[maludroid]

This is my post from polish forum translated to english. Generally this is my notes on Hero. Feel free to suggest anything. I hope this could be helpful for someone.

All necessary links are at the bottom of the post

In case your tablet doesn't react

There's a hidden hardware switch off in mic hole (it disconnects power). You can press it using paperclip. Your tablet will power off.

Speaker popping sound

Speaker gives a popping sound frequently (this is quite, so it won't be much disturbing, but it's worse on headphones). This is surely hardware issue (IC cuts the speaker power suddenly). This is common in Ainol tablets.
The popping sound comes seconds after sound stops being audible. This means that you won't meet this behaviour while watching movie/listening music and probably playing games (because the speaker is powered all the time in such situations). Popping sound get annoying when you write (and your keyboard is configured so it sounds), or when you have set option "Touch sounds" (settings/sound). There's a workaround for that - switch those options off. You may want to turn the vibra on instead. This would probably lengthen your battery life too.

Recovery

Device comes with a built-in recovery. You go to recovery while powering on the tablet. Just press VOL(-) button along with power while switching on. However, if you copy particular files to your SD card, recovery from SD card would be started intead of built-in one. Always when there's a problem with loading Android boot files, the tablet tries to open recovery. Original firmware comes in .rar archive, where you need to extract recovery files (uImage_recovery, u-boot.bin, and aml_autoscript occasionally) and proper zip file.
Original Ainol recovery is named (3e). You navigate it:
VOL(-) - down
VOL(+) - enter

There's also CWM 5.5.0.4 (ClockWorkMod) and TWRP touch recovery (Team Win Recovery Project). In case of flashing not original software, like CM10, CM10.1 it is advised to use TWRP, after downgrading your tablet to original November firmware (1115).

Since there's always possibility to run recovery straight from SD, there's no need to flash custom recovery in my opinion.

Installing original ROMS

Original roms consists of files Novo...zip and occasionally patch.zip.
I don't know it that's only my case, but I need to do the procedure twice:
- wipe data/factory reset + wipe cache partition + wipe media partition (so called 3Wipes)
- apply zip from EXT - chose Novo...zip, next chose (jeśli jest) patch.zip
- 3Wipes
- reboot - your system boot or your tablet runs recovery again
- if the tablet comes back to recovery (like my case) - repeat the procedure from the beginning

Original youtube doesn't work

You need to install older version (compatibility issue with our processor) - and don't update it. Link in the bottom.

CM10.1 (CM10 similar)

Installing CM10.1 goes like this:
- install original November firmware 1115 (new firmware is better, but older one has recovery which handles better loading new recovery)
- reboot with SD-prepared for CM10.1 (TWRP recovery and necessary ZIP files containing CM)
- 3Wipes
- Applying zip files
- 3Wipes
- reboot

There are three CM files for Hero: general one from Elf2, google add-on (gapps) and compatibility zip for Hero.
You'll notice Ainol Novo 7 Elf splash screen while loading - do not worry.

Applications compatibility

psfix.zip (link in the bottom) consists of modified build.prop (identifying our tablet as Galaxy TAB 10.1) and two xml files for applications which require GPS.
File build.prop needs to be copied to /system and chmod 644
Xml files need to be copied to system/etc/permissions chmod 644.

If there are some applicaitons missing in Play Store (e.g. Google Maps) you need to swich to proper timezone, clear Play Store cache and data and run it again. The probable fault is that you've run Play Store for the first time, when you've had chinese timezone set.

Changing chinese language

Removing chinese bloatware

You may find it enough to deactivate them. You just need to enter applications and chose the option 'deactivate' for each of them.

Links:

Original ROMS:

Full Ainol Novo 10 Hero Firmware Changelog (Updated to 1219 version) - Ainol Novo 10 Hero - Ainol Forum - THE forum for Ainol Android tablets.

CM10:

General CM10 Elf2 rom and gapps: [rom] CyanogenMod 10 for Elf II, Aurora II, Crystal, Flame Fire, W22PRO (2012-12-20) - SlateDroid.com
Compatibility ZIP for Hero and CWM: Compatibility Zip for CM10 / AOKP - SlateDroid.com

CM10.1:

General CM10,1 Elf2 rom and gapps: [rom] CyanogenMod 10.1 for Elf II, Aurora II, Crystal, Flame Fire (2013-01-19) - SlateDroid.com
Compatibility ZIP for Hero and CWM: CyanogenMod 10.1 (JB 4.2) / AOKP 4.2 compatibility zip for Hero - SlateDroid.com

CWM Recovery:

In above compatibility ZIPs links there's separate CWM download link

TWRP Recovery:

This thread: [recovery] TWRP v2.3.3.0 - SlateDroid.com

Youtube - working on original ROM:

Dev-Host - YT_4.1.47_v1.apk - The Ultimate Free File Hosting / File Sharing Service

psfix.zip (Play Store compatibility enhancement):

Novo 10 Hero 1219 FW - SlateDroid.com - Page 2

credits:

Christian Troy for CM and recoveries
ankit360 for psfix.zip

This post has been edited by maludroid: 25 January 2013 - 03:58 AM

[MrT2]

I hope the moderator of this forum pins this post!

[al74]

I'm on 1219.
Copied build.prop s to /system
Xml files to system/etc/permissions

I don't have chmod directory.

I used es file explorer and enabled all root options before copying. I rebooted and cleared market data to start fresh. Checked and files show in the relevant directories.

My hero is still not recognized as galaxy.

[quifraigo]

maludroid, on 24 January 2013 - 07:46 AM, said:

In case your tablet doesn't react

There's a hidden hardware switch off in mic hole (it disconnects power). You can press it using paperclip. Your tablet will power off.

On my Hero 10 there is a small hole next to power. So apparently there are different makes on the market.

[BullMsa]

quifraigo, on 14 February 2013 - 12:09 PM, said:

On my Hero 10 there is a small hole next to power. So apparently there are different makes on the market.

This is the mic hole...

[quifraigo]

No. It is a very small hole. Just big enough for a paperclip. I used it to rest my tablet.

[fuser-invent]

quifraigo, on 15 February 2013 - 11:32 AM, said:

No. It is a very small hole. Just big enough for a paperclip. I used it to rest my tablet.

Yes it's a very small mic hole, in between the power and sd card slots, there is a reset button inside it as well.

This post has been edited by fuser-invent: 15 February 2013 - 12:07 PM

[maludroid]

fuser-invent, on 15 February 2013 - 12:06 PM, said:

Yes it's a very small mic hole, in between the power and sd card slots, there is a reset button inside it as well.

This is not exactly reset button. In my case it is power off button.

[soundwafflez]

Luckily, the newest YouTube app does work with Cyanogenmod installed, so don't worry about YouTube if you have Cyanogenmod, just install it from the Google Play store.

[maludroid]

soundwafflez, on 07 March 2013 - 10:00 PM, said:

Luckily, the newest YouTube app does work with Cyanogenmod installed, so don't worry about YouTube if you have Cyanogenmod, just install it from the Google Play store.

AFAIK it works on 0128 too, but I'm waiting for official 0128 with gapps.

[TheDean]

Do i have to clear data and reset to factory settings before flashing?

[ant-uk]

TheDean, on 09 March 2013 - 06:32 AM, said:

Do i have to clear data and reset to factory settings before flashing?

I've just wrote a guide on 'flashing' anti_hero ROM. It should answer your questions. If you want to try fuser's ROM please READ the thread from page 1 so you understand what to do. If you have any questions regarding flashing his ROM ask your question in the anti_hero thread. Here's a link to my guide:
http://www.slatedroi...t/page__st__120

[TheMan1o1]

Does anyone know how to fix issue with Skype? The other person cant hear a thing clearly, too much noise.
Issue with Mic.

[JL215]

Great information!! Thanks!

[2Core2Duo2]

maludroid, on 24 January 2013 - 07:46 AM, said:

This is my post from polish forum translated to english. Generally this is my notes on Hero. Feel free to suggest anything. I hope this could be helpful for someone.

<snipped by moderator>

Is this is applicable for Ainol Novo 10 Hero 20130308v1 firmware upgrade?

This post has been edited by mrsburnout: 06 May 2013 - 11:11 AM

[2Core2Duo2]

fuser-invent, on 15 February 2013 - 12:06 PM, said:

Yes it's a very small mic hole, in between the power and sd card slots, there is a reset button inside it as well.

Whether one should use metallic or non-metallic object to reset the tablet. Does it not pierce through mic diaphragm and damage it?

[gupi]

maludroid, on 24 January 2013 - 07:46 AM, said:

This is my post from polish forum translated to english. Generally this is my notes on Hero. Feel free to suggest anything. I hope this could be helpful for someone.

<snipped by moderator>

Thanks a lot maludroid.... these info was great!!!!

This post has been edited by mrsburnout: 06 May 2013 - 11:10 AM

[ani_ainol_hero_10]

maludroid, on 24 January 2013 - 07:46 AM, said:

<snipped by moderator>
@ani_ainol_hero_10 - Please trim your quotes instead of cluttering the first page of a topic - We don't need to see the first post over and over on the first page - Thank you.

After installing the galaxy tab 10 signatures as per the given steps I rebooted my tab and now it is not going beyond the boot animation.The boot animation is also showing upside down.

This post has been edited by mrsburnout: 06 May 2013 - 11:11 AM

[ant-uk]

ani_ainol_hero_10, on 30 April 2013 - 12:58 AM, said:

After installing the galaxy tab 10 signatures as per the given steps I rebooted my tab and now it is not going beyond the boot animation.The boot animation is also showing upside down.

What firmware have you applied the SGT 10.1 footprint to?
My BLOATFREE_0308v1 firmware has got the SGT 10.1 footprint as default and its the most recent 'stock firmware' Ainol have released. Its has got auto gsensor config built in so no crazy upside down screens to deal with either!

My advice is to do a clean install of the BLOATFREE ROM to sort out the issue you have created.

[ze_muel]

I used psfix and Nexus 7 (fingerprint and description) to get good market compatibility.

Latest Youtube working.

I'm going mental though trying to make my Hero and/or Link2SD find my ext2 partition.

I can see it in the app 'Diskinfo' (cardblksd2), but I cant make it visible to Link2SD/Hero.

Any tips and tricks for that one?

I'm good at following instructions but I don't really have a deeper understanding of things.

I've tried copying and pasting Christian Troy's 11link2sd script into the init.d folder. I got an app initially that told me my kernel didn't have init.d support so I used another app to make it so (apparently).

I've created /data/sdext2 but I need it to link up to /cardblksd2 but it's just not happening for me.

BTW I'm using the stock 1219 fw


UPDATE
It turns out it could be the card. It's a cheap brandless class 10 32gb and when I put my 2gb SanDisk card in the ext2 gets picked up. Anyone had this problem at all? Sorry I know this post is probably in the wrong place now that it's probably a hardware issue.

This post has been edited by ze_muel: 08 May 2013 - 04:51 AM