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SD Card changed format, lost all my apps, can't reinstall. Help!

So I just traded my iPhone for a rooted MyTouch. It has the Cyanogen mod I believe. Well all of a sudden I could not access my SD card and when I tried to open it on my computer it said 'Wrong Format'. Wouldn't work on the phone either. So I formated Fat32 and thought I could start over.
It still shows my apps installed in the Marketplace, although they were on the SD and deleted. I can't uninstall them, but it thinks they are there, somewhere. Has anyone had this problem? I am relatively new to Android and rooting. I had a jailbroken iPhone before. Thanks!

kinda depends really. I would suggest first going thru recovery console if you are using amon recovery and partition sd card there. With most modified roms you have apps 2 sd so there are actually 3 partions. The biggest is fat32 for data like music, then ext2,3,4 for applications then a linux swap partition to help expand the ram on the phone and if you formated on PC or from settings on phone those partitions are gone. So I would do that first and then try to uninstall from market and reinstall again if not you may need to wipe and restart the device.

How do I get into recovery mode? I tried going to the terminal and using the flash_image recovery /sdcard/imgfile but it says I do not have permission?
Any ideas??

If your phone has been rooted right by the previous owner, you can access the recovery mode by first powering down, then pressing home and power at the same time.

Ahh! That worked! thanks!

I have a variation on this problem and lost my apps and Market, hope someone can help. Started with the SD card coming unmounted randomly, known issue with EVO I guess. Followed the recommendation of reformatting the SD by plugging it into a Windows PC and doing a FAT32 format. I backed up everything I could "see" from SD to C: drive. I am running a custom ROM with APPS2SD feature and Clockworkmod recovery. I'm very new to Linix and Android but, it looks like there is a Linix Ext3 partition that is made by APPS2SD on the SD card and that is where all my apps where, including android Market app. So, upon copying all the folders back to the re-formatted SD I had no apps and no android Market to able to re-download all my apps. I guess Market is like a licensed deal that you can't just get a .apk of and reload it. I do HAVE a current recovery backup that was on the FAT32 directory of the SD card but it appears the the Ext3 partition is not in that recovery file. I tried booting into recovery with Clockworkmod and reformatting the SD again, I tried a "Restore ext3.img" but Clockworkmod comes back with 'sd-ext.img not found" so I am guessing that the Linix Ext3 partition backup was stored IN the Ext3 partition of the SD(?) and the system and data stuff is stored in the FAT32 recovery file. Brilliant idea (not)! I tried a re-flash of the ROM, flashes OK but no apps. Anyway, the SD is properly partitioned now, the FAT32 stuff is back on, I don't know how to look in to the Est3 partition but, I know there is one program there cause I installed a file explorer by downloading and executing an .apk and there was an option to install it to SD. Going to factory reset and starting over again is not an option. Any ideas please?

SOLVED this issue:
apperantly the android market application is called "vendor.apk" and can be downloaded from various sites BUT WAIT, it's not that simple. Apperantly the vendor app has to be specific to your phone (hardware)? On a whim, I downoaded the previous version of my custom ROM (happedned to be Fresh ROM) .zip, I extracted the vendor.apk from the .zip and installed that. Then, I had an apk called MarketUpdater.apk, or something like that, that had installed in the phones system/app from the last Fresh ROM update. I ran this to update the vendor (android market) to the latest version, then I ran that. Did it work? NO, it crashed hen I tied to run market. I then did a re-boot. Did it it work? NO Upon attempting to reboot it got stuck in a loop and froze. Very scary. So, remove the battery and try again. I think I had to remove and re-install the SDcard somewhere in there to get it to a first time boot and, after a re-boot, whalla, come back with a working market. Market remembered all the apps that I purchased and I re-downloaded everything. Of course, I don't know for sure where they are stored right now (SD card or phone??)
And, my original problem of SD card constantly coming unmounted has been fixed.

Can't write to internal EMMC

Hi,
I have a nook that I rooted and put a custom rom on back about a year and a half ago. I flashed the ROM to the internal EMMC and CWM 3.2.0.1 was flashed as recovery. If it makes any difference it was a CM9 ROM
Now here's where I'm at. I can run ROMs off the sd-card but they are not stable at all. I get a whole bunch of force closes and such.
When I try and flash a new ROM to the internal EMMC it says it completes, but nothing changes. It is still the previous ROM. When I try and format the /data and /system partitions with the EMMC recovery, it doesn't complete. It says there is an error. When I format with TWRP off an sd card, it says it completes but once again, the rom is not wiped.
I've tried the 8 reboot error method, and it never gets to the stock recovery screen. It keeps booting to the EMMC ROM.
I've tried repartioning the EMMC with leapinlar's zip files. It says it successfully completes, but once again nothing changes.
Ideally I'd like to get the emmc back to stock and try and run a rom off the sdcard.
I've read the threads that I thought were applicable to my issues, but nothing seemed to work. I'm completely out of ideas. Anyone have similar issues or can provide some guidance?
Thanks.

The problem you are having running a ROM from SD is the brand and speed of SD you are using. It needs to be SanDisk class 4.
The reason the 8 failed boot does not work is you replaced the stock recovery with CWM. It needs the stock recovery to be able to complete. See my NC tips thread linked in my signature and read item A12. Assuming you can get it to flash, I have a stock recovery zip there.
I don't understand why the ROMs are not flashing. You say it gives errors when you try to wipe with CWM. What do the errors say? You used the internal CWM and TWRP on SD, but none worked. Try my bootable CWM SD to see if that helps.
I don't understand why my partition zips did not work. I know the newest TWRP will not flash them without giving an error 2 message. Try my bootable CWM SD.
Sent from my Nook HD+ running CM10.1 on Hybrid SD

Thanks for the advice...
I've been using a Patriot class 10 micro sd to run the roms/attempt to flash new roms. Its worked fine before, but I'll try and pickup another one from someplace.
When I try and format /system and /data from the emmc CWM it says "Error formatting /system" or "error formatting /data" after working away for about 5 minutes
Here's what i did:
Created CWM 6.0.1.2 Bootable SD
- Flashed NookColor-emmc-stockrecovery.zip
- Message said successfull.
- tried to restart and old CWM recovery 3.2.0.1 was still installed
Booted into CWM 6.0.1.2 Bootable SD Recovery
- mounted /system and /data
- attempted to format
- Message "Done." for both
- attempted to flash stock 1.4.3 that you have modified for CWM
- install from sdcard complete
- reboot
- Old CynanogenMod bootscreen and old rom still installed.
Using same CWM 6.0.1.2 Bootable Sd Recovery
-flashed NookColor-emmc-repair-partitions-1-4-5-6-7-8.zip and NookColor-emmc-format-partitions-5-6-7.zip
-said success
-attempted to flash stock 1.4.3
- nothing changed. Old rom still installed
One more thing I noticed:
Everytime I login to the currently flashed rom, any changes I make are never saved. For example, if i install an apk or uninstall an app, the next time i can successfully boot into the emmc ROM, those changes are reversed to the previous version. Could it be that the current rom is being stored somewhere and being reflashed when it tries to bootup?

I hate to say this, but it sounds like your internal embedded card has become read only. I have had this happen to SDs but not to emmc. The apps act like they are writing and if you leave the folder and come back, they are not there. It is like they are writing to a ramdisk instead of your SD. You might try booting to a ROM on SD and see if you can write to any of the internal partitions like /cache or /rom and see if they stick. If not, you may only be able to run off SD and maybe not even then. You might have to change your dalvik cache setting on SD so it uses /data instead of /cache.
Sent from my Galaxy Tab running Tapatalk

I tried copying a file to the emmc partition from twrp and it didn't persist after reboot... so it looks like the emmc is set to read only. I don't supposed I can change that using adb and/or software solutions right? It's a hardware issue?
Any guidance on how to change davlik cache to use /data instead of /cache? I'll be happy to get any sort of stable rom running off any SD card.
I was hoping to repurpose the nook as in in car tablet to tether a data connection to my phone and play music and such.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate you taking the time.

canjoe said:
I tried copying a file to the emmc partition from twrp and it didn't persist after reboot... so it looks like the emmc is set to read only. I don't supposed I can change that using adb and/or software solutions right? It's a hardware issue?
Any guidance on how to change davlik cache to use /data instead of /cache? I'll be happy to get any sort of stable rom running off any SD card.
I was hoping to repurpose the nook as in in car tablet to tether a data connection to my phone and play music and such.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate you taking the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know of anything that can revive it. I never could revive my SD that that happened to.
To make your ROM on SD use /data for all of the dalvik cache, create a file in /data named local.prop. In that file put this line:
dalvik.vm.dexopt-data-only=1
Next time it boots the system file portion of dalvik cache will be on /data along with the installed app portion.
Sent from my stock Nook HD+ using XDA Premium

I now have a stable version of CM 7.2 running off the SD card. I put the davlik cache on the data partition and everything seems to be running pretty smooth.
I'll keep messing around seeing if there is anything to revive the internal emmc, but at least I can use the nook off the SD card again.
Thanks for helping me troubleshoot and figure this out. Cheers.

[Q] Rooted, wiped data and OS. help

I rooted my Moto Electrify M (which to my knowledge is the same as the Razr M from verizon) and I was attempting to put CM10 on it. I was following the directions from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2012093&page=57 and I accidentally deleted my internal storage (which contained my zip files GAPPS and CM10. I now have a rooted/unlocked bootloader phone with no operating system and am unsure how to install CM10.
I attempted using my external SD in another phone to transfer the files. Once I booted up TWRP in recovery mode and attempted to install I could not find said files. I'm a super noob at this whole root thing, please help

I'm not sure what the problem would be, maybe try going into Mount in twrp and unchecking the box for external sd before looking for the files.

to clarify, when I am in "install" there are folders named /sd /sdext etc but there is nothing in the folders. I have tried toggling between external and internal memory while using the install feature.

What version of twrp do you have? I put my rom zips on the root of the sd card, and when I switch twrp from internal to external, everything is right there.
Try using the file manager and see if you can find the files. If you can, but still can't get to them in the install page, use the file manager to move them over to internal storage and see if they appear there.
Do you know how to use fastboot? You could flash cwm recovery instead, and see if that shows the files.

I have version 2.2.2.1 of twrp.
I cannot find them in file manager. I am using a galaxy s2 transfer the files from my pc to the external card. Here are my options for where to store the zip files.
(nvm I can't post links yet)
What I see here is NOT what I see when I use the SD card inside of the Electrify M.
The options available for storing the zip files are not showing up when in the file manager

Interesting.. I would go into fastboot mode and use Matt's Utility to reset the phone to stock and get your OS back. You should already have the right drivers installed, so start up your phone while holding the down volume key to get into fastboot mode, load up the utility and select the first option.
Then I would flash a newer version of TWRP and see if your file browsing issues persist, I'm using twrp 2.5.0.0. Or you could also opt to flash the CWM recovery instead, and see if that fixes your problem. I have used both of these recoveries and never had an issue finding the zips on my external sd.
Another option would be to give Safestrap a try, it will ensure you don't lose your default OS again. Safestrap will let you set up a custom rom installation alongside your stock rom, keeping it perfectly intact.

Fixed it gents. I reformatted my sd card and stuck it in the android folder that was created. I then mounted the external through twrp and found it instantly. My assumption is the problem was user error related. I now have cm10 installed and have my gapps working, but I don't have bluetooth or 4g functionality. Should I make a new thread regarding these problems?

I haven't tried CM10, but honestly I would just try another one(maybe CM10.1 would fix your problems). I'm not big into fixing issues with my roms, I just find one that works and stick with it.
There might be a solution for your problems, and yeah another thread would be the way to go to get more visibility on it, but personally I would just go for Carbon or AOKP or SlimROM, or one of the other options. I have tried out the three I just mentioned, and have had 4G and bluetooth working with each(except Bluetooth on Carbon, I never tested it out but I assume it works)
I wish I could help you more but I just don't know enough to troubleshoot those kind of issues.

TWRP write protect issue

I flashed my i9500 with TWRP 2.8.1.0 using Odin and it wrote an undeletable backup onto my internal memory. To get rid of that, I backed up the "BACKUPS" folder and formatted the internal storage only for it now to cause the entire internal storage to be write protected to my android apps. I can copy and delete stuff to it through PC but my apps wont work, those that require to download pics and videos or make backups to the internal storage, web browsers can't download anything to the internal storage yet I now have over 7GB free space.
It's clear TWRP is write protecting the internal storage selectively (first it wrote protected the storage to both the phone and pc, now to the phone only). How should I sort this problem out?

I have also just tried using root explorer to change permissions to the internal storage but it doesn't work. It's failing. Titanium backup shows its own backup folder is unwrittable. It cannot be changed by Root explorer
I just tried fixing permissions in twrp but to no avail. I uninstalled Clean master only to try and re-install it and it won't install now, it gives a failed install error. Kingsoft office continually shows "stopped working" and fails to work completely. All this started with flashing Twrp. I can't view pics in whats app or send them, neither can I edit documents. Any help to rid of this issue will be gladly appreciated.

People please please avoid twrp at all costs!, i have now lost all my data and apps are all failing. I deerly deerly regret why i ever flashed twrp recover in the first place!

I seem to have solved the issue after a very grueling experience.
TWRP has its flaws and it is quite notable here. Here is how I have gotten around the issue:-
Immediately after I installed TWRP I made a system backup of the entire phone as of its state at the time.
I copied it to my pc and tried to delete the backup that TWRP had made. It was completely write protected, nothing could delete it.
I then decided to use TWRP to format my internal storage after backing it up. Then restore the data back which I did successfully.
Little did I know what had happened. TWRP had assigned the internal storage attributes that even Root explorer (paid) could not undo.
The internal storage had become unusable to the system and user apps.
Slowly my apps began to collapse one after the other failing. From frustration I tried to salvage the data the apps held at the time so that I can factory reset and restore but Titanium backup could not access its own folder. That's where all the frustration begun.
I later flashed CWM and accidentally formatted all my data instead of the data partition.. this was now hell.
One last try which was about 5 hours later I returned TWRP recovery, wiped the data partition and got hold of my prior backup with TWRP, restored it and am 9 hrs back from total loss of data. So the internal storage now has its initial attributes prior to the predicament.
Am actually back exactly to where all this mayhem began when I decided to delete the "BACKUPS" folder and there was absolutely nothing else that was wrong, which now I will attempt to delete hoping that I won't experience deja vu.
This is a problem worth reporting to TWRP developers and I don't know how

TWRP recovery Fix Permissions
I couldn't delete back ups from the internal storage at all. I couldn't even copy saved back ups from my pc to my Note 3. I went into TWRP recovery, under Advanced select Fix Permissions
Now I can delete folders in the TWRP main folder with a ES file explorer or on my PC via usb cable.

Never had any problems like this with TWRP on my S4+. For me the backups taken and its folders can be handled just fine, copied, deleted, moved etc. Must be som compatibility issue with your setup.

[Q] Formatted SD Card in MM and TWRP Issues?

Has anybody who's formatted their sd card as internal storage had issues seeing folders/zips in twrp? Previously was using the Indian MM on my MXPE and after a few days I formatted as internal...all was smooth but I guess I never went to use twrp again until I went to flashed the MXPE MM rom...booted into twrp but couldn't see any folders or zips in the internal storage so I had no way to actually flash the rom.
Wound up having to reformat the sd card as portable storage so twrp could read both storage locations again and was able to finally flash the rom...I'm thinking about trying to format again just to see if this is an actual issue or just a one time thing...but if anybody else has experienced the same thing let me know. Btw I'm using the 2.8.7.1 twrp.

I had this as well, and if i remember how MM works, it encrypts the card so that only the phone/OS can read it. So if you are going to be doing full flashes, i beleive it would lock out the sd card, though I'm not 100% on that. If you are trying to dirty flash a rom, or just a mod to it, boot to recovery, go to mount, move the files over to the actual internal storage, then flash.

I had the same issue. I backed everything up, formatted as portable, installed rom, then formatted as internal again, then re-copied all my stuff back onto it. @mseliga is correct as far as I know. I wanted to start everything fresh and clean, so I used a longer method, but moving the files to the actual internal storage should work.

Yep this sucked. When I go to es file explorer and navigate to the twrp folder it says cannot be found, but when I'm actually in twrp I think it lets me back up/restore. This sucks tho, I'm still not sure if its working 100%. What a hassle to have switch back and forth, smh
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