How to unbrick your Papago GoSafe 520

Sprite23

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2015
Messages
31
Reaction score
11
Country
United States
Long story short, I bricked my GS 520 while trying to flash the firmware. With the help of mpmetro and Mandami I was able to get it unbricked.

Here are the things you will need:
Micro sd card
DirectUSB Ambarella flasher - http://dc.p-mc.eu/tools/directusb/download
Mini 0803 Firmware - http://dc.p-mc.eu/0803/firmware
I used 20140507 ELF Linux Executable, A7LAXX
Autoexec.ash - https://dashcamtalk.com/cams/Update autoexec.ash.zip
Stock Papago GoSafe 520 Firmware - http://us.papagoinc.com/products/gosafe-520/#support

First you need to install DirectUSB, once you have that installed you need to get your GS520 in USB mode. Do this by pressing and holding the OK button on your dashcam and connecting the USB to your computer.


By now, you should have DirectUSB open, I picked "a7levk" for the board. I'm not sure if this matters or not, but it worked for me. To confirm your dashcam is being detected, press "Connect" as shown below. If it reads Found 1 AMBA device, you can move on to the next step!
1.jpg

Next you want to erase the current bricked firmware on your dashcam, do this by pressing
"EraseNand." If this was successful you'll see the same status as the screenshot attached.

2.jpg

Next, it's time to write the 0803 firmware, check "Firmware Programming" and check off "Verify." Navigate to the 0803 firmware file. Once that is complete, click "DownLoad"
3.jpg

If everything is successful, when you boot your dashcam you should get a white screen for about 10 seconds then the camera will shut off. This is good, you're now ready to put the stock firmware back on.

Now you want to get your formatted sd card and put the firmware.bin and autoexec.ash at the base directory. Put the SD card in your dashcam and boot it up (use external power source). You'll get a white screen then it will turn itself off. Once it turned itself off, turn it back on and you should have an unbricked device.

Again, thanks to mpmetro and Mandami. I would have a bricked GS520 without their help. This is kind of a roundabout way to fix a bricked device, hopefully Papago releases an ELF file for this dashcam so we won't have to do it this way.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice!
Why did it get bricked in the 1st place?
 
Nice!
Why did it get bricked in the 1st place?

I was screwing around with the sound files and flashed an incompatible one. I have everything figured out now and no longer have a startup/shut down chime!
 
I was screwing around with the sound files and flashed an incompatible one. I have everything figured out now and no longer have a startup/shut down chime!
Post the info.
Maybe useful for others who want to remove the sounds.
 
Back
Top