Database Info

[Q] Lost my WP7 restore files. Please help

Hi,
I just had to format my hard drive and thus lost all my WP7 restore files.
Is there anyway to recover all those file so that I can perform a restore on my phone?
I've tried different data restore softwares, but the files are all messed up and I can't remember which folder to put the files in.
Please help me. Thank you.

That really sucks, but this does raise a pretty good question. Where do the phone restore files save to? And how can somebody make sure their backup is going to transfer to a new HDD?

On Win7, try this:
\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Phone Update\XXX-XXX-XXX\Data
I found 5.8Gb of data in this directory following my upgrade to 7390. This helps explain why the update took nearly an hour to complete...
FWIW, i've moved the data off my pc to another drive and everything functions well. The Zune update page no longers shows the option to restore to the previous update, 7008. Other than that, it all looks normal.

aquanaut88 said:
On Win7, try this:
\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Phone Update\XXX-XXX-XXX\Data
I found 5.8Gb of data in this directory following my upgrade to 7390. This helps explain why the update took nearly an hour to complete...
FWIW, i've moved the data off my pc to another drive and everything functions well. The Zune update page no longers shows the option to restore to the previous update, 7008. Other than that, it all looks normal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Can you show me the files and folders contained in that backup?
I wanna try my luck again with this

yea, the other guys are right, I had the same issue but if you follow this you will guarantee that you will find your files

Thanks. But what I need to know is the folders to put my recovered files to

In my case it seems they're here:
C:\Users\your user name here\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Phone Update\xxxxx - xxxxx - xxxxxx - xxxxx\RestorePoint\xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxx\Data
I hope it helps

If you formatted your Hard Drive after you made your backup, you might be SOL unless you have a backup of your hard drive after you backed up your phone.
If you dont, The only real way is to find a rom for your phone.
The folder would be in...
%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows Phone Update

Unusual recovery question

I know, I'm stupid for not ensuring I had a good backup, but it's done, I'm dealing with it.
But, I'm trying to find out if there's anything I can do to recover a file. It's a database file for an app called Time Tracker. It's a .db file.
I thought i prepared for a phone wipe to install a new rom. I did a backup to Google Drive from the program, like I've done a dozen other times. Only this time, it didn't actually back up the .db file. So, not verifying it, I went ahead and formatted the phone, complete wipe, even internal sd.
I've been looking all day trying to find a way to recover the file, so far nothing works. All recovery methods I've found only work for specific types of files like pictures, videos, office files, etc. I downloaded a couple of them and tried but like I said, they only work for specific files and .db isn't one of them.
I'm still using the phone because I have no choice, but I haven't installed anything else.
Is there any hope of recovering or am I SOL?
Oh, yes, next time I will do multiple backups and I'm looking at automated online backup for the future.

Easy way to keep one's personal data when flasing a new ROM

Most of the time when one flashes a new ROM one has to do a data wipe (factory reset), and it erases all one's personal files like movies, music, pictures etc, quite annoying to say the least.
I found a way to avoid this, and it's pretty simple:
1-in CWM go to mount,
2-mount both data and system,
3-format them both.
This will perform the factory reset without erasing our precious files (the installed apks will be gone though, but no biggie if you backed up them with Titanium).
Then you can wipe cache + dalvik and flash your new ROM.
I used this method to go from ICS to CM 10.1, from CM 10.1 to Paranoid Android, and finally back to ICS, without loosing a single kb of my files.
Edit:
I have a p6210, no idea whether it works on other models or not. I guess it does but who knows...
Give it a try if you feel like it, but don't forget to make a back up before in case it goes wrong.
After flashing, your files won't be in the mnt/sdcard anymore but in a newly created folder in mnt/sdcard/0, or, depending the rom you are using, in storage/sdcard/0.
Or, some roms may create a file called legacy and stock everything there, or sometimes your files may be stocked before the sdcard folder, search for either /0 or /legacy.
Use a root browser and have a look, your files are still in your device (have a look as well at your storage in general settings, it will show how many gbs are in your tab).
Once you have found your files all what you have to do is to move them back where they belong, ie the /sdcard folder, it takes 10 seconds.

unclefab said:
Most of the time when one flashes a new ROM one has to do a data wipe (factory reset), and it erases all one's personal files like music, pictures etc, quite annoying to say the least.
I found a way to avoid this, and it's pretty simple:
1-in CWM go to mount,
2-mount both data and system,
3-format them both.
This will perform the factory reset without erasing our precious files.
Then you can wipe cache + dalvik and flash your new ROM.
I used this method to go from ICS to CM 10.1, from CM 10.1 to Paranoid Android, and finally back to ICS, without loosing a single kb of my files.
Give it a try if you feel like it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not cool man.Fu** lah.I lost everything.Around 7 GB of files.Fu** lah.I have no backup.I thought it would work.I was going from cm10.1 to cm10.What am I going to do?

Re: Easy way to keep one's personal data after flasing a new ROM
ALWAYS create a backup before erasing/flashing ANYTHING!! It's always as a precaution, to avoid losing something that you don't want to. And it only takes like 5 seconds literally. I lost some stuff when I unlocked the bootloader on my nexus10 by factory resetting, and I must say I didn't have a smile on my face. But it happened, u live n learn. I'm afraid if u wiped without making a nandroid backup your probably out of luck. Unless your skilled in using forensics techniques to try to recover it. Can't think of any options tho.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Balaram12 said:
Not cool man.Fu** lah.I lost everything.Around 7 GB of files.Fu** lah.I have no backup.I thought it would work.I was going from cm10.1 to cm10.What am I going to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you do?
Did you follow the exact procedure?
I flashed again some roms today and it worked again.
But one thing is that the files are not in the mnt/sdcard anymore but in a newly created folder in mnt/sdcard/0, or, depending the rom you are using, in storage/sdcard/0.
Or, some roms may create a file called legacy and stock everything there, or sometimes your files may be stocked before the sdcard folder, search for either /0 or /legacy.
Use a root browser and have a look, your files are still in your device (have a look as well at your storage in general settings, it will show how many gbs are in your tab).
Once you have found your files all what you have to do is to move them back where they belong, ie the /sdcard folder, it takes 10 seconds.
This said, meishkov is right, one should allways have a back up in case anything goes wrong, I should have mentioned it in the OP but I forgot, my bad...
Edit:
OP edited.

Oh well, noone tried?
Would be nice to hear some reports...
Balaram, it would be fair from you to detail a bit what happened and to tell if you found back your files.
Anyway, this method worked for me and I thought that it might have interested some people here, roms flashers and devs alike, but if that s not the case then no worries.
If someone feels that I should erase the whole thread just tell me and I ll do it...

Recovering data from opo after deleting /storage folder and factory reset

Hi,
tl;dr:
Is there a theoretic way to recover data from the phone after:
1. deleting /storage folder
2. and then rooting (which means factory reset?)
If there is a theoretic way to recover it from the bits, is there a way to take a snapshot of the current state of the bit, so I can (in theory) recover the media in the future?
Long version:
First of all I know I'm very stupid..
Yesterday I've deleted my /storage folder since in first glance it looked empty.
Then I figured out what did I do, so I tried to recover the information.
I've searched the web for an application that does that and I found one that required rooting the phone, so I rooted the phone which means I made factory reset.
Then I tried to recover but it didn't manage to recover the photos and videos.. (it did recover whatsapp photos and some other things but not from the dcim folder).
I tried then several different applications that may not ask for rooting the phone so maybe I made a mistake by doing that (not sure that they wouldn't request for rooting either) but no success with that...
I'm willing to pay money to save that data but do you think it's not recoverable anymore?
I also called the 3 biggest recovery companies in my country, 2 of them told me that they don't think it's possible and one agreed to take it to their labs for a small price and then give me an offer.
If there is a theoretic way to recover it from the bits, is there a way to take a snapshot of the current state of the bit, so I can (in theory) recover the media in the future?
I'm very desperate and would be very thankful for your help

PeroPy said:
Hi,
tl;dr:
Is there a theoretic way to recover data from the phone after:
1. deleting /storage folder
2. and then rooting (which means factory reset?)
If there is a theoretic way to recover it from the bits, is there a way to take a snapshot of the current state of the bit, so I can (in theory) recover the media in the future?
Long version:
First of all I know I'm very stupid..
Yesterday I've deleted my /storage folder since in first glance it looked empty.
Then I figured out what did I do, so I tried to recover the information.
I've searched the web for an application that does that and I found one that required rooting the phone, so I rooted the phone which means I made factory reset.
Then I tried to recover but it didn't manage to recover the photos and videos.. (it did recover whatsapp photos and some other things but not from the dcim folder).
I tried then several different applications that may not ask for rooting the phone so maybe I made a mistake by doing that (not sure that they wouldn't request for rooting either) but no success with that...
I'm willing to pay money to save that data but do you think it's not recoverable anymore?
I also called the 3 biggest recovery companies in my country, 2 of them told me that they don't think it's possible and one agreed to take it to their labs for a small price and then give me an offer.
If there is a theoretic way to recover it from the bits, is there a way to take a snapshot of the current state of the bit, so I can (in theory) recover the media in the future?
I'm very desperate and would be very thankful for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try Undeleter from play store..worked for me on N4..never tried on OPO

atulclassic said:
try Undeleter from play store..worked for me on N4..never tried on OPO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work :crying:

You might give DiskDigger a shot. I never tried it though.

PeroPy said:
Didn't work :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you rooted since undeleter requires root

atulclassic said:
are you rooted since undeleter requires root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm...

After few weeks of working on that, I didn't make it to recover any of my photos/videos/whatsapp chat history (the things that were most important to me)
I tried several stuff, apperently all of the recovery programs that using the adb to directly connect to the phone through the PC doesn't work well enough, as well as the programs that works from the device...
I tried this article:
http://www.dflund.se/~jokke/androidfilerecovery/
but it didn't work for some reason...
Then I tried that one :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...de-internal-memory-data-recovery-yes-t1994705
I used a centos VM to get a image of the device partiotns the way they suggested (I couldn't make the busybox work).
I mapped that file as hard disk
I tried to use 'Recuva' it seems like it managed to restore files but something apperantly went wrong and the files wasn't helpful...
I tried to use 'easeus data recovery' it worked better, it found around 20k files.. There were alot of directories and I didn't look up at it so much but it recoverd alot of photos which I think were from the whatsapp media.
Incase someone who made the same mistake by deleting the 'storage' folder, get to this post, I recommend to turn off the phone immidietly and find a way to do that without rooting the device.. (although it might be impossible since as far as I know all of the methods I used were depends on a rooted device, but I didn't look up on this since the first thing I done is to root my device - which might be the mistake)...

Android data recovery - Root required or no?

Hey guys,
I have a query on recovering data from Android phone's internal storage.
The phone is J7 Pro (SM-J730GM) and I am trying to recover some deleted data from the phone.
I have tried UltData for Android but it only lists the data that is already present on the phone...it does not show the deleted data.
I tried DroidKit and it clearly states that 'Root required for Deep Scan'. Only quick scan available which is same as UltData (lists only data that is already present).
I did some research and it seems that without root, it is not possible to recover lost/deleted data.
I was wondering if anyone here has some knowledge/experience about this topic?
Is there any reliable tool out there that can recover data WITHOUT root? Or using commands via ADB shell ?
Root is the last thing I want to go for as it may sometimes brick the device.

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jwoegerbauer said:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

mru007 said:
Root is the last thing I want to go for as it may sometimes brick the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, unlocking the bootloader will erase all data of your internal storage.
To recover deleted files you investigate your storage to find file signatures.
When deleting a file only the corresponding entry in the partition table will be erased. But the data of your file itself remains physically on your storage until it gets overwritten.
Best practice for that is to create an image file of your entire storage. But at least you will need full access to your data partition '/userdata'. That requires an unlocked bootloader to install a custom recovery like TWRP and/or root. Both give you full access to /userdata at all levels, increasing your chances of successfully recovering your files.
Factory reset: Files that have been deleted by a factory reset are due to encryption of internal storage (file based) almost unrecoverable. Wiping all data also deletes the decryption key stored in the system. During the next boot process /userdata (which is empty) gets encrypted again but with different keys.
It's not mandatory to have root permissions but you must have an unlocked bootloader.

An USB connection to your PC is not suitable to recover deleted files. Both, ADB and storage access, won't open your file system directly. There's at least one system service on your phone that manages the data transfer, e.g. MTP.

WoKoschekk said:
First of all, unlocking the bootloader will erase all data of your internal storage.
To recover deleted files you investigate your storage to find file signatures.
When deleting a file only the corresponding entry in the partition table will be erased. But the data of your file itself remains physically on your storage until it gets overwritten.
Best practice for that is to create an image file of your entire storage. But at least you will need full access to your data partition '/userdata'. That requires an unlocked bootloader to install a custom recovery like TWRP and/or root. Both give you full access to /userdata at all levels, increasing your chances of successfully recovering your files.
Factory reset: Files that have been deleted by a factory reset are due to encryption of internal storage (file based) almost unrecoverable. Wiping all data also deletes the decryption key stored in the system. During the next boot process /userdata (which is empty) gets encrypted again but with different keys.
It's not mandatory to have root permissions but you must have an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the detail info!
When I go to Developer options -> OEM unlocking, it says here "Bootloader already unlocked." So it's a good thing for proceeding further I suppose.
For TWRP installation, I checked the method but it says 'unlocking bootloader will Wipe Data.
Does installing TWRP automatically attempts to unlock bootloader (and hence the risk of wipe data?)
Here is the blog that list steps to root with TWRP and gives a bright red warning -
Root Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro SM-J730GM and Install TWRP Recovery
Easy tutorial to Root Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro SM-J730GM in easy steps. For rooting, you have to flash TWRP Recovery first through the guide.
www.androidweblog.com
So my q. is -
If I just install TWRP, does it pose a risk to automatically wipe data?
Any options in TWRP itself to recover deleted data?
The other way is to root the device using Magisk app which does not require TWRP, but a bit complicated process.
This is the blog I came across to root J7 Pro without TWRP -
Root Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro SM-J730GM/G using Magisk Without TWRP
Easy tutorial to Root Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro SM-J730GM/G in easy steps using Magisk. For rooting, you we have described Magisk method, without installing TWRP.
www.androidweblog.com
Hope TWRP method does not Wipe Data & rooting method does not brick the device.
Even if we follow all the steps properly, there is always a little chance that it may brick the device

WoKoschekk said:
An USB connection to your PC is not suitable to recover deleted files. Both, ADB and storage access, won't open your file system directly. There's at least one system service on your phone that manages the data transfer, e.g. MTP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting.
I also tried mounting the phone internal storage as a 'disk drive' (with letter) using a tool called MTPdrive but then no data recovery software recognizes it as a 'valid' partition. It says invalid.

mru007 said:
If I just install TWRP, does it pose a risk to automatically wipe data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your bootloader is already unlocked, it is very good news for you. TWRP doesn't unlock bootloader or wipe your data.
mru007 said:
Any options in TWRP itself to recover deleted data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Follow the steps properly with the correct files to root your device.
Once successfully rooted, install a good data recovery app and try to recover your lost files.
Important thing to remember is that the more files you copy or install (i.e. the more changes you make to your file system), the lesser chance there will be to recover data because the system tries to use the space occupied by deleted data to write new files to it.
So do one thing at a time and make as little changes as possible to root your phone and install the data recovery app. Do your research first to find out the best options.
All the best!

mru007 said:
Any options in TWRP itself to recover deleted data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but you could do the following when TWRP runs:
1. Download the ADB/Fastboot tools here.
2. Extract the downloaded ZIP to C:\ and open the new created folder C:\platform-tools. You should see single files like adb.exe or fastboot.exe
3. In the address bar of your Explorer windows type cmd and hit Enter.
4. Connect the phone in TWRP mode via USB to your desktop PC and execute
Code:
adb devices
which should give you a output like this:
Code:
C:\platform-tools>adb devices
* daemon not running; starting now at tcp:5037
* daemon started successfully
List of devices attached
<SERIAL_NO> recovery
If any errors then tell us!
5. Execute
Code:
adb pull /dev/block/by-name/userdata
This pulls an image of your data partition right into the current folder C:\platform-tools.
But be aware!! The data image is as big as your total internal storage!
So, make sure there is enough free space on your storage.
If you successfully pulled the image, then I will explain you how to rescue the deleted data on it.

Even if you can recover files... the file and folder structure is lost forever. Jpegs will have no exif data, no time stamp etc. It will be a real mess.
The most you can do then is search for file type, for example jpegs. A sea of juxtaposed jpegs; every bloody jpeg on the drive.
You learned a valuable lesson on how fragile digital data can be, the hard way. Why didn't you use a SD card as the data drive? All critical data should be redundantly backup at least twice in addition to the SD card.

blackhawk said:
Even if you can recover files... the file and folder structure is lost forever. Jpegs will have no exif data, no time stamp etc. It will be a real mess.
The most you can do then is search for file type, for example jpegs. A sea of juxtaposed jpegs; every bloody jpeg on the drive.
You learned a valuable lesson on how fragile digital data can be, the hard way. Why didn't you use a SD card as the data drive? All critical data should be redundantly backup at least twice in addition to the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I learnt my lesson the hard way in 2013 or 2014, but I was eventually lucky after spending 2 sleepless nights. Lost all files on my laptop hard disc by passing a command that I didn't fully understand. After 2 days and 2 nights which looked like eternal, and trying a dozen data recovery softwares that did nothing, I eventually found one that, in hindsight, was Godsend. That software actually recovered almost every single file and was also free back then. It was then that I created a backup plan for myself and it has worked well so far.
But you missed talking about cloud backups. They are actually much more secure since they are managed professionally, although they come with some privacy concerns.

TheMystic said:
I learnt my lesson the hard way in 2013 or 2014, but I was eventually lucky after spending 2 sleepless nights. Lost all files on my laptop hard disc by passing a command that I didn't fully understand. After 2 days and 2 nights which looked like eternal, and trying a dozen data recovery softwares that did nothing, I eventually found one that, in hindsight, was Godsend. That software actually recovered almost every single file and was also free back then. It was then that I created a backup plan for myself and it has worked well so far.
But you missed talking about cloud backups. They are actually much more secure since they are managed professionally, although they come with some privacy concerns.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never use cloud except for Gmail and text messages backups. Otherwise it's backed up at least 3-6 times on different drives, in different locations including time staggered copies. I may lose some data but never all...

blackhawk said:
I never use cloud except for Gmail and text messages backups. Otherwise it's backed up at least 3-6 times on different drives, in different locations including time staggered copies. I may lose some data but never all...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's one reason why you stick with the N10+ which is the last Samsung flagship with an external SD card. Since this feature isn't coming back on future flagships, you'll either have to settle with a budget device going forward, or get the 1 TB variants of Flagships, if you want access to your entire camera roll all the time.
In either case, you'll eventually run out of storage and may have to setup your own personal cloud server, if you have the required expertise to keep it safe for online access.
Cloud is not just about backups. It is also about having access to files all the time on multiple devices.

TheMystic said:
That's one reason why you stick with the N10+ which is the last Samsung flagship with an external SD card. Since this feature isn't coming back on future flagships, you'll either have to settle with a budget device going forward, or get the 1 TB variants of Flagships, if you want access to your entire camera roll all the time.
In either case, you'll eventually run out of storage and may have to setup your own personal cloud server, if you have the required expertise to keep it safe for online access.
Cloud is not just about backups. It is also about having access to files all the time on multiple devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung. If they can't put out they will be kicked out. Another manufacturer will pick up the slack. Both Samsung and Gookill Android are a mess now; I will continue to use what fullfills my mission for the next 3+ years. No hurry here.
Currently I'm using about 510 gb of my 1tb capacity, plenty of room left. I also have 350/100gb available on internal.
With cloud you're at the mercy of your internet connection/bandwidth, always. It wastes battery and they will charge you for the "privilege" of high capacity storage.
Multiple more layers to cloud introduce new failure modes and vulnerabilities, KISS.
Lol, do you still trust Samsung servers?
In the future you will own nothing and be happy. Not me.

blackhawk said:
With cloud you're at the mercy of your internet connection/bandwidth, always. It wastes battery and they will charge you for the "privilege" of high capacity storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Internet today is cheap and convenience has a price. So it is okay.
blackhawk said:
Multiple more layers to cloud introduce new failure modes and vulnerabilities, KISS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They have multiple redundancies built-in and I am positive they have systems in place to prevent catastrophe. I do use multiple cloud providers though, just in case.
blackhawk said:
do you still trust Samsung servers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have the expertise to keep a personal cloud server safe online.
blackhawk said:
In the future you will own nothing and be happy. Not me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have local backups too. It's not like I'm completely dependent on them. The local backups are just backups, and I cannot access them online.

TheMystic said:
I have local backups too. It's not like I'm completely dependent on them. The local backups are just backups, and I cannot access them online.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you had an SD card* you don't need to have internet access at all to do a full reload, anytime, anywhere. If you phone OS crashes the data on the SD card usually remains intact as well as in most hard display smashing drops.
A dual drive device trumps a single drive device every time.
*A OTG flashstick can be used but they are much slower. Backups can't be done in real time and one more critical piece of hardware to lose.

blackhawk said:
If you had an SD card* you don't need to have internet access at all to do a full reload, anytime, anywhere. If you phone OS crashes the data on the SD card usually remains intact as well as in most hard display smashing drops.
A dual drive device trumps a single drive device every time.
*A OTG flashstick can be used but they are much slower. Backups can't be done in real time and one more critical piece of hardware to lose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're focussing only on backups.
I'm also looking at multi-device access to all files. This is possible only with cloud, whether 3rd party or personally hosted one.

blackhawk said:
If you had an SD card* you don't need to have internet access at all to do a full reload, anytime, anywhere. If you phone OS crashes the data on the SD card usually remains intact as well as in most hard display smashing drops.
A dual drive device trumps a single drive device every time.
*A OTG flashstick can be used but they are much slower. Backups can't be done in real time and one more critical piece of hardware to lose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're focussing only on backups.
I'm also looking at multi-device access to all files. This is possible only with cloud, whether 3rd party or personally hosted one.

TheMystic said:
You're focussing only on backups.
I'm also looking at multi-device access to all files. This is possible only with cloud, whether 3rd party or personally hosted one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. Android is the only internet portal I use.
My other Android only shares cloud Gmail and texting for security. My laptop internet/wifi access is always offline; completely physically firewalled. You might hack one device but never all three. All backup drives are always physically/electronically separate from the PC unless being used for backup. In the case of malware none of the backups are connected until the victim device is clean.
I've seen a Gmail account get hacked and become unrecoverable. Never had that happen to a backup hdd... in the end the only protection you have is sound data management. If you fail to do this you may lose your whole database.

blackhawk said:
Exactly. Android is the only internet portal I use.
My other Android only shares cloud Gmail and texting for security. My laptop internet/wifi access is always offline; completely physically firewalled. You might hack one device but never all three.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a very special use case. For most people, multi-device access is pretty common.
blackhawk said:
I've seen a Gmail account get hacked and become unrecoverable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As in all emails got permanently deleted? And Google couldn't help?