Need help, Formatting c:\

Yeah, if you format you loose everything, but probably the problems as well!!

You can do a backup first and restore after you've formatted the p800, and hope the problems won't return.

If the problems return after the restore, you'll have to format again and start from scratch...

Loosing everything is what scares me too. But what I understand from you, is that when I do a restore after I format, everything like the OS, contact, applications, etc from the latest backup will be put back in place? So my p800 will function as when I bought it? Sorry for asking a lot of these questions. I am really upset with what's happening with my p800 lately. Thanks anyway.

Why not you bring your phone down to the nearest SE centre for a replacement?

Ok, doing a format (jog dial up * down down * down * - Option number 5 - Format internal disk) will erase every setting/customisation/3'rd party application/contacts etc. -Everything. Your P800 will be brought back to the way it was when you first bought it, reseted to the way it was when it came from the factory. The OS itselves will of course NOT be affected by a format. -It's not like formatting your PC where you have to reinstall the OS.

I've done a format myself, and after restoring my latest backup, everything except voice notes and some internet settings were restored perfectly.

When(if) you face some problems with your phone(wierd errors, crashing etc.), which will usually be caused by some corrupt file(s) in the system(which again is usually caused by messing around with a file manager or installing some bad 3'rd party application), doing a format is the way to go.

In the rare case that doing a format will not rectify your problem, a trip to a SE service centre will be needed -Where they will then reflash the whole firmware of your phone. But again, doing a format is often enough to fix any problem.

Why not you bring your phone down to the nearest SE centre for a replacement?

Thanks for the reply. I bought my P800 in Germany when I was there having a course 3 months ago. I am from Argentina and having it replaced is not easy. Otherwise you won't see my post here if I can do that now.

Ok, doing a format (jog dial up * down down * down * - Option number 5 - Format internal disk) will erase every setting/customisation/3'rd party application/contacts etc. -Everything. Your P800 will be brought back to the way it was when you first bought it, reseted to the way it was when it came from the factory. The OS itselves will of course NOT be affected by a format. -It's not like formatting your PC where you have to reinstall the OS.

Thanks for the info. I will try that but not now. I am still thinking. Going to the nearest SESC is an option. I am going to the US in 2 months time so I may just do that in the US.

Don't be scared by the format, it should not in any way harm your device.

Basically the P800 has two banks of memory, 16mb for the OS (a:\) and 16mb for the user (c:\) (there is another 16mb as memory but users cannot touch that). The bank with the OS cannot be edited in any way except by flashing the memory which is why people send phones for firmware upgrades. On a first ever boot, the P800 will be initialised from the a:/ drive and neccessary files will be installed to the c:\ drive. Providers may then add content at this point. Hence only getting about 12mb of the c:\ to use.

A master reset from control panel will just uninstall all apps, clear the contacts and basically remove any user added information since the last time the phone was formatted, which is generally just as you bought it. SO say you had a Orange branded handset, the master reset would reset it to its out of the box state, which is with all the Orange branding intact. This is sort of like the System restore service in Windows ME and XP.

A format will physically delete everything, including system files, in the c:\ drive and then when you turn the phone on again, the OS will be rebuilt from a:\ and neccessary files transferred to the c:\ drive. therefore any branding or provider added content will be lost (like Orange startup screens), as well as all user added data. This is like reinstalling windows onto an empty hardrive.

Therefore, as the a:\ drive is the authority drive, as long as the data in that store is not corrupt, which is out of your control and can only be fixed by flashing, a format cannot harm your device at all.

Bear in mind that once you do a format, a master reset will take your device back to that stage rather than to the out of box stage. So if you loose the Orange branding, you won't be able to get it back after a format.

Wow, that's what I call technical help. Guest, that was a very technical explanation I've ever seen in this forum with regards to formatting the internal disk. I admit I myself didn't know about this until now. I am sure there are lots of P800 users who can learn from this thread. Good stuff, guest. Keep it up. 😉

Well done nameless one. Thanks for sharing this information with us. You have indeed done a great research on this. Well done! 8)

[quote="Anonymous"]Don't be scared by the format, it should not in any way harm your device.

Basically the P800 has two banks of memory, 16mb for the OS (a:\) and 16mb for the user (c:\) (there is another 16mb as memory but users cannot touch that). The bank with the OS cannot be edited in any way except by flashing the memory which is why people send phones for firmware upgrades. On a first ever boot, the P800 will be initialised from the a:/ drive and neccessary files will be installed to the c:\ drive. Providers may then add content at this point. Hence only getting about 12mb of the c:\ to use.

A master reset from control panel will just uninstall all apps, clear the contacts and basically remove any user added information since the last time the phone was formatted, which is generally just as you bought it. SO say you had a Orange branded handset, the master reset would reset it to its out of the box state, which is with all the Orange branding intact. This is sort of like the System restore service in Windows ME and XP.

A format will physically delete everything, including system files, in the c:\ drive and then when you turn the phone on again, the OS will be rebuilt from a:\ and neccessary files transferred to the c:\ drive. therefore any branding or provider added content will be lost (like Orange startup screens), as well as all user added data. This is like reinstalling windows onto an empty hardrive.

Therefore, as the a:\ drive is the authority drive, as long as the data in that store is not corrupt, which is out of your control and can only be fixed by flashing, a format cannot harm your device at all.

Bear in mind that once you do a format, a master reset will take your device back to that stage rather than to the out of box stage. So if you loose the Orange branding, you won't be able to get it back after a format.[/quote]

I have to admit that I have really no idea about how the p800 filing system works. But with someone who really knows how the system works like Guest, I seem to have the confidence of formatting the c:\ drive of my p800 and hoping that it will solve my problem. I will post the result in few days time. Guest, you made my day. Thanks.

Edited by Edgedale: I have help you correct your typo error.

Sorry for the typo...(can't edit my post)

Guest, you made my day!

😉

Edgedale, thanks for the help on the typo error. Guest, I have decided to reformat my internal disk so I just did that 30 minutes ago. But I'm stuck with this message and it had been there since. No prompt or anything.

[code:1]

Information

The internal file system was found to be corrupted and will now be reformatted.[/code:1]

Should I wait until something comes up? How many hours to complete the reformat? My SIM card is in there and I would like to at least take it so I can use it with my T68i.

I got it. I pressed OK on the flip pad then the formatting started. Then it says that the unit needs to shutdown then restarted again. I'm back in to the basic configuration just like the first time I powered it up. 😊 I will let you know if my problem was resolved. Thanks for everyone who in one way of the other had contributed on this thread to help me. Much appreciated. Good people in this board.

doing a format (jog dial up * down down * down * - Option number 5 - Format internal disk) ?

How do i do a format? Do i do the above mention in filp close or open? Pls advice. I'm planing a format as after i remove the 3rd party, there is still some folder in the C:\

bryan30, this is how i did it. with flip closed, do the jog dial thing then select option 5. select yes when it ask you questions. then it will tell you that it will shutdown then you need to restart. select yes again. wait for a few seconds then power up the phone. after restarting it will come with a message as i have detailed in my previous post. press ok in the flip pad then it will start formatting. it will show you a progress bar similar to installing programs in windows and a message that you can not use the unit until the format is complete. after it completes the formatting, another message will appear that says "the device will now shutdown and need to be restarted." press again OK in the flip pad, then restart the device. it should say "P800 set up wizard, open flip to continue". that's it. good luck bryan30. and btw, my phone is working again just like before. i can use the camera, i can send sms, and all problems on this phone were all gone. 😊 😃

I can't seem to get the option... I'm using a virtual flip, must i use the flip?
after i push up do i push *? or i just push up, down down, up? Pls help

When pushing up or down on the jog dial, you should only move one notch at a time.

Thanks PPL!!!! 😊 YOu guys are the greatest!! Pls pm me anymore tricks 😊

jog dial up * down down * down * - Option number 5 - Format internal disk

I have tried this with flip closed, but nothing is happening, no Option no. 5 is coming on the screen. Actually nothing is coming on the screen. I have tried this several times, but I guess that I am doing something wrong since most of the people that are posting here seem to manage to get to this secret menu.

The post by Guest

Don't be scared by the format, it should not in any way harm your device.

Could somebody explain this to me very slow, like you would do to a (thirty) five year old kid? Remember, slowly 😊

Scroll the wheel (jog dial) on the left hand side one step upwards, then press the * button (bottom left on the phone keypad). Follow the procedure: jog dial up - * - jog dial down - jog dial down - * - jog dial down - *

Do this in flip closed mode, by either using the hardware or virtual flip with the phone in stand by.

Att: Raven

Thanks for your input. I have tried with the jog dial to do as you have written (and as many other has stated previously), but no help.

When I start out with the flip in the closed mode I have the wallpaper picture with only the option "call list" over the OK button. When I roll UP on notch with the jog dial the 5 icons shortcut appears (messenger, contacts, call list, calendar and application), the I press the * button and the blue field in the middle of the display appears (the one that shows the numbers you have pressed if you want to make a call with the flip closed), the I slooowly I turn DOWN ONE notch with the jog dial , then slooowly I do one more turn DOWN and press * again, another jug dial DOWN and ends with a final *. The blue field disappear and I can see the 5 shortcut icons for maybe two seconds and then also they disappear and NOTHING. The display turns back to the same as when I started with "call list" over the OK button, no secret menu. End of story.

Jeg ser at du er fra Norge Raven s� jeg lurte p� om du kanskje kunne tenke deg � sende meg en e-post direkte til meg for � hjelpe meg (bare hvis du ikke synes dette er en un�dig forstyrrelse i ditt privatliv). Jeg skj�nner ikke hvorfor dine instruksjoner ikke skulle fungere. Jeg kan da ikke v�re s� inn i h....te dum?

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Hei Halvard,

Det ser ut som om du gj�r alt riktig, s� jeg fatter ikke hvorfor du ikke kommer inn i service menyen.. Beklager men jeg aner virkelig ikke hvorfor det ikke funker p� din P800. P� min funker det hver gang, b�de n�r jeg bruker den fysiske flippen og den virtuelle. Jeg har lagt ved et "screenshot" i denne posten som viser hvordan menyen ser ut.

Hvilken programvare versjon har du i din P800?

hey all..

i guess you guys would know the most about my problem:
i turned on my device and i got this message:
[[Information]
The internal file system was found to be corrupted and will now be reformatted.]
and when i click [OK] it starts and stops at 98% everytime... does any one have any idea? or should i just go and take it to SonyEricsson Store?

Be sure that you have a healthy battery before you do a format. I'm not sure if that is causing your problem but a friend of mine did that once with a 25% battery and it stopped at 47% and he can't bring it back again even with a full charged battery. Just to let you know.