Root Bricked A500

[NightAngel79]

So I have a A500 that was stuck in APX mode, I ran Afterota and now it will show 'ACER' and get stuck there.

I've put a few random update.zip's on SD card and get the Andy fell over with a red triangle above it.

I am trying to read 15 to 20 threads simultaneously about 'stuck in apx' and 'stuck on acer' screen and I'm at a loss on how to proceed....

Help????? lol

 

[NightAngel79]

Seems I have it stuck back in apx mode again now...

 

[D-U-R-X]

How was it that it ended up stuck in APX mode? You don't have the UID for the tablet, do you? I guess, if you've been reading different threads on the subject, you will have seen this?

 

[D-U-R-X]

Have also found this:

press and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds. If you are stuck in APX mode, and it seems that you may be, then it is my understanding that you just have to hold the power button long enough until the screen responds.

Not sure if thaat is of help

 

[NightAngel79]

seen those threads yes.

All I know is my girl's son brought me his A500 and from what I've read/been able to discern it is stuck in apx mode. Finally found all the right drivers and ran the Afterota program (from xda) and there is a 'unbrick mode' where you load up recovery and boot files and it is supposed to flash them and unbrick the tab.

After doing that is when I got it to go to Acer screen (a huge improvement) but it sticks there.

From there I have been a few different update.zip files on sd and did the power on + vol down thing which results in the robot on back with red triangle (failed update screen)

I'm not certain that if I am just trying the wrong rom/update file or what.

No idea what the UID is/was or what OS version it was on. Her son doesn't even know what 'root' means AND he bought this thing off craigslist few weeks ago... (lol)

all in all I know nothing important to move forward in the troubleshooting process unfortunately.

I have seen some mention of the nand/flash memory going bad (though that doesn't really seem likely)

 

[D-U-R-X]

Isn't the robot on it's back in a red triangle something to do with not having a compatible recovery?

When you flashed the recovery and boot files, which did you use? I changed the bootloader on my A500 over the weekend and used V8 (with Thor's Touch recovery).

Once you've done that, you should be able to boot in to recovery (power on + volume down) and flash a ROM from the SD card (think you'd prolly have to put a ROM on the SD card using a card reader).

I realize that you may not want a custom ROM on there, but it'd do until we got the tablet back to life

 

[NightAngel79]

Isn't the robot on it's back in a red triangle something to do with not having a compatible recovery?

When you flashed the recovery and boot files, which did you use? I changed the bootloader on my A500 over the weekend and used V8 (with Thor's Touch recovery).

Once you've done that, you should be able to boot in to recovery (power on + volume down) and flash a ROM from the SD card (think you'd prolly have to put a ROM on the SD card using a card reader).

I realize that you may not want a custom ROM on there, but it'd do until we got the tablet back to life

I've used several different things so I'm not sure if I had the wrong combination or not.

Some things I read said it all depended on using things that all 'fit together' with whatever is on the tablet.

Problem is I don't know what is on the tablet.

And a custom rom is more than ok, just not sure what to try to flash.

Also I tried a hard reset and all it did was boot loop

 

[D-U-R-X]

Just worth trying to use the OTA tool and unbricking function again, just make sure to try flash the unlocked bootloader with custom recovery (which is what I've just flashed). You would be able to get the bootloader/recovery from here - it's part way down in the "Automated flashing tool" part of the thread.

I think that then, when you power on with the volume down button pressed, it should get in to whichever custom recovery you chose to flash at the same time.

Worth a shot, at least?

 

[NightAngel79]

its this part

STEP2=First before you do anything else make sure you got your "cpuid". How see Q&A , bottom of this thread.
Or you use the Blackthun3er V0.4 APX flasher (see in the section "automated flashing tool") , this tool will give and fill in your SBK automaticly if you used it before.

That I am generally stuck on. I cant find any way to get the cpuid...

 

[D-U-R-X]

If you're already in apx mode, then I don't know if you can get the cpuid... what I was meaning was, you may be able to use the OTA tool with the V8 unlocked bootloader (with one of the custom recoveries)... not really sure though, as I haven't used the OTA tool, other than to get the CPUID, etc.

 

[D-U-R-X]

I only mention that, as the OTA tool can be used to un-soft-brick... thought you may be able to tell it to use that unlocked bootloader?

 

[MahaloCat]

WOW - Nightangel - I won't be much Help - I haven't made the PLunge to the ICS bootlader yet....And all the recent threads are exactly why...

DURX keep up the good work...let me know if you need me to test anything....willing to help however I can.

 

[D-U-R-X]

WOW - Nightangel - I won't be much Help - I haven't made the PLunge to the ICS bootlader yet....And all the recent threads are exactly why...

Think NA's issue isn't from trying to unlock the bootloader (if it is, it isn't down to NA/NA's friend)... think that the tab came stuck in APX mode! Unlocking was actually really easy

DURX keep up the good work...let me know if you need me to test anything....willing to help however I can.

Will do mate!!

 

[NightAngel79]

I only mention that, as the OTA tool can be used to un-soft-brick... thought you may be able to tell it to use that unlocked bootloader?

Think NA's issue isn't from trying to unlock the bootloader (if it is, it isn't down to NA/NA's friend)... think that the tab came stuck in APX mode! Unlocking was actually really easy



Will do mate!!

Yeah, the Afterota tool will let me try to upload different things to un-softbrick it... BUT i have no clue if I'm trying to use the right files. It seems like it is working but the tool gets stuck on 'flashing recovery' step. After that is when I can get it to boot and show me the ACER screen, but gets stuck there.

At that stage it seems like it wants to let me use an update.zip file but not sure if I am just trying to use the wrong one or what....

But yea, my, soon to be, son-in-law brought the tablet to me when it was already stuck in apx mode...

have zero experience with acer products so i have been trying to learn on the fly

thanks for the patience and help so far

 

[D-U-R-X]

have zero experience with acer products so i have been trying to learn on the fly

Not got tons myself... only had the tablet since March

thanks for the patience and help so far

No worries... getting a little stuck though. As I said, I used afterota to get the SBK/CPUID/etc and then used Blackthund3r's tool to flash the bootloader.

I'm a member over at acertablets (or whatever it's called - actually called tegraowners) - I will see if I can't get some info on there - bear with me

 

[NightAngel79]

Not got tons myself... only had the tablet since March



No worries... getting a little stuck though. As I said, I used afterota to get the SBK/CPUID/etc and then used Blackthund3r's tool to flash the bootloader.

I'm a member over at acertablets (or whatever it's called - actually called tegraowners) - I will see if I can't get some info on there - bear with me

I read a couple threads over there as well. Ain't had time to sign up there to investigate further though.

Afterota seems great but it keeps saying 'error in usb connection' (or something)
And that is when the Apx Tool program says 'connected in apx mode'

So i have the right drivers and such...

Appreciate anything you may find out but don't stress about it, i may have some time in next couple days... (i hope any way)

 

[D-U-R-X]

I read a couple threads over there as well. Ain't had time to sign up there to investigate further though.

Afterota seems great but it keeps saying 'error in usb connection' (or something)
And that is when the Apx Tool program says 'connected in apx mode'

So i have the right drivers and such...

Appreciate anything you may find out but don't stress about it, i may have some time in next couple days... (i hope any way)

No worries NA... not stressing... just hope we manage to sort it!

I'm already a member over there and have posted a thread (based on the info in this thread)... will come back to you as soon as I have a response.

 

[D-U-R-X]

Just wanted to let you know that I've not forgotten about this NA... I've had no response so far over at tegraowners, but am still looking out for stuff that may help you!

 

[NightAngel79]

Word

i appreciate everything player

 

[D-U-R-X]

No worries

 

[D-U-R-X]

Still no response from anyone @ tegraowners, I'm afraid, but have been searching for any solutions for you.

Have just been on XDA and found something that could help you... Recovering Recovery / Obtaining SBK. The description at the beginning sounds EXACTLY like how you've described your A500, so here's hoping!!

I know he said that he doesn't have the link for the V8 unlocked bootloader, but I've already pointed you in the right direction for that (somewhere a little earlier)... I can dig the link out again if needed

 

[NightAngel79]

Still no response from anyone @ tegraowners, I'm afraid, but have been searching for any solutions for you.

Have just been on XDA and found something that could help you... Recovering Recovery / Obtaining SBK. The description at the beginning sounds EXACTLY like how you've described your A500, so here's hoping!!

I know he said that he doesn't have the link for the V8 unlocked bootloader, but I've already pointed you in the right direction for that (somewhere a little earlier)... I can dig the link out again if needed

You had me until he said 'Ubuntu' ! lol

Never been much of a fan. Hate that his fix requires that. Perhaps I will *try* to find time to snag me a distro and run it from disk to test.

Thanks though! That sounds exactly like what this thing is doing.

What is the other link you were talking about maybe needing? There are a few of them in here


Again, THANKS!

 

[D-U-R-X]

You had me until he said 'Ubuntu' ! lol

Never been much of a fan. Hate that his fix requires that. Perhaps I will *try* to find time to snag me a distro and run it from disk to test.

Thanks though! That sounds exactly like what this thing is doing.

Sorry... may not like it but, if Ubuntu allows you to get the A500 up and running, then you'd be in the good books though

What is the other link you were talking about maybe needing? There are a few of them in here

Meant a link to the V8 unlocked ICS bootloader with a custom recovery... rather than link you to the thread on XDA, I've clicked it and linked to where the download points here.

Again, THANKS!

Honestly, NA, it's not a problem... just hope that you are able to sort it

 

[D-U-R-X]

Thinking about it, you'd need to put an ICS ROM on the SD card too, so you could flash it when you get the recovery on there. In the first instance, you may want to use a full stock rooted version of ICS... (I went for the deodexed one)... you can then look at either putting another custom ROM on there or returning to stock. It doesn't sound like the A500 is getting Jelly Bean, so you may want to leave a custom ROM on there

 

[NightAngel79]

Yea, any rom will be good for be. Plus stock ICS is way good enough.

Still... Linux.... Ugh, lol