Lenovo TAB S8-50 - Stock Firmware ROM/Root and Support
- Thread starter jazzespresso
- Start date
The hardware in this tablet is top notch. Up to this day I am baffled how fast I can briwse and play games and videos on it. Unbelievable that noone has rooted/customized the rom. I don't want to throw it away. Google is going to stop supporting android 4.4.1 soon. This means it will be useless purely because the software doesn't support it anymore even though the hardware still rivals new ones.
Agreed, outside of the poor stand by battery life and lack of software support it's an awesome but if tech.
Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
I hope we'll still be able to use this device for the next 2 to 5 years on Android 4.4.2...at least for browsing the internet. (if not then we can always use them as spare readers, portable video playback & retro gaming devices).
Android market share in 2019 shows Kitkat holding on at close to 7%. >> https://www.androidauthority.com/android-version-distribution-748439/
I've been using my Tab S8 nearly daily for the last 4 years; still runs perfectly, plus I just replaced the battery yesterday; been rooted and kept on early firmware S000146_141010....and was lucky to grab another broken one which I repaired and kept it around as a spare (lucky it was also on last Andr4.4.2 firmware S000200_150121; also rooted and changed the dpi to 240 to have that great look.).
Amazing old tech with no problems at browsing the internet, viewing videos, and playing some games.
---------
I wouldn't do this but...If you really need another year of support from apps with this tablet, you could always upgrade the tablet manually to Andr 5.01 (from the front page firmware roms).
Android market share in 2019 shows Kitkat holding on at close to 7%. >> https://www.androidauthority.com/android-version-distribution-748439/
I've been using my Tab S8 nearly daily for the last 4 years; still runs perfectly, plus I just replaced the battery yesterday; been rooted and kept on early firmware S000146_141010....and was lucky to grab another broken one which I repaired and kept it around as a spare (lucky it was also on last Andr4.4.2 firmware S000200_150121; also rooted and changed the dpi to 240 to have that great look.).
Amazing old tech with no problems at browsing the internet, viewing videos, and playing some games.
---------
I wouldn't do this but...If you really need another year of support from apps with this tablet, you could always upgrade the tablet manually to Andr 5.01 (from the front page firmware roms).
Last edited:
I upgraded mine to lollipop and rooted it a long time ago. It's not great and the dolby sound is broken but it does extend the version support I suppose
Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
Dont know what ive done to my tablet.I have the s8-50f.Tried flashing the stock image from op.But then it gets stuck at 16% on the "start_partitionin".The tablet reboots and disconnects and some EFI error comes up.Any help.I was on android 5 and decided to flash magisk without unlocking the bootloader which lead to a boot error.Tried flashing and now i have ended up at this stage.Any help.
Hi, i am also with the s8 50l and i want to downgrade the device with the s8 50lc firmware but I can not download it. Can anyone give me a link where i can get it?
Hi Everyone, I'm having trouble flashing the original firmware back to stock,
I'm beginning to think I would rather unlock the bootloader before trying again as the flash tool seems to get to 28% before I get a 'TimeOut' error.
@bailka011 Unlock Tool is unavailable for download in the OP, does anyone have a copy I could download?
Thanks in Advanced
J
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
I'm beginning to think I would rather unlock the bootloader before trying again as the flash tool seems to get to 28% before I get a 'TimeOut' error.
@bailka011 Unlock Tool is unavailable for download in the OP, does anyone have a copy I could download?
Thanks in Advanced
J
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Hi Everyone!
Do netflix and hbo go works on android 4.4? I install both but they dont work. When try to run, I get error message. Can you check on your s8-50 with kitkat?
thanks a lot
Best Regards
---------- Post added at 03:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 PM ----------
Do netflix and hbo go works on android 4.4? I install both but they dont work. When try to run, I get error message. Can you check on your s8-50 with kitkat?
thanks a lot
Best Regards
---------- Post added at 03:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 PM ----------
You can download an older version that will work from Netflix here - https://help.netflix.com/en/node/57688
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 11:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 AM ----------
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 11:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 AM ----------
Did you manage to roll it back? I think I'd like to go back to kit kat for the sound quality
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
I musted update to lolipop, because many apps don work property on kitkat...
Can I install magisk on lolipop instead supersu???
Hi!
My Lenovo s8-50f recently got stuck on the loading screen with the nice Lenovo logo and a message prompted "Boot fail. EFI Hard drive". I've tried to flash it a couple of times with the KK rom from the 1st post of the thread, but every time it failed with the partitiong command (as shown below)
03/15/20 18:28:38.817 INFO : [Port 2/4] Running `"C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe" "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` command
03/15/20 18:30:39.126 WARNING: [Port 2/4] Command `C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` timed out (120 s)
03/15/20 18:30:39.126 INFO : [Port 2/4] Retrying `"C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe" "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` command
03/15/20 18:32:39.464 ERROR : [Port 2/4] Command `C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` timed out (120 s)
03/15/20 18:32:39.464 ERROR : [Port 2/4] Flash failed (Command type: Fastboot)
03/15/20 18:32:39.802 INFO : [Port 2/4] Device lost on 2/4
So i've decided to do some more digging in the thread and i've got into some messages that mentioned something about "bios-repair" archive file (zip, rar), that i just couldn't find active link for. Does anyone have it and will be so kind to reupload it? Maybe this will help to get my Lenovo unstuck... Thanks in advance!
My Lenovo s8-50f recently got stuck on the loading screen with the nice Lenovo logo and a message prompted "Boot fail. EFI Hard drive". I've tried to flash it a couple of times with the KK rom from the 1st post of the thread, but every time it failed with the partitiong command (as shown below)
03/15/20 18:28:38.817 INFO : [Port 2/4] Running `"C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe" "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` command
03/15/20 18:30:39.126 WARNING: [Port 2/4] Command `C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` timed out (120 s)
03/15/20 18:30:39.126 INFO : [Port 2/4] Retrying `"C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe" "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` command
03/15/20 18:32:39.464 ERROR : [Port 2/4] Command `C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Platform Flash Tool Lite\fastboot.exe "-s" "Baytrail00000000" "oem" "start_partitioning"` timed out (120 s)
03/15/20 18:32:39.464 ERROR : [Port 2/4] Flash failed (Command type: Fastboot)
03/15/20 18:32:39.802 INFO : [Port 2/4] Device lost on 2/4
So i've decided to do some more digging in the thread and i've got into some messages that mentioned something about "bios-repair" archive file (zip, rar), that i just couldn't find active link for. Does anyone have it and will be so kind to reupload it? Maybe this will help to get my Lenovo unstuck... Thanks in advance!
Lenovo S8-50 tablet Boot Failed.EFI Hard Drive.
Hello
I have the Lenovo S8-50 tablet without phone (without Sim card). I don't know if it's f, L, or LC
The problem is that upon boot I get the following message: Boot Failed.EFI Hard Drive.
I found in a post the method of flash repaire.
With the software Phone Flash Tool when I start up it reaches 33% and outputs a disconected message.
If you can help me I'll be grateful.
Thanks in advance
Hello
I have the Lenovo S8-50 tablet without phone (without Sim card). I don't know if it's f, L, or LC
The problem is that upon boot I get the following message: Boot Failed.EFI Hard Drive.
I found in a post the method of flash repaire.
With the software Phone Flash Tool when I start up it reaches 33% and outputs a disconected message.
If you can help me I'll be grateful.
Thanks in advance
Anyone has got an idea if this problem may be caused by using a computer with Windows 10 to flash the tablet? I've tried to flash my Lenovo S8 with several Win10 computers and every time it ended up the same start_partitiong timed out -> flash failed
Currently i'm asking my friends/familly if they have got any Win7 running laptop to lend to do some tests with Win7...I kindly request once more for the bios repair archive - if anyone has got it please reupload it...
Thanks a bunch for any ideas/help. Any kind of help is much appreciated :]
repair bios help my
I also need the bios repair if anyone has it and is pleased to let me know.
Thanks in advance
:crying::crying::crying:
I also need the bios repair if anyone has it and is pleased to let me know.
Thanks in advance
:crying::crying::crying:
experimental techniques
Eventually I've found a laptop running with a Win XP OS, and on one of polish android forums some information about flashing the Lenovo s80-50 with a couple of ROM's and some hints about flashing the device - the result is exactly the same - "start_partitioning" command returns "fail" and disconnects the device from the intel platform flash tool....
If anyone want's to try the methods described in the polish forum you can find it under the adress
h t t p s://forum.android.com.pl/topic/307873-poradnik-lenovo-s8-50-root-downgrade-l-lc-unbrick (remember to remove the spaces in the adress)
You can also find a link to the bios_repair archive there under the UNBRICK section in the first post of the thread. I gave up and threw that damn tablet to electronics recycle bin...
Good luck!
Eventually I've found a laptop running with a Win XP OS, and on one of polish android forums some information about flashing the Lenovo s80-50 with a couple of ROM's and some hints about flashing the device - the result is exactly the same - "start_partitioning" command returns "fail" and disconnects the device from the intel platform flash tool....
If anyone want's to try the methods described in the polish forum you can find it under the adress
h t t p s://forum.android.com.pl/topic/307873-poradnik-lenovo-s8-50-root-downgrade-l-lc-unbrick (remember to remove the spaces in the adress)
You can also find a link to the bios_repair archive there under the UNBRICK section in the first post of the thread. I gave up and threw that damn tablet to electronics recycle bin...
Good luck!
Change of philosophy
Hello
I'm thinking of trying if I can change the hard drive. Logically I don't know if I can trace them. If anyone has any knowledge on the subject let us help.
Hello
I'm thinking of trying if I can change the hard drive. Logically I don't know if I can trace them. If anyone has any knowledge on the subject let us help.
Similar threads
Top Liked Posts
-
There are no posts matching your filters.
-
64Lenovo TAB S8-50 - Stock Firmware ROM/Root/emp CWM Session, and Support
Hi All,
I have hard time to figure out since there's no dedicated thread for this tablet. I know you can find couple of posts related to this tablet here in XDA, but again I like all the info for this tablet in one page
My idea here is put all together here in XDA forum, can't promise you that this will be ultimate guide for this tablet, but at least this may help you get started.
By the way; there are 3 models of the TAB S8-50:
Lenovo Official Stock Firmwares
Root Methods
Installing Temp CWM Session
How to flash stock firmware
Additional Info
P.s: The last firmware upgrade (build 141203) that Lenovo pushed changes tablet's default DPI 240 to 320. If you happened to get upgrade before root, re-root it and then modify build.prop's to ro.sf.lcd_density=240. The 240 is tablet native default DPI. There's no word when Lenovo officially fix this, see official lenovo user forum below:
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Other-Android-based-Tablets/Re-Tab-s8-50-Latest-update-changes-resolution/td-p/1825209
Update: 01-28-2015 11:06 AM
Here's one of the stupidest respond from Lenovo Tech Support about their screwed up DPI - this simply tells you that they will keep 320 DPI for any new upcoming updates. Now, why they do this!?, we don't know nor they are giving any technical explanation, but we all know that original native DPI of this tablet is 240.
Increasing Headset Volume
Increasing Headset Volume
A few of you complain about how low the headset volume, to increase it a bit, see the instruction here in this post;
Increasing Headset Volume Mode by me
Additional Lenovo Apps
Using Xposed Framework
Help/Support/Troubleshoot
If you find this thread helpful, please click THANKS button
.
.14Accessing the Lenovo TAB S8-50 UEFI Setup
Accessing the Lenovo TAB S8-50 UEFI Setup :
You will need the following in order to access and navigate the uefi setup :
- USB OTG Cable
- Powered USB Hub
note : I tried 4 powered usb hubs and 2 usb-otg cables before finding a pair that work. - efibootmgr binary here : View attachment efibootmgr.zip
note : I did not port efibootmgr simply complied it from source found here.
- Step 1. Extract the View attachment efibootmgr.zip somewhere on you computer and push efibootmgr32 to /data/local/tmp/
Code:adb push efibootmgr32 /data/local/tmp/efibootmgr - Step 2. start an adb shell and navigate to /data/local/tmp
Code:adb shell [email protected]:/ $ cd /data/local/tmp - Step 3. as root change permission of efibootmgr
Code:[email protected]:/data/local/tmp $ su [email protected]:/data/local/tmp # chmod 6755 efibootmgr - Step 4. using efibootmgr
Code:[email protected]:/data/local/tmp # ./efibootmgr -? ./efibootmgr: invalid option -- ? efibootmgr version unknown (fix Makefile!) usage: efibootmgr [options] -a | --active sets bootnum active -A | --inactive sets bootnum inactive -b | --bootnum XXXX modify BootXXXX (hex) -B | --delete-bootnum delete bootnum (hex) -c | --create create new variable bootnum and add to bootorder -D | --delete-by-label delete ALL boot entries with the same label -d | --disk disk (defaults to /dev/sda) containing loader -e | --edd [1|3|-1] force EDD 1.0 or 3.0 creation variables, or guess -E | --device num EDD 1.0 device number (defaults to 0x80) -g | --gpt force disk with invalid PMBR to be treated as GPT -H | --acpi_hid XXXX set the ACPI HID (used with -i) -i | --iface name create a netboot entry for the named interface -l | --loader name (defaults to \elilo.efi) -L | --label label Boot manager display label (defaults to "Linux") -n | --bootnext XXXX set BootNext to XXXX (hex) -N | --delete-bootnext delete BootNext -o | --bootorder XXXX,YYYY,ZZZZ,... explicitly set BootOrder (hex) -O | --delete-bootorder delete BootOrder -p | --part part (defaults to 1) containing loader -q | --quiet be quiet | --test filename don't write to NVRAM, write to filename. -t | --timeout seconds set boot manager timeout waiting for user input. -T | --delete-timeout delete Timeout. -u | --unicode | --UCS-2 pass extra args as UCS-2 (default is ASCII) -U | --acpi_uid XXXX set the ACPI UID (used with -i) -v | --verbose print additional information -V | --version return version and exit -w | --write-signature write unique sig to MBR if needed [email protected] | --append-binary-args file append extra args from file (use "-" for stdin)Code:[email protected]:/data/local/tmp # ./efibootmgr -v BootCurrent: 0000 Timeout: 10 seconds BootOrder: 0000,0001 Boot0000* EFI Hard Drive ACPI(a0341d0,0)PCI(17,0)Controller(0) Boot0001* EFI Internal Shell MM(b,fff68000,fff97fff) - Step 5. set next boot option / power off tablet
note : originally i used efibootmgr -n 0002 for setup but after accessing the setup menu this this boot option was no longer available ?
not sure what happened but maybe someone would be nice enough to post the output of efibootmgr -v for me.
Code:[email protected]:/data/local/tmp # ./efibootmgr -n 0001 BootNext: 0001 BootCurrent: 0000 Timeout: 10 seconds BootOrder: 0000,0001 Boot0000* EFI Hard Drive Boot0001* EFI Internal ShellCode:[email protected]:/data/local/tmp # reboot -p - Step 6. Connect USB OTG cable , powered USB Hub, and keyboard to the tablet and power on.
- Step 7. Exit the EFI Shell by typing exit then hit Enter
- Step 8. Scroll down to Device Manager then hit Enter - Hit Enter again to select System Setup
- Step 9. Scroll down to boot and hit Enter
- Step 10. We need to disable UEFI Fastboot in order to be able to access the setup and boot manager directly from the keyboard.
Scroll down to fastboot and hit Enter arrow up and select disable and the press Enter the hit F4 to save changes.
- Step 11. Hit Esc to return to the Main Setup Menu, Scroll down to Commit Changes the hit Enter, Hit Enter to confirm changes and the device will reboot.
You can now access the UEFI Setup by hitting F2 when powering the tablet on, or you can access the boot manger by pressing F7
In order to boot a traditional Linux distribution or Windows you need to change the OS Selection from Android to Windows 8.x tne the Boot Setup in the UEFI Setup menu.
These instructions are awful.12My custom kernel now in stable stage.
Fully working, but the camera.
I'm looking forward to someone's camera fix.:angel:
(It's time to start CM12.1 or CM13 development!)12Downgrade from LP 5.0 to KK 4.4
Hello,
Since some of you been asking for full translation and files uploaded from Russian Lenovo forums, here it is.
This is not my guide, original site: lenovo-forums.ru
Thanks for VVizard for this guide. Im not responsible for any damage to your equipment. You need to understand what you're doing.
Latest Phone Flash tool version here
Downgrading procedure:
1. Download stock firmware for your tablet. Either it is F, L or LC variants for Phone Flash Tool. This should be original, unmodified stock firmware, not TWRP backup or something.
2. Download the archive TABS8-50_Otkat.rar. Extract this rar to original firmware folder. You need to copy and replace existing files. (Suggestion: You might want to have 2 copies of original firmware, one unmodified, another with this rar extracted, just in case of course)
3. Run Phone Flash Tool
4. Browse -> open the file from the firmware (step 2) -> pft_flash_lte_normal.xml (Dont mind if it says lte, if your tablet is F and you downloaded F firmware it will flash F)
5. Turn off your tablet
6. Enter Fastboot mode. Volume down (-) and power button.
7. Plug tablet to PC, it should be detected by Phone Flash Tool.
8. Click Flash
9. If Phone Flash Tool shows FINISHED - in any way do not disconnect from a computer! Tablet still continues flashing on its own.
10. After couple of restarts tablet should boot as normal.
11. Finished. You can use your tablet with KK firmware now.
12. Don't forget to set Region Code
How to install 5.0 Again:
Via OTA updates all over again, from version S000143
The recovery of the tablet
Perhaps you once wanted to downgrade from 5.0 to 4.4 - and now the tablet doesn't work, error like Boot failed: EFI Hard drive and tablet load Bios but does not start. A little instruction.
1. Downlaod repair_Bios.rar and unzip it to the root of any drive.
2. Run Phone Flash Tool (version 5.2.4)
3. Browse -> open the file from the archive -> flash.xml
4. Turn off the tablet
5. Hold volume buttons (both) and the power button. The tablet should go into Fastboot Starting...
6. Plug tablet to PC, Phone Flash Tool should detect it (Some issues have been reported when plugging into front USB ports, USE ONLY BACK USB PORTS)
7. Click Flash
- Since my tablet is S8-50F, after repair_Bios.rar in droidboot it was determined as S8-50LC. Don't worry, after a full flash everything will fall into place everywhere and will be determined correctly.
- During the firmware repair_Bios.rar long "does nothing". Do not worry, just wait.
9. Use Downgrading procedure to get back to stock KK firmware.
10. Read all instructions carefully
11. Flash a manual roll back from LP 5.0 to KK 4.4.
After 8th paragraph do not turn off Tablet, let it stay in Fastboot Mode until you figure out how to downgrade!
I Hope it will be useful to someone as it was for me.
PS. After downgraded to KK i updated to LP via OTA again. LP build is terrible, even Youtube is lagging after clean installation, everything is buggy, im thinking going back to KK until lenovo releases more OTA's or someone manages to build CM for it12I'll do my best we will see if it will succeed
Wysłane z mojego GT-I9305 przy użyciu Tapatalka
