Root Where To Download Stock ROM For TF700T, And How To Revert Back To It?

[SteveWHamilton]

OK, I've already read the FAQ, the root guide, and scanned thru all the topic titles in this subforum, as well as doing a quick search on Google. And so far I haven't been able to find download links for the TF700T's stock ROM (WiFi-Only version). i'm talking about the original manufacturer ROM that came installed on it when I bought it at CompUSA awhile back, complete with all the apps, etc that came on it.

To make a long story short, I went messing about copying/renaming/moving/etc some APK files today, and now it seems that after a thorough review some of those files have now went missing, especially for some of the stock apps. I've checked and double-checked, some files which I believe to be essential, are now definitely missing.

I'm getting a lot of apps that are force-closing now, and some that refuse to open at all, and many have a blue X across the app's logo, which seems to signify that something is missing.

I could try reverting back to stock firmware/recovery and it might work, but I think it probably wont since the system would probably recognize that files it needs are no longer there. i'm not bricked and I can boot and reboot without issues. so far the tablet is at least still functioning at a basic level which I deem acceptable as far as being able to fix what I've done. in other words, not beyond hope yet, as long as I don't go messing around anymore.

So what I want to do is revert back to the stock ROM before I do anything else. but I have not been able to find any download links, and have not the slightest idea of how to revert back to it once I have the proper files. I'm currently rooted according to Root Checker and am currently running Jellybean. I understand that reverting will entail going back to ICS, which is fine by me since I have every intention of upgrading back up to JB once I've finished recovery.

But will I simply need to flash back to the stock ROM (or whatever the process is called), or will I also need to (separately?) flash back to the ICS firmware (4.0.3 at a minimum, but it could have been a bit lower when I bought it, someone correct me if i'm wrong)?

Also, I've bricked a few Android phones in the past so i'm not very tech-savvy when it comes to Android. PC, yes, but not Android. i'm learning, slowly but surely, but don't consider myself experienced enough to successfully complete this process without potentially messing something up, or worse, bricking my device, which I cant afford to replace anytime soon in the event that that happens. i'm not asking for hand-holding, since I need this valuable learning experience, but I do need enough references, links, etc to get me started so that I can do this.

Well, thanks in advance for any help/responses!

 

[ocnbrze]

i moved you to the root forum as your questions are root related.

so i looked (not too hard though) and i could not find the stock RUU (Rom Upgrade Utility) for the infinity. i did come across several stock but rooted roms that you can flash.

also keep in mind that whenever you mess aroud with system apps or remove things that you should always make a nandroid backup before doing so. that way when something like this happens you can just restore a previous backup and you should be fine afterwards.

so here are some rooted stock roms:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919271
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1943227

do you need help on how to flash them?

 

[SteveWHamilton]

ocnbrze: Thanks for the prompt response. But I really don't feel that moving my thread was necessary since it's not inherently root-related. I already know how to root the device and have done so, I recall speaking with you in another thread that I posted not very long ago and you even went so far as to thank me.

I do thank you for your effort to help me find a stock ROM, but i'm sorry, I don't really want to use the ones that you've listed because they are rooted from the outset, and that means that someone has tampered with them (presumably in a good way, of course, but who knows?). I really do feel that I need the 100% original stock ROM that was put on here by ASUS (in other words, not rooted) is what I need. I am in no way implying that you are obligated to help me any further in regards to finding the proper file(s). It's just that I really don't trust ppl these days and there's no telling whether whoever supplied these ROMs messed with them in other ways, or maybe something else about them got unintentionally messed up in the process of rooting them. I really don't understand how something can be both stock ROM and rooted all at the same time, since manufacturers very rarely if ever root their devices out of the box before shipping them to retailers or direct to the consumer. stock implies original and therefore unmodified by anyone EXCEPT the manufacturer.

In the meantime, I suppose i'll be posting on both the official ASUS Forums as well as XDA-Developers forums from my laptop, in the hopes that someone can either link to or provide/upload a 100% original link. i'll probably also be checking for hash/check-sums/MD5/etc to make sure that what i'm downloading is the real deal. I absolutely am not willing to take any chances and will not be using my tablet again until i'm ready to do this. better safe than sorry.

I once again thank you for your help, and yes, instructions on how to flash back to stock ROM would definitely be very helpful, if you don't mind providing the info.

EDIT: I will find it absolutely astounding if someone doesn't have the needed file(s) for such a popular device by a well-known manufacturer, I really do find it unbelievable that someone somewhere wouldn't have it.

EDIT#2: I'm wondering, what is the difference between flashing to stock ROM, flashing to a custom ROM, and simply updating (or reverting) the firmware? I ask because I went perusing thru the downloads on the official ASUS support website for this device, and they seem to have all the firmwares available, including the one which I previously reverted to awhile back in order to achieve root on JB. would flashing back to the (earliest) firmware version be the same as reverting to stock? or is that firmware-only, without the stock apps, etc. is firmware and stock ROM reversion the same thing, or different? also, another reason I am hesitant to use your links is that at least one of them seems to require an unlocked bootloader as a prerequisite (not sure about the other, sinced it doesn't say one way or another, but I assume it does). I don't so much care about the warranty, but I do appreciate the ability to be able to get OTAs, and i'm pretty sure that once the bootloader is unlocked it cant be undone. i'm also considering the possibility of returning the device to ASUS in an unrooted state in the hope that they can restore it. Also, what is a Nandroid backup, exactly? it seems like it should be, and most likely is, a complete back up of everything on the tablet (firmware, apps, etc............the whole pie, so to speak). and what is the difference between a Nandroid backup and simply using ROM Manager/CWM/CWM Recovery to backup. or Titanium Backup, for that matter? I have premium licenses for Titanium and ROM Manager that I paid for but am uncertain on exactly how to make full use of them. I just figured I wouold buy them just in casen I ever needed them. I also couldn't find downloadn links for Nandroid on Google Play, free, paid, or otherwise. so if you can explain what it is then i'd appreciate it.

 

[ocnbrze]

ocnbrze: Thanks for the prompt response. But I really don't feel that moving my thread was necessary since it's not inherently root-related. I already know how to root the device and have done so, I recall speaking with you in another thread that I posted not very long ago and you even went so far as to thank me.

I do thank you for your effort to help me find a stock ROM, but i'm sorry, I don't really want to use the ones that you've listed because they are rooted from the outset, and that means that someone has tampered with them (presumably in a good way, of course, but who knows?). I really do feel that I need the 100% original stock ROM that was put on here by ASUS (in other words, not rooted) is what I need. I am in no way implying that you are obligated to help me any further in regards to finding the proper file(s). It's just that I really don't trust ppl these days and there's no telling whether whoever supplied these ROMs messed with them in other ways, or maybe something else about them got unintentionally messed up in the process of rooting them. I really don't understand how something can be both stock ROM and rooted all at the same time, since manufacturers very rarely if ever root their devices out of the box before shipping them to retailers or direct to the consumer. stock implies original and therefore unmodified by anyone EXCEPT the manufacturer.

In the meantime, I suppose i'll be posting on both the official ASUS Forums as well as XDA-Developers forums from my laptop, in the hopes that someone can either link to or provide/upload a 100% original link. i'll probably also be checking for hash/check-sums/MD5/etc to make sure that what i'm downloading is the real deal. I absolutely am not willing to take any chances and will not be using my tablet again until i'm ready to do this. better safe than sorry.

I once again thank you for your help, and yes, instructions on how to flash back to stock ROM would definitely be very helpful, if you don't mind providing the info.

EDIT: I will find it absolutely astounding if someone doesn't have the needed file(s) for such a popular device by a well-known manufacturer, I really do find it unbelievable that someone somewhere wouldn't have it.

EDIT#2: I'm wondering, what is the difference between flashing to stock ROM, flashing to a custom ROM, and simply updating (or reverting) the firmware? I ask because I went perusing thru the downloads on the official ASUS support website for this device, and they seem to have all the firmwares available, including the one which I previously reverted to awhile back in order to achieve root on JB. would flashing back to the (earliest) firmware version be the same as reverting to stock? or is that firmware-only, without the stock apps, etc. is firmware and stock ROM reversion the same thing, or different? also, another reason I am hesitant to use your links is that at least one of them seems to require an unlocked bootloader as a prerequisite (not sure about the other, sinced it doesn't say one way or another, but I assume it does). I don't so much care about the warranty, but I do appreciate the ability to be able to get OTAs, and i'm pretty sure that once the bootloader is unlocked it cant be undone. i'm also considering the possibility of returning the device to ASUS in an unrooted state in the hope that they can restore it. Also, what is a Nandroid backup, exactly? it seems like it should be, and most likely is, a complete back up of everything on the tablet (firmware, apps, etc............the whole pie, so to speak). and what is the difference between a Nandroid backup and simply using ROM Manager/CWM/CWM Recovery to backup. or Titanium Backup, for that matter? I have premium licenses for Titanium and ROM Manager that I paid for but am uncertain on exactly how to make full use of them. I just figured I wouold buy them just in casen I ever needed them. I also couldn't find downloadn links for Nandroid on Google Play, free, paid, or otherwise. so if you can explain what it is then i'd appreciate it.

ok first thing that being that your tablet is rooted, this is the perfect place to place your questions. i understand you are looking for a stock rom(not rooted) but that still means you have a rooted tablet and doing things are different so this is the place for it.

and stock rooted roms are roms that are just stock but have added superuser(su) which grants permission to have access to the system partions. without su you can't flash recoveries or flash roms.

if you have a custom recovery then you can make nandroid backups. nandroid backups are way to back everthing up on your device. it is kind of like when you save point in a game. if you messed up in the game you can always go back to it and start over. do you have a custom recovery? any time you root a device you should always get a custom recovery.

now i have not seen any non rooted roms (RUU) yet, but i will keep looking. so do you want to unroot your tablet?

 

[SteveWHamilton]

ok first thing that being that your tablet is rooted, this is the perfect place to place your questions. i understand you are looking for a stock rom(not rooted) but that still means you have a rooted tablet and doing things are different so this is the place for it.

OK, well, thanks for clarifying. but i'm still not getting it, will reverting to a 100% original stock ROM unroot my device (hopefully it will, since I can always reroot later), or will my current root status be retained simply because i'm already rooted?

and stock rooted roms are roms that are just stock but have added superuser(su) which grants permission to have access to the system partions. without su you can't flash recoveries or flash roms.

I know exactly what a stock rooted ROM is and I understand what you're trying to say. HOWEVER, they have been modified from what the manufacturer has provided and are NOT original, and therefore are technically classified as a custom ROM. I also understand that w/o the su binary you cant flash recoveries or ROMs. however, I do believe that this would *ONLY* apply if your trying to install a *custom* rom, it should not be necessary for a true stock ROM. otherwise there is no point..........if someone needed root just to apply a firmware update or do a factory restore (which is essentially the same as just trying to revert back to an older version of the stock ROM anyways)............I think you will see my point.

if you have a custom recovery then you can make nandroid backups. nandroid backups are way to back everthing up on your device. it is kind of like when you save point in a game. if you messed up in the game you can always go back to it and start over. do you have a custom recovery? any time you root a device you should always get a custom recovery.

it seems that your implying that a Nandroid backup is only possible for ppl who are using custom ROMs, but not for a stock ROM user. Correct or not? and i'm still not getting exactly what Nandroid is? is it an app to be run, or what?

Lastly, are the firmware updates on the ASUS website nothing more than firmware, or do they they also include the original ROM(s) with all stock apps, etc? the files are rather large, it seems they should be a lot more than just firmware. and i'm still not sure what the difference is between firmware and stock ROMs, or whether they're one and the same.

I've also been quite busy trying to upgrade my PC to Windows 8 Pro, so I've got a lot on my mind, and for this kind of crap to happen now is really just causing anger and confusion and uncertainty on the right path to follow, etc. it simply amazes me how the smallest mistakes and oversights can create huge headaches that keep me awake and racking my brain for hours or days on end..........

Well, thanks for any help!

EDIT: another reason I now wish to revert to a true stock ROM, instead of simply using the ROMs you provided, is that I need the learning experience so that I will have more confidence in the future on how to repair things if something goes wrong. as opposed to simply, in effect, allowing someone else to do the work for me by using already-prepared materials that's been provided. maybe one day I can call myself an expert. also, I do believe that using what you've provided above may not allow me to downgrade again in the future if it becomes necessary for whatever reason, since the required files for reverting will presumably be missing since ib would be using a custom ROM with non-standard files not provided by the manufacturer. this time around i'll definitely be sure to make a backup after doing a bit of research on how it's done. i'm also considering moving on to a reputable custom ROM like CyanogenMod in the near future since I've heard nothing but good things about it, and it does appear to be available for the TF700T. but I wont even risk doing that until i'm a bit more experienced.

 

[johnlgalt]

Sorry for the late reply and not being her efor so long- thesis defense coming up.

All the pure stock files are available at ASUS's website directly. Since you do not want anything

that someone has tampered with them (presumably in a good way, of course, but who knows?)

I'm assuming you want the pure stock stuff.

It is a bit tricky to find, but here is the link: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T - from there be sure to select OS (it really does not matter which you pick) and then you see 4 links with plus marks next to them to expand them:

• +Firmware
• +Utilities
• +Source Code
• +Manual

Expand firmware, and from there you can grab any of the released system files for your build.

NOTE: You have to pick the file for your particular build - for example, WW for worldwide (excluding Japan, US, and Taiwan, US for US, etc.)

Note: If you have applied the 9.4.5.30 update or higher the lowest you can download and install is the 9.4.5.30 - you cannot install 9.4.5.26, nor 9.4.5.20.

Note: If you have not updated to 9.4.5.30 (meaning you are still on 9.4.5.22/9.4.5.26) I HIGHLY recommend that you get the nvflash tool from XDA and make an NVFlash backup first.

HTH

 

[SteveWHamilton]

OK, my apologies in not being able to get back around to this so quickly, but i'm still having trouble with Win 8, and my tablet is still in a state of dysfunctionality. but now it has gotten worse.

a few days ago, before i had gotten around to reading johnlgalt's post, i had used the Update Firmware option to upgrade yet again to the latest firmware version, even despite still having the issues i had described earlier, thinking it might solve the issue.

Now what has happened, is it continually says "Android is upgrading" every time i reboot, and it will also say below that "Optimizing apps", of which there are 46 (but i have many more installed). it then takes me to the screen where you choose location and then time settings, and after that the option to connect to a network, which i decline. after that i get a message after about 30 seconds that says something along the lines of "setup is not responding, would you like to close it?" if i press the Wait option the screen goes completely black, and if i choose Close option it still goes black. in either case im left with only a Back arrow in the lower left corner of the screen, with the screen still black, and no Home Screen/apps/etc being visible to me. Also, in the background, app after app after app is trying to open automatically, and then repeatedly force-closing in a neverending cycle. it seems that every installed app i have is trying to open, but cant. at least before the firmware update my apps would open and stay open, even despite my issues. but now..........

To user JohnLGalt:

Are you sure that the downloads available on the ASUS website all the actual/full stock ROMs, or simply firmware and nothing more? i checked there before you posted, and they clearly say firmware, i'm not doubting you, but what i need is the full stock ROM with all default apps that were included by the manufacturer, etc, not JUST the FW. i'm still not understanding the difference between a full ROM and FW.

Also, i cant seem to find anything in the tablet's "About" section (which i can access, in addition to Settings, with a bit of trouble) in regards to the numbers listed (9.4.5.30, 9.4.5.26, 9.4.5.20, etc. so i have no idea exactly where im at now, except that i simply upgraded to JB, deleted some APK files by mistake, and then later took the FW update that is offered immediately after JB (while forgetting to back up the SU binary). so, how do i know which one is appropriate to download? and how do i go about applying them, since i cant access the default file manager or Root Explorer, or even download (via the tablet) the FW files. do i need to connect them to my PC via USB, transfer the FW files to the root of the SD card, and then do a safe/clean (re)boot, to get the "FW update is available" notification? do i need to run some arcane commands on my PC while connected? do i also need to download/install the Android SDK (on my PC)?

And what is this nvflash you speak of, how will i go about loading it now, do i really need it, etc?

To user ocnbrze: instructions on exactly how to go about the flashing/downgrading process would be greatly appreciated, if you don't mind providing them. Thanks.

Well, thanks for any help!

 

[johnlgalt]

If you extract them, they yield 817 MB sized files. Pretty sure that they are the whole shebang.

As for nvFlash, well, since you've already made it to 8.4.5.30 and higher, you're SOL - can't use nvFlash anymore.

As for Firmware version: Settings --> About Tablet --> scroll down to Build number

You'll see a number like this: JRO03C.US_epad-10.4.4.20-21021026

The first bold faced item indicates which version you need to DL from ASUS's website.

The second indicates which Firmware version you're on. The last string after the bold faced item is the build date - YYYYMMDD.

HTH