In the end , I basically removed all uboot or towboot from SPI completely. then followed instructions to remove uboot from EMMC with 2 lines of code. then I booted to Armbian on SD card, and from there I installed OS on EMMC.
I also tried the EMMC switch off, power button on for 2-3 seconds, then EMMC switch on. trick and that worked too one of the many times I installed a different OS on EMMC in past 2 weeks. This allows me to boot off the SD card, and then from there write to the emmc.
Popping off the EMMC completely also works to boot into SD card. but then you have no EMMC to write an OS to.
there is a RESET and Recover button on bottom also near the edge. a few times when I could not use Power button to get a red light on top keyboard, I hit reset button on bottom for 3-4 seconds and I got red light power.
Make sure to have power supply plugged into battery sometimes, since the battery doesn't last long, sometimes it's just not booting from no battery power.
I also tried the EMMC switch off, power button on for 2-3 seconds, then EMMC switch on. trick and that worked too one of the many times I installed a different OS on EMMC in past 2 weeks. This allows me to boot off the SD card, and then from there write to the emmc.
Popping off the EMMC completely also works to boot into SD card. but then you have no EMMC to write an OS to.
there is a RESET and Recover button on bottom also near the edge. a few times when I could not use Power button to get a red light on top keyboard, I hit reset button on bottom for 3-4 seconds and I got red light power.
Make sure to have power supply plugged into battery sometimes, since the battery doesn't last long, sometimes it's just not booting from no battery power.
