Database Info

Flashing ROM leads to contact issues

I have been going through some ROMs recently and have found that no matter what ROM I try my contacts always do not sync fully/at all. I've been backing up using gmail and backup assistant but neither of these methods have worked for me. Also I can never access my backup assistant after I flash. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

If you are having problems getting all your contacts imported over make sure they are all stored in your gmail account's dashboard. If not then you will have to send your contacts to your sdcard to a .vcf(I think) and import them to gmail that way you know they are stored there. Then you just have to make sure you tap the sync contacts button in Accounts> Your gmail account, about ten times until it says it synced with a time stamp close to the time you tapped it to sync.

MattHorner said:
I have been going through some ROMs recently and have found that no matter what ROM I try my contacts always do not sync fully/at all. I've been backing up using gmail and backup assistant but neither of these methods have worked for me. Also I can never access my backup assistant after I flash. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
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I had a problem similar to that. Let me see if I can remember what I did...
I think what I did was go to Verizon's website and went to the Backup Assistant on their page. I think after that, I exported all my contacts into a .csv file or something. From there, I went to my Google Mail account and then imported all my contacts from .csv file into my google account. I don't think that was it exactly, but something like that.
-Kevin

Awesome thank you so much guys hopefully I get my contacts working today once I can flash one of the ROMs I got from a couple days ago =)
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

Best way to backup contacts?

First, I did use the search feature, but couldn't find anything specific to the Inspire. If this already exists, please feel free to link to it/close this thread. Thanks!
So, I can't seem to effectively back up my contacts. Titanium Backup doesn't do it, and I thought they were synced via Google. Not to mention I've had the same SIM card for YEARS and all my contacts have always been on there. Now, since I rooted my phone and started flashing custom ROMS, they have disappeared. Now I am without my 400+ contacts database, which I need.. So my question is, what is the best way to back up contacts, and is there any way to recover the ones I had?
Thanks in advance!

As long as you didn't choose not to sync with Google before you flashed, they are backed up. Most likely the problem you are having is getting them to import. Try going to Settings>Accounts and Sync> and manually sync your Google account.

stonewallmike said:
As long as you didn't choose not to sync with Google before you flashed, they are backed up. Most likely the problem you are having is getting them to import. Try going to Settings>Accounts and Sync> and manually sync your Google account.
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I rip my employer a little I guess and store ALL my contacts to MS Exchange for several years now with nary a hiccup...that said since I've been on Android, Google does a fine job too. ... I think my free Sugar Sync account probably has them too...with this phone I have given up storing any contacts at all on the SIM card...because I have gone through what you are when simply switching phones or have phones stolen/lost in the past...but yeah make sure at least Google is backing them up...

It all depends on where you have chosen to save your contacts. If to phone then they may be lost forever. If to sim then simply import them back to your phone. If to Google account then as said above just re-sync.
When thinking about flashing rom's the first thing that you should do is make sure all contacts are backed up. Best choice is with Google. That way everytime you wipe data you can boot up your phone sync with Google and BOOM! They are there. Works a treat. Cheers.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Thanks guys. I've had them backed up to Google before, and even restored them before, but it doesn't seem to be working. I just flashed the VU ROM after having been using the RCMix3D ROM for my Inspire, so I'll post the question on their page and see if it's a known issue with the ROM or anything.

Good luck.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

elijahpr said:
Thanks guys. I've had them backed up to Google before, and even restored them before, but it doesn't seem to be working. I just flashed the VU ROM after having been using the RCMix3D ROM for my Inspire, so I'll post the question on their page and see if it's a known issue with the ROM or anything.
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I have been on a captivate and now the inspire. Flashed upteen different roms and never had an issue with google restoring my contacts. Everytime I put the gmail addy in it pulls it all over.
Doesn't the htc sync account do that as well? Try doing that. If all else fails and you have them in say outlook or still on google then you can export them as a comma separated value (CSV) file and then put that on your sd card then import them via the people app. You can then save to sim via the people app.
I am on VU now and it restored flawlessly from gmail.
This is one app on the market that you can look at.
https://market.android.com/details?id=no.uia.android.backupcontacts&feature=search_result

I would recommend using my backup pro from the android market

Sdcard

Does resseting my mytouch wipe the memory card?
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium

Barry:// said:
Does resseting my mytouch wipe the memory card?
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
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Nope. Not unless you intentionally format sdcard from the settings or in recovery

Here's the thing I saved my friends contacts on the memory card and I can't rstore it ..idk why its saved as 0000.vcf but I can't restore it
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium

When you restore it I assume you're doing it from the More>Import/Export>Import from SD card>Phone then it'll start scanning for v card data....right?

Yes that's how I'm doing it ...is it wrong way?

Nope. That's the right way. But another thing is if you're not seeing the contacts show up they might not be set to show up..... just to double check.... Contacts>Menu>View>make sure checkbox next to SIM is marked.... That's the only thing I can think of aside from a buggered up export.

try copying your vcf file to your computer and importing it to outlook. then, sync your phone with outlook contacts and lemme know what you find out.
even easier... go to the market and check out something like vCardIO
because... guess what... yeah, we've got an app for that too, but ours is free.

Just wanted to add gmail backs up contacts as well. I've flashed multiple times not saving and gmail restores all of them everytime. It won't save texts though gotta use a sms backup, nandroid, tb or backup them yourself.
And reflashing won't touch the sd card unless you hit format by mistake which would stink if you were installing a custom rom lol.
sent from my ice cream sandwhich MT4GS

Droidmoder said:
Just wanted to add gmail backs up contacts as well. I've flashed multiple times not saving and gmail restores all of them everytime. It won't save texts though gotta use a sms backup, nandroid, tb or backup them yourself.
And reflashing won't touch the sd card unless you hit format by mistake which would stink if you were installing a custom rom lol.
sent from my ice cream sandwhich MT4GS
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Gmail only backs up contacts if you have it set to backup contacts AND save them to your gmail account when you add a new contact to your phone. I have come across more people that don't than do. Mostly the uninformed/first time android users that still think you're supposed to save them to your sim card like back in the old days.
OP: MyBackup Pro is probably the easiest solution to backing up contacts, call logs, bookmarks, dictionary, sms, mms, settings, android home, etc. I use MyBackup Pro for all the mentioned and have it on a schedule to backup each night in case I decide to flash a rom on a whim and TiBackup for my apps/game data even though MyBackup Pro does it too but I just don't like the way it restores them.

Thanks guys buh I figered out the problem.....'y google acoount had a pink sign on sync so theierfore all of my contacts were on my phone (not synced) and I only had 2 contacts on my gmail since sync wasn't functioning properly...any way when I backed up by expoorting I choose to export from google acount which had only two contacts and the rest 219 contacts were on the phone itself unsynced ..any way I wiped without knowing and boom all gone and no backup either....bummmer
Sent from my HTC G2 using xda premium

Barry:// said:
Thanks guys buh I figered out the problem.....'y google acoount had a pink sign on sync so theierfore all of my contacts were on my phone (not synced) and I only had 2 contacts on my gmail since sync wasn't functioning properly...any way when I backed up by expoorting I choose to export from google acount which had only two contacts and the rest 219 contacts were on the phone itself unsynced ..any way I wiped without knowing and boom all gone and no backup either....bummmer
Sent from my HTC G2 using xda premium
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Bummer. That def sucks. Well I guess it's time for you to start going through your T-mo bill and putting a face to each call you placed lol j/k. I did that....a very long time ago and I still remember the horrible amount of time I had doing it lol.

Word 219 contacts dam that's to much
Sent from my HTC G2 using xda premium

You can manually sync them as well. I normally sync up once a week. Find a wifi or use a friends phone to tether. Its worth it I have about 110 contacts myself and more if I sync facebook lol.
sent from my ice cream sandwhich MT4GS

tmobile contact backup app from the stock rom may have saved your contacts for you. when i bricked my mt4g i thought i lost all my contacts but when i got the mt4gs that app brought them back automatically

Contact/Calendar Sync WITHOUT needing HTC Software

For those of you who are experimenting with AOSP ROMs on your HTC phone and want to synchronize contacts and calendar items with your desktop, have a look at this application. You can install the Android version via the market, the desktop install is freely available from the developer's website below.
http://global.mobileaction.com/product/product_AM.jsp

Also have a look at MyPhoneExplorer. It is also free from the market and very similiar software. You can view your phone's screen on your monitor and operate your phone with your mouse and keyboard. It is a proven software.

Agoattamer said:
Also have a look at MyPhoneExplorer. It is also free from the market and very similiar software. You can view your phone's screen on your monitor and operate your phone with your mouse and keyboard. It is a proven software.
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Interesting. I like the less cluttered look of this desktop version, but what worries me is the non-english support forum. I wonder if using both of these tools, in addition to the HTC sync software, might create some sort of incompatibility.
ETA: I also wonder how these utilities will respond when switching between ROMs or versions. I don't know how they track synchronization sessions. It'd be a disaster if contact items were duplicated or triplicated when updating or experimenting.

I dont know if this goes here but i have been searching around for a answer.. on my inspire I had to reinstall my rom and when i did for some reason i cannot find my phone contacts.. how in world would i get them back I did have titanium but even it says theres nothing there.. i also just two days ago did a fresh backup on titanium.. strange huh.. so far everything has been replaced but my dialer contacts..
any help will be deeply appreciated
thanks

tashsru said:
I dont know if this goes here but i have been searching around for a answer.. on my inspire I had to reinstall my rom and when i did for some reason i cannot find my phone contacts.. how in world would i get them back I did have titanium but even it says theres nothing there.. i also just two days ago did a fresh backup on titanium.. strange huh.. so far everything has been replaced but my dialer contacts..
any help will be deeply appreciated
thanks
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Did you have them synced with Google? If you did then just resign into your google account and they will be restore. As for TIBU it doesnt back up contacts by default as they are stored in System Data and restoring any system data, like contacts, sms, emails, wifi settings and things like that can cause huge issues when changing roms.

I had them synced but for some reason i cannot no matter what find them.. and they did not resync on the cell when i set it up again

tashsru said:
I had them synced but for some reason i cannot no matter what find them.. and they did not resync on the cell when i set it up again
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Check the sync and account settings to make sure it is selected.

tashsru said:
I had them synced but for some reason i cannot no matter what find them.. and they did not resync on the cell when i set it up again
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once your sync options are double checked as Zel mentioned, sign in to gmail from the gmail app and get your email, this puts it into a forced sync. Should have all your stuff back.

Thanks for sharing, BillTheCat. I was not familiar with this app. I'l check it out. I've been using Google to sync my stuff.

I use airdroid it syncs contacts pics calender date and file and you can even answer texts on your desktop when your using it
Sent from my Inspire 4g using XDA

th3lawmak3r76 said:
I use airdroid it syncs contacts pics calender date and file and you can even answer texts on your desktop when your using it
Sent from my Inspire 4g using XDA
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i never seen this app before, loving it. Thank you!

+1 for Airdroid

Using TiBu Effectively

I'm in the process of upgrading to the ICS Superlite 4.2 - having some issues with restoring apps+data with TiBu.
What's the best way to go about it so that I can avoid FCs and compatibility issues, while also restoring my messages/settings etc.?

If you're coming from 2.3 then don't restore data. Not everything is compatible and some stuff makes things crash.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

kr3w1337 said:
If you're coming from 2.3 then don't restore data. Not everything is compatible and some stuff makes things crash.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
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So it's best to just start fresh? Is there any way to 'reset' titanium pro so that when i upgrade again down the road it takes what i have installed now versus all of the older apps from 2.3?
Also, what's the best way to at least get my contacts back?

nutsngum said:
Also, what's the best way to at least get my contacts back?
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Sync your contacts with google (Gmail) in the future.

Restore all missing apps with data is the best way to get apps back and eliminate fc issues never restore system data from os to os even if its like 2.3.6 to.7 sometimes it can eff things up
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

droid512 said:
Restore all missing apps with data is the best way to get apps back and eliminate fc issues never restore system data from os to os even if its like 2.3.6 to.7 sometimes it can eff things up
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
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agreed. ive nevee had a problem restoring app dat, but never backup and restore system apps, with or without data. I would also stay away from backing up account, wifi, bluetooth and other options available in tb unlessnu are just doing a wipe and reinstall with the exact same rom

UKWill03 said:
Sync your contacts with google (Gmail) in the future.
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I do have my contacts synced to gmail, however it shows all of the autofill emails and not just the contacts I have in my contact list.

nutsngum said:
I do have my contacts synced to gmail, however it shows all of the autofill emails and not just the contacts I have in my contact list.
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i recommend in the contacts app doing a menu > export to sd. This will save a vcf file on your sd card that you can use to import using the next method after you flash. I personally find syncing my contacts with my gmail messy, so I use this method.

With super lite 4.2 you need to update both TiBu and the paid version from the market for it to work. A couple of us had that problem last night and someone found that was the problem. Restore app+data works beautifully afterwards
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA

Shootoo said:
With super lite 4.2 you need to update both TiBu and the paid version from the market for it to work. A couple of us had that problem last night and someone found that was the problem. Restore app+data works beautifully afterwards
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA
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I think any TB version past 4.8.2 plays nice with ICS... just sayin