wiping clean and rom changing - G2 and Desire Z General

Wondering something here...when i wiped my device, i went thru rom manager and did the wipe device thing to wipe all user data to clear out CM7.0.
after that i installed virtuous to try it out, and i noticed in root explorer in the system>app folder, there were CM apk's in there. does virtuous use CM stuff in their roms?
if not, why would they show up even after a full wipe?
Also, has anyone here ever had issues changing from a non sense rom to a sense and back to non sense in a matter of 2 hours?

well, if they are any of the CM specific apps like:
CMparts or CMstats or CMwallpapers (I think there are a few more, can't remember off the top of my head), then it sounds like a case of a "format" that didn't actually format. you wouldn't be the first person to deal with this problem with rom mgr and CWM recovery.. it is known to be finnicky when it comes to formatting partitions (among other things ).
thankfully, we have a tool now that will give you a true, clean format of /system /data and /cache partitions without having to manually run the commands every time (like I know some of us have been doing).
if you are the kind of guy, like myself, who likes to perform a clean wipe between roms, I'd highly recommend downloading that and using it instead of the rom manager/CWM recovery options.

tackleberry said:
Also, has anyone here ever had issues changing from a non sense rom to a sense and back to non sense in a matter of 2 hours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't answer your first question, but on my old Hero, I swapped from an AOSP ROM to a Sense ROM once almost every hour for a day because I couldn't make up my mind. Nothing bad happened to it and my father is using it now with no ill effects.

pmcqueen said:
well, if they are any of the CM specific apps like:
CMparts or CMstats or CMwallpapers (I think there are a few more, can't remember off the top of my head), then it sounds like a case of a "format" that didn't actually format. you wouldn't be the first person to deal with this problem with rom mgr and CWM recovery.. it is known to be finnicky when it comes to formatting partitions (among other things ).
thankfully, we have a tool now that will give you a true, clean format of /system /data and /cache partitions without having to manually run the commands every time (like I know some of us have been doing).
if you are the kind of guy, like myself, who likes to perform a clean wipe between roms, I'd highly recommend downloading that and using it instead of the rom manager/CWM recovery options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes i saw that program pop up when i was tying in the topic for this post! sounds like a great program wish it was posted a couple of days earlier lol. ill try when i get my device back.
wondering tho if these half ass wipes that CWM does caused my problems. i usually wipe when changing a type of rom, even with CM7 (nightly to RC for example). if i flash a nightly, i usually do a wipe every 2 nightlies.

Not sure what you mean by half ass wipes,lol, but I've never trusted the system wipe to do the job. I always do cache and dalvik along with it.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

enserio said:
Not sure what you mean by half ass wipes,lol, but I've never trusted the system wipe to do the job. I always do cache and dalvik along with it.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i do too. half ass saying there is stuff not wiped lol

tackleberry said:
i do too. half ass saying there is stuff not wiped lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... as amazing as CWM recovery is, the wipe process can be a bit.... lacking sometimes. If you don't use amazinglarry's superg2wipe script, then I would at least manually wipe through recovery before switching roms - this way you can be at least get most of the artifacts and "ghosts" left over from your last rom.

Sorry for bumping this old thread, I came across it while googling.
I've always used "wipe data/factory reset" in CWM. But that only wipes your /data and /cache partition.
Now, i only recently found out "wipe /system" under "mounts" in CWM. Meaning, I had never wiped my /system partition before, while swapping between 50 roms (be it AOSP or Sense). And I never had any problems. But the best way to fully wipe your system, is to do every partition manually + dalvik and battery stats.

Related

Having trouble flashing new roms

I'm kind of new to the rooting and custom rom thing. I have successfully flashed Fresh Rom 2.1.1 to my phone and I've got A2SD running on it. However, whenever I try to flash a new rom (including flashing Fresh again), it just freezes while booting and sometimes loops.
Before I flash the zip (running Ra recovery 1.5.2), I do a factory wipe and dalvik wipe. Once I flash a rom (I've tried fresh and ic3), it just doesn't work. Does anyone know what the problem is here? I don't know much about A2SD, so I may just be doing something wrong there, but any help would be appreciated.
Some folks say you need to wipe the ext partition, also. Don't know for certain that that is YOUR problem, but if you don't mind reinstalling your apps, it might be worth a try.
The 3.99 invest ment in Titatnium Backup is well worth every dime.
You are going to more than likely have to wipe EXT for every rom you flash, sometimes you will get lucky. If it doesn't boot with in 20 minutes, go wipe EXT. Some times you will have to even repartition the whole card.
Make sure you are not using EXT4 partition when you try other roms, just fresh works with ext4 i think.
I thought Darch's newest worked with ext4 also?
probably. I just know that when i had Ext4 fresh was the only one that worked for me until i removed ext4 and went back to ext3 so i could use damageless rom
Kcarpenter said:
The 3.99 invest ment in Titatnium Backup is well worth every dime.
You are going to more than likely have to wipe EXT for every rom you flash, sometimes you will get lucky. If it doesn't boot with in 20 minutes, go wipe EXT. Some times you will have to even repartition the whole card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I'm working on this whole donate system with titanium backup now. Waiting on an e-mail or something. (Not really enjoying this method of buying a program very much...)
I'm using an ext3 partition if I remember correctly.
Leon H said:
Alright, I'm working on this whole donate system with titanium backup now. Waiting on an e-mail or something. (Not really enjoying this method of buying a program very much...)
I'm using an ext3 partition if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the only way he can really lock down the program with a key file.
The market doesn't offer ANY protection for apps that are paid.
This is something Google REALLY needs to do something about if we really are going to attract iPhone devs.
Kind of a PITA but it protects his app.
Kcarpenter said:
It's the only way he can really lock down the program with a key file.
The market doesn't offer ANY protection for apps that are paid.
This is something Google REALLY needs to do something about if we really are going to attract iPhone devs.
Kind of a PITA but it protects his app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My keyfile came in the mail. It was kind of difficult understanding what was going on, but now I get the process. It seems very effective, I understand it completely from the developer's perspective.
Now that I've got the backup working, I'm gonna try wiping the ext partition and make sure I can restore it from the backup.

Apps Keep Appearing After Flash ... But I'm Not Connected.

I have been moving my Hero from Sense -> Vanilla.
But, after wiping, flashing, rebooting, there are some apps, like ASTRO, MyBackup, aNetShare, and Springpad, for example, that are already there after first boot.
And before anybody says that Android is backing them up, I'm not connected to any account!
How can this be?
It may already be installed in the ROM you flashed
I've found the same thing whilst benchmarking. I'll wipe everything flash a new rom to benchmark and the benchmark apps will install themselves on first boot. Something I'm as yet unable to explain. Having said that i've experienced no issues with this the two times it has happened (out of at least 10 different rom wipes) and all the apps have worked as they should.
sebxd said:
It may already be installed in the ROM you flashed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is CMH 1.4.1 ROM. I do not think CMH has Springpad, and much less MyBackup Pro, does it?
btdag said:
I've found the same thing whilst benchmarking. I'll wipe everything flash a new rom to benchmark and the benchmark apps will install themselves on first boot. Something I'm as yet unable to explain. Having said that i've experienced no issues with this the two times it has happened (out of at least 10 different rom wipes) and all the apps have worked as they should.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here apps work fine. But that is not the point I'm getting crazy understanding where they are.
Did you wipe EXT as well?
wywywywy said:
Did you wipe EXT as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By EXT you mean Linux partition? Cause if that, i have no linux partitions on the card ... or not that i remember ... would have to check back if that is the case.
kwanbis said:
By EXT you mean Linux partition? Cause if that, i have no linux partitions on the card ... or not that i remember ... would have to check back if that is the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should say "Wipe SD:Ext" in recovery. That's where all apps are installed if you use Apps2sd...
Full wipe usually means Data, Dalvik, Sd:Ext.
ante0 said:
Should say "Wipe SD:Ext" in recovery. That's where all apps are installed if you use Apps2sd...
Full wipe usually means Data, Dalvik, Sd:Ext.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a factory reset, dalvilk reset, but i did not do a SD:Ext, as i do not remember having a partition.
But now that you mention it, it could very well be the case.
I would check as soon as i get the phone home.
Thanks.

How to PROPERLY Flash a ROM

Since I have seen alot of individuals within ROM threads stating things such as, "Your ROM bricked my phone." or "I can't get your new ROM to install." decided to make this guide. Hopefully it will solve this issue and help educate people.
What not flasing correctly can do:
1. Cause your phone not to boot
2. Cause Force closes and issues
3. POSSIBLY Brick your phone (though I have not seen an Eris Brick yet)
We must also remember that:
1. The devs of these ROMs are NOT responsible for any damage to your phone
2. The devs spend alot of time with testing to make sure the ROM works.
3. A ROM will NOT always flash over a previous ROM
OK.. So onto the main topic..
assuming you are rooted and using AMON's Recovery. I suggest AMON's because Clockwork has had recent issues. Big thanks to AMON for this!
How to install a ROM properly:
1. Boot into recovery ( with either reboot to recovery option or powerdown and then holding volume up and power )
2. Goto Backup/Restore and do a NAND Back-Up
3. Do a data/factory wipe ( NOTE: if the dev says you can flash over an old version you dont NEED to do this, but if you don't do this and the ROM is not booting then I suggest you restart this process [minus the back-up] and do a data/factory wipe)
4. Do a Dalvik Wipe... 3 times (ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do this)
5. Flash ROM
6. Reboot and Wait ( after a Dalvik wipe and flashing ROMs first boot can take 3+ minutes to load... BE PATIENT )
More to Come...
If you could, please explain what a Dalvik flash does. Thanks in adavnce, and thanks for this thread. I've never had any issues flashing, but it's nice to see someone explain the basics....
MOS95B said:
If you could, please explain what a Dalvik flash does. Thanks in adavnce, and thanks for this thread. I've never had any issues flashing, but it's nice to see someone explain the basics....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Dalvik cache is a program cache area for the program Dalvik. Dalvik is a java based virtual machine that is the bases for running your programs (the ones that have the .apk extension). In order to make access times faster (because there's not JIT (just in time) compiler installed by default), the Dalvik-cache is the result of Dalvik doing a optimization of the running program." - Taken From Android forums
Basically it analyzes the phone before it boots. Then it sees what apps you have and will use and assigns cache to them. This way they will load quickly and properly.
When you flash a new ROM apps can change, or if you do a data/factory reset those apps are gone. SO wiping the Dalvik allows it to rebuild itself for what YOU are using.
This is also good to do after cleaning out or removing many unused apps from the phone. I usually do it once a week AT LEAST.
With the exception of a 2.1 ROM running apps2sd on an ext partition, is there really any point to wipe Dalvik if you have just done a wipe data/factory reset (which also wipes Dalvik cache)? And what exactly is the point of wiping Dalvik three times - why is once not enough? Is there something wrong with Amon Recovery which prevents a full Dalvik wipe unless you do it more than once?
It certainly doesn't hurt to wipe Dalvik after a wipe data/factory reset, but it should be already wiped.
I'm still fairly new, but I've flashed quite a bit. I didn't know to wipe dalvik x3. that's an interesting bit of info. Any reason why? Thanks
lp4261 said:
I'm still fairly new, but I've flashed quite a bit. I didn't know to wipe dalvik x3. that's an interesting bit of info. Any reason why? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Safety reasons... personally I do factory then dalvik 3x then factory again and dalvik 3x again.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
I tried this and now I have a paper weight lol j/k
tazzpatriot said:
I tried this and now I have a paper weight lol j/k
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My plan worked
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
I believe the reason is that sometimes even after a wipe people have reported residual data in the cache, I personally don't do it three times but I do a wipe, dalvik, dalvik, wipe.
Its not going to hurt anything and it gives me piece of mind.
Delvaris said:
I believe the reason is that sometimes even after a wipe people have reported residual data in the cache, I personally don't do it three times but I do a wipe, dalvik, dalvik, wipe.
Its not going to hurt anything and it gives me piece of mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool. Thanks for the good info.
x3? I do once before and once after. Frankly once before has been enough for me... though I suppose being safe has never hurt.
If the dalvik cache still won't clear after 3 times you can piss on your phone. That seems to really help.
in most cases once is enough but like I said, it's not likely to hurt anything to give it a couple of wipes to make sure all the junk data is cleared.
Let me put it this way...
I wont use a public toilet just by seeing it is clean... ill clean it like twice ...
This is why I dalvik 3 times lol
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
icbeer said:
If the dalvik cache still won't clear after 3 times you can piss on your phone. That seems to really help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that today.. now my phone wont turn on... any fix?...
Jk
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
It would be interesting for someone like Amon to comment on the need to wipe data or recovery more than one time. In my opinion, once is enough. I'm 100% confident than wipes #2, #3, and so on are wiping blank space...
hallstevenson said:
It would be interesting for someone like Amon to comment on the need to wipe data or recovery more than one time. In my opinion, once is enough. I'm 100% confident than wipes #2, #3, and so on are wiping blank space...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally and others have experienced residual data... so is three too much... maybe... but its safe... two might be a better choice... this guide was made to make sure you have no issues... therefore I said three times for safety... if you want to just do it once... be my guest
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
At the risk sounding like an idiot, I must ask this:
You mention wiping the Dalvik once a week. When you do this wipe, do you replace it (flash) something over it? Or can you simply wipe then reboot.
Sent from my FroyoEris using XDA App
J&M said:
At the risk sounding like an idiot, I must ask this:
You mention wiping the Dalvik once a week. When you do this wipe, do you replace it (flash) something over it? Or can you simply wipe then reboot.
Sent from my FroyoEris using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, just wipe and boot. After wiping dalvik, it will redo your app tree or configuration if you will, just clears all the current info and rebuilds it fresh.
Great thread, people still need it I guess
workshed said:
Yep, just wipe and boot. After wiping dalvik, it will redo your app tree or configuration if you will, just clears all the current info and rebuilds it fresh.
Great thread, people still need it I guess
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol thanks buddy!
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

Full wipe, new Rom, old settings and apps

Hello guys.
I would really appreciate an answer to a question I have.
I installed leedroid 3.0.2 and I have the same apps and settings as before.
I think I haven't done a good wipe..
I rebooted to recovery from cwm and used the wipe before I installed the new Rom. (i was using the revolution 3.5 before)
After I installed the new Rom, when I booted on, all apps and settings were there.
Shouldn't the wipe thing clean everything and leave the phone "empty"?
Or, (most obvious) did I do something wrong and should do it again? Cause there is a little thing with the market that closes the process when I click on new released apps.
Thank you in advance guys.
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD
GeorgeKps said:
Hello guys.
I would really appreciate an answer to a question I have.
I installed leedroid 3.0.2 and I have the same apps and settings as before.
I think I haven't done a good wipe..
I rebooted to recovery from cwm and used the wipe before I installed the new Rom. (i was using the revolution 3.5 before)
After I installed the new Rom, when I booted on, all apps and settings were there.
Shouldn't the wipe thing clean everything and leave the phone "empty"?
Or, (most obvious) did I do something wrong and should do it again? Cause there is a little thing with the market that closes the process when I click on new released apps.
Thank you in advance guys.
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you wiping data and cache in recovery?
"wipe data/factory reset"
It will then say:
Code:
-- Wiping data...
Formatting /data...
Formatting /cache...
Formatting /sd-ext...
Formatting /sdcard/.android_secure...
Data wipe complete.
Then:
"wipe cache partition"
It will say:
Code:
-- Wiping cache...
Formatting /cache...
Cache wipe complete
(second option is overkill)
Have you still got the setting to backup to Google servers ticked? Or any other app that you have backed things up with?
Whilst the last option wouldn't be instant (they would download again and take a good 5 minutes to appear).
And yes, you will probably experience issues if this is due to a missed wipe.
So, I will need to do a factory reset first, then do a cache wipe and then install the Rom?
(i don't remember doing all these for the revo Rom..)
Do I need to do these without rebooting the phone until everything is done?
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD
GeorgeKps said:
So, I will need to do a factory reset first, then do a cache wipe and then install the Rom?
(i don't remember doing all these for the revo Rom..)
Do I need to do these without rebooting the phone until everything is done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you should always do the "wipe data/factory reset" before installing any new ROMs or if the dev has advised it, also between major update revisions.
You don't need to reboot. If using recovery to install the ROM just do the wipes then flash the ROM using menu.
Awesome. Thanks for the help.
Will try it now and I hope everything goes well. Hope I won't get stuck since am not in front of my pc.
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD
Well, I did it again. Everything wiped out, started as new.
But still, new apps in market and battery history in spare parts give me a process termination...
Oh well, I guess that Lee will release an update.
Oh, something else I would like to ask. There is a new kernel for the Rom. Do I flash it the same way I flash everything? Through recovery?
Thanks again guys
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD
I use Leedroid and don't have this problem. Today I have installed from scratch and gone back and forth between ROM's. i turned off all the processes that backup and restore apps and I get a blank fresh install.
I have to ask, the last time you installed Leedroid, did you use the downloaded one or a copy from your sdcard? is it possible you are restoring a copy rather than flashing a fresh copy?
And you don't have any apps that have backed up your apps such as Titanium? And you have turned off Google Backup and restore feature?
The thing is, it is handy not to lose data but we need to make sure your wipe is being done. Did you see the same messages in Recovery as I showed above?
gosh, it is sooooooooooooo weird...
i did it all again. factory reset, delete cache, installed the 3.0.3 version (which was released today).
everything seemed to go smooth. still, i went to market and clicking on the newly released apps list i get an error which is "com.android.vewnding" has been shut blah blah blah. and the same happens to spare parts. when i click battery history ""com.android.spare_parts" shuts down.
do you guys think it has to do with the kernel? should i flash lee's kernel (i couldn't find how to. i mean, shall i do it from the cwm recovery?)
i guess that the radio has nothing to do with all these, does it?...
thank you guys once again for your help
Cheers !!!
GeorgeKps said:
gosh, it is sooooooooooooo weird...
i did it all again. factory reset, delete cache, installed the 3.0.3 version (which was released today).
everything seemed to go smooth. still, i went to market and clicking on the newly released apps list i get an error which is "com.android.vewnding" has been shut blah blah blah. and the same happens to spare parts. when i click battery history ""com.android.spare_parts" shuts down.
do you guys think it has to do with the kernel? should i flash lee's kernel (i couldn't find how to. i mean, shall i do it from the cwm recovery?)
i guess that the radio has nothing to do with all these, does it?...
thank you guys once again for your help
Cheers !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have tried fix permissions in ROM Manager, yes?
eeeeeeeeeerm.... you got me. that is something i totally forgot to do :-(((
gosh.. i flashed the radio, sweet. tried to flash a kernel using jkoljo's tool and it stayed on the white screen (and of course cold sweat was all over the place )
but i flashed the rom again after clearing cache and the likes and (thank god) i'm in.
but the most weird thing is that, after all these, the kernel is flashed :-S
i checked in the phone info and the kernel is there..
anyway, am gonna do the fix permissions thingy and reflash once more. if it stays the same way, i'll have to live with it. it's late here in greece.
thanks again for your help guys, i really appreciate it )))
Cheers !!!
i did it all again but nothing happened.
did the permissions, rebooted to recovery, factory reset, cache wipe, install new rom and nothing.
i have to tell you guys though.. the problem with the market started when i was on the revolution rom. and it started just like that. one day everything was fine, next, bam. it didn't budge.
do you think there might be something wrong with the phone itself? (probably not and i'm paranoid)
other than that, everything works nice.
oh, and some other thing. there is this "full wipe 1.3" zip i had put in my SD card but never really used it.
should i use it this time?
this app should clean everything in the cache but not my files, right?
Cheers !!!
YouTube clip of how to manually full wipe everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCwr6Ru0yko
When using this method I've never had a problem.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA App
I did the wipe as shown in the video. The problem remains the same. New market apps list gives an error followed by a restart of it and spare parts battery history does the same (without the restart though)
I don't know, I'm thinking of trying a different Rom even though I like the one Lee released.
(could all this mean that I have a problem with the phone?.......)
Anyway, thank you guys for spending time helping me.
Cheers !!!

After Flashing New Rom, Settings are preset and apps already installed??

i started noticing that after i flashed a new rom, alot of my settings are set to the way i had them before. and some apps are already installed that would otherwise need a marketplace install..
keep in mind, i always do a wipe of cache/dalvik/sdcard
i think it started happening after i partitioned the sd card for those old sense roms that needed extra space.. cant remember..
but it seems like theres a portion of rom that isnt being wiped and all my settings are being carried over to the next rom flash..
how can i fully wipe my phone or get it back to normal?
this is weird, and i want it to stop. any ideas?
i just flashed back to amonra
TorxT3D said:
i started noticing that after i flashed a new rom, alot of my settings are set to the way i had them before. and some apps are already installed that would otherwise need a marketplace install..
keep in mind, i always do a wipe of cache/dalvik/sdcard
i think it started happening after i partitioned the sd card for those old sense roms that needed extra space.. cant remember..
but it seems like theres a portion of rom that isnt being wiped and all my settings are being carried over to the next rom flash..
how can i fully wipe my phone or get it back to normal?
this is weird, and i want it to stop. any ideas?
i just flashed back to amonra
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using ROMs that have Google back up enabled?
Also, if the zip isn't set to wipe /data and you're not wiping it then you'll still have all of your data.
That has happened to me too. Are you wiping sdext and android.secure in recovery. I always wipe those and haven't had that happen since I started doing that.
We're comin from a pure power source.
naw i turn off all that google backup stuff.
thats the thing, when i try to wipe sdext it gives me an error (from the last i remember doing it)
Hmmm. Latest version of amon ra?
We're comin from a pure power source.
keep in mind, i always do a wipe of cache/dalvik/sdcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be wiping data as well when flashing new roms.
I flash vrsuperwipe everytime I flash, but I use Google backup, so when I flash a new sense ROM it saves a lot of my settings, and my SD-ext apps automatically appear. Good feature imo.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
bump for any other answers or advice
thanks guise.
still wondering about other options before testing some new roms
same thing happened to me so I tried repairing sdext and then re-partitioned my card and left it ext2 instead of ext3,wipe data/cache/dalvik cache/system flash superwipe, then flashed rom. don't know which one worked but it stopped. Also I noticed it mainly happens when I flash 3.0 roms but it has happened on CM7 to
TorxT3D said:
i started noticing that after i flashed a new rom, alot of my settings are set to the way i had them before. and some apps are already installed that would otherwise need a marketplace install..
keep in mind, i always do a wipe of cache/dalvik/sdcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did not wipe data. If you do this you will preserve all of you apps (if they were not on card), data and system settings. This may work for you if the new ROM that you are moving to is similar enough. It can cause big problems if the structure of the ROMs is too different. You can end up with a phone that lags and has wakelocks (at best) or is not functional at all due force closes all over the place.
You should really wipe data as well before flashing a ROM and then do a selective restore of data on the new ROM.

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