I deleted some files from my Xiaomi phone & out of curiosity I wanted to see if they could be recovered. Unsurprisingly, I can recover the files using apps like 'Files Recovery'
However, I want to erase these files permanently. I've tried apps like 'Shreddit' that can erase empty space but the files are still showing up as recoverable.
Without having to full wipe my phone, its there a method that can remove these files permanently?
Ta
I think I've answered my own question.
It seems like 'Erase full storage' option within Shreddit did the trick. I didn't try that originally as I thought this would factory reset my phone & wipe everything.
Or you can ask help from phone data eraser software. Such software can help you wipe all personal information from your xiaomi phone without recovery. There is a lot of such software online. Most of them are not free. You can search the details online and choose the one you like. Please remember to take backup of your xiaomi phone before using such software. Hope this will be your help.
Sign out Mi account and remove Google account, boot into TWRP, get into Wipe menu and press format data, type when asked. Then flash a stock rom from MiFlash using clean all option.
A 5 pound sledge hammer provides a complete zero fill in seconds.
Works every time... for when data absolutely, positively must be deleted
Related
I highly suggest that if you don't know what you are doing, you should NOT post backups of your phone for other to use for recovery purposes.
You MAY THINK you deleted all your data from the backup, but trust me, you didn't.
Also, for those downloading and using these, be warned that the posted could easily include a malicious application that could be pre-installed and have root access. This could, for example, upload all those nice pictures of your girlfriend somewhere without your knowledge.
For those that DO want to make a backup that is clear of any private data, here is my method. I'm about 99.9% sure this should be clean.
Install ClockworkMod ROM Manager
Install ClockworkMod Recovery from in ROM Manager
Disable Fast Boot
Use a clean/formatted SD card
Power down phone.
Remove Battery
Remove SIM
Install Battery (leave the SIM out)
Power on phone into recover mode (volume down & power)
Load ClockworkRecovery
wipe data/factory reset (this will wipe the data partition, cache, and sd-ext)
backup and restore - > backup
The backup file created should be clean of any private data since you do the wipe and immediately backup while in Clockwork Recovery before the phone is even booted up.
For anyone downloading and using a backup like this, be aware it could still have malicious code so be warned. You use anything you download at your own risk.
Thank you,just learn something new
I dont understand why anyone would do this in the first place lol
thebitjockey said:
I highly suggest that if you don't know what you are doing, you should NOT post backups of your phone for other to use for recovery purposes.
You MAY THINK you deleted all your data from the backup, but trust me, you didn't.
Also, for those downloading and using these, be warned that the posted could easily include a malicious application that could be pre-installed and have root access. This could, for example, upload all those nice pictures of your girlfriend somewhere without your knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you just post a system.img (no userdata) then you are not sharing any personal data. All system.imgs are the same because when the phone is booted, system is in R/O. It's impossible for android to modify the system partition at all.
It could be someone adds a malicious app to system then backs up system.img the malicious app is gonna be in the backup then
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
Click to expand...
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?
Click to expand...
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 >?
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
Hi all,
I know phone SD cards are generally very hard to recover once wiped, all the same, I wanted to make sure.
Wiped Data through custom recovery
Wiped Caches
Installed stock OS
Restored stock recovery
Wiped
Are these enough steps to sure the phone is secure and no data can be recovered? Thanks.
If you want to fully wipe phone before sale security, try phone data eraser tool. Such tool can help us wipe all information on phone without recovery and make it like a new one. Then there is no need to worry about data leaked. Just search it online and choose the one you like. Good luck to you.
The same zero out technique I use for hdds, with a 5 pound sledge; flatten completely and then some.
Sometimes a oxyacetylene cutting torch... a nice bonfire gets it too.
Zero chance of data recovery and fun to do
ph3n0m. said:
Hi all,
I know phone SD cards are generally very hard to recover once wiped, all the same, I wanted to make sure.
Wiped Data through custom recovery
Wiped Caches
Installed stock OS
Restored stock recovery
Wiped
Are these enough steps to sure the phone is secure and no data can be recovered? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As @blackhawk mentioned: Overwriting Android's user-space several times with zeroes is fully enough. You even can do this by means of ADB.
I always just plug up to my laptop and do a: sudo fastboot -w
I've sold quite a few devices of mine over the years since Android began and t.ive always just did a format data using fastboot.
If you had some super top secret information on there maybe use some type of cleaner software program like another user here already mentioned. I've never used anything like that but I've read about them over the years online. I think a ./flash-all.sh and and not removing the fastboot -w flag is enough though, but that's just me. There are things you can purchase that will supposedly wipe it to where three is no possible way of anything ever being retrieved.
One of the most thorough ways to wipe the Android device is the factory reset.
The f actory reset deletes the complete relevant data - both the system settings data and the user settings and user data. The system applications are reset to the delivery state.
The factory reset deletes all subfolders of data (only lost+found remains) and deletes cache/dalvik-cache.
Hello Everyone.
So I have an unused phone that i wanted to sell, so I Factory reset it.
But then i look at some article and found out that Factory Reset doesn't completely wipe the Data, and it could be recovered by 3rd party program.
So the question is, if I Flash my phone to a stock firmware, would all the previous data be completely erased?
I just want to make sure that my data is completely lost before selling it, since it contain lots of sensitive information.
My Phone is Sony Xperia X Performance.
Thanks in advance.
A Factory Reset wipes ALL user-data and restores system apps to the state when phone was delivered.
BTW:
Wiping and Erasing data although can sound similar refer to different things data security business.
In short, Erase command erases or overwrites all of the data on the targeted drive, while Wipe command marks disk space as deleted / re-useable that is not being used by the Android OS ( unallocated space ). Wiped data theoreticaly can get recovered.
My recommendation: Do a Full Wipe
Code:
fastboot devices
fastboot erase userdata