[Q] Complete 100% Wipe of Galaxy S3... - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I know there are tons of threads on here about wiping your device to sell, but I'm more paranoid than most.
This has come from the shock I experienced with exactly how much data I've been able to recover by deep-scanning Hard Drives in the past that I thought was deleted/lost many years ago. This phone is going into a pool at work, so there are some things I don't want my colleagues, no matter how determined they are, to be able to know about me. LOL.
I'll delete everything I can see manually first, then if I carry out a wipe from the recovery menu, does this remove all the user files, photos etc 100?%
I know some pics were stored on the device itself, not on the external card.

No, factory reset from the settings menu should format the internal storage. As with most media this won't remove the actual file information from the emmc chip partition, only the allocation table.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

boomboomer said:
No, factory reset from the settings menu should format the internal storage. As with most media this won't remove the actual file information from the emmc chip partition, only the allocation table.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But using this method, the files could possibly still be recovered if someone was determined and sad enough to do it?

christianbeccy said:
But using this method, the files could possibly still be recovered if someone was determined and sad enough to do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possible but hard and tedious.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

JellyYogurt said:
Possible but hard and tedious.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, thanks for that. To clarify, it's not life/death, but I'd just like to prevent possible future embarrassment. Sounds like me manually removing everything then doing a factory wipe will do fine. :good:

When u mean manually, u mean pressing delete for everything by urself? Tat doesn't work too.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Run the mega wipe script for installing a new rom, then use kies to do an install of the latest stock rom for the device.

Related

USB mass drive for internal Memory

So i did something stupid by deleting a bunch of pictures that werent supposed to be deleted. now im trying to get them back. So i do what i always do when something like this happens, i google it. The best one i found was one on android-photo-recovery.com /tutorials/recover-deleted-photos-from-samsung-galaxy-s3.html#update. and it sounded great, EXCEPT that in the tutorial it shows both internal and external memory. i need the internal memory. so dispite rooting my s3, and now trying 3 different programs, i cannot get UMS on the internal memory. HELP!
I don't think you can get UMS for internal memory. The feature is not available yet for S3.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Arsaw said:
I don't think you can get UMS for internal memory. The feature is not available yet for S3.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there not a rom i can flash that has it enabled or anything?
sladekennedy said:
is there not a rom i can flash that has it enabled or anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunatelly I did the same thing and there is nothing you can do, I have even contacted Samsung and they advised nothing can do, if it was external drive then we could
Afaik nobody has found a hacked to enable ums on internal memory.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
You may follow this step by step android phone data recovery guide:
how to recover data from android phone
good luck!

Please help with storage problems

Hey guys,
I'm having a weird thing happen with my internal storage on my phone.
I'm using stock XWLP7 firmware.
When I try and install an app it says I haven't got enough space, it tells me to delete 1.6gb (I'm trying to install a large Gameloft game)
Sure enough I look in settings-storage and I only have around 700mb available, but I should have ALOT more...... Where has it all gone?
I'm totally stumped and would be very great full for some help.
Here's a screen shot to explain my issue.
If I deduct the used memory from my total 11.49gb I should have 9.8gb spare! It tells me I only have 745mb available, does anyone know where it's gone? lol
Or why this happens?
Thank you guys!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Obagleyfreer said:
Hey guys,
I'm having a weird thing happen with my internal storage on my phone.
I'm using stock XWLP7 firmware.
When I try and install an app it says I haven't got enough space, it tells me to delete 1.6gb (I'm trying to install a large game loft game)
Sure enough I look in settings-storage and I only have around 700mb available, but I should have ALOT more...... Where has it all gone?
I'm totally stumped and would be very great full for some help.
Here's a screen shot to explain my issue.
Thank you guys!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your screenshot is not displaying.
However you can move some big apps to SD
Thank you for your reply Jokesy!
I'm aware I can move apps to SD, but I would like to find out why my storage is all messed up.......
It just doesn't make any sense....
If anyone knows how to fix it and maybe get back my 9gb of storage I will be very greatful
Obagleyfreer said:
Thank you for your reply Jokesy!
I'm aware I can move apps to SD, but I would like to find out why my storage is all messed up.......
It just doesn't make any sense....
If anyone knows how to fix it and maybe get back my 9gb of storage I will be very greatful
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to upload your screenshot again, it will sure help
Swyped from Samsung Galaxy SII
Just uploaded screenshots
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Get app called sd maid and go through each section clearing stuff.
If you got cwm, wipe cache and wipe dalvik cache, fix permissions and reboot.
Thats all i can offer, it may work!?
IRONY = XDA app, buggy and doesn't work properly!
Mod Edit - do not advocate warez
Thank you for your advice
I already have pro version if SD maid and regularly go through each section deleting stuff.
I also regularly wipe cache and dalvik cache. Probably do them both almost every other day!
Fix permissions whenever I install an app and I also zipalign all my apps.
So I don't really know what's going on..... It's really puzzling me.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
No body know how to help?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Obagleyfreer said:
No body know how to help?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The free storage displayed by the system usually only reflects the sdcards partition status, while the low space warning is probably talking about your /data/ partition.

[Q] How to clean up GS3

Hi
I'm just curious as to what methods people use to clean up their S3s? For example any folders that contain junk?
Also any tips, recommended apps etc?
Thanks in advance.
Phil
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
philicom said:
Hi
I'm just curious as to what methods people use to clean up their S3s? For example any folders that contain junk?
Also any tips, recommended apps etc?
Thanks in advance.
Phil
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sd maid from market but is risky if you're not sure what you do...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
xanthrax said:
Sd maid from market but is risky if you're not sure what you do...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks will check it out. Any others?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Try System Cleanup as well.
Not worth the effort on an Android phone .
jje
JJEgan said:
Not worth the effort on an Android phone .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree :thumbup:
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Here's what I tend to do every now and then (about once a month or so):
Clear call and messaging log, reset voice call duration (I do this at the beginning of each billing cycle).
Delete text message threads
Clear the browser cache and history
Clear cache on downloaded apps (mainly Facebook and Facebook Messenger).
Move pictures/videos from internal memory to external SD card using "My Files"
That's all I feel is really necessary and even then it's more of a "spring cleaning" thing than anything else, just to keep things organized. I don't download and uninstall a whole lot of apps or anything either, everything is pretty much set up the way I want it with the apps that I need.
i just look through a file manager for pointless files and delete them
Leave it as it is. Won't change the performance of your phone.
Thanks guys. Not really looking for performance improvements. Mainly general housekeeping and space saving. Obviously not to much of a problem now but was concerned about long term build up.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
If i erase my internal SD card on with my pc, will my Phone still work?

[Q] Basic s3 rom info.

hi guys
theres a few things that i need to know if somebody could be so kind to assist or point in the right direction.
i have my s3 international for the past month now. i had put cyanogenmod 10.1 and it had its issues yet my titanium back up and my sd card was working fine. now i got my s3 back yesterday with stock rom and i flashed it and put cwm then restored a backup of the old nightlies then i did an update with the new nightloies,problem is that now none of my images are there and titanium backup is giving me the elements failed when i try to restore missing apps. how do i go about restoring my images from a nandroid backup? or where is it? i like this rom but now i noticed that the battery drain lasst night was like 15%. as you can see im still a noob at this so i cant check logs etc cos i dont know where to look. i have attached screenshots that might help.
Images are either stored on your internal or external SD card, in the DCIM folder. If they aren't on your external SD then you have lost them, nandroid doesn't back up the internal SD unless you tell it to and service would have wiped the internal SD.
Ask in your ROM thread for specific help, but I'd suggest flashing a fresh version of the ROM without performing any restore - see how it runs for a few days before you add any apps.
If you aren't confident then best stick with stock, or an modded version of stock, for a while first.
so what section do questions go?
Glebun said:
so what section do questions go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why are you asking a question in a non question section? :angel: :cyclops: just kidding
boomboomer said:
Images are either stored on your internal or external SD card, in the DCIM folder. If they aren't on your external SD then you have lost them, nandroid doesn't back up the internal SD unless you tell it to and service would have wiped the internal SD.
Ask in your ROM thread for specific help, but I'd suggest flashing a fresh version of the ROM without performing any restore - see how it runs for a few days before you add any apps.
If you aren't confident then best stick with stock, or an modded version of stock, for a while first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you, very good advice. i will miss those apps for those few days tho. i think that if titanium back up will work i will get all my images etc back.
going to try your advice now and if i dont come right ill be back right here.
thanks again
Mate, if your images aren't on your internal or external sd card - they ain't there. No amount of titanium backup fiddling will restore your images.
Regarding your apps, play store will have a record of anything you have downloaded. Menu, my apps, slide left. Profit.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Glebun said:
so what section do questions go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And yet you haven't reported the thread and asked for it to be moved?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Mr Woolf said:
Mate, if your images aren't on your internal or external sd card - they ain't there. No amount of titanium backup fiddling will restore your images.
Regarding your apps, play store will have a record of anything you have downloaded. Menu, my apps, slide left. Profit.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so you saying that if i ddi a nandroid backup and a full titanium backup and if i did a wipe then i will still lose all my images etc??
Mate, using a file browser, look in your DCIM folder on BOTH the internal and external SD cards.
If you can't find it, download a software called Recuva. It works like a charm. Sure, they'll be some corrupt images, but, most of them are there.
Sent from my TARDIS.
Wolf Pup said:
Mate, using a file browser, look in your DCIM folder on BOTH the internal and external SD cards.
If you can't find it, download a software called Recuva. It works like a charm. Sure, they'll be some corrupt images, but, most of them are there.
Sent from my TARDIS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok thanks so much, ill keep that in mind. but just for future reference, if you are installing a new rom how do you backup your images etc? apps i understand a nandroid and titanium is best, but what about pics and vids etc?
abukad said:
ok thanks so much, ill keep that in mind. but just for future reference, if you are installing a new rom how do you backup your images etc? apps i understand a nandroid and titanium is best, but what about pics and vids etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Copy them onto your pc or set camera to save to external sd.....or both preferably
slaphead20 said:
Copy them onto your pc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no way? seriously? is that the only way? makes sense though, but i think i might have effed up there. cos i didnt think clearly when doing a wipe it will clear all th pics etc am i right? i hope i have a backup of those pics on my pc. the latest pics will be lost though.. so start fresh then..
abukad said:
no way? seriously? is that the only way? makes sense though, but i think i might have effed up there. cos i didnt think clearly when doing a wipe it will clear all th pics etc am i right? i hope i have a backup of those pics on my pc. the latest pics will be lost though.. so start fresh then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same rules apply as with a pc......backup, backup, backup.....especially before messing with firmware
slaphead20 said:
Same rules apply as with a pc......backup, backup, backup.....especially before messing with firmware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im beginging to realise that. i should have thought about all this before i started. well thats one thing sorted out for now. im sor tired, lol. now im jsutgonna look for one rom with no issues and with great battery life and performance and jsut sit still.
thank god fro tiem viewer! so i checked at home and i have all stuff backed up on my external at home and im lucky it was plugged in so i could check. EVERYTHING in a fodler called s3. i surprise myself sometimes. only thing i wont have is the pictures i took after i backed it up, thats a small speech tho. so i dont have to stress now,i can do it at home. i think im gonna need a larger sd card, i got an 8 gig card but shows as 5.6 or so.
slaphead20 said:
Same rules apply as with a pc......backup, backup, backup.....especially before messing with firmware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that's no fun, I like to live dangerously
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
delsus said:
But that's no fun, I like to live dangerously
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too! I'm a total hypocrite in this respect
delsus said:
And yet you haven't reported the thread and asked for it to be moved?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you?
I can't from tapatalk
slaphead20 said:
Me too! I'm a total hypocrite in this respect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I taken it hypocrite is your middle name?
Glebun said:
have you?
I can't from tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't but it doesn't bother me, also you can report in tapatalk, you hit menu then web view and it opens the full XDA site, with added reporting feature.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Why go through all that trouble?
What's the best way to backup, kies air or plug in and use like usb ?
Do you have to let a Rom work its way into the phone per say before making judgements and installing another rom ?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

SD card full on Sony Xperia U

Hello, I'm sorry this topic is ready posted, but I can't find what my friend is having problem with. She has an Xperia U and she can't take pictures because it says that the SD card is full, she doesn't have a lot of apps or pictures though. She restored it to the factory setting a month ago and now the same problem. This is an image if her setting menu, please help and thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
In addition when she deleted audio, apps and pictures the storage didn't decrease.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Ask your friend to backup all important stuff in the internal storage and format it. Format via the phone not the pc.
Sent from my LT22i using Tapatalk 2
How to format via the phone? She already restored it to the factory setting from the phone. And how can she backup all the pictures and videos? Transfered them to a PC?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
hasanmoukalled said:
How to format via the phone? She already restored it to the factory setting from the phone. And how can she backup all the pictures and videos? Transfered them to a PC?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, transfer to a pc. Format the INTERNAL STORAGE not FACTORY RESET. See the clear internal storage button in the above screenshot? Click it after backing up.
Tapatalk sig: I use DraStic to play pokemon.
AndroidNoob69 said:
Yes, transfer to a pc. Format the INTERNAL STORAGE not FACTORY RESET. See the clear internal storage button in the above screenshot? Click it after backing up.
Tapatalk sig: I use DraStic to play pokemon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, thanks! I'll tell her. She can just backup the contacts and the app data from gmail, right?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
AndroidNoob69 said:
Yes, transfer to a pc. Format the INTERNAL STORAGE not FACTORY RESET. See the clear internal storage button in the above screenshot? Click it after backing up.
Tapatalk sig: I use DraStic to play pokemon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If she cleared the internal storage will the OS be removed? Orbitll boot up like new?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
1. Clearing the internal storage does not clear stuff like messages and contacts
2. It will only boot like new if you do a factory reset too
Sent from my LT22i using Tapatalk 2
AndroidNoob69 said:
1. Clearing the internal storage does not clear stuff like messages and contacts
2. It will only boot like new if you do a factory reset too
Sent from my LT22i using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So she will lose apps and picture and videos, not something related to the OS? Sorry for being so specific but I don't want to tell her to do something that can cause her software problems, because we are not close and I am trying to be..
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
hasanmoukalled said:
So she will lose apps and picture and videos, not something related to the OS? Sorry for being so specific but I don't want to tell her to do something that can cause her software problems, because we are not close and I am trying to be..
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chillax, its just the sd card
Tapatalk sig: I use DraStic to play pokemon.
hasanmoukalled said:
So she will lose apps and picture and videos, not something related to the OS? Sorry for being so specific but I don't want to tell her to do something that can cause her software problems, because we are not close and I am trying to be..
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do full backup with PC Companion.
Some apps save data in SD card like backup % restore (the one that come with the phone) so this will be lost.
You can see with PC what is on SD card and copy things that are inportant.
ChikeD said:
Do full backup with PC Companion.
Some apps save data in SD card like backup % restore (the one that come with the phone) so this will be lost.
You can see with PC what is on SD card and copy things that are inportant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
She did it and told me that it didn't work, why?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
It didn't work, any idea?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
What didn't work. Don't spare details when you are looking for help.
ChikeD said:
What didn't work. Don't spare details when you are looking for help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My friend did clear the internal storage because sit was stuck, and she told me that it didn't work. She before that did restore it to the factory reset and did work but now it doesnt , what should she do?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
hasanmoukalled said:
My friend did clear the internal storage because sit was stuck, and she told me that it didn't work. She before that did restore it to the factory reset and did work but now it doesnt , what should she do?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well she can fry and delete files, when connecting to PC or with the file manager she has on the phone.
What android version is it, Ginger Bread??
connect to pc and just delete all the unwanted file from the internal memory only. What big deal? If you still need the file, just backup it. I believe all the file must be from whatapps media folder, check that folder.
back up the pics videos or something else she needs, then format the SD card.
Backup all your files on the sd card and format it
copy all the internal storage to a folder on your pc. then right click that folder and properties and see if it actually is 3.8gb
Sent from my AOSP 4.3 Xperia S via Tapatalk

Categories

Resources