How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc..)

[LeslieAnn]

This is based on the IHO recovery but others are similar.

This assumes you are already in recovery, I also highly recommend making at least a Nandroid backup in case something goes wrong (which can happen but shouldn't).


To clean your personal information:
Select “wipe data/factory reset
Select “yes”


To install over a rom without losing data such as updating from 2.0 to 2.01 with a complete rom.
If it is labeled as an update, using this will wipe out your install as it wipes out the system files. Updates should be just put in.
Go to “mounts and storage”
Select “format /boot”
Select “yes”
Select “format /cache”
Select “yes”
Select “format /system”
Select “yes”
Back out of that menu to the main one again and select “advanced”
Select “Wipe Dalvik Cache”
Select “yes”


To wipe clean 100% and install a new rom
Select “wipe data/factory reset
Select “yes”
Go to “mounts and storage”
Select “format /boot”
Select “yes”
Select “format /system”
Select “yes”
Back out of that menu to the main one again and select “advanced”
Select “Wipe Dalvik Cache”
Select “yes”

 

[wch_one]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

Thanks for this very helpful information. Are there instructions anywhere on how to use Titanium Backup to backup/restore as much as possible between updates? The most annoying thing about updating the ROM is getting all my system settings (accounts, interface settings, etc) back to their previous state.

The user app+data backup and restore is straightforward, but I never know what to do about system apps and settings.

 

[Eollie]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

Thanks for this very helpful information. Are there instructions anywhere on how to use Titanium Backup to backup/restore as much as possible between updates? The most annoying thing about updating the ROM is getting all my system settings (accounts, interface settings, etc) back to their previous state.

The user app+data backup and restore is straightforward, but I never know what to do about system apps and settings.

Dont restore system apps+data. Those were recreated when you booted back into the phone. Things change each time you flash so restoring those can cause issues.

 

[LeslieAnn]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

I haven't had trouble with restoring apps and data too much, however I do not use Titanium Backup, it has caused me some problems.

I use MyBackup Pro and restore apk's then data in a two step process. Doing it as a single operation has been known to create problems with certain apps. This technique works on TB as well, however TB is more of a hassle and too easy to restore things you shouldn't.

Never restore system settings, that is one thing certain to mess things up.


If you look in Harmonia 2's thread there is a link to my guide on backing up and restoring.

 

[CuriousNoob]

Does it matter with /mount system?

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk

 

[LeslieAnn]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

You don't need to mount or anything, just use it as described.

 

[CuriousNoob]

So what's the point of /mount system? :s

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk

 

[LeslieAnn]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

To mount it.

 

[nutmeg07]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

I followed your instructions for a 100% clean wipe, but then instead of flashing a rom I accidentally rebooted and now I'm stuck in a blue fastboot. Ugh.

Suggestions? I have no idea how I got here or what to do.

 

[anthonycr]

I followed your instructions for a 100% clean wipe, but then instead of flashing a rom I accidentally rebooted and now I'm stuck in a blue fastboot. Ugh.

Suggestions? I have no idea how I got here or what to do.

Just pull the battery and boot back into recovery, via holding down the back button, the volume down button, and the power button at the same time... then flash the Rom you meant to dash

Sent via the Postal Service

 

[nutmeg07]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

Just pull the battery and boot back into recovery, via holding down the back button, the volume down button, and the power button at the same time... then flash the Rom you meant to dash

Sent via the Postal Service

Oh my gosh, thank you so so much! I just spent 2 hours looking up bizarre, complicated instructions that weren't helping me and that's all I needed to do...wow.

THANK YOU AGAIN! I owe you my life and this whole night's sleep

The life of a newb is rough.

 

[nutmeg07]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

Thanks so much...but I think I just made it a lot worse. My SD card was wiped so I couldn't access the rom I wanted to flash...so I did LG style factory reset, and now I get the blue fastboot screen, but when I told down those buttons instead of going into recovery I get 'android system recovery' and it just reboots.... and back to the blue screen....
ahhhhhhh!

 

[sellers86]

Thanks so much...but I think I just made it a lot worse. My SD card was wiped so I couldn't access the rom I wanted to flash...so I did LG style factory reset, and now I get the blue fastboot screen, but when I told down those buttons instead of going into recovery I get 'android system recovery' and it just reboots.... and back to the blue screen....
ahhhhhhh!

Never do a factory style wipe. Guaranteed brick. But if you can access adb then your in luck. Check the stickies

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-4

 

[nutmeg07]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

So am I totally screwed if I use ADB and put in adb devices and get "list of devices attached:" followed by nothing?

 

[StevenOptimusV]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

When I go to Mounts I get:

Mount /system
Unmount /cache
Mount /data
Mount /sd-ext
Mount /sdcard

No Format commands. Do I have to look somewhere else for the Format commands?

 

[curtis1973]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

great guide. also to add to list of good backup apps,might want to try app backup & restore. its super simple to use,and as long as you have a decent file explorer you dont even need app backup installed to restore the apps saved with it.

 

[tcomotcom]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

LeslieAnn,

The update instructions in your original post say to wipe

boot -> cache -> system -> Dalvik

but the total wipe/clean install instructions say to wipe

data/factory reset -> boot -> system -> Dalvik

When doing a total wipe, does the data/factory reset wipe include wiping the cache? Is that why "wipe cache" isn't listed in the total wipe instructions? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[LeslieAnn]

Re: How to properly wipe your Android (update,clear,new rom, etc.

Yes, cache is done during factory reset.