Flashing from a Windows Computer using RK Batch Tool

⚠️ Data loss risk: This will wipe your device.
Make sure you have a backup of any important data before you proceed!

You need perform these steps (click to expand each step in turn):

Step 1: Install the RockChip USB Device Drivers

1. Download the RockChip Driver Assistant from https://androidmtk.com/download-rockchip-driver-assistant Working version: v4.5 (v4.7 and v4.8 did not work for me, nor did v4.91 - although these versions appear to install correctly they did not allow me to flash my Hudls)
2. Extract and run the assistant DriverInstall.exe, click 'install' button to install the drivers, accepting the dialogs as needed. If you have installed any other version, then click the 'uninstall' button first to remove the other version.

3. For Windows 8.1 and higher you need to add a registry key to cater for the RockChip bootloader in the Hudl advertising itself as USB v2.1 compatible, but not following the spec correctly. Copy this text into a file with a .reg extension and double click it, accepting the warnings, to apply the change to the registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\usbflags\2207310B0100]
"SkipBOSDescriptorQuery"=hex:01,00,00,00

Step 2: Install the RockChip Batch Tool program

1. Download the RockChip Driver Assistant from https://androidmtk.com/download-rockchip-batch-tool Working version: v1.8 (latest at the time of writing)
2. Extract the files from the download and run the RkBatchTool.exe program, accepting the dialogs as necessary.

Step 3: Download and unpack the TMF Custom ROM Firmware

Download the latest TMF Custom ROM from the Releases page of this repository. Extract the .img file from the download.

Step 4: Connect your Hudl to the computer in flash mode

1. Connect your Hudl to your computer using a USB Cable and put it into bootloader/flashing mode:
   • Option A: With your Hudl powered off and not connected to the computer, press and hold the volume+ button and keep holding it while connecting the USB cable to the computer. Hold for another few seconds.
   • Option B: With your Hudl in any state and connected to the computer by USB then hold the volume+ button and press the reset button through the small hole on the back of the case (with a SIM removal tool or paperclip).

2. If you have installed the drivers correctly and got the Hudl into bootloader/flash mode then if you open Device Manager you will see a 'Rockusb Device' under the 'Class for rockusb devices' heading.

❗ If you see a dialog "Hudl - Select what to do with the device", then you have connected your Hudl, but not in Flash mode. Try again using one of the options above.

❗ If you see a dialog "USB Device not recognised" then most likely you didn't correctly apply the registry key from step 1. Apply it now and then re-connect your Hudl to your computer.

Step 5: Flash the TMF Custom ROM firmware

1. If your Hudl is connected correctly, then RK Batch Tool will show a Green square towards the bottom. If it doesn't, then go back and ensure the previous steps have been completed correctly.
2. Click the '...' button in the top right of RK Batch Tool.

3. Browse and select the `.img' file that you downloaded in Step 3. Click OK and wait for the image file to load into RK Batch Tool.
4. Click 'Restore'

5. If all goes well then messages will scroll in the window while the device is prepared to receive the new image, and then the green square will turn yellow and start to flash, and messages below the square will show the percentage complete for both download and then verification.

6. When the flash completes the tool should report success and reboot the Hudl - indicated by the square going grey to indicate that the Hudl is no longer in flash mode.

7. The Hudl should reboot twice:
   • The first time you should see the 'Powered by Android' screen, and then see the Hudl in recovery mode erasing the and cache partitions, before rebooting again ...
   • The second reboot should show the 'Powered by Android' screen, followed by the Hudl splashscreen.

The first full boot will take longer than you are used to as the device sets itself up for the first time. If all is well you will end up at the desktop.

Step 6: Perform the post-install steps

1. The TMF ROM still contains a small amount of residual Tesco Customisations which will appear only during the initial setup: Step through the 3 screens answering 'No' to sharing with a child and 'OK' to the information.
2. Launch the Settings app from the App Drawer and:
   • Turn on/Set up a Wifi/internet connection
   • Check the 'Location access' settings, and agree to the privacy notice if needed.
   • Add a Google Account to the device (needed to allow the Play Store to connect and update)
3. Give the device a few minutes for the Play Store to update, and once updated launch it. You can tell the update has happened as the Play Store Icon changes (from old on the left below, to new on the right). If the Play Store doesn't appear to be updating, then launch it and wait again.

 

5. You should now get a notification to "Update Google Play Services". Click on the notification and wait for the 'Google Play Services' page to open in the Play Store. Click 'Update' on that page and allow the update to download and install. You may also get a notification 'Google+ update required' - you can ignore this (or click it to dismiss it).

6. The Play Store App should now automatically update all the other apps - you can check on progress in the 'My apps & games' section of the Play Store. You will be notified for any apps for which you need to approve new permissions.
7. If you continue to have problems with the Play Store then try following these steps. I've also been recommended the Play Services Info app to check the status and apply updates to Play Services (but haven't tried it myself).

Congratulations, you have turned an expensive paperweight back into a functioning Android Tablet.