Database Users

Backup new Nexus S

I sold my iPhone 4 today and bought a brand new nexus s. I'm not new to android though, I used to own a nexus one before iPhone 4.
My question is that I want to install custom roms on it, but I might want to restore it back to original factory settings in case I want to return it to best buy. How can I backup my phone so that best buy would take the phone back without questions?
I saw a thread to root the phone without unlocking the bootloader. Is that what I should do? Any help is appreciated!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Just root and do a nandroid backup. If you use rom manager to install the custom recovery you can just use it to so the backup.
Sent from my Onyx CM7 Google Nexus S!

Go to the Samsung nexus s android development section. Look for the thread that begins with Odin 1.81... bookmark that thread. That thread will help you flash completely back to stock. And always make sure you relock your bootloader.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

The only advantage of not unlocking the bootloader is to avoid a full wipe of your internal storage such as pics, music etc. However custom roms or apps may have stability issues without an unlocked bootloader. No harm in unlocking the bootloader because you can always lock it again. Just make sure you back up any files you may want to keep.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

peeturr said:
The only advantage of not unlocking the bootloader is to avoid a full wipe of your internal storage such as pics, music etc. However custom roms or apps may have stability issues without an unlocked bootloader. No harm in unlocking the bootloader because you can always lock it again. Just make sure you back up any files you may want to keep.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that the only advantage to not unlocking the bootloader is to avoid a full wipe and loss of all data.
I'm curious if you can point to an example of any current existing ROM that displays issues because the bootloader is locked... if so, I need to add that information to the non-unlock method instructions.

Sorry I don't. I was just quoting one of the root guides in here. But then again there's always that IF. Now that I think about it, unlocking the bootloader is to be able to install root and a custom recovery. If you can do that without unlocking the bootloader then you should still be golden. Don't see why a rom or app would be dependent on the bootloader. Sorry for the confusion.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

peeturr said:
Sorry I don't. I was just quoting one of the root guides in here. But then again there's always that IF. Now that I think about it, unlocking the bootloader is to be able to install root and a custom recovery. If you can do that without unlocking the bootloader then you should still be golden. Don't see why a rom or app would be dependent on the bootloader. Sorry for the confusion.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, we've found no reason to HAVE-TO unlock it yet. Just to be clear, I wasn't challenging you, just looking for anything I might need to add to the guide on doing it without the unlock. I already have a caveat that it might be an issue for something, but don't know what something could be.
Anyways, if you're a fresh out of the box phone, no problems unlock method, since you have no data to lose in the wipe. For late-comers, the no unlock method spares them that data wipe. The beauty of it is that you can root and install titainium or other backup software without wiping the phone if you already have data on it, and then if needed you can always unlock it and re-root, and then restore your wiped data. Best of both worlds for some.

Pretty much exactly what happened to me Distorted loop, Very thankfull for that non wipe root method, definately saved my ass as i had a good play with the phone before getting it to a PC for backup/rooting.
I am going to swap my device for another tommorrow to confirm if my reboot issue is even remotely hardware related. So i will have 30 mins with no nexus s ...s'gonna kill me as i love this lil thing (even with my calling problems).
Looking forward to a nice stable nexus, and then i'll try out some of the mods and roms (still on stock for now)

Lost root after 4.2 update. Need help!

Hi guys, I just updated my N7 to 4.2 and I lost root during the process. I made a su backup with Voodoo OTA rootkeeper before I did the install. After the install was complete, went back into voodoo to restore root, rebooted, and did a root check using 3 different apps. Voodoo shows my device rooted and root checker and titanium backup cannot find my root access. Is there something I did wrong, and is there any way to restore root access without a fresh wipe. Thanks in advanced!!!

Try uninstalling your root App and then reinstalling it. You also might want to wipe cache and data for your root App in Apps under Settings. Do this before uninstalling.
If that doesn't work push root to your device using one of the many methods available.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

ezas said:
Try uninstalling your root App and then reinstalling it. You also might want to wipe cache and data for your root App in Apps under Settings. Do this before uninstalling.
If that doesn't work push root to your device using one of the many methods available.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that with no luck. I am trying Wug's toolkit right now, but android 4.2 doesn't show up under the model list.

Need to push the superuser app via fastboot. Either adb or use wugs toolkit.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Testingchip said:
Need to push the superuser app via fastboot. Either adb or use wugs toolkit.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wugs worked perfectly. THANKS!! For anyone who is having the same problem, I used wugs toolkit, and I chose Nexus 7 "any build type" under the model type.

Glad you got it. I did the update at work and had the same problem till I got home to the pc.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

silentbeatz said:
Wugs worked perfectly. THANKS!! For anyone who is having the same problem, I used wugs toolkit, and I chose Nexus 7 "any build type" under the model type.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hesitate asking thjis but being greener than grass I need you if you would please explain in very noob terms how to push superuser in Wugs. I use the tool kit and was sucsefully rooted in 4.1.2 but the "upgrade" to 4.2 has brought me back to square one and having spent the money on apps like titanium backup I would like to one again use them. Thanks and sorry to be so needy but I'm trying.

patience1 said:
I hesitate asking thjis but being greener than grass I need you if you would please explain in very noob terms how to push superuser in Wugs. I use the tool kit and was sucsefully rooted in 4.1.2 but the "upgrade" to 4.2 has brought me back to square one and having spent the money on apps like titanium backup I would like to one again use them. Thanks and sorry to be so needy but I'm trying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ran into same problem, if you use Wug Toolkit, make sure you set to "android Anybuild". this Toolkit is not yet updated for 4.2.
There is another Nexus Toolkit by Mark Skippen which was updated to 4.2, however you need to donate to get the latest version. It works well for me
It's woth the donation of Pounds 5 or $8++ something
Good Luck

dominicvn said:
I ran into same problem, if you use Wug Toolkit, make sure you set to "android Anybuild". this Toolkit is not yet updated for 4.2.
There is another Nexus Toolkit by Mark Skippen which was updated to 4.2, however you need to donate to get the latest version. It works well for me
It's woth the donation of Pounds 5 or $8++ something
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All fine and dandy and I dont mind spending the money but if I use Wugs do i just plug in to the computer open Wugs choose any build and then hit root? TIA and thanks for responding. Like I said NOOB

silentbeatz said:
Hi guys, I just updated my N7 to 4.2 and I lost root during the process. I made a su backup with Voodoo OTA rootkeeper before I did the install. After the install was complete, went back into voodoo to restore root, rebooted, and did a root check using 3 different apps. Voodoo shows my device rooted and root checker and titanium backup cannot find my root access. Is there something I did wrong, and is there any way to restore root access without a fresh wipe. Thanks in advanced!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi did you by any change have SuperSU v.0.98 installed prior to the upgrade with survival mode enabled?
Thanks,
JBIRD

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.
Click to expand...
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.

Any way to backup device before unlock?

As title, I tried using Wug's toolkit but the backup doesn't work (says rebooting device, doesn't reboot it, then sits forever waiting for device even if I reboot it myself)
Really want to root but don't want to lose all my game saves
Why Asus insist on wiping the device when you unlock I have no clue, seems to just be spiteful.

Nemeth782 said:
As title, I tried using Wug's toolkit but the backup doesn't work (says rebooting device, doesn't reboot it, then sits forever waiting for device even if I reboot it myself)
Really want to root but don't want to lose all my game saves
Why Asus insist on wiping the device when you unlock I have no clue, seems to just be spiteful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a good thread in the Galaxy Nexus forum on using adb for backups. The same method will work for Nexus 7.
[GUIDE] Full Phone Backup without Unlock or Root

[Q] Rooting Nexus 7

Alright, so I got a Nexus 7 for x-mas (my first and only android device) and I love it. Recently i have been wanting to root but information/explanation has been hard to come by. So, I have a few questions.
1. When i received the device i did not unlock bootloader, after reading about unlocking it it seems that this wipes all the data from the device. How do i backup my apps/data/storage? If i copy all the files to my CPU and then copy them back to the nexus will it work? What about app settings, like my settings on Apex launcher? I've seen threads and apps that recover data after it is deleted? What's my best bet for backing my info and data up?
2. What is the difference in flashing a kernel and rooting an android? Are they the same? As far as i know flashing is reversible, but is rooting?
3. How do you root? I've seen things about utilities (nexus 7 toolkit) and I've seen things that just involve unlocking the bootloader (flashing? i think)
Sorry if these questions have been answered or this is the wrong spot for this, I'm new to the forum.

The Drugs said:
Alright, so I got a Nexus 7 for x-mas (my first and only android device) and I love it. Recently i have been wanting to root but information/explanation has been hard to come by. So, I have a few questions.
1. When i received the device i did not unlock bootloader, after reading about unlocking it it seems that this wipes all the data from the device. How do i backup my apps/data/storage? If i copy all the files to my CPU and then copy them back to the nexus will it work? What about app settings, like my settings on Apex launcher? I've seen threads and apps that recover data after it is deleted? What's my best bet for backing my info and data up?
2. What is the difference in flashing a kernel and rooting an android? Are they the same? As far as i know flashing is reversible, but is rooting?
3. How do you root? I've seen things about utilities (nexus 7 toolkit) and I've seen things that just involve unlocking the bootloader (flashing? i think)
Sorry if these questions have been answered or this is the wrong spot for this, I'm new to the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) You can't really do a backup of app data before unlocking the bootloader, that's why it's recommended to do it right when you get. I have to wipe everything so i know how you feel.
2) Inorder to flash a kernel you need to root first.
3) You could use a toolkit to unlock and root( either nexus 7 toolkit or wugs') or if you want to unlock and root manually you can use adb, which is just a few commands for a nexus. Both are easy, the only hard part is making sure you have the correct drivers.
Hope i helped and good luck!
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium

You can't really do a backup of app data before unlocking the bootloader, that's why it's recommended to do it right when you get. I have to wipe everything so i know how you feel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dang, that really sucks. What all can i save? App permissions, any of that?
I was just looking around and noticed there are some Apps that save data/info, the ones i saw were Carbon and TWRP. Would i be able to save my app stuff that way?

TWRP is a custom recovery which you can use AFTER unlock and root and i have never used carbon so i wouldnt know.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium

I don't own a tablet, but I am a beta tester for a few projects here, I have to wipe all data, but the cool thing is after the first initial wipe, you never have to worry about that again.
A backup of your non-rooted device, I would say do your best with titanium backup, need an easier program? Try go backup pro or Clickfree backup.
Then try to restore. If it fails, retry.. I got that a lot, most game data saved is usually stored in /mnt/sdcard/Android/data or /mnt/sdcard/Android/obb
You can store that info on an external SD, using directory bind, you can find it on here, very good app if your phone/tablet sucks because its internal storage is 3.75gb. my dual partitioned and mounted 64gb sdcard works wonderfully, my games get 16gb to themselves.
Anyway to stay on topic, I want this, but also looking at an Asus, and a Samsung galaxy tab 2
:-MiniHazard-: sgh-i927 glide
CWM 6.0.1.2
CM 10.1 JB - thanks thegreatergood
LiteKernel-jb-20130121 - just until bugfix

First of all, TWRP can only be used after unlocking boot loader and unlocking wipes all data
I also unlocked boot loader after 2 months when I have many apps, so it is simple you copy all the data to your PC and you can do a backup of your apk's by sending them to a Bluetooth device by the help of a app ( Bluetooth file transfer) , you unlock the boot loader and send all apks back either by Bluetooth or by using stick mount when you are rooted , and restore all data,
Flashing a kernel requires to root first
You can either root by using root toolkit or by using adb fastboot method manually
Here is the link to a post of mine for rooting nexus 7 by adb fast boot method
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=38195329
Good luck,if you are unable to root or having any problem,reply and I will look into it
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

flash kernel and root are two different things.
after unlocking the boot loader, you can flash anything you want, including an already rooted system image.

The Drugs said:
Alright, so I got a Nexus 7 for x-mas (my first and only android device) and I love it. Recently i have been wanting to root but information/explanation has been hard to come by. So, I have a few questions.
1. When i received the device i did not unlock bootloader, after reading about unlocking it it seems that this wipes all the data from the device. How do i backup my apps/data/storage? If i copy all the files to my CPU and then copy them back to the nexus will it work? What about app settings, like my settings on Apex launcher? I've seen threads and apps that recover data after it is deleted? What's my best bet for backing my info and data up?
2. What is the difference in flashing a kernel and rooting an android? Are they the same? As far as i know flashing is reversible, but is rooting?
3. How do you root? I've seen things about utilities (nexus 7 toolkit) and I've seen things that just involve unlocking the bootloader (flashing? i think)
Sorry if these questions have been answered or this is the wrong spot for this, I'm new to the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you read the FAQs which concern your N7 grouper, if not I invite you to go to read this FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - ASUS GOOGLE NEXUS 7 – GROUPER & TILAPIA (WiFi & 3G)

What is the best (easy) way to root on Android 4.2.2?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

^^chaos67731
Here is the link to my post for rooting nexus 7 4.2.2 or any other nexus device
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=38195329
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app