[Q] How to root Lenovo TAB A7-40 A3500-FL? [Solved] [GUIDE]

[leripe]

How to root Lenovo TAB A7-40 A3500-FL?
[Solved] See the guide below!

Device info:

Model number: Lenovo A3500-FL
Android version: 4.4.2
Kernel version: 3.4.67
Build number: A3500FL_A442_01_25_140823_SE
BB Chip: MT6582
MS Board. A3500FL
Bar code: this was my device's serial number
SW Ver.: ALPS.KK1.MP1.V2.10
Custom Build Verno.: 1408775889

Managed to get cwm and root with this guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...vo-a3500-h-t2879208/post55491817#post55491817

Modified the guide for Lenovo A3500-FL!
EDIT: Also some users have reported that this guide doesn't do the trick or is out-dated, so copypasted the guide from this post here.

Guide
1. Download attachment cwmRecovery.zip and download latest Flash_tool (version 5.1352.0) can be downloaded from here)
1.1. Enable USB-debugging. (How to do this)
2. Manually install the drivers from the attachment a7_40_drivers.zip for the LenovoTablet before plugin it to computer (win7 dirvers work for win8 too).
2.1. To install unsigned/uncertified drivers on Windows 7: http://en.kioskea.net/faq/3914-windows-7-how-to-install-unsigned-drivers
2.2. To install unsigned/uncertified drivers on Windows 8: http://www.howtogeek.com/167723/how...8.1-so-that-you-can-install-unsigned-drivers/
2.3. After you have disabled the driver signature verification, you can install the drivers like this: Right click My computer, Manage, Device Manager, right click your computer at the top, Add Legacy hardware, next, Install plapla manually, next, Show all Devices, Have a Disk.., Browse to the driver folder where you unzip them, choose example windows7 and the 64 version (win7 drivers work for win8.x too), install every device. Then follow the guide.
(Note: Otherwise Windows only installs the normal automatic drivers and its more difficult to install the other drivers.)
2.4. Plug your device to PC.
3. Download the latest supersu zip file (version 2.46) from attachments or from https://download.chainfire.eu/696/SuperSU/
3.1. Move the zip.-file to the Sdcard.
4. Turn off your device.

5. Unpack cwmRecovery.zip
6. Run Flash_tool.exe with Admin Rights.
7. Chose Scatter-Loading and choose MT6582_Android_scatter.txt (in Recovery folder).
7.1. Now you will see checekd only one checkbox - recovery, if not click on it and choose recovery.img
7.2. Press Download.
7.3. Connect your device.
7.4. Wait few seconds.
8. Have CWM on your device .

9. Unplug your device.
10. . Boot to cmw recovery by turning off your device. Then press and hold VOL DOWN + VOL UP and then also press and hold POWER for about 7 seconds.
10.1. Choose " Install zip from sdcard." (To confrim always use the Power Button)
10.2. Choose "zip from sdcard".
10.3. Select SuperSU-v2.46.zip from sdcard and apply.
10.4. Have a rooted tablet.

It might be necessary to always flash the CWM with the Flashtool directly before you startup the device. Otherwise it will start the original AndroidRecovery again.

It might also be necessary to use different drivers from here.

If the supersu zip doesn't install, try toggling the signature verification to disabled from cwm->install zip from sdcard->toggle signature verification.

Tested and working on Levono A7-40 3500-FL with kitkat update, build number A3500FL_A442_01_25_140823_SE, from ota. Attached screenshot for proof. Also other people have reported that this works for later updates too, for example A3500FL_A442_01_27_141127_SE.

You can update to the latest OTA firmware by first going back to stock recovery. See the second post for the guide.

Thanks and credits go to: @Koli96 and @bobais

 

[leripe]

How to go back to stock rom/recovery and update to latest Lenovo OTA firmware update

So, it's pretty simple, you take the stock_recovery.zip from the first post, extract it, and replace recovery.img in the recovery folder with the stock one.
Then :
Quote:
4. Turn off your device.
6. Run Flash_tool.exe with Admin Rights
7. Chose Scatter-Loading and choose MT6582_Android_scatter.txt (in Recovery folder)
7.1. Now you will see checekd only one checkbox - recovery, if not click on it and choose recovery.img
7.2.. Press Download
7.3. Connect your device
7.4. Wait few seconds.

And that's it !

On a side note, if it seems stuck on a black screen with a loading circle after factory reset, you have to put the tablet in landscape mode and restart (the shutdown menu appears without any problem) - this issue doesn't seem related to recovery, but a bug within lenovo firmware and the first configuration screen.

Side note 2: The first boot after flashing new update might take 15mins.

Side note 3: After updating to the latest OTA you can go back to cwm recovery with the guide from the first post.

Credits @tenuis

 

[asen4o0]

I got the same tablet and I also am looking for a root. :/

 

[dimitrisbizakis]

Another waiting for rooting lenovo owner.

Same here, i was looking for a root guide and i couldn't find anything.
Does anyone else has a problem with long charging times?

 

[leripe]

Well it charges long and the charge stays long, so no issue here.
Seems that not that many lenovos root easily, but of course this is a pretty new device(?).

 

[The-Immortal]

Well it charges long and the charge stays long, so no issue here.
Seems that not that many lenovos root easily, but of course this is a pretty new device(?).

OK let's try this

Install mtk drivers
Install USB and adb drivers
Install v root 1.7.8

Now tick adb debugging and connect your device to PC run v root and click root button after device get connected to v root

Let me know if you have any issues
All the best ?

Sent from my x604 using Tapatalk

 

[leripe]

OK let's try this

Install mtk drivers
Install USB and adb drivers
Install v root 1.7.8

Now tick adb debugging and connect your device to PC run v root and click root button after device get connected to v root

Let me know if you have any issues
All the best ?

Sent from my x604 using Tapatalk

Can you link all the drivers?

Edit: Vroot link here: http://vrootdownload.info/vroot1.7.8/

 

[The-Immortal]

Can you link all the drivers?

Edit: Vroot link here: http://vrootdownload.info/vroot1.7.8/

If you have win7 or win8/8.1 USB drivers will automatically installed when you connect device

Adb driver I hope this will work
http://adbdriver.com/downloads/

If it fails make a google search am sure you will find it

Sent from my x604 using Tapatalk

 

[leripe]

If you have win7 or win8/8.1 USB drivers will automatically installed when you connect device

Adb driver I hope this will work
http://adbdriver.com/downloads/

If it fails make a google search am sure you will find it

Sent from my x604 using Tapatalk

Installed everything and tried vroot once again (I have tried it before).

Still not rooted. And btw that vroot at least tries to install bunch of bloatware crap on the pc.

Edit:

I would suggest for anyone who installed Vroot to your pc to scan the whole pc after you uninstall the vroot.

Here are the scanning tools:

Malwarebytes
adwcleaner
superantispyware
hitmanpro

 

[nkr]

Installed everything and tried vroot once again (I have tried it before).

Still not rooted. And btw that vroot at least tries to install bunch of bloatware crap on the pc.

Edit:

I would suggest for anyone who installed Vroot to your pc to scan the whole pc after you uninstall the vroot.

Here are the scanning tools:

Malwarebytes
adwcleaner
superantispyware
hitmanpro

I got a successful root by flashing Recovery.rar from lenovo-forums.ru, (it's easy to google, I'm not allowed to post links) with the included SPFlash Tool and afterwards flashing the needed SU binaryies and apk. However, this will mess up the OTA updates, and I can't find the stock recovery again.
Therefore, I really beg anyone having the stock recovery to post it, enabling us to switch between them, whenever we want to apply any OTAs.

Thanks a lot!

 

[leripe]

I got a successful root by flashing Recovery.rar from lenovo-forums.ru, (it's easy to google, I'm not allowed to post links) with the included SPFlash Tool and afterwards flashing the needed SU binaryies and apk. However, this will mess up the OTA updates, and I can't find the stock recovery again.
Therefore, I really beg anyone having the stock recovery to post it, enabling us to switch between them, whenever we want to apply any OTAs.

Thanks a lot!

Well I very highly doubt that there will be any more updates for a device with this price range. And since the next android version is the L version, which requires more work than before.

Edit2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/guide-lenovo-a3500-h-t2879208 found this. Tested and it works. Will edit it to the first post.

 

[drabuaiad]

The same as me
i cant flash update.zip from cwm recovery and need to restore the stock recovery ...
I think flashing the stock rom can solve the problem..
.by using the sp flash tool we can select to flash recovery only ....unticking the others except recovery.img ....you just try to download the stock rom and flash the recovery

 

[Mrosenho]

Same problem

Heya guys!

I have the same problem here.. I can't run the .zip file from the SD card, it get interrupted every time. Any ideas?

The same as me
i cant flash update.zip from cwm recovery and need to restore the stock recovery ...
I think flashing the stock rom can solve the problem..
.by using the sp flash tool we can select to flash recovery only ....unticking the others except recovery.img ....you just try to download the stock rom and flash the recovery

 

[leripe]

I dont know what you two are trying to do but this thread is about rooting the lenovo A3500-FL not about lenovo stock rom.

 

[Mrosenho]

Rooting..

Yes indeed, that's what I'm trying to do. Rooting the A3500-FL. According to the instructions you need to install the SuperSU from a zip on your SD card. When I try do that it gets interrupted every time. Installing recovery went well. So I'm not getting what I do wrong? Any ideas?

I dont know what you two are trying to do but this thread is about rooting the lenovo A3500-FL not about lenovo stock rom.

 

[leripe]

Yes indeed, that's what I'm trying to do. Rooting the A3500-FL. According to the instructions you need to install the SuperSU from a zip on your SD card. When I try do that it gets interrupted every time. Installing recovery went well. So I'm not getting what I do wrong? Any ideas?

http://download.chainfire.eu/452/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.02.zip and y ou mean this when you talk about update.zip?

And I hope you are using the install zip from sdcard option and the choose zip from sdcard option?

Boot to cmw.
Install zip from sdcard.
Choose zip from sdcard.
browse to your supersu zip and apply.

Now I also update the first post's guide, so you can check that out too.

 

[Mrosenho]

Thanks for the help so far. But now I'm starting to doubt that the CWM install went successfully. Let me show you a picture of my screen after a failed install of the UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.02.zip -file. (ht_tps://ww_w.dropb_ox.com/s/1wrnatzjk2gn42h/2014-10-09%2008.50.40.png?dl=0) (slightly modified link because of forum rules, just take out the _) I'm using the "apply update from sdcard" option, then I browse to the SuperSU.zip -file and apply it. Then it starts installation, but aborts it in a few seconds. So am I booting to just a normal recovery mode and not CWM? (Sorry if all this seems totally ignorant, I have only flashed roms before, never rooted a new device)

UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.02.zip and you mean this when you talk about update.zip?

And I hope you are using the install zip from sdcard option and the choose zip from sdcard option?

Boot to cmw.
Install zip from sdcard.
Choose zip from sdcard.
browse to your supersu zip and apply.

Now I also update the first post's guide, so you can check that out too.

 

[Mrosenho]

Yup.. This is the problem. The recovery runs fine from Flash Tool and claims it installs it. (Download ok) But I still don't seem to have CWM on the device. It's just normal recovery mode. So any ideas about the CWM-installation? What could possibly go wrong? I get no error messages. Cheers.
//Mike

Thanks for the help so far. But now I'm starting to doubt that the CWM install went successfully. Let me show you a picture of my screen after a failed install of the UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.02.zip -file. (ht_tps://ww_w.dropb_ox.com/s/1wrnatzjk2gn42h/2014-10-09%2008.50.40.png?dl=0) (slightly modified link because of forum rules, just take out the _) I'm using the "apply update from sdcard" option, then I browse to the SuperSU.zip -file and apply it. Then it starts installation, but aborts it in a few seconds. So am I booting to just a normal recovery mode and not CWM? (Sorry if all this seems totally ignorant, I have only flashed roms before, never rooted a new device)

 

[blackseaa]

thanks ...

It is work fine for me on a3500 fl with 4.4.2 ver a442_01_26_140911_se

 

[matcho13579]

Yup.. This is the problem. The recovery runs fine from Flash Tool and claims it installs it. (Download ok) But I still don't seem to have CWM on the device. It's just normal recovery mode. So any ideas about the CWM-installation? What could possibly go wrong? I get no error messages. Cheers.
//Mike

Same for me, what about this @leripe ?

EDIT// Oh, It's working now, tried to flash it one more time, then I held a power button until Lenovo logo appeared and then I pressed Vol UP and Vol DOWN and the CWM came in, thank you! Now my tablet is finally rooted