CoreELEC for Banana Pi
These instructions explain how to install and boot CoreELEC on Banana Pi SBC's from µSD Card by use of a Windows PC. The instructions can easily be adapted for other Operating Systems.
These Single Board Computers come without an Operating System pre-installed.
Prior to installing CoreELEC, the Android firmware has to be flashed to the SBC.
Instructions how to flash the firmware are included in this document.
Supported Devices
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BPI-M5
-
BPI-M2 Pro
Requirements
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PC with Microsoft Windows
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Android mbox variant ui image (release 2021-05-20, Android 9.0 kernel 4.9.113)
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AML USB Burning Tool v 2.2.3.3
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Jackpal Terminal for Android
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USB A-Male to Micro B Data Cable (M2 Pro)
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USB A-Male to USB C cable (M5)
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USB Remote Controller (ex: MX3 Air Mouse) or other USB controlling device (keyboard, mouse).
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USB Flash Drive (for file transfer)
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µSD Card (for CoreELEC)
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Memory Card Reader
Preparation
Firmware
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Download Jackpal Terminal Emulator for Android and copy the file to the USB Flash drive.
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Download the Abdroid mbox variant ui image for BPI-M5 (at the time of writing release 2021-05-20, Android 9.0 with kernel 4.9.113)
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Download and install the AML Usb Burning Tool
CoreELEC
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Visit the CoreELEC website
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Select a version to download
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The Download Helper will pop up
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Select Skip that and just show me all download options
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Download the generic image (CoreELEC-Amlogic-ng.arm-xxx-Generic.img.gz)
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Write the downloaded image to a μSD Card
Device | Edition | DTB | SoC |
---|---|---|---|
BPI-M2 Pro | 2G | sm1_s905x3_bananapi_m2pro | S905X3 |
BPI-M5 | 4G | sm1_s905x3_bananapi_m5 | S905X3 |
Flashing the firmware
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Extract the BPI-M5 firmware archive
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Start Amlogic USB Burning Tool
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Import aml_upgrade_package.img (file / import image)
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Ensure only 'erase flash“ and “erase bootloader” are checked and “normal erase” is selected
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Press start
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Connect the SBC with the corresponding USB Cable to an available USB slot on the PC.
Upon successful completion
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Press stop
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Disconnect USB Charger Cable from PC
First boot
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Insert Remote Controller USB Adapter
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Reconnect USB Charger Cable to PC USB slot
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The SBC should boot into Android
Install CoreELEC
Once booted into Android:
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Insert USB Flash drive with Jackpal Terminal Emulator apk
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Insert µSD Card with CoreELEC
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Install Jackpal terminal with apk installer (under Android aps)
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Start Jackpal terminal
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Type
update reboot
in the terminal and hit the enter key. -
The SBC should restart from SD Card and start expanding the storage partition. Allow for the CoreELEC pre-installation script to finish.
Install CoreELEC to eMMc
For situations where it is desirable to run CoreELEC in dual boot with Android or as a stand-alone JeOS:
SSH into the device and execute ceemmc -x
Reboot to Android
In dual boot mode: to return to Android, choose reboot from eMMc from the power menu.