I flash a sh*t ton of roms, and a problem I revisit every once in a while, is the apparent inability to backup/restore JUST the stuff in Accounts and Sync, and settings of those accounts. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say it sucks to have to re-enter 15+ different account names/passwords/etc every time I flash a rom(which is quite frequently), So why is it when I search for a solution, I find responses that belong over in an Apple Discussions forum(aka no solutions, just rhetoric).
To backup/restore my Apps and App settings, I use RomToolBox Pro>App Manager>Backup app + data + market links. This works very well, and saves a lot of time, as opposed to restoring from the market, and still needing to go back in and set up the apps. I can backup/restore individual apps, with or without the settings. I can't help but think a backup solution similar to this, only for accounts, must be out there.
There is an option in RomToolBox Pro>App Manager>Backup misc.data to backup Accounts, but I've never gotten it to work worth a ****. I've seen several forums over the years with people asking this same question, and being told that Titanium Backup can backup the Accounts and Sync Settings, but no one ever bothers to explain any further.
Though I can't remember the last time I was without root access, a plus would be to find a solution that didn't require it. Thanks for any help, And I hope if you're reading this years from now, this is the end of your fruitless search.
Related
I tried to search for this but really didn't know what to even search for.
I've hard reset my phone twice after adding and deleting lots of apps while trying to find my favs. Both times I've used the Sprite Backup that came with my phone (ATT Tilt) and both times I've had to set up a new Oulook account for my Gmail. This isn't really an issue, just a pain.
What is an issue is that it won't allow me to reuse the Account Name. Not to big a deal, I just don't like having to come up with a new name every time. Is there a way to delete the old names somewhere? Are they in the registry somewhere?
Sorry if this has been asked before, I've just never seen it in the 3 months I've been following this forum and had no luck finding it myself.
bosox15 said:
I tried to search for this but really didn't know what to even search for.
I've hard reset my phone twice after adding and deleting lots of apps while trying to find my favs. Both times I've used the Sprite Backup that came with my phone (ATT Tilt) and both times I've had to set up a new Oulook account for my Gmail. This isn't really an issue, just a pain.
What is an issue is that it won't allow me to reuse the Account Name. Not to big a deal, I just don't like having to come up with a new name every time. Is there a way to delete the old names somewhere? Are they in the registry somewhere?
Sorry if this has been asked before, I've just never seen it in the 3 months I've been following this forum and had no luck finding it myself.
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I'll be the first to tackle this, but need some clarification on it. You hard reset then do a restore using sprite? Or you hard reset and then restore only the apps? Any extra information would be greatly appreciated.
Just about right said:
I'll be the first to tackle this, but need some clarification on it. You hard reset then do a restore using sprite? Or you hard reset and then restore only the apps? Any extra information would be greatly appreciated.
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Sorry, yeah, backup "My Documents, Email, and Personal Databases" with Sprite backup. Hard Reset, Restore from backup, then reinstall all apps. Both times it hasn't actually restored my email account so I've had to do it manually, but when I click "New E-Mail Account" and go through the steps, I get a warning screen that says "That name is already assigned to another account. Enter a unique name and try again". Is it possible it only half restores, putting some type of info file somewhere but not actually listing it under "Messaging" screen.
The last time it also didn't back up my contacts, had to get those through ActiveSync from Outlook on my PC. Needless to say, I don't think I'll rely on Sprite again.
bosox15 said:
Sorry, yeah, backup "My Documents, Email, and Personal Databases" with Sprite backup. Hard Reset, Restore from backup, then reinstall all apps. Both times it hasn't actually restored my email account so I've had to do it manually, but when I click "New E-Mail Account" and go through the steps, I get a warning screen that says "That name is already assigned to another account. Enter a unique name and try again". Is it possible it only half restores, putting some type of info file somewhere but not actually listing it under "Messaging" screen.
The last time it also didn't back up my contacts, had to get those through ActiveSync from Outlook on my PC. Needless to say, I don't think I'll rely on Sprite again.
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By doing the backup and then restoring you are allowing some previous settings from your device to be redone. This is usually good in the big picture of things, but when it comes to email, by restoring even a little bit, it will recognize that account. I never back up my email, unless I do it via outlook on a daily basis and such. By doing that I can restore it to outlook if it crashes or if I need something from the past that I had deleted. I wish I could give you some good news and say it shouldn't happen, but it does. Try only backing up everything but your email accounts. Also what device are you using. Some have quirks that others don't.
I thought that might be it. Too bad I just did it and don't feel like reinstalling and getting my settings the way I like em. Its the ATT Tilt, don't know if that really matters.
bosox15 said:
I thought that might be it. Too bad I just did it and don't feel like reinstalling and getting my settings the way I like em. Its the ATT Tilt, don't know if that really matters.
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Just remember it when you go to do it next time.
I was wondering about the device, because older PPC/Phones had different issues with backup and restore. It seems a lot better now in our techno world we live in.
Hi guys,
Basically I am trying to selectively restore my Boss' Touch Pro, I just want to get the email settings and e-mails across to the new phone he has. I have searched through the registry and the files trying to find where the account settings are held but alas I have had no luck. Does anyone have this nugget of information?
I need to transfer the actual emails and the e-mail account settings.
Use PIM backup to get the e-mails easily (also will get contacts, speed dials, txts etc etc - but you can select what to backup / restore)
E-mail account settings can be dragged out of registry Like this But what e-mail settings do you need? normally things like that are easier to just re-input if its only a 1 off occurence.
A quick look through the mail account settings should give you all the login info you need (except the password)
ok, thats cool, I reckon I can handle that. I actually want any and all e-mail settings because the amount that my boss wants me to install new roms for him to try out means that I don't want to keep re-inputting his details into the phone. I would ideally want all information in sepperate restorable cabs or reg entries. problem with the backup software I am using is that it takes all of the software as well, so when I restore it to a newly flashed phone it restores all the crap from the previous phone...tre frustrating.
and yeah, this is a strange problem, I personally stick with a single firmware instead of jumping about...but I'm not the boss
If you're gonna be flashing roms, check out UC (in the hacking thread) or shashmi. Both should let you personalise the "post flash" install so you get the device back to how you like it quickly & easily.
Can someone tell me, or point me to a tutorial that explains how to:
1. Backup contacts to PC
2. Backup paid apps to PC(don't want to have to buy it twice...)
3. Backup app data/settings to PC.
Using appbrain will sync your apps with your account on appbrain.com
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
So, there is no way to backup to your SD card, or PC? For windows mobile, I use Sprite, which works great. I was looking for something like that.
Thanks
Never used WinMo, but Titanium Backup might be what you're looking for. You need root to use it though.
I don't mind rooting if that is what it takes, but I can't belive that there is not an easy way to at least backup your contacts.
Backing up Contacts, several ways:
Samsung Kies -- follow the sticky at the top of this forum, it will back them up to your PC.
Export to SD Card, then copy to your PC -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Import/Export, Export to SD Card.
Copy them to your SIM -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, SIM Management.
Sync them to AT&T's servers, which will do it in real-time when you add/delete them, similar to if you synced to your Gmail contacts .. the other benefit here is that you can log on to your AT&T account via the web to manage your phone contacts and it will sync your changes. Useful if you're mass-adding and want to use a full keyboard for speed. -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Settings, AT&T Address Book, click Auto Sync contact with online Address Book.
Backing up paid apps: I have not used it, myself, but Titanium Backup might do what you need, as the previous poster said. You can find it in the Market and read up on it.
Backing up app/data settings to a PC. I'm guessing this would be more app-specific than anything, no? I don't think Google imposes or enforces any standards on data/setting storage for apps, so any single backup tool would have to support individual apps one-by-one. Please update this thread if you find anything, because it would be pretty convenient ....
UserNamer said:
Backing up Contacts, several ways:
Samsung Kies -- follow the sticky at the top of this forum, it will back them up to your PC.
Export to SD Card, then copy to your PC -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Import/Export, Export to SD Card.
Copy them to your SIM -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, SIM Management.
Sync them to AT&T's servers, which will do it in real-time when you add/delete them, similar to if you synced to your Gmail contacts .. the other benefit here is that you can log on to your AT&T account via the web to manage your phone contacts and it will sync your changes. Useful if you're mass-adding and want to use a full keyboard for speed. -- Enter the Contacts app, hit Menu, More, Settings, AT&T Address Book, click Auto Sync contact with online Address Book.
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Awesome. Sounds like backing up the contacts won't be a problem.
Backing up paid apps: I have not used it, myself, but Titanium Backup might do what you need, as the previous poster said. You can find it in the Market and read up on it.
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Will look into it. What would really be nice would be if google would do this for us. Seems like it would be pretty easy for google to remember which apps I have purchased, and not charge me next time I try to download it. Perhaps the marketplace already does this? I just don't want to buy an app and then remove it to find out....actually I will not pay for any apps until I can figure out how to back them up. I don't mind spending $5 on an app, but I do mind spending $5 for each app every time the phone gets reset...
Backing up app/data settings to a PC. I'm guessing this would be more app-specific than anything, no? I don't think Google imposes or enforces any standards on data/setting storage for apps, so any single backup tool would have to support individual apps one-by-one. Please update this thread if you find anything, because it would be pretty convenient ....
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Again, I don't know, this is my first android phone. But with Ubuntu Linux, pretty much all apps store their settings in a hidden folder in /home/{your-username}/ (i.e. firefox would store it's data in /home/{your-username}/.firefox/ ) All you have to do to backup all of your settings is to backup the /home/{your-username}/ folder. It is common for people to place /home/ on a different disk/partition, so that you can reinstall the OS and not loose any of your data/settings...
Android is also linux so I would think it would be similar...
cypho said:
Seems like it would be pretty easy for google to remember which apps I have purchased, and not charge me next time I try to download it. Perhaps the marketplace already does this?
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I am not sure how most app developers currently handle this, but I think Google made it easier a few weeks ago with the announcement of their new "licensing service for android applications". Plug that into your favorite search site (minus the quotation marks) and a post from Eric Chu explaining it on the Android Developers Blog should be up top.
But with Ubuntu Linux, pretty much all apps store their settings in a hidden folder in /home/{your-username}/
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Home directories are great. =) I haven't used Ubuntu in a long time, so I'm not sure if you're saying that the system enforces it or if it's still just up to the individual developers to follow convention and store their settings in /home/ ... but I'm looking through my internal SD card and it seems like most of the apps I have installed (including the Google ones) each created their own data directory at the root level. :\
Titanium also backs up your contacts, paid apps, and free apps. The pros of rooting outway the cons. You can always un root if you need to send your phone in. I am also a newb and I've been wondering if I had to return my phone and get a new one will my paid apps carry over to a new device. I have the my license key for Titanium so I am thinking that I will be good in the event of such emergency. All of my paid apps are backed up there and I wiped my phone to factory settings the other night, I didn't un root, I was trouble shooting an issue caused by AT&. I did a reinstall of Titanium and it recognized my device because it installed donated version and I restored everything with ease.
UserNamer said:
I haven't used Ubuntu in a long time, so I'm not sure if you're saying that the system enforces it or if it's still just up to the individual developers to follow convention and store their settings in /home/ ...
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I don't know, as I'm not a developer. But I would think that it would cause problems if a program tried to save data outside of /home/ The user would probably be prompted for their password every time the app tried to write a file...since sudo is required to gain write access to anything outside of home.
I'm noob and have TB Pro.
I'm starting this topic in hopes that people will submit their methods of use for employing this Powerful and Invaluable App..
I mainly use it to backup/reinstall apps and data. And remove bloat. It does so much more than that!
I think that MY restoring of certain data/system data from one ROM to another ROM has sometimes caused me problems.
I am trying to develop my own protocol for using TB Pro. I have gained much knowledge through trial, error and research but could really use the knowledge, experience and help of you people.
So how do YOU use TB PRO? What system data do you ALWAYS restore? What system data do you NEVER restore? Ect..
Thank you for your time, efforts energy and input.
I've found that generally the "Green" system settings can be restored, although sometimes if your ROM or Device is too different from the previous it won't work. For example from my Vibrant to the 4G it seemed the SMS storage is changed a bit and I had to manually pull the smsmms.db and transfer it.
My current system data I restore is generally:
Calendar
Bluetooth Pairings
SMS/MMS/APN Dialer Storage (this has the SMS)
Bookmarks
Wifi Access Points
User Dictionary
Calendar
Playlists
Wallpaper
Settings/bluetooth storage
Another thing I've found useful is the use of labels in TB. I have a "system" label for the above items, and "Apps with Data" which I put apps that have specific settings and such I don't feel like setting up after each flash. Handcent, Launchers, apps you have to 'sign in' to, alarms, etc.
Then I have multiple "restore" labels, I don't really like restoring everything at once usually, so I'll put my first 30 or so primary apps in a label, then the next 20-30, and restore them in batches. Usually my 1st restore point is the stuff I use daily, and the others are stuff I don't use as much. Sometimes I only restore the first one and reinstall individual apps as I need them.
I also have a dropbox label which I use to sync 'important' stuff to drop box.
These labels also help with the TB Schedules, I backup the "system" label more frequently then the others, etc.
If you do use labels, make sure you have "auto backup TB Data" option so your labels will restore when you wipe and reflash.
jalsing said:
I've found that generally the "Green" system settings can be restored, although sometimes if your ROM or Device is too different from the previous it won't work. For example from my Vibrant to the 4G it seemed the SMS storage is changed a bit and I had to manually pull the smsmms.db and transfer it.
My current system data I restore is generally:
Calendar
Bluetooth Pairings
SMS/MMS/APN Dialer Storage (this has the SMS)
Bookmarks
Wifi Access Points
User Dictionary
Calendar
Playlists
Wallpaper
Settings/bluetooth storage
Another thing I've found useful is the use of labels in TB. I have a "system" label for the above items, and "Apps with Data" which I put apps that have specific settings and such I don't feel like setting up after each flash. Handcent, Launchers, apps you have to 'sign in' to, alarms, etc.
Then I have multiple "restore" labels, I don't really like restoring everything at once usually, so I'll put my first 30 or so primary apps in a label, then the next 20-30, and restore them in batches. Usually my 1st restore point is the stuff I use daily, and the others are stuff I don't use as much. Sometimes I only restore the first one and reinstall individual apps as I need them.
I also have a dropbox label which I use to sync 'important' stuff to drop box.
These labels also help with the TB Schedules, I backup the "system" label more frequently then the others, etc.
If you do use labels, make sure you have "auto backup TB Data" option so your labels will restore when you wipe and reflash.
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Click to collapse
This is a AWESOME reply! Exactly the kind of response I was hoping for.
It is informative, detailed, technical & the screen shot really helps put things into perspective for me.
Without getting into my TB details. I have done a cpl backups that you do and will now incorporate the ones you have given. I have never assigned any labels or schedules. I will start doing those things now.
The reason I posted this topic is because I'm noob. I have learned to flash properly and recover if I get into trouble.
Recently I have realized that the problems I have been having sometimes after flashing are a result of the things I DID after flashing and not that of the ROM, Mod, or Tweak that people work hard to develop and put together.
I want to minimize MY unnecessary (unwittingly) posts and in doing so the replies I get from the very helpful people in our Great Community.
If I can backup and restore my data properly after flashing then I will less likely believe I "found a bug" and will not have to seek help. That will benefit me by having my phone function at it's best and help the Community by keeping our threads shorter.
THANK YOU for your response
Restoring Settings with TiBu
jalsing said:
I've found that generally the "Green" system settings can be restored, although sometimes if your ROM or Device is too different from the previous it won't work. For example from my Vibrant to the 4G it seemed the SMS storage is changed a bit and I had to manually pull the smsmms.db and transfer it.
My current system data I restore is generally:
Calendar
Bluetooth Pairings
SMS/MMS/APN Dialer Storage (this has the SMS)
Bookmarks
Wifi Access Points
User Dictionary
Calendar
Playlists
Wallpaper
Settings/bluetooth storage
Another thing I've found useful is the use of labels in TB. I have a "system" label for the above items, and "Apps with Data" which I put apps that have specific settings and such I don't feel like setting up after each flash. Handcent, Launchers, apps you have to 'sign in' to, alarms, etc.
Then I have multiple "restore" labels, I don't really like restoring everything at once usually, so I'll put my first 30 or so primary apps in a label, then the next 20-30, and restore them in batches. Usually my 1st restore point is the stuff I use daily, and the others are stuff I don't use as much. Sometimes I only restore the first one and reinstall individual apps as I need them.
I also have a dropbox label which I use to sync 'important' stuff to drop box.
These labels also help with the TB Schedules, I backup the "system" label more frequently then the others, etc.
If you do use labels, make sure you have "auto backup TB Data" option so your labels will restore when you wipe and reflash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my case I do exactly the same as above but also have a TWRP backup of my entire ROM with all my preferred apps installed (and TiBu included) to quickly reflash the phone with this TWRP backup in case I break something (e.g., I tweak something I shouldn't have in the kernel). The TiBu backups I mainly use to restore an earlier app version if a new release of that app breaks functionality I've come to depend on (it happens often!) The unique issue I run into is that if I update my TiBu labels, they won't carry through after the ROM flash unless I backup the entire ROM all over again. I sure wish I could backup the TiBu labels and restore them. I hear Delta Backup can backup TiBu and its labels. I'll give it a shot next time but if anyone has any better ideas I'm all ears.
So I get how the google account you associate with your phone can keep track of apps you have installed on your phone and contacts that youve chosen to sync with the account etc but how would I alter these? How do I view what apps it will reinstall in the case my phone gets lost and I grab another android? Sometimes I dont want alot of the old things I had on my phone. At the same time I like the setup I have right now and all the apps I have so I want those saved for a future restore. Ive found it pretty unclear on how to go about doing this. Any help would be much appreciated!