[SOLVED] Unroot and Complete Factory Restore - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've tried to factory restore a rooted Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 L720TVPUBNC6 to no avail. Afterwards, it still had pictures on it from before! I also am noticing quite a bit memory taken up, which I think happened when I backed it up with no SD card. I think I'm just a bit out of my element and would like some help.
Random things of note:
1. I used Odin to root.
2. Clockworkmod says my phone is incompatible with their software (the one from the PlayStore)
3. recovery-clockwork-6.0.3.2-i9500.tar.md5 crashes Odin when I try to run it.
4. SPH-L720T_NC6.rar did absolutely nothing to my phone. I did Odin -> PDA -> Start -> Rebooted, but nothing has changed.
5. Android Toolkit (which apparently is out of date and no longer maintained?) says I can't perform any backup functions. (23 -> 03 -> 33 -> 2)
I think I can root it again no problem, but I would like to start from square one before I do anything further on it.
Advice? Suggestions?

You know you just flash the latest stock firmware and perform a factory reset from within android or the stock recovery.

Lennyz1988 said:
You know you just flash the latest stock firmware and perform a factory reset from within android or the stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just so we're clear, this will erase all data?

No but after you do wipe and data reset so it will erase all your data.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Related

Wipe phone? How do I do it without loosing root?

Hi there, my phone has been acting wonky the past week or so. I'd like to just factory reset (under settings or safestrap) not sure which one is better.
I am rooted running stock with some apps frozen.
What's the best way to reset without loosing root and safestrap?
Thanks!!
do I have to unfreeze everything first?
I tried searching (as I know search is my friend but I was getting contradictory information.
Thanks for your help!
You will not lose root from a factory data reset. All an FDR does is wipe caches, davlik, and system cache. It does not replace files or software, like it would if someone were to odin a firmware tar.
warpedmind0u812 said:
You will not lose root from a factory data reset. All an FDR does is wipe caches, davlik, and system cache. It does not replace files or software, like it would if someone were to odin a firmware tar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for getting back to me! So can I just reset? Or should unfreeze my apps first?
So it would just have the stock apps that come with the phone on it after a reset?
Thanks!
It's been so long since I've had to do this lol
warpedmind0u812 said:
You will not lose root from a factory data reset. All an FDR does is wipe caches, davlik, and system cache. It does not replace files or software, like it would if someone were to odin a firmware tar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are totally wrong lol. a fdr does wipe the system so he would need to have a rom.zip stored on his internal storage/ext sdcard... if he uses SS to do a factory reset he will not boot until he flashes a rom.
now if he does an advanced wipe and selects only the caches thats a different story
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
elliwigy said:
you are totally wrong lol. a fdr does wipe the system so he would need to have a rom.zip stored on his internal storage/ext sdcard... if he uses SS to do a factory reset he will not boot until he flashes a rom.
now if he does an advanced wipe and selects only the caches thats a different story
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yikes! So I won't use SS to wipe. If I just factory reset under settings....should I unfreeze all my apps first? When I boot up again the phone will have all the stock apps, and nothing more correct?
Thanks guys!
putney1477 said:
yikes! So I won't use SS to wipe. If I just factory reset under settings....should I unfreeze all my apps first? When I boot up again the phone will have all the stock apps, and nothing more correct?
Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
worst that will happen u will have to odin a stock tar and reroot.. i would back up all your pictures n everything onto a ext sdcard or pc.. essentially, a fdr from settings or the stock android recovery will make it like new again if you havent flashed a custom rom but i never use it.. i would always just odin a stock tar or use ss fdr and flash a stock rooted rom.zip through ss
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
elliwigy said:
worst that will happen u will have to odin a stock tar and reroot.. i would back up all your pictures n everything onto a ext sdcard or pc.. essentially, a fdr from settings or the stock android recovery will make it like new again if you havent flashed a custom rom but i never use it.. i would always just odin a stock tar or use ss fdr and flash a stock rooted rom.zip through ss
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh boy lol....
Ok so if I odin back to nha, take Ota to ni2, odin stock ncg kernel, root with towelroot, odin stich ni2, reboot. I should be fresh out of the box right?
Then I can download ss and install.
Holy crap that's a lot of steps.
Thanks!
Heather
putney1477 said:
Oh boy lol....
Ok so if I odin back to nha, take Ota to ni2, odin stock ncg kernel, root with towelroot, odin stich ni2, reboot. I should be fresh out of the box right?
Then I can download ss and install.
Holy crap that's a lot of steps.
Thanks!
Heather
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup.. if u have to.. like i said, if ur already rooted with ss installed you might as well wipe in ss and just flash a stock rooted ni2 rom
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
putney1477 said:
yikes! So I won't use SS to wipe. If I just factory reset under settings....should I unfreeze all my apps first? When I boot up again the phone will have all the stock apps, and nothing more correct?
Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
elliwigy said:
you are totally wrong lol. a fdr does wipe the system so he would need to have a rom.zip stored on his internal storage/ext sdcard... if he uses SS to do a factory reset he will not boot until he flashes a rom.
now if he does an advanced wipe and selects only the caches thats a different story
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to clear this up a factory data reset from the settings menu and safestrap do the same thing. It resets the settings, removes any user installed apps as it wipes data folder where your user installed apps are stored. It will be the same ROM you flashed minus any user apps, root and safestrap will remain. If you enter safestrap and do a advanced wipe with system checked and try to boot without flashing a ROM you will have to Odin back to stock to boot back up because the system will be gone. Lastly if you enter the stock recovery and reset from there it will do the same thing as SS and the settings menu. The only way to return to stock is Odin. Hope this clears up any confusion.
Misterxtc said:
Just to clear this up a factory data reset from the settings menu and safestrap do the same thing. It resets the settings, removes any user installed apps and wipes data. It will be the same ROM you flashed minus any user apps, root and safestrap will remain. If you enter safestrap and do a advanced wipe with system checked and try to boot without flashing a ROM you will have to Odin back to stock to boot back up because the system will be gone. Lastly if you enter the stock recovery and reset from there it will do the same thing as SS and the settings menu. The only way to return to stock is Odin. Hope this clears up any confusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what he said lol. i was just going off my past experience.. wiping via stock recovery caused me to have to odin back to stock.. it bootlooped and i didnt have ss recovery any longer.. ss default fdr has system wipe on as default so if you use tge default wipe you need to have another rom available to flash in ss or you will need to odin. Or of course do advanced wipe and unselect the wipe system portion.
theoretically, stock fdr should only wipe as misterxtc stated.. i suggest back up your stuff and try it and let us know how it goes lol
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
elliwigy said:
what he said lol. i was just going off my past experience.. wiping via stock recovery caused me to have to odin back to stock.. it bootlooped and i didnt have ss recovery any longer.. ss default fdr has system wipe on as default so if you use tge default wipe you need to have another rom available to flash in ss or you will need to odin. Or of course do advanced wipe and unselect the wipe system portion.
theoretically, stock fdr should only wipe as misterxtc stated.. i suggest back up your stuff and try it and let us know how it goes lol
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay so I did exactly what you said. I wiped the phone from inside settings. When I booted it back up it was back to stock, because I'm not running a ROM. I did notice that when I signed into Google some of my apps started automatically redownloading. Actually almost all of them did. I am still rooted, & I do still have safestrap on my phone.
My question at this point is, I no longer have the safestrap app or the towel root app in my app drawer, but should I redownload them just so that they are in my app drawer? Will that affect the phone at all?
Thanks again
putney1477 said:
Okay so I did exactly what you said. I wiped the phone from inside settings. When I booted it back up it was back to stock, because I'm not running a ROM. I did notice that when I signed into Google some of my apps started automatically redownloading. Actually almost all of them did. I am still rooted, & I do still have safestrap on my phone.
My question at this point is, I no longer have the safestrap app or the towel root app in my app drawer, but should I redownload them just so that they are in my app drawer? Will that affect the phone at all?
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you don't need them anymore. SS is where it needs to be regardless if it's in your app drawer or not. As long as you see it on boot up your good. Towelroot can be uninstalled after the root process is done, it's a one shot deal unless you Odin back to stock.
Misterxtc said:
No you don't need them anymore. SS is where it needs to be regardless if it's in your app drawer or not. As long as you see it on boot up your good. Towelroot can be uninstalled after the root process is done, it's a one shot deal unless you Odin back to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Thanks again.
It's funny, I have been rooting and flashing roms for 5 years and I feel like I still have so much to learn.
putney1477 said:
Awesome! Thanks again.
It's funny, I have been rooting and flashing roms for 5 years and I feel like I still have so much to learn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, I started about one year ago. I learned very early that a good backup and Odin are your best friends. lol It's pretty hard to mess up the phone beyond Odin or a backup, I've done some pretty risky things.
putney1477 said:
Awesome! Thanks again.
It's funny, I have been rooting and flashing roms for 5 years and I feel like I still have so much to learn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive been on xda since the first galaxy phone made.
i also work for a cellular company..
i have never done a factory reset on my phone (obviously haha) i always use backups or just fresh installs
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app

Fix freeze , lags etc.

Hello people my phone getting old i think 1.5 year so far my phone started to freeze having lags getting too hot while browsing. And bootloops started without flashing anything. First bootloop happened 2 weeks ago. Today happened again twice i wiped dalvik cache and everything is fine how can i fix it? I thought rom cause it i flashed stock firmware rooted it and removed bloatware. Still happens lags,freeze,getting too hot and bootloop. Is it lollipop update? I never had this issues with kitkat. How can fix this and keep my alive?
Orangley said:
Hello people my phone getting old i think 1.5 year so far my phone started to freeze having lags getting too hot while browsing. And bootloops started without flashing anything. First bootloop happened 2 weeks ago. Today happened again twice i wiped dalvik cache and everything is fine how can i fix it? I thought rom cause it i flashed stock firmware rooted it and removed bloatware. Still happens lags,freeze,getting too hot and bootloop. Is it lollipop update? I never had this issues with kitkat. How can fix this and keep my alive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a full factory reset. Be careful as this will wipe your internal storage.
GDReaper said:
Try a full factory reset. Be careful as this will wipe your internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer but I did it after flash stock rom via odin. Wiped data / factory reset , cache partition , mounted cache , system , data , wiped dalvik cache..
Wiping data does not equal a factory reset. Wiping data does just that, wipes user installed apps. But generally leaves the internal storage alone.
A factory reset returns the phone to the settings it came out of the factory with, including a clean internal storage(If you have the stock rom). I heard that changing roms and just wiping data, dalvik and cache will still leave behind some files.
But it could also be untrue.
GDReaper said:
Wiping data does not equal a factory reset. Wiping data does just that, wipes user installed apps. But generally leaves the internal storage alone.
A factory reset returns the phone to the settings it came out of the factory with, including a clean internal storage(If you have the stock rom). I heard that changing roms and just wiping data, dalvik and cache will still leave behind some files.
But it could also be untrue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing stock rom is same with factory reset i think clears everything.
I don't know. Haven't flashed stock on this device yet.
But don't most guys recommend doing a wipe before going back to stock?
I dont know i'll try that when i have free time. I did research some guys saying lollipop causing these problems. I'll try wipe before flash stock rom again , if issues keep happen i'll use lates 4.4.2 custom rom. Thank you for your answers i'll report back.
Real reset
This method will wipe everything, including operating system and efs files. Before you do this:
you must root
Download twrp recovery
Install the recovery using the app from the play store
Boot into recovery mode and have twrp backup everything
save your backup to an SD card and the computer (can't hurt to have two backups)
Doing the above will preserve your phone important data like your imei and efs
in case something goes wrong.
NOW
after you have backed everything up use twrp recovery to wipe data. Have twrp wipe everything except for your SD card (don't won't to lose the backup)
After everything has been obliterated have twrp boot you into download mode.
Download Odin from XDA preferably 3.09 (most stable release) and then grab an official stock firmware from a trusted source. The latest stock firmware should be at least 4.4.2
If you have carriers other than t-mobile you will also need to find a PIT file for partitioning.
When you have all of this open up Odin with your phone connected in download mode and make sure repartitioning, clear efs and nand-erase is checked along with the defaults.
Select pda button and choose your firmware (unzipped tar.md5 format.) Then select repartitioning PIT file button and direct to where you have the PIT file downloaded.
now click start (be sure that the Com port is recognized by Odin: will be highlighted in blue or yellow.)
This will take a while depending on your computer.
when it finishes your phone should reboot with a fresh os and filesystem. If you get stuck in a bootloop reboot into recovery mode and do a wipe data and wipe cache. Reboot and your phone should be good as new.
IMPORTANT!!! It is vital you keep your TWRP backups for as long as you have your phone if you lose them and something goes wrong while flashing your phone you will lose important things such as IMEI baseband which will prevent you from connecting to your network and Sim card recognition.
Thank you so much i'll try this now.
AndroidInitiate said:
This method will wipe everything, including operating system and efs files. Before you do this:
you must root
Download twrp recovery
Install the recovery using the app from the play store
Boot into recovery mode and have twrp backup everything
save your backup to an SD card and the computer (can't hurt to have two backups)
Doing the above will preserve your phone important data like your imei and efs
in case something goes wrong.
NOW
after you have backed everything up use twrp recovery to wipe data. Have twrp wipe everything except for your SD card (don't won't to lose the backup)
After everything has been obliterated have twrp boot you into download mode.
Download Odin from XDA preferably 3.09 (most stable release) and then grab an official stock firmware from a trusted source. The latest stock firmware should be at least 4.4.2
If you have carriers other than t-mobile you will also need to find a PIT file for partitioning.
When you have all of this open up Odin with your phone connected in download mode and make sure repartitioning, clear efs and nand-erase is checked along with the defaults.
Select pda button and choose your firmware (unzipped tar.md5 format.) Then select repartitioning PIT file button and direct to where you have it downloaded.
now click start (be sure that the Com port is recognized by Odin: will be highlighted in blue or yellow.)
This will take a while depending on your computer.
when it finishes your phone should reboot with a fresh os and filesystem. If you get stuck in a bootloop reboot into recovery mode and do a wipe data and wipe cache. Reboot and your phone should be good as new.
IMPORTANT!!! It is vital you keep your TWRP backups for as long as you have your phone if you lose them and something goes wrong while flashing your phone you will lose important things such as IMEI baseband which will prevent you from connecting to your network and Sim card recognition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin freeze everytime i put twrp tar.md5 file cant i use philz touch which i use for long time?
Orangley said:
Odin freeze everytime i put twrp tar.md5 file cant i use philz touch which i use for long time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that another custom recovery?
If so then yes just make sure you have all of your system files and most importantly your efs backed up.
Run odin as administrator if that doesnt work, try using another version of Odin.
AndroidInitiate said:
Is that another custom recovery?
If so then yes just make sure you have all of your system files and most importantly your efs backed up.
Run odin as administrator if that doesnt work, try using another version of Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesnt work another versions both twrp and odin. I'll keep my custom recovery and try it.
Orangley said:
Doesnt work another versions both twrp and odin. I'll keep my custom recovery and try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What carrier are you using, model number of the phone, etc.
Have you backed everything up? And can you flash the custom recovery through Odin if it fails?
Try it without wiping efs first just to be safe
Look here for your device you will be able to find standalone flash able versions of twrp that should work through odin.
http://twrp.me/Devices/
Using i9500. And i did what you said and works fine thank you! Mods close thread please.

[Q] S4 9505 stuck in Bootloop - Even after installing new firmware

I have a Samsung S4 9505 mobile which is stuck in a bootloop.
In order to fix it I have installed a new firmware (Android 5 and 4.4) via ODIN but that does not change the boot loop.
USB debugging is not active on the device. I have wiped the cache several times. I do not want to make a factory reset because there is still some important data on it.
Is there a way to fix this or to rescue the data?
Thanks
Dusi
If the data is in the internal storage, install TWRP and use its file manager and try to recover it that way. It's odd that reinstalling the ROM via Odin didn't help, but regardless of that, a factory reset is likely in your future. If the data cannot be retrieved using the TWRP file manager, it's lost.

Issues with restoring recovery using TWRP-3.0.2-0

I'm having issues with restoring the factory image of stock Android 6.0.1, I'm using
 @Heisenberg guide to create the fresh back up image on TWRP-3.0.2-0. Once I create
the back up, I boot into the OS and perform a factory reset, when i do that the phone resets
into TWRP, and performs the wipe to the device, when i go to do the restore, it freezes
at about 39%, and reboots fully trying to enter the OS, but its corrupt due to TWRP restarting
in the middle of the recovery.
I did at one point upgrade to Android N, but reverted back to android 6.0.1 if that makes a difference.
TL;DR - Created a fresh factory image of 6.0.1 using TWRP, cannot recover with it, TWRP freezes at 39% every time.
What options are you selecting to backup/restore?
Heisenberg said:
What options are you selecting to backup/restore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm doing a back up selecting the system/data/boot/vendor boxes, leaving everything else unchecked, and a second back up with only the EFS,
When i go to restore, I'm just using the first back up, leaving the EFS alone unless ever needed, and am selecting the system/data/boot/vendor boxes
DeathSentinels said:
I'm doing a back up selecting the system/data/boot/vendor boxes, leaving everything else unchecked, and a second back up with only the EFS,
When i go to restore, I'm just using the first back up, leaving the EFS alone unless ever needed, and am selecting the system/data/boot/vendor boxes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only think that your backup is corrupt. Also, instead of booting into Android and performing a factory reset that way, just go into the advanced wipe section of TWRP and wipe only data. Maybe you'll just need to flash the factory images to get the phone booting up fresh again.
That's where it gets interesting, I've flashed the factory 6.0.1 image, then flashed twrp, created the back up again, did the advanced wipe as you said, did the restore again, and same result, at around 39% of the recovery the phone reboots and the back up gets corrupt. My main goal is to make sure this back up absolutely works before I root and start playing around with flashing xposed modules, but I'm unable to do a successful restore for the life of me.
DeathSentinels said:
That's where it gets interesting, I've flashed the factory 6.0.1 image, then flashed twrp, created the back up again, did the advanced wipe as you said, did the restore again, and same result, at around 39% of the recovery the phone reboots and the back up gets corrupt. My main goal is to make sure this back up absolutely works before I root and start playing around with flashing xposed modules, but I'm unable to do a successful restore for the life of me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm stumped, I really don't know why it wouldn't be working if you're performing the backup the way you say you are. Sorry I can't be more helpful. If it's any consolation, a backup probably isn't strictly necessary because you can always get back to stock by flashing the factory images.
Heisenberg said:
I'm stumped, I really don't know why it wouldn't be working if you're performing the backup the way you say you are. Sorry I can't be more helpful. If it's any consolation, a backup probably isn't strictly necessary because you can always get back to stock by flashing the factory images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm stumped too, I've been able to do this effortlessly in the past with this phone, my Nexus 9 and m8 GPE, it wasn't until I upgraded to N and reverted back to 6.0.1 this started to happen. I've even gone as far as trying different versions of twrp, but have had the same result.
I'm just worried in a worst case scenario I'm away from a comp, something crashes and I can't do a restore via twrp, I could be SOL until I get to a comp with adb.
i had a similiar problem , but when i got into the stock image , i went into settings and did a factory reset from there , no worries your BL stays unlocked , once thats done get whatever apps you want back , disable fingerprint /security junk , then boot into bl just like the guide says , youll be able to fastboot install recovery , (boot back into bl, then scroll to recovery and start a gain) then make your backups yor OG & EFS , then reboot , get su reboot into recovery install and yould be be fine , i think you can also try fastboot format userdata , as well
DeathSentinels said:
I'm stumped too, I've been able to do this effortlessly in the past with this phone, my Nexus 9 and m8 GPE, it wasn't until I upgraded to N and reverted back to 6.0.1 this started to happen. I've even gone as far as trying different versions of twrp, but have had the same result.
I'm just worried in a worst case scenario I'm away from a comp, something crashes and I can't do a restore via twrp, I could be SOL until I get to a comp with adb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just keep a ROM zip + gapps on your phone at all times, if you run into trouble you can flash that.
That definitely makes sense , i always dk that
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA-Developers mobile app

Clean used phone please help.

I purchased a used Note 4 off ebay and want to make completely sure there are no spy apps or malware on it. I know some spy apps can be installed into the system partition and survive a factory reset. I discovered an app called cerberus that could do this and could be used to spy on me and blackmail me. How do I completely clean my phone of all spy apps or malware and completely wipe everything including the system partition erasing everything.
Boughtphone said:
I purchased a used Note 4 off ebay and want to make completely sure there are no spy apps or malware on it. I know some spy apps can be installed into the system partition and survive a factory reset. I discovered an app called cerberus that could do this and could be used to spy on me and blackmail me. How do I completely clean my phone of all spy apps or malware and completely wipe everything including the system partition erasing everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install TWRP and format /data. Will clean OS and most writable parts of your phone. Afterwards, have stock ready to flash and flash it via Odin and you should be good to go
Boughtphone said:
I purchased a used Note 4 off ebay and want to make completely sure there are no spy apps or malware on it. I know some spy apps can be installed into the system partition and survive a factory reset. I discovered an app called cerberus that could do this and could be used to spy on me and blackmail me. How do I completely clean my phone of all spy apps or malware and completely wipe everything including the system partition erasing everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard reset from stock recovery or better if you flash stock rom from odin then do factory reset from recovery.
ShaDisNX255 said:
Install TWRP and format /data. Will clean OS and most writable parts of your phone. Afterwards, have stock ready to flash and flash it via Odin and you should be good to go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I install twrp? I don't think the phone is rooted. Is this the easiest way?
Boughtphone said:
How do I install twrp? I don't think the phone is rooted. Is this the easiest way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do not need to be rooted to install twrp. It's the method I trust the most, but you can just use the stock recovery to wipe everything, TWRP will erase everything including media
ShaDisNX255 said:
You do not need to be rooted to install twrp. It's the method I trust the most, but you can just use the stock recovery to wipe everything, TWRP will erase everything including media
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you send me a guide? Or tell me how?
Just download the TWRP version for your device (check model), download Odin and the Samsung USB drivers.
Turn your phone off and enter download mode, connect via USB to your PC and open Odin. Select the TWRP file from the "AP" option in Odin and just select Start
It's really a simple process.
After that, you should have TWRP installed and should now be able to enter custom recovery
ShaDisNX255 said:
Just download the TWRP version for your device (check model), download Odin and the Samsung USB drivers.
Turn your phone off and enter download mode, connect via USB to your PC and open Odin. Select the TWRP file from the "AP" option in Odin and just select Start
It's really a simple process.
After that, you should have TWRP installed and should now be able to enter custom recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Once I have TWRP what settings should I use to wipe everything.

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