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Many Issues with my Star a5000

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damian5000

Newbie
I know it's been asked many times, but I'v tried almost everything with the exception of hard resetting the phone... Tried clearing the data and unsyncing... There's no option to "remove" an account. I even tried adding another one, but still couldn't remove the original (or the new one i added). The only option I see is to Add, not to remove...

I can't hard reset because this is a rooted phone (came new like that...Chinese). And have been warned that resetting it (Star a5000) will cause loss of the IMEI

...I want to give my GF this phone, but want my gmail / google data off there first... Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
If you're rooted, you should be able to make a NANDroid backup in a custom recovery. It probably has Clockwork mod on it. After you make a backup, delete the data section, the dalvik cache (in advanced) and the cache partitions. Reboot and see if the IMEI is intact.

This will wipe all user data, though. But if it goes poorly, you can restore the backup and you're back to the way you were.
 
ok, thanks my friend... some of the terminology a little beyond me, but i'll just have to familiarize myself a bit and shouldn't be too difficult it sounds like...

thanks much.
 
I guess that's what I get for buying a Chinese Android phone... For the first 12 hours it was fine, but now when I plug it in to charge, if it's on, the phone goes crazy...... like someone's pressing all random things on the screen making it go everywhere...

Likely not a simple fix I guess?
 
Lots of decent stuff made in China as well as bad - like most tech made most anywhere.

Agree, look for the simple things first, like the charger.

Which model phone is it?
 
ok, so i installed "ROM Manager" and tried to reboot in recovery mode, but it says "error occurred while attempting to run privileged commands".

install ROM from SD card
Manage and restore backups
Backup current ROM

and everything else is grayed out.

........is there another way to boot into custom recovery?

I found this based on the processor (MTK6516) at XDA-dev.

"Backup, Generate & Restore IMEI

A factory reset of full flash may clean out the IMEI. So it is wise to backup and restore IMEI, or even generate a new file with EMEI

For MediaTek MT6516 the IMEI is located in one of these two locations:
/data/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MP0B_001 (older firmwares)
/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MP0B_001 (rumored location for newer firmwares)

To backup the IMEI, simply backup the MP0B_001 file (using a rooted shell or adb)

su
cp /data/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MP0B_001 /sdcard/MP0B_001_SAVED

To restore the IMEI, simply restore it, and set proper permissions (using a rooted shell or adb)
su
cp /sdcard/MP0B_001_SAVED /data/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MP0B_001
chmod 650 /data/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MP0B_001"

I'm a bit lost as to "using a rooted shell or adb" means...

as well as "su cp" references...?

And what are the proper permissions, and what does it mean when it says 'to restore it, simply restore it'...

This is shockingly more difficult than I thought... I downloaded the developer's SDK package..Will that help?
 
To use ADB shell, you need to install the Android SDK. Pay attention to where you install it, you'll need that folder destination later.

Android SDK | Android Developers

To get ADB running, you must connect your phone to a USB port in your computer. Also, push your menu button, go to Settings > Applications > Development and enable USB Debug.

Now, assuming you are running some version of Windows: Push start then go to run or type in the search bar that appears "cmd". It opens an old DOS shell window. Then you need to go to your SDK folder. If you're on a 32 bit version and install the SDK to it's standard location, it should look something like:

Code: 
cd C:\Program Files\Android\android_sdk

That'll take you into the base SDK location. Next you need to move into the perform tools folder. I think it's called perform_tools, but I'm not sure, so thats why I left it out of the change directory command I gave you a minute ago. So you would type cd perform_tools to go up a directory. If that's wrong, type 'dir' and it'll give you a directory listing.

Now that you're in the perform tools directory, type 'adb shell'. It will launch the ADB shell. Now follow the directions you found on XDA.
 
this phone has frustrated me to no end... just should of left well enough alone and stuck with my 10 yr old nokia.

The ROM loader from android market place told me it didn't have proper permissions or something to that effect, so assumed it didn't do anything, but then I reset the phone and it's stuck at boot logo...

Star a5000 Chinese phone...

Did I just screw myself? I didn't even think i was doing anything to it....

What are my options here? I need to try and preserve the IMEI information as hard resetting wipes that with these phones....

i don't even know how to get into the boot menu...

thank you for any help here...
 
I see you're having multiple issues with your Star a500, damian, so I consolidated all three threads you've begun in Android Lounge into one thread for you.

Hopefully this will help with your information gathering about those problems.
 
Frisco said:
I see you're having multiple issues with your Star a500, damian, so I consolidated all three threads you've begun in Android Lounge into one thread for you.

Hopefully this will help with your information gathering about those problems.
Click to expand...

multiple issues would mean multiple threads, yes? it could get confusing for anyone trying to help... regardless, i need help with the last problem first.... stuck at android logo... i'm now able to get into the boot console.

options are:

Full test
Item test
Test report
Clear flash
Version
Reboot

what do i do next?

thanks again and i don't mean to seem distrespectful mod, just anywhere else i've been they've requested different issues in different threads....

cheers and thanks

*note, really wish i'd seen your post earlier jero :( damn... before i tried this ROM loader thing... crap.
 
well i just tried every option there and it doesn't look like any of them really did anything towards helping...maybe even ended up hurting the situation more by doing the "clear flash" option...
 
damian5000 said:
multiple issues would mean multiple threads, yes?
Click to expand...

No. ;)

Not if it's all happening in quick order, and not in the Android Lounge.

I've moved your thread to the Acer Iconia a500 sub-forum for you where other users of that device can help. I've marked it, "Support" so that it will attract those with that device inclined to offer their help.

Let us know if this is actually your device, as some models have the same designation, "a500," etc, but are not the exact same phone/tab, etc.
 
haha heheeee hohoooo! after "clear flash", it still wouldn't boot, but just randomly tried different button presses on start up... as it was starting up and stuck at logo, i pressed up volume and power button and held it, and it booted up fresh with nothing on it!!! then i was sure IMEI would be fragged...but it's not...works fine... maybe because in thailand??... solved 2 birds there....

thank you for the help...and if anyone with a5000 comes across this thread, hope it helps....
 
Frisco said:
No. ;)

Not if it's all happening in quick order, and not in the Android Lounge.

I've moved your thread to the Acer Iconia a500 sub-forum for you where other users of that device can help. I've marked it, "Support" so that it will attract those with that device inclined to offer their help.

Let us know if this is actually your device, as some models have the same designation, "a500," etc, but are not the exact same phone/tab, etc.
Click to expand...

ummm... moved my chinese smartphone star a5000 thread to the acer a500 sub forum... :confused:
 
damian5000 said:
ummm... moved my chinese smartphone star a5000 thread to the acer a500 sub forum... :confused:
Click to expand...

..lol, hang on.. yes it was moved here in error, my apologies, as it was mistake for a500, an Acer tab.

This doesn't happen often, when it does it's embarrassing. :D

I'll put the thread right back in the Android Lounge where you first posted your threads.
 
Frisco said:
..lol, hang on.. yes it was moved here in error, my apologies, as it was mistake for a500, an Acer tab.

This doesn't happen often, when it does it's embarrassing. :D

I'll put the thread right back in the Android Lounge where you first posted your threads.
Click to expand...

I was gonna say:

Hey! My Acer A500 is not a chinese dual sim phone! :P

If he was having problems with an A500 tablet, I could have helped with more precision because I have one :P
 
My Droid x had that same charging problem and it turned out to be the charger. Changed over to a different one and worked. Not the same phone but just putting in my $.02.
 
Frisco said:
..lol, hang on.. yes it was moved here in error, my apologies, as it was mistake for a500, an Acer tab.

This doesn't happen often, when it does it's embarrassing. :D

I'll put the thread right back in the Android Lounge where you first posted your threads.
Click to expand...

here i thought you were snubbin' me. haha...cheers.

in regards to all the issues,

guess the first one (removing initial gmail account) was solved when i temporarily bricked the phone.

second issue of the screen going haywire...after it's plugged in for a while, it seems to not have the issue anymore... it's only when first plugging it in...it occasionally happens when directly connected by USB to the computer too, but when moving further from the notebook the issue seems to go away... guess this phone is very touchy regarding power sources... i've only tried the cable and the adapter they gave me, so switching it up as someone mentioned may solve this... the seller's tech said it had to do with static in the phone...not sure how on this is or not.

third issue regarding "bricked it?", as mentioned was solved too... i "cleared flash" from recovery/test mode start up (down volume/power).... the phone rebooted, and took a long time, but eventually went back into the factory defaults and IMEI seems to still be there and working fine, though i don't know if this is because i'm in thailand or if the imei was never wiped...re, pressing "up volume and power", it restarted in spite of this, not because of this..so disregard that bit for anyone who happens to come across this thread and has fragged their a5000

4th new issue... :) , though not much of one...it seems to now be in some "developer mode" (already checked options in phone, debug mode not set)... immediately after powering off, if plugged into my notebook via USB, it will stay connected to the PC, but not charge... only when holding the power button for 10 seconds will it start charge again. releasing and then holding for another 2 seconds will actual turn on the phone again... strange, but have repeated this many times and it's the same...some sort of factory debugging mode or some such... ? if anyone knows anything about this, please let me know too :)

sorry for the book here, but thought if anyone else comes across this thread with Star a5000, it might help out... great information regarding the help here in the thread, and I THINK i learned something...though not sure...haha...

thanks again for the energy in helping with the issues also...anyone knows anything about the 4th one, happy to hear it...

thanks again... and thanks mod for moving the thread back :)
 
Crap... Another problem, this time a big one. Seems to have come up with the "clear flash" at boot.... Not 100% sure as I've only had the phone a couple days...

Regardless, it's not receiving calls while in sleep. First couple of minutes of sleep are ok and it's ok when the phone is active, but after several minutes of sleep it won't receive any calls....As I said earlier, when shutting the phone down, it stops charging until pressing the power button for 10seconds...then another 2 seconds and it starts up...not sure if these 2 issues are interrelated or not (ie, some type of debugging mode or settings that got wiped)....i know the sims are fine, and the IMEI's are showing up in phone information...

any ideas?? i have another phone, the exact same model, would it be possible to copy everything from that onto the first phone and then manually set the IMEI's? it says rooted in phone information, but i'm not sure that it is....

would a better idea be to do a factory reset first? if i do that, can i just write down the IMEI information and manually enter it after the factory reset if i need to?

crap...thanks for any help here.
 
I've been Googling like a madman trying to find more info on that device, damian. Having no good luck at all.

I'm sorry to say that all I can offer is this: it's an Android device, and most Android devices do respond to some issues with a factory data reset.

If it were mine, that's what I'd do, being sure to first backup all contacts in Google/Gmail, and all data on the SD card.

I wish I could offer more, and I'm hoping some other user of that device can chime in with real, specific info for you.
 
Frisco said:
I've been Googling like a madman trying to find more info on that device, damian. Having no good luck at all.

I'm sorry to say that all I can offer is this: it's an Android device, and most Android devices do respond to some issues with a factory data reset.

If it were mine, that's what I'd do, being sure to first backup all contacts in Google/Gmail, and all data on the SD card.

I wish I could offer more, and I'm hoping some other user of that device can chime in with real, specific info for you.
Click to expand...

i'm not really caring about data...everything is on the sims regarding #'s etc... i'm mainly worried about bricking the phone...

can i manually enter the IMEI's if it gets lost during reset? or does the phone need to be rooted to do that...? i ran one app (some memory management thing that said the phone wasn't rooted, but in kernal it says "root@android-eric-desktop #1" (googling this brings up a lot of results). also the processor is "mediatek mtk6516"

do you know if "clear flash" is same as a factory reset? the option seems to reset it to factory, but then this issue with not receiving calls during sleep and the strange charging behavior.....

thank you much for your help..cheers.
 
did the hard reset and didn't seem to lose the IMEI's..am able to make calls fine.

something still very screwy about the charging, it's went from bad to worse. it still registers when plugged into the computer, but often won't register the charging.

i'm letting it go into sleep now for 10 min...then i will call it and see the result...i expect it to be the same... i think something is slightly fried in the phone is my uneducated opinion. or perhaps "clear flash" is not the same as "factory reset" and i wiped some company specific settings/software.
 
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