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I actually found a thread on this but it didn't actually fully address the issue. My problem is I rooted my Droid 3 a few weeks ago without any issue using the Motofail method. I actually kept the stock OS, all I did was use Titanium Backup to freeze some apps and I performed the Radiocomm Hack, all without any issue. Well now it is a few weeks later and I notice I'm having some problems with my phone. The stock battery indicator is acting wonky. I plugged in the phone to charge and when I unplugged it, the indicator continued to stay animated like it was still charging. Also when I plugged in the phone to charge yesterday, it appeared to be charging fine but when I unplugged later that evening it actually hadn't charged at all as the battery indicator was not only in the red, but when I went into About Phone in the system setting it also said the battery was at a low percentage. Another issue I'm having is with the sudden disappearance of my Battery and Data Manger within the systems menu. I no longer have any Data Manager setting like I used to have. Infact all it shows when I go into there is what apps are using the most battery power. I don't even have an option to turn of the Background Data anymore or adjust battery saver settings. I'm not sure why all this is happening as I've kept the custom rom and only frozen a few apps that I confirmed to be safe by checking a safe list on several websites. I even went back and unfroze all the apps to see if maybe one of them was causing the issue. The only other thing I did was perform the Radiocomm Hack. Now I did follow a youtube video that told me that I need to apk a datamanagerservice file and also an oek (?) datamanager service file and also I had to go into Root Explorer and delete a database file of some kind. According to the gentleman who made the video, these were tracking programs that might be able to detect the radiocomm hack or some how detect that the phone was using tether. After everything was done in the video and I performed the hack, it worked perfectly. My phone worked fine and the the tethering was fine. Now a few weeks later and I'm having the problems I mentioned above. To fix this I decided I would unroot my phone and return it to factory setting then reroot again. To do this I decided to go with Overlay's 1-Click SBF.exe method. I did have the same problem as another poster in that the file had some sort of extended name on it (-dl=1). This prevented my computer from being able to read the file or recognize it. So I did what that post suggested and I deleted the "-dl=" part so that it said 1_CLICK_SBF.exe and low and behold it fixed the file. It went from a white paper icon to the green android man icon so I thought everything was ok. Well then I go to run the program and I keep gettin this "some files are corrupted" message "please close and find another download' or something of that nature. I've tried several times to redownload this file and I still keep getting this error. I tried disabling my virus protections and fire walls but still nothing worked. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong and how I can get this working again. I'm not even sure if it's something with root that is causing my phone to act up, it could be the phone is bad which mean I need to contact the person I bought it from and send it back but I can't do that until I unroot the phone, return it to factory settings and see if that takes care of the battery issue and restores my data manager/battery settings to the system menu. Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me out with this.
fanofhan said:
I actually found a thread on this but it didn't actually fully address the issue. My problem is I rooted my Droid 3 a few weeks ago without any issue using the Motofail method. I actually kept the stock OS, all I did was use Titanium Backup to freeze some apps and I performed the Radiocomm Hack, all without any issue. Well now it is a few weeks later and I notice I'm having some problems with my phone. The stock battery indicator is acting wonky. I plugged in the phone to charge and when I unplugged it, the indicator continued to stay animated like it was still charging. Also when I plugged in the phone to charge yesterday, it appeared to be charging fine but when I unplugged later that evening it actually hadn't charged at all as the battery indicator was not only in the red, but when I went into About Phone in the system setting it also said the battery was at a low percentage. Another issue I'm having is with the sudden disappearance of my Battery and Data Manger within the systems menu. I no longer have any Data Manager setting like I used to have. Infact all it shows when I go into there is what apps are using the most battery power. I don't even have an option to turn of the Background Data anymore or adjust battery saver settings. I'm not sure why all this is happening as I've kept the custom rom and only frozen a few apps that I confirmed to be safe by checking a safe list on several websites. I even went back and unfroze all the apps to see if maybe one of them was causing the issue. The only other thing I did was perform the Radiocomm Hack. Now I did follow a youtube video that told me that I need to apk a datamanagerservice file and also an oek (?) datamanager service file and also I had to go into Root Explorer and delete a database file of some kind. According to the gentleman who made the video, these were tracking programs that might be able to detect the radiocomm hack or some how detect that the phone was using tether. After everything was done in the video and I performed the hack, it worked perfectly. My phone worked fine and the the tethering was fine. Now a few weeks later and I'm having the problems I mentioned above. To fix this I decided I would unroot my phone and return it to factory setting then reroot again. To do this I decided to go with Overlay's 1-Click SBF.exe method. I did have the same problem as another poster in that the file had some sort of extended name on it (-dl=1). This prevented my computer from being able to read the file or recognize it. So I did what that post suggested and I deleted the "-dl=" part so that it said 1_CLICK_SBF.exe and low and behold it fixed the file. It went from a white paper icon to the green android man icon so I thought everything was ok. Well then I go to run the program and I keep gettin this "some files are corrupted" message "please close and find another download' or something of that nature. I've tried several times to redownload this file and I still keep getting this error. I tried disabling my virus protections and fire walls but still nothing worked. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong and how I can get this working again. I'm not even sure if it's something with root that is causing my phone to act up, it could be the phone is bad which mean I need to contact the person I bought it from and send it back but I can't do that until I unroot the phone, return it to factory settings and see if that takes care of the battery issue and restores my data manager/battery settings to the system menu. Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me out with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also just want to add that I did load the phone into App Fast Mode without any problems and everything was ok. It's just when it came time to actually run the 1 Click file, I kept getting the message about parts of the zip being corrupted and to please find another download. Also I should add that I am on the .906 ota, 2.3.4, kernel 2.6.35.7-g5a4155.
There is now a full SBF zip download for 5.7.906 that you can flash with RSD Lite; see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39268610&postcount=241
I used it last week without issue. I unzipped the file first to make sure that it was a good download (a bad download will not unzip properly.)
[edit: here is a good "how-to" for RSD Lite: http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/How_to_flash_with_RSD_lite ]
You may want to make sure that you have a well-charged battery. Amazon sells a Motorola external charger if your phone does not charge the battery properly. http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Battery-Charger-Series-Batteries/dp/B005LFXBJ6
doogald said:
There is now a full SBF zip download for 5.7.906 that you can flash with RSD Lite; see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39268610&postcount=241
I used it last week without issue. I unzipped the file first to make sure that it was a good download (a bad download will not unzip properly.)
[edit: here is a good "how-to" for RSD Lite: http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/How_to_flash_with_RSD_lite ]
You may want to make sure that you have a well-charged battery. Amazon sells a Motorola external charger if your phone does not charge the battery properly. http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Battery-Charger-Series-Batteries/dp/B005LFXBJ6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all thank you for the reply because I really need help. The only way i've been able to do anything to my phone is mostly by watching youtube videos and following along. In other words I am a complete idiot to all of this and have no idea what i'm doing. With regards to your response about RSD Lite, I did go to the how to link but I still don't understand what to do. Unfortunately I don't have internet at my house so I can't even begin to attempt the rsdlite thing until tonight. I just feel like my nerves are shot. Nothing on this phone is working right. Infact im beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with the phone itself. This is the second d3 I've had and all the things i'm doing to this phone I did to the last and i'm having nothing but problems and I've done nothing major to the phone. I just tried tethering so I could access the internet on my laptop so I can try to fix this now and apparently the radiocomm hack didn't work either. It worked fine on my other droid3 that i ended up giving to my mom. Im beginning to think that the seller I purchased this phone from on ebay, lied about this phone not being. Refurbished or ever activated. Heck I knew it wasn't because it came already loaded with the. 906 update. Now if I can figure out how to factory restore I can see if I can get it working properly.
what is your battery level at, files will not flash if battery is too low
could cause the errors you are seeing
Sent from my Clear using xda premium
sd_shadow said:
what is your battery level at, files will not flash if battery is too low
could cause the errors you are seeing
Sent from my Clear using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well a little while earlier my extended battery was in the red. Again I think this is a software issue as im sure the battery is good. Anyway I googled a fix and someone else who had the same issue accessed the Battery Manager app in settings and cleared the cache and the battery started to charge again. I cleared the cache and did a force sto then plugged the phone up and it hasn't died yet but im afraid to unplug the phone so im leaving it charged until I leave tonight to see if the battery charges. I do have the original battery as a bak up which when I placed it in the phone briefly this morning was at 80 or 90% so I think im ok battery wise. Im just freaking out about how to fix this. I know nothing about flashing roms or rsdlite or anything like that. I literally rooted the phone, froze some apps and did the radiocomm hack which doesn't seem to have worked with this phone. I just don't understand why this is happening. This all went perfectly without a hitch on the other droid 3 I had before I gave it to my mom and bought another one. Is there an easier way to unroor and restore to stock besides using rsdlite/ I don't know why Overlay's 1 click. 906.exe file is coming up as corrupted. That seemed like an incredibly easy fix. This rsdlite fix sounds incredibly complicated and as I said im an idiot to this kind of thing. I listen to the real creative geniuses and try to do what you all do.
rsd lite is very simple
download xml file
download rsd lite and install
down load moto drivers and install
open rsd lite
select the '...' button, select the xml file
boot phone to AP Fastboot, connect to pc
wait for windows to find correct drivers
select start on rsd lite, let it install xml file (10-25 min)
when rsd lite is done it will try to reboot phone,
if phone gets stuck in bootloop, wipe data in recovery and reboot
done
---------- Post added at 01:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:15 PM ----------
How To Flash xml recovery files with RSD Lite
but you can not flash with a low battery, if software is corrupt battery will not charge
buy a Motorola Programing Adaptor by Team Black Hat
or Battery Desktop Charger for Motorola Droid 3 XT862
What are xml files and where do I get them? Are they specific to rsd lite or I have no idea what you're talking about with regards to xml files and which ones im supposed to download. Are you refering to the latest moto drivers for my device or some other drivers I need to download to run rsd lite? Seriously, explain it to me like you would to your 80 year old grandmother if you had one (unless you do have one). I usually watch videos of people doing what I need to do and I follow what they're doing so.....yeah i'm THAT noob.
read my how to flash xml file with rsd lite
links to every thing there
Sent from my Clear using xda premium
Ah, ok. Ill check out your link about the xml filed tonight as well as looking into downloading one of the battery apps you were talking about but the good news is that I do have a spare battery incase the one in the phone now proves not to be charging. Do you have any idea why this would be happening? I did the exact same stuff on another droid 3 and everything was fine. The first phone which I bought from a person who was upgrading did great yet this one that I bought froma verizon dealer on ebay is acting up. This phone came with stock screen cover and all the booklets and sealed battery charger and everything. I know the box wasn't sealed but with the exception of the. 90ynupdate already installed t, the phone appeared to have not been used. Is it possible that I wont be able to restore phone back to original. 890 stock that was shipped originally? I'm just trying to understand what could of happened so I know its not a faulty phone issue. Thank you Shadow for being so helpful, thank both of you that have responded. Please keep them coming lol!
fanofhan said:
Ah, ok. Ill check out your link about the xml filed tonight as well as looking into downloading one of the battery apps you were talking about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
battery apps, will not help, and I did not suggest any
but the good news is that I do have a spare battery incase the one in the phone now proves not to be charging. Do you have any idea why this would be happening?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if software is corrupt, phone can not charge battery, just that simple
... Is it possible that I wont be able to restore phone back to original. 890 stock that was shipped originally?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even if 906 one click works, it flashes an unstable repacked 890, and recommended that 906 update is installed as part of the system restore
Yes im sorry, I had misunderstood you initially. I did have a chance to view the links so I realized what you meant after my post. Yes, I am also aware of the software possibly being corrupt, I just meant that fortunately I have z spare battery that I can pop in and use during the rsdlite fix but it does appear that my extended battery is charging since I emptied battery manager cache and force stopped. I will take it with me just in case though should I need to switch them out before I make the attempt tonight. Also I aware that the 1 click method would only be a temporary backup to .890 and that I would need to perform an update but I am just eager to see if my phone will revert back to. 890 because it came to me from a verizon authorized dealer with the latest update already installed even though they told me the phone had never been activated. It just makes me wonder if some how the operating system is locked from reverting to. 890 somehow. I just want to be able to return the phone to the condition it was when it arrived to me which was unrooted with the latest update already installed and all software functioning normally.
fanofhan said:
Yes im sorry, I had misunderstood you initially. I did have a chance to view the links so I realized what you meant after my post. Yes, I am also aware of the software possibly being corrupt, I just meant that fortunately I have z spare battery that I can pop in and use during the rsdlite fix but it does appear that my extended battery is charging since I emptied battery manager cache and force stopped. I will take it with me just in case though should I need to switch them out before I make the attempt tonight. Also I aware that the 1 click method would only be a temporary backup to .890 and that I would need to perform an update but I am just eager to see if my phone will revert back to. 890 because it came to me from a verizon authorized dealer with the latest update already installed even though they told me the phone had never been activated. It just makes me wonder if some how the operating system is locked from reverting to. 890 somehow. I just want to be able to return the phone to the condition it was when it arrived to me which was unrooted with the latest update already installed and all software functioning normally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible that the Droid 3 was never used. When a new update is released, the manufacturers tend to ship phones with updated software, rather than having the user go through an over the air update almost immediately.
A Droid 3 that has had 5.7.906 installed on it cannot revert back fully to an older version - the locked bootloader prevents it. I believe that the 1-click installs the system of the older version, as that can be managed, and then allows you to have the 5.7.906 upgrade installed, which you should do right away.
However, at this point I'd stay away from 1-click. This link has the SBF file that you need: http://sbf.droid-developers.org/cdma_solana/list.php
It's the third in that table, under the column "download", on the line with "5.5.1_84_D3G-66_M2-10
Blur_Version.5.7.906.XT862.Verizon.en.US" as the system build number.
You will download a zip file called VRZ_XT862_5.5.1_84_D3G-66_M2-10_1FF_01a.xml.zip. As you can tell by the name of the file, that file is a zip file. When you extract it, it will expand to 17 files, including one called VRZ_XT862_5.5.1_84_D3G-66_M2-10_1FF_01a.xml - this is the file that you will be looking for when you follow sd_shadow's instructions for RSD Lite.
In fact, just to be complete, the files that will be expanded are:
VRZ_XT862_5.5.1_84_D3G-66_M2-10_1FF_01a.xml
allow-mbmloader-flashing-mbm.bin
boot.img
cdrom
cdt.bin
device_tree.bin
ebr
emstorage.img
lbl
logo.bin
mbm.bin
mbmloader.bin
mbr
preinstall.img
radio.img
recovery.img
system.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RSD Lite uses the .XML file as a list of instructions about what to do with the rest of the files.
Thank you doogald, I'm about to begin downloading the stuff I need now so that I can begin. I'm hoping everything runs smoothly since I have to have this completed by the end of my shift in the morning. I really don't want to have to stay here all day tomorrow using my employers internet to try and figure this out. Thanks both of you guys for all your help. I'll let you know how it turns out. Geez, I hope it turns out right..
Ok so right now I already feel like screaming in frustration. I can't seem to find an RSD Lite download file. The RSDlite.rar download link that I found here on XDA, doesn't work on my computer, the same as the 1 click method. I did find a download on a sight called Tucows for RSDlite 5.7 but it seems to be stuck in the "installing" phase. I went to the link that Shadows posted, taking me to the how to page for RSD Lite but again, the link there took me to the XDA link, which doesn't work. The Tucows download for RSDLITE 5.7 is showing a Window that says Windows Mobility, and it has a light blue bar that is completely full but all it says is "RSDLITE is being installed" it doesn't appear to be doing anything else. I guess I can close it and try installing it again. Ok I tried downloading the Tucows 5.7 download again but it tells me the file did not install properly the first time and I need to try installing. What is going on? I am trying to reinstall it again. Why is nothing working for me, why is everything being so difficult. I'm trying to not have a melt down but seriously, why can't I find any files that work? They all seemed to be working at some point and are working for other people right now. I need help finding a working file I think.
what version of windows?
i have several links on my main page
sd_shadow's list of links for Droid FAQs, SBF, Rooting, ROMs.... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Goawxdx_UBF4Y8lqzHYWf8Ha3yUcRK4faq0UWIlXLWA/edit
Sent from my MILESTONE3 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 01:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:14 AM ----------
try this one http://d-h.st/rLK
Sent from my MILESTONE3 using xda premium
Why can't I find a file that works?? None of the .rar files work. They all download and then have a paper icon and when I try to open and extract the files I get an error page about windows not being able to identify the files or something and then it asks me what program I want to use to open the download. The only one that unzipped was the Tucows file and that was an RSDLite5.7.msi (whatever that means) and when I extract the files and attempt the download it's a Windows Installer which I run and it looks like it's going to work but then it just stops doing whatever it's doing and does nothing until I close it at which point it asks me if I'm sure I want to close because the installation isn't complete. What is going on?? I can't believe I've been trying to find a working RSDlite file for the last 2 hours. I thought I'd be done by 3:30 and here it is 2:20am and I haven't even gotten to the first step yet because I can't find any working download.
i never let window unzip file, try 7zip link in my main page
.msi is a microsoft installer works like. exe, except alittle different
Sent from my MILESTONE3 using xda premium
sd_shadow said:
what version of windows?
i have several links on my main page
sd_shadow's list of links for Droid FAQs, SBF, Rooting, ROMs.... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Goawxdx_UBF4Y8lqzHYWf8Ha3yUcRK4faq0UWIlXLWA/edit
Sent from my MILESTONE3 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 01:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:14 AM ----------
try this one http://d-h.st/rLK
Sent from my MILESTONE3 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium SP 2 64bit, I'm checking your page now Shadow. Bless you for replying.
ok vista 64 should be fine
Sent from my MILESTONE3 using xda premium
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.
This is my first post and I'm going to try my best to not break a rule. If I do, I apologize in advance.
Thread thread is a sort of, "This is how I updated my phone from 4.2.2 to 4.4.2 and rooted it but your mileage may vary."
First, thanks goes to Sunderwear for his directions on how to push KitKat to the Samsung S4 Active as well as ROOT it. I rooted my 4.2.2 phone a few months ago and didn't realize doing so would prevent OTA updates. I went to the AT&T store to have them put 4.4.2 on the phone only to be told that the store didn't have the image (or whatever they said) and couldn't put it on my phone. Instead, they put 4.3, which turned out to be great because the directions pretty much have you going back to 4.3 in order to root.
BTW, if you are uninitiated, you may want to read this glossary page.
After having root in 4.2, I knew I wanted it in 4.4.2!
For the most part, I've been hesitant to flash the phone. I tried like hell to flash my first Android (Samsung S2 Skyrocket) only to brick it. (FWIW, if you can tell me how to fix it, I'd be gracious! It buzzes once and then twice and repeats.)
Anyway, I started in the thread above only to find that I now needed to download Odin. This, surprisingly, was difficult. I found this site (http://odindownload.com/) which I am convinced is some sort of hacked version of Odin because when I tried to install from there, my Symantic warned me. When I disabled it, the file tried to install a bunch of bloatware/spyware. It EVENTUALLY gave me Odin.
FYI, this thread was of no use. No download links.
Later on, after searching for something unrelated, I got to a "better" site. Unlike the link above, this site has a zip file compared to the bloat-ridden executable.
I learned that I had to use Odin 3.07 and NOT Odin 3.09. Odin 3.09 did not have the PDA button that would be central to me flashing the ROM to the phone.
I started my journey on the thread for the Stock AT&T Firmware Collection. I learned that the thread uses the last three characters of the build name to identify the build. For example, 4.3's build name is I537UCUBML2 but was referred to as "ML2". This was a bit confusing but I got the hang of it. I then went over to the 4.4.2 rooting thread. It was there that I read Sunderwear says that you need to downgrade to 4.3 to root 4.4. I was grateful that AT&T only updated me to 4.3!
Sunderwear's second post described how to root 4.4.2 if you had a rooted 4.3. Since I hadn't done that yet, I proceeded back to the firmware collection and found the thread to root my 4.3 phone.
I downloaded the files and loaded up the first file to flash. I made the mistake of keeping my phone plugged in while trying to put it in download mode. It was when I stumbled upon this page that gave me the clue that my phone had to be disconnected first before going into download mode.
Once done, I clicked Start and Odin flashed my phone! It took about 2-3 minutes.
The next step was to do saferoot. The thread didn't link it so here it is.
SafeRoot requires your phone to be in USB debugging mode. Directions were found by googling. You go to Settings, About Device, and click Build Number until you get a message saying you have enabled developer mode. Then go back out one screen and go into Debugging options and enable USB debugging.
One installed I rebooted the phone and everything worked...except for wifi and "some other stuff". The thread warned you about this so I didn't worry. I flashed the next file and rebooted. Updated SuperSU and everything worked!!
I verified that I had root by installing Root Checker.
All was great with 4.3! Now for what turned out to be the more agonizing part: Upgrading to 4.4.2.
Going back to the 4.4.2 rooting thread, I learned that all I needed to do was install SafeTrap to update to KitKat and then flash a couple more files. I downloaded pwnedkitkat.zip (link in the thread) and then installed SafeTrap. I presume that SafeTrap is some sort of bootstraping method of updating the firmware.
I copied the SafeTrap apk file, along with pwnedkitkat and the updated superSU zip files to my external SD card. Once everything was copied, I installed SafeTrap and then opened it. SafeTrap then offered me the option to install Recovery Mode. Once done, I restarted my phone.
I noticed a new splash screen after the Samsung splashscreen. I clicked the Menu button (left of home) to start the recovery process. I clicked "Install" and pointed it to the pwnedkitkat.zip file. This took the longest. Probably took 15 minutes but felt like an eternity. I wasn't sure if my phone bricked when the screen turned off! But upon turning it back on, it was still going.
The bar moved very slowly. But remained patient. After a long 15-20 minutes, it updated! SafeTrap gave me the option to reboot there but I followed the directions and installed SuperSU from the SD card. It was a quick install.
I restarted the phone! I was done!! Right?
My phone got stuck on the AT&T splash screen! I started to panic! What did I do wrong?!
I missed Sunderwear's step five:
5.Put your phone in download mode and flash the 4.4.2 stock boot.tar.md5 kernel and your phone will boot after a few minutes with root access enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Goes to show you to read everything. I missed it due to the line break. I downloaded the boot.tar.md5 file and put the phone back into download mode and push it via PDA in Odin (I presume PDA. It wasn't explicit.)
After a few hours of chewing my nails and wondering if I bricked it:
http://imgur.com/a/UFg6u#F5qFTdq
So thanks to everyone! Now if I could only unbrick my Skyrocket!
Outstanding instructions! Thank you for this. I wish all the instructions were as clear and detailed as this is.
:good:
I tried like hell to flash my first Android (Samsung S2 Skyrocket) only to brick it. (FWIW, if you can tell me how to fix it, I'd be gracious! It buzzes once and then twice and repeats.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you mean it vibrates every 2 seconds and doesn't turn on?
:good:
Great instructions and great story. Sounds like what most people like me go through every time we try to do something like this.
jimmietilt said:
do you mean it vibrates every 2 seconds and doesn't turn on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. The last time I looked into this was almost two years ago. It just sits in my drawer now.
dajabec said:
Great instructions and great story. Sounds like what most people like me go through every time we try to do something like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what got me was all the new terminology and unfamiliarity of flashing. Jailbreaking an iPhone (which I've done before I had an Android) is pretty simple. It's pretty much point and click. But ROMs, flashing...these all have definitions which can be a bit overwhelming, even to a technical person such as myself. I've compiled Linux kernels from scratch!
But there's something about making your phone unusable. Something that I cannot live without, especially as I'm searching for a job.
It's nerve-wracking and I especially got nervous when I was putting KitKat on since it took so long. But overall, I'm glad I did it.
Mike, I wish everyone's instructions were like yours. I am in a similar boat as you, currently on 4.2.2 rooted and unable to do an OTA. I am not really sure what to do as I do not want my phone to be wiped. Did you bring your phone to an ATT store or a Device Support Center? And when they flashed 4.3 did your phone lose anything?
Agent. said:
Mike, I wish everyone's instructions were like yours. I am in a similar boat as you, currently on 4.2.2 rooted and unable to do an OTA. I am not really sure what to do as I do not want my phone to be wiped. Did you bring your phone to an ATT store or a Device Support Center? And when they flashed 4.3 did your phone lose anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backup using Samsung kies and go find the 4.3 Odin package. Hell I just use the Google backup feature which is good enough for me.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
rdh28 said:
Backup using Samsung kies and go find the 4.3 Odin package. Hell I just use the Google backup feature which is good enough for me.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to go through all of the trouble of reconfiguring all of my settings, restoring all of my app specific stuff, and just getting everything back the way I had it. Does Kies backup every little thing or just app data and contacts etc?
Agent. said:
I don't want to go through all of the trouble of reconfiguring all of my settings, restoring all of my app specific stuff, and just getting everything back the way I had it. Does Kies backup every little thing or just app data and contacts etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure but if you really want to upgrade it's worth the thirty minutes it takes to reconfigure
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Agent. said:
I don't want to go through all of the trouble of reconfiguring all of my settings, restoring all of my app specific stuff, and just getting everything back the way I had it. Does Kies backup every little thing or just app data and contacts etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Titanium Backup. Just make sure you don't restore system apps and you'll be fine.
rdh28 said:
Not sure but if you really want to upgrade it's worth the thirty minutes it takes to reconfigure
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, I will probably do it this summer, I'm just really busy right now and can't afford to risk anything happen to my phone
Devo7v said:
Use Titanium Backup. Just make sure you don't restore system apps and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The system apps are one of the primary issues as that is what needs to be reconfigured, other apps can be backed up and restored easily.
Agent. said:
I am not really sure what to do as I do not want my phone to be wiped. Did you bring your phone to an ATT store or a Device Support Center? And when they flashed 4.3 did your phone lose anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took mine to the AT&T device support center. I called before going in and they pretty much told me it was going to be destructive. I had previously wiped my phone earlier that day in the hopes that it would receive the OTA update.
I'm not going to lie: it's nerve-wracking, but straight forward. I know sometimes it helps to have someone hold your hand while you do it. And for me, it was definitely in the camp of, "What am I going to do if my phone craps out on me?"
But like what someone else said: you can back up your settings within Keis. I didn't. I just did a wipe. I backed up my photos but that's about it. Everything else was in the cloud. The one thing I should have done was transfer my Authenticator keys to another device because I couldn't log into AWS (which does not give out backup codes like Google). I did end up switching to Authy (I can't link to it since I'm such a new user but you can find it in the Play Store) which allows you to have more than one device. It shares your secret key between devices so it's technically less secure. But I needed the flexibility in case my phone crapped out on me again.
Pro Tip: to install all your apps again, go to the Google play store on your device and click "My Apps". Long hold one of the apps and then select the check boxes of the apps you want to install.
And hey if you run into anything there's plenty of people who check this forum regularly. I've managed to root 4.2.2 , 4.3, and 4.4.2 while retaining full functionality, just from this forum...the information is out there good luck!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Agent. said:
I know, I will probably do it this summer, I'm just really busy right now and can't afford to risk anything happen to my phone
The system apps are one of the primary issues as that is what needs to be reconfigured, other apps can be backed up and restored easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What system apps need to be reconfigured? I can't really see that many that it would take you more than 15 to 20 minutes.
Thank you guys, I need to get my phone serviced anyway as there is a yellow dot in the top left of the screen that won't go away. So if AT&T sends me a new phone I can do all of the dirty work and then transfer everything side by side from the old device. If they won't for whatever reason I will do what you guys suggested. So just to be clear I should follow the instructions to Odin to 4.3, root, then follow the upgrade/root instructions to 4.4.2?
Agent. said:
So just to be clear I should follow the instructions to Odin to 4.3, root, then follow the upgrade/root instructions to 4.4.2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally thing this is better since if you have 4.4.2 already, you have to downgrade to 4.3, root it and then put 4.4.2 on it.
I'm gonna just cut to the chase here, I've already looked at the forums and searched and all that.
Phone has been fine for about 3 weeks, since I got it, and all of a sudden it froze up on me and gave me the error "Process System Isn't responding" and of course with the 'wait' and 'ok' options. Phone does work fine except for the active display will not work and every time I unlock the phone it tells me that it crashed. I get random app crashes at random times as well. And my wifi is stuck in a permanent 'turning wifi on...' phase so I'm forced to use my 4g. I have tried all the suggestions that are possbile for the model of the Moto X that I have but nothing will work. Multiple factory resets, cahce wipes, everything. I've even tried flashing a stock rom to the phone via fastboot, didn't think it would work as I am on 4.4.2 AT&T version of the Moto X, and of course it didn't. Has anyone had the same problem, or found a workaround that actually works?
Well....it seems you're only option is flashing the 4.4.2 files for your phone. And if they aren't available....you probably have to play the waiting game unfortunately.
Are you rooted?? I would say if you're rooted, xposed or something that has changed system files is the culprit. But if you're not rooted....then who knows.
Good luck!!
P.s. never try to downgrade. You're lucky you got an error.....cause sometimes you get a brick.
---------- Post added at 07:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 PM ----------
I thought at&t files were out now?????
kj2112 said:
Well....it seems you're only option is flashing the 4.4.2 files for your phone. And if they aren't available....you probably have to play the waiting game unfortunately.
Are you rooted?? I would say if you're rooted, xposed or something that has changed system files is the culprit. But if you're not rooted....then who knows.
Good luck!!
P.s. never try to downgrade. You're lucky you got an error.....cause sometimes you get a brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not rooted, everything is completely stock, I did try flashing the 4.4.2 files to my phone, but can't get system.img to write, tried just flashing the update as a zip but wouldn't work because of something like the update-version wasnt found in the zip file... If only I had root, this would be a lot easier...
Edit: Would you be able to point me to the AT&T files? I did find firmware but that won't flash for some reason.
xVesica said:
Not rooted, everything is completely stock, I did try flashing the 4.4.2 files to my phone, but can't get system.img to write, tried just flashing the update as a zip but wouldn't work because of something like the update-version wasnt found in the zip file... If only I had root, this would be a lot easier...
Edit: Would you be able to point me to the AT&T files? I did find firmware but that won't flash for some reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure where to get at&t files...there's a site that has them all...but I can't think of it.
And this guide has a return to stock section. Make sure you did it right. You do need to use mfastboot. Fastboot won't work on the bigger files.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2558785
kj2112 said:
I'm not sure where to get at&t files...there's a site that has them all...but I can't think of it.
And this guide has a return to stock section. Make sure you did it right. You do need to use mfastboot. Fastboot won't work on the bigger files.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2558785
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the help, hopefully everything works.
Edit: Used the toolkit to flash the 4.4.2 update. I guess it just didn't like the way I was trying to do it before. Everything works again though, and hopefully it stays that way.
Now I get to go through the process of restoring all of my files.
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!