Update of 4th August (devel)
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@domubpkm also use a USB 2 connection on your computer, if available.
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@dtarrant so if it is stuck on flashing firmware, you are either nit in fastboot mode or you maybe just need to click some ok/proceed button in the installer.
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This is a link to my original foray with the device. You have to be patient, it takes some time to install. You will know when you are in fastboot as there will be a minute red fastboot mode displayed in one of the corners.
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@domubpkm
Just tried your method. Seemed to be working at first, flashing firmware. Also selected Lenovo tab manually and selected RC cbannel. Eventually got dreaded "Yikes!" failed message.
Possible problems:
Device must be running Android 9 (don't know if it still is)
Device must be unlocked (don't know if it still is)
Device musf be in Developer mode (can't switch to Developer mode)
I feel like a losing chess player!
Anyhow, many thanks for your input.
(I now understand the meaning of "bricked") -
@arubislander
Yes, used USB-2 connection. -
@mrt10001
Yes, that was pretty much how I did it when I first installed UT on the Lenovo. Only difference was I was running installer on Ubuntu 20.04.
UT worked fine on Lenovo for months through several upgrades (until August 4th). Unfortunately, it never occured to me to switch to RC channel. I know better now! -
Device must be running Android 9 (don't know if it still is)
Device must be unlocked (don't know if it still is)
Device musf be in Developer mode (can't switch to Developer mode)None of those apply if you were on UT already (re-locking the bootloader is a manual step done in fastboot, so I doubt you did it by mistake). If you got an error message post the installer logs here (
~/.cache/ubports/ubports-installer.log).If you had to select your device manually then your PC probably didn't detect the device, so it probably wasn't in fastboot mode (unless it's one of the weird ones).
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@klh
Ok, so tonight I tried again with Installer 0.9.5 and subsequently 0.9.6.
Managed to select recovery mode at one stage and also fastboot mode at another.
Also got firmware downloading message.
Things seemed to be getting progressively worse until I reached the situation where the Lenovo tablet is
un-responsive.
I am now completely stuck.
I have previously contemplated trying to install android 9 and re-building my system from scratch, but in view of my experience tonight, I wonder if even that will be possible.
Due to my inexperience, I never contemplated switching from devel to rc whilst the system was working.
I've learned the value of that advice the hard way.
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@dtarrant Going back to Android first might be the easiest - should all happen in fastboot so once you boot that it should be fine.
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@mrt10001 @klh
My problem at the moment is that the Lenovo tablet is so screwed up that:
I cannot boot to the Lenovo splash screen;
I cannot launch fastboot;
None of the operations involving power/volume buttons work.However, it's not completely dead. Various long presses of the power and volume buttons cause it to emit a haptic buzz. Sometimes the little red led at the top of the screen starts blinking as though it is still trying to load firmware.
I've tried charging it and I think connecting it to a power source provoked the little red led to start blinking.My gut feel is that the tablet doesn't have a hardware fault, but that the firmware/software is in a complete mess.
For any chess fans, I feel as though I've been check-mated.
How can I re-set it and start a new game? I'm sure I can beat it next time! -
@dtarrant
What is the processor of this tablet ?
Isn't there a low level flashing tool for it like there is for madiatek ones (spflashtool) ? -
@dtarrant Plug the device into the power and leave for a day. This should charge it to 100% and maybe you will get a splash screen (I have done this on many phones with "dead" batteries and it generally works).
If it works and you can get into fast boot, try TWRP recovery which is fantastic tool for recovery of a soft bricked device.
It is sometimes better to leave it for a day and come back with a different train of though.
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@keneda
Processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
Don't know anything about low-level flashing tools, but sounds interesting.
Thanks for the tip. -
@mrt10001
Thanks for the suggestion. Tablet is charging now.
Don't know anything about TWRP. What can you tell me about it? -
@dtarrant Read this on the XDA forums.
Be aware it is for the M10 TB-X605F or L which is denoted by F/L and not for the FL which has no forward slash, so it will work on your tablet (mine is the F version (no SIM slot) of F/L) just avoid Lenovo's silly and confusing derivative naming.
You obviously need to be in fastboot mode and flash it by using :
fastboot flash recovery <path to your TB -X605F/L TWRP>Once in TWRP, I highly recommend wiping the cache and data partition and then rebooting to the bootloader (i.e. fastboot mode).
Then try installing UT again. If UT fails to install reinstall the stock ROM and then follow the instructions to install UT again.
(For me this has turned a mediocre Android tablet into something a lot better and more interesting, it is nice having an Ubuntu 10" tablet..)
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@MrT10001
Thanks for the information. Mine is the Lenovo TB-X605F.
Until the fatal update, it was working superbly with UT. I absolutely loved it! A great successor to my BQ Aquaris M10 running UT.
I so hope I can coax it back to life with the help of all the community members on this forum who have chipped in with advice and suggestions. -
@keneda
So I did a web search for low-level flash tool for Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 and it led to XDA forums. Very encouraging!
But the YouTube video demonstrating the use of the tool was no longer available.
Another forum post said that the documentation for the tool was in chinese.
I also found a long rambling post by someone in the USA which was way over my head and concluded that this approach is a non-starter for me. -
@mrt10001
Tried charging for a long period, but still unable to boot to Lenovo splash screen. Only faint haptic buzz and blinking red led. -
@dtarrant
First see this : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualcomm_EDL_modeBest (safer) chance would be to use Linux tool by Andersson : https://github.com/andersson/qdl
But yes, it seems to be way harder than with mediatek chips as qualcomm did not release any official tool...
I also found those :https://repairmymobile.co/flash/qfil-tool-download/
https://qfiltool.com/
https://qpsttool.com/But none of those are official from qualcomm, and i can't say that there is no risk using those, as www is a jungle full of predators lol.Edit : didn't see the first time but on the wiki, there is this link that maybe is safer than the stricked three others, and could free your brick ^^
https://www.thecustomdroid.com/qpst-flash-tool-download-usage-guide/#what-is-qpst-toolAgain, not "officialy" from qualcomm.
