Quick question about what happens when you do an iPod factory restore...

[AhrenBa]

Hey guys,

When you do a factory restore of an iPod, I know it erases the media, settings, etc, but does it delete all the files/folders you added to the iPod since you originally got it?

The reason I ask is because I restored my touch the other day, and I logged into it via SSH and noticed that some of my third party app files/folders were still there. I don't think the ones in /Applications were, but some of the ones that put files in other folders were.

Is this right? If so, is there a way to do a COMPLETE restore/erase?

[BlackWolf]

mh I never checked it but as far as I know both partitions of the ipod hard drive get erased. I don't know how exactly all this works. are you sure those files weren't just system files the ipod creates itself?

but it could be. I don't think anything should be left on the system partition, since a restore does the same as a firm up/downgrade, but if the ipod only deletes some files on the second partition (preferences files and the contens of the media folder) it could be possible that files you put somewhere in /private are still there after you restore.

in the end, you shouldn't just leave files on your ipod you don't need, so ...

[AhrenBa]

mh I never checked it but as far as I know both partitions of the ipod hard drive get erased. I don't know how exactly all this works. are you sure those files weren't just system files the ipod creates itself?

but it could be. I don't think anything should be left on the system partition, since a restore does the same as a firm up/downgrade, but if the ipod only deletes some files on the second partition (preferences files and the contens of the media folder) it could be possible that files you put somewhere in /private are still there after you restore.

in the end, you shouldn't just leave files on your ipod you don't need, so ...

Yeah, I believe all the files in the OS partition were erased, but some applications add files to the media partition because it has more space available. I think this is where the files were left behind.

I would go in and manually erase all these, but I have no clue how to do so, because they are scattered all around in different folders.....

What were to happen if I deleted every single folder via SSH on the iPod and then did a restore? Would that F it up? Like are you supposed to leave the files on there?

[BlackWolf]

Yeah, I believe all the files in the OS partition were erased, but some applications add files to the media partition because it has more space available. I think this is where the files were left behind.

I would go in and manually erase all these, but I have no clue how to do so, because they are scattered all around in different folders.....

What were to happen if I deleted every single folder via SSH on the iPod and then did a restore? Would that F it up? Like are you supposed to leave the files on there?

Let's just say I wouldn't try it out ;-) there are some folders the ipod needs for its own folder structure, if you delete those it could cause serious problems.

as far as I know, most apps write their stuff in /private/var/mobile/Library
so if you have any folders from apps you deleted, you can safely delete them. also, if you really want to catch every unnecessary file, go to /private/var/mobile/Library/Preferences and look for pref-files you don't need anymore (I would not delete anything startng with com.apple. in there)

emulators and some other apps like iPhysics might create a folder in /private/var/mobile/Media, so you might want to checkt that too.

that should cover most things, I wouldn't delete anything besides those.

(edit: I was presuming you are on 1.1.3. if you are on 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 the things are stored in /private/var/root instead of /private/var/mobile. but even on 1.1.3 you might want to check /private/var/root)

[DerekVOF]

I believe if you do an emergency/force restore that it should clear everything on both partitions if I remember correctly.

[bigmutt]

what is an SSH ?

[daihard]

what is an SSH ?
Simply put, SSH is a shell by which to access an operating system. More broadly, the posters above are referring to the third-party application that lets you access the system portion of the iPod touch via CLI (command-line interface). It is not possible unless you jailbreak your iPod touch.

[DerekVOF]

SSH not only allows for command line access, but also secure FTP (SFTP) for transfers of programs, documents, etc. up to the iPod Touch. Jailbreak required like daihard said.