I'm a bit confused on what the differences are between the 3 and when you'd want one over the other. I could figure out the 2nd half of the question if it was more clear the first half.
Here is what I think I've gleaned:
ClockWork backs up my ROM ...does it do installed apps too? does it grab user data? Is it the one stop recover from my own stupidity app?
Titanium backs up installed apps and their settings?
nandroid...no clue really
It would be nice to put this into a wiki
Peter
Clockwork is the ROM manager flash to your phone to allow you to get into the restore mod.
Nandroid is the backup of your entire phone at that time.
Titanium backsup your apps and app data.
Backing up your ROM is like a restore point on a computer, you reload that and your phone is back to the way it was at that point. Titanium allows you to back up your apps and reinstall all backups/app data/ or just some. Whatever your preference.
wow, I didn't think I was confused, but i guess I am now.
I understand Titanium app+data backup. No Q's there.
But as for ROM Manager, I've always been under the impression that when I choose the "Backup Current ROM" option within ROM Manager, I was performing a full image backup of the phone. Is this not the case? If not, what exactly am I backing up? As the OP inquired, what is the difference between this and the nandroid b/u?
You are correct - ROM Manager, is the big tool that encompasses the others. It uses NANdroid to do a full backup - everything. It is more of a disk image then a restore point.
You use ROM Manager to boot into a special menu that gives you NANdroid and NANdroid has access to the entire ROM and Data to back everything up.
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Howto:_Nandroid_Backup
I have been trying to sort this out in my mind as well. I think this is the case (someone please correct if wrong):
nandroid, whether done from within CWM or Rom Manager, essentially makes an image backup of your whole phone--perhaps not technically as an "image," but the end effect is the same. If you restore a nandroid backup, you get your whole phone back exactly as it was when the backup was made.
LATER: Soccer_Dad said that nandroid does not include the modem and kernel.
TitaniumBackup depends a bit on what you select at the time the backup is made, but mostly is used to backup apps and (apps data???), although it can do more than that. Typically, it is used to restore your apps back onto a phone after flashing a new ROM.
If those are correct, I have a question still--how do you backup and restore your homescreens or desktop icons? I presume they would be included in a nandroid backup, but if you do a ROM and TitaniumBackup restore, is there an easy way to get all your app icons back onto the right screen panels?
movrshakr said:
I have been trying to sort this out in my mind as well. I think this is the case (someone please correct if wrong):
nandroid, whether done from within CWM or Rom Manager, essentially makes an image backup of your whole phone--perhaps not technically as an "image," but the end effect is the same. If you restore a nandroid backup, you get your whole phone back exactly as it was when the backup was made.
TitaniumBackup depends a bit on what you select at the time the backup is made, but mostly is used to backup apps and (apps data???), although it can do more than that. Typically, it is used to restore your apps back onto a phone after flashing a new ROM.
If those are correct, I have a question still--how do you backup and restore your homescreens or desktop icons? I presume they would be included in a nandroid backup, but if you do a ROM and TitaniumBackup restore, is there an easy way to get all your app icons back onto the right screen panels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quick answer would be to backup the data of your launcher. I personaly use ADW Ex and whenever I restore it after a flash, it all comes back the way it was (beside wallpaper which isn't all too hard to change )
movrshakr said:
I have been trying to sort this out in my mind as well. I think this is the case (someone please correct if wrong):
nandroid, whether done from within CWM or Rom Manager, essentially makes an image backup of your whole phone--perhaps not technically as an "image," but the end effect is the same. If you restore a nandroid backup, you get your whole phone back exactly as it was when the backup was made.
TitaniumBackup depends a bit on what you select at the time the backup is made, but mostly is used to backup apps and (apps data???), although it can do more than that. Typically, it is used to restore your apps back onto a phone after flashing a new ROM.
If those are correct, I have a question still--how do you backup and restore your homescreens or desktop icons? I presume they would be included in a nandroid backup, but if you do a ROM and TitaniumBackup restore, is there an easy way to get all your app icons back onto the right screen panels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Titanium backup select your homescreen app and backup app + data. Widgets will have to be reapplied but apps and icons should be all there when you restore.
*Cm7 Nook*
movrshakr said:
I have been trying to sort this out in my mind as well. I think this is the case (someone please correct if wrong):
nandroid, whether done from within CWM or Rom Manager, essentially makes an image backup of your whole phone--perhaps not technically as an "image," but the end effect is the same. If you restore a nandroid backup, you get your whole phone back exactly as it was when the backup was made.
TitaniumBackup depends a bit on what you select at the time the backup is made, but mostly is used to backup apps and (apps data???), although it can do more than that. Typically, it is used to restore your apps back onto a phone after flashing a new ROM.
If those are correct, I have a question still--how do you backup and restore your homescreens or desktop icons? I presume they would be included in a nandroid backup, but if you do a ROM and TitaniumBackup restore, is there an easy way to get all your app icons back onto the right screen panels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case you are a flashaholic, the nandroid backup gets everything...except the modem and kernel. If you flash a bunch, and then restore an earlier nandroid backup, you could end up with some incompatibilities. I rename my backups (found in the clockworkmod directory on your sdcard) with date.rom.kernel.modem, so I know how to get a true restore (and I keep a flashable copy of the kernel and modem on my PC so I don't have to search for those in XDA, since the site is always undergoing maintenance at 10 pm PDT).
I use that a bunch, to go back to a perfectly functional Serendipity after testing out other mods/roms/etc. You will want to back up and store current tasks, calendar items, contacts, call logs, sms, etc. before your restore, to update the old rom with your recent calls/texts/etc.
Thanks. Nice additional explanation. I did not know that nandroid did not do modem and kernel. (Is there something that does?)
Will modify my previous post for future readers.
Ok I keep seeing people sayiing to backup apps+data but be careful about system data. Well every time I do an upgrd to the new sre and restore my titbu and I am constantly having to redo my gmail stuff and isp email stuff. I have accounts checked in the backup section.
Can someone that does stuff like this regularly post like a nice simple howto with good steps as to what to check in titbu so that doing something in titbu doesn't bork something when we flash the new sre. Its getting old having to put my gmail info and isp info in every flash to get that stuff back.
So a 104 views and not one offer of help. Well guess I take that as noone knows much about titanium backup to help a poor soul
New to Android myself (2 days), and I am using TiBU as well (seems to be everyone's favorite for now). I had the same Q you did and basically went off the list on the developer's page for the app:
http://matrixrewriter.com/android/
Here is a partial copy/paste from that site so we keep the pertinent instructions here in this thread anyway:
Tips & Suggestions for using Titanium Backup:
When you start Titanium Backup on a new ROM, if you have any doubt about your busybox version, it is highly recommended that you click the "Problems?" button before doing any backup or restore !
Don't forget to verify your backups (Click MENU - Batch) to ensure that your backups are OK.
You need to reboot after restoring system items (eg: Contacts, SMS, Settings, etc) for the changes to take effect. If you backup/restore across very different ROMs, I advise to be cautious and only include the system items you really need to preserve.
You can easily create a custom apps list by creating a Label in Apps Organizer, then going back to Titanium Backup, clicking "MENU" and then "Filters" and finally, selecting the Label you want. Your apps list will then be filtered just the way you want
If you backup the same app several times, Titanium Backup will save SD card space by storing each apk version only once.
After restoring your apps, you can run the Market Doctor to verify their Market links. If Market Doctor reports everything as okay, yet your apps are still not listed in "My Downloads", try to search for them in the Market. If they show as "Installed", it confirms that the links are okay, but your Market needs a refresh: just install any app from the Market, and the "My Downloads" section will be refreshed !
If you want to remove a system app, first you can try to freeze it and see if everything still works fine. Once you've gained more confidence that you don't need it, just go ahead and un-install that system app.
How to make your first backup:
- Thanks seanowns / xda-developers
Verify that Titanium Backup has started without warning and that your busybox is OK
Click the Backup/Restore tab
Click Menu (the button), Batch
Click "Backup all user apps"
Let it run, then go back
Individually backup the system data you want. That is most green-colored items. This will be bookmarks, call log, calendar, launcher, WiFi, etc.
Now your backups are in the "TitaniumBackup" directory on your SD card.
How to restore your backups after installing a ROM (if you wiped your phone):
Download Titanium Backup from Market
Click the Backup/Restore tab
Click Menu (the button), Batch
Click "Restore all missing apps + system data
Reboot your phone
It's done ! The only thing you may have to adjust is usually your wallpaper/widgets.
What some best practices that have been established in regards to using Clockwork Rom Manager's Nandroid backup along with Titanium Backup of all user apps + system data?
Seems each time I update to a newer ROM/Firmware, then restore using Titanium backup the PDA version changes as seen in *#1234#
Curious to know how everyone else is using the backup apps that are available for this device.
I just backup all user apps, I dont backup system data.
I always make a nandroid backup if im going to flash anything,.,.....and once i get a rom set up to my liking, then i make a backup of that as well.
This looks like something that should be a sticky just to keep a formal standardized process people can refer to when getting into flashing new firmware or trying new ROMS.
Thank you!
Hi, Im getting really interested in changing my rom to a Cyanogen updated rom however how can I save for example my password safe app and its data. I can Use asto file manager and save all my apps to my sd card, but what about all the data on the apps themselves. I have alot of information on my password save app which stores sensative information. I dont want to re-enter all the information again.
Thanks
Use Titanium Backup.
Does your password save app have an export function? I guess it would have to be password protected itself, but does it?
If it doesn't, you'll want to get Titanium Backup after rooting anyway. It's way better than apps like Astro at backing up, because it backs up apk, the market link (so it shows up in the Market > My Downloads after restoring), and it saves app data. Note: when changing ROMs, don't backup/restore "system data," only backup "user apps" (it will backup app data as well). Once you open Titanium Backup, press Menu > Batch > Backup all user apps.
I haven't tried it myself, but MyBackup Root basically offers the features of the paid version (one-click restore of all apps+data). It's just not as feature packed, but if you're just backing up for a ROM switch then it should do the job.
I would backup with both apps. Then when you have CyanogenMod, try restoring with MyBackup Root first. If it works, great. In case it doesn't for some reason you always have Titanium Backup.
From what I can read Titanium backup is a great app for all kinds of purposes.
But, do I really need Titanium backup if I already have Android Assistant?
I restore my apps with AA after flashing new ROMs, and it is all pretty much as good, as with Titanium...
does aa have the feature to retrieve data from nandroid or adb backup? If yes the its the same.
extract from nandroid backup is an excellent function. Really. don't need to do individual backups at all.