[Q] Wipe options for flashing new ROM - what gets wiped? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi
I've read alot of the threads around but cant seem to find specific info that I require. I've already rooted and flashed Litening ROM 1.5, however I want to try other ROMS and read its best to wipe before some of them.
Now most of the instructions say to boot into CWM and do a data/cache wipe, can anyone tell em what does this wipe exactly?
From what I can understand the 16gb is partitioned into the "sd card" and the storage? When looking through Windows Explorer only the larger (I believe sd card" partition shows up, with download folder, CWM back ups, music, camera images etc.
Does this get wiped, or is it just apps/personalisation of the phone? I've got titanium backup and backed up all data + user data etc which can be restored, but I just want to check that music/camera images etc won't go!
Hope its not too stupid a question, cheers for any info!

My understanding is: wipe = factory reset. I hope I'm right with that assumption.
Sent from my GT-I9100

Wipes....
I got caught once when I installed cognition for the first time. The installation somehow did wipe my internal sdcard with all my stuff on it. (Although I do have backups on my PC) So it was just a pain but not serious.
But the odd thing is that all the following upgrades of the rom did not wipe the sdcard, so DG might have change the way it does the wipes.
Also if you do a factory reset either via keypad on phone with the *#... it will wipe the sdcard.
So one needs to be carefull and make sure that we have backups of the stuff we want to keep.
I find this annoying making the 16GB card internal sdcard almost behaive as temporary storage ruther than permanent.
So watch out.

thanks for both replies! still not 100% sure though, does anyone know 100% what the CWM wipe options actually wipe?
thanks again!

How about "everything"? It sets your phone back to the way it was when you first started it.
Sent from my GT-I9100

Back up sd card and wipe phone to learn.
jje
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

Related

Full reset.?

I tried to reset my phone to factory state but after i flashed everything.. all my files were still there..
I tried to format my sdcard internal&external, no good..
Tells me that its formating but nothing happens, and my external card isnt recognized any more by the phone just says "card is blank".
How do i fix this?how do i fully reset my phone and the sdcard?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Post belongs Q&A
TRY
Clean Slate for those that balls up the firmware .Or need to return to service or decide if its hardware/firmware problem .
Backup data first if phone is working .
Boot CWM recovery
Mounts and Storage
Format cache data system sd card .
Remove battery
Boot to download mode
Open Odin
Install correct stock firmware .
Still problems use usb jig to set rom counter to zero .
Return to service centre .
I did the full wipe from cwm but didnt flash after it...
I will try it now an post result, thx.. any way
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Worked. It did cleaned my internal sdcard..
I have another pesky problem,
I have whatsapp installed and i cant use a shortcut from contact to send via whatsapp.
Any thought? This problem stayed after factory reset ...
Sent from my GT-I9100
hielo_te said:
I tried to reset my phone to factory state but after i flashed everything.. all my files were still there..
I tried to format my sdcard internal&external, no good..
Tells me that its formating but nothing happens, and my external card isnt recognized any more by the phone just says "card is blank".
How do i fix this?how do i fully reset my phone and the sdcard?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really want to wipe your device, press:
*2767*3855#
WARNING, there is no confirmation, when you pres the last digit "#", everything is gone for good... Make a backup first, this code wipes your whole SD and formats it to factory defaults, i "think" only the external sd is untouched, not sure, you'd better remove it before typing the code.
Hope it helps
spsf said:
If you really want to wipe your device, press:
*2767*3855#
WARNING, there is no confirmation, when you pres the last digit "#", everything is gone for good... Make a backup first, this code wipes your whole SD and formats it to factory defaults, i "think" only the external sd is untouched, not sure, you'd better remove it before typing the code.
Hope it helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any different between this method (*2767*3855# ) and by going in to settings ->privat --> factory reset? If so, what's the different (im not sarcastic, i really want to know)
thank you,
from memory, a factory reset via android's menu only wipes /data and /cache (plus a few other things like the android_secure, .cache and sd-ext folders) but leaves your internal and external SD intact.
the service code is the "real deal" and wipes everything that's mounted. Why don't you try it and tell us the results? I hear lots of good about it... ^^
Snakeforhire said:
from memory, a factory reset via android's menu only wipes /data and /cache (plus a few other things like the android_secure, .cache and sd-ext folders) but leaves your internal and external SD intact.
the service code is the "real deal" and wipes everything that's mounted. Why don't you try it and tell us the results? I hear lots of good about it... ^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, i leave it to someone els. Do you know if this method also erase the root or not?
nope, /system partition remains as is (including all the files that were installed to it, but there aren't that many of them. Most third-party files get written to /data, which is also wiped. There might remain a few .conf files in .etc though, but it's rarely a problem -especially for rooted users, since we're used to completely wipe everything including /system when flashing a new stock ROM )
Use the service code or as JJEgan said:
Boot CWM recovery,
go to Mounts and Storage,
Format cache, data, system and sd card.
^^both of these methods do the same thing and will wipe everything that has been changed by the user.
Good Luck.
I performed the *2767*3855# method but yet on first start up im still seeing a background from a old rom ive flashed to it? Why is this? Is there any way to completely nuke everything on the phone? and just start flashing things back onto it?
Help
Hi how do I completly set my phone back to original unrooted status?
I have read up on so much but I seem to have made a right mess of my phone.
I can't unroot it no matter what I do, I put the original kernal back on through odin but it is still rooted but it got rid of yellow triangle.
The phone works ok and boots up but even the usb jig won't reset the counter, just boots into recovery mode.
I'm at the point as I don't know what I have done anymore.
Please help someone.

[Q] sdcard and CWM backups

I have CWM recovery on my Prime and I did a back up. That back up is on the virtual sd card, not the external card. I think this is erased when you do a full wipe. If I move it to the ext sd card will CWM read it if I do a restore? Is there another way to go about not having my backup erased?
Best to ask this in CWM or unlock thread in developement section. Will be answered faster. Just ask within the thread.
DawgFan79 said:
I have CWM recovery on my Prime and I did a back up. That back up is on the virtual sd card, not the external card. I think this is erased when you do a full wipe. If I move it to the ext sd card will CWM read it if I do a restore? Is there another way to go about not having my backup erased?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% surefire way? move the backup to an external memory source (mircrosd), do the wipe, put backup back into internal memory, restore. this is what i would do, but i have been known to be paranoid
@demandarin: I would love to post this question there but I don't have 10 posts yet so it won't let me.
@stretch: Looks like that'll be what I end up doing.
Thanks y'all.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
On my Nexus S a full wipe doesn't touch the /sdcard partition or whatever it it. That phone also doesn't have a physical sdcard slot but the internal portion is labeled /sdcard just like the prime. I would assume the same happens on the Prime but I haven't tried yet. That would be kind of annoying if your backups get stored on memory that is erased during a normal wipe.
Depends on what partition it stores it on. If you look at the Virtuous ROM section, it says that your data on the internal /sdcard is left alone even after wiping factory, cache, dalvik, and staging. I haven't unlocked my bootloader yet, but there is some information on that ROM forum. I'm waiting for more ROMs to shake out before I unlock mine. I only rooted it yesterday as the first step.
teknomar7 said:
Depends on what partition it stores it on. If you look at the Virtuous ROM section, it says that your data on the internal /sdcard is left alone even after wiping factory, cache, dalvik, and staging. I haven't unlocked my bootloader yet, but there is some information on that ROM forum. I'm waiting for more ROMs to shake out before I unlock mine. I only rooted it yesterday as the first step.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would recommend unlocking and flashing CWM if only to do a nand. ya never know when crap can go south. thats what i did. im not in a rush for roms yet. not til something tickles my fancy
Either way having one on your internal, external, computer and ass doing back flips is always best
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

Complete format

I want to know if there is a way to completely format everything on my Vibrant before installing a new JB Rom. I have a lot of clutter that's built up over time. Folders with nothing in them, files from older roms, etc. How can I wipe everything and do a complete fresh install, step by step?
ragedz said:
I want to know if there is a way to completely format everything on my Vibrant before installing a new JB Rom. I have a lot of clutter that's built up over time. Folders with nothing in them, files from older roms, etc. How can I wipe everything and do a complete fresh install, step by step?[/QUOT
Go to mounts and storage in recovery and format, data, datadata, system and SD card. Do not format boot! You can do it before you Odin back to stock (clean slate). Then get root and cwm recovery and flash back to JB.
* you will lose everything, pics, music, app backups, ROM/kernel zips etc. Backup anything you dont want to lose and for safe measures backup your /efs.
Sent from my GT-P5113 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much man! Just pictures and music... lol, going to take a while. But perhaps I can revive this beast of a phone before I get a Note at Tax Time. Thanks again!
Hey, I was just re-reading. Do not format boot at all. Just wanted to clarify that. The easiest way to back everything up, IMO, is to copy the entire SD to your PC. Then you can sort through it there.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

[Q] Crash and boot loop out of nowhere

Hey guys,
My AT&T Galaxy SII has been working fine on UnNamed 2.2.1 for probably 9 months or more, but I just ran into a weird issue today. After sending a text to someone and hitting the on/off button to turn the screen off, the phone restarted, and now refuses to boot past the Samsung screen. It'll stay on it for 5-10 seconds, go black for a few seconds, and repeat.
I can get into recovery, tried wiping cache, dalvik cache, fix permissions, and it still does the same thing. Fix permissions took quite a while and didn't work the first time. Or I just got impatient. But it worked the second time and didn't fix anything.
Anyway, I mounted the SD to copy my data from the internal SD card. I haven't run a Titanium Backup in a while though. I know I can fix the phone with ODIN, but I was just hoping someone might have another idea to avoid this and avoid losing settings, text messages, etc.
Thanks!
iceman718 said:
Hey guys,
My AT&T Galaxy SII has been working fine on UnNamed 2.2.1 for probably 9 months or more, but I just ran into a weird issue today. After sending a text to someone and hitting the on/off button to turn the screen off, the phone restarted, and now refuses to boot past the Samsung screen. It'll stay on it for 5-10 seconds, go black for a few seconds, and repeat.
I can get into recovery, tried wiping cache, dalvik cache, fix permissions, and it still does the same thing. Fix permissions took quite a while and didn't work the first time. Or I just got impatient. But it worked the second time and didn't fix anything.
Anyway, I mounted the SD to copy my data from the internal SD card. I haven't run a Titanium Backup in a while though. I know I can fix the phone with ODIN, but I was just hoping someone might have another idea to avoid this and avoid losing settings, text messages, etc.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can get into recovery, does that mean you can complete a nandroid backup? There's actually an option in Titanium Backup to extract apps from a nandroid backup and restore them in Titanium.
My other thought is a handy little app called Nandroid Manager, which you can find on the Play Store. With it you can restore SMS+MMS messages from a nandroid backup. It also has an option for restoring Apps+App Data, but it doesn't seem as stable as the Titanium option.
As for system settings, I'm afraid you're going to have to set those up again after you wipe and reflash your rom.
Speaking of wiping and flashing...have you considered trying a newer rom? Maybe a Jellybean one?
EDIT: By the way, you don't need to use Odin to flash. Just place the rom .zip on your SD card, and wipe and flash using CWM Recovery.
Nice!
That's one option I had never explored in CWM recovery. Duh. Thanks.
Backing up now.
I guess it is about time to update the ROM. Any suggestions for a current super stable one? Takes a while to read through the last 10 or so pages of all the ROM threads to find out what issues people are having or if it's good to go.
Update:
"Error while making a backup image of /data!"
What all will be lost if I don't have that? Boot image, recovery image, and system backed up correctly.
Edit: might have been due to low disk space - removing a bunch of non essential stuff and will retry.
iceman718 said:
Nice!
That's one option I had never explored in CWM recovery. Duh. Thanks.
Backing up now.
I guess it is about time to update the ROM. Any suggestions for a current super stable one? Takes a while to read through the last 10 or so pages of all the ROM threads to find out what issues people are having or if it's good to go.
Update:
"Error while making a backup image of /data!"
What all will be lost if I don't have that? Boot image, recovery image, and system backed up correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you backing up to internal storage or SD card? Make sure you have about 2GB free on the one you're using, and try it again. If that doesn't work, let me know.
As for a good rom, it depends on what you want. As far as Touchwiz Jellybean, I don't think there's much out there better than ShoStock3. I'm an AOSP man myself, so I prefer SlimBean personally. Task's AOKP is also excellent.
I had selected "backup" which I assume after reading your post is to internal storage, not internal SD card. There was 890MB free on it, and now after trying the backup, it's completely full.
When selecting backup to internal SD card, I get a "Can't mount backup path" error, regardless of if I have /sdcard mounted or unmounted.
After deleting some stuff, it now has plenty of space when I choose the regular backup option. We'll see if it works this time.
iceman718 said:
I had selected "backup" which I assume after reading your post is to internal storage, not internal SD card. There was 890MB free on it, and now after trying the backup, it's completely full.
When selecting backup to internal SD card, I get a "Can't mount backup path" error, regardless of if I have /sdcard mounted or unmounted.
After deleting some stuff, it now has plenty of space when I choose the regular backup option. We'll see if it works this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never seen that error before. Hopefully it just works this time.
Even with almost 9 gigs free, it failed to backup /data.
Any other ideas?
iceman718 said:
Even with almost 9 gigs free, it failed to backup /data.
Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, you can try a different kernel, with a newer version of CWM. I would try the latest AJK. As an ICS/Jellybean kernel, you won't be able to use it to boot up, but you'll still be able to boot into recovery and back up/wipe/flash.
Backing up using AJK now. Hopefully this works.
Thanks for your help so far.
Ok backup was successful. Sweet! So now I can just install a ROM of my choice and restore using TiBu or the other app you mentioned?
iceman718 said:
Backing up using AJK now. Hopefully this works.
Thanks for your help so far.
Ok backup was successful. Sweet! So now I can just install a ROM of my choice and restore using TiBu or the other app you mentioned?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Just make sure you do a full wipe first. Wipe data/factory reset, clear dalvik cache, format /system. Then flash away!
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium

CWM - Wipe data\Factory reset - Wiping all data from Internal SD

I've read some other posts where this has caused a certain amount of controversy but no post seemed to actually answer the question..
Using the Wipe data\Factory reset in ClockWorkMod Recovery has started to wipe the ENTIRE device
(excluding the external SD card)
I have flashed dozens of custom ROMs in the past and what normally happens is my external SD card contents remains safe, this still happens, no problem there, and all my personal documents such as music, pictures, videos and all other files that are not part of the actual ROM itself remain safe too.
BUT
Yesterday, i flashed a certain ROM designed to resemble the S4 (with leaked 4.2.2). Its performance was shockingly bad and other reasons caused me to flash a new ROM which i had used in the past - but when i wiped data/factory reset through CWM - ALL MY INTERNAL SD CONTENTS WHERE GONE
Things i did notice with the 4.2.2 ROM before re-flashing were that:
-When i connected it to the computer (via USB) my device was seen as i9500 (the S4)
-Also, it had created a "0\" folderto store the system ROM.
-I also noticed, wehn re-flashing, it took longer to wipe data than usual..
NOTE: I DID NOT USE THE FACTORY RESET THROUGH ANDROID SETTINGS - THIS, I KNOW, WILL WIPE THE ENTIRE INTERNAL SD, PERSONAL FILES AND ALL. THIS WAS DONE THROUGH CWM.
Because obviously the 4.2.2 ROM wiped my entire Internal SD i had no ROM packages left on it to flash and because obviously i didnt know this until i wiped/reset it involved me having to use ODIN to reflash a STOCK ROM just to be able to boot up and transfer files (ROM packages) from PC to phone - which obviously then meant i had to reflash CWM aswell before i could install the new ROM.
Final Note:
The problem i have, is that i have to do the above EVERYTIME i want to flash a different ROM (i flashed 3 last night).
For some reason when i wipe through CWM my internal SD card is COMPLETELY WIPED!
The question is......Why???
Could the 4.2.2 ROM have re-partitioned my internal SD card and now CWM thinks the ENTIRE thing is data to wipe?
This is the only reasoning i could put to why it wont leave MY FILES alone...
If this IS the case, how do i get it back to normal??
I'm told, on numerous websites in BIG BOLD RED LETTERS that selecting 're-partition' in ODIN is bad and is just a ticket for a free paperwieght (the phone!).
Thank you to ANYONE who can help with this......
The clue may be in the 0 folder. Please read link in my signature to see if it helps
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
rootSU said:
The clue may be in the 0 folder. Please read link in my signature to see if it helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your help, however the info you suggested does not solve my query..
The info you've provided assumes that the data is stored somewhere else, ie. 0\
Although my device did create a 0\ location when wiping the data, no personal data was in this location.
When i flashed back to stock using Odin, i could see that my phones internal storage was only 1.0-1.5GB used.
Before i started this i only had about 900mb left on my device!
So its not that my data is hiding somewhere.....its gone, and everything on my hones internal storgare is wiped everytime i "wipe data/factory reset" through CWM.

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