Database Users

Is there a way to restore everything on the phone after flashing new rom?

How can I restore my contacts, message, apps etc... after I flash my phone with a new rom?

dannieboiz said:
How can I restore my contacts, message, apps etc... after I flash my phone with a new rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Contacts - Should always save them as "Google contact" so they automatically go into your contact list after logging in on your phone.
Messages - Go into market and search "SMS Backup" back it up then once you install your new ROM, download the same app again and restore it.
Apps - Use Titanium Backup to back up the apps. Then install it again after flashing and restore the apps.

dannieboiz said:
How can I restore my contacts, message, apps etc... after I flash my phone with a new rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure is. The simplest way is to make a backup with Clockwork recovery before you install the new rom and do wipe of data/factory reset, and all caches etc...
Once you have flashed the new rom, while still in Clockwork, goto Backup/Restore, choose Advanced, choose the backup you just made, and select only Data from the list. Everything you've asked for should be restored. Some widgets will not work on the first boot, you will have remove them from the home screen and re-add them.
Some apps will behave as if it's the first time you have run them, be aware of this.
This method makes for the simplest method of restoring everything that gets wiped when you install a rom that requires a full wipe of data + factory reset.

cool thanks, I got both methods done. gonna try to flash now. thanks

dever76 said:
Sure is. The simplest way is to make a backup with Clockwork recovery before you install the new rom and do wipe of data/factory reset, and all caches etc...
Once you have flashed the new rom, while still in Clockwork, goto Backup/Restore, choose Advanced, choose the backup you just made, and select only Data from the list. Everything you've asked for should be restored. Some widgets will not work on the first boot, you will have remove them from the home screen and re-add them.
Some apps will behave as if it's the first time you have run them, be aware of this.
This method makes for the simplest method of restoring everything that gets wiped when you install a rom that requires a full wipe of data + factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy heck. I had no idea Clockwork had this. Saves me a bunch of time.
Here I am thinking I knew what I was talking about

dever76 said:
Sure is. The simplest way is to make a backup with Clockwork recovery before you install the new rom and do wipe of data/factory reset, and all caches etc...
Once you have flashed the new rom, while still in Clockwork, goto Backup/Restore, choose Advanced, choose the backup you just made, and select only Data from the list. Everything you've asked for should be restored. Some widgets will not work on the first boot, you will have remove them from the home screen and re-add them.
Some apps will behave as if it's the first time you have run them, be aware of this.
This method makes for the simplest method of restoring everything that gets wiped when you install a rom that requires a full wipe of data + factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the backed up old data integer with a new rom/kernel though? I've been tempted to do this, but I'm worried that the data will conflict and cause issues.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

phantomevo77 said:
Holy heck. I had no idea Clockwork had this. Saves me a bunch of time.
Here I am thinking I knew what I was talking about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, this method saves a lot of time.
I've had no issues using it, aside from widgets not working, until you re-add them to a home screen.

Vanquish46 said:
Does the backed up old data integer with a new rom/kernel though? I've been tempted to do this, but I'm worried that the data will conflict and cause issues.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Integer"? Did you mean integrate? or perhaps interfere?
I haven't had any issues using this method. I'd imagine any conflicts would be overwritten by the nature of restoring /data. If a rom author includes some .apks inside of /data, those will get over written. It's very easy to add them back though, just strip them from the roms zip, and copy over to the phone, then install.
I find this much easier than using Titanium Backup or some other app to restore apps and settings lost due to installing a rom.

dever76 said:
Once you have flashed the new rom, while still in Clockwork, goto Backup/Restore, choose Advanced, choose the backup you just made, and select only Data from the list. Everything you've asked for should be restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Choosing data only will restore installed apps?

jfg69 said:
Choosing data only will restore installed apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and their settings.

mattallica76 said:
Yes, and their settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While that seems to be perfect as far as restoring (and it does restore everything.) I seem to be having a problem with it once I run my rom, I'm having issues with sms locking up and the phone not coming out of sleep. I'm using Epic Exp 1.2.02 and Phoenix 1.43.
I've reloaded and restored date 3 diff times and still no luck..

jfg69 said:
While that seems to be perfect as far as restoring (and it does restore everything.) I seem to be having a problem with it once I run my rom, I'm having issues with sms locking up and the phone not coming out of sleep. I'm using Epic Exp 1.2.02 and Phoenix 1.43.
I've reloaded and restored date 3 diff times and still no luck..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using SetCPU, while also having it set to something other Conservative mode? Try keeping it set to conservative. Also, SetCPU doesn't play nice with the Epic if you use a "Screen Off" profile. I don't have a solution other than to not use a Screen Off profile in SetCPU.

Boot recovery. Wipe data cache and dalvik (unless your rom requires somthing different) flash your rom/kernel. Reboot your phone and test. Determine whether the issue is with the rom/kernel or with the data restore. If the issue is the rom, head over to the rom's thread for support. If its not the rom boot into clockwork and try to restore data again. Maybe do an advanced restore?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Thanks dever76 for that tip, I now can switch to nightly builds on my Nexus. I appreciate it!

[Q] Phone Constantly Locks - Which Service is Responsible?

I used Titanium Backup to uninstall certain packages (not before backing them up, of course) and it seems that I uninstalled too much... Whenever I start certain applications, the phone immediately blanks - and locks.
I have to press the power button 1-2 times before the screen unlock allows me to seep my finger. And it doesn't always succeed in retaining the screen: too often, it will immediately blank and lock again.
Example of applications that make the phone lock: Titanium Backup.
Example of applications that don't blank the phone: Dialer.
I started restoring some of the packages I uninstalled yesterday with the hope that this will fix the problem. So far I tried restoring:
- hiddenmenus
- sns
- Dialer 2.2.2
-setup wizard
- syncMLsvc
But without much success yet.
Any idea which service or package are responsible for correct behavior of the phone?
UPDATE 2: I gave up and decided to flash the EC07-Nuckin-1 ROM. I repeated the entire procedure detailed here and the phone boots fine, but the problem persists - in addition to the fact that the soft menu buttons now disappeared (replaced by faint color dots - LED-like).
How could this happen? Is it possible that my phone contracted an Android virus? (it appears that the problem started immediately after installing Stay Awake from the Android Market.

OK, this is becoming insane: I did a factory reset, re-installed ec07-clean, and not only the problem persists, the settings, home, back and search buttons no longer work!
Not to mention that my account details (and everything else) are still there, even after the factory reset...
And Market won't even start.
How is this possible?
What do I do to simply start from scratch, wiping out everything and all history (except for the SD card)?

verizonless said:
OK, this is becoming insane: I did a factory reset, re-installed ec07-clean, and not only the problem persists, the settings, home, back and search buttons no longer work!
Not to mention that my account details (and everything else) are still there, even after the factory reset...
How is this possible?
What do I do to simply start from scratch, wiping out everything and all history (except for the SD card)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
those softkey mod (led dots) are in the rom, look at what ur downloading/flashing first.
did u clear caches/dalvik??? clear them before u flash ec07clean and after and see buddy.

ciscogee said:
did u clear caches/dalvik??? clear them before u flash ec07clean
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course I did.
ciscogee said:
and after
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After, too? I didn't know that.
ciscogee said:
and see buddy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who is buddy?
ciscogee said:
those softkey mod (led dots) are in the rom, look at what ur downloading/flashing first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, but they don't respond. Even with your ec07-clean.
Is there a way to do a real factory reset? Start all over again? This problem is driving me nuts.
Thank you ciscogee, you life saver.

Ur buddy lol.
I'm out and about right now. In joshkoss rom thread there is a dl17 stock rom. If u flollow that second post I believe u will achieve 2. 1 stock as in out the box and flash up from there
Sent from my SCH-I400 using xda premium

ciscogee said:
I'm out and about right now. In joshkoss rom thread there is a dl17 stock rom. If u flollow that second post I believe u will achieve 2. 1 stock as in out the box and flash up from there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really interested in 2.1. I just don't understand why a total re-install of ec07clean.zip + ec07.tar + update.zip won't restore everything to "brand new condition". Surely there is a way to tell the phone to "forget all history". But what is it?
In the meanwhile, I managed to make the Settings (leftmost) button work, by manually restoring SDM from Titanium Backup.
Android Market now starts. But the SCREEN OFF problem persists. I am now beginning to believe that Stay Awake actually caused a permanent damage.

verizonless said:
I'm not really interested in 2.1. I just don't understand why a total re-install of ec07clean.zip + ec07.tar + update.zip won't restore everything to "brand new condition". Surely there is a way to tell the phone to "forget all history". But what is it?
In the meanwhile, I managed to make the Settings (leftmost) button work, by manually restoring SDM from Titanium Backup.
Android Market now starts. But the SCREEN OFF problem persists. I am now beginning to believe that Stay Awake actually caused a permanent damage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i understand, but see dl17 is the latest official samsung/verizon release, so what ever you erased will be brought back. the roms that are released here are leaks/hacked so they wouldnt be 100% until tweaked

ciscogee said:
i understand, but see dl17 is the latest official samsung/verizon release, so what ever you erased will be brought back. the roms that are released here are leaks/hacked so they wouldnt be 100% until tweaked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that they aren't 100% and I am OK with that. All I want is bring the phone to that pristine state it was right after I upgraded it from DL17 to ec07clean.zip.
Is this possible at all?
I even tried the built in stock recovery 2e to do "factory restore". Didn't help.
Why doesn't it even delete my account information? This is weird.

Wipe all your data. Cache. Dalvik etc.
Sent from my SCH-I400 using xda premium

ciscogee said:
Wipe all your data. Cache. Dalvik etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this at least 4 times. It doesn't get rid of anything. That's really puzzling.
In the meanwhile, I managed to restore my phone to a usable state (i.e. get rid of the original screen-off problem). Here is how I did it:
Settings > Display Settings > Power saving mode: UNCHECK (was checked)
Settings > Display Settings > Screen timeout: 1 minute (non was selected!)
I bet this was some remanent of that Stay Awake app.
Now, I lost quite a few productivity hours due to this. But at least now I know that this phone will always be mine, because in this particular phone, "Factory data reset" simply doesn't work.

Have you thought about using a different version of clockwork for flashing and wiping? That usually helps or perhaps stock recovery even
Sent from my DROIDX using xda premium

verizonless said:
I tried this at least 4 times. It doesn't get rid of anything. That's really puzzling.
...
But at least now I know that this phone will always be mine, because in this particular phone, "Factory data reset" simply doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mystery solved!
It turns out that it is the cyan wipe that doesn't work. The red wipe works.
Here is what I did:
Settings > Privacy > Factory data reset (Erases all data on phone) > Reset phone > Erase everything attempt:
Progressed as expected, then rebooted -- right into Android System recover <2e> (blue!):
Code:
Samsung Recovery Utils
- for BML -
reboot system now
apply sdcard:update.zip
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
___________________________________________
-- Wiping data...
Formatting FOTA:...
FOTA wipe failed.
Formatting DATA:...
Data wipe failed.
Formatting CACHE:...
Cache wipe failed.
Formatting DBDATA:...
Db data wipe failed.
E: Can't mount /dev/block/mmcblk0p3
(No such file or directy)
E: install_application_for_customer:Can't mount HIDDENSDCARD:
your storage not prepared yet. please use UI menu for format and reboot actions.
copy application failed.
As you can see, there were clear error messages, so now I selected "apply sdcard:update.zip" ==> which brought me you into CwM Voodo Lagfix Recovery v2.5.1.x:
Code:
wipe data/factory reset
-- Wiping data...
Formatting DATA:...
Formatting DATADATA:...
Formatting CACHE:...
Formatting SDEXT:...
Formatting SDCARD:/:.android_secure...
Data wipe complete.
wipe cache partition
-- Wiping cache...
Formatting CACHE:...
Cache wipe complete.
Advanced > Wipe Dalvik Cache
Dalvik Cache wiped
Reboot system now
Phone looks now brand new.
Oh wait! I just examined the SD card and it contains all the old stuff. Nothing wiped, nothing formatted. And the Home button doesn't work. And the ticker-feed button reboots the phone... What's going on???

Edit: Looking into what you said

[Q] Warning TWRP factory reset will wipe your internal memory(Music, backups, photos)

I loved TWRP recovery, but then I did a factory reset. TWRP completely wiped my phone beyond what was needed and no I did not do a custom reset but the default one. I have a nexus 4 and the reset wiped all my data. Music, photos(even the nandroid backup that TWRP created!) CMW does NOT clean the internal data such as music and other folder, it leaves them. Why TWRP wipes it all is beyond me. Thank you for this great custom recovery however I lost a lot of data that cannot be ever replaced and lost hours and hours of time restoring everything since Titanium backups were deleted. This should not have happened. Have others experienced the same?

You probably selected internal memory by accident, I dont recognize the problem.

21plays said:
I loved TWRP recovery, but then I did a factory reset. TWRP completely wiped my phone beyond what was needed and no I did not do a custom reset but the default one. I have a nexus 4 and the reset wiped all my data. Music, photos(even the nandroid backup that TWRP created!) CMW does NOT clean the internal data such as music and other folder, it leaves them. Why TWRP wipes it all is beyond me. Thank you for this great custom recovery however I lost a lot of data that cannot be ever replaced and lost hours and hours of time restoring everything since Titanium backups were deleted. This should not have happened. Have others experienced the same?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Choose "advanced wipe" then exactly which partition to wipe
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

MasterLinuxer said:
Choose "advanced wipe" then exactly which partition to wipe
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, I checked out their site and here is why I shouldn't have to do that. When reading this http://teamw.in/whattowipe Notice the quoted "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."
I'm just saying that the standard wipe that TWRP provides should not delete my internal mem.

21plays said:
First of all, I checked out their site and here is why I shouldn't have to do that. When reading this http://teamw.in/whattowipe Notice the quoted "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."
I'm just saying that the standard wipe that TWRP provides should not delete my internal mem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do it all the time. The "standard wipe" has never wiped my internal memory. In fact, they've made it more difficult to accidentally wipe it than it used to be.

How come mine deletes
estallings15 said:
I do it all the time. The "standard wipe" has never wiped my internal memory. In fact, they've made it more difficult to accidentally wipe it than it used to be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird! Btw, when I do a standard wipe, it even gives me a warning of deleting something and blah(dont remember) Do you get that warning too?

21plays said:
Weird! Btw, when I do a standard wipe, it even gives me a warning of deleting something and blah(dont remember) Do you get that warning too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe so. Should be a standard confirmation message.

When I factory reset via TWRP my internal storage does not get wiped.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

Have done a factory reset three times last week through TWRP 2.6.0.0 and it always left /data/media alone. Maybe you accidentally toggled a full wipe?

Salty Wagyu said:
Have done a factory reset three times last week through TWRP 2.6.0.0 and it always left /data/media alone. Maybe you accidentally toggled a full wipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe, but i'm sure i just used the default wipe. Either way I am using CWM touch and dont have to worry about that. Thank you all for your support)

Just wiped my phone last night to install Paranoids latest. Using latest TWRP I selected wipe, it stated that it was a factory reset and showed everything that would be touched, afterwards I booted up and restored 5 different backups all from my internal storage so it didn't wipe it lol
You sure you selected the right thing?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Well, I guess I did something wrong and it cost me big time. Maybe I will give TWRP another try, some other time, will definitely back everything to my pc or DB before I do
Thanks to all who replied
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

I have the same problem with TWRP
I did a factory reset and it deleted my backup created with TWRP as well as the ROM I was about to flash along with everything else in the "virtual SD card". Maybe I am missing something since I am new to phones without an SD card.

No, I think you either did a Format DATA (which explain what it is and force you to type "yes" to continue) or you went in advance wipe and selected the Internal Storage to wipe. Factory Reset does not delete the internal memory.

eksasol said:
No, I think you either did a Format DATA (which explain what it is and force you to type "yes" to continue) or you went in advance wipe and selected the Internal Storage to wipe. Factory Reset does not delete the internal memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have no idea how much I love you and how stupid I feel right now. For some reason I wasn't seeing the swipe to factory reset and you made me realize that. Thanks for helping a noob.

I accidentally formatted my internal storage a before using Advance Wipe, I think they made it too easy to accidentally check the Internal Storage box. It usually goes something like this: F#$%@#$^@$#%^#$%@#%@#%!!!!!!

I also have wiped my entire phone, how on earth do i get it back online to install OS again?

CWM is better i think.
21plays said:
I loved TWRP recovery, but then I did a factory reset. TWRP completely wiped my phone beyond what was needed and no I did not do a custom reset but the default one. I have a nexus 4 and the reset wiped all my data. Music, photos(even the nandroid backup that TWRP created!) CMW does NOT clean the internal data such as music and other folder, it leaves them. Why TWRP wipes it all is beyond me. Thank you for this great custom recovery however I lost a lot of data that cannot be ever replaced and lost hours and hours of time restoring everything since Titanium backups were deleted. This should not have happened. Have others experienced the same?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah Man Happened to me too just now. Cryiing. Literally crying all my media gone awayyy.
I liked twrp more but now
I think cwm is better than twrp because of this format it did to me.

Cwm was good but it has not been updated for quite some time" while twrp continues to improve imho.

Well even i prefer cwm or philz from cm11 but people still love twrp.
Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

[Q] Modified Platform.xml most apps crash and phone is unuseable

Hey guys, I'm having a serious problem with my Note 3 running kitkat, I attempted to modify the platform.xml and I don't exactly know what I did but i was attempting to allow apps to write to my external SD card, but I didn't change the permissions on it now the device literally is as about as useful as a brick.
-It will not run apps
-Internet doesn't work
-Various other problems
I've had a look at some other threads but my knowledge on androids is quite little, It was rooted by a friend who didn't exactly explain Rom's for android. So I'm wondering what I can do because I have some important things on my phone I do not want to loose, and from what i'm aware of a factory reset isn't the best option, if there's a way other than factory restoring it, I did see another solution with using ADB I think it was but i'm sure there is another way I can fix it. Note: Cannot browse any files or modify them they're not visible.
Thanks
Edit: Tried a factory restore from the restore menu I had with the root called CWM-base recovery same issue still popped up.
2nd Edit: Fixed the issue wasn't easy(This is for the people that have the same issue) I basically used android debug bridge to install root explorer, just download the android SDK from google and look up a tutorial on how to install apps, I modified the xml file to a stock one I had in the /system before I modified it, due to the apps crashing nothing would open so I couldn't do this, after that I restarted the phone made sure the apps crashed again, this was a good thing that they crashed, all I did after that was a factory reset never lost app data or my text files, everything is working and thank you guys for the help Some of my apps were gone but I had written them down so yeah, it was an annoying issue not exactly an easy fix b ut it works.

Hey. If u perform data wipe in recovery, u do not lose any files from your phone so this should be safe.
Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix the problem with XML file, but u can safely wipe your phone or reflash your rom.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

kurpen said:
Hey. If u perform data wipe in recovery, u do not lose any files from your phone so this should be safe.
Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix the problem with XML file, but u can safely wipe your phone or reflash your rom.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"data wipe in recovery" By this do you mean the volume up + volume down + home till you get to the menu and press the restore? I just read this somewhere sorry for the noob question?

U press home +volume up +power button combo, until it reboots into recovery. Then you select wipe and factory reset or similar option. Just do not perform perform any formats, cause that's what erases your data. fingers crossed!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

kurpen said:
U press home +volume up +power button combo, until it reboots into recovery. Then you select wipe and factory reset or similar option. Just do not perform perform any formats, cause that's what erases your data. fingers crossed!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I pressed that some little blue and yellow writing came up and my phone's screen went black I guess it either ran out of charge or something else i'll just wait and thanks so much for the help.

Always remember to have your phone over 30-40% of battery when u go to recovery to avoid your phone going off when messing with your phone
If u can get your phone to recovery, you can try to copy important files from there to your of and completely wipe everything and flash a new ROM.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

kurpen said:
Always remember to have your phone over 30-40% of battery when u go to recovery to avoid your phone going off when messing with your phone
If u can get your phone to recovery, you can try to copy important files from there to your of and completely wipe everything and flash a new ROM.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So once my phone comes back on I can do a factory reset and hope for the best? I don't really want all of my apps to go or anything i've installed on the actual device, so when I do a factory reset will this remove everything i've got, i'm not entirely sure how i'd copy the files on to my pc because I couldn't browse anything on the device last time i plugged it in after I modified the platform.xml

You will keep your files but all the apps will be removed, so you will need to install them back. Probably you could copy the file you messed up from someone else and try to get tour phone back up but I am not sure how to do it.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

kurpen said:
You will keep your files but all the apps will be removed, so you will need to install them back. Probably you could copy the file you messed up from someone else and try to get tour phone back up but I am not sure how to do it.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks a ton for the help, I'm going to see if there's a way to use the adb utility to pull the file I damaged get a stock one and push it, I don't know if it will work but i'll give it a go, or should I just do a factory reset? I'd prefer to keep my apps but if it means I have to wipe them I will.

You can give it a try and then if it doesn't work, do the factory reset
Let us know how u do
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

kurpen said:
You can give it a try and then if it doesn't work, do the factory reset
Let us know how u do
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did the factory restore, via the boot thing same issue and the stupid app crashing, I'm puzzled on what to do. Any other solutions I'm concerned my phone is literallly broken now.

Factory reset does only reformat cache, Dalvik and data partition. If you tinkered with your system one and rendered something useless, it won't help you at all to do a factory reset. It just does not touch the normally READ ONLY system. If you wanna fix it, and you have no setting to fix permissions in TWRP/CWM you have to reflash the system, either by reflashing the custom ROM you used from there or by using Odin and flashing the original system back to it. This is why you ALWAYS should have a TWRP (or if you really think about outdated stuff... CWM) FULL backup ready and armed.

emuandco said:
Factory reset does only reformat cache, Dalvik and data partition. If you tinkered with your system one and rendered something useless, it won't help you at all to do a factory reset. It just does not touch the normally READ ONLY system. If you wanna fix it, and you have no setting to fix permissions in TWRP/CWM you have to reflash the system, either by reflashing the custom ROM you used from there or by using Odin and flashing the original system back to it. This is why you ALWAYS should have a TWRP (or if you really think about outdated stuff... CWM) FULL backup ready and armed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't think about fixing permissions. Worth giving it a try.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Q] Does the 'sdcard' folder survives an hard reset?

Hi. Just got the 60P. I was wondering if I have to backup my files everytime I need to hard reset the phone. I have the 64GB version and it would be a pain. Thanks.

I'm assuming you're talking about the internal storage and that by resetting you mean restore to factory default via settings. Then yes, you'll have to back up your files to a separate location before you reset. The internal storage gets wiped when you do so. You'll also get a warning stating that stuff like photos, videos and apps etc. get wiped.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

This comes as a surprise, really. No sense to bother to test roms then. What a pain.

Well, lets clarify this. When I had my gnex with only the internal storage, and would wipe in between roms, I wouldn't loss the files and roms I had downloaded. But would lose everything else like in a normal factory reset. Not sure how or why. Hopefully someone else can chime in. I mean cause what would be the point of creating nandroid backups if they just get deleted every time you wipe and flash a new rom.

Exactly. I had a previous nexus (nexus 3 maybe) and it kept my files.

Yeah so we need some clarification. Cause I'd like to flash some roms to but not if everything just gets deleted, including my roms and backups.

Okay so figured it out. When in twrp and wiping data, just make sure internal storage is not ticked. Then all your backups, roms, and whatever else will remain.

A factory reset will not touch your SD card. If you go in advance wipe in twrp you have the option to check internal storage but it isn't checked by default. If you check this it will wipe everything but there is no need to do this to clean flash ROMs.

tu3218 said:
Okay so figured it out. When in twrp and wiping data, just make sure internal storage is not ticked. Then all your backups, roms, and whatever else will remain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
murphyjasonc said:
A factory reset will not touch your SD card. If you go in advance wipe in twrp you have the option to check internal storage but it isn't checked by default. If you check this it will wipe everything but there is no need to do this to clean flash ROMs.
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This. TWRP leaves /sdcard untouched when you do a Factory Reset. /sdcard is where all of your pics, video, downloaded files reside. This is stated on the TWRP screen above where you swipe to perform a Factory Reset.
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Root and twrp it is then! Thanks guys!

Yes In TWRP you have Safe External SD card + Only Device Memory Reset