Related
I've tried to find the answer to my problem, but I can't seem to find the specific help. I sold my Touch GSM working great. I had it returned saying it didn't work.
I think the guy tried to do something to the rom and created problems. The phone will boot up, the icons come up as well as a wallpaper photo of the guy and his family. Before I can access any files, it shuts off and restarts. It just keeps doing this. I can't sync the phone because it never gets to that point.
Can I interrupt the start up? Can I flash it somehow? Can I put something on the micro SD card before it starts up? What can I do to either change the rom or fix the continuous restart.
Thanks for your help.
Fix boot loader from sd card htc touch elf clone
PROBLEM SOLVED. THIS WORKED GREAT FOR ME FINALLY! it's the chinese clone version of the HTC TOUCH gsm. Don't need active sync or to be connected to the computer to work.
It was easy.
My phone would get stuck on the first windows screen and that would be it. Nothing I did would get the phone to work.
1. download the file from the link and unzip it.
rapidshare.com/files/82510452/New_Blue_Touch_ROM_V4.0.zip
2. Transfer the file called update.img to the micro sd card. Make sure you don't put it into any folder, just directly onto the card. (I have a usb micro card reader that I slide the micro sd card into and plug it into my computer) They also have a regular size sd card that you slide the micro into and insert it into your computer.
3. I pushed the side volume switch up, held the power button and did a soft reset.
4. A menu comes up that says something like "boot loader from the sd card."
5. the phone automatically read the card and my phone went to a blue screen with nothing there. I thought it wasn't working, but I let it stay that way for a short while. Sure enough, the phone started up and it hadn't worked for a year before that!
I can't say it will work for you, or what will happen to your phone, but I had nothing to lose.
Good luck
hello there. for you and anyone else with china htc problem this is the solution for it.
go to this page and download the IMG file called "update.img"
then follow this steps.
1. Format your HTC memory card (Micro SD card), so it will be clean.
2. Move the update.img (you already downloaded from the site) to root directory of your Memory card.
3. Press Volume Up button on your htc and while keeping it pressed , press the reset button.
You should get the blue screen telling the update being downloaded. Wait for a while and it will tell that Update is successful and your phone will be rebooted.
THis is it.
Could you tell me where you find the update.img file? I have the same problem, but I couldn't seem to be able to find update.img in the New_Blue_Touch_ROM_V4.0.zip file. Thanks for your help!
I'm trying to simply copy some files to my device. I hooked it up to the PC via usb, made a new folder and copied the files to it, but when I go to the device in sniffer the folder doesn't show up.
I tried prefixing the folder with a $ so it showed up first, and that folder just seemed to delete itself.
Also seems to be a glitch with "Turn on USB storage". I click it, and it changes to turn off, but then after the screen goes to sleep and I wake it up, it says "Turn on USB storage" again even though it's still connected to the PC.
How can I just copy files over to the SD card I put in there?
This is so trivial and is kind of a ***** that is doesn't just work.
you could try going to settings->applications->all->sniffer->force stop then try
if that does not work, you could try copying the files to a flash drive or microsd and moving them that way
It seems if I copy any files to the device via the usb connected to the pc, it doesn't show.
I tried Sniffer and Astro, shows nothing, reconnect to PC, files are there.
Reboot device, can see files.
No one else has this issue?
Are you using original software or any other ROM?
Try moving the files to your device while you've set your adams screen to "always on" or just poke it so it doesn't sleep. Just to minimize the equation of errors.
I know I can sometimes have problems with reading the memory on my Galaxy S if ignore the safe-removal feature in windows before pulling the USB-cable.
A "meanwhile-solution" would be to use an SD-card reader..
Hi all,
I am new to the X. I am coming from the HTC Incredible. I was running CM7. I liked it a lot. My Incredible suffered some physical damage and for the price of an insurance claim I picked up an X on Criagslist.
I am experiencing some difficulties with the X however. One of these was posted in another thread. I will recap here for the purpose of consolidating my questions.
Issues:
1. <Resolved> Unable to access the bootloader screen.
2. SD card not recognized. <Possible dead SD card slot>
3. <Resolved> Confusion on drivers required to get my device to show in a command prompt with the 'ADB Devices' command.
Details:
1. When attempting to access the boot loader screen the search button does not get me in. I power the device down. Then I hold the home and power button screen until the Droid and caution icon appear. Then the device becomes unresponsive. When I press the search button nothing happens. From here I must pull the battery to reboot.
<Resolution provided by meshdub below> Thank you.
2. The SD card is not recognized by the device. I have a new SD card. I can pop it in my PC and it works fine (shows in Windows Explorer and I am able to access and format there). When the device is plugged in to my computer the drive letter shows but when clicking on the drive it says 'Please insert a disk in drive G:'. The storage settings screen displays the following:
Total space - Unavailable
Available space - Unavailable
Mount SD card - Insert an SD card for mounting <grayed out>
Format SD card - Format (erase) the SD card <grayed out>
When I go to settings > Privacy settings > Factory Data Reset and check the Erase SD card option a message pops up stating the SD card has been removed.
3. I am trying to get the drivers needed for accessing the ADB devices via command prompt. Before downloading the Motorola driver set application, my XP machine detected and installed some drivers for the device. The device does show up in the device manager as a disk drive and CD ROM drive with the name 'Motorola MB810 USB Device'. I have since downloaded the Motorola application and the USB charging driver packages. I am unsure how to get these drivers associated with the device so I can get it to list in ADB devices to try to move forward. I have tried to uninstall and rescan for hardware in the device manager but it keeps coming back with the XP drivers.When I plug the USB cable in to my X it auto detects the hardware and drivers before I can select a different one.
<Resolution> Make sure that in the Applications settings Development settings USB Debugging is enabled.
My thought is if I can root and get a new bootloader or recovery I may be able to circumvent any existing issues with the current ROM or bootloader.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
OldTymeHockey
Please help with drivers
Okay. Well, it seems there is no help for my first post. I would like to address the drivers first.
I have downloaded the Motorola driver installation 5.0.0 from Motorola's site. I have tried many many things to get the right drivers for the ADB to recognize my device. I am having no success.
It appears Windoze is using it's own generic drivers each time I plug my device in to the USB port. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the Motorola driver application. I have uninstalled the MB810 from device manager many times. I can't get my computer to use any Motorola drivers.
EDIT:
I racked my brain while reading through the noob guide once again. It appears one step is missing from the driver install and getting the adb to recognize your device. You must enable USB debugging in the development menu of your device.
1. I assume you mean stock recovery, not bootloader. The keys have been changed in Moto's GB build. Once you get to the prompt (after holding home+power), try pressing both volume buttons. That should get you in. Navigate with volume, select with the power button.
2. This is weird... Do you have any other SD cards to test and see that it's not a defective SD slot on your phone?
meshdub said:
1. I assume you mean stock recovery, not bootloader. The keys have been changed in Moto's GB build. Once you get to the prompt (after holding home+power), try pressing both volume buttons. That should get you in. Navigate with volume, select with the power button.
2. This is weird... Do you have any other SD cards to test and see that it's not a defective SD slot on your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Got into recovery. Thanks.
2. I have tried three SD cards. An old 1GB, the 4GB from my Incredible, and a brand new 8GB from Sam's Club. Is there any cure for a possibly defective SD card slot?
Oldtymehockey said:
2. I have tried three SD cards. An old 1GB, the 4GB from my Incredible, and a brand new 8GB from Sam's Club. Is there any cure for a possibly defective SD card slot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not that I know of =/
Have you formatted it on the computer? If so, make sure you do it as fat and not ntfs.
Also, the sdcard slot being broken could be why the guy sold it?
Also, is the sdcard mounted on the computer when you have it in the droid x?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA Premium App
What version of Android is on your DX? What version are you trying to get? Do you know how to SBF?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA Premium App
eromrab said:
Have you formatted it on the computer? If so, make sure you do it as fat and not ntfs.
Also, the sdcard slot being broken could be why the guy sold it?
Also, is the sdcard mounted on the computer when you have it in the droid x?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have formatted it to FAT on my computer. It still doesn't show up in the device.
It is quite possible that is why it was sold. Live and learn.
I don't think it shows on my computer. I only see the MB810 USB device in device manager under CD ROM drives and also under disk drives. Windows Explorer shows two extra drives when plugged in. One CD ROM and one removable drive. Neither show any files in Windows Explorer.
eromrab said:
What version of Android is on your DX? What version are you trying to get? Do you know how to SBF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on 2.3.3. Kernel is 2.6.32.9. It was the OTA update provided by Verizon.
I was just trying to get a different recovery first to see if I could get at the SD card that way. I had CM7 on my Incredible. I intend to run CM again. I like it.
I have been reading on SBF but I don't think I need that at this point.
This may be of no help, but every time I plug my phone into my computer, I have to pull down the navigation bar and select the mass storage option from list even though it is already on it. It absolutely will not recognize it until I do this.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
All better now
Thanks for the input guys. It turns out the SD card slot wouldn't respond to anything. Cards were not recognized by 2.2, 2.3, or even in recovery.
Well, I went to the Verizon store just to ask them to look at it (playing dumb). It turns out the insurance I had covered the phone. It fell under the extended warranty. This is not normal as I bought the phone off Craigslist and it was tagged as 'customer provided equipment' but somehow it was covered.
Now I have a fresh factory refurb to work with. I have to SBF back to Froyo though because it came with 2.3.3 loaded. That is, unless someone has come up with a solution to root Gingerbread. I'm off to do my research.
I have built an SD bootable CM7 card as described by verygreen, but when I try to create folders on that drive from my PC (filled with APK files) I can't see them on the Nook. I have no problem doing this on my rooted emmc Nook, but when I boot to an SD card (that I am setting up for my daughter's Nook) I can't access any other folders/files.
What am I doing wrong? (The box is checked allowing Unknown Sources and I am currently running 177).
Are you connecting the nook via USB or putting the SD card in your computer directly?
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
The card is placed in a usb card reader (or a usd card reader), either one sees the files on the PC, but it will not find it on the nook. Even when I create a folder on the nook and move the disk over and copy a file into the new folder I can't see it on the nook.
You need to connect through the nook
Sent from my LG Optimus V using Tapatalk
Littlewhat said:
The card is placed in a usb card reader (or a usd card reader), either one sees the files on the PC, but it will not find it on the nook. Even when I create a folder on the nook and move the disk over and copy a file into the new folder I can't see it on the nook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is because the partition the computer sees is the boot partition... to access it in the nook... either in terminal or adb shell:
1. mkdir /sdcard/boot
2. mount /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /sdcard/boot/
the items on the boot partition of the SD (including the folders and apks you put there) will be visible as /sdcard/boot
Pretty sure you'd have found it in the VG SASD thread and a few others... since I have posted this several times.
Thanks for the response. I'm not real familiar with ADB so I tried it with terminal and was able to create a directory but mounting gave me a 'permission denied' message.
(Sorry if this is old info, I've spent the morning combing the SASD thread and haven't found it yet, just too much info, thanks for taking the time to help some of us who are slower learners!)
Edit: learning slowly, used su to get into superuser (#) and made directory, but when I try to mount it says not found.
Littlewhat said:
I have built an SD bootable CM7 card as described by verygreen, but when I try to create folders on that drive from my PC (filled with APK files) I can't see them on the Nook. I have no problem doing this on my rooted emmc Nook, but when I boot to an SD card (that I am setting up for my daughter's Nook) I can't access any other folders/files.
What am I doing wrong? (The box is checked allowing Unknown Sources and I am currently running 177).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you asked this question 2 weeks ago, I might able to give you the exact answer but since I wiped out the uSD CM7, I can't remember correctly what would happen.
However, based on my experience (+/- my memory loss), what you describe is all correct and that's what it is. Odd? Maybe, but don't panic.
Let's go slowly
when I try to create folders on that drive from my PC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you meant you created a folder in the "boot" partition on the uSD card?
a. if so, it's not recommended. Using the left over FAT32 partition instead
b. if so, try to use Root Folder app (it's a paid app) to access root folder (boot partition) directly on the NOOK. If you see the folder you created earlier, move it to the eMMC storage.
c. if not, pls tell us more
Yes, the SD card was accessed on my PC thru a USB adapter and a folder called 'APKs' was created in the boot sector. (I have also tried just adding the files into one of the other folders, but anything I add is invisible to the Nook).
So if I need to create a folder in other than the boot sector, I would need to use something like Easeus Partition Master to make that sector active and then create the folder and add appropriate files? (When I rooted my Nook directly to emmc it sure seemed a lot easier to access folders created by my PC.)
(Thanks again for all your help.)
That's much clearer, m8
Now, I think it's easier to get straighten.
1. From PC, using SD slot or usb-sd adapter, move (remove) the "APKs" folder off your NC to your PC, save it there, then eject the uSD off PC.
2. Insert the uSD into the NC and turn it on, make sure it boots into CM7 properly.
3. Wait until it completely load. Now using usb cable to connect the NC and the PC.
4. Watch the notification status bar on the NC, tap on it then turn on usb mass storage.
5. PC should recognize the NC and ready for use.
6. Move your "APKs" folder from PC into your uSD (it would probably named as CM7SDCARD)
Update: on item 6, I prefer to move the folder to the eMMC storage. I'm not 110% sure if the NC see "it" (it means the left-over FAT32 partition on the uSD card) or not, but I do believe, 99% it will.
Deleted folder on SD card (from PC) and verified reboot ok.
Connected USB cable to PC then to Nook, no notification bar comes up, but battery icon shows charging as well as the lighted n on the cable.
Tried to use Nook Tweaks to begin USB connection (both boxes checked).
Still no recognition from the PC that anything is connected.
Edit: I am using my rooted Nook to build this SD card for my daughter's new unrooted Nook and when I plug the rooted Nook into the PC I don't get any verification from the PC on it either. No change on the Nook either, just the charging light and icon indicator.
Tried to use Nook Tweaks to begin USB connection (both boxes checked).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have the NC with me now so I don't know what "both boxes" are and need to be checked or not.
The USB Settings from Nook Tweaks has a "USB Host Mode" (to enable host mode to connect peripherals) and an "External VBus" (to allow charging and hosting).
Both boxes were checked.
I've read that some of these issues can be caused by a faulty cable. If so, are there other alternatives to connecting thru the cable to open this up.
I have also tried the MiniTool partition program but I have not been successful in getting the active partition to 'stick' . (It immediately reverts back to the root being active after I apply the changes.)
You definitely have to UNCHECK the "USB Host Mode".
I'm not so sure with the "External VBus" status but suggest leave it by default.
With nothing checked in the Nook Tweaks section, USB cable connected to the Nook and then the PC, there is no recognition or acknowledgment that the Nook is there from the PC. (This is true whether I use my rooted version or try after booting to the sd card.)
If it is a cable problem, I will need to replace that, but aren't there other ways to make the sd card usable?
I've tried making the 4th partition action using Minitool and also Easeus but it didn't work. (Minitool just reverts back to boot partition active immediately after I apply the changes.)
Slow down, MiniTool and partitioning have nothing to do with this. Don't make more mess.
a. when plugging NC to PC, do you see any indication on the NC's status bar? like usb debugging?
b. when plugging NC to PC, do you see any indication on the PC (running Windows)? like removable drive?
There is no indication on the PC of any new connection.
The only indication on the Nook is the lighted n at the end of the cable and the recharging icon in the status bar.
Edit: the reason I was providing info on the MiniTools experience I was having is because my original question was how to access a folder (and files) created on my sd-bootable disk on my PC but the Nook can't see it. One way to accomplish this is to write the folder/apks directly to the Nook thru the USB cable. Other alternatives are to use windows to access it on my PC but I need to be able to access the 4th partition (if my reading of the various posts is correct). MiniTools and Easeus are two options that allow you to activate the 4th partition but it has not worked for my yet.
The USB cable connection problem appears to be there whether I boot to emmc or to sd.
Edit: I was able to find a non-nook cable (for my Blackberry) and using it my Nook recognizes when I connect to the PC and executes the USB Mass Storage Utility which allows me to turn USB storage on/off. Unfortunately the PC doesn't add any new logical drives in My Computer. The device manager shows 2 B&N Ereader Disk USB devices but with the yellow ! by them.
The 4th partition you mentioned about should be taken care during the installation, using verygreen's instructions, if you do correctly. There is ABSOLUTELY no need to mess around with MiniTool or the a-like.
Another question, have you turn on the USB Debugging feature? (I don't remember where, NC not with me now). If it not, check it box, try to plug in PC using usb cable again. I expect at least the usb debugging indicator will lit up.
I checked the debug feature (part of settings/applications/development/) and it was not checked. I checked it and now I get the robot icon (USB debugging conntected) and the USB icon to toggle storage on/off. Still nothing in My Computer and the drives shown in device manager are still yellow ! .
The device manager says "This device cannot start. (Code 10)"
I know it would be too early to say but I gonna to say anyway "congratulation".
When you see those icons on the NC status bar, it's 99% that it would work.
Now, back to the reality.
1. Connect usb cable between NC and PC running Windows
2. As you can see those icons, tap on the status bar to bring up then tap on "USB Mass Storage" (or something like "connect to computer for file/folder transfer, NOT the debugging). Read the warning then tap to enable USB connection
3. Now, pay attention on the PC, if it goes smoothly as expect, by now, you now can access both storages (eMMC and left-over of the uSD card) from PC. If so, move your "APKs" folder over.
I wish you luck
1- cable connected, icons on nook show up
2- tapping on status bar gives access to USB Mass Storage utility and option to turn on/off USB storage - with USB storage set to 'on' there is no recognition on the PC
Device manager shows two entries under disk drives for B&N Ebook Disk USB device but both are tagged with yellow ! (which a right click shows "This device cannot start. Code 10")
Is there something I need to do to download a usable driver for this?
(OBTW thank you for your help and patience)
Edit: within device manager I uninstalled the two drives (while the nook was still connected and USB active) and then had it search for new hardware. This time it loaded the drivers and NO yellow ! . At that point the PC recognized the drives and I have been able to create a folder that is accessible by the Nook and the PC. Thank you for help in this.
I have also contacted B&N and have a replacement cable on the way (which seemed to be a large part of my problems). Thanks Votinh for sticking with me while I got this resolved.
I was following this guide to root, install a custom recovery, and then flash a ROM onto my phone. I rooted successfully and created a back up. I then copied the backup onto my external sd card. I then put the custom rom onto my sd card and entered recovery mode on CWM. I wiped my device and then realized that the custom rom was the incorrect file. I then went to restore and it gave me an error md5 mismatch. I then went to restore of external sd card and it said it could not find the directory. I then went to restart phone and CWM said I was not rooted anymore and asked if I wanted root access and I hit yes.
My phone will not start and just remains in the Samsung loading screen with an unlocked graphic with the words "custom" under it. I am able to get back into CWM recovery but nothing else seems to work. I appreciate any help I can get. Thanks
domisterwoozy said:
I was following this guide to root, install a custom recovery, and then flash a ROM onto my phone. I rooted successfully and created a back up. I then copied the backup onto my external sd card. I then put the custom rom onto my sd card and entered recovery mode on CWM. I wiped my device and then realized that the custom rom was the incorrect file. I then went to restore and it gave me an error md5 mismatch. I then went to restore of external sd card and it said it could not find the directory. I then went to restart phone and CWM said I was not rooted anymore and asked if I wanted root access and I hit yes.
My phone will not start and just remains in the Samsung loading screen with an unlocked graphic with the words "custom" under it. I am able to get back into CWM recovery but nothing else seems to work. I appreciate any help I can get. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can either use a MicroSD to SD adpater and the computer's card reader to copy a ROM over and flash it, or ODIN back to stock, and start over.
Ol' Dirty Bastard said:
You can either use a MicroSD to SD adpater and the computer's card reader to copy a ROM over and flash it, or ODIN back to stock, and start over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Much better. Was that so hard? Thank you for details.
(jab)
Any ideas why it cannot find directory when I try to restore from my external sd card.
write protected
domisterwoozy said:
Any ideas why it cannot find directory when I try to restore from my external sd card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clueless here. Made a post about it.
I just discovered today more than just myself are unable to plug the handset into a computer to exchange files. I can get things off the phone onto the computer, but not vice versa.
Also the handset itself is fussy when it comes to viewing it's own external SD card. It would seem it doesn't take much for it to disappear, once in recovery.
fukenbiker said:
Clueless here. Made a post about it.
I just discovered today more than just myself are unable to plug the handset into a computer to exchange files. I can get things off the phone onto the computer, but not vice versa.
Also the handset itself is fussy when it comes to viewing it's own external SD card. It would seem it doesn't take much for it to disappear, once in recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone does not support mass USB storage. It uses MTP and PTP protocols. This information is available in several threads in the forum. Now, of course, even with MTP and PTP you should be able to still transfer files from a PC to the Ext. SD card considering you have the correct drivers. Perhaps your SD card isn't playing nice with your phone? Have you tried removing the card from your phone and transferring files to it dierectly from you PC via SD slot or card reader? Have you tried other brands? I find Samsung cards work best, but that is just me, This will help to see if it is the phone (possibly cable) or the card that is having issues.
Also, you can check this out. It supposedly enables Mass USB storage for this phone...though it still says it doesn't work for the Ext. SD card. I have never tried it, so if you do it is at your own risk but maybe it will help? Good luck.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mohammadag.samsungusbmassstorageenabler
The app says it is for the SIII, but people have reported it as working with the S4 as well.
thank you
scott14719 said:
This phone does not support mass USB storage. It uses MTP and PTP protocols. This information is available in several threads in the forum. Now, of course, even with MTP and PTP you should be able to still transfer files from a PC to the Ext. SD card considering you have the correct drivers. Perhaps your SD card isn't playing nice with your phone? Have you tried removing the card from your phone and transferring files to it dierectly from you PC via SD slot or card reader? Have you tried other brands? I find Samsung cards work best, but that is just me, This will help to see if it is the phone (possibly cable) or the card that is having issues.
Also, you can check this out. It supposedly enables Mass USB storage for this phone...though it still says it doesn't work for the Ext. SD card. I have never tried it, so if you do it is at your own risk but maybe it will help? Good luck.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mohammadag.samsungusbmassstorageenabler
The app says it is for the SIII, but people have reported it as working with the S4 as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am too happy to experiment like that. The AT&T S4 running GoldenEye with no add ons is the best darn handset I've ever enjoyed. I love being rid of the bloatware. I don't miss it a bit. I will fuss around with the SD interface as I do have resources like you mentioned, I can try a different chip. I didn't consider that a bad chip would cause the computer to consider the entire handset as "read only", yet you suggest it's possible?
fukenbiker said:
I am too happy to experiment like that. The AT&T S4 running GoldenEye with no add ons is the best darn handset I've ever enjoyed. I love being rid of the bloatware. I don't miss it a bit. I will fuss around with the SD interface as I do have resources like you mentioned, I can try a different chip. I didn't consider that a bad chip would cause the computer to consider the entire handset as "read only", yet you suggest it's possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything is possible and it would be a simple way to maybe help identify where the problem lies. Better yet, take your sd card out of your phone and try a transfer. That will let you know if it has anything to do with it. If it still doesn't work, it more than likely has nothing to do with the SD card.
Can you transfer files from your External SD card to your phones internal SD memory and the other way around (via a file manager on your phone)?
If you can, I can't see how it would be a "read' only problem.
scott14719 said:
Anything is possible and it would be a simple way to maybe help identify where the problem lies. Better yet, take your sd card out of your phone and try a transfer. That will let you know if it has anything to do with it. If it still doesn't work, it more than likely has nothing to do with the SD card.
Can you transfer files from your External SD card to your phones internal SD memory and the other way around (via a file manager on your phone)?
If you can, I can't see how it would be a "read' only problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should unhook my phone from the 3.5mm jack and look into this. As I type, my S4 is piping in my playlist to provide the wife and I musical background for our activities. I remember using "Root Explorer" recently to delete a nandroid backup, and to move said playlist off the SD card into Phone memory. The "write protected" error showed up directly after building this playlist, using the computer to organize it. It's brand new, and as a good troubleshooter, we always look at the last thing you did different. I used the "windows explorer" to edit my playlist on the phone while it was plugged up together.
It's turning out to be a bigger deal than just myself, and I should pursue your recommendation for testing and reports, but it's not broken enough to fix and it's Sunday night, and the music is more important at this juncture.
Edit:
I powered down and then removed the Micro SD, and when I powered back up, it showed that cool padlock icon with the label "Custom" screen during boot up. I hadn't seen that screen on boot up since I used Casual to get a TWRP recovery.
I tethered the handset to the Desktop and opened the windows explorer. Obviously it just showed phone this time, instead of phone and card. I tested copying files and it worked fine, the "write protected" error was gone.
I unhooked, powered down, put the micro SD card back in, powered up and noted the boot up screen was back to normal. Tethered up again and voila! Files can be written to the phone and or the card and no more "write protected" error.
Funny little fluke. Problem solved. Curiosity remains.