Important Bootloader Info for Stock GTab Users

[xmr405o]

Before you decide to update your Stock OS read this first. This doesn't mean you can't load a custom ROM but it adds steps to loading a custom ROM if you are on Stock 4349.


From Gojimi a post from another forum.

ATTENTION - IF YOU ARE ON STOCK 4349+ or any MOD BASED OFF 4349+ USING THE NEW RECALLED BOOTLOADER! READ PLEASE!

Starting with the most recent but recalled update to Tap N Tap Viewsonic has introduced a new Bootloader being called the 1.2 bootloader. This bootloader is not compatible with mods or Roms based off of the Viewsonic Current Bootloader being called the 1.1 bootloader! This bootloader provides absolutely no known advantage other than being able to boot any new STOCK kernels. If you would like to use any of our stable ROM's (i.e. Vegan 5.1.1, Vegan GingerEdition and currently CM7) using Viewsonics currently supported and shipping bootloader (1.1) you must Downgrade your bootloader and TNT Version before you flash a new kernel or a new ROM

Please download the following downgrade update.zip and place it on your sdcard renaming it to "update.zip".

http://www.gtabdevs.com/releases/4349_Downgrade.zip

Then power down your device. And power back up while holding the power button and vol + till your display says "recovery key detected" in the top left corner.

Using the volume keys to navigate up/down in the menu highlight "Apply Internal update.zip" if you copied the update.zip to the internal memory or "Apply External SDCard update.zip" if you happened to place it on an external SDCard and then inserted it before booting to recovery. Now select the menu choice using the menu key.

This process will take a few minutes. You will see a Box with an arrow and a progress bar while it applies the update.... when it is finished it will reboot to make the changes. Once the changes are complete your tablet will boot into Tap N Tap version 3588 (cringe).

You are now free to follow all the tutorials about installing CWM and/or Kernels/Roms.

Thank you and good luck.

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From Rothnic ( another dev)

[INFO] The 1.2 Dev Branch Bootloader is NOT Locked Roebeet and I have confirmed that the 1.2 bootloader is not locked, it just has changes that other devices have gained before the Gtablet. The 1.2 bootloader is compatible with pershoot's Zpad kernel and Adam kernels. The newer bootloader causes older kernels to fail because it requires extra voltage levels from the bootloader. Check out Pershoot's Zpad option here: https:// github.com/pershoot/gtab-263...82ea36d58fc68a The Gtab can run Pershoot's Zpad kernel on the 1.2 bootloader. This means that the Zpad and Adam's bootloaders were from a newer branch of Malata's internal smba1002 kernel repo. If any future Gtablet or Adam kernels come out past 2.6.32, they will most likely be incompatible with the 1.1 Gtab bootloader, so it is best if people start moving ROMs on to 1.2 to prepare. We know that Notion Ink has Malata working on a post 2.6.32 kernel. I know Roebeet is updating his mods to run this new setup so watch out for them

 

[bryandrummer]

i have a question then. i just ordered this tablet from amazon yesterday. i have never rooted or modified an android device due to a fear of voiding warranties and security threats but I am tempted after reading many of the threads discussing the power gained from custom software on this device. can i update the system out of the box and use this method to downgrade the software later before modding? or would i just avoid any updates the system says it has? I would like to read up more on rooting androids and such before i attempt it but would like to play with what it has in the mean time.

 

[UBRocked]

Thanks xmr...good info. I'm looking into possibly picking one of these up. I'm bored with my Archos 70 and with the abysmal dev support...looking for a new toy.

Still not decided...but for $300...this will be hard to beat.

 

[luvduchovny]

i have a question then. i just ordered this tablet from amazon yesterday. i have never rooted or modified an android device due to a fear of voiding warranties and security threats but I am tempted after reading many of the threads discussing the power gained from custom software on this device. can i update the system out of the box and use this method to downgrade the software later before modding? or would i just avoid any updates the system says it has? I would like to read up more on rooting androids and such before i attempt it but would like to play with what it has in the mean time.

Bryan, I bought my device weeks ago and out of the box once I set up the wireless it told me there was an update to 3991. (3991 didn't seem to freak of the developers much, so I did the 3991 update and had no problems with rooting).

So I imagine when you get yours it will tell you there is an update to 4349. You don't have to run the update, but it will pop up every time you turn it on the device. So if you want to play with roms and the like, I would suggest not running the update and following the instructions on rooting with clockwork mod (which I use) or other software and putting on the rom you want to try.

 

[bryandrummer]

thanks for the feed back. just didnt want to screw myself over before i know that i messed something up.

 

[Techno.Digerat]

Once the changes are complete your tablet will boot into Tap N Tap version 3588 (cringe).

Why the downgrade to 3588, and not to 3991? Is there a particular reason, or is it just that file takes it back to 3588?Wasn't 3991 readily embraced by Devs?
Thanks...

 

[xmr405o]

Why the downgrade to 3588, and not to 3991? Is there a particular reason, or is it just that file takes it back to 3588?Wasn't 3991 readily embraced by Devs?
Thanks...

I believe 3991 also had a locked bootloader which caused issues with roebeets Two taps ROM. Not sure what Caulkin did but his ROM is based out of 3991 and his didn't have issues.

 

[BirdfluNuggetz]

I am a Viewsonic GTablet noob and have a quick question:

My wife is quite adept at android and flashing ROMs, etc. I have no knowledge whatsoever.
Here's the question: I just bought her one of the Viewsonic G Tablets for an anniversary gift. She will receive it tomorrow. Should she not do this OTA update under any circumstance, or can she do the OTA and just install the "update.zip" file later if she wants to flash a new ROM? She will not be aware of this yet when she is prompted to do the update, and under normal circumstances, I'm sure anyone would just plow through the update and see what "fell out".
Keep in mind, I have no real technical experience in doing this, so if I ask a stupid question, so be it....
Thanks in advance!!

 

[xmr405o]

I am a Viewsonic GTablet noob and have a quick question:

My wife is quite adept at android and flashing ROMs, etc. I have no knowledge whatsoever.
Here's the question: I just bought her one of the Viewsonic G Tablets for an anniversary gift. She will receive it tomorrow. Should she not do this OTA update under any circumstance, or can she do the OTA and just install the "update.zip" file later if she wants to flash a new ROM? She will not be aware of this yet when she is prompted to do the update, and under normal circumstances, I'm sure anyone would just plow through the update and see what "fell out".
Keep in mind, I have no real technical experience in doing this, so if I ask a stupid question, so be it....
Thanks in advance!!

First off...that's nice of you to give her this tablet for your anniversary gift. Good job buddy!

from what I'm reading, Viewsonic pulled this update so it should still be on Stock 3588 (or something like that) so she should be ok. If for some reason she does get this update, I would avoid it if she is going to end up installing a custom ROM.

 

[MrSmith317]

I just received my tablet today, did the update and was on 3588. So I'm not sure if they're still pushing the update currently. I rooted/ROM'd(CM7) without any issues.

 

[BirdfluNuggetz]

Thanks for the replies...I will introduce her to this thread once the gift is opened

 

[xmr405o]

Thanks for the replies...I will introduce her to this thread once the gift is opened

Lol. In advanced... Hi Mrs. BridfluNuggetz!

 

[NinjaMom]

Mrs BirdFluNuggetz here.... Thanks for all the help you guys gave my hubby. He was very happy to be able to point me in the right direction when I opened this. Got to say I am loving this tablet and now my poor evo seems so small. LOL

The OTA update updated me to 3588, I believe, I could tell you for sure but my 14yr old has hijacked the tablet to play air hockey. LOL

I did the clockworkmod and flashed with CM7... Loving it so far.

 

[UBRocked]

Ah...couples on AF...love it. "Mrs. UBRocked" won't come on here

Happy Anniversary guys! My wife and I just had our 10 year anniversary yesterday. I gave her an iPad and that shocked the hell out of her!

Funny how a single app can sell you on a device (and a different eco-system). Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook is her game and you can only play that on the iPad (cause Pop Cap sucks and aren't smart enough to write Android apps...EA Games ported Bejeweled to Android...without "Blitz" support). /end rant LOL

 

[xmr405o]

Mrs BirdFluNuggetz here.... Thanks for all the help you guys gave my hubby. He was very happy to be able to point me in the right direction when I opened this. Got to say I am loving this tablet and now my poor evo seems so small. LOL

The OTA update updated me to 3588, I believe, I could tell you for sure but my 14yr old has hijacked the tablet to play air hockey. LOL

I did the clockworkmod and flashed with CM7... Loving it so far.

BTW, I like NinjaMom better than Mrs BirdFluNuggetz.

 

[xmr405o]

Ah...couples on AF...love it. "Mrs. UBRocked" won't come on here

Happy Anniversary guys! My wife and I just had our 10 year anniversary yesterday. I gave her an iPad and that shocked the hell out of her!

Funny how a single app can sell you on a device (and a different eco-system). Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook is her game and you can only play that on the iPad (cause Pop Cap sucks and aren't smart enough to write Android apps...EA Games ported Bejeweled to Android...without "Blitz" support). /end rant LOL

Hey I'm gonna celebrate my 10 yr Anniversary later this year too! I'm not gonna get her an Ipad because I love her, UB! Just kidding, well not about me loving her. haha.

Congrats!

 

[VanDums]

I got one from Woot about a week ago and the firmware was at 3391 or something around there. The OTA was to upgrade it to 3588 which is where it is supposed to be at to put a custom ROM on it.

 

[xmr405o]

I updated the first post because apparently the new bootloader is not LOCKED. Another dev confirmed that the new bootloader is incompatible due to voltage issues which made it appear to be a locked bootloader. But you still need to pay attention to what ROM you are loading because some newer ROMs use the new bootloader such as all of Roebeets newer ROMs and his port of the Honeycomb ROM. (BTW, the HC ROM is pretty cool )

So read the installation instructions for each ROM before installing because you can still semi brick your tablet if you try to load incompatible ROMs with the bootloader you are currently on.