Database Users

Easy pre-root backup with adb

Nandroid is just a script. Rooting is another topic. This is to allow you to backup your data before you root. It's simple, fast and easy.
Download http://www.multiupload.com/K4BZ22SIT5
Clear the data for Google apps, and system components such as Browser, to prevent force closes during restore.
If you skip this step, at the end of the guide clear dalvik, fix permissions, and clear the data for the items that keep closing.
adb push psneuter /data/local/psneuter
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/psneuter
adb shell /data/local/psneuter
adb shell dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p26 of=/sdcard/data.img
Your data is now backed up. Sdcard apps will still be on your sdcard, and cache and dalvik need to be cleared anyway. System apps will be replaced and the settings for them is already included in data. In short, you only really need data.
Root your device. After you have rooted, updated, and are on the stock rooted build (before a custom rom for best compatibility), restore your data.
adb shell dd if=/sdcard/data.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p26
Now do a titanium backup if you plan to install a ROM that wipes data, install whatever ROM you planned, and restore titanium (if needed).
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

Thanks. I'm always amazed at the ideas you come up with. Getting ready to try out ubuntu on the bolt.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Thanks, I have been hoping for something like this.

You are basically doing a temp root, right? Genius. Would it be possible to then push/install a backup program (mybackup pro, Titanium, etc) and run it? I guess you would also need to get superuser in first.

tsachi said:
You are basically doing a temp root, right? Genius. Would it be possible to then push/install a backup program (mybackup pro, Titanium, etc) and run it? I guess you would also need to get superuser in first.
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It is possible, but in actually attempting to install Titanium during the process, I spent 15 minutes doing the temp root and this backup, 4 hours playing with su binaries and superuser apps without getting any combination to play nice, 10 minutes rooting and 20 minutes restoring this backup. It is all about efficiency...

so if I'm reading this right, this will allow restoring of data for games? That's the only thing keeping my wife from rooting.

Yes. You can re install the apps, then restore data files manually after root.
My wife is the same, won't root of I can't restore things after
nrfitchett4 said:
so if I'm reading this right, this will allow restoring of data for games? That's the only thing keeping my wife from rooting.
Click to expand...
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Sent from a gingerbread thunderbolt

True
twistedumbrella said:
It is possible, but in actually attempting to install Titanium during the process, I spent 15 minutes doing the temp root and this backup, 4 hours playing with su binaries and superuser apps without getting any combination to play nice, 10 minutes rooting and 20 minutes restoring this backup. It is all about efficiency...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from a gingerbread thunderbolt

tsachi said:
Yes. You can re install the apps, then restore data files manually after root.
My wife is the same, won't root of I can't restore things after
Sent from a gingerbread thunderbolt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, so do the backup, root, reinstall her games, etc (nothing system), then use adb to restore data.
Makes complete sense as long as I don't think about it too hard...

nrfitchett4 said:
so if I'm reading this right, this will allow restoring of data for games? That's the only thing keeping my wife from rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same with my friend, until he lost signal while I was at 3 bars and he got sick of the battery life
nrfitchett4 said:
ok, so do the backup, root, reinstall her games, etc (nothing system), then use adb to restore data.
Makes complete sense as long as I don't think about it too hard...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't reinstall anything. Just clear out data for generic system apps (because his browser and gapps force closed until we did) backup, root, restore. The games are in the backup.
And yes, the ScriptFusion AutoBot already has this capability built in. When it detects you don't have root, it will perform the backup, and when you return after rooting it will restore it. It is actually about two steps away from being able to root a phone. Should be capable later this week.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

Almost done building an app to walk you through the entire root with backup process.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

From a similar thread quoted by jcase:
I advise against using this backup method, taking a DD of /data while its r/w can lead to corruption.
A better idea would be to push su (aka a temp root) into your path and use something like titanium backup to backup you data.
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1174487

yareally said:
From a similar thread quoted by jcase:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1174487
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Click to collapse
Yeah, thanks. That is there for people who don't think to walk away during the process and not cause data to be changed until it finishes, which is the real risk. As stated, this was tested. You are more than welcome to add additional findings, but EVERYTHING can risk corruption. You are playing with the bootloader, which could cause a brick... Did you root anyway? There ya go...
As for the app, that actually does a temp root with su included, which is actually a whitelist temp root (psneuter already gave you a temp root) and offers the chance to perform a backup before proceeding, either with dd or titanium.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

twistedumbrella said:
Yeah, thanks. That is there for people who don't think to walk away during the process and not cause data to be changed until it finishes, which is the real risk. As stated, this was tested. You are more than welcome to add additional findings, but EVERYTHING can risk corruption. You are playing with the bootloader, which could cause a brick... Did you root anyway? There ya go...
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I don't see the problem in doing what you were trying either, just wanted to bring it up . I would probably back it up outside of the booted OS area though just to be safe, like in recovery where can access adb still. Not sure if you can in hboot offhand though.

yareally said:
Yeah, I don't see the problem in doing what you were trying either, just wanted to bring it up . I would probably back it up outside of the booted OS area though just to be safe, like in recovery where can access adb still. Not sure if you can in hboot offhand though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would need root to root in recovery, which is a slight problem.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

twistedumbrella said:
You would need root to root in recovery, which is a slight problem.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I mentioned hboot (the bootloader) as well, which you wouldnt need to, though I am not sure if adb detects the device in hboot. Not at a computer, so I can't try at the moment. Please don't half read what I write. I would like to try to help out if possible.

yareally said:
That's why I mentioned hboot (the bootloader) as well, which you wouldnt need to, though I am not sure if adb detects the device in hboot. Not at a computer, so I can't try at the moment. Please don't half read what I write. I would like to try to help out if possible.
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Click to collapse
Wow, lol. Well I don't quite understand what you mean "which you wouldn't need to". I read the full comment, but tried to bypass the parts that showed complete lack of understanding as to why rooting is done the way it is, but since you called me out on it... The device detects usb in fastboot, but cannot flash a radio there due to s-on. It detects in recovery due to modifications to the image that require the capability to flash modified images. The temp root works like my script, in that it tricks the system into believing it is unlocked, while other things are done to allow it to be truly unlocked, at which time a replacement image is loaded. Help me help you by at least researching the process before trying to alter it. Thanks.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

twistedumbrella said:
Wow, lol. Well I don't quite understand what you mean "which you wouldn't need to". I read the full comment, but tried to bypass the parts that showed complete lack of understanding as to why rooting is done the way it is, but since you called me out on it... The device detects usb in fastboot, but cannot flash a radio there due to s-on. It detects in recovery due to modifications to the image that require the capability to flash modified images. The temp root works like my script, in that it tricks the system into believing it is unlocked, while other things are done to allow it to be truly unlocked, at which time a replacement image is loaded. Help me help you by at least researching the process before trying to alter it. Thanks.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh, call me out, i dont care, it's just the internet and it's not the first or the last time I will be incorrect.
You are right though after trying in the bootloader myself. I only meant to do the datadump part, nothing else outside the os area.

yareally said:
Eh, call me out, i dont care, it's just the internet and it's not the first or the last time I will be incorrect.
You are right though after trying in the bootloader myself. I only meant to do the datadump part, nothing else outside the os area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
twistedumbrella said:
I read the full comment, but tried to bypass the parts that showed complete lack of understanding as to why rooting is done the way it is, but since you called me out on it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yareally said:
Please don't half read what I write.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

twistedumbrella said:
Almost done building an app to walk you through the entire root with backup process.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is this coming along?

[Q] Root without wiping?

Since I was smart and forgot to unlock my N7 before doing anything, I'm in a bit of a predicament. I don't want to wipe everything off my N7, I have game progress, lot of apps, etc. I looked in the dev forum, but didn't see anything. I just need a root to throw TiBu on there. Not sure if I missed it, misunderstood something, or if I'm boned and just have to deal with lost data or no root. This is my first nexus, and on other devices, there's always been root without wipe. Is that just something effort isn't put into on a nexus since unlock is so easy?

E_man5112 said:
Since I was smart and forgot to unlock my N7 before doing anything, I'm in a bit of a predicament. I don't want to wipe everything off my N7, I have game progress, lot of apps, etc. I looked in the dev forum, but didn't see anything. I just need a root to throw TiBu on there. Not sure if I missed it, misunderstood something, or if I'm boned and just have to deal with lost data or no root. This is my first nexus, and on other devices, there's always been root without wipe. Is that just something effort isn't put into on a nexus since unlock is so easy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, no, there isn't a way. To get CWM on the Nexus 7, you have to unlock the bootloader which deletes all user information for security purposes. I made the same mistake, but it didn't take too long to get it back to where it was (I mean, we only got them less than a week ago!).

Raikia said:
As far as I know, no, there isn't a way. To get CWM on the Nexus 7, you have to unlock the bootloader which deletes all user information for security purposes. I made the same mistake, but it didn't take too long to get it back to where it was (I mean, we only got them less than a week ago!).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, that's several hours of game data. Do other Nexi eventually get root without wipe?

Why can't you use Titanium Backup before and after?

rohandhruva said:
Why can't you use Titanium Backup before and after?
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Click to collapse
TiBU doesn't work on un-rooted devices.

gtalum said:
TiBU doesn't work on un-rooted devices.
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Click to collapse
OMG that was really silly of me. Sorry!

E_man5112 said:
Unfortunately, that's several hours of game data. Do other Nexi eventually get root without wipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader unlock without wipe only comes about via some kind of exploit/hack. Such discoveries are unpredictable.
The first one I saw for the GN was about a two months ago (though I won't pretend to have seen everything).
I suggest just biting the bullet now rather than waiting potentially months later.

Couldn't you just backup the /sdcard/Android folder that has some (if not all) of your game data? I'm a little rusty on my ADB commands but you might be able to pull it from the system partition, although I doubt it..
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda premium

The "Nexus Root Toolkit" lets you back up before unlocking:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475
Also, I believe you don't need root to run AirDroid (search the store).

I suppose you could see if any root exploits work to get root without unlocking the bootloader no harm in trying a few, use backup then unlock the bootloader. Not sure if any root exploits work with jellybean though.
Sent from my Transformer while the N7 is lost in the Play Store Black Hole.
16gb N7 UK ordered 3rd July.

tjupille said:
The "Nexus Root Toolkit" lets you back up before unlocking:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475
Also, I believe you don't need root to run AirDroid (search the store).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I thought the Toolkit only backed up sdcard data. I'll check them both out.

The toolkit did it, thanks a bunch!

Is there a stock (ROM) root method that will not require me to reset all my settings?

I'm sorry if this has been posted already, but searching on my phone for this answer has been less than ideal, so I've resorted to making a post. I'm hoping someone can link me to a thread that has this available.
I'm looking to root my phone, but I've already got it setup the way I like and I really don't want to go through the hassle of getting everything all ironed out again. So here is what I'm looking for:
1. Root the phone while remaining with the stock N4 ROM.
2. Don't need to "reformat" my phone or start from scratch.
3. Just to clarify 2, I want to keep the phone the way it is now, but just gain root access so I can take advantage of some apps that require it such as the Sixaxxis app for the PS3 controller and Titanium Backup.
4. Still will receive OTA updates without breaking root.
As of now I have no desire to go after any custom ROMs until I find some added functionality that I really see being useful that also doesn't break other features of my phone. So I'm really waiting on development to mature a bit more for this device before even considering something custom.
Thanks to anyone who can offer some help.

1. Root the phone while remaining with the stock N4 ROM.
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Click to collapse
Rooting doesn't touch your ROM, so you're still in stock.
2. Don't need to "reformat" my phone or start from scratch.
3. Just to clarify 2, I want to keep the phone the way it is now, but just gain root access so I can take advantage of some apps that require it such as the Sixaxxis app for the PS3 controller and Titanium Backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most, if not all, rooting methods have boot-loader unlocking as a prerequisite.
Unlocking boot-loader will wipe your phone. There is no alternative.
On the bright side, you can make a backup of your system, unlock boot-loader, restore your system, then root the phone.
4. Still will receive OTA updates without breaking root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you don't flash customer recovery, you're fine.

What are my backup alternatives then to keep all those settings? I've only ever rooted one device before and I thought Titanium Backup (which requires root) was one of the only backup methods for this sort of thing? Or is there something I'm missing?

there is one backup that the app has a picture of one of those hula hoops use for saving people from drowning...

My backup pro.
I'd try this way. Backup whole ROM in custom recovery and if needed restore via app extractor (found on market)
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

The guide stickied in this section is relevant to your interests.
Adb backup...
Unlock.
Restore...and it'll be like you never touched anything.

MattSkeet said:
My backup pro.
I'd try this way. Backup whole ROM in custom recovery and if needed restore via app extractor (found on market)
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How exactly is he going to backup the ROM in custom recovery.. if he is still bootloader locked?
ADB backup will backup your settings without being rooted.

OK thanks, I'll give that a try.

[Q] No backup programs working with 4.3. [SOLVED, partially]

I am using SlimRoms 4.3 with Neo kernel, but this issue is pervasive with other 4.3 roms as well.
It doesn't matter if I'm using Helium, Titanium Backup, or Super Backup. USB debugging and root privileges enabled. Internal storage not encrypted. None of the apps can successfully backup the apps data. Helium is able to restore the apps data however.
I don't have this issue with 4.2.2.

eksasol said:
I am using SlimRoms 4.3 with Neo kernel, but this issue is pervasive with other 4.3 roms as well.
It doesn't matter if I'm using Helium, Titanium Backup, or Super Backup. USB debugging and root privileges enabled. Internal storage not encrypted. None of the apps can successfully backup the apps data. Helium is able to restore the apps data however.
I don't have this issue with 4.2.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you made sure your SU is working flawlessly or reflashed the latest SuperSu

playya said:
Have you made sure your SU is working flawlessly or reflashed the latest SuperSu
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Click to collapse
With Helium every time you reboot the phone you have to re-connect it to your pc and start the Helium pc app and get it to recognize the phone again to get it to start backing up. Just a thought as to why Helium may not be making backups.

kzoodroid said:
With Helium every time you reboot the phone you have to re-connect it to your pc and start the Helium pc app and get it to recognize the phone again to get it to start backing up. Just a thought as to why Helium may not be making backups.
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Click to collapse
sorry I have never used Helium but what I am asking is have you made sure your Superuser is functioning properly

playya said:
sorry I have never used Helium but what I am asking is have you made sure your Superuser is functioning properly
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Sorry I hit the wrong reply button and didn't mean to quote your post.

kzoodroid said:
With Helium every time you reboot the phone you have to re-connect it to your pc and start the Helium pc app and get it to recognize the phone again to get it to start backing up. Just a thought as to why Helium may not be making backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need that only if your phone is not rooted / Helium is not granted root access.

ctbear said:
You need that only if your phone is not rooted / Helium is not granted root access.
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Click to collapse
I am rooted, I'm using Koush's superuser and its listed in the allowed section so its granted root access and I still have to connect to the PC every time I reboot the phone or it stops doing my scheduled backups.

kzoodroid said:
I am rooted, I'm using Koush's superuser and its listed in the allowed section so its granted root access and I still have to connect to the PC every time I reboot the phone or it stops doing my scheduled backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not normal. I would make sure su is working correctly.
I have never ever needed to use the PC app.

ctbear said:
That is not normal. I would make sure su is working correctly.
I have never ever needed to use the PC app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I uninstalled and reinstalled the app then rebooted the phone and I'll see if the scheduled backup runs tonight. The PC app is only used to transfer backups off the phone to the pc so not sure why I had to keep authorizing the phone app through it to get it to work. Also it was only the scheduled backups that wouldn't run, I could always do a manual backup without authorizing the app through the pc.

kzoodroid said:
With Helium every time you reboot the phone you have to re-connect it to your pc and start the Helium pc app and get it to recognize the phone again to get it to start backing up. Just a thought as to why Helium may not be making backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.I don't use the schedule backup feature, but after running the Carbon's Linux script that did some fixing to the phone internally, now backup is working again.
I don't know what I have to do to get other back up apps like Titanium Backup to work, but Helium is all I use anyway.
sent from xda premium app

How can I back up before unlocking bootloader

I haven't flash anything since LG G4. I was pretty active then and before then. And know I started to get into it again since this phone is so friendly.
Anyways, I want to unlock the bootloader but it says that will wipe apps and it's data... So I'm already on the B3 and I want to unlock the bootloader so I can root. I was looking for some good advice on how to back up my apps and data before unlocking the bootloader and then restore it after unlocking. Is there a good app for that? I don't want to cloud it to Google, I want to be able to take the backuped file to my PC via usb then unlock the bootloader, then throw every app with it's data back to the phone.
Any good apps for that? I used to do it with Tibu but I'm not rooted yet.
Thank$$!
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

You can try adb backup -all -system -apk, but I was never able to get this to work, on Mac anyway. You need to set a desktop backup password in Dev options first. After command, see prompt on ur phone, enter password. For me though, the file would always come out to <10mbs. Worth a try though. Restore with adb restore backup.ab (or whatever you change the name to).

Airwolf79 said:
You can try adb backup -all -system -apk, but I was never able to get this to work, on Mac anyway. You need to set a desktop backup password in Dev options first. After command, see prompt on ur phone, enter password. For me though, the file would always come out to <10mbs. Worth a try though. Restore with adb restore backup.ab (or whatever you change the name to).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does work about 80%.

tech_head said:
It does work about 80%.
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Click to collapse
Can you tell me what you mean by working 80%?
I'm new to rooting and stuff. But I'm interested in installing LineageOS on my LG G2. I've backed up via ADB, using adb backup -f ADB_FullBackup.ab -apk -all.
After unlocking the bootloader, will an adb restore put all my personal apps and files back on the phone?
Thanks.

kruuzer92 said:
Can you tell me what you mean by working 80%?
I'm new to rooting and stuff. But I'm interested in installing LineageOS on my LG G2. I've backed up via ADB, using adb backup -f ADB_FullBackup.ab -apk -all.
After unlocking the bootloader, will an adb restore put all my personal apps and files back on the phone?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ADB doesn't back up everything. Some files in "private" areas will not back up.

tech_head said:
ADB doesn't back up everything. Some files in "private" areas will not back up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. Thanks.