I have been reading different threads about this subject and I just want to be 100% sure before I do anything. I tried a 10.1 ROM and got the emulated /0 folder. I then switched back to a TW based rom. At the time I didn't know why so I just copied all my folders back to internal and everything was back to normal. However, this folder can not be deleted, atleast by all the methods I tried. I always get the protected message. I know it isn't causing any issue, I just like things to be organized. My main question is, if I format my internal sd what, if any, issues will I have, ie. will I need to reflash my ROM or will all those items be untouched? All my important data is already on my external sd and also backed up to my PC. I have read conflicting threads on this subject and on other non-phone devices I have used in the past it was always warned about bricking the device by formatting internal. This is why I am being overly cautious, probably without needing to be. I have just read to many bad stories of people not being cautious. Current phone setup is Frosty 11.6 running TWRP recovery. Thanks in advance for helping me out.
Sent from my AT100 using xda premium
I don't know if i can help but, i usually format everything before a fresh install, first i manually do factory reset, then wipe cache, dalvik, system, then i use a script or zip file to wipe all including internal sd, the script won't touch the external sd, so basically it's a clean slate when installing a new rom just to prevent conflicts coming from another rom. I save my pictures, downloaded files including rom, kernel, themes, zip files necessary to set up or do a fresh install or whatever that's important to me on my external sd and back it up on my pc too.
POWERED by FROSTY DOMINATION!
Craniotomy said:
I don't know if i can help but, i usually format everything before a fresh install, first i manually do factory reset, then wipe cache, dalvik, system, then i use a script or zip file to wipe all including internal sd, the script won't touch the external sd, so basically it's a clean slate when installing a new rom just to prevent conflicts coming from another rom. I save my pictures, downloaded files including rom, kernel, themes, zip files necessary to set up or do a fresh install or whatever that's important to me on my external sd and back it up on my pc too.
POWERED by FROSTY DOMINATION!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are the steps I follow also except the internal wipe. I've seen the zips for them, I think I'm going to do this manually today. Unfortunately dj is no longer going to support Frosty and had the thread closed, so time to find new ROM. There are a couple that have been updated recently that look interesting and I figured that would be the best time to wipe my internal. I appreciate your response.
Sent from my AT100 using xda premium
No prob just trying to help. I'm in domination rom right now. Give it a spin you might like it. But there are lots of good roms, it just goes down if you have time to test them all.
POWERED by FROSTY DOMINATION!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37664132
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Related
OK , so this is the first time I have actually had to make a post to get an answer to a problem I am facing. Been running Civato's Flex rom for some time now and it was flashed using Team Win . But I can remember having issues finding my directory (externalsd) then, so what I did was just place it on the internal sd to get it flashed. So, now to the problem at hand. I am wanting to change roms and also do a backup, however TWRP will not allow me to place an "x" next to the external SD mount in the mount menu. Therefore I cannot do a backup due to the size limitations of my internal storage. Also how can I flash a rom which requires a full wipe if I cannot access my external sd? Obviously it can't be placed internally because of the necessary system wipe. Also the log in TWRP says failed to locate directory/sdc . Basically TWRP doesnt show the mnt/ directory to get to the external sd card, even in file explorer under the advanced menu. Any input would be awesome! Thanx!!!
fastlyfe941 said:
OK , so this is the first time I have actually had to make a post to get an answer to a problem I am facing. Been running Civato's Flex rom for some time now and it was flashed using Team Win . But I can remember having issues finding my directory (externalsd) then, so what I did was just place it on the internal sd to get it flashed. So, now to the problem at hand. I am wanting to change roms and also do a backup, however TWRP will not allow me to place an "x" next to the external SD mount in the mount menu. Therefore I cannot do a backup due to the size limitations of my internal storage. Also how can I flash a rom which requires a full wipe if I cannot access my external sd? Obviously it can't be placed internally because of the necessary system wipe. Also the log in TWRP says failed to locate directory/sdc . Basically TWRP doesnt show the mnt/ directory to get to the external sd card, even in file explorer under the advanced menu. Any input would be awesome! Thanx!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can wipe system, totally different partition. Internal SD mounts to /data/media but using twrp or cwm data wipe won't touch internal SD, so wipe away.
As for not mounting, we won't know why without logs, but try formatting it again on your PC. Android is touchy about any kind of errors or corruption.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.
pio_masaki said:
You can wipe system, totally different partition. Internal SD mounts to /data/media but using twrp or cwm data wipe won't touch internal SD, so wipe away.
As for not mounting, we won't know why without logs, but try formatting it again on your PC. Android is touchy about any kind of errors or corruption.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx Pio, I took a leap and it worked out for the best. Regardless of the mount issues I was having I went ahead and did the full wipe, then flashed your CM9 build which by the way is now going to be my DD. Thanx for the hard work bro, and not to mention being the first to give some insight. After doing some thorough reading I came across others running into the same external sd mounting issues with TWRP. So, I figured for the time being let it go and just move on. I think I am just going to do the sd/internal swap mod, cancelling out anymore space problems with backups on my internal storage. Again, I appreciate everything you've done for my A100! Later
fastlyfe941 said:
Thanx Pio, I took a leap and it worked out for the best. Regardless of the mount issues I was having I went ahead and did the full wipe, then flashed your CM9 build which by the way is now going to be my DD. Thanx for the hard work bro, and not to mention being the first to give some insight. After doing some thorough reading I came across others running into the same external sd mounting issues with TWRP. So, I figured for the time being let it go and just move on. I think I am just going to do the sd/internal swap mod, cancelling out anymore space problems with backups on my internal storage. Again, I appreciate everything you've done for my A100! Later
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happy it worked out for you, however keep in mind one thing: Crossix's mount swap is only active in android, not recovery, so that won't help your space issues there.
Also, the mount swap needs a different setup in CM9 or any non Acer based ROM, it requires the use of script manager or any other script management app. If you need more info on it just ask. It's been mentioned a few times in various threads, and I'm sure a few times in the mount swap thread itself.
pio_masaki said:
Happy it worked out for you, however keep in mind one thing: Crossix's mount swap is only active in android, not recovery, so that won't help your space issues there.
Also, the mount swap needs a different setup in CM9 or any non Acer based ROM, it requires the use of script manager or any other script management app. If you need more info on it just ask. It's been mentioned a few times in various threads, and I'm sure a few times in the mount swap thread itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good: Wow, once again thanx. I am glad that you let me know before I went ahead and tried the swap mod. So far the CM9 nightly is polished imo, Team Carbon themes also work great and look clean. I have noticed though that a lot of the other themes I have running on my Epic (CM9) come back with the improperly compiled error, even after a reboot on the system theme. Is this because they are just not meant to be ran on the tablets resolutions? Thnx a lot Pio, ur the shiz :highfive:
fastlyfe941 said:
:good: Wow, once again thanx. I am glad that you let me know before I went ahead and tried the swap mod. So far the CM9 nightly is polished imo, Team Carbon themes also work great and look clean. I have noticed though that a lot of the other themes I have running on my Epic (CM9) come back with the improperly compiled error, even after a reboot on the system theme. Is this because they are just not meant to be ran on the tablets resolutions? Thnx a lot Pio, ur the shiz :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it seems the more complex the theme, the less likely it works on our device, however stetsonaw has an awesome theme that works on our devices, if you blue is your thing, its linked in the OP for aoikaze. I didn't link it in this nightlies thread as it's meant for pure CM9, Aoikaze is the CM9 based ROM I released a little while ago.
Edit: Forgot to mention, it's included in Aoikaze too, its meant to be run with it, but is optional of course.
fastlyfe941 said:
OK , so this is the first time I have actually had to make a post to get an answer to a problem I am facing. Been running Civato's Flex rom for some time now and it was flashed using Team Win . But I can remember having issues finding my directory (externalsd) then, so what I did was just place it on the internal sd to get it flashed. So, now to the problem at hand. I am wanting to change roms and also do a backup, however TWRP will not allow me to place an "x" next to the external SD mount in the mount menu. Therefore I cannot do a backup due to the size limitations of my internal storage. Also how can I flash a rom which requires a full wipe if I cannot access my external sd? Obviously it can't be placed internally because of the necessary system wipe. Also the log in TWRP says failed to locate directory/sdc . Basically TWRP doesnt show the mnt/ directory to get to the external sd card, even in file explorer under the advanced menu. Any input would be awesome! Thanx!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The new version of TWRP 2.2.0 might reslove your problem with mounting to external-sd. Zeronull just updated it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1608152
I understand about wipe the dalvich cache, cache, and user data.* I see it is recommended that you format the system data and sd card and this is where I am confused.
I am on a custom rom and the next time I change roms I want to make sure I do it properly.* Before I flashed my latest JB rom I did a complete factory restore to 4.0.4 and then unlocked/rooted using one of the all in one programs. (wanted a clean install of all apps/data)* I then loaded rom manger downloaded my rom, went to recovery, wiped the cache, dalvich, and user data and while still in recovery I installed the downloaded rom no problem and everything is running fine.
My questions.
When they say back up your SD card is that what I see when I plug the phone into my computer? And this is the safe part of the system if all goes well during rom changing.
When told to format system and sd card here is what I see for my options:
Mount/sdcard
Mount/system
Unmount/cache
Unmount/data
Format/sdcard
Format/system
Format/cache
Format/data*
What do I actually need to do in this section and what order do I do it in?* Before or after the cache/dalvich/userdata?
And my main question is, if I use Rom Manger and download a rom, then reboot into recovery, then wipe the cache, dalvich, user data, and then do the format part above, will I lose the downloaded rom or is that part of the system untouched?
Unnecessary steps are unnecessary.
Rom install will format/wipe system for you and new dalvik cache will be generated automatically.
Going to a whole new rom, just do factory reset/wipe data from main screen in cwm. Then install rom.
Cache will be wiped with factory reset within cwm.
And yes when they say back up your sdcard, it means the files you see when you plug it into your computer.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Thanks for helping me understand more clearly. I guess i did do everything correct my last install.
korsjs said:
Thanks for helping me understand more clearly. I guess i did do everything correct my last install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you did it fine.
General rule of thumb is that there is no need to nuke and start fresh unless you are having some major issues with your rom
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Hi guys. I have the 16 GB White one.
I have flashed at least 20 different ROMS since i got this phone. Even though i always wipe all data and cache. I still can see files in the tree that belong to older roms. I have have files that say BACKED, another one that says AOKP and others. Right now i'm running on Liquidsmooth JB v2-RC3.
The major files i have are the backups from CWM. Two back ups: (stock and the present liquid jb) Booth together don't make more that 4GB. Then i have on pictures and videos less that 2 BG. What else could be taking my space? I should have more than 4 GB free and my phone says i only have 500 MB free.
Is there any way to delete everything on the phone to make it clean like when it came out? Buut that i could stil keep the rom i'm using. Or even if i have to do al over again. Can some one explain to me please. Any help with be appreciated. i'LL PUSH THAT THANKS BUTTON AGAIN AND AGAIN.
In recovery format data, system, and internal (and/or) external sdcard. OR get FX file explorer or solid explorer 2 (my favorites) explore the files and delete what u don't want
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Another good app is call DiskUsage.
It will show you in a graphical form what is taking up so much space. It will work on internal and external and obviously you are rooted, so it has those functions too.
What if i delete something that wont let me boot again? Also i noticed that in the internal SD card tree, there are two CLOCKWORKMOD FILES
Clockworkmod
Clockworkmod Copy
Right now i only have one back up because i deleted LIQUID one. So, right now i only have the STOCK Rom backup. Wish is around 1.8 GB.
Why there are two CWM flies and booth have 1.8 GB. ??????????So, The stock rom takes me almost 4 GB ?????????????????????/ Thats crazy.
I'd like to delete everything and start again. But i'm affraid to delete any file that preventes me from booting into recovery at least......Thanks again mate. SORRY MY ENGLISH
Thanks mate. Hey, i tried to download the DiskUsage from the market by Ivan Volosyuk and it says this app is not compatible with me device. WTF??? LOL
T2mo SGS3 16GB
Liquid Rom
KT747 Kernel.
Just delete the old roms from the download folder with a file explorer.
If you've been using Rom manager it puts them in its folder
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Thanks again: Well. I wonder. What would happen if i FORMAT the entire internal card and then drop a rom in it, to flash. Would this make any sense if i want to make a clean FLASH?????
I think i'm missing something here. Has any body done this before? Format the whole card and start from zero again????
Thanks again and i wont forget to hit that thanks to you.
Cuban Cigar said:
Thanks again: Well. I wonder. What would happen if i FORMAT the entire internal card and then drop a rom in it, to flash. Would this make any sense if i want to make a clean FLASH?????
I think i'm missing something here. Has any body done this before? Format the whole card and start from zero again????
Thanks again and i wont forget to hit that thanks to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S clean flash is one where yoy have done a factory reset / wipe dalvik, cache and data.
If you reset from the settings menu it should wipe you back to an out of the box state, or a clean fresh rom installed state.
If you factory reset from cwm or twrp it will not wipe the internal sdcard.
Download your rom of choice to External sdcard, backup internal, factory reset ftom settings menu, reboot recovery and flash rom from external sd.
Earlier you were talking about not having enough space, can you not back up your int/ext to your computer?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Now we are talking. Yes, i have backed up all my files to my computer. I will give this a try and will report to you tomorrow. Thanks again mate
Hi again, Well. I did what you told me: Factory reset from Setting, backup/reset, FACTORY RESET. The phone went into CWM and a blue bar went from left to right in only 5 secondes and then Liquidsmooth jb rom started to boot. I let it finish and then rebooted into cmw and wiped everything posible there, from dalvik to cache pertition and did it 3 times just in case, then i flashe the new JellyFrost JB leak.
When i booted the phone and connected to PC i still have 0.98 BG free.
I wonder if i should format this thing from my computer in FAT 32 ????????
Or what i'm i doing wrong?????? I can see all the old files still there of program i have not installed yet....Crazy mess......Any idea....I feel like a D..k
I'm sorry man! Its because of the recovery. Hitting factory reset just rebbots recovery and uses the factory reset there. If you have cwm or twrp it won't wipe everything. Forgot about that.
Try this instead. I use twrp and in the Wipe menu there is an option to format data. If cwm has the same option try using that instead of factory reset. I think its there in case you do want to wipe everything.
Don't try to format the internal using your computer.
Internal sdcard is actually just part of the /data partition. If you go to /data/media it is the same thing as /mnt/sdcard or /storage/sdcard. The internal sdcard is not a separate partition itself.
Just to clarify from your last post. When you factory reset were your apps gone? When you were referring to parts of your programs left over, were you talking about the folders on the internal sdcard?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
I think I get what you mean OP. I still have folders on my phone from apps I uninstalled weeks ago >.<
It's pretty obnoxious. Especially since most are empty.
You should have an option to format sd card under mounts and storage in cwr. This should do what you're asking. Make sure you have a rom ready to go on your external sd though, because this should wipe everything.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 07:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:30 AM ----------
There's also a super wipe script floating around the dev section somewhere that should do the trick also
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
WOW. Now we are really talking. Thank you so much. I found it right were you said. under mounts and storage in cwr. I was able to wipe everything and now i have 11 GB Free.
Thanks again for all the support and to all the guys that jumped to help. I love this forum.
Everytime I flash a ROM I seem to lose internal memory. In the past week of flashing and testing, I went from 9GB to 5GB, all with the same applications. So I'm looking to do a full internal wipe. However, I'm not sure if it will delete the ROM currently installed on my phone. Will be using this MOD http://http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2097359 to wipe the internal but I don't want to screw anything up and have to ODIN back to stock because I didn't understand something. If I use the MOD to wipe the internal, will it delete my ROM? Can I simply restore a backup? I'm probably looking more into this then it actually is, but I don't want to wipe the internal and be surprised with something I wasn't prepared for.
EXV said:
Everytime I flash a ROM I seem to lose internal memory. In the past week of flashing and testing, I went from 9GB to 5GB, all with the same applications. So I'm looking to do a full internal wipe. However, I'm not sure if it will delete the ROM currently installed on my phone. Will be using this MOD http://http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2097359 to wipe the internal but I don't want to screw anything up and have to ODIN back to stock because I didn't understand something. If I use the MOD to wipe the internal, will it delete my ROM? Can I simply restore a backup? I'm probably looking more into this then it actually is, but I don't want to wipe the internal and be surprised with something I wasn't prepared for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be that flashing the ROM is backing up all the previous data in another folder.
All of your current ROM data is stored in the main folder labeled sdcard or sdcard0 (or sometimes 0). You might see another folder labeled 0 within that folder with the data from the previous flashing. With each subsequent flash, the new ROM might make yet another 0 folder to store all the previous stuff, including the data prior to that one.
So then, the directory would look something like ROM inception, i.e., directory looking like sdcard\0\0\0\.... Those additional 0 would be the data from all your previous flashes.
Get back to us if that's what you see lingering in your phone's internal SD.
Well from what I see under "storage", I have an "emulated" folder that has the "0" directory and a "legacy" directory which both show all the folders in my internal. Also under storage, it shows "sdcard0" and "sdcard1" (my external sdcard). So i don't know if they are backups or not.
From my SGH-T999 S3 running Rootbox and BMS Kernel
EXV said:
Well from what I see under "storage", I have an "emulated" folder that has the "0" directory and a "legacy" directory which both show all the folders in my internal. Also under storage, it shows "sdcard0" and "sdcard1" (my external sdcard). So i don't know if they are backups or not.
From my SGH-T999 S3 running Rootbox and BMS Kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are folders you will need to keep. Do you have any 0 labeled folder in the sdcard0?
KunoMochi said:
Those are folders you will need to keep. Do you have any 0 labeled folder in the sdcard0?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, just shows the folders in my sdcard.
From my SGH-T999 S3 running Rootbox and BMS Kernel
EXV said:
Nope, just shows the folders in my sdcard.
From my SGH-T999 S3 running Rootbox and BMS Kernel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, it's something else then...
What recovery do you use to backup your phone? TWRP or CWM? Also, when you create a backup, do you have it saved to your external or internal SD?
KunoMochi said:
I see, it's something else then...
What recovery do you use to backup your phone? TWRP or CWM? Also, when you create a backup, do you have it saved to your external or internal SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM and I usually save right to my external. I already made a backup so I think I should be good if something goes awry.
From my SGH-T999 S3 running Rootbox and BMS Kernel
That is quite weird... I've pretty much ran out of ideas to try. lol
Sorry I couldn't be of anymore help. Maybe someone else will have a better idea of what's going on instead.
Also, that mod you linked to seems to just make wiping partitions easier and do things you can normally do yourself in CWM already.
KunoMochi said:
That is quite weird... I've pretty much ran out of ideas to try. lol
Sorry I couldn't be of anymore help. Maybe someone else will have a better idea of what's going on instead.
Also, that mod you linked to seems to just make wiping partitions easier and do things you can normally do yourself in CWM already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You even answering questions was plenty of help! Thanks for trying.
I'm aware that I can usually wipe away data and caches but I had no idea I could wipe the entire internal SD card from CWM. interesting. Giving it a shot now anyways, hoping it just does what I need it to do!
From my SGH-T999 S3 running Rootbox and BMS Kernel
Mske sure you are using the latest version of cwm.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Ran it successfully and now my internal is all cleaned up. Thanks for the tips guys!
From my SGH-T999 S3 running Rootbox and BMS Kernel
Just wondering, as i'm probably selling my Galaxy S3 soon... what's the easiest way to completely wipe everything off the phone? Pictures, apps, documents.... everything? Will re-install a custom ROM after wiping.... just want to make sure all personal data is off the phone.
elementaldragon said:
Just wondering, as i'm probably selling my Galaxy S3 soon... what's the easiest way to completely wipe everything off the phone? Pictures, apps, documents.... everything? Will re-install a custom ROM after wiping.... just want to make sure all personal data is off the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I imagine using twrp would be the best way. Not sure if there is another alternative. Maybe odin.
First before wiping system you may want to wipe internal storage (after backing up your internal storage to your computer or something first of course). Then boot up your current system and transfer a rom you want to install to your internal storage. Then reboot to twrp and wipe system, factory reset, cache and dalvik. Then install a rom fresh and then it should be ready to go. This is what I do after selling a device, before shipping to a customer.
.... wouldn't copying a custom ROM to the internal storage BEFORE wiping System and everything also erase the custom ROM i just transferred to the device?
And i mean wiping EVERYTHING. basically as if the phone was just taken out of the box, and unlocked, rooted, and custom ROM installed. No left over files whatsoever. Don't think wiping just System does that, does it? Wouldn't i do the "Wipe Internal Storage" or something like that? Think that's about what i did on my Motorola Atrix when i sold that.
* edit looking into the wiping system part to see exactly what it erases.
Wiping system, factory reset, cache and dalvik should erase everything except storage. You could wipe internal storage after you freshly install a ROM. But hopefully there are no errors, because you will have no files on storage if something had went wrong during installation. I would also have a ROM file on an external sdcard that you could plug in if you needed to.
You will probably want to leave one ROM file on the device for the person you are selling it to, just incase.
Sent from my Nexus 5
stelv said:
* edit looking into the wiping system part to see exactly what it erases.
Wiping system, factory reset, cache and dalvik should erase everything except storage. You could wipe internal storage after you freshly install a ROM. But hopefully there are no errors, because you will have no files on storage if something had went wrong during installation. I would also have a ROM file on an external sdcard that you could plug in if you needed to.
You will probably want to leave one ROM file on the device for the person you are selling it to, just incase.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I am selling it with the 8GB Micro-SD card anyway, since i've got no use for it with the Nexus 5. And i believe that's what i did with the Atrix. Wiped storage/system/factory reset/cache. Pretty much everything that made sense to wipe.... and just kept the ROM on the SD card out of the phone, just to make sure i didn't accidentally wipe that somehow.
And i'll probably just do what i usually end up doing for stuff like this. Wipe everything, install the ROM and make sure it boots, and just shut it off when it comes to the initial setup screen.
Here are some useful links
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1823906
http://teamw.in/whattowipe
Sent from my Nexus 5