[Q] Did I f* up my Play? - Xperia Play General

Hey guys. I hate making my first post a really noobie question but here it goes.
I just updated my rooted Xperia Play to 2.3.3 and it erased and/or re-wrote all of my system apps. I stupidly converted some of my downloaded apps into system apps using Titanium (because system apps turn red on the list. It helped me quickly figure out what was external and what was internal. Stupid, yes, and more trouble then it was actually worth.) so those apps were lost. Didn't matter, I had backups but I lost my root so I couldn't access them.
Forgetting what I used to root my phone originally I decided to use z4root after reading about it somewhere. The site I got it from is usually trust worthy but when I downloaded the file my OfficeScan (its a school bought computer) warned me of a potential virus threat. I wrote it off as just the pop-up ad and un-zipped and transferred the file to my phone. I still am not sure if it was a virus or not... Running z4root it got up to "acquiring shell root..." or something like that before kicking me back to the home screen with no change. I, again, stupidly, re-ran it several times without rebooting between each attempt. Giving up I then realized to reboot. Strangely rebooting was A LOT faster then it was usually is and I don't know if that was z4 or 2.3.3.
Anyway I remembered that I used Gingerbreak last time and re-installed that. I made several attempts with that with no change either. Too many to count, but at least more than 8. Several attempts I got a call or a text and, checking them, ended the process. 2 attempts I left running for about half an hour (I know that the instructions say it will never take more then 10 minutes) and some I ended with a battery pull after more then 10mins(as per instruction).
So I guess I have several questions:
1. How bad did I f* up, If I did so?
2. Any suggestions on how to re-root/fix it?
3. Will switching to an empty SD card, successfully rooting it, and switching back to the full card still keep the root?
4. Does an in phone factory reset work the same as flashing the same rom or will I need to actually flash that new rom?
5. If I do need to flash, where can I find a regular Play rom? Or do you have suggestions about a better rom?
6. Is the fast reboot the work of the half done, possibly a virus, z4root process or just the 2.3.3 update?
7.Lastly Was this tl and you ;dr?
Normally, I wouldn't care if there was no fix; My phone boots much faster, I didn't lose all my apps and only some apps launch a little slower then before. But I made tons of progress on Zenonia 2 and I want my back ups for that... lol.
Any help appreciated. Also thanks for putting up with a noob that's writing way to formally

1. Messing with the system apps, and not backing them up probably caused you to not have an OTA update. I'm guessing you flashed it? Not restoring anything and not doing an OTA was mistake number one. Trying to use z4root was mistake number 2.
2. Get the generic UK firmware from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1097591
-Flash that with Bin4ry and Androxhyde's flashtool
-Put in your carrier's APN settings, configure your google account, wifi etc. etc.
-Get Gingerbreak 1.2, run it(I used Astro to open the apk, and you need uunknown sources enabled).
Gingerbreak only worked for me when I formatted an SD card right before running it. I used a spare that was lying around, not the usual one with all my data, and I suggest you do the same if you kept your titanium backups. Hopefully you'll get rooted after about 3-5 minutes. Do not mess with any apps/bloatware after you have the root.
-After you have root, go into the settings menu and start an OTA update.
You should now have 2.3.3 WITH root.
-Once the phone is updated, install Titanium Backup and start backing up your old apps from before you messed up the phone and lost root.
-At this point feel free to remove the bloatware, but make sure you back it up in titanium for later.
3. Switching SD cards won't affect root at all.
4. A factory reset will reset whatever ROM was installed last. In other words, you can't revert back to 2.3.2 with a reset, it'll just reset 2.3.3 - It's really just for wiping data and settings.
5.The regular play ROM is the UK generic I posted above. The only "better" roms are customs that you need an unlocked bootloader to install. Currently they're still buggy and in development and not worth getting unless you like incomplete ROMs with bugs, and wanna lose the ability to update normally. Both OTA updates and the Sony Ericsson Update Service will brick your phone once the bootloader's unlocked.
6. My phone was booting a bit faster after updating to 2.3.3, and became even faster after removing some bloatware.
-Root doesn't speed up the boot process.
-I highly doubt an Android phone would have a virus that makes it boot faster, it's probably just from the update.
7. No, it wasn't. No, I didn't.

Thanks for the (semi-)quick response. Been browsing around the web with this tab open, constantly refreshing like a creep. I'll try your advice soon but its like 3am, just wanted to say thanks and love your Stocking pic.
Btw is there a difference between A US, UK or CAN rom or do those even exist?

The only real differences are carrier specific apps, and some versions have different games installed.
Sent from my R800

Seems like I was to late to flash and the link to the rom you gave me may have been updated to 2.3.3 as well. I was looking for a Canada/Rodgers rom anyway but the forum search isn't turning up anything and google seems to hate me...
Help anyone?

The link was for 2.3.2 in the generic.
The only rogers rom available is for 2.3.3 so you won't be getting root without an unlocked bootloader with that one.
Just follow the directions and it should be fine.
The rogers apps are available in the android market separately.
Sent from my R800

Related

Rooting and Backing up Phone

This is my first Android phone, so I'm not sure how the backing up procedure works. Is there a way to back up all settings and apps (including paid apps) so I can restore it afterward?
I've rooted my phone when I first got it, through the unrevoked v1 method. Updated when Sprint gave me the option. Found out I shouldn't have done that, as I lost root access. I've been reading threads on how to set my EVO back to stock and hopefully this will restore everything. Thereby also being able to root once again.
If it means, I can root which method is recommended to also receive the latest updates.
I hope that I didn't lose root access for good.
Also curious, don't want to have to reinstall all the apps and lose the paid ones.
This has been a big question for me too.
Never rooted or modded a phone at all until yesterday, just made my first post here a minute ago.
I rooted and unlocked nand with simpleroot, then installed the damagecontrol rom, everything went ok. Got a lot of help by watching the video links. The biggest thing I was after was the wireless tether, which I have now. I've flashed the rom a couple time since and loose all my apps, contacts, and history every time. I get the contacts back easy through google sync. The apps I have been able to reinstall, the market has remembered my paid apps and lets me re-install no problem. This is still a hassle though. After doing some reading it seems people are using Titanium backup for the apps, and handy backup for the call history. I just installed and backed up everything, haven't tested out the restore yet.

[Q] Upgraded without Unrooting

I may have missed this in another thread, so please feel free to redirect me if so...
Without thinking, I updated my Droid with the OTA push and my previously rooted Droid 2 is now not rooted.
I did try to run the oneclick and 1-2-3 root processes. Both end with "your device is now rooted", but of course it's really not. I do have the Superuser APK, but my rooted programs are not communicating with it. And I'm not able to uninstall the Superuser program (thought I'd try to reinstall it). No go.
I had Titanium Backup, ad am wondering if I can wipe my phone and restore it, then upgrade, and root after. I'm a newbie with limited knowledge, so wondering if I've backed myself into a corner on this one.
All feedback appreciated!
Yesterday, I did the same thing you tried and I was successful in rerooting my phone after the OTA update. When you used the 1-click process did you choose option 1 or 2. I tried 2 and it didn't work. I had to chose option 1 (reload everything) to be successful. BTW, remember to make a new recovery backup of the system.
unrooted
xberry said:
I may have missed this in another thread, so please feel free to redirect me if so...
Without thinking, I updated my Droid with the OTA push and my previously rooted Droid 2 is now not rooted.
I did try to run the oneclick and 1-2-3 root processes. Both end with "your device is now rooted", but of course it's really not. I do have the Superuser APK, but my rooted programs are not communicating with it. And I'm not able to uninstall the Superuser program (thought I'd try to reinstall it). No go.
I had Titanium Backup, ad am wondering if I can wipe my phone and restore it, then upgrade, and root after. I'm a newbie with limited knowledge, so wondering if I've backed myself into a corner on this one.
All feedback appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same issue here - how I fixed
I had already made titanium backups of important stuff - you have to go into applications (that use root) and force stop and clear data. Once this is complete open titanium backup for instance, and you should be asked for super user and then be good to go. Same goes for rest of apps that need root
OTA update Loop?
i have my d2 rooted after the ota 2.2 update. i just received a notification to accept the most recent OTA update ... whatever it is... and assumed it was one of my apps as i didnt read it thru completely b4 tapping 'ok'. now it is stuck in a download, reboot, update, "update unsuccessfully installed", redownload, reboot...........
is there a way to cancel the update? i dont really care if i have it or not
or some way to stop this process aside from the airplane mode i had to set it to so it would stop this madness
So you can do the OTA update without having to unroot and reroot?
Great advice from all - thanks! I'm not sure exactly what fixed it, but I ran DOROOT several times, did the unplug/plug when it hung for a minute, force closed/cleared data from previously rooted items, and also put phone into 'charge only' mode when USB Debugger would not run.
Finally - success! My advice to users with this same issue - try and try again.
Thanks all!

[Q] Need Help! Milestone 2

ok, so here's the thing... I have almost no experience with android, but I want to be messing with my phone so I can learn from experience...
I read that motoblur eats up a lot of CPU from the phone, so I tried to remove some parts that I though they would not affect the functionally of the phone. basically I uninstalled the socialmedia and other similar software that was "related" or had socialmedia on the name.
as a result, my contacts that sync from facebook were deleted from the contact list.
so before I started to remove these programs, extensions, or whatever, I made a backup of each using titanium backup, but when I tried to restore the backup, no matter with which one I started, the thing didn't restore the program, it just stayed as "performing installation" or something and nothing happen. I leave a "restoration" of one of the programs all night and nothing...
so I decided to make a hard rest to the phone. And the nighmare begins...
Once the phone boots, the first thing you see is the configuration of the motoblur account, so I just input my user and pass and hit next and nothing happens...
well, that's no true, it goes back to home screen of the motoblur configuration and ask me to do the account setup again, and again and again... you get the point. it's cycled or I remove something that does not allow the process to continue... and since I cannot configure the blur account, I cannot access the Phone to use it, or make a system nandroid backup, a restore of app o even make a phonecall that it's not a emergency (911) call.
I'm affraid to start messing with the phone since I'm located in Mexico, and my provider is telcel, so I don't know if all of the roms and hacks will leave my phone working in my country (I've only seen rom from argentina, china, europe, so I'm a little scared to start messing with the roms)
Is there any way to patch the motoblur 2.2.1 like in this post? http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...169038&page=68
can the phone be booted to install gingerbread without any special software installed? the phone was rooted, but since I made a hard reset, I don't know if it remains rooted...
help please
Hey there.
Hard reset only deletes any settings or apps you have applied/installed. Once you start playing with root and deleting system apps, the only way back is either restoring any backups of the system apps (if you made any, AND if it will even let you - one time I uninstalled the software that installed APK's by accident -__-) or you can flash your stock firmware (froyo) with RSD lite. If you made a nandroid backup with Clockwork mod recovery prior to messing with stuff, and can still enter CWM, you could restore that backup too.
All firmwares available here http://and-developers.com/sbf:milestone2
You can get RSD lite here http://www.motorolafans.com/forums/e6-general-chat/31983-flashing-tool-rsd-lite-v5-3-1-a.html
You have to go into bootloader (with phone off, hold the hardware key d-pad up and power button and release once powered on)
It's all pretty straight forward, download your SBF from that site, open rsd lite, load your sbf, enter bootloader, connect phone via usb, click start.
If you were only on froyo, you can only load CWM from the OS. So if droid2bootstapper and super user aren't there you probably can't install any of the gingerbread roms from this forum at this stage. EDIT whoops ignore that just re-read your post. Man, too many beers
Bottom line, garunteed you can just flash your stock firmware with rsd lite, root, install clockwork mod recovery and install the custom roms from then on!
Also a guide to restoring your ms2 is located here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032372
Thanks! I'll do this right away and find out if I did it right.
Thanks a LOT! =D

[Q] Nook Touch + Market Stopped working

So i have a Nook Simple Touch I was using about 9 months ago, which fell to disuse for a bit for a variety of reasons. It's running 1.1.0, and is rooted.
I dusted it off to recently give it some more use again, and wanted to update some of the apps, but discovered that the Market doesn't seem to work anymore - I know it used to, but now, whenever I try to download anything, I get a dialog: "Download Errror: Download was unsuccessful, please try again." I've waited an extra day, as I remember that was originally necessary to complete the registration process, but still nothing. Searching (with Market Search) works, even for things I haven't looked up before, and it still recognizes my account, as I see my email, though I noticed that the Nook Touch doesn't get listed in the Google Play Store under devices.
Any ideas what might be going wrong here, or things to try? I'm also willing to upgrade to a newer firmware (1.2.1), but am not sure of the best method to update a rooted device. I can pull it into a separate post, but I'll include it here for now:
I'm sure I'l have to root again, but Is it possible to upgrade the rooted device and then simply re-root, or will I lose everything I've installed? Is it just better to wipe, update and re-root? If so, is there any convenient way to keep all of my settings?
Thanks!
mrgygar said:
So i have a Nook Simple Touch I was using about 9 months ago, which fell to disuse for a bit for a variety of reasons. It's running 1.1.0, and is rooted.
I dusted it off to recently give it some more use again, and wanted to update some of the apps, but discovered that the Market doesn't seem to work anymore - I know it used to, but now, whenever I try to download anything, I get a dialog: "Download Errror: Download was unsuccessful, please try again." I've waited an extra day, as I remember that was originally necessary to complete the registration process, but still nothing. Searching (with Market Search) works, even for things I haven't looked up before, and it still recognizes my account, as I see my email, though I noticed that the Nook Touch doesn't get listed in the Google Play Store under devices.
Any ideas what might be going wrong here, or things to try? I'm also willing to upgrade to a newer firmware (1.2.1), but am not sure of the best method to update a rooted device. I can pull it into a separate post, but I'll include it here for now:
I'm sure I'l have to root again, but Is it possible to upgrade the rooted device and then simply re-root, or will I lose everything I've installed? Is it just better to wipe, update and re-root? If so, is there any convenient way to keep all of my settings?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sad, no one wants to reply. Or perhaps no one knows.
Did a backup, and experimented. I couldn't update directly, so I wiped back to a stock ROM, and upgraded to 1.2.1. Rooted with ManualNooter, and the market worked. So I have no idea what was going on, but it works now. Sadly, a computer accident made me lose my backups (including unrooted images). But at least I've got something functional.
I am currently in the same boat with my NST (BNRV300) running rooted 1.1.2. I last installed and/or updated some Market apps successfully perhaps about a year ago, and have not made any other change to the Nook, so I am at a lost as to what might be the cause. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
For now, my workaround this problem is to download the desired app's apk file from an alternate source (e.g., APKPure) then side-load it onto the NST.
My guess would be that somehow your authtication with Google has been lost on the device.
If you go to the PlayStore on a computer do you see your NST listed as a device, and if so, when you select an app that way does it eventually appear on your NST?
Sent from my NST
nmyshkin said:
My guess would be that somehow your authtication with Google has been lost on the device.
If you go to the PlayStore on a computer do you see your NST listed as a device, and if so, when you select an app that way does it eventually appear on your NST?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are right -- my NST credential with the Playstore must have expired or more likely become invalid when I changed my password on my Gmail account.
If so I can't figure out how to re-validate the credential: I recall entering my Google login/password via the YouTube app during the course of rooting my NST using the MinimalTouch tool's 2-phase process, but now I can't even get the YouTube app to start (error message: ... problem starting up, please check your network connection and system time).
Look here
I responded to a related issue awhile back. Not sure if the info at the link might kick-start the signing in process.
Thanks for the pointer.
I decided to go the route of "factory reset, upgrade to 1.2.1 and re-root using Nook Manager", as simply re-rooting 1.1.2 using the old tool (Minimal Touch) is tedious & somewhat error-prone -- plus I'd like to try out 1.2.1.
That was what I would usually suggest but the farther I have gotten from that "day 1", the less likely I am to take/offer the same advice. I've made so many modifications at this point I don't think I'd ever get it back to its present state! Back up early and often...and, apparently, access the Market every so often, even if you don't want anything.
Good luck!

[Q] Can't install latest OTA update after unroot

Hey guys,
So I've googled around for this issue but I still have a question that no other thread I've found seems to answer.
A few weeks ago I rooted my Razr M. I froze a couple of the verizon apps (like the google chrome bookmarks) and backed up and deleted the amazon apps, IMDB, and Audible apps with titanium. When the new OTA was released this week I restored and thawed all of those apps, but the OTA wouldn't install. It reached about 1/4 through the bar of Andy and then he would be on his side with the caution sign. The phone would reboot and say that the installation failed. I decided to unroot, thinking that may have been the cause, but I still got the same error. From there I did a factory reset, and I'm still getting the same error.
Here's my question: I saw on a couple threads that a factory reset doesn't restore everything in /system, which is where I'm worried there's a discrepancy that isn't allowing the update. Is there a way to do a harder reset that will completely bring the phone back to stock?
I'm currently on System version 98.12.4.XT907.Verizon.en.US if that helps. Android 4.1.1. Baseband version is SM_BP_1139.000.32.62P.
JadedRescue said:
Hey guys,
So I've googled around for this issue but I still have a question that no other thread I've found seems to answer.
A few weeks ago I rooted my Razr M. I froze a couple of the verizon apps (like the google chrome bookmarks) and backed up and deleted the amazon apps, IMDB, and Audible apps with titanium. When the new OTA was released this week I restored and thawed all of those apps, but the OTA wouldn't install. It reached about 1/4 through the bar of Andy and then he would be on his side with the caution sign. The phone would reboot and say that the installation failed. I decided to unroot, thinking that may have been the cause, but I still got the same error. From there I did a factory reset, and I'm still getting the same error.
Here's my question: I saw on a couple threads that a factory reset doesn't restore everything in /system, which is where I'm worried there's a discrepancy that isn't allowing the update. Is there a way to do a harder reset that will completely bring the phone back to stock?
I'm currently on System version 98.12.4.XT907.Verizon.en.US if that helps. Android 4.1.1. Baseband version is SM_BP_1139.000.32.62P.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you did not defrost those system apps using titanium backup before you factory reset. I would restore from your stock backup and unfreeze those apps with titanium and try the ota again. The OTA checks for certain bloatware apps before it will allow it to install the update.
slogar25 said:
Sounds like you did not defrost those system apps using titanium backup before you factory reset. I would restore from your stock backup and unfreeze those apps with titanium and try the ota again. The OTA checks for certain bloatware apps before it will allow it to install the update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely did defrost those apps.
I'm having the same issue. Stops at about 1/4 of the way and then restarts. I'm gonna try it again without my Rogers(non-verizon) sim card and see if it works. Maybe it checks which sim card is being used.
EDIT: Didn't work, sim card irrelevant.
If you really want the ota then why don't you try mattlgroff's utility here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=39576818
It will return you back to completely stock with one click and then you should be able to take the ota and reroot unlock if desired
Sent from my XT907 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
RSD
vLegend said:
I'm having the same issue. Stops at about 1/4 of the way and then restarts. I'm gonna try it again without my Rogers(non-verizon) sim card and see if it works. Maybe it checks which sim card is being used.
EDIT: Didn't work, sim card irrelevant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried using Mattlgroff's method (which i'm sure is fine for most) but seems to be geared towards linux users mostly, and I ran into some issues. I have always used RSD to get back to stock and never had an issue. Check it out How To Restore Stock Firmware on Razr M. This will hard restore your phone to the factory image, as well as unroot it, no need to unfreeze or reinstall bloat. It will also obviously erase the internal SD card contents so make sure you back those up.
Yeah looks like slogar25 and cliMAKtic are right. I tried a few more things and its not working. I'll do an rsd in the next couple days and try the ota again.
I'm going to try rsd sometime tonight, I'll let everyone know how it goes. Thanks for all the help!!
I like rsd too. The point is to return too stock.
Sent from my XT907 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
Same issue, stops 1/4 of the way through.
Flashing back to stock with the RAZR M utility 1.10 once my phone hits 100% battery (at 93% now). Will let you know if I can take the update after.
Keep in mind
RSD is great to get back to clean stock, but keep in mind that it will remove your root. After taking the OTA update, you will be running firmware v4.1.2. If you used MotoFail2Go exploit to root your phone originally you should note that the exploit apparently does not work for the updated firmware. Instead you should use motochopper, an updated exploit that works on 4.1.2 to root your phone, developed by Drjbliss over at Droidrzr.
I honestly don't care too much about being unrooted at this point anyway, having root wasn't doing too much for me. I managed to get back to the original stock ICS using RSD and everything worked out! Downloaded one update to 4.1.1, then the second update to 4.1.2, and everything went swimmingly.
Thank you so much for all your help everyone!

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