Database Users

This is probably a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway...

OK so, I was getting ready to flash to a new rom. I performed a factory reset, wiped cache, data, dalvic, etc...twice. But not paying attention, I accidentally selected reboot system before flashing a different rom...
...it rebooted normally, except as a fresh install. So by wiping the system, I'm really only clearing user data? How do I get rid of the rom entirely? Let's say the new rom I try to flash is considerably smaller with a lot less bloat. Wouldn't simply overwriting old rom still leave behind all of that extra data?
Is it possible to completely wipe the system partition and flash a new rom with cwm and have it boot?
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda premium

new roms usually format the system partition - so nothing is left behind

In addition to what b63 said (which is correct), I think you're just getting hung up on some of the terminology. Doing a factory reset only wipes out userdata (data, cache, .android_secure) and doesn't touch your system partition. The ROM itself is still completely intact after a factory reset.
If you want to manually wipe your system partition you can do that, but you usually don't need to. In CWM go to "Mounts and Storage" and then select "Format /system" to do it. TWRP has an equivalent that I can't remember offhand, but it's something to the same effect (might be under "Advanced" or something). If you flash a ROM after you format /system manually it will boot fine, but obviously it won't boot if you format and reboot without installing a new ROM.

You're right, I just misspoke. The rom is only contained in the system folder, correct? I just couldn't understand why it would boot if I presumably wiped everything.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda premium

yes - if you look into the zip file of a rom you'll see there is mainly the system folder - that is /system
some have a data folder also - that are additional preinstalled apps in /data/apps
if your question is answered please mark the subject of the topic (edit first post) with [Solved]

Yes, the ROM's applications and binaries all live on the system partition, which is why it has no trouble booting after a factory reset. The data partition is basically reserved for user settings, apps, and other files.

[Q] Question about nandroid backups location

Hi, I've got a Nexus 10 and I already have rooted and installed TWRP recovery. I'm used to get devices with microsd slot. As this is not the case, I have a noob question.
I'm having problems installing certain apps and I want to try wiping the device and see if after wiping, the installation suceeds. Just in case, I have already taken a nandroid backup, but, as the backup is located in the internal SD, I'm afraid that if I wipe the device, it will also wipe the backup. Will wiping the device erase the TWRP backup too?. The backup is located at /sdcard/TWRP/BACKUPS/...... and so on. I think that wiping the device shouldn't wipe the /sdcard partition, but I'm not sure about this.
Can you please confirm that wiping the device will erase only /data and not /sdcard?
Thanks a lot.

joanquro said:
Hi, I've got a Nexus 10 and I already have rooted and installed TWRP recovery. I'm used to get devices with microsd slot. As this is not the case, I have a noob question.
I'm having problems installing certain apps and I want to try wiping the device and see if after wiping, the installation suceeds. Just in case, I have already taken a nandroid backup, but, as the backup is located in the internal SD, I'm afraid that if I wipe the device, it will also wipe the backup. Will wiping the device erase the TWRP backup too?. The backup is located at /sdcard/TWRP/BACKUPS/...... and so on. I think that wiping the device shouldn't wipe the /sdcard partition, but I'm not sure about this.
Can you please confirm that wiping the device will erase only /data and not /sdcard?
Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't confirm anything; but I'd highly suggest just backing up the nandroid to a computer just in-case. I'm pretty sure though that the nandroid would remain as long as you didn't actually format data.

espionage724 said:
I can't confirm anything; but I'd highly suggest just backing up the nandroid to a computer just in-case. I'm pretty sure though that the nandroid would remain as long as you didn't actually format data.
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Click to collapse
That's what I've done so far. I have copied the nandroid backup to my PC. I suppose that it's possible, in case the backup is deleted, that I can mount the partition from recovery and then using adb, push the backup in order to restore it. Is this the way to go?.
By the way, what you mean is that the backup will remain as long as I don't format /sdcard, right? Because /data will get formated if I wipe the device, I think.
Thanks.

joanquro said:
By the way, what you mean is that the backup will remain as long as I don't format /sdcard, right? Because /data will get formated if I wipe the device, I think.
Thanks.
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Click to collapse
Not entirely sure; I know in TWRP there's some advanced wipe thing with selections (cache, dalvik, system, something else, usb) and then there's a "Format Data" button.

wiping cache, dalvik, system, and factory reset it will not wipe your "media" partition, also known as your sdcard or internal storage. Doing the "format data" will wipe the whole device including your sdcard.

EniGmA1987 said:
wiping cache, dalvik, system, and factory reset it will not wipe your "media" partition, also known as your sdcard or internal storage. Doing the "format data" will wipe the whole device including your sdcard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally wiped the device, tested the application I wanted to install and recovered without problems from the TWRP backup that hadn't been deleted. Now that I know that wiping the device solves the problem, I have to backup apps and data for every user, wipe again and recover only apps and data.
Thanks a lot.

nandroid + flashing/restoring across roms

I'm having a little trouble understanding nandroid vs. other forms of backup and would appreciate some clarification. I'm running CM nightly on my Fido (Canada) G4. I took a nandroid as well as titanium backup of the factory stock image before I flashed CM.
A poster in the last thread I made suggested if I wanted to restore to stock, I could simply restore the nandroid, but I've also seen people say you shouldn't use nandroid to go across ROMs. My understanding is that nandroid is like having a filesystem backup, which would obviously not react well if you restored it over a new operating system (e.g. two different versions of windows). Or is nandroid more like say Acronis, which takes an entire disk image and overwrites everything?
Other misc questions:
- If I do restore via nandroid, do I need to wipe all data / cache / system data before or after the restore?
- I assume I can use titanium to restore SMS + all non-system apps across ROMs, which would save a lot of time.
- If I'm going from one CM nightly to another, would titanium work for system apps (e.g. all my settings, or contacts, etc)
- If I want to flash a new CM nightly, do I need to follow the entire wipe procedure just as if it were going from one ROM to a completely different one?
Thanks!

always make a nandroid in recovery. i recommend keeping it on your micro sd card. in the event you need to return your device to it's previously functioning state, restore the nandroid in recovery. if you are running an aosp rom and your nandroid is touchwiz, wipe data, cache & dalvik before restoring the nandroid. if the backup is on your micro sd then feel free to wipe system as well.
if you want to flash a nightly or update to a rom you are currently running, simply wipe cache and dalvik then flash the update, gapps and any custom kernel that you may be running.
i cannot answer your titanium backup questions because i do not use that program

xBeerdroiDx said:
always make a nandroid in recovery. i recommend keeping it on your micro sd card. in the event you need to return your device to it's previously functioning state, restore the nandroid in recovery. if you are running an aosp rom and your nandroid is touchwiz, wipe data, cache & dalvik before restoring the nandroid. if the backup is on your micro sd then feel free to wipe system as well.
if you want to flash a nightly or update to a rom you are currently running, simply wipe cache and dalvik then flash the update, gapps and any custom kernel that you may be running.
i cannot answer your titanium backup questions because i do not use that program
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Click to collapse
yes, that's about what I have. ok, thank you for the clarification of what to wipe! that's good to know.
re flashing a nightly/update: using your method should preserve system data yes? so no need to reinstall all apps or system data?
and thanks, I'll hold out hope that someone with titanium expertise will be able to answer that one

kabutar said:
re flashing a nightly/update: using your method should preserve system data yes? so no need to reinstall all apps or system data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, system/user data will remain. understand, however, that if you perform one of these dirty flashes and you have a problem with the functionality of the ROM, you'll need to do a full wipe and flash to see if this clears the issue before you report the problem in the development thread.

kabutar said:
yes, that's about what I have. ok, thank you for the clarification of what to wipe! that's good to know.
re flashing a nightly/update: using your method should preserve system data yes? so no need to reinstall all apps or system data?
and thanks, I'll hold out hope that someone with titanium expertise will be able to answer that one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right on both titanium questions.. However its not recommended to restore system apps you backed up on a aokp/aosp ROM to a touchwiz ROM and the other way around... Other than that like I said your fine
Sent from my WANAM'ED AT&T S4

Full wipe / clean install problems

Hey guys. I have TWRP 2.8.7.2 installed. I've been using Pure Nexus + Elemental X exclusively since December. This never seemed to be a problem before, but my last few flashes have resulted in sticky data. I go into TWRP, advanced wipe and wipe: DALVIK, System, data, Cache. Then, I delete Android from the internal storage and any other app directories that linger. Then I install the ROM, GApps, and kernel. Then, when I first boot my email shows up in the Google account setup. I thought "maybe it's saved on the sim card." But then I notice that when I reinstall apps, that they retain their data and my user data (for example, I don't even need to log into Runkeeper).
So somehow, despite performing a full wipe and clean install my user data is being saved. I know it's not part of internal storage so wiping that would only result in me having to copy my ROM files, music, photos, etc back over. So, where is this user data being saved and why isn't it being wiped?
Any help would be appreciated.

jserio said:
Hey guys. I have TWRP 2.8.7.2 installed. I've been using Pure Nexus + Elemental X exclusively since December. This never seemed to be a problem before, but my last few flashes have resulted in sticky data. I go into TWRP, advanced wipe and wipe: DALVIK, System, data, Cache. Then, I delete Android from the internal storage and any other app directories that linger. Then I install the ROM, GApps, and kernel. Then, when I first boot my email shows up in the Google account setup. I thought "maybe it's saved on the sim card." But then I notice that when I reinstall apps, that they retain their data and my user data (for example, I don't even need to log into Runkeeper).
So somehow, despite performing a full wipe and clean install my user data is being saved. I know it's not part of internal storage so wiping that would only result in me having to copy my ROM files, music, photos, etc back over. So, where is this user data being saved and why isn't it being wiped?
Any help would be appreciated.
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Click to collapse
I'm not sure why this is happening, it's definitely word. But is there a reason you're wiping like this when updating the ROM? You really don't need to, you can just dirty flash the ROM zip when updating.

Heisenberg said:
I'm not sure why this is happening, it's definitely word. But is there a reason you're wiping like this when updating the ROM? You really don't need to, you can just dirty flash the ROM zip when updating.
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Click to collapse
I don't like to dirty wipe. I guess it's the OCD in me that likes to start clean every time. I wonder if it's a bug in TWRP or something.

jserio said:
I don't like to dirty wipe. I guess it's the OCD in me that likes to start clean every time. I wonder if it's a bug in TWRP or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to do the same thing, until I realised I was just wasting time for no benefit. I don't think it's a TWRP issue, I was using that same build for ages with no problems. You could try updating to the latest TWRP though.

Try with "rm - fr" instead of regular wipe in options, maybe this works.

Are you doing a Factory Reset in TWRP to actually wipe the rom away? You list system, cache, and data (internal storage) but not Factory Reset.
Alternatively, are your apps reinstalling after signing into your account at Setup Wizard?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Try wiping system 2x. I had to do this on my S6. After wiping the first time and going back to the advance menu, System would then show up as 2 different partitions, System Read and System Write. I had to wipe the 2 in order to do a clean install. Although this is not the case for the 6P, I have made it a habit to do so. If that fails, you will need to adb the factory image.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

SlimSnoopOS said:
Are you doing a Factory Reset in TWRP to actually wipe the rom away? You list system, cache, and data (internal storage) but not Factory Reset.
Alternatively, are your apps reinstalling after signing into your account at Setup Wizard?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's already performing a factory reset by wiping the partitions individually.

Heisenberg said:
He's already performing a factory reset by wiping the partitions individually.
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Click to collapse
That's what you would think, but why is this happening?
FWIW, I always TWRP factory reset, then wipe all the partitions he mentioned again by itself and have never seen this behavior on any version of TWRP.

farfromovin said:
That's what you would think, but why is this happening?
FWIW, I always TWRP factory reset, then wipe all the partitions he mentioned again by itself and have never seen this behavior on any version of TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no explanation for what's happening, I really don't know. I only ever use the advanced wipe menu, it's pointless performing the factory reset too.

Lineage stuck on boot loop on startup

Hi,
I have LineageOS 14.1 installed on my Moto G4 Plus. All of a sudden it rebooted and was stuck on the booting screen. I can get to TWRP. Things I tried that didn't help
wait 30 minutes
plug in phone to charger
clear cache
fully power off then on
If it comes down to it, I could flash a new ROM, but would like to save/backup the text messages/whatsapp messages.

@lightningglasses
Anything you installed/flashed before rebooting ?
try to dirty flash ROM and check if it boots or not.

____Mdd said:
@lightningglasses
Anything you installed/flashed before rebooting ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nothing.an mp3 player app
try to dirty flash ROM and check if it boots or not.
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Click to collapse
will that loose the text messages etc?

lightningglasses said:
will that loose the text messages etc?
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Click to collapse
wiping "Data" deletes everything, dirty flashing does not not.
Just wipe delvik-Art and cache (*not data*), Then install ROM (plus gapps and root if you need), reboot, it will take around 10 minutes to re-generate delvik data, then it should boot..

____Mdd said:
wiping "Data" deletes everything, dirty flashing does not not.
Just wipe delvik-Art and cache (*not data*), Then install ROM (plus gapps and root if you need), reboot, it will take around 10 minutes to re-generate delvik data, then it should boot..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm didn't work, any other ideas?

lightningglasses said:
hmm didn't work, any other ideas?
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Click to collapse
I forgot to mention in previous post, did you wipe system? Try with that and install rom.
Reinstalling ROM heals damage made to /system partition and to boot, but not to /data.
so if still doesn't boot, that means damage happened to /data and you need to clean it, result in lost of data of apps (whatsapp and message you mentioned in your post.)
Still if you know what apps you installed last, delete it from /data/app/xyz-app (boot TWRP > advance > file manager)

____Mdd said:
I forgot to mention in previous post, did you wipe system? Try with that and install rom.
Reinstalling ROM heals damage made to /system partition and to boot, but not to /data.
so if still doesn't boot, that means damage happened to /data and you need to clean it, result in lost of data of apps (whatsapp and message you mentioned in your post.)
Still if you know what apps you installed last, delete it from /data/app/xyz-app (boot TWRP > advance > file manager)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is still stuck in a boot loop after I
cleared cache, dalvic/art and system
used twrp's file manager to delete all recently installed apps from /data/app
flashed newest lineageos rom
clear davilink again
waited 15 minutes with phone plugged in
When should I wipe cache/dalvik/system? Before or after flashing rom?

lightningglasses said:
It is still stuck in a boot loop after I
cleared cache, dalvic/art and system
used twrp's file manager to delete all recently installed apps from /data/app
flashed newest lineageos rom
clear davilink again
waited 15 minutes with phone plugged in
When should I wipe cache/dalvik/system? Before or after flashing rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no other way to get your device back without losing data.
I have never used Titanium backup app but i know there is feature to restore data from TWRP backup, you can take backup of /data and restore backup of whatsapp.
I am still not sure about that feature, if you have time then i can test that feature, otherwise there is no way to keep data.
Edit: whatsapp makes chat backup every night at 2AM, if you haven't had any important chats after that, you can go for wipe.

If you can pay for titanium backup there might just be a way. I am not 100% sure but take a backup of the "data" partition(you can backup everything but data is most important) in twrp in internal storage only. Then clean flash everything. Then install titanium backup and buy the pro key. Then restore from twrp. If you find an option to restore only data then that's a better option. Downloading the app and restoring the data is better than restoring app and data. I'm not sure if it will work. But if nothing is working and your data is 100% vital you may wanna try this.
Another tip, don't restore blindly everything cuz bootloop may occur again