I've come across three Apps so far that prevent me backing them up using ASTRO:
1. Contact2Sim Pro - This is a Paid App but one I paid good money for!
2. History Eraser - It's Free! Why bother to copy protect it?
3. Raging Thunder Lite - Also free
Is there any way to still back these up? Or do you have to Root? Thanks
I don't think you have to. The Market remembers what you've downloaded if you factory reset, even if you don't back up the apps. You might need to actually remember what they are (downloads should tell you, but if you back up and then reinstall from the card, it won't remember them)
Thanks.
I prefer having a physical copy of the file though. Sure it's still likely to be there, if I need to reinstall it but I cannot guarantee this. If I've got the APK file, I know for sure I'll be able to reinstall it.
EDIT: This person here has just done a Hard Reset and is now missing at least one App: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6433167#post6433167
Anyone? Thanks.
I'm curious to know if there's a way too.
Amo navi-x which I paid for is copy protected, & it has an update, but I'm generally careful not to update apps without knowing I can roll back to the previous version if there's a problem with the update. I'm using an unrooted samsung stratosphere with appmonster pro & my backup pro. I understand their reasons for copy-protecting it to prevent piracy, but it makes it risky to update. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Use ESfile explorer to backup the apk to your SD card.
that requires root.
copying it to sd through a file browser requires rooting, which is very difficult to do on the samsung stratosphere, because the bootloader is designed to not load if a non-stock rom is detected.
So I have been playing around with making custom images for our Defy's here at work. I have just run into a little problem though. When I do a system restore, the phone reboots and the log into MotoBlur comes up. Only problem is that when i try to log in it gives me an error and says that a user is already associated with the phone. I can't get past this. Any suggestions on where I screwed up would be appreciated.
Hmm...now it gets more fun. I went to do a system reset, and when it boot all I get is the Android with a caution sign. Thank god its a company phone....
runeblade said:
Hmm...now it gets more fun. I went to do a system reset, and when it boot all I get is the Android with a caution sign. Thank god its a company phone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
press the bottom right hand corner of the screen, not much of a development thread really
Already got it back up and running. The Dev question more applies to how do I do the system restores without the motorblur app locking the phone. I know most remove motoblur but we are leaving it in place to make it easier to manage contacts for the staff. Has anyone else experienced that on doing a restore because I haven't been able to find it through searching.
Basically what I'm trying to do is create a corporate rom for the phone. Building in the Cisco VPN support, adding touchdown and a few other apps, removing the junk ones. I assumed using the system backup was going to be the easiest way to do this, but if it's not I'm open to a better suggestion of how I should be doing this.
runeblade said:
Already got it back up and running. The Dev question more applies to how do I do the system restores without the motorblur app locking the phone. I know most remove motoblur but we are leaving it in place to make it easier to manage contacts for the staff. Has anyone else experienced that on doing a restore because I haven't been able to find it through searching.
Basically what I'm trying to do is create a corporate rom for the phone. Building in the Cisco VPN support, adding touchdown and a few other apps, removing the junk ones. I assumed using the system backup was going to be the easiest way to do this, but if it's not I'm open to a better suggestion of how I should be doing this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what are you using to create a back up?
If you have a number of phones, I would probably say easiest way is to get root, get everything working on 1, and then use clockworkmod recovery to create a full image, then restore the image on the other phones using clockwork mod. You could then remove clockwork mod and even root if you wanted on the other phones once done.
I am using clockwork at this point. That was what I did the full backup with. However with the restore to the phone, the initial Motoblur app re initiated itself but then wouldn't allow you to login into the account. Everything was still on the phone, but you couldn't get past the MotoBlur login. I'm guessing it's one of the packages I can uninstall, but I'm not sure which package is just the motoblur setup. Hope that makes sense.
I just ordered this beautiful tablet. I've never owned a tablet before. I've actually always wanted a laptop, but things are changing. I have an Amazon Kindle Fire HD from many years ago. It's actually worked pretty well for me for ebook reading, limited web browsing and email using. But, the last few months it's really started acting funny and not working right. So I've decided it's time to upgrade. Did a week's worth of research and decided this is my best option. I haven't received it yet, but I'm really excited to dig in and do a lot more than I can with my Kindle.
So that brings me here. I don't remember where, but through my research on which tablet to buy, this website was mentioned as a major resource. To be completely honest, I'm 100% lost. There are things I want to do but I don't even know where to start. I love tinkering and figuring things out, but I need a little push in the right direction.
One of the biggest things I want to be able to do is make a complete low level backup of the entire system to store on my home server should anything happen and I need to restore it.
The other big thing I want to do is remove all the excess junk that comes pre-installed that I'll never use. With such a small area of space available, having half or so used up in unnecessary stuff is just pointless.
I'm sure there are other things I can do and may want to do in the future, but for now, these are the major keys. So... any help? Did I make the right choice? What other features/functions should I be looking at or considering?
Thanks guys! Looking forward to getting a lot of great use out of my new tablet and this site.
ChewVodka said:
I just ordered this beautiful tablet. I've never owned a tablet before. I've actually always wanted a laptop, but things are changing. I have an Amazon Kindle Fire HD from many years ago. It's actually worked pretty well for me for ebook reading, limited web browsing and email using. But, the last few months it's really started acting funny and not working right. So I've decided it's time to upgrade. Did a week's worth of research and decided this is my best option. I haven't received it yet, but I'm really excited to dig in and do a lot more than I can with my Kindle.
So that brings me here. I don't remember where, but through my research on which tablet to buy, this website was mentioned as a major resource. To be completely honest, I'm 100% lost. There are things I want to do but I don't even know where to start. I love tinkering and figuring things out, but I need a little push in the right direction.
One of the biggest things I want to be able to do is make a complete low level backup of the entire system to store on my home server should anything happen and I need to restore it.
The other big thing I want to do is remove all the excess junk that comes pre-installed that I'll never use. With such a small area of space available, having half or so used up in unnecessary stuff is just pointless.
I'm sure there are other things I can do and may want to do in the future, but for now, these are the major keys. So... any help? Did I make the right choice? What other features/functions should I be looking at or considering?
Thanks guys! Looking forward to getting a lot of great use out of my new tablet and this site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root with chain fire root, flash via Odin.
This will allow you to have root access allowing you to remove unwanted app amongst other things
Flash via Odin: TWRP Recovery for Chagallwifi (assuming it's a Samsung T800)
This will allow you to create a back up.
I believe the order of this can be inverted. IE. Flash recovery with Odin and then have TWRP flash the CFAutoroot zip and the SuperSU (the app that will "manage" your root)
Install Titanium Back up and freeze/uninstall unwanted apps. There are lists of removable apps on the forums. I prefer to freeze but it's up to you.
!!!Make a backup prior to this step!!!
Will update post when I am home with more suggestion's.
Thanks, that's somewhat helpful. At least it give me the names of programs. I have no idea what I'm doing though. Can you give me a link to a step-by-step guide, or at least explain what the different things are and what they do? Sorry for being such a noob with this.
Instructions
MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE FILES FOR YOUR SPECIFIC DEVICE (T700, T705, T800, T805, etc.)
You will need Odin (This is the software that will allow you to install the root and other files [FLASHING])
CF-AutoRoot (Will provide Root access for your device): You will be flashing this with Odin
Optional: Install custom recovery TWRP. This is also done with Odin. This will allow you to make backups and flash .zip files, including custom roms, apps, etc.
Just google for guides on rooting Samsung Galaxy Tab S. They will show you step by step on how to do the Odin flashing, PDA, settings, autoreset or not, etc.
I recommend backing up your device at this point. Reboot into recovery (instructions will be in the rooting guides), go to backup and backup everything for now. In the future when you feel comfortable enough that you can/will select to only backup what you deem necessary.
Your device is now rooted, the first boot after installing CFAutoRoot will take awhile +/-3 - 5 minutes.
Now download Titanium Backup, and you can google or search XDA for a list of "safe" things to uninstall. Just go into TitaniumBackup and look for the app you want to Freeze (This will prevent the app from running but it will NOT delete it, thus it will still take up space) or Remove.
Busybox: Will be required by certain apps.
Optional:
Link2SD App, this allows you to install/move/link your apps to the SD Card, it essentially frees up your internal memory of the device and tricks the device into installing apps and their data files onto your second partition of your External SD Card (Google or Search XDA for guides on Link2SD). This will allow you to install a lot more apps than you normally would be able to. (Example: Vice City, San Andreas, Plants vs Zombies, etc. I mention these because of their large data size). Not all apps will work when linked, just trial and error. I can't seem to get Word, Excel, Powerpoint linked to my SD Card without at least one of the failing, same with Facebook. You will have to test each app and see what files you can link/bind and which you can't.
Adblock Plus: Self explanatory
Xposed: A bunch of customization options for your device
ES File Explorer Pro: The best file management/directory app IMO
Greenify: Battery saver
Aptoide: Secondary App Store
Hancom Apps: I feel these work better on occasion then the Microsoft Office apps (Example large excel files with multiple formulas and filters)
NovaLauncher: Custom launcher, a lot more customizations then TouchWiz will provide you. (Your home screen)
Tasker: Limitless possibilities with this app (Search google/XDA for info)
TWRP Manager: TWRP Recovery app.
VLC: Video player
4way_multiwindow: This will allow you to have 4 apps open at a time and 3 apps "minimized", this also allows floating windows (Moveable apps running in "windowed mode" essentially.) There is an aesthetic bug when minimized, I have not found a fixed version of this yet, maybe others can provide link. Just load up TWRP manager and choose install, and select the .zip file and it will reboot into recovery and install the file for you. Or you can boot your device into recovery and install it the same way. I am attaching the .zip file.
If you are happy with your device up to this point, I would create another backup after you are done with the initial set up and have installed the apps of your choosing. Save a copy on the device, PC, NAS, etc. just in case you lose one of your copies. Some TWRP versions do not allow you to backup directly to the external SD Card, you may have to backup into the Internal and then transfer the information over to the external SD Card.
Good Luck.
xLima said:
Root with chain fire root, flash via Odin.
This will allow you to have root access allowing you to remove unwanted app amongst other things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this the link I should be using? I'll know for sure what it's model number is once I receive the tablet. http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/development/root-cf-autoroot-twrp-t800-t3079488
xLima said:
Flash via Odin: TWRP Recovery for Chagallwifi (assuming it's a Samsung T800)
This will allow you to create a back up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't installing Chain Fire Root via the previous link also contain the TWRP Recovery? Or is this a special version I need to install after running the first root through Odin? What is Chagallwifi?
xLima said:
I believe the order of this can be inverted. IE. Flash recovery with Odin and then have TWRP flash the CFAutoroot zip and the SuperSU (the app that will "manage" your root)
Install Titanium Back up and freeze/uninstall unwanted apps. There are lists of removable apps on the forums. I prefer to freeze but it's up to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just an app I get from the Google Play store right? Or is there a special version I need to get, or install manually? I think I saw in a YouTube video that I need to install something called GApps if I want install something from there after rooting, is this correct? Also, if Titanium Backup IS an app, how can I get a backup of the entire system when I'm booted into the OS? I think I read somewhere, or saw screenshots that show this basically creates backups of your installed programs, so you can easily restore them without having to re-download them. Maybe I'm wrong, as I said I'm completely new this and probably don't know what I'm talking about.
My biggest concern is that I'll screw something up and find myself with a tablet I can't use, without having had it no more than a couple days, and having spent nearly $600 for it and the accessories. I know that rooting/etc voids the warranty, but I also have seen where people are able to put the whole system back to factory default for repairs, etc. That sounds like something I really need to learn how to do and be confident I can do should something happen.
Thanks again for any help!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/development/root-cf-autoroot-twrp-t800-t3079488
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This link works, although there are newer versions of TWRP, you can install these after however, no big deal.
Doesn't installing Chain Fire Root via the previous link also contain the TWRP Recovery? Or is this a special version I need to install after running the first root through Odin? What is Chagallwifi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The previous link contains TWRP, read above. The normal CF Autoroot comes with CWM Recovery I believe (A custom recovery similar to TWRP). You can use the link you posted. Chagallwifi is the "nickname" of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 WiFi, it is one way to search for a device, the other being the model number T800, for instance or the long commercial name.
This is just an app I get from the Google Play store right? Or is there a special version I need to get, or install manually? I think I saw in a YouTube video that I need to install something called GApps if I want install something from there after rooting, is this correct? Also, if Titanium Backup IS an app, how can I get a backup of the entire system when I'm booted into the OS? I think I read somewhere, or saw screenshots that show this basically creates backups of your installed programs, so you can easily restore them without having to re-download them. Maybe I'm wrong, as I said I'm completely new this and probably don't know what I'm talking about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You get the app from the playstore, correct. I am not sure about GApps, I want to say it isn't necessary unless you will be installing a custom rom (you can double check this on the rooting guides, if it asks for GApps, then flash the GApps)
The system back up is done via TWRP or CWM, boot into recovery and choose backup.
Titanium Backup allows you to back up the app and its data file. So you don't lose the progress of your games. Also backs up email, WiFi passwords, etc.
My biggest concern is that I'll screw something up and find myself with a tablet I can't use, without having had it no more than a couple days, and having spent nearly $600 for it and the accessories. I know that rooting/etc voids the warranty, but I also have seen where people are able to put the whole system back to factory default for repairs, etc. That sounds like something I really need to learn how to do and be confident I can do should something happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the errors cause soft bricks, you can recover from these. I would recommend you backup after rooting, in case you mess something up toying with Titanium, Link2SD, SuperSU, etc. You can always use SamMobile and find a Stock Rom to flash back onto the device, again via Odin. Not sure if the KnoxTrip flag will still show up, you can trying Googling how to root without tripping Knox, I know there are methods, however I have never used them. I have soft bricked my device before, I deleted everything with TWRP, I wanted to factory reset, and I selected erase System..... scary times.
Stock Rom: SamFirm (Outdated) or Updato
Thanks for all your help and advice. I just got my tablet today. Still kinda playing around with it. I probably won't do anything for a couple of days. At least till my next day off from work (Thursday) so I can concentrate on what I'm doing. I was really scared when I first turned it on, everything was in Korean. I had to find a YouTube video showing how to go through the initial setup to change the language. All good now. Once I got it fully running, it downloaded a 350mb update and rebooted. I'm now running Lolipop 5.0.2. Is that going to cause any issues? Also, I can now confirm that it is model SM-T800.
Thanks again!
ChewVodka, once your past the learning curve rooting etc. can be done in your sleep. After some research, I rooted a 10.1 tab 4 a while back with no problem. Definitely better o have more control over the device, I think. Just got a new 10.5 also, and am looking around for the best way to administer the Android system - the Galaxy Tab S for Dummies book seems to me to be actually a good place to start. I'll check back here with any choice info I find on the 10.5.
Also, I have this case for my 10.1, and this is the best under $20 case you can get for the 10.5 - so cheap I bought two of them! Type in search: Xtra-Funky Exclusive Samsung Galaxy Tab S, 10.5 -- the black and navy blue are cool -- the others kinda garish.
Easy Way, allow installation of 3rd party apps in settings download this for android https://kingroot.net/ run it select install anyway when you get the pop up, and root device , open Playstore download flashify for root users, run it allow it access , click recovery image then download twrp choose the 3.0.2-0 release and install to your tab and reboot into recovery, at this point you can use it to make a backup of your current rom or install a custom rom (following the directions on the page for the rom that you choose), this is easier method if you aren't familiar with odin and don't have the drivers and all set up on pc. You can also change kingroot over to super user in a few different ways can download and use supersume from play store and run it or, just flash the newest superuser in twrp and remove whats leftover from kingroot manually after reboot. If you intend on doing a custom rom i suggest choosing first and having all files available before you start. However if you intend on using odin You might want to install this first http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317790 so you have full communication with the device in case anything does go wrong there will be other options. This is of course if you are not already setup with this already. Also I would like to note there are a few roms here based on the stock firmware if you like it just look through the forum see what you like, and read everything.
What are the benefits to a custom ROM? I assume you're talking about things like Cyanogenmod. There are some people in another forum I visit that like it, but I don't know what it is or why I would want it. Does it allow installing pirated software or something? It's probably not allowed to be discussed here, and I'm not saying I would purposely do something like that (not that I wouldn't if possible lol). It all comes down to the fact that I'm completely new to the tablet world, other than the fact that it's a bigger and better Kindle Fire that I can get more usage out of by not being limited to Amazon's ROM and store for apps. The biggest things I'm looking to do is get rid of bloatware that came preinstalled (of which a lot was added with the update) and the ability to make backups of the entire system should something screw up.
It sounds like "rooting" is essentially giving you the administrative control access to the system (like in Windows) instead of being limited to a generic "user". That allows you to install more system accessible programs, where a generic user would get a UAC prompt and then be told and Administrator needs to preform that action. As for "recovery", it sounds like that is sort of like the CMOS/BIOS of a PC. It's the first "program" that runs when you boot up (even requiring a specific keypress to enter). This allows you to access the system before the system boots, to get you backup/restore functions, and the ability to install new OS's. It also sounds like the built in version from Samsung is what is getting changed (like updating the BIOS of the PC) to allow more functionality (like backups, etc). The only thing you don't have access to is stuff like disk drives, but things like RAM and CPU can be adjusted once you have ROOT.
The more I learn about it, the more I'm eager to do it. I really don't like feeling confined to a predetermined set of available things to do, and I really don't like having somebody decide to install software I'll never use on my system that just takes up space. I especially hate that said programs can't even be uninstalled. Looks like this is what I'm gonna have to do!
Decided not to wait and rooted it tonight. I have the freedom now to play, though I'm not sure where to start. Currently I have the CF-Autoroot thing done, and it installed SuperSU. Then I did the TWRP recovery, and made a backup of all the partitions. I was kinda hoping I could backup remotely (like on the computer) rather than stored on the same device. I have a microSD card ordered and on the way, so my next task will be to back up to that. There is a tool I use on my Kindle Fire called ES File Explorer. I'll see if I can get that on this. Then I can find the backup and transfer it over the wifi.
I'll check out your other recommended apps as I have time. Thanks again!
Now I'm having a bunch of trouble. I was able to get the Chainfire root to go through, and verified it with a Root Checker. I then installed the TWRP recovery so I could make a backup. I even have a few backups. Then I went and installed an app called TWRP Manager, that was supposed to enable me the option of making backups LIVE (without having to boot into TWRP). It wasn't working, so I went to do a "Classic Backup" which reboots into TWRP and starts the backup then reboots normally. Well, TWRP never booted. I just had a black screen. Nothing seemed to work. I couldn't power on with the power button, and I couldn't manually boot into TWRP. The only option that did anything was ODIN (Download) Mode. I'm really freaking out at this point. I found a way to connect to XDA's IRC Channel and talked with some really nice guys and was told to try re-flashing the stock. I did that, and it worked. But now I'm stuck again. Basically starting from scratch with a stock system, I went through to install the Chainfire root again. It seemed to work ok, and SuperSU showed up. Ran the Root Verifier and it confirmed it was successful. I then went to flash TWRP. ODIN says it passed, but I still can't boot into it. Here's the kicker.. even if it appears that it's not working, if I do the keypresses on my tablet correctly and wait like 2-3 minutes then try again, TWRP will actually be up but the screen locked. WTF??
So did I something wrong? I'm really lost. Like I told the guys in the chatroom, I'm going on blind faith here, not really knowing what I'm doing. I figured once I have stock installed, I'm basically back to square one and can go through the whole process again. Doesn't seem to be working. I have to go to work now but hopefully somebody has something of a suggestion I can try by the time I get home.
xLima said:
4way_multiwindow: This will allow you to have 4 apps open at a time and 3 apps "minimized", this also allows floating windows (Moveable apps running in "windowed mode" essentially.) There is an aesthetic bug when minimized, I have not found a fixed version of this yet, maybe others can provide link. Just load up TWRP manager and choose install, and select the .zip file and it will reboot into recovery and install the file for you. Or you can boot your device into recovery and install it the same way. I am attaching the .zip file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before I try this myself and bootloop, would I be safe flashing the 4way multiwindow on the new stock 6.0.1 ROM? (SM-T805)
Hi!
Can anyone tell me how to backup the data partition on a T-Mobile Galaxy Note 10+ 5G without any sort of root or custom recovery that would trigger Knox flag? I am fully stock and I'm pretty sure Samsung has a tool that allows them to do a dd or full data dump of the partitions on the phone
I want to be able to back it up, fully factory reset it, and potentially restore the data partition so it is back into the pre wiped state.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!
Samsung smart switch app is one approach
dyehya said:
Hi!
Can anyone tell me how to backup the data partition on a T-Mobile Galaxy Note 10+ 5G without any sort of root or custom recovery that would trigger Knox flag? I am fully stock and I'm pretty sure Samsung has a tool that allows them to do a dd or full data dump of the partitions on the phone
I want to be able to back it up, fully factory reset it, and potentially restore the data partition so it is back into the pre wiped state.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I fail to see the point?
For the purpose of backups such as Titanium Backups with app data included or just download the firmware root files ?
If the later, wouldn't it be easier to just unpack a firmware?
If the first ... without root I don't think you can at first thought. Maybe an Odin Dump? But since root is encrypted (I think as this never crossed my mind) I don't really know if it's possible or maybe Heimdal if it still exists ?
Any tips? I'm looking to do this as well. The purpose is to have an efficient backup process for dozens of apps and their configuration files residing in their appdata directory (which I can view using Solid Explorer). I spent a long time building these configurations and continue to update them so I'd like to regularly back them up once a month.
The problem is I am not rooted otherwise this would be very simple. I'm a bit wary to root when there are still OTA updates being provided.
Without root, the only options are Samsung Switch (doesn't do non-Samsung app data), Google Drive backup (doesn't do data), and Helium (doesn't work).
megamorphg said:
Any tips? I'm looking to do this as well. The purpose is to have an efficient backup process for dozens of apps and their configuration files residing in their appdata directory (which I can view using Solid Explorer). I spent a long time building these configurations and continue to update them so I'd like to regularly back them up once a month.
The problem is I am not rooted otherwise this would be very simple. I'm a bit wary to root when there are still OTA updates being provided.
Without root, the only options are Samsung Switch (doesn't do non-Samsung app data), Google Drive backup (doesn't do data), and Helium (doesn't work).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I deliberately use apps that allow disk backup like Poweramp, Digi Clock, ColorNote, Samsung Contacts and Package Disabler.
I use SmartSwitch to transfer home settings only so all the icons and shortcuts need to be recreated but at least the base setup is there. I use ApkExport to make installable copies of all my apps including system apps and updates then stash them on the SD card. Everything I need for a full reload is on the SD card. I then redundantly backup the SD card.
Yeah I wish I could clone the drive like I can with a PC...
There's issues rooting a Samsung and the same goes for OTA updates. I don't update my N10+'s and spend very little time doing maintenance. This one in my hand is still running on Pie, its current load is over 2yo; still snappy fast and stable. Security is not an issue. My other N10+ is running on 10, I prefer Pie. Neither will likely ever be upgraded.
blackhawk said:
There's issues rooting a Samsung and the same goes for OTA updates. I don't update my N10+'s and spend very little time doing maintenance. This one in my hand is still running on Pie, its current load is over 2yo; still snappy fast and stable. Security is not an issue. My other N10+ is running on 10, I prefer Pie. Neither will likely ever be upgraded.
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Click to collapse
Haha wow, and you haven't rooted either of them? If I had two, I would love to have one rooted for experimenting. What issues exactly are there with rooting? I'm guessing typical hardware issues like thumbprint for some ROMs?
And yeah it sounds like I will have to manually copy things to a synced folder... maybe I'll make a really lengthy macro that exports from my most important apps one-by-one.
megamorphg said:
Haha wow, and you haven't rooted either of them? If I had two, I would love to have one rooted for experimenting. What issues exactly are there with rooting? I'm guessing typical hardware issues like thumbprint for some ROMs?
And yeah it sounds like I will have to manually copy things to a synced folder... maybe I'll make a really lengthy macro that exports from my most important apps one-by-one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one is a backup, that's how much I like them.
They run well, security isn't an issue and they fullfill their mission; I have very little to gain by rooting except lose time and potentially a device.
There's no way to root these except maybe a granting a paid 3rd party vendor complete access to phone to unlock the bootloader, a huge security risk. No.
I don't worry about app data except for the ones I already backup especially Poweramp. Recreating that would take a long time. The other app data is best tossed, and could have been responsible for the reload. This N10+ in my hand was last reloaded over 2 years ago. Still fast and stable; that what Android is capable of.
Going over the settings and apps when reloading helps you to find things you may have overlooked. It also refreshes your memory of the how and why things work on your custom setup.