Database Users

Terminal Emulator: System Access from Phone

I am using Terminal Emulator on the phone (because my PC is screwed up). I am trying to copy a directory from the sd card to /system/media/audio directory on the ROM.
I am able to get rw access to the ROM by typing in..
mount -o rw,remount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
then I am trying to copy the file by typing..
cp -r /sdcard/download/ringtones /system/media/audio
It gives me an error saying "Cannot allocate system memory"
does anybody know what that means? How can do this?

you can't copy across mount points. At least, I think that may be what's happening.

You cant write to system from a droid itself....need to use recovery

Unable to read/write in /system

I have been trying to add/remove files in my /system directory but I'm having quite the difficulty.
The adb terminal already has SU access, I get a #.
I've tried mount -o remount,rw /system and then going back into ASTRO to paste something but it won't let me
I did also try cd /system after trying that but it doesn't do anything....
I've also tried adb remount but I get access denied.
Is it that I need Root Explorer or is there no avail?

Copying Vending.apk - Can't 'cp' after running SU

I am trying to move the vending.apk into system/app from the command line.
I was going to use ES File manager. However, when I try to do 'root explorer' it fails. I do still believe I have a working root because SU works from the adb shell..
Here is what is driving me crazy, I can't seem to move or copy the file from the adb shell after I root and mount the folder as read/write.
I run these commands to set permissions and mount it read/write.
SU
# mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
However after running SU it returns 'cp not found' when I try to run cp to copy the file. Example...
# cp /mnt/sdcard/Vending.apk /sytem/appVending.apk
cp: not found
If I try to move it, it returns this error.
# mv /mnt/sdcard/Vending.apk /system/app/Vending.apk
failed on '/mnt/sdcard/Vending.apk' - Cross-device link
Is there something else I need to do to move or copy after running SU?

You would first have to fix the mount command because it's not a yaffs2 filesystem, and it's not /dev/block/mtdblock3. The correct command should be "mount -o remount,rw -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p9". Then try to copy it over to /system/app.
If it still fails, you can adb push it to /system/app after having mounted the partition in read/write.

i just moved it with explorer myself

Try to rename it from .apk to .jpg and copy it with ES File Manager. If it's successful rename it back to .apk after it's in /system/app.

Problem with Relaunch

The device in question is Nook Simple Touch, rooted with NookManager.
I had deleted Relaunch.apk ver. 1.3.8 in order to install newer version.
But after de-installation, iam unable to charge the folder with apps....
How to install Relaunch again ?

gsms said:
The device in question is Nook Simple Touch, rooted with NookManager.
I had deleted Relaunch.apk ver. 1.3.8 in order to install newer version.
But after de-installation, iam unable to charge the folder with apps....
How to install Relaunch again ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, basically you are without an Android launcher or file manager?
If you made a backup with NookManager, restoring it is your best bet. If not, make sure to do so once this is sorted out. Backup early and often.
Do you have wireless ADB working? You can install (or reinstall) apps that way. Or, if you have the Market working, install any file manager that will work. That will give you access to folders again and you can copy over apps via USB and then use the file manager to install them.

I have installed adb thru usb, but now have other problem.
Trying to copy file(s), it gives me message ,that folder is read-only.
What is exact command to mount folder as read-write in adb shell ?
I tried many times - with no success...
non working-
adb remount /system/
adb remount
adb remount root/system/
and so on.................................
Please help

gsms said:
The device in question is Nook Simple Touch, rooted with NookManager.
I had deleted Relaunch.apk ver. 1.3.8 in order to install newer version.
But after de-installation, iam unable to charge the folder with apps....
How to install Relaunch again ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried downloading the Relaunch.apk file via a web-browser? Once the download is completed you should get a prompt on whether you want to install it.
---------- Post added at 04:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:19 PM ----------
gsms said:
I have installed adb thru usb, but now have other problem.
Trying to copy file(s), it gives me message ,that folder is read-only.
What is exact command to mount folder as read-write in adb shell ?
I tried many times - with no success...
non working-
adb remount /system/
adb remount
adb remount root/system/
and so on.................................
Please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To mount /system as read+write:
Code:
adb shell
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
exit
After you're done with copying over the desired file into /system, just reboot the nook to revert the mounting back to read-only.

After typing the first 2 rows of the code :
adb shell
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
i receive message:
Usage: mount [-r] [-w] [-o options] [-t type] device directory
So this row
"mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system" is not correct....?
upd1:
i was able to see the permissions for folder /system
drwxr-xr-x
This means :
(755) — The owner has read, write and execute permissions; the group and others can only read and execute.
This is strange, because iam the owner...

gsms said:
After typing the first 2 rows of the code :
adb shell
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
i receive message:
Usage: mount [-r] [-w] [-o options] [-t type] device directory
So this row
"mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system" is not correct....?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The mount command line I provided is the correct command for your purpose. Note that the command is to be entered on the NST itself after you get on it using "adb shell" command.
upd1:
i was able to see the permissions for folder /system
drwxr-xr-x
This means :
(755) — The owner has read, write and execute permissions; the group and others can only read and execute.
This is strange, because iam the owner...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The folder permission 755 is inoperative since the filesystem itself is still being mounted read-only.

gsms said:
After typing the first 2 rows of the code :
adb shell
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
i receive message:
Usage: mount [-r] [-w] [-o options] [-t type] device directory
So this row
"mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system" is not correct....?
upd1:
i was able to see the permissions for folder /system
drwxr-xr-x
This means :
(755) — The owner has read, write and execute permissions; the group and others can only read and execute.
This is strange, because iam the owner...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been able to successfully achieve this with this command:
mount -o remount rw /system
The command is simpler and thus I am less likely to make a typo.

Thanks for your entries, but i already re-rooted my Nook.
I was out of nerves to deal with adb shell....
----------------
But using "mount" command thru adb shell could be very helpful in some critical cases....

gsms said:
Thanks for your entries, but i already re-rooted my Nook.
I was out of nerves to deal with adb shell....
----------------
But using "mount" command thru adb shell could be very helpful in some critical cases....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make a backup

Unable to mount System as rw in 7.1.1 DP

I am trying to create an overlay folder under /system/vendor so that I can throw a layers apk there to hide the nav bar. I am currently using the build.prop method which doesn't work nicely with the Now on Tap action of Swipe Navigation which is what I am ultimately trying to fix.
I tried using Solid Explorer to simply create the new directory like I did previously in 7.0 and 6.x but was unable to do so (action failed). I decided to try using the terminal and create the folder and move files from there but got the message that the system was read-only. I then attempted to mount system a few different ways all of which failed. I did use su before entering these commands.
Code:
angler:/system/vendor $ mkdir overlay
mkdir: 'overlay': Read-only file system
angler:/system/vendor $ mount -o rw,remount,rw /system
mount: '/dev/block/platform/soc.0/f9824900.sdhci/by-name/system' not user mountable in fstab
angler:/system/vendor $ /system/bin/mount -o rw,remount,rw /system /system
mount: '/system' not in /proc/mounts
angler:/system/vendor $ /system/bin/mount /system
mount: bad /etc/fstab: No such file or directory
Googling around didn't yield much in the way of solutions other than these different methods of mounting system. Am I just unable to mount system as rw in 7.1.1 currently, and if so, is there another way to accomplish what I want?

I'm trying to find thread I read this from, so if I find it I'll post link to it. When I was on early 7 previews that was set up with systemless root I went into twrp and then went to terminal and typed the following, touch su. When your in terminal cd to both bin and xbin and type command "touch su" without quotes. Then reboot and you should be able to use something like es file explorer to get into and write in /system. Hope that helps.
Found it, look to post = 15
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/help/es-file-explorer-doesnt-understand-t3242775

Unfortunately that did not end up working for me, thanks for looking up the link for me though!

On Nougat the rw mount command should be typed like this:
mount -o rw,remount /system
then for touch:
touch sbin/su

Thank you blitz for clarifying.

Hmm... it seems like the mount worked but the touch did not. I ended up using just "touch su" but ran into a different error with mkdir. I think I may just be out of luck for now. Thank you both for your help!
Code:
~ # mount -o rw,remount /system
~ # cd /system/bin
/system/bin # touch sbin/su
touch: sbin/su: No such file or directory
/system/bin # touch su
/system/bin # cd /system/xbin
/system/xbin # touch su
/system/xbin # cd /system/vendor
/vendor # mkdir overlay
mkdir: cannot create directory 'overlay': No space left on device

AbuShabanov said:
Hmm... it seems like the mount worked but the touch did not. I ended up using just "touch su" but ran into a different error with mkdir. I think I may just be out of luck for now. Thank you both for your help!
Code:
~ # mount -o rw,remount /system
~ # cd /system/bin
/system/bin # touch sbin/su
touch: sbin/su: No such file or directory
/system/bin # touch su
/system/bin # cd /system/xbin
/system/xbin # touch su
/system/xbin # cd /system/vendor
/vendor # mkdir overlay
mkdir: cannot create directory 'overlay': No space left on device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish but still:
The touch sbin/su means creating an empty file called su in the sbin subdirectory under the current directory. So if there is no subdir named sbin under /system/bin, then it's not going to work
Secondly, you should know about the ls command: ls -la lists the files in the current directory, and remember than in unix and linux terminology, a directory is also a file so you'll also see directories (including current "." and parent "..")
Third, you should know about the df command which shows filesystem disk space usage. df -h will show you how much free space you have an all of your filesystems, including system.
Last, with great power comes great responsibilities. Running the wrong command as root will easily make your system unusable.
I have substratum installed and inside /system/vendor there is a link (again a file) called overlay which links to directory /system/overlay where apks are.

rchtk said:
I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am trying to create an overlay folder under /system/vendor so that I can throw a layers apk there to hide the nav bar.
rchtk said:
I have substratum installed and inside /system/vendor there is a link (again a file) called overlay which links to directory /system/overlay where apks are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you on the 7.1.1 (NPF10C)? If so it sounds like you have accomplished what I am trying to do. I'm only familiar with the basic unix commands as I haven't actively used it in about 5 years. Would you mind sharing how to create the link to /system/overlay from /system/vendor, or does Substratum take care of that? Offhand it sounds like a symbolic link but my terminology is pretty rusty.

AbuShabanov said:
I am trying to create an overlay folder under /system/vendor so that I can throw a layers apk there to hide the nav bar.
Are you on the 7.1.1 (NPF10C)? If so it sounds like you have accomplished what I am trying to do. I'm only familiar with the basic unix commands as I haven't actively used it in about 5 years. Would you mind sharing how to create the link to /system/overlay from /system/vendor, or does Substratum take care of that? Offhand it sounds like a symbolic link but my terminology is pretty rusty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes 7.1.1.
Substratum created the overlay directory and the link to it.
Manually that would be:
mount -o rw,remount -t auto /vendor
mount -o rw,remount -t auto /system
mkdir /system/overlay
cd /system/vendor
ln -s /system/overlay
mount -o ro,remount -t auto /vendor
mount -o ro,remount -t auto /system
But links do take a very small amount of bytes (roughly name and target) so for that, you'll need some space in your vendor partition (no space left on /vendor). check with "df".
I have 3.8MB free (that's an original vendor + overlay link)

rchtk said:
mount -o rw,remount -t auto /vendor
mount -o rw,remount -t auto /system
mkdir /system/overlay
cd /system/vendor
ln -s /system/overlay
mount -o ro,remount -t auto /vendor
mount -o ro,remount -t auto /system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this works and I was able to mount system and vendor, create the link, move the apk file, etc but it appears that the apk itself is not working on NPF10C. Thank you for your help and the refresher on the unix commands!