Perma Bricked MK908?

[polomint]

Hi all,

Some people are suggesting I might have a faulty V3 model since only the stock firmware works, when attempting all roms I used finess 1.4 and now I get no blue light, no HDMI siginal (Though the television detects the device on ).

But the biggest problem is that the device is no longer detected by USB (Tried multiple computers, and different usb cables with no joy)

I suspect the item is either faulty or bricked but I'm trying to rule out if its perm bricked or faulty.

One member suggested that I hold down the reset button and plug in usb via the OTG port and wait 15secs so it enters mask mode... Sadly I've tried this more times than I can count and nothing happens, I've tried various flashers and all the same.

Now I'm reading about shorting the NAND pins but this seems to be for the MK808 but some people talk about it being possible on the MK908. I can't seem to find the procedure for trying this method, nor even how to get the heatsink without completely forcing it off and likihood breaking all the components.

So, I'm looking for someone who is a genius who can help me diagnois the problem - sadly I would just RMA it back but I bought it off **** and the guy doesn't responsed and it doesn't look like Tronsmart directly deal with RMA's even though I have emailed them.

All help appericated, one frustrated android lover and hater.

[erinshore79]

The NAND flash is possible. I did it on my S400. U need to locate the NAND chip that holds the ROM. On my device it was on the side of the motherboard opposite to the CPU (covered by a heatsink). Take care to make sure u have the right chip. Put a photo here if unsure. Then locate pins 8-9. This was achieved on mine by using the text printed on the chipnand having it upright count along the bottom row of pins from the left. Make sure none are hidden under wire as they count too! Then as you are plugging the device into your PCs USB place a stripped end of a plastic coated paper clip or plastic coated piece of wire between them. This should allow your flash tool to recognise the device in mask mode.This forum is great for knowledge. Read up carefully what the devs and moderators say and you should be able to unbrick it. My device has had more ressurrections than lazarus!

Hi all,

Some people are suggesting I might have a faulty V3 model since only the stock firmware works, when attempting all roms I used finess 1.4 and now I get no blue light, no HDMI siginal (Though the television detects the device on ).

But the biggest problem is that the device is no longer detected by USB (Tried multiple computers, and different usb cables with no joy)

I suspect the item is either faulty or bricked but I'm trying to rule out if its perm bricked or faulty.

One member suggested that I hold down the reset button and plug in usb via the OTG port and wait 15secs so it enters mask mode... Sadly I've tried this more times than I can count and nothing happens, I've tried various flashers and all the same.

Now I'm reading about shorting the NAND pins but this seems to be for the MK808 but some people talk about it being possible on the MK908. I can't seem to find the procedure for trying this method, nor even how to get the heatsink without completely forcing it off and likihood breaking all the components.

So, I'm looking for someone who is a genius who can help me diagnois the problem - sadly I would just RMA it back but I bought it off **** and the guy doesn't responsed and it doesn't look like Tronsmart directly deal with RMA's even though I have emailed them.

All help appericated, one frustrated android lover and hater.

[polomint]

The NAND flash is possible. I did it on my S400. U need to locate the NAND chip that holds the ROM. On my device it was on the side of the motherboard opposite to the CPU (covered by a heatsink). Take care to make sure u have the right chip. Put a photo here if unsure. Then locate pins 8-9. This was achieved on mine by using the text printed on the chipnand having it upright count along the bottom row of pins from the left. Make sure none are hidden under wire as they count too! Then as you are plugging the device into your PCs USB place a stripped end of a plastic coated paper clip or plastic coated piece of wire between them. This should allow your flash tool to recognise the device in mask mode.This forum is great for knowledge. Read up carefully what the devs and moderators say and you should be able to unbrick it. My device has had more ressurrections than lazarus!

Any tips on removing the heatsink?

[polomint]

Looks like they glued it... ;\/\ loads of white stringy stuff underneath.. I tried really hard, its not coming off without risk of breaking something.

[erinshore79]

Don't think u need to remove the heatsink. The nand isn't the CPU. Post a photo of your device and someone will help. Don't force anything! The nand on my device was on the other side of the motherboard, the biggest chip of the set. The other nand chips were the ram. Go easy as if u break a wire or component you will need serious soldering skills.

[polomint]

I'm no expert on this subject but look at the side of the heatsink looks like 4 chips. 2 in parallel (same size) and then 2 different sized chips

Here's the pictures of the tronsmart mk908. Sorry on the side shot, impossible to focus with my 50 bucks camera :P

[clone12100]

Hi all,

Some people are suggesting I might have a faulty V3 model since only the stock firmware works, when attempting all roms I used finess 1.4 and now I get no blue light, no HDMI siginal (Though the television detects the device on ).

But the biggest problem is that the device is no longer detected by USB (Tried multiple computers, and different usb cables with no joy)

I suspect the item is either faulty or bricked but I'm trying to rule out if its perm bricked or faulty.

One member suggested that I hold down the reset button and plug in usb via the OTG port and wait 15secs so it enters mask mode... Sadly I've tried this more times than I can count and nothing happens, I've tried various flashers and all the same.

Now I'm reading about shorting the NAND pins but this seems to be for the MK808 but some people talk about it being possible on the MK908. I can't seem to find the procedure for trying this method, nor even how to get the heatsink without completely forcing it off and likihood breaking all the components.

So, I'm looking for someone who is a genius who can help me diagnois the problem - sadly I would just RMA it back but I bought it off **** and the guy doesn't responsed and it doesn't look like Tronsmart directly deal with RMA's even though I have emailed them.

All help appericated, one frustrated android lover and hater.

To remove your heatsink you can use some nail polish remover, which will help loosen it and then just twist the heatsink off. Make sure your device is all dry before power it back up.

[pdjm]

My heatsink was easily removed just by letting the stick on for a whyle. The thermal glue with the heat will be easier to break. I don't know if your stick gets warm when you connect it to power but if it does you can try whyle it's hot

[thesawolf]

I have pics in my sig under the MK908 cooling mod link detailing the board and chip layout. But I found that using a blow dryer on the heatsink for a few minutes heated up the thermal compound and made it rather easy to pry off. I twisted my heatsink some and then popped it off with a screwdriver tip. G'luck

[Legitsu]

I have pics in my sig under the MK908 cooling mod link detailing the board and chip layout. But I found that using a blow dryer on the heatsink for a few minutes heated up the thermal compound and made it rather easy to pry off. I twisted my heatsink some and then popped it off with a screwdriver tip. G'luck

mine was all manner of "fun" to remove I spent a good 25M warming it up/twisting;repeat
NEVER PULL OR PRY up on it you WILL rip the chip right off the board
twist and wiggle

[thesawolf]

mine was all manner of "fun" to remove I spent a good 25M warming it up/twisting;repeat
NEVER PULL OR PRY up on it you WILL rip the chip right off the board
twist and wiggle

Agree. It probably helped that I was using my girlfriend's industrial strength blowdryer and it made the thermal compound very pliable to the point prying it off was easy enough without ripping anything. Took me about 10 mins tops to get it off thanks to the heat.

[polomint]

Agree. It probably helped that I was using my girlfriend's industrial strength blowdryer and it made the thermal compound very pliable to the point prying it off was easy enough without ripping anything. Took me about 10 mins tops to get it off thanks to the heat.

Sadly, even after 2-3mins blasts and making the heatsink pretty much unhandable due to the sheer amount of heat that was burning my hands when handling i can't even twist it slightly, I repeated this over and over, it simply won't twist, not even 1mm... looking under the heatsink its a messy job the stick is not just on the CPU but on the pcb and some on the other chips...

Think I'm gonna need to use a chemical to aid, some people suggesting nail removal but need to ensure I use one that doesn't require a lot and doesn't conduct electric.

[polomint]

Reading various of other sites on how to remove themal pads with solutions that are safe and many people say avoid nail removal since its flamable and highly conductive depending on the brand used..

Many people point too Isopropyl Alcohol

Reckon this will do the job:

http://www.euroffice.co.uk/i/8jz1/AF-Isoclene-Isopropyl-alcohol-for-general-cleaning-250-ml-pump-spray-Ref-AISO250?AFF=LI6844333&utm_campaign=ShoppingComp&utm_source=Google+Base&utm_medium=ShoppingComp&s=1

[inforiculturist]

Re: Perma Bricked MK908 (Me Too)?

I seemingly have a bricked Tronsmart MK908 v3. I can't power it up nor get a blue light. I can no longer see it in Windows devices (it was working fine at first), and I can't get it into mask ROM mode either. Would appreciate any assistance. FWIW, I'm a tech guy and have flashed numerous devices with community ROMS and read everything twice before starting.


To make a long story short (mostly), a couple weeks back I decided I'd finally jump into the fray and try out one of these devices for my home system. After a bunch of research, I settled on the Tronsmart MK908 based on readings here and other such. So I purchased the Tronsmart MK908 from Geekbuying. After almost two weeks, I finally received it Friday and set to installing the Finless ROM 1.5 for the MK908.


After installing Finless 1.5 (1080 kernal/boot), however, upon boot it wouldn't get past the Google TV screen. After some reading, I flashed it back to the updated v3 Tronsmart ROM posted elsewhere here in the threads. It worked fine. After some more reading, I opened mine up and found the v3 2013.05.13 moniker on the board which, after some searching and reading seemed to be the issue - Finless 1.5 doesn't work on this particular model. Fair enough.


So, reading more, apparently the jjhmod version was setup to work. I got the v1.0 with vsync fix and flashed it onto the device. Because, it would power up and then go into the swirling logo and then stop and hang there. Sometimes it would swirl once or twice, other times it would swirl several times and then move to the next point where it would hang on a black screen. (Perhaps I should have used the v2.01 universal rom I found later.)


Reading some of the power issues, I then tried a couple other power supplies, but it had been powering up just fine off the computer as well as from the LA-520 PSU and running the other firmware just fine. Mine came with a LA-520 2A power supply, which seems to test to a 2A load, yet I've also tried several other PSUs.


So then I decided I should just flash it back to normal. So tried putting it into flash mode. At first, it would show up briefly in devices but then disappear. I tried another USB port. Same thing: appeared, disappeared, then not recognized at all. I also tried the USB Deview software to remove these devices and try again. Brief appearance and then gone.


And now it has seemingly stopped responding at all. I can't get it to go into flash mode at all. Nor can I get a blue light trying to power it up. I can't get any computer to recognize it at all.


So, then I decided to take it apart, and mine matches the one that thesawolf was using and took pictures of for his cooling mod. So, I was able to try and reach mask mode by crossing pins 8 and 9 and plug it in - and got nothing.


I have tried multiple power supplies, no blue light. I've tried the mask rom mode on multiple USB ports, but nothing, and never get the Windows bong, nor does it ever show up in USB deview anymore.


So, did I truly brick this device? Anything else I can/should try?


Thanks for any help and advice you can give.


Info
FreakTab n00b

[Legitsu]

I seemingly have a bricked Tronsmart MK908 v3. I can't power it up nor get a blue light. I can no longer see it in Windows devices (it was working fine at first), and I can't get it into mask ROM mode either. Would appreciate any assistance. FWIW, I'm a tech guy and have flashed numerous devices with community ROMS and read everything twice before starting.


To make a long story short (mostly), a couple weeks back I decided I'd finally jump into the fray and try out one of these devices for my home system. After a bunch of research, I settled on the Tronsmart MK908 based on readings here and other such. So I purchased the Tronsmart MK908 from Geekbuying. After almost two weeks, I finally received it Friday and set to installing the Finless ROM 1.5 for the MK908.


After installing Finless 1.5 (1080 kernal/boot), however, upon boot it wouldn't get past the Google TV screen. After some reading, I flashed it back to the updated v3 Tronsmart ROM posted elsewhere here in the threads. It worked fine. After some more reading, I opened mine up and found the v3 2013.05.13 moniker on the board which, after some searching and reading seemed to be the issue - Finless 1.5 doesn't work on this particular model. Fair enough.


So, reading more, apparently the jjhmod version was setup to work. I got the v1.0 with vsync fix and flashed it onto the device. Because, it would power up and then go into the swirling logo and then stop and hang there. Sometimes it would swirl once or twice, other times it would swirl several times and then move to the next point where it would hang on a black screen. (Perhaps I should have used the v2.01 universal rom I found later.)


Reading some of the power issues, I then tried a couple other power supplies, but it had been powering up just fine off the computer as well as from the LA-520 PSU and running the other firmware just fine. Mine came with a LA-520 2A power supply, which seems to test to a 2A load, yet I've also tried several other PSUs.


So then I decided I should just flash it back to normal. So tried putting it into flash mode. At first, it would show up briefly in devices but then disappear. I tried another USB port. Same thing: appeared, disappeared, then not recognized at all. I also tried the USB Deview software to remove these devices and try again. Brief appearance and then gone.


And now it has seemingly stopped responding at all. I can't get it to go into flash mode at all. Nor can I get a blue light trying to power it up. I can't get any computer to recognize it at all.


So, then I decided to take it apart, and mine matches the one that thesawolf was using and took pictures of for his cooling mod. So, I was able to try and reach mask mode by crossing pins 8 and 9 and plug it in - and got nothing.


I have tried multiple power supplies, no blue light. I've tried the mask rom mode on multiple USB ports, but nothing, and never get the Windows bong, nor does it ever show up in USB deview anymore.


So, did I truly brick this device? Anything else I can/should try?


Thanks for any help and advice you can give.


Info
FreakTab n00b

iv had this happen a few times usually just trial and error and messing with the reset button brings it back its possible your reset button is flake
you always need to use the OTG port don't use any external power hold the reset button down > plug it in
;repeat until something happens
if your reset button isn't working then you may need to physically short pins 8 and 9(while connected to external power) on the nand flash to get it into mask rom mode
try the usual stuff another cable,another usb port (not one on the same hub)