Database Users

[trick] switching roms without loosing adopted sd data[mm]

Marshmallow had a new cool feature of adopted storage but all the flashoholics had trouble in changing roms because they have to format sd card every time they change roms .
I have a solution.
1:- while flashing rom wipe system dalvik cache and cache but dont wipe data .
2:- flash the rom and let it optimize apps .
3:- after optimizations most probably you will be in bootloop , simply boot into recovery and wipe data and reboot.
4:- your phone will optimize apps again and this time it will boot up and you can access sd card as adopted storage without need to format it again as internal.
This trick worked for me and should work for you guys too.
There's another method that is :-
1:- navigate to root folder
2:- copy all the files from data/misc/vold to somewhere in SD card
3:now boot to recovery wipe everything except SD card and flash new ROM .
4:- now using twrp's file manager move the files you from step 2 to the same folder I.e. data/misc/vold
5:-reboot

According to twrp dev, you can use this trick ' Note, if you factory reset and leave the key present in /data/misc/vold, then Android will still detect and use the adopted storage on the next boot.'
https://gerrit.omnirom.org/#/c/15921/

Thanks! Worked for me! :fingers-crossed:

PoseidonKing said:
Thanks! Worked for me! :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Dirty Flashing....and adopted sd card
If I dirty flash a rom by just clearing the cache and dalvik cache, will the old adopted sd card setting work or will I have to follow your procedure even then also?

[email protected] said:
If I dirty flash a rom by just clearing the cache and dalvik cache, will the old adopted sd card setting work or will I have to follow your procedure even then also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It'll work, according to the trick mentioned here

[email protected] said:
If I dirty flash a rom by just clearing the cache and dalvik cache, will the old adopted sd card setting work or will I have to follow your procedure even then also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup but most probably you will get boot loop if you have installed significant number of apps....so clean flash is advised......and use the trick mentioned
Sent from my Moto E using Tapatalk

Abhimanyu Shekhawat 121 said:
Yup but most probably you will get boot loop if you have installed significant number of apps....so clean flash is advised......and use the trick mentioned
Sent from my Moto E using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you explain? why this bootloop?
pls do read my post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66353859&postcount=1784
does this sound familiar?
i had 39 apps installed so you can say i have lots of apps
but this never happened to me before i flashed 13th april nightly...
ultimately i had to wipe everything, do a clean flash and use this method to save the sdcard

booo159159 said:
can you explain? why this bootloop?
pls do read my post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66353859&postcount=1784
does this sound familiar?
i had 39 apps installed so you can say i have lots of apps
but this never happened to me before i flashed 13th april nightly...
ultimately i had to wipe everything, do a clean flash and use this method to save the sdcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know the exact reason but as long as you have only 10-15 apps you won't get bootloop .....I always get bootloop while dirty flashing updates
Sent from my Moto E using Tapatalk

will this also work on other phones? i have an i9505

k2828 said:
will this also work on other phones? i have an i9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will
Sent from my Moto E using Tapatalk

booo159159 said:
can you explain? why this bootloop?
pls do read my post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66353859&postcount=1784
does this sound familiar?
i had 39 apps installed so you can say i have lots of apps
but this never happened to me before i flashed 13th april nightly...
ultimately i had to wipe everything, do a clean flash and use this method to save the sdcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use latest RR.......RR not giving booloops on dirty flash
Sent from my Moto E using Tapatalk

Sorry for bringing up this old thread again, but I've an issue where I had to hard reset in order to get root on my Moto X Pure. I didn't think about whether or not I should make any backups of my sd or nand.
I thought I could just continue using the sd as adopted storage on my new ROM.
Anyways, when doing this trick do I leave the sd card inside?

ZoneBlaze said:
Sorry for bringing up this old thread again, but I've an issue where I had to hard reset in order to get root on my Moto X Pure. I didn't think about whether or not I should make any backups of my sd or nand.
I thought I could just continue using the sd as adopted storage on my new ROM.
Anyways, when doing this trick do I leave the sd card inside?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes SD card should be inside.
Sent from my Moto E using Tapatalk

well it works. you can also switch from cm13 to cm14.1, but the option migrate data, to migrate from internal to adopted is missing afterwards

please help , i can see the .key file in the vold folder but i don't know how to save it so that i can RE USE the adoptable storage AFTER FACTORY RESETTING my Phone.
PLEASE PLEASE help me out !

yaxir0 said:
please help , i can see the .key file in the vold folder but i don't know how to save it so that i can RE USE the adoptable storage AFTER FACTORY RESETTING my Phone.
PLEASE PLEASE help me out !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just copy it to your SD card using file manager. Then when you flash ROM, go into twrp file manager and copy-paste it back to vold folder.
However, if you are on a nougat ROM then you don't need this entire trick at all! Just flash ROM without this trick. The .key will take care of itself automatically without any problem.

Vikrant Desai said:
Just copy it to your SD card using file manager. Then when you flash ROM, go into twrp file manager and copy-paste it back to vold folder.
However, if you are on a nougat ROM then you don't need this entire trick at all! Just flash ROM without this trick. The .key will take care of itself automatically without any problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for you reply , Vikrant
my problem is , my SD card does NOT appear in TWRP fiile manager , since it was formatted as internal. my phone's stuck in boot animation. so i have no access to the phone's OS to retrieve my VERY precious data.
please help me out ... i would explain the issue in detail but i have already made a post here ;
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/62m1p6/decrypting_a_sd_card_on_ubuntu/
kindly take a look and suggest possible solutions.
Many thanks !

yaxir0 said:
thanks for you reply , Vikrant
my problem is , my SD card does NOT appear in TWRP fiile manager , since it was formatted as internal. my phone's stuck in boot animation. so i have no access to the phone's OS to retrieve my VERY precious data.
please help me out ... i would explain the issue in detail but i have already made a post here ;
https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/62m1p6/decrypting_a_sd_card_on_ubuntu/
kindly take a look and suggest possible solutions.
Many thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, in TWRP file manager, don't you see the option 'sdcard' ? Go to TWRP > Advanced > file manager > sdcard.
I'm also using SD as internal and flashing ROMs and stuff without using this trick (on nougat).

Vikrant Desai said:
Well, in TWRP file manager, don't you see the option 'sdcard' ? Go to TWRP > Advanced > file manager > sdcard.
I'm also using SD as internal and flashing ROMs and stuff without using this trick (on nougat).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i see. you're using Android 7.0 (Android N) ... i was using CM13 , Android 6.0 (Android MarshMellow) oh and infact , i downloaded the ROM from xda forums ...
here's the EXACT ROM that was running on my phone before disaster struck ;
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-mega/development/rom-aicp-11-0-mm-6-0-1-t3457130
i DID use the TWRP File Manager but i don't remember exploring that particular 'sdcard' folder . but do tell me , what did you see in your 'sdcard' folder in file manager ?

TWRP can't mount data

Wanted to make a backup but TWRP says 0MB next to data and when I tried to delete the TWRP (the one where it makes my backups) to make some space it says it couldn't mount data.

Boot to system, reboot to TWRP and try again.

I've tried that, doesn't work.
xAnkris said:
Boot to system, reboot to TWRP and try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Moto G (4) using XDA-Developers mobile app

Have you tried another SD card or did you converted the SD to internal storage?

I thought the data partition was more than just the SD card? I'll try though.
Sent from my Moto G (4) using XDA-Developers mobile app

@Florensie if i am right or not but you haven't mentioned if you tried to Mount /DATA from
Twrp > Mount > tick √ DATA

__Madddy said:
@Florensie if i am right or not but you haven't mentioned if you tried to Mount /DATA from
Twrp > Mount > tick √ DATA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I do that it doesn't get ticked.
Sent from my Moto G (4) using XDA-Developers mobile app
@strongst

Should I try to reflash TWRP with ADB? @_Maddy @strongst @xAnkris
Sent from my Moto G (4) using XDA-Developers mobile app

Florensie said:
Should I try to reflash TWRP with ADB? @_Maddy @[email protected]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can give it a try

Florensie said:
Should I try to reflash TWRP with ADB? @_Maddy @strongst @xAnkris
Sent from my Moto G (4) using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which TWRP version are you using currently, Official or Sherp's Modified..?
Download different than you have, and try...

__Madddy said:
Which TWRP version are you using currently, Official or Sherp's Modified..?
Download different than you have, and try...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the website so official. I'll try.
Sent from my Moto G (4) using XDA-Developers mobile app

Florensie said:
From the website so official. I'll try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the modified for g4 plus by shrep's http://forum.xda-developers.com/mot...covery-twrp-3-0-2-r3-moto-g4-g4-plus-t3494337

@__Madddy @strongst that didn't work, also everytime I restart the recovery it has reset my settings.
The log says:
Could not mount /data and unable to find cryptofooter.
Failed to mount '/data' (Invalid argument)
Unable to recreate /data/media folder.
(...)
Unable to mount storage
(...)
Unable to mount /data/media/TWRP/.twrps
MTP Enabled
(...)
I can't actually save the log on my sd card because of this.
/data and /sdcard folders are empty in twrp file manager.
EDIT: here is exactly what I did to my device:
- Flashed soaktest when OTA was first captured without unlocking bootloader
- Unlocked bootloader
- Flashed official TWRP
- Made a full backup with TWRP
- Accidentally did systemless root which I did not know only worked on MM
- Restored backup
- Wanted to do another backup before going to CM 14.1 and saw that it showed 0MB next to data
- Flashed schreps' TWRP
I'm still on soaktest ATM. The phone is fully functioning as far as I know except for a few soaktest bugs.

Florensie said:
@[email protected] that didn't work, also everytime I restart the recovery it has reset my settings.
The log says:
Could not mount /data and unable to find cryptofooter.
Failed to mount '/data' (Invalid argument)
Unable to recreate /data/media folder.
(...)
Unable to mount storage
(...)
Unable to mount /data/media/TWRP/.twrps
MTP Enabled
(...)
I can't actually save the log on my sd card because of this.
/data and /sdcard folders are empty in twrp file manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you tried to repair your data partition within twrp, it's under advanced wipe-select the partition and then repair or change for system

strongst said:
Did you tried to repair your data partition within twrp, it's under advanced wipe-select the partition and then repair or change for system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this wipe my data and also check my edit on my previous comment. And does it matter if I do change file system or repair file system?

Florensie said:
Will this wipe my data and also check my edit on my previous comment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You messed up your partitions imho. Try to change your data partition to fat first then back to ext4 with the mentioned method

I believe your only option would be to format(not wipe) data. Just so you know this erases internal storage as well. Or maybe a modified TWRP will work.

strongst said:
You messed up your partitions imho. Try to change your data partition to fat first then back to ext4 with the mentioned method
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that fixed it. Sorry for being such a noob.

Florensie said:
Thanks, that fixed it. Sorry for being such a noob.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, next time be aware of what you want to flash because mixing things can cause unwanted problems as you know for now

I have the same problem on my S8 (G950F) after rooting it, I have installed the twrp.
If I have the system partition to fat then I back to ext4, my data will be erased?
I want to fix it but I don't want loss all my data. :/

TWRP Format Data

Hi all sorry for asking a dumb question, but would "format data" button inside TWRP's Wipe section (the button above factory reset) also delete a TWRP backup?

the_hatrix said:
Hi all sorry for asking a dumb question, but would "format data" button inside TWRP's Wipe section (the button above factory reset) also delete a TWRP backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your twrp backup in microsd card then it will not delete.
"Format data" will delete ( system/data/cache/dalvic cache/internal storage)
If you are planning to clean your device to install new clean rom then Make a backup of current rom and all your data in microsd card/usb drive before you do this.

So if the backup was in the internal sd it would have been deleted then right?

the_hatrix said:
So if the backup was in the internal sd it would have been deleted then right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it will be deleted
Go to my files and copy entire TWRP folder from internal storage to microsd card if you need your backup.

Thanks!

Format data
Trex888 said:
If your twrp backup in microsd card then it will not delete.
"Format data" will delete ( system/data/cache/dalvic cache/internal storage)
If you are planning to clean your device to install new clean rom then Make a backup of current rom and all your data in microsd card/usb drive before you do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, please can I recover files from internal sd after Format data ? I wanted to root my phone to recover files with disk digger and I followed a thread including Format data to root android phone and now I'm trying to recover all my lost files. If you have any advise please let me know if I have a chance .
Thank you !

infostar said:
Hi, please can I recover files from internal sd after Format data ? I wanted to root my phone to recover files with disk digger and I followed a thread including Format data to root android phone and now I'm trying to recover all my lost files. If you have any advise please let me know if I have a chance .
Thank you !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After FORMAT DATA there is nothing there to recover.
Everything has gone, sorry.
Only if you had made a TWRP backup, stored in the external sdcard, then you could restore it and get your DATA files back.
But in that case also, your personal files(pictures, music etc) are not included in this back up.
Only APPS data, meaning files that make apps working, are restored this way.
ALL your personal data, are stored in the internal storage.
If you have performed a DATA format, nothing is there anymore.

infostar said:
Format data
Hi, please can I recover files from internal sd after Format data ? I wanted to root my phone to recover files with disk digger and I followed a thread including Format data to root android phone and now I'm trying to recover all my lost files. If you have any advise please let me know if I have a chance .
Thank you !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you can recover data if it was not overwritten, even if it was deleted. You can use special software.

Which options do we need to select to backup existing ROM? And to do a recover in case of device failure.
Boot? System? System Image? Vendor? Vendor Image?

Maybe a dumb question but: If you format data, can you boot in current rom?

Treeager said:
Maybe a dumb question but: If you format data, can you boot in current rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you can't lol. Format data wipes everything on the storage of the device. You better install a rom after wiping everything or you will get stuck in bootloader / bootloops.
In some a/b slot devices, if you don't have a rom installed, your custom recovery is also wiped because it usually resides on the boot.img.

[G950F] No /data partition in TWRP after flashing oreo update

Hi,
ive just followed the flashable oreo TWRP thread in here to test out Oreo.
My device is S8 G950F
link -> https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...1-10-flashable-oreo-twrp-dump-beta-2-t3703083
After that TWRP didnt recognized my data partition anymore...:crying::crying:
So i installed latest TWRP in Odin again (had 3.1.1 before 3.2.0.0 after) - didnt helped.
Ive done a full restore with odin after i downloaded the firmware via samfirm, this is the exact firmware number ive used:
G950FOXM1AQJ5_CL12401979_QB15459675_REV00_user_low_ship
Still no success
I also tried flashing supersu (2.82) and dm-verifity (v.6.0).
Any ideas?
Is it just the partition table in twrp that needs to be updated or some stupid thing i forgot?
Regards

create one !!

popmpopm said:
create one !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

when you use wipe
choose data and use repair or change file system option
after resize file system and voila !!

popmpopm said:
when you use wipe
choose data and use repair or change file system option
after resize file system and voila !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup already figured it out 5 mins after I created this. Shame over me

please help.
i have the same problem.
ive installed clean google edition orea (i had google edition nought 7 before).
everything works except /data/ mount in twrp.
the solution above didnt work, gave me errors.
do i need to format data?!
it will format all my current /data/ or also the internal storage?
thank you.

eliazu said:
please help.
i have the same problem.
ive installed clean google edition orea (i had google edition nought 7 before).
everything works except /data/ mount in twrp.
the solution above didnt work, gave me errors.
do i need to format data?!
it will format all my current /data/ or also the internal storage?
thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok yeah it'll format whole internal storage.
You need to change the partition type of /data to f2fs and then change it back to ext4. Then two recognize /data again

Thargorsson said:
Ok yeah it'll format whole internal storage.
You need to change the partition type of /data to f2fs and then change it back to ext4. Then two recognize /data again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do i format if twrp can't access /data?

eliazu said:
How do i format if twrp can't access /data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not format.
Go to wipe, advanced wipe, repair or change partitions ,select data, select change partition type, select f2fs slide to continue.
Then do the same with data and change back to ext4.

eliazu said:
How do i format if twrp can't access /data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not magic you have all option in twrp wipe

I have done this and it works but as soon as i reboot and go back to twrp it doesnt recongize /data am i doing something wrong

after so many tests I discovered that twrp can read and write data only if you flash last supersu beta, magisk and supersu official both doesn't work:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/supersu/2014-09-02-supersu-v2-05-t2868133

Does the resize option or file system option wipe internal storage?

SD Card empty in TWRP

Hi, i've tried to install lineageos 15.1, it work great but now in TWRP the folder SD Card is empty, i dont know what to do.
Any suggestions ?

ImEraaz said:
Hi, i've tried to install lineageos 15.1, it work great but now in TWRP the folder SD Card is empty, i dont know what to do.
Any suggestions ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like your internal storage is encrypted and you see cryptic named folders that are empty. You can check the "decrypt data"

strongst said:
Sounds like your internal storage is encrypted and you see cryptic named folders that are empty. You can check the "decrypt data"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actualy i'm facing an other problem, I restore everything to stock, i unlock bootloader, flash twrp, i boot on twrp, just after without booting on the system. And immediately on the first boot i come back to the stock recovery.
It never happen before ..
On my first boot in twrp when i select storage, 'internal storage' is at 0Mb and in the log i got
Could not mount /data and unable to find crypto footer
Failed to mount /data (invalid argument)
Unable to mount storage ...

ImEraaz said:
Actualy i'm facing an other problem, I restore everything to stock, i unlock bootloader, flash twrp, i boot on twrp, just after without booting on the system. And immediately on the first boot i come back to the stock recovery.
It never happen before ..
On my first boot in twrp when i select storage, 'internal storage' is at 0Mb and in the log i got
Could not mount /data and unable to find crypto footer
Failed to mount /data (invalid argument)
Unable to mount storage ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After flashing twrp you need to flash magisk or a custom kernel so the twrp won't be restored to stock recovery. Seems like you missed some steps on the instructions to root your device.

strongst said:
After flashing twrp you need to flash magisk or a custom kernel so the twrp won't be restored to stock recovery. Seems like you missed some steps on the instructions to root your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel so stupid, it was just the TWRP ...
The last on TWRP.me is not compatible, i took the last blu_spark and it work well

ImEraaz said:
I feel so stupid, it was just the TWRP ...
The last on TWRP.me is not compatible, i took the last blu_spark and it work well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, from the that site it won't work too...

strongst said:
Yeah, from the that site it won't work too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, thanks for the help.
BTW do you know how to install lineageos without being encrypted ?
People told me sideload but i don't know what's the difference

ImEraaz said:
Yes, thanks for the help.
BTW do you know how to install lineageos without being encrypted ?
People told me sideload but i don't know what's the difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have a look at here for instructions https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-5/development/rom-lineageos-15-1-oreo-oneplus-5-t3727228
You need to format internal storage if it's encrypted.

strongst said:
Have a look at here for instructions https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-5/development/rom-lineageos-15-1-oreo-oneplus-5-t3727228
You need to format internal storage if it's encrypted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i try everything, i think i will wait for an new twrp that can decrypt it.
For now i will just remove the pin when i want to go into twrp

ImEraaz said:
Yeah i try everything, i think i will wait for an new twrp that can decrypt it.
For now i will just remove the pin when i want to go into twrp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to format the storage within twrp

strongst said:
You need to format the storage within twrp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already done, nothing change

ImEraaz said:
Already done, nothing change
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you format internal storage it's nothing shown for sure, that's the purpose of format. After that you can install lineageos along with gapps from USB otg for example.
For DECRYPT data you should not format unless you backed up all to your pc!

strongst said:
If you format internal storage it's nothing shown for sure, that's the purpose of format. After that you can install lineageos along with gapps from USB otg for example.
For DECRYPT data you should not format unless you backed up all to your pc!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahah i know that if i format, my internal storage will be empty, i'm not that dumb ^^
But i tryied what you said and doesn't change ...
It's fine i don't go a lot in TWRP, i prefer magisk
Thanks dude

ImEraaz said:
Ahah i know that if i format, my internal storage will be empty, i'm not that dumb ^^
But i tryied what you said and doesn't change ...
It's fine i don't go a lot in TWRP, i prefer magisk
Thanks dude
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean by "and doesn't change ..." exactly? Are you not able to install lineageos 15.1? I don't get you what's not working right now.

strongst said:
What do you mean by "and doesn't change ..." exactly? Are you not able to install lineageos 15.1? I don't get you what's not working right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's working right now, just if i wan't to go in TWRP i need to disable the pins/password

ImEraaz said:
It's working right now, just if i wan't to go in TWRP i need to disable the pins/password
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's cause of encrypted internal storage imo. But why it's not working for you i don't know...

strongst said:
That's cause of encrypted internal storage imo. But why it's not working for you i don't know...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap i didn't know too, i followed all the steps.
I started from oos 5.0.4 without any pins or password, i wiped -> factory reset and installed lineageos & GApps ...
At least i can see my sdcard folder right now ^^

Guys, I do the first steps with TWRP, but I see my SD Card empty when I go to install. I don't know what to do.
I have Samsung Galaxy TAB E (SM-T561) and twrp_2.8.7.0_sm-t561
I Don't know what to do... I am stuck.

strongst said:
Sounds like your internal storage is encrypted and you see cryptic named folders that are empty. You can check the "decrypt data"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is this option? I can't find it...

hermeswol said:
Where is this option? I can't find it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I found the solution.
Format and change file system of the SD card inside the twrp, after that mount it in PC, restore the files, and it will be ok.