Unlock Bootloader – How To Unlock?

floem7

First of all, hello to all people here

I have got Lenovo Tab M10 HD (2nd Gen) with android 11 as it seems it is the best supported model of tablet.

I've read the page:
https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/amar-row-wifi/release/noble/
and I understand I have to unlock bootloader as explained in
https://unlocktechy.com/lenovo-tab-m10-hd-gen-2-unlock-bootloader
and then follow instructions at
https://snapcraft.io/ubports-installer

However, I have no clarity on unlocking bootloader. The page linked above doesn't provide/link software for linux. I've borrowed windows machine to use dedicated USB-drivers but still the linked file is not exe but some dlls.

Are using software provided by lenovo instead is a good idea? Link - https://lenovousbdriver.com/device/lenovo-tab-m10-hd-usb-driver

Second question, how can I backup my original android 11 in case I've screw something?
I don't want to use google account as I own only one for my job.

I'd greatly appreciate support, I'm new in this.

k.nacke

@floem7 said in Unlock Bootloader – How To Unlock?:

However, I have no clarity on unlocking bootloader. The page linked above doesn't provide/link software for linux. I've borrowed windows machine to use dedicated USB-drivers but still the linked file is not exe but some dlls.

For Linux, you can download the platform tools from Google. Most likely, you need to run the tools as root because of missing udev rules. Many distributions provide these tools, e.g. on latest Ubuntu you can install adb and fastboot with sudo apt install adb fastboot. This will also update the udev rules. A good approach is to install the tools from the distribution, and the latest tools from Google, and make sure that the Google version comes first in the search path.

No USB drivers etc. are needed, and no need to download binaries from random websites.

Kai

k.nacke

@floem7 said in Unlock Bootloader – How To Unlock?:

Second question, how can I backup my original android 11 in case I've screw something?

No recommendation for a backup. You can use the Rescue and Smart Assistent from Lenovo (RSA) to reinstall latest stock Android. Sadly, this tool is only available on Windows.
A good strategy is to use RSA to download the firmware file, and save that file. The path is shown in the upper right corner of the UI while the file is downloaded. Either you are fast enough and you can copy the .zip file, or you need to zip the unzip directory yourself. This firmware file contains all the partition images of the devices, and you can flash them via fastboot to restore Android.

Kai

floem7

@k.nacke Many thanks for all information, most of all for linux-specific quidance.

@k.nacke said in Unlock Bootloader – How To Unlock?:

No USB drivers etc. are needed, and no need to download binaries from random websites.

Gooood point, only after a while I realized that the "lenovousbdriver.com" page is not from lenovo. Thankfully I haven't used those files.

@k.nacke said in Unlock Bootloader – How To Unlock?:

A good strategy is to use RSA to download the firmware file, and save that file

I'll definitely do it. In case it would be deleted in the future...

I'll try to install UTouch at weekend and come back with feedback how it goes

floem7

Ok, so I've installed Ubuntu Touch successfully
So I described below how I do it, in case somebody will look for instructions for installation using linux computer.

First of all, I've bought exactly the model listed as supported with supported OS (Android 11)
https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/amar-row-wifi/release/noble/
I've unlocked the bootloader.
2.1 I've performed procedure on the tablet only as described here (without entering fastboot mode yet): https://unlocktechy.com/lenovo-tab-m10-hd-gen-2-unlock-bootloader
2.2 The computer-side (lubuntu 24.04) procedure entailed installation of adb and fastboot as described by @k.nacke https://forums.ubports.com/post/93251 - just installing these two programs from ubuntu repository, not using the code from google. USB-drivers are not needed.
In my case the following commands were sufficient (as described in https://forums.ubports.com/post/89958 - I've performed all steps):

adb devices # properly detected the connected tablet
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flashing unlock
fastboot reboot

After that android rebooted as at fresh device - so I've to do short first-time set-up.

I've used ubports-installer installed using snap. After connecting the tablet with USB cable and confirming connection in window shown on tablet the program detected device (and I think put it in fastboot mode automatically, but because of "error" described below and small panic I don't remember exactly). I've selected 24.04 stable repository. At some point UBports write to do something on tablet (I don't remember what) and connect it to computer, so I disconnected the tablet from computer, done what UBports wrote and reconnected the device to the computer and followed further instructions.
The important thing is to select format user data, I've been too impatient and skip this and after downloading 14 files UBports reported "error"

Error: adb:preparesystemimage: Error: {"error":{"code":1,"cmd":"adb -P 5037 shell mkdir -p /cache/recovery"},"stderr":"mkdir: '/cache/recovery': Required key not available"}

Only after a while and several retries I've realized that "format user data" must be checked at first installation (I think first transition from Android to Ubuntu Touch).

The good thing is that, even though I've retried installation several times even disconnecting and reconnecting the tablet from PC the system installed successfully (as UBports reported). It downloaded updates and started first-time set-up.

To this time I've successfully verified that wi-fi and camera works and downloaded two apps. Touch-screen works fine.

Again, thank you @k.nacke for help, and the procedure should be better described at the ubuntu-touch website - I've to glue instructions from several sources and this is not noob-user-friendly.