[Q] CWM Blobs? - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III

I am about to flash my 1st ROM on my S3 and I had made a nandroid of my phone a cpl months ago when it was running great, I was copying that nandroid to my PC prior to flashing the new ROM and notice it is quite small, about 21MB. Is that the complete nandroid or is it in the "blobs"? I have 3300 folders in my blobs directory consisting of 7000 files and it is 3.27GB.
Do I need to backup that blobs folder and carry it everywhere the "nandroid" backup goes?
Lastly, if I flash TWRP will it overwrite CWM and does TWRP make reliable nandroids?
Thanks

the blobs folder is indeed specific to the nandroid backup you created...if you try to restore your backup with a different blobs folder, you will be greeted with a system error. i prefer cwm 6.0.1, it works with everything for this device. oh and yea you can flash back and fourth between recoveries, one just overwrites the other.

droidstyle said:
the blobs folder is indeed specific to the nandroid backup you created...if you try to restore your backup with a different blobs folder, you will be greeted with a system error. i prefer cwm 6.0.1, it works with everything for this device. oh and yea you can flash back and fourth between recoveries, one just overwrites the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I have 6.0.1.2, does the 6.0.1 you reference NOT have blobs?

TWRP makes perfectly fine nandroids. The blobs crap is what prevents you from moving/deleting individual nandroid backups. This is the reason I ditched CWM and only use TWRP now. When you frequently make backups, you need the ability to delete individual ones. What I did was load my stock nandroid that I wanted to keep, then flashed TWRP and made a new nandroid in that, and then flashed CWM again so i could go back to my current rom. Flashed TWRP once more and made another nandroid.

droidstyle said:
the blobs folder is indeed specific to the nandroid backup you created...if you try to restore your backup with a different blobs folder, you will be greeted with a system error. i prefer cwm 6.0.1, it works with everything for this device. oh and yea you can flash back and fourth between recoveries, one just overwrites the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
apacseven said:
TWRP makes perfectly fine nandroids. The blobs crap is what prevents you from moving/deleting individual nandroid backups. This is the reason I ditched CWM and only use TWRP now. When you frequently make backups, you need the ability to delete individual ones. What I did was load my stock nandroid that I wanted to keep, then flashed TWRP and made a new nandroid in that, and then flashed CWM again so i could go back to my current rom. Flashed TWRP once more and made another nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a perfect plan, I'll give it a go.

You guys realize you can stop making blob backups and go back to normal tar right? Under back up go to advanced settings or whatever its called and choose the other option. Now you won't make back ups in blobs,but now you do them the old way. One folder for the whole back up, about 1-2 GB in size. Blobs are just nice as the backup takes under 5 min. Doing it the old way takes a bit longer.
Sent from a GlaDos Baked Potato

No I did not realize that. When I was frustrated with CWM and was looking for a way to get rid of blobs, I couldnt find any info about this. Too late I'm afraid, no turning back from TWRP for me.

Legato Bluesummers said:
You guys realize you can stop making blob backups and go back to normal tar right? Under back up go to advanced settings or whatever its called and choose the other option. Now you won't make back ups in blobs,but now you do them the old way. One folder for the whole back up, about 1-2 GB in size. Blobs are just nice as the backup takes under 5 min. Doing it the old way takes a bit longer.
Sent from a GlaDos Baked Potato
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes i know, but i like the blobs folder because backing up/ restoring is so much faster...its nice for bouncing back and forth between roms.

What the Blob files do is they keep copies individually of everything the nandroid backs up.... and when you go to do another backup it will read both blobs and current setup to see what, if anything is the same. Then it will only back up the differences and make reference to all the data that is the same.
And I dunno yet if I like the blob system better than the old way or not yet. Usually I only keep nandroids of the latest version of different ROMs.

Which is best for Samsung Galaxy Nexus (toro)
apacseven said:
TWRP makes perfectly fine nandroids. The blobs crap is what prevents you from moving/deleting individual nandroid backups. This is the reason I ditched CWM and only use TWRP now. When you frequently make backups, you need the ability to delete individual ones. What I did was load my stock nandroid that I wanted to keep, then flashed TWRP and made a new nandroid in that, and then flashed CWM again so i could go back to my current rom. Flashed TWRP once more and made another nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Safestrap on Droid Razr for 2+ years ,and loved it! the ability to immediately revert to Stock saved me many times while learning the ropes about roms, rooting, and flashing. I just got my hands on an old but new Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Toro). Owner installed KitKat Shiny Rom for GNex, via CWM Touch, but is now redeployed and difficult to reach UGH! So I have no way of knowing "what's next?" Rom works well, but I must say that Cm10.2 and CM10.3 were more inclusive than this AOSP version of pure Kitkat. But, is slim and sleek, and I want to get used to it, but I want to blow it up forst and start from scratch.
With my Raxr, I performed every step so I am familiar with installing TWRP and Safestrap for Razr, but have not tried it on a GNex? Can u advise if u have? Should I go from newest CMW to TWEP. The main reason I like TWRp is the ability too boot to stock if issues with Rom appear, ability to create "nandroid" backup, the ability to install several Roms on one system.
So, do ya think it's safe? Worthwhile? Thanks!

Related

[Q] RomManager issues with N1: soft-bricking when creating backup

Hello all,
I have successfully installed CM7 on my Nexus One. However, I have the following problem with CWM: if I ask it to make a backup from within the recovery or from RomManager, CWM (3.0.0.5, latest version available apparently for Nexus One) makes the backup, but after restarting, I am stuck on the CM7 splashscreen: I see the blue Android on his skateboard and the arrow goes around in circles (left it going for 15 minutes just to be sure).
Also, on a sidenote, when I made the initial nandroid backup in CWM from my stock Froyo, after the backup was done I had to go in RomManager and "fix permissions", because all my resident apps kept crashing with "forced close" errors. No idea where that came from. Restoring that backup did the same thing as well. I did not investigate that issue any more though as I was on my way to a CM7 upgrade anyways.
So I now have a perfectly good install of CM7 running, but I am scared of doing a CWM backup. This is far from an ideal situation, and I would love to be able to resolve this
Thanks for any help
Anyone? I really am quite upset with this situation
Use this instead?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=611829
Thanks, I will try it... though I have to admit I am nervous at the idea of having to again reinstall everything. Crossing my fingers!
yannack said:
Thanks, I will try it... though I have to admit I am nervous at the idea of having to again reinstall everything. Crossing my fingers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh oh? It is just a custom recovery, no need to reinstall everything. You only flash the recovery and do the backup you cannot now with the broken CWM. (For my phone, there are even flashable zip files so you can switch b/w CWM and AmonRA "on the fly" via flash zip from recovery, not sure there are some for N1, try to search. )
Actually, the current problem I have is that after performing a backup, my phone doesn't boot anymore. The only solution I have at that point is to re-flash a complete ROM (flashing the backup doesn't work either), thus losing everything.
In short: making a backup means I then have to format and said backup is unworkable...
Which is why I am nervous at the idea of trying to make such a backup.
On a sidenote, RomManager is indeed able to flash both CWM and RA recoveries for N1 directly, which is quite nice indeed.
yannack said:
Actually, the current problem I have is that after performing a backup, my phone doesn't boot anymore. The only solution I have at that point is to re-flash a complete ROM (flashing the backup doesn't work either), thus losing everything.
In short: making a backup means I then have to format and said backup is unworkable...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still do not understand why all this. Just flash a working recovery from fastboot (should press power and trackball IIRC on your phone). (And obviously do not use CWM to perform backups when it bricks your phone.)
On another note, flashing removery via ROM Manager resulted in bricked phones for many users, would avoid it personally.

[Q] (Clockwork Mod) What is Nandroid Backup and How Does it Work?

This is a noob question, but I have a bit of experience under my belt just so you don't have to worry too much about using "confusing" terminology.
I have rooted/ROMed many devices in the past and have heard guides talking about doing a Nandroid backup. My question is how exactly does it work? Say for example: I am on the stock ROM (rooted of course) and I do a Nandroid backup while on stock. If go to say Cyanogen and I don't like it can I just restore from my nandroid backup like I would flash any other ROM to go back to stock. And if that will get me back to stock does it also preserve all of the user data that was in that ROM when it was backed up?
Any other information about about nandroid backups would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
From my understanding, the backup backs up all the stuff on your phone EXCEPT for what's on the SD card.
The idea is that you do a back up. Then install a new rom that you want to try out. BUt you don't like it, so you just restore the backup and woolah! your old phone is back along with all your settings, data, etc.
I'm not sure why it's called a nandroid backup, but from what I gather, you can do it with clockworkmod, just boot into recovery. And use the backup and restore option.
That was my understanding as well. I just wasn't sure on the situation with the user data (or the backup in general really). So all it takes is a nandrid backup to revert back to (rooted) stock?
A Android backup takes all the files on your device and saves them as a data.img,system.I mg,cache.I mg,user data,and recovery.img. It is also restorable through fastboot. It can also get you out of a tough spot. Say you are messing with a new theme and it causes your device not to boot up or causes unwanted problems. You can restore a backup to a time when your device was working correctly.
saintmagician said:
From my understanding, the backup backs up all the stuff on your phone EXCEPT for what's on the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is true unless you do a nandroid+android_secure backup. this also backs up your external app data
dunngh said:
This is a noob question, but I have a bit of experience under my belt just so you don't have to worry too much about using "confusing" terminology.
I have rooted/ROMed many devices in the past and have heard guides talking about doing a Nandroid backup. My question is how exactly does it work? Say for example: I am on the stock ROM (rooted of course) and I do a Nandroid backup while on stock. If go to say Cyanogen and I don't like it can I just restore from my nandroid backup like I would flash any other ROM to go back to stock. And if that will get me back to stock does it also preserve all of the user data that was in that ROM when it was backed up?
Any other information about about nandroid backups would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you're correct. You can restore but just remember some app might have ext data in sdcard. If you don't delete it, when you restore you'll get the same as before
Sent from my HTC Desire Z using XDA App
rootfan said:
A Android backup takes all the files on your device and saves them as a data.img,system.I mg,cache.I mg,user data,and recovery.img. It is also restorable through fastboot. It can also get you out of a tough spot. Say you are messing with a new theme and it causes your device not to boot up or causes unwanted problems. You can restore a backup to a time when your device was working correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if you want to restore say just your data can you just delete the images you do not wish to restore from the backup folder and it will just keep the ones you have? Or won't it work at all if you start deleting images?
rfp101 said:
So if you want to restore say just your data can you just delete the images you do not wish to restore from the backup folder and it will just keep the ones you have? Or won't it work at all if you start deleting images?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wouldnt tamper with a nandroid backup, but if you have clockwordmod recovery, that is possible. clockwordmod recovery gives you the option to restore one of those images (but only one at a time).
does a nandroid backup include your kernel?
Pender1 said:
does a nandroid backup include your kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does! It's a compelete "snapshot" of your phone with all apps/settings etc.
Does it also backup the stuff which has been stored on the external ext2-Partition, which is mounted to enlarge the space for apps?
Same with restore of this nandroid-backup. Will it also place the backup again to the same space?
As I know there's a (symbolic) link put into /data which might get problems.
dunngh said:
This is a noob question, but I have a bit of experience under my belt just so you don't have to worry too much about using "confusing" terminology.
I have rooted/ROMed many devices in the past and have heard guides talking about doing a Nandroid backup. My question is how exactly does it work? Say for example: I am on the stock ROM (rooted of course) and I do a Nandroid backup while on stock. If go to say Cyanogen and I don't like it can I just restore from my nandroid backup like I would flash any other ROM to go back to stock. And if that will get me back to stock does it also preserve all of the user data that was in that ROM when it was backed up?
Any other information about about nandroid backups would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its back up all yore staff and programs so if u will back to the backup it eill be exactly the same as beafore
If you install another ROM with different kernel and then you want to go back to nandroid backup, does it work ?
Nandroid backups
I was wondering if the framework is saved as well. I recently updated to the ICS firmware and am wondering if I restore with a backup from the old GB firmware will that be restored as well or will it still stay on the ICS? From my understanding ICS firmware will run previous versions
will nandroid backup (made from cwm) un-brick your phone if say, you installed a custom rom via cwm and it bricked it?
dunngh said:
This is a noob question, but I have a bit of experience under my belt just so you don't have to worry too much about using "confusing" terminology.
I have rooted/ROMed many devices in the past and have heard guides talking about doing a Nandroid backup. My question is how exactly does it work? Say for example: I am on the stock ROM (rooted of course) and I do a Nandroid backup while on stock. If go to say Cyanogen and I don't like it can I just restore from my nandroid backup like I would flash any other ROM to go back to stock. And if that will get me back to stock does it also preserve all of the user data that was in that ROM when it was backed up?
Any other information about about nandroid backups would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,It restores all data and apps nandroid backup is a mirror copy of your phone.after restoring you will get your previous stock ROM.
cheebs42 said:
I was wondering if the framework is saved as well. I recently updated to the ICS firmware and am wondering if I restore with a backup from the old GB firmware will that be restored as well or will it still stay on the ICS? From my understanding ICS firmware will run previous versions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting question. Anyone?
Snake X said:
will nandroid backup (made from cwm) un-brick your phone if say, you installed a custom rom via cwm and it bricked it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not sure, i think nandroid backup will unbrick your phone as long as you can boot to recovery. atleast when i installed a roms pach it didnt fully boot, got stuck at bootanimation, no loop, just froze, then i got it back with nandroid backup
I have the latest CWM 5.xxx, but there is no Nandroid backup option.
but only those below';
- backup and restore and under it
- backup
- restore
- advanced restore
- backup to internal sd card
- advanced restore from internal sdcard
Where is NANDROID Backup?
sas_sas said:
I have the latest CWM 5.xxx, but there is no Nandroid backup option.
but only those below';
- backup and restore and under it
- backup
- restore
- advanced restore
- backup to internal sd card
- advanced restore from internal sdcard
Where is NANDROID Backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all the options with the word backup are.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

NANDROID??

ok since we getting more roms and have hellraiser over there opening the door. i have ALOT of nandroid back ups.
now having never had to actually use one of these i wanted to know somethings.
is a nandroid like a Rom, i just have to flash over another rom, or from stock and boom i have that Rom back with all my apps and info.
or do i need to load up the rom then nandroid on top of that for it work??
just have never had a use, but i would like to go back to some of my prior setups.
A nandroid is a system restore basically. If you fubar something and can get into recovery you can restore that nandroid to exactly where the phone was before. You don't need to flash anything just be able to get into recovery.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using xda premium
Thanks am, flashing one now just to see....
the2rrell said:
ok since we getting more roms and have hellraiser over there opening the door. i have ALOT of nandroid back ups.
now having never had to actually use one of these i wanted to know somethings.
is a nandroid like a Rom, i just have to flash over another rom, or from stock and boom i have that Rom back with all my apps and info.
or do i need to load up the rom then nandroid on top of that for it work??
just have never had a use, but i would like to go back to some of my prior setups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid will reflash system, data, cache - everything. The only thing a Nandroid won't flash is a kernel if you're doing a major change (e.g. Froyo to Gingerbread or either of those to CM7 - while it's also GB, it requires special kernels.)
Entropy512 said:
A nandroid will reflash system, data, cache - everything. The only thing a Nandroid won't flash is a kernel if you're doing a major change (e.g. Froyo to Gingerbread or either of those to CM7 - while it's also GB, it requires special kernels.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok with that said, you should flash the Kernel before the nandroid to make sure there is a compatible kernel there for the nandroid to use??
basically match up froyo roms and kernels and visa versa for BG before i decide to flash a Nandroid?
the2rrell said:
ok with that said, you should flash the Kernel before the nandroid to make sure there is a compatible kernel there for the nandroid to use??
basically match up froyo roms and kernels and visa versa for BG before i decide to flash a Nandroid?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, that would be a good idea - since if you restore the nandroid on an incompatible kernel, you'll have the phone be very unhappy. (Will refuse to boot.)
Much thanks E.........appreciate the time bruh.
this can be closed.
I completely failed here E, i tried to restore a nandroid. i loaded the Infusion GB Kernel then proceeded to restore the nandroid and just get boot loops no matter how i do it.
any thoughts??
Hmm I think I need to look at this later in the week. Starting to sound like Nandroid might be broken in red CWM.
i got it, but i had to load the Kernel - Rom - then do the nandroid. but that kinda of defeats the purpose in my eyes....lol
but yea, if you find something that would be cool to know E.

[Q] Need reassurance about backup process

Hi. I've been using a ROM for the last little while (SlimICS), and I like it, more or less. There's a feature in another ROM (ParanoidAndroid, per-app density), that I'd really like to try out, but this ROM also has a lot of features I don't want (tablet mode) and doubt I would like. I use TWRP as my recovery...if I use TWRP to make a backup of System, Data, Boot, Recovery, .android_secure, and EFS, will I be able to flash this other ROM, then restore the backup to go back to my old ROM after I play with the new one a bit? Will the backup of these items bring me back to exactly how it was before, if I do a Wipe Cache/Dalvik Cache/Factory Reset?
Sorry if these questions are answered elsewhere, I'm just trying to make sure that my limited understanding of all this isn't incorrect, in my specific situation.
If you make a backup through recovery, when you restore, it'll be exactly where you left off, settings and all, when you shut the phone down.
When backing up in Recovery, you are backing up the OS and apps. This is called a nandroid. This does not backup anything on the sdcard.
Yesterday, I flashed a different kernel version on my NS. Before flashing, I did a nandroid backup using Reovery. Unfortunately, the kernel failed to load properly and I was stuck in a boot loop. I restored my backup I have done previously, and my phone was back where it was, few minutes before. It is very easy to do and backups/restores and verified using MD5 checksum.
Keep in mind that some apps put stuff on the sdcard. So if you flash your phone to a new ROM, upgrade apps and then go back to another ROM, it is possible that some apps won't work anymore. I've never seen this happen but this is a possibility.

Does restoring TWRP backup maintain all settings, apps, configurations?

I'm considering trying out a different ROM on my T-Mobile Galaxy S2. I've done quite a bit of modifications to my stock 4.1 ROM.
I made a complete backup of my phone using TWRP recovery (both system & data backed up).
Now, if i decide that after trying someother ROMS, i decide to revert back to the stock ROM i was using, can i just restore my backup with TWRP Recovery and all my settings, apps, screens, etc. everying will be restored just like it was before i put another ROM on?
I've been very hesitant to try this for fear of needing to reconfigure everything again.
I assume everythig restores as original but i need confirmation.
Thanks.
James
brandypuff said:
I'm considering trying out a different ROM on my T-Mobile Galaxy S2. I've done quite a bit of modifications to my stock 4.1 ROM.
I made a complete backup of my phone using TWRP recovery (both system & data backed up).
Now, if i decide that after trying someother ROMS, i decide to revert back to the stock ROM i was using, can i just restore my backup with TWRP Recovery and all my settings, apps, screens, etc. everying will be restored just like it was before i put another ROM on?
I've been very hesitant to try this for fear of needing to reconfigure everything again.
I assume everythig restores as original but i need confirmation.
Thanks.
James
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it does....if you do a full backup...
And by the way, questions belong in the Q and A section....cheers!

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