Develop Bugs

clearing my old backups

Quick ? since i been playing around with different roms i've also done a lot of backing up but now since im sticking to a rom how do i delete the old backups saved in recovery i mean the ones i dont want anymore?

You can delete via rom manager, manage backups and restore, select, and then delete.
Or mount your sd card on your comp, navigate to the backup folder, and delete.

thanks for the tip.

No problem man. They can eat up space if you have a lot.

teh roxxorz said:
No problem man. They can eat up space if you have a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Especially if you make a backup before you install the latest CM7 Nightly like I do. I just deleted about six backups last night before creating one for build 28 and then installing build 30.

Astro, root explorer or most of the file explorers can delete them. They should be in /sdcard/nandroid/(device identifier). Just delete the older dates you don't want.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

The question i've always had is can you rename this files and if so, will nandroid be able to restore from whatever custom name you create? Does it look at some other identifier number or something to know which is the last back up that was created?
I think I had read a while back that you can because it's hard to loose track of which out of the many in that folder is your last back up or what is on that back up. Wasn't there an app that let you rename them and or put a description of the ROM's contents as well?

QuiQNeZZ said:
The question i've always had is can you rename this files and if so, will nandroid be able to restore from whatever custom name you create? Does it look at some other identifier number or something to know which is the last back up that was created?
I think I had read a while back that you can because it's hard to loose track of which out of the many in that folder is your last back up or what is on that back up. Wasn't there an app that let you rename them and or put a description of the ROM's contents as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can rename them. No spaces tho! (Use - instead) cant rename the folder tho.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

aimbdd said:
You can rename them. No spaces tho! (Use - instead) cant rename the folder tho.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so as the other poster said, there is a "Phone Identifier" numbered folder. I know I can't rename that. Then inside that are the different backups I have in folders and the files within them. So are you saying I can't rename THOSE folders too?

You can rename the individual backup folders, just not the phone identifier folder. My paths look like this. /sdcard/nandroid/HT0A****/ (then I have my cm backup folder named CM7, My fresh folder named Fresh and a couple others). The *'s are just place holders, I can't remember the exact name.
You can change any folder names after the HT0A folder. Just no spaces, - or _ work fine though.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Clock work mod recovery

Is there anyway to know what the back ups made from cwm are? It just saves them as the date. I tried renaming it the first time. I ever tried it and it wouldn't recover the file I think it was cuz I renamed it so if renaming works sorry if this seems dumb. So is there anyway other than recovering the files to see what the open to?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

lilajrestnom said:
Is there anyway to know what the back ups made from cwm are? It just saves them as the date. I tried renaming it the first time. I ever tried it and it wouldn't recover the file I think it was cuz I renamed it so if renaming works sorry if this seems dumb. So is there anyway other than recovering the files to see what the open to?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1, I'd also like to know this, as I had manually renamed all my backups dates and of course MD5 check fails. I had forgotten about MD5 and wasn't thinking when I renamed them, lol. Being Clockworkmod though, I would of thought its creator was smart enough to add 'override MD5 check' under advanced restore.. I may dig deeper into this, I have valuable roms backed up, including my original rom that I payed 75$ for, that was setup to work with Metropcs's 3G data, mms & internet.

Rename their folders...I've done it multiple times... md5 doesn't have anything to do with the directory its in i dont think

ugothakd said:
Rename their folders...I've done it multiple times... md5 doesn't have anything to do with the directory its in i dont think
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm go to put them in folders next time.. lol that still doesn't solve the current screwed up status of mine and the op though.

Well...you want to know what files are in it right?

Hmm..nope. Op please read this.
ugothakd said:
Well...you want to know what files are in it right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you slightly misunderstood the OP and I.
but then again, we're both saying slightly different things with similar scenarios/issues.
The op wants to know if there's a way to distinguish what his backups are besides the date.
You have answered his question by suggesting he make folders for each of his future backups so he won't be guiding himself blindly by just a date.
I, for a change, do know exactly what my backups are, as i renamed them to things such as 2.1eclair, 2.2ec05 froyo, so on and so forth.
I have come to a solution to the problem, it seems we'll have to create a new MD5, so it can match again. (for now at least until clockworkmod is modified/updated.)
The following commands should be entered when in debug mode/adb with your phone connected to a pc.
# cd /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/whatyourenamedyourbackupto
# rm nandroid.md5
# md5sum *img > nandroid.md5
disregard the '#' it just means it belongs on the next line.
I reccommend you leave no spaces in between of your renamed backup, command doesn't do well with spaces, not even if you try putting _.
This can also be done from Terminal Emulator on your phone while its on without the use of a pc. just be sure you add 'su' first for root permission.
# su
# cd /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/whatyourenamedyourbackupto
# rm nandroid.md5
# md5sum *img > nandroid.md5
I hope this helps, and gets stickied, it's very important for anyone who gets MD5 mismatches on Clockworkmod for whatever reason.
Note Bene: I've also come to notice that when you do successfully recover, a recovery.log is created, the timestamp at the very top is the first thing made, assuming there was a .log for when you backup, that same timestamp, (rearranged with the date before the time) should be the original file name, assuming backup.log existed.
Double Edit: I can confirm that this successfully creates a new MD5 for your backups thought once lost. I have just restored my original 2.1 Eclair MetroPCS rom to make sure.

Shinydude100 said:
I think you slightly misunderstood the OP and I.
but then again, we're both saying slightly different things with similar scenarios/issues.
The op wants to know if there's a way to distinguish what his backups are besides the date.
You have answered his question by suggesting he make folders for each of his future backups so he won't be guiding himself blindly by just a date.
I, for a change, do know exactly what my backups are, as i renamed them to things such as 2.1eclair, 2.2ec05 froyo, so on and so forth.
I have come to a solution to the problem, it seems we'll have to create a new MD5, so it can match again. (for now at least until clockworkmod is modified/updated.)
The following commands should be entered when in debug mode/adb with your phone connected to a pc.
# cd /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/whatyourenamedyourbackupto
# rm nandroid.md5
# md5sum *img > nandroid.md5
disregard the '#' it just means it belongs on the next line.
I reccommend you leave no spaces in between of your renamed backup, command doesn't do well with spaces, not even if you try putting _.
This can also be done from Terminal Emulator on your phone while its on without the use of a pc. just be sure you add 'su' first for root permission.
# su
# cd /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/whatyourenamedyourbackupto
# rm nandroid.md5
# md5sum *img > nandroid.md5
I hope this helps, and gets stickied, it's very important for anyone who gets MD5 mismatches on Clockworkmod for whatever reason.
Note Bene: I've also come to notice that when you do successfully recover, a recovery.log is created, the timestamp at the very top is the first thing made, assuming there was a .log for when you backup, that same timestamp, (rearranged with the date before the time) should be the original file name, assuming backup.log existed.
Double Edit: I can confirm that this successfully creates a new MD5 for your backups thought once lost. I have just restored my original 2.1 Eclair MetroPCS rom to make sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...that confused me...
an easier way is to use the acsupdater

ugothakd said:
...that confused me...
an easier way is to use the acsupdater
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was meant for the op, not you. And it isn't confusing, its good to learn simple commands, being spoonfed by a program is lazy if you ask me.

Shinydude100 said:
It was meant for the op, not you. And it isn't confusing, its good to learn simple commands, being spoonfed by a program is lazy if you ask me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True...true. But that's how you start out, being spoonfed. Then after a while you start to ask how you got there....then that's where real dev's come from

The easiest way is to use rom manager to rename them to be honest
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Lol I love, and respect you guy's input, but I think you're missing the issue at hand, (now resolved), the op wanted to fix md5 mismatch, not get lectured on how to rename files he's already changed names to.
New or not, if you can't take the time to input a few simple commands on terminal emulator or on pc command prompt,then you probably shouldn't be screwing around with your epic in the first place, which I don't think is the case for this pal, give a man a fish,and he'll eat for one day, teach a man how to fish, and he'll live for the rest of his life. I'm not asking him to learn how to deodex a rom, (which isn't hard either) lol. This is something anyone can do, if you invest a little bit of your time, not even 5 mins!

No his specific question was how to rename them.. he never mentioned an md5 mismatch... reread the OP

ugothakd said:
Rename their folders...I've done it multiple times... md5 doesn't have anything to do with the directory its in i dont think
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
So ur saying in the folder clockworkmod/backups create a new folder and put the back up in the folder?
So it would like kinda like
Clockworkmod/bckup/random rom hawk v4/**-**-**(date of backup which is the backup foler that was created?)

Shinydude100 said:
I think you slightly misunderstood the OP and I.
but then again, we're both saying slightly different things with similar scenarios/issues.
The op wants to know if there's a way to distinguish what his backups are besides the date.
You have answered his question by suggesting he make folders for each of his future backups so he won't be guiding himself blindly by just a date.
I, for a change, do know exactly what my backups are, as i renamed them to things such as 2.1eclair, 2.2ec05 froyo, so on and so forth.
I have come to a solution to the problem, it seems we'll have to create a new MD5, so it can match again. (for now at least until clockworkmod is modified/updated.)
The following commands should be entered when in debug mode/adb with your phone connected to a pc.
# cd /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/whatyourenamedyourbackupto
# rm nandroid.md5
# md5sum *img > nandroid.md5
disregard the '#' it just means it belongs on the next line.
I reccommend you leave no spaces in between of your renamed backup, command doesn't do well with spaces, not even if you try putting _.
This can also be done from Terminal Emulator on your phone while its on without the use of a pc. just be sure you add 'su' first for root permission.
# su
# cd /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/whatyourenamedyourbackupto
# rm nandroid.md5
# md5sum *img > nandroid.md5
I hope this helps, and gets stickied, it's very important for anyone who gets MD5 mismatches on Clockworkmod for whatever reason.
Note Bene: I've also come to notice that when you do successfully recover, a recovery.log is created, the timestamp at the very top is the first thing made, assuming there was a .log for when you backup, that same timestamp, (rearranged with the date before the time) should be the original file name, assuming backup.log existed.
Double Edit: I can confirm that this successfully creates a new MD5 for your backups thought once lost. I have just restored my original 2.1 Eclair MetroPCS rom to make sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Thanks for this.
I honestly wasn't lookin for this exactly I just want a way to rename my back ups so I can distinguish between them. Butthis is useful since I have renamed a back up a while ago andlost the md5 thingy so I can probably use this to get it back thanks

ugothakd said:
...that confused me...
an easier way is to use the acsupdater
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
But acsupdater doesn't work on some roms so I can't always use that I think...

chris41g said:
The easiest way is to use rom manager to rename them to be honest
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Thanks I haven't really thought of that bu ill see.
Does rom manager rename them atthe time. The backup is created or can I rename backups at anytime using it?

chris41g said:
No his specific question was how to rename them.. he never mentioned an md5 mismatch... reread the OP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Ya I specifically just would like to rename them backup folders. And the purpose of that is only to be abl to tell which rom is in which folders instead of memorizing dates. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

lilajrestnom said:
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Thanks I haven't really thought of that bu ill see.
Does rom manager rename them atthe time. The backup is created or can I rename backups at anytime using it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it can name them at the time of creation or rename, and i believe acsupdater does as well..

Just rename the folder that is named the date, so a backup would be /SDcard/clockworkmod/backups/renamed_backup

ugothakd said:
Just rename the folder that is named the date, so a backup would be /SDcard/clockworkmod/backups/renamed_backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that should work, as the md5 file has no mention at all of the path.. but i have heard of people having problems... just make sure not to touch any files in the folders and you should be fine..

[Q] Renaming nandroid backups

With trying new roms, daily now it seems, is it possible to rename nandroid backups to something that makes more sense then just a date/time stamp like the name of rom/kernel?

Usually it doesn't matter as long as there's no special characters but I've tried it before and always get an md5 sum mismatch I just write down the date and the name of the rom
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

You need to use ROM Manager for this, then it will work with or without ROM Manager in CWM 5.0.2.7.

I usually put the backups in folders with meaningful names. I have to move them back to the proper location before restoring.
Never tried rom manager to do this though.
sent from my secret underground bunker

I was able to rename my backups with es file explorer just renamed it something like CM7_33 and it restored just fine

K3VlN said:
I was able to rename my backups with es file explorer just renamed it something like CM7_33 and it restored just fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sometimes that will work for me also... most of the time I will get an md5 sum error when I rename them though... like biggoron said the easiest way is to write them down somewhere... or as (insert name here) said you can put them in a seperate folder with the name and then move them back before restoring them....
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

hmmm strange error to have happen but good to know guess id better make another back up and delete the changed one

I had the md5 mismatch too. It seems you can rename as long as you don't put any spaces. I have been renaming mine CM7N##beforeCM9blahblah and it still works. If I put spaces in, then md5 mismatch

kennyglass123 said:
You need to use ROM Manager for this, then it will work with or without ROM Manager in CWM 5.0.2.7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I renamed some of them using ROM manager and the one I tried worked.

I tried twice to do it manually, no spaces and always got the md5 error. My backups are too important so I only use ROM manager as it makes sure the MD5 is correct.

kennyglass123 said:
I tried twice to do it manually, no spaces and always got the md5 error. My backups are too important so I only use ROM manager as it makes sure the MD5 is correct.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, this is the main reason I use rom manager, to name my backups to keep track of them easier. The nightlies for cm7 in rom manager don't hurt either..

I was actually trying to restore a backup which had an altered name and the recovery kept prompting error.
I had to rename the prefix back to BCDEARS in order for it to restore.
I think the prefix is important because it's a code to the kind of content that was actually backed up.

Md5 Mismatch on Nandroid Backups Caused by Name Change?

Some of my Nandroid backups have been getting md5 mismatched lately. I just realized that the reason may be because I change their names to something like "Blend ICS" or "Blazer", etc. Anyone know if this is the problem? And is there any way to rename them without causing a mismatch? Someone said to just add some like "blazer" without spaces right before the auto-named CWM folder (so basically the date). This won't cause problems will it?

iniz94 said:
Some of my Nandroid backups have been getting md5 mismatched lately. I just realized that the reason may be because I change their names to something like "Blend ICS" or "Blazer", etc. Anyone know if this is the problem? And is there any way to rename them without causing a mismatch? Someone said to just add some like "blazer" without spaces right before the auto-named CWM folder (so basically the date). This won't cause problems will it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you only add to the beginning without changing the rest if the name you should be ok.
Although I might recommend another option. When I need to categorize them I just create a new folder, name the new folder whatever i want and move them into it. If I need to restore a specific nandroid I just move it back into the original CWM backup folder and restore it.

iniz94 said:
Some of my Nandroid backups have been getting md5 mismatched lately. I just realized that the reason may be because I change their names to something like "Blend ICS" or "Blazer", etc. Anyone know if this is the problem? And is there any way to rename them without causing a mismatch? Someone said to just add some like "blazer" without spaces right before the auto-named CWM folder (so basically the date). This won't cause problems will it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard as long as you don't have any spaces, it should be fine. Such as "Blend.ICS" or something. I had the same issue long ago, I put the name of a ROM (with spaces) instead of the date then had the same issue. I simply fixed it by replacing the name back to a random date without spaces.

I never rename anything but I have heard you can change the beginning portion and I try to limit the amount of nandroids only three stock, daily driver, and one test build I update my daily every few days and delete the old one
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

I always change the name because it only shows the timestamps. I modify the name with rom version and status good or final ....
I check the md5 checksum after the name change and it's always successful. Even I restored with name changed nandroid backup multiple times and never had any problem.
Only the problem with nandroid backup was I made it thru rom manager or rom toolbox. It's causing md5 mismatch on ics rom. So ifyou use rom toolbox or rom manager on ics, you need to extremely careful.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Yeah I have an ICS ROM and I tend to avoid using apps like ROM Manager and just do it myself in Recovery. But thanks everyone for the responses. I think I'm just gonna create a folder for them like rwilco said or just edit the beginning.

One of the good habit is verifying the md5 checksum using the tool something like afv. I'm always check the md5 checksum against the nandroid backup. This tools is free and very useful...

MD5 Checksum
How do you do the md5 check? Is there a special command you need to type at a command prompt?

bronski813 said:
How do you do the md5 check? Is there a special command you need to type at a command prompt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are many ways but I use afv.
For example - (serious of screenshots)
1. You can change the directory name of nandroid backup (it's not related to md5 checksum at all. But don't change the individual file's name inside of the directory. If you do that, then you have to change the md5 checksum file and checksum data also.
2. Open afv and select file
3. move to the directory and long click on nandroid.md5 file
4. select verify nondroid backup
5. check the result.
If you want to check the individual backup's md5 checksum, select the file and do the 'calc md-5 checksum' and compare the result with nandroid.md5 file.
Lots of fun (lof)!

kobridge said:
There are many ways but I use afv.
For example - (serious of screenshots)
1. You can change the directory name of nandroid backup (it's not related to md5 checksum at all. But don't change the individual file's name inside of the directory. If you do that, then you have to change the md5 checksum file and checksum data also.
2. Open afv and select file
3. move to the directory and long click on nandroid.md5 file
4. select verify nondroid backup
5. check the result.
If you want to check the individual backup's md5 checksum, select the file and do the 'calc md-5 checksum' and compare the result with nandroid.md5 file.
Lots of fun (lof)!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you correct the md5? im not sure what i did but every nandroid i make refuses to restore saying that "md5 mismatch"...
Can afv match the md5?

samsmalls said:
How do you correct the md5? im not sure what i did but every nandroid i make refuses to restore saying that "md5 mismatch"...
Can afv match the md5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If nandroid backup md5 file mismatch, then calculate individual files md5 checksum and compare with nandroid.md5 data. Modify the checksum data from nandroid.md5 file. It does not automatically match the md5. AFV only provides verification and calculation.
To fix the md5 mismatch automatically, you can use another tool something like 'Root Toobox'. This tool fixs the md5 error but does not show the fixing result. So, this tool is not recommended to fix the md5. There are many other tools in the market, please try to search.
Update - do not use root toolbox. It breaks the md5 file.

samsmalls said:
How do you correct the md5? im not sure what i did but every nandroid i make refuses to restore saying that "md5 mismatch"...
Can afv match the md5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a mismatch with md5 - see my signature. You can type the command from terminal on your phone. Then everything is right again.
Oops, forgot I deleted it from my signature. Here it is:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=714114

iniz94 said:
Some of my Nandroid backups have been getting md5 mismatched lately. I just realized that the reason may be because I change their names to something like "Blend ICS" or "Blazer", etc. Anyone know if this is the problem? And is there any way to rename them without causing a mismatch? Someone said to just add some like "blazer" without spaces right before the auto-named CWM folder (so basically the date). This won't cause problems will it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have this problem, use rom manager or romtoolbox to rename the backups , and itll work

This thread is 4 months old...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

Indeed it is
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

krishneelg3 said:
If you have this problem, use rom manager or romtoolbox to rename the backups , and itll work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So one person says Rom Manager / Rom Toolbox will not work for renaming nandroids, you say it does. Which is it?
I recently had some backups that didn't work because I renamed them completely. I got md5 mismatches. I dont use CWM though. Strictly 4EXT. I dont believe Rom Manger will do much for you if your recovery is not CWM. Still, renaming seems to be problematic but you have to do something to keep them organized/separate. Dates dont mean much a few weeks later.

It doesn't matter what you name the backup. Just don't add spaces instead if where the space is put dots "." And it'll work.

Can't restore?! Please help

I rooted my phone today and did a CWM backup - I then flashed CM10 and then tried to do a restore but when I try it I get the following error "Couldn't open directory, No files found"
Yet when I browse my files I can see the back up I made in the CWM folder - why won't it restore this?
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!

jackryan57 said:
I rooted my phone today and did a CWM backup - I then flashed CM10 and then tried to do a restore but when I try it I get the following error "Couldn't open directory, No files found"
Yet when I browse my files I can see the back up I made in the CWM folder - why won't it restore this?
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...not sure if it's related, but the only time my CWM backup didn't restore was some MD5 mismatch error. I renamed the backup to "backup.tar" (if you're using *.tar and not /blobs) after I read that worked on a thread, and wala, it worked! Unsure if that's what your issue is, though.

ikjadoon said:
Hmm...not sure if it's related, but the only time my CWM backup didn't restore was some MD5 mismatch error. I renamed the backup to "backup.tar" (if you're using *.tar and not /blobs) after I read that worked on a thread, and wala, it worked! Unsure if that's what your issue is, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried what you said and it still doesn't work - I did notice that my backup is a file folder not just a file - so I don't think renaming the folder to a .tar will actually do anything to it?

Is there any other way to restore from a back up I have on my phone but that CWM doesn't seem to see??

You could try moving the file with a file manager or make sure permissions are good.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

Push it with Odin? Or just grab the stock rooted file from the stickies and push that with Odin.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

What would I be looking for as far as permissions go?

jackryan57 said:
I just tried what you said and it still doesn't work - I did notice that my backup is a file folder not just a file - so I don't think renaming the folder to a .tar will actually do anything to it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm..it's been a while since CWM--do you have any folder called blobs? If so, then my tip to rename to "backup.tar" won't work. Basically, you're right. If you don't have a *.tar backup, then I got nothing. CWM used to be *.tar only, then defaulted to /blobs, and now is defaulting back to *.tar with the option of /blobs.

join the club...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2101424
No idea what's going on with this crap. I've lost every backup now for two weeks, the worst of which was my stock backup.

i may have ended up finding a solution to the problem here, if yours is similar enough to mine.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2101424