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[Q] How to save data before ROM upgrade

Hey guys,
so, I have already flashed my ROM from stock to something else. That was a year ago.
But this ROM got old, ICS is out, and I want it.
Is there a way to save all my data? I have some games, that have progress that I dont want to loose.
I have contacts that I dont want to loose. Messages and pictures that I still need.
What is the right procedure for me to upgrade ROM to newer one? I'm upgrading to Fallout v2 if that matters.
Thank you for answers
Regards, Anze

You need to read up about Nandroid backups that you take from recovery (cwm or 4ext) these are extremely useful if you wish to revert the device after you've flashed a new one rom as they take a snapshot of the devices partitions.
You should ensure that you take one of these before flashing a new rom.
I'd recommend that you sync your contacts with google (in the cloud) that way they'll always return to your device following a clean install
Otherwise the best application is titanium backup which enables you to make backups of your applications and there associated data, which is useful to reinstall your applications after a rom upgrade.

You may also wish to restore data with apps together selectively after flashing a new rom due to possible data incompatibilities with versions resulting in FC. If so, within TB you could try PREFERENCES > RESTORATION SETTINGS > MIGRATE SYSTEM DATA or leave out data only restoring the app.

What is the easiest method to change between ROM's?

Hello, and thank you for reading.
I'm a newbie when it comes to ROM's and all concerning them.
So I've been running the latest version of TrickDroid for quite a while now but would like to try some AOSP ROM's also (Liquid/CM/etc.).
As it might happen that I don't like them or I wanted to try an unstable ROM (for testing JB), how could I easily switch back to TrickDroid?
Is there such a thing as multi-boot or anyhting similar?
Should I take a full back with TWRP or what?
And can I have the same apps working with same system/app data on different ROM's; if I restore a full TB it should work fine, right?
Thank you very much.

No multi boot, but take a backup in TWRP and you're back to trickdroid quick enough if you restore it. I never tried restoring apps and appdata with TB as its not recommended especially when going to a ROM on another base like say from trickdroid to liquid or CM. Also stuff like SMS and call logs are tricky since the HTC mms and dialer are not available on AOSP roms so nowhere to restore appdata to.

So other apps should be fine except SMS and call logs?
But shouldn't 'SMS Backup & Restore' be able to put your messages into any ROM no matter what it's based on?
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium

I use titanium backup to restore APPS + DATA on every rom and it has never failed me once.
It even works when jumping between all types of roms i've installed, including: CM, AOSP, sense based and MIUI.
My procedure is always.
1. Make a full backup in TWRP
2. use SMS Backup & Restore for my messages
3. use titanium backup > click batch selection > select Backup all new user apps & newer versions
4. still in Titanium batch selection > select Redo backups for modified data
This way you are straight back to the way you had everything, no matter what rom your on. you only have to redo your home screen

Tb can backup and restore user apps on any Rom.
But you cannot restore system apps between sense and asop
User apps are only downloaded apps so you can restore anywhere even on different phones
You could also if your using a diff launcher back it up and restore it then u won't even have to set up your homescreens.
Hope that clears it up.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium

Thank you everyone.
This helps a lot.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium

you could also use ROM manager or Goo manager BETA.. those two apps are available in play store and you can flash ROMs directly from there

Backups before Flashing

Hello fellow ROM-flashers!
What do you do too keep your setup when flashing, what do you backup? settings, data, accounts and so on.
Is there any good way to backup and keep your settings, and so on... or do you have to redo all that after you flashed a new ROM?
Perhaps its recommended to do it all over again and again? ... I use Pandoriam 5.7 and are happy with it :good:
But then again 6.0 around the corner I sure I want to have the latest update. Dont we all?
I find myself redo my phone settings more then I actual use my phone

Wouldn't it be awesome if there was a way to update it as you do with a stock ROM.. so you didnt had to wipe all when you go from 5.7 to 6.0 for example.
I guessing there are a lot of reasons why this isn't really a valid option... but would be great

Wrekk said:
Wouldn't it be awesome if there was a way to update it as you do with a stock ROM.. so you didnt had to wipe all when you go from 5.7 to 6.0 for example.
I guessing there are a lot of reasons why this isn't really a valid option... but would be great
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
..TitaniumBackup....
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=titanium+backup
in free version no batch backup / restore...
backup system+app data
wipe system / data / cache / davlik cache in cwm - flash new rom... installl TB ... restore all.... finish

This should be in the Q and A forum
But yeah, buying titanium backup is the best purchase you'll ever make if you often flash ROMs with full wipes. The batch backup/restore process is brilliant, I have it also saving my backups to dropbox so if anything happens to my phone, I have a copy there too (4G is awesome for this).
I've also found the best launcher is Nova, using Titanium Backup to backup and restore Nova, I don't even have to setup my homescreen again (4 sized widgets, 4 folders, completely customised - you can see it in the homescreen thread in the Q and A forum), even the widgets are there after a full wipe which wasn't possible with other homescreen launchers. The only thing I setup fresh each time is my work exchange account.
By the way, you mostly DON'T have to wipe between ROM versions. I always do because that's how I like to do things (and due to the above I have the process sorted), but most poeple don't..

When updating ROM's - I do a Nandroid + SMS/Call log backup + Titanium backup of all user apps +data.
I the upgrade the ROM over exissting without any data/cache wipe. If I run into FC's after updating the ROM, I either restore my Nandroid or do a clean install of the new ROM and restore apps + settings from my Titanium backup.

I use online nandroid to backup full data. Works a treat and you can use your phone while backing up!

Cleanest ROM flash with minimum reconfiguration.

Hey, everytime I want to flash a new ROM or even new version of the same ROM,
I like to clear everything beforehand and factory reset my device.
The issue is everytime I do that I have to download all my apps again and configure the device all over again (apps & phone settings) .
I need some guide about backing up the maximum data possible (settings and applications) while still keeping the new flash as clean as possible.
I own Titanium paid version.
Thanks a lot!

ArgamanZa said:
Hey, everytime I want to flash a new ROM or even new version of the same ROM,
I like to clear everything beforehand and factory reset my device.
The issue is everytime I do that I have to download all my apps again and configure the device all over again (apps & phone settings) .
I need some guide about backing up the maximum data possible (settings and applications) while still keeping the new flash as clean as possible.
I own Titanium paid version.
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact that u have titanium backup pro makes it so much easier backup all user apps only (backing up system apps/data will cause problems with new ROM) then flash new ROM, reinstall titanium backup, and go to restore then you can choose apps or apps+data

How to save all registered Gmail accounts in android?

I have a galaxy S9 which I find perfect for what I do, everything.
But I usually reset the phone to install new custom ROMs and I have about 30 email registered in my Gmail app and in my phone. I need the most of then everytime I reinstall a Rom to my phone so adding them every time is annoying because I need to put email and password for each one.
Is there a solution to backup and restore them every time I install a rom? Is there a system file where they are stored?

Pierfranc said:
I have a galaxy S9 which I find perfect for what I do, everything.
But I usually reset the phone to install new custom ROMs and I have about 30 email registered in my Gmail app and in my phone. I need the most of then everytime I reinstall a Rom to my phone so adding them every time is annoying because I need to put email and password for each one.
Is there a solution to backup and restore them every time I install a rom? Is there a system file where they are stored?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROMs don't play well with data that was created/restored from a different ROM. That won't work if you are flashing ROMs that are different from the one you have installed, but, it may or may not work when flashing updates of the ROM that you already have installed. For example, if you have a LineageOS ROM installed and then flash a RemixOS ROM, you can't restore data from LineageOS in the RemixOS ROM but if you have LineageOS 16 installed and then you flash an updated LineageOS 16 or a LineageOS 17, then you can restore data from LineageOS 16 in the updated LineageOS 16 or LineageOS 17.
It requires root and some form of app that can backup and restore system data and user data. Titanium Backup used to be what you would use but it is no longer supported, it doesn't work like it used to, you'll have to find an app similar to Titanium Backup.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
ROMs don't play well with data that was created/restored from a different ROM. That won't work if you are flashing ROMs that are different from the one you have installed, but, it may or may not work when flashing updates of the ROM that you already have installed. For example, if you have a LineageOS ROM installed and then flash a RemixOS ROM, you can't restore data from LineageOS in the RemixOS ROM but if you have LineageOS 16 installed and then you flash an updated LineageOS 16 or a LineageOS 17, then you can restore data from LineageOS 16 in the updated LineageOS 16 or LineageOS 17.
It requires root and some form of app that can backup and restore system data and user data. Titanium Backup used to be what you would use but it is no longer supported, it doesn't work like it used to, you'll have to find an app similar to Titanium Backup.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I am moving to an os based on the same rom so I could restore the backup, but the doubt is which system app should I backup to save the email I have registered.

Pierfranc said:
Thanks. I am moving to an os based on the same rom so I could restore the backup, but the doubt is which system app should I backup to save the email I have registered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same ROM, not a ROM that is "based" on the same ROM, there is a difference. In other words, you can't restore system data and system settings from a lineageOS ROM in a ROM that is "lineageOS based". Most ROMs are AOSP and LineageOS based, if what you are thinking were possible, we could restore system data and system settings from one LineageOS, ROM in any other ROM that is based on LineageOS, but we can't. Being "based" on the same ROM does not make them "similar enough" to use sysyem data and system settings from one in the other. If you have a lineageOS ROM, you can only restore that system data and system settings in another LineageOS ROM. If you have a lineageOS "based" ROM, you can only restore system data and system settings from that ROM in an updated version of that same LineageOS "based" ROM, not another LineageOS "based" ROM. RemixOS and many other ROMs are all LineageOS based but you can't restore system data and system settings from LineageOS in a RemixOS, this leads to issues, bugs and crashes.
What you are looking to backup and restore isn't a system app. What you want to backup and restore is system data and system settings. But, be aware, this doesn't always work even when restoring that data in an updated version of the exact same ROM.
Am I making this any more clear for you?
This only applies to system data, restoring user data from one ROM to a different ROM is usually not an issue because the system itself being different, generally, has no effect on user data, only system related data.
One thing you can try that sometimes works is to flash your new ROM without doing any of the wipes, this is called a "dirty flash". It leaves all of your data untouched and flashes the new ROM without touching your existing data. But, you might get a bootloop or you might get repeated crashes, force closes and random reboots, which indicates that your data can't be used by the new system.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
The same ROM, not a ROM that is "based" on the same ROM, there is a difference. In other words, you can't restore system data and system settings from a lineageOS ROM in a ROM that is "lineageOS based". Most ROMs are AOSP and LineageOS based, if what you are thinking were possible, we could restore system data and system settings from one LineageOS, ROM in any other ROM that is based on LineageOS, but we can't. Being "based" on the same ROM does not make them "similar enough" to use sysyem data and system settings from one in the other. If you have a lineageOS ROM, you can only restore that system data and system settings in another LineageOS ROM. If you have a lineageOS "based" ROM, you can only restore system data and system settings from that ROM in an updated version of that same LineageOS "based" ROM, not another LineageOS "based" ROM. RemixOS and many other ROMs are all LineageOS based but you can't restore system data and system settings from LineageOS in a RemixOS, this leads to issues, bugs and crashes.
What you are looking to backup and restore isn't a system app. What you want to backup and restore is system data and system settings. But, be aware, this doesn't always work even when restoring that data in an updated version of the exact same ROM.
Am I making this any more clear for you?
This only applies to system data, restoring user data from one ROM to a different ROM is usually not an issue because the system itself being different, generally, has no effect on user data, only system related data.
One thing you can try that sometimes works is to flash your new ROM without doing any of the wipes, this is called a "dirty flash". It leaves all of your data untouched and flashes the new ROM without touching your existing data. But, you might get a bootloop or you might get repeated crashes, force closes and random reboots, which indicates that your data can't be used by the new system.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I can't do a dirty flash because this rom has bugs and I don't want find again them. I want a clean install.
But also don't want to add again all the email which I am logged in on this rom. So I just want find a fast way to save them. Do you know any alternatives? Maybe a file where these logins are saved in system folder so I can edit it in the new rom.
Also because all these email registered in any Google applications, once you add them in Gmail, you can login with them in PlayStore and other apps. So there should be a general file which store this data.

Pierfranc said:
No I can't do a dirty flash because this rom has bugs and I don't want find again them. I want a clean install.
But also don't want to add again all the email which I am logged in on this rom. So I just want find a fast way to save them. Do you know any alternatives? Maybe a file where these logins are saved in system folder so I can edit it in the new rom.
Also because all these email registered in any Google applications, once you add them in Gmail, you can login with them in PlayStore and other apps. So there should be a general file which store this data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to use something like Titanium Backup or Helium to backup the data for each account and you may be able to restore them that way. It requires root though.
Or, you can do some searching involving using adb backup to achieve this.