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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But doesn't that only work for ROOTED phones?
ncmacasl said:
But doesn't that only work for ROOTED phones?
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
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.
Related
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.
Ok simple question I know but its in not easy to get a DEFINITIVE answer for (yes I have searched). When the time comes for me to install a custom ROM to my beloved Nexus S, it is highly recommended to do a full system wipe....fine, but does this leave my precious SD saved files intact or is it literally a nuclear option wipe? Apologies for this simplistic question but I prefer caution to bravery
You're forced into it anyway, unlocking the phone wipes it.
Rusty! said:
You're forced into it anyway, unlocking the phone wipes it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that, I am unlocked and rooted, did that the day I got it and realised that procedure would kill the SD card. Does the same apply to, for example, loading cyanogen off rom manager? I mean would my nandroid backup of my current rom still be in the Clockwork backup folder on the SD card after a wipe? (I got it saved to my laptop anyway) Thanks
It leaves your sd contents intact. The wipe just clears out everything for the operating system like your apps. Just always make a backup to pc just in case.
Very good, thank you for the advice. I will backup all possible things and all will be fine. I worried that with the SD card being internal on the Nexus S that it made a wipe that much more complete!
willcpfc said:
Very good, thank you for the advice. I will backup all possible things and all will be fine. I worried that with the SD card being internal on the Nexus S that it made a wipe that much more complete!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you're rooted I suggest you get Titanium backup. Go for the paid version, it makes restoring everything much easier.
icandy75 said:
Since you're rooted I suggest you get Titanium backup. Go for the paid version, it makes restoring everything much easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it I do titanium backup's, Nandroid backups with Clockwork, and just for completeness save the lot to the laptop....I should pop it all on a memory stick just in case my laptop packs up! Where others boldly go......I follow behind with caution
That's actually quite funny. So far I have yet to have an issue with my NS wiping SD card so I would say you SHOULD be safe. I did however loose EVERYTHING twice when testing different roms and kernels with my Vibrant so now like yourself I backup EVERYTHING. When restoring with Ti I suggest you only restore you apps and not full system. That has been known to cause issues.
Agreed. Titanium for apps only. I guess it would not be the end of the world to lose everything but it would be a hell of a job to put it all back how it used to be......and that scares me man!! And thanks for the advice to my reassuring but simple questions.
If you have Titanium Pro, you can also backup to dropbox so you always have it with you on the go. Well, sort of anyways.
Hi Folks,
I hope I'm not asking questions already covered, so apologies or redirects if I have. I just rooted my phone for the first time last night so I'm a little timid to take steps further without asking a few things.
1) I have both the Clockwork Recovery and Titanium Backup (free version), but TiBackup did its backup on the internal SD while CWR did it on the external SD. Is there a way to have TiBackup redirect the spot it saves its backups to?
2) People recommend Root Explorer to get rid of the bloatware that exists, but outside of paying for either that or TiBackup (that I don't terribly love), is there a free app that does the same thing, or preferably just does a freeze. I'm not concerned with paying for it, but since I'm new to this stuff, I'd rather not waste money on things that don't have longevity or more than just an experimental use if I don't have to.
Thanks for the help
shahp said:
Hi Folks,
I hope I'm not asking questions already covered, so apologies or redirects if I have. I just rooted my phone for the first time last night so I'm a little timid to take steps further without asking a few things.
1) I have both the Clockwork Recovery and Titanium Backup (free version), but TiBackup did its backup on the internal SD while CWR did it on the external SD. Is there a way to have TiBackup redirect the spot it saves its backups to?
2) People recommend Root Explorer to get rid of the bloatware that exists, but outside of paying for either that or TiBackup (that I don't terribly love), is there a free app that does the same thing, or preferably just does a freeze. I'm not concerned with paying for it, but since I'm new to this stuff, I'd rather not waste money on things that don't have longevity or more than just an experimental use if I don't have to.
Thanks for the help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have paid Titanium backup, so i know on that you can change the location where the backup is used.
i bought root explorer and titanium back up in november 2010, and have used it on 3 different phones since. i too hate paying for software that i think may not work, but i have used these programs beyond their value, and was 200% satisfied with my purchase. dont hesistate, just buy them. once you root, these programs are priceless. i use root explorer for more than just root stuff, i dont use astro, or even the stock CM file explorer root explorer is just fine and even works without root (will work like astro).
there is an app called app admin that works to remove bloat. i find root explorer easier as it kinda identifys what certain programs are by icon, where app admin you need to know what it is before deleting. app admin tho you can check off multiple apps and delete them all at the same time, where root explorer is one by one, and you will need to do a battery pull after a removing certain apps such as wifi calling, so you may need more than one battery pull, where with app admin it should only make you do one battery pull.
so i say buy the 2 apps you mentioned, it cant hurt and as long as you are willing to stay with android, the value is priceless
shahp said:
Hi Folks,
I hope I'm not asking questions already covered, so apologies or redirects if I have. I just rooted my phone for the first time last night so I'm a little timid to take steps further without asking a few things.
1) I have both the Clockwork Recovery and Titanium Backup (free version), but TiBackup did its backup on the internal SD while CWR did it on the external SD. Is there a way to have TiBackup redirect the spot it saves its backups to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can change the backup location of TB in the preferences menu. Just look for "Backup folder location"
shahp said:
2) People recommend Root Explorer to get rid of the bloatware that exists, but outside of paying for either that or TiBackup (that I don't terribly love), is there a free app that does the same thing, or preferably just does a freeze. I'm not concerned with paying for it, but since I'm new to this stuff, I'd rather not waste money on things that don't have longevity or more than just an experimental use if I don't have to.
Thanks for the help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try using file expert, they now have a root setting in the settings menu, tho I have yet to get it to copy many files over at once without it crashing or stalling. Other then that, you could learn the ADB commands to do the same thing.
I use Super Manager. Its free. It'd look better without the weird color scheme but it works fine as a root explorer and lets you read/write to the system folder.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
McFroger3 said:
You can change the backup location of TB in the preferences menu. Just look for "Backup folder location"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool. I tried redirecting to a new folder on the external SD and it asked whether or not I wanted to port things from the old directory to the new one, which I responded yes. But it didn't do it, and prompted to continue using the old one. Can I just delete the /TitaniumBackup folder that exists now, and have it make a fresh back up on the SD card?
Do I even need a TiBackup if i already have a CWR one on the SD card already? I'm still unsure if they back up the same data differently, or it's the same.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
shahp said:
Cool. I tried redirecting to a new folder on the external SD and it asked whether or not I wanted to port things from the old directory to the new one, which I responded yes. But it didn't do it, and prompted to continue using the old one. Can I just delete the /TitaniumBackup folder that exists now, and have it make a fresh back up on the SD card?
Do I even need a TiBackup if i already have a CWR one on the SD card already? I'm still unsure if they back up the same data differently, or it's the same.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium allows you to restore your apps across different ROM's and even different phones. CWM can only restore entire ROM's and is only really useful if a newly installed ROM or kernel cause a problem and you need to restore an old one through recovery. Titanium is an invaluable program and I recommended you purchase the paid version.
shahp said:
Cool. I tried redirecting to a new folder on the external SD and it asked whether or not I wanted to port things from the old directory to the new one, which I responded yes. But it didn't do it, and prompted to continue using the old one. Can I just delete the /TitaniumBackup folder that exists now, and have it make a fresh back up on the SD card?
Do I even need a TiBackup if i already have a CWR one on the SD card already? I'm still unsure if they back up the same data differently, or it's the same.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TB is only for apps+data, while Nandroid does a backup of the entire system.
Also with nandroids it creates .img files so you would not be able to get apps back and use on different roms like the previous poster. If you wish to start fresh, just delete current directory and point to the new one on the external SD card.
After installing a custom ROM, I discovered I should have repartitioned my internal sd card, and fix permissions.
So, I carefully backed-up my data and started the process.
Everything was going as expected. Right up to rebooting the system. BEFORE REBOOTING THE SYSTEM RESTORE THE DATA. I didn't, and lost everything.
This is the best website I've found for newbie like me. Use it, study it, and don't make the mistake I made.
http://viewsonic-gtablet-for-dummies.webs.com/repartition.htm
Have fun and be careful out there.
Don't forget to donate too.
Or use a program like Titanium Backup to back your data up onto an external SD card rather than the internal one?
Or am I missing something here?
Titanim can save your apps and data but not what you have saved on your SD. With a repartition it is a clean wipe of your SD so all is lost, even the backup you have made through cwm that you might have forgotten to move to your PC pre format. Keep a nand backup on your PC at all times, I do a weakly backup and toss it on my PC. That way if I have a bad flash and need to repartition I'm not loosing much. Also I have a starting point other than a stock rom to work with after a full restore.luck favors the prepared ;-)
captirwin said:
This is the best website I've found for newbie like me. Use it, study it, and don't make the mistake I made.
http://viewsonic-gtablet-for-dummies.webs.com/repartition.htm
Have fun and be careful out there.
Don't forget to donate too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I wanted to switch to a ROM with a 1.2 Bootloader, but I was weary of all the steps involved. I went to this site, and he saved me a lot of time. After fighting to get my tablet to connect to my PC, it only took a few minutes to get to 1.2BL with a new ClockWorkMod version.
Well since this was my first root I guess I made a mistake or maybe not?
So this is the case :
I have an HTC One S (Rooted using SuperSu Method)
What I did for backup is just copy all the content from the phone (in hard drive mode) to a folder on my pc (which ended up being around 7gigs)
My question is how do I restore all that data\pics\apps\profiles back to my phone?
(Tried to copy past it back into the phones SD-Card and rebooting, The phone doesn't recognize any of the data)
Any way to actually make this work? or is it a lost cause?
Thanks for the help! :laugh:
As far as apps and their data goes, only some info is saved on the sdcard, the rest is saved on the devices internal memory.
Only restoring the stuff saved on the SD card aint gonna bring back any apps. They need to be reinstalled properly.
Goatshocker said:
As far as apps and their data goes, only some info is saved on the sdcard, the rest is saved on the devices internal memory.
Only restoring the stuff saved on the SD card aint gonna bring back any apps. They need to be reinstalled properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about all the Contacts \ Messages and ect?
Because I have all the files on my PC (Exactly the same files that have been on the phone before the ROOT\Unblock)
Can I recover those back to the phone somehow?
Messages and contacts are stored on internal memory, unless you export them.
You dont have access to anything except /sdcard/ through the PC, unless you use ADB.
edit: What I mean is, if you have only backed up /sdcard/ (which seems to be the case), you have lost everything on the internal memory (such as messages and contacts etc).
Goatshocker said:
Messages and contacts are stored on internal memory, unless you export them.
You dont have access to anything except /sdcard/ through the PC, unless you use ADB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically even tho I copied all the content from the phone itself to the pc, All I copied is squat.
All the raw data I get is pictures.
So no encrypted data can be found on the storage partition and I have to just start over from scratch?
And the next time I root or flash, just use Recovery backup?
You didnt copy all the content. You only copied what was stored on the /sdcard/ (which is more or less the only thing you have access to without root).
Theres a very slim amount of data android uses on the sdcard, unless the user specifically tells it to.
Next time you flash, you should back up all your apps you want to save with for example titanium backup (requires root, which you now have), save all the contacts to the sim card, and export all messages.
Then after you have wiped and flashed a new rom, just restore the backups with titanium backup again, and import contacts from sim.
The backup/restore in recovery backups/restores the WHOLE system, so when you restore it it will be exactly like the way it was when you made the backup. (edit: to clarify, if you flash a new rom, then restore a backup made on another rom, you will return to that rom the backup was made on)
Goatshocker said:
You didnt copy all the content. You only copied what was stored on the /sdcard/ (which is more or less the only thing you have access to without root).
Theres a very slim amount of data android uses on the sdcard, unless the user specifically tells it to.
Next time you flash, you should back up all your apps you want to save with for example titanium backup (requires root, which you now have), save all the contacts to the sim card, and export all messages.
Then after you have wiped and flashed a new rom, just restore the backups with titanium backup again, and import contacts from sim.
The backup/restore in recovery backups/restores the WHOLE system, so when you restore it it will be exactly like the way it was when you made the backup. (edit: to clarify, if you flash a new rom, then restore a backup made on another rom, you will return to that rom the backup was made on)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it
I actually found some encrypted data such as : Whats up message history, Some Contacts, Specific apps.
And I recovered all my contacts VIA my google account.
Only thing lost is the applications, which I will reinstall in like 30 minutes.
Anyhow I am quite happy I got into the rooting business, Already feel the different abilities and the uncovered raw code + new line of root supported apps waiting to be savaged by me.
Thank you for the help anyways (and the quick reply as well)
And I think the original ROOT tutorial post should have a step which is a "back-up step" which explains how to back up most of the info before rooting, and the ability to back up with root.
Cheers!