Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

T95m bricked?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
    #1

    T95m bricked?

    Hi folks,

    My first post, guess what? Did something stupid, and my box is (half?) bricked. I could use some help. I can understand some technical terms but I never got my head around the Android OS, so please be patient.

    This is a T95m (p212) with Android 7.1.2, which is supposed to have a S905X SOC and 2/8GB memory - by the way, how can I confirm that? CPU-Z, AIDA64, etc. don't explicitly tell me what the SOC is. But that can wait for now, there's something more urgent.

    Yesterday I tried launching the pre-installed Root Explorer (or something to that effect) but it just freezes on a blank screen. CPU-Z says the box is rooted, so I thought all I needed was some permission control. I installed SuperSU from the play store and launched it. Opted for the "normal" installation (not TWRP). At some point it asked me to reboot the box, and so I did. Since then it won't go past the initial (cheesy) animation. I can get to the recovery menu, wipe the partitions (which I did), mount the system partition, enable the ADB interface (apparently), but that's all. Rebooting into bootloader doesn't seem to work (but I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway).

    I'd like to revert the box to the previous state, is that possible? In the many forums I've been searching someone said if the SuperSU folder is renamed the box should boot to Android again. Not sure if that's the best way. But I can't get a terminal to type any commands anyway.

    The box has a reset button inside the AV port (well, I can hear a click when I press it, so I assume it's there), a micro-SD card slot, and an OTG port next to the USB ports. I have a Win10 PC, and an old (10-yr old) laptop running Ubuntu. I also have lots of USB cables, including an A-to-A male-to-male that came with a HDD case.

    I've read a few dozen posts about people with similar problems, but each case seems to be a little different than mine. I appreciate if you can help me find the right ones to follow.

    I tried to connect to the box from my PC using the OTG port, but I can't see the device in Windows. Not sure if I'm doing it right.

    I've been trying to load a TWRP recovery image to a micro-SD card and boot the box to it but it didn't work either. Again, I'm not sure I'm doing it right. I used the BootCardMaker from China Gadgets, it came with its own u-boot.bin, which I used. At the end, I see an empty drive in Windows, I assume the boot files are in an invisible partition, correct? The card is only 512MB, does it matter?

    Then I tried adding the TWRP recovery images I've found to the sd card drive in Windows (is that where it should go?), and boot the box to it. I tried releasing the reset button as soon as I plug in the power, and tried holding the button for 5, 10, and 30s. In any case the box always shows the initial logo but freezes there.



    [EDIT] I tried now to use a different TWRP image without renaming it to recovery.img, then hold the reset button and power up. The box booted to the regular recovery menu. So it seems the box is at least reading the SD card (because when I put in a recovery.img file in it I get a different result). I guess now the matter is to find the correct TWRP image for this box, right?

    [EDIT2] I forgot to add a link to the box: http://otttvbox.ca/t95m-android-60-t...-rom-p-53.html (but mine has Android 7)


    I thought it's time to ask for help before I damage it even more. Any suggestions?

    Thank you in advance,

    VMat
    Last edited by VMat; 07-01-2018, 16:57.
    Tags: bricked, s905x, t95m
    #2
    Can anyone point me some detailed instructions on how to boot to TWRP using an SD card (not flashing)? P-p-pleeease...

    Thanks

    Comment

      #3
      Make sure you are using Windows 7, Windows 10 is tricky, also completely remove drivers, re-install them, try a different USB Cable, on T95m you need a regular USB to MicroUSB cable, you must connect it to the OTG port. Try different AML Burning tool version. (There are plenty out there available for Download). Also dont forget that when installing Burning tool setup, it is ideal to run it with Administrative privileges, to ensure driver is succesfully installed. (Are you pressing reset button inside the AV port?) If nothing of these work then you may need to try the "Short Pin" method (is not that hard), here more info for reference http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...n-short-method

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by Geekstuff4fun View Post
        Make sure you are using Windows 7, Windows 10 is tricky, also completely remove drivers, re-install them, try a different USB Cable, on T95m you need a regular USB to MicroUSB cable, you must connect it to the OTG port. Try different AML Burning tool version. (There are plenty out there available for Download). Also dont forget that when installing Burning tool setup, it is ideal to run it with Administrative privileges, to ensure driver is succesfully installed. (Are you pressing reset button inside the AV port?) If nothing of these work then you may need to try the "Short Pin" method (is not that hard), here more info for reference http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...n-short-method
        Thank you! I'll try some of those this weekend if I have the time.

        I don't have a Win7 PC available though. I'll have to make do with Win10 for now. It never showed the T95m in the control panel. Maybe that's why...

        Thanks again,

        VMat

        Comment

          #5
          Oh, wow... I don't think I did anything wrong since my first post. But now I don't have the recovery menu anymore. Maybe it was a hardware fault, after all?

          Is there any way to flash anything to the box if there's no recovery menu? Does the OTG method work in that case? If there is, can somebody give me some directions (again), please?

          Thanks,

          VMat

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by VMat View Post
            Oh, wow... I don't think I did anything wrong since my first post. But now I don't have the recovery menu anymore. Maybe it was a hardware fault, after all?

            Is there any way to flash anything to the box if there's no recovery menu? Does the OTG method work in that case? If there is, can somebody give me some directions (again), please?

            Thanks,

            VMat
            Yes, you still can flash using burning tool without recovery, and this one will put vendors recovery back in it. Dont worry. Do you have original rom of your Device?

            Regards

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by VMat View Post
              Oh, wow... I don't think I did anything wrong since my first post. But now I don't have the recovery menu anymore. Maybe it was a hardware fault, after all?

              Is there any way to flash anything to the box if there's no recovery menu? Does the OTG method work in that case? If there is, can somebody give me some directions (again), please?

              Thanks,

              VMat
              If you don't have this device's firmware, you may ask support from the store you purchased this item, they should be able to provide and if they do please share, I'd like to work on it to add some enhancements.(Repack it with ATV OS)

              Thanks

              Comment

                #8
                I sent them an email, let's see...

                Thanks

                Comment

                  #9
                  [EDIT] The error message is slightly different, the one below now is correct.

                  Got some firmware here... I'm trying to flash it, but I keep getting the error "Romcode/Initialize DDR/Read Initialize Status/USB Control setup error" at 2%. Any suggestions, other than the pin-short method?

                  I already tried several cables, long, short, thin, thick, black, white... two or three different USB ports in the PC, including a 3.0 (all in the back, no internal cables), and three different versions of the burning tool.

                  Thanks,

                  VMat
                  Last edited by VMat; 07-16-2018, 00:51.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    USB 3.0 is not suitable for flashing. Ensure you are using 2.0. The error message you are seeing is related to memory, therefore try the option in burning tool 'Force erase all". Let me know how it goes!

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Geekstuff4fun View Post
                      USB 3.0 is not suitable for flashing. Ensure you are using 2.0.
                      At least that one I got right.

                      Originally posted by Geekstuff4fun View Post
                      The error message you are seeing is related to memory, therefore try the option in burning tool 'Force erase all". Let me know how it goes!
                      OK, let me try and I'll report back.

                      Thanks a lot!

                      VMat

                      Comment

                        #12
                        No, no luck. Still the same error at 2%.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by VMat View Post
                          No, no luck. Still the same error at 2%.
                          Change USB Cable, preferably a shorter one, Try a different version of Burning Tool, try this one Link here: https://mega.nz/#!fcgBRCqB!tcpnTHt6O...WEsG9oKyxy1ktw completely remove previous one including driver (check the box to completely uninstall usb world cup driver from device manager).

                          If nothing of this works, then you may need to try to short pin memory. Good Luck!

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Originally posted by VMat View Post
                            No, no luck. Still the same error at 2%.
                            Sometimes, specially if you have a not so stable connection, it may be worth to attempt to re-download firmware one more time, a corrupted file can cause problems. Dont give up this device has great hardware. I am working in moding this software. I'll share once succesful.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Geekstuff4fun View Post

                              Change USB Cable, preferably a shorter one, Try a different version of Burning Tool, try this one Link here: https://mega.nz/#!fcgBRCqB!tcpnTHt6O...WEsG9oKyxy1ktw completely remove previous one including driver (check the box to completely uninstall usb world cup driver from device manager).

                              If nothing of this works, then you may need to try to short pin memory. Good Luck!
                              The two shortest cables I have (6 inches) can't make proper contact. Their tips are a bit shorter than usual, and the connector in the T95m is recessed.

                              I tried that version 2.05 with the previous cable, still the same error. Frustrating!

                              I agree, the hardware in this box is probably worth the hassle. It even has the optical port that many of the recent boxes seem to have dropped (and that I like to use). The absurdly bright power LED and the tiny useless clock could be improved, but it's no big deal.

                              I think I'll have a bit more time to deal with this on the weekend. Then I might dremel-off some of the plastic in the shorter cable to make a better connection. Or maybe I'll try the short pin method. I already re-downloaded the firmware, but the file lengths are identical, I don't think there was an issue on that side (but I'll try to flash the new file just in case).

                              Thanks again,

                              VMat

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next

                              What's Going On

                              Collapse

                              There are currently 2780 users online. 5 members and 2775 guests.

                              Most users ever online was 16,134 at 08:28 on 08-11-2023.

                              Working...
                              X

                              We process personal data about users of our site, through the use of cookies and other technologies, to deliver our services, personalize advertising, and to analyze site activity. We may share certain information about our users with our advertising and analytics partners. For additional details, refer to our Privacy Policy.

                              By clicking "I AGREE" below, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our personal data processing and cookie practices as described therein. You also acknowledge that this forum may be hosted outside your country and you consent to the collection, storage, and processing of your data in the country where this forum is hosted.

                              I Agree