Formatting or Master resetting guidelines for Nokia N8

This time it’s a bit important to know about formatting Nokia N8 aka master resetting.

A simple caution to take in mind is that formatting the Nokia N8 will remove all the data from Mass memory as well as from the Phone’s memory.

This is when you normally have been doing with other Nokia devices using the following code

Method 1 – *#7370#

This time it has been given by simply into Nokia N8 settings. You can just navigate as follows.

Method 2 – Settings > Phone > Phone Management > Factory Setting > “Delete data and restore”

This is not the normal reset function which has been used to reset the settings in earlier Nokia devices. However the function to simply restore to factory settings is also there as Settings > Phone > Phone Management > Factory Setting > “Restore”. If you want just to reset the device to factory settings, this is the function you would need to use. And if you are about to format or master reset the device, the methods quoted above are the options you would need to go with. Choose any of the method, it will do the same. But again, before attempting to format your Nokia N8, you are advised to take a full backup of your Nokia N8 if there is some thing important or you don’t want to lose in your Phone Memory or in the Mass memory. Because formatting the device will permanently erase all user data and settings as well as add-on applications and operator specific settings.

You might want to read as stated by Nokia in Nokia N8’s support/faq page at http://www.nokia-asia.com/support/product-support/nokia-n8-00/faq#07

Formatting the device will permanently erase all user data and settings as well as add-on applications and operator specific settings.

If you have made a backup of the device data, the data can be restored from the backup after formatting but some add-on applications can have restrictions that they are not restored from the backup.

If you use formatting to repair faulty behaviour of the device, restoring the backed-up data files may restore the unwanted behaviour as well. In that case, a partial restore may resolve the situation.

The contents of the SIM card and memory card (MMC) are not erased during formatting. Note, however, that in some device models (e.g. Nokia N8-00) the mass memory is formatted in this situation and it is therefore important that you have backed up all the data from your mass memory (E: mass memory) before resetting the device.

So if you are now sure that you want to format the device with any of the methods quoted above, then you should read it all before you format your device.

As it’s not the simple restore function so it might take a few minutes to format data/settings and restore to factory defaults. You will see a white screen while the formatting will be going on. Just give it a time and wait for the Shaking Hands splash screen. Once the device is restarted, the format and restore to factory defaults process would have been completed and you can proceed as follows.

The first thing you should do after formatting is to restore the data/content and any thing from the backup you made before formatting. The data will actually be restored fully but you will lose some apps as well as some of them will be restored back on your Nokia N8.

1. Also from the preinstalled apps, the Ovi Store Application will be no more on your Nokia N8 after formatting, but don’t panic just hit the store bookmark it will download the Ovi Store App itself.
2. You will also have the Social Networks widget deleted from the phone. You will need to download the app and install it again. But you might not find this app in Ovi Store and might need to download it manually from the following link. Download Social Network App from http://nmota.messaging.nokia.com/clients/Social_1_2_update.sisx, install it and restart the phone if asked.
3. The apps I couldn’t find were the WebTVs add-on apps. I found only the CNN Videos App in App store which seems to be the same as I had before formatting but I didn’t find any other add-on app for WebTV including the Nat Geo videos. I am still not able find these apps from Ovi Store.

I didn’t notice any thing else lost from the device. If you did, please mention.