[SOLVED] A95X MAX S905X2 cannot boot CE

Help & Support Installation & Booting
50

Another problem with the box from OP…
A95X Max V81 version.
Booting with android the NTFS formatted SSD up and running fine.
Booting CE and no sign of the SSD at all.
Attached some output of lsusb, lsblk, lsmod, dmesg.
sda1 is the pendrive the CoreElec running from, sdb doesn’t even exists in /dev.
Any idea why the SSD doesn’t work with CE?.
What else could one try to make it work?

Sata controller chip: GL3321G
lsusb shows it as Genesys Logic Inc

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05e3:0610 Genesys Logic, Inc. 4-port hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 05e3:0620 Genesys Logic, Inc.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub

root@CoreELEC:~# journalctl -f
– Logs begin at Thu 2015-01-01 00:00:23 UTC. –
Aug 31 20:03:23 CoreELEC kernel: audio_ddr_mngr: frddrs[0] released by device ff642000.audiobus:spdif_b
Aug 31 20:03:30 CoreELEC systemd[1]: systemd-hostnamed.service: Succeeded.
Aug 31 20:03:33 CoreELEC nmbd[3956]: [2019/08/31 20:03:33.084064, 0] …/source3/nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:397(become_local_master_stage2)
Aug 31 20:03:33 CoreELEC nmbd[3956]: *****
Aug 31 20:03:33 CoreELEC nmbd[3956]:
Aug 31 20:03:33 CoreELEC nmbd[3956]: Samba name server COREELEC is now a local master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.43.213
Aug 31 20:03:33 CoreELEC nmbd[3956]:
Aug 31 20:03:33 CoreELEC nmbd[3956]: *****
Aug 31 20:03:50 CoreELEC kernel: fb: mem_free_work, free memory: addr:800000
Aug 31 20:05:39 CoreELEC sshd[4256]: Accepted password for root from 192.168.43.237 port 54864 ssh2

51

It seems that it does see the 4 port hub, which I am guessing that allows CE to see things plugged into the other USB 3.0 ports?

52

I found out that external Drives work with both Msdos and GPT - Partition Table but the internal SATA-Drive only works with GPT i don’t know why.

53

@DonTrafo Is CoreELEC able to boot from internal HDD?

54

Yes boot from internal SATA-Drive works :slight_smile:

ce_gp2
ce_gp21046×588 45.4 KB

55

I have got my A95X Max (V81) , and I will do some tests to confirm the info you guys may be interested.

Boot: (ng 20190903)
TF: Yes
USB2.0: Yes
USB3.0: Yes
SATA: Yes (ONLY work with GPT)

Connection: (s905x2 4g 1g.dtb)
Wireless: No
Wired: Yes
Bluetooth: No

Memory recognized: (ng 20190903)
3755MB

VFD
Always display “boot”

Other
Can not power off correctly, after screen blacked, HDD, VFD still in work.

If you want me collect some info, you can tell me, but you should tell me the “how to”.

56

My box boot from SATA failed, I just simply burned CE to a HDD.
Is there something else I should do?

If I insert the TF and HDD both, it random boot from TF or HDD, but yes, it boot from HDD.

57

I know that on the original board, V10, the combined WiFi/BT module was the AMPAK AP6356S 2x2 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.1.

Not sure what is on the revised V81 board.

58

I got a series number from a chip.

MEDIATEK
ARM
MT7668RSN
1902-BZAJL
DET32044

59

Can you reboot and then run dmesg | paste and udevadm info /sys/bus/sdio/devices/sdio* | paste? Maybe it will give us some clue as to which driver we need for this.

60

OK, here is the output.

CoreELEC (official): nightly_20190903 (Amlogic-ng.arm)
CoreELEC:~ # dmesg | paste
http://ix.io/1UdW
CoreELEC:~ # udevadm info /sys/bus/sdio/devices/sdio* | paste
http://ix.io/1UdX

61

Thanks.
I can’t find much information about this wifi module, and I can’t find any open source drivers for it. Maybe @anon88919003 will have some better luck.

62

No need care too much about it.
I don’t use the wireless and bluetooth on the box, wired is enough.

63

Has your internal SATA HDD GPT Partition Table with Msdos it boot only from USB.

Tutorial for Gparted all data on HDD/SSD will be lost !!!:

Step 1
Create GPT Partition Table:Like here

Step 2
Insert SD-Card with CE and copy both “COREELEC” and “STORAGE” Partitions to your HDD/SDD drive see my Picture above

Step 3
Set the right flag boot,esp on the first fat16 partition “COREELEC”

Now the A95X-Max should be able to boot CE from SATA.

64

Thanks, it works!
I know why it won’t boot now.

I created gpt with parted@coreelec this morning, boot failed.
Just now, I do the same thing with gparted@ubuntu, boot succeed.

This what I do:
Burn CE to HDD (don’t forget dtb file)
Convert MBR to GPT
Set boot, esp flag on first partition

1 Like
65

Having just ordered one, my fingers are crossed that there is a driver for the latest revision of WiFi/BT.

66

Received my box today and initial tests are good.

If it gets confirmed that there is no available driver for the MT7668RSN then I’ll order a CSR dongle to give me Bluetooth.

HDR to SDR tone mapping works for locally stored and streamed files but I did note that when playing a streamed 4K HDR file from Youtube that the mapping didn’t work.

Although I have things running well from a MicroSD card, I’m curious about the earlier posted file A95X_MAX.tar.gz and whether it has any practical use for the end user?

I’m guessing not if I have a working system but wanted to get absolute confirmation.

67

I did this to get the front panel clock working.

Install the openvfd addon (Coreelec nightly addons, services, openvfd)
Create a vfd.conf file as described here and copy it to /storage.config
Reboot and it works.

2 Likes
68

YouTube uses the VP9.2 codec, and HDR doesn’t work with VP9.2. Same goes for HDR to SDR tone mapping.

69

Thanks for the clarification.