re-using a Hudl - bricked by Tesco!!!
 

We have a Hudl tablet computer which has been well and truly shafted by Tesco (they sold the device as their own brand product). What transpired is that when the machine reboots it needs to connect to the a server (at Tesco) to download something before it finishes booting up. Unfortunately Tesco removed the server files when they stopped selling/supporting the product so the unit gets half booted up and then locks in a state where almost nothing much works. If you ever let your Hudl battery run right down you are screwed. We did before we realised that it would be a problem. Tesco do not offer any support.

I wonder if it is possible to Root it and drop in another OS without gaining full access to the unit first? Lineage seems to offer replacement OS's or many tablets but I don't see one for Hudl in their listings.

I have gurgled for a way forwards but I don't really know what to search for...........

Rans6........

Site here with lots of Hudl firmware, not sure if they still log intl tesco though

does this help

or this

A bit, thanks. I followed the suggested fix for the WiFi connecton and got the unit alive BUT, anything associated with internet browsing falls over as the date/time is wrong and, for some reason Playstore fails to respond. It doesn't say my log in or password is wrong but ..........

Some more dabbling is needed.

Rans6........

Further info. The unit boots up and generally operates except that there is some issue with the internet connectivity. The WiFi fan shows a full 5 bars when close enough to the router (signal is shown to be poor elsewhere in the house even when my laptop shows good sig strength) but within the sig strength fan symbol there is something intermittently showing. When a web page is loading in Chrome browser it comes in fits and starts, if I try to get anything from Playstore the search seems OK but as soon as Install is clicked is puts a message of "No Connection" in the top banner. I can't tell if it is a hardware issue or software/driver related. It used to be OK before the reset to factory.........

Rans6...........

And more. After some playing I was prompted to update some of the OS and, wary of the issues with failing to connect to Tesco server, I relented and let it update stuff. This included newer versions of Playstore, several Google apps and Chrome browser. It now connects to the internet for browsing and playstore for installing new apps and does both a fair bit quicker than my Samsung Tab S tablet.

I have also dug out a Kindle Fire 7 tablet and am reminded why it fell into disuse, it doesn't do much other than play music and video. The equivalent of Playstore has nothing of much use in it, I failed to find a decent browser or a scientific calculator which is are the first apps I want put onto my devices. It does also seem to have a bit more computing grunt that my Samsung Tab S but without Google playstore it is pretty useless for me. This may be a good candidate for Rooting and OS changing and there is some support for this.

Rans6..............

Good news indeed. I'd be interested to know how you get on with your Kindle, I have one and, as you say, there isn't a great deal you can do with it.

Erm, there will be a bit of a delay at this point, a mate who understands the Rooting and reprogramming process has more serious things on his plate at the moment as he is receiving chemotherapy treatment. I only just found out.

Fingers crossed.

Rans6........

golfbananajam, while hunting around the www tonight I came across an interesting snippet of info. Apparently, if your Fire is version 5.3.1.1 or later you can install Google Play without rooting it.

See lifewire website for more details. I think that this will open up more apps and stuff without risking bricking your device. If your device is earlier than this it is still possible to add Google Play without changing your OS away from the restricting Fire OS version of Android but it does require rooting to do it.

Mine is Fire 7 (9th generation) so I might have a go at this relatively safe process without getting help from my mate........ When I get an hour of time to concentrate on the task.

Rans6....................