[Q] Help with CM7 on my Vibrant... - Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am about to sell my T-Mobile Galaxy Vibrant and I wanted to do a hard reset on the CM7 operating system. I do not want to remove the CM7 system or anything like that, I basically want to restore it back to first time setup ie: enter gmail username and so forth. I re-booted into recovery through CWM and I was given the options of:
- reboot system now
- apply update from sdcard
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- install zip from sdcard
- backup and restore
- mount and storage
- advanced
(In Advanced Menu)
- Reboot Recovery
- Wipe Dalvik Cache
- Wipe Battery Stats
- Report Error
- Key Test
- Partition SD card.
- Fix Permissions
(original menu)
- power off
The only reason reason I am asking is because on my HD2 (CM7) I had an option of a Hard Reset in CWM which I used to revert my phone back to first boot (technically). I do not have an option for that on this phone and I want to make sure I do not brick it prior to selling it.
any help would be greatly appreciated. Please keep in mind I do not want to remove CM7 or make the phone stock again. I basically want to reset CM7 so that it removes all of my personal info.
Thank you.

wipe data/factory reset should do the trick. If you want to delete all the stuff on your internal card you need to format internal memory as well

bfranklin1986 said:
wipe data/factory reset should do the trick. If you want to delete all the stuff on your internal card you need to format internal memory as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really too concerned about the internal card, because I basically went through and removed apps and other stuff one by one.

Wipe/factory will do the basic job. If you trust the buyer, that's adequate. If not, you should try to repeatedly overwrite all SD cards with shred, a Linux command, or equivalent. Too bad that is not built into recovery, as shredding /data wouldn't hurt either.

cashmundy said:
Wipe/factory will do the basic job. If you trust the buyer, that's adequate. If not, you should try to repeatedly overwrite all SD cards with shred, a Linux command, or equivalent. Too bad that is not built into recovery, as shredding /data wouldn't hurt either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I trust the buyer, she is a co-worker of mine and just needs a phone. So the wipe/factory will basically restore me back to when it ws first flashed. That is all I really need to hear/know.
Thanks for the help guys.

cashmundy said:
Wipe/factory will do the basic job. If you trust the buyer, that's adequate. If not, you should try to repeatedly overwrite all SD cards with shred, a Linux command, or equivalent. Too bad that is not built into recovery, as shredding /data wouldn't hurt either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BTW, I am gonna pull the SD and SIM so as long as I can revert it to the state it was after it's original flash I will be happy.

That leaves only the "internal sdcard" (odd terminology) and whatever might be hiding in /data to worry about, and that's only if your phone might end up in Nigeria or Russia or somesuch. Factory reset should be fine otherwise.
Tip for new owner: I went to a T-Mobile store and they gave me a sim for free, no paperwork. $1.99 if you do it online and requires physical addresses, no PO boxes allowed.

cashmundy said:
That leaves only the "internal sdcard" (odd terminology) and whatever might be hiding in /data to worry about, and that's only if your phone might end up in Nigeria or Russia or somesuch. Factory reset should be fine otherwise.
Tip for new owner: I went to a T-Mobile store and they gave me a sim for free, no paperwork. $1.99 if you do it online and requires physical addresses, no PO boxes allowed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SIM wont be an issue, she gave her mother her phone, because her mother had the Samsung Behold (Worst phone I have ever seen). They got tired T-Mobile telling them they have had no issues or complaints with the Behold (which is a lie) and wanted to make them pay full price for a new phone. My GF and my co-worker both sent numerours Behold's back to T-mobile. We had to send one of the replacements back 2 days after getting it because the radio was done...
Anyways away from the little rant I am pretty sure we will be good.
Thanks for the info guys
(clicked thanks on your post already)

Related

Apps2SD and switching memory cards

Hi, I used to own a G1 but have got a hero (and I am proud). I always used A2SD with G1 because of the shocking storage, however I have been getting away with the amount on this for sometime now, Until recently, though, when apps have been getting bigger (20+mb for raging thunder).
Is the Hero the same as the G1, or am I able to remove the memory card that has A2SD (while the phone is switched off, i don't mind), put a different memory card in, and view images from that memory card (i put my digital camera card into phone often to send images) obviously with none of my apps installed, and then switch the phone off, put the original memory card back in, and carry on using apps like normal?
PS this is on VillainRom 4
Thanks
Bump..Anyone?
Can anyone help withthis? A simple Yes/No would do
Thanks
Considering how Apps2SD works (basic symlinks), as long as you have an ext partition with the appropriate folders on both cards (at the same place, number-wise), you should be fine.
I would imagine the boot process probes /data/app and /data/app-private at some point - you just need to make sure those exist (even if they're empty).
If you've moved dalvik-cache as well, you will experience slowdowns when you switch cards.
tucka20 said:
Can anyone help withthis? A simple Yes/No would do
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
#
Why don't you just try it? Seems a lot simpler way of finding out to me!
Regards,
Dave
Here's a related issue.
Obviously with the OS relying on the ext partition, you shouldn't remove the sd card while the phone is on & certainly not while it's mounted (unless you want filing system corruption), but in my naivety I thought it would be ok to power down, remove the card & power back up. So similar to the situation the OP is asking about, only with no card, rather than a new card, present on the reboot.
Clearly your apps on the card are not going to work as they're gone & you might get some complaints as /data/app now links to a non existent directory, but I assumed:
1) Most things would work.
2) More importantly, I assumed if I then powered down, replaced the card & rebooted, I'd be back to where I started with fully working apps.
1) Turns out to be true.
2) Doesn't. After replacing the card I found most (though not all) apps resident on the card would force close at some point, often sooner than later. I ended up having to reinstall them.
Can anyone explain why/how this happens? I can only guess that when the phone was run without the card present, it changed the missing apps user data or dalvik cache in a way that broke them once they are brought back. Trouble is, I can't see what mechanism would result in such behaviour.
have you tried wiping the dalvik-cache before booting up after reinserting the card?
kendong2 said:
have you tried wiping the dalvik-cache before booting up after reinserting the card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean me, no. This was shortly after i got my phone & I was less comfortable experimenting. Plus at the time I didn't have a nandroid backup & reinstalling twenty odd apps put me off
I'll give it a try shortly though. First as you suggest, & if that isn't enough, I'll try wiping the cache when the card is first removed too.
[Edit:] Nope, wiping Dalvik cache doesn't help at all. It seems if you attempt to run an Android install which utilises apps2sd without the sdcard present, something gets changed in the existing partitions on internal flash (other than the Dalvik cache) such that when the system is subsequently booted with the card present, app installs will have been corrupted leading to force closures & the need to remove/reinstall those apps.
Seems a shame. I'd have preferred an atomic means of relocating apps to sd, such that removal of the card means the system behaves as if the app had never been installed, with normal behaviour once the card is replaced. Ah well.
At least I used the chance to revert my ext4 partition to ext3 to avoid having to use tune2fs everytime I want to run a nandroid backup.
BTW For the record I should make clear this was all tested on a gsm Hero running MCR 3.2 with Amon Ra's RA-hero-v1.6.2 recovery.
Ha! Painful memories. Found this out the hard way as well. Wish I'd read more about how A2SD works (symlinks). In fact I wanted to swap while phone was on.
cauli said:
[Edit:] Nope, wiping Dalvik cache doesn't help at all. It seems if you attempt to run an Android install which utilises apps2sd without the sdcard present, something gets changed in the existing partitions on internal flash (other than the Dalvik cache) such that when the system is subsequently booted with the card present, app installs will have been corrupted leading to force closures & the need to remove/reinstall those apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried wiping Dalvik cache as well as ext repair. Nothing helped.
cauli said:
Seems a shame. I'd have preferred an atomic means of relocating apps to sd, such that removal of the card means the system behaves as if the app had never been installed, with normal behaviour once the card is replaced. Ah well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, serious "flaw" in the A2SD way of things.
cauli said:
At least I used the chance to revert my ext4 partition to ext3 to avoid having to use tune2fs everytime I want to run a nandroid backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to employ ext4 for the /sd partition, then I read ext3/4 wear out your SD memory much quicker, because they are journaling filesystems (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ext2), so I used the opportunity to repartition and stick with ext2.
cauli said:
BTW For the record I should make clear this was all tested on a gsm Hero running MCR 3.2 with Amon Ra's RA-hero-v1.6.2 recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I had this happen, I too was on MCR 3.2, with Amon RA 1.6.2 or possibly 1.5.2 or 1.5.3.1.

I want to delete everything for ever !

Hello,
I bought g Tablet last week and want to sell it now.
I installed Gingerbeard 2.3, then Installed Honeycomb 3.0 with NVFLash
I have accessed email and personal websites like facebook, also had some photos of me and family in it.
but now I want absolutely to delete everything on the G tablet and restore it to original factory, so the buyer have no chance to pick any previous information on the device .
would NVFlash it again do the job? or what do? thanks.
If you just want to remove all personal data (and not also take the software back to stock), then remove any external SD cards, boot into ClockworkMod Recovery, and then:
1. Do "wipe data/factory reset", which will clear /cache on the NAND flash, then
2. Repartition the internal SD card, which will clear out your internal SD card.
Even after several wipes and nvflashes, the data can be recovered by someone who knows how to do it.
So what to do? Well I suggest to do the usual wipes and nvflashes, and then I fill the memory with huge files (i.e. Dvd rips or anything like that) and then delete again. It's almost the same technique used by wiping programs on PCs which write zeores and ones on the disk to overwrite the whole thing.
A bit time consuming, but if you are that paranoid you can do it that way.
Cheers!
Rayan
Sent from my Atrix using Tapatalk

[Q] Lagging, freezing, hanging, and then suddenly applications are forced to close..

Hello,
Lately I've been having some issues with my Samsung Galaxy S II. I am currently using the Omega v10.4 ROM, although I have reset my phone to stock multiple times to check and confirm that this is NOT a problem caused by a ROM, as this happens on stock as well.
Apparently, my phone does not like the standby mode. Most of the time when I unlock my phone, there is an issue that arises which basically makes the phone freeze/hang/lag at the home screen. I am not able to use the soft buttons on the bottom, nor click any of the buttons on the home screen, or slide between other screens. The main button DOES work, and prompts me to change to a different loader.
I've tried this with multiple loaders, and everytime this happens I get the error message "[insert_current_launcher_name_here] was forced to close.", and I get to either force close the launcher, or report/wait. "Wait" and "Report" pretty much do nothing, I just sit there and look at a frozen screen. However, when I do "Force Close", the Launcher at hand is (obviously) force closed, and restarts. Then everything's fine again.
This keeps happening over and over more frequently over the past few days, and I have no idea what caused it. I have not recently dropped my phone, and even though it's got a warranty, I got it from CeX, so I'm not sure how much they can fix on it, if they actually can.
I searched around and some people say it's faulty wiring, but it used to be PERFECT, and I've had it for more than 3-4 months now. Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this and how it can be fixed?
Thank you,
Richard Solomou
Given you're having these problems with stock, I'd probably do a format of the internal SD card (also format your external SD card if you have one. Obviously back your important stuff like contacts/sms/call logs up), then reflash stock via Odin. Obviously you want to avoid restoring anything but your contacts, sms history & call logs, I.E. do not restore any apps or app data (including/especially system apps) in Ti. You need to to an absolutely clean install.
If you're still having problems after this, make sure the flash counter is no & showing Samsung Official in download mode (jig it if necessary) & return it for warranty service.
MistahBungle said:
Given you're having these problems with stock, I'd probably do a format of the internal SD card (also format your external SD card if you have one. Obviously back your important stuff like contacts/sms/call logs up), then reflash stock via Odin. Obviously you want to avoid restoring anything but your contacts, sms history & call logs, I.E. do not restore any apps or app data (including/especially system apps) in Ti. You need to to an absolutely clean install.
If you're still having problems after this, make sure the flash counter is no & showing Samsung Official in download mode (jig it if necessary) & return it for warranty service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I'll try to format the internal SD card; I don't have an external one. The way to do this is to unmount it via Recovery and then select "Format SD card", correct?
Thanks,
Richard
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 .
jje
JJEgan said:
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 .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
Thanks for your prompt reply, here's what happened after I attempted to do that.
Formatting /cache...
Done.
Formatting /data...
Done.
Formatting /system...
Done.
Formatting /sdcard...
Error mounting /sdcard!
Skipping format...
Done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if I should continue with Stock after this. What does that mean that it cannot mount /sdcard? Isn't that supposed to be the internal one, since I do not have an external one?
Please advise.
Thanks,
Richard

[Q] I upgraded, teen getting old Vibrant. Best way to clear phone?

The title should give a pretty good overview. However, for completeness, here's the deal. (BTW, I've searched and haven't found a good answer. It could be that I'm not searching properly though.)
The Vibrant is running MIUI 2.3.7. It has worked perfectly, GPS included. I upgraded to a GSII during the Valentine's day thing, and now need to wipe the Vibrant so I can give it to my daughter.
I've backed up everything available to my computer, and am now looking for the best way to essentially reset the phone. I want to put MIUI back on it ultimately.
I understand that 'factory data wipe/reset' in CWM doesn't remove everything. Should I format stuff via CWM? Should I Odin back to stock, then reflash everything? If so, does that remove saved passwords, apps, etc.?
Thanks for your help!
Wipe factory reset will clear apps and user data like password.
It will not remove anything on SD card though like music, pics.
You can format SD card and external SD card.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
No need for external SD at this time, so I'm keeping it
So, format SD card from CWM? The word format frightens me a bit. I guess the OS stays in a different partition, so I don't have to worry about deleting that, right?
You can always just hook it up to your PC and pull everything off the internal that way. Then when your teen gets it there won't be anything on it.
thermanlee said:
The title should give a pretty good overview. However, for completeness, here's the deal. (BTW, I've searched and haven't found a good answer. It could be that I'm not searching properly though.)
The Vibrant is running MIUI 2.3.7. It has worked perfectly, GPS included. I upgraded to a GSII during the Valentine's day thing, and now need to wipe the Vibrant so I can give it to my daughter.
I've backed up everything available to my computer, and am now looking for the best way to essentially reset the phone. I want to put MIUI back on it ultimately.
I understand that 'factory data wipe/reset' in CWM doesn't remove everything. Should I format stuff via CWM? Should I Odin back to stock, then reflash everything? If so, does that remove saved passwords, apps, etc.?
Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will get you back to stock eclair. Make sure you have java installed on your computer.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1278683

Please delete this thread.

I'm looking to reset my Motorola Atrix 4G. I'm on AT&T in the U.S. I have MROM 7 (20130330) version 2.3.7
I am wanting to format my internal drive and clean everything up. I have gone into CWM and done the factory reset but I still have folders from apps that I don't use and pictures. I have done the factory reset in MROM and have the same thing, but it doesn't wipe the internal drive.
Do I need to flash a fruit cake to version 2.3.(4,5,6), then run MFBSR script to put it back to stock. Then run the factory reset? SBF files scare me and I'm not really wanting to go that route, but I can if that is what I need to do. Sam Cripps Reboot Project Site which has all the fruit cakes is down for a couple of days and Zeljko1234's Back Up Fruit Cakes drop box isn't working. Does anyone know any where else to find them?
I'm not ready to sell my phone at this time but I would like to know how to sanitize it when I am ready. I have searched for the past two days and haven't been able to find anything that said what specifically you have to do to completely start with a clean system. Or maybe it is out there and I just missed it. Any advice would be appreciated.
Why are you trying to make it so much more complicated than it really is?
Of course none of the methods mentioned are not going to wipe the storage. They are not meant to do that.
How about you just go to Settings > Storage > Erase SD card?
Or hook the phone to the computer and format the phone's internal drive from it.
ravilov said:
Why are you trying to make it so much more complicated than it really is?
Of course none of the methods mentioned are not going to wipe the storage. They are not meant to do that.
How about you just go to Settings > Storage > Erase SD card?
Or hook the phone to the computer and format the phone's internal drive from it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ravilov,
Thank you for the reply. If I format the hard drive from the computer, what do I need to do from there to get the phone back operational. That does sound the easiest. I have already formatted the SD Card and it worked, but I couldn't format the SD Card through any ROM that I flashed.When the second screen came up and I clicked Erase everything a pop up at the bottom said "Invalid path : null"
Thanks again.
You shouldn't need to do anything else after formatting the drive to make the phone functional again - the phone should never stop being functional. Note that I'm talking about user storage here, not the whole entire phone storage (good luck trying to access the whole entire phone storage on the computer through USB mass storage anyway).
Haha yes I realized that after hooking it up to my computer. I felt like an idiot but sometimes you need to look at the simplest things first. That's why I edited the title so the moderators can delete this thread.
Once again, thank you for your reply and support of our phones.
Sent from my MB860 using xda app-developers app

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