[Q] how to reset phone without losing files? - ONE Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi, i know it seems silly, I want to reset my phone because of some issues with idle battery consumption and event and event2 wakelocks. i believe it's due to a rogue app, but can't find it. and as my rom was working very good previously i don't really want to change rom.
However, how do I reset the phone without losing my files? the factory reset button in settings says all data will be lost.
and im unsure about the factory reset on my philz touch recovery as it says it'll wipe /data.
so is there a way to reset the phone without losing my files? (pics, documents and music)
Cheers in advance.

salespalace said:
Hi, i know it seems silly, I want to reset my phone because of some issues with idle battery consumption and event and event2 wakelocks. i believe it's due to a rogue app, but can't find it. and as my rom was working very good previously i don't really want to change rom.
However, how do I reset the phone without losing my files? the factory reset button in settings says all data will be lost.
and im unsure about the factory reset on my philz touch recovery as it says it'll wipe /data.
so is there a way to reset the phone without losing my files? (pics, documents and music)
Cheers in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset in philz touch will not erase your internal storage (e.g. music, pictures, documents). A wipe is not the same as a format.

NikoZBK said:
Factory reset in philz touch will not erase your internal storage (e.g. music, pictures, documents). A wipe is not the same as a format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so, when it lists that /data will be wiped, is that not my files?

salespalace said:
so, when it lists that /data will be wiped, is that not my files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, your files are safe. /data is the partition where your settings, apps, texts, etc. go. Have a read here: http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...plained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/

NikoZBK said:
No, your files are safe. /data is the partition where your settings, apps, texts, etc. go. Have a read here: http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...plained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fabulous, cheers for that. i thought that was the case but needed to be sure. i searched and searched but i guess my googling skills are not good enough.

Related

[Q] Nandroid Backup

So i think my nandroid backup is nuked... i do a wipe/factory reset, wipe the cache etc etc - tried restoring the backup. After 10mins or so of waiting the process completes and i reboot the phone. I have been sitting here for over 1hr looking at the boot animation.
If there is noway to restore the ENTIRE backup, is there a way i can extract specific stuff like my text messages? I really can't afford to lose them
duwii said:
So i think my nandroid backup is nuked... i do a wipe/factory reset, wipe the cache etc etc - tried restoring the backup. After 10mins or so of waiting the process completes and i reboot the phone. I have been sitting here for over 1hr looking at the boot animation.
If there is noway to restore the ENTIRE backup, is there a way i can extract specific stuff like my text messages? I really can't afford to lose them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That seems to happen when /datadata is full or there's some other problem with restoring /data, and the system isn't able to boot. Maybe you can wipe /datadata only and see if boots. I also know that TiBu can extract data from nandroid backups, but I'm not positive whether that applies to messaging.
korockinout13 said:
...Maybe you can wipe /datadata only and see if boots...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me apologize for my ignorance but how do i do that?
duwii said:
Let me apologize for my ignorance but how do i do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In recovery, go to mounts & storage, and format /datadata. Although my memory fails me as to where messages are stored...
Sent from my SGH-I897
i forgot to mention that this is a fresh installation (i formatted the entire internal storage, basically coming from STOCK).. i still need to do that wipe you refer to?
duwii said:
i forgot to mention that this is a fresh installation (i formatted the entire internal storage, basically coming from STOCK).. i still need to do that wipe you refer to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well wiping /datadata may (or might not) allow the phone to boot, because the phone can't boot when that partition is completely full. It also might wipe your messages but I'm not positive.

[Q] Factory reset doesn't delete data/restore system?

Aside from the pee-stain at the bottom of the phone I did notice one thing. When you do a factory reset (and select/check that deleting userdata is okay) it does not:
• delete sdcard data
• remove user settings for apps/wifi
• restore modified system files (hosts, etc...)
• root remains as well
Is there actually a way to do a proper reset and have it restore things as it should? In line with that how do I securely erase the data if possible so in given it to a family or it ends up on some truck with Avast that the data can't be restored?
Thanks!
windraker said:
Aside from the pee-stain at the bottom of the phone I did notice one thing. When you do a factory reset (and select/check that deleting userdata is okay) it does not:
• delete sdcard data
• remove user settings for apps/wifi
• restore modified system files (hosts, etc...)
• root remains as well
Is there actually a way to do a proper reset and have it restore things as it should? In line with that how do I securely erase the data if possible so in given it to a family or it ends up on some truck with Avast that the data can't be restored?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WTF? Factory reset does not actually factory reset..? This seems like a huge bug with CM11... Especially the part about the lack of deletion in the SD card and user settings.
an_xda said:
WTF? Factory reset does not actually factory reset..? This seems like a huge bug with CM11... Especially the part about the lack of deletion in the SD card and user settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. I had rooted the phone and while I think I lost root; the modified hosts file I changed (http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm) was still there as well as the entire SD card contents. It remembered my home wifi as well because I looked in settings and it showed my home one as "out of range"
Not sure if it's a bug or by design as I haven't tried flashing the stock image yet.
For a complete factory reset that will erase everything. Everything! You can do a factory reset from the boot loader. (Restart or power on phone and hold down the volume down button, scroll to factory reset, push power button) or from TRWP data reset, it makes you confirm and type "yes"
I reset my phone through the boot loader on accident a couple times and wanted to kick my dog.
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Free mobile app
You guys do know that factory resetting only formats the data partition excluding the /data/media directory. This is not a bug. It wouldn't need to do anything to the system partition of you don't root. And it's not able to restore the system partition without a system image and where are you going to store that? In the system partition? All user settings including apps and WiFi settings are stored on the data partition will actually be wiped unless when you log into your Google account you select restore from backup. There's no reason you would want to delete storage too when factory resetting unless you want to sell the phone and you can delete that in so many ways since it's your storage.
Sent from my TouchPad using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
cannonofcourse said:
For a complete factory reset that will erase everything. Everything! You can do a factory reset from the boot loader. (Restart or power on phone and hold down the volume down button, scroll to factory reset, push power button) or from TRWP data reset, it makes you confirm and type "yes"
I reset my phone through the boot loader on accident a couple times and wanted to kick my dog.
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Jack of Clubs said:
You guys do know that factory resetting only formats the data partition excluding the /data/media directory. This is not a bug. It wouldn't need to do anything to the system partition of you don't root. And it's not able to restore the system partition without a system image and where are you going to store that? In the system partition? All user settings including apps and WiFi settings are stored on the data partition will actually be wiped unless when you log into your Google account you select restore from backup. There's no reason you would want to delete storage too when factory resetting unless you want to sell the phone and you can delete that in so many ways since it's your storage.
Sent from my TouchPad using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you both Tried that and worked. Wanted to restore the hosts file to stock but couldn't find the original again. (didn't think to extract factory rom files on cyangen site)
The solution is in their FAQ.
so wait... if i factory reset from twrp... will my internal sd.. i.e. music.. and other files also get deleted?
abhimanyu bajaj said:
so wait... if i factory reset from twrp... will my internal sd.. i.e. music.. and other files also get deleted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Transmitted via Bacon
timmaaa said:
No.
Transmitted via Bacon
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Click to collapse
and if i flash a new rom... will it be deleted?
abhimanyu bajaj said:
and if i flash a new rom... will it be deleted?
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Click to collapse
Just flashing the ROM by itself will not wipe data or internal storage, but you may encounter bugs (it's called dirty flashing). The best way to get a bug-less ROM is to clean flash which means wiping every partition. The only one that should be OK is internal so you don't have to wipe that one when clean flashing.
abhimanyu bajaj said:
and if i flash a new rom... will it be deleted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, flashing a ROM doesn't wipe user data. When flashing a new ROM it's best to wipe system, data, cache, and dalvik cache, but it isn't necessary to wipe (internal storage) user data.
Newbie XDA member
I change my phone original bootanimation and then i get No Command when i factor reset .. Nothing Happend how do just restore my (/system) /system/media bootanimation.zip ... other way to fix this thing i have pc >?

Factory reset after unlocking bootloader

Hello,
my OnePlus has been accidentally wiped after used OPO Tool Box (please see my post here).
I lost all my data.
When i reboot the phone i had to set the google account and all initial settings. Then Google downloaded all my apps and the contacts list.
Then i tried to recover all my photos and video (maybe about 1000 files) with Dr. Fone, but it didn't found any file related to the date before the wipe.
Why? Isn't this weird?
tramsss said:
Hello,
my OnePlus has been accidentally wiped after used OPO Tool Box (please see my post here).
I lost all my data.
When i reboot the phone i had to set the google account and all initial settings. Then Google downloaded all my apps and the contacts list.
Then i tried to recover all my photos and video (maybe about 1000 files) with Dr. Fone, but it didn't found any file related to the date before the wipe.
Why? Isn't this weird?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isn't weird at all. It's standard for a factory reset to occur when unlocking a bootloader on any device, it's a security measure. The toolkit you used probably should have a warning, but you really should have done your research, this is a very well documented and well known fact.
OK, i see.
I mean it is weird that i can't recover data. We know that the files are not deleted from device, just hidden and flagged to be overwritable on new file creation.
I tried tools like Dr. Fone on Windows and photorec, extundelete, foremost on Linux, but they find only data that is now on the phone, not data that was on phone before factory reset.
Why i can't recover it?
tramsss said:
OK, i see.
I mean it is weird that i can't recover data. We know that the files are not deleted from device, just hidden and flagged to be overwritable on new file creation.
I tried tools like Dr. Fone on Windows and photorec, extundelete, foremost on Linux, but they find only data that is now on the phone, not data that was on phone before factory reset.
Why i can't recover it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm not mistaken, it isn't just a wipe that occurs, it's a format, and data is much harder to recover after a drive has been formatted. Even if this isn't the case, data recovery is never 100% reliable.
When i unlock the bootloader it just reboots the phone in few seconds, so i'm quite sure it hasn't been a low level format!
So my data is still there, but i can't figure out why i cannot recover it
tramsss said:
When i unlock the bootloader it just reboots the phone in few seconds, so i'm quite sure it hasn't been a low level format!
So my data is still there, but i can't figure out why i cannot recover it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A format doesn't have to take a lot of time. Honestly, those four data recovery tools are finding your old data for a reason, it's gone.
Heisenberg said:
A format doesn't have to take a lot of time. Honestly, those four data recovery tools are finding your old data for a reason, it's gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, i see
(did you mean "are not" instead of "are"?)
tramsss said:
Ok, i see
(did you mean "are not" instead of "are"?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I meant are not, my mistake.
I also tried to use this guide: http://dflund.se/~jokke/androidfilerecovery
But i got the same result.
Does the factory reset overwrite tables and partitions information? What does it do exactly?
tramsss said:
I also tried to use this guide: http://dflund.se/~jokke/androidfilerecovery
But i got the same result.
Does the factory reset overwrite tables and partitions information? What does it do exactly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It formats the data partition, the internal storage, and the caches.
Heisenberg said:
It formats the data partition, the internal storage, and the caches.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if i reopen this old post but i need to figure out what is happened.
After the bootloader unlocking operation the phone rebooted itself in few seconds.
So what does exactly the format operation do on a phone memory (in less than about 1 minute)?
As you know, when you delete a file on a disk it is not deleted, but it is simply hidden and flagged as overwritable.
So how it is possible that none of recovery tools can retrieve old data from the phone?

Restore pictures, videos, data - Nexus 5 - Android 6.0.1

Hi everybody,
I have made a back factory setting to handle a battery issue. Thinking have realized correctly my backup, I have done this manipulation. After I have restored my backup, I have seen that all my pictures were not on my phone (or in the DCIM folder).
I have rooted my phone and tried some recovery applications (like Jihosoft, ...) without any success.
I have explored a lot of websites and seen many comments saying that this operation is not possible.
Do you think is it possible to restore my data? If yes, Do you know an application or PC's software doing this recovery for Android
6.0.1 Marshmallow?
Thank in advance.
As far as i know once you format partition everything on it is gone and you can not retrieve enything.
Backups in recovery dont backup your data such as pictures,videos, music... they only backup your apps and respective app data.
Xmaster8 said:
As far as i know once you format partition everything on it is gone and you can not retrieve enything.
Backups in recovery dont backup your data such as pictures,videos, music... they only backup your apps and respective app data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi tks for you response!
I'm afraid to that, but I red that you could use your recuva PC which seems powerful if you can mont your Partition. I have
not try that yet.
chrisd78 said:
Hi tks for you response!
I'm afraid to that, but I red that you could use your recuva PC which seems powerful if you can mont your Partition. I have
not try that yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is a long shot. As you said you already restored backup which means you already wrote data on the partition.
Those data recovery programs work 100% when you delete/format partition and you try to recover deleted files before anything is written on that formated partition. In your case even if you manage to pull something out it will probably be corrupted files.
Xmaster8 said:
It is a long shot. As you said you already restored backup which means you already wrote data on the partition.
Those data recovery programs work 100% when you delete/format partition and you try to recover deleted files before anything is written on that formated partition. In your case even if you manage to pull something out it will probably be corrupted files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I am agree with you. My phone is used currently and I have received some new data wrote on the "old one" in my partition. My hope to retrieve these data is low now maybe null...
This is the value of using Google+, Dropbox, Amazon Prime, etc. photo syncing, etc. At least photos can be restored. Other files ... not so much.
Not sure what kind of backup YOU did but my CWM backups grab the entire /data partition, photos included.
ChromeJob said:
This is the value of using Google+, Dropbox, Amazon Prime, etc. photo syncing, etc. At least photos can be restored. Other files ... not so much.
Not sure what kind of backup YOU did but my CWM backups grab the entire /data partition, photos included.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I could at least restore photos I would be a lucky man!

[Resolved] [HELP] [TWRP] Unable to find "Format data" button

Hi guys,
First : thanks a lot for all your help on this forum.
I'm trying to install a custom ROM on my new LG G6 H870 phone using TWRP 3.1 and i'm facing an issue : I can't find the "Format Data" button in the Wipe menu. I need that button to remove the "Encryption Unsuccessful" screen after flashing.
What did I missed ? Can't see any thread talking about this....
Is the option "Repair or Change File System" / "Change File System" / "Ext4" doing exactly the same ? It does not remove the "Encryption Unsuccessful" screen...
Should I try to reinstall TWRP ?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Ok, the twrp image I used seems to be broken... I downloaded it again from the official webiste, now everything works.
I re-flashed twrp using fastboost, everything worked well. I have now the Format data button...
Thanks
Format data button
Hello,
Could you please help me to understand the real function of Format data button in Wipe section ?
Cause I saw in a thread that it is needed to root android phone but does-it also delete all data in the phone (pictures videos etc...) ? And if so, is it possible to recover these files after formatting ?
Thank you !
infostar said:
Hello,
Could you please help me to understand the real function of Format data button in Wipe section ?
Cause I saw in a thread that it is needed to root android phone but does-it also delete all data in the phone (pictures videos etc...) ? And if so, is it possible to recover these files after formatting ?
Thank you !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, everything that you have stored on the device will be removed during the format.
Can it be recovered after? Maybe, maybe not, typically, if just deleted, it can be mostly recovered fairly easily, but when formatting instead of deleting, it is usually difficult to recover anything, if anything can even be recovered at all.
When stored information is simply deleted, it can be recovered because it isn't actually gone, it is still there, it is just "tagged" to be ignored by the system as if it isn't there, then, the next time the device needs to write new data, it overwrites the "tagged" data. When you "recover" deleted data, you are basically just removing the "tag" so that the "deleted" data is no longer marked to be ignored/overwritten.
But, when you format, it does not delete the data(it is not "tagged"), it is removed and then overwritten to make the space "blank".
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
Droidriven said:
Yes, everything that you have stored on the device will be removed during the format.
Can it be recovered after? Maybe, maybe not, typically, if just deleted, it can be mostly recovered fairly easily, but when formatting instead of deleting, it is usually difficult to recover anything, if anything can even be recovered at all.
When stored information is simply deleted, it can be recovered because it isn't actually gone, it is still there, it is just "tagged" to be ignored by the system as if it isn't there, then, the next time the device needs to write new data, it overwrites the "tagged" data. When you "recover" deleted data, you are basically just removing the "tag" so that the "deleted" data is no longer marked to be ignored/overwritten.
But, when you format, it does not delete the data(it is not "tagged"), it is removed and then overwritten to make the space "blank".
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the details, I will try my best to restore my phone after this because it bootlooped yesterday ...... So, I'm thinking of getting an image of the system with ADB sideload on recovery mode before flashing the original firmware....
Is it a bad idea ?
infostar said:
Thanks a lot for the details, I will try my best to restore my phone after this because it bootlooped yesterday ...... So, I'm thinking of getting an image of the system with ADB sideload on recovery mode before flashing the original firmware....
Is it a bad idea ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't necessarily need to pull a system.img, backing up your data via adb then restoring the data after getting the bootloop fixed, should work.
If you can get adb to connect with the device properly, then, yes, I would pull an adb backup of your apps, data and personal settings. Then wipe or reflash the device then restore the apps, data and settings from the adb backup. Are you familiar with adb backup?
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
Droidriven said:
You don't necessarily need to pull a system.img, backing up your data via adb then restoring the data after getting the bootloop fixed, should work.
If you can get adb to connect with the device properly, then, yes, I would pull an adb backup of your apps, data and personal settings. Then wipe or reflash the device then restore the apps, data and settings from the adb backup. Are you familiar with adb backup?
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I'm not familiar with it but I read a lot of XDA threads and I will give it a shot. ISo, I'll try an ADB backup. If it's not working, it won't big a big deal, I will reflash it to have my phone back.
Thanks

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