[Q] Another Brick Almost Hits The Wall

Silver Rivers · May 29, 2014

Howdy folks,

Yesterday, I was the proud owner of a sleek little TCT.Alcatel OneTouch A554C, formally know as a Virgin Mobile Venture running Android version 2.3.5.

It was successfully and surprisingly easy to root by utilizing 2 cool little apps, Ministro and Poot-Debug.

After root, I subsequently downloaded some root tools (eg., Titanium Backup Pro, Superuser Elite, System App Uninstaller).

That was last week.

Yesterday, I got a bit cocky. I needed to clear up some internal memory so I used "System App Uninstaller" to uninstall a few apps. If I remember correctly, the apps were as follows: Google Maps, Google Maps Street View, Calculator, Digital Clock, Setup Wizard, Android Live Wallpaper, Live Wallpaper Picker, Magic Smoke Wallpaper, Music Visualization Wallpaper, and the TouchPal Keyboard French and Spanish Language Packs.

So far so good, right? However, I believe I may have snarfed-up when I uninstalled the Setup Wizard. But I'll get to that in a minute.

Now with Titanium Backup, I moved some apps to the sd card. Included was the stock launcher, Smart Launcher Pro, SPB Shell, AVG Anti-Virus, and Superuser Elite. Then I rebooted through Titanium Backup and I haven't viewed any pornographic material since!

After reboot, the phone got stuck on the final boot animation frame. I panicked, pulled the battery, booted into recovery then rebooted a 2nd time.

This time it booted to the pull-down lock screen. I unlocked and seen:
"Sorry! The application com.android.setup wizard has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again." Along with a "Force Close" option. I forced closed and the screen went black with the exception of the status bar. The phone is still on but otherwise...nada.

When I press the power button, same thing happens: pull-down lock screen, screen goes black. Or sometimes, it will turn on and boot loop.

Major panic time!!! I booted into recovery again and performed a factory reset to no avail.

Another clue to note: I can connect & access the sd card via usb to desktop.

Also, I did have the good sense to backup all apps, system and user, through ES File Explorer and stored them both on sd card and in the cloud via Yandex Disk prior to this bricking fiasco. Now, what do I do with them? I now realize it was possibly a mistake moving all 3 launchers to the sd card. How do I get the stock launcher back to the phone?

Or, should I:

1- Attempt a base rom reinstall or
2- Attempt a custom rom install or
3- Use it solely as a time piece/mass storage device or
4- Throw it very hard and very ******* far away from me!?

I realize this is an obscure little cheap phone but it's the only one I have. Any valid feedback would be greatly appreciated.

es0tericcha0s · May 29, 2014

You can go to the Play Store on any browser and choose a launcher to install. Or if you have USB Debugging on, you can side load an launcher apk. Or if you install a custom recovery, you can install another rom or sideload an apk there. Or you can flash the original firmware via SP Flash Tool.

Lots of options and none of them need to be throwing it against the wall.

Silver Rivers · May 29, 2014

es0tericcha0s said:
You can go to the Play Store on any browser and choose a launcher to install. Or if you have USB Debugging on, you can side load an launcher apk. Or if you install a custom recovery, you can install another rom or sideload an apk there. Or you can flash the original firmware via SP Flash Tool.

Lots of options and none of them need to be throwing it against the wall.

Hmmm...Ok, thanks. Dig your username, by the way.

First thing is, install from play store would be possible if I had data service or if I was able to enable wi-fi. I only have calling & texting service on this phone and as for wi-fi, I can't enable it due to the problem of not being able to access the settings menu. All I have when it does boot, and it only fully boots when it is connected to a PC, is the pull-down lockscreen displaying time, date, status bar and the original wallpaper. Pull it down and the screen goes black with status bar still displayed along with time & battery level.

Secondly, USB debugging was enabled prior to all of this but I panicked & performed a factory reset. Don't think it's still on.

And lastly, is installing either a custom recovery, (which, to be frank, I'm just not that savvy) another rom or flashing original firmware even possible without a PC? Because I only have access to a PC without administrative privileges so therefore...no installing exe's without a password. Maybe this program lab will allow me, quite possibly not.

Hell, would I even still have root after a reset/data wipe?

Thanks, anyway, Esoteric Chaos

Off subject: The Joker was an Agent of Chaos. Loved Heath Ledger as The Joker.

es0tericcha0s · May 29, 2014

Silver Rivers said:
Hmmm...Ok, thanks. Dig your username, by the way.

First thing is, install from play store would be possible if I had data service or if I was able to enable wi-fi. I only have calling & texting service on this phone and as for wi-fi, I can't enable it due to the problem of not being able to access the settings menu. All I have when it does boot, and it only fully boots when it is connected to a PC, is the pull-down lockscreen displaying time, date, status bar and the original wallpaper. Pull it down and the screen goes black with status bar still displayed along with time & battery level.

Secondly, USB debugging was enabled prior to all of this but I panicked & performed a factory reset. Don't think it's still on.

And lastly, is installing either a custom recovery, (which, to be frank, I'm just not that savvy) another rom or flashing original firmware even possible without a PC? Because I only have access to a PC without administrative privileges so therefore...no installing exe's without a password. Maybe this program lab will allow me, quite possibly not.

Hell, would I even still have root after a reset/data wipe?

Thanks, anyway, Esoteric Chaos

Off subject: The Joker was an Agent of Chaos. Loved Heath Ledger as The Joker.

You can go to ANY browser - even on the PC and log into your account and hit Install and it will send the command to your phone to install it. Pretty nifty. But you did say you factory reset, so that isn't actually going to work. Sorry.

The rest of the stuff would require a PC, though I don't think admin rights are needed, so there's that...

If you don't have your phone logged into Google or USB Debugging enabled, you're kind of stuck without a PC.

Silver Rivers · May 30, 2014

es0tericcha0s said:
You can go to ANY browser - even on the PC and log into your account and hit Install and it will send the command to your phone to install it. Pretty nifty. But you did say you factory reset, so that isn't actually going to work. Sorry.

The rest of the stuff would require a PC, though I don't think admin rights are needed, so there's that...

If you don't have your phone logged into Google or USB Debugging enabled, you're kind of stuck without a PC.

Well, on these PCs it certainly does. I thought I was on track yesterday and tried to install a copy of Odin that I found. Can't install without a frigging admin pass.

Someone else just suggested I try a stock rom flash. Might as well, right? Happen to know where I could find a good reliable copy? That also happens to be free?

es0tericcha0s · May 30, 2014

Not sure why you were trying to use Odin for a non Samsung phone...?

The stock rom flash would only be possible via PC or if you had a custom recovery installed.

Here's what you would need to do for the Virgin Mobile Venture:

Download CWM: http://www.sendspace.com/file/4gt04i

Download adb/fastboot: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2317790

Download rom: http://goo.im/devs/LeslieAnn/Venture/Stock_Venture.zip - Put on SD card.

Drivers: http://pdanet.co/bin/PdaNetA4150.exe (this program is for USB tethering and installs the adb drivers for your phone as well as many others)

The CWM img will need to be in the folder you unzipped for adb/fastboot. You'll need to boot to fastboot mode by powering on with while holding Volume Up.

Open a terminal prompt and change directories to your adb/fastboot folder. Then run this command:

fastboot flash recovery nameofrecovery.img - fill in the nameofrecovery with whatever the CWM file name is.

(if this doesn't work - make sure that your PC is reading the phone correctly by using the command: fastboot devices . If you don't get anything back, make sure you check the Device Manager for errors. If you have them, try reinstalling the drivers and rebooting the PC)

Then pop the battery out and then reboot to recovery via powering on while holding volume down. Once there, you should be able to do a factory reset and then install the stock rom zip. The volume keys should scroll through selections and the Enter key for accept, or Power if that doesn't work. Not really sure about this particular phone.)

Actually, you might just be able to use adb to install a launcher apk once you have CWM installed. Might be a little easier.

launcher apk must be in adb folder then while in CWM:

adb install nameoflauncher.apk

Note: You can rename zips and apks to be easier to type the commands.

Silver Rivers · May 30, 2014

es0tericcha0s said:
Not sure why you were trying to use Odin for a non Samsung phone...?

Yeah, me either. I was all over the place yesterday grasping at anything. So Odin is only for Samsungs, huh? Guess I can delete the exe file from my sd.

Right then. I'm about to proceed with your advice. Cross your fingers and toes.

Thanks mate!

Silver Rivers · May 30, 2014

The CWM img will need to be in the folder you unzipped for adb/fastboot.

and

launcher apk must be in adb folder then while in CWM

Wait, what? Please excuse my ignorance, but am I missing something. ADB didn't come in a zip. It's an installer. I think you may have to dumb this down a bit more, mate.

es0tericcha0s · May 30, 2014

Silver Rivers said:
and

Wait, what? Please excuse my ignorance, but am I missing something. ADB didn't come in a zip. It's an installer. I think you may have to dumb this down a bit more, mate.

Sorry, I meant in the folder that it extracts the files too.

Silver Rivers · May 30, 2014

es0tericcha0s said:
Sorry, I meant in the folder that it extracts the files too.

Right, got it.

es0tericcha0s · May 30, 2014

Silver Rivers said:
Right, got it.

If you can't run the exe file, then let me know, and I'll just upload a zip / folder with the necessary files. You do not need admin access to run the adb commands.

Silver Rivers · May 30, 2014

es0tericcha0s said:
If you can't run the exe file, then let me know, and I'll just upload a zip / folder with the necessary files. You do not need admin access to run the adb commands.

That would be really cool, actually. But check this out:

I talked someone into allowing me to utilize his laptop. I installed ADB, moved the Launcher APK to the folder suggested, ran the commands but the command prompter responded with "waiting for device" and progressed no further. Could it be a driver issue? I was under the impression that if the PC recognizes your device (which it did) then a new driver install was not necessary.

Dude was real cool about it even though I ran his battery down quite significantly and didn't even accomplish anything.

So, if I had the ADB files then I could just copy them to...say the PC desktop and run the command prompter from there? If so, then yes please upload and I'll just try it that route rather than rely on someone's personal PC. Know what i mean?

I do appreciate all of this. I'm getting quite the education here. If you ever get married, let me know and I'll come and dance as my favor to you.:good:

Peace...I'll return tomorrow.

es0tericcha0s · May 31, 2014

What mode were you in when trying to install? The laptop had the most up to date drivers? You checked the Device Manager to make sure there was no yellow exclamation mark next to the phone? It's not unheard of for the PC to recognize in one mode, but not load the correct drivers in another, as there are different drivers for the phone depending on if it is booted, in recovery, or download mode or whatever they call it for that phone. Just make sure to get the PDAnet drivers installed and reboot. That should do the trick.

Everything else you should need will be in here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9903887/adbfastboot.zip

Silver Rivers · Jun 1, 2014

es0tericcha0s said:
What mode were you in when trying to install? The laptop had the most up to date drivers? You checked the Device Manager to make sure there was no yellow exclamation mark next to the phone? It's not unheard of for the PC to recognize in one mode, but not load the correct drivers in another, as there are different drivers for the phone depending on if it is booted, in recovery, or download mode or whatever they call it for that phone. Just make sure to get the PDAnet drivers installed and reboot. That should do the trick.

Everything else you should need will be in here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9903887/adbfastboot.zip

I was in Recovery and I was also attempting to install the just the Launcher versus the entire ROM. And I was also feeling a tad bit rushed, cause dude was right there informing me of his battery status. "Well, it's down to 30%." Then 2 mins later.."Ok, looks like it just fell to 25%."

Haha...so yeah, with him pressuring me, I spaced on checking the device manager. This desktop that I'm on today seems to be cool. Just checked the manager & it informs me that my device is 'working properly'.

Off to give it another bloody joust, mate. Wish me luck...

Aces4ever09 · Feb 5, 2018

Can you fully explain how to do this

es0tericcha0s said:
Not sure why you were trying to use Odin for a non Samsung phone...?

The stock rom flash would only be possible via PC or if you had a custom recovery installed.

Here's what you would need to do for the Virgin Mobile Venture:

Download CWM: http://www.sendspace.com/file/4gt04i

Download adb/fastboot: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2317790

Download rom: http://goo.im/devs/LeslieAnn/Venture/Stock_Venture.zip - Put on SD card.

Drivers: http://pdanet.co/bin/PdaNetA4150.exe (this program is for USB tethering and installs the adb drivers for your phone as well as many others)

The CWM img will need to be in the folder you unzipped for adb/fastboot. You'll need to boot to fastboot mode by powering on with while holding Volume Up.

Open a terminal prompt and change directories to your adb/fastboot folder. Then run this command:

fastboot flash recovery nameofrecovery.img - fill in the nameofrecovery with whatever the CWM file name is.

(if this doesn't work - make sure that your PC is reading the phone correctly by using the command: fastboot devices . If you don't get anything back, make sure you check the Device Manager for errors. If you have them, try reinstalling the drivers and rebooting the PC)

Then pop the battery out and then reboot to recovery via powering on while holding volume down. Once there, you should be able to do a factory reset and then install the stock rom zip. The volume keys should scroll through selections and the Enter key for accept, or Power if that doesn't work. Not really sure about this particular phone.)

Actually, you might just be able to use adb to install a launcher apk once you have CWM installed. Might be a little easier.

launcher apk must be in adb folder then while in CWM:

adb install nameoflauncher.apk

Note: You can rename zips and apks to be easier to type the commands.

I have a old ass iMac desktop that has not been used in 5plus years at all and I'm a mother of 3 with no clue how to do any of this if you can dumb it down for me that would be very help full as well I have no clue where to download any of the needed files please help. My email is aces4ever09@gmail.com
Thank you

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[Q] Another Brick Almost Hits The Wall

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