How does it remember?

[tiramg]

So the last few ROMs I flashed seem to remember some settings (my WiFi password, notification light color) even though I have done a full wipe with TWRP. Am I not wiping right?
But they don't remember ALL my settings (sleep timer, brightness, etc)
Whats going on?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

 

[bakerbert]

i have noticed that also;
my guess is, that information is saved on the virtual SD card somewhere (SD Card info is not effected during a wipe)

 

[2defmouze]

Certain things are backed up by your Google account. If you're concerned about wiping fully, a full wipe in TWRP before flashing should look like:
Wipe data / factory reset
wipe cache
wipe dalvik cache
wipe system

 

[tiramg]

I know it can't be backed up to Google because sometimes it IS wiped and I have to re enter the info. I just can't figure out why sometimes yes and sometimes no.
Thanks for confirming that my process of wiping is at least the correct one.
:-D

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[dmmarck]

Certain things are backed up by your Google account. If you're concerned about wiping fully, a full wipe in TWRP before flashing should look like:
Wipe data / factory reset
wipe cache
wipe dalvik cache
wipe system

This. WiFi stuff is backed up by Google. Some light settings are stock, others are probably backed up on your SDcard if you have Light Flow/something like that.

 

[Jeff43]

I have a downloaded wallpaper that even survived a resent factory reset. Go figure.

The wallpaper was downloaded on the "SD card", but recently prior to flashing a new ROM, I did a factory reset. I flashed the ROM, Gapps, Kernel, but not the wallpaper. But low and behold when it booted, there was my wallpaper. Strange.
Could that wallpaper somehow attached itself to a part of the system that is not touched, even with a factory reset?

 

[tiramg]

Factory reset and new Rom flashing doesn't affect anything on the SD card. That's why your downloaded wallpaper made it. i don't get how wifi settings and ROM preferences are saving. Liquid has a settings folder on the SD card so i get how that would possibly come back but i flashed a brand new ROM which i had never used before and it seemed to remember my notification color (i don't use Light flow). And if wifi password is stored on google servers, why doesn't it remember it EVERY time i flash a new rom. I'd estimate it remembers about 50% of the time. wierd.