[S905x] Help with Mi Box (Android TV MDZ-16-AB) Bootloader Unlock And Root

ReelFiles · Sep 7, 2017

jhcomputerguy said:
Yes supposedly one came out in august that mentioned hdr.

Oh, nice. In that case, ditto on that link. It would be much appreciated

REELpain941 · Sep 7, 2017

Looks like the update just went live

Scratch that it wasn't 7.0 that it updated to

coffenat · Sep 9, 2017

for linux users

figured this would help linux users , just evilpotatos script , modified a little

#!/bin/bash
echo 'make sure you have flashed the userdebug version or this will not work'
echo 'remember this is a tethered root'
echo 'diabling automatic updates'
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$ActiveReceiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$Receiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$SecretCodeReceiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateActivity
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdatePanoActivity
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService$Receiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService$SecretCodeReceiver
echo 'starting root , remounting file systems'
adb root
adb remount /
adb remount
echo 'pushing superSu'
adb shell mkdir /system/app/SuperSU
adb shell mkdir /system/bin/.ext
adb push common/Superuser.apk /system/app/SuperSU/SuperSU.apk
adb push common/install-recovery.sh /system/etc/install-recovery.sh
adb push armv7/su /system/xbin/su
adb push armv7/su /system/xbin/daemonsu
adb push armv7/su /system/bin/.ext/.su
adb push armv7/supolicy /system/xbin/supolicy
adb push armv7/libsupol.so /system/lib/libsupol.so
adb shell touch /system/etc/.installed_su_daemon
adb shell mv /system/bin/app_process32 /system/bin/app_process32_original
adb shell mv /system/bin/app_process /system/bin/app_process_original
echo 'adjusting permisions'
adb shell chmod 0644 /system/app/SuperSU/SuperSU.apk /system/lib/libsupol.so /system/etc/.installed_su_daemon
adb shell chmod 0755 /system/etc/install-recovery.sh /system/xbin/su /system/bin/.ext/.su /system/xbin/daemonsu /system/xbin/supolicy
adb shell chcon u

bject_r:system_file:s0 /system/app/SuperSU/SuperSU.apk /system/xbin/su /system/bin/.ext/.su /system/xbin/daemonsu
adb shell chcon u

bject_r:system_file:s0 /system/xbin/supolicy /system/lib/libsupol.so /system/etc/.installed_su_daemon
adb shell chcon u

bject_r:zygote_exec:s0 /system/bin/app_process32_original
adb shell chcon u

bject_r:zygote_exec:s0 /system/bin/app_process_original'
echo 'linking files'
adb shell rf -f /system/bin/recovery-install.sh
adb shell ln -s /system/etc/install-recovery.sh /system/bin/install-recovery.sh
adb shell ln -s /system/xbin/daemonsu /system/bin/app_process
adb shell ln -s /system/xbin/daemonsu /system/bin/app_process32
echo 'finishing the install of supersu'
adb shell su --install
echo 'setting up tether needs root to make it automatic just plug it in and itll do what it needs to do to boot

'
echo 'ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="18d1",ATTRS{idProduct}=="4e12",RUN+="~/minit.sh"'> ./minit.rules
sudo mv ./minit.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/minit.rules
sudo chmod 0755 /etc/udev/rules.d/minit.rules
cd ~
echo '#!/bin/bash' > minit.sh
echo 'adb wait-for-device' >> minit.sh
echo 'adb root' >> minit.sh
echo 'adb remount /' >> minit.sh
echo 'adb remount' >> minit.sh
echo "adb shell 'setenforce 0'" >> minit.sh
sudo chmod 0777 ./minit.sh
echo 'root complete just remember to plug this device in during boot , or another device with adb and launch'
echo "adb root;adb shell 'setenforce 0'"

RavenII · Sep 10, 2017

So...after what seems like a million pages....does the AB mi Box have root or not?

VivaLaVent · Sep 14, 2017

Rooting and installing SuperSU tutorial

I have been browsing this forum for hours now, and here is my tutorial for those who want working SuperSU on their MDZ-16-AB Mi Box 3. Warning: since the bootloader isn't unlockable yet, you will have to connect a laptop to run some commands EVERY TIME YOU BOOT UP THE MI BOX. Luckily, this doesn't apply to waking up from standby mode, so as long as you keep your Mi Box plugged in and don't power it off, you'll be fine.

You will need:

A USB male to male cable (I made one myself soldering two cable plugs together)
Mi Box Marshmallow userdebug firmware ROM (this guide will not work if you are already on Nougat test build)
SuperSU installation files
The ability to use adb on your computer

The steps:

Put the downloaded userdebug firmware ROM on a FAT32 formatted drive.
Enable developer options on the Mi Box. This can be done in your settings, find "About" and then click on "build" 7 times to enable the developer options. It will confirm you've done this with an on-screen toast notification.
Connect the Mi Box to your computer and check if a device comes up when typing "adb devices" in command prompt. If not, wait for the Mi Box to display a dialogue confirming you want to allow adb on this computer.
Type "adb reboot recovery" to put the Mi Box in recovery mode. Once in recovery, unhook the cable and plug in your usb, click "Apply update from EXT" then "Update from udisk" and select MiBOX3_USA_once_r454.zip, then just let the update do it's thing.
Reboot the device. Once we're back, see if the box is still under adb devices.

Now run these commands:

Code:

adb root
adb remount
adb disable-verity
adb reboot

The device will reboot. Once it's rebooted, run these commands to disable OTA updates (otherwise it will immediately update to an unrootable firmware

Code:

adb root
adb remount
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$ActiveReceiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$Receiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateService$SecretCodeReceiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateActivity
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdatePanoActivity
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService$Receiver
adb shell pm disable com.google.android.gsf/.update.SystemUpdateService$SecretCodeReceiver
adb reboot

Wait for the device to reboot. Now we've disabled OTA updates we can install SuperSU. Unzip the SuperSU installer and run the installer BAT script. When the script is done, it will seem as if the device is bootlooping. From now on, this will happen EVERY TIME THE DEVICE BOOTS. Below are the steps you should perform to get your device to boot in SuperSU-rooted state.

While the bootanimation is running, keep executing "adb devices" until your device is in the list.
Once the Mi Box is in the adb devices list, type "adb root" and press enter. your device will be disconnected from adb again.
Keep executing "adb devices" again until the Mi Box reappears. When it's there, type "adb shell setenforce 0"
All these steps are performed while the bootanimation is playing. The device will boot shortly after the last command is executed. Be patient as it can take a while for the device to re-enter the adb devices list.

geoflavio01 · Sep 18, 2017

bzz11g said:
try make factory reset from recovery
in recovery you must use usb mouse

Use 5G WiFi work for me. Try.

Enviado desde mi HTC 10 mediante Tapatalk

eried1 · Sep 19, 2017

calishooter said:
Does anyone know how to unroot this? Thanks.

I'd also be interested in this. I only want root enabled for a couple of days to tweak a few settings and then unroot. Think it's too much a piece of work having to enter "setenforce 0" via a laptop every time power is off.

VivaLaVent · Sep 19, 2017

eried1 said:
I'd also be interested in this. I only want root enabled for a couple of days to tweak a few settings and then unroot. Think it's too much a piece of work having to enter "setenforce 0" via a laptop every time power is off.

The point is that the commands are required because the system partition is altered, the only way to "unroot" would be to reflash stock, thus undoing the modifications. Until the bootloader can be unlocked, this is all we can do.

RavenII · Sep 20, 2017

VivaLaVent said:
I have been browsing this forum for hours now, and here is my tut....

Thank. You!

Just one question, if the box that I just bought updated to the latest firmware OTA, will this still work? or do you HAVE to be on an older version?

VivaLaVent · Sep 20, 2017

RavenII said:
Thank. You!

Just one question, if the box that I just bought updated to the latest firmware OTA, will this still work? or do you HAVE to be on an older version?

Yes it will work, since the newer version can only be installed manually or ofc if you are a beta tester.

RavenII · Sep 20, 2017

VivaLaVent said:
Yes it will work, since the newer version can only be installed manually or ofc if you are a beta tester.

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you.

VivaLaVent · Sep 20, 2017

RavenII said:
You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you.

I wish people were this kind to me irl lol. Anyways, the method Is'nt mine, I just added all the pieces together

RavenII · Sep 20, 2017

VivaLaVent said:
I wish people were this kind to me irl lol. Anyways, the method Is'nt mine, I just added all the pieces together

Yeah, just the fact that you did that is enough for me, man. I mean, really this thread is a damn mess.

Side note...where do I get the stock rom if I ever wanted to revert?

VivaLaVent · Sep 20, 2017

RavenII said:
Yeah, just the fact that you did that is enough for me, man. I mean, really this thread is a damn mess.

Side note...where do I get the stock rom if I ever wanted to revert?

In theory just flash the userdebug ROM I provided, it will then OTA to the stock ROM from there (after disabling any modifications and re-enabling the OTA services, same commands just type enable instead of disable).

Unfortunately the OTA wouldn't come through for me, I have found the only reliable way to have your device egible for OTA again is to also factory reset :/

RavenII · Sep 20, 2017

VivaLaVent said:
In theory just flash the userdebug ROM I provided, it will then OTA to the stock ROM from there (after disabling any modifications and re-enabling the OTA services, same commands just type enable instead of disable).

Unfortunately the OTA wouldn't come through for me, I have found the only reliable way to have your device egible for OTA again is to also factory reset :/

Oh, ok, so a standard factory reset will still revert everything (sys partition, etc. etc.) back to normal...that's fine with me. Thanks again for all the help, I appreciate it.

VivaLaVent · Sep 20, 2017

RavenII said:
Oh, ok, so a standard factory reset will still revert everything (sys partition, etc. etc.) back to normal...that's fine with me. Thanks again for all the help, I appreciate it.

A factory reset after flashing the userdebug rom, that is.

EDIT: Wanted to add that considering all these things it's not really worth it to root the Box imho, but that doesn't make my guide any less functional, it's still the only way to get root of you REALLY need it, which, again, I think is better without for me personally.

RavenII · Sep 21, 2017

J-Pod · Sep 23, 2017

Another Mi Box Nougat Firmware leak:

All credit goes to wrxtasy who posted the below on the kodi.tv forums and I am just reposting:

Another Mi Box Nougat Firmware leak:

WARNING - this Beta Firmware will break all Youtube playback.

Android Nougat Beta Build 1035 Aug 2017

Pre requisites, some sort of USB Hub and a Wireless USB or physical Keyboard attached.

- Save to a Fat32 formatted USB Stick
- Whilst plugging in Power Cord - hold down remote Back & large OK buttons to enter Recovery
- Update from EXT and select your USB - once-user 7.0 NBD92G 1035 release-keys.zip file
- Reboot

WARNING - this Beta Firmware will break all Youtube playback.

Once you upgrade to Nougat you cannot downgrade back to Marshmallow.

However you can downgrade to the previous - pretty stable Nougat Beta Firmware if Youtube is really needed:

Previous Nougat Beta Firmware

TIPS:
Double Pressing the Small Center Button activates the quick Apps Switcher/Killer

Observations:

HD Netflix with 5.1 Audio works (I have a DD+ capable TV)
5.1 AC3 Passthrough in Kodi Krypton works
No Kodi dynamic refresh switching disappointingly.
Nougat is at least 2X faster than Marshmallow - the remote is now ultra responsive Smile
Apparently 4K HDR Netflix works - I have only tested 4K but not HDR.
Casting H264 video seems improved (apart from Youtube)

And one last time:
WARNING - this Beta Firmware will break all Youtube playback.
All credit goes to wrxtasy who posted the above on the kodi.tv forums and I am just reposting

If posting like this is not ok, moderators please let me know.

James101 · Sep 23, 2017

THanks!
Does this break the Youtube app? or breaks kodi addons that stream from Youtube or both???

J-Pod · Sep 23, 2017

James101 said:
THanks!
Does this break the Youtube app? or breaks kodi addons that stream from Youtube or both???

The YouTube app on the mibox itself as far as I know. I don't know about casting YouTube to it though. I don't know about any Kodi additions either.

[S905x] Help with Mi Box (Android TV MDZ-16-AB) Bootloader Unlock And Root

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