Okay. I make regular Nandroid backups. I also brick my phone a lot since I like to play. I don't mind since I simple wipe and reload. However, last night I decided that I was going to try and put my many Nandroid backups to good use. The reason I haven't done so until now was that the process seemed too cumbersome and detailed. I always found it more straightforward, albeit more time consuming, to just reinstall my apps and change all my settings manually. It actually is surprisingly quick when you get used to it. Anyway, after quite some time, I finally managed to successfully configure and flash one of my Nandroid backups using the NNADROID Recovery GUI tool from this forum. To my surprise, it didn't seem to do much. I am not sure what was supposed to happen. I always assumed that all my settings and customizations would be there. While I didn't think my apps would (the Nandroid backup was too small to hold my files) I thought my app settings would and when I reinstalled an app it would contain all my settings. Nothing.
So my big question, after that lengthy background, is what exactly gets restored when you flash a Nandroid backup to your phone? Perhaps I am missing something. After an exhaustive search through these forums, all I've come up with was that Nandroid does a "complete restore" of your phone but no explanation of what that means. Perhaps I missed the post (for all you expert posters, I really look before I ask a question as this is my first ever question on a forum) that explains it. Perhaps one has never been written. Either way, can someone either point me in the right direction or explain what it is I am missing? I think it would benefit people who are new to the process. Personally, I am okay with my "system" however poor it may be. It works. But if there is an easier, more efficient method, I'm all ears.
Thanks.
Everything in the /system and /data I believe. YOu get back all contacts, SMS, app data..etc. IT DOES NOT backup your apps! or anything on your ext partition
I have /data/app, /data/data, /data/dalvik-cache moved to my SD card on an ext2 partition. From what you suggested, that will not be backed up. Is that correct?
I don't need apps restored. I also don't see the value in backing up contacts since this is done via sync anyway. I also use Backup for Root Users (BRU) which does a backup of my settings as well as SMS messages (I have about half a dozen apps to back up SMS messages and I don't really care that much about them). BRU backs up Alarms, Settings, Bookmarks, Shortcuts, Playlists, Data, SMS, Dictionary, Market DB, APN, Contacts/Calls and APKs. Not sure what else I need.
Also, the app data that was restored via Nandroid didn't seem to help me as the settings were not there when I reinstalled apps. It appears that Nandroid is less useful than it appears to be. With my "manual" method, I can essentially restore just about everything inside of 30 minutes, including apps (I use ADB to bulk install). So I am not exactly sure how I would benefit from Nandroid. There has to be something more that I am missing since the forum speaks of Nandroid like the Holy Grail.
It's just way more efficient. A click of two buttons and you have a stable ready to go backup of your entire phone minus anything on your ext partition. So you can easily switch between lets say..cyanogen and thedude's builds without having to wipe and flash or just plain flash.
While that sounds amazing, I am not sure what use it is without my ext partition. All my apps are on the partition and the Nandroid restore doesn't read them. I am assuming without the apps on SD it would be a very good thing. But it seems kind of useless otherwise. I don't want to drive everyone crazy especially since I am find with how I restore. I am just very interested in fully understanding the reasoning which doesn't seem to be coming through in your explanation. My Nandroid restore, which went smoothly, was completely useless to me.
Most people love the idea of an instant restore without hassle. It's useful you'll realize that sooner or later.
(Off topic: Fellow Brooklyner, *high five*) lol
Go Brooklyn. Damn straight.
I would LOVE to realize its usefulness. It takes two second to do a backup and about a minute to restore it. PLEASE explain what makes it so good. Someone needs to write up a detailed explanation of what it does and what gets restored. After my restore I basically has to redo all my settings anyway since the apps are on the SD. Not seeing it. I guess I'll just have to play some more to figure it out. I will have to wait until I brick my phone again (which should happen soon enough, LOL) to find out.
aaronratner said:
Go Brooklyn. Damn straight.
I would LOVE to realize its usefulness. It takes two second to do a backup and about a minute to restore it. PLEASE explain what makes it so good. Someone needs to write up a detailed explanation of what it does and what gets restored. After my restore I basically has to redo all my settings anyway since the apps are on the SD. Not seeing it. I guess I'll just have to play some more to figure it out. I will have to wait until I brick my phone again (which should happen soon enough, LOL) to find out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=459830&highlight=infernix You can look at that. Entire thread on nandroid. Honestly whether you think its useful or not is based on personal preference. It's possible to backup the ext partition by just doing a simple "adb pull /system/sd" and a simple "adb pull /data/data" will backup all your app data but nandroid is just more efficient. Read through the first couple of pages and last couple of pages in that thread and you'll have a better understanding of why we consider it our holy grail. Cheers
Since you say Nandroid doesn't back-up apps. but Back-up for Root users does then would the apps. that I back-up using BRU show as installed in Market/My downloads if I wipe?, or would I have to redownload them from Market...the reason why I ask this is because I paid for two apps. on my old Gmail account and was able to switch them to my new one but I'll lose them or basically have to buy them again if I wipe.
I use ASTRO to back up my apps. I don't think it shows up in the Market unless you backup Market data. I use aTrackDog to track updates to my files. When I reinstall apps, I do it via ADB or a file manager like ASTRO or Linda. I have the APKs backed up (even the paid ones, go ROOT!). The Market seems very forgetful when you wipe. I have to do another build anyway since my phone just crashed. Which brings me to an off topic question regarding apps to SD for which I will open a new thread. My phone keeps crashing and I think it's my apps to SD method.
_Kyros_ said:
Since you say Nandroid doesn't back-up apps. but Back-up for Root users does then would the apps. that I back-up using BRU show as installed in Market/My downloads if I wipe?, or would I have to redownload them from Market...the reason why I ask this is because I paid for two apps. on my old Gmail account and was able to switch them to my new one but I'll lose them or basically have to buy them again if I wipe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The purchased apps will stay but any free apps will not, unless you backup and push your market.db back
You can backup your market.db. Backup for Root Users lets you do this
alritewhadeva said:
The purchased apps will stay but any free apps will not, unless you backup and push your market.db back
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Click to collapse
I know the purchased apps will stay but the problem is I didn't purchase them from the Gmail account that I'm on now I purchased them from my original Gmail account so if I wipe they might still show up in Market/My downloads but I'll have to purchase them again so that's why I asked if you use BRU will they reinstalled them and show in Market/My download as installed or will I have to reinstall them myself from Market/My download if they show up?
If you install them using BRU they won't show on market under my downloads
I saw this and looked because I've wondered myself. I recently managed my first backup restoration and it took a few tries. To combat the losing apps on your ext partition I found (yes, through hours of research ... honest) the easiest solution is to use one card for one firmware and switch cards if I want to flash or use another. That way I have all the apps for that particular firmware. It isn't the ideal solution but cards are cheap enough to do it.
Like the solution, sort of
Dyonas, I like your solution. By keeping two SD cards it solves a lot of issues. However, so far I have not been given a detailed response of what exactly happens with a Nandroid backup. Let's assume that I have two identical SD cards with identical partitions and something goes wrong when I do something with the phone. If I do a Nadroid restore and put in the "stable" SD card (remember, for arguments sake, they are identical in every which way minus the last minute corruption), would that essentially restore it to like new? If I didn't have identical SD cards, what exactly would be restored (I understand apps do not get restored)?
Again, I am fine with my method of restoring but I think this would be a tremendous help for the community as a whole if someone could actually say what it is that happens with the restore. I will continue with my nightly Nandroid backups just in case I need them (which has happened once). But simply saying Nandroid is "amazing" or a "must" doesn't explain anything.
Thanks all.
aaronratner said:
Dyonas, I like your solution. By keeping two SD cards it solves a lot of issues. However, so far I have not been given a detailed response of what exactly happens with a Nandroid backup. Let's assume that I have two identical SD cards with identical partitions and something goes wrong when I do something with the phone. If I do a Nadroid restore and put in the "stable" SD card (remember, for arguments sake, they are identical in every which way minus the last minute corruption), would that essentially restore it to like new? If I didn't have identical SD cards, what exactly would be restored (I understand apps do not get restored)?
Again, I am fine with my method of restoring but I think this would be a tremendous help for the community as a whole if someone could actually say what it is that happens with the restore. I will continue with my nightly Nandroid backups just in case I need them (which has happened once). But simply saying Nandroid is "amazing" or a "must" doesn't explain anything.
Thanks all.
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Click to collapse
Nandroid backups are stored onto your sdcard. They don't change anything on your phone. The backup stays there until you want to use it. When you do use it to restore it restores you're phone to the exact way it was when you did the backup. It doesn't matter where the nandroid backup is unless you are using cyanogen's 1.4 image and are recovering from the recovery menu. In that case you would have to move the nandroid folder to your other sdcard. Hope I answered your question Look in dream android development for the switchrom.sh script. Backups everything included ext partition and you can easily restore it from recovery console.
Tells the how, but not the what [SOLVED]
I fully understand how to backup and restore. But you said what everybody else use saying that it restores your phone to the way it was when you backed up the phone. But what exactly is restored is the question. Data? Cache? Apps? Settings? Etc. I know apps seen't but is the app data. The one nandroid restore that I performed did not seem to help me much in terms of my settings and app data. However, I have my methods using several programs and will continue my nightly nandroid backups until I figure it all out. Thanks. I will mark this as solved. If someone cares to write a detailed post on this they can just start a new thread.
aaronratner said:
I fully understand how to backup and restore. But you said what everybody else use saying that it restores your phone to the way it was when you backed up the phone. But what exactly is restored is the question. Data? Cache? Apps? Settings? Etc. I know apps seen't but is the app data. The one nandroid restore that I performed did not seem to help me much in terms of my settings and app data. However, I have my methods using several programs and will continue my nightly nandroid backups until I figure it all out. Thanks. I will mark this as solved. If someone cares to write a detailed post on this they can just start a new thread.
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Click to collapse
EVERYTHING except apps. App data, everything on your /system. Everything except apps. Your app data won't restore unless the apps are already installed. It's that simple. Don't know why its so hard to understand.
[SOLVED]
Okay. That makes sense. I was wondering why my app data wasn't restored after a restore. But according to what you said the app needs to be installed first (which doesn't make too much sense). All I know is that I did a nandroid restore and it did not restore some of my settings which were definitely in the backup. It's no big deal. I will run a few restores to test for myself. I just didn't like the answer that every kept giving which was "everything" which explains nothing. But i am pretty sure I understand it now and one or two restores should give me a complete picture.
I'm fairly new at this rooting thing, I initially rooted stock, and then went on to a custom rom someone on the board made. However, I'd like to play with other ones, but I don't want to have to reinstall my apps every time. Is there a recommended way to backup, and what exactly should I be backing up?
I've installed Titanium Backup and backed up most of my apps that way, is that the preferred method and all I really need to do?
Thanks!!
dcsipe said:
I'm fairly new at this rooting thing, I initially rooted stock, and then went on to a custom rom someone on the board made. However, I'd like to play with other ones, but I don't want to have to reinstall my apps every time. Is there a recommended way to backup, and what exactly should I be backing up?
I've installed Titanium Backup and backed up most of my apps that way, is that the preferred method and all I really need to do?
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a bad experience with using the "Backup" and "Restore" options in Recovery completely destroying my Nook's boot partition, so I'd personally stick with Titanium Backup. I paid for it, and it was well worth it. This let's me install any ROM and with literally a single tap, all my apps are reinstalled.
Titanium Backup is just amazing. It's probably one of (if not THE) the most useful apps ever for anyone who frequents XDA. And free, if you don't mind tapping for each app. Just don't restore system files etc (ie the "red" colored apps).
Depending on which recovery you are using, you may have to use the accompanying kernel...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App
Q I installed Titanium Backup and it is driving me nuts, it creates the folder on my SD card, says it's complete, but the folder is empty. I tried just the apps, apps and system, but still the folder is empty. The notification note says complete with the time, but still an empty folder even after I deleted it before a new backup.
Auto-nooter 3
Uninstalled TB, and reinstalled it, works fine now. Must have been a flakey install.
I find appbrain the easiest solution to reinstall my apps. Then if necessary, use titanium to restore data.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Personally I run all my ROMs from a MicroSD card. This way I don't have to worry about screwing up my Nook and I can pop the Card into my PC and use "dd" to make Images and Flash them back. It makes switching ROMs quick and easy and if I decide I like the New ROM I can use Titanium Backup to mass Restore(Pro key needed) all my Apps. If I don't like the ROM or if something bad happens I can just "dd" a Backed Up Image to get my my Old Install back and it's like I never switched ROMs. Aaahhh.... Life is good.
PS: I keep Two cards, One for my Everyday ROM, and the Other for Testing.
____________________________________________________
Sent from Nookie Froyo using Tapatalk
change a new Rom with the best performance means:
full wipe (cashe,data,preload,system)
also not restore app (at least app data) from titanium backup.
so, install all app again and make setup for all
guys, how do you this? I have already xxlsz a mounth installed, everything is working, but I know, new rom could be better.
otherwise I am tired of restoring...
sometimes I am thinking I could be happy with a iphone so simply
Bonumy said:
change a new Rom with the best performance means:
full wipe (cashe,data,preload,system)
also not restore app (at least app data) from titanium backup.
so, install all app again and make setup for all
guys, how do you this? I have already xxlsz a mounth installed, everything is working, but I know, new rom could be better.
otherwise I am tired of restoring...
sometimes I am thinking I could be happy with a iphone so simply
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you been downloading all of your apps every time you flash a new ROM ?
You can restore user apps and data.
Just don't restore any system app/data
Got it?
for me the RomCustomizer by ficeto is great app for restoring, backuping, uninstalling apps, and I never restore any data. If the app which I use have option to save/restore settings I do that (and this kind of data is usualy saved on internal sd) same thing is for gps navigation programs (maps are always saved on internal sd)
so after flashing new rom, first thing is installing rom customzer, then restoring user and also some system apps (I do backup of some system apps which is updated, it saves my time from updating via playstore)
and thats it, new rom is set up in about 30min
this way I dont have any problems with any rom and any app I used
hope it helped to someone
till now I just have restored some user app+data from titanium, some download again from market. never restore system app or data.
once I have deleted my internal card and download all app again cuz some people had problem with performance of that rom and this want recommend. also I wanted a bit clean my phone.
ok, now I am confuse. it's safe restore user data or better just save data if the app has this in option and then restore?
thanks guys.
Bonumy said:
till now I just have restored some user app+data from titanium, some download again from market. never restore system app or data.
once I have deleted my internal card and download all app again cuz some people had problem with performance of that rom and this want recommend. also I wanted a bit clean my phone.
ok, now I am confuse. it's safe restore user data or better just save data if the app has this in option and then restore?
thanks guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both are safe. The latter method requires you to individually restore data while in the former you can batch restore data. Which one you want to use is up to you.
so for the best performance of a new ROM is NOT nesesary format internal card and NOT restore app+data ?
Make ROM CUSTOMIZER backup of app with or without data? (I didnt find this option like in Titanium Backup).
Hi everyone,
this is urgent so please help. I am a Noob and I today was successfully able to root my nexus one. Before rooting I had installed "Super Backup" app and backed up all data. My query specifically pertains to App Data Backup and restore.
So once I had backed-up all apps/sms etc, I copied all my sd card data to my computer. Then I Rooted the phone. Now once rooted, my phone is totally bare without any apps or settings but the sd card is not wiped. So I installed "Super Backup". I opened the app and it showed all the apps in the archived state. I was happy and restored all apps. What it has done is that it has re-installed all apps however they are like new, they dont have my data settings or game progress. I am really worried, and need all my data/settings/progress back.
I also saw on sd card backup image folder "SmsContactsBackup", there are lot of apk files. Can someone please let me know whether I have lost all app data or can I get that somehow?
Please its important.
Got the Answer
I got the answer in another thread. GIven that my phone was non-rooted, so the apps backed up all right but not the data ((((
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40101287
Hi, I've some questions about this application. I've got a rooted HTC One m7 mounting android 5.0.2 (ViperOne 9.0.0).
So (I'll try to be as clear as possible, but I'll do surely some mistake 'cause I don't speak english daily), I was thinking about mounting Lineage OS 14.1 on my htc one but I've never used Titanium Backup and I don't know what it can make me backup
How does it work? And what will I lose if I am going to change ROM? Can it backup everything like an iOS backup?
P.S.: Sorry for possibile grammar error
TB has lots of features to talk about, too much to give you a single answer. In general you can backup user and system apps, including data, cache (optional), marketlinks etc.. Backups will be stored on your internal drive as well as your TB settings so your settings can be restored after a flash. Make sure you give TB root acces and busybox is installed. Anyway, I'm sure their is a threat somewhere on XDA about TB to give you all the info you need. The fun way ofcourse would be backing up your system, install TB and explore the features yourself. Could be a process of trial and error, but that's why you've just backed-up your system.......
Good luck