Develop Bugs

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.

[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.

[Q] Clean slate? - SOLVED

Ok, this might sound like a noob question but before deleting any files on the internal storage I want to make sure to not delete the wrong ones
I flash roms almost on a weekly basis, try tons of apps which all leave files on my internal storage so now when I look at it I see lots of garbage that I'm pretty sure I can delete - so here is my question:
When flashing a new rom I wipe data and cache and after that can I safely delete every folder on the internal storage? I guess that the only ones that I should keep are:
- clockworkmod
- data
- DCIM
- android
Or is there a way to wipe the phone without losing root? (I just don't want to go through the hassle of rooting again..)
Thanks

Seek and you shall find. :good:
Simply go into Mounts and Storage in the Recovery menu and select "format /data and /data/media (/sdcard)" - that does the trick. It deletes everything on the internal memory but leaves the external SD card untouched --> success!
Use with caution though: before this always do a nandroid backup to the external SD and above all don't do all of this if you are not sure about what you are doing

i usually
i) wipe data/factory reset
ii) wipe dalvik cache
iii) format /system
And always after this there are so many unused and uneccesary directories & files left in my internal sd card.
So you propose that after also runningformat /data and /data/media (/sdcard) everything in internal sdcard is deleted?
the thing is that most probably i have the ROM file and gapps etc in internal sdcard in order to flash the phone.if i run this and if i understood correctly that it deletes everything, then it will also delete those ROM files right?
so please clarify this if you can or propose the best way i guess other aditional steps (that im missing out) in order to have the cleanest possible phone.

How to delete everything in internal memory ?

My phone is currently messed up. There are so many things in internal memory with sdcard1, sdcard0 type folders which I am not even aware of (i did created some TWRP stuff, partition ? format etc) ...
Now what i want to do is to clean install my phone with probably some 5.0 update ... But before doing that, I want to know how can i delete everything from my internal storage ? I am pretty sure doing a factory reset doesn't erase everything. so how should i do it ?

Easiest and most certain way to wipe everything and go back to full stock is to run RUU. Look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/general/htc-one-m8-european-signed-ruu-0p6bimg-t2911563

I am currently s-on .... I was looking for something which is quick and i don't have to do s-off

For s-on, you have ruu.exe and your current firmware must be the same or the lower version. You can run ruu.exe and completely wipe device and back to stock. If you are s-on, bootloader must be locked (relocked) for ruu to run.

Can you point me to the tutorial if i have s-on ? I was actually thinking to install a Lollipop rom but mostly roms ask that i have to be s-off thats why i am still stuck at Revolution HD based on 4.3

..alee said:
My phone is currently messed up. There are so many things in internal memory with sdcard1, sdcard0 type folders which I am not even aware of (i did created some TWRP stuff, partition ? format etc) ...
Now what i want to do is to clean install my phone with probably some 5.0 update ... But before doing that, I want to know how can i delete everything from my internal storage ? I am pretty sure doing a factory reset doesn't erase everything. so how should i do it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In TWRP - select wipe - advance wipe - tick internal storage - swipe to wipe <---- this wipe the whole internal storage
Better - In TWRP - select wipe - Format Data - yes <--- this wipe the whole data partition including internal storage

Wiping internal storage?

I followed This Guide to get temp root on my Verizon M8 in order to get s-off with sunshine. The SuperSU apk the guide requires is hosted on an iffy looking file hosting site. I'm worried that it could've been infected with malware, which would've gotten root access.
After getting s-off, I followed the guide to install the DigitalHigh GPE ROM HERE. First I had to flash the 5.1 GPE firmware, and then the ROM itself. Would doing both of these things remove any infections, if that apk was infected? If not, what should I do? If it had root access, it could have installed as a system app. I'm assuming that flashing either the 5.1 firmware or the ROM would've overwritten system apps, but I'd like to be sure.
If I wipe internal storage, will I still have s-off and be able to flash the firmware through adb or sideload a ROM?

TheLeshii said:
I'm assuming that flashing either the 5.1 firmware or the ROM would've overwritten system apps, but I'd like to be sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firmware doesn't touch system partition; but a ROM flash wipes it and flashes the new ROM to the system partition.
TheLeshii said:
First I had to flash the 5.1 GPE firmware, and then the ROM itself. Would doing both of these things remove any infections, if that apk was infected?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't claim to have the technical knowledge to really say. But I suppose theoretically its possible some malicious code can reside on other partitions. But it probably unlikely for an infection to be that sophisticated, when there is lower hanging fruit to be had. I'd guess that you are correct, that most malware is installed in system partition or as an app in user data.
TheLeshii said:
If I wipe internal storage, will I still have s-off and be able to flash the firmware through adb or sideload a ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, yes, and yes.
The only thing that can make the phone s-on again, is you manually making it so.

So if I do wipe internal storage, would I be able to do everything without a microSD, being that I can't enable USB debugging with no OS? If so, would it be as simple as rebooting to fastboot, then RUU mode, flashing a firmware zip, and then maybe pushing the ROM?
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app

TheLeshii said:
So if I do wipe internal storage, would I be able to do everything without a microSD, being that I can't enable USB debugging with no OS? If so, would it be as simple as rebooting to fastboot, then RUU mode, flashing a firmware zip, and then maybe pushing the ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure I follow. Wiping internal storage doesn't affect the ROM. Or are you thinking of wiping everything (internal storage, system, etc.) again.

Wouldn't wiping internal storage take out everything, including the ROM? I'd just like to my sure my phone is clean of malware.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app

TheLeshii said:
Wouldn't wiping internal storage take out everything, including the ROM? I'd just like to my sure my phone is clean of malware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Internal storage" specifically just means the user-accessible storage partition (also called the "virtual SD" by some), which is /data/media. That one partition, that's it. No other partitions are touched, including system (ROM) partition, as I already mentioned.
Now, there are options to wipe other partitions, such as in the Advanced Wipe options in TWRP. If you select the system partition, than that will wipe the ROM. But again, its a completely different option and partition than internal storage.

If I wipe the OS completely, would I still be able to access the device with adb? Or would wiping /system definitely get rid of all possible malware?

TheLeshii said:
If I wipe the OS completely, would I still be able to access the device with adb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to use adb while booted into TWRP. Fastboot commands will work without OS (boot into bootloader-fastboot mode).
TheLeshii said:
Or would wiping /system definitely get rid of all possible malware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Definite" is a tough term. In the grand scheme, in theory you can have malware on your phone and computer from any number of sources. But its a matter of probability. I'd say if you've already replaced your ROM, wiped user data, and you wipe internal storage; the probability of malware is rather low.

redpoint73 said:
"Internal storage" specifically just means the user-accessible storage partition (also called the "virtual SD" by some), which is /data/media. That one partition, that's it. No other partitions are touched, including system (ROM) partition, as I already mentioned.
Now, there are options to wipe other partitions, such as in the Advanced Wipe options in TWRP. If you select the system partition, than that will wipe the ROM. But again, its a completely different option and partition than internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to ask again, seems I have to do it because my internal storage is almost full because of unnecessary "things".
So if I wipe the internal storage from TWRP, it will not affect the ROM, etc? So I don't need to flash any ROM again after wiping the internal storage?
Thank you, sir!

pryg said:
Sorry to ask again, seems I have to do it because my internal storage is almost full because of unnecessary "things".
So if I wipe the internal storage from TWRP, it will not affect the ROM, etc? So I don't need to flash any ROM again after wiping the internal storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROM is on the "system" partition, which is completely separate from internal storage. You will only wipe the ROM if you specifically choose to wipe the system partition in Advanced wipe options.
You will however, lose all personal data on internal storage if you wipe it, including TWRP backups. So its advised you copy TWRP backups to your computer or removable SD before wiping. You should always have a known good TWRP backup available, in my opinion.
ROM zips also take up a lot of space. If you've been doing a lot of ROM flashing you might clear up your storage problem simply by moving unneeded TWRP backups and ROMs to your computer.

redpoint73 said:
ROM is on the "system" partition, which is completely separate from internal storage. You will only wipe the ROM if you specifically choose to wipe the system partition in Advanced wipe options.
You will however, lose all personal data on internal storage if you wipe it, including TWRP backups. So its advised you copy TWRP backups to your computer or removable SD before wiping. You should always have a known good TWRP backup available, in my opinion.
ROM zips also take up a lot of space. If you've been doing a lot of ROM flashing you might clear up your storage problem simply by moving unneeded TWRP backups and ROMs to your computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, sir. Where can I find the TWRP backups?

pryg said:
Thank you, sir. Where can I find the TWRP backups?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP>Backups>Serial number