G18REF - 'HD 18 v2.2x' - Flash as G-Box Midnight MX2

[Oversoul]

Hi Everyone.

I'm new to all this, so i'd like to apologise in advanced for my ignorance.

I purchased this box not too long ago and it seemed to work okay. When the box gets turned off by pressing the power button on the remote, the wifi password would reset and i'd need to re-enter it every time. Recently when i tried entering the password again, there was the following message 'Refresh Access Point List... Select Your AP'.

From what i understand i need to flash this box with either the original or new firmware to fix this issue, although im not sure which box it is in order to do so...

Note: XBMC-Hub version was already installed and pre-configured.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


Here is a link to the box: http://www.****.com.au/itm/MiiBox-Du...-/291156250464


Here is a photo of the PCB:

[no_spam_for_me]

Hmmm, it looks like a proper M6 PCB...
e.g. here http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...l=1#post205838

If it is printed with
HD 18 v2.2
HD 18 v2.21
HD 18 v2.22
and at Android System Information:
=> http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...ll=1#post97523

you can flash it as a 'Matricom G-Box Midnight MX2'
=> http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...ll=1#post94756

[Oversoul]

Hmmm, it looks like a proper M6 PCB...
e.g. here http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...l=1#post205838

If it is printed with
HD 18 v2.2
HD 18 v2.21
HD 18 v2.22
and at Android System Information:
=> http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...ll=1#post97523

you can flash it as a 'Matricom G-Box Midnight MX2'
=> http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...ll=1#post94756

Thanks for the detailed response!

It is HD 18 v2.22

I will flash it using the instructions detailed in the last link and i'll report back.

Thanks again no_spam_for_me

[Oversoul]

Ok so here's where i am at...

I attempted to flash using the following method;

Download these two files:

FILE: mx2-boot-recovery.zip
FILE: mx2fw114b-7-10-13.zip

I used this simple method, no HW bypass required, no hacking needed....

1) Update recovery image (extract files on SD card:mx2-boot-recovery.zip)
- First back up all apps that you want saved by Titanium backup, to EXTERNAL storage.
- Power off MX device and then remove power cable.
- Insert SD card with extracted files in root directory.
- Insert a match or a toothpick to reset hole - you will feel a click. (AV hole in the back)
- Power on the MX box by inserting power cable, while holding the match in the reset hole.
- It will boot to recovery. Good. Then remove power cable and remove SD card.

2) Install Matricom image (extract on SD card: mx2fw114b-7-10-13.zip)
- Extract files from zip file to the root of SD card.
- Make sure MX device is powered off and power cable removed.
- Insert SD card with extracted files in root directory.
- Insert a match or a toothpick to reset hole - you will feel a click. (AV hole in the back)
- Power on the MX box by inserting power cable, while holding the match in the reset hole.
- It will boot to recovery and start installing ROM. Good. It will restart when finished.

...

Everything was going fine right until the last step of PART TWO, when i connected the power and the toothpick slipped off the reset button. It showed the following image; although the status bar wasnt moving. The geometric shape in the android wasn't moving either. The image kept on 'flickering' and i think this was because of the slip, which released the reset button too soon.



I tried re-doing the steps from the begining and the last thing i saw was a flash of purple on the screen and than it turned to black. The blue light on the MX box is solid blue. I can turn the box off with the remote (red light shows) and turn it back on again, but the screen remains black...

Any ideas on how i can resolve this problem?

As always, any help is greatly appreciated...

[no_spam_for_me]

come on, why don't you use my link

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?6025-Solution-for-stuck-in-Android-load-AML8726-MX-Dual-Core-TV-Box-Android-4-2-2&p=94756&viewfull=1#post94756

"... almost-idiot proof ..." => it is really plug and play and not plug and pray...

Back to your possibly self made problem:
Can you use a/v (e.g. via scart adapter) to check, if there is only a problem at HDMI?
(I know toothpick and a/v at the same time for flashing is not possible, but at first step to check the sate of your system...)

[Oversoul]

come on, why don't you use my link

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?6025-Solution-for-stuck-in-Android-load-AML8726-MX-Dual-Core-TV-Box-Android-4-2-2&p=94756&viewfull=1#post94756

"... almost-idiot proof ..." => it is really plug and play and not plug and pray...

Back to your possibly self made problem:
Can you use a/v (e.g. via scart adapter) to check, if there is only a problem at HDMI?
(I know toothpick and a/v at the same time for flashing is not possible, but at first step to check the sate of your system...)

I know, i know. I stuffed it up...
The instructions i followed were part of the same thread you linked me. Your link didnt include "HD 18 v2.22" in the steps to follow, so i didnt want to risk it... Sorry.

I dont have a Scart, although my TV uses this adapter (RCA to HDMI). It still displays a black screen when the blue light is on when plugged in to the AV port.

[no_spam_for_me]

Yes, but the "HD 18 v2.22" was released after this post and is later confirmed as OK (e.g. by me) and if it is also 'G18REF' at Android System Information...
Have you also checked the Android System Information?
At worst case try to flash via the way at my link and if it not work maybe do RMA...

[Oversoul]

Yes, but the "HD 18 v2.22" was released after this post and is later confirmed as OK (e.g. by me) and if it is also 'G18REF' at Android System Information...
Have you also checked the Android System Information?
At worst case try to flash via the way at my link and if it not work maybe do RMA...

Ok so i tried it using the method in the link.... No luck...

On the tv it says "No Signal - check connected device's power, cable connection and source selection" which disappeared for 5 seconds ( i thought it was going to work), but the message returned.

I am 100% certain it is 'G18REF'. I dont have access to the Android system info now, but i did see it.

So i guess this box is useless now? Oh well, lesson learnt.

I take my hat off to all of you who get get so technical with these devices.

Thanks for your help no_spam_for_me

[no_spam_for_me]

the problem now is, that you can't check the MTD layout, but maybe one of the LINUX versions are flashable...

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?15700-GOOD-NEWS!-CMX-TV-BOX-CAN-SUPORT-MX-LINUX-AND-OPENELEC-BEST-RASPBERRY-PI-ALTERNATIVE

(specially at post #2 the link to 'MX Linux')

[Oversoul]

the problem now is, that you can't check the MTD layout, but maybe one of the LINUX versions are flashable...

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?15700-GOOD-NEWS!-CMX-TV-BOX-CAN-SUPORT-MX-LINUX-AND-OPENELEC-BEST-RASPBERRY-PI-ALTERNATIVE

(specially at post #2 the link to 'MX Linux')

Good idea! I hadnt thought about Linux..

Which one?

1) MX_LINUX_v1.00-G18REF_MX2REF-update.zip

2) MX_LINUX_v1.00-G18REF_MX2REF-NEWMTD-update.zip

3) MX_LINUX_v1.00-STVMX-conversion.zip

[no_spam_for_me]

Good idea! I hadnt thought about Linux..

Which one?

1) MX_LINUX_v1.00-G18REF_MX2REF-update.zip

2) MX_LINUX_v1.00-G18REF_MX2REF-NEWMTD-update.zip

3) MX_LINUX_v1.00-STVMX-conversion.zip

Good question... next question please...
I think you don't veryfied if the system was a G18REF (at Android) if you ask this question...

At the SD card version for flashing the v1.1.5+ (my link) you will find a "factory_update_param.aml" and if I remember correctly (my device is long time resell) the 'UWS102912pusa_121122gbox_ext.zip' also exist at the SD card so you can try to replace it with the 'MX_LINUX_v1.00-G18REF_MX2REF-update.zip' or one of the others, BUT normally the system boot at the SD card and use the 'uImage_recovery' so I think normally you should see something (recovery) at the TV if the SD card boots correctly...???

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?6025-Solution-for-stuck-in-Android-load-AML8726-MX-Dual-Core-TV-Box-Android-4-2-2&p=101209&viewfull=1#post101209

[Oversoul]

Good question... next question please...
I think you don't veryfied if the system was a G18REF (at Android) if you ask this question...

At the SD card version for flashing the v1.1.5+ (my link) you will find a "factory_update_param.aml" and if I remember correctly (my device is long time resell) the 'UWS102912pusa_121122gbox_ext.zip' also exist at the SD card so you can try to replace it with the 'MX_LINUX_v1.00-G18REF_MX2REF-update.zip' or one of the others, BUT normally the system boot at the SD card and use the 'uImage_recovery' so I think normally you should see something (recovery) at the TV if the SD card boots correctly...???
http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...l=1#post101209

Lucky i have habit of taking photos of everything!
Its deifnitely g18ref.



I wasnt sure if i needed to select Option1 (update) or Option2 (newmtd).

Ok so I will replace 'UWS102912pusa_121122gbox_ext.zip' with 'MX_LINUX_v1.00-G18REF_MX2REF-update.zip'

And also change the "factory_update_param.aml" ;

FROM:

--set_efuse_version="version=1,mach_id=0xb8e"
--set_efuse_ethernet_mac
--wipe_data
--wipe_cache
--wipe_media
--update_package=/sdcard/mx2update.zip

TO:

--set_efuse_version="version=1,mach_id=0xb8e"
--set_efuse_ethernet_mac
--wipe_data
--wipe_cache
--wipe_media
--update_package=/sdcard/mx2update.zip
--wipe_data
--wipe_cache
--wipe_media

Is that right??

[no_spam_for_me]

or you only rename 'UWS102912pusa_121122gbox_ext.zip' to 'UWS102912pusa_121122gbox_ext.zip.org' and rename the linux file you want to try to 'UWS102912pusa_121122gbox_ext.zip'
(so you don't need to edit the "factory_update_param.aml")

[no_spam_for_me]

BUT as I wrote:
"BUT normally the system boot at the SD card and use the 'uImage_recovery' so I think normally you should see something (recovery) at the TV if the SD card boots correctly...???"
And you see nothing...

[Oversoul]

Yeah i think i understand.. Is it possible that it is just bricked, and therfore thats why no image is showing?