[Q] (i9020a, 2.3.4) Unlock bootloader & Restore apps/system settings - Nexus S Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
I have already unlocked the bootloader and rooted my Nexus S and am very happy with the result. My girlfriend has now seen all of the customization that I can do and is interested in doing the same. The thing that she's really worried about, however, is losing all of her settings, messages and apps, and having to re-install everything manually.
Usually I would just use Titanium Backup or do a NAND backup with clockworkmod, but to use TB effectively, the phone needs to be rooted. She has 2.3.4 on her phone, so (I believe) you can't root it without unlocking the bootloader, and unlocking the bootloader will wipe the phone. You also can't flash clockworkmod without the bootloader being unlocked.
Is there another method that I am unaware of that can reliably and completely restore all apps and settings after the phone is formatted? Or is there a way to root the phone without unlocking the bootloader so that I can install Titanium Backup and back everything up before I unlock it?
Any help is appreciated. Feel free to get as technical as you want.

Ok. The android market does not like to restore or really keep track of our free apps. I use appbrain and it keeps a list of all phones and apps. Yes you have to install one by one. Then there is two apps that back up sms and call log to your sd card. As for settings, your adding a new rom so there will be things different anyways. Plus it will have more of them. Just an idea.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

I'm not 100% sure, but you might be able to flash a custom recovery without unlocking the phone. Then you can
1) perform a nandroid backup
2) mount usb
3) copy your backup to your computer (make a note of the origin folder)
4) root your phone
5) go back into custom recovery
6) mount usb
7) copy your backup back to the right folder
8) restore
Your phone is rooted, and back to it's original state. You can now perform Titanium backup.
I recommend this recovery image:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=988686
You will need to use fastboot to flash the recovery image
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
assuming that you rename whatever recovery image you've downloaded to "recovery.img" and place it in the tools folder of your android-sdk.

bigtoysrock said:
Ok. The android market does not like to restore or really keep track of our free apps. I use appbrain and it keeps a list of all phones and apps. Yes you have to install one by one. Then there is two apps that back up sms and call log to your sd card. As for settings, your adding a new rom so there will be things different anyways. Plus it will have more of them. Just an idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that I can restore the apps from the market, but I'm looking for a way to keep the data. She's not needing a custom ROM. The things that she's wanting to do can be done just with root access, so that's all I'm looking to do. To that end, I'm looking for the easiest way to unlock and root the phone, and then restore all of the apps and settings to exactly how they were.
Also, you mention that there are two apps to back up SMS and call logs, but you don't say what they are.
bedalus said:
I'm not 100% sure, but you might be able to flash a custom recovery without unlocking the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately you can't flash the recovery without unlocking. I tried to do it before I unlocked my phone, and it denied access to the recovery until I unlocked it. If I could, I would just have done a nandroid backup, unlocked, restored nandroid and then rooted, but I can't get nandroid backups without unlocking =(

Um search the market for sms and call log backup. Same person makes both.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

Related

[Q] nandroid to zip...

Is there a way to convert a nandroid backup into a flashable zip file? I would like to have the possibility of returning to my rooted rom if ever I decide in the mean time to go back to stock rom and don't like it.
The question has been asked a few times but has never, to my knowledge, received a clear answer.
NoUseToRush said:
Is there a way to convert a nandroid backup into a flashable zip file? I would like to have the possibility of returning to my rooted rom if ever I decide in the mean time to go back to stock rom and don't like it.
The question has been asked a few times but has never, to my knowledge, received a clear answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid back up takes a snap shot of your entire OS. All of the /system files, all of the /data files. All the apps in their current state. I mean EVERYTHING is store in the nandroid back up. When you preform that there is a "backup/restore" option in the Clockwork ROM recovery image. You would just select "restore" then select the back up you want to store. I will advise you not to change the name of the file as the MD5SUMs will not match and it will not be able to load it. It's a flash-able .zip my nature. but it will verify it's own MD5SUM prior to flashing it.
which brings me to this point.
but to restore you nandroid you need to be a) rooted b)have clockwork installed.
Yup, you can do it, but you need a few things:
1) system.img and boot.img to flash
2) you'll also need a non-stock recovery, so if you return to stock, just go back to a rooted stock system, and keep the non-stock/cwm recovery so that you can apply the zip. This begs neidlinger's point above about just restoring your backup via recovery.
3) if you want to really cross your eyes and dot your tees, then you should also get the EBT partition from the stock firmware so that you can update the bootloader. Most people are fine using what ever old bootloader they had when they rooted, but I think it can cause bootloops with certain combinations.
So yes it can be done, but it's more an exercise in android-fu. You'll have to search around and take apart a few zips to figure it out.
what about this (just to see if I understand the approach): I make a cwm recovery of my present non-stock rom and I somehow manage to go back to a stock rom. If I miss my custom rom, I root , install cwm recovery and restore the backup stored on my external sd card...How is that?
NoUseToRush said:
what about this (just to see if I understand the approach): I make a cwm recovery of my present non-stock rom and I somehow manage to go back to a stock rom. If I miss my custom rom, I root , install cwm recovery and restore the backup stored on my external sd card...How is that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct
You are on a custom OS, you make a nandroid backup Via CRW (ClockWork Recovery) (it will store to the SDcard)
you go back to OE not rooted OS with stock recovery.
you don't like it, it's slow or ugly, what ever.
you re-root. Reinstall CWR
you wipe the device
select "backup/restore"
Then restore
and it will restore the Nandroid completely.
you boot the device to the exact point in which you left it.

[Q] How to make a full system backup for Galaxy S plus ?

I just bought and Samsung Galaxy S plus , I upgraded it and Updated it to the latest version .
I'm new to this android kind of stuff, and wanted to root it to get the SuperUser / BlackMarket App, but before that to avoid my phone getting brick I was told to do a system backup for my phone but I dont have a clue how to do a system backup.
Can anyone here kindly assist me ?
Thanks.
solution
You can go into settings and back up thru ur device but if you do the steps right you can back up everything thru clockwork mod when u root you don't lose anything when you unroot you dooo but once you rooted download titanium backup and you'll be good
Hi new member...we have SGS+ subforum where you can find more info,roms,whatever about our phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1270
I have made backup w/ Titanium backup. Find it from market.
titanium backup without root?
That's what I'm wondering since the requirements is phone need to be rooted first.
What should I do to do a full system backup ( not apps ) Just the system to avoid bricked phones.
I think he's asking for an actual backup of the whole stock rom with everything on it. I wouldn't deal with Titanium Backup for that since it'll only copy changes you have like your own apps and settings when you've used the phone for a while. I would use Clockworkmod Recovery to make a nandroid backup of your rom so you may return to it when a problem with a rom arises.
EDIT
Razsus said:
That's what I'm wondering since the requirements is phone need to be rooted first.
What should I do to do a full system backup ( not apps ) Just the system to avoid bricked phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah just root and install ROM manager, and from there install ClockWorkMod Recovery, and then say "Backup Current ROM" or something like that and it should do a full system backup
ChpStcksRlz said:
Yeah just root and install ROM manager, and from there install ClockWorkMod Recovery, and then say "Backup Current ROM" or something like that and it should do a full system backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
indeed.... a nandroid backup via CW Recovery is the best thing you can do
just make sure the backup is verified and not corrupted, after the backup has completed
But I'm wondering how if when I'm rooting that time something screwed up my phone is bricked without any backup?
Is there anyway to backup the system before rooting?
Thanks you guys for replying
U can't mate. But I don't think u can brick a phone while rooting it
Hit THANKS if I helped you
Meaning I root my phone then I do a system backup with those they mention on top, if there's any problem I do a System Restore then use the Unroot method? To claim and warranty back from Samsung or even Unroot my warranty will be gone?
recovery
if you have recovery in the cell is easy to just start looking at recovery and backup and restore
alanloax said:
if you have recovery in the cell is easy to just start looking at recovery and backup and restore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean?
If with my phone backup it's just for recovery files,apps,images,etc..
I dont need those I just want the system so I will be safe
Razsus said:
What do you mean?
If with my phone backup it's just for recovery files,apps,images,etc..
I dont need those I just want the system so I will be safe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well in all honesty, when rooting your phone you're just adding stuff into the stock ROM to allow more freedom. But this depends on your root method. Just like with my G2, you install Visionary and run the temp root (no harm there) and then on to the permanent root (there's the harm) but it's fairly safe. Just follow your instructions and you shouldn't have any problems. In the case that you do mess up your stock ROM through rooting, the manufacturer includes a built in recovery (which you'll replace with CWM later on), the manufacturer's recovery menu is able to flash SIGNED roms which you may be able to acquire from somewhere here or the manufacturer's website
Ur system can be backed up via cwm. And yes u can unroot after flashing a stock rom to regain warranty
Hit THANKS if I helped
Sent from my Blade using xda premium

[Q] Install new ROM AND keep data?

Hello, long time lurker here. Thinking about finally making the plunge to a custom rom.
I have a lot of apps with my saved data, high scores, etc.
Wondering if it's possible to unlock, root, install custom rom and retain my apps and their data.
Will Titanium Backup do this, or should I suck it up and reinstall everything?
Titanium is perfect for such things. But TB requires root. If you are on the 2.20 firmware, I'm not sure whether the new temp root exploit will allow you to run TB or not. If not, your data will be wiped out when you unlock the bootloader (before permanent root is achieved).
unlock --> root --> backup all apps including app data using tit backup batch mode --> flash custom ROM --> restore apps including app data using tit backup batch restore.. jsut ensure that you are not trying to backup & restore /system apps
redpoint73 said:
Titanium is perfect for such things. But TB requires root. If you are on the 2.20 firmware, I'm not sure whether the new temp root exploit will allow you to run TB or not. If not, your data will be wiped out when you unlock the bootloader (before permanent root is achieved).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Telus version, so don't need to exploit, but I know unlocking the bootloader will factory reset my device, trying to see if there's a way to do this before I unlock
kancherlapraneeth said:
unlock --> root --> backup all apps including app data using tit backup batch mode --> flash custom ROM --> restore apps including app data using tit backup batch restore.. jsut ensure that you are not trying to backup & restore /system apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That won't work. Unlocking the bootloader wipes data.
redpoint73 said:
That won't work. Unlocking the bootloader wipes data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for correcting
Oh wait, forgot about this little gem: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671746
Follow that procedure, unlock the bootloader, restore data.
Now the trick is, on your version to get root you need to flash a rooted ROM (if I understand correctly). If you flash a stock rooted ROM, you may be able to do so without wiping data (which is normally recommended). Then you can run Titanium, and backup your app data.
Wiping data (factory reset) is normally advised when flashing ROMs. But if you flash a stock rooted ROM, it might be similar enough that it won't cause any serious bugs. Enough to get Titanium running. Then wipe, and flash a ROM of your choice.
That's just my thought anyway. Not 100% on any of that, since I didn't have to do it this way, personally.
Thanks! That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for.
Does it matter which stock rooted rom I use?
Such as: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1920424
So I would unlock, install recovery, install this rom. run titanium backup. install custom rom, restore with titanium backup?
area51avenger said:
Telus version, so don't need to exploit, but I know unlocking the bootloader will factory reset my device, trying to see if there's a way to do this before I unlock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess not a nandroid data backup. Since it requires twrp or cwm but u can use apps for backup that dont require root. Such as share cloud backup. Backup all apps and transfer them to pc the do what u have 2 do and then use apk manager app to batch install the apk files. But this backs up apps only not data not files.

[Q] Some questions about going to custom ROMs

Hi!
Im about to jump into the world of custom ROMs on my One S. First I want to make couple of thing sure:
1. I have the official JB update on my S4 One S. In case I ever need to revert to stock, can I just restore a nandroid that make before flashing for the first time, fastboot flash the stock recovery and then relock the bootloader? I believe the RUU for JB does not yet exist and thus this feels the simplest way to do this.
2. I have quite a bit of app data that I want to preserve. I'm planning to do this: adb backup everything (already have the backup, a file just under 400MB), unlock the bootloader, adb restore everything, root, titanium backup the apps that I want, fastboot flash TWRP, flash custom ROM and finally restore apps from titanium backup. I have read the adb backup/restore not working with HTC One phones, but the backup at least went through without errors. Would this procedure work?
Im not a complete noob with custom roms, but this is my first HTC that I want to tinker with. Please, correct me of i have misunderstood something.
Thanks!
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app
1. You can restore the nandroid backup as long as you are on the same hboot. You do not need to install stock recovery.
2. Ive never used adb backup, I just make backups with titanium backup.
You dont have to format /sdcard/ to install a new rom, so you wont lose the backups. But if youre afraid, or just want to have a backup on your PC, just copy the titanium backup folder to your PC (either through adb pull or usb storage mode).
The steps to install a custom rom is:
1. unlock bootloader.
2. Install a recovery (TWRP)
3a. boot into recovery and make a backup
3b. You might want to root your stock rom while youre at it, before you make your backup.
4. copy the new rom .zip to your sdcard (either through adb push or usb storage mode), you can, of course, copy the rom .zip to your SD card whenever you want (inside your current system, in fastboot or in recovery, at any time), it doesnt do any harm being on your sdcard , except taking up space of course.
5. wipe system, data, cache and dalvik-cache.
6. Flash the new rom.
7. Wipe cache and dalvik again.
8*. boot into bootloader again and fastboot flash the boot.img from the rom
Reboot phone and it should start up your new rom
For details on how to perform each step, refer to the many guides available on this forum.
* some say this step can be done before flashing a new rom, I prefer to do it after though.
Thank you for your answer!
About backing up the apps: I believe the phone resets to factory setup when I unlock the bootloader. That's why I'm planning using the adb backup as titanium backup requires root (which I don't have before unlocking the bootloader). Or is there any other way to backup apps without root? Or is unlocking the bootloader possible without losing data?
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app
Oh right, I forgot the small detail about root lol.
Yea, ADB is probably your best bet then, copy everything from /data/app/, /data/data/ and /sdcard/Android/. I think that covers all apps and their settings.
Im not sure you can aquire root through adb without the phone being rooted though... Maybe you can still pull files even without root though (never tried). "adb shell ls /data/" without root doesnt work any way. gives "permission denied".
If that doesnt work, I think youre out of luck . A non-rooted phone sucks lol
Ok. Simply pulling files from /data/ probably will not work without root, but using the "adb backup" should. Here's one guide for doing it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1420351.
I guess I'll just try my luck with it. I rather set up some apps again by hand (and lose my airline one Pocket Planes ) than run stock forever.
Thanks for your advice!
Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app

I'm getting a new phone, how can i backup everything before rooting ?

I'm going to be receiving a Nexus 5 i ordered off eBay soon and of course i want to root it and unlock everything but i'm unsure how i can back everything up just in case. I have only rooted 1 phone before and i didn't back anything up so i have no idea what the process is or what certain things i need to backup. Can anyone tell me each thing i need to backup and how to do it ? Like the bootloader, and rom/img/recovery or whatever its all called.
Unlocking the bootloader will automatically wipe the phone; therefore, unlock the bootloader, flash TWRP, set up the phone, and use TWRP to create a nandroid backup.
Check out the general forum for tutorials about unlocking the bootloader, flashing img files in fastboot, and backups.
there are official Google factory images for that, no need to backup. Only thing i would suggest to backup in twrp is EFS partition. this is unique partition for every single phone, it contains IMEI, and other connectivity stuff Good luck

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