Related
Let me apologize first of all as I come from 5 years of using Windows Mobile knwoing what I am doing (cooking ROMs included) and now just got my Galaxy /Android a couple weeks ago and am blank at all of it.
After messing up with some system files and (useless) stock applications (like I removed stk.apk and other stuff) I decided to do a full hardware reset as the phone started getting random crashes.
But after the full reset things only got dramatically worse. I quickly realized all the missing system apps are still missing (I thought they'd be "restored") and basically nothing works, just crashes one after the next, cant use anything.
So, a hardware system reset on the galaxy, doesnt really reset anything except user installed apps and settings... amazing
Can someone please tell me (the idiot here, I know) how to do a real full restore where all system files, all missing files and positively everything gets back in the Tab as it was originally?
What a flippin' nightmare... Thanks in advance very much!
deletion of Stk.apk causes FC's in phone and acore.
if you don't have a backup of this apk, download a rom (like Modaco or Overcome),
open with winzip and extract the Stk.zpk from system/app and push it to /system/app on your Tab using adb (remember set the permissions to 644 after push).
A hardreset NO restores deletions on /system
Note: Other files that are not deleteable in /system/app are: Browser.apk, Email.apk, TouchWiz30Launcher.apk and TwWallpaperChooser.apk
Note (2): For your convenience, i attach the Stk.apk file from Overcome-1.1.3. Try it
Note (3): In order to restore ALL system data and apps, you need to restore a full rom.
bartito said:
deletion of Stk.apk causes FC's in phone and acore.
if you don't have a backup of this apk, download a rom (like Modaco or Overcome),
open with winzip and extract the Stk.zpk from system/app and push it to /system/app on your Tab using adb (remember set the permissions to 644 after push).
A hardreset NO restores deletions on /system
Note: Other files that are not deleteable in /system/app are: Browser.apk, Email.apk, TouchWiz30Launcher.apk and TwWallpaperChooser.apk
Note (2): For your convenience, i attach the Stk.apk file from Overcome-1.1.3. Try it
Note (3): In order to restore ALL system data and apps, you need to restore a full rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, first of all a big thanks for both file and info. Aside from the Stk.apk, the biggest thing that made me run into problems was trying to update my Contacts.apk:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=907399
things didnt work out for me and even after restoring the original files (Contacts.apk and Contacts.odex) nothing really worked again, reason for wich I tried a system reset.
Now, do I need to re-root the Tab or its still rooted, and can I perform the operations easily with Root Explorer like I did before? You mentioned to use adb and set permissions to 644 after push but, sorry again for the ignorance, I have no clue what adb is nor what/how to set permissions. Pathetic to be ignorant huh?
My last 2 questions are, where could I find the original Contacts.apk and Contacts.odex and if needed a full ROM to do a total restore?... hopefully I wont need to get to that point?...
Thanks a million again.
hi,
try to download overcome-1.1.3, and extract all the deleted apk's from system/app directory. push into the /system/app in your tab.
the apk's of overcome are deodexed (you don't need the .odex files). after that, wipe your data/cache and reboot.
if this don't works, try with roto rom
bartito said:
hi,
try to download overcome-1.1.3, and extract all the deleted apk's from system/app directory. push into the /system/app in your tab.
the apk's of overcome are deodexed (you don't need the .odex files). after that, wipe your data/cache and reboot.
if this don't works, try with roto rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm thanks again but I think Im beyond all this. I dont have a file manager on my system, just realized I deleted the useless stock one and had repalced it with Root Explorer and ES File Explorer. I have them on my External SD Card to install them again but withou a file manager or an app installer cant get to them. And I tried download an app installer from the Market and get Framework errors non-stop and downloads do not initialize... I think Im beyond a quick fix... how do I get my hands on a stock full ROM to restore everything... and how? What a nightmare... gotta tell you, I love Windows Mobile... I love it... never ran into anything like this in the past 5 years of using it... never...
Thanks again!
use "adb" in order to access to your tab from your desktop pc.
bartito said:
use "adb" in order to access to your tab from your desktop pc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant. Dont even know if I need Kies installed or not (I did have it installed) but adb just asks me to connect the phone and thats it... its connected aready... this is desperating...
OK I did manage to connect with adb but, how to I install applications? I can navigate to my SD card where I have ES File Explorer and Root Explorer but dont seem to be able to install them... Also if i try to copy Stk.apk I get immediately an failute message... this is crazy...
OK so I managed to install ES File Explorer and Root Explorer with adb... crazy process. It seems my phone is still rooted after the reset. From the phone I copied Stk.apk back to /system/apps where it was before deleted.
But needless to say nothing got fixed... not sure if Stk.apk is now "actually" installed or just there in the folder. But still nothing works and crashes every 10 seconds... logs provider, dialer, phone, framework, contacts... its all a firework of crashes...
Given that you've hard reset your device already, you are pretty much wasting your time trying to "fix" what you broke by messing with /system, and you should really just flash another ROM.
My suggestion would be to follow the advice on this thread.
Regards,
Dave
Yeap, that what i did and it was succesfull. My only issue is that Id like to convert my Tab's file system to ext4 to improve speed and performance and then update to the 1.4Ghz OC Kernel. I have no idea how to do those 2 things... actually Im not sure I understand the difference between a ROM and a Kernel... I assume a Kernel is part of the engine of the ROM itself but I have no idea how to perform the update. I read countless threads and its all scattered info without finding one straight to the point guide on how to do it...
Thanks again
VeEuzUKY said:
Yeap, that what i did and it was succesfull. My only issue is that Id like to convert my Tab's file system to ext4 to improve speed and performance and then update to the 1.4Ghz OC Kernel. I have no idea how to do those 2 things... actually Im not sure I understand the difference between a ROM and a Kernel... I assume a Kernel is part of the engine of the ROM itself but I have no idea how to perform the update. I read countless threads and its all scattered info without finding one straight to the point guide on how to do it...
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Part of your problem is that you are trying to run before you can walk! Your experience with WinMo is of pretty much no use to you in the Linux/Android world, and until you get a better handle of how everything hands together you are always going to feel a little lost.
Personally, since your device is now up and running again, I'd suggest that you hold off doing anything else for while, until you get a chance to catch up with some of the basics. Once you are a little more familiar, you can then start with something simple like flashing the MoDaCo kernel (instructions here) to support EXT4, and to give you access to ClockworkMod recovery.
IMO, whilst EXT4 and O/C kernels will give you a performance boost, they are not as noticeable as jumping from a shipping ROM to one of the JMx development builds that Samsung has put out. If you are running JMI, you should already be feeling that the device has got much snappier.
Regards,
Dave
foxmeister said:
Part of your problem is that you are trying to run before you can walk! Your experience with WinMo is of pretty much no use to you in the Linux/Android world, and until you get a better handle of how everything hands together you are always going to feel a little lost.
Personally, since your device is now up and running again, I'd suggest that you hold off doing anything else for while, until you get a chance to catch up with some of the basics. Once you are a little more familiar, you can then start with something simple like flashing the MoDaCo kernel (instructions here) to support EXT4, and to give you access to ClockworkMod recovery.
IMO, whilst EXT4 and O/C kernels will give you a performance boost, they are not as noticeable as jumping from a shipping ROM to one of the JMx development builds that Samsung has put out. If you are running JMI, you should already be feeling that the device has got much snappier.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes Dave you are right, right and right again!!! Thank you for the wisdom and advice!!!
The main thing I have understood with today's messy experience was that the actual ROM files are never deleted or damaged as long as you dont access them via a rooted tool and start deleting them. Now I understand that Titanium Backup, Sprint Backup (my favorite), My Backup Pro and others, only back-up and restore what the user installs on top of the ROM itself. So a full "reset" wipes all that data but leaves the ROM files as they always were. If they got damaged in the process, they'll still be damaged till a a full ROM restores all system data, now I get it.
What I still dont get is the issue of bakcing up and restoring. In Windows Mobile, a toll like SPB Backup has a simple option called FULL BACKUP and that backs-up everything on top of the ROM and then restores everything after a full reset on top of the ROM again like it was before. The problem I have with apps like Titanium Backup, Sprint Backup, My Backup Pro, etc... is that there is not a "BACKUP ALL" option... one has to backup "data", "settings", "apps" and I always feel stuff will be left behind and then not restored.
Till I find an app or way to do a simple one-click "backup everything" and then "restore evertything" I always feel vulnerable to changes I make to the Tab that may get it unstable or corrupt and then not being able to be restored properly without a full ROM Flash and then re-installing all from scratch.
With WinMo, I could do all sorts of crazy experiments and tweaking and after that, a registry restore or back-up restore would bring me back my phone to exactly like it was with all my stuff and configuration in a matter of seconds or minutes. Thats what I need to find out with this Tab/Android and then Im ready to be able to explore messing up with this knowing I can always easily go back within minutes to the state I had before with all my apps and settings.
This is what I need to learn next how to do! Trampoline without a safety net is not a good idea. Ive alwways loved WinMo for the ease of backing up and restoring whatever I was doing on my handsets withjout ever worrying to put myself at risk to loose it all. I need to learn this on Android and its definitely more intricate!
just put sdcard into your samsung tab and flash modaco kernel amd it will automatically covert to ext4, after that you can flash the 1.4ghz kernel you wanted.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
instechgainza said:
just put sdcard into your samsung tab and flash modaco kernel amd it will automatically covert to ext4, after that you can flash the 1.4ghz kernel you wanted.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I cant follow you. I put an SD card in and flash modaco kernel? What files do I put on the sd card for this effect?...
VeEuzUKY said:
Sorry, I cant follow you. I put an SD card in and flash modaco kernel? What files do I put on the sd card for this effect?...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no...you need a kernel to flash via odin, you need sdcard mounted so that it will backup all files automatically while converting to ext4..head over to modaco kernel section amd follow the instruction.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
instechgainza said:
no...you need a kernel to flash via odin, you need sdcard mounted so that it will backup all files automatically while converting to ext4..head over to modaco kernel section amd follow the instruction.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the modaco kernel section you refer to? I can search for hours and find zilch... these blogs are endless...
VeEuzUKY said:
What I still dont get is the issue of bakcing up and restoring. In Windows Mobile, a toll like SPB Backup has a simple option called FULL BACKUP and that backs-up everything on top of the ROM and then restores everything after a full reset on top of the ROM again like it was before. The problem I have with apps like Titanium Backup, Sprint Backup, My Backup Pro, etc... is that there is not a "BACKUP ALL" option... one has to backup "data", "settings", "apps" and I always feel stuff will be left behind and then not restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you want is a Nandroid backup, which you can only make from a recovery image like Clockworkmod recovery.
Essentially, this does exactly what you want, but you need to flash a new kernel (e.g. the MoDaCo kernel) which supports Clockwordmod.
Regards,
Dave
bartito said:
deletion of Stk.apk causes FC's in phone and acore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i beg to differ about stk.apk fc's your phone. that's the first thing i delete when removing system apps with no fc's
refer to this link about having a bare bones system. stk.apk is for management of multiple sim cards
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Barebones
b0ricuaguerrero said:
i beg to differ about stk.apk fc's your phone. that's the first thing i delete when removing system apps with no fc's
refer to this link about having a bare bones system. stk.apk is for management of multiple sim cards
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Barebones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I delete stk.apk (for me useless useless useless) the first thing that happens immediately is that when I hang-up on a call made or received, the Tab vibrates then freezes for about 5 seconds then tells me the phone application has crashed. I tried this with 2 ROMs now as a test and its guaranteed. More even, if you use a program like SYSTEM APP REMOVER you can emulate the removal of an app by disabling it... it only takes me to disable STK and a reboot for the phone not to work. cant get rid of it, that simple
I had a patched version of libflashplayer.so that worked fairly well with Hulu on VEGAn 5.1.1 but when I upgraded what I think was the same .so no longer worked.
So here's what you want to do:
1) Install Flash 10.2 off the market or however else you do it.
2) Get this: http://www.2shared.com/file/hW5sepYW/libflashplayer.html
3) Use your favorite method (adb, root explorer, etc.) to make a backup copy of /data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so (I named mine libflashplayer.so.bak)
4) Put the file you downloaded in step 2 over the original (that's /data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so)
5) You need to make sure the browser restarts. If you are adept, go to Settings, Applications and force close the browser. If that worries you, reboot the tablet (nuclear option).
6) Make sure the browser is set to report itself as a desktop (Depends on your browser).
Notes: If you are running Ad Free, Hulu will complain and make you wait 30-60 seconds while it complains.
If it looks like it is working but the screen is black or frozen, touch the video. The click sensitivity is ridiculously high so when you try to adjust anything or press play or full screen it will often see the press twice and just go back to pause.
Works fine with pershoot's latest kernel and VEGAn Ginger even full screen. I'm using Opera Mobile. Haven't tried others, but if they load flash should be ok.
Good luck!
Update: The "Long boot problem" winds up erasing this fix on each reboot! Until that gets figured out here's a work around:
Get Script Manager from the market. Create a script that runs as root at boot time.
Script manager already puts in the first line you need so the whole script looks like this:
#!/system/bin/sh
cp /mnt/sdcard2/libflashplayer-patched.so /data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so
Use your favorite method to put the patched so file on /mnt/sdcard2 (or where ever you want to put it). If the boot thing gets fixed you should not need this anymore.
It is wise to test the script by simply running it before rebooting. You should not get any errors. If you do, fix them before you reboot.
Awesome, thanks! I tried everything and the closest I could get was picture but no sound. This worked perfect, using stock browser. Thanks again!
For some reason, it used to work to just change AND to WIN but now you have to jimmy the version number as well, apparently.
Okay following instructions exactly....downloaded new file and using rootexplorer to rename old file (bak) and replacing with downloaded file....
When I reboot my tablet the library file is resetting back to default....the original file is put back in place and the new downloaded file and backup file (bak) are nowhere to be found.....
I'm on VeganGinger using pershoots new oc kernel.....
Any ideas?
Hmm... same thing here! I just rarely reboot because it takes so long.
So this is probably related to the boot time issue. I figured out that the boot time is long because it unpacks the native libs for everything at boot time which I don't think it should be doing. So that explains that.
Could make a new APK but it would have to be signed. What I will probably do is keep my patched copy somewhere else and do a Script Manager script at boot time to do a copy:
cp /mnt/sdcard2/libflashplayer-patched.so /data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so
(all on one line)
A hack, for sure though.
That does the trick, it looks like. You can get Script Manager on the market. Gscript would work but it can't auto run on boot as far as I know. This makes me more certain that VEGAn 5.1.1 was NOT unpacking the APKs on boot
Script manager already puts in the first line you need so the whole script looks like this:
#!/system/bin/sh
cp /mnt/sdcard2/libflashplayer-patched.so /data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so
Use your favorite method to put the patched so file on /mnt/sdcard2 (or where ever you want to put it). If the boot thing gets fixed you should not need this anymore.
The other thing I use ScriptManager for is to bind mount sdcard2 in the /mnt/sdcard/sdcard2 directory so programs that only look in /sdcard can find things in my sdcard2 folders.
Fantastic ...thanks wd!
I'll give it a try...thanks for figuring out a work around so quickly ...
QUESTION .....so I create a the new script with Script Manager and place it where? Sorry ...have done the rooting, ROMs, kernels, etc. but scripts are new territory for me...thnx.
UPDATE.....Okay....created script to match your example...placed libflashplayer-patched.so on sdcard2...not sure where created script should be placed....checked "run at boot"...placed new script file on sdcard2, but Hulu did not work after rebooting so I'm guessing script needs to be in another location to run.....
script manager puts them in its folder. what happens if you run it from script manager? I am sure it needs root checked.
first time using Script Manager so I selected "New Script" and then gave it a file name "Hulu"...then copied the script language into that file and then Run...
came back with errors:
cp: can't stat '/data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so/mnt':not a directory
cp: can't stat '/data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so/libflashplayer-patched.so': Not a directory
Those paths are not right. Missing space I think.
Here is what I have:
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
cp /mnt/sdcard2/libflashplayer-patched.so /data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so
yep...too many spaces..fixed that..
now when I do a quick run in Script Manager I get the following error:
cp: can't create 'data/data/com.adobe.flashplayer/lib/libflashplayer.so': File exists
do you have run as root checked?
wd5gnr said:
do you have run as root checked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo....I had Run on Boot, but not Run as Root....
Unfortunately after running and going to Hulu...on the main page I am getting a messages saying: "Hulu requires Flash Player 10.0.32 or higher. Please download and install the latest version of Flash Player before continuing."
I have the latest Flash 10.2 available for Android....user agent is set to desktop on browser....strange...
10.2.59.1 is what I get at www.playerversion.com. Is it possible you have the wrong one in the data directory?
is that the libflashplayer-patched.so file? I'm using the one from the download link in your original post..
if that's not it let me know....thanks for your help..sorry you're having to walk me through this....
WHEN I GO TO PLAYERVERSION.COM ON MY TABLET IT SAYS I DON'T HAVE FLASH PLAYER INSTALLED. Could the replacement libflashplayer.so file be incorrect?
Its working for me. You do have Flash 10.2 installed from market first right? I'm sure you do or it wouldn't be getting overwritten.
Here's what I'd suggest.
Remove and reinstall 10.2 plain. Turn off the boot script. Reboot.
Open some flash site like the player test site with your browser of choice (I use Opera Mobile). Observe that it tells you that you are on 10.2. something.
Now turn the boot script back on. If you force close the browser, just run the script. If you prefer, just reboot. Now go back to the same site and observe that you have Flash running and it is now the patched version #. If not, Hulu isn't going to work.
Once that's working, try Hulu again.
No worries. Would be good to know that it works somewhere else ;-)
Works great!
Thanks. Works great on the stock browser. Still get the "your operating system not supported usung Opera Mobile" tho. Just downloaded latest version of opera and it no longer let's you choose type of system, so I imagine that is the problem.
Is that Opera Mobile or Opera Mini?
Okay...Hulu now up and running...
When I looked at the script and realized what it was actually doing I realized that I shouldn't have been actually naming the patched file as "-patched" as that was why after the script ran Flash no longer showed up...
I renamed to match the libflashplayer.so file it was replacing...also moved file and script reference to "sdcard" rather than "sdcard2" to see if that made a difference...now working fine on Hulu....
Thanks for the fix and walking a noob thru using scripts!
wd5gnr said:
Is that Opera Mobile or Opera Mini?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's Opera Mini that only gives you the option of turning on or off "mobile" version of browser...tried it out earlier....
EDIT: Fixed! Procedure I used was to download Danifunker's system dump, move it to /sdcard/ via adb push, then run the following:
Code:
adb shell
su dd if=/sdcard/mmcblk1p21.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk1p21
This completely refreshed my /system folder. Original post below:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Hello XDA forumgoers, longtime reader first time poster here. I'm currently posting because I made a few mistakes. Several mistakes, actually.
1. In my quest to de-bloat my XT860, I accidentally removed one file too many, which caused my phone to mysteriously not have a cell signal. (com.motorola.service.main kept crashing.) So I hit the forum and grabbed a system dump from this thread (thanks Willis111):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=17501981
I had bought the phone with some version of Cyanogenmod Recovery installed by the previous owner, so I was able to use that and ADB to stick the .apks and .odex files in the /system/app folder, chmod 644 them, and even factory reset for good measure.
2. As I soon found out, I had somehow made things worse. The phone, when boot into, shows the "press android to begin" page, but com.motorola.service.main and some other apps keep FCing on me, and I can't progress past that screen. In my haste, I didn't backup any of my system folders at all, though, I still backed up my apps with Titanium.
Tl;dr:
presumably none of the /system/app apks boot, most notably com.motorola.service.main. How do I fix this? Can I?
Try to flash
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1288823
You also need to chown 0:0 both the apk and the odex
Have you tried using my original system dump? It was taken with dd, so things like symlinks and the other sort should be functional. The only caveat is that a number of apps were frozen at the time, so you may need to unfreeze them with titaniumbackup.
http://www.multiupload.com/SORQERFAYT
DoubleYouPee: Is this that chinese rom I've heard of? I heard that if I flash this, I can't root my phone. So I think I'll save this one as a last resort.
eww245: chown'd, no result.
daniflunker: how do I open this?
jonsicoli said:
DoubleYouPee: Is this that chinese rom I've heard of? I heard that if I flash this, I can't root my phone. So I think I'll save this one as a last resort.
eww245: chown'd, no result.
daniflunker: how do I open this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about rootkeeper?
DoubleYouPee said:
What about rootkeeper?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't get past the "click android" screen, so I probably can't install or run it. Any way to do it via adb or Cyanogenmod Recovery?
I really appreciate the help.
jonsicoli, if you want to restore your *entire* /system folder (not just apps) you would run a similar command-set as this.
1. Copy the file to the internal memory
adb push c:\path.to.folder\mmcblk1p21.img /sdcard
the file will be located in the root of the sdcard (or you could drag and drop the file in USB storage mode)
2. Do a full restore on system memory *I have not checked to ensure this is working... but a command similar to this should work
adb shell
su dd if=/sdcard/mmcblk1p21.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk1p21
- wait -
(it would have to write about 500mb and replace all of the contents of /system )
reboot
_______________________________________________________
Okay, if you just want to look at the files, you could use a linux machine to mount the filesystem (it is a standard ext3 FS) or you could do what I have done on my windows system:
Install EXT2FsD from http://sourceforge.net/projects/ext2fsd/files/latest/download?source=files
Then install OSFMount from http://www.osforensics.com/tools.html
Point the OSFMount program to the img file that you downloaded and assign it a drive then voilla!
I am pretty sure this is a bit of overkill, but this should completely restore your system close to factory (minus the APKs that were upgraded/disabled, plus the fact root was done)
Thanks Danifunker! I reset my entire /system folder, and restoring my user app backup. I'm just relieved to have my phone back. Now to mark this thread as solved.
Awesome!!!!!! Glad to hear my system dump works! Thanks for testing
My command lines were written correctly also I guess?
Sent from my XT860 using XDA App
searched for like 8 hours until i found this thread. Just what i needed, i had system image for 2.3.6 from your other post but no command.
I have a question that has probably been answered somewhere else, but I haven't seen it. I installed AOKP on my touchpad, but it had some freezing problems, so I installed jcsullins's version. In my CWM, I still see the menu choice of AOKP at start up, so I was wondering if there was a way to remove AOKP without completely wiping out Android on the TP or will I have to do a complete wipe and start from scratch. I remember using ACME installer when I first put Android on, but I am not sure how to properly use ACME uninstaller. If someone could point to a step by step or video, that would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
Yes
Download an app called Rom Toolbox lite from Play store .Within that app open its root browser (@this stage it will probably prompt you to DL some script or add on ,do so ) then navigate to the boot folder in there you will see a file called AOKP.uImage just delete it.
You can also use this to edit your moboot.default to your current Rom if necessary .
Hope this helps .
thank you. As usual, you guys always come through.
do a quick search in TP forum, there is a zip file you can run via recovery and it will remove those for you. HTH.
Rich K
I decided to start this thread as both assistance for some as well as a collaberation on workarounds when you a person flashes a 4.2.2 rom coming from a 4.1.2.
Just like some (maybe most) I flashed CM 10.1 and played around a bit with it and decided it was just not ready to be run as a daily. Being the flashalohic that I am, I made sure I backed up before flashing CM 10.1 so when I went into recovery and went to restore imagine my surprise when it was blank, yep nothing was there. Why did this happen? Well doing some research and reading/searching I found out that the update from Android 4.1.2 to 4.2.2 changes the file structure of the 'virtual' sdcard on our devices. Actually it changes it for every device. What has changed is that the ability to add user accounts, similar to any regular computer, has been implemented. However, if the proper steps are not taken before you flash a new 4.2.2 Rom, you will end up with a huge mess and run out of room on your device in a hurry.
The actual location when viewed with a root file manager has been here on 4.1.2:
/data/media
And though you will see the same files in /sdcard and /storage/sdcard0, those are just symlinks to the same info, just like a shortcut (on a windows box) or alias (on a mac box). Once you flash a 4.2.2 ROM, the actual location gets changed (and all the files moved) to here:
/data/media/0
And the symlinks get changed to /sdcard/0 and /storage/sdcard0/0. On the surface, no big deal, right? Wrong. The problems arise if the version of your custom recovery is not compatible with a 4.2.2 ROM. If it is not and you keep flashing 4.2.2 ROMs you might soon end up in trouble. If, while using the 'older' custom recovery, you continue flashing, your sdcard ends up somewhere around here:
/data/media/0/0/0/0/0/0 (etc.) with all your files copied to every '0' directory and your symlinks end up the same way, and your device quickly runs out of space (the dreaded "your device is low on storage" message).
This may also make it very difficult to restore your nandroid of a 4.1.2 ROM as well. If you are already in that situation, not to worry, the solution for that is later in this post.
So far I have only been able to to copy all the files found in the last /data/media/0/0/0/0 (?) folder to my computer. Then using a file manager that will show hidden files and folders, copy/move the files in the last '0' directory to:
/data/media/0
And then use file explorer to delete all the other '0' directories until I have just this one:
/data/media/0
leaving nothing else in the symlinks but /sdcard/0 and /storage/sdcard0/0. This techniques is if you end up with a huge file structure.
****BACK UP YOUR SD CARD FIRST!!!!! before deleting any 0 folders!!!****
NOTE: A reboot of your device is essential at this point.
If after flashing a 4.2.2 ROM you decide you don't like it and want to restore your nandroid to your saved 4.1.2 ROM, how does that work out?
1.) Get yourself a (good) root file browser.
2.) Brows to /data/media/0
note: this is where android (and almost everything else that uses a Linux kernel) mounts anything that is considered "external" storage.
3.) Do all of your file fixing from here. It will make changes universally.
4.) select all within /data/media/0 and then paste everything back into /data/media selecting merge and/or overwrite. Once done, just delete the /data/media/0 folder, reboot your phone and Profit.
This is a pain and I agree but at this point is the only way I know how to get around this. If anyone knows other ways please share.
* While writting this I came across this info from user elfaure. I havent tried this yet as I am at work and get crappy signal but please post results if you try and if it works, please thank him! *
elfaure: Ok folks for next guy who decides to upgrade to 4.2 but does NOT want the multi-user environment, give this a try.
1. Download the attached file
2. Remove the .txt extension
3. Copy it to your /data directory
4. Open Android Terminal Emulator (Free Market app if you don't already have it)
5. At the prompt type "cd /data"
6. Type "chmod 644 .layout_version" on the file in /data (/data/.layout_version)
Code:
cd /data
chmod 644 .layout_versionNow when you upgrade to 4.2 you should stay single user and have no /data/media/0 directory when you are done. If anyone tries this please let me know if it works and thank me if it does.
ps-its just a special file in a special location, the presence of which tells Android NOT to upgrade your system to a multi-user environment. If you later decide you want multi-users, delete the file and reflash (from recovery) the stock or custom firmware or ROM or recovery. If your custom ROM or recovery wipes the entire /data partition less /data/media including this file, obviously then this will not help, but with latest versions of ROMs and recoveries that should not happen any more.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40911246#post40911246
It also looks as if he may be working on a script to help as well and I will keep track and update as needed.
So far this is what I have come up with and I hope it helps some and I hope others that are smarter than I can correct me if I am wrong on any of the above or other add information on other ways to correct this.
I think this is part of my issue but I don't have any 0 folder under data?
I too flashed the 4.2.2 ROM, and noticed that every everything on my sd card had somehow moved to my internal memory? When I went to reflash the ROM it failed. It I also tried to reflash the ROM I was originally running and it too failed. Luckily I was able to do a nandroid restore so the phone is "usable" but TWRP 2.5 still does not see my my external sd and that seems to be that make reason I can not do anything within in the recovery.
Any suggestions?
The op is telling you exactly how to fix it.
lizardking7112 said:
I think this is part of my issue but I don't have any 0 folder under data?
I too flashed the 4.2.2 ROM, and noticed that every everything on my sd card had somehow moved to my internal memory? When I went to reflash the ROM it failed. It I also tried to reflash the ROM I was originally running and it too failed. Luckily I was able to do a nandroid restore so the phone is "usable" but TWRP 2.5 still does not see my my external sd and that seems to be that make reason I can not do anything within in the recovery.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let my clarify:
I have used two different file managers and even used to terminal emulator using ls -la to make sure i have no hidden files
sdcard0/data/ there is no media directory
Maybe this isn't my problem, since I don't see any file/dir with a 0, but all this mess started when I loaded up a 4.2.2 ROM?
Everyone should check this out to aid you in your flashing addiction.
Happy flashing!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42237249
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2
I flashing an aosp Rom and nothing in my sd card changed. Maybe I'm lucky?
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Good information
so does this work? will i be able to nad back to sense and all my files are in the right place?
I couldn't get it to work, the attachment. However the new recovery I linked to looks to have promise but I haven't tested it yet cause I'm remote right now and need my phone at the moment. Will give it a go this weekend.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2
Seems @imneveral0ne has found a way to assist folks that like to go between 4.2.2 and 4.1.2
Check out his thread here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42512892
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2
Weighing in, worked like a charm for the most part. TWRP recreated another TWRP folder inside its original TWRP folder (it has to be left at /data/media/0/TWRP for you to be able to reinstall a nandroid backup) [also forgoing obvious yo dawg joke here], but besides that my phone is back to being right as rain.
Nice write up on this issue. Thanks
sent via my tranquil⊙NE
I'm sure it wouldn't work for doing a nandroid restore, but on my Galaxy Nexus I would just make certain I had the latest version of TWRP, boot into recovery, format the SD card, and then push the rom files to /data/media/ and flash. That is my only complaint about this change, really...truly "clean" installations are inherently more risky or difficult, dependent on your knowledge level.
It won't let me delete folder 0 no matter what. Inside that folder is a ViperRom folder that won't delete as well no matter what I do!
Thanks for this info. I think I'm going to take the plunge this weekend so this will be very helpful info.
Sent from my HTC ONE using xda app-developers app
I think it moved my ROM data into the 0 folder, how do I get it out? Everything else from the 0 folder is deleted except for ViperROM's folder, and whenever I try to move or delete it, it just fails the operation. I already have a copy out of the 0 folder, but I still want it out, because otherwise I can't flash things, since it just shows the the almost* empty sdcard/0 folder. Help? Should I just put my mods in the 0 folder and deal with it?
Bseagull said:
I think it moved my ROM data into the 0 folder, how do I get it out? Everything else from the 0 folder is deleted except for ViperROM's folder, and whenever I try to move or delete it, it just fails the operation. I already have a copy out of the 0 folder, but I still want it out, because otherwise I can't flash things, since it just shows the the almost* empty sdcard/0 folder. Help? Should I just put my mods in the 0 folder and deal with it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. There is a script out there you can flash that will help. Check out post # 10.
Sent from my One using Tapatalk 4
So can we delete the legacy file now? I haven't done anything with my internal storage since coming from 4.1.2 for the first time. It looks like twrp 2.6.3 copied all my files correctly to the 0 file but all the files are still also in "legacy" folder. Is it duplicate that I can delete from legacy or are they just symlinked? I am never going back now that we have official 4.3 release.
ivwonka said:
So can we delete the legacy file now? I haven't done anything with my internal storage since coming from 4.1.2 for the first time. It looks like twrp 2.6.3 copied all my files correctly to the 0 file but all the files are still also in "legacy" folder. Is it duplicate that I can delete from legacy or are they just symlinked? I am never going back now that we have official 4.3 release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not certain to be honest. It looks like the file structure didn’t change with the release of 4.3 so it’s possible that they are symlinked. If all your files are moved to the /0/ folder and you have nothing in the legacy folder it would make sense that you would be able to but I have yet to test this.
I suppose this weekend I could back up the phone and file tree and give it a shot
Thanks for the response. I haven't tested out yet either but will post back if I do.