I know this is not a development thread but I must insist we have something like this in this area. I feel it's important to all development for accurate results and debug information.
I see this all the time. People think they are fully wiping when a developer asks for it. I believe that some people still don't understand what a full wipe is because there is no such single option in ClockWorkMod Recovery. Most likely the reason for that is because Koush didn't want too many posts about "I'm stuck on Google logo" or "my phone won't boot". So here is a test you can do yourself: Backup your ROM of course, and then do a full wipe. Then don't install anything and just reboot. If you end up pass the Google logo and onto the boot loop screen, then what you think is a full wipe is incorrect. If you are stuck on the Google logo and nothing is happening however, then congratulations... you know what you're doing 
For the rest of you, here are proper steps to fully wipe without leaving any trace of ROM on your phone:
* wipe data/factory reset
* format /system
* format /boot
Now most people think that the first option is enough. That may often be the case but because the developer can drastically change the contents of the /system folder, things can get messed up if you don't format it. And guess what, that first option will not do it. Wipe data/factory reset only wipes the /data folder which contains your personal settings and all the apps you installed. The ROM is then left blank as if you just flashed it and you can start over. FYI, the format of boot partition simply wipes the boot animation and you can restore it using the advance option in recovery from ROM to another.
I've seen some zip files which do this automatically so that's fine but at least you know what needs to be done to fully wipe.
There you go. I hope this clears some things. Now lets flash some ROMs! 
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I tried searching didnt get specific answer I am needing. I have been flashing roms for about 1 year. Its possible I have been messing it up, although my phone has always worked correctly (CM of different flavors). I usually use the following:
hboot/recovery
wipe dav/factory reset/wipe battery stats
install rom
now I am trying very hard not to make things more difficult for another user. I am trying to flash a sense rom Stock Plus v2.1.
In the install instructions it states:
Full Wipe and Flash Instructions:
Make a Nandroid Backup of your current rom
Reboot into ClockworkMod
Choose "wipe data/factory reset"
Go into "mounts and storage" menu and choose "format /boot" and confirm
Choose "format /system" and confirm
Go back to main menu and choose "install zip from sdcard"
Browse your sdcard for the rom zip and flash!
**Note: I know there are a million methods that folks say to follow for a full wipe, including: wiping dalvik, wiping cache, etc. Let me explain why that's unnecessary. The "wipe data/factory reset" option erases your /data, /cache and /data/data partitions, so doing the "wipe cache" option would be redundant. Dalvik-cache is just a folder that resides on the /data partition (Already cleared, remember, so redundant again). The ONLY 2 partitions, that effect the wipe, and were not already cleared are /boot and /system. I've changed roms quite a bit and this method is fast and works everytime.
I read the note but am confused. I have not heard of the things in red above. Could someone explain what I have been doing wrong, or why that would need to be done for rom to function properly? Thanks
Aerysana said:
I tried searching didnt get specific answer I am needing. I have been flashing roms for about 1 year. Its possible I have been messing it up, although my phone has always worked correctly (CM of different flavors). I usually use the following:
hboot/recovery
wipe dav/factory reset/wipe battery stats
install rom
now I am trying very hard not to make things more difficult for another user. I am trying to flash a sense rom Stock Plus v2.1.
In the install instructions it states:
Full Wipe and Flash Instructions:
Make a Nandroid Backup of your current rom
Reboot into ClockworkMod
Choose "wipe data/factory reset"
Go into "mounts and storage" menu and choose "format /boot" and confirm
Choose "format /system" and confirm
Go back to main menu and choose "install zip from sdcard"
Browse your sdcard for the rom zip and flash!
**Note: I know there are a million methods that folks say to follow for a full wipe, including: wiping dalvik, wiping cache, etc. Let me explain why that's unnecessary. The "wipe data/factory reset" option erases your /data, /cache and /data/data partitions, so doing the "wipe cache" option would be redundant. Dalvik-cache is just a folder that resides on the /data partition (Already cleared, remember, so redundant again). The ONLY 2 partitions, that effect the wipe, and were not already cleared are /boot and /system. I've changed roms quite a bit and this method is fast and works everytime.
I read the note but am confused. I have not heard of the things in red above. Could someone explain what I have been doing wrong, or why that would need to be done for rom to function properly? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you are talking about formatting system and boot? If so, cm is different than sense roms, and this data needs to be wiped. The fact that you have been using cm for so long, explains why you haven't had issues with your wipe method. The data has just been overwriting itself, which doesn't work when going from aosp to sense, or vice versa.
Sent from my ADR6300 using xda premium
actually I have 2 different phones. both are htc inc orig, 2 different users. my personal phone has cm. I do not format boot or system and never have. however, when reading about flashing stock plus v2.1 on the other dinc that is freshly rooted with nothing ever having been flashed, it said to do what was highlighted in red (format boot and system). I had never heard of that.
okay, so format boot and system are needed if you are going from asop to sense (did not know that guess I got lucky). So is it still necessary to format boot and system before flashing on a dinc that was just rooted last night and nothing has been done other than rooting? stock is sense, the rom i would like to flash to the newly rooted phone is sense, so it is or is not needed?
I guess it comes down to what is exactly being wiped/formatted in the following:
data wipe/factory reset
format boot
format system
Yeah I guess thats what im trying to ask. Maybe if I understand what those areas are, then I can better understand why they would need to be wiped/formatted.
Oh and thank you for your reply, I do appreciate the help, and maybe im a bit slow in my thinking today. So please bear with me.
The boot and system files/data take on different characteristics and can be stored differently, depending on the base of the Rom. Base being froyo, gingerbread, Dinc2, Evo, aosp, etc. Things are stored in different places, which means new roms need these areas cleared before flashing in order to work properly.
Edit: Most of these roms have been ported from other devices. If flash instructions are provided, it is best to follow them for best results.
Sent from my ADR6300 using xda premium
okay i think i understand. will do it. thanks for taking the time to help. sometimes it takes me a few to get it sorted out.
What is the proper way to format a galaxy nexus? I want to clear everything possible and start fresh in an attempt to solve the abysmal write speeds I've been getting recently and I don't want to wind up bricking the thing in the process since I know certain partitions store the boot loader and more.
Other attempts to fix the write speed including fstrim, changing the mount command to enable trimming deleted files automatically, completely filling all free space with zeros then removing it, and none have helped yet. It gets approximately 0.10-0.15KB/s on random write with androbench, 2.0-5.5MB/s for sequencial write. I've never had anything less than 12GB free space, except when I tried filling all the free space
I want to format before reinstalling cyanogenmod and I understand there are risks involved that could brick my device so any instruction for what should and should not be touched would be greatly appreciated.
You need custom recovery installed (twrp or cwm). I have twrp. You need from recovery, for example twrp, wipe cache, dalvik cache, data and system from advanced wipe menu. After that, you should put in queue rom (which you are installing in zip format), then gapps(not all rom's need gapps, read install description for current rom) and custom kernel (not necessarily). After you just swipe on menu to proceed with installation and thats it
marko207 said:
You need custom recovery installed (twrp or cwm). I have twrp. You need from recovery, for example twrp, wipe cache, dalvik cache, data and system from advanced wipe menu. After that, you should put in queue rom (which you are installing in zip format), then gapps(not all rom's need gapps, read install description for current rom) and custom kernel (not necessarily). After you just swipe on menu to proceed with installation and thats it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure yu don't wipe "sdcard data" (there's a difference in System Data and SDCard Data). Marco207 mentioned that yu will have to wipe System Data. Rest yu may wipe anything, in fact, everything in case yu want a whole fresh ROM.
So I apologize if Im posting in the wrong spot but I noticed yall are still working on the F6...so I figured this made sense...
I thought I knew exactly what I wasdoing but did not....I was lucky enough to find patience enough to read up before flashing...I see the threads posted on how to root, backup, and restore this phone...but all those threads explain it using so0ftware other than I have... Since I made some moves before truly knowing what I was doing...I'd like to just stick wiith what i got for the moment and see if yall, as the experts can guide me down the runway...
Heres What I have so far:
1. I DO have root access
2. I DO have SuperSU and it seems to be working in the sense that it keeps logs...but sometimes it gives me a binary error. (I have NOT et converted SuperSU into a system app...bc im unclear if its necessary after reading a few different threads)
3. I DO have Root Browser' which I use to shuffle things around. (I DO have the /system and /data folders relocated on my external SD)
4. I DO have Titanium Backup which I used to BU my USER APPS/SYSTEM DATA.
5. I DO have Flashify which I also used to BU my STOCK RECOVERY/KERNEL (I cant seem to figure out where that recovery is being default stored though...Ive been searching high and low.
NOTE: Although im happy I have made it this far...I dont wanna go any further until I know exactly what im doing. I fear that I have missed something small. Something that would be a no brainer to you experts.
I'm unclear of storage requirements...I BELIEVE that I must store all my rooted tools on the external bc the goal is to wipe everything NOT on ext SD.
What I THINK I know is that hypothetically since im backed up...or when im 100% certain everything is....I can just click REBOOT TO RECOVERY MODE under the menu using Titanium.
IF I happen to be correct up to that point....I think my next move is using Titanium to put back the things ive stored on my SD.
In my mind that leaves me with the same ROM...but without the fluff...and now the ability to save to ext SD.....
If I underestand right....currently there are no MOD upgrades available due to difficulty of unlocking the bootlag....or something that sounds likethat...
I have ZERO experience with any of this....I hope what I just shared is at least in the ballpark of the right direction..
THANK YOU for any and all help!
I
On a mission to take my LGF6 and make a man outta it!
firstly go into recovery (cwm or twrp) and go to "back up" and make a back up. second go to wipe and wipe cache then wipe dalvic cache (if your using cmw you will have to go to advanced on the home screen to wipe dalvic cache)
third go back to wipe and wipe system, after that wipe the cache and dalvic cache just like before
And for the final stage go to install, find the rom you want (will be a zip file) and then flash it, when done wipe cache and dalvic cache one more time then reboot
And bam you should have you new custom rom (you dont have to keep wiping the cache and dalvic cache but its recomended)
I accidentally wiped the system in TRWP and the phone won't boot, it just shows white screen with HTC logo and the red text down.
Did I just wiped my android from the phone?
I can get into bootloader and recovery. But I dont have rom in my internal storage. (because I deleted everything) How can I put rom.zip into my storage again and do the flash?
PLEASE HELP!
delete please have found an answer
JernejB2 said:
delete please have found an answer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Threads typically aren't deleted on XDA. If you found a solution, post it for the benefit of others that may have the same/similar issue.
In the future, you shouldn't be wiping anything, if you have no idea what it is, or what the outcome will be. It says right on the TWRP Wipe section, that the default wipe is the only one you need most of the time. And it says that for a reason. And the remaining options are also called "Advanced" for good reason.
Yes, "system" is the Android Operating System. By wiping it, you wiped the whole OS.
Recovering from this is typically done by putting a ROM on removable SD, or alternately using adb push to put a ROM on the phone. Then boot into TWRP and install the ROM.
You should also typically have TWRP backup of your current ROM, for easy recovery. Basic good practice to always have a TWRP "nandroid" backup whenever messing with the phone (root, ROMs, other mods). And there is usually not a good reason to wipe "everything" (all at the same time) and therefore also wipe your backups wherever they may be (internal storage or SD card).
I looked through many threads, posts, websites, and tutorials, but none of them say how to literally wipe my device completely (it could be that it's not possible), what I want to do is completely remove literally everything so that it's like a brand new hard drive without even any files in it.
'Factory Reset' doesn't remove everything because android still boots after a factory reset and android wouldn't be able to boot if there were no files on the device. TWRP doesn't remove everything either because how is twrp running, and I can still see the androids root directories in twrps file manager (TWRP does tell me that there's no OS installed, but then why is there still a functioning file system with actual files in them).
I want to completely wipe everything so that any future roms I download will have no way to be affected by any old kernels/roms/apps that I have installed in the past. I want to clean install android on top of a literally empty phone hard drive. If this isn't possible then what's the closest to that that I can get? Cuz I tried various roms and I had bugs that persisted between multiple roms even though other people said that they didn't have these issues.
In case you're wondering: I'm currently running LineageOS 15.1, oreo 8.1
Your best bet it to wipe using stock image. Reinstall TWRP and wipe system, cache and data before installing new ROM
I agree with the advice given by Vanschtezla.
Also, if you would completely wipe all data on the phone's storage then that would also wipe the partition table. The storage area is divided into partitions which are mounted to for example /system /data and /cache when your phone boots.
Also there is no real need to "wipe everything" as you say as that could brick your phone. If you just boot TWRP and wipe using "Factory reset" and additionally: System then everything should be clean enough to install a new ROM. Depending on the ROM it will wipe the System partition anyway.
Kernels reside in the system partition so when you wipe System, any Kernel is gone
Pre installed (system) Apps sit in the System partition so wipe System and they are gone
User Apps sit in the data partition so wipe data (that is included in the Factory reset) and they're gone
All in all I think you're expecting issues that simply do not exist. Especially if you just follow the instructions of the (custom) ROM you want to install.
THANK YOU!
peterpv said:
I agree with the advice given by Vanschtezla.
Kernels reside in the system partition so when you wipe System, any Kernel is gone
Pre installed (system) Apps sit in the System partition so wipe System and they are gone
User Apps sit in the data partition so wipe data (that is included in the Factory reset) and they're gone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I was looking for! Why don't any "How to wipe your phone" guides say these things (even the ones that get more technical don't mention what exactly gets deleted for each wipe option, which is why from your perspective it was probably very weird to read my question).