Factory reset+flash wiped my memory - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi All,
I did a factory reset today and flashed the stock 4.1.1 Polish ROM via Odin. This process seems to have wiped my files (including photos etc) from my S3 (internal memory, not SD card). I've flashed plenty of ROMS before and this has never happened.
Anyone know if it's possible to get them back? I guess I've installed new apps etc now so a lot of the data would have been overwritten. Frustrating!
Thanks for any tips.

UnitedWeFall said:
Hi All,
I did a factory reset today and flashed the stock 4.1.1 Polish ROM via Odin. This process seems to have wiped my files (including photos etc) from my S3 (internal memory, not SD card). I've flashed plenty of ROMS before and this has never happened.
Anyone know if it's possible to get them back? I guess I've installed new apps etc now so a lot of the data would have been overwritten. Frustrating!
Thanks for any tips.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You answered your own question with your first sentence : I did a factory reset...
Unfortunately its not possible to get back the data
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Unless you backed up on PC or sd card...

Factory reset in S3 will always wipe internal memory as it shares internal memory for applications.
If you want to restore try some data recovery software that supports SD card.

ultramag69 said:
Unless you backed up on PC or sd card...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be the only way. There is a very small window to recover data wiped from flash memory and on a phone it would be even more difficult. Maybe a Clockwork backup?

Internal SDcard is mounted on the system partition via Fuse..so if you format the /system partition..sdcard is formatted as well..
Pointers for future..
Use CWM for flashing ROMS..(I hate Odin )
Backup your internal SDcard on your PC regularly
Perform a Nandroid Backup on your ExtSDcard before flashing any ROM.
If you ever need to factory reset..use the wipe data/factory reset option in CWM and not in Stock Recovery
For a clean install, if you want to wipe system partition..use wipe /system option under mount and format in CWM..it just wipes the system files and your SDcard data will be safe..
You will not face such issues if you in the future if you follow these pointers.

zoot1 said:
Internal SDcard is mounted on the system partition via Fuse..so if you format the /system partition..sdcard is formatted as well..
Pointers for future..
Use CWM for flashing ROMS..(I hate Odin )
Backup your internal SDcard on your PC regularly
Perform a Nandroid Backup on your ExtSDcard before flashing any ROM.
If you ever need to factory reset..use the wipe data/factory reset option in CWM and not in Stock Recovery
For a clean install, if you want to wipe system partition..use wipe /system option under mount and format in CWM..it just wipes the system files and your SDcard data will be safe..
You will not face such issues if you in the future if you follow these pointers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that. Lesson learnt I guess..

Related

Format S3 internal SD

i've planned to format my internal since it left insufficient storage left.. i dont know what's wrong with my internal memory.. i already transfered all the files like photo, music and movie to my computer, and the storage still low.. so i decide to format it, but i had read some thread in google that said if we format our system, we will lost our "certificate file" something called EFS.. is this true?
No, sdcard is in /data/media folder.
EFS and other files are storaged somewhere else won't be affected if you format sdcard in right way.
if you use recovery like TWRP when you factory reset, you will see it reports something like "Wipe data without wipe /data/media "
Suggest you do so in recovery instead of system
You can format these partition without problem
Cache, dalvik cache, internal /external sdcard, data and system, don't do anything you don't know about.
If you format system, then you have to install new one otherwise phone won't even boot up.
Just be careful.
And if you do something wrong, and you can still go into recovery and download mode, then your phone is still alive.
Remember backup EFS and copy to PC!!!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Formatting sd won't mess up your efs, in fact I format data/system/sd card and preload every flash, but that is mainly because I'm swapping between Samsung Roms and Aosp, with the associated sd/0 problems
qtwrk said:
No, sdcard is in /data/media folder.
EFS and other files are storaged somewhere else won't be affected if you format sdcard in right way.
if you use recovery like TWRP when you factory reset, you will see it reports something like "Wipe data without wipe /data/media "
Suggest you do so in recovery instead of system
You can format these partition without problem
Cache, dalvik cache, internal /external sdcard, data and system, don't do anything you don't know about.
If you format system, then you have to install new one otherwise phone won't even boot up.
Just be careful.
And if you do something wrong, and you can still go into recovery and download mode, then your phone is still alive.
Remember backup EFS and copy to PC!!!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank u for the information, which setting provide a format for system
slaphead20 said:
Formatting sd won't mess up your efs, in fact I format data/system/sd card and preload every flash, but that is mainly because I'm swapping between Samsung Roms and Aosp, with the associated sd/0 problems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank u for the information, so it's safe to for mat data/system/sd card?
NoobSEowner said:
thank u for the information, which setting provide a format for system
thank u for the information, so it's safe to for mat data/system/sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as anything you may need is on ext. SD, ie the Rom you want to flash after wiping!
And make sure your titanium backups and nandroid are on ext sd also, and backed up on pc, in other words, all usual precautions.
Grab HC-kTool from Play, and make a back up of your efs and copy that to multiple places then you are well and truly ready to go!
slaphead20 said:
As long as anything you may need is on ext. SD, ie the Rom you want to flash after wiping!
And make sure your titanium backups and nandroid are on ext sd also, and backed up on pc, in other words, all usual precautions.
Grab HC-kTool from Play, and make a back up of your efs and copy that to multiple places then you are well and truly ready to go!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but, after formatting internal, does CWM recovery will also gone? then how can i flash a new ROM?
NoobSEowner said:
but, after formatting internal, does CWM recovery will also gone? then how can i flash a new ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, your recovery will still be there
slaphead20 said:
No, your recovery will still be there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and the internal will have more space? now im running out of MB in my internal =.=

[Q] how to delete all files that have accumulated from flashing custom roms

I want to remove files that have accumulated from other roms. In others words like stock, but with custom rom. I like Beanstown106 with SD swap.
Thats a little tricky with sd swap but you will have to painstakingly go file by file and see if it's something you have deleted to something that you are still using. If you have any apps that created a folder and are gone for good then you are safe to delete. But avoid any system app folders and anything that you are still using like pictures, music and so on avoid.
M.A.D.NoTe.||
thx for help
I'm installing cleanrom ace 4.9 my goto rom next to beanstown106. No SD swap and I was thinking of formating SD card. Now how do I erase what a factory reset won't delete.
I usually wipe EVErYTahING wenever i flash something new sd card and all just to start from scratch but all i got on sd card is pix and music so its easyily backed up
SAPPERJD said:
now how do I erase what a factory reset won't delete.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from recovery, format internal and external sd. that will wipe everything out completely.
I did consider formating from recovery. I'm just scare of deleting the OS and my phone ending up being useless. I did research and what I read it won't. Any advise is welcome THX to everyone.
SAPPERJD said:
I did consider formating from recovery. I'm just scare of deleting the OS and my phone ending up being useless. I did research and what I read it won't. Any advise is welcome THX to everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would it end up being useless? Its no different than a pc...your reformatting and installing the OS on a clean slate.
I was thinking if I formated the internal it would delete recovery as well. And had no way of installing a new rom. Thx again really help full.
Wipe Everything
droidstyle said:
from recovery, format internal and external sd. that will wipe everything out completely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want to clean up my directory structure. If I format the internal and external sd using recovery (TWRP) to wipe everything, what rom will boot? Will my custom rom boot or will the original verizon rom boot? Will I have to unlock the bootloader again? Thanks.
rechbo said:
I want to clean up my directory structure. If I format the internal and external sd using recovery (TWRP) to wipe everything, what rom will boot? Will my custom rom boot or will the original verizon rom boot? Will I have to unlock the bootloader again? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you will lose all data and need to reflash the rom in recovery...no you will not have to unlock again, nothing performed from recovery will overwrite the boot.img.
I was scared of the losing my OS as well, but it's not that hard. Treat it as two steps. Formatting your sDCard, and then prepping your SdCard by doing a Nandroid backup to your SdCard, and copying a flashable ROM (and kernel if your ROM does not flash a kernel) to your SdCard. Before formatting your SdCard copy anything you want to keep to your computer. I just copy the whole card to my computer.
Reboot and do your data resets and wipes, including internal storage (format data in twrp) Then flash your ROM that you put on your ext SdCard. Your nandroid backup is your insurance. Worst case you boot into recovery and restore your backup.
(But you should still have a working toolkit or ADB on your computer and you can recover from any screw up)
As long as you have what you need on your (ext) SdCard before wiping internal storage, and you only do a data reset and cache wipes and only do 'format data' you will be fine.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

[Q] Ultimate wipe

I was about to upgrade to the 10.1.3 stable (from 10.1 stable) of cm when i strumbled across several gigs of old files, app date, media and backups from my old n long gone cm9 install (under /data/media).
clearly all the wipes i performed since cm9 did not remove any of these files which include old apps i'd installed but havent used since cm-10.
Is there a way to do a complete wipe and get rid of all this excess garbage I have no more use for?
jbonetwo said:
I was about to upgrade to the 10.1.3 stable (from 10.1 stable) of cm when i strumbled across several gigs of old files, app date, media and backups from my old n long gone cm9 install (under /data/media).
clearly all the wipes i performed since cm9 did not remove any of these files which include old apps i'd installed but havent used since cm-10.
Is there a way to do a complete wipe and get rid of all this excess garbage I have no more use for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe the internal sd, don't forget to backup your files before.
Tectas said:
Wipe the internal sd, don't forget to backup your files before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done a data wipe/factory reset several times with cwm but this hasnt gotten rid of a lot of files...
jbonetwo said:
I've done a data wipe/factory reset several times with cwm but this hasnt gotten rid of a lot of files...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because a factory reset keeps the /data/media folder untouched, to be able to wipe, without losing the files from your internal sd, that's why i suggested a wipe of the internal sd, not a factory reset.
Tectas said:
Because a factory reset keeps the /data/media folder untouched, to be able to wipe, without losing the files from your internal sd, that's why i suggested a wipe of the internal sd, not a factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never done this before so please bear with me.
Is there anything specific I need to do before I wipe the internal sd? I've backed up the cwm zips that i need and the efs folder. anything else to keep me from bricking my phone?
A link to a guide of some kind would be very helpful.
1. backup efs and cwm backups to extsd
2. remove extsd
3. boot into cwm recovery, wipe internal sd
4. insert extsd and flash cyanogen 10.1.3 and gapps from it using cwm recovery.
does this sum it up or am i missing something?
Sorted it out:
1. backup to extsd
2. download & copy megawipe to extsd
3. copy roms & gapps to extsd
4. boot into cwm recovery. install megawipe from extsd. DO NOT RESTART.
5. install rom & gapps from extsd and reboot.
For anyone else reading this, please read general > sticky roll-up thread > flashed 4.2? Can't find /sdcard data?
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I do NOT reply to support queries over PM. Please keep support queries to the Q&A section, so that others may benefit

[Q] Confused about CWM

Hi all,
I've been using CWM to routinely backup my S3 thinking that if anything happened I could just to a restore to recover everything.
So, the other day I did a backup using CWM, then a factory reset via phone menus. Updated the firmware via Kies and restored my apps and data via Titanium Backup. However I'm missing a heap of photos that I believe were on the internal SD Card.
OK, so I do a CWM backup and restore my previous backup before I updated the firmware thinking it would recover my photos. But they are not there...
My questions:-
1. What deleted my photos?
2. What should I have done that I obviously did not do?
3. Does CWM or TB backup the internal SD Card Data?
4. Does CWM backup differently if it is to the External SD Card? ie: Include the internal SD Card data.
Any help would be appreciated.
TIA
Greg
1. You did, by factory reset using settings menu this wipes internal storage.
2. Used recovery to wipe. Factory reset in recovery doesn't wipe storage, only data.
3. Only if you set a custom backup and have space for 16gb on your external storage.
4. Not unless you change the default settings.
boomboomer said:
1. You did, by factory reset using settings menu this wipes internal storage.
2. Used recovery to wipe. Factory reset in recovery doesn't wipe storage, only data.
3. Only if you set a custom backup and have space for 16gb on your external storage.
4. Not unless you change the default settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for all the useful information.
Greg

[SOLVED] Help Data Recovery from a Soft Brick

My father had a softbrick of his Galaxy S2 without having done a backup in the last 6 month.
Now he need some data that are stored on the phone so I cannot do a wipe data factory reset and I was wondering if I install a custom recovery can I move all the datas on the Sdcard and then read them from a microsd card reader?
Will installing a new recovery change the data?
Thanks
EDIT:
I solved the problem.
First I installed the Philz CWM recovery, that I reboot the phone in recovery Mode and chosed to mount as USB drive so I could copy the content of Sdcard.
Then I did a backup of data and system Partition through the backup menu on an external Sd card, after that I did a wipe/factory reset and the Phone reboot regularly
To recover the information that you need from the Backup can you use TitaniumBackup
I'm quite sure that the /data partition will stay untouched, since the recovery image is installed in another partition.
BTW, on some recoveries I was able to connect the phone to the computer and to read internal storage. Are you sure it's the data partition you need? The only thing stored in this partition are apps and app data. Images etc are on the internal storage (sdcard0).
Hope this helps.
I thought that Data and Sdcard were the same partition, what I need is to recover contacts and Viber/whatsapp message and images.
If I install a Custom recovery can I do a backup of everything and could I use adb to do a complete copy of the sdcard?
Thanks

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