[Q] Help Please - General Questions and Answers

Hello to all who may be able to help, and thanks in advance. I am kinda new to android, and tried some things i should have researched more, so please no reprimands, i already kinda feel like a dumbass for it. I have a moto droid 2. I rooted using the Z4 root in the app market. I then installed system app remover, also from market. I was not planning on flashing new roms, just getting rid of bloat and maybe replacing some of the original apps with market stuff that in my opinion is better. I realized that the app remover i was using did not seem to show all the system apps. I downloaded titanium backup and gave it a whirl. I removed some of the stock apps, and when i did not like the result tried to reinstall them only to find out that titanium backup only backs up the data, not the app itself(System app remover does, and beeing a noob, i assumed that titanium would be the same). So now i am sitting here with a rooted droid 2, with a complete titanium backup, that still works(minus the apps i uninstalled), and i was wondering if anyone could advise me on how to get some of the factory apps back, and maybe also advise me on better ways to accomplish what i am doing. Again Thanks in advance and sorry to take your time with noob stuff. I did not know where else to turn, the people on this forum seem to be the Samurai-Ninja-Gurus of andriod.

Please anyone, i really need some help.

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General Question

I have a general question about the AT&T apps that I uninstalled via Titanium Backup. I used Titanium Backup to first backup and then uninstall all the AT&T bloatware apps. I thought the purpose of backing them up first was so they could be reinstalled at some point. But now I find out that the backups made by titanium backup are basically worthless since I uninstalled the original apps. Now I have to try and find the apk files for all those apps if I want to reinstall them.
Is all this correct? Or is there some way to reinstall from the backup files that were saved. If not, what would be the purpose of backing them up first?
On a "normal" android device, Titanium Backup works perfectly to backup your apps and system data. But on a locked down AT&T device its only really good for removing apps after you root the phone. There is a fix that lets you install 3rd party apps but I'm not sure if that includes factory apps (my guess would be no). On a regular Android phone you can download files in your phones browser and use a program like Astro file manager to find them and install them from your SD card. So we are basically waiting for custom roms and hacks to give us the most basic Android functionality. Not cool.
Yes, I know about the AT&T lock down, and I have done the settings.db mod to get non market apps to install.
I guess my question was more about titanium backup. On several threads in here about removing AT&T bloatware using titanium they always said "make sure you back them up before uninstalling them." So I did back them up. I was thinking that the backup was so after we uninstall them, we could later re-install them if we changed our minds. But this is not the case. If you back them up, then use titanium backup to uninstall them, the backups are worthless. The only way to reinstall them is to find the apk file and then reinstall them that way.
So whats the use of backing them up before uninstalling them? And where can we find the apk's for reinstalling them if we need to return our phone for servicing? All of this should have been discussed before offering directions on how to get the bloatware off. I'm pretty new to android so I had no clue that once gone you can't get those apps back. Thats all I was saying; wondering if that is correct.
really? i had no idea, ill fix the guides.
systoxity said:
really? i had no idea, ill fix the guides.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont know what the current guides say, I got my captivate on the 18th and there were several threads then about how to use Ti-backup to remove bloatware.
Its not the end of the world, the full one-click odin flash back to stock is available.
I was just rooting around inside the .tar.gz files that titanium backup creates last night. Discovered that there's no apk file hidden in there. Got me wondering whats the sense in backing up before uninstalling since now those backups are good for nothing. When I go into Ti-backup now and go to restore, the att apps are gone completely from the list.
I think people were just saying to do a backup because thats what they were used to doing on other devices. It may be able to restore everything once a custom Captivate rom comes out. You could try asking all the guys that flashed the i-9000 roms if they had any luck with it. I used it to delete wallpapers and such that were stock on my nexus one and it saved them....but my Nexus didn't have any bloatware to delete and restore so....
big99gt said:
I think people were just saying to do a backup because thats what they were used to doing on other devices. It may be able to restore everything once a custom Captivate rom comes out. You could try asking all the guys that flashed the i-9000 roms if they had any luck with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I've downloaded the Odin 1-click factory restore thing and got it saved on my computer just in case.
I'm ready for some custom ROMs, I've thought about trying putting that I-9000 ROM on my phone, but it seems like a lot of work for little or no gain. I've got my phone rooted, did the settings.db mod, uninstalled all the att bloatware, got launcher pro on it; so it runs pretty well. I dont really see a need to put the I-9000 2.1 rom on it, with how much trouble it is to get on. Now if it was 2.2 or if it fixed the crappy GPS I'd jump all over it.
derek4484 said:
I dont know what the current guides say, I got my captivate on the 18th and there were several threads then about how to use Ti-backup to remove bloatware.
Its not the end of the world, the full one-click odin flash back to stock is available.
I was just rooting around inside the .tar.gz files that titanium backup creates last night. Discovered that there's no apk file hidden in there. Got me wondering whats the sense in backing up before uninstalling since now those backups are good for nothing. When I go into Ti-backup now and go to restore, the att apps are gone completely from the list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do a backup & then uninstall, it's not gone from the list. You can find them at the bottom of the list.
From what OP is saying im guessing TB isn't letting people restore from a backup?
I'm the type who waits for something to be tested and proven before I'll try it lol. My phone runs well enough and I'm not willing to risk crashing my daily driver. I think the headaches just aren't worth it. But I am grateful to all the other guys in these forums dealing with those headaches so they can try new things and learn more about our phones. Eventually they'll get it....and I'll read a forum post about a total noob (even worst than me) installing a rom or fix effortlessly on the first try...and I'll jump right on it lol. I'm not going near the i-9000 stuff for now...no proven gains and so far every version has lost functionality somewhere along the line....but it makes for good reading
systoxity said:
If you do a backup & then uninstall, it's not gone from the list. You can find them at the bottom of the list.
From what OP is saying im guessing TB isn't letting people restore from a backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, the uninstalled programs still show up at the bottom of the list, but if you click on it, the options are Backup, Freeze, Uninstall (dont know why, because its already been uninstalled). There is no restore or re-install.
That was my point, Ti-backup lets you uninstall an app, but it wont reinstall it from a backup that you make using it.
I backed up all the crapware just as advised. But now I cant reinstall them using TB. Please devs help us what happened to our TB crapware backups. I need them to update the phone. That seems the only way the jh7 would install
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
It seems to me that there are a lot of bugs in the Captivate, even with the new GPS Update available. I have held off buying the Captivate (I want it alot!).
So I watch these and other boards to see when AT&T comes out with a Captivate that actually works to most everyone's satisfaction. (I am struggling to keep my Tilt ! alive for a little longer.)
Keep up the great work you first adopters. Its valuable to guys like me who are second adopters!
Thanks,
Dickr

best backup apps

can someone recommended me an app that can backup all of my apps, bookmark etc thing in my xoom? so that i will easily put them back after rooted or flashed my device. its quite annoying to reinstall them 1 by 1 zz
thz =]
Titanium Backup. I've only been using it for a day, but everybody I've ever heard who has it says it's wonderfully amazing, and it seems to work pretty well from what I can tell. Root required. If you're looking for something without root, then you won't find much.
Athenon87 said:
Titanium Backup. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll second that... its the best i've seen/used
I bought titanium because of all the good reviews....but....out of the 30 or so apps I have installed, it seems to only backup a few...like 8 or so. I kept wondering if I was missing something simple, but when doing batch backup it always list a small portion of the apps I have installed.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Titanium Backup
I've been using it since it first came out.
No problem backing up and restoring 200+ apps on my Nexus One.
Plus it will do settings, sms messages, and bookmarks.
Update. Since I updated to 3.1 and rooted again, seems all 150 or so items are being backed up....yay!
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
I found this thread while trying to figure out if there is any way to backup BEFORE rooting.
I have a stock 3g Xoom with 3.1 I would like to root it, but my understanding is that it will be wiped, and then I will have to reinstall everything and reconfigure everything, as I now have it, and like it.
So, my question, and I think the question of the original poster, is whether there is a way to backup before rooting? Or is there a way to not loose everything I have now, when I root.
I have used Titanium Backup on my rooted Evo, and it is a great app. But, as was stated, it will only work once the device is rooted.

Now that I rooted...

I rooted my phone using SuperoneClick for mac/linux, and it was very simple. It said my phone was rebooting and that my phone was rooted.
Now what do I do? What can I do with rooting? I don't see any difference on the mainscreen. What I did was went to look at my applications and realized I have "SuperUser" now.
When I click that, I have LOG, Apps, and settings, the only thing listed is settings. How can I remove certain bloatware that I don't need?
Get titanium backup so you can uninstall bloatware- if you pay $6 you can freeze the bloatware instead of removing it completely.
A program like Root Explorer can help you get rid of the bloatware as well. Just navigate to System/APP and delete what you don't want. Just be carefull not to delete the wrong software, I think there is a list in one of the threads here of what is safe to get rid of.
Yeah, just get an App manager that uses root access (I use Anttek App Manager). You can either freeze such apps or delete them entirely. You can also change CPU speed, and eventually upgrade to CM7 when it's released, and quite a few other things!
Before doing anything though, I'd recommend backup up your phone with Rom Manager.
Okay, so your steps should be this....
First download ROM manager to back up my system?
Then I download app manager so I can freeze/delete? Freezing might be safer for a newb like me.
that is what I did
I backed up the phone using ROM manager, but where can I find where that backup is to make sure I did it successfuly?
If you are thinking about getting into some serious tinkering, custom ROMs, Kernels, etc. You will probably want to use the NVFlash method to load in clockwork recovery. This method and a good backup of your system should help bail you out of the most circumstances.
Yes, but I'm not sure where to find the backup? I want to make sure the backup was successful. Please someone help
Backups will be found in the clockworkmod/backups folder. Check there to make sure u are doing it right and have a backup.
What can you do with root? As a beginner I would recommend you go slow:
1- Install interesting apps that require root: http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/07/13/8-great-apps-every-rooted-android-user-should-know-about/
2- Learn how to make and restore nandroid backups w/ Clockworkmod Recovery.
3- Freeze bloatware with Titanium Backup Pro.
4- Eventually get to flashing custom ROMs once we get some !
Backup should be on your external sd card in a folder called clockworkmod/backup
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
I backed it up, went to clockworkmod and my backup, but it doesn't say anything when I click it, neither does it show up in the manage and restore backup
bump, anyone?
try again?
Mikeglongo said:
I rooted my phone using SuperoneClick for mac/linux, and it was very simple. It said my phone was rebooting and that my phone was rooted.
Now what do I do? What can I do with rooting? I don't see any difference on the mainscreen. What I did was went to look at my applications and realized I have "SuperUser" now.
When I click that, I have LOG, Apps, and settings, the only thing listed is settings. How can I remove certain bloatware that I don't need?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why would you do this to your phone and have no idea what it does or how to take advantage of it?
that's like hotflashing a bios just because it sounds cool.
I'm new to it and want to freeze bloatware? And plus, I can google on how to do stuff and "take advantage" of it =) Thanks
And I just made a back-up and that one is not showing up, gave it a name and everything, would the best thing to do is to uninstall rom manager and install it?
Mikeglongo said:
I'm new to it and want to freeze bloatware? And plus, I can google on how to do stuff and "take advantage" of it =) Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that sound like an easy way to get in over your head
rofl, i still can't get even make a backup, i tried making the back-up twice, and it's showing me the first one, but when I go to manage/restore, it doesn't come up
Do u have an sdcard mounted? If not u need one.

[Q]Freezing Apps - RAZR

Hi Guys,
Sorry I already know this is a ridiculously dumb question. What the heck is freezing apps, and how do I do it using TiBu? I just transitioned from a Thunderbolt.. with my TB I would use root explorer and rename the apps I dont want to see .old. Is that the same as freezing them? I dont want to delete so I can get OTA updates, but I also dont want to have a bunch of bloatware. Any help would be appreciated.. sorry for the dumb question.
Pike
no this wont work just try titanium backup and freeze em
Wow.. 83 views and one answer..
Anyway I found the answer I was looking for...
"To freeze apps you have to use the Donate version of TiBu, once you donate go to the app list, tap the app you want to remove and click on Freeze"
Now that we have fastboot files, does anyone know which apps we can remove without any conflicts? Once any new updates are pushed out, we can always flash back to factory to receive them.

TiBu Restore Question

I apologize if this is the inappropriate forum since it's in regards to a single app. I'm brand new to Android and rooting in general. I have flashed by phone to Synergy ROM and wanted to restore my apps & data using TiBu. I had rooted my phone and set all my backups with TiBu, IMEI, and CMW. I did not remove any bloatware after rooting my phone as I was planning to rely on Synergy to debloat the phone. This is where I get confused...
If I restore my phone using the TiBu backup I made previously, will it REBLOAT my phone with all the CRAP that synergy had gotten rid of? AKA, do I need to debloat my phone before backing it up in order to restore without bloat?
If I must debloat my phone manually, can someone explain to me why I would want to freeze over uninstall an item? Also do I freeze/uninstall per PROGRAM or per .APK (pack)? I'm still a but confused as to what to freeze, what to uninstall, and if I want to uninstall a program, the .apk, or what??
Any help would be greatly appreciated - Thanks in advance!
Weioo said:
I apologize if this is the inappropriate forum since it's in regards to a single app. I'm brand new to Android and rooting in general. I have flashed by phone to Synergy ROM and wanted to restore my apps & data using TiBu. I had rooted my phone and set all my backups with TiBu, IMEI, and CMW. I did not remove any bloatware after rooting my phone as I was planning to rely on Synergy to debloat the phone. This is where I get confused...
If I restore my phone using the TiBu backup I made previously, will it REBLOAT my phone with all the CRAP that synergy had gotten rid of? AKA, do I need to debloat my phone before backing it up in order to restore without bloat?
If I must debloat my phone manually, can someone explain to me why I would want to freeze over uninstall an item? Also do I freeze/uninstall per PROGRAM or per .APK (pack)? I'm still a but confused as to what to freeze, what to uninstall, and if I want to uninstall a program, the .apk, or what??
Any help would be greatly appreciated - Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can pick and choose which apps to restore with titanium backup As far as freezing over uninstalling, freezing just well 'freezes' the app on your phone, it'll no longer show up in the app drawer or function at all, uninstalling will actually take it off your phone. By freezing you can defrost it at anytime if you encounter problems or need it. You freeze and uninstall per APK, in titanium you'll see all the apps you have installed both in your system memory and data memory (system apps, are usually more important and are installed with the rom) (data apps are anything you've manually installed) As far as restoring after installing synergy, you probably only backed up users apps before and therefore won't restore any system apps.
Titanium will restore only what you have backed up. Removing bloat or freezing it is up to the user. I personally freeze what I don't want. If you freeze something by accident you need you can always defrost it. If you have removed something you may have to reflash the ROM to get it back. If you do decide to remove apps you don't want I suggest you make a folder on your external card and move them there with a program like root explorer or silimilar. That way you can put them back if wanted or needed.
sfobrien said:
Titanium will restore only what you have backed up. Removing bloat or freezing it is up to the user. I personally freeze what I don't want. If you freeze something by accident you need you can always defrost it. If you have removed something you may have to reflash the ROM to get it back. If you do decide to remove apps you don't want I suggest you make a folder on your external card and move them there with a program like root explorer or silimilar. That way you can put them back if wanted or needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A) Why not back everything up, then uninstall what you don't want and if something breaks or you decide later you need it restore from backup? Freezing seemed great when I was brand new to the phone but now that i know I won't break things I just uninstall but do have a back up. I'm not arguing, I'm honestly asking if I'm missing some advanatge to freeze/unfreeze vs backup/uninstall/reinstall.
B) If I backup apps on my stock TW, ICS SGS3 and then flash to say a JB non-stock, non-TW ROM do I have a reasonable expectation that I can restore the apps and they will function? I'm imagining not.
Maybe I'm asking the wrong questions... How do I know what I can and cannot uninstall with TiBu?
Example: If I want to use the digital clock widget, but not the analog clock widgets, and I delete the analog clock widgets, will this cause a problem with the digital clock widget? I heard some items share .APKs somewhere I think?
How am I supposed to know which services/appcs/processes are necessary to run gmail, mms, sms, etc?
How am I supposed to know what, say, EnterprisePermissions1.0 is? and if I can delete it or not? I guess a guide to what apps are safe to freeze/uninstall might help, if one exists...Could anybody link me to one?
Basically, I want to get rid of as much crap as possible that's draining the battery or eating up CPU cycles, that I never intend to use.
I also noticed in TiBu that my "call log" and "SMS & MMS" backups aren't checked, and I cannot check them to restore them...Why would this be? It's kinda a big deal to me to bring back my call and message logs.
Thanks again!
Bump...Could really use help decifering bloatware from useful and necessary items...AKA answer to the questions above.
Articles perhaps useful to you...
Anyone freeze their bloatware?
Applications Safe To Remove

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