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Backup data before flashing ROM

Hello. I have Vodafone 845 with Mr. Edition ROM (1.6.x version) and I would like to switch to the newest one and/or to try other ROM.
I don't want to lose my data on the phone, but I don't know how to backup them.
I've heard about Titanium backup, but I think it will not backup all (SMS, wifi settings, ...).
I have seen Backup/Restore in recovery mode. Can something from that menu help me? I want to backup to SD card, not to my computer (running Linux and there were some problems with flashing phone after I bought it - PC hadn't seen it, but I could flash recovery menu to it...).
I need to backup all data mainly (backup of apps is not needed, but can be done within process).
Clearly I want: Backup -> wipe -> flash -> restore -> use my phone just like before flash
Any help appreciated

[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.

Function of the features in advance restore???

Hello, today, I restore my phone from a Nandroid backup for some reason and I decide to go for advance restore. However, there are lots of restore options that allow me to choose and even that I try them each to see what will restore, I am still not certain in regard to the role of each.
Here is my assumption and observation;
- restore data: restore all my apps data including homescreen layout and data of each app?
- restore boot: no idea (I though that it was the bootanimation, but it wasn't)
- restore system: restore system apps, everything in the root, all mods and system setting?
- restore cache: no idea
-restore sd-ext: restore my external sdcard (but I am restoring it from my ext sd, so what is the purpose of this?)
Please correct me and add more information. Thanks.

[GUIDE] [NOOB FRIENDLY] How to backup your phone.

HOW TO BACKUP YOUR PHONE
Hey guys!
I've seen a lot of people being confused about how to backup your phone before a custom rom install or a firmware upgrade.
People here mostly use Titanium backup or Helium to use backup their phones, still the new users/noobs dont know how to operate them.
ao I am making a detailed guide for both, Rooted Phones and Non Rooted phones.
Thanks.
COMMON WAYS FOR ROOTED AND NON ROOTED :
CONTACTS : Simple. Android has given us the unique feature of backing up using the phone itself.
-Open the Contacts app
-Press the Menu Button
-Press Import/Export
-Export to SDCard
and youre done. The phone will make a *.vcf file in your system which can be used on any android phone.
IMAGES : Two Alternatives. Using an App or Manually
-App : Use Quick Backup to SD by Linever corporation from the playstore. It backups in the SD card by making a folder for each album that you've transferred.
MANUALLY :
-Copy the DCIM folder.
-Copy the Pictures folder
-Paste it somewhere safe
CALL LOGS : Use Easy Backup frim the playstore
SPECIFIC for NON ROOTED vs. ROOTED.
NON ROOTED PHONES
APPLICATIONS: TWO WORDS. APK EXTRACT from the playstore. IT saves your apps on the Internal SD card and then you can safely copy all your apps
APP DATA : The MOST IMPORTANT backup after contacts
Nobody likes to lose their HighScores or the points earned and start from the beginning.
-Download Helium App from the Playstore
-Download Helium App for the PC (it prompts)
-Enable USB Debugging from developer options
-Backup on the INTERNAL SD first.
-Copy the folder named CARBON from the internal SD to anywhere safe.
You can restore by the same app on some other phone by just pressing restore. Somehow for me I copy the carbon folder to the INTERNAL SD again and then restore as a direct restore from sd does not work.
ROOTED PHONES
We guys have a lot of options.
Ohh yes we do.
APPLICATIONS and APP DATA
Two APPS. TITANIUM BACKUP & HELIUM
-Open Tiranium Backup
-Tap Backup/Restore
-If you want to backup just one app, tap on it and select backup or;
to backup all the apps, use the tick mark in the app on the backup/restore tab.
Restoring Via TIB.
This is one issue many face. But it is simple.
-Just open TiB
-Press Menu button
-Press Batch Actions
-See for restore
-Press on Restore Apps with Missing Data.
HELIUM
The same process as non rooted users, but then we dont want USB debugging on or the Desktop app.
Just give root permissions and start backing up.
I find helium better than TiB for App and App data.
Again. Opinions differ
This is a basic guides for the "Important Things" in our phone.
If you want me to add about anything specific, Just leave a reply.
Or if you have any other ways or backing up, Ill add it here.
I'll make sure I keep this updated.
Thank you

PRECAUTIONS :
Never Backup system apps and try to push them on other roms.
Dont even try pushing them into system/app or system/priv-apps.
Each system app is made according to a relevant framework.
This can lead to a possible funny behaviour of the phone and many unexpected crashes and weird bootloops.
Its always advised to backup and restore the general utility apps that can be downloaded from the playstore to save data and download time
Do update backups once a week. This helps your backup not to get obsolete with time
Thanks @malybru for the help

[B]Guide for a NANDROID a.k.a. NAND backup.[/B]
Nandroid backups are a life saviour if you dont want to flash the whole stock rom then again do the process of custom recoveries etc. just because you had a "bootloop"
Like c'mon! A bootloop/random ui crashing and you flash a full stock rom. Sounds funny.
But yes, people have to do it if they dont have a handy nandroid backup.
Pre requisite:
-A Custom Recovery.
The best and widely used ones being Philz Recovery
TWRP Recovery
CWM recovery
(Will update links after sometime)
-Knowledge of how to flash things via odin.
-Some common sense on selecting what to flash
How to Install a Custom Recovery
Should I tell that?
in brief
1.Boot into download mode
2.Connect phone to odin and wait for odin to recognise
3.Select the recovery in AP/PDA
4.Press start and let it do its work.
How to enter into a custom recovery
a. Press Volume up + Home Button + Power Button. As soon as you see The GalaxyS4 screen, leave all three and in a jiffy press Volume Up + Home Button.
b. Use quickboot/any other mod that you run that boots your phone in recovery.
Nand Backup
a. When youre in the recovery, press on backup/restore
b. Press on backup and do a full system backup.
It usually takes 30 minutes for a bloated firmware backup. Restore takes the same time.
Do have atleast 40% battery.
Remember, backups can be selective too (Only Data/Only System etc etc.)
Same is for the restore.
A nand backup will always restore you to your last backup position (obvious). So do keep manual backups too.

Good guide.
Added to sticky roll-up thread.

thank you!

What about a basic nandroid backup?

Removed. Backup of messages is not available in stock sms app after all. Sorry for any problems my error may have caused...

jonahtriangle said:
What about a basic nandroid backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@jonahtriangle added the nandroid backup. Tell me if you want me to add more to it
"If someone helps, never forget to hit thanks ? "

@bobfrantic not an issue buddy
"If someone helps, never forget to hit thanks ? "

Anyone know how to backup bluetooth pairings? That causes me most pain when updating roms. Titanium has the feature but does not work

DeepankarS said:
HOW TO BACKUP YOUR PHONE
Hey guys!
I've seen a lot of people being confused about how to backup your phone before a custom rom install or a firmware upgrade.
People here mostly use Titanium backup or Helium to use backup their phones, still the new users/noobs dont know how to operate them.
ao I am making a detailed guide for both, Rooted Phones and Non Rooted phones.
Thanks.
COMMON WAYS FOR ROOTED AND NON ROOTED :
CONTACTS : Simple. Android has given us the unique feature of backing up using the phone itself.
-Open the Contacts app
-Press the Menu Button
-Press Import/Export
-Export to SDCard
and youre done. The phone will make a *.vcf file in your system which can be used on any android phone.
IMAGES : Two Alternatives. Using an App or Manually
-App : Use Quick Backup to SD by Linever corporation from the playstore. It backups in the SD card by making a folder for each album that you've transferred.
MANUALLY :
-Copy the DCIM folder.
-Copy the Pictures folder
-Paste it somewhere safe
CALL LOGS : Use Easy Backup frim the playstore
SPECIFIC for NON ROOTED vs. ROOTED.
NON ROOTED PHONES
APPLICATIONS: TWO WORDS. APK EXTRACT from the playstore. IT saves your apps on the Internal SD card and then you can safely copy all your apps
APP DATA : The MOST IMPORTANT backup after contacts
Nobody likes to lose their HighScores or the points earned and start from the beginning.
-Download Helium App from the Playstore
-Download Helium App for the PC (it prompts)
-Enable USB Debugging from developer options
-Backup on the INTERNAL SD first.
-Copy the folder named CARBON from the internal SD to anywhere safe.
You can restore by the same app on some other phone by just pressing restore. Somehow for me I copy the carbon folder to the INTERNAL SD again and then restore as a direct restore from sd does not work.
ROOTED PHONES
We guys have a lot of options.
Ohh yes we do.
APPLICATIONS and APP DATA
Two APPS. TITANIUM BACKUP & HELIUM
-Open Tiranium Backup
-Tap Backup/Restore
-If you want to backup just one app, tap on it and select backup or;
to backup all the apps, use the tick mark in the app on the backup/restore tab.
Restoring Via TIB.
This is one issue many face. But it is simple.
-Just open TiB
-Press Menu button
-Press Batch Actions
-See for restore
-Press on Restore Apps with Missing Data.
HELIUM
The same process as non rooted users, but then we dont want USB debugging on or the Desktop app.
Just give root permissions and start backing up.
I find helium better than TiB for App and App data.
Again. Opinions differ
This is a basic guides for the "Important Things" in our phone.
If you want me to add about anything specific, Just leave a reply.
Or if you have any other ways or backing up, Ill add it here.
I'll make sure I keep this updated.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mr. @deepankerS,
This guide makes life easy!
You mentioned to back up data and apps through APK Extract, Helium, TiB on the internal SD.
Can I do it on the external SD instead? Would that affect the restore process if i was to restore data and apps backed up on the external SD Memory card?

Ehabb1 said:
Mr. @deepankerS,
This guide makes life easy!
You mentioned to back up data and apps through APK Extract, Helium, TiB on the internal SD.
Can I do it on the external SD instead? Would that affect the restore process if i was to restore data and apps backed up on the external SD Memory card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol first edit your comment and shorten the op thread
And yeah..if everything is on the internal sd, copy these folder manually from the internal to external. By default these apps will save info on the internal sd card.
Thus you have settings in the apks to select where to backup.
Just Helium doesnt work on extsd, be it backup/restore.
-TitaniumBackup
-Carbon (contauns helium data)
-ApkExtract/Extracted

Need some help, i have been making backups with recoverys TWRP and Phliz both. I did a full backup of my stock rom 4.4.2 and with TWRP when restore i was unable to write to internel sdcard. And ita was really a annoyn situation. And with the new Philz when i did the restore after boot all apps keep fc could not use it at all.
Any idea why this happens is it due to rong way of wipe (data, system, cashe) when i flash custom roms? Or way that i backup the stock rom? This only happens with the stock rom
Sent from my GT-I9505

DeepankarS said:
Lol first edit your comment and shorten the op thread
And yeah..if everything is on the internal sd, copy these folder manually from the internal to external. By default these apps will save info on the internal sd card.
Thus you have settings in the apks to select where to backup.
Just Helium doesnt work on extsd, be it backup/restore.
-TitaniumBackup
-Carbon (contauns helium data)
-ApkExtract/Extracted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello there @deepankers
I have rooted my phone and everything was going absolutely smooth until today I can't do anything to my external SD card (delete, create folder, etc...). I have already done the SD fix using the app "next app* when I first rooted the phone. I tried Uninstalling then reinstalling es explorer however the problem still exists! I'm sure that es explorer has root access. I tried using the stock "my files" app to do any modifications to my external SD however with no luck!
I appreciate your help in resolving this issue.

Kn!ght L!fe said:
Need some help, i have been making backups with recoverys TWRP and Phliz both. I did a full backup of my stock rom 4.4.2 and with TWRP when restore i was unable to write to internel sdcard. And ita was really a annoyn situation. And with the new Philz when i did the restore after boot all apps keep fc could not use it at all.
Any idea why this happens is it due to rong way of wipe (data, system, cashe) when i flash custom roms? Or way that i backup the stock rom? This only happens with the stock rom
Sent from my GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am facing the same issue using cwm 6.0.64 when i restore my stock rom backup and reboot lot of apps fc such as gapps but after some research in this forum i realize that only the latest philz recovery could backup and restore a stock rom properly

melekbarca said:
i am facing the same issue using cwm 6.0.64 when i restore my stock rom backup and reboot lot of apps fc such as gapps but after some research in this forum i realize that only the latest philz recovery could backup and restore a stock rom properly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the isuue is stock rom do a format to its partions which is why it do many isuues. Coz in reovery it do its own wipe before resotre. Which makes problems to stock.
Even in new philz i had the issue but what i did was wipe full (not internalsd) restore only system and boot once after that i restore data. In that way no isuue at all. All work good.
Sent from my GT-I9505

Kn!ght L!fe said:
I think the isuue is stock rom do a format to its partions which is why it do many isuues. Coz in reovery it do its own wipe before resotre. Which makes problems to stock.
Even in new philz i had the issue but what i did was wipe full (not internalsd) restore only system and boot once after that i restore data. In that way no isuue at all. All work good.
Sent from my GT-I9505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great idea i think that cwm 6.0.46 could get the job done using your method

Thanks
This was extremely helpful, i learned it super quickly.

Hi,
I'd like to recommend this app to backup SMS. I've used it a lot of times when changing ROMs, work pretty well. Also you can upload your backup to Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. and save it on External Storage. Quite useful .
~Lord

Hi there
Just need to backup the Efs partition easily... There is any method? Thanks so much
--
Believes in Christ and you and your family will be safe of the Great day of Jehovah's wrath
I9505 Powered with Phoenix Rom v9.4 - Tamirda
GoogyMax Kernel v1.1.5 - Googy_anas
Philz touch Recovery - Philz
S5's S-view Cover service - Karkasss
Jehovah's Thunder Bootanimation - Pas2001
Bootanimation sound - Me
A lot of mods and stuff - Xda community
Thanks to all of you...

Question What about backup of MIUI?

Hi all. I have Poco X3 Pro. I would like to test custom rom (propably ArrowOS, Android 12). But i need option to revert(with data/settings) to MIUI if custom roms are not for me. There is solution for this? I remember from older smartphones option in TWRP - full backup, after reflashing to another rom this providing option to restore backuped system.
There is solution like this for X3 Pro?

im looking for it too but still no idea

matibu06 said:
Hi all. I have Poco X3 Pro. I would like to test custom rom (propably ArrowOS, Android 12). But i need option to revert(with data/settings) to MIUI if custom roms are not for me. There is solution for this? I remember from older smartphones option in TWRP - full backup, after reflashing to another rom this providing option to restore backuped system.
There is solution like this for X3 Pro?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is nothing special about MIUI. It is just a ROM, like any other ROM, and you backup and restore the same way as you would do with any other ROM.
Backup
1. Remove ROM lockscreen password/PIN
2. Backup all your personal files in the internal storage to an external storage medium (eg, MicroSD, or USB OTG, or the Cloud)
3. Make sure that you have a flashable zip, on an external storage medium, of the exact MIUI ROM that you are currently running, and want to backup
4. Reboot to recovery, and backup the boot and data partitions to an external storage medium (some recoveries, eg, OrangeFox) let you add your internal storage partition as part of the backup
Restore
1. Boot to recovery
2. Format (not just wipe) data
3. Flash your MIUI ROM's zip file
4. Boot the newly flashed MIUI ROM
5. Do some basic ROM configuration
6. Reboot to recovery
7. Restore your backups of the data and boot partitions (and internal storage, if your recovery enabled you to make a backup of it)
8. Reboot to MIUI ROM, and hope for the best (at this point you might get a black or weird-looking screen - if so, restart the ROM with the hardware power button
9. Restore your backups of your personal files to internal storage (if not already done as part of the restore of your backup).

DarthJabba9 said:
There is nothing special about MIUI. It is just a ROM, like any other ROM, and you backup and restore the same way as you would do with any other ROM.
Backup
1. Remove ROM lockscreen password/PIN
2. Backup all your personal files in the internal storage to an external storage medium (eg, MicroSD, or USB OTG, or the Cloud)
3. Make sure that you have a flashable zip, on an external storage medium, of the exact MIUI ROM that you are currently running, and want to backup
4. Reboot to recovery, and backup the boot and data partitions to an external storage medium (some recoveries, eg, OrangeFox) let you add your internal storage partition as part of the backup
Restore
1. Boot to recovery
2. Format (not just wipe) data
3. Flash your MIUI ROM's zip file
4. Boot the newly flashed MIUI ROM
5. Do some basic ROM configuration
6. Reboot to recovery
7. Restore your backups of the data and boot partitions (and internal storage, if your recovery enabled you to make a backup of it)
8. Reboot to MIUI ROM, and hope for the best (at this point you might get a black or weird-looking screen - if so, restart the ROM with the hardware power button
9. Restore your backups of your personal files to internal storage (if not already done as part of the restore of your backup).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but it still needs twrp. we need fastboot flashable files.

wb1016 said:
... we need fastboot flashable files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why?

DarthJabba9 said:
Why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to escape bricked state, to restore without handling integrity checks, and much more.

wb1016 said:
to escape bricked state, to restore without handling integrity checks, and much more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had any of those problems.

DarthJabba9 said:
I've never had any of those problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i need those so much because i want to keep my storage encrypted. messing with encrypted environment can make partitions non readable easily due to forced checks. thus, users need to keep steps in exact order.
but dumping all partitions (excluding cache) can replace all procedure. using dd, i can restore those without switching boot mode, so checks are not executed at all.
also, it makes hot boot possible. this is really helpful in some cases.
these can reduce risks of testing significantly.