Rooting and flashing procedure questions - Acer Iconia A500

Just so I have this straight..
We have to first off root the tablet with the proper said zip file from a pc. Once rooted.. a custom recovery must be installed.. Once the recovery of choice is installed.. we then need to flash one of many choices of an un locked bootloader? Will the V8 bootloader be good enough to flash ICS and JB roms? I would prefer to root, unlock only once.. and be able to try a few roms without changing too much stuff.. will that be possible? I cant seem to find a central located thread on all the steps to take one after another.. it seems to be in segments scattered around. I just dont want a brick, but have rooted my sIII and my A100 so I should be able to do this.. I think I might have the right idea going here.. someone feel free to throw in any advice or good threads to read.. My A500 should be here in a few days..

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[Q] ROM questions and other

Right the DHD will be my 1st android phone. And just wanna know a little about about how to flash it with a custom rom. I Have tired looking up info threw google and XDA form but still seem a little mish mash to me.
Can any one provoide me some links to guides to flashing Android, What backup grograms you use just all about flashing. Had a HD2 i flash it for the the first time and i was like ohhh my god.... then again and again lol ,,. Just waiting for my DHD now .. bring it on
thanks people
in that moment its not possible, coz its probably have root chip that will kill your root.
in the future: its very very easy, jest donload the new rom, put it on the root of the device,
go into the recovery or via clockworkmod at the android os, choose the rom and install.
you have more options, like backup, restore and wipe, but i can guses that you will get it very fast, its sooo easy.
Such a guide will exist when someone has figured it out. So far no-one has a device to try with, and we certainly don't have root yet. Keep an eye out in the ROM development section of the DHD forum and eventually instructions will be posted.

how to install a rom WITHOUT root

Hello peeps,
is this impossible? Im a noob and Im trying to install the 4.54 rom update on my EVO 4G (and trying to get my post count up. lol)
Yes its impossible to do without rooting. The only thing you can do is accept the ota. Or you can root and do anything you want. Its not hard. Just read read read. And ask for some help if needed. There's a whole thread in the dev section specifically for first timers
We're comin from a pure power source.
Rooting is eliminating the need to do anything you do not want to. Without it, you can not uninstall bloatware, cool apps, install one of dozens of great ROMs for your viewing pleasure.
You can not install a custom ROM without being rooted.
Technically you can. If you acheive s-off on your phone then you can flash a recovery. And s-off isnt root. It's just and unlocked bootloader. Once you have an unlocked bootloader then like i said you can flash a recovery image then install a rom. Heres a link on how to get s-off! revolutionary.io
Good luck!
dope. I'll try these methods.. but Im not rooting my phone

[Q] Bootloader on NEW A500

Hey,
I've looked through the forum and I'm a bit puzzled how is it with the bootloader "lock" on newly purchased models as I was thinking a bit of buying A500.
I read that the bootloader only checks for checksums when booting kernel / recovery (unless set to generate them), so you can put there custom kernel (get rid of Java Android) when you root it, which I read is not a problem even with 3.2.1 .
The thing I'm puzzled about is that I read there was a BL update and some say the BL is locked since that update and others not - so if I decide to buy A500 and there will be 3.2 with the BL update on it, is it locked and requiring signed kernel image or is it still the checksum only thing?
Skrilax_CZ said:
Hey,
I've looked through the forum and I'm a bit puzzled how is it with the bootloader "lock" on newly purchased models as I was thinking a bit of buying A500.
I read that the bootloader only checks for checksums when booting kernel / recovery (unless set to generate them), so you can put there custom kernel (get rid of Java Android) when you root it, which I read is not a problem even with 3.2.1 .
The thing I'm puzzled about is that I read there was a BL update and some say the BL is locked since that update and others not - so if I decide to buy A500 and there will be 3.2 with the BL update on it, is it locked and requiring signed kernel image or is it still the checksum only thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I'll try to put it in "laymans" terms.
Manufacturers don't want you mucking with things. It causes more tech support for them, and also a bad image reputation when stupid people screw things up.
So what they do, is change bootloaders, the part that tells the tab, that the os they are loading, is 100% Acer. If it's not, it's just going to give you a silly face.
So we, here in the Acer community, try to find a way around the bootloader. And invent ways to install a operating system other than Acer.
It's an ongoing battle it seems. We find a way around it, Acer changes the rules, so we have to find another way.
The thing is, our dev's are smarter than their devs. Even HTC gave up, and just offer bootloader unlocks. Besides, they take our innovations, and incorporate them into their newer releases.
So the point is, if you buy a 500, or a 501, XDA community will give the means to unlock it. Root, so we say. And people will help you get it running right.
Here at XDA, we have many roms, from plain rooted stock roms, to cooked roms with OC kernels.
Ah, oops, placed the question incorrectly, I know how the things work around bootloaders and have designed some workarounds. I was rather asking whether new a model of A500 can run custom kernel (don't mean modifications with modules now) or not - but summarizing what you've said: every A500 can run custom kernel, right? Thanks for answering in any case.
Currently on a new A500 with root and kernel. Manufactured in December 11. whole process took an hour. Hope this helps.
Skrilax_CZ said:
Ah, oops, placed the question incorrectly, I know how the things work around bootloaders and have designed some workarounds. I was rather asking whether new a model of A500 can run custom kernel (don't mean modifications with modules now) or not - but summarizing what you've said: every A500 can run custom kernel, right? Thanks for answering in any case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IIRC, only 3.2.1 locked the bootloader, so even if your a500 comes with 3.2 you're safe.
That said, even with 3.2.1 and a locked bootloader, there is a downgrade trick that allows you to go from 3.2.1 (or 3.2, or 3.1) to 3.0 and run an app called iconiaroot and acer recovery installer. Iconiaroot is like z4root, VISIONary, gingerbreak, etc and recovery installer installs CWM recovery from within android. After doing all this you can flash any rom or kernel you want.
Skrilax_CZ said:
Ah, oops, placed the question incorrectly, I know how the things work around bootloaders and have designed some workarounds. I was rather asking whether new a model of A500 can run custom kernel (don't mean modifications with modules now) or not - but summarizing what you've said: every A500 can run custom kernel, right? Thanks for answering in any case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES if your a500 has Stock android 3.2 or above.. you will have to fallow the downgrade rom flashing.Then you can flash any rom of your choice . there are several threads on this forum explaining how to do this..
Do a search for the thread by Timmy Dean.. his method i think has been called the easiest. It flashes your tablet to a rooted 3.21 stock rom thru adb . from your windows computer..
Acer has yet to plug this hole. So i would not take ANY OTA UPDATES. Im looking for ics if ever releases to plug such holes in the boot loader and stop its magic .
Happy Flashing just please understand everything before proceeding.. there are enough help i bricked my iconia threads.. Boohoo i hate to see anyone do that to such a expensive device..
Thanks. Ordered a piece
So basically I need to store UID, first x bytes in mmcblk0 (for the mmcblk0_start) from sc2k thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1129873) and I'm pretty much brick safe (should I screw both kernel & recovery).
Happy Flashing
That in theory will give you the resources to recover . BUT BY NO MEANS A Get of of trouble free pass..
do not flash nothing you don't trust and Fallow all instructions Carefully.. You sound well on your way to Making the best of your tablet...
Enjoy your time on xda Iconia forum. There are some awesome people on here. NO im not including myself in that .. Im just a bored thread reading chic. that repeats what i have read... nothing i know is my own work..
Happy Flashing..
erica_renee said:
Im just a bored thread reading chic. that repeats what i have read... nothing i know is my own work..
Happy Flashing..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aren't we all..... Not necessarily a chic though...
Allright, all went smooth (was 3.2 preinstalled). Thanks all.
you are very welcome..
Its simple easy with just a bit of reading up front..

General hello n advice

Hay chaps/ladies
Got me self a acer iconia on the way not sure if its running honeycomb
Im looking to root and upgrade to ics stable I'm. Regular sensation flasher so used to that
But looking threw a few threads I'm looking a little lost lol seems alit tricker to root and upgrade to ics with custom recovery n Rom
Could I possibly get some advice I now I'm guna get a few people telling me to read before posting etc thanks please b nice we all start some where
Thanks for advice spud
daddyspud said:
Hay chaps/ladies
Got me self a acer iconia on the way not sure if its running honeycomb
Im looking to root and upgrade to ics stable I'm. Regular sensation flasher so used to that
But looking threw a few threads I'm looking a little lost lol seems alit tricker to root and upgrade to ics with custom recovery n Rom
Could I possibly get some advice I now I'm guna get a few people telling me to read before posting etc thanks please b nice we all start some where
Thanks for advice spud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Over the air to ics, use for a week to see how it runs for you. Then make your mods, that way you can compare and know what messed it up.
If I do ota will I b able to root the device or do I root the. Ota as hmmm
daddyspud said:
Hay chaps/ladies
Got me self a acer iconia on the way not sure if its running honeycomb
Im looking to root and upgrade to ics stable I'm. Regular sensation flasher so used to that
But looking threw a few threads I'm looking a little lost lol seems alit tricker to root and upgrade to ics with custom recovery n Rom
Could I possibly get some advice I now I'm guna get a few people telling me to read before posting etc thanks please b nice we all start some where
Thanks for advice spud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To find outr what you're currently running - Settings>About Phone
Rooting/custom recovery ICS is the easy bit...icsRoot will do the job, and Acer Recovery Installer from the market to install a recovery....
flashing the bootloader (needed for some custom roms) seems to get a few people confuddled, there are plenty of guides to help you there...and plenty of 'help, I'm bricked threads' too so have all your ducks in row before you go down that road
You need the acer drivers from acer and also the google USB drivers, once you have the drivers set and a custom recovery then do a backup, it will generate a "uid.txt" file in the backup folder...copy this file and guard it with your life!!!!! This is the infamous CPUID...from which you get your tabs "secure boot key" IF anything goes wrong then this cpuid is the only thing that will un-unbrick you!!! Make sure you get this before you say goodbye to HC as ICS reports your serial no. which aint gonna work, its by far the easiest way to get yr cpuid, so do yourself a big favour!!!
Honeycomb cannot be rooted...., but there are pre-rooted HC roms around, ezterry has one and also has a nice stock based ICS with a custom kernel. timmydean also has one - the good thing about his one is that its one of only 2 ways to downgrade back to HC, needed if you bork the bootloader flash or are unlucky enough to get a tab that gets 'stuck formatting/partitioning' in nvFlash
As far as actually getting ICS, as shaun said, wait for yr tab to update itself - you'll need to d/l the acer enhancement something-or-other from the market. OR just flash an ICS stock or custom rom - there are normally 2 different kernels for the custom roms "one for the patched bootloader 3.12+ and one for BL 3.01" acer recovery installer will tell you which one you have but if you havent flashed the patched BL then you'll be on the 3.01.
think thats about it for now!!! happy flashing

[Q] ICS ROM questions...

Hey guys, Im going to try and explain my situation as best I can. Im not a newb to rooting, etc, but I am no means an expert like most of you. So, with that said, here I go...
I had my Acer A500 rooted on honeycomb when I first bought, when it first came out. I then tried to do the OTA update of ICS many months back with no luck as it gave me the Triangle of death thing when it tried to install it. However it broke my root anyways even though ICS never installed. The weird thing though is that I finally realized my build version stated I was on ICS, but my Android version showed I was running 3.2.1 honeycomb!!!
Yesterday, I finally got fed up and spent hours searching this forum and others trying to find a solution.
On this page (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1816560), I tried flashing many of the full ROM's and update package ROM's and finally found one that worked under the update package...this one specifically (Acer_A500_7.014.16_041.206.01_COM_GEN1: ftp://94.23.233.147/Tablets/A500/Ace...1_COM_GEN1.zip). My tab booted and seems to be working fine and running 4.0.3 now.
So with all this said, my question to you Android Exerts...what the heck happened? How was I running an ICS build, but on honeycomb? Even though I flashed an update package, do I have a full ICS or do I need to flash a full ROM now?
If I need to flash a full ROM, which one should I do from the first link above?
I am also attaching a screenshot of my Acer tab to show you what Im running.
Please help and thank you to all in advance.
Anyone? I would really appreciate some help/feedback from you genius android guys.
Well, from the looks of things you are now on stock ICS....
To flash a rom ics/jb from here, u need to nvflash the unlocked boot loader package, which will include a custom recovery...
Most custom roms are pre-rooted so u won't need to worry about that...
Head over to civatos boot loader thread for a guide and d/l links
It can be a rather complex process but if u follow the guide to the letter, u shouldn't have any probs...
Go thru steps 1-4 first and then carry on to the actual flashing process.
There are auto-tools u can use...apxFlash Tool or afterOTA but I prefer the good old manual nvFlash method,
You will need drivers and your cpuid - see the guide in my sig if u need further info
Be aware that if u muck this up, u may end up bricked and lately there's been a lot of this....worst case scenario-fried m/board!!
Most folk flash with no troubles at all...the other 5%.....well......
There are some gr8 roms to choose from.....flexreaper, cm10 are my faves...but really, all the custom rooms here are fantastic and well supported.
If u need any further help feel free to ask!
And good luck
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

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