[MrTasselhof]

The purpose of this thread is to start creating a one stop shop for questions that seem to be answered multiple times.
If you have any questions WITH their working solution, please let me know or post it in this thread and I will add it to the first post.
I am attempting to go through my entire history of posts, 900+, to dig out and post further questions/answers.

Thanks

Tasselhof

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I am new to Android... where do I get started?

[FAQ] - Android - General Introduction and How To Guide

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What are some suggested MUST HAVE or Default programs?

**Just One Opinion on the Topic**

Video: Rockplayer
- To change the default directory: Click the Menu Button - Setting --> Root Folder
Audio: Astro Player Nova
- To change the default directory: Click the Menu Button - Options --> General --> Audio folder
File Explorer: ES File Explorer & Root Explorer
- To change the default directory: Click the Menu Button - Settings --> Home Directory
PDF: Adobe Reader
eBook: Aldiko
Web Browser: Dolphin Browser HD
Keyboard: Better Keyboard 7
Launcher: ADW.Launcher

Widgets:
- The Weather Channel
- AudioManager Console

Random:
- WiFi Analyzer
- System App
- Apps 2 SD
- Scanner Radio
- Tapatalk

Games:
- Heavy Gunner
- Slice It
- Angry Birds
- Gem Miner: Dig Deeper
- Tank Hero
- Tiki Towers

If you have a child:
- Toddler Lock

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How do I disable 3G and Phone services to save battery life?

2 ways,

#1

open adb, type pm list packages
the type pm enable packagename

Not sure if I actually disabled anything... but let me know if after you do the second options, it still doesn't work.

AND

#2

open adb shell
cd /system/app

Run these commands to get it back to "stock":
mv Mms.apk.old Mms.apk
mv TelephonyProvider.apk.old TelephonyProvider.apk
mv Phone.apk.old Phone.apk
mv Provision.apk.old Provision.apk

ALTERNATE OPTION
Use Root Explorer and look for all the apk's changed to old and just rename them by taking out the old bit.

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My Tablet won't turn on or only shows a blank back-lit screen.

1) Ttry reseating the MicroSD card (it could have gotten jostled or loose)
2) Check all of the connections to the board to make sure they are secure.
3) You may also try re-imaging the SD card.

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Skype fails to load and force closes

Option 1:
- Search for Skype Beta as it will allow you to log in and use IM chat
Option 2:
Thanks to Maindude for this:

**MUST HAVE ROOT ACCESS**

DISCLAIMER
I/We take no responsibility if you mess up your tablet.

Open: Root Explorer (or similar app file manager with root access)
Browse to: /system
Open/Edit file: build.prop
Find this line: ro.kernel.android.checkjni=1 (found towards the end of the file)
Change to: ro.kernel.android.checkjni=0
Save & Exit the file
Reboot your tablet

Skype should now load properly and allow you to log in.
- Audio and Text chat work on the C8 - I have not tried the MID816 yet.
It still DOES NOT send nor receive video.

Now we just have to wait for an officially update/fix from Skype that will hopefully enable Video as well.

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I can't connect to my wireless network, the system just saying connecting and fails

You may have MAC Address filtering on and need to either add the device or turn it off.

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What are the partitions, sizes, and purpose?

It depends on the device but here is a general sample
System partition - 159mb
- is the system/OS files
Apps partition - 512mb
- Where programs are installed and stored
- you can use Apps to SD to move some of the programs over and make room.
Cache partition - 159mb
- temporary storage for programs and files that are running
Data partition - 2.86gb
- is the last one and is used for MP3, Movies, etc...
- should generally be the largest partition.

Please note... Modify the partition tables will cause your device to be formatted with each firmware update.
I don't believe that is the case if you only modify the FAT32 partition though.

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How, When and Where can I use ADB shell?

You need to open the command prompt (CMD) window first.
Then open/use ADB from there...

So let's say your ADB files are on a folder called Android on your Desktop.
Go to: Start --> Run
Type in: CMD
- Hit: Enter
- You should now have a black "box" open and be at a dos prompt
Type: cd Desktop\Android
- Hit: Enter
Type: adb
- Hit: Enter
- You should now see a list of commands that you can use after entering ADB

The most common one you will use is:
adb install (program name.apk)

You can also type in: adb shell
- this will give you access to a linux style prompt and commands.

This post has been edited by MrTasselhof: 11 September 2011 - 01:31 PM

[MrTasselhof]

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How do I add, remove, modify, and customize the home desktop screen?

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Market has stopped, hangs, won't, fails to download programs and updates.

Go to Settings --> Applications --> Manage Applications --> All
- Select Market
- Clear Data
- Select Google Services Framework
- Clear Cache (if it still fails - clear data)
Wait a couple hours and then try the market again.

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How do I enable the "Full" Market?

**REQUIRES ROOT ACCESS**

Edit the build.prop file
1) Open Root Explorer
2) Browse to System
3) Click and hold on build.prop (on bottom)
- Scroll down to Edit Text
4) Click on the Text to Allow Modification
- Find this line: ro.build.fingerprint= (located about half way down)
5) Change it to the following
- ro.build.fingerprint=google/passion/passion/mahimahi:2.2/FRF91/43546:user/release-keys
- or -
- ro.build.fingerprint=generic/utv210/utv210/smdkv210:2.2/FRF91/eng.urbetter.20110301.142336:eng/test-keys
6) Save the File

Open Android Market and then Click on Home (launcher)

Go to Settings->Applications->Manage->Running
- Click Market
- Then Clear Cache (NOT CLEAR DATA!!!!)
- Then Force Stop
- Click Google Services Framework
- Click Clear Data
- Click Force Stop

Open Android Market (it will error this is GOOD!)

Shutdown and Restart the tablet
- Wait for Wireless to Kick In
- Wait for System to Finish Loading

Open Android Market
- If it opens without an error GREAT!
- If it opens with the same error... give it a couple minutes or multiple tries at opening (it will go through)

Thanks again Gushie!

This post has been edited by MrTasselhof: 17 July 2011 - 04:23 PM

[MrTasselhof]

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How do I manually install a .APK program file?

1) Install the USB Drivers for your tablet and get the tablet recognized (copy files to your desktop - Make a folder called: Android)
2) Copy the APK files you wish to install in to the "Android" folder contain which contains the ADB files
3) Remove the external SD card from your tablet
4) Open a Command Prompt -- Start --> Run --> CMD (enter/ok)
5) Type in: cd desktop\Android
6) Type in: adb install (file name)
- ex. Angry_Birds_1.4.2.apk
- ex. com.rovio.angrybirdseasons.v1.1.1.apk
7) Hit Enter
- Program will be pushed out/installed to your device

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How do I uninstall and remove a Program or App?

Click the Menu Button
Click on Settings
Click on Applications
Click on All
Click on the program you wish to remove
Click on Uninstall
Click on OK

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How do I remove a "Default" setting for a program use. IE: ADW.Launcher, Rockplayer, etc...

Go to: Settings --> Applications --> Manage Applications
Find: **Application in Question**
Scroll down below Clear Data and Clear Cache.
- You will see a button to Clear Default --> Click It

In the case of ADW.Launcher
After you clear the default, when you press the Home button you will be prompted to pick a launcher.
You can then set the original "Launcher" as your default.

This post has been edited by MrTasselhof: 17 July 2011 - 04:22 PM

[MrTasselhof]

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How do I changed the DPI (dots per inch) on my tablet?

**MUST HAVE ROOT ACCESS**

Open Root Explorer
- Open System folder
- Press and hold the "build.prop" file until dialog pops up and scroll down to "Edit with Text Editor"
- Scroll down about halfway and change the dpi from 200 to 180 (going to 160 mucks up the notification bar)
- When finished, hit the menu button and select "Save and Exit"
Hold Power button to shutdown and restart or shut down via the dialog
Boot up the tablet, wait for everything to load up
Then hold Menu button until calibration shows up
- Calibrate normally
Reboot again
All set!

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How would I go about disabling the phone or services and programs?
I will never put a 3g card in this. I bet disabling those services could give me a couple hours extra battery life.

The easiest way is to have ROOT access.
Open Root Explorer App
Browse to /system/app

I renamed all of the following in a similar fashion... I added Old to the front to keep them together... and .old after apk to rename the file so the system couldn't use it. (ex. Bluetooth.apk = OldBluetooth.apk.old)
Bluetooth.apk
Network3gMonitor.apk
Phone.apk (will require an immediate hard shut down and reboot after being renamed)
Provision.apk
shortcut3g.apk
TelephonyProvider.apk
VpnServices.apk

Hope that helps!

Tasselhof

This post has been edited by MrTasselhof: 17 July 2011 - 04:24 PM

[MrTasselhof]

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My wireless turns off after XX minutes and won't stay on

Set WiFi sleep to NEVER
Browse to: Settings --> Wireless & Networks --> Wi-Fi Settings
Click the Menu Button: Advanced --> Wi-Fi sleep policy --> Never

This post has been edited by MrTasselhof: 21 October 2011 - 10:07 AM

[MrTasselhof]

Saved for Future Posts

This post has been edited by MrTasselhof: 21 October 2011 - 10:06 AM

[Blaurens]

Thanks! I'll see if I can apply a few of these tweaks

[rkenders]

1. I bought an 816R2 that was used. The previous owner had used it less than a month and went with an ipad...go figure! Anyway, I can't get his gmail account out of the tablet and replace it with mine. I can add mine, but the tablet will not let go of his addy no matter what. As a result I can't get to the market or e-mail or anything that requires internet access because I would have to use his gmail account. Any ideas?

2. Can FWDN or ADB be used to reflash the R2? How does one do that and can someone tell me where to get the latest/greatest firmware. I am unable to use the Return/Home button combo for whatever reason to flash from microSD card.

3. I pulled the internal flash card out, popped it in my PC and used Roadkil's Disk Image to make a back up. The back up completed fine. I had an img file I found on slatedroid for the R2 that included root. It seemed like a good idea. I attempted to install the image to my flash card, but it would always fail, telling me I had a bad block. OK fine so I pulled the 4gig microSD card from my MID816 which was working fine and it too failed with either my original or the rooted image. I used a partition tool to remove every partition on both 4gig cards and they still would fail. I then pulled out a 16gig card and it flashed just fine. I eventually went back to my original img backup restored to the 16gig class 10 card. I expanded the user data partition to use up the remaining free space and now show 13gigs available from within the tablet OS. I have since totally erased all data from both 4gig cards and copied to and from to them from windows several times and done disk checks with no problems. Any idea why my 4gig cards fail? GRRRR! My MID816 is now dead because I can't restore the image to it's card. I guess I can always buy another 16gig card.

4. How do you root the R2?

[derekgarn]

I have used the rooted firmware that is advailable here,
Works verg good for me.
Also had problems with Roadkils Disk Image, just started it again
From the beginning and got there in the end,kept getting the bad
Block error with 2gb card but just press start again

[derekgarn]

Thanks for the tips very helpful,
Just having a problem finding the
Network3gMonitor.apk & shortcut3g.apk
should they be there? or is it not importent

[MrTasselhof]

derekgarn, on 27 July 2011 - 03:01 PM, said:

Thanks for the tips very helpful,
Just having a problem finding the
Network3gMonitor.apk & shortcut3g.apk
should they be there? or is it not importent

Probably not important... if they aren't there then you wouldn't need to rename them

Tasselhof

[derekgarn]

I have used the rooted firmware that is advailable here,
Works verg good for me.
Also had problems with Roadkils Disk Image, just started it again
From the beginning and got there in the end,kept getting the bad
Block error with 2gb card but just press start again

[bobbyballjr]

I have a new herotab mid816 r2 that is erasing my movies(mp4) and pictures(jpeg) off of the external micro sd card. the card is a sandisk 16 gb. i put the movies in a movie folder and the pictures in a picture folder and when i turn on the tablet it reads the card just fine. shows the pictures and movies on the card but when i turn the tablet off and back on again the pictures and movies are gone. i have comics and mp3s on the card as well that don't get touched. any thoughts?

[Pjones11]

Actually, I've noticed the same thing. So, far it's only happened once and to a movie I had just finished watching. I haven't seen anything disappear from the internal memory, just the tflash.

[Boule2Riz]

Hello

my problem is slightly different (but as I am new I can't post a new topic)
I have a 16 GB genuine SD bought from a retailer in France and my herotab keeps saying me that I only have 2gb and I wish to move apps to SD.

Is this normal that the tablet only sees 2gb or is something to to?

[old_fart]

Boule2Riz, on 12 August 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

Hello

my problem is slightly different (but as I am new I can't post a new topic)
I have a 16 GB genuine SD bought from a retailer in France and my herotab keeps saying me that I only have 2gb and I wish to move apps to SD.

Is this normal that the tablet only sees 2gb or is something to to?

Maybe will clear up after you use a 'official' micro SDHC formatting tool ? Browse the internet for this (free) file. SDFormatterv3.0.zip HTH...

[bobbyballjr]

merimobiles emailed me tonight and stated that the problem with movie and picture files missing from external sd must be a firmware issue. they have notified the manufacturer. even with this small problem it is a great tablet!

[jas000]

bobbyballjr, on 11 August 2011 - 12:02 AM, said:

I have a new herotab mid816 r2 that is erasing my movies(mp4) and pictures(jpeg) off of the external micro sd card. the card is a sandisk 16 gb. i put the movies in a movie folder and the pictures in a picture folder and when i turn on the tablet it reads the card just fine. shows the pictures and movies on the card but when i turn the tablet off and back on again the pictures and movies are gone. i have comics and mp3s on the card as well that don't get touched. any thoughts?

Same reply for me from MM about the erased / deleted jpgs and movies. They say that new FW is not doing this. Can anybody confirm ?

My solution so far has been to copy them into the internal MicroSD card. Here so far I did not experience this problem.
Does anyone have an alternative solution to it ?


Regards,

JAS

[jas000]

bobbyballjr, on 11 August 2011 - 12:02 AM, said:

I have a new herotab mid816 r2 that is erasing my movies(mp4) and pictures(jpeg) off of the external micro sd card. the card is a sandisk 16 gb. i put the movies in a movie folder and the pictures in a picture folder and when i turn on the tablet it reads the card just fine. shows the pictures and movies on the card but when i turn the tablet off and back on again the pictures and movies are gone. i have comics and mp3s on the card as well that don't get touched. any thoughts?

Same reply for me from MM about the erased / deleted jpgs and movies. They say that new FW is not doing this. Can anybody confirm ?

My solution so far has been to copy them into the internal MicroSD card. Here so far I did not experience this problem.
Does anyone have an alternative solution to it ?


Regards,

JAS

[jas000]

Additional issues for me:

- Known HDMI output still not working
- Two point touch: PES2011, Piano and Todler Lock show that this "multi touch" is not really working well. With pictures, readers and on internet browser its it reasonably ok.
Any new idea on this ???

For the rest, also a great device: Light and powerful.


Regards,

JAS.