So here is the summary for all the steps involved for flashing custom firmware for the Oppo 205 from
http://www.bd-mod.com:
Follow "OPPO 20X downgrade Guide" first, then, follow activation instructions.
-> Plug FAT32 USB stick with UPG/MAIN20XCN.bin from oppo-20x56-0224.rar into front of Oppo
-> Connect Oppo to computer with USB to TTL
-> Connect Power wire to Oppo
-> Start MtkTool with downgrade.bin per guide
-> Power on player
-> Success
-> Disconnect power wire
-> Reconnect power wire
-> Put MtkTool to log mode per guide, hold down enter key on computer keyboard
-> Power on player, wait for "mt8581_base # ..." repeating, release enter key
-> Type upg into box, click Send
-> Upgrade Success
-> Press Oppo power button to power off
-> Start MtkTool with upgrade.bin per guide
-> Power on
-> Success
-> Power off
-> Put MtkTool to log mode
-> Power on
-> If flashed firmware version is newer than player's previous firmware version, front panel should say "Hello" , "No Disc"
-> If flashed firmware version is older than player's previous firmware version, there will be message at the end of the log, "version check fail! version not allow!"
-> Run flash again, this will make version check match the previous version, which is what was just flashed
-> Power off
-> Start MtkTool with downgrade.bin per guide
-> Power on player
-> Success
-> Disconnect power wire
-> Reconnect power wire
-> Put MtkTool to log mode per guide, hold down enter key on computer keyboard
-> Power on player, wait for "mt8581_base # ..." repeating, release enter key
-> Type upg into box, click Send
-> Upgrade Success
-> Press Oppo power button to power off
-> Start MtkTool with upgrade.bin per guide
-> Power on
-> Success
-> Power off
-> Power on, player now boots with firmware from oppo-20x56-0224.rar (version 20XRU-56-0224, previous version and new version are now the same)
-> Front Panel "Hello" , "No Disc"
-> Power off, remove power wire, disconnect serial, pack player
-> Reconnect Oppo to television, power wire and HDMI cable connected
-> Power on, wait 1 minute
-> Insert FAT32 formatted USB drive in front of Oppo with only activation file in root, named XXXXXXXXXXXX.da1, where "XX.." = player wired LAN MAC address in all CAPS
-> Player shows volume bar on TV screen
-> Power off
-> Remove USB Drive
-> Power on
You should probably reset the player to factory default settings before doing the activation file. Power off and power back on after reset (player will show volume bar on TV screen after reset, wait for it to disappear). Menus will be in Russian after powering back on. Change back to English after activation. (Power off / Power on after changing to English.)
Tools I used:
- Good quality Phillips #2 screwdriver (only one needed for all screws)
-
Adafruit Industries 954 USB-to-TTL Serial Cable (Wires: Black - Ground, Red - Voltage [not used], White - RX [connects to TX on Oppo], Green - TX [connects to RX on Oppo])
-
HiLetgo 200pcs/5x40pcs Breadboard Jumper Wires Kit
-
USB 2.0 Extension Cable
Prolific PL2303 Drivers for Adafruit 954 cable with Prolific PL2303 Chipset
Newer Adafruit 954 USB-to-TTL cables might come with the Silicon Labs CP2102 chipset. I didn't test this version because that's not what I have, but Adafruit says they switched to this because it's supposed to be better.
Silabs CP210X Drivers for Adafruit 954 cable with Silabs CP2102 Chipset