I've been stuck in a weird place for some time with my phone. After I installed clockwork mod, backed up, installed some flavour of FroYo, and made the mistake of trying to flash back my old back up without properly wiping things have been getting weird. I can use ODIN to flash fresh ROMs, but I always get a bunch of FCs at startup, and most apps don't work. I tried to do all kinds of tricks to completely wipe the internal SD, but there is always some remnants of old fun hanging about causing cascading errors and FCs. No matter what I try to do, MyBackupPro and Rommanager is always present, but not working.
How I can completely rid myself of anything not stock ROM?
I've finally gotten back to root ADB, after a long and hard battle. I believe this may hold the key to salvation for my Vibrant.
Any and all suggestions are much appreciated!
Things I've already tried:
EUGENE373_SamsungS_Froyo_PDA -> Stock 2.1 T959UVJFD
EUGENE373_SamsungS_Froyo_PDA -> battery pull -> Stock 2.1 T959UVJFD
Stock 2.1 T959UVJFD -> EUGENE373_SamsungS_Froyo_PDA
Bionix1.9.zip - would not install due to some error I can't recall right now. Will update.
Factory wipe - from Settings menu
Wipe in Clockworkmod menu
Wipe all in adb shell
The weird *2767*3855#* factory wipe
UPDATE:
Strangest thing happened: I flashed an old ROM back onto the phone with Odin 1.52, then the Updated Stock 2.1 also via Odin the usual FC-ing was still there. Then I rebooted into recovery, reinstalled the Clockworkmod recovery menu, installed the root-update.zip in order to have root shell access. Then I pushed VibrantDeodexed1_2.zip and Vibrantfroyo_R3.zip on to the sd card. I tried to apply the VibrantDeodexed1_2.zip, but it aborted due to some catalog not present. However, I did notice that the installation erased /system and deleted some files, and I had the notion to try and install the VibrantFroyo_R3.zip. The installation succeeded, and Lo and Behold!
the phone has returned to the land of the living! Wohoo!!
I do not fully understand how this can be, but there is no Force Closing of programs any longer. What a relief!
Thanks to everybody who contributed ideas!
If you're having problems, back up whatever data you want to keep to your computer. Go download eugenes 2.2 that doesn't brick. Flash that, do a battery pull once it's done (don't reboot). Then go get a stock eclair file, flash that with odin and check repartition. This solved every problem I had from flashing way too many roms.
Yea, when in doubt I thank the deities for Eugene and flash his "Froyo that doesn't brick" followed by the stock JFD firmware.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
brnagndan said:
If you're having problems, back up whatever data you want to keep to your computer. Go download eugenes 2.2 that doesn't brick. Flash that, do a battery pull once it's done (don't reboot). Then go get a stock eclair file, flash that with odin and check repartition. This solved every problem I had from flashing way too many roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to say, that trying this solved nothing. Just the same as before.
ullrotta said:
Sorry to say, that trying this solved nothing. Just the same as before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You clicked the "repartition" option? That should format your internal sd...
I7oobie said:
You clicked the "repartition" option? That should format your internal sd...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's the weird part.. It doesn't really delete anything. Files are still there, and so are the un-wanted system files, too.
Does anyone know if I can manually partition the sdcard?
Had a similar issue, and couldn't fully erase my files. Figured out how to completely erase everything, before you proceed, backup your files and be ready to Odin. In rom manager, enable advanced mode in settings, then use the flash alternate recovery option. That set my current cwm version to 2.5.1.2, now when I reboot to cwm i have a menu that says something similar to "sd and storage" and within that menu are options to completely format all of the internal storage. Be careful in there, you can delete everything, incl the sd ext, but I think this is what you are looking for.
Edited - I rebooted and checked the menus, mounts and storage in cwm is what you are looking for after flashing the alternate recovery, I can confirm this removes remnants that an Odin repartition or factory format still leaves behind, let me reiterate, backup your personal files, cause this does remove everything
After formatting, Odin away
Sent from my T959 running Bionix1.91 with Jacs OC/UV and Voodoo
same thing happened to me >.> I just formatted the SD card on the phone. then flashed whatever rom I wanted.
Br1cK'd said:
Had a similar issue, and couldn't fully erase my files. Figured out how to completely erase everything, before you proceed, backup your files and be ready to Odin. In rom manager, enable advanced mode in settings, then use the flash alternate recovery option. That set my current cwm version to 2.5.1.2, now when I reboot to cwm i have a menu that says something similar to "sd and storage" and within that menu are options to completely format all of the internal storage. Be careful in there, you can delete everything, incl the sd ext, but I think this is what you are looking for.
Edited - I rebooted and checked the menus, mounts and storage in cwm is what you are looking for after flashing the alternate recovery, I can confirm this removes remnants that an Odin repartition or factory format still leaves behind, let me reiterate, backup your personal files, cause this does remove everything
After formatting, Odin away
Sent from my T959 running Bionix1.91 with Jacs OC/UV and Voodoo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I boot into recovery, I always have to reinstall packages to get to the CWM recovery menu. I tried to clear everything from the mounts and storage submenu; I cleared system, cache and data, then flashed stock eclair. STILL the same applications and files sit on the internal SD.
When performing the wiping, all looks normal. It does take a little time, and the system reports that all is going according to plan, yet no files are deleted.
What can possibly make the phone act this way? Are there no super secret samsung-technician codes that allow me to completely wipe clean the face of the sdcard?
When you get into the storage and mounts menu, I would format everything given what you're experiencing. Format boot, data, system, cache, and sdcard. Dont format the sd ext, thats the physical card. After formatting all of those your phone should be an odin ready blank slate, mine was. Hope this helps.
Sent from my T959 running Bionix1.9 with Jacs OC/UV and Voodoo
this has to be one of the most useful threads. just last night i was messing with rom manager and enabled advanced settings, BEEFORE reading this thread. I've done so much monkeying, but didn't keep a journal or log, so ive got **** from so many hacks and tweaks (mods and themes)...
thanks, im gonna wipe this ****er clean.
Good Info..but moved to Q&A
Br1cK'd said:
When you get into the storage and mounts menu, I would format everything given what you're experiencing. Format boot, data, system, cache, and sdcard. Dont format the sd ext, thats the physical card. After formatting all of those your phone should be an odin ready blank slate, mine was. Hope this helps.
Sent from my T959 running Bionix1.9 with Jacs OC/UV and Voodoo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I tried yesterday. I'll try it again a few times to see if I can find a way.
ullrotta said:
This is exactly what I tried yesterday. I'll try it again a few times to see if I can find a way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping that would help you friend, that process wiped mine clean of all remnants. Good luck in getting her back into a functional state.
After reading som more, contacting Samsung Service, I've decided to send the phone in for service. [sigh]
I've learnt a lot about ADB, pushing and pulling files, rooting, unrooting, swapping ROMS and whatnot. Still, the phone is stuck in that weird place where I cannot delete files.
Hopefully the service team can fix this poor, misguided phone
"Eļ¼Error in /sdcard/update-cm-7.1.0-GalaxyS2-signed.zip
(Status 7)
Installation aborted"
this is what i saw after flashed rom, can anyone help me?
The zip file got corrupted in the download or when you transferred it from your computer to your phone (more likely the latter). You need to redownload the file and put it on your phone again. Make sure you don't disconnect your phone until you are 100% all the files have transferred.
postfatal said:
The zip file got corrupted in the download or when you transferred it from your computer to your phone (more likely the latter). You need to redownload the file and put it on your phone again. Make sure you don't disconnect your phone until you are 100% all the files have transferred.
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Click to collapse
thanks and i'm trying to "redownload"
but i have another question, i wiped data and cache in the cwm recovery, however when i flash "I9100ZSKI3_I9100OZSKI3_I9100XXKI3_HOME_ROOT" and go to the home screen, the things i've downloaded are still here!! i've tried twice ( i mean "wipe data and cache" and the apps are still here!!!
it means now it seems the problem is "can't wipe data" !
can anybody help me?
What on earth is "I9100ZSKI3_I9100OZSKI3_I9100XXKI3_HOME_ROOT"?
What I think you're asking is why after flashing doing a data wipe (factory reset) and flashing a ROM you still have apps etc? The ROM installs things onto your phone that are deleted when you data wipe. Data wipe will remove everything that a ROM cannot install for you (random apps form the appstore you use, text messages, contacts etc.).
I'm running rooted ICS on my SGS2, have had no problem with it and have been running it for a while without any further modifications, however last night the battery went completely flat on me which hasn't happened before and after fully charging the phone, when I turn it back on it goes into a crash loop - That is no applications will start, and the screen is non responsive, then it closes TWLauncher and restarts the on screen apps again. For a few seconds the screen is responsive but whichever app I click on just says it has crashed. I can't even get it to display the Power off/reboot menu. After several cycles of this the phone completely resets.
I've removed the battery and attempted to get it into CWM but the screen just goes black when it should show CWM and then restarts after a few seconds.
Can someone please help me as I can't use my phone
I've managed to get into CWM - Backed up and then cleared cache & dalvik cache.
It went through it's "Android is upgrading" process and came up looking hopeful (Loaded a few extra bits) but then reset and is doing the exact same thing again
Any further ideas?
Factory wipe, if that fails, flash your stock ROM from odin assuming you can get onto download mode?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
B97 said:
Factory wipe, if that fails, flash your stock ROM from odin assuming you can get onto download mode?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping that would be a plan F. I wanted to try plans B>E first if possible.
Edit: Is it possible to backup with CWM the "SD Card" section as I have no other way of backing up it's contents and would like to keep them (Photo's etc.).
acecombat said:
I was hoping that would be a plan F. I wanted to try plans B>E first if possible.
Edit: Is it possible to backup with CWM the "SD Card" section as I have no other way of backing up it's contents and would like to keep them (Photo's etc.).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wipe data, cache and dalvik cache and reboot. wiping data will not delete contents of ur sdcard.if that doesn't help copy rom files into external card and flash rom from external card by full wipe.
If your CWM recovery support usb mass storage mode, copy ur rom flashable zip into /sdcard, wipe data, wipe cache, then install zip. You should at least able to boot successfully, though all your contact, sms, apps will be gone.
As of yesterday, my CM7.1 phone won't boot - it gets stuck at the "rotating arrow" blue Android for ever. It's a Samsung Galaxy S II GT-9100.
I have been running CM 7.1.0 for several happy months now, and haven't tried to install or upgrade my ROM. The last action I took before this happened is that I made a full system backup (using CWM 5.0.2.6).
That backup is present on the internal memory. I can boot into recovery, mount drives and access devices using adb shell. So I do have an opportunity to fix what's broken, if I can work out what it is.
Given that the last thing I did was a backup, I checked to see if any of the partitions were full, but none are. (None is more than 42% full according to df; although strangely, df does not show any partition mounted on /.) I tried making another backup, watching carefully - that worked fine. I tried restoring the first backup - no improvement.
I've also tried wiping everything Recovery allows me to that's non data-destructive - cache, Dalvik cache etc. It hasn't helped.
How do I work out what's wrong? Is there a boot log file anywhere which might give me a clue as to what is wrong? I've searched for "*.log" but can't find anything obvious.
I don't want to do a factory wipe if I can avoid it, because obviously that will lose all my data. If I do a factory wipe and restore just the data partition, does that put me pretty much back where I was? If so, how do I restore just the data partition? The Restore option in CWM Recovery seems to do full backups only, and only from a particular directory.
The original CM and Google Apps zips are still on the internal SD (same versions as are currently not working). Would it be worth trying to reinstall those, without wiping? Or would that be data-destructive?
Any other ideas?
Thanks!
Gerv
SOLVED - remove 0-byte data/system/profiles.xml
I tried doing a full factory reset from Recovery. This got the phone booting again, but without any of my data . Fortunately, ClockWorkMod has a "partial backup restore" function. I restored the data partition... and the phone stopped booting again.
So this is progress. I now had some idea where the problem lay. I finally found it using a laborious 5-minutes-per-cycle manual bisection technique. Delete half the stuff on the data partition, reboot, if it still fails, delete more, reboot... once you get it to boot, restore the data partition, narrow it down further. Once you find a top-level directory, repeat the process inside it.
The result: the existence of a single 0-byte file stopped my phone from booting entirely. The file was: data/system/profiles.xml.
I have no idea what that file does (there are only a few references online), how a 0-byte version of it got created, or why having it existent but empty breaks things but if it's not present everything works fine. I have no idea if anyone else will ever see this problem, or if they will ever find this forum post. But still, here's my Wisdom of the Ancients (google the phrase for the relevant XKCD comic).
I was running AOKP 4.3 and downloaded the latest 10/30 update. I flashed in CWM recovery and everything took as normal. I wiped cache and dalvik and then rebooted. Apps updated as normal and lockscreen presented. I unlocked and immediately received two force closes (timely & swype) if I click them or not, if I unlock or not, the phone will crash and reboot every 6 or so seconds. Luckily, if I'm quick, I can reboot into recovery. I am in CWM but my external SD card won't mount so I can't load anything onto it and attempt a new flash and the only rom file on my internal SD is the one that got me in trouble here. I've gone back into recovery and attempted to wipe data/factory reset/etc. and nothing changes. Internal storage won't mount when I'm connected to my computer with a cable.
I don't mind losing everything and starting from scratch. I've tried to seek out my own info but there is SOO many threads and videos and I don't know where to start. Can someone please tell me the most efficient way to get back to a clean start? I was on JellyBeans from 1-22 and looking back that was probably more my speed. I shouldn't have tried to switch to 4.3 at all. I was able to run AOKP for about two months without issue but I seem to be out of my element here.
Can anyone smarter than me please take pity on me here? Sorry to waste your time as well.
Try just wiping the system, reflash rom and gapps. I think this keeps your apps in tact, if just not just use tb and restore. Otherwise full wipe sounds necessary, but not horrible. Just restore everything with tb