Database Users

[Q] Factory Reset on an Encrypted Device Unsuccessful [now solved]

A few little things were acting up on my phone, so I decided to reflash and start anew. The only big hiccup is that my phone was encrypted.
Through TWRP, I have performed a Factory Reset, which was unsuccessful. I then went through Format Data to remove the encryption:
Format Data will wipe all of your apps, backups, pictures, videos, media, and removes encryption on internal storage. This cannot be undone. Press back to cancel. Type yes to continue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This unfortunately did not do a thing, even after rebooting recovery before I flashed the rom. I am prompted for my encryption password during pre-boot. I've tried various backups that I still have (including the original from when I got my device); sometimes the password is accepted, other times I am prompted to continuously try again. When the password is accepted, I am stuck with a blank screen; after a few seconds, my phone vibrates once, then after a few seconds more, it vibrates multiple times, like when an app crashes. These restores do apply; the boot animations and Samsung logo change based on which backup I tried.
As long as I can get to a state where I can flash new roms and boot without the encryption prompt, I don't mind having to root again, losing internal data (which should've happened above), or having to reconfigure everything (that's half the fun).
adb and TWRP are still functional. I'm downloading the stock recovery and factory images to give them a try as well, though the download is crawling and it will be some time before I can test it.
Has anyone else successfully solved this?
Edit: Solved.Flashed all factory images, performed a factory reset, re-rooted, set up TWRP again, and got back to a current rom. For anyone else who runs into this in the future, I had to use the stock recovery, not CWM or TWRP, to successfully wipe my device.

Phone won't boot since I encrypted the storage

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 i9505 (unlocked version). It was using the stock v4.4.2 but it was rooted and the bootloader was unlocked, I also had a different Recovery installed (Can't remember which one but it wasn't Clockwork). I am no longer using the phone so it doesn't contain any data that I need. I was preparing the phone to sell it so I decided to encrypt the storage as I read that that doing this would remove any possibility of old data being taken off.
During encryption setup, I had to enter a PIN before I could have it encrypted so I entered one. Once it finished encrypting (took quite a while), it rebooted and asked me for the PIN to decrypt the device, I entered the PIN. It seemed like it accepted this but then it rebooted. It kept doing this so I thought no big deal as it probably already achieved what I wanted. So I did a factory reset via the Recovery. However, the encrypted partition still persisted after the factory reset.
So then I decided to use Odin (v3.09) along with the latest stock ROM (v4.4.2 I9505XXUGNG8) to write over the whole phone thinking this would reset it. But the encrypted partition still persists and it keeps rebooting after I enter my PIN.
How can I completely factory reset the phone including removing the encrypted storage? I don't need any data on the phone, just need to reset it completely back to factory.
TIA

Probably flash a custom recovery and then:
In TWRP, under "Wipe" menu, there is "Format Data" function, which will effectively remove the encryption from the device
(alongside with all the data of course).
ps the information you had about encrypting your device is wrong. Basically when you delete a file from you phone, there is no way currently possible to get it back. That is caused by TRIM. Not even professional companies can restore it as of yet. So once you delete it, it's really gone.

Lennyz1988 said:
Probably flash a custom recovery and then:
In TWRP, under "Wipe" menu, there is "Format Data" function, which will effectively remove the encryption from the device
(alongside with all the data of course).
ps the information you had about encrypting your device is wrong. Basically when you delete a file from you phone, there is no way currently possible to get it back. That is caused by TRIM. Not even professional companies can restore it as of yet. So once you delete it, it's really gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I'll give that a go.
This is a similar article to what I read about needing to encrypt the device to truly remove your personal data: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/fea...elete-all-data-from-your-android-phone-603731
What about files that haven't been explicitly deleted? Say for example if I left all the files undeleted but I just did a factory reset, will those files be recoverable? That's what I want to protect against.

Techno79 said:
Ok, I'll give that a go.
This is a similar article to what I read about needing to encrypt the device to truly remove your personal data: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/fea...elete-all-data-from-your-android-phone-603731
What about files that haven't been explicitly deleted? Say for example if I left all the files undeleted but I just did a factory reset, will those files be recoverable? That's what I want to protect against.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That articel is mistaken. As of Android 4.3, files that are deleted can't be recovered. A factory reset should be enough. It will also wipe your internal storage.

Thank you. Phone is all sorted now and back to a factory reset

Warning: TWRP Restore on 7.0 may not work as intended..

EDIT 10/30/2016:
From some of the replies on this thread, I have reached the conclusion that this is not a widespread problem (duh.)
However, if you are locked out of your Nexus after a restore, I have found that the best solution was given by @toknitup420
Best Solution:
In TWRP (or ADB whatever you prefer) go into Advanced --> File Manager and navigate to /data/system/.
Locate locksettings.db and rename/delete it.
Reboot, unlock device, go to Settings --> Security and set a new screen lock passcode. The best part about this solution is that your previously registered fingerprints still work (mine did.)
Some suggested updating TWRP to the latest unofficial 3.0.2-3.
Flashing this version and restoring using it did not fix the issue for me personally, but if you would like to try then here is the link I found searching XDA.
**************************************************
OP:
Disclaimer: I am an XDA n00b, I've frequented these forums for a long while now, but I have never made an account and actually posted until now.
Also, I am using build NRD90U on my Nexus 6p
Not sure if anyone else has had these issues, but last night I had problems restoring from a nandroid backup on TWRP.
First issue:
TWRP would not restore System + Vendor + Data all in one operation. During the Data portion of the restore, it threw an error and cancelled the operation (for the life of me I wish I wrote it down, it was 3am and I just wanted to sleep.)
The Fix: I had to first restore System + Vendor, then reboot back into TWRP. Upon rebooting, TWRP prompts to allow modification of system. I accepted (by swiping) and proceeded to restore ONLY the Data from the nandroid backup.
Second issue:
Upon booting into my fully restored phone, I got locked out of the lockscreen. My pattern would not work, and no matter how many times I tried, I could not get to the "Forgot Pattern?" prompt so that I could change my password. Great.
The Fix: No option but to factory restore. I just booted into fastboot, followed Heisenberg's Flash Guide for the Nexus 6p Step 9 to flash everything except for my Internal Storage partition. Booted into a fresh version of android Nougat, and restored from a Titanium Backup.
I haven't seen any information or talk of turning off the passcode before backing up android in TWRP, but I suspect you should do this to avoid a fully restored system that you are locked out of . (Note: I am not talking about the passcode to boot feature, that was turned off for me in this case, and you should too because this is well known to cause issues when restoring. I am referring to the passcode at the actual lockscreen)
TLDR; Restore Data partition after restoring System + Vendor and reboot back into recovery, and turn off all passcode features before creating a nandroid backup.

This is a known topic, nothing new lol.

tatico28 said:
This is a known topic, nothing new lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for acknowledging the disclaimer, just trying to help folks on Google. I didn't find out about it until it was too late.

aeg3d said:
Disclaimer: I am an XDA n00b, I've frequented these forums for a long while now, but I have never made an account and actually posted until now.
Also, I am using build NRD90U on my Nexus 6p
Not sure if anyone else has had these issues, but last night I had problems restoring from a nandroid backup on TWRP.
First issue:
TWRP would not restore System + Vendor + Data all in one operation. During the Data portion of the restore, it threw an error and cancelled the operation (for the life of me I wish I wrote it down, it was 3am and I just wanted to sleep.)
The Fix: I had to first restore System + Vendor, then reboot back into TWRP. Upon rebooting, TWRP prompts to allow modification of system. I accepted (by swiping) and proceeded to restore ONLY the Data from the nandroid backup.
Second issue:
Upon booting into my fully restored phone, I got locked out of the lockscreen. My pattern would not work, and no matter how many times I tried, I could not get to the "Forgot Pattern?" prompt so that I could change my password. Great.
The Fix: No option but to factory restore. I just booted into fastboot, followed Heisenberg's Flash Guide for the Nexus 6p Step 9 to flash everything except for my Internal Storage partition. Booted into a fresh version of android Nougat, and restored from a Titanium Backup.
I haven't seen any information or talk of turning off the passcode before backing up android in TWRP, but I suspect you should do this to avoid a fully restored system that you are locked out of . (Note: I am not talking about the passcode to boot feature, that was turned off for me in this case, and you should too because this is well known to cause issues when restoring. I am referring to the passcode at the actual lockscreen)
TLDR; Restore Data partition after restoring System + Vendor and reboot back into recovery, and turn off all passcode features before creating a nandroid backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Warning: before you make a backup with TWRP you must remove all lockscreen security. If you do not do this you will not be able to unlock your device after restoring your backup (entering your pin will result in an "incorrect pin" message), you'll be forced to perform a factory reset to boot into Android. To remove lockscreen security go to Settings>Security>Screen Lock and set it to swipe/none."
I have two pins. One to unlock sim and one to unlock phone. I'm not sure which one you're referring to because I didn't turn off my pin to unlock sim card and I didn't get locked out after restore.
What did stump me was getting a half working phone since the restore included vendor.img which no one said to uncheck before restoring.

tropical cactus said:
I have two pins. One to unlock sim and one to unlock phone. I'm not sure which one you're referring to because I didn't turn off my pin to unlock sim card and I didn't get locked out after restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, that is a feature that I do not use and didn't consider. What I was referring to was turning off the lock screen passcode (boot passcode should also be off, this is a known issue)
tropical cactus said:
What did stump me was getting a half working phone since the restore included vendor.img which no one said to uncheck before restoring.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes it is very unclear exactly what to have checked/unchecked for TWRP. I've always been under the impression a System + Vendor + Data backup is sufficient, maybe also check the EFS for extra security (you should back up EFS at least once and keep in a safe place, your phone depends on this to connect to cell towers. If it's corrupted and you have no backup, you're in trouble)

I use TWRP 3.0.2.3 and nandroids restored fine on 7.0 and 7.1 DP with lock screen pin enabled
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

scoot0073 said:
I use TWRP 3.0.2.3 and nandroids restored fine on 7.0 and 7.1 DP with lock screen pin enabled
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps it's because I was using TWRP 3.0.2-2.. I'll have to try again later tonight to see if that's the case.
Good to know though, maybe what I experienced is an isolated issue.

3.0.2.2 I believe if I remember I had to disable security lock screen pin b4 I made a nandroid.
But the unofficial 3.0.2.3 not the case
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

aeg3d said:
Disclaimer: I am an XDA n00b, I've frequented these forums for a long while now, but I have never made an account and actually posted until now.
Also, I am using build NRD90U on my Nexus 6p
Not sure if anyone else has had these issues, but last night I had problems restoring from a nandroid backup on TWRP.
First issue:
TWRP would not restore System + Vendor + Data all in one operation. During the Data portion of the restore, it threw an error and cancelled the operation (for the life of me I wish I wrote it down, it was 3am and I just wanted to sleep.)
The Fix: I had to first restore System + Vendor, then reboot back into TWRP. Upon rebooting, TWRP prompts to allow modification of system. I accepted (by swiping) and proceeded to restore ONLY the Data from the nandroid backup.
Second issue:
Upon booting into my fully restored phone, I got locked out of the lockscreen. My pattern would not work, and no matter how many times I tried, I could not get to the "Forgot Pattern?" prompt so that I could change my password. Great.
The Fix: No option but to factory restore. I just booted into fastboot, followed Heisenberg's Flash Guide for the Nexus 6p Step 9 to flash everything except for my Internal Storage partition. Booted into a fresh version of android Nougat, and restored from a Titanium Backup.
I haven't seen any information or talk of turning off the passcode before backing up android in TWRP, but I suspect you should do this to avoid a fully restored system that you are locked out of . (Note: I am not talking about the passcode to boot feature, that was turned off for me in this case, and you should too because this is well known to cause issues when restoring. I am referring to the passcode at the actual lockscreen)
TLDR; Restore Data partition after restoring System + Vendor and reboot back into recovery, and turn off all passcode features before creating a nandroid backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you needed to do was delete locksettings.db in twrp before rebooting. That deletes lock screen security pin. Then you can just reboot and add pin back in settings. Easy.

toknitup420 said:
All you needed to do was delete locksettings.db in twrp before rebooting. That deletes lock screen security pin. Then you can just reboot and add pin back in settings. Easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I read somewhere on XDA that this could potentially break the feature (a.k.a. wouldn't be able to reset a new passcode after getting access to homescreen.)

aeg3d said:
I thought I read somewhere on XDA that this could potentially break the feature (a.k.a. wouldn't be able to reset a new passcode after getting access to homescreen.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been doing it like that for months now with no issues.

toknitup420 said:
I've been doing it like that for months now with no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK I'll have to try that as well, others seem to say it was an error that was patched in the latest TWRP (I was apparently using a slightly older version). Thanks for the tip!

scoot0073 said:
3.0.2.2 I believe if I remember I had to disable security lock screen pin b4 I made a nandroid.
But the unofficial 3.0.2.3 not the case
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK that seems to be the consensus, that I was using a slightly older version of TWRP with this bug. Going to flash tonight to confirm!

[Q] Lenovo K4 Note Vibe Softbricked - Need Help to debrick

Hello guys,
I need some help with my Lenovo K4 Note Vibe (3GB RAM version). The thing is it started popping up random "Unfortunately xxxx stopped working" a couple of weeks ago. That specific app would just crash and restart itself. It can be a system app or game or any random thing (GUI, Contacts, Messaging, Angry Bird and other games etc.). It would usually gets solved on by restarting the phone or stopping the app from setting or on it's own.
Now the problem I have is, I gave it a restart and now it just shows "Unfortunately Notification Center Has Stopped". I have two option "Okay" and "Try To Resolve" none of them does anything except the error goes away for a second or two and pops back up. I can not even see the usual "Enter you PIN" screen. Yes I was using Fingerprint so I had to enter the PIN every time I restart the phone. So now basically I'm stuck at startup screen without any options. The phone is alive I can tell, I can feel it vibrate when I call, hear messaging tones (whatsapp/text). If connect it with PC when turned on, I can see a Lenovo Folder option to browse but its empty since it requires the phone to be unlocked first with pin.
The mobile belongs to my sister and she is dentist by profession and have lots of important data including some research she did (photos) for journal she publishes in national magazines.
How do I get past this error ? I do not have root, I tried the recovery but it is a Chinese recovery and does not have an option to wipe catch partition. The phone was on latest version (Marshmallow) and there is nothing I can do to start it up. Tried booting in safe mode but still the same error.
There is an option to see basic details in Chinese recovery, it shows
Model No. A7010a48
Build Time : 2016 12 27 14:35:36 CST
Kernel Ver. 3.18.19+
Android Ver.: 6.0
along with various other details.
How do I save my data ? Can I recover it anyhow ?

1. Try wipe data and factory reset
if not solve
2. Use SP Flash tools to flash stock rom.

If you have unlocked bootloader, then you can try to flash/hotboot into twrp recovery as it shows all files and folders in pc while connected in recovery mode.
Even if the bootloader is locked, there is no harm in trying.

tiks1001 said:
If you have unlocked bootloader, then you can try to flash/hotboot into twrp recovery as it shows all files and folders in pc while connected in recovery mode.
Even if the bootloader is locked, there is no harm in trying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader is locked. And there was no custom recovery flashed, every recovery flashing method I searched required for data to be wiped and bootloader unlocked so I`m stuck on that front.
macblaze said:
1. Try wipe data and factory reset
if not solve
2. Use SP Flash tools to flash stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I mentioned in post, the data is important, I could throw away the hardware I just need data.
I`m looking for a method to wipe catch partition without getting my data erased or to extract data any other way. Please do let me know if anyone have any solution at all, this is really really important.

Enable usb debugging
Use adb pull command to get the data.
Edit: nevermind, saw you can't unlock the phone.
Pretty sure if you flash twrp it will wipe data data partition as soon as you reboot. So I wouldn't do that.
Other option is do a full nandroid backup using adb but the only way you are gonna get that working is if you flash twrp and like I mentioned it's probably not a good idea but I'm not certain.
Another option is mtktools/spflashtool and do a full firmware backup from that, reset the phone and then restore from the backup, but I have no experience in that but it should work in theory.

Do you see the error even when there is incoming call? If not try from InCallUi i.e. when you answer the phone, try to navigate from that such as opening contacts, if there is a chance pull down notification bar and enter into settings. If any of these happen, it will ask to enter your pin and then you can unlock your phone. Now connect your phone to your pc and backup the data you need
If the data you seek are images, google photos should already backup your images to your google photos cloud account. Check this by signing in from your pc.
If they are media from whatsapp, don't worry, it will be backedup daily to your google drive account and all your messages along with your media will be restored after you install whatsapp again.
If they are Docs, then probably they are in gmail account (PROBABLY) you can always search for required ones in gmail.
Any other files from these cannot be restored if they are inaccessiblefrom your phone.
Suggestion: Maintain a cloud account which you feel safe and backup to that account so that you have no need to worry about the important files. **** like these happen every now and then.
Edit : These are gonna work if you checked the online backup or sync in respective app.

Accidentally wiped encryption keys. Can I re-encrypt and make new ones?

Hey there. While I was installing a Custom ROM, I did something incredibly stupid by factory resetting my phone whilst it was encrypted, thus effectively erasing the encryption keys. I am unable to access my data from things such as TWRP because no password is accepted.
Is there a way to re-encrypt my device with new encryption keys? I understand that I will not be recovering the keys I wiped so I figured if I started with an entirely new encryption, I would be able to create working keys again.
I am completely fine with losing personal data on this device.
Thank you.

JC_6a63 said:
Hey there. While I was installing a Custom ROM, I did something incredibly stupid by factory resetting my phone whilst it was encrypted, thus effectively erasing the encryption keys. I am unable to access my data from things such as TWRP because no password is accepted.
Is there a way to re-encrypt my device with new encryption keys? I understand that I will not be recovering the keys I wiped so I figured if I started with an entirely new encryption, I would be able to create working keys again.
I am completely fine with losing personal data on this device.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much anytime you find yourself in a pinch like this, the MSM Download Tool here on XDA is the best way to go. Have you tried that?

You can also try an OTG with pen drive. It's not encrypted so TWRP can read and flash files from it. Then clean flash a ROM.

Thank you both for your help. I will try these out later.

JC_6a63 said:
Hey there. While I was installing a Custom ROM, I did something incredibly stupid by factory resetting my phone whilst it was encrypted, thus effectively erasing the encryption keys. I am unable to access my data from things such as TWRP because no password is accepted.
Is there a way to re-encrypt my device with new encryption keys? I understand that I will not be recovering the keys I wiped so I figured if I started with an entirely new encryption, I would be able to create working keys again.
I am completely fine with losing personal data on this device.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try simply to format data

Can I resurrect this thread, because I just did the same, stupid thing?
After a long time on the OB releases, when jumping to tresk I had forgotten the proper procedure so, of course, I ended up not able to access the FS from TWRP. I can see everything fine after I've booted, of course.
@VampireHeart I *had* formatted Data (actually, System, Data, Cache) before flashing so I'm not sure this will help?
@devilrulz4ever the OTG is a nice idea, but what is the proper 'clean' process? I must be getting old...
Thanks!

krakout said:
Can I resurrect this thread, because I just did the same, stupid thing?
After a long time on the OB releases, when jumping to tresk I had forgotten the proper procedure so, of course, I ended up not able to access the FS from TWRP. I can see everything fine after I've booted, of course.
@VampireHeart I *had* formatted Data (actually, System, Data, Cache) before flashing so I'm not sure this will help?
@devilrulz4ever the OTG is a nice idea, but what is the proper 'clean' process? I must be getting old...
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Format data isn't wipe data, you find it at bottom of the screen into clean section, when you tap on that you may enter yes and confirm to make it, are two different thing.