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[Q] Doubts about unlocking bootloader and rooting

Hi guys,
I've been playing around with my Nexus S for about 3 weeks and I've decided to root it, but I have some question, I've been searching the answers in older posts but it's not quite clear yet, hope you can help me.
When I unlocked the bootloader, what kind of data will be wiped? It's just the SD card or also all the apps I've already downloaded? what about SMS, pictures and videos?
Is there anyway I can backup that data considering I haven't root it yet???
Thanks in advance.

dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time

LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol what? its nobodys fault but your own. all the resources are available, just because somebody isnt responding to your threads and holding your hand to restore a nandriod backup doesnt make it a "lack of a community".. and your phone isn't bricked, it can be recovered but you are too close-minded and cant install Clockwork Recovery / get drivers working
The data that will be wiped are most likely your SMS/settings/etc. This is standard procedure. And its something you'll go through a lot when you are using custom ROMs.

There are complete instructions for rooting, unrooting and unbricking your phone. It's all here in the forums, and many other places, you just have to look and learn. I read for two weeks before I unlocked and loaded a ROM into my NS.
If you don't have a need to root your phone I wouldn't do it just because you can. I wanted to run the Voodoo app so I had to root and load a ROM. It took a little while but it was painless and I liked learning about the Android system.
You do have to backup your app and your SD, but that was the easy part.

It's close to impossible to brick a nexus device. They purposely come with totally open boot loaders specifically for that purpose!

RogerPodacter said:
It's close to impossible to brick a nexus device. They purposely come with totally open boot loaders specifically for that purpose!
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its not only Nexus devices but like I said people are using the term brick wrong. with these new phones coming out, a lot of them are hard to brick.
if you're phone is able to get into recovery/start/download mode (odin not popular but still an option)/bootloader then its not bricked.
if its unable to start in any form or way.. its considered a brick. please stop using the term in its wrong definition.
"brick" describes a device that cannot function in any capacity (such as a device with damaged firmware)
In the strictest sense of the term, bricking must imply that software error has rendered the device completely unrecoverable without some hardware replacement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_(electronics)
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Click to collapse

I think guys you have lost focus about my question, it's not about how to root (there is a lot of info about), it's about what kind of data will be wiped and how to back it up
Netconn said:
You do have to backup your app and your SD, but that was the easy part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the best way to do it? It's there an app or I have to day it by myself?

Make a nandroid backup first and foremost! Use Titanium Backup to make a backup of all your apps. If you want a backup of your sms, go sms pro really does a great job of that. Dont forget your contacts as well! Then copy your sd card and place it on the hard drive of your computer. When you unlock the bootloader, it does wipe your sd card. Once your unlocked and rooted, you should be able to restore everything once you replace the copy of your sd card back on the phone. Coming over from a Vibrant, I was nervous about rooting the phone but its an easy process. Just take your time and do lots of reading! Hope this helps!

Thenx, but I still have one doubt, if I haven't root my phone yet, will nandroid or titanium work?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Woops..yeah, your right there. Too quick to reply. I followed this method here..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=895545
and had no problems. Once you get unlocked/rooted and clockwork recovery, then you can make the fore mentioned backups. Export your contacts to the sd card then copy the sd card to the hard drive of your computer before unlocking the boot loader. I do not think apps get affected during the sd wipe unless you have them stored there.

zephiK said:
its not only Nexus devices but like I said people are using the term brick wrong. with these new phones coming out, a lot of them are hard to brick.
if you're phone is able to get into recovery/start/download mode (odin not popular but still an option)/bootloader then its not bricked.
if its unable to start in any form or way.. its considered a brick. please stop using the term in its wrong definition.
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Click to collapse
i followed the instructions to flash gri74 back to stock and my phone wont turn on, wont goto any mode, wont read that its hookedup to my pc
isnt that what we call a brick? ive had issues on a galaxy s with this game issue. htc devices i can fly through the root procedure but i got this 1 rooted, tried reflashing to stock and the phone wont turn on at all.
may i suggest a noob proof guide|? i postted 1 in the htc desire forum and people love it. yesterday i returned a moto xoom because ti was overheating , got a nexus s and 2day il b returning that because it wont turn on. can any1 help me think of a good idea i can tell the future shop return people?

kmhil said:
I think guys you have lost focus about my question, it's not about how to root (there is a lot of info about), it's about what kind of data will be wiped and how to back it up
What's the best way to do it? It's there an app or I have to day it by myself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are forced to lose your data to initially root your device. then after that point, you can always create backups and never lose data again while you switch between ROMs and flashing etc. but i think to initially root, you have to lose everything. not the sd card though.

LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
i followed the instructions to flash gri74 back to stock and my phone wont turn on, wont goto any mode, wont read that its hookedup to my pc
isnt that what we call a brick? ive had issues on a galaxy s with this game issue. htc devices i can fly through the root procedure but i got this 1 rooted, tried reflashing to stock and the phone wont turn on at all.
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Click to collapse
Do keep in mind, we don't have an i9020 or an i9023, we have an i9020A So the instruction out there all need to take that into considerations. I rooted mine fine with no "Bricking" I had to follow the instruction for the i9023, but it worked. I figure it took me all of 1 minute to root my phone. Admitedly, the "One click root" for the Galaxy series was easier.
I try to make it a point to never be the "First" person to do something on their phone. Much safer that way.
I also find it very unusual that you've managed to brick two phones, I've also had the pleasure of owning the telus fascinate, and not once did i get it bricked, I tried Bionics, CM7, Darky's and a bunch of other ones. Just never mess with the boot loader. When you went back to stock, did you make sure it was a stock ROM for the I9020A?
Have you tried connecting the USB to a computer, holding the volume up (or in the case of the galaxy, both up and down) While powering on the device? I've had to use that a few times to recover my galaxy (Thank you odin!!).
Now in regards to the OP, I would recommend using a program like Ti to back everything up, unlock the bootloader then restore from Ti, it's a little more hassel, but you can pretty much keep your settings and data. Personally, i rooted my phone before configuring a single thing on it.

kmhil said:
Thenx, but I still have one doubt, if I haven't root my phone yet, will nandroid or titanium work?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
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Click to collapse
there is no way to make a good backup without rooting.
basically yes, you will lose all your settings
there are a few apps you can use to backup your apk before unlocing/rooting the phone.
look for App admin on market https://market.android.com/details?id=az.mecid.appadmin&feature=search_result
the stuff backed to SD does not get wiped
only the internal storage stuff

LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i took about 12 minutes total to unlock my bootloader, flash clockwork, and flash a custom rom. its not difficult if you pay attention to what you read. youre phone is not bricked. btw, i read your threads. if you werent so demanding, i would have helped. use the pdanet website the next time you need to install the proper driver, and follow the directions that they give you.

When I unlocked I used Astro to back up my apps, I turned on the Google data sync to back up my contacts and I did a back up of my SD on my computer.
When the unlock and recovery was done NS asked for my Google account then it restored all my contacts, Astro restored all my apps and I restored my files from my computer. A few steps but not difficult at all.
You will have to redo your accounts and data, and maybe an app or two won't load but the market will show them installed, just reinstall any that didn't.
Make sure you follow the directions properly in the forum. I had to use two computers to get it to work, but it did work and nothing was damaged.
With all that said.... This was the first time I have ever owned or altered an Android phone. Sure I was nervous... Now I'm hooked.. haha
I wound up using NSCollab .17 so far so good..

First thing I did when I got my phone was fastboot oem unlock.
Even if you don't want to root, use another ROM. Fastboot unlock it so your data doesn't get wiped.
If your hardware and everything seems okay, then flash Clockwork Recovery and do a nandroid backup so you can restore to pre-flashing point if you need it for OEM purposes.
Afterwards, go crazy and flash like theres no tomorrow and find something that you'll like.
And agreed with simms. You've made so made so many threads about this. I would help you step by step but I've been busy so I can't do that anymore. But if you search, you'll find about two or three threads where I did help somebody get their phone to a working state.
The basic idea is... if your phone doesn't boot but you can get to recovery.
- Download a ROM or Nandroid backup
- Install USB drivers
- Fastboot oem unlock (if you haven't)
- fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (or whatever the recovery.img is named) should be in /sdk/tools
- reboot into recovery (adb reboot recovery)
- mount and storage: mount USB, put the nandroid backup or ROM onto phone
- nandroid restore or flash a ROM (wipe factory,dalvik,cache --> flash ROM (if its CM7.. flash gapps afterwards)
- reboot
your phone boots. alternatively, you can use Odin but thats not a popular method but the choice is available if you wish to go towards that approach

in the worse worse possible case scenario there is always ODIN to the rescue

Why did you guys wait at all?
Once i got the phone i immediately plugged it into my computer and rooted it.

[Q] Question before rooting

I'm getting ready to root my phone, but one thing I haven't been able to figure out is what is the best way to make an image of my stock rom on the AT&T Nexus S before using a tool that's going to delete all my data?
I would really like to make a full system image so that if anything goes wrong, I can flash it back to where it is before the root takes place. Is this possible? Is there a guide out there that I just haven't seen?
Thanks

VillainousVivi said:
I'm getting ready to root my phone, but one thing I haven't been able to figure out is what is the best way to make an image of my stock rom on the AT&T Nexus S before using a tool that's going to delete all my data?
I would really like to make a full system image so that if anything goes wrong, I can flash it back to where it is before the root takes place. Is this possible? Is there a guide out there that I just haven't seen?
Thanks
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i hate saying this, but its true. this should go into the Q&A section, not into development. anyways, i think that you need root for that. but if there is a way, i think that it would be through adb.

Not a problem, if a mod can move it, that'd be great. I thought that a backup before making modifications would fall under the realm of development. After all, without a good backup, I wouldn't want to make too many changes

VillainousVivi said:
Not a problem, if a mod can move it, that'd be great. I thought that a backup before making modifications would fall under the realm of development. After all, without a good backup, I wouldn't want to make too many changes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what you want is to perform a nandroid backup, and you can do that through a custom recovery. you either need to unlock your bootloader for that(which wipes your phone and sd storage) or you can search how to root without unlocking the bootloader, root it, and use rom manager to flash a recovery/perform a nandroid backup without wiping but getting root.

Just use my back up pro to back up whatever that app will allow. Then copy over all your SDCard contents to your computer....Google takes care of contacts and apps....
Sent using two tin cans and some string.....

Help needed

Hi,
I have a problem that I'm hoping you guys can help me with:
I bought my Nexus 5 from the US Play Store but I live in Europe, which is why my LTE isn't working.
Now I have a friend who has the opposite situation, living in the States but having a European N5.
Now our idea was to simply switch phones, but we don't know how to do with while keeping all the data.
Is there any way to backup EVERYTHING into a file which each of us could flash so it would be like the both of us had the same phone as before, only with working LTE?
Thanks in advance.

Please use descriptive thread titles in future
Yes, if you can root both phones without unlocking the bootloader (unlocking wipes phones), flash a custom recovery then do a nandroid backup (EXCLUDING EFS) then copy /sdcard to your pc.
OR use carbon (Although I cannot guarantee its everything).
Although it is much easier and safer to start fresh.
All guides etc are in the link in my signature, except - if you want root without unlocking bootloader, you'll have to try your luck with the towelroot app.
Anyway read up and you may figure it out but if you're a stranger to rooting, I wouldn't recommend it.

rootSU said:
Please use descriptive thread titles in future
Yes, if you can root both phones without unlocking the bootloader (unlocking wipes phones), flash a custom recovery then do a nandroid backup (EXCLUDING EFS) then copy /sdcard to your pc.
OR use carbon (Although I cannot guarantee its everything).
Although it is much easier and safer to start fresh.
All guides etc are in the link in my signature, except - if you want root without unlocking bootloader, you'll have to try your luck with the towelroot app.
Anyway read up and you may figure it out but if you're a stranger to rooting, I wouldn't recommend it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah sorry for the title, couldn't think of any description.
In fact both our phones are rooted and have a custom recovery, I wasn't sure about the nandroid backup process though.
Thanks a lot for your help.

kaeptn1 said:
Yeah sorry for the title, couldn't think of any description.
In fact both our phones are rooted and have a custom recovery, I wasn't sure about the nandroid backup process though.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid from recovery will backup everything except sdcard. So do a nandroid backup to sdcard and copy To PC
Just ensure you DO NOT backup or restore efs.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

What is the best method or procedure to backup a phone?

I don't know if this is a dumb question guys but i just want to know what is the best method or procedure to backup a phone? I mean if ever i may factory reset my phone and i want to backup my apps, phone settings, pictures, videos, files etc with just a single click or two, somewhat like that. Then restore everything with just a single click also. Thanks

A NANDroid Backup what requires Android is got rooted and ADB is successfully installed is the best method, IMO.

Question Cannot restore app data

Hi all,
I just got my Pixel 7 Pro few hours ago and I'm followed the instruction to copy my app and data from my Pixel 4. But it seems that some apps are not restored and some are restored but no data.
Is there anyone who can recommend a tool to backup data on my Pixel 4 and then restore them on Pixel 7 Pro (I would like to avoid to root it)? I should be able to find the APK to re-install some of the apps.
I tried Helium (Carbon) (I used it many years ago) but some apps cannot be backup (Helium says "not allowed").
Thanks a lot,
Axello

If the apps you are trying to restore are 32bit apps they will not restore, or work any longer.

jaseman said:
If the apps you are trying to restore are 32bit apps they will not restore, or work any longer.
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Click to collapse
Thanks Jaseman.
Since I moved from my Pixel 4, I assumed my apps are not 32-bit.
I'm more interested to find a way to backup the data from my Pixel 4 to restore in my Pixel 7 Pro. Any idea?

axello said:
Thanks Jaseman.
Since I moved from my Pixel 4, I assumed my apps are not 32-bit.
I'm more interested to find a way to backup the data from my Pixel 4 to restore in my Pixel 7 Pro. Any idea?
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Click to collapse
axello said:
...
Is there anyone who can recommend a tool to backup data on my Pixel 4 and then restore them on Pixel 7 Pro (I would like to avoid to root it)? I should be able to find the APK to re-install some of the apps.
...
Thanks a lot,
Axello
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually, as a rule of thumb, you need to be able to root both devices in order to transfer the data part of backups....
I could be wrong here; but isn't there ways to install apps through adb and/or backup and restore through adb? Maybe someone else out there can help....
You could always unlock bootloader, root, transfer apk's and data, then unroot and even re-lock bootloader (I do NOT recommend doing this last part as many people have bricked their device doing so unnecessarily...)...
If you do go that route, a lot of people are using Swift Backup with almost complete success and/or I saw a couple of people still using Migrate....
I personally haven't had issues with Swift, but I transferred most everything through the cord; but on the select times I used them for apps that didn't come from the Play Store, it worked perfectly...

simplepinoi177 said:
Usually, as a rule of thumb, you need to be able to root both devices in order to transfer the data part of backups....
I could be wrong here; but isn't there ways to install apps through adb and/or backup and restore through adb? Maybe someone else out there can help....
You could always unlock bootloader, root, transfer apk's and data, then unroot and even re-lock bootloader (I do NOT recommend doing this last part as many people have bricked their device doing so unnecessarily...)...
If you do go that route, a lot of people are using Swift Backup with almost complete success and/or I saw a couple of people still using Migrate....
I personally haven't had issues with Swift, but I transferred most everything through the cord; but on the select times I used them for apps that didn't come from the Play Store, it worked perfectly...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Simplepinoi177,
I have never root my phones and I'm worried to do something wrong and break it.
I'll see if I need to setup these so one by one except if there is anyone else with another suggestion.
Axello

Is root easy/safe?
Would Google updates still be pushed on the phone without issue?
I think I saw some post about root, I'll go read them but I'm still concern I am not knowledgeable enough to do it...

axello said:
Is root easy/safe?
Would Google updates still be pushed on the phone without issue?
I think I saw some post about root, I'll go read them but I'm still concern I am not knowledgeable enough to do it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say that basic rooting is relatively safe; in most cases if all else fails, you can simply load up bootloader mode and flash the stock factory image to restore your phone. Unless you are installing custom ROMs, kernels, or modded Magisk or some modules, you should be safe as attempting to apply those things (instead of merely just having root access) is what has a higher risk of bricking/bootloops where you can't access recovery or bootloader mode.
But I just realized that you are attempting to transfer data from a Pixel 4. In order to root the Pixel 4 to get access to the app data, you would have to unlock the bootloader which factory resets the phone -- so the point is rendered moot and goes against the whole point.
So, I guess I don't have anything else to suggest as having root access seems to be the only real way of accessing and transferring/backing-up app data.
Again, you might ask someone more knowledgeable if it's possible to use the adb commands to backup and restore apps with their data....

simplepinoi177 said:
I would say that basic rooting is relatively safe; in most cases if all else fails, you can simply load up bootloader mode and flash the stock factory image to restore your phone. Unless you are installing custom ROMs, kernels, or modded Magisk or some modules, you should be safe as attempting to apply those things (instead of merely just having root access) is what has a higher risk of bricking/bootloops where you can't access recovery or bootloader mode.
But I just realized that you are attempting to transfer data from a Pixel 4. In order to root the Pixel 4 to get access to the app data, you would have to unlock the bootloader which factory resets the phone -- so the point is rendered moot and goes against the whole point.
So, I guess I don't have anything else to suggest as having root access seems to be the only real way of accessing and transferring/backing-up app data.
Again, you might ask someone more knowledgeable if it's possible to use the adb commands to backup and restore apps with their data....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for your help, greatly appreciated.
Yes, maybe there is not much choice then. One of the problem is an app that didn't get the data transferred and I cannot login anymore (company has bankrupted)