Video tutorial:
What is the Emmc ?
eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard) is a type of flash storage used in mobile devices, tablets, and some laptops. It combines flash memory and a flash memory controller integrated into a single package, providing a balance of performance and cost. eMMC is designed to be a compact, non-removable storage solution with moderate read/write speeds, suitable for consumer electronics where high-speed data transfer is not critical. It's widely used for its simplicity and ease of integration, although it typically offers lower performance compared to SSDs (Solid State Drives)
How do I know the EMMC has gone bad?
Symptoms of a Bad eMMC:
- Frequent Crashes and Freezes: The device frequently crashes, freezes, or restarts unexpectedly.
- Slow Performance: Noticeably slower performance, particularly during data-intensive tasks like booting up or opening apps.
- Data Corruption: Files become corrupted or unreadable, and applications fail to load properly.
- Read/Write Errors: Errors appear when attempting to read from or write to the storage.
- Boot Issues: The device fails to boot, gets stuck in a boot loop, or displays error messages during startup.
- Unrecognized Storage: The device or system fails to recognize the eMMC storage.
Diagnostic Tools and Methods:
- SMART Data: Use tools that can read SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data to check for signs of wear and errors. Many modern eMMC chips support SMART reporting.
- Disk Utility Tools: Use built-in utilities like Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac) to check the health status and perform diagnostic scans.
- Linux Tools: Tools like
badblocksorsmartctlon Linux can be used to check for bad sectors and assess the health of the storage. - Manufacturer’s Software: Some manufacturers provide their own diagnostic tools that can assess the health of the eMMC.
- EasyJTAG: As previously mentioned, EasyJTAG and similar tools can diagnose and repair eMMC storage, providing detailed health reports and error logs.
How to check eMMC health with easyjtag?
Preparation
- Install EasyJTAG Software: Ensure you have the latest EasyJTAG software installed on your computer.
- Connect Hardware:
- Remove the eMMC chip from the device, if possible, or connect the device with the eMMC to the EasyJTAG box.
- Use the appropriate socket adapter for the eMMC and connect it to the EasyJTAG box.
- Connect the EasyJTAG box to your computer via USB.
Performing the Health Check
Launch EasyJTAG Software: Open the EasyJTAG software on your computer.
Detect eMMC:
- In the EasyJTAG software, select the appropriate tab for eMMC operations.
- The software should detect the connected eMMC chip and display its details.
Read Information:
- Click on the “Read Info” or similar button to get detailed information about the eMMC chip.
- This will display manufacturer details, capacity, firmware version, and other relevant information.
Health Check:
- Look for options like “Health Report” or “Diagnostics” in the software interface.
- Run the health check diagnostic tool. This will analyze the eMMC for wear levels, bad sectors, and overall health status.
- The software will provide a detailed report showing the percentage of wear, the number of bad blocks, and other health indicators.
Analyze Results:
- Review the health report provided by the EasyJTAG software.
- Pay attention to indicators such as wear leveling count, bad block count, and overall health percentage.
Take Action:
- If the health check indicates significant wear or many bad blocks, consider erasing bad sectors or reprogramming the eMMC if possible.
- If the eMMC is severely degraded, it might be necessary to replace it.
how to repair ?
Improving the health of an eMMC using EasyJTAG involves more technical steps, as EasyJTAG is a professional tool used for repairing and flashing eMMC, UFS, and NAND chips. Here are some steps you can follow:
Backup Data: Before performing any operations, make sure to back up all important data from the eMMC.
Install EasyJTAG Software: Ensure you have the latest version of the EasyJTAG software installed on your computer. You can download it from the official EasyJTAG website.
Connect eMMC to EasyJTAG:
- Remove the eMMC chip from the device (if possible) and place it in the appropriate socket adapter for EasyJTAG.
- Connect the adapter to the EasyJTAG box, and then connect the EasyJTAG box to your computer.
Identify the eMMC:
- Launch the EasyJTAG software.
- The software should detect the eMMC chip and display its details. Verify that the software correctly identifies the chip.
Analyze Health Status:
- Use the diagnostic tools in EasyJTAG to check the health status of the eMMC. This will include checking for bad sectors and overall wear level.
Repair Bad Sectors:
- If the diagnostic tool finds bad sectors, you can attempt to repair them using the software's repair functions.
- Use the "Erase" or "Full Erase" options to clear bad sectors. Note that this will erase all data on the eMMC, so ensure your data is backed up.
Reprogram eMMC:
- If the eMMC is still functional after erasing bad sectors, you can reprogram it with the firmware or data you need.
- Use the "Write" function in EasyJTAG to flash the required firmware.
Verify and Test:
- After reprogramming, use the "Read" and "Verify" functions to ensure that the data was written correctly.
- Recheck the health status to see if the condition has improved.
Reinstall eMMC:
- Once the eMMC has been repaired and reprogrammed, reinstall it back into the device.
- Power on the device and verify that it operates correctly.
Additional Tips
- Regular Maintenance: Regularly use EasyJTAG to monitor the health of your eMMC.
- Keep Firmware Updated: Ensure the eMMC firmware is up-to-date to benefit from any performance and stability improvements.
- Avoid Overuse: Minimize the number of write operations to the eMMC to reduce wear and tear.