OK so I smashed my s5, am a UDP verizon guy and hooked on the open bootloader, so i searched far and wide for another one with the 15 chipset...which I didn't find but I found a note 4 with it.
I bought it and unlocked it and loaded on a rom I loved. (5.0.1 og5). Well...no sense lying here...I was trying to do some less than kosher things regarding my ex's Facebook account with it. In the process I wasn't smart enough to cross check MD5s (a precaution I learned all too well) and opened an app that has me baffled.
It basically hijacked admin on my device completely. No Antivirus program can touch it, though many detect it. "Unknown sources" in my security folder is stuck permanently enabled, and I can't take over as admin on my own brand new note4.
I have tried flashing twrp and titanium backups to no avail, and also tried the safe stock og5 firmware through Odin but it never completes. I am stuck. I have logcat records and all the tools I would think might help, but I can't get rid of it...it seems to have used root and embedded itself into every facet of the device.
I am willing and ready to do anything including a full unroot and stock rom, I just don't want a locked update. Can anyone help me please?
As of now, no roms break it, only the stubborn malware CM app tries to get rid of it, but only identifies it as "suspicious file". My user admin and unknown sources are both locked, and a gaggle of bizarre log events happen constantly, forcing my device into crazy lag. As soon as it happened I received a couple random number-link blank text messages, but I never opened them. I don't have the numbers saved as I've flashed the phone like 30 times since trying to rid myself of this. Aside from the lag and locked unknown sources and admin, and an inability to clear trusted credentials, the phone seems to run normally, though I am scared to use it to log on to pretty much anything. The malware didn't come from a text, but from an app that I knowingly permitted thinking it was something else and I feel like a moron for it. It doesn't seem to have a name. It installed as an untitled app and I couldn't delete it with the root system app deleter, because it put a green bar over the check box in the app. I got rid of it with titanium, but to no avail. It still lurks.
Thanks in advance, and let me know of any screens hits or logs or tests I can provide to help.
At that point, I would recommend using Samsung's Smart Switch for PC program to do an emergency firmware upgrade & initialization. This will download a full copy of the stock firmware for the device (including a few bits that you won't find in stock firmwares available for download through sites like SamMobile) and will erase everything on the device and restore your phone to stock firmware.
If you are in the US and have a Best Buy nearby, you can see if one of their Samsung reps can perform a factory recovery using their SMART tool (which will do the same thing that Smart Switch's emergency firmware initialization will). Officially, rooted devices are not supported and they may rightfully refuse to do this, but it's worth asking if you don't have a computer to use for Smart Switch or don't want to wait.
You will need to redo the developer conversion, but that's the only thing I can think of that will definitely completely restore your phone to stock and eliminate all traces of whatever you installed.
thanks. that solved my problem and got it back to stock, rid of the malware completely. unfortunately, when i tried to return to the rom i had used, everything fell apart for me :/.
Dear all,
I hope you can help me retrieve my lost SMS. Please excuse me if the question has been asked before, but all threads I found were dealing with very different devices and/or devices rooted prior to the event.
Also, I'm an absolute newbie to this matter, up until now my phones have worked just fine the way they were delivered.
I have an unrooted HTC One XL with Android 4.2.2 and HTC Sense 5.0 (~4 years old). Yesterday, my phone went out of power while I was watching a youtube-video. Back home, I started to charge it, and turned it back on after half an hour of charging. Everything seemed perfectly normal, but when I got an SMS and openend it, I realized it was the only SMS left in Messages! So far, I have never done a backup of my SMS (even though some of them are very precious to me - I'm such a naive fool ), because the nice ladies at the O2-shop always helped me transfer them from the old phone to the new one.
Please excuse the wall of text to follow, but I have downloaded a ton of software already to save my data, and I guess you need to know precisely to help me:
First, I turned on flight mode to keep new SMS from writing over fragments of the old SMS which might still be there. Then I've "tried turning it off and on again" , but to no avail. Then I've tried recovery software working without root, Myphoneexplorer and Titanium backup, but of course they only found the one SMS that I hat received after the crash. Then I downloaded Android Data Recovery by Aiseesoft, which unfortunately needs a rooted device, so I set out to root my first phone.
I tried different Apps, towelroot + SuperSU, King Root and Kingo root, which all didn't work. I then tried the "official" way via htcdev.com, but got stuck in the middle (My phone was in fastboot usb attached to my laptop, but the command fastboot oem get_identifier_token was not understood. Imagine my distress, I'm such a newbie that just the sight of a command window gives me sweaty palms.). Maybe something to do with the drivers (the HTC drivers coming with Hasoon2000's Toolkit, which I also tried for the "official HTC route", weren't compatible with my Windows 8 laptop, so I had to download some universal ADB drivers instead).
I've asked my more tech-savvy friends on fb, who mentioned some of the Apps I've tried, but also frightened me with the contribution that if I root my phone now, I'd HAVE to go through a factory reset in the process. So my SMS fragments, if there were any on my phone still, would be erased by the time I could give Android Data Recovery a shot.
So please help me with the following:
- Do you see any way how I can retrieve my lost SMS?
- Is there a way to root without factory reset?
Additional info: I don't mind if my phone gets destroyed in the process of saving my SMS. It's anyhow time for a new one. What I WOULD mind is destroying my laptop, so as a laywoman I would only very reluctantly try stuff like "force-feeding" my laptop new drivers and such. Still, I would be thankful for any kind of ideas, whether I'll be brave enough to try them or not.
Thank you very much in advance,
M&C
Marigold&Catnip;69616753 said:
Dear all,
I hope you can help me retrieve my lost SMS. Please excuse me if the question has been asked before, but all threads I found were dealing with very different devices and/or devices rooted prior to the event.
Also, I'm an absolute newbie to this matter, up until now my phones have worked just fine the way they were delivered.
I have an unrooted HTC One XL with Android 4.2.2 and HTC Sense 5.0 (~4 years old). Yesterday, my phone went out of power while I was watching a youtube-video. Back home, I started to charge it, and turned it back on after half an hour of charging. Everything seemed perfectly normal, but when I got an SMS and openend it, I realized it was the only SMS left in Messages! So far, I have never done a backup of my SMS (even though some of them are very precious to me - I'm such a naive fool ), because the nice ladies at the O2-shop always helped me transfer them from the old phone to the new one.
Please excuse the wall of text to follow, but I have downloaded a ton of software already to save my data, and I guess you need to know precisely to help me:
First, I turned on flight mode to keep new SMS from writing over fragments of the old SMS which might still be there. Then I've "tried turning it off and on again" , but to no avail. Then I've tried recovery software working without root, Myphoneexplorer and Titanium backup, but of course they only found the one SMS that I hat received after the crash. Then I downloaded Android Data Recovery by Aiseesoft, which unfortunately needs a rooted device, so I set out to root my first phone.
I tried different Apps, towelroot + SuperSU, King Root and Kingo root, which all didn't work. I then tried the "official" way via htcdev.com, but got stuck in the middle (My phone was in fastboot usb attached to my laptop, but the command fastboot oem get_identifier_token was not understood. Imagine my distress, I'm such a newbie that just the sight of a command window gives me sweaty palms.). Maybe something to do with the drivers (the HTC drivers coming with Hasoon2000's Toolkit, which I also tried for the "official HTC route", weren't compatible with my Windows 8 laptop, so I had to download some universal ADB drivers instead).
I've asked my more tech-savvy friends on fb, who mentioned some of the Apps I've tried, but also frightened me with the contribution that if I root my phone now, I'd HAVE to go through a factory reset in the process. So my SMS fragments, if there were any on my phone still, would be erased by the time I could give Android Data Recovery a shot.
So please help me with the following:
- Do you see any way how I can retrieve my lost SMS?
- Is there a way to root without factory reset?
Additional info: I don't mind if my phone gets destroyed in the process of saving my SMS. It's anyhow time for a new one. What I WOULD mind is destroying my laptop, so as a laywoman I would only very reluctantly try stuff like "force-feeding" my laptop new drivers and such. Still, I would be thankful for any kind of ideas, whether I'll be brave enough to try them or not.
Thank you very much in advance,
M&C
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently see no means to save your SMS { I am really sorry to say that }
The first step to root is to unlock bootloader, unlocking it sure wipes the data
DevUt said:
I currently see no means to save your SMS { I am really sorry to say that }
The first step to root is to unlock bootloader, unlocking it sure wipes the data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, that wasn't what I had hoped to hear. Anyhow, thanks for your contribution.
Will unlocking the bootloader completely erase the data, or will it "only" allow the phone to overwrite the space if new data comes up? If the latter were the case, maybe the Android Data Recovery might have a chance afterwards?
Please excuse my newbie questions, I bet this is common knowledge among all of you.
In my defence, m’lud, I spent about 6 hours yesterday reading through a great many threads before posting this one. It’s amazing how hard it can be to pick up a slightly unfamiliar technology when it’s not the one you're used to… I spent the latter half of my life in IT (Windows), but really struggle with this phone stuff.
I expect it's just the terminology… when you guys talk about a bootloader, I’m thinking that’s roughly the same as a BIOS on a computer…? Then there’s the “recovery” thingy… is that like a recovery partition on a Windows machine? But then some threads seem to suggest you over-write that when rooting, so is the original factory image lost forever?
My main reason for wanting to root my M8 is to remove all the bloatware HTC put on it. I can read the instructions for rooting here, but I don’t like blindly following anything I don’t understand, for obvious reasons!
I kind of gather that the “ROM” is the operating system… if I root the phone, does that automatically obliterate the existing one, necessitating a new one, or can I just gain the access I need to delete the horrible factory apps, and keep everything else?
I’ve read through several tutorials, and they’re easy to follow, but not easy to understand, if you get me… they’ll say things like download this, flash that… but I don’t really know what’s going on when you flash something – what am I over-writing etc.
Is there a thread anywhere which explains what these various things actually ARE?
Oh, and I’ve been playing various King games for years, and have got a long way. I’ve tried to figure out how to back them up – the King website is possibly the most unhelpful I’ve come across. People mention various utilities (I think maybe Titanium etc), but if they only work on a rooted phone, they presumably can’t be used to back the games up prior to rooting…
Sorry about all this guys – not asking you to re-invent the wheel, but f there are specific threads that already answer my questions to get me started, I’d be VERY grateful
Thanks
Roger
Roger465 said:
In my defence, m’lud, I spent about 6 hours yesterday reading through a great many threads before posting this one. It’s amazing how hard it can be to pick up a slightly unfamiliar technology when it’s not the one you're used to… I spent the latter half of my life in IT (Windows), but really struggle with this phone stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aye, it takes a bit of time to learn all the things and understand them.
Me, after being really familiar with a Sony device had to spend XX hours reading about HTC and after few years there are still things that I don't know
Roger465 said:
I expect it's just the terminology… when you guys talk about a bootloader, I’m thinking that’s roughly the same as a BIOS on a computer…? Then there’s the “recovery” thingy… is that like a recovery partition on a Windows machine? But then some threads seem to suggest you over-write that when rooting, so is the original factory image lost forever?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd rather say recovery is closer to bios., but bootloader matches too.
Recovery is a partition that all android phones have and it can be accessed in case when the system dies to factory reset and things. Stock recovery is good, but it can't be used to flash things like roms and kernels, so we use TWRP - a custom recovery with many options.
Original recovery is overwritten, but can be restored.
As for bootloader it's kinda like a gate - a locked one prevents booting and flashing of any unauthorized files, like custom recovery for example. Unlocking it removes this restriction. That's one fuction of bootloader, another one is starting up the system - like a bios - and can be accessed by a button combination durning boot up, it's also called hboot. In it you can see some essential info about phone software and boot to recovery.
Roger465 said:
My main reason for wanting to root my M8 is to remove all the bloatware HTC put on it. I can read the instructions for rooting here, but I don’t like blindly following anything I don’t understand, for obvious reasons!
I kind of gather that the “ROM” is the operating system… if I root the phone, does that automatically obliterate the existing one, necessitating a new one, or can I just gain the access I need to delete the horrible factory apps, and keep everything else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROM is the android itself, drivers, kernel and manufacturer's interface, apps, tweaks, settings. and probably something else I've missed. I think it would be somewhat correct to call this operating system. Rooting is gaining superuser access on the phone - it can be used to give extended functionality to apps, like making modifications in system itself. Pretty similiar to "run as administrator" in windows. Rooting itself won't remove the rom.
Roger465 said:
I’ve read through several tutorials, and they’re easy to follow, but not easy to understand, if you get me… they’ll say things like download this, flash that… but I don’t really know what’s going on when you flash something – what am I over-writing etc.
Is there a thread anywhere which explains what these various things actually ARE?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those should give you a basic knowledge:
https://www.androidcentral.com/dictionary
https://android.gadgethacks.com/news/big-android-dictionary-glossary-terms-you-should-know-0165594/
Roger465 said:
Oh, and I’ve been playing various King games for years, and have got a long way. I’ve tried to figure out how to back them up – the King website is possibly the most unhelpful I’ve come across. People mention various utilities (I think maybe Titanium etc), but if they only work on a rooted phone, they presumably can’t be used to back the games up prior to rooting…
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium backup is an app used to backup other apps, but it requires root. To get root you need a custom recovery and for it you need an unlocked bootloader.
Unlocking the bootloader will wipe all data from the phone. I'm not aware of many working methods to backup apps and their data.
There's an app called Helium, but there are many complaints that it doesn't fully work. You can try syncing all data to your google account or adb backup.
A lot of the basic terminology is explained here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=52484527#post52484527
My responses below in red font:
Roger465 said:
when you guys talk about a bootloader, I’m thinking that’s roughly the same as a BIOS on a computer…?
I'd say that is a pretty good analogy. It's responsible for loading the OS, same as BIOS does on a PC. And as long as you can get into bootloader, the phone is recoverable almost regardless of what else you did (within some limits).
Then there’s the “recovery” thingy… is that like a recovery partition on a Windows machine? But then some threads seem to suggest you over-write that when rooting, so is the original factory image lost forever?
Recovery is the tool for making or restoring backup (and also flashing ROMs and other mods like root). And not the actually backup itself. So that is one important distinction to remember.
Installing custom recovery (TWRP) will overwrite the stock recovery, that is true. You can only have one recovery at a time.
Stock recovery is easy to restore; and the stock recoveries are available on this forum. But stock recovery is close to useless. The only reason you would need stock recovery, is to install an official OTA (over-the-air) upated. And HTC was done updating this phone a long time ago (with Marshmallow) and there will be no more updates. Therefore, no need for stock recovery.
Since you've decided to do to the dark side and root; custom recovery TWRP as vastly more useful than stock recovery (as also mentioned in the previous response). To be honest, I can't say I've booted to stock recovery on this or any HTC device I've owned (and it's been several) even once. Never used it, and never needed to.
I kind of gather that the “ROM” is the operating system… if I root the phone, does that automatically obliterate the existing one, necessitating a new one, or can I just gain the access I need to delete the horrible factory apps, and keep everything else?
Depending on root method (SuperSU or Magisk), root will make changes to the system and/or kernel (which comprise the OS or ROM). It's still the stock ROM, just with some minor changes to allow superuser access. You can and should make a backup or your stock ROM, before rooting, using TWRP custom recovery. This gives you an easy way to restore to stock unrooted ROM, if you ever want to. And also gives you an easy "escape hatch" if anything goes wrong while trying to root. There are other tools on this forum for restoring the stock ROM. But best practice (and just plain common sense) is to make a backup in TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---------- Post added at 10:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:24 AM ----------
Phalangioides said:
There's an app called Helium, but there are many complaints that it doesn't fully work. You can try syncing all data to your google account or adb backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All backup methods are far from perfect, especially before/without root. I'll agree that Helium is probably the best bet for the OP to backup things like game saves.
---------- Post added at 10:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------
Roger465 said:
It’s amazing how hard it can be to pick up a slightly unfamiliar technology when it’s not the one you're used to… I spent the latter half of my life in IT (Windows), but really struggle with this phone stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stick with it. Every technology has its own lingo and nuances. Even from one Android device to another, there is a learning curve. I've found myself wondering: "WTF is a blob, or Odin" when switching to other Android devices.
With your IT experience, it shouldn't take much to pickup the necessary knowledge.
Thanks guys, kind of you to go to so much trouble to explain for me. Wish I had two phone,s then I could play around messing one up... will read a bit more, then give it a go in a day or two I think. But just to clarify again, can I give myself the rights to remove stock bloatware, while maintaining my familiar Android environment, the apps I use at the moment etc, or do I have to install a custom ROM if I root?
Cheers
Roger465 said:
can I give myself the rights to remove stock bloatware, while maintaining my familiar Android environment, the apps I use at the moment etc, or do I have to install a custom ROM if I root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the OS will remain the same.
Whether you can remove bloat apps after root is a little complicated to explain. You would normally expect to be able to delete system apps (which bloat apps are) with root. However, for whatever reason, HTC decided to write-protect the system partition, even with root. This means that if you try to delete apps when the phone is booted to OS, (depending on what method you used to delete the apps) you will find they return when the phone is rebooted.
You can flash a kernel mod to disable the write protection, or install a custom kernel. Or you may find the easiest work around (after root) is to use the file manager within TWRP to delete the bloat apps.
---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 PM ----------
Vomer's guide is a good one, for unlocking the bootloader, custom recovery and root:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/general/vomerguides-m8-bootldr-unlock-s-off-t2800727
It's a bit outdated, so some words of advice:
- Only follow parts 0 and 1 of the guide. The sections after that aren't needed (s-off and SuperCID) for root, and the s-off method no longer works.
- Use an updated version TWRP from what is in the guide. If you are currently on Marshmallow, the current version TWRP 3.2.1.0 should work. Or basically any version 2.8.7 or later. You can get TWRP here: https://dl.twrp.me/m8/
- Similarly, use current version SuperSU 2.82 (use TWRP flashable zip from here): https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/supersu/stable-2016-09-01supersu-v2-78-release-t3452703
Or alternately, you can use Magisk to root, instead of SuperSU. Honestly, Magisk is really cool, and has lots of features that SuperSU doesn't. So I suggest checking it out: https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445
redpoint73 said:
Vomer's guide is a good one, for unlocking the bootloader, custom recovery and root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hhmmm, not getting very far with that procedure. Difficulties so far:
- Enable USB debugging in your phone's Developer options - DONE
- Un-check "Fast boot" on your phone by going to Settings -> Battery Manager – NO SUCH OPTION
- Install ADB and Fastboot on your computer - DONE
- Make sure to back up all of your app data using either ADB or HTC Sync, because you will be wiping your phone – JUST PLAYING AROUND WITH CONNECTING TO THE PHONE AT THIS STAGE
- Install the HTC One M8 drivers on your computer (if you have HTC Sync installed, then you already have them) - DONE
Enter Fastboot (bootloader) Mode
Place your device into fastboot mode by plugging in your HTC One to your computer,
then powering it down by holding both the Power and Volume Down buttons until you see the screen below – WHEN I DO THAT, IT JUST TAKES A SCREENSHOT
Roger465 said:
Hhmmm, not getting very far with that procedure. Difficulties so far:
- Un-check "Fast boot" on your phone by going to Settings -> Battery Manager – NO SUCH OPTION
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was only available back on 4.4. It was removed in 5.0 and above, no need to worry about it now.
Roger465 said:
Enter Fastboot (bootloader) Mode
Place your device into fastboot mode by plugging in your HTC One to your computer,
then powering it down by holding both the Power and Volume Down buttons until you see the screen below – WHEN I DO THAT, IT JUST TAKES A SCREENSHOT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The guide is a bit inaccurate in this one. Turn off your phone, then press power and vol down - you should get into bootloader. Select fastboot and when it gets into fastboot, plug in the usb, it should change to "fastboot usb" - or at least I think it was like this.
My phone refuses to boot up after I turn it off. Have to help it with a soft reset and then hold vol down so it gets into bootloader, so I can't fully confirm.
Roger465 said:
- Un-check "Fast boot" on your phone by going to Settings -> Battery Manager – NO SUCH OPTION
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned in the previous response, this doesn't apply anymore. The feature doesn't exist (hasn't since Kitkat) and therefore does not need to be turned off.
Also note, this option is not to be confused with the fastboot/adb interface (virtually the same name, for different things) which is still fully working, and required to unlock the bootloader and flash custom recovery. The power option "Fast boot" was just a feature used by HTC to make the phone turn on faster. It was merely a "deep sleep" trick which was not a true "power down" and would interfere with accessing bootloader/fastboot mode if you tried to it from a "power off" condition (since in fact it wasn't truly powered off).
Again, it's irrelevant now, and you don't need to worry about that step at all.
---------- Post added at 09:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 AM ----------
Phalangioides said:
The guide is a bit inaccurate in this one. Turn off your phone, then press power and vol down - you should get into bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, the guide is a little incorrect on that step, and I hadn't caught that (error in the guide) before. Power+vol down to access bootloader, will only work when the phone is powered off.
To the OP, another method/trick to access bootloader:
1) While the phone is on, reboot the phone by holding down the power button, and select "reboot" (or restart, I forget exactly what it says)
2) Once the screen goes dark to reboot, but before the white HTC logo screen appears, hold down the vol down button. Don't let go until you see the white bootloader screen.
3) If the phone simply restart to OS, you simply got the timing wrong. You either started pressing vol down too late, or let go too early. Just repeat steps 1 and 2 until you get it right.
Another alternative, is to force a reboot by holding power+vol up. Again, once the screen goes dark to reboot, but before the HTC logo screen appears, hold the vol down button only. In this case, you simply let go of the power button, and slide your finger down to the vol down button, and don't let go until the bootloader screen appears. This method is handy to know, since it works in all cases when the phone is powered on, even of the phone is "frozen" or stuck not loading the OS.
Phalangioides said:
Select fastboot and when it gets into fastboot, plug in the usb, it should change to "fastboot usb" - or at least I think it was like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the phone is already connected to the PC by USB cable before going to bootloader, it should default to fastboot mode once the bootloader is accessed.
Not sure if it will automatically switch to fastboot mode if you are in bootloader, then plug in the USB cable. But that may well be true (and would make sense).
In either case, if it's not in fastboot mode, simply select "fastboot" by using the vol buttons, and confirm the choice by pressing the power button. You should see "fastboot" highlighted in red near the top of the screen.
Phalangioides said:
Turn off your phone, then press power and vol down - you should get into bootloader. Select fastboot and when it gets into fastboot, plug in the usb, it should change to "fastboot usb" - or at least I think it was like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wahay! That worked fine, thanks both. Hope you can appreciate, though, how scary it can be for somebody like me following instructions I don't really understand, when the expected thing doesn't happen – visions of bricks keep coming into my mind
OK, will practice these steps a few times till they’re 2nd nature. I have managed to retrieve my phone identifier thingy though
Roger465 said:
Hope you can appreciate, though, how scary it can be for somebody like me following instructions I don't really understand, when the expected thing doesn't happen – visions of bricks keep coming into my mind
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, you won't brick this device with what you are doing (unlock bootloader, custom recovery & root). In fact, this device is very hard to brick. As long as the screen comes on, it can almost always be recovered.
Worst case, is that something goes wrong, and you can't boot the phone. Maybe you did something wrong, or maybe just some random event that was not fault of yours. And maybe it takes you an (hairpulling) hour to find the answer, and figure out what went wrong (or how to recover from the problem). But that pretty much happens to everyone who mods these devices from time to time. If you work IT, you've been there. Stressful, but hardly ever catastrophic.
Woo hoo! Got my unlock code. Now time for some more studying before I do anything drastic - specifically how to back up.
I think the HTC Sync Manager will handle most of it? My contacts are all on Google anyway... main worry is 2 years' progress on various King games
Roger465 said:
Now time for some more studying before I do anything drastic - specifically how to back up.
I think the HTC Sync Manager will handle most of it? My contacts are all on Google anyway... main worry is 2 years' progress on various King games
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use HTC Sync, personally. So I really don't know. I typically root my devices pretty soon after getting them, and therefore never had to use any no-root backup solutions (Titanium Backup is my go-to backup app, but requires root). A number of folks around these forums have suggested Helium for backing up app data when no rooted (and it was mentioned before on this thread).
redpoint73 said:
I don't use HTC Sync, personally. So I really don't know. I typically root my devices pretty soon after getting them, and therefore never had to use any no-root backup solutions (Titanium Backup is my go-to backup app, but requires root). A number of folks around these forums have suggested Helium for backing up app data when no rooted (and it was mentioned before on this thread).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... it doesn't fill me with confidence. I'm sure I'd do exactly as you if it was rooted. I'll probably do it with several different backup apps, and hope that one of them will do it
Roger465 said:
Yeah... it doesn't fill me with confidence. I'm sure I'd do exactly as you if it was rooted. I'll probably do it with several different backup apps, and hope that one of them will do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first unlock bootloader will restore your phone. Cross your finger if the game data has been backed up. :fingers-crossed:
redpoint73 said:
I don't use HTC Sync, personally. So I really don't know. I typically root my devices pretty soon after getting them, and therefore never had to use any no-root backup solutions (Titanium Backup is my go-to backup app, but requires root). A number of folks around these forums have suggested Helium for backing up app data when no rooted (and it was mentioned before on this thread).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't play games so I can't really confirm all games are same.
On my experience transfering games data from one device to another (for nieces & nephews), the data is stored in internal storage android\data\games folder & android\obb\games folder. I copy these two out and transfer them to new device.
(Also check sdcard android folder)
Roger465 said:
Yeah... it doesn't fill me with confidence. I'm sure I'd do exactly as you if it was rooted. I'll probably do it with several different backup apps, and hope that one of them will do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with the approach, make different backups and hope one or more works properly. Games and other apps don't all save data the same way, so no single approach will work in all cases.
Me again, sorry… shortly after that post, I dropped the thing and broke the screen. For one reason or another, I ended up getting a Samsung S6, which I’m quite happy with.
But I want to use the HTC as a spare/emergency phone – trouble is I can’t remember what I’ve done to it, apart from installing something which was recommended as part of my attempted rooting process.
When I switch it on I get the screen below – but no matter which option I select, it just seems to either switch it off or loop back to this screen.
I didn’t go any further than install whatever software it was that gives me this boot menu screen.
I’m no longer interested in rooting it etc – just went to restore it to factory settings and leave it.
Can anybody tell me how please…?
Thanks
Roger465 said:
I can’t remember what I’ve done to it, apart from installing something which was recommended as part of my attempted rooting process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously, if you don't know what you did, it's hard for us to figure out as well.
The "LOCKED" banner at the top of the bootloader screen means the bootloader was never unlocked. So really, no actual mods were done to the phone by you.
All I can think, the "something" what you installed was possibly the Helium app (recommended by another user back up on this thread) which can be used to backup/restore your app data.
Roger465 said:
I didn’t go any further than install whatever software it was that gives me this boot menu screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know what you're trying to say here. You'll need to be more specific (at least try) than "whatever software". Did you flash something to the phone? Or only installed something to your PC (drivers, fastboot, etc.).
We need to properly understood what you've done, before we can assist further.
redpoint73 said:
Obviously, if you don't know what you did, it's hard for us to figure out as well.
The "LOCKED" banner at the top of the bootloader screen means the bootloader was never unlocked. So really, no actual mods were done to the phone by you.
All I can think, the "something" what you installed was possibly the Helium app (recommended by another user back up on this thread) which can be used to backup/restore your app data.
I don't know what you're trying to say here. You'll need to be more specific (at least try) than "whatever software". Did you flash something to the phone? Or only installed something to your PC (drivers, fastboot, etc.).
We need to properly understood what you've done, before we can assist further.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah… sorry, I’m aware how unhelpful my post is. Unfortunately, it was a while ago now, life went tits up for quite a while, and the phone lay in a drawer, being a very low priority. I used to take it out occasionally and charge it up – it started normally.
The other day, I realised I hadn’t charged it in many months, so took it out, and sure enough it was completely dead – so I plugged it in, and it came up with the screen as posted. I let it charge for a couple of hours, then rebooted, and it came up that way again. No matter which option I select from the menu, it either just shuts down, or reboots to that screen.
I’m virtually certain I didn’t do anything other than enable the mode which lets you get to that boot screen, and that I didn’t get as far as flashing the phone or anything. Don't think I installed Helium - if I did, I didn't actually use it.
So it may just be that the phone has died from being left flat for so long… is that likely do you think?
Thanks and sorry again for the lack of info – I completely understand if you can’t help!
Roger465 said:
I’m virtually certain I didn’t do anything other than enable the mode which lets you get to that boot screen, and that I didn’t get as far as flashing the phone or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, so it was somewhat confusing, as you said previously (twice) that you "installed" something. But I think you are just confused, thinking that installing something is necessary to get to the bootloader screen. Which it isn't, that screen is part of the bootloader, without which your device would be a paperweight. It will sometimes default to this screen by virtually no action of yours (except powering it on) in cases when the Android Operating System (OS) is missing or damaged. Or you can simply access the bootloader screen by holding the button combo power+vol down.
Roger465 said:
So it may just be that the phone has died from being left flat for so long… is that likely do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We've seen it a number of times, actually. The OS was probably corrupted or damaged by being powered off (battery dead) for so long. This condition is over recoverable, as long as the phone can power on, and you can get to bootloader (which you can).
You can restore the OS with the RUU (ROM Update Utility) tool. You can get the RUU, and instruction how to flash it from here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64926626&postcount=6
Note: there is no need to lock the bootloader as the first part of the instructions say (your bootloader is still locked).
I've also posted this on Reddit and the OnePlus forums, but I'm hoping I can find an answer here, too.
Long story short: I really messed up my phone and I'm looking for help getting it to at least boot into the system. Lots of weird, confusing things have happened within the past few days, so bear with me; might be a long story, but I'll try to give you the abridged version.
I run locked and unrooted. I flashed OOS Beta 3 over 4.7.6 on my 5T, wiped my cache, and everything was wonderful for a week. Then one day, I got a system message saying "Bluetooth has stopped". I cleared that and thought nothing of it, but I got another message saying "Bluetooth keeps stopping". This message would actually pop up (with no exaggeration) every second. I could only stop the messages completely after going to the Bluetooth app and clearing the data, then disabling Bluetooth Scanning.
I figured the problem would fix itself, but the next day when I tried to connect to my car via Bluetooth, my phone would freak out again like the previous day. I had to listen to a CD like it was 1996. I thought I could fix the problem with a Factory Reset. As soon as I hit the Welcome screen, "Bluetooth has stopped". When I went to check the Storage section of the Bluetooth app in the Applications list, the app portion read 0 bytes. What? Even when I went into Settings --> Bluetooth and tried to turn it on, nothing would happen. I thought maybe I should revert back to 4.7.4 and start from the very beginning.
That served no purpose. The Bluetooth symbol did show temporarily in the Status bar as I was setting up my phone, but eventually disappeared, with the Bluetooth app once again taking up a whopping 0 bytes. I've done various combinations of installs, but I cannot get Bluetooth to function normally. And at some point, my phone developed a new problem: any time I hit the Bluetooth button in Quick Settings, the phone would eventually reboot on its own. Later, it wouldn't need any input from me at all. It would just be sitting in the Lock screen and reboot.
Icing on the cake: I got desperate, unlocked the bootloader, deleted the system and cache partition in fastboot, then wiped the data in Recovery with the hope that doing a completely fresh install would fix the problem, but at some point my internal storage got wiped and now I have no ROM on my phone to install. Even better: I'm having some real problems trying to install OOS (any version) on my phone via ADB sideload. I keep getting the message "cannot read <filename.zip>", even though it's in the correct folder.
I am currently back on my OnePlus 3 and the proud owner of a very sleek brick. I used to root and unlock Nexus devices and Moto X's, so I'm pretty embarrassed that I managed to ruin my phone while it was running (basically) all stock. It can still boot into Bootloader and stock Recovery. Is there anything at all that I can do to at least load OOS (or any ROM)? Do I have to send it back to OnePlus and beg for a replacement? Will they even take this phone in it's current state? Am I just SOL?
I've run out of ideas and patience. I'm really hoping someone out there can help me. At the very least, thanks for reading my long sob story. Hopefully this never happens to you.
try flash orero based twrp and flahs stock 5.0.3 zip in twrp, see if it works. then figure out the reset.
Why would you delete system from fastboot? Does people not formating partition from recovery more often？
The twrp I use
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-5t/development/recovery-twrp-3-2-1-0-oreo-8-0-8-1-t3729673
Update: I managed to unbrick my phone using an unbrick tool. The process was pretty painless and it will revert your 5T back to OOS 4.7.4 no matter what you did to it. Props to Drasm19 from the OnePlus forums and the geniuses behind this tool! Funnily enough, I was ultimately led back here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-5t/how-to/oneplus-5t-unbricking-tool-confirmation-t3733012
You guys more than likely already knew about this tool, but definitely keep this in mind if you manage to brick your phone like I did.
Now I'm back to my original problem: Bluetooth is really messed up. This is what I'm talking about:
https://imgur.com/gallery/eEkbX
No matter what I do, no matter how many times I flash any version of OOS, this is always the result. As you can see, even with the toggle in the "on" position, Bluetooth refuses to do what it's supposed to do and the app takes up 0 bytes. Something is up...
I've searched a lot of threads that reference Bluetooth issues, but it looks like I'm the only one with this problem. I'm open to any and all suggestions that'll help me solve this and get back to using my 5T. I already miss those awesome navigation gestures.
Thanks again for your time and help.
im not really a developer type, but a while back it was easy to root and un root with kingo. and i could put things in the system with FX. please bare with me a sec.. p9's i like, but getting some glitches. when the gboard went byby, on reset, i had to set up my welcome screen by shouting at the phone.. 'at sign' does give you @ but to get capitals you have to trick it, eg. 'USA' to get an upper case 'u'
anyway, i got in, and got gboard from 'my apps' ..fine but of course, wont survive another reset.
so about the missing bluetooth.. iv got the directory info. and the missing files. thanks ..but i didnt want to wipe the phone, it seems rooting has become a can of worms.
wouldnt it be nice if there was a nice (no root) app , to run bluetooth from the apps ? so that 'joe blow' doesnt have to throw his phone away, cos it doesnt work in the car ect.. thanks