Hi, I've been using MIUI 2.8.10 for months now but have finally decided to scrap it. It's extremely RAM hungry and the keyboard only recognizes about ten words in the English dictionary for some reason, so auto-correct is essentially non-existent. I'm quite surprised I've actually had the patience to keep up with it for so long; I suppose simply because it's so elegant.
But that's besides the point. I want to swap ROMs, probably to CyanogenMod or some other Jellybean ROM. Is it possible to do this without wiping the Data on my phone? Primarily my installed applications; I don't really care if my texts are lost or anything like that. I have heard of Carbon but I'm not sure if I can use that application to safely keep my applications when swapping ROMs. Nor do I know if it's even possible in the first place. I know you can temporarily swap ROMs by making a backup and later retrieving it, but I want to permanently drop MIUI, so that's out of the question.
TL;DR: Can I change ROMs an keep my installed applications and all the data on them? If so, how?
Thanks a lot in advance.
To avoid force-closes caused by data lingering from another build, the only proper way is to wipe both data and caches. Use titanium backup to save txts and applications. You can try to restore data for your apps as well but some might force close on a new rom. I'd restore data for all user-apps (games, audio/video players) then only wipe data/cache for apps that don't play nice with your new rom. In the end, you might not lose anything. Just don't restore data for ANYTHING system related, or you'll have problems. Time consuming, but it's worth it if you don't want to lose anything. Good luck.
Also, MIUI is the only rom I used on both my Droid x and Galaxy S2. Sadly your right, MIUI is very ram-hungry. I'd use it on my N7 if there was a proper tablet build though.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
FizzleDiz said:
To avoid force-closes caused by data lingering from another build, the only proper way is to wipe both data and caches. Use titanium backup to save txts and applications. You can try to restore data for your apps as well but some might force close on a new rom. I'd restore data for all user-apps (games, audio/video players) then only wipe data/cache for apps that don't play nice with your new rom. In the end, you might not lose anything. Just don't restore data for ANYTHING system related, or you'll have problems. Time consuming, but it's worth it if you don't want to lose anything. Good luck.
Also, MIUI is the only rom I used on both my Droid x and Galaxy S2. Sadly your right, MIUI is very ram-hungry. I'd use it on my N7 if there was a proper tablet build though.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you're saying if I were to install Titanium Backup I can trade ROMs without loosing App data? Save for the ones that don't fail, of course.
But... if Titanium Backup itself is an App, how does it protect itself from not being wiped? I know that's not really related to the thread but I've always wondered.
Despite, thanks for the reply.
Install TB now. Backup all user-apps+data. Make a nandroid backup. Once you wipe and install the new rom, download titanium backup from the play store again. All your backups are stored on the SD card under /???/titanium backup/. You'll only lose the backup folder containing your apps/data if you format your card or use a developers-tool which also completely wipes phones and cards with the goal of giving you a truly clean slate to flash a rom. Just read the recommend procedure for installing a specific rom. If only a data/cache wipe are needed, then your SD card *should* be safe. Install rom > install TB > Restore user-apps+data. Enjoy.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 12:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 AM ----------
Surpass said:
if Titanium Backup itself is an App, how does it protect itself from not being wiped? I know that's not really related to the thread but I've always wondered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It gets wiped, but the folder in your SD card with all the backups stay, unless you format/wipe the card itself.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 12:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 AM ----------
Just thought of something. It sounds like your app data is very important. Do this:
Install TB
Backup user-apps+data.... and txt messages and call logs if you want.
Connect to PC and transfer the whole TB folder for safe keeping.
Now you have a backup of your backups
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
If your user apps and data are more important than your system settings, Titanium backup is for you.
The bugs I encountered were only with the settings and system apps.
Would it be possible to change ROM without rooting the phone? For instance, I can use TWRP to take a backup of data partition, install new rom, do full swipe, and then restore the data partition.
Would it work?
Thanks
Im using an unofficial Resurrection Remix for J3 and the phone can barely boot up at times, I wanna change it to LOS 13 or back to Touchwiz, Ill try the TB but if the phone cant boot, then what?
Related
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
I'm a little new to rooting and this is my 2nd device that I have rooted and first without an external Sd card. I currently have the ViperXL rom on my HTC One X and I want to try a AOSP Rom. I backed up everything with Titanium Backup but what I was wondering is when I factory reset my phone won't the backup get wiped too? I'm sorry if this is a noob question but I don't want to advance without confirming this because i need to know if I have to copy my backup over to my computer. And I think that the backup is in the SD Card, which i'm not entirely sure about. So also does the SD card get wiped? I'm sorry if this question has been asked already and I will delete this thread if anyone asks.
Factory reset from recovery doesn't touch your "sd card" at all. All of your stuff on your sd card will be fine, including your backups.
However, factory reset from bootloader will completely bork your sd card, and it would need to be formatted to be usable again. So, don't ever factory reset from bootloader.
Hope this helps.
Sent from my Evita
Its a fair question, since it is a little confusing that the "SD card" is not a distinct card per se, but a partition on a larger flash memory chip. But as mentioned above, it will not get wiped unless you specifically select the option in recovery to wipe the SD card.
Also, there is the rare event of some files on the SD being corrupted when flashing ROMs. Its happened to me and others in the past. So its not a bad idea to make a copy of your Titanium Backup folder on your computer "just in case".
Thanks
redpoint73 said:
Its a fair question, since it is a little confusing that the "SD card" is not a distinct card per se, but a partition on a larger flash memory chip. But as mentioned above, it will not get wiped unless you specifically select the option in recovery to wipe the SD card.
Also, there is the rare event of some files on the SD being corrupted when flashing ROMs. Its happened to me and others in the past. So its not a bad idea to make a copy of your Titanium Backup folder on your computer "just in case".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
timmaaa said:
Factory reset from recovery doesn't touch your "sd card" at all. All of your stuff on your sd card will be fine, including your backups.
However, factory reset from bootloader will completely bork your sd card, and it would need to be formatted to be usable again. So, don't ever factory reset from bootloader.
Hope this helps.
Sent from my Evita
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to both of you guys and thanks Redpoint for that one message you sent me on the at&t website that the One X WAS rootable. You helped me alot.:laugh:
Another Titanium Backup Question
Hey guys I know that this isn't the same question that my topic asks but I have another problem. I used titanium Backup and saved everything in my ViperXL rom for my HTC One X Att. Then i switched to a Sense 5 rom and whenever i try to restore my data my phone seems to freeze and when i reboot it doesn't show any applications or anything. It says that the titanium backup is restored but it doesn't show anything except a notification in the status bar saying a reboot is recommended. So then I go and reboot and the only thing i can do is access the apps in my lockscreen. When i boot up and try to open the app drawer nothing is in it and there is only blinkfeed and my other screen nothing seems to work. I know that i should post this in the Rom Thread and i would but as a junior member with only 8 posts including this one i can't post in Android Development yet. The link for the thread with the rom is here in case anyone wants to know what rom i'm trying this on and my backup is made from a viperxl rom. If anyone needs more details i can provide more. And on a side note whenever i factory reset it takes me back to the rom and it is working but none of my apps that i had in my backup are there. It just seems to go back to when i originally flashed the zip. thanks a lot and here is the sense 5 rom link im using.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2293032
Is there any way for me to get titanium backup to work or would i have to download each app manually? And in case its necessary i do have a full backup of the entire viperxl rom in case i have to make more titanium backups.
It sounds to me like you're restoring system data yeah? It's not a great idea to restore system data from a different ROM, as it most likely is not compatible. So if you're changing ROMs the idea is to only restore user apps.
The reason it was still playing up after you did a factory reset is because factory reset does not wipe the system partition, and that's the partition you messed up by restoring system data using Titanium.
My advice would be to reflash your ROM. Do a full wipe (cache/dalvik/factory reset/system) first. Then boot into the ROM and use the "restore missing apps with data" option in Titanium.
Sent from my Evita
Thanks
Thanks I thought that, that was the problem or something similar because i was wondering how some of my Venom apps would work on my non Venom One X. I'm loving my Sense 5 rom but it's a shame that i can't restore all data. I would love to be able to see my call logs, sms history, and have my phone set up in the same way but obviously that one would be a problem because of compatibility and other things like lack of apps or widgets.
As mentioned, you should only use Titanium to restore user apps (and their corresponding app data), not system data. Restoring system data across different ROMs is a nearly surefire way to cause issues (as you have found), as the different ROMs tend to handle the system data differently (store them in different locations, etc.).
There are various ways to backup and restore call longs and SMS. I personally use the app SMS Backup+, which syncs your SMS to your GMail. But there are other solutions that work fine, as well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zegoggles.smssync
As far as settings and configuration, I've always just done it manually, after flashing a new ROM. Trying to restore this across significantly different ROMs (such as Sense 4+ to Sense 5) is probably not feasible. Doing it manually doesn't take much time at all.
---------- Post added at 09:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 AM ----------
soloflyer12 said:
thanks Redpoint for that one message you sent me on the at&t website that the One X WAS rootable. You helped me alot.:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your very welcome. Nice to see you here!
Thanks again
You guys have been very helpful and with this post I now have 10 posts, so now i can post in android development with my other rom related problems.
Do I have to do anything special to flash back to Hyperdrive? I'm sick of using all these 4.4.2 roms that have so many issues. I just need to go back to Hyperdrive. It ran so smooth and I do not understand why I switched in the first place anymore.
GlitchMob said:
Do I have to do anything special to flash back to Hyperdrive? I'm sick of using all these 4.4.2 roms that have so many issues. I just need to go back to Hyperdrive. It ran so smooth and I do not understand why I switched in the first place anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would do a normal clean wipe, but add in format sd card to get rid of your 0 folder. Transfer everything you need to off of your internal sd card, and move it back after a flash.
Wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache, factory reset, format system, format internal sd card, flash rom.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
BadUsername said:
I would do a normal clean wipe, but add in format sd card to get rid of your 0 folder. Transfer everything you need to off of your internal sd card, and move it back after a flash.
Wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache, factory reset, format system, format internal sd card, flash rom.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to back up everything now, but is this something you've done before? or are you speaking from a theoretical stance?
Also, you say transfer everything off SD Card then you refer to internal SD card. Are you suggesting I flash the internal SD? I dunno about that.
GlitchMob said:
I'm going to back up everything now, but is this something you've done before? or are you speaking from a theoretical stance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never done it because I've always been on 4.1.2. I can't speak from experience.
But basically the way 4.1 and 4.3 or above hold files are different. Since you already 4.4, you have a folder in data/media/0 that has all of the data you are currently using. 4.1 uses data/media to hold all of your data.
Theoretically, if you don't use titanium backup to restore your apps and data you shouldn't have any issues, but you will begin to accumulate duplicated data from apps over time because the data will be stored in a completely different location. If you use titanium backup to restore data, you may get app conflicts because you really have the exact same app information in 2 different places.
If you wipe your sd, you're starting on a clean slate and should avoid any conflicts. People constantly report lag, app conflicts, and miscellaneous files that take up all the storage on their device that they can't account for. All of those problems is due to this issue.
Edit: additionally, I would also use this same procedure to move from 4.1 back to 4.3, it has the same issues associated with it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
BadUsername said:
Never done it because I've always been on 4.1.2. I can't speak from experience.
But basically the way 4.1 and 4.3 or above hold files are different. Since you already 4.4, you have a folder in data/media/0 that has all of the data you are currently using. 4.1 uses data/media to hold all of your data.
Theoretically, if you don't use titanium backup to restore your apps and data you shouldn't have any issues, but you will begin to accumulate duplicated data from apps over time because the data will be stored in a completely different location. If you use titanium backup to restore data, you may get app conflicts because you really have the exact same app information in 2 different places.
If you wipe your sd, you're starting on a clean slate and should avoid any conflicts. People constantly report lag, app conflicts, and miscellaneous files that take up all the storage on their device that they can't account for. All of those problems is due to this issue.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh ok. I never use titanium. I just backup my SMS and redownload my apps. I only use a few. As for everything else I let google restore my data.
GlitchMob said:
Also, you say transfer everything off SD Card then you refer to internal SD card. Are you suggesting I flash the internal SD? I dunno about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't get what you're saying here, if you wipe your internal SD then you have to have your rom on an external SD card.
Formatting your internal SD card will wipe everything off of it. Once you flash a rom, it'll repopulate all the folders you need in the locations it needs to, but your app data, pictures, and anything else you have on there will be gone. If you back up stuff, I'm just saying backup important stuff you don't want to lose like pictures or music. You can always put them back after the flash.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 08:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 PM ----------
GlitchMob said:
Oh ok. I never use titanium. I just backup my SMS and redownload my apps. I only use a few. As for everything else I let google restore my data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then just try to do a normal clean wipe, if you have issues it's likely due to those issues.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I'm switching from one nexus 5 to another, and was trying to figure out the easiest way to do so. I have a lot of apps and data, plus xposed modules with different per app settings, etc. I want to move everything over in the easiest way possible. Can I do a nandroid and just restore it to the new device? Or maybe just a nandroid of the data partition? The timing of my switch means I'd also be switching from 4.4.2 to 4.4.3.
Yes, you can restore the nandrioid backup... However, just make sure you don't restore the /efs partition because doing so will leave your new device in wifi only mode + without imei.
- Sent from an IceCold Hammerhead!
Awesome, it won't cause any problems going between devices? Also, can I switch to f2fs at the same time? Like I could switch it to f2fs and then restore the nandroid, but would that which back to ext4?
Would be much safer to ONLY do this with user apps and data. With titanium backup. Do a backup, transfer the folder they're in to a PC....or even Dropbox.... then transfer the folder to the new device.
Doing anything that involves system apps may cause issues.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Would that make me lose anything? I have titanium backup from a long time ago, but I never actually used it for much. Nandroids usually worked well enough for me.
04244 said:
Would that make me lose anything? I have titanium backup from a long time ago, but I never actually used it for much. Nandroids usually worked well enough for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium backup will save all your user installed apps and data. There's a way to save texts too ...but I never save mine, so haven't tried it.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Awesome, thanks. I'll figure that out. What about the f2fs thing?
04244 said:
Awesome, thanks. I'll figure that out. What about the f2fs thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium is format independent.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Hi guys,
I have a custom ROM installed on my phone which is Dirty Unicorns. I would like to completely remove all my apps and programs and start fresh using this custom ROM. When I do a factory reset I notice that the folders to my previously installed programs are all still there. Is there anyway to completely start fresh with a custom ROM?
Thanks,
Rocky
If you mean you also want to wipe your sdcard / entire storage it depends what recovery you're using
TWRP and Philz have a special option to do this, however - "official cwm" doesn't. But no one should use official cwm because its no longer maintained by the official dev. Its been left behind and very outdated
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
rootSU said:
If you mean you also want to wipe your sdcard / entire storage it depends what recovery you're using
TWRP and Philz have a special option to do this, however - "official cwm" doesn't. But no one should use official cwm because its no longer maintained by the official dev. Its been left behind and very outdated
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
Thank you for your reply I greatly appreciate it. I am using a Nexus 5 with TWRP. The problem I run into is when I uninstall apps that I didn't like they leave folders behind on my internal storage. I don't know why but I don't like that. Therefore, after I end up with a handful of them I like to reinstall the ROM to get rid of them. Sometimes I just like to start over fresh too. What happens though is when I do a factory reset it leaves these useless folders behind as well as folders for the other programs I have installed. When I erase the internal storage to get rid of all the installed apps and the useless leftover folders I lose my files to reinstall the ROM. This leaves me with a phone that is unbootable because it now has no ROM installed and it deleted my install files which were saved to the internal storage. There has to be a proper way of doing what I am trying to accomplish I just don't know what it is. I think there is an easier way the way I am currently using.
What I normally do when I want to start over completely fresh on a custom rom is I fire up Nexus Root Toolkit. Then, I reinstall the latest factory ROM. From there I root the phone and install gapps and my custom ROM. Finally, I flash a custom kernel. This way is a pain in the butt. Like I mentioned I know there has to be an easier way to accomplish this. I just started messing around with rooting and installing custom ROMs not too long ago. I am trying to learn as much as I can, and I actually tried Googling this problem but couldn't find anything. If you or anyone else knows how to go about this could you please post me instructions on how to do this? That would really help me out ALOT. Thanks again for your reply and for your time.
Rocky
Try SD maid from play store to remove unneeded folders
Please don't use toolkits for anything
Edit. If you're just wanting to clean stuff up on your sdcard though, when flashing ROMs, just flash the ROM then wipe storage I'm TWRP.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
rootSU said:
Try SD maid from play store to remove unneeded folders
Please don't use toolkits for anything
Edit. If you're just wanting to clean stuff up on your sdcard though, when flashing ROMs, just flash the ROM then wipe storage I'm TWRP.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhh nice yes that is a great idea. Would this work as well? If I created a backup of the ROM without anything installed and then one after I get everything the way I want it with apps installed. Then, when I wanted to start over again fresh I could either flash the one of the fresh image or the one with everything how I want it. Would this get rid of the leftover folders from uninstalled apps as well, or would my internal storage but left untouched?
grimreaper1014 said:
Ahhh nice yes that is a great idea. Would this work as well? If I created a backup of the ROM without anything installed and then one after I get everything the way I want it with apps installed. Then, when I wanted to start over again fresh I could either flash the one of the fresh image or the one with everything how I want it. Would this get rid of the leftover folders from uninstalled apps as well, or would my internal storage but left untouched?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bit of both actually. It won't change sdcard or even back it up. But you could take a backup as a "baseline" and keep it on your computer. Wipe storage then copy backup there to restore.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
rootSU said:
Bit of both actually. It won't change sdcard or even back it up. But you could take a backup as a "baseline" and keep it on your computer. Wipe storage then copy backup there to restore.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool thanks a lot for your help I really appreciate it. That problem was driving me nuts lol!