Database Develop

Uninstall of Apps does not remove all related files!

I apologize if this has been answered earlier.
I use a stock N1 with ADW.Launcher and a bunch of other apps. I recently noticed that even when I uninstall an app from my phone, there are some directories / files that remain on the phone.
Is there any reason why these do not get deleted when the app is unistalled.

May be the same answer as installers written for windows. If the developer didn't do a good job with cleanup, you get trash leftover you need to manually clean.

i agree with both above. i found devs dont do good with uninstalling and leaving folders left behind, i wonder if there is an app that clears them?

The best way is to realize what should and shouldn't be there and manually take care of it. To write an application to clean up after 50,000+ other applications that are messy. Would be a programming nightmare and I would not want to support such an application.

or someone could make some sort of app similar to those on pc, montors what and where files are being installed to so if uninstall doesnt take em out alteast you know where to look exactly.
Edit: better yet, the app itself can uninstall everything on the users request! now that would be an app i wouldnt mind paying a good buck for.

I agree, apps itself should uninstall everything with user consent.
Also I don't think a lot of us mind taking the manual route as long as we know what to delete ..
Any way to find out what files belong to what apps?.... or is it the same as on any unix/linux platform.

thats what i was trying to say. windows has a simple app that makes a txt file of all files being installed including registery. launch the app to monitor first, install like normal. in this case, the app itself will make a database of the app then the user can use that app to delete everything catched that was installed. that would be very nice. i find myself doing google search to see where files came from and when i see i uninstalled that i have to delete it myself. this would save me lots of time. i dont really worry about it though i have a list of apps i must install and with all the froyo i keep wiping the os to try new roms. until everything is stable ill worry then but for now im good.

garryvirdi said:
I apologize if this has been answered earlier.
I use a stock N1 with ADW.Launcher and a bunch of other apps. I recently noticed that even when I uninstall an app from my phone, there are some directories / files that remain on the phone.
Is there any reason why these do not get deleted when the app is unistalled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you mean the directories on the sd card?

Yes directories and files on the SD card.
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Sent from my Nexus One

garryvirdi said:
Yes directories and files on the SD card.
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Sent from my Nexus One
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could have data that could be reused if you decide to use the app again. Settings, preferences, keys, notes, photos etc..
I do hope that the default folder for apps defaults to something like /sdcard/appdata/ instead of the root folder /sdcard/ (unless explicitly set)

[Q] Whats the best lock/hide files app.

HI everyone,
I been searching and there is some threads but I still cant decide on this.
I'm basically looking for the best and most reliable app that i can use to lock and hide away my secrets (files folders pictures video etc)
I'm willing to pay up to $5 for it. And if its free and good I will still pay for the full version as long as it doesn't let me down.
Thanks in advance

Try Vaulty in the market. There is a free and donate version of this and so far, it doesn't let me down. It even hides your files from the file manager (it moves the files to it own sub dir i think).

thanks for that info... vaulty is great except the icon is so catchy... as soon as u see it (girls) they just wanna open it OMG love heart what is it lol

Check out RR File Locker. Similar to Vaulty, but encrypts your private files also, so even with root access, the files are inaccessible without your password.

[Q] File sync

Wondering if there is app that will allow me to do the following:
Take a picture with my EVO, OTA it will sync my photo folder and my NC (turned on and connected to my sprint overdrive) will also sync and download. I hope to then have the pics on my NC that I can show or edit. (basically adding a camera to the nook)
A little about the equipment: NC is rooted running stock rom, I am not opposed to using a different ROM but I just have not had a lot of time to screw with it.
The EVO is NOT rooted, not opposed to it just have not really needed to do it for my purposes.
I played with CX to sync a little bit but I can't seem to figure out how to make the synced directory be my photos folder or find a way to tell the camera app to put photos into the synced directory. If rooting the EVO would allow me to make changes to make this work then I will do it, just looking for some direction...
Thanks again for any help and thanks to all the DEVs who make these devices awesome!

Maybe something like PicPlz? It will sync to dropbox as soon as you add them. Then you can download from Dropbox to the NC (please dropbox, a much better client for Android soon!).
PicPlz
This article on Lifehacker also says that if you start Dropbox, then your camera, pictures will go directly to Dropbox. I haven't tried it, but I have done the other method of starting Dropbox and then saying new picture, which starts the camera and it will dump to Dropbox.
Lifehacker
Just found another one that supposedly does 2-Way auto sync from/to a folder of your choosing.
Dropspace

[Tip] How to Restore Apps/Data after Flashing or Resetting your device!

I've noticed there's not alot of information out there available for this topic.
Here are a couple ways to restore your Apps and some data after flashing, hard resetting or changing/upgrading the SD card on your HD7.
1. To restore all of your OEM applications: Download and install "Reinstaller" from the marketplace or from the link below. Open and run the application, you will have to log into your windows live account and then it will bring up a list of all the apps that you have installed onto your device, free and purchased, and yes you can reinstall purchased apps with out having to re buy them. It will give you an option to choose the apps that you would like to reinstall. Select the apps that you want and click the download/reinstall button. It will start the download process and bring up each app individually, click on install app and it will take you to the marketplace, click install and then it will take you to the phones app screen and show the app being installed with a progress bar. To speed up the process arrow back twice - through the market and back to the Reinstaller app and it will bring up the next queued app to be installed, just repeat the steps.
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/b9d1115b-2c0d-4e5d-afc6-fa6dcd84dda4
2. Pictures: First you must back them up. Download and install SkyDrive from the marketplace or from the link below. Open the app and login using your windows live ID. Click the add button and it will take you to your pics menu, select the pic you want and it will upload it to SkyDrive. To move mass amounts of pics its easiest to connect your device to your P/C and sync with Zune, save all pics to a separate new/folder in documents. Open SkyDrive in another tab and choose the upload option, it will open a secondary window and browse for your folder. Open the folder containing your pics and right click, scroll and highlight all of the pictures, right click again, and select the contents ( you can't move the whole file folder to SkyDrive ) it will then upload all the pics. To restore them to your device, open the SkyDrive app and log in... It will automatically sync the pics and you can find them in the picture menu under albums.
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/ad543082-80ec-45bb-aa02-ffe7f4182ba8
3. SMS: Download and install SMS backup, (by shinichi_wtn) from the link below or from Bazzar marketplace. You can save all your SMS to an isolated storage such as your P/C or upload them to SkyDrive. Very simple and easy to use. Choose the method of export you want. Export your SMS and then choose the backup option.
For SkyDrive it's saved in a folder named "SMS folder", it's a private folder for "Just Me". You can also find the backed up SMS in your Microsoft Office app in OneNote. Here's the link from the author and with more details/instructions:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1448197
4. Contacts: If your device isn't on Tango 8779 build and doesn't have the option to export contacts to SIM. There is an app WlanSIM ( by pdaimarejam ) on Bazaar marketplace or in the link below. This will allow export and import of contacts to SIM and save them there. After flashing or doing a hard reset on your device, on initial setup it will give you the option to restore/import your contacts from SIM back to your device. Make sure your contacts are saved to SIM before doing any operation that will remove them. You can do so by editing the contact and it will then give you the option to save that contact to Sim. As of right now you have to manually edit the registry value and insert this one and then restart your device. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Contacts\Sim]
"EnableSIMAddressBookAndExport
This app also allows you to set a static IP for WIFI
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1637690
5. Internet Favorites: IE Fav Backup app (by Shadow) Backup and restore your internet explorer favorites web sites URLs. App is available for download on Bazaar marketplace or from the link below. Simple and easy to use, choose backup and IE favorites are saved. As of right now the backup is saved at \Applications\Data\ADACC359-7D86-4DD2-B01B-A783B613C06C\Data\!SavedFavorites\
(SkyDrive integration coming soon)
To restore IE favorites, just select the restore option and they are restored to your internet explorer favorites list.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25328312&postcount=1
Hope this helps some of you guys out and feel free to add your own tips it the comments!

I just recently was successful at flashing a custom rom on my hd7 (thanks to all the great people here on XDA!) and that sucked loosing all my data! This will definitely come in very handy the next time I have to flash it again or hard reset.

Just as kind of a side note to help speed up the process. On the Reinstaller app when you open it up, it will generate a list of all the apps that have been installed and there maybe 2 or 3 of the same apps in the list, (like connection setup) just un-check the box next to the extra ones or it will just try and update that app 2 or 3 times. If you know which ones are cooked into your rom, you can un-select those too. Like the Nokia apps, if you try and reinstall those it will give you an error message saying there not compatible with your device and any that you have downloaded by changing your OEM/Carrier marketplace. You'll just have to re-download those ones later.

Thanks for the Tutorial
Just wanted to say Thank you xdrc45, I just flashed the new Deepshining rom v 7.77 and I used your extremely helpful and detailed tutorial too back up my data and reinstall my apps. It worked perfectly and the whole process was easy and took about 30 mins.
(Mods) This should be added to a Sticky, so that others can find it easily, plus I think this would work on all unlocked WP7 devices too right?

I am getting message "Sorry, you can't get apps in this region. Please check the Store in your region"- anyone else had same error?
I am in Germany btw.

emil_bg said:
I am getting message "Sorry, you can't get apps in this region. Please check the Store in your region"- anyone else had same error?
I am in Germany btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there seems to be a limitation with region access on MS side of things and as of recent they have been updating/changing the Marketplace and everyone is having problems with their app purchase history, either through the Reinstaller app or the MS online Marketplace. When I go to the online Marketplace it's only showing the last few apps (like 15 apps) that I have purchased in the past 6 months, where before I could see and re-download all the apps that I've ever downloaded or purchased somewhere around 200 apps. Is a real pain in the @$$

It would be useful to have an app that backs up the custom dictionary

[Q] File manager officially confirmed?

I don't know if anyone voted for new features for WP8, but if you did, you should get mail from admins that file manager is now available.
Check it here:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...ons/3365632-add-file-manager-to-windows-phone
Also I've got mail for disabling auto rotation:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...tions/suggestions/2282917-disable-auto-rotate
Anyone know what is all that about? If it's on some new update, it wouldn't say it's available now.

head0 said:
I don't know if anyone voted for new features for WP8, but if you did, you should get mail from admins that file manager is now available.
Check it here:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...ons/3365632-add-file-manager-to-windows-phone
Also I've got mail for disabling auto rotation:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...tions/suggestions/2282917-disable-auto-rotate
Anyone know what is all that about? If it's on some new update, it wouldn't say it's available now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great news.
In addition to the update on uservoice (http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/)
there is a report that it will be coming in WP8.1 in Q2 2014 http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/
I'm on android but I will definitely check back on WP when this happens.

CSMR said:
Great news.
In addition to the update on uservoice (http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/)
there is a report that it will be coming in WP8.1 in Q2 2014 http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/
I'm on android but I will definitely check back on WP when this happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And what you gonna do with the jpg file, move/copy where if only the hubs can open it? Useless feature.

djtonka said:
And what you gonna do with the jpg file, move/copy where if only the hubs can open it? Useless feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If MS implemented this feature so that the file manager would only show "hubs" and only allow you to move things in folders within these hubs, they would have to be real idiots.
A file manager means having user documents accessible by programs. Pretty much if you have one, you have the other. And ordinary people understand what a file manager is, so the request is always for a file manager, even though having a user documents folder accessible by programs is more important.

CSMR said:
If MS implemented this feature so that the file manager would only show "hubs" and only allow you to move things in folders within these hubs, they would have to be real idiots.
A file manager means having user documents accessible by programs. Pretty much if you have one, you have the other. And ordinary people understand what a file manager is, so the request is always for a file manager, even though having a user documents folder accessible by programs is more important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I have previously stated to all the QQ threads on this forum, windows phone does not need a file manager like windows 8 has.
As long as third party apps can asociate with the files they need to open, we will be fine, because developers can detect files on the phone very easily using the Microsoft API. The biggest problem is not the lack of a file manager, is the lack of permissions to allow third party apps to open files which are restricted by the system, like mp3 files.
If apps had full access to SD cards and the user file system, everybody would be happy.
Given how the API seems to be building around, this file manager will be restricted to hubs and third party apps will still not be able to open whatever files they want to.
On the other hand, they might give us a SDK update, but there are no news on the developer site...

Oh, I still disagree with that, quite a bit in fact.
Even leaving it limited to the "user" parts of the phone, there's lots of obvious cases for a file browser / manager.
* A simple one would be to provide an easy way to correct problems like duplicated files, renaming documents, copying a music file to the "ringtones" folder, and so on. Plus of course the ability to categorize and organize files using folders. Basically, the stuff you can do from a PC over USB.
* A little bit more advanced, but still pretty useful and obvious, would be the ability to open files (into whatever app the user wants) from a central location, rather than needing to go to the app first and hope that the app has a way to open the file. This is especially obvious when one considers downloaded files, which currently can only be opened once (by the app that you select at that time, which must then copy the file locally if it wants to keep it; no other app will be able to access that file unless you download it again).
* Another important need is to provide something that functions like the SD card for phones which don't have one. For an OS that doesn't require the presence of such a card, WP8 has a number of features which you can only use if you *do* have one. Example: using the standard MTP over USB access, if I want to add ebooks to my phone, I have to copy the ebooks to the SD card, then go into the e-reader app and tell it to load the books from the card. If I don't have a card, I'm screwed; there's no other way except to open them one at a time as email attachments or something similarly stupid. A universally accessible folder (even if it was read-only to third-party apps) for such content would make a lot of sense.

For those of you who say this feature would be useless, go and find a particular ringtone on your phone and share it with someone via Bluetooth, message, email or however you want heck use Skydrive and then come back and tell me if you can even navigate to the ringtones folder using Xbox Music.
---------- Post added at 06:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:40 PM ----------
sinister1 said:
For those of you who say this feature would be useless, go and find a particular ringtone on your phone and share it with someone via Bluetooth, message, email or however you want heck use Skydrive and then come back and tell me if you can even navigate to the ringtones folder using Xbox Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any one

From what I read on WPCentral, this was a mistake being marked as complete, so false alarm regardless.
P.S. I am in the camp of wanting a file manager/explorer.

Sadly, true. You can see that on the uservoice site directly... :-/

They will probably give a full file manager with windows phone 9 or something.

That's right.
The forum admin says that the thread's were mistakenly marked as accomplished.
Way go MS.Nice idea for fixing problems. ;(
Sent from my Windows Phone 8S by HTC using Tapatalk

I take it that no response to my question above means it's not possible to do on WP, Okay how about downloading a pdf file from an email or SkyDrive? The reasons for a native file explorer on WP is so obvious. Not everyone carries a tablet or laptop computer with them at all times just to be able to explore, rename, save or copy files on their phone.