A TRUE wipe

[Hawker]

Going on from my Full wipe thread I was wondering what a Wipe data/Factory reset actually deletes from the device?

I would imagine it deletes /data, but does it remove anything else? Does it clear the root (/) filesystem full stop, or a select few folders?

I would also imagine that flashing a ROM would at least remove the /system folder and possibly a few others in the root prior to installation?

So this leaves potentially lots of untouched folders that will remain lurking indefinitely.

What is safe to remove?

For example, on my root partition I have the following folders:
acct
app-cache
cache (gets wiped in a Wipe Cache process)
config
customkernel
d
data (wiped in factory reset? The dalvik-cache folder is stored within here)
dbdata
dev
efs (very important!!!)
etc (symbolic link to /system/etc)
lib
misc
mnt
proc
res
sbin
sys
system
tmp
vendor

as well as a few files (build.prop and a few *.rc files)

And as for the /sdcard partition, I have LOADS of folders that remain untouched by a factory reset. Does the *# method wipe any these, or any other folders in the root filesystem that a factory reset does not? I think most of these have been lurking around since day 1 and probably a good few could be removed.

Does anyone know what gets wiped during a clear data/factory reset/ROM install?
What is safe/unsafe to remove from the / and /sdcard partitions?

 

[Sydney99]

Going on from my Full wipe thread I was wondering what a Wipe data/Factory reset physically deletes from the device

I would imagine it deletes /data, but does it remove anything else? Does it clear the root (/) filesystem full stop, or a select few folders?

I would also imagine that flashing a ROM would at least remove the /system folder and possibly a few others in the root prior to installation

So this leaves potentially lots of untouched folders that will remain lurking indefinitely.

What is safe to remove?

For example, on my root partition I have the following folders:
acct
app-cache
cache (gets wiped in a Wipe Cache process)
config
customkernel
d
data (wiped in factory reset?)
dbdata
dev
efs (very important!!!)
etc (symbolic link to /system/etc)
lib
misc
mnt
proc
res
sbin
sys
system
tmp
vendor

as well as a few files (build.prop and a few *.rc files)

And as for the /sdcard partition, I have LOADS of folders that remain untouched by a factory reset. Does the *# method wipe these? I think most of these have been lurking around since day 1 and probably a good few could be removed.

Does anyone know what gets wiped, and what is safe/unsafe to remove from the / and /sdcard partitions?

Another very helpful guide. You and ironass have really gone the extra mile today. Hope slug is busy adding to the sticky.....