Develop Bugs

What files can be safely deleted in the HTC Desire Root folder?

I've been looking at the root folder using Astro and there are several files/folders. Can any be deleted, without causing any problem? I'm running out of space and am hoping some are just temporary files etc...
For example I've spotted the APK files are in \system\app. I never use the Peep or Teeter apps. Can I safely delete their APK files?
Thanks
p.s - I am using an unrooted HTC Desire.

bradavon said:
I've been looking at the root folder using Astro and there are several files/folders. Can any be deleted, without causing any problem? I'm running out of space and am hoping some are just temporary files etc...
For example I've spotted the APK files are in \system\app. I never use the Peep or Teeter apps. Can I safely delete their APK files?
Thanks
p.s - I am using an unrooted HTC Desire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you cant delete them using astro, we only have write access to /system in recovery, use adb in recovery to delete them
edit, without root you cant delete anything lol

bradavon said:
For example I've spotted the APK files are in \system\app. I never use the Peep or Teeter apps. Can I safely delete their APK files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In addition, deleting anything from /system won't actually gain you any more space for applications anyway due to the way that the filesystems are partitioned.
Regards,
Dave

Thanks guys. I take it you mean we've got write but not modify access to the \system folder? So we can write to existing files but not delete them.
I wasn't just asking about \system though but any files/folders in the Root folder. Are there any at all, that can be safely deleted? Or are you saying you cannot delete a thing without rooting?
Not that it sounds like it will make any difference, due to partitioning.
Thanks

Ok to put it as simple as possible:
- no you cant pretty much delete a thing apart from sd without root
- we cant do anything in the system partition while the system is booted due to the nand protection
- we can modify /system while in recovery (using adb)
- when you are running out of space it is on the /data partition, which have a fixed size so deleting from /system or anything else won't help
And at last my advice to you is to go root and install a2sd easy as pie and i've never had space problems since.

Thanks for the informative reply mortenmhp

I have just rooted my 2.1 Desire, trying to remove two of the mms.apk and one other mms file in the /system folder so I can install a different mms.apk, however when I try to do it, it says I dont have the proper permissions. Its rooted, I see the Super User icon in applications.
Any suggestions?

Please read a little before asking questions. It is commonly known, that we dont have full root access on the desire yet.
Due to the nand protection you cant edit the system partition while the system is bootet. You have to use a custom recovery image either via fakeflash or installed by unrevoked. Then you can edit the system partition by using adb commands.
Edit: which i also stated quite clearly 2 posts above yours several months ago

Is A2SD better than the Android 2.2 implementation? Which as far as I can tell just moves the APK (not apps/data) to the SD Card.
Thanks.

Well it is kinda off topic here but in my opinion yes it is better. I'm running a2sd+ atm. and you can make it move /data/data as well.
In froyo there have been some complications though when remountingSD after using it as mass storage. But you can read more about that elsewhere(i would provide a link but I'm writing from my phone)
So the conclusion must be that it is down to personal preferences

Thanks because the official implementation is something of a cop out. On WM you could run the entire App/Data etc... on an SD card.

How to Format the SD card storage Partition

Using the latest Axiom ROM I ran into a problem where I can't download into the 'Download' folder of the SD card. It's the default location for the stock browser to download into.
I can pick the save location easily with the opera browser, but don't know how with the stock browser.
Anyway it seems that somehow with the last Axiom flash a new folder also named "download" was created on my SD card.
One is spelled 'download' and one is spelled 'Download'. One is empty and one has weird contents that isn't readable by most file file managers. That one is actually my original one.
I can't delete either one, and I can't download programs into 'download' from the stock Browser. (did manage to delete both with Root Explorer, the original remerged, contacts intact, upon a reboot)
So I want to format my SD card partition.
I tried Clockwork partition SD card. and it didn't work.
I tried resetting all user data from within the Android OS and it didn't do anything to the SD card partition either.
I'm looking for the ADB command to do it.
I found a command to do it on the Hero, G2 touch. It's :
First, on your phone, go into Home -> Settings -> SD card & phone storage, then click on "Unmount SD card"
Then, in your shell, do the following.
Code:
adb shell
mkfs.vfat /dev/block//vold/179:1
Looking for a similar command for the Galaxy Nexus. Thanks.

so you cant use root explorer to rename the one folder to match...or delete one?

droidstyle said:
so you cant use root explorer to rename the one folder to match...or delete one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, root explorer shows one empty file, and the original 'download' is shown as a systems file or whatever is designated by a piece of paper with a yellow shield with a star in the lower left corner. But root explorer can't open any of the contents using any of the options from 'Text Viewer' through 'Rar Viewer'.
I just deleted both of those folders using Root Explorer.
But then I still couldn't save from the stock browser. 'Download failed'.
Then I rebooted and the original 'Download' folder was present with all previous contents intact. I was able to successfully download to it.
Which leaves the original question.
How do you format the SD card partition?

If you don't care about your user data you could lock the bootloader and then unlock it again.

go to the android revolution hd thread and look up the "super wipe" scripts. There is a full and lite version. Although it appears the full version is not yet released. The difference is the full version wipes data/media folder(Virtual sd card).

Izord said:
Thanks maybe answer it and move it out of here.
Or just move it out of here so it will be ignored and never answered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why you are so negative about the Q/A section.. I personally go through it multiple times a day and try to answer everything I can.. if you want to delete it then relock and unlock your boot loader. That would be the easiest.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

droidstyle said:
go to the android revolution hd thread and look up the "super wipe" scripts. There is a full and lite version. Although it appears the full version is not yet released. The difference is the full version wipes data/media folder(Virtual sd card).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes as droidstyle said there isn't any SD "partition" in our GN. The /sdcard/ is actually a link to /data/media, means that they are in the same partition and the storage are being shared. So it is not possible to "format" the SD "partition".
Do not try the old methods, it is not a 179:1 device.

sorry to bring up a dead thread, but if i do the lock/unlock trick while running a custom rom, am i going to be able to boot the phone back up? Will i need to have Android SDK ready to go so i can flash CWM and flash a rom?
thanks

the browser is your download problem
YEAH YEAH i know....... not for questions and answers but what can i say im a postaholic (sorry bout that)
This kid cant download because he is using the stock browser.
If he were to use dolphin or maybe even firefox he would be able to download .
Okay im done posting in the wrong place now
sorry just wanted to help:highfive:
XDA RULEZ

I think there is one option in CWM. Format Storage

joshnichols189 said:
Not sure why you are so negative about the Q/A section.. I personally go through it multiple times a day and try to answer everything I can.. if you want to delete it then relock and unlock your boot loader. That would be the easiest.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easiest procedure, no need to relock/unlock bootloader:
- 'fastboot erase userdata'
the_kwa said:
sorry to bring up a dead thread, but if i do the lock/unlock trick while running a custom rom, am i going to be able to boot the phone back up?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kinda obvious, since all you're doing is relocking the bootloader. Even when unlocking, only thing fastboot does is erase userdata and unlocking the bootloader itself. It doesn't touch /system, boot.img (the rom itself).

Izord said:
Using the latest Axiom ROM I ran into a problem where I can't download into the 'Download' folder of the SD card. It's the default location for the stock browser to download into.
I can pick the save location easily with the opera browser, but don't know how with the stock browser.
Anyway it seems that somehow with the last Axiom flash a new folder also named "download" was created on my SD card.
One is spelled 'download' and one is spelled 'Download'. One is empty and one has weird contents that isn't readable by most file file managers. That one is actually my original one.
I can't delete either one, and I can't download programs into 'download' from the stock Browser. (did manage to delete both with Root Explorer, the original remerged, contacts intact, upon a reboot)
So I want to format my SD card partition.
I tried Clockwork partition SD card. and it didn't work.
I tried resetting all user data from within the Android OS and it didn't do anything to the SD card partition either.
I'm looking for the ADB command to do it.
I found a command to do it on the Hero, G2 touch. It's :
First, on your phone, go into Home -> Settings -> SD card & phone storage, then click on "Unmount SD card"
Then, in your shell, do the following.
Code:
adb shell
mkfs.vfat /dev/block//vold/179:1
Looking for a similar command for the Galaxy Nexus. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sdcard is a virtual card and is located in the data/media folder. You can use something like root explorer and make any necessary changes there and they will be in sdcard.

[Q] Backup one galaxy nexus to another?

Hi all:
I got a new galaxy nexus that i'd like to use as my main phone, but I don't want to go through the trouble of setting it up again, my current gnex is just perfectly setup. They both have the same version of android (4.0.4).
I was going to to a clockwork mod backup of the current phone, move it to the new phone and restore there, but I think I'll mess up the IMEI if I do that?
What additional steps do I need to carry out to preserve the phone's IMEI?
Thanks in advance.

pcbroch said:
Hi all:
I got a new galaxy nexus that i'd like to use as my main phone, but I don't want to go through the trouble of setting it up again, my current gnex is just perfectly setup. They both have the same version of android (4.0.4).
I was going to to a clockwork mod backup of the current phone, move it to the new phone and restore there, but I think I'll mess up the IMEI if I do that?
What additional steps do I need to carry out to preserve the phone's IMEI?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If both have absolutely the same ROM, restore just the data backup, not the system backup, and you should be fine.

You can copy the IMEI on the original nexus to the other? Wouldnt that be best?
Is so follow these steps (it may look much, but i dont think it would take long if u want to keep your original imei number!
You must have:
-Root
-Root explorer for copying files to and from EFS folder
-Android SDK for the ADB tools or Terminal in your phone.
IMEI is stored in ".nv_data" file in ORIGINAL SHIPPED EFS folder too, so you just have to do these:
1) make a copy of your EFS folder to your sdcard using root explorer and then make a backup of the folder to your computer [ to have another copy if you had to format sd card sometime ]
2) delete the EFS folder (BE SURE YOU HAVE BACKED IT UP IN A SAFE PLACE AS SAID IN STEP 1) from the root of your phone using root explorer.
3) reset the phone, after that, go to the root, and you can see that the EFS folder is still there, don't make any mistake, this EFS folder is new and generated by the android OS.
4) go to EFS folder using root explorer, and delete "nv_data.bin", "nv_data.bin.md5".
5) go to your backed up EFS folder on your sdcard, copy the "imei" folder to the EFS folder at the root of your phone, then again go to the backed up EFS folder at yout sdcard and copy the " .nv_data " file to your EFS folder at the root of your phone using root explorer, NOTE: the dot in first of nv_data is not a mistake, copy the ".nv_data" file.
6) make another copy of the ".nv_data" file in EFS folder in your phone, so you would have 2 copies of ".nv_data" in EFS folder
7) rename one of ".nv_data" files to "nv_data.bin" and another one to "nv_data.bin.bak"
8) at your PC open CMD at the ADB tool path, or run Terminal at your phone enter these commands:
adb shell ( use this command of you use ADB, if you're using terminal, skip this line )
su ( ALLOW THE MESSAGE CAME AT YOUR PHONE's DISPLAY BY SUPERUSER PROGRAM )
chown 1001:radio /efs/nv_data.bin
9) reset your phone.... after that you have your original IMEI. you can check your IMEI by dialing *#06#.
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

HinotoriBR said:
If both have absolutely the same ROM, restore just the data backup, not the system backup, and you should be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work, my IMEI gets clobbered to some generic IMEI when I do this.
Off to trying try sikiduck's suggestion.

Sikiduck said:
IMEI is stored in ".nv_data" file in ORIGINAL SHIPPED EFS folder too, so you just have to do these
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stupid question... there is no efs folder. Do you mean /factory? There are nv_data files in /data/radio as well.
I'll play with these a bit and see.

You got root?

Sikiduck said:
You got root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I do. I tried playing with the nv_data files, but I can't get the original IMEI to come back no matter what I do.

[Q] Another "sdcard\0" thread..

Soo, I know there's a lot of these threads around, but I can't find the answer I'm looking for. I'm wondering: After I flashed 4.2 I got this extra "0" folder on my internal sdcarrd. Can I just cut/paste the content of the "0" folder back to the original sdcard root? or will this have a negative effect on the storage?
Regards.

olfyboy said:
Soo, I know there's a lot of these threads around, but I can't find the answer I'm looking for. I'm wondering: After I flashed 4.2 I got this extra "0" folder on my internal sdcarrd. Can I just cut/paste the content of the "0" folder back to the original sdcard root? or will this have a negative effect on the storage?
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this issue earlier so i moved everything back to the root folder and deleted "0". If you are planning on flashing a few 4.2 roms i suggest you use the latest TWRP recovery or wait for the updated clockwork recovery because everytime you flash 4.2 roms they automatically create a 0 partition so you will end up with 0/0/0 etc depending on how many you flash

K, thanks!
I think I'll just copy the content of the "\0" folder back to the root, and stick with the ROM I'm on now. Then I'll update CWM when an update is released.

Aaargh.. I'm getting kinda pissed now..
When I try to copy the sd-content back to the root, it says that the device has stopped responding, or isn't connected. Can you tell me what is the standard root folder for the sd-content?

After installing a previous backup the was still a 0 folder so I copied all of the files to the root folder however it made the pictures unable to view
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

I've tried several methods to move my clockworkmod folder out of the "0" folder to the sdcard "root" to no avail.
I'm currently backing up everything from "0" to my desktop. Once that's done, how can I push the clockworkmod folder to the sdcard "root"?

daewond3r said:
I've tried several methods to move my clockworkmod folder out of the "0" folder to the sdcard "root" to no avail.
I'm currently backing up everything from "0" to my desktop. Once that's done, how can I push the clockworkmod folder to the sdcard "root"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like there are some problems copying big folders over to the root. Try to first copy the CWM folder from your PC into some folder on the sd-root. Then, from your phone, open up a file explorer and copy the CWM folder to the root. Pretty weird, but it looks like it's working for me..
Edit: Yupp! worked for me. Hope you'll sort it out aswell.

olfyboy said:
Seems like there are some problems copying big folders over to the root. Try to first copy the CWM folder from your PC into some folder on the sd-root. Then, from your phone, open up a file explorer and copy the CWM folder to the root. Pretty weird, but it looks like it's working for me..
Edit: Yupp! worked for me. Hope you'll sort it out aswell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help!
What file explorer did you use? Every one that I've used takes me directly to the "0" folder when I hit "sdcard" thus I can't seem to paste the clockworkmod folder into sdcard root.

daewond3r said:
Thanks for the help!
What file explorer did you use? Every one that I've used takes me directly to the "0" folder when I hit "sdcard" thus I can't seem to paste the clockworkmod folder into sdcard root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
move it to /data/media
---------- Post added at 12:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 AM ----------
here's how it works
before the virtual link to /sdcard was /data/media
cwm was writing under /data/media so cwm folder would show up under /sdcard as well
now the virtual link to /sdcard is /data/media/0
that's because of multiuser (even if multiuser is not working on phones)
cwm is still wriyinb to /data/media so cwm golder eoll mot show up under /sdcard
solutions
1. to copy cwm foldrr on pc: move cwm folder from /data/media to /data/media/0 that is to /sdcard then attach phone to pc and copy folder from sdcard
2. to restore from a backup on your vomputer: attach phone to pc, create cwm folder on sdcard andcopy h erebackup folis, copy cwm foldef from /data/media/0 into /dara/media
it is normal to have a /data/media/0 which means /sdcsrd
it is not normal to have /data/media/0/0 which means /sdcard/0
the latter happens on your second installation etc.

daewond3r said:
Thanks for the help!
What file explorer did you use? Every one that I've used takes me directly to the "0" folder when I hit "sdcard" thus I can't seem to paste the clockworkmod folder into sdcard root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used solid explorer beta2. You'll find it on google play
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I haven't updated to 4.2 yet because of this sdcard/0 issue I'm reading about
I don't care much about what's on my SD card besides my Nandroid backups so the only thing for me is: can I restore a backup from CWM if I move the "clockworkmod" folder from sdcard/0 back to the root of the SD card?
I assume there's no other adverse effects of all our files and stuff being on sdcard/0 instead of just sdcard root?

Enhanced said:
I haven't updated to 4.2 yet because of this sdcard/0 issue I'm reading about
I don't care much about what's on my SD card besides my Nandroid backups so the only thing for me is: can I restore a backup from CWM if I move the "clockworkmod" folder from sdcard/0 back to the root of the SD card?
I assume there's no other adverse effects of all our files and stuff being on sdcard/0 instead of just sdcard root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
read my commeny above: yes, although cumbersone, yes

I'm thinking this is the appropriate thread to post this so here I go. I flashed the newly released 4.2 rooted stock image and there were a few problems :
1. I forgot to delete the cache/dalvik cache, which created a bootloop and completely messed up my device, and I had to wipe/factory data reset from the recovery to fix it (in which case I had to lose almost all of my data)
2. I accidently overwrote an existing nandroid backup of the previous (CM 10 stable) ROM I had made to restore just in case anything happens, so I was out of options to restore my nexus to a working state. I finally had to use the crashed ROM's nandroid backup using an advanced recovery so I had my photos, videos etc intact. I got it finally working but anyways,
3. I restored my apps+data using titanium backup. I wanted to go back to my CM10 backup which I had made using ROM manager and it was still present with the rest of my data. But when I selected the backup which made, the device restarted and gave me an error stating "SD CARD MARKER NOT FOUND" :crying:
Now I'm unable to restore or even make a new backup with ROM manager. And to add, I have like three folders for storage using up too much space on my sdcard :
1. root/sdcard - I have no idea where this came from but it sure has an awful lot of my files copied there
2. root/storage/sdcard0
3. root/storage/emulated - has two subfolders : 0, legacy
All of the above locations contain the same exact files and I just want my nexus back the way it was. I know I can flash CM10 right away but I just wanna get some help on how to delete and make changes to these added folders by properly moving the files without crashing the os.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I am having this issue as well and am very very annoyed. Please help. Thanks. I cannot get into recovery manually or otherwise. Keep getting Andy with the red exclamation mark in his chest and must remove battery to reboot.

Fu#k rom manager and CWM use TWRP an rom toolbox pro an you will be fine on 4.2 JB.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Update: got it working.. had to flash back cm10 stable, move files around and get back the old ROM manager backup and restore it. Its fine now. Not to mention the 4.2 ROM was pretty unstable on my nexus, causing several reboots and sometimes it froze (especially when I connected it to my desktop) and I had to remove the battery and put it back in to get it working. Moreover the 4.2 rom screwed up the file system, making my nexus' SD card unreadable on any desktop. It just wouldn't install the drivers whatsoever. I'd wait for cm10.1 than try any other custom 4.2 from now on.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

daewond3r said:
Thanks for the help!
What file explorer did you use? Every one that I've used takes me directly to the "0" folder when I hit "sdcard" thus I can't seem to paste the clockworkmod folder into sdcard root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can download Root Browser Lite from play store, which gives you complete access to the root of your phone and internal files such as system/.

See root files from pc

Am I the only one who can't figure out how to view and or copy some files from the phone to my pc? Example, I created two zip files on my phone to be copied off for backup. TWRP.zip and Titanium backup.zip but neither is visible when connected from my pc. Chmod and chown also fails through root explorer or terminal. I'm feeling retarded right now...

Where are those zip files located? Somewhere in your root storage or on your sdcard/internal storage?
If it's the latter, try using adb commands to transfer the files to your PC
Or you can use this app called "Handshaker" and see if the files are visible there

CyberpodS2 said:
Am I the only one who can't figure out how to view and or copy some files from the phone to my pc? Example, I created two zip files on my phone to be copied off for backup. TWRP.zip and Titanium backup.zip but neither is visible when connected from my pc. Chmod and chown also fails through root explorer or terminal. I'm feeling retarded right now...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you created zip files in root explorer, did you look in...storage/emulated/0/SpeedSoftware/archives
If yes, then move them to a folder you've already created. Much easier to find that way ?

Yeah I can see the zip files fine on the phone, and I can see most all files from the PC. I created the zip files right in the root of sdcard which is the same as the root of internal shared storage from the PC. I can even browse both the folders TWRP and Titanium backup from Windows Explorer. I even copied the files to a different dir. I'm thinking they being owned by root is the issue. Going to keep plugging. And try the app suggested.

The issue was not here on the 6P. I just zipped up those two dirs and copied them to the pc. Can't copy twrp cause of file names that piss off Windows and tibu has way too may files. Anyway, going to look into the adb thing but if the files are not visible then ???
Also. Thought about otg but the phone insists on formatting the cards as fat32 which have a 2 gig limit lol

Badger50 said:
If you created zip files in root explorer, did you look in...storage/emulated/0/SpeedSoftware/archives
If yes, then move them to a folder you've already created. Much easier to find that way ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh one more thing, root explorer ain't working for me. Lol was using jrummy root browser. My bad for the initial problem statement.

CyberpodS2 said:
Heh one more thing, root explorer ain't working for me. Lol was using jrummy root browser. My bad for the initial problem statement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meh...no biggie bruh. Sorry RE doesn't work. Kinda strange though. It's worked great for me on any rom thus far. Unless it's a f2fs thing? ?

Badger50 said:
Meh...no biggie bruh. Sorry RE doesn't work. Kinda strange though. It's worked great for me on any rom thus far. Unless it's a f2fs thing? ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So how do you back up for TWRP and tibu if you are doing a complete wipe?

CyberpodS2 said:
So how do you back up for TWRP and tibu if you are doing a complete wipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Set lock screen to swipe. Uninstall all theme overlays. Do my TiBu backup, and save it to my pc. Go to twrp and backup boot, system, and data, and let it rip. Then I save that backup to the pc. Then if I'm installing a new rom, I just do the twrp factory reset thing. I don't wipe system anymore since that seems to foul things up. Which, I still don't quite understand since that was SOP on the 6p ??