Toshiba Encore 2

model: Toshiba WT8-B-102 (WT8-B)

model-partno: PDW0AE-00900XN5

  • cpu: Intel Atom Z3735G @ 1.33 GHz - 4 cores, Bay Trail-T (Silvermont microarchitecture) System-on-a-Chip
  • memory: 1GB (onboard) DDR3L (this is max)
  • storage - internal: 32 GB eMMC SSD
  • storage - external: microSD slot - SDHC - SDXC - UHS-I
  • screen: 8 inch, 1280 x 800 LED
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics (max resolution 1200 x 800)
  • HDMI: 1 x micro-HDMI
  • USB: 1 x micro-USB
  • camera: 5 megapixel, 1.2 megapixel
  • battery: up to 8 hours
  • power: 5 V 2A
  • product code: PDW0AE-00900XN5
  • serial number: 8E034364S
  • Wireless: IEEE 802.11b/g, 802.11n - Realtek RTL8732BS Wireless LAN 802.11n SDIO
  • wireless MAC: 54271ede34a1
  • Bluetooth: 4.0 + LE
  • size: 210 mm wide x 132 mm high x 9,48 mm thick
  • weight: 398 grams
  • operating system: Windows 8.1
  • BIOS version: 2.00 (was: 1.50)
  • EC version: 19.00 (was: 14.00)

Links

Android-x86, Fedlet - Fedora Remix for Bay Trail + 32-bit firmware, ubuntu: 32-bit UEFI boot support, Linux on Asus Transformer T100,

Encore 2 links

recover WT8 / encore tablet from created recovery media, rEFInd on the Toshiba Encore WT8-A32,

local links

Acer Iconia Tab W511,

Cables: FastTech SKU 1790604,

Hints: get to UEFI: hold volume down and power on. Boot menu: hold volume up and power on

Operating Systems: Fedlet, FreeBSD, win8,

back to tablets page.

History

2021-08-15: I re-created this page on my self-hosted web server.

2014-04-01: boot menu - the boot menu still shows only the internal SSD ("HDD") and usb as possible boot choices, not any microSD card.

2015-04-01: bios update to version 2.00, see win8 page.

2015-03-31: boot menu - the boot menu (volume up + power) shows HDD/SSD (Toshiba 032GE4), USB (SanDisk) and "", "" - no mention of the microSD card. volume keys for navigation, windows key for "enter".

2015-03-31: microSD card: I insert a 8 GB class 10 microSD card from Transcend in the microSD slot.

2015-03-29: from Fedlet comments: autoxrandr (if you have blank screen problems): "Create a file /etc/xdg/autostart/autoxrandr.desktop:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=autoxrandr
GenericName=Automatically run an XRandR on startup
Comment=Some description about your script
Exec=xrandr –output DSI1 –rotate right
Terminal=false
Type=Application
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true

This will make it rotate the screen on Gnome3 bootup so even if you have a black screen on start, it will still run the xrandr and reenable the display once it finishes starting Gnome… This way I don’t get a dead display when I start the tablet (my nextbook 8) though it may not be in the orientation I wanted initially". Linux on the (HP) Stream tablet, A third option is KNOPPIX version 7.4.2 which also supports 32-bit UEFI and will boot without modification.

2015-03-29: from Fedlet comments: "a Toshiba encore 2 wt8 b264pro", "windows storage device is described as a Toshiba 064GE", "Wi-Fi device is described as a Realtek RTL8723BS 802.11n SDIO Network Adapter", "I need clocksource=tsc also for the Toshiba Encore 2",

2015-03-29: preparing to boot from usb. I have already turned off secure boot. Next steps: I start an Administrator shell, and run:

powerconfig /h off
powershell
PS > disable-bitlocker -mountpoint "C:"
manage-bde -status c:

and repeat the last command until it reports that the disk is "Fully Decrypted" (it takes a few minutes).

2015-03-28: cables: I have FastTech SKU 1790604 USB Female to Micro-USB Male + USB Male OTG Host Cable 27cm (the plastic bag has "21 077 8" and "72 678" labels on it), this might power the tablet while I connect a usb hub to the female port. I also have a FastTech SKU 1025000 USB AF to AM / Micro USB OTG Data Host Cable (plastic bag has labels "9-077 -13" and "89 435"), this one specifies that the usb male is for charging,

2015-03-28: booting after the battery had been "flat" got me into the "Toshiba Setup Utility", where I set time and date, can verify the CPU (Atom Z3735G), SSD (Toshiba 032GE4), System BIOS version: 1.50, EC Version: 14.00, Secure Boot: enabled, USB Controller (XHCI): enabled, Language: English. After that I selected "Save and Exit".

2015-03-28: from this thread:

I successfully managed to boot into Fedlet, here you are:



    Use Fedlet (Fedora) latest ISO image
    Use Rufus to prepare USB key to UEFI
    Write ISO into USB drive with Suse Image Writer 
    Edit grub.cfg on USB and set default="0"
    Turn off Secure Boot in Toshiba Encore UEFI
    Boot from USB into Linux



That's all


- Encore with WimBoot -

nothing more.

2014-10-24: first power on - asked for Region and language, I select Norsk (bokmål), country: Norge, app language: Engelsk (USA), keyboard: Norsk, timezone: Oslo. Next - accept license, Next, I named it wt8, I skipped connecting to a wireless network for now. Next Windows Update - install important updates automatically (there is no "inform, do not install" option), turned off automatic update for drivers and apps. SmartScreen and Do Not Track on.

2014-10-24: unpacking. contents of the box:

1 x tablet, color "Satin Gold"
1 x usb charger, Chicony model W12-010N3B, 5V 2A
1 x usb cable USB-A to micro-USB (angled 90 degrees)
1 x leaflet security and limited warranty, GMR310370N50
1 x quickstart guide (fold out), GMR310410N50
1 x Office 365 Personal 1 year subscription for one user

2014-10-07: I picked up the package at my local PIB, RIMI Trondheimsveien.

2014-10-06: package shipped.

2014-10-04: Dustin had a sale, and the Toshiba Encore 2 went for NOK 1390.- so I bought one and a couple of other things.