[Q] Unable to delete/replace system files - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have Root Explorer installed and it says that it has root access and that the mount is read/write yet I am unable to permanently delete or add files to the root/system directory.
I was hoping to replace the current system/media/video/shutdown directory with one of my own and add a bootanimation.zip file to system/media but although the delete/copy/move commands execute without error, no changes actually occur.
I'm so frustrated and have no idea what I'm doing wrong. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I had the same problem...ended up downloading su file manager. Works perfectly for deleting stubborn system apps.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Have you tried pressing the Mount R/O button on the top right corner and then trying again?

Related

Root: Replacing system sound files

Ok so I have rooted my Hero and all is well. I've been trying to replace the sound files in system/media/audio/ui where the keyboard sounds are. I find that I cannot move a file into that folder, or apparently any of those folders. When I try to paste a copied or cut file using root explorer into the ui folder, the file just doesn't appear.
Why is this?
Switchbitch said:
Ok so I have rooted my Hero and all is well. I've been trying to replace the sound files in system/media/audio/ui where the keyboard sounds are. I find that I cannot move a file into that folder, or apparently any of those folders. When I try to paste a copied or cut file using root explorer into the ui folder, the file just doesn't appear.
Why is this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tried with and without file extention?
Yes. Root explorer just won't let me move any files around in the phone memory. Do I have to do it using adb?
I have a feeling its Root Explorer not working properly in Hero.
I could do this easily on my magic, but I get the same thing - looks like its copied the file, but when I paste, nothing happens at all.
I did manage to delete the Stocks app. from the device (don't use it or need it) using root explorer but other attempts to copy and pasdte have failed.
I have however managed to successfully use Astro File Manager to copy a wallpaper file from the device memory and paste to the SDcard. Will explore Astro a little further and see if it can do more on the device.
Dayz
Phew, not just me being thick then....
I spent most of today trying to backup an .apk from /data/app-private to /sdcard. No luck with Root Explorer, adb pull or a 'cp' from the shell. "Remote file does not exist" was the result of the last two, but it's displayed by ls.
I think anything in app-private is a no go anyway as it contains copy protected apps. With regard to astro - it can copy from device in certain locations, and paste to sd to back up, but it can't delete from the device, and it can't copy or move files to the device.
Daisy xx
Dayzee said:
I think anything in app-private is a no go anyway as it contains copy protected apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, thanks Daisy. Will get on to the app's developer, as it was his advice to gain the ability to change location settings that I tried to follow.
Al
Shluggity said:
Phew, not just me being thick then....
I spent most of today trying to backup an .apk from /data/app-private to /sdcard. No luck with Root Explorer, adb pull or a 'cp' from the shell. "Remote file does not exist" was the result of the last two, but it's displayed by ls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try
Code:
adb shell
su
cat /data/app-private/some.app.apk > /sdcard/some.app.apk
exit
exit
adb pull /sdcard/some.app.apk some.app.apk
...it worked for me on a stock, rooted HTC Hero.
Switchbitch said:
Ok so I have rooted my Hero and all is well. I've been trying to replace the sound files in system/media/audio/ui where the keyboard sounds are. I find that I cannot move a file into that folder, or apparently any of those folders. When I try to paste a copied or cut file using root explorer into the ui folder, the file just doesn't appear.
Why is this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you made other changes than rooting, the /system partition is mounted read-only by default. As far as I know, you'll have to follow one of the root guides to mount it read-write (like you probably did to get /system/bin/su in place) and then do whatever changes you'd like.
Personally, I got tired of the boot audio real fast, so I changed useAudio in /system/media/boot_animation.xml from "1" to "0". Ahh, blessed boot silence...
nrkabul said:
Try
Code:
adb shell
su
cat /data/app-private/some.app.apk > /sdcard/some.app.apk
exit
exit
adb pull /sdcard/some.app.apk some.app.apk
...it worked for me on a stock, rooted HTC Hero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And work it did for me also! Many thanks for your help - I really appreciate it.

[Q] try to force delete of system MP3s

I try to delete some ringtones from my folder
system/media/audio/ringtones
I connect via local console (IRSSbot) and I cant "rm" remove mp3s due to permissions.
I am logged in as superuser with "su" still getting
"Read-only file system".
How can I make the file system writeable?
no solutions? I have a corrupted file needed to be deleted, tried many ways..
Try using Root Explorer, navigate to the directory, mount as r/w (button at top), delete, then hit the r/o button. There's a much longer command-line version, but if you don't figure it out from the above, this is easier and fool-proof.
Just being su doesn't override a read-only filesystem.
Sent from my NookColor using xda premium

Cannot install Music.apk

When i install Music.apk it always fails. I tried copying it to the /system/apps using Root Explorer but it doesnt shows up.
it may require flashing...i am not sure.
Did you try installing from the sdcard? Click on the apk file and the Root Explorer should ask if you want to install the file. I have had some installs work that way and some not work. I am a beginner also, sorry if this doesn't work.
First, mount /system as rw from root explorer (there's a button in top right corner). Then copy and paste the file to /system/app. Now, tap and hold on the pasted file and select permissions. Change the permissions to: User-read,write Group-read Others-read. Then mount /system as ro using the same button in top right corner and reboot the phone.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App

Delete the ES File Explorer on ICS Buttah

Am trying to fix the ES File Explorer Root access issues by following the steps posted by Joker Fuel in one of the TP forum.
I cant get to delete the current apk under /system/app using any of the File Explorers. How do i get this file deleted ? Any help.
This is what am trying to accomplish:
OK guys, for u guys that are having issues Using ES File Explorer Root permission.
The Root does not work while the app is in /system/app.
so to get it working, u must delete the com.estrongs.android.pop-1.apk
couple ways to do it. u can download a free file explorer off the market and delete the file under /system/app
---------------------------------
reboot your new BUTTAH
download ES from the market
If I am understanding what you want to do correctly you need to remount /system as read/write so you can remove the file.
There are many ways to do this. I like to use RomToolbox, available on the market. Once installed you can open up "Scripter" and there will be a couple of pre-defined scripts, one to remote System is Read/Write.
After you run that script you can jump to the Root browser, one button above, and delete what you need from the /system/app directory.
Remember to remount your /system as Read-Only using the other script, or reboot when your done. It is a bit dangerous to leave it as Read/Write. Better safe than sorry
Thanks. gonna give it a try !
Titanium Backup works on Buttah. Downloaded through market. Then I was able to pull ES through that. Then re-install through market. Now root access and mountable system.

[Q] Unable to change file permission on rooted Samsung Galaxy S III

Hi,
I tried changing file permission on one of the folders where I saved my photos to read-only using "Root Browser Lite".
The following error message came up: "Changing permission was not successful. Please note that some file systems do not allow permission changes".
I tried using ES file explorer but it also failed.
Could someone please tell me how I could change the file or folder permission. I wanted to prevent the photos from being accidentally deleted by my children when I let them browse their photos..
My phone I9300 was rooted using CF Auto Root.
Thanks
Get root explorer, it's much better.
Simply long press on a folder and the permissions option is there.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Don't forget to set to rw at the top of root explorer before attempting to change permissions
If you're talking about the internal memory, you can do chattr +i /data/media/[name of folder] to set the immutable bit. EDIT: You need BusyBox installed for the chattr command
This works because /storage/sdcard0 (JB's usual mountpoint for the internal eMMC) is a fake FAT32 file system Google created for compatibility; the internal eMMC can really be found at /data/media, which is of the ext4 filesystem.
For the external memory, you can try SGS3 Easy UMS and set the read only property on the folder using your computer. (I can't find mattrib for Android.) There is no guarantee that Android/Linux programs will obey the RO attribute, however.
The reason why Root Browser Lite & ES File Explorer didn't work is because they work on UNIX file permissions, while a file system formatted using FAT obviously doesn't understand them - it would expect DOS/FAT attributes. That said, though, have you already backed up the data you consider to be important?
100% work
Try this.....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2038243
this will help you 100%..
qwerty12 said:
If you're talking about the internal memory, you can do chattr +i /data/media/[name of folder] to set the immutable bit. EDIT: You need BusyBox installed for the chattr command
This works because /storage/sdcard0 (JB's usual mountpoint for the internal eMMC) is a fake FAT32 file system Google created for compatibility; the internal eMMC can really be found at /data/media, which is of the ext4 filesystem.
For the external memory, you can try SGS3 Easy UMS and set the read only property on the folder using your computer. (I can't find mattrib for Android.) There is no guarantee that Android/Linux programs will obey the RO attribute, however.
The reason why Root Browser Lite & ES File Explorer didn't work is because they work on UNIX file permissions, while a file system formatted using FAT obviously doesn't understand them - it would expect DOS/FAT attributes. That said, though, have you already backed up the data you consider to be important?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
=============
Thank you all for your advice. The file system explanation betw FAT and ext4 fs makes sense. I have BusyBox installed.
Via Terminal Emulator, when I did "chattr -i /data/media/DCIM/Camera", I got a "permission denied".
Is there something that prevented me from this?
I'm running ICS.
Thanks
Did you type su before the command..
Just asking..
sent from here, there, somewhere!!
zoot1 said:
Did you type su before the command..
Just asking..
sent from here, there, somewhere!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Zoot1.
I did that.
Image Gallary is still showing /mnt/sdcard/DCIM/Camera as "writeable".
What is the difference between two folders /data/media/DCIM/Camera and /mnt/sdcard/DCIM/Camera?
Thanks,
Note that I used +i in my example invocation of chattr. - removes the attribute; + sets it, which is what you want
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Thanks qwerty12, after 'chattr +i folder name' , I return to root browser lite to change permission on mnt/sdcard/DCIM/Camera, I still get permission denied. What did I do wrong?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Mount System RW
The problem is that your system is currently in RO (Read-Only) mode.
Even if you are root, can't mess with system files if the setup is like that.
ES File Explorer works because it has an option (that DOES work) to mount the system in RW (Read-write) mode.
On my ES File Explorer Version 3.0.0 it goes like this:
Android menĂº button--->Tools---->Root Explorer--->Mount R/W.
Set: /system (or all of the options) to: RW----->OK.
Now, explore your files using the ES File Explorer interface on your phone and you should be able to erase every file and apk you want even if they are system files.
Vanyna said:
The problem is that your system is currently in RO (Read-Only) mode.
Even if you are root, can't mess with system files if the setup is like that.
ES File Explorer works because it has an option (that DOES work) to mount the system in RW (Read-write) mode.
On my ES File Explorer Version 3.0.0 it goes like this:
Android menĂº button--->Tools---->Root Explorer--->Mount R/W.
Set: /system (or all of the options) to: RW----->OK.
Now, explore your files using the ES File Explorer interface on your phone and you should be able to erase every file and apk you want even if they are system files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
finally its worked for me thx very much dude:laugh::good:

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