MStar Flash Process

The MStar flash process is an encrypted flash process developed by MStar Semiconductor, Inc and used on many MediaTak based TV sets including a lot of Hisense TVs.  It wipes the TV completely upon doing a flash to this type of firmware file (anything you had on the SmartTV will be lost).  The most reliable process (it allows downgrades) I have discovered to use these files is as follows:

1.) Extract zips internal .pkg to a FAT32 USB (any size works as long as it is FAT32, does not have to be 4GB like Hisense says, I used a cheapo Verbatim 32GB flash drive).

2.) Rename the .pkg file on the USB to "forcedupgrade_1.pkg" being sure to not duplicate the extension or include the quote marks. This step may not be neccesary for some flashes but it allows firmware downgrades, so easier just to do it.

3.) Don't plug in the USB just yet. Unplug your TV from the electrical outlet.

4.) If you are trying this on a 55" U8N/K style TV set:  Insert the USB to the top blue USB port above the HDMI ports.  Yes it has to be that one.  Yes, with the TV offline.  If you aren't on a 55" U8N/K, try all the USB ports until it works.

5.) Grab your remote.  You'll need to use it very quickly in the next steps, so maybe read them first before executing them.

6.) As fast as possible, plug in the TV and immediately point the remote at the TV and press and hold the power button.  Continue to press and hold it until you see the USB upgrade screen.  Then release and wait for the upgrade (or downgrade heh) to complete.

7.) Profit?!?!  If this fails, just remove the USB and repeat the steps from step 3.  You have to get the timing right.  Multiple tries hurt nothing, so keep at it.

After you have finished this, you may want to go offline or disable OTA updates.