Pt 2 :: A33 (quad core 32-bit Cortex A7) Allwinner notes

Links: key xda post :: firmware site

Ok, here we go again.

1. Uses eMMC (not NAND) flashing
2. Can run the installation from an SD card, which makes no changes, but allows users to do so.
3. Maybe can use linux scripts in lieu of PhoenixCard or Phoenix USB (manufacturer), or Live Suite (retailer)

Command line connection

This particular Allwinner (A33) has a sunxi sun8i SoC (System on a Chip). I found this using the app, "Terminal Emulator for Android" and looked in the /system directory.

adb

NB: both boot.img and recovery.img are image files, so one needs to know which is which to know which directory into which to put them.

Different ID's depending on mode, like other phones.

$ lsusb
1f3a:1007 Allwinner Technology Android
18d1:d001 Google Inc. Nexus 4 (fastboot)

Similarly with the ADB's; depends on the mode.

$ adb devices
List of devices attached
990c3b4b07f100000000 device
990c3b4b07f100000000 recovery
990c3b4807f100000000 sideload

$ adb reboot bootloader [to run other adb's]

fastboot

press power and volume down at same time. When it's correct, you'll see only the A33 Quadcore logo with caption "Allwinner Tech". Verfiy...

# fastboot devices
Android Fastboot fastboot

yes

fastboot devices
fastboot erase boot [or recovery, data, cache, system]
fastboot continue

no

fastboot devices
fastboot flash boot someimage.img [block size]
fastboot continue

video unbrick with SD card It's possible that the initial "fastboot flash boot" failed with block size errors because all block sizes in the phone must be 1024 (native to phones), not 4096 (native to my laptop and desktop) or 256 I got the PhoenixCard here and then tried to use it with Wine.