Database Users

[Q] Accidentally Wiped /data, Stuck in TWRP..

Well, it looks like I unintentionally wiped the /data partition using TWRP right after I did my first backup after rooting. Now I obviously can't boot since system, data, cache, etc. are wiped. The backup I just made was also wiped. As others mentioned in the TWRP thread, it's a bit different for the Nexus 10 compared with other devices - out of the 11 android devices I've had I've never done this!
Anyhow, can anyone a solution to getting a ROM back on my device? I can't seem to mount anything to my PC using TWRP. I can get fastboot working, but not ADB or file system mounting.
Thanks

Ehm, does the Nexus 10 have a ad card? If yes, use another phone to put a Rom on it and then flash it trough twrp
Sent from my awesome fridge

have you tried mount sd storage? or you can try the toolkit in the sticky thread.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium

Get a stick drive, sd card reader, etc. Put a rom on it & transfer via twrp file manager
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Just boot into fast boot and flash the stock images.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

can you use adb to push a rom to flash?

TWRP allows you to adb sideload ROMs. Google TWRP adb sideload and it'll walk through the steps. You can also search the Original Development section and find MSkip's toolkit which I believe can flash ROMs and whatnot from your computer. It will also automate installing the proper drivers if that hasn't already been done.

Thanks for all the help. ADB wasn't working in TWRP - I believe it was a driver issue on my PC though. However, as jellydroid13 mentioned, I was able to use fastboot to flash the stock 4.2 image from google, and then boot up from there. Thanks again!

chompone said:
Well, it looks like I unintentionally wiped the /data partition using TWRP right after I did my first backup after rooting. Now I obviously can't boot since system, data, cache, etc. are wiped. The backup I just made was also wiped. As others mentioned in the TWRP thread, it's a bit different for the Nexus 10 compared with other devices - out of the 11 android devices I've had I've never done this!
Anyhow, can anyone a solution to getting a ROM back on my device? I can't seem to mount anything to my PC using TWRP. I can get fastboot working, but not ADB or file system mounting.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add me to the list of people who have wiped data over 9000 times in CWM and after updating to twrp and doing it there, have lost everything. I have backups, but am having no device found with adb sideload and suffice to say im a little confused. Confused why "wipe data" and wipe SD card and wipe SD EXT all do the same thing.
"

android01 said:
Add me to the list of people who have wiped data over 9000 times in CWM and after updating to twrp and doing it there, have lost everything. I have backups, but am having no device found with adb sideload and suffice to say im a little confused. Confused why "wipe data" and wipe SD card and wipe SD EXT all do the same thing.
"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 here
(i'll look for an OTG cable^^)

i had a similar problem several days ago
used ADB sideload to flash ROMs

why adb anything when like jellydroid said you can use fastboot and push all partitions and restore to stock?

I'm facing a similar issue but my device is Moto G5s Plus.
The problem I'm facing is that I accidently wiped out the mobile's system completely, and now it does not even have an "internal storage" partition at all (since it shows 0 MB). Hence, I cannot even transfer any files to my mobile because my computer does show the phone detected but no "internal storage exists".
Please help me out..

Partition damage? Not sure whats wrong...

Hey all,
I have an S4 i337m model. I've installed a custom ROM that is essentially a rooted stock ROM (I do not remember the exact build/version of the ROM). I realize having this info would be useful, but at the moment, I cannot access this info.
While running this ROM, everything was fine. Last week Friday, I attempted to install FoxHound 1.6. Had to play around with the installation options, but I got FoxHound to work. However, I need to get back on my old ROM as I needed some files that were deleted during the FoxHound install. So I wiped my phone, and restored my nandroid backup of my rooted stock ROM. again, everything was fine. No issues.
Here is where the problem is; after restoring my rooted stock ROM, I could boot into the phone and access the files needed. However, when I reboot/shut down phone, upon restarting/powering up, my phone is stuck at the 'Samsung Galaxy S4' logo right after power on. So, I boot into recovery (the latest version of TWRP) and I navigate to 'file manager' to take a look at my storage/files. And this is where I believe the issue to be; I see virtually no files at all. I can see many folders/partitions, but there are virtually no files anywhere (i.e. the system and data partitions are empty). I am assuming this is the reason why my phone doesn't boot past the Samsung Galaxy S4 logo. Now, when this happens, I wipe my phone again and restore my working nandroid backup. Everything works fine. I can get back into Android without issues. Until I reboot/power off my phone. Then this happens all over again.
I believe I may have damaged(?) the partition(s). When I installed FoxHound, I also installed an option during installation titled 'EXT4'. I know linux uses ext2/3/4 partition tables. Did I damage my storage/partition by installing EXT4 from FoxHound? Do I need to repartition my phone via Odin PIT file or something similar? Am I totally wrong with my analysis? Any help/advise/insight would be very welcomed.
Thanks

Additional info
Baseband: I337MVLUAMG1
Build number: JDQ39.I337MVLUAMG1
ROM: Rooted stock ROM 4.2.2 (with some bloatware removed)
While my phone was in the it's 'logo stuck' state, I entered into TWRP and selected the Wipe option, then Format Data. I must select 'Format Data' in order for my phone to work on it's next boot. Manually formatting System, Data, etc... will not allow my phone to boot up at next boot. And, my phone will only work on the next boot. If I power off/restart phone, it will get stuck at the logo again. So my phone is only good for 1 boot up after a wipe.
And, after I restore a working backup and boot into the phone, everything works until next power down/reboot. Once I power down/reboot phone, I must go into recovery since it will not boot into Android. When I get into TWRP, I see that my Internal Storage has 0MB free and I am unable to see any files. I can see folders/partitions, but there is nothing in any folder/partition. My external SD card shows nothing as well. My external SD card however is unaffected as all the data is still there once I get into Android and look around.
Also, I just restored a backup I had before I was having this issue. After restoring and rebooting, the same thing happens. I get stuck at the 'Samsung Galaxy S4' logo.
So I'm guessing there is some partition troubles here. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm scratching my head as to the cause of this problem.

It could be some hardware issues too. I'd Odin back to stock and see if the problem persists. If it does its hardware.

jd1639 said:
It could be some hardware issues too. I'd Odin back to stock and see if the problem persists. If it does its hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought the same thing. I'm downloading the stock ROM now and will give it a try.
One other thing I noticed during my last restore/fix attempt... After I perform a wipe -> Format Data (from TWRP), I notice that it reverts to my rooted stock ROM without me restoring anything. So, after I do a full wipe/format, and reboot my phone immediately after the full wipe/format, my phone will boot into the rooted stock ROM. I thought that wiping/formatting via TWRP totally cleans the internal storage of all data. So how can I be booting into any ROM after a wipe?
Unless I'm mistaken in my thinking and the full wipe/format option in TWRP just reverts back to the stock ROM I had installed prior to installing further custom ROMs?

If you wipe system and data there shouldn't be any rom it would boot. Don't try that though unless you have a nandroid because it shouldn't boot
What version of twrp ate you using?

Do not format data in twrp.

jd1639 said:
If you wipe system and data there shouldn't be any rom it would boot. Don't try that though unless you have a nandroid because it shouldn't boot
What version of twrp ate you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya... I have several nandroid backups. All work (minus this 'stuck at logo' issue I am having). I am using the newest TWRP version 2.6. It's very strange... after I perform a full wipe, I am able to boot into my rooted stock ROM that I flashed shortly after acquiring the phone. This was a bit over a month ago now. I do not know how this is possible.
xBeerdroiDx said:
Do not format data in twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not?
_____________________________________________________________________
**Should I try using CWM instead?

Talabis said:
I hear ya... I have several nandroid backups. All work (minus this 'stuck at logo' issue I am having). I am using the newest TWRP version 2.6. It's very strange... after I perform a full wipe, I am able to boot into my rooted stock ROM that I flashed shortly after acquiring the phone. This was a bit over a month ago now. I do not know how this is possible.
Why not?
_____________________________________________________________________
**Should I try using CWM instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use twrp 2.5.0.2 or cwm. The newer twrp has issues.

jd1639 said:
Use twrp 2.5.0.2 or cwm. The newer twrp has issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is TWRP 2.5.0.0 ok to use?

Ok... It's really starting to look like my partition table has been damaged. Every time I flash a new ROM or restore a nandroid backup successfully, and then restart my phone, I get stuck at the S4 logo. Upon starting recovery, my internal storage reads 0MB free. It seems like my partition table is becoming corrupt after a reboot, or it has already been corrupted.
I tried flashing the stock ROM for my phone (I337MVLUAMDJ_I337MOYAAMDJ_I337MVLUAMDJ_HOME.tar is the one I used), but that didn't help at all. After installing this stock ROM, and I go into stock recovery, I get an error: E:failed to mount /data (invalid argument).
This really is looking like a partition problem. Is there some way to re-partition my phone? I remember a PIT file was used to partition my old Galaxy S i9000. Is there a PIT file for the S4 i337m?
I would also like to try CWM but I am having a hard time finding a ODIN flashable version.

I wouldn't mess with a pit file and I haven't seen one anyway. It's sounding more and more like your memory is bad. I'd keep it stock and see if you can get an exchange on the phone under warranty.

Further investigation has lead me to the culprit... sorta. It's my /data partition that is screwing everything up. If I format /data and then reboot, I can get into my phone. But if I reboot again, then my /data partition becomes corrupt and my phone hangs at the S4 logo. And then if I go into recovery, I can see that my internal storage is at 0MB free.
However, after formatting/restoring /data partition and rebooting into android successfully, everything works fine. If I reboot from this point and enter recovery, I am still able to see my /data partition and files. At this point, everything seems to be fine. Once I reboot out of recovery and let the phone boot into Android, I get stuck at the S4 logo and my /data partition screws up/becomes corrupt. It looks like my /data partition is only becoming corrupt after the 1st successful boot into Android. If I enter recovery after the 1st successful android load, I am still able to see all files and partitions. It is only trying to load android after the 1st boot that my /data partition becomes corrupt. Very strange...
So, I can always boot into my phone as long as I format my /data partition prior to loading Android. Anyone experience this before? Any ideas? I realize my memory may be damaged, but I'm leaving that as a last resort possibility since my phone was working fine up until I started installing FoxHound with the EXT4 option as well as installing 1 or 2 of the kernel's FoxHound provides. Namely Adam kernel is the one I tried.

All good... I think/hope
Well, I think I got the problem solved. After toying with this thing all day. It seems like TWRP 2.6 was the problem in some sense. Looks like TWRP 2.6 does not format the /data partition correctly. I had to get restore/install a working ROM, boot into my phone and install ClockworkMod Recovery via ROM Manager. I then used CWM to format /data. Once I did this, and loaded back into my phone, and went through the setup process since /data was formatted, everything was working fine. I just rebooted 5 times and shut down twice and my phone booted back up into android without issue.
So as one user in this thread had mentioned, formatting /data with TWRP 2.6 was the problem.
Hope this helps others avoid a similar issue.
Thanks everyone for all the help. It pointed me in the right direction.

Glad you got it fixed.

I'll be giving these steps a try, having somewhat of the same problem!

i've been having this exact same problem but with TWRP 2.5.0.2 since July. Its been driving me insane and I have not been able to find any one else having this issue until now. I think i might finally try CWM instead as a last measure before I finally give up!

Try TWRP 2.6.3.1 version. It works pretty well even though it's unofficial http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2262996
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] TWRP backup fails on data partition "E: Unable to stat /data/data/../cache/ .. "

[Q] TWRP backup fails on data partition "E: Unable to stat /data/data/../cache/ .. "
Whenever I try a full nandroid backup in TWRP it always fails once it gets a few hundred files into the data partition. However, it does complete the backup when the data partition isn't selected.
When I first start the backup a bunch of different red error messages come up for various cache files in the data partition.
"E: Unable to stat '/data/data/[variousapp]/cache/[stuff]/[hashvalue?]' "
I've got a rooted T-Mobile Note 3 with Jedi Elite ROM and TWRP 2.8.1.0, however I'm not completely sure that my phone is legitimately rooted. If I try to open the SuperSU app it says "There is no SuperSU binary installed,...", and applications constantly achieve root access then get denied it moments later. Or sometimes the applications achieve root access with no further issues, it's quite random.
Does anyone have any idea what could be going on?
EDIT: It also should be noted that the files in the error messages can be found when using the TWRP file manager, but when using any file manager application with the OS booted the "/data" folder appears empty.

Anyone have any idea?
Thanks

Well.... from the top of my head I would try to do these things:
1) install one of those "check to see if I am rooted" apps and run it.
2) flash a kernel that has been prerooted, i.e.:that it installs the SU binary to the appropriate location.
3) flash one of those .zip packages in twrp that root your phone.
4) check to see if you can make twrp install root for you ( i think when it doesn't detect root binary it offers to do that).
5) reinstall rom only part as a last resort?
Once you restore proper root access you might need to restore proper SELinux labels to /cache /system /data.
Let me know if you get to this part and need specific instructions.
Best of luck

CekMTL said:
Well.... from the top of my head I would try to do these things:
1) install one of those "check to see if I am rooted" apps and run it.
2) flash a kernel that has been prerooted, i.e.:that it installs the SU binary to the appropriate location.
3) flash one of those .zip packages in twrp that root your phone.
4) check to see if you can make twrp install root for you ( i think when it doesn't detect root binary it offers to do that).
5) reinstall rom only part as a last resort?
Once you restore proper root access you might need to restore proper SELinux labels to /cache /system /data.
Let me know if you get to this part and need specific instructions.
Best of luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed the latest SuperSU.zip and that ended up fixing root access. The Root Checker app verifies it as well as other applications being granted root access.
I tried flashing CF-Auto-Root in TWRP and it fails.
How do I restore the SELinux labels for those directories?

You caught me on my way to bed but here are the instructions:
From terminal or adb shell
su
ll -Z
(check for any "unlabeled" text for /data /cache /system)
restorecon -Rv /cache
restorecon -Rv /data
mount -o remount,rw /system
restorecon -Rv /system
mount -o remount,ro /system
ll -Z (you should not find any "unlabeled" /cache /data /system)
Let me know how it goes

I tried all those commands from the terminal and it still shows all of the same "Unable to stat" error messages when backing up
The "ll -Z" command, is that supposed to be double pipe or double L? I'd never seen a double L command before so I couldn't get it to work if that's what it is.

Sorry to budge in but I have the same problem too on my oneplus one. Everytime I do something in twrp it saids unable to stat /data/data/com.android.chrome/something I wiped /data and it still does that. I tried to install custom rom and when it starts it saids something is wrong with my system udi and com.android.phone keeps on crashing. So I don't know how I am suppose to fix this. If I format /data I will lose all my pictures,music,apps,etc. since it will wipe /data/media? Any help?
Edit: Upon reading the first post again, I also can't perform nandroid backup because it fails at /data. Which was why I wanted to try different rom and wipe /data to see if it would be fixed.

patstar5 said:
Sorry to budge in but I have the same problem too on my oneplus one. Everytime I do something in twrp it saids unable to stat /data/data/com.android.chrome/something I wiped /data and it still does that. I tried to install custom rom and when it starts it saids something is wrong with my system udi and com.android.phone keeps on crashing. So I don't know how I am suppose to fix this. If I format /data I will lose all my pictures,music,apps,etc. since it will wipe /data/media? Any help?
Edit: Upon reading the first post again, I also can't perform nandroid backup because it fails at /data. Which was why I wanted to try different rom and wipe /data to see if it would be fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pat, did you have any luck fixing this? i'm having the exact same issue with my oneplus
---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:05 PM ----------
utjock12 said:
pat, did you have any luck fixing this? i'm having the exact same issue with my oneplus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alright i said screw it and wiped internal storage and it fixed the issue. i had to push ROM onto the new storage through ADB but it seemed to fix the issue.
For anyone who is wondering you need to do a FULL wipe (ie in recovery wipe EVERYTHING including internal storage), then push or mount devices through recovery and put ROM back onto SD card.

bu_plus said:
Hi friend,
I have tried my best to locate the download link for the new ver. 5.00 ROM but with no success.
Kindly could you please provide me with the link. BTW, I'm using firefox browser.
Best regards,
bu_plus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you fixed it the easy way, I went to the thread on how to turn oneplus one back to stock.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-one/general/guide-return-opo-to-100-stock-t2826541
I unzipped the 44s Stock ROM and manually flashed each file via adb to it, that cleared up all my problems. I did lose some data, at least at had my apps, messages, and pictures backed up.
Sent from my Oneplus One using XDA Free mobile app.

utjock12 said:
pat, did you have any luck fixing this? i'm having the exact same issue with my oneplus
---------- Post added at 03:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:05 PM ----------
alright i said screw it and wiped internal storage and it fixed the issue. i had to push ROM onto the new storage through ADB but it seemed to fix the issue.
For anyone who is wondering you need to do a FULL wipe (ie in recovery wipe EVERYTHING including internal storage), then push or mount devices through recovery and put ROM back onto SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have this same problem with my OPO and I tried a full wipe including internal storage, but the "unable to stat..." problem still persists. Should I try using the "Format Data" option on TWRP instead of just the "Advanced Wipe"? I tried searching online for the difference but I can't really find any information.

monkey29992 said:
I have this same problem with my OPO and I tried a full wipe including internal storage, but the "unable to stat..." problem still persists. Should I try using the "Format Data" option on TWRP instead of just the "Advanced Wipe"? I tried searching online for the difference but I can't really find any information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I had my issue on my OPO also, still never confirmed what the actual issue was but after some googling I saw this thread and maybe one more with the same error description.
From TWRP I went Wipe->Advanced Wipe->Clicked ALL boxes.
From what I could tell the issue is actually on the "internal storage" partition which is your emulated SD Card.
I'm not actually sure what the "Format Data" option does tbh I never had to go that far.
Word of warning, make sure you have ADB working and you know how to push files to your phone. You can in theory use the "mount" option from TWRP and connect to a PC as an extendable drive but this functionality is super flaky and is known to not work on occasion.

you don't have to!!!!!!!!!!!
actually i formated it and i was looking for a way to transfer my zip file to internal storage ........... but when i clicked on backup/restore it started to install and booted normally !!!!!!!!!!!!! (by temp boot file)

Sad I am also facing this problem too. At last I have to format everything to get my phone working again, wiping /data does not work, must wipe /data including media.

Internal Storage failure?
This happens to me all the time all of a sudden. I did not change anything at all, except for flashing a new CM version.
I also get a strange stat error, something with google.photo cache.
Yesterday, I have then flashed the new 2.8.6(7) and that gave my phone the rest. It might be because I flashed through TWRP itself into the recovery partition, but now additional to the backup error above when I want to erase dalvik cache, the recovery just hangs. I also can't restore a backup atm.
Now I have reflashed the real 2.8.6.0 recovery and it still hangs when I want to wipe dalvik... wtf is going on here?
And oh yea, my phone does not boot anymore either, it just loops at the flash screen...
UPDATE:
After I found some info on this thread about similar issues, I factory reset my phone with stock recovery (TWRP was not reliable anymore, even the 2.8.6.0 version that was running perfectly before) and then reflashed the latest CM on a wiped internal storage. Now I am up and running again with minimal loss of data due to my TB backups that are scheduled and save to the SD.
But this leaves a very weird feeling back, basically my phone was rendered useless out of nowhere (I was running the previous CM for 2 weeks already), making TWRP backups impossible and forcing me to wipe the internal storage with all media on it without giving me the chance to back it up (MTP in TWPR was also very flaky and died several times half in copy operations). Something is going very wrong with this phone, never ever had that on any of my 5 previous htc devices and the fact that the OnePlusOne users are among the main ones that reported similar issues, I have a feeling it is linked to cheap storage quality. Motorola is a Chinese company now after all... :-/

Hello,
I had the same issue with my Galaxy s4 GT-I9500, it said "E: Unable to stat /data/...", wiping didn't fix, but after I run "format data", it fixed the issue for me.

I have been going through the same issue. I can fix it for 'a while' (by wiping and formatting data) before it comes back again. Anyone knows how to get rid of this once and for all?

[Q] Help! Memory Size Dropped Nexus 7

After rooting my Nexus 7 wifi 2012 tablet and trying several back ups and restores I started to notice the size of memory has gone from 13gig to 6gig.
I have done a factory reset from boot up recovery mode using TWRP. I also tried other options in TWRP wipe option, clearing internal cache, many other options to mention, not sure what most did, tinkering
I have also restored to a factory image using Nexus root toolkit option flash stock + unroot (forced flash mode) and restored from a downloaded image.
I thought restoring to factory image was suppose to put everythng back as it was! where has all the memory gone! 13gig before rooting and now 6 gig :crying:
EDIT
Well, I got the size to show back correctly with the factory image restored (13.36gb). I booted to recovery and selected "wipe data/factory reset" and also did the "wipe cache partition" just to be sure.
Why none of this work when I was doing the same from TWRP recovery mode rooted? I have to root again now, bet the same thing will happen and left with lower memory and no way to fix? time............................

Usually, it's TWRP I've always had partition formatting issues with it. Use the CWM recovery meant for your device instead.

RealPariah said:
Usually, it's TWRP I've always had partition formatting issues with it. Use the CWM recovery meant for your device instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RealPariah,
Thanks for the reply.
Have it sorted now. Turns out NRK buggy. Would not put nandroid backup to destination on hard drive. Not even with a reboot. Hence memory on Nexus tablet shrinking. I should have clocked on earlier. will check out CWM.
I was thinking of keeping NRK. Just read about CWM. Would it be o.k to download CWM from Googleplay and run it or would that interfere with NRK?

I've got the same issue. This weekend I just sideloaded 5.1.1 on mine (it's a 2012 model), and I'm looking at 6Gb only now (it's a 16GB N7).
I also have TWRP on it.
I used the Wugnet Nexus Root Toolkit for everything, which also supports CWM.. but why is that the one "meant" for the device? It's a custom recovery. Or is it more closely based on the stock recovery than TWRP is?
What's NRK?
I did a wipe on the cache partition already, so that clearly didn't work. I guess I could wipe data and start all over again.
PS. Using ES File explorer, I've found a number of what appears to be actual copies of my emulated sdcard data, not just symlinks:
1) /sdcard -symlink (to /storage/emulated/0 I think?)
2) /storage/emulated/0 (not a symlink)
3) /storage/emulated/legacy (not a symlink, but data is in there too.. a copy?)
4)/storage/sdcard0 (symlink)
5) /mnt/sdcard (symlink)
6) /data/media/0 (not a symlink, another copy?) Also, weirdly, the only directory I could change permissions on if I wanted to..
I'd have thought that would have been /Storage/emulated/0 .
I think /storage/emulated/0 is the main actual repository, and I get that there are symlinks, but /storage/emulated/legacy and /data/media/0 look like full on duplications to me.
Found the answer - I've got my space back.
1) Restore stock recovery,
2) boot into it and
3) do a factory reset from there.
http://www.wugfresh.com/faqs/incorrect-internal-storage-space/

TWRP backup question

If I backup my system on tw recovery, and flash a new rom, will wiping my phone delete the tw recovery backup in case I have to restore my phone? Feel free to correct me on this, but to my understanding teamwin has it's own partition, and wiping does not mess with this partition?

matthewbhass said:
If I backup my system on tw recovery, and flash a new rom, will wiping my phone delete the tw recovery backup in case I have to restore my phone? Feel free to correct me on this, but to my understanding teamwin has it's own partition, and wiping does not mess with this partition?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think TWRP backups are normally stored on your internal storage partition, so if you perform a (EDIT full factory reset doesnt wipe this, thanks Silesh) or wipe your internal storage, your backups will be erased too. The TWRP itself does install to the recovery partition (which will only be affected by a flash to the recovery, which a wipe will not perform), you're correct on that but the backups are held separately to that. You can copy your backups to another computer or SD card, I found my backup under /SDcard/TWRP/BACKUPS - you could either copy the folder with a root browser or use the ADB pull command (with the ADB terminal), though the TWRP backup may not show on a Windows desktop even if it's been copied correctly. However, if copied back to your phone, the TWRP backup should function.
Edit: thanks Silesh for correcting me, I was thinking of app data rather than user data!

echo92 said:
I think TWRP backups are normally stored on your internal storage partition, so if you perform a full factory reset or wipe your internal storage, your backups will be erased too. The TWRP itself does install to the recovery partition (which will only be affected by a flash to the recovery, which a wipe will not perform), you're correct on that but the backups are held separately to that. You can copy your backups to another computer or SD card, I found my backup under /SDcard/TWRP/BACKUPS - you could either copy the folder with a root browser or use the ADB pull command (with the ADB terminal), though the TWRP backup may not show on a Windows desktop even if it's been copied correctly. However, if copied back to your phone, the TWRP backup should function.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying. I can't transfer files from my computer to my phone, but I have thought about using the ADB sideload option from recovery. Is there a way that I can move my backup from my phone to my computer (and to my phone from my computer) using the sideload option, just in case I need the backup? I refuse to flash a new ROM without access to my complete backup, lol.

Internal storage is not formatted during a normal wipe. You have to specifically go into the advanced wipe and select internal storage to wipe it completely. So there is no issue while flashing a new rom if you don't choose the advanced wipe option.
You could also create the twrp backup in your external sdcard. That way your backup stays even if you wipe your phone using a factory reset or by mistake.

Strange. What's the problem of making backups to external SD? The function is right there (as Silesh mentioned). BTW: the very last version of TWRP is able to make backups straight to pc. This needs to be done FROM a pc though. TWRP is capable to work with fastboot now (using special command though, or with this GUI for pc: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software-hacking/tool-twrp-backup-restore-tool-pc-t3572241 )

You can choose whether you want to use internal storage or SD card when making a backup. It doesn't matter which you choose as long as you (and I learned this the hard way) pay attention to what you are doing and DO NOT WIPE internal storage or your SD card. Advantages of SD card is you won't lose your backup if you decide to flash stock. Disadvantage: if your card craps out on you backup is lost unless you have copied to PC or saved on cloud.

My Solution
I solved my problem by using the pull command in adb. Now if I decide to flash a new ROM, I can push my TWRP recovery back to my phone using adb and then recover it in my TWRP recovery.. I also backup using adb backup which backs it up directly to my computer anyways.
I knew about storing my TWRP backup on an sd card, but I haven't made time to get one. . I recently switched to the Motorola G4 Plus after my iPhone 6s decided to turn off and not turn back on. I eventually grew tired of the iPhone anyways due to lack of accessibility and freedom. Back in the day I owned androids but never rooted one or had one that was rooted. I did jailbreak my 4th generation iPod a few years ago. But I went through an iPhone 5s, and upgraded to a 6s and had that for a few months. I eventually just switched back to android after the longest time and I can't say that I regret it.
My Moto G4 Plus has been an amazing phone. I've only had it for a few weeks now, but I rooted it the day after I got it . So I'm a bit of a noob in the rooting community, . Since then it's been a pretty smooth transition. I've only got root access and xposed framework as of now. I was thinking about flashing a ROM so I made backups just in case, but I don't plan on making any major changes to the kernel or flashing another ROM. I'm satisfied with the stock ROM since Motorola pretty much made it as minimal as possible. I would recommend this phone to anyone. It's the most solid phone I've had yet.