Database Users

best back up method

i am about to try another rom, so which back up method will restore the most info
looking at apps/ accounts/ contacts/ games saves etc etc
i have titainuim back up also have clockwork or is there a better back up method that will make my phone like it is now but on a new rom(where i will most likley have to do data/cache wipes before i install it)
thanks for any help

combat goofwing said:
i am about to try another rom, so which back up method will restore the most info
looking at apps/ accounts/ contacts/ games saves etc etc
i have titainuim back up also have clockwork or is there a better back up method that will make my phone like it is now but on a new rom(where i will most likley have to do data/cache wipes before i install it)
thanks for any help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
short answer, no. The problem is if you restore the system settings and the framework is significantly changed you will end up with multiple Force closes, titanium backup will allow you to restore your apps with data but avoid restoring system data if possible (it is possible to create a flashable zip of titanium to flash from recovery so it's installed when you boot your new ROM) also ADW can save your desktop configuration and restore it and I use SMS backup/restore to restore my SMS's, your contacts etc should be catered for by google which will also try and restore some other settings and your apps.
BTW: Do a NANDROID backup before installing your new ROM, this is a snapshot of your system state which can be used to restore it to it's current state should the new ROM not be to your taste

with a new rom, i suggest just installing everything afresh so there are no compaibility problems. I imagine with titanium backup you could restore savegames

ghostofcain said:
short answer, no. The problem is if you restore the system settings and the framework is significantly changed you will end up with multiple Force closes, titanium backup will allow you to restore your apps with data but avoid restoring system data if possible (it is possible to create a flashable zip of titanium to flash from recovery so it's installed when you boot your new ROM) also ADW can save your desktop configuration and restore it and I use SMS backup/restore to restore my SMS's, your contacts etc should be catered for by google which will also try and restore some other settings and your apps.
BTW: Do a NANDROID backup before installing your new ROM, this is a snapshot of your system state which can be used to restore it to it's current state should the new ROM not be to your taste
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whats nandroid?
so when people are flashing a rom every other day they are having to reinstall everything???

panyan said:
with a new rom, i suggest just installing everything afresh so there are no compaibility problems. I imagine with titanium backup you could restore savegames
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is what i want to do too. Install all apps from the market fresh, but use titanium to restore any data associated with the apps.
However im not sure which setting to use in titanium. When i click batch, there's 100 options. If i choose "Backup all system data", will this restore only the data like gamesaves etc?

combat goofwing said:
whats nandroid?
so when people are flashing a rom every other day they are having to reinstall everything???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, as a rule if you are installing the same type of ROM ie aosp you don't have to wipe so everything should be retained, if swapping between different types of ROM ie aosp - sense then a wipe and subsequent reinstall is required
As for Nandroid its the backup option in recovery console and it takes a snapshot of the current ROM which if you where to restore would put your system back to its current state

[Q] Possible To Restore Apps, Without Titanium???

Hello everyone,
I'm not the type of person to ask for the answer and get the quick way out...I like to try and research, read and read more before asking for help.
Here is the problem:
Before I flashed my phone...I plugged in the usb and copied all folders and files on the SD card to a folder on my pc, just incase.
Then I followed the instruction to install a custom rom...I used Iced Glacier. I rebooted the phone and the Iced rom worked...after checking out the phone, to see what the Iced rom was all about, I realized I didnt use Ti to make a backup of all apps.
Here is the question:
Can I use the folders/files I copied to the pc, to add the apps back to the phone?
Thanks in advance for any help,
BK

Short answer is no...
If you had backup enabled with Google, your apps should auto install when you log into the market. Most of your data will be lost though...
Did you make a nandroid backup of your ROM? If you did, you could now backup your new install, restore your old system backup, use Titanium to backup everything from your old system backup, then switch back to your new install and use Titanium to restore everything...?
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

First I want to thank you for taking out the time. I truly appreciate the help.
I read and re-read what you wrote...I kinda of understand but am not sure if the correct steps to take. When you get a chance, can you please try and explain further.
Thanks so much,
BK

What he is asking is did you make a backup of your stock rom before flashing ice-glacier? If so just go back into rom manager and restore your backup. After restoring, personally i prefer my backup root, because it backs up everything texts, bookmarks ect qnd it is one click for that stuff and one click for all your apps with their data instead of clicking once for each app. After doing your backup reflash I-G and redownload my backup root, run it and everything will be there

That's exactly what I meant...
Also, Titanium has a batch option in the menu, so you can one click backup and restore with Titanium also (you have to have the paid version for it to be effective, though)...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

thanks for the info...but have another question related to this.
I did make a backup before flashing...but here is the problems I'm trying to understand.
From what Im trying to gather about using custom roms, is that it does not install any bloatware.
So, if that is true and I use a app like backup root...will this just install every single app that was on the phone.
Im just trying to wrap my brain around this, sorry if it is very newbish
BK

fst2011 said:
From what Im trying to gather about using custom roms, is that it does not install any bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on your definition of "bloat". Every ROM contains a collection of system applications.
Keep in mind. Nandroid backups are standalone system images. Titanium Backup and MyBackup and all the other Android apps that do backups are individual application backups. They often can do bulk restores, but that is not always desired or necessary.
You will find you will want both types of backup: Nandroid, and application.

You can also selectively backup and restore apps, so you get to chose what stays, and what goes...
Play around with Titanium and My Backup, and see what they are capable of...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Titanium Backup fail

I did a backup yesterday with TB before wiping and flashing to a new rom. After the wipe and installation of new rom(LeoMar) I realised not all my apps were backed up. So... I'm dealing with the fact that I've lost quite a significant amount of data, but I still want to know why this happened. I clearly did a full backup of apps+data on TB Pro before the wipe. After the wipe, I see that all of my apps only had 1 backup, which was a very old one ( some were the latest backup though).
Anyone got the same thing happening before?
And btw, are cwm backups and TB backups related in any way?
Thanks.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

Where did you back your apps up, on the External_SD or on the phone memory itself, aslo, which batch operation did you run, what I do to ensure I have the latest backup, I delete everything and I create new backups for all my apps

achillies400 said:
Where did you back your apps up, on the External_SD or on the phone memory itself, aslo, which batch operation did you run, what I do to ensure I have the latest backup, I delete everything and I create new backups for all my apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone memory, I do not have an external sd. (Unless the full wipe cleared the phone memory?) I ran the "backup all user apps and system data" batch operation.
Also, the weird thing is that it says that I have 287 backups, but the restore option says that I have only 228. The missing 59?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

darylimjz said:
I did a backup yesterday with TB before wiping and flashing to a new rom. After the wipe and installation of new rom(LeoMar) I realised not all my apps were backed up. So... I'm dealing with the fact that I've lost quite a significant amount of data, but I still want to know why this happened. I clearly did a full backup of apps+data on TB Pro before the wipe. After the wipe, I see that all of my apps only had 1 backup, which was a very old one ( some were the latest backup though).
Anyone got the same thing happening before?
And btw, are cwm backups and TB backups related in any way?
Thanks.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dont keep an eye on the date that is under the app. it happend to me many times - while flashing Cognition - and it had outdated flash player - i knew i made a backup of the newer version but i coudltn find it. what i did was i simple clicked on it and made restore - even the date was incorrect it gave me the option off the new version- ignore the dates. i mean app that is included in your new rom will overwrite the date in showing in titanium - even you have made a newer there will be still old one so - the date wont be acurate. so try to click on it and restore - and let me know whats happend.
sorry for my broken english

Hunteres said:
dont keep an eye on the date that is under the app. it happend to me many times - while flashing Cognition - and it had outdated flash player - i knew i made a backup of the newer version but i coudltn find it. what i did was i simple clicked on it and made restore - even the date was incorrect it gave me the option off the new version- ignore the dates. i mean app that is included in your new rom will overwrite the date in showing in titanium - even you have made a newer there will be still old one so - the date wont be acurate. so try to click on it and restore - and let me know whats happend.
sorry for my broken english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, thanks for the info. That solves a part of my problem, but the question of why there are missing apps still exist. It seems that I actually made the backup of my 287 apps (as verified by TB itself) but the "restore all apps+data" batch operation option says only 228. ('all apps+data' includes both apps that I already have after the wipe, and the ones I do not have yet)

darylimjz said:
I see, thanks for the info. That solves a part of my problem, but the question of why there are missing apps still exist. It seems that I actually made the backup of my 287 apps (as verified by TB itself) but the "restore all apps+data" batch operation option says only 228. ('all apps+data' includes both apps that I already have after the wipe, and the ones I do not have yet)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of the rest may have been system apps, and you may not have Titanium configured to back up the app with the data for system apps?
Also, are you sure you don't have any filters set, either when backing up, or now when restoring?

almost very sure. I never touch the filter settings at all.

Rule one backup your backups as its easy to corrupt or delete a backup .
jje

JJEgan said:
Rule one backup your backups as its easy to corrupt or delete a backup .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. And how do you do that?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

I think I have a vague idea of the problem now. Looking at TB again, I realise that the apps which are backed up on 9-05 (5 September, yesterday) are only stock apps (like hubs, mini diary, etc) and stock system apps. Weird. And I'm suspecting that this might be due to me clearing my CWM backup files earlier (just after wipe. Cleared the older backups, leaving the latest one. Or at least I think it was the latest...)
And I'd also like to know what a full wipe deletes. (did the wipe from cwm recovery)
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

darylimjz said:
Thanks for the tip. And how do you do that?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Copy Titanium folder and Clockwork Recovery folder to PC .
jje

JJEgan said:
Copy Titanium folder and Clockwork Recovery folder to PC .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1.
I do this once a week or so. It's a good habit to get into (just like making a back-up before flashing anything...).

I think the issue is when you back up "system data" when doing backups your should stick to backing up just the user apps and user data batch operation as it is not advisable to backup and restore system data....

Ah thanks... the jargon. Never realised I could just backup the user apps. And I'll also do that backup thing from now on. Thanks for the advice guys.
And to the tip earlier about the wrong dates, you're right. An app which I only downloaded a few days ago said it was backed up on 8-14, which was impossible. As for some other apps.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

[Q] What do i have to backup before changing rom?

Applications backup but not cache or data?
System backups?
Sms and call logs?
And system backups?
Are those all to do? If i backup those, when i restore, will i be able to have my desktop widgets, desktop icons sorted correctly ?

I think the best answer is "it depends on what you want to restore to".
When I change roms, I make a full backup using CWM, that way, no matter what the new rom breaks, I can go back to exactly where I was before.
But if you really want the new rom and think the problem is in one app or setting, you can backup only the apps .apk, the apps data and the rom settings, then you can restore everything individually and see where the problem is.
This all assuming you are not changing major android versions (like from froyo to gingerbread) or not changing roms "types" (like from stock to CM or to miui). If you are, then the partial backup is not recommended since it may not work.
In this last case, your best hope is to backup the apps .apk and store all other data somewhere where you can import to android (like storing the contacts in google account), since you shouldn't really restore anything else.

paulo_andre said:
I think the best answer is "it depends on what you want to restore to".
When I change roms, I make a full backup using CWM, that way, no matter what the new rom breaks, I can go back to exactly where I was before.
But if you really want the new rom and think the problem is in one app or setting, you can backup only the apps .apk, the apps data and the rom settings, then you can restore everything individually and see where the problem is.
This all assuming you are not changing major android versions (like from froyo to gingerbread) or not changing roms "types" (like from stock to CM or to miui). If you are, then the partial backup is not recommended since it may not work.
In this last case, your best hope is to backup the apps .apk and store all other data somewhere where you can import to android (like storing the contacts in google account), since you shouldn't really restore anything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want a full back up; calendars sms call logs applications data system data etc. For sms i use go-sms backup, i hope it will restore without any problem. When i backup with cwm and restore, will my settings (system( be protected as before?

With CWM if you restore you will get all data, including Rom, Kernel, sms, calls, etc All you data that is in internal memory. Don't worry. If you restore it, you will get the phone like it was when you made the backup.

Titanium capabilities
I was wondering if it is possible to backup app (with their data), sms and contacts....all in one go using Titanium (non-pro version) (I think we call it batch backup)? I am totally new to the ROOTING and CUSTOM ROM worlds and I am literally freaking out with all the huge info on this topic on the internet. I am using a CM10 on I9000. Please help!

Yes i wonder too.

Boot in recovery
select backup to ext sd
run...
you have back up everythin like ghost in pc....
( so you can try another rom and if you dont like it restore your back up and you have you old rom
working with all data app contacts etc )
you must youse the same cwm version for restore with the one that you use for backup

Cursed Chico said:
Applications backup but not cache or data?
System backups?
Sms and call logs?
And system backups?
Are those all to do? If i backup those, when i restore, will i be able to have my desktop widgets, desktop icons sorted correctly ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you attempting to backup so that you can move the apps/sms/settings to the new ROM or backing up in case you want to restore? Titanium backup is probably the thing you want in the former case and either with cwm backup or with linux dd backup in the latter. Personally I had problem moving system settings between roms, but apps should work just fine.

Different Backup Methods

I was hoping to learn the differences between certain backup methods. The most common i saw is via recovery (in my case twrp), via titanium backup and another via adb command even without root which i saw in one of the threads here in xda.
First, in terms of "backup coverage" how do they compare to one another? Secondly, which among the three would most put ur phone back the way it was before u wipe or factory reset it
I hope you could input your opinions on this and suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

A backup through recovery is a called a nandroid. This backs up everything on your phone including your ROM, kernel, apps, settings, etc. This will allow you to restore back to the previous state of your phone after doing a full wipe.
Titanium backup only backs up your apps and app data. This is useful when you want to switch ROMs and restore your apps in the new ROM.
Usually when switching ROMs I first use titanium backup, then I create a nandroid backup, and finally I flash the ROM. If I like the ROM I use titanium to restore the apps that I previously backed up, and if I don't like the ROM I restore my nandroid
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda app-developers app

Doing a backup with twrp, cwm or thru adb (nandroid backups) are basically image files of your phone at any given moment in time. If you restore one of these backups your restoring your phone to exactly how it was at that moment in time. Titanium backup and Helium backup just backup cached data at that particular moment in time. Using these apps will only restore the data you specified when you did the backup and nothing else. Say you borked an install of a ROM, Titanium backup would be of no use in getting your phone working again as it only has data and not a system image. You would need the images backed up by twrp to get the phone working again then you could use the titanium backups to restore any newer data saved if say you used an old twrp backup.

whoah! thanks guys! I was supposed to quote you but since both of you really helped me understand it now, this thanks goes to the both of you.
I've hit the thanks button on both you guys.
Thank you very much for explaining this.
One last thing, when using a Titanium backup ( im using the pro version), how do i backup to make sure I cover all that needs to be backed up? There are a lot of options im not sure which to select and what to do. I hope you could enlighten me on this one as well.
Thanks again in advance!

vinz_bangiz said:
whoah! thanks guys! I was supposed to quote you but since both of you really helped me understand it now, this thanks goes to the both of you.
I've hit the thanks button on both you guys.
Thank you very much for explaining this.
One last thing, when using a Titanium backup ( im using the pro version), how do i backup to make sure I cover all that needs to be backed up? There are a lot of options im not sure which to select and what to do. I hope you could enlighten me on this one as well.
Thanks again in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the pro version u can run a batch backup of all apps.
To do this open the app, press the menu button in the top tight corner, and select Batch.
Then choose Backup all user apps. From there you can select/deselect apps. When you are done choosing the apps that you would like to backup, click on the green check mark in the top right corner to start the backup.

vinz_bangiz said:
whoah! thanks guys! I was supposed to quote you but since both of you really helped me understand it now, this thanks goes to the both of you.
I've hit the thanks button on both you guys.
Thank you very much for explaining this.
One last thing, when using a Titanium backup ( im using the pro version), how do i backup to make sure I cover all that needs to be backed up? There are a lot of options im not sure which to select and what to do. I hope you could enlighten me on this one as well.
Thanks again in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stopped using Titanium and switched to Helium a while back and can't really remember how Ti works exactly. I do know you should never restore system apps data just user apps data so I don't even bother backing up systems apps. I think with Ti I would just do an initial backup of all user data and apps and then periodically do a backup of newer user data and apps, or something to that effect in the menu. I do like Helium better as its interface is better, never could figure out how to backup or restore sms, call logs and the dictionary using Ti. Helium is much more straight forward and simpler (not as many options) and it does backups on a set schedule to my box account. I'm sure you can do all that with Ti too it was just not a very clean app.

thanks again for the replies..
@ chromium96
i think it is the same as clicking the box with check icon beside the menu, it brings me to the page the same as where you are leading me to but in just one click. Though im not so sure if it is really the same one.
I did a backup now but made a user app + system data.
kzoodroid mentioned not to backup system. Should I really not backup the system? Im quite confused with the terminologies of TI coz it says backup "user apps". Does this only refer to the apps and not the settings or data in my phone? does the backup "system data" refer to the settings and other data on my phone? if I choose only backup "user apps", would this only backup the apps and nothing else?
@ kzoodroid
could you explain further why I should never backup systems apps?
Lastly, is Helium really better than TI? or it depends on user preference?
Thanks again!

there are 2 kind of apps stored in your phone, system apps, only accesible with root privilege, and user apps,
system apps are phone, browser,wallpapers, etc, this are the basic apps to make your phone to work
user apps are all the stuff you, the user, install on your phone
the first one can be found, via file managers on /system/app
user app in /data or in sdcard for apps can use this option
the user app back-up, via Tb or others create a back-up of /data and apps you choose to install
restoring a system app via Tb is dangerous cause if you've switched rom the /system/app can be different, so restoring can cause trouble or misbehavior on your phone
/system/app back.up can be used only if you, before deleting a system app, want to have a copy to restore in future, but only if you still on the same rom

stremax said:
there are 2 kind of apps stored in your phone, system apps, only accesible with root privilege, and user apps,
system apps are phone, browser,wallpapers, etc, this are the basic apps to make your phone to work
user apps are all the stuff you, the user, install on your phone
the first one can be found, via file managers on /system/app
user app in /data or in sdcard for apps can use this option
the user app back-up, via Tb or others create a back-up of /data and apps you choose to install
restoring a system app via Tb is dangerous cause if you've switched rom the /system/app can be different, so restoring can cause trouble or misbehavior on your phone
/system/app back.up can be used only if you, before deleting a system app, want to have a copy to restore in future, but only if you still on the same rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! kinda getting an idea what you mean.. if I backup the system also, then i put a new rom and it may be different from my current roms system so it might mess it up. so just backup user app and restore this after installing new rom then it would be ok and back to how it was before i installed a new rom? Do i understand it right?

vinz_bangiz said:
Thanks for the reply! kinda getting an idea what you mean.. if I backup the system also, then i put a new rom and it may be different from my current roms system so it might mess it up. so just backup user app and restore this after installing new rom then it would be ok and back to how it was before i installed a new rom? Do i understand it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right man,
only back-up user apps and data, if you like you can also back-up call log and messages, I usually do this, so when I flash a new rom I usually restore apps +apps data, messages and call log via Tb

vinz_bangiz said:
another via adb command even without root which i saw in one of the threads here in xda.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found the ADB backup doesn't work as well as the other methods. I found some apps didn't seem to get backed up, and at least one didn't work after restoring (though this could be because I used Titanium Backup to restore the app from the ADB backup file).