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Is it posible to flash without data loss?

Is it posible to flash with data loss?
Or can i backup my apps data and then restore it when i flash to another Rom?

It's not possible to flash a ROM on top of a previous ROM w/o expecting any trouble. Either you get bootloops, hangs, or all sorts of force closes with apps. Backup apps w/ Titanium Backup. TB will save the apps and data to a folder on the SD card, from which it will restore the apps when you click "Batch Restore" after flashing a new ROM.

thanks for the advise gonna do it tonight

Borat38 said:
It's not possible to flash a ROM on top of a previous ROM w/o expecting any trouble. Either you get bootloops, hangs, or all sorts of force closes with apps. Backup apps w/ Titanium Backup. TB will save the apps and data to a folder on the SD card, from which it will restore the apps when you click "Batch Restore" after flashing a new ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've flashed about 100 CM7 nightly builds and release candidates on top of each other without losing data so that isn't strictly true! ROMs made by different chefs that are significantly different from each will need a data wipe though, and TB is useful to some in that situation.

Well i want to go from LeoMar75 Rom Revolution 2.1 to 2.2

I use rom manager and have sometimes updated my rom without wipping my data, but it's not always stabel.
I would recommend first making a backup of you data with titinium backup or mybackup and then updating your om

DirkGently1 said:
I've flashed about 100 CM7 nightly builds and release candidates on top of each other without losing data so that isn't strictly true! ROMs made by different chefs that are significantly different from each will need a data wipe though, and TB is useful to some in that situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I should've been more clear that when switching from one ROM to an entirely different one, you should wipe. But then again, even with ROMs that are of the same series, sometimes the differences are so great that it's best to wipe clean before flashing. I'm speaking from my experience with StarBurst.

Titanium Backup Regimens?

Hey everyone-just wondering what your preferred regimen for backups/restores is when using tibu. I backup all modified data for my apps nightly, but I don't really play with user data for the sake of conflicts when flashing between ROMs. Can anyone provide me with some insight as to how to keep as much system data as possible between ROM flashes(ie my email accounts, WiFi access points, some system settings, etc) that arent likely to conflict with other ROMs (so long as they're on the same version of Android)?
Just wondering if there's an optimal backup/restore regimen I'm unaware of.
Thanks guys!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Subscribed! Same questions have been running through my head.

System data will potentially corrupt your system, from one base (ROM) to the other. Wiping data is necessary to prevent bugs and glitches.
If you are flashing an update to an already installed ROM, you can forgo the data wipe (factory reset), and wipe only: cache, dalvik, and system. This will keep your data intact.
Doing a factory reset on occasion after several flashes, will clean up some potential problems.
Wiping SD card, internal and external, will also help with any potential problems. If wiping SD card you should only have to save media (pix, music, video) and any docs to your PC. Then format card, then add back your media and docs. You should notice better performance.
Wiping data can be necessary, a part of flashing ROMs. As far as TiBu I backup everything. When restoring you have the option to restore data or not. If you are restoring from a different ROM choose to only restore app.

ChillFactorz said:
System data will potentially corrupt your system, from one base (ROM) to the other. Wiping data is necessary to prevent bugs and glitches.
If you are flashing an update to an already installed ROM, you can forgo the data wipe (factory reset), and wipe only: cache, dalvik, and system. This will keep your data intact.
Doing a factory reset on occasion after several flashes, will clean up some potential problems.
Wiping SD card, internal and external, will also help with any potential problems. If wiping SD card you should only have to save media (pix, music, video) and any docs to your PC. Then format card, then add back your media and docs. You should notice better performance.
Wiping data can be necessary, a part of flashing ROMs. As far as TiBu I backup everything. When restoring you have the option to restore data or not. If you are restoring from a different ROM choose to only restore app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I appreciate the reply, but this is all stuff I'm aware of. However if what you're saying is that nobody out there really bothers with restoring any system data from one base to another, then that answers my question and what I'm already doing is the best way to go.
Thanks.

stevenavm said:
Well I appreciate the reply, but this is all stuff I'm aware of. However if what you're saying is that nobody out there really bothers with restoring any system data from one base to another, then that answers my question and what I'm already doing is the best way to go.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one restores system data unless they want problems.
Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk 2

Exporting sms and call log is the only thing I've ever need. I was extremely happy the day they added that.
I don't even backup app data anymore. Except for 2 authenticators I use. I prefer to keep as much stuff on cloud storage as possible. I trust my SR and ROM, I just don't trust myself.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727

[Q] Clockworkmod recovery backup not working properly

Hi gents. I am trying to restore my phone to a recent clockworkmod recovery backup but several of the latest backups won't restore the downloaded programs of the time, nor do they seem to be restoring the general Android settings. Older backups are working perfectly, however, and I can't think of any significant or unusual changes I made to the system that could stop it working properly. Also, I have been backing up and restoring the same way.
I'm using Revolutionary CWM v4.0.1.4, HTC ICS 4.0.4 (w/ older HBOOT for S-OFF), HTC Desire S.
I find this very strange, and unsettling that clockworkmod's backup may be unreliable. Has anybody experienced this?
Another thing, I have also been backing up the entire SD card data in the later backups (just copying to computer via card reader), thinking it may be best to restore backups with this data, but it seems to not make a difference whether this is done, or the data left as-is, or the card cleared. What's best practice in regard to the Android data that's put on the SD card?
My phone is up the creek. Help!?

i am having the same problem restoring CWM v4.0.1.4 backups on my galaxy s2: older backups restore perfectly and newer backups restore incompletely (some settings and SMSs, but no apps and no contacts).
i believe this is an issue with large nandroid images (containing >10,000 files) being unable to restore properly. this implies the backup itself is intact, luckily.
read this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1154892
to rebuild my phone i started by using unyaffs on my PC to access the files on the CWM nandroid image and restore my contacts, call logs, etc:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1370349
you can find additional file locations listed in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=969650
i then used appextractor (available in the play store) to manually restore my apps and app data from the CWM nandroid image. some needed to be redownloaded.
it's a schlepp but better than losing everything entirely.
i've read that TWRP is a more reliable way to backup and restore. i'm certainly not using CWM again.
regarding your second question, the data on your internal and external SD card is irrelevant to the function of the OS, but some apps may rely on that data. for example large apps install on the SD card.

Thanks so much for that matey. I searched and searched but hadn't come across the 10,000 files limitation. How annoying!
Anyhoo, before I saw your post I ended up restoring the latest working backup and reinstalled apps, configured things, got the device mostly up to speed.. but there were some sentimental Messages I wanted to restore. I got that unyaffs exe, the 10,000 file fix one, and managed to extract the mmssms.db just fine..
But I soon learnt it seems to be a nightmare to get it back into ICS because the SQLite db is in full-vacuum mode or some such, meaning it is cached and rewritten to help avoid fragmentation or some such. So I overwrite the mmssms.db, set permissions and ownership, reboot, and it's overwritten with the current one. Argh. I tried clearing cache. Tried running SMS backup/restore apps while the 'good' mmssms.db was in place, but they seem to look at the db cache/temp data, not the mmssms.db.
For those facing my situation and want Messages from CWM/nandroid backups in ICS, I found a great tip just posted on one of the threads N-acetyltransferase linked;
RichAP said:
I did this yesterday using Titanium Backup for my SMS/MMS
You need to go into Preferences and check the *Migrate system data [Experimental] option
Then you go to More - Extract from nandroid backup
There it is listed as Dialer Storage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had tried using TiBu to restore Messages from nandroid backup (no success), but Dialer Storage!? How annoying. Anyhoo it's sorted.
Then I quickly found a good alternative recovery and quickly bought the premium version of 4EXT. It's very good, but get this, it actually recovered my latest CWM recovery backup no drama, just like that! Ahh well I didn't need those hours of my life anyway. I've often thought the Desire S's codename Saga is rather apt.
In conclusion, TiBu looks damn good and 4EXT is a ripper. I'd recommend it however the Galaxy S2 support is apparently unconfirmed thus far. Maybe look into it nevertheless.
Thanks for the help dude.

[Q] Best use of Titanium Backup

Hi,
I need to do a factory reset (to see if it solves a problem that Asus could not solve) and in anyway I read it's safer to wipe data before sending to factory for repair.. So I'd like to make a full backup before this wipe and before the sending to repair..
I installed free Titanium backup (my tablet is rooted), but I'm confused on what I should do before doing the reset and the tutorials I found on Titanium even confused me more..(if you're aware of a nice tutoriel, link would be welcome, because I found none very explicit on xda and even on the web..)
-first, should I use the Asus tool for backup or Titanium ?
- Should I perform a full backup of apps only or apps+system ? I read that system restore could create issues in case restore is not done on same firmware, and I don't know with which FW my tablet will come back from repair.. so should I use apps+system anyway, or make 2 backups (apps first then system or vice versa ?) I'd prefer to restore my tablet as clsoe as it is today, even if possible with bluetooth pairs and wifi connections..
-Should I backup manually my personal files (videos ,various docs, pictures,..) before using Titanium ? (for instance to save space and make nbackups smaller?) If yes, how do we know which folders are backuped up by Titanium and which are not ?
- My sdcard is already largely used with only a few GB left. Can I ask Titanium to save directly to a PC ? Or should I use another sdcard (but then, what will happen to apps installed on sdcard ?) ?
Thanks a lot for your hints.
Ricorico94

There are several different options for you to choose from but I will share the way I usually back up my tablet. I flash different ROMs frequently and have had to use backups quite a bit.
I usually use Titanium Backup to backup everything but only restore non-system apps and data. You're right that restoring system data can result in problems if restoring to different ROMs, not necessarily firmware. It depends on how much the firmware has changed. Since there might be big enough changes that it might screw everything up then I'd avoid restoring system apps and data. If your tablet is backed up to Google, it will sometimes keep the WiFi and Bluetooth pairings and restore them once you log back into your Google account. Not always though. Also I'm not sure that the free version of Titanium Backup can save any place other than an SD card. The paid version can save to Dropbox and Google Drive.
If you're sending your tablet in for repair, you should move all of your personal files to your computer or SD card, deleting them off the tablet. At least, that's what I'd do.
There is one more option which would make saving a lot easier and that is if you have a custom recovery installed like TWRP or CWM you can create a Nandroid Backup of everything, System, Data and all. With all your pictures, etc the file would be huge but you could move that to your computer and restore it when your tablet comes back. That would keep an exact copy of your system and replace whatever ASUS does to it with what you currently have. If I wanted to keep my tablet as close to how I set it up, this is what I would do. Of course, your tablet has to be rooted and unlocked to do so.

wrynn7 said:
There are several different options for you to choose from but I will share the way I usually back up my tablet. I flash different ROMs frequently and have had to use backups quite a bit.
I usually use Titanium Backup to backup everything but only restore non-system apps and data. You're right that restoring system data can result in problems if restoring to different ROMs, not necessarily firmware. It depends on how much the firmware has changed. Since there might be big enough changes that it might screw everything up then I'd avoid restoring system apps and data. If your tablet is backed up to Google, it will sometimes keep the WiFi and Bluetooth pairings and restore them once you log back into your Google account. Not always though. Also I'm not sure that the free version of Titanium Backup can save any place other than an SD card. The paid version can save to Dropbox and Google Drive.
If you're sending your tablet in for repair, you should move all of your personal files to your computer or SD card, deleting them off the tablet. At least, that's what I'd do.
There is one more option which would make saving a lot easier and that is if you have a custom recovery installed like TWRP or CWM you can create a Nandroid Backup of everything, System, Data and all. With all your pictures, etc the file would be huge but you could move that to your computer and restore it when your tablet comes back. That would keep an exact copy of your system and replace whatever ASUS does to it with what you currently have. If I wanted to keep my tablet as close to how I set it up, this is what I would do. Of course, your tablet has to be rooted and unlocked to do so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thanks a lot for this advice. Do you know if I can still make 2 separate backups, so that I could use system backup if there's no FW change ?
Regarding the TWRP custom recovery, I understood that since I am already with FW 10.4.4.25 (android 4.1.1) and only rooted, there's no way to install customer recovery. Did I understood properly, or is there a way to downgrade to previous versions first, istall custom and upgrade again back to current FW ?
What do you mean by "tablet backed up to Google" ? I have "save my datas" checked under "backup" menu of parameters, but is there a way to check that there's indeed something in their servers already ?
br,
Ricorico94

You could make as many backups as you wanted. Titanium Backup allows you to restore whatever you want it to so you really only have to make one backup. You can restore everything but the system apps and data or everything. You can even use it to uninstall or freeze what you're not using (as long as it's not an integral part of the FW of course). It's not an all or nothing deal. I would still move all of your personal data to a computer or SD card so nothing happens to it.
My understanding is that installing CWM or TWRP require your device to be unlocked using an app that is provided through the ASUS website. Just being rooted isn't sufficient. If you don't want to unlock your device then you're stuck with using the Titanium Backup method. Just make sure it is saving your apps to an external SD card and not the internal one.
And yes, I was referring to the setting that you already have checked about Google backing up your data. It doesn't always restore everything though so you might have to pair everything again anyway.

ricorico94 said:
Hi,
Thanks a lot for this advice. Do you know if I can still make 2 separate backups, so that I could use system backup if there's no FW change ?
Regarding the TWRP custom recovery, I understood that since I am already with FW 10.4.4.25 (android 4.1.1) and only rooted, there's no way to install customer recovery. Did I understood properly, or is there a way to downgrade to previous versions first, istall custom and upgrade again back to current FW ?
What do you mean by "tablet backed up to Google" ? I have "save my datas" checked under "backup" menu of parameters, but is there a way to check that there's indeed something in their servers already ?
br,
Ricorico94
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it is a good idea to install a custom recovery if you are about to send the tablet to Asus - I assume for a warranty repair. You would have to unlock your bootloader and that negates your warranty. So just forgettaboutit.
Google backs up some of your data: Calendar and contacts mainly, but also all the apps you have downloaded or bought from the Play Store.
But it is much faster to restore apps with Titanium instead of downloading them from the Play Store.
So backup apps and data in TiBu and move the backup to your PC.
I don't quite understand why you want to backup system data. It's always potentially disruptive to mess with system data yourself. And you are on a pretty old rom and bootloader - so you're due for an update anyway.
Pictures, videos etc, I would just move to an external drive/card or your PC.
When you got everything backed up, do a Factory Reset. That will wipe your data partition.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 4

Thanks to both of you for your help!
berndblb said:
I don't think it is a good idea to install a custom recovery if you are about to send the tablet to Asus - I assume for a warranty repair. You would have to unlock your bootloader and that negates your warranty. So just forgettaboutit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. I was asking this for future, when tablet comes back from repair: at that time, I might want to have a stronger debug/backup using a custom recovery (at least that's what I understood it's very helpful at): I'm soon at warranty end, so I can wait expiration.
It's a good news that the unlock tool of Asus can still be used to allow installation of custom recovery. I'll need to read more on how to do it, etc.
Thanks again !

Titanium Backup error 3 when flashing "update.zip" from TWRP!

TL;DR: How to fix Titanium Backup error 3 while flashing "update.zip" from TWRP?
I have been using Android for more than five years now seriously and it is a bit funny that I did not know I could restore data to newly flashed ROM.
Previously, I would just wipe system and flash new ROM not touching data partition and that worked just fine.
That is past seems.
I have flashed new ROM which is based on stock Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus ROM so I could get official updates. The problem is my phone lost one fifth of its performance according to benchmark and it experiences random reboots (I hope not while I am typing ?)
All in all, by restoring previous data on new ROM some of the files seem not to be overwritten well on new ROM (possibly application versions not getting downgraded well).
LogCat did not help.
I deleted my data (I have backup of course) and my system works normally so it is a data problem.
That is where Titanium Backup came into play.
I made backup of all user applications and an "update.zip".
When I want to flash "update.zip I get error code 3.
Some say it is due system partition but I formatted it in couple of manners and I am still unable to restore.
Is there any other way to restore applications and its data to new ROM?
I have tried backing up the applications and moving the Titanium Backup folder to SD card and moving it back when I flash new ROM. Backup does not get detected.
Thank you in advance!

dedq said:
TL;DR: How to fix Titanium Backup error 3 while flashing "update.zip" from TWRP?
I have been using Android for more than five years now seriously and it is a bit funny that I did not know I could restore data to newly flashed ROM.
Previously, I would just wipe system and flash new ROM not touching data partition and that worked just fine.
That is past seems.
I have flashed new ROM which is based on stock Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus ROM so I could get official updates. The problem is my phone lost one fifth of its performance according to benchmark and it experiences random reboots (I hope not while I am typing [emoji854])
All in all, by restoring previous data on new ROM some of the files seem not to be overwritten well on new ROM (possibly application versions not getting downgraded well).
LogCat did not help.
I deleted my data (I have backup of course) and my system works normally so it is a data problem.
That is where Titanium Backup came into play.
I made backup of all user applications and an "update.zip".
When I want to flash "update.zip I get error code 3.
Some say it is due system partition but I formatted it in couple of manners and I am still unable to restore.
Is there any other way to restore applications and its data to new ROM?
I have tried backing up the applications and moving the Titanium Backup folder to SD card and moving it back when I flash new ROM. Backup does not get detected.
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When switching ROMs, restoring data from a previous ROM causes issues, especially when the data contains system data and apps from the previous ROM, user apps and their data usually restore fine, but the system stuff doesn't.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

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