PRS-T1 HOWTO: improving recovery mode

uboot · 01-25-2012, 08:42 AM

Hi folks,

this thread is meant to discuss improving the recovery mode.

The one that gets installed via porkupan's enable-adb.zip lacks a few things for me, especially a working e2fsck.

But also a menu on the PRST1 would be handy that allows to run fix_permissions, etc. when there is no computer available to access recovery console via serial USB connection.

There is even more that could be done: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/How...ecovery_Images

So, if you have valuable information on how to achieve this, please post here!

FINALLY: If you know any secret key combination on how to switch to recovery mode that works without having to attach the device via USB and without having to launch something on the T1 - just some plain keep button XY pressed during power on - please let me know!

m3l7d0wN · 01-25-2012, 10:23 AM

as I have told, my T1 actually boot every time in recovery mode, instead of doing the normal update...
so it is definitely possible.. so I'm wondering this: is the update mode a recovery mode + update?
if it is the case, it should be possible to achieve recovery mode just with a proper update which stops the process...

I started to watch the p1 init code... and I think it just switch between normal boot and sd rescue boot..
the info about the button pressed at boot may be in /sys/module/rawdatatable/parameters/mmc_dev_no
(see /linuxrc in p1)

m3l7d0wN · 01-25-2012, 11:09 AM

well,
I've tried removing the PRS-T1 updater.package from sd and it did an update... so I recopied the PRS.package and it did an update again... I can't go to recovery anymore :|
so the T1 was stuck in recovery mode somehow :O

m3l7d0wN · 01-25-2012, 11:31 AM

UPDATE: the T1 goes in update mode, the screen flickers and reboots but the update doesn't install.. no script.log generated (it's the problem noted by me and others in the past)... so I suspect that the T1 can't mount the sdcard partition for some reason.
so I formatted the sdcard partition and the update works... this could be a nice solution of those affecting by this problem. Factory reset is a more drastic solution

m3l7d0wN · 01-25-2012, 11:40 AM

UPDATE2: ok, now I can access recovery mode again.... so it's simple: just put PRS-T1 updater.package
in the READER without tmp or updates folders.. then press home and menu and you are in recovery mode

m3l7d0wN · 01-25-2012, 06:49 PM

UPDATE3:
I was wrong again!
actually there are 2 PRS.package, one will do an update, and one will do recovery mode...
I managed to extract the 2 package, and here are the 2 different scripts (update.sh):

-update mode: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/158338/ebook/update.sh

-recovery mode:

Code:

#!/bin/sh

PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin

/usr/bin/chgboot normal

mount --bind ./shadow /etc/shadow

sync
sync
sync
# reboot
# exit 16

as you can see, in both cases chgboot normal is called, so maybe with chgboot it's possible to call other modes.
This is a nice method for booting in recovery without windows :P

figonet · 01-26-2012, 08:04 PM

How to extract package?

my reader is bricked after resizing the data and system partition,

m3l7d0wN · 01-26-2012, 08:42 PM

if you can't boot and your sd (p4 partition) isn't accessible, you must do an sd recovery..
you may also want to modidfy the sd rescue package and put in home/ the partition images you want.

figonet · 01-26-2012, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3l7d0wN

if you can't boot and your sd (p4 partition) isn't accessible, you must do an sd recovery..
you may also want to modidfy the sd rescue package and put in home/ the partition images you want.

modify sd rescue package?

can you give me some instructions?

tks!

j0534ng31 · 01-27-2012, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3l7d0wN

UPDATE3:
I was wrong again!
actually there are 2 PRS.package, one will do an update, and one will do recovery mode...

in both cases chgboot normal is called, so maybe with chgboot it's possible to call other modes.
This is a nice method for booting in recovery without windows :P

Sorry, I'm not sure to understand what you mean... but I always do:

To boot in 'normal' mode:

Code:


::
:: From Windows
ebook_msc name PRS-T1 um normal
:: or
adb shell "$(busybox which chgboot) normal && reboot"
:: or
adb reboot
:: or
adb reboot normal

::
:: From interactive ADB shell, telnet, ssh or recovery serial console
$(busybox which chgboot) normal && reboot

To boot in 'recovery' mode:

Code:


::
:: From Windows
ebook_msc name PRS-T1 um recovery
:: or
adb shell "$(busybox which chgboot) recovery && reboot"
:: but not (it doesn't work)
adb reboot recovery

::
:: From interactive ADB shell, telnet, ssh or recovery serial console
$(busybox which chgboot) recovery && reboot

Is this what you are looking for?

uboot:

Sorry. I read too late your PM... I'm very busy this week!

figonet · 01-27-2012, 01:51 AM

I resized the partition,include system,data,internal sdcard.

now I cannot use usb serial to logged into recovery system,

I downloaded the sdcard-rescue.zip and used micro sd to hard recovery, refer to wiki, both power and micro sd 's the orange light were blinking when I press home and menu, the progress bar in the "Opening book" page also reached the right side.

but about ten minutes later,the progress bar return to left side and not move,the orange light for both are still blinking.

what's wrong with it ?

uboot · 01-27-2012, 02:49 AM

There is nothing wrong with that, all went fine, you just need to read more before asking questions (step 6): https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRST...bricked_device

So sorry to say this, but this thread is on how to create a better recovery partition on the T1, but now it is cluttered with 10 offtopic-posts

m3l7d0wN · 01-27-2012, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0534ng31

Sorry, I'm not sure to understand what you mean... but I always do:

well, yes, but this requires a windows installation...
and I didn't know the test tool (that still requires a full operational rooted system)..
so I just used the recovery PRS.package
(I didn't know the porkupan work a at that time :P )

btw,
it should be nice to have an sd rescue that acts like a recovery mode..
I think it should be possible. An sd rescue just requires a working p1 partition (instead of p1,p2 and p4 of the recovery), making repartition less dangerous

j0534ng31 · 01-27-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3l7d0wN

well, yes, but this requires a windows installation...

This requires only a terminal application (so, a rooted T1)
/system/bin/chgboot recovery && reboot

$(busybox which chgboot) recovery && reboot

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3l7d0wN

it should be nice to have an sd rescue that acts like a recovery mode... I think it should be possible. An sd rescue just requires a working p1 partition (instead of p1,p2 and p4 of the recovery), making repartition less dangerous

I think I understand you...

You mean that you want a 'new package', almost like 'SD rescue', but only to enter in recovery mode? It can be done...

I'll try it this weekend!

figonet · 01-27-2012, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0534ng31

This requires only a terminal application (so, a rooted T1)
/system/bin/chgboot recovery && reboot

$(busybox which chgboot) recovery && reboot

I think I understand you...

You mean that you want a 'new package', almost like 'SD rescue', but only to enter in recovery mode? It can be done...

I'll try it this weekend!

in th restore-rescue.zip, there is file called the update.img, it's /etc/rc.d/rcS file is shell script that process micro sd recovery, you can modify it and recreate update.img,only to enter in recovery mode, then use usb serial log into system.

it 's my exprience,I found this method and recovered a bricked t1.

there are three points for those who want to use this method:

1. modify rcS ,insmd kernel modules for usb serial

PHP Code:


			
/sbin/insmod /lib/modules/2.6.35.3/kernel/drivers/usb/gadget/arcotg_udc.ko
/sbin/insmod /lib/modules/2.6.35.3/kernel/drivers/usb/gadget/g_serial.ko use_acm=1

sleep 3
while [ 0 ];
do
        /sbin/getty -L 9600 ttyGS0 vt102
done

2. add ttyACM0 in /etc/securtty, then root can log into system by use serial

3. modify root password,add this code in rcS file.

PHP Code:


			
cat > /tmp/shadow << EOF
root::14975:0:99999:7:::
bin:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
daemon:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
adm:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
lp:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
sync:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
shutdown:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
halt:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
mail:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
news:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
uucp:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
operator:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
games:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
gopher:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
ftp:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
nobody:*:11851:0:99999:7:::
sshd:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
mailnull:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
xfs:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
ntp:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
rpc:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
gdm:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
rpcuser:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
nfsnobody:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
nscd:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
ident:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
radvd:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
postgres:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
apache:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
squid:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
named:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
pcap:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
amanda:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
junkbust:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
mailman:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
mysql:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
ldap:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
pvm:!!:11851:0:99999:7:::
user:$1$pJefShJL$CoX8T20vn1g.ug0jZIczM.:11851:0:99999:7:::
messagebus:!:15:0:99999:7:::
haldaemon:!:15:0:99999:7:::
EOF

chmod +rwx /tmp/shadow
mount --bind /tmp/shadow /etc/shadow

01-25-2012, 08:42 AM	#1
uboot Evangelist Posts: 425 Karma: 75216 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: old europe Device: Kobo Mini, Tolino Epos 2	HOWTO: improving recovery mode Hi folks, this thread is meant to discuss improving the recovery mode. The one that gets installed via porkupan's enable-adb.zip lacks a few things for me, especially a working e2fsck. But also a menu on the PRST1 would be handy that allows to run fix_permissions, etc. when there is no computer available to access recovery console via serial USB connection. There is even more that could be done: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/How...ecovery_Images So, if you have valuable information on how to achieve this, please post here! FINALLY: If you know any secret key combination on how to switch to recovery mode that works without having to attach the device via USB and without having to launch something on the T1 - just some plain keep button XY pressed during power on - please let me know! Last edited by uboot; 01-25-2012 at 08:47 AM.

01-25-2012, 06:49 PM	#6
m3l7d0wN Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 38810 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	UPDATE3: I was wrong again! actually there are 2 PRS.package, one will do an update, and one will do recovery mode... I managed to extract the 2 package, and here are the 2 different scripts (update.sh): -update mode: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/158338/ebook/update.sh -recovery mode: Code: #!/bin/sh PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin /usr/bin/chgboot normal mount --bind ./shadow /etc/shadow sync sync sync # reboot # exit 16 as you can see, in both cases chgboot normal is called, so maybe with chgboot it's possible to call other modes. This is a nice method for booting in recovery without windows :P

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01-25-2012, 10:23 AM	#2
m3l7d0wN Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 38810 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	as I have told, my T1 actually boot every time in recovery mode, instead of doing the normal update... so it is definitely possible.. so I'm wondering this: is the update mode a recovery mode + update? if it is the case, it should be possible to achieve recovery mode just with a proper update which stops the process... I started to watch the p1 init code... and I think it just switch between normal boot and sd rescue boot.. the info about the button pressed at boot may be in /sys/module/rawdatatable/parameters/mmc_dev_no (see /linuxrc in p1)

01-25-2012, 11:09 AM	#3
m3l7d0wN Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 38810 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	well, I've tried removing the PRS-T1 updater.package from sd and it did an update... so I recopied the PRS.package and it did an update again... I can't go to recovery anymore :\| so the T1 was stuck in recovery mode somehow :O

01-25-2012, 11:31 AM	#4
m3l7d0wN Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 38810 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	UPDATE: the T1 goes in update mode, the screen flickers and reboots but the update doesn't install.. no script.log generated (it's the problem noted by me and others in the past)... so I suspect that the T1 can't mount the sdcard partition for some reason. so I formatted the sdcard partition and the update works... this could be a nice solution of those affecting by this problem. Factory reset is a more drastic solution

01-25-2012, 11:40 AM	#5
m3l7d0wN Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 38810 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	UPDATE2: ok, now I can access recovery mode again.... so it's simple: just put PRS-T1 updater.package in the READER without tmp or updates folders.. then press home and menu and you are in recovery mode

01-26-2012, 08:04 PM	#7
figonet Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: PRS T1	How to extract package? my reader is bricked after resizing the data and system partition,

01-26-2012, 08:42 PM	#8
m3l7d0wN Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 38810 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	if you can't boot and your sd (p4 partition) isn't accessible, you must do an sd recovery.. you may also want to modidfy the sd rescue package and put in home/ the partition images you want.

01-27-2012, 01:51 AM	#11
figonet Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: PRS T1	I resized the partition,include system,data,internal sdcard. now I cannot use usb serial to logged into recovery system, I downloaded the sdcard-rescue.zip and used micro sd to hard recovery, refer to wiki, both power and micro sd 's the orange light were blinking when I press home and menu, the progress bar in the "Opening book" page also reached the right side. but about ten minutes later,the progress bar return to left side and not move,the orange light for both are still blinking. what's wrong with it ?

01-27-2012, 02:49 AM	#12
uboot Evangelist Posts: 425 Karma: 75216 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: old europe Device: Kobo Mini, Tolino Epos 2	There is nothing wrong with that, all went fine, you just need to read more before asking questions (step 6): https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRST...bricked_device So sorry to say this, but this thread is on how to create a better recovery partition on the T1, but now it is cluttered with 10 offtopic-posts