Root Gmail Account Won't delete after factory reset

[Renee1228]

I'm about to start the unrooting steps based on the awesome guide above (you guys are fantastic for laying that all out like that!) But here's my question, my Evo has been rooted for 2 years. I just got a new phone and want to give this one to my kid, but even when I wiped the data, it won't wipe my gmail account. This obviously won't work as he can't load his own contacts, etc. Do I need to unroot (I'm assuming Method 1 from above) in order to get my gmail account off this phone? I don't really care if he gets a rooted phone or not, at least that's not my priority. I just want all my stuff off this phone, so it will be like a new phone for him.

Any advice is VERY appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Mikestony]

I'm about to start the unrooting steps based on the awesome guide above (you guys are fantastic for laying that all out like that!) But here's my question, my Evo has been rooted for 2 years. I just got a new phone and want to give this one to my kid, but even when I wiped the data, it won't wipe my gmail account. This obviously won't work as he can't load his own contacts, etc. Do I need to unroot (I'm assuming Method 1 from above) in order to get my gmail account off this phone? I don't really care if he gets a rooted phone or not, at least that's not my priority. I just want all my stuff off this phone, so it will be like a new phone for him.

Any advice is VERY appreciated! Thanks!

Hello!
When you say you wiped data, do you mean a factory reset? Or did you wipe the data partition via recovery?

 

[Renee1228]

Hello!
When you say you wiped data, do you mean a factory reset? Or did you wipe the data partition via recovery?

Hi, Mike! Yes, I was cooking dinner and was distracted, so my son asked if he should do a factory reset and I said yes, without realizing it was rooted so bad idea. It got all messed up but I had a Nandroid file on my pc and was able to save that to SD card and everything is working fine now. It wiped all my apps, texts, etc. but not my gmail account. It won't let me delete it, even after we set up a secondary gmail for him.

Edit: It also won't let us update the Software. It gives an error and aborts. So, it doesn't even say "Play Store" now, it's back to "Market".

 

[Mikestony]

Just wiping data is essentially a factory reset and should have wiped your data including gmail. I am surprised you still had gmail on the phone after a reset. Did it ask you to sign into gmail after the reset?

There is not really a need to unroot to get the phone to a post-rom flash.
What rom are you on? What recovery do you have?

 

[Renee1228]

Just wiping data is essentially a factory reset and should have wiped your data including gmail. I am surprised you still had gmail on the phone after a reset. Did it ask you to sign into gmail after the reset?

There is not really a need to unroot to get the phone to a post-rom flash.
What rom are you on? What recovery do you have?

That's it exactly. Everything was brand new. Wallpaper, boot screen, everything, except that my Google account is still in there. No, I didn't re-enter it. It didn't ask me to. I guess because it still had mine. Now I'm going to expose my ignorance. I honestly can't keep track of what the different things are called. (probably b/c I only deal with this stuff ever couple of years, although I'm going to try to root my Note II later today) I had the Mik on there, is that the Rom? But now I think it's gone because like I said, the loading screen is back to the standard Sprint one, not the Mik one that used to be on there. I'm confused about how everything got wiped but it will not let go of my Google account. And it won't let me install any system updates, which it why I thought if I just started over maybe it would fix whatever issue it was having.

 

[Mikestony]

Gotcha, at this point, I would flash a fresh download of MikG, or your rom of choice.
If you need some help, let me know and we can get ya going.
Here is a link for MikG rom.
Dev-Host - MikG-v3.11-signed.zip - The Ultimate Free File Hosting / File Sharing Service

I do recall seeing, after some rom flashes, a screen that comes up asking if you want to backup or restore settings from google. If you see that screen after the flash, un-tick those boxes. Not sure if that will come up after the MikG rom flash.

If you decide to flash the rom, I would suggest wiping all except sd card, 3 times, then flash.
Like I said, if you need any help, just ask

 

[Renee1228]

Gotcha, at this point, I would flash a fresh download of MikG, or your rom of choice.
If you need some help, let me know and we can get ya going.
Here is a link for MikG rom.
Dev-Host - MikG-v3.11-signed.zip - The Ultimate Free File Hosting / File Sharing Service

I do recall seeing, after some rom flashes, a screen that comes up asking if you want to backup or restore settings from google. If you see that screen after the flash, un-tick those boxes. Not sure if that will come up after the MikG rom flash.

If you decide to flash the rom, I would suggest wiping all except sd card, 3 times, then flash.
Like I said, if you need any help, just ask

Ok, so you think flashing back to Mik will allow me to delete the Google account? That does seem easier than unrooting. I honestly don't remember how to flash a rom, but I can go back and re-read the how to root thread and try figure it out. Oh, btw, there is a folder on my desktop called "system" and in it is a file called superuser.apk. I assume that's from when I rooted, but I have no idea what that is. Can I delete it?

Thank you SO, SO much! You have been so helpful. If I have problems, I'll post here.

 

[Mikestony]

Ok, so you think flashing back to Mik will allow me to delete the Google account? That does seem easier than unrooting. I honestly don't remember how to flash a rom, but I can go back and re-read the how to root thread and try figure it out. Oh, btw, there is a folder on my desktop called "system" and in it is a file called superuser.apk. I assume that's from when I rooted, but I have no idea what that is. Can I delete it?

Thank you SO, SO much! You have been so helpful. If I have problems, I'll post here.

No problem...here is a little guide with links I copied and pasted for you:

1.first you need the vr superwipe (this is not a rom. this is a file that wipes your sytem partitions and also wipes all the temp files as well:ZZZVR_SUPERWIPE.zip. download it and put it on your card. (optional)*
2.download the rom (i recommend MikG v3.11 [3/9/2012]) of your choice and transfer it to your card.
3.go into recovery
4.make a nandroid backup
5.select wipe from the main menu and wipe dalvik cache, cache, and data
6.select flash zip from sdcard
7.find the superwipe file and select it.(optional)
8.find your rom and select it.
9.reboot.

first boot will take a bit longer then normal, so be patient.

Perhaps I will move yours and my posts into your own little thread so it wont get lost here and easier to find if you want

 

[Renee1228]

Gotcha, at this point, I would flash a fresh download of MikG, or your rom of choice.
If you need some help, let me know and we can get ya going.
Here is a link for MikG rom.
Dev-Host - MikG-v3.11-signed.zip - The Ultimate Free File Hosting / File Sharing Service

I do recall seeing, after some rom flashes, a screen that comes up asking if you want to backup or restore settings from google. If you see that screen after the flash, un-tick those boxes. Not sure if that will come up after the MikG rom flash.

If you decide to flash the rom, I would suggest wiping all except sd card, 3 times, then flash.
Like I said, if you need any help, just ask

So, I'm reading the rooting thread. The phone is on Ginger 2.3.3. And I see it saying to use something called superwipe before flashing to a new rom. Should I do this? Thank you!!

EDIT: NVM! LOL We cross posted. I see from your message above, you do recommend doing the superwipe. I will follow your instructions. (I feel like I should finish that sentence with Obi Wan!) Thanks again!

 

[Mikestony]

So, I'm reading the rooting thread. The phone is on Ginger 2.3.3. And I see it saying to use something called superwipe before flashing to a new rom. Should I do this? Thank you!!

That is optional...helpful, but optional. It will wipe the proper partitions for you 3 times instead of you doing it 3 times.
Personally, I dont use it....I like doing it myself
It doesn't hurt tho

 

[Renee1228]

Gotcha, at this point, I would flash a fresh download of MikG, or your rom of choice.
If you need some help, let me know and we can get ya going.
Here is a link for MikG rom.
Dev-Host - MikG-v3.11-signed.zip - The Ultimate Free File Hosting / File Sharing Service

I do recall seeing, after some rom flashes, a screen that comes up asking if you want to backup or restore settings from google. If you see that screen after the flash, un-tick those boxes. Not sure if that will come up after the MikG rom flash.

If you decide to flash the rom, I would suggest wiping all except sd card, 3 times, then flash.
Like I said, if you need any help, just ask

Do you know what all should be on the SD card? Should I delete the Nandroid file before I flash the new rom? There's also a file for Syncr on there. Should I remove that? I'm not sure what all should be on or off that card before I do this. Or does it even matter? It's an 8GB, so hopefully I won't run out of space.

 

[Mikestony]

Hey Renee,
I made a thread for you here so others can chime in also

 

[Mikestony]

Do you know what all should be on the SD card? Should I delete the Nandroid file before I flash the new rom? There's also a file for Syncr on there. Should I remove that? I'm not sure what all should be on or off that card before I do this. Or does it even matter? It's an 8GB, so hopefully I won't run out of space.

I would leave the nandroid backup file on there until after the rom flash.
When you start to wipe in recovery before the rom flash, just be sure not to wipe the SD CARD ITSELF! You can wipe everything but the sd card.
Don't worry about the file Syncr for now...I dont know what that is anyway

The 2 files you want on the sd card before the flash are:
The rom.
The superwipe (if desired)

All other files that are on the sd card can stay on there for now.

 

[Renee1228]

I would leave the nandroid backup file on there until after the rom flash.
When you start to wipe in recovery before the rom flash, just be sure not to wipe the SD CARD ITSELF! You can wipe everything but the sd card.
Don't worry about the file Syncr for now...I dont know what that is anyway

The 2 files you want on the sd card before the flash are:
The rom.
The superwipe (if desired)

All other files that are on the sd card can stay on there for now.

Got it, thanks! The Syncr is for syncing iTunes playlists on the Android phone. But it's strange b/c the file is on the SD card, but the app is no longer on the phone and I can't find it in the store. It's not big deal. He can find another app to do that. I have bigger concerns than syncing a playlist right now.

 

[Mikestony]

okee dokee...and just for giggles, I'm gonna flash that rom too now to see how it goes.
I made my backup and I am ready to flash. I am just curious to see if it wipes my gmail too..which it should.
So right now, we are going to be in the same boat

 

[Mikestony]

BY the way, what recovery do you have?

 

[Renee1228]

BY the way, what recovery do you have?

I'm not sure... Where do I look to find out?

 

[Mikestony]

I'm not sure... Where do I look to find out?

Recovery is the screen you were in when you restored your nandroid backup.
It should say somewhere on there what the name of the recovery is.
Like, AmonRa, or Clockworkmod, or TWRP (doubt if it is TWRP), or Smelkus.

 

[Renee1228]

Recovery is the screen you were in when you restored your nandroid backup.
It should say somewhere on there what the name of the recovery is.
Like, AmonRa, or Clockworkmod, or TWRP (doubt if it is TWRP), or Smelkus.

None of those sound familiar. I just did the power and vol down button and got to the bootloader screen, I think? From there I did a wipe then restore from Nandroid.

Do I have to unzip the files before they go on the card, or can they go on there zipped?

 

[Mikestony]

None of those sound familiar. I just did the power and vol down button and got to the bootloader screen, I think? From there I did a wipe then restore from Nandroid.

Do I have to unzip the files before they go on the card, or can they go on there zipped?

Your bootloader screen is a white screen that looks like this:

Your recovery screen should look something like this:

And leave the files zipped up...no need to unzip them.

 

[Renee1228]

Your bootloader screen is a white screen that looks like this:

Your recovery screen should look something like this:

And leave the files zipped up...no need to unzip them.

Oh, ok, it looked just like the second screen. It was black with green print, and had that same HTC logo on it.

 

[Mikestony]

Oh, ok, it looked just like the second screen. It was black with green print.

Nice!! At the bottom, do you remember what it said?
(Like in the pic it says, "Build...RA Supersonic"

 

[Renee1228]

Nice!! At the bottom, do you remember what it said?
(Like in the pic it says, "Build...RA Supersonic"

Ok, I'm not sure what happened. Yesterday it was the second screen, but now it's the white screen. Do I need to do something with recovery before I flash? I just cannot figure out what this phone did. (or rather what I did to it??)

Edit: It says Revolutionary at the top.

 

[Mikestony]

I don't remember. Do you need me to go there and find out? I haven't started the flash yet, so I can.

No, and the reason I ask, is if you have the CWM (Clockworkmod recovery), that recovery doesnt wipe very well and I would suggest you wipe things 3 times.
Is CWM bad to have at this point? No, but I would still wipe things at least 3 times. Don't worry about it for now...I was just curious.

We can change what recovery you have later if you desire.

 

[Renee1228]

No, and the reason I ask, is if you have the CWM (Clockworkmod recovery), that recovery doesnt wipe very well and I would suggest you wipe things 3 times.
Is CWM bad to have at this point? No, but I would still wipe things at least 3 times. Don't worry about it for now...I was just curious.

We can change what recovery you have later if you desire.

What is the Revolutionary thing? I don't see that in your pic above. It's highlighted bright pink on the screen. Ok, I'm proceeding with flashing. Cover me, I'm going in. LOL