Database Users

[Q] Soft Brick

If a moderator can remove this thread, please go ahead!
I dug deeper into fallingup's recovery thread. It never occurred to me that it might make a difference to clear cache and factory reset AFTER doing an update. I did that, which seemed to clear up my FC loop. I fell into a page that asked me what language I was speaking, and was prompted to set up my google account -- which failed. Couldn't connect to data services, not even WIFI. So *228 and Activated my phone (again). Google still wouldn't log in. Went to Settings/Privacy/Factory reset. Selected English, google logged in this time. My phone appears to be completely back to its original stock state. Root is gone. Even bing is back, lovely. Thanks angel12!
... now if I could just figure out why that update.zip paired with the modem.tar that started all this wouldn't sing for me in recovery mode.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
First off, I apologize for cluttering this forum, but I'm at a bit of a loss here. I also failed to find the server for IRC. I'd really appreciate a small push.
Here goes: I got into download mode from the command line. I flashed over my modem with Odin, got a PASS, rebooted fully (shouldn't have done this) with no errors. Next, I popped into recovery mode. From there, I decided to factory reset _and_ wipe my cache -- it seemed like a good idea at the time. It seems like a bad idea now. Finally, I told recovery to apply update.zip from my sdcard. It flat out refused! Complained that the .zip wasn't signed. So, I rebooted.
I then experienced my first FC loop! The culprit is TouchWiz launcher, which just repeatedly closes unexpectedly.
So then I restored the DI01 modem, which didn't change a thing. Next, I ran Stock-i500-VZW-System.tar.md5 through Odin. It updated with no problems.
However, I still have my Force Close Loop, which I expected going to stock would fix.
What I think is really going on is I'd been using ADW Launcher, coupled with an app that switched it to being the 'default'. Something somewhere, must be giving TWiz a hard time.
The good news is I still have adb shell access and root.
* Is there anything I can do to make that homescreen switcher app run on my phone without using a launcher (from shell, for instance)?
* Is there some important point I'm missing about my recovery (I've flashed back everything I changed, at least in my mind)
* Perhaps I could flash something else from Recovery, and that would clear this up?
* It would be great to know what I did that messed this up.
EDIT:
I meant DI01, not "Di05". Nice catch!
It turned out in my case that data wipes were crucial - the factory wipe in system, and the data/factory reset &or cache partition in recovery mode.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=782204
Follow this to the letter. Been there, done that. Home Switcher isn't what went wrong. You'll be fine in 10 minutes.
Wait. DI05??? Do you mean DI01 or DJ05? You need to make sure you flash the modem that matches your ROM. Either easy is fine, and probably didn't have anything to do with your force close loop, but make sure they match or you won't be able to text.
And PDA in Odin.

[Q] Phone is ocassionally rendered useless after a reboot.

I have tried flashing a couple different roms, including Bonsai, TrulyEpic Rebirth. I get everything up and running, and a few reboots later, I turn my phone on, and I'm back at the setup screen, where you enter your gmail acct info, and it teaches you how to use the Swype keyboard and everything. I get through all that, and i just have a barrage of "this program force-closed" windows. Everytime I do that, I have to start all over. I've had to do this 5 or 6 times since I got the phone on Monday.
What I do is:
Flash DK28 with Odin.
One-click root/clockwork recovery 3.0.0.5
Let the system do the ext4 conversion
factory reset, clear cache partition, clear dalvik cache 3x
flash rom
restore all my apps
then, a few reboots later, I end up with the setup screen, and the barrage of FC notifications.
Am I missing something?

EDIT: WHOOPS. I'm half asleep and didn't read that right. When you say restore apps, are you restoring a cwm backup or are you talking about the app restoration build into the setup wizard?l

Built in setup app.

I used to have this problem too, it was very frustrating. For me, I finally narrowed it down to somehow corrupting the ROM by using the 3-button instant reboot method. Since I was using the no-journaling mod I figured that somehow I was forcing a re-boot while the system was writing something? I don't really know for sure though, but I can say now that I use QuickBoot and avoid the 3-button method, I haven't had any problems. Good luck!

Thanks. I have yet to try the no-journaling mod, nor do I know what the 3 button method is. I've been using a widget called "boot control", but I'll switch back to quick-boot (i've used it in the past) to see if that helps.

[Q] Factory Reset on an Encrypted Device Unsuccessful [now solved]

A few little things were acting up on my phone, so I decided to reflash and start anew. The only big hiccup is that my phone was encrypted.
Through TWRP, I have performed a Factory Reset, which was unsuccessful. I then went through Format Data to remove the encryption:
Format Data will wipe all of your apps, backups, pictures, videos, media, and removes encryption on internal storage. This cannot be undone. Press back to cancel. Type yes to continue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This unfortunately did not do a thing, even after rebooting recovery before I flashed the rom. I am prompted for my encryption password during pre-boot. I've tried various backups that I still have (including the original from when I got my device); sometimes the password is accepted, other times I am prompted to continuously try again. When the password is accepted, I am stuck with a blank screen; after a few seconds, my phone vibrates once, then after a few seconds more, it vibrates multiple times, like when an app crashes. These restores do apply; the boot animations and Samsung logo change based on which backup I tried.
As long as I can get to a state where I can flash new roms and boot without the encryption prompt, I don't mind having to root again, losing internal data (which should've happened above), or having to reconfigure everything (that's half the fun).
adb and TWRP are still functional. I'm downloading the stock recovery and factory images to give them a try as well, though the download is crawling and it will be some time before I can test it.
Has anyone else successfully solved this?
Edit: Solved.Flashed all factory images, performed a factory reset, re-rooted, set up TWRP again, and got back to a current rom. For anyone else who runs into this in the future, I had to use the stock recovery, not CWM or TWRP, to successfully wipe my device.

[Q] in desperate need of help

s5 active, I downloaded fx and towelroot to black out some apps, rebooted and it freezes on the at&t logo screen, was advised to clear cache partition, did not work, I know nothing about this stuff, please help

It would have been nice if your post title was more informative.
Give us a detailed description of how you tried to clear the cache partition, so that we can confirm whether you did it correctly or spot your error. In the unlikely event that wiping the cache properly doesn't resolve your issue, then your recourse is to use Odin to write a full, stock ATT firmware image back to your phone to recover.
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your lack of planning does not make it my emergency

For the benefit of anyone else that has similar problems and reads this thread, wiping the cache partition usually resolves a boot loop, where the phone won't boot properly.
If it doesn't, that inevitably means that you disabled or froze a critical system app that is now preventing your phone from booting. Ideally if you made a backup, you could simply restore that to fix the problem. Since few people bother to make backups, then you can either write a full stock firmware image back to the phone to recover. Or you could try using mobile Odin Pro to write just the system files or if you kept a list of what you changed, use an ADB shell to revert the critical system files that you renamed.
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your lack of planning doesn't make it my emergency

[Q] Com.android.phone has stopped working...can't sent texts either

ATT S5 with Straight Talk sim. Towel root and stuff. I can't place calls but can receive them. The antenna reception icon is replaced with the little "banned" (circle with line through it...think no smoking signs). Any fixes?

First try wiping the system cache. Boot to recovery mode and wipe the cache. If the problem persists, go the application manager in the settings menu and clear cache and data for the process (app).
That will resolve most issues. There have been hundreds of threads about xxx has stopped working, so if you had done a search you would already have found this.
If your luck is bad and the above doesn't fix the error, then presumably you have something unusual happening e.g. a corrupt system file or non-obvious conflicting app. You can try temporarily removing recently installed apps or resetting your phone.
To reset your phone, backup any files that are important to you. Then write a full, stock firmware image with Odin, followed by a facotry ata reset. It's recommended that you use a pre-June 6th firmware build to assure that you can easily Towel root again.
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fffft said:
First try wiping the system cache. Boot to recovery mode and wipe the cache. If the problem persists, go the application manager in the settings menu and clear cache and data for the process (app).
That will resolve most issues. There have been hundreds of threads about xxx has stopped working, so if you had done a search you would already have found this.
If your luck is bad and the above doesn't fix the error, then presumably you have something unusual happening e.g. a corrupt system file or non-obvious conflicting app. You can try temporarily removing recently installed apps or resetting your phone.
To reset your phone, backup any files that are important to you. Then write a full, stock firmware image with Odin, followed by a facotry ata reset. It's recommended that you use a pre-June 6th firmware build to assure that you can easily Towel root again.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried everything except resetting. I don't even se the phone icon under app manager.

LXXXVII said:
Tried everything except resetting. I don't even se the phone icon under app manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should provide more information e.g. a detailed, step by step description of what you are trying in aid of discerning where you have gone awry. It's implausible that you wrote a full stock firmware image plus cleared the system cache and a factory data reset and still have the problem remaining.
Those steps would restore any changes that you could have made to the keyloayout files and then some. Ergo, there is something that you have left out or possibly an error or omission in one of the steps you took towards reverting your phone.
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LXXXVII said:
Tried everything except resetting. I don't even se the phone icon under app manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1- Check your IMEI by *#06# and *#0011#. Is it still OK and PASS?
2- In the most cases, flashing the stock firmware may fix the problem.