My Fire Tablet Gen 5 is flashed BUT i don't have Root access????! - Kindle Fire Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Okay basically as soon i got my amazon tablet the first thing i did was root it, or so i thought. I did the thing where you enable debugging, i downloaded that command prompt program, it said it was doing it's thing, and eventually said it WAS a success and it was finished.
Now currently I DO have google play installed, and can install ANY SINGLE game from the play store and they all work perfect. I can also still install games from the Amazon game store and those work fine too.
Here's where my problem started, for some reason the ONLY apps that can ACTUALLY install to the SD card are ones i install from the Amazon app/game store. Anything i install from the play store gets installed to internal memory. And simply hitting "move to SD card" literally does nothing, except cause that app to subsequently malfunction. So i basically figured it is what it is.
However i eventually got tired of pretty much only being able to have one game installed, as it takes up pretty much all my internal memory. Therefore after some searching i found Link2SD and it was exactly what i was needing, i followed all the steps, created the partitions, etc.... however, upon the prompt where you select the file format of the second partition it would say something like
"mount script cannot be created not allowed to su"
Now having SOME limited linux experience i know su is basically the command you use when you want to do something as the root, sorta like "run as administrator" on steroids.
This is my problem though, how can i enable grant super user permissions on my tablet without having to do EVERYTHING over? I have had my tablet for several years now and as you can imagine i have tweaked all the settings to my liking, i have a lot of pictures and music, and apps installed, that i don't want to have to re-install.
Why did i not get root access when i ROOTED THE DAMN TABLET?!?!? More importantly though, how can i enable root access without wiping everything off it and starting over?
Can root access or the file(s) that control such parameters be controlled using ADB commands, granted i don't really know how to do that, but still.....
Or better yet is there a utility out there that can simply grant SU permission to a device without having to basically wipe it clean.

theomega76 said:
Okay basically as soon i got my amazon tablet the first thing i did was root it, or so i thought. I did the thing where you enable debugging, i downloaded that command prompt program, it said it was doing it's thing, and eventually said it WAS a success and it was finished.
Now currently I DO have google play installed, and can install ANY SINGLE game from the play store and they all work perfect. I can also still install games from the Amazon game store and those work fine too.
Here's where my problem started, for some reason the ONLY apps that can ACTUALLY install to the SD card are ones i install from the Amazon app/game store. Anything i install from the play store gets installed to internal memory. And simply hitting "move to SD card" literally does nothing, except cause that app to subsequently malfunction. So i basically figured it is what it is.
However i eventually got tired of pretty much only being able to have one game installed, as it takes up pretty much all my internal memory. Therefore after some searching i found Link2SD and it was exactly what i was needing, i followed all the steps, created the partitions, etc.... however, upon the prompt where you select the file format of the second partition it would say something like
"mount script cannot be created not allowed to su"
Now having SOME limited linux experience i know su is basically the command you use when you want to do something as the root, sorta like "run as administrator" on steroids.
This is my problem though, how can i enable grant super user permissions on my tablet without having to do EVERYTHING over? I have had my tablet for several years now and as you can imagine i have tweaked all the settings to my liking, i have a lot of pictures and music, and apps installed, that i don't want to have to re-install.
Why did i not get root access when i ROOTED THE DAMN TABLET?!?!? More importantly though, how can i enable root access without wiping everything off it and starting over?
Can root access or the file(s) that control such parameters be controlled using ADB commands, granted i don't really know how to do that, but still.....
Or better yet is there a utility out there that can simply grant SU permission to a device without having to basically wipe it clean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this the 7in Fire?
which system version is on the device?
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Labs

yeah this is the $50 7" one. and in the settings it says "Your Device is running Fire OS 5.4.0.0"

theomega76 said:
yeah this is the $50 7" one. and in the settings it says "Your Device is running Fire OS 5.4.0.0"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/general/5-4-0-0-t3622336
Sent from my XT1096 using XDA Labs

Um... okay i'm not sure what to do with that thread, i read through it and half understood it, half did not. What am i suppose to do exactly?

theomega76 said:
Um... okay i'm not sure what to do with that thread, i read through it and half understood it, half did not. What am i suppose to do exactly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5.4.x.x cannot be rooted
Sent from my XT1096 using XDA Labs

-______- fml x 1000000000000000000
god damn sneaky bastards, i didn't even know it updated... I checked it maybe two weeks ago only and it was 5.3.x.x
what a bunch of assholes

Related

[HOWTO] Install Latest WaveSecure in ROM

I found that [email protected]'s ROM had a good idea of adding WaveSecure to the system partition (preventing listing in the My Downloads part of market, and preventing uninstallation through normal means), but his version is slightly out of date now (latest version is 3.0.0.43)
As a result, I set about finding a means to install WaveSecure to ROM myself. Here are my findings for anyone interested in doing the same.
Install the latest version from the market (3.0.0.43 at this time). Now use adb pull to get it off the device onto your pc
Code:
adb pull /data/app/com.wsandroid.apk D:\com.wsandroid.apk
Now open Market back up from the menu, go to My Downloads, and choose Wavesecure Mobile Security Beta and uninstall it for just now (to get it off the data/A2SD location that normal apps are stored in) - thanks, my-space!
Then push the saved apk to the system partition after a remount (to make it read/write)
Code:
adb remount
Code:
adb push D:\com.wsandroid.apk /system/app/com.wsandroid.apk
Then set it all up as usual (will appear in apps list immediately)
and remount system as read only again
Code:
adb remount
And that seems to be it so far. Remember to change the D:\com.wsandroid.apk path to whatever you actually used.
Let me know if anyone finds any problems with this, but I've done it and, fingers crossed, it's worked OK for me.
Obviously, this is only for root users, and there are no guarantees for this.
Couple of questions that might need looked into -
- Do settings carry across after a wipe (as Paul claims Modaco's version does. I've never tried it so can't confirm)
- Is there any disadvantage to using this method? (I guess this is all Modaco's update.zip does, but I don't know)
you forgot to metion to uninstall wavesecure before it is pushed back into system....
my_space said:
you forgot to metion to uninstall wavesecure before it is pushed back into system....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oops! Knew I'd forget something, as I always seem prone to do. Well spotted, and OP corrected.
Thanks
No worries I got a bit confused when i pushed it back onto the phone and was still in my downloads...
I've rooted my phone already but whenever i try to use the command adb remount I get "remount failed: operation not permitted". Suggestions?
I see more and more often, redundant threads.
What How-to will you post next time? How to change backlight settings?
You're pointlessly spamming the board.
I can't say i agree with the 'pointlessly spamming the board' comment, but i would have thought this would at least be better in the applications and themes subforum rather than in development.
Don't forget that an awful lot of android users (and more recently all HTC devices) are more and more 'newbs' and need stuff like this.
While this is good and provides info that people like that need (and myself cos i'm crap at adb and stuff like that so wouldn't have had a clue how to do this previously), maybe the development forum is not the best place for it....
I'm guessing one won't be notified via Market if there's an update available if you push an app to /system/app/, right?
usb0 said:
I'm guessing one won't be notified via Market if there's an update available if you push an app to /system/app/, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't be notified, correct
If anybody doesn't already know, WaveSecure have started hosting update.zip files. This means it's now easy to update your "baked-in" version of WaveSecure without much messing around.
https://www.wavesecure.com/installations/update.zip
Download the file, save it to your SD card, reboot into the recovery console and choose the option to apply an update.zip file.
Voila! Your version of WaveSecure will be updated to the very latest version
DJBenson said:
[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's really awesome! Thanks for the tip!
Just a question of curiosity: If I push an app to /system/app/ and then issue the rm-command to remove its apk, won't there be lying a bunch of files associated with the program and with absolutely no function, since the app itself is removed? How do I know the name of these files and where they are located for removal?
I'm a bit confused by that question. My understanding (which may be incorrect but from what I've seen of the "guts of a ROM" appears to be the case) is that the applications reside in the apk files, they are not extracted. If you list the content of any of the app folders (/system/app, /data/app or /data/app-private) then all you get is a bunch of apk files (and some odex files). So when you 'push' an apk to the phone, that application is then "installed", when you rm/remove an application, you do so by removing the apk.
if you remove the apk you have left something in /data/dalvik-cache. wiping the dalvik-cache every now and then helps reclaiming that space, though it is not much.
the app settings and data are stored in /data/data, you could delete the files manually by checking their names (no idea if/what convention the names follow), imho not worth the trouble as it is only a few kb.
odex files aren't created if you don't do in a PITA process manually. don't worry about them, don't touch them, then you're good. odex files are only for system apps.
I bought a used phone and it had WaveSecure already installed. I couldn't find it in the applications list to uninstall, so I did a factory reset on the phone. The application was still there and it still didn't show up in the applications list.
I have the Superuser Permissions application, so someone must have rooted it.
Is there any way to uninstall this?
motomeup said:
I bought a used phone and it had WaveSecure already installed. I couldn't find it in the applications list to uninstall, so I did a factory reset on the phone. The application was still there and it still didn't show up in the applications list.
I have the Superuser Permissions application, so someone must have rooted it.
Is there any way to uninstall this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
""Just (re)flash a ROM................""
I just noticed that WaveSecure now points to this post for instructions to install as system application, and I am not sure that the update.zip maintained with them is up-to-date.
However, you can now select to download the .apk directly to your PC thus eliminating the first Market step in this guide.
strife242 said:
I just noticed that WaveSecure now points to this post for instructions to install as system application, and I am not sure that the update.zip maintained with them is up-to-date.
However, you can now select to download the .apk directly to your PC thus eliminating the first Market step in this guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it is kept up to date, as VillainROM kitchen uses it as a source for the WaveSecure app (fetched each night to keep it up-to-date).
I've certainly never had any problems with it.
Excellent guide Pulser,... I should really reinstall Wavesecure now Im not using a MoDacO Custom ROM. Nice one bruv.
Found this to be helpful.
https://www.wavesecure.com/blog/how-to-make-wavesecure-hard-reset-proof.aspx
I just did a search in the Market fro 'wavesecure' and two things popped up WaveSecure and WaveSecure UninstallProtection Add-on which needs to be uninstalled before WaveSecure and if the add-on is uninstalled it is supposed to lock the phone. (all this is in the description I have yet to try)

[Q] "The application is not registered" error when I launch kindle reader. Ugh.

[Q] "The application is not registered" error when I launch kindle reader. Ugh.
Very few search results for this error, so I'm out of ideas. It has come up once before but the thread is closed -->
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1356441
My reader worked fine for 8 months. Then it updated to version 3.7.0.108.
Now when I click any of the "tabs" such as home, archive, on device, etc... I get this:
"The application is not registered. Trying to register it now. Please try again in a few seconds..."
No book will open, I get an "Invalid Item" error and it suggests I redownload it.
I have a rooted 1st generation KF with GoLauncher on it and ...I dunno if it's a custom rom or what.
I get a blue kindle fire logo when I first power up. I just installed the recommended stuff with the Kindle Fire Utility.
Fixes I've tried:
1. Restarting the device
2. Force stopping the app, then clearing the cache.
3. Going to the play store and choosing "Uninstall". The problem is, this doesn't really uninstall the app, it says something like "this will uninstall all updates to the kindle reader". If I go to settings --> applications, the option to fully uninstall is grayed out.
After doing the google play 'uninstall', the device freezes if I try to launch the reader.
4. Manually reinstalling/updating via the google play store. Now it launches and the device doesn't freeze, but I still get the errors. Also my books are gone but that's no biggie.
I also called tech support. They had me unregister my device from settings --> My Account... and eventually re-register it.
They also had me clear cache. Then those things didn't work they elevated me to level 2 tech support.
I foolishly mentioned I had the go launcher installed, they refused to help any further and insisted the 3rd party launcher was the cause of the problem, and my only fix is to factory reset and stick to the stock software.
So, if you made it this far, thanks for listening... now what?
If you have Root Explorer (or equivelent) for access to system apk files, you could try deleting that app from the /system/app folder, restart the device, go back to the system apps, paste another copy (or version) of that app in there and set permissions to match the other apks in the folder, reboot and hope it might correct the issue. It sounds like a software glitch from the getgo even on un-rooted devices.
howdy, thanks for the idea.
I have root explorer and root access, but when I go to rename or delete anything in that folder, I get "the file cannot be renamed because the file system is read only".
Also, I'm only assuming it's the app called "Kindle for Otter" which is the only one with the traditional kindle reader icon of a dude under a tree reading.
Is there an alternative reader that's still very convenient? Like I don't have to download books via USB or anything, it just monitors the appropriate folders and my freshly-purchased books appear in the list?
CreeDo said:
howdy, thanks for the idea.
I have root explorer and root access, but when I go to rename or delete anything in that folder, I get "the file cannot be renamed because the file system is read only".
Also, I'm only assuming it's the app called "Kindle for Otter" which is the only one with the traditional kindle reader icon of a dude under a tree reading.
Is there an alternative reader that's still very convenient? Like I don't have to download books via USB or anything, it just monitors the appropriate folders and my freshly-purchased books appear in the list?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must just be rooted and not have any custom ROM installed otherwise you could mount the system/app folder as r/w, meaning you probably don't have Superuser installed? Superuser is supposed to be installed when you root the device with the Kindle Utility but I couldn't get it to do it. Since you are rooted then you could try the MoDoCo ROM as it is based on Amazon's own 6.3.1 software and includes the Kindle Reader, Amazon app store and everything that is included with the stock software. In addition it includes the Google services framework and Playstore so you can have the best of both worlds, Google and Amazon. It runs much better than stock and I just flashed it onto my wife's Kindle and she is pretty satisfied with it.
There are plenty of decent reader apps and my suggestion would be try many different ones until you find a suitable one.
Josepho1997 said:
Actually, you just have to click the button on the top of root explorer. It should says "Mount R/W" Click it. Now you should be able to delete it and replace it.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that is true but if Superuser (or equivelent) isnt present it doesnt work to well
Well, the mountR/W thing worked, and since then I've gone through a bunch of stuff.
And I'm back to square one. But read anyway if you're bored.
I'm a the point where I could reluctantly nuke everything and start over, I guess that would involve reflashing the rom
and reinstalling all apps?
Here's what I've tried:
• Replaced kindleforotter.apk, set permissions, and rebooted, when the kindle came back up it went straight to the stock launcher... weird.
Maybe cuz GoLauncher coincidentally updated.
• At this point I should click that APK, right? But, curious, I went to my books tab.
All my books are there but missing covers. Some have a down arrow/download icon, others don't.
• 4 books without the icon successfully redownloaded after an error, and were readable.
Sadly these are all older books and the other 20 or 30 books would not do anything when tapped.
• Next I tried reinstalling the app by clicking the kindleforotter.apk I downloaded. It reinstalled, I rebooted,
clicking the shortcut still doesn't work but I went back to the books tab in my kindle launcher.
Now, none of the items launch. The "Invalid Title" items give that error again, but this time they do not redownload.
• I tried removing everything from sdcard/Books and sdcard/Kindle and rebooting. Now only those 4 'lucky' books show up.
But they no longer open when tapped. Looks like it's trying to launch the reader but it crashes.
• Tried manually resending the latest book to my kindle via Amazon's website. It didn't show up.
• So I clicked Sync under my settings icon, and that really hosed it. The kindle launcher would infinitely crash and reopen.
• Since that's worse than the original issue I just updated the reader via the play store, getting myself back to square one.
Thanks if anyone has any other ideas... or some less painful way to reinstall this app completely without wiping out everything.
Sounds like a big mess.....you might just have to start over from scratch. At least that "should" clear up the misc. errors you're receiving. You'd have to re-root if but that process is simple. Reinstalling apps might take a little time but would be worth it if it corrects the issue. The Kindle's stock software (or any software) is not immune to undesirable performance.
One basic correction attempt with software and operating systems is to wipe it clean and re-install. I've had many PCs that had to be wiped and the OS re-installed to fix messed up stuff. Usually we try to re-install apps first to see if it corrects it......sounds like you've already done that.
You could always just find an alternative reader
Howdy... I went ahead and tried support one more time (sometimes you get lucky) but they had no ideas other than a factory reset. I'm gonna look into modaco.
edit: on the off chance you come back to this thread,
I factory reset, installed modaco via TWRP, have one problem.
Books work fine. But I can't access my apps.
When I click the "Apps" tab at the top, the screen flashes briefly and then I'm right back to the usual home screen
(aka the default kindle launcher screen).
I seem to remember a notification (with an amazon icon) about pending app downloads, in the bar at the top.
I skipped over it to check on my books. Now it's gone, and I can't get it back or view a list of apps on the system.
What gives?
CreeDo said:
Howdy... I went ahead and tried support one more time (sometimes you get lucky) but they had no ideas other than a factory reset. I'm gonna look into modaco.
edit: on the off chance you come back to this thread,
I factory reset, installed modaco via TWRP, have one problem.
Books work fine. But I can't access my apps.
When I click the "Apps" tab at the top, the screen flashes briefly and then I'm right back to the usual home screen
(aka the default kindle launcher screen).
I seem to remember a notification (with an amazon icon) about pending app downloads, in the bar at the top.
I skipped over it to check on my books. Now it's gone, and I can't get it back or view a list of apps on the system.
What gives?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd......I never experienced that with MoDaCo. Did you wipe everything before you flashed MoDaCo (cache, dalvik, factory reset and system)? There were slight bugs with MoDaCo I noticed but nothing like that. Try reflashing but dont wipe sd card
guitarman2010 said:
That's odd......I never experienced that with MoDaCo. Did you wipe everything before you flashed MoDaCo (cache, dalvik, factory reset and system)? There were slight bugs with MoDaCo I noticed but nothing like that. Try reflashing but dont wipe sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll see if I can do that. One worry I had... I see modaco is offered in more than one place, and seems to have some options with the installation...
can you point me to a specific zip file that you know for sure is a good working one? Otherwise, I'll assume my zip is good but my wipe wasn't. I just factory reset and never messed with dalvik and the rest, I'm guessing that's all important...
CreeDo said:
Very few search results for this error, so I'm out of ideas. It has come up once before but the thread is closed -->
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1356441
My reader worked fine for 8 months. Then it updated to version 3.7.0.108.
?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem. Solved it by going back to an earlier version of the app.3.6.0.87.
Hey, just wanted to thank you, I reinstalled modaco, but first did the cache wipe and dalvid wipe from the TWRP menus. Apps tab works fine now. Books too.
So far only one minor hiccup... the apps I had formerly installed via GoLauncher. I logged into google play, redownloaded one of them (DrawSomething) and specified that it send the app to my Kindle Fire from the dropdown. It gave me something like "this app will be installed shortly". But I never got anything... no download, no notification. Did it a second time and same deal. Eventually I downloaded it from the Amazon app store, but I'm worried apps from Google Play won't work easily anymore.
Do you know what I should do if I need an app from Google Play?
Had same problem
In case it helps anyone else. I had the same problem. Turns out that the google play store (which remember doesn't come standard with a Fire) had updated the Amazon Kindle application. I went into the play store and uninstalled (un-updated) the Amazon Kindle app and then everything worked.
Good Luck!
Old version solved it!
mochamoo said:
I had the same problem. Solved it by going back to an earlier version of the app.3.6.0.87.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a rooted 1st gen KF running a cyanogen ICS ROM where the Kindle app had been working fine for a while, but suddenly wasn't registered and I couldn't even get the register dialog to display. Found the 3.6.0.87 apk online, installed it and it works fine now.
FYI 3.6.0.87 works on non rooted
pofigster said:
I have a rooted 1st gen KF running a cyanogen ICS ROM where the Kindle app had been working fine for a while, but suddenly wasn't registered and I couldn't even get the register dialog to display. Found the 3.6.0.87 apk online, installed it and it works fine now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This fixes the same problem for non-rooted Kindle Fires where you are running an sideloaded launcher and the Kindle book app and need to reregister.

Trio 4.3 Root and Google Play Store

Hi,
Like everyone else I have to say"Follow these instructions at your own risk" I do not take any responsibility for any thing that happens. It worked for me so it may work for you!
Trio 4.3 Internet Tablet M4302 Model Trio 4.3MID 4.0C by Mach Speed Technologies
I just picked this tablet up. I have successfully rooted it and have installed a working Play Store. I now have access to all my apps that I use on my Galaxy Note 10.1.
To root I used the instructions from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886460
Once I had root I wanted to get Google Play Store on the tab. I found a couple of places that had information concerning adding Play Store to other devices and kind of pieced the info together to come up with this solution.
1. Download gapps for ICS. http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-ics-20120429-signed.zip
2. Unzip file
3. Navigate to the " System/app " folder and find "phonesky.apk and setupwizard.apk"
(You will need to copy these two files to your tablet)
4. Once files are on tablet use something like "Root Explorer" to copy both to the "system/app" folder of the tablet.
(The folders will need to be mounted as "R/W" so they can be written to )
5. After the files are copied to the proper folder, you need to edit the permissions for both.
6. In "Root Explorer" long press on each file and choose "permissions"
7. Edit permissions to read "Owner: Read, Write" "Group: Read" "Others: Read"
8. Reboot and launch Play Store
Frys has this for $49...thinking I might need to order it as a music player for my 2 month old!
I used this method to get Google Play Store to work, But its not rooted. At least you can download the files.
http://nwteche.com/red7_blog/instal...-or-most-other-tablets-running-android-2-3-3/
works great thanks successfully rooted and installed google play on my trio stealth lite 4.3" internet tablet m4302 runing android 4.0.4 :victory:
Mine came rooted
Thank you for this post!
Just wanted to give a heads up for anyone who finds this thread through Google or whatever, like I did, that it's possible your device is already rooted.
I bought mine today from Big Lots - branded as a: Trio 4.3" Touch Screen Media Player for Android by Mach Speed Technologies - on the box (well blister plastic wrap thing that is Hades to open...). The instruction user's manual, however just calls it a Trio 4.3" Internet Tablet.
(Specs from the box.)
Android OS 4.0
4.3" Capacitive Touch Screen
4GB Internal Memory with Micro SD Slt (Up to 32GB)
Built-in WiFi
Speaker
Auto Rotate for Portrait & Landscape Viewing
1.2GHz Processor
Rechargable Li-on Battery
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you, and let everyone know to check your device first. There may be better ways to check, but there are a couple of apps in the Amazon App Store called "Root Checker" - don't get the "My Root Checker" - it has crazy pop-up ads - I deleted it in seconds. But just check to see if your device is rooted. It could save you some time, and potential headaches.
Well, jsut confirming that this guide works. In the root post, I used the stadard root method...if you are like me and got this for a little one, they wanted apps. Of course I couldnt open until today...but it really works. I just dowloaded the root explorer apk (a quick google search worked) and installed it...i can upload a screen shot if necessary
chad78 said:
Thank you for this post!
it's possible your device is already rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. I picked up two of these devices and both were already rooted.
Dude, does anybody have the factory rom? I don't even have custom recovery but, I fukt up and tried to install cm9 and it says to reset the phone but, the touchscreen wont work. I dunno if I'm gonna be able to fix this or not. I've hard bricked a lot of android phones and still fixed em somehow so maybe I can. Any help?
C
Sent from my MB886 using xda premium
My Trio also had root access right out of the box. Followed the instructions right down to obtaining the "root explorer" apk. Worked like a charm, no issues at all. Now I just need to find a custom rom that will perform better than stock. Thanks for all the info.
Hulu Plus
Since this is the best thread for this tablet I've found. I wanted to ask if anyone has gotten Hulu to work? I have installed many different versions including the latest and all of them will play the ads just fine, but once it gets the episode it just sits there and buffers and buffers and buffers. Devices on the same WIFI have no issues. I am even talking with Hulu suppor about it and of course they are playing dumb about it and just giving me standard troubleshooting. Is this tablet blocked by Hulu somehow because it's chinese made? I don't get a region error, which I can force with proxies and such. I just get buffering and buffering and buffering. Any help would be much appreciated.
I need firmware or update.zip im stuck on boot screen.

[Q] Data recovery on Xperia S (rooted)

Hi all,
Just wanted to start by saying, big thanks to DooMLoRD and the rest of the xda-developers forum for providing me the tools to get root access to a friends phone, who has recently accidentally deleted all their photos and videos. If we are successful, I'll definitely be suggesting that they make a donation to Doom for his epic contributions
I'm trying to help them recover the lost media. I know that typically performing data recovery on a phone requires root access, so I have gone ahead and done this. On with...
My question:
I've got an Xperia S running Jellybean (4.1.2) which is rooted. However attempting to use my data recovery tools on the phone, the device is not shown as a storage device. As you may well be aware, the S does not come with external storage. The S also has the 'mass storage mode' removed. Nice one Sony, give professionals another reason to avoid your products in the future...
I don't want to Flash the phone since any added files will start destroying the potentially recoverable data (plus I'd simply rather not format the phone if possible).
Is it possible to mount the internal storage of the Sony Xperia S as a drive so that I can run my PC based data recovery tools on it?
I imagine App Store apps are too lightweight to handle a file-based undeletion. If I could just see the device in my recovery apps I'm sure I'd be in business! I've attempted Recuva and R-Studio.
Doing some more research (like a good little n00b) I imagine I'm going to need SD Mounter.
I'm a little thrown off because 'SD' usually describes SD cards (of which the Xperia S has none). Also, the screenshots (for SD mounter) seem to indicate it's for ICS so I'm not sure if there's going to be a compatibility issue there.
Am I barking up the wrong tree by making this assumption? Should JellyBean have access to the mass storage and the option is simply not showing for some reason? Anyway, I'll continue working under my assumptions until someone suggests otherwise...
To get SD Mounter running, I'm going to need BusyBox. The problem is, I'm trying to read the BusyBox installation FAQ, and I'm finding it very vague. Like...
and save it under the name "busybox"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but it does not specify WHERE. Make a folder called 'busybox' on the root folder of the phone? Somewhere on my PC (the page suggests its for the PC rather than the phone)? Also I'm seeing Linux-looking command lines, but I'm on a PC... can I run this via the command prompt in Windows? I downloaded the 'binaries' like it said, but there aren't any executables in here...
Can anyone shed some light?
There's an app called BusyBox Installer, that installs it correctly on my Xperia S. That SD Mounter app works perfectly on 4.1.2, though. I use time to time. It just messes up a bit with Media Scanner, requiring me to do a reboot on the phone to make it work again.
I wish you lot of luck trying to recover your files. I once tried something like that, but came unsuccessful. There were some media I wish I had saved, but it wasn't THAT important, so I just gave up.
Suggest to your friend, though, to get an account on Mega, Box.net or Dropbox. All of them has auto backup of camera media to the server. All of them has options to backup only on WiFi, and even when charging only. The first two has 50 Gb of free storage for life (Box, you just need to sign with your Xperia device), and the later only 2 Gb, but you can get more and more with promotions.
Alternatively, he can enable the Google+ Auto Backup. There is 15 Gb (shared with Gmail and Google Drive) for pictures on original resolution or unlimited on 2048px, compressed. On Google+, though, you have the Auto Awesome, which make some awesome images.
Hope it helped. If I can help any further, just tag me
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk
Hey Felimenta97, thanks for your swift response!
Felimenta97 said:
There's an app called BusyBox Installer...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see 'BusyBox Installer' in the Play Store, is that the one? Seems strange that the Play Store would add an app that requires rooting. Just wanna make sure I shouldn't be looking for it somewhere else (plus I'm away from that phone at the moment)
Felimenta97 said:
It just messes up a bit with Media Scanner, requiring me to do a reboot on the phone to make it work again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's okay. I've warned them this process might even brick their entire phone. They are prepared (I hope) for complete loss/compromised apps
Felimenta97 said:
...I wish you lot of luck trying to recover your files. I once tried something like that, but came unsuccessful...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*touches wood*. Gah I'm suddenly 10 times less confident this file recovery is gonna work. Wish me luck! They'll be crushed if I can't get their media back...
Felimenta97 said:
...get an account on Mega, Box.net or Dropbox...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh trust me, I've already given them the lecture
Thanks for your help!
TheWaste said:
Hey Felimenta97, thanks for your swift response!
I see 'BusyBox Installer' in the Play Store, is that the one? Seems strange that the Play Store would add an app that requires rooting. Just wanna make sure I shouldn't be looking for it somewhere else (plus I'm away from that phone at the moment)
That's okay. I've warned them this process might even brick their entire phone. They are prepared (I hope) for complete loss/compromised apps
*touches wood*. Gah I'm suddenly 10 times less confident this file recovery is gonna work. Wish me luck! They'll be crushed if I can't get their media back...
Oh trust me, I've already given them the lecture
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I'm a lazy person, who can't find a way to break quotes into multiple parts (serious, how do you Do that, without having to write the quote code every time? It is not much, but I'm really lazy, so yeah.
Yep, that's the app. There's no reason for Google to block root apps. It's a function of the OS itself, just hidden from users. It's one of the easiest things to do on a Nexus device, after all. It's hidden because, if used without caution, can soft brick your device. But, don't worry, that shouldn't do any harm. At it least it hasn't with my device until now haha
As I said, I had already lost lots of stuff, and I didn't bothered much to go any further to recover it. It was a simply Install Recuva, run on the SD card and see if I could restore anything. Nothing? OK, no worries. As you already mentioned in your first post, avoid at all costs writing new files to the SD Card partition.
About the lecture, yeah, I imagined you had already told them, but it doesn't hurt to tell anyway.
About the SD Card on the Xperia S, another technical info you might or might not know, and also doesn't hurt to tell. Until Android 2.3, devices with a big internal storage required a partition for cache, one for data (apps and their own data), one for system, and one SD Card. The last one in Fat32 (plus others, but those are just too small and insignificant, for most, anyway) Think of a normal hard drive with plenty of partitions. Since Xperia S was developed (and launched) with 2.3 (one of Sony's biggest mistakes with this phone), it had to follow those "guidelines".
With Android 4.0 and beyond, the above mentioned data and SD Card turned into one partition, in Ext4 format. That data partition stores both apps and their data, and also other types of media, like media, documents, and etc. That storage goes into a mounted folder.
Anyway, again, wish you good luck. If they aren't very close friends/relatives, you should charge some money for all the hassle if you recover haha
Sent from my SGP311 using Tapatalk
Felimenta97 said:
how do you Do that, without having to write the quote code every time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, actually I still kinda do. #hen I hit 'reply' I empty the quote block, copy the empty quote block a few times, then copy-paste the parts of the text I'm replying to as I go
Felimenta97 said:
avoid at all costs writing new files to the SD Card partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah absolutely.
Felimenta97 said:
Until Android 2.3, devices with a big internal storage required a partition for cache, one for data (apps and their own data), one for system, and one SD Card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jeaz. Thank god I don't have to eff around with that!
Felimenta97 said:
With Android 4.0 and beyond, the above mentioned data and SD Card turned into one partition, in Ext4 format. That data partition stores both apps and their data, and also other types of media, like media, documents, and etc. That storage goes into a mounted folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't need to re-format the internal storage of the phone to attempt recovery do I?
Thanks again Felimenta!
TheWaste said:
Haha, actually I still kinda do. #hen I hit 'reply' I empty the quote block, copy the empty quote block a few times, then copy-paste the parts of the text I'm replying to as I go
Yeah absolutely.
Jeaz. Thank god I don't have to eff around with that!
I don't need to re-format the internal storage of the phone to attempt recovery do I?
Thanks again Felimenta!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not in Xperia S case. As I said, it is on Fat32, so it is easily mount-able on Windows.
On any phone with Android 4.0 or more, you'd need a Linux to do the recovery. You can't format it, or else you will turn the device into a really expensive paperweight.
Sent from my SGP311 using Tapatalk

Confused whether or not my Xperia Play is a fake and need help with getting Games

I just got my Sony Ericsson Xperia play and I think i got scammed. (I am a noob to computer things and tech in general so im sorry. I also am young and have no idea whats happening.) So first off, I try and root this, and it doesnt work, it says on Flashtool, {Part 1 of rooting failed, deleting and trying again} or something like that. Also it is a R800i model, but is Verizon, idk if that is supposed to be correct but i though R800i was for At&t. Also im trying to get games but they all fail, i have to get apks but people keep saying to put them in system/apps, which idk where that is on my SD card. I go to my Games file in the SD and see nothing in there, nothing at all. When i try and put my crash bandicoot apk in the game folder, i try and drag it in there and it wont let me, like it doesnt drop in the folder. I Dont know if im just a dumb kid or my Xperia Play is a fake, but i need serious help.
It's been like 20 days since you asked and I hope if you haven't figured it out on your own, that you at least didn't sold it because owning a Xperia Play in 2023 is just based. And there are no fakes.
How do you know it's a Verizon Play, just because of the logo? If you bought it from AliExpress recently, they are refurbished and matched with random shells (we used to have more Plays with a shell without carrier logos afaik but that's a little more rare now). It might be a R800i (carrier unlocked) inside, with a R800x (Verizon) shell.
Check the wiki in here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/xperiaplay/comments/ktz8hx
it literally has all the practical steps you need to follow to install ADB, fastboot and USB drivers, flashing kernels, recoveries and systems, sideloading apps and games... I sent a link to a page that has a link to the wiki, because this page has more useful stuff such as a link to a Discord server with other Xperia Play owners.
There's some stuff you might need to know first tho:
After you have installed ADB, fastboot, the drivers on you computer, unlocked the bootloader, flashed a neat custom kernel, recovery and ROM (I recommend the LuPuS kernel, TWRP and NXT Gaming respectively - bonus with NXT is that you don't need to root it), you'll get to the step of sideloading apps.
To install games, please don't install them to the internal storage even if you had to do it to save your life (that's "/data/app" at the root of the internal storage, because "/system/app" is for system apps... as the path name implies, and it's also at the root of internal storage).
Also don't mind the paths, you'll never need to put APKs there manually, if you install them (like you install any APK in any Android phone) that's where they go to behind the curtains and you don't really need to understand it, unless you want to ofc. Just in case you don't know how to install APKs the normal way, well, that wiki's got your back.
Normal apps like, idk, a terminal emulator, a file manager, you can install to the internal storage (that is, just install and forget about it). For games, you'll want to install them to the SD card (that is, just install them but then go to Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > [game name] > Move to SD card).
The first app you need to install is a file manager, the wiki teaches you how to install ES but I personally prefer FX. You can follow the same steps but just change the file name, and you can download it here: https://send.vis.ee/download/e1a641e6ee452023/#2sX0oEiwyUn1ciZKc7pAYQ - expires in 3 days.
And to install games, it goes beyond installing their APKs. You'll have to place certain files in certain folders (on the SD card), sometimes it's easier like with Crash Bandicoot, sometimes it's Dark Souls-hard like with some EA and Gameloft games... for that, you can ask for help in the Discord. They also have a lot of game links there.

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