Database Info

Is not having external SDCard an issue for rooting?

I'll try to explain myself before people jump at me. I saw another thread with same question but seems like people misunderstood the question.
I am not talking about "lack" of memory, or not having another 32/64gb availble, etc.
I'll give you an example to what I am referring to:
Recently I decided that my rooted S2 needs a little 'refreshing', meaning - not just a wipe, but a complete format, to start from scratch. So I formatted everything, including /system and /emmc partitions. I then re-booted to recovery and had my rom file on the SD card so i was able to get a clean install.
Now, the question is - say I am at a stage when I need to 'refresh' the phone and wipe everything out. How do I then access the rom file for new install if I don't have external SD Card?
Thanks.

with adb.

What I do when I want a clean start, is I will load the rom/gapps/kernel to my phone, go to recovery, factory reset (with system if you choose), then flash all the things you want, then go back and wipe internal storage after. Then you're left with a fresh version of the ROM you want to install and no files whatsoever in the memory. Hope that helps.

I had the same suspicions a while ago. Basically with the nexus 5, even without an external sd, you can still do a full wipe of everything other than your storage. There is a path on the internal storage which essentially acts like an sd card, and when doing wipes in recovery it will not be wiped, unless of course you specifically choose to format /sdcard or all of /data. Read here for more info. I found that explanation very helpful.
So to answer your question, no, its not an issue.

Zepius said:
with adb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
I have the same issue, with my OCD, that I always need a complete wipe of EVERYTHING.
One option, I recommend if that's not an option at the time of flash, is to simply "reset" in settings. It clears out the whole SD, which is something I usually want to do when I want a FULL flash

justinisloco said:
simply "reset" in settings. It clears out the whole SD, which is something I usually want to do when I want a FULL flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reset in settings just uses recovery unless something changed I haven't realised?
It should be down to what recovery you have (stock vs custom) as to whether a reset (regardless of how you initiate it) wipes /sdcard or not... or are you saying that's changed now?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Zepius said:
with adb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pardon my ignorance, but what is adb?
spitefulrain said:
What I do when I want a clean start, is I will load the rom/gapps/kernel to my phone, go to recovery, factory reset (with system if you choose), then flash all the things you want, then go back and wipe internal storage after. Then you're left with a fresh version of the ROM you want to install and no files whatsoever in the memory. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem with factory reset, as far as I know, is that it does not wipe out everything. When I do factory reset in my S2, I still see old folders (even though empty) from before the wipe. That's why I like to format everything clean. When I mean clean, I don't want to see any old folder in there
justinisloco said:
This.
I have the same issue, with my OCD, that I always need a complete wipe of EVERYTHING.
One option, I recommend if that's not an option at the time of flash, is to simply "reset" in settings. It clears out the whole SD, which is something I usually want to do when I want a FULL flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, but if you do that, where do you 'keep' the rom file and how do you flash it?

sbi1 said:
Pardon my ignorance, but what is adb?
OK, but if you do that, where do you 'keep' the rom file and how do you flash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Debug Bridge. It allows you to communicate with your phone via command line tools.
You would keep the rom somewhere on your internal storage (data/media) just like you would on any other phone. Then after wiping, you would simply choose to install zip from sdcard and your rom, along with any other flashable zip on your sdcard will be available to install. Basically when you do a typical full wipe from a custom recovery, the contents of your internal storage/sdcard are not wiped.

Chromium said:
Android Debug Bridge. It allows you to communicate with your phone via command line tools.
You would keep the rom somewhere on your internal storage (data/media) just like you would on any other phone. Then after wiping, you would simply choose to install zip from sdcard and your rom, along with any other flashable zip on your sdcard will be available to install. Basically when you do a typical full wipe from a custom recovery, the contents of your internal storage/sdcard are not wiped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, this seems a bit too complicated for me

sbi1 said:
Problem with factory reset, as far as I know, is that it does not wipe out everything. When I do factory reset in my S2, I still see old folders (even though empty) from before the wipe. That's why I like to format everything clean. When I mean clean, I don't want to see any old folder in there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is why I said wipe your internal storage after
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

rootSU said:
Reset in settings just uses recovery unless something changed I haven't realised?
It should be down to what recovery you have (stock vs custom) as to whether a reset (regardless of how you initiate it) wipes /sdcard or not... or are you saying that's changed now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lately, I've noticed that it wipes the Data as well. Unless It was only on CWM that it happened? I had installed CM11 with CWM and wanted to reset my SD. I used the reset feature and it erased everything, except the OS
sbi1 said:
OK, but if you do that, where do you 'keep' the rom file and how do you flash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would flash the Rom first, then do the factory reset, the only downside is the nandroid you made may be lost, unless you uploaded it to GDrive or something.
---------------------------------------
Using this guide, you will be able to learn about ADB
http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...ide-nexus-5-how-to-unlock-bootloader-t2507905
In Step 3-
Chromium said:
3. Rooting
Now that your phone has an unlocked bootloader and a custom recovery installed you have a two options to gain root (Pick one or the other. You don't need to do both)
Option A) Flash SuperSU binaries which will give you root with the stock rom
Confirm that you have downloaded the SuperSU zip from the downloads section above and that it is located in the platform-tools folder inside of the android-sdk-windows folder on your desktop.
Turn the phone off then boot into the bootloader. (volume down + power). Once in the bootloader use the volume rockers to scroll onto Recovery Mode, then press power to select it. This should bring you into your newly installed custom recovery. Leave the phone at the home page of the custom recovery.
Open a command prompt window and run the following commands:
Code:
cd Desktop/android-sdk-windows/platform-tools
Code:
adb push UPDATE-SuperSU-v[COLOR="Red"]X[/COLOR].[COLOR="red"]XX[/COLOR].zip /sdcard/
This will copy the SuperSU zip onto your phone. Once the command has completed continue.
Instructions for TeamWin Recovery Project (TWRP):
Install > browse to SuperSU zip and select the it
Swipe to confirm the installation. Then reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It shows how to "Push" a file to your phone. That is the best way, IMO. But instead of SuperSU, just "adb push ROM.zip /sdcard/"

sbi1 said:
OK, this seems a bit too complicated for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing the rom? Its honestly not any more complicated than flashing a rom for any other device. You download the rom to your internal storage. Boot into recovery. Then do a full wipe:
TWRP Full Wipe:
- Wipe
- Advanced wipe
- Select all, except internal storage
- Swipe to wipe
CWM Full Wipe:
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- advanced > wipe dalvik cache
- mounts and storage > format /system
Finally you can then flash the rom (and gapps).

sbi1 said:
OK, this seems a bit too complicated for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not really and if you're rooting and flashing any device, adb is essential knowledge.
Once you've installed adb (millions of guides on the net) you just boot into recovery then connect to pc via usb.
adb commands are run from cmd prompt.
For example...
adb push c:\users\sbi1\desktop\rom.zip /sdcard
Would push the file on your windows desktop called rom.zip to your sdcard.
You can even sideload from recovery.
Or better yet,.just don't wipe /sdcard. It has no benefit other than looking tidy anyway
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 10:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 PM ----------
Ok too many cooks... i'm bowing out
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

OK, thank you all. So I should have no worries then. Was just wondering how this is done without external SD and it seems to be working fine. Thanks again!

Chromium said:
CWM Full Wipe:
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- advanced > wipe dalvik cache
- mounts and storage > format /system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Parting note
Philz Touch Full Wipe:
- wipe data/factory reset > clean to install new ROM
(Does all the steps mentioned above at once)
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Q] Flashing a custom rom on a phone with no SD card

Hey there.
Im planning on buying the LG G2 32GB version since its a pretty good phone for a pretty cheap price. Now I know that it doesnt have an SD card opening, and you only got the internal storage. This isnt a problem for me but Ive got a question when it comes to flashing a custom rom.
When flashing a rom you first have to go to recovery and do a factory reset and wipe the dalvik cache. I know the drill since ive been using CM11 on the phone I have right now (LG L7 II) normally you have to place the .zip from teh rom on the sd card and then flash it. but this phone doesnt have an SD card wich means youll have to put it on the internal storage. But when you do a factory reset all the internal files get deleted, wich means also the .zip from the rom will be gone. the same goes for nandroid backups. can anyone explain to me how to get teh trick done?
Thnx in advance

Arthurvben said:
Hey there.
Im planning on buying the LG G2 32GB version since its a pretty good phone for a pretty cheap price. Now I know that it doesnt have an SD card opening, and you only got the internal storage. This isnt a problem for me but Ive got a question when it comes to flashing a custom rom.
When flashing a rom you first have to go to recovery and do a factory reset and wipe the dalvik cache. I know the drill since ive been using CM11 on the phone I have right now (LG L7 II) normally you have to place the .zip from teh rom on the sd card and then flash it. but this phone doesnt have an SD card wich means youll have to put it on the internal storage. But when you do a factory reset all the internal files get deleted, wich means also the .zip from the rom will be gone. the same goes for nandroid backups. can anyone explain to me how to get teh trick done?
Thnx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The device will have an emulated external SD partition, and this partition is untouched when you wipe system/cache/data before flashing a new ROM. Stuff like photos, videos, and other files are saved in this partition too. This partition can be wiped from recovery (TWRP/CWM) if needed, but typically isn't and shouldn't be lest you lose all your stuff (including ROMs, Gapps packages, and nandroid back-ups). Just make sure you do wipes within recovery, and not a "factory reset" through the device itself, which will wipe all your stuff.

Planterz said:
The device will have an emulated external SD partition, and this partition is untouched when you wipe system/cache/data before flashing a new ROM. Stuff like photos, videos, and other files are saved in this partition too. This partition can be wiped from recovery (TWRP/CWM) if needed, but typically isn't and shouldn't be lest you lose all your stuff (including ROMs, Gapps packages, and nandroid back-ups). Just make sure you do wipes within recovery, and not a "factory reset" through the device itself, which will wipe all your stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So when I do a system wipe in TWRP all that stuff will stay untouched? (is this also the case with phones who DO have an external SD?)

Arthurvben said:
So when I do a system wipe in TWRP all that stuff will stay untouched? (is this also the case with phones who DO have an external SD?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In TWRP, when you tap "wipe", tap "advanced wipe", you're given the following options (I'm looking at v2.6.3.2 on my LG G Pad 8.3)"
Dalvik Cache
System
Data
Internal Storage
Cache
Micro SDcard
When doing a clean install of a ROM, you wipe Dalvik Cache, System, Data, and Cache. Internal storage is the emulated SD card, and (obviously) Micro SDcard is your microSD card. If supported, USB OTG will also have an option for wiping. If the device doesn't have a microSD card slot, you won't be given the option. If you want to flash a ROM (or whatever) just save it to whatever folder (like "Downloads", or make your own) you want, do the appropriate wipes, then flash from internal storage.

Thnx
Planterz said:
In TWRP, when you tap "wipe", tap "advanced wipe", you're given the following options (I'm looking at v2.6.3.2 on my LG G Pad 8.3)"
Dalvik Cache
System
Data
Internal Storage
Cache
Micro SDcard
When doing a clean install of a ROM, you wipe Dalvik Cache, System, Data, and Cache. Internal storage is the emulated SD card, and (obviously) Micro SDcard is your microSD card. If supported, USB OTG will also have an option for wiping. If the device doesn't have a microSD card slot, you won't be given the option. If you want to flash a ROM (or whatever) just save it to whatever folder (like "Downloads", or make your own) you want, do the appropriate wipes, then flash from internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for a clean explanation!

How do I wipe /sd card?

I want to flash a clean install of Resurrection Remix, but when I wipe cache, dalvik cache, etc., my pictures, apps data, etc. in /sd is still there. How do I delete that info?

tilt4life2 said:
I want to flash a clean install of Resurrection Remix, but when I wipe cache, dalvik cache, etc., my pictures, apps data, etc. in /sd is still there. How do I delete that info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boot into recovery.. go to wipe , then advanced wipe.. select everything except for otg option.. Reboot. Everything will be erased including your internal memory.
Cheers
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

tilt4life2 said:
I want to flash a clean install of Resurrection Remix, but when I wipe cache, dalvik cache, etc., my pictures, apps data, etc. in /sd is still there. How do I delete that info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The question is why? This isn't at all necessary when flashing a ROM.

Heisenberg said:
The question is why? This isn't at all necessary when flashing a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I downloaded lots of different widgets, wallpaper apps, themes, etc., to test different setups for my phone. I have the setup I want now, but the /SD card folder is cluttered with folders from apps and themes I don't want and don't plan on redownloading.
I have seen your warnings in other threads about wiping internal storage, so I haven't done that. On my Note 3, I had the external SD card, so it was easy to wipe internal storage and flash from the SD card. But since there is no SD card with this phone, I've been trying to read up on it. And there is a bunch of conflicting advice on what's safe and what's not.

Heisenberg said:
The question is why? This isn't at all necessary when flashing a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anugrah n3xu5 said:
Boot into recovery.. go to wipe , then advanced wipe.. select everything except for otg option.. Reboot. Everything will be erased including your internal memory.
Cheers
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I then flash a ROM without an external SD card? I've read about adb sideload and USB otg, but haven't found a thread that easily explains how to do those methods. I've also seen conflicting reports about whether it's safe to wipe internal storage. Any good threads on this issue you can point me to? Thanks.

tilt4life2 said:
How do I then flash a ROM without an external SD card? I've read about adb sideload and USB otg, but haven't found a thread that easily explains how to do those methods. I've also seen conflicting reports about whether it's safe to wipe internal storage. Any good threads on this issue you can point me to? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can store the ROM zip on your PC, then use TWRP to wipe your internal storage, then just connect your phone to your PC and copy the zip onto the phone to flash.

tilt4life2 said:
How do I then flash a ROM without an external SD card? I've read about adb sideload and USB otg, but haven't found a thread that easily explains how to do those methods. I've also seen conflicting reports about whether it's safe to wipe internal storage. Any good threads on this issue you can point me to? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all do a factory reset(will clear all files ,folders and apps "excluding" system files) then transfer zip file(ROM) and gapps to your phone. Go to recovery > wipe> advance wipe > select everything except for internal memory and otg option > wipe > go to install > select the zip file(ROM) and flash> flash gapps > wipe dalvic cache > reboot
The first boot may take a while (2-10 minutes)
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

Heisenberg said:
You can store the ROM zip on your PC, then use TWRP to wipe your internal storage, then just connect your phone to your PC and copy the zip onto the phone to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Do I simply need to mount my phone while in TWRP to copy the ROM and Gapps zips? Also, can wiping internal storage screw up my radios or any other aspects of the phone? I recall seeing a thread where the poster claimed that wiping the internal storage screwed up his phone and resulted in lots of FCs when he installed a new ROM. But others doubted his claims.

Heisenberg said:
You can store the ROM zip on your PC, then use TWRP to wipe your internal storage, then just connect your phone to your PC and copy the zip onto the phone to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anugrah n3xu5 said:
First of all do a factory reset(will clear all files ,folders and apps "excluding" system files) then transfer zip file(ROM) and gapps to your phone. Go to recovery > wipe> advance wipe > select everything except for internal memory and otg option > wipe > go to install > select the zip file(ROM) and flash> flash gapps > wipe dalvic cache > reboot
The first boot may take a while (2-10 minutes)
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on Resurrection Remix ROM and when I try to wipe from settings, nothing happens. But I tried your method with cm12 and the files were still there.

tilt4life2 said:
Thank you. Do I simply need to mount my phone while in TWRP to copy the ROM and Gapps zips? Also, can wiping internal storage screw up my radios or any other aspects of the phone? I recall seeing a thread where the poster claimed that wiping the internal storage screwed up his phone and resulted in lots of FCs when he installed a new ROM. But others doubted his claims.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just connect the phone and it should mount automatically. Wiping the internal storage has no effect on the modem or any other aspect of the operation of the phone.

tilt4life2 said:
I'm on Resurrection Remix ROM and when I try to wipe from settings, nothing happens. But I tried your method with cm12 and the files were still there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to recovery>wipe > factory reset or
Wipe>advance wipe> select internal storage>wipe it > clear dalvic cache> reboot
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[Q] Format data/media and internal without losing ROM flash.zip

Now that the Note 5 has NO external SDcard support, how are we suppose to do a FULL and complete WIPE inside TWRP ?
I am talking about when I want to wipe data/media ( Format Data ) to install a new custom ROM on a completely wiped clean system.
I know it is not needed allwas but I like to format data sometimes to really remove all of the old system when I install a new ROM.
With the Note 4 you could just put the new ROM onto the SDcard and format the internal memory safely, and just flash the ROM
from the SDcard.
What can we do now ? If I format via TWRP it will wipe the internal SD area and wipe the new ROM also so I cant flash.
Thanks for any ideas.

re: full wipe
Thibor69 said:
Now that the Note 5 has NO external SDcard support, how are we suppose to do a FULL and complete WIPE inside TWRP ?
I am talking about when I want to wipe data/media ( Format Data ) to install a new custom ROM on a completely wiped clean system.
I know it is not needed allwas but I like to format data sometimes to really remove all of the old system when I install a new ROM.
With the Note 4 you could just put the new ROM onto the SDcard and format the internal memory safely, and just flash the ROM
from the SDcard.
What can we do now ? If I format via TWRP it will wipe the internal SD area and wipe the new ROM also so I cant flash.
Thanks for any ideas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy, do an advanced wipe in twrp and don't check mark internal storage or the OTG, only
check mark system, data, cache and dalvik and nothing except do a factory reset in twrp.
(doing it this way will not delete anything on the internal sdcard.
Good luck!
Have a nice Thanksgiving!

Haven't tried on this phone as I haven't rooted but adb push should solve your question.

[Q] FORMAT Data/Media... ?

I would like to format my /dat/media.. and then I would like to re-flash the ROM I am using. Since we all know the Note 5 does not have a sdCard port/reader
I can not figure out were to put my ROM that I will be flashing. There is no safe place to store it is there if I do a full FORMAT of /data/media. If I
format /data/media wont that wipe everything ?? even my image file of my ROM. Normally I would store it on an external sdCard then format /data/media..
and then copy the ROM image file back from the sdCard to the phones internal sdcard.
Bottom line .... I want to WIPE my entire phone EVEN /data/media then re-flash my ROM.
Thank you for any tips help.
My phone currently is Rooted and running [MULTI-LANG-6.0.1] TEKXodus HYBRID N5/S7Edge URv7.5E 5/04/16 N920X/G928X

re: internal sd
Thibor69 said:
I would like to format my /dat/media.. and then I would like to re-flash the ROM I am using. Since we all know the Note 5 does not have a sdCard port/reader
I can not figure out were to put my ROM that I will be flashing. There is no safe place to store it is there if I do a full FORMAT of /data/media. If I
format /data/media wont that wipe everything ?? even my image file of my ROM. Normally I would store it on an external sdCard then format /data/media..
and then copy the ROM image file back from the sdCard to the phones internal sdcard.
Bottom line .... I want to WIPE my entire phone EVEN /data/media then re-flash my ROM.
Thank you for any tips help.
My phone currently is Rooted and running [MULTI-LANG-6.0.1] TEKXodus HYBRID N5/S7Edge URv7.5E 5/04/16 N920X/G928X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have twrp recovery, it will not touch your internal sdcard or any of it's contents unless
you purposely click on the advanced wipe option indicating that you actually want to format it.
By default the internal sdcard in twrp is not check marked.
Simply doing a "Wipe" and a "Factory Reset" in twrp will not format, wipe or delete anything
located in your internal sdcard.
Good luck,
Have a great day!

Misterjunky said:
If you have twrp recovery, it will not touch your internal sdcard or any of it's contents unless
you purposely click on the advanced wipe option indicating that you actually want to format it.
By default the internal sdcard in twrp is not check marked.
Simply doing a "Wipe" and a "Factory Reset" in twrp will not format, wipe or delete anything
located in your internal sdcard.
Good luck,
Have a great day!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes BUT you missunderstand what I am trying to do. I want to WIPE internal memory. I want to wipe all traces of old programs located both on the internal SD and also located in data/media
Make sense ??
If I do it your way it will still leave all the stuff in the internal area and without doing a format DATA ( YES ) the stuff in /data/media will also still be untouched.. I want all traces of old user installed programs gone.
Help ?

re: wipe/format internal sdcard
Thibor69 said:
Yes BUT you missunderstand what I am trying to do. I want to WIPE internal memory. I want to wipe all traces of old programs located both on the internal SD and also located in data/media
Make sense ??
If I do it your way it will still leave all the stuff in the internal area and without doing a format DATA ( YES ) the stuff in /data/media will also still be untouched.. I want all traces of old user installed programs gone.
Help ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With twrp thats easy too, simply click Wipe and then click "advanced wipe" and there you will see options
for each individual type of wipe, Wipe Data, System, Cache, Dalvik and "Wipe Internal SDCARD".

Misterjunky said:
With twrp thats easy too, simply click Wipe and then click "advanced wipe" and there you will see options
for each individual type of wipe, Wipe Data, System, Cache, Dalvik and "Wipe Internal SDCARD".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My friend -
I am so sorry, but I am still confused. So were would I put my image file (my new ROM) so it is safe from a wipe since you are saying it is ok to do this:
Wipe: cache devcache data internal system and then FORMAT DATA ( data/media )
??
To me this seems like it will wipe the ENTIRE PHONE ... were would a safe place to put the ROM be so I can flash it after ..??

Thibor69 said:
My friend -
I am so sorry, but I am still confused. So were would I put my image file (my new ROM) so it is safe from a wipe since you are saying it is ok to do this:
Wipe: cache devcache data internal system and then FORMAT DATA ( data/media )
??
To me this seems like it will wipe the ENTIRE PHONE ... were would a safe place to put the ROM be so I can flash it after ..??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Copy the image file into your computer then after the wipe copy it back into the phone while the phone is still in the twrp screen.
The new twrp 3.0.2 allows USB file transfers while twrp is running.
Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

Misterjunky said:
Copy the image file into your computer then after the wipe copy it back into the phone while the phone is still in the twrp screen.
The new twrp 3.0.2 allows USB file transfers while twrp is running.
Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I need to upgrade TWRP I guess. I am running v2.8.7.1 !! and I can not get files to my phone from the pc. I think ... unless I am doing it wrong ???
Please could someone help me. I need to know how to get TWRP 3.0.2 onto my phone. Do I need to odin it ?? I am trying to get a working kernel onto my phone.... Please help me ...
I thank you
John

.
.
I am sorry for posting 2 posts in the forum. The 2 posts sort of run together now
and are messy, so If you can help me with my boot/loop/freeze issue, please
just go here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/tmobile-galaxy-note5/help/off-phone-t3375446
.
.
Thank you all !!