f7010bt Updating an AVIC-F7010 in 2025 from 2.08 to 3.01 to hybrid 4.01

[stevgg2]

A couple of weeks ago I bought an AVIC-F7010BT(XM/UC) for about $20 to upgrade the somewhat limited stereo in my Mercedes-Benz. And after researching the stereo I found that the OS can be upgraded to versions that were either intended for another region or were for other AVIC-F models.

My 7010 was on version 2.08 and it felt a bit slow and in the comments it was mentioned that upgrading would greatly improve the user experience, so I went for it but, oh surprise, most of the files seemed impossible to get.

So after downloading torrents, searching everywhere and configuring the browser to load the http version of the site (because the https version seems to be a bit broken) I got the files for the testmode, the 3.01 firmware and the 4.01 hybrid firmware.

The only file that I have not managed to find elsewhere is the “Avic F update anc fix files”, a RAR file of almost 9GB, since the torrent has no seeds, so if one day one appears, I will upload it when I have it in my hands.

Now, the list of files and a mini tutorial on how I upgraded my F7010BT from version 2.08 unmodified to version 4.01 hybrid.
Remember that I am not responsible for anything that may happen to your stereo if you follow this tutorial. You do so at your own risk.
 

• My personal backup of my F7010BT. Apparently it also has the WINCE images, but honestly I haven't restored it back to my stereo, so always use with caution.
• Firmware v3.01. This includes the WINCE images, the contents of “My Flash Disk” and the included maps. 
  If you have problems copying files because of insufficient space, delete some maps from APL2/iGo/Content/Map. According to some comments, the stereo may not start if the flash memory is full. The RAR file is the same as the one in the torrent, so I'm helping with a seed if anyone needs it.
• The hybrid firmware v4.01. This firmware does not include maps, but you can use the 3.01 version maps anyway.
• The files needed to boot in test mode (the graphical interface of Windows CE)

And now, here's how I upgraded my stereo

During the process, I used a PC with Windows 10 LTSC 2021 (21H2) and a Nokia 2GB microSD with an adapter because I read in comments and a video that I could have problems if I used microSD (or SD cards) of more than 16GB capacity to perform the upgrade.

Please, use WinRAR to extract the files. It is free to use if you don't mind me reminding you to buy a license every time you open the program.

1. Performing the backup

1. Download the testmode RAR and when finished, extract the “testmode” folder to the root of your SD. On your SD card, there should only be the “testmode” folder and nothing else.
2. Create a folder with the name of your choice. This will be where the copy of the files from your stereo's flash memory will go. In this tutorial, it will be called “backup”
3. Remove the memory from your PC and now place it in the SD card slot of your stereo.
4. Turn on the stereo and wait a moment. When it turns on, it will reboot once more and if everything went well, you will see a Windows-like interface. That is Windows CE
5. Using a stylus, tap the icon in the lower right corner (right side of the taskbar). This will display a virtual keyboard to make everything easier.
6. Now, double tap on Total Commander to open it.
7. In the left window, open “My Flash Disk” and in the right window, open “Storage Card”. The first is the internal memory of your stereo and the second is the SD card inserted in the stereo.
8. Now, tap a blank space in the left window and on the virtual keyboard, tap Ctrl and then A to select all.Then, tap Ctrl on the virtual keyboard. Then, tap Ctrl on the virtual keyboard and uncheck the “Dumpfiles” folder.
   This is important as the folder contains only error logs and corrupted files that can fill up your SD memory and these files are not essential for the stereo to work (based on comments and other firmware contents).
9. In the right window, double tap on the “backup” folder to open it.
10. Now at the top of the Total Commander main window, tap the icon that looks like a grid with an arrow pointing to the right. 
11. You will get a window where it will tell you what you want to do with the selected content. Click on “Copy” and now you will have to wait because the copy can take between 30 minutes to an hour. During the copy, you may get corrupted files (with blank names or incomprehensible symbols like a square). In Total Commander, you can skip these single files and it will not stop copying. If you do this with Windows Explorer, it will stop copying completely. That's why I chose to use TC instead of Windows Explorer. If your stereo has been functioning normally, skipping these files should not affect you. In my case, 6 appeared in USER/SystemData/uComInitComm where only two files should have been from the start
12. When the copy is finished, you can turn off the stereo or restart it. Remember to remove the SD card after shutdown or during reboot so that it does not re-enter testmode.
13. Copy the “backup” folder to a safe place on your PC and save it very well as it may be useful in the future if something goes wrong. This also includes the WINCE images if something goes wrong also with something related to the WINCE images. 
14. Enjoy

2. Updating to v3.01 from stock

1. After copying the backup you made to your PC, format the card in FAT32 to get a clean start.
2. Extract the 3.1 firmware RAR to a location on your PC. This is to check that the full contents can fit on your SD. In my case, it didn't and I had to delete some maps. Since I'm not from the US and I don't have the stereo GPS either, I don't use them so I don't need them, but I don't know if they are needed for the stereo to work properly, so I left some just in case.
3. Now, copy all the extracted files to the root of your SD card. This may be optional, but because I have found damaged testmode RAR files on the forum, I also copied the testmode files replacing the ones contained in the original v3.01 firmware file because I saw comments from some people that after flashing the WINCE firmware, it would not boot into testmode.
4. After copying is finished, insert the SD card into your stereo.
5. This can be a bit complicated, but now you have to boot the stereo in uBoot mode. Turn off the stereo, press and hold the MENU, MAP and eject CD buttons and turn on the stereo without releasing the buttons and wait a couple of seconds. If all goes well, you will see a blue screen with the letters “PLEASE PUSH RESET KEY AGAIN” or something like that. Release the buttons after checking that
6. While on the blue screen, do this combination of buttons:
   Up, Up, Down, Menu, Left, Right
   If you did it right, you will get the uBoot menu. Otherwise, reset the stereo and return to step 5.
7. Using the joystick, select 0-WINCE Upgrade, then 0-WINCE by SD/MMC (Format). In this part, it will start flashing the updated WINCE image and delete all the contents of the stereo's internal memory, including the system. If you are using the unit connected to your car, I suggest you turn it on so that the stereo does not shut down due to lack of power and a serious error may occur during the flashing.
8. When it says “CE Upgrade OK, reboot your system now” at the bottom, the flashing is successfully completed. Reset the stereo without removing your SD card.
9. Now being back in Windows CE, you have to copy the updated system to the internal memory of the stereo. Double tap on “My device” to open Windows Explorer.
10. Double tap on “Storage card” and then on the folder that says “My Flash Disk”. Then tap on “Edit” at the top of the window, and then tap on “Select all”, and then Edit > Copy
11. Now exit the SD card by tapping the folder icon with the up arrow a couple of times (at the top of the window) and now go to “My Flash Disk”, the internal memory drive of the stereo.
12. Once inside the unit, tap “Edit” and then “Paste”. Now just wait as the copy will take 20-30 minutes. If you are prompted to replace files, select “Yes to all”.
13. After finishing the copy, close the window and now double tap the “Restart” icon to restart the unit. After doing so, when the Pioneer logo appears, remove the SD card so that it does not boot back into test mode.
14. If everything went well, the stereo will ask you to set the unit language and the TTS language. It will restart again after set this.
15. Enjoy

You can now check the installed version by going to Settings > System Settings > Service information > Integrated version.

3. Updating from 3.01 to hybrid 4.01

It is practically the same process as upgrading from stock firmware, only here there is a detail that you should not overlook.

In the RAR file of the 4.01 hybrid firmware, you will notice that it mentions that it has no maps, but if you notice it well and if you compare it with other firmware files, several files and folders are missing. That may be why some people mention that they have bootloops.

What you should do here, is to copy the 3.01 version system back to the memory of the unit, and after that, copy the hybrid firmware system files, obviously, replacing the existing ones. This way you will have the essentials of firmware 3.01 with the improvements of firmware 4.01 (hence the “hybrid” in the name).

So in this case, the tutorial is the same as the previous one, only with this extras:

1.  3.1: Move (or paste) the “My Flash Disk” files from version 3.01 to a separate folder. And copy the 4.01 firmware files to the root of your SD card.
2. 12.1: After finishing the copy, now select the content from "copy_contents_to_My_Flash_Disk" and go back to inside the flash diskl unit, tap “Edit” and then “Paste”. Now just wait as the copy will take 15-20 minutes. If you are prompted to replace files, select “Yes to all”.
    

Enjoy!

And if anyone has more files that are difficult to get, can you send them to me or at least tell me where you got them.

[stevgg2]

Reserved

 

[stevgg2]

The files are being uploaded to both MediaFire and will now also be uploaded to archive.org to preserve them!
Here will be the links when I have them ready.