How To Root Archos Gen8 Android Tablet

Lately, we have been covering several Android tablets here at AddictiveTips and the latest in this series of tablet love is the method for rooting the Archos Gen8 series Android tablets. If you own one of these devices and can’t wait to have root access to it, read on for complete instructions to guide you through the process.

This rooting procedure was shared with us by XDA-Developers forum member chulri who based it on dogmaphobia‘s work. While the method might not be as straightforward as the using a simple one-click tool on your computer or device, it does serve the purpose nevertheless.

Disclaimer: Please follow this guide at your own risk. AddictiveTips will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.

Requirements:

Archos Firmware: get the latest 2.4.83 firmware or go to the XDA link at the end for other versions.
Archos SDE.
Custom initramfs + kernel: download the (https://code.google.com/p/archos-gen8-sde-rooting/downloads/detail?name=avos_2.4.83_sysroot.zip) version for firmware 2.4.83, or go to the XDA link for other versions. Make sure to get the same version as your firmware. Also, the non-rw version gives you root without direct write access to /system, while the rw version gives you full direct write access to /system.

Prodecure:

Reboot the device and keep the “Vol-” button pressed after the screen goes black. This will get you into recovery.
Choose the “Update Firmware” option and connect your device to your computer via USB.
Transfer the SDE firmware to the tablet and safely remove the device from the USB devices on your computer.
On your tablet, select ‘OK’ and once the Archos SDE has been installed, reboot your device. Now he Archos SDE has been successfully installed on your device.
Install android firmware You must now install the Android firmware. To do this, first of all reboot your device and keep the ‘Volume down’ button pressed once the screen goes blank.
Choose the ‘Update Firmware’ option abd connect your device to your computer via USB.
Now in a way similar to step 3, transfer the firmware file to your device and then safely remove the device from the USB devices on your computer.
Just like you did in step 4, select ‘OK’ and after the firmware has been updated, reboot your device. The Archos Firmware should now be working on your device.
Now you can install the custom kernel + initramfs provided above. Firstly reboot your tablet in the same way that you did before installing the firmware and SDE (Volume down held while rebooting).
Go to ‘Recovery Menu’ > ‘Developer Edition’ > ‘Flash kernel and initramfs’
Connect your tablet to your PC via USB, transfer the ‘zImage and initramfs.cpio.gz’ to it.
Safely disconnect the device from your computer.
Press ‘OK’ on your tablet and then reboot while holding the Volume Down button.
Now just keep the volume-down button pressed once the screen turns black.
Select ‘Developer Edition’. This should give you temporary root access to your phone.

Now you have temporary root access which requires you to select ‘Developer Edition’ the way you did in step 16, to gain root each time. To avoid this, you can gain permanent root the tablet as follows:

Reboot the device while keeping the ‘Volume Down’ keys pressed.
Go to ‘Recovery Menu’ > ‘Developer Edition Menu’ and select ‘Remove Android Kernel’
Finally, reboot your device and you should now have permanent root on it.