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Whats is a general guide when changing ROMs?

Hey
Whats a "general guide" when changing ROMS? I Have titanium backup installed on my Android. I wouldnt like to go thru configuring everything again and most importantly would like to keep my applications, settings, sync, calanadar, contacts, messages, etc....

These are the steps that I usually take when flashing a new rom.
1. NANDroid backup of the current running ROM
2. Complete flash (Data, Davlik, Battery, Cache)
3. Flash new ROM and boot
4. Go through the configuration screens (if any) and land on the homescreen
5. Perform a complete reboot (no fastboot from HTC, make sure it's a complete shut down and reboot)
6. Sync contacts and calendar from Gmail
7. Sync Facebook (if applicable)
8. Redownload apps and reconfigure
I am not a fan of Titanium for restoring settings and configuration if going to another dev or another ROM. It's fine if you are reflashing the same ROM, but I find stories of people who have tried to restore their configuration settings with Titanium and have headaches. Better to just take the time to reconfigure manually than to cut corners. I do, however, use Titanium to give me a good and complete list of the apps I have installed so that I can go and redownload them from market.
Have fun!

I still think its a waste of time to do a nandroid before every flash..
Nandroid the original stock(duh)
If you are on a rom u like nandroid before trying another
But if you don't like the rom and are going to flash something else then what's the point to back it up? Plus they will start filling up your sd card
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Spastic909 said:
I still think its a waste of time to do a nandroid before every flash..
Nandroid the original stock(duh)
If you are on a rom u like nandroid before trying another
But if you don't like the rom and are going to flash something else then what's the point to back it up? Plus they will start filling up your sd card
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You back it up incase the new rom does not work, so you have something to fall back to! I only keep my backups for a day then there deleted (Apart from the stock rom)
Delivered by Western Union in the rain after 70 Years

Spastic909 said:
I still think its a waste of time to do a nandroid before every flash..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, my belief is that you should always backup before flashing just so you can always get back where you started. I can see your point if you use a rom for just a few hours and then go to something else, but anything more than that... It's only a few minutes wait.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

tronmech said:
Well, my belief is that you should always backup before flashing just so you can always get back where you started. I can see your point if you use a rom for just a few hours and then go to something else, but anything more than that... It's only a few minutes wait.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, totally agree. Also, I only keep 1 nandroid or so on my SD, and move others to my PC.

Athrun88 said:
I do, however, use Titanium to give me a good and complete list of the apps I have installed so that I can go and redownload them from market.
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Click to collapse
Is there a way to generate this list?

riahc3 said:
Is there a way to generate this list?
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Click to collapse
I use titanium backup (free version) and have never had a problem. Just backup your apps and there is your list when you flash a new rom and redownload titanium. Then you can choose which apps you want to reload by choosing "batch" which makes it easier to reinstall all the apps quickly.
Sent from my HTC Vision using meXdroidmod Pre-Ghost Chili(simply the best!)

Spastic909 said:
I still think its a waste of time to do a nandroid before every flash..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like a waste of time till you have a botched flash. It takes 5 min to backup, and saves you a TON of time if something messes up.
For OP:
1) Go to Titanium Backup, backup all apps (not system data, unless moving from one ROM to a fresh version of the same ROM).
2) Enter recovery
3) Make Nandroid backup. It will automatically be given a date and generic name (rename when you get back into ROM Manager)
4) Wipe cache/dalvik data/Factory reset
5) Flash new ROM, applicable kernels you want, etc.
6) Boot, install TB, restore apps (NOT system data!)
7) Fix permissions with ROM Manager, Reboot, etc. as the ROM requires.
Like I said, the only way you can keep your settings, etc. is if you're backing up from a ROM and returning to the same ROM. Don't try to backup system data from a Sense build and restoring it to an AOSP build. Just gonna have to deal with reconfiguring your system it'll save you hassles of incompatibility. Contacts should be syncing to your main Gmail account, so once you add that to the new ROM everything will be imported back. As far as saving SMS and MMS, there are different apps for that.

Best way to make a full 100% backup of phone ?

Hi guys .. I have had my Desire Z for a little while and I want to play around with ROMs now ... I am looking for a way to make a *full* backup of the phone .. That means the OS itself, all its settings (alarms, personalization stuff, stored passwords, installed apps, etc ..), all application and personal data (both on ROM and SD card), etc ...
That is, one backup that when restored, returns the complete phone including all its settings and data to the state the phone was in when the backup was created ..
Now there are two Market tools I've found that claim to do something similar: My Backup Pro and Titanium Backup, and I also hear that ClockWorkMod can create backups ...
But I don't know if these tools backup *everything* like I want, so any advice given here would be really appreciated ..

Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
When you are rooted you can use titanium backup to back up all your apps, data & settings. Then when you install a new ROM you can easily restore everything.
The back up you do in CWM is called a nandroid and this backs up your entire ROM including apps, data & settings. as soon as you are rooted you will want to do this so you have a back up of your stock ROM incase anything goes wrong and you need to get your stock ROM easily.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

cjward23 said:
Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
When you are rooted you can use titanium backup to back up all your apps, data & settings. Then when you install a new ROM you can easily restore everything.
The back up you do in CWM is called a nandroid and this backs up your entire ROM including apps, data & settings. as soon as you are rooted you will want to do this so you have a back up of your stock ROM incase anything goes wrong and you need to get your stock ROM easily.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
Ok thanks for that advice ...
So assuming my phone is rooted (it isn't now but I will do it once this issue is resolved), which method is better for me which backs up *everything* (stock OS, personal data, app data, media, settings, SD card stuff, etc ..) ? CWM or Titanium Backup ?
I have heard that CWM doesn't backup everything .. that it leaves some stuff out (not exactly sure what this is though) .. :/

ahmadka said:
Ok thanks for that advice ...
So assuming my phone is rooted (it isn't now but I will do it once this issue is resolved), which method is better for me which backs up *everything* (stock OS, personal data, app data, media, settings, SD card stuff, etc ..) ? CWM or Titanium Backup ?
I have heard that CWM doesn't backup everything .. that it leaves some stuff out (not exactly sure what this is though) .. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
never ever ever use TiBU for backing up anything other than downloaded apps. (imo, some people may disagree, but I have never had success with TiBU outside of saving a few downloaded apps... and even then it seems to be hit or miss for me)
CWM is the best option for creating a full backup. when you restore a nandroid backup, it's like going back in time... everything is exactly as it was when that backup was created.

pmcqueen said:
never ever ever use TiBU for backing up anything other than downloaded apps. (imo, some people may disagree, but I have never had success with TiBU outside of saving a few downloaded apps... and even then it seems to be hit or miss for me)
CWM is the best option for creating a full backup. when you restore a nandroid backup, it's like going back in time... everything is exactly as it was when that backup was created.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm ... Are you absolutely sure that CWM backs up everything ? That is, the stock ROM, all my android's settings, sms, contacts, emails, list of apps installed, app data, my personal data (photos, videos, music, documents, etc ..) ? And does it also backup data from both the built-in memory and stuff on the SD card ?
Reason why I ask this is because this afternoon I came across a thread (can't seem to find it now) where somebody said CWM leaves some stuff out in backing up and then somebody else suggested using Titanium Backup ...
So I want to proceed with CWM only if you're dead sure that it backs up *everyyyyyythinggggg* ...
Btw, I don't mean to question to knowledge, I just want to be sure, thats all

cjward23 said:
Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.

How can we back up the stock rom?? Cwm will not be present on the stock rom. So how?
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA App

mmb_z said:
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Conflicting statements people .. :/
CWM or titanium backup ?
Btw, does titanium backup also backup the stock OS/ROM ?

vikraam said:
How can we back up the stock rom?? Cwm will not be present on the stock rom. So how?
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
When you root you will still be using your stock ROM, you then back up your stock rooted ROM. There is no way to back up an unrooted ROM.
Unrooted stock ROM's are available in the form of an official RUU most of which you will find if you read the stickies in the development section of the forums.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

ahmadka said:
Conflicting statements people .. :/
CWM or titanium backup ?
Btw, does titanium backup also backup the stock OS/ROM ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium will not back up the os, you can use to back up all of the system apps and data. But as a previous poster said this is not good a good idea as restoring them tends to be problematic.
And don't worry about your sdcard flashing roms will not affect any data on your sdcard.
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mmb_z said:
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-____________-
NOoooOoOooOoo.
ahmadka said:
post 5
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Click to collapse
the only thing you could theoretically lose are photos, videos, etc that are stored on the sdcard... but this would only happen if you deleted/formatted the sd card. otherwise, they just move with you from rom to rom.
I don't know what people think titanium backup is for, but seriously... it's not as magnificent as it is commonly made out to be. its only real use is restoring stuff from /data (ie apps and settings). even then, it is known to be problematic. I have used it in the past but I finally got sick of it when I realized that half of the time I used it to backup/restore it ended up doing more harm than good.
CWM is the best option for making a full backup of EVERYTHING on your phone (remember, your sd card is not part of your phone... it doesn't get backed up/restored via CWM). restoring a CWM backup will revert your phone to the exact state it was in at the time of the backup.

I used titanium backup and it worked for everything. Even backed the stuff up to my PC.
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hardy1906 said:
I used titanium backup and it worked for everything. Even backed the stuff up to my PC.
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that's awesome, but you will encounter problems with Ti backup if you try to restore anything from /system after installing a new rom. if you've come from one aosp rom to another, you might get lucky and not have any trouble (especially if they are a similar flavor of aosp), but if you try to restore anything from a sense rom's /system to an aosp rom's /system, or vice versa, you're in for a lot of force closing and general bass-ackwardness.
op: the BEST way is a nandroid backup. if you try and restore titanium backup apps and settings over whichever rom you've installed, you can almost guarantee something will be broken... just do it the right way and do a nandroid backup via CWM and save yourself the trouble.

Guys I forgot to mention, my phone is NOT currently rooted (Yes I realize I should have mentioned this in the first post) .. so what can I use now to backup everything like I want ?

ahmadka said:
Guys I forgot to mention, my phone is NOT currently rooted (Yes I realize I should have mentioned this in the first post) .. so what can I use now to backup everything like I want ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much really, there are apps available to back up sms and contacts will be synced to Google.

todo backup by easeus...free too. works great
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

1) Root.
2) Install CWM Recovery.
3) Nandroid.
There's your backup.

How do you guys do backups when you try out different roms? Am I bound to lose scores and settings in games and apps every time i change rom?
(sorry for what may be a stupid question, but i understood the answers given earlier that making a Nandroid recovery will also recover the rom at the time of the backup not just apps and settings)

glx-rider said:
How do you guys do backups when you try out different roms? Am I bound to lose scores and settings in games and apps every time i change rom?
(sorry for what may be a stupid question, but i understood the answers given earlier that making a Nandroid recovery will also recover the rom at the time of the backup not just apps and settings)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid back does a complete back of system, apps, data, and settings. When you restore a nandroid your phone will be restored to the exact point it was at before you preformed the nandroid.
To back up apps and data, you will need to use an app like titanium backup. you then can restore apps and data, including game save and scores after you flash a new rom.
But it is not advised to back up and restore system data and settings with titanium back up

before i rooted i took backups whit MyBackup.
after you get rooted, take Clean CWM backup of your phone.
when you are up and running on a custom rom, take CWM backup, and back up downloaded apps whit Titanium backup.
If you are going from sense rom to sense rom, you dont necessaryli need to wipe your data and apps, so you don't have to restore anything. If you are going for completely different rom, you need wipe everything, after you are running in new rom, you cant get just the apps from cwm backup, it would restore your old rom too, so now restore your apps and stuff from TI backups. and if you don't like the new rom, use CWM backup to go back to your last rom.
so you need both backups cwm and Ti..
and as said before app backups might cause some problems when going from rom to rom
I have been jumping between different MIUI roms, they are basically the same so i haven't wiped anything(except dalvik cache) when flashing new rom, so everything will stay the way they are, and no ned to restore anything, if that's the case.
What comes to the stuff on SDcard, it will be just fine, if you want to back up your pics/music/vids, etc from your sdcard, just copy them to your computer.

i want to switch a rom please help

so i have calk vs. 2.5 and i want unnamed rom with all my app's. so when i go into recovery do i need to format all data or can i just instal the rom ??? and ik u can use titanium backup but in titanium backup is there a button restore all backed up apps? thanks!

In order to flash a completely different ROM, you need to wipe data, which will erase your current ROM and apps. You will need to use Titanium Backup to restore your apps after formatting and flashing the new ROM.
I think (not positive) TB has a batch option to restore all user apps.

shlomi84 said:
so i have calk vs. 2.5 and i want unnamed rom with all my app's. so when i go into recovery do i need to format all data or can i just instal the rom ??? and ik u can use titanium backup but in titanium backup is there a button restore all backed up apps? thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back up your apps on the current rom you are running. Use Titanium back up from the market. I usually wipe data and then back up the app. Go down the list until you got all the ones you wanted.
When you flash the new rom, flash it normally as you would going to any new rom. I use Calkulin's FORMAT ALL zip folder. It's easiest. And then flash new rom and reboot system. After you let the rom settle in for a good while, I usually reboot the phone. Then when you start setting up on the new rom, download Titanium back up again from the market. Once it's on your phone, go into the app and all the apps you backed up should be at the bottom. I usually just restore the app not the data with it.

Try not to restore system apps + data because it can cause problems when switching between ROMS.

caseykelly said:
Try not to restore system apps + data because it can cause problems when switching between ROMS.
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Click to collapse
I've never even found myself backing up/restoring system apps. I just stick to the "user apps".

eao1991 said:
I've never even found myself backing up/restoring system apps. I just stick to the "user apps".
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Click to collapse
is there a one button click for "restore all backed up user app's" or restore all app's lol i got alot of app's and takes like an hour between roms to get everything back

Pm me
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shlomi84 said:
is there a one button click for "restore all backed up user app's" or restore all app's lol i got alot of app's and takes like an hour between roms to get everything back
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Click to collapse
Yes. Click menu then batch but it only works with the paid version of TB. I've had plenty of problems restoring apps and user data with TB on a new Rom. Yes it's quick and easy but in my opinion it's worth the time to reinstall everything you can fresh from the market.

I've always found switching roms a good time to clear out unneeded apps, just select the ones I really use and forget the rest.
Sent from my Samsung Epic Touch using tapatalk

DataHawg said:
Yes. Click menu then batch but it only works with the paid version of TB. I've had plenty of problems restoring apps and user data with TB on a new Rom. Yes it's quick and easy but in my opinion it's worth the time to reinstall everything you can fresh from the market.
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Click to collapse
Agree with this sentiment. Connected to Wi-Fi and take 10 minutes to fresh install everything so you know you aren't getting any of the conflicts that can arise using restored apps from different firmware.

Best Way To Restore

I'm not a flashaholic, but do from time to time especially when a new version of my favorite ROM is released. I was wondering what the easiest and quickest to restore my phone to the way it was before flashing the new ROM. I mean apps and launcher. I have Titanium and My Backup pro but it still takes a couple of hours of messing around to get back to normal. If anyone has a quicker way I'd love to hear it.
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sndtubes said:
I'm not a flashaholic, but do from time to time especially when a new version of my favorite ROM is released. I was wondering what the easiest and quickest to restore my phone to the way it was before flashing the new ROM. I mean apps and launcher. I have Titanium and My Backup pro but it still takes a couple of hours of messing around to get back to normal. If anyone has a quicker way I'd love to hear it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
I assume you have a custom recovery installed since you mentioned flashing roms? If so, do a complete nandroid/backup (CWM/TWRP) of your phone just prior to flashing anything (good idea to do this prior to any flash). In TWRP, you can name your backup file so you can remember what rom/kernel/modem/recovery/etc you had at the time of this backup. Usually takes around 5-6 min to back up ~ 2Gb (and conversely, to restore). When you restore, do proper partition wipes first, then restore your desired backup... phone should be exactly as it was (apps, launchers, rom, settings, etc).

Thanks. I do use TWRP. I always nandroid back up before flashing a new rom. I guess I didn't understand what a nandroid backup was. I thought that it would reinstall all of the old stuff like the old rom and kernel in case the new rom borked something. So if I backup and flash a new rom and then nandroid restore, I will have the new rom and kernel with my apps and launcher intact? If so, then very cool.
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sndtubes said:
Thanks. I do use TWRP. I always nandroid back up before flashing a new rom. I guess I didn't understand what a nandroid backup was. I thought that it would reinstall all of the old stuff like the old rom and kernel in case the new rom borked something. So if I backup and flash a new rom and then nandroid restore, I will have the new rom and kernel with my apps and launcher intact? If so, then very cool.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the nandroid have the rom you backed up? Restoring that backup will wipe the new rom.
I use titanium backup as well and it takes me less than 5 minutes to go back to normal. Apps and launcher the same.

sndtubes said:
Thanks. I do use TWRP. I always nandroid back up before flashing a new rom. I guess I didn't understand what a nandroid backup was. I thought that it would reinstall all of the old stuff like the old rom and kernel in case the new rom borked something. So if I backup and flash a new rom and then nandroid restore, I will have the new rom and kernel with my apps and launcher intact? If so, then very cool.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
I got you... thought you were looking for a way to restore a complete previous setup (rom/kernel/radio/data/recovery) if you didn't like the rom you are on... sounds like you just want to restore /data partition (which can be done in TWRP)... but won't restore system partition apps (risky). If you are just looking to put your previous 'user' apps/data back, TiBu is an option (only restore "user" apps/data or "missing apps/data". I don't think TiBu will restore your widgets/launchers as the were, but you can individually (within the app) backup Apex, and Nova launcher settings and homescreens... then restore them after you're up and running on the new rom

Newbie - how do I keep apps and configuration in between flashing roms

I know it is a very newbie question, but how can I keep all the apps and configuration when I switch between roms? Does restoring from nandroid backup will restore the phone and configuration to back how it was? Thanks
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda app-developers app

nandroid backup will not keep the game data. use titanium backup that's the easiest way

nitropower said:
I know it is a very newbie question, but how can I keep all the apps and configuration when I switch between roms? Does restoring from nandroid backup will restore the phone and configuration to back how it was? Thanks
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium backup will do the trick but sometimes when restoring old data I've had some issues with lots of force closes and some other unexplainable strange things going on. It's best to start fresh on a new rom.

Titanium backup is your answer
If you back up apps and data from your personally installed apps, restoring should not cause any problems. If you try to backup and restore system apps and data across different roms (ie tw and aosp), you're likely to experience some problems.
When it comes to system data, it can be hit or miss. Generally the only thing that will likely break is contacts, as each provider (samsung, htc) puts their own spin on it, and it tends to not be compatible. but if you use google to store your contacts, you should be golden. After some time you'll know which parts are compatible across all roms (within the same version family).
So, backup everything you want to keep. And make a full nandroid.
Install your new rom.
Restore your personal apps and data (like angry birds)
Make sure everything is golden.
Make a nandroid
One by one, restore any system data you want (like accounts, wifi access points, mms).
After each one, go through a reboot cycle, make sure everything works.
Nandroid and restore next system data
This way you can easily back out of a restore that breaks something without having to start over again. And you will get a feel for what's restorable and what isnt.
Beware changing back to 4.1 from 4.2. There are threads on this worth reading.
And, yes, nandroid will restore everything just like you had it, assuming you choose to backup -everything- (which is advisable).
-----
I would love to help you, but help yourself first: ask a better question
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nitropower said:
I know it is a very newbie question, but how can I keep all the apps and configuration when I switch between roms? Does restoring from nandroid backup will restore the phone and configuration to back how it was? Thanks
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium backup works like charm..but u can restore from nandroid backup too..just install nandroid manager app from play store and restore all ur data including call logs, sms n everything!!
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shakeyfingers said:
nandroid backup will not keep the game data. use titanium backup that's the easiest way
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Click to collapse
Through philz CWM I'm currently having 3 roms in my back up. After installing a new rom, I just restore data and all my games data comes back without any problem.
Sent from my SM-T210R using xda premium

Titanium is the best thing since sliced bread. Although some apps won't give you notifications if you don't clean install them
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app

Titanium back, my backup pro
these 2 apps have helped me alot while trying out different roms....sometimes when titanium backup fails i use my backup pro