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[Q] Full wipe before flashing backups?

Do I need to format / wipe anything in the CWM screen before restoring a flashed backup?

This is my personal procedure evertime I install a new rom, or revert to a saved backup. I am a noob, so I don't know if it's necessary, but I do it by habit now, and it seems to work for me.
1.wipe dalvik (in advanced menu)
2.wipe cache
3.wipe data/factory reset x 2
4.wipe system (in mounts and storage menu) x 2
5.(optional) wipe dalvik,wipe cache
6. Install zip or backup depending on what my intention is
7. fix permissions
reboot
edit: Actually, this isn't "MY PERSONAL" procedure...this is what was recommended to me from other valued members of this forum. I have simply adopted it into my routine.

That's a whole lotta wiping... wont hurt anything but very redundant.
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I thought dalvik couldn't be wiped in Recovery- it gets an error message.

tgerbracht said:
I thought dalvik couldn't be wiped in Recovery- it gets an error message.
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The unknown path error? I get that too... but then is says dalvik wiped... wondering about that myself...
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BobbyDukes707 said:
The unknown path error? I get that too... but then is says dalvik wiped... wondering about that myself...
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never heard of that, do u have internal or external recovery? i have external and never seen that parsing message once ..........and when i go from rom to rom i wipe data first then cache then dalvik and install new rom...........then if im just updating rom or puting akernel on it is same procedure for both and it goes wipe cache then dalvik and update rom or install kernel, and i never had problems this way never

el buho said:
Do I need to format / wipe anything in the CWM screen before restoring a flashed backup?
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well when i restore a backup i always wipe everything, and it never fails me then i restore

sarni84 said:
never heard of that, do u have internal or external recovery? i have external and never seen that parsing message once ..........and when i go from rom to rom i wipe data first then cache then dalvik and install new rom...........then if im just updating rom or puting akernel on it is same procedure for both and it goes wipe cache then dalvik and update rom or install kernel, and i never had problems this way never
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I have external recovery... I haven't updated CM maybe it will take care of it... could it be an SD card issue? I mean I haven't seemed to have had any issues... dunno...
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el buho said:
Do I need to format / wipe anything in the CWM screen before restoring a flashed backup?
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It depends on what the backup is. If the backup is just an older version of the same rom I will just flash right over sometimes. If you are trying to restore a gb rom over a froyo, you will have to wipe first. Any time you are in doubt, just wipe.

BobbyDukes707 said:
The unknown path error? I get that too... but then is says dalvik wiped... wondering about that myself...
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x2 Yea. I always wondered that. I get the same thing all the time.

BobbyDukes707 said:
The unknown path error? I get that too... but then is says dalvik wiped... wondering about that myself...
Sent from my butt using XDA Premium App
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I get the same path error to sd-ext. I've wondered what sd-ext even is, there is nothing in it and it is not my external or internal memory because they are in different directories.

question about wiping

quick question, im new to rooting the transforner and i just want to know, when i wipe to install prime will it erase my music that is on the internal storage? If so, is there a different way to wipe to keep certain files? Cause i also have my titanium backup files on internal as well, thanks in advance.

First of all, your title made me laugh for a good 1 minute. Somehow, "question about wiping" just doesn't sound very technical and sound more like it has something to do with our bodily functions.
No, "wiping" cache and data will not touch your files. Android is different than windows. Windows OS has 1 big partition where everything is in there. Android has 12 partitions, each one has it's own purpose. When you wipe the data partition, what you're really wiping is app data partition. There is also a user data partition where all your files are kept. Unless you do a format of your sdcard in the advance menu, all your user files are safe.
So, before you install a custom rom, make sure you wipe cache and data/factory reset. Also wipe dalvik cache. Trust me, all your porn files will still be there waiting for you.
Sorry, I have a weird sense of humor.

Lol, thanks buddy. Ive never had an android device with an internal sdcard so i was a little concerned. Thanks again.

goodintentions said:
So, before you install a custom rom, make sure you wipe cache and data/factory reset. Also wipe dalvik cache.
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I was wondering, is a data/factory wipe always necessary? When I flashed Revolver 3.9.3 for the 1ste time from stock rom, I did a data/factory wipe, cache wipe and dalvik cache wipe in CWM. When updating this Revolver rom to 3.9.5 using zip-file, I only wipe cache and dalvik cache. On my Moto I wipe cache and dalvik cache before and after the zip update when updating a custom rom, but I'm not sure if the latter is necessary. I guess a data/factory wipe is only necessary when flashing a new base rom?

wiping is usually recommended as sometimes if you install with out wiping it will cause weird problems :/

[Q] Superwipe or Recovery Wipe(s)?

Before installing a new ROM, I've always used Recovery's wipe functions (data, cache and dalvic cache). Today I discovered that at least one ROM (Sense-O-Maniac) seems to require that SuperWipe be used. On the other hand, I see that another ROM (OpenSensation) requires the use of Recovery's wipe functions.
Why is this?
Thanks.

To keep it simple:
"Partition Tables"
That's why.

varxx said:
Before installing a new ROM, I've always used Recovery's wipe functions (data, cache and dalvic cache). Today I discovered that at least one ROM (Sense-O-Maniac) seems to require that SuperWipe be used. On the other hand, I see that another ROM (OpenSensation) requires the use of Recovery's wipe functions.
Why is this?
Thanks.
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xHighAlert said:
To keep it simple:
"Partition Tables"
That's why.
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Not true...
Where do you read S-o-M requires Superwipe.
On the other hand i only build in a option in the installer to conduct a Full Wipe.
This full wipe (executed by script) is the same as manual wiping all data partitions in the recovery.
Saves some clicking...

[Q] When and why Wipe Data/Factory Reset / Wipe Cache Partition / Wipe Dalvik Cache

Hi,
Today I successfully rooted my galaxy Tab 2 7 P3100. What I am not sure is when and why we need the
Wipe Data/Factory Reset
Wipe Cache Partition
Wipe Dalvik Cache
I want to understand because I plan to try couple of other ROMs. Should I follow the above procedure every time I flash a ROM or is there a better way where avoiding any of the above is an option.
Regards.

to minimize the conflict that would occur if you use a different rom base
try it without wiping, usually meet force close dialog after booting

all i know is that wiping cache will clear data related to applications, so if you have an app force closing all the time it is sometimes handy to wipe that app's cache from the settings or wiping the entire cache from recovery.
wiping data/factory reset however will remove any app you have installed and all your personal files that you've put on the device.

Basic breakdown,
If going from one base ROM to another base ROM like stock to CM, CM to AOKP, stock to AOKP or anything like that you will need to do ALL 3 wipes.
If going from like a CM10 nightly to a newer nightly you can usually just wipe CACHE and Dalvick
If you flash addons you will usually need to wipe cache and Dalvick
BASICALLY just do what the INSTRUCTIONS for the ROM your flashing SAYS to do.

Wiping Dalvik cache before and after flasing of ROM
daniel644 said:
Basic breakdown,
If going from one base ROM to another base ROM like stock to CM, CM to AOKP, stock to AOKP or anything like that you will need to do ALL 3 wipes.
If going from like a CM10 nightly to a newer nightly you can usually just wipe CACHE and Dalvick
If you flash addons you will usually need to wipe cache and Dalvick
BASICALLY just do what the INSTRUCTIONS for the ROM your flashing SAYS to do.
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First of all a BIG THANK YOU.
Now One more doubt there is this ROM which I want to flash and it says to wipe dalvik cache before and after flasing the ROM. Please confirm only Factory reset will clear the existing ROM and wiping Cache and Dalvik cache wont affect the existing ROM(or internal SD Data)
Thanks again.

tahask11 said:
First of all a BIG THANK YOU.
Now One more doubt there is this ROM which I want to flash and it says to wipe dalvik cache before and after flasing the ROM. Please confirm only Factory reset will clear the existing ROM and wiping Cache and Dalvik cache wont affect the existing ROM(or internal SD Data)
Thanks again.
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OK well flashing any ROM will replace your current ROM, NONE of your files (music, pictures or things like that) are touched by ANY of these wipes, Factory reset wipes out installed apps, wiping cache and dalvik after flashing or hell wipe data/factory reset won't touch the apps "built-in" to the ROM.
remember the ROM is your operating system and your files (music, pictures, and other stuff) are in the internal SD which is a separate partition from the ROOT system folder where the OS files are.
Wipe Data/Factory Reset - wipes all APPS and Google account information and resets all devices settings to default
as for the other 2 read through the answer here http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/25859/why-do-i-need-to-wipe-dalvik-cache it explains what the other wipes are about.
Hope that covers it, basically jumping from one ROM to another the most you can lose is your basic settings and your APPS (which can be redownloaded, if you didn't use an app to back them up first, but you would lose any progress in your games if you don't back them up).

[noob question][rom flashing]

Hi..
I am always confused about this. When flashing a custom ROM, will wiping the system not delete the ROM zip file?
Also is wiping cache, system and data the only things I need to do.
Like there are so many confusing posts in and out of xda. The official CM page says nothing about wiping cache and system while the CM FAQ page here says to wipe all three I.e. cache , data and system.
Some say to do factory reset and some say not to.
What do I do man?

Cache, Data, System and Internal Storage are all separate partitions. Wiping one does not affect the others. Factory reset usually does the first three, you have to manually specify anything else.
Your ROM zip will be on the 'Internal Storage' partition which is why it survives a system wipe.

lost101 said:
Cache, Data, System and Internal Storage are all separate partitions. Wiping one does not affect the others. Factory reset usually does the first three, you have to manually specify anything else.
Your ROM zip will be on the 'Internal Storage' partition which is why it survives a system wipe.
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Thanks for your quick response man. Also one more thing.
Is it necessary to wipe all the three when flashing a ROM and does the order in which they are wiped matter?

It's a very good idea. Not wiping can cause all kinds of problems. Order does not matter.

lost101 said:
It's a very good idea. Not wiping can cause all kinds of problems. Order does not matter.
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Another thing again..
Should i wipe data/factory rest or just wipe data..
And in case of cache should i wipe cache partition or just cache or dalvik cache also..
Thanks in advance!

Meuuks13 said:
Another thing again..
Should i wipe data/factory rest or just wipe data..
And in case of cache should i wipe cache partition or just cache or dalvik cache also..
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Wipe them all if you want, but factory reset is usually enough.

follow the instructions in the ROM thread where you looked, some steps omitted or changed to be installed, I hope you have no problems, I recommend that you make a backup of your current ROM.