what exactly is "wipe cache partition" is the recovery menu of the phone and what does it do??? can somebody explain wiping the cache partition and what does it benefit if I wipe it???
Many authorities suggest a cache wipe after installing a system update.
The system cache partition stores temporary system data. It's supposed to allow the system to access apps more quickly and efficiently, but sometimes things get cluttered and outdated, so a periodic cache clearing can help make the system run more smoothly. It's different from clearing individual app caches, and it won't lead to any loss of personal data or settings. Many authorities suggest a cache wipe after installing a system update.
sourcethe /data/dalvik-cache directory that can be found on typical Android devices. When you install an application on Android, it performs some modifications and optimizations on that application's dex file (the file that contains all the dalvik bytecode for the application). It then caches the resulting odex (optimized dex) file in the /data/dalvik-cache directory, so that it doesn't have to perform the optimization process every time it loads an application.
SourceWhen your phone starts up, the Dalvik Virtual Machine looks at all your apps and frameworks, and creates a tree of dependencies which is stored in the dalvik-cache. This allows applications to run in an optimised state (and explains why your phone takes longer to boot up after applying a new rom, it?s rebuilding the cache.)
Source/cache partition is mostly for saving the downloads from Google Play Store, found in /cache/downloads. It also can hold the recovery log found in /cache/recovery called last_log as well (this holds any errors and/or diagnostics from the recovery binary a la CWM or stock, which will get logged in the file to aid debugging and development of the recovery binary).
There is also another directory in there called lost+found which holds any recovered files (if any) as a result of file-system corruption, such as incorrectly removing the SDcard without un-mounting it.
So really, there is no loss of data from clearing it.
In fact, upon Android boot-up, the script will clear out the /cache/downloads to make way for any new downloads/updates from Google Play Store.
Why is it good to do so after a system update???
Thanks for your input--I'm not an engineer, so I go by what I read, and what others experience and what I experience. I believe the dalvik cache can't be cleared in an unrooted device, correct? So wiping the cache partition from the Recovery Menu would be the other cache partition that you referenced. Perhaps it's just a placebo effect, but I've seen improvements in performance after a cache partition wipe if things were getting glitchy. Actual support sites also suggest it as a potential solution, like Motorola: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/93162/p/30,6720,8417
I've tried numerous times to get a good explanation of what is stored in the cache partition. I recall seeing the one you mentioned; also saw this one where they say, "This is the partition where Android stores frequently accessed data and app components. Wiping the cache doesn?t effect your personal data but simply gets rid of the existing data there, which gets automatically rebuilt as you continue using the device." So it sounds like it's perhaps a little more than Google Play downloads.
These are the times I wish we had an Android engineer on our staff!
So if i wiped the dalvik, it'll rebuild it on its own?
How do I wipe cache partition?
Ok. What is APK? I don't really understand all these words, like Jelly Bean, Rooting, etc. All I know is that my phone is sluggish, I can't get a good signal or do much when my battery gets to 70% or less, which is soooo frustrating, I've lost many contacts & pics. I swear this phone has a poltergeist in it!
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