[GUIDE]A500/501/G100W-Installing ICS V8 UNL-BL & CWM Or back to HC BL(24-6-2012)

FredFFF · Aug 10, 2012

impossible unlock after A500 mobo's replacement

Hello
my acer iconia tab a500 has just been repaired by acer support center for a hardware problem (they've changed screen and mobo).

At First, when I bought it in january, it had an HC bootloader (I followed timmydean thread to root it and install custom recovery, and it worked very well)

Unfortunately, when it came back from acer support few days ago, it had an ICS locked bootloader, with a stock ICS rom.
I tried each method from civato's guide, but none of them worked
The CPUID and SBK is the same as before (i got it from a previous cwm backup, and dmesg actually gives me the same CPUID as before)
But the SBK is no more recognised by nvflash

v8.bat file blocked telling me:
Loading bootloader...
Nvflash started
USB device not found

(but the tablet is plugged and adb devices reports the device properly)

afterOTA, begins, but get stuck in apx mode
blackthunder, idem

etc etc.
It looks as if the cpuid reported (same with every tools and methods) is wrong, so that ths SBK is rejected in apxmode.

I wonder if the mobo's replacement did something, which prevents any unlock now...

The only "solution" i can think about, is trying downgrade with timmydean's method, but it seems risky, and I would prefer to backup the existing rom before flashing the tablet (which I could only do with an unlocked bootloader and cwm...)

Has any of you an idea?
I hope my Engllsh is understandable...

Android Build : Acer_AV041_A500_1.031.00_WW_GEN1
Bootloader : 0.03.12-ICS

blackthund3r · Aug 10, 2012

FredFFF said:
Hello
my acer iconia tab a500 has just been repaired by acer support center for a hardware problem (they've changed screen and mobo).

At First, when I bought it in january, it had an HC bootloader (I followed timmydean thread to root it and install custom recovery, and it worked very well)

Unfortunately, when it came back from acer support few days ago, it had an ICS locked bootloader, with a stock ICS rom.
I tried each method from civato's guide, but none of them worked
The CPUID and SBK is the same as before (i got it from a previous cwm backup, aned dmesg actually gives me the same CPUID as before)
But the SBK is no more recognised by nvflash

v8.bat file blocked telling me:
Loading bootloader...
Nvflash started
USB device not found

(but the tablet is plugged and adb devices reports the device properly)

afterOTA, begins, but get stuck in apx mode
blackthunder, idem

etc etc.
It looks as if the cpuid reported (same with every tools and methods) is wrong, so that ths SBK is rejected in apxmode.

I wonder if the mobo's replacement did something, which prevents any unlock now...

The only "solution" i can think about, is trying downgrade with timmydean's method, but it seems risky, and I would prefer to backup the existing rom before flashing the tablet (which I could only do with an unlocked bootloader and cwm...)

Has any of you an idea?
I hope my Engllsh is understandable...

If it says USB Device not found you need to check device manager once the tablet is in APX Mode. APX and adb use different drivers and are totally separate. They are installed by the same acer exe but they are different.

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

FredFFF · Aug 10, 2012

blackthund3r said:
If it says USB Device not found you need to check device manager once the tablet is in APX Mode. APX and adb use different drivers and are totally separate. They are installed by the same acer exe but they are different.

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks blackthund3r for helping me with this, but it still does not work:

I did it again, forcing APX mode (reset+power 3 sec)
launched v8.bat
Acer APx mode on the iconia
then v8 stuck with

Flashing bootloader: bootloader_v8.bin ...

Nvflash started
[resume mode]
Formatting partition 4 please wait.. Command Execution failed cmd 13, error 0x12
0002
FAILED!
command failure: format partition failed (bad command)
bootloader status: unknown operation (code: 1) message: flags: 0

Nvflash started
[resume mode]

blackthund3r · Aug 11, 2012

FredFFF said:
Thanks blackthund3r for helping me with this, but it still does not work:

I did it again, forcing APX mode (reset+power 3 sec)
launched v8.bat
Acer APx mode on the iconia
then v8 stuck with

Flashing bootloader: bootloader_v8.bin ...

Nvflash started
[resume mode]
Formatting partition 4 please wait.. Command Execution failed cmd 13, error 0x12
0002
FAILED!
command failure: format partition failed (bad command)
bootloader status: unknown operation (code: 1) message: flags: 0

Nvflash started
[resume mode]

Try booting back into Android rooted. Then use the Flash Tool but allow it to save your BCT

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

FredFFF · Aug 11, 2012

blackthund3r said:
Try booting back into Android rooted. Then use the Flash Tool but allow it to save your BCT

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Ok thanks, by flash tool,you mean your flash tool?
I will try again as soon as I have access to a windows pc (in 2 weeks...)
Thanks again , I'll keep you posted asap.

---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:30 PM ----------

X f

blackthund3r said:
Try booting back into Android rooted. Then use the Flash Tool but allow it to save your BCT

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

Blackthund3r, I am deeply thankfull for your trying to help me.
Finaly found a windows pc...
Using blackthund3r apx flash utility, dump bct, chose this bct,then flashing
But stuck on
«entering download mode bootloader...»
Green progress bar stopped at 10% or so...
Any idea???

WhatMeWorry · Aug 11, 2012

Great Guide - Thank you

Thanks for taking the time to put the guide(s) and instructions together.

Worked like a charm for me. I had previously flashed to an ASUS-based ROM which I liked a lot but it was time to upgrade to ICS. I did have to flash back to a version of an Acer A500 ROM before the APX Updater would actually recognize the device and update the Bootloader from 3.01.

But other than that the instructions were dead on and it was a piece of cake; The ROM works great.

Thanks for everyone's hard work on this.

dibb_nz · Aug 11, 2012

FredFFF said:
Ok thanks, by flash tool,you mean your flash tool?
I will try again as soon as I have access to a windows pc (in 2 weeks...)
Thanks again , I'll keep you posted asap.

---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:30 PM ----------

X f
Blackthund3r, I am deeply thankfull for your trying to help me.
Finaly found a windows pc...
Using blackthund3r apx flash utility, dump bct, chose this bct,then flashing
But stuck on
«entering download mode bootloader...»
Green progress bar stopped at 10% or so...
Any idea???

if u previously had partition errors and now apxflash is hanging then you will need to use timmydeansv4 -
it will take u back to a HC 3.2.1 pre-rooted with cwm, reset your partitions and wipe all your data -
(theres a d/l link to tdv4 in my cpuid thread, use jazzyjames method to rollback)

For others using nvFlash
after entering yr sbk the very next window that should pop up is this one,

it shows yr chip uid and other system info,
IF you dont see this "System Info" and it jumps straight to this one:

STOP!!!!do not, I repeat, do not press anything on your keyboard, disconnect yr cable, power off yr tab then 'X' out of the command window - if you accidentally hit the keyboard the flash will go ahead and you'll get a 'partitioning' error and need to reset via tdv4 or worse get stuck in apx mode - black screen pwr lite on - which isnt as easily fixed...

blackthund3r · Aug 12, 2012

dibb_nz said:
if u previously had partition errors and now apxflash is hanging then you will need to use timmydeansv4 -
it will take u back to a HC 3.2.1 pre-rooted with cwm, reset your partitions and wipe all your data -
(theres a d/l link to tdv4 in my cpuid thread, use jazzyjames method to rollback)

For others using nvFlash
after entering yr sbk the very next window that should pop up is this one,

it shows yr chip uid and other system info,
IF you dont see this "System Info" and it jumps straight to this one:

STOP!!!!do not, I repeat, do not press anything on your keyboard, disconnect yr cable, power off yr tab then 'X' out of the command window - if you accidentally hit the keyboard the flash will go ahead and you'll get a 'partitioning' error and need to reset via tdv4 or worse get stuck in apx mode - black screen pwr lite on - which isnt as easily fixed...

If this doesn't work it is possible that his has a bad memory block which is bad news.

Raptor.X · Aug 14, 2012

Hello again everyone,

I'm currently running on ICS patched bootloader V8 + Thor's CWM + Moscow Desire's Evil Alex, and I would like to return to a Honeycomb Stock ROM.

The problem is, if I follow your OP's procedure, I will flash a Honeycomb bootloader but will have my tablet with a HC bootloader and an ICS ROM, since I would not have had the time to change it.

I thought of this: what if I wipe my ROM before rolling back my bootloader? Well, the problem in this case will be that I might not have CWM upon doing so to flash a Honeycomb ROM afterwards. Am I wrong?

By the way, can I use EUUS instead of the procedure in OP? I read on tegraowners.com that it's supposed to be only used as last resort, so I'm reluctant...

Sorry if I already asked this before, I don't remember. ^^

meduza · Aug 14, 2012

Hi, ReptorX,,

but when you return to the HC boot loader - for example using afterota - you have to flash the update.zip which brings you the stock ROM (HC 3.0.1). The flash procedure has to be done by pressing vol-/power button becouse there will be no CWM after downgrading.
m.

Raptor.X · Aug 14, 2012

Thanks for the reply, but it seemed to me that AfterOTA works only on Stock ROMs, and I'm currently using MD's Evil Alex so I suppose I should not use it. Am I wrong?
By the way, where can I get a valid update.zip file?

meduza · Aug 14, 2012

For me AFTEROTA worked with Civato`s and with TEGRAOWNERS ROM too... . But maybe it does not always... .

In AFTEROTA in the downgrading section there are links to the update.zip. If it doesn't work I could send you a private link.

m.

dibb_nz · Aug 14, 2012

Raptor.X said:
Hello again everyone,

I'm currently running on ICS patched bootloader V8 + Thor's CWM + Moscow Desire's Evil Alex, and I would like to return to a Honeycomb Stock ROM.

The problem is, if I follow your OP's procedure, I will flash a Honeycomb bootloader but will have my tablet with a HC bootloader and an ICS ROM, since I would not have had the time to change it.

I thought of this: what if I wipe my ROM before rolling back my bootloader? Well, the problem in this case will be that I might not have CWM upon doing so to flash a Honeycomb ROM afterwards. Am I wrong?

running the v8 bootloader on an HC rom wont hurt - in fact JudgM3ntal has returned to stock doing just that!! and I confirm it worked for me

Get hold of a stock HC 3.1 a501 rom zip and flash it - the 3,1 BL isnt locked down like 3.2 once back at 3.1 take the OTA to 3.2 once thats done you will have stock recovery and stock rom - and you can OTA to ICS
admittedly we both have a500's but i see no reason why it wont work for the a501!!!

By the way, can I use EUUS instead of the procedure in OP? I read on tegraowners.com that it's supposed to be only used as last resort, so I'm reluctant...

Sorry if I already asked this before, I don't remember. ^^

hehehe yes it can be a bit like that m8......
THe EUU process is fairly straightforward and takes about 10 mins - shorter than what it does to download - Its a last resort cos it wipes all your data, requires yr cpuid and a pc with working adb - JudgM3NT4Ls method can be done from your tab - i would say tho the only problem that you may run into is not getting the OTA to get to stock 3.2 but all wont be lost as youll still have cwm and fastboot

the EUU and stock roms are in vaches thread if the links are down which they may be cos acer has taken some of the roms offline - im sure someone in the 501rom thread can help you out

EDIT: I could only find this stock rom:

Acer_A501_1.309.02_COM_GEN1 d/l link

and an EUU:

EUU_SBK_Acer_A501_0.017.01_PA_ATTd/l link here

both from blackthund3rs rom thread here

unrar the file and extract - rename to update.zip if it isnt already
if u get an error extracting then you need to decrypt the file first using the decrypter tool from herehttp://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1099673 You may get an alert from your av about the zip, its a false positve - my pc suffered no ill affects and no-one else has reported any either

As you can see, getting the info and download links is the hardest and most time consuming part of the whole thing (heck, it took me half an hour and i knew what to look for and where to look for it!!!) - but now its all done for you ..aint i nice

albiGib · Aug 14, 2012

Ok, so I'm on Alexandra 3 and I want to flash the latest ics version, catch is i have no pc...
So how do I do all this bootloader upgrade and flashing business from my tab itself?? Thanks

Sent from my A501 using XDA Premium HD app

dibb_nz · Aug 14, 2012

albiGib said:
Ok, so I'm on Alexandra 3 and I want to flash the latest ics version, catch is i have no pc...
So how do I do all this bootloader upgrade and flashing business from my tab itself?? Thanks
Sent from my A501 using XDA Premium HD app

U can flash a rom via yr tab in cwm
U can also flash a kernel this way too
U can also flash a higher version of the BL if u already have v4+
But for the first time install of the patched BL you need to do it via PC, windows or linux

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

YeeP · Aug 17, 2012

civato said:
Quote:
WHAT IS THIS V8UNLOCKED multi ICS BOOTLOADER

You can install the ICS bootloader using cwm if you are on V4 or V5 , see in this link for the updates and cwm packages.

Civato, I followed your link to here:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1619913

Which then led me to here:
http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=22923662&postcount=9

I am very confused at this point. I am on the
HC bootloader version 3.01
CWM rev1.3.4
FLEXREAPER-RF1_Acer_AV041_A500_1.031_033_041/00_CUS_WW_GEN1

I would like to step to this, but I cannot find the place to d/l the "Patched Bootloader V8: (07/06/2012)". I don't see the link in your post, I don't see it in the boot loader post. What am I missing here?

Eventually I would like to get to the [ROM]ICS 4.0.3 FLEXREAPER-RELIX_rev6/ 4.0.4 ICS RE-FLEXxx-STRYKER/ (13-Aug-2012)3GUSB, but damn, I can't even start on step one of your don't be a chicken guide.

Any help would be much appreciated.

dibb_nz · Aug 17, 2012

YeeP said:
...
What am I missing here?...

but damn, I can't even start on step one of your don't be a chicken guide.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I know its hard not to jump in and start flashing!! but what u need to do is start from the beginning of the guide. Option 2
If u don't do the steps in the order they are listed, you will end up with a bricked tab.
Civ has done it this way so you will have all the info you need to successfully flash the patched bootloader

You'll need your cpuid first and from there your SBK.
You'll need the acer and android drivers installed - as well as the rom you wish to use on your micro sd card....This all has to be done before attempting the flash. These are STeps 1-4.

Then you're ready to attempt Step 6 - take your time and just work thru the steps one at a time and all will be revealed!!!

YeeP · Aug 19, 2012

dibb_nz said:
I know its hard not to jump in and start flashing!! but what u need to do is start from the beginning of the guide. Option 2
If u don't do the steps in the order they are listed, you will end up with a bricked tab.
Civ has done it this way so you will have all the info you need to successfully flash the patched bootloader

You'll need your cpuid first and from there your SBK.
You'll need the acer and android drivers installed - as well as the rom you wish to use on your micro sd card....This all has to be done before attempting the flash. These are STeps 1-4.

Then you're ready to attempt Step 6 - take your time and just work thru the steps one at a time and all will be revealed!!!

Will do, thanks for the response. :cowboy:

yazyazoo · Aug 20, 2012

I am stuck at Step 2 of flashing the tablet.

I was on Thor Rom before for ICS with HC bootloader. I wanted to go to a stock rom by Civato so I took a nandroid first, then flashed the zip with Civato stock and deod rom. Then I flashed for HC bootloader and everything worked but felt it was sluggish.

I decided I wanted to try to get to ICS bootloader. I got the CPU ID from the nandroid I took from Thor's ICS rom with HC bootloader with uid.txt. I have a number like 0x04934048.

I enter that in the tool to get my SBK but it say to check my CPU ID. So I remove the front 0x and just enter the numbers after the 'x' and get a SBK.

Is this where my error is? Should the CPUID include the 0x before the numbers? If so how should I get my correct CPUiD Since I am now on civato stock ICS rom with flahsed for HC bootloader?

Thanks.

dibb_nz · Aug 20, 2012

yazyazoo said:
I am stuck at Step 2 of flashing the tablet.

I was on Thor Rom before for ICS with HC bootloader. I wanted to go to a stock rom by Civato so I took a nandroid first, then flashed the zip with Civato stock and deod rom. Then I flashed for HC bootloader and everything worked but felt it was sluggish.

I decided I wanted to try to get to ICS bootloader. I got the CPU ID from the nandroid I took from Thor's ICS rom with HC bootloader with uid.txt. I have a number like 0x04934048.

I enter that in the tool to get my SBK but it say to check my CPU ID. So I remove the front 0x and just enter the numbers after the 'x' and get a SBK.

Is this where my error is? Should the CPUID include the 0x before the numbers? If so how should I get my correct CPUiD Since I am now on civato stock ICS rom with flahsed for HC bootloader?

Thanks.

U have the wrong cpuid
use a500 manager / apxFlash or afterOTA to get the correct one
Read the guides in my sig how to flash and follow the steps to the letter
U r on shaky ground with what u have done already it may pay to rollback properly with timmydeans v4 its all in my cpuid thread...

[GUIDE]A500/501/G100W-Installing ICS V8 UNL-BL & CWM Or back to HC BL(24-6-2012)

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