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Linux Flashing Guide

1,587 bytes added, 11:30, 26 February 2019
Backup the NVRAM partition
<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:</div>
# Install the FlashTool software on your Windows PC or Linux PC
# Customise your Gemini partition table. Using a simple tool, you will be able to specify the space you want to reserve for Linux and for Android. You will also be able to choose the firmware to download, at the moment we support Android, Rooted Android, Debian , Sailfish 3.0 Beta Community Edition, Kali Linux and Sailfish OSTWRP.
# Flash the firmware on your device
<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. The drivers are needed for your Windows PC to communicate with your Gemini, the minimum requirement is to have a 64bit Windows operating system(Windows 7 or later supported).</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:="">You can find the latest drivers here: [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/download/FlashToolDrivers.zip Windows Flash Tool Drivers]</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:="">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>
<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:="">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]</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:="">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).'''
On Ubuntu you will need to install the following dependency:
<code>sudo apt-get install libjpeg62</code> 
'''Notes - Fedora 28'''
Finally, you will need to install the following dependency:
<code>sudo yum dnf install nas-libs-1.9.4-13.fc28.x86_64</code>
You can also build the flash tool by yourself, the code is hosted on github: [https://github.com/dguidipc/SP-Flash-Tool-src Flash Tool Source]
 
 
==Customise your Gemini partition table==
* 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 3.0 Beta for Gemini Community Edition, or Debian+SailfishKali Linux) contains the additional Linux firmware. This needs to be unzipped into inside the firmware folder
You should end up with the extracted Base firmware folder, containing also the scatter file and the unzipped optional Linux module.
Use the choose button as in the following screenshot to load the scatter file that you will find inside the downloaded firmware. In particular:
* DownladDownload-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 customised, which is located in the firmware folder
In particular, all the partitions should be checked. If you see any unchecked partitions in the list, make sure you unzipped the Linux module in the firmware folder and try again.
 
 
==Backup the NVRAM partition==
<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;">Next, just click the </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;">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 PC to the left end USB-C port on your PC Gemini and restart the Gemini. Once bootingbooted, the flash tool will detect the unit and will write the NVRAM partition on a file on your hard disk called NVRAM0 (see screenshot below). It’s a good idea to keep this file as a backup, together with the customised Scatter file.<br /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:Screen_Shot_2018-06-21_at_10.51.50.png|800x527px|center|border]]</span>
==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 flashing process, just click the big </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 PC to the left end USB-C port on your PC Gemini 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:Screen_Shot_2018-06-21_at_12.08.02.png|center|799x602px|border]]</span>
 
==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:
 
# Disconnect your Gemini from your PC
# Press and hold the Esc (On) key and the silver side button until the unit restarts (until the unit vibrate)
# Reboot your PC
# Try the flash process again, it should now complete without issues
==Linux boot Rooted Android notes==The multi boot mechanism works as followIf you choose to flash the rooted Android firmware, remember that you will have to complete the process by installing [https://magiskmanager.com/ Magisk Manager] using the following steps.
Starting from a switched OFF Gemini, press # Allow the Esc (On) key installation of unknown applications<br />[[File:Screenshot_20190212-124142.png|center|800x400px|border]]<br /><br /># Navigate to https://magiskmanager.com<br />[[File:Screenshot_20190212-123531.png|center|800x400px|border]]<br /><br /># Scroll down to start 'Download Magisk Manager'. Click on the unit until download button and install the application.<br />[[File:Screenshot_20190212-123546.png|center|800x400px|border]]<br /><br /># Open the Gemini vibratesapplication. Once If you feel arre running the vibration app in a non-rooted Android you can choose will see the boot mode by pressing error 'Magisk is not installed'.<br />[[File:Screenshot_20190212-123732.png|center|800x400px|border]]<br /><br /># When asked about Additional Setup, Tap on Yes and let the following key combinationprocess complete.<br />[[File:Screenshot_20190212-123822.png|center|800x400px|border]]<br /><br /># Congratulations, you are running rooted Android on your Gemini!<br />[[File:Screenshot_20190212-123849.png|center|800x400px|border]]
* Boot 1: This is the default booting option when no buttons are pressed.==<br />Linux boot notes==* Recovery Mode: Esc (On) is pressed. This will always The multi-boot into overy mode.* Boot 2: Side (silver) button is pressedmechanism works as follows.* Boot 3: Esc(On) key is pressed and Side button is also pressed
After Starting from a switched OFF Gemini, press the screen turns ON Esc (On) key to start the unit until the Gemini vibrates. Once you feel the vibration you can release choose the keys.boot mode by pressing the following key combination:
* 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 into recovery mode.
* Boot 2: silver right-end side button is pressed.
* Boot 3: Both Esc(On) key and silver right-end side button are pressed at the same time
Make sure you also read Keep thekeys/buttons pressed until the screen turns ON.