Restore vs. "Erase and Reset"?

Question

Level 3

521 points

Restore vs. "Erase and Reset"?

Hi there. Can someone please explain to me the difference(s) between the restore function in iTunes vs. the "erase and reset" function on the phone under settings/general/reset?

From what I can tell the restore function requires downloading the latest firmware from Apple in iTunes whereas the erase and reset takes approximately 1 hour to erase the phone (not sure why 1 hour for an 8 GB phone with no hard drive) and never requires downloading any software.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

-Keith

MacBook Pro 15.4" 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.4), 200 GB HDD 7200 RPM, 2 GB RAM

Posted on Jul 22, 2008 11:51 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 22, 2008 12:13 PM in response to Keithos

The erase will do a clean wipe of the iPhone and pretty much reset it back to factory new condition except that it keeps the current version of the firmware.

A restore from iTunes will bring it back to the most current version of the firmware. It does not do a clean wipe though.

Glor

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Answer 2

Jul 22, 2008 12:39 PM in response to Keithos

The erase and reset feature was designed to protect you when you want to sell it. That way ALL of your personal information is gone.

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Answer 3

Keithos Author

Level 3

521 points

Jul 22, 2008 1:08 PM in response to Glorfindeal

So if one was going to format their computer and wanted to have both their computer and iphone in "brand new"/"out of the box" condition how would they do that?

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Answer 4

Jul 22, 2008 1:13 PM in response to Keithos

iPhone select erase and reset; computer reinstall windows selecting the thorough format option.

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Answer 5

Jul 22, 2008 1:21 PM in response to Keithos

iPhone: erase and reset.

Mac: Clean install. If you want be more safe, use disk utilitiy to do a zero out data or a 7 pass erase or a 35 pass erase.

glor

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Answer 6

MobileDev

Level 3

565 points

Jul 22, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Revelation

The erase and reset feature was designed to protect you when you want to sell it. That way ALL of your personal information is gone.

Unfortunately, at least with the original OS versions, it's still there, if you have the right tools to look for it.

People have even gotten personal info from iPhones bought as refurbs.

Just Google around for things like "iPhone personal data not erased". For example, [click here|http://www.iphonealley.com/news/how-to-properly-erase-an-iphone-guide-post ed].

There are websites with procedures to help you really erase everything.

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Answer 7

Keithos Author

Level 3

521 points

Jul 22, 2008 1:25 PM in response to Glorfindeal

Glor:

Okay. So there is no need for now to ever do a restore with my 3G iPhone since 2.0 is the latest and greatest anyway, correct?

As an aside, I've had very bad luck with Leopard and Disk Utility (off the Leopard DVD) when I try to zero out data... I've reproduced on three separate machines errors while trying to zero out disks... Never had that in 10.4 or lower.

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Answer 8

Jul 22, 2008 1:57 PM in response to Keithos

You may one day have to do a restore on your iPhone. It is possible for the iPhones OS to crap out on you, in that case, a restore maybe your only option.

I've never had issues with doing zero out, except it take a while. Could have been a problem with the drive itself.

Glor

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Answer 9

Keithos Author

Level 3

521 points

Jul 22, 2008 1:58 PM in response to Glorfindeal

No... It was on 3 separate macs and I ran drive genius on all of them and the drives were fine.

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