How to properly install the VCOM Drivers

Blandroid

Also, if you've had flash fails, I would do a format first before attempting to reflash the phone.

Go to the second tab called FORMAT and make sure FORMAT WHOLE FLASH WITHOUT BOOTLOADER is selected.  This will clear the failed flash from your device.

You should still be able to flash the phone even if the preloader keeps disconnecting because it only needs to connect for long enough for the flash to start and you should be okay.

Use a Windows 7 PC/laptop if you possibly can because they work much better with the MTK USB VCOM driver for some reason.

Blandroid

Blandroid replied at 2015-9-24 08:43
Also, if you've had flash fails, I would do a format first before attempting to reflash the phone.

...

You can backup the IEMI with MobileUncle tools - it takes seconds to do and the app is free.

bencebacsi

Blandroid replied at 2015-9-25 16:23
You can backup the IEMI with MobileUncle tools - it takes seconds to do and the app is free.

Mobileuncle can save the IMEI numbers only but not the whole NVRAM partition. So, you can use it to recover the IMEI numbers only if the NVRAM partition is intact anyway. The NVRAM can be backupped by TWRP recovery or SP Flash Tool. The latter one needs special settings, so I don't recommend it. MTK Droid & Tools would be another option but that's not compatible with MT67xx processors since the lack of updates.

Blandroid

bencebacsi replied at 2015-9-25 22:59
Mobileuncle can save the IMEI numbers only but not the whole NVRAM partition. So, you can use it t ...

I did an NVRAM backup with TWRP - that's why I wanted to replace the stock recovery with it.

Blandroid

@ bencebacsi - your comment:

"Attention! NEVER format the flash chip of your (MTK SoC based) phone without making a backup copy of the NVRAM partition, or you will lose the IMEI numbers permanently!"

is not actually correct - here's a method of recovering an IMEI number when no backup whatsoever exists.  The only stipulation is that you know what it was before it got wiped - it will be on most phone boxes or the sticker underneath the battery:

https://youtu.be/y22ePUhlPcw

It worked perfectly for me first time when I lost my IEMI when I put CM12.1 on my Samsung Galaxy S3 which I didn't have a backup of at all.

bencebacsi

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Blandroid replied at 2015-9-26 23:05
@ bencebacsi - your comment:

"Attention! NEVER format the flash chip of your (MTK SoC based) phone  ...

That method is known for a long time and already shared by many people. Any changes processed in MTK EngineerMode are saved on the data partition. So, since the content of the NVRAM partition has a copy on the data partition, that always get created after a factory data reset or at the first run, that's possible to make changes in the NVRAM content. However, all of those changes will be lost at the next factory data reset. Try to imagine: How could you restore data on a non-existent partition? MTK Maui Meta is the application that can change settings directly in the NVRAM, nevertheless that simply won't work if the NVRAM partition is missing. So, I repeat, never format the flash chip of your MediaTek phone without making a backup of the NVRAM partition!

Blandroid

Sorry, I don't understand.

If you've got the stock rom, which all the Umi Iron users have access to on this forum - does it really matter if they haven't backed-up their NVRAM prior to formatting?

bencebacsi

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Blandroid replied at 2015-9-27 00:34
Sorry, I don't understand.

If you've got the stock rom, which all the Umi Iron users have access to ...

Yes, it does, since the stock ROM doesn't contain the NVRAM partition. That's possible to flash an NVRAM backup with SP Flash tool but you have to edit the scatter file for that.




If you load the edited scatter file, the NVRAM partition will appear in the partitions list. However, as you can see, the stock ROM doesn't contain it. You need to add it manually.

Blandroid

bencebacsi replied at 2015-9-27 01:12
Edited by bencebacsi at 2015-9-27 01:17 \n\n
Yes, it does, since the stock ROM doesn't contain the  ...

Thanks for that - especially the pictures as it's nice to see what you're explaining and makes it easier to understand.

sebasc182

i having the same issue, the same way as you