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→Flashing the Gemini Android firmware
==Introduction==
This document will guide you through the necessary steps needed to flash install or update Android on your Gemini with Linux or Android OS.
'''Please note: ''' '''<span style="color: #ff0000;">Flashing Installing 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>'''
<div style="text-align: justify;">'''Important Note: <span style="color: #ff0000;">please Please don’t use other tools to flash firmware fo your Gemini as it’s easy to loose key information such as the IMEI number. In particular, never use the “Format all + download“ option in the SP Flash Tool as this erases key information stored in the NVRAM partition and can lead to a non-functional device.<br data-attributes="%20/"><br data-attributes="%20/"></span>'''</div>There are 3 steps needed to install or upgrade Android on your Gemini:
# Install the FlashTool software on your Windows PC or Linux PC# Download and unzip the Android firmware# Flash the firmware on your device These steps are detailed in the next sections. ==<br data-attributes="%20/">Download and Install FlashTool on Windows==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.
You can find the latest drivers here: [http://support.planetcom.co.uk/download/FlashToolDrivers.zip Windows Flash Tool Drivers]
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 toolFlashTool, 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.
==Download and Install FlashTool on Linux==
If you intend to install FlashTool on a Windows PC you can skip this section, otherwise please keep reading if you want to install FlashTool on a Linux PC.
'''The following procedure has been tested on Debian 9.0, Ubuntu 18.04 (see notes below) and Fedora 28 (see notes below).'''
And inside the file put the following 2 lines:
<code>ATTRS{idVendor}=="0e8d", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}="1"</code><br data-attributes="%20/"><code>ATTRS{idVendor}=="6000", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}="1"<br data-attributes="%20/"></code>
After that, restart the udev:
On Ubuntu you will need to install the following dependency:
'''Notes - Fedora 28'''
On Fedora you will have to write the following command to allow applications running with root privileges to access the X server (this will fix the lines above for both the gedit and the flash_toolcommand):
<code>xhost +local:</code>
Additionally you will have to to restart the udev service by typing (or rebooting your machine):
<code>udevadm control --reload-rules && amp; udevadm trigger</code>
Finally, you will need to install the following dependency:
==Download Android-Only Gemini Firmware==Now that the Flash Tool FlashTool application is running, it is time to download the Gemini Android Firmware. Planet Computers provides both an Android-only firmware and a Linux or Android-Linux firmware. If you choose to flash a standard Android firmware, you will have to download one from this page: the [[Gemini Firmware|Gemini Firmware.page]] After downloading the firmware, unzip it to reveal the folder containing the firmware code, for example '''Gemini_WIFI_MP_09052018''' or '''Gemini_x27_FOTA3_12062018''' and proceed to the next section. If you choose to flash a Linux or Android-Linux firmware, then you will have to repartition 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_2018-06-20_at_11.06.06.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 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. There are 3 Gemini versions, please make sure you select the right version for your device. WiFi-Only Gemini users should select "Gemini WIFI-Only". 4G Gemini users using x25 chip (early release Geminis) 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.* Boot 3: Esc(On) key is pressed and Side button is also pressed As an example, the following screenshot shows a Gemini WIFI-Only model, configured with 28 GB for both Android and Linux, where the boot modes are set as: * Boot 1: Standard Android* Boot 2: Debian GNU/Linux* Boot 3: Sailfish OS
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'''.
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 '''Gemini_Android.txt''' file of the firmware that you want to flash, which is located in inside the of the firmware folderthat you downloaded.
[[File:flash1Screen_Shot_2018-06-21_at_10.45.58.png|center|800x511px|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 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.
[[File:nvramScreen_Shot_2018-06-21_at_10.52.02.png|center|799x526px|border]] 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.
==Flashing the Gemini Android firmware==
Be sure to follow the previous step to store a copy of the NVRAM partition as backup.Now click back on the '''Download''' tab.
Your screen should appear similar to the following screenshot:
To start the flashing process, just click the big '''Download''' button, <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;">connect your PC to the left end USB-C port on your Gemini</span> and restart the Gemini. Once booting, the flash tool will detect the unit and will start flashing the device with the selected firmware.
To start the flashing process, just click the big '''Download''' button, <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;">connect your PC to the left end USB-C port on your Gemini</span> and restart the Gemini. Once booting, the flash tool will detect the unit and will start flashing the device with the selected firmware.