Develop Bugs

[Q] How to change file permissions without using root explorer?

Im new at this, just rooted my phone yesterday . Im trying to download the sprint navigation apk because, well, i like it. Ive read other posts and they all talk about using chmod and i honestly have no idea what that is. If you could tell me how to change system/app folder permissions to read write instead of just read so i can move the .apk in that folder thatd be great

Ignorance1 said:
Im new at this, just rooted my phone yesterday . Im trying to download the sprint navigation apk because, well, i like it. Ive read other posts and they all talk about using chmod and i honestly have no idea what that is. If you could tell me how to change system/app folder permissions to read write instead of just read so i can move the .apk in that folder thatd be great
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download ES File Explorer from the market. Go into settings and root options. Check the Root Explorer box, the HIAPK will already be checked. Then check mount file system. When you are all done, before exiting go back and uncheck mount and root, or you may have trouble running it a second time reading the sd card. Not all have this problem.

You can also just install the Sprint Nav apk conventionally to data. It doesn't have to be in system/app.

Thanks Kenny...worked perfectly. Used it to remove the camera shutter file in system/media/audio/ui so the camera wouldn't make noise when taking pics. It was an r only file.

Accidentally deleted stock Task Manager!!

So i just installed the new BM 5.0 and i was deleting unwanted apps via Titanium Backup pro .. i was doing it so fast that i accidentally deleted task manager! now everytime i click on the widget "Active Application" it fore closes! i tried to look for the stock task manager in the app store but could not find it! is there a way to undo the delete without doing a nandroid restore?

Use the feature in Titanium that can pull apks from cwm backups. You should be able to fix it with that.

moondrius said:
Use the feature in Titanium that can pull apks from cwm backups. You should be able to fix it with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank u for your response! But i do not know how to do this feature you speak of, mind teaching me? thanks

schgittyfour said:
thank u for your response! But i do not know how to do this feature you speak of, mind teaching me? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Open TB
2) Go to Backup/Restore
3) Option soft key
4) More
5) Extract from Nandroid backup
6) Pick Task Manager
I personally tried it once and it didn't work for me, worst comes to worst I'll upload you the JobManager.apk (I assume that's the one you're talking about? The Samsung task manager?). But I assume it works, otherwise they wouldn't include the feature.

yoft1 said:
1) Open TB
2) Go to Backup/Restore
3) Option soft key
4) More
5) Extract from Nandroid backup
6) Pick Task Manager
I personally tried it once and it didn't work for me, worst comes to worst I'll upload you the JobManager.apk (I assume that's the one you're talking about? The Samsung task manager?). But I assume it works, otherwise they wouldn't include the feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried those steps and did not find task manager .. i guess it wasnt backed up ... but i do have a scheduled back up every sundays ....i think its the samsung task manager, the icon was a pie graph .... it would be awesome sauce if u could upload it for me

schgittyfour said:
i tried those steps and did not find task manager .. i guess it wasnt backed up ... but i do have a scheduled back up every sundays ....i think its the samsung task manager, the icon was a pie graph .... it would be awesome sauce if u could upload it for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://min.us/mj9kYFJoR
To install it, you'll need a file explorer with root access (ES File Explorer, ROOT File Explorer, etc.). Then you'll have to move it to /system/app (to get to /system you'll have to go one level up from /sdcard to get to the root folder /). Make the permissions read "rw- r-- r--" (how you do that depends on what file explorer you use) and then reboot. Should fix the issue.

yoft1 said:
http://min.us/mj9kYFJoR
To install it, you'll need a file explorer with root access (ES File Explorer, ROOT File Explorer, etc.). Then you'll have to move it to /system/app (to get to /system you'll have to go one level up from /sdcard to get to the root folder /). Make the permissions read "rw- r-- r--" (how you do that depends on what file explorer you use) and then reboot. Should fix the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the file does not exist or it is unavailable...

schgittyfour said:
the file does not exist or it is unavailable...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm guessing you're doing it from your phone? Minus has a quirk with mobile sites. Download it from your computer or change your user agent to desktop.

yoft1 said:
I'm guessing you're doing it from your phone? Minus has a quirk with mobile sites. Download it from your computer or change your user agent to desktop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who needs a pc nowadays anyways? hehe .... downloaded it with Dolphin browser and it worked, will let u know if this works!

so i am trying to move it to system/app ... but its saying it cant move because the file is read only..... im using Root Explorer btw....

schgittyfour said:
so i am trying to move it to system/app ... but its saying it cant move because the file is read only..... im using Root Explorer btw....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It'll be an option in root explorer along the lines of "root access". I don't know the exact process because I use ES. Play around in the settings of root explorer until you find it. By default it's disabled to prevent users from actually screwing with their system operating system without knowing what they're doing.

did not find anything under settings but there was a button that said Mount R/O or Mount R/W ... so i selected the file to move then i went to system/app thrn i clicked the mount button on the top and it worked! Thank u so much for ur help and fast responds! u really saved mr from alot of grief.

schgittyfour said:
did not find anything under settings but there was a button that said Mount R/O or Mount R/W ... so i selected the file to move then i went to system/app thrn i clicked the mount button on the top and it worked! Thank u so much for ur help and fast responds! u really saved mr from alot of grief.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's the same thing, you're just allowing the system position to be written to. No problem. Is your task manager working as usual now?

yoft1 said:
Yeah it's the same thing, you're just allowing the system position to be written to. No problem. Is your task manager working as usual now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it seems to be working lime its suppose to! But i wonder why its called Job Manager, and what i deleted was named Task Manager...?

schgittyfour said:
Yes it seems to be working lime its suppose to! But i wonder why its called Job Manager, and what i deleted was named Task Manager...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure. Android has a native task manager other than the Samsung one so that might have anything to do with it

yoft1 said:
Not sure. Android has a native task manager other than the Samsung one so that might have anything to do with it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks again!

so it seems like my task manager is having issues .. most of the time when i open it via "active applications" , its frozen, like i am unable to press anything ..i have to reboot always to make it work. budo u know how to fix this?

schgittyfour said:
so it seems like my task manager is having issues .. most of the time when i open it via "active applications" , its frozen, like i am unable to press anything ..i have to reboot always to make it work. budo u know how to fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was it working fine when you first installed it? Either way, there's always 5 generic steps you should always take first when trying to resolve an issue:
1) clear application data
2) reboot to recovery and clear cache
3) clear dalvik cache
4) fix permissions
5) reboot
See if that fixes your issues

yoft1 said:
Was it working fine when you first installed it? Either way, there's always 5 generic steps you should always take first when trying to resolve an issue:
1) clear application data
2) reboot to recovery and clear cache
3) clear dalvik cache
4) fix permissions
5) reboot
i will try this and let u know! thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

it seem to have fixed the problem....thanks! .

How to change permissions in the main system folder

Ok, here's the issue I want to copy over and ringtones and have them live in the same area as my current ringtones now I have root and tried to change permissions and u for an error message saying that some system folders and folders on sd cards cannot be changed. Ok......so now what
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

I think extension of your ringtones have to be .ogg and then change permissions as usual with a root explorer app..
XX
X
X
like that. BUT I'm not quite sure if that's all that is needed.
And, I have tried putting them in as just .mp3 or .wav but they dont show up. SO, Im guessing it has to be .ogg

rastlin said:
Ok, here's the issue I want to copy over and ringtones and have them live in the same area as my current ringtones now I have root and tried to change permissions and u for an error message saying that some system folders and folders on sd cards cannot be changed. Ok......so now what
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to set r/w with a file manager that has root access.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

If you mean copy your ringtones to your system file ( so they work even with USB storage connected ), I actually did that recently; here's some things that might help:
1. For some reason, some apps have trouble making the system R/W, so if one doesn't work, try another one. Root Explorer and FX Explorer always seem to work flawlessly for me, but YMMV. Also, like it's been said, make sure you have system mounted as R/W; some apps might make it seem like it's mounted R/W when it's not.
2. MP3s should be fine, and I believe WAV files worked for me too.
3. This one took me a while to figure out; after copying the files, you have to reboot for them to show up when you're selecting tones.
Anyways, hope that helps.

cannot change frikin permissions
i have used both root explorer and FX explorer (and i prefer the latter of the two) but when i try to change the permissions it basically say "FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" even though i do have root i am not too sure why i cannot change the permissions of subdirectories? I know in windows you can make the subdirectories inherent the atributes of the parent directory but unfortunately my lack of linux/unix experience is abundantly apparent. Is there away to force the subdirectories to inherent the attributes of the parent directory, or am i just a dumbass barking up the wrong tree.. OH!, and yes just to state the obvious yes i am rooted....
DIMENSIONAL said:
If you mean copy your ringtones to your system file ( so they work even with USB storage connected ), I actually did that recently; here's some things that might help:
1. For some reason, some apps have trouble making the system R/W, so if one doesn't work, try another one. Root Explorer and FX Explorer always seem to work flawlessly for me, but YMMV. Also, like it's been said, make sure you have system mounted as R/W; some apps might make it seem like it's mounted R/W when it's not.
2. MP3s should be fine, and I believe WAV files worked for me too.
3. This one took me a while to figure out; after copying the files, you have to reboot for them to show up when you're selecting tones.
Anyways, hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much more I can help then. Here's a few things though:
I know that you need to download some kind of additional app from the developer to enable root features in FX Explorer, and I think you might have to enable something in the settings.
When I'm using the app, system R/W seems to apply to the entire /system directory, so it affects the parent directories of the sub-directories that I trigger R/W in.
From what I've read, some people have issues with SuperUser functions working, even when they're rooted, so maybe it's your SU that's causing the issues? I'm not sure what the solution is, but I know people have posted various methods that might work in the forums.

[Q] Can't rw on /system

I backed up and then deleted my play store using titanium backup but when I went to restore it it wouldn't let me. So I tried to move it to system/apps using a few file explorers like root explorer,Es explorer and super manager but non of them let me put system folder into rw mode , and yes I did give all of them root rights. I also tried to use the adb command on the terminal with su rights but that did nothing, does anyone have any advice besides reseting my phone.i am also running Jedi mind trick x3(i know I need to update)

erden99 said:
I backed up and then deleted my play store using titanium backup but when I went to restore it it wouldn't let me. So I tried to move it to system/apps using a few file explorers like root explorer,Es explorer and super manager but non of them let me put system folder into rw mode , and yes I did give all of them root rights. I also tried to use the adb command on the terminal with su rights but that did nothing, does anyone have any advice besides reseting my phone.i am also running Jedi mind trick x3(i know I need to update)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In ES, you have to go to 'Root Explorer' under 'Tools', then 'Mount R/W', then use the radio buttons to give it write permissions (given that you have root already).

treefrog321 said:
In ES, you have to go to 'Root Explorer' under 'Tools', then 'Mount R/W', then use the radio buttons to give it write permissions (given that you have root already).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what I did ,i allows access to all the others and system but as soon as I press ok and go back to check the permissions again system is the only one that reverts back to read only

erden99 said:
Exactly what I did ,i allows access to all the others and system but as soon as I press ok and go back to check the permissions again system is the only one that reverts back to read only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have this problem too! I am currently trying to uninstall the system youtube app because it wont let me install the new 5.0 update without doing that as I have a modded youtube apk. I am on AOKP custom ROM

[Q] Note 2 Gallery/Lockscreen wallpaper help

Had the bright idea to delete the stock gallery app while clearing bloatware. Unbeknownst to me, that was needed to set the lock screen wallpaper to anything other than the stock wallpapers. I use quickpic instead. Now I can't set a picture as the lock screen background (I can change wallpaper).
I've tried reinstalling the gallery, but when choosing to set the paper from the home screen, the gallery option does not show up. Is there a way to again associate the gallery, or an alternative app to do so?

SilveradoZ71 said:
Had the bright idea to delete the stock gallery app while clearing bloatware. Unbeknownst to me, that was needed to set the lock screen wallpaper to anything other than the stock wallpapers. I use quickpic instead. Now I can't set a picture as the lock screen background (I can change wallpaper).
I've tried reinstalling the gallery, but when choosing to set the paper from the home screen, the gallery option does not show up. Is there a way to again associate the gallery, or an alternative app to do so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm no expert, but have you restored gallery back to /system/app or did you just click on .apk and chose to install it? Because if you installed it, it went to /data/app - maybe that's the reason it does not function as it supposed to?
And second, try to run it as an app - see if it starts in first place, maybe there's something else missing. Perhaps you deleted odex file as well, and because of this it does not start?
Just did a little experiment - restored apk and odex files back to /system/app - and option to change wallpaper appeared again. No reboot needed.

Move gallery apk to system/app and set the permissions to rw-r-r aand reboot.

akp.ajinkya said:
Move gallery apk to system/app and set the permissions to rw-r-r aand reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you both are right, as I just installed like normal. Noob issue though, when I go to copy and paste the apk into system/app, I get a permission denied message. I'm rooted of course and granted es file explorer su privileges, so I'm not sure why. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the help

SilveradoZ71 said:
I believe you both are right, as I just installed like normal. Noob issue though, when I go to copy and paste the apk into system/app, I get a permission denied message. I'm rooted of course and granted es file explorer su privileges, so I'm not sure why. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to remount /system as read-write, just like you did before removing apps (if you removed them manually). Go to your terminal emulator or use ./adb shell get superuser (by typing "su") and type: mount -o rw,remount /system
After that you can move files to*/system. Just don't forget to reboot or remount /system as read-only when done.

Root explorer allows pasting and permissions changing. I'm not sure I'm using the right apk. I had a nexus one that installed and worked (though not able to change lock screen). I uninstalled it, and installed 2 different versions of the Samsung app. It never gets recognized on the reboot like the nexus one did. I assume I'm using the wrong one. Any link to an official one? I am on 4.1.2 stock.
Thanks again

SilveradoZ71 said:
Root explorer allows pasting and permissions changing. I'm not sure I'm using the right apk. I had a nexus one that installed and worked (though not able to change lock screen). I uninstalled it, and installed 2 different versions of the Samsung app. It never gets recognized on the reboot like the nexus one did. I assume I'm using the wrong one. Any link to an official one? I am on 4.1.2 stock.
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using 4.1.2 stock, so here are files from my /system/app:
http://ge.tt/11an8Gz
Sha256sum:
9f1a440e1aefb1bed74c0c8b0cdd0e462d24d70cad3da7063034db5f905f2d52 SecGallery2_Galaxy.apk
cf96394bcce1c1b07915265b953074d79960f530b4872770597f6cd4349ffd0e SecGallery2_Galaxy.odex
Good luck, and let me know if this helps.
P.S. Next time you clean you ROM, just move files to some location (for example your PC) Comes in handy later, I know that from my own painful experience

Userius said:
I'm using 4.1.2 stock, so here are files from my /system/app:
Sha256sum:
9f1a440e1aefb1bed74c0c8b0cdd0e462d24d70cad3da7063034db5f905f2d52 SecGallery2_Galaxy.apk
cf96394bcce1c1b07915265b953074d79960f530b4872770597f6cd4349ffd0e SecGallery2_Galaxy.odex
Good luck, and let me know if this helps.
P.S. Next time you clean you ROM, just move files to some location (for example your PC) Comes in handy later, I know that from my own painful experience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any specific way to install it all back? I put everything back in system/app and rebooted. Nothing changed, it's not installed, and Android didn't "Update Apps" on the reboot. I try to install it with package installer like any other app and that fails. I've tried your odex and mine (which was never deleted).
That's great advice!