FDR question (potentially stupid, at that)

[notforhire]

Am considering a FDR for my S22U. I'm using an eSIM. If I do a FDR, does that wipe the eSIM from my device? or no?

 

[VidJunky]

Not sure that I've ever heard of a factory reset referred to as an FDR. I'm assuming Factory Data Recovery, or at least that was the closest I could find online related to Android. In the meantime yes it would wipe the e-SIM information otherwise any device turned in that was FDR'd could just be turned on with service. That would defeat the purpose of wiping all personal data from devices. There may be a way to back it up so that it recovers but I wouldn't know about that. In the meantime, perhaps we can help you avoid the need to factory reset if you tell us what's up? Otherwise there are a lot of backup apps/services on the Play Store. My Backup Pro was a good one that saved a lot of things I couldn't find in other backup services when I needed one. They may have updated the service to include e_SIMs???

I've never used an e-SIM although they seem to have been around for some time now, are they that difficult or that much of a hassle to set-up that redoing it or installing another is something to be avoided? Asking for a friend.

 

[notforhire]

I prefer, where possible, an economy of words, lol...hence the abbreviation.

As an aside, I converted my physical sim to eSIM because of connectivity issues to see if that might help. As it happens, it helped great. I've not yet had to transfer an eSIM from one device to the next, so I can't answer your question regarding hassle. I might be about to find out.

FTR, I have duplicate backups of my device (SSD and cloud), so I'm good there. I have Smart Switch backup on a hard drive.

I'm experiencing a fascinating PITA that prompted me to consider the reset. There is a regular online news program that I enjoy streaming every morning, via browser. The link (for me) recently broke. I figured it was a server side issue. I reported the issue. No feedback.

I tried a different browser. Same broken link. I tried my PC using the Edge browser. Broken link. This morning, I tried on my bride's PC. Link worked just fine. So I'm just thinking outloud trying to solve this problem. It makes no sense that the link would work on her PC, and not on my PC or S22U. We're connected to the same WiFi. I also tried to connect from my phone using mobile data. Broken link.

I figured that it couldn't hurt to wipe the phone and start fresh and see if that solved the problem. (yes, that doesn't answer my PC question, but I can always reset it, too.)

You answered my biggest question...wiping the phone wipes the eSIM. Now I have fair warning, lol.

 

[notforhire]

FINAL: figured out why I was having the broken link problem described above. Apparently, the site I watched performed some type of upgrade. The result was that I could no longer stream the news program while using ad blockers. When I temporarily disabled the ad blockers on the site, the stream became available. So......I learned something today.

As to doing a reset with an eSIM, I won't be burning that bridge until later.

 

[VidJunky]

Yeah I've had some issues with the ad blocker that was built into a VPN I tried. What's the point of the VPN if sites block you just for having one and others do stuff like this where if you use the features stuff doesn't work. I guess we've reached the point where you either share everything about yourself or you can sit and talk to yourself.

Well its good that you figured it out. Sucks that was the answer but at least you figured it out before taking the drastic step of wiping everything. If you ever go down that road post back and tell us about the process. I didn't know you could take a physical SIM and convert it to digital. I've been having connection issues recently where my phone does stuff like show 5G and sometimes 5GUW and it still refuses to load. I might have to look into that option. Anyway thanks for the update it might be just the thing to help someone else.

Best wishes.

 

[notforhire]

Yeah I've had some issues with the ad blocker that was built into a VPN I tried. What's the point of the VPN if sites block you just for having one and others do stuff like this where if you use the features stuff doesn't work. I guess we've reached the point where you either share everything about yourself or you can sit and talk to yourself.

Well its good that you figured it out. Sucks that was the answer but at least you figured it out before taking the drastic step of wiping everything. If you ever go down that road post back and tell us about the process. I didn't know you could take a physical SIM and convert it to digital. I've been having connection issues recently where my phone does stuff like show 5G and sometimes 5GUW and it still refuses to load. I might have to look into that option. Anyway thanks for the update it might be just the thing to help someone else.

Best wishes.

If you're showing 5GUW, then I assume you're on Verizon. I've heard that Verizon has a habit of taking away certain features that are available to TMO and AT&T customers. In any event, I just went to the SIM Manager on my phone and converted my physical sim to eSIM. Hopefully, Verizon hasn't blocked your ability to do that.

And yes, now I know to trouble shoot ad blockers as potential hurdles when visiting certain sites. You're right...might as well strip down and walk around nekked for our digital overlords.

 

[VidJunky]

Yeah Big Red is known for disabling and taking things away. I don't remember what device it was that they took away the FM radio when AT&T and others were not only allowing it but using it as a selling feature of the device. I remember the post around here about it. When I go my first Samsung they were blocking Find My Mobile in favor of Google's Find My Device. I got lucky with that one though and within a few months I found that it was suddenly enabled. I just wanted the one of the options that FMM had that FMD didn't, but I don't even remember what that was now. LOL.

I'll definitely give that a check. Not sure if there would be any other advantages but I just watched a video and that is the way things are headed anyway. One of the tech shows I follow on YT suggested that Apple was headed towards SIM less devices. So of course the great follower Samsung will do the same. I mean they followed the no 3.5 HPJ, then no HP, no charging brick and soon no SIM slot.