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I have recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy S2. I have the phone set up the way i like it but i wish to try different OS versions which will require rooting and wiping my phone so a few questions regarding backups:
1) Currently i have my gmail contacts and facebook contacts "linked" together. I believe this is only stored locally on my phone. Is there a way i can save all this contact info so when i log back in to my profile in the future it will all be seamlessly placed as it was.
2) Currently i have a whole batch of homescreens with icons and widgets and my applications screen with every app in a "folder" can i back these up exactly as they are?
3) Within various different applications there are different options or save games and various things like that, are these easily accessible and able to be backed up
4) Finally can i just do an "image" of my phone and if i wipe it and mess about then simply restore that image back to exactly how it was?
Cheers for any help
boxrick,
Can't answer specifically for the Galaxy S2 as I don't have it, and because Android is "pimped" in various ways by different device makers some of the homescreens/layouts are custom implemented, and best backed up by the methods appropriate for--or offered by--that device.
Having said that, if you are using Google market, a lot of stuff (like the apps obviously) is automatically saved with them. Or the apps themselves can be backed up with any good file manager, like Astro, to an SD card or via USB.
I can't answer you about the Gmail & Facebook contacts being "linked together", but from experience most items are stored in the Google Contacts data-fields and stored remotely in your Google account (and therefore restored from there straightaway)
I have multiple Android devices, and to tell you the truth I pretty much just copy everything "en-masse" to a hard drive. If you're rooted, it's fairly easy to pull down almost everything this way. You're just dealing with files and folders, just like on your regular computer (which is why I'm pretty much done with anything "black-box" like formerly iphone/ipad, btw )
If you're looking for a "set-it-and-forget-it" type app, I don't currently use any, but on my travels I've seen a few "names" tossed around with good reviews. You can research
MyBackup Pro
Sprite Backup
Those two are pretty well known full-blown-backup type apps. They're paid apps, but cheap.
I've heard of The Missing Sync which takes a different approach by syncing all your data to a Windows or Mac desktop for backup and also for re-distribution to other devices. Sort of like a "data-centralizer" type approach, which might be up your alley. I think the app runs about $40 though.
Finally, I do use the free LifeSaver 2 app for important SMS messages and call logs-- picked it up over at F-droid.org. It's for pretty specific data types, but it's this stuff that usually is the hardest to save (since I don't actually know where it is when I backup the entire root directory + subs & files).
Hope the above gives you some ideas. My general advice would be to research, read the boards, with special attention to the threads dedicated to the Galaxy S2, because the other users have gone before you
And btw, if you find something really cool (including if one of the apps above turn out to help you), make sure you come back and post your findings. I'm always on the lookout for a "gem" app that makes my life easier.
Good luck!
Apps: Titanium.
Data: MyBackup.
MyBackup does a much better job at saving your contacts than Google does. MyBackup restores them exactly as they were, Google often loses custom fields and messes up your contact names. Just look at the mess when you sync a contact called "Al's Pizza (open 'till midnight)" back from Google. It also gets the timestamps on SMSs right, which most competitors don't.
You could forget about Tit and backup your apps with MyB too, but then you miss out on all the different batch jobs that come with Tit.
There's one thing that all backup apps choke on: widgets. I always have to set 'em up again after a wipe/restore job.
Can't titanium backup both apps & data?
Titanium can backup user data, sort of.
Restoring user data with Tit is not as straightforward as with MyB. They should add a user data screen so you don't have to hunt for your data in a long list of apps.
One final question, if I was to change from Android Phone A to Android Phone B. Will these "apps" and backups be able to restored to a totally different phone?
rogier666 said:
There's one thing that all backup apps choke on: widgets. I always have to set 'em up again after a wipe/restore job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rogier, what widget app do you use? I use Elixir, and in it there's an option to export widget data. Search for the "edit widgets" button, click it and you'll be taken to a pane where all the widgets are replaceable. Below it, you'll see a "More" button--that's where the import/export widgets button is. After you export widgets settings (you have to type in a name for it), Elixir then saves that exact config. After flashing a ROM and restoring via Ti, you can then choose to add back your widgets via the "Import" button. Remember though: if you want to bring back a 5x5 widget, you have to choose "5x5" widget after long pressing on a blank space, otherwise the widget won't restore properly. With this, you can have as many widgets you want and not worry about the tedious process of reconstructing them after a restore.
do you have to use the paid for version of titanium?
boxrick said:
One final question, if I was to change from Android Phone A to Android Phone B. Will these "apps" and backups be able to restored to a totally different phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can with Google . Go to Settings --> Privacy --> Back up my data.
When you buy your new phone, select restore my data. At first you won't see any difference, but after a few hours your apps will be restored
Borat38 said:
rogier, what widget app do you use? I use Elixir...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now I've got Widgetsoid, DroidStats, Smooth Calendar, PlayerPro, DroidWall, Make Your Own Clock, and seNotes on my home screens.
Some widget apps have a backup option, some only come in one flavor (like DroidWall) so they don't really need a backup option. But others (like most notes widgets) don't have any backup option at all.
This is really annoying for the sticky notes widgets, because it's often impossible to remember what info you'd have to put back in them (which is why you wrote it in a note to begin with).
So I'd really like a one click option to back up and restore all my widgets.
thetinybus said:
do you have to use the paid for version of titanium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you don't. The free version backs up everything too. It just takes more clicks to restore your stuff.
The free version of MyBackup only restores to the same phone that it backed up, so if you want to use MyBackup to transfer your data to a new phone you'll need the paid version.
I have purchased MybackupPro. The problem is I am fairly confident it will not back up my linked contacts. Therefore I need to root my phone and use TI backup...
Id like to post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1125414&page=12 and find out about after unrooting, flashing back to the default kernel ( for warranty purposes ). Need 10 posts
Now it seems I am getting restrictions on the amount of times I am posting. This also doesn't help me much!
on my 4th ROM now, comfortable with the process...but i'm still not super clear on the best way to backup.
i use titanium backup, and i have it set to batch twice a week, i go in and manually nandroid backup once a week or so, and i figured out that if i do a backup in LauncherPro (my favorite launcher) that i don't have to re-do all my screens again, just the clock widget. i also backup my bookmarks in Dolphin.
something tells me i have a bunch of unnecessary steps. can you guys streamline my process? or am i failing to understand how to use titanium (i suspect this is the case)?
appreciate any advice.
Sounds pretty good. Are you also copying off your backups to a PC or network share? That's important in case you lose your phone. Set Titanium to backup to Dropbox and do that periodically.
hmmm no i have not been backing up to PC. should i just copy the entire SD card to PC periodically? i did figure out the trick to get TIBU to synch with my dropbox without having to pay for it, though.
Nandroid backups are useless if you are swapping between ROMs, as they are pretty much a snapshot of your entire phone at the time that you create it. If you just want a complete backup of everything exactly the way it is, then this is all you need to do.
For most other purposes, Titanium Backup is all that you will need to use, it WILL backup the layout of your screen when it creates the backup for LauncherPro, so that's a wasted step. It also gives you quite granular control over how your applications are restored (and which ones). One thing to take note of is that things like SMSs and call logs may not be compatible when swapping between certain ROMs and restoring with titanium backup. To get around this, use a dedicated SMS backup utility from the market (there are plenty of free ones) since it saves the SMS and call log in a different format.
When swapping from something like gingerbread to ICS (for example), you may find that some applications WILL NOT work if you try to restore them. There really isn't any way that you can get around this, and it isn't the fault of any of your backup methods.
Also, its probably worth the five or so dollars to buy Titanium Backup, assuming you want to get the most out of your phone. There are a lot of pro only features that are quite powerful.
innocencio said:
hmmm no i have not been backing up to PC. should i just copy the entire SD card to PC periodically? i did figure out the trick to get TIBU to synch with my dropbox without having to pay for it, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd just copy the nandroid backup directory to your PC periodically. The only downside is that the file is pretty big. No need to copy anything else to your PC as long as your syncing Titanium to Dropbox.
This is a small question, that appears to have not been asked. When batch-restoring about 100 apps on my phone, why do I have to confirm the installation of each app? From what I see in other's experiences, the apps just install automatically. Is this some sort of feature called hyper shell? I have TiBu pro, and hyper shell is turned on, but for every single app I restore, I have to confirm its permissions and click install. This kinda defeats the purpose of an automated restoration of apps+data.
In case someone visiting this thread thinks I'm asking how to do backups, I do know how, I just don't think the process should be this tedious.
If you have the pro key installed make sure it says pro at the top. It should auto install on it's own
Wayne Tech Nexus
There's not a lot of information out there for the Galaxy Core Prime on how we might debloat and save more space, so I decided to make a short tutorial that might help people with some easy steps in cleaning up their device. This guide is meant to be pretty basic and to just help point people in the right direction so that it speaks to a broader scope of Galaxy Core Prime Models, but is based specifically on the SM-G360T1. The SM-G360T is essentially the exact same phone though, so all of these steps should apply directly to that device too. Other Galaxy Core Prime models will be able to use this as well, but just be sure to read the special "NOTE" part of each step. Also, I'm sure it goes without saying, but inevitably I'll get the question, so obviously, root is required for this!
Anyhow, here we go:
1) Do a full backup in recovery before deleting system stuff. This is always a good idea just in case you delete something you're not supposed to and android stops working, then you can just go into recovery(TWRP, CWM, etc.) and restore your backup and your back to square one. It's good to do a new backup too a few days after when you're sure your deleted apps aren't causing any problems so you can restore to that slimmer version later if need be. Also, you should probably save your backup files to the external sd as you will likely have more free space there.
2) Install a debloated rom in recovery. SlimPickins is a great one for the SM-G360T1. It's basically the stock firmware for the MetroPCS Core Prime, but thanks to @Koognod we can now run Android without all the extra junk using his rom. It comes already debloated, deodexed and deknoxed, so you can just install it and not have to deal with finding all the junk to delete for yourself. It's already gone! It's also great for speeding up your bogged down phone or creating more space for your apps and media. Here is the link.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...rom-slimpickins-stock-rooted-bloated-t3250883
NOTE: YOU CAN NOT INSTALL THIS ROM IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SM-G360T1. It should work fine on the SM-G360T too, but for anyone else just try googling or searching XDA for your "model #" and "debloat rom".
3) I recommend deleting the "PreloadInstaller" folder from "/system/app/" with a Play Store root browser. You should do this before deleting any system apps in my opinion, as this folder contains an apk that is programmed to put back a lot of the system stuff you delete(either immediately or after reboot). If you don't feel comfortable deleting this folder just yet though, then you can just move it to your external sd card for now with your browser to save space in case you ever want to move it back or just skip this step. Your choice!
NOTE: If you don't have the SM-G360T1 or SM-G360T, then your "PreloadInstaller" folder may be called something slightly different or you may not even have it at all. Just look for something similar in there. Be careful not to delete the package installer though as that's the program that allows you to install apps yourself.
4) You need an app that uninstalls system apps. I use "System App Remover(ROOT)" from the Play Store personally because all your deleted system apps actually go into a recycle bin first where they can be restored later if needed. It also tells you if the app in question is a "Key Module"(ie. proceed with serious caution).
5) Google search the internet for system stuff that's ok to delete for your device. It helps to search your model usually, but I don't think there's much info out there for the Galaxy Core Prime unfortunately, so just searching something like "Debloat Samsung Safe" can be a great resource as many Samsung phones have the same system junk.
6) Delete all the obvious stuff you don't want. This would be things like any of the MetroPCS stuff(or whatever carrier you have) or even the Galaxy app store if you don't want it. A lot of Google apps can be deleted too, though you want to be a little more careful with those as Android is pretty much based on the Google Services Framework and many Google apps are tied into the system. Generally, apps like Chrome, Docs, Drive, Hangouts, Maps(if you prefer another map application like Waze or whatever), etc. are good to go if you want. I wouldn't delete any of the core Google apps though that may handle major processes on your phone, like Calendar, possibly even Gmail or any of the ones that you don't know what they do. Deleting the stock camera, gallery, video or music player may sometimes give you problems down the line too, so I would probably keep those. You can also back all your apps up before deleting with Titanium Backup from the Play Store too in case you delete something that you need to put back later.
*NOTE: Some apps, like the Google ones for instance, may cause popup errors after you delete them. This is normal. Your phone's just looking for all those files that were just secretly running a few moments ago. All you have to do is reboot to get rid of those messages. If they still persist, then just reinstall the app.
7) Download an app to clean up that leftover mess. When you delete an app, especially with system stuff, it often leaves a bunch of folders and junk behind. Go to the Play Store and download an app that allows you to clean all that up. There's lots of good ones. I like to use one called "SD Maid" myself. It's good at cleaning up those leftover files and has a feature called "CorpseFinder" in fact that does just that. It also cleans up a lot of other things on your phone.
Anyhow, if you're a heavy power user like myself or you store a lot of music or other media on your phone in addition to 20 million apps or so and you need more space, then I hope this helps you out. Take care guys. Thanks!
Out of curiosity, how does this affect the "phone unlock" feature? In case I want to change providers?
2xMakina said:
Out of curiosity, how does this affect the "phone unlock" feature? In case I want to change providers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't affect it at all as long as you don't delete the "Device Unlock" app. More info on unlocking your device here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=63729887
Also, you can just install SlimPickins if you want an already debloated rom.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=63868639
[DISCUSSION] Root safety, phone migration solutions & alternatives to Titanium Backup
So, I've finally received a shiny and new S8 (Exynos).
And quickly enough, I searched XDA & Google to see if there's a stable root solution.
The main reasons I'd like root (& TWRP recovery) for are:
Topmost priority: to properly migrate my apps & data from my current phone (S6) using Titanium backup, so I can start using the new one as my main device.
Giving me the option to choose a custom ROM, when/if I'll find the right one for me.
You can never know when you'll need an app that requires root access.
Having the option to always have a full image backup of the entire device (TWRP).
Debloating the device by freezing/removing unwanted apps (freezing them with Titanium Backup)
I remember that I had to root my device in order to record phone calls (which is very important for me) - I'm not even sure what its like with the S8, but this could also be a reason to root.
After reading, and watching several videos, I understand that there are quite a few things to be worried about:
The chance of bricking your device, as the current rooting solution is immature (Is it? this one scares me the most)
Losing secure folders/Samsung Pay/Samsung Health, etc. (I'd hate to lose Secure Folders - but I'm sure that I can find alternative solutions, I'd prefer not to lose Samsung Pay & Samsung health, but I can live without them).
Losing warranty - not even sure if that's true, read here: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/...iphone-rooting-android-does-not-void-warranty (Although I can live without the warranty, always rooted my phones while knowing I'll lose warranty).
I also read this discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/6bgu7n/psa_do_not_attempt_to_root_your_s8s8/
Since I really want to migrate to the new phone, I've looked for options to safely copy the data without having root:
CloneIT: Didnt migrate the apps' data.
Helium: Apps were backuped, but couldnt restore them. many of my apps are not supported by Helium.
Smart Switch: Not even sure if it can migrate apps' data or not, but unfortunately - it didnt even run properly on my S6, once installed - there's a splash screen coming up, that vanishes after couple of seconds. I've read posts of other users complaining about this very same behavior. couldn't find a solution to make it run. it works find on the S8.
I googled, and found that there are a bunch of companies that sell complete migration tools (that require PC/Mac), did anyone check any of these, and can share a honest review?
None of them is free for use/download.
Here are some that I've found (there are more out there):
https://www.phonetransfer.org/
https://www.recovery-android.com/android-data-backup-restore.html
https://www.coolmuster.com/mobile-transfer.html
https://www.gihosoft.com/mobile-phone-transfer.html
https://www.android-data-recovery.org/phone-transfer
https://mobiletrans.wondershare.com/
I've always rooted my phones, so being root-less is a bit new to me. should I just take the chance and root it?
Both Android and TouchWiz are quite mature now, allowing us to enjoy a smooth and slick operation - when combined with the powerful hardware the S8 is equipped with, right out of the box.
What are your reasons for rooting?
How did all of your migrate your phones? started everything from scratch?
If not - how did you migrate from your previous phone?
Is the current rooting solution safe enough? And if its not - and we'll wait until a 'safe' rooting solution is out - how can we keep our apps & data continuously (in my case: S6--> Non rooted S8 --> Rooted S8)?
Does any of the paid solutions I listed above really work?
Would love to hear your thoughts and advises.
I rooted my phone because I would like to customize my own phone as it is mine. DriveDroid, FolderMount, Titanium Backup, smartdisk, and so on. It doesn't matter how good a phone is without root, for me, it is garbage if I cannot customize it. Get a unrootable phone just as powerful as the desktop PC, and I'll find it garbage regardless of smoothness.
Well put me down for wondering if any of these without root will restore app data....