yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
I know this is not a development thread but I must insist we have something like this in this area. I would ask a mod to keep this sticky or maybe link to it from another sticky thread. I feel it's important to all development for accurate results and debug information.

I see this all the time. People think they are fully wiping when a developer asks for it. I believe that some people still don't understand what a full wipe is because there is no such single option in ClockWorkMod Recovery. Most likely the reason for that is because Koush didn't want too many posts about "I'm stuck on Google logo" or "my phone won't boot". So here is a test you can do yourself: Backup your ROM of course, and then do a full wipe. Then don't install anything and just reboot. If you end up pass the Google logo and onto the boot loop screen, then what you think is a full wipe is incorrect. If you are stuck on the Google logo and nothing is happening however, then congratulations... you know what you're doing :)

For the rest of you, here are proper steps to fully wipe without leaving any trace of ROM on your phone:

wipe data/factory reset

format /system

format /boot

Now most people think that the first option is enough. That may often be the case but because the developer can drastically change the contents of the /system folder, things can get messed up if you don't format it. And guess what, that first option will not do it. Wipe data/factory reset only wipes the /data folder which contains your personal settings and all the apps you installed. The ROM is then left blank as if you just flashed it and you can start over. FYI, the format of boot partition simply wipes the boot animation and you can restore it using the advance option in recovery from ROM to another.

I've seen some zip files which do this automatically so that's fine but at least you know what needs to be done to fully wipe.

There you go. I hope this clears some things. Now lets flash some ROMs! :D
[Nexus S General] scott420:
Thank you
[Nexus S General] rrem:
Sticky please!
[Nexus S General] lbcary:
I follow the above wipe method for my Epic Touch 4G,SGSII, with the exception of flashing Calkulins Format All.zip at the very end and i havent experienced any issues yet. Hope i didnt just jinx myself...
[Nexus S General] gear.h34d.2012:
Simple, yet I'm sure beginners miss it. I also vote for a sticky.
[Nexus S General] kdepro:
Isn't the dalvik cache stored in the /data partition?

Hence, factory reset necessarily wipes dalvik but wipe dalvik only wipes the dalvik portion of the data partition?
[Nexus S General] genaro12543:
all we need is a zip that does all of that and were good!!
[Nexus S General] donsh00tmesanta:
no need to wipe when restoring?
[Nexus S General] Shark_On_Land:
Or use amonRA. Best recovery yet.
[Nexus S General] jesusice:
Nope, restoring will format each partition before it restores it.
[Nexus S General] hp420:
+1 for sticky :)

This is one reason I like the cwm mods...all the wipe options are in one place ;)
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
Yeah. Forgot that its the case. Op edited. Only 3 steps now.
[Nexus S General] VeryCoolAlan:
Hi I really like your thread!

Can I post a similar thread on the Vibrant forum? I'll give you credit!

Sent from my Surround.
[Nexus S General] vinconti:
Does anyone know the edify syntax off the top of their head to properly accomplish this? most of my attempts haven't seemed to work. would they all be formatted EMMC, even SDcard and system?
[Nexus S General] pfer10:
Or switch to a better recovery.

http://rzdroid.com/ftp/recovery/gingerbread/2.1.4/RZR-2.1.4-download.html
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
No problem go ahead. The more people know the better.
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
I prefer kush's recovery. And this is a feature as far as I'm concerned. I usually don't do system format but when doing beta or alfa testing this is a must.
[Nexus S General] felixmulia:
really2 good post man.. i've flash rom with full wipe as u said.. thanks a lot dude..

oICSv43 - *Matri1x* v13.0
[Nexus S General] Evo_Shift:
Thanks. I never realized i should format the /boot. I have never done that.
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
Well technically you shouldn't have to but this thread is about a full wipe so to wipe any traces you need to wipe it.
[Nexus S General] bwcorvus:
Any rom worth a dam will have the system and boot wipe in the script.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
You'll be surprised :)
[Nexus S General] jameswerk:
In the past I have always performed these steps in this order:

wipe data/factory reset

wipe cache partition

in advanced: wipe dalvik cache

in mounts and storage: format /system /data /cache /boot

vs

wipe data/factory reset

format /system

format /boot

Have I been duplicating processes that are accomplished with just these three steps? How important is the order of the steps?
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
Yes you have been. Cache and dalvik are wiped during the factory reset option. The order of these steps are important but what you've been doing so far is correct outside the duplicated steps.
[Nexus S General] 00Hensley:
does the ROM Manager app perform these steps before flashing a new ROM?
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
No not by default. Its up to the developer of the ROM to clean what they think should be cleaned. However, many, including CyanogenMod do not. I actually believe its bad practice since this step doesn't need to be performed unless you are beta testing roms.
[Nexus S General] calisoldier83:
Can someone guide me where to start looking for how to flash a rom? Newb with andriod os.
[Nexus S General] climhz:
you should add this to OP:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=19746141&postcount=1

no need to change recovery.

All credits to snandlal
[Nexus S General] decalex:
This should totally be in Development. Lol.

•°NS4G • ICS°•
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
Yeah AllGamer moved it and said it was "common knowledge". All I can do is keep it in my signature.
[Nexus S General] gardirulez:
Thanks! Very useful ^^
[Nexus S General] bwcorvus:
It is in the right place. He is not developing anything. And as said, it is pretty common knowledge.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
If it was common knowledge I would make the post in the first place.
[Nexus S General] GalaxyUser:
Thank You :)
[Nexus S General] Greenthy:
Perhaps it's common knowledge for the more expert XDA users, but alot of us just barely got the fundamentels of flashing roms.

For that I'd love to know the proper wiping needed to flashing a rom/kernel :)

(It's always different in different guides)

Basicly this full wipe is the best for flashing a rom?
[Nexus S General] v3rk:
Well, it IS common knowledge that 90% of issues posted about in development threads are related to improper flashing methods. I guess it makes sense to keep that going strong.

Thanks allgamer! You're a gentleman and a scholar.
[Nexus S General] punwik:
I have used the fullwipe.zip on my nexus s 4g but will it work on my epic 4g touch?

Im sorry I meant the Wipe--all.zip
[Nexus S General] jesusice:
Bumping this because more and more I see that this is NOT "common knowledge" lol.

I also changed my signature to try and alleviate the problem :)

*if you didn't wipe /system and /boot it is NOT A FULL WIPE*
[Nexus S General] timby:
This is definitely not common knowledge. Thank you for the post.

Most instructions I see are to do the following (with some slight variations):

Wipe Data/factory reset

Wipe Cache

Wipe Dalvik-Cache

Many of the custom roms that I've seen don't do a "full wipe", such as the current version CheckROM.

Here's another opinion on the correct way to do a full wipe:

http://checkrom.com/threads/full-wipe-the-correct-way.432/

There are similarities between the instructions here and the instructions from spider (both format /system), but there are differences. obsanity, what do you think of spider's method?

---------- Post added at 03:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:49 PM ----------

Just to confirm, the /efs partition is safe unless you were to do something silly like "format /efs", right?
[Nexus S General] rasengan82:
Yes. There isn't format efs in CWM.
[Nexus S General] vanburner:
+1 for sticky :)

I was in the process of starting to look for these instructions so the timing is magic.

The sharing of info here at XDA is really important for now and the future for dev's and noobs (like me). Finding everything in a forum layout is sometimes time consuming.....even with search a feature.

Devs have taken great time to not only build great apps but to put short how to threads in the forums. Huge thank yous and credos for that as it opens a big world of sharing information to all. Downside for those with their L plates is all the posting is lots of reading and bouncing all over the place comparing how to's.

I often wondered how the forum would function if the how to's were centralized somewhere after review in a wiki then linked back to the forum where the how to is so people can follow the posts relating to the how to's. Sort of a manual format with forum backup to give the best of both worlds.

Cheers to all for the great work here.......
[Nexus S General] BLEEDCOLORYOU:
i'v always done duplicates..

step by step: n i never have issues!

>wipe dalvik

>wipe cache

>wipe data/factory reset

mounts n storage

>format system

>format data

>format cache

>format boot

n i'll always continue to do it this way.

iv always been curious though on the mounts n storage formatting part:

if you notice when u go in it shows

/sd: mounted

/system: unmounted

/cache:unmounted

/data: mounted/unmounted

> /etc. /etc.

shouldnt /system /data /boot n /cache be mounted before formatting?
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
Funny how my post is dated before spider's :)

The factory wipe in recovery formats data and cache so you kill two birds with one stone. Then you are left with the system and boot.

That's all you need to nuke it all.
[Nexus S General] abi93k:
i dont see format /boot in my recovery options. where is it ?
[Nexus S General] dirt:
format /system & /boot are in mounts & storage if running cwm or cwm touch
[Nexus S General] timby:
Any extra risk for brick when using format vs wipe?
[Nexus S General] EraqEE:
Man, I love XDA!! I learn something new every day :D

I'm looking at my recovery tool and I finally found the format /system and format /boot in the mount & storage menu so I think you should add this to your original post.

This is the 1st time I see a post mentioning this even. Every flashing guide I ever read mentions the 1st step only.

I guess most people get too excited about flashing the latest ROMs and forget to check out the whole recovery menu to make sure they didn't forget anything else!!
[Nexus S General] bjornvil:
I assume this will not wipe the contents of my /SDCARD right? Pictures, music etc. is safe?

---------- Post added at 11:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 AM ----------

Nevermind! Just looked at the Mounts and Storage menu in CWMR, there is a seperate option for formatting the SD card :p
[Nexus S General] nanny07:
Is there a way to do a full wipe withotu CWM but only with the stock recovery?
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
No. You need a custom recovery with wipe options. However, you can do all that using fastboot so I guess you really don't need recovery if you are going to use a PC.
[Nexus S General] nanny07:
ok, I can do it using fastboot, no problem with it.

And now last two question:

1) Is there a requirement for install a custom recovery? Root or unlocked bootloader?

2) Will I lose my warranty installing a custom recovery?
[Nexus S General] EraqEE:
Rooting your phone and unlocking the bootloader is what makes you lose the warranty. Installing a custom recovery requires an unlocked bootloader so the answer to your question is yes!!
[Nexus S General] rasengan82:
I think the only time you don't need to explicitly wipe the partitions is when using fastboot to flash img files.

fastboot flash {partitionname} {imageFileName}

I think that command replaces the whole partition with the image file so it implicitly wipes everything you had in that partition.
[Nexus S General] timby:
Interesting. It appears that Spider thinks that doing wipe data/factory reset is different than formatting. You obviously know more than I do about this, but I just wanted to confirm that you know for sure that doing a wipe data/factory reset formats both data and cache and doesn't copy the restore data over top of the existing data (kind of like a copy and replace)?

I'm really interested in the answer to this question. Let's say that I wipe the data and then reboot my phone for some reason before applying a new ROM. If I use the wipe method, the phone should still boot up. However, if I use the format method, wouldn't I end up with a brick?

Sorry if I've got my info wrong here. I just want to understand how this all works and what the risks are.
[Nexus S General] Harbb:
Data/factory reset formats /data, /cache and wipes the .android_secure folder on the sdcard. No point in doing all this manually if you want to switch roms.

It doesn't wipe /system though. Many roms don't wipe it automatically, so flashing a rom on top of another may lead to files being left behind from the old one when flashing. Generally unwanted.

You won't brick it, you just won't be able to boot to a rom. Flashing a rom at any stage after this will let you boot no problem with no increased risk.
[Nexus S General] obsanity:
Its not different for the two partitions it wipes/formats; data and cache. Everything else is left as is. So in other words if you format data and cache manually it would be the same as data/factory reset.
[Nexus S General] iPrism:
There's a flashable zip over in the 4G Development section for doing a full wipe.

Credit goes to snandlal and evokings.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1225630

Just boot into recovery and flash the zip before flashing a new ROM.

Zip provided in the attachment below.
[Nexus S General] blessonje:
format boot

Is there any benefit by using format \boot option? Is it really req? What if we didnt do that and only do format \system and \data
[Nexus S General] alen1901:
Boot is for kernel wipe i think. Its not hard to to do that when flashing all new. ;)

Sent from SpeedMachine i9023
[Nexus S General] rodem77:
Ok, this post is usefull for people like me that is starting to learn how modify its devices but... Where I've to use these commands? I can use only CWM and TWRP commands? Or there is a way also in SDK with command prompt? If this post have to be usefull for noob like me could you provide some link or some additional information about how to use? Thankyou.
[Nexus S General] hummer010:
format == wipe
[Nexus S General] jiro-kun:
Hi there!

First of all.. I want to say thankyou for the guide.. believe it or not.. I've been flashing my nexus S for nearly a year.. and I didn't know that this is the way to do a full wipe and having a clean install! I alwasy thought wiping data/factory reset and wiping delvic/cache was enough.. haha.. somehow I feel so stupid.. haha

Anyhow I have a question.. I did this Full wipe just a few minutes ago.. and somehow.. the wallpaper I've been using before I did the full wipe was already set up after installing the same ROM again. Mind you this is a custom wallpaper.. so no way it did come as default with the ROM.. So what I'm trying to say is.. I thought full wipe completely wipe out any memory regarding previous ROM installs.. but if so.. how come some of the thing is still there after a fresh install of the same ROM?

Sorry in advance.. if this is a noob question.. haha.. still learning.. :cowboy:
[Nexus S General] eddy_nugroz:
just wipe factory reset n davilk-cache for flashing new costum rom

thanks :good:
[Nexus S General] dirt:
Did you use one of the wipe

zips, or did you manually wipe everything? There have been reports of the wipe zips not always working properly on the nexus s devices.

Did you restore anything?

This thread is about performing a FULL wipe... the dalvic cache is wiped when wiping /data. If /system and /boot are not wiped, there has been no full wipe, which could lead to issues especially if the new and old roms are from different bases.
[Nexus S General] dirt:
The selected ringtones and wallpaper should all revert back to the default settings for whichever rom you flashed. You should still have them all on your sd card storage, just not selected/applied.
[Nexus S General] treesurf:
Thanks for the tip here. This really should be a sticky somewhere.
[Nexus S General] gunner49:
How do you format /system and /boot? I'm using TWRP recovery 2.3.3.0
[Nexus S General] billford:
Whats the difference between using the above commands vs. going into fastboot and using these commands?

fastboot erase boot

fastboot erase cache

fastboot erase recovery

fastboot erase system

fastboot erase userdata

I've tried both ways, and I have not noticed any issues either way...just wondering...
[Nexus S General] jayjay3333:
In TWRP 2.3.3

Dalvik, Factory Reset (includes Data, Cache), System, Android Secure

:cyclops:
[Nexus S General] dirt:
They are both the same, except that using fastboot requires using a computer.
[Nexus S General] gunner49:
Thank you sir! :good:
[Nexus S General] penzoilguy:
Nice Guide for me, Thanks!!!
[Nexus S General] ethan_hines:
+1
[Nexus S General] Gambler_3:
Okay I did this but my custom wallpaper was still there after flashing rom??

My phone was booting directly into the bootloader once I had done the 3 steps as specified and wasnt "stuck" at google logo. Now I have reinstalled CM10.1 and everything seems to be fine but I was surprised at the wallpaper thing.
[Nexus S General] Highway 55:
Custom wallpapers get backed up and then restored via the Google backup/restore feature. It should also backup all WiFi keys and most settings.
[Nexus S General] Gambler_3:
Thanks that's what I thought that Google is backing it up.
[Nexus S General] Gambler_3:
I can report that this really does make a difference. Been 10 days didnt get a reboot or bootloop whereas previously I was getting them. I did a dirty flash from stock rom to CM10 previously.
[Nexus S General] Usman Mehmood:
nexus s same problem

hi,

i am experiencing exactly the same problem on my nexus s, kindly guide me to full wipe process
[Nexus S General] mariosg71:
thank you very much
[Nexus S General] rafaymalik:
reboot in recovery

wipe cache

wipe reset/factoryrestore

wipe Advance/dalvic cache

after this flash your rom...

this is full wipe..
[Nexus S General] iakoboss7:
you forgot the "format system"
[Nexus S General] jayjay3333:
Proper way with TWRP

http://teamw.in/whattowipe
[Nexus S General] rafaymalik:
sure.thanks :eek:
[HTC Sensation] MyXsPtLk:
Hi all,

I've read mike's thread, up to about 600 pages, and I realise in earlier versions of the rom the OC daemon was only controlling one core. I couldn't get through the other 3000+ pages but I assumed the later releases would solve this problem. I did a system info on quadrant and it only shows that there's 1 core? I can't ask the question in the main thread because I don't have a 10-post count yet, hopefully this thread and responses can help get me there. Thanks all
[HTC Sensation] geoffcorey:
Quadrant wont EVER show you dual core. It's a known thing around here. And the oc stuff only working with 1 core is already known (and fixed now).

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G
[HTC Sensation] gol_n_dal:
The Sensation has a aSMP processor, so only the second core will be enabled when needed.

Quadrant only uses a single core.

If you want to check perf. use something like CF-Bench.
[HTC Sensation] MyXsPtLk:
Cool, that's awesome, thanks guys, guess I should have read up more on Quadrant
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ksc6000:
I just switched from T-Mobile to AT&T and I cannot get voice to text working for some reason all of a sudden. Every time I hit it, it says "Couldn't Connect" with an exclamation point. It doesn't even attempt to do it, it's almost as if it's not seeing any connection at all. I'm getting full 3G and all apps seem able to access the net just fine. Any ideas? Works fine on wifi.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] ksc6000:
Bump please
[Defy General] zakoo2:
hi there! i flashed the official 2.3.4 (4.5.1-134) fixed+nandroid to be able to test the ics builds, and i noticed that i still only have 3 vsel settings available in the recovery (sndinit 2.0). my question is: have i done something incorrectly or does the 4th vsel option get available only when flashing the boot partition too?

and an other OT question: i have an soc device, and when on 2.3.4 kernel and cm7.2, i started the camera app out of curiosity. to my surprise, for a few seconds the picture of the camera showed up, but then the app froze. what was that? i though an soc camera will not work at all with 2.3.x+ kernels...
[Defy General] farsight73:
The 2nd-init 2.0 with bootmenu 1.0.7 having only 3 sets of overclock. Install market setvsel to get the 4th clock. Or flash bootmenu 1.1.0 to have the 4th clock back in bootmenu.

Sent from my awesome Moto Defy: Stock Rooted Gingerbread 2.3.4 - XDA Premium
[Defy General] UEman:
Epsylon made a kernel driver for green lense and 2.3.4 kernel :)
[Defy General] zakoo2:
Link please!!!!! :d
[Defy General] zakoo2:
tried flashing bootmenu 1.1.0 from cm7 recovery, and it really enabled the 4th vsel, but caused bootloop, and the only way i could solve the bootloop is by either reflashing or restoring cm7 from nandroid, both of which overwrites the system partition, and by that, the bootmenu. is there any way to get bootmenu 1.1.0 working under cm7?

EDIT: would deleting the bootmenu folder from the cm72 zip help? or would it cause problems?
[Defy General] farsight73:
CM7 uses froyo kernel and it will not have the 4th clock working properly. I mentioned above post based on your initial flashed to 2.3.4 gingerbread..

Don't delete the bootmenu in CM7 zip file..

Sent from my awesome Moto Defy: Stock Rooted Gingerbread 2.3.4 - XDA Premium
[Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0, 5.0] zaclimon:
Hi I have found the way to port ICS to the galaxy players.:D :

http://www.freeyourandroid.com/guide/compile-ics

The problem is that I can't find the binaries for the galaxy player. Where I can find them?
[Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0, 5.0] azoller1:
arent they located in /system/bin?

Need root first though

(I would help out with this, but dont really know how to do it, and i dont have the player yet)
[Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0, 5.0] Dyskmaster:
Will this actually boot and run? If it's that "easy", then why don't more devices have ICS? If you can extract the binaries and cook up a rom, I would be happy to test it :). Also, if I have time later this week, I'll try to follow those instructions and then post my results. If everything works on the first try, I'll be very surprised but not at all dissapointed :D. Thanks for sharing this
[Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0, 5.0] zaclimon:
Well maybe because people don't know how to do it. And as for the current rom the major problem is the hardware acceleration and the camera. Maybe We can find it (The binairies) at opensource.samsung.com
[Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0, 5.0] kse91holydiver:
It should be easier than phones because you don't have to worry about not screwing with voice, data, and stuff like that. Just get it on and get all the apps working correctly. Radios are always the hardest.