My basic question is can I repeatedly reflash the same ROM to my Epic without wiping data between flashes?
I flashed a ROM and then manually flashed a number of add-ons and optional installs from other ROMs. My phone is now in a state that I don't like. I thought I did a nandroid backup after the initial ROM flash, but I didn't. I'd like to just reflash the same ROM that I already have on my phone, hopefully just wiping cache + dalvik first. I'd rather not wipe data and go through all that again if I don't have to. Is this safe to do?
Yes its safe. Only reason they say to wipe is going from one rom to other rom u may get some probs.
Sent from my Epic 4G
Whole Story:
I'm on a i337m Canadian S4 - Comes with Bootloader unlocked.
Last night I clicked "Format Data" by mistake in the newest TWRP - Lost everything - Could not do anything - flashing Roms did not work, so I downloaded a complete Restore of 4.2.2 from Sammobile and Odin 3.0.7 and was going to flash it back to stock.
About 1/2 way through the flash, something failed regarding a partition - Now my phone will not do anything other than display the below screen. It does not load a recovery, it does not go into download mode. Kies does not detect the phone anymore.
What can I do? Anything?
I'm so depressed over this.
bigystyle84 said:
Whole Story:
I'm on a i337m Canadian S4 - Comes with Bootloader unlocked.
Last night I clicked "Format Data" by mistake in the newest TWRP - Lost everything - Could not do anything - flashing Roms did not work, so I downloaded a complete Restore of 4.2.2 from Sammobile and Odin 3.0.7 and was going to flash it back to stock.
About 1/2 way through the flash, something failed regarding a partition - Now my phone will not do anything other than display the below screen. It does not load a recovery, it does not go into download mode. Kies does not detect the phone anymore.
What can I do? Anything?
I'm so depressed over this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Format data will do nothing other than restore to factory settings, it should boot straight after.
winwiz said:
Format data will do nothing other than restore to factory settings, it should boot straight after.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I've read, Format Data using the newest version of TWRP deletes everything, causing everything not to work and is some sort of bug.
The ODIN Flash then failed after too.
I have the i337M Canadian version with the S600 Qualcomm
I've flashed via Odin dozens of times before with my previous Note II / S3 - never had one fail.
bigystyle84 said:
From what I've read, Format Data using the newest version of TWRP deletes everything, causing everything not to work and is some sort of bug.
The ODIN Flash then failed after too.
I have the i337M Canadian version with the S600 Qualcomm
I've flashed via Odin dozens of times before with my previous Note II / S3 - never had one fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does adb detect the phone?
kingzain900 said:
Does adb detect the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure - I can see when I get home.
Can a cable cause this? I am not using the Cable that came with the phone - That wasn't included when I bought it. I'm using a Sony Cable from a Xperia T I used to own.
Why did the Odin flash fail to begin with?
Why did Format Data in TWRP cause all this to happen?
bigystyle84 said:
I'm not sure - I can see when I get home.
Can a cable cause this? I am not using the Cable that came with the phone - That wasn't included when I bought it. I'm using a Sony Cable from a Xperia T I used to own.
Why did the Odin flash fail to begin with?
Why did Format Data in TWRP cause all this to happen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also ask Does god exist and what is the meaning of life.
Haha. I don't know. Such rethorical questions.
The cable matters because the other cable might not push enough current. Not sure. About the rest I have no idea. TWRP has a bug that's for sure. I don't use it. Check what adb says.
RESOLVED!!!
Tried my Laptop running Windows 7, and switched the cable. Also tried ODIN 1.85 instead of 3.07
Finally! This version of ODIN recongizes my phone.
3rd Attempt at flashing the firmware worked. The first TWO times failed.
Once it flashed, it froze, but factory rest has me back to Stock.
Now - to avoid that format Data button in TWRP, think I'll be giving CWM a try for the first time in years. Need me some Google Edition.
bigystyle84 said:
RESOLVED!!!
Tried my Laptop running Windows 7, and switched the cable. Also tried ODIN 1.85 instead of 3.07
Finally! This version of ODIN recongizes my phone.
3rd Attempt at flashing the firmware worked. The first TWO times failed.
Once it flashed, it froze, but factory rest has me back to Stock.
Now - to avoid that format Data button in TWRP, think I'll be giving CWM a try for the first time in years. Need me some Google Edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wiping data, opposed to Formatting data.
TWRP FAQ
What to 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 (which includes dalvik cache). A factory reset will also wipe sd-ext and android_secure if your device has those items. 99% of the time, this is all that you need to wipe and you only need to do it once, not three times as some people would lead you to believe.
If you're installing a nightly update, then oftentimes you don't need to wipe anything at all. However, if you encounter strange behavior, then you may want to consider performing a factory reset. Of course, if the ROM maker recommends that you do a factory reset during an update, then it's a good idea to follow their recommendation.
The vast majority of ROMs wipe system as part of the zip install. This means that in most cases you do not need to wipe system... ever.
At this point, cache (not dalvik cache) is primarily used for recovery. It's used to store the recovery log and for storing OTA (Over The Air) updates. You probably don't need to wipe cache, and cache is already wiped as part of a factory reset.
In most ROMs, dalvik cache is stored in the data partition, so if you do a factory reset, you've also wiped dalvik cache. In a few custom ROMs, especially on older devices with small data partitions, the ROM maker may have moved dalvik to the cache partition to provide you with more room for apps. Since we wipe cache with a factory reset, again, you probably don't need to wipe dalvik. There are a few situations where you may need to wipe dalvik cache when installing updates, but you will know that it's needed when you are greeted with force closes when trying to open some apps.
Depending on your device and its configuration, you may have options for wiping internal storage, external storage, sd-ext, android_secure, and/or an option for formatting data. There's almost no reason that you would ever need to use these items. These options are there for convenience. For instance, if you're getting ready to sell your device, then it's a good idea to wipe everything on the device so that the new owner doesn't get your private data. Note that these wipe options may not be completely destructive. If you store especially sensitive information on your device or are really concerned about your private data, then you may need to look into other options to ensure that your data is fully destroyed.
norml said:
Wiping data, opposed to Formatting data.
TWRP FAQ
What to 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 (which includes dalvik cache). A factory reset will also wipe sd-ext and android_secure if your device has those items. 99% of the time, this is all that you need to wipe and you only need to do it once, not three times as some people would lead you to believe.
If you're installing a nightly update, then oftentimes you don't need to wipe anything at all. However, if you encounter strange behavior, then you may want to consider performing a factory reset. Of course, if the ROM maker recommends that you do a factory reset during an update, then it's a good idea to follow their recommendation.
The vast majority of ROMs wipe system as part of the zip install. This means that in most cases you do not need to wipe system... ever.
At this point, cache (not dalvik cache) is primarily used for recovery. It's used to store the recovery log and for storing OTA (Over The Air) updates. You probably don't need to wipe cache, and cache is already wiped as part of a factory reset.
In most ROMs, dalvik cache is stored in the data partition, so if you do a factory reset, you've also wiped dalvik cache. In a few custom ROMs, especially on older devices with small data partitions, the ROM maker may have moved dalvik to the cache partition to provide you with more room for apps. Since we wipe cache with a factory reset, again, you probably don't need to wipe dalvik. There are a few situations where you may need to wipe dalvik cache when installing updates, but you will know that it's needed when you are greeted with force closes when trying to open some apps.
Depending on your device and its configuration, you may have options for wiping internal storage, external storage, sd-ext, android_secure, and/or an option for formatting data. There's almost no reason that you would ever need to use these items. These options are there for convenience. For instance, if you're getting ready to sell your device, then it's a good idea to wipe everything on the device so that the new owner doesn't get your private data. Note that these wipe options may not be completely destructive. If you store especially sensitive information on your device or are really concerned about your private data, then you may need to look into other options to ensure that your data is fully destroyed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - I realize this and am installing TWRP as we speak. (I just prefer it)
I was actually reading the Complete Guide in the general section and saw under CWM install that you need to format data between switching Roms.. I never actually did this ever with previous phones. Completely my fault for reading the CWM part, not the TWRP part, right under neath. I thought the Format Data was something S4 specific since this is my 2nd day with the device.
I'm now rooted with TWRP back on.
I am currently using a another custom rom on S4 SGH-I337M.
I would like to install the Slim Bean 2 stable rom on to it.
I am very new the installing roms etc,. Just rooted and installed CWM on my phone last week.
My question is do I doing the following procedure to install
5.Now, perform data wiping task. To do so, select wipe data/factory reset, then select Yes on next screen to confirm your action. Wait few minutes till the data wipe is complete. Now come back to CWM recovery main menu. Select wipe cache partition and after wiping process done, select Wipe Dalvik Cache under advance option to perform Dalvik cache wiping.
Or follow the guide on Slim Bean sire:-
SlimBean 4.3 installation instructions
After there is a some confusion about how to install 4.3, here is a list of what's absolutely necessary
■full wipe (means: wipe data / factory reset and format /system)
■install Slim 4.3 ROM
■install Slim 4.3 gapps
■Reboot
What is the difference between the two guides.
As I mentione I have been doing quite a bit of reading and I was able to following the instruction when i first rooted to install custom Rom my phone. But is a little confusing with so much out there to read.
Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.
Okay dude I was a noob too just a few weeks ago and I was staying over the little things too. Basically the only things you need to wipe are cache and dalvik cache and format/data but beware you should always have a backup of your current Rom because wiping data will make your phone unable to boot incase the zip file you downloaded doesn't install. In that case you can simply restore your rom download anther and try again so yeah
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda app-developers app
There's no real difference between those 2 guides.
Slim ROMs always recommend manually formatting system (as well as wiping cache / dalvik / data) but in theory it shouldn't be necessary. As you flash a ROM if you watch all the text on your screen you'll see that it formats the system itself. When you do a data wipe / factory reset you'll notice that it also wipes the cache at the same time. There's no harm doing it twice and I usually end up doing more than necessary.
As the previous poster said, ALWAYS make a backup before you do anything serious. My backups consist of:
- nandroid backup (with CWM or TWRP)
- back up all user apps and data (never system apps/data) with Titanium Backup Pro (I actually do these 3x/wk on a schedule)
- backup Calls and Messages to xml with TiBu Pro
Whenever I change from one custom ROM to another (say, Cyanogenmod to Slim) or one Android version to another (4.3 to 4.4) I do all of the following...
- wipe data / factory reset
- wipe cache
- wipe dalvik
- mount system
- format system
- flash ROM
- flash GAPPS
- with Kit Kat (Android 4.4) I've also been flashing SuperSU1.69.zip since some of the early Kit Kat ROMs were breaking Superuser.
- reboot
- follow the basic setup procedures to get your main Google account going
- open Play Store and get TiBu and Pro Key again
- open TiBu and do a batch action: "restore missing apps with data", then restore calls and messages from xml
- go into settings and tweak away......
When I update to a new version of my current ROM (like a new nightly or weekly or new stable version) I do the following...
- wipe cache
- wipe dalvik
- flash ROM
- flash GAPPs
- reboot
This is a "dirty flash" and can cause problems so do it at your own risk. Worst case scenario is that you might have to restore your backup or do a proper full wipe and try again...
---------- Post added 12th December 2013 at 12:04 AM ---------- Previous post was 11th December 2013 at 11:56 PM ----------
I should also mention, if you've already taken a stock phone and followed instructions to root and get a ROM going then what you're trying to do now is even easier. As long as you have CWM and make a backup you don't need to worry. Just make sure you always download the correct version of the ROM for your phone as well as the correct GAPPS package for the Android version you're flashing.
I am sure this is a stupid question, but I've looked and not found a definitive answer so I'll try here.
I have a LG G2 (AT&T) which I have rooted/clockwork/CM11. I did most of it when I had a failed OTA send me into a bootloop. (I had rooted the stock and removed some bloat which it didn't care for). I love CM11 however, there are some issues with the M5 build that I think are solved in the nightlies.
My questions are as follows:
(1) If I start flashing nightlies am I going to loose everything on my phone?
(1a) If so? How do people handle nightly flashes and always having a phone that needs setup?
(1b) If not, how do I flash the CM rom? I assume through recovery like I did before.
(2) Is there an easier way to backup and restore my setup to my phone?
(2a) I have titanium backup, and I have backed up all system and apps. However, I am not sure if restoring that will mess things up after flashing.
So basically, I'm looking to find out how people use the nightly builds and still have a mostly functioning phone on a day to day basis?
Thank you!
Before flashing a nightly for the first time:
You will need to wipe cache, dalvik cache, and data (user data--not internal storage).
Updating to the newest nightly:
You will only need to wipe cache and dalvik before flashing the new nightly. You will not lose your setup or apps. CM has its own OTA app that will automatically install new nightlies via your custom recovery (CWM or TWRP)
Jayriff said:
Before flashing a nightly for the first time:
You will need to wipe cache, dalvik cache, and data (user data--not internal storage).
Updating to the newest nightly:
You will only need to wipe cache and dalvik before flashing the new nightly. You will not lose your setup or apps. CM has its own OTA app that will automatically install new nightlies via your custom recovery (CWM or TWRP)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I'm new to CM, and the thought of wiping my phone every evening was kind of scary.
bstripp said:
Thanks! I'm new to CM, and the thought of wiping my phone every evening was kind of scary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah once you're on nightlies, it's not a big deal. But after your FIRST flash of the nightlie, also be sure to flash the correct GApps package, which includes apps like the Google Play Store.
Hello,
actually I'm using a SGS4 I9505 with cm-12-20150304-NIGHTLY-jfltexx and CWM 6.0.5.1.
I've tried to flash several TW Lollipop firmware wich i found in the I9505 forum:
1. Kushan+Touchwiz+Lollipop+Lite+Rom+v.1.2
2. S4_Echoev42_EchoePop2_020315
3. OA7-2.1F
4. XXUHA07-v2.01
Before flashing any oft this firmwares i made a factory reset, wiped both caches and installed the modem Firmware via Odin.
After flashing firmware # 1 and 2 my phone was stuc in a bootloop (only Samsung Galaxy S4 Logo appears).
Flashing firmware #3 and 4 fails and cwm reports error 7.
Flashing cm12 afterwards isn't a problem and runs fine.
I think the wipe fails or doesn't work properly. Is it enougth to select factory reset in cwm and wipe the dalvik cache manualy?
What can I do?
With besteht regard
Mirko (NemesisMF)
What if it is a recovery problem?
Thought about that too.
Should i try twrp or philz?
I switched to Philz Recovery and flashed S4 Echoe Rom v42 without any Problems.
CWM seems to have a problem to falsh TW Lollipop images ower an existing CM12 an the I9505.
You need to do full wipe not just cache.
ranger4740 said:
You need to do full wipe not just cache.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I wrote above I did a factory reset before flashing and wiped the caches with cwm. If that is not enougth it would be nice to explain what else I have to wipe or post a link.
While using philz recovery the factory reset for clean system is enougth and the new System is working fine.
Factory wipe is not full wipe, you need to do a full wipe as in format to install new rom, phillz recovery has this feature can't remember exactly where, I think its under advanced.
Just have a look in the sub menus.
Just to explain it better when you do a full wipe it deletes every part of the existing
Rom including the system, data and cache and some other stuff completely removing the android operating system, so unless the rom you install does a wipe before install parts of the existing system will remain and can cause boot issues. For example as you've already discovered you are trying to install a tw rom over an existing cyanogenmod 12 installation which Will cause it to hang on boot.
NemesisMF said:
As I wrote above I did a factory reset before flashing and wiped the caches with cwm. If that is not enougth it would be nice to explain what else I have to wipe or post a link.
While using philz recovery the factory reset for clean system is enougth and the new System is working fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean a factory reset from within Android itself? If so, then that's a complete obsolete step. When before flashing a rom you should perform a factory reset, then they always mean a full wipe from the recovery. You need to do a full wipe from the recovery. That means the /system partition is being wiped. You will see it in the screen during the wipe if it wipes /system.
But it also could have been a problem of CWM. I don't think it is being updated anymore, so better use TWRP or Philz.