Version 9.2.0 or 9.0.3 not installing on Mecool M8S Pro L

Unsupported/EOL HW/SW S912/GXM
1

Hi there,

I’ve tried both versions of CoreELEC and I keep seeing a black screen no matter what I do.

  • I’ve copid the gxm_q201_3g.dtb file from device_trees/ to the root directory and renamed it dtb.img.
  • I’ve then flashed the SD card using Etcher.
  • When using the command md5sum to check the MD5 checksum of both files (after mounting the *.img file) then I can see its the same hash.

Then I’ve tried to switch on the TV box with the SD card inside it:

  1. I’ve tried to keep hitting the menu button of the remote controller (to see the Android recovery menu) and tried to boot again the TV box choosing this option from the Android recovery menu.
    1.1 The box boots up again with the usual blue light (some other times the red light) and I see a black screen forever.
  2. I’opened the TV box plastic cover with a screw driver, then I’ve short-circuited the 2 pins at the bottom-right corner.
    2.1 The box boots up again with the usual blue light (some other times the red light) and I see a black screen forever.

Slight warning sign: when mount-ing the SD card (after I’ve flashed it and used it on the TV box) I don’t see the same MD5 hash anymore.

What am I doing wrong?

Is there a way to check some logs somewhere e.g.:

  • using SSH to log into the TV box (I can not find the credentials username and password) for a vanilla installation of CoreELEC
  • checking some logs in the recovery mode menu (I am not sure what to look for in there)

It seems to me I am doing something wrong because I see the same effect no matter the version of CoreELEC I am using or the procedure I am following.
I’ve tried these 2 different approaches because I’ve seen people mentioning these version issues and short-circuiting issues on various posts on this forum and similar blog posts on the internet. So far no luck :confused:

Also, on a different note: I was hoping to see some Markdown documentation on Github or perhaps a wiki here on the CoreELEC site, but there does not seem to be one. I could try to document the right procedure assuming I find it.

Thanks

2

You should FIRSTLY flash the image using etcher.
Then navigate to the device trees folder in the flashed sd card.
Choose the correct device tree for your box and copy it to the root directory of the sd card renaming it to dtb.img.

3

Thanks :slight_smile: but what’s wrong with mounting the *.img file to move the DTB file inside it before flashing the SD card? Why this is not the same as doing everything from within the SD card?

4

the mecool is listed under devices, so the correct dtb is already included, you don’t need copy the dtb & rename it.

5

I’ve:

  • flash the SD card with Etcher,
  • then mounted again that SD card,
  • then done this with bash:
IMG_NAME=gxm_q201_3g.dtb # Mecool M8S Pro L (Amlogic)
SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT=/media/$USER/COREELEC

cp ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/device_trees/${IMG_NAME} ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/
rm ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/dtb.img
mv ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/${IMG_NAME} ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/dtb.img

I always see that black screen with the word “MECOOL” no matter if I:

  • hit the menu button from the remote controller (tried for a couple of minutes)
  • short-circuit those 2 pins at the bottom-right corner

Interesting fact: after booting the TV box the MD5 hash of the renamed file dtb.img is now different from the MD5 hash of the original file.

I am quite confused as I don’t understand what’s wrong.

6

What is this list under devices? Do you mean the files contained in the directory device_trees/?

I’ve deleted that dtb.img file I previously copied from device_trees/, so the SD card is now as the original one from Etcher, then I’ve booted the TV box again.
I always see that black screen with the word “MECOOL” no matter if I:

  • hit the menu button from the remote controller (tried for a couple of minutes)
  • short-circuit those 2 pins at the bottom-right corner

I am quite confused as I don’t understand what’s wrong.

7

I really can’t understand the problem. You have to rename the correct dtb to dtb.img. Even if the device is listed in downloads that’s only a helper to inform you of the correct device tree.
So do things in order. Burn the image to SD card, copy the correct device tree to the root of the card and rename it to dtb.img.
For general information only devices with a exclusive image (N2, for example) don’t need to copy and rename the device tree.

8

At the top of this page, go to downloads, select stable, new installation, select device, you will find the mecool pro l, there is only the 3GB variant,

download the image, then using etcher or rufus burn image to microsd card, then insert boot, follow initial setup, using a usb keyboard, then reboot, you might need to setup the remote

9

You need to copy dtb. The download page is only informative about the device tree to use. It doesn’t create an image for a specific device. The exceptions are the ones I referenced.

10

Guys I’ve done this copy/rename (as you are describing) inside the SD card burnt with Etcher and mounted to my laptop filesystem.

When booting the TV box with SD card inside I am stuck with the black screen and the word “MECOOL”.

11

I don’t remember copying a dtb file over, I’m pretty sure the correct dbt is in the image. That applies to the Mecool Pro L & the H96 I have.

12

The correct dtb is in the device trees folder but not already in the root. You have to copy and rename.

13

Did that. It does not work.

14

Can you describe the steps you used in the “normal” approach?

15

Please check above, it’s all there in a list.

16

The first one? Please burn the image into an SD card, open the folder in the root of the card with the device trees, copy the correct one to the root of the card and rename it to dtb.img. That’s the standard approach. You’ve said that you copied the dtb first and then flashed the card or something.

17

Yes, then @kostaman said I had to burn the SD card first. So I did that and provided a new list, this one:

  • flash the SD card with Etcher,
  • then mounted again that SD card,
  • then done this with bash (equivalent to what you described):
IMG_NAME=gxm_q201_3g.dtb # Mecool M8S Pro L (Amlogic)
SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT=/media/$USER/COREELEC

cp ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/device_trees/${IMG_NAME} ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/
rm ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/dtb.img
mv ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/${IMG_NAME} ${SD_CARD_MOUNT_POINT}/dtb.img

Inserted the SD card in the TV box, then boot the TV box.
Then stuck with black screen and “MECOOL” word on screen.
It does not matter if

  • either I hit the menu button from the remote controller for a few minutes
  • or I short-circuit the 2 pins at the bottom right of the board
18

Have you tried to boot to android and used an app to reboot update?

19

That was the original way, copy the dtb over & rename to dtb.img.

But I thought that went out of the window, & the correct dtb is in the downloaded images.

I thought you only had to copy the dtb over with the generic images.

I might give this a go tomorrow.

20

I don’t want to make that default Android connect to the internet. I would like to use the OS I installed. I think this should be possible.