[Q] Is there a way to wipe/re-install with lost encrypted password?

[ivicajan]

Dear all,
I have TF701t and when it boots it asks me to type password to decrypt storage.
As far as I remember I never put one?!
It got drained batteries a few times and this could initiate the problem.
To get it work again I tried many things; to wipe, reformat sdcard but without luck.
I can fastboot and boot recovery.img and after that adb shell so this was my hope to fix it.
When I wanted to install new ROM *any* installation failed as it can not write to memcblk0,
tried manually (via adb) to mount partition, to reformat, even used gparted, but no luck.
Do I have any option to make it usable again? I am willing to wipe it or reset to factory state if possible.
Is this all because of encryption that is messing with storage?
I have external class 10 64G card I could use instead device memcblk0 if this is possible?

If there is someone having similar problems,
with possible solution I would appreciate any feedback!

Thanks in advance,
cheers
Ivica

 

[K94U]

it sounds as if you are having the same issues as posted in the thread below. Maybe your internal memory is dead or dying. You should be able to install the latest firmware from the ASUS website which will simply restore your tablet to factory.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/transformer-tf701/help/dead-mmc-ideas-t2830332

 

[ivicajan]

I have looked at the thread before but it is not the same problem I have.
My problem is that I can not do anything on the /cache or /data which are probably (they are) encrypted, that is the reason why can not flash image or install ROM, I think.
If I try to mount /cache (or data) manually using adb shell
mount -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /cache
it complains about Invalid argument, so formating (delete, wipe whatever) is having the same issue ... I think it is all because there are SELinux or encryption in the play, some extra bits set to fs that I can not get rid off.
In other words, is there a way to format and do repartitioning of whole or only parts mmcblk0 where there is encryption on some partitions (i.e. cache -- p5, data --p12)?
Think partitions are OK, not dying because whatever I do at the end it boots and I get white screen to type in passwd for decrypt storage.
I can even go to setting and look about kerner, ID, sound, turn on wifi etc..

I am willing to do full wipe if needed just to make it work again.

Thanks for your time!

Ivica

it sounds as if you are having the same issues as posted in the thread below. Maybe your internal memory is dead or dying. You should be able to install the latest firmware from the ASUS website which will simply restore your tablet to factory.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/transformer-tf701/help/dead-mmc-ideas-t2830332

 

[K94U]

what version custom recovery are you running? Or are you stock?

 

[ivicajan]

Still I can not believe it is not possible low level format of internal card to override that encryption...:crying:
I am on ASUS stock
KOT49H.WW_epad_11.4.1.17_20140711 Android 4.4.2
kernel 3.4.66_g96e53b8 [email protected] #1 from 11-Jul-2014

If you have any idea how to wipe the card and install or custom or asus stock let me know!

thanks
Ivica

what version custom recovery are you running? Or are you stock?

 

[K94U]

you might want to try contacting ASUS first. otherwise, you can try to upgrade to the latest firmware on your tablet which is WW_11.4.1.30 I believe. By using the SD card update method it should completely wipe your tablet.

If you want to use Asus Bootloader to upgrade your Firmware/Android release from Asus, then rename UL-K00C-KEYBOARD_CODE-FIRMWARE_NUMBER-user.zip (like UL-K00C-WW-11.4.1.17-user.zip) to T4_SDUPDATE.zip and copy it in the root folder on a MicroSD card that you will insert in Asus tablet. Then use use RCK option in the Asus bootloader to read the file and launch the upgrade. more info on installing a custom recovery can be found here: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_tf701t

here is the US link for the firmware update from Asus: http://www.asus.com/us/Tablets_Mobile/The_New_ASUS_Transformer_PadTF701T/HelpDesk_Download/

 

[ivicajan]

Thanks for the tip
but not working, tried that before and now once again :crying:

Starts ok, after 10-20s android turns on his back and red triangle with !
After ~50s it reboots into the same state as before, like it can not format/overwrite anything on the encrypted partitions of /system and /data and /cache.
Tried to do that via adb shell and was not able.

After it reboots I get that white screen with asking to enter passwd to get into encrypted system. What is interesting is that is gets into state making "click" sound (the same as when typing) every 1-2 s interval.. And that goes on forever, have to mute sound or turn off.

Cheers,
Ivica

p.s. when get time I will try to use external card to boot from (like in one post before) or even install linux on the the external SD.