Best Rom and Bios for X98 Air III 32GB M5C5 FEB 2016

[mrchrister]

UPDATE MARCH 2018:

I finally converted my Air III tablet from an Android only into a dual boot Win 10 and Android system. I'm using my laptop a lot in the office these days and didn't feel like schlepping it home every day. My Air III is now my home computer.
I'm surprised that it can run one of my favorite games that just came out: "Into the Breach" with no problem. I connected a Apple BT mouse and it's a cool little portable system for Indie games. Other ones I tested that run well are Shovel Knight, Super Meat Boy, Celeste and FTL. As a gamepad I use an Amazon FireTV controller that I link up through BT.

For those of you who still tinker with this tablet, here are some instructions to get dual boot working:

1. Install Mirek190's v7 rom for Air 3g. Copy the 6GB partition table and also the "boot-air3-m5c5-moded - boot.img" (extra download from mirek) to the ROM folder. For your convenience, here is a ready to flash version for the Air III, already modified with the right boot.img and 6GB partition table: https://mega.nz/#!5xMVgRyC!gHfvg3L3kXzL-NOFfTHvk4_nalKRM-io8DtnGhRCUXU

2. DOWNGRADE YOUR BIOS! - This took me a while to figure out. 2.05 is still the best bios to use for Android only but if you want Win10, downgrade to 1.00. 2.05 Bios does not work for dual booting on Air III.
This is not without risk, but I confirm that the following link to the 1.00 bios worked for me: https://mega.nz/#!VgMWVZjZ!SgSzryJkn89RWMidg_Um8Ab1wgDnZ8JWGwgK-yR2dj8
Unzip the contents of the folder to c:\update_android - If you have Mirek190 v7 installed it will have Supersu and USB debugging already enabled for you. Execute c:\update_android\android\Update_Android.bat with the tablet booted to Android. Note that there is two Update_Android.bat files. Makes sure to use the one in c:\update_android\android\

3. After the successful flash, connect a powered usb hub to the tablet via OTG cable. Connect a keyboard and USB stick to the hub. Follow instructions from Techtablets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLjayeQJg4Q
In order for a successful Windows 10 install you need Rufus and a 32bit copy of Windows 10. I used en_windows_10_enterprise_x86_dvd_6851156.iso. Create the USB key with Rufus and make sure to choose GPT partitioning.

4. After everything is set up, install drivers for Win10 Air 3G from Techtablets

5. Android should have around 5GB of space and Windows will end up with 15GB of free space. It's good practice to install software to an external SD. Especially WIn10 can run out of space quickly with all the updates it loves doing.

Hope this helps someone

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ORIGINAL POST FEB 2016


Hey guys,

I just installed the following bios and rom to my Air III M5C5. I switched back from Windows because Windows was somehow buggy and didn't have much to offer for tablets:
I followed Kuba's advice ( http://techtablets.com/forum/topic/best-rom-for-x98-iii-m5c5/#post-25075 ) about best rom and bios for M5C5:


DOWNLOAD ROM https://mega.nz/#!8s92TbCR!w-vVyqbnqVf3p3YJP_obj2xRm_7f7sx9YMqVhLm4hXA
DOWNLOAD BIOS http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=65166671&postcount=87 (thanks to skubidoo)
You will also need Mirek's ROM: http://techtablets.com/wpfb-file/x98_air_2_android_5-0_mirek190_v5-0-ultra-light-7z/

I can confirm my X98 works better than ever! Both cameras are working and the device feels snappier than the original Teclast Android rom that came with my device. The rom is the official Teclast X98 Air III rom for recently shipped devices. Thanks to guvno for making this available to everybody! I first thought I will install the debloated Google Now rom for the air iii but since this is based on the original Teclast rom that I used to run, it wouldn't have been an improvement in terms of speed.


Here's how to install the ROM

PREFERRED METHOD TO GET THE RIGHT BATTERY DISPLAY:
- Prepare guznos rom for MFT:
Go to folder "X98_Air_2_android_5.0_mirek190_v7.0-ultra-light" - "ROM-backup"
Copy and replace droidboot.img, efilinux-userdebug.efi, flash-full_with_REPARTITION.xml and installer.cmd to the guzno folder.
- Install MFT software following tecknight's tutorial (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=62823546&postcount=6)
- Now start MFT and select "flash-full_with_REPARTITION.xml" from the guzno folder.

ALTERNATIVE METHOD:
- Install the drivers IntelAndroidDrvSetup1.10.0.exe and IntelDnXUSBDriverSetup.exe in Win7 from "X98+Air+III(M5C5)+-+guvno"
- I put my device in DNX mode (holding down vol up, vol down and power when tablet is switched off)
- Used the batch file "flash_rom.bat" from "X98+Air+III(M5C5)+-+guvno" which then installed a freshly rooted rom of android.


Here's how to install the BIOS

I downloaded X98_Air_2_android_5.0_mirek190_v7.0-ultra-light, replaced /data/BIOS/2-05.bin with the one from the above mentioned link (https://mega.nz/#!dYxVTQrL!J9h-bk-hWzE80UK2MSzRd2CBiAoYY8TF6XXr-JwpgdU). Then I launched FLASH_tool_Teclast_x98_air_devices-v3.0, hit 4, then hit 2 and select 2.05. IMPORTANT Make sure you select only this version and make sure you replaced the right file. Be very careful with this step because if you accidentally flash the bios from the Air II to your Air III, it can brick your device!
For me, it worked correctly and updated my M5C5 to the most recent BIOS. You can tell because the tablet doesnt start up displaying chinese letters anymore but instead showing the latin letters TECLAST

If you want to keep your Windows installation I believe you have to change partition.tbl but not sure how this would work. I'm Android only now.

 

[heino69]

please can you post a screenshot of the device versions (Android Version, Kernel-, Build-Number, etc.)?

Thanks,

 

[SkubiDoo]

Android 5.0, build number is V1.00_20151204, kernel version 3.10.2 (December 7th 2015 10:50:43 CST).

This version is already with root

 

[vicape92]

This rom works really great but the notification bar is flickering in some apps, someone has the same problem?

Enviado desde mi X98 Air III(M5C5) mediante Tapatalk

 

[Durete]

This rom works really great but the notification bar is flickering in some apps, someone has the same problem?

Enviado desde mi X98 Air III(M5C5) mediante Tapatalk

Yes, I'm returning to Sikke1's Rom because the flicker annoys me

I tried mixing Clean Rom+System.img from Sikke1's Rom and is working very good, but unfortunately the rear camera is upside down.

 

[mrchrister]

I haven't noticed any flicker yet...which apps are you guys talking about?

 

[heino69]

Android 5.0, build number is V1.00_20151204, kernel version 3.10.2 (December 7th 2015 10:50:43 CST).

This version is already with root

Thanks, same like my stock

and yes, i have the same issue with flickering notification bar...

 

[Azci]

Thanks, same like my stock

and yes, i have the same issue with flickering notification bar...

Try to disable gravitybox if you are using it. That helped for me on the flickering issue on mirek's v7.0 rom

 

[rionline]

So is this new stock rom worth switching? what about ui fluididy and battery calibration problems? has anyone tested it, who really does know the problems of the other available roms?

greetings

 

[vicape92]

So is this new stock rom worth switching? what about ui fluididy and battery calibration problems? has anyone tested it, who really does know the problems of the other available roms?

greetings

Hi, I installed the ROM two days ago and seems to work all ok more fluid and stable

Enviado desde mi X98 Air III(M5C5) mediante Tapatalk

---------- Post added at 04:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------

Try to disable gravitybox if you are using it. That helped for me on the flickering issue on mirek's v7.0 rom

There isn't gravitybox into that ROM as mirek's, so thank you for your reply, if i found how to solve it, i will write here

Enviado desde mi X98 Air III(M5C5) mediante Tapatalk

 

[heino69]

Right, there is no gravitybox in stock ROM.

The battery status is fine for me, the only thing which is not 100% OK for me (beside this flickering) is the touch screen sensitivity.
Some times a have to touch twice for reaction - is this normal for this screen?

 

[mrchrister]

battery is reporting the correct values and i don't seem to have the flickering problem. i'm very happy with my Air III now, it's a big improvement in UI responsiveness to the original one. i didn't notice any problems with sensitivity...

 

[guvno]

Hey guys,

I just installed the following bios and rom to my Air III M5C5. I switched back from Windows because Windows was somehow buggy and didn't have much to offer for tablets:
I followed Kuba's advice about best rom and bios for M5C5:

http://techtablets.com/forum/topic/best-rom-for-x98-iii-m5c5/#post-25075

I can confirm my X98 works better than ever! Both cameras are working and the device feels snappier than the original Teclast Android rom that came with my device. The rom is the official Teclast X98 Air III rom for recently shipped devices. Thanks to guvno for making this available to everybody! I first thought I will install the debloated Google Now rom for the air iii but since this is based on the original Teclast rom that I used to run, it wouldn't have been an improvement in terms of speed.

Here's how I installed Android:
- I installed the drivers IntelAndroidDrvSetup1.10.0.exe and IntelDnXUSBDriverSetup.exe in Win7 from "X98+Air+III(M5C5)+-+guvno"
- I put my device in DNX mode (holding down vol up, vol down and power when tablet is switched off)
- Used the batch file "flash_rom.bat" from "X98+Air+III(M5C5)+-+guvno" which then installed a freshly rooted rom of android.

Then I downloaded X98_Air_2_android_5.0_mirek190_v7.0-ultra-light, replaced /data/BIOS/2-05.bin with the one from the above mentioned link (https://mega.nz/#!dYxVTQrL!J9h-bk-hWzE80UK2MSzRd2CBiAoYY8TF6XXr-JwpgdU). Then I launched FLASH_tool_Teclast_x98_air_devices-v3.0, hit 4, then hit 2 and select 2.05. It updated the M5C5 to the most recent BIOS. You can tell because the tablet doesnt start up displaying chinese letters anymore but instead showing the latin letters TECLAST

If you want to keep your Windows installation I believe you have to change partition.tbl but not sure how this would work. I'm Android only now.

Glad this ROM was usefull to more than just myself. Thanks to ionioni and hordarian for the adb commands on dumping and packaging the dump files to a flash package.
I myself was using custom ROMs until one of my units came with a clean AOSP ROM which this is. Finally Teclast has started to supply their customers with this instead of their bloated versions. All manufacturers should do this IMO. Release their own customized version to the general public but give the tekkies a clean AOSP version to play with ☺

 

[bosondehiggs]

For me the best rom is android 4.4 mirek version or other.
With android 5.0 battery drain so fast, just try android 4.4
My bios is dualboot V1.00. (m5c5)

 

[mrchrister]

i noticed the flickering notification bar today in google photos and tapatalk when scrolling. clearing notifications seemed to get rid of the problem. considering all the problems i had with tablet in the past ( battery drainage, random freezes, screen unresponsive, slow scrolling, lagging, constant driver installations and updates in win10) this wont bug me much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[heino69]

Android 5.0, build number is V1.00_20151204, kernel version 3.10.2 (December 7th 2015 10:50:43 CST).

This version is already with root

Just to complete the picture:
The BIOS Version is:
Project Verion: tPAD 2.05
Core Version: 5.008
Build Date: 09/18/2015

Right?

 

[mrchrister]

You can fix the flicker by checking "disable hw overlays" in developer options. It doest seem to have major disadvantages turning this on from what I gathered...you basically force the use of the GPU for screen compositing which might free up the CPU but might have some unwanted side effects like obstructed image rendering. I think you have to turn it back on after restart or use a script like this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-4/help/disable-hw-overlays-force-gpu-rendering-t2227089/page2

Sent from my X98 Air III(M5C5) using Tapatalk

 

[0czko]

Can I flash this rom over sikke1's debloated rom without any issue? Because sikke1 rom has 100MB cache partition and 1GB data size. Does this matter?

 

[mrchrister]

Can I flash this rom over sikke1's debloated rom without any issue? Because sikke1 rom has 100MB cache partition and 1GB data size. Does this matter?

If you use the flash ROM batch file with the standard partition table it will completely reset your tablet. So no, it shouldn't matter. I had windows installed and it just repartitioned the tablet.

Sent from my X98 Air III(M5C5) using Tapatalk

 

[seno1963]

Someone I can tell you if the TECLAST does OTA updates, or where you can see the latest versions of TECLAST ?

Thank you