Database Users

[Q] Backing up phone BEFORE rooting?

I'm about to take my baby steps and root my Nexus 4 for the first time. I've read the sticky's and have a good idea of what I'd be doing, but I don't see much in the way of backing things up before root and as I understand, rooting wipes your data. Can anyone help me on this or at least better understand what I should do?
I'm also having difficulty understanding the whole bootloader and custom recovery too but not too much trouble. I'd just like to know how to install a custom recovery and how much risk I'm at of messing up my bootloader.

PGvossman said:
I'm about to take my baby steps and root my Nexus 4 for the first time. I've read the sticky's and have a good idea of what I'd be doing, but I don't see much in the way of backing things up before root and as I understand, rooting wipes your data. Can anyone help me on this or at least better understand what I should do?
I'm also having difficulty understanding the whole bootloader and custom recovery too but not too much trouble. I'd just like to know how to install a custom recovery and how much risk I'm at of messing up my bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting does not wipe data, the unlocking process does. There is no really good way to backup everything prior to unlokcing, you could use My Backup but you should really use the Pro version which is $4.99 (Many people swear by it for unrooted phones, I have no real experience with it). Wugfresh's toolkit has a backup and restore when doing unlock, but honestly, it messed up my phone and I had to factory default anyways.
As long as you are syncing stuff to Google (contacts, pictures, videos, etc), have Android Backup& Restore enabled (handles apps and common system settings), SMS Backup & Restore (text and pix messages), and you pull of the other files you want, there is no real need to backup at all. I swap ROMs all the time, and this is all I do to go from one ROM to another.
As far as the actual rooting process, ie. flashing SuperSU, there is no need to backup prior to that... all that is going to do is add a few files in some system directories and that's it.
The greatest thing about a Nexus device is it's ability to be modified... and within normal means it is virtually unbrickable, so give it a shot, and if you screw it up ask for help, thousands of people here have done it and can help, and if you still can't figure out a problem just restore the Google system images and whoalla... your phone is back to out of box condition.

You are able to root and unlock without wiping any data. Just check out my guide (the link is in the stickies, too)

mihahn said:
You are able to root and unlock without wiping any data. Just check out my guide (the link is in the stickies, too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I opened your links but they all seem to be about Xperia devices.
I don't quite understand. Isn't the unlocking process needed to root the phone, thereby loosing all the data?

easy
before rooting, you hav to unlock bootloader and it wipes your all pics videos etc so better backup in your pc and thn try root. foloow guide ,its easy, or search on youtube for videos...

parveen75 said:
before rooting, you hav to unlock bootloader and it wipes your all pics videos etc so better backup in your pc and thn try root. foloow guide ,its easy, or search on youtube for videos...
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Click to collapse
OK I guess that makes sense. Does that include phone contacts, SMS and passwords?
And I suppose my final question is the danger of the bootloader. Is it possible for a newbie like myself to ruin something accidentally?

PGvossman said:
I opened your links but they all seem to be about Xperia devices.
I don't quite understand. Isn't the unlocking process needed to root the phone, thereby loosing all the data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I meant the one in the stickies here, I'll add the guide to my signature later
But I meant this guide. It'll root before unlocking the bootloader and you are able to unlock without wiping then. Check it out

PGvossman said:
OK I guess that makes sense. Does that include phone contacts, SMS and passwords?
And I suppose my final question is the danger of the bootloader. Is it possible for a newbie like myself to ruin something accidentally?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I m also a newbie earlier . lol.. Only follow guide corectly for rooting.. U wl b good to go
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

mihahn said:
Yeah I meant the one in the stickies here, I'll add the guide to my signature later
But I meant this guide. It'll root before unlocking the bootloader and you are able to unlock without wiping then. Check it out
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Click to collapse
Thanks. Where does the whole custom recovery and such come into play on this though?

PGvossman said:
Thanks. Where does the whole custom recovery and such come into play on this though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not necessary to flash the recovery, but you may flash it if you want to and if you need it

Couple ways to do a backup without root.
Use adb,
eg. adb backup -all -apk -nosystem
Then pull files you want to backup
eg. adb pull /sdcard/
Or use helium app available from play store which is basically a gui for the adb backup command.

Thanks. I notice the -nosystem command, does that mean it won't back up system details?
I suppose my final question is Windows 8 support. I saw a thread a while back when you have to do something extra for the drivers and I can't seem to see it in the sticky threads.

Urgent help needed. Locked out of phone.

I was poking security options within my phone, and I accidentally locked it with a pattern that I cannot recall.
I tried looking for troubleshooting guides, but unfortunately Marshmallow no longer has a "forgot code?" option. Also, I tried Android Device Manager, but it tells me since my phone already has a lockscreen, I no longer need to add a password (which I intended to do, in order to know said password)
I would greatly appreciate any help, since I really don't want to factory reset, since I got lots of pics I don't want to lose.

xdmatt said:
I was poking security options within my phone, and I accidentally locked it with a pattern that I cannot recall.
I would greatly appreciate any help, since I really don't want to factory reset, since I got lots of pics I don't want to lose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
google is your friend http://www.addictivetips.com/android/how-to-bypass-disable-pattern-unlock-on-android-via-adb-commands/
edit: this does not work on marshmallow[tested]
i think this will help you http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/orig-development/bypass-lock-screen-pattern-password-pin-t2948336

bablu048 said:
google is your friend http://www.addictivetips.com/android/how-to-bypass-disable-pattern-unlock-on-android-via-adb-commands/
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Click to collapse
hopefully he enabled the usb debugging option

pijes said:
hopefully he enabled the usb debugging option
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Click to collapse
nope, this does not help. Just now i tried this on my device..if the device is locked adb doesn't recognize the device. this method does not work on marshmallow.
i don't know about lollipop. maybe it works.

pijes said:
hopefully he enabled the usb debugging option
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Click to collapse
bablu048 said:
nope, this does not help. Just now i tried this on my device..if the device is locked adb doesn't recognize the device. this method does not work on marshmallow.
i don't know about lollipop. maybe it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, my phone is stock and non rooted, but luckily I could guess the pattern.
I still would like to know for future reference, since Android Device Manager did a great job at getting my phone's location and making it ring... just not unlocking it!!

xdmatt said:
Unfortunately, my phone is stock and non rooted, but luckily I could guess the pattern.
I still would like to know for future reference, since Android Device Manager did a great job at getting my phone's location and making it ring... just not unlocking it!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you don't need to be rooted to access recovery and install files.
for future reference see the 2nd link i posted. I haven't tried that yet, i'l report when i try.

bablu048 said:
you don't need to be rooted to access recovery and install files.
for future reference see the 2nd link i posted. I haven't tried that yet, i'l report when i try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He wouldn't have been able to use it because you need a custom recovery to flash that file.

Well... I guess you know the system works? Probably not great for there to be an easy or sure-fire way to unlock a phone if you don't know the security details.

If it's just data you need, recovery mode should allow you to copy it off the device via USB (if you didnt encrypt the device). Getting into a phone you really locked yourself out of is probably not possible.

AtomicStryker said:
If it's just data you need, recovery mode should allow you to copy it off the device via USB (if you didnt encrypt the device). Getting into a phone you really locked yourself out of is probably not possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i want to know how to copy data from the device through recovery. do you know the process or where to find a guide?
edit: thanks for the idea. i hadn't thought that way.

xdmatt said:
Unfortunately, my phone is stock and non rooted, but luckily I could guess the pattern.
I still would like to know for future reference, since Android Device Manager did a great job at getting my phone's location and making it ring... just not unlocking it!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For preventative measures, Tasker is your friend. Have a "Plan B" microSD with a special .txt file on it, and have Tasker detect SD inserted and scan that file. If the file matches, then Tasker should wipe /data/system/gesture.key and password.key, and sqlite3 into settings.db and "update system set value=0 where name='lock_pattern_autolock' " to unlock your device.
In the case of an aftermath, it is now (as of today) possible to recover files/photos from the lockscreen without root, ADB, or custom recovery. Just an internet connection, linked Google account, and access to the notification drawer. I just published my first app, Locked-out Phone Backup, that is similar to the old Screen Lock Bypass Pro for Gingerbread, but instead recovers files instead of disabling the screen lock, so no root is required!
Hope this answers your question!

Well, try some password remover.

Lockscreen bypass

I need to recover data from a samsung galaxy s7 edge, but I don't know the code for unlocking the screen. There's a way to bypass this?

1. How could You forget a 4 digit pin code? Seriously.
2. Is it rooted? Any custom rom on it? Encryption?

ProtoDeVNan0 said:
1. How could You forget a 4 digit pin code? Seriously.
2. Is it rooted? Any custom rom on it? Encryption?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isn't mine, it was of a dead person and the family asks me to recover data but they don't know the pin.
It's fully original.

Then I'm not sure if it's possible.
If it didn't have encryption enabled (it's enabled by default by samsung) then You could flash TWRP and then flash a zip file which removes certain files in Data partition and well, unlocks the device (I've done it before when I broke my lock screen buttons). But with Encryption being enabled TWRP won't be able to read Data partition and yeah. I'm not sure if You can even access internal storage through TWRP.
Maybe try all possible combinations? Or the most popular ones.
Try this:
Flash TWRP(a detailed instruction is on XDA)
Tap on advanced and then file manager.
You should be able to see internal storage if it's not encrypted, and then just copy all files that You want to sd card or just mount usb storage.
But if the encryption covers Data and internal storage then I don't think You can do anything.
Like I said, in the worst case try using most popular code combinations and maybe one will work. But try that before flashing TWRP, cause TWRP might soft brick the device.

No. Who knows what you're really after? I'm totally against questions like these and would urge people not to answer. If it's really your own device, you have to deal with the consequences of forgetting a 4 digit number.

Not possible with encryption, only way is brute forcing it and it might auto wipe after 15 attempts

Really??? Xda is the first place someone with this situation would ask for help? First post? I'm calling BS.
If - hah - you are legit, the "dead" person's phone is still under warranty, therefore the "family" can take the phone to the dealer/network provider and get help there.

sounds very suspicious

Best way to save app data before unlocking bootloader

Hi I would like to unlock the bootloader and root once the new update rolls out but have quite a few private apps with preferences set. If I had TWRP I would just backup the data partition but I cannot do that.
I wanted to ask what you feel the most effective way to backup my apps and app data on a non-rooted virgin Shield? Does Google allow app data syncing on Android TV platform?
Thanks.
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Anyone???
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E--Man said:
Anyone???
Please use the QUOTE feature when replying to me to get my attention. Thanks!
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Is it a 16GB og Pro version?
If it's a 16GB, there isn't really anything that just works, unfortunately.
If it's a Pro version, then you can pull the HDD and alter a partition to make it unlocked, then flash TWRP, backup and update (in theory).

E--Man said:
Anyone???
Please use the QUOTE feature when replying to me to get my attention. Thanks!
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Umm you can't... That's kind of One, of the many other possible reasons why you root to begin with. e.g. being able to access restricted /data, and /system Partitions, for instance. As it is I would guess the only way you could possibly get at them would be though ADB. But, lol you have to also have root for that.*
NOTE: This is where those Rooted Recovery Images from nVIDIA come from. They are only rooted for ADB, and not for SuperSU. Or so I understand it.
So again I fairly sure your just going to have to bite it this time. Also (from someone with some experience in the matter), you may want to remove your SSHD, and make a few backups of it (See the SSHD to SSD Migration To), in case thing ever go ugh wrong. If your hell bent on rooting.

hallydamaster said:
Is it a 16GB og Pro version?
If it's a 16GB, there isn't really anything that just works, unfortunately.
If it's a Pro version, then you can pull the HDD and alter a partition to make it unlocked, then flash TWRP, backup and update (in theory).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ichijoe said:
Umm you can't... That's kind of One, of the many other possible reasons why you root to begin with. e.g. being able to access restricted /data, and /system Partitions, for instance. As it is I would guess the only way you could possibly get at them would be though ADB. But, lol you have to also have root for that.*
NOTE: This is where those Rooted Recovery Images from nVIDIA come from. They are only rooted for ADB, and not for SuperSU. Or so I understand it.
So again I fairly sure your just going to have to bite it this time. Also (from someone with some experience in the matter), you may want to remove your SSHD, and make a few backups of it (See the SSHD to SSD Migration To), in case thing ever go ugh wrong. If your hell bent on rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Taking the above into consideration, I am actually registered in the nVidia Developer Program and have access to the Developer images. Having said that, if I flash the Developer image, then I not just use the rooted ADB to make a backup of all the app data and then unlock boot loader and restore it?

Well irregardless of your having a Pro (Or, not)... You're still not going to get very far with what you are hoping to do. As you would have had, to have unlocked the Bootloader first. Before you could flash anything at all.
Unlocking the Bootloader will of course totally erase ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA! And, that seems to be the catch-22 here, as you presumably do not want this. Of course OtOH if you ~are~ already unlocked then it shouldn't be a problem, then again booting TWRP from Fastboot, and eventually rooting shouldn't be a problem either.
But, since your Device has NOT yet been Bootloader unlocked, you CAN NOT actually do any of this yet.
I don't know what exactly it is you want to "backup", but you could use something like ES File Explorer to backup your Installed Apps, and your 'hidden' /system Apps (e.g. iPlayer), if thats your thing.
If you wanted to backup your Kodi stuff then ESFE could do that as well (But, you would have to enable Hidden Files to do this). Considering the recent loss of TVAddons. This in-and-of-itself, may well be good advice going forward for a while yet.

Ichijoe said:
Well irregardless of your having a Pro (Or, not)... You're still not going to get very far with what you are hoping to do. As you would have had, to have unlocked the Bootloader first. Before you could flash anything at all.
Unlocking the Bootloader will of course totally erase ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA! And, that seems to be the catch-22 here, as you presumably do not want this. Of course OtOH if you ~are~ already unlocked then it shouldn't be a problem, then again booting TWRP from Fastboot, and eventually rooting shouldn't be a problem either.
But, since your Device has NOT yet been Bootloader unlocked, you CAN NOT actually do any of this yet.
I don't know what exactly it is you want to "backup", but you could use something like ES File Explorer to backup your Installed Apps, and your 'hidden' /system Apps (e.g. iPlayer), if thats your thing.
If you wanted to backup your Kodi stuff then ESFE could do that as well (But, you would have to enable Hidden Files to do this). Considering the recent loss of TVAddons. This in-and-of-itself, may well be good advice going forward for a while yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. There is only one discrepancy/question I have with your post - I was under the impression that I can flash the nVidia signed Developer ROM image *without* unlocking the bootloader, is that correct? If not, then I see your point and there is no way to access the app data files in the "data" partition. However, if I do not need to unlock the bootloader to flash the nVidia signed Developer image, and the nVidia signed Developer image is ADB rooted then I should be able to access the "data" partition.
Unless of course the flashing the nVidia signed Developer image will also wipe the "data" partition in the process

E--Man said:
Thanks for the reply. There is only one discrepancy/question I have with your post - I was under the impression that I can flash the nVidia signed Developer ROM image *without* unlocking the bootloader, is that correct? If not, then I see your point and there is no way to access the app data files in the "data" partition. However, if I do not need to unlock the bootloader to flash the nVidia signed Developer image, and the nVidia signed Developer image is ADB rooted then I should be able to access the "data" partition.
Unless of course the flashing the nVidia signed Developer image will also wipe the "data" partition in the process
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is taken from the Nvidia developer page:
NOTE: On the SHIELD Android TV Pro 500GB edition, some steps of the flash process may take a
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

hallydamaster said:
This is taken from the Nvidia developer page:
NOTE: On the SHIELD Android TV Pro 500GB edition, some steps of the flash process may take a
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Darn, you are correct - it is required to unlock the bootloader to flash the nVidia Developer image. Too bad. Wish there was a way to extract app data! Some apps on mobile Devices use the Google Sync for app data, but I am not sure if this is employable on Android TV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

E--Man said:
Thanks for the reply. There is only one discrepancy/question I have with your post - I was under the impression that I can flash the nVidia signed Developer ROM image *without* unlocking the bootloader, is that correct? If not, then I see your point and there is no way to access the app data files in the "data" partition. However, if I do not need to unlock the bootloader to flash the nVidia signed Developer image, and the nVidia signed Developer image is ADB rooted then I should be able to access the "data" partition.
Unless of course the flashing the nVidia signed Developer image will also wipe the "data" partition in the process
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair, you would have to read the enclosed README File with the Dev ROM in question. I Have yet had no much reason to use it. So to be quite honest here I wouldn't know. OtOH though you do have to bootloader unlock the Device first of you wanted to flash a stock recovery Image. So everything that I think I know comes from that.
But, please extrapolate this idea of App Data further. I mean are we speaking about Apps, of pure Data (Al-la Kodi Data)?
'Cause these things can be backed up to degrees. If it's something well deeper than this. Well your just outta luck I'm afraid.

Ichijoe said:
To be fair, you would have to read the enclosed README File with the Dev ROM in question. I Have yet had no much reason to use it. So to be quite honest here I wouldn't know. OtOH though you do have to bootloader unlock the Device first of you wanted to flash a stock recovery Image. So everything that I think I know comes from that.
But, please extrapolate this idea of App Data further. I mean are we speaking about Apps, of pure Data (Al-la Kodi Data)?
'Cause these things can be backed up to degrees. If it's something well deeper than this. Well your just outta luck I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi lchijoe, I am just referring to the app preferences and their personal data that usually exists inside the "/data/data" folder. Some manufacturers allow exporting of this data even on non-rooted devices. For example, Huawei has a backup app which exports apps along with their personal data such that if you restore them it is as if you didn't even uninstall them to begin with. If I basically want to have everything restored as if I didn't do a factory reset.

.
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Just bumping this in case anyone has any other input

Help with recovery

So the new security patch bricked my 8 pro into qualcomm crash dump screen.
I have done no funny business at all, yes my bootloader is unlocked and yes I have root. But it is only for basic things like titanium backup and permission ruler. I have never done anything crazy with my phone, never even flashed a rom, my phone has been rooted for well over a year and I always install all the security patches so this was super random and I'm pissed off.
Anyways I cannot find a video about recovering the phone without erasing everything and I thought this was only necessary when you DON'T have an unlocked bootloader. I thought it was possible to flash oxygen with fastboot and it fixes the problem. But I just dont know exactly how to do this and I didnt want to screw up anything. I'm totally fine with losing root and having the bootloader locked again I just really want to save my data. Any help and I would be grateful, because at this point I'm going to work tommorow without my phone.

one way... MSM tool and ITS deleting all your files

beterman said:
one way... MSM tool and ITS deleting all your files
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wow man, this literally came from the security patch

If phone is accessible via ADB ( no bootloop ! ) then you can pull the data of interest by means of ADB-commands to a connected computer.
Look inside here:
[TOOL][ADB][WIN]Android Partitions Backupper / Cloner
Hi all, wrote a Windows CMD script that backups / clones partitions of an Android device via ADB because I wasn't content with any 3rd-party APK what claims to do this job. The backups /clones are stored on Windows computer as...
forum.xda-developers.com

Codeman785 said:
So the new security patch bricked my 8 pro into qualcomm crash dump screen.
I have done no funny business at all, yes my bootloader is unlocked and yes I have root. But it is only for basic things like titanium backup and permission ruler. I have never done anything crazy with my phone, never even flashed a rom, my phone has been rooted for well over a year and I always install all the security patches so this was super random and I'm pissed off.
Anyways I cannot find a video about recovering the phone without erasing everything and I thought this was only necessary when you DON'T have an unlocked bootloader. I thought it was possible to flash oxygen with fastboot and it fixes the problem. But I just dont know exactly how to do this and I didnt want to screw up anything. I'm totally fine with losing root and having the bootloader locked again I just really want to save my data. Any help and I would be grateful, because at this point I'm going to work tommorow without my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Far as I'm aware the security patch was incremental and not a full update, seeing as you're rooted then I'd advise against installing incremental updates, when you update get the full one and pull the boot image for instances just like this.
Easiest way out of this is MSM although if you can obtain the boot image from 9.9 then you may be able to save it by booting that image / patched image.