How to flash with esptool

[MennoLabs]

I acquired an older smalltv that came with firmware 2.5.7.
I tried to upload V3.0.33 to it using esptool.
The upload worked, but the device not.
Can I put the old 2.5.7 back?
Where to find it?
Or didn't I use the proper address or parameters to flash?
I used
esptool.py --chip esp8266 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 write_flash --flash_mode dio --flash_size detect 0x00 firmware_V3.0.33.bin
Also tried address 0x1000

[GeekMagicClock]

Hi, never released a version V2.5.7, that sounds like a fake geekmagic product.

[MennoLabs]

Ah, the joys of shopping on Aliexpress.... :-(
Any idea on how to get your firmware working on this thingie?

[Michail1]

You can always flash back to 2.5.7 if you kept a copy.
I do note that you can't simply read from another unit to be flash to the old unit. (I'm working on this now, but on version 2.5.2.)

[MennoLabs]

Yes, I am beating myself up that I didn't backup the old firmware first.

[LookUpToTheRight]

I'm in the same boat and mine came with v2.5.8 I think. Tried updating to the same version as the opening poster did using the browser interface, and bricked the device. After hunting around online, found another Issue page on here with a link to a backup from an Ultra model . I flashed this using esptool flash software and finally got something on the display, which showed GeekMagic Ultra-V9.0.19. Then a different style black setup page to connect to my router, and after waiting ages and nothing happening I manually rebooted the clock, and up came the message "New IP: 192.168.1.39" and I could see this in my router along with the corresponding MAC address from the clock.

However entering this IP into a browser did nothing, whereas the previous original firmware did allow me browser access and setup and fully worked. So the device is stuck in a loop connecting to WiFi, even though the connection has already been established with my router. Not sure how to proceed.

EDIT: 7th July 2025 6:12pm GMT: I've got things back to normal and working again. I put the SmallTV original model back into WiFI AP mode by powering on and off twice during its connecting cycle. I then used one of my spare laptops to connect via WiFi, and then using a browser and URL 192.168.4.1 bringing up the setup screen as before, but this time choosing the firmware upgrade option and pointing it at the "firmware_V3.0.33.bin" file. That's it! After this the clock returned to showing a live display of the time and weather etc, and I could click on the setup again, but this time with whatever new IP address it had been given by my router. I hope this helps anyone that bricked their clock like me.

[brxie]

I managed to flash mine Aliexpress unit as I mentioned here #38 (comment)