MECOOL M8S Pro + TV Box Amlogic S905X Android 7.1 2/16GB Fast Lan, WiFi 802.11b/g/n

Great data dump here. Thanks, Tieri!

[scooter2014]

Ok had alot of studders some freezes. So opened box. Heat sink looked ok paste was poor holding it. Removed it Thremal adhesive and clamped. Installed large plate from another device. Temps reduced now running smooth no studder or freezes so those having them might want to redo the heat sink attachment. That in it self will reduce heat transfer to lower board.

[scooter2014]

Ya even changing wallpaper a bit of pain on this one. Maybe they fix and release ota for that and launcher issues. Seems that on mine as well.... Would be nice to select and customize a bit... Seem same in other firmware for 7 so hopefully they fix. For such a cheap box kinda surprise even it get one ota lol....

[tantrums]

Hi all.

I installed the Nova launcher with the stock ROM but even if I set it as the default launcher, it initially launches the Mecool stock launcher every time it boots up. Then I have to press the home button to go to Nova Launcher (w/c is now the new default).

Is it safe to just disable the mecool launcher in Titanium Backup (or by deleting the app in the system folder)? Has anyone tried this?

I can always try this but my box is included in the "bad" chip batch SEC 713 and it will be harder to recover my box in case it will not normally boot if somethings went wrong.

[Rubytux]

Hi all, i bought a MS8 Pro +, but it hasnt arrived yet. I would like to know which kernel version does the box has, cause i would like to use a USB DVB-T tunner, this one by MyGICA: https://es.aliexpress.com/store/prod...883597971.html

I know it is meant for PC, but in the description it says that works with Android 4.1 and above. I am not sure if it does, cause i have read this new model is not supported by the linux pc kernel yet: https://lurchi.wordpress.com/2017/01...t230c-hacking/

May be for Android it will be different.

Has anyone tried that Mygica USB TV Tunner ?

[scooter2014]

If you read the posts some already have

[wrxtasy]

Did you even look at post 587? Bricked Kingston.... Shall i keep posting more kingston ones to prove it not just one batch of samsung emmc ?

Well - Yes I actually did look at Post #587 - no idea where you were looking.

P.X found the same info in that post as I did.

587 not about bricked Kingston (nor 586)

??
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...821#post674821

None of this matters.

If MECOOL box users have unreliable and frozen M8S Pro+ boxes simply from Flashing OTA officially distributed Firmware then they have one of the dud/faulty boxes and should seek an immediate refund from the Seller and not even try and self repair the device.

[scooter2014]

Deeper the rabbit hole it goes

[P.X]

@Tieri

Thanks - Hope some expert can work out what is happening ...

[Tieri]

OK. I got my box working again. I flashed the 0829_V0321 image made by Guest with USB Burn tool V2.1.2. Big thank you to Guest for uploading it! I also tried the 0919_V0619 (supplied by Geekbying) by USB OTA update. The update completed successfully, but had similar freezing as with the 0825_V0312 FW and Guest ATV FW.

I have attached some serial debug logs from failed boots and one successful boot with the 0829_V0321 FW.
Some errors it is giving are:
Internal error: Oops: 96000045 [#1] PREEMPT SMP (FW=0825_V0321)
Internal error: Oops: 96000046 [#1] PREEMPT SMP (FW=0825_V0321)
Internal error: Oops: 96000005 [#1] PREEMPT SMP (FW=0825_V0321)
Internal error: Oops: 96000004 [#1] PREEMPT SMP (FW=0825_V0321)
Internal error: Oops - undefined instruction: 0 [#1] PREEMPT SMP (FW=0919_V0619)

Sometimes there is "Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address" or "Unable to handle kernel paging request at virtual address" before the Internal error.
I have had all these errors with all the non compatible FW's including Guest's M8S_PRO+-V0321_TVStock-20170825.
They seem to come at random times, but the boot process never goes beyond the "Starting first time installation, please don't power off!" screen.

I hope this is useful to someone who is more into android kernels and inner workings and maybe we can get working custom ROM's and updated OEM ROM's to these problematic devices.

I was thinking (not implying!) could it be that someone has sold geekbuying a batch of cloned/faked devices that have some different components than the originals? I have had this kind of thing happen to me before with certain tablet and dealextreme. The tabled had hacked FW that gave false information about the CPU, RAM and NAND. MTK droid tools showed totally different CPU that it should had, there was only half the amount of RAM and NAND over written itself at halfway. Dealextreme handled the issue so smoothly that it was my final order from them, for ever.

Edit: I forgot to add. I still have L1 widevine, even though I used full erase and force erase with the USB burning tool 2.1.2. I never ticked the erase key option! This DOES NOT mean that you may be safe using those options!
Edit2: I messed up the mecoolm8sproplus_0829_V0321_Succefull_boot.txt file. I have replaced it with the correct file.

[P.X]

The issue I first noticed with the FW- 20170829.121624.V0321 + SEC 5.1 boxes was random Freezes - requiring the power to be removed.
After just one Update FW Flash via installed update app to OEM Update .zip as suggested by GearBest CS
the box then crashes between 10-20 seconds after power up - From initial MECOOL Logo, through Splash Video, up to just into First Time Setup- do Not Turn Off - message.
Totally randomly - it seems.

#308 ATV Thread

.

Hi,

My second box arrived from BG - Quick 10 days to arrive.
...
Bad news - Initially seemed OK testing with OEM ROM 7.1.1 NMF26Q 20170829.121624.V0321 but then it started freezing. Can be 20 seconds or 15 minutes but if freezes a lot - it seems to be every time !
Box doesn't seem to be getting hot, but that would be my guess.
Don't want to re-flash as it might happen during and .... BAD !

Seems to be a bit of a lottery going on. Some good , some bad

Video of a couple of freezes (Shaky, hand held, excuses, excuses etc.)

https://youtu.be/3SE1ro4GxEo

Pete

I subsequently opened the box and discovered the eMMC chip change to SEC 5.1
The FW installed at build time was the 20170829 version that has never been released by VS as a Zip or INF

This common issue with a certain set of boxes is not due to poor flashing, or errors flashing, or with a custom ROM (VS may think it is hence the Reset Button Removal)
It happens to a box that has been updated once using the official FW Updater built in, and flashing a CS provided OEM Zip FW.

Looking at some of the photos posted the introduction of the SEC 5.1 eMMC is not at a specific build date - The first picture of an early build in the original Tear-down is of a 5.1 chip while later ones built are then 5.0 and change to 5.1 again later ...
I do not know if there are different production facilities or just lines and chips taken at random from a big pile !!!

Can anyone who has them post links to Kingston eMMC versions with issues so I can check the specifics.

[P.X]

My first box is now constantly crashing after flashing. (see previous posts in attached link). This happened before the problems with the EMMC were known. So I just asked for a replacement. But the replacement I got is presumably also one of the faulty ones. I find it a waste to try and flash it to just find out its useless after, Can anyone tell me what the chances are my new box is really faulty?

Also any thoughts on just claiming another new revision model, without trying and ruining the current replacement?


(Broken box)


(Replacement (also faulty?) box)

Thanks!

Hi,

Your first (top pic) broken box has a much earlier build date than the SEC 5.1 change and has a SAMSUNG 5.0 chip

The mode of failure is also not quite the same (though the final outcome is similar).
You stated you had crashes/reboots ? Is that correct.
If it is then you may have a faulty early box with a slightly different issue that has joined the Freeze-OneFlash group in error.


#303 ATV Thread
09-15-2017, 09:46

Originally posted by Magendanz View Post

There might be an issue with the 20170815 OEM firmware release, upon which this custom ROM was built. Have you tried rolling back to the 20170730 release? (This was available only as an OTA update, so install in TWRP and don't forget to do a Wipe first) https://1drv.ms/u/s!AoqocX31ecnXgZ0C0X-jM77e3x1oyQ

MortuuS



Through TWRP I performed the default wipe (factory reset) and then installed the zip you suggested. But still the same problem, it wasn't even possible to do the required Google sign in.
com.android.provision and several other processes randomly crash. The reboots sometimes even happen while the boot logo is still showing.
Earlier I noticed some video glitches as well... I'm declaring this one DOA.

---

• #303.1
  
  Magendanz commented
  09-15-2017, 10:22
  
  
  Yep, I think you got a bad unit. A common problem is a poorly seated heat sink, which can cause them to quickly overheat. (Depending on the chipset design, this can result in a hang or a reset.)

[P.X]

Did you even look at post 587? Bricked Kingston.... Shall i keep posting more kingston ones to prove it not just one batch of samsung emmc ? Is batch numbers... As lots with non samsung emmc... Different emmc makes check photos of thise posted here posts ones sent to me by others. It not Samsung emmc. It like Trebor post long time ago batch Numbers of affected.

557 updated same emmc worked like a charm... As said It batch.... Maybe batch from main board bad sent to all factory (3) so that why different emmc on different chipset same issue and not have same on others. Not matter emmc samsung bo41 kingston.... But time keep bringing more infromation out... About 20 pages ago I did also state Anyone with one should get refunded by geek or gear. But no one posted in thier thread till yesterday.

587 not about bricked Kingston (nor 586)

??

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905x/653031-mecool-m8s-pro-tv-box-amlogic-s905x-android-7-1-2-16gb-fast-lan-wifi-802-11b-g-n?p=674821#post674821

586
10-01-2017, 14:15

Originally posted by stelakis1914 View Post
I am victim of cursed geekbying OTA update who destroyed my tv box. I have eMMC 5.1 chipset: SEC652 KLMAG1JENB B041 and the 20170829 stock firmware has work nice before. I extremely regret to take the decision to update. Now don't have many hopes to unbrick the TV Box.

587
Have you tried reverting to the 08.29 OEM FW ?
It has worked for a few ...
Hope you are lucky

[estimadarocha]

http://freaktab.com/forum/advertiser...f-today/page30

Hehehe it go on sale too pick up 3 or 4 before gone

Code for single unit price only; VIP Price, Special Offer or Group Deal all exempt.

so i guess you can just get one!

[scooter2014]

http://freaktab.com/forum/advertisers-and-vendor-support-area/gearbest-com/616112-deals-of-today/page30

Hehehe it go on sale too pick up 3 or 4 before gone