Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted July 14, 2017 Some Time ago I bought a cheap Z28 TV Box fromGearbest for 27€. I was curious about this chip after I saw a Picture of the Rock64 here on Armbian. When I first connected the Box it only comes up with 720p Resolution, far away from 4K at all. Some other things happened, Rock64 was send to Devs and Developement seems to become more and more Stable, so it tried to check Ayufans Android Image on this Box. I got me the Android Tools and flashed the Image to the box on a Windows Machine . Adroid came up without Network, (as expected) but seeing this Image Booting made me thnking of trying the a Desktop Image on this Box. The Android Image can be flashed via Android Tools, but not the Linux Image. To make the Box boot from SDCard it has to be Set to Maskrom Mode. This could be easily done with the Android Tool. 1. Start the Android Tool on Windows 2. Go to Upgrade Firmware 3. Load some Firmware for this Box (the one from Ayufan or some of the originals..) 4. Plug a Male to Male USB Cable to the OTG Port of this Box, while Pressing the Reset Button for ca. 5s 5. Now go to "Erase Flash" , Done the Box is now in MaskRom Mode.. Just like always prepare a SD Card with an Image and watch Ubuntu comig up on this Cheapo. I am writing now from this Box and even this is an early Stage of Developement, it looks very promising. (Just found that "Take Screenshots" is not working...) 1 r1kaomsk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted July 15, 2017 It really works :-) How about internal flash driver? There is no suitable device in /dev :-( 1 Da Alchemist reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted July 15, 2017 I did not try the EMMC, but you can see it with a Tool like Gparted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted July 15, 2017 I found the test point for enter MASKROM mode without erasing internal memory :-) 1 Da Alchemist reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clarkss12 5 Report post Posted July 16, 2017 What red and green are you referring to? Edit, never mind I see them........ thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ayufan 2 Report post Posted July 16, 2017 Haha. Amazing. Great to hear that it also works here I wonder if I should also not adapt Android to work too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted July 16, 2017 2 hours ago, ayufan said: Haha. Amazing. Great to hear that it also works here I wonder if I should also not adapt Android to work too. Porting Android to this is Box would be fine, since the upcoming the Rockbox would be the same Hardware. I saw Widevine on your Android Image @r1kaomsk, good work I am going to solder a Switch to this Points, so i will have a Dual Boot Box! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted July 17, 2017 I did some soldering this Morning and found, that my z28 is not going to Maskrom Mode when I connect the two Points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted July 17, 2017 I use tweezers for make it connected: Spoiler Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted July 17, 2017 dont forget to eject microsd when trying to enter maskrom or it will try boot from micro sd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted July 17, 2017 Here is my solution for dualboot: Spoiler Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xalius 41 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 @Da Alchemist can you pastebin a dmesg bootlog with Ethernet inserted? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 Here is a log i took yesterday https://pastebin.com/2uA4xxpf. My z28 died today and i do not go and buy another one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xalius 41 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 @Da Alchemist thanks, how did your Z28 die? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 1 hour ago, Xalius said: how did your Z28 die? Yeah, same question, i wonder it unbreakable Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 It is a strange Phenomen. The Box is not completly broken, but every Time I "shutdown" there is no sign of life for Minutes.... Here is another Log from Today :https://pastebin.com/iBuJAEJW Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 somebody knows where is MAC for wifi stored in? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 I found the Error, it is my USB to Serial converter, when it is plugged in i have to wait. The Box is working when the converter is plugged of... I am going to look at the solder points tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xalius 41 Report post Posted July 18, 2017 @r1kaomsk, the 4.4.x BSP kernel tried to store MACs in the GPT vendor partition on the eMMC. ayufan changed that for Rock64 images to the SPI flash since eMMC are removable here... 1 r1kaomsk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Igor 1131 Report post Posted August 11, 2017 Z28 PRO http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_640687.html @r1kaomsk Shorting those pins (here PCB is very similar) + power on should boot Rock64 Linux from SD card? 1 susiebb18 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted August 12, 2017 PCB looks similar, i think the trick is to shorten it only for a short time.... I have crashed the eMMC on my board by trying to write an Image to it via DD. On RKDev Tools the Samsung Chip is recognized, but shows O MB Capacity...so perhaps some Voltage settings are not quite right. ( Board is permanent in Maskrom Mode now) The Booting Issue had something to do with my Serial-USB connector, when it is unplugged everything works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Igor 1131 Report post Posted August 12, 2017 Just now, Da Alchemist said: PCB looks similar, i think the trick is to shorten it only for a short time.... I am afraid that I'll damage those pins. My soldering skills and equipment are on the level to solder serial header And first I have to make USB male A - male A cable since I can't find any. So if I erase eMMC within RKTools it should always boot from SD? Quote The Booting Issue had something to do with my Serial-USB connector, when it is unplugged everything works. OK, will pay attention to that too. 1 susiebb18 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted August 12, 2017 30 minutes ago, Igor said: So if I erase eMMC within RKTools it should always boot from SD? Yes worked for me this way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Igor 1131 Report post Posted August 12, 2017 Some of my findings. By using AndroidTool v2.38 I could enter maskrom by pressing button and plugging A-A USB to USB2.0 port, the one most distant from USB3.0 I could upgrade Android firmware to the latest, but when erasing flash, the box stays in maskrom mode and refuses to boot from SD card. There is nothing on serial. BTW: I can't read any information about flash or chip. It always gives error. 1 susiebb18 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted August 12, 2017 It seems the Box is different to the z28, z28 is not in Maskrom Mode after pressing the Button and I think we do not have to talk about SDcard Issues... Did you try to start up with Flash erased, SDcard in and serial Adapter disconnected from serial header? (you certainly have to plug in a Monitor) I got only Information about flash, right after starting AndroidTool but because of the broken eMMC i can only start from Sdcard now.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted August 23, 2017 Z28 PRO MASKROM TESTPOINT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted August 23, 2017 On 12.08.2017 at 10:30 PM, Da Alchemist said: because of the broken eMMC i can only start from Sdcard now.. You can't damage eMMC via software, just get FULL STOCK firmware and flash it from maskrom mode (do not forget to eject SD card) with AndroidTool ("upgrade" tab) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Igor 1131 Report post Posted August 24, 2017 6 hours ago, r1kaomsk said: Z28 PRO MASKROM TESTPOINT You had luck booting Linux from SD card on this PRO version? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Da Alchemist 22 Report post Posted August 24, 2017 @r1kaomsk, I have already tried to flash a stock rom with android tool. I can not check it now ( holiday) but i remember the message i got was something like " idb prepare fail" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r1kaomsk 6 Report post Posted August 24, 2017 23 minutes ago, Da Alchemist said: @r1kaomsk, I have already tried to flash a stock rom with android tool. I can not check it now ( holiday) but i remember the message i got was something like " idb prepare fail" This bug described on russian forum 4pda (http://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=819860&view=findpost&p=64310568), the solution is to shorten your usba-usba cable to 30cm (http://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=819860&st=1160#entry64312087) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
