[Q] Recover phone's content from broken phone - Motorola Droid and Milestone Q&A, Help & Troublesh

Hey guys,
So, my phone got wet last week and it can't be fixed. I took it to an authorized service center and the price to fix it is higher than the price I paid for the phone.
After I got it back, I did some tests and I realized that the problem is in the screen. So, I'd like to know if there's any way to recover the content from the phone's memory. I thought maybe via bootloader or something but I have no clue on how to do that, so I need your help.
BTW, my phone is rooted.
Thanks in advance.

fjcaetano said:
Hey guys,
So, my phone got wet last week and it can't be fixed. I took it to an authorized service center and the price to fix it is higher than the price I paid for the phone.
After I got it back, I did some tests and I realized that the problem is in the screen. So, I'd like to know if there's any way to recover the content from the phone's memory. I thought maybe via bootloader or something but I have no clue on how to do that, so I need your help.
BTW, my phone is rooted.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Put your phone in a sealed bag of rice or puffed rice, and leave it there for a day or two without the battery in it. That should get any excess moisture out of it.

skadude66 said:
Put your phone in a sealed bag of rice or puffed rice, and leave it there for a day or two without the battery in it. That should get any excess moisture out of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already tried that before taking it to the mechanical (I don't know if that's the correct term). He's report said that the phone has oxidation points and, as I said, it would cost more to repair than the price I paid for the phone.
But thanks, anyway.
So, just to clarify, I don't want to make my phone work again, I just want to recover it's content that are not in the memory card, but in the phone's built in memory.

fjcaetano said:
I already tried that before taking it to the mechanical (I don't know if that's the correct term). He's report said that the phone has oxidation points and, as I said, it would cost more to repair than the price I paid for the phone.
But thanks, anyway.
So, just to clarify, I don't want to make my phone work again, I just want to recover it's content that are not in the memory card, but in the phone's built in memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe that by having your phone in bootloader mode you could do ADB from your computer and manually do a nandroid. Try google about this steps.
Sent from my Milestone using XDA Premium App

I'd really thank you if you could give me any more guidance, because I'm doing everything blindfolded, since the screen is not working anymore.

fjcaetano said:
I'd really thank you if you could give me any more guidance, because I'm doing everything blindfolded, since the screen is not working anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, seeing as you can't see anything, what you can do is install ADB (just google it) and then navigate to this directory:
Code:
data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/
And then look for the "contacts.db" file.
I think ADB is just like Linux, so you can try to do this:
Code:
ls data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/
If you see contacts.db, then you know you are in the right directory.
As to copying it, I am not 100% sure.

I'll try it and post the result.
Thank you very much!

Related

low memory storage killed my screen

i was using spb mobile dvd to put a movie on my phone. i did not save it to the memory card bu to my phones main memory and the phone began to run slow. So i moved the file from main memory to memory card and phone still performed sluggishly. after removing file completely, touch screen became unresponsive. i've flashed every rom made for kaiser aka tytn II, every radio rom, everything you could possibly do. my screen is still dead. HELP!
also i have read that u can burn out your digitizer buy over working it ....whatever that means
thatruth132 said:
also i have read that u can burn out your digitizer buy over working it ....whatever that means
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i doubt that
Totally unrelated issues to me.
I agree that copying a movie to your phone's internal memory would not kill the digitizer. It seems like you just had an unrelated issue pop-up at the same time.
The sluggishness... sure, because the phone ran out of memory. But not the screen.
kilrah said:
Totally unrelated issues to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what do you think it is , my phone hasnt been dropped , no pressure applied to screen ...im very protecive of my tilt
thatruth132 said:
what do you think it is , my phone hasnt been dropped , no pressure applied to screen ...im very protecive of my tilt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The digitizer could have just failed. If you are within 30 days, go back to and AT&T store and exchange it for a new phone. If your after 30 days, you can roll the dice with the quality of a refurb phone that the warranty group will send you.
NotATreoFan said:
The digitizer could have just failed. If you are within 30 days, go back to and AT&T store and exchange it for a new phone. If your after 30 days, you can roll the dice with the quality of a refurb phone that the warranty group will send you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well im a tmobile user the phone isnt past its warrenty and i bought it in the box from craigslist
Do you know anybody with AT&T? If so, have them pop their SIM into the phone, let it register on the AT&T network, and then have them call AT&T's warranty group and get a replacement Tilt shipped out.
just do a factory reset and reboot..
tvos
tvos said:
just do a factory reset and reboot..
tvos
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried it and nothing
take it back..
i had a problem with the battery and they replaced it.
tvos
tvos said:
take it back..
i had a problem with the battery and they replaced it.
tvos
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i bought it from craigslist in the box
thatruth132 said:
i bought it from craigslist in the box
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and like magic it just starts working again 4 days later
try doing a clear sgorage or basically a hard reset...i dunno wut else u could do if ur on tmobile

Removed Battery now bricked

LOL
I've sent this device away for repair twice and both times it's come back with a OEM Rom, so I followed the original unlocking guide (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=433835)
Got up to step 3 - 1 (removing the battery SD and SIM Cards) put the battery back in and now it's not booting, no lights or anything, not even on charge.
Does this make any Sense to anyone? (I Might add I skipped Flashing HardSPL before copying the files) but I don't see how that will brick it as I haven't used the files yet.
I'll also add, that it's been randomly turning off too.
Anyway, Suggestions please?
Thinking about sending it under warranty again, 3rd Time, should I get a free phone?
Cheers Guys
Bricked eh?
jford04 said:
LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only people I would have thought would be laughing, would be the repair centre.... all the way to the bank.
I've sent this device away for repair twice and both times it's come back with a OEM Rom,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many HTC official repairers will do that and if it's under warranty, being caught running an unofficial ROM would be enough to void your warranty on the spot as it's counted as modifying the device.
(removing the battery SD and SIM Cards) put the battery back in and now it's not booting, no lights or anything, not even on charge.
Does this make any Sense to anyone? (I Might add I skipped Flashing HardSPL before copying the files) but I don't see how that will brick it as I haven't used the files yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Neither have I so why did you jump to that conclusion for your post title?
I'll also add, that it's been randomly turning off too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you considered that there may be a connection problem between the battery terminals and spring connectors? Don't try and bend the spring connectors to contact the battery more - look to clean the connections with a cotton bud and contact cleaner or IPA/video head cleaner (only getting cleaner on the contactors/terminals). Looking clean isn't enough as invisble to the eye contamination can cause problems like this (along with a faulty battery as another possible cause).
Anyway, Suggestions please?
Thinking about sending it under warranty again, 3rd Time, should I get a free phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I see these were warranty repairs. You should buy a lottery ticket then. If you do take it in under warranty with a non-standard ROM a third time and they still fix it under warranty, your odds are probably the same as winning

Help.. Bricked G1 (HTC Dream)

ok, to make it easier to explain, I made a video. Sorry for talking so low.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQBEARaw9E
I recorded that with my G1, the "broken" G1 is my brothers.
We have a serious problem, we cannot exchange it, we bought it last week and since we bought it has been having problems. We were going to take it to the store and then yesterday morning, it was like that, it was working "fine" at night. The problem is that we took it to the store, and the "dot" behind the battery is red, which "means" it got wet... but it didn't, I'm not going to lie, it didn't get wet my brother has taken care of that phone more than anything, it still has all the plastic protectors, even if the phone was acting really weird...
Ok ok, to the point. It doesn't do anything, as you saw in the video, when you press the power button the buttons flash until I depress it, and then they just stay on. The same happens when I try going into recovery, or bootloader modes, nothing... I decided to leave it like that for a few hours, nothing.
Either the device is bricked, the screen is damaged, or the whole device is screwed.... What do you guys think??
Thanks in advance.
Either the device is bricked, the screen is damaged, or the whole device is screwed.... What do you guys think??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could very well be all 3. Did you guys get this from T-Mobile?
The dot in the battery compartment of my phone is red (well, orange I supposed) and my phone has never been wet and is working fine. I'd argue the case if I were you.
Regards,
Dave
SolemnWishing said:
It could very well be all 3. Did you guys get this from T-Mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes we did get it directly from a (official) T-Mobile store (not a 3rd party retailer).. we went there and they complained about the phone "getting wet"... the phone looks perfect and never gotten wet.
foxmeister said:
The dot in the battery compartment of my phone is red (well, orange I supposed) and my phone has never been wet and is working fine. I'd argue the case if I were you.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am going to argue, I already started arguing by calling tmobile directly but they *****ed about why didnt i take the phone within the 14-day warranty if it was giving me issues and waited for this to happen....... they couldn't do anything, whatever, I'm going to try to take this further because, just like you, I can assure you my phone hasn't gotten wet.
Can you help me an send me a picture of your phone? So I could have some proof, my own phone's dot is white, and some other phones from friends/family are also white...
Thanks!
I've heard stories of that indicator turning red/pink when people have left the phone in the bathroom while showering... supposedly a lot of steam can turn it red.
uansari1 said:
I've heard stories of that indicator turning red/pink when people have left the phone in the bathroom while showering... supposedly a lot of steam can turn it red.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah they told me about this, and I actually *****ed my brother about this but he doesn't do this, I do, and my phone is fine. Anyways, he told me he just leaves the phone charging in the room while he showers...
So I had to get a new one by claiming the insurance ($130 deductible.....) there was no win for me here...... the only thing was that I was able to keep the damaged phone.
I called HTC to try and figure out how much it would be to fix it. The lady that answered the phone said the symptoms were like those of a bad motherboard, and she said it'd cost me around $475 to fix it, wait, what??.....
So, know, idk what to do with this crap. I might try to repair it.
Thanks anyways guys!
crackertc said:
So I had to get a new one by claiming the insurance ($130 deductible.....) there was no win for me here...... the only thing was that I was able to keep the damaged phone.
I called HTC to try and figure out how much it would be to fix it. The lady that answered the phone said the symptoms were like those of a bad motherboard, and she said it'd cost me around $475 to fix it, wait, what??.....
So, know, idk what to do with this crap. I might try to repair it.
Thanks anyways guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I need a cooked mainboard for circuit tracing, will result in it being turned into scrap, but should lead to/help in the process of solving the brick problem. PM me if interested.
Thanks.
I will have a true bricked board in a couple of days, the problem is i`m in Santo Domingo, DR, if you pay for the shipping i`ll be glad to Fedex it to you.
P.S. the H. SLP update brick my phone: T-Mobile screen, no response any key combinarion.
PM me
Cuore_alfa said:
I will have a true bricked board in a couple of days, the problem is i`m in Santo Domingo, DR, if you pay for the shipping i`ll be glad to Fedex it to you.
P.S. the H. SLP update brick my phone: T-Mobile screen, no response any key combinarion.
PM me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, right. Tell you what... since I'm volunteering my time to trace the circuit and my phone works perfectly, there is nothing for me to gain out of this, so I'm not the one to be asking for money.
If you can't afford it yourself, might be a community thing, but hold off for a while, there is someone else I've been communicating with privately who may be sending a bricked board, if it works out, then I won't need yours.
Ill volunteer a bricked board
crackertc said:
So I had to get a new one by claiming the insurance ($130 deductible.....) there was no win for me here...... the only thing was that I was able to keep the damaged phone.
I called HTC to try and figure out how much it would be to fix it. The lady that answered the phone said the symptoms were like those of a bad motherboard, and she said it'd cost me around $475 to fix it, wait, what??.....
So, know, idk what to do with this crap. I might try to repair it.
Thanks anyways guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Find a broken G1 on eBay or CG and try repairing it yourself. Might run you under $100 to do this and it's probably a great learning experience...not to mention you could end up with another working G1.
uansari1 said:
Find a broken G1 on eBay or CG and try repairing it yourself. Might run you under $100 to do this and it's probably a great learning experience...not to mention you could end up with another working G1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, and yeah I was already looking into one, found one locally with a broken screen this guy might be giving it to me for like 30 bucks so that'd be great. I have the tools and everything, Ive fixed phones, including iPhones, and also HW unlock on iPhones when there was that moment were SW unlock was not possible and I did like 2 HW unlocks... ok too much talk
Thanks anyways to every one, If I can't fix this I'd definately consider sending the MB to lbcoder
My ebay board just arrive! i hope to fix my phone tomorrow.
Shoulda just swap the stickers and got the warranty replacement.

[Q] [Help] Need to delete data on water damaged SGS9000

So basicly, I dropped my galaxy s 9000 in a drainwater hole next to my house and had to get it out with my shovel. I did so and obviously because it was raining, it got water damaged and also has dirt inside of it.
Since it was in there for around and hour with the battery still in while I tried to get it, Its pretty hopeless to try to fix it or send it to repair, particularly because I'm upgrading to SGS3 in a month or two.
I want to sell it on ebay for spare parts use but I want to first whipe all data off the phone, because it includes many documents like my paypal account history and emails on gmail. The problem is, if I try turning it on, the usual white text "Galaxy S GT-I9000" text shows up and in several seconds turns off. Even if I try booting into recovery mode, I just dont have enough time to hit erase all data.
So is there any way to whipe all the data off of it other than microwaving/purging it?
Thanks
Bump please help guys
I suggest you to put it in straight sunlight with battery taken out
hit thanks if I helped
rocky_99 said:
I suggest you to put it in straight sunlight with battery taken out
hit thanks if I helped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think its way to late for that
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
EvolutionXIII said:
I think its way to late for that
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I opened it and its completely corroded already and it would cost far greater than the phones currently worth to fix.
Anyway, as I asked, is there any way to erase all data off of it if it doesn't turn on for more than 5 seconds?
Identify and desolder Flash IC (or IC-s if there are multiple).
No problem if these are TSSOP-s (they usually are) - this can be done with soldering station and soldering braid.
If these are BGA-s then use heat gun and something to pick up the (very hot) IC.
Update: just thought that if you don't have time/tools to make it then there are 2 options:
1) just disassemble the phone, purge motherboard, sell what is left.
2) Find some mobile phone / computer / electronics repair shop where they can remove and destroy these Flash IC-s with you seeing it.
andres_a said:
Identify and desolder Flash IC (or IC-s if there are multiple).
No problem if these are TSSOP-s (they usually are) - this can be done with soldering station and soldering braid.
If these are BGA-s then use heat gun and something to pick up the (very hot) IC.
Update: just thought that if you don't have time/tools to make it then there are 2 options:
1) just disassemble the phone, purge motherboard, sell what is left.
2) Find some mobile phone / computer / electronics repair shop where they can remove and destroy these Flash IC-s with you seeing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before I do that though, is there actually any way I can possibly delete all data without destroying the hardware (If it isn't yet destroyed by the waterdamage ofcourse)
I know no way to destroy data in Flash memory without damaging other phone components or without disassembling if device itself is not operational.
Suggestion at the moment is:
* Wait for more feedback from forum members. Clearly there's a lot more experienced members than i here
* Meanwhile try to get phone as dry as possible - it may happen that it boots for longer time e.g. tomorrow
Indeed. Stick it in a bag of rice until you get a better idea
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
andres_a said:
I know no way to destroy data in Flash memory without damaging other phone components or without disassembling if device itself is not operational.
Suggestion at the moment is:
* Wait for more feedback from forum members. Clearly there's a lot more experienced members than i here
* Meanwhile try to get phone as dry as possible - it may happen that it boots for longer time e.g. tomorrow
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try doing this. I took the phone to my friend who used to repair mobile phones, and he kindly wiped the components with WD-40 on a toothbrush for free. He says that theres hardly any chance it'll work but it may eventually allow me to boot up for longer than 10 seconds which will be enough time to flash the memory.

[Q] Help recovering photos - please

Dear XDA Forum users-
I'm desperate! Short story is my wife cracked her Moto X screen, I tried to repair it with no luck, and she wants the pictures of her 8 year old niece that passed away a week ago! I never backed it up before trying to fix the cracked screen - and now the LCD is also broken. OK I know, I'm in divorce territory here. I need help. And I'm feeling AWFUL! The phone powers up but only vibrates randomly.
I've done a ton of research and it looks like if I had an unlocked bootloader I could install CWM and get the files back. Unfortunately her phone is a Verizon Moto X and cannot be unlocked.
I have been able to put the phone in fastboot mode and fasatboot.exe sees it. I can't get adb.exe to see the phone. I think USB debugging must not be enabled.
Am I completely out of luck? Can one of you save these very precious pictures for me? Please!
Thanks so much
dweebus said:
Dear XDA Forum users-
I'm desperate! Short story is my wife cracked her Moto X screen, I tried to repair it with no luck, and she wants the pictures of her 8 year old niece that passed away a week ago! I never backed it up before trying to fix the cracked screen - and now the LCD is also broken. OK I know, I'm in divorce territory here. I need help. And I'm feeling AWFUL! The phone powers up but only vibrates randomly.
I've done a ton of research and it looks like if I had an unlocked bootloader I could install CWM and get the files back. Unfortunately her phone is a Verizon Moto X and cannot be unlocked.
I have been able to put the phone in fastboot mode and fasatboot.exe sees it. I can't get adb.exe to see the phone. I think USB debugging must not be enabled.
Am I completely out of luck? Can one of you save these very precious pictures for me? Please!
Thanks so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The easiest way I can see is to have a cell phone repair shop look at it. I've replaced dozens of motorola lcds and digitizers and many that are also glued together. It should be a simple matter of replacing the entire front of the device. On the downside the replacement part will most likely cost upwards of $100 not counting the time it takes but this seems like your best bet at least from what I know.
Other more experienced members may be able to help recover the files in the state it's in.
Sent from my KFTHWI
Thank you
Wulfpk said:
The easiest way I can see is to have a cell phone repair shop look at it. I've replaced dozens of motorola lcds and digitizers and many that are also glued together. It should be a simple matter of replacing the entire front of the device. On the downside the replacement part will most likely cost upwards of $100 not counting the time it takes but this seems like your best bet at least from what I know.
Other more experienced members may be able to help recover the files in the state it's in.
Sent from my KFTHWI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I agree, fastest fix is to replace the screen. Unfortunately I have no idea if that will actually fix the problem. You see the device is now just randomly vibrating. I have no idea what that means. It could mean that the device is broken completely - I did after all disassemble it in my effort to replace the cracked screen.
If anyone has a bricked Moto X they would be willing to donate to my cause, I would be most thankful!
If there is any way to confirm the pictures are actually there....that would be helpful. If they could be recovered somehow using fastboot that would be amazing!
Thanks!
Any other ideas?
It seems possible that I can load a recovery image while connected to fastboot and boot into that to get to ADB then pull the root filesystem.
Is that possible? Can anyone confirm please.... still desperate.

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