How to clear everything on the captivate

[Visual360]

Hey guys, new to android, so this question might be dumb.

Anyway, I want to clear my phone and make it go back to it's default "factory" state. I did the reset (clear everything, etc.).

While this one clears all my settings, files, emails, etc. It still doesn't clear the folders (created by apps), music, movies that are on the internal SD. So, do I have to manually delete these? Or are there other way to reset the phone, to really, really, really clean everything, just like fresh out of the box??

Thanks in advance.

 

[Smitty_82]

You would have to format the SD card. Go to settings>SD Card and Phone Storage>Unmount SD Card. After that, Format SD card. This will erase everything on your sd card so make sure you backup anything you want to save.

 

[DroidXcon]

i would take the card out but if you want a clean card
go to settings>SD card &phone storage>select unmount SD card, then select Format SD card

 

[DroidXcon]

You would have to format the SD card. Go to settings>SD Card and Phone Storage>Unmount SD Card. After that, Format SD card. This will erase everything on your sd card so make sure you backup anything you want to save.

Lol and again!! lmao

 

[Smitty_82]

LMAO! I win this time!

 

[anneoneamouse]

Note that the previous two answers will not allow you to format the INTERNAL SD card.

Head over to XDA forums, at the following thread:

[STOCK ROM] Odin3 One-Click Downloader and Drivers CAPTIVATE ONLY - xda-developers

The utility there can "master clear" your device (wipe it completely back to factory). You may need to install USB drivers to get this to work.

Be aware that the "START" button on the same utility is used to install another ROM onto the phone. That ROM is NOT a stock factory fresh ROM (even though people will tell you it is), it isn't eligible for AT&T updates.

My advice would be that unless you REALLY REALLY need to delete all those directories, leave the phone as is.

Hope this helps, if it did, consider pressing Thanks, it makes me smile.


AoN

 

[DroidXcon]

Note that the previous two answers will not allow you to format the INTERNAL SD card.

Head over to XDA forums, at the following thread:

[STOCK ROM] Odin3 One-Click Downloader and Drivers CAPTIVATE ONLY - xda-developers

The utility there can "master clear" your device (wipe it completely back to factory). You may need to install USB drivers to get this to work.

Be aware that the "START" button on the same utility is used to install another ROM onto the phone. That ROM is NOT a stock factory fresh ROM (even though people will tell you it is), it isn't eligible for AT&T updates.

My advice would be that unless you REALLY REALLY need to delete all those directories, leave the phone as is.

Hope this helps, if it did, consider pressing Thanks, it makes me smile.


AoN

So AoN a hard wipe wouldnt clear this?

 

[Visual360]

Thanks everyone! Wow that was quick!!! Thank you again, much appreciated.

Okay, it's the internal SD, so I guess I can't format it. I don't really want to go through the back door or something to delete it. What I did was connect the phone as USB mass storage and just delete what I could.

The reason I want to clean it is because I need to return this phone, and pick up a replacement. I'm having intermittent network problem when connected to a wifi. I have to turn my phone off and on again, to make the it go work. Getting tiring, so I decided to get a replacement. Love the phone, so I want to get the same one, hope it's just some phones having this problem (I read somewhere here, that I'm not the only having this problem).

I also find out that it's the the wifi per se, but I think it's the phone itself having problem, since I can run speedtest on it, and it works, but just not connecting to the internet. Very weird.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[anneoneamouse]

DroidXCon -

From what I remember, if you "factory reset" the phone, it does not clean the phone completely. User installed apps are nuked, but some folders do get left behind on the internal storage.

Give me a couple of hours- I'll try it and seen.

Hope this helps,

AoN

 

[anneoneamouse]

Visual 360 - I'd go to a Starbucks or some place that has free WiFi, and see whether you get a good stable connection.

Do you have the technical skills (and maybe access) to be able to check the logs and stuff on your router at home?

I assume you're not piggybacking on your neighbour's WiFi.

HtH,

AoN

 

[anneoneamouse]

On a 2.2 ROM, the intro text for a "factory data reset" (found under settings > privacy > factory data reset) says that:

"This will erase all data from your phone including: Your google account, system and application data and settings, downloaded applications.
It will not erase current system software and bundled applications, SD card files such as music or photos."

HtH

AoN

 

[blueluck77]

I was wondering this as well as I bought my phone used and found several files on it that I had no use for (aside from a packed music library)