Teclast P98 3G Octa: initial impressions

[rrileypm]

I've made a CWM Recovery for the P98. Try flashing it, and then you can install the Gapps zip file.

CWM

[gpotya]

I'm currently working on a ROM for the Pipo T9, which is very similar. I will see if I can inject some files from it to try.

Hi there.
A doubt @rrileypm. When flashing the tablet to put your ROM, flash tool, you have to select all the fields that appear when loading the file "MT6582_Android_scatter.txt" (by default, all marked appear) or only those you have mentioned in the manual that attached to the ROM ("MTK First Time User's Guide_1.2")?

as you take the new ROM?

Thank you

EDIT: IMEI (mobileuncle tools do not detect the sdcard to make a copy of the IMEI) will be lost?

Thank you

[rrileypm]

Unless you have an IMEI backup, I don't recommend flashing this ROM.

[gpotya]

Unless you have an IMEI backup, I don't recommend flashing this ROM.

A doubt @rrileypm. When flashing the tablet to put your ROM, flash tool, you have to select all the fields that appear when loading the file "MT6582_Android_scatter.txt" (by default, all marked appear) or only those you have mentioned in the manual that attached to the ROM ("MTK First Time User's Guide_1.2")?

[rrileypm]

That's a good question.

Normally when a new firmware is released, you get revisions in most of the files. The main ones to flash are the kernel, boot.img, and system.img. If those are all you want to change, just to get root or other custom ROM features, you can use download only...and the flash will overwrite what is already there. You won't loose your userdata partition or IMEI numbers.

If you choose to change the size of user app space, you have to check the EBR1 and EBR2 files for the desired size you want. Since this reformats your partition sizes, you MUST flash the whole ROM and do a factory wipe/reset in recovery. In that case, you will loose your IMEI number and NVRAM.bin unless you have them backed up. This requires you to change the setting in the flash tool to format/download.

If all you want to do is flash a new recovery, you can uncheck everything except recovery.img and flash. The same would apply if you had an overclocked kernel you want to flash by itself. But I don't know of any custom kernels for MTK tablets right now.

[Edius]

That's a good question.

.....

If you choose to change the size of user app space, you have to check the EBR1 and EBR2 files for the desired size you want. Since this reformats your partition sizes, you MUST flash the whole ROM and do a factory wipe/reset in recovery. In that case, you will loose your IMEI number and NVRAM.bin unless you have them backed up. This requires you to change the setting in the flash tool to format/download.

....

You are sure about that? I think even i would flash entire ROM in download mode with diferent EBR 1_2 (4GB )in download only mode I will not loose my IMEI.
Why is required format/download mode?
I would flash entire ROM in download only, after first boot go to factory default from settings to format/delete data storage partition or boot to custom recovery for that.
In fact, on my CUBE Talk 9x I have latest stock ROM with custom EBR1_2 for 4GB(default 2GB), Checksum.ini file and CWM Recovery (thanks @900supersport)...some hybrid ROM who works pretty well.

[grenness]

If you choose to change the size of user app space, you have to check the EBR1 and EBR2 files for the desired size you want. Since this reformats your partition sizes, you MUST flash the whole ROM and do a factory wipe/reset in recovery. In that case, you will loose your IMEI number and NVRAM.bin unless you have them backed up. This requires you to change the setting in the flash tool to format/download.

Just a quick comment - for some reason I didn't loose my IMEI number when doing this (I had a backup just in case)

Christopher

[rrileypm]

Actually, with these MTK tablets it's hard to be 100 percent sure of anything. Each device seems to have a mind of it's own. One technique will work on one device...but won't work on the next.

So it is very important for all of us to share our experience an gain the knowledge together.

Thanks for your input!!!!!

[gpotya]

Then, and forgive my ignorance and insistence, I must point out all the boxes to install the ROM rrileypm (even the PRELOADER) or should I leave some unchecked? (Do not want to make my tablet a Brick). If I select all tabs, I change the sdcard0 by sdcard1? (not currently esribe almost nothing in the external sd, which I imagine will be the sdcard1). Enlarge applications? Install CWM Recovery? It is solved the issue of timing and other errors Grenness commenting?
In case you have to leave some tab unchecked, are they?


I await your response. Greetings to all.

[gpotya]

Just a quick comment - for some reason I didn't loose my IMEI number when doing this (I had a backup just in case)

Christopher

As you made the backup of IMEI? What app did you use?
When you flash the ROM you selected all the fields?
Thank you

[grenness]

As you made the backup of IMEI? What app did you use?

I was probably a bit quick and sloppy, all I did was use a System Report Generator (don't remember which) that dumped a long list of all the system info of my tablet, including IMEI number, that I then emailed to myself for safe keeping.
I thought (don't know if that's true) that if the IMEI was erased, that I could somehow type it back in with some tool as long as I had the IMEI number...

When you flash the ROM you selected all the fields?

Yes, when I flashed it the first time all fields were selected so I just went with that.

I also performed several Factory Resets both from within the Android OS and, if I remember correctly, from Recovery.

[gpotya]

thanks for your answer, @grenness

[grenness]

Just some extra info,

I haven't been using Windows for many years, I primarily use Linux (Ubuntu and Mint).
I dual booted into an old XP partition to be able to use the Flash Updater.
Unfortunately I had some problems getting it to work.

After a bit of googling I found out that I had driver problems.

What I did was I downloaded "USB Deview" as described in this thread:https://www.topnotchtablets.com/FixUSBproblems

(I tried first the built in Device Manager in Windows, but it didn't show any Mediatek drivers - I then tried a couple of other third party tools but none of them showed any Mediatek drivers either. BUT, USB Deview for some strange reason is the only tool that is capable of showing all installed, disabled, etc. drivers, and it found the problem Mediatek driver)

removed all Mediatek drivers (I had one), then downloaded the USB VCOM driver from

http://d-h.st/diU

and when I reconnected the tablet I installed the VCOM USB driver.

[gpotya]

Actually, with these MTK tablets it's hard to be 100 percent sure of anything. Each device seems to have a mind of it's own. One technique will work on one device...but won't work on the next.

So it is very important for all of us to share our experience an gain the knowledge together.

Thanks for your input!!!!!

Then, and forgive my ignorance and insistence, I must point out all the boxes to install the ROM rrileypm (even the PRELOADER) or should I leave some unchecked? (Do not want to make my tablet a Brick). If I select all tabs, I change the sdcard0 by sdcard1? (not currently esribe almost nothing in the external sd, which I imagine will be the sdcard1). Enlarge applications? Install CWM Recovery? It is solved the issue of timing and other errors Grenness commenting?
In case you have to leave some tab unchecked, are they?


I await your response. Greetings to all.

Edit: And another thing, rrileypm, ahn the changes mentioned in the post are included in the ROM or later have to modify?
Thanks again

[rrileypm]

Most of my changes are in the boot.img and system.img files. Flashing those two files will give you root, and all of the features mentioned in post #1...with one exception.

If you want to expand your user app space, you have to flash the alternative EBR1 and EBR2 files with the matching number of the MB you want the partition size to be.

My experience is that you need to do a factory reset in recovery to allow the partitions to format correctly if you change partition sizes.

Also, I've included an optional cwm recovery file you can flash instead of the stock recovery.img file.

I haven't tested it, but I think the other files can remain un-checked.