Hello all,
I am currently running the latest snapshot of Cyanogenmod 11 (M12) on my GS4 and last month I used Flashify to install TWRP 2.8.4.0 over the default CWM 6.0.4.7 recovery that comes with CM11. I did a nandroid backup to my external 64 GB microSD card and it would say that the backup was successful, and I could see it within the file manager and on my PC using MTP.
However, whenever I reboot into the OS, the backup folder gets deleted. I have then tried to backup only the /system partition to my internal storage, since I do not have enough space on my internal storage for a full nandroid. This backup worked successfully as I can access the folder from the OS, however I would still like to a full backup on my SD card since it has enough space for a full nandroid
Here is what I tried:
1. While in TWRP, I copied the newly created backup folder over MTP to my computer. After I rebooted the phone, I shut it down and plugged the SD card into my computer and copied the backup back to my SD card. However, when I placed the SD card back into the phone and powered it on, it deleted the backup again.
2. I reflashed CWM (same version, but newly downloaded and flashed using Flashify) and attempted to do a full nandroid. I received an error saying that the /data partition could not be backed up. Interestingly, I deleted an old CWM backup on my SD card, and after I rebooted that old backup was still there.
3. I flashed TWRP 2.7.1.0 and 2.8.3.0, and still have the same issue.
The version of CWM that I had before I installed TWRP would backup without issues. I am not sure if this is an OS, hardware, or an SD card issue, though my guess would be that when booting into the OS, Android deletes any changes that were made to the SD card that were not made in the OS. I am not sure how to fix this issue and was hoping someone on this forum could help, and I have searched other forums for answers, but haven't found one as specific as this, and solutions for similar problems haven't worked.
The phone works fine otherwise, I'm just worried that with CM12 M releases coming around the corner that I won't be able to install it properly with these recovery issues.
Any help on this would be appreciated, and if there is a better XDA forum for me to ask this on please let me know.
I figured out the issue. Turns out my microSD card is faulty. Sandisk will send a replacement.
So, in an earlier post, i mentioned the problems caused by converting my SD card to internal storage. In trying to fix that, i ended up not being able to boot my device, so i went to restore a backup and realized that since TWRP doesn't see the sdcard, i'm in some trouble. I have a stock image that i'm trying to restore to, but no matter where i put it on my phone, TWRP is not seeing it when i try to 'restore'. I've put it in /TWRP/BACKUP and in /sdcard/TWRP/BACKUP (which isn't really my actual SD card). neither shows in the selection list while in TWRP.
Where do i need to move this so i can restore the file? Again, i can't select 'MicroSDcard' from TWRP. If there is a way to convert the card back to portable storage from recovery, i'm fine formatting it and doing that.
If I backup my system on tw recovery, and flash a new rom, will wiping my phone delete the tw recovery backup in case I have to restore my phone? Feel free to correct me on this, but to my understanding teamwin has it's own partition, and wiping does not mess with this partition?
matthewbhass said:
If I backup my system on tw recovery, and flash a new rom, will wiping my phone delete the tw recovery backup in case I have to restore my phone? Feel free to correct me on this, but to my understanding teamwin has it's own partition, and wiping does not mess with this partition?
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I think TWRP backups are normally stored on your internal storage partition, so if you perform a (EDIT full factory reset doesnt wipe this, thanks Silesh) or wipe your internal storage, your backups will be erased too. The TWRP itself does install to the recovery partition (which will only be affected by a flash to the recovery, which a wipe will not perform), you're correct on that but the backups are held separately to that. You can copy your backups to another computer or SD card, I found my backup under /SDcard/TWRP/BACKUPS - you could either copy the folder with a root browser or use the ADB pull command (with the ADB terminal), though the TWRP backup may not show on a Windows desktop even if it's been copied correctly. However, if copied back to your phone, the TWRP backup should function.
Edit: thanks Silesh for correcting me, I was thinking of app data rather than user data!
echo92 said:
I think TWRP backups are normally stored on your internal storage partition, so if you perform a full factory reset or wipe your internal storage, your backups will be erased too. The TWRP itself does install to the recovery partition (which will only be affected by a flash to the recovery, which a wipe will not perform), you're correct on that but the backups are held separately to that. You can copy your backups to another computer or SD card, I found my backup under /SDcard/TWRP/BACKUPS - you could either copy the folder with a root browser or use the ADB pull command (with the ADB terminal), though the TWRP backup may not show on a Windows desktop even if it's been copied correctly. However, if copied back to your phone, the TWRP backup should function.
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Thanks for replying. I can't transfer files from my computer to my phone, but I have thought about using the ADB sideload option from recovery. Is there a way that I can move my backup from my phone to my computer (and to my phone from my computer) using the sideload option, just in case I need the backup? I refuse to flash a new ROM without access to my complete backup, lol.
Internal storage is not formatted during a normal wipe. You have to specifically go into the advanced wipe and select internal storage to wipe it completely. So there is no issue while flashing a new rom if you don't choose the advanced wipe option.
You could also create the twrp backup in your external sdcard. That way your backup stays even if you wipe your phone using a factory reset or by mistake.
Strange. What's the problem of making backups to external SD? The function is right there (as Silesh mentioned). BTW: the very last version of TWRP is able to make backups straight to pc. This needs to be done FROM a pc though. TWRP is capable to work with fastboot now (using special command though, or with this GUI for pc: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software-hacking/tool-twrp-backup-restore-tool-pc-t3572241 )
You can choose whether you want to use internal storage or SD card when making a backup. It doesn't matter which you choose as long as you (and I learned this the hard way) pay attention to what you are doing and DO NOT WIPE internal storage or your SD card. Advantages of SD card is you won't lose your backup if you decide to flash stock. Disadvantage: if your card craps out on you backup is lost unless you have copied to PC or saved on cloud.
My Solution
I solved my problem by using the pull command in adb. Now if I decide to flash a new ROM, I can push my TWRP recovery back to my phone using adb and then recover it in my TWRP recovery.. I also backup using adb backup which backs it up directly to my computer anyways.
I knew about storing my TWRP backup on an sd card, but I haven't made time to get one. . I recently switched to the Motorola G4 Plus after my iPhone 6s decided to turn off and not turn back on. I eventually grew tired of the iPhone anyways due to lack of accessibility and freedom. Back in the day I owned androids but never rooted one or had one that was rooted. I did jailbreak my 4th generation iPod a few years ago. But I went through an iPhone 5s, and upgraded to a 6s and had that for a few months. I eventually just switched back to android after the longest time and I can't say that I regret it.
My Moto G4 Plus has been an amazing phone. I've only had it for a few weeks now, but I rooted it the day after I got it . So I'm a bit of a noob in the rooting community, . Since then it's been a pretty smooth transition. I've only got root access and xposed framework as of now. I was thinking about flashing a ROM so I made backups just in case, but I don't plan on making any major changes to the kernel or flashing another ROM. I'm satisfied with the stock ROM since Motorola pretty much made it as minimal as possible. I would recommend this phone to anyone. It's the most solid phone I've had yet.
I am trying to backup my device throw TWRP. But it keeps telling me can't create TWRP backup file or something like that and I tried to use OTG but TWRP doesn't read it
There is more than one TWRP for the OP5 available. One which doesn't interface with OTG storage. Here is the TWRP that does. Second and this is a guess, by chance is your internal storage encrypted? All OP5's internal storage is encrypted by default so your's is encrypted unless you manually decrypt it.
So I'm wondering if you script entering your pin/swipe/password when TWRP first boots and that's why TWRP can't create the backup file. Enter "default_password" if you never setup security for your lock screen.
Tried sideloading OS zip but got a cannot read error in powershell, please help.
Not much can be done now. I have had this issue twice where I lost GBs of Data. Try MSM tool to recover your phone, worked for me as latest as two days back.
Check this
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6t/how-to/tool-6t-msmdownloadtool-v4-0-oos-9-0-5-t3867448
I had this happen to me a while back. I had lost TWRP also though but was able to fastboot into it, so needed a PC. I too had the issue of the internal storage being encrypted so couldn't flash the full OTA ROM from my internal storage. Luckily I had an OTG cable adapter and a pendrive on hand. I copied the OTA and TWRP zips from my PC to that and flashed them from USB after booting into TWRP from fastboot. I've never used the MSMTool but managed to get my phone back up and running using this method. From my experience, you need to let the ROM boot fully to the point where you have entered your pin. Once you get past that, your internal storage should be able to decrypt in TWRP if you reboot into TWRP after that.
Hope this helps.