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Firmware Recovery

If your motherboard is partially bricked, it's possible to restore the firmware using USB Cloner Tool for the Ingenic SoCs.

Prerequisites

  • USB Cloner Tool and drivers available here: cloner-2.5.36.1-windows_alpha.zip
  • A computer running Windows

  • A microUSB to USB-A cable with dual-purpose for communication and power supply:

Note

There are two types of microUSB cables:
- With power supply only which does not work for this procedure
- With dual-purpose for communication and power supply which work for this procedure

     Ingenic 1.3.3.5 (Google Drive)

     Ingenic 1.3.2.20 (Google Drive)

     Ingenic 1.3.2.1 (Google Drive)

     Ingenic 1.3.0.39 (Google Drive)

Drivers Installation

  • Connect the computer to the motherboard using the microUSB cable.

  • Press the BOOT button and RESET button on the motherboard at the same time:

  • Then hold them for 3 seconds, release the RESET button first, then release the BOOT button to enter in boot mode. At this point, the system light should be slightly lit.

  • Extract cloner-2.5.36.1-windows_alpha.zip file.

  • Open Device Manager on your computer:

    • Press the Windows key to launch the Windows Start menu.
    • Type device manager
    • Select the Device Manager option under the Best match section of the search results

  • On Device Manager window, you should see Ingenic USB BOOT DEVICE item with a warning icon in Other devices section:

If not, it may be because you are using the first type of microUSB cable, intended only for charging. You need to replace it with the second type of cable.

  • Select Ingenic USB BOOT DEVICE → Right-click and choose Update driver

  • Then select Browse my computer for drivers → Select the cloner-win32-driver folder (from the previously extracted zip file) → Click Next button and the system will automatically install the driver:

Flash Firmware

  • Run USB Cloner Tool by clicking on cloner.exe file in cloner-2.5.36.1-windows_alpha folder (from the previously extracted zip file).

  • Click on the Load image button and select the firmware file with .ingenic extension:

  • Enter in boot mode by pressing the BOOT button and RESET button on the motherboard at the same time. Hold them for 3 seconds, release the RESET button first, then release the BOOT button.

  • Then, click the Start button:

  • At this point, the program will start burning automatically, and you can monitor the burning progress through the progress bar:

  • After a successful burning, the system indicator light on the mainboard will start blinking intermittently:

  • The flashing procedure is completed and you have restored the motherboard firmware.


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