's ?
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
It's a real thing. I've been using it for a few weeks, tracking down small issues. Think I've got them all. But...it's just ADW launcher dressed up with some nice features. The underlying B&N system remains.
[Nook Touch General] aiamuzz:
Excellent ... where is my Nook Manager SD Card !!!

When are you planning to release it for the public with the instructions set ? ... Look forward to it.

An NSTG specific ADW launcher ... Fantastic !!!
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
Mmm....not sure. I actually have not tried applying this to a second device. I'm sure I can do it, but there are a lot of moving parts. I need to try and simplify the process. I didn't actually think anyone else would be interested!

Probably some kind of of gradually increasing functions, like just the status bar change (easy). That's just an update of the framework-res.apk using CWM. Then add in the smart "reading now" button (without the bookcover widget). That's just a pair of apps in which I can disable all the widget stuff.

That, I think, would be doable by anyone. The rest really is window dressing. It suits me, but not all the elements may suit others. I need to look at the portability of the widgets. If that were possible it would simplify things a lot.

Edit: Well, some good news for a change. The widgets can be "exported" in a file and then read into a different device. So for people who want to duplicate any of the widgets they see on my screen (or use them as starting points), the path is smoother.

Anyway, that's my next "job".
[Nook Touch General] jun127:
Really good stuff. Wish I had another NST to experiment on, it's crazy what you can still do with them.
[Nook Touch General] aiamuzz:
Hey ... is there anyway to know if my NSTG is from a late production line ?
[Nook Touch General] aiamuzz:
now i am getting impatient ... hope you are able to toss in a easy tutorial for us to try this !!!
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
Not to my knowledge. I've only ever read about the change in background color and beefing up of the dispersing layer in one place. They could have made it up, but there is no doubt about background "white" when I line up an NST, my new NSTG, and my older NSTG. There's a clear progression to a darker background.

Now there could simply be something wrong with my old NSTG that makes the background so dingy, but I don't think so.
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
I can't guarantee "easy", but it will be my usual "overly detailed" :)
[Nook Touch General] aiamuzz:
@nmyshkin ... thanks for the instruction set ...

agreed ... your instruction sets are comprehensive and detailed !!!

quite a bit of understanding and tinkering needed ... will try and get back i i like it ... currently my NSTG is an a state of ZEN ... thanks to your masterpiece of the RN button with my custom menu ... Its like i've already achived nirvana ... my mind is ONE with this current version(only cos of your RN Menu app) !!!
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
Good day dear Friend,

Hope I'm in the right place for my wife's Nook Simple Touch 6" with GlowLight, BNRV350 with new fresh and more powerful battery, but without life & spirit to be used. My idea is to follow your best idea for most reliable ROM and apks, where this e-Book will perform in best possible way with its available resources.

Thanks indeed for your really kind support & help!
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
You probably have a "UK" version of the device (multi-lingual splash screen; US version says "Read Forever" on splash screen). So the first item of business is to get it updated and registered. Maybe that's all your wife will want.

To retain the "UK" variant, see here: https://xdaforums.com/t/nst-g-update-fw-1-2-2-uk-unofficial.4360889/

To change to a "US" version, see here (option #3): https://xdaforums.com/t/nst-g-dealing-with-non-us-aka-uk-devices-in-2021.4233411/

What's the difference? Other than the cosmetic differences, the UK version has the Oxford dictionary and localization is possible through the stock Settings app (but only for the supported languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, English). There is also "support" for changing dictionaries, but no alternate dictionaries were ever made available AFAIK. While my hack to get the UK version to FW 1.2.2 works very well, it is likely that the device will not accept an OTA update if another one is ever pushed out.

The US version uses the Merriam-Webster dictionary and has no option for switching dictionaries. Also no localization option in Settings. However, I have produced an app for swapping dictionaries and also made some translation and single language dictionaries as a proof-of-concept. No Bulgarian, but that's just a matter of running down the right data! Also, a change to US firmware will guarantee that any OTA updates will be received (I don't think there will be any more, but you never know). And...localization (to the other supported languages) can still be accessed through my Nook Settings app.
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
Exactly, UK model with Software Version: 1.2.1. It was not possible to update to the latest release 1.2.2 which was for the US version.

When I tried to update to OTA 1.2.2 the file was automatically deleted by the system of the NookBook

I don't need Bulgarian language, English is enough :) This model is very-very old... I don't believe some update will come after B&N officially reverted with message that long time ago this model was stopped and is not supported any more... so, better to rely on best option available with you for best performance ROM. For me it does not matter UK or US version, any one which you consider as more reliable, stable and better performance.

Thanks!
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
Hey! I use my NSTG every day :)

No, you can't update a UK model with the 1.2.2 US update zip. So if you don't care which you end up with, you should use the region changer to convert to US 1.2.1 and then update manually to 1.2.2 before registering.

If the result is not sufficient or you are interested in some aspects of the makeover in this thread, then we can talk.
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
Right, my wish is to go beyond the market official ROM if there is better option with reliable apks & good ROM in service :) hope for same as yours :) Let's get ready to rumble Bro :)
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
Should I follow one of your posts here, to start with?
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
Look back at post #16. I gave it to you there.

Except

in instruction #4:

"4) Factory reset your nook ("N"/home key > Settings > Device Info > Erase and Deregister Device") and let it boot back up to the setup wizard, then power off."

Instead, power up NSTG and as soon as you see the splash screen change, press and hold the two

lower

hardware buttons (either side) until a message appears about erasing data or something like that. Just say "Yes" to whatever. When you're at the "Welcome" screen use the power button to turn off the device and continue with the instructions at step 5.
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
I did Factory reset once I changed the battery with the new one... Than no more connection with the B&N server and no account anymore... Spinning wheel all the time in Home/What to read next... What i know B&N not maintaining any more this model and no more updates what was the response in their message... that's why is going to flush the ROM

I think thi is what I did and activating hidden buttons on the screen to bypass the account registration with sliding top left part of the screen to open another button to skip what it was I dont remember exactly, but was guided by one YouTube video...

Now Looking back at post #16 as you said

Except

in instruction #4:

Ready for action :)
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
Here I did straight installation of Amazon_Kindle_newUI.apk just over the previously installed version without doing uninstall /replace application/ and nothing with the Kindle_Books.apk

Got it

I located "The Little Prince" in the Library, nothing I changed and everything is same as always before.

Here I got it

Whatever time it takes would be good if better dictionary with more words is available. For now will stay with the first one which I installed already & tried out, working good.

Yes, I keep installation .apk files on the SDcard, just to avoid overload with files the memory of the NSTG, my SDcard is big enough and all these files are not big size. My concern is to clean and hide whatever is possible from the device and as you mentioned in tour previous post to create a folder Nook where to put all whatever I need... Here not sure where mobi & epub should stay as you stated some of them are accessible only from the Library, the other from the folder of Kindle and no idea what should be placed in the newly waiting folder for creation Nook...

Whatever you say Boss :)
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
The idea is to put the books for a reader into a folder for just that one reader. So epubs, which the stock reader can open, go into the "Nook" folder.

For the Kindle app you have no choice because the app will only see mobi files in the "kindle" folder.

For EBookDroid, which is mainly for PDFs (but also some CBZ and even fb2 if you have some), an "EBookDroid" folder.

Perfect Viewer for CBZ, CBR, and maybe PDFs, if you like the way it displays them. The app creates a housekeeping folder, "PerfectViewer" (no space). If you hide that folder (after we configure it) you can make a "Perfect Viewer" folder (note the space) for those kinds of books.

The idea is to stop books from showing up in a reader that can't do a good job with them.
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
You are very right, to stop books from showing up in a reader that can't do a good job with them. Only my concern is to learn where each kind of book file should be placed for each reader... Kindle .mobi & epub I got it, the other I need to place them in belonging folder. All these files are unknown for me: CBZ, CBR, fb2... and I should learn their best location... For .pfd I got it EBookDroid & remaining the mentioned above CBZ, CBR, fb2
[Nook Touch General] nmyshkin:
You can test when we get to those other readers. Obviously the stock reader can handle text-based PDFs. But poorly, by re-flowing the text. The stock reader can't properly display imaged-based PDFs (scans).

I've decided it's better for me to use EBookDroid for all PDFs. This generally means reading in landscape mode so the print is not too small, but some scans can be read in portrait depending on how they were made. Perfect Viewer can also read PDFs of any kind but I don't feel the cropping of the white space around the print is aggressive enough. EBookDroid does a good job of making the printed area fill as much of the screen as possible. It does run into problems with PDF scans that are very large files. There's just not enough memory. Perfect Viewer is designed for images so it does a better job but may not crop the white space around the text as well. And you can scroll continuously in EBookDroid (NoRefresh!). No scrolling in Perfect Viewer.

To "solve" the problem with PDF scans, I discovered that if the PDF is exported as a series of jpeg images and these are zipped up to make a CBZ, then EBookDroid has no problem with them, even if the file size gets big. I guess the process for displaying CBZs is better than the process for displaying PDF scans in EBookDroid. I did a post on this process recently: https://xdaforums.com/t/a-different-approach-to-scanned-pdf-books.4641942/

So that's why I choose EBookDroid for PDFs and CBZs. I've never had any fb2 books. I think that's a format favored by Eastern Europeans in the past.

Perfect Viewer is really good with CBZ and CBR files. These are zips of images and are most commonly comics or manga. EBookDroid can read CBZ as I said above, but if it's a comic or similar, with images, NoRefresh will not do you any good and scrolling will drive you crazy with all the flickering. So for those kinds of CBZs and also the CBRs, I choose Perfect Viewer.

The stock reader will find PDFs no matter where they are, so if you don't want to use the stock reader for PDFs you need to add a .nomedia file to the EBookDroid folder (and/or the Perfect Viewer folder).
[Nook Touch General] aykov77:
Done, installed it.

Noted, activation will be from QuickTiles.

Done, same as your 3 attachments, not going through the dropdown options....

Got it, more or less found the idea for prevention of flickering and color control in black & white. My question is: when I turn on the power this NoRefresh will be automatically activated or every time I should do it once after powering the device on?