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Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (samsung-gta7litewifi): Difference between revisions

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Fix the infobox
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| releaseyear = 2021
| releaseyear = 2021
| category = testing
| category = testing
| originalsoftware = Android
| originalsoftware = Android (One UI)
| originalversion = 11
| originalversion = 11
| extendedversion = 13
| extendedversion = 14
| pmoskernel = 4.19.191
| pmoskernel = 4.19.191
| chipset = MediaTek Helio P22T (MT8768)
| chipset = MediaTek Helio P22T (MT8768)
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| status_usbnet = Y <!-- USB networking does work? then put Y here and delete this comment -->
| status_usbnet = Y <!-- USB networking does work? then put Y here and delete this comment -->
| status_flashing = Y <!-- Flashing with "pmbootstrap flasher" works? Put Y here. It works the same for everything coming below. -->
| status_flashing = Y <!-- Flashing with "pmbootstrap flasher" works? Put Y here. It works the same for everything coming below. -->
| status_touch = <!-- Touch screen is working? You can also answer these questions with P for partially. -->
| status_touch = N <!-- Touch screen is working? You can also answer these questions with P for partially. -->
| status_screen = Y <!-- The display is working? -->
| status_screen = P <!-- The display is working? -->
| status_wifi = N <!-- Wireless network works? -->
| status_wifi = N <!-- Wireless network works? -->
| status_xwayland = <!-- Showing X11 applications in a Wayland compositor (Weston, KWin, ...) works? -->
| status_xwayland = <!-- Showing X11 applications in a Wayland compositor (Weston, KWin, ...) works? -->
| status_fde = <!-- When installing with full disk encryption, can you type in the password with the on screen keyboard? -->
| status_fde = Y <!-- When installing with full disk encryption, can you type in the password with the on screen keyboard? -->
| status_mainline = N <!-- Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run mainline. -->
| status_mainline = N <!-- Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run mainline. -->
| status_battery = N <!-- Charging the battery with charging-sdl is possible -->
| status_battery = N <!-- Charging the battery with charging-sdl is possible -->
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| status_gps = N <!-- The Global Positioning System sensor works.  -->
| status_gps = N <!-- The Global Positioning System sensor works.  -->
| status_mobiledata = - <!-- Connecting to the Internet via cellular network. -->
| status_mobiledata = - <!-- Connecting to the Internet via cellular network. -->
| status_emmc = Y
| status_sms = - <!-- Sending and receiving short messages works as intended. -->
| status_sms = - <!-- Sending and receiving short messages works as intended. -->
| status_calls = - <!-- Talking to other people over the cellular network. -->
| status_calls = - <!-- Talking to other people over the cellular network. -->
| status_otg = <!-- USB-OTG adapters work, e.g. to connect an USB flash drive to the device -->
| status_otg = Y <!-- USB-OTG adapters work, e.g. to connect an USB flash drive to the device -->
| status_nfc = - <!-- Near-Field Communication (NFC) works -->
| status_nfc = - <!-- Near-Field Communication (NFC) works -->
<!-- Sensors -->
<!-- Sensors -->
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| status_stylus = - <!--  -->
| status_stylus = - <!--  -->
| status_haptics = <!--  -->
| status_haptics = <!--  -->
| status_ethernet = - <!--  -->
| status_ethernet = Y <!--  -->
| status_fossbootloader = - <!-- Device has a free and open source bootloader -->
| status_fossbootloader = N <!-- Device has a free and open source bootloader -->


<!-- optional for devices running u-boot
<!-- optional for devices running u-boot
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}}
}}


{{warning|Make sure that you are prepared to lose functionality before installing postmarketOS. Samsung Knox will blow an efuse when the OS is modified that will permanently disable Knox-only features like Samsung Pay, and you will '''NEVER''' be able to use those features again.}}
{{Template:KnoxWarning}}
{{Template:MediatekBackupWarning}}
{{notice|While the kernel compiles and flashing is available, this device is in an extremely early state of development. '''Here Be Dragons'''}}
{{notice|While the kernel compiles and flashing is available, this device is in an extremely early state of development. '''Here Be Dragons'''}}


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<!-- you may need to purge page cache to see changes (more->purge cache)-->
<!-- you may need to purge page cache to see changes (more->purge cache)-->
<!-- you can use {{My devices}} on your profile page to show table with all your devices -->
<!-- you can use {{My devices}} on your profile page to show table with all your devices -->
== Status ==
This postmarketOS port is incredibly buggy, but does boot.
The only known working desktop environment option is i3, but the touchscreen does not work. XFCE just causes a crash-reboot.


== Unlocking the bootloader ==
== Unlocking the bootloader ==
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However, it can be done with [[mtkclient]]:
However, it can be done with [[mtkclient]]:


<source lang="shell-session">
<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
$ mtk e metadata,userdata,md_udc
$ mtk e metadata,userdata,md_udc
$ mtk da seccfg unlock
$ mtk da seccfg unlock
</source>
</syntaxhighlight>


If it worked you should see a warning like this:
If it worked you should see a warning like this:
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Install [[pmbootstrap]] and then run the following commands:
Install [[pmbootstrap]] and then run the following commands:


<source lang="shell-session">
<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
$ pmbootstrap init
$ pmbootstrap init
$ pmbootstrap install
$ pmbootstrap install
$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_kernel
$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_kernel
$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs
$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs
</source>
</syntaxhighlight>


== Reading logs ==
== Reading logs ==
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Before reading the logs, make sure to install [[mtkclient]] and then erase the <code>expdb</code> partition so the existing boot logs don't get mixed in and get confusing:
Before reading the logs, make sure to install [[mtkclient]] and then erase the <code>expdb</code> partition so the existing boot logs don't get mixed in and get confusing:


<source lang="shell-session">
<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
$ mtk e expdb
$ mtk e expdb
</source>
</syntaxhighlight>


Once you have done that, boot the device. As soon as it powers off during a bootloop (and if it doesn't, hold down Power + Volume Down for ~10 seconds), run these commands:
Once you have done that, boot the device. As soon as it powers off during a bootloop (and if it doesn't, hold down Power + Volume Down for ~10 seconds), run these commands:


<source lang="shell-session">
<syntaxhighlight lang="shell-session">
$ mtk r expdb /tmp/expdb.bin
$ mtk r expdb /tmp/expdb.bin
$ mtk reset # turns the device off, optional
$ mtk reset # turns the device off, optional
$ cat /tmp/expdb.bin
$ cat /tmp/expdb.bin
</source>
</syntaxhighlight>


Please note that the kernel part of the logs is quite a mess - it does not use proper newlines and instead uses what seems to be null bytes.
Please note that the kernel part of the logs is quite a mess - it does not use proper newlines and instead uses what seems to be null bytes.
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== Downstream kernel status ==
== Downstream kernel status ==


The downstream kernel panics almost as soon as it boots into the kernel when compiled from source, but when using the prebuilt kernel & dtb it boots and USB Networking even works.
The downstream kernel is surprisingly capable, but still lacking in many ways. For example, audio is currently broken and the touchscreen does not fire any events. However, if you use a USB-C OTG dock to connect it to a keyboard & mouse, it works perfectly fine. Ethernet works fine if you do it that way too.


== Mainline kernel status ==
== Mainline kernel status ==
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== See also ==
== See also ==


* {{MR|4627|pmaports}} Initial merge request
* [https://mastodon.social/@hexaheximal/111664417017570429 This post on Mastodon, which was made and published on this postmarketOS port]
* [https://codeberg.org/lowendlibre lowendlibre]
* [https://codeberg.org/lowendlibre lowendlibre]
* [https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient MTKClient]
* [https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient MTKClient]

Latest revision as of 11:30, 1 February 2025

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
The postmarketOS "Loading..." screen on a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
The postmarketOS "Loading..." screen on a Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
Codename samsung-gta7litewifi
Released 2021
Type tablet
Hardware
Chipset MediaTek Helio P22T (MT8768)
CPU ARM Cortex A53 MPCore
GPU PowerVR GE8320
Display 800x1340 TFT LCD
Storage 32GB or 64GB, depending on the specific model
Memory 2GB, 3GB, or 4GB, depending on the specific model
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software Android (One UI)
Original version 11
Extended version 14
FOSS bootloader no
postmarketOS
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Mainline no
postmarketOS kernel 4.19.191
Unixbench Whet/Dhry score 0.0
Features
Flashing
Works
USB Networking
Works
Internal storage
Works
SD card
No data
Battery
Broken
Screen
Partial
Touchscreen
Broken
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Broken
Audio
Broken
Camera
Broken
Camera Flash
Broken
Connectivity
WiFi
Broken
Bluetooth
Broken
Ethernet
Works
GPS
Broken
Miscellaneous
FDE
Works
USB OTG
Works
Sensors
Accelerometer
Broken
Magnetometer
No data
Ambient Light
Broken
Proximity
No data
Hall Effect
No data
Haptics
No data
Barometer
No data
Power Sensor
Broken


Warning WARNING: Make sure that you are prepared to lose functionality before installing postmarketOS. Samsung Knox will blow an efuse when the OS is modified that will permanently disable Knox-only features like Samsung Pay, and you will NEVER be able to use those features again.
Warning WARNING: Make sure to create a backup of the internal storage on your device before proceeding!
Notice While the kernel compiles and flashing is available, this device is in an extremely early state of development. Here Be Dragons

Contributors

hexaheximal

Users owning this device

  • Hexaheximal (Notes: maintaining the postmarketOS port, 3GB RAM 32GB eMMC model)
  • Zillion (Notes: T220, Currently running OneUi for kernel development)


Status

This postmarketOS port is incredibly buggy, but does boot.

The only known working desktop environment option is i3, but the touchscreen does not work. XFCE just causes a crash-reboot.

Unlocking the bootloader

At least at first, the Android settings app does not allow you to enable bootloader unlocking. (On some devices it requires that it can connect to Samsung's servers first, but I would not recommend ever connecting it to the internet on stock Android)

However, it can be done with mtkclient:

$ mtk e metadata,userdata,md_udc
$ mtk da seccfg unlock

If it worked you should see a warning like this:

Do not panic! Your device is not broken!

If you *don't* see that warning, then it didn't work.

You can safely skip the warning, although on stock Android it might fail to boot in which case you will need to choose the factory reset option to clear userdata etc. again.

Installation

Install pmbootstrap and then run the following commands:

$ pmbootstrap init
$ pmbootstrap install
$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_kernel
$ pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs

Reading logs

Before reading the logs, make sure to install mtkclient and then erase the expdb partition so the existing boot logs don't get mixed in and get confusing:

$ mtk e expdb

Once you have done that, boot the device. As soon as it powers off during a bootloop (and if it doesn't, hold down Power + Volume Down for ~10 seconds), run these commands:

$ mtk r expdb /tmp/expdb.bin
$ mtk reset # turns the device off, optional
$ cat /tmp/expdb.bin

Please note that the kernel part of the logs is quite a mess - it does not use proper newlines and instead uses what seems to be null bytes.


Downstream kernel status

The downstream kernel is surprisingly capable, but still lacking in many ways. For example, audio is currently broken and the touchscreen does not fire any events. However, if you use a USB-C OTG dock to connect it to a keyboard & mouse, it works perfectly fine. Ethernet works fine if you do it that way too.

Mainline kernel status

The MT6765 close-to-mainline kernel does not boot due to the android bootloader refusing to boot with a dummy dtbo.

See also