[Solved] Firmware, scatter and PMT: TWRP happiness with new TS.

[MrTip]

Hi all, I have a TS 1/8/2100, firmware 20140513.
TWRP and Bluetooth tether ROM are available for firmware 20140328 only. Past conversations make me think there won't be any update soon.

A solution would be to install previous firmware, then TWRP, then update firmware. But partitions changed in between.

According to this SP Flash Tool can also physically format a partition if you can get a partition management table (PMT). The scatter file describes logical partitions, but it seems you can also add PMT. (After backup with MTKDroidTool, click "prepare Blocks for FlashTool")

Knowing this, provided that hardware is relatively unchanged, it could be possible for newest TS to enjoy TWRP happiness.

I would like to try, if someone could be kind enough to give me a stock backup for TS 1-8-2100 firmware 20140328 with PMT. (there sould be a file called MT6572_Android_scatter_emmc_PMT.txt)

I need you to help me help you to help me help you.

thx.

 

[Tigerite]

Hi all, I have a TS 1/8/2100, firmware 20140513.
TWRP and Bluetooth tether ROM are available for firmware 20140328 only. Past conversations make me think there won't be any update soon.

A solution would be to install previous firmware, then TWRP, then update firmware. But partitions changed in between.

According to this SP Flash Tool can also physically format a partition if you can get a partition management table (PMT). The scatter file describes logical partitions, but it seems you can also add PMT. (After backup with MTKDroidTool, click "prepare Blocks for FlashTool")

Knowing this, provided that hardware is relatively unchanged, it could be possible for newest TS to enjoy TWRP happiness.

I would like to try, if someone could be kind enough to give me a stock backup for TS 1-8-2100 firmware 20140328 with PMT. (there sould be a file called MT6572_Android_scatter_emmc_PMT.txt)

I need you to help me help you to help me help you.

thx.

Here you go - hope it's what you're looking for..

 

[MrTip]

Here you go - hope it's what you're looking for..

No, it's not. The key element of my message is

with PMT. (there sould be a file called MT6572_Android_scatter_emmc_PMT.txt)

Thank you anyway.

 

[Tigerite]

That's all that was generated by the tool I'm afraid, I followed the steps from the link you provided too, but still no joy. It only produces the standard one, no PMT suffix.

 

[MrTip]

That's all that was generated by the tool I'm afraid, I followed the steps from the link you provided too, but still no joy. It only produces the standard one, no PMT suffix.

That's unfortunate. Did you click on "prepare Blocks for FlashTool" after backup ? I'll try myself asap to confirm the procedure.

 

[Tigerite]

Yes I did, but no PMT text file in the relevant folder..

 

[MrTip]

Yes I did, but no PMT text file in the relevant folder..

Well, the procedure is correct. It appears that PMT can be (or not) in scatter file without any difference in the filename. So you have to check by yourself, as I did, if you want to format. (look for many lines per partition, like 'physical_start_addr' and 'linear_start_addr')

You have to select "format+download" in "sp flash tools" to format everything (including preloader, so be carefull).

Take all precautions: Backup everything, including userdata and cache partition, because sp flash tools will ask for it if you have to format. Do not forget to backup nvram.

Doing this, I successfully formatted the TS and installed previous firmware, 20140328.

Sadly, the TS won't boot. Here lies my hope to get TWRP and bt tether ROM working without update from its creator...

So, back to firmware 20140513.

After the new format+backup, TS boot normally, but I had a "IMEI invalid" error. So, I used MTKdroidtools to restore nvram the same way I previously backed it up.


Complete 'format+download' is to be used if you messed up with partitions or if partitions changed.
Could be usefull, this was to let you know how.

 

[kuronosan]

Well, the procedure is correct. It appears that PMT can be (or not) in scatter file without any difference in the filename. So you have to check by yourself, as I did, if you want to format. (look for many lines per partition, like 'physical_start_addr' and 'linear_start_addr')

You have to select "format+download" in "sp flash tools" to format everything (including preloader, so be carefull).

Take all precautions: Backup everything, including userdata and cache partition, because sp flash tools will ask for it if you have to format. Do not forget to backup nvram.

Doing this, I successfully formatted the TS and installed previous firmware, 20140328.

Sadly, the TS won't boot. Here lies my hope to get TWRP and bt tether ROM working without update from its creator...

So, back to firmware 20140513.

After the new format+backup, TS boot normally, but I had a "IMEI invalid" error. So, I used MTKdroidtools to restore nvram the same way I previously backed it up.


Complete 'format+download' is to be used if you messed up with partitions or if partitions changed.
Could be usefull, this was to let you know how.

What exactly are you trying to do?

 

[MrTip]

What exactly are you trying to do?

Install last firmware known to be working with twrp.
Did that.

The device doesn't boot anymore.

Revert to previous backup.
Did that.

I like to see things by myself.

 

[kuronosan]

It's not your firmware that's the problem. I'm running twrp on the latest firmware without issue.

 

[MrTip]

It's not your firmware that's the problem. I'm running twrp on 20140513 firmware without issue.

I can only rely on testimonies on this very forum, but I have not seen a single person succesfully installed twrp on firmware 20140513.
I have seen successfull install on previous firmware, and then OTA upgrade.

What is it for you ?

 

[kuronosan]

It is exactly what I told you. It's up to you to believe me or not.

 

[MrTip]

It is exactly what I told you. It's up to you to believe me or not.

You didn't told me if its an install on 20140513 firmware or if it's an upgrade from previous firmware.

EU 1/8 users who have the new aluminum watch or who received their units after May 13th need to click here and also need to remember that recovery may not work (although it probably won't work before this anyway).

I understand you agree there is a problem with twrp 2.7.1.0 on newer devices.

 

[kuronosan]

You'll notice I did say new devices. Not new firmware.

 

[MrTip]

You'll notice I did say new devices. Not new firmware.

Ok then, you win by default. Look at me asking a simple question while you obviously rather going back an forth playing fallacy pong. Please forgive me if I cut this short. I'll click on Thank You anyway.

 

[Tigerite]

Anyway to get back to the thread.. I've tried everything, booting in recovery, running MTK Droid Tools as Administrator, installing busybox again - but still no PMT file. I'm all out of ideas now..

 

[MrTip]

Anyway to get back to the thread.. I've tried everything, booting in recovery, running MTK Droid Tools as Administrator, installing busybox again - but still no PMT file. I'm all out of ideas now..

That's OK. It appears that PMT can be (or not) in scatter file without any difference in the filename. (If you look in the file and see many lines per partition, like 'physical_start_addr' and 'linear_start_addr', you have PMT)

So I found what I was looking for, thank you.

 

[kuronosan]

Ok then, you win by default. Look at me asking a simple question while you obviously rather going back an forth playing fallacy pong. Please forgive me if I cut this short. I'll click on Thank You anyway.

No one is trying to win. I have a good deal of experience with MTK devices based on my researching various methods of backup/restore/flash/etc and I was offering a hand.

You can play one-person pong with yourself and claim fallacy all you want or you can get off your high horse.

Up to you. I have work to do.

 

[walscobry]

TWRP Install on newest firmware + OTA

got watch on 7/26. did OTA. firmware date 5/27/2014. unable to install TWRP via any method including shell DD command. well it installs but on entry I just get on the old andy with red ! showing. It seems like a watchdog timers reboots it after a few minutes and all is back to the way it was.

 

[kuronosan]

Which TWRP did you use?