Upgrading an Android tablet

Linux Support
1

Hi guys

I recently bought an Android tablet at a boot sale initially I wanted to install Ubuntu Touch but I’m scared I completely brick the thing, besides it would maybe be better to wait untill Ubuntu Touch is a bit more mature.

However my problem now is that the tablet is running an old version of Android (v2.2) and I would like to upgrade it to the latest version if that’s possible, according to my research all I should have to do is go to Settings-About-Software Update, but there is no “Software Updates” listed.

Does anyone know how I can upgrade if it’s possible at all

Any help or advice would be much appreciated

Many thanks

Graeme

2

Make and model ?

3

Hi Mark

Thanks for your help

Make and model ?

To be honest I don’t know nothing is marked on the device although A1CS logo shows up during boot

Under “About Device”

Mode:l DISC010
Android Version: 2.2-20110529
Kernel Version: 2.6,32.9
zjd@dtlinuxserver #29
Build Number: FRF85B

4

is it one of these

A1CS X220 TABLET 10.2″ ANDROID 2.2, WIFI, MIFI, HDMI, 1080P, GPS WITH CAM

http://saltairewebdesign.co.uk/a1cs-x220-tablet-10-2-android-2-2/
and
http://www.tabletpcmarket.co.uk/a1cs/a1cs-x220-tablet-10-2-android-2-2-wifi-mifi-hdmi-1080p-gps-with-cam/

5
is it one of these

A1CS X220 TABLET 10.2″ ANDROID 2.2, WIFI, MIFI, HDMI, 1080P, GPS WITH CAM

Looks suspiciously like it Mark, but they all look alike to me :slight_smile:

The descriptions fit perfectly from what I read

6

First read this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ICS-4-0-vs-Gingerbread-2-34/forum/Fx4Z8J07U3W1HD/TxYOG04GCZEW5F/1?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B004F33FJ6

it seems people have been able to upgrade … BUT, they had to get a file from zenithink … and that file is no longer on the zenithink website.

We may be able to track it down … or request it, but it would be nice if we could be SURE about the model.

As suggested at that link, is there anything in the /mnt/flash/ver.txt file ?

7

I checked in mnt/ver and there is no ver.txt file I only have 3 folders asec,sdcard & secure, from what I can find out there is only 3 A1CS tablets on the market the X220,Fusion & Fusion Extra and I can confirm it’s not the Fusion or Fusion Extra, otherwise I don’t know how to identify it but this describes it perfectly

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1CS-X220-TABLET-ANDROID-1080P/dp/B004F33FJ6

EDIT

This may be contradiction to the above but a search for A!CS DISC010 (Model) led me here Latest Fly Touch 3 Android 2.2 Froyo 10.2’’ EPad Tablet 3G GPS Review the Flytouch 3 is identical (1 SD Slot)

8

This might not work on your tablet but worth to try:
You will need a terminal emulator (install if not already got one)
Enter command:

cat /proc/cpuinfo
cat /proc/meminfo
cat /proc/version

or install a Android Hardware info App

9

Hi SeZo

Thanks for your advice, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a hardware info app, I’m very new to this android thing but I’ll download the app as soon as I can and post back.

In the meantime I came across this http://www.android-tablet-comparison-world.com/navpage/compare-android-tablets.php?t1=gomefly3&t2=a1c220 which suggests my tablet is not the one reviewed on the you tube video I posted, although it’s almost identical, I’m almost 100% certain mine is the A1CS X220

Graeme

10

Here’s a screenshot of the info, it doesnt look like it shows any more than i posted previouly

11

OK, it appears to be using a generic Disco10 motherboard … googling shows a ton of sites with different firmware, but to tell the truth I don’t know enough about android devices to offer much assistance.

I’d ahte to tell you to try something that bricks it.

12

No problem Mark I understand

To be honest it’s no big deal, I don’t know why i even bought it, I just can’t resist gadgets, but I’m sure I’ll find some use for it,

Anyway thanks for your help

Graeme

13

Sorry I wasn’t much help :-[

14

Easiest way to upgrade any Android device Greame is simply to root it, and then install a new ROM on it. Do note, that I mean “easiest” with a pinch of salt as user error often leads to permanent bricking of the device.

XDA-developers is a great place for everything Android.

15
Easiest way to upgrade any Android device Greame is simply to root it, and then install a new ROM on it. Do note, that I mean "easiest" with a pinch of salt as user error often leads to permanent bricking of the device.

Thanks for the advice, I think this is a case of “if it aint broke don’t fix it” because I specialize in “user error” and if anyone can brick it it’s me

@ Mark

Sorry I wasn't much help

No need to apologise you’ve been more help to me with many other things than I can ever thank you for

Graeme

16

I have a self imposed policy of not giving advice unless I’m SURE it can be undone and/or won’t cause further damage … which is why I also won’t generally give remote advice on file recovery, or BIOS upgrades :wink:

Call me chicken, but I refuse to be responsible for data or hardware loss.

[EDIT]

Unless of course they’re paying me for the privilege of stamping their feet if things go wrong … but then I’d want local access, so I could work from a copy and/or replace the hardware :wink:

–

17

Mark i completely understand, if it were possible to minimize the risk by backing up the complete system with something like Clonezilla or Redo then if I screwed up we could just restore back then we’d have nothing to lose but in this case it seems there is a risk however small

As it stands now I’m still undecided but if I decide I want to go ahead and you agree to help me it would be on the understanding that I take the risk.

To be honest I wouldn’t hold you or anyone responsible for anything going wrong if they were trying to help me

I might call you a few unsavoury names but hey what’s new :slight_smile:

EDIT

I have a feeling that none of the above would stop you feeling guilty if you tried to help me and it all went horribly wrong, so in view of that it probably wouldn’t be fair of me to put you in that position even if I am prepared to take the risk

Graeme

18

Hehe :slight_smile:

The point is I’ve never attempted this … I gather the risk is minimal, but just don’t know.

I have no idea if there’s any kind of recovery routine for a bad flash, and it’s going to be hard to find that out without knowing the make/model.

A1CS don’t seem to have any kind of support (that I can find).

Other forums also (from what I’ve seen so far) only seem to be suggesting (on the DISCO10) you can move from 2.2 to 2.3 … is that worth the risk ?

Why exactly do you want to upgrade ? … if it’s to get access to things like the Google Play, I gather it’s easy enough to install software from an .apk file anyway.

–

19
Other forums also (from what I've seen so far) only seem to be suggesting (on the DISCO10) you can move from 2.2 to 2.3 .. is that worth the risk ?

In a word NO

Why exactly do you want to upgrade ?

I just thought it would be a good idea to update to the latest version, there’s one example I’ve came across where I couldn’t use a function in an App because I needed a more up to date version, but in spite of that I didn’t really want to use that function anyway.

So I think all in all it’s best left as it is meantime

But if in the future i want to throw caution to the wind and have a go you’ll be the first to know

Thanks for your help so far and a thanks to SeZo & Bks as well for your help

Graeme

20

Fine by me … I may even know more about this stuff by then :slight_smile: