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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.
So I did something I knew better than to do, but after weeks of dealing with it, got annoyed and accepted it. There was a system update that came through a few weeks ago, pops up every ten minutes or so. Rooted and Freegee'd so I figured it was not in my best interest to accept this update. I tried to freeze it with Titanium, but that program for some reason constantly failed to load things, froze up, etc., even after reinstalls. Well, today, I decided to be dumb and said hell, let's see what happens. Hit "install now", phone rebooted into CWM, CWM asks if I wanted to accept this update, I said yes, gave me the broken android with the red triangle with a ! in the middle and said it failed. I selected reboot system now, it will only boot into recovery. I have two backups, neither of which CWM will load...ridiculous. Says MD5 mismatch, no idea what that means. Regardless, backups don't work. So, my question now is can I simply do a data wipe/factory reset or must I do an LGNPST? Also, will a data wipe/factory reset remove root and CWM? Because currently I have no reason for my phone to be rooted and unlocked, and CWM doesn't seem to function correctly anyways for me. I need a quick response please!
Look in general, there is a thread on how to recover from such things.
Cool. I'll see if I can figure it out. Thanks Chad.
Unbricked. It removed root and unlock, which from what I was reading, I didn't think it would do. Is it safe to update now? lol.
Alright, I'll lay out what happened. My end goal is to just have a rooted tab, but at this point, I'd be willing to just have it back to how it was. Preferably without losing everything on it.
-Looked around on how to root it, and found the following, and use the files it suggested.
- Seemed easy enough, and I had rooted/installed android on my old HP Touchpad, so I dl'd the files, and gave it a shot.
- Couldn't get CWM recovery on it, so I ran verify root and it said it wasn't rooted, even though I has SuperSU. It would even ask to grant apps permission, and I'd grant it.
- I opened SuperSU, and it'd say it needed to update the binaries, but would fail on normal, so I dl'd the newest zip, booted into recovery, and tried to load it like that, but 2 lines would come up red. I think they were just verifying signatures, so I ignored it and let it reboot.
- I opened SuperSU again, and it still said it needed the binaries updated, failed on normal attempt. I decided to try again from scratch, unrooting it and all. So, I went into the SuperSU settings and did it's thing, but it still had the version of SuperSU that initially was on it (it wouldn't let me past the "update binaries" prompt).
- I found that I needed to use Odin to flash a stock firmware back on it, and dl'd both version here.
- I tried the first one, and then it wouldn't get past the "Samsung" screen (the 2nd one with just the word Samsung, if it matters).
- I can still boot into Odin and Recovery, thankfully, so I tried the 2nd stock firmware. Same issue.
- Finally, I tried the rooting process again, hoping to get it to boot, same thing. So, I tried the 2nd stock firmware again, praying something good would happen, and still stuck on the Samsung screen.
I can still boot into Odin and recovery, but I have no idea where to go from here. I still want it rooted if possible, and I'd prefer not to lose all my games and such. I just found "[ROOT][RECOVERY] [ALL IN ONE] Cf-Autoroot-twrp-T800-T805-T-700-T705" thread here, but I didn't want to try it just yet.
It's a SM-T800. I had Lollipop on it. Don't know much else to add, but please help!
Thanks all.
Cypher5235 said:
Alright, I'll lay out what happened. My end goal is to just have a rooted tab, but at this point, I'd be willing to just have it back to how it was. Preferably without losing everything on it.
-Looked around on how to root it, and found the following, and use the files it suggested.
- Seemed easy enough, and I had rooted/installed android on my old HP Touchpad, so I dl'd the files, and gave it a shot.
- Couldn't get CWM recovery on it, so I ran verify root and it said it wasn't rooted, even though I has SuperSU. It would even ask to grant apps permission, and I'd grant it.
- I opened SuperSU, and it'd say it needed to update the binaries, but would fail on normal, so I dl'd the newest zip, booted into recovery, and tried to load it like that, but 2 lines would come up red. I think they were just verifying signatures, so I ignored it and let it reboot.
- I opened SuperSU again, and it still said it needed the binaries updated, failed on normal attempt. I decided to try again from scratch, unrooting it and all. So, I went into the SuperSU settings and did it's thing, but it still had the version of SuperSU that initially was on it (it wouldn't let me past the "update binaries" prompt).
- I found that I needed to use Odin to flash a stock firmware back on it, and dl'd both version here.
- I tried the first one, and then it wouldn't get past the "Samsung" screen (the 2nd one with just the word Samsung, if it matters).
- I can still boot into Odin and Recovery, thankfully, so I tried the 2nd stock firmware. Same issue.
- Finally, I tried the rooting process again, hoping to get it to boot, same thing. So, I tried the 2nd stock firmware again, praying something good would happen, and still stuck on the Samsung screen.
I can still boot into Odin and recovery, but I have no idea where to go from here. I still want it rooted if possible, and I'd prefer not to lose all my games and such. I just found "[ROOT][RECOVERY] [ALL IN ONE] Cf-Autoroot-twrp-T800-T805-T-700-T705" thread here, but I didn't want to try it just yet.
It's a SM-T800. I had Lollipop on it. Don't know much else to add, but please help!
Thanks all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... you said you just updated to lollipop, but in order to not stay stuck at splash screen, you have to factory reset. I saw that you don't want to lose your games and such so you probably only have one option. That option is to flash twrp and make a nandroid of your data. Simply boot into download mode, download the twrp .tar http://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxytabs105.html
And now go into Odin, untick autoreboot, now hit the pda/AP button and pick the twrp tar. Hit start and let it do its thing. Now after its done flashing, your gonna have to force reboot. Simply hold power+volume up and down+home button all at the same time. Wait a bit and when the screen turns black, quickly press power+volume up+ home buttons all at the same time and it should boot into twrp.
Now in twrp, hit backup and hit backup data. Hopefully that should save your apps installed. Now after its done, go into wipe and silde factory reset. It should remove installed apps from Google play store and it won't remove pictures and such. It just removes the apps you installed. Then now reboot and wait....
Hopefully this helped
-DUHA
As said you will have to factory reset, this will wipe data and cache.
You can use the link you posted above to install TWRP and root.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/development/root-cf-autoroot-twrp-t800-t3079488
Lollipop changes the data partition so even if you back it up and then restore it with twrp In kitkat it likely won't boot afterwards.
All you can do is wipe it and take the hit.
Alright, I have TWRP running. The size of my "data" is just over 16 gig, and my space on the sdcard is 14.9 gig, so I've been trying to delete data to knock it down. I still have 1.3 gig to go. Everything I'm deleting, in the data folder, is barely making an impact.
I see what you're saying that I probably won't be able to restore it and have it work, but I still will try. I can always factory reset it again later. Once I wipe it, though, and update back to lollipop, couldn't I restore that data backup?
I gotta take a break and knock out some real work, lol, then I'll continue, and update here. If nothing else, maybe it'll help some other poor soul like me in the future!
Once I have it booting all the way again, do I just use TWRP to install SuperSU and it's rooted? Thanks again. I appreciate it!
Not sure what youre trying to do here. Just wipe the data partition with twrp,
Sent from my SM-T805 using XDA Free mobile app
Ashyx, I was just trying to save my game data, while ending up with a rooted tab. And you were right, of course! I tried to restore the back up to no avail, haha....well, I wiped it again, and it booted up just fine, and it is rooted to boot. I can't believe it was that easy with TWRP to root it.
I'm betting this isn't going to work out, but is there anyway to extract my game data from that backup I made, and transfer just that back to my tablet? If it is possible, it'll probably be beyond my ability, I bet, but I'm just curious.
One other question. With TWRP, can I get Lollipop back on it? Or do I need something else on it first?
Now, it's off to figure out how to get my Impulse Controller to work with it so I can play my games with it!
Thanks for helping me out, regardless. I truly thought I had bricked my $600 tablet. My wife would've killed me for wasting that much money, lol!
There is an app called nandroid manager that will allow you to extract data from nandroids, you could extract your game data with that.
The better way would be to make a system and data backup of your current system, reflash lollipop then restore your lollipop data backup. Then back up your game data with titanium backup.
Restore your kitkat backup then restore your game data with tb.
I just got done taking the PG1 update and things were working fine except TitaniumBackup had the issue with the writing to SD Card. So I did some research and thought that I could modify the
Code:
/system/etc/permissions/platform.xml
, however when I rebooted the phone, I started getting the dreaded "NetworkSystemProvider" and "Google Play Services" stopped errors every few seconds. I have put the file back the way it was, rebooted, cleared cache & dalvik, but still I get the error. I really do NOT want to factory reset if I can help it.
It's frustrating even more-so because I generally run TitaniumBackups nightly and even TWRP backups pretty regularly too. I just hadn't gotten to one of the later, and ironically I was trying to fix the damn SD card write issue so that I could in fact do my TBs!! #FML
This seems like it should be something fixable no? I do have root and TWRP. I just can't find a good site that explains how to do it. I also tried to run the TWRP 'fix permissions' button too to no avail.
Can I just re-ODIN the PG1 or something worse case? And then re-root? ... without a factory reset I mean, so I keep my data and settings as they are?
I really don't understand how things go so jacked up from just changing an .xml file (and putting it back the way it was)??
Please help! Thanks!
Did you make a backup before you started modifying?
Did you try wiping cache and rebooting? Did you have a backup of the file you modified to restore? Check name and permissions?
If neither of the above help, factory reset and Odin again. Make a backup right after TWRP in case this happens again. Marshmallow is tricky and petty sometimes, unlike the earlier Android OS versions.
What you need is a PG1 modified services.jar for custom ROM. Don't recall seeing one shared for PG1. But there is a custom ROM in development forum.
Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk
Got a little too cocky with my limited knowledge of messing with androids, decided I wanted some nifty new locking sounds for my phone. Replaced the Lock and Unlock ogg files and wiped the dalvik, as the guide I was following said to do. It also said to fix permissions, but that was a vague statement and is most likely causing my problems. Anyway, now I can't download anything from the browser. I've tried stock/FF/Chrome/Dolphin and a few others, none work. I tried using the Download all files app and got a download failed (disk failure) error code. Not too worried if I have to factory reset, but wanted to try here to see if anyone could help before I nuke it.
Try flashing a stock rom from sammobile.com using Odin. After flashing, boot into recovery and wipe cache only, reboot, and see if the phone is back to normal. If not, a factory reset may be the only solution.
Listen to Audit13
CyrusKhane said:
Got a little too cocky with my limited knowledge of messing with androids, decided I wanted some nifty new locking sounds for my phone. Replaced the Lock and Unlock ogg files and wiped the dalvik, as the guide I was following said to do. It also said to fix permissions, but that was a vague statement and is most likely causing my problems. Anyway, now I can't download anything from the browser. I've tried stock/FF/Chrome/Dolphin and a few others, none work. I tried using the Download all files app and got a download failed (disk failure) error code. Not too worried if I have to factory reset, but wanted to try here to see if anyone could help before I nuke it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If all else fails, then STOCK ROM IS YOUR KEY TO PHONEAGE! Either go here and click on the most active post which will ultimately send you over to SamMobile. Just remember... be sure to flash the correct model number as stock firmware might damage the phone even more by being careless about choosing something which is not correct. Always check twice before getting your flash on!
CyrusKhane said:
Got a little too cocky with my limited knowledge of messing with androids, decided I wanted some nifty new locking sounds for my phone. Replaced the Lock and Unlock ogg files and wiped the dalvik, as the guide I was following said to do. It also said to fix permissions, but that was a vague statement and is most likely causing my problems. Anyway, now I can't download anything from the browser. I've tried stock/FF/Chrome/Dolphin and a few others, none work. I tried using the Download all files app and got a download failed (disk failure) error code. Not too worried if I have to factory reset, but wanted to try here to see if anyone could help before I nuke it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think there is an option actually called "fix permissions" in TWRP recovery under "Advanced"
Good luck!
If your phone is running a stock ROM, reflash the same ROM with Odin, wipe cache but not data and you should not lose anything.