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[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 >?

half the storage after flash question

Ok, I have done my research and this is a common problem with a new flash, and it happened to me, but I didnt notice it until now. I have the 32 gig nexus, and its only utilizing half of that.
Is there any way at all to correct this without having to wipe everything? I have my phone setup like I want it, and it took a bit of workarounds with lollipop with viper and all.
Or can I at least just make a nandroid? and back up that file somewhere, and then reflash everything or do a wipe to get my space back, and then restore that nandroid? Or will that nandroid bring back the space problem?
Thanks

No. You have to wipe everything. Its the only fix.
Nandroid shouldn't cause an issue. Storage is the issue and nandroid doesn't back up or restore storage.

joho5 said:
Ok, I have done my research and this is a common problem with a new flash, and it happened to me, but I didnt notice it until now. I have the 32 gig nexus, and its only utilizing half of that.
Is there any way at all to correct this without having to wipe everything? I have my phone setup like I want it, and it took a bit of workarounds with lollipop with viper and all.
Or can I at least just make a nandroid? and back up that file somewhere, and then reflash everything or do a wipe to get my space back, and then restore that nandroid? Or will that nandroid bring back the space problem?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can wipe userdata via fastboot and fix this issue.

Jnewell05 said:
You can wipe userdata via fastboot and fix this issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This won't touch my internal SD right? So my backup would be safe? Could wipe userdata and then restore backup?
Thanks for taking the time to help.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

joho5 said:
This won't touch my internal SD right? So my backup would be safe? Could wipe userdata and then restore backup?
Thanks for taking the time to help.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You HAVE to wipe your "internal SD"
Take a nandroid, backup ALL your data to PC.

rootSU said:
You HAVE to wipe your "internal SD"
Take a nandroid, backup ALL your data to PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which wipe command will wipe all of this?
I am comfortable using adb/fastboot or whatever, but just need to know how to completely wipe it all.
Can I just redo the factory image flash, like i did initially?

joho5 said:
Which wipe command will wipe all of this?
I am comfortable using adb/fastboot or whatever, but just need to know how to completely wipe it all.
Can I just redo the factory image flash, like i did initially?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use fastboot to erase and then flash userdata.img (not whole factory image)

formatting the userdata did the trick...thanks guys.
much appreciation.

Welp, new problem...knew it couldnt be quite that easy.
I copied my whole TWRP folder with the backup inside to my pc, now I cant copy it back. It gives me an immediate error saying it cant copy.
I can click into the folder and copy and paste just the backup folder onto my device, but how can I restore a backup from a custom location, because since twrp doesnt see the TWRP/Backups exact path, then I see no backups to restore from.
Is there a way to restore from say like just sd/backups?

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
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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.
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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!

Stuck in recovery after rom update

Hello,
I just updated the rom Evolution X 11 on my Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro after using an older version for about half a year.
Now my phone does not boot anymore, its stuck in recovery (TWRP). Also all data seems to be encrypted and TWRP is not asking for a password.
Is there a way to get my phone to boot again or at least backup my data before I do a full wipe?

You should always do a full twrp backup before messing with roms.
The best solution would be to backup the "Data" and "Internal Storage" partitions. Data contains all apps, their appdata and settings, while internal storage contains all of your own files (photos, videos etc.). After you back these up, wipe your phone (system, data, cache, dalvik) and flash the version of evolution x you were using previously. Now restore data and internal storage and your device should be back to normal.
If you get a bootloop while booting after restoring data and internal storage, then wipe the device again and this time flash evolution x, but only restore internal storage. This way, it should boot and you will be able to recover your files, though your apps will be gone.
If you only restore internal storage then it will no doubt boot up and you will have access to your files, but since you'll have already backed up the important stuff (data + internal storage), you might as well try restoring data as well, as there is no harm, and if the phone boots correctly after restoring both partitions, your phone will be as it was before your updated your rom.
This happened a while back to me with my J5, the issue was that I made a full TWRP backup, then began to test other roms. After I was done, I tried to restore my backup, but it would constantly fail. I sat down for a while, confused and sad about how my TWRP backup had failed me. I tried every solution I could think of, eventually this solution I've mentioned in the above paragraph came to my mind. Thank god for putting it into my mind, otherwise I would've lost a lot of stuff (mainly whatsapp chats which werent backed up, and a lot of apps which I took the time to pain-stakingly configure in the best way for my device).
Anyways, enough of my story, hope this helps you out! If it does, message back here and let us know, and also mark my post as the solution if it was able to help you, so that anyone else who stumbles upon this thread can be saved too!
Cheers!

PhotonIce said:
You should always do a full twrp backup before messing with roms.
The best solution would be to backup the "Data" and "Internal Storage" partitions. Data contains all apps, their appdata and settings, while internal storage contains all of your own files (photos, videos etc.). After you back these up, wipe your phone (system, data, cache, dalvik) and flash the version of evolution x you were using previously. Now restore data and internal storage and your device should be back to normal.
If you get a bootloop while booting after restoring data and internal storage, then wipe the device again and this time flash evolution x, but only restore internal storage. This way, it should boot and you will be able to recover your files, though your apps will be gone.
If you only restore internal storage then it will no doubt boot up and you will have access to your files, but since you'll have already backed up the important stuff (data + internal storage), you might as well try restoring data as well, as there is no harm, and if the phone boots correctly after restoring both partitions, your phone will be as it was before your updated your rom.
This happened a while back to me with my J5, the issue was that I made a full TWRP backup, then began to test other roms. After I was done, I tried to restore my backup, but it would constantly fail. I sat down for a while, confused and sad about how my TWRP backup had failed me. I tried every solution I could think of, eventually this solution I've mentioned in the above paragraph came to my mind. Thank god for putting it into my mind, otherwise I would've lost a lot of stuff (mainly whatsapp chats which werent backed up, and a lot of apps which I took the time to pain-stakingly configure in the best way for my device).
Anyways, enough of my story, hope this helps you out! If it does, message back here and let us know, and also mark my post as the solution if it was able to help you, so that anyone else who stumbles upon this thread can be saved too!
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your help but backing up the data and internal storage doesnt seem possible right now because all the data is encrypted in TWRP...

If you can't backup anything, then wipe system, cache and dalvik, and flash the version of evolutionx you were previously using. Then boot, it should be fine. If it wont boot (give it some time, it will take the time of a fresh install), then this time wipe system+data+cache+dalvik, then flash whichever rom you like and you'll be able to access the files.
You can also try using platform tools and fastboot or adb ( i dont remember exactly which one) to copy the filess from your phone onto your pc.
Sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation, I've never used a phone which has been encrypted, as such I have no experience with them.

PhotonIce said:
If you can't backup anything, then wipe system, cache and dalvik, and flash the version of evolutionx you were previously using. Then boot, it should be fine. If it wont boot (give it some time, it will take the time of a fresh install), then this time wipe system+data+cache+dalvik, then flash whichever rom you like and you'll be able to access the files.
You can also try using platform tools and fastboot or adb ( i dont remember exactly which one) to copy the filess from your phone onto your pc.
Sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation, I've never used a phone which has been encrypted, as such I have no experience with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds like a good idea. I found the old version on my PC.
Now I just need a way to install it... because twrp cant read the file. I tried with adb sideload but that results in an error for some reason. Flashing Magisk for example with adb sideload is possible.
Edit: Got it to work by using a tool called "Large Address Aware". Now waiting for the results...

PhotonIce said:
If you can't backup anything, then wipe system, cache and dalvik, and flash the version of evolutionx you were previously using. Then boot, it should be fine. If it wont boot (give it some time, it will take the time of a fresh install), then this time wipe system+data+cache+dalvik, then flash whichever rom you like and you'll be able to access the files.
You can also try using platform tools and fastboot or adb ( i dont remember exactly which one) to copy the filess from your phone onto your pc.
Sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation, I've never used a phone which has been encrypted, as such I have no experience with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This did not help unfortunately... Im still in the same recovery-bootloop and my data is still encrypted.

It's probably still bootlooping as the data partition got modified when you flashed the newer version of evolutionx, and now it will not work with the old one. You can try wiping system+data+cach+dalvik and then flashing any rom of your choice. This will give you access to your internal storage (photos, media etc), but it will remove your apps and their settings. Whatsapp images are stored in the internal storage so you won't need to worry about those.
Again, this is risky, as it may not work (I don't know much about encryption), or you might still not be able to access your files after flashing the new rom. Proceed at your own risk.

PhotonIce said:
It's probably still bootlooping as the data partition got modified when you flashed the newer version of evolutionx, and now it will not work with the old one. You can try wiping system+data+cach+dalvik and then flashing any rom of your choice. This will give you access to your internal storage (photos, media etc), but it will remove your apps and their settings. Whatsapp images are stored in the internal storage so you won't need to worry about those.
Again, this is risky, as it may not work (I don't know much about encryption), or you might still not be able to access your files after flashing the new rom. Proceed at your own risk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for still helping me out but I already did a full reset yesterday. I did not lose much except for the time setting it all up again.
I still dont really get the point of encrypting all your data if you cant decrypt it even if you know the password...