Database Info

Encryption

A few questions about encryption on the S7:
Some threads, e.g., TWRP, refer to "Samsung encryption". Does the S7 use some sort of proprietary Samsung encryption, or does it use the standard Android encryption?
Since I have now disabled encryption after installing TWRP, can I re-enable it? If so, how?
Would FlashFire allow me to flash ROMs with encryption still enabled?
Thanks in advance.

dildano said:
A few questions about encryption on the S7:
Some threads, e.g., TWRP, refer to "Samsung encryption". Does the S7 use some sort of proprietary Samsung encryption, or does it use the standard Android encryption?
Since I have now disabled encryption after installing TWRP, can I re-enable it? If so, how?
Would FlashFire allow me to flash ROMs with encryption still enabled?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Simply put, the method in which Samsung decrypts encrypted data isn't known
2. You can enable encryption but you must start from scratch. (As far as I am aware anyways). Means you must flash stock ROM in ODIN.
3. Not sure. You can certainly flash zips that modify /system. You can also use TWRP as long as you don't need to mount data. Switching ROM normally means a standard factory reset but if you are encrypted you can't use TWRP to factory reset and I am not sure if FlashFire can do it either.

Galactus said:
1. Simply put, the method in which Samsung decrypts encrypted data isn't known
2. You can enable encryption but you must start from scratch. (As far as I am aware anyways). Means you must flash stock ROM in ODIN.
3. Not sure. You can certainly flash zips that modify /system. You can also use TWRP as long as you don't need to mount data. Switching ROM normally means a standard factory reset but if you are encrypted you can't use TWRP to factory reset and I am not sure if FlashFire can do it either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2. do you have to really start from the scratch?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/how-to/how-to-encrypt-device-custom-rom-knox-1-t3392301
3. is factory reset not just a kind of a wipe? why cant twrp just format the encrypted partitions?
I spent also several days to fully customize my S7 (cfw S7 debloated) and i am quite happy yet.
But if I lost once a phone long time ago.. So encryption is a must, root too.
I would accept definetely a non-working TWRP, if I could get an encryption?
any advices?
thx.

tefole said:
2. do you have to really start from the scratch?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/how-to/how-to-encrypt-device-custom-rom-knox-1-t3392301
3. is factory reset not just a kind of a wipe? why cant twrp just format the encrypted partitions?
I spent also several days to fully customize my S7 (cfw S7 debloated) and i am quite happy yet.
But if I lost once a phone long time ago.. So encryption is a must, root too.
I would accept definetely a non-working TWRP, if I could get an encryption?
any advices?
thx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, once you disable encryption in TWRP and flash the dm-verity zip, the option to encrypt the phone won't even be available in settings. In the rare case that it is, it will always fail.
Since you want root and encryption, it is pretty simple.
Flash stock rom in ODIN (Backup, backup, backup anything valuable)
Obtain root using CF-Auto Root method
Install TWRP, allow modifications, don't wipe /data
You can only flash zips from external SD card. Internal storage will be unavailable in TWRP

I did a make backups with TWRP and TitaniumBackup.
May I ask some more questions, i do want to understand the procedure.
Galactus said:
Flash stock rom in ODIN (Backup, backup, backup anything valuable)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess the stock ROM is already encrypted - is that the reason why TWRP doesnt have access to /data (as well to the internal /sdcard) till the encryption is disabled?
Obtain root using CF-Auto Root method
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After flashing stock the bootloader is locked again, so I do have to unlock the "OEM unlock" per developer settings again? The phone wont be wiped afterwards?
Install TWRP, allow modifications, don't wipe /data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May i recover/restore here a formerly per TWRP backuped ROM? I guess, this want be possible, hence TWRP doesnt has access to /data, nor to /sdcard?!
Which partitions I am allowed to restore, respectively is there a chance to recovery somehow the TWRP backup (it was soo much work).
Or can i disable encryption and enable it again, after restore?
You can only flash zips from external SD card. Internal storage will be unavailable in TWRP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After everything went well, I am going to encrypt the ext-sdcard too. I guess, TWRP will be useless then...

tefole said:
I did a make backups with TWRP and TitaniumBackup.
May I ask some more questions, i do want to understand the procedure.
I guess the stock ROM is already encrypted - is that the reason why TWRP doesnt have access to /data (as well to the internal /sdcard) till the encryption is disabled?
After flashing stock the bootloader is locked again, so I do have to unlock the "OEM unlock" per developer settings again? The phone wont be wiped afterwards?
May i recover/restore here a formerly per TWRP backuped ROM? I guess, this want be possible, hence TWRP doesnt has access to /data, nor to /sdcard?!
Which partitions I am allowed to restore, respectively is there a chance to recovery somehow the TWRP backup (it was soo much work).
Or can i disable encryption and enable it again, after restore?
After everything went well, I am going to encrypt the ext-sdcard too. I guess, TWRP will be useless then...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you flash the stock ROM, the phone is encrypted before first boot
Once you OEM Unlock, it stays that way unless you attempt to re-lock it. Once you flash a stock ROM and go to developer settings, you'll see OEM Unlock is still on
Encrypted device = No restoring of any kind in TWRP, that is the trade off. Some people use FlashFire to back up and restore. I tried once a while back and it didn't work. Others seem to be ok
If external sd is encrypted also, then your only chance is to use FlashFire. TWRP is basically useless

Galactus said:
Once you flash the stock ROM, the phone is encrypted before first boot
Once you OEM Unlock, it stays that way unless you attempt to re-lock it. Once you flash a stock ROM and go to developer settings, you'll see OEM Unlock is still on
Encrypted device = No restoring of any kind in TWRP, that is the trade off. Some people use FlashFire to back up and restore. I tried once a while back and it didn't work. Others seem to be ok
If external sd is encrypted also, then your only chance is to use FlashFire. TWRP is basically useless
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx for your reply
After I flashed stock and finally customized my installation, would this be safety feature to relock the OEM? Is a relocking wiping also the whole phone or only the unlocking?
So that means, that if go through this instructeres, i cant flash any CFW, neither i cant restore my TWRP backup?
Thats a pitty.

tefole said:
Thx for your reply
After I flashed stock and finally customized my installation, would this be safety feature to relock the OEM? Is a relocking wiping also the whole phone or only the unlocking?
So that means, that if go through this instructeres, i cant flash any CFW, neither i cant restore my TWRP backup?
Thats a pitty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you try to relock OEM, your device won't boot lol. I learned that the hard way months ago. Had to start from scratch.
What custom firmware are you trying to flash? If you mean custom ROMs then theoretically speaking you should be able to flash them using FlashFire.

Thank you for the hint - this will me spare the fate
I chose S7_extreme_debloated from @Battlehero.
I am quite happy with that CFW and i thought, i can install my apps and customize the system and start the encryption - didnt worked.
So, I will begin from the scratch too. It would be great, if I could start with this CFW after, flashing stock.

Reverting back to stock recovery

Hi,
I flashed Twrp but I can't backup, because it can't mount data.
I thought, I'd try to revert back to stock recovery and then flash twrp again.
Does anybody know how to do that without flashing an entire stock Rom?
Thanks

nearlygod said:
Hi,
I flashed Twrp but I can't backup, because it can't mount data.
I thought, I'd try to revert back to stock recovery and then flash twrp again.
Does anybody know how to do that without flashing an entire stock Rom?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Why you just flash TWRP again and start from begining?
Anyhow if you wish to reflash your stock recovery You need to reflash a stock boot.img
Here you have 2 ways to do it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66934553&postcount=218
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66922116&postcount=215
In those threads the point was to re root but the principle is valid you can use them as guides

nearlygod said:
Hi,
I flashed Twrp but I can't backup, because it can't mount data.
I thought, I'd try to revert back to stock recovery and then flash twrp again.
Does anybody know how to do that without flashing an entire stock Rom?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem and found out in my case, at least, it was because when I rooted, I didn't "format data" during the process. I've been told that if you don't format data during the process, you leave the data partition encrypted, and thus it can't be mounted (at least by non-system apps and processes). No guarantees here as always, but If you back everything up and redo the root process and do the data format, then you may be able to mount data. At that point you can restore your apps and info. I've also read (but haven't tried this!) that you can do a nandroid backup and restore ALL your data from that nandroid after you reset your phone (which the data format will do). You should google everything I have suggested and see if you can get what you need in this way, without having to reflash the ROM entirely or try to revert to stock recovery.

kettir said:
I had this problem and found out in my case, at least, it was because when I rooted, I didn't "format data" during the process. I've been told that if you don't format data during the process, you leave the data partition encrypted, and thus it can't be mounted (at least by non-system apps and processes). No guarantees here as always, but If you back everything up and redo the root process and do the data format, then you may be able to mount data. At that point you can restore your apps and info. I've also read (but haven't tried this!) that you can do a nandroid backup and restore ALL your data from that nandroid after you reset your phone (which the data format will do). You should google everything I have suggested and see if you can get what you need in this way, without having to reflash the ROM entirely or try to revert to stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1

Hi. Yes, I had to format everything. Now it works. Also the issues I had with Titanium Backup are gone. I flashed the ExtSdFix and I'm almost running like on Kitkat, yeah

Factory Data Reset with TWRP and System Mods

I have a rooted XT1550 model with 6.0.1 and TWRP installed and some modifications to the system(converted a few apps to system). I want to know if it is possible to factory reset it. Also will the phone being rooted cause any issues with the reset? Please help!
Thank You!

Tron_Legacy1680 said:
I have a rooted XT1550 model with 6.0.1 and TWRP installed and some modifications to the system(converted a few apps to system). I want to know if it is possible to factory reset it. Also will the phone being rooted cause any issues with the reset? Please help!
Thank You!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A factory reset in TWRP will wipe data (including internal storage) and caches, but not external storage. Any changes to system or boot (meaning root) will remain, but it best to do an advanced wipe and select the partitions you wish to clear (often user data and caches is sufficient). When in doubt, backup first to the SD card!
What are you trying to fix or accomplish?

Thank you for replying! I'm trying to reset because there is a lot of space being taken by the data partition even though there isn't data of that size. So, I want to wipe data and start again.

Can't start any Custom Rom

Hi there,
so I just wanted to install Pixel Expierence, because i wanted something new after Lineage. After flashing the right Version with wiping cache, data, system and dalvic, the phone is starting in twrp again. When I tried restoring my full backup, it reboots to TWRP again. I tried installing many different custom roms but nothings happens.
I did have Magisk and some Xposed stuff to have Snapchat etc. .
Can somebody help?

You need to perform a data format even after using Lineage as it encrypts the file system. (this will erase everything from your phone so you need to make a backup)

malimukk said:
You need to perform a data format even after using Lineage as it encrypts the file system. (this will erase everything from your phone so you need to make a backup)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy **** thank you. It works.

C0OUBOT said:
Holy **** thank you. It works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use a remove forced encryption patch, or easier, just use orangefox recovery and remove forced encryption automatically. Then ofc you are not encrypted, but don't need to format data everytime when changing Rom.

Unable to wipe system partition on Redmi Note 9 Pro

Hi everybody!
I'm trying to wipe the system partition on my redmi note 9 pro to install a costum rom ( Pixel Experience).
However I'm just not able to do that because there just isn't the option: when I try to wipe all data there isn't the system partition.
I tried both with Twrp and Orange Fox.
the error I encounter is unable to update logical partition "/system_ext".
Do you know how to fix this? Fortunately my device still works, I managed not to brick it somehow. But I would really like to install the Pixel Experience
Thank you for your time, hope you'll respond soon!

post screenshot of issue ...

psychotanc said:
Hi everybody!
I'm trying to wipe the system partition on my redmi note 9 pro to install a costum rom ( Pixel Experience).
However I'm just not able to do that because there just isn't the option: when I try to wipe all data there isn't the system partition.
I tried both with Twrp and Orange Fox.
the error I encounter is unable to update logical partition "/system_ext".
Do you know how to fix this? Fortunately my device still works, I managed not to brick it somehow. But I would really like to install the Pixel Experience
Thank you for your time, hope you'll respond soon!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for what purpose do you want to wipe this partition?? there is no need to do that.
What should I wipe in TWRP?
If you are switching ROMs (changing from one ROM to a completely different one) then you should perform a factory reset. A factory reset wipes data and cache...
twrp.me

WoKoschekk said:
for what purpose do you want to wipe this partition?? there is no need to do that.
What should I wipe in TWRP?
If you are switching ROMs (changing from one ROM to a completely different one) then you should perform a factory reset. A factory reset wipes data and cache...
twrp.me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually he DO NEED to wipe system partition before installing a new system. And I got the same problem

FlavioHuster said:
Actually he DO NEED to wipe system partition before installing a new system. And I got the same problem
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Click to collapse
No, you flash a complete image of /system and it doesn't matter if there is any data stored on it. Everything gets overwritten.

WoKoschekk said:
No, you flash a complete image of /system and it doesn't matter if there is any data stored on it. Everything gets overwritten.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know about it. So every time I want to install a new ROM I just flash it? And thanks for the answer!

FlavioHuster said:
Didn't know about it. So every time I want to install a new ROM I just flash it? And thanks for the answer!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's right. Just wipe /data when flashing a new ROM.