⚠️ Critical: Backup BEFORE Modifications
ALWAYS create a backup of your original firmware BEFORE attempting any modifications or custom firmware installations.
Your backup is the ONLY way to restore your clock to factory settings if something goes wrong.
Why Backup Your Firmware?
Importance of Firmware Backup
- Factory Restoration: Your backup is the only way to return your clock to its original factory state if modifications fail or cause problems.
- Device-Specific: Each EleksTube IPS device has unique configuration data (MAC address, calibration data) that cannot be recovered without a backup.
- Warranty Protection: If you need to return the device for service, you can restore the original firmware first.
- Safety Net: Custom firmware modifications can occasionally fail, causing the device to malfunction. Your backup ensures you can always recover.
- Encryption Recovery: EleksTube IPS V2 devices use flash encryption. Your backup includes encrypted bootloader and partition data specific to your device.
System Requirements
- Computer: Windows 10/11 or macOS 11+ (Big Sur or later)
- EleksTube Backup Tool: Download and install the application for your operating system
- USB Cable: Data cable (not charge-only) to connect your device
- Storage Space: At least 10 MB free disk space for backup files
- Time Required: Approximately 3-5 minutes for complete backup
Step-by-Step Backup Instructions
Download and Install the Backup Tool
Windows: Download EleksTubeBackup-Windows.zip, extract the ZIP file, then run the setup executable and follow the installation wizard.
macOS: Download and open EleksTubeBackup.dmg, read the README.txt, then drag the app to Applications folder. Right-click the app and select "Open" for first launch to bypass security warning.
Connect Your EleksTube IPS Device
Use a USB data cable to connect your EleksTube IPS clock to your computer. Make sure the device is powered on and functioning normally.
Use a quality USB data cable. Charge-only cables will NOT work as they lack data transmission wires.
If possible, connect directly to a USB port on your computer rather than through a USB hub.
Launch the Backup Tool
Open the EleksTube Backup Tool application. The main window will appear with device selection options.
Detect Your Device
Click the "Refresh" button to scan for connected devices. Your EleksTube IPS should appear in the port selection dropdown.
The application will automatically read device information including:
- Chip type (ESP32)
- MAC address (unique device identifier)
- Flash size (typically 4MB)
• Check your USB cable (must be a data cable)
• Try a different USB port (prefer USB 2.0 ports)
• Close any other serial monitor applications (Arduino IDE, PlatformIO Monitor, etc.)
• Restart your computer and try again
Select Backup Location
By default, backups are saved to a backups folder in your Documents directory. You can click "Browse" to choose a different location.
Save your backup to a safe location like:
• Cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud)
• External USB drive
• Network storage
This ensures you won't lose your backup if your computer fails.
Start the Backup Process
Click the "Start Backup" button. A confirmation dialog will appear.
Review the warning message and click "Yes" to proceed.
Important During Backup
DO NOT disconnect the device while backup is in progress!
Interrupting the backup process can result in an incomplete or corrupted backup file.
Wait for Completion
The backup process will take approximately 3-5 minutes. You'll see:
- Progress bar showing completion percentage
- Status messages indicating current operation
- Estimated time remaining
The application reads all 4MB of flash memory, including:
- Bootloader
- Partition table
- Application firmware
- File system data
- Configuration data
Verify Backup Success
When backup completes successfully, you'll see a confirmation dialog showing:
- Backup filename
- File size (should be 4,194,304 bytes = 4MB)
- MD5 checksum (verification hash)
- Save location
Click "Open Backup Folder" to view your backup files.
Verify Backup Files
In the backup folder, you should find:
firmware_XXXXXX_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.bin- The complete 4MB firmware backupdevice_info_XXXXXX.txt- Device information file containing MAC address and chip details
Where XXXXXX is part of your device's MAC address.
• The .bin file should be exactly 4,194,304 bytes (4MB)
• The device_info.txt file contains your device's unique identifiers
• Keep both files together - you'll need the device info when restoring
Create Additional Backup Copies
CRITICAL: Make at least one additional copy of your backup files and store it in a different location:
- Upload to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
- Copy to an external USB drive
- Email to yourself
- Store on network storage (NAS)
Critical Warning
If you lose your backup, you CANNOT restore your device to factory firmware!
There is no way to download original firmware from the manufacturer for individual devices due to unique encryption keys.
Understanding Your Backup
What's Included in the Backup?
The 4MB backup file contains:
- Bootloader: First-stage boot code that starts the ESP32
- Partition Table: Memory layout information
- Application Firmware: The clock's main program code
- NVS (Non-Volatile Storage): Configuration settings, WiFi credentials, user preferences
- File System: Web interface files, images, fonts
- Encryption Keys: (EleksTube IPS V2) Device-specific encryption data
Backup File Naming
Files are named with a timestamp and MAC address:
firmware_A1B2C3_20251014_103045.bin
A1B2C3- Last 3 bytes of device MAC address20251014- Date (YYYY-MM-DD)103045- Time (HH:MM:SS)
Troubleshooting
Solution:
• Install CH340/CH341 USB driver (Windows may require manual installation)
• Check Device Manager (Windows) or System Information (Mac) for serial port
• Try a different USB cable - many cables are charge-only
Solution:
• Press the RESET button on your EleksTube IPS device
• Unplug the device, wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in
• Try a lower baud rate (automatic in latest version)
Solution:
• Close the application and restart
• Reconnect the device
• Try a different USB port (avoid USB 3.0 ports if possible)
• Disable antivirus temporarily (some AV software interferes with serial communication)
Solution:
• Close other applications using serial ports
• On macOS: Grant Full Disk Access in System Settings → Privacy & Security
• On Linux: Add your user to the dialout group: sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER
Best Practices
✓ Create backup BEFORE any modifications
✓ Store multiple copies in different locations
✓ Verify backup file size is exactly 4MB
✓ Keep the device_info.txt file with your backup
✓ Label backup files with date and purpose
✓ Test restore process before relying on backup
❌ Don'ts:
✗ Don't disconnect device during backup
✗ Don't modify or edit the backup .bin file
✗ Don't use backups from different devices
✗ Don't rely on a single backup copy
✗ Don't delete your backup after modifications (keep it forever!)
Next Steps
After creating your backup:
- Verify the backup file size is correct (4,194,304 bytes)
- Create additional copies in safe locations
- Test the backup by attempting a restore (optional but recommended)
- Only then proceed with any firmware modifications
Create dated backup folders for each backup session. This way you can maintain multiple restore points if you modify firmware multiple times.
Example structure:
EleksTubeBackups/
├── 2025-01-15_Original/
├── 2025-02-03_Before_CustomUI/
└── 2025-03-20_Stable_Version/
Support
If you encounter issues not covered in this guide:
- Check that you're using the latest version of the backup tool
- Review the troubleshooting section above
- Contact your device supplier for technical support
Final Reminder
Your backup is irreplaceable. Once you have it, protect it like important documents.
Without a backup, you cannot restore your device to factory firmware if something goes wrong with modifications.