How to USB flash New Multi-boot recovery menu and Image to Octagon SF8008 - New procedure 21/04/2020

[Huevos]

Hope someone can assist. I purchased the SF8008 with Openvix latest 6.6 installed.

https://www.world-of-satellite.co.uk/octagon-sf8008-supreme-combo-dvb-s2x-dvb-c-t-t2?search=SF8008

During setup, if I select HDMI the blue screen comes up with a load of errors.

I then went into recovery mode and re-installed latest Openvix via online method thinking the original flash may have been corrupted, but the same thing happened.

I then flashed OpenATV instead via online method in recovery, and that seems to work fine and managed to set the box up without any issues.

Is this a faulty box or a is it a bug with the FW?

Then I downloaded an older Openvix 6.6 FW from the website and try to install via USB using the USB method above, but the USB does not show as mounted and a message comes up saying USB not installed.

I have tried with 4 different USB's and formatted all of them as fat32 using minitool, none of them show as mounted or recognised.

The USB's are not faulty as they are all recognised when I installed OpenATV. I am able to see them under storage and able to format.

Am I doing something wrong or is the box faulty as they are not recognised in recovery mode?

Thanks

Yes, there appears to be a bug on some boxes in VideoWizard. It will be fixed in the next couple of days, so please wait for the next build.

 

[dodgydrains]

couch flash.I never use recovery method.I have a usb stick in the box for backup and images download

Couch flash worked for me. I flashed Pure2 instead of OpenATV until the 'VideoWizard' bug is fixed in Openvix.

Still a bit concerned that flashing via recovery the usb is not detected.

Thanks for your help.

 

[bellejt]

wanted to test but I do not get that recovery choice only in download 4 choices for difrrent images

 

[dodgydrains]

wanted to test but I do not get that recovery choice only in download 4 choices for difrrent images

Do you not get this option?

https://www.world-of-satellite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60023&d=1587482380

 

[bellejt]

no totaly different screen here when I choose vix update download I get 4 choices for different images.Never got that screen.
If I flash a new image I just plugin the usb stick with the new image extracted from zip file on it and the button to update.Then i get asked in witch slot

 

[dodgydrains]

no totaly different screen here when I choose vix update download I get 4 choices for different images.Never got that screen.
If I flash a new image I just plugin the usb stick with the new image extracted from zip file on it and the button to update.Then i get asked in witch slot

3) Octagon SF8008 hold down front Standby button and power on whilst holding this down. Once UPDT appears on front screen release reset button or power button, whichever applies to your receiver.
Once booted into the new recovery menu you will see the screen below. ENSURE YOUR USB STICK IS FULLY MOUNTED, SEE TOP RIGHT CORNER FOR USB STICK USED IN THIS EXAMPLE. IF YOU DO NOT SEE /mnt/HDD0 XXXX free DO NOT PROCEED, YOUR USB STICK IS NOT FULLY DETECTED. TRY RE-FORTMATTING THE STICK USING 'MINI TOOL PARTITION WIZARD'. NOTE WINDOWS 10 FORMATING CAN HAVE ISSUES:

This is the method I meant, when I said flashing via recovery menu.

I get this following screen via the recovery menu flashing method:

https://www.world-of-satellite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60023&d=1587482380

 

[bellejt]

oke I never installed that update because I do not need it to flash new images in whatever slot I want.Works fine without this addon.

 

[twol]

I will try that, only thing is in future if something goes wrong again I will need to online flash a different image (like OpenATV) first and then flash the image I want from there.

Is there a way to see why the USB does not mount in recovery? That would solve the problem.

Flashing the recovery image by usb for the sf8008 should now work on openvix after next build….. but there are 2 image choices so make sure you have recovery image (recovery emmc) not the one for online flashing
I flashed my sf8008 without issues this morning with the new code…l then continued by taking option 2 flash recovery image which flashed recovery and installed the new image - this wipes all existing slots.

In my view always online flash this box (or any other multiboot receiver) via ImageManager (you can choose openvix, openbh, openpli or openatv)

 

[dodgydrains]

Flashing the recovery image by usb for the sf8008 should now work on openvix after next build….. but there are 2 image choices so make sure you have recovery image (recovery emmc) not the one for online flashing
I flashed my sf8008 without issues this morning with the new code…l then continued by taking option 2 flash recovery image which flashed recovery and installed the new image - this wipes all existing slots.

In my view always online flash this box (or any other multiboot receiver) via ImageManager (you can choose openvix, openbh, openpli or openatv)

How did you flash Emmc? Was it via the method shown in first post? My issue that the USB is not recognised in recovery menu.

 

[twol]

How did you flash Emmc? Was it via the method shown in first post? My issue that the USB is not recognised in recovery menu.

I stuck a usb with the 5 files from the sf8008 recovery zip in rear usb slot( no other usb stick), powered on holding power button until UPDT on display….. sat waiting for recovery screen (takes time at least on my sf8008)…. Entered option 2 which flashes recover and image…..waited for boot and away you go.
The reason I am against usb flashing is all the issues we see in posts with it not working on any receiver…. Often need oldest smallest usb stick you can find and when it works….store safely for next use(hopefully never).

 

[dodgydrains]

I stuck a usb with the 5 files from the sf8008 recovery zip in rear usb slot( no other usb stick), powered on holding power button until UPDT on display….. sat waiting for recovery screen (takes time at least on my sf8008)…. Entered option 2 which flashes recover and image…..waited for boot and away you go.
The reason I am against usb flashing is all the issues we see in posts with it not working on any receiver…. Often need oldest smallest usb stick you can find and when it works….store safely for next use(hopefully never).

I did exactly that on a fat32 formatted USB (4 different ones), with no luck. Even used that one that I use to flash edison and zgemma boxes.

What I have found is, using filezilla, if I transfer the files into the root of the USB that openATV has set up as /media/hdd then this is recognised and I can flash mmc and emmc.

Any ideas what the issue may be? Is it some sort of mounting issue where recovery is looking for the files as it does not look like a USB issue.

Obviously, if I try to use that USB in my PC it is not recognised as the PC needs to format it.

 

[twol]

I did exactly that on a fat32 formatted USB (4 different ones), with no luck. Even used that one that I use to flash edison and zgemma boxes.

What I have found is, using filezilla, if I transfer the files into the root of the USB that openATV has set up as /media/hdd then this is recognised and I can flash mmc and emmc.

Any ideas what the issue may be? Is it some sort of mounting issue where recovery is looking for the files as it does not look like a USB issue.

Obviously, if I try to use that USB in my PC it is not recognised as the PC needs to format it.

There is nothing more basic than fat32… if the PC doesn,t recognise it there is an issue.
if atv is using it as hdd then I would expect it to be ext4… which is no good for usb flashing

 

[dodgydrains]

There is nothing more basic than fat32… if the PC doesn,t recognise it there is an issue.
if atv is using it as hdd then I would expect it to be ext4… which is no good for usb flashing

Fat32 formatted USB are recognised by PC but not recognised by USB Multiboot Image Upgrade in recovery.

The EXT4 formatted USB is recognised by USB Multiboot Image Upgrade but obviously not when connected to the PC. If I use filezilla to transfer the 5 files to the EXT4 formatted usb whilst inserted to the box to media/hdd I can go to USB Multiboot Image Upgrade and the USB is recognised and I can flash.

Very weird.

 

[bellejt]

How to Read EXT4 Partitions in Windows 11/10/8/7? :

DiskGenius - Free disk partition software that can resize EXT4 partition, clone Raspberry Pi SD card, format NTFS drive to EXT4/3/2 in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

 

[Joe_90]

Fat32 formatted USB are recognised by PC but not recognised by USB Multiboot Image Upgrade in recovery.

The EXT4 formatted USB is recognised by USB Multiboot Image Upgrade but obviously not when connected to the PC. If I use filezilla to transfer the 5 files to the EXT4 formatted usb whilst inserted to the box to media/hdd I can go to USB Multiboot Image Upgrade and the USB is recognised and I can flash.

Very weird.

All sat receivers recognise FAT32 formatted USB sticks for flashing. Once you have a basic, low capacity stick that works, stay with it. I've used an ancient 4GB Sandisk for years for flashing various receivers. It's so old and worn that the USB connector is falling off. I was recently able to buy a set of three similar (but larger at 8GB) replacements from a well-known internet shopping site for 15 quid. All work perfectly with my receivers.

 

[bellejt]

I have an old jetflash 256 MB and works in every box ans a chinese 4GB

 

[Joe_90]

I have an old jetflash 256 MB and works in every box ans a chinese 4GB

Ok - thats a small capacity stick!

 

[dodgydrains]

All sat receivers recognise FAT32 formatted USB sticks for flashing. Once you have a basic, low capacity stick that works, stay with it. I've used an ancient 4GB Sandisk for years for flashing various receivers. It's so old and worn that the USB connector is falling off. I was recently able to buy a set of three similar (but larger at 8GB) replacements from a well-known internet shopping site for 15 quid. All work perfectly with my receivers.

When I go to recovery, the fat32 formatted drives are being recognised as the USB sticks lights are flashing. The only way the box finds the files and flashes an image is if it is formatted as EXT4. Never seen this before but I have never owned an SF8008.

I have flashed many Edison, Zgemma and Dinobot boxes.

 

[Joe_90]

When I go to recovery, the fat32 formatted drives are being recognised as the USB sticks lights are flashing. The only way the box finds the files
and flashes an image is if it is formatted as EXT4. Never seen this before but I have never owned and SF8008.

I have flashed many Edison, Zgemma and Dinobot boxes.

@twol is the expert on multiboot - he wrote and updated much of the vix handling for this. I have an AX61HD which is also a HiSilicon multi-partitition box and I've never had an issue with flashing from USB.