Home Screen Settings - Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]

Hi folks, just wiping my phone to try cyanogen's latest 2.1 rom, and am experimenting with alternative backup solutions. Think I've sorted out my apps (no, I'm not using apps2sd because I don't need it, have a mytouch phone), but am wondering where the settings for my home screen are stored.
This is Linux, (after a fashion) and it should be easy enough to copy the files (or file) where this information is stored, and restore it again after my wipe. I'm not interested in paying for a backup app, I want to run it myself. I'm using adb from the command line, connected to my phone. I don't need a walk-through, just the simple folder/file where these settings are stored.
Currently I'm running home++, and would appreciate any help in the right direction. Cheers,
Tillum

Related

Backup file cooked into ROM as OEM package?

Is there a way to turn a backup file into an OEM package that is automatically set up as part of the ROM?
For example, say I cook my own ROM that has nothing at all. I then install all my apps, enter all my serials and registration info into all the apps, get my WiFi set up with all my WEP keys, all my favorites, all that kind of stuff. Then I make a backup using some backup program.
Can I then take that backup file and cook it into the naked ROM so that all of my serials, settings, etc are all set up after every hard reset?
I know I could just put it on the storage card and restore after every hard reset, but I would rather have it cooked right into the ROM if this is possible.
If this is possible, what would be a good backup program to make the backup file with?
i was thinking that when the device is doing the customization or whatever you call it after the hard reset, it could be restoring from the backup file.
Has anyone done anything like this yet?
Even I am wishing that there is such a way.... You put in words what many of us noobs wish for.
I'm sure there is a way to do it. Hopefully someone will help us out.
I am by no means an expert, but I would guess you need to somehow cook the backup file into the ROM, and then edit the autoexec.bat file to run that backup file.
So what we really need to know is, which backup program makes the best backups, that restore without any user input. Something that all you do is tap it and it does the rest from there. And it would need to restore all installed apps, all settings, all internet favorites, all registration info for all the apps, all calendar, contacts, and tasks, and any registry tweaks.
If we can locate the backup program that does this with minimal user input we have passed step one. Step 2 would be to cook the self executing backup file into the ROM, and step 3 would be making the ROM run the self executing backup after hard reboot, during the automated customizations. And if you soft reset the device before it runs customizations, I would want it to start running the customizations immediately after the reboot (like the newer stock ROMs do).
That way if my phone gets stolen I can use Sprite Terminator to locate it, and whoever steals it will have to flash a new ROM to get rid of Sprite Terminator.
I would not want this backup file listed anywhere on the device either. For example, if you look in "Programs" (or anywhere else) you don't see it. That may or may not be the hardest part- I don't have any idea if it's even possible. But it's not an issue until we get the other steps done.
life would be much easier...I hope someone can make this real
Any UC compliant ROM can do that for you. They are meant to autorun any file which you users want to run after ROM upgrade. Good luck, check sleuths thread for more info.

Sprite backup question-please help

Here is my situation:
I had a HTC Touch Pro T7272. A few days ago I lost this phone but ordered a new one.
I ordered the same phone, but it may have a different ROM/Radio version
For the phone I lost, I have a full backup, from 3 weeks ago. I also have the updated synced files from the day before I lost this phone. I had done a lot of tweaks and added many programs, so it would be best to restore the full backup to the new phone.
1. When the new TP arrives, should I load the Sprite backup (an .exe file) onto the new phone and run that?
2. Then sync to my desktop to get the latest file updates?
3. Do I have to load sprite backup onto the Touch Pro first? Or can I just load the backup file and double clip it to execute Restore?
4. I have .net 3.5 loaded on my desktop. Do I need to load this onto the TP BEFORE I do the Restore?
Any advice here would be greatly appreciated.
Joe_PDA said:
Here is my situation:
I had a HTC Touch Pro T7272. A few days ago I lost this phone but ordered a new one.
I ordered the same phone, but it may have a different ROM/Radio version
For the phone I lost, I have a full backup, from 3 weeks ago. I also have the updated synced files from the day before I lost this phone. I had done a lot of tweaks and added many programs, so it would be best to restore the full backup to the new phone.
1. When the new TP arrives, should I load the Sprite backup (an .exe file) onto the new phone and run that?
2. Then sync to my desktop to get the latest file updates?
3. Do I have to load sprite backup onto the Touch Pro first? Or can I just load the backup file and double clip it to execute Restore?
4. I have .net 3.5 loaded on my desktop. Do I need to load this onto the TP BEFORE I do the Restore?
Any advice here would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1- You can - although it's not necessary if the backup file you created is self-restoring.
2- Yes after you've run your backup.
3- No, see my #1
4- No, unless the last backup you have doesn't include it.
Thanks for your advise C. My head is still spinning from losing my phone.
If the restore somehow messes with the phone (let's say it's got a new ROM and slightly different registry), you can always then backup your PIM data with PIM backup 2.8, then do a hard reset and restore the PIM data. If you want to get fancier, you can look through your registry and find the settings that you'd like to keep, and export those reg keys to your sd card, then import them back after a hard reset.
Since the backup file is an .exe file, can I run it from the micro sd card in the phone, or does it have to be run from the desktop?
I am sorry to tell you but, after updating to the new ROM, I tried to restore a backup taken with the old ROM and I had major problems, one of them being that the screen would not rotate when sliding out the keyboard, so I ended up hard-resetting and reinstalling all applications one by one....
Wouldn't you be better off restoring using the same ROM (as used in the backup), THEN upgrading ROMs?
This reminds me though, I don't know which ROM I had in my lost phone. Therefore I might have to reload eveerything one by one...ERRRR
Hi,
I recently did that after upgrading the ROM. I can say it works, but I'm not sure, if there are any files from the new ROM that have been replaced by old versions. You'd probably be better off just restoring your PIM data only...
CU,
Cactus World
Now I am all messed up. Please help.
1. I just received my replacement TP phone. I loaded the backup .exe file onto it but it would not execute. Error message says missing a component.
How to I get sprite backup working again? It is on my desktop.
2. I need to load .net 3.5 onto this device. I can't remember where I got it from or how I loaded it. Can someone remind me. It is actuially already loaded on my desktop.
3. I need to reload the latest version of Google Maps. Does anyone have the link?
Thanks for the help. My head is about to explode trying to get this new phone back to the previous state.
Okay, I figured out 1 & 2.
Does anyone have a link to the newest Google maps?
Does anyone know the registry setting to remove an icon on the email tabs? After doing the restore, I have 2 icons that were linked to email accounts, that no longer work. How can I get rid of them?
My last phone had "Programs" in the bottom right hand corner of Today screen. This one has "Contacts" I prefer "Programs" Does anyone know how to fix this?
I apologize if I suck at describing some of these issues. I am still beating myself up for losing the phone.
http://www.google.com/gmm/GoogleMaps.CAB
And try this for fixing those orphaned accounts - worked for me:
http://nicolasmauri.blogspot.com/2007/01/wm5-utility-recover-your-lost-mail.html
hyachts, thanks for the help. this software from Nicolas Mauri might work, but I couldn't tell from his blog. You see I have 1 or 2 extra email icons that were left from a restore. Will this program get rid of those email icons? Also, it is in .rar format so I can't use on my comouters here. I have to try my office. Is there a .cab file in the .rar file?
One more request. Does anyone know how to add the "programs" choice instead of "contacts" on the home screen (lower right hand corner)

Nandroid Images For The Emulator

While reading this thread on how to run different images in the emulator, I came across ggolemg's directions on how to accomplish this:
Code:
thats the easy part
do a nandroid backup
copy the sdk/platforms/android-1.5
to something like sdk/platforms/MINE
go to your AVD directory AVD/whateveryoucalledit
open up the config.ini
edit:
skin.name=HVGA
skin.path=platforms\MINE\skins\HVGA
image.sysdir.1=platforms\MINE\images\
go to your nandroid backup on your sdcard
copy system.img
go to sdk/platforms/MINE/images/
and paste the nandroid system.img
now run your AVD and it will boot that system.img
im running CyanogenMod rom right now in the emulator
hint* number pad 7 with numlock off in the emulator is how to open up the hardware keyboard
This worked perfectly for me. However, I'd like to mess around with all the ROMs out there, but short of installing them and doing a nandroid (thereby making the testing pointless) or doing the more complicated method of pulling them off via the mkfs.yaffs2 tool, there isn't an easy way to do this.
So I was wondering if you guys would be interested in putting up clean nandroid backups of some builds for testing in the emulator?
No one? Does anyone think this is a good idea?
i make nandroids of every build i try, but they are on my external drive(about 300 miles away for the next week) i can post the system and boot next week for a few older roms, but lately i've been using dude builds only.
it seems like a decent idea but i would think the best way for an individual to do this would be to use the mkfs.yaffs2 tools, wouldn't you rather see what it is like on the actual phone????
Yes, to an extent. I imagine the rom would run faster in the emulator, but it's still fun to check it out.
Maybe I'm not entirely familiar with the yaffs tool.
So I tried to use this method to load my Nandroid' Backup from before I installed CyanogenMod on my g1. Only problem is when I boot the Nandroid System Image on the emulator, it starts out at the t-mobile/google sign-in screen. The phone/emulator won't let you get past that until you sign in with google, but since the emulator has no data connection, I can't sign-in. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave-O
im trying to do this with the new 2.1 android and my first nandroid backup and it dont work.. anyone know how to do it right please??
im using a nandroid system.img of my nexus one... i found this thread on google
I've tried this method and never got a system.img to boot in the emulator. It just froze at the bootloader screen (no logcat either). Is that what happened with yours?
Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
the same happens with me... :S i need it
If someone knows a solution I'd like to know. Does it involve building a separate kernel/boot.img for the emulator... or maybe just some changes in build.prop... both? I dont know.
Sent from my Droid using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Sorry for pulling the old post but no one seemed to continue figuring this out.
As for the system.img pulled from Nandroid, it should work.
I think you need to sign the image file.
Any one knows how to do this?
See links below, the guy who wrote that made the system.img work, I've tried it and it works.
http://android.modaco.com/content/general-discussion/289928/testing-getting-an-emulator-up-and-running-a-full-rom-with-the-market-etc/

[Q] new sensation user, few concerns/questions.

hi i've upgraded my hd 2 to the sensation( i had windows on it). and it's a god send!
i've got a few concerns/ questions
1. biggest concern - backups.. i have a stock tmobile usa sensation.. what is the best app/ way to do a COMPLETE image (all settings/info, programs, pics, messages etc..)is there away? i use acronis for all my pc's which is just awesome. anything happens i plug in external drive, and everything is back to date.
2. rooting, i hear people talking about it... what are the benefits? if one roots there sensation do they have to start over? meaning a image would not work?
3. apps. i 've bought a bunch of apps, and installed a bunch of free ones from the phone. how do i back all these up? and save them?
4. EMAIL notifications, i have 2 email accounts, personal, and business, anyone know of way to set customized ringtones/sounds for each INDIVIDUAL email account?
5. how do i access the phone files so i can add my own notification sounds, instead of the factory ones? i'm not finding an option to look on SDcard and use my own for notifications.
Thanks for any help with these concerns.
your apps are bundled to your google account. There's a list of what you bought/downloaded already. If you wipe your phone, you can simply put them back through web.
good to know, ty!
Out of curiosity, is there away for me to get the installers as well? so i can back them all up on my server?
Anyone else have info on other questions please?
1. You can Temp. root right now( which means you will lose root if you reboot), perm root is not available yet (Hopefully soon), so temp root and use the application from the market call titanium back-up , you can back up all system, apps and personal settings to your SD card. As far as backing up pics they are already on your SD card so if you want to back those up back them up to you personal computer.
Link to Temp-root
2. Rooting benefits are removing bloatware apps installed by your service provider that you don't want, use custom Roms and root apps, increase speed and performance and battery life etc.....
Cons of rooting- you could seriously Eff up your phone if you don't know what your doing, void warranty etc....
3. See answer #1 also you can back them all up on your Google account.
4. As far as i know there is no way to set up different notification sounds for two separate email account, only one choice for notification sounds.
5.Install a file manager from the market like "Astro" to explore your sdcard, with temp root or perm root you can use "Root Explorer" and browse and change system files as well as the SD card files.
If you want to add notification sounds you can also select the personalize button on the far right side of the Rosie launcher and then select "Sound Set" and download new notification sounds.
Add ringtones check out this link....http://maketecheasier.com/add-custom-alarm-ringtone-in-android/2010/01/08
Hope this helps you with some of your questions.....
Thanks joemm
thanks for detailed info... one question on rooting if i may. Can i root without loosing everything i've done? meaning root it, download, use titanium. and know i'll be good to go.
Thanks
Yes, temp rooting will not touch any of your settings or apps. So temp root then back up with titanium backup, it will even back up each apps settings too, like a certain level your on in a game or saved search results etc...
thanks alot.. will attempt this tonight!
How do you back up your apps to your google account?
xladeeda said:
How do you back up your apps to your google account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's automatic.
joemm im going to tackle this tomm. will ES file explorer work? or will i need to use root explorer to accomplish my goals? i love ES file explorer because it gives me access to my network files.
thanks in advance!
xtacybyme said:
joemm im going to tackle this tomm. will ES file explorer work? or will i need to use root explorer to accomplish my goals? i love ES file explorer because it gives me access to my network files.
thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ES will work just the same....
No need to temp root now....perm root is out.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA Premium App
i think this may beyond me. i tried the temp. i think it's the temp.. steps i took
downloaded rw sensation from post #1 on link you provided.
unzipped
installed htc sense on win 7 machine double clicked Run_ME_Fr3vo_ROOT
ran a bunch of commands. once done it said hit any key to continue
then i went to phone transferred superuser file to storage card /installs, installed that. then went to superuser and it says no apps.
so not sure how to uninstall the default apps.
in Es file explorer i did notice i can see the system files now.
questions. may i ask how i permanently root this thing? (all i want to do is remove stock apps, and do backups. i 'm to old for the custom rom stuff. and to be honest don't have the time to be testing/doing custom roms anymore.)
after i accomplish the permanent root, what steps are needed to remove stock apps? (special programs, commands?)
and then what steps are needed to just do a backup, and finally enjoy this phone with out worries of lockups, crashes, etc...
and thirdly what are the steps to get all apps off my htc sensation onto my main machine so i have them backed up.
Sorry for not understanding fully. ive spent 4 days setting this up to my liking, buying what i need. and just want to be able to backup everything, and not worry bout it. like i can with all my pc's via Acronis image.
thanks for any clarification.
still yet to get my sensation permanently rooted... is this the most recent guide that will work with my Tmobile USA sensation?
post 1 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300
I don't brick my phone.
thanks
xtacybyme said:
still yet to get my sensation permanently rooted... is this the most recent guide that will work with my Tmobile USA sensation?
post 1 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300
I don't brick my phone.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, yep. That's the one.
Just read each point completely before you start.
It's really much easier than it appears.
Good luck.
well i decided to try it. and i think i screwed up
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300
Grrrr. im getting to old for this stuff, (not on pc's as much anymore) when i was younger this stuff came easy to me.
i downloaded first file (revolutionary) did the steps. OF COURSE IT HANGS ON MINE)
so i went to post 2. it wasnt detailed for lamens.. so i uninstalled htc sync on phone and windows 7 32 bit. then i went to this post unrar'd files. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1161769&highlight=htc+driver and have no clue what to do next...
so now i sit, with those files on my windows 7 machine, no htc sync on phone or windows 7 machine. ideas please?
yes i read this post... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=16143324&postcount=11
but they dont tell me where i should make temp folder (on phone or pc?)
who wants to make a quick $20.00?
If not enough let me know amount. i'm done with this. i just want to backup my phone in it's entirety, i want to backup my apps to HDD location of my choice on my pc. I want to do an image (just like an acronis, or norton ghost) of my sensation to HDD location of my choice on my pc. Like i use to be able to do with my SPV's, HD2's.
Pm Me. and let's get this done!
Thank you!

Regarding the state of data backups in Android

Hi Everyone,
I am new to XDA, and I am really proud to be in this community.
I have created this thread to discuss about the current situation with backup of data in Android, as I did not find any thread which covers my specific concerns. This is meant to be part discussion, part rant, part guide, etc.
Now to the actual scenario. I have a Moto G (2014), which used to run stock unrooted 6.0, and I used a combination of Helium (free version), manual file backup, and import/export options from various apps to back up my data. I recently flashed the official 14.1 Lineage OS ROM with GApps Pico and Lineage OS su package to root. All went well, and I could restore the backups as planned. SMS restore did not work, but I did not bother much about that.
Now, if I try to use Helium to backup my apps, it shows me an error. No detail is provided about the error. On digging further into the ADB backup feature (which is the underlying technique for Helium), I found that I can not even backup the data to the .ab files everyone talks about. I came by a blog which advised creating the backup using .adb extension, and it worked for one or two apps. In all probability, .ab has been replaced by .adb files - experts can suggest, I can not find anything online.
Now came the second twist. I wanted to backup a game which does not support cloud save. And it apparently saves the app data in /data/app, which ADB backup probably does not support - again, experts can enlighten me on this. I noticed that apps saving in /data/data were getting backed up, while the /data/app one was not.
Now the question may arise that since I am rooted, I can easily access these backups through file system or Titanium, without the need for ADB backup. But I am really worried about a scenario when I have to buy a new phone (the current one is already running for 3+ years). I am really wary of rooting a new phone and losing the warranty in the process. In such cases, root based backups can not be restored to the new phone. To validate this, I tried to restore a specific save file to my unrooted tablet, but could not get in even using ADB shell (this may seem foolish, but I thought since ADB backup can access /data/data, may be ADB shell too can access the protected partitions).
So, after this long exercise, my finding is that, unless we are rooted, better forget the backup. It makes me very uneasy to know that I can not carry over my progress in a game to another phone because the developer does not support cloud save (even cloud saves are not full proof, but I will rant about that some other day).
Is there something I am missing? Or is this the scenario all over? And if it is, why can't a ten year old platform provide such a basic feature? And finally, if there is some tool/technique which lets me backup/restore data on an unrooted device, please point me to that.
I believe XDA is the only place I can put these questions/rants forward. Thanks for reading.
Please ask your question only in one place :good: I answered you here https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2717159&p=75474972

Categories

Resources