[Q] Installing new ROM, backing up information - Xperia Play Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello all, so I am looking into a new ROM installation into my Xperia Play, but I haven't do so since I've got a lot of SMS and Whatsapp conversations that I would like to definetily keep (I also haven't decide what is the best ICS ROM for gaming, there are way too many options, feel free to post here your recommendation if you got one, I am looking for spped while opening up contacts or phone, and gaming support).
Is there any way to trasfer this if I install a new custom ROM?
Thanks in advance!

When switching ROMs, i'm using MyBackupRoot from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackupRoot
Can backup sms, call log and Apps(with data)

Use titanium backup or cwm or twrp backup,
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

CWM/TWRP backup and you are good to go.
Don't look at any apps or anything. Well it least I wouldn't as they may be not confirmed and they can be buggy or they might not backup everything = you can lose some data.
CWM/TWRP backup = bit after bit copy of your internal memory (partitions /system /data, are the most important, you can skip /cache and dalvik-cache but you'll be safer of you wouldn't. Also there is a partition with .asec where your bought apps are being stored if you bought any app then you definitely want to backup "android secure" also.
Sent from my R800i using xda premium

olokos said:
CWM/TWRP backup and you are good to go.
Don't look at any apps or anything. Well it least I wouldn't as they may be not confirmed and they can be buggy or they might not backup everything = you can lose some data.
CWM/TWRP backup = bit after bit copy of your internal memory (partitions /system /data, are the most important, you can skip /cache and dalvik-cache but you'll be safer of you wouldn't. Also there is a partition with .asec where your bought apps are being stored if you bought any app then you definitely want to backup "android secure" also.
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome.
Thanks mate!

Related

[Q] Question about Leedroid rom...

So I'm currently on my rooted Desire, with the standard/stock rom, however the small internal storage space is now starting to bug me a bit.
My question is, then, seeing as Leedroid GB is so close to the stock rom, will I be able to flash over the top without any wiping? The whole backing up and restoring is such a laborious process that I'd rather skip.
Anyone done it? I read on the FAQ that it could work but I thought I would check to see if anyone has actually been successful before doing it myself.
Thanks!
You must do a full wipe, make backup of your apps with Titanium Backup (You can download it on Market) and then you can restore them easily
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App
Fr_78 said:
You must do a full wipe, make backup of your apps with Titanium Backup (You can download it on Market) and then you can restore them easily
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just make sure that you first backup with titanium and then you wipe

Best way to make a full 100% backup of phone ?

Hi guys .. I have had my Desire Z for a little while and I want to play around with ROMs now ... I am looking for a way to make a *full* backup of the phone .. That means the OS itself, all its settings (alarms, personalization stuff, stored passwords, installed apps, etc ..), all application and personal data (both on ROM and SD card), etc ...
That is, one backup that when restored, returns the complete phone including all its settings and data to the state the phone was in when the backup was created ..
Now there are two Market tools I've found that claim to do something similar: My Backup Pro and Titanium Backup, and I also hear that ClockWorkMod can create backups ...
But I don't know if these tools backup *everything* like I want, so any advice given here would be really appreciated ..
Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
When you are rooted you can use titanium backup to back up all your apps, data & settings. Then when you install a new ROM you can easily restore everything.
The back up you do in CWM is called a nandroid and this backs up your entire ROM including apps, data & settings. as soon as you are rooted you will want to do this so you have a back up of your stock ROM incase anything goes wrong and you need to get your stock ROM easily.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
cjward23 said:
Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
When you are rooted you can use titanium backup to back up all your apps, data & settings. Then when you install a new ROM you can easily restore everything.
The back up you do in CWM is called a nandroid and this backs up your entire ROM including apps, data & settings. as soon as you are rooted you will want to do this so you have a back up of your stock ROM incase anything goes wrong and you need to get your stock ROM easily.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks for that advice ...
So assuming my phone is rooted (it isn't now but I will do it once this issue is resolved), which method is better for me which backs up *everything* (stock OS, personal data, app data, media, settings, SD card stuff, etc ..) ? CWM or Titanium Backup ?
I have heard that CWM doesn't backup everything .. that it leaves some stuff out (not exactly sure what this is though) .. :/
ahmadka said:
Ok thanks for that advice ...
So assuming my phone is rooted (it isn't now but I will do it once this issue is resolved), which method is better for me which backs up *everything* (stock OS, personal data, app data, media, settings, SD card stuff, etc ..) ? CWM or Titanium Backup ?
I have heard that CWM doesn't backup everything .. that it leaves some stuff out (not exactly sure what this is though) .. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
never ever ever use TiBU for backing up anything other than downloaded apps. (imo, some people may disagree, but I have never had success with TiBU outside of saving a few downloaded apps... and even then it seems to be hit or miss for me)
CWM is the best option for creating a full backup. when you restore a nandroid backup, it's like going back in time... everything is exactly as it was when that backup was created.
pmcqueen said:
never ever ever use TiBU for backing up anything other than downloaded apps. (imo, some people may disagree, but I have never had success with TiBU outside of saving a few downloaded apps... and even then it seems to be hit or miss for me)
CWM is the best option for creating a full backup. when you restore a nandroid backup, it's like going back in time... everything is exactly as it was when that backup was created.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm ... Are you absolutely sure that CWM backs up everything ? That is, the stock ROM, all my android's settings, sms, contacts, emails, list of apps installed, app data, my personal data (photos, videos, music, documents, etc ..) ? And does it also backup data from both the built-in memory and stuff on the SD card ?
Reason why I ask this is because this afternoon I came across a thread (can't seem to find it now) where somebody said CWM leaves some stuff out in backing up and then somebody else suggested using Titanium Backup ...
So I want to proceed with CWM only if you're dead sure that it backs up *everyyyyyythinggggg* ...
Btw, I don't mean to question to knowledge, I just want to be sure, thats all
cjward23 said:
Ok, the only way to make a 100% backup is when you are rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.
How can we back up the stock rom?? Cwm will not be present on the stock rom. So how?
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA App
mmb_z said:
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Conflicting statements people .. :/
CWM or titanium backup ?
Btw, does titanium backup also backup the stock OS/ROM ?
vikraam said:
How can we back up the stock rom?? Cwm will not be present on the stock rom. So how?
Sent from my GT-I5800 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you root you will still be using your stock ROM, you then back up your stock rooted ROM. There is no way to back up an unrooted ROM.
Unrooted stock ROM's are available in the form of an official RUU most of which you will find if you read the stickies in the development section of the forums.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
ahmadka said:
Conflicting statements people .. :/
CWM or titanium backup ?
Btw, does titanium backup also backup the stock OS/ROM ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium will not back up the os, you can use to back up all of the system apps and data. But as a previous poster said this is not good a good idea as restoring them tends to be problematic.
And don't worry about your sdcard flashing roms will not affect any data on your sdcard.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
mmb_z said:
+1
Root + Titanium Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-____________-
NOoooOoOooOoo.
ahmadka said:
post 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only thing you could theoretically lose are photos, videos, etc that are stored on the sdcard... but this would only happen if you deleted/formatted the sd card. otherwise, they just move with you from rom to rom.
I don't know what people think titanium backup is for, but seriously... it's not as magnificent as it is commonly made out to be. its only real use is restoring stuff from /data (ie apps and settings). even then, it is known to be problematic. I have used it in the past but I finally got sick of it when I realized that half of the time I used it to backup/restore it ended up doing more harm than good.
CWM is the best option for making a full backup of EVERYTHING on your phone (remember, your sd card is not part of your phone... it doesn't get backed up/restored via CWM). restoring a CWM backup will revert your phone to the exact state it was in at the time of the backup.
I used titanium backup and it worked for everything. Even backed the stuff up to my PC.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
hardy1906 said:
I used titanium backup and it worked for everything. Even backed the stuff up to my PC.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's awesome, but you will encounter problems with Ti backup if you try to restore anything from /system after installing a new rom. if you've come from one aosp rom to another, you might get lucky and not have any trouble (especially if they are a similar flavor of aosp), but if you try to restore anything from a sense rom's /system to an aosp rom's /system, or vice versa, you're in for a lot of force closing and general bass-ackwardness.
op: the BEST way is a nandroid backup. if you try and restore titanium backup apps and settings over whichever rom you've installed, you can almost guarantee something will be broken... just do it the right way and do a nandroid backup via CWM and save yourself the trouble.
Guys I forgot to mention, my phone is NOT currently rooted (Yes I realize I should have mentioned this in the first post) .. so what can I use now to backup everything like I want ?
ahmadka said:
Guys I forgot to mention, my phone is NOT currently rooted (Yes I realize I should have mentioned this in the first post) .. so what can I use now to backup everything like I want ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much really, there are apps available to back up sms and contacts will be synced to Google.
todo backup by easeus...free too. works great
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
1) Root.
2) Install CWM Recovery.
3) Nandroid.
There's your backup.
How do you guys do backups when you try out different roms? Am I bound to lose scores and settings in games and apps every time i change rom?
(sorry for what may be a stupid question, but i understood the answers given earlier that making a Nandroid recovery will also recover the rom at the time of the backup not just apps and settings)
glx-rider said:
How do you guys do backups when you try out different roms? Am I bound to lose scores and settings in games and apps every time i change rom?
(sorry for what may be a stupid question, but i understood the answers given earlier that making a Nandroid recovery will also recover the rom at the time of the backup not just apps and settings)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid back does a complete back of system, apps, data, and settings. When you restore a nandroid your phone will be restored to the exact point it was at before you preformed the nandroid.
To back up apps and data, you will need to use an app like titanium backup. you then can restore apps and data, including game save and scores after you flash a new rom.
But it is not advised to back up and restore system data and settings with titanium back up
before i rooted i took backups whit MyBackup.
after you get rooted, take Clean CWM backup of your phone.
when you are up and running on a custom rom, take CWM backup, and back up downloaded apps whit Titanium backup.
If you are going from sense rom to sense rom, you dont necessaryli need to wipe your data and apps, so you don't have to restore anything. If you are going for completely different rom, you need wipe everything, after you are running in new rom, you cant get just the apps from cwm backup, it would restore your old rom too, so now restore your apps and stuff from TI backups. and if you don't like the new rom, use CWM backup to go back to your last rom.
so you need both backups cwm and Ti..
and as said before app backups might cause some problems when going from rom to rom
I have been jumping between different MIUI roms, they are basically the same so i haven't wiped anything(except dalvik cache) when flashing new rom, so everything will stay the way they are, and no ned to restore anything, if that's the case.
What comes to the stuff on SDcard, it will be just fine, if you want to back up your pics/music/vids, etc from your sdcard, just copy them to your computer.

Custom ROM problems

everytime ive installed a custom rom it breaks after i reboot the phone.
ive tried gingerburst, insertCoin, aceSmod for HTC desire and they dont work very well at all...
after i reboot the phone after restoring via titanium backup my widgets get messed up and my htc people app doesnt work properly either.
am i restoring it wrong or something with titanium backup? :S has anyone else came across this problem?
With your apps that the widgets are based on, are they saved to internal storage? Because if they're saved to sd card they will not work, they must be in internal storage to work.
Sent from my CM7.1 Desire using XDA Premium App
Did you restore the red apps with titanium? Don't do this. It will corrupt your Rom.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
N3m3515 said:
Did you restore the red apps with titanium? Don't do this. It will corrupt your Rom.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i click on menu>batches>restore all apps with data then select all and restore. take it this is bad then?
^No need to restore system apps (the ones in red), because your new system apps are the ones that came with your new ROM. Restore only user apps + data.
thanks guys
timmaaa said:
With your apps that the widgets are based on, are they saved to internal storage? Because if they're saved to sd card they will not work, they must be in internal storage to work.
Sent from my CM7.1 Desire using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless one is using a2sd+. Then android "thinks" they are still stored in internal memory (although they are stored in ext partition of sd card) and so the widgets still work.
just installed a custom ROM again and restored with titanium backup.
this time i only backed up the green apps/data and only restored the green apps/data as well.
still the same problem though after first reboot.
Do you run a complete wipe when you flash a new rom? I suggest to delete ALL backups made with titanium backup, run a complete new one, flash new rom with complete wipe, reboot after first boot of the new rom, and then restore apps + userdata with tb.
If this does not help, install all apps manually and only restore their data with tb.
MatDrOiD said:
Do you run a complete wipe when you flash a new rom? I suggest to delete ALL backups made with titanium backup, run a complete new one, flash new rom with complete wipe, reboot after first boot of the new rom, and then restore apps + userdata with tb.
If this does not help, install all apps manually and only restore their data with tb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, i do run a complete wipe. i will try again later thanks.
MatDroid, I think if he has more than a hundred user apps (like me), it'd be bloody to re-install apps manually. This can often be fixed by Root Toolbox's "Fix Permissions" function, which fixes broken market links and mismatched backups/restores. Dunno if the free version of RT has it though, as I'm using the paid Pro version.

Restoring Contacts with Titanium Backup

Just got done rooting my ATT GS3, and flashed Cyanogenmod10 onto it. Before I did a full Titanium Backup, and did a backup of my previous ROM on CWM. When I got everything sorted in Cyanogenmod I noticed that my contacts weren't syncing, so I tried to restore them with Titanium Backup. All this did was give me an annoying error where something kept crashing, so I had to clear the data from my contacts app.
Then I found somebodies advice on the forum that said the restore the data from the recovery image I had on CWM. This was terrible advice and left Cyanogenmod frozen on the splash screen. So I reinstalled CM10 and got everything working fine again. Now my question is, is there any way to get my contacts back from my previous stock image, or the backup I made in Titanium before I flashed CM10? I've looked around and haven't found anything that works yet
Thanks
diiggidy said:
Just got done rooting my ATT GS3, and flashed Cyanogenmod10 onto it. Before I did a full Titanium Backup, and did a backup of my previous ROM on CWM. When I got everything sorted in Cyanogenmod I noticed that my contacts weren't syncing, so I tried to restore them with Titanium Backup. All this did was give me an annoying error where something kept crashing, so I had to clear the data from my contacts app.
Then I found somebodies advice on the forum that said the restore the data from the recovery image I had on CWM. This was terrible advice and left Cyanogenmod frozen on the splash screen. So I reinstalled CM10 and got everything working fine again. Now my question is, is there any way to get my contacts back from my previous stock image, or the backup I made in Titanium before I flashed CM10? I've looked around and haven't found anything that works yet
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your contacts will sync the second you enter your gmail info. Google syncs and backs them up automatically.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Sorry I forgot to mention that, for some reason, my contacts weren't backed up with my google account. I have no idea why this is, but when I try to sync them with google I get nothing.
"Contacts Storage" holds the contacts. Backup this regularly and restore this when needed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
diablo009 said:
"Contacts Storage" holds the contacts. Backup this regularly and restore this when needed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I try to back up Contacts Storage and reboot, contacts crashes and then I continuously get the message processes.acore has stopped working. The only way I can get this to stop is if I clear data from the contacts app
Ok. Another way when moving between ROMs.
Install GoContacts free app. This app allows to export contacts and import after a new ROM flash. The safest method i can think of.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
diablo009 said:
Ok. Another way when moving between ROMs.
Install GoContacts free app. This app allows to export contacts and import after a new ROM flash. The safest method i can think of.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any of the Go apps are far from safe.
This is why it is known to never restore any system data.
Wayne Tech S-III
zelendel said:
Any of the Go apps are far from safe.
This is why it is known to never restore any system data.
Wayne Tech S-III
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never told to use it. Install it, export, freeze/uninstall. And when needed, install/defreeze, import, uninstall/freeze. Simple. Plus I use GoContacts from over an year ago, not the GoContactsEx version.
Restore
A general query.
I switched from samsung Y pro DUOS to samsung grand quattro. I had my old device rooted and had a titanium backup. That folder is also available in my laptop. Is there any way to have my contacts etc back again on my new quattro??
Btw, previous device got washed thoroughly! So all i have is a "titanium backup" folder.
PS: In no mood to root my new device.
UchihaMadara08 said:
A general query.
I switched from samsung Y pro DUOS to samsung grand quattro. I had my old device rooted and had a titanium backup. That folder is also available in my laptop. Is there any way to have my contacts etc back again on my new quattro??
Btw, previous device got washed thoroughly! So all i have is a "titanium backup" folder.
PS: In no mood to root my new device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you backup with contacts to your google account? If so, that's a way to get them back.
Otherwise, you'll have to root your device.
P.S.: This is the S3 section.
Another sort of general question on doing app+system data full backup on the SG3 using Titanium
Assuming I own the 16GB version, I've rooted and installed custom recovery on the device. I've done a custom recovery backup (TWRP or whatever)
Now I'm ready to install my custom rom zip and gapps, but say I have like 100+ downloaded apps with app data & whatnot, so I have Ti Backup installed and do a complete 'apps+system data' backup file...
but my internal 16GB memory doesn't have enough spare room to store the complete Ti backup file in addition to my existing system files, existing custom recovery backup file and existing apps and data/junk. And my options for cloud storage, lets say Google Drive or Dropbox, don't have enough room either.
Is my external SD card (say a 32 GB card in the slot) and option for backup of the Ti backup app+system data file? Will that Ti backup file be readable by the phone once I flash the custom rom on the phone? Or does stock ROM touchwiz format the external microSD card a certain way that once I flash a different custom ROM like CM, that external SD card and all its data is now unreadable?
kayone73 said:
Another sort of general question on doing app+system data full backup on the SG3 using Titanium
Assuming I own the 16GB version, I've rooted and installed custom recovery on the device. I've done a custom recovery backup (TWRP or whatever)
Now I'm ready to install my custom rom zip and gapps, but say I have like 100+ downloaded apps with app data & whatnot, so I have Ti Backup installed and do a complete 'apps+system data' backup file...
but my internal 16GB memory doesn't have enough spare room to store the complete Ti backup file in addition to my existing system files, existing custom recovery backup file and existing apps and data/junk. And my options for cloud storage, lets say Google Drive or Dropbox, don't have enough room either.
Is my external SD card (say a 32 GB card in the slot) and option for backup of the Ti backup app+system data file? Will that Ti backup file be readable by the phone once I flash the custom rom on the phone? Or does stock ROM touchwiz format the external microSD card a certain way that once I flash a different custom ROM like CM, that external SD card and all its data is now unreadable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No the external will work fine as that was always my default storage location. But a word of advice. Backing up your system data is a bad idea.
zelendel said:
No the external will work fine as that was always my default storage location. But a word of advice. Backing up your system data is a bad idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive heard that (danger or being caught in bootloop?) but for some reason every youtube tutorial on full Ti backups I see they always choose apps+system data in the batch operations. And I've been doing it on my rooted HTC one with no issues.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
kayone73 said:
Ive heard that (danger or being caught in bootloop?) but for some reason every youtube tutorial on full Ti backups I see they always choose apps+system data in the batch operations. And I've been doing it on my rooted HTC one with no issues.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never follow videos, they are seldom done by anyone that really knows what they are doing. The issue is with restoring the data. Like you say you are doing it on your HTC one. If you were to restore that system data on a non HTC device or a non Sense rom (if you are using a sense rom) you will corrupt the system data forcing you to reflash from scratch.
zelendel said:
Never follow videos, they are seldom done by anyone that really knows what they are doing. The issue is with restoring the data. Like you say you are doing it on your HTC one. If you were to restore that system data on a non HTC device or a non Sense rom (if you are using a sense rom) you will corrupt the system data forcing you to reflash from scratch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So im best off just choosing 'Backup all user apps' I want to save apps and app data?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
kayone73 said:
So im best off just choosing 'Backup all user apps' I want to save apps and app data?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes your better off saving just user apps. This normally backs up game save data as well but doesnt always work across devices due to different layouts of the partitions.
zelendel said:
Yes your better off saving just user apps. This normally backs up game save data as well but doesnt always work across devices due to different layouts of the partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks for the input.
Sent from my One using Tapatalk 2
Can't find my contacts
So I have a Verizon Samsung galaxy s4 model SCH-I545 NC5. I used the towelroot method and then I used safestrap to flash Hyperdrive onto it. Everything worked fine but then I looked at my contacts and hardly any of them were there. I had previously backed up my data but I can't seem to find the contacts. I used titanium backup and the safestrap backup. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Chapman03 said:
So I have a Verizon Samsung galaxy s4 model SCH-I545 NC5. I used the towelroot method and then I used safestrap to flash Hyperdrive onto it. Everything worked fine but then I looked at my contacts and hardly any of them were there. I had previously backed up my data but I can't seem to find the contacts. I used titanium backup and the safestrap backup. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're in the S3 section (SGH-I747). But that being said, if you had your Google account connected to your device, it should restore all your contacts you had on it.
So can you backup and restore contacts using Titanium Backup?

What does everyone usually do when updating / changing ROMS?

I'm not sure how to backup everything like my apps and data. My internal storage is backed up already, but will changing ROMS even clear that? Just want to have an idea of what to do every time I update or try a new ROM. Thanks in advance !
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Usually, before I flash a new ROM, I:
1. Make a backup of the current ROM via ROM Manager.
2. Backup all my apps (that are non-system apps) and app data using Titanium Backup.
3. Make sure all my SMS's are backuped in SMS Backup+.
Generally, flashing a ROM doesn't affect the internal/external storage. I know that it doesn't affect the SD card for sure 99.9% of the time.
So the internal backup / external doesn't clear even if a wipe is done thru the recovery? Thanks for the steps by the way, its a good reference, will for sure keep this!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Helium backup for the apps.
I love that app.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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