How to Revive a Bootlooped MiBox 2S
by mitch002 (follow me on twitter @MI_mitch002 for the latest reviews and tutorials)
by mitch002 (follow me on twitter @MI_mitch002 for the latest reviews and tutorials)
I have been researching about MiBox2S for a couple of weeks now. My original problem was that I can't update my MiBox2S via OTA to the latest firmware. For some reason it gets stuck at 73%-84% and fails. The system can't even detect on what version I am. So I have been looking around for older firmwares to flash and came across all sort of threads about unbricking, custom rom flashing, downgrading, etc.
Because support for MiBox2/2S is quite non-existent, I've decided to put up links and share what we have experimented on:
(1) Full restore a hard brick MiBox2 ~~>>en.miui.com/thread-137205-1-1.html
This is basically a translated version of the one from 4PDA (http://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?s ... =2120#entry37221595). I personally didn't try this. The 3.5mm AV cable I have didn't work when I plugged in a working unit so I skipped this. If your unit is soft brick only (meaning you can still access recovery) try other methods first
(2) Upgrade to the current latest beta ROM ~~>> http://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?s ... =1080#entry34714599
This one I actually tried and worked on a "soft bricked" MiBox2. Quotations because it really isn't soft bricked, but for some reason, there's no display (the mibox is responding to remote and there's the "end of page" sound coming out from TV. The culprit is, I think, when upgrading to v1.3.94.xxx. I've seen a number of users reporting about black screen after seeing the iCNTV logo.
This one is really simple, just go to the link, look for MDZ-09-AA codename dredd and download the full ROM file (not the update). File works with 1GB and 2GB variant (I personally flashed it on both units). Now put that in a empty USB drive along with the xiaomi_update file (which I'll provide). Be sure to check the integrity of ROM file before flashing. You don't want to flash a corrupted zip file. Now before you power up the MiBox, plug the USB drive. Aim your IR remote to the MiBox, press and hold both HOME and MENU button, and then power up the MiBox. Keep holding both buttons until you see Mi Bunny welding at back of Android. Wait until it finish and, VOILà! You're now on beta ROM v1.3.112d! Now, whatever you do, do not go to settings and update. Because it's just gonna throw you back to stable v1.3.94 and you'll be back to black screen of death. For softbricked units, you may want to give this a try first before trying other methods.
(3) Shitou ROM (custom) ~~>> shitourom.com/thread-1636-1-1.html
This one I didn't try. At first I thought this was stock ROM but apparently it's custom ROM. They have a supply of stock rom but, so far, didn't work for me.
(4) RemixOS (custom) ~~>> en.miui.com/thread-183515-1-1.html
Didn't try this too. Some says their unit got bricked trying this.
(5) Downgrade ~~>> youtube.com/watch?v=PFPiiQmBLAw
All links to file are dead, so if you come across this on your own research, ignore it. I posted this because I'm hoping to get my hands on the 1.3.61 firmware and try this method.
(6) a v1.3.61 link ~~>>bbs.xiaomi.cn/t-10979184
I came across this while trying to search for the 1.3.61 file since it's required for downgrade (5). Don't know how to get it if it's there.
(7) flashing firmware with Mod-rekaveri (I'm guessing it's modded recovery?) ~~>>http://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?s ... =3460#entry41898699
this one didn't work too. all the files to flash the modded recovery is not working anymore, so don't bother
Rooting:
This one is easy. Just download 360?? ROOT. Install and then press the button to root (you'll need a mouse to navigate because IR remote will not work)
Which method Worked:
Based on our week long experiment, the only method which really worked was Method 2
