Backup of scenes - Hero, G2 Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Is there any app that can backup/restore the scenes to the SD card or does anyone know where and how the information is stored, DB, XML?

Would be handy once we get the ROM update.
Hopefully HTC will be able to do a non destructive update, like Nokia and others seem to be able to do.

JesperDS said:
Is there any app that can backup/restore the scenes to the SD card or does anyone know where and how the information is stored, DB, XML?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried several without any luck. Even the ones that claim to backup deskstop shortcuts, don't. They mean the android desktop, not HTC's Sense UI.
I also search for relevant XML files everywhere, using root explorer, but no luck.
So I gave up, stopped using Scenes for anything non-trivial, and replaced all my folders with Apps Organiser labels. Much better, and its config can be exported to a txt file on the SD card.

Related

[Q] Android File System Structure?!

Coming from Windows Mobile, I knew I was in for a bit of a shock. But I didn't realize it would be this bad.
You see, I have OCD when it comes to organization and cleanliness. It's pretty bad. On Windows Mobile, I had every program organized by category. I edited all the .cab files to install to "\Program Files\*CATEGORY*\App Name", and the shortcut to be installed to "\Start Menu\*CATEGORY*"
Everything was perfectly organized. On the root of my SD card, I had 2 folders - "My Documents" and "Program Files". There were no stray files on the root.
I had everything setup PERFECTLY with Sashimi so when I reflashed, I could run my script and all settings/apps would be restored.
I found the registry key for all settings and backed them up, made provisioning XMLs for all of my account settings, etc. Anything that needed to be saved between flashes would be saved to the SD card. When I flashed, everything would be back to the way it was an hour ago.
I LOVE my Evo 3D, but I'm getting incredibly frustrated with how insane the clutter is. Every app and its mother decides to make a folder on the root of my SD card. And half the time, they're empty folders. I just want to know:
1. How are settings stored in Android? In WM, there were registry keys for everything from backlight to email signatures. Where and how does Android store these settings?
2. How can I have an app completely installed on the SD card, so that if I hard-reset, all I need to do is put it's shortcut in the app drawer?
3. Are there any tools like Sashimi that streamline the hard-rest/reflash process?
4. Are apps hard coded to store files where they do? Or is there something like an XML file for the app that tells it to write to "%SDCARD%" instead of "%SDCARD\xxx"
Thanks in advance!
saumaun said:
Coming from Windows Mobile, I knew I was in for a bit of a shock. But I didn't realize it would be this bad.
You see, I have OCD when it comes to organization and cleanliness. It's pretty bad. On Windows Mobile, I had every program organized by category. I edited all the .cab files to install to "\Program Files\*CATEGORY*\App Name", and the shortcut to be installed to "\Start Menu\*CATEGORY*"
Everything was perfectly organized. On the root of my SD card, I had 2 folders - "My Documents" and "Program Files". There were no stray files on the root.
I had everything setup PERFECTLY with Sashimi so when I reflashed, I could run my script and all settings/apps would be restored.
I found the registry key for all settings and backed them up, made provisioning XMLs for all of my account settings, etc. Anything that needed to be saved between flashes would be saved to the SD card. When I flashed, everything would be back to the way it was an hour ago.
I LOVE my Evo 3D, but I'm getting incredibly frustrated with how insane the clutter is. Every app and its mother decides to make a folder on the root of my SD card. And half the time, they're empty folders. I just want to know:
1. How are settings stored in Android? In WM, there were registry keys for everything from backlight to email signatures. Where and how does Android store these settings?
2. How can I have an app completely installed on the SD card, so that if I hard-reset, all I need to do is put it's shortcut in the app drawer?
3. Are there any tools like Sashimi that streamline the hard-rest/reflash process?
4. Are apps hard coded to store files where they do? Or is there something like an XML file for the app that tells it to write to "%SDCARD%" instead of "%SDCARD\xxx"
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long story short, it won't be easy. The answers aren't likely the most technically complete, but I believe them to be accurate.
1) I know someone has the answer.
2) There is no way to install 100% to SD card.
3) Titanium Backup, MyBackup, etc.. will all backup and restore your applications and settings. You can also take a complete image of the phone, using ClockworkMod. You can then restore all or part of that image. These all require root access.
4) As far as I know, I think it can swing both ways. It would require you to extract, modify, and repack the contents of the APK.
Man do I feel your pain! I absolutely hate the way android allows apps to be installed.
Don't even get me started on the lack of quit buttons on too many apps, or the way apps that have no business running in the background constantly start themselves in the background.
What's crackalackin saumaun. I haven't seen u since ppcgeeks. That's one thing that pissed me off with android when I came from windows mobile. Have you been with android or did u finally get rid of your tp2.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
xenx said:
Long story short, it won't be easy. The answers aren't likely the most technically complete, but I believe them to be accurate.
1) I know someone has the answer.
2) There is no way to install 100% to SD card.
3) Titanium Backup, MyBackup, etc.. will all backup and restore your applications and settings. You can also take a complete image of the phone, using ClockworkMod. You can then restore all or part of that image. These all require root access.
4) As far as I know, I think it can swing both ways. It would require you to extract, modify, and repack the contents of the APK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. I'm going to be looking into those backup apps. But I fear I won't be able to do much more until the 3D is rooted.
touchprofan said:
Man do I feel your pain! I absolutely hate the way android allows apps to be installed.
Don't even get me started on the lack of quit buttons on too many apps, or the way apps that have no business running in the background constantly start themselves in the background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is definitely a pain too! I wish there was an option to close the browser so when I'm done, the next time I want to use the internet, I would be at my home page.
gmfeny said:
What's crackalackin saumaun. I haven't seen u since ppcgeeks. That's one thing that pissed me off with android when I came from windows mobile. Have you been with android or did u finally get rid of your tp2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man, it's been a long time! This is my first Android device. I just came from the TP2. In fact, it's sitting right next to me lol.

[Q]App Folder

Ok, Seeing as how the first 10 pages and search yielded no results, I think I might be one of those special kids mentioned in the terms and agreements video.
I need to know where Astro installs the apks, because obviously it's not under system/app nor data/app. I've browsed both twice while revealing hidden files but they have not yielded any results. I can find every app on the phone but the ones that I've installed through Astro... So if anyone can shed some light as to where I might find them, that would be great.
try here
dont know if its similar but i have same problem with ics not being able to find apps that were unremovable (they just kept reinstalling) but noticed some apps were also in /preload (dont know if this helps your case or not)
Maybe /mnt/sdcard?
Check peferences in astro for home directory?
Other apps also in /data/app
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
mnzt42yd said:
dont know if its similar but i have same problem with ics not being able to find apps that were unremovable (they just kept reinstalling) but noticed some apps were also in /preload (dont know if this helps your case or not)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply but it's not an unremovable app, just a few apks that I nicked off the internet. They show up under settings > applications and can be removed, but I just can not for the life of me find them on the system folders
woebetide said:
Maybe /mnt/sdcard?
Check peferences in astro for home directory?
Other apps also in /data/app
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've checked those, and all the home directories and usb directories and sd external directories, pretty much all of the directories listed in the preference for Astro with no success. Also, somehow, my /data/app folder only has the stock apps, nothing new that I've installed so far. Appreciate the reply though
Use your root file explorer to search your device, it will show up eventually.....
Edit: so no confusion, I mean the search function within the app
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
krymore said:
Thanks for the reply but it's not an unremovable app, just a few apks that I nicked off the internet. They show up under settings > applications and can be removed, but I just can not for the life of me find them on the system folders
Yeah, I've checked those, and all the home directories and usb directories and sd external directories, pretty much all of the directories listed in the preference for Astro with no success. Also, somehow, my /data/app folder only has the stock apps, nothing new that I've installed so far. Appreciate the reply though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have your phone set to install apps to external memory, there should be a folder called "android.secure". This is where the phone puts apps that are installed to the SD. (by default) Now I am assuming you have not formatted you SD to include a EXT 2/4 partition, or else you would know to look there. I would investigate to see if you can find an android.secure folder.

[Q] SD Card Backup Regime

So now that I have a phone with an internal SD card, I am particularly worried about data, or what would happen if I can no longer take it off of a device. Previously an SD card could just be removed from a dead device, but not so now.
I'm using foldersync to mirror data, but I was wondering what were the essential folders to sync. I can figure out most of them, but I'm struggling with the Android folder in root. Is there any valuable information in here or is it all temporary and so not required to be backed up?
sshaikh said:
So now that I have a phone with an internal SD card, I am particularly worried about data, or what would happen if I can no longer take it off of a device. Previously an SD card could just be removed from a dead device, but not so now.
I'm using foldersync to mirror data, but I was wondering what were the essential folders to sync. I can figure out most of them, but I'm struggling with the Android folder in root. Is there any valuable information in here or is it all temporary and so not required to be backed up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you don't care about storage space and automation and you happen to use TotalCommander for PC, it has perfect "Synchronize Dirs" feature, with in my personal experience (after many tests of different solutions) wins every time due to high customisation, ease of use and option of binary comparison
You don't need to backup the Android folder. It's mostly just full of data files for certain apps. Like Google Maps saved map data, cached music from Google Music, game data, small preferences files for some apps etc. Nothing important. Even if you delete the contents of the whole Android folder, they'll be re-created on boot or when you run those apps next. Map data, Google music etc should be downloaded again manually. It's a waste of space to back it up as it can be 2GB or more sometimes. Generally, only backup your personal data like pictures, videos, music, downloads etc. Things which you've put there yourself. Also backup any folders of backup related apps like SMSBackup&Restore, Titanium Backup and recovery folder with nandroid backups. Personal files + backup app data is all you need to backup from the SD card. Everything else is insignificant and will be recreated anyway by the respective apps.
Thanks sashank, that's what I thought. It's a pain to backup because of the size and usage.
Looking at the docs however it seems apps can put whatever data they want there, including settings. So I guess this depends on the app itself and how well it behaves itself. I guess I will have to be discerning and backup individual files in the folder depending on how important the app is to me. Which sucks.
p107r0 said:
if you don't care about storage space and automation and you happen to use TotalCommander for PC, it has perfect "Synchronize Dirs" feature, with in my personal experience (after many tests of different solutions) wins every time due to high customisation, ease of use and option of binary comparison
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm using Foldersync to do this automatically already. I just didn't want to spend time and energy maintaining a backup of redundant cache data!

[Q] Moving from defective Note 2 to a new Note 2

My Verizon Note 2 came with a glaring bad pixel and an entire line on the screen that went bad. I just got my RMA replacement unit.
I'm not rooted - I didn't want to mess around knowing I'd be returning it. So, neither Titanium Backup nor nandroid backup is available. I didn't move any apps to the external SD card, though for some apps I set the destination for new files to the external card when the default was internal.
What is the best procedure to migrate from old unit to new one? My thought was:
- Save configs for any app that allows you to save a config (e.g. Touchdown)
- Email Apps will re-sync with the servers (e.g. Touchdown, K-9)
- Most apps just re-install from Google play
- Drag and drop files on internal SD card to desktop (Windows)
- Anything on removable SD card will be fine.
Issues I'm wondering about:
- Dropbox. Should I uninstall and reinstall and let it all re-sync?
- Android settings - volume, ring tones, brightness, etc. - is there a file that saves all that? Will they get picked up if I copy a few directories from the internal storage back from Window? If so, what are those directories or files?
- Will there be hidden files on the internal storage that I need that won't be copied to Windows by drag & drop? Is there a way to save them?
- What am I missing? Anything else I should worry about? It seems simple enough, but having moved between platforms many times, there is always something that can go wrong.
Many thanks in advance for the help. I can't imagine I'm the only one with a defective unit, so hopefully this will help the next noob.
To be honest I'm sure there is a way to do what you are asking. Other than s note things which can be easily found with access to the internal storage.... For settings and whatnot I recommend just starting over it won't take that long and it is part of the fun of starting over
The reason I recommend starring over is it is easy to get way to complicated and messy trying to move things like that. I would only move app data that is vital. Good luck with your move.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
DJ1994 said:
To be honest I'm sure there is a way to do what you are asking. Other than s note things which can be easily found with access to the internal storage.... For settings and whatnot I recommend just starting over it won't take that long and it is part of the fun of starting over
The reason I recommend starring over is it is easy to get way to complicated and messy trying to move things like that. I would only move app data that is vital. Good luck with your move.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it was good advice. I was able to export and import my tasker profiles (those would have been painful to re-create), and for everything else I just did a side-by-side comparison with the old unit. Time consuming, but effective.

copying pictures from old phone

Ok so I guess this isn't specifically for the M8.. but I need some help. I've had my m8 for a while now but never properly copied over everything from my old phone. All of my old pictures in particular are still on my old phone. Well, most of them copied over.. but not the way I want. Basically, what I want is to get all of my pictures, and all of the different albums to just transfer from internal to SD so that I can just load it in my M8.
I don't remember what I did exactly, but most of my old pictures transferred over to my M8 all grouped into one album. I also don't want to use dropbox or do this over the internet. I thought Quickpic would've been easy to just select all and copy over.. but not that I could figure out. I suppose I could create new folders on my SD card and then use quickpic to copy them individually... but not ideal. Is there an easier way??
Also, unfortunately, my old phone will not connect to my computer, or else I'd use that.
cgibsong002 said:
Ok so I guess this isn't specifically for the M8.. but I need some help. I've had my m8 for a while now but never properly copied over everything from my old phone. All of my old pictures in particular are still on my old phone. Well, most of them copied over.. but not the way I want. Basically, what I want is to get all of my pictures, and all of the different albums to just transfer from internal to SD so that I can just load it in my M8.
I don't remember what I did exactly, but most of my old pictures transferred over to my M8 all grouped into one album. I also don't want to use dropbox or do this over the internet. I thought Quickpic would've been easy to just select all and copy over.. but not that I could figure out. I suppose I could create new folders on my SD card and then use quickpic to copy them individually... but not ideal. Is there an easier way??
Also, unfortunately, my old phone will not connect to my computer, or else I'd use that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if you tried this or not but, if you are on a stock Rom, choose the "get content from another phone" in settings. The catch is you will need to get the HTC transfer tool from the play store on the old phone. Once you do that follow the instructions. This method will transfer a lot more than just photos. You get to choose what to transfer. It works really well.
You should just be able to use any Android file manager to copy, move, create the albums/folders however you like. And then the M8 should just pick up the new albums. I'm a little confused on what the issue is?
Madcat8686 said:
I don't know if you tried this or not but, if you are on a stock Rom, choose the "get content from another phone" in settings. The catch is you will need to get the HTC transfer tool from the play store on the old phone. Once you do that follow the instructions. This method will transfer a lot more than just photos. You get to choose what to transfer. It works really well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much. I thought I used that already, but clearly not. This worked perfectly and was no hassle.
redpoint73 said:
You should just be able to use any Android file manager to copy, move, create the albums/folders however you like. And then the M8 should just pick up the new albums. I'm a little confused on what the issue is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping to find a way where I didn't have to manually go in and find all of my folders, then create new ones on the sd card, then copy over each folder individually... huge hassle.
cgibsong002 said:
I was hoping to find a way where I didn't have to manually go in and find all of my folders, then create new ones on the sd card, then copy over each folder individually... huge hassle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see that as a huge hassle, unless you have a lot of folders in different places. And if so, why? I suppose you are free to organize your files however works best for you. But just having them in a couple master folders like DCIM and/or Pictures seems the most logical IMO. And if that is the case, just migrating them even manually is just going to be a few taps and take a few minutes.
In any case, glad you found a solution that worked for you. But it looks like the HTC Transfer Tool is cloud/internet based which I thought you were trying to avoid?
The HTC tool was Wi-Fi direct using the m8s connection which I was much more comfortable using instead of hosting everything in a company's site.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
cgibsong002 said:
The HTC tool was Wi-Fi direct using the m8s connection which I was much more comfortable using instead of hosting everything in a company's site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha. WiFi based, not internet based. My mistake. Thanks for clarifying!

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