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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

Fingerprint hardware unavailable? Enrollment didn't work?

Recipe:
TWRP 2.8.7.2
TWO Nexus 6Ps on 6.0.1
One N6P systemless rooted
Official Android SDK (fastboot)
So I got a replacement N6P from Fi as I noticed some slight bending on my original, and I was working on moving my data over using TWRP so I could keep all my app data, etc. When I backed up my original 6P, I forgot to remove screen and boot security, so when I flashed on to my new 6P, I was locked out (as expected, known bug). I tried this fix to get in to my system, and it worked! I was able to log in. However, I noticed that my old fingerprints were still enrolled and I wanted to start those fresh, so I tried to remove them. When I selected "Delete" for each enrolled fingerprint, nothing happened. This was the first clue. I then tried to enroll new fingerprints and got the following message:
Code:
[B]Enrollment was not completed[/B]
Fingerprint enrollment didn't work. Try again or use a different finger.
The other odd thing is that on the lockscreen, I was getting a red text error message that read something like "Fingerprint hardware not available."
So I figured something got messed up security wise from the fix I tried after flashing a locked nandoird. I then went back and made a new nandroid backup (boot, system, data) on my old phone making sure that all security was turned off. Same thing!
Wondering if the hardware did actually get messed up somehow, I flashed back to official stock 6.0.1 from Google. Fingerprinting then started working!
So nothing I have done since then has made any difference when trying to restore my userdata from my old phone. I've tried wiping cache/dalvik, and removing the locksettings.db file, but these didn't change anything either.
Has anyone had this issue before? It seems really bizarre to me. I'm probably going to end up flashing stock and restoring userdata via TB, but that is a headache compared to nandroid so if possible I'd like to get this to work.

Tried wiping userdata then flashing userdata from my old 6P and that did not work either.

Have you tried wiping data, setting up the device again, and then checking if you can add a fingerprint?
I tried restoring data from a device I had to RMA too, and got that exact message every time - I gave up in the end as I tried wiping everything but the only thing that worked was clearing userdata & restoring my apps from the nandroid via TiBu.
All in all, I presume it's something to do with the fingerprint scanner having a different hardware key/serial to the new one and retaining that info somewhere in the data partition when you back it up.

DanielF50 said:
Have you tried wiping data, setting up the device again, and then checking if you can add a fingerprint?
I tried restoring data from a device I had to RMA too, and got that exact message every time - I gave up in the end as I tried wiping everything but the only thing that worked was clearing userdata & restoring my apps from the nandroid via TiBu.
All in all, I presume it's something to do with the fingerprint scanner having a different hardware key/serial to the new one and retaining that info somewhere in the data partition when you back it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup I did try that, didn't work either. I'm right where you were too, currently restoring apps for TB. Your hypothesis seems plausible to me, I hadn't thought of that. Kind of a bummer for swapping devices if that is the case. I wonder if we could find where the fingerprint key is stored in userdata and back it up prior to flashing the nandroid?
Thanks for the reply!

No problems & yes, it is, though I presume it's either been done for some sort of security, or as a complete oversight - I can't see Google deliberately doing so, especially on a Nexus device.
I think it's probably highly likely that someone will find the hardware/serial file soon and find a way to stop it from being overwritten when TWRP restores the data partition, though it is annoying that it hasn't been discovered yet... Thankfully restoring from a nandroid through TitaniumBackup isn't too bad nowadays!

Srry for necro but I think I might have found a workaround solution to this problem or at least the problem which is very similar to this one. Please check "symptoms" in the description of the solution to make sure we are talking about the same issue.
Here's the link to the solution: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=68374321&postcount=1446

erikem said:
Srry for necro but I think I might have found a workaround solution to this problem or at least the problem which is very similar to this one. Please check "symptoms" in the description of the solution to make sure we are talking about the same issue.
Here's the link to the solution: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=68374321&postcount=1446
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for another necro, but this doesn't work for me on Android 7.1.1
Edit: Correct fix here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=68199207&postcount=9

[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.

Possible move from Global to xiaomi.eu without data loss?

As the title said, is it possible to move from Global 12.0.11 to Xiaomi.eu (12.5 weekly release to be specific) without wiping the data partition?
I live in a pretty rural place that has a slow internet connection, it would be quite a task to redownload my apps and games specially. So I want to know if it's possible?
Thank you for response

Backup all your data to the cloud, whether to Google or to Xiaomi cloud.
You can also try backing up your data using Swift Backup, install Xiaomi.eu, restore your data with the same app. But you need to be rooted for this.

cowscrubber said:
Backup all your data to the cloud, whether to Google or to Xiaomi cloud.
You can also try backing up your data using Swift Backup, install Xiaomi.eu, restore your data with the same app. But you need to be rooted for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was halfway to rooting this device. After unlocking the bootloader I found out that it wiped out my data completely . Good thing I backup my photos and videos last night, but I guess I wouldn't be able to do anything 'bout the lost games anyway.
Thanks for your response nonetheless!

AJPuzon said:
I was halfway to rooting this device. After unlocking the bootloader I found out that it wiped out my data completely . Good thing I backup my photos and videos last night, but I guess I wouldn't be able to do anything 'bout the lost games anyway.
Thanks for your response nonetheless!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know the feeling. I was also looking for ways to move roms without losing my data but it was too much trouble. Good thing my Google backups made installing apps and logging back in easier, so at least it wasn't that much of a hassle.

Unlocking bootloader erases user data but moving from one custom rom to another is possible.i didnt knw that.accidentally stumbled upon lol