Develop Bugs

[Q] Proper backup help

I am running Virtuous and it is running smooth as butter, but I would like to try one of the CM7 nighly, and want to be able to go back if need be with out hours of work. I am running clockwork recovery and rom manager, and also have titaium back up installed. Phone is rooted with s-off. Can I just run a back up from rom manager do a complete wipe and install CM7. I also need to update hboot from .79 to .92 should this be done prior to the rom manager back up. Should CM7 not work out how do I restore back? Thanks

Yeah just nandroid (which means backing up the rom and all your settings) and you can go back at any time. In Rom manager just go to Backup current Rom and you will always have a copy of your setup EXACTLY as it is.
You can update HBOOT whenever you want, it really doesn't matter when you do it. Once you do it will stay that way.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't doing a nandroid backup essentially make a complete clone of your entire phone that you can restore later?

eman5oh said:
I am running Virtuous and it is running smooth as butter, but I would like to try one of the CM7 nighly, and want to be able to go back if need be with out hours of work. I am running clockwork recovery and rom manager, and also have titaium back up installed. Phone is rooted with s-off. Can I just run a back up from rom manager do a complete wipe and install CM7. I also need to update hboot from .79 to .92 should this be done prior to the rom manager back up. Should CM7 not work out how do I restore back? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, here's what you to do back up:
1. Back up your apps with Titanium Backup - DO NOT BACK UP PHONE DATA. Backing up data for games (e.g. Angry Birds) is fine, but don't back up contacts or Gmail or anything that's going to be included in your new ROM. Reason is, when you restore everything (more on that later), you don't want to have conflicting data screwing things up.
2. Make a nandroid using ROM Manager. Just go to where it says backup current rom, and let it do it's magic. You can (and should) rename it to something you can remember. DO NOT USE SPACES. I like to name mine with the date, ROM name, and version number (e.g. 2-3-11_Virtuous_3.1.0)
3. After the backup finishes, install the new ROM - I always do this through ROM Manager.
4. When CM7 is finished installing, download Titanium Backup and restore your apps using the batch operation - it's a lot simpler than trying to find all your apps and download/install them yourself
5. To go back, simply click "Restore Backup" in ROM Manager and pick Virtuous and all your hard work will be restored
Enjoy!

I've had lots of trouble with ROM manager not restoring or backing up my current ROM properly.....it'll always say that the installation was aborted or say the file is corrupt
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

AlpineM3 said:
I've had lots of trouble with ROM manager not restoring or backing up my current ROM properly.....it'll always say that the installation was aborted or say the file is corrupt
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much free space is left on your card? Format and try it with a clean card. I have never had a problem with it restoring anything of mine.

Zoon0n said:
Okay, here's what you to do back up:
1. Back up your apps with Titanium Backup - DO NOT BACK UP PHONE DATA. Backing up data for games (e.g. Angry Birds) is fine, but don't back up contacts or Gmail or anything that's going to be included in your new ROM. Reason is, when you restore everything (more on that later), you don't want to have conflicting data screwing things up.
2. Make a nandroid using ROM Manager. Just go to where it says backup current rom, and let it do it's magic. You can (and should) rename it to something you can remember. DO NOT USE SPACES. I like to name mine with the date, ROM name, and version number (e.g. 2-3-11_Virtuous_3.1.0)
3. After the backup finishes, install the new ROM - I always do this through ROM Manager.
4. When CM7 is finished installing, download Titanium Backup and restore your apps using the batch operation - it's a lot simpler than trying to find all your apps and download/install them yourself
5. To go back, simply click "Restore Backup" in ROM Manager and pick Virtuous and all your hard work will be restored
Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Am I asking for trouble when backing up apps via titium, and switching roms? I thought that I read that somewhere? I have used app brain to do the restores, but it is a little slow. Also Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I've read that the newer versions of Clockwork are troublesome....anything after 2.5.05. I just went in and erased any previous ROM's that I don't use anymore to free up valuable space on the SD card. Hopefully it works, but the message error i've been getting......well not a message error, but my phone seems to freeze up while developing MD5sum. I read to leave it alone and it might take 10 min's actually, but just want to confirm this is true. Thanks.
g00s3y said:
How much free space is left on your card? Format and try it with a clean card. I have never had a problem with it restoring anything of mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

AlpineM3 said:
I've read that the newer versions of Clockwork are troublesome....anything after 2.5.05. I just went in and erased any previous ROM's that I don't use anymore to free up valuable space on the SD card. Hopefully it works, but the message error i've been getting......well not a message error, but my phone seems to freeze up while developing MD5sum. I read to leave it alone and it might take 10 min's actually, but just want to confirm this is true. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use 2.5.1.2 and have never personally had any problem, sorry.

eman5oh said:
Am I asking for trouble when backing up apps via titium, and switching roms? I thought that I read that somewhere? I have used app brain to do the restores, but it is a little slow. Also Thanks to everyone for the replies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've gone from Stock to Virtuous to MIUI to CyanogenMod and I can say definitively that I have never had any problems with Titanium backing up/restoring apps. You are asking for trouble if you try to back up system data and restore it for ROM's that they were never intended for - just back up the apps you downloaded from the market/installed yourself and you'll be fine

So here is what I did,
1 Did a Rom back up from Rom manager
2 Backed up user apps with Titanium Pro
3 Updated Clock Work Mod to 2.5.1.2
4 Flashed Hboot from .79 to .92
This is were ran into a problem, after hboot flashed it just went into a boot loop were all I could do is go into hboot or clock work recovery but that is it phone would not boot. I searched a little and read that hboot wipes the kernal and that is why it will not reboot. I then went into clockwork and restored the rom I backed up in step 1, and it worked like a charm. Thought I would share so any one else who runs into this. Now off to flash cm7!

Rocking CM7 now, Thanks for all the help and advice from everyone. The Android community rocks.

[Q] Force closes long lag times, other problems so un-root/re-root or something else?

So, I have been having some major problems with my phone. Tons of force closes, major lag times and things like that. I have tried a handful of different ROMs, including CM7, the nightlys, Miui and a few others. I hear great stories about people and rooting and I want to be one of them. I am tired of all the hassles. So, when talking to someone in the office who has had no issues with his Droid 2, he suggested, and said he has read, the best thing to do is go back to stock, unroot, as they will remove all possible conflicting files that could be causing problems. Then, re-root, and install whatever.
Any thoughts on that? Generally, my process for installing a new ROM, I boot into recovery manually, clean cache, clean Dalvik, then install ROM. Then, I restore apps and data from Titanium and restore the Nandroid from Rom Manager. The past couple times, I have done the factory reset, but eventually, a day or 2, it goes back to the same problems. Maybe, I should just try it without the restoring the Nandroid (even though it is a backup from when there was no problems) and the app data from Titanium. I assume, you know what happens when you assume, that both the Nandroid and Titanium backups are clean as I backed up when I was having no issues.
So, any thoughts here? Unroot, then re-root or is there something else I should try to wipe everything clean to solve the problems? Currently, on the original Droid Incredible (got it on the release day, so the first screen), running 2.2 when I rooted, currently on Miui 1.9.16, but just installed it 10 minutes ago and was running the Cyanogen nightly's before hand..
Thanks in advance

When flashing a new ROM you should always do the following before flashing, especially if you're flashing completely different ROMs:
Wipe user data/factory reset
Mounts and Storage - format /system, format /boot, format /data, format /cache
Advanced - Wipe Dalvik, Wipe Battery Stats
Then flash the ROM zip.
Try not restoring apps and data from Titanium, as restoring the app is okay, but restoring data can cause unwanted things to happen more times than not.
When you say restore nandroid from ROM Manager, what do you mean here? A nandroid is backing up your ROM via ROM Manager, which gets stored to your clockworkmod/backups folder...you shouldn't be pulling anything from that...
If you flash the RUU to return to stock and re-root, make sure you use the 2.2 RUU. If you use the 2.3, you need to be s-off to get rooted again. If you use the 2.3 RUU and you're s-on, no root for you...come back one year.

The ONLY time you want to restore a nandroid backup is if you've wiped your device clean and want to return to a previously backed up setup. You should never restore a nandroid backup over a ROM you've just installed. If that's what you're doing, that's your problem. You're effectively replacing whatever ROM you just flashed in it's entirety.
As for Titanium, I restore apps with data all the time, but system data should almost never be restored as it's OS and app version specific. Basically, if it's green, it's safe. If it's red, don't mess with it. If it's white, like a user app, app and data are usually safe to restore.
ROM Manager is a bigger pain in the ass than it's worth and is useless for anything more than flashing a new recovery. If my recovery is working reliably, I never install ROM manager. Most devs will tell you to never flash with ROM manager anyways. Any function that ROM Manager performs can be performed in recovery in a safer, more reliable fashion.

loonatik78 said:
The ONLY time you want to restore a nandroid backup is if you've wiped your device clean and want to return to a previously backed up setup. You should never restore a nandroid backup over a ROM you've just installed. If that's what you're doing, that's your problem. You're effectively replacing whatever ROM you just flashed in it's entirety.
As for Titanium, I restore apps with data all the time, but system data should almost never be restored as it's OS and app version specific. Basically, if it's green, it's safe. If it's red, don't mess with it. If it's white, like a user app, app and data are usually safe to restore.
ROM Manager is a bigger pain in the ass than it's worth and is useless for anything more than flashing a new recovery. If my recovery is working reliably, I never install ROM manager. Most devs will tell you to never flash with ROM manager anyways. Any function that ROM Manager performs can be performed in recovery in a safer, more reliable fashion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the correction, I forgot to put system in there...restoring system data is not good.
+1 on ROM Manager issues, always get a zip file of the ROM, and flash through recovery.

RMarkwald said:
When flashing a new ROM you should always do the following before flashing, especially if you're flashing completely different ROMs:
Wipe user data/factory reset
Mounts and Storage - format /system, format /boot, format /data, format /cache
Advanced - Wipe Dalvik, Wipe Battery Stats
Then flash the ROM zip.
When you say restore nandroid from ROM Manager, what do you mean here? A nandroid is backing up your ROM via ROM Manager, which gets stored to your clockworkmod/backups folder...you shouldn't be pulling anything from that....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is pretty much what I do, except for the Mounts and Storage parts.
For the Nandroid part, maybe I have my terminology mixed up. I do a restore from Rom Manager...which I thought was called the Nandroid backup. It seems to me, that it makes sure the launcher and things are set up right.
loonatik78 said:
The ONLY time you want to restore a nandroid backup is if you've wiped your device clean and want to return to a previously backed up setup. You should never restore a nandroid backup over a ROM you've just installed. If that's what you're doing, that's your problem. You're effectively replacing whatever ROM you just flashed in it's entirety.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rarely use the ROM Manager to do anything, just restore (what I thought was called the Nandroid) to make the launcher the way things were..
But it seems like that is my problem. I am installed the new ROM, then just restoring a back up of all the problems. DUH.. Guess I should try it all without restoring anything from the ROM Manager and see how it all works. That will be my project tonight..
Thanks

MikeDaub said:
That is pretty much what I do, except for the Mounts and Storage parts.
For the Nandroid part, maybe I have my terminology mixed up. I do a restore from Rom Manager...which I thought was called the Nandroid backup. It seems to me, that it makes sure the launcher and things are set up right.
I rarely use the ROM Manager to do anything, just restore (what I thought was called the Nandroid) to make the launcher the way things were..
But it seems like that is my problem. I am installed the new ROM, then just restoring a back up of all the problems. DUH.. Guess I should try it all without restoring anything from the ROM Manager and see how it all works. That will be my project tonight..
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to restore your launcher, try it through Titanium Backup. If that doesn't do it, and I can't promise you it will work correctly, you're probably SOL on restoring a launcher unless some other backup app does the job better.

loonatik78 said:
If you want to restore your launcher, try it through Titanium Backup. If that doesn't do it, and I can't promise you it will work correctly, you're probably SOL on restoring a launcher unless some other backup app does the job better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am fine with not restoring it, I just thought "that is what you should do".
I don't venture too far from the regular settings, so it isn't a pain to do, just thought I should...

RMarkwald said:
When flashing a new ROM you should always do the following before flashing, especially if you're flashing completely different ROMs:
Wipe user data/factory reset
Mounts and Storage - format /system, format /boot, format /data, format /cache
Advanced - Wipe Dalvik, Wipe Battery Stats
Then flash the ROM zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more quick question since I am thinking of it....is this same process if doing nightly updates from Cyanogen, or just is I change from say, Cyanogen to Miui or something??
Thanks again for all the help..

MikeDaub said:
One more quick question since I am thinking of it....is this same process if doing nightly updates from Cyanogen, or just is I change from say, Cyanogen to Miui or something??
Thanks again for all the help..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally, CM nightlies can be flashed over top of each other without a wipe since the vast majority of the code is identical. However, if an issue crops up, a wipe and flash might be a good thing to try. Probably won't help though, since nightlies, by definition, are experimental.
Always wipe and flash when moving from one ROM type to another.

loonatik78 said:
Generally, CM nightlies can be flashed over top of each other without a wipe since the vast majority of the code is identical. However, if an issue crops up, a wipe and flash might be a good thing to try. Probably won't help though, since nightlies, by definition, are experimental.
Always wipe and flash when moving from one ROM type to another.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kinda what I figured, but I thought it was worth asking so I don't completely wipe the whole thing every time I install an update. The nightly I am on now seems to be working, so the new plan is keep whats working until it doesn't work anymore, or some major update comes along..
Thanks again for the help. I really appreciate it.

If the issue continues you can try copying everything off of your SD card to your PC and reformatting your SD card. Remember to use FAT32 format. Then copy everything back to your SD card. I've read threads were this helped the force close issues for many people - Just a thought.

jackbtha1 said:
If the issue continues you can try copying everything off of your SD card to your PC and reformatting your SD card. Remember to use FAT32 format. Then copy everything back to your SD card. I've read threads were this helped the force close issues for many people - Just a thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certainly worth a thought. The card that is in it now came from a different phone. I am pretty sure I formatted it when I first plugged it in, but it can't hurt to try...
Thanks

[Q] Some Newb Questions on going from Rooted Stock to Cyanogen

hello,
I rooted back in 1/2011 using Unrevoked3.
From there I changed from clockwork to amon-ra, installed busybox v1.17.1, as well as ROM Manager
v3.0.0.7. At that time I did a Nandroid backup (selected: boot, system, data, recovery, wimax, & android_secure )
From there I left it as a stock ROM with the following:
Hboot 0.97.0000, Build # 3.29.651.5,
Android 2.2
Baseband Version: 2.15.00.09.01,
Kernel Version: 2.6.32.15-ge2fb08e [email protected] #11,
Software : 3.29.651.5,
Hardware Version 3,
pri version: 1.77_003
prl version: 60671
Now I haven't really followed all of the ROM tweaks, variants, and developments over the past year. The evo is starting to get a bit sluggish...so I figured an update and a change would be good...I plan on going from STOCK to current stable cyanogen.
I think that I could restore the apps and such with titanium (if I ensure that 'system data migration' is enabled) however I would think that it would be best to start off fresh....
I would like to keep my text messages.
I have been scouring cyanogen forums, xda, and such... there is alot of conflicting/not updated information. I am probably over analyzing, just being cautions.
Question 1: should I have to update ROM Manager, Busybox, or AmonRa? (they are same version from when I rooted) <my guess is no, but I am unsure if there is some major bug that was fixed, especially with respect to AmonRa>
General Order:
1) follow instructions per
http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/...ated-07-august-2011-now-kernel-info-included/
(perform another nandroid backup, wimax keys backup > and make a full SDCARD backup to the PC > Flash Cyanogen > flash GAPPS > flash GPS fix > flash latest radio/wimax/pri/prls)
I have titanium pro, but there settings seem a bit overwhelming.
Once I flash cyanogen & radios...
Question 2: what is the best way to restore my texts?
I was thinking the following:
- First - delete all folders on sdcard except nandroid / TitaniumBackup
- Second - sync google contacts/calendar
- third - go to the market and install appbrain to re-sync applications that I like
- fourth- use titanium to restore text messages com.android.mms-FILENAME.properties (and .tar.gz)
Question 3: I am assuming that this is the only file required to restore my SMS/Text messages, am I correct?
or does cyanogen use a different application?
Question 4: is there anything critical that I am missing?
Thanks for your time
Qu1nn

I think that I could restore the apps and such with titanium (if I ensure that 'system data migration' is enabled) however I would think that it would be best to start off fresh....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apps are fine to be restored with Titanium, that's what it was made for. System data, no. NEVER backup and restore system data between different roms.
I would like to keep my text messages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SMS Backup and Restore from the market.
Question 1: should I have to update ROM Manager, Busybox, or AmonRa? (they are same version from when I rooted) <my guess is no, but I am unsure if there is some major bug that was fixed, especially with respect to AmonRa>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Always update is there are updates available. 99% of the time, updates only make things better.
(perform another nandroid backup, wimax keys backup > and make a full SDCARD backup to the PC > Flash Cyanogen > flash GAPPS > flash GPS fix > flash latest radio/wimax/pri/prls)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much. Put rom zip on root of sd card, boot into recovery, make a Nandroid Backup, wipe data/cache/dalvik, flash new rom, reboot. I'm almost positive the cm7 zip comes with gapps, you shouldnt have to flash those separately. Radios can be flashed anytime.
Question 2: what is the best way to restore my texts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, SMS Backup and Restore. Simple app, one click to backup and one click to restore.
- First - delete all folders on sdcard except nandroid / TitaniumBackup
- Second - sync google contacts/calendar
- third - go to the market and install appbrain to re-sync applications that I like
- fourth- use titanium to restore text messages com.android.mms-FILENAME.properties (and .tar.gz)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dont need to delete things off the sd card unless you need the space. And you can use Titanium to backup and restore texts, but not if you are switching from a Sense rom to an AOSP rom.

Just start off fresh and forget the messages. Latest amon-ra is 2.3 and get rid of rom manager
Sent From My Pocket

sitlet said:
Apps are fine to be restored with Titanium, that's what it was made for. System data, no. NEVER backup and restore system data between different roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
sitlet said:
SMS Backup and Restore from the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
sitlet said:
Always update is there are updates available. 99% of the time, updates only make things better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
sitlet said:
Pretty much. Put rom zip on root of sd card, boot into recovery, make a Nandroid Backup, wipe data/cache/dalvik, flash new rom, reboot. I'm almost positive the cm7 zip comes with gapps, you shouldnt have to flash those separately. Radios can be flashed anytime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the CM zip files, atleast none that I have ever flashed, come with gapps already bundled together. I've always had to flash them separately. Also, reflash your kernel after flashing your radio. Some people say this is a must and some people say its all hoopla. I always do it just to be on the safe side.
sitlet said:
Again, SMS Backup and Restore. Simple app, one click to backup and one click to restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sitlet said:
You dont need to delete things off the sd card unless you need the space. And you can use Titanium to backup and restore texts, but not if you are switching from a Sense rom to an AOSP rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to delete anything off of the SD card but you do need to make a backup of your SD card beforehand. The very first time I rooted and flashed a custom ROM my entire SD card got wiped out somehow. I'm still not sure why since flashing a ROM doesnt write to the SD card. Either way, I lost everything that I had on there before. I've been doing incremental backups of my SD card ever since. Again, better safe than sorry.

[Q] nandroid backups and custom roms

Hi I'm new to android and just bought the verizon Galaxy Nexus (came from the iPhone but regretted buying it just months after buying it) and the new terminology is really confusing. Now that I've familiarized myself with most terms, I have a couple questions about performing certain things.
My first question is: When is a nandroid backup needed, why, and how do you perform one?
second question: If I want to flash a custom ROM, what precautions should I take?
Im sorry if any of these questions have been asked but I could not find them anywhere in the development forum.

Nandroid back up is an exact copy of what ever ROM is currently running on your phone. I.e if you are still on stock ROM then you would make a Nandroid and flash back to stock if you had bugs in a custom ROM.
To make a Nandroid you must first Root the device and install ClockWorkMod (CWM), Once installed hold both volume buttons up and down at the same time an power on the device. Then using the volume keys go to Restore mode and hit the power button, Navigate to backups and restore and then hit back up, this will make a Nandroid.
Precautions to flashing a custom ROM - Make a Nandroid of the stock ROM and you can always flash back.

But i didn't understand a thing yet... If I have a Custom ROM and want to go back to the stock one, and i have a nandroid backup of the stock one, first i have to re-flash the stock rom or i can directly restore the nandroid backup when i've still installed the custom rom?

You can directly restore the nandroid backup. It will start you over at stock just how your phone was when you backed it up
Sent from my Sensation using XDA App

Maybe you should watch a few videos on Youtube to get a bit familiar with Android and a few basics

mklass said:
Nandroid back up is an exact copy of what ever ROM is currently running on your phone. I.e if you are still on stock ROM then you would make a Nandroid and flash back to stock if you had bugs in a custom ROM.
To make a Nandroid you must first Root the device and install ClockWorkMod (CWM), Once installed hold both volume buttons up and down at the same time an power on the device. Then using the volume keys go to Restore mode and hit the power button, Navigate to backups and restore and then hit back up, this will make a Nandroid.
Precautions to flashing a custom ROM - Make a Nandroid of the stock ROM and you can always flash back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the very helpful response! Does a nandroid save absolutely everything? If not, what will I have to save manually? If I do a nandroid, is a titanium backup needed? The question above about having to revert back to the ROM before flashing the backup is interesting because I've heard that you must flash back to the previous ROM or you'll end up with a bricked phone...

azn android said:
Thanks for the very helpful response! Does a nandroid save absolutely everything? If not, what will I have to save manually? If I do a nandroid, is a titanium backup needed? The question above about having to revert back to the ROM before flashing the backup is interesting because I've heard that you must flash back to the previous ROM or you'll end up with a bricked phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes indeed a Nandroid back up saves EVERYTHING to do with apps installed + login credentials, widget layouts, notification sounds an lights, Messages, recent calls and so on. It may be a wise move to make a copy of the Internal SDcard which I do just in-case because I'm not sure if the Nandroid backup saves the Internal SDcard as it is a non removable card.
Regarding reflashing - You simply just wipe systme, data, Cache and Davlik Cache and reflash the stock Nandroid over and your device will be back to stock ROM.
The only time I would use Titanium back up is when moving from one ROM to another. Each time you flash a new ROM its basically a fresh install and will not have any of your settings saved i.e Wi-fi passwords, wallpapers, wiget layout, icons and folders, Gmail/facebook/twitter account details. Although Google offer a basic backup for your Apps none of the login credentials will be saved.
I have 2 Nandroid backups - 1 is my stock ROM, the other is my Modaco Custom ROM. Every time I flash some thing new over my Madaco ROM i.e custom Mods like new power menu or new kernel, I make a new Nandroid back up and delete the previous one. That way you will always have an exact copy of the ROM just the way you like it.
Hope this helps

Ah makes sense thank you so much! I get the overall picture but small details such as these are needed! I'm sorry if I'm annoying you with all these questions but I have a couple more: how would I make a copy of my internal sd card? My other question is that will I only need titanium backup if I plan on using more than 2 ROM's? Because I'm still a bit confused about why you would need titanium backup if nandroid does the same thing.. If there is a guide about when to delete the cache or do a wipe and stuff, sending a link or explanation would be much appreciated!

Titanium backup and nandroid
Backing up internal SD card is by simply copy pasting everything on SD to PC, Nandroid backup is complete backup of everything, ie if you restore a nandroid backup you will get everything the same before backing up, but Titanium is backup of apps, messages and call registers or contacts, you cannot restore the apps, messages and contacts from nandroid to New ROM, but you can from Titanium. Just in simple you can make titanium backup in case you want to use new ROM with all apps you previously used or use nandroid if you want just to test a new ROM and revert back to previous,
please hit thanks if it helps you or correct me if I am wrong

[Q] Rules for re-flashing a ROM?

I've searched and searched, but cannot find an answer. Im currently running RCMix3D 4.0, but want to flash a different ROM. Is the procedure the same, as when I did it the first time? (Wipe data/factory reset, and clearing cache and dalvik-cache?)
Or is there something to keep in mind, when going from a custom ROM>custom ROM.

Nope. It's the same way. But don't forget to create a backup.

If you're using CWM recovery to flash, I'd greatly recommemd using the full-wipe.zip to do your wiping for you.
Details are here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=964996

Install 4EXT recovery. It's a bit better then CWM and simpler to use in my opinion. And no you don't have to do anything else. What you just described there is how it's done.

Make sure to back up your rom incase the one you are trying add doesn't work on your phone.

I use titanium back up to back everything up and then if you want something simple (in my opinion) download from manager and the just download the from and then open it and it will do the back up of the rom and wipe everything.

Don't forget your contacts

djolebih said:
Install 4EXT recovery. It's a bit better then CWM and simpler to use in my opinion. And no you don't have to do anything else. What you just described there is how it's done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second this... 4EXT works brilliantly! Back up your apps and all that with Titanium, and then do a Nandroid backup and save your current ROM. After that, do a full wipe using the zip mentioned, and then install the new ROM. If you find at some point that something wasn't backed up that you can't restore with Titanium, simply backup current ROM, restore the previous and grab what you need, etc. Best of luck.