Soft/hard reset terminology

[mpshizzle]

Fair warning: this thread is just one giant

What I'm about to say is of pretty low importance

There are 2 kinds of resets that people do on their Rivians. Often called soft resets and hard resets.

In the world of tech typically a soft reset is "graceful". It's where you use the device's interface to select the "reboot" option. A hard reset on the other hand is typically what you use when a device becomes unresponsive and is not capable of going through its shutdown routine on its own. Think pushing and holding the power button on your laptop until the screen goes black or pulling the power cord.

In the case of Rivian neither type of reset is a "hard" reset. One reboots just the infotainment screen, the other reboots all the other modules too.

In the owners manual they're referred to as "software" and "vehicle" reboots:

We don't really have a way to do a "hard reset". In both instances a graceful shutdown is triggered. A true hard reset would likely require cutting off power to the 12v system.

So there you go. That's my rant on soft/hard reset.

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[COdogman]

 

[Donald Stanfield]

The mobile tech has told me this exact thing. He said they are the ones who do the actual hard reset by disconnecting the battery.

 

[godfodder0901]

In the owners manual they're referred to as "software" and "vehicle" reboots:

I guess, based on the nature of the thread, it's OK to point out that they are actually referred to as 'restarts' vice 'reboots'...

 

[SwampNut]

Hard reset has always meant restoring factory defaults. The usage on Rivian forums and subreddits has always been wrong and stupid.

 

[PappaBolt]

We could debate the merits of an on/off button. But is “off” in the modern tech world ever really off?

 

[SwampNut]

We've had soft off for decades.

 

[mpshizzle]

Hard reset has always meant restoring factory defaults. The usage on Rivian forums and subreddits has always been wrong and stupid.

Another definition that has always existed.

Agreed, always got on my nerves just a little. Thus this post haha

 

[VandalSibs]

I guess, based on the nature of the thread, it's OK to point out that they are actually referred to as 'restarts' vice 'reboots'...

My IT brain hates when "reset" and "restart" get conflated. Resets nuke user data. Restarts don't.

 

[SwampNut]

I was just installing some smart bulbs. One failed, and the app went through the standard process and language we've used outside of Rivian people.

Step 1, "soft reset" which just reboots it.

Step 2, "hard reset" which factory-clears it, as new, nothing remembered.

My IT brain hates when "reset" and "restart" get conflated. Resets nuke user data. Restarts don't.

What does this do?

 

[VandalSibs]

I was just installing some smart bulbs. One failed, and the app went through the standard process and language we've used outside of Rivian people.

Step 1, "soft reset" which just reboots it.

Step 2, "hard reset" which factory-clears it, as new, nothing remembered.



What does this do?

That is one ancient looking tower! Making me flash back to high school...

I was saying that my IT brain doesn't like conflating the two. I didn't say it was standard. I just hate inconsistency.

 

[SamDoe1]

Agreed. I had issues with my truck reading my PaaK and fob so the service center did a true hard reset by disconnecting the battery for 24hrs and fully resetting all the modules in the truck. No number of soft resets was doing anything.

 

[SwampNut]

did a true hard reset

So when you got the truck back, everything was set to defaults? Nothing was remembered, such as seats, preferences, nothing?

 

[SamDoe1]

So when you got the truck back, everything was set to defaults? Nothing was remembered, such as seats, preferences, nothing?

Everything was remembered. A hard reset doesn't need to be reset to factory defaults...just that power was removed and volatile memory was purged.

 

[SwampNut]

A hard reset doesn't need to be reset to factory defaults

That's just simply what it means, which is the entire topic here. You and other Rivian people are using the wrong terms.


A "hard reset" is a process on an electronic device that restores it to its original factory settings, essentially erasing all user data, applications, and settings, similar to formatting a hard drive on a computer; it's often used to fix device issues or prepare a device for sale by removing personal information.

Key points about a hard reset:

• Data deletion:
  The most important aspect of a hard reset is that it completely wipes out all user data stored on the device.
  
  
• Factory settings:
  After a hard reset, the device will return to the state it was in when it was first purchased, with all original settings and applications.
  
  
• • Fixing issues:
    A hard reset can sometimes be used to troubleshoot and fix certain problems with a device, like software glitches or freezing issues.
    
  • Selling a device:
    Before selling a device, a hard reset is usually done to remove all personal information from the device.

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