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Contacts Recovery. No Screen (smashed), No Root and no USB Debug enabled

Hi, I have a friend who has just smashed their Desire S whilst out on Sat.
Unfortunately, as the title says, they have no screen (touch doesnt appear to work either but no real way of telling!), not root, no USB debug and I have already checked and they didnt have their contacts set to sync with their google account but with the phone! :-/
Can anyone give any suggestions other than a screen replacement? They have already got an S3 on the way today so just want to be able to restore their contacts.
Cheers and thanks in advance!

I think this is definitely possible, but it may get very complicated.
Do you have adb in recovery (you'll have to boot into fastboot and blindly navigate to the recovery option)? Is the bootloader unlocked?

Aquous said:
I think this is definitely possible, but it may get very complicated.
Do you have adb in recovery (you'll have to boot into fastboot and blindly navigate to the recovery option)? Is the bootloader unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying Aquous!
I have just been given the phone today from a friend to try and help them out so im not sure on either? Do you have a desire s and would be able to tell me the button sequence to get into recovery to find out? As for the bootloader being unlocked, i very much doubt it as the phone was running a stock orange rom.
Any ideas?
Cheers,

It is unlikely indeed that you will be able to recover the data as the phone is. If you're in the UK (possible as the phone is on Orange) and fancy posting it then I can stick my LCD and touch panel on it for you so I can recover the data.

Also if u r in the uk, try a phone repair shop that has jtag, they should be able to pull any data off the phone.

radeonorama said:
Thanks for replying Aquous!
I have just been given the phone today from a friend to try and help them out so im not sure on either? Do you have a desire s and would be able to tell me the button sequence to get into recovery to find out? As for the bootloader being unlocked, i very much doubt it as the phone was running a stock orange rom.
Any ideas?
Cheers,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you probably don't have adb in recovery either.
We can try the easy way first: from the Google Play website (on your computer), download TalkBack to your phone and see if you can launch it blind. From there on, your phone will read to you what's on the screen
If you can't manage to do that, I have another option in mind but it's complicated and you may not be able to recover your contacts:
Unlock the bootloader via htcdev. This will wipe your data, but if you don't allow the rom to boot after the unlocking, this is OK.
Immediately after issuing the fastboot oem unlock command, HOLD DOWN THAT VOLUME - BUTTON. If the ROM is allowed to load, your data will be significantly harder, if not impossible, to recover.
If you held Vol - correctly after the unlock, you'll be in fastboot (if the phone vibrated, quickly pull the battery before the rom starts writing to the data partition).
From fastboot, boot a custom recovery ('fastboot boot recovery.img')
In this custom recovery, you have adb. Pull the data partition and run file recovery software to try to reconstruct the data that was on it but was wiped by the unlock process.
Purposefully not giving any clearer instructions than this, because if you don't know what you're doing the chances are very high that you're going to do it wrong and won't be able to recover the data.

Aquous said:
Then you probably don't have adb in recovery either.
We can try the easy way first: from the Google Play website (on your computer), download TalkBack to your phone and see if you can launch it blind. From there on, your phone will read to you what's on the screen
If you can't manage to do that, I have another option in mind but it's complicated and you may not be able to recover your contacts:
Unlock the bootloader via htcdev. This will wipe your data, but if you don't allow the rom to boot after the unlocking, this is OK.
Immediately after issuing the fastboot oem unlock command, HOLD DOWN THAT VOLUME - BUTTON. If the ROM is allowed to load, your data will be significantly harder, if not impossible, to recover.
If you held Vol - correctly after the unlock, you'll be in fastboot (if the phone vibrated, quickly pull the battery before the rom starts writing to the data partition).
From fastboot, boot a custom recovery ('fastboot boot recovery.img')
In this custom recovery, you have adb. Pull the data partition and run file recovery software to try to reconstruct the data that was on it but was wiped by the unlock process.
Purposefully not giving any clearer instructions than this, because if you don't know what you're doing the chances are very high that you're going to do it wrong and won't be able to recover the data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bloody legend!
Using the above coupled with Droid explorer i managed to pull everything she needed! Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out!
All the best!

radeonorama said:
Bloody legend!
Using the above coupled with Droid explorer i managed to pull everything she needed! Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out!
All the best!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy ****, you actually did this? And it WORKED? You, sir, have some serious balls! Gratz!
By the way, this has HUGE privacy implications

Aquous said:
Holy ****, you actually did this? And it WORKED? You, sir, have some serious balls! Gratz!
By the way, this has HUGE privacy implications
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, everything i needed off it worked.
I left it for a while as a last resort because of the risk of total data loss and bought a replacement screen which was DOA!
So you plan came into play and it really worked. It wasnt so hard as the steps you gave just helped me get the order right in my head rather than trying something and mucking it up even more!
Thanks again good sir! She was very pleased!

Forgot Moto G Unlock Pin

Hello all,
Need your help!
I recently put pin on my phone and 'forgot unlock pin.
1. I was hoping it would allow me to reset using gmail account but it doesnt show that.
2. Tried going into recovery mode and wipe/factory reset> That just restarts the phone.(My old phone allowed me to reset in recovery mode when I entered pin wrong 5 times).
dont know what to do mad:
If you experiened this issue with this phone, I appreciate if you can help me out.
Thanks

motoman4rmmars said:
Hello all,
Need your help!
I recently put pin on my phone and 'forgot unlock pin.
1. I was hoping it would allow me to reset using gmail account but it doesnt show that.
2. Tried going into recovery mode and wipe/factory reset> That just restarts the phone.(My old phone allowed me to reset in recovery mode when I entered pin wrong 5 times).
dont know what to do mad:
If you experiened this issue with this phone, I appreciate if you can help me out.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
would unlocking the bootloader ( which wipes the device) do it ?

Did you try contacting Motorola?

I read that the stock recovery is messed up. If you want to factory reset then chose the option above, ie the text you see in the menu does not align with the actual option that will be chosen.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2543869

thanks for reply guys,
I dont want to unlock the bootloader as it voids the warranty.
I contacted Motorola, but no reply.
Is there any other way to factory reset this device?
BTW Happy New Year to all

Did you read my post just above yours? You use the stock recovery, just highlight the option ABOVE the option you actually want within the recovery.

cheers mate!
scott_doyland said:
Did you read my post just above yours? You use the stock recovery, just highlight the option ABOVE the option you actually want within the recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry I misread u the first time.
but do you even know how big my smile is right now
You are a time and life saver!
first hero of 2014!, :highfive:
was so effin pissed of since the turn of the year
Hope all u guys have a cheerful year

forgot unlock pin
motoman4rmmars said:
Hello all,
Need your help!
I recently put pin on my phone and 'forgot unlock pin.
1. I was hoping it would allow me to reset using gmail account but it doesnt show that.
2. Tried going into recovery mode and wipe/factory reset> That just restarts the phone.(My old phone allowed me to reset in recovery mode when I entered pin wrong 5 times).
dont know what to do mad:
If you experiened this issue with this phone, I appreciate if you can help me out.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GO on google android/devicemanager
with u gmail account
click lock enter new password (must be letter and number) your phone lock again but now ask for password you provided to account
done.

Do you need Android Device Manager on the phone itself to work?

After factory reset Google Backup asks for pattern, can't restore

My Redmi Note 8 suddenly stopped accepting my correct pattern lock, so I was forced to reset. It turns out I had Google Backup enabled, which was a happy surprise. However, it asks me for the previous pattern lock of the phone, which it still won't accept. This is incredibly frustrating.
Is there anything I can do to get access to the backup file or be able to use it? Will it get deleted if I don't restore it right now, in the initial setup?
Thank you.

zoey_96 said:
My Redmi Note 8 suddenly stopped accepting my correct pattern lock, so I was forced to reset. It turns out I had Google Backup enabled, which was a happy surprise. However, it asks me for the previous pattern lock of the phone, which it still won't accept. This is incredibly frustrating.
Is there anything I can do to get access to the backup file or be able to use it? Will it get deleted if I don't restore it right now, in the initial setup?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this a second hand device? It seems that it is linked to another account.
If your device is unlocked, you are rooted and enabled previously USB debugging, you should pull your backup or some other partition.
The initial setup itself can't delete any data.

Interesting. If you did a factory reset with no internet connection would this thrwart it?
Be careful...
Never use bios, screen locks etc because this is what can happen. Ive gotten locked out of a bios before because of data corruption... with disastrous results. Had no lock been enabled nothing would have happen.
Data encryption for data hdds is an even worse idea... don't do it.

SubwayChamp said:
Is this a second hand device? It seems that it is linked to another account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I had this phone for almost two years now and bought it new. Three weeks ago I tried to fingerprint unlock it with wet fingers and after several unsuccesful attempts it asked me for the pattern lock, which it didn't accept, even though I know the correct one. I've been trying to find a way to unlock it or make a backup ever since but found no solution, so I decided to reset.
After factory reset from recovery mode, it asked me if I wanted to restore a backup, and although I thought I probably didn't have one, I logged into the google account I used on the phone before the reset. Turns out I did have backup turned on! However, when I went to restore it, it asked me for the lock pattern at the time of the backup creation. Predictably enough, it didn't accept it, which is where I'm stuck now.
SubwayChamp said:
If your device is unlocked, you are rooted and enabled previously USB debugging, you should pull your backup or some other partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After factory reset, my device is indeed now unlocked. It is not rooted. I had USB Debugging enabled, but my laptop wasn't authorized, which is why in the end I couldn't unlock it or make a backup previously. I tried plugging it into the laptop in it's current state (waiting for the lock pattern to restore my backup) and tried adb, but it can't find my device at all. Previously, it just said unauthorized, so I suppose USB Debugging is now off.
SubwayChamp said:
The initial setup itself can't delete any data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plugging it into the computer allowed me to use mtp mode and I took a quick look into the files. All of my files are gone, so I'm pretty sure everything got deleted before the setup stage.
blackhawk said:
Interesting. If you did a factory reset with no internet connection would this thrwart it?
Be careful...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean. Thwart what? I factory reset from recovery mode so I don't think internet connection had any role there, but I did have it on before. And I connected to the wifi before it asked me to log into google.

zoey_96 said:
Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean. Thwart what? I factory reset from recovery mode so I don't think internet connection had any role there, but I did have it on before. And I connected to the wifi before it asked me to log into google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where's the lock screen code being stored after the factory reset?
In the phone or cloud?
If in the userdata partition it should be wiped.

blackhawk said:
Where's the lock screen code being stored after the factory reset?
In the phone or cloud?
If in the userdata partition it should be wiped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I understand, it was used to encrypt the Google backup file, so it will ask for it even if you try to restore it on another device. So I suppose the answer is cloud.

zoey_96 said:
No, I had this phone for almost two years now and bought it new. Three weeks ago I tried to fingerprint unlock it with wet fingers and after several unsuccesful attempts it asked me for the pattern lock, which it didn't accept, even though I know the correct one. I've been trying to find a way to unlock it or make a backup ever since but found no solution, so I decided to reset.
After factory reset from recovery mode, it asked me if I wanted to restore a backup, and although I thought I probably didn't have one, I logged into the google account I used on the phone before the reset. Turns out I did have backup turned on! However, when I went to restore it, it asked me for the lock pattern at the time of the backup creation. Predictably enough, it didn't accept it, which is where I'm stuck now.
After factory reset, my device is indeed now unlocked. It is not rooted. I had USB Debugging enabled, but my laptop wasn't authorized, which is why in the end I couldn't unlock it or make a backup previously. I tried plugging it into the laptop in it's current state (waiting for the lock pattern to restore my backup) and tried adb, but it can't find my device at all. Previously, it just said unauthorized, so I suppose USB Debugging is now off.
Plugging it into the computer allowed me to use mtp mode and I took a quick look into the files. All of my files are gone, so I'm pretty sure everything got deleted before the setup stage.
Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean. Thwart what? I factory reset from recovery mode so I don't think internet connection had any role there, but I did have it on before. And I connected to the wifi before it asked me to log into google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you did factory reset device, then all is gone.
Regarding the status locked or not I referred to the bootloader, in case it is locked and the USB debugging is not already enabled then you have less chances to recover the device.
You should try flashing the device through EDL mode but old days (in my last RN8) it requires an authorized Mi account.

zoey_96 said:
From what I understand, it was used to encrypt the Google backup file, so it will ask for it even if you try to restore it on another device. So I suppose the answer is cloud.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can factory reset it now FPR isn't active.
So when it first boots up after the reset if you can shield it from internet access you can disable Google backup Transport and Framework.
I think these are the backup pathways but you'll need to verify this.
If you need that backup data though it a catch 22. Perhaps if you keep the phone powered on until the backup is done and fully disable screen lock before rebooting... you can have your data without the lockout.
I may be mistaken. This is interesting but I'm very glad it's not my experiment!

Deleting the password/pin file in recovery mode?

My daughter locked herself out of her phone and she doesn't live near me so I can't get the phone into my hands to fiddle with it myself. I think I rooted the phone before I gave it to her so I want to know if there is a way to delete the password/pin file in recovery?

There's no way to delete that pin lock , all you can do is format data or either contact your daughter further.

Please help with the boot password on Realme 5i phone

Currently I have a device that is Realme 5i. and it is an problem is when start up, default default enter the password is true, but the machine can't activate, but enter recovery mode still get the password. so is there anything i can do to get the data in the machine (i need to get the image file stored in the machine). You can see the status in the attached video.
My device is not rooted nor has it done anything that can learn everything into the system.
thank you guys

baoluke said:
Currently I have a device that is Realme 5i. and it is an problem is when start up, default default enter the password is true, but the machine can't activate, but enter recovery mode still get the password. so is there anything i can do to get the data in the machine (i need to get the image file stored in the machine). You can see the status in the attached video.
My device is not rooted nor has it done anything that can learn everything into the system.
thank you guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and you can not boot the device and remove the device password altogether ?

Fytdyh said:
and you can not boot the device and remove the device password altogether ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's right. Because if I do a hard reset, I will lose all the data on the device.

Please​