Hi all. I'd really really like to delete all my internal memory before trying my next custom rom!!!
As I search for different custom roms to try it drives me a bit nuts that my internal memory has loads of stuff left there from previous installs of apps, ROMS and whatever-the-hell-else-I-can't-recognise etc. I delete the folders I'm sure I don't need but it still bugs me the amount of rogue, seemingly uneeded folders and files sitting there. All these folders and files from old apps despite doing the standard factory reset, cache, dalvik cache steps makes me crazy!
So here's my question: can how can I safely nuke all my internal memory before putting my next custom ROM on to try?
I suppose I'll I have to leave the actual custom ROM .zip on the internal memory somewhere - I've read that clockwork recovery can't access the external sd card. I was sure clockwork recovery could access the external sd card on my old Nexus 1. .
Anyways, any advice would be much appreciated! I'd like to avoid software bricking my phone if I can avoid it!!!
If you are on stock Rom > turn off your device > hold volume up+ home + power till it boots into android recovery.. perform a data wipe from there.. it'll wipe everything (not the external storage).. your phone will be like it was when u bought it.
And older versions of the official clockworkmod recoveries don't support external storage. Newer version do I think. ( needs clarification!!).
Alternatively you can also use chainfire's clockworkmod recovery. It supports external storage.
(Note: clockworkmod recovery only wipe the system partition. All your personal data will be intact.. but the stock android recovery wipes everything!!)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Thanks for the reply!
Unfrotunately I'm long gone from having a stock recovery. I have "clockworkmod recovery v5.8.4.3" although I'm not sure whether it's the chainfire one or the other one. It has the hat with the circle icon in it and is the blue monochrome menus. While it does have an option to mount an external sd, I can't seem to browse to my external sd when I choose install zip from sd card. Despite whichever folders I mount on the external sd card, only my internal memory appears to come up when browsing for install zip from sd card.
It would be nice if one of the recoveries out there could do a full wipe of internal memory! Unless that would delete the recovery too. Is recovery installed in the internal memory or somewhere else on the galaxy s3?
Bump! Not just because I like my post at the top but seriously, don't all those silly, un-necessary folders and files drive anyone else crazy!!!! Maybe I'm just getting a bit OCD... I've even tried a bunch of cleaner apps but to no avail. Damn apps not cleaning up after themselves...
Try this
*2767*3855#
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
If you know a script called "superwipe"recommended for flashing new CustomRoms, flash this script in clockworkmod recovery menu by choosing instal zip from SD CARD,and the internal memory will be completely vanished,while the EXTERNALSDCARD stays Untouched.
if i helped you feel free to press thanks!!
LargePiece said:
Bump! Not just because I like my post at the top but seriously, don't all those silly, un-necessary folders and files drive anyone else crazy!!!! Maybe I'm just getting a bit OCD... I've even tried a bunch of cleaner apps but to no avail. Damn apps not cleaning up after themselves...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Megawipe script from the General Section..search it there..put it on your extsdcard and flash via CWM..all you data will be wiped just the extsdcard will be left..
Well chainfire's 5.5.0.4 CWM recovery "1.5" loads from my external sd card instead so assuming I have my ROM files on there, I should be able to use that script without bricking my phone! Wish me luck! Lol. Thanks for the help.
so I was in the process of installing JB on my gs2, backed up my device, everything was fine. until I factory resetted before flashing CM10, now I have no software on my device and I can't connect it to the computer to put a ROM across. so I went searching and found this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1585494
and followed the instructions, but my computer won't install the drivers. I have also played around in device manager with this. So I resorted to an old 2gb ext sd card I had lying around thinking I would put CM10 on that, but the zip file being 155mb, doesn't want to install on a 2GB sd card. would my phone have recognised it any way? I have also tried droid explorer but I am in way over my head with that.
what do I do please? this has been the past 4 hours of my night and I'm running out of options.
Sultan89 said:
so I was in the process of installing JB on my gs2, backed up my device, everything was fine. until I factory resetted before flashing CM10, now I have no software on my device and I can't connect it to the computer to put a ROM across. so I went searching and found this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1585494
and followed the instructions, but my computer won't install the drivers. I have also played around in device manager with this. So I resorted to an old 2gb ext sd card I had lying around thinking I would put CM10 on that, but the zip file being 155mb, doesn't want to install on a 2GB sd card. would my phone have recognised it any way? I have also tried droid explorer but I am in way over my head with that.
what do I do please? this has been the past 4 hours of my night and I'm running out of options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT******
so I simply, out of curiousity, restored the backup I did though CWM and it worked! *facepalm* but I thought it would have deleted it all off the memory since I did a factory reset? but anyway, it's working and I'm putting CM10 and GAPPS on now and then going to flash first this time!!
Sultan89 said:
EDIT******
so I simply, out of curiousity, restored the backup I did though CWM and it worked! *facepalm* but I thought it would have deleted it all off the memory since I did a factory reset? but anyway, it's working and I'm putting CM10 and GAPPS on now and then going to flash first this time!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe Data / factory reset doesn't format your internal SD card
I have the straight talk version of the Samsung Galaxy S II. I am aware the i777 and the straight talk S595G are the same exact phone. But my question is...installing a ROM. I do not have a microSD card to use, and I wanted to know if I could use the internal storage on my phone to install a ROM. From a quick research session, I learned you have to wipe the data and cache, but I am unsure if that will wipe the internal storage...where the ROM.zip would be.
Simple terms, can I install custom ROM using the internal storage instead of an SD card.
The hardware is the same, but the memory partitioning is different and there is a different way to flash custom firmware. Please see this thread.
creepyncrawly said:
The hardware is the same, but the memory partitioning is different and there is a different way to flash custom firmware. Please see this thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read it. That didn't answer my question...will wiping all the things that need to be wiped get rid of everything on the internal storage.
Would appreciate it if you'd be more courteous to those offering free help.
Doesn't matter where you put the rom as long as you know where to find it in recovery when you're flashing it. A factory reset from recovery won't delete anything on your internal card, nor will formatting /system. If you do it from within the rom itself, like in the settings menu, then you WILL lose everything from your internal card.
That's why it's best to only do these things in recovery.
Sent from the i777
SteveMurphy said:
Would appreciate it if you'd be more courteous to those offering free help.
Doesn't matter where you put the rom as long as you know where to find it in recovery when you're flashing it. A factory reset from recovery won't delete anything on your internal card, nor will formatting /system. If you do it from within the rom itself, like in the settings menu, then you WILL lose everything from your internal card.
That's why it's best to only do these things in recovery.
Sent from the i777
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't trying to be mean...just redirecting me to a thread that doesn't answer my question isn't very helpful. I know it's a different process. But I thank you for answering my question.
So the past few weeks has been my first experience with safe strap and everything.I have been using only the Hyperdrive rom. After having some issues with the RS14 update, i had to delete the rom slot and make a new one. Ive noticed that i have a ton of hidden files, because i have almost no space left on the internal storage. anybody have any ideas on how to find and delete these files? I would also like to know what you guys set the slot as, as far as given space. this is the only rom im going to be using so i want to maximize my space.
m4gkman said:
So the past few weeks has been my first experience with safe strap and everything.I have been using only the Hyperdrive rom. After having some issues with the RS14 update, i had to delete the rom slot and make a new one. Ive noticed that i have a ton of hidden files, because i have almost no space left on the internal storage. anybody have any ideas on how to find and delete these files? I would also like to know what you guys set the slot as, as far as given space. this is the only rom im going to be using so i want to maximize my space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do format sdcard that should clear up space (factory reset will not clear them). For the space, Safestrap use the internal storage only, so the O/S, boot etc i would need about 900meg, and the data partition is depended on how many apps you planned to install, let say you assign 1gig for data then the total you need is approx 2gb, if you think you're going to have more apps then assign 2.5 or 3..it's all up to you.
buhohitr said:
If you do format sdcard that should clear up space (factory reset will not clear them). For the space, Safestrap use the internal storage only, so the O/S, boot etc i would need about 900meg, and the data partition is depended on how many apps you planned to install, let say you assign 1gig for data then the total you need is approx 2gb, if you think you're going to have more apps then assign 2.5 or 3..it's all up to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the hidden files are in the internal storage, not my sd card.
buhohitr said:
If you do format sdcard that should clear up space (factory reset will not clear them). For the space, Safestrap use the internal storage only, so the O/S, boot etc i would need about 900meg, and the data partition is depended on how many apps you planned to install, let say you assign 1gig for data then the total you need is approx 2gb, if you think you're going to have more apps then assign 2.5 or 3..it's all up to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i might just have to do a factory data reset, and start from scratch and reroot and start over. I really dont want to have to do that though
m4gkman said:
i might just have to do a factory data reset, and start from scratch and reroot and start over. I really dont want to have to do that though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset won't clear, you need to format sdcard,
buhohitr said:
Factory reset won't clear, you need to format sdcard,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even though the issue isn't in the ext sd card?
m4gkman said:
even though the issue isn't in the ext sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
screenshots taken without sd card in.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skaterdave/12530759613/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skaterdave/12530758613/
sorry for the links, the images werent' working
m4gkman said:
even though the issue isn't in the ext sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you understand the misc files are hidden, there no way you can delete them. When you boot into recovery, do the following:
wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache, wipe system and format sdcard. Format sdcard is formatting your INTERNAL space, not your external sdcard. After done reflash rom.
buhohitr said:
I don't think you understand the misc files are hidden, there no way you can delete them. When you boot into recovery, do the following:
wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache, wipe system and format sdcard. Format sdcard is formatting your INTERNAL space, not your external sdcard. After done reflash rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When i hit wipe on safe strap, is it the format data button, or a full advanced wipe? sorry im asking so many questions, still really new to safestrap.
m4gkman said:
When i hit wipe on safe strap, is it the format data button, or a full advanced wipe? sorry im asking so many questions, still really new to safestrap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, just want to make sure we're on the same page. A 16gb Galaxy S4 only has 6gb available as stock phone. If you assigned 3gb for safestrap, then you should only have 3gb left for storage. So my question is the junk files are on the new rom (3gb safestrap) or from the original O/S? I don't believe safestrap offers the option to "format internal SDcard". If you want to continue to use safestrap, you should be on top of the storage space. Since I don't know all the junks are from, but I suggest you should start clean; Uninstall safestrap, Odin your phone back to stock ROM using PIT file. Now you should have a super clean phone. Record your storage space to see what's the total space, how much in used and how much free. At this point you should also take a look at app to SD, where all the new apps will be install to your external SDcard instead. From now on after you flash new rom or install safestrap, you should check your storage to have an idea what used up the space.
buhohitr said:
Hey, just want to make sure we're on the same page. A 16gb Galaxy S4 only has 6gb available as stock phone. If you assigned 3gb for safestrap, then you should only have 3gb left for storage. So my question is the junk files are on the new rom (3gb safestrap) or from the original O/S? I don't believe safestrap offers the option to "format internal SDcard". If you want to continue to use safestrap, you should be on top of the storage space. Since I don't know all the junks are from, but I suggest you should start clean; Uninstall safestrap, Odin your phone back to stock ROM using PIT file. Now you should have a super clean phone. Record your storage space to see what's the total space, how much in used and how much free. At this point you should also take a look at app to SD, where all the new apps will be install to your external SDcard instead. From now on after you flash new rom or install safestrap, you should check your storage to have an idea what used up the space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like thats what im going to have to do. Glad i still have bootcamp to use odin, because i didnt use odin, i used safe root. Think it will be the same process?
m4gkman said:
Looks like thats what im going to have to do. Glad i still have bootcamp to use odin, because i didnt use odin, i used safe root. Think it will be the same process?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have Windows? or just MAC?
buhohitr said:
Do you have Windows? or just MAC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a mac, running bootcamp with windows xp as well. But when i rooted this phone i used the mac method of safe root
m4gkman said:
I have a mac, running bootcamp with windows xp as well. But when i rooted this phone i used the mac method of safe root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, doesn't matter which one you pick, but just use Odin to flash stock rom with PIT file found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2290859, this should put you back to factory and a super clean storage.
buhohitr said:
Ok, doesn't matter which one you pick, but just use Odin to flash stock rom with PIT file found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2290859, this should put you back to factory and a super clean storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unfortunately odin only works on windows, thats the only reason i have bootcamp hahaha. thanks for all your help. ill be back at my main computer on monday so Ill post after i give it a shot.
m4gkman said:
So the past few weeks has been my first experience with safe strap and everything.I have been using only the Hyperdrive rom. After having some issues with the RS14 update, i had to delete the rom slot and make a new one. Ive noticed that i have a ton of hidden files, because i have almost no space left on the internal storage. anybody have any ideas on how to find and delete these files? I would also like to know what you guys set the slot as, as far as given space. this is the only rom im going to be using so i want to maximize my space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you assuming that it's "hidden files"? It's probably just the bloated stock ROM.
A 16Gb GS4 with just the factory stuff will have at best 8Gb available - the OS and standard applications all use up that internal memory space.
(Just /system alone is 4.2 Gb on my phone, for example. Then there's the /data stuff, including the dalvik cache, etc.)
Re-flashing a full wipe ROM will maximize the available space, but it's never going to have 16 Gb free on a 16 Gb phone.
---------- Post added at 08:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------
m4gkman said:
Looks like thats what im going to have to do. Glad i still have bootcamp to use odin, because i didnt use odin, i used safe root. Think it will be the same process?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a Mac, you can use Heimdall to flash ROMs, including factory stock.
k1mu said:
Why are you assuming that it's "hidden files"? It's probably just the bloated stock ROM.
A 16Gb GS4 with just the factory stuff will have at best 8Gb available - the OS and standard applications all use up that internal memory space.
(Just /system alone is 4.2 Gb on my phone, for example. Then there's the /data stuff, including the dalvik cache, etc.)
Re-flashing a full wipe ROM will maximize the available space, but it's never going to have 16 Gb free on a 16 Gb phone.
---------- Post added at 08:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------
If you have a Mac, you can use Heimdall to flash ROMs, including factory stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) because everytime i clear a rom slot and make a new one in safe strap, i get less and less space. if you look at the images in the links i put up, you can see that there is a lot of Misc files in the system folder, and none of them can be seen. and it shows that even on the hyperdrive rom.
3) heimdall doesn't work for some reason on my computer, and because im on 4.3 already, i have to use safe strap and cant just flash roms
m4gkman said:
1) because everytime i clear a rom slot and make a new one in safe strap, i get less and less space. if you look at the images in the links i put up, you can see that there is a lot of Misc files in the system folder, and none of them can be seen. and it shows that even on the hyperdrive rom.
3) heimdall doesn't work for some reason on my computer, and because im on 4.3 already, i have to use safe strap and cant just flash roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this is a case of "Hidden files" - possibly something getting left behind after removing a Safestrap slot, but that's not proven.
You should install a program like "Disk Usage" from the play store. That will tell you where the space is being consumed on your internal storage. The "Miscellaneous files" entry doesn't give you the detail that you need to diagnose this.
I can't help you with Heimdall without knowing why it doesn't work.
buhohitr said:
Hey, just want to make sure we're on the same page. A 16gb Galaxy S4 only has 6gb available as stock phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not correct. On launch day (May 23rd) my S4 had 9.51gb free space before i put anything on it.
Eric214 said:
That is not correct. On launch day (May 23rd) my S4 had 9.51gb free space before i put anything on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm not exact on the number, but basically it took about +/- half of the total...) don't be too technical )
Hey all, first want to say that CM11 is superb. With that I am having one issue. I am on a Verizon Note 2. Installed Nightly 050414 last night. When going to a site on chrome and trying to download a file I receive a pop up error from the system NO SD CARD. A little back ground. Before this I had Jelly Bean ROM installed. I had also done the SD card swap internal for external.
Last night before installing CM I did a full reset and wipe including DALVIK. Install went through fine. I can install apps from the play store. Also tried downloading a few files from dropbox in browser and get same error message. When going into file manager I have SD card = /storage/sdcard1 and internal storage = /storage/emulated/0. Had never seen the term emulated when referring to storage in android so thats throwing me off as well. If anyone could help me figure out exactly what's going on and what to do to fix it I would be eternally grateful. If any other info is needed please let me know and I will grab it for you. Cheers all!
cnmsales said:
Hey all, first want to say that CM11 is superb. With that I am having one issue. I am on a Verizon Note 2. Installed Nightly 050414 last night. When going to a site on chrome and trying to download a file I receive a pop up error from the system NO SD CARD. A little back ground. Before this I had Jelly Bean ROM installed. I had also done the SD card swap internal for external.
Last night before installing CM I did a full reset and wipe including DALVIK. Install went through fine. I can install apps from the play store. Also tried downloading a few files from dropbox in browser and get same error message. When going into file manager I have SD card = /storage/sdcard1 and internal storage = /storage/emulated/0. Had never seen the term emulated when referring to storage in android so thats throwing me off as well. If anyone could help me figure out exactly what's going on and what to do to fix it I would be eternally grateful. If any other info is needed please let me know and I will grab it for you. Cheers all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend reflashing..But do a FULL wipe.. factory reset and wiping dalvik is not a complete wipe.. If you can in a file manager transfer CM11 to you external sd card. Then once thats accomplished go into recovery, wipe internal, data, system, cache and dalvik and a factory reset(that is a complete wipe:good
Then reflash. That should fix your issues
I originally did a full reset and dalvik wipe? Am I missing something here? The reason i'm asking is I don't see anything different than what I did. What didn't I do the first time specifically?
cnmsales said:
I originally did a full reset and dalvik wipe? Am I missing something here? The reason i'm asking is I don't see anything different than what I did. What didn't I do the first time specifically?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Internal sdcard..
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