Minix U9-H won't start

T

thewebplumber

New member
After 16 months of very satisfactory service my Minix has suddenly stopped playing. It boots up to the Minix/Android splash screen then the screen goes black. I've tried all the suggestions for similar cases on this subforum with no luck. Can't even get the reset to work.

Not happy.

I've just ordered a NVIDIA Shield.
 
thewebplumber said:
After 16 months of very satisfactory service my Minix has suddenly stopped playing. It boots up to the Minix/Android splash screen then the screen goes black. I've tried all the suggestions for similar cases on this subforum with no luck. Can't even get the reset to work.

Not happy.

I've just ordered a NVIDIA Shield.
Click to expand...

I have access to three U9-H's & one of them has done this a couple of multiple times now but only when connected to an AVR, (doesn't happen with a direct connection to a TV). Resetting doesn't always work unfortunately.

Do you have access to another TV or HDMI monitor? If yes, try connecting the U9-H & that may get you straight back into the system normally to reset the display resolution. Then reconnect to your original TV again.

Have you also tried the trick of giving the system plenty of time to boot up & pressing buttons on your remote in a specific sequence to reset the resolution as well?

Failing all of the above, all you need to do is reflash the firmware using the USB burning tool & your U9-H will function perfectly normally again. (Obviously you will lose all data stored on the internal memory.)

Hope you can easily return the Shield when your U9-H is running again ;).
 
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thewebplumber said:
After 16 months of very satisfactory service my Minix has suddenly stopped playing. It boots up to the Minix/Android splash screen then the screen goes black. I've tried all the suggestions for similar cases on this subforum with no luck. Can't even get the reset to work.

Not happy.

I've just ordered a NVIDIA Shield.
Click to expand...
Please send an e-mail to support@minix.com.hk
 
thewebplumber said:
After 16 months of very satisfactory service my Minix has suddenly stopped playing. It boots up to the Minix/Android splash screen then the screen goes black. I've tried all the suggestions for similar cases on this subforum with no luck. Can't even get the reset to work.

Not happy.

I've just ordered a NVIDIA Shield.
Click to expand...

Further to last post, try these before more drastic action @thewebplumber , you might get lucky ;). (Obviously this assumes you're using the MINIX Metro launcher.)....

----------x----------
(Posted by @David Isom )

I eventually found an answer to my problem. The box was in a resolution which could not be recognised. I found remote control would still turn box on of off. Tried getting into recovery mode same problem. As I had another box I worked out what keypresees would get me to display menu and selected a resultion my tv would accept for sure. Lo and behold the screen came back on ! All good now. My main worry was I had a subscription for IPTV with a year left and without the user I’d I would have had to pay again if I had reflashed the firmware

Key presses required were reboot box and wait for 1 minute to a make sure it is started up Completely !

Press home key twice . Then press up three times and left to get to to left corner of menu ( just to say this is for Metro launcher )
Press down arrow twice
The press right arrow four times
Then enter
Then up key at least 10 times
( this gets to top of resolution select )
Then down three or four key presses ( May need to experiment here depending what type of screen is connected )
Enter key

This did it for me screen came back to life and in my case was 1080 24hz.

Changed back to what I wanted and then all good from here

Hope this helps someone

David
----------x----------

(Posted by @Tyrone )

I’ve found a solution
You need to change the display resolution
It works for me

Ok make sure you can hear the feedback click sound so you know when you are moving
1) Press down once - Up Once - And keep pressing left 3 times (JUST TO MAKE SURE YOUR IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER)
2) Press Down Twice
3) Press Right Four times (Click Ok/Select)
4) Press Right Once (Click Ok/Select)
5) (Click Ok/Select Again)
6) Press up continuously until you feel that your at the top off the list
7) Press Down Twice for the first resolution (CLICK OK/SELECT) if it didn’t work repeat number 6 and go down one step after everytime

Like now you would go down 3 times Press ok/Select if that didn’t work repeat number 6 and then press down 4 times and press Ok/Select and continue hope this helps
----------x----------
 
simply unplugging the hdmi lead, wait a few seconds, and then replugging the hdmi lead from the minix whilst powered on often resolves this.
 
You can try like @pusb87 suggested and i might add plug new or different hdmi cable in all usb ports in Tv and see is there any differences
 
pusb87 said:
simply unplugging the hdmi lead, wait a few seconds, and then replugging the hdmi lead from the minix whilst powered on often resolves this.
Click to expand...

Doesn't work for the U9-H I have that does this but it's another one to add to the list of possible remedies for others to try :).

I can't work out what actually causes it either, very strange. Seems to be 100% random so far. The other two are perfectly fine & have never done it.
 
ArcticWolf said:
Doesn't work for the U9-H I have that does this but it's another one to add to the list of possible remedies for others to try :).
Click to expand...
you have a strange one...but this is definetly worth a try first rather than blind navigation !!
 
As the OP on this thread, I'm delighted to be able to come back and say that a member of Minix's staff picked up on my message and contacted me directly.

My problem is resolved and all that remains is for me to sell the Shield that I bought to replace the NEO U9-H :)

Well done, Minix
 
thewebplumber said:
As the OP on this thread, I'm delighted to be able to come back and say that a member of Minix's staff picked up on my message and contacted me directly.

My problem is resolved and all that remains is for me to sell the Shield that I bought to replace the NEO U9-H :)

Well done, Minix
Click to expand...

What was the problem?
 
thewebplumber said:
After 16 months of very satisfactory service my Minix has suddenly stopped playing. It boots up to the Minix/Android splash screen then the screen goes black. I've tried all the suggestions for similar cases on this subforum with no luck. Can't even get the reset to work.
.
Click to expand...

My U9-H acts almost the same. It turns on and works for a while, all in a sudden the black screen shows up, power button don't work, blue led is on, remote does not work. It all began few days ago while turning on the device, it got stuck on the splash screen for more than an hour. Only way to shut it off was unplug the power wire. Couple of days later after three or more hours it was on, while browsing Netflix Home page it showed up the black screen of the TV and got stuck as explained above. It happens random but it happens also while watching youtube or browsing Minix Homepage. Resolution settings aren't an issue, since day one it's set to 4K and never been changed settings of both TV and Minix. Only way i have to restart is unplug the power cable, wait a couple o'minutes and turn it on again. Problem is it happens more often . How about a virus or stuff like that? Is there a way to have a log of these issues?
 
Ghiro said:
My U9-H acts almost the same. It turns on and works for a while, all in a sudden the black screen shows up, power button don't work, blue led is on, remote does not work. It all began few days ago while turning on the device, it got stuck on the splash screen for more than an hour. Only way to shut it off was unplug the power wire. Couple of days later after three or more hours it was on, while browsing Netflix Home page it showed up the black screen of the TV and got stuck as explained above. It happens random but it happens also while watching youtube or browsing Minix Homepage. Resolution settings aren't an issue, since day one it's set to 4K and never been changed settings of both TV and Minix. Only way i have to restart is unplug the power cable, wait a couple o'minutes and turn it on again. Problem is it happens more often . How about a virus or stuff like that? Is there a way to have a log of these issues?
Click to expand...

If you suspect a virus etc., obviously there are a number of apps you can download to carry out a scan. Certainly worth checking!

Other than these random hangs/black screen, you're able to boot & use your system relatively normally which would generally indicate the hardware itself is fine. This is more likely a software issue or something has simply become corrupted over time/use, etc.

In the first instance, try simply wiping the system cache, it may be all that's required. First you need to boot into the recovery menu....

1. Shut down your device normally but leave it powered on at the wall & connected to the TV.
2. Press & hold the power button for 6 - 10 seconds.
3. Use your remote to scroll down to wipe cache partition in the recovery menu & select it. (DO NOT mistakenly select wipe data ;)!!!)
4. Once completed (it should just take a couple of seconds), use your remote to scroll back up to & select reboot system now.

See how things go :). It may clear your issues it may not.

If still no joy, then try a factory reset. (You can either carry out the reset by going into the U9-H's settings -> storage & reset -> choose factory data reset. Or, you can use the recovery menu again & choose wipe data.

Obviously, you will lose all data on the device so backup any files stored on the internal memory first, (the SD card (if present) will remain untouched) ;).

Let us know how you get on :).
 
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My u9 only displays splash screen then blank, here is what i have tried
1. Holding down on button for six seconds, no boot menu
2. Waiting a time for bootup then trying remote, no audible clicks
3. Tried on second TV same result
4. Measured the power supply under load, maintains 5v
5. Disconnected HDMI lead while box and tv on, no result
6. Connected to USB burning tool, tried many USB leads, box not recognised by program, have used burning tool before with this same setup and PC, was ok
7. Tried different HDMI lead, no result
8. Tried leaving power disconnected from box for a while, no result.
Box worked last night, turned on today, not working, nothing disturbed between these times.
To me, looks like box has expired, is there anything more i can try?
This is only my second post so if it is in the wrong place, forgive me.
 
Hi @dig .
Can you try with other PSU (the same 5V - 3A)?

Can you try with a different PC (with usb burning tool) and a different usb port (don´t use usb port 3.0 on your pc)?

-Use other usb burning tool:
https://theminixforum.com/index.php?threads/amlogic-tools.1301/
-disable/uninstall any programs that can block usb burning tool like anti-virus, firewall.
-use only u9h with the power cable and hdmi connected

To factory reset try this (you said you tried but you can try again)
1. Power off your NEO U9-H [keep the power supply and display connected].
2. Press and hold the power button for approx. 6 seconds until the unit goes into recovery mode.
3. Select 'Wipe data/factory reset'
 
@dig focus on number 6 like @notrui suggested and link for USB burning tool.You tried everything except USB burning tool to make work again and if you can try another pc and use usb 2.0 port on pc.
 
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notrui said:
Hi @dig .

To factory reset try this (you said you tried but you can try again)
1. Power off your NEO U9-H [keep the power supply and display connected].
2. Press and hold the power button for approx. 6 seconds until the unit goes into recovery mode.
3. Select 'Wipe data/factory reset'
Click to expand...

dig said:
My u9 only displays splash screen then blank,.
Click to expand...

He can't unfortunately. His device won't advance past the initial splash screen!!

mark lob said:
@dig focus on number 6 like @notrui suggested and link for USB burning tool.You tried everything except USB burning tool to make work again and if you can try another pc and use usb 2.0 port on pc.
Click to expand...

dig said:
6. Connected to USB burning tool, tried many USB leads, box not recognised by program, have used burning tool before with this same setup and PC, was ok
.
Click to expand...

I think you're confusing @dig 's own actual post with @notrui mate lol ;). (It was dig himself that listed number 6 as something he tried & he specifically mentions trying the USB Burning Tool ;).)

Ergo, he did already try the USB Burning Tool.

@dig ,

I'd say you've posted in the correct place for your specific issue so don't worry about that :).

What will the device do right now? (Blue LED lit on the front & you still get the splash screen or absolutely nothing at all?) If you still have the MINIX splash screen & a blue LED it would tend to indicate all is not necessarily lost just yet :)!! Additionally, if you no longer have the blue LED have you retested the PSU's voltage since that happened?

1. Try completely uninstalling the USB Burning Tool from your laptop. When you reinstall the tool ensure that the accompanying USB drivers are installed with it.
2. If you have an older version of the USB Burning tool, try updating it to the latest version. (Do a fresh uninstall/reinstall.)
3. If you already have the latest version of the USB Burning Tool, try uninstalling it & downgrading to an older version. (I.e. try v 2.0.6.2.) In some circumstances the latest version isn't necessarily always the best one to have. (An older version worked flawlessly for me for a long time but the more recent version has of itself caused a few problems for me recently as well.)
4. As has been pointed out, this could be an issue with specific USB ports on your laptop, anti viral software, firewalls, anti malware, the list goes on. Do you possibly have another PC or laptop you can try or kindly ask a friend/family to install the burning tool purely to allow you to flash your image? They can immediately uninstall it again afterwards if successful.

I've had this exact scenario happen with 2 of the 3 U9-H's I have access to with the devices inexplicably becoming stuck at the initial MINIX splash screen. (One has only done this once with no problems at all ever since the firmware was re-flashed. The other did it repeatedly specifically when connected to an AVR with no other apparent cause, reason or trigger. (It was swapped around to be used as a beta test device with "other than stock firmware" & a direct to TV connection, that's also been fine since the swap around too. I really have no clue what triggers it despite seeing it well over a dozen times with that single device, all within a very short time period as well!!)

The only way I could resolve the problem each time I experienced it was a completely fresh flash of the firmware. (I tried pretty much everything you've listed each time before resorting to flashing too.) Obviously, you need to get that USB Burning Tool issue fixed first so that you can proceed as normal. It's a vital link in the chain & as long as that's potentially got problems it won't matter what you do with anything else until that's first rectified. Additionally, whilst it's not a given/absolute, some users have reported that the re-flashing process would only work with the original MINIX OTG cable, or a micro USB cable with the slightly longer 6mm connectors. Conversely, other users have also reported everyday/run of the mill micro USB "data" cables (4mm connectors) working absolutely fine as well. (It's anyone's guess what exactly causes this but with the massive array of laptops floating around out there, or pre-built/custom built desktop PC's, it does seem to be highly subjective to any given hardware. Add in the endless number of individual apps/software options individual users install on their laptops/PC's & the variables involved add up to truly staggering numbers rapidly heading for the infinite lol ;).)

In your instance, there's a minimal chance it's a mix of both problems if you've tried the USB Burning Tool over & over with multiple USB cables as well. (However, the USB Burning Tool is more likely to be what's holding you back. Are all of the micro USB cables you tried definitely data cables & not just charging cables as well, or are they even all of the same batch/brand/source etc.?). Ideally, the original OTG would be your best option if you have it? Failing that, can you borrow another quality data cable to try as well?

Let us know where you currently stand, there may still be a small glimmer of hope :).
 
Yes i know he tried to acess recovery menu but he can try again.
Also he can try again with usb burning tool.

For example i was a time ago with a state of brick on one of my routers, i never gave up, i tried many times, learning and searching for more information.
Day after day i tried until i had sucess, i left the device rest for a time to think about it lol :), and me with a fresher mind :)

Using a JTAG procedure was last resort but it was not needed.
 
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