[Q] How to get data off phone in recovery mode - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I tried to install the 4.4 Android update on my Nexus 4 but upon reboot my phone started at the "four circles" screen. I thought it was installing correctly so I let my phone sit while plugged in, but when I checked back in four hours it was still stuck. Every time I reboot it gets stuck at the same screen.
I can access Recovery Mode but I don't have any backups for the system before I tried to install this update (really bad planning on my part, I know). After searching on Google it appears the only solution is a factory reset and installing files found on this website, but before I do that I want to pull my data off my phone. When I connect my phone to my computer via USB it doesn't show up at all under Computer.
I have the following programs installed that I think are relevant:
Team Win Recovery Project
SuperSU
Titanium Backup (with paid key)
I've tried scouring Google for days but I must not be using the right key words because I can't find anything relevant to my specific issue. I've found mention of "ADB Sideload" but I don't understand how that factors in-- I haven't found anything in simple enough terms for me to understand (I'm extremely un-knowledgable of phone-related tech talk).
Please help! Thank you!

Google adb backup xda
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
Google adb backup xda
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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From what I'm reading after Googling "adb backup" you need your phone to be able to start up. My phone can't start up, it can only go in to recovery mode. Also, when I backed up my files with TWRP and restored it, it also restored the faulty installation of Android 4.4. As far as I'm reading on adb backup it will backup everything the same way, so it will also reinstall the faulty installation of Android 4.4, in my understanding.
Is that right? Or is there something I'm missing where the adb backup file can be modified while on a computer where the old system files (for the phone) can be removed so it only restores the data? Also, I've read that the adb backup does not save any SMS messages, will it still save the SMS backup files I have through Titanium Backup?

Nexus4Noob said:
From what I'm reading after Googling "adb backup" you need your phone to be able to start up. My phone can't start up, it can only go in to recovery mode. Also, when I backed up my files with TWRP and restored it, it also restored the faulty installation of Android 4.4. As far as I'm reading on adb backup it will backup everything the same way, so it will also reinstall the faulty installation of Android 4.4, in my understanding.
Is that right? Or is there something I'm missing where the adb backup file can be modified while on a computer where the old system files (for the phone) can be removed so it only restores the data? Also, I've read that the adb backup does not save any SMS messages, will it still save the SMS backup files I have through Titanium Backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1021625

Related

What happens if you accidentally delete the /data directory?

I'll tell you...basically not good things
After updating lots of apps, I decided to run the command to remove the boot-cache through a terminal app on my phone, rather than through adb shell (sprint needs to hurry up and fix this bug.)
Unfortunately, the terminal app doesn't like landscape, so when hitting the front slash after the data directory, my finger instead (to my absolute horror) hit the enter key.
Hilarity did NOT ensue. Basically everything started FC'ing. I rebooted into recovery, did a wipe, and started over. Everything seems to be fine, but for those that are more familiar with the filesystem than I, could there be any residual effects, or would the wipe/factory reset basically take me back to step 1? Thanks!
I'm going to try and write an app that not only clears the boot cache, but also turns on net sharing, kinda like a "utilities" app in the interim until Sprint can fix our stuff. Should be simple enough.
Factory reset should take you back to step 1.
Have you installed the recovery ROM? It doesn't modify your actual OS at all, but it enables you to do "whole phone" backups via Nandroid. Very handy for just such an occasion.
jonnythan said:
Factory reset should take you back to step 1.
Have you installed the recovery ROM? It doesn't modify your actual OS at all, but it enables you to do "whole phone" backups via Nandroid. Very handy for just such an occasion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do believe so. I followed our five star "how to root the CDMA Hero" thread, and I think the RA-Recovery part was included there.
I'm assuming since I can reboot into recovery mode, this is, in and of itself, the recovery ROM you're talking about. I have the option of a nandroid backup in there.
So, then let me ask you this. If I get my phone how I like it, can I do a Nandroid backup, and always be able to restore to that point, similar to commercially available backup apps? Thanks for the quick reply!
a Nandroid backup will restore everything on your phone (not your SDCard) so it should work to restore even if you delete the whole /data directory. It's not tested but it seems like it should work since it's an image of the whole freaking thing.

Best way to backup

OK, so I managed to hose my N7 after doing a nandroid, filling up the SD card, and failed recovery...
No problem, when I get home I will just download the stock image, flash and start again from scratch. Hopefully most of it will get pulled back down from the google sync, but lost the sideloaded stuff I guess.
So this got me thinking. With the 3Gb issue of slowing the N7 to a crawl, how exactly can we do a CWM backup? For me the backup filled me up and I only had 650mb left. Then when I went to restore it started up and asked me to log into my google account, and showed no apps installed, yet I was still full up...
I did some searching about if you could nandroid to a USB drive.. seems not.
So what is the best method for a flash addict? Titanium backup to the cloud? Would be interesting to know what other people are doing and how they are doing it.. :laugh:
OK maybe a backup via adb is the best way:
Code:
adb backup –apk –shared –all –f /backup/mybackup.ab
Or using the toolkit?

[Q] Titanium Backup Extract from Nandroid no longer working on 4.2?

For some reason my phone got totally hosed up this evening. Everything was fine and I turned the screen off, I then immediately tried to turn it back on and nothing happened. So I hard rebooted (hold down power) and the phone never went past the boot screen. Tried wiping cache, which got it past the boot screen, then it went through the upgrading apps process, then when that was done it got stuck at "starting apps". It seemed like the System UI would not start. I left it for 5-10 mins and it never booted into my launcher.
So at that point, I decided to do a nandroid backup, then wipe my phone completely, and reinstall AOKP. That got me back into the phone, but my plan was to use the "Extract from Nandroid" feature built into Titanium Backup Pro to restore my apps and data from my nandroid backup. When I tried this, TB saw my nandroid backup, but selecting it brought up an empty apps list. I have successfully used this feature in the past without any issue - though I am not sure if I have used it since Android 4.2 was released.
So, I decided, let me see if I can browse my nandroid manually via Root Explorer. I navigated to the clockworkmod directory on my sdcard, where nandroid backups have usually been kept and it was also empty! So, I launched ROM Manager and sure enough it sees my nandroid there as well. Then I noticed the fine print:
In Android 4.2, backups are placed in secure directory, inaccessible to other apps. Backups can be pulled with ADB or by using ROM Manager Backup Download Server
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I am currently in the process of using the Download Server to download my backup to my PC. My question is, is there a way to get Titanium to read this zip file I am downloading and extract apps/data out of it like I used to do? Do I just copy the zip back to the /sdcard/clockworkmod directory?
If anyone has already been through this on 4.2 I would appreciate the advice. Thanks! :good:
Hi,
I had a similar problem on my N7 tb wasn't displaying anything from my twrp backups, try appextractor 2 beta from the play store. Worked for me took a few mins to process my back up but then displayed everything perfectly.
Hope this helps
SD.
Same problem... appextractor cannot find anything
This is because nandroids are now saved in a secure file. I'm pretty sure it's /mount/shell/clockworkmod. There's some apps on the play store like cwm backup manager that allow you to make copies to your pc.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
mustangtim49 said:
This is because nandroids are now saved in a secure file. I'm pretty sure it's /mount/shell/clockworkmod. There's some apps on the play store like cwm backup manager that allow you to make copies to your pc.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I am dealing with the same problem right now...
The reason for your problem is probably that you made your backup with CMW 6 and not 5. Neither Appextractor nor Titanium Backup can currently work with the new backups it seems.
I would greatly appreciate any ideas/solutions!
So basically Titanium is useless with 4.2.2?
texaslittleangel said:
So basically Titanium is useless with 4.2.2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never had a problem with Titanium and 4.2.2 ever.

[Q] Please help, S4 Complete Backup (Nandroid) tool/ dicerctions needed

Hey everyone, I'm new to android game, I've been cracking iPhones since 1st gen, decided to challenge myself. I have an S4, rooted, but no CWM installed. I want to save the recovery so if any issues ever occur, I can just flash it and have it covered under warranty, and also to be ble to return to stock wen I sell the phone.
Is there a tool i can use to make a nandroid backup? On my Nexus 7, There is an all-in-one tool and I can make a nandroid straight from my PC. Is there anything similar for the s4? If not, how to I make a nandroid backup? thank you everyone for your help, I appreciate it
Odin back to stock if you ever need to.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Dimon1990 said:
Hey everyone, I'm new to android game, I've been cracking iPhones since 1st gen, decided to challenge myself. I have an S4, rooted, but no CWM installed. I want to save the recovery so if any issues ever occur, I can just flash it and have it covered under warranty, and also to be ble to return to stock wen I sell the phone.
Is there a tool i can use to make a nandroid backup? On my Nexus 7, There is an all-in-one tool and I can make a nandroid straight from my PC. Is there anything similar for the s4? If not, how to I make a nandroid backup? thank you everyone for your help, I appreciate it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not entirely sure it's possible to do a nandroid backup without first having a custom recovery. However, it is "always" possible to use the Odin method to return to stock (including stock recovery). Personally, I installed TWRP and immediately did a full nandroid (including system, boot, cache, etc...) and I've frequently found myself restoring pieces of it as I manage to screw up different things. I did return my recovery back to stock once by using the "dd" method to flash the stock recovery.img onto the correct emmc block. There's instructions how to do this exactly on the TWRP homepage (make sure you get the correct phone - block numbers are different for different devices) - but instead of re-flashing TWRP, I pulled the recovery.img from the giant Odin image available here on XDA.
It may also be possible to use "dd" to pull a copy of your existing recovery image as well, but I've never tried it.
Aou said:
I'm not entirely sure it's possible to do a nandroid backup without first having a custom recovery. However, it is "always" possible to use the Odin method to return to stock (including stock recovery). Personally, I installed TWRP and immediately did a full nandroid (including system, boot, cache, etc...) and I've frequently found myself restoring pieces of it as I manage to screw up different things. I did return my recovery back to stock once by using the "dd" method to flash the stock recovery.img onto the correct emmc block. There's instructions how to do this exactly on the TWRP homepage (make sure you get the correct phone - block numbers are different for different devices) - but instead of re-flashing TWRP, I pulled the recovery.img from the giant Odin image available here on XDA.
It may also be possible to use "dd" to pull a copy of your existing recovery image as well, but I've never tried it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I'll be installing TWRP today, what is Odin if I can ask? I've never heard of any of it from Nexus 7.
Also, If i do a titanium backup, can I easily restore apps with setting and save games while I'm running CM10.1?
Dimon1990 said:
Thank you! I'll be installing TWRP today, what is Odin if I can ask? I've never heard of any of it from Nexus 7.
Also, If i do a titanium backup, can I easily restore apps with setting and save games while I'm running CM10.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You better find out what odin is because it's the only way you'll be installing twrp. And don't count on tibu restoring all your apps seamlessly. Never reinstall system apps.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
jd1639 said:
You better find out what odin is because it's the only way you'll be installing twrp. And don't count on tibu restoring all your apps seamlessly. Never reinstall system apps.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed TWRP through GooManager. I looked up ODIN and got general info, hopefully I won't get stuck, but I'm sure I'll find my way around. Thank you so much for your help! I figured that sys apps will just be for stock, but i have a MC4 save that i don't want to lose ::cyclops: it looks like it's CM10.1 time for me!
Dimon1990 said:
Thank you! I'll be installing TWRP today, what is Odin if I can ask? I've never heard of any of it from Nexus 7.
Also, If i do a titanium backup, can I easily restore apps with setting and save games while I'm running CM10.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the thread that explains how to return to stock using Odin. Be prepared for a large download.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261573
In short, "Odin Mode" is the download mode that's built-in to just about every modern Samsung device, beginning as far back as the Captivate, afaik. Each device has a button combination to enter "download mode" or "odin mode". This special mode sometimes requires specific drivers to connect to your PC. Flashing stock firmware using this method is common, but with an unlocked bootloader, it could be used to flash about anything. It's like a secondary recovery in a sense. It's harder to destroy download mode, but still possible if you mess up the bootloader somehow.
For our device the easiest methods to get to download mode are:
- Hold down the power button until the device force-resets itself. The moment the device turns black, release the power button and begin holding down the Vol-Down button. The device with vibrate once as usual, but then you'll see a screen that you've never seen before (begins with "Warning!!").
- Using any shell, such as ADB Shell or a terminal emulator, give the command "reboot download". This may require root privileges, I'm not sure.
- There's apps for this - haven't tried them yet.
As for Titanium backup - I love this program and have purchased Pro (totally worth it). As others have said, it's a bad idea to backup/restore System apps. Only do so with extreme caution. It is possible to restore only the data from system apps, but again do so with caution.
While Google does its own job at re-installing apps after a factory reset (if you allow it to), it usually doesn't backup data for each app. I have a couple authenticator apps that I backup this way, and it works great for this. I've also managed to keep my copy of Angry Birds Samsung Edition from my Infuse. Other applications that have since disappeared from Google Play are still backed up and get migrated to each new device I purchase.
And for that matter, with almost every User application, you can easily back it up (with data) and restore it on a completely different ROM. When changing major android versions, you sometimes will find apps force-closing on you, requiring that you wipe their data... but I haven't had that problem in a long time.
You'll see some other things that you can backup, like SMS, Access Points, Bluetooth Pairings, etc. .... I recommend only restoring these with caution - especially cross-ROM or cross-device.
Okay, I'm done being long-winded. Good luck, have fun.
Good write up
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Aou said:
Here's the thread that explains how to return to stock using Odin. Be prepared for a large download.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2261573
Thank you so much!
In short, "Odin Mode" is the download mode that's built-in to just about every modern Samsung device, beginning as far back as the Captivate, afaik. Each device has a button combination to enter "download mode" or "odin mode". This special mode sometimes requires specific drivers to connect to your PC. Flashing stock firmware using this method is common, but with an unlocked bootloader, it could be used to flash about anything. It's like a secondary recovery in a sense. It's harder to destroy download mode, but still possible if you mess up the bootloader somehow.
For our device the easiest methods to get to download mode are:
- Hold down the power button until the device force-resets itself. The moment the device turns black, release the power button and begin holding down the Vol-Down button. The device with vibrate once as usual, but then you'll see a screen that you've never seen before (begins with "Warning!!").
- Using any shell, such as ADB Shell or a terminal emulator, give the command "reboot download". This may require root privileges, I'm not sure.
- There's apps for this - haven't tried them yet.
As for Titanium backup - I love this program and have purchased Pro (totally worth it). As others have said, it's a bad idea to backup/restore System apps. Only do so with extreme caution. It is possible to restore only the data from system apps, but again do so with caution.
While Google does its own job at re-installing apps after a factory reset (if you allow it to), it usually doesn't backup data for each app. I have a couple authenticator apps that I backup this way, and it works great for this. I've also managed to keep my copy of Angry Birds Samsung Edition from my Infuse. Other applications that have since disappeared from Google Play are still backed up and get migrated to each new device I purchase.
And for that matter, with almost every User application, you can easily back it up (with data) and restore it on a completely different ROM. When changing major android versions, you sometimes will find apps force-closing on you, requiring that you wipe their data... but I haven't had that problem in a long time.
You'll see some other things that you can backup, like SMS, Access Points, Bluetooth Pairings, etc. .... I recommend only restoring these with caution - especially cross-ROM or cross-device.
Okay, I'm done being long-winded. Good luck, have fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much!

[Q] How to do a nand backup - other than toolkit?

Hello,
I need to make a Nandroid backup of my phone, because I have to send it to service to have the screen changed.
However, I cannot do it with NRT (v1.6.4) - whenever I try to make a nand backup, the phone boots into TWRP via Fastboot (sometimes failing to check for Fastboot, prompting a re-check after pressing OK), and then it hangs on status "Waiting for the backup to complete and your device to boot back up...".
It stays there for a while and then attached window comes up. (I also got a message twice when I did something differently that a backup was creating with size 0MB).
Can I do the backup differently? Or can the problem be the filesize? My phone memory is pretty full with movies, pictures and stuff. I don't know if that is included, either way I don't care much, pictures are on Drive, music on All Access. What I care for is the ROM and the apps with settings.
I was thinking about doing the backup over terminal, is it feasible? Or can I alter some setting to make it work?
Just reboot in to your recovery and do a backup from there then move the backup your pc. No need for a toolkit ever
From my BLACKED OUT N4
spaceman860 said:
Just reboot in to your recovery and do a backup from there then move the backup your pc. No need for a toolkit ever
From my BLACKED OUT N4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, I cannot do that - the digitizer is toast and I am limited to controlling the phone from my PC over MyPhoneExplorer screen mirror. Which works quite good when bootet, but renders TWRP itself pretty much useless... I guess I will do with app backup and data backup separately.

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