Database Users

[FIXED?]- stuck in apx mode

[Update Fri 17th Aug]
k for everyone stuck in apx mode try this:
1. Files you will need:
gersmas AfterOTA Tool
The attached zip file which contains an unlocked bootloader v6 file and a recovery image file - unzip to a folder on your desktop.
2. Open Device Manager on your PC
Turn your tab on and connect your min-usb cable to the PC
In Device Manager check USB Controllers for the ACER-USB boot-recovery driver
3. Open the aferOTA tool and click on the "Extras" Tab
In the unbrick section:
"Browse" recovery option and negotiate to the folder on your desktop and
Choose the .img file there
"Browse" bootloader option and choose the .bin file from that same folder
4. Click "Install"
Keep your eye on "status"
Your Tab will vibrate and you should see displayed in white text:
"Acer Iconia a500 apx mode"
After a minute or two you will see displayed in Big White Text:
"PASS"
and in smaller red letters:
"reboot the device!
5. So go ahead and reboot
The first time I rebooted i got "fastboot mode"????
I just powered off and booted up again, .....
IF you do not have a custom ICS rom on yr tab already then reboot into recovery and flash that rom...no probs!!
You'll need to d/l one and put it on yr ext sd first
Hope that helps some of you...good luck
************************************************************************
Has anyone been able to revert back to HC using any/all of the following
A) nvFlash hangs at "formatting partition 4....." rollback using timmydeanv4
B) apxFlash - once back on HC does not recognise tab at all, wont extract cpuid neither does a500manager v1.1
C) afterOTA
The downgrade using timmydeansv4 usually does the trick for me but some have reported error "UPDATE FAILED" and then being stuck with the black screen of apx mode.
Would be great to have some feedback on this
if anyone can shed any light it'd be highly appreciated...:thumbup:
EDIT: acer picasso usb driver installs from HC BL nvflash and no amount of uninstalling or reinstalling gets rid of it....acer boot recovery driver is nowhere to be seen and this is the one thats needed
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

I grabbed this from Webspirits thread and brought it with me...
dibb_nz said:
hi J...ok thats cool re boot anim...i asked becoz like u i been trying to help a couple of others who can't use any of the flash tools or roll back to HC...i only just got myself fixed after being stuck in apx, no recovery, and boot screen saying in red text "reboot device" thought he may have had similar issue....
J...have u used nvflash or apxflash to roll back - theres a few folks getting stuck with it...its loading the HC apx driver which aint working with the ics bl so then yr tab gets stuck in apx!!!
I started a new thread hoping someone can help us all out be great to hear yr thoughts on this....its driving me up the wall
sorry didnt mean to hijack the thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one that we are working on was never stuck in apx. I don't know how or why, but the tab ended up without an os, or recovery. Also no uid or sbk.
So we used the ubuntu apx recovery method discussed here by srbeen. Once we found the uid, then the sbk. We used blackthund3rs APX Tool to get a working bootloader and recovery.
Flashing roms always complete without any unexpected errors or surprises.
The problem we are having is being stuck in the bootanimation endlessly.
I've been using blackthund3r's and gersma's tools and haven't used the manual nvflash or apxflash methods for quite a while. But that is my next thought on getting this one going. I really can't imagine what's wrong, perhaps the partitions got fubar'd somehow.
So far for me blackthund3rs APX Tool has taken me from apx to any bootloader/CWM combo that I want, but I'm not having any driver issues. I can see where that would ruin the fun.
One thing I might suggest for the driver issue. It might not work, but maybe... If on Windows, go to device manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right click Acer USB Boot-recovery driver and choose 'Update Driver Software", choose 'Browse my computer...' and then 'Let me pick...'.
Mine shows two different drivers.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Hopefully one is for ICS and the other is for HC. That's all a big guess. So apply your wisdom before making any changes. But I think that's what I would try if I had those driver issues.

JdgM3NT4L said:
I grabbed this from Webspirits thread and brought it with me...
The one that we are working on was never stuck in apx. I don't know how or why, but the tab ended up without an os, or recovery. Also no uid or sbk.
So we used the ubuntu apx recovery method discussed here by srbeen. Once we found the uid, then the sbk. We used blackthund3rs APX Tool to get a working bootloader and recovery.
Flashing roms always complete without any unexpected errors or surprises.
The problem we are having is being stuck in the bootanimation endlessly.
I've been using blackthund3r's and gersma's tools and haven't used the manual nvflash or apxflash methods for quite a while. But that is my next thought on getting this one going. I can't imagine what's wrong, perhaps the partitions got fubar'd somehow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check back thru some of my stuff, it sounz familiar 4 some reason I just can't think why - so yr saying u got the bl and recovery flashed OK but stuck in a boot loop? is that the bl animation or system boot one? I'm thinking a rollback with tdv4 to reset everything and upgrading from there - but if yr anything like me you'll be wanting to actually solve the loop issue....that's where I'm at with folks getting stuck in apx
So far for me blackthund3rs APX Tool has taken me from apx to any bootloader/CWM combo that I want, but I'm not having any driver issues. I can see where that would ruin the fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't normally was trying to reproduce an error for someone who couldn't get the boot/recovery driver loaded in apx mode, I uninstalled them and now can't get them back, lol - which leads into....
One thing I might suggest for the driver issue. It might not work, but maybe... If on Windows, go to device manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right click Acer USB Boot-recovery driver and choose 'Update Driver Software", choose 'Browse my computer...' and then 'Let me pick...'.
Mine shows two different drivers.
Hopefully one is for ICS and the other is for HC. That's all a big guess. So apply your wisdom before making any changes. But I think that's what I would try if I had those driver issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeh this is what I have come to think too
Picasso is for HC and acer one for ICS, no matter what I try the Picasso ones always load and the Acer ones don't show up anywhere....I'm back on HC and about to upgrade again and hopefully all will be well in driver world once again!!!!!
IThe other thing I've been working at is a way to rollback without using an EUU or update.zip
In other words, trying to get nvflash or apxflash to revert back to HCbut the tools automatically install Picasso - when that happens then everything goes haywire, its where some of the tabs hang formatting partitions - which then involvesusing td4 or srbeens method to reset them.....I'm figuring if we solve the original issue folks won't have to rollback/reset partitions.....
I hope this makes some sort of sense J and I really appreciate yr time and input thanks:good:

dibb_nz said:
I'll check back thru some of my stuff, it sounz familiar 4 some reason I just can't think why - so yr saying u got the bl and recovery flashed OK but stuck in a boot loop? is that the bl animation or system boot one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is the animation. Not the bootloader screen.
And thanks!
dibb_nz said:
I'm thinking a rollback with tdv4 to reset everything and upgrading from there - but if yr anything like me you'll be wanting to actually solve the loop issue....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'd love to figure it out. But this one is like the ones you're helping. Remote. So without the tablet in hand, and the uncertainties that come along without it, I'll probably try to help on this one using timmydean's method.
dibb_nz said:
Yeh this is what I have come to think too. Picasso is for HC and acer one for ICS, no matter what I try the Picasso ones always load and the Acer ones don't show up anywhere....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes me wonder if maybe a second pc or virtual pc with only the older drivers and no network running to stop windows from updating the driver? Or perhaps we could look into trying it from that Ubuntu live disc? I think once we were at the point that we found the uids we are close to being able to continue from there... I'll look around for the Linux commands/packages. Maybe someone who knows this stuff will notice and share. (Please.)
dibb_nz said:
The other thing I've been working at is a way to rollback without using an EUU or update.zip
In other words, trying to get nvflash or apxflash to revert back to HCbut the tools automatically install Picasso - when that happens then everything goes haywire, its where some of the tabs hang formatting partitions - which then involvesusing td4 or srbeens method to reset them.....I'm figuring if we solve the original issue folks won't have to rollback/reset partitions.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. I think that this might help. This way should pass with the drivers if I understand correctly. I just did this and it worked on my tablet. First I borked my tablet intentionally by installing an old stock HC rom over my V8 bootloader ICS full root without wiping anything. Then booted it. From there, Bootanimation loop. CWM gone. Useless.
So I entered APX mode manually. I used blackthund3rs APX tool. Visited the Bundle Builder Market and grabbed #17, the latest bootloader and Thors 1.7.3 CWM package. Flashed it, went directly into CWM. Performed full wipe BEFORE doing anything else. Really don't forget to wipe system and delvic. If you do you will learn how I learned to bork my tablet the easy way and get to start over from APX.
Flashed this, https://www.dropbox.com/s/fpdy13u4ufec461/Acer_A500_4.010.38_COM_GEN1.zip it is a very stock 3.1 android version Acer_A500_4.010.38_COM_GEN1.zip. It boots up just fine on the V8 bootloader and once it loads up, hit settings. From there it is easy to just ota to any version that you are wanting. Plus after the first update to 3.2 I'm pretty sure you get the stock bootloader, recovery, the works. Of course you could get root, recovery and restore your backup like I did.
Or am I way off base?

JdgM3NT4L said:
It is the animation. Not the bootloader screen.
And thanks!
yeah I'd love to figure it out. But this one is like the ones you're helping. Remote. So without the tablet in hand, and the uncertainties that come along without it, I'll probably try to help on this one using timmydean's method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
woohoo its our Daisy, lol....well u da man when it comes to boot anim's m8 i'll defer to your wiseness
Yup just got someone fixed using tdv4 , seems the way to go and its a fairly quick process too
Makes me wonder if maybe a second pc or virtual pc with only the older drivers and no network running to stop windows from updating the driver? Or perhaps we could look into trying it from that Ubuntu live disc? I think once we were at the point that we found the uids we are close to being able to continue from there... I'll look around for the Linux commands/packages. Maybe someone who knows this stuff will notice and share. (Please.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeh i'm linux illiterate m8 but from what i've read its a lot easier than mucking about with windoze drivers!!!
i'm finally back to ics, but it was a real fekin mission - downgrading was the toughest bit specially trying not to use tdv4...nothing recognised my tab at all...then when i did get back I couldnt update the BL...was tearing my hear out....couldnt get the acer boot drivers installed no matter what i tried...in the end i fired up my old vista laptop...and the acer ones installed straight away wtf???? So my theory regarding separate drivers seems to be blown out of the water, altho in saying that... I'm about to try it all over again and find out for sure...man i'm a masochist....or just plain stoopid, lol
Ok. I think that this might help. This way should pass with the drivers if I understand correctly. I just did this and it worked on my tablet. First I borked my tablet intentionally by installing an old stock HC rom over my V8 bootloader ICS full root without wiping anything. Then booted it. From there, Bootanimation loop. CWM gone. Useless.
So I entered APX mode manually. I used blackthund3rs APX tool. Visited the Bundle Builder Market and grabbed #17, the latest bootloader and Thors 1.7.3 CWM package. Flashed it, went directly into CWM. Performed full wipe BEFORE doing anything else. Really don't forget to wipe system and delvic. If you do you will learn how I learned to bork my tablet the easy way and get to start over from APX.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know some peeps had issues with 1.7.3 but i swear by it for this sort of thing...and yeh good point re wiping its a must ....and using BT's bundle 17 i'll give that a whirl
Flashed this, https://www.dropbox.com/s/fpdy13u4ufec461/Acer_A500_4.010.38_COM_GEN1.zip it is a very stock 3.1 android version Acer_A500_4.010.38_COM_GEN1.zip. It boots up just fine on the V8 bootloader and once it loads up, hit settings. From there it is easy to just ota to any version that you are wanting. Plus after the first update to 3.2 you get the stock bootloader, recovery, the works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh nice i'll grab that... I used ezterry's HC pre rooted rom worked well too. But will grab your one as well, My original stock was gen1 and there arent many of those around these days and i cant OTA to ICS using tdv4 it being gen2
Or am I way off base?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u ran HC with the v8??? and it OTA'ed...with v8??

dibb_nz said:
Yup just got someone fixed using tdv4 , seems the way to go and its a fairly quick process too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear that you got it sorted out. Nice work. And thanks for the advice. If I can get in touch with the owner of the tablet we will give that a shot.
dibb_nz said:
i know some peeps had issues with 1.7.3 but i swear by it for this sort of thing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had any trouble out of it thankfully. It is the goto recovery for me as well. In my experience backups work better using it vs any of the rest that I've tried. Easier full wipes and reliable as heck.
dibb_nz said:
oh nice i'll grab that... I used ezterry's HC pre rooted rom worked well too. But will grab your one as well, My original stock was gen1 and there arent many of those around these days and i cant OTA to ICS using tdv4 it being gen2
u ran HC with the v8??? and it OTA'ed...with v8??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be certain I did it all again this morning. And yep, I'm self destructive as well. But the good news is that the result was the same. I started with the V8 bootloader in all it's Daisy glory. I wiped, flashed that zip, rebooted, checked for updates, did the ota. On reboot it showed V8 bootloader, then the words FLASHING BOOTLOADER popped up, it rebooted again and just like that I had stock bootloader, recovery, rom. {I was going to use an exclaimation point there but new problem... Pc keyboard dying [EXCLAIMATION POINT HERE]. Can't blame that on a bad flash can i??}
I hope that is the easy out that you're looking for. It's easy enough that I've done it three times on my tab in 2 days. But will it work for everyone?
Now to get the APX tool out and put a respectable bootloader and recovery back in place so I can finish the campaign mode for A Great Little War Game... Oh, and find a keyboard...

Re:
Hi J, might be useful for future reference,
Someone stuck on acer logo, no recovery original thread here
This worked...
GueDS said:
Can you boot in download mode to clean cache? (Power + Vol+)
Or, can you boot in recovery after shut down device?
If not try it and then tell us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xmond said:
No, I can't go into recovery even after shutting down the device. It's stuck on Acer logo. Help me please.
*Edit:* Booted in download mode and did a cache wipe. That did the trick! My device is now booting! THANKS A LOT!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my A500 using xda premium

Hey,
Thanks for keeping that in mind for me! You're so helpful, I don't know how you manage this many projects at once! But there are alot of people that are glad that you do. (Myself included.).
I am just getting back in touch with the owner and hopefully the TimmyDean rollback will do the trick. I'm pretty sure that it will.
In the meantime, did you get time to try, or have someone else try the downgrade with the 3.1 that I shared? It isn't real important, and don't worry about it if you're suffering from M.P.S (Multiple Flash Syndrome) or just plain don't feel like it. I'm only wanting to confirm that my experience isn't an fluke. I need to update a friends tablet soon so I might beat you to it. When I do I'll post the results here.
Anyway, thanks again!

Hi J, no, I haven't tried yr method as yet, but I got some downtime so I'll give it a whirl now, after I get a coffee on the brew, lol.
There's so much good info posted here but it gets lost pretty quick or is buried in a 500 page thread!! The search function only
really works if u know exactly what search terms to use, that's OK if you've been around the iconia for awhile...if u haven't then
the learning curve is fairly steep - even if u are an experienced android user, things just arent the same as yr average android device
and heck if you're a noob its like ppl are speaking in an English language you've never heard before, lol. So I just try to help where
I can, Just my way of giving back something to the community where I've benefitted heaps from, all the devs here, the ones
who actually have all the talent...
I digress tho', I have a brew in hand, so I'll get on with it....and get back to u
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Oh don't I know it. I just finished getting a custom ROM installed on a Samsung Infuse. I've messed with HTC's and their s-off, Motorola and Fastboot/RSD, Acer's craziness. And after all of that it was still like jumping in without knowing anything. I didn't even break out adb once or use a tool that accessed it... Java based jar files that are packaged into an installer if you can believe that. And you gotta take out the battery to get started??? Wow... Just wow. It was harder than getting a custom rom on a mid/generic tablet that didn't have a dedicated forum!
And they sure don't speak any familiar form of English over there. Heimdall this and Odin that...
Thanks for trying that out. I hope it goes as well for you as it does for me.

Lol, yes m8, gosh back in the day when the desire came out and getting root with the gold card method what a rigmaroll that was - entering numbers on a website and waiting a day or two to get yr magic code back - it was rather fun ....but only if it worked :banghead: actually things haven't really moved on much have they...anyway I got the rom d/led and flashed v8 and about to Bork, lol so ill get back to it m8....
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah, that's too funny. I remember I had a razr in my pocket when I was reading about the gold card thing and thought to myself then that I would never go throught that kind of trouble just to mess with a phone.
I'm not sure what went wrong, but now I am up to my ears in devices that have to be modified. This is clearly not what I had planned back then.
Any luck on the downgrade? It's easier if you don't bork it first lol. Just flash the rom after the wipes.

JdgM3NT4L said:
Yeah, that's too funny. I remember I had a razr in my pocket when I was reading about the gold card thing and thought to myself then that I would never go throught that kind of trouble just to mess with a phone.
I'm not sure what went wrong, but now I am up to my ears in devices that have to be modified. This is clearly not what I had planned back then.
Any luck on the downgrade? It's easier if you don't bork it first lol. Just flash the rom after the wipes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES!!! Confirmed m8 works on mine too....hardest part was trying to bork it first, hehehe!! Couldnt get rid of cwm and I wanted to stick as close as possible to yr method....but got the boot loop thing so i flashed your stock rom over it - then apxflashed - rebooted into HC WITH v8 - but of course cwm got over written with the stock image!!! So i tried fastboot - flashed 1.7.3 from there - and booted straight to cwm - did a backup to test out. WHile I was doing that i d/l'ed civs new flex stryker....have to fastboot to flash it but thats ok...in his rom he also has a backup tool so with some luck i may never need cwm again???
uh oh just had a random reboot - oh, all fine..didnt try OTA'ing so i'll leave that lil project for another day...:good:
So well done you, another arrow to our bows, haha - I'm guessing it works cos 3.1 has an unlocked BL - thats just a guess tho...ok off too flash stryker
thanks J for sharing

Sweet.
It looks like it's going to help with both recovering messed up tabs as well as do the back to stock with OTA. Perhaps a guide is in order. I won't have time until Sunday. So unless you get super bored and want to mess with it I'll start on it then. Your guides are always so easy to follow and very complete. I welcome you to take what we've found out and please share it any way that you want. I'll contribute any way that I can.

kewl m8 and thanks!!! I will see how i go m8 guide wise, still workin on the apx mode thing for the life of me i cant make it get stuck, lol always the way aye...ok...and wouldnt mind giving stryker a bit of a work out too.....
oh btw, what happened after u ota'ed to 3.2.1 did u go all the way to ICS or did u end up with the HC Locked BL again?

dibb_nz said:
oh btw, what happened after u ota'ed to 3.2.1 did u go all the way to ICS or did u end up with the HC Locked BL again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. I ota'd that puppy until it wouldn't do it anymore. All of the way up to 4.0.3. All stock locked bootloaders after the first flash. So it is definitely a back to stock any flavor solution. All stock except, of course, that 3.1 that we used to flash. And the only thing that isn't stock on it will be the bootloader. Once the OTAs start it is all official acer stuff until the owner mods it.
So really, if someone wants to go from any custom ICS back to stock. They can simply flash the 3.1 that we tested through CWM after wiping system/data/cache. OTA to 3.2.1 and they are totally stock and can go whatever route from there that they want to.
Not sure but I think that might be the guide for that part... I guess that it isn't very complicated when 2 sentences about wrap it up. Maybe a picture of Daisy would add a little spark.
As far as the stuck with only APX mode, that'll take only a little more space.
I think that the only difference will be a few lines that say to get into apx and use blackthund3rs APX Tool to flash #17, reboot directly into recovery, wipe, flash the 3.1 rom.
As far as the issues that you've been helping with, I'll have to defer to your experience on that for any instructions. If I can help with Screenshots or anything else say the word. I've about got it down where I can have images up in almost no time.
Again thanks for confirming that for us. If it helps even a few people the time will have been worth it.
And if you ever need me to bork my tablet again just say the word!
---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------
dibb_nz said:
have to fastboot to flash it but thats ok
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dibb_nz said:
so with some luck i may never need cwm again???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just now noticed that you mentioned this. What a nice alternative.That's going to be a big deal for some people to get out of a jam fast.
Nice find.

Bricked A500 in Houston area will pay you to fix

I live in the Houston area. Bricked my A500 will pay you to fix email me . I went from CWM v5 1.3.4 to 1.7 and now I can only go into boot loader but nothing can be applied , tried different ROMS wipe everything still nothing
[email protected]

If I lived in Houston I would try to help you, can't you get into recovery? What happens when you connect to your PC ?

twistedknickers said:
If I lived in Houston I would try to help you, can't you get into recovery? What happens when you connect to your PC ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No kidding, I don't live there either, but to help, we need some more information.
You are probably on the HC bootloader, which is why your roms won't install.
Check the bootloader Install sticky in the dev forum. You need to upgrade it to the V8 bootloader.
Then you can install the ICS and CM10 roms.
MD

Moscow Desire said:
No kidding, I don't live there either, but to help, we need some more information.
You are probably on the HC bootloader, which is why your roms won't install.
Check the bootloader Install sticky in the dev forum. You need to upgrade it to the V8 bootloader.
Then you can install the ICS and CM10 roms.
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a similar problem. Bootloader V8 installed fine. But when I flashed different ROMs through CWM (install zip from SD card inside recovery), it hung at the screen "CZ's Bootloader V8, booting primary kernel" forever. Scratched my head for a couple of nights now, wondering what the glitch was. I even tried Bad Sector's V8 green. Same result. Help!!!!
Edit: I can still downgrade by flashing EUU (though not TD's V4, which installs fine but won't boot back up once I turn it off and on again???). Anyway, running HC 3.0.1 does make you feel like a Neanderthal. A clear instance of cruel and unusual punishment, I'd say. Even HC 3.2 won't stick! WTH?

Quandary unsolved
Moscow Desire said:
No kidding, I don't live there either, but to help, we need some more information.
You are probably on the HC bootloader, which is why your roms won't install.
Check the bootloader Install sticky in the dev forum. You need to upgrade it to the V8 bootloader.
Then you can install the ICS and CM10 roms.
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello. Anyone? How about Mockba the Great? I'll do more than thank. I'll grovel at your feet (lol); or fly to your city vodka bottle in hand. Be compassionate and tell me something. Anything. Like my tablet is shot beyond salvage, so I can put it to rest. Why is it that I can flash EUU and use without problems but not any other upgrades? Is it possibly because of physical bad sectors lying in the path of data from the new roms (sizably larger than HC)? Or automatic remapping of NAND shot to hell? There's got to be some explanation.

graphdarnell said:
Hello. Anyone? How about Mockba the Great? I'll do more than thank. I'll grovel at your feet (lol); or fly to your city vodka bottle in hand. Be compassionate and tell me something. Anything. Like my tablet is shot beyond salvage, so I can put it to rest. Why is it that I can flash EUU and use without problems but not any other upgrades? Is it possibly because of physical bad sectors lying in the path of data from the new roms (sizably larger than HC)? Or automatic remapping of NAND shot to hell? There's got to be some explanation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure, but, I have the same problem. If I flash the EUU (Acer stock 3.01) , I can spend a couple of hours following the upgrade path all the way to ICS 4.03, then it seems no matter the boot loader/recovery combo I flash, I either end up stuck in APX, or I get the new boot loader/recovery, and the original Rom boots fine, but when I try to flash using fast boot I end up with the android on his back with the red exclamation.
It may or not be related, but the very first time I tried flashing a new ROM, I ended up stuck in APX, & the only way I could find to get out was to use Badsector. The next Rom I flashed left me again in APX, so, the first thing I went back to was BadSector, & it would not work. (Can't remember what the error was, but it wouldn't get far before stopping.) So, I tried APXFlash & it worked perfect. (Before I ran BadSector the first time I could not get APXFlash to work at all.)
Now I can flash as often as I want, but still can't get anything to work right. (Except Stock stuff????)

Danny2 said:
I am not sure, but, I have the same problem. If I flash the EUU (Acer stock 3.01) , I can spend a couple of hours following the upgrade path all the way to ICS 4.03, then it seems no matter the boot loader/recovery combo I flash, I either end up stuck in APX, or I get the new boot loader/recovery, and the original Rom boots fine, but when I try to flash using fast boot I end up with the android on his back with the red exclamation.
It may or not be related, but the very first time I tried flashing a new ROM, I ended up stuck in APX, & the only way I could find to get out was to use Badsector. The next Rom I flashed left me again in APX, so, the first thing I went back to was BadSector, & it would not work. (Can't remember what the error was, but it wouldn't get far before stopping.) So, I tried APXFlash & it worked perfect. (Before I ran BadSector the first time I could not get APXFlash to work at all.)
Now I can flash as often as I want, but still can't get anything to work right. (Except Stock stuff????)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my guess: I was able to get someone with the right equipment to probe into the NAND and scan. The result shows random bad sectors all over the place. The scan lasted for more than a day without finishing, so eventually remapping could not be executed. If the capability of the NAND to remap is exhausted then depending on your luck, if the ROM data fits into good sectors, you get to use the unit. If the cache partition has black holes in it, you'll get errors and operational aberrations. If I'm right, then this is purely a hardware issue which will come back to haunt sooner or later. Makes sense?
Since the NAND is soldered onto the Main Board, there is little chance of replacing the NAND, if you can find one, that is. Darn it!

graphdarnell said:
I have a similar problem. Bootloader V8 installed fine. But when I flashed different ROMs through CWM (install zip from SD card inside recovery), it hung at the screen "CZ's Bootloader V8, booting primary kernel" forever. Scratched my head for a couple of nights now, wondering what the glitch was. I even tried Bad Sector's V8 green. Same result. Help!!!!
Edit: I can still downgrade by flashing EUU (though not TD's V4, which installs fine but won't boot back up once I turn it off and on again???). Anyway, running HC 3.0.1 does make you feel like a Neanderthal. A clear instance of cruel and unusual punishment, I'd say. Even HC 3.2 won't stick! WTH?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had similar issue in the weekend, flashed Thor's JB romv17.....stuck on same screen as you, had a heck of a job getting things working again.....
So tdv4 installed without errors but wouldn't boot, is that correct? What screen did it get stuck at? With the earlier versions of timmydeans EUU u must boot straight to cwm and "fix permissions" in the "advanced" menu options (I think its in that option)
Other than that I can't offer u any further suggestions I'm afraid....
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Danke schoen dibb nz
dibb_nz said:
I had similar issue in the weekend, flashed Thor's JB romv17.....stuck on same screen as you, had a heck of a job getting things working again.....
So tdv4 installed without errors but wouldn't boot, is that correct? What screen did it get stuck at? With the earlier versions of timmydeans EUU u must boot straight to cwm and "fix permissions" in the "advanced" menu options (I think its in that option)
Other than that I can't offer u any further suggestions I'm afraid....
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This gives hope. With TD V4, it stops at power on - power lights on (white LED), but screen remains dark. Thanks for sharing your experience, I will definitely try when I get back to it at the end of the month. So if I'm slow in posting the outcomes, you know why. One more favor to ask: what do you do after fixing permissions while on earlier EUU (I remember seeing that option somewhere in the recovery menu)? Should I proceed to flash V4, then move up from there? If I install V8 Bootloader while on V4's ROM, would that hinder further flashings in any way? Many thanks again. And what is going on now with your JB ROM? And Happy Thanksgiving to all the Yanks in here!

Ok, so here's a little info for you folks. Not sure if it helps you or not, but might clear up some of the mess that's been going on concerning bootloader versions VS Roms.
So you run one of the RUUs files. That's fine. Essentially you should be back on an HC bootloader running an HC rom. At this point, all your partitions should be back in place, especially if you used TD's tool.
While you are in HC, and everything is running fine, you should make a note of your current UID number. Because, after upgrading to ICS, your UID number will probably change. (the converted SBK number should be the same with both). But the RUUs seem to mostly want an HC UID number.
The issue, is when upgrading to ICS. If you do this the normal way via OTA, you should eventually get to ICS with a stock ICS bootloader. At this point, I would leave it alone for a few days, just to make sure it runs normally. Again, get your new UID number.
Now, here may be what you folks are missing.
With the introduction of ICS, Acer pulled a fast one on us. They introduced a little file called recovery-boot.p, and also a recovery.sh file.Both reside in /system (not sure exactly which folder for one of them, might be /system/etc or /system/bin.)
The issue, is that if you NVFlash V8 bootloader, and let's say Thor CWM 1.7.2 or 1.7.3, without deleting those aforementioned files, when you boot your tab, guess what? Hasta La Vista CWM, and mr android is on his back deader than a doornail. Not to mention you might screw up a partition or 2 along the way. And then it's back doing the whole thing again, sorta like groundhog day.
If you get Skrilax_CZ's bootloader running, then there's no real reason why you can't load a compatible CWM to flash roms.
Personally, I don't like the little 1-app-does-all. I prefer the old fashioned way. NVFlash from a command line. This way, you can see if there's errors coming up. Also, you may have better luck trying one of the older packages for the V3 or V4 bootloader. If you guys are interested, I can research my other drives in a day or so, and come up with one of the original packages. Am sure I saved it somewhere.
But if you get the V8 loaded, then you can boot it into fastboot mode. From here, you can fastboot a good CWM image. And at this point, I strongly advise CWM 1.7.2 or 1.7.3. After you fastboot it, boot immediately into CWM recovery. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, and do your wipes and formats and immediately install a custom rom. If you boot back into your stock rom, sianara..... This is why it's best to already have your custom rom.zip on your SD card.
Now, roms, kernels and bootloaders. The rom you choose to install, is pretty important. It needs to be recent, and designed for the ICS bootloader (V8). Using some of the earlier roms with kernels is asking for trouble. HC based roms WILL NOT run on an ICS bootloader. Remember that also, and vica-versa.
It's possible, however unlikely, that one of you may have unrecoverable corrupt data on your chipset. It has happened, but it's rare. Generally, you will find this when you can't get anything running. Period. Or in the case I know, the user could not migrate from HC to ICS. But only 1 or 2 people I know have had this. Oh, 3. I forgot Civato who totally cooked his internal memory (more than likely while inventing his own version of TWRP)
Wipes and formats. Again, I can't stress this enough. There have been issues using TWRP when it comes to wipes and formats. It seems, sometimes, things don't get fully wiped. So, as I always do with CWM, remember those versions I quoted), always
Wipe Data/factory reset
Wipe Cache
Wipe Dalvak
Wipe battery stats (optional)
Goto Mounts and Storage
Format System
Format Flexrom
As we say, be nice, wipe twice.....
Then install the custom rom (not a stock rom, remember the 2 recovery files?)
MD

Thanks MD
Moscow Desire said:
Ok, so here's a little info for you folks. Not sure if it helps you or not, but might clear up some of the mess that's been going on concerning bootloader versions VS Roms.
So you run one of the RUUs files. That's fine. Essentially you should be back on an HC bootloader running an HC rom. At this point, all your partitions should be back in place, especially if you used TD's tool.
While you are in HC, and everything is running fine, you should make a note of your current UID number. Because, after upgrading to ICS, your UID number will probably change. (the converted SBK number should be the same with both). But the RUUs seem to mostly want an HC UID number.
The issue, is when upgrading to ICS. If you do this the normal way via OTA, you should eventually get to ICS with a stock ICS bootloader. At this point, I would leave it alone for a few days, just to make sure it runs normally. Again, get your new UID number.
Now, here may be what you folks are missing.
With the introduction of ICS, Acer pulled a fast one on us. They introduced a little file called recovery-boot.p, and also a recovery.sh file.Both reside in /system (not sure exactly which folder for one of them, might be /system/etc or /system/bin.)
The issue, is that if you NVFlash V8 bootloader, and let's say Thor CWM 1.7.2 or 1.7.3, without deleting those aforementioned files, when you boot your tab, guess what? Hasta La Vista CWM, and mr android is on his back deader than a doornail. Not to mention you might screw up a partition or 2 along the way. And then it's back doing the whole thing again, sorta like groundhog day.
If you get Skrilax_CZ's bootloader running, then there's no real reason why you can't load a compatible CWM to flash roms.
Personally, I don't like the little 1-app-does-all. I prefer the old fashioned way. NVFlash from a command line. This way, you can see if there's errors coming up. Also, you may have better luck trying one of the older packages for the V3 or V4 bootloader. If you guys are interested, I can research my other drives in a day or so, and come up with one of the original packages. Am sure I saved it somewhere.
But if you get the V8 loaded, then you can boot it into fastboot mode. From here, you can fastboot a good CWM image. And at this point, I strongly advise CWM 1.7.2 or 1.7.3. After you fastboot it, boot immediately into CWM recovery. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, and do your wipes and formats and immediately install a custom rom. If you boot back into your stock rom, sianara..... This is why it's best to already have your custom rom.zip on your SD card.
Now, roms, kernels and bootloaders. The rom you choose to install, is pretty important. It needs to be recent, and designed for the ICS bootloader (V8). Using some of the earlier roms with kernels is asking for trouble. HC based roms WILL NOT run on an ICS bootloader. Remember that also, and vica-versa.
It's possible, however unlikely, that one of you may have unrecoverable corrupt data on your chipset. It has happened, but it's rare. Generally, you will find this when you can't get anything running. Period. Or in the case I know, the user could not migrate from HC to ICS. But only 1 or 2 people I know have had this. Oh, 3. I forgot Civato who totally cooked his internal memory (more than likely while inventing his own version of TWRP)
Wipes and formats. Again, I can't stress this enough. There have been issues using TWRP when it comes to wipes and formats. It seems, sometimes, things don't get fully wiped. So, as I always do with CWM, remember those versions I quoted), always
Wipe Data/factory reset
Wipe Cache
Wipe Dalvak
Wipe battery stats (optional)
Goto Mounts and Storage
Format System
Format Flexrom
As we say, be nice, wipe twice.....
Then install the custom rom (not a stock rom, remember the 2 recovery files?)
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't thank you enough MD, and dibb_nz too. Can't wait to get back to the tablet. Hopefully things will work out. When they do, I'll post the results for the perusal of similarly situated members.

graphdarnell said:
This gives hope. With TD V4, it stops at power on - power lights on (white LED), but screen remains dark. Thanks for sharing your experience, I will definitely try when I get back to it at the end of the month. So if I'm slow in posting the outcomes, you know why. One more favor to ask: what do you do after fixing permissions while on earlier EUU (I remember seeing that option somewhere in the recovery menu)? Should I proceed to flash V4, then move up from there? If I install V8 Bootloader while on V4's ROM, would that hinder further flashings in any way? Many thanks again. And what is going on now with your JB ROM? And Happy Thanksgiving to all the Yanks in here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well after u fix permissions u boot straight back into cwmand flash the v8 and civatos cm 10 flex, which is exactly what I did after getting it up n running again. edit: no, u need the latest tdv4 - ...I'll post the link for it shortly....
I'd definitely uninstall the Acer drivers and reinstall them. When u connect to yr PC , windows will try to install the drivers....don't let it search windows updates, u have to be quick to cancel it....then it should install the drivers from the acer folder on yr PC which u just reinstalled....is that clear as mud, lol???
One more thought, u could get round all this driver business if u know linux at all....
But will w8 till u get a chance to spend some quality 'tab time'
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Moscow Desire said:
Ok, so here's a little info for you folks. Not sure if it helps you or not, but might clear up some of the mess that's been going on concerning bootloader versions VS Roms.
Now, here may be what you folks are missing.
With the introduction of ICS, Acer pulled a fast one on us. They introduced a little file called recovery-boot.p, and also a recovery.sh file.Both reside in /system (not sure exactly which folder for one of them, might be /system/etc or /system/bin.)
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, this might seem kind of obvious, but I want to be sure. I found the Recovery-from-boot.p file easily enough, and I found a file called "Install-recovery.sh" in the etc folder, which seems to call another file called "system/bin/sh".
So, do I delete (or possibly just re-name??) "recovery-from-boot.p" and "Install-recovery.sh"? And do I need to do anything with the "SH" file in "system/bin"? (Like delete or re-name?)
Thanks for this much clearer (but still not 100% clear) info about these files. I had read mention of "recovery-from -boot.p" in another post, but it didn't make clear where to find it, just that you needed to deal with it. This excellent post makes it much more obvious which files & where to find!

Danny2 said:
So, this might seem kind of obvious, but I want to be sure. I found the Recovery-from-boot.p file easily enough, and I found a file called "Install-recovery.sh" in the etc folder, which seems to call another file called "system/bin/sh".
So, do I delete (or possibly just re-name??) "recovery-from-boot.p" and "Install-recovery.sh"? And do I need to do anything with the "SH" file in "system/bin"? (Like delete or re-name?)
Thanks for this much clearer (but still not 100% clear) info about these files. I had read mention of "recovery-from -boot.p" in another post, but it didn't make clear where to find it, just that you needed to deal with it. This excellent post makes it much more obvious which files & where to find!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just those 2 files
This will prevent overwriting your custom recovery on boot.
MD

Moscow Desire said:
Just those 2 files
This will prevent overwriting your custom recovery on boot.
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, Thanks

Progress report
dibb_nz said:
I had similar issue in the weekend, flashed Thor's JB romv17.....stuck on same screen as you, had a heck of a job getting things working again.....
So tdv4 installed without errors but wouldn't boot, is that correct? What screen did it get stuck at? With the earlier versions of timmydeans EUU u must boot straight to cwm and "fix permissions" in the "advanced" menu options (I think its in that option)
Other than that I can't offer u any further suggestions I'm afraid....
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to follow MD's instructions and installed Re-Flexxx Rom. As to dibb-nz's advice, I couldn't find earlier versions of TD (there was a link that led to some silly software instead - hijacked?). So I reflashed V4 which after the first reboot took me to the setup part fine. However, a second reboot resulted in a dark screen with nothing doing. I tried accessing recovery in vain. I'm not sure earlier TD versions would yield differently. If I recall correctly, V4 only differs from V3 in that TD added XP drivers. Why the tablet behaved thus is beyond me. I intended this superfluous info as a warning to such possibility, however absurd it might appear.
Anyway, thanks to those who came to the rescue, and Merry Xmas to all.

graphdarnell said:
I was able to follow MD's instructions and installed Re-Flexxx Rom. As to dibb-nz's advice, I couldn't find earlier versions of TD (there was a link that led to some silly software instead - hijacked?). So I reflashed V4 which after the first reboot took me to the setup part fine. However, a second reboot resulted in a dark screen with nothing doing. I tried accessing recovery in vain. I'm not sure earlier TD versions would yield differently. If I recall correctly, V4 only differs from V3 in that TD added XP drivers. Why the tablet behaved thus is beyond me. I intended this superfluous info as a warning to such possibility, however absurd it might appear.
Anyway, thanks to those who came to the rescue, and Merry Xmas to all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can u provide a link 2 the tdv4 u used i will check it.....seems couple folks having yr issue, i wanna make sure the zip isn't corrupt...
ALSO: there are 2 ways to use the EUU -
1) as an upgrade tool - used to upgrade from one HC build to the next - just open and run with usb connected and
2) as a downgrade too - used to downgrade from the ICS back to HC - you run it by not connecting your usb cable and force apx mode
Im curoius as to why folks are getting stuck with the black screen - this happened couple months back too
and tho i have been stuck with it myself - i have never been able to replicate the issue..and believe me when i say i've done some crazy things with my tab in the process of trying... so would like to rule out a bad file...just in case its me causing all the problems, lol....feedback would be appreciated....
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Possibly corrupt V4?
dibb_nz said:
can u provide a link 2 the tdv4 u used i will check it.....seems couple folks having yr issue, i wanna make sure the zip isn't corrupt...
ALSO: there are 2 ways to use the EUU -
1) as an upgrade tool - used to upgrade from one HC build to the next - just open and run with usb connected and
2) as a downgrade too - used to downgrade from the ICS back to HC - you run it by not connecting your usb cable and force apx mode
Im curoius as to why folks are getting stuck with the black screen - this happened couple months back too
and tho i have been stuck with it myself - i have never been able to replicate the issue..and believe me when i say i've done some crazy things with my tab in the process of trying... so would like to rule out a bad file...just in case its me causing all the problems, lol....feedback would be appreciated....
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm almost sure I downloaded from the link provided in this thread, though I'd appreciate your not quoting me on it (lol). I remember downloading twice but cannot tell now which is which. Either way, I "upgraded" from HC 3.1 to 3.2, which is the version included in V4. Beyond that, I'm not sure what other information would help sort things out. Oddly enough, the first automatic reboot after flashing works fine and takes me through the whole setup process glitchlessly. It only happens on the following reboot. You can get into recovery 1.5, but fixing permissions won't do.

graphdarnell said:
I'm almost sure I downloaded from the link provided in this thread, though I'd appreciate your not quoting me on it (lol). I remember downloading twice but cannot tell now which is which. Either way, I "upgraded" from HC 3.1 to 3.2, which is the version included in V4. Beyond that, I'm not sure what other information would help sort things out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok thanks for that - the v0-v2 required all sorts of jumping thru hoops to get root/cwm installed....when u finished the first flash you would end up with a LNX check sum error in red text on your tab and have to boot straight to recovery and fix checksum errors (not permissions as i said earlier)
v3/v4 now comes pre-rooted with cwm 1.5, which is what may be corrupting things if you are still have the v8 bootloader - altho in saying that, a few of us have been on HC3.01 with v8 and had no probs flashing a compatible ICS v8 rom from there...maybe it was just a fluke who knows...One thing I do know is you should really have a compatible recovery with the v8 - which is why all the flash packages come pre-loaded with a custom recovery....as MD said above you need to make doubly sure your rom/reocvery/bootloader are all compatible with each other. this applies whether they be stock or custom 'whatevers'....
Oddly enough, the first automatic reboot after flashing works fine and takes me through the whole setup process glitchlessly. It only happens on the following reboot. You can get into recovery 1.5, but fixing permissions won't do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and you have completed all the wipes as MD suggested, including toggling /data/media erase in cwm?
I realise you may have done everything correctly, this is more for the benefit of those folk "trying" to follow along
this is on 3.2?? you run the EUU ok, boot to android, and run thru the setup wizard, then the next reboot goes awry??

dibb_nz said:
ok thanks for that - the v0-v2 required all sorts of jumping thru hoops to get root/cwm installed....when u finished the first flash you would end up with a LNX check sum error in red text on your tab and have to boot straight to recovery and fix checksum errors (not permissions as i said earlier)
v3/v4 now comes pre-rooted with cwm 1.5, which is what may be corrupting things if you are still have the v8 bootloader - altho in saying that, a few of us have been on HC3.01 with v8 and had no probs flashing a compatible ICS v8 rom from there...maybe it was just a fluke who knows...One thing I do know is you should really have a compatible recovery with the v8 - which is why all the flash packages come pre-loaded with a custom recovery....as MD said above you need to make doubly sure your rom/reocvery/bootloader are all compatible with each other. this applies whether they be stock or custom 'whatevers'....
and you have completed all the wipes as MD suggested, including toggling /data/media erase in cwm?
I realise you may have done everything correctly, this is more for the benefit of those folk "trying" to follow along
this is on 3.2?? you run the EUU ok, boot to android, and run thru the setup wizard, then the next reboot goes awry??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was initially on 3.1 stock. I went to stock recovery which proceeded to erase whatever, then showed the android belly up with the triangle exclamation mark and so forth (The sd card contained no ROM at this point). I rebooted, then flashed V4 directly from inside 3.1 with debugging on. It "PASS" uneventfully, rebooted on its own to the setup wizard. Things function normally within that capsule (it showed HC 3.2 I believe). I turned it off after setup was done, then on again to experience the black SOD. I then went to Recovery 1.5, erase everything a few times, then rebooted. Same result. Eerily dead.
Then came the V8 Bootloader and Thor V20, and the tablet was resuscitated. Works fine now.

[Q] unbricking selfbricked stock A500

My colleague brought his stock A500 to me in a bricked condition last week.
I need a way to restore it. If I try to do a wipe it will say bootloader error if i try the recovery the droid falls down with the red sign with the exclamation mark.
This tablet has never been rooted, my colleague is not in to such things, it's lived its life with ordinary acer otas and the occational very young human (5 year old) trial wich it has survived.
He has installed all the OTAs he ever got on the tablet and this is in Sweden so it would probably be a 4.0.3 acer stock on it now.
I'm guessing it has died during a OTA or something. if i turn it on it will sit at the acer logo indefinitly.
I Bricked my A500 during a rooting atempt resulting in me needed to flash a stock rom to get it working again, but i cant find the thread i read to un-brick my A500.
Please Help!

try this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1839313

dibb_nz wrote:
try this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1839313
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that thread seems to hold all i need, although i can't do a full wipe. when i do the flipswitch wipe procedure it halts with bootloader error
Im hoping to just be able to flash the stock rom from the link you gave me. Is it entirely necessary to do the wipe prior to flash? can i wipe it afterwards?

Hogbola said:
Well that thread seems to hold all i need, although i can't do a full wipe. when i do the flipswitch wipe procedure it halts with bootloader error
Im hoping to just be able to flash the stock rom from the link you gave me. Is it entirely necessary to do the wipe prior to flash? can i wipe it afterwards?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we're assuming the tab is full stock and currently on ICS...
and we're assuming he never tried to 'fix' his tab by flashing one thing or another...
the bootloader error worries me...what exactly does it say...
Yes the wipes are really important!! and not being able to use the button method to do so is concerning...
what happens with the Over The Air (OTA) updates is its just that...an update...it leaves all your settings/data intact. When you OTA from one build to another, like Gingerbread 3.0 to Honeycomb 3.1/2 and then to ICS 4.0 - you drag all your apps and settings with you and of course some things that work with 3.2 will not work under ICS....fjor instance, lots of folk had trouble with wifi disconnects, once they got to ICS - or they had apps force closing and other 'glitches'. This is why everyone tells you to do the wipes - as this fixes these things! In the case of stock ICS my gmail would f/c all the time no matter how many times I wiped/formatted....So for a smooth running tab - flash a custom rom!!!!!!
But getting back to you...
From that link i gave you...download the 3.1_Full.zip....its decrypted so just extract it and get the "update.zip" from it..
This "update.zip" is not an incremental "update" but the full stock rom....
once installed you'll be on GB you will need to root it with iconia root and then use acer recovery installer to flash cwm....(get these from the playstore)
do a backup or adb devices so you can get your CPUID....this is important...if anything goes wrong at any stage this is the only thing that will get you unbricked....see the cpuid link in my sig for more on this, please take the time to read it, even if it doesnt make much sense to you, read it anyway....
AFTER you have retrieved your cpuid, you can nvflash the patched bootloader/recovery pkg which means you are able to flash ICS/JB custom roms
they cannot be flashed via cwm like normal...you must use nvFlash to do it....
OR
take the OTA route to ICS...this takes a bit of time...I did it last week and it was a good 6-7 hours to go from GB to ICS
there are pre-rooted stock roms if you wanna stay stock see civato's stock rom thread for that here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1633907
official stock rom list by blackthund3r are here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1816560
civs guide to flashing the unlocked bootloader here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1622425

I am in a similar situation. Push the power button and it goes to a screen with white acer on black and stays there. Totally stock ICS, no root. I tried the update.zip thing and after automatically rebooting it says "Boot verified failed...". I don't have my cpuid, or have installed previously CWM or anything like that. I can get into APX mode. This guy here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751978 could only get into APX with no cpuid as well, but i don't understand all of the ubuntuu and command line stuff. I would love for someone to be able to walk a dummy like me through this mess. Thanks for any help.

if u got boot verified fail error you need nvFlash to repair that....as u know, with nvflash you need yr cpuid....wot about usbdeview? if you've never plugged yr tab into yr PC - then it won't work and the ONLY other way is Linux....
might be best to start yr own thread with a descriptive title, not just a help I'm bricked no uid, thread there are hundreds of those....the more effort u put into the title the more likely you will attract the attention of someone who can actually help...and remember you just don't need a bit of help but a blow by blow description of what to do and how....this will be very time consuming....at the very least get ubuntu installed, maybe just try a few things, anything to show you are capable of at least giving it a go yourself..
there are others who would like 2 know how to do this as well...having a specific thread of its own would be great
good luck
dibb
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Actually, I have connected it to my PC before. Only for transferring media though. If I've done that, is the some way to retrieve my cpuid from the PC?

yup...usbdeview.zip see the bottom of the OP in the cpuid guide in my sig

Thanks alot for your help. I used usbdeview and got my cpuid. Now I should use nvflash? Know where a good step by step is for that one?

you could try the one in my sig??

dibb_nz said:
you could try the one in my sig??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right. Sorry, I didn't notice that before. Thanks again for your direction.
"To install one of these roms you will need a custom recovery and to get that you must flash the patched bootloader FIRSt - once its patched you can install a recovery any old way you like"
Looking at that guide, would you please tell me what a custom recovery is and how to get one? Btw, I don't plan to do a custom ROM yet, I just want to get the damn thing working first. Was thinking of using the HC EUUs from the firmware files list. However there are two files, a .rar and a .exe listed. Which do i use?

NvigR8 said:
Right. Sorry, I didn't notice that before. Thanks again for your direction.
"To install one of these roms you will need a custom recovery and to get that you must flash the patched bootloader FIRSt - once its patched you can install a recovery any old way you like"
Looking at that guide, would you please tell me what a custom recovery is and how to get one? Btw, I don't plan to do a custom ROM yet, I just want to get the damn thing working first. Was thinking of using the HC EUUs from the firmware files list. However there are two files, a .rar and a .exe listed. Which do i use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The .rar EUU is for an A500, the .exe is for the A501, which do you have?

I've got the a500. However, I decided to go with a custom ICS rom after all. I managed to put a new bootloader and custom recovery on using the a500apx flash tool. That part went fine. I flashed this rom:
Acer_AV041_A500_1.054.00_WW_GEN1-FULL-ROOT (original odex)
and that appeared to go well according to twrp, but after rebooting, it just shows the bootloader again and stops there. Not sure what i did wrong.
I renamed the rom update.zip. Should i not have done that?

well congrats for getting thru the flash process with no probs!!!
as far as renaming to update.zip that was not such a good move...hopefully things havent been screwed up too much
just go back into recovery and do a FULL wipe/format
then to flash use the option "install from zip file" not sure where that is in TWRP but it will have one

Okay. I will reflash the rom after completely wiping again. Thanks.
On a different note, why do roms require particular bootloaders?
Also different, how do you like your SGS3? If i can manage to fix this thing, perhaps I'll root my phone...

NvigR8 said:
Okay. I will reflash the rom after completely wiping again. Thanks.
On a different note, why do roms require particular bootloaders?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock ICS BL is encrypted - more or less - the only way to 'flash' a recovery or rom is to have the "key" that "unlocks" - it more or less - if you dont use the right key then the OS will not boot - the 'key' is based on your cpuid which is why everyone is forever telling you to save it somewhere safe....
Also different, how do you like your SGS3? If i can manage to fix this thing, perhaps I'll root my phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I enjoy the big screen, took awhile to get used to it in my hand, kept dropping it....then I ran it over with my 44tonne truck after 3 days and munted it!!!!
I have a case for it now, and its gr8 - I havent installed a rom on it yet...the forums over there are jampacked and I have no idea what I'm doing, lol - its the first android device I've had that I've left stock for so long...but it does what I want...the camera is awesome -burst mode is the bomb - BUT do I think it was worth the money???? Still on the fence about that one.....

Ouch. Sorry to read about running over your phone. That would kill me. I really like my SGS3. I think I'll look into rooting it just to be able to back it up and get rid of the bloatware. I did that on my Captivate and prior to today, thats all I've ever done modding wise to an android device.
So, I managed to get my tab up and running again. Yay! I reflashed the rom w/out changing the name and worked like a charm. Now If only I knew why this happened in the first place... Thanks for all your help.

NvigR8 said:
Ouch. Sorry to read about running over your phone. That would kill me. I really like my SGS3. I think I'll look into rooting it just to be able to back it up and get rid of the bloatware. I did that on my Captivate and prior to today, thats all I've ever done modding wise to an android device.
So, I managed to get my tab up and running again. Yay! I reflashed the rom w/out changing the name and worked like a charm. Now If only I knew why this happened in the first place... Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeh sometimes happens with the tab for some reason - thank your lucky stars it didn't get stuck in apx mode...if that happens its normally a hardware fault so theres not alot u can do...I'm just pleased you got sorted without too much drama and it was as easy as reflashing the zip....so now you have the v8 BL - you're gold!!!

dibb_nz said:
we're assuming the tab is full stock and currently on ICS...
and we're assuming he never tried to 'fix' his tab by flashing one thing or another...
the bootloader error worries me...what exactly does it say...
Yes the wipes are really important!! and not being able to use the button method to do so is concerning...
what happens with the Over The Air (OTA) updates is its just that...an update...it leaves all your settings/data intact. When you OTA from one build to another, like Gingerbread 3.0 to Honeycomb 3.1/2 and then to ICS 4.0 - you drag all your apps and settings with you and of course some things that work with 3.2 will not work under ICS....fjor instance, lots of folk had trouble with wifi disconnects, once they got to ICS - or they had apps force closing and other 'glitches'. This is why everyone tells you to do the wipes - as this fixes these things! In the case of stock ICS my gmail would f/c all the time no matter how many times I wiped/formatted....So for a smooth running tab - flash a custom rom!!!!!!
But getting back to you...
From that link i gave you...download the 3.1_Full.zip....its decrypted so just extract it and get the "update.zip" from it..
This "update.zip" is not an incremental "update" but the full stock rom....
once installed you'll be on GB you will need to root it with iconia root and then use acer recovery installer to flash cwm....(get these from the playstore)
do a backup or adb devices so you can get your CPUID....this is important...if anything goes wrong at any stage this is the only thing that will get you unbricked....see the cpuid link in my sig for more on this, please take the time to read it, even if it doesnt make much sense to you, read it anyway....
AFTER you have retrieved your cpuid, you can nvflash the patched bootloader/recovery pkg which means you are able to flash ICS/JB custom roms
they cannot be flashed via cwm like normal...you must use nvFlash to do it....
OR
take the OTA route to ICS...this takes a bit of time...I did it last week and it was a good 6-7 hours to go from GB to ICS
there are pre-rooted stock roms if you wanna stay stock see civato's stock rom thread for that here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1633907
official stock rom list by blackthund3r are here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1816560
civs guide to flashing the unlocked bootloader here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1622425
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When i do the wipe it says
Code:
Erasing userdata...
Code:
Unrecoverable bootloader error (0x19000008)

Unrecoverable bootloader error (0x19000008)
Hogbola said:
When i do the wipe it says
Code:
Erasing userdata...
Code:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I googled your error - the consensus from what I read is a corrupt OS due to running OTA updates...
Some had luck with rebooting. Others had to send it to Acer.
Did you run the update.zip? so what happens when you run the update.zip
Are you able to get into "apx mode"? If you can, hook up to your PC and see if your tab is recognised as an "apx device" - check "Hardware, Printers in win7"
Thats all I can suggest atm - if your tab does get into apx mode OK then you can find your cpuid by running Linux -
Maybe ask the guy if he's ever had the tab hooked up to his PC like to transfer files and stuff - get him to download "USBdeview" to his PC -
this will show every single device thats ever been connected to the PC and it will show the "cpuid"...
Even if we do get the uid theres no guarantee it will fix the bootloader error - but we may as well explore all the options we can....
dibb_nz said:
USBDeview will only work when you have previously plugged your tab into the PC WHILE you were running HC Rom and BL
1. If you haven't plugged your tab into this pc before, do so now, before you run the program. HC ROM/BL ONLY
1a. Run the exe and you will be presented with a window of all the USB devices you have ever plugged into your computer.
2. Click on "VendorID" column along the top to sort them
3. Look for the number "0502" under Vendor ID AND "3325" Product ID
4. In the serial number column will be a 15-digit number this is your device ID.
5. Write the number down and put a 0 in front of it and now you have your CPU ID!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] Acer A500 bricked. Is it fixable?

So, my neighbor bought an Acer A500 a few months back. He ended up not liking it so I bought it off of him. My tablet and I got really close and I fell in love. I started neglecting my girlfriend and all that. We had a beautiful relationship; my tablet and me. But, a couple days ago I was playing N.O.V.A 3 and it froze. I thought nothing of it and just powered it down. To my dismay, it froze at the Acer screen. I restarted it again and got the same thing. My life was over. My heart felt like it was ripped from my chest... I shed a manly tear.
I've tried vol- and power, vol+ and power, the reset button, D/Ling several different update.zip files and copying them to my SD. I've spent the last couple days reading and trying everything. All I get is the Droid guy with the blue thing swirling in his chest and then him laying on the ground with a red triangle and an exclamation point.
I'm told it's most likely not a hardware issue as things things are almost bullet-proof. But, I am pretty good at breaking things
Am I screwed or does someone have a miracle they can share. My gaming life depends on it.
-Dennis.

DennisPimps said:
So, my neighbor bought an Acer A500 a few months back. He ended up not liking it so I bought it off of him. My tablet and I got really close and I fell in love. I started neglecting my girlfriend and all that. We had a beautiful relationship; my tablet and me. But, a couple days ago I was playing N.O.V.A 3 and it froze. I thought nothing of it and just powered it down. To my dismay, it froze at the Acer screen. I restarted it again and got the same thing. My life was over. My heart felt like it was ripped from my chest... I shed a manly tear.
I've tried vol- and power, vol+ and power, the reset button, D/Ling several different update.zip files and copying them to my SD. I've spent the last couple days reading and trying everything. All I get is the Droid guy with the blue thing swirling in his chest and then him laying on the ground with a red triangle and an exclamation point.
I'm told it's most likely not a hardware issue as things things are almost bullet-proof. But, I am pretty good at breaking things
Am I screwed or does someone have a miracle they can share. My gaming life depends on it.
-Dennis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know what you were running on this thing? Was it stock Honeycomb, scock ICS, or was it running a custom ROM? (If so which one?)
Was it ever hooked up to your PC? (This would help with retrieving CPUID, if it was.) Do you know your CPUID? (Or SBK?)
You should at the least know the answers to these questions before you attempt any type of repair, as it is almost certainly salvageable, but you will almost certainly need your CPUID.

Danny2 said:
Do you know what you were running on this thing? Was it stock Honeycomb, scock ICS, or was it running a custom ROM? (If so which one?)
Was it ever hooked up to your PC? (This would help with retrieving CPUID, if it was.) Do you know your CPUID? (Or SBK?)
You should at the least know the answers to these questions before you attempt any type of repair, as it is almost certainly salvageable, but you will almost certainly need your CPUID.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was running 4.0.1 ICS. I do have my cpuid and SBK. I tried flashing a new rom using blackthund3rs flash tool but it got to about 25% and stopped. I keep losing sync with my PCs, though.

DennisPimps said:
I was running 4.0.1 ICS. I do have my cpuid and SBK. I tried flashing a new rom using blackthund3rs flash tool but it got to about 25% and stopped. I keep losing sync with my PCs, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, do you want to go back to stock, or to a custom ROM? If you wanna go stock, the easiest way would be load a 3.01 EUU, & upgrade on the play market to 4.03. That will prove it isn't a hardware issue. Alternatively, you could root, load a recovery, a bootloader, & flash a new ROM.

Danny2 said:
So, do you want to go back to stock, or to a custom ROM? If you wanna go stock, the easiest way would be load a 3.01 EUU, & upgrade on the play market to 4.03. That will prove it isn't a hardware issue. Alternatively, you could root, load a recovery, a bootloader, & flash a new ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, I really don't care as long as I can getting it working again. But I would rather root it.
I think I can get it to work but neither one of my computers will recognize it. It shows up in APX and says something about recovery driver mode when I plug it into the laptop with Vista automatically downloads a driver and installs it again. I've tried turning off automatic driver install but that doesn't work for some reason. The one with XP Pro just shows up APX device but the APX Flash Tool by blackthund3r says it can't find it. I've downloaded the Acer Iconia 500 drivers and installed them but that doesn't work either. I'm at a loss.
Any tips would be great. I think I have a better chance using my laptop with XP, though. I also need to let you know that I truly do appreciate you trying to help. If you're ever in Columbus Ohio, let me know and I'll buy you a beer. lol

DennisPimps said:
To be honest, I really don't care as long as I can getting it working again. But I would rather root it.
I think I can get it to work but neither one of my computers will recognize it. It shows up in APX and says something about recovery driver mode when I plug it into the laptop with Vista automatically downloads a driver and installs it again. I've tried turning off automatic driver install but that doesn't work for some reason. The one with XP Pro just shows up APX device but the APX Flash Tool by blackthund3r says it can't find it. I've downloaded the Acer Iconia 500 drivers and installed them but that doesn't work either. I'm at a loss.
Any tips would be great. I think I have a better chance using my laptop with XP, though. I also need to let you know that I truly do appreciate you trying to help. If you're ever in Columbus Ohio, let me know and I'll buy you a beer. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry,I thought I responded to this yesterday, but just now noticed I didn't.
Fire it up in APX mode, and install the 3.01 EUU from the development section, (Stock ROM listing) then simply follow the upgrade path to 4.03, then root. If you drivers are installed correctly, everything will work fine, if not, nothing will happen. If it does start to load the stock ROM, then fails with a write error after it attempts to write the bootsector, you may need to run Badsector, or babsector, depending where you look. Search the recent posts on this, you will find lots of stuff.

Danny2 said:
Sorry,I thought I responded to this yesterday, but just now noticed I didn't.
Fire it up in APX mode, and install the 3.01 EUU from the development section, (Stock ROM listing) then simply follow the upgrade path to 4.03, then root. If you drivers are installed correctly, everything will work fine, if not, nothing will happen. If it does start to load the stock ROM, then fails with a write error after it attempts to write the bootsector, you may need to run Badsector, or babsector, depending where you look. Search the recent posts on this, you will find lots of stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would I go about installing the EUU? I have nvflash and blackthund3r's flashing tools. But I can't seem to get my PC and tablet to connect. When I plug it into my PC without being in APX mode, it just says MTP Device. When I plug it in while in APX mode it does say something about Picasso Recovery Driver.
If you could explain things to me like I'm aN idiot, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Dennis

DennisPimps said:
How would I go about installing the EUU? I have nvflash and blackthund3r's flashing tools. But I can't seem to get my PC and tablet to connect. When I plug it into my PC without being in APX mode, it just says MTP Device. When I plug it in while in APX mode it does say something about Picasso Recovery Driver.
If you could explain things to me like I'm aN idiot, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Dennis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for late response, I watched for reply from yourself, but you didn't answer for 10 days, I lost track. Still need help?

Danny2 said:
Sorry for late response, I watched for reply from yourself, but you didn't answer for 10 days, I lost track. Still need help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, it's still bricked. I did finally get the flash tool to recognize it but it kept hanging up. I also tried Timmy Dean's EUU tool and that hangs up too. I did a little more research and found that I may have a faulty emmc. I ran babsector and got 'fatal error code 9 cannot format partition BCT.' I found a thread here that discusses how to write around the bad sectors using Linux. I'm going to give that a go... I've always wanted to learn Linux. Hey, I can't screw it up anymore than it already is, right? Again, thanks for your time and effort in trying to help.
Cheers,
Dennis

Hey, before you try that, try different USB cables and ports (if u haven't already)
I had a similar problem with my phone not maintaining stable USB link to PC... after 4 days I tried a diff USB cable and boom, snap, working.
Just a thought.....
Sent from my A500 using xda app-developers app

ericpeacock79 said:
Hey, before you try that, try different USB cables and ports (if u haven't already)
I had a similar problem with my phone not maintaining stable USB link to PC... after 4 days I tried a diff USB cable and boom, snap, working.
Just a thought.....
Sent from my A500 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give that a go, m8.
Thanks!
-Dennis

DennisPimps said:
I'll give that a go, m8.
Thanks!
-Dennis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wondering if you ever figured out the errors you were getting during flashing? Currently having the same issues when using babsector.

a500 hard bricked help

hi all and thanks for your help in advance...
i have been assigned an a500 which is bricked and only shows the acer logo and nothing goes on from there
i have tried multiple roms along with custom roms as an update.zip into an SD card but it stops at the same position which is about 30% everytime on every rom
ive tried fastboot, says the BL is locked and when i tell it to unlock it it just says OKAY and stays locked
now blackthund3r with his apx flashing tool presented some hope as it detected the apx mode but after the flashing starts it wont go into bootloader mode the screen is just black
i have attached a screenshot of my pc trying to identify the tablet with apx not installed for no driver is found
i have installed every driver i can put my hands on starting with the latest from Acer drivers and none of them seems to give me the apx driver.
i think the only problem i have is the apx driver, can anyone point me in the right direction? ive got my SBK from afterota only one time and it never worked after that time. can anyone help with the drivers?
#edit:
i forgot to mention that even though it says apx is not installed, when i connect it in apx mode i have a little usb icon which says "eject APX" call me crazy but that just says apx IS installed right?

ssvNormandy said:
hi all and thanks for your help in advance...
i have been assigned an a500 which is bricked and only shows the acer logo and nothing goes on from there
i have tried multiple roms along with custom roms as an update.zip into an SD card but it stops at the same position which is about 30% everytime on every rom
ive tried fastboot, says the BL is locked and when i tell it to unlock it it just says OKAY and stays locked
now blackthund3r with his apx flashing tool presented some hope as it detected the apx mode but after the flashing starts it wont go into bootloader mode the screen is just black
i have attached a screenshot of my pc trying to identify the tablet with apx not installed for no driver is found
i have installed every driver i can put my hands on starting with the latest from Acer drivers and none of them seems to give me the apx driver.
i think the only problem i have is the apx driver, can anyone point me in the right direction? ive got my SBK from afterota only one time and it never worked after that time. can anyone help with the drivers?
#edit:
i forgot to mention that even though it says apx is not installed, when i connect it in apx mode i have a little usb icon which says "eject APX" call me crazy but that just says apx IS installed right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally, the APX (boot recovery download) driver should be installed with just the normal Acer drivers from the web site. On a Win8 pc, it can be a real pain, so if you have a Win7 pc, I would advise it. I suppose you are looking in Windows "Device Manager"?
Not sure about the "eject APX" message. Sounds strange to me, but maybe it says that on an XP PC, been to long to remember.
Stock Acer bootloader has no "Fastboot" capability. This was added after ICS with a patched bootloader.
Either way, you will need your CPUID number to use any of the NVFlash tools. There are stickies on how to get this, but more than likely you will need a Linux set-up, not sure if there's a windows method.
If the tab had been rooted, and a custom recovery added, there's a possibility there was a backup done, and it would be in the Clockwork Mod folder on externalSD card.

9918
Moscow Desire said:
Generally, the APX (boot recovery download) driver should be installed with just the normal Acer drivers from the web site. On a Win8 pc, it can be a real pain, so if you have a Win7 pc, I would advise it. I suppose you are looking in Windows "Device Manager"?
Not sure about the "eject APX" message. Sounds strange to me, but maybe it says that on an XP PC, been to long to remember.
Stock Acer bootloader has no "Fastboot" capability. This was added after ICS with a patched bootloader.
Either way, you will need your CPUID number to use any of the NVFlash tools. There are stickies on how to get this, but more than likely you will need a Linux set-up, not sure if there's a windows method.
If the tab had been rooted, and a custom recovery added, there's a possibility there was a backup done, and it would be in the Clockwork Mod folder on externalSD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am running win7 x64 and the apx drivers seem to be installed as blackthund3r recognizes it, its just that in blackthund3r apx tool it never seems to want to get into the bootloader mode i have no idea why.
also regarding my CPUID when i used afterota it showed me :
Tablet Serial : 485FEFA483118011
Tablet Cpuid : EMULATOR-5554
Tablet Sbk : 0xF5030000 0x00000000 0xF0D1E302 0xF0D1E302
Android Build : GT-N7000-user
Bootloader : 0.03.01-HC
now isnt the CPUID a 15-16 digit hex number?
and if my CPUID is wrong in this case above it should mean my SBK is wrong aswell right?
the build number is of a galaxy Note device which is also strange.
also, the device came with no SD card and it has not been rooted or a custom recovery installed on it, the owner says "it just died"
I had the Linux idea in mind as a last resort i suppose its time.
thank you for your help

ssvNormandy said:
I am running win7 x64 and the apx drivers seem to be installed as blackthund3r recognizes it, its just that in blackthund3r apx tool it never seems to want to get into the bootloader mode i have no idea why.
also regarding my CPUID when i used afterota it showed me :
Tablet Serial : 485FEFA483118011
Tablet Cpuid : EMULATOR-5554
Tablet Sbk : 0xF5030000 0x00000000 0xF0D1E302 0xF0D1E302
Android Build : GT-N7000-user
Bootloader : 0.03.01-HC
now isnt the CPUID a 15-16 digit hex number?
and if my CPUID is wrong in this case above it should mean my SBK is wrong aswell right?
the build number is of a galaxy Note device which is also strange.
also, the device came with no SD card and it has not been rooted or a custom recovery installed on it, the owner says "it just died"
I had the Linux idea in mind as a last resort i suppose its time.
thank you for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh man, Somebody must have tried installing a Galaxy Note Rom? Got me a little confused on just exactly what you have there mate.
The CPUID as you stated, should be an alpha numeric sequence such as for example (mine)038061c7409fa617.
Why it's telling you it's Emulator-5554 is quite strange. Tell me, how exactly did you get this CPUID? As if the tablet won't boot past the bootloader (Acer screen), then the usual discovery tools we have, can't get it, and this I can promise. I'm guessing it's just spitting out some programming error.
And, I can also say your SBK number is suspect also. Looks weird. Here is mine (no, won't work on yours) 0x79531F00 0xBB680C01 0xFB22E803 0x8ADE2003
I would suggest the following;
There's a user here, dibb_nz, and he has some links on unbricking. Currently he is abroad, so won't answer PM. Also, there is a thread "Why CPUID is Important (might be the same things). In there, are some steps on how to get the number from a dead tablet. No, I've never personally had to do this, but other folks have. I know there's steps from Linux, but believe there may also be windows steps as well.
Another good link from Linux (you can run I dual boot, as I do) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751978 This should be easy to follow, and probably best chance at getting it.
Another good thread from Dibb_nz http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2049778 Has several unbrick procedures.
I have several factory Roms here on my server. I try getting one whenever I come across them. Acer in all of their infinate wisdom, have shut down their OTA servers for quite some time, and also, they add and delete factory Roms from their official support site all the time.
If I can help you, I will. Some things may be out of my control, but will help as much as possible. We have some pretty good folks here in the 500 forums, but the tablet is getting a bit old, and most have moved on to somehing newer.
MD

Moscow Desire said:
Oh man, Somebody must have tried installing a Galaxy Note Rom? Got me a little confused on just exactly what you have there mate.
The CPUID as you stated, should be an alpha numeric sequence such as for example (mine)038061c7409fa617.
Why it's telling you it's Emulator-5554 is quite strange. Tell me, how exactly did you get this CPUID? As if the tablet won't boot past the bootloader (Acer screen), then the usual discovery tools we have, can't get it, and this I can promise. I'm guessing it's just spitting out some programming error.
And, I can also say your SBK number is suspect also. Looks weird. Here is mine (no, won't work on yours) 0x79531F00 0xBB680C01 0xFB22E803 0x8ADE2003
I would suggest the following;
There's a user here, dibb_nz, and he has some links on unbricking. Currently he is abroad, so won't answer PM. Also, there is a thread "Why CPUID is Important (might be the same things). In there, are some steps on how to get the number from a dead tablet. No, I've never personally had to do this, but other folks have. I know there's steps from Linux, but believe there may also be windows steps as well.
Another good link from Linux (you can run I dual boot, as I do) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751978 This should be easy to follow, and probably best chance at getting it.
Another good thread from Dibb_nz http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2049778 Has several unbrick procedures.
I have several factory Roms here on my server. I try getting one whenever I come across them. Acer in all of their infinate wisdom, have shut down their OTA servers for quite some time, and also, they add and delete factory Roms from their official support site all the time.
If I can help you, I will. Some things may be out of my control, but will help as much as possible. We have some pretty good folks here in the 500 forums, but the tablet is getting a bit old, and most have moved on to somehing newer.
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got my CPUID from afterota "no idea how but it just worked for one time, and later yesterday worked again".
when i try "adb devices" it just shows nothing, while yesterday also i tried the same command and it returned with EMULATOR-5554 as a device connected and i could get in the shell but could do nothing from there...
i have seen those posts before they have been helpful but as far as using "a500 manager tool" to recover my CPUID, the tool hasent worked.
anyways i suspect the only way of getting my CPUID is through a linux distribution,and from there i can stumble around with nvflash from there or go back to windows. As I dont have any linux expertise it would be a good experience.

ssvNormandy said:
I got my CPUID from afterota "no idea how but it just worked for one time, and later yesterday worked again".
when i try "adb devices" it just shows nothing, while yesterday also i tried the same command and it returned with EMULATOR-5554 as a device connected and i could get in the shell but could do nothing from there...
i have seen those posts before they have been helpful but as far as using "a500 manager tool" to recover my CPUID, the tool hasent worked.
anyways i suspect the only way of getting my CPUID is through a linux distribution,and from there i can stumble around with nvflash from there or go back to windows. As I dont have any linux expertise it would be a good experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Ubuntu for the linux distro. It's by far the most common. Basically you can install it 2 ways.
1) As a dual boot (might have to disable a BIOS setting if your PC is pretty new. Usually only if it was a Win8 new system) Benefit is that the Linux OS will get 100% system resources. Downside is that it'll partition your HDD.
2) Run it under cygwin. Basically an emulator which runs within windows, and you create a virtual drive for the Linux install. The benefit is that you can uninstall it rather easily when finished. Downside is it shares Windows resources.
If you're only after the UID, then probably the cygwin method is better for you.
MD

Moscow Desire said:
Use Ubuntu for the linux distro. It's by far the most common. Basically you can install it 2 ways.
1) As a dual boot (might have to disable a BIOS setting if your PC is pretty new. Usually only if it was a Win8 new system) Benefit is that the Linux OS will get 100% system resources. Downside is that it'll partition your HDD.
2) Run it under cygwin. Basically an emulator which runs within windows, and you create a virtual drive for the Linux install. The benefit is that you can uninstall it rather easily when finished. Downside is it shares Windows resources.
If you're only after the UID, then probably the cygwin method is better for you.
MD
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i've never heard of cygwin, i was thinking virtual machine but i was slacking due to the work it needs doing and my impatience... i must ask if afterota is showing EMULATOR-5554 and i managed to get it in adb mode and it still showed EMULATOR-5554 do you think its even recoverable in ubuntu?

ssvNormandy said:
i've never heard of cygwin, i was thinking virtual machine but i was slacking due to the work it needs doing and my impatience... i must ask if afterota is showing EMULATOR-5554 and i managed to get it in adb mode and it still showed EMULATOR-5554 do you think its even recoverable in ubuntu?
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Well, being in the 500 forums, and owning a 501, I can say these tablets are pretty much bulletproof. I've never known one that can't be unbricked. Basically, if it has some life, it can be brought back. Mine blew away the bootloader, hard bricked. Took out the mainboard, slapped it in the oven, reseated some nand chips, and it updated the blob file when I booted it. :good: imagine that!
It's still a little flakey running EUUS files, but it's on 3.2.1 and rooted, so I will leave it on that rather than press the issue any further. Besides, it's only used for You Tube and Browser anyhow.
I would say the Linux method will probably reveal the true CPUID. Afterota seems like it's generating some development code. Like I said, none of those tools will work properly unless the tablet OS is running, so who knows what strange things will happen.
I've never used VM, but it should also boot ubuntu.
This chap just got his CPUID today using a Linux distro.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/iconia-a500/help/a500-brick-firmware-install-t2865167

Moscow Desire said:
Well, being in the 500 forums, and owning a 501, I can say these tablets are pretty much bulletproof. I've never known one that can't be unbricked. Basically, if it has some life, it can be brought back. Mine blew away the bootloader, hard bricked. Took out the mainboard, slapped it in the oven, reseated some nand chips, and it updated the blob file when I booted it. :good: imagine that!
It's still a little flakey running EUUS files, but it's on 3.2.1 and rooted, so I will leave it on that rather than press the issue any further. Besides, it's only used for You Tube and Browser anyhow.
I would say the Linux method will probably reveal the true CPUID. Afterota seems like it's generating some development code. Like I said, none of those tools will work properly unless the tablet OS is running, so who knows what strange things will happen.
I've never used VM, but it should also boot ubuntu.
This chap just got his CPUID today using a Linux distro.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/iconia-a500/help/a500-brick-firmware-install-t2865167
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the oven? im confused what reflowing the solder has to do with anything lol and i hope im not going to that stage haha
im downloading ubuntu now as we speak, im hoping it will work but im confused about the libraries that i need to download, GCC and the other ones, are they something special and special installation required? or sniffing around google would do the trick?

ssvNormandy said:
the oven? im confused what reflowing the solder has to do with anything lol and i hope im not going to that stage haha
im downloading ubuntu now as we speak, im hoping it will work but im confused about the libraries that i need to download, GCC and the other ones, are they something special and special installation required? or sniffing around google would do the trick?
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Well, normally after you get an ubuntu install, you can download extra packages. Terminal for one. I'm sure the Ubuntu help center tells you how to get certain packages (lib's and such). Basically you do it via a terminal window. Like I said, I've never used that particular procedure myself, but seems some others got it figured out.
Ha Ha... the oven. Yes, I was skeptical to say the least, but thinking back on rice to dry out a phone, putting a dead HDD in the freezer, well, it seemed plausible. And for me, the oven trick worked. Pressed all the nands back into place, and was able to clear the "Blob update failed" error (was stuck with no working bootloader, hence a hard brick). I attribute it to my 2.5yrs old girl dropping the tab once too often (although was in a good cover).

Moscow Desire said:
Well, normally after you get an ubuntu install, you can download extra packages. Terminal for one. I'm sure the Ubuntu help center tells you how to get certain packages (lib's and such). Basically you do it via a terminal window. Like I said, I've never used that particular procedure myself, but seems some others got it figured out.
Ha Ha... the oven. Yes, I was skeptical to say the least, but thinking back on rice to dry out a phone, putting a dead HDD in the freezer, well, it seemed plausible. And for me, the oven trick worked. Pressed all the nands back into place, and was able to clear the "Blob update failed" error (was stuck with no working bootloader, hence a hard brick). I attribute it to my 2.5yrs old girl dropping the tab once too often (although was in a good cover).
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well i have good news and bad news...
i got Ubuntu and i was succeful in retrieving my CPUID and after that my SBK, blackthund3r a500 tool worked and it got into " entering acer download mode" as in it booted in bootloader mode which is very good, but now when i flash something it is stuck at "stage two-uploading image" and the nvflash command screen is stuck at "resume mode".... well great, now what? lol

ssvNormandy said:
well i have good news and bad news...
i got Ubuntu and i was succeful in retrieving my CPUID and after that my SBK, blackthund3r a500 tool worked and it got into " entering acer download mode" as in it booted in bootloader mode which is very good, but now when i flash something it is stuck at "stage two-uploading image" and the nvflash command screen is stuck at "resume mode".... well great, now what? lol
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Eh, ok, you got the CPUID. Hang on and I'll give you a link for Timmy Deans 3.2.1 rollback.... Sounds like you got a corrupt partition.
OK, download and unzip the contents.
http://www.mediafire.com/download/fo4wqjeald4s3rj/tdv4_rollback_rom.7z
Now, in the contents, you will see the file pbj20upgrage.exe
Run it as "administrator" (right mouse click it and select run as administrator)
Now, don't plug in the tab. After it does a couple things, (installs drivers, starts looking for current build it will eventually prompt you to start your tab in APX mode. Do it. Then connect, enter your CPUID when asked, and it will NVFlash a complete pre-rooted 3.2.1 with CWM Recovery.

Moscow Desire said:
Eh, ok, you got the CPUID. Hang on and I'll give you a link for Timmy Deans 3.2.1 rollback.... Sounds like you got a corrupt partition.
OK, download and unzip the contents.
http://www.mediafire.com/download/fo4wqjeald4s3rj/tdv4_rollback_rom.7z
Now, in the contents, you will see the file pbj20upgrage.exe
Run it as "administrator" (right mouse click it and select run as administrator)
Now, don't plug in the tab. After it does a couple things, (installs drivers, starts looking for current build it will eventually prompt you to start your tab in APX mode. Do it. Then connect, enter your CPUID when asked, and it will NVFlash a complete pre-rooted 3.2.1 with CWM Recovery.
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well well well, it worked and its perfect now. thank you very much for your help MD pbj20upgrade was the answer, now off to install ICS
thank you again

ssvNormandy said:
well well well, it worked and its perfect now. thank you very much for your help MD pbj20upgrade was the answer, now off to install ICS
thank you again
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Great!
Now, just remember, when you install one of the full ICS Update files (I have a thread stickied in one of these forums), it will change the bootloader, and also do away with the CWM custom recovery. A custom ICS ROM will not run on an HC 3.2.1 bootloader. This is why we had the Blackthunder tool and patched V8 bootloader. Just so you are aware.
Good luck!
MD

Moscow Desire said:
Great!
Now, just remember, when you install one of the full ICS Update files (I have a thread stickied in one of these forums), it will change the bootloader, and also do away with the CWM custom recovery. A custom ICS ROM will not run on an HC 3.2.1 bootloader. This is why we had the Blackthunder tool and patched V8 bootloader. Just so you are aware.
Good luck!
MD
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blackthunder's tool just WILL NOT RUN on the tab its always stuck on nvflash resume mode, and uploading image, even after i got the tab back to life i have no idea why, and everytime i try to flash the v8 or even v9 BL it just freezes and i get the acer splash screen again, and then i have to rollback again.
is there any detailed tut on installing ics with the correct steps ? it would be much appreciated, HC wont run any recent app and its ticking me

ssvNormandy said:
blackthunder's tool just WILL NOT RUN on my tab its always stuck on nvflash resume mode, and uploading image, even after i got the tab back to life i have no idea why, and everytime i try to flash the v8 or even v9 BL it just freezes and i get the acer splash screen again, and then i have to rollback again.
is there any detailed tut on installing ics with the correct steps ? it would be much appreciated, HC wont run any recent app and its ticking me
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Welcome to the world of corrupted nand memory.
You can try running "babsector" and see if it will NVFLASH repaired partitions.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2049778 and go to the second post.
Not saying it will fix it, but it might.
Have you tried running an ICS Update file?

Moscow Desire said:
Welcome to the world of corrupted nand memory.
You can try running "babsector" and see if it will NVFLASH repaired partitions.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2049778 and go to the second post.
Not saying it will fix it, but it might.
Have you tried running an ICS Update file?
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i have basically tried every ROM available and got nothing in return, running babsector gave me an error about formatting partition failed, although when i booted i had a green screen with v8 bootloader on it but it wont boot not will it install any rom and it says, kernel failed or something i dont remember. I have decided to abandon the project and just give it back to the owner with HC 3.2.1 and get it over with
edit: i added a picture of the error

ssvNormandy said:
i have basically tried every ROM available and got nothing in return, running babsector gave me an error about formatting partition failed, although when i booted i had a green screen with v8 bootloader on it but it wont boot not will it install any rom and it says, kernel failed or something i dont remember. I have decided to abandon the project and just give it back to the owner with HC 3.2.1 and get it over with
edit: i added a picture of the error
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Yep, same issue with me. I'm stuck on 3.2 HC
Well, it's a secondary tablet anyhow.

Yep well i figured it was unrecoverable and not worth the effort and time put into it, thanks for the rollback method i couldnt have done it without you MD atleast its working now

ssvNormandy said:
Yep well i figured it was unrecoverable and not worth the effort and time put into it, thanks for the rollback method i couldnt have done it without you MD atleast its working now
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Yeah, and a little bit of knowledge :laugh::laugh::laugh: (maybe too much)
Am glad I could help out!! :good: