Looking for testers: port for Lenovo Tab M8 HD (TB-8505F)

MrT10001

I have the 2Gb/16Gb version which most likely explains the bootlooping. Oh well, got it in a job lot and was worth trying! I have recovered it to Android, so no loss. I have been informed there is a 3Gb/32Gb version, but I only see 2G/16Gb or 2Gb/32Gb...

k.nacke

@MrT10001 Thanks for trying. I also have the 2GB/16GB model, so that should be fine. I think the 3GB/32GB is the model with lte.
One question for me is which display does your model have? E.g. what does

adb shell cat /sys/bootinfo/hardware_info | grep LCD

show? (That should work under Android, too.) I would like to make sure that it finds the display.

Kai

MrT10001

@k.nacke said in Looking for testers: port for Lenovo Tab M8 HD (TB-8505F):

cat /sys/bootinfo/hardware_info | grep LCD

cat /sys/bootinfo/hardware_info | grep LCD
LCD : ft8201_wxga_vdo_incell_inx

This do?

k.nacke

@MrT10001 Thanks. That was just a shot in the dark, but it's the same display as mine. Need to think what is causing your bootloop.

Btw, the 3Gb/32Gb model is the Tab M8 FHD. I have that tablet, too, but did not yet work on a UT port for it.

Kai

MrT10001

@k.nacke Using Windows 11 and latest version of platform tools. This chucked out an error with fastboot -w. Tried platform tools version r29.0.05 and everything went through fine, but still bootlooped.

k.nacke

@MrT10001 Any chance you could boot into recovery and see if there is a kernel crash message in /proc/last_kmsg or in /sys/fs/pstore?

I also see the fastboot -w message. I am not sure if the message has functional implications. But using an older fastboot version seems not possible, I get an error when I try to flash a partition with older ones.

I discovered the following work around: You download the firmware with the Lenovo RSA tool. When you run fastboot -w in the directory where the files are stored, then the message goes away. I think the command tries to read the image for the userdata partition.

Kai

MrT10001

@k.nacke Logs are empty.

MrT10001

Still no joy, tried it through Linux (Ubuntu 24.04) and still went into a bootloop - as a warning, the bootloop took quite a bit to get out off using the Lenovo Software fix tool. It will do it, but requires patience and timing.

k.nacke

@MrT10001 Thanks for looking at this. What you are seeing reminds me of my journey getting the kernel boot on my device.
I have a pristine M8 HD and M8 FHD, I will try to install the images there and try to find out what is missing/changed on my development device.

Lesharoturbo

I just installed this on my tab and it worked 100% ok. Booted just fine. I have the 2/16GB version and used the latest zip.

I flashed all 3 files including the device tree image (dtbo.img). Maybe that will help those who get boot loops?

Thanks for working on this, now to testing!

LT.

MrT10001

@Lesharoturbo At which point did you flash the dtbo.img?

Lesharoturbo

@MrT10001 after the ubuntu.img. I tried it after the boot.img, but I got an error, but realized afterwards that I mistyped it. So I did it after the ubuntu.img

MrT10001

No, still goes into a bootloop. Everything goes through correctly, no errors. Then bootloops.

Lesharoturbo

@MrT10001 Hmmm, I am not sure. This is the first install of U Touch for me.

I am not home right now, but I will be tomorrow. I will try to gather more info then.

Lesharoturbo

@k.nacke A question that I am sure the answer is 'NO".

Does this port offer OTA? I would think not, but thought I would ask.

MrT10001

Is there a step missing with disabling verity and flashing a vbmeta.img?