Database Users

How to reset everything to out of the box?

Just a quick query before I even get my Nexus S ...
Is it possible to completely reset everything to out of the box condition using a similar method to the HTC devices of holding the down button whilst turning on the phone to access the boot loader screen?
I want to know I can return this if necessary after it's been turned on and configured without leaving any trace of use or my data.

have you installed a custom recovery? or are you on the stock recovery? You can turn off your phone, and then while phone is off hold volume up + power . This will get you into bootloater mode, then you can select recovery. Once you are in recovery hold volume up + power, then it will give you recovery settings, from here you can wipe data.

momohammed20 said:
have you installed a custom recovery? or are you on the stock recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I haven't even received the phone yet so until I have had chance to check it out and make sure it suffers none of the issues cropping up here it will be totally stock - no modding whatsoever.
Will the method above set the phone to out of the box condition with no traces of use?
I gather that once a custom recovery has been installed there is no way to remove it at this time, is that right?

xspyda said:
Just a quick query before I even get my Nexus S ...
Is it possible to completely reset everything to out of the box condition using a similar method to the HTC devices of holding the down button whilst turning on the phone to access the boot loader screen?
I want to know I can return this if necessary after it's been turned on and configured without leaving any trace of use or my data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Goto Settings, Privacy, select Factory Data Reset.
This will clear all private data off the phone, whether you're rooted or not, whether you have custom recovery or not.
Edit: to your second question, yes, at present, there appears to be no way to remove the custom recovery. They'll figure that out sooner or later.

xspyda said:
Thanks, I haven't even received the phone yet so until I have had chance to check it out and make sure it suffers none of the issues cropping up here it will be totally stock - no modding whatsoever.
Will the method above set the phone to out of the box condition with no traces of use?
I gather that once a custom recovery has been installed there is no way to remove it at this time, is that right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, the above method will reset everything. You can even reset to stock from the phone itself, by going to storage, then clear storage. Then i believe in privacy settings you can wipe phone. At this time, there is no way to go back to stock recovery once a custom recovery is flashed. But eventually google will release the stock recovery images that are flashable through fastboot

Thanks guys!
Been told I can turn the phone on but not make any calls or add anything to memory - not sure how the hell you can try a phone out with that kind of restriction.
As long as I can clear EVERYTHING if I need to return it that's fine!

Ah, good point about the sdcard. In prior phones, I just pulled mine out and moved to the new phone. You will want to wipe the sdcard as part of removing all traces of you on the phone.

distortedloop said:
Ah, good point about the sdcard. In prior phones, I just pulled mine out and moved to the new phone. You will want to wipe the sdcard as part of removing all traces of you on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There IS no SD card in the Nexus S (not removable anyway) ;-)
I assume the method above will clear the mass memory.

xspyda said:
There IS no SD card in the Nexus S (not removable anyway) ;-)
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Click to collapse
Obviously.
xspyda said:
I assume the method above will clear the mass memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure, based on past experience with Galaxy S, Nexus One, and HTC EVO 4G, that a Factory Reset from the Settings menu, or from the CWM recovery does not touch the partition that is mounted as /sdcard (whether it's internal or external).
I'm not willing to factory reset my NS at this time to prove the point, though.
In my opinion, to totally reset your phone (for non-rooted), you should:
/Settings/Storage settings/Erase USB storage
/Settings/Privacy settings/Factory data reset
If you're going to take the Recovery method, then you'd
Wipe all data
format sdcard

forgot restrictions password

I forgot my restrictions password.
Apparently Amazon didn't think this trough and there is no way of resetting
it except by doing a factory reset. I want to avoid this option at all cost.
Q1: Is there a way of either finding my password or resting it with out doing a factory reset?
Q2: After rooting, installing su, TWRP etc, etc. if I now do a factory reset is it going to break my kindle? i.e brick it?
Q3: assuming I do end up doing a factory reset, Will I have to reroot/reinstall all my apps?

Sambena said:
I forgot my restrictions password.
Apparently Amazon didn't think this trough and there is no way of resetting
it except by doing a factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are supposed to remember what you set it to.
They do the same thing that most devices that have a secret password do... If you forget it, you reset the device to default. Not sure what you would want them to do.
Keep in mind, Amazon is not expecting you to have anything on your device but the stock ROM, so resetting the device is not that big of a deal.
Q1: Is there a way of either finding my password or resting it with out doing a factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it was an easy thing to do it wouldn't be very secure.
Did you make a backup with TWRP after you set everthing up BEFORE you set the password? If so, you should be able to restore that.
Perhaps there is some other way... if so, someone will chime in.

Yeah, forgetting my password is dumb on my part.
I have never owned a smartphone or tablet. I was under the assumption that
standard procedure for this kind of thing was some kind of secret question or
the ability to e-mail the password to you.
on the bright side, My wife just remembered the pass. I would still like to know
the answer to those 3 questions though.

Sambena said:
Q1: Is there a way of either finding my password or resting it with out doing a factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon states that the way to reset (or if you failed more than 4 times) is to do a factory reset.
Ref: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200729330
From the Page:
I forgot my Kindle Fire password.
(Note: This is not your Amazon.com account password.)
After four failed attempts at entering your password, you'll be directed to restore your device to factory default settings. This will delete all content on your Kindle Fire and you'll need to register it again before downloading items from your Amazon account. You can then create a new password for your Kindle Fire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Q2: After rooting, installing su, TWRP etc, etc. if I now do a factory reset is it going to break my kindle? i.e brick it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really hard to brick the Kindle Fire, even really bad choices by users have been able to be recovered. A factory reset, should just wipe user data.
Q3: assuming I do end up doing a factory reset, Will I have to reroot/reinstall all my apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A factory reset would loose all of your apps. It shouldn't effect root since it isn't reloading a ROM, just clearing user data.

that makes total sense. I wish Amazon would be more open about these kind of things.
I really wish there system was more like apple. a simple pin before any purchase would be much betfer then disabling wifi.

It works the same way as most other Android devices.

[Q] Questions about Nexus 7 rooting

Hello!
I have a couple of questions about rooting the Asus Nexus 7.
1. Will just a root alone wipe the device?
2. If I use Titanium Backup before unlocking the device bootloader, can I save a backup of everything (apks, app data, photos, videos e.t.c) on to my Windows 8 laptop and then restore it afterwards (like a disk image of Windows)?
3. If I install the Paranoid Android 3.x ROM, would that wipe device data again or not?
4. If I brick it (which I have done before with other phones, RIP LG Optimus Me), how easy is it to restore the original device firmware?
5. How would I go about updating my tablet whilst it is rooted/ParanoidAndroided and what would be the consequences of it?
6. What on earth does ROM actually stand for!?
Thank you!
-Orange

Hi, OrangeFlash81...
Taking your questions, one at a time...
---------------------
OrangeFlash81 said:
1. Will just a root alone wipe the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROOTING won't, but unlocking the BOOTLOADER as a prerequisite will.
OrangeFlash81 said:
2. If I use Titanium Backup before unlocking the device bootloader, can I save a backup of everything (apks, app data, photos, videos e.t.c) on to my Windows 8 laptop and then restore it afterwards (like a disk image of Windows).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can backup everything (granular) using Titanium , and via CWM/TRWP - nandroids (monolithic)... and adb pulled accordingly.
OrangeFlash81 said:
3. If I install the Paranoid Android 3.x ROM, would that wipe device data again or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know about PA. But I would expect you would lose all your current 'user data'. So make sure you back everything up with Titanium or Carbon first.
OrangeFlash81 said:
4. If I brick it (which I have done before with other phones, RIP LG Optimus Me), how easy is it to restore the original device firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends if it's a SOFTBRICK (which are always recoverable).. and very easy to reflash back to STOCK using FASTBOOT. If it's HARDBRICKED (usually caused by a corrupted or erased BOOTLOADER), you're kind of screwed.
OrangeFlash81 said:
5. How would I go about updating my tablet whilst it is rooted/ParanoidAndroided and what would be the consequences of it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait for the developer to release an updated version. You won't loose ROOT, if that's what your alluding to... CUSTOM ROMS, Paranoid included, are generally ROOTED by default.
OrangeFlash81 said:
6. What on earth does ROM actually stand for!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Erm... Read Only Memory...
---------------------
Right, that's as exhaustive as I can be... hope it helps.
Rgrds,
Ged.

1. the first time root will wipe the device while unlocking the bootloader. so make sure you back everything up, including the /sdcard directory.
2. not with titanium backup, as that requires root access to backup app data, the apps themselves and other things can be backed up without root.
3. you can choose if you want to factory reset or not when flashing a rom. it is not necessary, but recommended if you're switching roms or a major update.
4. as long as you dont screw up the bootloader, the toolkit in the dev section will be able to return it to the factory state, so no big worries there.
5. you will be able to download the rom from the thread and updates from there too, or you can download goomanager which takes care of things for you.
6. ROM stands for Read Only Memory, as a normal user doesnt have the privilege of modifying it.

GedBlake said:
ROOTING won't, but unlocking the BOOTLOADER as a prerequisite will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply,
Is there any way to either:
1. Perform a full backup of the device (with apps, app data, photos, videos, everything) without root or
2. Root the device without unlocking the bootloader?
If it helps I have Android Developer Tools installed on my laptop so I can use adb commands. I'm aware of the adb backup command but I don't think that backs up all device data.
Thanks,
Orange

About question 2, no, you have to unlock boot loader then you can root. However, you can relock the boatloader after rooting the device. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Billchen0014 said:
About question 2, no, you have to unlock boot loader then you can root. However, you can relock the boatloader after rooting the device. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for telling me that!
It's the data wipe bit that's worrying me. What about question 1?

Well, you don't have access to the /data/data so yeah, maybe there is a way that I don't know, but as far as myself go, I rooted my devices on the day I bought it so I don't have to sorry about this problem

Billchen0014 said:
Well, you don't have access to the /data/data so yeah, maybe there is a way that I don't know, but as far as myself go, I rooted my devices on the day I bought it so I don't have to sorry about this problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So is that where everything is stored? Thanks.

For backing up *market* apps & their data on an unrooted device (that is, in preparation for rooting), check out the Carbon app. Apparently it uses an API provided by Android to perform this operation - it does not require privilege escalation techniques that root-aware apps (such as TiBu) use, but does require using a PC as a mandatory component of the process.
You can back up pictures/music/etc separately using MTP between the unrooted device and a PC.

bftb0 said:
For backing up *market* apps & their data on an unrooted device (that is, in preparation for rooting), check out the Carbon app. Apparently it uses an API provided by Android to perform this operation - it does not require privilege escalation techniques that root-aware apps (such as TiBu) use, but does require using a PC as a mandatory component of the process.
You can back up pictures/music/etc separately using MTP between the unrooted device and a PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the method I'll use. Thanks!

How to unroot Mi A1?

Hi, guys.
I have rooted my Mi A1. But now after facing the problem with October update, I want to undo all changes made on my device and receive and install all future updates without any additional procedures - just receive OTA update click install button and that's all.
My first question is - is it possible?
The second is - can anybody explain me how can I do it?
Note: After flashing and getting root FlashFire shows me that system's active slot is slot B right now. Also after some attempts to install October OTA update (playing with slots A/B) my device shows me that I do not have any root access now. The screenshots are attached.
Thanks beforehand.

I think the best way is to flash stock image you can find on miui download site.

Samhain77 said:
I think the best way is to flash stock image you can find on miui download site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have acquainted with this material too. I want to know is there any problem if I will do flashing through miflash tool at this situation? Maybe I need to change something before any changing. Or it is not convenient for me right now?
Thanks.

dinozaur516 said:
I have acquainted with this material too. I want to know is there any problem if I will do flashing through miflash tool at this situation? Maybe I need to change something before any changing. Or it is not convenient for me right now?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically, if you flash the factory image, it should be (or I believe it is) written on the both partitions, so you can start with "clean shield", but on the newest update.
You can even preserve user data within the tool

matcho13579 said:
Basically, if you flash the factory image, it should be (or I believe it is) written on the both partitions, so you can start with "clean shield", but on the newest update.
You can even preserve user data within the tool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, i just do not understand why factory image is written on two partitions. Why it cannot be written on one partition? Or it must be so? Can you explain me this issue?

dinozaur516 said:
Ok, i just do not understand why factory image is written on two partitions. Why it cannot be written on one partition? Or it must be so? Can you explain me this issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure if it's true or not, but I think it it. Like, if you have any problems with either partition A or B, simply flashing factory image over it should fix both, that's why I think it's true.

matcho13579 said:
I'm not really sure if it's true or not, but I think it it. Like, if you have any problems with either partition A or B, simply flashing factory image over it should fix both, that's why I think it's true.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I understood, this device has 2 same images, am I right? And it means if one image size is 4 GB then it is multiplied by 2 and 2 images` size is equal to 8 GB.

dinozaur516 said:
As I understood, this device has 2 same images, am I right? And it means if one image size is 4 GB then it is multiplied by 2 and 2 images` size is equal to 8 GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Referring from here, it's not true:
A/B updates require an increase of only 320 MiB in flash, with a savings of 32MiB from removing the recovery partition and another 100MiB preserved by removing the cache partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

matcho13579 said:
Referring from here, it's not true:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh! Thanks a lot. I did not know that

Will do returning to factory image. After the installation, I'll come back with my experience.

dinozaur516 said:
Oh! Thanks a lot. I did not know that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it's true as I checked the tables on the site, but it's not that much of a difference if you own a 64 GB device, it won't take more than 400 MB of storage

matcho13579 said:
Actually it's true as I checked the tables on the site, but it's not that much of a difference if you own a 64 GB device, it won't take more than 400 MB of storage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure

I successfully flashed my Mi A1 to factory image via MiFlash tool. I used "Clean all and lock" mode. Everything is working and the device also installed October updates.

dinozaur516 said:
I successfully flashed my Mi A1 to factory image via MiFlash tool. I used "Clean all and lock" mode. Everything is working and the device also installed October updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you have now a clean phone without your old user data?

Samhain77 said:
So you have now a clean phone without your old user data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap. I have installed all apps again. And everything works perfect.

Samhain77 said:
So you have now a clean phone without your old user data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you choose to save user data, they will be saved, you don't have to wipe user data, but it's recommended tho

matcho13579 said:
If you choose to save user data, they will be saved, you don't have to wipe user data, but it's recommended tho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, but i made it to be sure that everything will be installed like the first time.

dinozaur516 said:
Will do returning to factory image. After the installation, I'll come back with my experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think flashing factory image with mi flash tool will solve the issue. have you flashed?

androwide said:
i think flashing factory image with mi flash tool will solve the issue. have you flashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap, i made it. And everything is ok. I am on october update right now.

dinozaur516 said:
Yeap, i made it. And everything is ok. I am on october update right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great, i am also rooted with FlashFire method and going to flash factory image on my device to install the october security patch, but i would try "save user data" and flash, i know the root access will be gone, but i can root again with TWRP method or with the same.

[Guide] How to remove encryption from your Pixel 2 XL

In an effort to keep this chatter out of other threads, here is the info that you seek. I didn't discover this process @DespairFactor and Bryant (not sure of his XDA handle) get the credit.
First you need to go through the Google set up and Skip everything except, the unlock Theft Protection. It will then ask you if you want to add the Google account and you say no. If at any point you say yes to something or add a pin / fingerprint it will encrypt. Then you need to reboot to the bootloader and run, fastboot format userdata then, Boot and Skip through the set up again. As long as you do not add a pin / password or a google account you will stay un-encrypted. This will work on the stock boot.img.

Reserved

Any advantage of doing it? In theory it should work faster, but is it visible?

Hola
And further to @DforDesign's question, I take it that having a decrypted device helps with existing TRWP and available custom kernel installations? I haven't reviewed the Development sub-forums yet as I am still awaiting my device.
Thanks for the guide.

If you do stay unencrypted, isn't all we can do for now is just edit the build prop? Anything else? I thought magisk would still bootloop

DforDesign said:
Any advantage of doing it? In theory it should work faster, but is it visible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on if you talk to people that wear tin foil hats, that also gives you your answer.

so after the setup, can you add your google account, fingerprint/pin later?

xryousukex said:
so after the setup, can you add your google account, fingerprint/pin later?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you will lose twrp after doing that process. It will be encrypted.

Let me make sure I'm understanding this.
I already set up my 2 XL with pin and fingerprint, so now it's encrypted making seeing root file tree impossible (like sdcard, download folder).
If I reset my device, and say NO to everything requiring pin or fingerprint on the device, I can set it up normally and still have access to the root file tree?
So long as I don't password, pin, fingerprint protect the device, I'll continue to have access to these files, right?
But this also means no google account activity (Gmail, contacts , photos, etc) right?

Yes for now, that's exactly what that means, at least for now until TWRP , or AOSP recovery is update and worked on to work with our device.

Az Biker said:
Let me make sure I'm understanding this.
I already set up my 2 XL with pin and fingerprint, so now it's encrypted making seeing root file tree impossible (like sdcard, download folder).
If I reset my device, and say NO to everything requiring pin or fingerprint on the device, I can set it up normally and still have access to the root file tree?
So long as I don't password, pin, fingerprint protect the device, I'll continue to have access to these files, right?
But this also means no google account activity (Gmail, contacts , photos, etc) right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You understand correctly. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether or not a factory reset will be enough. We used format userdata in fastboot to achieve it. It may be a good test to see if simply linking a Google account will trip encryption.

I can add my google account as long as i dont set a pin or fingerprinter my phone's internal storage is visible via TWRP with no issues.

Let me add something we discovered. It seems to be on the pin/pattern setup only. I think you can do everything else to stay decrypted in twrp. Now might thought was to setup everything they way you want without pin/pattern and you can then backup. Then save that backup on a PC. After that you lock your device via pin/pattern. If for some reason something screws up instead of setting everything up again. Just factory reset and skip everything and place backup on SD card then boot twrp and try to restore. Someone want to test this theory lol????
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

bryantjopplin said:
Let me add something we discovered. It seems to be on the pin/pattern setup only. I think you can do everything else to stay decrypted in twrp. Now might thought was to setup everything they way you want without pin/pattern and you can then backup. Then save that backup on a PC. After that you lock your device via pin/pattern. If for some reason something screws up instead of setting everything up again. Just factory reset and skip everything and place backup on SD card then boot twrp and try to restore. Someone want to test this theory lol????
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for confirming

Great! Thanks. I can't use TWRP on the Nov patch but I have a question... I'm now using a permissive kernel. Can I simply wipe userdata to unencrypt? Can you confirm? Is the command fastboot format userdata?
Thanks in advance!

Mike02z said:
Great! Thanks. I can't use TWRP on the Nov patch but I have a question... I'm now using a permissive kernel. Can I simply wipe userdata to unencrypt? Can you confirm? Is the command fastboot format userdata?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but twrp is still not functional

bryantjopplin said:
Yes, but twrp is still not functional
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I didn't realize we needed twrp. I was thinking we could just use fastboot erase userdata in leu of twrp.

Can't you just factory reset and then flash Magisk before re-setting up your phone? I thought Magisk disabled force encrypt by default.

Mike02z said:
Thanks. I didn't realize we needed twrp. I was thinking we could just use fastboot erase userdata in leu of twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you can, I thought you were thinking format userdata would fix twrp. Sorry

TheSt33v said:
Can't you just factory reset and then flash Magisk before re-setting up your phone? I thought Magisk disabled force encrypt by default.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried it, no luck. Removed my Google account, reset phone, did not log into my Google account and did not set up any PIN or password and it's still encrypted. I'll try fastboot erase userdata and cache and see if that works.