Develop Bugs

[Q] Nubile question about Nandroid Backup

What is the point of a nandroid backup?
Ive flashed many roms since coming here, and have backed up my Nandroid a few times, but I have no clue what the backups are to be used for.
Am I right in assuming that its a backup of all the internal memory? Such that say I was on Rom Y, I nandroid backup, then full wipe and flash Rom Z, if Z sucks I can just flash Y, and restore the backup and my phone is completely back to where it was before the process? Is that the purpose?
Ive finally gotten tired of setting up my homescreens/widgets/programs everytime I flash a new rom. So I wondered if Nandroid backups could help alleviate some of that.
Thanks.

massivebasset said:
What is the point of a nandroid backup?
Ive flashed many roms since coming here, and have backed up my Nandroid a few times, but I have no clue what the backups are to be used for.
Am I right in assuming that its a backup of all the internal memory? Such that say I was on Rom Y, I nandroid backup, then full wipe and flash Rom Z, if Z sucks I can just flash Y, and restore the backup and my phone is completely back to where it was before the process? Is that the purpose?
Ive finally gotten tired of setting up my homescreens/widgets/programs everytime I flash a new rom. So I wondered if Nandroid backups could help alleviate some of that.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with the current lack of brain power to make a good joke at your topic line about young attractive nandroid backups, ill give you a straight answer.
Yes. your assumption on what they do is correct. however you cant use them to backup homescreen stuffs and move them to a new rom.
im not sure what you can use for that but theres probably something out there for that.

nenn said:
with the current lack of brain power to make a good joke at your topic line about young attractive nandroid backups, ill give you a straight answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats why I post my grammatically terrible questions in the mornings!
Thanks for the response, I assumed a backup for Y wouldnt work for Z, but if it at least can get me back to Y seamlessly, thats something.
nenn said:
im not sure what you can use for that but theres probably something out there for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use LauncherPro, which has a backup, titanium for programs, and apps organizer to make it as painless as possible, but theres still some annoyance in getting it all perfect (Widgets for instance dont really back up with Launcher Pro).

the other purpose is as a fail safe. if something goes majorly wrong. you have a stable safe back up that will get you running again.

MyBackup from the market has the ability to save home screen settings. Combined with Titanium Backup, it is a great way to move apps and data to new ROMs. Just be sure to not restore system settings as that will screw up your new ROM.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Making a backup before getting a new phone

I'm about to take my phone down to sprint for a blown speaker, I'm worried they might replace it. I'd like to make a full nandroid backup just in case, and then just restore it on the new phone if that happens. Is this possible?

9kracing said:
I'm about to take my phone down to sprint for a blown speaker, I'm worried they might replace it. I'd like to make a full nandroid backup just in case, and then just restore it on the new phone if that happens. Is this possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is if you are rooted. If sprint sees that your phone doesn't have the stock recovery they will probably not replace your phone; as when you root you void your warranty.
So if you are you might want to nandroid backup and then odin EC05 or DI18 and then OTA to EC05. Then root the new replacement and restore nandroid.
if not rooted:
You can use an app like MyBackup Pro; its a paid app but you can try it for like 30 days, so you can backup your apps and data, keep the SD Card and put it in the replacement (your photos are on it as well). Then on the replacement; download the app again and restore.
Hope that helps and good luck at sprint

9kracing said:
I'm about to take my phone down to sprint for a blown speaker, I'm worried they might replace it. I'd like to make a full nandroid backup just in case, and then just restore it on the new phone if that happens. Is this possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out App Brain also. Some file managers let you backup apps to the SD card but that is not much different than just redownloading them from the market.
Other than MyBackup and App Brain like mentioned above, you would need to root for many more options then unroot to return your phone.

Ya, I planned on Odin'ing before I take it in, but I was hoping I didn't have to go through the trouble of rooting, flashing roms, kernals, themes, sd speed fixes, etc when I get a new one. I have my backup pro, but it wont restore anything besides my apps and data correct?

9kracing said:
Ya, I planned on Odin'ing before I take it in, but I was hoping I didn't have to go through the trouble of rooting, flashing roms, kernals, themes, sd speed fixes, etc when I get a new one. I have my backup pro, but it wont restore anything besides my apps and data correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right MyBackup pro will only do call logs, texts, apps and their data.
You can do a nandroid backup before you odin back to stock, that is saved in a folder called clockworkmod/backup. as long as you keep your sd card; when you re-root your replacement you should be able to boot to recovery and restore

Use MyBackup ROOT. It's free on the Market and can back up and restore just about everything, although it's not a total image like Nandroid.

just a quick question:
how do you ota back to ec05 after odin-ing back to..well ec05? Im new to rooting etc. thanks.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

jdelano said:
Right MyBackup pro will only do call logs, texts, apps and their data.
You can do a nandroid backup before you odin back to stock, that is saved in a folder called clockworkmod/backup. as long as you keep your sd card; when you re-root your replacement you should be able to boot to recovery and restore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
awesome that's exactly what I wanted to hear
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

You may have an MD5 mismatch, if that is the case make a nand backup on the new phone then take the MD5 file and paste it into the older backup.

I reccomond titanium backup
Sent from my Epic 4.1g bonsai plant

063_XOBX said:
You may have an MD5 mismatch, if that is the case make a nand backup on the new phone then take the MD5 file and paste it into the older backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh, I had a feeling it wasn't going to be that easy. If I have to start mounting the phone to pull off backups, modify them, do a new backup, etc... I might as well just flash the ROM, Kenel and theme lol. Ah well, I was hoping it would be as easy as restoring a nandroid backup once I rooted.
Thanks for the help guys.

Do the nandroid backup. Move that folder to a location on your pc (or keep your sd card). If you do get a replacement, you just have to do the one-click root w/ cwm. Odin to the appropriate froyo for your rom, then restore. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes

taekwondo4ever said:
just a quick question:
how do you ota back to ec05 after odin-ing back to..well ec05? Im new to rooting etc. thanks.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First: Not possible, you can't "update" to the same version you are already on, you have to odin to Di18.
Second: If you dont even know the answer to this, seemingly simple, question, why are you rooted?
Sent from my always stock, EC05 Epic 4G

Thanks.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Nandroid backup using CWM recovery

Ok I use Nandroid recovery to restore my phones instead or a backup app simply because (1) I'm a cheap bastage and (2) nandroid works from one phone to another as long as I root it, and I have a question. How do I delete a nandroid backup? I have three on the phone right now and I want to delete them and make a new one.
If its on the sd card somewhere, PLEASE be as specific with the file path as possible because I'm as literate about these things as a dead frog.
Al that I am sure of is rooting my Epic is easy as long as I watch qbkikng videos and whoever made cwm recovery is a friggin genius

Nandroid backups only work with the same model phone. I.e. you have a nandroid backup before flashing on an Epic, the flashing bricks it so you get a new Epic, you can restore the backup as long as you're rooted. Also the file path using CWM recovery is /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

jeffreyjicha said:
Nandroid backups only work with the same model phone. I.e. you have a nandroid backup before flashing on an Epic, the flashing bricks it so you get a new Epic, you can restore the backup as long as you're rooted. Also the file path using CWM recovery is /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I know it only works with the same model phone, that makes sense to me I got my second replacement Epic in 6 days yesterday and had to root it to make it work the first one wouldn't connect to the network so it was defective according to Spring and this one basically was a good as a dead cat before root, now it runs like a champ but Titanium backup dumped 70% of my apps, so luckily for me I remembered make a nandroid backup only thing is now that everything is updated, I want to make a NEW backup just in case.

I see you already got your answer, but please next time post questions in Q&A section not development, Thanks!
Kenny, mind moving this when you get a sec?!?!

Moved!
Wolf...you in time out!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

Sorry if I put it in the wrong place.
I honestly thought I posted this in Q&A ( guess that would explain why I couldn't find it till now)

[Q] Restore backup from boot.img?

Hi,
I'm new to both the forums and to rooting, which should be obvious when I say I soft-bricked my phone tonight. After about 3 hours of pouring over these forums and trying numerous things, I was finally able to factory reset my phone. It sucks, but I'm glad to have it at least working again!
Before I went messing around, I created a Nandroid backup using the Samsung Galaxy S3 Toolkit v7.0, but now, since all the files on my droid are gone, that backup only exists on my PC. So, the question is, how do I restore my phone to this backup?
I have an S3 1747M 4.1.1
The files in my backups folder are:
\backup
-\2013-03-23.05.11
--boot.img
efs.tar
efs.img
system.ext4.201303230727.tar
I apologize if this has been answered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it and I'm going crosseyed after spending so much time here tonight :silly:
Thank you!

If the back up was created from a recovery just put it on a SD card a restore from recover
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

Pbwizkid said:
If the back up was created from a recovery just put it on a SD card a restore from recover
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Erm... I don't have an external. Is it possible to move it to my internal to accomplish the same thing? I appreciate the help

GerPronouncedGrr said:
Hi,
I'm new to both the forums and to rooting, which should be obvious when I say I soft-bricked my phone tonight. After about 3 hours of pouring over these forums and trying numerous things, I was finally able to factory reset my phone. It sucks, but I'm glad to have it at least working again!
Before I went messing around, I created a Nandroid backup using the Samsung Galaxy S3 Toolkit v7.0, but now, since all the files on my droid are gone, that backup only exists on my PC. So, the question is, how do I restore my phone to this backup?
I have an S3 1747M 4.1.1
The files in my backups folder are:
\backup
-\2013-03-23.05.11
--boot.img
efs.tar
efs.img
system.ext4.201303230727.tar
I apologize if this has been answered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it and I'm going crosseyed after spending so much time here tonight :silly:
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not a system backup. The files in your folder do not match the files that you should be seeing in a nandroid folder. You made this in recovery?

xBeerdroiDx said:
This is not a system backup. The files in your folder do not match the files that you should be seeing in a nandroid folder. You made this in recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is, I *believe* what was output by the toolkit when I ran the nandroid backup option. Am I looking in the wrong spot? I also did an EFS backup, which could explain erroneous files.

GerPronouncedGrr said:
This is, I *believe* what was output by the toolkit when I ran the nandroid backup option. Am I looking in the wrong spot? I also did an EFS backup, which could explain erroneous files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what this is: an efs backup, not a nandroid.

xBeerdroiDx said:
That's what this is: an efs backup, not a nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, thanks for the info, that clears it up a little. However, just for crystal clarity sake, are you saying that the boot.img is EFS related also?
When I ran the Nandroid backup it gave me the option to save either externally or internally, IIRC. I saved internally because, as mentioned, I don't have an external. If this boot.img isn't what I need, then does that mean I lost my backup when I factory reset? :crying:

Whats the file size of system.ext4.201303230727.tar?

Quasimodem said:
Whats the file size of system.ext4.201303230727.tar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering that too but at the same time, there's still a data & cache tar plus several other standard files I've always seen in a backup that aren't here

GerPronouncedGrr said:
This is, I *believe* what was output by the toolkit when I ran the nandroid backup option. Am I looking in the wrong spot? I also did an EFS backup, which could explain erroneous files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xBeerdroiDx said:
That's what this is: an efs backup, not a nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. Definitely an efs backup.
xBeerdroiDx said:
I was wondering that too but at the same time, there's still a data & cache tar plus several other standard files I've always seen in a backup that aren't here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are major files missing here.
TO OP: Do not attempt to flash any of this unless you are trying to restore your efs (which you should do ONLY IF you lost your imei). The tar file MAY be your system files and the boot.img just that, but that is it. You have none of the rest that is standard and if you are on a custom ROM things could go very wrong. If possible make your nandroids through TWRP or CWM. These will store nandroids properly. I believe both give you the option to store the nandroids on the internal or external (if you have one) memory. Make backups of these regularly if you really like the ROM.
I would HIGHLY recommend an external card...and for various reasons. It can be only a 2gig and that will be fine. This covers you in the event that your data/charging port should quit working for any reason (rare but it can happen). It also gives you a convenient way to backup those important things to you (pictures, music, etc.) and convenience to restore nandroids or revert to stock.

aybarrap1 said:
TO OP: Do not attempt to flash any of this unless you are trying to restore your efs (which you should do ONLY IF you lost your imei). The tar file MAY be your system files and the boot.img just that, but that is it. You have none of the rest that is standard and if you are on a custom ROM things could go very wrong. If possible make your nandroids through TWRP or CWM. These will store nandroids properly. I believe both give you the option to store the nandroids on the internal or external (if you have one) memory. Make backups of these regularly if you really like the ROM.
I would HIGHLY recommend an external card...and for various reasons. It can be only a 2gig and that will be fine. This covers you in the event that your data/charging port should quit working for any reason (rare but it can happen). It also gives you a convenient way to backup those important things to you (pictures, music, etc.) and convenience to restore nandroids or revert to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for the micro sd card. At $10 for a 16g, you can't go wrong. I keep a backup or 2 on mine, plus my current rom/gapps/recovery zips. Very handy.
Aybarrap1, that rom settling in well for you?

OK, well now that it's been pointed out to me I feel like an idiot. Size of .tar file in question is 0kb... So obviously backup failed and I just never noticed, because I didn't know what to look for. I saw the operation complete and assumed it was fine. I guess I just have to accept that I'm starting over from square one. Lesson learned from all this: Read more, ask first.
Thanks go out to everyone who helped me figure this out.

GerPronouncedGrr said:
OK, well now that it's been pointed out to me I feel like an idiot. Size of .tar file in question is 0kb... So obviously backup failed and I just never noticed, because I didn't know what to look for. I saw the operation complete and assumed it was fine. I guess I just have to accept that I'm starting over from square one. Lesson learned from all this: Read more, ask first.
Thanks go out to everyone who helped me figure this out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what we're here for, buddy.
Go back into recovery and make another backup so you'll have one. What's good is that you actually do have an efs backup. That's a very smart thing to do and something I keep on my micro sd card. Cheers

By the way, while we're on the topic of me not knowing what's going on, is it possible that through all of this, factory reset, stock boot, that my phone is still rooted? I started re-installing apps and one of them was the ROM Toolbox that caused my issue in the first place. I didn't do anything with it yet, but I didn't notice that it behaves as though I have SU access.

GerPronouncedGrr said:
By the way, while we're on the topic of me not knowing what's going on, is it possible that through all of this, factory reset, stock boot, that my phone is still rooted? I started re-installing apps and one of them was the ROM Toolbox that caused my issue in the first place. I didn't do anything with it yet, but I didn't notice that it behaves as though I have SU access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know exactly what steps you took to recover your device so I can't say specifically. However, you can download apps like rom manager and titanium Backup that require root to see if they work. Do you still have a custom recovery (cwm or twrp)?

xBeerdroiDx said:
+1 for the micro sd card. At $10 for a 16g, you can't go wrong. I keep a backup or 2 on mine, plus my current rom/gapps/recovery zips. Very handy.
Aybarrap1, that rom settling in well for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far. Of course, as with all ROMS, I can't say for sure until I have given it a couple of days. Thanks for asking. And regarding the micro sd...you are right. They are super cheap now so there is really not much of an excuse to not have one. For the cost of a couple of beers or eating out you can buy one that has ample memory.
---------- Post added at 09:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 AM ----------
GerPronouncedGrr said:
By the way, while we're on the topic of me not knowing what's going on, is it possible that through all of this, factory reset, stock boot, that my phone is still rooted? I started re-installing apps and one of them was the ROM Toolbox that caused my issue in the first place. I didn't do anything with it yet, but I didn't notice that it behaves as though I have SU access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are unsure, look for SuperSU or SuperUser in your app drawer. Or download TiBu and run it. If you have SU access it will prompt you (or open up if already installed). If you do not have root, try these methods here if you have a windows pc. You sound new to this so this would be easier than the learning all the steps you took to gain root. The toolbox is great but take your time to learn about each component before jumping in. Remember toolbox is more or less a roll up of multiple things root and otherwise. Take your time to learn one thing at a time. This will save you a lot of headache.

Yes, I have SuperSU, and I was successfully able to change my system font using the toolkit, so it seems I still have root access. I will definitely be moving more slowly with this stuff in the future! Thanks again for all the help, everyone!
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app

Transfer everything to a new S3

Hey XDA,
I will be receiving a new S3 from T-Mobile tomorrow and was wondering if there are any ways to transfer everything from your old device to your new as if it were the same. My phone is currently rooted and running CM10. Will this cause any problems? Looking for the most efficient and error-free way possible, thank you so much for all your help!

Nandroid.

Aerowinder said:
Nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meaning the full backups I would do in TWRP right?
Would this cause a problem though if I did this backup and used the exact same file to restore onto a new device? I heard it didnt.
Thanks!

eddylee09 said:
Meaning the full backups I would do in TWRP right?
Would this cause a problem though if I did this backup and used the exact same file to restore onto a new device? I heard it didnt.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your current phone the same as the phone you're getting tomorrow? If they are exactly the same, nandroid is the best way.
+Cool story, bro!
+The "Thanks" you get from me is not just thanks, but can be laughing, props, +1, and so on

Just to be clear, only restore the data portion of the nandroid.
And this is only because you are going to remain on cm10.
If you are going to a different version, or different base, you're best off only restoring certain items, such as contacts.
Titanium backup is also highly recommended.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Presuming you know what nandroid and titanium back up do and also both require you to be rooted.
I would suggest nandroid if your old and new phones are of the same make.
Else use titanium backup back up only the "user" apps and transfer the Titanium Backup folder into your new phone and then restore.
I do the same and frankly for me it is trouble free.
Hope this helps. :thumbup:
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks for all the help!
Yeah, I will be getting the exact same phone. I just need to flash and root it up once I get it. Will different basebands cause a problem or does that need to be the same as well?

Baseband is your modem which is separate from everything else. It is generally not backed up and you dont have to worry about it.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium