LOCK PATTERN 701C - How to get into Recovery Mode?

[mahjikk]

I just purchased the last one of these from a local Big Lots and unfortunately it was one that someone returned. I took that risk buying it, since it is a precious breed these days, however, the previous owner set up a lock screen....I've been trying to get past that screen for the past couple of hours so that I can do a factory reset, but no method works. I try to get into a recovery mode by holding different combos of the physical buttons, but they just put the tablet into a nonresponsive vegetable mode. If any of you guys can help out, it would be greatly appreciated. I am THIS close from going Liam Neeson (Taken) on the previous owner. Again, all I need is a factory reset - the only thing in my way is this damned locked screen

[sabercatpuck]

Ok, try this. First you will need to be able to set up drivers to use adb. So far the easiest way has been using superonetouch to force it on, though there may be a way to use f8 while booting windows to allow it to install unsigned drivers since i have yet to find one windows will install on its own.
after that you will need a copy of adb, there were some posted on freaktab within the last day or so.
now after that we need to get the tablet into debug mode. Luckily for you if you shut the tablet down to power off and then plug it into the computer with a usb cable the tablet will boot up and go into debug mode.
now you will need to navigate to where your shell and type the following:

Adb -d shell
(Now should be at the # prompt, if not type su and hit enter)
Sqlite3 data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
(Now at the sqlite> prompt)
update system set value=0 where name ='lock_pattern_autolock';
.exit
(Back to the #prompt)
exit

Then disconnect the usb, power off and power on

Difficult to post links at the moment, but if you need mote specific instruction i can try to have something up by tomorrow

[sabercatpuck]

Just enough time for the links before I fall asleep

Where I got the commands to issue over ADB:

http://matthewhollander.com/locked-out-of-your-android-phone/

See post #9 for info on forcing Superoneclick to install the drivers for debug. Note I was thinking about it you will actually need to do the bit where you power off the phone and boot by installing the USB cable to the PC before trying to run superoneclick to install the drivers since it needs to be in debug mode (you will see a little bug looking guy pop up on the top status row of the tablet)

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-prevail/523781-polaroid-pmid701c.html

Some ways of installing ADB to talk to the phone are talked about from post 29 on:

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?524-Cell-Standby-Bug-(PMID701c)/page2

[mahjikk]

Thanks for the info, I'm downloading SuperOneClick now. However, I don't see the liittle bug guy in the status bar, instead I see him holding a USB, with the words USB connected beneath him. So I'm not sure if I'm in debug mode. I'll give it a try and update on how far I get.

[mahjikk]

Superoneclick wont respond when I click on Check Drivers. I installed the Android SDK, and loaded adb.exe from that using CMD. Once "loaded", I typed in adb -d shell, but got "Error: device not found". I don't think the device is in USB debug mode. Either that, or the proper drivers didn't install. Is there any way to do a hard rest, using a button combination?

[sabercatpuck]

Hmm, ok tried on my xp box that does not have the drivers installed and it didnt boot to debug mode so it may only do that if the drivers are installed. Which puts us in a catch 22. I am not sure now how to get windows to install the driver without the device being in debug mode and we cant get your driver installed because we cant set it to debug mode. Will have to research, but wont have time till later. Which version of windows are you running by the way?

No way i have seen, and i dont think the reset button on the back will reset that either, but you could try. Worse cade is we are hoping to have a rom that can be flashed in the next few days

[sabercatpuck]

might work

Ok, so i found a way to get windows to at least recognize the new hardware, noy sure if you can get the driver installed with superoneclick though. Power the unit off, then hold down the menu button (the middle one) while you hit the power button. Then plug in the usb. At this point you will at least get the driver install message. This puts the device into fel mode for flashing, but it is the same driver for debug. When you are ready to reboot to normal you will need to hold the power button for 20 to 30 seconds till it reboots to get it out of fel mode. There are drivers out there to try, most associated with a program called livesuite for flashing the new rom

[mahjikk]

I got into fel mode (the screen stays off right?) and loaded superoneclick again. It installed the driver this time! So now, under device manager, I have an Android composite ADB Interface. I'm guessing that is a good thing. But I tried adb.exe again, but I still get an error device not found. :/ I'm still in fel mode though, maybe I'll try the original steps you provided, now that I have these "adb drivers".

Update:
Still not working. Maybe I can try fel mode again.

Update 2:
Nope. The only thing that has changed so far is that I have an ADB driver installed, but no way to connect to it.

[sabercatpuck]

i think you are almost there

ok now hold the power button for 30 seconds or so. should reboot to the locked screen. then shut it off and plug in the usb cable. should boot into debug then and you can go from there with adb

[mechanics200]

Reset button

ok now hold the power button for 30 seconds or so. should reboot to the locked screen. then shut it off and plug in the usb cable. should boot into debug then and you can go from there with adb

Is it not easier to use the reset button on the back upper right side?

[sabercatpuck]

just being sure

Ok now that you have the driver installed when you turn it off the only thing you are doing is plugging in the usb cable right? It should then start booting up without hitting the power button into debug mode. So usb cable only now, no buttons.

[sabercatpuck]

Just so you know what you are looking for

This is the debug mode on symbol. Most of the time when I boot I can only see half of it though since it shows up at the end of the row and gets cut off by the wifi measurement place.

[mahjikk]

Sorry for the late reply guys, but I just turned off the tablet, plugged in the USB, without touching anything, and it still booted without debug . I'm stuck here, I'll try again and see if I'm lucky, but so far no good. And no the reset button doesn't get rid of the lock screen.

Update:
Actually, I noticed something new...When I do the process as follows:
1) Fel Mode
2) hold power for 30 secs till reboot
3) unplug USB, power off
4) Plug in
5) This is where I notice something, the tablet boots, NOT IN DEBUG, but an interesting prompt shows us with an exclamation mark "System process" something, with the option to "Force Close" or "wait". I tried both, with no results. But I'll keep on trying.

[sabercatpuck]

Just to be safe

Since I know sometimes I can only barely see the bug, had you tried just connecting with ADB even if you dont see it (it looked like you had, but wanted to be sure)? I dont think it actually rotates the screen untill after you get the lock entered so if there were other things loaded in there you might not see the icon. But neither of mine have failed to connect to debug when I plug in the cabl from power off. I guess If time permits I can try to set up a passcode on my test tablet when I get home to make sure that that isnt causing a headache

The only other things you could do would be to try and call (I know several that have tried email with no success) Southern Telecom and see if you can get them to get you a copy of the Image file so you can re-flash. Note if you can we would be eternally gratefull since we are having issues getting the finising touches on recreating it.

http://southerntelecom.com/polaroidsupport/firmware_guide.html#/polaroidsupport/index.html

On a positive note according to their FAQ they say that is the only reason they can think of to distribute the firmware is if you lock yourself out so maybe you have a chance there.

If you are really brave and SoTel is uncooperative you could do what I am planning on doing to my test unit on Monday and flash the Onda 2.0.5 firmware. That tablet is very close cousin (same motherboard at least) and might take to it OK, but we don't know yet

By the way, on a positive note you still would have needed to get that driver installed to perform a flash with LiveSuite so your efforts today were not wasted.

[sabercatpuck]

looks like there is something going on

Ok so on my test bed tablet i tried to set up the conditons you had and it would not connect in debug for me. The thing is even after i turned it back off it still wouldnt. Not sure what it is making it different, possibly the clockwork recovery, but for now it looks like that idea is a bust. I can look again on monday, but will probably be busy with family all day tomorrow.
again the goodnews is to flash you still need that driver installed so it wasnt entirely wasted effort.
If you want to try installing the onda firmware that can be downloaded let me know. If you do and it works you could be a hero.
if not you also have the perfect excuse to get a copy of the firmware from southern telecom which again could make you a hero.

Let me know