Hi everyone,
I am about to sell my old galaxy S3, and I would like to completly wipe it:
I have already read tons of topic, i don't want to:
- manually delete files
- wipe from recovery
- format from the setting menu
etc.. I have already done these steps before and i am not satisfied:crying:, i would like the next owner to not be able to find any file on my phone with softwares such as getDataBack or DiskDigger...
I read on xda that the only way to "erase" a file is to replace it.. so if i fill my phone with many useless files I may not be able to recover any file anymore..?
but that's why i poste here.. i would like to know if there is a software which can do this by itself ? or if there are other methods...
thanks a lot for your help
cheers
anyone ?
Here's a tutorial I found online!
Step one: Encrypting
I recommend encrypting your device before you are getting ready to wipe it. The encryption process will scramble the data on your device and, even if the wipe doesn't fully delete the data, a special key will be required to unscramble it.
To encrypt your device on stock Android, enter settings, click on Security, and select Encrypt phone. The feature may be located under different options on other devices.
Step two: Perform a factory reset
The next thing you will want to do is perform a factory reset. This can be done on stock Android by selecting Factory data reset in the Backup & reset option in the settings menu. You should be aware that this will erase all of the data on your phone and that you should backup anything you don't want to lose.
Step three: Load dummy data
Following step one and two should be enough for most people, but there's an extra step you can take to add another layer of protection when erasing your personal data. Try loading fake photos and contacts on your device. Why you ask? We will address that in the next step.
Step four: Perform another factory reset
You should now perform another factory reset, thus erasing the dummy content you loaded onto the device. This will make it even harder for someone to locate your data because it will be buried below the dummy content.
Still feeling a little paranoid? Repeat steps three and four as many times as you like. As I mentioned above, though, for most people simply following steps one and two should be enough. Without the encryption pin, which is overwritten in the initial factory reset, it will be almost impossible to unscramble your data.
Step five: Try using data recovery software to see if you succeeded in completely wiping your original data!
Then again, you could always take a hammer to your phone or toss it in the toilet. You know, if you aren't interested in selling it.
Hello, thank you very much for those explanations !
I will do all these steps and check if backup softwares find something
Related
So, after much research and trepidation, I flashed my first ROM to my i717 last week. Then I decided I didn't like that ROM and flashed another an hour later. So far it's been stable and speedy. I'm very happy. Thanks to XDA-Developers, Google, the Internet, and everyone who made this possible.
So, now, here's my simplified guide to doing what I did. This should NOT be taken as gospel. Please read as much as you can first. But, in an effort to give back, I thought a simple, step by step guide (or, more like links to the guides I found helpful) would be useful to someone. Are we sitting comfortably? Then let us begin.
1. Go here - http://rootgalaxynote.com/galaxy-no...y-note-sgh-i717-icsgingerbreadeasiest-method/ - and root your phone. It will also install ClockworkMod Recovery. Both of these need to be done before you can flash a new ROM.
NOTE: I hear that TWRP is the preferred recovery app. I've tried it and it's very nice. It just so happens that I had ClockworkMod installed when I actually decided to flash a ROM. But use whatever you like.
2. Go to the Play Store and buy Titanium Backup Pro. Well, actually, download the free version then buy the Pro key. There are other backup methods, but I like this one.
3. Backup EVERYTHING. You might never restore a particular app, but best to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I like to use the Google Drive option in Titanium to push by backup off my phone. But you can just hook it up to your PC and copy the backup folder from your SD card to your PC. This is just in case something REALLY bad happens. Best to have an off-phone backup.
4. Find a nice ROM to settle down with. I'm using Revolt (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2288566&highlight=revolt) but do your research and find one you like. If you decide to go with something built off Android 4.2 or 4.3 then you'll lose the Samsung Touchwiz stuff (fancy SPen features, etc.), but to me that wasn't as big a deal as I though.
NOTE: Make sure you know if the ROM need an additional Google Apps package. Sometimes they're listed with the ROM, sometimes not. Read and make sure or you could lose a lot of phone features or it may not even boot. Again, READING IS YOUR FRIEND.
5. Save the ROM (and GApps file if needed) to your phone's SD card (internal or external doesn't matter)
6. Boot into recovery (Hold Vol UP+Vol DOWN then press PWR and hold all 3 until you feel a vibration, then let go of PWR). When ClockworkMod (Or TWRP) comes up, RUN A BACKUP!
7. Read 6. Make sure you actually do it. I'll know.
8. Once you're sure you have your Titanium and ClockworkMod backups, follow the instructions for installing the ROM. Usually this involves (from ClockworkMod or TWRP):
a. Factory Reset
b. Wipe Cache (this is usually a part of Factory Reset, but doesn't hurt to do again)
c. Wipe Dalvik Cache (see cyanogen's response here for what this does - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=519495)
d. Flash new ROM
e, Flash Google Apps (you can also wipe cache and Dalvik cache between d and e)
9. Now the moment of truth. Reboot. Wait. This can take some time, so don't fret if it seems to be taking too long. I'd say if it's over 15 minutes then you might need to worry, but chill before then)
10. When it does boot, you'll basically have a fresh, new phone. You'll need to enter your Google account and follow all the usual stuff you did when you first got your phone.
11. Leave your phone alone now. You can click around, but don't install anything new just yet. I've seen many a post about letting things settle. So, maybe, poke around for 15-30 minutes just to see but don't change anything. Then Reboot
12. Now reinstall Titanium. You can start reinstalling your apps. DON'T reinstall standard apps or they could break (e.g. email app or its data) as the new ROM might not support the old version of the app. My rule of thumb is don't restore any data I can get back from my online accounts (Email, FB, G+, Keep, etc.). All of your pics and that should be on your SD card and should not need to be restored.
13. That's it. If you enabled a scheduled backup in Titanium you might want to disable it for a while to make sure you like what you have. That way, you can go back if you don't like it.
Hopefully that helps someone. Please forgive any mistakes or omissions and if anyone with more experience wants to give it a once over I'd appreciate it.
Thanks and good luck.
Sorry guy, but on step one there is a very high probability of someone bricking their phone.
Why? Because it has happened about 100 times over the past two years from people using that site/method. If you flash the wrong kernel you kill your precious.
You should edit your step to say in the strongest terms triple check your operating system and get the correct kernel.
And step one is unnecessary because all roms here are already rooted.
1. Flash TWRP using pc and Odin.
2. Download new rom.
3. Boot into recovery.
4. Wipe cache, system, data.
5. Flash rom. Boot and wait 10 minutes.
6. Check settings for networks.
7. Optional modem flash.
Only wipe that's needed is a factory reset within recovery. That wipes /cache too. The dalvik cache resides on the data partition and is thusly wiped as well.
The Rom will have a format /system line within the updater script.
And within titanium backup don't backup or restore system settings (anything in the list that's red.)
And as said rooting first isn't needed unless you've been using stock for awhile and have apps you'd like to backup first... the easiest way to root is simply flash the latest twrp with Odin.. boot into recovery... then when you go to reboot the system it'll see that you're not rooted and ask if you'd like to do so.
Thanks for the feedback. Like I hope I stressed, this is the method that worked for me.
I guess I have the terms mixed up in 1. I'm saying to install ClockworkMod (or TWRP) and root your phone. I want to root it here because I want Titanium installed before I change ROMS so I can go back to exactly how everything was before modding if I want. Does that make sense?
Also, can you tell me what's specifically wrong with the site I link in Step 1? I was on ICS at the time I think. Does it brick if you do it on JB?
I'll change the step to say to go here instead - http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/96
Is that better?
Also, can you explain your cache wipe suggestions. I've seen the official instructions say to Reset, then Wipe Cache, then Wipe Dalvik. I know the last 2 are included in the first, but why are we explicitly asked to do them again? Why do you think we don't?
My thinking behind adding it here is that it does no harm and if some devs think that not doing it will cause problems then why not include it to be extra safe.
If you wanted it back to the way it was before modding anything then you could flash a custom recovery and do a nandroid backup before rooting at all.
Titanium backup needs root. If you want your app data after flashing a rom then that's when it's needed.
As far as extra wiping... putting your arms over your head spinning in a circle while chanting a manta does no harm either and is just as effective.
When you flash as often as I do... you wanna streamline the process. Extra anything is just that... Extra... and is just a waste of time
His first step is correct. No one that I know has bricked their phone using those directions because that link does not install any kernels. And it never did. It works for all versions of android. Even after all this time there is so much misinformation given.
Studacris's help is as good as gold though. He has put me in my place in the past.
Thanks Everyone.
Hey everyone, I am looking for a little clarification on something. I have a Canadian Rogers i717r. I am running the stock Rogers Jellybean ROM I717RUXMD1_I717RRWCMD1_RWC, with root. Recently, I have been noticing some issues with it hanging, and doing other odd things, so I just think it is time for a reinstall. I may have installed a bad app or something along the way, because it does happen from time to time. My main question is this: How do I do a complete system wipe? Now I am talking every old file, so there are no remnants of the old information left. I have done the factory wipe and dalvik wipe, along with the cache wipe, prior to installing a ROM, every time I have done a new ROM install.. It always seems to leave files behind though. Old game files will still be there and such. Is there a way to get rid of it all, so it is a complete clean slate for the install?
Now, I use TWRP, but the idea is generally the same when it comes to this procedure, and I have found these instructions online;
-- The correct procedure for doing a full wipe is below.
Go to clockworkmod recovery.
Volume up, power button, and home button all pressed together for a couple of seconds.
Go to Advanced menu and wipe the dalvik cache and batt stats if present!
Go to mounts and storage and select it.
Go to format / system and select it.
Scroll down to format system and select yes.
Go to format / data and select it
Scroll down to format data and select yes.
Go to format / cache and select it.
Scroll down to format cache and select yes.
Now go back and install the rom from the internal or external sd card.
This is the correct way of doing a full wipe everything is erased and formatted ready for the new rom, no old system files, old kernel remnants etc....
I am curious as to what will have to be done after the install is complete. I am going to lose ALL of the info. I would basically need to redo all the programming on the phone, including the IMEI and all the info for the networks and what the phone needs to recognize what network it is allowed to access and such. Is this what it will boil down to? I will basically need to reprogram the behind the scenes info also, or no?
Thanks in advance!
Shad
ShadNuke said:
Hey everyone, I am looking for a little clarification on something. I have a Canadian Rogers i717r. I am running the stock Rogers Jellybean ROM I717RUXMD1_I717RRWCMD1_RWC, with root. Recently, I have been noticing some issues with it hanging, and doing other odd things, so I just think it is time for a reinstall. I may have installed a bad app or something along the way, because it does happen from time to time. My main question is this: How do I do a complete system wipe? Now I am talking every old file, so there are no remnants of the old information left. I have done the factory wipe and dalvik wipe, along with the cache wipe, prior to installing a ROM, every time I have done a new ROM install.. It always seems to leave files behind though. Old game files will still be there and such. Is there a way to get rid of it all, so it is a complete clean slate for the install?
Now, I use TWRP, but the idea is generally the same when it comes to this procedure, and I have found these instructions online;
-- The correct procedure for doing a full wipe is below.
Go to clockworkmod recovery.
Volume up, power button, and home button all pressed together for a couple of seconds.
Go to Advanced menu and wipe the dalvik cache and batt stats if present!
Go to mounts and storage and select it.
Go to format / system and select it.
Scroll down to format system and select yes.
Go to format / data and select it
Scroll down to format data and select yes.
Go to format / cache and select it.
Scroll down to format cache and select yes.
Now go back and install the rom from the internal or external sd card.
This is the correct way of doing a full wipe everything is erased and formatted ready for the new rom, no old system files, old kernel remnants etc....
I am curious as to what will have to be done after the install is complete. I am going to lose ALL of the info. I would basically need to redo all the programming on the phone, including the IMEI and all the info for the networks and what the phone needs to recognize what network it is allowed to access and such. Is this what it will boil down to? I will basically need to reprogram the behind the scenes info also, or no?
Thanks in advance!
Shad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, If you're currently using TWRP I'd suggest updating to the latest version, if you haven't already. There's a few of the newer ROMS which specifically require it. On the question of wiping, before you get too carried away it might help you to backup a few things. Within TWRP (ver 2.8.1.0) you have the options to backup EFS (anywhere you please, Internal storage, internal SDcard or MicroSD card) by clicking on the Storage: bar just above the swipe icon. Your IMEI >> located within EFS folder. Also, search the TWRP website for more specific instructions. What you posted is CW instructions. Hope it helps!
LOOK HERE!!
TWRP version 2.8.1.0: http://teamw.in/project/twrp2
TWRP XDA post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2551499
Currently if you enter the PIN wrong, or wrong fingerprint, or wrong screen-tap code wrong 10 times it will wipe your phone AND sd card. I cannot find any way to disable this. It kind of defeats the purpose of having an SD card if your child can grab your phone and erase it in under 2 minutes.... any help would be appreciated. I have an RS988 so I could root if need be but I don't want to use custom ROMs. Thanks.
I think, the risk that this situation will appear, is same high than you can have lost your phone or it was been stolen.
So i recommend to make a backup with LG backup to a second external sd card every month!
And no, there is no way to protect your phone against secure wipe after entering wrong pin for ten times.
Sorry!
BTW: most of the available restore programs are able to get your data back in this case. It is not an really secure wipe!
and...
Sometimes it seems to be possible to make a backup of all of your date using the adb bridge.
(connection to a pc is needed!) Use Google to get more informations about that procedure!
see here for example: ->
1.) https://www.technipages.com/how-to-backup-your-entire-android-device
2.) https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/general/guide-phone-backup-unlock-root-t1420351
I use LG backup only and i need ~1h to fully restore my H850. (including all setups for right management and sound settings too!)
A family friend has given me his Xperia Z5C (running 7.1.1.) as he's accidentally deleted some photos and wanted me to take a look at recovery.
We all know that to get the necessary access the device needs to be rooted, but this also requires wiping the device. My question then is how secure is the wipe / erase when rooting, is it a full overwrite (in which case there's little point trying) or is there a chance that some data might be present at the block level after rooting?
I'm not inclined to go through the process of rooting if it's futile, but if there's a chance there may be some files still recoverable, he'd probably want me to try.
Thanks for your help.
Hi,
Is it possible to extract old data after factory reset by reading image of user data partition as image.
Idea was to:
- read user partition image
- use PhotoRec or something similar to extract data.
Main concern is encryption, if data was encrypted before, and keys are deleted
during factory reset, chance is that read image will contain trash that is not recoverable.
Currently I know that to read images from phone I need to
- unlock boot
- root phone
This process will also wipe user data again and possibly set new encryption keys.
So it looks that doesn't make sense to event attempt entire process because it will
void warranty of phone and read data will be trash.
Phone is MI A2 with Android One, but I presume it is same with any android phone
that has encryption enabled by default.
Thanks for comments and pointers