Libra 2 Has anyone tried to unbrick a Libra 2?

[Kobologist]

I have this Libra 2 that seems to have lost power during a firmware upgrade. It is just displaying the "crossed out power button" symbol and doesn't respond to holding the power button for any length of time. I downloaded the firmware from this website: https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html and I dropped the OS files onto the SD card inside in the .kobo folder, but nothing changed.

I'm worried that something may be wrong with the bootloader. Does anyone know if the bootloader ever gets updated? I see the bootloader flash files are included in the upgrade, but has anyone tried to flash the i.MX6 chip directly? Is it locked in any way?

[Aleron Ives]

The OS partition probably corrupted from the failed upgrade. Ask for a Libra 2 image in the firmware image request thread and write it to the SD card to totally replace everything, and that will probably revive your Libra.

[DNSB]

Since I'm stuck between periods in a hockey game, I've sent a PM with the links to the N418 Libra 2 images.

[Kobologist]

Well I finally got around to this tonight, and it didn't go well. I figured I'd start with my Tolino Vision 6 to validate my SD writing procedure since it was already working. I cracked open the Tolino and managed to get the card out from that awful conformal coating, cleaned it, and imaged it in my computer. I also cleaned out the SD card slot on the Tolino with some paperboard and isopropyl alcohol (after disconnecting the battery). I let it dry, put the original card back in, reconnected the battery, and tried to power it on, but it's not booting!

When connected to the computer, it identifies itself as an Allwinner device. Holding the power button down for 10 seconds makes the device reset. I know the battery connection is okay because I'm getting 3.3V from the power pins on the debug header on the board (with USB disconnected.) There is no change with the card inserted or removed. I'm guessing it can't see the card at all and it's just going into its factory flashing/recovery mode. I don't have any experience with Allwinner devices, but I know Qualcomm Android SoCs work this way.

I think I can still see a little conformal coating sitting at the bottom of the SD card slot, but it's very hard to tell. I cleaned it with paperboard, flushed with IPA, and blew it out with compressed air. I looked and I don't think I damaged any of the nearby SMD components on the board. The SD card reads just fine in my computer. I even flashed and tried a second SD card, no change.

Does anyone have any idea of what to try here? I can make a separate post on the Tolino section if needed.

[Kobologist]

Also, I made sure to not let Windows mess with the card in any way, "repair" the disk, format any of the partitions, etc.

[Apollyon202]

Sorry I can't help, and by your description you were probably really thorough on this matter, but have you considered that you might damaged the card slot when you were cleaning it?

I hope I won’t have to do this with my Libra, but was cleaning the card slot really necessary? I’d guess that if you managed to push the card out of the slot and insert another one, the connector would still have enough exposed contact surfaces on the pins to make proper contact with the SD card and operate it.

[repilo]

I had to replace the microSD card with a new one because my Libra 2 was rebooting or freezing every day.
I just had to slide a thin plastic sheet between the top of the SD card and the metal casing to detach it.
The bottom part, where the contacts are, wasn’t glued (obviously), so there was no need to clean it.
Once I was able to remove the old card, I simply inserted the new one.

[Kobologist]

Originally Posted by Apollyon202

Sorry I can't help, and by your description you were probably really thorough on this matter, but have you considered that you might damaged the card slot when you were cleaning it?

I hope I won’t have to do this with my Libra, but was cleaning the card slot really necessary? I’d guess that if you managed to push the card out of the slot and insert another one, the connector would still have enough exposed contact surfaces on the pins to make proper contact with the SD card and operate it.

I don't remember if I cleaned the slot before or after I realized it wasn't working, but I definitely would not recommend someone do it if unnecessary. Mine was full of conformal coating.

My Tolino is working now though, I will post below!

[Kobologist]

Originally Posted by repilo

I had to replace the microSD card with a new one because my Libra 2 was rebooting or freezing every day.
I just had to slide a thin plastic sheet between the top of the SD card and the metal casing to detach it.
The bottom part, where the contacts are, wasn’t glued (obviously), so there was no need to clean it.
Once I was able to remove the old card, I simply inserted the new one.

Sounds like you had an easier time getting the card out of the slot than I did. Some of the conformal coating was definitely between the card and the circuit board. I'm sure their application is not consistent--the factory probably feels that "the bigger the gob, the better the job." I also work at a factory where we waterproof seal a product, and that philosophy is definitely how our guys operate, haha

[Kobologist]

It's working! I let it sit a few days and removed and reinserted the card a few times and it started working. I'm confident that it was an issue of the card and slot pins not making good contact. I think reinserting the card a bunch of times cleared the remaining gunk off of the pins.

The backup SD card I made of the Tolino also boots. I will try to unbrick the Kobo soon. Thanks a ton to everyone who commented.

[maica]

mijn ereader zit al dagen vast, ik kreeg als tip om hier om een nieuwe sd image te vragen kan iemad mij helpen

[maica]

can sombody sent me a sd image for my kobo libra2 pls