[Q] How to completely wipe all data from my phone - HTC Sensation

Hello Sensationalists,
After 3 years I have upgraded my phone to an HTC One and would like to sell my old phone.
It is currently running ICS Android Revolution HD 7.3.
What I would like to do is wipe all data from my SD drive and sell the phone with a pre-installed latest version of Android Revolution. I have found several tools for erasing but do not want to brick my phone or do anything rash, so here I am asking the pro's :
What would be the best way to erase all data from my HTC Sensation (full erase, non recoverable) and provide the buyer with a clean installation of the phone?
I believe the factory reset is no longer possible due to the custom ROM installation etc. (been a while since I have worked with the phone so not sure).
Please be easy on me with the technical terms and abbreviations, I'm a little rusty :angel:.
Many thanks in advance!

just use the full wipe option from recovery and then install ARHD ROM again

rzr86 said:
just use the full wipe option from recovery and then install ARHD ROM again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe data/Factory reset?
It asks me 'About to wipe data, cache and sd-ext partitions.. Wipe all Userdata?'. This is what you mean right? It's in the recovery EXT4 program.
And if I have done that then the entire thing is unrecoverable? So no private data can be found by using recovery programs?

Slickzor said:
Wipe data/Factory reset?
It asks me 'About to wipe data, cache and sd-ext partitions.. Wipe all Userdata?'. This is what you mean right? It's in the recovery EXT4 program.
And if I have done that then the entire thing is unrecoverable? So no private data can be found by using recovery programs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you have 4ext recovery use the format all partitions except sdcard option
i assume it is unrecoverable

rzr86 said:
if you have 4ext recovery use the format all partitions except sdcard option
i assume it is unrecoverable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But I want to wipe the SD card as well. Should I do 'Format all partitions (except SDcard)' and after that 'Format sdcard'? I read that people use special programs to completely wipe all data from SD cards with programs like 'RoadKill's diskwipe'. But if this program does the same thing then I'm good, I doubt it though, that's why I ask .

Slickzor said:
But I want to wipe the SD card as well. Should I do 'Format all partitions (except SDcard)' and after that 'Format sdcard'? I read that people use special programs to completely wipe all data from SD cards with programs like 'RoadKill's diskwipe'. But if this program does the same thing then I'm good, I doubt it though, that's why I ask .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now i see
you want to wipe the sdcard too
hmm,
i don't know if from 4ext will be unrecoverable but it would be better to use a program to wipe it from pc

rzr86 said:
now i see
you want to wipe the sdcard too
hmm,
i don't know if from 4ext will be unrecoverable but it would be better to use a program to wipe it from pc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is, I'm afraid that if I do this, reinstalling my phone will be a pain since EXT4 is put on the SDcard as far as I know. So if EXT4 doesn't wipe the data completely, and I have to use a PC program, I want to make sure I don't brick the device or delete crucial content for a clean installation.
So let me rephrase: How to wipe (unrecoverable) all data from my HTC Sensation including the SDcard, without losing the possibility of reinstalling the phone whilst avoiding the possibility of bricking the device/losing the possibility of a clean installation
I don't want the person that buys my phone to have access to files formerly stored on the SDcard or the phone itself.

Slickzor said:
The thing is, I'm afraid that if I do this, reinstalling my phone will be a pain since EXT4 is put on the SDcard as far as I know. So if EXT4 doesn't wipe the data completely, and I have to use a PC program, I want to make sure I don't brick the device or delete crucial content for a clean installation.
So let me rephrase: How to wipe (unrecoverable) all data from my HTC Sensation including the SDcard, without losing the possibility of reinstalling the phone whilst avoiding the possibility of bricking the device/losing the possibility of a clean installation
I don't want the person that buys my phone to have access to files formerly stored on the SDcard or the phone itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
by formating anything from 4ext won't brick the device at all
by the way 4ext is not on sdcard
it has its own partition in emmc

rzr86 said:
by formating anything from 4ext won't brick the device at all
by the way 4ext is not on sdcard
it has its own partition in emmc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not know that, thanks! I'll just use a program from my PC then to wipe all data, then do a format all partitions (except SDcard) and do a clean installation of Android Revolution 7.3 ICS for the new buyer. This should suffice then right? Will this also wipe the data on my phone, numbers etc.? (I will destroy my simcard since I won't need it any more).

Slickzor said:
I did not know that, thanks! I'll just use a program from my PC then to wipe all data, then do a format all partitions (except SDcard) and do a clean installation of Android Revolution 7.3 ICS for the new buyer. This should suffice then right? Will this also wipe the data on my phone, numbers etc.? (I will destroy my simcard since I won't need it any more).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it will wipe everything

rzr86 said:
it will wipe everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect, that's what I need. I'll start... ehh.. wiping then... :laugh:

It worked btw, a full format from windows 7 made it impossible to recover data by using recovery programs. All data was wiped and new OS is running . Thanks a lot!

Related

Wiping/Formatting Internal Storage. How to perform a real....(read:actual) wipe.

Even after doing a factory reset....and after wiping every time of cache i could in recovery...my internal storage is still stuffed with stuff from the stock when my i first got the device. How do i actually perform a wipe.
Jamesyboy said:
Even after doing a factory reset....and after wiping every time of cache i could in recovery...my internal storage is still stuffed with stuff from the stock when my i first got the device. How do i actually perform a wipe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you just go into Settings -> Storage -> Format? Or just delete everything with your computer?
Product F(RED) said:
Why don't you just go into Settings -> Storage -> Format? Or just delete everything with your computer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no option to format the internal storage.
Jamesyboy said:
Even after doing a factory reset....and after wiping every time of cache i could in recovery...my internal storage is still stuffed with stuff from the stock when my i first got the device. How do i actually perform a wipe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As well, wiping the internal storage may be possible through the stock ROM under settings-> storage....but i was working with codename android. I tried the "Erase Tablet" under Settings->Backup and Restore-> Factory Reset-> Wipe all personal information.
However, after restarting, nothing was deleted.
I'm going to flash the stock ROM and try to look for a format option under Settings->Storage, and i'll try doing a factory reset under settings-> Privacy.
If that doesn't work, i'll have to reflash Revolver 4 beta, and try to look in the settings there.
But as far as trying to delete everything from a computer, idk if i have to have USB debugging enabled, or some settings switched, because browsing the contents of the internal storage over USB doesn't even show all of the folders.
if you have a SBK1 devics you can use NVFlash that wipes everything and repartitions it and i believe there is a superwipe script in the arhd thread that wipes internal storage
mrevankyle said:
if you have a SBK1 devics you can use NVFlash that wipes everything and repartitions it and i believe there is a superwipe script in the arhd thread that wipes internal storage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this wipe CWM as well? Was hoping this wouldn't be too complicated. This will be a joke if i have to redo EVERYTHING.
I really just wanna wipe the internal storage and then flash a ROM from my sdcard.
So if things do work out like i want them to, I can just use the ICS Nvflash and things will be wiped?
Or will this be convoluted---as in i'll have to use the script, install ARHD (which is honeycomb right?) install CWM, rewipe (at which point i'll have some crap from ARHD in my internal storage...grr), and then, finally, install my ROM?
BTW, i have a B70 transformer that was rootable via the one-click live CD. I assume that means i have a SBK1.
I can remove my MicroSD during this, amirite?
C'mon asus, this is such a basic feature.
If i recall correctly, wasn't there a feature in settings, that if you entered your pattern or password incorrectly a certain number of times, your data would be wiped? If this wipes ALL personal information, that feature would be really handy right now.
Go here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1245892
Download the super wipe. Then use the recovery to run it. It will handle all things internal.
Not sure which CWM you are using but in Rogue XM Recovery, there's an option to format /sdcard under Mounts and Storage. IIRC the regular CWM has that option too. There is also an option to partition the SD card under Advanced.
You can also use the the superwipe(full version) script to delete everything on internal storage. No it doesn't remove CWM.
BTW, i have a B70 transformer that was rootable via the one-click live CD. I assume that means i have a SBK1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what is this one click live cd rooting? Some sort of linux live cd? Why didn't you just use ViperMod?
How did you come to the assumption that you have a SBK1? Did the author of the rooting method specifically say it only works for SBK1 devices?
FROM THE MODERATOR . . . Watch the use of profanity... please use respectful language in this forum--- THX
The One-Click live CD was in it's prime during intitial release. ASUS changed the bootloader encryption key during the second half of B70* production. Before the second encryption key was released, B70*+ users were in limbo.
I came to that conclusion because i had no issue rooting and installing CWM with the first batch of tools, while others, who had devices with serial numbers in the second half of the B70* spectrum did. So yes, there is a method to my madness.
And i used the Live CD One-Click method because i was rusty with a CMD prompt. To each his own. It rooted, partitioned, and installed CWM.
I might add...this was my first Android device, and it was certainly my first time lurking around root. It was perfect for someone with a limited knowledge of android and Linux (at the time).
Thanks! I might as well give ARHD a try while im at it! Will report back!
Oh I see. Yes you are right about having sbk1.
Not sure which version of CWM comes with it but it should have an option to format sdcard like I said earlier. I know this because I used that option to delete everything before flashing ICS.
horndroid said:
Oh I see. Yes you are right about having sbk1.
Not sure which version of CWM comes with it but it should have an option to format sdcard like I said earlier. I know this because I used that option to delete everything before flashing ICS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Super-Wipe script worked perfectly for deleting the data, but the ARHD thread says that it reformats the partitions as EXT4. i installed ARHD after using the super wipe script and during the restore (Google's cloud restore), iI immediately got swamped with Google Play Store errors- Error 403 every time it tried to install an app.
Codename Android installed, restored, and ran fine...including app installation, so im not sure what was the problem, but i have a feeling it has to do with the file system change. If this is true, be aware. The script may function well, but its also possible you'll end up having to reformat anyways to change the filesystem back. Ill post this as well in the proper thread...but i thinks it's also relevant to this discussion.
I suppose XDA and Android have led me to my next topic of research--filesystem usage in Android with stock and custom ROMs.

[Q] Data On My Internal Storage?

Hi guys, this is my first post on this forum ( Actually I have benn here for a long time without account )
Alright, This is my problem, I usually flash back to stock by RUU, my Pico has over 100MB free space. A few days ago, I flashed the same RUU, but this time I have 70MB space only, I have cleaned all partitions by recovery and flash again, still.
Oh wait, I just use Disk Usage and check the storage, it's say there are some data(not system) on the internal storage, wow.
Does anyone have ideas?
My Pico cid is Taiwan(621), so I flash TW RUU.
Thanks
before flashing, did you wipe system partition too?
Affangta said:
before flashing, did you wipe system partition too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, I did, everything wiped before flash back by RUU, actually before this, I never wipe by myself but has no problems,
AA181891 said:
yeah, I did, everything wiped before flash back by RUU, actually before this, I never wipe by myself but has no problems,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not sd-ext partition for apps?
Affangta said:
why not sd-ext partition for apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that and it's convenience, but this smartphone now is just my secondary phone.
And for a odd reason, I prefer not to creat a partition on my SD card, just like to keep it simple and clean.
Looks like I'm stubborn...

TWRP and No SD card ?

Hi guys I was wondering how does TWRP handle devices with no SD card ? Everytime I want to flash a ROM I have to wipe data does this wipe everything on your phone ? Do I make backups after every flash ?
The phone has a internal storage eMMC 5.0 of 16GB/64GB.
No it does not wipe your internal storage.
naruto.ninjakid said:
Hi guys I was wondering how does TWRP handle devices with no SD card ? Everytime I want to flash a ROM I have to wipe data does this wipe everything on your phone ? Do I make backups after every flash ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it treats the virtual sdcard as an actual sdcard, and will not format it.
It works this way even with devices with external sd cards. Internal memory is not touched.
What you're actually working on is only system partition.
/data/media is where your personal storage is. It's symbolically linked to /sdcard as well for old apps the need it. When you factory reset (format /data) it excludes /data/media. Nothing is lost. You also don't need to wipe every time you flash a ROM. At least you don't unless you are changing to a different ROM just not when updating, though it's probably advisable to at least wipe dalvik cache.
Sent from my One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Thanks guys I was a little confused! Never had a phone without an SD card.
zephiK said:
The phone has a internal storage eMMC 5.0 of 16GB/64GB.
No it does not wipe your internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
vladashram said:
Yes it treats the virtual sdcard as an actual sdcard, and will not format it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DuckMcQUack said:
It works this way even with devices with external sd cards. Internal memory is not touched.
What you're actually working on is only system partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Jack of Clubs said:
/data/media is where your personal storage is. It's symbolically linked to /sdcard as well for old apps the need it. When you factory reset (format /data) it excludes /data/media. Nothing is lost. You also don't need to wipe every time you flash a ROM. At least you don't unless you are changing to a different ROM just not when updating, though it's probably advisable to at least wipe dalvik cache.
Sent from my One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
naruto.ninjakid said:
Thanks guys I was a little confused! Never had a phone without an SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your using twrp there is wipebwhich does a factory wipe which wipes the data and cache. Doesnt touch your actual data. If you go to advanced wipe in wipe you can choose whatever your want. And wipe whole phone. But if you do that you will need to backup and then sideload or use USB otg to flash a ROM back....

[Q] Noob about roms

Hi guys, maybe I am a noob talking about the Moto G, I used to have a Xperia Z1 and everytime I wanted to flash a new rom I had to put the zip into the SD card...
Now with my Moto G is the same process, "save the zip in the SD (internal storage), wipe data, cache, system and flash the rom" my question is, If I deleted the data also the zip will disappear right? and my CWM backup too.
Any help here please. I am confused:silly:
regards
PS sorry for my english
No, it wont disappear, because CWM wipes /data partition, not /sdcard so all stuff inside /sdcard wont get deleted
juliospinoza said:
Hi guys, maybe I am a noob talking about the Moto G, I used to have a Xperia Z1 and everytime I wanted to flash a new rom I had to put the zip into the SD card...
Now with my Moto G is the same process, "save the zip in the SD (internal storage), wipe data, cache, system and flash the rom" my question is, If I deleted the data also the zip will disappear right? and my CWM backup too.
Any help here please. I am confused:silly:
regards
PS sorry for my english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually first you install the ROM zip and then wipe the things and thus the zip is not deleted since it has already been flashed
Please hit thanks if I helped!
Meuuks13 said:
Actually first you install the ROM zip and then wipe the things and thus the zip is not deleted since it has already been flashed
Please hit thanks if I helped!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eddydc1 said:
No, it wont disappear, because CWM wipes /data partition, not /sdcard so all stuff inside /sdcard wont get deleted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, Do I have to flash the zip before the wipes or after that? Because if the CWM does not delete the data info, only the partition means that I will acumulate a lot of unnecesary data, like folders, thumbnails, etc etc
thanks
juliospinoza said:
So, Do I have to flash the zip before the wipes or after that? Because if the CWM does not delete the data info, only the partition means that I will acumulate a lot of unnecesary data, like folders, thumbnails, etc etc
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the senior member got it wrong.
Wiping through cwm deletes everything. So you gotta install the zip first.
Meuuks13 said:
I think the senior member got it wrong.
Wiping through cwm deletes everything. So you gotta install the zip first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he does
one last question my friend.
The CWM backup will be deleted right? So i Have to download the backuo to my computer just in case
regards
juliospinoza said:
I think he does
one last question my friend.
The CWM backup will be deleted right? So i Have to download the backuo to my computer just in case
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ohh yup.. The backup will be deleted!.. But I don't think that copying the backup to a pc would do any good since if something went wrong and you bricked your phone you will most probably need to restore to stock firmware to unbrick your phone.
Hit thanks if I helped!
juliospinoza said:
I think he does
one last question my friend.
The CWM backup will be deleted right? So i Have to download the backuo to my computer just in case
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually Senior member got the impression you are using clockworkmod(cwm) recovery to flash a new ROM in Moto G, thats why he said that. If you are using stock recovery, then Meuuks13 is perfectly correct otherwise eddydc1 would have been right.
If you have cwm, wiping data won't wipe your internal storage. Am I right?
vhngu930 said:
If you have cwm, wiping data won't wipe your internal storage. Am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are right.
But if you have the stock recovery it also wipes /sdcard.
Sent from my Moto G using XDA Free mobile app
vhngu930 said:
If you have cwm, wiping data won't wipe your internal storage. Am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cases have been noted that if you use wipe data/factory reset option in cwm, it will wipe your internal storage. But thankfully this option doesn't wipe the data in external storage(like one's in Moto G 4G/LTE)
Since i own XT1033 and don't have the luxury of external SD card, i use TWRP Recovery so that when i do factory reset, it leaves my internal storage data alone. Giving me the option whether to use leftover data or delete it.
rohitthe1 said:
Cases have been noted that if you use wipe data/factory reset option in cwm, it will wipe your internal storage. But thankfully this option doesn't wipe the data in external storage(like one's in Moto G 4G/LTE)
Since i own XT1033 and don't have the luxury of external SD card, i use TWRP Recovery so that when i do factory reset, it leaves my internal storage data alone. Giving me the option whether to use leftover data or delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This never happened to me before...
rohitthe1 said:
Cases have been noted that if you use wipe data/factory reset option in cwm, it will wipe your internal storage. But thankfully this option doesn't wipe the data in external storage(like one's in Moto G 4G/LTE)
Since i own XT1033 and don't have the luxury of external SD card, i use TWRP Recovery so that when i do factory reset, it leaves my internal storage data alone. Giving me the option whether to use leftover data or delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XT1032 owner here , and user of CWM , flashed tons of ROMs and Kernels and such and never did I lose anything on the SDCard partition .
I'm thinking it probably depends more on the phone model (not sure if carrier too ...)
vhngu930 said:
This never happened to me before...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hir0xM said:
XT1032 owner here , and user of CWM , flashed tons of ROMs and Kernels and such and never did I lose anything on the SDCard partition .
I'm thinking it probably depends more on the phone model (not sure if carrier too ...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably or may be due to some manufacturing defect. But suppose if we live in the ideal world, like i mentioned earlier in Post #8, use of wipe data/factory reset option in cwm should/will not wipe your personal data from internal storage.

[Q] Wiping device 100% clean.

Hey guys, i havent owned a device in which i ever needed to use fastboot in and i learned how to for my one plus. Something is confusing me though... when i flash pieces of a rom onto my phone why do i not need to erase the phone first? Is it possible to erase everything off your phone before using fastboot and i mean EVERYTHING including the rom thats on it. When i had my gs4 i used twrp to wipe the entire device except the external sd card which had the rom in it and once it deleted everything off the phone i would install the new rom. Im kind of a clean freak in a sense... so how do i do that with the one plus and also if there is a way to completely wipe my device would it somehow mess something up... its kinda risky since opo doesnt have ext sd card which you can put a rom in if its bricked and just go into recovery and flash it... so what do you experts think?!
Edit: BASICALLY what i want to know is... if my device had no os to boot on and was basically lets say soft bricked it would be very easy to just use fastboot and install a rom correct?
When installing a ROM all you do first is wipe system/data/cache/dalvik cache using TWRP. At no point do you need to wipe the internal storage (virtual sd card). Fastboot shouldn't even come into the equation when installing a ROM. But, if you happen to wipe your OS and also wipe your internal storage, you can use adb while in TWRP to push a ROM zip to the phone to flash. My advice: don't ever wipe your sd card, there's no need for it.
Transmitted via Bacon
timmaaa said:
When installing a ROM all you do first is wipe system/data/cache/dalvik cache using TWRP. At no point do you need to wipe the internal storage (virtual sd card). Fastboot shouldn't even come into the equation when installing a ROM. But, if you happen to wipe your OS and also wipe your internal storage, you can use adb while in TWRP to push a ROM zip to the phone to flash. My advice: don't ever wipe your sd card, there's no need for it.
Transmitted via Bacon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure? Kay. I'll trust you on that until I feel adventurous and wanna try it but thanks anyways.
Sent from my A0001 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yeah I'm sure, why would you need to wipe the sd card? The point of wiping the system, data, cache, and dalvik cache partitions is so you don't have remnants of a previous OS lingering when installing a new OS (obviously that will cause problems). The internal storage does not contain elements of the OS, it contains user data and user media. It is very (read: extremely) rare for data on the internal storage to cause problems and need to be wiped.
Transmitted via Bacon
timmaaa said:
Yeah I'm sure, why would you need to wipe the sd card? The point of wiping the system, data, cache, and dalvik cache partitions is so you don't have remnants of a previous OS lingering when installing a new OS (obviously that will cause problems). The internal storage does not contain elements of the OS, it contains user data and user media. It is very (read: extremely) rare for data on the internal storage to cause problems and need to be wiped.
Transmitted via Bacon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason why is because i want to actually delete all my data. I dont know any other way that any other app can delete literally all my data off the phone and make my phone be at the max capacity again.
Just wipe your internal storage from recovery in addition to the other things already listed
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