how to recover a bricked Onyx Boox C67ML

[jgon]

This is a tuto to recover and flash the factory firmware on the Onyx Boox C67ML Carta. This will work on the TAGUS IRIS 2017 as well. It’s a rebranding with the tweaked firmware to connect to their ebook store but hardware is totally the C67ML Carta.
Do this at your own risk. All your data will be lost. This procedure involves prying open the ereader and short circuiting the RAM chip, which is a Sandisk 8 GB. This procedure is a last measure on a desperate attempt to do the device recovery. I did this on my device after failed attempts to have the computer reading or connecting to the device via OTG USB. It’s a fresh install and please be aware that by opening up your device you will lose warranty. In my case I was getting prepared to trash the thing after tinkering with it while trying to get rid of the bookhouse bloatware. So do this if you believe that your device cannot be recovered conventionally with ADB or via the RK flashing tool.
This will wipe clean your device and flash the latest Onyx Boox firmware 1.8.1. It will install Google Play store. Good news there.
I did this using the latest drivers and flashing software provided at Onyx support/firmware site here
http://alturl.com/rw9bg

1. Download and install on your computer the Onyx firmware 1.8.1 + drivers + factory tool from the manufacturer’s support site above.

2. Run factory tool and prep it up: load firmware 1.8.1, next check Recover option, now load provided OEMImage and check the Demo Option.

3. Pry open the C67ML Carta. Careful with the battery cable when you split the plastic faces. Now connect the device to the USB port of your computer. Nothing will happen. No ports are open at this stage, this means that your device has not reached recovery stage.

4. Locate the Sandisk RAM chip. Can’t miss it. It is imprinted with the Sandisk brand. With a small screwdriver short circuit the left side of the RAM chip connectors until your computer is able to read at least one open port on Factory Tool.

5. When the C67ML port is open to the Factory tool and with 2 re-checked, run the firmware flash procedure until you get a green light. Click Stop and disconnect the USB cable. Your device is rebooting. Time to carefully close the device plastic covers. And that is that. Firmware 1.8.1 will boot up in Chinese but you can easily change it into English or other language in the settings section.

[mac_es]

Hi,

do you have a manual of how to open the ebook? I don't want to broke something...

Cheers

[jgon]

Hi,
At your own risk and responsibility pry open on the side. If you twist the plastics a bit you will see the joint giving in slightly. The plastics are very well built and flexible. I didn't break anything. I did notice that the plastic bezel became more flexible now but it makes the opening process easier for next time when i need to replace the battery when it ages. I am using the device every day and i intend to use it for a long time. I think that this ereader is the best value price per spec on the market and with manufacturer software it is not closed to any bookshop.

[mac_es]

Thank you,. Yes it is a great device... and I'm going to try to flash a modified firmware to avoid any chinese language... Also I would like to be able to roll back to the official rom... (it is a tagus device, rebranded)

[jgon]

Don't forget that if the reader is in working condition still it is not necessary to open it. You could try to install the drivers and flashing Factory Tool and if the device is recognised then you can flash the firmware with the intended result.
Ok let me know if it worked.
The latest firmware version depletes battery quite fast. I think that android keeps active in the background. Maybe onyx will address this in future firmware version.

[mac_es]

Yeah, I know it.

I know I can flash the new Onys ROM, but I want to be able to get tha tagus ROM online again if I need it.

I have another thread with some questions... https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=284484

Though, with this thread the most important one is answered: It needs a Carta firmware and not a Carta2 firmware. If you look into the other thread you can see that the tagus firmware comes with a build.prop standing 'Carta2' word

If I use the original factory flasher I will got the bootloader upgraded and the flash chip will change it's partition table. As I have dumped all original partitions and got the original loader I suppose that I will be able to restore everything to the factory image...

Also as I have to flash with Android Tools (to skip bootloader flash) I have made some changes to the 1.8.1 firmware: added the extra fonts to the pdf reader, changed the default language/timezone/urls to spanish, and enabled adb by default. And I'm evaluating to insert root binaries...

Now I have to get some spare time to do it and now I know that If I got a bricked device I wil be able to resurrect it

For the battery issue, you can install BetterBatteryStats app, and it will point out the culprit of the battery loss.

Cheers

[jgon]

Got it. I see you know your stuff.

Will try the battery app.

Rooting is this device is easy but i would be interested in testing your ROM if you are able to add root to it.

As for the firmware carta or carta2, you are right. I have the Tagus as well and tried the carta2 but to no avail. Density was totally wrong. Carta version is the correct one.

Cheers

[jgon]

I have solved battery drain issue with aggressive power management allowed by firmware 1.8.1 and by installing Purify app, which does not require root and is available on Google play store.all and all it is a great eink device.

[cbm64]

Ok, some small remarks to be made how to get the FactoryTool flashing the C67ML.

1. I was stuck in the boot with the animation. No way I could get it into some recovery/fastboot state. So when you follow the instructions on prepping the FactoryTool (selecting img, tick the demo box, selecting Restore), nothing happens when you press Run. The animation still continues to spin.

3. So I pried the backcover open using the nail of my thumb. Be careful when splitting the device halves as a wire is still connecting the two sides.

4. I attached the USB once more and the blue USB symbol is shown again, but with the wrong type.

5. The trick is indeed shorting the SanDisk chip with a small screwdriver and make it reboot again. Take a look at the attached img file. I've marked the spot where the pins are located. The device needs to reboot and you will see the blue light go off and on again. The device will now just reboot and try the previous upgrade and will fail again.

6. Now open the tool, do all the prepping of selecting fw image, restore, demo tickbox, oem image, and select the usb port in blue with the Msc state. Now press run.

7. We will now reboot the device using the pins, but you need to apply pressure on the CF slot so the backbutton is pressed against the surface the ereader on. You also need to have the powerbutton pressed. So apply pressure with one hand holding the screwdriver, press the powerbutton so two buttons are pressed. Now short the SanDisk chip.

8. Take a look at the FactoryTool screen as the USB port will immediately have the Loader type and the prepping of the ebook will start. This will take a couple of minutes. At some point the Tool will say it is finished and you will see the backlight come on, indicating that the ebook is rebooted. From this point you are golden.

See https://imgur.com/gallery/xIQtvmv for pics

cheers,
M

[ryz]

>I have followed the whole procedure and when I short circuit the ram chip, only an orange light is lit for a a few seconds and the device isn't read by factory tool. Is there any other way to recover the device (C67ml Carta2)?