Root Factory Resetting Rooted Droid X

[diskovilante]

I rooted my phone yesterday with z4root and I'm looking forward to installing ROMs in the near future. A big thanks to all the Android Forums members that wrote great guide threads!

However, (and this is me being slightly neurotic) I would like to have a completely pristine Droid X before I install ROMs and continue my customization. This is mainly because I want to ensure I don't run into any problems. My Droid X has been acting up tonight and I'm not sure why. Wiping it clean and starting fresh would really take a weight off of my shoulders.

My questions:

• Is factor resetting the way to go if I want to wipe my phone or is there another way like installing a fresh OS (via SBF although I'm not sure what that is)?
• Will the fact that my phone is rooted effect my factory reset?
• Will my files on my SD card be affected? I would like them to be cleared as well.
• How will being rooted and having freezed bloatware (eg. Amazon Kindle, Blockbuster, etc.) affect a factory reset?
• Anything else I should know?

Thank you so much for your help ahead of time. I've been reading a lot but seeing info about Android 2.1 and other things has left me a bit confused.

 

[Frisco]

Welcome to the forums, diskovilante.

Performing the factory data reset will not touch your SD card.

However, varying results can occur with regard to how a rooted device ends up when resetting. It would probably be a good idea to use a guide to restore the device as close to factory settings/apps, etc as possible. Look at this guide:

http://androidforums.com/1926055-post3.html beginning at the point down the page with the heading, "Guide to Restoring your Droid X to Stock 2.2 OTA Via RSD Lite "SBF" in bold.

 

[gmenfan83]

I rooted my phone yesterday with z4root and I'm looking forward to installing ROMs in the near future. A big thanks to all the Android Forums members that wrote great guide threads!

However, (and this is me being slightly neurotic) I would like to have a completely pristine Droid X before I install ROMs and continue my customization. This is mainly because I want to ensure I don't run into any problems. My Droid X has been acting up tonight and I'm not sure why. Wiping it clean and starting fresh would really take a weight off of my shoulders.

My questions:

• Is factor resetting the way to go if I want to wipe my phone or is there another way like installing a fresh OS (via SBF although I'm not sure what that is)?
• Will the fact that my phone is rooted effect my factory reset?
• Will my files on my SD card be affected? I would like them to be cleared as well.
• How will being rooted and having freezed bloatware (eg. Amazon Kindle, Blockbuster, etc.) affect a factory reset?
• Anything else I should know?

Thank you so much for your help ahead of time. I've been reading a lot but seeing info about Android 2.1 and other things has left me a bit confused.

also if you are going to install a rom its much easier to not uninstall or freeze the bloatware as you can just find one of the many roms that dont have bloatware and go with that,,,,its easier that way so when you go to restore your stock root backup to accept an ota etc,,,you wont have to go through the task of trying to remember which bloat apps you uninstalled or not and then hunt down the apk etc,,,,much easier to let the rom do it

also if you want your sd card cleaned up you can hook your x up to the computer and transfer any files you may want to your computer (in a safe file folder you created named droid x or something of the sort) then unplug your x and go into menu>settings>sd card and phone storage>and format sd card,,,,this will totally wipe and clean your sd card then you can replug it to your computer and simply drag and drop those folders you saved earlier back onto your sd card.

one more major key thing i will say even though you didn't ask my brain is telling me to put it out there so i will just in case
right after you root,,,,download bootstrap loader app for $4 from the market and follow these steps
go into your app drawer and open bootstrap
select bootstrap recovery(prompt for success hit yes)
select reboot recovery(this will bring you into clockwork recovery)
once in clockwork you scroll with volume keys,select with camera and back with power button
scroll to backup/restore and select it
now select backup
let it do its thing and once done you can reboot and you have a handy backup and your most important backup of all ,,,this is your life vest,,,now you can proceed to flashing and installing what you like and if you need to ota or need a fresh start this wil be your nice clean rooted stock rom backup!
again you may have known this and i rambled like a fool lol but i just felt like explaining i guess

 

[diskovilante]

Welcome to the forums, diskovilante.

Performing the factory data reset will not touch your SD card.

However, varying results can occur with regard to how a rooted device ends up when resetting. It would probably be a good idea to use a guide to restore the device as close to factory settings/apps, etc as possible. Look at this guide:

http://androidforums.com/1926055-post3.html beginning at the point down the page with the heading, "Guide to Restoring your Droid X to Stock 2.2 OTA Via RSD Lite "SBF" in bold.

Thanks!

2 things:

• How long does it take to flash back to 2.2?
• Will I need to reactivate my phone with Verizon or will it just work again as usual?

@gmanfan83: Thanks for the backup guide! I have done that actually though I'm still confused as to where the backup is located in my phone's file structure.

 

[colchiro]

Backups are stored on /clockworkmod/backup on your sdcard.

If you're thinking of debloating, etc, just create a stock backup in recovery and load a rom. Most of us agree that Apex 1.3.1 (or 1.4 coming soon) is a good beginners rom. I always recommend installing Titanium and creating a backup with that before installing a rom. (menu button, backup all apps + data)

 

[matt.burns21]

Your backup is on your sd card in the clockworkmod folder. But, to restore.. you use the clockwork mod and select restore instead of backup. Another smart thing to do is go into your files and rename that backup folder "stockrooted" or something that will distinguish it from the other roms /themes you will be flashing and backing up.

 

[diskovilante]

Backups are stored on /clockworkmod/backup on your sdcard.

If you're thinking of debloating, etc, just create a stock backup in recovery and load a rom. Most of us agree that Apex 1.3.1 (or 1.4 coming soon) is a good beginners rom. I always recommend installing Titanium and creating a backup with that before installing a rom. (menu button, backup all apps + data)

Thanks! I was thinking of going the Apex route first

I've already backed up everything with Titanium. If I use Apex then install Titanium, can I then get all my apps and data back in Apex?

 

[colchiro]

Any time you reset your phone or format/clear data from recovery (or rom manager) while installing a rom, you'll have to activate your phone, and enter your Google email address.

Then your apps will slowly install thru market while you wait. If you have wi-fi available, turning that on will speed up the download process. Also, your Google contacts should also populate. I like to just let my phone sit for 40 minutes or so for this to happen or maybe I'll setup email while I'm waiting.

I have some older apps that are no longer available in market, which I restore app + data from Titanium. I like to batch restore (might need the pro version to do this), select missing apps + data, then uncheck all of them and hand choose (check the checkbox) which apps I want restored. You don't want to restore system data from stock to a custom rom or rom to rom. That's asking for trouble. Also some apps like Launcher Pro has the capability of export/import settings, which speeds up setup.

 

[TheKirch]

Thanks! I was thinking of going the Apex route first

I've already backed up everything with Titanium. If I use Apex then install Titanium, can I then get all my apps and data back in Apex?

When you re-activate your phone, google will ask if you want to sync. Do this and the marketplace will begin downloading all your apps. Using Titanium Backup is a bit quicker if you already have backed up.

 

[diskovilante]

Any time you reset your phone or format/clear data from recovery (or rom manager) while installing a rom, you'll have to activate your phone, and enter your Google email address.

Then your apps will slowly install thru market while you wait. If you have wi-fi available, turning that on will speed up the download process. Also, your Google contacts should also populate. I like to just let my phone sit for 40 minutes or so for this to happen or maybe I'll setup email while I'm waiting.

I have some older apps that are no longer available in market, which I restore app + data from Titanium. I like to batch restore (might need the pro version to do this), select missing apps + data, then uncheck all of them and hand choose (check the checkbox) which apps I want restored. You don't want to restore system data from stock to a custom rom or rom to rom. That's asking for trouble. Also some apps like Launcher Pro has the capability of export/import settings, which speeds up setup.

Dude! Thank you so much for letting me know Launcher Pro has a setting export. I use it and it'll save me so much time!

 

[colchiro]

It saves me a lot of work.

I also use Folder Organizer, which also has export/import.

Both could be restored from a Titanium backup as well.

 

[diskovilante]

Welcome to the forums, diskovilante.

Performing the factory data reset will not touch your SD card.

However, varying results can occur with regard to how a rooted device ends up when resetting. It would probably be a good idea to use a guide to restore the device as close to factory settings/apps, etc as possible. Look at this guide:

http://androidforums.com/1926055-post3.html beginning at the point down the page with the heading, "Guide to Restoring your Droid X to Stock 2.2 OTA Via RSD Lite "SBF" in bold.

Hey Frisco, I'm a bit confused. The post you linked me to says that it's only for 2.2. I'm not sure what this means. I'm at 2.2.1 now. Does this mean that it can only be used with phones that are at 2.2 or does it mean it'll revert my phone back to 2.2?

And once I get back to 2.2, I can just OTA update to 2.2.1 again, right?

 

[colchiro]

Assuming you're on the .340 OTA, which everyone should be these days, you only want to SBF with:

• the full 2.3.320 sbf, followed by restoring a backup or the system-only 2.3.340 sbf
• ... or the new full 2.3.340 sbf (grab it while you can)

If I have to sbf, I always prefer fixing a bootloop with the sbf, then restoring a known backup, probably a backup of the same rom or a previous good one.

That guide is good, but it hasn't been rewritten for the latest android versions.

 

[diskovilante]

Assuming you're on the .340 OTA, which everyone should be these days, you only want to SBF with:

• the full 2.3.320 sbf, followed by restoring a backup or the system-only 2.3.340 sbf
• ... or the new full 2.3.340 sbf (grab it while you can)

If I have to sbf, I always prefer fixing a bootloop with the sbf, then restoring a known backup, probably a backup of the same rom or a previous good one.

That guide is good, but it hasn't been rewritten for the latest android versions.

Alright, I dled the 2.3.340 SBF from the site you linked to. Thanks!

What is a bootloop and why does it happen?

So to be clear, the Rooolers' guide still has all the steps I'd need to use the 2.3.340 SBF?

Ay yi yi, I'm starting to get confused I'm just really worried I'm going to brick my phone if I don't do anything correctly.

So this is what I know (or at least what I think I know):

• If/when I want to revert back to a clean 2.2.1 I will need to use the 2.3.340 SBF with the RSD Lite I've downloaded.
• To install the Apex 1.3.1 mod I will need to download the ROM then put it on the root of my SD Card. I will then use the Boostraper app to reboot into Clockworkmod (did I say that right?), wipe my phone, then install Apex.
• That's all right?

 

[colchiro]

I give you a B+. If you had expressed confidence, I would have given you a A.

A boot loop is where the boot animation starts over and over b/c the android system is crashing and starts over.

It's normal for it to take a while after installing a rom or theme, but after 10 minutes you know it's a problem. Then it's normal to try a battery pull (pull out the battery to have the last word), reinsert it and try again. If that still doesn't work and recovery comes up, then try a reset again. Finally when your pants are brown and the sweat is running off your brow, you whip out your trusty SBF and go to town. I always load a backup after an sbf.

I'm aware of only two people that have had to replace their phone and both were rom developers. Everyone else manages to recover their phone with an sbf file and RSD Lite.

 

[diskovilante]

I give you a B+. If you had expressed confidence, I would have given you a A.

A boot loop is where the boot animation starts over and over b/c the android system is crashing and starts over.

It's normal for it to take a while after installing a rom or theme, but after 10 minutes you know it's a problem. Then it's normal to try a battery pull (pull out the battery to have the last word), reinsert it and try again. If that still doesn't work and recovery comes up, then try a reset again. Finally when your pants are brown and the sweat is running off your brow, you whip out your trusty SBF and go to town. I always load a backup after an sbf.

I'm aware of only two people that have had to replace their phone and both were rom developers. Everyone else manages to recover their phone with an sbf file and RSD Lite.

I think I deserve an A now! I took the plunge and put Apex on my phone and it is (this is an understatement) nothing short of amazing. I can't wait to explore more stuff with my phone! Thank you so much for your help, all of you

 

[colchiro]

Backup that sucker. I bet you try another rom next week.

I believe you can upgrade that with the final version of Apex 1.4 (without losing data) when it comes out in a couple days.

 

[colchiro]

Scratch that. Apex 1.4 should be out in 3-4 hours. http://androidforums.com/droid-x-all-things-root/276866-apex-1-4-out.html#post2274856

 

[diskovilante]

But it's RC2!

 

[colchiro]

Final version due in about 3 hours.

 

[diskovilante]

Final version due in about 3 hours.

Exciting!!!

 

[bouchigo]

Exciting!!!

Gotta give the man some time to watch his grammy's

 

[colchiro]

Grammy's? I'd rather be sleepin'.

 

[bouchigo]

Grammy's? I'd rather be sleepin'.

I don't watch the grammy's so I'm good