FlashTool, errors: decoding, problem solving, ways and recommendations

With the massive proliferation of the Android operating system as a software basis for various devices and gadgets, a huge number of different devices have appeared on the market, operating on the Mediatek hardware platform (abbreviated as MTK).

A large selection of devices and their tremendous popularity led to an increase in the number of usage models, the emergence of new programs and functions, but also brought new problems to the world of ordinary users due to instability of work and the display of program failures of individual representatives from a large list of existing Android devices. Fortunately, many problems can be solved quite simply by using the firmware of MTC devices. One of the most popular solutions for MTC devices in this area is the Sp Flashtool program. Errors of software developers when using custom firmwares and the program described are easily eliminated, even if the user does not have a high level of competence. Consider the main points of using Flashtool, errors that can occur during its application. But about this a little later, to start a little history and theory.

The huge popularity of "Android" as OS and MTK for smartphones and tablets has led to a wide variety of devices released using the above-mentioned hardware and software components. The openness of Android and the relative versatility, and most importantly, the availability of MTK for smartphones, tablets and other solutions have made it possible to access a variety of previously uncommon opportunities for end users of devices. We are talking about the possibility of independent, without involving specialists, managing and controlling the software and hardware of devices.

Why there was a program SP Flashtool

Few know that each user can not only run certain functions specified by the device manufacturer, but also fully control and to some extent improve them, and sometimes even create new ones. This is the so-called "customization", that is, changing certain parts of the "Android" system to their tasks. In addition to the customization process, users have the opportunity to perform their own software repair of their devices, to "reinstall" the OS and completely replace the software part of the smartphone or tablet with a more suitable version for the user. Generalized all these concepts can be called the word "firmware".

Of course, the average user, and the service engineer is not able to work with the software part of such a complex device as any device running Android. In order to "flash" any gadget, you need tools (in our case - programs) that can perform certain manipulations in automatic or semi-automatic mode. One of the most famous programs of this plan is SP Flashtool. This application, through which you can implement a wide range of procedures with devices based on MTK, collectively called "firmware."

How to work with SP Flashtool

A wide variety of models supported by the program does not allow writing a universal instruction on its application. For each model line or specific device, the process of firmware or backup of the system (backup) will be slightly different. But in general, to install the firmware into the device, almost all users will need to perform the following steps:

1. Download the required version of the program, unpack the received archive (the application does not require installation) and start.
2. Specify the program path for the location of a special scatter-file.
3. Select the partitions to be flashed to the device.
4. Transferring the program to the device connection waiting mode.
5. Device connection.
6. Waiting for the firmware to finish.

In the process of performing the above steps, various Flashtool errors may appear, in most cases the same for a wide range of devices and procedures. Let's consider them in more detail and try to apply methods that allow to solve the situation when Flashtool gives an error.

Preparing to work with the program

Before proceeding to the consideration of common mistakes, we'll figure out what needs to be done in preparation for working with the program. This will eliminate most of the problems.

• We install the correct device drivers. When the program is running, a virtual COM port is used to transfer data to the device. The driver of this component has its own device. It is necessary to install only verified drivers obtained from reliable sources.
• We use only fully serviceable and, most importantly, high-quality USB-cables. This component is definitely not the last place in the list of factors that accompany successful firmware. It often happens that a user receiving a lot of errors when flashing a device through Flashtool already despairs on the successful outcome of the event. But it's enough to take another USB cable, and everything will go smoothly, smoothly and quickly.

The "right" version of Flashtool

And again there is a wide variety of MTK-devices. The firmware is constantly updated; There are a lot of its versions, applicable for a certain range of models. It is important to find out which version of the application exactly works with a particular device and use only this release. In addition, if you use the wrong Flashtool version of the flash driver, the errors that occur during the process may even damage the hardware of the smartphone or tablet. It is necessary to be extremely attentive.

The corresponding "firmware"

In most cases, for each specific device, the manufacturer produces its own version of the software. This also applies to custom firmware. And although there are cases when phones or tablets take "not their" firmware and even work after that, most often when you try to flash the device with "another's" set of files there will be an error. To avoid such situations, you need to carefully and clearly identify the model and hardware revision of the device, as well as download firmware only from trusted sources.

Serviceability of the device

Despite the fact that Flashtool is a very powerful tool, but it is not "magic". No hardware program can fix hardware failures. For example, if you try to flash a phone with a malfunctioning USB connector or an out-of-order processor - nothing good will end there. The firmware will not even start, and the time spent trying to eliminate the errors generated by Flashtool will be wasted.

Most Common Errors

In fact, the number of errors that can occur while working with the program is very large. When an error occurs with Flashtool firmware, the information about the event number (error number) is available to the user, as well as a short transcript, which, however, does not provide any valuable data. For most users this set of Latin letters is completely useless.

The following errors occur most often. Under each item of this short list, you can find recommendations for their removal.

Error 4001

If you receive an error 4001 when trying to write the firmware, Flashtool can not continue its operation. The reasons for the problem can be several and it is sometimes difficult to find the right decision even for an experienced programmer. To easily fix the error, you can recommend using a different USB port. You can also try to transfer the program files to the root of drive C.

In addition, when you fix the 4001 error, it often helps to change the version of the program. Here it may be in the absence in the application files of information about a particular processor model or flash memory used in the firmware being flashed.

In some cases, the error may indicate the failure of the flash memory device.

Error 4008

As in the previous case, the error 4008 generated by Flashtool does not provide an opportunity to make an unambiguous conclusion about the cause of its occurrence. Many users have eliminated it, changing the version of the program to an older one. Also often helps to change the USB cable used for firmware.

Among other things, the occurrence of an error 4008 can result in a situation where the battery of the device is discharged while the program is running. If there is a suspicion that this has happened, it is necessary to charge the battery and repeat the steps of carrying out the firmware procedure first.

Error 5054

Error 5054 is a very common problem, which in most cases has an unambiguous and unique solution. In order to avoid the error 5054, Flashtool must accurately identify the device to be connected. And it is common knowledge that for a correct "understanding" of any device the software requires a driver. In other words, to solve the problem you need to reinstall the driver or find another suitable version. After this operation, error 5054 does not occur in most cases.

Error 8038

One of the few possible errors, which has an unambiguous description and solutions. If an 8038 error occurs while trying to download the firmware, Flashtool protects the device's memory from writing invalid blocks. This may be a mismatch between the names and / or addresses of the blocks contained in the scatter file, with the table of blocks stored in the device.

The solution to this problem is to use a different firmware version containing a scatter file that is different from the error that caused the error. If this option is not possible, you will have to edit the scatter-file manually. But to use such a solution is highly discouraged in view of the danger of damage to the flash memory of the device by recording blocks with unsuitable names and / or addresses.

As you can see, the manifestation of errors in the application is not always a bad situation. If all the preparatory procedures described above are true, but the errors still occur, it is likely that SP Flashtool simply protects the user's device from damage due to the recording of incorrect parameters or files.