Database Develop

STUCK on Android is Updating" Starting Apps Swirl"

Okay, so now we have 3 Atrix HD's in the house and except for the unremoveable battery thing, and the short "battery life" when actively using it, I'd say we pretty much love them. However, I decided to remove some apps, etc. and managed to get my messages, camera and gallery to the "not working" and basically non-existent point. Now on startup I'm getting the Android is Updating message with the never-ending swirl of Starting Apps... I'm positive I've waited long enough as I set it down and went back to bed just to wake up and still see it.
Info - phone IS rooted
running the "jellybean" update
Unfortuanately a couple weeks ago, I UNCHECKED the sync photots for both facebook and gmail, so there are pictures I really don't want to lose.....
I'm definitely not a "pro" like lots of them up here, but am capable of following directions. I'm pretty sure I have to "unroot" my phone via USB/SD card through my laptop....Any help would be greatly appreciated... and the more specific the directions the better!! :cyclops: LOL... Thanks so much.
/COLOR]

Sounds like you deleted a critical OS file. You need to flash back to stock again. Is your boot loader locked or unlocked?

Don't remeber...
ai6908 said:
Sounds like you deleted a critical OS file. You need to flash back to stock again. Is your boot loader locked or unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I Don't rememer if I unlocked the bootloader. Is there a way to check? Thanks.

Follow what's in the website to reload your stock image...
http://www.andromods.com/tips-trick...-qinara-stock-original-firmware-fastboot.html

ai6908 said:
Follow what's in the website to reload your stock image...
http://www.andromods.com/tips-trick...-qinara-stock-original-firmware-fastboot.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been trying and I've fallowed everything to the T but everytime it says it falls.

I'm not sure...I have used it before and was able to restore...are you sure it's not a hardware issue?
Sent from my HTC_Flyer_P512_NA using xda app-developers app

Okay, here's where we're at.... it is no longer frozen on that screen and goes thru the setup w/ my gmail, etc.... but then I have a black screen (except for the top row icons...). I can pull down the settings menu and see everything there, but I have no "homescreen"....It's black. It seems like we're in the right direction and I know it's not dead. Anything??
Also wanted to thank you for the help. This place is ALWAYS amazing....

Hey, my son and I are wondering since it's already running 4.1.1 and we can't downgrade, what about flashing a custom rom? Will that flash a totally complete, full home page and everything?? Just a thought.

While trying to search for answers I came across a "xoom forums??" post with a tablet that was doing exactly the same thing....multiple people had that problem, but doesn't seem to have been answered...... not sure if I'm suppose to post links to that or not, but at least I know I'm not alone.....

If you're rooted, than I'm assuming ADB debugging is on. You should be able to unlock your boot loader and load CWM recovery. From there you can wipe cache and dalvik cache. If that doesn't help, you can reflash a stock ROM zip from Skeevys thread. Flashing a zip won't touch your SD card

There is official 4.1.1 available...you can try flashing that...you dont need to downgrade.

Okay, my son installed safetystrap (whatever that is...lol) and when you click Operating system, it says "there is no operating system installed are you sure you want to reboot????
Is this fixable?
Note: We have two other identical Atrix HD's in the house if that helps for any reason.....

Well that's what we are trying to figure out is how to install OS...Lol..
Try install system using fastboot... Look for skeevedudes guide...its in this forum somewhere...
Sent from my MB886 using xda premium

LOL....okay, so do yoiu see why my son says I'm not "ALLOWED" to have a rooted phone if this happens again..... Guess I was just glad to SEE it written out, so that it's a little more def what's going on - but I'm sure everyone up here (except me) already knew that!!!
He's not around today, so my phone is just "sitting" saying "creating rom slot" but never gets off that screen. The good thing is that we can see it's actually charging and we weren't sure before....... Does this sound like something that will eventually be repairable??

You have a soft brick...yes it is fixable...

Okay, thought I had already posted this before but I guess I never hit the submit ....
Before safety strap was installed, we could get the phone (minus the homescreen and os) to come on....the settings, wifi etc.....No we can't seem to get to that point with the safetystrap on. It just goes completely blank and won't let safestrap connect to the computer via usb.
Apparently there is also no way to remove SS without an opperating system. This doesn't sound promising.....ugggg..... I so want my phone back.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

OK dude. Follow my instructions.
Hold down power and both volume buttons all at once until the phone screen turns black, then continue holding the volume buttons. You will get a menu. Go to AP fastboot mode using the volume down button, select it with the volume up button. Plug your phone into your computer with a data cable. Download RSD lite and the MOTOROLA drivers from the MOTOROLA website. Install both. Download the 4.1.1 sbf file for your phone, there is a thread for it here in the AHD forum. Its a zip file, extract it to your desktop. Open RSD lite, click the browse for file button, select the XML file inside the folder you just unzipped. Hit flash. If you get any errors, let me know I'll send you a different XML file with the getvar lines removed.

Okay, will get it started..... Thanks so much. My son has been working on this for hours and hours. You have no idea how much I appreciate this place and everyone who helps out!! You guys rock! Will let you know what we get.

Here is the website for what youngunn mentioned...
http://www.andromods.com/tips-trick...-qinara-stock-original-firmware-fastboot.html

[FONT="Comic [SIZE="3"]Okay, my son (BlackestPain) is too new here to post the picture links, so I copied and pasted. They're just downloads from his camera pictures. This is where we are right now after following suggestions....[/SIZE]MS"][/FONT]
Okay, here is what I've (chixwithkidz5' son) tried.... Please cut me some slack because I haven't been doing this stuff long....
Getvar file
Getvar removed
RSD Lite connected
RSD Lite failed
\
***** this is what the phone reads after everything
What am I missing ? Thanks - I can use all the decent help I can get.

Nexus 7 - Extreme lag + Exchange services error all the time

Hi,
Since the kitkat update I get exchange errors all the time, and the nexus is slow as shi...
Factory Reset didn't solve the problem.
Any Help?
Version: 4.4.2

No one with this problems?

Di0g0 said:
No one with this problems?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try reverting back to 4.3 then update to 4.4.2 by installing a custom rom.

Hum,
But this problems are normal on the oficial 4.4.2?

Di0g0 said:
Hum,
But this problems are normal on the oficial 4.4.2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope they are not
---------- Post added at 11:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------
By any chance your extreme lag also affects the audio performances? I and a friend of mine had in the same period (for 2 weeks) EXTREME lag, signal lost on mobile network. The lag was so powerful that even music was interrupted. The only way to get rid of this was rebooting the tablet.
The most awkward part is that the bug persisted over ANY KIND OF ROM/KERNEL. Even the official one from Google Developers (any android version).
Best part: It was fixed by itself. Lags started to be increasingly rare and at some point they stopped.
I tried to catch some logs...at the moment of failure, just once they pointed me to some lines in the source code...so I quit trying to figure it out what happens..

I had the same problem, I solved it installing SlimKat, but probably you can solve it with any custom rom, I tried many times to restore 4.4.2 but always the same, only installing custom roms seem to solve it...
I remember it, is like a nightmare to me, turn the tablet On and let it 5 minutes before open any app, open Google Play and see how it lags, installing apps always causing freezing... It remembers me my Windows XP years...
At the beginning i let it thinking it will solve itself, haha, after months I was about to broke it with a stone

Kilek_360 said:
I had the same problem, I solved it installing SlimKat, but probably you can solve it with any custom rom, I tried many times to restore 4.4.2 but always the same, only installing custom roms seem to solve it...
I remember it, is like a nightmare to me, turn the tablet On and let it 5 minutes before open any app, open Google Play and see how it lags, installing apps always causing freezing... It remembers me my Windows XP years...
At the beginning i let it thinking it will solve itself, haha, after months I was about to broke it with a stone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya it's my situation now...
al3x1393 said:
Nope they are not
---------- Post added at 11:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------
By any chance your extreme lag also affects the audio performances? I and a friend of mine had in the same period (for 2 weeks) EXTREME lag, signal lost on mobile network. The lag was so powerful that even music was interrupted. The only way to get rid of this was rebooting the tablet.
The most awkward part is that the bug persisted over ANY KIND OF ROM/KERNEL. Even the official one from Google Developers (any android version).
Best part: It was fixed by itself. Lags started to be increasingly rare and at some point they stopped.
I tried to catch some logs...at the moment of failure, just once they pointed me to some lines in the source code...so I quit trying to figure it out what happens..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya the tablet is extremely slow, and freezes sometimes for some seconds!
What do you mean with "rebooting the tablet"? Factory Reset on the original recovery menu?
Thanks.

Di0g0 said:
Ya it's my situation now...
Ya the tablet is extremely slow, and freezes sometimes for some seconds!
What do you mean with "rebooting the tablet"? Factory Reset on the original recovery menu?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to keep the official rom you can just try to reflash 4.4.2 wiping everything, just copy to PC the files you want to keep and after flashing copy again to tablet, i would recommend you to copy only important data, not everything, and specially not copy the folders with strange names that you dont know what they are

Kilek_360 said:
If you want to keep the official rom you can just try to reflash 4.4.2 wiping everything, just copy to PC the files you want to keep and after flashing copy again to tablet, i would recommend you to copy only important data, not everything, and specially not copy the folders with strange names that you dont know what they are
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to reflash the 4.4.2?
It's necessary root?

Di0g0 said:
How to reflash the 4.4.2?
It's necessary root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before flashing anything try to restore the tablet, copy all your stuff to PC and format it by going to settings / backup and reset / factory data reset and checking to wipe all on internal memory/sdcard
It will wipe all your data, apps and everything, so be sure that you dont forget anything to be copied to pc.
Maybe it solve the problem without flashing
About root and flashing:
You dont need it, but you can root it if you want after flashing,
I dont know how much you know about flashing and all that, so Im gonna make you an quickly tutorial
Basically all you need is:
Nexus root toolkit from here: www.wugfresh.com/nrt/
4.4.2 firmware (can be downloaded directly from the Nexus Root Toolkit)
And be sure that you have copied to PC everything you dont want to be deleted, you can just copy all to PC and after flashing copy to tablet only what you want...
On tablet turn on USB debugging, on developer options (To unlock it go to settings /about tablet /build number and click it many times until it says "you are now a developer", then go back and you will see it)
When its done follow the Nexus Root Toolkit instructions to "flash stock + unroot" (by clicking a button with that text) you should select Android 4.4.2 (KOT49H) and check the option "automatically download"(dont remember what the option says exactly)
And the tool will download it and tell you when you have to do something. Just dont disconnect the tablet until the tool ends its job
Maybe you should install some drivers if you get an error message like "device not found"
If you want to know more about insalling drivers, you get any problem or something else just tell me, but maybe im gonna make you wait because tomorrow is my birthday and I wont be checking it for few hours.

Kilek_360 said:
Before flashing anything try to restore the tablet, copy all your stuff to PC and format it by going to settings / backup and reset / factory data reset and checking to wipe all on internal memory/sdcard
It will wipe all your data, apps and everything, so be sure that you dont forget anything to be copied to pc.
Maybe it solve the problem without flashing
About root and flashing:
You dont need it, but you can root it if you want after flashing,
I dont know how much you know about flashing and all that, so Im gonna make you an quickly tutorial
Basically all you need is:
Nexus root toolkit from here: www.wugfresh.com/nrt/
4.4.2 firmware (can be downloaded directly from the Nexus Root Toolkit)
And be sure that you have copied to PC everything you dont want to be deleted, you can just copy all to PC and after flashing copy to tablet only what you want...
On tablet turn on USB debugging, on developer options (To unlock it go to settings /about tablet /build number and click it many times until it says "you are now a developer", then go back and you will see it)
When its done follow the Nexus Root Toolkit instructions to "flash stock + unroot" (by clicking a button with that text) you should select Android 4.4.2 (KOT49H) and check the option "automatically download"(dont remember what the option says exactly)
And the tool will download it and tell you when you have to do something. Just dont disconnect the tablet until the tool ends its job
Maybe you should install some drivers if you get an error message like "device not found"
If you want to know more about insalling drivers, you get any problem or something else just tell me, but maybe im gonna make you wait because tomorrow is my birthday and I wont be checking it for few hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to restore the tablet and that didn't worked (look at the first post).
I will try the 2º option, thank you !!

Di0g0 said:
Ya the tablet is extremely slow, and freezes sometimes for some seconds!
What do you mean with "rebooting the tablet"? Factory Reset on the original recovery menu?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No...just a simple restart. As I stated, I tried different resets and flashes and everything and nothing worked...
Di0g0 said:
I tried to restore the tablet and that didn't worked (look at the first post).
I will try the 2º option, thank you !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be careful about "Returning to stock" method as I think Google broke their "flash-all.bat" from the arcvive of Android 4.4. Flash every file by your hand. I used that idiotic flash-all on any android version, but on 4.4 it completely broke my motherboard by flashing wrong boot.img.

[QUOTW=Di0g0]I tried to restore the tablet and that didn't worked (look at the first post).
I will try the 2º option, thank you !![/QUOTE]
Okay, I was no sure that you also format "SD card" factory reset do not delete user data/sd card on some devices and Im not sure if in N7 you have to check the option
Try the 2° option but take a look at this comment:
al3x1393 said:
No...just a simple restart. As I stated, I tried different resets and flashes and everything and nothing worked...
Be careful about "Returning to stock" method as I think Google broke their "flash-all.bat" from the arcvive of Android 4.4. Flash every file by your hand. I used that idiotic flash-all on any android version, but on 4.4 it completely broke my motherboard by flashing wrong boot.img.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If thats true then try to flash 4.3 and install 4.4.2 by OTA, just select 4.3 instead 4.4.2 when you are about to flashing

Ok,
I flashed the nexus 7 2012 directly to the factory 4.4.2 using the nexus root toolkit, and everything is working fine without problems, at least for now.
The tablet isn't giving exchange errors, and doesn't hang everytime, but I only used it for some minutes, lets see how it works after some days/intensive usage.
Anyway, as I said, I flashed to 4.4.2 directly using the toolkit, and it worked without any problem
Thank You!

[Q] How to get my free space?

Sorry in advance for my not perfect english.
I'm using less than 7GB on my Moto X "16gb" but it says that I don't have space left.
When I'm checking with ES Explorer 3, with the options ticked to show all hiddens files, it's said that what I take is less than 7GB. The same on Windows and Linux.
But when I do the ES Explorer 3: SD analyser it's said that 11.41GB is used, but if I calcul everything single size on that screen, I see only less than 7GB.
So what is all about that?
What I really want is to know how do I get my 5GB left? I use only 7GB out of 12GB. So, in simple mathematics, 12-7=5!!!
I don't wanna remove my 7GB stuff because I'm supossed to have 5GB left.
I put the pictures too in the attachments box.
Thanks in advance.
EDIT:
I was needed to delete some user stuff but now, without adding anything, is re-say that I don't have space left
I'm tired of this sh*t. NOBODY to help? I payed for 12GB but don't have it, I'm sick of this

Check out this similar thread...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/moto-x-qa/lost-files-sdcard-15-gigs-space-t2833710
?

KJ said:
Check out this similar thread...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/moto-x-qa/lost-files-sdcard-15-gigs-space-t2833710
?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see a LOST.DIR folder and I never deleted file on the phone from the computer, only from the phone itself.
Still don't know what to do :/
It's there a efficient way to see if there's actually a LOST.DIR folder? I mean beside just plugged in on Windows or Linux?
Anyways, thanks for your post

Only other thing other than that folder, is maybe needing to just flash stock again. And see if its fine after.
But you could keep searching on missing space.... There's many many threads for other devices too. Your issue may not be device specific and Troubleshooting ideas from other devices could help.
Or sit tight and see if anyone has other ideas.
But don't downgrade android versions. You'd need to flash the version you're on now again.

KJ said:
Only other thing other than that folder, is maybe needing to just flash stock again. And see if its fine after.
But you could keep searching on missing space.... There's many many threads for other devices too. Your issue may not be device specific and Troubleshooting ideas from other devices could help.
Or sit tight and see if anyone has other ideas.
But don't downgrade android versions. You'd need to flash the version you're on now again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to flash stock again if I'm not rooted? Also I don't want to lost my files on the sdcard...
I gonna see elsewhere but it's bad needing to see everywhere for such a thing, I still not understand why is possible
EDIT:
I keep searching but still not found the same problem than me, they said the same message but the phone itself actually that there a those GB free, beside me that it said that I only have MB free.
I don't wanna reset my phone because this not supossed to happen, never...
The worse is I can't even install a 500kb app lol
EDIT 2: I unistalled a big app but still cannot the 500kb one WTF Happen?

It maybe isn't "supposed" to happen... But things just happen.
See return to stock section in the "complete Moto x guide" in general. You can flash some ways without losing data. But in your case with corrupt partition, I would wipe it all. Or it might not get fixed. Transfer important things to your pc. As far as apps and data, try helium. I hear it doesn't need root. Then transfer is backup to your pc too.

KJ said:
It maybe isn't "supposed" to happen... But things just happen.
See return to stock section in the "complete Moto x guide" in general. You can flash some ways without losing data. But in your case with corrupt partition, I would wipe it all. Or it might not get fixed. Transfer important things to your pc. As far as apps and data, try helium. I hear it doesn't need root. Then transfer is backup to your pc too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't use helium cause I can't install anything
I also cannot backup my files on the computer, it keep crashing in the process of copying....
I tired of this, why can't it be just what it's should be seriously
EDIT:
I don't see your way to flash stock in the complete guide..
A factory/reset from the settings isn't good?

This guide...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2603358
First post, "returning to stock".
No point in stressing about why... Or how it should be... It is what it is now.
If you can't communicate with the pc properly, you may have issues flashing also. Try another cable maybe?
I'm not sure what else to say. Flashing to stock is maybe the only way. Sorry!

KJ said:
This guide...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2603358
First post, "returning to stock".
No point in stressing about why... Or how it should be... It is what it is now.
If you can't communicate with the pc properly, you may have issues flashing also. Try another cable maybe?
I'm not sure what else to say. Flashing to stock is maybe the only way. Sorry!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why does it said "and Locking Bootloader" do I need Bootloader Unlocked first?

jlibion said:
Why does it said "and Locking Bootloader" do I need Bootloader Unlocked first?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Keep reading.... There are a bunch of different sections.
---------- Post added at 02:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:46 PM ----------
That's for guys that want to relock theirs. Just skip "fastboot oem lock" at the end.
Look up RSDLite as well, another way to return to stock.

[Q] How Do I Restore a Galaxy Note 8?

Coming from an iPhone I'm used to connecting the phone to iTunes via USB, downloading a fresh version of the OS and restoring the phone. Then I have the option of setting up as new or restoring a backup.
I would like to know if there's a way to do something like that with my Note 8. I realize I can reset everything from within the settings app but I would like to wipe it clean and install a fresh copy of Nougat 7.1.1.
Is this possible? Also just in case it comes up I'm not interested in rooting at this point in time.
Thanks!!

rocknblogger said:
Coming from an iPhone I'm used to connecting the phone to iTunes via USB, downloading a fresh version of the OS and restoring the phone. Then I have the option of setting up as new or restoring a backup.
I would like to know if there's a way to do something like that with my Note 8. I realize I can reset everything from within the settings app but I would like to wipe it clean and install a fresh copy of Nougat 7.1.1.
Is this possible? Also just in case it comes up I'm not interested in rooting at this point in time.
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure there is a ton of posts on here discussing Odin and what it is used for, as well if you look under guides I have posted the stock firmware and links to odin.
Go here for that stuff: https://forum.xda-developers.com/sp...stock-restore-odin-recovery-software-t3668888
Basics : Odin is like ITunes , you select the firmware to install to the device and push it to phone, it wipes phone and installs the software selected.
There are only a few limitations of ODIN, that being that if the firmware is set to Anti-Rollback you can not go back to any version older then the 1st revision of that rollback version.
Example : N950USQU1AQI5 This is the latest version for sprint currently there are 3 parts of this explained below.
The QI5 is the version identifier.
N950U is the variant the software is designed to be used with.
The number 5 spots from the end determines the bootloader revison and will be the Anti-rollback version. All versions matching that number can be flashed without bias, so any version labeled ( 1 ) can be flashed to the note.
Now hypothetically if this was the software that comes next: N950USQU2AQL9
Once you were to install this version you could NEVER flash anything lower then ( 2 ) to the device, the bootloader on the phone will refuse it and tell you the version is older and will not install.

Thank you for the detailed reply. Your right in that I've seen a lot about Odin. What I'm somewhat concerned about is that whatever I've managed to find and read about doing this is that it will void the warranty? Is this accurate or am I misunderstood something?
Also, the reason I wanted to do this is because something screwed things up after I moved apps to the SD card. And yes I moved them using the built-in settings app. So obviously I was only able to move apps that the OS allowed me to. Basically even though it showed that the apps were on the external storage they just disappeared. If I tried to reinstall Google Play would immediately crash.
So my thought was that if I did a clean install it would wipe out any crud that might be left behind by doing a hard reset built into the phone. Am I completely wrong about this or is it possible some stuff might be left behind?
Thanks again for taking the time to post your reply.

rocknblogger said:
Thank you for the detailed reply. Your right in that I've seen a lot about Odin. What I'm somewhat concerned about is that whatever I've managed to find and read about doing this is that it will void the warranty? Is this accurate or am I misunderstood something?
Also, the reason I wanted to do this is because something screwed things up after I moved apps to the SD card. And yes I moved them using the built-in settings app. So obviously I was only able to move apps that the OS allowed me to. Basically even though it showed that the apps were on the external storage they just disappeared. If I tried to reinstall Google Play would immediately crash.
So my thought was that if I did a clean install it would wipe out any crud that might be left behind by doing a hard reset built into the phone. Am I completely wrong about this or is it possible some stuff might be left behind?
Thanks again for taking the time to post your reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin does NOT effect the warranty bit, even with the new root method the Knox warranty status does not get effected.
I actually had mine rooted, some pixels in my screen were messed up ( not related to root ) used ODIN to go back to stock and sent it in to Samsung for a warranty repair and it was approved, fixed and sent back for free so no fret.
The warranty status shows up when you put your phone into Download mode ( Holding Bixby + Volume Down and power button together during a boot up ) It shows warranty bit 00x00
If it were to effect it the status would go to 00X01 and so on as you continue to modify things. The status only changes if the phone is compromised with custom boot files witch we do not have access to due to having the bootloader locked.
This is a routine process to recover the phone if it wouldn't boot,
furthermore you can essentially do the same procedure using Samsung smart switch on desktop, but i'm not fluent with using it as ODIN is a better method and more robust and less dumb ware.
as for moving apps to sd, you could also try deleting them off the sd, or possible that the sd card is messing up and not fast enough for the device to read and run those apps so if you redo and it happens again id avoid putting them on sd if you can.
hope this helps. No fret on using odin, just take your time and pay attention to the options you use. Do not confuse NAND ERASE ALL ( that is the same has a hard reset) with ERASE EFS ( this deletes the serial number and should never be done! )

Again, thank you so much for the detailed reply. Just one more thing. Can you please supply me a link to the correct stock ROM. I apologise for all the noob questions but it's been more than 7 years since I've messed with Android. Some of the links I found took me to download did where I had to pay or else the fire was too big for free.
I believe this is the exact one I need for my Sprint Note 8
N950USQU1AQI5. This is what I have on my phone now.
As for the SD card issue there were just a few apps I found. The others just seemed to disappear. In any case I bought a new 256GB U3 card by Samsung so there should be no questions now on whether it's too slow or bad. I moved a couple apps and so far so good.
Thanks again and best regards!!

rocknblogger said:
Again, thank you so much for the detailed reply. Just one more thing. Can you please supply me a link to the correct stock ROM. I apologise for all the noob questions but it's been more than 7 years since I've messed with Android. Some of the links I found took me to download did where I had to pay or else the fire was too big for free.
I believe this is the exact one I need for my Sprint Note 8
N950USQU1AQI5. This is what I have on my phone now.
As for the SD card issue there were just a few apps I found. The others just seemed to disappear. In any case I bought a new 256GB U3 card by Samsung so there should be no questions now on whether it's too slow or bad. I moved a couple apps and so far so good.
Thanks again and best regards!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 1st link I sent you at top is the link to find most current firmware for the Sprint note 8. QI5 is the latest as of today. The one you posted is the correct one. The post also has Odin available to dl as well.
But here is the direct link to QI5: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=745849072291677290
Pretty much with Odin
Take the firmware zip and unzip it.
Then put phone into dl mode as explained above holding power, volm down and bixby. Once on green screen click up to start dl mode and it's ready.
Side note:
That key combo is also soft reset. Holding vol up instead would bring you to recovery where you can do a full hard reset as well. If you accidentaly get into dl mode trying to soft reset because phone got frozen just soft reset out of it and you'll be back to booting up as normal.
Plug phone in and open Odin.
Odin should show the phone and it's com port once driver on pc have installed.
Click each box ( bl, ap, cp, csc) and select the matching files.
The csc you'll use is the one with OYN in it's name.
Under options have f.reset time.. auto reboot and nand erase all checked. Nothing else. Again I say nand erase all.. remember what I said about the efs one and never checking it....
Once each loads up.. ( ap will take forever it will act like it has gotten stuck and may show it's not responding ) this is normal just wait it out as it's a huge package being loaded...
Click start and drink a coffee..
Once done, it will auto reboot, wipe and then boot up
Re setup and test. Just be aware all data on device will be gone.
Otherwise you will be good to go!
I added to generic photos of what it looks like when phone is connected and com port is showing up. As well what options are to be selected. I put a big pointing finger to the correct erase all option as well lol

Thank you for all the detailed replies!!! You rock dude. Things are slowly coming back to me. The EVO 4G was the last Android phone I had before jumping to iPhone. I used to install different ROMs almost weekly and tried all sorts of stuff back then. Had no fear
I guess after being away for so long it just takes time and reading through all the different threads.
Thanks again!!!

Team DevDigitel said:
Plug phone in and open Odin.
Odin should show the phone and it's com port once driver on pc have installed.
Click each box ( bl, ap, cp, csc) and select the matching files.
The csc you'll use is the one with OYN in it's name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay so I was all set to do this but when I unzipped the firmware.zip and there are more files in there that I'm not sure what to do with.
First there are 2 CSC files and both have OYN in the name.
First one is : CSC_OYN_N950UOYN1AQI5_CL12173876_QB14907525_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar
Second is: HOME_CSC_OYN_N950UOYN1AQI5_CL12173876_QB14907525_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar
There's also a file called USERDATA_SPR_N950USQU1AQI5_CL12173876_QB14907525_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar
Is there anything I need to do with this particular file?
Also all the files are xxx.tar.MD5. Am I right in guessing that Odin with verify the MD5 checksum?
Thanks again!!!

rocknblogger said:
Okay so I was all set to do this but when I unzipped the firmware.zip and there are more files in there that I'm not sure what to do with.
First there are 2 CSC files and both have OYN in the name.
First one is : CSC_OYN_N950UOYN1AQI5_CL12173876_QB14907525_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar
Second is: HOME_CSC_OYN_N950UOYN1AQI5_CL12173876_QB14907525_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar
There's also a file called USERDATA_SPR_N950USQU1AQI5_CL12173876_QB14907525_REV00_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar
Is there anything I need to do with this particular file?
Also all the files are xxx.tar.MD5. Am I right in guessing that Odin with verify the MD5 checksum?
Thanks again!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use the CSY OYN, i touched this in a earlier response, and dont worry about the user data one and yes they are verified by md5 before a push occurs, this can be turned off in odin if you wanted and skip md5 verification.

Team DevDigitel said:
use the CSY OYN, i touched this in a earlier response, and dont worry about the user data one and yes they are verified by md5 before a push occurs, this can be turned off in odin if you wanted and skip md5 verification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once again...thank you!!!
If you don't mind I have a question about restoring from backup. If I backup to Samsung cloud then it will restore the apps that I currently have installed, is that correct?
If I backup to Google and then restore from Google backup it will only restore data and if I install an app that I had prior to the wipe/restore it will then restore the data for that particular app. Is that correct?
Also is it possible to choose which apps to restore if I restore from Samsung backup?
Thanks again!!

Delete all files and re-partition all?

If you ever had loaded into recovery in temporary TWRP you'll note that even after formating /data/ and doing an advance wipe (selecting everything), then enter the file manager there is still a bunch of folders and some files throughout your device.
Is there a way to wipe out everything and start completely 100% fresh?

DO NOT DO THIS --- OR --- DO but do not cry about it
I have an answer to my question and it is as I suspected. The short and more official answer is, no. The longer answer is, yes, technically. -- But you should not try it unless you are 100% sure you can live without your phone (forever).
As it turns out no one had a full 100% flash for the whole device and its complete file system structure (except for Motorola). But as it turns out without a manufacturing cable it would be useless anyway. This is because part of your phone is protected and cannot be wiped clean and flashed so blindly... ie... Unlike your desktop computer. But if you're like me you have noticed some orphan files (a few logs).
Is it worth taking the risk just to clear some orphan files? Probably not. But since you do not have a manufacturing cable and technically, your phone can recover, what you can do is the following.
Do NOT use the TWRP installed on your phone. Rather use it in memory
Code:
sudo fastboot boot twrp-3.3.1-0-payton.img
Load TWRP and format DATA
Reboot, go to advance wipe, wipe everything.
Reboot to TWRP (again)
In TWRP via the terminal type in
HTML:
rm -r -f *
You will see a lot of things that cannot be deleted. This is because you do not have permission to do so. What little is removed will likely be restored after reboot from the master rom hidden somewhere on your phone which cannot be played with unless you have a manufacturing cable (so I am told). ---- If you have such a cable --- DO NOT DO THIS. --- If you suspect you have such a cable --- Do NOT do this. -- I did this with just my normal charging cable.
After you have run the command which will take forever. Tell TWRP to reboot to bootloader. You will now have a BLACK screen. This is where I panicked. I waited a while and long pressed down the power button (presumably turning off my device). Then I pressed down the power button and the lower volume button. -- Keep holding the buttons. -- It will take longer than you like but your phone will boot up. And low and behold everything that was in the master rom (chip?) has been restored and you will now see the bootloader screen (finally). Load TWRP and install your ROM of choice.
How many times have I done this successfully? 2x
Does this mean this is dependable? Unlikely
Do I recommend this? No.
Should you depend on this? No.
Are you taking a large gable? YES
Can this brick your device? YES, more than likely.
Should you do this if you have any doubts? NO.
Will you get any help if this goes wrong? NO.
So why did I do it? As I look to possibly upgrade my phone in the future I feel a little more daring and can afford to do so. lol

you say "yes, technically", but I have yet to see someone get back to a fully operational stock. The best they can do is get to a mostly operational custom ROM. I (and a bunch of other folks here) would love to be proven wrong.

KrisM22 said:
you say "yes, technically", but I have yet to see someone get back to a fully operational stock. The best they can do is get to a mostly operational custom ROM. I (and a bunch of other folks here) would love to be proven wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After performing this I installed only the official firmware. No additional ROM or GSI. The firmware itself includes the stock software.
A word of caution. --- I did this on 3 phones now. 2 work just fine. But 1 does not. The one that does not reports my IMEI as 0. This means it boots, it loads, it will play games and apps and update via Google Play Store, but it will never make a single phone call ever again. --- Food for thought.

Thanks. That got me thinking - I wonder if you took the one with no IMEI and plugged it to Moto's Smart Assistant, would it recognize it? Would it allow you to force flash it?

KrisM22 said:
Thanks. That got me thinking - I wonder if you took the one with no IMEI and plugged it to Moto's Smart Assistant, would it recognize it? Would it allow you to force flash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The world will never know. lol --- I'm a Linux user and their app doesn't seem to like Wine. I suppose I could set up a virtual machine with Windows and hope to connect through that. But I was once informed you really cannot do that via a virtual machine. Unless I was misinformed?! In any case, flashing the phone is not a problem. I can wipe it and reinstall any ROM or GSI at the moment. Or I can repeat my process too back to stock under a full wipe. The results appear to be the same.
I already have ordered a cheap Moto G7 from Google as a replacement. My current plan will be to find a very light (small), bare-bones ROM / GSI and install it onto this Moto X4. From there I'll load it up with games and such and let the kids play with it. Figure since it cannot make or receive calls anymore (or text messages either) it will make for a fun little toy.

MotoX4 said:
The world will never know. lol --- I'm a Linux user and their app doesn't seem to like Wine. I suppose I could set up a virtual machine with Windows and hope to connect through that. But I was once informed you really cannot do that via a virtual machine. Unless I was misinformed?! In any case, flashing the phone is not a problem. I can wipe it and reinstall any ROM or GSI at the moment. Or I can repeat my process too back to stock under a full wipe. The results appear to be the same.
I already have ordered a cheap Moto G7 from Google as a replacement. My current plan will be to find a very light (small), bare-bones ROM / GSI and install it onto this Moto X4. From there I'll load it up with games and such and let the kids play with it. Figure since it cannot make or receive calls anymore (or text messages either) it will make for a fun little toy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Yeah, in the past I have been a lot on Ubuntu and stuff like this is not forgiving for wine.
It's a darn shame that we can't just send these phones to Moto with $25 and get it fixed. Oh well!

KrisM22 said:
Thanks. That got me thinking - I wonder if you took the one with no IMEI and plugged it to Moto's Smart Assistant, would it recognize it? Would it allow you to force flash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Moto smart assistant can`t recognize the phone in rescue mode..

St.Noigel said:
Moto smart assistant can`t recognize the phone in rescue mode..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it can't on yours, and most folks with this prob. I was wondering about MotoX4's case. But thanks for trying it!
I had high hopes for that smart assistant when I discovered it, but no joy. When we lost RSDlite, we lost a lot - unless they upgrade it...

KrisM22 said:
I know it can't on yours, and most folks with this prob. I was wondering about MotoX4's case. But thanks for trying it!
I had high hopes for that smart assistant when I discovered it, but no joy. When we lost RSDlite, we lost a lot - unless they upgrade it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RSDlite? Lost? Is this what you seek? https://rsdlitetool.com/

MotoX4 said:
RSDlite? Lost? Is this what you seek? https://rsdlitetool.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
6.2.4 won't recognize a Moto X4 after it is upgraded to Pie.

I used RSDLite since the times of the P2K and MAGX (Linux)... but since it's easier to use fastboot commands...
I have a stock X4 Android One around, if I want to flash Pixel Experience, can I go back to stock in the future?

joel_sinbad said:
...snip...
I have a stock X4 Android One around, if I want to flash Pixel Experience, can I go back to stock in the future?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In all probability, NO.

Then I'm gonna stay on Stock Rom, so... If I want to flash custom Roms, there's not way back...

joel_sinbad said:
Then I'm gonna stay on Stock Rom, so... If I want to flash custom Roms, there's not way back...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read a lot on this forum, that's the message I see.

I agree, NO going back. You can, I have... flash any factory Pie rom . All will flash fine and no IMEI, wifi. Radios are gone. I use Google Fi and cell data services go wierd on custom roms, if you want carrier switching.

This makes me think that the Moto X4 is more dangerous than the back then Atrix 4G with their Tegra 2 chipset...

joel_sinbad said:
This makes me think that the Moto X4 is more dangerous than the back then Atrix 4G with their Tegra 2 chipset...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't recall thinking that the Moto Atrix 4g was at all dangerous when I had one - a rather nice phone imho, though that was a very long time ago. I don't think of the Moto X4 as "dangerous" - it is simply that there is not a correct understanding of the Pie file structure by the custom ROM devs such that their ROMs would not so change the file structure of the phone as to prevent it from being flashed back to stock.
Users need to recognize that, with this phone, you can't get back to stock if you flash any custom ROM.
afaik.
This change happened with the file structure and boot structure changes of the Pie update. Prior to that, folks could get away with all manner of mods. Devs for this phone need to approach modifications with the idea of assuring that any mod can be flashed back to stock, BEFORE it is released. That has not happened. And likely won't. User beware!

KrisM22..... Thank you for stating what I could not do as well.

kkjb said:
KrisM22..... Thank you for stating what I could not do as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we ALL do it, and CAN do it - all in hopes of saving some newbie from disaster!