how to recover / unbrick the U9

[Skynet]

Recovered from old forum. All credits to wrxtasy.


I've been playing around with LibreELEC S912 development on the U9 and went to "reboot to internal", which is normally reliable and all I could get was a black picture video output from the U9 when trying to boot into Android from that point onwards.

I've seen this before when Android devices with HDCP - copy protection - where the Keys get corrupted and then you can get no video & sound output out of the device at all.

Anyway this is the quick fix recovery method (should work on all AML Android devices):

1) Save this code to a plain text file called factory_update_param.aml (there must be no .txt extension)
Code:
--wipe_data
--wipe_cache
--update_package=/udisk/update.zip
2) Download the following: https://files.theminixforum.com/shared/firmwares/U9-H-FW008_Android_6.0-20180209-USB_Stick.zip
3) Rename U9-H-FW008_Android_6.0-20180209-USB_Stick.zip to update.zip

4) Unzip the file in Step (2) and extract the recovery.img

5) Save these 3 files to a USB Stick:
factory_update_param.aml
update.zip
recovery.img

6) Unplug the power from the U9, insert the USB Stick. Plug in power again and then press and hold in the power button for at least 6 seconds. The TV screen will still be black, but...

I could see a flashing LED on my USB stick, indicating activity. And after approx. 7 minutes the MINIX desktop appeared again with all my Apps still intact.

W.

 

[Bobby_Peru]

1) Save this code to a plain text file called factory_update_param.aml (there must be no .txt extension)
Code:
--wipe_data
--wipe_cache
--update_package=/udisk/update.zip
2) Download whatever U9 Firmware file MINIX are currently using - eg U9H_FW004A.zip
Rename this to update.zip

3) Unzip the file in Step (2) and extract the recovery.img

There is no recovery.img file. There's a S912-v008-20180209.img file or U9-H-FW008-Android_6.0-20180209-Burning_Tool.img depending on which download I use.

4) Save these 3 files to a USB Stick:
factory_update_param.aml
update.zip
recovery.img

5) Unplug the power from the U9, insert the USB Stick. Plug in power again and then press and hold in the power button for at least 6 seconds. The TV screen will still be black, but...

Screen is not black, I get the usual Minix bootup logo, which appears much quicker than 6 seconds, even as I continue to press the power button.

 

[OldFriend]

There is no recovery.img file. There's a S912-v008-20180209.img file or U9-H-FW008-Android_6.0-20180209-Burning_Tool.img depending on which download I use.

I assume you are asking for help here.....

There is a recovery.img in this file:
https://files.theminixforum.com/shared/firmwares/U9-H-FW008_Android_6.0-20180209-USB_Stick.zip

To be clear, you cannot use this method with a file ending in .img, it needs to be an OTA file ending in .zip with the following contents in the zip:

Screen is not black, I get the usual Minix bootup logo, which appears much quicker than 6 seconds, even as I continue to press the power button.

It goes black after the Boot Logo after around 6 seconds, with the correct files on the USB that is.

 

[OldFriend]

I could see a flashing LED on my USB stick, indicating activity. And after approx. 7 minutes the MINIX desktop appeared again with all my Apps still intact.

I have my doubts on the above comment, the code "--wipe_data" does exactly that, so I do not see how all apps could be intact, this will wipe all data and user installed apps, a fresh start!!

 

[Skynet]

I have my doubts on the above comment, the code "--wipe_data" does exactly that, so I do not see how all apps could be intact, this will wipe all data and user installed apps, a fresh start!!

I agree with you. I didn't try it, just recovered from old forum
All credits to wrxtasy

 

[YorFavoriteAgentRUN]

My Minix u9-h doesn't boot. This thread has helped me more than the rest. After inserting the USB to the Minix as instructed, it was flashing LED. Much later, after moving the usb like an antenna the home screen was displayed but the display was cropped, as if had more resolution than the TV. Later, the screen dimmed because of inactivity and turn off completely... couldn't turn it on again.

 

[86Tiger]

Hello, All.

My U9-H stopped. On start up in goes to flash screen then to black with flashing "Minix".

I followed direction in this thread and got attached message. I tried factory reset as well and got same "E: Cannot load volume /music" message!"

Anyone have suggestion or guidance I would be greatly appreciative.

JWP

 

[notrui]

Hello, All.

My U9-H stopped. On start up in goes to flash screen then to black with flashing "Minix".

I followed direction in this thread and got attached message. I tried factory reset as well and got same "E: Cannot load volume /music" message!"

Anyone have suggestion or guidance I would be greatly appreciative.

JWP

The best is to reflash the firmware:

Official NEO U9-H: 008FW

008FW is available to download from below link: Download Link 1 [MINIX Forum Server]: https://files.theminixforum.com/shared/firmwares/U9-H-FW008-Android_6.0-20180209-Burning_Tool.zip MD5 check : c3ee993588febff3183c3b3d53bfbefd (Please read THIS ) Download Link...

theminixforum.com

Options: (you have a newer version here)

U9-H-CE FW001 Android 7.1.2 20191120 [Community Edition Nougat Firmware]

Community Edition ROM for NEO U9-H - Android 7.1.2 Nougat Dear forum members, We are the Minixforum Dev Team, an independent group (users like you) that don't work for Minix. We have built this ROM in our own spare time but in strong collaboration with MINIX and we really want to thanks them...

theminixforum.com

Custom firmware (but you have to do some changes...)

slimBOXtv: Android 9 Pie Custom ROM for U9-H

XDA Forums: project slimBOXtv https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/project-slimboxtv.4152049/ slimBOXtv Firmware: MINIX NEO U9-H https://slimboxtv.ru/minix-neo-u9-h/

theminixforum.com

My advice : use community edition ROM

Please test and see if it help