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Which backup tool to choose?

Hi there! I've been reading (a lot) around here the last months and that's been really helpfull. Went from stock GB on my locked XPS through just about all ROM's available for XPS to CM10 now. Thanks XDA, thanks all!
Still a real lot to learn. One of the things that really keeps me wondering is which method (besides a Nandroid) I shld use for backing up. Google takes care of my contacts and settings automatically. But what is the best tool to backup and restore my apps (question 1)? I've used Astro, Go Backup and several others I can't even remember. And if I use one, do I still need Gapps all the time or is that doing a double job (question 2)?
My last question: I understand doing an upgrade of your custom rom you don't need to swipe, so your data stays. But if you do need to, when can you do a data restore after installing a new ROM (question 3)?

1. For backing up and restoring apps, I use Titanium Backup and I think most people would swear by it ( it's worth the donate for the extra features ). For sms though, GoSMS's backup feature is the best working one for me.
2. I'm pretty sure you still need to flash Gapps, but I'm not sure. Been off Cyan for a while. Besides, I think flashing Gapps is faster than restoring through most backup apps.
3. It depends on the rom and you should read the ROM's thread, but I always wipe between updates just in case ( I have an SGSII ). If you mean restore data by Titanium or another app, I think after letting the phone sit for 10 minutes on initial new ROM boot, you can start restoring apps. If you mean selectively restoring just data through nandroid though, I'm not sure if that should even be done, or how exactly to minimize issues.
Hope that helps.

DIMENSIONAL said:
1. For backing up and restoring apps, I use Titanium Backup and I think most people would swear by it ( it's worth the donate for the extra features ). For sms though, GoSMS's backup feature is the best working one for me.
2. I'm pretty sure you still need to flash Gapps, but I'm not sure. Been off Cyan for a while. Besides, I think flashing Gapps is faster than restoring through most backup apps.
3. It depends on the rom and you should read the ROM's thread, but I always wipe between updates just in case ( I have an SGSII ). If you mean restore data by Titanium or another app, I think after letting the phone sit for 10 minutes on initial new ROM boot, you can start restoring apps. If you mean selectively restoring just data through nandroid though, I'm not sure if that should even be done, or how exactly to minimize issues.
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tx DIMENSIONAL!
Late night yesterday I ran into this app here on fxp: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1859261 Maybe that might become (be) handy? Not for me yet, due to problems with XPS for this app at the moment
2. Gapps.... Gapps is faster for sure. But not off course not exactly the things you want.... But there's something out to make your own zip.file with all your apps and/or other data and system files in it I think. Stopped reading when it got to complicated for me to try without much feedback at that moment. Sorry I forgot to mark the thread. Lost it for now.
3. I did this data restore thing once after reading a tip in a thread for a particular ROM here somewhere.

VincentKnife said:
tx DIMENSIONAL!
Late night yesterday I ran into this app here on fxp: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1859261 Maybe that might become (be) handy? Not for me yet, due to problems with XPS for this app at the moment
2. Gapps.... Gapps is faster for sure. But not off course not exactly the things you want.... But there's something out to make your own zip.file with all your apps and/or other data and system files in it I think. Stopped reading when it got to complicated for me to try without much feedback at that moment. Sorry I forgot to mark the thread. Lost it for now.
3. I did this data restore thing once after reading a tip in a thread for a particular ROM here somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
edit: installed titanium backup; needs a lot of reading agai,n but looks great! tx again!

Another vote for titanium & the pro key here. I prefer"appextractor“ from the play store for my sms/mms restore & I also use the contact restore feature, since it also takes care of my call log (both of these features use data from nandroid), since I have given up on using titanium to restore sms & get the time accurate.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Using Odin for stock rooted

I want to use the stock rooted version located in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1984436&page=18
I have a couple questions:
I want to use the "wipe" version, to try and get rid of some battery issues. I do not want to wipe the sd card. I use it strictly for storage of music & pic.....no apps. Can I remove the sd card and do the stock rooted, and then just put the sd card back in?
Secondly, will stock rooted allow me the ability to get rid of bloatware? Media hub, allshare, etc? My device is discharging at about 5% per hour which I find high. I've disabled a host of things to try and get this down, plus I'd just like to have more control on what's on my phone.
Brand new to rooting android ( used to root my blackberry and Motorazor back in the day) and I didn't see any specific answers to these questions.
Thanks in advance!

Yes to both questions. You may want to find a list of bloatware apps that are safe to remove/freeze before deleting apps.

Ryno77 said:
Yes to both questions. You may want to find a list of bloatware apps that are safe to remove/freeze before deleting apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you root, use Titanium Backup to uninstall bloatware, but only those on the safe list.

budzylikessoup said:
Once you root, use Titanium Backup to uninstall bloatware, but only those on the safe list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the safelist on the forum somewhere?

I don't know... There's probably one on here somewhere but just I'd just Google it.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk HD

Here's Some Links for you
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31083861&postcount=104
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=32212501&postcount=1
http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...guide-freezing-gs3-bloat-titanium-backup.html

Thanks....I'm all set up to do this and the links are down on the file host. *headdesk*
ImgBurn said:
Here's Some Links for you
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31083861&postcount=104
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=32212501&postcount=1
http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...guide-freezing-gs3-bloat-titanium-backup.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

There's probably one on here somewhere but just I'd just Google it.

wolfgrrl said:
Is the safelist on the forum somewhere?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I highly recommended that you use Titanium to freeze the unwanted apps, but NOT uninstall them. You may need them back later for new software update. Freezing is very safe as you always can unfreeze them. Once you froze the app, it only take up a tiny little space on your storage but the benefit goes a long way.

[Q] 1st time root/rom question -hyperdrive rls15 GS3

Hello all:
This is my first foray into rooting/roming and I am liking it so far.
But now I have a few questions
here are my specs:
Verizon Galaxy S III
Hyperdrive RLS15
TWRP
Titanium backup
busyBox - not sure what this does
So, here are my questions
1)
This whole rom /modding thing is fun as s#!+.
I want to try other ROMs. Is there a way to install a different ROM without having to re-install all of my third party apps all over again?
2)
I like the Hyperdrive ROM but I would like to add and remove some of the features I installed when I loaded the ROM initially.
Is there a way to change my configuration without having to start from the beginning and having to re-install 3rd party apps?
3)
Apparently this ROM has a battery calibrator built in that I can run in terminal.
Can anyone tell me what it actually does
4)
What is BusyBox and why do I need it?
Thanks in advance for all your help and all the work this community does
biTToe

biTToe said:
Hello all:
This is my first foray into rooting/roming and I am liking it so far.
But now I have a few questions
here are my specs:
Verizon Galaxy S III
Hyperdrive RLS15
TWRP
Titanium backup
busyBox - not sure what this does
So, here are my questions
1)
This whole rom /modding thing is fun as s#!+.
I want to try other ROMs. Is there a way to install a different ROM without having to re-install all of my third party apps all over again?
2)
I like the Hyperdrive ROM but I would like to add and remove some of the features I installed when I loaded the ROM initially.
Is there a way to change my configuration without having to start from the beginning and having to re-install 3rd party apps?
3)
Apparently this ROM has a battery calibrator built in that I can run in terminal.
Can anyone tell me what it actually does
4)
What is BusyBox and why do I need it?
Thanks in advance for all your help and all the work this community does
biTToe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Basically no, the fastest and easiest way to get your apps back is using titanium backup. It's even recommended to not even restore with tb if you switch from touchwiz and AOSP or vise versa.
2. Hyperdrive uses aroma and this is true for any rom running aroma, but to change your features you simply have to reflash the rom. Then while you're in aroma, simply deselect all the features you don't want anymore, but if you forget to mark something you already had it'll go away.
3. Can't help you with this one, try searching the development thread.
4. Busybox is basically a terminal (if you can call it that?) that runs with Linux. It basically gives your phone the ability to run a vast majority of basic commands that would otherwise have to be manually entered into a terminal. It's a stripped down version of a full Linux kit, so it's designed for more stripped down environments such as mobile and tablet devices.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

BadUsername said:
1. Basically no, the fastest and easiest way to get your apps back is using titanium backup. It's even recommended to not even restore with tb if you switch from touchwiz and AOSP or vise versa.
2. Hyperdrive uses aroma and this is true for any rom running aroma, but to change your features you simply have to reflash the rom. Then while you're in aroma, simply deselect all the features you don't want anymore, but if you forget to mark something you already had it'll go away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, do you mean to say that I can back-up and restore only my apps when I either change roms or re-install the current rom?
But if I switch from a TW rom to an AOSP rom then restoring those apps via TB is NOT reccommended?
-- I mean I can back-up and restore all kinds of things, but I can b/u the apps by themselves?
And thanks so much for your reply

You can use alternatives to titanium backup for backing up your apps.

jmxc23 said:
You can use alternatives to titanium backup for backing up your apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a specific app that backs up apps?

biTToe said:
Is there a specific app that backs up apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think titanium is great for backing up apps, and yes, if I'm switching between touchwiz roms or the same rom I'll use titanium to restore user apps with data. But if I went to an AOSP rom I'd only restore the app itself mainly because of the different android versions, most apps such as games should run normally, but restoring data will sometimes cause issues with a rom. You'd have to do a lot of battery stats hunting to get rid of some of them. If you didn't restore data, your system would be pretty clean, and new data would be written for the apps you use as you use them instead of restoring them from a different version.
I would never in any case restore system data, unless I'm reinstalling a clean flash of the same exact rom and build I was on.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

biTToe said:
Is there a specific app that backs up apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy Backup is one and Helium is another.

BadUsername said:
I would never in any case restore system data, unless I'm reinstalling a clean flash of the same exact rom and build I was on.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, in my case, I would like to re-install the hyperdrive rom to add some other features and remove some features. Should I do a system data restore or would that not be a good idea?
What does a system data restore do for me? pros and cons?

biTToe said:
So, in my case, I would like to re-install the hyperdrive rom to add some other features and remove some features. Should I do a system data restore or would that not be a good idea?
What does a system data restore do for me? pros and cons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you dirty flash without a factory reset your data will stay intact even after a reflash.
Stuff that's included in system data are contacts, text messages, call logs, etc. I usually never restore that stuff, and just let Google restore my contacts from the cloud.
It generally isn't a good idea, but it shouldn't be a problem going into the same rom. It's up to you whether to do it or not.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

you can restore apps coming from AOSP to TW or vice versa. Ive never had a problem anyway when i used to flip flop back and forth.
I always select user apps and not system apps though.
You can use sms backup and call log backup to restore messages and call logs. theyre great apps.

thanks
thanks everyone for all the advice and tips.
~biTToe

Hi -this is actually in response to a comment on another thread, but I wanted to be sure to reach you and figured if I commented on a thread you initiated you'd get a notification. I just got the S5 mini and it's driving me nuts - I primarily use it to listen to music and it skips/stops the song if I so much as breathe. I cant use it for jogging or even listening while walking, which means it's useless to me. Did you ever find a solution to the sensitivity factor - screen protector, case, etc.........? I may just return it. Even if I twist my hand the tiniest amount it happens, and it doesn't just skip - it turns the song or even the page off completely. I literally haven't been able to listen to one single song all the way through since I got it - even when it is laying down flat. Help!

hey:
weird way to contact me, but it worked.
i never did figure it out. i didn't try a screen protector either, i just hate them.
i just end up being annoyed at the thing.
I hang-up on people with my cheek, i inadvertently open or close apps. i am constantly opening the recent app menu (though i finally found a way to re=map that damn key)... so basically i'm stil unhappy, but i have a year till my contract expires so i'm living with it.
as an aside I somehow changed a setting, disabled my wi-fi, then lost root and can't seem to re-root or enable the wi-fi
~most un-excellent

Running Hyperdrive on my Note 3....phone no longer charging correctly, so got a replacement Note 3 via insurance. No longer have a pc to root, replacement, is there a way to root strictly via my phone?

cwalkin said:
Running Hyperdrive on my Note 3....phone no longer charging correctly, so got a replacement Note 3 via insurance. No longer have a pc to root, replacement, is there a way to root strictly via my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Towelroot may be your only option
Nexus 6 via SSHD/Cataclysm

System Settings Saver App?

A link to a system settings saver app was posted in one of the development threads this morning. I'm trying to find the link but can't. If someone can provide the link to this app it would be greatly appreciated.

What are you trying to achieve? Backing up system settings and then restoring them after switching ROMs?

Yes sir that is what I'm trying to do.

x.0ni.x said:
Yes sir that is what I'm trying to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. There's a problem with that, you should never restore system data after switching ROMs, it can cause major problems. You can backup and restore user apps (with their data) without issues usually, but not system apps, or system data/settings.
Transmitted via Bacon

timmaaa said:
Ok. There's a problem with that, you should never restore system data after switching ROMs, it can cause major problems. You can backup and restore user apps (with their data) without issues usually, but not system apps, or system data/settings.
Transmitted via Bacon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if instead I want to do the following?
I am not rooted, so I would like to find a way to do a backup of apps (and their settings) and of system settings, so that I can unlock bootloader (this will wipe everything) root and then restore the backup.
I am staying on he same exact rom, so i should not be a problem.
Is there a way to do so? Maybe HOLO BACKUP or something else?

thegios said:
What if instead I want to do the following?
I am not rooted, so I would like to find a way to do a backup of apps (and their settings) and of system settings, so that I can unlock bootloader (this will wipe everything) root and then restore the backup.
I am staying on he same exact rom, so i should not be a problem.
Is there a way to do so? Maybe HOLO BACKUP or something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without root it's very difficult to make those kinds of backups. Helium claims to be able to do it, but only with user apps. I highly doubt you can backup system settings, and really that shouldn't be a huge problem, setting those up from scratch shouldn't take too long.
Transmitted via Bacon

Pixel 2 app updates on Play Store

I have about 23 updates pending on the Play Store that I have not installed. Quite a few of these are System apps which I feel belong in the System partition and not Data. I'm rooted with Magisk but hesitant to update and move the apps manually being that once System is mounted RW it ruins your ability to receive OTA updates. Not the biggest deal considering I could just flash the updated factory images when available but it's nice to have the convenience of updating via OTA. Maybe I'm just being "OCD" about this but I just feel that System apps belong on the System ROM and having them update in DATA is an "untidy" approach to doing this not to mention it's taking up my space on my user storage. (Good thing I sprung for the 128GB). My question is, how are you guys approaching this and am I alone in feeling this way?

The apps are system apps. But they're updated through the play store. It's much better than having to wait for whole OTA's just to fix one app.
---------- Post added at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:22 PM ----------
Update them. It's not an issue.

Thanks for your reply. What happens when a new OTA comes out and the apps are in there or updated further? Will the ones in DATA remain as well? I'm assuming they just go inactive and it will be up to me to go in there and delete them. Please clarify.

DJarkIV said:
My question is, how are you guys approaching this and am I alone in feeling this way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

DJarkIV said:
Thanks for your reply. What happens when a new OTA comes out and the apps are in there or updated further? Will the ones in DATA remain as well? I'm assuming they just go inactive and it will be up to me to go in there and delete them. Please clarify.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to worry about them being installed to /data. The system knows what to do, if the version installed with an OTA is newer than the version installed from the Play store it will automatically be uninstalled and you will have the newest version. You're question is really kind of strange TBH, hopefully I've been able to help.

mikeyinid said:
You don't have to worry about them being installed to /data. The system knows what to do, if the version installed with an OTA is newer than the version installed from the Play store it will automatically be uninstalled and you will have the newest version. You're question is really kind of strange TBH, hopefully I've been able to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that was helpful. I didn't know it would be automatically uninstalled when a newer version exists. I've been using Android as a power user since 2012 and haven't encountered system critical apps being updated via Play Store. I never stayed on stock ROM very long and this is my first actual Google phone. Perhaps this comes across as a strange concern to you, but when I mentioned "OCD," I wasn't using it as a figure of speech ?. I like keeping my computers and phones file structures extremely neat and organized and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Finally, I was also wondering if it could lead to any security vulnerabilities having an app like Dialer existing in Data/App. (I'm paranoid too). Nevertheless, I will install as you recommended. This thread can be closed now.