Database Develop

What is the best way to Backup User Settings between ROM Upgrades

Currently I am using CM 5.0.6-N1, it's running really well and I've spend many hours installing multiple applications (SD Card) and configuring many of them and system parameters as well.
I would like to test CM 5.0.7-N1-Test 2, but before doing that I would like to know what type of Backup Process I should follow in order to keep:
- All my currently installed applications in the SD card
- Keep all my application's configuration
- Keep all my system's configuration
- All my downloads from the Market
- Etc.
I know that everything related to Google will be saved automatically.
Is there a way to upgrade the ROM and after a quick restore to be in the same configuration I am now but with an updated version of the OS ?, thanks a lot

Post in the right section please read the rules

I use the donated version of titanium backup.
It saves all applications and user data.
You do the upgrade and everything should still be there. If not. run titanium restore and voila!
Just make sure you don't select to restore any of the google apps since it'll overwrite the newer version.

I used the nandroid+ ext feature from amon_ra recovery 1.7.0 and it seem to backup my apps. When I went and tried the Desire rom. Didn't like it so i went back, restored with nandroid and all my apps were back on SD.

futango said:
I used the nandroid+ ext feature from amon_ra recovery 1.7.0 and it seem to backup my apps. When I went and tried the Desire rom. Didn't like it so i went back, restored with nandroid and all my apps were back on SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the difference in Recovery 1.7.0 between Nandroid and Nandroid+ Ext Backup ?
Do you know if the Backup Current ROM option in the ROM Manager application will have the same results ?, thanks

noodles12 said:
I use the donated version of titanium backup.
It saves all applications and user data.
You do the upgrade and everything should still be there. If not. run titanium restore and voila!
Just make sure you don't select to restore any of the google apps since it'll overwrite the newer version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the difference between using Titanium's Backup, Recovery's Nandroid Backup and ROM Manager's Backup ?, all of the will back up the configuration and apps only ?, or some of the will backup the full Android OS as well ?, thanks

brosenz said:
What's the difference in Recovery 1.7.0 between Nandroid and Nandroid+ Ext Backup ?
Do you know if the Backup Current ROM option in the ROM Manager application will have the same results ?, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid is just a back up of your OS and settings.
Nandroid + Ext is a backup of your OS, settings, and A2SD which are stored in your EXT partition.
Dont know about Rom Manager, never used it.

futango said:
Nandroid is just a back up of your OS and settings.
Nandroid + Ext is a backup of your OS, settings, and A2SD which are stored in your EXT partition.
Dont know about Rom Manager, never used it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But If I perform a Nandroid+ Ext backup of the existing ROM (CM 5.0.6) and then install a new ROM (CM 5.0.7-Test2), and then I do a Nandroid Restore I will replace the new ROM (CM 5.0.7 Test2) with the old one (CM 5.0.6) ???, please could you clarify
I only want to Backup my applications, settings and system configuration, not the ROM itself, thanks

brosenz said:
But If I perform a Nandroid+ Ext backup and then install a new ROM and then I do a Restore I will replace the new ROM with the old one ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ooo. So your trying to install a NEW rom and restore the settings to that one? You will probably want to use one of those apps from the market. I thought you wanted to try out a dif rom to see if you like it and then go back.

futango said:
ooo. So your trying to install a NEW rom and restore the settings to that one? You will probably want to use one of those apps from the market. I thought you wanted to try out a dif rom to see if you like it and then go back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly, I want to install a new ROM and then restore my settings and applications to the new ROM.
Here is the thing, every 2 to 3 weeks there is a new CM version, I like to be on the edge and always using the latest version, but I do not want to have to install all the applications and configure the setting every time.
Maybe Titanium Backup could be an option ?, thanks

brosenz said:
Exactly, I want to install a new ROM and then restore my settings and applications to the new ROM.
Here is the thing, every 2 to 3 weeks there is a new CM version, I like to be on the edge and always using the latest version, but I do not want to have to install all the applications and configure the setting every time.
Maybe Titanium Backup could be an option ?, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your just updating from CM roms you shouldn't have to WIPE. WIPE is what deletes those settings. If you are on a CM rom just install the newer ROM and it should be fine.

futango said:
If your just updating from CM roms you shouldn't have to WIPE. WIPE is what deletes those settings. If you are on a CM rom just install the newer ROM and it should be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if I am installing a Test Version ?, like going from 5.0.6 to 5.0.7-N1-Test2 ?, thanks

You can use Titanium Backup or MyBackupPro. Both work very well with backing up your settings, apps and market links. I prefer the donate version of MyBackupPro because it always seems to get the job done without errors. I have issues with Titanium Backup quite often(Lots of FC's with certain apps after a restore). However, I do have both installed. It would just be whatever your preference is. Try MyBackupPro for simplicity sake and go from there. You won't lose anything if you use either one when switching ROMS.

brosenz said:
Even if I am installing a Test Version ?, like going from 5.0.6 to 5.0.7-N1-Test2 ?, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will prob have to wipe. Either use on of those backup apps or just redo it. Create nandroid backups for each. so you dont have to worry bout it next time.

Titanium Backup has been my lifesaver. I switch back and forth between the CM5 and Desire ROMs on what seems like a near daily basis.
Since you're using primarily the CM5 ROM, here's my suggested procedure using TB
1. Run the Backup all user apps + system data script
This backs EVERYTHING up (account settings, home screen layout settings, launcher settings, all your apps including paid/protected, the works).
2. Do your ROM upgrade.
2a. If you do a clean/wiped upgrade, just skip all the initial setup steps on first boot. TB will take care of restoring it.
2b. Re-install TB from Market as necessary.
3. Start TB and Run the Restore missing apps + system data script
4. Reboot (not necessary, but highly recommended)
Voilà. All your apps (including all their settings) are restored.
NOTE: I don't know why, but I always seem to have to manually restore the launcher/home config from TB. If your home icons don't restore just manually find 'launcher' in the list of backups in TB and opt to restore it.
Another cool (but unadvertised) thing about TB is that it integrates the labels/categories from a program called Apps Organizer. So, you categorize all your apps into whatever categories you want in AO and when you go into TB there they are, ready for you to filter you backups by category!

[Q] Backing up apps

Hi,
i'm slightly confused about the different backup applications available and i hope you guys could aid me =)
1. ClockworkMod Recovery: if we follow the steps in the ClockworkMod Recovery for Galaxy S i9000 post, will it back up the entire FW along with its custom roms, apps, contacts, sms etc?
so would that mean that i could reflash this backed up copy if the newer FW is not to my liking? alternatively is the apps and settings within transferable to new firmware?
2. Are there any apps that solely backups the sms, contacts, apps etc so that we can apply to the newly flashed FW? (so that we wont need to reinstall the entire applications etc, and also lose all the sms and settings). Eg titanium, or backup pro?
3. Lastly, alternatively is there anyway i could transfer these settings out from the phone prior to flashing? and subsequently reintroduce them back once flashing is complete.
Thanks for helping!

I would also like to know answers to these questions because I want to backup my ENTIRE phone (firmware+apps+sms+contacts+settings+...) if my phone ever gets broken so I could collect my warranty.
And if I flash to newest firmware I will not lose all my apps+sms+contacts+settings+... cause it would be a pain to reinstall all the apps and update all my contacts & settings.

currently i use mybackup pro
it backup my apps, contacts and SMS
but it doesn't restore my settings
i search a tool to restore the phone (without the firmware itself)
so when i flash a new firmware i only need to install that tool or run that tool (if it is a script for example) and it will restore all apps/settings/contacts/sms/images....

reply to above
same.. just like u guys... i was also looking for answers and help when i created this post.. hoping that someone could point us in the right direction =)

there are programs that can backup solely the SMS or call log, just search SMS backup or Call log backup and you will find it
for contacts, i use Kies; for app, i use Astro.... that's the programs i used when i flash my SGS from the original one to JP3
if you want full restore, go for Titanium, but hat requires root
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

CWM restores back your backup to its original settings, because it takes an image of your phone os. It is just like your disk image backup of your pc or notebook. Hence, this is useful when you don't like the custom roms you have just flashed.
Titanium Backup backups all your apps and settings, but the shortcoming of it is you will have to spend a little more time to relayout your homescreen and also tweak a little of your settings. For example, I used the Missed Call 0.9.2 and I did the backup cum settings. But I still need to tweak back the actual ringtones for those settings manually.
Most will say that CWM is better, but that is not necessary. Titanium Backup will be most useful when you have flashed a rom and found that you want to keep the new rom. Now, having TB to do your backup will be very much easier in this case.
The others like Mybackup Pro, backup sms, mms, those are found in the market. Kies is good if you want to keep your contacts in the phone (not SIM or Google)
Hope this explanation helps you guys.

Nandroid/titanium clarification please.

I'm new to rooting. Just got my moto droid (1) rooted yesterday using superoneclick. Worked Flawlessly. I've installed barnacle wifi teather utilizing my newely establish root 'superuser'.
I've been reading up on custom roms, removing bloatware, ect and am anxious to give it all a go HOWEVER first things first, I need to make a copy/backup of my stock phone's rom right?
I need to be rooted to make a backup right?
Now I've heard about nandroid and titanium back. From what I've gathered titanium backs up all ur apps and there settings to reintall after flashing a new rom,...right? (Since flashin wipes internal memory)
I think, Nandroid is needed for installing new/custom roms and/or reverting back to my stock rom.....nandroid is a program correct?
Am I following this correctly?
Id really appreciate your time to answer my elemenatry questions.
Thanks!
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

Basically, nandroid is a disc image.
You can restore your entire OS quite quickly.
Titanium is simply a very good program for backing up your apps along with data so all your settings are saved.
Restoring with titanium can take a long time though since each app gets installed one by one - and that's when it is working properly. For me, it just keeps closing itself after restoring a singe app.
I haven't seen it recommended but I HIGHLY recommend SuperManager for for backing up and restoring. It doesn't ask any questions. It just puts all your stuff back and it doesn't crash.
So I use SM for restoring the whole shot, and Titanium when I'm being more selective.

if you use nandroid to backup then after you have flashed your new ROM then you can put the nandroid files in the sd/openrecovery/nandroid/ folder, boot into open recovery and pick the nandroid files to install.

I got super manager and backed up my apps to sd card.
Next I got rom manager...now my problem is I cannot get rom manager to back up my stock rom. Flashed the clockworkmod via rom manager and tried booting into recovery,..I only get stock recovery.
Went back into rom manager and flashed the alternative recovery SPRecovery, still no luck booting into an aftermarket recovery.
What the heck am I doing wrong?
Thanks in advance.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

I haven't gotten ROM Manager to work consistently, but I find that after a few attempts at booting into Clockwork Recovery, it'll eventually go through. Maybe someone can point out a way to make the process take less time.

Got up this morning and thought id try again.
Flashed the clockwork recovery then instantly hit reboot in recovery and voila!! It worked! Weird tho. Made my first nandroid.
Does anyone have a suggestion on what rom to give a try for a motorola droid (1)?
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

kmcgill88 said:
Got up this morning and thought id try again.
Flashed the clockwork recovery then instantly hit reboot in recovery and voila!! It worked! Weird tho. Made my first nandroid.
Does anyone have a suggestion on what rom to give a try for a motorola droid (1)?
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want 2.2 you should try CM6 or Froyomod 2.5.0
If you want 2.3 you should try Shadowmodbrv.2.3.2 build 3. It's the fastest rom i've tried so far....or CM7 which works quite good.
On all of these roms the battery life is really good...Many people say that their battery life sucks with custom roms but actually they havent had their battery status calibrated correctly. For example, the battery percentage shows 30%, when actually it has 60%.
Search on the forums about calibrating yours if you want...
Hope I've been helpful...
Cheers, vladstercr!

vladstercr said:
If you want 2.2 you should try CM6 or Froyomod 2.5.0
If you want 2.3 you should try Shadowmodbrv.2.3.2 build 3. It's the fastest rom i've tried so far....or CM7 which works quite good.
On all of these roms the battery life is really good...Many people say that their battery life sucks with custom roms but actually they havent had their battery status calibrated correctly. For example, the battery percentage shows 30%, when actually it has 60%.
Search on the forums about calibrating yours if you want...
Hope I've been helpful...
Cheers, vladstercr!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard the CM name around a lot. When I go into rom manager I see the CM 6 but I'm still lil nervous to give it a shot. This is my only phone. Soo,....maybe a few more tutorials to review the process once more..just cuz
Now when I flash, say, CM6 I don't need to worry about root or superuser permission anymore do I?
Also what apps, if any, will be pre installed with CM6? (I have backed up my apps with super manager)
I really appreciate everyones help! THANK YOU!
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

Since you did a nandroid, you have very little to worry about.
But, just to be super safe, you can copy the nandroid to your computer.
If anything goes wrong, you have an instant restore handy.
About Super Manager - I forgot to mention that to save all your user data along with your apps and to also have a quick restore process, back up using the smbk option.
When you flash CM6, you will stay rooted and be overclocked to 900 mhz.
There is no bloat installed with CM6 but all the essentials are there.
I don't know anything about ROM Manager stuff because I can't use it on my Milestone.

vladstercr said:
If you want 2.2 you should try CM6 or Froyomod 2.5.0
If you want 2.3 you should try Shadowmodbrv.2.3.2 build 3. It's the fastest rom i've tried so far....or CM7 which works quite good.
On all of these roms the battery life is really good...Many people say that their battery life sucks with custom roms but actually they havent had their battery status calibrated correctly. For example, the battery percentage shows 30%, when actually it has 60%.
Search on the forums about calibrating yours if you want...
Hope I've been helpful...
Cheers, vladstercr!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is this the shadwmod you're referring to? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=939555
will this work for the droid 1 (as long as i flash the proper baseband)? i've tried a fair # of gb builds but not this one and wanna give it a shot. thanks

I've had a few questions about nandroid. So far I do a full back up so I can revert if a new ROM is playing up. If I decide to stick with a new ROM, can I just restore elements of that full backup to get my data (I.e. texts, call logs and apps) back? Or is it all or nothing?
At the moment I just put up with starting fresh but it would be helpful to retain some of that data. (I'm getting bored starting angry birds over and over again!)
Cheers
S
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App

skribzy said:
I've had a few questions about nandroid. So far I do a full back up so I can revert if a new ROM is playing up. If I decide to stick with a new ROM, can I just restore elements of that full backup to get my data (I.e. texts, call logs and apps) back? Or is it all or nothing?
At the moment I just put up with starting fresh but it would be helpful to retain some of that data. (I'm getting bored starting angry birds over and over again!)
Cheers
S
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nandroid is only useful for a FULL restore of your entire phone's state. it backs up everything in IMG format, and then re-flashes it *in whole* in the event of a restore. so, short answer, no... you can't restore bits and pieces from a nandroid backup.
HOWEVER, Titanium Backup is my app of choice for backing up applications and app data (because no one should have to start over at angry birds!). The donate/Pro app is TOTALLY worth the few bucks, and it's very easy to use.
To use Titanium Backup: download from market (i really suggest the Pro version), click "Batch" then "backup user apps". When you start fresh with a new ROM, cancel all your active downloads, re-download Titanium Backup from the market and select batch>restore missing apps + app data. This way you restore the data associated with your apps, but not a previous ROMs system data. If you are unable to cancel your downloads, there is also a batch method to uninstall all backed up apps, that way you can make sure that you install your backup and not a "fresh" copy from the market.
A quick note about angry birds using Titanium Backup on GB -- with most GB ROMs, Angry Birds will install by default to the sdcard. They, however, will not run on the sdcard. As soon as you've done a restore using Titanium, just go to Settings>Applications>Manage Applications, and click Angry Birds and select "Move to Phone". Then you should be good

vuarnet said:
nandroid is only useful for a FULL restore of your entire phone's state. it backs up everything in IMG format, and then re-flashes it *in whole* in the event of a restore. so, short answer, no... you can't restore bits and pieces from a nandroid backup.
HOWEVER, Titanium Backup is my app of choice for backing up applications and app data (because no one should have to start over at angry birds!). The donate/Pro app is TOTALLY worth the few bucks, and it's very easy to use.
To use Titanium Backup: download from market (i really suggest the Pro version), click "Batch" then "backup user apps". When you start fresh with a new ROM, cancel all your active downloads, re-download Titanium Backup from the market and select batch>restore missing apps + app data. This way you restore the data associated with your apps, but not a previous ROMs system data. If you are unable to cancel your downloads, there is also a batch method to uninstall all backed up apps, that way you can make sure that you install your backup and not a "fresh" copy from the market.
A quick note about angry birds using Titanium Backup on GB -- with most GB ROMs, Angry Birds will install by default to the sdcard. They, however, will not run on the sdcard. As soon as you've done a restore using Titanium, just go to Settings>Applications>Manage Applications, and click Angry Birds and select "Move to Phone". Then you should be good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks very much for such useful advice!

skribzy said:
At the moment I just put up with starting fresh but it would be helpful to retain some of that data. (I'm getting bored starting angry birds over and over again!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have found that TitaniumPro doesn't always restore setting properly. Sometimes you have to go into the individual app and do a manual restore. I am not sure why this is, but just FYI.

mfratto said:
I have found that TitaniumPro doesn't always restore setting properly. Sometimes you have to go into the individual app and do a manual restore. I am not sure why this is, but just FYI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
titanium CAN restore system settings / apps, but it's a little bit of a different process to make sure that you don't restore a previous ROM's data, which can cause some pretty serious instabilities if done improperly.
here are some How-Tos for using Titanium Backup: http://www.moddedlogic.com/pe/howto.php
these methods are a little more advanced, and if done improperly can cause instability. these methods can be used in conjunction with restoring "missing apps + app data" like i mentioned above.

skribzy said:
I've had a few questions about nandroid. So far I do a full back up so I can revert if a new ROM is playing up. If I decide to stick with a new ROM, can I just restore elements of that full backup to get my data (I.e. texts, call logs and apps) back? Or is it all or nothing?
At the moment I just put up with starting fresh but it would be helpful to retain some of that data. (I'm getting bored starting angry birds over and over again!)
Cheers
S
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its neither. Its both. You can't pluck ur call log txt ect data from a nandroid to my knowledge.
I'm new to this but I have the understanding a nandroid is a snapshot of EXACTLY everything you have on your phone, including txt, call log,ect. So as I'm sure you've read its always suggested to creat a nandroid of your original rom before installing a custom rom. Then u can go back in time if need be.
As for restoring your data after installing a new rom you need to backup your apps, I used super manager via smbk file, once you install the new rom go to market (or its pry saved in sd still) reinstall super manager and use the restore button to reinstall all your apps in one fell swoop.
Contacts, calendar, and email r on the google cloud so that will auto resync once u sign into your phone. I still lost my txt, call log, ect but I didn't care about that.
Now that u have your apps back and get a few settings confgured i decided to make a nandroid of my newly installed Rom just in case I F something up and can't figure out how to g back. With the new nandroid created I can revert back to my stock rom or modded rom annd all apps & data will be exactly how I left it.
Hope that helps.
Anyone plz feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

kmcgill88 said:
Its neither. Its both. You can't pluck ur call log txt ect data from a nandroid to my knowledge.
I'm new to this but I have the understanding a nandroid is a snapshot of EXACTLY everything you have on your phone, including txt, call log,ect. So as I'm sure you've read its always suggested to creat a nandroid of your original rom before installing a custom rom. Then u can go back in time if need be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's *possible* but not easy. Nandroid is a **disk image** (.img file) backup, not a file-by-file backup/file dump. While it's *possible* to dissect it and flash bits and pieces, it would be quite advanced since it would have to be flashed using adb or a terminal emulator ...and even then i'm not sure it would actually work without running the full binary scripts from the recovery restore processes. And even if you did get the binaries to run and flash the .img files to the right places, you would run the possibility that the old data would be incompatible with your current ROM / system.
You can unpack the img file in linux if you know how and push pieces of it using adb shell, but that's still sort of going out of your way for something relatively simple. To unpack an .img file in linux:
# Make a directory where you want the file mounted:
sudo mkdir /image
# Then mount the image on the directory:
sudo mount -o loop /path/to/file.img /image
# Then you could open the directory with nautilus:
nautilus /image
# When you're done, unmount the img:
sudo unmount /image
Nandroid is a backup of a STATE of your phone, not pieces. To backup apps and data, just use a program, there are a bunch out there. You can also do as I do and pull /system and /data from your phone and backup to your computer. You will need the android sdk though. Just connect via USB and make sure USB Debugging is enabled (settings>applications>development) and run in terminal:
cd [android sdk directory/platform-tools/]
adb devices
(make sure your device shows up)
adb pull /system [local directory]
adb pull /data [local directory]
voila. you now have copies of your /data and /system folders on your computer. you can even do your whole internal storage if you want and can create the proper permissions. however, as a caveat, these will not restore a broken system to stable state like a nandroid will, it's pretty much just for restoring individual apps if you lose them or delete something.
bottom line: nandroid is great for what it's intended for. outside of that, there are reasons why there are backup tools / apps for backing up pieces of your ROM. use them each for what they're intended and you'll be good. nandroid backup/restore is like 3 clicks. same for app restore programs. use the appropriate tools for the appropriate jobs and you'll be juuuuust fine.
EDIT: it's also possible to do an advanced nandroid restore of a certain partition, but it's *highly* advisable not to in almost all circumstances. it will most likely screw up more stuff than it fixes. it's really only helpful if the backup and your current ROM are the exact same.
for instance, if I have a nandroid backup of CM6, and i screw something up in my /data folder, and i'm still running the same version of CM6, then i could advanced nandroid my /data partition back in recovery. outside of that, it's pretty much useless and would do more harm than good.

Hi
I'm sorry to jump in in the discussion like this but reading this discussion confused me a little regarding a possible usage of a nandroid backup.
Given the fact that this type of backup is a full image of the system, can I transfer this backup on another motorola droid and restore it also on there? Or each nandroid is associated to a specific phone (even if the model is the same)?
Thank you so much!

No a nandroid wouldn't necessarily be phone specific.
But it would be OS specific.
There would likely be problems if you restored a CM6 rom (froyo) on a phone that still has eclair on it.

zeppelinrox said:
No a nandroid wouldn't necessarily be phone specific.
But it would be OS specific.
There would likely be problems if you restored a CM6 rom (froyo) on a phone that still has eclair on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's not necessarily "phone" specific, but it is *device* specific. you wouldn't be able to use a Droid nandroid on a Droid X, for instance. The md5 sum check would fail.
so yes, you would be able to restore a nandroid restore on a backup that you manually moved onto another phone, as long as the device was the same (moto droid to moto droid).

[Q] Nandroid backup and flashing rom with wipe

Hi,
general question about upgrading a new firmware.
When I do that and I got a "wipe" firmware, I usually wipe and reinstall everything and reconfigure all my apps.
It takes a while but, as seasoned windows user, I know this is the best way to have a clean and full speed installation so to avoid "registry" cluttering.
Is this applicable also to Android? Or using Nandroid or Titanium I can restore my apps with "messing up" with my shiny new firmware?
It is quite quick to put your credentials on facebook or foursquare but all the word learnt by swype or all rebuild all the folders structure is taking a while...
Thanks
Sergio

Using Titanium Backup, you can just backup user apps and data, and leave system apps alone. Then when you upgrade to a new firmware (I recently went from KK5 to KL8) you can use your Titanium Backup just to restore the user apps and data you backed up, and leave the system apps and data alone. That way you'll have only the system app data from your new ROM, but all the user apps and data from your old one.
When I flashed my new ROM, I went ahead and selected to restore all user and system apps and data. Of course I can't tell you how my phone's performance compares to if I hadn't done so, but I can tell you that my phone is faster (because of the new code, I'm sure) than it was before, and I'm having absolutely no issues whatsoever.

I do my ROM backup using ROM Manager by CWM, app + data backup using TBP and EFS folder using kTool. It always works well.

In one of the stock LA1 firmware threads in the dev section (stock LA1 is a wipe firmware) a user has reported success by restoring his data partition from a previous Nandroid backup.
Haven't tried it myself, as I agree with your approach of starting from a "clean" slate. Android doesn't have a registry, but the DBDATA partition could be considered similar?

I prefer the clean slate approach, but after I instructed my Custom Dictionary for one month and organized all my apps in nice folders I wanted to understand if there are risks here.
It is not clear for me what are also the information related to a certain fw that an apps saves... is that possibile for instance to do a restore in ICS of a backup done in Gingerbread?
Sergio

[Q] How to Backup "Properly"?

Hi Xda Members
I have a little problem!
I just love the variety of ROM and Kernel's that i can choose
But i haven't found how to properly backup:
SMS
MMS
Apps
Rest of my data
So i can use it every time i flash a new ROM
"What happen was:
- That i am now stuck with Rocket Rom V21,
- And i want to pass to DarkyRom 3.3,
- But i don't want to lose all my apps and stuff.
- How can i save all that and load it again after flash a new ROM."
Thanks
PS: Sorry for my ignorance but i have found so many but i haven't found one that i know who to use it.

xinato91 said:
Hi Xda Members
I have a little problem!
I just love the variety of ROM and Kernel's that i can choose
But i haven't found how to properly backup:
SMS
MMS
Apps
Rest of my data
So i can use it every time i flash a new ROM
"What happen was:
- That i am now stuck with Rocket Rom V21,
- And i want to pass to DarkyRom 3.3,
- But i don't want to lose all my apps and stuff.
- How can i save all that and load it again after flash a new ROM."
Thanks
PS: Sorry for my ignorance but i have found so many but i haven't found one that i know who to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Option 1: Use Nandroid backup (Root)
Option 2: Use Titanium Backup (Root) for Apps and stuffs. and for SMS/MMS backup there any many Apps available in Market.

i use mybackup root, if you are not rooted there is a version on the market

download app back up and restore[infolife] for apps and netqin sync for contacts both are free and very simple and both back ups ur data on your sd memory
enjoy

ranjan.alva said:
Option 1: Use Nandroid backup (Root)
Option 2: Use Titanium Backup (Root) for Apps and stuffs. and for SMS/MMS backup there any many Apps available in Market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If i do a Nandroid backup, who do i restore just what i want?
The last time i try i have 4 options to choose:
1.Kernel;
2.System;
3. ...and 4. ..;
it's something like that, which ones do i choose?
My problem is when restoring data, i don't know what to choose

xinato91 said:
If i do a Nandroid backup, who do i restore just what i want?
The last time i try i have 4 options to choose:
1.Kernel;
2.System;
3. ...and 4. ..;
it's something like that, which ones do i choose?
My problem is when restoring data, i don't know what to choose
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do a Nandroid Backup in CWM recovery. it wont ask anything.

ranjan.alva said:
Do a Nandroid Backup in CWM recovery. it wont ask anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But doesn't it restore the kernel and System?

If you do a NAND backup you are backing up the entire OS. So if you restore it, it will be restored to the state you left it in before making the backup. All SMS, apps, call log, everything will be like you left it, including the kernel.
THIS is what you're looking for, and this is what we do before we flash ROM's, so when we want to go back to that ROM we do a restore in CWM. Voila, we are exactly back to where we were. A NAND backup is also a must have in case unexpected things happen - like bootloops.
I always have two or three backups. One of them is the one with the best battery life and stability (a life boat), the other one is CM9 alpha (for when i'm bored), and the third one is the ROM i currently use. This way i can't mess things up. Ever.

Use titanium to backup your sms/mms, call logs and apps.