How to use PhoenixSuit to Flash New Image to MarsBoard A10/A20

Latest revision as of 04:07, 5 August 2014

In this tutorial, we will show how to use PhoenixSuit to flash an image to the nand flash of MarsBoard A10/A20.

MarsBoard A10/A20 requires PhoenixSuit version 1.0.7 to flash the nand image through MarsBoard A10/A20 USB OTG port. We need to download PhoenixSuit and install it first. During the installation, the software will prompt for if the driver is needed or not. Please always click ‘Yes’.

[edit] Before you start

Keep in mind that:

   You can always flash the MarsBoard, it never bricks (as the name :)) unless some hardware damage occurs.

What you will need to flash the board is:

• a MarsBoard A10/A20 board
• a PC running Windows (XP 32/64bit, Windows 7 32/64 bit)
• a micro USB cable with one side plugged in to the OTG port of MarsBoard and the other side plugged into the USB port on PC.

[edit] Install PhoenixSuit

Download the file (PhoenixSuitV1.0.7) from here. Then unzip it and double click PhoenixSuitV1.07_EN.msi, you will see the following interface.

During the installation process, it may require to install the driver as shown in the following picture, just select "下一步"(means Next) to install the driver as shown below.

The drivers were successfully installed on this computer as shown below. Then click '完成'(means Finish).

PhoenixSuit has been successfully installed as shown below, click "Close".

[edit] Using PhoenixSuit to flash Firmware

click PhoenixSuit.exe, Tool page is shown as below

Click the button to enter upgrade mode. Click button , select the firmware package, and click " Open ."

After selecting the firmware package, Power down the MarsBoard and connect the MarsBoard to the computer then let the board go to FEL mode after the program should detect the device.

Select the upgrade mode in the dialog box, as shown below

If you select "Yes" to upgrade via formatting, it will clear all user data. If you select "No" to upgrade in common mode, it will retain user data. Recommendation: Back up all data, select "Yes" to upgrade via formatting to avoid error in some program or data after upgrading.

After the programming is completed, press "OK" to complete the upgrade.

If the flashing has aborted ,it could possibly be an error with the update.img, you can either try to redo the operations above or make the update.img again!

[edit] Failed in download process occurs 88%

This happens at process occurs 88%, when you download large firmware like ubuntu or debian, those fileware are almost 2G.

[edit] Why occurred

allwinner A20 support many nand, But for some NAND is bad support in PhoenixSuit. Unfortunately, marsboard A20 use 8G nand (MT29F64G08CBA), it is bad support in PhoenixSuit, when you download large firmware ( android is small ), it will Failed in 88%. If your nand is not MT29F64G08CBA, forget it.

[edit] How to solve

there have two Method to solve this problem.

[edit] Method One

When you first download fails in 88%, you download again, But remember click normal mode.

[edit] Method Two

Using Phoenixcard SDcard Production funtion. you can follow this instructions.