[Q] Flashing a ROM, wiping data and backing up - Samsung Epic 4G Touch

Okay, well I have a noob question. I have a Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch. A week ago I flashed Starburst 1.9 and everything went smooth installing wise. Followed install instructions by wiping data. The one thing that bummed me was losing all my contacts(but backed up by gmail account) and losing all my text messages. Apps lost I could live with.
So my question is, how do I back up my texts, contacts, etc and restore them easily? I want to flash Calkulin's ROM and I'm just going to install his FORMAT ALL zip then flash the ROM.
Any advice is appreciated!

Your contacts should automatically restore (if backed up in your Gmail) when you add your Google account in the new ROM. For backing up texts I personally use SMS Backup & Restore on the Android Market.

Go SMS also free from the market and a great SMS app (in my opinion) also has a backup feature to back up and restore your messages.

Thanks guys. Downloaded the app.
Noob questions again, are there any bad "side effects" using the above app. Also, how do I get the texts back after backing them up? CMR then use install zip from sd card after flashing rom...correct?
Thanks!

With Go SMS it is within the app itself, I haven't done it in a bit so do not remember the exact steps.
If I remember right it is menu, then something about a batch. It isn't too hard to find if you play around with the app.
Good luck

Related

Step by step to flash CM7 from stock without losing data

I did a lot of reading before I did this to be sure I wouldn't lose anything. Here's the step by step for others, since I was unable to find it all in one place. This is for the MT4G/Glacier, no idea if the process is similar on other phones. You should probably still read, but I couldn't find any of this all in one place:
If you flash, here's what you need:
- Rooted phone (if you need to root, search for the gfree method, it's the easiest)
- ROM Manager from the Market. Get the premium version.
- TitaniumBackup from the Market.
- Sync turned on for your contacts and calendars in your google account.
1. Go into TitaniumBackup, set the option to store the settings on the SDCard. Go into Backup/Restore, hit menu, and run the batch to do a full backup of system and user apps/data.
2. Go into ROM Manager. At the top, click the option to install ClockworkRecovery. Make sure it installs version 3.0.0.5. Then click the option to reboot into recovery mode. In recovery, make a ROM backup of your existing ROM. It will store on the SD card. Reboot back into the OS.
3. Go back into ROM Manager, scroll down to Download ROM's. You should see CM7 Nightlies in there. Download the latest build. It will ask you if you want to also download the GAPPS package, grab that also. When it's done, it will ask you what you want to do... just cancel. Go to reboot in recovery mode.
4. In recovery:
- Wipe/Factory Reset
- Clear cache partition
- Advanced -> clear Dalvik cache
- On main screen, install ZIP from SD
- Navigate to sdcard->clockworkmod->downloads->teamdouche and select the CM7 zip for your phone that was downloaded
- When that is done, install another zip from sd, go into the goo.inside.me directory and install GAPPS zip
- Reboot phone from main menu
5. Enter your gmail creds that you used for your primary account from before
6. Cancel the additional downloads thing when it pops up, this will pop up again later after you enable wireless
7. Go into ROM Manager, Select the Fix Permissions option, reboot (wifi won't work unless you do this)
8. Enable wifi and join to your network
9. Eventually you will get the popup again. Select the stuff that you want installed.
It will pull down all of your apps from the market and install them. If you want to restore user data for the apps, you can go into titanium and click on the app, and restore it with the data. Don't do this until it's done updating from the market. Do NOT restore system level stuff. You will cause problems if you restore system level stuff from 2.2 or earlier on 2.3.x.
You should also install SetCPU from the market, set to start on boot, set conservative mode, and create a screen off profile that limits to 368mhz/conservative. In advanced, leave the defaults, except change the cpu up threshold to 75, and the scaling percent to 11 or 12. Massive battery improvements. You can overclock with this also, mine is only overclocked to around 1100mhz. Some people are running 1800mhz. I heard smartass mode instead of conservative is also good, but haven't tried it.
Keep in mind that if you have an HTC phone with the Sense Framework, you won't have that anymore. So if you liked the Sense dialer (which I did), you can't get it. The stock dialer is functional, but not the best. DialerOne and Dialer2 look the most interesting, but they still aren't as good. If you have CSipSimple installed, remove it. CM7 has SIP built into it, and CSipSimple confuses the phone when trying to make calls. If you liked the Sense clock widget, you can get a replacement, search for Beautiful Widgets on the market. The built in camera app is not Sense either, but does all the same things. The Gallery is awesome, best gallery I've ever seen (stacks that you can pull apart and flip through, very cool).
If GPS doesn't work, download GPS Status from the market and use it to clear the A-GPS data and cache. It's the only app that can do it. It's free.
Also, if you want to go back to your previous ROM, you can flash back with the ROM Manager backup that you made. The only thing is, you'll have to downgrade the clockwork recovery bootloader to 2.5.1.2 first. You can do this by flashing a zip from your SD card. The zip is available somewhere on these forums. I don't have a link, but you can find it by searching a bit. The 3.0.0.5 version cannot flash a Froyo or earlier ROM for some reason. I'm not going back, so I haven't done this.
My TitaniumBackup realized somehow that I installed fresh, and it automatically restored my apps and data. It did NOT on my friend's phone. But, he has the free version and I have the paid one. If it doesn't restore your app settings, you can manually go in and do it. One thing that I've never been able to restore is Good corporate email. It restores, but it won't send or receive. If anyone has ideas on this, post them.
Note that I flashed with build 35, and it's been rock solid. Your mileage may vary. If you already have the software noted above, the whole process only takes about 5-10 mins.
Edit: Recovery 3.0.0.6 was released, and works with 2.2 and 2.3. So you wouldn't have to downgrade the recovery to go back a version. As of this edit, you can grab it here if it's not showing up in ROM Manager yet: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=952433
Something to add... if you are using ADW or LPP do a backup if those also. I find that if you install it fresh from the market and not TB then press restore settings in their preferences it will load all the custom icons and custom dock. It saves alot of time. Nice writup for the peeps that need the pointers for a fresh and fast install of a nightly
FYI, Titanium backup works great at restoring apps. I would be weary of restoring data between android versions however, because some of the data will be of a different type and could cause lots of issues. Thats the reason for the full data wipe before flashing in the first place.
option94 said:
FYI, Titanium backup works great at restoring apps. I would be weary of restoring data between android versions however, because some of the data will be of a different type and could cause lots of issues. Thats the reason for the full data wipe before flashing in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that was mostly because of system. The apps themselves still store their data in sqlite databases, and their schema should not change between versions of the actual OS. I might be wrong.
app data is fine, system data is what causes issues. I should have been more specific.
option94 said:
app data is fine, system data is what causes issues. I should have been more specific.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only system stuff I install is the accounts back up, email data, wifi access points, and account and sync settings. I usually dont have a problem installing this kind of stuff. I had a few problems in the past restoring some system stuff and it made things not work, a lot of force closes. etc.. I would open up say the sound settings in settings and it would never open it would fc 100% of the time. You know I bet a lot of the issues people have with stuff not working when other's have no problems are due to bad restores. I have not once in any of the builds(since 26 when I started flashing CM 7) had an issue with wifi or gps(knock on wood)
option94 said:
FYI, Titanium backup works great at restoring apps. I would be weary of restoring data between android versions however, because some of the data will be of a different type and could cause lots of issues. Thats the reason for the full data wipe before flashing in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But the market automatically downloads all your apps for you. last time i did a full wipe i only used TB to restore data only, since the apps had been installed automatically from market.
You can use My Backup Pro to back up your SMS and MMS, plus bookmarks and a few other things. Very useful if you want to wipe and save your text.
speoples20 said:
You can use My Backup Pro to back up your SMS and MMS, plus bookmarks and a few other things. Very useful if you want to wipe and save your text.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Checkout sms backup+
It backs up all texts to your gmail account automatically.
speoples20 said:
You can use My Backup Pro to back up your SMS and MMS, plus bookmarks and a few other things. Very useful if you want to wipe and save your text.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also use My Backup Root (free in market) It is the same as My Backup pro but it is free.
Ok so I just barely rooted and flashed cm7 #40 to my glacier. Everthing is great. I love the rom. I just need help on 2 things. First, how do I get my contacts to sync back to my phone? I had done a factory reset twice before and they always synced back after I logged in my gmail account but not this time. I did sync my gmail before rooting and flashing and I also backed everything up with titanium backup but nothing. Second, when I first flashed the cm7 #40 rom I liked how when I locked the screen it shut off like if you were turning off a tv. I don't know what I did that it does not do it anymore. If anyone knows hows to fix my 2 problems I greatly appriciate it. Thanx.
EDIT: I figured out how to get the screen off animation back but I still have problems getting my contacts to push back to my phone. If anyone knows how to get them to sync it would be helpful.
EDIT#2: Figured out how to get contacts back. Was not able to sync them but just went to the tmo website, wrote them down and re-added them to my phone.
issues after upgrade to gb
I have rooted and upgraded to cm7. I have followed all directions, however, i do not have android market or any google apps reinstalled on the phone. Something got messed up during the upgrade, anyone got any ideas how i can install android market back on my phone? This is a big issue for me, i can not even get back into my titanium backup. How do i recover it from sd card? PLEASE HELP!!!! Stressing big time over this!! Also, when i try to set up my account to sync the contacts its asking for a domain name, i assume its for gmail, how do i find it? Any examples or ideas? I lost a grip of contacts, over 200! Please help!!! Thank you!
RusRap said:
I have rooted and upgraded to cm7. I have followed all directions, however, i do not have android market or any google apps reinstalled on the phone. Something got messed up during the upgrade, anyone got any ideas how i can install android market back on my phone? This is a big issue for me, i can not even get back into my titanium backup. How do i recover it from sd card? PLEASE HELP!!!! Stressing big time over this!! Also, when i try to set up my account to sync the contacts its asking for a domain name, i assume its for gmail, how do i find it? Any examples or ideas? I lost a grip of contacts, over 200! Please help!!! Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you install the GAPPS zip that came with the rom? if you didn't, do. Its the google apps file. That will load the market and apps.
coupetastic-droid said:
Ok so I just barely rooted and flashed cm7 #40 to my glacier. Everthing is great. I love the rom. I just need help on 2 things. First, how do I get my contacts to sync back to my phone? I had done a factory reset twice before and they always synced back after I logged in my gmail account but not this time. I did sync my gmail before rooting and flashing and I also backed everything up with titanium backup but nothing. Second, when I first flashed the cm7 #40 rom I liked how when I locked the screen it shut off like if you were turning off a tv. I don't know what I did that it does not do it anymore. If anyone knows hows to fix my 2 problems I greatly appriciate it. Thanx.
EDIT: I figured out how to get the screen off animation back but I still have problems getting my contacts to push back to my phone. If anyone knows how to get them to sync it would be helpful.
EDIT#2: Figured out how to get contacts back. Was not able to sync them but just went to the tmo website, wrote them down and re-added them to my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
howd you get the animations back?
mbernusg said:
howd you get the animations back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wiped, re-flashed the rom and re-boot. it was the only way i was able to get the animation back.
I'm curious if there's a way to batch-restore data only in Titanium Backup? Only way I can see is to do it app by app.
Likewise, any way to batch-backup data only?

Question about rom's... or to rom users

Hi, I've got a recently rooted HTC desire, and since rooting it I have been playing around with a couple of roms; I have tried both cyanogenmod and a desire hd rom. However with both I have had the same problem - having to start fresh completely, without any of my data. And then having to restore a backup.
So my question is firstly, am I doing something wrong? I have tried restoring my data before but all I ever get is a bootloop when I restart so I have to wipe it again.
And then, if you do have to start afresh, is it really worth it? And why.
Thanks for reading
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
HikerMan said:
Hi, I've got a recently rooted HTC desire, and since rooting it I have been playing around with a couple of roms; I have tried both cyanogenmod and a desire hd rom. However with both I have had the same problem - having to start fresh completely, without any of my data. And then having to restore a backup.
So my question is firstly, am I doing something wrong? I have tried restoring my data before but all I ever get is a bootloop when I restart so I have to wipe it again.
And then, if you do have to start afresh, is it really worth it? And why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I try to keep it simple.
You say you've tried restoring your data? With...Clockworkmod? Or what? If you restore only /data-partition with Clockworkmod (I'm not sure if it's even possible, never have tried it) you are bound to have problems.
Same goes with Titanium Backup. When you're switching ROM from say, a Sense rom to Cyanogenmod - don't ever restore all settings. The ROM's are too different and their settings aren't compatible with each other! I myself only restore WiFi Access point list (and installed apps) when switching ROMs.
So if I've understood you correctly, you're not doing anything wrong (unless you're restoring a nandroid after flashing...)
A correct procedure for switching roms (not for updating the same ROM unless stated explicitly!) is:
-Titanium Backup/Mybackup/whatever your apps (and as little settings as possible, it's mostly trial and error)
-Nandroid backup (so you can revert when there are problems)
-Wipe data / factory reset (wipes everything but FAT32-partition of SD-card)
-Flash the new rom
-Restore your apps with TB/something else and manually input your settings (accounts, etc shouldn't be backed up either...)
Something you could consider if you want to jump ROMs all the time, is to set up your installation the way you like it, then do a nandroid backup, install a new rom, then set it up again and backup it, then if you want to switch these 2 roms you can just restore the one you want...Of course replacing the nandroid backup if you've done a lot of changes
Now for your last question: Starting fresh is worth it. Otherwise you will most probably run to force closes and other problems that force you to do a factory reset anyway.
Thanks for the reply! Very helpful... so if I go into titanium backup and backup all apps, will that backup contacts and text messages etc. also? Or will I have to lose them?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
HikerMan said:
Thanks for the reply! Very helpful... so if I go into titanium backup and backup all apps, will that backup contacts and text messages etc. also? Or will I have to lose them?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm, I can't say about contacts, because I always sync them from my work Exchange & Gmail, and for text messages I recommend a free app called SMS Backup+ https://market.android.com/details?id=com.zegoggles.smssync&feature=search_result
The software backs up your SMS to your Gmail as messages, to a label called SMS , and they can be restored with a click to your new rom.
Also People app (in Sense) and Dialer (in AOSP roms) can export contacts to SD so you can easily import them back.

Quick question my Geniuses

I addicted to looking at and trying out new roms but its so annoying that i have to download everything back and all my text are wiped bla bla i think some people might understand.
anyway i can install new themes but when its done loading that all my apps and everything is still the way i left it?
thanks in advance
First of, download and install Titanium Backup or Titanium Backup Pro. With it, you can backup all of your apps and their data. After doing that, go into recovery and make a nandroid backup of your current set up. Doing so will put your device back like it was just in case you don't like the new rom, theme or whatever it is you plan to flash. Afterwards and while in recovery, wipe everything except the SD card then flash your new rom. None of your previous apps should be installed.
posting & replying via the XDA Premium app
^^^^what he said^^^^
you beat me to it, lol
Flattering us won't help.
And well to get your apps back, backup with titanium, restore apps and data, not system settings. And for you second question, it depends on what the app themes, you can always re-do the icon.
And jeeze, I'm the last one in the 7:08, 7:09, 7:10 time reply train.
Also, I just learned about backing up adw desktop settings ...restores all folder and apps where they were when you backed up. Super convienent...use after restoring from titanium backup.
ok so i just got to install titanium backup (which i have already but have never used it) and backup my apps and data as is (does this include my text messages? )
and the difference between titanium and Nandroid backup is the titanium backs up my apps and nan backup takes me back to my last backup was just incase the current rom i installed is not to my liking or faulty? right?
Correct me if im wrong, i can take it
tell you guys the truth i just care about my text's messages being erased. i don't mind installing the apps again.
Download and install SMS backup+ from the market, it's free. Once you set it up (easy) it will back up all your SMS and MMS to your Gmail account. When you load a new rom you can restore all your txts as well. You can set it to back up automatically or manually, your choice. To restore just start the app nd click restore, boom, all sms are loaded back up.
Thanks alot guys i really do appreciate it.
Complimentary BJ's to all
Mybackup pro will do that call logs text msgs and mms
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
KB112 said:
Download and install SMS backup+ from the market, it's free. Once you set it up (easy) it will back up all your SMS and MMS to your Gmail account. When you load a new rom you can restore all your txts as well. You can set it to back up automatically or manually, your choice. To restore just start the app nd click restore, boom, all sms are loaded back up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got a new rom and clicked restore and it restored "0"
and i did back it up all 139 texts.
Did you check your gmail account? It should show all your texts saved to a folder. If it didn't, then you never properly backed them up.
Once you install the new rom, be sure you signed back into your account in the backup app.
Sent from my Warm Z EVO

[Q] Contacts, Messages, etc.

I recently flashed an ACS Rom and all of my contacts, text messages, etc. disappeared. I have flashed plenty of Roms before and didn't lose this info. Thank god I did a nandroid prior to flashing. I loved this Rom and want to keep using it, but I need my list of contacts and have sentimental reasons for keeping the text messages. I know this is a stupid question.
If it was a gingerbread rom, you needed to flash the latest gapps with it.
As well prior to flashing a new rom, backup apps and data with titanium backup, then restore them afterwards; as for contacts, go into settings, accounts and sync, tap your google account, then just sync the contacts if it wasn't set, it sometimes happens to me.
You can use an SMS backup app to save your texts. After you've flashed a new rom, go and download the app again, then restore.
Do you not normally wipe data when flashing a new rom?
Sent from my Evo using Tapatalk

[Q] Restoring SMS Breaks ROMs ( Help Please )

I would REALLY appreciate some help with this please, because after 10 reflashes, I still can't find the problem. I've been trying to flash the Darkside Evolution ROM ( latest T-Mobile version ) on my phone. Everything seems to work fine, until I start restoring my text messages, at which point, all hell breaks lose. My stock messaging app just brings up a black screen and eventually FCs, Google Play keeps FCing as well, and occasionally, no keys typed in any of my keyboard apps show up in the fields selected. Reboots don't help.
Here's how I've been flashing ( running CWM 5.0.2.7 non-touch ): 1. flash darkside super wipe. 2. flash ROM. 3. flash darkside cache-wipe. 4. let system sit 10 minutes before toying with it. I've also tried flashing the cache-wipe after the 10 minute system sit, but I still have issues.
Here's what I've tried, with no success:
1. Searching the forums for any possible solution, but to no avail.
2. Mainly use GoSMS to backup & restore texts, but also tried SMS Backup & Restore and GoBackup instead, with same results, if not worse.
3. Re-ODINed to stock, rooted and flashed CWM again .
4. Checked MD5 checksum of all files I've said I've used; all are verified as correct.
5. Tried Settings->Applications, and deleting cache / data for troubled apps. Only fixes issue with Google Play.
5. Tried different ROMs ( Juggernaut v5.0 and Darkside Digital Warfare v2.7-( my somewhat stable DD until now) months ago, and Infamous 2.6-(worked after a couple of tries, but missing features I need) and Darkside Evolution v7 the past few days ).
TL;DR - Restoring SMS breaks any Rom I flash. Help please?
Could someone help, pretty please?
...I'm sorry if I sound pushy or agitated, but I spent about 20 hours just this past week, wiping, flashing, and restoring, over and over again with quite a few different ROMs to no avail, and unfortunately I'm not exaggerating. I'm tech savvy, but I know anyone can make stupid mistakes, and I would just REALLY appreciate it if someone could help me finally get to the bottom of this; it's been the bane of my rooting life. I can get on an IM app if that would make it easier.
I used to use Titanium Backup to restore sms & mms. But now I use Go Backup and hadn't had any issues. Every time I've used SMS Backup. I would get issues of the app freezing. I'm using TWRP for my recovery. I know some Dev's say not to use it but I haven't had one issue with it at all.
When you do restore your SMS & MMS are you rebooting your device right after?
Beefvvl said:
I used to use Titanium Backup to restore sms & mms. But now I use Go Backup and hadn't had any issues. Every time I've used SMS Backup. I would get issues of the app freezing. I'm using TWRP for my recovery. I know some Dev's say not to use it but I haven't had one issue with it at all.
When you do restore your SMS & MMS are you rebooting your device right after?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I've mostly used GoSMS Backup, but I've tried SMS Backup & Restore, Go Backup, and TiBu ( with "Migrate System Data" checked ) this week, but all of them cause random issues. I've been hesitant about using TWRP because a lot of people don't recommend it, but I don't mind giving that a shot if it won't brick my phone. Is there anything I should know about using it?
And sometimes I reboot right after an SMS/MMS restore, and sometimes I try to access the messages before rebooting. With TiBu, I always reboot first now. Either way, I still have issues.
I'm also on DarksideEvolution.3.v7, and have used SMS Backup and Restore without any issues. Also used SMS Backup+ without issues. I've restored anywhere from 400-800 +/- messages. How many text messages are you trying to restore? My only thought, was if your backup has thousands of messages, it may cause a memory issue that causes the hang ups.
I'm trying to restore about 12,000 text messages...
I was able to get DarksideEvolution3v7 completely working once, except that my GPS wasn't working, so I was going to wait until TDJ releases an update with a GPS fix until I try Darkside again. I haven't used SMS Backup+ because I don't want to use cloud services, and SMS Backup & Restore is one of the best working ones right now. I just tried GoBackup again, and after about 65%, it force closed with some kind of unknown exception error, and no texts showed even after a reboot.
That's your issue. Had it happen to me awhile back. Had to do some manipulation to get it to work. I forget the details exactly unfortunately. However, I do recall it was related to The max limiter in the messaging app and had to go with handcent, adjusted max sms settings higher prior to SMS refresh. Then had some issues with mMs which is the part I forget
Tb has the xml backup feature now, that might help since the backup file is smaller, so maybe memory isn't such an issue
I was afraid it might be something like that. I've had issues with previous phones restoring texts when I start hitting around 10k messages, but nothing this severe, and I figured that our SGSII's processing power should be able to handle it. I've been making sure that under the stock messaging settings, "Delete Old Messages" is always unchecked, but I'm not sure if that's what the max limiter is.
And do you know if there's anything special that I have to do to activate that TiBu feature? I saw it in my changelog when I updated, but I wasn't sure.

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