In this article, we'll show you how to reflash an Android 5.1 tablet. These were the Alba 8 PiPO tablets, which were delivered with our very first machines (DE1 v1.0 and earlier v1.1) and which are pretty old by now.

Please note that reflashing a tablet can brick it. So only do this as a last resort.

First off, here's all the files you need:

SP_Flash_Tool-5.1916_Linux

SP_Flash_Tool_v5.1924_Win.zip

Mediatek_Driver_Auto_Installer_1.1352.00.zip

SN_Write_Tool_v1.1916.00.zip

DE1_Alba_8_ROM_5.1_v3a.zip

Before you begin, if the tablet is functional, ensure both the WiFi and Bluetooth are turned on in the "Settings" app. While in the "Settings" app, tap on "About Tablet" and then select "Status". Write down (or take a photo of) BOTH your WiFi and Bluetooth MAC addresses (they will look something like "22:80:F3:81:21:01"). These values might get deleted, and will need to be re-entered after flashing a new ROM.

If your tablet is not functional right now (i.e. in a boot loop or unresponsive - and the RESET button doesnt fix the issue), continue with the process anyway - you will be provided with relevant instructions.

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Using SP Flash Tool to flash an Android ROM onto the tablet

Unzip SP Flash Tools and MediaTek Drivers

Install MediaTek drivers

Unzip the Android ROM file you wish to use (eg. DE1_

Ensure the tablet is off and unplugged. (If you can turn it off, if not, continue anyway)

Open flash_tool.exe from SP Flash tools

Go to the "download tab"

click on "choose" next on the "scatter-loading file" line

Select the MT8163_Android_scatter file from the ROM folder

the table below should automatically populate with a bunch of bin and img files.

If you are upgrading or downgrading Android ROM versions (i.e. flashing Android 7.0 on a tablet that has Android 5.1 installed, or vice versa), then choose "Firmware Upgrade" from the drop down list (just above the table). This option should not delete your NVRAM or MAC addresses.

If you are re-flashing the same version of Android (i.e. flashing Android 5.1 on a tablet that already has Android 5.1 installed), you can choose "Download Only" from the drop down list instead (just above the table). This option should not delete your NVRAM or MAC addresses.

Note: If you have flashed your tablet using "Download Only" or "Firmware Upgrade", but find an issue still exists or that the tablet is misbehaving. You can attempt a more comprehensive erase and flash by using the "Format All + Download" option. Unfortunately this will erase your NVRAM and MAC addresses, and you will need to use the SN Write Tool (instructions below) to reprogram them once flashing is complete. If your tablet's ROM contents are sufficiently corrupt, SP Flash Tool may force you to use the "Format All + Download" option before you can continue.

click on the "Download" button up the top (next to "Stop").

Make sure the tablet is turned off, then plug the tablet usb cable into the computer

Wait a little bit, can take up to a minute, the bottom status bar should change colour, and then show a progress of formatting, and downloading flash.

NOTE: if you cant turn your tablet off, plug it into the PC and hold down POWER and VOLUME UP until it reboots, the SP Flash software should hopefully catch it during the preloader stage of boot. This might require a few attempts. You might need to hold POWER/VOLUME-UP for a long time (20 seconds) to finally enter the right tablet mode. If you see this error in Windows:

it is not a relevant error. It simply means your tablet booted into the wrong mode. Try to hold down POWER/VOLUME-UP again for a long time, to try to get into the right tablet mode. You can also try pushing in the reset button while also holding the POWER/VOLUME-UP buttons, and keeping POWER/VOLUME-UP pressed for 20 seconds.

NOTE 2: if your tablet is completely non-responsive, plug it into the PC and gently press the RESET button by placing a toothpick or pin inside the reset hole.

Wait while the ROM is being flashed, this will take 5 minutes or more (depending on the ROM files you use).

After the flashing is completed, unplug usb cable. Power up the tablet (you may have to hold POWER and VOLUME UP for 10 seconds). The first boot will take some time (possibly 10 minutes or more) as it rebuilds the user partition.

You should be presented with a fresh android install.

There are multiple reasons you might need to use the SN Write Tool.

1) You used the "Format All + Download" option in SP Flash tool. Which erases your NVRAM and MAC addresses.

2) Your tablet has an erased or corrupted NVRAM partition. This can usually be identified by checking if your Bluetooth MAC address is "00:00:46:81:63:01".

3) In Android 7.0, you see a "NVRAM WARNING 0x10" (or similar) message on your WiFi Settings screen.

4) You seem to have an obviously not random set of MAC addresses, or they change every boot. (Ensure WiFI is turned on before checking, or else it can report a false WiFi MAC address of 00:20:00:00:00:00).

If one of the above applies to you, continue with the instructions below. Otherwise your tablet is now ready to use.

Using SN Write Tool to re-program MAC addresses (and/or fix NVRAM)

To Re-Program your MAC addresses, and fix NVRAM issues -

Install MediaTek drivers if you havent already (these will already be installed if you used SP Flash tool earlier)

Download SN Write Tool, and unzip the file.

Open SN_Writer.exe from the SN Write Tool folder.

For ComPort choose "USB VCOM" in the drop down list.

For Tablet Type choose "Tablet Wifi Only" in the drop down list.

Click on the "System Config" button

In the System Config window, ensure everything is Unticked, apart from "BT Address" and "Wifi Address"

In the System Config window, click the "AP_DB" button down the bottom, and navigate to the folder containing the ROM you have installed, select the only file beginning with APDB (for example APDB_MT8163_S01_L1.MP8_W15.19), click Open.

In the System Config window, click the "Save" button down the bottom.

You should be back at the main SN Writer window, click on the "Start" button

Enter in your WiFi and Bluetooth MAC addresses without any colons or symbols (i.e. they should be in a format similar to - 2280F3812101).

NOTE: If you dont have your original WiFi And Bluetooth MAC addresses, generate two random addresses using this website https://www.hellion.org.uk/cgi-bin/randmac.pl?scope=local&type=unicast  (Ensure you choose "Locally Administered" and "Unicast").  Use one of these randomly generated addresses for WiFi and one for Bluetooth. 

Dont click OK yet. Instead ensure your tablet has booted into Android and is plugged into your PC. On the tablet, hold down POWER for two seconds to bring up the "Power Off or Reboot" prompt.

Click "OK" in SN Writer, then tap "Power off" on the tablet.

After the tablet reboots SN Writer will begin to reprogram your NVRAM partition writing the new MAC addresses. Please note that if you are doing this on Android 5.1, you will receive a failed error message stating "Prod_Info : MetaResult = Operatin timeout". This is to be expected, the flash has worked. You will receive a "Pass" message if using Android 7.0.

If you receive any other error message, the chances are reprogramming NVRAM has failed. You can quickly boot into Android and verify if the WiFi and Blueooth MAC addresses have been programmed successfully, otherwise you will need to attempt the procedure again (timing can be difficult regarding the reboot).

Your tablet is now ready to use.

#tablet #reflashing #documentation