A friend of mine had her phone stolen, so I loaned her my old rooted Rezound. I had wiped, factory resetted a million times, both in recovery, and through the phone settings. There were no images, no pictures, no files at all on the phone. When she logged in and set it up, my pictures came up in her VZ Backup files. How did this happen?
tmettler5 said:
A friend of mine had her phone stolen, so I loaned her my old rooted Rezound. I had wiped, factory resetted a million times, both in recovery, and through the phone settings. There were no images, no pictures, no files at all on the phone. When she logged in and set it up, my pictures came up in her VZ Backup files. How did this happen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you wipe the internal SD Card also?
mjones73 said:
Did you wipe the internal SD Card also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tmettler5 said:
both in recovery, and through the phone settings. There were no images, no pictures, no files at all on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda app-developers app
Factory resetting doesn't clear the internal storage nor the SD Card. Depending on how OP wiped the phone, it may have been missed also. You have to specifically format both of those. I was asking if the OP did just that.
mjones73 said:
Factory resetting doesn't clear the internal storage nor the SD Card. Depending on how OP wiped the phone, it may have been missed also. You have to specifically format both of those. I was asking if the OP did just that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not specifically do that, no.
tmettler5 said:
I did not specifically do that, no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh well dude. you said no files were on the phone, if you had deleted the pictures from both sd cards and still did a factory reset than all pictures should be gone
when you said "There were no images, no pictures, no files at all on the phone." i thought you had either did a factory reset than cleared the sd cards in recovery or manually cleared the sd cards than factory reset
sorry for the confusion there @mjones73
bunchies said:
oh well dude. you said no files were on the phone, if you had deleted the pictures from both sd cards and still did a factory reset than all pictures should be gone
when you said "There were no images, no pictures, no files at all on the phone." i thought you had either did a factory reset than cleared the sd cards in recovery or manually cleared the sd cards than factory reset
sorry for the confusion there @mjones73
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did do a complete factory reset, both from recovery and through settings several times. In fact, when I flash ROMs I wipe data and cache three times just to be sure. I went to gallery--no images. In file manager there were no files found. Since factory reset and wiping data says it will wipe ALL data, I didn't think I needed to specifically wipe internal SD storage. I assumed that was done on the factory reset and data wipe. I did not include an external sd card with the phone, either. They didn't pop up until she set up VZ Backup. Some of them were pictures I had taken, some were attachments from emails, I am just curious how my pictures showed up with her VZ Backup. It makes me wonder...
Lesson is when you reset a phone to loan to someone, give away, sell, or donate, probably a good idea to make sure it is squeaky clean...
tmettler5 said:
I did do a complete factory reset, both from recovery and through settings several times. In fact, when I flash ROMs I wipe data and cache three times just to be sure. I went to gallery--no images. In file manager there were no files found. Since factory reset and wiping data says it will wipe ALL data, I didn't think I needed to specifically wipe internal SD storage. I assumed that was done on the factory reset and data wipe. I did not include an external sd card with the phone, either. They didn't pop up until she set up VZ Backup. Some of them were pictures I had taken, some were attachments from emails, I am just curious how my pictures showed up with her VZ Backup. It makes me wonder...
Lesson is when you reset a phone to loan to someone, give away, sell, or donate, probably a good idea to make sure it is squeaky clean...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the photos are probably from the internal sd or vz backup backed up some without you realizing it.
Related
Sorry, noob question. With the new 2.3 ROMs, I've been seeing "factory reset" a lot. Could someone clarify exactly what gets wiped? I know when you flash a new ROM it wipes all the apps and stuff, but I don't want to lose my photos. Usually, that hasn't been the case. Will "factory reset" delete data such as photos? Thanks!
well you could transfer your photos to your pc .
sam-san said:
Sorry, noob question. With the new 2.3 ROMs, I've been seeing "factory reset" a lot. Could someone clarify exactly what gets wiped? I know when you flash a new ROM it wipes all the apps and stuff, but I don't want to lose my photos. Usually, that hasn't been the case. Will "factory reset" delete data such as photos? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No factory reset only deletes your apps and google account credentials, cache etc. Photos are not deleted. I'd recommend periodic backups though since you never know what may happen.
When you do a factory reset, all of your apps, data, settings, etc, will get wiped. The stuff on your internal and external storage stays intact. That means photos, music, documents, or anything you've stored on your sd cards.
If you're gonna be dealing with Gingerbread ROMs, I recommend you back up your storage anyway. There's still a chance that your internal storage gets wiped. It happened to me today after a bad flash with a GB ROM and a visit to doctor Odin, but I had my important files backed up on my PC. The external sd card should never have this problem, though.
Will a factory reset erase everything in the internal (16gb or 32gb) ie, pictures, music, and/or other data? Or does it just reset the rom only?
really? I answered this in the other thread you asked it no need to create another thread
fatboypup said:
really? I answered this in the other thread you asked it no need to create another thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand but I figured Id ask in general section so the ones who actually have the device (international) can confirm since no one in the Sprint thread has the s3 yet. You did answer in regards to the s2 and do appreciate the reply.
If you do it in settings it will wipe everything including pictures
On the galaxy Note, when you did the reset under settings it ask you to check USB. which did wipe everythin....i have not seen this in sgs3 it just asked to reset and then clear all. but all my folders and app data where still there.
so in order to do a REAL wipe, i use clock work mode and just format cache, format system and format data.
the one in the setting menu SHOULD wipe everything though.
the2rrell said:
On the galaxy Note, when you did the reset under settings it ask you to check USB. which did wipe everythin....i have not seen this in sgs3 it just asked to reset and then clear all. but all my folders and app data where still there.
so in order to do a REAL wipe, i use clock work mode and just format cache, format system and format data.
the one in the setting menu SHOULD wipe everything though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done it and it said everything will be erased including photos. All I had on the internal, themes, custom roms disappeared
Factory reset returns the device to factory default settings, in other words it wipes the entire data partition.
i have had to send two s 3s back .
i have factory reset both and yes it wipes everything except external sd
delsus said:
Factory reset returns the device to factory default settings, in other words it wipes the entire data partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And all the rest, data partition doesn´t has its own partition anymore
sewe said:
And all the rest, data partition doesn´t has its own partition anymore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn I need to get up to date, damn my phone.
YES!
Any factory reset will delete all your stuff on your phone unless you have a sd card. An sd card is completely apart from your phone. Hope that helped man and god bless! Go androids!
512jmann10 said:
Any factory reset will delete all your stuff on your phone unless you have a sd card. An sd card is completely apart from your phone. Hope that helped man and god bless! Go androids!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sort of, it didn´t do that on sgs, sgs2 and other samsung phones before.
They have separate data partitions that are erased and all the rest remains
delsus said:
Factory reset returns the device to factory default settings, in other words it wipes the entire data partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Useful thread
Will a factory reset restore a rooted phone to its previous un-rooted status?
Dont think its that simple
No, the /system/ partition will remain as-is. Only the cache and data partition are formatted.
Unrooting is not that difficult. Ok somewhat more difficult than this but still 5 minutes away...
Why do people post questions in general... I don't get it.. and no, a "general" question is not what this section is for. :banghead:
sent from my Galaxy S III
If you want to erase everything, you need to go to settings/storage, and format the internal sd after you do the factory reset.
Thanks guys for the reply. Its a bummer that it wipes everything as I do not want to have to back up things in the internal. The hard part too is when backing up game data. They're all over the place and sometimes I can't tell what the app is just by the folder name. Then you have to back up picture videos etc. Then having to transfer them back to the phone later if you do end up factory resetting. I'm hoping there will be a way around it later on. I could use GL to SD so game data are stored in the external SD but this means getting a 32gb S3 is kind of a waste but at least its already backed up in the card.
And I apologize for putting this in the general thread...it was too late by the time I posted so I couldnt change. Mod can move to Q&A if it needs to be there.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2
First, ....... Is factory reset the same as factory data reset. Second, in that same screen is ''automatic restore". What exactly does that do. I read the little sentence it says below it, but it's not clear to me. And lastly, if I do a factory reset, will I loose all my apps. I have a few costly ones. One in particular is slingplayer ( 30-35 bucks). thanks people.
I will answer your last question since I have sling player from the market too. No, the play store remembers your purchase. It is recorded against your logon credentials.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
Factory (data) reset means your phone will be wiped of all user data' and the internal sd card is formatted.
Apps, passwords, icons, ringtones, etc. will be replaced with whatever is stock for that rom version.
If you accidentally deleted a system app, factory reset can't repair it. You would have to flash the rom again.
rangercaptain said:
Factory (data) reset means your phone will be wiped of all user data' and the internal sd card is formatted.
Apps, passwords, icons, ringtones, etc. will be replaced with whatever is stock for that rom version.
If you accidentally deleted a system app, factory reset can't repair it. You would have to flash the rom again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if I saved what ever I could to the sd card and then pulled the sd card out of the phone before I did the factory reset. Am I thinking logically??? do people do this???
The factory reset doesn't mess with the external sd card, so anything you move there is safe.
Hi,
I have CM7.2.0-RC1 installed on my Droid X2 (latest right now). The phone has gotten kind of laggy and I want to reformat the phone. And by reformatting, I want to my phone to be like I JUST installed CM7. Is there a simple way to do this since I'm already on CM7?
Thanks!
If you want to make it like a fresh install of CM7, boot into recovery and do a factory reset. This will wipe all your apps though.
jsgraphicart said:
If you want to make it like a fresh install of CM7, boot into recovery and do a factory reset. This will wipe all your apps though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wiping my apps is fine. Will it also remove all my pictures?
longphant said:
Wiping my apps is fine. Will it also remove all my pictures?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i keep all of my pictures and such on the root of my external sd card. if you do the same, wiping data will not erase your pictures.
Lorenzo VonMatterhorn said:
i keep all of my pictures and such on the root of my external sd card. if you do the same, wiping data will not erase your pictures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, thanks so much to both of you!
Go in to settings do factory reset . yes it will wipe all the data in your internal memory including pictures and videos. If you don't want to lose your data so synchronized phone and backup data.
Sent from my Micromax A110 using xda app-developers app
maddyrokieasta said:
Go in to settings do factory reset . yes it will wipe all the data in your internal memory including pictures and videos. If you don't want to lose your data so synchronized phone and backup data.
Sent from my Micromax A110 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
again, any pictures you want to make sure you keep, put them on the root of your external sd card somewhere safe, and wipe through recovery.
sorry this post made no sense to me and i wanted to avoid confusion. any images saved in camera apps folders may or may not be erased. move them to somewhere safe.
I have wiped data/factory reset many times from cwm bsr and have never lost any of my pictures. Fyi, wiping or resetting doesn't touch DCIM folder on your internal storage, which is where your phone saves them to by default if you select internal storage. I have some on both my external and internal storage and have never lost any of them. Again, wiping doesn't touch the folders where your pictures are stored. Unless of course you format your sd card in bsr.
Sent from my Eclipsed Droid X2 using Tapatalk 2
It seems that factory resetting using a custom recovery like CWM or TWRP won't remove pictures.
Sorry if this is quite a noobish question, but I'm a bit confused after not doing this for a while. On my Note, I used to wipe and flash new roms all the time. I haven't yet done that with my M8 so it's been quite a while. I remember when I used to factory reset, I'd always still have my pictures and music (all I really care about). Now I'm reading up on it and it's telling me everything gets wiped, unless on my SD card.
Well, I didn't use to keep everything on my SD card. I know I have pictures and music stored on both. Will my media on my phone's storage get wiped?
Factory reset just wipes /data partition. Internal storage should be left intact. There might be some variation based on where you do your wipes: recovery, within OS, or hboot (wipe from hboot not recommended on modded phones). But I believe for the most part, its as I mentioned (/data gets wiped, probably cache as well, internal storage is left untouched). In TWRP, it specially states that factory reset wipes /data, cache, and Dalvik (which resides on the /data partition anyways); and that "most of the time this is the only wipe that you need."
Default save locations for TWRP and Titanium Backup are internal storage (although you can change it to the removable SD). So it would be self-defeating if a factory reset then wiped those backups from internal storage.
But you should always back your personal data anyway (especially memories like pics and videos you took). Lots of ways to do so, from automated clouds solutions; or just plug your phone to your computer, then drag and drop. Its not unheard of that internal storage gets corrupted when wiping or flashing a ROM, or just from day to day use for that matter. Back it up, and avoid regret.
redpoint73 said:
Factory reset just wipes /data partition. Internal storage should be left intact. There might be some variation based on where you do your wipes: recovery, within OS, or hboot (wipe from hboot not recommended on modded phones). But I believe for the most part, its as I mentioned (/data gets wiped, probably cache as well, internal storage is left untouched). In TWRP, it specially states that factory reset wipes /data, cache, and Dalvik (which resides on the /data partition anyways); and that "most of the time this is the only wipe that you need."
Default save locations for TWRP and Titanium Backup are internal storage (although you can change it to the removable SD). So it would be self-defeating if a factory reset then wiped those backups from internal storage.
But you should always back your personal data anyway (especially memories like pics and videos you took). Lots of ways to do so, from automated clouds solutions; or just plug your phone to your computer, then drag and drop. Its not unheard of that internal storage gets corrupted when wiping or flashing a ROM, or just from day to day use for that matter. Back it up, and avoid regret.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought. And I'd always used TWRP or CWM before, and this always left my SD card and internal storage intact. Now, however, I'm fully stock and would be doing this through the OS, so I wasn't sure if this operated differently. I see many articles stating it wipes everything. So I just want to verify that the OS factory reset functions just the same as the TWRP reset and will leave my media intact. I will of course back everything up, but I'd rather install TWRP and reset that way if the OS reset would wipe everything completely. (If I remember correctly on my Note, there is a separate 'format drive' button used to actually wipe internal and external media).
If anyone could just confirm once again before I proceed. BTW, thanks a lot redpoint, you're always a huge help on here.
I couldn't say with any certainty how the reset in OS settings works. Especially since it doesn't even say "factory reset" anymore (which was always a bit of a misnomer, anyway) but now says Reset phone Reset all data on phone. I have to say, it does sound a bit ominous!
After owning 6 Android devices, I've done a factory/data reset in OS a total of none times.
I think this explains it pretty well, looks like it gives you the option to erase sd card after you start: http://www.htc.com/us/support/htc-one-m8/howto/465049.html
Sorry guys, guess if I tried it I could've answered my own question. The HTC version actually specifically tells you what it's going to erase and then gives you the option for wiping internal storage and SD card.
cgibsong002 said:
Sorry guys, guess if I tried it I could've answered my own question. The HTC version actually specifically tells you what it's going to erase and then gives you the option for wiping internal storage and SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know, as I believe this has changed over time. On some previous HTC devices, I believe factory reset in settings just wiped user data, and didn't give the mentioned options to wipe internal storage and removable MicroSD. So it seems they made it work the way it should work.
Well, I thought everything went smoothly. Thought I backed up everything I needed. Turns out I can't find any of my contacts from the past year or so. Any ideas?? I know I had basically everything syncing before. I reloaded my google account, my HTC account (sync is greyed out), ATT Address book. There's a million things used to back up, I don't understand how my contacts could disappear.
cgibsong002 said:
Well, I thought everything went smoothly. Thought I backed up everything I needed. Turns out I can't find any of my contacts from the past year or so. Any ideas?? I know I had basically everything syncing before. I reloaded my google account, my HTC account (sync is greyed out), ATT Address book. There's a million things used to back up, I don't understand how my contacts could disappear.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have all your contacts backed up to Gmail?
redpoint73 said:
Did you have all your contacts backed up to Gmail?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was under the impression I did, but they're not there. What about the HTC backup? I thought that's why I signed up for an HTC account. And then the ATT Address book. I can't find anything
cgibsong002 said:
I was under the impression I did, but they're not there. What about the HTC backup? I thought that's why I signed up for an HTC account. And then the ATT Address book. I can't find anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've only ever used Gmail for backing up contacts, so sorry I can't really help as far as the HTC Backup or ATT Address Book.
So I just updated to 5.0 and I need to do a factory reset.. some things are a bit buggy. However, it appears the reset options have changed. It now specifically states it will erase all media including photos and music from your internal storage. Before proceeding, it gives another warming that all media will be erased. Can anyone confirm pictures and music are actually deleted? I don't think I've ever done a factory reset that erased my stuff like that.
Edit: so yeah Lollipop does a full wipe. New thread to figure out best way around this.