Root Nvidia Shield TV Pro 2019 Version

[CommunistPandaX]

Dude thank you for the reply!! That’s awesome..question is super su better then magsix or can I have Both..sorry still a noob can I still run 9.02 on my device with root and without having to install lineage or anything? Geez that was a crap..also last question if I get a 3.0 usb for storage how do I go about transferring root or whatever to that or do I even need to? Also do I need to wipe anything in this process..just don’t want to mess anything up..thanks again in advance

Yes, doing this method direct from stock skips the lineage portion, only installing root to your stock firmware.

I haven’t looked at super su in years personally, I prefer magisk since you can use modules to hide the unlocked bootloader. I don’t recommend trying to use super su and magisk at the same time.

You shouldn’t need root for storage, I’m pretty sure you can just plug a drive in if it’s in the right formatting. You can transfer your files to and from the device using the files app if you need to.

If your bootloader is already unlocked, I don’t think you’ll need to wipe the device. If it is locked, unlocking the bootloader will force a wipe.

 

[mooseman011]

Yes, doing this method direct from stock skips the lineage portion, only installing root to your stock firmware.

I haven’t looked at super su in years personally, I prefer magisk since you can use modules to hide the unlocked bootloader. I don’t recommend trying to use super su and magisk at the same time.

You shouldn’t need root for storage, I’m pretty sure you can just plug a drive in if it’s in the right formatting. You can transfer your files to and from the device using the files app if you need to.

If your bootloader is already unlocked, I don’t think you’ll need to wipe the device. If it is locked, unlocking the bootloader will force a wipe.

Ok so should I just reset to stock anyway just in case before I do those steps..I have recently unlocked boot loader so yea..do I need to still download nv-recovery-image-shield-atv- or won’t need it ay..also if I do the 9.02 update will it wipe root? If not What are those steps if you wouldn’t mind

 

[CommunistPandaX]

Ok so should I just reset to stock anyway just in case before I do those steps..I have recently unlocked boot loader so yea..do I need to still download nv-recovery-image-shield-atv- or won’t need it ay

You can if you want but that’s only really necessary if it fails to boot after sideloading the magisk.zip.

If it does fail to boot, go to fastboot with this, and run the recovery-image stuff, then try the steps again.

 

[mooseman011]

Ok thank you..also how do I get into twrp after I’ve done all that..last time I tried clicking on debit to recovery Kerneland it came up with error.. also the magisk apk..do I have to put it in a usb? Or can that plus the img all me run from file on comp

 

[mooseman011]

Opps my bad

 

[NexusMod]

Hello there new here. I have a few questions about how to root the nvidia shield tv pro but I don't know what order to ask but if 1st is this.
I think I have the 2019 version what TWRP for mdarcy version do I need if I'm rooting it on android 11,
I haven't rooted a device since my nexus 5 days

 

[aouamed]

Hello there new here. I have a few questions about how to root the nvidia shield tv pro but I don't know what order to ask but if 1st is this.
I think I have the 2019 version what TWRP for mdarcy version do I need if I'm rooting it on android 11,
I haven't rooted a device since my nexus 5 days

[GUIDE] 8.2.3 + Magisk root + MagiskHide + TWRP

Based on the work done in https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/how-to-root-and-install-magisk-on-nstv-2019-pro-v8-2-0.4189567/ User friendly guide written for Windows. Bash script for Linux flashing edited as well, but guide is focused on Windows...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[mooseman011]

You can if you want but that’s only really necessary if it fails to boot after sideloading the magisk.zip.

If it does fail to boot, go to fastboot with this, and run the recovery-image stuff, then try the steps again.

Can I ask..when I’ve booted into twrp you said in previous comment to only side load twrp and didn’t mention about magsik..should I aslo sideload magsik there? And what happens if I want to install a custom rom or a update for magsik comes along..let’s say magsik has a update and I install via the app (not via twrp) and it goes through the process on the screen and says it’s flashed it..I reboot and check if it had updated and it hasn’t..I’m assuming because I’d have to do that via twrp side load?

 

[Hitti2]

does the nvidia shield remote work with this os? not the game pad.

 

[Hitti2]

probably best to use usb 3.+ hub? or will a 2.0 be suffice?



*ALSO A KNOWLEDGE BOMB*

anyone else who finds themselves on this Journey... I stepped on my shield and in doing so it bent the usb on for my nvidia controller. It also somehow shorted out the system. Lol. Anywho, In doing so, I tried to replace the usb cable with a crappy one I just had lying around and it did not work. I found a newer usb cable and it triggered the controller, so I theorized that since the ports are USB 3.0 or 3.1, not sure, the bootloader will only post with a usb 3.0+ Device. So in theory, any keyboard or controller usb 3.0 should work by holding a + b down

 

[Hitti2]

usb 2.0 hub works, but if anything needs transferred through 2.0 like from 3.2 external hdd im sure it will be very slow.

but i think all should be fine just for this guide.

Edit1:
I read

"need the portable drive"

"Have Lineage and Gapps saved to a portable drive."

So, Ima jump on this once I can order v3 usb hub.

I suggest 2.0 hub is a very bad idea, be there for a week.

Edit2:

Tomorrow I am gonna do it through this 2.0 hub, I checked speeds 40MB/s.

 

[Hitti2]

Atm, im on 8.2.3 stock, if i followed this guide to upgrade to the latest lineageOS, come to want back nvidia 8.2.3 "version 9", will i be screwed not be able go back?

Edit:
Seeing this

"
In SHIELDROOT, Run OEMUnlock.

Unplug the USB-C From the PC and Reapply.

(Must do to fix broke fastboot after unlock)

Run ShieldRoot.

This will flash the NVIDIA Developer Rooted images.

This will also flash TWRP for us, to recovery as well as boot.

This purposely bricks the system to run TWRP on boot until we finish
"

If twrp was allowed flashed first, then backup nvidia os with twrp image, then flash the L-OS over.

So, any thoughts guys to revert from this guide back to 8.2.3?

 

[Hitti2]

I cant get twrp to stick, nvidia recovery keeps over writing twrp.

 

[Hitti2]

after ShieldRoot.bat runs and boots into twrp, i click reboot, reboot to recovery from twrp, it reboots to nvidia recovery.

 

[Hitti2]

i reverted back to 8.2.3 and sideload launcher 3 setup i had.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ShieldAndroidTV/comments/o96npc
appreciate the hard work, this isnt for me.

 

[Hitti2]

Even the new update 9.0.0 AI Upscaling not working after rooting...NSTV 2019 Pro
I tested but same problem Demo mode work only Enhanced Mode

upscaling gets disabled because bootloader is unlocked. thats what i seen on nvidia 8.2.3 os with bootloader unlocked at upscaling section, i had to lock the bootloader and reset user data.

id like to have another shield tv pro 2019, have it to experiment and main one.

im thinking about trying this https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/mdarcy/install for twrp to stick.

jenneh's guide has nothing about twrp being over writtin. and i recall smartphones n twrp, u need to shutdown and boot back into twrp for it to overwrite stock recovery.

i tried booting recovery kernel after shutting down and using A and B, but it just reloads the bootloader fastboot section.

edit:
bootloader locked, see photo. 8.2.3

 

[Hitti2]

I did demo test on avatar 1080p, it upscales it most definitely, wow.

4k hdr doesn't get upscaled says nothing to upscale. ofc. unless 8k streaming device.

makes me wonder if nvidia has more in the works since 2019 for a new device even better n more powerful.

I asked in LOS thread if ai scaling can bypass the unlock bootloader and work.

 

[jenneh]

Spoiler: GOALS

Hello friends~! I have almost finished one of the three goals left here with the shield, to be able to run windows or any iso natively on it. I believe I have found a solution, but it will take some time as I program the machines.

How To Install Windows Or Linux ISOs on your Android Devices - Windows 10 Nox Lab

Hello Friends~! Today I will be walking you through using Termux, QEMU, and a VNC server to Run Windows or Linux isos on Your Android Devices as well as Android Emulators like Nox on Windows 10. BUILDING QEMU In Termux, type: pkg install...

forum.xda-developers.com

I have been trying unsuccessfully to get an Android Kitchen, or any extension of the typical binaries contained within, to fully work with the system image provided by nvidia. I am trying really hard to learn how to unpack and repack the system image so we can remove the bloatware from the beginning, remove the one time initializer, have magisk preinstalled on boot, etc.

Here's where I am at: I've tried every kitchen out there and superr's seems the most promising but I cannot get it to work. By "work" I mean, I cannot get any of the new system images to result in anything other than a bootloop.

If anyone is able to help point me in the right direction to properly unpack this beast I would be ever so grateful

--- its under the preinstalled ubuntu machine.

Installing Ubuntu With a GUI + WSL2 Upgrade - Windows Subsystem For Linux + Premade Ubuntu Virtual Machines (and more!)

Hello Friends~! I decided to write out a step by step guide to install WSL - Windows Subsystem for Linux, with an Ubuntu Distro, and integrated GUI using Xserver. As well as how to update WSL to WSL2. Open Powershell as Admin, then paste: wsl...

forum.xda-developers.com

The last goal is to open the shield and see what kind of hdd is actually in there and can it be modified but need to finish 1 and 2 first

Spoiler: PROGRESS

I was able to extract the system image and gain all the apps

system.zip

drive.google.com

Here's the extracted vender image

vendor.zip

drive.google.com

Going to try to compile them on a new system image

Here's the source code for android 12 for "android" and "google" tv

Android 12 for TV | Android Developers

developer.android.com

I was able to flash the new bootloader from the android 12 provided images, I got this error. Going to continue tinkering

Spoiler: CODE

C:\Users\a0afa\OneDrive\Desktop\ROOT-ANDROID11>fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-adt3-01.01.211014.044959.img
Sending 'bootloader' (1579 KB)                     OKAY [  0.068s]
Writing 'bootloader'                               OKAY [  0.052s]
Finished. Total time: 0.194s

C:\Users\a0afa\OneDrive\Desktop\ROOT-ANDROID11>fastboot reboot bootloader
Rebooting into bootloader                          OKAY [  0.011s]
Finished. Total time: 0.012s

C:\Users\a0afa\OneDrive\Desktop\ROOT-ANDROID11>fastboot -w update image-adt3-stt1.211025.001.z4.zip
--------------------------------------------
Bootloader Version...: 1.0
Baseband Version.....: 2.0
Serial Number........: 1321421007523
--------------------------------------------
extracting android-info.txt (0 MB) to RAM...
Checking 'product'                                 FAILED

Device product is 't210ref'.
Update requires 'deadpool'.

fastboot: error: requirements not met!

I tried both versions provided, and met similar results.
This is what the system structure looks like
Unzipping the files we are able to see that android 12 system image is structured different to a11, it includes many new images but one of note is the product image.

ANDROID 12 TV SYSTEM CONTENTS

PRODUCT IMAGE CONTENTS

ORIGINAL SHIELD ANDROID 11 SYSTEM IMAGE CONTENTS

This would be outdated per android 12's file system structure but it helps us to get a base knowledge

HOWTO: Unpack, Edit, and Repack Boot Images

Several people have already figured out the details on their own, but I have gotten requests to do a more comprehensive tutorial on how the boot and recovery images are structured, and how you can edit them. Background Your phone has several...

forum.xda-developers.com

What is boot.img file in android?

I am building the android source code and getting new system.img . I try to flash the new system.img on a device and I see that I need another file called boot.img. What is this file ? what is used...

stackoverflow.com

9/18
I've formally learned simg2img and img2simg and begun a writeup, have learned how to convert the sparse system image into raw format to bypass the symbolic links, then mount the new raw system image in read write format to be able to make alterations to the image, then unmount and reconvert the image to sparse format. The trouble is I am able to make it to the NVIDIA logo, but no further. So we make it past the bootloader but something is causing us to hang and not properly mount the filesystem. I am going to prod further into the boot.img and see what's going on there and the init.rc in system later today

So I am not entirely sure if I am interpreting this correctly, but according to the code from this article

HOWTO: Unpack, Edit, and Repack Boot Images

Several people have already figured out the details on their own, but I have gotten requests to do a more comprehensive tutorial on how the boot and recovery images are structured, and how you can edit them. Background Your phone has several...

forum.xda-developers.com

+-----------------+
| boot header     | 1 page
+-----------------+
| kernel          | n pages
+-----------------+
| ramdisk         | m pages
+-----------------+
| second stage    | o pages
+-----------------+

n = (kernel_size + page_size - 1) / page_size
m = (ramdisk_size + page_size - 1) / page_size
o = (second_size + page_size - 1) / page_size

0. all entities are page_size aligned in flash
1. kernel and ramdisk are required (size != 0)
2. second is optional (second_size == 0 -> no second)

It indicates the boot sequence is expecting a certain "pre-determined" page size, which is altered when we convert the images and remove or add apps.. so we have to edit this and learning that now. Maybe that is why we get stuck on the nvidia logo when only altering the system image.

I tried unpacking just the boot.img provided by the nvidia dev kit and it doesn't produce intended results. Going to stop being lazy now and reinstall the rooted image on the shield and then adb pull all the dev/mtd images and see what can be done there.

A note to remind myself, take all those nvidia system apps, build adb script, and test on new lineage image

 

[eyeconic]

I tried to search the thread, I got one of those "Call Neo" messages. Please, no "RTFT." (I suppose it might be "STFT.")

• The video is unavailable.
• What on earth is an Nvidia Controller? Obviously, that's not the RC.
• Is this Android version specific or agnostic?

Thanks!

 

[Walter Bishop]

Hello.

Here is where I am at in "thinking outside the box".

So instead of trying to flash windows or ubuntu directly onto the nvidia's system partition, why not flash it to a portable drive?

So I am researching UEFI, Bootloaders, flashing, and volumes, particularly how they store and load data.

So I understand that windows requires it's hard disk to be formated to GPT.

My USB stick is MBR. I have a partioning software that can change the USB to GPT.

If anyone understands what I am talking about, can you reach out? I know this is possible, I know the answer is out there,

IT IS JUST ALL THIS JARGON SOME OF YALL USE <3 GOD LOVE YOU ITS HARD TO UNDERSTAND

AND WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT IS DUAL BOOT FOLKS!!! LEGIT DUAL BOOT, NO SECOND PC REQUIRED

AN OS FOR FUN , AND AN OS FOR WORK.....

CAN YOU IMAGINE

KNOWLEDGE BOMBS

ShieldTV/AddPartition.md at master · na6an/ShieldTV

Projects on Nvidia's Shield TV. Contribute to na6an/ShieldTV development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

""Nvidia uses its own proprietary disk structure on its devices, which look like a modification of GUID partition table(GPT) with protective MBR. Most disk partitioning softwares are unable to read Shield TV's partitions because its primary header is overwritten with non-standard GPT format.

Here are list of disk paritioning software I tried and couldn't even read the disk at all: fdisk, GParted, KDE Partition manager, diskpart and Disk Management on windows. Of course, you may format the disk and rebuild partitions, but then it won't boot from Shield TV at all.

There are two softwares can read partially:

• GNOME Disks - the default partition software for Ubuntu, however, could read the partitions IF you boot L4T from Shield TV. It won't work if you try from another computer. Also, it is still unable to modify partitions.
• gdisk (GPT fdisk) - gdisk can read partition 2~33 from backup header. As you can see, 33rd partition is the one that holds most of 500GB storage. (462.5 GiB out of 465.66 GiB)""""
• END QUOTE FROM ARTICLE

A gdisk Walkthrough

What we need to do is GET A NEW BOOTLOADER! Idk how but I will find out! If you know how reach out pl0x

I'm just going to keep dumping knowledge bombs until I or someone elsse figures this out!

How A/B Partitions and Seamless Updates Affect Custom Development on XDA

You may have heard of Seamless Updates before. It involves something called "A/B partitions." What is it and how does it affect custom development on XDA?

www.xda-developers.com

• system – holds the Android OS, system libraries, system apps, and other system media like bootanimations, stock wallpapers, ringtones, etc.
• boot – holds the kernel, ramdisk, and on A/B devices also the recovery as well
• recovery – holds the recovery, where TWRP is most commonly flashed on A-only devices (A/B devices don’t have a dedicated recovery partition)
• userdata – holds all of your app, system, and internal storage data
• vendor – holds platform and device-specific HALs, the files necessary for the Android OS to communicate with the underlying hardware
• vbmeta – the partition for Android Verified Boot 2.0 which verifies the integrity of the boot process

gdisk(8) - Linux man page

The gdisk program employs a user interface similar to that of Linux's fdisk, but gdisk modifies GPT partitions. It also has the capability of transforming ...

linux.die.net

Going to play with this toy:

GPT fdisk

Download GPT fdisk for free. GPT fdisk is a disk partitioning tool loosely modeled on Linux fdisk, but used for modifying GUID Partition Table (GPT) disks. The related FixParts utility fixes some common problems on Master Boot Record (MBR) disks.

sourceforge.net

Cause GDISK is for LINUX and I don't like using Linux. No hate but GUI will win over MBR, Mah nerds. Cause GUI IS CMD!! GUI Is Just Easier For Some People! Different Strokes, for Different Folks!

"Upon start, gdisk attempts to identify the partition type in use on the disk. If it finds valid GPT data, gdisk will use it. "
"gdisk" or whatever bootloader you are playing with...
So my only question is how do I make the WIN 11 Arm version bootable... ?? On the USB ?

WAITING ON MY USB DRIVE TO WIPE UGH. '

GNU GRUB - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)

Site for GNU GRUB

www.gnu.org

Android Verified Boot 2.0

<<<<<<<<<Hey Hey Right Heare>>>>>>>>>​

Hey Sorry for the placement of this and rthe huge call back because im so far back but ive already read through your mad dash down a well lit rabbit hole not once but twice and i don't have time todo that again before i lose this thought ive been holding for you since i found the ihformation . I kinda don't really think that anybody else except the guys that found it and reported it and the left enough for a proof of concept to back up thier work knows that this exists well more like they are too lazy to do anythingt with it and act like its not **** awsome and that fits right along with Nvidia and googles wipe it from the internet and deny while we make the search engine ignore any queries with those words in it act. So theres nothing but headliines where the zero day was discovered and no hype anywhere to be found. But i assure you there is a whole loooooooong right up of the process on a forum that i don't frequent because it was new to me when i found it but turns out that that right up was another determined soul cleaning and streamlining someone elses work or he was on the other team that was racing the first guy who cracked it first so that they could get the bouty and report the flaw in the hardware 1st tryihng to act like awe but if somebody reads this theyll like put thier own stuff oh thier own equipment and i just don't want tto be a part of thatt but i have tyo say something or walmart will keep selling these game systems with free games to everybody.some bullshit like that but anyways i wish i knew the name of the forum but im sure you can find it i will when i go looking jusgt look for hackingg a chromecast and zero day on a tegra 1 oh and there was like a lot of homebrew on the site like these guys where like feelin it when they set up a server to 1 click mailbomb everybodies that one system you know the really almost awsome everybody wanted one excepte people that played it at someboddy elses house you kow that system that might as well have come without a controlleer cause they person watching you play was doing better that you unless you like to bowl. Wiii wii thats it yeah cause aside from the mind blowing homework i was eeading through even as complicated and complete as it was i still remember thinking man i wonder if they have one of those ghetto playstores set up for all this homebrew going around. you know cause it really made me wann go argue with my girlfriend about free games so i could learn elf all over again without her getting so bored of me talking that i didnt get to be player two for a couple of weekends or you know her notice me jail breaking one of her babies before i had a chance to appreciate just how awsome a person has to be to keep a 10 year old console in mint condition and still use it every day . but i really got the distinct feelihg that it was one of those places where a homebrew community might just be. but anyways i think at the point where i was reading they only tinkered with the shield a little to see if it was really infact a 0 day flaw in the tegra x1 or if it was just a switch thing. but . they had already figured out how to push a ubootn or something bootloader to a switch and dual boot with ubuntoo and nintendow with no cross over problems at all with the original operating system. But One of our guys was already there asking all the questions that nobody wanted to aknowledge but he was well on his way shooting lfireballs out of his finger tips or trying to hurry off and do a syance or somethin after pestering the dude relentlesly i swear i hear that dude mumble something pretty long he was like your probably gonna waste least 2 controllers or at least some quality usbs ..............and **** hears my little code thingy that i came up with that makes it work if you can make get it pas that nvid bull **** now get the **** out of here and forget where you got that.. but really it sounded like they have it licked. if they can trick a nintendo handheld this chink still wired to the tv system shouldnt be a thing especially whith somebody like you thinking about it. im really sorry i dont know the name of that form but i gave you the best leads i can think off oh and i think the name might have had something to do with like ABC or something no jokes something like that..