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MX2 Firmware Conundrum

dairug

Lurker
Hi Guys

Having scoured the web for weeks and lengthy conversation with a chinese manufacturer I was pleased to come across this forum which looks like the best source of info for Android Tv Boxes.

I have a great little MX2 clone which works a treat on Android and Gotham 13.1 but an issue I'm trying to overcome.

The issue I want to overcome is that I seem to be forced into using the manufacturers own rom image to reset the box and I would like the choice of flashing Linux or a different Android Image should I choose.

I've had a few different boxes and on some of them, the toothpick method brings up a recovery screen whether there is an SD card inserted or not. These boxes appear to be easy to flash whatever you want to them.

On this particular box, it has to have an SD card inserted with a Rom image prepared by using an SD card maker and copying 5 files over to the card. The toothpick method then started the flash and the process is automated until it reboots.

The only way I can get the android recovery menu up is by holding the toothpick in for too long. In this instance the ref lash fails and the menu appears. I still can't successfully load any different images up from here - I have tried lots of options.

Could anyone help me work out if there is a way to make the box a little more open. I have all of the manufacturers flashing files - would anyone know if they can be modified? I don't wuite understand "root" would I need an image that allows root access to then allow me to flash Linux?

It appears the box is "locked down". if anyone has any advice I would be very grateful!

Many Thanks
Chris
 
Hi Guys

Managed to get little further with this.

Upgraded knock off chinese 1.1.4 firmware with Matricom 1.1.5 using the OTA updater screen.

Slightly concerned that I couldn't update the pre 1.1.5 flash suggested by Matricom as the updating app wasn't in my version of Android. I don't think I will be able to get proper OTA updates unless I can find a workaround. Tried to install the 1.1.4 matricom image to run the pre 1.1.5 package from there but I can't find a rom image that works.

From 1.1.5 I can install a recent Linux build which flashes correctly and boots into XBMC the first time post flash but won't boot up again when the box is powered off and back on. I then need to use the prepared SD card to recover the box to it's factory settings.

Can anyone explain what the issue here would be. Is it that the manufacturer has a lock on the boot loader which causes an issue booting into Linux?

I seem to be really close to getting Linux on my box but need to overcome one last hurdle!

Thanks in advance
Chris
 
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