Ugoos AM7 / Installation & Reboot of CE

Help & Support Ugoos
1

Dear all,

I have been using CoreELEC on a GT-King clone (Orbsmart S86Pro) for years and I am very satisfied with it. Many thanks to the developers and the whole team.

Now I wanted to try a newer model and came across a Ugoos AM7 at a very affordable price.

The latest firmware 1.2.0 was installed on the box.

Now I tried to install CE with the help of these instructions:

However, I always failed and only ended up in the Android Recovery System. What I did:

Installed the “ng” version on a USB stick using Rufus under Win11 (CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-21.1.1-Omega-Generic.img)

  • copied the DTB “sc2_s905x4_ugoos_am7” to the root directory of the USB stick and renamed it dtb.img
  • Added “remote.conf” for Ugoos UR01
  • “Reboot_to_CoreELEC_5.0.apk” added
  • “Term.apk” added

On Android, I activated “SuperUser” in the settings, restarted and updated Magisk

Then I tried to install CoreELEC according to the instructions:
USB stick plugged into the black USB port next to the Ethernet port

  • The “toothpick method” only got me into the Android recovery system
  • “Reboot_to_CoreELEC_5.0.apk” and clicking on “First Installation” also took me to the recovery system
  • Via the terminal using “Term.apk” and “reboot update” I also ended up in the recovery system

After that, I tried four different USB sticks, including one that was guaranteed to be a USB2.0 stick. That didn’t change anything either.

Then I noticed that the above link was talking about an older firmware. So I flashed version 1.07. With this firmware, installation via “Reboot_to_CoreELEC_5.0.apk” worked.

However, when I turn off CoreELEC and restart the device, I always end up in the normal Android system first and have to switch to CoreELEC via “Reboot_to_CoreELEC_5.0.apk”.

  • Ugoos has improved some things in the newer firmware installations. Up to which version can I update to keep CE working? Is there any experience here?

  • How can I start using CoreELEC right away? I was used to the other box that started up CoreElec as long as the SD card was in the slot. Is there any way I can achieve this function with the AM7 as well?

  • Does the “ne” version of CE make a difference in these points? This should also work for AM7.

Thanks for your tips,
SHC

2

Edit: To get from the Android system to CoreELEC, I always have to select “First Boot” in “Reboot_to_CoreELEC_5.0”. If I select “Normal Reboot” from the menu above, the device will restart but will end up back in the Android system.

3

Use Amlogic-ne.

4

Thank you!

I tried the Amlogic-ne - version and the situation changes slightly:

(works with real USB2.0-stick only)

  • I was able to use the “toothpick method” to install CE
  • But at every reboot I have to push the reset button again to boot CE
  • In the app “reboot to CoreELEC” the button “normal reboot” brings the system to normal Android again. I can use “first reboot” and then CE starts

BTW: When I use a USB3.x stick, the recovery system is always started. I use the black slot next to the ethernet port as the USB port.

Is there any way to start the AM7 directly in CE without the detour via Android?

5

Hello everyone,

do any of you actively use a Ugoos AM7 and can also start directly in CE? I have now tried everything possible for several days (see above) and repeated this again. But I cannot boot directly into CE. I would be very grateful for a tip, otherwise I will have to sell the box again. Starting CE via the Android software after every start is too tedious for me.

6

Then you do something wrong, when done correctly it will boot first priority CE, always.

https://wiki.coreelec.org/coreelec:devgeneric

7

Dear SHC Ugoos, which version of your Am7 device are you using? I have been using it for 3 years, and none of the versions other than V1.0.7 work. When it works, I experience the same problem as you. It starts from Android. I can start it again by using reboot to Coreelec. I can say that I am running it on other versions. I have not come across this person until now. It is a powerful device in terms of hardware, but I think it is a problem caused by the lack of an SD card input. I also wrote about this issue on the Ugoos page. They stated that the problem was not caused by them, but entirely by the Coreelec team. I know this is not true. The V1.0.7 version is also available. It works, why don’t other versions work as well?

8

Hi tornaci,
thank you very much for your answer! It’s reassuring to know that I’m not the only one. I was able to install CE on other boxes without any problems, so I was a bit desperate.

I’m also using v1.0.7, as all the newer versions didn’t work at all. With this version I can install CE, but I have to go through Android every time I restart.

During the last tests I also seem to have broken something, as it now suddenly complains that the “Super” partition is not present, which was not an issue before. Reinstalling Android did not help here.

I will probably hand the box back to somebody else. Android works great, so maybe someone else will enjoy it. I’ll probably try the “Nokia 8010” or “Homatics Box R 4K” again. Unfortunately, both without an SD card, but I hope it works better.

Thank you very much! SHC

9

ugoos am7 1.0.07 works great without any problems. I agree with you about changing the device. I also went and bought the ugoos am8 928 J device. Believe me, the devices made by these guys are great. I also use Coreelec as both a media player and satellite device using the TBS 5930 USB tuner. Other am7 I will take my device to a different residence and use it there.