Develop Bugs

"Installation unsuccessful" Market error messages

Hi there,
For the past couple of days, I've been getting "installation unsuccessful" error messages whenever I download anything from the Market. The apps are downloaded, and Android tries to install them but fails every time. I've gotten successful installations on one or two occasions, though, seemingly at random.
I have 22MB of internal storage left, and I used to be able to install apps with only 10MB, so that's not the cause. And I have around 2GB on my SD card. Funny thing is, I can't even install some .APKs of beta apps that I know should work, because I've installed them before. I thought the issue was solely related to the Market, but the Market isn't involved when installing apps from "unknown sources", or is it?
Does anyone have any suggestions besides doing a hardreset? Anyone experiencing similar issues?
Cheers

I had the same issue with my Desire. After i searched on the internet, i found a lot irellevant sollutions to this issue.
What i did? I did a backup of my SD card, format SD, restore settings to default and that it.
It was a hard decision but i couldn't find any other solution. After that, everything goes normaly, even today!

Thanks for the reply! I still hope I don't have to do a hardreset, but if nothing else works, I guess I have to go ahead and wipe that thing.

Have you tried the fix_permissions script? You can run this from the Amon Ra recovery or go to the Market and download ROM Manager. It's under the Utilities section of ROM Manager

I guess that's only for rooted devices?

OK, I give up. If no one has a solution to this, I'll just hardreset the darn thing

OK, I give up. If no one has a solution to this, I'll just hardreset the darn thing.
Is there a backup tool that can restore all your apps in a way that the Market will recognize them under "Downloads"? I restored apps from a backup once, but that was pretty pointless since I no longer could enjoy updates through the Market without having to re-download every single app.

Titanium Backup has a "Market Doctor" to fix your Market links, but you need to be rooted.
If you aren't, I'd suggest syncing with AppBrain, which at least means you won't need to search for all your apps on the Market again.
Regards,
Dave

MapleDouglas said:
OK, I give up. If no one has a solution to this, I'll just hardreset the darn thing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried connecting your phone to pc in disk drive mode and doing a scandisk of SD card.
I had the same problem (card was mounted as read-only)
After I done scandisk it found and fixed the problem.

Cooperman_UK said:
Have you tried connecting your phone to pc in disk drive mode and doing a scandisk of SD card.
I had the same problem (card was mounted as read-only)
After I done scandisk it found and fixed the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I had not tried that since the SD card appeared to be working. I used to get quite a few "SD card damaged" messages until I let Android format the card. I tried Scandisk now but it didn't take care of the Market issue unfortunately. Thanks anyway

But it does indeed seem like the SD card somehow is to blame. Those few apps that I actually have been able to install have been installed to the internal storage.
I think this problem started when I for some reason decided to clear the Market's cache and data. Thing is, I have set Android to install apps to the SD card by default (adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2) and that might have something to do with it as well, although it worked fine for three weeks.

I got this when I installed the unofficial OTA update for 2.2. Only fix was to try another custom rom.

Have you tried to go into manage applications and then clear all data for the market app ? This has solved some similar problems for me in the past.

Yes, I cleared the Market's cache and data, and I actually did that before the issue started as well. I just hope a hardreset will fix it all, going to erase everything later today

For the record, I had to not only perform a hardreset, but delete the .android_secure folder on my memory card where apps are stored to get the Market working again. I could probably just have deleted the .androd_secure folder, but then I would have lost all apps installed to the SD anyway
Works like a charm now.

hey did you find a solution to your problem???
if you did please tell me

tinman4124 said:
hey did you find a solution to your problem???
if you did please tell me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but not the one I wanted Look at my post about yours.

i was having the same installation unsuccessful problem. i deleted the .android_secure folder and i can now install all the apps that werent working. i did not have to do a full flash of the ROM.

genghiskav said:
i was having the same installation unsuccessful problem. i deleted the .android_secure folder and i can now install all the apps that werent working. i did not have to do a full flash of the ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But erasing that folder removed all the apps you had installed on your memory card, right?

MapleDouglas said:
But it does indeed seem like the SD card somehow is to blame. Those few apps that I actually have been able to install have been installed to the internal storage.
I think this problem started when I for some reason decided to clear the Market's cache and data. Thing is, I have set Android to install apps to the SD card by default (adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2) and that might have something to do with it as well, although it worked fine for three weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man good to know im not the only one i have exactly the same issue,did u found the solution for it? i still want to use the trick setinstalllocation 2 .

App installer not working after root PLEASE HELP!!!

Hello Everyone!
I just rooted using UnRevoked 3.0. I was installing apps on to sd card and suddenly (while installing free spades from Market) the phone just sat there at "Installing spades" and never completed. Even worse now NOTHING installs. Not even the OTA Sprint voice mail upgrade app. What I did notice is that I can't format the SD card, the option button is grayed out. When I try to unmount the card I get this error:
"Sorry! Activity SD & phone storage (in Application Settings) is not responding."
I have the option to FC or wait and if I try and wait, the message just loops. Is there ANYTHING ANYONE can tell me about this. Please, please help!!!!

Try restarting the phone and see if that helps.

restarting doesn't work, re-running Unrevoked doesn't work. I don't know what else to do. Am I just app-less now?

It happens. Sometimes it takes a few hours to go back to normal, at least in my experience. Is it working for you yet?

Amy7 said:
Hello Everyone!
I just rooted using UnRevoked 3.0. I was installing apps on to sd card and suddenly (while installing free spades from Market) the phone just sat there at "Installing spades" and never completed. Even worse now NOTHING installs. Not even the OTA Sprint voice mail upgrade app. What I did notice is that I can't format the SD card, the option button is grayed out. When I try to unmount the card I get this error:
"Sorry! Activity SD & phone storage (in Application Settings) is not responding."
I have the option to FC or wait and if I try and wait, the message just loops. Is there ANYTHING ANYONE can tell me about this. Please, please help!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I encountered a problem similar to this with my Evo. Basically the card stopped working and said I need to format it, but then it wouldn't let me actually format it. I contacted HTC and apparently they had a "bad batch" of the cards and they'll replace it for free, when they have some in stock. My advice would be to contact HTC or Sprint.

Not working yet. But one thing I forgot about is that after I rooted it I also installed "Choose install" from the Market and set the default to the storage card. I wonder if I should try and unroot my phone. I'm stuck there to because if I understand things right I would have to access my sd card to load a new zip file on it in order to unroot. My pc will no longer let me browse my device.

donnie_darko said:
I encountered a problem similar to this with my Evo. Basically the card stopped working and said I need to format it, but then it wouldn't let me actually format it. I contacted HTC and apparently they had a "bad batch" of the cards and they'll replace it for free, when they have some in stock. My advice would be to contact HTC or Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. That could be why I can no longer browse the device from my pc. I will give that a shot. Thanks!

Amy7 said:
Not working yet. But one thing I forgot about is that after I rooted it I also installed "Choose install" from the Market and set the default to the storage card. I wonder if I should try and unroot my phone. I'm stuck there to because if I understand things right I would have to access my sd card to load a new zip file on it in order to unroot. My pc will no longer let me browse my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will need access to an SD card to unroot. My advice would be to either buy another one or just borrow a friend's or something. Why do you want to unroot anyways?

Aerodynamix said:
You will need access to an SD card to unroot. My advice would be to either buy another one or just borrow a friend's or something. Why do you want to unroot anyways?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really want to, I just thought I would have to do that to try and go back to "stock" or if I'm using the word right, back to the way it was when I got it. I thought it might be my last resort to fixing it. I would still re-root again so I can try and figure out how to get rid of all of sprints bloatware.

Just an update - I bought me a new sd card from buy.com, a 16 gb for about $30. It fixed the problem for a little bit. I started installing my apps, got a good amount of them on there and it happened again! I'm starting to wonder if you just can't install very many apps for this phone or by some odd coincidence I got a 2nd bad storage card????. Weird. I might start a new thread for this but thanks for all you who participated. You rock!

when it's stuck on install can you go to your manage applications option in settings and see if they're all stuck on 'computing' too?
Because this sounds all too familiar.

mmmtacos said:
when it's stuck on install can you go to your manage applications option in settings and see if they're all stuck on 'computing' too?
Because this sounds all too familiar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue (seems to have started after I started using modinstallocation). About one in ten times I'm able to get my sd card apps back after battery pulls and multiple reboots, but not this time. When I go to manage apps, all the SD card apps are 'computing'.

greyopaque said:
I have the same issue (seems to have started after I started using modinstallocation). About one in ten times I'm able to get my sd card apps back after battery pulls and multiple reboots, but not this time. When I go to manage apps, all the SD card apps are 'computing'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got mine all back today. I wiped the Dalvic cache from clockwork mod, and everything came back after a reboot about 5 minutes later.

Apps installed on SD card not accessible

Hi -
I've got a rooted Desire, configured through ADB to install all apps to SD. Of late, the apps installed on the SD card have not been loading in the applications menu, and shortcuts to the apps on the desktop show an error message saying that the 'Application is not installed on your phone'. Previously putting the phone on Debugging mode rectified the issue, but now that doesn't even seem to work. Any suggestions?

Anyone have any solutions to this?

Seems that not many people have experienced this issue
As a starting point for me, where on the SD card are apps usually stored?

Check the .android_secure folder.

thed0g said:
Check the .android_secure folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That folder is showing as empty. Could that be the root if the problem?

*bump topic*

Hi,
From my point of view it is due to SD Card latency. Make this try, Seetings->Applications-> Kill HTC sense. Then press Home Button.
This will force Sense to restart and then pick all available applications.
Hope it works for you .
Stephane

Before the update to stock 2.29, I have experienced a problem similar to this. What you can do is follow c0d1t0's advice first. If that doesn't work, you reboot the phone and try again. If it still doesn't work, boot up your Windows 7, feed it with that microSDHC card and do a chkdsk to fix the FAT structure. It helped me three times with this. And you don't actually lose data.

/rant/ said:
Before the update to stock 2.29, I have experienced a problem similar to this. What you can do is follow c0d1t0's advice first. If that doesn't work, you reboot the phone and try again. If it still doesn't work, boot up your Windows 7, feed it with that microSDHC card and do a chkdsk to fix the FAT structure. It helped me three times with this. And you don't actually lose data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think you were spot on. I recall windows complaining about a disk integrity problem, before the issues occured. A chkdsk didn't fix it, had to restore an old titanium backup to get things running again.

[Q] Downloading from android market UK.

Has any one got a solution to why the android market will let you download some apps but not others. This problem only happens with certain apps.
Contacted one of the app developers, and he thinks there may be a problem with my data partition.
I'm on stock rom, latest froyo update, and have not rooted. thanks, in advance, for your help.

Do you get an error message?

I just get the message installation unsuccessful

Try resetting ur phone and clear cach or make a different Google account
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

region and ROM version also apply

Go to menu/settings/applications/manage applications click the all tab and scroll down to market. Clear data and cache. That should fix it.
Sent from my Motorola Startac running Atari 2600 software!

pwraggcan said:
Go to menu/settings/applications/manage applications click the all tab and scroll down to market. Clear data and cache. That should fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for this but if not can you list some example apps so we can see if it's just you (B. East) or not?

The apps i seem to have a problem with are, Cordy the game, storage analyzer, and gun brothers game. I some times have problems with updating from the market. I have to un-install some apps then download them again to update. this happens when the app has been moved to the sd card, but not with all the apps that I have moved to the sd card

B. East said:
The apps i seem to have a problem with are, Cordy the game, storage analyzer, and gun brothers game.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems here. This is going to be something up with your phone.
B. East said:
I some times have problems with updating from the market. I have to un-install some apps then download them again to update. this happens when the app has been moved to the sd card, but not with all the apps that I have moved to the sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not all apps like being on the SD Card. Do all your apps specifically say they have been updated to allow them to be moved to sd card?
You may have to move them to phone if they continue to cause issues (and to be honest, with a 1GB internal memory, putting apps onto a slow sd card really isn't worth doing.
pwraggcan said:
Go to menu/settings/applications/manage applications click the all tab and scroll down to market. Clear data and cache. That should fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try this?
If all of the above fails to work you will probably have to factory reset the phone.

I tend to download using wifi, going to try downloading over 3g and see if that makes any difference, if not, will do a factory reset. thanks for the help though.

Before you do that you still haven't said if you cleared the market cache. Did you?

yes, i done that, tried to download again and got a message, "could not install on USB storage or sd card". First time I have seen that message.

Is this whilst trying to update an app or download a new one?
If to update then move the app to the phone first.

this is trying to download a new app.

Had a quick Google and found something to try.
mount the phone so you can access the sdcard.
Set to show hidden files
Go to folder .android_secure
Delete a file in there smdl2tmp1.asec
Then try again.

thanks, I will give it a go. can I use a file explorer to do this, because am not sure how you mount the phone, I am quite new to android, use to use winmo mobiles

you can yes, my favourites are Astro, Linda and ES.

I had a look in android_secure, made sure all hidden files would be visible, and could not find any files at all. checked to make sure that the hidden file visible setting in the file explorer was switched to the correct setting, and could not see any files at all.
Have I lost some files? if i have i have no idea how. do I need to do a factory reset?

B. East said:
I had a look in android_secure, made sure all hidden files would be visible, and could not find any files at all. checked to make sure that the hidden file visible setting in the file explorer was switched to the correct setting, and could not see any files at all.
Have I lost some files? if i have i have no idea how. do I need to do a factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn. When I found that possible solution I noticed that as many people said they did have it as said they didn't. I was hoping you would be lucky.
In this case the same file (apparently this is a known bug and has been marked for next version fix) is being stored in the system directory of the phone and without root you can't get access to it.
I'm afraid the only way to clear it (without root) is a factory reset, sorry.

thanks for your help, I will factory reset and see what happens.

(SOLVED) Strange, app permissions keeps resetting after M9Nougat update

[Solved] update. nothing fixed it except for a full factory resrt again.
.....
The app permissions keeps resetting in some my apps, after nougat update . . and i keep needing to re allow contacts to access my apps like gnail and whats app etc. any one else? i havent touched "reset app permissions / preferences" in settings at all so i have no idea why its happening? appreciate any feedback/advice .

How did you update?. Ota or did you flash it yourself?
Beamed in by telepathy.

shivadow said:
How did you update?. Ota or did you flash it yourself?
Beamed in by telepathy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i updated OTA normally.a week ago..everything was fine..but since last night , when i open gmail or whatsapp for example it seems like somehow the app permissions for contacts for those apps were reset and i had to re allow contacts access again.
the only thing i changed/tested in settings prior to that error happening, was the "Force activites to be resziable" setting in Developer Options and the "Magnification Gesture" in Assessibility settings. that wouldn't affect the apps permissions would it?

simonbigwave said:
i updated OTA normally.a week ago..everything was fine..but since last night , when i open gmail or whatsapp for example it seems like somehow the app permissions for contacts for those apps were reset and i had to re allow contacts access again.
the only thing i changed/tested in settings prior to that error happening, was the "Force activites to be resziable" setting in Developer Options and the "Magnification Gesture" in Assessibility settings. that wouldn't affect the apps permissions would it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think mine was fine too, until I installed Magisk. Did you install Magisk?

Isidrology said:
I think mine was fine too, until I installed Magisk. Did you install Magisk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope no magisk

simonbigwave said:
i updated OTA normally.a week ago..everything was fine..but since last night , when i open gmail or whatsapp for example it seems like somehow the app permissions for contacts for those apps were reset and i had to re allow contacts access again.
the only thing i changed/tested in settings prior to that error happening, was the "Force activites to be resziable" setting in Developer Options and the "Magnification Gesture" in Assessibility settings. that wouldn't affect the apps permissions would it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
simonbigwave said:
nope no magisk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay I found my answer at least. Was your SD Card encrypted? my issue disappeared after i formatted my SD card and replaced it with backup files prior my update to Nougat and now it doesn't reset my app permission.
So if I was you, I'd try copying all your files out of your SD card, and format it via the phone, restart and see what happens. Hopefully you have backup of your content on your SD card, otherwise you'll need to nit pick through to figure out what was encrypted and what was not..

Isidrology said:
Okay I found my answer at least. Was your SD Card encrypted? my issue disappeared after i formatted my SD card and replaced it with backup files prior my update to Nougat and now it doesn't reset my app permission.
So if I was you, I'd try copying all your files out of your SD card, and format it via the phone, restart and see what happens. Hopefully you have backup of your content on your SD card, otherwise you'll need to nit pick through to figure out what was encrypted and what was not..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my SD card was not encrypted. IIRC I had to to a full factory reset then it was ok.

I've been having the same issue, I fixed mine by removing my SD card, copied the contents to my pc, formatted the card on the pc, copied the files back to the SD card, factory reset the phone, reinstalled all my apps, put the SD card back in and everything is fine now, nothing lost after a couple of reboots.
I have since installed Magisk and rebooted a couple of times and it's still working as it should be

FlanFlinger said:
I've been having the same issue, I fixed mine by removing my SD card, copied the contents to my pc, formatted the card on the pc, copied the files back to the SD card, factory reset the phone, reinstalled all my apps, put the SD card back in and everything is fine now, nothing lost after a couple of reboots.
I have since installed Magisk and rebooted a couple of times and it's still working as it should be
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've hit this issue too and my phone is absolutely stock. No encryption. It seems to be an android thing that just happens at random.
Im thinking that it may have something to do with htc boost+. Do you have it installed and running?..

shivadow said:
I've hit this issue too and my phone is absolutely stock. No encryption. It seems to be an android thing that just happens at random.
Im thinking that it may have something to do with htc boost+. Do you have it installed and running?..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never seen it before, even reflashing a stock RUU didn't fix it, hence me going the sd card format route, I had uninstalled boost+ before and It didn't make any difference. Interestingly my app data for some apps was there after a fresh install because they were on the sd card, I always have that set to removable storage.

I'm having the issue now. I tried the above mentioned about formatting SD card and it worked, now permission don't reset but now when I try to transfer my backup files back the computer says the SD card is write protected... (-_-)... so the SD card is the issue?
Update #1
Solved: After billion tries to format the SD the computer finally formatted it and just restored all files back. Did a reboot and permissions where there, let's see the next couple of days... thank you all
Update #2
Tried a second reboot and the issue came back... gonna have to try the full factory reset and see... ???

This resolved for me when disabling system permissions for anything that did not need them
System > Apps > Configure Apps > Special Access > Modify System Settings 'no' to everything that doesn't need special access