Root [Avail] error: device not found

[walterday]

Alright, so I'm a total noob to using adb. After reading the threads by jcase and krystal1985, I decided to try to root my ST Merit. After getting an "adb is not a recognized command" in cmd for a couple of days, I uninstalled it and moved on to other things. Well here I am about a month later, reinstalled adb to a different folder and for whatever reason, adb now works. Kinda.

I'm plugged in usb, debugging enabled, unknown sources checked, and I'm getting the message found in this thread title. I can browse the phone and my sd card through windows, and typing "adb" into cmd gives me the help menu, which I'm taking as a good sign.

Based on the fact that explorer can see the phone, I'm guessing it's not my usb cord. I'm doubting it's the driver either; adb downloaded the google usb drivers, and I've checked hardware manager for any problems but there's nothing there. I've tried restarting my phone while it's plugged in, disabling and enabling debug while plugged in, plugging in with debug enabled... I don't know what else to do, short of restoring to factory, which I'm not even sure would help.

Can anybody help me here please?

 

[redfield88]

Type in "adb devices" in command prompt. It's either A, going to tell you your device isn't detected or B it's going to list the detected devices. If it list your phone, you're good to go to follow the rooting guides.

 

[walterday]

Yeah I forgot to mention, I tried that. It says "List of devices attached" and that's all.

 

[redfield88]

Odd, dumb question. Did you try restarting your computer after you installed ADB?

Also it there a little 'bug' icon in your notification area on your Merit?

 

[walterday]

Not dumb at all actually... I honestly don't remember now if I did. As of right now there's only the "USB connected" pitchfork... Lemme restart the pc, see what happens.

 

[redfield88]

Sounds like your merit simply isnt in usb debug mode. It should show a little bug icon indicating you are.

With your phone plugged into your computer:
Go to SETTINGS > APLLICATIONS > DEVELOPMENT
and make sure usb debugging has a green check mark. If not.. check it.

 

[walterday]

USB debugging is checked.

 

[redfield88]

Where is ADB installed?

Try switching USB ports and see if that helps.
After switching USB ports, Go back into Development and uncheck then recheck the USB Debugging.

 

[walterday]

I installed to the default directory, so adb.exe is found at C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools.

I tried a different USB port following your instructions, no dice.

 

[redfield88]

No answer for you right now then, sorry maybe someone else will be able to come up with something.

 

[walterday]

Thanks anyway, really do appreciate the ideas. =)

 

[redfield88]

Did a quick google, By default plugging your phone should've installed the ZTE usb drivers. There's always the possibility it didn't. You can find them here:

[Drivers] ZTE Merit USB Driver Download

Your phone will still charge without the drivers, but I'm pretty sure USB Debugging requires them.

 

[kingmt]

You have to turn off mass storage. You can't do 2 functions at the same time on the same port.

 

[redfield88]

You have to turn off mass storage. You can't do 2 functions at the same time on the same port.

Oh snap.. I didn't even think about asking if mass storage was on or not. Lol

 

[walterday]

redfield88, the drivers did seem to be a problem after all, but the link you provided wasn't what fixed it. While checking explorer's ability to access my sd card and phone, I found the zte usb installation executable on the phone and installed it to my computer. I now have the bug in my notification menu. After restarting my phone, adb now recognizes the phone and I can get started with the next step. Thank you so much. =)

Incidentally, it was while checking kingmt's suggestion that I found the exe file. As far as I can tell, you can't have debugging and mass media both enabled at the same time. With debugging checked, I never even get the mass media screen to come up on my phone.

Thanks again guys, much appreciated. =)

 

[kingmt]

You can have debugging checked but if you have mass storage turned on the bug disappears. It should come back when you turn mass storage back off.

 

[walterday]

Sorry kingmt, I must be misunderstanding you. The only time I see an option to turn mass storage on is when I plug the phone into the pc and debugging is disabled. If debugging is enabled, the mass storage option doesn't even come up. Is there a separate menu somewhere that you can bring up without plugging into the pc?

At any rate, I seem to have root access now, at least according to Root Check. My next question, if anybody cares to answer, how should I go about moving/removing apps?

 

[redfield88]

Sorry kingmt, I must be misunderstanding you. The only time I see an option to turn mass storage on is when I plug the phone into the pc and debugging is disabled. If debugging is enabled, the mass storage option doesn't even come up. Is there a separate menu somewhere that you can bring up without plugging into the pc?

At any rate, I seem to have root access now, at least according to Root Check. My next question, if anybody cares to answer, how should I go about moving/removing apps?

Theres a list of safely removable apps around this thread somewhere. But from personal experiece don't remove Email.apk it'll cause the default Camera app to force crash at start. The best thong for you to do is to make backups of apps before you remove them. I use rom tool box for pretty much all my rooting needs. Its app manager is perfect for removing, backing up, and many other things.

Unfortunately I can't provide links.. posting from my phandriod app.

 

[walterday]

Thanks for the tip. I've read the thread (have it open in another tab actually) but it still doesn't help me actually remove them... I've installed Link2SD, DroidSail Super App2SD, had App 2 SD installed already, ES File Explorer, none of them seem to let me move or delete those apps that came with the system by default. On top of that, since I've rooted the phone something is eating up my memory pretty quickly. I now have less internal space than I did before I rooted, which was the primary reason for me wanting to root in the first place. Thanks, I'll give rom tool box a shot.

 

[redfield88]

Thanks for the tip. I've read the thread (have it open in another tab actually) but it still doesn't help me actually remove them... I've installed Link2SD, DroidSail Super App2SD, had App 2 SD installed already, ES File Explorer, none of them seem to let me move or delete those apps that came with the system by default. On top of that, since I've rooted the phone something is eating up my memory pretty quickly. I now have less internal space than I did before I rooted, which was the primary reason for me wanting to root in the first place. Thanks, I'll give rom tool box a shot.

Link2sd only allows you to make sd default install place and allows moving apps to the sd card.

Download rom tool box, its a bunch of root apps all in one. The app manager it provides allows you to backup and remove any application on your phone.

 

[kingmt]

I've been using root uninstall. I don't know if it is the latest & greatest but it works for me. uninstall all the apps then reinstall them with Link2SD running. Updates seem to take more room then fresh installs so I replace apps instead of updating.

Did you turn off logging that you enabled while rooting?

 

[walterday]

I forgot to before I rebooted, but then I went back in and disabled. Is there a chance that it kept logging anyway?

 

[walterday]

Something is definitely eating away at my memory. Looking at 972 kb... Scratch that, 904 now.

With ROM Toolbox Lite I can't seem to find an option to move the apps to sd, not sure what I'm missing here...

Edit: Think I may have found out *how* to move apps, but now I'm wondering *where* I should move them to. Can I just make up a folder, or say, move them to /mnt/sdcard/App_Manager?

 

[redfield88]

Something is definitely eating away at my memory. Looking at 972 kb... Scratch that, 904 now.

With ROM Toolbox Lite I can't seem to find an option to move the apps to sd, not sure what I'm missing here...

From ROM Toolbox Lite -> App Manager -> Hit the beside the APP(S) you want to move to SD -> A little scroll able box will open at the bottom. -> Move to SD.

I personally use ROM Toolbox Lite for it's App Manager to uninstall system apps / apps period. I also have Link2SD for moving applications to SD Card, Because it seems to be a tad bit easier with it.

 

[walterday]

10-4, I figured out the moving thing but I'm really stuck on what's eating up my phone's memory. =/

I really don't get it... Just moved 16 apps to sdcard via ROM Toolbox and I have 600 kb free on my phone.