Develop Bugs

Factory Reseting

Since this phone does not have an SD card, does this mean that anytime I want to try a new ROM or something and have to factory reset, that everything off my phone will be erased? Including pictures and ect? I cannot believe they didn't leave SD card support for this phone, really upset about that. It takes too long to transfer my 10gig+ data from my sdcard to this phone. I don't want to have to go through that constantly with this phone.

No the stuff on your phone will not be wiped. The whole "sdcard" thing is a misconception.
The phone itself has a internal storage.
Other phones such as Galaxy S2/S1... have a internal storage and external. Which is removable.

HerroMoto said:
Since this phone does not have an SD card, does this mean that anytime I want to try a new ROM or something and have to factory reset, that everything off my phone will be erased? Including pictures and ect? I cannot believe they didn't leave SD card support for this phone, really upset about that. It takes too long to transfer my 10gig+ data from my sdcard to this phone. I don't want to have to go through that constantly with this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you flash a new a new system image only, then I guess the stuff located in the userdata partition will not be erased...
zephiK said:
No the stuff on your phone will not be wiped. The whole "sdcard" thing is a misconception.
The phone itself has a internal storage.
Other phones such as Galaxy S2/S1... have a internal storage and external. Which is removable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... but if you flash the userdata partition, ALL of your data will be erased, because /sdcard is actually a link to /data/media

If it was me I would make a backup anyway for the sake of a few minutes before flashing any ROM.

Flashing a new rom does NOT erase your data, ie photos - downloads - music etc.

Vangelis13 said:
Flashing a new rom does NOT erase your data, ie photos - downloads - music etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried it? Try flashing one of the stock builds from Google found here and tell me if your data gets erased. I can tell you that mine did, but I make sure to make a backup of everything (like daleski75 said earlier) before flashing anything related to the data partition.

as far as I have seen the stock recovery will wipe the /sdcard partition. CWM recovery will not

fundo51 said:
as far as I have seen the stock recovery will wipe the /sdcard partition. CWM recovery will not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any way to flash a ROM or factory image in fastboot without wiping the SD card partition? I can only get my device to show up in fastboot, not ADB.

PolishPauL11 said:
Is there any way to flash a ROM or factory image in fastboot without wiping the SD card partition? I can only get my device to show up in fastboot, not ADB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remove userdata.img from the Google images.
Honestly I would work on getting ADB to work properly. It will give you much more flexibility in these situations.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

i got the same prob i just rooted, im use to having a sd card so whats the answer if you flash in cwm do a wipe in cwm it wont erase the internal storage? because it sux reloading everything from the computer via usb

dre4402 said:
i got the same prob i just rooted, im use to having a sd card so whats the answer if you flash in cwm do a wipe in cwm it wont erase the internal storage? because it sux reloading everything from the computer via usb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it won't wipe the SD card partition unless you unlock the bootloader or flash the factory images in fastboot.

[Q] formatting system

I have a question, when I format the system to put a new ROM, how can I save the data? Can I like back it up on the computer? If so, how?

If it is your app data you want backed up use titanium backup you can backup the app data then restore it after you have reinstalled all of your apps the rest of the stuff saved to your phone should still be there unless you are formatting the internal memory.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

zaelia said:
If it is your app data you want backed up use titanium backup you can backup the app data then restore it after you have reinstalled all of your apps the rest of the stuff saved to your phone should still be there unless you are formatting the internal memory.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think i'm supposed to format the internal memory, how can I backup the pictures and everything

HeavyweightCR said:
I think i'm supposed to format the internal memory, how can I backup the pictures and everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Connect to PC via USB and select enable USB storage when the USB icon appears on the status bar. Two drives should pop up if you have a SD installed also. Open the one that is your internal memory approx. 11.25gb (check the properties in My Computer if you are unsure). Now make a new folder on the desktop "backup", copy or cut the files from the internal card and paste into the new folder & violla ! Backup of your pictures and such from the internal memory. If you want to format the internals there in an option under Menu>Settings>Storage to Erase the internal SD (again its the one @ 11.25gb) If you simply want to format the system partitions for optimal performance use TDJs Superwipe here.
Hope that helps !

TeraHurtz said:
Connect to PC via USB and select enable USB storage when the USB icon appears on the status bar. Two drives should pop up if you have a SD installed also. Open the one that is your internal memory approx. 11.25gb (check the properties in My Computer if you are unsure). Now make a new folder on the desktop "backup", copy or cut the files from the internal card and paste into the new folder & violla ! Backup of your pictures and such from the internal memory. If you want to format the internals there in an option under Menu>Settings>Storage to Erase the internal SD (again its the one @ 11.25gb) If you simply want to format the system partitions for optimal performance use TDJs Superwipe here.
Hope that helps !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dito, however its not necessary to wipe the emmc.

iLeopard said:
Dito, however its not necessary to wipe the emmc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read his original inquiry below
HeavyweightCR said:
I think i'm supposed to format the internal memory, how can I backup the pictures and everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
= EMMC .

TeraHurtz said:
Read his original inquiry below
= EMMC .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I was just restating that there's no read to wipe the EMMC if he's just flashing a different ROM.

iLeopard said:
Right, I was just restating that there's no read to wipe the EMMC if he's just flashing a different ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA

[Q] Nandroid backup problem?

Hi,
I just rooted my TMobile SGS2 T-989 and everything went fine. I got root.
Then I like to do a nandroid backup before I do anything further. I was able
to go into CWM 5.0.2.7 and selected 'backup', it went on for a while
until it gets to:
Backing up data...
Can't mount /data!
and stopped and put me back in the main menu.
What was the problem and how do I do it?
Thank you!

My SGS2 is running ICS 4.0.4 and I looked in /data and it's empty. It did create a folder with 3 files on my external SD card. Does it mean I'm ok?
Actually it's not empty. ES File Explorer showed a lot of files in /data...

I have the same issue that I said in an earlier thread, still couldn't find a solution
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

oroberthickey said:
I have the same issue that I said in an earlier thread, still couldn't find a solution
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you turn on encryption? I did. I wonder if /data was encrypted that CWM couldn't do a backup? When I booted up in recovery, it did not ask me for the password to decrypt.

Solved:
I decrypted the internal storage (settings->security->decrypt) and did a nandroid backup again and now everything is fine. So it was the encryption that prevented the /data to be mounted.

It doesn't let me encrypt my sd card, I can't click anything, when I go to settings>security> encrypt sd card
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

(Q)Flashing roms/kernals without SD? - Noob Question

Hello! I've only been working with Android for a good year but the only devices I've used have had SD cards so I've only ever backup'd, and flashed via an SD Card.
I understand I must either get an OTG cable or push through ADB to get the files on my device after wiping through TWRP right? I've already unlocked the bootloader, flashed TWRP, and rooted through CF.
Is there anywhere I can move the ROM files too in the phone's internal storage that'll stay there after wiping my System, Data and Cache through TWRP so I can select them to flash right afterwards?
Thanks for helping me, I understand it's a noob question!)

Br4nd3n said:
Hello! I've only been working with Android for a good year but the only devices I've used have had SD cards so I've only ever backup'd, and flashed via an SD Card.
I understand I must either get an OTG cable or push through ADB to get the files on my device after wiping through TWRP right? I've already unlocked the bootloader, flashed TWRP, and rooted through CF.
Is there anywhere I can move the ROM files too in the phone's internal storage that'll stay there after wiping my System, Data and Cache through TWRP so I can select them to flash right afterwards?
Thanks for helping me, I understand it's a noob question!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wiping data will not wipe your data/sdcard, so you can download the files normally (directly on the device using a web browser, or USB MTP, etc).

Yes, custom recovery is specifically setup not to wipe your internal storage.
Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 using Tapatalk

SwoRNLeaDejZ said:
Yes, custom recovery is specifically setup not to wipe your internal storage.
Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. So put the files into my SDCard or any internal folder and it should work?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Br4nd3n said:
Awesome. So put the files into my SDCard or any internal folder and it should work?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anywhere on your SD card is safe.

arkolbus said:
Anywhere on your SD card is safe.
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Click to collapse
SD card? Nexus 7?

douger1957 said:
SD card? Nexus 7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The internal "sdcard" directory

arkolbus said:
The internal "sdcard" directory
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Click to collapse
Ah.
CM's File Manager calls it "internal storage" as does Android. ES File Explorer calls it "SD card." You say "tomato" and I say "tamato..."
At any rate, a factory reset will indeed wipe the internal storage/sd card. The ROM the OP is trying to flash will no longer be there. Ask me how I know this.
For what it's worth, here's how I do it.
1) Back up that which I can't reload. Pictures automatically upload to Dropbox for me. Music I can always resync. Your mileage may vary.
2) Factory reset. If I'm feeling lazy or the ROM developer says it's OK, I'll wipe just the cache and dalvik, then flash away. Feeling lazy usually means more work in the end, so I try to avoid that option.
3) Reboot. Once the setup wizard runs... I do not sign on to Google so that it won't try to restore my apps and settings... I mount the internal storage and transfer the ROM zip to the device. I do not download anything directly to my device, but rather my desktop. First off, I trust the internet connection more, second, I can run the thing past my antivirus before I load it on my device. I then transfer it to the root directory of the device.
4) Boot into recovery and wipe the cache, dalvik and system. I then flash the ROM. If there are other files that need to be flashed before the first boot, I do so one at a time. When I'm done, I'll wipe the cache and dalvik one more time, then boot into the system and run the wizard.
When I first got into Android with the Droid Incredible, I was a flashaholic. It'd be nothing to flash three or four times a week. I quickly learned what worked and what didn't. Knocking on wood, I've never come close to bricking a device and usually don't invite trouble by sticking religiously to my routine. That's not to say that I never got a tightening feeling in my nether regions when a device seemed to hang on the splash screen a bit too long.
ROM development is far more sophisticated now than in those days. With both the Rezound and now the S4, I've pretty much hung with one developer and his product and don't flash nearly as much, especially since the ROMs of today are far more stable. But the basic procedure remains the same. The above procedure is modified from my phones past and present, since the Nexus is the first device I've owned that did not have an external SD card, which isn't wiped on a factory reset. I also don't do a nandroid backup with the Nexus, since it's a fairly simple matter to reload a factory image using Wug's Toolbox. That's how I recovered from doing a factory reset and a system wipe on the Nexus... which also involved some tension in the posterior.

douger1957 said:
Ah.
CM's File Manager calls it "internal storage" as does Android. ES File Explorer calls it "SD card." You say "tomato" and I say "tamato..."
At any rate, a factory reset will indeed wipe the internal storage/sd card. The ROM the OP is trying to flash will no longer be there. Ask me how I know this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
douger: the OP was referring to a factory reset/wipe in TWRP, which does *not* wipe the internal storage. I flash frequently on my Nex7 and LG G2, neither have external SD cards, both have TWRP, and I have never lost my data using this method. If you load TWRP and click [Wipe], the exact text is:
Factory Reset
Wipes Data, Cache, and Dalvik
(not including internal storage)​

arkolbus said:
douger: the OP was referring to a factory reset/wipe in TWRP, which does *not* wipe the internal storage. I flash frequently on my Nex7 and LG G2, neither have external SD cards, both have TWRP, and I have never lost my data using this method. If you load TWRP and click [Wipe], the exact text is:
Factory Reset
Wipes Data, Cache, and Dalvik
(not including internal storage)​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It did indeed blow out my internal storage when I first tried it. When I went to flash, there was nothing in internal storage. None of the usually folders, most certainly not the .zip I was looking for, nothing. Enter tension. :cyclops:
Perhaps the next time I'll try again. It'll save a few steps. I'll have Wug's Toolbox open just in case. :highfive:
In edit: I just looked. In TWRP version 2.7.0.0, I must have hit the "format data" button and didn't catch it. You sir are exactly correct.

douger1957 said:
It did indeed blow out my internal storage when I first tried it. When I went to flash, there was nothing in internal storage. None of the usually folders, most certainly not the .zip I was looking for, nothing. Enter tension. :cyclops:
Perhaps the next time I'll try again. It'll save a few steps. I'll have Wug's Toolbox open just in case. :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP wipe blew out your internal storage, or was it some other process? Your link pointed to a T-mo "master reset", which I'm sure isn't referring to a custom recovery. Unlocking the bootloader on my G2 completely trashed my internal storage, but I was expecting this. IIRC, Nexus devices have been more unlock-friendly, but loading a factory image will wipe everything, including internal sd.
Helpful hint for everyone (esp. the paranoid): get a cheap USB OTG to USB-A (female) adapter, and have a flash drive handy. Newer versions of TWRP can mount USB OTG, so it's a nice plan B if you can't get past recovery. They're cheap (<$5), small, and come in handy pretty often.

Yeah the N7 official TWRP definitely does not wipe internal storage. It says right in TWRP "wiping data without wiping /media" which means without wiping internal storage.
If your TWRP is wiping the internal you should make sure it isn't a modified version and TeamWin official.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

To clarify, wipe data/factory reset wipes your internal storage (/data) but misses /data/media which is your 'sdcard', call it what you like
Assuming a custom recovery, I cannot speak for stock
Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 using Tapatalk

matt4321 said:
To clarify, wipe data/factory reset wipes your internal storage (/data) but misses /data/media which is your 'sdcard', call it what you like
Assuming a custom recovery, I cannot speak for stock
Sent from my Nexus 7 2013 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but your sdcard is to most and many your internal storage... What is factory reset wiping if it avoids everything you have on your sdcard, including files copied to the root of your internal storage?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

TWRP failed to backup

Only this morning I'm getting the error, e: unable to create folder/external SD etc etc. failed to make backup folder. Up until this time all backups have gone without any problems. The three backups I already have gone from the TWRP folder when I view it with a file manager. All my other files are there for pictures,sat Nav etc.
I am using Skydragon 4.2 with TWRP 2.8.1.0. I have tried to reinstall TWRP with flashily but the problem is still there.
What can I do to be able to get my backup working again?
Cheers
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Have you try take out the external sd and put it to PC and use windows explorer to browse it ? (Assuming you PC is Windows)
I'm afraid that you may have corrupted external sdcard... try to fix it windows

Thanks for the suggestion,I'll do that as soon as I get home. All the other data is fine on there as far as I can see.
Is it just a case of letting windows scan and repair the card or do a full format of it after taking all the data from it first?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

potsykate said:
Thanks for the suggestion,I'll do that as soon as I get home. All the other data is fine on there as far as I can see.
Is it just a case of letting windows scan and repair the card or do a full format of it after taking all the data from it first?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other data is there when they are on good block.
Let windows scan and repair then after make a full format after taking all the data.

Can I do that through TWRP itself as I'm out of the house. I've copied the data I want to keep to the internal memory so far. I can see the option in memory settings to format the card, would that be good enough or must it be fine through the computer?

You could also try a different recovery like phils or clockworkmod recovery. My M8 is on skydragon's newer rom. Im useing clockworkmod recovery and it backups and restore works fine.

I never format external sdcard with TWRP .. not sure what will the Allocation Unit Size will be ... you need at least 32 kilobytes.
It's best to use PC ... scan first. If windows can fix it ... then you can try to make TWRP backup without format.
Your problem looks like external sdcard problem but maybe other thing too.
Anyway ... it's up to you. You can do it thru TWRP too.