Database Users

update-script

I have about 10-15 apps I always end up installing for every new rom. I was wondering if I could just use this method to create an update.zip so I could just load it from recovery after I load a rom. I tried and for the most part (swype excluded) the apps installed ok, but i noticed if I wanted to remove them I could not. I am guessing its because I put the apk in the system/app folder. can i put it in another folder to make it appear just as if it was installed from the market? I don't see any apps installed anywhere else to be honest?

I'm not to sure about the update script but I just use Titanium Backup to reinstall all my apps. Just download it from marketplace and run a app backup. So after I install a new Rom I just redownload titanium from the market place and restore all apps. Then I can uninstall an app or delete it from the backup. Not really sure if this helps you but trying to help others out.

ejkeebler said:
I have about 10-15 apps I always end up installing for every new rom. I was wondering if I could just use this method to create an update.zip so I could just load it from recovery after I load a rom. I tried and for the most part (swype excluded) the apps installed ok, but i noticed if I wanted to remove them I could not. I am guessing its because I put the apk in the system/app folder. can i put it in another folder to make it appear just as if it was installed from the market? I don't see any apps installed anywhere else to be honest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you did something like this you would lose all data associated with those apps such as settings, game saves, etc. Best thing is Titanium backup. Also if you installed the apps without going through the market, you wont get updates.

i think if you put them in /data/app they can be uninstalled so make an update.zip that places them there

You can use ti backup to make an update.zip
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

I guess i'll stick with Titanium Backup. I'll have to look into the update.zip option from there, but if it doesnt restore data, kind of a wasted step. I'll have to buckle down and look at it today. It seems kind of cumbersome going through each app 1 at a time, and don't think I want an every app restore. I imagine there's got to be an option where you can select only certain apps....thanks!

TNS201 said:
If you did something like this you would lose all data associated with those apps such as settings, game saves, etc. Best thing is Titanium backup. Also if you installed the apps without going through the market, you wont get updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you also threw the corresponding db's from /data/data in there. Then you would (like you said) run into Market problems without a restore of the vending prefs and databases. Like yourself and everyone before said...use Titanium.
Titanium Tip:
1. Create a folder in root of sdcard. For example /sdcard/Reinstall
2. Go to Titanium's settings and make Reinstall your backup folder
3. Backup the apps you want to keep for restore.
4. Go back to settings and change to your regular backup folder so you don't populate your reinstall folder with unwanted apps.
5. After a wipe, download Titanium (Titanium also has an option to create an update.zip of itself so you can install it in recovery before 1st boot).
6. Go to Titanium and change backup folder to Reinstall.
7. Batch restore (donate only) or manually restore the contents.
8. Remember to change backup folder again.
I do this for system apps/settings across different roms also. For instance, I have a DesireSys folder and a FroyoSys folder. Learn to use the filters, makes life much easier.

overground said:
Unless you also threw the corresponding db's from /data/data in there. Then you would (like you said) run into Market problems without a restore of the vending prefs and databases. Like yourself and everyone before said...use Titanium.
Titanium Tip:
1. Create a folder in root of sdcard. For example /sdcard/Reinstall
2. Go to Titanium's settings and make Reinstall your backup folder
3. Backup the apps you want to keep for restore.
4. Go back to settings and change to your regular backup folder so you don't populate your reinstall folder with unwanted apps.
5. After a wipe, download Titanium (Titanium also has an option to create an update.zip of itself so you can install it in recovery before 1st boot).6. Go to Titanium and change backup folder to Reinstall.
7. Batch restore (donate only) or manually restore the contents.
8. Remember to change backup folder again.
I do this for system apps/settings across different roms also. For instance, I have a DesireSys folder and a FroyoSys folder. Learn to use the filters, makes life much easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent! I've been downloading it after each install. I thought there had to be an easier way.

[Q] ADWlauncher in Cyanogenmod can be removed or replaced? Keep starting up at reboot

using cyanogenmod 6 on my wildfire ive installed the laucher pro and im using it as default launcher but every time i reboot the phone the adw launcher start up, ive tried with root explorer to kill and delete it, but when i reboot the adwlauncher regenerate in the system app folder and restart
in addiction to this the live wallpaper ive set up at any reboot keep being restore with the last image wallpaper that was set up, is this normal? cant be kept a live wallpaper?

I had the same problem when I moved launcher pro to SDCard, putting it to internal (phone) memory resolved the problem.
If that doesn't help then you have to flash an update.zip script to remove ADWLaucnher from your /system/app directory.
here is a topic that explains how to make your own update.zip to move or add files to your /system/app directory. It's easy.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=917922
and if you have set up adb shell on your pc then delete that file with it, after you put your phone into a recovery mode.

[SOLVED] Help Me Understand the Folder Structure

(i tried searching for similar threads... this was the only thing i can find sorta close)
i have the 16GB version, and i flashed CM10.1 M2 yesterday. i performed a wipe data so that i could start from fresh.
now i'm trying to restore app settings one at a time. the first one i tried to do was Nova Launcher.
i had connected my tablet to my computer, and copied over my backup to the following:
/Android/data/com.teslacoilsw.launcher/backup/
now when i go to Nova Launcher restore, it can't find it. it is looking for the backup in the following path:
/sdcard/data/com.teslacoilsw.launcher/backup/
so boot up Astro File Manager, and i found the following folders at the root level:
/sdcard/
/storage/emulated/0/
/storage/emulated/legacy/
/storage/sdcard0/
/storage/usbdisk/ (empty)
/usbdisk/ (empty)
the first 4 folders mentioned here all display the same files as if i was viewing them from my computer.
if i navigate to /Android/data/com.teslacoilsw.launcher/backup/ from any of these 4 folders, i'll see my Nova backup file.
i have no idea why Nova Launcher can't see my backup file to restore.
in a related note, i made a CWM nandroid. but when i go to /clockworkmod/ nothing is there except 2 hidden files (nomedia and settings). even tho from within CWM, it sees the backup.
-SOLVED-
in short, don't use Astro File Manager. i started to use ES File Explorer.

Look in /data/media/clockworkmod/backup for your backups.

when i go to the root level- /data/ this folder is empty.
(using Astro File Manager)

In Root Explorer or ES File Explorer you can navigate to /data/media/clockworkmod/backup. I don't know why Astro is not showing it, but I just checked in Astro and can't see it either. Astro is no longer listed as having root access after the latest updates. I can't add it in SuperSU. I think that's the problem for Astro.

yes! problem solved.
i didn't know Astro couldn't navigate to those folders anymore. stopped using that now.
on to ES File Explorer.
found where to put my Nova backups, and i found the CWM backups too.

Cannot restore Titanium Backup from PACman to Paranoid Android

After Google Services drying up my monthly data cap trying to download 4.3, I thought I'd move from PACman v23 to the new Paranoid Android 3.92 as it had 4.3. I thought I did all the right things. I backed up in Rom Manager, copied the file across to my PC. I ran a fresh backup of everything in Titanium Backup and copied that all across to my PC too.
I did a factory reset/data wipe and flashed bootloader/modem/rom/gapps as instructed and got the latest Paranoid Android running. I copy across my TB backup directory and I install TitaniumBackup from the market place. I go restore missing apps, and then... it just hangs on the first app. Read a little online, change the restore mode to "Interactive", doesn't fix it. Go back to the normal setting. I run Verify Backups, and to my surprise, it says there are errors with ALL my backup files. I get pissed, decide perhaps I should've just created a flashable zip. So I say no problem. I'm persistent. I'll create a backup of Paranoid Android, reflash my PACman backup, redo my Titanium Backup, and then reflash my Paranoid Android backup and apply the TB backup zip. So I Copy my PACman zip file, choose Install ZIP from sdcard, select the PACman zip and boom... MD5 verification failed.
I realise I had some Titanium Backup essentials backup on Google Drive and Dropbox, so I copy them over. Point TB to that directory, but the same problem persists. It just hangs.
I've been copying across the same TB folder between various ROM installations with no issues, and I'm not sure what is causing the issue here. I suspect it is either the bootloader and radio (which was what has been the extra step compared to installing other roms) but I don't want to admit that now all my backups are completely useless.
Am I missing something here? Anyone have any suggestions?
TL;DR I can't seem to get any TB backups to restore on my newly flashed Paranoid Android rom.

mversion said:
After Google Services drying up my monthly data cap trying to download 4.3, I thought I'd move from PACman v23 to the new Paranoid Android 3.92 as it had 4.3. I thought I did all the right things. I backed up in Rom Manager, copied the file across to my PC. I ran a fresh backup of everything in Titanium Backup and copied that all across to my PC too.
I did a factory reset/data wipe and flashed bootloader/modem/rom/gapps as instructed and got the latest Paranoid Android running. I copy across my TB backup directory and I install TitaniumBackup from the market place. I go restore missing apps, and then... it just hangs on the first app. Read a little online, change the restore mode to "Interactive", doesn't fix it. Go back to the normal setting. I run Verify Backups, and to my surprise, it says there are errors with ALL my backup files. I get pissed, decide perhaps I should've just created a flashable zip. So I say no problem. I'm persistent. I'll create a backup of Paranoid Android, reflash my PACman backup, redo my Titanium Backup, and then reflash my Paranoid Android backup and apply the TB backup zip. So I Copy my PACman zip file, choose Install ZIP from sdcard, select the PACman zip and boom... MD5 verification failed.
I realise I had some Titanium Backup essentials backup on Google Drive and Dropbox, so I copy them over. Point TB to that directory, but the same problem persists. It just hangs.
I've been copying across the same TB folder between various ROM installations with no issues, and I'm not sure what is causing the issue here. I suspect it is either the bootloader and radio (which was what has been the extra step compared to installing other roms) but I don't want to admit that now all my backups are completely useless.
Am I missing something here? Anyone have any suggestions?
TL;DR I can't seem to get any TB backups to restore on my newly flashed Paranoid Android rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the latest version of Titanium Backup, that supports Android 4.3?

mversion said:
After Google Services drying up my monthly data cap trying to download 4.3, I thought I'd move from PACman v23 to the new Paranoid Android 3.92 as it had 4.3. I thought I did all the right things. I backed up in Rom Manager, copied the file across to my PC. I ran a fresh backup of everything in Titanium Backup and copied that all across to my PC too.
I did a factory reset/data wipe and flashed bootloader/modem/rom/gapps as instructed and got the latest Paranoid Android running. I copy across my TB backup directory and I install TitaniumBackup from the market place. I go restore missing apps, and then... it just hangs on the first app. Read a little online, change the restore mode to "Interactive", doesn't fix it. Go back to the normal setting. I run Verify Backups, and to my surprise, it says there are errors with ALL my backup files. I get pissed, decide perhaps I should've just created a flashable zip. So I say no problem. I'm persistent. I'll create a backup of Paranoid Android, reflash my PACman backup, redo my Titanium Backup, and then reflash my Paranoid Android backup and apply the TB backup zip. So I Copy my PACman zip file, choose Install ZIP from sdcard, select the PACman zip and boom... MD5 verification failed.
I realise I had some Titanium Backup essentials backup on Google Drive and Dropbox, so I copy them over. Point TB to that directory, but the same problem persists. It just hangs.
I've been copying across the same TB folder between various ROM installations with no issues, and I'm not sure what is causing the issue here. I suspect it is either the bootloader and radio (which was what has been the extra step compared to installing other roms) but I don't want to admit that now all my backups are completely useless.
Am I missing something here? Anyone have any suggestions?
TL;DR I can't seem to get any TB backups to restore on my newly flashed Paranoid Android rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having the same issues. Best luck I had is to install the latest SuperSU(PA uses an integrated superuser) and then restore my apps one by one. Some work and others don't. It's a problem with 4.3/TB and SU which hopefully will be resolved. Most of my games worked but Nova launcher did not. I was also in indirect mode when restoring them.

You have to change the backups folder to storage/emulated/legacy in 4.3 to be able to restore your applications. You can change it in Menu/Preferences within TiBu.

I think I screwed something up before. Just did a factory reset, installed latest SuperSU and changed app installation to indirect mode. Everything restored flawlessly after that.

Here is the reply for anyone having similar issues which is explained easily in details
https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z12rw1urfveawxfxm04cjl1aoor5ezninhc

johnie5 said:
Here is the reply for anyone having similar issues which is explained easily in details
https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z12rw1urfveawxfxm04cjl1aoor5ezninhc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
I installed stock 4.3, had to flash the latest SuperSU to get root, and found that all my Titanium Backup files were A-OK. Perhaps it is just a matter of the latest SuperSU and the TB workaround detailed on that link:
...Titanium Backup is an example of such an app. It may incorrectly detect the path to your internal storage for backups, and thus crash on backup/restore. You can fix this by going into preferences and selecting a folder under /storage/emulated/legacy as backup/restore path, not under /storage/emulated/0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll reinstall PA3.92 and try again.

Last update: Installing the latest Paranoid Android 3.94 and putting my Titanium Backup folder in the legacy folder detailed above has given me a working solution.

Mercado_Negro said:
You have to change the backups folder to storage/emulated/legacy in 4.3 to be able to restore your applications. You can change it in Menu/Preferences within TiBu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the solution!! I've been trying to restore stuff for hours.

Happy I found a solution. I too spent way too long getting Titanium Backup to restore apps. And once I found this solution, implementing the folder change isn't just ticking a box or adding an entry. But all's well now. Really enjoying my first taste of Paranoid Android - lots of settings to figure out. I was having dpi/resolution issues with Simpson's Tapped Out and PA will give me several solution options. Thanks everyone!

mversion said:
Thanks.
I installed stock 4.3, had to flash the latest SuperSU to get root, and found that all my Titanium Backup files were A-OK. Perhaps it is just a matter of the latest SuperSU and the TB workaround detailed on that link:
I'll reinstall PA3.92 and try again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was having restore problems with Titanium Backup and installed SuperSU from the play store after reading this and then allowed it to update the binaries through CWM.
All my backups are now restoring fine!

Mercado_Negro said:
You have to change the backups folder to storage/emulated/legacy in 4.3 to be able to restore your applications. You can change it in Menu/Preferences within TiBu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked for me, too, on two different ROMs on my HTC One. I can't believe how easy it was after I tried to figure out a solution for about two hours. Thanks!!!

Mercado_Negro said:
You have to change the backups folder to storage/emulated/legacy in 4.3 to be able to restore your applications. You can change it in Menu/Preferences within TiBu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a bingo!
here is what I did (nexus 7 FLO)
menu - > preferences -> Backup folder location -> DETECT
choose /legacy instead of /0/something or other
It will ask to move the data
select yes
restore away

Mercado_Negro said:
You have to change the backups folder to storage/emulated/legacy in 4.3 to be able to restore your applications. You can change it in Menu/Preferences within TiBu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was much appreciated. I simply switched the backup folder location from /storage/emulated/0 to /storage/emulated/legacy instead. Problem Solved. No Rebooting, no installing SuperSU or anything. I've spent two hours trying to restore my backups (the one time, I forgot to create the flash zips with all my backups and the one time I didn't have space to create a Nandroid,) and now I'm good to Go.

Mercado_Negro said:
You have to change the backups folder to storage/emulated/legacy in 4.3 to be able to restore your applications. You can change it in Menu/Preferences within TiBu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks , worked perfect :good:

Xentar712 said:
I'm having the same issues. Best luck I had is to install the latest SuperSU(PA uses an integrated superuser) and then restore my apps one by one. Some work and others don't. It's a problem with 4.3/TB and SU which hopefully will be resolved. Most of my games worked but Nova launcher did not. I was also in indirect mode when restoring them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I've had a few reinstalls now where I've had to redirect TiBu to the "Legacy" path but this time with Carbon rom I also had to update SuperSU, then let SuperSU update the binary through CWM before I could restore anything.
Edit: Also if you're having problems figuring out how to change Titanium Backup's default path in preferences, your phone/tablet's Back button (beside the home button) will move you up through directories in the "select backup folder" dialog. This one had me stuck for awhile so maybe this info will help someone else.

Even changing it to legacy I am unable to get TiBU to restore. I have even made it navigate to the Titanium Backup Folder where I can see all my apps and system data backed up but it won't load it to restore for some reason.
Any suggestions?

xavier2k3 said:
Even changing it to legacy I am unable to get TiBU to restore. I have even made it navigate to the Titanium Backup Folder where I can see all my apps and system data backed up but it won't load it to restore for some reason.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, flash superSU:
http://download.chainfire.eu/351/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip

droidgren said:
Yes, flash superSU:
http://download.chainfire.eu/351/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.65.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already had. I just set it up again from scratch. Wasn't that bad to be honest.

Titanium Backup was updated today to version 6.1.1. It uses the /legacy path now by default for ROMs using Superuser. You shouldn't run into problems anymore.

[Q] Titanium Backup cannot choose SD card?

Verizon S5 with towelroot and Safestrap nandroid.
I'm trying to use Titanium Backup for the first time. I'm watching the video on the Play Store page. The guy says to go to MENU>Preferences>Backup folder location, and then click "DETECT!". When I do, it shows a progress bar and then a message "No backup location was found." I can click back and navigate to the SD card, but it doesn't show up as a backup location.
I'm hoping to eventually use Titanium Backup to remove some bloat and freeze some Samsung/Verizon processes, but I want to get the backup happening first. Every little step causes frustration because things never seem to happen the way they do in the instructional videos.
EDIT: Also, under Help, there is an option to "Upgrade Superuser". This takes me to Superuser app on the Play Store. I already have SuperSU. Do I need to install Superuser?

You need to do sd card fix / hack. One of the security features in kit kat was to limit 3rd party apps ability to write to the sd card. I believe the latest wanam exposed has the ability to change this, there is also an app in the play store sd fix, or you can just modify the file manually. I can't find the thread right now to do the manual edit, but that is what I did and titanium recognizes it now.
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

scadilla said:
You need to do sd card fix / hack. One of the security features in kit kat was to limit 3rd party apps ability to write to the sd card. I believe the latest wanam exposed has the ability to change this, there is also an app in the play store sd fix, or you can just modify the file manually. I can't find the thread right now to do the manual edit, but that is what I did and titanium recognizes it now.
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I installed "SD KitKat Fixer". I tapped 'FIX' and it says "FIXED: Apps should be able to write to removable sdcards.". However, Titanium Backup says "This folder is not writable" for every folder on the SD card.

ergalthema said:
Interesting. I installed "SD KitKat Fixer". I tapped 'FIX' and it says "FIXED: Apps should be able to write to removable sdcards.". However, Titanium Backup says "This folder is not writable" for every folder on the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to reboot afterwards if you haven't already.

ljv said:
You have to reboot afterwards if you haven't already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thanks. I love how these little details always seem to get left out of the instructions.

If you still have problems
Here is the link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53428200&postcount=1

Bumping an old thread......Currently stock rooted on NI2. I would like to put a ROM on my phone but would like to backup some of my apps using Titanium backup. In the Titanium backup app the Backup directory shows "not available". Going into preferences it shows that every folder in the device is not writeable. If I click DETECT, it shows no backup location was found. I tried to change the platform.xml to read/write using a couple different file explorers but I am unable to save the changes. I have tried to use the app as discussed above and rebooted the device but sill no dice. It seems that this problem started after I tried Rick's ROM for a very brief time and then flashed my nandroid backup on to the device. I would really like to change the ROM on this thing so any help will be appreciated.

brocksdad said:
Bumping an old thread......Currently stock rooted on NI2. I would like to put a ROM on my phone but would like to backup some of my apps using Titanium backup. In the Titanium backup app the Backup directory shows "not available". Going into preferences it shows that every folder in the device is not writeable. If I click DETECT, it shows no backup location was found. I tried to change the platform.xml to read/write using a couple different file explorers but I am unable to save the changes. I have tried to use the app as discussed above and rebooted the device but sill no dice. It seems that this problem started after I tried Rick's ROM for a very brief time and then flashed my nandroid backup on to the device. I would really like to change the ROM on this thing so any help will be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to unmount and remount the card. If that doesn't fix it do a factory data reset from the settings menu and a advanced wipe from safestrap. Then restore your back up. If all else fails remove your card, back it up to your PC and format it and restore. I can assure you my ROM has nothing to do with it. I've installed many ROMs multiple times and re rooted many times without one issue with the extSD card. I even switched phones without ever formatting it. I hope this helps you.

It's not only the card that I can't write to, it's the entire device. Every folder in titanium backup says "This folder is not writeable". I can try the factory reset then reinsatalling a backup. The crazy thing is that I just used SMS Backup and Restore to backup all my SMS/MMS and it created the backup to the external storage.

brocksdad said:
It's not only the card that I can't write to, it's the entire device. Every folder in titanium backup says "This folder is not writeable". I can try the factory reset then reinsatalling a backup. The crazy thing is that I just used SMS Backup and Restore to backup all my SMS/MMS and it created the backup to the external storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible you need to remount the /system filesystem rw (read/write) before you can edit /system/etc/permissions/platform.xml. Apps like Root Explorer or ES File Explorer (with root enabled) do this automatically, but depending on the editor they spawn, it may not be able to re-save the file. I followed:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53428200
and used Root Browser with the RB Editor, and was able to edit and save platform.xml. Don't forget to reboot after making changes. This made Titanium Backup much happier.
- Dave

Thanks for the tip. There were several other things that did not work. Widgets, voice mail, ring tones, the list goes on. I un-rooted my phone and everything works again. When I did root the phone, it was kinda wierd. It never showed that I was on NE9 after using Odin to get to NE9 from NI2.