Category Archives: Not So Retro

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Firefox Browser Remove Firefox Logo From Homepage

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Having recently just updated my favourite web browser to the latest version I now find Mozilla / Firefox have in their infinite wisdom decided to display a large Firefox logo on the homepage of the browser, I am all for branding but this really serves no purpose and is useless.

Not to worry I think, as Firefox should allow me to easily remove this logo, clicking on personalise, gives no such options…..time to dig deeper into the ‘Advanced Preferences’

Just paste the following into the FireFox address bar:

about:config

You will now see the below warning screen, just accept the risk and continue.

Now the advanced preferences search bar page will be shown.

Then just paste the below line Into the ‘Search preference name’ search bar:

browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.logowordmark.AlwaysVisible

This specific setting will then be displayed, it’s initial default setting is ‘true’ just click on the toggle icon to flip the value to false, then close this page, now thankfully you will no longer see the Firefox logo displayed on the top of your home page!

How To Flash Update The BIOS On GIGABYTE BRIX

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A quick quide to flashing the BIOS on your GIGABYTE BRIX. I’ve had a number of these and they make great little servers or media streaming PC’s, however it really is best to update the BIOS on these little boxes as it fixes a number of issues the tiny PC’s have.

Firstly you will need your specific BRIX models BIOS file.

Click here to download Gigabyte Brix BIOS files

Select your the BRIX model from the list then click on the tab “Support” next choose BIOS and download the latest BIOS file.

You will also need these:
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool
Win98Boot

  1. Run hpusb.exe to install the utility.
  2. Plug in you USB flash drive to your computer. (all current files will be deleted)
  3. Run the program you just installed (HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool).
  4. Select your USB flash drive as your device.
  5. Choose FAT32 as file system.
  6. Under format options, choose create a DOS startup disk.
  7. Select ”using DOS system files located at” and point the program to the folder ”win98boot” which you just downloaded (you need to unzip this file).
  8. Click the start button.

Part 2:  Flash the BRIX using the bootable USB flash drive:

  1. You now have a bootable USB flash drive, next copy the BIOS and other files over.
  2. Download the latest BIOS for your BRIX.
  3. Unpack the file you just downloaded.
  4. You now see three files, AFU303.exe, flash.bat together with the BIOS file. Copy all three files to the USB flash drive.
  5. Choose ”replace all files on destination” if you get this option.
  6. Reboot your computer, and during boot press ″F12″.
  7. Choose ”boot from USB”.
  8. You will see a Windows 98 loading screen very briefly and then get a C: prompt.
  9. Type flash.bat then press return / enter.
  10. The AMI firmware update utility will now update your BIOS.
  11. All done!

How To Root Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 Wi-Fi (SM-T320)

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Having just purchased a new Samsung Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 running Android 4.4 KitKat, first task of ownership for me is rooting. I need root so I can remove Samsung’s bloatware and install with full access permissions my Titanium Backup goodness.

Firstly confirm you have the correct model TabPRO 8.4 if you are following my root guide, I have tested this root method on the SM-T320 Wi-Fi version, check and confirm your device model number by going to Settings > General > About device on your tablet.

Next we need the following driver software installed on your PC, grab each by downloading just click on the links. Install the USB drivers package for Samsung Phones and Tablets first.

1.  Samsung Tablet and Phone USB Drivers (14.7 MB)
2. CF-Auto-Root-mondrianwifi-mondrianwifixx-smt320.zip (19.1 MB)

Next extract Chainfire’s Auto Root package, navigate into the extracted folder and you will see Odin3-v3.07.exe, right click on this executable and run as administrator, make sure you have disconnected your TabPRO 8.4 from the computer.

Next turn off your TabPRO 8.4 and reboot into Download Mode. Booting into Download Mode is simple, just press and hold down the Volume Down + Power buttons simultaneously. Once you see a warning screen displayed on the TabPro 8.4, release all the buttons. Now press Volume Up to confirm you wish to enter Download mode.

Now connect the TabPRO 8.4 to your computer, after a few seconds Odin will detect the TabPro providing you have installed the USB drivers, you should see ‘Added !!’ in the Odin message box. Next click the PDA button in the Odin interface and load the CF-Auto-Root-mondrianwifi-mondrianwifixx-smt320.tar.md5 file from inside the folder you extracted earlier.

DO NOT change any of the other settings in Odin. Your Odin should look like the below image. The only difference will be the COM port number.

Rooting Sammy TabPRO 8.4

Now you are ready to root the TabPRO 8.4, just click the Start button at the bottom. This will now flash the root package to the TabPRO. The tablet will reboot and if all went well Odin should display PASS! as below.Rooting Samsung SM-T320

You can now confirm you have rooted the TabPRO 8.4 by just checking you have the SuperSU package installed in the App draw. Enjoy all the root goodness!

My now rooted the TabPRO is a great upgrade over my Samsung Note 8.0, having found I do not really miss the S-pen, the screen quality on the TabPRO 8.4 is mind blowing and so far probably the best in it’s class. Luckily I get to contrast and compare with pretty much all available tablets and smartphones in my day job so I am happy with my choice!

Flashing / Updating Firmware Chuwi V88 HOWTO

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Updating and flashing a new firmware on the Chuwi V88 Pad mini is a straight forward process, I will document the steps involved. Firstly you will need to download the updated firmware see the links below, as the flashing tools were by default Chinese language I have enabled the English language settings by default. I have provided just the firmware package, with the update.img, The Rock Chip Batch Tools v1.7 are a seperate download. Remember to download the correct firmware for your V88, the variants are Chuwi V88’s with Bluetooth and without.

Chuwi V88 Pad mini Firmwares & Flash Tools:

Chuwi V88 All Models With Bluetooth :

Latest Android 4.2.2 Version Download V88 Firmware Build Date 2013-06-20
Change Log:
1. Improved stability.
2. Tablet sleep/wake issues fixed.

Download V88 Firmware Build Date 2013-06-03
Change Log:
1. Initial Android 4.2.2 Release

Download V88 Firmware Build Date 2013-05-25
Change Log:
1. Solve camera stops running bug.
2. Optimized for lower power usage.
3. HDMI Push optimized connection.
4. Optimizing wakeup, fix touch function not detecting input.

Download V88 Firmware Build Date 2013-05-09
Change Log:
1. Increased stability.

Download V88 Firmware Build Date 2013-04-26
Comments:
Initial release.

Chuwi V88 All Models Without Bluetooth :

Download V88 No Bluetooth Firmware Build Date 2013-04-25
Comments:
Initial release.

Rockchip Flash Tool v1.7:
RKBatchTool and USB Drivers : Download RKBatchTool v1.7

1. Unrar the update.img firmware archive, they are .rar and will need to be extracted then you must download and install the Rockchip USB drivers on your PC, these are in the Drivers folder in the RKBatchTool archive, make sure you install the correct version for your operating system and the corresponding 32 or 64 bit version specific to your operating system, this is important.

2. Power on your Chuwi V88 Pad mini, I suggest you have at least 50% battery. Now enter Settings, then under the DEVICE section select the Storage option then press the Settings icon (three square dots) located in the top right corner of the screen. The press the USB computer connection option, make sure you have checked the Mass Storage Device option.

3. Now connect the Chuwi V88 to your PC with the micro USB to USB lead. Now navigate on your PC to the folder labled BatchTool, and double click and run RKBatchTool.

4. Rockchip Batch Tool 1.7 will load, you should see a pink indicator box under the Connected Devices section, this shows your V88 has been detected.

5. You will now need to select the firmware (update.img) you wish to flash, click the location button its … at the opposite end of the FW Path: line, now navigate to the update.img file and select. The Rockchip Batch Tool will then load the file and display the files details in the info boxes.

6. Now press the button at the bottom of the Rockchip Batch Tool marked Switch this will enable firmware flashing mode. The Chuwi V88 will now have a black screen, however the Connected Devices indicator box will change from pink to green.

7. Now press the Restore button, the Connected Devices indicator box will now flash yellow as the V88 is formatted, the new firmware will then be uploaded.

8. Once this flashing process has finished the V88 will reboot into the Andriod recovery system, this will format the /data /cache and the /mnt/sdcard/ then the V88 will then reboot.

9. The first time boot is very sloooooow, just be patient.

10. Once booted the Chuwi V88 will be in the default Chinese language, you will need to change your language unless you are Chinese. Press the settings icon on the V88 main screen, now in the left hand column scroll down to the A… symbol in a square box, press it. The very first option in the right hand side menu is languages, press this it will now list all the language options, scroll down to your choice and select. Enjoy the upgraded V88.

Rockchip Batch Tool