Database Users

Extract/Restore SMS/MMS, Contacts/Call Log, and Launcher Config. From Nandroid Backup

I was using Nexus S i9020T, CM7 nightly (a few weeks old) and for some reason I wake up this morning and couldn't get past the CM7 "blue circle" screen booting. I had about a month old backup but I didn't want to lose any recent data so I made a Nandroid backup.
Normally, to restore SMS or MMS from an old backup, one can just restore the nandroid backup, use a third party SMS backup program to backup the data to sdcard or gmail, restore or install new rom, then restore the SMS from the third party backup software.
However, in my case, I had a nandroid with data on it that I wanted to keep but that wouldn't boot.
So I did some searching and others have had this problem before but I figured I'd put it here for others that may have the same problem. I am not taking credit for this I just found various pieces of info around the web.
The solution is to use a utility called unyaffs. Unyaffs will need cygwin.dll. Yaffs is the file system that CWM recovery nandroid backups are stored in. Windows cannot read or mount this file system AFAIK.
Instead of compiling unyaffs for windows and installing all of cygwin, just use the attached pre-compiled unyaffs.exe and cygwin.dll.
Here's the process:
To restore SMS/MMS from a nandroid backup using MS Windows:
place unyaffs.exe + cygwin.dll + data.img in a folder
open command prompt in this directory (shift+right click -> open comand window here)
type: unyaffs data.img
the contents of the data.img will be extracted to this folder. wait for extraction to complete
browse to \data\com.android.providers.telephony\databases in the extracted folders
copy mmssms.db, mmssms.db-shm, mmssms.db-wal to sdcard
use root explorer to copy these three files to \data\data\com.android.providers.telephony\databases
To restore contacts/call log from a nandroid backup:
repeat above process for \data\com.android.providers.contacts\databases
To restore launcher configuration (only for stock Gingerbread launcher):
repeat above process for \data\com.android.launcher\databases
Note: Be aware that replacing the existing files with those extracted from the backup will remove the existing data so if you're not 100% sure what you're doing, change the names to mmssms_OLD.db or otherwise back them up before pasting the files from the backup.
Edit: Just thought I'd add, I also came across an app called AppExtractor but, despite the good reviews, the SMS/MMS restore didn't work for me.

if you have titanium backup, it makes it a lot easier to restore specific items from Nandroid Backup

AllGamer said:
if you have titanium backup, it makes it a lot easier to restore specific items from Nandroid Backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't work for migrating from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich for some reason?
I am going to give this one a try.
To the OP your a dead set legend! thank you
PS: Where the bloody hell is the thanks button on this forum? I can't find it

I will give it a try. Thanks.

where do i find data.img?

I'm on an SGS I9000 and made an SMS/MMS backup using titanium backup when I was on Gingerbread.
Now I've installed the "Onecosmic's ICS Port Android 4.0.3 RC3.1" and restoring the backup file using titanium (only data) makes my message app FC.
Jarmezrocks were you successful when restoring your SMS/MMS on ICS?
Does anyone knows how to restore them? From titanium backup I only have an *.apk.gz and *.properties files.
Thanks for any help.
Cheers

Excellent.. saved me a lot.. thanks for the tool

Great post. I wonder if there is a file extrator in Android like unyaffs?

I found out that you can restore SMS just by using Root Explorer.
The location is the same, just that the files are these ones:
mmssms.db
nwk_info.db
telephony.db
I tried and it worked only using RootExplorer and I extracted the files from data.ext4.rar

Does this need to be done using ADB? I have set a nandroid backup from a GB ROM and flashed ICS on the phone; however when I extract the data.img using unyaffs and browse to the mentioned directory, there are no db files whatsoever.
Could the nandroid backup be corrupted for some reason?
I am looking at the data\com.android.providers.contacts folder and I only see a lib folder with nothing on it.
Hidden system files are set to show BTW

I did this yesterday using Titanium Backup for my SMS/MMS
You need to go into Preferences and check the *Migrate system data [Experimental] option
Then you go to More - Extract from nandroid backup
There it is listed as Dialer Storage
You can probably do the Phone log this way to but I did look for it.
I would recommend you do a current backup of [SMS/MMS/APN] Dialer Storage before you attempt this.

Does this restore the whole smsmms database like with the sms.db file on the iPhone? I hate it when MyBackupPro has to restore my texts and the dates are all messed up and i've lost all my MMS'. And it restores them one by one, instead of just putting it in there all at once. Took me like an hour to restore everything.

I have an app for you.

I'd much rather save myself from all this tedious long-winded work and just use apk extractor to restore everything.

HAKA said:
I have an app for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Wish i've learned about this sooner. Would have saved me a lot of time.

This method doesn't work for me :/
I followed it exactly step by step but when I'm done and go to the Messages app, it's empty.
The same happens if I try it with appextractor or titanium backup.
I made the nandroid backup on CM7, and want to restore the messages to CM9+AOKP on ZTE Blade.

Thanks
THANK YOU !!!!
That was so helpful. I was migrating from GB to Nyx ICS RC5.0 yesterday and the application I used (super backup) failed to restore the Contacts.
Another app I used did that but missed allot of details (and also was damn slow).
I used your technique and it did the trick!!!
All data is there the same as I left it on CM7.2
You're the king
Thanks
[EDIT] just a correction Super Backup was able to restore the contacts but with missing details
It failed to restore the SMS
The other APP (forgot the name) restored the SMS (after ages) but contact associated with the SMS were completely messed up.

perfect
RichAP said:
I did this yesterday using Titanium Backup for my SMS/MMS
You need to go into Preferences and check the *Migrate system data [Experimental] option
Then you go to More - Extract from nandroid backup
There it is listed as Dialer Storage
You can probably do the Phone log this way to but I did look for it.
I would recommend you do a current backup of [SMS/MMS/APN] Dialer Storage before you attempt this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked perfectly for me, got all my sms messages back from my nandroid backup.
Thanks!

thanks!
RichAP said:
I did this yesterday using Titanium Backup for my SMS/MMS
You need to go into Preferences and check the *Migrate system data [Experimental] option
Then you go to More - Extract from nandroid backup
There it is listed as Dialer Storage
You can probably do the Phone log this way to but I did look for it.
I would recommend you do a current backup of [SMS/MMS/APN] Dialer Storage before you attempt this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this today when I had to reformat my phone because of a bootloop. I'm using an HTC Desire on MildWild. Worked perfectly for me and was able to restore my messages. Loads of thanks to you!

Thank you! This worked perfectly for me!

[GUIDE] Backup/Restore S Memo data without corruption !

Hello, everyone.
If you use the Galaxy Note surely you know powerful note software S Memo, but the backup / restore the database precautions written on it, then reinstall the ROM, not everyone well known. There are many ideas that use EverNote sync or sync via GoogleDocs, but when will restore the entire image. Jpg can not edit as the original data. Other ideas using Titanium for backup but that's not enough well-trained, when restore corrupted data, will not complete. I will guide a simple backup and restore performance original data.
First you download and install Titanium Backup. Open the tab Backup / restore, find S Memo and backup it.
Then you use a file management program, recommended Soid Explorer, goto the folder SDCard / Application, zip or copy SMemo folder to anywhere. So successful backup. Suppose now you've reinstall the ROM, you perform the restore:
Titanium Backup, open the tab Backup / Restore selected S Memo, select restore, informed choice is to restore data only / app only / data and app, we just need to recover data should select data only.
Then goto sdcard / Application / delete current Smemo folder, extract zipped smemo or copy backed up smemo folder to here. Ok. Smemo will recover its original state resources when you backup.

TungHacker said:
Then goto sdcard / Application / delete current Smemo folder, extract zipped smemo or copy backed up smemo folder to here. Ok. Smemo will recover its original state resources when you backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would that folder be backed up in a CWM backup?

awesome stuff.. thanks...

Thanks, will give it a try.

S4
Does this work with S4 ? Anyone knows ?

NANDROID backup too small

Hi guys,
I have an unlocked/rooted N7. The tablet has quite a bit of data in it and I am trying to initiate a back up using ROM Manager but the backup is only of about 20Mb when I check it.
I tried to do the backup straight from CWM but it is the same, very fast to back up and I assume it is not backing up all of the partitions...
My tablet has about 5Gb used so I expect the NANDROID backup to be around this size ...
Any idea ?
Cheers

Don't count me on this but I believe that the blobs file within the clock work mod folder contains some information as well.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Thanks for that, I have since checked the blobs folder and indeed it is about 1Gb in size but that doesn't explain the time to take the backup (strangely quick, about 30secondes).
I am not confident enough to test my restore to see if it works :]

julien.me said:
Thanks for that, I have since checked the blobs folder and indeed it is about 1Gb in size but that doesn't explain the time to take the backup (strangely quick, about 30secondes).
I am not confident enough to test my restore to see if it works :]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This tablet does backup and restore very quickly. I can confirm they work as well.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Was this the first nandroid that you took?
CWM 6.0+ now does incremental backups, the first backup creates a blob folder where 'common' files will be placed and teh backup itself only includes 'new' files.
That being said a full old style nandroid with TeamWin recovery on the N7 only took me 130 seconds

Thanks guys, I understand now why it takes very little time to take the backup
So not only the backup folder is used but also the blobs one...

Hate to bump this but I figure it's better than duplicating threads...
I just did a Nandroid backup (assuming that's the backup & restore function found in CWM) and ran two backups. Each came up to about 23-24MB. I do see a blobs folder, where there's about 1.6GB worth of data. My real confusion is... is this ALL of my data, partition structure, and everything? Pictures? App data? I just want to make sure I'm doing this properly.
Also, I want to store my backups on my server at home, so I'm assuming my best bet is to just copy both the backup and blobs folder entirely?

Nandroid does not backup your media, docs etc. It just backs up your system and user apps with the associated data for each.
Same for titanium backup. You need to backup those other things to your PC or a flash drive through the USB connection.
Under the clockwork directory there is a backup and blobs directory. Both of them combined are your nandroid backup.
Rootbrain

For 100% recoverable backup from PC I have to copy across the blobs folder then?
I'm interested in the user apps and data, they must be in the blobs I guess?
Just so I'm really clear on this...
Say I only had the backup timestamp folder and missed out the blobs, and did recovery from that, would it work? Would that return to a clean ROM, or would clockworkmod not be able to use it without the blobs folder?
Thanks
Apologies guys, I just did some more reading and found this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1933000
It explains it all, and I have my answers

trouble with data transfer between users using TB

On my Nexus 7 (5.1.1) I'm trying to transfer data from one user profile to another using Titanium Backup. SU is set to allow multiple users. So, TB has root access on each user. I've also made sure that the sd card writing bug was taken care of. (I tried Helium, but the app said that helium was only available for use by the main user, and the profiles I'm trying to work with are not my main user).
When I backup an app, the TB backup folder only containts the .properties text file. I do not see the tar.gz or apk.gz file. (Also don't see the Tibkp file). In TB, when I "backup" an app, the backup runs like normal and the app shows that I have a backup. But if I close and restart TB, for the same app, there is no backup available.
Anyway, dunno if this is the right place to ask. But I 'm a bit stuck.

Creating a backup using the inbuilt MIUI backup.

Hi all, I found this good guide for backing up using the in built MIUI Backup feature so thought it may be useful put here.
CREATING A LOCAL BACKUP
This step is optional but if you want to have all the apps, settings, and arrangement of the apps back after flashing, you can create a local backup. Please remember that when flashing, all data on the device will be deleted.
Open the setting for local backup on the device by opening the Settings / Settings app.
Then you go to "Additional Settings / Advanced Settings" -> "Backup & reset / Backup & reset" .
Then continue with "Local Backup / Local Backup" and there you can see your current your backups and can scroll down to click on "Backup" to create a new backup.
In the next window, you can select which items you want to save. Look in the details, because it is often that sometimes you no longer need all the apps & or data. Also the contacts should be omitted if one has all his contacts with Google, since it then may duplicate twice.
Afterward the backup can be found on your internal memory folder "MIUI -> Backup" pthat is where your backup is stored.
Save this backup folder to your PC or SD card. Then you can in its entirety recover it using the same options in the backup "Restore"

Thanks this is handy,i assumed it was a micloud backup but a local one is really useful.
Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

So just to confirm I just did a backup & it stores the files in: Internal storage/MIUI/backup/...