Develop Bugs

[Q] Device rooted but cannot modify system files

Hi, I have had a kindle fire for quite some time now. It has been rooted etc as well. I used KFU/burritto root and flashed Modaco gr8. It is version 6.3.
I am trying to install go keyboard by transferring go-keyboard.apk to the system/app folder. In the past I have been able to do this. Now it wont let me. I tried ES File Explorer and File Expert. The device is 100% rooted as checked by KFU. Am i missing something.
Thanks in advance for the help.

yeah try mounting it read/write instead of read only I use root explorer it will ask for permission at first launch at the top theres an option to mount the system read/write

goondooloo said:
Hi, I have had a kindle fire for quite some time now. It has been rooted etc as well. I used KFU/burritto root and flashed Modaco gr8. It is version 6.3.
I am trying to install go keyboard by transferring go-keyboard.apk to the system/app folder. In the past I have been able to do this. Now it wont let me. I tried ES File Explorer and File Expert. The device is 100% rooted as checked by KFU. Am i missing something.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check if you have Superuser installed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Ya I forgot to mount read/write. I guess i'm a bit retarded. Thanks.

Help with swapping int mem and SD card

New to all this so proceeding slow and cautiously. Recently rooted my Acer A100 with ota ICS installed. When trying to swap SD card and internal memory using Crossix directions I ran into an error msg that I haven't seen posted by anyone. The only difference I can find is his directions recommend using Root Explorer and I am currently using Root Browser Lite. Anyway when I go to rename install-recovery.sh to .bak it says Root Browser Lite is granted Superuser access but the operation fails. I looked at the Permissions for the file and they are rwxr--r-- I tried to change the Permissions to rwxrwxrwx and got an error msg that said "Changing permissions was not successful. Please note that some file systems do not allow permission changes." Would using Root Explorer change anything? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Sounds like a root issue, try rebooting, opening superuser first then try.... unless you already put the file there and permissions aren't correct, that will brick you! If you already did force close super user. Remember if all else fails you can use Adb.
sent from your future.

apsiape said:
New to all this so proceeding slow and cautiously. Recently rooted my Acer A100 with ota ICS installed. When trying to swap SD card and internal memory using Crossix directions I ran into an error msg that I haven't seen posted by anyone. The only difference I can find is his directions recommend using Root Explorer and I am currently using Root Browser Lite. Anyway when I go to rename install-recovery.sh to .bak it says Root Browser Lite is granted Superuser access but the operation fails. I looked at the Permissions for the file and they are rwxr--r-- I tried to change the Permissions to rwxrwxrwx and got an error msg that said "Changing permissions was not successful. Please note that some file systems do not allow permission changes." Would using Root Explorer change anything? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check mount r/w while in /system.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

Thanks
Thanks. That did it. Was trying to change it in the etc folder but not under the system parent folder. You guys are great!!!

apsiape said:
Thanks. That did it. Was trying to change it in the etc folder but not under the system parent folder. You guys are great!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its because /system is a partition, not a directory, so you have to mount the partition r/w to get it in the folders and files on it.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.

Clockworkmod backup folder location?

So I feel like a noob, but here goes. Going into restore from recovery shows to backups I created. I can not find these folders from any explorer. I've checked all /clockworkmod/backup folders under /storage/ and they are all empty. I also tried searching for boot.img and gave up after a few mins, I also searched various responses on the net.. So where else could the backup folders be, i'm running a 4.2.1 rom.
Thanks

voidstab said:
So I feel like a noob, but here goes. Going into restore from recovery shows to backups I created. I can not find these folders from any explorer. I've checked all /clockworkmod/backup folders under /storage/ and they are all empty. I also tried searching for boot.img and gave up after a few mins, I also searched various responses on the net.. So where else could the backup folders be, i'm running a 4.2.1 rom.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should be under Storage/SDcard0

BWolf56 said:
Should be under Storage/SDcard0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using v6.0.2.3 could it be a version issue and the backups are not actually created...
Recovery still shows two folders and shows the location as /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/ and ES file explorer shows that folder as empty.

So I don't think it is working. I let a search from root finish for 1970-03-02.03.38.38 which is showing in recovery and it found nothing. I'm curious why recovery is showing these folders, does it keep a list of backups in a file somewhere.

Figured it out. Right in ROM manager it states, In Android 4.2 backups are placed in secure directory, inaccessible to other apps.
So anyways..
*edit*
If anybody else happens across this, if you enable root explorer the secure folder where the backups are can be accessed.
In my defense I didn't have rom manager installed...

voidstab said:
Figured it out. Right in ROM manager it states, In Android 4.2 backups are placed in secure directory, inaccessible to other apps.
So anyways..
*edit*
If anybody else happens across this, if you enable root explorer the secure folder where the backups are can be accessed.
In my defense I didn't have rom manager installed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I took for granted that you knew more about root explorer, my bad.
As for ROM Manager, please unistall it. It will only cause problems.

use "ES Filexplorer" and enable hidden files in the settings menu. Then go to the root folder in ES and look for a folder called mnt and you will find it in there
I know its an old thread but took me a while to figure out.

muks11 said:
use "ES Filexplorer" and enable hidden files in the settings menu. Then go to the root folder in ES and look for a folder called mnt and you will find it in there
I know its an old thread but took me a while to figure out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted to delete the folder from root browser, apparently it deleted, but the folder remained there. So what I did is quite simply, open up a terminal, su, then rm -fr /mnt/whereclockworkfolderis, and that's it.

You can find here:
\storage\emulates\clockworkmod\backup
voidstab said:
I'm using v6.0.2.3 could it be a version issue and the backups are not actually created...
Recovery still shows two folders and shows the location as /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/ and ES file explorer shows that folder as empty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Doing a search w/ Root Explorer I finally found it here on my Galaxy Nexus on VZW (toro) running CM 10.1:
/mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup

Plesk8 said:
Doing a search w/ Root Explorer I finally found it here on my Galaxy Nexus on VZW (toro) running CM 10.1:
/mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. With ES Explorer and turning on "Root Explorer" in the Tools menu in Settings, I was able to see /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/<mybackup>
I just backed up my AT&T Galaxy Note 2 running CM 10.1.3 Android 4.2.2 and was unable to find it until I saw this thread.
Thanks,
Dennis

dperique said:
Yes. With ES Explorer and turning on "Root Explorer" in the Tools menu in Settings, I was able to see /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/<mybackup>
I just backed up my AT&T Galaxy Note 2 running CM 10.1.3 Android 4.2.2 and was unable to find it until I saw this thread.
Thanks,
Dennis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mee to!

how to put back the backup to phone?
someone knows how to put this backup back to the phone? because it is not a .zip
it is like:
aaaa.tar.a
bbbb.zip
cccc.log
dddd.md5
eeee.img
so when I whant to put it back with clockworkmood - wich file should I select and it will knows to reupload ALL?
thx,
Laurentiu

thx
Plesk8 said:
Doing a search w/ Root Explorer I finally found it here on my Galaxy Nexus on VZW (toro) running CM 10.1:
/mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you very much, i find i want.:good:

Date of file creation?
voidstab said:
So I don't think it is working. I let a search from root finish for 1970-03-02.03.38.38 which is showing in recovery and it found nothing. I'm curious why recovery is showing these folders, does it keep a list of backups in a file somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now this one just makes me wonder. I was cleaning out some files and of course I ran across this one. I have, actually two backup files. Im deleting the older, however I noticed something odd and pulled up properties of the file. I have no idea as to why it says the file was created in 1969 or as it says 1970 in the file. Is this some possible issue?

Casper Young said:
I have no idea as to why it says the file was created in 1969 or as it says 1970 in the file. Is this some possible issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. When you reset a phone, it doesn't have the correct time. it's like replacing the battery of your bed alarm clock. So when you create a file, it will use this date.

Unrational!
nehc_rm said:
No. When you reset a phone, it doesn't have the correct time. it's like replacing the battery of your bed alarm clock. So when you create a file, it will use this date.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's even more odd. You think that if it didn't know the correct time or date, it would probably reset to 2000. But 1969, 1970? Weren't PCs way back then, so where's this very odd number coming from? A Grand-Father Clock? There was a period that many PCs weren't ready for when the time came. The turn of the century, when 1999 went to 2000, it was a numerical difficulty with Computers. Kind of makes what you are saying difficult to believe shall I say. It's a really odd number to reset to.

Casper Young said:
Well that's even more odd. You think that if it didn't know the correct time or date, it would probably reset to 2000. But 1969, 1970? Weren't PCs way back then, so where's this very odd number coming from? A Grand-Father Clock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Early computers were made after the WWII, mostly used by government. It's not an random date/time. Every computer use unix time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_time

U.S.S.N. Pegasus RCVN
Capitans log, Stardate 72221.6. We was flying in the sector containing the XDA Neutral zone when suddenly killer confectionaries were all about. Abandon Shi.... Ker-Peeewf! Q? Where did you come from?

Workaround to write to Ext SDCARD?

I just switched from my M7 to the M8 yesterday. I was excited to have the external SD for saving pictures, moving apps, but mostly to host my backups. I have since unlocked my bootloader and rooted the device. Unfortunately I'm unable to write any back ups through TWRP to the card. I was wondering if anyone found any fixes? I've already tried SDFix but it seems not to work with our device. Any help would be appreciated!
Sidenote: I know this probably belongs under development but I'm unable to post yet as my post count is too low. Thanks again!

iNiREALiZED said:
I just switched from my M7 to the M8 yesterday. I was excited to have the external SD for saving pictures, moving apps, but mostly to host my backups. I have since unlocked my bootloader and rooted the device. Unfortunately I'm unable to write any back ups through TWRP to the card. I was wondering if anyone found any fixes? I've already tried SDFix but it seems not to work with our device. Any help would be appreciated!
Sidenote: I know this probably belongs under development but I'm unable to post yet as my post count is too low. Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will need to edit platform.xml file in/system/etc. Are you comfortable ?

I'm not sure. If there was a tutorial that was available I could possibly follow it. Otherwise is this something that could be included in future rom builds? I wouldn't mind waiting.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using xda app-developers app

iNiREALiZED said:
I'm not sure. If there was a tutorial that was available I could possibly follow it. Otherwise is this something that could be included in future rom builds? I wouldn't mind waiting.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look for nextapp's SDFix in the play store.. Root and system write protection off is required. It basically edits the file for you (also backs up the original)

silentvisitor said:
You will need to edit platform.xml file in/system/etc. Are you comfortable ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you detail the edits for reference anyway please? I'll need to know shortly too.

graffixnyc said:
Look for nextapp's SDFix in the play store.. Root and system write protection off is required. It basically edits the file for you (also backs up the original)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app worked for me!

graffixnyc said:
Look for nextapp's SDFix in the play store.. Root and system write protection off is required. It basically edits the file for you (also backs up the original)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help. I tried sdfix this morning. It kept failing and rebooting. I'm rooted but if you could explain how I turn write protection off that would be awesome!

iNiREALiZED said:
Thanks for the help. I tried sdfix this morning. It kept failing and rebooting. I'm rooted but if you could explain how I turn write protection off that would be awesome!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the quick way? go to the module thread in Original development and follow the instructions. You'll have to do it at every boot though unless you're on a rom that supports init.d support. If you're on stock I made a guide to disable it on boot automatically without init.d support
My guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2702575

graffixnyc said:
the quick way? go to the module thread in Original development and follow the instructions. You'll have to do it at every boot though unless you're on a rom that supports init.d support. If you're on stock I made a guide to disable it on boot automatically without init.d support
My guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2702575
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if I'm missing something totally obvious. I went and read the thread. I download the file with extension .ko. Copied it to root of internal memory. Opened up terminal app and typed "sh" then used command "insmod /storage/sdcard0/wp_mod.ko"
Am I missing something?

iNiREALiZED said:
Sorry if I'm missing something totally obvious. I went and read the thread. I download the file with extension .ko. Copied it to root of internal memory. Opened up terminal app and typed "sh" then used command "insmod /storage/sdcard0/wp_mod.ko"
Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
su
not sh..
type su
hit enter
then type
insmod /storage/sdcard0/wp_mod.ko it wont show you any output or anything.. if it brings your back to the terminal prompt it ran right

graffixnyc said:
su
not sh..
type su
hit enter
then type
insmod /storage/sdcard0/wp_mod.ko it wont show you any output or anything.. if it brings your back to the terminal prompt it ran right
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried it again using "su". I'm pretty sure that is what I used the first time as well because when I entered the command the super user prompt came up to allow access for terminal. Same results. Didn't see any confirmation. Exited app and tried running SDFix and failed again. I then followed your link to your thread and followed step by step. Got all the way to the point where I was trying to save the text document at the end and got the prompt that I could not save the file.
I'm usually pretty good at following tutorials and I'm sure I'm not skipping steps but who knows. I think this one has me defeated lol.

If you put it on your SD card try just /sdcard/wp_mod.ko
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

If you run the command.. And then run it again. It will tell you it already exists that's how I figured out it ran ok..
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

backfromthestorm said:
Could you detail the edits for reference anyway please? I'll need to know shortly too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure. Here it is:
You need to make following change to platform.xml in /system/etc.
Add <group gid="Media_rw"/> under WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE(or similar).
Save. Set Permission to rw-r-r or 644.
Reboot and Enjoy
Good luck :good:

silentvisitor said:
Sure. Here it is:
You need to make following change to platform.xml in /system/etc.
Add <group gid="Media_rw"/> under WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_MEDIA_STORAGE(or similar).
Save. Set Permission to rw-r-r or 644.
Reboot and Enjoy
Good luck :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I ran through both tutorials (yours and the others) once again. Entered the command twice to confirm and got the message "failed file already exists". So I'm assuming that part went through fine but still unable to run SDFix successfully or edit the install_recovery.sh file. Wouldn't allow me to save through es text edit or the standard one.
So now I'm trying to manually change the platform.xml file. When I navigate to system/etc I don't see any file named "platform.xml". Also tried a search through es file explorer and couldn't find any file. Any thoughts?

iNiREALiZED said:
Well I ran through both tutorials (yours and the others) once again. Entered the command twice to confirm and got the message "failed file already exists". So I'm assuming that part went through fine but still unable to run SDFix successfully or edit the install_recovery.sh file. Wouldn't allow me to save through es text edit or the standard one.
So now I'm trying to manually change the platform.xml file. When I navigate to system/etc I don't see any file named "platform.xml". Also tried a search through es file explorer and couldn't find any file. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My apologies.
Its /system/etc/Permission/platform.xml

iNiREALiZED said:
Well I ran through both tutorials (yours and the others) once again. Entered the command twice to confirm and got the message "failed file already exists". So I'm assuming that part went through fine but still unable to run SDFix successfully or edit the install_recovery.sh file. Wouldn't allow me to save through es text edit or the standard one.
So now I'm trying to manually change the platform.xml file. When I navigate to system/etc I don't see any file named "platform.xml". Also tried a search through es file explorer and couldn't find any file. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you mounting it as r/w in the file explorer? It doesn't seem like you're doing that. I know the module works.. You can't just install the module and it's magically writable.. you still have to make it r/w in a file explorer before you make any changes. I don't use es. I use root explorer and there is a r/w button on top.

graffixnyc said:
Are you mounting it as r/w in the file explorer? It doesn't seem like you're doing that. I know the module works.. You can't just install the module and it's magically writable.. you still have to make it r/w in a file explorer before you make any changes. I don't use es. I use root explorer and there is a r/w button on top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. Excuse my ignorance. I wasn't doing that. I downloaded root explorer and used the button to mount as you mentioned and viola I was able to save the edits! I'm now able to create folders on the ext SD. Still get an error when trying to backup from twrp but I guess that's an issue for another day.
I really appreciate all the help!

iNiREALiZED said:
Wow. Excuse my ignorance. I wasn't doing that. I downloaded root explorer and used the button to mount as you mentioned and viola I was able to save the edits! I'm now able to create folders on the ext SD. Still get an error when trying to backup from twrp but I guess that's an issue for another day.
I really appreciate all the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of now recovery doesn't support exfat formatted cards, If your sd card is formatted as exfat it will fail in recovery. You need to either format your external sd card to fat32 or just wait until the recovery is updated to support exfat. It will once they get kernel source code

graffixnyc said:
As of now recovery doesn't support exfat formatted cards, If your sd card is formatted as exfat it will fail in recovery. You need to either format your external sd card to fat32 or just wait until the recovery is updated to support exfat. It will once they get kernel source code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How far out do you think that is? I was figuring I could just get a cheaper card for my backups. Only thing is if I remember correctly Fat32 only supports up to 4GB files correct? I remember my backups being a tad over that so getting another card might not even make a difference.

How do I set /system as Rw?

I keep trying to edit build.prop on my 5x as I've done on previous devices in the past. Going through file explorers setting it to Rw doesn't actually change it. Does anyone know how to actually set it as rw so it can be modified? I'm trying to add eis, if anyone else has tried.
Thanks!

Atemi1337 said:
I keep trying to edit build.prop on my 5x as I've done on previous devices in the past. Going through file explorers setting it to Rw doesn't actually change it. Does anyone know how to actually set it as rw so it can be modified? I'm trying to add eis, if anyone else has tried.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you sure you are properly rooted? what method did you use?
do other root apps work as intended, which file explorers are you talking about, are you on stock?
just asking, since there are root procedures around through which you funnily enough end up with a r/o rooted device. also the more relevant information you give, the easier it is to help.

Broken303 said:
are you sure you are properly rooted? what method did you use?
do other root apps work as intended, which file explorers are you talking about, are you on stock?
just asking, since there are root procedures around through which you funnily enough end up with a r/o rooted device. also the more relevant information you give, the easier it is to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed a guide in November, don't remember which. All done through adb. All root apps work fine, xposed, titanium Backup, etc. I've tried stock, es file explorer and FX file explorer. Also for giggles I tried Rom Toolbox Pro. Also, in twrp it does say I'm not encrypted.
When trying to edit the file, it only gives me a cannot modify file error.

Atemi1337 said:
I followed a guide in November, don't remember which. All done through adb. All root apps work fine, xposed, titanium Backup, etc. I've tried stock, es file explorer and FX file explorer. Also for giggles I tried Rom Toolbox Pro. Also, in twrp it does say I'm not encrypted.
When trying to edit the file, it only gives me a cannot modify file error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you mount system rw before trying to edit the file?
In ES it's under Tools > turn root explorer on, then tap it and mount rw

Same for me...

berndblb said:
Did you mount system rw before trying to edit the file?
In ES it's under Tools > turn root explorer on, then tap it and mount rw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using ES worked perfectly. No other actually worked. Many thanks!