Database Users

A little guidance please (delete permissions, etc.)

(Sorry for not posting actual links - the system won't let me because I'm still a "new user.")
I already rooted my Sprint Hero using this (thread 583291) guide and can successfully tether using the WiFi Tether app. Yay!
Now I want to delete and/or replace the boot up sound (boot.mp3 located in /system/media/bootscreen) When I try to delete it right now (either through adb shell on my computer or from within a file manager app on the phone itself) I get permission denied or "read-only file system."
I see two threads regarding busybox, superuser, and adb remount. Thread 591303 which is dated 11/28/09 and is just for busybox and Thread 593952 which is dated 12/03/09.
I'm not sure which of these two I need to install. If it's the latter which includes ADB remount and superuser as well as busybox, then I'm not sure if I am supposed to unzip them before pushing them to my phone.
Could anyone point me in the right direction based on what I want to do (delete files on my phone - ANY file I want)?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

All you should need to do is:
Code:
adb remount
rm /insert file path/file
So yours would be
Code:
rm /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3

Mr. Biggz said:
All you should need to do is:
Code:
adb remount
rm /insert file path/file
So yours would be
Code:
rm /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will rm work without busybox?

As long as you can shell into the phone it should work. The rm command is to be run inside the shell.
So it actually should be
Code:
adb remount
adb shell
rm /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3

You want to install the busybox remount and superuser Rom if you want to run stock.
Or manually install busybox, superuser whitelist and adb remount
Biggz - looks like they are on stock. No adb remount.

gbhil said:
Biggz - looks like they are on stock. No adb remount.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunate, custom is so much better.

If you are on stock, do this:
Code:
adb shell
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
mv /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3 /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3.old
exit
[you can also do rm /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3 instead]

gbhil said:
You want to install the busybox remount and superuser Rom if you want to run stock.
Or manually install busybox, superuser whitelist and adb remount
Biggz - looks like they are on stock. No adb remount.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
successfully removed (rm) the boot.mp3 in the shell - Thank you for that. I do want to replace it with a different one (I'll use the same file name since the .xml file still refers to it) so I'll need the cp command and I've noticed that it's missing in shell. I'm assuming I need to install busybox to get this functionality. I'm not really sure I want to install a complete new ROM and I don't mind manually installing busybox, adb remount, etc. What does installing "superuser whitelist" and "adb remount" allow me to do? I'm not sure what their potential uses are?

I installed busybox and have the cp command functionality now (see above post) but now when I try to copy anything to the /system/media/bootscreen folder I get "cp: cannot create '/system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3': Permission denied"
I type "mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system" after getting into shell and typing "su" and getting the "#" prompt and it takes successfully (this is the only way I was able to actually "rm" the original boot.mp3 file to begin with.
See anything I'm doing wrong?

Nope, that is correct.
/system is normally mounted as read-only, so you can't add or delete anything. The mount command remounts it as read-write, so you can modify it as root.

armyturtle said:
<snip> I'm not really sure I want to install a complete new ROM and I don't mind manually installing busybox, adb remount, etc. What does installing "superuser whitelist" and "adb remount" allow me to do? I'm not sure what their potential uses are?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Superuser whitelist is an application that warns you and asks for you to provide permission whenever an app tries to use the su binary to run as another user. You want this, as without it there's no way to know if an application runs as root.
Adb remount is a service that allows you to toggle the +RW bit on the /system/ partition through the shell. IIRC the one one floating around also kills color terminfo so you don't get all the extra chars on a windows PC when using the ls command. Just a matter of convenience.

jonnythan said:
Nope, that is correct.
/system is normally mounted as read-only, so you can't add or delete anything. The mount command remounts it as read-write, so you can modify it as root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't create/copy anything after getting into the shell and remounting as read-write. From CMD prompt I type:
adb shell
and get:
$
Then I type:
su
and get:
#
This is where I type:
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
Then trying to copy anything into the /system directory gives me:
Permission denied
It will let me DELETE anything I want from this folder (as confirmed by now deleting boot.gif just to check) but it won't let me cp (copy) anything to this folder. WHY?
What the heck?

try these commands for the boot mp3
Code:
cd/
cd /androidsdk/tools/
adb shell
su
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
exit
adb push directoryonpcwhereyourbootmp3is /system/media/bootscreen/
make sure that you rename the mp3 to boot.mp3 or it wont work anyways.
the other option (this is what I do) is find a bootscreen that you like (I use this one). open the zip file useing winrar or 7zip, navigate into the files where you see the boot.mp3 and drag in YOUR (now renamed) boot.mp3 close the window, put the zip file onto the root of your sd card, boot into recovery, choose flash from zip, flash the file and your good to go.

wtphoto said:
try these commands for the boot mp3
Code:
cd/
cd /androidsdk/tools/
adb shell
su
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
exit
adb push directoryonpcwhereyourbootmp3is /system/media/bootscreen/
make sure that you rename the mp3 to boot.mp3 or it wont work anyways.
the other option (this is what I do) is find a bootscreen that you like (I use this one). open the zip file useing winrar or 7zip, navigate into the files where you see the boot.mp3 and drag in YOUR (now renamed) boot.mp3 close the window, put the zip file onto the root of your sd card, boot into recovery, choose flash from zip, flash the file and your good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried this just now and still get "failed to copy 'C:\android-sdk-windows\tools\boot.mp3' to '/system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3': Permission denied"
It's the /system folder... I can push to /data/local all day long, but anything in the /system folder is read only. How the hell can I change this?

/system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if this is the code you are using then that could be your issue
the code line should look like this
Code:
adb push C:\android-sdk-windows\tools\boot.mp3 /system/media/bootscreen/
doing adb push C:\android-sdk-windows\tools\boot.mp3 /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3 says that you are trying to push the boot.mp3 to the directory bott.mp3 and there is no boot.mp3 directory the folder where you want the boot.mp3 is bootscreen. try the ubove code and see what happenes.

wtphoto said:
if this is the code you are using then that could be your issue
the code line should look like this
Code:
adb push C:\android-sdk-windows\tools\boot.mp3 /system/media/bootscreen/
doing adb push C:\android-sdk-windows\tools\boot.mp3 /system/media/bootscreen/boot.mp3 says that you are trying to push the boot.mp3 to the directory bott.mp3 and there is no boot.mp3 directory the folder where you want the boot.mp3 is bootscreen. try the ubove code and see what happenes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, was a typo on my part (here in the post, not when issuing the command). Still permission denied. I don't think it's actually mounting the /system folder as writable. Is there a way to check after issuing the remount command?
A quick command of "ls -l" at root prompt gives the following for the /system folder:
drwxr-xr-x root root 2009-09-21 06:30 system

after you run the remount command what does it say? does it say remount succeded?

After typing the remount command it simply repeats my command back at me and returns to the "#" prompt.

honestly at this point what I would try doing is do a back up then flash a custom rom like fresh 1.1 that has all the tools built into it. then go into the cmd prompt and cd to where sdk is then type adb remount and see what it says then adb shell and try to cp the file to that directory.
this is more a test than anything else.

wtphoto said:
honestly at this point what I would try doing is do a back up then flash a custom rom like fresh 1.1 that has all the tools built into it. then go into the cmd prompt and cd to where sdk is then type adb remount and see what it says then adb shell and try to cp the file to that directory.
this is more a test than anything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try this - so you recommend trying fresh 1.1 then? I know it's just a test, but just in case I like the ROM and decide to stick with it, might as well try a really good one! I'll try this tomorrow - I'm beat! (Thanks again!)

[SOLVED] Uninstall Swype?

I need to uninstall swype and reinstall it. Ive tried over writing it with the default apk but its not removing a theme I installed with metamorph. If I can uninstall it, a fresh install should fix it.
I just dont know how to remove it

I don't know if you want to go to this extreme, but I did. I fudged up the phone real good by removing and installing stuff. I finally got fed up and flashed it back to stock and applied root again. This time I'll keep my fingers out of it. I hated touchwiz in the beginning, but now it's kinda growing on me. I've never had an iphone but the home and drawer remind me of iphone wannabe. It's okay for now.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

There a tool over at sdx-developers that can remove that when root explorer can't. I forget the name of it. There's also a pay app in the market that I think is called root manager that can successfully remove crap too. I didn't have much luck putting the general swype 1.61 in. It refused to install. That's when I think I just flashed it back to factory image. A full reset/wipe wouldn't fix it either.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I had to do this a few days ago for similar reasons. This is what I did:
First, you have to open your browser or other app with a text field. Select the text field then long press the text field again and switch the input method to the stock android kb.
Next, you have to make sure /system is mounted as r/w. The early versions of the the rooting scripts did not remount correctly but the newer ones supposedly fix it. I just looked in the initial rooting .bat file (on the PC) for the remount command and used adb to remount /system.
You can test if it's remounted correctly by renaming Swype.apk to Swype.bak with Root Explorer then going up a level and back to /system/app. If it's not mounted correctly it will show as Swype.apk again. If it shows as Swype.bak still, then you just have to copy the original Swype.apk to /system/app and then switch input method back to Swype!
Sent from my Epic 4G using XDA App

yea its mounting in r-r, thats def my problem, cant change swype.apk with root explorer
so i need to re-root?

I don't know what's causing it but root explorer doesn't seem to work properly on the phone (not sdcard) filesystem in the system app folder. It's stuck in rw mode. People have said different things why but I forgot. I did noobnl's latest flash and it's still not working right. His script is removing the old root and my phone doesn't have that on there. I don't know what to tell ya. Maybe I should look for another root file manager.

kennethlongshaw said:
yea its mounting in r-r, thats def my problem, cant change swype.apk with root explorer
so i need to re-root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if re-rooting will fix it or not. You could try. Here's the exact steps I took using adb from the PC:
Code:
adb shell
su
ls /system/app/S* (just shows Swype.apk is in fact in /system/app)
mount -t rfs -o remount,rw /dev/block/stl9 /system
mv /system/app/Swype.apk /system/app/Swype.bak
ls /system/app/S* (just to confirm Swype.apk is now Swype.bak)
cp /sdcard/download/Swype.apk /system/app/Swype.apk (or replace first argument with path of the good Swype.apk on your phone)
ls /system/app/S* (just to confirm Swype.apk and Swype.bak are both there)
reboot (reboots the phone, dunno if its really necessary)

dwyw42 said:
I don't know if re-rooting will fix it or not. You could try. Here's the exact steps I took using adb from the PC:
Code:
adb shell
su
ls /system/app/S* (just shows Swype.apk is in fact in /system/app)
mount -t rfs -o remount,rw /dev/block/stl9 /system
mv /system/app/Swype.apk /system/app/Swype.bak
ls /system/app/S* (just to confirm Swype.apk is now Swype.bak)
cp /sdcard/download/Swype.apk /system/app/Swype.apk (or replace first argument with path of the good Swype.apk on your phone)
ls /system/app/S* (just to confirm Swype.apk and Swype.bak are both there)
reboot (reboots the phone, dunno if its really necessary)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmmm. That fixed. it. I owe you a beer

kennethlongshaw said:
mmmm. That fixed. it. I owe you a beer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi guyz.
I cant delete swype.apt file from /system/app/*
i am using SUFBS program (reed/write option enabled)
i tried use command in terminal:
Code:
su
mount -t rfs -o remount,rw /dev/block/stl9 /system
but i get only;
Code:
permission denied
z4root show info that my phone is rooted
PDA i5800XXJI2
any ideas how to del that file? :]

[Q] remove app from rooted g2 (not disable)

Hi,
Now that i've rooted my tmobile G2, i'd like to remove completely some of the apps that i disabled previously (like amazon or photobucket)
I've done some research and found this out
su
mount -o rw,remount /data (or /system)
rm -f /system/app/<apkname>.apk //Replace the blue text, <apkname>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.
pm uninstall <package name> //Replace the blue text, <package name>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.
however, when i run the mount command, i get
Usage: mount [-r] [-w] [-o options] [-t type] device directory
if i try to remove the app directly without running the command
package:/system/app/PbAndroid.apk=com.photobucket.android
i get
rm -f PbAndroid.apk
rm failed for -f, Read-only file system
how do i do this now?
thanks

try
mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mmcblk0p25 /system

Best app is root explorer from the market... it deleted anything from the phone.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

OR HERE'S THE FREE *AND* EASY WAY: download the free version of titanium backup, go to the middle tab, find your app, tap on it, then tap the uninstall button. App uninstalled!
Obviously this requires perma root.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 running Cyanogenmod.

umm is it supposed to reboot my phone into recovery everytime i remove a stock app?

dietotherhythm said:
umm is it supposed to reboot my phone into recovery everytime i remove a stock app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're using the force uninstall in titanium backup. This was only necessary for nand locked devices, you can use the normal uninstall function now. Just tap, don't long press -- it'll give you a list of options.

so finally i have a chance to test this.
Thanks all for responding.
I tried the easier way with titanium backup.
I did the mistake of doing the long press and it rebooted.
But after that i just tried the "uninstalled" and it worked like a charm.
Thanks a lot.

Used titanium backup to delete all that crap. =)
Posted on my T-mobile G(spot)2 xD
Please check out my amazing blog- http://elgamerlife.blogspot.com/

i ended buying root explorer ( lcd density mod) my question is...
should i do a backup with titanium and then delete bloatware with root explorer?
I want to use R.E as it did cost me $

-FuRBz- said:
i ended buying root explorer ( lcd density mod) my question is...
should i do a backup with titanium and then delete bloatware with root explorer?
I want to use R.E as it did cost me $
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have any doubt in your mind about whether you want to remove proprietary system app or not then yes, back them up with TB.

Can't open xRecovery

Hey
I've tried to install xrecovery, and done what this video says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6eRfqs8TVs but when i reboot, it won't work. Nothing happends when i press the bkac button alot.
If it is some files, causing this, then please send me yours, so i don't have to ask for them, when you have answered

SimonXiDk said:
Hey
I've tried to install xrecovery, and done what this video says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6eRfqs8TVs but when i reboot, it won't work. Nothing happends when i press the bkac button alot.
If it is some files, causing this, then please send me yours, so i don't have to ask for them, when you have answered
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It happens to me to at the first time, all you have to do is delete the files and paste them again.. xD if still didn't work, i'll post my files here so you can tried..

I have tried now, but it won't work. I would be glad if you posted your files :b

Have you set the right permissions for the files?
All files needs to be writeable. The easiest way to set the write permissions is to use root explorer.
Or if using terminal emulator: Chmod each file to: 777

After a lot of trying this worked for me:
1. Download xRecovery from here.
2. Copy three files to sdcard - xrecovery.tar, busybox, chargemon
3. Just in case, get Busybox from Market and install it.
4. Copy three files from sdcard to /system/bin - don't forget to mount system as r/w (you can do it with Root Explorer by simply clicking "mount r/w" button)
5. Chmod all three files to 777 - with Root Explorer, open context menu for file and select "Permissions" and make sure all 9 boxes are ticked. Or, use adb shell.
6. Turn off your phone normally.
7. Turn on and keep pressing back button, now you should enter xRecovery.

blagus said:
5. Chmod all three files to 777 - with Root Explorer, open context menu for file and select "Permissions" and make sure all 9 boxes are ticked. Or, use adb shell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can i give permission, when the files are in the bin? Will it work then?

blagus, i did what you said, but still, with no luck .. :s

SimonXiDk said:
blagus, i did what you said, but still, with no luck .. :s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is important to install xRecovery 0.1!!!
I have tried to install 0.3 first but it is not work on X8.
So use this only: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=878426

qsmyle said:
It is important to install xRecovery 0.1!!!
I have tried to install 0.3 first but it is not work on X8.
So use this only: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=878426
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read the whole thread, then you would know, that it is the same that blagus said. And as i said, i did all that he said.

Use this files.. If didn't work, I don't know what to say, can't understand your problem..

Now i got to know that i should download these same three files three times. again - it do not work.

SimonXiDk said:
Now i got to know that i should download these same three files three times. again - it do not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here did you pasted those files? Didn't you already having xrecovery running well, before you reflash your phone?

Now you get the story:
First of all, i tried in hours to get xRecovery work on my phone. Then succesfully, in some unknown way, i made it work.
Then i screwed up, and deleted the bin, so my phone wouldn't turn on.
Then i had to use SEUS to get my phone work, and I did that succesfully. But it was only 2.1 now.
Now i want 2.2 again, but can't make xRecovery work.

Weee it works now D I have no idea what I did diffrent this time, but it works now D thank you all for taking time, to help me ;b

And you're using 2.1 android, right? Is it rooted? If yes, all you have too do (and before that, delete the old files that you already pasted, except busybox..):
-put the files on your sdcard root;
-go to root explorer and to the sdcard folder;
- forget it busybox, just copy the other files;
- go to system/bin and then select the W/R option;
- then just paste them e restart your phone..
Then press a few times the back key, right after SE logo apears.. If you did't get anything, go again to the bin folder with root explorer and see if was created a folder with the xrecovery name.. If yes, just try again pressing back key until you get xrecovery menu..

" adb shell mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock2 /system
adb push "D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/chargemon" "/sdcard/tmp/chargemon"
failed to copy 'D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/chargemon' to '/sdcard/tmp/chargemon': Permission denied
adb push "D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/xrecovery.tar" "/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar"
failed to copy 'D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/xrecovery.tar' to '/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar': Permission denied
adb shell dd if="/sdcard/tmp/chargemon" of="/system/bin/chargemon"
/sdcard/tmp/chargemon: cannot open for read: Permission denied
adb shell dd if="/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar" of="/system/bin/xrecovery.tar"
/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar: cannot open for read: Permission denied "
what should i do?

crazyboy05 said:
" adb shell mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock2 /system
adb push "D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/chargemon" "/sdcard/tmp/chargemon"
failed to copy 'D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/chargemon' to '/sdcard/tmp/chargemon': Permission denied
adb push "D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/xrecovery.tar" "/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar"
failed to copy 'D:\Manu\Android\xrecovery/xrecovery.tar' to '/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar': Permission denied
adb shell dd if="/sdcard/tmp/chargemon" of="/system/bin/chargemon"
/sdcard/tmp/chargemon: cannot open for read: Permission denied
adb shell dd if="/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar" of="/system/bin/xrecovery.tar"
/sdcard/tmp/xrecovery.tar: cannot open for read: Permission denied "
what should i do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're going to need to mount the system first. I believe it's adb shell -> su -> then something. Can't remember now.

Terminal Emulator Won't Work On My Rooted CM7.1 Mytouch!

I go through the process to delete the stock apps:
# SU(superuser permission)
# mount -o rw,remount /system
# rm -f /system/app/Calculator.apk
and it gives me this:
rm: can't remove '/system/app/Calculator.apk' : Directory not empty
PLEASE HELP. This apps are just taking up space and i wanna get rid of them.

Salviikiddd said:
I go through the process to delete the stock apps:
# SU(superuser permission)
# mount -o rw,remount /system
# rm -f /system/app/Calculator.apk
and it gives me this:
rm: can't remove '/system/app/Calculator.apk' : Directory not empty
PLEASE HELP. This apps are just taking up space and i wanna get rid of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume you don't have s-off. i don't either. I use titanium backup. I long press on an app and almost the last option is to force delete. It reboots and takes care of it.

ok thanks.
but whats s-off?

S in S-OFF stands for security, so basically it "locks" the phone and prevents anybody from gaining true root access. If you have HBOOT 1.02, you won't be able to gain S-OFF, if you have HBOOT .5, there's AlphaRev 1.8 utility that will give you S-OFF.
Since you don't have S-OFF, you'll have to use Titanium Backup to force delete those system apps.