I modified the 7-24 firmware update to remove the userdata.img file. What this means is that you can now update without losing all of your installed applications.
You will need to install the volume button hack but once that is done it should start working again.
A couple of notes:
1. Give it some time to boot up on the first start. It may seem like it is stuck in a boot loop but it probably is not.
2. You might have some issues with programs force closing at first. Give it a few minutes to get updated and see if that helps. If it doesn't try the full update.
3. If you installed the Google experience alpha from clockworx then you will need to reinstall that also.
4. To clear dalvik cache (might help with force closes) perform the following in adb: adb shell rm -r /data/dalvik-cache
5. If you are using the Nook app then you will need to reinstall it following the posted directions in the Nook thread.
6. I am not responsible for bricking your device.
Install Instructions
1. Download the modified firmware from the link below.
2. Place that file on your SDcard.
3. With the Novel powered off press the volume up key (if you have done the button hack then it will be menu) and press and hold the power button.
4. When you see the install screen you can let go of volume up and the power on key.
5. Let the install finish and then reset the Novel.
6. Congrats your Novel is updated.
If you have any issues please read through the posts in this thread to see if your question has been answered. If it is not then feel free to ask and I will help to the best of my ability.
Another note since I can't get the post edit feature to work.If you installed the Google experience alpha from clockworx then you will need to reinstall that also.
[quote name='clockworx;23925]Woo' date='that's how we roll Doing "rm -r /data/dalvik-cache" right before or after the upgrade is probably a good idea and should fix those force closes. (I forget if it is /data/data/dalvik-cache, or /data/dalvik-cache, whichever one actually exists)[/QUOTE'] OK, I'll look in to that thanks. Just to let you know what I did I removed the file and then modified the MD5 checksum file to remove the check for the userdata.img file. Did this while still open in 7zip instead of extracting and repacking. Worked like a charm but I will need to test doing it other ways also to see if we can get past the check the recovery seems to be doing.
How do you execute the rm command you mentioned in your post? I tried several times and I keep getting an unrecognized command error message...................
[quote name='RONO;24081]I also have downloaded many apps and would like to upgrade to the new firmware' date=' but a little worried that it will brick and the wife would not be too happy, if I told her I needed to buy another Novel. My question is at what point do we stop upgrading? Also If I decide to go ahead with the update. Do I download Blazingwolf's update and send it directly to the sd card? Last question, do I insert sd card in Novel in off position and then powerup? Look foward to all your responses, Thank you in advanceFYI: Sharpie marker works real well in naving the Novel, and the nintendo stylus (but too small for my hands).[/QUOTE']When do we stop upgrading? Up to the individual. If your happy with what you go then there is no real reason to update. However, I think the added benefits of this update are well worth it. This update makes the Novel operate like it should have from the start. It is much faster at booting, much faster in opening programs and just in general moving around the OS. Place the update file on your SD card and then use the power on button with the volume up button until you get the loading screen. The device should be off before you do this (though it won't hurt to replace your SDcard and then power off).
[quote name='clockworx;24101]I really doubt an official firmware is going to brick the device. If we find something we don't like' date=' it's pretty easy still to revert back.[/QUOTE'] I've seen to many reports of bricked items when using an "official" upgrade to think that. However, I do believe that the possibility is much less likely.
WARNING: This version did not work. I just got a warning screen with the Android guy. I guess I will have to use the stock one and reinstall everything.
So do I uninstall the button hack to get the the new firmware loaded or is there another way to load.Also-still not clear if I update the firmware will it wipe out all of the apps I've installed ?Back to square one with the PDN or will the updated firmware just go on and not wipe me out?What does the update do or change in the PDN ?Anyone ??By the way-since the site upgrade I've had to re-register under a different name from stsrep.Still me though!!
No, you do not need to remove the button hack. It will be removed with the install of this file.My version of the firmware will not remove your installed applications (even says that in the first post ). The base version from Pandigital will remove your apps.Makes many changes as have been mentioned earlier in this thread and in the other thread about the new firmware. Things I have seen so far:1. Much more responsive to touch.2. Increased speed.3. Increased CPU speed up to 800Mhz.
[quote name='bugeyed;24166][QUOTE=blazingwolf;23914]I modified the 7-24 firmware update to remove the userdata.img file. What this means is that you can now update without losing all of your installed applications. [IMG]http://www.slatedroid.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley.gif[/IMG] snipblazingwolf' date=' thanks for you work on this. Can you possibly edit/update your first post with the info/issues or added steps found in subsequent posts? Such as the button hack, using SD card update or PC update & the steps for the force close issue work around. Just trying to get my mind around the process as a whole without reading several posts. I am assuming that the button hack can stay in place if I use the PC/USB install? Thanks,kev[/QUOTE'] Would love to but the site won't let me edit my posts right now.The file I provided is for the SDcard method. I have not done anything with the PC install at this time. Nothing changes from the normal install when installing from the SDcard. You do not need to do anything with the button hack to install this but it will remove the hack. So just install it once the update is done. I have not done anything on my Novel regarding the Force Close issue and things are running just fine. I just let it sit for a minute and the Novel got itself straight.
[quote name='clockworx;24161]Could you go into a bit more detail about the screen responsiveness? I returned mine yesterday because Kohl's told me my rebate was invalid (that I bought the wrong item and it was my fault). I figured I would either get the Augen (which is looking worse now)' date=' or go back and get the PDN at BBB where they hopefully won't screw me over.Figures PD would come out with an awesome new firmware the day after I return mine [IMG]http://www.slatedroid.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE'] On my Novel screen taps register quicker. Dragging items across the screen, like an icon, now move with your finger instead of moving several seconds after you move your finger.
[quote name='Robert Komisar;24163]Appreciate all of your helpful feedback and I am reading all of the posts etc' date='but how do I get the new firmware to start loading if I have the button hack installed and you must push the volume up and start button for 5 seconds so the sd update can begin.That reminds me- the 7-18 update I had to install from my pc thru usb.The PDN gave me the yellow crossed out box with the Android when I tried to use the SD card.Tried 3 differnt cards and none would work.Can I use your edited update thru USB and my PC as well?I know,dumbass questions but I sure was proud of myself in being able to hack this thing.Patience is a great virtue don't you think?[/QUOTE'] I used the same procedure with the button hack installed. Put the modified firmware on the SDcard, power on and volume up (menu if you have the button hack installed) until you see the loading screen. Firmware installed as normal.Not sure why you are having issues with SDcards. I have tried two of them now and both worked perfectly. One was a 2GB class 2 Sandisk and the other is an 8GB class 4 Kingston.
How does the modified firmware update affect the PD applications? Will their new versions be still installed? So we will have the system with the latest version of native PD appks plus mostly untouched custom appks?
Correct. The only thing I changed was the wipe of the /Data portion of our devices. This keeps your apps while flashing the fresh files from the new firmware.
[quote name='bugeyed;24302]OK my unit is not rooted' date=' just hacked, so I can't use SetPCU? What is the factory CPU speed setting?[/QUOTE'] 800Mhz and and 66Mhz.
[quote name='tadroid;24319]Me' date=' too - well, I could edit but not save, until I clicked on the advanced option and then it worked.[/QUOTE'] I shall give that a try and update the first post. Thanks.
[quote name='enjoys1;24394]bugeyed' date=' the CPU min speed by default is still set to '66'. Using setCPU I have set it up to 400 instead and so far no issues except the battery dies after 4 -5 hrs[/QUOTE'] I only boost mine to 133Mhz. Works well and has longer battery life too.
It's not. However, it can help areas where the CPU is throttled down. I only up mine to 133Mhz though and it helps with battery life as opposed to the 400Mhz.
[quote name='thebgrian;24501]Thank you' date=' blazingwolf for the great job. It makes it a lot easier to update now. Just want to mention one thing I had to redo - if you are using the Nook app from the market, you will have to redo the fix (there is a thread about getting nook.apk to work). Other than that looks great so far[/QUOTE'] Thanks for letting me know. I will add that to the first post.
[quote name='xelachen;24497]I forgot to chime on on the modified-firmware update. Seems to have gone well. All apps I've tried are intact' date=' as are all settings afaik.Here's what I did (fairly exactly):- Attached unit to PC; blew away /data/dalvik-cache- Downloaded the modified firmware, stuck it on the SD card (same card all my data's still on, whee)- Stuck SD card in unit, powered it off (yeah, it was still plugged into the PC via USB, no biggie)- Removed PDN from PC's USB- Hooked PDN to wall power (just in case), held vol-up/"menu" button down while merely flicking on power to boot unit...- ...and kept holding vol/up button until android updater dude showed up onscreen, then let vol-up button go- Waited for unit to complete update. - Unit booted up to homescreen-select dialog, but there was a "force-quit/wait" dialog on top of it for OfficeSuite...- ... clicked "wait", and it went away. Then chose PandaHome home.- Unplugged PDN from wall power, moved it back to PC, plugged in via USB- re-ran vol-keys hack, waited for reboot- re-ran root_novel.bat, waited for reboot- deleted modified-firmware .zip from SD card via Windows (could have done it other ways, too)- removed PDN from PC USB connection- Fired up setCPU, verified 800MHz max and 133 min (I'd set it to 133 min/max some time ago)- Done. Started playing around, checking apps. No issues except better performance overall. Still no hidden-SSID wifi love, which bums me out (and it IS an Android issue, not a PD issue anyway). I haven't bothered with Google Experience or anything yet, nor have I tried booting up PDN's native home or apps. Thanks for the modified firmware. I'd like to see something like this become the norm for PD's official updates; so much reinstall hassle avoided. [IMG]http://www.slatedroid.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE']Glad it worked for you.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Android Tablets Forum
551.1K posts
227K members
Since 2010
A forum community dedicated to Android Tablet owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, troubleshooting, displays, models, styles, reviews, software, hardware accessories, classifieds, and more!