Ok, so i'm new to all this stuff about custom recoverys and ROMs. How exactly do they work?
Let's say i make a custom recovery image of my current ROM, wich is stock, does it just backup the OS or my personal files (music, photos, apps, etc.) too?
I'm asking this primarly because i want to upgrade my phone, but to do so i have to flash the stock firmware because i've modified some system files. Wich bring to my other question, flashing ROMs wipe user data? i've read some split responses to this, some people say it does some say it doesn't.
And my final question, let's say i made a backup, wiped my phone flashed stock firmware and updated, now how i recover my data from the
backed up ROM, i mean it is a different version, does it have an option to just restore user data?
Thanks in advance, and sorry if these are too much questions.
it'll back up system, data, boot.img and dalvik cache.
your sd partition isn't backed up, but all the stuff on it will be readable by whatever new rom you put on it (unless you wipe EVERYTHING [not a good idea]).
when you're changing roms/etc, you want to place the rom.zip + gapps.zip (and custom kernel.zip if you're going to use one) on your sd partition. you do this because usb storage mostly doesn't work with custom recoveries as of yet on this device meaning once you've wiped, if you don't have a rom on your sd partition you're mildly screwed in that you'd have to reflash everything from a stock image (meaning you will lose root, all your personal files and whatever rom was on the phone - basically everything goes back to stock bar the bootloader).
e: as for restoring all apps data, use something like titanium backup. i always have a backup on my sd partition of all my current apps (plus wifi passwords, accounts info, sms messages etc to save time/effort when restoring after putting a new rom on). i also always set TB to backup all modified/new data every night at about 3am, then upload the backup to google drive so that if i either brick my phone or accidentally wipe everything, at least i can get back to where i left off.
If you forget to place the ROM zip, and have formatted the device, it is not necessary to flash stock. You use adb side load which is present in every recovery.
in that case i need to remember that for future use - i hardly ever use my pc with my phone now as you can pretty much do anything (update recovery etc) on the phone alone.
that, and i'm on windows 8.1 which afaik doesn't play nicely with fastboot or adb.
twist3d0n3 said:
....and i'm on windows 8.1 which afaik doesn't play nicely with fastboot or adb.
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Click to collapse
....i think this is a rumor. Never ever had any problems on W8.1
^ good to know, thanks
Related
What exactly does the recovery do? When I wipe my phone I can't get all the apps, photos and such back what do I do?
recovery is a tool or a secondary OS that runs when you command it to.
it is usually used to make backup, restore backups and upgrade your ROM.
if you wipe your phone, you lose all your apps.
but anything you saved on your SDcard will be saved. photos,music and stuff like that.
i have read many before i post here. but i am noob and with a bad understanding brain.
my question is what is the nonandriod or cwm full backup and restore used to? fror example, after i backup, i flash my Phone from ucla3 to ics roms. then if i want to come back to the stock rom before flash. i need to find a stock romto reflash with odin or i can just do that with nonandriodrestore. the full restore for everying or just build , what about base and kenal? if i need reflash stock rom with odin anyway , why it is recommend full backup before flash. please give me an example to explain. thanks in advance
Nandrorid is like a snapshot of your phone's operating system state. Restoring a nandroid gives you a return to the way you booted and ran your phone's android version at the time of back up.
Not included are the modem or radio and the recovery image (like CWM or stock 3e). Those you can flash separately to change. User data held in phone storage after the backup must be saved offline (externally) before restoring. For me it means latest call logs, contacts and sms.
The nandroid restore wipes phone storage and recreates the standing configuration you backed up, like reimaging a raw PC hard drive Partitions, file systems, boot resources and data are all (re)applied in the process.
pc103 said:
Nandrorid is like a snapshot of your phone's operating system state. Restoring a nandroid gives you a return to the way you booted and ran your phone's android version at the time of back up.
Not included are the modem or radio and the recovery image (like CWM or stock 3e). Those you can flash separately to change. User data held in phone storage after the backup must be saved offline (externally) before restoring. For me it means latest call logs, contacts and sms.
The nandroid restore wipes phone storage and recreates the standing configuration you backed up, like reimaging a raw PC hard drive Partitions, file systems, boot resources and data are all (re)applied in the process.
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Click to collapse
you means if i use custom sky ics now and i do a nandrorid restore, i can not go back to GB 2.36??(if i have done a nandrorid backup for 2.36 before i install the sky ics??)
You can but you'll need to flash the la3 radio first.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
Hi,
I need to do a factory reset (to see if it solves a problem that Asus could not solve) and in anyway I read it's safer to wipe data before sending to factory for repair.. So I'd like to make a full backup before this wipe and before the sending to repair..
I installed free Titanium backup (my tablet is rooted), but I'm confused on what I should do before doing the reset and the tutorials I found on Titanium even confused me more..(if you're aware of a nice tutoriel, link would be welcome, because I found none very explicit on xda and even on the web..)
-first, should I use the Asus tool for backup or Titanium ?
- Should I perform a full backup of apps only or apps+system ? I read that system restore could create issues in case restore is not done on same firmware, and I don't know with which FW my tablet will come back from repair.. so should I use apps+system anyway, or make 2 backups (apps first then system or vice versa ?) I'd prefer to restore my tablet as clsoe as it is today, even if possible with bluetooth pairs and wifi connections..
-Should I backup manually my personal files (videos ,various docs, pictures,..) before using Titanium ? (for instance to save space and make nbackups smaller?) If yes, how do we know which folders are backuped up by Titanium and which are not ?
- My sdcard is already largely used with only a few GB left. Can I ask Titanium to save directly to a PC ? Or should I use another sdcard (but then, what will happen to apps installed on sdcard ?) ?
Thanks a lot for your hints.
Ricorico94
There are several different options for you to choose from but I will share the way I usually back up my tablet. I flash different ROMs frequently and have had to use backups quite a bit.
I usually use Titanium Backup to backup everything but only restore non-system apps and data. You're right that restoring system data can result in problems if restoring to different ROMs, not necessarily firmware. It depends on how much the firmware has changed. Since there might be big enough changes that it might screw everything up then I'd avoid restoring system apps and data. If your tablet is backed up to Google, it will sometimes keep the WiFi and Bluetooth pairings and restore them once you log back into your Google account. Not always though. Also I'm not sure that the free version of Titanium Backup can save any place other than an SD card. The paid version can save to Dropbox and Google Drive.
If you're sending your tablet in for repair, you should move all of your personal files to your computer or SD card, deleting them off the tablet. At least, that's what I'd do.
There is one more option which would make saving a lot easier and that is if you have a custom recovery installed like TWRP or CWM you can create a Nandroid Backup of everything, System, Data and all. With all your pictures, etc the file would be huge but you could move that to your computer and restore it when your tablet comes back. That would keep an exact copy of your system and replace whatever ASUS does to it with what you currently have. If I wanted to keep my tablet as close to how I set it up, this is what I would do. Of course, your tablet has to be rooted and unlocked to do so.
wrynn7 said:
There are several different options for you to choose from but I will share the way I usually back up my tablet. I flash different ROMs frequently and have had to use backups quite a bit.
I usually use Titanium Backup to backup everything but only restore non-system apps and data. You're right that restoring system data can result in problems if restoring to different ROMs, not necessarily firmware. It depends on how much the firmware has changed. Since there might be big enough changes that it might screw everything up then I'd avoid restoring system apps and data. If your tablet is backed up to Google, it will sometimes keep the WiFi and Bluetooth pairings and restore them once you log back into your Google account. Not always though. Also I'm not sure that the free version of Titanium Backup can save any place other than an SD card. The paid version can save to Dropbox and Google Drive.
If you're sending your tablet in for repair, you should move all of your personal files to your computer or SD card, deleting them off the tablet. At least, that's what I'd do.
There is one more option which would make saving a lot easier and that is if you have a custom recovery installed like TWRP or CWM you can create a Nandroid Backup of everything, System, Data and all. With all your pictures, etc the file would be huge but you could move that to your computer and restore it when your tablet comes back. That would keep an exact copy of your system and replace whatever ASUS does to it with what you currently have. If I wanted to keep my tablet as close to how I set it up, this is what I would do. Of course, your tablet has to be rooted and unlocked to do so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thanks a lot for this advice. Do you know if I can still make 2 separate backups, so that I could use system backup if there's no FW change ?
Regarding the TWRP custom recovery, I understood that since I am already with FW 10.4.4.25 (android 4.1.1) and only rooted, there's no way to install customer recovery. Did I understood properly, or is there a way to downgrade to previous versions first, istall custom and upgrade again back to current FW ?
What do you mean by "tablet backed up to Google" ? I have "save my datas" checked under "backup" menu of parameters, but is there a way to check that there's indeed something in their servers already ?
br,
Ricorico94
You could make as many backups as you wanted. Titanium Backup allows you to restore whatever you want it to so you really only have to make one backup. You can restore everything but the system apps and data or everything. You can even use it to uninstall or freeze what you're not using (as long as it's not an integral part of the FW of course). It's not an all or nothing deal. I would still move all of your personal data to a computer or SD card so nothing happens to it.
My understanding is that installing CWM or TWRP require your device to be unlocked using an app that is provided through the ASUS website. Just being rooted isn't sufficient. If you don't want to unlock your device then you're stuck with using the Titanium Backup method. Just make sure it is saving your apps to an external SD card and not the internal one.
And yes, I was referring to the setting that you already have checked about Google backing up your data. It doesn't always restore everything though so you might have to pair everything again anyway.
ricorico94 said:
Hi,
Thanks a lot for this advice. Do you know if I can still make 2 separate backups, so that I could use system backup if there's no FW change ?
Regarding the TWRP custom recovery, I understood that since I am already with FW 10.4.4.25 (android 4.1.1) and only rooted, there's no way to install customer recovery. Did I understood properly, or is there a way to downgrade to previous versions first, istall custom and upgrade again back to current FW ?
What do you mean by "tablet backed up to Google" ? I have "save my datas" checked under "backup" menu of parameters, but is there a way to check that there's indeed something in their servers already ?
br,
Ricorico94
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it is a good idea to install a custom recovery if you are about to send the tablet to Asus - I assume for a warranty repair. You would have to unlock your bootloader and that negates your warranty. So just forgettaboutit.
Google backs up some of your data: Calendar and contacts mainly, but also all the apps you have downloaded or bought from the Play Store.
But it is much faster to restore apps with Titanium instead of downloading them from the Play Store.
So backup apps and data in TiBu and move the backup to your PC.
I don't quite understand why you want to backup system data. It's always potentially disruptive to mess with system data yourself. And you are on a pretty old rom and bootloader - so you're due for an update anyway.
Pictures, videos etc, I would just move to an external drive/card or your PC.
When you got everything backed up, do a Factory Reset. That will wipe your data partition.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 4
Thanks to both of you for your help!
berndblb said:
I don't think it is a good idea to install a custom recovery if you are about to send the tablet to Asus - I assume for a warranty repair. You would have to unlock your bootloader and that negates your warranty. So just forgettaboutit.
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Click to collapse
You're right. I was asking this for future, when tablet comes back from repair: at that time, I might want to have a stronger debug/backup using a custom recovery (at least that's what I understood it's very helpful at): I'm soon at warranty end, so I can wait expiration.
It's a good news that the unlock tool of Asus can still be used to allow installation of custom recovery. I'll need to read more on how to do it, etc.
Thanks again !
Is it possible to create a full image of android 10+?
It is very important to me that it really is a full image and not just some backup app form the playstore that saves your contacts and thats it.
I'd like to create an image of diffrent OSs and be able to freely flash them without lossing anything that was on my phone when the images where created. For example I want an unrooted version of Pixel experince with some apps on it, than I want an image of lineague OS with root access and maybe some more.
Bomber293 said:
Is it possible to create a full image of android 10+?
It is very important to me that it really is a full image and not just some backup app form the playstore that saves your contacts and thats it.
I'd like to create an image of diffrent OSs and be able to freely flash them without lossing anything that was on my phone when the images where created. For example I want an unrooted version of Pixel experince with some apps on it, than I want an image of lineague OS with root access and maybe some more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So to be frank theres a lot that comes with doing that cause it varies on the device as well armv7, arm64 a or ab, arm8 and such download
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.andr7e.deviceinfohw&hl=en_ZA&gl=US
Take note of all the information screenshot maybe, to save time
To create a full imagebackup you need to look for the right back up and flashing software , like samsung's odin tools or mtk devices sp flash tools
just search your devices name full backup youtube (on google search when you need help I'll be here within 24 hours
TWRP backups do seem to work fine, however they don't save internal storage... IIRC I had all my internal storage deleted often when I last played around with root and custom roms. Is this just not a thing anymore? Becuse for now I was able to keep my internal storage.
Bomber293 said:
TWRP backups do seem to work fine, however they don't save internal storage... IIRC I had all my internal storage deleted often when I last played around with root and custom roms. Is this just not a thing anymore? Becuse for now I was able to keep my internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Internal storage can be included in your TWRP backup, you just have to choose the option to include it before doing the backup.
Droidriven said:
Internal storage can be included in your TWRP backup, you just have to choose the option to include it before doing the backup.
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Click to collapse
Atleast in my version it can't. Maybe becuase it's pretty old.
Anyways is internal storage wipe still a thing when you root/install custom roms or similar? Or just once when you unlock bootloader and install a custom recovery?
Bomber293 said:
Is it possible to create a full image of android 10+?
It is very important to me that it really is a full image and not just some backup app form the playstore that saves your contacts and thats it.
I'd like to create an image of diffrent OSs and be able to freely flash them without lossing anything that was on my phone when the images where created. For example I want an unrooted version of Pixel experince with some apps on it, than I want an image of lineague OS with root access and maybe some more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If phone is rooted then why not simply do a NANDroid backup?
Look inside here:
[TOOLS][ZIPS][SCRIPTS]Android Backup and Restore Tools[Multiple Devices/Platforms]
android-backup-project The android backup project provides a set of scripts and tools to backup and/or restore applications installed on Android devices. This is not adb backup which didn't work for my requirements as it doesn't backup...
forum.xda-developers.com
Bomber293 said:
Atleast in my version it can't. Maybe becuase it's pretty old.
Anyways is internal storage wipe still a thing when you root/install custom roms or similar? Or just once when you unlock bootloader and install a custom recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, it has always been an option in TWRP as far back as I can remember, certainly since 2011, over 10 years now. Maybe it just wasn't included by whoever built your version of TWRP.
Wiping internal storage is a matter of choice when flashing ROMs, flashing ROMs does not touch data/data partition(userspace). The factory reset option in custom recovery also does not wipe userspace.
When unlocking bootloader, internal storage is wiped by default because it is automatically a part of the unlocking process and cannot be avoided. If bootloader is already unlocked, wiping internal is not required in order to flash a custom recovery.
Bomber293 said:
Atleast in my version it can't. Maybe becuase it's pretty old.
Anyways is internal storage wipe still a thing when you root/install custom roms or similar? Or just once when you unlock bootloader and install a custom recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here are instructions for backing up internal storage via TWRP, just in case you are overlooking something in TWRP.
TWRP backup including internal storage
We all know, at least I hope so, that if you perform a backup in TWRP the internal storage data (photos, documents, etc.) is not included in the backup. https://twrp.me/faq/backupexclusions.html Of course, you can always manually backup the...
forum.xda-developers.com
YOU cant backup internal storage if the partition is encypted, if you already have root just use helium backup + enough space to where you'll backup, but you'll need to root again to recover that backup
Then backup the other stuff you want to via twrp
And Using MTK flash tools if device is supported there is a way just google backup "phone name" mtk flash tools
Hello,
I just updated the rom Evolution X 11 on my Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro after using an older version for about half a year.
Now my phone does not boot anymore, its stuck in recovery (TWRP). Also all data seems to be encrypted and TWRP is not asking for a password.
Is there a way to get my phone to boot again or at least backup my data before I do a full wipe?
You should always do a full twrp backup before messing with roms.
The best solution would be to backup the "Data" and "Internal Storage" partitions. Data contains all apps, their appdata and settings, while internal storage contains all of your own files (photos, videos etc.). After you back these up, wipe your phone (system, data, cache, dalvik) and flash the version of evolution x you were using previously. Now restore data and internal storage and your device should be back to normal.
If you get a bootloop while booting after restoring data and internal storage, then wipe the device again and this time flash evolution x, but only restore internal storage. This way, it should boot and you will be able to recover your files, though your apps will be gone.
If you only restore internal storage then it will no doubt boot up and you will have access to your files, but since you'll have already backed up the important stuff (data + internal storage), you might as well try restoring data as well, as there is no harm, and if the phone boots correctly after restoring both partitions, your phone will be as it was before your updated your rom.
This happened a while back to me with my J5, the issue was that I made a full TWRP backup, then began to test other roms. After I was done, I tried to restore my backup, but it would constantly fail. I sat down for a while, confused and sad about how my TWRP backup had failed me. I tried every solution I could think of, eventually this solution I've mentioned in the above paragraph came to my mind. Thank god for putting it into my mind, otherwise I would've lost a lot of stuff (mainly whatsapp chats which werent backed up, and a lot of apps which I took the time to pain-stakingly configure in the best way for my device).
Anyways, enough of my story, hope this helps you out! If it does, message back here and let us know, and also mark my post as the solution if it was able to help you, so that anyone else who stumbles upon this thread can be saved too!
Cheers!
PhotonIce said:
You should always do a full twrp backup before messing with roms.
The best solution would be to backup the "Data" and "Internal Storage" partitions. Data contains all apps, their appdata and settings, while internal storage contains all of your own files (photos, videos etc.). After you back these up, wipe your phone (system, data, cache, dalvik) and flash the version of evolution x you were using previously. Now restore data and internal storage and your device should be back to normal.
If you get a bootloop while booting after restoring data and internal storage, then wipe the device again and this time flash evolution x, but only restore internal storage. This way, it should boot and you will be able to recover your files, though your apps will be gone.
If you only restore internal storage then it will no doubt boot up and you will have access to your files, but since you'll have already backed up the important stuff (data + internal storage), you might as well try restoring data as well, as there is no harm, and if the phone boots correctly after restoring both partitions, your phone will be as it was before your updated your rom.
This happened a while back to me with my J5, the issue was that I made a full TWRP backup, then began to test other roms. After I was done, I tried to restore my backup, but it would constantly fail. I sat down for a while, confused and sad about how my TWRP backup had failed me. I tried every solution I could think of, eventually this solution I've mentioned in the above paragraph came to my mind. Thank god for putting it into my mind, otherwise I would've lost a lot of stuff (mainly whatsapp chats which werent backed up, and a lot of apps which I took the time to pain-stakingly configure in the best way for my device).
Anyways, enough of my story, hope this helps you out! If it does, message back here and let us know, and also mark my post as the solution if it was able to help you, so that anyone else who stumbles upon this thread can be saved too!
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your help but backing up the data and internal storage doesnt seem possible right now because all the data is encrypted in TWRP...
If you can't backup anything, then wipe system, cache and dalvik, and flash the version of evolutionx you were previously using. Then boot, it should be fine. If it wont boot (give it some time, it will take the time of a fresh install), then this time wipe system+data+cache+dalvik, then flash whichever rom you like and you'll be able to access the files.
You can also try using platform tools and fastboot or adb ( i dont remember exactly which one) to copy the filess from your phone onto your pc.
Sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation, I've never used a phone which has been encrypted, as such I have no experience with them.
PhotonIce said:
If you can't backup anything, then wipe system, cache and dalvik, and flash the version of evolutionx you were previously using. Then boot, it should be fine. If it wont boot (give it some time, it will take the time of a fresh install), then this time wipe system+data+cache+dalvik, then flash whichever rom you like and you'll be able to access the files.
You can also try using platform tools and fastboot or adb ( i dont remember exactly which one) to copy the filess from your phone onto your pc.
Sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation, I've never used a phone which has been encrypted, as such I have no experience with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds like a good idea. I found the old version on my PC.
Now I just need a way to install it... because twrp cant read the file. I tried with adb sideload but that results in an error for some reason. Flashing Magisk for example with adb sideload is possible.
Edit: Got it to work by using a tool called "Large Address Aware". Now waiting for the results...
PhotonIce said:
If you can't backup anything, then wipe system, cache and dalvik, and flash the version of evolutionx you were previously using. Then boot, it should be fine. If it wont boot (give it some time, it will take the time of a fresh install), then this time wipe system+data+cache+dalvik, then flash whichever rom you like and you'll be able to access the files.
You can also try using platform tools and fastboot or adb ( i dont remember exactly which one) to copy the filess from your phone onto your pc.
Sorry if this doesn't apply to your situation, I've never used a phone which has been encrypted, as such I have no experience with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This did not help unfortunately... Im still in the same recovery-bootloop and my data is still encrypted.
It's probably still bootlooping as the data partition got modified when you flashed the newer version of evolutionx, and now it will not work with the old one. You can try wiping system+data+cach+dalvik and then flashing any rom of your choice. This will give you access to your internal storage (photos, media etc), but it will remove your apps and their settings. Whatsapp images are stored in the internal storage so you won't need to worry about those.
Again, this is risky, as it may not work (I don't know much about encryption), or you might still not be able to access your files after flashing the new rom. Proceed at your own risk.
PhotonIce said:
It's probably still bootlooping as the data partition got modified when you flashed the newer version of evolutionx, and now it will not work with the old one. You can try wiping system+data+cach+dalvik and then flashing any rom of your choice. This will give you access to your internal storage (photos, media etc), but it will remove your apps and their settings. Whatsapp images are stored in the internal storage so you won't need to worry about those.
Again, this is risky, as it may not work (I don't know much about encryption), or you might still not be able to access your files after flashing the new rom. Proceed at your own risk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for still helping me out but I already did a full reset yesterday. I did not lose much except for the time setting it all up again.
I still dont really get the point of encrypting all your data if you cant decrypt it even if you know the password...