==Introduction==
This document will guide you through the necessary steps needed to flash your Gemini with a Linux or Android /Linux OS.
'''Please note: ''' '''<span style="color: #ff0000;">Flashing Android or Linux will delete any user data on the device. Please make sure you have a backup of any important data before starting!</span>'''
To flash <div style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; color: #252525;" source="" sans="" pro="" sans-serif="" font-size:="" 15="" 008px="" font-style:="" normal="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2="" text-align:="" start="" text-indent:="" 0px="" text-transform:="" none="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" ffffff="" text-decoration-style:="" initial="" text-decoration-color:="">There are 3 steps needed to install Android/Linux your Gemini with an Android :</div># Install the FlashTool software on your Windows PC or Linux firmware PC# Customise your Gemini partition table. Using a simple tool, you will need a Windows or be able to specify the space you want to reserve for Linux PC and you for Android. You will have also be able to complete choose the following steps:firmware to download, at the moment we support Android, Rooted Android, Debian and Sailfish OS.# Flash the firmware on your device
# Download and Install FlashTool for Windows or Linux
# Down
<div style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; color: #252525;" source="" sans="" pro="" sans-serif="" font-size:="" 15="" 008px="" font-style:="" normal="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2="" text-align:="" start="" text-indent:="" 0px="" text-transform:="" none="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" ffffff="" text-decoration-style:="" initial="" text-decoration-color:="">These steps are detailed in the next sections.</div>
==Download and Install FlashTool on Windows==
<div style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; color: #252525;" source="" sans="" pro="" sans-serif="" font-size:="" 15="" 008px="" font-style:="" normal="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2="" text-align:="" start="" text-indent:="" 0px="" text-transform:="" none="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" ffffff="" text-decoration-style:="" initial="" text-decoration-color:="">The first step to install FlashTool on a Windows PC is to install the flash tool drivers. These The drivers are needed for your Windows PC to communicate with your Gemini, the minimum requirement is to have a 64bit Windows operating system.</div>You can find the latest drivers here: [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/download/FlashToolDrivers.zip Windows Flash Tool Drivers]
You can find the latest drivers here: [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/download/FlashToolDrivers.zip Windows Flash Tool Drivers]
Once downloaded, unzip the archive. You will find a folder called '''FlashToolDrivers''', open the folder and double click on the '''Install''' (install.bat) file. Allow the installation to complete by clicking '''Yes''' when asked to make changes.
<div style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; color: #252525;" source="" sans="" pro="" sans-serif="" font-size:="" 15="" 008px="" font-style:="" normal="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2="" text-align:="" start="" text-indent:="" 0px="" text-transform:="" none="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" ffffff="" text-decoration-style:="" initial="" text-decoration-color:="">Once downloaded, unzip the archive. You will find a folder called '''FlashToolDrivers''', open the folder and double click on the '''Install''' (install.bat) file. Allow the installation to complete by clicking '''Yes''' when asked to make changes.</div>
Now that the drivers have been installed, you can download the latest Windows flash tool: [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/download/FlashToolWindows.zip Windows Flash Tool]
Once downloaded the Windows flash tool, please unzip it to reveal the '''FlashToolWindows''' folder. Next, run the flash tool by double clicking on '''flash_tool''' (flash_tool.exe) file in the '''FlashToolWindows''' folder.
You can now skip the next part regarding Linux and move on to the '''Download Gemini Firmware''' section.
You will also need a firmware to flash, either Linux or Android. You can find the available Gemini firmware here: [[Gemini Firmware]]
<div style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; color: #252525;" source="" sans="" pro="" sans-serif="" font-size:="" 15="" 008px="" font-style:="" normal="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2="" text-align:="" start="" text-indent:="" 0px="" text-transform:="" none="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" ffffff="" text-decoration-style:="" initial="" text-decoration-color:="">Once downloaded the Windows FlashTool, please unzip it to reveal the '''FlashToolWindows''' folder. Next, run the flash tool by double clicking on '''flash_tool''' (flash_tool.exe) file in the '''FlashToolWindows''' folder.</div>
==Download and Install FlashTool on Linux==
'''The following procedure has been tested on Debian 9.0, Ubuntu 18.04 (see notes below) and Fedora 28 (see notes below).'''
<code>sudo apt-get install libjpeg62</code>
'''Notes - Fedora 28'''
<code>xhost +local:</code>
Additionally you will have to restart the udev service by typing (or rebooting your machine):
<code>udevadm control --reload-rules && udevadm trigger</code>
==Download Android-Only Customise your Gemini Firmwarepartition table==Now that the Flash Tool is runningIf you choose to flash a Linux or Android-Linux firmware, then you will have to repartition your device, it is time reserving some space for Linux and some for Android. To repartition your Gemini you will have to download use our partition tool, available at [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/partitionTool.html http://support.planetcom.co.uk/partitionTool.html]. A screenshot of the Gemini Firmwaretool is provided below.
Planet Computers provides both an Android[[File:Screen_Shot_2018-only firmware and a Linux or Android06-Linux firmware20_at_11.06. If you choose to flash a standard Android firmware, you will have to download one from this page: [[Gemini Firmware06.png|center|800x527px|Gemini Firmware.border]] After downloading the firmware, unzip it to reveal the folder containing the firmware folder, for example '''Gemini_WIFI_MP_09052018''' or '''Gemini_x27_FOTA3_12062018'''.
You can choose the partition size for Linux and Android by dragging the planet slider left or right. You can choose to have an Android-only Gemini, a multi boot Linux-Android or a Linux-only Gemini. Once you have selected the partition sizes you have to select your Gemini model using the appropriate drop down menu.
==Download Android/Linux There are 3 Gemini Firmware==If you choose to flash a Linux or Android-Linux firmwareversions, then please make sure you will have to repartition select the right version for your device, reserving some space for Linux and some for Android. To repartition your Gemini you will have to use our partition tool, available at [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/partitionTool.html http://support.planetcom.co.uk/partitionTool.html]. A screenshot of the tool is provided below.
[[File:Screen_Shot_2018* WiFi-06Only Gemini users should select "Gemini WIFI-20_at_11Only".06* 4G Gemini users using x25 chip (early release Geminis) should select "Gemini x25"* Gemini 4G x27 users should select the "Gemini x27" option.06.png|center|640x422px|border]]
You can choose the partition size for Linux and Android by dragging the planet slider left or right. You can choose to have an Android-only If you are not sure about your Geminiversion, a multi boot Linuxjust check under Settings -Android or > Wireless & networks. If you see a Linux-only Gemini. Once menu called SIM cards, then you have selected the partition sizes an x27 Gemini, otherwise you have to select your an x25 Gemini model using the appropriate drop down menu.
There are 3 Gemini versionsAfter selecting the partition size, please make sure you can select the right version operating systems to use for your device. WiFi-Only Gemini users should select "Gemini WIFI-Only"each boot mode. 4G Gemini users using x25 chip supports 4 boot modes (early release Geminissee the Linux boot notes section below for more information) should select "Gemini x25" and finally Gemini 4G x27 users should select the "Gemini x27" option. If you are not sure about your Gemini version, just check under Settings -> Wireless & networks. If you see a menu called SIM cards, then you have an x27 Gemini, otherwise you have an x25 Gemini.:
After selecting the partition size, you can select the operating systems to use for each boot mode. Gemini supports 4 boot modes. When the Gemini is OFF, press Esc(On) key for around one second to initiate the booting process. Immeditately after that, the unit will vibrate, and after a few seconds the screen will turn ON. When the screen turns ON, the Gemini will check the status of the Esc (On) key and of the side silver button. Based on the status of those buttons there are 4 possible booting modes: * Boot 1: Both Esc (On) key and side button are not pressed. This is the default booting option when no buttons are pressed.
* Recovery Mode: Esc (On) is pressed. This will always boot into overy mode.
* Boot 2: Side button is pressed.
[[File:Screen_Shot_2018-06-20_at_11.16.03.png|center|640x421px800x527px|border]]
After you made your selection, there are 3 modules to download using the buttons on the right:
* The ''' Base firmware ''' contains the basic Android firmware. This is the main component, it needs to be extracted to reveal the Gemini Base firmware folder. All the other component need to be copied/unzipped here.* The '''Scatter file ''' contains the definition of your Gemini partition, based on your selection. This needs to be copied into the firmware folder* The optional '''Linux module''' (Debian, Sailfish or Debian+Sailfish) contains the additional Linux modulefirmware. This needs to be unzipped into the firmware folder
Once you have You should end up with the extracted the base Base firmwarefolder, copied containing also the scatter file and the unzipped the optional Linux module, you will be ready to proceed to the next step.
<span style="color: #ff0000;">'''NOTE: '''<span style="color: #000000;">'''It is important to keep a backup of the custom scatter file that you created, '''</span></span><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="color: #000000;">'''you will need it each time you want to update your device (for example Android) without loosing your data.'''</span></span> ==<br />Configuring Flash Tool==
Use the choose button as in the following screenshot to load the scatter file that you will find inside the downloaded firmware. In particular:
* Downlad-Agent should be set to the file MTK_AllInOne_DA.bin, which is located in the FlashToolWindows or FlashToolLinux folder.
* Scatter-loading file should be set to the specific scatter file of the firmware that you want to flashcustomised, which is located in the firmware folder
[[FileYour screen should look like the following screenshot:flash1.png]]
[[File:Screen_Shot_2018-06-21_at_11.35.58.png|center|800x600px|border]]
==Backup the NVRAM partition==
Before flashing the device with a different firmware it is a good idea to backup the current NVRAM partition. This partition stores key information for your Gemini, including the IMEI number. If it gets lost or damaged, your Gemini will not be able to take or receive calls.
The provided flash tool is already configured for your Gemini. To create a backup of your NVRAM partitionIn particular, just click on the '''Readback''' tab and then on all the '''Add''' buttonpartitions should be checked. A row will appear If you see any unchecked partitions in the table as list, make sure you unzipped the Linux module in the following screenshotfirmware folder and try again.
[[File:nvram.png]]
==Backup the NVRAM partition==
Before flashing the device with a different firmware it is a good idea to backup the current NVRAM partition. This partition stores key information for your Gemini, including the IMEI number. If it gets lost or damaged, your Gemini will not be able to take or receive calls.
Next, just click the '''Read Back''' button, connect your Gemini to your PC and restart the Gemini. Once rebooted, the flash tool will detect the phone and will write the NVRAM partition on a file on your hard disk called NVRAM0. It’s a good idea to keep this file as a backup.
The provided flash tool is already configured for your Gemini. To create a backup of your NVRAM partition, just click on the '''Readback''' tab and then on the '''Add''' button. A row will appear in the table as in the following screenshot.
==Flashing the Gemini with an alternative firmware==Be sure to follow the previous step to store a copy of the NVRAM partition as backup[[File:Screen_Shot_2018-06-21_at_10.52. Now, run the Flash tool software and click on the '''Download''' tab02. Next, locate the '''Scatter-loading File''' option and click on the associated '''choose''' '''button''', as highlighted in the picture below:png|center|799x526px|border]]
[[File:flash1.png|center|640x419px|border]]
Now<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', open the firmware folder from the firmware zip file you downloaded and select the scatter filesans-serif; font-size: 15. If you selected an Android firmware008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">Next, then the scatter file will be calledjust click the </span><strong style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'' Gemini_Android, sans-serif; font-size: 15.txt'008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Read Back</strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;"> button, connect your Gemini to your PC and restart the Gemini. If you selected an Android/Linux firmwareOnce booting, then the scatter flash tool will detect the unit and will write the NVRAM partition on a file name will depend on your hard disk called NVRAM0 (see screenshot below). It’s a good idea to keep this file as a backup, together with the space you reserved for them, for example''' Gemini_x27_A26GB_L30GB_Multi_Boot.txt'''customised Scatter file.<br /></span>
Once you ==Flashing the Gemini Linux firmware==<div style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; color: #252525;" source="" sans="" pro="" sans-serif="" font-size:="" 15="" 008px="" font-style:="" normal="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2="" text-align:="" start="" text-indent:="" 0px="" text-transform:="" none="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" ffffff="" text-decoration-style:="" initial="" text-decoration-color:="">Be sure to follow the previous step to store a copy of the NVRAM partition as backup.Now click back on the '''Download''' tab.</div><div style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; color: #252525;" source="" sans="" pro="" sans-serif="" font-size:="" 15="" 008px="" font-style:="" normal="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-weight:="" 400="" letter-spacing:="" orphans:="" 2="" text-align:="" start="" text-indent:="" 0px="" text-transform:="" none="" white-space:="" widows:="" word-spacing:="" -webkit-text-stroke-width:="" background-color:="" ffffff="" text-decoration-style:="" initial="" text-decoration-color:="">Select the '''Firmware Upgrade''' option from the drop down menu. This will automatically select all the partitions in the table.</div><span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">To start the scatter fileflashing process, just click the table should be populated as belowbig </span><strong style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Download</strong><span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float:none;"> button, connect your Gemini to your PC and restart the Gemini. Once booting, the flash tool will detect the unit and will start flashing the device with the selected firmware.</span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">The following screenshot shows a successfully completed flashing process:</span>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 15.008px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">[[File:flash2Screen_Shot_2018-06-21_at_12.08.02.png|center|799x602px|border]]</span>
Make sure all the partitions are found and are checked. If some partitions are not found (location tab is empty), double checked that you unzipped the Linux module in the firmware folder.
Finally, change the '''Download Only''' drop down menu to '''Firmware Upgrade''' and click on the '''Download''' button. When switching between a standard Android to a dual boot Android/Linux firmware, you must use the '''Firmware Upgrade '''mode because you need to format the device and change the partitions.
Connect your Gemini and restart it. As soon as the Gemini is rebooted, the flash tool will detect the device and it will update the OS with the selected firmware.
==Troubleshooting==
We made efforts to make sure that the flash procedure is fail-safe, but sometimes background processes or other causes might interfere with the process. If this happens, you might experience an error such as "Failed to get PMT info", "Invalid ROM or PMT address" or "STATUS_DOWNLOAD_EXCEPTION".
If you experience this issue, please follow the actions below:
==Manually Update Android firmware==# Disconnect your Gemini from your PCPlanet Computers provides over-# Press and hold the-air update for standard Android installations. For custom installationEsc (On) key and the silver side button until the unit restarts (until the unit vibrate)# Reboot your PC# Try the flash process again, you will need to manually update the Android firmware.it should now complete without issues
To update the Android firmware, simply download the latest Android firmware from [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Gemini_Firmware http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Gemini_Firmware] and use the '''Download Only''' option while selecting only the system partition, as in the screenshot below
==Rooted Android notes==If you choose to flash the rooted Android firmware, remember that you will have to complete the process by installing [[Filehttps:Screen_Shot_2018-06-20_at_15//magiskmanager.57com/ Magisk Manager].55.png|center|640x421px|border]]
==<br />Linux boot notes==
The multi-boot mechanism works as follows.
Starting from a switched OFF Gemini, press the Esc (On) key to start the unit until the Gemini vibrates. Once you feel the vibration you can choose the boot mode by pressing the following key combination:
==Linux dual * Boot 1: This is the default booting option when no keys or buttons are pressed.* Recovery Mode: Esc (On) is pressed. This will always boot notes==into recovery mode.* Boot 2: silver right-end side button is pressed.The dual boot mechanism works as follow* Boot 3:Both Esc(On) key and silver right-end side button are pressed at the same time
* '''Dual boot Android-Linux firmware'''** Press Esc (On) for around one second to turn ON Keep the unit and boot into Android. You should release the Esc (On) button before the screen turns ON, otherwise the unit will boot into recovery mode (see below).** Press Esc (On) for around one second to turn ON the unit and at the same time press and hold the side button until the screen turns ON to boot into Linux. You should release the Esc (On) button before the screen turns ON, but you must keep the side button keys/buttons pressed until you see the turning ON. When the screen turns ON you can release the side button, and the unit will boot into Linux.** Press Esc (On) and keep pressing the button until the screen turns ON to boot in recovery mode. At this stage the recovery mode is disabled and you will see a droid image with a red triangle and a "No command" text.
