905x Unable to Connect to OFFICIAL KODI REPO

Hey there I am a first time poster. I am in no way “new” to the android boxes but the newest box is acting up and I am not sure where to go from here. It is an S905x.

your website first flagged me as a bot, then threw my op in the trash. This is not about anything but official Kodi software.

I have configured several of these boxes with no issues for my parents. They were able to install and configure Kodi 17.1.2 [the new version.]

However, my parents decided they would factory reset the box. After doing this “factory reset” (I assume just done through the android settings menu), Kodi is now “Bricked”, for lack of a better term.

Kodi will not load the official kodi repository. Every time I go to the add-ons page, I get a message saying “Unable to connect to repository”. For example, I would like to install the “backup” add-on, and I am unable to access the official kodi repo. After the factory reset it seems this functionality is gone.

Things i have tried
-Installing other repos. others work with no issues.
-Trying other boxes. The official kodi Repo works fine on other units, I can browse and install add ons.
-Completely uninstalling Kodi. I have went through the file manager, deleted the userdata folder, cleared the cache, and reinstalled kodi from Google Play Store. A new installation made no difference
-Completely uninstalled and re-install from apk. No difference.
-Factory resetting the box. Put a pin in the av slot, went to the android menu and factory reset / clear user data. Reinstalled box as new, still no difference. Kodi will not load the official repo on this box.

What else can I try? I have heard I can reflash? the firmware? How does one go about this. FWIW my box has a “update&backup” option, and when I try to update from here it gives me the infamous “server argent” error.

Help me out, where should i go from here?