AdAway on Write Protected /system Partitions for htc desire 816 - Desire 816 Themes and Apps

hi guys
If your /system partition is write protected like on the HTC DESIRE 816 and you try to use an advertisement blocker like AdAway, you will encounter that changes to /system/etc/hosts are lost after reboot and ad blocking doesn't work. You have basically 3 methods to get around this: for those who facing ads on phone during browsing,now you can remove those ads by following ways,
1. flash this via custom recovery symlink_hosts_to_data.zip to create a symbolic link from
/system/etc/hosts to /data/data/hosts. Afterwards you can configure AdAway to use /data/data/hosts (as shown in attached screenshot) and it will work perfectly with updates and everything.
2.then install the AdAway apkthen open it let update new host file the go option>preferences>target hosts file>just check /data/data/hosts as shown on image below
3.And if you want to back as normal you can restore it by flash restore_original_hosts.zip
hit thank button if i helped
NOTE: your phone should be rooted for AdAway to work
symlink_hosts_to_data.zip
AdAway apk
restore_original_hosts.zip

The image in for step no 2 is here .

Not working on LP..

fernoct said:
Not working on LP..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should work just flash… ..symlink host data zip…. Then install the lastest adAway apk… .if not mistaken is ver 3… ..

No luck bro..

mbwambo said:
hi guys
If your /system partition is write protected like on the HTC DESIRE 816 and you try to use an advertisement blocker like AdAway, you will encounter that changes to /system/etc/hosts are lost after reboot and ad blocking doesn't work. You have basically 3 methods to get around this: for those who facing ads on phone during browsing,now you can remove those ads by following ways,
1. flash this via custom recovery symlink_hosts_to_data.zip to create a symbolic link from
/system/etc/hosts to /data/data/hosts. Afterwards you can configure AdAway to use /data/data/hosts (as shown in attached screenshot) and it will work perfectly with updates and everything.
2.then install the AdAway apkthen open it let update new host file the go option>preferences>target hosts file>just check /data/data/hosts as shown on image below
3.And if you want to back as normal you can restore it by flash restore_original_hosts.zip
hit thank button if i helped
NOTE: your phone should be rooted for AdAway to work
symlink_hosts_to_data.zip
AdAway apk
restore_original_hosts.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the symlink.zip. It works in HTC Desire 626s. I'm going to share a link here with my forum mates @
http://forum.xda-developers.com/des...m-flashable-stock-htc-626s-debloated-t3293602
Nice work! No more ads!

Related

[Q] [SOLVED] Problem with root since update to Stock JB 4.1.1

Hello,
I used "OTA RootKeeper" too "save" my root, and then updated my phone.
I had to re root manually, and since this moment when I try to install busybox or to update su binary my phone reboots.
I tried to manually remove the root (by removing the Superuser.apk and su files), to wipe /data, dalvik_cache, cache etc...
Nothing seems to solve the problem
Does anyone have an idea?
Thanks for your answers!
(Sorry for my English I'm French )
Yep, the jb update has a kernel that write protects /system, at least for the One x and Droid DNA
Is that to say Hassoon's toolkit won't work on a JB updated device?
I've just updated and I'm regretting every minute that I've used it since....
RootJunkie said:
Is that to say Hassoon's toolkit won't work on a JB updated device?
I've just updated and I'm regretting every minute that I've used it since....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means root doesn't really exist on jb.. even if you install su, any changes made will be undone at a reboot
absolutelygrim said:
That means root doesn't really exist on jb.. even if you install su, any changes made will be undone at a reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What to do?
Actually the phone gets rooted fine busybox is installed, checked with Root Validator after several reboots, but it seems system partition, or something else is not mounted with write privileges.
S-On ?? Maybe? I'm not a HTC guy....
mihaiolimpiu said:
Actually the phone gets rooted fine busybox is installed, checked with Root Validator after several reboots, but it seems system partition, or something else is not mounted with write privileges.
S-On ?? Maybe? I'm not a HTC guy....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
System is write protected.. due to the kernel, you need s-off or a different kernel, and seeing as there is no kernel source, ICS or aosp are your options. Try making a folder in /system, it should be gone after a reboot
But the files I create from TWRP recovery aren't removed after a reboot. The Superuser.apk is still here after a reboot.
So it seems that I can write to /system from recovery.
Do you know if there's a flashable zip for busybox?
I flashed the one in the JB discussion thread... I think it contains Busybox and SU and it works like a charm... It's a problem but there are workarounds...
For me everything works as long as it doesn't write data to system .
AdBlock works, it gets SU rights but it cannot write the hosts file... I will try later to use the symlink solution...
Su + Busybox
WAY LATER EDIT:
System Partition RW on JB stock roms via kernel module
mihaiolimpiu said:
I flashed the one in the JB discussion thread... I think it contains Busybox and SU and it works like a charm... It's a problem but there are workarounds...
For me everything works as long as it doesn't write data to system .
AdBlock works, it gets SU rights but it cannot write the hosts file... I will try later to use the symlink solution...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=35907661&postcount=1928
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tested it and everything I used before on my phone is working again and no more unwanted reboot
Thanks a lot !
I sent a PM to TeHashX, he was asking for review on his work, and also thanked him... His work could benefit others... so make his post more visible!
Remember, that because of the kernel, AdBlock still doesn't work, basically every program that modifies /system works but only apparently. I could use Titanium very well, only Integrate in Rom option doesn't work so take care using "ROOT" on HOS JB.

[Q] Blocking ADs on Kitkat

I am on Speedmod ROM 4.4.2 by Giugiu. I have tried many AD blocking apps like Adaway, Adfree, Adblock etc and even this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1916098
but none of them seem to work. The hosts file in /system/etc gets modified all right, but ADs still appear in most of the apps. Could anyone help me out here?
I had no problems when on GB or JB, its only on KK that I get this issue.
Try this
mon_iker said:
I am on Speedmod ROM 4.4.2 by Giugiu. I have tried many AD blocking apps like Adaway, Adfree, Adblock etc and even this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1916098
but none of them seem to work. The hosts file in /system/etc gets modified all right, but ADs still appear in most of the apps. Could anyone help me out here?
I had no problems when on GB or JB, its only on KK that I get this issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using any root file explorer navigate to system/etc/host file and set the permissions as readable and writable.
Then try again using any of the ad blocker.
Hope this helps you..
Good luck
​
bibhu60 said:
Using any root file explorer navigate to system/etc/host file and set the permissions as readable and writable.
Then try again using any of the ad blocker.
Hope this helps you..
Good luck
​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! But what's strange here is I'm perfectly able to replace the hosts file. It's a whopping 13 MB in size and has the list of all the ad sources to be blocked. Funnily enough none of the ads get blocked.

Can I install adaway or the adaway host file without rooting on the P900 ?

Hello everyone, I don't want to root my device just yet due to the fact that it's still under warranty... So since I only want to remove ads, can you tell me if there's a way to block ads on an unroot device, like pushing the file on adb shell or something like that ? I don't want to use adblock plus it simply doesn't work.
Thanks in advance !
leomon32 said:
Hello everyone, I don't want to root my device just yet due to the fact that it's still under warranty... So since I only want to remove ads, can you tell me if there's a way to block ads on an unroot device, like pushing the file on adb shell or something like that ? I don't want to use adblock plus it simply doesn't work.
Thanks in advance !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are only so many ways to replace a system (hosts in this case) file within Android and almost all of them require rooting the device or tripping Knox with TWRP. You might be able to do it with adb push/pull commands but that is quite an advanced technique. Even then, I've had it request root access in CM to run the adb commands on the system apps. In reality the easy ways to do it requires root and my advice would be to try using the adblock browser or another custom browser that blocks ads until you are ready to root it.
AlkaliV2 said:
There are only so many ways to replace a system (hosts in this case) file within Android and almost all of them require rooting the device or tripping Knox with TWRP. You might be able to do it with adb push/pull commands but that is quite an advanced technique. Even then, I've had it request root access in CM to run the adb commands on the system apps. In reality the easy ways to do it requires root and my advice would be to try using the adblock browser or another custom browser that blocks ads until you are ready to root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that's actually just what I thought. It's weird because you can change the density and the resolution of that tablet with the adb push on the fly without root or knox tripping but I guess the whole file is read only and that's why root is needed (the hosts).
There is a proxy ad blocker on market. Works just fine and does not require root . search market and you find a few.
use hosts without root
I know a simple way to use hosts without root:
enter playstore
search: "virtual hosts"
you will see a green icon of the apk
download it
open it and then you will see a big switch button.
click on it and then choose the host that you want to use
(if you want to make the host to be on startup, just click the plus icon in the corner and then you will see an android icon. just click on it).

removing spotify

I wanted to totally remove spotify from my phone its part of the system files since the nougat update, i rooted it last night and tried to remove with numerous apps from the store, ie titanium etc but i come back out and its still there, anyone have a suggestion for me?
thanks
blackman2002 said:
I wanted to totally remove spotify from my phone its part of the system files since the nougat update, i rooted it last night and tried to remove with numerous apps from the store, ie titanium etc but i come back out and its still there, anyone have a suggestion for me?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to disable dm-verity, look for thread on xda there is already boot image patched with disabled dm verity.
blackman2002 said:
I wanted to totally remove spotify from my phone its part of the system files since the nougat update, i rooted it last night and tried to remove with numerous apps from the store, ie titanium etc but i come back out and its still there, anyone have a suggestion for me?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use system app remover
Disconnect internet
First uninstall update user app
Then uninstall system app
i have the same problem. No way to delete the app but just disable it. I have root and tried app remover, root explorer and app deleter ... same results.
Gave a try also at your method disabling internet but no success.
Is there a way to delete the native app ... i cannot install other apks because there a conflict
Nereoz said:
i have the same problem. No way to delete the app but just disable it. I have root and tried app remover, root explorer and app deleter ... same results.
Gave a try also at your method disabling internet but no success.
Is there a way to delete the native app ... i cannot install other apks because there a conflict
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can delete all apps without any issue. What is the error message?
or install this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamviewer.quicksupport.market
then send to me id
sceryavuz said:
I can delete all apps without any issue. What is the error message?
or install this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamviewer.quicksupport.market
then send to me id
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Solved. you are the man!!
many thanks.
Nereoz said:
Solved. you are the man!!
many thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem
What we did:
Busybox installed : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.busybox.installer
Termux installed : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux
ES File Explorer installed : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop
Open ES File Explorer, open Root Explorer on left side menu.
Open Termux, write "su", give root permission.
Write this "echo 0 > /sys/kernel/security/sony_ric/enable"
Write this "busybox mount -o remount,rw /system"
Open ES File Explorer, delete this folder "system/app/com.spotify.."
Reboot and done :fingers-crossed:
sceryavuz said:
No problem
What we did:
Busybox installed : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.busybox.installer
Termux installed : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux
ES File Explorer installed : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop
Open ES File Explorer, open Root Explorer on left side menu.
Open Termux, write "su", give root permission.
Write this "echo 0 > /sys/kernel/security/sony_ric/enable"
Write this "busybox mount -o remount,rw /system"
Open ES File Explorer, delete this folder "system/app/com.spotify.."
Reboot and done :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While the Termux told me it didn't find busybox and that didn't really seem to do much, I still did everything like this and it worked

HD 10 (2017): Xposed, FlashFire, etc.

The Xposed threads for older HDs haven't been updated in months, so I thought I would start a new one for the 2017 HD 10.
Before I begin, the standard disclaimer: This is a risky undertaking. If you encounter issues or, worse, end up with a brick, I (or the others here) will try to help you, but the risk is all yours. Before you start with Xposed, do a dd backup of your SuperSU-rooted /system (with SuperSU in /system) to use as a fallback. Details are below.
Xposed: Follow this guide to install Xposed. As of this writing, v89 works well.
Modules: See the screenshots for the modules I have installed and confirmed working and for the look of the status bar and the navigation bar using GB, FSBI, and Xstana.
Some other apps of choice:
Launcher: Apex (free)
Keyboard: Gboard
Browser: Lightning
File explorer: Root Explorer (only because I got it for free from an old Amz promotion)
Office: OfficeSuite (ditto reason above)
YouTube: OGYouTube
Media: VLC for Fire
Adblocker: AdAway
Backup: Titanium Backup and Backup+
Boot manager: ROM Toolbox Lite and All-In-One Toolbox
VPN: OpenVPN Connect
Update: I have finally been able to get FlashFire working, albeit an older version. I have tested backup/restore extensively (backup and restore of /system and /data) and flashed a few zips with success.
Requirements:
-- Root with SuperSU
-- FlashFire v0.24 or modified v0.51
-- Xposed with Per App Hacking module (to use Time Machine to load time-bombed FF)
-- Low risk aversion
-- Patience
Downloads:
-- Download the Xposed Installer from here. You should be downloading this framework: xposed-v89-sdk22-arm64 (the installer will likely pick it up from here).
-- Search for and download all the Xposed modules (the screenshot below contains the version numbers of the modules I have installed) from the Xposed Installer's Download tab. For modules that aren't in the Xposed repo, do a Google or XDA search. The Per App Hacking module is here.
-- Download FlashFire v0.24 or modified v0.51 from the attachments in this post.
I have now created a custom image (using dd) with SuperSU, Xposed, and FlashFire in /system. After a factory reset or adb sideload, I root with Kingo, dd this custom system.img, and reboot to have a SuperSU-rooted /system with working Xposed. You may have to run each of these apps once and reboot for things to work properly. Finally, install the Per App Hacking module to allow FlashFire to function. I would have loved to put the PAH module in /system as well, but FF doesn't like that.
FlashFire: How to get FF working and use it to backup and restore /system and /data:
-- Install FlashFire but do not open it. You can make it (and anything else) a system app at this point. I used Link2SD (long-press on the app and convert it to a system app), but manually moving it to /system/app or /system/priv-app works just as well. For SuperSU, just choose the option in Settings to make it a system app (this moves SuperSU to /system/app; you can confirm this using a root explorer). Reboot after you convert user apps into system apps.
-- Assuming you have Xposed working, install and activate the Per App Hacking module.
-- Go to the aforementioned module and scroll down to FF. Under Time Machine, choose a date around the time the version was active. For v0.24, I went with late Sept. 2015. The format is (date time): 2015-09-25 12:55.
-- Now start FF. It should open w/o complaints. Under Settings, use the best compression and all the cores.
-- This is not needed if you use FF to backup /system as a raw image, but here's how you use dd (to use as a failsafe in the event of a careless wipe, make sure you copy the backup off the tablet after it's done):
Code:
adb shell
su
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p13 of=/sdcard/system.img
-- If you are happy with your system partition, you can now backup using FF. Choose "raw" backup.
-- Here's where you wait ... and wait ... and wait. I have timed this wait: First, the Fire will reboot to a near-black screen. It will spend about 4 minutes on that screen before a huge Loading sign in the center and a bunch of /system modules being loaded. Next, you will be on a black, but slightly brighter, screen for another 4 minutes, after which you will see the red FF at the top and the backup progress at the bottom. The actual backup should take a minute or so and the Fire will reboot. Your backup should be in /sdcard/FlashFire/Backups/. Open system.gz in 7-Zip and extract system. Save it as system.img (file extension optional).
-- To backup /data, choose Normal backup in FF, check the data partition, and repeat the rest of the steps in FF (above).
-- You can chain actions in FF. For example, you can backup /system as Raw and /data as Normal in one shot, saving you an eight-minute wait.
-- After a factory reset (or if root is lost), use (offline) Kingo to root as usual (do not reboot), but don't jump through hoops to install SuperSU. Use dd to write back the saved system img (assuming it's in /sdcard):
Code:
adb shell
su
mount -w -o remount /system
dd if=/sdcard/system.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p13; sync
Note: Doing a live dump onto a mounted partition is risky. The above process is meant to save a few minutes. If you have time to burn, use FlashFire to restore /system. Using the steps in "FlashFire w/o Xposed," this will be even quicker.
Wait a few minutes and reboot. (If your Fire reboots before this is done, you will be stuck at the Fire logo, but adb shell and su will still be available. Repeat the dd and it should work this time. I have noticed that the likelihood of reboot during dd is (much) greater when moving from one version of FireOS to another.)
-- After confirming SuperSU is working as expected (change the default access to Grant), uninstall the Kingo junk.
-- Finally, restore the data partition using FF, but before you do so, install Per App Hacking and tweak it to get FF working.
FlashFire w/o Xposed: If you only care about FlashFire and don't want Xposed, here's a quick-and-dirty non-Xposed way to get FlashFire working (say, after an adb sideload and SuperSU): Change the date using busybox:
Code:
busybox date -s "201509221745"
Changing the system date has implications beyond FF, so this is just a quick fix to get FF working to do a restore, after which you should look to PAH as the permanent solution.
Given the risk of data corruption when dding back a system.img into a mounted /system, here's my recommended approach:
-- adb sideload update.bin
-- Root with (offline) Kingo
-- Install SuperSU v2.79
-- Get FF working with backdating using busybox
-- Use FF to restore /system and /data from backup
I like to use swype for keyboard. I use a version 1.8 from oppo which has a bult in voice key that activates google voice input, instead of dragon. it just seems to read my mind much better than gboard, or swiftkey.
For launcher, i use nova.
for browser i use chrome, just because it has all my passwords and history from my desktops and laptops.
for youtube, i use iYTPB Vanced version. I used to mess around with OG Youtube but it wasn't nearly as functional for me; maybe it's gotten much better over the years. I install regular youtube, login, then rename the modded youtube to iYTPB and replace the base.apk for youtube. It stays logged in. The main thing it does is get rid of ads and unlimited resolution on mobile
edit: what does a boot manager do?
mistermojorizin said:
what does a boot manager do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Prevents apps from running automatically at boot. You can also prevent apps from autorunning even after boot. This is a safer alternative (relative to wholesale uninstall).
ETA: See the updated OP for FlashFire-related information.
retyre said:
Prevents apps from running automatically at boot. You can also prevent apps from autorunning even after boot. This is a safer alternative (relative to wholesale uninstall).
To answer my question in the OP, I have finally been able to get FlashFire working, albeit an older version. Can't do much more than backup/restore at this point, but that's all I need (backup and restore of /system and /data). It has trouble restoring /system (presumably because FF starts by loading a minimal /system), but I just use good old dd to live-restore system.img.
Requirements:
-- Root with SuperSU
-- FlashFire v0.24
-- Xposed with Per App Hacking module (to use Time Machine to load time-bombed FF)
-- Low risk aversion
-- Patience
I have now created a custom image (using dd) with SuperSU, Xposed, FlashFire, and AdAway in /system. After a factory reset or adb sideload, I root with Kingo, dd this custom system.img, and reboot to have a SuperSU-rooted /system with working Xposed. Each of these apps has to be run once and rebooted for everything to work properly. Finally, install the Per App Hacking module to allow FF v0.24 to function. I would have loved to put the PAH module in /system as well, but FF doesn't like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is very interesting! Nice work! Let me know if i got this right:
get flashfire working with Per App Hacking, make a backup of /data
make SuperSu, Xposed App, AdAway, and FlashFire system apps
created a custom image (using dd) with SuperSU, Xposed, FlashFire, and AdAway in /system
root with Kingo
dd this custom system.img and reboot
run SuperSu and reboot
run Xposed (app) and reboot
run FlashFire and reboot
run AdAway and reboot
install Per App Hacking module to make FF function
restore /data with flashfire
Now come the stupid questions. I've tried researching this but couldn't figure these parts out.
In step 1, how do you use PAH to get FF working? How do you backup /data from inside FF? (I see the guide for installing xposed, so that's a given, but then what?) Do you also backup system.img with FF? Do you backup /data as an .img? Also, which version xposed do you use? in the guide it says use v87 but v89 is the current version.
In step 2, how do you check if SuperSu is properly installed as a system app? (I had run "make supersu a system app" when I rooted, but I don't know if it actually worked. I was just happy to get permanent root.) If SuperSu is not a system app, what's the best way to do it? Use the option from within SuperSu or move the apk to /syste/app and set proper permissions?
In step 3, I don't know how to do that. I researched "dd" and I know it's an adb command. But how do you use it specifically make a live-restore system.img?
In step 4, do you mean run the kingo from the PC and get the "temp root" without rebooting (the state right after we root with kingo but if we reboot without doing anything else, the root is lost)?
In step 5, same question as step 3 - how do you specifically do it?
In step 11, how do you restore /data with flashfire
sorry for all these questions, just want to make sure I am doing it exactly how you did it.
mistermojorizin said:
Let me know if i got this right:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Snipped a lot of your post, but here are the answers:
-- Do 2. and 3. first. If you make a backup of /data with the four apps and then make them system apps, you will have duplicates (one in the data backup and one in your system img).
ETA: Most of the FlashFire-related information that used to be here is now in the updated OP.
retyre said:
Snipped a lot of your post, but here are the answers:
-- Do 2. and 3. first. If you make a backup of /data with the four apps and then make them system apps, you will have duplicates (one in the data backup and one in your system img). But before you do that, you need to get FF working:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried installing xposed using the steps from your post here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74913548&postcount=160
now I am in a bootloop. it goes fire, optimizing apps, then loads walpaper and sometimes lockscreen, then reboots back to the fire logo. I use adb shell, su, mount system writeable, rm app_process64_xposed, says file not found (which makes sense because i made sure to delete it from system/bin before rebooting). What should I try?
mistermojorizin said:
I tried installing xposed using the steps from your post here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74913548&postcount=160
now I am in a bootloop. it goes fire, optimizing apps, then loads walpaper and sometimes lockscreen, then reboots back to the fire logo. I use adb shell, su, mount system writeable, rm app_process64_xposed, says file not found (which makes sense because i made sure to delete it from system/bin before rebooting). What should I try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this first. If that doesn't work, then this (not in TWRP obviously, but in a root shell from adb).
If SuperSU was working before you installed Xposed, you should be able to get to a root shell from adb, delete the xposed installer from /data/app and /data/data, and reboot.
Did you follow the steps to the letter?
retyre said:
Try this first. If that doesn't work, then this (not in TWRP obviously, but in a root shell from adb).
If SuperSU was working before you installed Xposed, you should be able to get to a root shell from adb, delete the xposed installer from /data/app and /data/data, and reboot.
Did you follow the steps to the letter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes pretty sure i followed the directions closely. here's what I did: installed xposed installer, selected install arm64-v89, deleted process_64, reboot. it optimized files for a while then went into this bootloop
i created a blank file from adb shell root system rw /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/disabled and then used the ls command to make sure it is indeed in there. I changed the xposed installer in data/app and data/data to .bak rather than deleting altogether. still not working
mistermojorizin said:
yes pretty sure i followed the directions closely. here's what I did: installed xposed installer, selected install arm64-v89, deleted process_64, reboot. it optimized files for a while then went into this bootloop
i created a blank file from adb shell root system rw /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/disabled and then used the ls command to make sure it is indeed in there. I changed the xposed installer in data/app and data/data to .bak rather than deleting altogether. still not working
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See whether wiping the cache partition in recovery and rebooting helps. And /data/dalvik-cache/ from a root shell.
retyre said:
See whether wiping the cache partition in recovery and rebooting helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried that and it didn't help, so i wiped dalvik cache from adb
rm -r /data/dalvik-cache
rm -r /cache/dalvik-cache
took 10 minutes to boot, but didn't work, same behavior
mistermojorizin said:
i tried that and it didn't help, so i wiped dalvik cache from adb
rm -r /data/dalvik-cache
rm -r /cache/dalvik-cache
took 10 minutes to boot, but didn't work, same behavior
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we have tried the usual Xposed-bootloop troubleshooting tips. Before you do adb sideload (w/o a factory reset), can you think of anything else you may have done to /system after your last working reboot? In particular, anything SuperSU-related?
no i didn't touch supersu, and i don't think i did anything with system either. is there any way to boot into safemode? also will sideloading 5.6 without factory reset get rid of root?
edit: it's so frustrating, it'll sometimes load the lockscreen and systemui, and even started nova launcher and i saw my homescreen. but it soft-reboots so quickly it seems like.
mistermojorizin said:
no i didn't touch supersu, and i don't think i did anything with system either. is there any way to boot into safemode? also will sideloading 5.6 without factory reset get rid of root?
edit: it's so frustrating, it'll sometimes load the lockscreen and systemui, and even started nova launcher and i saw my homescreen. but it soft-reboots so quickly it seems like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Earlier Kindles had a safe mode (power + vol down), but I don't think ours does. Yes, sideloading update .bin will clean /system, thus removing root.
Putting the "disabled" file in /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/ disables Xposed, so I doubt your current issue is Xposed-related (it may have been caused by the Xposed install, though).
Did you uninstall any system apps (or convert user apps like your launcher to system apps) after your last successful boot?
retyre said:
Earlier Kindles had a safe mode (power + vol down), but I don't think ours does. Yes, sideloading update .bin will clean /system, thus removing root.
Putting the "disabled" file in /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/ disables Xposed, so I doubt your current issue is Xposed-related (it may have been caused by the Xposed install, though).
Did you uninstall any system apps (or convert user apps like your launcher to system apps) after your last successful boot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no not since the last successful boot. i tried disabling a few root apps through adb, and then gave up and am doing the sideload. i've done this a ton of times the other day when i was trying to root. but now...it's stuck at 64% and in the screen says "patching system unconditionally'. It's been stuck for 5 minutes. I don't think this is normal, though i've never watched the whole process before.
Edit:it got through it and the %age is increasing at a reasonable pace now.
mistermojorizin said:
Edit:it got through it and the %age is increasing at a reasonable pace now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you root with SuperSU and set everything up, but before you try Xposed again (if you're not ready to give up yet!), do a dd dump of your system partition to use in the event of a boot loop.
retyre said:
Snipped a lot of your post, but here are the answers:
-- Do 2. and 3. first. If you make a backup of /data with the four apps and then make them system apps, you will have duplicates (one in the data backup and one in your system img). But before you do that, you need to get FF working:
-- Install FF v0.24 but do not open it. You can make it a system app at this point. I used Link2SD (right-click on the app and convert it to a system app), but moving it to /system/app or /system/priv-app works just as well. For SuperSU, just choose the option in Settings to make it a system app (this moves SuperSU to /system/app; you can check it using a root explorer). Reboot after you convert user apps into system apps.
-- Assuming you have Xposed working (v89 works fine), install and activate the Per App Hacking module.
-- Go to the aforementioned module and scroll down to FF. Under Time Machine, choose a date right after v0.24 was released (but before v0.26 just to be safe). I went with late Sept. 2015. The format is (date time): 2015-09-25 12:55.
-- Now start FF. It should open w/o complaints. Under Settings, use the best compression and all the cores.
-- This is not needed if you use FF to backup /system as a raw image, but here's how you use dd (make sure you copy the backup off the tablet after it's done):
Code:
adb shell
su
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p13 of=/sdcard/system.img
-- If you are happy with your system partition, you can now backup using FF. Choose "raw" backup.
-- Here's where you wait ... and wait ... and wait. I have timed this (I know what you're thinking!): First, the Fire will reboot to a near-black screen. It will spend about 4 minutes on that screen before a huge Loading sign in the center and a bunch of /system modules being loaded. Next, you will be on a black, but slightly brighter, screen for another 4 minutes, after which you will see the red FF logo at the top and backup progress at the bottom. The actual backup should take a minute or so and the Fire will reboot. Your backup should be in /sdcard/FlashFire/Backups/. Open system.gz in 7-Zip and extract system. Save it as system.img (file extension optional).
-- To backup /data, choose Normal backup in FF, check the data partition, and repeat the rest of the steps in FF (above). FF does not give you the option to backup /data as a raw image (thankfully, so you're not left with a 20G backup because /sdcard is in /data).
-- After a factory reset (or if root is lost), use the Kingo PC app and root as usual (do not reboot), but don't jump through hoops to install SuperSU. Use dd to write back the saved system img (assuming it's in /sdcard):
Code:
adb shell
su
mount -w -o remount /system
dd if=/sdcard/system.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p13; sync
Wait a few minutes and reboot. (If your Fire reboots before this is done, you will be stuck at the Fire logo, but adb shell and su will still be available. Repeat the dd and it should work this time.)
-- After confirming SuperSU is working as expected (change the default access to Grant), uninstall the Kingo junk.
-- Finally, restore the data partition using FF, but before you do so, install Per App Hacking and tweak it to get FF working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'm back up and running. I made a dd backup .
I got xposed going and I used time-machine for FF. Opened FF and hit the plus sign under actions, and selected only the data partition. It's been stuck on the fire splash screen for about 17 minutes now. Is that normal? I know you mentioned the raw system backup takes forever, but I thought data would go quicker, and I didn't expect it to spend all its time on the splashscreen.
edit: i force reboot after like 35mins of the boot screen. was glad to see that it reboot normally just fine. so i decided to try the raw system backup (by the way, in there it had system and boot prechecked, I unchecked boot - is that OK?). So I was expecting it to reboot to a blank screen as you mentioned, but nope, its just sitting at the "fire" boot screen again. I can get into ADB shell.
edit 2: i installed the wrong version of flashfire. gonna try again.
edit 3: 0.24 did the same thing
edit 4: changed FF to a user app, and now it seems to be working on backing up data partition (at least it's giving me a black screen instead of that boot logo). But to do system, i will need to move it to system. I've been using link2sd and it puts it in priv-app. maybe it should just be in system/app? It's working for you to backup system as a system app? Is it in priv-app?
mistermojorizin said:
So I'm back up and running. I made a dd backup .
I got xposed going and I used time-machine for FF. Opened FF and hit the plus sign under actions, and selected only the data partition. It's been stuck on the fire splash screen for about 17 minutes now. Is that normal? I know you mentioned the raw system backup takes forever, but I thought data would go quicker, and I didn't expect it to spend all its time on the splashscreen.
edit: i force reboot after like 35mins of the boot screen. was glad to see that it reboot normally just fine. so i decided to try the raw system backup (by the way, in there it had system and boot prechecked, I unchecked boot - is that OK?). So I was expecting it to reboot to a blank screen as you mentioned, but nope, its just sitting at the "fire" boot screen again. I can get into ADB shell.
edit 2: i installed the wrong version of flashfire. gonna try again.
edit 3: 0.24 did the same thing
edit 4: changed FF to a user app, and now it seems to be working on backing up data partition (at least it's giving me a black screen instead of that boot logo). But to do system, i will need to move it to system. I've been using link2sd and it puts it in priv-app. maybe it should just be in system/app? It's working for you to backup system as a system app? Is it in priv-app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing FF to user vs. system app should have no bearing on being able to backup /system as a raw image. I use it as a system app (in /system/priv-app) and it works fine. Did the /data backup complete? What's the size of the .gz file in /sdcard/FlashFire/Backups/**/? Which backup option are you choosing and which partitions are you checking in there?
Read my section about FF starting up (and how many minutes each step should take). Look carefully at the screen and tell me whether you see the "two stages of black." The first black should be darker than the second, and there should be a bunch of scrolling text (this will only last a second or two, so you will have to stare at your screen like your life depends on it) between the two stages. If you don't see the red FlashFire at the top in 8-10 minutes, something's gone wrong. In general, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the Fire's screen for the entire 10 minutes after you click Flash in FF and press OK.
retyre said:
Changing FF to user vs. system app should have no bearing on being able to backup /system as a raw image. I use it as a system app (in /system/priv-app) and it works fine. Did the /data backup complete? What's the size of the .gz file in /sdcard/FlashFire/Backups/**/? Which backup option are you choosing and which partitions are you checking in there?
Read my section about FF starting up (and how many minutes each step should take). Look carefully at the screen and tell me whether you see the "two stages of black." The first black should be darker than the second, and there should be a bunch of scrolling text (this will only last a second or two, so you will have to stare at your screen like your life depends on it) between the two stages. If you don't see the red FlashFire at the top in 8-10 minutes, something's gone wrong. In general, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the Fire's screen for the entire 10 minutes after you click Flash in FF and press OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ended up getting it to work. Had to uninstall, reinstall, change to user app again and everything worked. Don't know why it didn't work before. I appreciate all of your help. when doing the raw system backup, i only checked "system" and unchecked "boot". That sound right?
One thing I've been wondering about is why the arm64 version of xposed works on this devices. It does have a arm64 cpu, but it's instruction set is armv7 only, and from what i can tell, all of the apps it runs are not arm64 versions.
mistermojorizin said:
... when doing the raw system backup, i only checked "system" and unchecked "boot". That sound right?
One thing I've been wondering about is why the arm64 version of xposed works on this devices. It does have a arm64 cpu, but it's instruction set is armv7 only, and from what i can tell, all of the apps it runs are not arm64 versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You can check all the partitions just for completeness (esp. boot and recovery), but there's not much we can do with them at this time (other than for debricking; better to use dd with those images).
Yes, I noticed that as well. After trying the arm version, I realized the Xposed Installer cares more about the CPU architecture than the instruction set.
So, you never got FF to work as a system app? If it does, the only app to install after a dd restore will be PAH.
Were all the partitions backed up properly?
retyre said:
...
To answer my question in the OP, I have finally been able to get FlashFire working, albeit an older version. Can't do much more than backup/restore at this point, but that's all I need (backup and restore of /system and /data). It has trouble restoring /system (presumably because FF starts by loading a minimal /system), but I just use good old dd to live-restore system.img.
Requirements:
-- Root with SuperSU
-- FlashFire v0.24
-- Xposed with Per App Hacking module (to use Time Machine to load time-bombed FF)
-- Low risk aversion
-- Patience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May I inquire why you were using FF v0.24 ? What's wrong with the newer FF versions? Do they not work?
retyre said:
I have now created a custom image (using dd) with SuperSU, Xposed, FlashFire, and AdAway in /system. After a factory reset or adb sideload, I root with Kingo, dd this custom system.img, and reboot to have a SuperSU-rooted /system with working Xposed. Each of these apps has to be run once and rebooted for everything to work properly. Finally, install the Per App Hacking module to allow FF v0.24 to function. I would have loved to put the PAH module in /system as well, but FF doesn't like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the reason to save an img for /system, instead of just reloading everything upon getting root?
P.S. Wanted to add on the subject of Xposed. My must have Xposed modules are App Settings v1.13 (to make Chrome tabs behave like on a cell phone, instead of taking an extra line - link), GravityBox (to make status bar display notifications in colors, and up/down network traffic), and the module with a yellow smiley face (kind of like Walmart's)

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