Database Users

Partition damage? Not sure whats wrong...

Hey all,
I have an S4 i337m model. I've installed a custom ROM that is essentially a rooted stock ROM (I do not remember the exact build/version of the ROM). I realize having this info would be useful, but at the moment, I cannot access this info.
While running this ROM, everything was fine. Last week Friday, I attempted to install FoxHound 1.6. Had to play around with the installation options, but I got FoxHound to work. However, I need to get back on my old ROM as I needed some files that were deleted during the FoxHound install. So I wiped my phone, and restored my nandroid backup of my rooted stock ROM. again, everything was fine. No issues.
Here is where the problem is; after restoring my rooted stock ROM, I could boot into the phone and access the files needed. However, when I reboot/shut down phone, upon restarting/powering up, my phone is stuck at the 'Samsung Galaxy S4' logo right after power on. So, I boot into recovery (the latest version of TWRP) and I navigate to 'file manager' to take a look at my storage/files. And this is where I believe the issue to be; I see virtually no files at all. I can see many folders/partitions, but there are virtually no files anywhere (i.e. the system and data partitions are empty). I am assuming this is the reason why my phone doesn't boot past the Samsung Galaxy S4 logo. Now, when this happens, I wipe my phone again and restore my working nandroid backup. Everything works fine. I can get back into Android without issues. Until I reboot/power off my phone. Then this happens all over again.
I believe I may have damaged(?) the partition(s). When I installed FoxHound, I also installed an option during installation titled 'EXT4'. I know linux uses ext2/3/4 partition tables. Did I damage my storage/partition by installing EXT4 from FoxHound? Do I need to repartition my phone via Odin PIT file or something similar? Am I totally wrong with my analysis? Any help/advise/insight would be very welcomed.
Thanks

Additional info
Baseband: I337MVLUAMG1
Build number: JDQ39.I337MVLUAMG1
ROM: Rooted stock ROM 4.2.2 (with some bloatware removed)
While my phone was in the it's 'logo stuck' state, I entered into TWRP and selected the Wipe option, then Format Data. I must select 'Format Data' in order for my phone to work on it's next boot. Manually formatting System, Data, etc... will not allow my phone to boot up at next boot. And, my phone will only work on the next boot. If I power off/restart phone, it will get stuck at the logo again. So my phone is only good for 1 boot up after a wipe.
And, after I restore a working backup and boot into the phone, everything works until next power down/reboot. Once I power down/reboot phone, I must go into recovery since it will not boot into Android. When I get into TWRP, I see that my Internal Storage has 0MB free and I am unable to see any files. I can see folders/partitions, but there is nothing in any folder/partition. My external SD card shows nothing as well. My external SD card however is unaffected as all the data is still there once I get into Android and look around.
Also, I just restored a backup I had before I was having this issue. After restoring and rebooting, the same thing happens. I get stuck at the 'Samsung Galaxy S4' logo.
So I'm guessing there is some partition troubles here. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm scratching my head as to the cause of this problem.

It could be some hardware issues too. I'd Odin back to stock and see if the problem persists. If it does its hardware.

jd1639 said:
It could be some hardware issues too. I'd Odin back to stock and see if the problem persists. If it does its hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the same thing. I'm downloading the stock ROM now and will give it a try.
One other thing I noticed during my last restore/fix attempt... After I perform a wipe -> Format Data (from TWRP), I notice that it reverts to my rooted stock ROM without me restoring anything. So, after I do a full wipe/format, and reboot my phone immediately after the full wipe/format, my phone will boot into the rooted stock ROM. I thought that wiping/formatting via TWRP totally cleans the internal storage of all data. So how can I be booting into any ROM after a wipe?
Unless I'm mistaken in my thinking and the full wipe/format option in TWRP just reverts back to the stock ROM I had installed prior to installing further custom ROMs?

If you wipe system and data there shouldn't be any rom it would boot. Don't try that though unless you have a nandroid because it shouldn't boot
What version of twrp ate you using?

Do not format data in twrp.

jd1639 said:
If you wipe system and data there shouldn't be any rom it would boot. Don't try that though unless you have a nandroid because it shouldn't boot
What version of twrp ate you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya... I have several nandroid backups. All work (minus this 'stuck at logo' issue I am having). I am using the newest TWRP version 2.6. It's very strange... after I perform a full wipe, I am able to boot into my rooted stock ROM that I flashed shortly after acquiring the phone. This was a bit over a month ago now. I do not know how this is possible.
xBeerdroiDx said:
Do not format data in twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not?
_____________________________________________________________________
**Should I try using CWM instead?

Talabis said:
I hear ya... I have several nandroid backups. All work (minus this 'stuck at logo' issue I am having). I am using the newest TWRP version 2.6. It's very strange... after I perform a full wipe, I am able to boot into my rooted stock ROM that I flashed shortly after acquiring the phone. This was a bit over a month ago now. I do not know how this is possible.
Why not?
_____________________________________________________________________
**Should I try using CWM instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use twrp 2.5.0.2 or cwm. The newer twrp has issues.

jd1639 said:
Use twrp 2.5.0.2 or cwm. The newer twrp has issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is TWRP 2.5.0.0 ok to use?

Ok... It's really starting to look like my partition table has been damaged. Every time I flash a new ROM or restore a nandroid backup successfully, and then restart my phone, I get stuck at the S4 logo. Upon starting recovery, my internal storage reads 0MB free. It seems like my partition table is becoming corrupt after a reboot, or it has already been corrupted.
I tried flashing the stock ROM for my phone (I337MVLUAMDJ_I337MOYAAMDJ_I337MVLUAMDJ_HOME.tar is the one I used), but that didn't help at all. After installing this stock ROM, and I go into stock recovery, I get an error: E:failed to mount /data (invalid argument).
This really is looking like a partition problem. Is there some way to re-partition my phone? I remember a PIT file was used to partition my old Galaxy S i9000. Is there a PIT file for the S4 i337m?
I would also like to try CWM but I am having a hard time finding a ODIN flashable version.

I wouldn't mess with a pit file and I haven't seen one anyway. It's sounding more and more like your memory is bad. I'd keep it stock and see if you can get an exchange on the phone under warranty.

Further investigation has lead me to the culprit... sorta. It's my /data partition that is screwing everything up. If I format /data and then reboot, I can get into my phone. But if I reboot again, then my /data partition becomes corrupt and my phone hangs at the S4 logo. And then if I go into recovery, I can see that my internal storage is at 0MB free.
However, after formatting/restoring /data partition and rebooting into android successfully, everything works fine. If I reboot from this point and enter recovery, I am still able to see my /data partition and files. At this point, everything seems to be fine. Once I reboot out of recovery and let the phone boot into Android, I get stuck at the S4 logo and my /data partition screws up/becomes corrupt. It looks like my /data partition is only becoming corrupt after the 1st successful boot into Android. If I enter recovery after the 1st successful android load, I am still able to see all files and partitions. It is only trying to load android after the 1st boot that my /data partition becomes corrupt. Very strange...
So, I can always boot into my phone as long as I format my /data partition prior to loading Android. Anyone experience this before? Any ideas? I realize my memory may be damaged, but I'm leaving that as a last resort possibility since my phone was working fine up until I started installing FoxHound with the EXT4 option as well as installing 1 or 2 of the kernel's FoxHound provides. Namely Adam kernel is the one I tried.

All good... I think/hope
Well, I think I got the problem solved. After toying with this thing all day. It seems like TWRP 2.6 was the problem in some sense. Looks like TWRP 2.6 does not format the /data partition correctly. I had to get restore/install a working ROM, boot into my phone and install ClockworkMod Recovery via ROM Manager. I then used CWM to format /data. Once I did this, and loaded back into my phone, and went through the setup process since /data was formatted, everything was working fine. I just rebooted 5 times and shut down twice and my phone booted back up into android without issue.
So as one user in this thread had mentioned, formatting /data with TWRP 2.6 was the problem.
Hope this helps others avoid a similar issue.
Thanks everyone for all the help. It pointed me in the right direction.

Glad you got it fixed.

I'll be giving these steps a try, having somewhat of the same problem!

i've been having this exact same problem but with TWRP 2.5.0.2 since July. Its been driving me insane and I have not been able to find any one else having this issue until now. I think i might finally try CWM instead as a last measure before I finally give up!

Try TWRP 2.6.3.1 version. It works pretty well even though it's unofficial http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2262996
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Has Anyone Gotten TWRP to work since MJA/MK2??

I have a consistent problem with Philz recovery since MJA & MK2 were installed, it won't restore my data partition. I would like to go back to TWRP 6.3.0.1 which worked flawlessly prior to MJA and the Knox changes. I have tried restoring System & Boot partitions with Philz then flash TWRP and restore the data partition but I get bootloops when I restart.
My question is has anyone been successful in using TWRP to flash, backup & Recover the S4 with MJA/MK2 installed?

I installed it with GooManager. Seems to work fine. I have the latest 4.3 MK2 installed. Now if I can just have my wifi back.....

ChadH42 said:
I have a consistent problem with Philz recovery since MJA & MK2 were installed, it won't restore my data partition. I would like to go back to TWRP 6.3.0.1 which worked flawlessly prior to MJA and the Knox changes. I have tried restoring System & Boot partitions with Philz then flash TWRP and restore the data partition but I get bootloops when I restart.
My question is has anyone been successful in using TWRP to flash, backup & Recover the S4 with MJA/MK2 installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All depends on the ROM you're using and how you're setting up you backup partitions.
There are plenty of walkthroughs on how to use Philz or the lates TWRP in the specific ROM threads.

I have read dozens of threads, hundreds of posts and haven't seen anyone having success restoring from TWRP a TW ROM.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

from rmiller on Sac's thread...
How to backup / restore in twrp 2.6.3.1
HOW TO BACKUP
Go into recovery, select BACKUP
I WANT EVERYTHING... SO I select BOOT, SYSTEM, DATA, CACHE, RECOVERY, EFS
At the top select "BACKUP NAME" and add/change as you see fix then press GO
STORAGE SHOULD BE STORAGE:MICRO SDCard... if not tap it and select it then go back
swipe bottom slider and wait while backup performs it thing.
reboot system
wait while recovery reboots....
HOW TO RESTORE
Go into recovery, Go to WIPE
ADVANCE WIPE
select DAVLIK CACHE, SYSTEM, DATA, INTERNAL STORAGE, CACHE and Swipe slidder at bottom
back
back
back
select RESTORE
At the top STORAGE SHOULD BE STORAGE:MICRO SDCard... if not tap it and select it then OK or go back
Find your Backup that you want to restore...select it
I WANT EVERYTHING... SO I select BOOT, SYSTEM, DATA, CACHE, RECOVERY, EFS
swipe bottom slider and wait while backup performs it thing.
wait for restore to do its thing
Press REBOOT SYSTEM
wait while recovery reboots....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

leaderbuilder said:
All depends on the ROM you're using and how you're setting up you backup partitions.
There are plenty of walkthroughs on how to use Philz or the lates TWRP in the specific ROM threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am trying to get TWRP to work with the stock MK2 ROM.

[/COLOR]
ChadH42 said:
I am trying to get TWRP to work with the stock MK2 ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Latest (2.6.3 - Reverepats zip) should work. It's really kind of weird some devices it works flawlessly others not so much.
I'm such a back freak I use Philz AND the latest TWRP to make nands of my ROMs just in case.

Samsung Note 3 stacked after custom recovery

Hi i installed custom rom to my samsung note 3 with cwm recovery it was working good.After a time later i need to format it.I opened cmw recovery and
-formatted system
-formatted cache
-formatted data
after that i installed custom rom it installed succesfully.I restarted the phone,sound and note 3 writed and it stacked at the "Samsung"writings.I waited a lot but it doesnt opened.How can i solve this problem.
I tried wipe
dalvik wipe cache
wipe cache
but not solved my problem.
I can still reach the cmw recovery 6.0.4.7.
Thanks.

try to flash this file and let me know if it works
btw wrong section to talk about problems

baba17 said:
Hi i installed custom rom to my samsung note 3 with cwm recovery it was working good.After a time later i need to format it.I opened cmw recovery and
-formatted system
-formatted cache
-formatted data
after that i installed custom rom it installed succesfully.I restarted the phone,sound and note 3 writed and it stacked at the "Samsung"writings.I waited a lot but it doesnt opened.How can i solve this problem.
I tried wipe
dalvik wipe cache
wipe cache
but not solved my problem.
I can still reach the cmw recovery 6.0.4.7.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably tried to flash a KK rom if you where running JB before.
Or the other way around, trying to flash a JB rom on a KK device.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Q] Flashing various TW Lollipop fw over existing CM12 fails

Hello,
actually I'm using a SGS4 I9505 with cm-12-20150304-NIGHTLY-jfltexx and CWM 6.0.5.1.
I've tried to flash several TW Lollipop firmware wich i found in the I9505 forum:
1. Kushan+Touchwiz+Lollipop+Lite+Rom+v.1.2
2. S4_Echoev42_EchoePop2_020315
3. OA7-2.1F
4. XXUHA07-v2.01
Before flashing any oft this firmwares i made a factory reset, wiped both caches and installed the modem Firmware via Odin.
After flashing firmware # 1 and 2 my phone was stuc in a bootloop (only Samsung Galaxy S4 Logo appears).
Flashing firmware #3 and 4 fails and cwm reports error 7.
Flashing cm12 afterwards isn't a problem and runs fine.
I think the wipe fails or doesn't work properly. Is it enougth to select factory reset in cwm and wipe the dalvik cache manualy?
What can I do?
With besteht regard
Mirko (NemesisMF)

What if it is a recovery problem?

Thought about that too.
Should i try twrp or philz?

I switched to Philz Recovery and flashed S4 Echoe Rom v42 without any Problems.
CWM seems to have a problem to falsh TW Lollipop images ower an existing CM12 an the I9505.

You need to do full wipe not just cache.

ranger4740 said:
You need to do full wipe not just cache.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I wrote above I did a factory reset before flashing and wiped the caches with cwm. If that is not enougth it would be nice to explain what else I have to wipe or post a link.
While using philz recovery the factory reset for clean system is enougth and the new System is working fine.

Factory wipe is not full wipe, you need to do a full wipe as in format to install new rom, phillz recovery has this feature can't remember exactly where, I think its under advanced.
Just have a look in the sub menus.
Just to explain it better when you do a full wipe it deletes every part of the existing
Rom including the system, data and cache and some other stuff completely removing the android operating system, so unless the rom you install does a wipe before install parts of the existing system will remain and can cause boot issues. For example as you've already discovered you are trying to install a tw rom over an existing cyanogenmod 12 installation which Will cause it to hang on boot.

NemesisMF said:
As I wrote above I did a factory reset before flashing and wiped the caches with cwm. If that is not enougth it would be nice to explain what else I have to wipe or post a link.
While using philz recovery the factory reset for clean system is enougth and the new System is working fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean a factory reset from within Android itself? If so, then that's a complete obsolete step. When before flashing a rom you should perform a factory reset, then they always mean a full wipe from the recovery. You need to do a full wipe from the recovery. That means the /system partition is being wiped. You will see it in the screen during the wipe if it wipes /system.
But it also could have been a problem of CWM. I don't think it is being updated anymore, so better use TWRP or Philz.

Fix freeze , lags etc.

Hello people my phone getting old i think 1.5 year so far my phone started to freeze having lags getting too hot while browsing. And bootloops started without flashing anything. First bootloop happened 2 weeks ago. Today happened again twice i wiped dalvik cache and everything is fine how can i fix it? I thought rom cause it i flashed stock firmware rooted it and removed bloatware. Still happens lags,freeze,getting too hot and bootloop. Is it lollipop update? I never had this issues with kitkat. How can fix this and keep my alive?

Orangley said:
Hello people my phone getting old i think 1.5 year so far my phone started to freeze having lags getting too hot while browsing. And bootloops started without flashing anything. First bootloop happened 2 weeks ago. Today happened again twice i wiped dalvik cache and everything is fine how can i fix it? I thought rom cause it i flashed stock firmware rooted it and removed bloatware. Still happens lags,freeze,getting too hot and bootloop. Is it lollipop update? I never had this issues with kitkat. How can fix this and keep my alive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a full factory reset. Be careful as this will wipe your internal storage.

GDReaper said:
Try a full factory reset. Be careful as this will wipe your internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer but I did it after flash stock rom via odin. Wiped data / factory reset , cache partition , mounted cache , system , data , wiped dalvik cache..

Wiping data does not equal a factory reset. Wiping data does just that, wipes user installed apps. But generally leaves the internal storage alone.
A factory reset returns the phone to the settings it came out of the factory with, including a clean internal storage(If you have the stock rom). I heard that changing roms and just wiping data, dalvik and cache will still leave behind some files.
But it could also be untrue.

GDReaper said:
Wiping data does not equal a factory reset. Wiping data does just that, wipes user installed apps. But generally leaves the internal storage alone.
A factory reset returns the phone to the settings it came out of the factory with, including a clean internal storage(If you have the stock rom). I heard that changing roms and just wiping data, dalvik and cache will still leave behind some files.
But it could also be untrue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing stock rom is same with factory reset i think clears everything.

I don't know. Haven't flashed stock on this device yet.
But don't most guys recommend doing a wipe before going back to stock?

I dont know i'll try that when i have free time. I did research some guys saying lollipop causing these problems. I'll try wipe before flash stock rom again , if issues keep happen i'll use lates 4.4.2 custom rom. Thank you for your answers i'll report back.

Real reset
This method will wipe everything, including operating system and efs files. Before you do this:
you must root
Download twrp recovery
Install the recovery using the app from the play store
Boot into recovery mode and have twrp backup everything
save your backup to an SD card and the computer (can't hurt to have two backups)
Doing the above will preserve your phone important data like your imei and efs
in case something goes wrong.
NOW
after you have backed everything up use twrp recovery to wipe data. Have twrp wipe everything except for your SD card (don't won't to lose the backup)
After everything has been obliterated have twrp boot you into download mode.
Download Odin from XDA preferably 3.09 (most stable release) and then grab an official stock firmware from a trusted source. The latest stock firmware should be at least 4.4.2
If you have carriers other than t-mobile you will also need to find a PIT file for partitioning.
When you have all of this open up Odin with your phone connected in download mode and make sure repartitioning, clear efs and nand-erase is checked along with the defaults.
Select pda button and choose your firmware (unzipped tar.md5 format.) Then select repartitioning PIT file button and direct to where you have the PIT file downloaded.
now click start (be sure that the Com port is recognized by Odin: will be highlighted in blue or yellow.)
This will take a while depending on your computer.
when it finishes your phone should reboot with a fresh os and filesystem. If you get stuck in a bootloop reboot into recovery mode and do a wipe data and wipe cache. Reboot and your phone should be good as new.
IMPORTANT!!! It is vital you keep your TWRP backups for as long as you have your phone if you lose them and something goes wrong while flashing your phone you will lose important things such as IMEI baseband which will prevent you from connecting to your network and Sim card recognition.

Thank you so much i'll try this now.

AndroidInitiate said:
This method will wipe everything, including operating system and efs files. Before you do this:
you must root
Download twrp recovery
Install the recovery using the app from the play store
Boot into recovery mode and have twrp backup everything
save your backup to an SD card and the computer (can't hurt to have two backups)
Doing the above will preserve your phone important data like your imei and efs
in case something goes wrong.
NOW
after you have backed everything up use twrp recovery to wipe data. Have twrp wipe everything except for your SD card (don't won't to lose the backup)
After everything has been obliterated have twrp boot you into download mode.
Download Odin from XDA preferably 3.09 (most stable release) and then grab an official stock firmware from a trusted source. The latest stock firmware should be at least 4.4.2
If you have carriers other than t-mobile you will also need to find a PIT file for partitioning.
When you have all of this open up Odin with your phone connected in download mode and make sure repartitioning, clear efs and nand-erase is checked along with the defaults.
Select pda button and choose your firmware (unzipped tar.md5 format.) Then select repartitioning PIT file button and direct to where you have it downloaded.
now click start (be sure that the Com port is recognized by Odin: will be highlighted in blue or yellow.)
This will take a while depending on your computer.
when it finishes your phone should reboot with a fresh os and filesystem. If you get stuck in a bootloop reboot into recovery mode and do a wipe data and wipe cache. Reboot and your phone should be good as new.
IMPORTANT!!! It is vital you keep your TWRP backups for as long as you have your phone if you lose them and something goes wrong while flashing your phone you will lose important things such as IMEI baseband which will prevent you from connecting to your network and Sim card recognition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin freeze everytime i put twrp tar.md5 file cant i use philz touch which i use for long time?

Orangley said:
Odin freeze everytime i put twrp tar.md5 file cant i use philz touch which i use for long time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that another custom recovery?
If so then yes just make sure you have all of your system files and most importantly your efs backed up.
Run odin as administrator if that doesnt work, try using another version of Odin.

AndroidInitiate said:
Is that another custom recovery?
If so then yes just make sure you have all of your system files and most importantly your efs backed up.
Run odin as administrator if that doesnt work, try using another version of Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesnt work another versions both twrp and odin. I'll keep my custom recovery and try it.

Orangley said:
Doesnt work another versions both twrp and odin. I'll keep my custom recovery and try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What carrier are you using, model number of the phone, etc.
Have you backed everything up? And can you flash the custom recovery through Odin if it fails?
Try it without wiping efs first just to be safe
Look here for your device you will be able to find standalone flash able versions of twrp that should work through odin.
http://twrp.me/Devices/

Using i9500. And i did what you said and works fine thank you! Mods close thread please.