Will everything be gone - Nexus S Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Well I no this is a noob question but I wanted to know if when you root your phone will you lose all of your data (apps,games,etc) and if you do will you have to download everthing again?
Sent from my Nexus S

Once u unlock ur bootloader it will do like a factory reset an delete everything so u may wanna backup everything to ur computer

Just to be a bit more clear than the prior post, you will lose EVERYTHING, including the contents on the sdcard (photos, videos, etc). Mount your phone to USB storage and backup anything you care about from the internal sdcard partition.
There's precious little you can do to save/restore data that's stored on the internal ROM space until you're rooted.
By the way, this has been discussed in multiple threads already. It's probably in the FAQ stickied at the top of the forum. as well. You might get more detailed ideas/answers with a quick search.

So how do you backup the sns to your computer
Sent from my Nexus S

mrnexus said:
So how do you backup the sns to your computer
Sent from my Nexus S
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when your not rooted you cant get anything off /data/ which would be game saves and app data stuff.
but anything on the SD card just copy off like you normally would

mrnexus said:
So how do you backup the sns to your computer
Sent from my Nexus S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think there are Market apps that will let you backup/save you SMS messages, but I'm not sure they'll actually let you restore.
Check out the various apps at this link: http://www.appbrain.com/search?q=sms+backup

Related

How can I wipe all items from cappy memory?

Hi everyone. I just got a replacement cappy from AT&T and I want to complete wipe out everything from the memory. Ive done a reset and in start up with no apps, but all my music and pics are still there. I did the startup into recovery menu and chose to clear data, but again, my pics and music and other files are still there.
Can anyone tell me the best way to completely wipe everything off the phone so its like I just got it stock?
Hook up your captivate to your computer and delete everything off the internal SD card.
Have you tried
Settings, privacy, factory data reset.
Out you can use odin and use master clear
Sent from me
CB650 Wolf said:
Hook up your captivate to your computer and delete everything off the internal SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasnt sure if that was ok because I didnt know if there was any systems files that I had to worry about deleting. If not though, I think I will just do that.
mcord11758 said:
Have you tried
Settings, privacy, factory data reset.
Out you can use odin and use master clear
Sent from me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did do that, but all music, pics and videos are still on the memory.
If you hook up to your pc you will not see system files so you will not be able to delete them
Sent from me
boot into recovery scrol down to delete all user data and select
recovery again and select clear cache
If u have a rooted phone u can reset ur phone to stock u it is called root manager if u have problems get at me
Sent from my CBW Blaze using XDA App
And it in the market mybad
Sent from my CBW Blaze using XDA App
Thanks everyone. I just ended up deleting all files from the phone once I mounted it to my PC. I appreciate all the responses.

[Q] What is the best way for me to do a full backup?

What is the best way for me to do a full backup, given that there is no sd card. Does that data stay after a wipe? this is pre root. Previously I would use astro, but I'm not sure of the no sd issue. Guess I can mount and backup to pc.
Any suggestions?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
There is an sd card...just that's its internal. The data stored in the sd card is safe after you flash new rom's after a wipe.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
The best way to back up your things are to connect it to your computer and simply move whatever you have in your internal SD to your desktop or wherever you'd like to save it to. That way if anything should go wrong you have it on your computer
rborg said:
What is the best way for me to do a full backup, given that there is no sd card. Does that data stay after a wipe? this is pre root. Previously I would use astro, but I'm not sure of the no sd issue. Guess I can mount and backup to pc.
Any suggestions?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can back it up to the Cloud
if you have Titanium Backup PRO
you have the option to backup to Drop Box
you get a FREE 2GB, when you sign up
which is more than enough, since our internal memory is only 1 GB to backup
He's pre-root, so Tit Pro won't work, as it requires root.
Since he's PRE-ROOT, he will lose everything on the internal sd card if he tries to do the FASTBOOT OEM UNLOCK command to root.
Best thing you can do right now is plug up to USB on the computer, copy all contents to your computer and copy back after rooting/restoring.
The internal sd card is safe from a "factory reset" kind of wipe but NOT SAFE from a bootloader unlock.
AllGamer said:
You can back it up to the Cloud
if you have Titanium Backup PRO
you have the option to backup to Drop Box
you get a FREE 2GB, when you sign up
which is more than enough, since our internal memory is only 1 GB to backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeap, that's the only Drag in the NS rooting method
back in the SGS it was so straight forward, just unroot, and you are done, you don't even need to reboot the phone
much less Format the whole thing, just to get root
Ok, good thing I waited. It's a ***** to export app settings too. Now to pick a good rom.
Thanks for the help.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
OK, copying internal SD contents is easy. But how to make a backup of things from internal storage?
haerwu said:
OK, copying internal SD contents is easy. But how to make a backup of things from internal storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't. There's no way.
This is why many of us rooted ASAP, to avoid accumulating data (like Angry Birds progess, LOL) that we would lose once we rooted.
There are apps to backup SMS messages, and your contacts, calendars, etc, should backup to the cloud. All you're going to lose is apps data that isn't saved by the app to the sdcard.

Help with Nandroid

Hey all,
I've been searching everywhere in google as well as in XDA with no success. I am trying to do a full Nandroid backup (just like people are advising you to do when changing roms).
I currently have Clockwork 3.0.0 and am Rooted on stock. When I go into recovery, the only thing I have in regards to backup is just "backup" and no "Nandroid Backup" like people are saying all over the forums. Do I have to install something specific? I am puzzled! Is nandroid a method of backing up or the name of a program?
Also, when I backed up using Clockword >> Backup I found its only around 300mb so I assume it doesnt backup your SD content (i.e. pictures and videos + programs) as well? Is there a way to do a FULL image with literally everything?
Any help will be appreciated!
Hi...well backup sounds about right. Don't worry about whether it says nandroid or not. Mind doesn't. Just go ahead and do the backup.
And as for the SD card...well no need to worry there either because the SD contents do not get wiped out anyway, so there's no need for it to be backed up in the sameway.
Hope that helps.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
When I'm looking at the development section, it says that it will "WIPE ALL YOUR DATA". Doesn't this suggest I should also backup my pictures + videos?
Thanks for the help!
The only thing that wipes all your data and sdcard is a fastboot oem unlock, and it sounds like you're already past there. Flashing new roms and choosing "wipe data" in clockwork recovery does not touch your sdcard at all.
It's always a good idea to backup your photos and videos just in case. It only takes a few minutes and better to waste a few minutes than lose a precious irreplaceable video of the kid's first steps.
Nothing should wipe your sdcard other than the fastboot oem unlock, but that doesn't mean it can't be wiped by mistake. I just responded in another thread where the guy accidentally formatted his sdcard. Everything gone.
Better safe than sorry, in my opinion.
haha i agree, will Titanium Pro backup my photos/videos aswell (as you've commented on the other thread) or it just backs up apps ?
co0kie said:
haha i agree, will Titanium Pro backup my photos/videos aswell (as you've commented on the other thread) or it just backs up apps ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will only backup apps/data on the internal rom space, not on the sdcard; so no, it won't take care of your photos/videos.
Mount the phone via USB, select mount USB storage, then drag and drop the folders with your photos/videos to your computer harddrive.
Camera photos and vids are kept in the /dcim folder if you use stock. Some 3rd party camera apps may put them someplace else.
I usually just make a full copy of the sdcard at one point, then use rsync periodically to keep it current.
distortedloop said:
It will only backup apps/data on the internal rom space, not on the sdcard; so no, it won't take care of your photos/videos.
Mount the phone via USB, select mount USB storage, then drag and drop the folders with your photos/videos to your computer harddrive.
Camera photos and vids are kept in the /dcim folder if you use stock. Some 3rd party camera apps may put them someplace else.
I usually just make a full copy of the sdcard at one point, then use rsync periodically to keep it current.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I guess this is one adv. of keeping apps on internal rom space.
Making a copy of the sdcard and resyncing it periodically sounds like a good idea IMO, what programe do you use to resync the sdcard?
thanks,
co0kie said:
So I guess this is one adv. of keeping apps on internal rom space.
Making a copy of the sdcard and resyncing it periodically sounds like a good idea IMO, what programe do you use to resync the sdcard?
thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium will backup apps and data that are on the sdcard if you put them there with the apps2sd feature. It's smart that way. I'm talking about the apps that store settings and stuff (like Titanium itself, Launcher Pro, ADW, the gym log apps I've used, lots of games, etc) that put user data on the sdcard outside of the protected or apps2sd storage area on the sdcard.
I don't use an app for rsync, I just use the rsync command from the terminal on my Mac.
There's a couple of rsync apps on the Market. Someone mentioned using an app to rsync in one of the threads on here not too long ago. Here's an appbrain link to a search on the term rsync, it only shows two apps.
What if I move the app using Gingerbread feature to "move to sd", will it still know to back them up?
/is that what u meant in the beginning by feature of apps2sd? not sure cause there is an actuall program that does this
co0kie said:
What if I move the app using Gingerbread feature to "move to sd", will it still know to back them up?
/is that what u meant in the beginning by feature of apps2sd? not sure cause there is an actuall program that does this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's what I meant. It also covers just about all of the various apps to the sdcard hacks that various rom makers have implemented over the last year or two; certainly the popular ones like cyanogen and darktremor's versions.
If you get Titanium Pro, pay for the license. It will enable batch restore where all your apps can be restored at once without user intervention, otherwise I believe you have to okay each one individually.
I just bought it and performed a batch back up thank you!
Now, assuming i have already perfomed a backup and now if i move the app2sd, will it know to update it next time?
Then, when i jump to the next ROM, all i have to do is batch restore?
co0kie said:
I just bought it and performed a batch back up thank you!
Now, assuming i have already perfomed a backup and now if i move the app2sd, will it know to update it next time?
Then, when i jump to the next ROM, all i have to do is batch restore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you move the app to the sd, the restore will put the app back in its location where it was during the backup. Just run a batch backup of all changed applications after moving anything around.
After you flash a new rom, just run a batch restore: apps and data only, usually not a good idea to restore system settings across different roms.

[Q] How to Backup my Data

I have been told I need to do a "Factory Data Reset" to a) clear out phantom crap-data from my built-in storage (now at 4% free space), and b) stop my phone from random double SMS posts.
I see several Market options for backup but none look very appealing nor do they guarantee to backup everything. Several require your phone to be rooted (mine isn't). Free apps don't backup everything and paid apps only back up the the SD Card but mine is nearly full.
Some on this forum say they can do it all by hand but I have no idea how.
Can't I just plug it into my laptop and move the files over?
This is my first Android phone and I would like to eventually ROOT the phone but I am not there yet. Perhaps this is the next step towards being comfortable doing that.
Some Market Apps, like MyBackup Pro, will back up to the "cloud" but at a price: MyBackup Pro comes with 50MB of free cloud storage, which you can upgrade to 250MB for $1 per month or 1GB for $2 per month.
ncmacasl said:
I have been told I need to do a "Factory Data Reset" to a) clear out phantom crap-data from my built-in storage (now at 4% free space), and b) stop my phone from random double SMS posts.
I see several Market options for backup but none look very appealing nor do they guarantee to backup everything. Free apps don't backup everything and paid apps only back up the the SD Card but mine is nearly full.
Some on this forum say they can do it all by hand but I have no idea how.
Can't I just plug it into my laptop and move the files over?
This is my first Android phone and I would like to eventually ROOT the phone but I am not there yet. Perhaps this is the next step towards being comfortable doing that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
titanium backup pro works very well
tylermaciaszek said:
titanium backup pro works very well
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Click to collapse
But doesn't that only work for ROOTED phones?
ncmacasl said:
But doesn't that only work for ROOTED phones?
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Click to collapse
thats right sorry forgot you werent rooted
try this vv
http://free-mobile-messenger.com/2011/03/09/backup-everything-1-0-apk/
And that app only saves to the SD card. Mine is FULL
Where do you want to save it to? anywhere but the sdcard will be wiped in any sort of flashing, making it a useless backup. the only logical place to backup your data is your sdcard, and then copying that backup to your computer.
How do I safely move stuff off the SD Card to make more room for the backup?How much room will the backup take? Does the backup only backup the Phone storage or also the SD Storage? (FYI, I have Astro File Manager)
Backing up the sdcard would be an oxymoron, as trying to backup your sdcard to your sdcard would never work, that would be like trying to make 1 + something try to be less than 1. You can plug your phone in as a Mass Storage Device, which will use your phone essentially as a flash drive, and you can add or delete as you please. If you're worried about deleting something, copy it to your computer rather than deleting it outright. Backing up should take about 500 MB if you're using Nandroid, but you're not rooted, and I'm not familiar with the posted backup. Backing up without rooting is very difficult
sduvick said:
...Backing up without rooting is very difficult
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Click to collapse
Yeah that is why I am posting. many of us non-root-ers want to be able to do this, and also, aren't you supposed to backup your system BEFORE you attempt to ROOT? How does everyone else do it??
OK So I Sideload everything from the SD Card to the laptop, then delete everything from the SD Card, then backup the phone storage stuff to the SD Card, then move THAT File/folder to the laptop.
Is that right??
Rooting is non-invasive, I've never backed up before rooting. Rooting just edits permissions on one file, which no non-rooted backup app can backup anyways.
If you wanted to backup that way, then yes, that would work, but if you're looking to backup before you root, I would say don't even bother, as it will not backup the phone system anyways, as no non-rooted app can do that.
If rooting is so "non-invasive" then why do you read so many warnings that if you don't do it **JUST RIGHT** you can totally BRICK your phone??
Also what do you mean by "not backup the phone system"?
Rooting can't brick your phone, flashing kernels and bootloaders can. The actual phone files, the operating system files, cannot be backed up by a non-rooted phone, as they are privileged. Rooting only installs the SuperUser.apk to manage super user rights, as well as changing the privileges on the system's super user binary so that you as a user can use it. all that to say, it's not a big deal to root, but what you do once you get root is what can cause issues. And if you brick yourself, no backup is going to help you, as by definition, bricking is beyond repair.

[Q] [HELP] Deleted storage/emulated and now all my photos disappeared

I seem to be having the same problem as this except(android.stackexchange.com/questions/61531/removed-storage-emulated-0-file-and-lost-access-to-all-files) there was never a solution. I tried remaking the folders and restarting the phone but that didn't work.
Can anybody help me out?
Soooo you wiped internal storage? Pictures are gone... Best bet is to try Disk Digger or some similar app and see if it works. Also make a backup next time before you do whatever you tried to do as to avoid this situation in the future.
RoyJ said:
Soooo you wiped internal storage? Pictures are gone... Best bet is to try Disk Digger or some similar app and see if it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking that I only wiped the symlink to the files. I will try to see if it helps. Thanks for the tip.
RoyJ said:
Also make a backup next time before you do whatever you tried to do as to avoid this situation in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to, except to make a nandroid backup or backup in general using custom recovery I need to go have more than half of my sdcard be free space (since it back it up to the internal sdcard) and I only had like 500-600 MB free I know you can move nandroid backups to the computer to free up space, but I do not know if I could backup straight to computer since N5 has no space.
victorymobile said:
I was thinking that I only wiped the symlink to the files. I will try to see if it helps. Thanks for the tip.
I was going to, except to make a nandroid backup or backup in general using custom recovery I need to go have more than half of my sdcard be free space (since it back it up to the internal sdcard) and I only had like 500-600 MB free I know you can move nandroid backups to the computer to free up space, but I do not know if I could backup straight to computer since N5 has no space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid wouldn't have helped. It doesn't backup pictures,etc. Use drop box or something or back them up on your pc frequently.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
A nandroid wouldn't have helped. It doesn't backup pictures,etc. Use drop box or something or back them up on your pc frequently.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From my understanding, a nandroid backs up everything on the selected partition. So /system would save your ROM and its settings, etc. Normally on a phone with a SD card it won't back that up, but the N5 only has internal memory. Backing up /data won't save pictures and videos you took?
RoyJ said:
From my understanding, a nandroid backs up everything on the selected partition. So /system would save your ROM and its settings, etc. Normally on a phone with a SD card it won't back that up, but the N5 only has internal memory. Backing up /data won't save pictures and videos you took?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope. It just backs up the system partition; data, apps and settings; and boot, kernel
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
That's odd. I could have sworn after I accidentally wiped my internal storage I had my pictures back after restoring a nandroid. Still have them all.
OP, any luck with disk digger? I just deleted a folder of useless memes I made with an app and used disk digger and restored them. This is the one I used
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.defianttech.diskdigger
RoyJ said:
OP, any luck with disk digger? I just deleted a folder of useless memes I made with an app and used disk digger and restored them. This is the one I used
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.defianttech.diskdigger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Running it right now! It has found 6876 files and counting, and they seem to be full size! Thank you so much! That app is awesome.
And thanks guys, going to go back up my files after it's done
EDIT: Shame the file structure is not preserved
victorymobile said:
EDIT: Shame the file structure is not preserved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not possible..
You're scanning the drive for actual files on the drive that no longer exist in the filesystem. Think of the file system as a database that tells the OS where the files are. When you delete a file, it doesn't really get deleted. Just the database entry about it.
The files exist whether there is a database entry in the file system or not but if you think about it, unlike files , the folders don't really exist on the disk.. When you create a folder, it doesn't really create a folder on the disk. It just reflects the "location" in the database. Folders don't exist on the disk so they cannot be restored. Restoring the files just adds new entries to the file system. It cannot find the deleted entries and reconnect them with the actual files
Hope this clarifies what you're seeing
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

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