I'm a flashaholic like most of us here. I'd like to know your methods/steps/tricks for restoring accounts/settings/ringtones/apps/data configs ect after a new ROM flash.
Apps Restoration:
-Titanium Backup with user/data restoration would make the ROM unstable. Lots of freezes and Reboots. Some applications were just unusable which forced a painful 'level-down-the-problem' process or simply getting pissed and trying another ROM(which i falsely blamed the problems on the ROM). I know every ROM instructions say not to do this....but this method would be ideal if it worked.
-Titanium Backup with just user-apps restore(no data) was MUCH better yet I still had a few freezes and reboots. So I still haven't found a truly clean ROM with apps-restored from backup.
-No Backup restore, I simply downloaded all the apps and this is the CLEANEST method I've found so far. This is great and all but when you have 200 apps the download process is soooooo long. Plus I have to reconfigure everything. To get a working phone with this method feels like it takes a solid 3 days.
Settings
-This has to be the most painful part. Re-configuring your launcher, widgets, settings, accounts, ringtones, alarms ect.
So what is your routine? What quick and safe/clean methods do you use to restore your phone after a new ROM flash? Do you use tasker for any of this(if so please share your examples/templates)? Any other apps you use for restore like apptozip or maybe you compile your own recovery zip?
kellison007 said:
I'm a flashaholic like most of us here. I'd like to know your methods/steps/tricks for restoring accounts/settings/ringtones/apps/data configs ect after a new ROM flash.
Apps Restoration:
-Titanium Backup with user/data restoration would make the ROM unstable. Lots of freezes and Reboots. Some applications were just unusable which forced a painful 'level-down-the-problem' process or simply getting pissed and trying another ROM(which i falsely blamed the problems on the ROM). I know every ROM instructions say not to do this....but this method would be ideal if it worked.
-Titanium Backup with just user-apps restore(no data) was MUCH better yet I still had a few freezes and reboots. So I still haven't found a truly clean ROM with apps-restored from backup.
-No Backup restore, I simply downloaded all the apps and this is the CLEANEST method I've found so far. This is great and all but when you have 200 apps the download process is soooooo long. Plus I have to reconfigure everything. To get a working phone with this method feels like it takes a solid 3 days.
Settings
-This has to be the most painful part. Re-configuring your launcher, widgets, settings, accounts, ringtones, alarms ect.
So what is your routine? What quick and safe/clean methods do you use to restore your phone after a new ROM flash? Do you use tasker for any of this(if so please share your examples/templates)? Any other apps you use for restore like apptozip or maybe you compile your own recovery zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-i always use and always recommend Helium over ANY other restore app.
-i use it to restore all user apps except for g+/fb which i download from the market
-never never never restore anything to do with system even if you are using the same rom.
-launcher settings are auto there when restored from helium *i do keep a backup in launcher settings though just in case*
-settings are the only thing that need to be done from scratch which i dont mind as i get to look through the settings of the new rom to see changes ect..
-if you use a rom that uses hybrid settings from pa, always keep a backup of those settings via hybrid settings to restore after rom flash
hopefully this helps
Related
I'm running streakdroid 1.9 but I would like to do some experimentation with my streak. If I flash a new rom what will I lose? How do you backup your data so you can flash to your hearts content?
Thanks
if u flash stock roms, they do a factory reset during first start up.
So u end up loosing everything.
However if u flash .zip version of the stock roms using CWM or streak recovery , u will retain almost everything but may loose somethings like root and so on.
Remember stock roms will flash its default recovery everytime it boots up
Ok thanks. Is it wise to do a factory reset anyway?
What tools can I use to backup messages, apps, photos, etc?
I use titanium backup.
If you do a nandroid backup, when you restore it, everything will be just as it was before you flashed another ROM...
As far as using Titanium... it has never worked for me completely, nor has MyBackUp Pro, they cause me more headache than being useful...
I have gotten to the point to when I flash a new ROM, I just manually install everything, I know it sounds like some hassle, but you end up with a much smoother operating phone.
I even do a nandroid backup first, then go into my ROM and manually uninstall everything, so that when I boot up my new ROM and setup my market account, it doesn't try to install everything on its own and bog down my phone at first, I install everything manually in the order I want and set them up as I go.
I know this sounds cumbersome, but I have found it creates a cleaner environment and practically eliminated force closes
That is the way I like to do things also but what about the things that you can't just re-install e.g. sms, application specific data?
Advice
I was having a sim card and constant restart issue after updating to streakroid 2.4.4, and even after flashing dsc, the problem persisted. After I reviewed the steps I had taken I realized that I never did a factory resest (fearing I would forever lose my precious app data, which I did -_-). It turned out that was the fix, after doing the factory reset, my sim card was recognized immediately and a couple of the text I had missed showed up. However, I fixed one fixed problem and developed another.
Even though I restored a MyBackup and Titanium backup I did right before resetting I recovered my several apps without their precious data (setting, notes, bookmarks). I tried doing internal backups within the apps, some conveniently had syncs to a cloud yet I missed doing that with a few apps because I have over 100+ and I use more than half on a regular basis (even if for 5 minutes). All my apps are on my device, which is a good thing but I cant appreciate that given the missing data.
So my advice is:
Use apps that have can automatically backup or sync data -- there are enough apps with similiar utility that you can avoid ones without that function.
Do a manual backup within your important apps. -- Some apps backup files to locations that may be wiped during update, doesn't have auto backup or the last backup is months old.
Pics, texts, call logs are easily backed up -- Backup programs will explicitly state or ask what to back up in that regard.
Do a nandroid backup -- I believe this only restores rom and apps but someone can correct me.
Caveat
Through all the research done before actually need to restore a backup I missed the fact when restore apps depending on the restore program every app has to be reinstalled individually. If you have more than 25 apps then #$#@!, also for some reason when restoring with titanium if during a batch restore you come across an app if you hit cancel during one of the install prompts because you actually don't want to restore that app the batch will freeze and you'll have to force close titanium and start the restore all over. Go through the list of restore options and choose each app one by one, save yourself the time.
Lastly, to piggy back off what was said before, a factory reset( FR) after updating rom is always recommended but its not always needed. Most roms will update without causing you to lose any data but like I said previously I had sim card issues when I updated without a FR. YMMV
At this point I don't know if this helps the OP but maybe it will benefit someone else who reads this thread.
This guide by _n0p_ tells how to do an upgrade and minimize the re-installation of apps.
Key items:
Use the backup function of any apps that have it
Don't count on restoring data with TB or My Backup
Make a nandroid - just in case
I have found TB and My Backup to be useful for things like browser bookmarks.
The post linked to discussed going from Froyo to Gingerbread but the same techniques apply for moving to any other ROM.
Last time i changed roms, i used the Dell backup utility for evertyhing but the apps, which can be backed up together with their data with QtADB which creates a backup folder on your SD. After installing the new rom, i chose advanced recovery from the Dell Utility and set it to recover everything but the apps, which i recovered with QtADB. However, I also strongly recommend nandroid, in case the steak doesn't boot after the install.
I am new to HTC devices, coming from Motorola Droids. I have read a lot of the info here but still have a few noob questions. I am currently running RezROM 1.5 and like it a lot. But I would like to get the OTA update for the new radio and I would also like to check out some of the ICS ROM's.
So question is: Is there an easy way to restore user data and apps after flashing ROM's? Many of the ROM's I see suggest or require full wipe and often recommend not restoring anything. I have had problems restoring data (both on Motorola and HTC) with Titanium backup.
Thanks!
TahoeTexan said:
I am new to HTC devices, coming from Motorola Droids. I have read a lot of the info here but still have a few noob questions. I am currently running RezROM 1.5 and like it a lot. But I would like to get the OTA update for the new radio and I would also like to check out some of the ICS ROM's.
So question is: Is there an easy way to restore user data and apps after flashing ROM's? Many of the ROM's I see suggest or require full wipe and often recommend not restoring anything. I have had problems restoring data (both on Motorola and HTC) with Titanium backup.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The apps part is easy. Backup your /data/app/ somewhere before changing ROMs. Then drop it everything back in /data/app/ afterward. All you're backing up though is the installed application, not the data. Data is not recommended across many ROMs so I don't even think about it.
I've tried a few ways... but ultimately. I just deal with resetting everything up the way I want.
I've used MyBackup. It does alright. Takes forever if you have a lot of SMS messages. And it doesn't exactly get all of your system settings either. I also had a problem where I factory reset, re-installed all my apps. and then ran MyBackup restore to get the home screens back in order and while it did, none of the app buttons worked. So I had to replace everything, but at least I knew where things belonged I guess...
Eitherway, haven't been that impressed with any of the backup/restore things as of yet. I'm feeling bold enough to say there isn't a SlamDunk solution out there that'll work for everyone, but the ones that do exist might do enough for you to be happy.
The best way I have found by far is to use the app "App Monster Pro".
You can have that app made a BU copy of the APK for all your installed apps to a folder on your storage card. Then, after a ROM flash you just go to that folder & click on whatever APK's you want installed for the new ROM & you get a completely clean new install of everything in no time.
That way it a little slower than a TI batch recover, but the difference is it works 100% right 100% of the time (something TI & My BU Pro NEVER do)
It doesn't restore text messages, but I never had any desire to do that anyway (it always cracked me up when I had my TouchPro 2 & people would post I just restored 4200 text messages to my new ROM & now my phone is freezing constantly when texting, what do I do??)
I just use ES File Explorer to backup my apps, as for data, for me, my critical data are my contacts, so I just sync those up with my google account.
I second AppMonster Pro for just apps. I love that as soon as you download an app it makes a backup of it so you never have to think about it. And when restoring it's easy on the eyes, unlike TiBU which I find I have to search around a lot before I find what I'm trying to restore. Still I use three back up systems - AppMonster Pro, MyBackup Pro and Titanium Backup Pro - just in case so if one fails I have others to turn to.
Greetings,
I'm loving my GS4 so far and I've gotten it rooted and just wiped data and flashed gruesomewolf_sacs_custom_rom.
My question for ya'll (and forgive me if this is in the wrong place) but how do you handle going quickly and easily between ROMs without brain damage?
What I mean by this is yes I did a Titanium backup and SMS backup before I flashed the new ROM however you still have SO much to restore after you flash a new ROM. I'm the kinda guy who tweaks all my settings, widgets, ringtones and such just the way I like them and I hate when I have to do that all over again. So yes, I am able to restore apps, and some data from the Titanium backups but I still have to go back through and set all my ringtones and all my widgets and settings within certain apps all over again.
That's probably just the name of the game and I need to get used to it if I plan on flashing new ROMs but I'm just wondering what's the easiest way to back the most up and get the most restored?
Thanks for all your input!
I felt the same way as you when I switched ROMs. It was such a pain to reload everything customize it the way you had it before.
My solution was simply use TitaniumBackup prior to flashing the next ROM and Batch backup all the apps and app data that you will want.
TitaniumBackup also has a Batch Restore function. So I just use that function after flashing the ROM. I think it can also restore designated ringtones as long as you back up that system file that contains the ringtone selection. Unfortunately, I'm not sure which one that is.
zilla. said:
I felt the same way as you when I switched ROMs. It was such a pain to reload everything customize it the way you had it before.
My solution was simply use TitaniumBackup prior to flashing the next ROM and Batch backup all the apps and app data that you will want.
TitaniumBackup also has a Batch Restore function. So I just use that function after flashing the ROM. I think it can also restore designated ringtones as long as you back up that system file that contains the ringtone selection. Unfortunately, I'm not sure which one that is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply! Yeah that's kind of what I'm doing, I guess I'll need to explore Titanium Backup a bit more. I'm curious if it actually backs up and can restore system settings as well. It does a pretty decent job of backing up apps + data but I never know if when doing a restore if I should restore the system data as well because it could be different from ROM to ROM.
Thanks for the advice!
One reason why I chose to buy this device (aside from official Google support) is the overwhelmingly large amount of developer enthusiasm for it. And with that enthusiasm comes a lot of custom ROMs.
I haven't had time to test all of them, but I will - and here's a guide I made that'll hopefully make testing different ROMs easier.
Prerequisites
Before continuing with this guide, make sure that you have:
a LOT of free time, depending on how many ROMs you want to test;
unlocked and rooted your device;
downloaded all the ROMs you want to test;
have installed a good recovery - I would recommend the latest version of TWRP;
common sense.
(OPTIONAL) a spare microSD card of at least 8GB. This'll make everything easier, as you won't have to delete stuff in order to fit all your ZIPs and backups.
Things to remember
Make sure you know how exactly to restore your device to how it was before following this guide.
You should know what you're doing. One small mistake can lead to your device being completely unusable!
You should know what features you're looking for in a ROM. It's never nice to have gone all the way to flash a different ROM, only to discover that feature X doesn't work. Ask questions in the ROM thread, if you like.
You can always ask help from others, should you have any trouble with your device.
When using custom ROMs (or any customization, for that matter), do NOT ask for ETAs. Our developers are doing their work at their own leisure and during their own time, and they don't get their pay from you.
Ready? Let's get going!
Getting started
A good Android user always backs up before doing anything radical to their phone, and that's precisely what we're going to do. There are three ways to go about this:
The easy way
The easy way is through making a Nandroid backup. This is particularly easy to do in TWRP, as all you need to do is reboot into recovery, press Backup, select the partitions you want to back up and whether to compress them, and start backing up. Simple as that.
Pros: Easy to restore your data once you're finished testing ROMs.
Cons: It's somewhat hard to restore individual pieces of data (such as messages and apps) instead of the whole thing.
The (slightly) more complicated way
This way deals with TitaniumBackup, an absolute must-have app for every Android user out there.
With TitaniumBackup, you can choose to back up individual apps (and even update their individual backups). TB isn't limited to backing up/restoring data, though; it can do so much more - remove bloatware, freeze apps you don't use, make a flashable ZIP out of your backups... the list goes on.
Pros: Finer control over what data gets backed up. Very powerful tool in migrating ROMs.
Cons: Somewhat outdated and intimidating interface; and features are reduced without buying the PRO version.
The Google way
This one is the simplest way of all three, though it only works if you have a) GApps and have signed in to your Google account, b) if you've agreed to let Google back your data up when you first set up your device, and c) if you have Settings > Backup & reset > Back up my data enabled.
Google automatically backs up almost all of your data to its servers, ready to be restored when you do a factory reset/switch to a new phone. A list of all data that are backed up can be seen by going to Settings > Accounts > Google > (your email address).
Notable exceptions to the data backed up are messages, which you have to back up yourself - I recommend SMS Backup & Restore for that.
Now that you have your data backed up, let's get flashing.
Flashing
Put your ROMs/kernels/GApps on your SD card, then reboot to recovery.
1. Wiping / factory resetting
This is why we back up your data in the first place. Different ROMs need different data, and data left over from one ROM can cause another ROM to get stuck in a bootloop.
Tip: If you're using TWRP, try enabling Use rm -rf instead of formatting in Advanced settings. Formatting doesn't really have any perceivable advantages over simply removing the contents of your data partition (unless you somehow corrupted it), and it actually causes higher wear on your storage chip. (Storage doesn't last forever - I've had my old Samsung bricked because I reformatted too much.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In CWM, it's called wipe data/factory reset; in TWRP, it's simply called Wipe. Wipe your data, dalvik-cache, and cache partitions.
2. Flashing the ROM and other addons
In CWM, it's called install zip (from sdcard); in TWRP, it's simply called Install. Browse to your ROM zip and install.
Tip: If you're using TWRP, you can add ZIPs to the ZIP queue in this order: ROM > GApps (if any) > Kernel (if any) > Addons/Patches (if any).
Users of CWM must manually flash each ZIP, in the same order.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3. Finishing up
Now all that's left to do is pray for the best and reboot.
Testing
If you flashed GApps, do NOT let Google restore data yet. We'll do that later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After initial setup completes and your newly-installed ROM settles down, it's time to get testing. It would be helpful if you listed down all the features you need and check/cross them out one by one if they work or not. For example, I need working screen cast and usable video recording, both of which do not work in all the CM-based ROMs I've tested.
Some ROMs, especially sprout4 ROMs, require patches when installing on sprout8 devices in order to provide the most optimal experience. Try flashing those to see if the ROM gets any better for you.
Rinse & repeat?
So, have you decided that this ROM is for you?
Yes, this ROM is awesome! I love it!
If you backed up earlier using Google, do another factory reset and this time, let Google restore your data.
If you used Titanium for backup, you can safely restore your data now.
If you made a Nandroid backup, you technically can restore your backup as-is since most of the ROMs available for sprout are CM-based; but I wouldn't recommend this as this can cause bootloops. Otherwise, you can manually restore your data one-by-one - but this is a time-consuming process.
I'm not quite sure I like this ROM yet.
Well that's okay, just repeat this guide from the start.
Finishing up
Now that you've decided on what ROM to use, you can safely delete your backups and ZIPs - though it would be better to keep them as they might come in handy if your device starts having problems.
Notes
If you're flashing a Marshmallow ROM, don't flash Xposed right after you flash your ROM as this may cause a bootloop.
Never ask for ETAs on ROM threads. That's rude.
That's it for this guide! Happy flashing! :fingers-crossed:
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Awesome post. Enjoyed it!?
aureljared said:
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sry for digging up this old thread. I was wondering if there is a tutorial for Titanium Backup specifically targeting a switch between custom roms, having different versions of android.
I'm in the midth of moving from cm 13 to lineageos 15 and just tried to backup apps+data in Titanium Backup and restore them and the new system is now somewhat buggy..I'm not sure if the restored backup is the reason for this or not....Maybe there are specific settings to be set..... I mean it's common sense for me not to backup and restore system data but maybe I am missing other important things to be set prior to a backup in Titanium Backup.
trohn_javolta said:
Sry for digging up this old thread. I was wondering if there is a tutorial for Titanium Backup specifically targeting a switch between custom roms, having different versions of android.
I'm in the midth of moving from cm 13 to lineageos 15 and just tried to backup apps+data in Titanium Backup and restore them and the new system is now somewhat buggy..I'm not sure if the restored backup is the reason for this or not....Maybe there are specific settings to be set..... I mean it's common sense for me not to backup and restore system data but maybe I am missing other important things to be set prior to a backup in Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's hard to say, some apps might work improperly or refuse to terminate in the background due to a mismatch in the restored data. I only backup/restore game data nowadays, as Google Backup takes care of my contacts, SMS, settings, and customization. No problems encountered so far.
The only setting I change in TiBkp is the compression method, as the default (gzip, I think) produces somewhat large backups. I use bzip2.
If you really need to restore everything, it might help for you to wipe /data and restore apps in TiBkp one by one until you find the culprit.
aureljared said:
It's hard to say, some apps might work improperly or refuse to terminate in the background due to a mismatch in the restored data. I only backup/restore game data nowadays, as Google Backup takes care of my contacts, SMS, settings, and customization. No problems encountered so far.
The only setting I change in TiBkp is the compression method, as the default (gzip, I think) produces somewhat large backups. I use bzip2.
If you really need to restore everything, it might help for you to wipe /data and restore apps in TiBkp one by one until you find the culprit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trying the Google Way was also my thought, unfortunately it does not work for me. I posted this today in the rom I used until now:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=76022005#post76022005
The initial setup was quite some time ago and now I cannot recall what I may have done to insult the google sync service
Thanks for this.
Can I ask something?
If I'm on stock rom and have magisk and modules installed. To switch rom, do I need to uninstall those first?
or when using nandroid backup... is its okey to backup with magisk+module on it?
watatara.102 said:
Can I ask something?
If I'm on stock rom and have magisk and modules installed. To switch rom, do I need to uninstall those first?
or when using nandroid backup... is its okey to backup with magisk+module on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to uninstall your modules first to be safe, but if you're sure they're compatible with the ROM you're switching to, then you might be fine keeping them. As always, backup before trying anything dangerous. :good:
Nandroids are whole-device backups, so if you backup while Magisk is installed, Magisk and your modules will still be there when you restore the backup. If that's what you're aiming for, then go ahead and backup. Just make sure to backup the boot image too, since that's where Magisk is installed.
Sent from my starlte using XDA Labs
Can I install a nandroid backup of a totally different ROM to replace the current ROM I'm using with TWRP?
Hello everyone, first of all I should point out that I am not only a newbie but also not very tech savvy!...
So, I have an Xperia Z2! (D6503) and I had it for 2 years but until a week ago, I had no problems at all with it, I was very happy with it.
But then, my battery started to drain extremely fast, in fact, with very very low usage, it would drain entirely within 5-8 hours.
So a friend recommended that I root my device so I can get rid of bloatware and other apps that might be doing the damage.
So doing some little research, I heard of Kingroot which I downloaded from this very website.
And everything was great, I used kingroot to stop over 258 autostart apps that I had!!! (and I had no idea they were doing that).
Then afterwards, from the same video tutorial that I used to install the kingroot app, it recommended that I install TITANIUM BACKUP!
Which I proceeded to install. And then I followed the video instructions, USB debugging was already turned on from installing Kingroot, so I went to backup/restore tab...
then as recommended in the video, I chose "Backup all user apps + system data". After the backup process, which took about 20-25 minutes...
and then when it was done, mostly everything was gone....
my wall paper was gone...everything was in dark, some of the applications were gone...all of my contacts, videos, photos, etc...mostly everything was gone...
When I opened some of the few apps that remained, it asked me to install it (the app)...
So I immediately panicked ....I went back to the app and chose the "restore option" and the first time I chose the "Restore missing apps plus all system data"
it then asked me to install one by one...every app and system data...But it still did not work...
So after it took me over 3 hours of doing that...I did all the other options (restore missing apps with data, restore all apps with data, and restore all system data) one by one...(doing app by app...system data by system data) and I should also mention that while doing this "installations" lots and lots of apps and system data failed to install...WHY? I have no idea obviously...apps and system data such as : WFD Service, Warrantytime Service, VPN Dialogs, USB Connectivity, Overheat Control, etc...etc...etc... over 100 of these things failed to install (which I have no idea what they are but if someone feels it would help if I mentioned them all...I will list them all)
I then proceeded to try the restore option using the Sony PC companion software...but after it did the "restore" and it asked me to restart the phone...
Everything was the same....all the same missing apps, video, etc...
So I spent all day doing this...and still I can't figure out how to recover my stuff ...Please if someone knows what can I do to fix it...please let me know... I can't afford to buy another phone...but most importantly...I want my stuff back like photos etc... :'/
Thank you and I am sorry for making this so long....
OK, a few steps.
First, can you connect your phone to your pc in data mode to browse your sd-card? To recover your photos. Normally, they are located in a subfolder of DCIM on intern SD-card. (Also you may consider to back up your photos in the future or use a cloud service like Google Foto or Mega to backup them. Phones get lost or sometimes stolen too...)
Second thing is just a bit of information: the free version of titanium backup always askes you for every app you restore, this is normal. You have to pay 5$ or so to get the pro app which doesn't ask for every app.
When you succeed in restoring / backing up your photos and stuff (the backups from titanium-backup!!) you may just want to install a new rom / ftf firmware.
This can easily wipe your complete phone, so be sure to have everything backed up to your pc/cloud.
Search in the forum for the newest stock ftf (.264) and install it via flash tool. You will then have a stock Z2 with actual firmware.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2759934
There are also pre-rooted stock firmwares available.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2/general/ftf-cutomized-23-1-0-726-cda-1281-9809-t3082166
If you want to install a custom rom, you definitely want to try stock -based Roms first, so you don't have to play with your bootloader /DRM-keys. Some examples are SLiM-Rom, eXistenz Roms, Purex, Google-Style, Moonwalker Epidemic, Mr. SL rom ... (Be aware that slim-rom, contrary to SLiM-rom, is NOT stuck-based, it will soft brick your phone if you install it with bootloader locked.)
The only thing you then want to restore via titanium backup is probably your SMS and phone call history, they are in a seperate color like green.
For future use, there are apps like "sms backup and restore" which are less problematic than titanium backup in my opinion.
Titanium has some goodies like the possibility to create update.zip files and encryption of backups, but this is more like a pro feature, you sound like you don't really need titanium backup.