Erase Android storage

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freitasm

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Topic # 165904 24-Feb-2015 09:39

I just got hold of an Android device from a previous reviewer. Although the device was "clean" I did perform another factory reset.

The strange thing is... Lots of old files there still - folders from previously installed apps, photos, etc.

How can we actually, you know, CLEAN the device? Wasn't the factory reset supposed to do it?

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toyonut

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Reply # 1245407 24-Feb-2015 09:45

Does it have an SD Card in it?
Sounds like the kind of files that would be stored on an external SD and that won't be erased by factory reset, only by formatting the SD card.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

freitasm

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Reply # 1245408 24-Feb-2015 09:46

No SD card (actually will add a 64GB card now)...

I'm also having problems synchronising my Office 365 account so have no problems blowing this away again and starting over.

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xpd

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Reply # 1245409 24-Feb-2015 09:48

Factory reset on Android usually has the option to format the SD storage at the same time.

But I'd say what MF is seeing, is on the internal storage, not external, hence his query.

Possible those apps etc were part of the factory OS ?

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freitasm

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Reply # 1245413 24-Feb-2015 09:53

xpd: Factory reset on Android usually has the option to format the SD storage at the same time.

But I'd say what MF is seeing, is on the internal storage, not external, hence his query.

Possible those apps etc were part of the factory OS ?

No, there were user photos and files there even after a factory reset.

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Oblivian

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Reply # 1245416 24-Feb-2015 09:57

On my S3 under storage you can click each allocation for extra info, and cached data gives the option to clear cache. But that may not ditch the folders you mention either.

A re-flash certainly allows for repartition/eraste of those added system areas however. And CWM has a separate format option. But looks like /data is just a folder you can attack with explorer.

Or use the nasty factory erase magic number which will ditch it all.

markl

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Reply # 1245418 24-Feb-2015 09:58

freitasm:
xpd: Factory reset on Android usually has the option to format the SD storage at the same time.

But I'd say what MF is seeing, is on the internal storage, not external, hence his query.

Possible those apps etc were part of the factory OS ?

No, there were user photos and files there even after a factory reset.

Pretty sure that a factory reset will only clear out System partitions...the internal storage will have an "emulated SD Card", where user files such as photos, downloaded files, etc are stored, and that will not usually be touched by factory reset. I have seen factory reset features with the option to clear SD Storage also, which would do what you want, but from memory that was when performing a reset from CWM recovery, rather than from the OOB recovery system or from within the android UI proper.

The most extreme way I can think of to do a full reset would be to flash a complete copy of the existing ROM onto the device. That should clear out ALL files on ALL partitions :D

Or you there are probably commands you could use in either ADB or fastboot...

Specifically, this should work from ADB (of course, you'll need the Android SDK installed to use ADB)

adb shell

recovery --wipe_data

See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14685721/how-can-i-do-factory-reset-using-adb-in-android for more detail

What is the device?

freitasm

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Reply # 1245425 24-Feb-2015 10:08

There you go... I didn't scroll down to the bottom of the page where there is an option to erase the internal storage.

Done now.

Thanks folks.

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