Hovatek Forum MOBILE Android [Tutorial] How to use Research Download tool to backup Unisoc (Spreadtrum) firmware
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[Tutorial] How to use Research Download tool to backup Unisoc (Spreadtrum) firmware

[Tutorial] How to use Research Download tool to backup Unisoc (Spreadtrum) firmware

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hovatek
hovatek
hovatek
Administrator
49,566
04-01-2020, 10:50 AM
#1



This guide will explain how to backup or dump Unisoc / Spreadtrum (SPD) firmware using Research Download tool. This is also ideal for those who wish to back up NVRAM / NVdata.

Requirements


Steps to backup Unisoc (Spreadtrum) firmware using Research Download tool


Follow the steps below to backup Unisoc / Spreadtrum ROM with Research Download tool

See the video below or @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHNeLCITJko


  1. Launch Research Download tool

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-1.png]

  2. Click Load Packet

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-2.png]

  3. Highlight the pac file and click Open. If what you have is FDL 1&2 then convert them to a pac file first

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-3.png]

  4. Wait till the pac file is loaded into the tool

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-4.png]

  5. The pac file details should be displayed once loading is complete

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-5.png]

  6. Click Settings

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-6.png]

  7. Uncheck all boxes under FileID except FDL1&2

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-7.png]

  8. Click Flash Operations

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-8.png]

  9. Tick Active Read Flash

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...ware-9.png]

  10. Tick the partition(s) you wish to backup

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-10.png]

  11. Click OK at the bottom right

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-11.png]

  12. Click Start Downloading

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-12.png]

  13. Power off the device, hold the boot key (usually volume down but might be volume up on some devices) then connect to PC via USB cable.

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-13.png]

  14. The tool should detect your device

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-14.png]

  15. Backup / dumping of the selected partitions should commence, do not interrupt

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-15.png]

  16. You should see a Passed message once done

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-16.png]

  17. The backed-up files can be found in the ReadFlash folder (in Research Download tool)

    [Image: How-to-use-Research-Download-tool-to-bac...are-17.png]

Important Notice
  • You can manually add a partition by clicking on the grey space at the end of the list and then entering its base, size and choosing a save location with file name
  • This procedure backs up individual files. You can convert your backup to a PAC file using this guide
  • Be careful when using pac / FDL files which aren't for your model because an error could cause the device to get stuck in Flash Mode (appear dead)

Video Transcript
Quote:In this video tutorial, I'll be explaining
how to use Research Download tool to backup


a Spreadtrum device's firmware.


Apologies about my voice, I have a cold so
sorry about that.


You're going to need Research Download tool,
I'll link to that in the description below.


You're also going to need to have installed
your Spreadtrum USB drivers, I'll also link


to that and you're going to need the pac file
for your phone model.


The question is, If you already have a pac
file for your model, why do you then need


to backup.


Well, the answer is that the pac file you
have might not be for your exact variant (build


number).


What you really need is the FDL 1&2 from the
pac file.


If you have that (these) then you don't need
the pac file but if you don't have then you'll


have to download a pac file for your model.


Now, once you have your Research Download
tool, drivers and a firmware (.pac file) for


your model (not compulsorily your build number),
you launch Research Download tool and you


wait for it to come up.


Now, once it comes up, you're going to load
the pac file which you have for your phone


model.


You click on Load Packet, highlight the pac
file then click on Open.


Now, you wait while the pac file gets loaded.


You're going to see blue boxes starting from
one then all the way to this point.


When that happens then you're ready to proceed
so you have to wait till that is done.


Once that is done, you're going to have something
like this.


From this point, its very straightforward.


You click Settings and under Main page, you
untick (uncheck) everything except FDL 1&2


and maybe one harmless partition like boot
logo.


Now, for the backup proper.


You come under Flash Operations.


Tick Active Read Flash then you can select
all partitions you intend to flash (*backup).


For me, I'll just select (let's say) prodnv
and recovery just for this guide and click


OK.


Once you do that, you click on this button
which is Start Downloading.


At this point, you power off the device, still
with battery in it, you hold the boot key.


For Spreadtrum, it could be volume down or
volume up depending on your Spreadtrum device.


Mine is volume down.


You hold it down then connect it to the PC
via a USB cable.


Wait for detection.


Once that starts, backup proper should begin.


Alright, so that is done.


You can head over to the Research Download
tool folder, ReadFlash folder and you're going


to find whatever files you've backed up.


These are files I'd previously backed up.


That's how to backup a Spreadtrum Android
device's firmware (pac file) using Research


Download tool.


If you got stuck at any point in this guide
then ensure to drop your comment(s) below


and we'll be happy to assist you.


If you found this helpful, subscribe and share
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This post was last modified: 08-03-2024, 02:18 AM by hovatek.

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Canary
Canary
Canary
Senior Member
173
15-01-2020, 06:51 PM
#2
Dhnks, it helpful, but how will i flash the nv data prodnvbacked up to phone

Sent from my Infinix X603 using Tapatalk
X3non
X3non
X3non
Recognized Contributor
22,062
16-01-2020, 11:43 AM
#3
(15-01-2020, 06:51 PM)Canary Dhnks, it helpful, but how will i flash the nv data prodnvbacked up to phone

Sent from my Infinix X603 using Tapatalk

either repack into a pac file (along with files from the firmware you flashed) or at step 9 above instead of active read flash, select active write flash
This post was last modified: 16-01-2020, 11:46 AM by X3non.
shankar1790
shankar1790
shankar1790
Senior Member
474
01-04-2020, 05:50 PM
#4
I tried to backup my sc9832a device with this tool and it successfully backup partition i selected except uboot and splloader.
with error message img size over its partition.
BUT the backup file has large in size than origional one.like my origional nvitem.bin size is 442k but the backup file approx 1MB in size.
when it tried to flash in same phone to see if it work or no, its failed with error "img size over its partition"
is this a tool error or problem with device
any solution.
do i need a separate thread for this
X3non
X3non
X3non
Recognized Contributor
22,062
02-04-2020, 09:34 AM
#5



(01-04-2020, 05:50 PM)shankar1790 I tried to backup my sc9832a device with this tool and it successfully backup partition i selected except uboot and splloader.
with error message img size over its partition.
BUT the backup file has large in size than origional one.like my origional nvitem.bin size is 442k but the backup file approx 1MB in size.
when it tried to flash in same phone to see if it work or no, its failed with error "img size over its partition"
is this a tool error or problem with device
any solution.
do i need a separate thread for this

yes, create a new thread for your device issue
in the new thread, attach a screenshot of the active read flash info you used for nvitem also attach both the original and the dumped nvitem files
yossi66a
yossi66a
yossi66a
Junior Member
15
09-02-2021, 08:51 PM
#6
Thanks very much for the such "rich" information given!!
I'm trying to create backup of firmware files for the Nokia 225 Chipset UMS9117, i have the Pac file and its supported on this tool as its possible to download the firmware to the phone, but when i try to backup partitions it gives me empty file partitions, please if someone can help me!
Thanks
X3non
X3non
X3non
Recognized Contributor
22,062
10-02-2021, 02:52 AM
#7
(09-02-2021, 08:51 PM)yossi66a Thanks very much for the such "rich" information given!!
I'm trying to create backup of firmware files for the Nokia 225 Chipset UMS9117, i have the Pac file and its supported on this tool as its possible to download the firmware to the phone, but when i try to backup partitions it gives me empty file partitions, please if someone can help me!
Thanks

create a new thread for your device issue by clicking "Ask Question" at the top
in the new thread, attach a screenshot of the error / problem you encountered
while at it, also ensure that you are using latest RD version
getoverwith
getoverwith
getoverwith
Enthusiastic Member
6
21-03-2021, 11:25 PM
#8
(01-04-2020, 05:50 PM)shankar1790 I tried to backup my sc9832a device with this tool and it successfully backup partition i selected except uboot and splloader.
with error message img size over its partition.
BUT the backup file has large in size than origional one.like my origional nvitem.bin size is 442k but the backup file approx 1MB in size.
when it tried to flash in same phone to see if it work or no, its failed with error "img size over its partition"
is this a tool error or problem with device
any solution.
do i need a separate thread for this
getoverwith
getoverwith
getoverwith
Enthusiastic Member
6
21-03-2021, 11:38 PM
#9
just compare and edit your nvtem.bin from your backup to the nvtem.bin from the stock rom for your model, downloaded from internet. Compare using HexEditor. Your backup nvtem.bin contains more 0000000000, so it is larger in size. In HexEditor edit your backup nvtem.bin so it ends in the same way as the nvtemb.bin from stockrom, namely trim unnecessary 00000000 to reduce the size and then save. I did so and my edited backup nvtem.bin flashed with Research Download without previous error IMG SIZE OVER ITS PARTITION.
liOnux.fr
liOnux.fr
liOnux.fr
Enthusiastic Member
12
26-05-2021, 01:21 PM
#10



(21-03-2021, 11:38 PM)getoverwith just compare and edit your nvtem.bin from your backup to the nvtem.bin from the stock rom for your model, downloaded from internet. Compare using HexEditor. Your backup nvtem.bin contains more 0000000000, so it is larger in size. In HexEditor edit your backup nvtem.bin so it ends in the same way as the nvtemb.bin from stockrom, namely trim unnecessary 00000000 to reduce the size and then save. I did so and my edited backup nvtem.bin flashed with Research Download without previous error IMG SIZE OVER ITS PARTITION.
At 2:15 of this video https://youtu.be/M_hHEMo158U, a guy fills in the contents of the "Active read Flash" with the values of the "Base1" and "Size1" columns from the UpgradeDownload tool. I tested this for a partition that was in error and it works. However, I did not go any further.
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