[Q] Easiest way to backup & restore after you wipe...

[Q] Easiest way to backup & restore after you wipe... - General Topics

OK, haven't found a good answer after searching for this, but I imagine this would be useful for many folks who flash ROMs frequently....
The biggest pain in the butt-hole when upgrading to a new ROM version (NOTE: I'm not referring to switching ROMs here - simply going up to the next version of the same ROM) is having to wipe, reinstall your apps and setting up your phone just the way you like it.
I've heard that Titanium Backup is the best utility to back up your apps, but it doesn't handle your personal preferences (e.g. phone ringer, wallpaper, email notification, screen layout, etc.)
Is there anything available that would back up these preferences and restore them easily??

Related

[APP] Titanium Backup

If I do a wipe and change roms would do the pro version of titanium backup put all my apps and settings back exactly how they were with the new rom?

djsaad1 said:
If I do a wipe and change roms would do the pro version of titanium backup put all my apps and settings back exactly how they were with the new rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're switching different roms (like Cyanogen to Sense), it'd probably mess stuff up quite a bit

would be going from cyanogen to enomther. I would like to try enomther out but really not in the mood to install everything again and put all my settings back in, especially if I end up going back to cyanogen again.

I'm not sure if this is how it works, but everytime I flash I backup the app and data of helixlauncher and when I restore it my icons are all in the right place. You obviously have to reinstall all your applications first before the icons work, but it worked, to my surprise.

From my experience with the pro version, which is much better than the free, and worth it,
Any of the stuff in red, i dont back up. I just backup all my actual apps I know i use on my phone, with data.
I use mybackupPro, to restore all my call logs and texts, yadda yadda, but titanium backup for apps+data
I haven't found anything to successfuly restore my screens and widgets without error or issues, but whatever. atleast the widgets data is still stores [atleast with Pure calenders and such]
I wish there was some sort of better guide though, like exactly which system settings NOT to back up, that would be awesome.

I too would like to see it all spelled out. Especially for noob such as myself.
I've been using mybackupPro for exactly the same reason, together with Titanium. But my widgets and shorcuts aren't restored. And I use More Icons Pro which is more of a pain to redo after every flash or ROM change.

Ok Guys. Here is an easy report on Titanium Backup.
Titanium Backup will backup all of your installed applications(this can include system apps), settings, Launcher Icon Layout, Wifi, sms/calllog etc..
It WILL work between at least android 2.1 roms(Cyan, Enom etc,,). I have not tried going over to a desire ROM
PRO is VERY much worth it. It allows you batch install instead of clicking for every app. Easily worth 4 or 6 bux.
Now what you do.
Install and possibly donate. U use paypal and get an email with the "pro" key soon after.
-Click backup/restore
-Click menu(phone button), batch
-Click Backup All user apps.
-Let it run, then go back.
-Individually backup all items highlighted in green. This will be bookmarks, call log, calendar, LAUNCHER, wifi, stuff like that.
-SKIP RED ONES. These are system apps and u basically are overwriting your new ROM.
Ok now you are backed up in your SD card in folder Titanium backup.
You can now, Wipe, install a rom, download titanium from market, click backup/restore, Click batch. Then click restore all apps and Data.
Restart your Phone.
And your back in business. EZ PZ. Your settings, Wifi, Icon layout, etc. will be installed. The only thing I have to adjust is my wallpaper/widgets usually.
All in all you can do a full ROM from wipe swap in about 15 minutes. I always Wipe because its so easy, why not.
Also. This works with Apps2sd as well. It can go from non-apps2sd to apps2sd, or apps2sd to non-apps2sd. Basically it doesnt care...

seanowns said:
Ok Guys. Here is an easy report on Titanium Backup.
Titanium Backup will backup all of your installed applications(this can include system apps), settings, Launcher Icon Layout, Wifi, sms/calllog etc..
It WILL work between at least android 2.1 roms(Cyan, Enom etc,,). I have not tried going over to a desire ROM
PRO is VERY much worth it. It allows you batch install instead of clicking for every app. Easily worth 4 or 6 bux.
Now what you do.
Install and possibly donate. U use paypal and get an email with the "pro" key soon after.
-Click backup/restore
-Click menu(phone button), batch
-Click Backup All user apps.
-Let it run, then go back.
-Individually backup all items highlighted in green. This will be bookmarks, call log, calendar, LAUNCHER, wifi, stuff like that.
-SKIP RED ONES. These are system apps and u basically are overwriting your new ROM.
Ok now you are backed up in your SD card in folder Titanium backup.
You can now, Wipe, install a rom, download titanium from market, click backup/restore, Click batch. Then click restore all apps and Data.
Restart your Phone.
And your back in business. EZ PZ. Your settings, Wifi, Icon layout, etc. will be installed. The only thing I have to adjust is my wallpaper/widgets usually.
All in all you can do a full ROM from wipe swap in about 15 minutes. I always Wipe because its so easy, why not.
Also. This works with Apps2sd as well. It can go from non-apps2sd to apps2sd, or apps2sd to non-apps2sd. Basically it doesnt care...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great write-up. I think a lot of us needed this...

is Titanium regarded as a better backup solution than Nandroid? or are they comparable?
thnx!

Does the author of titanium post here?
Would like to share some feedback.
MI_canuck said:
is Titanium regarded as a better backup solution than Nandroid? or are they comparable?
thnx!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different types of backups.

MI_canuck said:
is Titanium regarded as a better backup solution than Nandroid? or are they comparable?
thnx!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid will back up your entire ROM, all apps, and all settings in one package. Titanium just baks up the apps that you use, so if you switch ROMs or wipe, it's a very fast and easy process to reinstate them.
Both are pretty mandatory. Show some love and get the donate version. Good devs shouldn't have to eat Ramen Noodles. Except by choice.

seanowns said:
It WILL work between at least android 2.1 roms(Cyan, Enom etc,,). I have not tried going over to a desire ROM
PRO is VERY much worth it. It allows you batch install instead of clicking for every app. Easily worth 4 or 6 bux.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a note: The free version does batch back-up and restore, but no verify or market doctor. This may be a recent change to the free, as I just started using titanium when I got my Nexus.
Jumped to the MoDaCo Desire Rom for a few, and reinstalled only the apps without any system data, worked just fine. I can see a potential issue though doing backups from Desire of anything requiring Sense, and trying to restore on a non-Sense ROM.

Daswolven said:
Just a note: The free version does batch back-up and restore, but no verify or market doctor. This may be a recent change to the free, as I just started using titanium when I got my Nexus.
Jumped to the MoDaCo Desire Rom for a few, and reinstalled only the apps without any system data, worked just fine. I can see a potential issue though doing backups from Desire of anything requiring Sense, and trying to restore on a non-Sense ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is still accurate today. I might add the backup verifier in the free version, but it's hard as that requires Hypershell.
Yes indeed, when backing up/restoring across HTC and Google ROMs (or generally speaking: between wildly different ROMs), it is advised to restore the system items with caution, and generally only the system items you need. There's no such problem with user apps & data, which will *always* work across ROMs.

Ahh. Good to know about the Red system items. It means I can be even more lazy and just back up everything.
Adding an official guide is a good idea. I had these same questions a few months ago and actually held of trying it for a week.

@ joel.bourquard
Welcome
Thanks for stopping by...BTW..i love your app...full version
I didnt know about the green and red labeled items lol
Have to look whether there is a feature to select all *green* or similar to that.
Or if Green items in list can be added to a batch execution, if it is, im not understanding the wording of the batch files

Ideas for Titanium Improvement
joel.bourquard said:
This is still accurate today. I might add the backup verifier in the free version, but it's hard as that requires Hypershell.
Yes indeed, when backing up/restoring across HTC and Google ROMs (or generally speaking: between wildly different ROMs), it is advised to restore the system items with caution, and generally only the system items you need. There's no such problem with user apps & data, which will *always* work across ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know I'm asking a ton here, but it's something to think about implementing. What would be really useful is to have one (or more if you have multiple backup copies selected) main "Market/User batch" backup restore. If multiple backups are enabled, a name for each set would be cool.
The really useful part would allow several system app/settings entries and allow unique naming by user. One could have say a Cm, a Desire and Enomther system folders, and could back up and restore to each as need be. That way if someone's testing several ROM's there's no confusion about which system app/setting came from which build. That way you're not restoring Enomther's Spare Parts app to a Desire build.
I don't know if this is possible either (I know nandroid does this, but I'm stretching for in house), but a feature where if you are unsure about a system app/data/setting restoration, allow a onetime snapshot pre-restore, so if things do not work out, an undo of last action is possible. Or, if you implement the ideas in the latter paragraph, that responsibility could be left to the user, since they could save the fresh target and data in it's new folder before messing with it.
I'm sure this is all possible now by moving and renaming the backups on sdcard, but it would be much cleaner from within Titanium's ui.
Great app...happy donator here, and it has been a staple in many tutorials I have scattered around the forums. Thank you, and keep up the good work!

Nice Idea!!
And TitBackup is absolutely worth the money!!! (Happy ProVersion User)

rori1 said:
Nice Idea!!
And TitBackup is absolutely worth the money!!! (Happy ProVersion User)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly the best abbreviation...

So, can I backup the MUSIC playlists? I tried backing up the Music (in ReD) in hopes that it would contain the playlist...but when I restored...it didn't have the playlist.

Best Practices for Backing Up and Restoring Apps/Custom Launcher Settings?

I've seen a couple of threads on other phone forums with some suggestions in this arena and even some conflicting information about the best/safest way to back up user apps and then restore them after flashing a new ROM. Just wondering if there are agreed-upon best practices for this. I assume Titanium Backup is involved, whatever steps you take. Also, LauncherPro allows you to Backup/Restore homescreens and settings. I assume this would have me covered on custom icons/dock appearance/etc.
Basically, I have everything looking the way I like it with customized LauncherPro theming, and I like my array of apps. Now, I just want to experiment with flashing some different ROM/Radio combinations, but I want to be sure I have an efficient way to get me back to my preferred configuration, since I have put a good bit of time into getting just how I want it.
Any thoughts/links/procedures?

Good topic, I just back up all apps using Titainum backup and the full rom using CWR in case I need a working ROM loaded quickly. Back up the SD and your are ready for a full wipe if the new rom takes a ****.

Im in the same boat as you. Im using CM 7.0.3 and I dont think i could be any happier, however, despite spoiling myself right off the bat with Cyanogen I want to try some other ROM's. Im using titanium to backup apps, and app data as well as a daily CWR backup with rom manager, and ADWex backed up. If I was to flash a new ROM just how painless would and should it be? I understand each rom is different and require some tweakin on its own. I guess I would like to hear from the seasoned vets how they do it?

[Q] Android: Backups of various different things.

I have recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy S2. I have the phone set up the way i like it but i wish to try different OS versions which will require rooting and wiping my phone so a few questions regarding backups:
1) Currently i have my gmail contacts and facebook contacts "linked" together. I believe this is only stored locally on my phone. Is there a way i can save all this contact info so when i log back in to my profile in the future it will all be seamlessly placed as it was.
2) Currently i have a whole batch of homescreens with icons and widgets and my applications screen with every app in a "folder" can i back these up exactly as they are?
3) Within various different applications there are different options or save games and various things like that, are these easily accessible and able to be backed up
4) Finally can i just do an "image" of my phone and if i wipe it and mess about then simply restore that image back to exactly how it was?
Cheers for any help

boxrick,
Can't answer specifically for the Galaxy S2 as I don't have it, and because Android is "pimped" in various ways by different device makers some of the homescreens/layouts are custom implemented, and best backed up by the methods appropriate for--or offered by--that device.
Having said that, if you are using Google market, a lot of stuff (like the apps obviously) is automatically saved with them. Or the apps themselves can be backed up with any good file manager, like Astro, to an SD card or via USB.
I can't answer you about the Gmail & Facebook contacts being "linked together", but from experience most items are stored in the Google Contacts data-fields and stored remotely in your Google account (and therefore restored from there straightaway)
I have multiple Android devices, and to tell you the truth I pretty much just copy everything "en-masse" to a hard drive. If you're rooted, it's fairly easy to pull down almost everything this way. You're just dealing with files and folders, just like on your regular computer (which is why I'm pretty much done with anything "black-box" like formerly iphone/ipad, btw )
If you're looking for a "set-it-and-forget-it" type app, I don't currently use any, but on my travels I've seen a few "names" tossed around with good reviews. You can research
MyBackup Pro
Sprite Backup
Those two are pretty well known full-blown-backup type apps. They're paid apps, but cheap.
I've heard of The Missing Sync which takes a different approach by syncing all your data to a Windows or Mac desktop for backup and also for re-distribution to other devices. Sort of like a "data-centralizer" type approach, which might be up your alley. I think the app runs about $40 though.
Finally, I do use the free LifeSaver 2 app for important SMS messages and call logs-- picked it up over at F-droid.org. It's for pretty specific data types, but it's this stuff that usually is the hardest to save (since I don't actually know where it is when I backup the entire root directory + subs & files).
Hope the above gives you some ideas. My general advice would be to research, read the boards, with special attention to the threads dedicated to the Galaxy S2, because the other users have gone before you
And btw, if you find something really cool (including if one of the apps above turn out to help you), make sure you come back and post your findings. I'm always on the lookout for a "gem" app that makes my life easier.
Good luck!

Apps: Titanium.
Data: MyBackup.
MyBackup does a much better job at saving your contacts than Google does. MyBackup restores them exactly as they were, Google often loses custom fields and messes up your contact names. Just look at the mess when you sync a contact called "Al's Pizza (open 'till midnight)" back from Google. It also gets the timestamps on SMSs right, which most competitors don't.
You could forget about Tit and backup your apps with MyB too, but then you miss out on all the different batch jobs that come with Tit.
There's one thing that all backup apps choke on: widgets. I always have to set 'em up again after a wipe/restore job.

Can't titanium backup both apps & data?

Titanium can backup user data, sort of.
Restoring user data with Tit is not as straightforward as with MyB. They should add a user data screen so you don't have to hunt for your data in a long list of apps.

One final question, if I was to change from Android Phone A to Android Phone B. Will these "apps" and backups be able to restored to a totally different phone?

rogier666 said:
There's one thing that all backup apps choke on: widgets. I always have to set 'em up again after a wipe/restore job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rogier, what widget app do you use? I use Elixir, and in it there's an option to export widget data. Search for the "edit widgets" button, click it and you'll be taken to a pane where all the widgets are replaceable. Below it, you'll see a "More" button--that's where the import/export widgets button is. After you export widgets settings (you have to type in a name for it), Elixir then saves that exact config. After flashing a ROM and restoring via Ti, you can then choose to add back your widgets via the "Import" button. Remember though: if you want to bring back a 5x5 widget, you have to choose "5x5" widget after long pressing on a blank space, otherwise the widget won't restore properly. With this, you can have as many widgets you want and not worry about the tedious process of reconstructing them after a restore.

do you have to use the paid for version of titanium?

boxrick said:
One final question, if I was to change from Android Phone A to Android Phone B. Will these "apps" and backups be able to restored to a totally different phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can with Google . Go to Settings --> Privacy --> Back up my data.
When you buy your new phone, select restore my data. At first you won't see any difference, but after a few hours your apps will be restored

Borat38 said:
rogier, what widget app do you use? I use Elixir...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now I've got Widgetsoid, DroidStats, Smooth Calendar, PlayerPro, DroidWall, Make Your Own Clock, and seNotes on my home screens.
Some widget apps have a backup option, some only come in one flavor (like DroidWall) so they don't really need a backup option. But others (like most notes widgets) don't have any backup option at all.
This is really annoying for the sticky notes widgets, because it's often impossible to remember what info you'd have to put back in them (which is why you wrote it in a note to begin with).
So I'd really like a one click option to back up and restore all my widgets.

thetinybus said:
do you have to use the paid for version of titanium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you don't. The free version backs up everything too. It just takes more clicks to restore your stuff.
The free version of MyBackup only restores to the same phone that it backed up, so if you want to use MyBackup to transfer your data to a new phone you'll need the paid version.

I have purchased MybackupPro. The problem is I am fairly confident it will not back up my linked contacts. Therefore I need to root my phone and use TI backup...
Id like to post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1125414&page=12 and find out about after unrooting, flashing back to the default kernel ( for warranty purposes ). Need 10 posts
Now it seems I am getting restrictions on the amount of times I am posting. This also doesn't help me much!

[Q] How do I modify my backup and restore manifest?

Hi xda,
Though my thread title may be a little vague and might supposedly be better asked on google or android per se, just patiently read along as I try to explain my dilemma in more detail.
For ICS users, we all know the convenience of the "backup & restore" feature. Everything from wifi passwords, contacts, and installed apps will be magically restored when you install a new firmware on your phone with a full data wipe. And for us flash junkies, that indeed is really convenient.
But even though I have come to love such feature, I've noticed a few quirks as I was using it over time. The backup manifest or shall I say, the list of backed up data gets cluttered as you continue to backup data over time. This leading to a point where my backup data is now so messed up, whenever it auto restores once again, I see previously uninstalled apps back again and duplicate contact entries. So messed up, that I've decided to stop using this much loved feature and just manually backup my contacts, and re-install apps.
So, I am looking for some solution that I might be somehow able to manually edit that current backed up list (over at google or wherever it's stored), and update which will be restored if ever I flash my phone again. Or wipe that list clean and overwrite it with my current phone state.
Sorry for the long post but I've done my googling and forum searching beforehand only to no avail.

You can forgo that feature entirely and use titanium backup instead, for backing up your personal app data...
Titanium acts a little twitchy when restoring system apps and data across roms with different bases...
Your best bet would be to backup your downloaded apps with titanium, backup contacts and msgs (and call logs) from other market apps (I use go backup)...
For bluetooth and wifi access points, I haven't found anything that is truly cross compatible among roms...so better of you just write it down somewhere and refer that later...
Typed using a small touchscreen

Titanium Backup Problem after flashing New ROM

Hello, i flashed ROMs several times on my HTC Desire S, restoring any data, apps and settings with Titanium Backup without any problem (I've got the Free Version). This time, after flashing the latest Viper Saga ROM, I was able to restore the apps, the photos and most of my stuff, but not most of my personalized settings (such as the widgets disposition on the screen, folders etc.) and my messages (SMS). I can see all the backups inside Titanium Backup. Plus I get an error after turning on the phone ( something like "wallpaper lock app closed after anomaly") What can I do? Especially for the messages and for avoiding this in the future?
THANKS

el_d4rio said:
Hello, i flashed ROMs several times on my HTC Desire S, restoring any data, apps and settings with Titanium Backup without any problem (I've got the Free Version). This time, after flashing the latest Viper Saga ROM, I was able to restore the apps, the photos and most of my stuff, but not most of my personalized settings (such as the widgets disposition on the screen, folders etc.) and my messages (SMS). I can see all the backups inside Titanium Backup. Plus I get an error after turning on the phone ( something like "wallpaper lock app closed after anomaly") What can I do? Especially for the messages and for avoiding this in the future?
THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When we speak of viper saga, in messaging app there is an option to back up the messages,
as for titanium and/or restoring settings, data etc: i am of the opinion that it often may be treacherous,
You are injecting items in to the environment that sometimes will not be accepted and/or nicely cooperate
for a number of reasons...
If you have a back up of the flash- the one before most recent rom version
you have just flashed:
Reflash it ( the one before the last)
Make backups of needed items by different means
Settings is probably best to adjust on an existing environment
but that's only my opinion

Thanks i maneged to restore my messages, which was the most important thing... For other settings yeah, i guess they're best to adjust manually after flashing the ROM!

Database Info

welcome