Nexus 7 problems!

muffler

Hey guys, my wife uses a Nexus 7 with Android 5.1.1. Its been playing up a bit for a good while but recently it has gotten a lot worse.

Its slow to boot up, freezes at times when she's watching Youtube videos etc, just sticks at other times for no reason, takes hours to charge, maybe 8 - 10 hours and a host of other issues that I cant recall. An odd time it runs fine but generally its very, very slow in responding.

Its probably 6 or 7 years old now but wouldnt have gotten a lot of use though. Is there anything that we could do to improve it or is just not worth bothering about?

Many thanks

PS: keep the replies (if any) simple as neither of us are very technically minded when it comes to these things

xlogo

It will clear everything on it but have you thought about doing a factory reset (you'll have to Google the instructions).

Amalgam

..if it is the first version of the Nexus 7, they had issues with dodgy memory, it would deteriorate over time. A well known issue.

The tablet also acts the eejit once its battery is dying. As far as I can remember, it doesn't start up if it is plugged in, but with a dead battery, rather odd.

If you fancy replacing the battery, it's not too difficult, physically, with this model, but there can be problems with adhesive under the battery. I had awful problems removing mine. You'll also, quite probably, be using a non brand battery from a chinese outlet..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=desv97b5OpQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh8owUSsKL0

wheresmybeaver

I had a nexus 7 up until last year when the battery finally died. Was this the 2013 version or
the first generation nexus 7? If you feel up to it, you might consider flashing a 4.4.4 rom on there as the original nexus 7 in particular struggled very badly with newer versions of Android. There are custom roms that are finely tuned for the nexus 7 and performance is great.

xlogo

muffler wrote:

PS: keep the replies (if any) simple as neither of us are very technically minded when it comes to these things

Good luck with that :-))

muffler

xlogo wrote: »

It will clear everything on it but have you thought about doing a factory reset (you'll have to Google the instructions).

Thought crossed my mind alright Loosing the stuff thats on it wouldnt be the end of the world but the 4 things she uses it most for is Youtube, Gmail, Google+ and Facebook. Im assuming it wouldnt be a major job to get those up and running again but the damned thing is she cant remember her password for any of them as she was using "auto login"

Amalgam wrote: »

If you fancy replacing the battery, it's not too difficult, physically, with this model, but there can be problems with adhesive under the battery. I had awful problems removing mine. You'll also, quite probably, be using a non brand battery from a chinese outlet..

As a last resort I might give that a go. You could be right about the battery .... will shop around for one first if and when I have to

wheresmybeaver wrote: »

I had a nexus 7 up until last year when the battery finally died. Was this the 2013 version or
the first generation nexus 7? If you feel up to it, you might consider flashing a 4.4.4 rom on there as the original nexus 7 in particular struggled very badly with newer versions of Android. There are custom roms that are finely tuned for the nexus 7 and performance is great.

I'll need to look at at again to see what more info I can find re date of manufacture. Wouldnt be too confident about flashing another Android version unless you (or someone) had a link to a website that would give step by step instructions.

xlogo wrote: »

Good luck with that :-))

Thanks. Say a prayer for me

Tenigate

I had a first edition one of them.
Eventually it gave problems. Quick charging packed in. Had to uninstall almost all apps as they were too memory intensive, incl Chrome which became too slow to run.
Mercifully i dropped it getting out of the car and the screen cracked, which justified an upgrade.
I think you're at this stage.

muffler

The tablet was bought over 3 years ago but it was a refurbished model so I cant say for sure what version it is or year of manufacture. In the menu under "About tablet" theres a build number (LMY47V), a kernal version (3.1.10-gf5d7b8b ...android-build@vpbs1.mtv.corp.google.com #1), something thats called FCC ID MSQME370T and then IC: 3568A-ME370T with model number being the same - ME370T

All double Dutch to me

Amalgam

FCC ID MSQME370T

First version from 2012 onwards. Wifi only 16GB.

LMY47V

Version of Android.

5.1.1 LMY47V Build: 1836172 Nakasi

https://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/ASUS_Nexus_7/ME370T

---

I have a soft spot for this tablet, you got a lot for your money, at the time.

muffler

So the options, in no particular order, for solving this problem appear to be:

1. Get a new battery
2. Flashing another version of Android (older version?)
3. Uninstall as many apps as possible.
4. Do a factory reset.
5. Just throw it in the bin

Guys in your experience which is likely to be the best option or options and the most cost effective?

Kenny Logins

I have one of these in a drawer somewhere. A victim of planned obsolescence perhaps - Worked fine until updates were pushed on to it.

Tenigate

Bin it and buy a kindle fire for £50 on amazon.

donegal.

does anyone know where i can get a replacement screen ?

(and muffler if you do decide to bin yours , maybe you'd consider donating it for a screen transplant. I'm guessing by your user name you're just up the road from me)

muffler

Tenigate wrote: »

Bin it and buy a kindle fire for £50 on amazon.

She actually has the Amazon Fire tablet but only uses it for reading the kindle books. Can she use it for Youtube, Gmail and Facebook?

muffler

donegal. wrote: »

does anyone know where i can get a replacement screen ?

(and muffler if you do decide to bin yours , maybe you'd consider donating it for a screen transplant. I'm guessing by your user name you're just up the road from me)

Dont read too much into the user name Im in the Twin Towns area but if she does decide to get rid of it I'll certainly send you a PM..

Amalgam

muffler wrote: »

She actually has the Amazon Fire tablet but only uses it for reading the kindle books. Can she use it for Youtube, Gmail and Facebook?

Yes.

[HOW-TO] Install Google Play Store (Fire OS 5.X) (No Root/PC/ADB)

https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/how-to-install-google-play-store-fire-t3486603

---

A link from XDA is relatively safe, compared to some random blog.. but there are always risks, weigh them up (..and get permission from 'er indoors) before proceeding.

wheresmybeaver

This thread has inspired me to order a replacement battery for my nexus 7 2012.

Even if it's only for Kindle and Plex it's a good use of 15 euro.

Wouldn't go back to web browsing on that tablet though, it was a painful experience.

muffler

Amalgam wrote: »

Yes.

[HOW-TO] Install Google Play Store (Fire OS 5.X) (No Root/PC/ADB)

https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/how-to-install-google-play-store-fire-t3486603

---

A link from XDA is relatively safe, compared to some random blog.. but there are always risks, weigh them up (..and get permission from 'er indoors) before proceeding.

A numpty question but what's the advantage of having Play Store on the Amazon Fire tablet?

Spocker

muffler wrote: »

So the options, in no particular order, for solving this problem appear to be:

1. Get a new battery
2. Flashing another version of Android (older version?)
3. Uninstall as many apps as possible.
4. Do a factory reset.
5. Just throw it in the bin

Guys in your experience which is likely to be the best option or options and the most cost effective?

1. A battery might be cheap at €15, but then you (may) have to pay someone to change it
2. This is an option, and only costs you time
3. Don't bother
4. Easiest to start with
5. Most expensive cost of all, because then you have to replace it

muffler wrote: »

A numpty question but what's the advantage of having Play Store on the Amazon Fire tablet?

An Amazon Fire is "locked" to the Amazon App store, the same way an iPad is locked to Apples App store. By putting the Google Play Store on a Kindle, you have access to all the apps that are not on the Amazon App store.

I'd recommend these options, in order:
- reset back to factory
- flash a new or different version of android
- buy a Kindle

The first two are free, but you might not get good milage, as the hardware is still the same. A new/cheap Kindle brings you up-to-date and will get you more time, in the long run

OldMrBrennan83

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Ilyushin76

Patww79 wrote: »

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I installed xenon hd on mine and it made a huge difference to it,still use it for reading and watching videos with no problems and can get over 10 days standby with the original battery:D

OldMrBrennan83

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moonboy52

A factory reset for sure. Android slows down over time.

Password resets should not be too troublesome

Although taking so long to charge is a bit worrying, but that might be just a bad cable.

muffler

Ilyushin76 wrote: »

I installed xenon hd on mine

How is this done...sorry, Im not very well up on these things but i can do the basics or follow a step by step guide if there's one somewhere.

OldMrBrennan83

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Tenigate

moonboy52 wrote: »

A factory reset for sure. Android slows down over time.
.

Nah.. you do a factory reset.. them every built in app including the operating system, google play services, google maps, gmail, among others, do mandatory or recommended updates and you're back to square one.

moonboy52

muffler wrote:

How is this done...sorry, Im not very well up on these things but i can do the basics or follow a step by step guide if there's one somewhere.

To install a custom Rom, you will have to wipe the tablet anyway Muffler.

Before doing that, factory reset it.

If still sluggish then go down the custom Rom route, I reckon.

Spocker

muffler wrote: »

How is this done...sorry, Im not very well up on these things but i can do the basics or follow a step by step guide if there's one somewhere.

Do you think you could follow this? http://www.teamandroid.com/2015/06/13/update-nexus-7-2012-android-511-xenonhd-lollipop-custom-firmware/2/

OldMrBrennan83

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muffler

Spocker wrote: »

Do you think you could follow this? http://www.teamandroid.com/2015/06/13/update-nexus-7-2012-android-511-xenonhd-lollipop-custom-firmware/2/

Thanks Spocker. Had a quick look through it and it seems to be handy enough as the instructions are fairly clear and sorta easy to understand. The bit about the rooting is something I'll need to check out though.

Just a general update. First of all thanks to everyone who has replied as there has been great advice given. Really appreciated. Next up I got her tablet this morning and did the factory reset. The surprising thing was that a lot of stuff (apps, gmail account etc) were still stored or at least the option of reinstalling them again was available including 30 different apps (Aldi, Amazon, Supervalue etc) whenever I rebooted the tablet after the factory reset.

She kept a couple of those things and as stated earlier by someone there were still apps included which I had unticked but I was able to enter the system and stop or disable a few of these. She has tried it a couple of times and it is apparently noticeably faster. So that step has certainly improved the performance but again it might only be a temporary measure.

I will be following the advice here later in the week and hopefully we can keep the old horse working at an acceptable speed....the tablet Im referring to and not the wife :P

DeepBlue

I've the same tablet languishing in a drawer. Web browsing just got painfully slow on it after upgrading to Lollipop and it just slowed to a sludge.

Argos had the newer model (2013) for just over a ton so I just bought the replacement which is working fine. Still I wouldn't mind "refurbishing" the older model if it could be got to run quickly. It's about time I got to learn how to root android devices and install custom mods on this thing too.

Good thread muffler. Looks like a few of us are in the same boat.

DeepBlue

Spocker wrote: »

Do you think you could follow this? http://www.teamandroid.com/2015/06/13/update-nexus-7-2012-android-511-xenonhd-lollipop-custom-firmware/2/

A stupid question maybe but one of the steps says to copy the zip files to the SD card and make sure that they are there. But there's no SD card on the Nexus 7?

Spocker

DeepBlue wrote: »

A stupid question maybe but one of the steps says to copy the zip files to the SD card and make sure that they are there. But there's no SD card on the Nexus 7?

'SD card' is another way to refer to the storage on the Nexus (or any other Android device) , it's usually under /storage


Article with a little more detail for those who want to know: https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/39542/confused-by-the-many-locations-of-the-virtual-sdcard

DeepBlue

muffler wrote: »

The bit about the rooting is something I'll need to check out though.

I followed this guide - https://nexus7.gadgethacks.com/how-to/root-your-nexus-7-tablet-running-android-4-4-kitkat-windows-guide-0150849/

I know it says it's for android 4.4 but it works the same for our version (5.11) on the Nexus 7 2012.
Ignore the preamble and skip down to the 6 steps.

I downloaded the latest version of the Nexus Root Toolkit (Nexus Root Toolkit v2.1.9) from here -> http://www.wugfresh.com/nrt/



It's pretty easy to use.
You install it on your PC and it auto-updates itself and the files it needs so it may take a moment or two before it launches.
Once open you select your device and current version of Android.

Then do the Initial Setup where it sets up the correct drivers for you. I took the #1 option of google drivers and that worked fine.
If you want to back up what's currently on the tablet then do this before proceeding.

Next select the option to Unlock the bootloader. When the device reboots it might take a good 10 minutes or so to fully boot back up with the google multi coloured balls swirling around for ages. It's a bit squeeky bum time but just wait it out.

After that you're ready to click the root button which will root the device. You will be prompted to do a couple of things with suuser and busybox. You'll find these in your tablet's apps once the root process has completed.

The toolkit has plenty of prompts to assist that, usefully, stay on screen as you're going through the process - unless you click the ok button to dismiss them.
I ran into a couple of stumbling blocks but the toolkit suggests workarounds (such as giving you the llnk to download an updated version of a needed file) or simply to try again.

By the end of the process I had the tablet rooted and twrp custom recovery installed.

I'd say budget about an hour and a half for the process doing it at a relaxed pace and including time for tea breaks .

I'll have a go at installing XenonHD from the link Spocker posted above maybe this evening or tomorrow.

Kenny Logins

That wasn't bad! Installing a custom ROM now and see how it goes. Thanks.

DeepBlue

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Installing a custom ROM now and see how it goes.

Did you have any joy with that?
I installed XenonHD and couldn't find netflix to install using that version of the play store. Also it didn't have the google apps - gmail/maps etc. I didn't really give it much of a chance to be fair.

I then installed Android 4.4.4 using the root toolkit thinking that should at least be fast. It seems to be more sluggish the 5.11.
No doubt I'm doing something wrong.

Kenny Logins

DeepBlue wrote: »

Did you have any joy with that?
I installed XenonHD and couldn't find netflix to install using that version of the play store. Also it didn't have the google apps - gmail/maps etc. I didn't really give it much of a chance to be fair.

I then installed Android 4.4.4 using the root toolkit thinking that should at least be fast. It seems to be more sluggish the 5.11.
No doubt I'm doing something wrong.

Yeah, seems to be working OK but I haven't used it much. You have to install Google Apps to bring back Play Store and Gmail etc. as mentioned here -

Spocker wrote: »

Do you think you could follow this? http://www.teamandroid.com/2015/06/13/update-nexus-7-2012-android-511-xenonhd-lollipop-custom-firmware/2/

opus

My trusty Nexus 7 was just getting a bit too slow for my liking so as I'd some argos vouchers handy, picked up one of a Huawei MediaPad M3 8 Inch 32GB for €319, it seems lightening fast compared to the N7!

Since I've used the NRT mentioned above to unlock the N7 & put the latest LineageOS onto it just to have a play with the newer OS. Seems a lot sprightlier but guess the wiping it totally got rid of a lot of junk that had built up over the last few years.

OldMrBrennan83

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droidman123

Mine packed up a few weeks ago,i just keep getting the google logo,it wont go any further,i cant even get into the bootloader.it served me well over the years.i bought the new hauwei media pad 5 (8.4) fantastic tablet