I'm looking for any guidance on changing the factory file in the phone to reset to my specified settings and installations. Main reason for wanting this is in case my phone is stolen and reset I'd still be able to connect to it through Webkey, hopefully being able to retreive it or atleast find out about who stole it. So, to start I'd like to know how to go about incorparating certain programs into the factory settings of the rom as well as the pertaining settings such as wifi auto on/connect etc.. Any help at all is appreciated in finding out the steps involved.
bromhexine said:
I'm looking for any guidance on changing the factory file in the phone to reset to my specified settings and installations. Main reason for wanting this is in case my phone is stolen and reset I'd still be able to connect to it through Webkey, hopefully being able to retreive it or atleast find out about who stole it. So, to start I'd like to know how to go about incorparating certain programs into the factory settings of the rom as well as the pertaining settings such as wifi auto on/connect etc.. Any help at all is appreciated in finding out the steps involved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't think this is possible,, better not lose your phone
Why is it not possible? Aren't things integrated into roms all the time?
You should look into CSC files, the solution to what you want to do lies there IMO.
You have to remember that a factory reset on the phone only:
-Formats /data
-Formats /cache
-Reapplies the CSC files.
One way to do this could be to place something in /data that an app/script in /system would check for on boot. If its missing, trigger whatever is necessary.
thanks for the tip! Now we're getting somewhere.
Related
Model: Samsung Galaxy S3 AT&T i747
Hi!
I was forced to encrypt my galaxy s3 in order to receive corporate emails on my phone using the stock email app. However I never imagined that encrypting the phone would literally lock the memory and options to customize the phone.
I tried to root the phone to benefit from more flexibility and also debloat the phone. However during the rooting process, I could not mount /emmc/ when using ClockWorkRecovery in the startup menu. Based on what I found on the web, I figured it was due to the encryption.
I then tried to factory reset the phone to get rid of the encryption but I simply can't hard reset the phone from the OS or the startup menu. When doing the reset from the startup menu, the errors are "Can't mount /sdcard/". The reset continues but when the phone reboots, all my applications and personal data are there and the phone is still encrypted.
I read a lot about flashing a custom recovery via flashboot or ADB but I am reluctant to do it without guidance from the experts (you guys).
I deleted my corporate email account (It is my personal phone, I am not required to install exchange on it).
I tried to use an external sd card but as soon as the phone recoginizes it, I have to encrypt the card as well as a result from the corporate policies. I ejected the card and did not encrypt it.
I am new to android (long time iPhone user) and I would really appreciate your guidance on the methods to factory reset my phone or a different technique to get rid of the encryption because I am really stuck right now.
I have never encrypted an Android phone before. But maybe your response to these questions will serve as a "bump" to this thread.
1) What method did you use to encrypt the phone? Stock or 3rd party encryption?
2) Doesn't that same method also offer you the offer to unencrypt the phone?
3) If you used a stock method of encrypting the phone, then I'd assume your provider (AT&T?) tech support should be able to help you unencrypt it.
Eddie,
Thanks for your response.
1) I used stock method for encryption
2) Decrypt the phone is not possible apparently,only way is to factory restore the phone apparently
3) I went to the AT&T store and they were unable to factory restore (using the standard methods). They offered an exchange but since I purchase over the phone at a discounted price, I have to do the exchange using that method. Before shipping back the phone, I was wondering if I could fix it myself with the help of knowledgeable people.
CZ Eddie said:
I have never encrypted an Android phone before. But maybe your response to these questions will serve as a "bump" to this thread.
1) What method did you use to encrypt the phone? Stock or 3rd party encryption?
2) Doesn't that same method also offer you the offer to unencrypt the phone?
3) If you used a stock method of encrypting the phone, then I'd assume your provider (AT&T?) tech support should be able to help you unencrypt it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never used the encryption but if the phone can turn on and is usable, cant you go into the encryption settings and turn encryption off? then you should be able to do anything (may be best to start with a factory restore first just so you have a fresh slate to work with)
1ofAKind said:
Model: Samsung Galaxy S3 AT&T i747
Hi!
I was forced to encrypt my galaxy s3 in order to receive corporate emails on my phone using the stock email app. However I never imagined that encrypting the phone would literally lock the memory and options to customize the phone.
I tried to root the phone to benefit from more flexibility and also debloat the phone. However during the rooting process, I could not mount /emmc/ when using ClockWorkRecovery in the startup menu. Based on what I found on the web, I figured it was due to the encryption.
I then tried to factory reset the phone to get rid of the encryption but I simply can't hard reset the phone from the OS or the startup menu. When doing the reset from the startup menu, the errors are "Can't mount /sdcard/". The reset continues but when the phone reboots, all my applications and personal data are there and the phone is still encrypted.
I read a lot about flashing a custom recovery via flashboot or ADB but I am reluctant to do it without guidance from the experts (you guys).
I deleted my corporate email account (It is my personal phone, I am not required to install exchange on it).
I tried to use an external sd card but as soon as the phone recoginizes it, I have to encrypt the card as well as a result from the corporate policies. I ejected the card and did not encrypt it.
I am new to android (long time iPhone user) and I would really appreciate your guidance on the methods to factory reset my phone or a different technique to get rid of the encryption because I am really stuck right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1ofaKind,
Had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me. Encrypted my S3 in order to access work exchange server. Tried CWM but cannot mount /emmc/ problem after booting into recovery. Have not tried to factory reset yet as I am wanting to learn more before I go that route. But basically I am in the same boat as you. The only difference is I was not required to encrypt an external SD card when I put it in my phone. Read about flashboot as well...maybe the only way to actually factory reset after encryption??
Sorry I cannot offer any solutions at the moment...but I will keep scouring the forums looking for a way.
If I learn something valuable, I will try to post it here to help ya out.
EDIT: Maybe you have read these threads, but there is some decent info in them. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1451655 & http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392037
good luck
Look into using Odin to restore a factory image.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
I'm in the same boat here - had to encrypt my GS3 in order to receive corporate (Exchange Server) emails. Now can't update the OS on the phone which is more important to me than receiving corporate emails on the device.
Can someone tell me how to decrypt (UN-encrypt) the phone? Everything I've read says that a factory reset won't do it.
Please help!
CZ Eddie said:
Look into using Odin to restore a factory image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tried this? If so, did it work?
I clicked install rom from sd card in cwm selected f/w which i had copied into internal memory. Did factory reset in recovery.
Odin it back to stock.
This might be too late to help you guys, but here's what worked for me. I odined it back to stock. Then I went into recovery (volume down, power and home button) and selected wipe data/factory reset. This does of course erase all your data, so try to copy whatever you can onto a computer or something before doing this. You should end up with an unencrypted storage.
sid9102 said:
This might be too late to help you guys, but here's what worked for me. I odined it back to stock. Then I went into recovery (volume down, power and home button) and selected wipe data/factory reset. This does of course erase all your data, so try to copy whatever you can onto a computer or something before doing this. You should end up with an unencrypted storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
tamon77 said:
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you hit start, unplug then replug the usb from the computer. I had some issues with it not recognizing it either to flash stock, but when i messed with the cord, it made the noise that i unplugged and it started working. Same thing with the root injected, only this time i fully unplugged it when the fiddling with it didnt work. Make sure you replace it into the same com port.
so, i seem to be having the same problem as all of you, only i encrypted to protect my data from agents. So, right now, i am *hopefully* :fingers-crossed: installing the root injected JB now. I had many issues. TWRP and CWM were no help, couldnt see phone to add new roms to it. ODIN was the only hope. I booted into recovery after going back to stock, did a new factory reset and am installing the stock with root. When i let it boot, it didnt go to encryption this time, but the first time i flashed the stock, it did. This is a mess to say the least.
EDIT: YEAH! done. No encryption and i got root. i used the image from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1968625 DLK3 worked for me. Good luck. i hope this helps. Ill be happy to explain more if you want.
tamon77 said:
ODIN will not recognize my phone when it is in download mode ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ODIN (for me at least) wont see anything since im using Windows 8. On Windows 7, however, it works just fine.
Factory reset encrypted phone
hi,
I'm using CM11 as a rom.
I didn't want to reinstall stock rom, just to root it again later.
Installing updated version from external SD didn't work (updated the ROM but no decryption)
Tried to factory reset from recovery - didn't work, as the internal storage is encrypted it can't mount /sdcard/
however, from within settings menu, in backup&restore there's an option to do a factory reset - this is formatting internal memory altogether.
worked like a charm.
oxidase said:
After you hit start, unplug then replug the usb from the computer. I had some issues with it not recognizing it either to flash stock, but when i messed with the cord, it made the noise that i unplugged and it started working. Same thing with the root injected, only this time i fully unplugged it when the fiddling with it didnt work. Make sure you replace it into the same com port.
so, i seem to be having the same problem as all of you, only i encrypted to protect my data from agents. So, right now, i am *hopefully* :fingers-crossed: installing the root injected JB now. I had many issues. TWRP and CWM were no help, couldnt see phone to add new roms to it. ODIN was the only hope. I booted into recovery after going back to stock, did a new factory reset and am installing the stock with root. When i let it boot, it didnt go to encryption this time, but the first time i flashed the stock, it did. This is a mess to say the least.
EDIT: YEAH! done. No encryption and i got root. i used the image from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1968625 DLK3 worked for me. Good luck. i hope this helps. Ill be happy to explain more if you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand this is very old but I am going to make a note here in case anyone else gets into this problem. When you go back to stock, do the factory reset using the STOCK recovery. Don't install TWRP or anything else until you have cleared the encryption. At least, that's what worked for me.
I am new to the phone scene but I am wanting to reformat it and start fresh. What are the common things I need to do before doing the reformat/reset ? I have a plain Jane Verizon HTC M9 phone. It has not been rooted or anything of that nature as of yet.. I am wanting to do a complete phone wipe or disk wipe on a pc and then reinstall everything for my phone has become very sluggish in the past few months. I have ran several good phone cleaners and none have seemed to help so I figure why not do a factory reset.
What do I need to make sure I backup before proceeding with the reset?
What are the appropriate or best procedure of doing a factory reset before and after ?
What if any Apps are there I can use to assist in pre factory reset that will help with backing up all important files?
Are there any tutorials that I can read to help in performing a factory reset?
I figure I need to learn the basics of the phone as well as get a new phone so when I root my HTC M9, I wont be without a phone in case something goes wrong..
Thanks in advance for any and all info.
I have a fair amount of experience with computers not a newbie skill level but not an advanced skill level by any means either.
Nothing for resetting phones??
Hey guys, been reading through the threads and not really finding a clear answer or solution to this problem. This is a completely stock sprint sph-l710. I started getting this box with yellow lettering overshadowing the primary display of which I've learned indicates the phone is in 'factory mode'. I thought performing a factory reset would fix this but it did not. I noticed when you boot the phone in recovery mode I see the efs error. I am thinking the underlying issue is with fixing the efs problem. Now that I have reset the phone I no longer have data network access, im guessing because of this factory mode. I am new to this and not real understanding of the lingo everyone uses. From what I've read Im worried im going down a rabbit hole if i start tinkering. I am looking for clear instructions to repair what I think is corrupted software (I'm guessing the operating system software). The instructions I've seen seem to skip steps that are probably rudimentary to everyone else but leaves me without a starting place. I have downloaded oden but i am not certain again without precise instructions that I am not going to permanently mess up my phone.. there appear to be a number of variations of this device and i want to make sure the instructions I get will work on mine. I will take any advise on getting this resolved. I am not opposed to rooting the phone either if that fixes the problem (no idea how to do this, never tried, but some threads on here I think I can follow to do it safely). With that said, different threads also seem to indicate (emphasize 'seem to') that team win recovery can fix this but there are no clear responses regarding my issue of a solid fix. Thank you for any help
timbow4 said:
Hey guys, been reading through the threads and not really finding a clear answer or solution to this problem. This is a completely stock sprint sph-l710. I started getting this box with yellow lettering overshadowing the primary display of which I've learned indicates the phone is in 'factory mode'. I thought performing a factory reset would fix this but it did not. I noticed when you boot the phone in recovery mode I see the efs error. I am thinking the underlying issue is with fixing the efs problem. Now that I have reset the phone I no longer have data network access, im guessing because of this factory mode. I am new to this and not real understanding of the lingo everyone uses. From what I've read Im worried im going down a rabbit hole if i start tinkering. I am looking for clear instructions to repair what I think is corrupted software (I'm guessing the operating system software). The instructions I've seen seem to skip steps that are probably rudimentary to everyone else but leaves me without a starting place. I have downloaded oden but i am not certain again without precise instructions that I am not going to permanently mess up my phone.. there appear to be a number of variations of this device and i want to make sure the instructions I get will work on mine. I will take any advise on getting this resolved. I am not opposed to rooting the phone either if that fixes the problem (no idea how to do this, never tried, but some threads on here I think I can follow to do it safely). With that said, different threads also seem to indicate (emphasize 'seem to') that team win recovery can fix this but there are no clear responses regarding my issue of a solid fix. Thank you for any help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin will flash the factory firmware for you. Get firmware from sammobile. Look for sph L710 device, and firmware with NJ2 in the name. Put phone in download mode, (power off then hold power+home+volume down) plug in phone to pc. Wait till Odin says added. Click AP in odin, select firmware you downloaded, click start. When it's done, unplug phone, remove battery, put it back in and reboot.
This may not fix your efs partition, but it's the first thing to try.
Odin
I found the thread for nj2 firmware here
issue still persists
Hey Madbat, thank you so much for reaching out to me and giving me the advise. Installing the firmware through odin was really easy. Thank you for that! However, it did not fix the issue. When the phone came back up it still has the exact same problem. I am going to attach a couple pictures to show you what i am seeing... Really appreciate your time and help!
hell, sorry it says im a new user and wont let me post the pictures...
timbow4 said:
Hey Madbat, thank you so much for reaching out to me and giving me the advise. Installing the firmware through odin was really easy. Thank you for that! However, it did not fix the issue. When the phone came back up it still has the exact same problem. I am going to attach a couple pictures to show you what i am seeing... Really appreciate your time and help!
hell, sorry it says im a new user and wont let me post the pictures...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I never had that issue. Maybe someone else will chime in with experience on the efs partition. That's not a triband s3 is it? (Sph l710t?) T at the end means triband. Second thought, I don't think the firmware would have flashed if it was triband.
How did you wipe your efs?
Its not a tri band. Just SPH-L710. Wish this forum would let me post the pictures of what my phone is doing.. Since the firmware doesnt correct the issue I would think then its a problem with the operating system itself. I have been scouring the web and have found various threads specifically about efs repairs but they entail doing things that seem awful complicated. And i dont know if those things work on my model phone. Maybe rooting the phone gets deep enough to over write or repair the issue. Is there not a way to restore the operating system itself maybe or is that what a replacement ROM does? I am thinking of trying my hand at rooting the phone and seeing what happens. One thread indicated TWRP would backup and restore the EFS file. Im thinking if it backs up a corrupt efs file what good is that, maybe it fixes it too. Found an excellent video on XDA for rooting the S3. Hopefully it or I dont make it worse. Love to get this one fixed but i guess the reality is the phone is old. Thank you for the input
timbow4 said:
Its not a tri band. Just SPH-L710. Wish this forum would let me post the pictures of what my phone is doing.. Since the firmware doesnt correct the issue I would think then its a problem with the operating system itself. I have been scouring the web and have found various threads specifically about efs repairs but they entail doing things that seem awful complicated. And i dont know if those things work on my model phone. Maybe rooting the phone gets deep enough to over write or repair the issue. Is there not a way to restore the operating system itself maybe or is that what a replacement ROM does? I am thinking of trying my hand at rooting the phone and seeing what happens. One thread indicated TWRP would backup and restore the EFS file. Im thinking if it backs up a corrupt efs file what good is that, maybe it fixes it too. Found an excellent video on XDA for rooting the S3. Hopefully it or I dont make it worse. Love to get this one fixed but i guess the reality is the phone is old. Thank you for the input
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backing up and restoring it won't help. You already installed a new operating system ( that's what the firmware is).the efs is part of your radios. If I remember correctly it contains your imei and other important things specific to your phone.
You may be out of luck there dude. Don't know how you wiped your efs.
Rooting this phone is simple. Just flash TWRP with Odin. Download the Twrp image from their site. Same as flashing the firmware, only you select recovery instead of AP in odin and select the Twrp image.tar instead of the firmware tar.
https://dl.twrp.me/d2spr/
Use the top on the page. (Newest)
And then use twrp to flash either SuperSU, or Magisk.
Done.
Flashing a custom rom will not fix your issue. You need a working efs. Flashing any operating system will not fix it (you already flashed the whole operating system).
Twrp can restore an efs, but only if you have a working one to backup first. You were right about backing up yours now and restoring will do nothing.
Has it ever been activated?
Prior to this, every once in awhile when i changed a battery out and turned the phone on it would have a pop-up screen tell me something was bad and the phone needed to be reset (something along those lines) and i always just turned the phone back off and on and it booted up fine each time. That may have been an indicator that something, file or system file maybe was corrupted. Then a few week ago when it booted up it started doing this whole thing. Prior to me factory restoring the phone here recently it was completely functional but since the restoration it will no longer connect me to the network. If you goto settings and click on some system features it will turn the network on for that specific function (temporarily) but does not give me any other access. It tells me that the network works but it being blocked (maybe because of the factory mode issue). The wifi works and i can make and receive calls. Still manageable but very annoying. Im going to try your instructions with installing TWRP. If i am successful then maybe i can also get into the system files and possibly restore the broken one.. Thanks again
update
So I have successfully rooted the phone by intstalling TWRP ver 3.2.1 and using TWRP to flash SuperSU ver 2.82. I also installed root explorer to get access to system files. I gained access to the EFS folder and it is empty. So now I'm not understanding if the folder is completely empty how does the phone still work at all? More research led me to a XDA developer that put together a program called EFS Professional which is supposed to backup and restore efs or imei data. Really slick program, basically takes the complication out of locating and backing up the EFS information yourself. (I would include a link but I still cant..) It includes an ADB shell and the ability to make some changes to the phone including directly turning off factory mode . It also had me install an application called BusyBox Pro which is also a very handy tool for getting access to system files. What I don't understand is that the EFS Professional program seems to locate the efs information on my phone and backups it up and then restores it from said backup however when I look at the efs folder its empty. Perhaps not all the efs information is located in the efs folder. And of course since that folder is empty the function of turning factory mode off fails because it cant find the files. I have found a few threads that has very simple instructions once you have super user access you can go right into the efs folder to factory mode and simply turn it off. Mine is empty.. So again the problem continues. Possibly with access to the ADB shell and more help from folks on here I can figure out a way to restore my efs information. I don't know if the efs information can be used from a another same model phone, I'm guessing not if it has a specific imei identification. Im working hard on this but still unsolved. I know way more at this point then I did but I think I still know just enough to be dangerous. Thankfully my phone is still functional at this point..
Hello, straight to the point so I don't waste your time:
Samsung S20 5G original setup, no developer mode, no rooted. Cousin had it broken at the operative system level, many functions got hidden or not working at all, and so on, so I applied a factory reset using settings, but previously I backed up the files he had on it.
All went good, BUT he, after the reset, asked for the SMS because he had important information and I backed up only contacts, files, and images, no SMS. My bad on that one.
Questions now:
1) Is it possible to use a computer with Windows 10 and software, like a recovery data one, to get back SMS, as long as those has not been overwritten after the reset, of course?, in case that IS possible, which software, free or paid, can someone recommend me to try out?, I understand there can be a small chance to get all SMS, but some can and is worth trying, just don't know what software to use, it seems there are a lot of scams out there in the wild of the internet.
2) If there is a chance, I'm thinking i would need to root the device in order to give the software in Windows connected to the Samsung using a USB cable, the rights to make a deep scan on the internal memory, to be able to get any results. I'm right on this one?.
If I'm right, what curse of action should I face?, I just want to root the device in order to give the software full rights, with no intention of install rooms or update the firmware or anything else. So, I would appreciate any recommendation about a simple a straightforward way to root the device.
I would really appreciate any help and information regarding these two questions, hope you all are doing great.
Kudos.
Hi everyone I had an unfortunate problem with my new Samsung Galaxy A72 and it is the following: Since I don't have a PC,
I can't get the phone into recovery mode for the moment to perform a "hard" reset and clean up the phone.
Is there a way to go into recovery without a PC or is it mandatory? Thanks to those who can give me an explanation.
If you are unrooted, the only way to reboot to recovery is with a PC. I think you can perform a hard reset within the settings in General management.
ShaDisNX255 said:
If you are unrooted, the only way to reboot to recovery is with a PC. I think you can perform a hard reset within the settings in General management.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply however, it is absurd that Samsung forces me to have a PC to do a Hard Reset since now I also do not have one.
They do everything to complicate life...you could do a soft reset from settings but it wasn't what i wanted.
Hello and thanks again for the explanation.
Il Gerry said:
Thanks for the reply however, it is absurd that Samsung forces me to have a PC to do a Hard Reset since now I also do not have one.
They do everything to complicate life...you could do a soft reset from settings but it wasn't what i wanted.
Hello and thanks again for the explanation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, Samsung does some questionable things and this is no exception.
By the way, the reset from settings is pretty much the same as if you did it from recovery since all it's going to do is delete the data partition without media (I think, can't remember). I believe when you do it from the settings, it reboots to recovery and wipes from there anyway so it's pretty much the same thing. I really don't know what you mean with a "hard" and "soft" reset though.
I would consider a "hard" reset as formatting not only data but also system and the rest of the partitions, which can only be done with either a custom recovery or doing it with Odin (which requires a PC)
ShaDisNX255 said:
You are correct, Samsung does some questionable things and this is no exception.
By the way, the reset from settings is pretty much the same as if you did it from recovery since all it's going to do is delete the data partition without media (I think, can't remember). I believe when you do it from the settings, it reboots to recovery and wipes from there anyway so it's pretty much the same thing. I really don't know what you mean with a "hard" and "soft" reset though.
I would consider a "hard" reset as formatting not only data but also system and the rest of the partitions, which can only be done with either a custom recovery or doing it with Odin (which requires a PC)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello thanks for the reply.
If I remember correctly the soft reset from settings ago (reset or reset settings), hard reset instead from stock recovery
wipe cache and data and dalvik ... I think
And having no PC for now I will do the one from settings, too bad, but this samsung puts a lot of difficulties every year,
worse then it will also be the fault of Android 11 I don't know.