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

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?

Lesharoturbo

@MrT10001 that is possible. I started from a GSI rom, not the stock rom. So i had replaced those already. I forgot until I read this!

Lesharoturbo

For some reason, the letters h and k do not show up on the openstore app.

Any ideas?

Lesharoturbo

A reboot fixed it. Weird

k.nacke

@MrT10001 That is possible. Before turning to UT I tried to port LineageOS 17 for the tablet. In my notes for that I have

fastboot --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img

using the vbmeta.img from the stock rom (downloaded with the Lenovo Rescue and Smart Assistant).

k.nacke

@Lesharoturbo No. I am still working on this port. I think to be able to receive OTA the port must be an official commuinty port. For that I still have to fix some bugs.

k.nacke

@Lesharoturbo No idea. The artefacts are build with Focal, and I never noted missing letters. However, when building for Noble I see a couple of missing characters. I do not have EGL fully working, this could be the cause.

Lesharoturbo

@k.nacke thanks for your hard work.

voodoojaza

Looking at the specs for this tablet gets me somewhat curious, if you manage to get this tablet port into a functional state (fingers crossed) would you consider porting the different variations the Lenovo series of tablets such as my own M10 2nd generation tablet 2gb 32gb version (Which can run UT after installing android 11 apparently) or the m11 tb-330.

k.nacke

@voodoojaza My plan is to finish the port of the Tab M8 HD, and then try the Tab M8 FHD. I own both tablets, and my main motivation is that with Ubuntu Touch the tablets seem usable. At least the UI reacts fast. Android is a pain on those devices.
Porting without the hardware is not possible, and while I think that it should be easier to get a port for the M8 3rd gen and M8 4th gen after finishing the current port I am not sure that I am willing to spend money for such low end devices.

With the existing ports for the M10 it should be possible to get the other M10 models working rather fast. I looked into the M11 because that tablet is somewhat similar to the M8, however Lenovo did not publish the kernel sources for it. So yeah, not really motivated for that.