Hi there,
I got a custom Rom installed on my HTC desire, but now a year later it's getting a bit slow .. I would like to re-install this rom (believe it was MildWild 8.0 ) but whats the best way to do this ?
Can i just make a 'factory reset' from the CWM recory menu ? Or should i wipe everything and flash the Rom again ? Or maybe some other option ?
Thanks in Advance.
try wipe cache and dalvik in recovery then reboot.
maybe help .
Mascarponi said:
Hi there,
I got a custom Rom installed on my HTC desire, but now a year later it's getting a bit slow .. I would like to re-install this rom (believe it was MildWild 8.0 ) but whats the best way to do this ?
Can i just make a 'factory reset' from the CWM recory menu ? Or should i wipe everything and flash the Rom again ? Or maybe some other option ?
Thanks in Advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try mildwild 14 based on redux2
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Free mobile app
Mascarponi said:
Hi there,
I got a custom Rom installed on my HTC desire, but now a year later it's getting a bit slow .. I would like to re-install this rom (believe it was MildWild 8.0 ) but whats the best way to do this ?
Can i just make a 'factory reset' from the CWM recory menu ? Or should i wipe everything and flash the Rom again ? Or maybe some other option ?
Thanks in Advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should try to work out why it might be slow in the first place.
Are you using an sd partition for A2SD? How did you create the partition? Any other scripts?
If you want to simply reinstall the ROM, you can:
- make a nandroid backup just in case
- flash the ROM.zip straight over the top, no wipe
This may clean things a little on your /system partition, and you shouldn't lose your apps.
If you "wipe data / factory reset" within cwm, and do nothing afterwards, this will wipe the ROM and it will not boot as you won't have any OS.
You can reflash the ROM.zip after "wipe data / factory reset", this is simply a full wipe and reinstall from scratch. Make sure you have a nandroid, backed up your contacts to google, and a titanium backup of your apps etc before you try this.
conjro said:
try wipe cache and dalvik in recovery then reboot.
maybe help .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Despite this being repeated millions of times in xda, it rarely ever actually solves anything. cache is just temporary files. dalvik is required for apps to function. after you wipe it, it simply rebuilds, which is why it takes so long to boot afterwards...
In other words don't bother wiping dalvik...save yourself the time.
Thanks for the help.
It's probably getting slow because I run most apps via A2SD .. Cant really remember how i created the partition back then, it's more than a year ago now...don't think i use other scripts.
I don't use this phone that much anymore, but i wanted to have a backup phone in case my newer one gets broken or something, therefore i wanted to do a clean install on this one.
So if i flash the ROM straight over this one, without wiping, i still got al my personal data on the phone ?
Does a Nandroid backup also backs up the apps ? Cause when i reinstall this backup it probably gets slow again right ?
Is there a way to backup only the system settings from the ROM, so that when i do a full wipe , reinstall the same ROM again, i can restore the changes i made in this ROM ?
Thanks.
eddiehk6 said:
You should try to work out why it might be slow in the first place.
Are you using an sd partition for A2SD? How did you create the partition? Any other scripts?
If you want to simply reinstall the ROM, you can:
- make a nandroid backup just in case
- flash the ROM.zip straight over the top, no wipe
This may clean things a little on your /system partition, and you shouldn't lose your apps.
If you "wipe data / factory reset" within cwm, and do nothing afterwards, this will wipe the ROM and it will not boot as you won't have any OS.
You can reflash the ROM.zip after "wipe data / factory reset", this is simply a full wipe and reinstall from scratch. Make sure you have a nandroid, backed up your contacts to google, and a titanium backup of your apps etc before you try this.
Despite this being repeated millions of times in xda, it rarely ever actually solves anything. cache is just temporary files. dalvik is required for apps to function. after you wipe it, it simply rebuilds, which is why it takes so long to boot afterwards...
In other words don't bother wiping dalvik...save yourself the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mascarponi said:
It's probably getting slow because I run most apps via A2SD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're supposed to run all your user installed apps via A2SD, that's why you rooted and partitioned your sd card in the first place. Otherwise you run out of space again
.. Cant really remember how i created the partition back then, it's more than a year ago now...don't think i use other scripts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can't remember how you did it, then there's a chance you did it wrongly. It should be done with 4EXT recovery or gparted only, not clockworkmod recovery or minitool partition wizard. You mention clockworkmod recovery, so I assume you are also still S-ON?
So if i flash the ROM straight over this one, without wiping, i still got al my personal data on the phone ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but make a nandroid backup first just in case
Does a Nandroid backup also backs up the apps ? Cause when i reinstall this backup it probably gets slow again right ?
Is there a way to backup only the system settings from the ROM, so that when i do a full wipe , reinstall the same ROM again, i can restore the changes i made in this ROM ?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, these are kind of basics you should know before you try anything with your phone A nandroid backup is a backup of everything. When you restore it, it should be exactly the same: apps, settings, texts, home screens etc.
You should be making a nandroid backup before you wipe / install anything unless you know exactly what you're doing, as it is a safe point to restore to if anything goes wrong. You can even move them off your sdcard to PC or cloud storage to save space and for safekeeping (normally stored in the /clockworkmod folder)
You can backup anything you like with apps like Titanium Backup. It is best used for your normal apps and app data. You can backup and restore /system apps and data, but this is very risky and I don't recommend it.
Personally I would recommend a full wipe and restore, setting everything up properly from the start as it should have been done in the first place. I'm assuming you're still S-ON:
- Install Titanium Backup, backup all your user apps and data (not system apps)
- Make sure your contacts are backed up to your Google account, backup SMS if you need to with another app
- Backup your whole sdcard to PC
- S-OFF with revolutionary
- Flash cm7r2 hboot using fastboot, this will optimise your actual internal memory more efficiently.
- Flash 4EXT recovery using fastboot
- Reformat your sdcard in 4EXT, partition with maximum 2GB ext4 partition, no swap
- Copy your sd card backup back
- Full wipe (wipe all partitions except sdcard)
- Flash ROM.zip
- Restore user apps + data with Titanium
Hey Eddie,
Thanks for you answer, really appreciate it.
I installed the custom rom on my phone more than a year ago, and back then i was really into it, now most of the details i forgot..
But it's S-OFF for sure, and i installed HBOOT also..i can't really remember how i formatted the SD card, is there a way to find that out ?
I will probably just install the same rom again, but first do a full wipe like you advised. Then it probably will work as smooth as it did in the beginning when i installed this ROM for the first time..
Do i need to reformat the SD-card again then, or is only a wipe enough?
Also, when installing apps, i now move them to SD card via the 'apps' menu -> move to SD , is that the right way to do it ? Or is there some other method ?
eddiehk6 said:
You're supposed to run all your user installed apps via A2SD, that's why you rooted and partitioned your sd card in the first place. Otherwise you run out of space again
If you can't remember how you did it, then there's a chance you did it wrongly. It should be done with 4EXT recovery or gparted only, not clockworkmod recovery or minitool partition wizard. You mention clockworkmod recovery, so I assume you are also still S-ON?
Yes, but make a nandroid backup first just in case
To be honest, these are kind of basics you should know before you try anything with your phone A nandroid backup is a backup of everything. When you restore it, it should be exactly the same: apps, settings, texts, home screens etc.
You should be making a nandroid backup before you wipe / install anything unless you know exactly what you're doing, as it is a safe point to restore to if anything goes wrong. You can even move them off your sdcard to PC or cloud storage to save space and for safekeeping (normally stored in the /clockworkmod folder)
You can backup anything you like with apps like Titanium Backup. It is best used for your normal apps and app data. You can backup and restore /system apps and data, but this is very risky and I don't recommend it.
Personally I would recommend a full wipe and restore, setting everything up properly from the start as it should have been done in the first place. I'm assuming you're still S-ON:
- Install Titanium Backup, backup all your user apps and data (not system apps)
- Make sure your contacts are backed up to your Google account, backup SMS if you need to with another app
- Backup your whole sdcard to PC
- S-OFF with revolutionary
- Flash cm7r2 hboot using fastboot, this will optimise your actual internal memory more efficiently.
- Flash 4EXT recovery using fastboot
- Reformat your sdcard in 4EXT, partition with maximum 2GB ext4 partition, no swap
- Copy your sd card backup back
- Full wipe (wipe all partitions except sdcard)
- Flash ROM.zip
- Restore user apps + data with Titanium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mascarponi said:
Hey Eddie,
Thanks for you answer, really appreciate it.
I installed the custom rom on my phone more than a year ago, and back then i was really into it, now most of the details i forgot..
But it's S-OFF for sure, and i installed HBOOT also..i can't really remember how i formatted the SD card, is there a way to find that out ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-OFF means you unlocked the bootloader, it's a good start but nothing more. Explain 'installed HBOOT', did you already actually flash a different hboot? Write what is says on top of your bootloader screen. If it just says 'Alpharev', means you are actually still on stock hboot.
Like I said, if you can't remember how you partitioned your sdcard, you may have done it wrongly. Please reformat it from scratch as advised.
I will probably just install the same rom again, but first do a full wipe like you advised. Then it probably will work as smooth as it did in the beginning when i installed this ROM for the first time..
Do i need to reformat the SD-card again then, or is only a wipe enough?
Also, when installing apps, i now move them to SD card via the 'apps' menu -> move to SD , is that the right way to do it ? Or is there some other method ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reformat your sdcard from the start, do it the right way so you know you've done it the right way, rather than be uncertain...then follow instructions as above.
Roms like Mildwild have A2SD built in, you only need to keep apps on 'internal' to trick them to your sd-ext partition. 'Move to SD' is redundant, and moves part of the app to the FAT32 partition of your sd card. A2SD moves all of the app apk (and dalvik cache if you choose to), to the sd-ext which is where you want.
Other ROMs you need to activate A2SD manually, read the first post. Same rule still applies, don't use 'Move to SD', because if you do, you are not actually using your sd-ext partition...
Some ROMs like MildWild are also better installed on smaller hboots like cm7r2 to use your internal memory more efficiently (stock hboot is wasteful). Again instructions should be given in the first post of each ROM.
eddiehk6 said:
S-OFF means you unlocked the bootloader, it's a good start but nothing more. Explain 'installed HBOOT', did you already actually flash a different hboot? Write what is says on top of your bootloader screen. If it just says 'Alpharev', means you are actually still on stock hboot.
Like I said, if you can't remember how you partitioned your sdcard, you may have done it wrongly. Please reformat it from scratch as advised.
Reformat your sdcard from the start, do it the right way so you know you've done it the right way, rather than be uncertain...then follow instructions as above.
Roms like Mildwild have A2SD built in, you only need to keep apps on 'internal' to trick them to your sd-ext partition. 'Move to SD' is redundant, and moves part of the app to the FAT32 partition of your sd card. A2SD moves all of the app apk (and dalvik cache if you choose to), to the sd-ext which is where you want.
Other ROMs you need to activate A2SD manually, read the first post. Same rule still applies, don't use 'Move to SD', because if you do, you are not actually using your sd-ext partition...
Some ROMs like MildWild are also better installed on smaller hboots like cm7r2 to use your internal memory more efficiently (stock hboot is wasteful). Again instructions should be given in the first post of each ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When i boot up in bootloader it says:
- revolutionary -
S-off
Hboot-6.93.1002
Radio etc..
Repartitioning is probably not necassery because i already think i did, but maybe do it again then..
A2SD:
This is what i did wrong all the time..i moved them to SD card via 'apps' in settings'..maybe this is why it got a little slower by time.
However i cant find any app called A2SD or is this a script that runs automatically ?
When i check the app 'freespace' it says : internal, microSD, Sd-ext, system.
thanks
Mascarponi said:
When i boot up in bootloader it says:
- revolutionary -
S-off
Hboot-6.93.1002
Radio etc..
Repartitioning is probably not necassery because i already think i did, but maybe do it again then..
A2SD:
This is what i did wrong all the time..i moved them to SD card via 'apps' in settings'..maybe this is why it got a little slower by time.
However i cant find any app called A2SD or is this a script that runs automatically ?
When i check the app 'freespace' it says : internal, microSD, Sd-ext, system.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its a script so if your apps are on internal it will automatically trick them to move them to your sd ext which is the partition you have made which is 1gb recommended...
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Free mobile app
Mascarponi said:
When i boot up in bootloader it says:
- revolutionary -
S-off
Hboot-6.93.1002
Radio etc..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This means you are still on stock hboot.
If you are on Mildwild ROM, you are wasting space
Repartitioning is probably not necassery because i already think i did, but maybe do it again then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, for the third time...
You think you already did it, and you have no idea how you did it...
Therefore: it is most likely is that you haven't done it, or you 've done it incorrectly.
If you've done it using clockworkmod recovery or minitool, they make bad partitions. It could be the exact reason you're having these slowdowns in the first place
You should do it with 4EXT recovery or gparted ONLY, nothing else. If neither sound familiar, then this increases your chances further that you have partitioned incorrectly...
A2SD:
This is what i did wrong all the time..i moved them to SD card via 'apps' in settings'..maybe this is why it got a little slower by time.
However i cant find any app called A2SD or is this a script that runs automatically ?
When i check the app 'freespace' it says : internal, microSD, Sd-ext, system.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said, Mildwild ROMs have A2SD built in, it's not an app...
Have a look again at freespace. You see all that free empty space on your /system partition? This is completely wasted redundant space.
You have exactly the same internal memory layout as before you rooted / S-OFF. With S-OFF you can change your actual internal memory layout by flashing a different hboot, see alpharev.nl.
By flashing a different hboot, you reduce your /system and /cache size -> and therefore increase your /data size (internal memory) = more space for apps :good: This is probably why you rooted in the first place...
So I believe you have narrowed it down to two choices:
- Keep full wiping...and never understand what you're doing...
- Follow the instructions and try to learn what you're doing and how your memory is actually being used Set everything up from scratch. It is the only way to guarantee you have a proper setup.
Up to you
Listen to eddie
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2125513
eddiehk6 said:
This means you are still on stock hboot.
If you are on Mildwild ROM, you are wasting space
No, for the third time...
You think you already did it, and you have no idea how you did it...
Therefore: it is most likely is that you haven't done it, or you 've done it incorrectly.
If you've done it using clockworkmod recovery or minitool, they make bad partitions. It could be the exact reason you're having these slowdowns in the first place
You should do it with 4EXT recovery or gparted ONLY, nothing else. If neither sound familiar, then this increases your chances further that you have partitioned incorrectly...
Like I said, Mildwild ROMs have A2SD built in, it's not an app...
Have a look again at freespace. You see all that free empty space on your /system partition? This is completely wasted redundant space.
You have exactly the same internal memory layout as before you rooted / S-OFF. With S-OFF you can change your actual internal memory layout by flashing a different hboot, see alpharev.nl.
By flashing a different hboot, you reduce your /system and /cache size -> and therefore increase your /data size (internal memory) = more space for apps :good: This is probably why you rooted in the first place...
So I believe you have narrowed it down to two choices:
- Keep full wiping...and never understand what you're doing...
- Follow the instructions and try to learn what you're doing and how your memory is actually being used Set everything up from scratch. It is the only way to guarantee you have a proper setup.
Up to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok Eddie, you got me convinced
Will follow your instructions , do a full whipe, re-partition it and perform a clean install like you mentioned in a couple of posts earlier .. thanks !
eddiehk6 said:
You're supposed to run all your user installed apps via A2SD, that's why you rooted and partitioned your sd card in the first place. Otherwise you run out of space again
Personally I would recommend a full wipe and restore, setting everything up properly from the start as it should have been done in the first place. I'm assuming you're still S-ON:
- Install Titanium Backup, backup all your user apps and data (not system apps)
- Make sure your contacts are backed up to your Google account, backup SMS if you need to with another app
- Backup your whole sdcard to PC
- S-OFF with revolutionary
- Flash cm7r2 hboot using fastboot, this will optimise your actual internal memory more efficiently.
- Flash 4EXT recovery using fastboot
- Reformat your sdcard in 4EXT, partition with maximum 2GB ext4 partition, no swap
- Copy your sd card backup back
- Full wipe (wipe all partitions except sdcard)
- Flash ROM.zip
- Restore user apps + data with Titanium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Eddy,
Finally I got the time to set up everything properly on my (new) Htc Desire, cause i lost my old one
Here is what i've done so far:
- Got it Rooted via the method advised here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1275632
- Then I S-Offed with Revolutionary script, and installed CWM 5.0.2.0 .. not really what you advised me but i wanted to test if it was working, cause i had this recovery on my old phone also.
- Then I flashed cm7r2 hboot using Android Flasher. Could not get it to work via CMD->Fastboot on windows.
- Now i end up with a boot loop, only giving me the white HTC screen. When booting up in Hboot, it says:
AlphaRev CM7 r2
S-Off
HBoot-6.93.1002
I can enter CWM recovery, but it gives me some errors like 'E: Can't open /cache/recovery/log
And like i said: booting normally it ends up in a bootloop.
Did i do anything wrong, and what s the best way to move on now ?
Thanks in advance.
Mascarponi said:
Hi Eddy,
Finally I got the time to set up everything properly on my (new) Htc Desire, cause i lost my old one
Here is what i've done so far:
- Got it Rooted via the method advised here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1275632
- Then I S-Offed with Revolutionary script, and installed CWM 5.0.2.0 .. not really what you advised me but i wanted to test if it was working, cause i had this recovery on my old phone also.
- Then I flashed cm7r2 hboot using Android Flasher. Could not get it to work via CMD->Fastboot on windows.
- Now i end up with a boot loop, only giving me the white HTC screen. When booting up in Hboot, it says:
AlphaRev CM7 r2
S-Off
HBoot-6.93.1002
I can enter CWM recovery, but it gives me some errors like 'E: Can't open /cache/recovery/log
And like i said: booting normally it ends up in a bootloop.
Did i do anything wrong, and what s the best way to move on now ?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When u change hboot u have perform full wipe then reflash rom or restore nandroid backup. So in recovery wipe data/factory reset, wipe cache, go to advanced and wipe dalvik cache then reboot recovery then flash rom or restore nandroid backup if u have one.
Also ul prob need to partition ur sdcard for a2sd in roms so u must use 4ext recovery or gparted only. So again, flash 4ext recovery.
jmcclue said:
When u change hboot u have perform full wipe then reflash rom or restore nandroid backup. So in recovery wipe data/factory reset, wipe cache, go to advanced and wipe dalvik cache then reboot recovery then flash rom or restore nandroid backup if u have one.
Also ul prob need to partition ur sdcard for a2sd in roms so u must use 4ext recovery or gparted only. So again, flash 4ext recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thats clear, thanks for your reply.
I'd like to install 4Ext recovery, but it seems installing this recovery is done a little different from other recoveries right ?
Cause on their website it's done via an app frome the market..
Should i install a new rom first, then install 4Ext recovery ? Or can i flash 4Ext recovery from a zipfile in clockworkmod recovery ?
Mascarponi said:
Ok thats clear, thanks for your reply.
I'd like to install 4Ext recovery, but it seems installing this recovery is done a little different from other recoveries right ?
Cause on their website it's done via an app frome the market..
Should i install a new rom first, then install 4Ext recovery ? Or can i flash 4Ext recovery from a zipfile in clockworkmod recovery ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to desire general and ul see a thread by me "4ext recovery as PB99IMG" download and extract the file and flash the recovery.img via fastboot commands then once u have a rom installed u can download the 4ext app and update the recovery to latest version.
jmcclue said:
Go to desire general and ul see a thread by me "4ext recovery as PB99IMG" download and extract the file and flash the recovery.img via fastboot commands then once u have a rom installed u can download the 4ext app and update the recovery to latest version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Installed it , and am trying to re-partition my SD-card (8 Gb) in the 4Ext recovery mode.
I followed this tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2125513
Set 1st sd-ext partition to 2048 mb, skipped second, and skipped swap.
But then i get the message:
You new partiotion table would look like this:
Fat32: 5580 mb
SD-ext: 2048MB
Is that correct ? Shouldn't be all the memory on the SD-card partitioned to SD-ext ?
Mascarponi said:
Thanks.
Installed it , and am trying to re-partition my SD-card (8 Gb) in the 4Ext recovery mode.
I followed this tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2125513
Set 1st sd-ext partition to 2048 mb, skipped second, and skipped swap.
But then i get the message:
You new partiotion table would look like this:
Fat32: 5580 mb
SD-ext: 2048MB
Is that correct ? Shouldn't be all the memory on the SD-card partitioned to SD-ext ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yh that looks right.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Free mobile app
lilsafbig said:
Yh that looks right.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay thanks.
I thought that the whole SD-card would be partitioned as 4ext.
Is it true that A2SD now only uses the 4Ext partition (2gb) to trick apps to ?
Anyway, i'm happy to have my desire now set-up properly, so thanks for your help
I tried 2 Mildwild roms already, but didn't find a way to encrypt SD-card within these roms , does anybody knows if that's possible somehow ?
Any suggestions for other (Mildwild) Roms ? (tried MildWild MW-14 and MildWild CM-8.0 JG Stable)
Thanks.
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
Hello all,
Sorry for this semi-noob question. I have had many android phones and rooted all of them but this is my first Nexus device. I've unlocked my bootloader and have TWRP installed and I'm ready to install a ROM. Unfortunately I am unsure of how I can do a full wipe without wiping my internal storage too.
On every other phone I have had, I would go to advanced wipe and then wipe system, data, cache and dalvik cache but I just did that and it wiped my internal storage :/
I had to flash the stock system image through ADB because ADB sideload wasn't working. Now I'm afraid to wipe system again before trying again because I feel like it will wipe my internal storage again. How can I wipe system properly before installing a new ROM?
Thanks!
Now the interesting question here is: What is internal storage?
You seem to think it is the entire emmc, including your system, cache and data partitions but that is not how that term is used.
As far as I have been able to figure this out "Internal Storage" in Android refers to the entire /data partition which in itself again is divided into a user accessible part where your photos, videos, files are stored ( /data/media and mounted as /sdcard/0 ) and the rest of the /data partition which is used for apps you install and their data. That part is not accessible to the user unless you have root.
Now, for 99% of all wipe operations all you need to do when installing a new rom is to wipe the data partition of all user installed apps and their data, dalvik and cache - also called a 'clean install'.
Any rom installer worth a damn will format /system before installing a new rom, so wiping /system is redundant.
TWRP made this very easy: Enter the Wipe menu and swipe the button. Default is to wipe /data (without wiping /data/media), cache and Dalvik. Flash the rom - done.
berndblb said:
Now the interesting question here is: What is internal storage?
You seem to think it is the entire emmc, including your system, cache and data partitions but that is not how that term is used.
As far as I have been able to figure this out "Internal Storage" in Android refers to the entire /data partition which in itself again is divided into a user accessible part where your photos, videos, files are stored ( /data/media and mounted as /sdcard/0 ) and the rest of the /data partition which is used for apps you install and their data. That part is not accessible to the user unless you have root.
Now, for 99% of all wipe operations all you need to do when installing a new rom is to wipe the data partition of all user installed apps and their data, dalvik and cache - also called a 'clean install'.
Any rom installer worth a damn will format /system before installing a new rom, so wiping /system is redundant.
TWRP made this very easy: Enter the Wipe menu and swipe the button. Default is to wipe /data (without wiping /data/media), cache and Dalvik. Flash the rom - done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Internal Storage" as I used the term refers to just the user accessible part of the data partition where (as you said) photos, files, etc are stored. On previous versions of TWRP for phones I have had, you could wipe system, date, cache, etc and it would always leave internal storage intact. Ergo, after wiping, you could navigate to your downloads folder and find the ROM you wanted to flash. The issue I had was that I wiped "system" using TWRP and it wiped my "internal storage", meaning my downloads and photos and everything - leaving me with no ROM to flash.
You answered my question perfectly toward the end with this
Any rom installer worth a damn will format /system before installing a new rom, so wiping /system is redundant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I come from a series of phones where this was not standard behavior for ROM installers, so failing to wipe system would lead to a dirty flash and almost assuredly cause issues. Thanks for the input, I will just do a data wipe from now on.
You shouldn't count on roms wiping system automatically.
A well established rom like pure Nexus for instance does not wipe system at flashing, leaving it up to the user to clean or dirty flash.
Always read and follow the installation instructions that come with the rom and you should have little problems. If there aren't any instructions, stay away from the rom is my advice, especially of you are a new user.
As to your question: go to the wipe menu in twrp. Then do an advanced wipe. Check every box except internal storage and wipe. Then proceed to flash your rom.
peltus said:
You shouldn't count on roms wiping system automatically.
A well established rom like pure Nexus for instance does not wipe system at flashing, leaving it up to the user to clean or dirty flash.
Always read and follow the installation instructions that come with the rom and you should have little problems. If there aren't any instructions, stay away from the rom is my advice, especially of you are a new user.
As to your question: go to the wipe menu in twrp. Then do an advanced wipe. Check every box except internal storage and wipe. Then proceed to flash your rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'm not a new user by any stretch, just new to the Nexus 5x.
As to your question: go to the wipe menu in twrp. Then do an advanced wipe. Check every box except internal storage and wipe. Then proceed to flash your rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I did when it wiped the ROM file (and all photos/sms backups) from my internal storage. That's how I have always wiped before flashing a new ROM in TWRP and this is the first time it ever wiped my internal storage, hence my question. I think I'll just stick to ROM installers that perform a system wipe. I plan on running the odex stock based ROM I just installed for a while anyway.
The_mamba said:
Thanks, I'm not a new user by any stretch, just new to the Nexus 5x.
This is exactly what I did when it wiped the ROM file (and all photos/sms backups) from my internal storage. That's how I have always wiped before flashing a new ROM in TWRP and this is the first time it ever wiped my internal storage, hence my question. I think I'll just stick to ROM installers that perform a system wipe. I plan on running the odex stock based ROM I just installed for a while anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for assuming you're a newby. Last time i wiped that way in twrp (June 2016) it left my SD card alone. Maybe you checked the wrong box?
peltus said:
Sorry for assuming you're a newby. Last time i wiped that way in twrp (June 2016) it left my SD card alone. Maybe you checked the wrong box?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries, I appreciate the help either way. I suppose it's possible I checked the wrong box but I am very diligent about that because I have REALLY screwed myself over with that in the past. I accidentally wiped internal storage once or twice on my HTC One and had to RUU back to stock, losing everything including root. Luckily recovery is quicker and easier on the 5x (and the phone is brand new so it had no pictures on it).
I'm afraid to try it again even with a nandroid since the recovery files or stored on internal storage so wiping that would leave me SOL too. Like I said, I'll probably just ride on this ROM until the Nougat or so and then make a full cloud backup before trying a full wipe again.
Wiping system did not erase your files. /system is read only, so you nor your apps can store anything there.
I respectfully disagree with @peltus. In those parts of XDA where I "grew up" a dirty flash is a rom flash without wiping data. And I would be grateful for a link to a rom where the installation script does not involve formatting or wiping /system.
I could be wrong but I believe TWRP's wipe of data is without data/media.
Internal Storage wipes the entire data partition.
One if these days with more time I'll give it a try
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
BONUS: What is a data/media device?
https://twrp.me/faq/datamedia.html
The relevant part:
Since /data/media is part of /data, we pretty much never actually format the data partition. Formatting data, of course, also removes the media folder that contains the internal sdcard. When you choose a factory reset [or wipe data], instead of formatting, we use rm -rf commands to remove all the folders except for the media folder so that we can remove all of your apps and settings while leaving your "sdcard" intact. In TWRP we also have a wipe internal storage option that rm -rf's the media folder and a "Format Data" option that formats to recreate the entire file system in case something goes completely wrong or to remove device encryption.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[ ] - added by me.