Develop Bugs

Quick question on wiping data & "SD"

Will wiping the phone in CWM delete files on the "SD" space of the phone? I've read it is all apart of the same partition, so I wanted to make sure before awkwardly deleting the ROM I am about to install..

I have wiped tons of times in CWR and it hasn't touched the /sd yet. All my files are safe and sound.
Sent from my GNex

Grims said:
Will wiping the phone in CWM delete files on the "SD" space of the phone? I've read it is all apart of the same partition, so I wanted to make sure before awkwardly deleting the ROM I am about to install..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it clears *all* internal storage.

So...which is it?

Maybe I misunderstood but are you talking about wiping /data and /cache? Because when I do this it does NOT wipe the /sd but does wipe all other user data, just like on every other android phone I have had.
Sent from my GNex

Grims said:
So...which is it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe data/factory reset on CWM wipes your WHOLE phone, including "SD" card. I advise you to use the Super Wipe Lite script from the Android Revolution ROM, get it here. This will do a complete wipe, except SD card.
A bit of more info, in case you're interested: the SD card is the folder /data/media mounted as /sdcard. When you wipe in CWM, the data folder is emptied as well.
EDIT: i havent actually tried to do a normal full wipe from CWM, im stating the above just from reading other reports here. Maybe the last version from CWM has fixed this, i dont know
EDIT2: You can wipe cache and dalvik as usual from CWM without any problems.

flakz0r said:
Wipe data/factory reset on CWM wipes your WHOLE phone, including "SD" card. I advise you to use the Super Wipe Lite script from the Android Revolution ROM, get it here. This will do a complete wipe, except SD card.
A bit of more info, in case you're interested: the SD card is the folder /data/media mounted as /sdcard. When you wipe in CWM, the data folder is emptied as well.
EDIT: i havent actually tried to do a normal full wipe from CWM, im stating the above just from reading other reports here. Maybe the last version from CWM has fixed this, i dont know
EDIT2: You can wipe cache and dalvik as usual from CWM without any problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured that was how it was setup, but didn't know if CWM had any logic built into it to filter out the folder. I'll take a look at the script, thanks.

The built-in factory reset in Android will also wipe everything.

I did data,cache,dalvik wipe and formatted system going from 4.0.2 to 4.0.3.
I did NOT lose my SD card

The default wipe in ICS clears *all* internal memory. The default Factory Reset feature of CWM does the exact same thing. I've done it twice and it wiped fully both times.

Very interesting direct contradictions going on in here..

Wiping data in CWM DOES NOT WIPE THE VIRTUAL SDCARD. People need to stop saying it does.. it is all one partition but the virtual SD card is not wiped when you wipe data in cwm.. Factory resets in settings will wipe your virtual SD card but cwm WILL NOT.
Edit: sorry I had a long night, but I will leave the caps so people actually read it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

It is quite troubling to read how many people are saying that wiping in CWM will erase the SD card.
It 100% DOES NOT. I have wiped in CWM dozens of times already. I can not say the same for Factory Reset in Android...but in CWM wiping data DOES NOT wipe your SD.

[Q] Using factory restore and erasing sd card contents within a custom rom

I am curious what the results will be if I use the factory restore within a custom rom . I'm currently running AOKP M5.1 . I am wondering if there are any unsightly ramifications to booting into TWRP and doing a factory restore and erasing the SD card contents? I would like to do this to free up as much space as possible and remove the left over remnants of over 20 flashes and a plethora of app installs. One question I have is will TWRP wipe its own directories?
Would this be better from a stock perspective? The only time I wiped my SD card I was on stock and I really don't care to experience any directory malfunctions or card mounting issues. Doing this within a custom rom will my device still know its a kindle lol?
Edit: I know that this will not restore to 6.3.1 I'm just looking to run AOKP in a clean fresh environment including the SD card thanks for any input

Reserved

Thepooch said:
I am curious what the results will be if I use the factory restore within a custom rom . I'm currently running AOKP M5.1 . I am wondering if there are any unsightly ramifications to booting into TWRP and doing a factory restore and erasing the SD card contents? I would like to do this to free up as much space as possible and remove the left over remnants of over 20 flashes and a plethora of app installs. One question I have is will TWRP wipe its own directories?
Would this be better from a stock perspective? The only time I wiped my SD card I was on stock and I really don't care to experience any directory malfunctions or card mounting issues. Doing this within a custom rom will my device still know its a kindle lol?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot wipe recovery from inside recovery, only the TWRP backups on your sdcard will be lost. The sdcard is on its own partition apart from recovery and system files.

Backups are backed up on my pc also the only time I have used factory restore is when I was going to flash something new. The idea of this seems simple I just don't want it to be problematic since I won't be doing a new flash.

Thepooch said:
I am curious what the results will be if I use the factory restore within a custom rom . I'm currently running AOKP M5.1 . I am wondering if there are any unsightly ramifications to booting into TWRP and doing a factory restore and erasing the SD card contents? I would like to do this to free up as much space as possible and remove the left over remnants of over 20 flashes and a plethora of app installs. One question I have is will TWRP wipe its own directories?
Would this be better from a stock perspective? The only time I wiped my SD card I was on stock and I really don't care to experience any directory malfunctions or card mounting issues. Doing this within a custom rom will my device still know its a kindle lol?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory data reset from a ROM will wipe the /data partition. It's effectively the same as "Wipe -> Factory Reset" from TWRP.
On the other hand, if you do the equivalent from the stock software, it too will wipe the /data partition, but it will also take the SD Card contents along with it. I learned this the hard way.

kinfauns said:
Factory data reset from a ROM will wipe the /data partition. It's effectively the same as "Wipe -> Factory Reset" from TWRP.
On the other hand, if you do the equivalent from the stock software, it too will wipe the /data partition, but it will also take the SD Card contents along with it. I learned this the hard way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to flush the SD for a clean start music video and apps can all be restored before I stick both feet in I want to make sure that it just gives me the spring cleaning that I'm looking for

Well here's what I decided to do I figured since I had a working rom on I would do it all from the factory restore in the rom. So I clicked factory restore and erase SD card after rebooting it prompted me to set up my Google account. After it restored my account and all my apps downloaded and installed, I moved some files to my SD that I wanted back on and did a backup through twrp. All said and done I was very excited to see that I had 4 gigs of remaining space on my SD card so I managed to clear out 2 gigs of excess clutter from what I have done on my kindle. The only downside I have noticed so far is when hooking my kindle to my computer it shows G: removable disk . ADB drivers are good but its no longer listed as kindle under my computer which isn't the first time I've seen this.The way I figure no big deal adb works and I can access my SD card contents on my computer how its listed is irrelevant.
Drivers driver drivers windows sucks lol at this point they are functioning so I will not be trying to reinstall them. Later I will try another restore and wipe my SD through twrp to see if that changes probably won't make a difference I'm just gonna do it for kicks and giggles
On a device that only has 5 gigs of storage regaining 2 more gigs of play room is substantial. There was more clutter than what I anticipated I was only hoping for a half a gig and I'm certainly thrilled by 2

what exactly gets wiped when i wipe data?

Hello everyone,
after more then 2 years with my trusted N1 i finally had to move to a new phone because i broke the screen of my old one.
having the GN now for allmost a week, and within the first few hours of owning the device it got 3 OTA updates and is now at 4.1.1. i am quite happy with it but 2 days ago i startet messing around wiht it. so i ulocked the boodloader and rooted and got myself franco kernel on the GN.
as expected everything worked fine.
today i wantet to give some 3th party roms a try. i tried installing MIUI and euroskanks cm10. both with rom manager.
but on each of them i got in a bootloop after flashing, just showing the franco kernel boot animation.
i flashed both roms without wiping the data (just the cache)
i suspect that is my problem.
i am a little bit scared about the wipe data option for flashing new roms. on my N1 it worked fine since all my files on the sd card where not touched and i could get started allmost immediantly.
unlocking the bootloader of the GN wiped everything out off my phone and i had to copy it all back from a backup.
if i choose wipe data will that also (again) wipe my complete device or just the "OS part" and leave my data alone?
if it wipes everything how do i avoid having to make a backup of my data and restore it afterwards after each and every rom i flash?
i have noted the mnt/sdcard folder on my GN that (apparently) just links back to the root of the memory. what is the puropse of this folder? just to be compatible with "old" apps that insist on writing files to the SD-card or something else?
thanks for the info

no data from sdcard gets removed.
its basically a "NON REMOVABLE sdcard"... think of it that way.

patlabor said:
Hello everyone,
if i choose wipe data will that also(again) wipe my complete device or just the "OS part" and leave my data alone?
if it wipes everything how do i avoid having to make a backup of my data and restore it afterwards after each and every rom i flash?
i have noted the mnt/sdcard folder on my GN that (apparently) just links back to the root of the memory. what is the puropse of this folder? just to be compatible with "old" apps that insist on writing files to the SD-card or something else?
thanks for the info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. It will wipe your "OS part" + apps. Will leave data in "sdcard" alone. Factory Wipe clears the virtual "sdcard"
2. Can't be avoided, I use Wugfresh's toolkit to make app backups a breeze. Takes a little more time than it used to when I had my OG Droid with a EXT partition but hey, at least you'll always have a current backup of your apps.
3. Yes. It'd actually be less obvious it's still called /sdcard/ if you weren't rooted and poking around . I believe JB switches this to sdcard0 now to account for devices that have external sdcards to be mounted as /sdcard1 and so on.

Ok, I guess I get it.
Just one more thing to make sure.
It looks like all my files are in the root of my phone and mnt/sdcard has just one folder but with the same files as the folder with the same name in my root.
When I wipe data now will it keep everything or just the files in my mnt/sdcard folder?

patlabor said:
Ok, I guess I get it.
Just one more thing to make sure.
It looks like all my files are in the root of my phone and mnt/sdcard has just one folder but with the same files as the folder with the same name in my root.
When I wipe data now will it keep everything or just the files in my mnt/sdcard folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom recovery (AKA not CWM or TWRP or whatever you're using) will wipe your SD card. Just remember that.
All the custom recoveries wipe /data/ while keeping /data/media/ (your sd card).
Nothing on your "SDcard" will be lost.

I'm in the same situation as the original poster and would like a "definitive" answer. CWM has both a factory reset and a format /data option (in a separate submenu). Which preserve the content of the virtual sdcard ? Which is the raccomended way to try out a JB rom? I have 10+ Gb of data in the sdcard and i would like to avoid moving everything forth and back via MTP protocol...
Thanks
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

IF you are using CWM recovery, "wiping data" will erase the entire userdata partition EXCLUDING /sdcard. This means that everything under /data (except /data/media which = /sdcard) will be erased. This includes all apps you have installed in /data, and most data for those apps.
IF you are using a stock recovery, "wiping data" or "factory reset, will wipe the entire userdata partition, including /sdcard.
Wiping data or factory restore/reset/whatever does NOT touch the system partition or return the device to "factory condition". So if you have installed apps in /system or have root, the will still be there.

How to completely wipe phone?

So I had a problem with my phone and I am I installing a fresh ROM using TWRP. Am I able to put my ROM on the External SDCard and completely wipe the device including the SD Card?
A normal Wipte leaves the SDCard and I want everything gone.
TIA

There is an option for this in the Wipe menu in TWRP. I don't remember what it says, it's the lowest left option I guess
Sent from my SGH-I747M

Yes you can store ROM on external SD card. Thats where mine are saved. I usually wipe "system" which I believe wipes your current ROM...factory reset..wipe cache and dalvik cache. I would just make sure the ROM you want to flash is actually on the ext before you do anything.

[Q] Cleaning my internal memory before ROM flash

I flash a lot of roms on my phone. Recently I noticed that there was a lot of left over programs and apps on my internal memory. I have nothing on the phone I want to keep that is not already backed up via TitaniumBackup.
What I would like to do, is wipe everything that I can without messing up partitions or Mount points or the needed stuff in ./data/media so I can flash a new room on a totally clean phone (except for the nessasary files needed like the data/media stuff and recovery stuff ect..)
Normally when I flash I do this: (in TWRP)
1. Nandroid backup
2. Wipe/factory restore
3. Wipe data and system again
4. Flash new ROM
5. Wipe devlik/cache
6. Reboot
When I finally get to the desktop I start up root explorer and look around my internal memory. This is were I still see a lot of old apps still sitting there. I want them gone. I'm afraid to wipe/format internal memory while in TWRP because I will lose everything right ? Even the stuff that is needed to boot the phone to recovery.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks
T-Mobile Samsung G S4
SGH-M919
TWRP v6.x.x.x
16 gig micro sd-card

Go in twrp and click wipe, advanced, and click everything. after wiping Mount the phone to PC via twrp and move the rom and kernel to sd card. Unmount then do the steps you usually do to install a ROM, including wipe.
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Thibor69 said:
I flash a lot of roms on my phone. Recently I noticed that there was a lot of left over programs and apps on my internal memory. I have nothing on the phone I want to keep that is not already backed up via TitaniumBackup.
What I would like to do, is wipe everything that I can without messing up partitions or Mount points or the needed stuff in ./data/media so I can flash a new room on a totally clean phone (except for the nessasary files needed like the data/media stuff and recovery stuff ect..)
Normally when I flash I do this: (in TWRP)
1. Nandroid backup
2. Wipe/factory restore
3. Wipe data and system again
4. Flash new ROM
5. Wipe devlik/cache
6. Reboot
When I finally get to the desktop I start up root explorer and look around my internal memory. This is were I still see a lot of old apps still sitting there. I want them gone. I'm afraid to wipe/format internal memory while in TWRP because I will lose everything right ? Even the stuff that is needed to boot the phone to recovery.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks
T-Mobile Samsung G S4
SGH-M919
TWRP v6.x.x.x
16 gig micro sd-card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have your TiBu backups, nandroids, and ROM zips, pictures, videos, etc already on your SD card; there is no harm in formatting your internal memory. You won't lose recovery, you won't have a problem with booting, nothing of that sort.

When I was running SynergyRom on my S3, wiping Internal memory was usually Always suggested because of the reasons you mentioned.
Move your Nandroid and files you want to flash to your extSdCard card for obvious reasons.
I have TWRP 2.5.0.2 as my Recovery, which has been running without issues for months.
Enter Recovery:
Press -
Wipe
Format Data
As a safety valve, you'll be asked to Type in Yes to continue this Internal wipe.
You'll retain the partitions you mentioned.
I think the above will get you to where you want to be.
You can always double check afterward as you've already done before.

Biker1 said:
When I was running SynergyRom on my S3, wiping Internal memory was usually Always suggested because of the reasons you mentioned.
Move your Nandroid and files you want to flash to your extSdCard card for obvious reasons.
I have TWRP 2.5.0.2 as my Recovery, which has been running without issues for months.
Enter Recovery:
Press -
Wipe
Format Data
As a safety valve, you'll be asked to Type in Yes to continue this Internal wipe.
You'll retain the partitions you mentioned.
I think the above will get you to where you want to be.
You can always double check afterward as you've already done before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to say good question and responses. Helpful.