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[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?
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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?
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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
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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?
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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

[Q] Full backup/restore

I've had my sensation for a few weeks now. Still on stock room 2.3.3, no root.
I want to do a full backup and restore of the ROM, like a nandroid backup, before experimenting with other ROMs.
If I boot into the recovery/backup mode and do a backup, is that the same as a nandroid? Will it backup the entire ROM as is?
If so... if I then S-OFF, experiment with other ROMs, and then recover from that backup, would my phone still be S-OFF or would it revert back to S-ON?
I know the preferred method is to root and then do ClockWork Recovery, but I'm wondering if it's possible to do a full ROM backup before rooting.
Thanks.

MPenguin said:
I've had my sensation for a few weeks now. Still on stock room 2.3.3, no root.
I want to do a full backup and restore of the ROM, like a nandroid backup, before experimenting with other ROMs.
If I boot into the recovery/backup mode and do a backup, is that the same as a nandroid? Will it backup the entire ROM as is?
If so... if I then S-OFF, experiment with other ROMs, and then recover from that backup, would my phone still be S-OFF or would it revert back to S-ON?
I know the preferred method is to root and then do ClockWork Recovery, but I'm wondering if it's possible to do a full ROM backup before rooting.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid backup is done using ClockworkMod rcovery, which means you need to S-Off and install CWM before you backup. This will be a full backup of the phone at that point and would allow you to restore to that same point.

So what is the difference between the nandroid/ClockWork backup and the backup done after holding the volume down and starting the phone?
The latter only backs up contacts/settings/etc?

MPenguin said:
So what is the difference between the nandroid/ClockWork backup and the backup done after holding the volume down and starting the phone?
The latter only backs up contacts/settings/etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you hold the Volume down and Power button, it takes you to the HBoot screen. If you select Recovery, that takes you to the Recovery mode. If you have ClockworkMod installed, you will get a recovery menu which has the backup and restore options ands this is a nandroid backup. I have never seen the standard HTC recovery screen, so I don't know if there is a backup/restore option or not. Every thing I have read about nandroid backups has been in reference to CWM and that's the way I have always done it on my 3 HTC devices.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm always eager to learn.

Some Back up Questions

Hi,
i am using CWM.
currently, i am under Cyanogen.
i want to try AOKP.
my question is
i have followed the steps below
a backup
Wipe data
Wipe system
Install AOKp
Till now am i right?
and after to come back to my backup
step 1
Should i Wipe Data?
step 2
Should i wipe system ?
Restore CWM of Cyanogen
are the steps 1 and 2 necessary?
is it a bad practice?
do it let gremlim?
moreover can i restore a back up made under TWRP from CWM?
Can i restore a back up made under CWM from TWRP?
how do you restore the back up?
am i missing steps? Fix permissions?
do i need to recalibrate my battery each time?
Thanks
Heniki

You can only restore CWM backups with CWM and TWRP backups with TWRP. As of now CWM 6's backup function is broken but it is being worked on. So make sure your Backups are from either TWRP or CMW 5 if you want them to work.
To restore a backup I wipe data/factory reset and wipe system. Then choose the backup I want to restore. No need to fix permissions unless things start to act funny after the restore. As far as battery calibration goes it's a myth.

hechoen said:
You can only restore CWM backups with CWM and TWRP backups with TWRP. As of now CWM 6's backup function is broken but it is being worked on. So make sure your Backups are from either TWRP or CMW 5 if you want them to work.
To restore a backup I wipe data/factory reset and wipe system. Then choose the backup I want to restore. No need to fix permissions unless things start to act funny after the restore. As far as battery calibration goes it's a myth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With R6, Bryan said he fixed the backup and restore issues with CWM6. Idk about the rest of the features

When you say "Cyanogen" I think many assume you mean CM9 (ICS).
If you are running CM7 (GB), be very careful how you restore. Most system data (and perhaps some user data) from GB is not compatible with ICS.

jeffsf said:
When you say "Cyanogen" I think many assume you mean CM9 (ICS).
If you are running CM7 (GB), be very careful how you restore. Most system data (and perhaps some user data) from GB is not compatible with ICS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, i am under CM9

Thanks guys
How i Can move from TWRP To CWM?
i found this one to move from CWM to TWRP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1721489.
i want really to understand what are the bad practices which will create gremlims

heniki said:
Thanks guys
How i Can move from TWRP To CWM?
i found this one to move from CWM to TWRP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1721489.
i want really to understand what are the bad practices which will create gremlims
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As Fb said in the post you linked you flash the boot.img that came with your rom or reflash the rom.
The more times you flash roms the more issues you could have with "gremlins". Read more about it in the link.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1500427
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

[Q] rebooting from recovery

my one s recently developed a strange issue, where if i try to run a nandroid backup, it will mostly finish, then reboot itself without fully completing the process, leaving me with a bunk backup and stuck on one rom for now. also, and the more important of my 2 concerns, is that i don't know if it will do this during a rom flash, nor do i want to find out, seeing as i have no current working backup. doe's anyone have any ideas as to how i could fix this?

mercenaryhmster said:
my one s recently developed a strange issue, where if i try to run a nandroid backup, it will mostly finish, then reboot itself without fully completing the process, leaving me with a bunk backup and stuck on one rom for now. also, and the more important of my 2 concerns, is that i don't know if it will do this during a rom flash, nor do i want to find out, seeing as i have no current working backup. doe's anyone have any ideas as to how i could fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At a guess you got a high Hboot so that means when you restore its not restoring the boot.img. You need to flash that in fastboot.

Darknites said:
At a guess you got a high Hboot so that means when you restore its not restoring the boot.img. You need to flash that in fastboot.
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Click to collapse
nope, i have hboot 1.06, and either way that wouldn't, and shouldn't, cause a nandroid to fail during backup, nor for the phone to reboot by itself.

mercenaryhmster said:
nope, i have hboot 1.06, and either way that wouldn't, and shouldn't, cause a nandroid to fail during backup, nor for the phone to reboot by itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh if you mean you cant make a backup try a newer recovery or if its already up to date try an old one.
Edit, just to add I use TWRP 2.2.2.0 and it works fine.

Darknites said:
Oh if you mean you cant make a backup try a newer recovery or if its already up to date try an old one.
Edit, just to add I use TWRP 2.2.2.0 and it works fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried using twrp 2.3, 2.2, cwm touch, regular cwm, does it on all of them.

mercenaryhmster said:
tried using twrp 2.3, 2.2, cwm touch, regular cwm, does it on all of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure then sorry.

Do you have enough free space on your sdcard partition?
You can also try (un?)mounting /data and /system before you start the backup.

Just as an update, I solved my problem. It seems that there were some corrupted files on my data partition, and they were causing nandroid to fail and reboot randomly. So, since I was planning on wiping anyway, I wiped and set up viper again, and successfully made a nandroid after.

Return to Stock

Hi All,
I did a back-up before flashing Virtuous rom. If I want to go back to stock, do I just wipe everything, then restore the back- up through TWRP? I also downloaded somewhere stock boot.img. Not sure if I need that. Just making sure I won't brick my htc Butterfly(x920d)

enyaj said:
Hi All,
I did a back-up before flashing Virtuous rom. If I want to go back to stock, do I just wipe everything, then restore the back- up through TWRP? I also downloaded somewhere stock boot.img. Not sure if I need that. Just making sure I won't brick my htc Butterfly(x920d)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just restore from the backup that's enough

You will need to flash that boot.img in fastboot also otherwise it may not boot or if its does, then some of the modules like wifi bluetooth may not turn on ... safer to flash the stock boot