Develop Bugs

[Q] can you back up apps and data to switch between roms?

I quite like trying out different roms and seeing how they do, but i dont want to spend hours redownloading all the apps again and tweeking them to how i like them all over again.
Is there an app or something on the pc that backs up all the apps and its data so i can easily switch between roms?

You can use Titanium Backup for that, but it is not advised since restoring data can bork your rom. It is better to use appbrain to store the list of your apps so you can redownload them from the market after you flashed your new rom.
Searching in development section of the desire forum instead of general would have answered your question.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

hmm. its not so much the downloading thats a problem, its setting everything up again to how i like it. handcent sms for instance takes me ages to retweek it. is there nothing that stores the actual app data?

I nerver had any problems using Titanium Backup. It has always worked like a charme for me.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Before flashing a new ROM make a Nandroid backup - then when you find one you don't like you can revert back to one that's already setup

[Q] Making the switch to Cyanogen for the first time - Few Questions

I'm just about to finally make the switch to Cyanogen after being on Sense ROMs ever since rooting. Not sure if I'm going to go with the latest alpha with wimax this weekend or wait a little longer for CM7. Before I do, I have a few questions.
1. When doing an app restore via titanium should I do an app restore only and not app+data?
2. When doing the app restore, can I do a batch restore of all of them or should I do them individually making sure I don't select any HTC apps? I'm worried that by restoring something like 'Weather' it will cause issues in cyanogen because it's an HTC app.
3. Is it best to use the built in multimedia apps in cyanogen over 3rd party apps or does it matter? For instance I have the paid version of Mixzing and love it. I'm assuming it will work without issues in cyanogen but worry that I'm missing some great cyanogen-only features by not using the built in music player.
Thanks in advance.

Welcome to CM. I made the switch for the first time a couple of weeks ago and haven't looked back.
I'm new to this myself but I'll tell you what I've learned. As far as titanium backup goes I usually install my apps separately just to be safe. I do just the apps and then the data. I haven't had an issue doing it this way. Your HTC apps will not work in a CM rom so I wouldn't suggest trying. That will cause issues. Your third party apps should work just fine. All of the ones I use work with no issues.
The guys in the official cm threads are great. They are normally willing to help just try to read through them first to see if your question may have been answered. Good luck man. If you need help just holla I'll help in anyway I can.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

AreWhyA_In said:
Welcome to CM. I made the switch for the first time a couple of weeks ago and haven't looked back.
I'm new to this myself but I'll tell you what I've learned. As far as titanium backup goes I usually install my apps separately just to be safe. I do just the apps and then the data. I haven't had an issue doing it this way. Your HTC apps will not work in a CM rom so I wouldn't suggest trying. That will cause issues. Your third party apps should work just fine. All of the ones I use work with no issues.
The guys in the official cm threads are great. They are normally willing to help just try to read through them first to see if your question may have been answered. Good luck man. If you need help just holla I'll help in anyway I can.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great thanks. One thing though, how do you know which apps are HTC ones? Not all of them show up in the app title. The Weather one is a perfect example.

m4rk0358 said:
Great thanks. One thing though, how do you know which apps are HTC ones? Not all of them show up in the app title. The Weather one is a perfect example.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you delete an app via titanium backup [which I use] most of the time when you delete it it'll show like htc blah blah blah.apk, so you can try that, or search for a list of stock htc apk files. I hope that helps.
Edit: Also, your Mixzing app will work, and you can have multiple music player apps, so you can experiment to see what you like. That also goes for other apps, like multiple theme viewers, browsers, ect.

Basic noob rooting questions

The question: Can I root a phone to try apps without affecting my updated ICS fix from sprint and without changing how my phone looks and feels?
My assumption: When I root it uses a ROM that someone "hacked" and it overwrites my updated ICS update.
The facts: I got the original ICS roll-out from sprint and very recently also the "fix" update to ICS from OTA. I have never rooted a phone and I'm thinking about it because my battery life has gone to hell, and my signal strength is a mess.
I'd also like to get mass storage options back to get compatibility with a usb head unit.

NGL_BrSH said:
The question: Can I root a phone to try apps without affecting my updated ICS fix from sprint and without changing how my phone looks and feels?
My assumption: When I root it uses a ROM that someone "hacked" and it overwrites my updated ICS update.
The facts: I got the original ICS roll-out from sprint and very recently also the "fix" update to ICS from OTA. I have never rooted a phone and I'm thinking about it because my battery life has gone to hell, and my signal strength is a mess.
I'd also like to get mass storage options back to get compatibility with a usb head unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, you got the original roll out to Ics, then you got a second update?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

MoHoGalore said:
So, you got the original roll out to Ics, then you got a second update?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
That is correct. The second update was about a week ago or so.

NGL_BrSH said:
That is correct. The second update was about a week ago or so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was waiting to see of anyone else was going to respond but since I'm going to call it a night, I'll throw my 2 cents in, then I'll wait for my change..
I had to ask about the "second" update since the only thing i know is this- The original roll out was paused, then when it started up again, small fixes were noticed. One being the Swype issue. Not big changes according to some.
So to answer your question about rooting to try apps, just use sfhubs one click for ff18. Clear the cache on Swype after that. Then try your apps..
I'd suggest reading up on backing up your data, etc, so when you notice that stock battery life, look and feel and all of that isn't different, and you want to go back, you can.
Or just save all of that trouble and root and flash the stock tweaked ics rom, with a custom kernal, and enjoy a stock, rooted, long lasting daily experience..
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

Ok. So when you say stock tweaked ics rom you are saying that it's going to overwrite the updated ics i got through ota? I also don't want to lose my contacts and apps that are installed and also all the"theme" work I've done to this. I just want less Los.. More battery life and usb mass storage feature back.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

NGL_BrSH said:
Ok. So when you say stock tweaked ics rom you are saying that it's going to overwrite the updated ics i got through ota? I also don't want to lose my contacts and apps that are installed and also all the"theme" work I've done to this. I just want less Los.. More battery life and usb mass storage feature back.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock tweaked rom is located on the Dev section. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=29788992
For your concerns, you can attempt to address issue by issue.
Sync contacts w google.
Change modems to address the los issues you have.
Use titanium backup for your apps.
Use a custom kernel for your battery life.
And use sfhubs storage mode fix.
Or, sync contacts w google, use tb for your apps and find a great rom that addresses the rest of the issues.
You keep saying something about an update to ics, but the latest ff18 rom builds have all ics and more..
(and of course you can always go back stock of you choose..)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

Ok so bear with me here.
If I do the latter as you suggest (and I greatly appreciate your time and answers) would I have to personalize my phone all over again like it was new out of the box or does TB restore my apps like nothing ever happened?
I'm getting really close to pulling the trigger here but it makes me nervous because I do so very much business with my outlook account, GPS, messaging and WIFI.
If I screw it up I'll be dead in the water with no love from our IT department haha.
I come as a PC power user. overclocking, hacking etc. Is TB like when I make a exact image of my operating system and all it's contents and then if something goes wrong I can just blast it to a HDD and it's like nothing ever happened?
I have trouble leaving things be when they "work".
Thanks again.
MoHoGalore said:
The stock tweaked rom is located on the Dev section. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=29788992
For your concerns, you can attempt to address issue by issue.
Sync contacts w google.
Change modems to address the los issues you have.
Use titanium backup for your apps.
Use a custom kernel for your battery life.
And use sfhubs storage mode fix.
Or, sync contacts w google, use tb for your apps and find a great rom that addresses the rest of the issues.
You keep saying something about an update to ics, but the latest ff18 rom builds have all ics and more..
(and of course you can always go back stock of you choose..)
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

NGL_BrSH said:
Ok so bear with me here.
If I do the latter as you suggest (and I greatly appreciate your time and answers) would I have to personalize my phone all over again like it was new out of the box or does TB restore my apps like nothing ever happened?
I'm getting really close to pulling the trigger here but it makes me nervous because I do so very much business with my outlook account, GPS, messaging and WIFI.
If I screw it up I'll be dead in the water with no love from our IT department haha.
I come as a PC power user. overclocking, hacking etc. Is TB like when I make a exact image of my operating system and all it's contents and then if something goes wrong I can just blast it to a HDD and it's like nothing ever happened?
I have trouble leaving things be when they "work".
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, you're welcome. And if I say something off kilter about what you are wanting to do, believe me there will be people that say so. (Surprisingly, It's a quiet thread)
What you would refer to as an img in PC, Nandroid is what you would call it here. You can find out all about that with a very helpful guide [TUT] What Is Nandroid And How To Use It [Complete Guide] [VeNuM]
Be sure to use it if you're that dependent on your phone for work.
Speaking of which, if you don't have a backup plan for your phone, I'd hold off on puling that trigger until you have read all that you can.
Using Titanium Backup, as with any software, can fail. Be sure to know how to backup and restore and when and what you can restore. Don't go from ICS to GB and try without expecting issues. There are other apps as well, MybackupPro, astro file manager.. Just do your homework.
Having a nandroid is essential for me. If you rename the backup, do NOT put any spaces in the name. It's also a strong suggestion to verify md5 if you plan on moving and storing - Don't delete the original without verifying the copy with md5. Just search for a md5 checker.
If you do decide to flash, good luck. Ton's of smarter people than me here tat can help, just make a backup..

I've been reading my butt off here but I still don't have a grasp of the rooting.
When I root a phone doesn't it overwrite all my stuff? Then how would I be able to use Titanium Back up to back up all my previous stuff?
I bet I'll understand much better once I actually root it but like you said I'm trying to get a grasp of it all before I commit.

Rooting alone, no.
If you use sfhubs ff18, rooted, no data, you will not lose your current setup and data. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27635571
You'll just be rooted.
For TB I'll refer you to this - http://www.titaniumtrack.com/kb/titanium-backup-kb
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Iso image backup, is nandroid only option?

Hey guys I have two questions.
1. I would like to do a backup of my phone the same way I would do an image of my PC drive using an image software like Norton ghost or Acronis true image. Is this possible on android? I've been reading about Nandroid backup and I think this does what I want but the only way to do this with Nandroid is to root and install a new recovery correct? Am I not able to hook my phone up using the usb cable and use an app on the PC to clone the internal SD and create an image of it? I want to create an image of my phone with all its settings, contacts, txts, etc so i can have something to go back to if needed. I would like to do this before I root if possible.
2. On the Samsung Captivate section we have a wiki that has all the info you need to learn how to do certain things, mods, root, etc, etc. I found something similar for our Gnote2 here started by Mjwhirly http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1987541 but I could not find a section of removing bloatware. I saw the link that was created by mrRobinson and he mentions using De-Bloater app that will do it for you with oneclick but is there a list of all the safe to remove apps that I can go through so I can decided which apps I want to keep and which I want to remove?
thanks in advance

Yeah you got it right - a nandroid is what you want. I'm a big time user of ghost - it's the same thing and works great. Root and install the TWRP recovery. Then first of all make a nandroid of your old system. If you want to go back to it all you'll have to do is unroot, change the recovery back, and use triangle away to reset the flash counter and you'll be where you are now - bone stock. You can't make a nandroid image backup until you root and change the recovery though.
On the second question I'd just recommend you install a rom. I use Cleanrom. It is already debloated for you (though you have still some choices), as well as optimized in ways that will amaze you (does 2+ days on battery sound good?). If you look at the various roms available, you'll see more people are using Cleanrom than any other - that should tell you something! Jedi is also great. Many of the AOSP type roms seem to have some minor issues, but the devs are trying to do a much harder thing than just debloat and optimize a rom that was originally released for your device. Whichever one you decide to try, best thing to do is just read the whole rom thread in advance if you have time. You'll read all the dumb questions that others have already asked as well as learn all the ins and outs of the whole process. If you want to then try a different rom, make a nandroid and you can always come back to your previous working system. Hope this helps and have fun!

hey thanks a lot Dumbo53
I guess i'll just have to go ahead and root and do a nandroid backup. I have actually owned a captivate since it first came out which was my first android phone and i have never installed a custom rom. I always did everything manually like debloat and stuff. Security wise how safe are these roms, I see a lot of people just running around and flashing any rom that gets posted. What I'm trying to get at is do we know what's inside of these roms or do we just rely on the honor system and assume that they're safe, like can I trust these roms if I do my banking on them, which i am scared to do ever since I saw a message from the keyboard app on my captivate prompt about capturing my keystrokes or something, basically like a key logger, so I never did try to log onto any sites involving my banking or work email etc. but now that I have my note2 I want to be able to do all that stuff, like emails, banking, accessing my site for maintenance etc etc just for the instant access part of it instead of booting up my laptop or desktop... But I guess I can say the same thing about the stock rom too.

Your banking info is much more likely to be stolen off of a corporate website that got hacked. Whenever you use a credit card to buy something from a company or store, your number passes through some unknown employee's hands and gets stored in another database. Since millions of these numbers are stored together under sometimes weak security, these sites make much more tempting targets than your phone for thieves. The numbers are then sold off in blocks of thousands on the internet. Does that worry you enough to stop using a credit card?
However it is true that there could be a risk in installing a rom, or indeed any software on your phone. If it were discovered that a dev was putting malware in their mods or roms, I'm sure it would create quite a stir! I've never heard of this happening, though I have heard of shady stuff being done with mobile apps that you buy. All I can suggest you do is just read a lot more so that it is easier to distinguish between real threats and imaginary ones, and to learn how to protect yourself. In any case financial institutions have to protect their customers from a lot of these types of fraud, or they'd have trouble staying in business.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app

Sounds good. I'm just getting the chance to root and install TWRP been super busy with work so I haven't had the chance to do it. Now installing a recovery does not wipe data right? also on a different note I use both the play store and amazon app store. I have purchased a bunch of apps from amazon and most of them worked but there are a few that say my phone is not compatible. Like the need for speed games and asphalt games will not install from amazon. I haven't tried the same apps from play store but maybe I should. Oh one big one is autodesks sketchbook pro. I don't even see that option on the play store when searching using my phone but its there when i search on the pc. I purchased sketchbook mobile and that works but i needed the features that pro has so i purchased that through amazon again thinking that it would work. I thought this phone was basically a tablet, shouldn't these tablet apps work on our phones?

so I've rooted my OGP. Now what?

Rooted it today. First android phone I've ever owned (though been jailbreaking since 2009).
I installed Ttanium Backup, and i think i backed up my apps and data, but not exactly sure where to, as i don't have an SD card in it yet. If I backed up to the phone, I'm guessing that's mostly useless. But I'm new to this stuff so i don't really know.
So, now that i have root access, what apps should i be installing?
What stuff should i be uninstalling or freezing?
What cool things can i now do that i couldn't do yesterday?
Anything specific to the OGP that i should or should not do?

andygold said:
Rooted it today. First android phone I've ever owned (though been jailbreaking since 2009).
I installed Ttanium Backup, and i think i backed up my apps and data, but not exactly sure where to as i don't have an SD card in it yet. If I backed up to the phone, I'm guessing that's mostly useless. But I'm new to this stuff so i don't really know.
So, now that i have root access, what apps should i be installing?
What stuff should i be uninstalling our freezing?
What cool things can i now do that i couldn't do yesterday?
Anything specific to the OGP that i should or should not do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can block ads, search adaway here on xda since Google recently rid the store of all ad blocking apps. You can use programs like sqlite editor to enable hotspot even if you're not subscribed to a plan that supports it. You can use xposed framework also here on xda (under our phones themes and apps) to apply themes to the phone. You can disable built in apps using titanium backup. Also, you should install Cwm under android development for our phone and make a nandroid backup in case you ever screw up your phone.
Best of all, you can install greenify root to make your battery last a lot longer. It hibernates apps for you that would normally run in the background.
When we have our bootloader unlocked is when the real fun will start though.
Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk 2

lessthanzach said:
You can block ads, search adaway here on xda since Google recently rid the store of all ad blocking apps. You can use programs like sqlite editor to enable hotspot even if you're not subscribed to a plan that supports it. You can use xposed framework also here on xda (under our phones themes and apps) to apply themes to the phone. You can disable built in apps using titanium backup. Also, you should install Cwm under android development for our phone and make a nandroid backup in case you ever screw up your phone.
Best of all, you can install greenify root to make your battery last a lot longer. It hibernates apps for you that would normally run in the background.
When we have our bootloader unlocked is when the real fun will start though.
Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
Couple more questions...I was able to do a search for adaway, and found it, but you mention (under our phones themes and apps), and could not find that. Is there a section that just has XDA Apps in it? All I was able to find was forums, and not repositories (don't know if that's the right word).
Basic newbie question...if an app is listed as being for Jellybean 4.1, can we use it even it was made for a Galaxy S3 for example? If it's Jellybean 4.1 is it good to go?
As to adaway...if you disable ads, will some programs refuse to run?
Is the hotspot app, safe for my phone bill?
If you "disable" apps using titanium backup, does it remove them from the phone, or just hide them? What is freezing an app? And if later you want to have them back (let's say for a trip to the cell store) are they readily returned to view?
I was under the impression (probably wrongly) that CWM at this point could brick our phone. Am I mistaken? And where does the nandroid backup get stored? Hopefully not on the phone...
I ask a lot of the above questions as being a new android user (2-weeks now), I'm clicking or checking out everything I see on the phone (and in the store(s) to learn about what it can do. I'm also installing a ton of apps that are new to me, and I've also gone to some non-Google Play stores to DL some stuff. I know that sooner or later I'm going to want to restore the phone to factory stock to get rid of conflicts, viruses (virii?), and anything that does not play well with other stuff. So, during this learning quest, I assume I'm going to frag the phone in some way, and will have the need to return it to stock (hopefully without needing to go back to the store)!!! I just want to have a bit of assurance that with everything I do, I can get back to stock.
Lastly, is there anything somewhat similar to iTunes that will make a restore a bit less time consuming. Is Titanium Backup what I"m searchnig for?

Wasn't aware of greenify root.. will give that one a go right now!
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda premium

lessthanzach said:
You can block ads, search adaway here on xda since Google recently rid the store of all ad blocking apps. You can use programs like sqlite editor to enable hotspot even if you're not subscribed to a plan that supports it. You can use xposed framework also here on xda (under our phones themes and apps) to apply themes to the phone. You can disable built in apps using titanium backup. Also, you should install Cwm under android development for our phone and make a nandroid backup in case you ever screw up your phone.
Best of all, you can install greenify root to make your battery last a lot longer. It hibernates apps for you that would normally run in the background.
When we have our bootloader unlocked is when the real fun will start though.
Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for mention greenify root, I install it. It's a hit!!

Now that I'm rooted (and installed some associated apps) I've noticed some laggy operation. When I'm on pretty much any of the home screens, and click on the app drawer icon, I'm brought to the page where I see "Apps", "Downloads", and "Widgets" at the top, but occasionally I have a blank screen below that. It stays blank for anywhere from one to three seconds and then the apps and folders appear. Sometimes they will show up instantly, but quite often there is a few second lag. The only things I've installed since rooting are Root Checker, Titanium Backup and Greenify. I'm not sure whether it is the root or the new apps, so I guess I can uninstall the three apps and see.
I also seem to be getting the circling "please wait" message more often than in the past.
Anybody else experiencing this? And does this sound like a root issue or an issue from one of the three apps?