Database Users

[Q] Just wanted to clarify...

What do you lose whenever you...
Format /cache?
Format /system?
Format /data?
Can someone please go into detail about it? Thanks!

les02jen17 said:
What do you lose whenever you...
Format /cache?
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Dalvik compile results. Completely disposable. Will cause slower performance as the classes get recompiled the first time they're run.
Format /system?
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The Android system apps and jarfiles (java libraries). If you do this, you'll need to reflash the ROM (like a nightly) and gapps.
Format /data?
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All of YOUR stuff. Market apps, program configuration settings, etc. Larger datafiles will generally be in /emmc or /sdcard. Much of this will be backed up by Google if you enabled this and will trickle back, but it's a pain and some apps don't do it right or at all.
That said, any of these might solve some problem sometime. Clearing cache often fixes force-close problems due to stale or corrupted compilations. Clearing /system can clean out old versions of system stuff (I haven't seen this, and ISTR that the nightly install does this anyway; watch CWR while it's installing sometime). Clearing out data can fix rogue apps by deleting them completely, but erase their data and/or uninstall from Market first.

What's about /boot, stolen?
What harm if we format it?
And, just a little correction up there, format /cache alone doesn't perform wiping Dalvik

votinh said:
What's about /boot, stolen?
What harm if we format it?
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Then you can't boot from that device anymore. Reinstall.
And, just a little correction up there, format /cache alone doesn't perform wiping Dalvik
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Right, you need to clear /data/dalvik-cache, too, but that isn't needed with the usual updates, and it's harder to get to in CWR. But he didn't ask about either of those, or any other filesystems, and maybe you could fill him in?
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App

[Q] Will a factory reset or flashing a ROM erase my EMMC-files?

I'm thinking about wiping my Nook since I can't get WiFisleep to work anymore. But what will happen to all my books and comics stored on the EMMC then? I'm running cyanogen 7 from the internal memory with no traces of BN(the first thing you get when you boot is a small cyanogen logo). Do I have to back all those files up?

If you wipe data and Dalvik you most likely lose those files (depending on where you have stored this files to save). I would suggest backing them up to your uSD to be safe for now.

skeeterpro said:
If you wipe data and Dalvik you most likely lose those files (depending on where you have stored this files to save). I would suggest backing them up to your uSD to be safe for now.
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Wiping Davlik will not delete those files. I wipe it every time I upgrade to a higher nightly. In fact, it is all that I wipe. The real question is will an update or reflash solve the problem? If it were me, I would flash an update using ROM Manager, wiping Davlik and including gaaps in the update. If that does not solve the issue I would then start from scratch since a system wipe will be needed. However, backing up the apps first using Titanium Backup (but not system settings) will get you back after the new flash.

pat is right, wipe Dalvik doesn't touch files but skeeter also right as wipe /data, everything most likely gone with the wind

votinh said:
pat is right, wipe Dalvik doesn't touch files but skeeter also right as wipe /data, everything most likely gone with the wind
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Wiping /data will indeed wipe all downloaded applications and their associated settings but I think the OP is referring to media files stored on the emmc partition and this will not be touched by a data, system or cache wipe, just like SD card contents won't be touched.
I store some basic media files on internal emmc making use of about 4GB spare capacity. This gets scanned as well as the stuff stored on SD.

what happen to the paid app after flashing new rom

Some roms require a full wipe/factory reset before installing. Of course that will delete all apps including the one that I bought. Do I need to buy them again?
Also, will the 'titanium backup' backups the destop settings (i.e., the app shortcuts created on main screen)?

wildcolor said:
Some roms require a full wipe/factory reset before installing. Of course that will delete all apps including the one that I bought. Do I need to buy them again?
Also, will the 'titanium backup' backups the destop settings (i.e., the app shortcuts created on main screen)?
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Some launchers let you backup icon placements and such on the home screen. Also, as long as you use the same Google account you originally bought stuff from Google Play with on your new ROM or any other devic, you can download it again for free. Also Titanium Backup is an incredible app that will backup apps settings as well, so if you are thinking of getting it, go for the paid version, it's worth a least 4 times as much as it costs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium App

krion64 said:
Some launchers let you backup icon placements and such on the home screen. Also, as long as you use the same Google account you originally bought stuff from Google Play with on your new ROM or any other devic, you can download it again for free. Also Titanium Backup is an incredible app that will backup apps settings as well, so if you are thinking of getting it, go for the paid version, it's worth a least 4 times as much as it costs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium App
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Thanks for the reply. I bought TitaniumB already. But, if I do a full wipe, I actually also delete the Titanium app and the file it backuped, didn't I?

wildcolor said:
Thanks for the reply. I bought TitaniumB already. But, if I do a full wipe, I actually also delete the Titanium app and the file it backuped, didn't I?
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Not if you leave the "sdcard" partition alone. You can wipe data and keep that data (which has your TB info) intact. Same goes for any backups/nandroids you performed with TWRP or CWR.

kpjimmy said:
Not if you leave the "sdcard" partition alone. You can wipe data and keep that data (which has your TB info) intact. Same goes for any backups/nandroids you performed with TWRP or CWR.
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It might be a stupid question, but What is TB short for? Also, the Nexus 7 only has one internal 'sdcard', by partition, did you mean that I could set many partitions like what we do under windows (i.e., C: , D: , E: ) ?

TB is titanium backup but I would just use es file explorer or something similar to back up the apps to the sd card
.215 radio - SimplexROM 1.2 - Daily Driver - XT912 - Wigdetsoid - Linux Installer

wildcolor said:
It might be a stupid question, but What is TB short for? Also, the Nexus 7 only has one internal 'sdcard', by partition, did you mean that I could set many partitions like what we do under windows (i.e., C: , D: , E: ) ?
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You can but that's a totally different question/thread/answer. LOL What you want is to just flash a new rom after a wipe and to restore all your apps. It is ok to wipe your device, just do NOT wipe the internal SD card. That will wipe the rom you want to flash and other goodies. Another tip is to create an update.zip of your titanium backup program so that when you first flash your ROM, you can flash the update.zip right after. In Titanium backup, hit menu-"create update.zip". This will place the update.zip (titanium backup program) on your internal SDcard so you can flash it later.
Please delete the update.zip after you have your device up and running to avoid any confusions down the road. You can create the titanium backup "zip" file at any time and takes seconds to do. GL

thanks for all the reply.
I thought a full wipe would delete all user data (apps and all files) and was afraid to try to do the full wipe. Obversly, I was wrong. The wipe doesn't delete everything.

wildcolor said:
thanks for all the reply.
I thought a full wipe would delete all user data (apps and all files) and was afraid to try to do the full wipe. Obversly, I was wrong. The wipe doesn't delete everything.
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Nope the rom's data partition is seperate from the sdcard partition. A regular wipe of the data, cache, dalvic cache, and system doesn't delete the storage (sdcard) partition, they're kept seperate for that reason among others.
You have to actually tell it to wipe the sdcard partition in order to wipe it. Also, note that in recovery, wiping the data and cache partition is sometimes called "factory reset". I know in TWRP recovery it is, not sure about clockwork. If you know you're in recovery, the factory reset is perfectly safe, it only wipes data and cache. It's completely seperate from similar options that are in the rom (in settings) or in the factory bootloader.
When you see us referring to "Make sure you wipe completely" it's probably confusing, but we aren't referring to the sdcard and external storage. We are just referring to what's necessary for a proper rom install, which is data, system, dalvic cache, and cache.

CharliesTheMan said:
It's completely seperate from similar options that are in the rom (in settings) or in the factory bootloader.
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That is exactly what I confused about.
Thanks a lot. Thanks meter added again for the generous reply.

TWRP format Data HELPP

so i wanted to do a wipe and clean install a rom.
in twrp i did wipe > format data... and the internal storage apparently meant the sdcard...is all my data completely gonezo, cuz that is NOT good......

jewnersey said:
so i wanted to do a wipe and clean install a rom.
in twrp i did wipe > format data... and the internal storage apparently meant the sdcard...is all my data completely gonezo, cuz that is NOT good......
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Unfortunately yes all of your stuff it's gone. Factory reset is what you are supposed to do. Sorry bud.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

sonuva......

I adb'd my files over and reinstalled eos, but no file managers can delete anything off sdcard... permissions look good but still no dice

jewnersey said:
I adb'd my files over and reinstalled eos, but no file managers can delete anything off sdcard... permissions look good but still no dice
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When you chose FORMAT DATA, what did you do later to install a new rom?

Format Data = erase Internal Storage. You want to do a factory reset when changing ROMs

[Q] Deleted System Apps

Hello,
I was recently mucking around with custom recoveries on my Motorola Defy Mini XT320, and deleted some system applications to make some room on the /system directory. Unfortunately, one of those apps was the standard Clock app that came with the phone, and I'd become quite attached to that widget.
I was wondering, is there any way to restore deleted system apps/widgets after they've been deleted from the /system directory?
Cheers,
Welshie

Ext undelete
Undeletion on Ext3/Ext4 filesystem (the one your phone use) is not a trivial task and AFAIK there is nothing like this in recovery. You may always reflash your phone with the same version of the system formware you already have. This should not harm your data. Try do just wipe cache and Dalvik cache. Do not do factory reset, as it deletes /data where all the updates and personal data are. Also don't go between Slim/CM/Stock firmware as they probably have different partition layout so you loose your data anyway. So do nandroid backum in recovery first (your data, not the system). Then flash. You may restore your data then. Next time, do nandroid backup (in recovery) of the system before you make changes