Develop Bugs

[Q] Titanium Backup / backing up settings & accounts

When using Titanium Backup, what options should be backed up if you want to later restore all your android settings and your google and facebook accounts?

enigmatl said:
When using Titanium Backup, what options should be backed up if you want to later restore all your android settings and your google and facebook accounts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Menu>Batch>Backup all user apps + System Data. That does it for me...

Dredge said:
Menu>Batch>Backup all user apps + System Data. That does it for me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. And yes, this would work. But, I would prefer not to back up every single system setting (and system app) that is backed up when you back up EVERYTHING. I.e, that's like copying the entire phone book so that you can later get John Smith's phone number.
So what I am asking is _which_ system settings do you select for backup to backup your google and facebook accounts and which system settings do you select for backup to backup the settings in the settings menu (ringtone, screen shutoff time, brightness, etc)?
Thanks in advance for any help.

enigmatl said:
Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. And yes, this would work. But, I would prefer not to back up every single system setting (and system app) that is backed up when you back up EVERYTHING. I.e, that's like copying the entire phone book so that you can later get John Smith's phone number.
So what I am asking is _which_ system settings do you select for backup to backup your google and facebook accounts and which system settings do you select for backup to backup the settings in the settings menu (ringtone, screen shutoff time, brightness, etc)?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the application or check out the TB forums, the application itself tells you what the different color codes mean and by reading the names it should be a simple ting to figure out.
If you need the exact names, let me know, my hourly rates are reasonable.

I have read through the options and filtered them too. If I found the right entries, I wouldn't have made a forum post asking. Does anyone have an answer?

I too would like to know.
I have read all that I can as well and I just don't want to miss anything, but like the OP, I don't want to have to backup EVERYTHING, that is pointless. Please, any help would be appreciated.

I do not get why you guys don't want to just do a full backup, mine takes a few megs and I have 140 applications. These phone come with 8 gig cards, use the memory, it takes me maybe 2 minutes to fully backup. Might as well, then you have everything in case of an issue.

The names of backups are pretty self explainitory. If you want to be sure, I would do a complete backup of all system+apps+data and then do a nandroid backup. Flash a stock rom and then reinstall the backups one at a time to see what they do and if you have the right ones you want. Then restore your nandroid.

A lot of people do not want to blindly back up everything on the phone. Then, what's the point in getting new ROMs? What if they add new versions of some of the software and you flash a new ROM only to revert that software? Nobody running Windows, for example, will do a full copy of their harddrive for the purpose of restoring their apps and contacts upon installing a new version of Windows.
So, I ask politely, PLEASE, if you don't know the answer, please don't state that the question is wrong when it isn't. Please don't state that if I just read the list, I'll find it. I get it. You do not know the answer to the question and finding such answer is not important to you. You feel that backing up the entire phone, the wifi/4g/bt widgets, a copy of sense, and everything else is okay and that's great. That's not what I intend to do even if my card were 64 gigs.
So, what I would like to know, as would another poster, is "Does anybody know what to backup if you wish to backup your google and facebook names as well as all the settings such as screen brightness, screen timeout, sound volumes, alert tone selections, and everything else under the menu using Titanium Backup?"

Did anyone know the answer!?

,,,,To what question? And go revival.

Question is on first post....

You can backup and restore anything you want with tb, but if you switch roms don't restore ANY system apps + data. That can mess things up. Only backup/restore user apps + data if you switch roms. If you're having problems with a rom and you're gonna wipe and start over, then restoring system stuff might be a bad idea because some setting or app might be the cause
We're comin from a pure power source.

Sup sup guys I have a question if there is a.problem when u backup everything using ra_recovery and then.u swish to clockworkmod
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

rene009 said:
Sup sup guys I have a question if there is a.problem when u backup everything using ra_recovery and then.u swish to clockworkmod
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can't restore CWM backups on amon_ra and vice versa.

Bonobow said:
Question is on first post....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
metalfan78 said:
You can backup and restore anything you want with tb, but if you switch roms don't restore ANY system apps + data. That can mess things up. Only backup/restore user apps + data if you switch roms. If you're having problems with a rom and you're gonna wipe and start over, then restoring system stuff might be a bad idea because some setting or app might be the cause
We're comin from a pure power source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't have said it any different.

I do a lot of rom flashing and trying out of apps so I have two different backup schedules set up. I do a weekly backup of all application and data; then another schedule will run two times a week to backup all newer apps and data. If I know that I am going to flash another rom I will do a quick backup of all apps and data.
When I format and restore I will run a batch (Menu > Batch > Restore missing apps (or all apps) with data); then I will go through the list and choose the applications & data that I want to reinstall. Sometimes I will download a few programs from the market instead of restoring them, just to make sure that everything is clean (hence restore missing apps instead of all apps).
I never backup or restore any systems apps or data. This will be pulled from whatever Rom I am flashing.

This is what I backup nightly for the 'important' stuff.
-Call log
-SMS/MMS
-Contacts
-Alarms
-Voice Mails
-Calendar
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The adw launcher and gosms also have an option to backup settings, although I'm use I can use TB to back those up too.
As for the rest of the system settings, I haven't looked to see what specifically needs to be enabled to back that up.

I've found that most of the system data that it flags in green is safe to restore. Usually.

I've never been able to back up my "accounts & sync" that's all I want to backup at the moment ... or is there an app that can do this???

[Q] Titanium Backup

I've done a search but can't find anything pertaining to my question,when I go into TB to restore my backed up apps,there's a line running thru them,what does that mean?

mithritades said:
I've done a search but can't find anything pertaining to my question,when I go into TB to restore my backed up apps,there's a line running thru them,what does that mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It means they are not currently installed.

That means the app has been uninstalled

means its deleted

Damn,how the hell do i get them back?...I'm not trying to play angry birds all over again!

mithritades said:
Damn,how the hell do i get them back?...I'm not trying to play angry birds all over again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on whether you deleted system apps (flash rom or replace with root explorer) or user apps (dl from market). Let this be a simple lesson in making backups. You could have lost a year of photo's...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Top Nurse said:
Depends on whether you deleted system apps (flash rom or replace with root explorer) or user apps (dl from market). Let this be a simple lesson in making backups. You could have lost a year of photo's...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would deleting system apps affect whether Titanium Backup can backup user apps & settings?
For the record, I had the same problem as the OP, TB shows the line thru everything. But I believe it's b/c I didn't update busybox..? Why on earth would the program say it backed up the apps fine, only to give an error message (parsing error) after the fact when trying to restore? Seems like a huge flaw to me. It should not report a successful backup when it in fact backed up nothing.
You scared the bejesus out of me about losing photos. Those are intact (as they should be, along with everything else on the SD). How would it even be possible to lose those by simply wiping the phone?

I always copy my files off the sd at least once a week. I have another prog called Folder Clone that back ups all my data onto another hard drive. Same prg also backs up to a DVD once a week. I still have data files going back to my Apple II days. Always have a comprehensive program to keep your data safe. /rant
TB makes only data backups of system apps.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

I have everything except 18 apps with the lines thru them,I'd like to get them back...and I have TB scheduled to backup at 3:00 a.m every sunday morning

Top Nurse said:
TB makes only data backups of system apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So my game saves would have been lost even if TB worked? If so, what app backs those up?

Come on folks,help me help ya'll get your thank meters up lol

In tb look at the legend. What icon is next to your backup?
Also you may need to dl a busy box where it says "problems."
Do you have pro or donate version?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

I have happy face icons for most games. Only my two Angry Birds have "M" icons.
edit - I never saw a "problem" label that would have forewarned about the busybox issue negating all backups..

BrianFX said:
I have happy face icons for most games. Only my two Angry Birds have "M" icons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So why can't you restore your prog + data?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

BrianFX said:
I never saw a "problem" label that would have forewarned about the busybox issue negating all backups..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you make backups under cwm 3 and trying to restore with an older version of busybox?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

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Top Nurse said:
Did you make backups under cwm 3 and trying to restore with an older version of busybox?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No backups under cwm 3, not running cwm period. Likely rooted before cwm became part of the basic root package here.
Just running 2.1 stock, rooted, and TB.

Is extracting the backups (TARs) directly on my PC a possible rescue? (or are they corrupted TARs due to an earlier version of busybox?)

They're readable in WinRAR! Looks like I have a saving grace! Wonder why TB doesn't like them, even though it made them?
Oddly enough, when I first made the backups, TB was on default compression (gzip) and I noticed all the gzip files it was creating were 0 bytes. Luckily I changed it to BZIP2. When I saw that the backups now had file sizes, I assumed all was well..
On a separate note, is it still the case that TB doesn't backup SMS? I see conflicting reports on google searches. I already backed them up a different way, but was hoping TB would take care of that too, it didn't.
The one and only thing TB backed up and restored fine were my browser bookmarks (which is yet another pickle, why did that go fine, but game saves were corrupted/parsing error?)

TB also seems to like the "usb debugging" box to be checked under the main phone's settings->applications->development menu. Though when I don't have that checked it usually just hangs on an indefinite loop when restoring rather than giving the error you see.

[Q] How to fix Android Market?

Market works for one gmail account on my phone, but not another. I just installed a new ROM (happens to be CM, but probably unrelated) and my account sync was installing a bunch of apps. Part way through, all apps started giving "update unsuccessful" errors. Since then, that account cannot install any apps from the market.
I tried the application clear data fixes, then tried doing factory reset, and it still doesn't work. On a whim I did another reset and used a different gmail account, this time it works. Tried another reset to use failing account, and it's still failing. Is there something that can happen to Google accounts to break the market? How to fix? I'm stuck, as all my apps are attached to that account, not to mention it's my main email. All other network connectivity works, and the market displays apps, it just can'd download them.
What can I try next?

There's an option in titanium backup called "market doctor" or you can run the fix permissions in "rom manager". Did you mess with any apps 2 sd settings/features? If problems still exist I'd say start over fresh and try a whole different rom. Try to get connected to wifi or 4G when you start up since it has to download all those apps. These may or may-not work for you but worth a shot. Have you tried going into recovery and wiping the whole phone?
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"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
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PS I forgot to mention I think you can have only 1 "primary" account attached to the market. For ex, I have 2 gmails linked to my phone but only 1 gmail account (the one you enter in setup) is linked with the apps. If you're trying to restore apps from 2 diff gmail accounts I don't think it works that way. Your market seems to only accept 1 gmail account; I could be wrong but this may be the case.
~ d3rk

In addition, you can try, force stopping it, clear the cache, and reboot; it works for some.

I thank those who have taken the time to post, but all seem to be missing the following:
FACTORY RESET, use Account A, Market fails
FACTORY RESET, use Account B (one I used a year ago), Market works
FACTORY RESET, use Account A, Market still fails
FACTORY RESET, use Account B (one I used a year ago), Market works again
I tried the various tricks for fixing the market that involve clearing data before trying the factory resets, and that did not work. I just restored a nandroid backup from a month ago, and it can't install anything from market, either.
The only thing I have not tried is nandroid to a non-CM ROM, but I'm not optimistic, since CM works with the gmail account B, just not with my current account.
I assume this will require something to be reset on my account from Google. I can only imagine this will not be easy to do. I may just have to give up on that account, but I'm concerned that another would have the same problem in the future (and force me to repurchase apps).

On account A, the one that isn't working, factory reset, wipe cache and dalvik. When you sign in, use that account. And make sure you accept the agreement.
ALSO, if you've been doing that on a CM rom, and not flashing the latest gapps after factory reset, that could be a problem.

If you haven't tried a sense rom from a fresh start I would really consider it dude!
~ d3rk

teh roxxorz said:
On account A, the one that isn't working, factory reset, wipe cache and dalvik. When you sign in, use that account. And make sure you accept the agreement.
ALSO, if you've been doing that on a CM rom, and not flashing the latest gapps after factory reset, that could be a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My tests on Account A and Account B all involved the same CM ROM, with latest gapps. I tried factory reset, wipe cache and dalvic between each try. When I start ROM, I only use one the one account (either Account A or Account B, both are gmail accounts), and I do connect to WiFi before updating. Always Account A is now failing, and Account B always works. Account A has also been tested and fails on a nandroid to older CM ROM. I will try loading stock rooted Sense ROM, but I'd be willing to bet that the failing account still fails.

It's Magic!
For some reason, on the same ROM with same account that was failing just a couple hours ago, updates started working. The only thing I did was choose "Update All" in My Apps, although I had tried that earlier and it failed. The update all was failing for a while, then some of the apps started updating, and from that point forward, all apps have worked fine.
I do not think the update all was the "fix". I think it was either a timeout (account was temporarily blocked because of many frequent market downloads), or some market accounts were having problems (I know of at least one other user with same issues today). When it started working was about 8 hours after it stopped this morning (not sure exact time it stopped), so there could be something about an 8 hour timeout, or that could just be coincidence.
Whatever the solution, I was able to return to the original ROM that the problem started under and fully install all my old apps and update them.
Thanks to those who offered ideas.

Changed phones APN settings, can't text/call

So I was in the country out of service trying to connect to a network. Under mobile network settings I saw APN settings which I never saw before and decided to mess with (yes I know, awful idea). So now that I'm back in a service area, I have a data connection but can't text or call. And of course, APN settings is gone from my mobile network settings and shows varoous CDMA settings like before, my ROM is Dirty Unicorns 4.4.4.
If anyone has any info on how I can fox my apn settings so I can text and call again that'd be great! Thanks!

emfajardo2 said:
So I was in the country out of service trying to connect to a network. Under mobile network settings I saw APN settings which I never saw before and decided to mess with (yes I know, awful idea). So now that I'm back in a service area, I have a data connection but can't text or call. And of course, APN settings is gone from my mobile network settings and shows varoous CDMA settings like before, my ROM is Dirty Unicorns 4.4.4.
If anyone has any info on how I can fox my apn settings so I can text and call again that'd be great! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This app is basically a shortcut to apn settings. You can change any settings you need, and even a reset to default that might help you.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.appando.app.changeApn
The weird thing is, APn settings should only be for data, calls and texts should still work. You can also reflash the ROM zip and wipe dalvik cache and cache from recovery, that would reset your system partition but keep all the data settings and personalized stuff.

dopy25 said:
This app is basically a shortcut to apn settings. You can change any settings you need, and even a reset to default that might help you.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.appando.app.changeApn
The weird thing is, APn settings should only be for data, calls and texts should still work. You can also reflash the ROM zip and wipe dalvik cache and cache from recovery, that would reset your system partition but keep all the data settings and personalized stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried reflashing ROM, even going back to stock, wiping dalvik cache and cache in the process. Still same error with phone and text.

emfajardo2 said:
I have tried reflashing ROM, even going back to stock, wiping dalvik cache and cache in the process. Still same error with phone and text.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the app I linked will allow to change or add apn's if that's what you want.
However, do you have an EFS backup? Try restoring that. Also, check system network settings and make sure it is set to CDMA and not NV or GSM.
If you get on stock, try doing a profile/prl update.

dopy25 said:
Well the app I linked will allow to change or add apn's if that's what you want.
However, do you have an EFS backup? Try restoring that. Also, check system network settings and make sure it is set to CDMA and not NV or GSM.
If you get on stock, try doing a profile/prl update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately it looks like EFS backups have been erased after the multiple factory resets and wipes I've done. I called Sprint and they couldn't fix the issue and told me to take the phone to a store. At one point when I tried to update profile it said I must be in the USA, which I am. But that was fixed by some updates on their end and I can update profile/prl. However, now it'll say 4G with no bars and when I make a call, service goes out. Something strange that appeared temporarily but is now gone was a message saying the SIM card is invalid.
I also decided to look into phone identity and noticed that the my phone number section says unknown along with the MIN.

emfajardo2 said:
Unfortunately it looks like EFS backups have been erased after the multiple factory resets and wipes I've done. I called Sprint and they couldn't fix the issue and told me to take the phone to a store. At one point when I tried to update profile it said I must be in the USA, which I am. But that was fixed by some updates on their end and I can update profile/prl. However, now it'll say 4G with no bars and when I make a call, service goes out. Something strange that appeared temporarily but is now gone was a message saying the SIM card is invalid.
I also decided to look into phone identity and noticed that the my phone number section says unknown along with the MIN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, your IMEI, MEID, MIN were wiped. Do you have an old backup you can restore? It should also have the EFS within the backup so it would restore the IMEI, MEID, MIN.
If none of that works, try following this thread, it may have something you can benefit from.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2161498

dopy25 said:
Yup, your IMEI, MEID, MIN were wiped. Do you have an old backup you can restore? It should also have the EFS within the backup so it would restore the IMEI, MEID, MIN.
If none of that works, try following this thread, it may have something you can benefit from.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2161498
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eureka! I just remembered that I had backed up my phone earlier when it was working! Only issue is I'm not sure how to restore the backup.
I have a file with freegee, TWRP, and EFS_BACKUPS folders. I would post the folder but not sure if this is a privacy issue?
Anyways, any help in restoring this would be much appreciated!

emfajardo2 said:
Eureka! I just remembered that I had backed up my phone earlier when it was working! Only issue is I'm not sure how to restore the backup.
I have a file with freegee, TWRP, and EFS_BACKUPS folders. I would post the folder but not sure if this is a privacy issue?
Anyways, any help in restoring this would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it just an EFS backup? Did you use the "create flashable EFS.zip"? Or is it only the backup in freegee? You can post screenshots, I wouldn't recommend posting the IMEI or any of that but if it is just a screenshot of the backup then you're ok because everyone has the same name of the backup. I think it is m9kefs1, m9kefs2, m9kefs3. If you are looking at those files, you need to push them using ADB. I think the directions are in that thread I linked. If you created a flashable zip (also directions in that thread) all you need to do is flash the zip it created like any other zip you'd flash in recovery. (TWRP in your case) Just boot into recovery and select install, then from zip. And choose your zip.

dopy25 said:
Is it just an EFS backup? Did you use the "create flashable EFS.zip"? Or is it only the backup in freegee? You can post screenshots, I wouldn't recommend posting the IMEI or any of that but if it is just a screenshot of the backup then you're ok because everyone has the same name of the backup. I think it is m9kefs1, m9kefs2, m9kefs3. If you are looking at those files, you need to push them using ADB. I think the directions are in that thread I linked. If you created a flashable zip (also directions in that thread) all you need to do is flash the zip it created like any other zip you'd flash in recovery. (TWRP in your case) Just boot into recovery and select install, then from zip. And choose your zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a picture of the EFS backup folder I have:
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"lightbox_next": "Next",
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"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
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So does this mean I must use adb? It wouldn't work to compress a folder with the files correct?

emfajardo2 said:
Here is a picture of the EFS backup folder I have:
View attachment 3091519
So does this mean I must use adb? It wouldn't work to compress a folder with the files correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would store those somewhere safe period.
But you can also
1) Go to that thread I linked,
2) Download the flashable zip,
3) run it in recovery so it creates the restore zip.
4) go on your PC and replace the 3 files in the backup (that look like yours) with those files
5) Go back to recovery and run the restore zip.
That might do the trick without ADB. If that is too much for you, I can or autoprime can (the OP of that thread) create the file for you, you would have to send us those files. And I have no need for them, but in the wrong hands, they might be able to be used to put your IMEI and MIN on another phone. I am not sure it works that way but if you are not comfortable with that you can get on hangouts and send me a message and I will walk you through it if you send me screen shots during the process. (You would have to email those files, do not post them here)

dopy25 said:
I would store those somewhere safe period.
But you can also
1) Go to that thread I linked,
2) Download the flashable zip,
3) run it in recovery so it creates the restore zip.
4) go on your PC and replace the 3 files in the backup (that look like yours) with those files
5) Go back to recovery and run the restore zip.
That might do the trick without ADB. If that is too much for you, I can or PartimusPrime can (the OP of that thread) create the file for you, you would have to send us those files. And I have no need for them, but in the wrong hands, they might be able to be used to put your IMEI and MIN on another phone. I am not sure it works that way but if you are not comfortable with that you can get on hangouts and send me a message and I will walk you through it if you send me screen shots during the process. (You would have to email those files, do not post them here)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the help! I might have to contact you in hangout, I flashed the zip but not seeing a zip folder made in the EFS_backup

emfajardo2 said:
Thanks for all the help! I might have to contact you in hangout, I flashed the zip but not seeing a zip folder made in the EFS_backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't remember if it is created if you don't have an efs.

Sorry for a very late reply but the problem has been resolved!
I was able to place my EFS backups in the zip created by dopy25, flash it in recovery, and then was able to gain network access by updating PRL and profile!

Z2 Play stuck on boot up screen...

I'm rooted on stock Nougat ROM (I think... I rooted it a couple years ago), bootloader unlocked.
A few days ago my phone just stopped booting up correctly. It boots to the blue Moto screen with the boot animation but stays there forever.
I can get into TWRP and view all of the files in system, Internal SD card, and External SD card. I've backed up a bit of it just in case but I'm hoping someone here can tell me what to try to get it to boot correctly.
Is there a quick or obvious way to fix this that anyone is aware of?
I have an old TWRP backup and when I go into "Restore" I have the option to restore System, Data (excl. storage), Boot, Recovery, EFS, and logo... so is worth it to try restoring one of these (such as boot or system)?
I'm looking to try the safest things first... I really don't want to have to wipe my device or worse, brick it.
Thanks

Well, if you don't have any important data in the phone (you can copy files via USB), you can just do factory reset and see

Klen2 said:
Well, if you don't have any important data in the phone (you can copy files via USB), you can just do factory reset and see
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I have some important data but I can backup my /data/ folder. The problem (other than the fact that it will take a lot of time) is that I'm not sure how to restore the apps and data once I factory reset it.
It would be different if they were Titanium Backup backups but I don't know of a way to restore an app with just having the apps data folders.

What will happen if I go into TWRP and Install the stock rom zip file? Will I lose data or root or mess with anything important?

More generally:
a) your problem may be in system - then reflashing system would help. It can be done without loosing data
b) your problem may be in data (which is more likely) - you have to wipe data
a) Reflashing system can be done by flashing correct images via fastboot (using script that doesn't wipe data) or in recovery if you have flashable zip of your rom (I'm not sure whether there are any). However, even after flashing system, it still may not work because of some conflicts with data so wiping data may be unavoidable
b)how to minimalize losses: what kind of important data do you have? If it is files, they can be copied easily. If it is app data, it's harder. However, if you have Google Backup turned on, most apps use it to backup their data. What particular app's data do you need to save, if you don't mind telling?
I know there used to be app that was able to extract individual app's data from TWRP backup and restore it. Maybe it was Titanium Backup Pro. But as nowadays non-cloud backups aren't a thing anymore, these apps quite vanished or their development stopped and they also may not work with new android versions.
You can download stock firmware here: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/albus/official/
Nougat is available for RETAIL, RETLA, RETRU, RETUS and VZW. Where did you buy your phone? It is best to flash the ROM for the same region to avoid problems if you want to keep data. But you can flash any.

Klen2 said:
More generally:
a) your problem may be in system - then reflashing system would help. It can be done without loosing data
b) your problem may be in data (which is more likely) - you have to wipe data
a) Reflashing system can be done by flashing correct images via fastboot (using script that doesn't wipe data) or in recovery if you have flashable zip of your rom (I'm not sure whether there are any). However, even after flashing system, it still may not work because of some conflicts with data so wiping data may be unavoidable
b)how to minimalize losses: what kind of important data do you have? If it is files, they can be copied easily. If it is app data, it's harder. However, if you have Google Backup turned on, most apps use it to backup their data. What particular app's data do you need to save, if you don't mind telling?
I know there used to be app that was able to extract individual app's data from TWRP backup and restore it. Maybe it was Titanium Backup Pro. But as nowadays non-cloud backups aren't a thing anymore, these apps quite vanished or their development stopped and they also may not work with new android versions.
You can download stock firmware here: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/albus/official/
Nougat is available for RETAIL, RETLA, RETRU, RETUS and VZW. Where did you buy your phone? It is best to flash the ROM for the same region to avoid problems if you want to keep data. But you can flash any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, what I needed to recover were unread messages/whatsapp messages I never read and mostly just to avoid the headache or starting over but I'm over that. And what you said about using Titanium Backup to restore individual apps from a nandroid backup... that's exactly what I read about yesterday and was planning on doing.
Just now I tried restoring an old system backup and and a recent data/system backup but both times it got stuck at boot... so I think I'm either going to just flash my stock rom or do a restore of my system/data from last year...
My phone was running "Albus 7.1.1/NPS26.118-24/25" and I found a zip named "ALBUS_C_NPS26.118-24_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip" (which has SW listed as "SW Version: albus_c-user 7.1.1 NPS26.118-24 25 release-keysM8953P_23.33.07.34R") so I think I found the right one.
Would you recommend restoring system and data from a working (but old) backup in TWRP or just flashing my rom again?
Also, I'm not sure if I need to reflash magisk or flash the no-verity-opt-encrypt zip (or wipe something).
Either way, I'm going to just try one of those once I hear you recommendation.
Thanks

SMS may be backed up by Google, WhatsApp not if you didn't have automatic backup turned on (or done backup manually).
First of all, I would flash just system and other stuff except data. I don't recommend flashing official zips in recovery. If the phone is rooted, they will fail anyway and they may delete data. It is better to flash via fastboot. Do you remember your update channel Do you have US retail device? Then you may try the zip you found. But not in recovery. It is not a recovery flashable zip. Extract it and I will send you a .bat file to flash via fastboot.

Klen2 said:
SMS may be backed up by Google, WhatsApp not if you didn't have automatic backup turned on (or done backup manually).
First of all, I would flash just system and other stuff except data. I don't recommend flashing official zips in recovery. If the phone is rooted, they will fail anyway and they may delete data. It is better to flash via fastboot. Do you remember your update channel Do you have US retail device? Then you may try the zip you found. But not in recovery. It is not a recovery flashable zip. Extract it and I will send you a .bat file to flash via fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's an unlocked, US, Moto Z2 Play (XT1710-01). I ordered it from motorola's website. I never updated it, I just followed these instructions (https://gist.github.com/eexit/e6d5fc0984e1c7f25376d3dafa819792) to unlock bootloader, boot TWRP, back it up, and flash magisk.

extract your zip, place there fastboot.exe from attachment if you don't have one and run the bat. It will install the rom without wiping data. It is made for newest Nougat 'XT1710-01_ALBUS_C_7.1.1_NPSS26.118-24-23_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip' rom from here: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/albus/official/RETUS/

Klen2 said:
extract your zip, place there fastboot.exe from attachment if you don't have one and run the bat. It will install the rom without wiping data. It is made for newest Nougat 'XT1710-01_ALBUS_C_7.1.1_NPSS26.118-24-23_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip' rom from here: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/albus/official/RETUS/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So place your bat file in the extracted folder and run the bat file? Does my phone need to be in fast boot and do any of these files need to be on my phone or I can just do it from my PC?

All files in the same folder, phone in fastboot. Then run the bat

Klen2 said:
All files in the same folder, phone in fastboot. Then run the bat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gave it a go but it's still hanging on boot.
Here's what the command window showed...
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

Then you'll probably have to wipe data. Backup them (to SD) and then try wipe

If you have unlocked bootloader and TWRP backup it is almost impossible to brick your Z2 Play, just flash Stock Nougat, Stock Oreo or Stock Pie and your phone should boot again.
By the way it looks, you will lose all your personal information.
If the classic wipes haven't worked you gotta try flash Stock ROM through fastboot.