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I was curious to know if someone could provide me with a step my step method of changing ROMs on a rooted captivate. I'm currently running Firefly ROM and want to know how to switch ROMs without loosing my apps and the data stored in them (such as high scores on games and such).
I tried Titanium Backup but it seems to cause problems with the system phone app when i switch and do "backup all user apps and data -> restore all user apps and data".
Also when i try to use rom manager to create a backup...the backup crashes, goes to a samsung "Android System Recovery"....the up volume button moves my selection down and the down volume moves my selection up. The power button doesn't select anything. When I press the menu button, all the text disappears.
I just want a sound way of backing up ROMs and Apps (with their data) to easily switch between ROMs more freely and with security of mind.
Thanks, and please respond.
Best to ask this in the Q&A section, and check the stickies. Tons of good info up there.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=884364
Put the ROM on your sdcard
Boot to recovery
Choose the zip
Install
Reboot
Enjoy
Yes, please post questions in the Q&A section as mentioned above.
Also, disregard opcow's reply; he did not read your whole post and it does not apply to you. His method will wipe everything on your phone.
Most of the suggestions you'll get are TiBu (Titanium Backup). When you make a backup (I'm assuming you're doing a batch backup with TiBu Pro), only select User Apps. Don't select User Apps + System ... (don't remember what it's called). This way, you'll save your apps with their settings and info, but you will not back up your phone's settings, such as WiFi networks, GPS, etc.
Trust me though, because of the diverse way that ROMs handle things, you don't want to back up your system settings, otherwise you may run into issues such as those you mentioned before.
Another note: do not use ROM Manager!
It's a nice piece of software, but it doesn't work a lot of the time. This doesn't apply to your backups, you're just restoring the backups incorrectly, but regardless, don't use ROM Manager.
Anyway, to correctly apply a Nandroid Backup, you must have the same exact kernel and modem installed ATM on the phone that were present in the Nandroid Backup. For example:
Let's say you have XYZ ROM installed with SuckerPunch #47 kernel and the KP1 modem. Then you make a Nandroid backup of that ROM.
After that, you go and install ABC ROM with Speedmod kernel and JK4 modem. After a day of use, you want to restore your XYZ Nandroid backup.
In order to do this, you must install the SuckerPunch #47 kernel and the KP1 modem on top of the ABC ROM before you restore the Nandroid backup.
If you don't do this, you'll run into issues.
Hopefully that will fix your issue. I tend to steer clear of Nandroid backups because of all the issues that I've seen people have with them, but if you're looking to restore your phone to the exact state that you had it at one point, then a Nandroid backup is the way to go. Otherwise, use TiBu.
Also, before you backup or restore (the first thing you should do after you install TiBu) is to click on the button that says "Problems?". This will install a version of BusyBox that is known to work with TiBu. If you have a version that doesn't work correctly, then your backup or restore will not work correctly either.
Good luck!
Loggik said:
Also, disregard opcow's reply; he did not read your whole post and it does not apply to you. His method will wipe everything on your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. I just read the first sentence. This question gets asked a lot and I just go into autopilot.
OP, It is true that my method will wipe your phone, but that's actually what you want unless you are going flashing a no-wipe upgrade, in which case my method would work just fine. But yes, generally your will want to back up with something like Titanium Backup. Backing up apps and data is fine, just don't restore system data and it shouldn't cause problems. I've done it at least 5 times in the last 2 days.
I would avoid nandroid backups. They aren't mostly useful after reverting to the ROM you were running when you made the backup, not for restoring apps.
Use MyBackup pro its more user friendly.
Thanks, a couple more follow ups.
Thank you very very much. Another quick follow up question.
My version of clockwork mod (v2.5.1.0 Speedmod ULFK) gives me the following options:
-Backup DATA: data + dbdata + cache
-Restore DATA
-Backup ALL
-Restore ALL (Be careful!)
....which 2 do i select to backup/restore a nandroid effectively. Based on your responses, ill most likely be doing TiBu, but just to better understand the architecture of the phone and the clockwork files i wanna know.
Also, is there a way i can change / upgrade the clockwork recovery version of my phone...whats the most recent version if i decide to do so?
Aside from this, Thank you to everyone who is helping me out with this issue. Much appreciated.
opcow said:
You're right. I just read the first sentence. This question gets asked a lot and I just go into autopilot.
OP, It is true that my method will wipe your phone, but that's actually what you want unless you are going flashing a no-wipe upgrade, in which case my method would work just fine. But yes, generally your will want to back up with something like Titanium Backup. Backing up apps and data is fine, just don't restore system data and it shouldn't cause problems. I've done it at least 5 times in the last 2 days.
I would avoid nandroid backups. They aren't mostly useful after reverting to the ROM you were running when you made the backup, not for restoring apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know if there is a way to restore apps using Titanium Backup without having to manually click through and accept each and every app?
killswitch7 said:
Do you know if there is a way to restore apps using Titanium Backup without having to manually click through and accept each and every app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy the pro version. If you flash allot it is a must
killswitch7 said:
Do you know if there is a way to restore apps using Titanium Backup without having to manually click through and accept each and every app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like the above post says, buy Titanium Backup Pro; it's worth it, and it features the Batch Mode, which allows for what you're asking.
Ompalompa287 said:
....which 2 do i select to backup/restore a nandroid effectively. Based on your responses, ill most likely be doing TiBu, but just to better understand the architecture of the phone and the clockwork files i wanna know.
Also, is there a way i can change / upgrade the clockwork recovery version of my phone...whats the most recent version if i decide to do so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a full on Nandroid Backup, select Backup All... and obviously Restore All... when the time comes that you need to restore your backup. But like opcow said, it's best to stay away from Nandroid backups... they can get messy
dingokevin said:
Use MyBackup pro its more user friendly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot agree. It may look more user friendly, but it has a lot less support. I've never even heard of it, whereas TiBu has almost every feature you could want. Plus, look at it this way:
Linux is in no way easier to use than Windows or OS X (though OS X is based off of Linux, but disregarding that...). However, it can do a TON more than Windows or OS X, but you just need to get used to it. Same with TiBu v.s. MyBackup Pro (or w/e it's called).
opcow said:
You're right. I just read the first sentence. This question gets asked a lot and I just go into autopilot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know how you feel
thank you all!
Sup XDA... first time poster... on/off lurker... just a quick question i was messing with my captivate today trying to load 2.2 on it... kies wasn't working for me so i did a whole lotta messing around with the phone... in the process i backed up my stuff on TB... while trying to restore it, it restored from a previous upgrade i did in dec. i ended up losing most of my text messages, profiles i set up and important memos... anything i can do to restore it or am i screwed...?
I think i accidentally hit the back up user apps instead of user apps+data and restored user apps+data... could that be the reason...?
I don't think that TiBu backs up text messages. I use SMS backup+ on the market for that. It backs it up to my Gmail account. It does this automatically, and has the option to restore if I flash a new ROM.
I read somewhere that TiBu system data back ups can cause issues if you flash a new ROM and try to restore system data from a different ROM. So I have always been afraid of system data in TiBu.
If you back up the apps without the data, then the app will install, but it's a fresh install. That way anything you did in the app is lost. For example if you back up just the app Facebook, when you restore you are not signed in anymore. If you backup app + data, when you restore you are already signed in again. That could be how you lost memos from an app, but Text messages is another animal.
If you are playing with Kies, you should try the custom ROMs. They are extremely easy to install, there's lots of guides, and they run so much better than the 2.2 from Samsung/AT&T.
Don't really think you can do anything at this point to get your stuff back. You should do a nandroid backup before flashing new firmware, though. If the rom you flashed didn't work, or if you couldn't restore something with TB (or forgot to even do a TB backup), you can always roll your phone back to your previous firmware, complete with all your data.
quarlow said:
I don't think that TiBu backs up
If you are playing with Kies, you should try the custom ROMs. They are extremely easy to install, there's lots of guides, and they run so much better than the 2.2 from Samsung/AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree a ROM is the way to go. Huge improvement over just using a bloated 2.2.
Hi all,
I've been a long time lurker and not had any reason to post until now as I've found most answers by reading...
The last update I did LA1, wiped data and apps and I spent ages re doing them.I was aware of this and prepared to put the time in to restore my GNote.
I now have a rooted phone and it is set up just as I like it. I have backed it up with Titanium Backup, and have Titanium Restore app. as well as CMW
I would love to try LA4 however am dreading the full wipe scenario: with downloading apps, loosing data and seting up home screens as I like them again. It can be done but very time consuming.
My Question is: Will Titanium Backup/Restore and/or CMW put my phone back to where it was prior to firmware update, with home screens, APN, E-Mails as it was but with a phone that now has new firmware?
OR: Do I need to reconfigure the home screens, font, etc. post firmware update?
LA4 is non wipe version, you won't lose your data.
For information just, Titanium backup can restore your data like bookmark, settings(fonts sound country etc), homescreen shortcut (no widgets n folder) as well all user application with data.
Home Folder can be restore with Mybackup Pro.
It is not advisable to restore system data(you will see red coloured in TB) to avoid mess up new firmware.
Great, will give LA4 a go then.
I assume ICS will be a full wipe.
Can I use Mybackup Pro to get my GNote back to the way I like it?
Or do I need to re download all my apps and reconfigure all the home screens?
Thanks for the quick reply
i wold have thought that ICS would be a full wipe but apparently someone said that on a different handset it wasnt a wipe and just upgraded over the top
Richard.p said:
Great, will give LA4 a go then.
I assume ICS will be a full wipe.
Can I use Mybackup Pro to get my GNote back to the way I like it?
Or do I need to re download all my apps and reconfigure all the home screens?
Thanks for the quick reply
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Desktop Folder can be restored with Mybackup Pro only. Rest of the things you can do with either TB/Mybackup.
Widgets you need to configure manually. niether can do that(android OS limitation)
Some complex widgets have options to save configurations, so if you do this, and then backup app data, you should be able to restore it on the other side.
I have had odd problems in the past with backing up and restoring apps after updating the system, so I have just made up my mind to do it manually every time. I almost find it fun now because I always try something different than before. It is time consuming, but I learn a lot about how I can best use my devices this way. My 'must have' list of apps stays pretty streamlined because of this.
Richy99 said:
i wold have thought that ICS would be a full wipe but apparently someone said that on a different handset it wasnt a wipe and just upgraded over the top
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Full wipe or not, I would still do it. No better way to introduce phantom issues than by leaving remnants of other systems on your device. LA1 to LA4 is not going to matter much IMO, but GB to ICS...I wouldn't trust the install to catch everything.
Thanks for all the info......
beestee said:
Full wipe or not, I would still do it. No better way to introduce phantom issues than by leaving remnants of other systems on your device. LA1 to LA4 is not going to matter much IMO, but GB to ICS...I wouldn't trust the install to catch everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will probably be doing a full wipe for ICS, as Beestee says, less chance of problems.
Will give LA4 a go if nothing else good practice for upgrade technique...
May also try a few costum ROMs as well......
dr.ketan said:
LA4 is non wipe version, you won't lose your data.
For information just, Titanium backup can restore your data like bookmark, settings(fonts sound country etc), homescreen shortcut (no widgets n folder) as well all user application with data.
Home Folder can be restore with Mybackup Pro.
It is not advisable to restore system data(you will see red coloured in TB) to avoid mess up new firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah this is right. When i flash a new rom i clear data & cache in cwm and then flash the rom, install titanium backup and resore and it puts everything as it was, with two exceptions as far as ive found. Bluetooth is not set to visible as it was before and it doesnt set my wallpaper, takes 30 seconds to sort out so apart from that its fantastic, i was surprised at how flawless it does it.
I have another question:
Iam using ClockworkMod recovery to make a full backup to my phone (HTC) so I can restore my phone back as it was before installing a custom rom I did not like or when I messed up with system file etc etc,
I can not do that with my rooted Note!!! I can not find backup and restore options in my ClockworkMod recovery!!!
What version of CWM are you using? I'm using 5.0.7 (or similar, dont remember) and i can do backups
Army92 said:
What version of CWM are you using? I'm using 5.0.7 (or similar, dont remember) and i can do backups
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Iam so sorry, my mistake
when I rebooted my note to recovery I gtt this : Android system recovery <3e>
It looks like CWM thats why Iam confused
How I can get the CWM I used to use with my HTC Sensation
EDIT: Ok done it
Is there such a rom? I've checked teamhacksung's CM9 Alpha, Doc's Master ICS, Team ICSSGS, Fusion, and WeUI v0.6.6, and they all say to do a full wipe. Performed a search here and Google for any answers, but didn't find any.
I'm currently running Gingerbread 2.3.5 with Corn kernel, and when I upgraded from Froyo, I performed a full wipe. As many of you know, putting everything back on your phone is a major pain if you do not do a proper backup (I thought I backed up everything using Titanium, but apparently I didn't). Anyway, just curious if there is an ICS rom with a non-wipe option (or a super-cool, full of eye-candy Gingerbread rom with non-wipe).
Oh yeah, is Passion v13 Captivate-flashable? Thanks for any info you may have.
aicirt17 said:
Is there such a rom? I've checked teamhacksung's CM9 Alpha, Doc's Master ICS, Team ICSSGS, Fusion, and WeUI v0.6.6, and they all say to do a full wipe. Performed a search here and Google for any answers, but didn't find any.
I'm currently running Gingerbread 2.3.5 with Corn kernel, and when I upgraded from Froyo, I performed a full wipe. As many of you know, putting everything back on your phone is a major pain if you do not do a proper backup (I thought I backed up everything using Titanium, but apparently I didn't). Anyway, just curious if there is an ICS rom with a non-wipe option (or a super-cool, full of eye-candy Gingerbread rom with non-wipe).
Oh yeah, is Passion v13 Captivate-flashable? Thanks for any info you may have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to do a full wipe on your phone since you're coming from a Gingerbread ROM. You may not delete what's on your sdcard if you want to retain it but as for apps, it will be deleted and so are your contacts, messages, etc.
Yuck. Okay, I figured as much, I was just hoping So, a Nandroid back-up is best, right? NOT Titanium?
aicirt17 said:
Yuck. Okay, I figured as much, I was just hoping So, a Nandroid back-up is best, right? NOT Titanium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, Nandroid back-up is good. You could do Titanium Backup as well but a fresh install of the apps would be better. I'm not sure it would work if you backed-up the apps from Gingerbread and install it on ICS, but you could try one app and test it.
aicirt17 said:
Yuck. Okay, I figured as much, I was just hoping So, a Nandroid back-up is best, right? NOT Titanium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do a A Nandroid, but don't try restoring that on ICS or you will most likely cause a metric ton of problems. Titanium would be the best way to back up and restore your apps and app data. NEVER restore system data.
mrhaley30705 said:
You can do a A Nandroid, but don't try restoring that on ICS or you will most likely cause a metric ton of problems. Titanium would be the best way to back up and restore your apps and app data. NEVER restore system data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, forgot to mention that. Just backup your Apps and not your System Data.
Okay, wow, all the reading that I have done and I did NOT know that. No system data. Got it. Thank you both!
CM9 builds when upgrading from previous CM9 builds don't need a full wipe... I'm sure the others are the same... So won't be so bad unless you go between them all...
If you are so concerned with keeping your data and not wanting to go through the "pain" of resetting all your apps and such, you should stay with what you have. Instead, use a launcher with ICS themes to get the look of the ICS.
If you can take some pain and make the jump though, ICS offers a way more slicker OS for your Cappy.
Do not use Nandroid backup to restore your apps... TIBU is the one to use! As others said, the best way is to do a fresh (from the market) reinstall of all your apps and then use TIBU to restore your data for those specific apps only...
Edit: Concider this though while you are looking to upgrade. Most of these ICS roms are in beta stage... this means some bugs and other inconveniences... mind you they are minor but they exist. As the devs get these bugs and other issues addressed and update their roms, they would often require a fresh install (full wipe) to ensure best performance. This means that you will have to occasionally do a full wipe of your phone. It's fun to see the latest and greatest the devs have to offer but it also means that you have to do some "hard" work to enjoy the fruits of their labor... just something for you to think about...
I did not see it mentioned so I'll add. Every ROM that has a "no wipe" update is such because it is only a minor update to the existing ROM and not the whole. Even trying to do so results is a miss match of files and programs so at best you'll get FCs all over there place, at worst bootloops.
ICS, is a huge set of changes, including things google merged or removed. So the data from an app on an older version of android would be trying to send/receive info from a program that does not exist anymore and upon not getting what it wants would FC.
If you don't like having to restore everything, then wait from ICS until you see a few no wipe updates. Aside from SGSICS (since it is pure ASOP, and least likely to have any major changes) they all have a fair amount of developing yet to be done.
Now to the question of which type of backup . A nandroid backup is meant to restore your phone to it's current state (minus any partition changes). Tibu is designed for something like ROM hoping, so it only saves apps and their data. To illustrate an example of how to use both: 1 make backups, 2 load ICS ROM, 3 Tibu restore user apps (and user data only), 4 toy with ROM (be it a few hours or days), 5 you don't like it and want to go back, 6 Odin/Heimdall back to GB (to fix partition sizes), 7 restore nandroid and it's like your trip to ICS never happened.
leaked from my ICS- FUSED SGS I897 contaminating you via XDA app.
cvcduty said:
If you are so concerned with keeping your data and not wanting to go through the "pain" of resetting all your apps and such, you should stay with what you have. Instead, use a launcher with ICS themes to get the look of the ICS.
If you can take some pain and make the jump though, ICS offers a way more slicker OS for your Cappy.
Do not use Nandroid backup to restore your apps... TIBU is the one to use! As others said, the best way is to do a fresh (from the market) reinstall of all your apps and then use TIBU to restore your data for those specific apps only...
Edit: Concider this though while you are looking to upgrade. Most of these ICS roms are in beta stage... this means some bugs and other inconveniences... mind you they are minor but they exist. As the devs get these bugs and other issues addressed and update their roms, they would often require a fresh install (full wipe) to ensure best performance. This means that you will have to occasionally do a full wipe of your phone. It's fun to see the latest and greatest the devs have to offer but it also means that you have to do some "hard" work to enjoy the fruits of their labor... just something for you to think about...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cvcduty, you're right about enjoying the fruits of the other devs' labor. If they're willing to put in all that hard work just to keep our Captivates as updated as possible, then the very least I can do is go through 5 minutes of work to flash the roms correctly and in the way the devs intended, and not look for an easier way. I have flashed a couple of times before, I'm just not completely comfortable doing it. But I almost there!
DaNaRkI said:
I did not see it mentioned so I'll add. Every ROM that has a "no wipe" update is such because it is only a minor update to the existing ROM and not the whole. Even trying to do so results is a miss match of files and programs so at best you'll get FCs all over there place, at worst bootloops.
ICS, is a huge set of changes, including things google merged or removed. So the data from an app on an older version of android would be trying to send/receive info from a program that does not exist anymore and upon not getting what it wants would FC.
If you don't like having to restore everything, then wait from ICS until you see a few no wipe updates. Aside from SGSICS (since it is pure ASOP, and least likely to have any major changes) they all have a fair amount of developing yet to be done.
Now to the question of which type of backup . A nandroid backup is meant to restore your phone to it's current state (minus any partition changes). Tibu is designed for something like ROM hoping, so it only saves apps and their data. To illustrate an example of how to use both: 1 make backups, 2 load ICS ROM, 3 Tibu restore user apps (and user data only), 4 toy with ROM (be it a few hours or days), 5 you don't like it and want to go back, 6 Odin/Heimdall back to GB (to fix partition sizes), 7 restore nandroid and it's like your trip to ICS never happened.
leaked from my ICS- FUSED SGS I897 contaminating you via XDA app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DaNaRkI, it's not that I don't like to restore everything (even though that's what I said), it's more like even though I have flashed a couple of times already, I'm still a little uncomfortable doing it. And I have read, I mean read for hours before I took my first step, but it seems like the more I read, I keep finding more new stuff that I probably should have known to start with. Take Nandroid and Tibu for example, I thought they worked exactly the same, but now I know, thanks to you, that there is a BIG difference. AND I learned yesterday (reading somewhere on here) to never ever restore "system data". It's a lot to keep up with if you're a blonde
Thank you for taking the time to explain, it helped a lot!
hello everybody i have a question,if i would upgrade my darkyrom to a rom based on ics and if i would save all my apps and settings of these apps(for example savegame of emulator or data settings of poweramp),what steps do i have to do? backup of data+app or just backup of apps? or backup of only data? if i restore a backup of DATA in another rom with another firmware does it cause brick? thanks a lot for help
Your mileage may vary:
Restoring apps will probably be ok.
Restoring apps + data is flaky and you risk Forced Closures and other bad behaviours.
Make sure you make a nandroid backup of what you've got now, flash ICS, nandroid back it while it's still pristine, then restore apps via TB slowly and see what'll happen.
Another way is to reinstall the apps via Google Play account, after all, it has a record of everything you got from them. I know it can be a pain, but maybe you'll have a better gain. Clean install - clean app install
I hear you about app settings...try taking screen shots and storing on your microSD card/Dropbox/Google Drive...at least you have something to compare.
TLDR; risky restoring via apps + data via TB when going GB to ICS, sure thing is clean install and reinstall apps from Google Play.
I agree with this totally, nice idea about screen shots too
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