Database Users

Need Help, can't access the phone/password

I need some help XDA. I don't know if you'll help or not, but I'm law enforcement and I need to access a locked Droid X. None of the forensic solutions available support bypassing the lock code and I don't have access to the Gmail password for this phone.
What I was looking for is a way to flash the phone with a rooted recovery image that would not overwrite the user data on the phone, so that I could recover the contents of the phone. I've looked at several different options including adb/custom recovery images but it looks like I need to access the USB debugging mode to root the phone.
Can this be done and if so how. Is someone out there willing to help me with building a custom recovery image that doesn't overwrite or dump the user data?

maybe im oversimplifying this but have you tried just plugging it in to the computer? my x will automatically connect as a usb drive and allow me to access the files on the sd card, obviously this wont help if you are wanting call logs or txt messages unless they backed them up to the sd card, just a suggestion before custom recovery

xsurferx, I have tried that and the only thing I get is the phone will charge. In device manager the phone is recognized as a Motorola MB810 USB device.
There is no way to access the device available through Windows Explorer.

My bet is that the person who took the time to ensure that privacy is more important than convience ( deny data connect from usb, wipe sdcard, and strong enough password/encryption) has looked further into other routes aswell. But I don't know of any kind of flashable that would both preserve data and reset the lock screen. The phone is probably one of the best suited to not devulging its information. It would probably be easier to get a court order for the cell records. But I wish you luck.
Dispatched at the Speed of Light from my XOOM

If you're trying to access the SD card, take it out and use a SD card reader on a computer and should be able to fix permissions that way? Maybe....
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

Thanks chbennet, I've already retrieved the cell phone records from the provider (via Search Warrant) and examined the victim's phone in this case. But as always I'd also like to have all of the evidence including the suspect's phone contents. I already have the SD card contents.
There has to be a way similar to the iPhone to restore the system data to default while keeping the user data (call logs, SMS, Images, video, browser history, etc.) in tact.
The iPhone does this by creating a system partition and a user partition. Is this the same in Android phones? Or is it one partition and directories?
I'd still like to see if there is someone that could build a ROM flash that would disable the passcode.

If it is rooted, there was probably a nandroid backup on the card. If there was, this might help.
http://androidforums.com/evo-4g-all-things-root/319602-read-copy-contents-nandroid-backups.html
Dispatched at the Speed of Light from my XOOM

[Q] Weird Problem after TWRP recovery - PC sees directories that dont exist ?

So I decided to take a look at lollipop 5.1 & I took a nandroid backup [copied my data] and flashed the mako factory image - Had a look then wanted to go back.- so flashed kitkat 4.4 back &
copied the nandroid backup over to the phone - flashed TWRP back - wiped all partitions but user data - restored the nandroid - wiped the user data partition. Everything boots up ok.
However - when I connect my PC via MTP to look at the folders all my old folders are there on the PC but empy - BUT they are NOT on the phone.
How is my PC finding folders that do not exist anymore and how can I make the PC show what is actually on the phone ?
edit - Also on the phone in ES explorer there are hundreds of old files that dont exist anymore that are zero bytes big !!!!
Tried fixing permissions - it's just got me baffled !?
Anyone have some wisdom to share about a solution to these ghost folders ?

Turned out I had some data missing so I just rebuilt it !

Exchanging MXPE... How to b/u and transfer?

My MXPE "Arrived" with a scuff on the aluminum frame. Luckily I relayed the aforementioned to moto and I am being given a cost free exchange. I am on an unlocked BL running MM deodexed/rooted. I'm wondering if my LP & MM nandroid will suffice once I unlock my new x and TWRP it? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Yes. Nandroid backup (through a custom recovery like TWRP) is the way to go.
To use a computer analogy, a nandroid backup is equivalent to running a computer drive image clone. You make a perfect copy of the storage contents, so that you can easily backup / restore a system configuration to a device (or move devices).
The one thing I want to mention is that TWRP creates backup folders according to the serial number of the device itself. So when you restore to the new device, you will need to rename your TWRP backup folder name to the new device's serial number. To find out the serial number of the new device, just run a quick backup (e.g. boot info only) just so it creates some folder with the appropriate serial number. Then just rename your existing backup folder to that new serial number, and you can restore.

That's what I was concerned about; ie backing up and restoring device specific info onto a different device. When switching devices I generally like to set them up as a new device and redownload my apps, in my past experience(KK and below) that generally tends to eliminate errors/bugs associated with a nandroid flash. That being said Android has advanced quite a bit since then so I'll give it a try.

How to Restore Deleted Files Post Factory Reset

Hi,
Is there *full version free download software* for *data recovery* (that *actually works and renders results*) to be used on ●*non rooted Android Note 4*●, in order to assist in recovering *deleted files* "*post 《factory reset》*".
The files in question are "*(.doc extension)*", that are associated with "*Colornote App*"; which were already available under, "*data" file*, in ●*Device Storage*● media, *prior* to process of"*《factory reset》*"and unfortunately,were "*not backedup*".
I do appreciate any *professional assistance* to restore my missing files...

I would say your chances are very low - you could try something like this (Method 2): https://www.gihosoft.com/android-recovery/recover-data-after-factory-reset-android.html
Probably stating the obvious here, but if you had done a backup with Samsung SmartSwitch or Kies or some other method before doing the reset, those files would probably be in the backup. 'Professional assistance' (ie Professional Data Recovery services) will likely cost quite a bit - so I guess it depends how much you really need the files back. The important thing would be not to use the device in the meantime, as you risk overwriting the area the files were stored on.

Dr Fone recovery option messed up my phone getting "Enter your password to start up device" and No support single sku

When I plugin my Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime and then select recovery module and it show as connected and then I select android data recovery option and then select recover documents only and then click next. Then it show and detected device model, downloading package and it went like that till 99% uncertain if it hit 100% or not and then it caused my device to reboot and after it reboot now it is asking for a password to start up device but I tried device screen password, google account password and samsung account password but all didnt work. Thus it shows have 7 attempts left before factory reset itself.
The boot up looks a bit different from normal too, unsure if it is coming through a different type of boot and if there is a way to reverse to how it was earlier?
In recovery mode it shows in recovery log pid 2064 ran. where first line filesystem table code was;
0/ efs ext4/ dev/block/platform/1354000.dwmmc0/by-name/EFS(/dev/block/mmcblk0p3) 0
and in following
#ls /cache/recovery
ksmg
-rw------root root 8190724 2022-04-02 11:19 last_ode_dumpstate_err_check_password.log
From what I could see further in log it seems like maybe dr fone tried to root phone since I see files seem to have been overwritten probably as same file name shown where earlier recorded in time stamp as either 2017 or 2008 and underneath that dst is run with today tim stamp.
What would be method to solve to get back to normal working state without any data loss?
It seems when check via dr fone transfer showing as mem capacity 2797mb and 1362mb used whereas it should show as 32Gb, also when start up it says Enter your password to start up your device but I am certain I enter correct passwords but it is not verifying. Also in recovery mode it shows No support single sku supported api:3.
And when try backup option no files come up on scan does that mean the Dr fone recovery package that it installed wiped out the data? Or is it like in another different boot system for recovery? How to solve this problem?
Also any backup software you think could backup stuff before applying any drastic fixes

I think your phone internal storage is corrupted because of Dr. Fone and this is caused by the data encryption inside the phone and I think that it requires the encryption password, and to solve this problem, you must flash a modified recovery like TWRP or CWM and then pull all the data by making a MOUNT of the internal storage it will only works on old Android version 6.x or 7.x but you can try

My android is 6.0.1 so I think it should work, do you have any video tutorials or a thread with stepwise instructions to get twrp or cwm to backup current data and later restore?
Also any idea if use the dr fone repair device feature it might fix?

Dr.Fone only one thing do transfer WhatsApp chat between android and iOS all else features not work perfect so try another way, ask google how mount internal storage on android phones by twrp it’s easy and not need a tutorial just flash a custom recovery and don’t let device to boot enter recovery mode immediately and go to mount and press mtp or mount storage

Looks like the device name has got renamed as well best try to see if have a file explorer or manager for android so can see if files still intact? Any pc softwares that can be used to clarify without need to unlock screen since it is asking for a pass saying Enter your password to start up your device but I am certain I enter correct passwords but it is not verifying.
If the files are intact then I can try twrp or odin cf root flashing to see if can flash home version file so files possibly stay intact. Or if they are anyways not then will try factory reset via recovery mode and then will need recommendation of good software to recover data for free
Any ideas?

That app is trashware. Do Not use!
If a factory reset doesn't clear it you'll need to reflash the stock rom.
The data is lost... that's my opinion.
Always backup all critical data redundantly to at least two hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC... or you will lose data, eventually!
NEVER encrypt a data backup drive.
Do copy/paste file transfer, verify file size and folder count match. Test for readability.
NEVER clone music data bases, copy/paste only.
Do not use compression or apps like SmartSwitch to backup critical data, they can fail you miserably.
You can never have too many backup data drive. Avoid using flash memory; quality hdds have better memory retainment. Store in more than one location. Near lightning strikes can wipe them; a metal earth grounded box or safe is best.

blackhawk said:
That app is trashware. Do Not use!
If a factory reset doesn't clear it you'll need to reflash the stock rom.
The data is lost... that's my opinion.
Always backup all critical data redundantly to at least two hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC... or you will lose data, eventually!
NEVER encrypt a data backup drive.
Do copy/paste file transfer, verify file size and folder count match. Test for readability.
NEVER clone music data bases, copy/paste only.
Do not use compression or apps like SmartSwitch to backup critical data, they can fail you miserably.
You can never have too many backup data drive. Avoid using flash memory; quality hdds have better memory retainment. Store in more than one location. Near lightning strikes can wipe them; a metal earth grounded box or safe is best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you recommend a free pc software that could possibly backup device in current state? Or a free pc software that could do data recovery without need to root phone so if I do go ahead with flash and it wipes data or i do factory reset then I could try to get backup data.

NW_Work said:
Can you recommend a free pc software that could possibly backup device in current state? Or a free pc software that could do data recovery without need to root phone so if I do go ahead with flash and it wipes data or i do factory reset then I could try to get backup data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not on an unrooted phone. You can try this.
If you used Drfone it has likely already encrypted the data with their own encryption key.
Hopefully some of your data is backed up somewhere else because this is a dead horse... I believe.
I be more concerned about salvaging the phone at this point. It's a tough lesson from the U of hard knocks... don't repeat it. Sorry.