Teclast P98 3G Octa: initial impressions

[grenness]

These are the files in the Chinese ROM:

total 961040
 10240 boot.img
     0 dir.txt
     4 EBR1
     4 EBR2
   384 lk.bin
  8192 logo.bin
     4 MBR
     8 MT6592_Android_scatter.txt
   120 preloader.bin
 10240 recovery.img
  6144 secro.img
925700 system.img

[rrileypm]

OK. That's good. Both boot and recovery images have embedded kernels...going by the size of the files.

[grenness]

Cool, didn't know that the Google Translate App had OCR and could translate from pictures :-)

Encryption failed

Encryption process is interrupted, can not be completed.
Therefore, you can no longer use the number keys on the plate

When the brain is set, you can back up to a Google account before all the data back to the Tablet PC.

[Weight Tablet PC]

Ok, so something went wrong with some sort of encryption (can it be a Chinese thing?), and I'm guessing 'weight' is a bad translation of 'reboot' or similar.

The bottom lines:

[something something] Mobile Uncle
Technical support: Suda Forum
Compilation date: 2014-02-27
E:Invalid command argument
Formatting /data...
Mount /data out of abandoned format...
Formatting /cache...

Back Up Down OK


Didn't give me much, but I understand now that something went wrong.
I might give it a try once more.

[rrileypm]

I'm just going to unpack the system and boot images and take a peek. If I can find any significant changes I will try to learn from them.

[grenness]

Sounds great

[grenness]

Didn't give me much, but I understand now that something went wrong.
I might give it a try once more.

Nah, this time I had all sorts of problems with the Flash Tool, ended up with a 'near brick experience' (tablet refused to boot).
Luckily was able to reflash RileyROM, but I don't think I will try the chinese ROM any more :-(

[grenness]

List of apps/files that can/can't be deleted

Found this list over at the Chinese Teclast forum, of course I take no responsibilities here but apparently here's a list of various preinstalled files/apps that can, or can not, safely be deleted:

APP Name	Chinese name and function	Can Delete
ApplicationsProvider.apk	Application Management Information reserve	Can not connect to a computer to synchronize phone number after deleting
BasicDreams.apk	Sleep mode	Can not be deleted
BatteryWarning.apk	Intelligent application of low battery warning	Not recommended to delete
Bluetooth.apk	Bluetooth Assistant	Can not be deleted
Calculator.apk	Calculator	Not recommended to delete
CalendarImporter.apk	Calendar	You can delete, replace
CellConnService.apk	Community Connection Service	Can not be deleted
CertInstaller.apk	Certificate-related	You can delete
CloudPrint2.apk	Google Cloud Print	You can delete
DeskClock.apk	Alarm Clock	Can not be deleted
DeviceTestApp.apk	Hardware detection	Can not be deleted
DocumentsUI.apk	Documentation	Can be deleted
DrmProvider.apk	Storage DRM-protected content can be deleted	Can not be deleted
Email.apk	E-mail	Not recommended to delete
EngineerMode.apk	Engineering mode	Can not be deleted
EngineerModeSim.apk	Sim card project mode --Sim lock)	Not recommended to delete
Exchange2.apk	E-mail Service	Not recommended to delete
FaceLock.apk	Face Unlock	You can delete
FileManager.apk	File Manager	Not recommended to delete
FWUpgrade.apk	System Update	Not recommended to delete
FWUpgradeProvider.apk	Update the relevant	Not recommended to delete
Galaxy4.apk	Native Picture Viewer	Not recommended to delete
Gallery2.apk	Gallery	Not recommended to delete
HoloSpiralWallpaper.apk	Aura Spiral Live Wallpaper	You can delete
KeyChain.apk	Password Management Services	Can not be deleted
LiveWallpapers.apk	Live Wallpaper	You can delete
LiveWallpapersPicker.apk	Dynamic wallpaper selector	You can delete
MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk	Magic Smoke Wallpaper	You can delete
MediaUploader.apk	Media Storage	Can not be deleted
MTKAndroidSuiteDaemon.apk	MediaTek Kean Zhuo Kit Wizard	You can delete
MtkBt.apk	MTK Bluetooth services	Can not be deleted
MTKThermalManager.apk	Battery temperature control system	Can not be deleted
MTKThermalStress.apk	?	Can not be deleted
Music.apk	Music Player	Not recommended to delete
MusicFX.apk	Sound Equalizer	Not recommended to delete
NetworkLocation.apk	Provide network location	Can not be deleted
Nfc.apk	Short-range wireless communications technology	You can delete
NoiseField.apk	Bubble Live Wallpaper	You can delete
Omacp.apk	Configuration information	Can not be deleted
PackageInstaller.apk	Setup	Can not be deleted
PacProcessor.apk	?	Unknown
PartnerBookmarksProvider.apk	Google Partners bookmark settings	You can delete
PhaseBeam.apk	Live Wallpaper	You can delete
PicoTts.apk	Voice Services	Can not be deleted
PrintSpooler.apk	Print Services	You can delete
Protips.apk	The main screen prompts	Can not be deleted
Provision.apk	Deleted after the impact restore factory settings	Can not be deleted
SchedulePowerOnOff.apk	Timer switch	Not recommended to delete
SmsReg.apk	DM server interaction, some DM business, used to identify the user's identity and chargeback	Not recommended to delete
SoundRecorder.apk	Call Recording	Can not be deleted
Stk1.apk	SIM Manager	You can delete
Street.apk	Google maps "Street"	You can delete
Superuser.apk	Super User Authorization	Can not be deleted
TeclastAutoUpdate.apk	Taipower automatic updates	Can not be deleted
teclastLauncher_v3.0_build158_common_SDK4_4_97B2.a pk	?	Unknown
TelephonyProvider.apk	Dialer	Can not be deleted
UserDictionaryProvider.apk	User Dictionary Service	You can delete
Videos.apk	Movie Studio	You can delete
VisualizationWallpapers.apk	Visual wallpaper	You can delete
VoiceCommand.apk	Voice Command	Can not be deleted
VoiceSearchStub.apk	Voice Search	Can not be deleted
VoiceUnlock.apk	Voice Unlock	Can not be deleted
YGPS.apk	GPS-related	Can not be deleted

[rrileypm]

OK, I have a new ROM to test. This is v1.1. It's based on the same firmware we've been working with, but I've done some extensive work on the system.img.

Features:

Rooted with SuperSU
Debloated of all unnecessary apps
Deodexed all apps
Replaced all Google Apps with the most up to date versions and added some that were missing
init.d support
busybox support
Auto Install apps from external SD "autoinstall" folder
Reboot App by Petrus
Fixed permissions on SD card
English as default language
Multi-User activated
Some other performance tweaks added to build.prop
CWM Recovery


Download

Donations welcomed.

If this is the first time flashing this ROM on your tablet, follow these instructions:

You do NOT have to be rooted to back up your IMEI/NVRAM with MTKDroidTools!!!!!!!!!!!!

All you have to do is flash CWM Recovery before you flash the ROM...then go into MTKDroidTools and backup your IMEI/NVRAM as explained in previous posts.

So, here's the quick and easy process:

1. Download the RileyROM for whatever device you have.
2. Included in the ROM kit is the PDAnet_4150 app...use it to install your drivers if this is the first time you are flashing an MTK ROM.
3. Also included in the ROM kit is the MTKDroidTools.
4. Open the flash_tool.exe located in the root of the ROM kit.
5. You will be prompted to browse to the scatter file in the RileyROM folder. Select it.
6. A list of files will populate to your screen with checkboxes all checked.
7. Uncheck EVERYTHING, except the one that says Recovery.
8. Click on the path of the Recovery line, and select the CWM_Recovery.img in the RileyROM folder.
9. Turn your tablet off and unhook the USB.
10. Use the Download Only setting for the flash tool.
11. Click the Download button.
12. With the tablet turned off, insert the USB plug.
13. The Recovery will download immediately. It will be quick.
14. Unplug the USB from your tablet.
15. Hold Volume + and press power until the tablet starts booting...it will boot to CWM.
16. Open MTKDroidTools
17. Plug in your USB to your tablet.
18. Wait for your tablet information to populate to the screen.
19. Click the IMEI/NVRAM button.
20. Click Backup.
21. Disconnect your USB when the backup is complete.
22. Press the power button to reboot to system.

Now that you have a backup of your NVRAM, you can now flash your tablet.

Instructions on how to flash the ROM may very, depending on certain things in the new ROM. For instance, if you are upgrading from one version of Android to a new version (Jellybean to KitKat...or 4.4.2 to 4.4.4) or if you are selecting a different EBR set to increase your user app space...or if your device is just acting strangely and you want to do a full wipe...I will recommend that you use the "Format - Download" setting in the flash tool. If you are going from stock to a custom ROM, this will also clear out of the bloatware.

If you are only updating the ROM with one of the same Android version, and you aren't changing the size of your EBR files...you can use the "Download Only" setting. This setting overwrites the current firmware with the new files. So if you want to remove the bloatware, you should do a "Format - Download".

So let's flash the ROM:

1. Turn your tablet off and disconnect it from USB.
2. Open the Flash Tool and select the scatter file if prompted.
3. View the list of files.
4. Just as you selected CWM_Recovery.img above, go through and select it again.
5. Select the EBR1 file you want to flash.
6. Select the EBR2 file that matches the size of the EBR1 file you selected.

NOTE: Some ROM's will only have 1 EBR file. This is for ROM's which have combined the user app space with the internal SD card. If that's the case, you will only have the single EBR1 file...so leave it alone.

7. Click Download on the Flash Tool screen.
8. With the tablet still turned off, connect the USB
9. Watch the activity at the bottom of the flash tool.
10. When the flash is finished, a box will pop up telling you it's done.

11. If you used the "Format - Download" option, you need to first boot to CWM Recovery by holding Volume+ and press power. Navigate to the wipe/factory reset option and run it.

Now, boot to system...and you will have the custom ROM running on your tablet/phone.

It has taken me a while to figure out all of the in's and out's of flashing these ROM's...and I apologize for my lack of discovery, until now.

[grenness]

Great work!

-however I was probably too quick again... Thought I would quickly flash it before running for the bus to work. Seldom a good strategy when dealing with flashing firmware on phones and tablets!

When I arrived at work and tried to boot, I got the red Teclast logo (or chinese characters), but then it was all black.
It didn't shut down or restart, though.

Anyhow, I was going to reflash at work, but I think (I hope) it's some Windows driver problems that makes it impossible to connect to the tablet from the flash tool.
I'll leave it at that and try reflashing when I get home - this time following your instructions by the letter!

[rrileypm]

I was afraid of that. Without one of these tablets to test...it's hard to tell whether it will work...and figure out what is the cause of the problem.

I guess I got a little too aggressive with the changes on this ROM. Sorry to blow your whole day with a tablet that doesn't work right.

[grenness]

No problem at all!
Should I try again or wait for a new version from you?

[rrileypm]

Just wait for the next one. Lets home for an update from Teclast.

[grenness]

Had to try again ;-)

This time with 'Format All + Download' as I thought it might help to do a complete wipe during the flashing process.
But I guess there must be something missing in the ROM, same thing happens after the initial Teclast chinese welcome logo - all black.
:-(

Do you have a version that's basically rileyROM 1.0 + Chrome fix and GAPSS?

[gpotya]

Great work!

-however I was probably too quick again... Thought I would quickly flash it before running for the bus to work. Seldom a good strategy when dealing with flashing firmware on phones and tablets!

When I arrived at work and tried to boot, I got the red Teclast logo (or chinese characters), but then it was all black.
It didn't shut down or restart, though.

Anyhow, I was going to reflash at work, but I think (I hope) it's some Windows driver problems that makes it impossible to connect to the tablet from the flash tool.
I'll leave it at that and try reflashing when I get home - this time following your instructions by the letter!

I really the same thing happened when flashing
The screen stays black after red text and does nothing more.
Incidentally, the CWM Recovery is in Chinese

[rrileypm]

Try v1.0 with this system.img.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByxbjJg99RBrZkRrX0dfSEZxRkk/edit?usp=docslist_api

Sent from my P9