[Q] How do I do a full backup of my phone? - HTC Desire S

I rooted my Desire S and now I want to install a ROM on it, this is my first time so I'm being a little cautious.
How do I make a full backup of my phone? In the case I don't like the ROM and want to return to how my phone is now, is this possible?
If so, how to make this backup? And how would I restore my phone back to it?
Thanks!

Assuming you've rooted your phone and put a custom recovery on it (4EXT or CWM), run a backup - also called a NANDROID backup - and that will give you an image saved on your SD Card that you can restore if you ever need to.

Alright, I've got CWM and just did a NANDROID backup, it created 6 files on my sd card, which are:
boot.img
cache.img
data.img
nandroid.md5
recovery.img
system.img
How do I used these files to restore back to if I ever need to?

Just go into CWM again and select 'Restore'. I don't know if it is 100% necessary, but I always do a full wipe of all partitions (except for sdcard) before restoring as well just to be certain.

Alright, thanks for that!
Since that back up is done, going to back up all my app's now then flash my first ROM

Assuming (again) that you are using Titanium Backup to backup your apps - although this is probably true for other backup methods - be careful when restoring. There can be problems if you are restoring Sense app backups to an AOSP ROM or vice-versa. If you start getting problems post-restore then try restoring a few apps at a time to see if you can pin-down the problem app. From my experience, it's often better to install the app fresh from the marketplace and then restore just the settings (if you need them).

Make sure to use md5 sum check and verify them after every backup. It's good practice to avoid corruptions.
I use 4Ext control for that
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium

Related

Backups: Nandroid v. TiBu

Can someone help me understand the difference between a Nandroid backup and using Titanium Backup? Is it similar to the difference between image-based backup vs. file/application based backup? Under what circumstances would one be better than the other?
Your simile is spot on. Nandroid backup is used to completely restore a system with all apps and data.
Titanium Backup is used to restore/reinstall apps and data without changing your system. It's really handy if you get brave and decide to flash a new ROM on your phone. TiBu can put all your previously installed apps into place very quickly.
If you don't like the new ROM, just restore your old system from the Nandroid backup.
Ok, so help me think this through.
I've already Rooted/S-off/flashed a ROM on my phone. So presuming that the ROM image I download via CWM or XDA is on my card anyway, and I have TiBu (I have the paid version) that I can use to selectively restore apps, settings and data, would not Nandroid be redundant in this case?
OlafTheOx said:
Your simile is spot on. Nandroid backup is used to completely restore a system with all apps and data.
Titanium Backup is used to restore/reinstall apps and data without changing your system. It's really handy if you get brave and decide to flash a new ROM on your phone. TiBu can put all your previously installed apps into place very quickly.
If you don't like the new ROM, just restore your old system from the Nandroid backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point of a nandriod backup is to easily go back to a working setup without having to spend time installing apps and tweaking all the numerous settings to your liking. 5 minutes to restore a nandroid backup vs. 2 - 4 hours of installing & tweaking.
DInc with CyanogenMod 6.1 & Invisiblek #28 kernel.
Download Nandroid
Where do I download Nandroid?
Will this one work from the G1 thread?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=459830
Thanks
Nandroid is actually part of Clockwork Recovery. If you reboot to recovery mode you can make and restore backups from there.
As you say your on a custom ROM I assume Clockwork Recovery/CWM/ROM Manager was installed as part of the process.
There is a good overview of ClockworkMod Recovery at http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/what-is-clockworkmod-recovery-and-how-to-use-it-on-android-complete-guide/#features
BillTheCat said:
Can someone help me understand the difference between a Nandroid backup and using Titanium Backup? Is it similar to the difference between image-based backup vs. file/application based backup? Under what circumstances would one be better than the other?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just wondering about the same thing, so thanks for the thread.
Making a Nandroid backup right now ;-)
BTW, nandroid backups are stored on your SD card. You can free up space by either deleting or moving them to storage off the phone. Just keep a backup of your preferred restoration ROM on the SD card. Also, at the very least, it's a good idea to save a backup of the original manufacturer's ROM somewhere.
DInc with CyanogenMod 6.1 & Invisiblek #28 kernel.
technoplunk said:
There is a good overview of ClockworkMod Recovery at addictivetips dot com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the link.
One issue though... it says ClockWorkMod requires ROOT access to create a backup rom image, which on my phone (ATT Aria with HBOOT 1.02) require to have S-OFF first with alpharev, yet most instructions tell you to create a nandroid backup first (which makes sense in case something goes wrong)...
Am I missing something ? you can't create a back, and you take risk doing S-OFF+Root to get there.
I want to remove unwanted ATT crapware, and install non market apps, but I need root access for all this. right ?

[Q] What does nandroid backup contain?

Before people start coming in to flame me for using the search button, please let me clarify that i have looked into several threads on xda and none of them provided me with a clear cut answer of what i wanted to know.
I understand first of all is that nandroid backup is a complete image of what is on the phone which should include stuff like settings, sms, call logs, data etc. What i have not found, however, if they keep other files that are lying around in the phone. For example, most of my Nexus S consists of videos and music (7-10GB) and in separate folders that are not tied to any apps in particular. Hence, if they are included in nandroid backup i would not have sufficient storage to do so (reminder that Nexus S has 16 GB)
I have "accidentally" posted on the galaxy S forum of xda and someone pointed out that it backs up apps and data from the internal SD. As far as i know this is slightly different with Nexus S because i observed that most apps are already installed in the "external" SD portion of the data.
Overall, i'm just a little confused. Can anyone clarify this?
It is just apps and data. The sd card is i believe split so that it doesnt touch your music, videos, and images. It just takes care of the main system stuff like apps and settings. Hoped i helped
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
But aren't most apps on the nexus S installed on the sd card section of the storage? At least they are under Settings->Application settings->Manage applications->USB Storage
For example my Gameloft games would be almost 1 GB in size so would that be backed up as well. I will end up with gigantic nandroid backups.
A nAnroid backup includes
.android_source - apps2sd information/apps stored on /sdcard
boot - boot image
cache - cache files stored on /cache
data - apps, dalvik other stuff on /data
recovery - recovery image
system - system apps, frameworks modules etc on /system
nadroid.md5 - md5 information
nandroids do not include anything on the /sdcard other than .android_source.
how to do it? by using CWM?? am i wrong or correct??
ciwek90 said:
how to do it? by using CWM?? am i wrong or correct??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
Flash ClockworkMod.
(You might have to rename /etc/install-recovery.sh to get it to stick.)
Boot into fastboot (volumeUp+ power).
Recovery - Backup and Restore - Backup.
Maximilian Mary said:
Correct.
Flash ClockworkMod.
(You might have to rename /etc/install-recovery.sh to get it to stick.)
Boot into fastboot (volumeUp+ power).
Recovery - Backup and Restore - Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! but if i want to flash custom rom and i do backup first then i flash new custom rom, so i can get back all my apps by restoring nandroid backup is it? or nandroid backup is only for when things went wrong? i confuse...
ciwek90 said:
Awesome! but if i want to flash custom rom and i do backup first then i flash new custom rom, so i can get back all my apps by restoring nandroid backup is it? or nandroid backup is only for when things went wrong? i confuse...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid is basically all or nothing. There is an advanced restore which can restore only the partitions you want (like system or data), but it probably won't play nicely with a custom rom. Your best best is to use titanium backup for user apps & data, and perhaps some select system data like texts, bookmarks, and wifi settings. Check out the batch backup/restore options for user apps & data.
ciwek90 said:
Awesome! but if i want to flash custom rom and i do backup first then i flash new custom rom, so i can get back all my apps by restoring nandroid backup is it? or nandroid backup is only for when things went wrong? i confuse...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid backup backs up everything including the rom... so NO you can't restore apps with it.
To just save apks/apps you use eg Titanium Backup.
NOW i know it! Thank you so much @Maximilian Mary and @rentaric for helping me!
Nandroid = for backup/restore previous rom
Titanium = for backup/restore data & apps
Thanks again!
rentaric said:
Nandroid backup backs up everything including the rom... so NO you can't restore apps with it.
To just save apks/apps you use eg Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro, does nandroid backup include the IMEI also?
heyimCHOLO said:
Bro, does nandroid backup include the IMEI also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some recoveries have this option buy many don't, just boot to your recovery and see if it is listed as an option, if not, then no
Your apps will still be on your sd card because your just restoring your operating system that you had with all of it settings it will show all of your apps you had but if you deleted it from the sd card when you try opening it it would say app not installed. Nandroid backup saves everything in settings and operating system apps will be on sd card. Some apps can be included in nandroid it just depends where they are located when back up is saved.

[Q] Nandroid or CWM

I typically use CWM to back up my phone before flashing a new ROM.
I have been reading about Nandroid and dont see an advantage to using that over CWM, however most the devs say to use Nandroid to back up your phone.
Is there a reason/advantage to use Nandroid over CWM that I'm not seeing?
Technically, Nandroid does a little bit better job of backing up absolutely everything, and it would be a good idea to have at least one full, nice backup of your phone for if things go horribly, horribly wrong.
That being said, I just use CWM to backup everything every time I'm going to flash a new ROM, and I never have problems. (I'm a habitual ROM changer) You should be ready to flash CWM with Odin in case your recovery gets corrupted, but I don't see any reason not to trust it.
I thought nandroid backup was backup in cwm. I learn new things everyday. Maybe that's my md5 mismatch problem when I try to restore a backup.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
GooSe275 said:
I typically use CWM to back up my phone before flashing a new ROM.
I have been reading about Nandroid and dont see an advantage to using that over CWM, however most the devs say to use Nandroid to back up your phone.
Is there a reason/advantage to use Nandroid over CWM that I'm not seeing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using CWM to back up your phone is a nandroid backup. Are you referring to using Rom Manager to backup your roms? If so, it is still creating a nandroid backup. View the screen as your back up begins and you will see that it is creating a nandroid backup.
Im asking myself the same question ... I use this backup methode: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1390771
- Is it also creating a nondroid backup ?
- When I look at my backupfiles, how can I check it ?
- as this backup does not seem to backup all files ... is there another backup doing a real image or at least
Pls see the jpg of the .zip I made from the CWM backup dir on SD card...
gggg said:
Im asking myself the same question ... I use this backup methode: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1390771
- Is it also creating a nondroid backup ?
- When I look at my backupfiles, how can I check it ?
- as this backup does not seem to backup all files ... is there another backup doing a real image or at least
Pls see the jpg of the .zip I made from the CWM backup dir on SD card...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That certainly looks like an official nandroid backup to me.
Sent via Tapatalk 2
Backups
Just a word of caution that some of the other Senior Devs I have talked to about this say to stay away from using Rom Manager for things if you can. It is better and safer to boot into recovery and do things via CWM or TWRP or whatever your Recovery of choice is...
I know Rom Manager might be good for somethings but trusting your backup to anything other than CWM is not something I would do.
Also, Nandroid Backup and the Backup setting in CWM is the same thing.
Keep in mind it won't backup internal storage. "emmc"
Boot
Recovery
System
Data
Cache
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
i have little Linux knowledge ... is there a way to copy all the missing directories / partition ... eg. using ADB / busybox ???

Question about ClockworkMod Recovery and ICS Rom

I was suggested to flash an ICS ROM, so first I was wondering which one is best for beginners. I was previously using Andromeda.
Anyways, I am following the instructions for CyanogenMod9 but when i go into recovery mode and choose backup there is no choice that says "NAND Backup"....I just clicked backup is this something different. Please help...
I have some things on my phone that I would not want to lose
Before anything backup everything on your phone you don't wanna loose cuz you never know. There are many great roms around have fun flashing them. I personally recommend AOKP.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium
thanks, but was the backup I performed the proper one to do before flashing a new ROM??
It was, for the most part. The backup you perform (called a Nandroid Backup) makes a snapshot of the system configuration at the time you backed it up.
If you ever want to come back to where you were, just flash back to Andromeda and restore that backup.
If you're wanting a backup that will cross the Andromeda-ICS gap, though, you'll need something like Titanium Backup, as a Nandroid backup is specific to the configuration it was created in (i.e. you have to be in the same ROM to restore from that backup).
NOTE: --VERY IMPORTANT-- Nandroid backups DO NOT back up your pictures, music, documents, etc. These are separate items on the Internal SD card.
I would highly recommend that before you go any further that you plug your phone into your computer and copy everything that shows up on the internal SD card to a safe place. While you're at it, make a copy of your /efs folder.
thanks I made a backup of everything else...what was the efs folder? from it being unlocked?
anyways now I can proceed to wiping the data to flash the rom of my choice?

[Q] How to use Nandroid backup and what exactly it does restore?

Hello,
I have problems restoring from nandroid backup.
Here what I did"
1) Flashed ROM1 and Flashed Kernel1.
2) Installed all My apps which I use.
3) Took Nandroid back-up.
4) Flashed ROM2. Flashed Kernel1.
5) Installed all apps.
6) After 1 days reflashed ROM1 and Kernel1.
7) Tried restoring Nandroid back-up I created 1 day back.
AND IT FAILS!!
Everytime I did a complete wipe of all data and catch and dalvik.
Same happened with CWM and AmonRa
CWM: md5 sums mismatch!!
AmonRa: Oops! Something went wrong!!
Am I mistaken about Nandroid back-up? Am I doing something wrong?
Actually I wanted to restore all my apps and data related to apps. I took whole system and data and everything backed up in the option.
1 Nandroid backup means it reflashes your backed up system with all your installed apps i.e if you have gb rom and do nandroid backup it will backup your current system( in this case gb) with all installed apps at the time you did backup.
2 You said it failed did it display any error while backing your nandroid backup.
3 Never heard of a backup being failed, you must have messed up something.
4 Md5 checksum mismatch means you either had a bad flash or if you moved or replaced some file also backup from different recovery will not work if you backed up from cmw then you cannot restore from amonra recovery, did you change recovery after backing up if you did then it wont work.
5. If you want to backup your apps and data next time try backing it with titanium backup root.Open titanium backup and press batch and then press backup all apps + data.
6. After flashimg new rom install titanium backup root from google play and press restore all app+data this will restore your apps with data.
7. If you use nandroid backup then your rom also changes to the rom that you had while backing up.
hope this helps
Go to your SDcard.. search and go to clockworkmod folder.. go to backup.. now whichever file you see.. Rename it xyz or anything WITHOUT any space!!
Try restoring then!!
hsingh1993 said:
1 Nandroid backup means it reflashes your backed up system with all your installed apps i.e if you have gb rom and do nandroid backup it will backup your current system( in this case gb) with all installed apps at the time you did backup.
2 You said it failed did it display any error while backing your nandroid backup.
3 Never heard of a backup being failed, you must have messed up something.
4 Md5 checksum mismatch means you either had a bad flash or if you moved or replaced some file also backup from different recovery will not work if you backed up from cmw then you cannot restore from amonra recovery, did you change recovery after backing up if you did then it wont work.
5. If you want to backup your apps and data next time try backing it with titanium backup root.Open titanium backup and press batch and then press backup all apps + data.
6. After flashimg new rom install titanium backup root from google play and press restore all app+data this will restore your apps with data.
7. If you use nandroid backup then your rom also changes to the rom that you had while backing up.
hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hadn't change anything but the name of the folder with some appropriate name like "CM-9.1.1 Final + CandiedIce Kernel + Apps", so that I can recognize it when I need it. No changes in the 5-6 files of recovery.
Didn't try restoring CWM back-up with AmonRa. Tried Amonra to Amonra and CWM to CWM. Failed all times (almost 5 to 6 times).
Does making folder name without any spaces in between work? If it's so, it's weird!! Is it that way? Should the folder name has to have NO SPACE?
"clockworkmode > backup > CM-9.1.1 + CandiedIce Kernel + Apps" - won't work.
But "clockworkmode > backup > CM-9.1.1+CandiedIce_Kernel+Apps" - will work??
Also, as known CWM couldn't back-up sdext. But otherwise No Error. While AmonRa did all back-up without any sort of error.
Dude.. just do it. WITHOUT ANY SPACE.. if you want to restore!!
And keep a small name!!
Eg: cm9.1.1.candied.ice
Dont use any special characters like $ & #
Thanks
rr0yy said:
Dude.. just do it. WITHOUT ANY SPACE.. if you want to restore!!
And keep a small name!!
Eg: cm9.1.1.candied.ice
Dont use any special characters like $ & #
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the betterment of my knowledge. I shall keep this in mind for future use!! Recently I am stable with CM 9.1.1 without Gapps.
rr0yy said:
Dude.. just do it. WITHOUT ANY SPACE.. if you want to restore!!
And keep a small name!!
Eg: cm9.1.1.candied.ice
Dont use any special characters like $ & #
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man for the tip! :good:
I usually put spaces in my backup though i have'nt encountered that problem.
wyndcryst25 said:
Thanks man for the tip! :good:
I usually put spaces in my backup though i have'nt encountered that problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So keeping a small name and without spaces is important??
sn809 said:
So keeping a small name and without spaces is important??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, this is Linux, means no spaces.
i have a question about this subject,
if i want to backup my rom my stock 4.1.1 on my galaxy nexus how can i do that so that when and if i choose to return or sell the phone i would like to load up the stock Rom back on the phone in case the person isnt tech friendly.
does a Nandroid back up Rom files and kernel as well ???
thanks for any help guys
fariswheel said:
i have a question about this subject,
if i want to backup my rom my stock 4.1.1 on my galaxy nexus how can i do that so that when and if i choose to return or sell the phone i would like to load up the stock Rom back on the phone in case the person isnt tech friendly.
does a Nandroid back up Rom files and kernel as well ???
thanks for any help guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use a custom recovery to backup. You can find them at galaxy nexus forum on xda
Yes, it restores everything. Nandroid backup is 1:1 copy of your entire phone memory. It will even restore your messages, call logs, accounts etc
sarus_b said:
Use a custom recovery to backup. You can find them at galaxy nexus forum on xda
Yes, it restores everything. Nandroid backup is 1:1 copy of your entire phone memory. It will even restore your messages, call logs, accounts etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So any NANDroid backup is 1:1?
Does that mean that NANDroid also wipes all data?
Searz said:
So any NANDroid backup is 1:1?
Does that mean that NANDroid also wipes all data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, is 1:1; if you restore a nandroid it will take the same space as the rom you backed up, and no, if you make a nandroid backup, you won't loose any data whatsoever, you still can continue using the rom you backed up, but if you are going to restore a nandroid it's better to make a full wipe, like if you are installing a rom, that's the way i do it...
gabo_lope said:
yes, is 1:1; if you restore a nandroid it will take the same space as the rom you backed up, and no, if you make a nandroid backup, you won't loose any data whatsoever, you still can continue using the rom you backed up, but if you are going to restore a nandroid it's better to make a full wipe, like if you are installing a rom, that's the way i do it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I didn't mean that you'd lose data when making a backup. That defeats the point of making a backup in the first place, lol.
I was talking about when you restore it. And from what you just wrote I assume that files that aren't overwritten when restoring remain. Similar to how you can flash a ROM "dirty".
Searz said:
No, I didn't mean that you'd lose data when making a backup. That defeats the point of making a backup in the first place, lol.
I was talking about when you restore it. And from what you just wrote I assume that files that aren't overwritten when restoring remain. Similar to how you can flash a ROM "dirty".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Files will be overwritten. For example, if you make a nandroid, then update an app, when you restore that nandroid, you will restore the previous version of that app.
Sent from my LG-VM670 using xda app-developers app
upconvert said:
Files will be overwritten. For example, if you make a nandroid, then update an app, when you restore that nandroid, you will restore the previous version of that app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, exactly how I thought it worked. Thanks for confirming that for me.
guys i have some questions.........
1) nanadroid backs up all system apps and saved data like messages, phonelogs, contacts, saved settings right ??
2) if I flash a new ROM and then want to go back to the previous state by flashing nandroid backup, does it unroot my device?
3) I backup system apps + data by nandroid backup and SD card apps by Titanium Backup. Is this right ??
Searz said:
No, I didn't mean that you'd lose data when making a backup. That defeats the point of making a backup in the first place, lol.
I was talking about when you restore it. And from what you just wrote I assume that files that aren't overwritten when restoring remain. Similar to how you can flash a ROM "dirty".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4) If I have a backup of stock ROM then flash a custom ROM like CM, system files will be different in CM. SO when I restore the stock ROM, files that are new to CM will still remain right?
sorry for asking noob questions..........I'll really appreciate it if u guys answer this
Hmm
mike_24_11 said:
Hello,
I have problems restoring from nandroid backup.
Here what I did"
1) Flashed ROM1 and Flashed Kernel1.
2) Installed all My apps which I use.
3) Took Nandroid back-up.
4) Flashed ROM2. Flashed Kernel1.
5) Installed all apps.
6) After 1 days reflashed ROM1 and Kernel1.
7) Tried restoring Nandroid back-up I created 1 day back.
AND IT FAILS!!
Everytime I did a complete wipe of all data and catch and dalvik.
Same happened with CWM and AmonRa
CWM: md5 sums mismatch!!
AmonRa: Oops! Something went wrong!!
Am I mistaken about Nandroid back-up? Am I doing something wrong?
Actually I wanted to restore all my apps and data related to apps. I took whole system and data and everything backed up in the option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you use cwm recovery or twrp idk about twrp but if you are using cwm go to the cwm recovery go down to backup and restore now backup it to sdcard1 (sometimes its shown as backup to external sd card depends on your phone what u use) or just press backup it backups your current rom and your files and now press restore and chose your restore file or if you backup it to your sd card you can do the same thing just chose restore from external sd card and chose your restore file :good: done :good:

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