Blog

  • How to Root Lenovo TB373FU (Step-by-Step Guide)

    ⚠️ Disclaimer: Rooting your device will void your warranty and carries the risk of bricking your tablet if not done correctly. Proceed only if you’re comfortable with the risks. Always back up your important data first.

    1. Enable Developer Options

    1. Go to Settings → About Tablet → Tap “Build Number” 7 times to enable Developer Mode.
    2. In Developer Options, enable:
      • OEM Unlocking
      • USB Debugging

    2. Prepare Stock Firmware

    • Download the stock firmware for your Lenovo TB373FU.
    • Keep it safe on your PC in case you need to restore the device.

    👉 This is important because if anything goes wrong, you’ll need the stock firmware to unbrick your tablet.

    3. Extract Boot Files

    • From the firmware package, locate boot.img and init_boot.img.
    • Copy both files to your tablet’s internal storage or SD card.

    4. Patch with Magisk

    1. Download and install the Magisk app on your tablet.
    2. Open Magisk and patch the boot.img and init_boot.img files.
    3. Once patched, move the patched files back to your PC.
      • For organization, keep two folders:
        • Stock Firmware (non-root)
        • Patched Firmware (root)
      • This way you avoid mixing files and prevent conflicts.

    5. Unlock Bootloader

    1. Download and install ADB & Fastboot (platform-tools) on your PC.
    2. Connect your tablet via USB, then run: adb reboot bootloader This will reboot your tablet into Fastboot mode.
    3. Next, run the command: fastboot flashing unlock_critical
    4. On your tablet, follow the on-screen instructions and press Volume Up (or Down, depending on the prompt) to confirm.
    5. Once complete, your tablet is now officially bootloader unlocked.

    6. Enter Brom Mode

    1. Power off your tablet.
    2. Hold Volume Up + Volume Down together while connecting the tablet to your PC via USB.
    3. The device will now boot into BROM mode.

    7. Flash with SP Flash Tool

    1. Open SPFlashToolV6.exe on your PC.
    2. In SP Flash Tool, load:
      • Download XML → Firmware → image → download_agent → flash.xml
      • Auth File → Firmware → image → da.auth
    3. Once firmware files are loaded, replace:
      • boot_a with patched boot.img
      • boot_b with patched boot.img
      • init_boot_a with patched init_boot.img
      • init_boot_b with patched init_boot.img
    4. Start the flashing process.
    5. After it completes, the tablet will reboot automatically with root access enabled.

    8. Verify Root

    • Once the tablet restarts, open the Magisk app to confirm root access.
    • Optionally, use an app like Root Checker to verify everything is working.

    ✅ You now have a stable root on your Lenovo TB373FU!

  • Rebuilding My Server: From HDD to SSD and Beyond

    I’ve just spent the last 10 hours completely revamping my server setup—and honestly, it’s been a fantastic experience. What began as a simple hardware upgrade quickly evolved into a full-scale rebuild that taught me a lot along the way.

    Starting with the SSD Upgrade

    It all started with a plan to swap out my old hard drive for a new solid-state drive (SSD). The performance gains alone were worth it—faster read and write speeds, quicker boot times, and better reliability. The cloning process went smoothly, but once I booted up, I noticed some software didn’t play nicely with the new drive.

    Instead of wrestling with compatibility issues, I took that as a sign to start fresh.

    A Fresh Start: Rebuilding from Scratch

    I decided to rebuild the entire environment from the ground up. No half measures—just a clean, efficient setup. I began by outlining my plan in my head and then brought it to life using Portainer and Docker Compose.

    By containerizing each component, I gained more control, better isolation, and an easier way to manage updates. This approach also makes troubleshooting and scaling a lot simpler down the line.

    Modernizing with Cloudron and Nginx Proxy Manager

    One of the most significant changes was moving Cloudron into a Portainer-managed environment, with Nginx Proxy Manager sitting in front. This setup allows me to deploy, manage, and update applications much faster. Whenever new versions are released, I can pull them immediately without disrupting the rest of my environment.

    It’s streamlined, modular, and designed for longevity.

    The Learning Curve and Rewards

    This rebuild wasn’t without its challenges. There were moments of trial and error, a few late-night debugging sessions, and plenty of “aha” moments. But the result has been incredibly satisfying—a clean, flexible infrastructure that I understand inside and out.

    Over the following weeks, I’ll be updating all of my documentation to reflect this new setup. Once that’s complete, I’ll have an environment that’s not only faster and more reliable but also maintainable and future-proof.

    Looking Ahead

    As a side project, I’m also rebuilding my previous documents and posts from my old, lost website. It’s a big task, but also a great opportunity to reorganize and expand on what I had before. My goal is to make everything more detailed, better documented, and ready for what’s next.

    Every so often, what feels like a small upgrade turns into a complete transformation—and this one has been absolutely worth it.