Running out of hair to pull out!

[Rider2020]

I'm not a tech wiz. I'm not totally ignorant either. I have a problem I keep hitting a brick wall with. What I want is really simple - the pic I set for my wallpaper that I previously deleted from my photos. I have a ZTE Z Max I bought 4 years ago. I am not gamer and rarely used phone for browsing. I have been unable to update apps for a while now. I cannot access Google Play Store, get error 491 or whatever number saying have to update Play Services. I have plenty of storage, cleared caches and data, all the usual. I tried from website and got message saying app would be installed later. Nope. I have tried rooting. I got in as developer and removed all security protocol. I really cannot afford taking phone in, somebody tinkering with it, telling me they can't get pic, then charging me for their time. It's just a pic and it's in the system somewhere. I tried using PC to get into files to find it. Don't see any files that look like settings. I downloaded a .exe file for utility but get message saying don't have app to open with. I lose pic if I reset to factory settings. No matter what I do it bombs. Could really use help please. Thanks.

 

[ocnbrze]

do you use google photos? if so it might be backed up already. if not then going forward you might want to think about using it. i never have to worry about my photos. i can delete it off of the device and still be able to access the photo from a different device. also i never delete a photo unless i know that it is backed up or if i knew i did not want the photo any more.

as for your play store error 491 you can try these suggestions:
https://www.androidpit.com/forum/600241/how-to-fix-google-play-error-491

and as far as rooting goes were you able to root it? not sure i understand what you said about it. there should be a developers option that allows oem bootloader unlock, but that is not being rooted. and i'm not sure what you mean by disabling security protocols. if it is rooted, do you have a custom recovery?

 

[MoodyBlues]

Welcome to Android Forums, Rider2020!

What I want is really simple - the pic I set for my wallpaper that I previously deleted from my photos.

Are you quite sure you don't have a backup somewhere, such as Google Photos, as @ocnbrze mentioned? What about other cloud services that may have auto-saved it--Dropbox, Amazon Photos, Amazon Drive, etc.?

I have a ZTE Z Max I bought 4 years ago. I am not gamer and rarely used phone for browsing. I have been unable to update apps for a while now. I cannot access Google Play Store, get error 491 or whatever number saying have to update Play Services.

And this ties in to your missing photo issue...how?

I have plenty of storage, cleared caches and data, all the usual. I tried from website and got message saying app would be installed later. Nope.

What are you trying to install, and how does it tie in with the wallpaper photo?

I have tried rooting. I got in as developer and removed all security protocol.

*confused* Rooting is one thing, developer options another. As for removing all security protocols...I have no clue what you mean--and I say that with 35 years of professional and personal use of UNIX/Linux [which sprouted Android]. Please clarify.

I really cannot afford taking phone in, somebody tinkering with it, telling me they can't get pic, then charging me for their time. It's just a pic and it's in the system somewhere. I tried using PC to get into files to find it. Don't see any files that look like settings. I downloaded a .exe file for utility but get message saying don't have app to open with.

Where and why did you download this windows file? windows files don't run on Android.

I lose pic if I reset to factory settings

Yes, you will. Which is why I'm hoping you have a backup somewhere. Barring that, I do believe rooting your phone may be your only option. However, rooting has become much less of a thing than it once was [I haven't rooted a device since 2013], so there may not be much help available for doing that.

It's possible that the wallpaper image is stored somewhere in the device's storage accessible without root, but offhand I couldn't say where. Perhaps someone else will know.

Are you using a third-party launcher, such as ADW or Nova? Setting wallpaper is one of their functions; perhaps the image is saved somewhere in their [accessible] storage.

 

[mikedt]

I believe the ZTE Z Max is actually a six year old phone, introduced 2014, running Android 4.4. Well Google and many apps stopped supporting Android 4.4 a while back now. That's why it can't access Google Play Store. And there's not a lot you can do about that, except see if there's a more recent Android custom ROM for it, or buy a new phone.

 

[Trom]

I'm not a tech wiz. I'm not totally ignorant either. I have a problem I keep hitting a brick wall with. What I want is really simple - the pic I set for my wallpaper that I previously deleted from my photos. I have a ZTE Z Max I bought 4 years ago. I am not gamer and rarely used phone for browsing. I have been unable to update apps for a while now. I cannot access Google Play Store, get error 491 or whatever number saying have to update Play Services. I have plenty of storage, cleared caches and data, all the usual. I tried from website and got message saying app would be installed later. Nope. I have tried rooting. I got in as developer and removed all security protocol. I really cannot afford taking phone in, somebody tinkering with it, telling me they can't get pic, then charging me for their time. It's just a pic and it's in the system somewhere. I tried using PC to get into files to find it. Don't see any files that look like settings. I downloaded a .exe file for utility but get message saying don't have app to open with. I lose pic if I reset to factory settings. No matter what I do it bombs. Could really use help please. Thanks.

You could make another screen by sliding one icon over to a new screen, slide it as far to top or bottom as you can to get it out of the way in a place you don't care when you crop it out, and do a screen cap.

 

[Hadron]

I'm not fully certain I understand the request, but I think you are trying to retrieve the picture you set as your wallpaper and subsequently deleted the original. I'm guessing, since it's not said explicitly, that this picture is still your wallpaper image. And if you'd asked a couple of years ago I could have told you where to find the copy that is used as the wallpaper image, but I can no longer remember. However the fact that I cannot see it with the file browser on my current (unrooted) phone makes me strongly suspect that it might be in an area that you need root to access (my previous phones were always rooted). Bear in mind that the rooting procedure for many phones will involve a factory reset (fiddling with things in Developer Options is not the same as rooting the phone).

If you manage to access it it will probably be a lower resolution copy than the original (i.e. reduced to the screen resolution), but I guess that's better than nothing.

 

[Rider2020]

do you use google photos? if so it might be backed up already. if not then going forward you might want to think about using it. i never have to worry about my photos. i can delete it off of the device and still be able to access the photo from a different device. also i never delete a photo unless i know that it is backed up or if i knew i did not want the photo any more.

as for your play store error 491 you can try these suggestions:
https://www.androidpit.com/forum/600241/how-to-fix-google-play-error-491

and as far as rooting goes were you able to root it? not sure i understand what you said about it. there should be a developers option that allows oem bootloader unlock, but that is not being rooted. and i'm not sure what you mean by disabling security protocols. if it is rooted, do you have a custom recovery?

Hi and thanks for replying. I use as little of Google as possible because I'm old school (okay, old) and share as little as possible with them. Anything important I use a desktop and flash drive for storage.

Being old and stubborn I kept tinkering with the phone after I wrote that post and at one point removed the SIM and replaced it. The phone was locked to at&t as I purchased as no contract plan. I also at this point selected OEM unlock (I had already enabled 3rd party downloads. I don't know what originally happened to cause the play store to stop functioning a year or so ago. One of the options in troubleshooting was delete and add Google account back, but when I did that the OS was then showing the phone as 2 different devices linked to my Google account. I think the SIM card removal resolved that. At any rate...I tried once again to update Google Play Service and it actually worked much to my delight and amazement. I went ahead and updated the Google stuff I wanted. I have no custom recovery. I think I have rooted the phone as I downloaded X-Plore and have it running on phone. I'm on a mission to find that photo. I'm learning a lot along the way...and trying not to brick the phone! If I had known about rooting earlier I would have removed the junk off the phone. Now, I'm a happy iphone SE owner since they offered one in a more reasonable price range.

I'm not fully certain I understand the request, but I think you are trying to retrieve the picture you set as your wallpaper and subsequently deleted the original. I'm guessing, since it's not said explicitly, that this picture is still your wallpaper image. And if you'd asked a couple of years ago I could have told you where to find the copy that is used as the wallpaper image, but I can no longer remember. However the fact that I cannot see it with the file browser on my current (unrooted) phone makes me strongly suspect that it might be in an area that you need root to access (my previous phones were always rooted). Bear in mind that the rooting procedure for many phones will involve a factory reset (fiddling with things in Developer Options is not the same as rooting the phone).

If you manage to access it it will probably be a lower resolution copy than the original (i.e. reduced to the screen resolution), but I guess that's better than nothing.

I'm currently trying to undelete with file mgmt app I was finally able to down from play store.

I believe the ZTE Z Max is actually a six year old phone, introduced 2014, running Android 4.4. Well Google and many apps stopped supporting Android 4.4 a while back now. That's why it can't access Google Play Store. And there's not a lot you can do about that, except see if there's a more recent Android custom ROM for it, or buy a new phone.

Actually it's running Android 6.0.1 according to system info. That was one of the first things I checked. Thanks.

 

[Hadron]

I have X-Plore on my unrooted phone, so that doesn't require root. The test is whether it lets you brows the system folders.

 

[Rider2020]

Welcome to Android Forums, Rider2020!

Are you quite sure you don't have a backup somewhere, such as Google Photos, as @ocnbrze mentioned? What about other cloud services that may have auto-saved it--Dropbox, Amazon Photos, Amazon Drive, etc.?

And this ties in to your missing photo issue...how?

What are you trying to install, and how does it tie in with the wallpaper photo?

*confused* Rooting is one thing, developer options another. As for removing all security protocols...I have no clue what you mean--and I say that with 35 years of professional and personal use of UNIX/Linux [which sprouted Android]. Please clarify.

Where and why did you download this windows file? windows files don't run on Android.

Yes, you will. Which is why I'm hoping you have a backup somewhere. Barring that, I do believe rooting your phone may be your only option. However, rooting has become much less of a thing than it once was [I haven't rooted a device since 2013], so there may not be much help available for doing that.

It's possible that the wallpaper image is stored somewhere in the device's storage accessible without root, but offhand I couldn't say where. Perhaps someone else will know.

Are you using a third-party launcher, such as ADW or Nova? Setting wallpaper is one of their functions; perhaps the image is saved somewhere in their [accessible] storage.

I have X-Plore on my unrooted phone, so that doesn't require root. The test is whether it lets you brows the system folders.

I have X-Plore on my unrooted phone, so that doesn't require root. The test is whether it lets you brows the system folders.

I have X-Plore on my unrooted phone, so that doesn't require root. The test is whether it lets you brows the system folders.

I have X-Plore on my unrooted phone, so that doesn't require root. The test is whether it lets you brows the system folders.

 

[Rider2020]

I have X-Plore on my unrooted phone, so that doesn't require root. The test is whether it lets you brows the system folders.

My guess is that's where the wallpaper pic is. Since I don't know the actual filename or path it's just going to take me digging around. It was stored in the phone photo storage (not Google photos) and I don't keep a lot of stuff on my devices so I deleted it some time after I set it as the wallpaper. It's in a file somewhere in the system because it is still the wallpaper so the image exists. I'm an *longtime* computer user so I've always included hidden system files anytime I was searching for something.

 

[Rider2020]

 

[Rider2020]

View attachment 152157

This is what it's doing now. I'm not 100% certain what's going on but I'll find out when I'm done! I'm retired, so...

 

[Rider2020]

Welcome to Android Forums, Rider2020!

Are you quite sure you don't have a backup somewhere, such as Google Photos, as @ocnbrze mentioned? What about other cloud services that may have auto-saved it--Dropbox, Amazon Photos, Amazon Drive, etc.?

And this ties in to your missing photo issue...how?

What are you trying to install, and how does it tie in with the wallpaper photo?

*confused* Rooting is one thing, developer options another. As for removing all security protocols...I have no clue what you mean--and I say that with 35 years of professional and personal use of UNIX/Linux [which sprouted Android]. Please clarify.

Where and why did you download this windows file? windows files don't run on Android.

Yes, you will. Which is why I'm hoping you have a backup somewhere. Barring that, I do believe rooting your phone may be your only option. However, rooting has become much less of a thing than it once was [I haven't rooted a device since 2013], so there may not be much help available for doing that.

It's possible that the wallpaper image is stored somewhere in the device's storage accessible without root, but offhand I couldn't say where. Perhaps someone else will know.

Are you using a third-party launcher, such as ADW or Nova? Setting wallpaper is one of their functions; perhaps the image is saved somewhere in their [accessible] storage.

 

[Rider2020]

Welcome to Android Forums, Rider2020!

Are you quite sure you don't have a backup somewhere, such as Google Photos, as @ocnbrze mentioned? What about other cloud services that may have auto-saved it--Dropbox, Amazon Photos, Amazon Drive, etc.?

And this ties in to your missing photo issue...how?

What are you trying to install, and how does it tie in with the wallpaper photo?

*confused* Rooting is one thing, developer options another. As for removing all security protocols...I have no clue what you mean--and I say that with 35 years of professional and personal use of UNIX/Linux [which sprouted Android]. Please clarify.

Where and why did you download this windows file? windows files don't run on Android.

Yes, you will. Which is why I'm hoping you have a backup somewhere. Barring that, I do believe rooting your phone may be your only option. However, rooting has become much less of a thing than it once was [I haven't rooted a device since 2013], so there may not be much help available for doing that.

It's possible that the wallpaper image is stored somewhere in the device's storage accessible without root, but offhand I couldn't say where. Perhaps someone else will know.

Are you using a third-party launcher, such as ADW or Nova? Setting wallpaper is one of their functions; perhaps the image is saved somewhere in their [accessible] storage.

I was attempting to download using PC via USB a utility program to debug. That didn't work.

There is no backup of photos. I used the phone's storage, not Google photos. Honestly this was my first smartphone. Yes I was one of those who was drug kicking and screaming away from flip phone. Being a PC person all my life I was overwhelmed by the whole Google suite that just keeps ever expanding much like my waist. So gmail was all I really used.

Hopefully now that I was finally able to download X-Plore I will be able to determine location and share the path with you folks.

 

[MrJavi]

I use ZArchiver on my rooted phone. It can be used along with other file explorers by simply choosing open with "ZArchiver".

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.zdevs.zarchiver

ZArchiver lets you: - Create the following archive types: 7z (7zip), zip, bzip2 (bz2), gzip (gz), XZ, lz4, tar, zst (zstd); - Decompres the following archive types: 7z (7zip), zip, rar, rar5, bzip2, gzip, XZ, iso, tar, arj, cab, lzh, lha, lzma, xar, tgz, tbz, Z, deb, rpm, zipx, mtz, chm, dmg, cpio, cramfs, img (fat, ntfs, ubf), wim, ecm, lzip, zst (zstd), egg, alz; - View archive contents: 7z (7zip), zip, rar, rar5, bzip2, gzip, XZ, iso, tar, arj, cab, lzh, lha, lzma, xar, tgz, tbz, Z, deb, rpm, zipx, mtz, chm, dmg, cpio, cramfs, img (fat, ntfs, ubf), wim, ecm, lzip, zst (zstd), egg, alz; - Create and decompress password-protected archives; - Edit archives: add/remove files to/from the archive (zip, 7zip, tar, apk, mtz); - Create and decompress multi-part archives: 7z, rar(decompress only); - Partial archive decompression; - Open compressed files; - Open an archive file from mail applications; - Extract splited archives: 7z, zip and rar (7z.001, zip.001, part1.rar, z01);

 

[MoodyBlues]

Hopefully now that I was finally able to download X-Plore I will be able to determine location and share the path with you folks.

X-Plore does not require that the device be rooted; several of my file managers, including X-Plore, show my root partition--but I'm definitely not rooted.

Just because you can see system files/directories, doesn't mean you can access them. If you're not rooted, trying to do file manipulation in system files will fail with 'access denied' [or similar] messages.

We need to determine whether you're actually rooted. I found this SU Root Checker in my library; install and run it; post your results.

 

[MrJavi]

ZArchiver doesn't require root.

 

[puppykickr]

X-Plore does not require that the device be rooted; several of my file managers, including X-Plore, show my root partition--but I'm definitely not rooted.

Just because you can see system files/directories, doesn't mean you can access them. If you're not rooted, trying to do file manipulation in system files will fail with 'access denied' [or similar] messages.

We need to determine whether you're actually rooted. I found this SU Root Checker in my library; install and run it; post your results.

Although the files in the root partition cannot be manipulated, can they still be copied to a folder in the internal or the external memory?

 

[MoodyBlues]

Although the files in the root partition cannot be manipulated, can they still be copied to a folder in the internal or the external memory?

Possibly. Depends on their permissions.