what I know though is that the device manufacturers are obligated by license to give you the kernel source code for the device on request, because linux is gpl.
but they are not obligated to provide you hardware drivers and device trees that are not included in the kernel. you may still ask in case they care, but it's probably rare they provide that. sometimes it's hard even to get their kernel source code.
I don't know. Haven't done this myself. I would look at the git history of devices currently supported. how they started out, what kind of changes they made, how did the maintainer obtain a file or figure out a config change, things like that. then maybe also contact the maintainer ofir that device, or the lineage mailing lists (or a more modern platform if they have one, but the more experienced folks are likely only reading the mailing lists)
Without support from the vendor they don't. Mobile computing is so locked down right now that it might be possible that not even the vendor can repair a bricked phone tbh.
Compare it to a broken BIOS on a PC. You can basically throw out your motherboard if you fail while updating it. Some devices have hardware pins used only for provisioning and debugging (JTAG) but they would have to be reverse engineered first.
Broken BIOS on a PC. You can basically throw out your motherboard
Can confirm, bricked a Latitude E6420 trying to put coreboot on it and completely missing an instruction in bright red bold text. Had a parts machine thankfully, and had to swap the boards.
Depending on the tablet, you might not be able to unlock the bootloader. I have a Chinese Lenovo model Y770 that's not unlockable.
You can always remove your google account from the tablet and install Aurora Store and f-droid to keep google from tracking what you're using. Every step in the right direction is a step away from google.
Using Open Street Maps, Mull, Brave, librewolf, various proton apps or whatever you prefer will let you get away from the built in google stuff.
Thanks! However I thought it was advised to stay away from Aurora away because of it uses a less strong worthy app repository, in that malicious actors could upload stuff.
GrapheneOS doesn't support it. If there are no ready-made custom ROMs for it, take a look at Generic System Images (GSI). Due to the lack of cellular modem (I assume), GSI have better compatibility with tablets and should only require:
That said, there's still no guarantee it'll all work out. Feel free to ask for any details. I went through the misery of installing a GSI on my Tab A7 Lite since it had no LineageOS support and all of the existing ROMs were also GSI that didn't really fit my tastes.
Also, you're not alone if XDA forums tutorials are incomprehensible. A good majority assume some level of niche knowledge.
Huh, that makes two of us. Hated every second of dealing with OneUI, back when I got it, GSIs were around but there was no straight forward guide. Now one does exist and oh boy, it feels like a completely different device with LOS and no gapps.
A while back when I was considering buying one, I bookmarked the XDA forum about this device. Posting the link because noone has yet: https://xdaforums.com/f/lenovo-p11.12077/
You should start by adding the exact model name of your device to the post, otherwise its not possible to check anything.
GrapheneOS will only run on Pixel devices for now (including the Pixel tablet), see https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices
LineageOS has two Lenovo devices listed, your (and my) tablet are not on that list, see https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/#lenovo
Depending on the model you might find some custom built ROM on e.g. XDADevelopers, but be careful not to brick your device.
Thanks! Sadly my Lenovo P11 isn't supported for the moment.
And lastly you could self compile
well if they find the drivers, and make the necessary changes from another tablet or phone that's similar and suported, yeah
Are there guides or documentation for how to do this for me or future devs that are interested?
what I know though is that the device manufacturers are obligated by license to give you the kernel source code for the device on request, because linux is gpl.
but they are not obligated to provide you hardware drivers and device trees that are not included in the kernel. you may still ask in case they care, but it's probably rare they provide that. sometimes it's hard even to get their kernel source code.
I don't know. Haven't done this myself. I would look at the git history of devices currently supported. how they started out, what kind of changes they made, how did the maintainer obtain a file or figure out a config change, things like that. then maybe also contact the maintainer ofir that device, or the lineage mailing lists (or a more modern platform if they have one, but the more experienced folks are likely only reading the mailing lists)
If a device gets bricked, how do people unbrick them?
Without support from the vendor they don't. Mobile computing is so locked down right now that it might be possible that not even the vendor can repair a bricked phone tbh.
Compare it to a broken BIOS on a PC. You can basically throw out your motherboard if you fail while updating it. Some devices have hardware pins used only for provisioning and debugging (JTAG) but they would have to be reverse engineered first.
Can confirm, bricked a Latitude E6420 trying to put coreboot on it and completely missing an instruction in bright red bold text. Had a parts machine thankfully, and had to swap the boards.
Depending on the tablet, you might not be able to unlock the bootloader. I have a Chinese Lenovo model Y770 that's not unlockable.
You can always remove your google account from the tablet and install Aurora Store and f-droid to keep google from tracking what you're using. Every step in the right direction is a step away from google.
Using Open Street Maps, Mull, Brave, librewolf, various proton apps or whatever you prefer will let you get away from the built in google stuff.
Thanks! However I thought it was advised to stay away from Aurora away because of it uses a less strong worthy app repository, in that malicious actors could upload stuff.
It uses google play. Not sure if that should be concidered a reliable source of apps, but yeah...
Lenovo tablets aren’t alternate OS friendly.
GrapheneOS doesn't support it. If there are no ready-made custom ROMs for it, take a look at Generic System Images (GSI). Due to the lack of cellular modem (I assume), GSI have better compatibility with tablets and should only require:
That said, there's still no guarantee it'll all work out. Feel free to ask for any details. I went through the misery of installing a GSI on my Tab A7 Lite since it had no LineageOS support and all of the existing ROMs were also GSI that didn't really fit my tastes.
Also, you're not alone if XDA forums tutorials are incomprehensible. A good majority assume some level of niche knowledge.
Huh, that makes two of us. Hated every second of dealing with OneUI, back when I got it, GSIs were around but there was no straight forward guide. Now one does exist and oh boy, it feels like a completely different device with LOS and no gapps.
Night and day indeed. With the GSI, it feels like a perfectly fine tablet, even right after using a recent Pixel.
Thank you. I have never heard of any of this. Hopefully it will work on my Lenovo p11 Pro Gen 2
dude, I mean come on - which lenovo tablet? woulda taken you like two seconds to include the model. intel? arm? config?
what's the model number? have you checked out postmarketOS also?
Its my first time hearing of that OS. The tablet is a Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2.
A while back when I was considering buying one, I bookmarked the XDA forum about this device. Posting the link because noone has yet: https://xdaforums.com/f/lenovo-p11.12077/
How to search this subforum specifically for the Gen 2 Pro?