Gemini Bricked! [Solved]

[Mark C]

My Gemini PDA refuses to do ANYTHING after attempting to flash using the guide from here: http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/L..._Flashing_Guide

I flashed it once before and have been happily using Debian TP2.

I wanted to try Sailfish, so flashed as before:

* Unpacked gemini_x27_base.zip. Produced Gemini_x27_12062018/ folder.
* Moved '.img' files from debian_sailfishos.zip into the Gemini_x27_12062018/ folder.
* Created Gemini_x27_A16GB_L40GB_Multi_Boot.txt from the Web Site.
* Chose the scatter file, chose Firmware upgrade, clicked Download.
* Plugged in the USB.
* The flash tool found it and connected.
* Status bar went to 100% and stayed red, then timed out.

Now the Gemini won't turn on, can't be detected over USB, it won't do anything.

I've seen other people who thought they bricked their devices when they went into reboot loops etc. then managed to reflash, but this is a real dead brick.

Ideas anyone?

[galodoido]

My Gemini PDA refuses to do ANYTHING after attempting to flash using the guide from here: http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/L..._Flashing_Guide

I flashed it once before and have been happily using Debian TP2.

I wanted to try Sailfish, so flashed as before:

* Unpacked gemini_x27_base.zip. Produced Gemini_x27_12062018/ folder.
* Moved '.img' files from debian_sailfishos.zip into the Gemini_x27_12062018/ folder.
* Created Gemini_x27_A16GB_L40GB_Multi_Boot.txt from the Web Site.
* Chose the scatter file, chose Firmware upgrade, clicked Download.
* Plugged in the USB.
* The flash tool found it and connected.
* Status bar went to 100% and stayed red, then timed out.

Now the Gemini won't turn on, can't be detected over USB, it won't do anything.

I've seen other people who thought they bricked their devices when they went into reboot loops etc. then managed to reflash, but this is a real dead brick.

Ideas anyone?

Start the flashing tool in your pc. Select the scatter file. Select Firmware upgrade and click the download button.  Now connect your gemini to the pc . It should be detected and going to start the  installation .  Good luck.

[iusethis]

It *might not* actually be bricked, just that after the flash failed, it got stuck on a black screen until the battery ran down.

Have you tried plugging it into a wall charger for a few hours, then trying the various recovery mode button combos?

[Mark C]

It *might not* actually be bricked, just that after the flash failed, it got stuck on a black screen until the battery ran down.

Have you tried plugging it into a wall charger for a few hours, then trying the various recovery mode button combos?

Thanks! That's almost exactly what happened. It got stuck with a black screen but in my case the battery had not run down. Even the evening of the following day.

Pressing Esc+SilverButton did not reboot it until I plugged the charger into the *right hand side* usb socket.

I put the usb back into the left hand side usb and I was able to flash it and start Sailfish. Then I saw that the battery was almost completely drained.

Setting up Sailfish - rebooting multiple times when it got stuck - I came across the same problem, and putting the charger in the right side usb worked again to reboot with Esc+SilverButton!

I haven't seen any other posts with this problem so maybe I'm imagining it, but it certainly seemed like it worked. I held the Esc+Silver (without the charger plugged in, and with it plugged in the left side) for varying amounts of time, but with the charger on the right side it rebooted the first time after 10 seconds holding them.

By the way, Planet Computers got back to me swiftly and were there to help, which I was quite impressed with.

[jakfish]

That's very intriguing information--I wonder why the right side helped out.

Jake

[bled82]

I some what bricked mine it would make a sound in device manager but would not respond to power or the flash tool . I was able to clear this soft brick by holding down the silver and on button for ~2 mins until it vibrated and began to boot . The soft brick was cause by me trying to image it an I fogot I had my ubuntu vm running and it grabbed the usb port half way through the first part of the flash . So trick seems to be holding the silver and power untill you think all is lost lost lol .

[Elson]

It *might not* actually be bricked, just that after the flash failed, it got stuck on a black screen until the battery ran down.

Have you tried plugging it into a wall charger for a few hours, then trying the various recovery mode button combos?

Help!! While trying to flash Linux, the download flash stuck at 32%...... How long it take to flash?

[bled82]

Normally like 5 mins or so it seems like. Never timed it. Make sure plugged direct to Gemini I've had issues with docking stations