Hey everyone,
I already had a topic on this matter but I will start afresh since i had exams and now im free to fix my damn phone.
Initially I had ICS and I wanted to upgrade to JB, I normally format everything after I go back to stock and root it, but this time I decided to format it BEFORE going back to original, and I did it not in the settings menu but in CMW!!! I dont know what I pressed there, but I think I also pressed partitioning, final result was bricked phone.
For hours I tried to restore it to at least be able to turn it on, but even now the firmware installation doesnt go as smoothly anymore, I think I messed up my partitions, I will need help with that.
THE MAIN PROBLEM NOW. Is that I got my IMEI deleted, and all other system codes too.
Before I did any of this I made a backup with nandroid, and it has saved my efs folder which apparently is supposed to carry the IMEI
However, when I restore the back up, the IMEI does not reappear!
I tried:
GSII Repair
HC-kTool
I tried restoring the backed up EFS folder with CMW but it did not do anything at all
Please give me other solutions I am desperate, I am forced to use Nokia N73 its a nightmare in all aspects =[
great I scanned (verified) my backup with nandroid for MD5 thing and it says PASS on everything but on efs.ext4.tar, it says FAIL
please help, how could I mess up even my back up =[[
I guess you didn't read up on the memory bug issue when using stock ICS and wiping with the stock kernel. You may be SOL, my friend.:crying:
Miami_Son said:
I guess you didn't read up on the memory bug issue when using stock ICS and wiping with the stock kernel. You may be SOL, my friend.:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didnt use stock ICS, I used stock gingerbread, but before i had a chance to install the gingerbread i went into CMW and deleted everything, which was really dumb of me to do but its done now.. i backed it up it works fine now, just doesnt recognize sim cause the IMEI is not there
You've tried using Odin to go back to stock?
Yes, I would go to stock first, format, root, then install new software, but this time i ****ed up everything decided to mess with CMW
Weird thing though is that I made a backup of my EFS before I messed it all up, but now when I "verify MD5" it with nandroid it says "FAILED" on EFS and "PASS" on everything else, then I noticed when I restore my phone with backup in CMW it also says that it is verifying with MD5, what I think is I somehow messed up my backup too, or it didnt back up properly, or my EFS was messed up long before I backed it up but it still kept working somehow
I think I need to somehow fix my original backed up EFS manually and then try restoring it again.. any ideas? I got the IMEI converting software for galaxy S3 from a friend on forum but i havent tried anything because im not sure whether there simply dumping the code will work for GS2.
igorukusa said:
I didnt use stock ICS, I used stock gingerbread, but before i had a chance to install the gingerbread i went into CMW and deleted everything, which was really dumb of me to do but its done now.. i backed it up it works fine now, just doesnt recognize sim cause the IMEI is not there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I read this "Initially I had ICS and I wanted to upgrade to JB" and assumed you were on stock ICS.
no Im sorry for the misunderstanding, originally I had gingerbred, then rooted ics, i never had official ics, i think i might have messed up my partitions too, but there is no fix for that anywhere, only warnings
Someone (champ1919) has recomented i use this method
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=881162
It involved using Hex editor and editing few lines in the nv_data.bac
unfortunately that file needs no editing as everything in it seems to be correct,
so this is not whats causing me get null/null
I need more suggestions :/
If you had rooted ICS and did a wipe you could still have the memory bug issue. Have you read up on that to see if it could be your problem?
Miami_Son said:
If you had rooted ICS and did a wipe you could still have the memory bug issue. Have you read up on that to see if it could be your problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I haven't :/ theres so much to read its inhumane.. I think i messed up my partitions for good, what actually frustrates me about android is that It does this retarded partitions that makes no sense, it leaves 2GB for the system, the rest it calls "sdcard" when you install something it actually installs on that 2GB partition, WHYYYYYYYY???? then there is an option of transfering the program to "sdcard" which is probably the remaining phone memory, whether i am right or wrong, the system memory gets clogged up so badly for no reason that the phone starts glitching like crazy, i have never had that problem with iPhone, if this continues I will switch back to iPhone 5S when it comes out, im too tired of this crap
igorukusa said:
No I haven't :/ theres so much to read its inhumane.. I think i messed up my partitions for good, what actually frustrates me about android is that It does this retarded partitions that makes no sense, it leaves 2GB for the system, the rest it calls "sdcard" when you install something it actually installs on that 2GB partition, WHYYYYYYYY???? then there is an option of transfering the program to "sdcard" which is probably the remaining phone memory, whether i am right or wrong, the system memory gets clogged up so badly for no reason that the phone starts glitching like crazy, i have never had that problem with iPhone, if this continues I will switch back to iPhone 5S when it comes out, im too tired of this crap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android isn't for everyone. It requires a lot more time and dedication to learn if u really want to customize things to your liking. Once you've been doing it a while and have read up on most things though it becomes a lot easier. I do agree the initial learning curve is steeper than with iPhone, but I guess that's the whole idea behind android. Being able to do things your way how you like them. Good luck, happy flashing.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1596842
Dug it up from the international I9100 forum. Some people are able to repair theirs. Of course apply I777 stock Roms and not any they provide in there.
Odin to rooted stock ics 4.0.3 then start from step 3. Assuming you have your network signal intact. Worth a shot. Let me know how it goes.
igorukusa said:
No I haven't :/ theres so much to read its inhumane.. I think i messed up my partitions for good, what actually frustrates me about android is that It does this retarded partitions that makes no sense, it leaves 2GB for the system, the rest it calls "sdcard" when you install something it actually installs on that 2GB partition, WHYYYYYYYY???? then there is an option of transfering the program to "sdcard" which is probably the remaining phone memory, whether i am right or wrong, the system memory gets clogged up so badly for no reason that the phone starts glitching like crazy, i have never had that problem with iPhone, if this continues I will switch back to iPhone 5S when it comes out, im too tired of this crap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is a security thing. You don't need to execute movies, music, or books which should take up the majority of space. So they move those to a place you can't execute things on. And the programs must be put in the executable space which is much smaller. The logic is fine, but it isn't very adaptable (harder to change partition sizes than to just flag a file as read-only, which means it is harder to put a virus in there and execute it too). Unfortunately security features often makes things harder or more likely to fail.
iPhone vs Android is like Mac vs Linux. The first generally just works if you are happy with the Apple way, and costs a lot more for the hardware. The second lets you customize more, and can be harder to use. But you can work around issues with enough effort.
OneOfMany07 said:
I think it is a security thing. You don't need to execute movies, music, or books which should take up the majority of space. So they move those to a place you can't execute things on. And the programs must be put in the executable space which is much smaller. The logic is fine, but it isn't very adaptable (harder to change partition sizes than to just flag a file as read-only, which means it is harder to put a virus in there and execute it too). Unfortunately security features often makes things harder or more likely to fail.
iPhone vs Android is like Mac vs Linux. The first generally just works if you are happy with the Apple way, and costs a lot more for the hardware. The second lets you customize more, and can be harder to use. But you can work around issues with enough effort.
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Click to collapse
its ridiculously retarded, its affecting your experience, chance of getting hacked is 1:100 if you live in a city, and constantly sit on public wifi hotspot, and even then there are tooks that have nothing to do with your operating system to hack you, im telling you this is bullcrap im so tired of it that its up my throat
j510 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1596842
Dug it up from the international I9100 forum. Some people are able to repair theirs. Of course apply I777 stock Roms and not any they provide in there.
Odin to rooted stock ics 4.0.3 then start from step 3. Assuming you have your network signal intact. Worth a shot. Let me know how it goes.
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Click to collapse
hey my friend thank you for the link, i did what he said in the tutorial, but unfortunately its just the EFS repair, in my case i completely ****ed up my efs, i dont think its even recognized by the system anymore, i need to manually punch in the IMEI, theres a tutorial for SGS3, but none for SGS2 which is another thing thats frustrating, every phone has its own solution to a problem, maybe the solution would work but i cant put my phone in the DIAG mode I WDONT KNOW HOW TO DO THAT AND THERE IS NO TUTORIAL FOR THIS MODEL OF THE PHONE
605 iesaedn
Unfortunately I can't help you... I'm in a similar boat. Trying to find out how to rebuild/restore the EFS and NV info on a phone I got to switch over to my plan.
I've had all kinds of OS on it so far and nothing works. Need to put in the IMEI, the APN, etc... can't...
Like you... I find all of the I9100 stuff... but not much for the i777
Good luck and please post if you find a fix.
DM
For You Slow People who never do any research!!!
I just wanted to make it clear to fellow U.S. users. It is not illegal to swap a imei from one phone to another phone that are both in your legal possession in the United States. The last few years Congress has proposed legislation to prohibit this activity, but it always dies in committee. It was recentyly proposed again on April 25th of this year and sent to committee where it will most likely be tabled there again. See this link for the newly proposed legislation:
govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1730/text[/url]
The Cloning laws in the United States only apply to cloning sim cards or esn numbers. Because cloning sim cards and/or esn's can lead to subscriber fraud. Which means you can actually steal someone's service without paying for it while the true owner of the sim or esn is stuck with paying for your usage. With IMEI numbers that is not possible due to the fact that is controlled by the sim card in gsm devices, not the IMEI. And as a matter of law and fact, you can clone your own sim or esn from a device in your legal possession because in that situation there is no intent to commit fraud which the cloning laws aim to prevent.
I challenge any of you "slow" people to find a law in the U.S. that prohibits swapping IMEI numbers. And, after you come back empty handed, ask yourself this question. Why does congress year after year try to propose laws to prohibit IMEI swapping if it is already illegal???
Related
Curious for those of us without the proper tools or the know how to do this properly. This works for the Note but can also work for any other device.
Just study up. Read the instructions. Visit the general section and read. Flashing is easy. Best to just learn. Watch some YouTube videos. Be careful. Have fun.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
NightHawkUndead said:
Just study up. Read the instructions. Visit the general section and read. Flashing is easy.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You missed the part in the OP about not having the proper tools. No amount of reading or studying or preparing can help when the tool is made for Windows and you're running a Mac (or no computer at all).
OP -- I'm sure there's plenty of people on here who do (or would help you with) flashing ROMs but a lot of that is going to depend on where you live. Best bet: Craigslist and see if you can find someone in the Cell Phones section who does that. Denver (yes... where I am) has a ton of shops that will flash custom ROMs for you - but of course they want you to pay for the privilege.
However - I would really recommend finding someone local and trustworthy. Don't EVER send someone your device, because let's be honest - you'll most likely never see it again unless you're sending it to a real business.
bmstrong said:
Curious for those of us without the proper tools or the know how to do this properly. This works for the Note but can also work for any other device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First....start off at YouTube, and watch people root the Nexus One over ADB. You'll learn a few tricks...but most importantly, you'll learn your way around the device manager and the command prompt in windows. While it may seem daunting at first...there are only a few commands you'll need to learn.
That solves the problem you'd have with rooting and installing Clockwork Mod (the basis for flashing any new ROMs.
Lastly...if you can find a valid windows installation (or you can even use a 90 day trial version of windows 7 enterprise) you'll want to install boot camp on your Mac...which allows you to run windows on your Mac. Easily.
By no means am I an android powerhouse, but I do work in IT and am handy with a device manager, various hosts, and windows and Mac.
The next best option would be to offer someone here 10-20 bucks to show you over Skype, or do it for you using go to meeting.
Remember 1 thing. Its actually hard to brick a device if you do a few things.
Only flash RC or final versions of ROMs. In general. These have been THOUROUGHLY tested. The more feedback for a ROM the better. Learn to search threads here frequently.
Don't go about customizing the software by flashing mods (until your more comfortable). Android provides a perfect host system for providing customization via the Play store. Widgets...toggles...backgrounds. Notification tweaks, and almost everything else you'll need can be found on the play store and easily uninstalled.
Lastly...always keep a backup of you're system
via Nandroid, and keep a backup of your apps with Titanium backup.
If you have any more questions....feel free to ask them here or PM me.
You can start by researching "how to do a Nandroid" and "what is clockwork recovery mod" in your favorite search engine.
If you think you can follow the simple steps of performing a Nandroid and you can find your way around Clockwork Recovery Mod....there really isn't much to worry about.
Bricking your device can usually be fixed in the case of a soft brick or boot loop. The real bricking usually happens when you flash software meant for another device, or don't follow instructions.
Once you've flashed your first ROM...you'll find that the process is remarkably similar for all mods ROMs and other packages.
Appreciate the replies. The largest problem I have is the computer itself. I have whole rooms of computers sitting across the street at KSU. Not a problem to use and my pick of OS. The problem lies in they are public and get wiped on shutdown. So no backup. Thoughts?
I've done updates across various Mobiles for years like that.
bmstrong said:
Appreciate the replies. The largest problem I have is the computer itself. I have whole rooms of computers sitting across the street at KSU. Not a problem to use and my pick of OS. The problem lies in they are public and get wiped on shutdown. So no backup. Thoughts?
I've done updates across various Mobiles for years like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly - Once you get CWM setup on the phone there's very little if any need for a computer. I'm not sure what you mean by "backup" but since you're talking about public computers - let's just run through this scenario:
Go across the street and install CWM. Now, let's say a few days later a new ROM comes out. Woohoo! Assuming you've already flashed CWM, all you need to do is shutdown your phone, backup it up in recovery. This saves to your external SD. Reboot. Download new ROM save to internal SD. Shutdown, pull external SD, boot to recovery, flash away.
If you're worried about it - buy a USB external drive and use the university computer to copy the contents of your external SD across to the hard drive every one in a while.
netsyd said:
Honestly - Once you get CWM setup on the phone there's very little if any need for a computer. I'm not sure what you mean by "backup" but since you're talking about public computers - let's just run through this scenario:
Go across the street and install CWM. Now, let's say a few days later a new ROM comes out. Woohoo! Assuming you've already flashed CWM, all you need to do is shutdown your phone, backup it up in recovery. This saves to your external SD. Reboot. Download new ROM save to internal SD. Shutdown, pull external SD, boot to recovery, flash away.
If you're worried about it - buy a USB external drive and use the university computer to copy the contents of your external SD across to the hard drive every one in a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that sounds like a plan. Hmmm. Maybe I can do this myself. Now I need to find a stock stable ICS with NFC enabled. Even better would be one to take advantage of the radio hidden by AT&T. It would be nice to have the option to pop and flop.
Exactly. Once the initial root and new recovery menu is done then you are set. Between a CWM nandroid, Titanium Backup, MybackupPro, and even Appsaver your only real limitation is set by how large your external sdcard is.
You can even use online storage sites like Minus, Google Drive, Drop Box etc to host all of the files so that you can access them anywhere.
Hmmm. What's the closest stock ICS out there right now, if I may?
I am running Flapjaxx Unofficial ICS and it is super smooth. I plan on switching to his latest though once it is finished downloading.
netsyd said:
Honestly - Once you get CWM setup on the phone there's very little if any need for a computer. I'm not sure what you mean by "backup" but since you're talking about public computers - let's just run through this scenario:
Go across the street and install CWM. Now, let's say a few days later a new ROM comes out. Woohoo! Assuming you've already flashed CWM, all you need to do is shutdown your phone, backup it up in recovery. This saves to your external SD. Reboot. Download new ROM save to internal SD. Shutdown, pull external SD, boot to recovery, flash away.
If you're worried about it - buy a USB external drive and use the university computer to copy the contents of your external SD across to the hard drive every one in a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on any Flappjaxxx ROM btw. So you pull your external sd? Have you ever had an issue or is it just a precaution?
Sent from Galaxy Note
bmstrong said:
Appreciate the replies. The largest problem I have is the computer itself. I have whole rooms of computers sitting across the street at KSU. Not a problem to use and my pick of OS. The problem lies in they are public and get wiped on shutdown. So no backup. Thoughts?
I've done updates across various Mobiles for years like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if it would help you to back up on google drive? Ive never tried it or anything but it could possibly give you some cloud space. Maybe a good option?
Yayodroid said:
I wonder if it would help you to back up on google drive? Ive never tried it or anything but it could possibly give you some cloud space. Maybe a good option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. I use both Drive and Dropbox, so no worries. The larger question I have is why do I need to back some of this stuff up? I've never been a big application guy. This Note has 4? Maybe 5 apps on it, aside from the stock Google services. SMS/MMS get deleted instantly or saved into the Cloud. And email moved with my Gmail account and that gets barfed back into each Mobile I use very easily.
Titanium backup seems like a pain in the ass. All I'm after is a clean stock ICS build, a way to shut off the hard keys and replace them with soft buttons, and that MHL works. Turning this Note into a portable LTE MHL Chromebox with a fantastic screen. The option to flop and plop would be nice...
you dont have to back up, but personally i would like to have my own personal backup of stock. of course there are stock odins around here. but in your situation it might be more handy on the cloud to access anytime. you might want to use the back up to flash back to for when they release ics over the air.
Service makes some sense
If you've read many of the questions that some poeple ask on these forums, it really makes me think that certain people really shouldn't be trying some of these things themselves. Most of us have no problem reading and understanding rudimentary steps to get us going, but some people come in with little to no foundation in these matters; what we're saying really is Greek to them. I feel bad, but for these people, I encourage them to seek out someone that knows, at least on a basic level, what they are doing.
I've written looooong, detailed tutorials for people and I'm glad to do it. But sometimes even after that, I get the feeling that these people will still end up messing their phones up. I've been proven right on at least two occasion and I can't help but feel bad... So maybe a pool of people in each area capable and willing to do these kinds of things might make sense. Haven't thought through how that would work, but maybe. Hmmm...
bmstrong said:
Hmmm. What's the closest stock ICS out there right now, if I may?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im using team perfections ics ucle2 objection with rc1 its great as well as fj's
sent from team perfections ics rom
Extremely interesting process and results. I still have a host of questions, why certain things are done in a certain order, what exactly some of the things do that I did, and why when I did not make a back up of anything, it said specifically that it failed, some of my apps and vids are still here in the new FJ ROM. Just a fasincinating first time experience from someone who has always used stock Nexi. The ROM isn't really my taste, I hate Apex and there is bloat apps in it. But!
I feel like the old Quantum Leap show...
You can debloat with tibu. Also, you can use any launcher you want.
Sent from Galaxy Note
1) does anyone for see anymore kernels coming down the line. Imoseyon? Or the likes...
2) is there any evidence that crack flashing eventually slows down a phone? I'm not too keen on the android system... Well not as much as I want to be. Didn't know if its like a computer to where you end up with fragments and what not left behind to slow it down over time. (Hopefully that's not a dumb question...either way though I don't care ... That's how we learn )
I plan on building one at some point, just don't know when I'll get time to do it. I've been fairly busy the past week, so a kernel has been on the back burner since the phone is already really fast, and battery life is already great.
Right on. So any insight on the phone flashing?
blackbass595 said:
Right on. So any insight on the phone flashing?
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Click to collapse
As long as you are wiping all data then I would not see it as a problem... If a computer had a button that said "wipe all user data" and other recovery options. then it would be pretty hard to get that back but I'm sure there is a way as we both know what hackers can do! On a standard hard drive I could see it being easier because it uses OLD tech but with the newer ssd hard drives I would bet it would be harder to get data off that device if someone wiped it. That being said I don't think that there would be much to slow anything down if any as we are pretty much formatting our cards by using custom recoveries but I have had devices that people would recommend to format the data 3-4 times so??? I've personally never had any issues and I have been on Android since it came out but hey, I'm only human... Have you seen the "computer guy" around? Maybe you could ask him? :laugh:
shojus said:
As long as you are wiping all data then I would not see it as a problem... If a computer had a button that said "wipe all user data" and other recovery options. then it would be pretty hard to get that back but I'm sure there is a way as we both know what hackers can do! On a standard hard drive I could see it being easier because it uses OLD tech but with the newer ssd hard drives I would bet it would be harder to get data off that device if someone wiped it. That being said I don't think that there would be much to slow anything down if any as we are pretty much formatting our cards by using custom recoveries but I have had devices that people would recommend to format the data 3-4 times so??? I've personally never had any issues and I have been on Android since it came out but hey, I'm only human... Have you seen the "computer guy" around? Maybe you could ask him? :laugh:
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Click to collapse
Lol...yeah he would know since he was apparently born with knowledge of all things phone. Myself on the other hand have to learn the old fashioned way. But either way...there's no way he would lower himself to answer an average forum goers question. How silly. Ha.
I was just under the impression that wiping or deleting didn't actually do so, it just marks the data to be written over. I know I can recover "deleted" files on my computer for a while after they have been deleted and there are some (such as photos) that you can see where a portion has been written over. Didn't know if phones were the same
blackbass595 said:
Lol...yeah he would know since he was apparently born with knowledge of all things phone. Myself on the other hand have to learn the old fashioned way. But either way...there's no way he would lower himself to answer an average forum goers question. How silly. Ha.
I was just under the impression that wiping or deleting didn't actually do so, it just marks the data to be written over. I know I can recover "deleted" files on my computer for a while after they have been deleted and there are some (such as photos) that you can see where a portion has been written over. Didn't know if phones were the same
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya the thing is that your computer is most likely running a background service to save what you have deleted so that you can restore to an earlier state where as our recovery can be TOTALLY wiped if we wanted to do that. That is why we make nandroids so we can go "back in time" to a state that was functional for us. Without a backup though, your SOL! So no need to worry about slow downs of any type unless your sd card was corrupted or something. "MOVE" lol
I believe this information should be out there for all Android users and i dont recall seeing it anywhere but i hang out here right now and thought i would share what i discovered on accident.
i reference a RAZR M here but INSERT any Android phone as far as i can tell.
***please Devs and such i am not one so ignore my possible misuse of how exactly it operates but i just wanted to share the point of this not how the Android OS operates
i had a RAZR M with ROOT and installed Avast Mobile Security (i believe many others would do this as well) and since i was root i installed it as a /System app. this as some of you may not know makes it kinda part of the OS now. this means that a Factory Reset does not remove it but instead installs it again. i will explain how i discovered this:
- had a RAZR M as mentioned and i installed Avast as /System
- you can rename the app itself to whatever you want like "fletch33" and so anyone who finds your phone wouldnt know it was a security app and try to uninstall it. this is a great feature so i renamed it.
- this will do the standard stuff like locate your device, wipe it, make it beep, etc....
- i decided to give the phone to someone else and they wouldnt want root items or anything so i did a factory reset forgetting i had installed Avast as /System so they would have a clean start with the M
- since Avast was /System it became part of the Factory Reset process and so a what i thought was a clean fresh phone actually still had Avast on it but now since it was fresh and clean there were no signs like an app to remind me i had installed it as root. i honestly forgot it was on there.
- i had selected to get notifications of where the phone is if it traveled a distance but could see it whenever i wanted with a browser login to website and although i had reset it that STILL WORKS! i am getting emails when it moves and can login and see it.
- there are no visible signs that this is on the M (insert any phone)
- in my knowledge the only way the tracking etc... would stop is if i were to ODIN or SBF or whatever the equivalent is on that particular device or i would have to re-install Avast and it would then allow me to put in my passcode and then i could uninstall it.
the moral of the story is that any used phone could have had this done and if not by accident like mine but on purpose for whatever reason.
fortunately i gave the M to a family member and i will fix it for him but it really made me think what it could be used for ....
if this has been mentioned or i am incorrect i apologize in advance but when i started getting emails about where the phone i gave away was located all the time from Avast after a Factory Reset i decided i should share this so that others might take precautions with their second hand Android device.
1. I always Odin my phone and procedure to rooting with in a few short hours of owning device.
And if not, I'm pretty sure unlocking the device will erase everything. (in a lot of my previous cases)
2. And I see nothing wrong with the previous owner being able to track me picking up his wife and taking her back to the white house to make her my First lady
Yep, first thing I would do is wipe the phone properly.
"Factory reset" is a really bad name for the process...it does nothing of the sort.
Um, makes complete sense that you can still track the device. I assumed that before you even posted it. Same way you can track devices through android device manager, moto software, etc etc.
You're forgetting a huge oversight here.......it doesn't really do much good if stealing someones phone, then wiping it, would get rid of all tracking options. Kinda defeats the purpose. Otherwise people would steal someone's phone, factory reset, then go about their merry way and you're SOL...
TechSavvy2 said:
Um, makes complete sense that you can still track the device. I assumed that before you even posted it. Same way you can track devices through android device manager, moto software, etc etc.
You're forgetting a huge oversight here.......it doesn't really do much good if stealing someones phone, then wiping it, would get rid of all tracking options. Kinda defeats the purpose. Otherwise people would steal someone's phone, factory reset, then go about their merry way and you're SOL...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sure but since most Android phones dont offer a iPhone like recovery and most users dont even know what root it then to me its those people that should have concern.
i always ODIN or SBF etc.. myself if i pick up a used phone but most people woudnt even know about that.
Manufacturers should release iPhone like recovery system so that an average person can clean their phone without tech knowledge and downloading a file somewhere.
hey i am new to android and got myself a acer liquid e2 as was told it was a good phone for the price etc, i do find this phone very surprising and i am totally happy with it apart from 1 problem i come across about 20 times a day, "storage space" i have plenty of space on my sd card it is the phone that is the problem, and every day i need to keep clearing my data and cache as it shuts all my emails etc down when the space has run out which is annoying when it is servral times a day, i have apps on my phone which i dont use and dont need but cant delete these, ive been reasearching this now for a few weeks and everything that i have came across says root and delete, its not that simple is it? i would say that i can be quite good at this sort of stuff as ive made quite alot of my stuff to operate the way i want it, but every time i see anything about rooting it always say your phone can be bricked and i cant afford it to be bricked, i need it beleive it or not, anyway this site seems to have alot of very brainy and smart people on it, hence why i joined :good: can anyone help me with this problem, easy and safest way, will be most appreciated, i was just about to go down the kingo app way but decided to do more reasearch on it before hand and that has put me off it as people are saying there is stuff about spy cams and malware etc iplease help thanks. oh i ment to say i manage to turn my developer options on by total mistake and playing around with my phone so i have that on , if that helpsnetwork 3 in uk cheers guys.:cyclops: p.s. i have jelly bean 4.2.2
bazzaboy1 said:
hey i am new to android and got myself a acer liquid e2 as was told it was a good phone for the price etc, i do find this phone very surprising and i am totally happy with it apart from 1 problem i come across about 20 times a day, "storage space" i have plenty of space on my sd card it is the phone that is the problem, and every day i need to keep clearing my data and cache as it shuts all my emails etc down when the space has run out which is annoying when it is servral times a day, i have apps on my phone which i dont use and dont need but cant delete these, ive been reasearching this now for a few weeks and everything that i have came across says root and delete, its not that simple is it? i would say that i can be quite good at this sort of stuff as ive made quite alot of my stuff to operate the way i want it, but every time i see anything about rooting it always say your phone can be bricked and i cant afford it to be bricked, i need it beleive it or not, anyway this site seems to have alot of very brainy and smart people on it, hence why i joined :good: can anyone help me with this problem, easy and safest way, will be most appreciated, i was just about to go down the kingo app way but decided to do more reasearch on it before hand and that has put me off it as people are saying there is stuff about spy cams and malware etc iplease help thanks. oh i ment to say i manage to turn my developer options on by total mistake and playing around with my phone so i have that on , if that helpsnetwork 3 in uk cheers guys.:cyclops:
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately removing the preloaded apps won't help your storage issues at all. Those apps are located in a different part of the system (/system/app) than the apps and data (/data/app + /data/data) that you add. You can (if rooted) move apps to the /system/app partition, but they don't always work or update correctly from there as it requires special permissions to run from there. But there really isn't much to do besides rooting it and doing some modifications to your set up. They don't call em budget phones for nothing.
Options include swapping the internal and external mount points so it reads your external as your main internal storage, creating a partition on your external and using a script to link your /data/app and/or /data/data folders to that partition so it reads as one big space (however big you make that partition), or using an app like Folder Mount to create a link between big folders on the internal to the external (mostly helpful for big game data). All of these require a bit of knowledge, but nothing that some time and reading can't help you with. It is not exactly rocket science. Knowing what update you are on though is important, both so you pick the right rooting method (there are multiple options if not on 4.2.2 yet) as well as, if, worst case happens, you know what version of the software you need to reload. You can find this info under Settings / About Phone. Make note of not just the android version, but the build or system version as well as there can be mini updates to software that changes things but not the actual android version.
As far as Kingo, I've never read anything other than hearsay about any potential malicious activity on their part. The reason you see most people freaking out about it is because when it first was introduced, it was known to send IMEI info back to their servers in China. Kingo never tried to hide the fact, explained their position about why they were doing it (diagnostics), and promptly changed how that was done. Now, by nature of what it is doing (root = gaining admin access to the operating system), it needs to download closed sourced scripts and files to gain this access . They don't want to disclose their sources for 2 reasons: 1) if the manufacturers of the phones that don't want it rooted see how it is done, then it's much easier to patch that on the next update and 2) so other people don't steal their work. Makes sense to me, but some people are concerned about closed sources (even though many apps already installed or that you download are closed source as well). I've used it on quite a few devices and have never had problems. You can uninstall the companion app it installs (it does this for some devices to help gain access through a backdoor) and update the SuperSU app and binary it installs via the Play Store, so don't really see it as an issue.
bazzaboy1 said:
hey i am new to android and got myself a acer liquid e2 as was told it was a good phone for the price etc, i do find this phone very surprising and i am totally happy with it apart from 1 problem i come across about 20 times a day, "storage space" i have plenty of space on my sd card it is the phone that is the problem, and every day i need to keep clearing my data and cache as it shuts all my emails etc down when the space has run out which is annoying when it is servral times a day, i have apps on my phone which i dont use and dont need but cant delete these, ive been reasearching this now for a few weeks and everything that i have came across says root and delete, its not that simple is it? i would say that i can be quite good at this sort of stuff as ive made quite alot of my stuff to operate the way i want it, but every time i see anything about rooting it always say your phone can be bricked and i cant afford it to be bricked, i need it beleive it or not, anyway this site seems to have alot of very brainy and smart people on it, hence why i joined :good: can anyone help me with this problem, easy and safest way, will be most appreciated, i was just about to go down the kingo app way but decided to do more reasearch on it before hand and that has put me off it as people are saying there is stuff about spy cams and malware etc iplease help thanks. oh i ment to say i manage to turn my developer options on by total mistake and playing around with my phone so i have that on , if that helpsnetwork 3 in uk cheers guys.:cyclops: p.s. i have jelly bean 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
es0tericcha0s said:
Unfortunately removing the preloaded apps won't help your storage issues at all. Those apps are located in a different part of the system (/system/app) than the apps and data (/data/app + /data/data) that you add. You can (if rooted) move apps to the /system/app partition, but they don't always work or update correctly from there as it requires special permissions to run from there. But there really isn't much to do besides rooting it and doing some modifications to your set up. They don't call em budget phones for nothing.
Options include swapping the internal and external mount points so it reads your external as your main internal storage, creating a partition on your external and using a script to link your /data/app and/or /data/data folders to that partition so it reads as one big space (however big you make that partition), or using an app like Folder Mount to create a link between big folders on the internal to the external (mostly helpful for big game data). All of these require a bit of knowledge, but nothing that some time and reading can't help you with. It is not exactly rocket science. Knowing what update you are on though is important, both so you pick the right rooting method (there are multiple options if not on 4.2.2 yet) as well as, if, worst case happens, you know what version of the software you need to reload. You can find this info under Settings / About Phone. Make note of not just the android version, but the build or system version as well as there can be mini updates to software that changes things but not the actual android version.
As far as Kingo, I've never read anything other than hearsay about any potential malicious activity on their part. The reason you see most people freaking out about it is because when it first was introduced, it was known to send IMEI info back to their servers in China. Kingo never tried to hide the fact, explained their position about why they were doing it (diagnostics), and promptly changed how that was done. Now, by nature of what it is doing (root = gaining admin access to the operating system), it needs to download closed sourced scripts and files to gain this access . They don't want to disclose their sources for 2 reasons: 1) if the manufacturers of the phones that don't want it rooted see how it is done, then it's much easier to patch that on the next update and 2) so other people don't steal their work. Makes sense to me, but some people are concerned about closed sources (even though many apps already installed or that you download are closed source as well). I've used it on quite a few devices and have never had problems. You can uninstall the companion app it installs (it does this for some devices to help gain access through a backdoor) and update the SuperSU app and binary it installs via the Play Store, so don't really see it as an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow thanks very much, a was not exspecting that reply and so quickly, so thanks , well as i said i am new to the android, and the whole rooting thing makes me nervous as i havent done it before, and i dont want to break my phone, i do know there is always a risk in anything really, but would like to know if possible the best for my phone, i am on jelly bean 4.2.2 and kernel 3.4.5 and is it the build number you need or the custom build version? also i dont know if this is important but i actually dont have wifi and use the usb tethering for my pc to get online, is it still possible to do it this way? cheers
bazzaboy1 said:
Wow thanks very much, a was not exspecting that reply and so quickly, so thanks , well as i said i am new to the android, and the whole rooting thing makes me nervous as i havent done it before, and i dont want to break my phone, i do know there is always a risk in anything really, but would like to know if possible the best for my phone, i am on jelly bean 4.2.2 and kernel 3.4.5 and is it the build number you need or the custom build version? also i dont know if this is important but i actually dont have wifi and use the usb tethering for my pc to get online, is it still possible to do it this way? cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2518094
That's a guide with everything you should need to fix the phone if anything were to happen or to just return it to it's original state if wanted / needed. Read through the thread a bit and see where other members were having trouble and the solutions to those. If you get comfortable with that and how it works, then modding your phone becomes much less scary. And once you are rooted, tethering is even better because you can typically hide your activity much more. I don't know if it is a big deal with carriers around where you live, but here, most people have to pay for tethering or make sure to have special plans that typically cost more than ones that don't include it.
es0tericcha0s said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2518094
That's a guide with everything you should need to fix the phone if anything were to happen or to just return it to it's original state if wanted / needed. Read through the thread a bit and see where other members were having trouble and the solutions to those. If you get comfortable with that and how it works, then modding your phone becomes much less scary. And once you are rooted, tethering is even better because you can typically hide your activity much more. I don't know if it is a big deal with carriers around where you live, but here, most people have to pay for tethering or make sure to have special plans that typically cost more than ones that don't include it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much!! a will go have a look at the thread just now, really appreciate your help and time, thanks
I have a A52 5g and a tab S7+ wifi, that are both remotely controled and monitored, and serve as gateway to my home network and basicaly every device connected to it. I noticed it at first and mew NOTHING related to this, didnt even know what open source was. Since then i have come to understand that, somehow, my phone seems to run a custom version of android, my guess is, built from AOSP and designed to disguise itself as oem samsung ui, but in background enables remote access and total takeover of every function. I have discovered, using total commander, that storage has been partitioned in 2 separate locations, and that one folder in there is called root system file, and filled with data/apk/installkits/etc.. this has me asking for help in 2 specific questions:
Am i holding a rooted device or is there another possibility that creates this situation? I was convinced its rooted untill i read here that root prevents from using samsung pass, secure folder etc.. and those seem to work on mine(or is it a version of those apps?) If its indeed rooted, will it wype everything if i flash it with the stock rom? And should i trust a small cell repair store to do that or learn how to do it myself?
2: i have bought 3 brand new phones since august, and made sure not to use my usual accounts, no use backups, not even set it up near my home wifi, and it almost instantly started self installing harmful software in background. I see no other way for it to link itself to be owned by me at initial setup, but for the sim card, new of course, but with my usual phone number and service transfered to it. Is that enough to make a breach and compromise a new device? If so, what would be different after fpashing the stock rom, if everything reinstalls itself? Do i need to change my number? Change cellular service provider even? I know its an unusual request but im a fast learner, i have compiled lots of technical info on specific apps, ip's, servers, build id numbers etc.. that i know would make more sense to anyone more qualified than me, and i am about ready to try and wype/flash the thing myself, i just would feel better with a little help since i have gone this far pretty much alone, since no service provider or manifacturer actualy feels like this is their problem to solve....
Here you can download firmware for your phone and flash with Odin, which you can also download at the bottom of the page, there are instructions on how to do it also.
Make sure to download correct firmware for exact device you have. There are few different A52 5G models.. SM-A526B, SM-A526U, SM-A5260, SM-A526U1, SM-A526W.
You will lose all data after flashing new firmware. After this your phone will be like brand new from Samsung..
If your device is rooted then that means your warranty is void and manufacturers and carriers are under no obligation to help you.
I'm trying to understand your situation but its so conflicting I don't know where to begin.
For example, you say your device runs a custom AOSP with a Samsung UI. Thats exactly how it actually works. Samsung take the AOSP, customise it with their own functionality, then overlay their own skin as the UI. Theres absolutely nothing unusual about that.
I'm conflicted as to whether your rooted or not. If the manufacturer or carrier has physically seen the device and won't repair it then that would suggest your definitely rooted. If you spoke to them virtually and told them your rooted then they will use it as an excuse whether you're truly rooted or not. The partitions you mention could be the internal storage and an sd card which can be seen non-rooted. I dont know what you mean when you mention a "root system file". Is it an actual folder called "root" or is the app you're using just telling you that you've reached the "root" of the filesystem? I can't quite work out what you mean. You also say Knox-powered apps still work which just adds to the confusion.
You stated you have had 3 new devices and they all self-installed harmful software. To get one device compromised is possible. To get three compromised means your either a high profile government target (which I doubt because they wouldn't be so sloppy as this) or your doing something to compromise your own devices such as continuously visiting dodgy websites.
Flashing will fix things but so would having a new device. The only common denominator is you so either you're doing something wrong or you truly are a government target in which case I wish you good luck!
First let me appologise for the long silence, i cut off most online activity for a while and just read your answers. To clarify, i have not solved my prolem yet. But ill try to explain better what you ask about my situation:
About de os version arobase40 got it right. I Asked google play help reps. And a stock samsung version of android would not trigger googles warning about running a custom version of android. So that point to a modified after-the-fact more than to the fact samsung has their propierary version installed.
About beeing rooted or not, ylwhat you are asking is what im not totaly certajn of, also. I know partition can happen without rooting, its seems to have created a "virtual sd card" since its named as such when sd card slot is actualy empty. About the root files folder, i cant say for sure, all i can say is that its holding a large amount of Gigs that dont get taken into account when looking at storage capacity and usage, and accessing that folder gives me a message that root files cant be access from this device. Does it mean my device had root acess privileges revoked to prevent viewing files that hide what is given control of the software remotely, so i dont find out or have the capacity to remove or alter those files?
What is absolutely sure is that if it is rooted, it wasnt done by me. As for the chance the devices were not factory brand new, 1 of them was not, got it opend box from amazon, a saudi arabia version, but my prkblems had started months before getting it, did not keep it more than 2 months, and all others before and since are 100% pure factory new, some directly from my cellular service provider, as financed device came with 2 year agreement of service,(actualy 2 of them i got this way) and the last one is my tab s7+ i got online directly from samsung canada website, on preorder, delivered on release day.
And lastly the fact i cant seem to shake those persistent leeches, is not from having reckless habbits online, but from having careless and uneducated habbits before that all started, usual older lazy dude stuff, like not changing my wifi password after a ruff breakup with bipolar psycho ex gf, or having only a few passwords reused on most my accounts. I have stopped doing those things long ago now that i know better, but i suspect that i could have been unaware something gettnng installed and staying dormant for a while, maybe? The ex had way more opportunities than needed to do something like this and is more than psycho enough to realy do it also. For having the skills to do it, lets say she has "assets" that can easily get her guys willing to help about that. It may also be coming from somwhere else, but as you say im not a super spy or a high ranking gov. Official. Im not even that interesting, and have absolutely no usable id for fraud or anything, my credit history would raise more red flags then there is in all china. So after so long struggling with this still very active, i cant even think of a rational reason to do so much effort into this, theres nothing to gain, i only can imagine that maybe a twisted mind seeking revege, or with a sick way of amusing themselves could see the point to all that, but i dont realy care. I only want to get rid of it.
As for the way it manages to be so much persistent, i can only see one option left i didnt remove from the process, and its through my phone number/account on the sim card, even a new sim on a new phone, still is linked to my cell service. I did initial setup with only that new sim card, accounts freshely created during setup, with no info or anythink linkable to my previous accounts, and even did it sitting outside, far from any building that could get me in range of a wifi network. And it still was no more effective at staying secure.
Thats why i did not yet try to flash a stock rom myself on my device, because it would, at best, become exactly like it was when brand new, and i know that this is not enough to keep it secure, and that means theres still something im missing in the whole picture.