Database Develop

[Q] Whatsapp Backup

Hey,
Has anyone ever looked into how the Whatsapp Backup is stored? It can be used after reinstalling the app, but not after hard resetting/flashing/etc. So it should be stored on the phone, but not the normal isolated storage of the app since I can reinstall it and use the backup then.
Is there special access necessary or could other apps also access (and modify/export) this backup? I'm asking this because I hope to find a way to make a backup that really is useful, I almost only write via whatsapp because SMS cost way more than internet here. Thanks!

why do you think whatsapp isnt useing isolated storage? shure it is, but you still cant access it - unless you have a interopt unlocked device
the reason you can restore, is that the app id stays the same.. you could try to deploy an older (uncrypted) whatsapp xap to your phone, if the app id still stays the same (and im not shure it does! actually i think it doesnt..) you would gain access... again, thats total theory! i havent tryed this, and it has propably the potential to mess up your backup...
maybe GoodDayToDie has some more info about the app-id thing.. i'll also do a quick research

tfBullet said:
why do you think whatsapp isnt useing isolated storage? shure it is, but you still cant access it - unless you have a interopt unlocked device
the reason you can restore, is that the app id stays the same.. you could try to deploy an older (uncrypted) whatsapp xap to your phone, if the app id still stays the same (and im not shure it does! actually i think it doesnt..) you would gain access... again, thats total theory! i havent tryed this, and it has propably the potential to mess up your backup...
maybe GoodDayToDie has some more info about the app-id thing.. i'll also do a quick research
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! I din't know files in the isolated storage keep being there after you uninstall the app..
I tried deploying an old Version (1.4) of Whatsapp and it replaced the current one, so it should use the same app id. I didn't find anything in the isolated storage, but the backup is still there when I reinstall it from the store. I'll try launching the deployed app first now.

have you checked out the IsolatedStorageSettings?
Let me have a quick look where this thing is on my harddrive... when i find it, i'll be able to tell you where / how it saves the backup

tfBullet said:
have you checked out the IsolatedStorageSettings?
Let me have a quick look where this thing is on my harddrive... when i find it, i'll be able to tell you where / how it saves the backup
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Click to collapse
Nope, I have no real clue how to do that, the only thing I can is deploying apps and watching their isolated storage thanks!!

they used "messages.sdf" & "contacts.sdf" before, but then at some version they started to migrate this files into a database.. not shure where it gets stored, or if you can access it with simply browsing the IsoStoreage... ill make a quick test project to test out how or if we could access it..
EDIT: actually i was talking **** the .sdf files are already databases, and the data still resides there... and forgot to mention: even if you couldn't see the database files, you should see the user-picture thumbnails that reside in "cphotos/" + some-sha1-hashed-userinfo...

IsoStore is cleared when an app is uninstalled. So far as I know, this is instant, as part of the app removal process, although I suppose I haven't actually checked that. However, apps can (and many do) implement a backup situation to cover this use case by using a unique identifier that survives a re-install. There are several places such IDs can come from. Since the one you have survives app installs but *not* OS reflashing (even though you presumably sign on with the same Live ID afterward), I'm guessing it's a value that uniquely identifies your OS install and is randomly generated the first time the OS boots. Re-flashing counts as a new install, I guess.
I'd have to investigate further to be sure. There could be other mechanics at play, such as the OS keeping the data around for a short time in case you re-install the app, or the app storing its data in some other (off-phone) location. It's not storing it in some special folder within the phone, though; there's nowhere else it could!

Backup history with Whatapp on Android. Then check the backup file on:
/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt
Or
/data/data/com.whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db and wa.db (root)

Coweri said:
Backup history with Whatapp on Android. Then check the backup file on:
/sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt
Or
/data/data/com.whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db and wa.db (root)
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Click to collapse
Sorry, but this is Windows Phone, not android..
@GoodDayToDie so, there is no simple way like deploying an app with the same ID and trying to access the backup with it?

Since the data would have been deleted when the old app was removed (and since you can't sideload an app with the same Product ID as an existing Store app), no, that won't work (well, it didn't in WP7; I guess you could try again here; some things are somewhat less secure now than before).

th0mas96 said:
GoodDayToDie so, there is no simple way like deploying an app with the same ID and trying to access the backup with it?
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Click to collapse
Wait for a interop-unlock... thats the way to go in this case.
Until then, you can send your conversations to yourself by mail (option form the context menue)

GoodDayToDie said:
IsoStore is cleared when an app is uninstalled. So far as I know, this is instant, as part of the app removal process, although I suppose I haven't actually checked that. However, apps can (and many do) implement a backup situation to cover this use case by using a unique identifier that survives a re-install. There are several places such IDs can come from. Since the one you have survives app installs but *not* OS reflashing (even though you presumably sign on with the same Live ID afterward), I'm guessing it's a value that uniquely identifies your OS install and is randomly generated the first time the OS boots. Re-flashing counts as a new install, I guess.
I'd have to investigate further to be sure. There could be other mechanics at play, such as the OS keeping the data around for a short time in case you re-install the app, or the app storing its data in some other (off-phone) location. It's not storing it in some special folder within the phone, though; there's nowhere else it could!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GoodDayToDie, any news about this Whatsapp backup feature in Windows Phone? Is it possible to utilize this feature as an "ordinary" developer?

I would have to reverse engineer the app to see how its backup feature works. The most likely explanation - that it's storing the backup "in the cloud" using the device ID (which resets when you do a hard reset, I think) - is easily possible for any app so long as you provide the storage space...

GoodDayToDie said:
I would have to reverse engineer the app to see how its backup feature works. The most likely explanation - that it's storing the backup "in the cloud" using the device ID (which resets when you do a hard reset, I think) - is easily possible for any app so long as you provide the storage space...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That could be an explanation. But then the Whatsapp developers could easily offer a full backup, as on other platforms, linked to the phone number or something. Then you could restore the messages even after a phone exchange. But who knows what's in their heads ...

GoodDayToDie said:
I would have to reverse engineer the app to see how its backup feature works. The most likely explanation - that it's storing the backup "in the cloud" using the device ID (which resets when you do a hard reset, I think) - is easily possible for any app so long as you provide the storage space...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, it doesn't seem to be online.. it backups pretty big chats extremely fast with 2 bars of GPRS, so it can't be via internet.. it even backups without connection at all. That's the weird thing.. how are apps even allowed to store files that keep being there after an uninstall?

There are a couple really sneaky ways you could do that; one that comes to mind is creating a fake "image" or "ringtone" or similar, serializing the data to it, and then looking for it the "first" time the app is run after installing. However, I'm definitely more curious now. There are folders which apps can request permissions to write to, but usually that's a trick limited to "second-party" apps (OEMs, etc.) and prohibited for third parties.

I've already looked into the code, as far as i can tell there is no online backup feature. it just stores the conversations in a database.
And to answer yout question schluff: no there is absolutley no way the usual developera to utilize this.
btw: @GoodDayToDie could you provide us the newest WhatsApp XAP (2.11.312.0)?

When I get the chance to extract it of my computer, yeah. It's really hard to get full FS access working these days, so I'm looking into other ways to access the install folders and storage of other Apps.

here you go
edit: I've changed nothing, so it's the whole install folder in this zip file

Thanks for the extraction! Obviously, I can't do anything with it
However, if anyone is interested in this too, in the following versions it seems to backup to the SD card, at least @Nazwzil8 reported so at twitter: https://twitter.com/Nawzil8/status/410486248156172288 he reported a lot about whatsapp, he seems a legit beta tester.

[Q] Application to complete backup Windows Phone 8 phone?

Hello.
Is there any application out there that allows me to completely back up my Windows Phone 8 handset and store the backup on my computer to be restored if anything goes wrong?
Many thanks.
ianwuk

ianwuk said:
Hello.
Is there any application out there that allows me to completely back up my Windows Phone 8 handset and store the backup on my computer to be restored if anything goes wrong?
Many thanks.
ianwuk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the moment, no. WP only saves your settings, app list, accounts and messages, and wolf released an app data backup solution (only for interop unlocked phones w/higher privileges enabled). However, WP8.1 should be bringing way more options for backups, including app data if I remember right.

th0mas96 said:
At the moment, no. WP only saves your settings, app list, accounts and messages, and wolf released an app data backup solution (only for interop unlocked phones w/higher privileges enabled). However, WP8.1 should be bringing way more options for backups, including app data if I remember right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying th0mas96.
That is what I thought.

Yeah, unlike WP7 there's either no way to make the update OS create a full Main OS backup (that we've found), or the update OS just doesn't have that feature anymore. It's certainly not automatic anymore (makes sense, with OTA updates, though it's still a problem)

Zeramoly said:
I know MS has a program called OneDrive, which can easily allows users to back up their Windows phone data to computer or other place, it just like Apple iCloud. Check this tutorial out on how to back up and transfer Windows phone to iPhone.
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Click to collapse
+1 for OneDrive. But it only backs up a few items, such as contacts, music, video, etc...

Sadly there's no way to backup some settings, so all you can do is take screenshots (power + volume up) of settings and then manually re-set them to your liking.

[Q] Apps from Old to New Phone

Hello Experts...going to upgrade my current Galaxy Nexus to a Nexus 6. Is there an easy way to get all my apps from my current phone onto my new one? I have some that are side loaded and just want to be able to port over what I have to the new phone. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Try Helium from Play. It backups apps and data.
Verstuurd vanaf mijn Nexus 6 met Tapatalk

when setting up the n6, itll give you an option to port over your apps from your previous phone. problem is, those side loaded apps wont appear. but you cam jyst send yourself those apps or use an app like titanium backup to back them up/restore them.

TitaniumBackup works great. I have used it for years to port apps & app data from phone to phone to phone. Try it & you won't regret it.

Titanium backup is my go to, only thing is you need to be rooted..

TiBU
but DO NOT restore system files,
what I did getting my N5 data ready to port to new device (2 days ago) backup everything TiBU will backup, copy all files to new device (or the temp N7 device in my case) and restore only regular play store apps, and its safe (only if the relatively the same base OS version) "accounts."
the best order is restore "app only" things that you are unable to get from the play store, the selectively restore the data to those apps you know would be a pain in the ass to set up (email clients, security DVR clients, Tapatalk...) but if its a red system file, avoid it, even for files like gmail.
the biggest problem TiBU causes people is flashing a new ROM then restoring everything they backed up, at that point you just unflashed the rom and run the risk of pushing bad incompatible core files on the new build...
in short (as I'll explain in my case) my N5 files have been copied to my N7 and restored what I stated above, while I wait for my N6 to be sent to be some day soon hopefully, where I will repeat the same process... all devices are on LP5.1.x and have had no issues... by importing the green accounts data, I'm not needing to re enter the 7 email accounts I want gmail to sync.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

I restore some gapps with Tibu and haven't had any issues..

ryanallaire said:
I restore some gapps with Tibu and haven't had any issues..
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Click to collapse
I've never had the need to restore from an app, not flaming them, just not my preference. I let the OS do it and for sideloaded apps, I typically have kept a copy on my PC, so I just batch re-upload to the phone using wifi file explorer pro, and install what I want.
In fact, to be it's great because when doing a major change I can take an audit of what I really have used, and not to decide what to load, etc. (and you can choose as well when porting over, etc.)

Backup and restore from note 8

Was wondering if I'm doing this right or not.
Normally when I upgrade to another Samsung device , power on the new device go through the motions then after done I use Samsung smartswitch. Any better methods?
Cheers
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

If you can its better to do a new setup like only restore photos and contacts the rest do it manually in most cases setting up a fresh clean runs smoothly than restoring from backup

The only thing that get's backed up for me is my contacts and photos from my Google account. I've always liked doing a fresh install on new phones, not really sure if they run better or not. Little more time to set up but I kind of enjoy it.

I usually use Smart Switch to transfer only messages (SMS/MMS) and apps.
I do not have it bring settings across. Contacts, emails, browser book marks are all sync'ed to my Gmail Account. And Samsung internet browser book marks are also sych'ed to my samsung account.
Then I manually configure my favorite settings, widgets, short cuts, and launcher.

I'll use smartswitch, then use Helium to move apps AND their data over after smartswitch has done it's thing. I have a ton of apps that I need the data to migrate and since we can't root the only way to do that now is Helium. It is slow and clunky compared to Titanium, but at least it works (knock on wood don't want to jinx it), or has in the past with some effort and time.
It takes quite a bit of time (many hours) to get everything from my old phone to a new one. Part of me wishes I hadn't upgraded just so I don't have to go through the process. Oh well.

harukara said:
Want to Backup and restore data from note 8, my suggestion is android assistant tool. With its help, you can backup & restore data on note 8 within one-click. And it's easy and safe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not just use the built in tool the phone maker provided built in? The software you pointed to, probably skims your data and sells it. Their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy are sketchy as heck!!! What info do they reserve the right to share and with whom? It doesn't even give clear definition of that info, and they don't even give a list of who their "3rd party affiliates" are.

Best way to migrate everything from a Note4 and using Nova on Note9

Hi all,
I've got a couple of questions regarding the Note9, which I'll be getting this week:
1. What is the best way to migrate everything from my Note4 to the Note9? I've read that there a few ways, what's the best? what do I do with content that isn't backed up like game's progress?
Does Smart Switch, for example, copy everything? Do I need to migrate everything to do with my Google account separately?
2. When using Nova on my Note4 there were a few things that were disabled when changing Samsung's launcher, like attaching Notes to the screen or using the calendar widget.
Does anyone know what we lose, if anything, by changing the launcher on the Note9?
Much appreciated.

I'm having the same problem with the calendar widget; is there a workaround to get the Samsung calendar widget working on GoLauncher?
To answer your first question (although you may not need the answer anymore but maybe other people do): I copied all my files from a Xiaomi to Samsung Note using Samsung's Smart Switch app, available on Google Play. Works well, except that favorites and settings within the apps are not copied to the new phone.

Helium Backup is a good solution for non rooted devices to transfer your apps including all data to a other device. Not all apps but around 95% of your apps you can copy....
If your devices are rooted, you can also use Titanium Backup - thats the best solution but works only with rooted devices.

I always use Titanium, since being rooted.

Not 100% on this but I've read it's better to do a clean install than full transfer, what I mean by this is just backing up through your Google account and redownload all apps and settings. Manually transfer documents, pictures, music etc.

If I were you I'd removed Nova launcher before using smartswitch to transfer. Better still do a fresh install as others have suggested.
Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk

daLareid said:
Not 100% on this but I've read it's better to do a clean install than full transfer, what I mean by this is just backing up through your Google account and redownload all apps and settings. Manually transfer documents, pictures, music etc.
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Click to collapse
Samsung Smart Switch copies all documents, pics, contacts, phone data, etc. Just not all settings for apps.

dio62000 said:
Samsung Smart Switch copies all documents, pics, contacts, phone data, etc. Just not all settings for apps.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, if you are running the stock Samsung Launcher then Smartswitch is the way to do this. As it litterally moves everything from your old android device to your new phone. It does a much better job if you are migrating from a Samsung device too. I use it when I upgraded from my N910C to my N950N.

correct, Helium Backup transfer also settings and datas from many apps including the application itself (not all apps), thats the reason why I prefere Helium Backup
dio62000 said:
Samsung Smart Switch copies all documents, pics, contacts, phone data, etc. Just not all settings for apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

dio62000 said:
Samsung Smart Switch copies all documents, pics, contacts, phone data, etc. Just not all settings for apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know it does but I once had pictures and somehow they became corrupted through Smart Switch, they still transferred alright to the new phone but I deleted them from the old phone and when tried to access them through the new phone they were all corrupted and I lost them, that's why I rather manually save them.