How to backup & restore properly? - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Bit confused here.
Did a backup of the stock ROM using TWRP when I got the phone - all partitions apart from Data which would not backup from TWRP. I've just done a restore (again from TWRP) - just using the 'System' partition, did a factory reset (wipe data/caches) and the device won't get past the Samsung boot screen. I can still get into TWRP etc. Is there special trick I'm missing? Would I need to restore the 'Boot' partition for it to work as well or any other partitions?
Bit worrying given that my EFS "backup" is potentially worthless as well if I can't restore the rest of the backup properly!

You don't use backups from twrp with this device as far as i know.
You need to flash a stock firmware.
I've always used an app like gobackup to backup and restore my phone. Samsungs don't like certain things in system being touched.
Beamed in by telepathy.

Related

[Q] Nandroid did not restore the previous state, all apps missing

Hi guys, I'm in awkward situation. I'd appreciate any tip what to do.
Intro: I might have got some (small) amount of water into the phone, so I removed the battery, dried it for some time and then started it. Everything was OK, but anyway I decided to get it cleaned in service to be sure no corrosion appears later. I wanted to give them phone without any private data, so I decided to root, backup, wipe, give it to them and restore afterwards.
So I rooted with Odin and cf-root-sgs2_xw_clk_kf3-v4-0-cwm4 (I have XWKI4 firmware and this was mentioned as the right one for KI4), everything went fine. The phone was working afterwards. So I booted into recovery and backed it up with nandroid, copied the backups and the content of external storage to the computer, wiped the phone in recovery mode and gave it to the service. They cleaned it.
Today, I wanted to restore the backup, but here came the problem. Everything seems to be running, the backup restore took up to 10 minutes, it showed restoring system, data, displayed file names looked real, etc. No error, so I restarted.
However, after restart, the Android intro wizard was shown, I was asked to enter google login and only standard applications were shown. But wifi got connected, flight-mode was restored upon first launch (I used it for backup), wallpaper was restored. In Titanium Backup, I can see the list of all previously installed applications, but in grey and crossed. I reinstalled some of them, but most of them were crashing. For some of them, backing them up, uninstalling, reinstalling them back and restoring only the data (in Titanium) helps. The rest is not crashing at least, but the data are gone. I also tried Titanium to open the CWM backup, but that works for CWM v5 AFAIK, so no luck here either.
What could have happened? Is there any way how to solve this or is it simply lost?
Some background: Bad things happen together as you might know, one of my SoDIMM modules in laptop failed during this operation. system.img was damaged as a consequence (MD5 hash showed this). I found this when I tried to restore the backup for the first time. So I made a wipe, then made another backup, compared the system.img. I saw the MD5 hash for the new system.img is the same as for the old backup so I took the system.img from there. I was lucky this was not data.img. I'm certain I'm restoring with the correct files now - MD5 hash check runs just fine in total commander and nandroid before restore.
I also remember that my first try was without restored external storage, I did put there only the clockworkmod backup. But I believe this would not cause such situation. To have as much information as possible, I did this - wipe data, restore backup, wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache - start. Problem - wizard appearing. Restore the external storage, get into recovery, wipe data, wipe cache, wipe dalvik, restore, reboot. Wizard again
Thanks for any tip. I'm slowly getting accustomed to installing and setting up everything from scratch. I might install custom ROM finally. But lost data and settings are painful.
Aleq
Did you use CWM to backup and restore? I've had problems restoring when I backed up on CWM5 and tried to restore on CWM4. It looks like it copies fine but doesn't. Even if you're sure you have the same version, if you use CWM5 app and click restore in there, it reverts to CWM4 for restore (for some reason...) so you have to reboot into CWM mode from the app to get CWM5 to 'work'.
For both backup and restore I rebooted to CWM Recovery and navigated using volume up/down to "backup and restore". By the way ClockworkMod Recovery is v.4.0.0.2
Anybody, no ideas?
Is it common that nandroid is unreliable?
Aleq said:
Anybody, no ideas?
Is it common that nandroid is unreliable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I had to use nandroid backup several times and every time everything worked fine for me.
First I thought that you forgot to wipe cache partition, but you wrote that you have done it.
Did you tried to wipe cache (and Dalvik cache) before restoring the CWM backup?
If that does not help, try to fix permissions.
If that does not help either, try to flash a stock ROM, then flash CF-Root kernel (or similar with CWM included), then try again to restore your system backup.
As all your apps are still in Titanium Backup, you can uninstall all corrupt apps after restoring your system backup and restore all user apps (+app data) using Titanium Backup.
Maybe you have to reboot your phone twice after restoring the system backup.
And only after the second boot, you will see all your restored apps.
It is just a guess.
Good luck !
Thanks all. I have no idea what was wrong, of course I tried everything - multiple restores, reboots, wiping cache/Dalvik cache, etc. CF kernel failed on me. Luckily not completely, as the data were there, only the apps did not restore. So I installed the apps using Market. They crashed upon start, but I found that if I back them up with Titanium, uninstall them and then restore, it works. Using these steps, I was able to recovery almost everything.
I have used other Kernels since then and never had that issue anymore.
Did you try using advanced restore from within CWM?
If I am not mistaken and that's that functionality that allows you to restore only particular part of backup, then I believe I tried (even though I'm not 100 % sure). I did try fix permissions also.
I'm blaming incorrect / faulty CWM recovery. It just puts some uncertainty into the process in my eyes.
You are the seccond person I've come across with that problem. It's a really strange issue you are facing.
When you tried to restore, did you have the same firmware and cf-root on your phone as when you made the backup?
Yes. I did backup, then wipe/factory reset and gave the phone to service shop (for cleaning after some possible moisture exposure). I have received it in the same state, so I restored - but the apps were missing. I should have tried a different kernel with slightly different CWM recovery.
in my case, this was caused by nandroid getting out of free space when restoring .android_secure...you know what to do

questions about using TWRP to update a ROM without losing information

I know it's possible do restore apps and such using Titanium backup but I'm wondering if it's possible to restore using the TWRP backup?
I'm not sure what the different things do that TWRP backs up. System, cache, recovery, boot, data, (and something else). If it's possible to restore apps and such restoring from some of those, which ones?
Thanks
ItsTommyGun said:
I know it's possible do restore apps and such using Titanium backup but I'm wondering if it's possible to restore using the TWRP backup?
I'm not sure what the different things do that TWRP backs up. System, cache, recovery, boot, data, (and something else). If it's possible to restore apps and such restoring from some of those, which ones?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you do a nand backup then after you flash a rom go to your nand backup and restore only the data,
This has worked for me
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
ItsTommyGun said:
I know it's possible do restore apps and such using Titanium backup but I'm wondering if it's possible to restore using the TWRP backup?
I'm not sure what the different things do that TWRP backs up. System, cache, recovery, boot, data, (and something else). If it's possible to restore apps and such restoring from some of those, which ones?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
josh030181 said:
Make sure you do a nand backup then after you flash a rom go to your nand backup and restore only the data,
This has worked for me
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, restoring only the data partition will restore both the application .apk files themselves as well as the application's data files (settings, etc). The issue is when restoring data from a different ROM, the uid/gid could mismatch and cause a boot loop. This is one of the main reasons people suggest to wipe the data before loading a new ROM. Sometimes this issue can be fixed using the script, fix_permissions, in the custom recovery.
I think using Titanium Backup might work around this permissions uid/gid issue and might be one of the reasons people chose this over a nandroid restore of just the data partition.
In regards to your other question of what the different partitions "do" which TWRP backs up, here is a rough list off the top of my head:
system (holds all the Android OS files and stock apps)
data (holds all settings and 3rd party apps)
cache (temp partition usually used to store downloaded OTAs before they are loaded)
recovery (stores the custom recovery)
boot (stores the kernel)
Hope that helps fill in some of the missing details!
joeykrim said:
In regards to your other question of what the different partitions "do" which TWRP backs up, here is a rough list off the top of my head:
system (holds all the Android OS files and stock apps)
data (holds all settings and 3rd party apps)
cache (temp partition usually used to store downloaded OTAs before they are loaded)
recovery (stores the custom recovery)
boot (stores the kernel)
Hope that helps fill in some of the missing details!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That does help. Thanks!

[Q] Extracting CWM6 Backups

Hello, while I was using my phone it rebooted and aparrently someting from my /data got corupted disabling my Rom from booting ever again.
So I created a nandroid via CWM6, installed a new rom and I'm now scratching my head on how to extract certain apps from that backup. Using CWM5 I could do this via the use of Titanium Backup, but now it's more complex than that CWM6 nandroids are unreadable from anything that exists out there. The only app which could analyze the backup correctly was the latest beta of "app extractor" but even that could not extract the apks *with* their data.
Basically my apps' data is precious and I wish to restore it at all costs, I have a nandroid of them, but the format is so unspeakably complex that it is basically useless. So the other "solution" was restore the nandroid and pull the whole /data partition in my PC via ADB, but I'm not sure what I can do with it.
So as it stands I now have two copies of my apps, one in a nandroid format another as it was pulled from the phone but I'm not sure how I can go on and restore them in a new rom. As I have found out CWM6 was quite a downgrade for/to those who backup/recover frequently, it's sad that I have found about it in such a disastrous way

How to do a NAND Stock backup??

Hi! I have a Leeco Le Max 2 X829, and as there aren´t any official stock ROM I wanna save a 100% stock Backup of my X829 with 16S USA ROM. I mean ROM + Recovery, just as it is unpacked(without downloaded Apps and my data).
Could I make it booting in temporaly TWRP with fastboot and doing NAND backup choosing:
- Boot
- Recovery
- System
- Data...
Any other option? All options that TWRP show? thanks!
Yes. EFS too
Turn on phone with power+volume keys.
Fastboot boot TWRP.img
unrafa said:
Yes. EFS too
Turn on phone with power+volume keys.
Fastboot boot TWRP.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then must I choose all options in TWRP backup?
One more thing... I Will be in a booted Recovery, so original Recovery is going to be still, then the one saved in the backup Will be the booted one ore the stock one? Thanks!
If you just want a factory setup without your apps and data I would say just backup the system image in twrp, backing up data definitely uncheck .
Only system is bit to less...
I would keep the us version.
eUI is not that bad and until we all get the update to android 7 ... it s probably the best and most stable rom running.
Why change it, when the other opportunities are leading to an less smooth running phone ?
To me all the cooked roms have disadvantages.
I need to have a fully working phone/ camera /fingerprint sensor...
without option to go back to the US rom I wouldn't change a thing!
castuis said:
If you just want a factory setup without your apps and data I would say just backup the system image in twrp, backing up data definitely uncheck .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm, then all options least Data? Thanks!
Don't listen to them. Back up everything. Who cares about a few space? Besides data is probably empty or with a few stock tools. Just backup all for your complete image. EFS contains IMEI and other stuff. It is important to have it. You can Back up everything, and then move it to a computer or somewhere else
It will have stock recovery backed up to TWRP and it's better if you backup as image, that way it saves the partition structures too.
Only first backup as image,to have perfect copy, the next backups you do is better do them as normal backups compressed (not image).
unrafa said:
Don't listen to them. Back up everything. Who cares about a few space? Besides data is probably empty or with a few stock tools. Just backup all for your complete image. EFS contains IMEI and other stuff. It is important to have it. You can Back up everything, and then move it to a computer or somewhere else
It will have stock recovery backed up to TWRP and it's better if you backup as image, that way it saves the partition structures too.
Only first backup as image,to have perfect copy, the next backups you do is better do them as normal backups compressed (not image).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I have done and it made a lot of .win archives, is that right? thanks
Yes those are md5 or Sha sums, drag the whole TWRP folder to computer and you are good to go, don't change any name of any folder inside TWRP folder or TWRP will never detect that backup.
I don't know why but once I copied all except 73shf38 folder, and it turned out that folder with those numbers matter, and I couldn't restore without the exact name

How to exclude sensitive data from nandroid backup using twrp recovery

Hello everyone,
Can I ask how do I exclude all sensitive data when I perform nandroid backup of the system and data partition of my phone using the latest TWRP recovery v3.1.1-0?
[email protected] said:
Hello everyone,
Can I ask how do I exclude all sensitive data when I perform nandroid backup of the system and data partition of my phone using the latest TWRP recovery v3.1.1-0?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There really isn't a way... What I would do is backup system and data, then copy all data apps you want included to the sdcard. Then factory reset. (To remove sensitive info) Skip thru the setup wizard, enable unknown sources, then backdoor the apps. (Still with no google account tied to the phone)
Next make a new backup of system and data for whoever you're sharing this with...then restore your original backup so everything is back the way you had it.
Sent from my XT1609 using Tapatalk
If you plan on sharing it. Don't. Nandroid backups also back up stuff that is device dependent. Many devices have been bricked because they restored a Nandroid from another device. Even if it is the same model.

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