[Q] [SOLVED] TiBu can no longer protect backups (access mnt/media_rw) - Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello guys and galls and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
TiBu fails to protect backups located on the external SD on a Note 4 (SM-N910W8) - while it can access/read/write the external SD card without any problems. I had the same issue in my old Galaxy S4 and, at the time, I solved it by adding media_rw access to the platform.xml file under system/etc/permissions. For some strange reasons this fix doesn't seem to be working for the Note 4.
I use a 128GB SanDisk, formatted as FAT32 (same one used in my old Galaxy S4) and I when I tried setting the backup folder's path to mnt/media_rw/extSdCard it returns an error saying that mnt/media_rw is not accessible. Every other app, including root explorers CAN access/read/write the respective location without problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
SOLVED! See this thread for the solution!​

Did you try to restore to the default backup folder?

vndnguyen said:
Did you try to restore to the default backup folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The current folder is set to "storage/extSdCard/TitaniumBackup" (yes, default!) and, like I said, while I am able to access/read/write backups at that location I'm not able to protect any backup. I had the same issue with my old Galaxy S4 and the fix was reassigning the backup folder location to mnt/media_rw/extSdCard/TitaniumBackup - now I can no longer do that as TB reports media_rw as inaccessible.

I'm not sure why it becomes like that but you can try this path instead: /mnt/extSdCard/TitaniumBackup

vndnguyen said:
I'm not sure why it becomes like that but you can try this path instead: /mnt/extSdCard/TitaniumBackup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried, but mnt/media_rw is the only pathway that gives full access - in fact this is precisely the modification performed by the SD card fixer: it adds media_rw to the platform.xml file under system/etc/permissions. It worked just fine under 4.4.2, but it no longer works under 4.4.4 and I have a feeling that this was pulled from Samsung's bag of dirty tricks.
EDITED: I found out that by elevating "media_rw" folder's permission to 770 (using any root explorer), TB gets full access to the external SD and can successfully perform any operation, however the permission is lost after reboot. I've tried several ways to make it stick/recursive (XPlore, ES Explorer, Root explorer) but none of my attempts succeeded. Any thoughts?

nacos said:
I found out that by elevating "media_rw" folder's permission to rwx_rwx_rwx (using any root explorer), TB gets full access to the external SD and can successfully perform any operation, however the permissions are lost after reboot. I've tried several ways to make it stick/recursive (XPlore, ES Explorer, Root explorer) but none of my attempts succeeded. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look how I solved this problem on my Moto G LTE:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58696797&postcount=3

_jis_ said:
Take a look how I solved this problem on my Moto G LTE:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58696797&postcount=3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Solved!! :good: Details in posts # 4, 6 and 11

Related

[Q] Cannot delete some folders

So I have a few folders which cannot be deleted. ES file explorer just says xxx cannot be deleted. I can rename the folder but not move or delete. I'm guessing there is a problem with one of the files in the folder but there are loads.
I origionally rooted the nexus 7 so I could use sixaxis but found too much lag compared with plugging in the controller so decided to return to a stock image. I did an app+data+sd card backup with nexus tools and it was after doing this I have had this problem. (also most of my games which I backed up lost their saves - wheres my water, dead trigger + others is this normal for these games?)
Any advice much appreciated
(oh since applying the stock image I no longer have root)
Could be a file permissions problem, try rooting your device again then changing permissions on the files to give yourself full read/write access to these files.
If this doesn't work you could try deleting them through the command line, but this would also require you to root your device again.
Hope I helped.
Hi thanks for your suggestion. I completely forgot I posted this. Anyway I rooted my device using the toolkit and all worked well. But I still cannot delete many folders and files and also some apps don't seem to be able to save properly.
Does anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong? Apart from this the system is stable and I would rather not do a fresh install because of all the games I have (long downloads and I have had problems backing up and restoring saves in the past) is there a way to just set all the files and folders on my phone to read / write (es file explorer reports these files have the required permissions but maybe setting them might do something)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

ums and root explorer

The app is working great!
still there is this tiny problem that drives me crazy
(only) on root explorer, when i try to access the folders i added on the external sd cars, it says
Quote:
"/storage/extSdCard/Music" does not exists. Displaying first existing parent folder instead.
i don't know if it's the app's problem, or root explorer's problem (on other explorers it seems to work)
but is there a way to fix it?
thanks for everything

Need help with understanding mount-points, folder structure and file system rights...

Hi everyone,
I need your help. I sometimes face strange issues with my Nexus 4 (Stock Room, Rooted, Matrix Kernel v5). Yesterday I wanted to copy a apk-file for installation on my phone from my home-server. I use ES File Explorer for that. I failed to copy the apk-file to /sdcard/folder-name (operation failed). then i navigated to /data/media/0/folder-name and tried it from there, also it didn't work.
i then copied the file to /sdcard/download and was able to copy it to that and to install it.
i don't really understand why it behaves that way, i was always able to go to /sdcard/folder-name and do what i want. i also noticed another strange thing. i connected my phone via USB (MTP-mode) to the PC and uploaded a few GB of MP3s to it (Folder: Music).
when browsing this folder with ES File Explorer, I cannot delete anything from that folder /sdcard/Music. THOUGH it reports "deletion successful" the files or folders do not get deleted but just remain on the internal SD-card. i could only delete the music successfully via "/data/media/0/Music".
who can explain briefly WTF is going on? i obviously do not really understand the concept and logic behind this. is there a maximum file/path length that must not be exceeded?
thanks in advance and best regards,
hallu
need to bump this, sorry...
does anyone have any idea as to why this phone is behaving the way it is?
I use root explorer and have ZERO issues. That includes pulling apk's.
Try a different file explorer to see if that makes a difference so at least you can determine if the issue is just app specific and not something else.
Check to see of ES isn't mounting certain folders with RW permissions.
Also the actual internal storage is /data/media/0/ so /sdcard/ is just a symlink to that folder. ES seems to be having problems with the symlinks.

Titanium Backup cannot backup to micro sd

Hi all,
For the past month or so, Titanium Backup cannot backup anything to my external sd any more and reports "Insufficient storage space". When I look at the folder location under TiBu preferences, it says "folder is not writable", however when I check the permissions with Root Explorer, it says it is writable, and everything else can really write to it anyway (e.g. google music can write there just fine).
If I switch the backup location to internal storage, it works fine but that defeats the purpose, I want to use my external microsd.
I've already tried uninstalling/re-installing, updating my SuperSU, rebooting the phone etc.
Any ideas?
Hi. . Your can try "Helium" as even the free version supports backup and restore from sd card.. here's the link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup
Good luck
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
fincan said:
Hi all,
For the past month or so, Titanium Backup cannot backup anything to my external sd any more and reports "Insufficient storage space". When I look at the folder location under TiBu preferences, it says "folder is not writable", however when I check the permissions with Root Explorer, it says it is writable, and everything else can really write to it anyway (e.g. google music can write there just fine).
If I switch the backup location to internal storage, it works fine but that defeats the purpose, I want to use my external microsd.
I've already tried uninstalling/re-installing, updating my SuperSU, rebooting the phone etc.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be related to the update to 4.3 which changed permissions for writing to the external SD Card.
Check this thread out.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2436494
dratsablive said:
Could be related to the update to 4.3 which changed permissions for writing to the external SD Card.
Check this thread out.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2436494
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right. I rolled back my platform.xml thinking that the sd card issue has been fixed in 4.4, changing it back did the trick. Thanks
fincan said:
You are right. I rolled back my platform.xml thinking that the sd card issue has been fixed in 4.4, changing it back did the trick. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome!
fincan said:
You are right. I rolled back my platform.xml thinking that the sd card issue has been fixed in 4.4, changing it back did the trick. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I updated to Kitkat 4.4 and am rooted. Im having the exact same issue with Titanium. It tells me the target dir is full and that it cant write/access the SD card. I changed permission of the SD Card with Root explorer but it doesnt stay.
How do I "roll back" platform.xml? I have no idea how to fix this. Never had any issue like this before in all my years of swapping roms and upgrading android builds.
Alpine- said:
I updated to Kitkat 4.4 and am rooted. Im having the exact same issue with Titanium. It tells me the target dir is full and that it cant write/access the SD card. I changed permission of the SD Card with Root explorer but it doesnt stay.
How do I "roll back" platform.xml? I have no idea how to fix this. Never had any issue like this before in all my years of swapping roms and upgrading android builds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to edit yoour platform.xml file so Titanium Backup works again. Since you are already rooted, you can refer to this post for what to edit, where the file is etc.:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=44370296
fincan said:
You have to edit yoour platform.xml file so Titanium Backup works again. Since you are already rooted, you can refer to this post for what to edit, where the file is etc.:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=44370296
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I found an identicle How-To here: http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s4-gpe-android-4-3-sd-card-fix-254960/
They are the same, both work. This one is a little easier to follow. I'm shocked this bug mad it over from 4.3 and into 4.4.2 official builds. All is well now though.
Titanium Backup with insuffiecient storage space - 1 problem , 3 solutions
To summarize, I have come across three solutions to this problem. In fact, it´s four solutions now, since one additional method was pointed out by Vandevandel (see number two below).
1.
Change the backup-location to /storage/emulated/legacy/TitaniumBackup
Just open Titanium and go to Settings/Preferences/Backup folder location
Change to: /storage/emulated/legacy/TitaniumBackup
2.
There is an elegant way of giving TitaniumBackup write access to the external sdcard, without having to forfeit security (as in method 3 below).
Since the time of Android 4.3, Google uses a very clean security-solution by giving apps that request write access to external SD, permission only to their own folder - not to the entire card!
In order to get TitaniumBackup to work without compromising security, you can simply create a folder on the external sdcard,using the following folder-structure: /storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup/
If you already have existing backups, move them with a file-explorer from their current place to: /storage/extSdCard/Android/data/com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup/
Lastly, go tothe preferences of TitaniumBackup, choose "Backup folder location" and choose the above specified folder.
Finish.
Very clean and safe.
3.
There is a solution for gaining write access to the external sdcard (/mnt/sdcard2). The sdcard is mounted r/w, but the owning group is media_rw which is linked to the WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE permission. This permission was not required for access to the external sdcard prior to Android 3.2, but for security reasons this is the case now.
If you're rooted and want to make the ext. sdcard writable to all apps, please try the following:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions and make sure you have mounted the file system r/w.
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart your tablet.
Original:
<permission name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" >
<group gid="sdcard_rw" />
</permission>
New:
<permission name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" >
<group gid="sdcard_rw" />
<group gid="media_rw" />
</permission>
Done.
After this change, any apps that request the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission (which includes almost anything that accesses either of the sdcards) will gain group membership in both sdcard_rw AND media_rw, giving them r/w access to both sdcard filesystems.
This may also fix problems with other apps that have issues writing to the ext. sdcard, but please be aware that in terms of security, solution two (see above) is preferable.
4.
If you had Titanium Backup installed on a previous ROM, doing a non-wipe install could stop the process of Titanium Backup. You might receive a pop-up notification that Titanium Backup has stopped working. Reinstalling the app might lead to an insufficient storage space error — when an app is uninstalled or modified, it leaves a .odex residue file which causes the error. So all you have to do is delete the .odex file of Titanium Backup.
Here’s how:
Using any file explorer like Root Explorer or ES File Explorer, go to /data/app , find and delete ”com.kermidas.TitaniumBackup-1.odex“. Now you can install Titanium Backup again!
If there is no such file in your folder, that´s OK. But please don´t delete any .apk file!
Good luck!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you find this post useful, pls feel free to click "Thanks".
Have a nice day
Parinibbana said:
To summarize, I have come across three solutions to this problem.
1.
Change the backup-location to /storage...
Open Titanium and go to Settings/Preferences/Backup folder location
Change to: /storage/emulated/legacy/TitaniumBackup
2.
If you had Titanium Backup installed on a previous ROM, doing a non-wipe install could stop the process of Titanium Backup. You might receive a pop-up notification that Titanium Backup has stopped working. Reinstalling the app might lead to an insufficient storage space error — when an app is uninstalled or modified, it leaves a .odex residue file which causes the error. So all you have to do is delete the .odex file of Titanium Backup.
Here’s how:
Using any file explorer like Root Explorer or ES File Explorer, go to /data/app , find and delete ”com.kermidas.TitaniumBackup-1.odex“. Now you can install Titanium Backup again!
If there is no such file in your folder, that´s OK. But please don´t delete any .apk file!
3.
I've found a simple solution for gaining write access to the external sdcard (/mnt/sdcard2) on Android 3.2. The sdcard is mounted r/w, but the owning group is media_rw which is linked to the WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE permission. Unfortunately, this permission was not required for access to the external sdcard prior to 3.2 so most file management utilities do not request it when they run...meaning they only have read access to the card.
The simple solution, if you're rooted, is as follows:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions and make sure you have mounted the file system r/w.
2. Edit platform.xml and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add an additional group definition for this permission...<group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save the changes to the file.
5. Restart your tablet.
Original:
<permission name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" >
<group gid="sdcard_rw" />
</permission>
New:
<permission name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" >
<group gid="sdcard_rw" />
<group gid="media_rw" />
</permission>
Done.
After this change, any apps that request the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission (which includes almost anything that accesses either of the sdcards) will gain group membership in both sdcard_rw AND media_rw, giving them r/w access to both sdcard filesystems.
This may also fix other apps that have issues writing to the card.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you find this post useful, pls feel free to click on "Thanks".
Have a nice day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks
idrak3 said:
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome.
I rooted yesterday my galaxy s4 and had the same problem with the titanium backup pro. Thank you so much dude!:good:
Much appreciated, had this issue on my new S5 and this was a simple enough solution. Thanks.
Step 3 worked for me after just upgrading to my Note2 to DN3 v5 and having this Titanium Backup Pro issue on app reinstall - many thanks!
Install Easy Fix
fincan said:
Hi all,
For the past month or so, Titanium Backup cannot backup anything to my external sd any more and reports "Insufficient storage space". When I look at the folder location under TiBu preferences, it says "folder is not writable", however when I check the permissions with Root Explorer, it says it is writable, and everything else can really write to it anyway (e.g. google music can write there just fine).
If I switch the backup location to internal storage, it works fine but that defeats the purpose, I want to use my external microsd.
I've already tried uninstalling/re-installing, updating my SuperSU, rebooting the phone etc.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just install this 300kb app and run it. it will fix the issue. worked perfectly for me
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.sdfix
That app didn't work for me :' (
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
tbudke said:
That app didn't work for me :' (
Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you rooted ?
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Titanium Backup Fix for Folder is not writable
fincan said:
Hi all,
For the past month or so, Titanium Backup cannot backup anything to my external sd any more and reports "Insufficient storage space". When I look at the folder location under TiBu preferences, it says "folder is not writable", however when I check the permissions with Root Explorer, it says it is writable, and everything else can really write to it anyway (e.g. google music can write there just fine).
If I switch the backup location to internal storage, it works fine but that defeats the purpose, I want to use my external microsd.
I've already tried uninstalling/re-installing, updating my SuperSU, rebooting the phone etc.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install NEXTAPP SDFIX and run it will fix
Another thing to look out for:
Sometimes, I've seen a file/folder get created in the TB backup folder called .write_test
What actually creates this and why is still a mystery to me.
If this exists, TB will refuse to write to that folder, and will give the "insufficient storage" error.
Delete it through Root Explorer, and you should be good to go.
Parinibbana said:
To summarize, I have come across three solutions to this problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
#3 worked for me after -- (dummy me) I remembered to reboot.

[Q] Titanium Backup cannot choose SD card?

Verizon S5 with towelroot and Safestrap nandroid.
I'm trying to use Titanium Backup for the first time. I'm watching the video on the Play Store page. The guy says to go to MENU>Preferences>Backup folder location, and then click "DETECT!". When I do, it shows a progress bar and then a message "No backup location was found." I can click back and navigate to the SD card, but it doesn't show up as a backup location.
I'm hoping to eventually use Titanium Backup to remove some bloat and freeze some Samsung/Verizon processes, but I want to get the backup happening first. Every little step causes frustration because things never seem to happen the way they do in the instructional videos.
EDIT: Also, under Help, there is an option to "Upgrade Superuser". This takes me to Superuser app on the Play Store. I already have SuperSU. Do I need to install Superuser?
You need to do sd card fix / hack. One of the security features in kit kat was to limit 3rd party apps ability to write to the sd card. I believe the latest wanam exposed has the ability to change this, there is also an app in the play store sd fix, or you can just modify the file manually. I can't find the thread right now to do the manual edit, but that is what I did and titanium recognizes it now.
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
scadilla said:
You need to do sd card fix / hack. One of the security features in kit kat was to limit 3rd party apps ability to write to the sd card. I believe the latest wanam exposed has the ability to change this, there is also an app in the play store sd fix, or you can just modify the file manually. I can't find the thread right now to do the manual edit, but that is what I did and titanium recognizes it now.
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I installed "SD KitKat Fixer". I tapped 'FIX' and it says "FIXED: Apps should be able to write to removable sdcards.". However, Titanium Backup says "This folder is not writable" for every folder on the SD card.
ergalthema said:
Interesting. I installed "SD KitKat Fixer". I tapped 'FIX' and it says "FIXED: Apps should be able to write to removable sdcards.". However, Titanium Backup says "This folder is not writable" for every folder on the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to reboot afterwards if you haven't already.
ljv said:
You have to reboot afterwards if you haven't already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thanks. I love how these little details always seem to get left out of the instructions.
If you still have problems
Here is the link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53428200&postcount=1
Bumping an old thread......Currently stock rooted on NI2. I would like to put a ROM on my phone but would like to backup some of my apps using Titanium backup. In the Titanium backup app the Backup directory shows "not available". Going into preferences it shows that every folder in the device is not writeable. If I click DETECT, it shows no backup location was found. I tried to change the platform.xml to read/write using a couple different file explorers but I am unable to save the changes. I have tried to use the app as discussed above and rebooted the device but sill no dice. It seems that this problem started after I tried Rick's ROM for a very brief time and then flashed my nandroid backup on to the device. I would really like to change the ROM on this thing so any help will be appreciated.
brocksdad said:
Bumping an old thread......Currently stock rooted on NI2. I would like to put a ROM on my phone but would like to backup some of my apps using Titanium backup. In the Titanium backup app the Backup directory shows "not available". Going into preferences it shows that every folder in the device is not writeable. If I click DETECT, it shows no backup location was found. I tried to change the platform.xml to read/write using a couple different file explorers but I am unable to save the changes. I have tried to use the app as discussed above and rebooted the device but sill no dice. It seems that this problem started after I tried Rick's ROM for a very brief time and then flashed my nandroid backup on to the device. I would really like to change the ROM on this thing so any help will be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to unmount and remount the card. If that doesn't fix it do a factory data reset from the settings menu and a advanced wipe from safestrap. Then restore your back up. If all else fails remove your card, back it up to your PC and format it and restore. I can assure you my ROM has nothing to do with it. I've installed many ROMs multiple times and re rooted many times without one issue with the extSD card. I even switched phones without ever formatting it. I hope this helps you.
It's not only the card that I can't write to, it's the entire device. Every folder in titanium backup says "This folder is not writeable". I can try the factory reset then reinsatalling a backup. The crazy thing is that I just used SMS Backup and Restore to backup all my SMS/MMS and it created the backup to the external storage.
brocksdad said:
It's not only the card that I can't write to, it's the entire device. Every folder in titanium backup says "This folder is not writeable". I can try the factory reset then reinsatalling a backup. The crazy thing is that I just used SMS Backup and Restore to backup all my SMS/MMS and it created the backup to the external storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible you need to remount the /system filesystem rw (read/write) before you can edit /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml. Apps like Root Explorer or ES File Explorer (with root enabled) do this automatically, but depending on the editor they spawn, it may not be able to re-save the file. I followed:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53428200
and used Root Browser with the RB Editor, and was able to edit and save platform.xml. Don't forget to reboot after making changes. This made Titanium Backup much happier.
- Dave
Thanks for the tip. There were several other things that did not work. Widgets, voice mail, ring tones, the list goes on. I un-rooted my phone and everything works again. When I did root the phone, it was kinda wierd. It never showed that I was on NE9 after using Odin to get to NE9 from NI2.

Categories

Resources