I had to boot my phone back to factory settings yesterday. before I did that, I made a mistake and formatted the internal sd card. then realized that wasnt what i was supposed to do. I do not know what if anything AT&T or Samsung has in that memory card for operations. what if anything having to do the phone's performance would that have deleted?
No worries, I believe. On a fresh OS nothing critical is on internal SD. OS will restore all needed files/folders on first request/use. I did format my internal storage couple of times (before flashing a new ROM) just to clear leftovers from uninstalled apps and previous OS installations. Haven't had any issues. If you want, flash one more time the OS and you'll see all default folders restored after first boot. Half of them will be empty though, for eventual future use (like folders for Alarms, Notifications, Music, Movies, Pictures, Podcasts, etc).
When I put do a factory reset I usually format my internal storage to get rid of all the accentuated garbage. As mentioned above all the necessary factory files are restored on the reset, only your personal files are missing.
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Does anyone know how to retrieve items accidentally deleted from a SD Card because of a hard reset? I had so many photos and I would like to see if I can get them back.
You'll hav to get a 3rd party application to do it and you're not promised to get them back. It scans the whole card and just takes forever.
Dreashines said:
Does anyone know how to retrieve items accidentally deleted from a SD Card because of a hard reset? I had so many photos and I would like to see if I can get them back.
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Click to collapse
a Hard reset would not delete files on your SD card. You must have had the photos saved to your phone memory.
AllTheWay said:
a Hard reset would not delete files on your SD card. You must have had the photos saved to your phone memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that it wouldn't erase them either. I have done hard resets before and my items were never erased before. I made sure everything I wanted to keep was on the memory card for this reason. But for some reason this time it erased everything. I guess this was one of those freak accidents. This is why I am asking for help.
I appreciate any help on this issue.
You did something wrong then because there's no logical way they could've erased that way. On the other side, you should have followed flashing procedures by removing the memory card and sim
Your so right, kareem9nba. I should have known better. Thank you for your help.
This is why every week, I copy all the contents of my SD card (where I keep everything) To my Desktop PC in a folder I call "SDBackup" I've working with Computer long enough to know, if you don't have a backup, you are asking for trouble.
People call this Murphy's Law.
I had an issue similar to this that scared the crap out of me.
I took my SD card out of my phone, powered off beforehand, and then loaded it into my speedy microSD adapter so I could copy lots of data from my computer to it. Upon inserting the card into my monitor's SD reader, Vista gave me to "You must format this card before it can be used" message.
It took 3 removals and reinsertions to get my PC and my Tilt to see the files again. I promptly backed up my files and did a full format on my storage card. Everything's been fine since.
Im a little more paranoid and do it at least once every couple of days, just because Im on the forum alot and frequently see horror stories where people end up losing alot of their stuff.
Active File Recovery 7.3 Build 101
Very Interesting Question that made me perform a new expirement
to answer your question directly best thing is to use a 3rd party application called Active File Recovery 7.3 Build 101 it will recover data even after format or delete by mistake.
but in your case its not necessary - hard reset only delete internal storge (sd card data is intact)
i did an expirement ( i stored photos and documents in my phone) and i performed a hard reset... i used Active File Recovery 7.3 Build 101 and guess what i managed to retrieve the TOC of my INTERNAL STOREAGE but not the files... but i guess if i looked for a more powerful application i could retrieve the files themselves
i flashed new rom and used Active File Recovery 7.3 Build 101 (resulting 0 files or 0 TOC to retrieve)
conclusion of my experiment that may not relate 100% with your question is if you hard rest (some of your data can be retireved) if you flash new rom or reflash a rom (0 data can be accessed) using commercial softwares
best luck and look for our experts comments
Dreashines said:
Does anyone know how to retrieve items accidentally deleted from a SD Card because of a hard reset? I had so many photos and I would like to see if I can get them back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all undelete programs which works on pc's harddisks works just the same on a sdcard in a sdcard reader connected to a pc
there are plenty and many free
google is the answer
So, I had my Raider for about a month before rooting and installing the rumraider beta BUT...my internal SD is showing very little free space, and all I can think of is that I used to have a few gb of vids & pics in one of the folder hide apps, and they were stored on the internal SD. All that ever showed in any explorer app was an empty folder, even though that's supposedly where the files were hidden. Anyway, I deleted the folder manually, just to see if 3gb or so would magically free up.. but that didn't happen. There are also a bunch of no longer installed apps' data folders kicking around I'm quite sure.. so the questions are:
(a) what does the format internal SD card option do in the raider's system menu..and will it wipe out anything important to the function of my phone?
(b) is it safe and/or advisable to manually browse & delete unnecessary folders?
(c) if I've already used SD Maid and see no real noticeable difference in free space, are there any other apps which might do a better job?
..I have only a few dozen apps installed since flashing the rumraider rom, but the phones internal storage was pretty full beforehand.. I just assumed that the whole wipe process prior to (and during, if I read the progress right) the flash would clear all that data out. Its got 16gb internal storage in total.. partitioned, true.. but still.. i have almost nothing free. I find that odd.
'lil help? LOL!
bproulx said:
So, I had my Raider for about a month before rooting and installing the rumraider beta BUT...my internal SD is showing very little free space, and all I can think of is that I used to have a few gb of vids & pics in one of the folder hide apps, and they were stored on the internal SD. All that ever showed in any explorer app was an empty folder, even though that's supposedly where the files were hidden. Anyway, I deleted the folder manually, just to see if 3gb or so would magically free up.. but that didn't happen. There are also a bunch of no longer installed apps' data folders kicking around I'm quite sure.. so the questions are:
(a) what does the format internal SD card option do in the raider's system menu..and will it wipe out anything important to the function of my phone?
(b) is it safe and/or advisable to manually browse & delete unnecessary folders?
(c) if I've already used SD Maid and see no real noticeable difference in free space, are there any other apps which might do a better job?
..I have only a few dozen apps installed since flashing the rumraider rom, but the phones internal storage was pretty full beforehand.. I just assumed that the whole wipe process prior to (and during, if I read the progress right) the flash would clear all that data out. Its got 16gb internal storage in total.. partitioned, true.. but still.. i have almost nothing free. I find that odd.
'lil help? LOL!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 using holiraider
your internal sd is only 9.48gb(ish). on that, you can delete anything you want. whether any apps use any of the data in there is dependent on the apps you have installed. there is nothing there that is */required/* for your rom to function correctly
after backing up all your pictures/music/titanium backup files/clockworkmod backups/etc to your computer or all on an external card, you can safely format the internal sd. the system will recreate any files/folders it needs.
personally, i would just back EVERYTHING on the internal sd up to my computer, format the internal sd from the system menu, and if anything doesnt work properly after that, you always have the files handy.
I have a 32gb sd card so i backup the internal to sdcard2 into a ".No Media" folder. I hate duplicating images.. But this way i always have a back up with me since i like to flash roms while im at work (to impatient to wait till im home).
I've just now flashed the latest Cyanogenmod 7 nightly on my O2X, and I'm experiencing a problem with my internal SD card.
Any app that want to use the internal SD card is unable to do so because supposedly the card is not mounted, while under Settings - Storage - Internal SD Card, it gives me an option to unmount the card. I've tried unmounting and mounting again, but that didn't do anything.
When I connect my phone to my laptop using USB, the only option I get is the USB Debugging (if I have that on). The only way to get the option to turn on USB storage is if I power off the phone, connect the USB and then power up the phone. That way I get the option to turn on USB storage, but when I do that, nothing happens on the computer or the phone.
If I reboot the phone in recovery mode, then I can select instal zip from internal sd card and then see the different folders on the card, but I have not dared to see if can actually flash Cyanogenmod again in fear of not being able to get any kind of contact with my sd card.
Now I realize that there are ways of fixing this issue, but is there a way that will help me keep the data I have on my internal sd card? I have a lot of information on it that I don't want to lose at all.
Even ideas of how I could backup the internal sd card so that I can just go crazy and format the card would highly appreciated! I've tried the Software Data Cable app, but that didn't work either.
Any help you can give me would be a major relief as I have been struggling with this problem through the night without much results.
Some info:
Before flash: Stock Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4)
Flashed ROM: CyanogenMod-7-20120313-NIGHTLY-p990 (Android 2.3.7)
Phone: LG Optimus 2X p990
No external SD card
Accessing internal storage
Go to settings - CyanogenMod Settings - Application
And check the Internal storage box.
If you have issues with some apps check the "allow moving.." as well
AND change the install location to internal. On automatic this should work anyway since you are not using an externalSD.
--- REMEMBER TO REBOOT---
If you are still having problems fix permissions and reflash the same nightly or a newer one. (data is not lost... dont wipe)
Dont think this applies to you.. but just in case.
If you still have issues with any apps and their settings. Delete the app data at the Application Manager. Then before opening/running the app, delete its associated folders on the sd. (You should be able to mount by now.) Reboot and things should be working fine. Dont worry about this last paragraph if you are not having issues with apps not saving data/starting/cant find sd card etc. Since you dont have a external SD.
Yeah, I found this out just two minutes ago, and now everything works! Thanks a lot elkhawkes!
Woah, I'm happy now!
I don't see why this isn't standard in CyanogenMod though. What are the benefits of "hiding" the internal SD card like that? Is it considered that people who flash CyanogenMod doesn't have anything useful on their internal SD, but rather the external one? At least for me, I had a lot of application data, pictures and text files I needed on the internal SD card.
Well, anyways, all is well for me now, so far...
Ok, I've noticed a problem.
You were right about some apps having problems. It seems like Whatsapp and SwiftKey is unable to save their stats. Message count and keystroke count returns to 0 every time I reboot. Its not the biggest problem, but it might be a symptom of a bigger problem, so I want to fix it.
I have tried all the different suggestions you mention for solving problems with apps, but none of them work. Even when I delete the Whatsapp folder on the internal SD card, the app still has problems saving its stats. I guess that might be because there are more Whatsapp files in one of the android folders on the card.
I was thinking that I might be able to do this sequence of things to fix it, but I'd like to get some confirmation that it might work and I won't brick my phone or will be having to buy and external SD card:
1. Copy everything on the internal SD card to my computer. (Already done!)
2. Re-flash the latest CyanogenMod nightly (and Google Apps) from the internal SD card using ROM Manager and delete all data cache, dalvik and so on.
3. Before installing any apps I go to Settings - CyanogenMod settings - Application and check Use internal storage. That way my internal SD card will be "visible".
4. Go to Settings - Storage and then selecting Erase SD card (note this is the internal SD card, I do not have an external card).
Questions:
- Will step 4. delete everything on the SD card, including all files in the Android folders?
- Will I still be able to use my phone with Cyanogenmod without having any files on the internal SD card (and no external card in the phone) or does flashing CyanogenMod or any other ROM on the phone install crucial files on the internal SD card? I want to know this for sure, because if I can't, then I will have no way of returning to a working ROM or flash a new one. I want to avoid a brick at all cost.
- Can I then start installing all the apps I want and then trying to copy only the folders containing for example the media and messages folders for Whatsapp back to the SD card to recover those on the fresh install?
** What about the Factory data reset option in CyanogenMod? Is that something I can use for this? Will the phone be reset to "factory" with CyanogenMod installed and no other old files on it, so that everything is fresh and I can install my apps and then copy media/backup folders to get the apps running without problems and with my old media?
Any help with this matter would be highly appreciated!
Testing7 said:
Questions:
- Will step 4. delete everything on the SD card, including all files in the Android folders?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
- Will I still be able to use my phone with Cyanogenmod without having any files on the internal SD card (and no external card in the phone) or does flashing CyanogenMod or any other ROM on the phone install crucial files on the internal SD card? I want to know this for sure, because if I can't, then I will have no way of returning to a working ROM or flash a new one. I want to avoid a brick at all cost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: No properly made Android version should depend on certain files being present on the SD-card. CM7 is a "proper" version.
- Can I then start installing all the apps I want and then trying to copy only the folders containing for example the media and messages folders for Whatsapp back to the SD card to recover those on the fresh install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should in most cases be able to do that, yes. You may run into trouble if you copy the data back after installing the app if it is running at the time. You may want to mount USB storage/copy data while in CWM to be sure that does not happen.
** What about the Factory data reset option in CyanogenMod? Is that something I can use for this? Will the phone be reset to "factory" with CyanogenMod installed and no other old files on it, so that everything is fresh and I can install my apps and then copy media/backup folders to get the apps running without problems and with my old media?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you should be able to do this. (Be aware that a factory reset, whether built-on or CWM, does not delete anything on the SDcard.) Some apps may initialize their external storage on the first start, some apps may find inconsistencies in the external data, especially if they use som kind of secure or encrypted storage, but that is probably not very common
Fix for apps
... Follow the steps in my post above and then uninstall the effected app, reboot and install again.
If you have backed up the whatsapp folder. Put it back on the sdcard before running the newly installed whatsapp and it should ask to import the backed up files.
- I think it only works if you place the files back before running the freshly installed app.
I`m guessing you might have tried this already. Hope this helps
Like Testing7 said, the files visible on the sd card are safe to delete but erasing the sd and factory resetting is probably not necessary. Personally I backup my important folders.. whatsapp etc on the pc regularly and erase the sd all the time. Its not really neccessary and I do this because I like to keep it clean and its just a "bad" habit from testing out different roms. The folders there are generally just clutter and also use a minimum amount of space, so really it is up to you. They do build up again pretty fast so dont worry about it.
- If you are still having problems... Just start from scratch again
# Backup - SMS and apps... I use Sms/app backup and restore... 2 separate apps on market (both free).
# Copy necessary folders and files to pc - then erase SD
# Recovery - Wipe cache, factory reset, Dalvik, battery stats ... on full battery
# Reflash nightly cm7
# Change all settings like in my first post and then reinstall all apps and backup files.
# And remember to restore files first before running the apps for the first time
Hello, hope I'm posting right. My phone has stock rom (4.0.4 LRK) with stock kernel. Today suddenly, can't tell why, I started experiencing strange issues with the internal storage. I can see, access and even write on /sdcard (I've just done a backup in a folder there with Titanium), same on my pc, but shortly after I boot, some apps start disappearing or to show up as grey icons, I can't move them from phone memory to sd card or viceversa, i can't unistall them, and i can't even install new apps.
Also, every action that requires to load the app list (like looking for cache to clean) fails on most cases. It's like the memory card was okay, but something was wrong with the apps installed.
What's happening?
first of all, move to a safe kernel... then either do a format using pc and put the data back. or do a factory reset in CWM recovery and reinstall apps using tb
I found out the problem was the external sd card after all but thanks anyway, you can close!
Please move to safe kernel
Hi all,
I used factory reset on my phone because I thought I was gonna keep my personal files (i.e. music, photos, etc). In my old android I had a SD Card so everytime I reseted it I kept all of those things. But on my RAZR i since the internal storage is already big enough I didn't even bother getting a SD Card, and I ended up forgetting all about this until after reseting my phone I went to look for my photos.
So my question is: is there a way I can look for these files to see if they are still in the internal storage? And if so, can I do it without having to root (and therefore losing the warranty)?
lminchillo said:
Hi all,
I used factory reset on my phone because I thought I was gonna keep my personal files (i.e. music, photos, etc). In my old android I had a SD Card so everytime I reseted it I kept all of those things. But on my RAZR i since the internal storage is already big enough I didn't even bother getting a SD Card, and I ended up forgetting all about this until after reseting my phone I went to look for my photos.
So my question is: is there a way I can look for these files to see if they are still in the internal storage? And if so, can I do it without having to root (and therefore losing the warranty)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Consider your files gone. A profressional could try to recovery them but it would cost more than your phone to pay them.