Database Develop

[Q] Pattern lock -> Too many tries

I was playing around with the pattern lock and eventually got the 'Too many pattern attempts!' message, with it asking for my Google username and password to log in.
No matter what, it doesn't accept my username/password. I am 100% sure I've typed it in correctly.
This bug has been around for over a year with many people reporting 'bricked' phones without even doing anything particularly naughty with their phones.
This is the Google bug that has been posted on it: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3006#makechanges
As you can see this has been around for over a year. The 'null'-in-password trick doesn't work, nor does the spamming-home-button trick.
My phone is rooted and with the Voodoo Lagfix-only custom kernel. Any suggestions?

Do a hard reset / wipe. That's my suggestion.

Try booting into recovery (Home Button, Vol Up + Power), and resetting your cache and wiping it. Then try logging in with your Google account. If all else fails, try changing your Google password on the PC then logging in on the phone. And then if it still fails, looks like you need to flash the phone again. Next time, don't enter the thing wrong! Stop rushing haha .

I wasn't rushing, I was playing with the lock. It takes about 30 times before it's permanently requiring the username/password. But really...you can't blame me for not expecting this. :/
I'm currently trying to flash a new ROM but I've run into another problem - I can't get it to boot into downloader/recovery. It's not the lack of the 3 button combo - I've managed to reach Recovery and Downloader ONCE each in the past, but never again since.
And now with all my efforts to boot into recovery/downloader, it now cannot boot into normal usability mode (or in my case, locked mode). Instead, the Galaxy S logo loops endlessly.
Sigh.

Have you read the thread for the fix for Galaxy S variants that are lacking the 3 Button Combos? It's in Android Development. Maybe try that? Or, can you still connect the phone and connect with Kies?

I can't turn on the phone anymore, meaning no changing to USB debugging etc. And I'm having problem accessing recovery/download, even though I definitely HAVE done each of them once before and therefore do not have the 3 button problem.
Without turning on my phone, Kies can't detect it

So what happens when you power on?

Now, it shows the first Galaxy S splash screen, then shows the boot logo, then nothing. The boot logo continues to glow endlessly.

Be patient, i waited up to five minutes. If you see the s logo glowing/shining youare ok
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

okpc said:
Be patient, i waited up to five minutes. If you see the s logo glowing/shining youare ok
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's continuously shining. Haven't left it for up to five minutes though... And even then it probably won't help since I'm still locked out of the phone, and unable to access download/recovery mode to reflash it.

After waiting for a long time, the logo disappears, screen goes black. Menu and back buttons light up. Nothing else.

Looks like your going to have to reflash your phone again. Download the desired firmware, open up Odin and put your phone into download mode and start the flashing procedure. Be more careful next time.

PaulForde said:
Looks like your going to have to reflash your phone again. Download the desired firmware, open up Odin and put your phone into download mode and start the flashing procedure. Be more careful next time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good advice considering he said his 3 button combo stopped working =))

All I did when I got that black screen was adb reboot recovery and wiped and phone bootedup fine. But only if you have debuging enable and and sumsung drivers. Hopes this help.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Can't enable USB debugging when phone can't be turned on at all.

danamoult said:
I was playing around with the pattern lock and eventually got the 'Too many pattern attempts!' message, with it asking for my Google username and password to log in.
No matter what, it doesn't accept my username/password. I am 100% sure I've typed it in correctly.
This bug has been around for over a year with many people reporting 'bricked' phones without even doing anything particularly naughty with their phones.
As you can see this has been around for over a year. The 'null'-in-password trick doesn't work, nor does the spamming-home-button trick.
My phone is rooted and with the Voodoo Lagfix-only custom kernel. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok i did the same thing, and spent hours googling.
Tried the key combinations to restore, but never worked.
Heres what worked for me, but, be warned all your contacts will be lost if stored on the phone.
From another phone, call your locked number.
Answer it on the locked phone, then hit the "back" button.
This gives you full access to the phones menus etc.
Hang up on the phone you called from.
Now, go into Applications / Settings / Privacy / Factory Data Reset.
This worked for me whereas all other methods did not.
Once your phone is up and running again, be sure to create your google account on your phone.
That way your protected again. If you didnt previously have the account set up from your phone, like i didnt, then you cannot log in of course.
This works...give it a try. Hope it helps.

danamoult said:
Can't enable USB debugging when phone can't be turned on at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need to be able to enter recovery mode for you to solve this problem

danamoult said:
I was playing around with the pattern lock and eventually got the 'Too many pattern attempts!' message, with it asking for my Google username and password to log in.
No matter what, it doesn't accept my username/password. I am 100% sure I've typed it in correctly.
This bug has been around for over a year with many people reporting 'bricked' phones without even doing anything particularly naughty with their phones.
This is the Google bug that has been posted on it: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3006#makechanges
As you can see this has been around for over a year. The 'null'-in-password trick doesn't work, nor does the spamming-home-button trick.
My phone is rooted and with the Voodoo Lagfix-only custom kernel. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dear friend dont worry or panic... i'll tell you a trick , go to the samsung customer care and tell them that your phone gets heated up very often and today it just refuses to boot up normally...
since your device cannot get into recovery mode or download mode the company will never know that you had played with the system files in the device or not... (rooted )..
since the samsung people will also try to get your device in recovery mode.. but when it will not go to the recovery mode you will get a mother board replacement under warranty.....
this heating up of the device is a common problem in the galaxy here in india.. so use this excuse and i know it works 100% ... (just dont tell them that you had rooted and lagfixed your device )

What you describe sounds like a very large security hole if I am reading it correctly.
Are you saying that even if your phone has been locked out from too many lock screen failures, that just answering an incoming phone call gives you full access to the phone? Really?
I just checked on my phone and while I can answer an incoming call while the screen is locked, if I hit the back button or menu button, I just get the lock screen.
I'm missing something here...
OzzYGuY said:
Ok i did the same thing, and spent hours googling.
Tried the key combinations to restore, but never worked.
Heres what worked for me, but, be warned all your contacts will be lost if stored on the phone.
From another phone, call your locked number.
Answer it on the locked phone, then hit the "back" button.
This gives you full access to the phones menus etc.
Hang up on the phone you called from.
Now, go into Applications / Settings / Privacy / Factory Data Reset.
This worked for me whereas all other methods did not.
Once your phone is up and running again, be sure to create your google account on your phone.
That way your protected again. If you didnt previously have the account set up from your phone, like i didnt, then you cannot log in of course.
This works...give it a try. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

distortedloop said:
What you describe sounds like a very large security hole if I am reading it correctly.
Are you saying that even if your phone has been locked out from too many lock screen failures, that just answering an incoming phone call gives you full access to the phone? Really?
I just checked on my phone and while I can answer an incoming call while the screen is locked, if I hit the back button or menu button, I just get the lock screen.
I'm missing something here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chill my dear friend.... it cant be true.... its just his 1st post.. and samsung cannot be so dumb to leave a password protected keypad that can be cracked so easily.. even i tried the back key on a call with a password lock.. i cannot get passed the lock screen....

How to brick Galaxy S I9000M

Yes you read it right I want to know how I can brick my phone or make it stop working completely. Now let me explain the reason why. I had installed an app called "Launcher Pro". Later I uninstalled it and that is when all hell broke lose. Basically when ever I would swipe my screen to unlock the phone, I would get constant error messages that would reappear the moment I would close them, and to make matters worse it would lock out the rest of the screen so I can not click any thing else (just like in windows vista and windows 7 when a UAC message pops up). This is further complicated by the fact that I have a Bell Canada Samsung Galaxy Phone, which does not have the 3 button recovery ability but that is not the end of my problems. I got this phone at a store called Best Buy and got their warranty. Now one of the things that voids the warranty is unlocking the phone, guess what?? My phone is unlocked. So since my phone is not dead, it boots up, the lock screen loads up, the top bar shows u the battery life and the fact it is getting service and can receive calls (but which I can not answer since when it comes to that screen, the screen freezes up with the error messages). So if I take the phone to Best Buy, they are going to pop in a different sim other then bell and when they see that it works, will hand me back my phone and void my warranty. So I need to have the phone in such a condition that they can not check that and yes there can be no physical or water damage either. How do I accomplish this?

Is it rooted ? Did u happen to enable usb debugging ?
If so a mere "adb reboot recovery" followed by a wipe data would solve ur issues

Ya it is rooted, but usb debugging is not activated and I can not activate it the normal way through the settings screen, if you would know a way to do it some other way, that would be great. Just to let every one reading this know, I do not want to change my phone if I can help it, if there is a way for me to fix this with out bricking the phone and getting a new one, I will be more then happy to keep my current phone. Thanks

Zink6 said:
Ya it is rooted, but usb debugging is not activated and I can not activate it the normal way through the settings screen, if you would know a way to do it some other way, that would be great. Just to let every one reading this know, I do not want to change my phone if I can help it, if there is a way for me to fix this with out bricking the phone and getting a new one, I will be more then happy to keep my current phone. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried booting into safe mode. Usually booting into safe mode will disable any 3rd party apps from loading. This might give you the chance to uninstall LauncherPro or even enable USB debugging. The method to get into safe mode for the Bell Vibrant seems tricky though:
Menu + Home + Power On right when you see the Samsung logo (specifically: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8583886&postcount=17) probably hold the keys. I know in the other Android phones (HTC Ion) you have to hold Menu from beginning til it boots.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=758678
Seems to work sometimes...

Why dont you just re-lock your phone?
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App

Why unlocking it with code would void the warranty? if you flash, yes, maybe. but you enter the unlock code... isn't the official way? Don't bother how i got the code, I bought it, it's mine, i can unlock it. period. i dont understand how they would consider to void the warranty because you unlock with code. btw, Bell does give unlock code for 75$. so, my phone is not eligible for warranty?

MadWhips said:
Why dont you just re-lock your phone?
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys c'mon.. At least read his post. He can't gain access to the phone at all right now. How do you expect him to relock?

Honestly with no adb you can't do much if u dont have 3button working
Try all those 3button tricks posted for those who can't get to recovery/download mode.
One if i recall is :
Turn off phone
Press n hold Home + Vol Down (or Vol up, up 2 u) + power
Keep holding, your phone will restart once, then twice, then let go off power button.
Its worth a shot

I work at best buy. They will not stick another sim card into the phone. Is it within the 30 day return policy? If its within 30 days go return it and show them the phone dont work and they will exchange it for you.. If its not within the 30 days they will most likely have to send the phone out to Samsung.
What i would do :
1. Take the phone back to the store.
2. Tell them the thing dont work...they wont know if its unlocked or rooted.
3. Ask them to exchange it under the manufactures warranty (if its not within the 30 days) and hopefully they will exchange it and not have to send it out to samsung.
WIN.
PM me if anything.

Asked the rep at best buy (by the way this is best buy Canada), and he said warranty is void if unlocked.

like eduard said, just take it do them. don't even ask or mention unlocking coz that will make them think that you have unlocked it.
take it there, say it doesn't work. done. don't ask, don't tell.

lol thats why you dont tell him you unlocked it! wow man.

its not about you telling them that u unlocked it, their procedure is to insert a different sim into the phone before sending it out for repair and/or exchange. And that is when I will be caught. So aside from giving best buy the phone, does any one else have any other ideas?

Did you try this?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=813580
I also have a Bell SGS. I got it from Wireless Wave and fortunately I have 3b recovery. You've tried both (up+home+power) as well as (down+home+power) right? You let go as soon as you see the boot screen that says i9000.

Drop it in the water?

zorxd said:
Drop it in the water?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Water damage is not covered by warranty.

From what i read, i can't imagine this is a hardware problem (though i could be wrong), so probably the worst that can be is that your phone needs a reflash. How much would that cost in CA if you can't talk it into a warrantee case?

Ya its not a hardware issue, its a software one. Let me give u more information. The phone boots and goes to the lock screen. Shows the correct time and date and shows on the top that it was connected to my phone service but the moment I swipe the screen to unlock, I get repeating messages, one of them reads "The process android.process.acore has stopped unexpectedly. please try again." and the other reads "The application TwLauncher (process com.sec.android.app.twlauncher) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again". Both messages have a "force close" button on the bottom that takes the message away just for it to reappear a second later.
Also from what I have been reading in the forums, if I can only get my phone into usb debugging mode in any other way then the typical MENU > Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging, it would solve all my problems. If any one knows how to do that, please share your knowledge.

There is a post on here for making a USB dongle that powers the phone straight into download mode.
You need a USB plug and a resistor.
You can then re flash.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

Here's what you can do:
When you've started the phone (and the error messages come up) you connect your device to your PC with the USB cable.
At that point you'll see a new menu on the background (behind the error messages) for the selection of your connection (Samsung Kies, Mass Storage, etc...)
Click away the error messages very quickly and press the button Samsung Kies (you may have to try several times before you can do this but it's possible)
Then you open Samsung Kies and you use the procedure that is mentioned in the post below to reflash your device with a test firmware:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=766589
Make sure to read through that tread to know what codes you have to use in the registry. You should be able to flash your device in Kies with a (test/official) firmware this way.
In the end you my not even have to return it at all...

[Q] Mobile tracker, recovery mode & power button security

Hi all,
I'm sorry if this has already been discussed, I did search before typing this post.
Basically I was wondering firstly if there is any way to encrypt the mobile tracker text file located in "data/system/Mobiletracker.txt"
This file can be easily accessed and isn't encrypted, it displays your mobile tracker passcode in the text document, therefore if this is read before I can lock the phone if it is lost or stolen then they could of simply wrote the code down and just unlock the phone.
Secondly, I think I read about this before but can't find it again, is there a way to protect the recovery mode with a password? Let's say kind of like a bios password for your phone, this way if phone is lost or stolen, if my phone is already locked via mobile tracker, they wouldn't then be able to just flash a new rom as it would clear any protection. (I've seen the application "theft aware" which is supposed to be flash proof, but I tried it and it stays installed after a flash but doesn't run :/
Finally third, is there a way to stop the power button functioning when the phone is locked, I use the pattern lock and if you hold the power button it brings up the power options, now with me using darkys rom, it has recovery mode on the list, meaning if they didn't have a huge experience with android but found my phone they would discover it's recovery menu and be able to format it through the recovery menu.
I know I'll get the odd response of don't lose your phone, or don't be soo paranoid, but this can happen and I don't want anyone who finds it or steals it to have the privilege of being able to use this beast of a phone
Thanks in advance,
Dave
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

I der.. I have forgotton my password for mobile tracker for my galaxy i9000 , infact i dont remeber setting it in the first place ! i read you blog which says data/system/Mobiletracker.txt contains password in txt format.. i just want to know i do i get there.. and please give detail information as i am not such a techno savvy.
PLEASE HELP !!!! mobile tracker is costing me lot of money !!! by sending a msg to the number everytime it hangs up or shuts down due to battery lose.

[Q] help ????

I have at&t and it locked and says too many pattern attempts. it needs a username and password which I dont know so I cant get in the phone .....I want to unlock it to use it in another carrier and I dont know from where I should start .....plz help me by guid me with the right steps to unlock it.........thanx in advance

sicoooo0 said:
I have at&t and it locked and says too many pattern attempts. it needs a username and password which I dont know...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't know the unlock pattern, nor account information and want to use the phone on another carrier!?
Are you trying to unlock a lost or stolen phone!?

Val D. said:
You don't know the unlock pattern, nor account information and want to use the phone on another carrier!?
Are you trying to unlock a lost or stolen phone!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my friend gave it to me as a present and I gave it 2 my cousin but before I gave it to my cousin it was ok except I couldnt use it in another carrier ...I didnt know what he did to the phone cuz he couldnt explain exactly what he did .....

sicoooo0 said:
my friend gave it to me as a present and I gave it 2 my cousin...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phones contain private information. If you don't have the account information, then this phone is actually not yours. The only option you have now is to erase all data by doing Factory Reset. After that you can deal with carrier unlocking. Good luck!

mine
Val D. said:
Phones contain private information. If you don't have the account information, then this phone is actually not yours. The only option you have now is to erase all data by doing Factory Reset. After that you can deal with carrier unlocking. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its mine man ...y you keep saying that >>>

sicoooo0 said:
its mine man ...y you keep saying that >>>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He actually gave you the answer to your question.. There's only one way of doing it and it's by wiping everything. Of course, you will lose all the data on your phone by doing so.

the username and the password which it needs to open the phone is my gmail account......right
I wrote them correctly and the phone didnt accept it
I made reset and sign in again with my gmail account and it locked again .....I wrote my gmail account which I sign in before and didnt unlock

sicoooo0 said:
the username and the password which it needs to open the phone is my gmail account......right
I wrote them correctly and the phone didnt accept it
I made reset and sign in again with my gmail account and it locked again .....I wrote my gmail account which I sign in before and didnt unlock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
boot into recovery by turning off the phone, then hold down both volume up and down keys then pressing the power button until the initial splash screen shows, then release all the buttons. select factory reset/wipe from the menu by using up/down volume keys to navigate and the power key to select the menu item.
then reboot.
sent from one of my two SGH-I897 Captivates

laughingT said:
boot into recovery by turning off the phone, then hold down both volume up and down keys then pressing the power button until the initial splash screen shows, then release all the buttons. select factory reset/wipe from the menu by using up/down volume keys to navigate and the power key to select the menu item.
then reboot.
sent from one of my two SGH-I897 Captivates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should probably add that you will lose your data doing so.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

Password Recovery

I bought a new G6 (unlocked) for my sister, who lives in another state. She activated the new phone last night (Mint Mobile). When she got to the screen asking for entry of a password to protect against unauthorized use she entered a complex password (she didn't know she could just skip that screen). She wrote the password down, but now she can't find it. I called her this morning and she was able to use the fingerprint scanner to open the phone enough to answer my call, but she can't get to her apps.
I am aware that this sounds a little "fishy", but I didn't know where else to turn. Is there any way to reset or remove that password? Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Jerry

geronimo52xx said:
I bought a new G6 (unlocked) for my sister, who lives in another state. She activated the new phone last night (Mint Mobile). When she got to the screen asking for entry of a password to protect against unauthorized use she entered a complex password (she didn't know she could just skip that screen). She wrote the password down, but now she can't find it. I called her this morning and she was able to use the fingerprint scanner to open the phone enough to answer my call, but she can't get to her apps.
I am aware that this sounds a little "fishy", but I didn't know where else to turn. Is there any way to reset or remove that password? Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Jerry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
She can boot to recovery and reset the whole phone, the only option if bootloader is locked.

Got to wipe the phone and start over. tell her to make sure next time it's a simple password because she's going to have to use it every time to unlock the device if she has a screen lock set to password. even if it's set to fingerprint you have to enter the password anytime you reboot the device to unlock it the first time.
It's there to prevent unauthorized use so no there's no way around it. Except for factory resetting. even then make sure she logs in with the same Google account because she probably enabled factory reset protection as well.

madbat99 said:
Got to wipe the phone and start over. tell her to make sure next time it's a simple password because she's going to have to use it every time to unlock the device if she has a screen lock set to password. even if it's set to fingerprint you have to enter the password anytime you reboot the device to unlock it the first time.
It's there to prevent unauthorized use so no there's no way around it. Except for factory resetting. even then make sure she logs in with the same Google account because she probably enabled factory reset protection as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestions. I walked her through the factory reset procedure, but when she tried to set up the phone and entered her Google credentials the phone said "searching" and wouldn't go past that screen. She finally called Motorola and they said if I could send proof of purchase she could forward it to them and, if approved, they will ask her to send them the phone and they will send her another new phone. She is still waiting,

geronimo52xx said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I walked her through the factory reset procedure, but when she tried to set up the phone and entered her Google credentials the phone said "searching" and wouldn't go past that screen. She finally called Motorola and they said if I could send proof of purchase she could forward it to them and, if approved, they will ask her to send them the phone and they will send her another new phone. She is still waiting,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a bummer. They should send another one though. It's covered since you didn't unlock the bootloader.