Solution for stuck in Android load AML8726-MX Dual Core TV Box Android 4.2.2

[node]

ok, we have at least found out why your getting problems. Your system is giving you incorrect partition sizes. a standard g18ref board gives 8gb space. Broken down into system partitions and recovery partition the usable space for you to use as you please for apps etc should be in he 5.x gb region and not what you have stated.

do you any mbox firmwares you could try force flashing? Do not use the recovery once you have accessed recovery. you need to prep the sd card so when its in before you use toothpick and power on method the installation begins automatically

I loaded a M8 file loaded onto an SD card the file appear to load then abort with this error message. THIS package is for "K200" devices, this is a f16ref. If I can only get the f16REF I think it will work.

[kerikhaos]

I loaded a M8 file loaded onto an SD card the file appear to load then abort with this error message. THIS package is for "K200" devices, this is a f16ref. If I can only get the f16REF I think it will work.

hi, i think you are getting that warning because your current flashed rom has this for a label. If your motherboard is clearly the HD18 v2.x series then it is a true G18REF board.....

you need to use the acemax firmware located in previous posts and detailing which firmware to download. Try to force flash with one of the acemax roms and see if you get a better result.....the M8 is not your box it is the MX2 G18REF. The m8 is the s802 quadcore and has totally different firmware so be careful as you are flashing incorrect roms on your box and may cause additional damages or bricking

[kerikhaos]

UART unsuccesful

Ok my experience with the new 6 pin ttl uart interface over this last weekend was not successful. I am in true believe that this board has had its last days and the problem is now clear that the motherboard has a defect. I will lay this to rest.

Just to confirm my connection to the board was using putty and then the serial COM3 interface (which the driver had been installed on) and set baud rate to 115200 / even the 9600 but still did not connect

just got black screen

just wanted to know if there were any additional configurations used in putty to help connect to the interface. With flashing black screen and no signs of interaction i thought maybe a push here or there on the board to try waking it up (via reset button or pin short). So far had no luck.....will continue trying till end of the week then its bye bye baby. This so far has been the worse condition ive ever seen the mx2 in and i musty say the little bugger is still turning on attempting to boot from something

[node]

Well I just got "black screen" on this box, still have blue light. Any way to get back the box working?

[kerikhaos]

Well I just got "black screen" on this box, still have blue light. Any way to get back the box working?

download acemax firmware, prepare sd card......power off, insert toothpic - hold down while powering on and sd card inserted......remove toothpic after 50 seconds, even if no display......wait for 30 mins......

power off and remove sd card.......power on device and wait

[fatfreddiescat]

Ok my experience with the new 6 pin ttl uart interface over this last weekend was not successful. I am in true believe that this board has had its last days and the problem is now clear that the motherboard has a defect. I will lay this to rest.

Just to confirm my connection to the board was using putty and then the serial COM3 interface (which the driver had been installed on) and set baud rate to 115200 / even the 9600 but still did not connect

just got black screen

just wanted to know if there were any additional configurations used in putty to help connect to the interface. With flashing black screen and no signs of interaction i thought maybe a push here or there on the board to try waking it up (via reset button or pin short). So far had no luck.....will continue trying till end of the week then its bye bye baby. This so far has been the worse condition ive ever seen the mx2 in and i musty say the little bugger is still turning on attempting to boot from something

If you haven't already then try reversing Tx and Rx, double check in device manager to see which COM port has been assigned to the USB-Serial adapter, mine was assigned COM6, make sure you use the USB port on the computer that the USB-Serial adapter was plugged into when you installed the drivers.
Other than selecting the correct COM port and BAUD rate then all other settings in PuTTYremain on default.

[fatfreddiescat]

UART connection

[redwatty]

download acemax firmware, prepare sd card......power off, insert toothpic - hold down while powering on and sd card inserted......remove toothpic after 50 seconds, even if no display......wait for 30 mins......

power off and remove sd card.......power on device and wait

Can you provide a link to the download? When I go to the downloads of the acemax website the IPTV 18 201305 VERSION link is dead for me and I can not find it anywhere else.

[Αντρέας]

yet another aml8726 bricked ...beyond repair?

Hello guys...
This WAS my "CS818II" box, a typical Chinese Android box with DVB-T2 tuner ...pics and specs here http://www.geekbuying.com/item/CS818...-Black-333400/
A week ago i had this brilliant idea of installing some sort of Linux suitable (...) for AML8726, clicked on upgrade, upgrade started normally from the zip, with a progress bar on the screen, and that was the last thing i saw
The box, dropped dead, in the middle of upgrade.
Blue led always on and black screen ever since
I have NO REAL SUPPORT from vendor, all i have is a guy advising me to "please check the cable" ...
I think you are my last hope to save the box
What i have done:
-Downloaded firmware (4 files, including u-boot.bin, factory_update_param.aml, recovery.img, and the actual .zip) Used the suggested toothpick method, with 4Gb and 8Gb SDcards (FAT32). No luck
-flashed the u-boot.bin into the SDcard usng the AMlogic SDCardMaker.exe, then repeated previous. No luck
-Added in the SDcard u-boot.bin and aml_autoscript found in a post, booted with toothpick, gave it plenty of time, re-booted with and without toothpick, with card containing the usual 4 files from above, and in brief i did all combinations i can think of of booting with SDcards. No luck

Since all those did not work, i found the NAND chip (it's at the back side, not visible in attached screenshot) and short-circuited pind 7-8, or 8-9 or 5-6 during boot. No luck.

Kinda lost and deeply sad, ordered USB-UART at ****, waiting to arrive, but, NO CLUE as to what should i do with that cabe when its here... Not experienced at all with this kind of work

So, main question is, if anyone knows of this box, has some experience, maybe has some ideas.. maybe can help.. Or point me to some UART-guide (how to) ...I read i need some "image" to flash via UART, i have NO SUCH IMAGE, anyone maybe has a link or something...
Any help, deeply appreciated

[fatfreddiescat]

Hello guys...
This WAS my "CS818II" box, a typical Chinese Android box with DVB-T2 tuner ...pics and specs here http://www.geekbuying.com/item/CS818...-Black-333400/
A week ago i had this brilliant idea of installing some sort of Linux suitable (...) for AML8726, clicked on upgrade, upgrade started normally from the zip, with a progress bar on the screen, and that was the last thing i saw
The box, dropped dead, in the middle of upgrade.
Blue led always on and black screen ever since
I have NO REAL SUPPORT from vendor, all i have is a guy advising me to "please check the cable" ...
I think you are my last hope to save the box
What i have done:
-Downloaded firmware (4 files, including u-boot.bin, factory_update_param.aml, recovery.img, and the actual .zip) Used the suggested toothpick method, with 4Gb and 8Gb SDcards (FAT32). No luck
-flashed the u-boot.bin into the SDcard usng the AMlogic SDCardMaker.exe, then repeated previous. No luck
-Added in the SDcard u-boot.bin and aml_autoscript found in a post, booted with toothpick, gave it plenty of time, re-booted with and without toothpick, with card containing the usual 4 files from above, and in brief i did all combinations i can think of of booting with SDcards. No luck

Since all those did not work, i found the NAND chip (it's at the back side, not visible in attached screenshot) and short-circuited pind 7-8, or 8-9 or 5-6 during boot. No luck.

Kinda lost and deeply sad, ordered USB-UART at ****, waiting to arrive, but, NO CLUE as to what should i do with that cabe when its here... Not experienced at all with this kind of work

So, main question is, if anyone knows of this box, has some experience, maybe has some ideas.. maybe can help.. Or point me to some UART-guide (how to) ...I read i need some "image" to flash via UART, i have NO SUCH IMAGE, anyone maybe has a link or something...
Any help, deeply appreciated

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10861[/ATTACH]

Your UART connections are near the top right of the heatsink in your picture, read through the last few posts between myself and kerikhaos.
First just see if you can connect via UART and post what you see.

[node]

download acemax firmware, prepare sd card......power off, insert toothpic - hold down while powering on and sd card inserted......remove toothpic after 50 seconds, even if no display......wait for 30 mins......

power off and remove sd card.......power on device and wait

I got the box back up, I cannot get the ACEMAX firmware loaded at all.

How I got the box back up from Black Screen:

Required 2-4gb SD cards

I wrote the image file in post #11 to on one of my 8gb SD card. NOTE if you use an 8gb SD card it will appear as a 4gb after writing this image file to it. You will have to re-partition the card after to get it back to a 8gb. SD. I would advise to use a 4gb card and keep it aside to unbrick your box in the future.

I insert the SD card then the HDMI cable then I held the switch with a toothpick in the AV port and powered the box.

The robot came up, did his thing and fell flat on his back. Next i wipe the cache the robot stood up. I then cleared the user data.

I then removed the SD card and inserted the second SD card which has the MX/G-Box firmware, the box took the firmware and loaded fine.

I know this is not the firmware for this box, but was all I had to get it alive. The reason is I can load Kodi but still getting "Waiting on External storage message" and kodi will not load.

node

[Dope101]

What i have done:
-Downloaded firmware (4 files, including u-boot.bin, factory_update_param.aml, recovery.img, and the actual .zip) Used the suggested toothpick method, with 4Gb and 8Gb SDcards (FAT32). No luck
-flashed the u-boot.bin into the SDcard usng the AMlogic SDCardMaker.exe, then repeated previous. No luck

I have this box, do yourself a favour and dont use the sd card, use a usb flash drive/stick with the files you have(fat32)

make sure there is nothing else in the other usb port and no sd card in the box.and do the toothpick thing, be patient and give it time to boot.

when i was playing with roms, the sd card doesnt play nice, only thing that worked for me is using a usb stick, I know every thing on this site refers to a sd card but for me the usb stick is the only thing that worked.

ive managed to use the wetek CM11(but cant use wifi and the dvbt) firmware on this box.

[Αντρέας]

Many thanks fatfreddiescat & dope101 for reply, bad news usb not working either, uart arrived today, and yes, good news we have a STILL live box ...i think

Here we go:

wetek#EEEE I3000000032940xf100110303;77500EEEE I400000004294_M6_BL1_3431>2534313
TE : 77476
BT : 14:37:19 Jan 29 2015

CPU clock is 1200MHz


wait pll-0x03 target is 0204 now it is 0x00000203

DDR clock is 516MHz with Low Power & 2T mode

DDR training :
DX0DLLCR:40000000
DX0DQTR:ffffffff
DX0DQSTR:3db05001
DX1DLLCR:40000000
DX1DQTR:ffffffff
DX1DQSTR:3db05001
DX2DLLCR:40000000
DX2DQTR:ffffffff
DX2DQSTR:3db05001
DX3DLLCR:40000000
DX3DQTR:ffffffff
DX3DQSTR:3db05001
Stage 00 Result 00000000
Stage 01 Result 00000000
Stage 02 Result 00000000
Stage 03 Result 00000000

DDR init use : 42463 us

HHH
BootFrom SPI
ucl decompress
decompress true
0x12345678
Boot from int dev 1stSPI RESERVED

TE : 1303529

System Started


U-boot(wetek@) (Jan 29 2015 - 14:37:08)

aml_rtc_init
aml rtc init first time!
clr h-ram
DRAM:  1 GiB
relocation Offset is: 105e0000
MMC:   [mmc_register] add mmc dev_num=0, port=1, if_type=6
[mmc_register] add mmc dev_num=1, port=2, if_type=6
SDIO Port B: 0, SDIO Port C: 1
NAND:  Amlogic nand flash uboot driver, Version U1.06.020 (c) 2010 Amlogic Inc.
SPI BOOT : continue i 0
No NAND device found!!!
NAND device id: 2c 64 44 4b a9 0
NAND device: Manufacturer ID: 0x2c, Chip ID: 0x2c (Micron B revision NAND 8GiB MT29F64G08CBABA)
1 NAND chips detected
#####aml_nand_init, with RB pins and chip->chip_delay:20
bus_cycle=5, bus_timing=6, start_cycle=6, end_cycle=7,system=5.0ns
oob size is not enough for selected bch mode: NAND_BCH60_1K_MODE force bch to mode: NAND_BCH40_1K_MODE
aml_chip->oob_fill_cnt =168,aml_chip->oob_size =744,bch_bytes =70
multi plane error for selected plane mode: NAND_TWO_PLANE_MODE force plane to : NAND_SINGLE_PLANE_MODE
aml_nand_init:oobmul =1,chip->ecc.layout->oobfree[0].length=16,aml_chip->oob_size=744
aml_nand_scan_bbt:
NAND_MFR_MICRON NAND detect factory Bad block at b400000  and block =90 and chip =0
NAND_MFR_MICRON NAND detect factory Bad block at b600000  and block =91 and chip =0
here 3 step : oob error:   block 4086
here 2 step : key valid:  block 4088
here 2 step : key valid:  block 4090
here 2 step : key valid:  block 4092
aml_nand_scan_bbt: factory Bad block bad_blk_cnt=3
aml nand env valid addr: ffffffffffe00000 ,status =0
aml_nand_save_env:5915,save env to 0
key start_blk=4088,end_blk=4095,aml_nand_key_init:684
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff000000
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff200000
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff400000
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff600000
CONFIG_KEYSIZE=0x10000; KEYSIZE=0xfffc; bbt=0x1330; default_keyironment_size=0xeccc
i=0,register --- nand_key
 NAND bbt detect factory Bad block at b400000
 NAND bbt detect factory Bad block at b600000
 NAND bbt detect factory Bad block at 1fec00000
Creating 2 MTD partitions on "nandnormal":
0x000000800000-0x000001000000 : "mtd1"
0x000001000000-0x000008000000 : "mtd2"
nandnormal initialized ok
detect mx chiprevD :1 and nand_type: 40
nand_curr_device =1
SPI BOOT,spi_env_relocate_spec : env_relocate_spec 53
SF: Detected MX25L3205D with page size 256, total 4 MiB

SPI NOR Flash have write protect!!!
In:    serial
Out:   serial
Err:   serial
register usb cfg[0][1] = 9fe85ad0
Net:   Meson_Ethernet
init suspend firmware done. (ret:0)
efuse version is not selected.
Hit Enter key to stop autoboot -- :  0
exit abortboot: 0
Amlogic Ethernet Init
Success: reset mac OK!(0)
ETH PHY hardware reset OK
find net phy id=0x2430c54, phyad=0
set_mac_mode(0)
final_addr[rx-tx]: 0x9feec000-0x9feec600
Ethernet reset OK
MAC address is 00:00:00:00:00:00
phy auto link failed
half duplex
10m
*** ERROR: `ethaddr' not set
phy auto link failed
Wrong Image Format for bootm command
ERROR: can't get kernel image!
wetek#

Waiting for your commands

[fatfreddiescat]

Many thanks fatfreddiescat & dope101 for reply, bad news usb not working either, uart arrived today, and yes, good news we have a STILL live box ...i think

Here we go:

wetek#EEEE I3000000032940xf100110303;77500EEEE I400000004294_M6_BL1_3431>2534313
TE : 77476
BT : 14:37:19 Jan 29 2015

CPU clock is 1200MHz


wait pll-0x03 target is 0204 now it is 0x00000203

DDR clock is 516MHz with Low Power & 2T mode

DDR training :
DX0DLLCR:40000000
DX0DQTR:ffffffff
DX0DQSTR:3db05001
DX1DLLCR:40000000
DX1DQTR:ffffffff
DX1DQSTR:3db05001
DX2DLLCR:40000000
DX2DQTR:ffffffff
DX2DQSTR:3db05001
DX3DLLCR:40000000
DX3DQTR:ffffffff
DX3DQSTR:3db05001
Stage 00 Result 00000000
Stage 01 Result 00000000
Stage 02 Result 00000000
Stage 03 Result 00000000

DDR init use : 42463 us

HHH
BootFrom SPI
ucl decompress
decompress true
0x12345678
Boot from int dev 1stSPI RESERVED

TE : 1303529

System Started


U-boot(wetek@) (Jan 29 2015 - 14:37:08)

aml_rtc_init
aml rtc init first time!
clr h-ram
DRAM:  1 GiB
relocation Offset is: 105e0000
MMC:   [mmc_register] add mmc dev_num=0, port=1, if_type=6
[mmc_register] add mmc dev_num=1, port=2, if_type=6
SDIO Port B: 0, SDIO Port C: 1
NAND:  Amlogic nand flash uboot driver, Version U1.06.020 (c) 2010 Amlogic Inc.
SPI BOOT : continue i 0
No NAND device found!!!
NAND device id: 2c 64 44 4b a9 0
NAND device: Manufacturer ID: 0x2c, Chip ID: 0x2c (Micron B revision NAND 8GiB MT29F64G08CBABA)
1 NAND chips detected
#####aml_nand_init, with RB pins and chip->chip_delay:20
bus_cycle=5, bus_timing=6, start_cycle=6, end_cycle=7,system=5.0ns
oob size is not enough for selected bch mode: NAND_BCH60_1K_MODE force bch to mode: NAND_BCH40_1K_MODE
aml_chip->oob_fill_cnt =168,aml_chip->oob_size =744,bch_bytes =70
multi plane error for selected plane mode: NAND_TWO_PLANE_MODE force plane to : NAND_SINGLE_PLANE_MODE
aml_nand_init:oobmul =1,chip->ecc.layout->oobfree[0].length=16,aml_chip->oob_size=744
aml_nand_scan_bbt:
NAND_MFR_MICRON NAND detect factory Bad block at b400000  and block =90 and chip =0
NAND_MFR_MICRON NAND detect factory Bad block at b600000  and block =91 and chip =0
here 3 step : oob error:   block 4086
here 2 step : key valid:  block 4088
here 2 step : key valid:  block 4090
here 2 step : key valid:  block 4092
aml_nand_scan_bbt: factory Bad block bad_blk_cnt=3
aml nand env valid addr: ffffffffffe00000 ,status =0
aml_nand_save_env:5915,save env to 0
key start_blk=4088,end_blk=4095,aml_nand_key_init:684
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff000000
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff200000
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff400000
aml nand key valid addr: 1ff600000
CONFIG_KEYSIZE=0x10000; KEYSIZE=0xfffc; bbt=0x1330; default_keyironment_size=0xeccc
i=0,register --- nand_key
 NAND bbt detect factory Bad block at b400000
 NAND bbt detect factory Bad block at b600000
 NAND bbt detect factory Bad block at 1fec00000
Creating 2 MTD partitions on "nandnormal":
0x000000800000-0x000001000000 : "mtd1"
0x000001000000-0x000008000000 : "mtd2"
nandnormal initialized ok
detect mx chiprevD :1 and nand_type: 40
nand_curr_device =1
SPI BOOT,spi_env_relocate_spec : env_relocate_spec 53
SF: Detected MX25L3205D with page size 256, total 4 MiB

SPI NOR Flash have write protect!!!
In:    serial
Out:   serial
Err:   serial
register usb cfg[0][1] = 9fe85ad0
Net:   Meson_Ethernet
init suspend firmware done. (ret:0)
efuse version is not selected.
Hit Enter key to stop autoboot -- :  0
exit abortboot: 0
Amlogic Ethernet Init
Success: reset mac OK!(0)
ETH PHY hardware reset OK
find net phy id=0x2430c54, phyad=0
set_mac_mode(0)
final_addr[rx-tx]: 0x9feec000-0x9feec600
Ethernet reset OK
MAC address is 00:00:00:00:00:00
phy auto link failed
half duplex
10m
*** ERROR: `ethaddr' not set
phy auto link failed
Wrong Image Format for bootm command
ERROR: can't get kernel image!
wetek#

Waiting for your commands

Looks promising

You have console, have you tried to send it any commands, type 'help' for a list of recognised commands.
Do you get any different data in console if you use toothpick and also with and without the SDcard?
Mine was showing that it was stuck in a loop looking for something on the ethernet port, yours just looks like it has not found the kernel image and doesn't know what to do from there.

[Αντρέας]

Yes fatfreddiescat, we have console, we have commands, i will try fatload mmc 0 and then bootm see if i can get recovery ... and yes, i do not know what i am doing, just reading (carefully) pages uppon pages in forums and trying to learn lol so any ideas that might help are always welcomed hehehe