[Q] Phone is rooted but /system and /data are still not writable - Desire Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi everyone,
I've successfully rooted me GSM Desire and am running CyanogenMod 7 (I also installed Redux v.1.1.1 and CyanogenMod 6.1 without any problems). For some reason, though, the /system and /data directories still seem to be read-only. In Root Explorer it seems to let me rename files in those directories and says "Rename Successful," but if when I leave the directory and come back the file is back to its original name. I also can't move any files there. When I use ES File Explorer it just says "Sorry, operation failed!"
I have enabled "Mount R/W" in Root Explorer and "Mount File System" in ES File Explorer but nothing seems to work. Is there some extra step to making these directories writable that I have missed?

Hi there, you need to have s-off (aka security off or full root) to write to /system and /data with the device booted, i.e. using root explorer etc.
You can also do it with s-on, but you have to to that with your PC via cmd prompt and adb shell which is less convenient.
Great guide to getting s-off here, took me <10 mins!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=794314

Yeah, that did it. Thanks!

Related

[Q] Access /data from HTC Sense?

Am wondering if there is a application or something that gives me access to /data while the phone is booted into the OS.
I know i can mount /data from recovery and remove/add files and stuff from there, but am wondering if this is possible to do while the phone is booted into the OS?
Nitrius said:
Am wondering if there is a application or something that gives me access to /data while the phone is booted into the OS.
I know i can mount /data from recovery and remove/add files and stuff from there, but am wondering if this is possible to do while the phone is booted into the OS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to flash the modified Hboot by AlphaRev to provide you with S-OFF (Securiy Off) for NAND unlock and to provide you with full root access, while the phone is powered on (booted into the OS). Search the Desire Android Development section of the forum.
Okay, let's say i do this, how do i access /data when am booted into the OS then?
Depending on what you want to do, you can use a File Explorer app to make modifications while the OS is running, and use apps like MetaMorph that require full system privileges to make r/w changes to the system partition, for example.
EDIT: Here is the thread I was referring to: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=794314
Well i've tried out s-off, and it looks like i can see the content on the /system folder with Astro, but the Data folder is empty, but i know there should be an bootanimation.zip file there, as i've seen it while the /data was mounted in recovery.
Maybe i need another file explorer than Astro? Or?
Nitrius said:
Well i've tried out s-off, and it looks like i can see the content on the /system folder with Astro, but the Data folder is empty, but i know there should be an bootanimation.zip file there, as i've seen it while the /data was mounted in recovery.
Maybe i need another file explorer than Astro? Or?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What to do is, download EStrong File Explorer from the Marketplace. Once installed, open EStrong File Explorer and select the Menu button, then choose 'Settings'. Scroll down to 'Root Options' and select it. In Root Options, enable Root Explorer and choose the relevant option. Also choose the 'Mount File System' option as the /system partition was in read-only mode before and the files were hidden. Now, when you go to /data/local (i think), here you will find the location of the bootanimation.zip
Didn't work, looks like i have to have a CM rom or HiAPK rom. Any other idea?
And thanks for the help so far =)
Edit: There is an app in the market that's called "Root Explorer" that says it should give me access to the "elusive /data" folder, maybe that will work?
You don't need to be s-off to access /data. Or at least I didn't have to be.
Try putting bootanimation.zip in /data/local anyway and see if it works.
This overrides the existing bootanimation that is stored elsewhere.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Trying out a different rom, and bought Root Explorer and now am able to see the content in the /data folder at least.

[Q] Edit Hosts File

I'm hoping someone can help.
I'm rooted with Radio S-OFF and ENG S-OFF, running LeeDrOiD 2.2.2 with Kernal 2.2.7.
I am trying to edit system/etc/hosts to remove all the adblock entries, as it's causing issues with Words with Friends, also I think blocking ads just hinders the development of decent applications in the future.
I've tried editing it with Astro File Manager, but I am told I have "insufficient privillages". I then connected via USB Debuggin and ran adb remount, which shows my system partition as mounted. However I still can't edit it.
I thought S-OFF was supposed to mount the system partition for you for good.
You can use root explorer found in market and then mount system as r/w. S-off gives you the ability to mount system r/w but its not by default r/w.

Root Explorer Error

I just unlocked, rooted and restored all files in my nexus. I went into root Explorer to delete unwanted files and am getting a delete failed error every time I try to delete a file. Also my screen shots are no longer saving it says storage is in use. Anybody experience anything like this after rooting?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Marcg23 said:
I just unlocked, rooted and restored all files in my nexus. I went into root Explorer to delete unwanted files and am getting a delete failed error every time I try to delete a file. Also my screen shots are no longer saving it says storage is in use. Anybody experience anything like this after rooting?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you trying to delete system files? Do you have SU installed? Are you clicking the R/W option. More details please.....
Several people have reported the issue with screen shot, to fix it they've had to rename the pictures folder(Seems like the folder is read only).
Swiftkey'ed on my CM9 Galaxy Nexus
No system files just old pictures, music files and other misc. It is set as r/w, also I am getting a few apps saying I need storage available that is writable. Something has to be up with the internal storage not allowing me to access or write to it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Well I am able to take screen shots by renaming he folder. However, I am still unable to write anything to my sdcard or modify files through root Explorer or any other file manager app.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Root explorer - How to text edit
Hi All,
I have a problem with my root explorer. I am not able to open a file to edit. If i long press on a file , i dont get any option to open/edit the file.
i was supposed to edit gps.conf file under /system/etc but unable to do so from root explorer.
PS: i mount r/w from the root explorer every time i try..
Please help.
If you have any directories/files that you can't modify or delete, then boot into CWM recovery, plug in the USB cable, go into adb shell. Also make sure that /data is mounted in the CWM mounts menu. Then:
cd /data/media
chown -R media_rw.media_rw *
root explorer delete failed
danger-rat said:
If you have any directories/files that you can't modify or delete, then boot into CWM recovery, plug in the USB cable, go into adb shell. Also make sure that /data is mounted in the CWM mounts menu. Then:
cd /data/media
chown -R media_rw.media_rw *
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm having this crazy "delete failed" error every time i try to delete any file in sdcart, external, and root directory (copy-paste, root, permissions works fine )
i tried to delete any remains of root explorer with es file explorer ((which works fine btw so its not a problem of partitions i think), re installed the program again but its the same . Flashed the rom from the beginning with a full wipe but its the same
this error happened first when i updated from blackmart alpha to some rootexplorer v.99. I uninstalled that but it left this error
Any idea what is causing that
I'm very curious and would appreciate it
thanks
I found a way to delete the files you suggest using Root Explorer. Go into /data/media/<navigate to the directory that you want to delete files>.. make sure the folder is mounted as r/w and delete the files you want to delete. This is how I bypassed the delete failed issue in Root Explorer...
rester555 said:
I found a way to delete the files you suggest using Root Explorer. Go into /data/media/<navigate to the directory that you want to delete files>.. make sure the folder is mounted as r/w and delete the files you want to delete. This is how I bypassed the delete failed issue in Root Explorer...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^^ this
Thank you rester, this worked for me too. Was pulling my hair out.

Cannot Mount System As R/W, HELP!

Okay, I am having the weirdest of issues, on my Nexus 7 2013 both when it was running stock android 4.4.2 and now CM11, I cannot get my system to mount as R/W. Here's what I mean.
When I use Root Explorer, I can "mount" the system and it will say mounted as R/W, but ANY time it says the system is mounted as R/W and I do anything on the device that would require the system to be R/W like writing to /System folder, EVEN if Root explorer says its mounted as R/W as soon as I move a file to /System it will say something like "File system is not mounted as R/W, Mount as R/W?" which at this point it will go into R/W mode, but as soon as it's done the /System automatically seems to go back to R/O and I always have to reconfirm when I move a file to remount.
This is not such a big issue EXCEPT when I want to do ANYTHING in adb, anything I try in adb that requires that the system be in R/W will not work even in Root Explorer says the system is mounted as R/W, any time I try pushing files to /System or even trying to make a logcat the adb always comes back with "Not Allowed System Is Read Only"
My device is unlocked, rooted and has a custom recovery, and was running stock kernel with stock Android 4.4.2, but now i'm running CM11 with their kernel, I used Skipsoft Unified Toolkit for everything.
FreakyFreakGA said:
Okay, I am having the weirdest of issues, on my Nexus 7 2013 both when it was running stock android 4.4.2 and now CM11, I cannot get my system to mount as R/W. Here's what I mean.
When I use Root Explorer, I can "mount" the system and it will say mounted as R/W, but ANY time it says the system is mounted as R/W and I do anything on the device that would require the system to be R/W like writing to /System folder, EVEN if Root explorer says its mounted as R/W as soon as I move a file to /System it will say something like "File system is not mounted as R/W, Mount as R/W?" which at this point it will go into R/W mode, but as soon as it's done the /System automatically seems to go back to R/O and I always have to reconfirm when I move a file to remount.
This is not such a big issue EXCEPT when I want to do ANYTHING in adb, anything I try in adb that requires that the system be in R/W will not work even in Root Explorer says the system is mounted as R/W, any time I try pushing files to /System or even trying to make a logcat the adb always comes back with "Not Allowed System Is Read Only"
My device is unlocked, rooted and has a custom recovery, and was running stock kernel with stock Android 4.4.2, but now i'm running CM11 with their kernel, I used Skipsoft Unified Toolkit for everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try ES File Explorer. Make sure you have it set to r/w also turn the root explorer on in the tools section of ES File Explorer.
Sent from my Nexus 7 Flo running CM 11 4.4.2 with ElementalX Kernel using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Lollipop still blocking writes to External-SDCard

I just uprgraded to the lollilop gpe OTA. Everything is working as normal, camera, Infrared, light, wifi, LTE radio, etc... I am also rooted.
However, ES File Explorer is still unable to modify the contents of the External-SDCard. I tried doing a simple copy operation from the internal-SDCard to the External-SDCard and there was a prompt that came up (looks like it is from android OS and not from the application) which asks me to select the "root folder" of the External-SDCard.
Following that prompt, I get to the screen where I should click on the "External SDCard" icon on the left of the screen, but the when I do that, the application named "Documents" reports that it has stopped and then it sends me back to the paused copy operation in ES File Explorer and then that operations fails...
Anyone have any clue if this is supposed to work straight out of the "box"? Or do I need to download kernel patches or go modify platform.xml again like in 4.4.4 GPE?
Thanks!
r2d-two said:
I just uprgraded to the lollilop gpe OTA. Everything is working as normal, camera, Infrared, light, wifi, LTE radio, etc... I am also rooted.
However, ES File Explorer is still unable to modify the contents of the External-SDCard. I tried doing a simple copy operation from the internal-SDCard to the External-SDCard and there was a prompt that came up (looks like it is from android OS and not from the application) which asks me to select the "root folder" of the External-SDCard.
Following that prompt, I get to the screen where I should click on the "External SDCard" icon on the left of the screen, but the when I do that, the application named "Documents" reports that it has stopped and then it sends me back to the paused copy operation in ES File Explorer and then that operations fails...
Anyone have any clue if this is supposed to work straight out of the "box"? Or do I need to download kernel patches or go modify platform.xml again like in 4.4.4 GPE?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FAQ
Google Play Edition 5.0.1
SdCard
Q.)
The sdcard not being visible via PC is annoying.
Is there any fix for this yet?
A.)
Yes, here is a work-around
Install Terminal Emulator then type:
Code:
su
restorecon -FR /data/media/0
Some say the KK sdfix works also
clsA said:
Q.)
The sdcard not being visible via PC is annoying.
Is there any fix for this yet?
A.)
su
restorecon -FR /data/media/0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Although the above says it resolves an issue with "The PC" not being able to see the sdcard, and my issue is with an android application (ES File Explorer) not being able to write to the sdcard, I still went ahead and ran the suggested command and although the command succeeded, the android application still can't write to the sdcard...
although it won't solve all your problems with writing to external SD card on the HTC One Lollipop, you can fix the crashing of the "Documents" app you described by making sure your micro SD card has a label (name): put the sd card in a sdcard reader in your PC/Laptop and give it a name.
Hi. Yes, you are correct I found out about the label being blank causing the crash and adding a label to the external sdcard partition fixed the crash in ES File Explorer. With the crash now gone i was able to grant ESFile Explorer write access to the entire external SDCard, and the app is now working flawlessly.
I also found this thread: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=67570#c4444
So, based on that thread's discussion, it looks like the app developers of any app that needs/wants write access to the external sdcard just need to change their applications to start using the new API, just like the ESFile Explorer guys did.
adb commands
Try running these adb commands one after the other
adb shell
su
restorecon -FR /data/media/0
Sent from my Viper Bitten M8

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