[Q] twlauncher crash loop error / factory reset? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

1) I have twlauncher crash loop error (i caused this while using swiftkey 3 typing an email in skyfire then i pressed home key to bring back to home, phone crashed, took out battery, put it back it, hey presto twlauncher crash loop error plus every other crash loop error. I did not recently install any apps etc)
2) i cannot do the "normal fix" of remote install alternative launcher on google play store on pc then push to mobile because due to twlauncher crash loop error, i cannot turn on wifi or mobile 3g so phone cannot connec to internet
3) what's left is power + vol up + home = factory reset? But will that brick my phone?
I ask because a long time ago, I flashed the firmware using Odin and rooted the phone, so when it starts up there is yellow triangle. If I use the stock Android recovery program to factory reset, is that going to break my phone because I installed a different firmware / rom on it? PS i don't remember what i installed, or even how because it was a long time ago and i have forgotten.
I also found this website, http://knowledge-republic.com/CRM/2...alled-process-com-sec-android-app-twlauncher/
seeme interesting, but i can't check it out yet because my smartphone broke while travelling and i don't get back home for a few days yet. anyone confirm the above link? It seems to be written in bad english.
thanks

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
1) I have twlauncher crash loop error (i caused this while using swiftkey 3 typing an email in skyfire then i pressed home key to bring back to home, phone crashed, took out battery, put it back it, hey presto twlauncher crash loop error plus every other crash loop error. I did not recently install any apps etc)
2) i cannot do the "normal fix" of remote install alternative launcher on google play store on pc then push to mobile because due to twlauncher crash loop error, i cannot turn on wifi or mobile 3g so phone cannot connec to internet
3) what's left is power + vol up + home = factory reset? But will that brick my phone?
I ask because a long time ago, I flashed the firmware using Odin and rooted the phone, so when it starts up there is yellow triangle. If I use the stock Android recovery program to factory reset, is that going to break my phone because I installed a different firmware / rom on it? PS i don't remember what i installed, or even how because it was a long time ago and i have forgotten.
I also found this website, http://knowledge-republic.com/CRM/2...alled-process-com-sec-android-app-twlauncher/
seeme interesting, but i can't check it out yet because my smartphone broke while travelling and i don't get back home for a few days yet. anyone confirm the above link? It seems to be written in bad english.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you confirm if Usb debug is enabled on your phone?

---

Jokesy said:
can you confirm if Usb debug is enabled on your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it is enabled. What does that affect exactly, if the method in the last link will work?
I still don't have access to my own laptop yet as I'm travelling.

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
yes it is enabled. What does that affect exactly, if the method in the last link will work?
I still don't have access to my own laptop yet as I'm travelling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you have access to your laptop, let me know. You are going to install another launcher via ADB, so there won't be any need to factory reset

---

Jokesy said:
When you have access to your laptop, let me know. You are going to install another launcher via ADB, so there won't be any need to factory reset
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be reunited with my laptop in a few hours. So what are the steps for this fix? Life without my smartphone is difficult :crying:

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
I will be reunited with my laptop in a few hours. So what are the steps for this fix? Life without my smartphone is difficult :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Download ADB.zip here: www.mediafire.com/?18k1mi04lpg75y2
2. Extract the zip on your computer. (Please note this location)
3. Ensure Samsung USB drivers is installed on your laptop. Just install kies if you are not sure.
4. Download Go launcher Ex here: www.iapktop.com/go-launcher-ex-3-16.html
You can also download any launcher of your choice.
5. Copy the launcher .apk you just downloaded to the extracted ADB folder. Rename the launcher to launcher.apk
When you are done let me know

---

Jokesy said:
1. Download ADB.zip here: www.mediafire.com/?18k1mi04lpg75y2
2. Extract the zip on your computer. (Please note this location)
3. Ensure Samsung USB drivers is installed on your laptop. Just install kies if you are not sure.
4. Download Go launcher Ex here: www.iapktop.com/go-launcher-ex-3-16.html
You can also download any launcher of your choice.
5. Copy the launcher .apk you just downloaded to the extracted ADB folder. Rename the launcher to launcher.apk
When you are done let me know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mean whatever the apk for the launcher is originally called, rename to launcher.apk?
and also, i'm just setting off now for the journey ahead, by the time i have my laptop, i think you'll be in bed and i will have to wait until tomorrow. so pls just all the steps so i try asap when i have laptop? much appreciated btw!

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
you mean whatever the apk for the launcher is originally called, rename to launcher.apk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Rename it to launcher.apk
After finishing with the steps in my previous post, you can move to the following steps:
1. Connect your device to pc (power it on) and wait for the drivers to install
2. Open the extracted ADB folder,
- hold the SHIFT key, and RIGHT CLICK on a blank area in the folder,
- select OPEN COMMAND PROMPT HERE, from the right click options,
- command window will open
3. In command window, type as follows
- adb devices
#this will confirm if your device is connected
- adb install launcher.apk
- adb reboot
Wait for your phone to reboot, then disconnect it from your Pc.
You should now have the option to choose another launcher.
Done.

---

it's not working. I think it's because the twlauncher error has somehow caused my phone to be unrooted, or at least making all applications requring superuser access disabled. because the adb install command fails because it says an folder (/data/local/tmp/) is read / only and when I go into Root Explorer to try making it r/w, the first message i get is the Superuser application stopping unexpectedly.
but when i check for root access using adb, ie "adb shell", I get "#", which means I still have root access?
I don't understand.
-------------------------------
Upon further investigation, it seems that the entire /data folder and subfolders are locked to r/o by the twlauncher failure (logprovider as well as every other crash loop error) caused initially by Swiftkey 3 when i pressed the home key while typing in Skyfire.
I have managed to regain some minor amount of utility by following a series of frustrated attempts,
*when there are 10 different crash loop errors, try pressing as fast as I can go to into task manager, the crash loop errors will now be reduced to about 3, then clear ram. This takes something like 25 attemps
*when there 2 crash loop errors remaining, try pressing as fast as i can "force close -> options (button left of home key) -> setting in the pop up panel. This will take something like 50 attempts to get the timing right so I am able to fast press everything in sequence before the next force error makes me start again.
*once into settings, there is just one crash loop error (logprovider), go into applications, all, twlauncher and press force end (obviously there'll be crash loop errors so you have to be quick in pressing keys)
*now there are no crash loop errors until you press the homekey or try and access all your applications (twlauncher error remains, logprovider will come up again and i have to repeat all these steps if i try to use contact/message function)
What the above has essentially enabled me to do is to access a few applications that was on my 1st or 2nd homescreen by chance (not all will work) , i still can't access any on my app screen as twlauncher crashes too fast.
This is how I have been able to simultaenously mess around with Root Explorer and ADB on my PC in USB debugging mode.
This is how i have discovered that when I use Rootexplorer, initially it says Superuser application has stopped and I have to force close it.
However, I am still able to use Rootexplorer to mount r/w or r/o on a few folders, such as /system , so this implies that I do still have root access. However, there is no options to make /data r/w, even in root explorer, attempts using adb to make /data r/w also fails.
What this means is that I can't clear the cache / dalvik-cache as they are sub folders of /data. It means that adb install launcher.apk fails because /data/local/tmp, the folder where you're copying the apk to is r/o. It means that I can't install or uninstall any applications because /data/apps is read only.
For eg, I have used adb push launcher.apk successfully to put go ex launcher in the /system/apps folder, but it just stays there as an apk file (from previous experiences, putting an apk in the /system/apps file doesn't make that apk install on boot, because you need an odex file for that apk). So when I manually select to install that apk, phone crashes and reboots because /data/apps is r/o. This is also how I can't uninstall or clear the cache of the application that caused this in the first place (swiftkey 3)

---

Model Number: GT-I9100
Android Version: 2.3.3.
Baseband version: I9100XXKDH
Kernel Version: 2.6.35.7-I9100XWKDD-CL161513
[email protected] #2
Build Number: GINGERBREAD.XWKDD
--------------
Oh and I found how to get contacts and messages.
Using ADB
adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db
adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databses/mmssms.db
Then I installed SQ Lite Manager add on for Firefox and opened the 2 .db files.
Well, I'm making progress now on how to read the information from a database, it's like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I feel confident in putting them together via extensive cross referencing and recovering all text messages and phone numbers, even if I have to type them out by hand into Word.
Thanks Jokesy for helping me with this damn Twlauncher problem. If the worst comes to worst, I think I can recover all personal data from the device before wiping everything.

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
Model Number: GT-I9100
Android Version: 2.3.3.
Baseband version: I9100XXKDH
Kernel Version: 2.6.35.7-I9100XWKDD-CL161513
[email protected] #2
Build Number: GINGERBREAD.XWKDD
--------------
Oh and I found how to get contacts and messages.
Using ADB
adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db
adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databses/mmssms.db
Then I installed SQ Lite Manager add on for Firefox and opened the 2 .db files.
Unfornately, having never seen a database file before in my life, haven't found way to convert the information into a useful display format, et all telephone numbers corresponding to contact name, and all messages in their own threads.
Thanks Jokesy for helping me with this damn Twlauncher problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't worry.
1. You need to flash a ROOT kernel with CWM recovery. You can flash CF-ROOT kernel or Siyah kernel via Odin
2. We need this so that adb can gain root access, and also to probably flash another launcher at worst via CWM recovery. We can also disable Touchwiz launcher temporarily via ADB.
3. Do you have CWM zip template?
---------- Post added at 03:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 AM ----------
1. Download Siyah kernel 2.6.6 : www.gokhanmoral.com/public/files/siyahkernel/Siyah-v2.6.6.tar
2. Download CF-ROOT kernel
3. Flash Siyah kernel via Odin
When you are done, let me know

---

Jokesy said:
don't worry.
1. You need to flash a ROOT kernel with CWM recovery. You can flash CF-ROOT kernel or Siyah kernel via Odin
2. We need this so that adb can gain root access, and also to probably flash another launcher at worst via CWM recovery. We can also disable Touchwiz launcher temporarily via ADB.
3. Do you have CWM zip template?
---------- Post added at 03:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:10 AM ----------
1. Download Siyah kernel 2.6.6 : www.gokhanmoral.com/public/files/siyahkernel/Siyah-v2.6.6.tar
2. Download CF-ROOT kernel
3. Flash Siyah kernel via Odin
When you are done, let me know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056334
I originally rooted my phone following the instructions in that thread. So I assume the kernels you're referring to are compatible with the ROM I flashed?
No I do not have CWM zip template, what is it and where/how can i get it/make it?
I basically rooted my phone as soon as I got it, didn't change a thing after the initial messing about.
Why do you want me to download the CF-Root Kernel but flash the Siyah kernel?
I will redownload Odin and see about the flashing the kernel as you have said. It's been a while.. I also need to sleep now for a while, when I wake up tomorrow morning, I will read a bit more about the stuff you have to me to do, then try to do it. Thx.

---

Ok.
That means you rooted your phone using insecure kernel, right?
I want you to download and flash a kernel that has CWM recovery. We really need it to flash another launcher and rename Touchwiz launcher via CWM recovery.
What's your time there?
---------- Post added at 04:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 AM ----------
Yes, the Siyah kernel is compatible with gingerbread.
I couldn't find a compatible CF-ROOT kernel, so i guess you will have to flash Siyah kernel

---

Jokesy said:
Ok.
That means you rooted your phone using insecure kernel, right?
I want you to download and flash a kernel that has CWM recovery. We really need it to flash another launcher and rename Touchwiz launcher via CWM recovery.
What's your time there?
---------- Post added at 04:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:02 AM ----------
Yes, the Siyah kernel is compatible with gingerbread.
I couldn't find a compatible CF-ROOT kernel, so i guess you will have to flash Siyah kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UK Time. I will be here now for a several hours.
Well, I think it's insecure because when I start my phone there is a yellow triangle with ! inside.
So, I've downloaded Odin 3.04. The Siyah Kernal as you said, after extracting from zip, I get "zImage", type of file is "File."
So how to flash? I really have forgotten all of this. So I start my SGS2 in Download Mode, go to Odin, select PDA, select zImage, the press Start?
What then? Thx

---

You don't need to extraxt it from .tar select PDA then selexct unzipped Kernel and then start

---

Paulius7 said:
You don't need to extraxt it from .tar select PDA then selexct unzipped Kernel and then start
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin ID:COM is is not turning yellow, it is a sort of light blue colour. Is this to do with odin v3.04 rather than v1.85?
------------------------
OK I've flashed it. Odin shows in green PASS!
----------------------
Ok, phone boots as normal, still yellow warning triangle. Still Twlauncher error.
-----------------------
Now The recovery mode has changed from default Android to CW-based Recovery v5.0.2.7 with the following options:
reboot system now
apply update from sdcard
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
install zip from sdcard
backup and restore
mounts and storage
advanced
power off
+++++Go Back+++++

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
Odin ID:COM is is not turning yellow, it is a sort of light blue colour. Is this to do with odin v3.04 rather than v1.85?
------------------------
OK I've flashed it. Odin shows in green PASS!
----------------------
Ok, phone boots as normal, still yellow warning triangle. Still Twlauncher error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. All now if you want to remove triangle search on this forum "triangle away" in play is paid in this forum free.
But with crashing twlauncher I can't help...
Send form Galaxy S2. Using XDA Premium

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
Odin ID:COM is is not turning yellow, it is a sort of light blue colour. Is this to do with odin v3.04 rather than v1.85?
------------------------
OK I've flashed it. Odin shows in green PASS!
----------------------
Ok, phone boots as normal, still yellow warning triangle. Still Twlauncher error.
-----------------------
Now The recovery mode has changed from default Android to CW-based Recovery v5.0.2.7 with the following options:
reboot system now
apply update from sdcard
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
install zip from sdcard
backup and restore
mounts and storage
advanced
power off
+++++Go Back+++++
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good.
Download CWM.zip template
follow these steps:
1. Rename Go launcher.apk to com.gau.go.launcherex-1.apk
2 Open CWM.zip with 7zip, WinRar or similar apps (Don't Extract)
3. Copy com.gau.go.launcherex-1.apk to data/app
4. Close CWM.zip
5. Boot to Recovery
- Select Mounts and Storage
- Connect your phone to PC
- Turn on USB storage
- Copy CWM.zip to your phone
- Safely remove you phone from pc
- Unmount usb storage from recovery
- Disconnect phone from PC
- Press back button, select flash zip from Sd card
- Flash CWM.zip
- reboot phone

---

Jokesy said:
Good.
Download CWM.zip template
follow these steps:
1. Rename Go launcher.apk to com.gau.go.launcherex-1.apk
2 Open CWM.zip with 7zip, WinRar or similar apps (Don't Extract)
3. Copy com.gau.go.launcherex-1.apk to data/app
4. Close CWM.zip
5. Boot to Recovery
- Select Mounts and Storage
- Connect your phone to PC
- Turn on USB storage
- Copy CWM.zip to your phone
- Safely remove you phone from pc
- Unmount usb storage from recovery
- Disconnect phone from PC
- Press back button, select flash zip from Sd card
- Flash CWM.zip
- reboot phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Done of all that.
Phone reboots ok.
Still Twlauncher error, there is no option to use another launcher?
-------------------------
Just checked /data/apps no sign of the com.gau.go.launcherex-1.apk that should have been flashed.
Rebooting phone now because some other previous installed apps were greyed out, meaning error with sd card reading.

---

jeanclaudevandamme said:
OK. Done of all that.
Phone reboots ok.
Still Twlauncher error, there is no option to use another launcher?
-------------------------
Just checked /data/apps no sign of the com.gau.go.launcherex-1.apk that should have been flashed.
Rebooting phone now because some other previous installed apps were greyed out, meaning error with sd card reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have rebooted the phone, anything?