Why does my device keep trying to set itself up with my number?

[Amixon6]

I have reset my old Droid Bionic back to factory settings. When you bring up the phone it wants to attach a phone number for activation. It still has my number even though I reset it and have my number attached to a new phone. Is that okay when I sell it to someone? Is it ready for them to activate with their phone number?

[Ann154 · Accepted solution]

Have you removed the SIM card from the Bionic? You should before selling it and it will also remove its request for activation and a phone number to attach to.

[Amixon6]

Thank you. I think I removed it and put it in my new phone, but I will check to see.

[sdsteve]

Removing the SIM card does remove the phone number. However, I just did the hard reset by BOTH methods described at Hard Reset - DROID BIONIC by Motorola, and my phone STILL had photos and other date left on it. This was with the microSD memory card already removed, so I'm not talking about that external memory, I'm talking about internal.

Do not reply and tell me I did something wrong and try to explain anything to me. I am not mistaken. I am posting this as a warning to others NOT to trust either of those reset methods to work - they don't. At least not on my Bionic, which was at Android 2.2 I think, whatever the most current version was on 4/17/2014.

Just for completeness, here are the methods I used, copied as pasted from that link as it is today:

Preferred method

1. From a home screen, select Apps ( located at the bottom).
2. From the All Apps tab, select Settings.
3. Select Privacy.
4. Select Factory data reset.
5. Select Reset phone.
   If presented, enter the current passcode or draw the unlock pattern then select Next.
6. Select Erase everything.
   Allow several minutes for the factory data reset and reboot processes to complete.
7. Initial Activation and Setup.

Top

Alternate method

1. Ensure the device is powered off.
   1. Press and hold the Power button (located on the top edge).
   2. Select Power off.
   3. Select OK.
   If the device doesn't respond to input, remove and replace the battery.
2. Simultaneously press and hold the Volume Up/Down keys the press the Power button until the Boot Mode Selection Menu appears then release all keys / buttons.
3. Press the Volume Down key to select Recovery then press the Volume Up key.
4. From the Droid triage screen:
   1. Press and hold Volume down.
   2. Press and release Volume up.
   3. Release Volume down.
5. Select wipe data/factory reset.
   Utilize the volume keys to highlight and the Power button to select.
6. Select Yes -- delete all user data.
   Allow several seconds for the factory data reset process to complete.
7. Select reboot system now.
   Allow several minutes for the reboot process to complete.
8. Initial Activation and Setup.

[sdsteve]

Correction: I was at Android version 4.1.2 when I did these hard resets that didn't remove all data.