Things I should take care before doing a factory reset! - HTC Desire S

Hi,
I have been trying to get rid of one of my google accounts from my HTC Desire S.
But all in vain. Finally I have decided to do a factory reset of the device. Want to know things one should take care of before doing a factory reset.
This thread can be helpful for anyone like me who would further want to do something like this. There is no such thread live in Desire S forum.
Anyone to suggest please!

bhskr said:
Hi,
I have been trying to get rid of one of my google accounts from my HTC Desire S.
But all in vain. Finally I have decided to do a factory reset of the device. Want to know things one should take care of before doing a factory reset.
This thread can be helpful for anyone like me who would further want to do something like this. There is no such thread live in Desire S forum.
Anyone to suggest please!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Save the data you don't want to loose. Backup your contacts, messages, applications...
Sent by my fingers to your head.

To save all data before resetting device to factory settings I'm using Titanium Backup (I think this is 'must have' application). It can backup every application that you installed and every data that created any application (phone, emails and messages are data of correspondent applications too).
Also I suggest use 4Ext Recovery which allows backup/recovery whole device state, including ROM, applications and data. So you can have few backups, for example, official ROM and latest ICS by every developer from this site and "switch" between them in few minutes.

To save your sms/mms you can use the app "sms backup".
It will save your messages on sd card and you can restore them aferwards

Related

[APP] Titanium Backup and Froyo - What settings can I restore without issue?

If I restore all the settings labeled green I can't get a location fix with the Genie widget and I can't move apps to the SD card.
sinbot said:
If I restore all the settings labeled green I can't get a location fix with the Genie widget and I can't move apps to the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is it exactly that you want to restore??? Personally, I wouldn't (and didnt) restore ANYTHING from titanium. It takes like what 5 minutes to go through the settings menu and set stuff back up the way you had it?
Apps have to be coded to allow them to be moved to sdcard. It's up to the developers to add that option in. It's not because you are restoring stuff from titanium, but because you are trying to move something that doesn't have the ability to be moved yet.
gIMpSTa said:
What is it exactly that you want to restore??? Personally, I wouldn't (and didnt) restore ANYTHING from titanium. It takes like what 5 minutes to go through the settings menu and set stuff back up the way you had it?
Apps have to be coded to allow them to be moved to sdcard. It's up to the developers to add that option in. It's not because you are restoring stuff from titanium, but because you are trying to move something that doesn't have the ability to be moved yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can force your phone to allow apps2sd with pm setInstallLocation=2
In anycase your response was not helpful but dismissive. My reasons to backup and restore are valid enough for me to ask and if you can't answer go find another post to respond to.
In any case I have by trial and error found that a number of settings restore just fine and I have put mot of my applications on the sdcard.
sinbot said:
You can force your phone to allow apps2sd with pm setInstallLocation=2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I know all about this. Anything with a widget or service will not work, but will still goto SD (bad). And other apps may not work properly. YMMV, but personally I set that option on, moved a couple of big apps, tested them, then immediately turned it back off (pm setInstallLocation=0). I'm on my third wipe and things are running better then ever since doing it this way. I had apps that do not include a widget or service, were not protected, that should have run fine from there and did not.
sinbot said:
In anycase your response was not helpful but dismissive. My reasons to backup and restore are valid enough for me to ask and if you can't answer go find another post to respond to.
In any case I have by trial and error found that a number of settings restore just fine and I have put mot of my applications on the sdcard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't being "dismissive" by any means... I was simply curious as to what it was you wanted to restore as it helps to answer "what you can safely restore" if people know what it is that you want. My point about it taking 5 minutes was simply trying to point out you may actually save your self some time and frustration by doing it manually.
gIMpSTa said:
I wasn't being "dismissive" by any means... I was simply curious as to what it was you wanted to restore as it helps to answer "what you can safely restore" if people know what it is that you want. My point about it taking 5 minutes was simply trying to point out you may actually save your self some time and frustration by doing it manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you should read hat I wrote before just saying not to even try backing things up. Wow I wanted to keep my settings, text messages and call history and be able to toss my applications on the SD and get a location fix. Some setting carried over stops those from working and wanting to know what it is or why it is is a whole lot more intelligent than just throwing my hands up and saying "Well, I paid for an application I guess I shouldn't use it!"
This probably doesn't help but I personally don't like everything about titanium. It seems to restore too much. I still use it for apps but It's hard to identify what you are restoring when it comes to "data". mybackuppro does a better job of choosing what to back up and restored. very clear and concise, everything is labeled, (ie: sms, call log, mms, playlists, home screen icons etc etc). I know I know, its not help with titanium but maybe it'll help.
sinbot said:
Maybe you should read hat I wrote before just saying not to even try backing things up. Wow I wanted to keep my settings, text messages and call history and be able to toss my applications on the SD and get a location fix. Some setting carried over stops those from working and wanting to know what it is or why it is is a whole lot more intelligent than just throwing my hands up and saying "Well, I paid for an application I guess I shouldn't use it!"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay pointless argument. Once again, I wasn't saying "dont even try!" I said "PERSONALLY, I didn't restore anything". That's because after my first install I did restore several things and it caused issues. I was giving you my personal advice on the matter. Sorry it didn't answer the question the way you wanted, but it wasn't by any means trying to put you or what you wanted to do down.
I also paid for titanium backup and use it and love it all the time. I think we are asking a bit much of it to backup stuff from a (assuming here) custom rom, then importing them onto a stock rom and have absolutely no issues.
Maybe I could have worded my initial response better, but it helps people to answer your questions if we know what you wanted to restore specifically rather then trying to answer what can and cannot be restored. Had you said how can I safely restore my texts, and call logs someone may have piped in and said "I restored X in titantium backup and had no issues!"
Again, wasn't flaming, telling you to give up, or anything. Only offering my personal experiences with this.
sinbot said:
If I restore all the settings labeled green I can't get a location fix with the Genie widget and I can't move apps to the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
polo79 said:
This probably doesn't help but I personally don't like everything about titanium. It seems to restore too much. I still use it for apps but It's hard to identify what you are restoring when it comes to "data". mybackuppro does a better job of choosing what to back up and restored. very clear and concise, everything is labeled, (ie: sms, call log, mms, playlists, home screen icons etc etc). I know I know, its not help with titanium but maybe it'll help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with polo79. While Titanium is fantastic at restoring apps and their data, It is not very concise on what data is restored. IMO, the most useful feature Titanium offers is it's ability to replace the Market links to the restored apps. While what you want to do probably is possible using Titanium, MyBackup Pro makes it much more clear cut on what you're restoring.
As far as restoring apps go (and I have many of those), after much trial and error, what I did was restore as much as I could using InstallLocation 0 until I ran out of room. Then I set it to 2 and went through and moved what I thought safe to sd. Then went back and installed more using Titanium using 0 again...well, you get the procedure.
And enough bickering. Gimpsta was only trying to help, but maybe a "no reply" here would have been best.
Well I went through and my results are I can restore all applications and the following datasets without issue to location or installing to sd:
[ACCOUNTS] Account and Sync Settings 2.2 - check.
Application widgets - blanks out desktop but can get location lock.
[Bookmarks] Browser 2.2 - check
[Calendar] Calendar Storage 2.2 - check
[USER DICT] com.amdroid.providers.userdictionary 2.2 - check
[CONTACTS/CALLS] Contacts Storge 2.2 - Check
[SMS/MMS/APN] Dialer Storage 2.2 - check
I didn't try the rest because everything was working and I didn't need anything weird in the rest.
Hi, I'm testing froyo roms now, currently very pleased with performance
Tintanium backup is really a great app, I ditch all other backup programs after installing it.
I was able to restore to froyo, APNs, contacts, call history, wifi settings, sms.
cheers,
can somebody shed some light why i can't restore contacts from 2.1,
sms restored perfectly, but contacts say restored successful but i can't see them, only call log
tnx
don't know why, but here's how i got around it
can't tell you why, but i miight be able to show a way around it.
I had the same problem a couple of time. what i did is exporting my contacts to a "vcf"-file on sd card. after flashing the new rom i imported all contacts with now probs.
hope it will work for you to.
the tiny drawback is, you have to nandroid-backup your actual setup. restore the previous, export your contacts. restore the actual and import.
good luck
sidebar:
anyone know what you need to backup when using titanium to back up my contacts ringtones i set for each contact?

Gmail widget fix

I had the same problem as many with the missing gmail widget. Here is how I fixed it:
Apps / Settings / Privacy / Factory data reset
PLEASE NOTE this makes your tablet as if it was brand new outta box so please backup any data you don't wanna lose. Everything took me about 10 minutes to get setup again and the gmail widget is now listed under widgets and working once again. Market synced all my installed apps from market back automatically.
nfodiz said:
I had the same problem as many with the missing gmail widget. Here is how I fixed it:
Apps / Settings / Privacy / Factory data reset
PLEASE NOTE this makes your tablet as if it was brand new outta box so please backup any data you don't wanna lose. Everything took me about 10 minutes to get setup again and the gmail widget is now listed under widgets and working once again. Market synced all my installed apps from market back automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
thats unacceptable for those of us who actually use this device for more than just the programs included with the stock rom.
nfodiz said:
I had the same problem as many with the missing gmail widget. Here is how I fixed it:
Apps / Settings / Privacy / Factory data reset
PLEASE NOTE this makes your tablet as if it was brand new outta box so please backup any data you don't wanna lose. Everything took me about 10 minutes to get setup again and the gmail widget is now listed under widgets and working once again. Market synced all my installed apps from market back automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that action delete/ format your files in the TF? How about the files on my SD card?
Rio
It wipes everything off the TF and what your left with is a brand new 3.1 installation. It didn't touch my microsd cards data. I know this is not an ideal solution for the power users out there but it may help out some until Asus issues a fix.
Deletes data off the internal storage, but not the sd card.
klau1 said:
thats unacceptable for those of us who actually use this device for more than just the programs included with the stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's called backing up your data and reinstalling your apps. It's a very common thing to do.
download app list backup from the market, that will give you market links for all of your installed apps, and you can download mybackup pro to backup some data.
and BTW, to everyone doing this, backup your internal memory becuase it will be erased as well to my understanding.
going to go ahead and do this when i get home tonight.
Fyi by default Google backs up your app data. So it should automatically redownload the apps you had and have all your settings. Unless of course you pirated them, at which point you're not allowed to complain
The backup/sync option is meant to only restore ones you purchased via the market, not free ones. Although honestly, it's restored a few of the free ones (not all) I've installed too, the last time I reset, so I'm not sure what to think any more.
stuntdouble said:
The backup/sync option is meant to only restore ones you purchased via the market, not free ones. Although honestly, it's restored a few of the free ones (not all) I've installed too, the last time I reset, so I'm not sure what to think any more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it restores my free ones as well (I have 2 paid apps and 50 free ones, it restores them all).
stuntdouble said:
The backup/sync option is meant to only restore ones you purchased via the market, not free ones. Although honestly, it's restored a few of the free ones (not all) I've installed too, the last time I reset, so I'm not sure what to think any more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it restores all free ones for me
magicpork said:
it restores all free ones for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here - all of my apps were reinstalled once I did rebooted. The vast majority of them were free.
magicpork said:
it restores all free ones for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note that it does not restore app data. You need root for that and Titanium Backup and if you have root there are other ways to get the widget back. Any save states (ie. completed levels in Angry Birds etc..) will be lost. Any settings and such as well. I'm not saying don't do it, but just getting that out there for those that don't know. 'Restore' is really the wrong word for this, it's just re-installing so you don't have to.
Sounds like they've changed their policy then if it's restoring all apps now. That's certainly welcome news.
Prof-KOS said:
Note that it does not restore app data. You need root for that and Titanium Backup and if you have root there are other ways to get the widget back. Any save states (ie. completed levels in Angry Birds etc..) will be lost. Any settings and such as well. I'm not saying don't do it, but just getting that out there for those that don't know. 'Restore' is really the wrong word for this, it's just re-installing so you don't have to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly why I said factory reset is an unacceptable solution.
Titanium backup or backup pro isn't a solution because it requires root to backup app data, but if you have root you could force install Gmail widget directly without factory reseting in the first place
It is an issue to factory restore things, because there is no way to back up app data without root.
For example, playing games on your tablet, there is no way to recover that saved file unless there is root
Thats why I believe, factory resetting is the last resort resolution and really isn't a fix..
And they always make rooting so difficult, but obtaining app data to restore later or just to backup is the best part of root
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

[Q] How do I modify my backup and restore manifest?

Hi xda,
Though my thread title may be a little vague and might supposedly be better asked on google or android per se, just patiently read along as I try to explain my dilemma in more detail.
For ICS users, we all know the convenience of the "backup & restore" feature. Everything from wifi passwords, contacts, and installed apps will be magically restored when you install a new firmware on your phone with a full data wipe. And for us flash junkies, that indeed is really convenient.
But even though I have come to love such feature, I've noticed a few quirks as I was using it over time. The backup manifest or shall I say, the list of backed up data gets cluttered as you continue to backup data over time. This leading to a point where my backup data is now so messed up, whenever it auto restores once again, I see previously uninstalled apps back again and duplicate contact entries. So messed up, that I've decided to stop using this much loved feature and just manually backup my contacts, and re-install apps.
So, I am looking for some solution that I might be somehow able to manually edit that current backed up list (over at google or wherever it's stored), and update which will be restored if ever I flash my phone again. Or wipe that list clean and overwrite it with my current phone state.
Sorry for the long post but I've done my googling and forum searching beforehand only to no avail.
You can forgo that feature entirely and use titanium backup instead, for backing up your personal app data...
Titanium acts a little twitchy when restoring system apps and data across roms with different bases...
Your best bet would be to backup your downloaded apps with titanium, backup contacts and msgs (and call logs) from other market apps (I use go backup)...
For bluetooth and wifi access points, I haven't found anything that is truly cross compatible among roms...so better of you just write it down somewhere and refer that later...
Typed using a small touchscreen

Titanium Backup when using a Nightlies ROM

I'm fairly new to Ti and have a question. I'd like to backup my downloaded apps and user data like text messages and email settings. I don't need much more than that. I saw a tutorial that said to backup apps, user and system data. That doesn't seem right if I'm using a custom ROM.
What do you guys recommend?
t0adman said:
I'm fairly new to Ti and have a question. I'd like to backup my downloaded apps and user data like text messages and email settings. I don't need much more than that. I saw a tutorial that said to backup apps, user and system data. That doesn't seem right if I'm using a custom ROM.
What do you guys recommend?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With titanium backup, you can backup all your apps and the data and then when you go to a different rom or newer build tell it to rebackup only app s that have been updated or contain new data. Text messages can be backed up in it as well and its super simple to backup and restore them (depending on how many messages you, more messages longer it takes). As far as email settings ive never done that so i can't comment on that part.
The reason for this is that if you flash a new rom and something goes wrong you can still have that data to just simply restore. The reason i use titanium backup is because its a thousand times faster to restore all your apps with that then redownload them all.
Word of advise, NEVER restore system data, that could potentially cause issues in the future, restoring apps and app data for games and such should be fine though
But as far as nightlies go, a full wipe shouldn't be required everytime a new one comes out, unless stated otherwise, or for myself i don't like to flash more than 3 or 4 nightlies on top of eachother so by the 4th or 5th one i do a fresh install, in which i backup apps and messages and restore them.
I hope that helps you understand a little better
Yes, definitely! Thank you. I'm seeing the option to backup all user apps, all system data, a combo of both, and several other scenarios. Last time I backed up just user apps and when I restored them I lost all my text messages. Is there a setting I need to select?
t0adman said:
Yes, definitely! Thank you. I'm seeing the option to backup all user apps, all system data, a combo of both, and several other scenarios. Last time I backed up just user apps and when I restored them I lost all my text messages. Is there a setting I need to select?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i can't remember if you need the pro version or not but for text messages and call logs, when you first enter the app hit the menu button and it should be under "backup data to xml" you'll click that and then choose what data you want to backup. From there you can either backup to your sd card, or i believe dropbox/google drive, but i always put it on the sdcard since its not a very big file
Neverendingxsin said:
i can't remember if you need the pro version or not but for text messages and call logs, when you first enter the app hit the menu button and it should be under "backup data to xml" you'll click that and then choose what data you want to backup. From there you can either backup to your sd card, or i believe dropbox/google drive, but i always put it on the sdcard since its not a very big file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nonono, there's an easier way to do what he wants.
@ OP, choose the option to backup all user apps... run it... there's one backup. Then, go into backup system apps, de-select all, then scroll through and find Call Log and Messages and check those... run the backup of those two items. Then you'll have all your user apps + texts and call logs.
Now you can do a factory wipe, run TiBu and restore ALL backups that you have (you only have user apps and the two items from system) and you will have everything except various system settings back as they were.
You can use filters to make it even easier. Make a new filter, only add the apps you want backed up (downloaded apps and the call log). Then all you have to do is backup and restore one list.
You can get fancy with it too. I have 3 filters. One for user apps I won't need to restore data to, one for use apps I want to be able to restore data to, and one for bloat that always gets bulk uninstalled immediately (I also use this list to test if system apps are removable by backing them up, uninstalling them, then if no problems arise I delete the back up). When ever I do a full wipe I just restore the first list (apps only), restore the second list (apps + data), and bulk uninstall everything on the third list. Takes all of 5 minutes and it's like I never wiped at all.
That said, I just dirty flash nightlies. Until I have a problem, there's no reason to do a full wipe.
Sycobob said:
You can use filters to make it even easier. Make a new filter, only add the apps you want backed up (downloaded apps and the call log). Then all you have to do is backup and restore one list.
You can get fancy with it too. I have 3 filters. One for user apps I won't need to restore data to, one for use apps I want to be able to restore data to, and one for bloat that always gets bulk uninstalled immediately (I also use this list to test if system apps are removable by backing them up, uninstalling them, then if no problems arise I delete the back up). When ever I do a full wipe I just restore the first list (apps only), restore the second list (apps + data), and bulk uninstall everything on the third list. Takes all of 5 minutes and it's like I never wiped at all.
That said, I just dirty flash nightlies. Until I have a problem, there's no reason to do a full wipe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh Yeh, I forgot about the filters, I haven't messed with them much at all.
Go backup is also quite good as an alternative. Less customization but very simple to use
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Factory Reset - Titanium Backup still the best way to back things up?

UNROOTED!
I know titanium backup was always the best in the past but not sure if the last few years found better options for my S6 Verizon or if phones have better built-in backups. I think TB required root but i dont have that on my stupid S6 verizon. Otherwise, what other options do i have?
A guide would be appreciated, as I am afossil in the XDA world now!
I definitely want my photos/vids, my contacts (should be with google), texts, wifi/pws (thought it seems when I hit "Reset all settings" that it wiped them all, despite having "Backup to google" checked...), apps, etc all restored afterwards if possible.
drcrappants said:
UNROOTED!
I know titanium backup was always the best in the past but not sure if the last few years found better options for my S6 Verizon or if phones have better built-in backups. I think TB required root but i dont have that on my stupid S6 verizon. Otherwise, what other options do i have?
A guide would be appreciated, as I am afossil in the XDA world now!
I definitely want my photos/vids, my contacts (should be with google), texts, wifi/pws (thought it seems when I hit "Reset all settings" that it wiped them all, despite having "Backup to google" checked...), apps, etc all restored afterwards if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple one I would suggest is Samsung SmartSwitch. It pretty much backsup everything.
But for example. if you have any game data stored on your device. It doesnt backup. and if it doesn't backup WhastApp chat back up data as well.
I would suggest a twrp/cwm backup is the best.
Orelse use a USB OTG pendrive to simply copy paste all the files and folders required.But you will need to restore everything
And Samsung Cloud is the best option for backup and restore as of now. For cloud services upto 15 GB after that you will have to pay for the services

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