Database Users

[Q] Strange backup/restore behavior. Stock G2 -> CM6 -> Stock -> CM6

I had something strange happen with the Messaging app, so I may as well list every step I took in case one of them was important.
TL;DR: I backed up "SMS Storage" from stock ROM with Ti Backup then restored it into CM6, but my old messages were still missing. Afterward I backed up and restored CM6 with nandroid and the old messages came back. fix_permissions was used in the middle for unrelated reasons.
I had stock G2 with perma-root and I wanted to try CM6. Without thinking about my apps or their data, I simply did a backup with ROM Manager, wiped and installed CM6. (All in one step. Man, I love ROM Manager!)
When I finally logged into CM6, Android started downloading all the apps I had before. It was then that I realized, "Fuuuuuuuuuck... all my settings and data are gone." I had older backups in Titanium Backup, but I wanted everything to be up to the minute. I also backed up my ADW settings and desktop configuration. Again, what a dream!
I restored my stock ROM backup and used Titanium Backup to backup everything one more time. Then I went through the download, wipe, install process again. It was already downloaded, and ROM Manager was smart enough not to download it again. Nice.
I waited yet again for Android to reinstall all my apps. A couple didn't download right, so I massaged them. I think they had updates with permission changes.
I restored my ADW settings and icons, and launched Titanium Backup. I used the restore screen and the Batch menu option. I clicked on RUN for "Restore All Apps" or whatever, which I knew would prompt me with a giant checkbox list. I unchecked everything and went down the list checking every user app. They were the ones with white text for the most part. If there was a Google system app that I was comfortable restoring, like the data for, say, Goggles, I checked that, too. I didn't check any of the truly system things.
The restore was a success and all my apps functioned beautifully.
I then opened the Messaging app and realized that all my old text messages were missing. Here's where the weirdness more-or-less starts.
I decide to go hunting in Ti Backup to see if I can find the data for the SMS app. I first restored the one with the Messaging app icon, and that managed to restore just my preferences. That made sense afterall, because it was called "[SMS/MMS PREFS] Messaging 2.2.1".
After that I tried restoring the one called "[SMS/MMS/APN] Dialer Storage 2.2.1", thinking that this must be it. No help at all.
I sent a few text messages to one person creating new data.
GPS is broken in CM6, and someone suggested running fix_permissions from the terminal. I did so, and no help with GPS. (But did this maybe fix the SMS data?)
I realized that Swype was missing and someone posted instructions on how to restore it, but you need to be back at stock and pull the files from the stock ROM. (I also could have unzipped the stock rom image, I read later, but anyway...) I restored my old stock backup, ran the ADB commands to pull the files, then restored my CM6 backup I had made just minutes earlier. I use a combination of ADB and Root Explorer to get the files in the right spot and I have Swype again.
I open the first app I can think of to test Swype, and that's Messaging. Bam! All my old messages are back! And my few new ones are now gone!
What's up with that?

elusivebyte said:
I had something strange happen with the Messaging app, so I may as well list every step I took in case one of them was important.
TL;DR: I backed up "SMS Storage" from stock ROM with Ti Backup then restored it into CM6, but my old messages were still missing. Afterward I backed up and restored CM6 with nandroid and the old messages came back. fix_permissions was used in the middle for unrelated reasons.
I had stock G2 with perma-root and I wanted to try CM6. Without thinking about my apps or their data, I simply did a backup with ROM Manager, wiped and installed CM6. (All in one step. Man, I love ROM Manager!)
When I finally logged into CM6, Android started downloading all the apps I had before. It was then that I realized, "Fuuuuuuuuuck... all my settings and data are gone." I had older backups in Titanium Backup, but I wanted everything to be up to the minute. I also backed up my ADW settings and desktop configuration. Again, what a dream!
I restored my stock ROM backup and used Titanium Backup to backup everything one more time. Then I went through the download, wipe, install process again. It was already downloaded, and ROM Manager was smart enough not to download it again. Nice.
I waited yet again for Android to reinstall all my apps. A couple didn't download right, so I massaged them. I think they had updates with permission changes.
I restored my ADW settings and icons, and launched Titanium Backup. I used the restore screen and the Batch menu option. I clicked on RUN for "Restore All Apps" or whatever, which I knew would prompt me with a giant checkbox list. I unchecked everything and went down the list checking every user app. They were the ones with white text for the most part. If there was a Google system app that I was comfortable restoring, like the data for, say, Goggles, I checked that, too. I didn't check any of the truly system things.
The restore was a success and all my apps functioned beautifully.
I then opened the Messaging app and realized that all my old text messages were missing. Here's where the weirdness more-or-less starts.
I decide to go hunting in Ti Backup to see if I can find the data for the SMS app. I first restored the one with the Messaging app icon, and that managed to restore just my preferences. That made sense afterall, because it was called "[SMS/MMS PREFS] Messaging 2.2.1".
After that I tried restoring the one called "[SMS/MMS/APN] Dialer Storage 2.2.1", thinking that this must be it. No help at all.
I sent a few text messages to one person creating new data.
GPS is broken in CM6, and someone suggested running fix_permissions from the terminal. I did so, and no help with GPS. (But did this maybe fix the SMS data?)
I realized that Swype was missing and someone posted instructions on how to restore it, but you need to be back at stock and pull the files from the stock ROM. (I also could have unzipped the stock rom image, I read later, but anyway...) I restored my old stock backup, ran the ADB commands to pull the files, then restored my CM6 backup I had made just minutes earlier. I use a combination of ADB and Root Explorer to get the files in the right spot and I have Swype again.
I open the first app I can think of to test Swype, and that's Messaging. Bam! All my old messages are back! And my few new ones are now gone!
What's up with that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a note, if android starts reinstalling all of your apps automatically again, that means that you have "back up data to google servers" checked in settings, which means that it will first reinstall your apps, then restore all of their settings and data.

How do you restore your Settings/Apps after flashing? [UPDATE]

So,
now that the first usable ROMs for X8 pop up i am wondering: what is the easiest way to import all your settings to a new ROM?
i am thinking of Apps, App-Settings, Sync-Settings (gmail, Roadsync..), SMS, Mails etc etc...
Restoring/Setting this up manually after every installation of a new ROM takes some time.
What is your trick for the lazy people?
How much can be backed up with Titanium Backup? I'm still not sure about this.
What other Apps can you recommend?
update: found a solution at lifehacker today.

Non of them will work when going from ROM to ROM. When you go to a new ROM, you should backup the previous one so you can go back to the default when there is a problems with the Custom ROM.
Basically, you can't transfer apps or anything from one ROM to another. You will have to manually install them yourself, take a list of them and download/install again. I wish it could work but it cant ):

Too bad.
Ok, I cant backup apps this way.
Is there a way or script to automatically install apps (apks) from a folder on sdcard?
Maybe I could use AppBrain to sync apps.
But how about System Settings, Accounts...

Hm, actually come to think of it .. If your phone is rooted (obviously is lol) you can go to Root Explorer or any root application manager, go to System>App and if you can transfer them to your SD card, I use Root Explorer, just select all and zip them, then transfer to SD card .. All the .apk's will be in the zip file. I suppose just install one by one
As for system settings, accounts etc. those can't be backed up .. You'll just have to be updated manually :L Don't be lazy haha

just found this tip from lifehacker using titanium backup. looks pretty convinient.
if someone tries this, please report if you have success.

laureus said:
just found this tip from lifehacker using titanium backup. looks pretty convinient.
if someone tries this, please report if you have success.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use this, for me it's the best way.
Titanium backup can store all your current apps and data settings for theseapps, too.
After flashing your new ROM, install Titanium backup and restore your backuped apps. Works fine.

Ti backup - Android commander ?

Have a few questions I am sure some one can help with. I have been using Ti Backup to backup apps when updating Roms. No problem with the apps and bookmarks. Having trouble figuring out how to save text messages. I have tried saving MMS app and restoring but no prior texts. I have tried restoring just data and no go. What am I missing? What folder are the actual text messages saved in?
I also would like to pre load the ROM with apps before installing, but keep getting errors. Is this a signing issue or just me?
I have just started to use android commander to backup apps. I have tried to reinstall them back into the updated ROM, but also keep getting errors.
I really like Ti Backup, but it really takes a long time to run batch, go through each app, install, and hitting done for each app. May be there is a faster/easier way with Ti Backup.
Any help would be appreciated
Mac

You can make a zip using TB with all your apps which flashers them into /data.

il Duce,
Sorry for being so stupid. Do you mean zipping the backup file that TB uses? I don't see any option for making a zip with TB. Is it in the pro version?
Sorry again for my ignorance

Well I have pro, but I think its in both? Its in menu, more, create update zip. If you dont have that you can do an advanced restore of data with CWM. There are times you wouldn't want to, like going from froyo to ginger or back. Also sense to aosp. Full wipes are generally recommended, but these other things may work for you.

I used the create update.zip earlier today, and I got an error saying that it needed to use Edify. I might have an older version of TiBu, though. I was hoping to get it added to the list of things to flash from the start along with gapps, but no luck. It's not much more work to install the .apk and then batch restore from there, though.
I think switching to Pro allows you to do the batch without having to approve and accept each individual app installation. Not to mention that nice Dropbox storage.

Just use SMS Backup+ to backup SMS and MMS.

[Q]TWRP Backup Questions

Rooted 6.2.2, TWRP installed. I ran backup of the stock ROM, before I install a different ROM like CM7 or the ICS that is being developed do I need to copy that backup off the Fire? After the new ROM has been flashed, does that backup stay on the Fire or does the flashing process wipe it out?
Also, after restoring that backup......am I completely at the point when I took the backup? Data, apps, etc should be just as they were when I took the backup?
THANKS

The backup image is stored in TWRD directory with the data and time name. Rename it as your stock Tom for future use.
The contents of the backup as a defualt has ROM and your application if you did not change parameters
Regards
Sent from my GT-S5830 using XDA App

Just remind you that I have got a weird issue that some of my games does show their icons and when I type to them it says something like "Cannot load, restart Go Launcher" ( I use Go Launcher). I found no way to restart my launcher so that I just reinstall them and it's fine.

ammubarak said:
The backup image is stored in TWRD directory with the data and time name. Rename it as your stock Tom for future use.
The contents of the backup as a defualt has ROM and your application if you did not change parameters
Regards
Sent from my GT-S5830 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cruel91 said:
Just remind you that I have got a weird issue that some of my games does show their icons and when I type to them it says something like "Cannot load, restart Go Launcher" ( I use Go Launcher). I found no way to restart my launcher so that I just reinstall them and it's fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the replies, but they don't answer my questions.

ontwowheels said:
Rooted 6.2.2, TWRP installed. I ran backup of the stock ROM, before I install a different ROM like CM7 or the ICS that is being developed do I need to copy that backup off the Fire? After the new ROM has been flashed, does that backup stay on the Fire or does the flashing process wipe it out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The backups go to /sdcard/TWRP/backups/...
Unless you wipe your SDCARD they should not be touched.
You can always, copy them onto your computer if you want... which would be useful if you had to like replace the hardware and wanted to restore it onto the new hardware.
Also, after restoring that backup......am I completely at the point when I took the backup? Data, apps, etc should be just as they were when I took the backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on what you backed up (What options you chose).

krelvinaz said:
The backups go to /sdcard/TWRP/backups/...
Unless you wipe your SDCARD they should not be touched.
You can always, copy them onto your computer if you want... which would be useful if you had to like replace the hardware and wanted to restore it onto the new hardware.
Depends on what you backed up (What options you chose).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks....any suggestions on the options? Select all of them I assume? lol
Just like an image taken on a computer, when I restore it, I would want to be at the exact point where the image was taken. System, apps, data, etc.

the answer to ontwowheels question isn't truly answered yet. Like him, i'm rooted, with TWRP, and trying things out. i'd very much like to try MIUI but its not clear if i can completely revert back to stock Kindle [admittedly there are several conveniences i like about but unfortunately it aint a-la-carte unless i foolishly dive in making my own ROM!]. Can someone please provide some guidance as to what must be backed up to restore stock kindle again, just as i left it [settings, preferences, apps, registration with amazon and market, etc] or if that's even possible, or what won't be restored. i'm not a developer and i hesitate to go with trial and error
thank you very much for your patience

mebobbob said:
the answer to ontwowheels question isn't truly answered yet. Like him, i'm rooted, with TWRP, and trying things out. i'd very much like to try MIUI but its not clear if i can completely revert back to stock Kindle [admittedly there are several conveniences i like about but unfortunately it aint a-la-carte unless i foolishly dive in making my own ROM!]. Can someone please provide some guidance as to what must be backed up to restore stock kindle again, just as i left it [settings, preferences, apps, registration with amazon and market, etc] or if that's even possible, or what won't be restored. i'm not a developer and i hesitate to go with trial and error
thank you very much for your patience
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To restore stock just use TWRP to flash the update.zip found on amazon. Once you download it, you will have to rename it to whatever.ZIP instead or whatever.BIN. Once that's done, go to settings on the stock ROM and hit device, then factory reset and you should be good to go

Titanium backup force closing and browser wiped data

Hi, I've got a weird problem. Titanium backup continues to force close over and over whenever I try to open it. This also happened on the same day that my browsers data was wiped and I lost my open tabs. I have a browser backup but can't restore with titanium backup. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you.

DEVILOPS 007 said:
Hi, I've got a weird problem. Titanium backup continues to force close over and over whenever I try to open it. This also happened on the same day that my browsers data was wiped and I lost my open tabs. I have a browser backup but can't restore with titanium backup. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you cleared all app data for TiBu? Uninstalled/reinstalled? Wiped dalvik and cache partitions?

v12xke said:
Have you cleared all app data for TiBu? Uninstalled/reinstalled? Wiped dalvik and cache partitions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, done everything possible. I might try a different rom as the could be buggy. Thanks for the suggestion.

DEVILOPS 007 said:
Yes, done everything possible. I might try a different rom as the could be buggy. Thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may want to pull your TiBu folder off to a PC just in case. Use a file manager to zip the entire TiBu folder and then move that one zip file to your PC just in case. That way when the fit hits the shan you can always restore apps later.

v12xke said:
You may want to pull your TiBu folder off to a PC just in case. Use a file manager to zip the entire TiBu folder and then move that one zip file to your PC just in case. That way when the fit hits the shan you can always restore apps later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I unfortunately didn't have a backup at the time but do have one from a couple of weeks ago. I'm probably going to switch from Chads pa builds to dirty unicorns. If you don't mind, what rom do you use? Thanks for the help, I'm definitely going to get this sorted tomorrow.?

They may not be super recent, but you can batch restore all your apps whenever you load the new ROM. I was just suggesting you safeguard your TiBu backup folder. You may also know you can schedule a backup to run on a schedule so you don't even have to think about it. I use a one week interval at 2:00am. I run stock 7.1.2 ROM, rooted with EX Kernel on my phone and LOS rooted and EX Kernel on my Nexus tablet.