Malata Zpad T2

[kank_fraud]

After searching for ages, I stumbled upon a solution for my tablet. Although all GTab ROMS work in the Zpad, I haven't been able to use the full 1GB RAM present in my Zpad.

So Finally today I stumbled upon a solution posted in slatedroid by Micky.

Instead of flashing the Viewsonic ROM to start with, we need to flash this ROM instead.

After you download the ROM from the link above, search for the TeamDRH CWM 5.5.0.4 and download. Extract the RAR file and replace the recovery.img in the folder with the TeamDRH CWM, cuz the one in the ROM is too old and doesn't support the latest ROMs.

[Note: If you want a larger system partition, follow this.
Open the file flash.cfg and find this no. 209715200 and replace it with this no.419430400
Now when you flash this ROM, you will get a system partition of 400MB.
If you use this method, you don't need to delete any system files after install from the ROM.]

Reboot the tab to CWM and wipe data/factory reset and wipe dalvik cache. Twice.

Shutdown and reboot to APX mode and connect to PC

NV Flash the ROM, let it boot and then shutdown.

Now to flash Jelly Bean.

Download Smoother Bean by nobe1976

Then boot the tablet to CWM

Again wipe data/factory reset and wipe dalvik cache. Twice just to be sure.

Flash the Smoother Bean zip file

Do not wipe data/factory reset or wipe dalvik cache this time.

Just reboot

Let it boot and run for a few minutes.

[Optional: Now install an app from play store to delete system apps and also a keyboard, Swipe or as such.

Open the system app remover and uninstall Gmail and AOSP Keyboard.

A few more apps can also be uninstalled, such as wallpapers, DSP Manager, Music FX, but not all.

Before deleting the AOKP Keyboard, you can copy it from the system folder if you want the stock keyboard. LatinIME.apk file.

(This does not apply if you modify the flash.cfg for larger system partition)
We need to uninstall these apps cuz after flashing with the above ROM, the system partition is only 209MB, so after flashing JB, we get around 5-6 MB free in the system partition. After uninstalling the apps, we get around 34 MB free.]

Hats off to nobe1976. He is able to develop a JB ROM that can be installed in a 200 MB system partition.

Well after everything, I hope whoever tried this in their MALATA Zpad is able to see full 1GB RAM, or around 850 MB approx.

[After this succesfull experiment, I would like to request a developer to kindly help us modify the system partition of the above ROM to 350 MB or more if possible.

Its a small request from us Zpad users.
(Note: From the help of all the users, I have been able to increase the system partitiom to 400MB)]

If anyone could help, I will be gratefull, we all will be very gratefull.

This is really pushing the limit.

Edit: Now you can use 1GB RAM present in your tablet and all the space available in the flash memory.

Note: This method can be used in all variants of the Zpad which has 1GB RAM and 16GB ROM.


Note: This tablet is sold by different names all over the world. The one I use is HCL AP10-A1

 

[rajeevvp]

Well after everything, I hope whoever tried this in their MALATA Zpad is able to see full 1GB RAM, or around 850 MB approx.

Can you post the 3 .txt files produced by these commands (reboot the tablet first)?:

$ [B]su -c dmesg > /mnt/sdcard/dmesg.txt[/B]
$ [B]cp /proc/meminfo /mnt/sdcard/meminfo.txt[/B]
$ [B]free > /mnt/sdcard/free.txt[/B]

 

[chaskarn]

After this succesfull experiment, I would like to request a developer to kindly help us modify the system partition of the above ROM to 350 MB or more if possible.

Though @rajeevvp is the best person on xda to give you solution that is more logical on this, I will tell you quick and dirty way to do this, which I have adopted.

1> download stock zpad rom if you don't have it already "ftp://112.5.164.225/tablePC/T2_nvflash_mp_3g(WCDMA)_20110824.rar"

2> unzip it, delete recovery.img from unzipped directory, copy part9.img from DRH nvflash which is used for prep 350M system partition to this directory, rename it to recovery.img

3> edit "android_fastboot_full_i_malata.cfg” change "size" of partition id 11 (which is a system partition)
Make sure you do not give any arbitrary size here; calculate it with the formula @rajeevvp posted here "http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22138304&postcount=14"

4>now nvfalsh your tablet in apx mode with download.bat, now format /data /system /cache and flash whichever rom you want on top.

memory/partition config is supplied to kernel through CMDLINE parameter, so even if you nvflash tab with above procedure, its not necessary that default memory/partition sizes are maintained created by above prcoess, Team DRH boot.img has a blank CMDLINE. That is the reason
Above process will work on most of the ROM, which is using TeamDRH boot.img.

(more technical explaination stright from one of the posts of @rajeevvp "When the bootloader runs, it reads PT (partition 3) and constructs a command line telling the kernel what the partition layout is on the onboard NAND flash. Normally, the bootloader will pass this command line to the kernel as part of the boot-up process. However, if the bootloader sees that the boot.img already contains a default command line then that will take precedence")

 

[JohnnyInBriz]

I replaced the recovery image in the ROM as instructed in the first post but before flashing I edited the flash.cfg file to change the APP partition (id=11) size to 262144000 (250MB). I then followed the steps above but after flashing Smoother Bean it would always restart in recovery. I found I had to partition the internal SD to 4096/0 and then reload the rom and flash again. I now have a ZPad with a 250MB system partition and a total RAM of 871124 bytes. Thanks very much as it seems much faster now. Note I didn't have to remove any system apps in the process.

 

[chaskarn]

I replaced the recovery image in the ROM as instructed in the first post but before flashing I edited the flash.cfg file to change the APP partition (id=11) size to 262144000 (250MB). I then followed the steps above but after flashing Smoother Bean it would always restart in recovery. I found I had to partition the internal SD to 4096/0 and then reload the rom and flash again. I now have a ZPad with a 250MB system partition and a total RAM of 871124 bytes. Thanks very much as it seems much faster now. Note I didn't have to remove any system apps in the process.

glad to hear that it worked, BTW you will have to change /system size to minimum 350MB if you plan to use TeamDRH rom in future (hopefully with camera working)

 

[lfwxb]

I'll have a try later.Thanks So much.

 

[kank_fraud]

Thank You all for the help.
I have already replaced the stock recovery CWM to 5.5 from the first flash.
Well I have tried to modify the system partition to 512 MB(536870912) in the flash.cfg and it failed. So I tried 400MB(419430400) and it worked.
It shows 419 MB in Titanium Backup
I am happy with it.
Its way better then before.
Thanks evryone
Problem solved

 

[kank_fraud]

If anyone has formated or resized the internal memory resently, please try the maximum possible size for the system partition.
I tried 512MB but it didn't work. Maybe 490MB might work.
According to my knowledge, Android should support atleast upto 999MB for any partition.
Is it cuz of our tab or is it cuz of the architecture.
And if anyone knows, is it possible to create a larger internal partition.
As in 8GB or if possible the whole internal memory.
CWM doesn't allow more than 4GB internal space.

 

[chaskarn]

I have already replaced the stock recovery CWM to 5.5 from the first flash.
Well I have tried to modify the system partition to 512 MB(536870912) in the flash.cfg and it failed. So I tried 400MB(419430400) and it worked.

Well this was expected result, /system partion resides on NAND flash chip (with is only 512MB) and not on SDcard.
Read this "http://raywaldo.com/2011/07/format-the-gtab/" and this "http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15558724&postcount=12"

Also you need to bare in mind that other partitions also use 512MB nand flash as per explanation in above threads.
so if you take a close look at falsh.cfg file in nvflash directory you will understand that size allocation is sequential ("allocation_policy=sequential") and system partition (11) which is last to allocate the space, so you need to calculate it accordingly if you want to utilize all remaining space from NAND flash chip.

 

[kank_fraud]

Well I cant open the page "http://raywaldo.com/2011/07/format-the-gtab/".
So according to this info I have hit the limit. I am already using 489MB of the 512MB flash. And as always, cuz of our storage manufactures, we get only 490MB in a 512MB chip.
What I wonder is why Malata and Viewsonic did not utilise the full NAND space available in the first place.
Is it used for something else.
I mean even the 350MB prep for Viewsonic GTab uses 350MB instead of 400MB.
It is so easy to to utilise and partition the NAND, then why not use the full available space.
What is the empty space used for!???
Or is it just a waste!!!

 

[fanguru]

hi all,
tks for the useful informations above..but since my poor tech knowledge, its possible to produce a flashable rom for all T2 user with the max 490MB flash?

thanks in advance!
FG

 

[kank_fraud]

hi all,
tks for the useful informations above..but since my poor tech knowledge, its possible to produce a flashable rom for all T2 user with the max 490MB flash?

thanks in advance!
FG

Its already there.
Goto the first post and download the ROM
Extract the RAR file and find the file flash.cfg, right click and edit
Search this no. 209715200, it should be in the last 5-6 lines.
Delete the whole no. and type this no. 419430400
Save the file and close it.
Start your tablet in APX Mode and flash your tablet using download.bat.
Now you are using the full flash memory available.
You loose a few hundred kilobytes but thats it.

You cant use the whole flash memory as system partition.
There are additional partitions for the bootloader, recovery, logo, etc. which take up 89MB approx.
So 400MB is what you will get for system partition.

I would suggest flash as less as possible. Flash memory can written only a few hundred times. If it reaches the limit, then our tablet is dead.
Flash only major updates or if your ROM gives problem

 

[kank_fraud]

Can you post the 3 .txt files produced by these commands (reboot the tablet first)?:

$ [B]dmesg > /mnt/sdcard/dmesg.txt[/B]
$ [B]cp /proc/meminfo > /mnt/sdcard/meminfo.txt[/B]
$ [B]free > /mnt/sdcard/free.txt[/B]

Well I am very sorry for such a late reply. :angel:
I missed your post as I was out of station.
After I came back there were already solutions posted by a couple of users. :victory:
Well today while updating my original post, I noticed ur first reply. :silly:
Well thank you for your reply.
And thanks to all the ppl who provided for the solutions to our ZPad.
I guess the problems are solved for now.
:highfive: :highfive: :highfive: :good:

 

[fanguru]

Its already there.
Goto the first post and download the ROM
Extract the RAR file and find the file flash.cfg, right click and edit
Search this no. 209715200, it should be in the last 5-6 lines.
Delete the whole no. and type this no. 419430400
Save the file and close it.
Start your tablet in APX Mode and flash your tablet using download.bat.
Now you are using the full flash memory available.
You loose a few hundred kilobytes but thats it.

You cant use the whole flash memory as system partition.
There are additional partitions for the bootloader, recovery, logo, etc. which take up 89MB approx.
So 400MB is what you will get for system partition.

I would suggest flash as less as possible. Flash memory can written only a few hundred times. If it reaches the limit, then our tablet is dead.
Flash only major updates or if your ROM gives problem

Thank You kank_fraud,
i do these steps, and it works!
after, i've tried to flash "Smoother Bean " but tab continues to reboot i nrecovery mode. I've tried also to partition 4096 like suggested above, but same results.
So, the onlyu one rom working is the first?
ty again!:good:

FG

 

[rajeevvp]

I guess the problems are solved for now.

I'd still like the output of those commands--for my own edification.

 

[kank_fraud]

Thank You kank_fraud,
i do these steps, and it works!
after, i've tried to flash "Smoother Bean " but tab continues to reboot i nrecovery mode. I've tried also to partition 4096 like suggested above, but same results.
So, the onlyu one rom working is the first?
ty again!:good:

FG

Well for Me it worked the first time itself.
Why don't u try giv it a few more couple of times. :laugh:
BTW, are you using the Malata Zpad or Viewsonic Gtab
If you are using Gtab, try TeamDRH method but modify the size of the partition.
If u are using Zpad, try again.
Clear cache and reset before installing.
Try previous older ROMs and gradually update to newer ones.
Reset and wipe before each update.
As I didn't get any problems, so I can't say whats wrong with your installation.
And very sorry for the late reply.
I have exams.
But my tablet is very stable after this.
Everything is running smooth, even HD games.
Goodluck :fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:

 

[kank_fraud]

I'd still like the output of those commands--for my own edification.

I tried it in terminal emulator, but it says 'Operation not permitted'

 

[hungrymr2]

I tried it in terminal emulator, but it says 'Operation not permitted'

same here.

 

[rajeevvp]

I tried it in terminal emulator, but it says 'Operation not permitted'

Fixed commands. Try them again.

 

[kipperfish]

I seem to have everything running and it seems really fast, the only problem I have is that the home button (hardware and soft) does not work!
I've tried installing a different home app, tried home switcher and I get asked when the tablet boots as to which home app to use, but still the buttons don't work (back and recent apps work).

Any ideas???