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Will data wipe wipe sdcard?

If I wipe data (factory reset) in recovery, will it also wipe the internal sd card?

ololizoz said:
If I wipe data (factory reset) in recovery, will it also wipe the internal sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know one way to find out...
Uhhh make a backup, and then do it...?

ololizoz said:
If I wipe data (factory reset) in recovery, will it also wipe the internal sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it will

Just tried, it didn't!

ololizoz said:
Just tried, it didn't!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well now you know for yourself eh!

In recovery it won't delete it. If you do a true factory reset from within the os though it will definitely do it. Happened to me already.
Recovery just formats the data and system partitions.

Do you have to wipe the sd card on the Nexus S when redoing ROM's ?? the ics ROMs I downloaded installed correctly but on reboot will just sit on google screen. So could this be because the "SD card" needs to be reformatted?? or did i not wipe everything??
Thanks!!

Saneless One said:
In recovery it won't delete it. If you do a true factory reset from within the os though it will definitely do it. Happened to me already.
Recovery just formats the data and system partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I hope this works. I just returned my phone to stock 2.3.7, but my sd card went untouched. Too much garbage from before, so I wanted to clean that out and start new (before I go flashing a rom or anything else). I already saved what I wanted to my pc.
** Took a few minutes, but worked great. ALL clean **
Thanks again.
(this was like cashing out my 401k.. everyone advises against it, but no one says how it's done )

Like a few others said, if you go into recovery mode and wipe it you're good to go. All of your music, backups (from Astro), and whatever else will still be there . I accidentally forgot to backup while flashing a ROM once so I was panicking then I found all of my files still there. You cannot imagine the joy I had, nor my facial expression XD

[Q] [i9023] Rooting & Unrooting (ICS 4.0.3)

Following situation: I have bought a Nexus S from someone. The previous owner installed Superuser at some point and later on updated to ICS 4.0.3 (and unrooted the phone as well before the update, apparently). For warranty reasons, I want to remove the Superuser application completely, but naturally I can only do that by rooting the phone again (otherwise I will not be able to delete /system/app/Superuser.apk).
I searched around here and other sites around the web and found a few guides, but haven't found anything specifically for the i9023 with ICS 4.0.3, especially for unrooting.
Could someone may be point me in the right direction? Or is there simply no way of doing that currently on an i9023 with ICS 4.0.3?

The best thing to do would be to root, flash a stock image (incl bootloader and recovery). Then relock the bootloader, and you're all done
Also, recently some sort of flash counter resetter has come to light for ICS devices, look it up and check it out before you unroot, it might be worth the probable risk, if you're willing to go the distance to ensure a warranty. I have no clue on how or if it works though, be careful.
One question though, do you actually have any warranty seeing as you bought the device used? If not, why not just reroot it and enjoy that?

Erythnul said:
The best thing to do would be to root, flash a stock image (incl bootloader and recovery). Then relock the bootloader, and you're all done
Also, recently some sort of flash counter resetter has come to light for ICS devices, look it up and check it out before you unroot, it might be worth the probable risk, if you're willing to go the distance to ensure a warranty. I have no clue on how or if it works though, be careful.
One question though, do you actually have any warranty seeing as you bought the device used? If not, why not just reroot it and enjoy that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus S doesn't have a flash counter
Sent from my ice cream powered Nexus S

Erythnul said:
The best thing to do would be to root, flash a stock image (incl bootloader and recovery). Then relock the bootloader, and you're all done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already went ahead and tried that, but I ran into a problem unfortuantely: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22599816#post22599816
Other users on a german Android forum reported the same problem, when using this method (the Nandroid backup image and restoring it via CWM). They then tried a different method using Odin.
(Funnily enough, when I reverted to my original ICS 4.0.3 backup image via CWM, my USB Transfer Speed problem got fixed. I only had 1 MiB/sec before, and now after this whole ordeal I have ~20 MiB/sec (or more).)
Erythnul said:
One question though, do you actually have any warranty seeing as you bought the device used? If not, why not just reroot it and enjoy that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do still have warranty on it. The device was bought on 14th of December 2011 and I have the receipt. According to the seller, he got a Galaxy Nexus on Christmas 2 weeks later, so he simply sold his brand new Nexus S.
I may want to send the phone in, because the phone speaker is a bit bad. It's not completely broken, I can still understand everything, but the quality is rather bad, some frequencies get really distorted etc. I don't know if the Samsung support partner where I'll go to will grant me the warranty here, but I want to try nonetheless. Paid too much money for it to have a bad speaker .

In my opinion, you should never use other people's CWM backups on your own phone. It can mess things up BAD. Especially when they don't say what model they have.
Grab a full ROM from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1445635 and you'll be good to go. Don't forget to wipe /system, /data, /cache, /boot, dalvik cache and do a factory reset before flashing, assuming you're using CWM.
Good to hear about the warranty, good luck with that!

Erythnul said:
In my opinion, you should never use other people's CWM backups on your own phone. It can mess things up BAD. Especially when they don't say what model they have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, well, I am thinking the same now . I simply trusted the stickied FAQ . Maybe this should get removed.
Erythnul said:
Don't forget to wipe /system, /data, /cache, /boot, dalvik cache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phew, but for that, I'd need to root it again, right? I am still not sure if any of the rooting guides I found so far also apply to my case, since I have ICS 4.0.3 on it. (As I said superuser is already installed, but the device is not rooted and it seems to be a leftover from before the ICS 4.0.3 update.)

Well, I wouldn't know Try booting into recovery, if it's CWM recovery it's really very easy, and that's all you'll need anyway. doing the full wipe and reflash guarantees that there'll be no traces of the rooting process remaining at all.
If you don't have CWM, but the phone boots up with an unlocked symbol at the Google logo (first indicator of an unlocked bootloader), you can easily flash CWM again and then flash to all-stock. Then relock. Most rooting guides still hold, just make sure you flash the latest CWM (5.0.2.0 (non-touch) or 5.8.0.x (touch)), especially as for what you want to do you don't need SU, just CWM.
Step-by-step quick guide written by me
Install Android SDK if necessary (for adb and fastboot) (plenty of guides for that around)
download recovery file from CWM and rename to recovery.img
Connect phone to computer and reboot into bootloader
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
use CWM to wipe everything and reflash
fastboot oem lock
???
Profit!
Alternately, use a one-click root method to flash CWM and then work from there
Good luck
EDIT: The FAQ you mentioned is probably old news by now, but I wouldn't know how to get that updated I'll see if I can get something done about that. I feel linking to a backup, especially with a dedicated full ROM thread (also stickied btw ) around, isn't a good idea at all

Thx for that.
I did look into CWM before you posted it and noticed these wiping options. However, I am unsure what exactly I should use. There is
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
in the main menu of CWM and
- Wipe Dalvik Cache
under advanced. But there is no specific mention of /system and /boot .
Also is this
download recovery file from CWM and rename to recovery.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually necessary? I searched around a bit and I thought that I simply have to grab one of the full ROMs (e.g. Android 2.3.6/GRK39F/XXKF1 Radio/KA3 Bootloader) and then use
- install zip from sdcard
in CWM.

Ah, I wasn't sure whether you had CWM on there, that makes all this way easier
The format options are under mounts and storage. Be careful not to wipe the SD, and make backups of stuff you want to keep (like SMS messages or apps etc). What I always do is wipe everything (except the sd-card!) under mounts and storage and then do a factory reset, that should also take care of the dalvik cache if I remember correctly. So just skip everything I said before wipe and reflash
Sounds like you have a good handle on the situation now, good luck on the warranty thing!

Erythnul said:
Ah, I wasn't sure whether you had CWM on there, that makes all this way easier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, although I have to flash it every time I want to use it (I guess because the stock Android ICS ROM is removing it on every boot?).
Erythnul said:
The format options are under mounts and storage. Be careful not to wipe the SD, and make backups of stuff you want to keep (like SMS messages or apps etc). What I always do is wipe everything under mounts and storage and then do a factory reset, that should also take care of the dalvik cache if I remember correctly. So just skip everything I said before wipe and reflash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aaah ok, so under
- mounts and storage
I do
- format /system
- format /cache
- format /data
- format /boot
and maybe
- format /sdcard
as well, if I don't need anything on it anymore, and then
- wipe data/factory reset
in the main menu of CWM, correct? And after that
- install zip from sdcard
with the aforementioned ROM.

Exactly, but don't wipe the sdcard, as the ROM you're going to flash is on there
and after that, don't forget to relock your bootloader, if it's still unlocked they'll know it used to be rooted

Erythnul said:
Exactly, but don't wipe the sdcard, as the ROM you're going to flash is on there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, damn, yeah, that would have been stupid

RUU Stuck. Help?

A few days ago I was in the process of changing roms. I was using clean rom 4.5 beta. During the process I accidentally hit Factory Reset on the bootloader menu. I then proceeded to change roms but all of my sdcard data was erased and I cannot mount the sdcard at this time to put a new rom on there. I tried RUU (currently running 1.85, tried updating to 2.20) to no avail because I always get stuck at the sending screen for hours. I've emailed a few devs already who could'nt help, I also busted my ass searching forums and googling crap :crying: Any ideas ?

Do you have a recovery installed? Clockworkmod has been known to have some issues with the onex. I would recommend flashing TWRP in bootloader.
It may say in TWRP that you cannot select the sd for mounting. However if you check your PC, should still show up and may also ask for you to fomat the drive. Its ok to format fat32 since you've allready wiped. If your running linux or Mac. I'm affraid I'm no help at all.

subarudroid said:
Do you have a recovery installed? Clockworkmod has been known to have some issues with the onex. I would recommend flashing TWRP in bootloader.
It may say in TWRP that you cannot select the sd for mounting. However if you check your PC, should still show up and may also ask for you to fomat the drive. Its ok to format fat32 since you've allready wiped. If your running linux or Mac. I'm affraid I'm no help at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im using TWRP 2.20 I was wondering about that as well, so I should format the drive? I will be formatting the system right? I am using Windows.

slayher186 said:
Im using TWRP 2.20 I was wondering about that as well, so I should format the drive? I will be formatting the system right? I am using Windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will in affect be formatting the sd card. At first its a little scary cause your affraid that you'll loose your recovery. I went through a similar issue.
format the SD then copy and paste your ROM or custom ROM to SD. Then flash away to your hearts desire. :highfive:
HIt the Thanks button if I helped.
Running with HOX CM10.

subarudroid said:
You will in affect be formatting the sd card. At first its a little scary cause your affraid that you'll loose your recovery. I went through a similar issue.
format the SD then copy and paste your ROM or custom ROM to SD. Then flash away to your hearts desire. :highfive:
HIt the Thanks button if I helped.
Running with HOX CM10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once I can get the format option to pop up again I'll format, thanks!

slayher186 said:
Once I can get the format option to pop up again I'll format, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to format and put a rom on the sdcard :highfive: but its failing to install because I cannot mount the cache.

Sorry Just got home from work noticed your update. looks like your back east? Maybe too late for you. Any who, once you put your rom on the SD card then go to install, Under the TWRP file you should find the ROM.

subarudroid said:
Sorry Just got home from work noticed your update. looks like your back east? Maybe too late for you. Any who, once you put your rom on the SD card then go to install, Under the TWRP file you should find the ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm all set now. Your a life saver, almost cried thinking I would have to shelf my HOX. I definitely appreciate all of the help. :good: :victory:

Nandroid Question and SD Card Question

Question - Haven't found a clear answer
I'm new to flashing and because of this, I'm constantly flashing Roms over the past couple weeks messing around.
I've determined Viper to be my daily driver so far, but I'd really like to be able to just flash a backup on rather than reinstalling everything and reconfiguring it the way I like.
1) If I do a backup with Clockwordmod on my current system, then say, Flash Baked on my phone, do I need to flash the boot.img back on the phone from Viper (I use Flash GUI) before I flash the Nandroid of Viper back on my phone? Or does the backup (nandroid) do this?
2) If I format my SD Card parition, will I lose anything like my CWM installation? (or the ability to flash)
Sorry guys, this would help me a lot.
Thanks

bigystyle84 said:
Question - Haven't found a clear answer
I'm new to flashing and because of this, I'm constantly flashing Roms over the past couple weeks messing around.
I've determined Viper to be my daily driver so far, but I'd really like to be able to just flash a backup on rather than reinstalling everything and reconfiguring it the way I like.
1) If I do a backup with Clockwordmod on my current system, then say, Flash Baked on my phone, do I need to flash the boot.img back on the phone from Viper (I use Flash GUI) before I flash the Nandroid of Viper back on my phone? Or does the backup (nandroid) do this?
2) If I format my SD Card parition, will I lose anything like my CWM installation? (or the ability to flash)
Sorry guys, this would help me a lot.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a start dump CWM and get TWRP. Any backup you do will need you flash the boot.img that goes with it and ya do it the way you said. No need format the sd card.

Darknites said:
For a start dump CWM and get TWRP. Any backup you do will need you flash the boot.img that goes with it and ya do it the way you said. No need format the sd card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
Question 1 is answered and is what I thought but wanted to be sure!
Question 2:
Just to be more clear, I bought the phone 2nd handed (it was mint) but the SD portion is full of folders, pics, etc that the previous owner had. Rather than going through everything and deleting, I was wondering if simply formating the SD partition would hurt anything or cause anything to be reinstalled for flashing?
I've had 0 problems with CWM with flashing 8-9 Roms so far. Is there any particular reason for switching?
Thanks for the reply, Learning lots of good info.

bigystyle84 said:
Thanks
Just to be more clear, I bought the phone 2nd handed (it was mint) but the SD portion is full of folders, pics, etc that the previous owner had. Rather than going through everything and deleting, I was wondering if simply formating the SD partition would hurt anything or cause anything to be reinstalled for flashing?
I've had 0 problems with CWM with flashing 8-9 Roms so far. Is there any particular reason for switching?
Thanks for the reply, Learning lots of good info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing is fine but you can't mount sd as mass storage and have you ever tried turning your phone off? The way I clean the sd is to do it before flashing a new rom and I don't format it but just delete everything there.

Darknites said:
Flashing is fine but you can't mount sd as mass storage and have you ever tried turning your phone off? The way I clean the sd is to do it before flashing a new rom and I don't format it but just delete everything there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
I've got it figured out.

Since you brought the topic up, one last question.
I got CWM installed before coming to XDA and have noticed most recommend TWRP here.
Is it simply because its touch based? Or is there anything in particular that it does better? I've had no issues at all with CWM and don't mind using the volume rocker/power button.

bigystyle84 said:
Since you brought the topic up, one last question.
I got CWM installed before coming to XDA and have noticed most recommend TWRP here.
Is it simply because its touch based? Or is there anything in particular that it does better? I've had no issues at all with CWM and don't mind using the volume rocker/power button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its got bugs like not being able to turn your phone off and if you mess up somewhere it will bootloop to the recovery and can mount sd as mass storage. Ya it does have touch but you can get touch version of CMW too.

Darknites said:
Its got bugs like not being able to turn your phone off and if you mess up somewhere it will bootloop to the recovery and can mount sd as mass storage. Ya it does have touch but you can get touch version of CMW too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see
I've noticed one in a while when I shut down it does go into Recovery, but it doesn't always do it. (more often shut down works than not)
Thanks

bigystyle84 said:
I see
I've noticed one in a while when I shut down it does go into Recovery, but it doesn't always do it. (more often shut down works than not)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya you wont have that issue with TWRP.

Darknites said:
Any backup you do will need you flash the boot.img that goes with it and ya do it the way you said.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, and if hboot its 1.06, the same rule apply? tks

zecabra said:
Hi, and if hboot its 1.06, the same rule apply? tks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope TWRP can flash that for you so no need for messing.
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[Q] CM 10.1.3 -> 10.2. Now stuck in boot loop

Having not learnt my lesson from previous Android adventures, I decided update CyanogenMod installation from 10.1.3 to 10.2.0 on my Nexus S. I did the sideload from ClockworkMod recovery, rebooted, and got stuck on the loading screen. Having read suggestions to update GApps as well, I went back into ClockworkMod recovery, sideloaded the GApps, and, again, no joy. I understand that the next step to recover the phone is to factory reset it, but I forgot to backup everything beforehand.
I have some important information that I really don't want to lose in a factory reset. Complicating matters is that I've turned on encryption, so I can't simply use the ClockworkMod backup system and/or access the SD card. I'm running Linux with adb, so I can shell in if someone tells me how to dump the saved data off the phone. Even if I just get raw data and I have to enter it back in myself, that's better than losing it.
I know that downgrading back to 10.1 without a wipe is generally frowned upon. Is it worth gambling with the 10.3 nightlies to see if I can get a stable Android (there's an oxymoron!) boot going long enough for me to get everything off my phone before wiping it and reverting back to 10.2? If the issue is a corrupted apk, can I manually remove them to figure out what the problem is?

Borden Rhodes said:
Having not learnt my lesson from previous Android adventures, I decided update CyanogenMod installation from 10.1.3 to 10.2.0 on my Nexus S. I did the sideload from ClockworkMod recovery, rebooted, and got stuck on the loading screen. Having read suggestions to update GApps as well, I went back into ClockworkMod recovery, sideloaded the GApps, and, again, no joy. I understand that the next step to recover the phone is to factory reset it, but I forgot to backup everything beforehand.
I have some important information that I really don't want to lose in a factory reset. Complicating matters is that I've turned on encryption, so I can't simply use the ClockworkMod backup system and/or access the SD card. I'm running Linux with adb, so I can shell in if someone tells me how to dump the saved data off the phone. Even if I just get raw data and I have to enter it back in myself, that's better than losing it.
I know that downgrading back to 10.1 without a wipe is generally frowned upon. Is it worth gambling with the 10.3 nightlies to see if I can get a stable Android (there's an oxymoron!) boot going long enough for me to get everything off my phone before wiping it and reverting back to 10.2? If the issue is a corrupted apk, can I manually remove them to figure out what the problem is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. why are you side loading instead of flashing normal?
2. have you tried wiping everything minus sd and data and returning to 10.1.3?
3. when jumping versions, you need a full wipe..

Setting.Out said:
1. why are you side loading instead of flashing normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sideload the update because you can't access an encrypted SD Card (which mine is) from recovery mode. I'm not aware of any other way to do upgrades.
Setting.Out said:
2. have you tried wiping everything minus sd and data and returning to 10.1.3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to do this? My understanding is that a wipe will clear the data and the SD Card unless you're lucky. If I could revert back to 10.1.3 without touching the data, that would be great, but I'd want to be linked to a tutorial so I'm sure not to mess up.
Setting.Out said:
3. when jumping versions, you need a full wipe..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm an idiot. I've gotten away with sideload updates in the past, but Android caught me this time and left me in limbo.

Borden Rhodes said:
I sideload the update because you can't access an encrypted SD Card (which mine is) from recovery mode. I'm not aware of any other way to do upgrades.
Is there a way to do this? My understanding is that a wipe will clear the data and the SD Card unless you're lucky. If I could revert back to 10.1.3 without touching the data, that would be great, but I'd want to be linked to a tutorial so I'm sure not to mess up.
Yeah, I'm an idiot. I've gotten away with sideload updates in the past, but Android caught me this time and left me in limbo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you boot into CWM and do a format/wipe on everything MINUS the SD and DATA, you won't lose anything, but it may not fix your issue.. If you get your phone back up and running take off the encryption and back up your files, FULL WIPE and try again..

Thank you for the quick reply.
Setting.Out said:
If you boot into CWM and do a format/wipe on everything MINUS the SD and DATA, you won't lose anything, but it may not fix your issue.. If you get your phone back up and running take off the encryption and back up your files, FULL WIPE and try again..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I go into ClockwordMod, version 6.0.4.3, the 'wipe data/factory reset' is the only option that I see, but it then warns me that all data will be wiped, which, I'm guessing, includes the /data partition. Is this correct or should I look some place else?

Borden Rhodes said:
Thank you for the quick reply.
When I go into ClockwordMod, version 6.0.4.3, the 'wipe data/factory reset' is the only option that I see, but it then warns me that all data will be wiped, which, I'm guessing, includes the /data partition. Is this correct or should I look some place else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mounts and storage / format
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 11:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 PM ----------
Also go to advanced / wipe dalvik... Are you sure you've flashed Roms before?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Setting.Out said:
Mounts and storage / format
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, found it there, and formatted /storage, /cache, /boot, and /system. Reflashed CM 10.2 and GApps 4.3 with no success. However, I did manage to dd dump the contents of mmcblk0p2 and mmcblk0p3 to my Linux hard drive, so if I ever figure out how to mount those images in Linux, I should be able to recover everything.
Setting.Out said:
Also go to advanced / wipe dalvik
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I did that, too.
Setting.Out said:
... Are you sure you've flashed Roms before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand this question. How else could I have gotten CM onto my phone in the first place if I never flashed a ROM?

With few other options, I did a factory reset which, predictably, wiped everything but the SD card and put me into a fresh phone. It's also not mounting the SD. So, since all of my data on my phone is gone, I'll just have to hang onto the dumps that I have and hope and pray that someone can tell me how to mount them to get all of my files back.