[FLASHER] [v1.3 - 2014-07-07] FlashCast: Quickly and easily mod your Chromecast
- Thread starter tchebb
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I flashed this and have some questions.
I flashed it over stock 12072. Will this flashcast prevent it from updating? Will it gain root?
I tried to telnet it but it didn't work.
How do I check if flashcast is installed properly?
I flashed it over stock 12072. Will this flashcast prevent it from updating? Will it gain root?
I tried to telnet it but it didn't work.
How do I check if flashcast is installed properly?
You don't actually flash or install Flashcast on your Chromecast, and it does not in and of itself block updates or enable root. FlashCast is just a software tool that you write to a USB drive to allow you to flash files, including rooted firmware images created by others--e.g. the rooted 13300 image here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2453097. It doesn't sound like you used FlashCast to flash that rooted 13300 image because, if you did, you would be able to telnet into your Chromecast.
So why does FlashCast need to flash your chromecast with the original system image? Why can't you stay on tvalls image? It sounds like flashcast is a tool that resides (hidden to you) in the filesystem of your USB drive that just makes it so you don't have to dd anymore. So why remove our system image, and then in order to get our non-updating system image back we need to place it on the USB and rename it to something weird to do a system flash in a "inflexible" way?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
Ok, thanks for your clarification.
Then, now, after flashing flashcast, I can flash the rooted 13300 image using flashcast? How do I do that?
Edit: Flashing the 13300 image right now, thanks for your help!!! /Happy chromecast owner
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Nothing is stopping you from staying on my image. It still works the same as when I released it. (Meaning its a quick hack of the gtvhacker image and surprisingly works fine).
With flashcast, all you have to do is copy a new eurika_image.zip to the dive when their is an update. It is simpler for users (only have to dd once), and it is a much more flexible system for developers. With my crappy images, I was just flashing new system partitions. With flashcast, you can update the system like my images, plus update the kernel and do other awesome stuff like apply single changes to an existing system (look at the unlocater zip).
Oh and there's the fact that my images will likely never be updated again, and if they are it will be using flashcast.
Hit Windows + r and enter diskmgmt.msc. You will see your device somewhere in the list and you can delete the volume and format it again. Just be careful and make sure you really selected your USB stick and not any other partition.
I just realized that I have the firmware version 13300 because I couldn't wait to try out the device and now I am hoping for another possibility to change the DNS servers to watch netflix...
FlashCast doesn't force flash the original system image at all. It only flashes whatever compatible file you put on the drive for it to flash. Right now, there is only one FlashCast-compatible firmware file that can be flashed--the rooted 13300. You can't use FlashCast to flash older tvall releases, and there is no need to do so. FlashCast is a better, more flexible way going forward to facilitate distributing and flashing safe rooted updates based on the official Google ones.
actually I think flashcast can flash my older images. its inflexible and not recommended, but there for backwards compatibility. if i read the docs right.
Yes, that is correct. If you copy the contents of a GTVHacker FAT partition to a FlashCast drive and there are no FlashCast mods present, FlashCast will do the same thing as the GTVHacker image does.
Hi everyone, was wondering if any tell me which usb cable i need?
1. http://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Micro-USB-OTG-Cable/dp/B005GGBYJ4/ref=pd_cp_pc_2
2. http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Cable-Power-Nexus-Galaxy/dp/B00CXAC1ZW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1
Thanks in advance and sorry for the noob question lol
1. http://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Micro-USB-OTG-Cable/dp/B005GGBYJ4/ref=pd_cp_pc_2
2. http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Cable-Power-Nexus-Galaxy/dp/B00CXAC1ZW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1
Thanks in advance and sorry for the noob question lol
Hmmm ran flashcast v1 ...
it seemed to do the job but now the chromecast has rebooted and it's just stuck on "starting chromecast" and a black screen.
... Ignore that... It seems it got stuck on the first flash.... Just ran through the process again .. Still stuck so copied the V1.1 image on to the usb and reflashed.
It's a alive again.
it seemed to do the job but now the chromecast has rebooted and it's just stuck on "starting chromecast" and a black screen.
... Ignore that... It seems it got stuck on the first flash.... Just ran through the process again .. Still stuck so copied the V1.1 image on to the usb and reflashed.
It's a alive again.
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can you please post the link for the powered OTG cable from Amazon
edit: found it, thank you though
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Hello,
Just out of curiosity does the Micro-USB OTG cable etc. remain connected for the chromecast to function after the flash is completed? Trying to see if I can just borrow a cable as opposed to ordering one.
thanks...good work I'm looking forward to playing around with this.
Just out of curiosity does the Micro-USB OTG cable etc. remain connected for the chromecast to function after the flash is completed? Trying to see if I can just borrow a cable as opposed to ordering one.
thanks...good work I'm looking forward to playing around with this.
If you want to use FlashCast to flash a mod, you need the cable. Once you flash a mod which modifies the internal storage (like a rooted stock image), you don't need to have the cable attached to boot the device normally. However, if at some point in the future you want to flash something else (like an updated rooted image), youl'l need to use the cable again. Unless you have very easy access to a cable you can borrow, I'd suggest you buy one.
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What is it?
FlashCast is a USB image that provides a standardized way to mod your Chromecast. Think of it like a recovery which runs off of a USB drive. No more struggling with the limitations of the GTVHacker image, which is hard to modify and can only flash the /system partition. FlashCast is based on shell scripts, so it you can use it to do anything you can do with a root shell. It also comes with a comprehensive suite of helper functions, so many tasks actually become much easier than they would be using a regular shell.
How do I use it?
If you prefer to follow a video tutorial, @ddggttff3 has made one here. Otherwise, read on for written instructions.
Preparation
Before you begin, you'll need some materials:
- A Chromecast with a vulnerable bootloader. (For the bootloader to be vulnerable, the Chromecast must have never been connected to the internet and have a rootable serial number.)
- The latest version of FlashCast (the download link is at the bottom of this post).
- A USB drive (minimum size 256MB) which you are willing to have erased.
- A powered Micro-USB OTG cable such as this one. (Alternatively, an unpowered USB hub and unpowered OTG cable can be used as shown here. I have not tested this method and cannot help you if your USB drive is not detected.)
Installation
Once you've gathered everything required, you can install FlashCast to your USB drive. To do so, you need to write the .bin file contained in the FlashCast .zip file you've downloaded to your drive. Simply using a file explorer to drag the .bin file to your USB drive is not correct and will not work. The specifics of doing a low-level write differ depending on OS, but, in general, Linux and OS X users should use dd and Windows users should use Win32DiskImager. This operation will erase your flash drive.
After you've written the .bin file to your USB drive, your computer will no longer recognize a filesystem on it. This is normal. In order for FlashCast to set up the drive's filesystem, you need to boot your Chromecast from the drive. To do this, perform the following steps:
- Connect the male end of your Micro-USB OTG cable to your Chromecast.
- Plug your USB drive into the USB-A female connector of the OTG cable.
- Simultaneously hold the button on your Chromecast and connect the Micro-USB power connector to the female Micro-USB port of the OTG cable.
If FlashCast was copied correctly, you will see a red light on your Chromecast for approximately 9 seconds. It will then turn white and your TV will display a screen containing the FlashCast logo (shown at the top of this post) and various instructions. Once you see this screen, you may release the button. The screen will appear for another 9 seconds or so, after which your Chromecast will reboot on its own to the stock image. After it has rebooted (you may disconnect the power when it starts to boot into the stock image if you're worried about it updating), FlashCast is installed on your USB drive and ready for use. Your device is NOT rooted at this point and can still be updated by Google. To root, you need to flash a mod such as Team Eureka's Eureka-ROM. When you plug the drive into your computer, it should appear as an empty drive which you can copy files to.
Usage
FlashCast-compatible mods are distributed as .zip files. To flash a mod, simply copy it to the USB drive with the name eureka_image.zip. Do NOT use dd as you did in the previous section. If you do, you will have to repeat the whole process. Instead, just copy it onto the drive's filesystem as you would any other file. FlashCast is also capable of flashing a GTVHacker-style raw system image; if there are no native FlashCast mods present and the system image is in a file called Chromecast-Rooted-System-GTVHacker-cj_000-July27-635PM.bin, it will be flashed. This method of flashing is very inflexible and is not recommended.
How do I develop for it?
If you are interested in creating mods for FlashCast, please see the developer thread.
Who made it?
FlashCast is based on a generic Buildroot Linux image. Its mod framework was written entirely by me, but I couldn't have done it without the help of various individuals. Thanks, @cj_000, for helping me and putting up with my stupid questions in IRC. And thank you, @tvall, for releasing your update-free images so promptly up until now. Without those, FlashCast would have a much smaller potential user base.
Where do I get it?
Downloads and source code are available at FlashCast's GitHub repository. The latest version is currently v1.3.10
The initial software which the Chromecast shipped with, build 12072, had a vulnerable bootloader. In all following software versions (12840, 12940, and 13300), the vulnerability is patched and FlashCast can't be used. If your Chromecast has been allowed to access the internet, it will have updated itself and will not be vulnerable. If you have not set up your Chromecast and it still has the software from the factory, it may or may not be vulnerable, depending on when you bought it. To check, you can plug it in (but not set it up), and check its "Build" in the Chromecast app. Alternatively, you can simply try to boot FlashCast on it. If it's patched, nothing bad will happen; the USB drive will simply fail to boot.5
Have a Tutorial Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRsUuiuWQMM
Not my best work, but was somewhat rushed. Hope that's OK.
Commands Used in CMD:
Code:diskpart list disk select disk * (where * is your jump drive disk number) clean convert mbr create partition primary
Like I said in the video, make sure you select the drive letter of your jump drive! If you select the wrong disk you can accidentally wipe all of the data from your computer. Me, XDA, and team eureka are NOT responsible for any data loss.5
This is just a flashing tool, so all of your questions depend on the ROM you flash. If you flash the 13300 package I made, it will disable updates and enable telnet/adb. If you want updates in the future, just wait for me,or someone else to release a new image once a new update rolls out.
Yes, it means you can change the DNS server chromecast uses. I actually plan on making a flashable zip to do just that in the next few days.
EDIT: Posted the flashable zip in its own thread. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2455888
