Database Info

How do you switch ROMs?

Is it simply wipe /data /system or do we have to do something like on the captivate and return to stock first?
How about if we switch kernels etc - does the process change?
Thanks

psufan5 said:
Is it simply wipe /data /system or do we have to do something like on the captivate and return to stock first?
How about if we switch kernels etc - does the process change?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When switching ROMs, the easiest way is to do it with ClockworkMod Recovery. You download the .zip of the ROM you want to your SD card, boot to recovery, wipe data, cache (this step is only necessary when going from one ROM to another, not if you're just updating a ROM), and dalvik cache, choose install zip from SD card, point to the .zip you downloaded and install. If you have a kernel you want to install, then you boot after you flash the ROM, reboot to recovery, and flash the kernel .zip from cwm recovery

Cleanest flash tips

I want thw cleanest flash possible. I want to format my sd card and everything. Im trying to see if this will help get the junk out of my sdcard and other hidden things that impact battery. Besides the typical CWM wipes what else can i do? I basically want everything gone except CWM to flash a new rom.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

First thing, format /sdcard, then place the ROM you want to install on there. Now do a NANDROID backup in CWM.
Once this is done, go ahead and:
Data/factory reset
Format /system
Format /boot
Install new ROM
Now you can start fresh

why doing "nandroid backup" ?
and
is there a risk of loosing IMEI ?
Thanks

Nandroid in case you want to take your phone back to a known working configuration or if something goes wrong and you don't know how to fix it. Or just general backup purposes. Just do it.
Always a risk of losing imei somehow. Make a backup of your /efs folder and store it safely in case of emergency. Following the instructions won't touch that folder, though.

Harbb said:
First thing, format /sdcard, then place the ROM you want to install on there. Now do a NANDROID backup in CWM.
Once this is done, go ahead and:
Data/factory reset
Format /system
Format /boot
Install new ROM
Now you can start fresh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do i connect via usb through CWM ? To copy over my rom after formatting everything?
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

Go into mounts & storage and hit "mount usb storage". Just note, as soon as you leave that screen in recovery it will be unmounted.

Questions about "wiping" data

Ok, with all of the talk about making sure folks do a full wipe before installing ICS, I would like to get some clarification on all of the different wiping methods and which is the best way...
I know of these ways:
1. Via custom recovery - you can wipe data, system, cache, etc.. individually.
2. Via holding Power+VolumeDown until bootloader text appears,, then wait until menu appears and select the Wipe Data option (instead of the cold boot option).
3. Via AARD SuperWipe full script
And then of course, there is the "Reset to factory defaults" in the OS itself...
Which is the best to use? I would assume the AARD SuperWipe full would be the most thorough as it recreates the partitions and everything (instead of just formatting them).
FOr users that have the ability, would an NVFlash of the OS be "more thorough" than CWM method?
Opinions/Experiences?
Thanks!

Don't use super wipe script. A lot of people reported having problems of some ROMs not flashing correctly after using it. There is no reason to use the "full" version anyway. It formats the /media partition(your internal storage partition) which you don't want to nor need to format.
Wipe Data in your #2 does pretty much the same thing as "Reset to factory defaults". They both wipe /data and /cache but do not touch /system.
The most thorough way of wiping that I use is via CWM.
I do all of this within CWM if I want to ensure a clean install of a new ROM and it has never failed.
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- advanced / Wipe Dalvik Cache
- Mounts and Storage / format /system
I am not sure how NVFlashing a ROM does a clean install? As far as I know, it just flashes whatever it's told to flash. It wouldn't even touch /data if you were just flashing a ROM with it.

horndroid said:
Don't use super wipe script. A lot of people reported having problems of some ROMs not flashing correctly after using it. There is no reason to use the "full" version anyway. It formats the /media partition(your internal storage partition) which you don't want to nor need to format.
Wipe Data in your #2 does pretty much the same thing as "Reset to factory defaults". They both wipe /data and /cache but do not touch /system.
The most thorough way of wiping that I use is via CWM.
I do all of this within CWM if I want to ensure a clean install of a new ROM and it has never failed.
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- advanced / Wipe Dalvik Cache
- Mounts and Storage / format /system
I am not sure how NVFlashing a ROM does a clean install? As far as I know, it just flashes whatever it's told to flash. It wouldn't even touch /data if you were just flashing a ROM with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried ALL of the above methods - all with the exact same results, to be honest...
Even if I revert back to honeycomb (even after a full wipe), I STILL exhibit the reboot issues (it's not just me - look around). This was NOT happening before with the exact same version of Revolver. This tells me that there is still yet something else that was changed during the ICS updates. We know the bootloader was updated - i'm now testing ICS with the old bootloader.
Other than the bootloader, what else could have changed?? Unless they upgraded the firmware on a particular device during the ICS update (wifi chip, bluetooth chip, etc). Other than that, I just can't come up with an explanation as to why Honeycomb won't even run properly anymore!
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

horndroid said:
I am not sure how NVFlashing a ROM does a clean install? As far as I know, it just flashes whatever it's told to flash. It wouldn't even touch /data if you were just flashing a ROM with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use the --create flag, nvflash will format ALL the partitions and then flash them. If you use the --download flag, it will just overwrite the partitions you send it.
That being said, I agree at your wiping method is more than enough. Most times, I don't bother wiping, especially data.
sent from my cyanogen(mod) vision

[Q] Internal Data Wipe pre Rom Flash

I am curious about doing an internal data wipe before flashing a new Rom. I am using TWRP 2.5.5. I am on the 4.2 bootloader and am about to update to the new CROMi. I know that doing a factory reset wipes dalvik, cache, and system, am I wrong in thinking this still leaves some stuff left over on your internal SD? If it does, I want to format all of it. I have the 4.2.1 bootloader, the CROMi rom, and a 4.2.1 stock nandroid backup I made in TWRP all saved on my external SD. What I dont understand is if I format all the data on the internal, how will the tablet know what to do when I boot it back up? Will TWRP be lost? If it does boot back up, what will it boot back up to? I just dont quite understand this internal SD formatting thing so well, so I am asking for some help so I can avoid doing something stupid. I know this is possible because I have read about other people doing it in the CROMi thread, I just want to make sure I am not missing anything

Your tablet has the following partitions (and some others which are irrelevant for this discussion):
- Bootloader
- Recovery
- Linux kernel
- Cache partition (/cache)
- System partition (/system)
- Data partition (/data)
The internal SD card is an emulation that uses /data/media as storage. So if you format /data, that removes all user data including the contents of your "internal SD card" emulation. I don't know why the normal "factory reset" somehow deletes only the rest of /data excluding /data/media. It may be convenient but not what I would understand as "factory reset".
If you format /system (which is not touched by a factory reset), you won't be able to boot Android unless you install a new ROM before you reboot. You don't need to format /system, it's done by the CROMI installer anyway.

_that said:
Your tablet has the following partitions (and some others which are irrelevant for this discussion):
- Bootloader
- Recovery
- Linux kernel
- Cache partition (/cache)
- System partition (/system)
- Data partition (/data)
The internal SD card is an emulation that uses /data/media as storage. So if you format /data, that removes all user data including the contents of your "internal SD card" emulation. I don't know why the normal "factory reset" somehow deletes only the rest of /data excluding /data/media. It may be convenient but not what I would understand as "factory reset".
If you format /system (which is not touched by a factory reset), you won't be able to boot Android unless you install a new ROM before you reboot. You don't need to format /system, it's done by the CROMI installer anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aweomse! Thanks for helping me understand that a little better. My first ROM was CROMi 3.4.4 and I researched all this for about an entire week before I started this but I never fully understand the difference with formatting internal SD and factory reset. I have always installed the new ROM before rebooting anyway but it is nice to know CROMi does the system wipe for you. Didnt know that. If I were to do a complete wipe, would I need to install the most recent 4.2 bootloader prior to installing CROMi so it is there for CROMi to build on?
Oh, and btw your Kernels for CROMi are outstanding.

Turin87 said:
My first ROM was CROMi 3.4.4 and I researched all this for about an entire week before I started this but I never fully understand the difference with formatting internal SD and factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is even official TWRP documentation about wiping: http://teamw.in/whattowipe
(I personally have never used any of the wipe options so far, so I am just repeating what I read about it)
Turin87 said:
If I were to do a complete wipe, would I need to install the most recent 4.2 bootloader prior to installing CROMi so it is there for CROMi to build on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no "wipe bootloader" option, so there is no need to reinstall the bootloader. Wiping the bootloader would also brick your device and you would need nvflash to recover.

_that said:
There is even official TWRP documentation about wiping:
(I personally have never used any of the wipe options so far, so I am just repeating what I read about it)
There is no "wipe bootloader" option, so there is no need to reinstall the bootloader. Wiping the bootloader would also brick your device and you would need nvflash to recover.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know. Glad I didnt attempt that. My firmware version was .30 so nvflash was not an option for me. Thanks again for your help.

Wipe Internal Storage

I would like to wipe internal storage to make better/clean install of the ROM (
with old S3 i make a folder on Ext SD with .zip file
reboot to cwm
backup
wipe all (cache + data + system + internal storage)
install (rom + gapps + kernel)
reboot
As you know on 1+ there is no Ext Sd
Someone has already tried to do:
copy .zip file to a folder on PC
reboot to TWRP (2.8.0.1)
make a backup
connect phone to pc and mount data
copy backup from 1+ to Pc
advanced wipe (cache + data + system + internal storage)
copy .zip file from PC to 1+
install (rom + gapps + kernel)
reboot
Can it work?
P.s. I have no OTG cable or USB

You should be able to wipe everything and install the Rom-Zip via ADB-Push.

Why dont you try to install the new rom in recovery with a normal wipe and after you falsh the rom + gapps do a wipe of the internal sdcard should have the same affect ?

are you out of your mind? DO NOT WIPE INTERNAL!!! WIPE SYSTEM AND DATA ONLY
here's my thread for when you wipe internal and brickloop your phone!

markbencze said:
are you out of your mind? DO NOT WIPE INTERNAL!!! WIPE SYSTEM AND DATA ONLY
here's my thread for when you wipe internal and brickloop your phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. Interesting thread. However, I wipe my internal storage (for a "full" wipe) everytime I flash a new rom or even the weekly of a same rom and luckily I haven't ran into the problems in your thread.
to the OP: I put all of my zip files in a USB otg so flashing is a bit simpler. This includes all of my nandroid and media.
I would wait to wipe the internal storage until you figure out which route you want to use (USB-otg or ADB)
Until then a normal factory reset in your recovery should be good. Also as @Hogyoku metioned you can erase internal from within the Rom to get the same effect.
Sent from my One A0001 using XDA Free mobile app

Mojar7070 said:
Wow. Interesting thread. However, I wipe my internal storage (for "full" wipe) evertime I flash a new rom or even the weekly of a same rom and luckily I haven't ran into the problems in your thread.
I do put all of my zip files in a USB otg so flashing is a bit simpler.
Sent from my One A0001 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not wise. You should never wipe internal plain and simple. All that s required for full wipe is system and data. If you continue doing so, you're going to find out the hard way one day

markbencze said:
That's not wise. You should never wipe internal plain and simple. All that s required for full wipe is system and data. If you continue doing so, you're going to find out the hard way one day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This i what the OP wanted i'm not saying it's smart .....
::I would like to wipe internal storage to make better/clean install of the ROM :

Hogyoku said:
This i what the OP wanted i'm not saying it's smart .....
::I would like to wipe internal storage to make better/clean install of the ROM :
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
who ever is saying to wipe internal doesn't know what they're doing. This is the last I will mention of this here. There is no need and it's dangerous. That's how efs and the persist files get wiped and you find yourself in some serious trouble.
when installing a rom all that is needed is wipe data and system. Not cache, not dalvik and certainly not internal.
So many people have a misconception on how to properly wipe and everything seems to think they need to wipe caches on top of system and data. Well guess what, when you wipe system and data the caches get wiped too so it's just an extra unneeded step. And some people will post crap saying to wipe 3 times when flashing etc. They are simply making things up

markbencze said:
who ever is saying to wipe internal doesn't know what they're doing. This is the last I will mention of this here. There is no need and it's dangerous. That's how efs and the persist files get wiped and you find yourself in some serious trouble.
when installing a rom all that is needed is wipe data and system. Not cache, not dalvik and certainly not internal.
So many people have a misconception on how to properly wipe and everything seems to think they need to wipe caches on top of system and data. Well guess what, when you wipe system and data the caches get wiped too so it's just an extra unneeded step. And some people will post crap saying to wipe 3 times when flashing etc. They are simply making things up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
markbencze said:
That's not wise. You should never wipe internal plain and simple. All that s required for full wipe is system and data. If you continue doing so, you're going to find out the hard way one day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
markbencze said:
are you out of your mind? DO NOT WIPE INTERNAL!!! WIPE SYSTEM AND DATA ONLY
here's my thread for when you wipe internal and brickloop your phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is complete bull****. Internal wipe will NEVER destroy anything it just wipes the whole /data/ instead of leaving /data/media. If you want your usb storage / internal sdcard / whatever you call it to be erased that's the one to choose. For a complete clean install:
1. BACKUP EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT EVER NEED AGAIN.
2. Grab ROM and GAPPS and put it on internal storage
3. Boot recovery and wipe DATA, SYSTEM, CACHE (dalvik is not needed because it's located on /data)
3. Flash ROM and GAPPS
4. Wipe internal storage
5. Stop talking about things you don't know correctly

om22 said:
This is complete bull****. Internal wipe will NEVER destroy anything it just wipes the whole /data/ instead of leaving /data/media. If you want your usb storage / internal sdcard / whatever you call it to be erased that's the one to choose. For a complete clean install:
1. BACKUP EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT EVER NEED AGAIN.
2. Grab ROM and GAPPS and put it on internal storage
3. Boot recovery and wipe DATA, SYSTEM, CACHE (dalvik is not needed because it's located on /data)
3. Flash ROM and GAPPS
4. Wipe internal storage
5. Stop talking about things you don't know correctly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Omg man you are not helping things here. Do you think its just a coincidence that everyone with these bricks wiped internal?
Considering I found the fix to this issue I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. But nice try.
Anyway I'm done here. I came here to help people recover from their bricks which I have done.

markbencze said:
Omg man you are not helping things here. Do you think its just a coincidence that everyone with these bricks wiped internal?
Considering I found the fix to this issue I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. But nice try.
Anyway I'm done here. I came here to help people recover from their bricks which I have done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's really nice of you that you did that guide. But there is no way that bricks could have to do with that wipe. There is no way an internal wipe could corrupt any other partition than /data/ (efs, persist anything) beside of a bug in the recovery. Wiped internal several times on every phone and also the OPO with TWRP 2.8.0.1 and as you can see it's still running.

om22 said:
This is complete bull****. Internal wipe will NEVER destroy anything it just wipes the whole /data/ instead of leaving /data/media. If you want your usb storage / internal sdcard / whatever you call it to be erased that's the one to choose. For a complete clean install:
1. BACKUP EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT EVER NEED AGAIN.
2. Grab ROM and GAPPS and put it on internal storage
3. Boot recovery and wipe DATA, SYSTEM, CACHE (dalvik is not needed because it's located on /data)
3. Flash ROM and GAPPS
4. Wipe internal storage
5. Stop talking about things you don't know correctly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although you are right about this I still think it ain't smart to advice this on this forum. A lot of noobs around here, much more than in any sub forum of a phone I ever owned.[emoji6]

om22 said:
This is complete bull****. Internal wipe will NEVER destroy anything it just wipes the whole /data/ instead of leaving /data/media. If you want your usb storage / internal sdcard / whatever you call it to be erased that's the one to choose. For a complete clean install:
1. BACKUP EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT EVER NEED AGAIN.
2. Grab ROM and GAPPS and put it on internal storage
3. Boot recovery and wipe DATA, SYSTEM, CACHE (dalvik is not needed because it's located on /data)
3. Flash ROM and GAPPS
4. Wipe internal storage
5. Stop talking about things you don't know correctly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you