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Difference between revisions of "Zero/dev/maskrom"

< Zero‎ | dev
(Enable maskrom)
 
(7 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
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[[File:Zero_usb_boot.jpg | 300px]]
 
[[File:Zero_usb_boot.jpg | 300px]]
  
Hold the button while plug Zero into your computer. You can let go the button when you see power LED is on.
+
Hold this button, then plug Zero into your computer. You can let go the button when you see power LED is on.
  
 
On Windows, you can open Device Manager and find the device:
 
On Windows, you can open Device Manager and find the device:
  
PENDING PICTURE
+
[[File:Windows-GX-CHIP.png]]
  
 
On Linux, you can run <code>lsusb</code> to confirm the device is indeed in maskrom mode:
 
On Linux, you can run <code>lsusb</code> to confirm the device is indeed in maskrom mode:
Line 39: Line 39:
 
[[File:Zagdig-libusb.png]]
 
[[File:Zagdig-libusb.png]]
  
You can also [https://dl.google.com/android/repository/usb_driver_r13-windows.zip download the Android driver] from Google.
+
Additionally you can install '''fastboot with '''nexus-tools''' by running the following command in PowerShell:
 +
 
 +
iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corbindavenport/nexus-tools/master/install.ps1'))
 +
 
 +
You will also need [https://dl.google.com/android/repository/usb_driver_r13-windows.zip the Android driver] from Google.
  
 
Unzip it and right click the '''.inf''' file to install the driver.
 
Unzip it and right click the '''.inf''' file to install the driver.
Line 45: Line 49:
 
[[File:Install-win-android-driver.png]]
 
[[File:Install-win-android-driver.png]]
  
Additionally you can install adb and fastboot tools with '''nexus-tools''':
+
'''fastboot''' is for installing Android, or manually clear eMMC bootloader. If you do not need those you can skip this step.
 
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iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corbindavenport/nexus-tools/master/install.ps1'))
+
  
 
RZ USB Boot Helper is a Windows tool made by Radxa for maskrom sideloading. Download it from [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/tools/windows/RZ_USB_Boot_Helper_V1.0.0.zip Radxa DL] and unzip everything to a convenient location.
 
RZ USB Boot Helper is a Windows tool made by Radxa for maskrom sideloading. Download it from [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/tools/windows/RZ_USB_Boot_Helper_V1.0.0.zip Radxa DL] and unzip everything to a convenient location.
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  sudo pip3 install pyamlboot
 
  sudo pip3 install pyamlboot
  
Additionally you can install adb and fastboot tools with '''nexus-tools''':
+
Additionally you can install '''fastboot''' with '''nexus-tools''':
  
 
  bash <(curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corbindavenport/nexus-tools/master/install.sh)
 
  bash <(curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corbindavenport/nexus-tools/master/install.sh)
 +
 +
'''fastboot''' is for installing Android, or manually clear eMMC bootloader. If you do not need those you can skip this step.
  
 
=== Side loading binaries ===
 
=== Side loading binaries ===
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* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/factory-loader.img factory-loader.img]: used to erase eMMC on Windows. Not recommended.
 
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/factory-loader.img factory-loader.img]: used to erase eMMC on Windows. Not recommended.
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin]: erase eMMC.
+
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin]: automatically erase eMMC, then present eMMC as a USB storage device. This is the recommended way to load a new Linux image.
 
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/rz-fastboot-loader.bin rz-fastboot-loader.bin]: enable fastboot mode. This cannot be used to install our official Android.
 
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/rz-fastboot-loader.bin rz-fastboot-loader.bin]: enable fastboot mode. This cannot be used to install our official Android.
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/android-bootloader.img android-bootloader.img]: this is the same <b>bootloader.img</b> from our official Android image. When sideloaded it will boot the device in fastboot mode, with support for eMMC boot partition.
+
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/android-bootloader.img android-bootloader.img]: this is the same <b>bootloader.img</b> from our official Android image. Some distro uses this bootloader.
 
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/rz-udisk-loader.bin rz-udisk-loader.bin]: expose embedded eMMC as a USB Mass Storage device.
 
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/rz-udisk-loader.bin rz-udisk-loader.bin]: expose embedded eMMC as a USB Mass Storage device.
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/u-boot.bin u-boot.bin]: U-Boot bootloader. Useful when you have a corrupted boot loader.
+
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/u-boot.bin u-boot.bin]: mainline U-Boot bootloader for USB boot. Won't work if you flashed it to eMMC/microSD.
 +
* [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/u-boot.bin.sd.bin u-boot.bin.sd.bin]: mainline U-Boot bootloader for eMMC/microSD boot. Please refer to [[Zero/dev/u-boot#Run_U-boot | this guide]] to see how to flash it when OS is already installed.
  
 
Once Radxa Zero enters into maskrom mode, it will reboot into maskrom mode until the power is cut. As such, it is recommended to completely shut down, unplug, and replug Radxa Zero when you are finish with the maintenance task.
 
Once Radxa Zero enters into maskrom mode, it will reboot into maskrom mode until the power is cut. As such, it is recommended to completely shut down, unplug, and replug Radxa Zero when you are finish with the maintenance task.
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* A: Please make sure your USB driver is installed and Zero is in maskrom mode. You should see the following device in your Device Manager:
 
* A: Please make sure your USB driver is installed and Zero is in maskrom mode. You should see the following device in your Device Manager:
  
[[File:libusb.png | 500px]]
+
[[File:libusb.png]]
  
 
* Q: RZ USB Boot Helper's Erase button is disabled.
 
* Q: RZ USB Boot Helper's Erase button is disabled.
 
* A: You can use [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin] to erase eMMC. It will wipe the device once you click "Run" button.
 
* A: You can use [https://dl.radxa.com/zero/images/loader/radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin] to erase eMMC. It will wipe the device once you click "Run" button.

Latest revision as of 21:03, 26 November 2022

 Radxa Zero >  Development Guide >  Enter maskrom mode

Description

This guide describes how to enter maskrom mode on Radxa Zero. Maskrom mode is a special boot mode for Radxa Zero. In this mode CPU will not boot off eMMC or microSD but will instead side load binaries from USB OTG port. This allows you to perform many low level maintenance tasks.

Requirement

  • Radxa Zero
  • A PC/laptop running Windows, Linux, or macOS
  • USB A to C cable or C to C cable, depending on your host

Enable maskrom

First locate the USB boot button on the bottom of Zero:

Zero usb boot.jpg

Hold this button, then plug Zero into your computer. You can let go the button when you see power LED is on.

On Windows, you can open Device Manager and find the device:

Windows-GX-CHIP.png

On Linux, you can run lsusb to confirm the device is indeed in maskrom mode:

Bus 001 Device 048: ID 1b8e:c003 Amlogic, Inc. GX-CHIP

Install required tools

Windows

Download and install Zagdig for USB device driver. Make sure that the device is GX-CHIP, USB ID is 1B8E:C003 and choose libusb-win32, then click Install Driver.

Zagdig-libusb.png

Additionally you can install fastboot with nexus-tools by running the following command in PowerShell:

iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corbindavenport/nexus-tools/master/install.ps1'))

You will also need the Android driver from Google.

Unzip it and right click the .inf file to install the driver.

Install-win-android-driver.png

fastboot is for installing Android, or manually clear eMMC bootloader. If you do not need those you can skip this step.

RZ USB Boot Helper is a Windows tool made by Radxa for maskrom sideloading. Download it from Radxa DL and unzip everything to a convenient location.

The tool will list the current mode on its interface. Right now we have Maskrom mode:

Rz-usb-helper-maskrom.png

Linux(Ubuntu) & macOS

On *nix platform we can use Amlogic boot tool to side load binary. Run following commands in a new terminal:

macOS:

brew install python lsusb libusb
pip3 install pyamlboot

Ubuntu:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-pip
sudo pip3 install pyamlboot

Additionally you can install fastboot with nexus-tools:

bash <(curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/corbindavenport/nexus-tools/master/install.sh)

fastboot is for installing Android, or manually clear eMMC bootloader. If you do not need those you can skip this step.

Side loading binaries

On Windows, once the tool detected maskrom mode, you can choose binary with Select button then side load with Runbutton:

Rz-usb-helper-fastboot.png

On *nix you can use boot-g12.py tool instead:

macOS:

boot-g12.py rz-fastboot-loader.bin

Ubuntu:

sudo boot-g12.py rz-fastboot-loader.bin

Some precomplied loaders are provided on Radxa website. Below is a brief description on some of them:

  • factory-loader.img: used to erase eMMC on Windows. Not recommended.
  • radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin: automatically erase eMMC, then present eMMC as a USB storage device. This is the recommended way to load a new Linux image.
  • rz-fastboot-loader.bin: enable fastboot mode. This cannot be used to install our official Android.
  • android-bootloader.img: this is the same bootloader.img from our official Android image. Some distro uses this bootloader.
  • rz-udisk-loader.bin: expose embedded eMMC as a USB Mass Storage device.
  • u-boot.bin: mainline U-Boot bootloader for USB boot. Won't work if you flashed it to eMMC/microSD.
  • u-boot.bin.sd.bin: mainline U-Boot bootloader for eMMC/microSD boot. Please refer to this guide to see how to flash it when OS is already installed.

Once Radxa Zero enters into maskrom mode, it will reboot into maskrom mode until the power is cut. As such, it is recommended to completely shut down, unplug, and replug Radxa Zero when you are finish with the maintenance task.

Troubleshooting

  • Q: RZ USB Boot Helper says "Not detected".
  • A: Please make sure your USB driver is installed and Zero is in maskrom mode. You should see the following device in your Device Manager:

Libusb.png

  • Q: RZ USB Boot Helper's Erase button is disabled.
  • A: You can use radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin to erase eMMC. It will wipe the device once you click "Run" button.