How to Enable Sideloading of Apps on Captivate

[sdelliott31]

Ok, I'll be the idiot, but otherwise I won't learn. I have the drivers for samsung installed, am rooted, installed busy box with restated I am rooted. I am linked as mounted mas storage device from phone to pc. I, on my pc, have my cmd open and pointed to the tools directory. I am in the c: command prompt by the way. I typed in adb shell and it came up with device not found. I entered su after this and it stated not a recognizable command. So, I'm stuck I don't understand the complete premise of what we are trying to change to get the third party software to load, so I am asking for help. I'm surprised I have gotten this far but want to finish. Thanks,

 

[narcoden]

This might make side loading easier if it works:

Sideload Android apps all you want with the Sideload Wonder Machine | Android Central

I don't have a Windows machine to try it and don't feel like making a Windows VM right now.

 

[gwaki]

This might make side loading easier if it works:

Sideload Android apps all you want with the Sideload Wonder Machine | Android Central

I don't have a Windows machine to try it and don't feel like making a Windows VM right now.

That is what I have been using. Works great and no problems to report!

 

[sdelliott31]

Ok, I used the Sideload wonder machine and picked my.apk file and this worked perfectly. Not the most convenient, but it installed and ran like a Flash. Thank You for this.

 

[rajendra82]

I am on Windows XP SP3 32 bit, and this command:

adb pull /sdcard/settings.db %userprofile%\desktop

does nothing. All I get with that is the ADB help output. The settings.db file that was created never gets pulled to desktop.

So I also changed it to:
adb pull /sdcard/settings.db

and the file gets successfully pulled to the sdk tools directory. I think it's because on my OS:
%userprofile% = C:\Documents and Settings\<username>
and the command adb can't handle the spaces in the variable.

Therefore I also changed this:
adb push %userprofile%\desktop\settings.db /sdcard
to this:
adb push settings.db /sdcard

Everything is fine so far, except Firefox wont let go of the stupid settings.db file in the sdk tools directory for me to delete it.

P.S. - The SDK install asked me to append %path% with the sdk/tools location as part of the installation. If you followed that step, there is no need to do change directories to there first or to worry about %userprofile% containing spaces. It'd be better to change directories over to your preferred location to store settings.db and invoke adb from there.

 

[sanduneboi]

Does AT&T block certain apps in the Android Market?

 

[beertha]

I am on Windows XP SP3 32 bit, and this command:

adb pull /sdcard/settings.db %userprofile%\desktop

does nothing. All I get with that is the ADB help output. The settings.db file that was created never gets pulled to desktop.

So I also changed it to:
adb pull /sdcard/settings.db

and the file gets successfully pulled to the sdk tools directory. I think it's because on my OS:
%userprofile% = C:\Documents and Settings\<username>
and the command adb can't handle the spaces in the variable.

Therefore I also changed this:
adb push %userprofile%\desktop\settings.db /sdcard
to this:
adb push settings.db /sdcard

Everything is fine so far, except Firefox wont let go of the stupid settings.db file in the sdk tools directory for me to delete it.

P.S. - The SDK install asked me to append %path% with the sdk/tools location as part of the installation. If you followed that step, there is no need to do change directories to there first or to worry about %userprofile% containing spaces. It'd be better to change directories over to your preferred location to store settings.db and invoke adb from there.

Thanks for your info because I had the same problem!

 

[sdelliott31]

Hi, I have solved my problem for the most part. I was just curious, when you read the original instructions there is a part that says download sql lite and go to firefox tools and change settings. Is this on the PC, or through android and then tools on firefox Captivate. If it is this, I cannot find tools for firefox in the browser. I'm sure something else is wrong. Can someone help? Thanks,

 

[t-readyroc]

Or just use the sideload wonder machine.

 

[Pinetree09]

Or just use the sideload wonder machine.

I tried using it but I still got "device offline"

 

[acandia007]

it worked for me!!!

 

[Pinetree09]

Edit: nevermind

 

[rajendra82]

When you load the phone with USB debugging on, a red triangle should show up in the notification bar, and if you installed the right drivers, the SDK tools should find the device when invoked. Other than the red triangle icon on the phone, nothing else typically happens unless you run a command on the computer.

 

[Pinetree09]

Yay, I finally got it to work...on another computer, lol


I guess I didn't install something right on my computer, oh well, I'll figure it out eventually

 

[aperture]

Nevermind. I'm not as stupid as I thought I was.

 

[tman42]

*** Standard Disclaimer: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PHONE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS PROCEDURE.

THE PROBLEM WITH USB DEBUGGING HAS BEEN FIXED. THIS PROCEDURE SEEMS PRETTY SAFE NOW. ONLY FURTHER TESTING WILL TELL FOR SURE.

IF YOU PERFORMED THIS PROCEDURE PREVIOUSLY AND YOU HAVE USB DEBUGGING STUCK ON, SKIP TO WHERE YOU SEE *** USB DEBUGGING FIX ***. ***

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)
You'll need the USB drivers (Stickied post in this forum)
You'll need root access (look for the Captivate Root thread by chaoscentral)
You'll need Busybox (available on the market after you root the phone)

Connect USB to phone with USB Debugging ON
Command prompt
cd to SDK install directory
cd tools
adb shell
su
cp /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db /sdcard/settings.db
cp /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db /sdcard/settings.db.backup
exit
exit
(This should bring you back to your windows command prompt.)
adb pull /sdcard/settings.db %userprofile%\desktop
(This should copy the settings.db to your desktop in Windows. Keep your cmd window open, you'll need it again.)

Install SQLite Manager Plugin for Firefox
Open SQLite Manager Plugin within Firefox (Tools->SQLite Manager)
Click Database
Click Connect Database
Find settings.db
Expand Tables
Click secure
Scroll down to ID 6, "install_non_market_apps". Double-click.
Change value ( TEXT ) from 0 to 1
Close SQLite Manager

(Back to that cmd window)
adb push %userprofile%\desktop\settings.db /sdcard

adb shell
su
cp /sdcard/settings.db /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings
chmod 777 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
reboot

Disconnect USB from phone. Your phone should be rebooting.

Done! I tested this and was able to install siriusxm.apk from siriusxm.com/android.


*** USB DEBUGGING FIX ***
adb shell
su
chmod 777 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
reboot

Thank you Maerlin for taking the time to figure this out. I am now free to download as I please, and the first program was kind of a cool text while seeing what's in front of you program called RoadSMS the first of many to come thanks again maerlin. I just wanted to add that after you have your phone rooted, you can do all of this from your phone. I purchased two very good apps, Root Explorer and SQLite Editor (Edit, make sure to give them both superuser permission). I used Root explorer and followed your directions above and copied the file to my sd card(just paste to main card directory). Now I had a few issues with not seeing anything on my card at first but I went through everything a couple times and then it showed up. Then I opened up SQLite on my phone and click your settings on your phone and it gives you the option to browse SD card, I scrolled all the way to the bottom and found the settings.db file (which I renamed the original and placed on my SD card as setting-back.db), select the file you are going to edit. Then select "Secure" and and press and hold line 6 (install_non_market_apps) and choose "Edit Record" simple replace the value "0" with "1" and hit save. Now go back to your Root Explorer program on your phone and go into the original directory and if you haven't renamed the original file you may want to, then move it to your SD card or wherever you choose. Now move the newly edited file from your SD card to that same directory you just moved the original from. Reboot (shut off and turn back on phone) and viola You should have what you want. Thanks again for posting the original instructions and I hope I didn't dumb it up too much for you technical guys, I know I am new to the Android and I just wanted to make it as simple as possible for others. Hope this helped anyone needing another simple way to do this.

 

[sonicanatidae]

From: Workaround for Fixing 'Unsupported Sources' - Page 2 - xda-developers

NOTE: You MUST have root access in order for this to work

sqlite3 is included in the Android SDK tools, so this would be the best way:

• COMMON
• Enable USB debugging (settings > applications > development > USB Debugging)
• adb remount
• adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db settings.db
  
  Linux/OS X
• echo "update secure set value = 1 where name = 'install_non_market_apps';"|./sqlite3 settings.db
  
  WINDOWS
• echo update secure set value = 1 where name = 'install_non_market_apps';|sqlite3 settings.db
  
  COMMON
• adb push settings.db /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
• Reboot phone and sideloading works. (thanks fluffyarmada)

Additional Information and why you shouldnt download and install someone else's settings.db.

You will lose your settings if you use the attached settings.db file. Your best bet is to pull the file off your phone, edit it with something that understands sqlite3's database format, and then push it back. It's just better that way.

Further EDIT:: As someone pointed out later in this thread, this file unbeknownst to me when I shared it, actually has a unique ID by which phones can be identified on the android market, etc. While this isn't a huge deal, it can lead to some rather strange behavior... my phone for example has started attempting to download apps from the android market all by itself.

So--- if you want to side-load apps, change the variable in the database like I explained above.

​

 

[sonicanatidae]

Question about the method 1st posted:

I get so far, then it tells me permission denied when I su, but
the phone is rooted.. I have superuser on it and 3 apps that require root.

Originally Posted by maerlim
*** Standard Disclaimer: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PHONE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS PROCEDURE.

THE PROBLEM WITH USB DEBUGGING HAS BEEN FIXED. THIS PROCEDURE SEEMS PRETTY SAFE NOW. ONLY FURTHER TESTING WILL TELL FOR SURE.

IF YOU PERFORMED THIS PROCEDURE PREVIOUSLY AND YOU HAVE USB DEBUGGING STUCK ON, SKIP TO WHERE YOU SEE *** USB DEBUGGING FIX ***. ***

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)
You'll need the USB drivers (Stickied post in this forum)
You'll need root access (look for the Captivate Root thread by chaoscentral)
You'll need Busybox (available on the market after you root the phone)

Connect USB to phone with USB Debugging ON
Command prompt
cd to SDK install directory
cd tools
adb shell
su

After I type su.. I wait about 10 secs and it returns:

Permission Denied


What did I miss?

Root method was using the update.zip file..

 

[Pinetree09]

Question about the method 1st posted:

I get so far, then it tells me permission denied when I su, but
the phone is rooted.. I have superuser on it and 3 apps that require root.


After I type su.. I wait about 10 secs and it returns:

Permission Denied


What did I miss?

Root method was using the update.zip file..

There will be a Superuser permissions popup on your phone, you'll need to hit allow

 

[sonicanatidae]

There will be a Superuser permissions popup on your phone, you'll need to hit allow

Yup.. that was it..

Another +1 for this method working..

 

[YellowGT0]

Ok I read over on XDA that

chown system.sdcard_rw /sdcard/settings.db /dbdata/databases/com.andorid.providers.settings

Is better then CHmod because it leaves settings.db a little more secure I have not tried it but if anyone is worried about settings.db being any less secure you can try it.

 

[Aerimus]

In notification bar make sure you dismount SD card from comp before trying this.

This may seem obvious, but this is my first android experience and I did not realize that I had to cancel usb storage in the notification area, and not sure I could have figured it out without this post. It might be a good idea to add this to the main guide at the beginning of the thread. Thanks a lot for the hard work on this.

 

[martincarroll84]

*** Standard Disclaimer: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PHONE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS PROCEDURE.

THE PROBLEM WITH USB DEBUGGING HAS BEEN FIXED. THIS PROCEDURE SEEMS PRETTY SAFE NOW. ONLY FURTHER TESTING WILL TELL FOR SURE.

IF YOU PERFORMED THIS PROCEDURE PREVIOUSLY AND YOU HAVE USB DEBUGGING STUCK ON, SKIP TO WHERE YOU SEE *** USB DEBUGGING FIX ***. ***

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)
You'll need the USB drivers (Stickied post in this forum)
You'll need root access (look for the Captivate Root thread by chaoscentral)
You'll need Busybox (available on the market after you root the phone)

Connect USB to phone with USB Debugging ON
Command prompt
cd to SDK install directory
cd tools
adb shell
su
cp /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db /sdcard/settings.db
cp /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db /sdcard/settings.db.backup
exit
exit
(This should bring you back to your windows command prompt.)
adb pull /sdcard/settings.db %userprofile%\desktop
(This should copy the settings.db to your desktop in Windows. Keep your cmd window open, you'll need it again.)

Install SQLite Manager Plugin for Firefox
Open SQLite Manager Plugin within Firefox (Tools->SQLite Manager)
Click Database
Click Connect Database
Find settings.db
Expand Tables
Click secure
Scroll down to ID 6, "install_non_market_apps". Double-click.
Change value ( TEXT ) from 0 to 1
Close SQLite Manager

(Back to that cmd window)
adb push %userprofile%\desktop\settings.db /sdcard

adb shell
su
cp /sdcard/settings.db /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings
chmod 777 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
reboot

Disconnect USB from phone. Your phone should be rebooting.

Done! I tested this and was able to install siriusxm.apk from siriusxm.com/android.


*** USB DEBUGGING FIX ***
adb shell
su
chmod 777 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db
reboot

I was having issues getting the USB driver to work so SDK was not recognizing the Device. However i was able to get this accomplished in a different way. Here's what I did to get rid of the gay message saying i could only install market apps:

First I rooted my device by downloading the captivate recovery file and renaming it to update.zip and coppied it to my removalble storage card and booted into the recovery and selected

 

[tman42]

I was having issues getting the USB driver to work so SDK was not recognizing the Device. However i was able to get this accomplished in a different way. Here's what I did to get rid of the gay message saying i could only install market apps:

First I rooted my device by downloading the captivate recovery file and renaming it to update.zip and coppied it to my removalble storage card and booted into the recovery and selected &#8220;Reinstall packages.&#8221; and rebooted the phone. I now had root access but still could not install apps not on the market due to ATT being ******s. next did some research that all that needed to be changed was a database value. ***** FOLLOWING STEPS DO AT YOUR OWN RISK I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU BREAK YOUR PHONE******
I then downloaded a pay app called Root Explorer and SQLite Editor
In root explorer navigate to /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings
then coppied the settings.db and pasted it in /sdcard/sd (MUST HAVE MICRO SD INSTALLED)
once coppied to that directory click on settings.db and it will open in the editor with a menu select the secure option and look for install_non_market_apps long tap on it and select 'edit record' when it comes up get rid of the 0 and make it a 1 click save go back to /sdcard/sd copy settings.db and paste it back in /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings and it will copy over the current settings.db reboot the phone and you can install all non-market apps Hope this is useful for users who may have had a usb issue as i did .. It cost me $6 but it was a lot less head ache and i did it in 30mins of research at work instead of the 6hrs of almost ripping my hair out last night! LOL Enjoy!

That's exactly what I did, tried to explain it above but checked it today and saw that it was very late when I wrote it LOL. You just saved me from going back over it and making it easier to read. I was amazed at how easy this was to do and like you mentioned for the price of only $6 bucks.

 

[kbrown17]

I keep getting a error message saying FAILURE [INSTALL_FAILED_ALREADY_EXISTS]

what am i doing wrong