[Solved] An unexpected error occured in com.google.gapps - Android error pop-up

The pop-up appeared on my Android phone multiple times whenever I connect to internet. I did not have any clue why this happened. I finally tried the below to fix the issue, and it fixed the issue.

Note: This works only on a rooted Android device.

1. Open Terminal Emulator app
2. In the emulator type the following command

bugreport > /mnt/sdcard/bugreport.log

I open the file bugreport.log and looked for the exception message related to gapps. From the logs, I realized that while calendar sync starts, somehow the account name is set as blank, which was causing the issue. To double-check whether this is the issue, I opened the Calendar app in my mobile and navigated to Menu > More > Calendars. When I opened this menu item, the application force closed with unexpected error. This confirmed that the issue is with the Calendar app in my mobile. To fix this, I did the following:

1. From the home screen, I opened Settings > Applications > Manage applications > All > Calendar.
2. Clicked on 'Clear data'
3. Also opened the Settings > Applications > Manage applications > All > Calendar Storage.
4. Clicked on 'Clear data'

The issue is fixed!

In pursuit of fixing the issue, I found some useful information to troubleshoot issues in Android. I am listing them below:

Get Device information
The below commands can be used in a Terminal Emulator app.

dumpstate
dumpsys

Use Logcat
The below command can be used in a Terminal Emulator app:

logcat -b events

Get Kernel log information
The below command can be used in a Terminal Emulator app:

dmesg

Log file locations in the device

• /data/anr
  anr stands for 'Application Not Respoding'. So we can expect to see such information in this location.
  
• /data/dontpanic
  this location can contain crash logs.
  
• /data/kernelpanics
• /data/panic/panic_deamon.config
  this config file has the configuration to point to crash log output location.
  
• /data/panicreports
• /data/tombstones
  this location can have logs related to application crash.

[Solved] Cyanogenmod 7.2.0.1 - WIFI disconnects after display is off

I had installed Cyanogenmod 7.2.0.1 in my mobile. It is really an awesome OS!

After installation of the OS in my mobile, I had set the WIFI sleep policy to 'When screen turns off'. The problem I faced because of this setting was when my mobile display was off, WIFI would get disconnected and mobile data connection was switched on automatically; this caused my available mobile data allowance per month to be used, even though there was a WIFI available.

I totally forgot where I had set this policy. I literally browsed all the settings except, where it could be re-configured! Finally I found where I had set the WIFI sleep policy, and set it back to 'Never'.

In this post I will provide the steps on how to set the WIFI sleep policy to suit your need.

1. Open Settings
2. Navigate to Wireless & networks > Wi-Fi settings
3. Press the menu button on phone
4. From the menu, select 'Advanced'
5. Open 'Wi-Fi sleep policy'
6. Select the option that suits your need ( I set it to 'Never' )

No worries of WIFI disconnect after this setting was enabled.

HTC Desire Custom ROM Install, Part - 2 [[Root Phone]]

In one of my previous posts "HTC Desire Custom ROM Install, Part - 1 [[Overview]]", I had outlined the different steps, that needs to be done to install a custom ROM, in HTC Desire Android phone(GSM).

In this post, I will take you through the process of: How to root HTC Desire GSM?

Rooting means, to get access to the system files, and the system file locations. These system files, are the integral part of our mobile phone, which makes it work the way it works. Example: to show the home screen, respond to user interactions such as tap on the screen etc.

Before jumping directly into the "topic", I would like to share a word of caution, that Root will void the warranty of the phone, and there is a possibility that, your phone will not respond(aka bricked). My personal opinion on this word of caution is, take the risk, and the reward will be great. I was apprehensive about the whole idea of rooting, which was the first step to install, a custom ROM on my mobile; it took a while for me to finally go for it. Now I am happy, that I did it.

How? Windows users
This section describes the steps that needs to be done, if you are using Windows.

1. Install the Unrevoked Android HBOOT Driver
2. Uninstall the HTC Sync

If you haven't had HTC Sync installed on your pc, first install HTC Sync and then uninstall it. Sounds a bit funny? No problem, that is needed
3. Enable USB Debugging on your Android phone
4. Run Unrevoked 3.21
   My phone was not rooted, when I used the latest version of Unrevoked, but version 3.21 worked fine
5. Connect the phone to the computer using an USB cable
6. The phone will be detected by the Unrevoked 3.21; proceed with the on screen instructions, and the rooting process will be started by the Unrevoked 3.21

---

Ubuntu users
This section describes the steps that needs to be done, if you are using Ubuntu.

1. Enable USB Debugging on your Android phone
2. Download Unrevoked 3.21
3. Extract reflash.tar.gz, to a location and run 'reflash'
   My phone was not rooted when I used the latest version of Unrevoked, but version 3.21 worked fine
4. Connect the phone to the computer using an USB cable
5. The phone will be detected by the Unrevoked 3.21; proceed the on screen instructions, and the rooting process will be started by the Unrevoked 3.21

During the process, the phone will be rebooted a number of times, which is normal. One very important thing to keep in mind is: do not touch the phone after the Unrevoked3.21 has started the rooting process.

The phone will be successfully rooted, when Unrevoked displays the message "Done".

To verify if the phone is rooted, open the application drawer, and look for a new app called 'Superuser Permissions'; if this application is present, it means your phone is rooted. Enjoy!!

HTC Desire Custom ROM Install, Part - 1 [[Overview]]

It was a bit of excitement for me when one of my colleagues was showing off his mobile with a custom ROM installed. I have heard bits and pieces like "Root","ROM","Boot"... with respect to android phone. But at that point of time I never got my hands dirty trying out any of them.

It invoked my curiosity when my colleague described me what he had done to get the "Custom ROM" onto the android phone he had.

Initially it all sounded "greek and latin" to me about the complete process. Also I was a bit skeptical about the whole idea of trying to put a "Custom ROM" in my mobile HTC Desire Bravo GSM

It took a while for me to learn "Custom ROM" is nothing but a "Custom Operating System" for the android phone. There are pretty good custom roms available to download from the internet. The rule of thumb for people who have never tried any of such stuffs is -

"Don't be anxious what will happen to the phone, it will be alright if you start after reading and clarifying on each step to get to the ultimate experience"

One of the first questions that came to me when I thought about taking the "Risk" was -

Why should I?

Fair enough. I did not have any idea why should I go for it. I have seen posts in internet forums about discussions on topics about features that I have always dreamt of having in my mobile, which is available in mobiles using custom ROM. To quote a very simple example, the ability to "Reboot Phone". It will sound funny that even to reboot the phone we do not have an option in the operating system that comes by default with the phone. In a nutshell a custom ROM provides lot of Freedom for us and the phone. But I must say that, after I found an answer to the question, I did not waste any time to get started with the process. There comes the next question Where to start?

I opted the first step towards installing the Custom ROM on my android phone was to gather all information and understand what the relevance of each of these steps were. There was ample information available in the internet. It did not take so long for me to know precisely what is needed for my phone. Even after browsing through and reading lot of articles, I do not think I got the complete idea of the "How".

From all the information I gathered about the process, I started linking the information and trying to "Connect the dots" Voila!! I got it!! I got the answers for the Why, What, How and I am all set ready to go ahead and free my mobile phone.

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to The Freedom of Mobile Phones

The steps in the order of how it is done is given below

1. Root the phone
2. Flash the recovery
3. Backup applications
4. Nandroid Backup
5. Other prerequisites
6. Downloading and Flashing custom ROM
7. Enjoying the new ROM on the phone

In the posts to follow, I will explain in detail each of these steps. Till then good bye and take care.