I've posted a few questions here or there in the last few days and received great help from all of you. Thank you!
Now my phone is rooted. I am thinking to deal with the bloatware. There are a few come to my mind, please tell me if it is safe to touch them:
1. KNOX;
2. Verizon Mobile Security;
3. Backup Assistant Plus;
4. Google+;
The ideal of treating these bloatware is to stop them from running so memory can be used more productively. I used to rename bloatware with the bak. Is it the right way of doing thing nowadays? (My last phone was a droid 3).
Hope I will get some directions here. Thanks again.
newshook said:
I've posted a few questions here or there in the last few days and received great help from all of you. Thank you!
Now my phone is rooted. I am thinking to deal with the bloatware. There are a few come to my mind, please tell me if it is safe to touch them:
1. KNOX;
2. Verizon Mobile Security;
3. Backup Assistant Plus;
4. Google+;
The ideal of treating these bloatware is to stop them from running so memory can be used more productively. I used to rename bloatware with the bak. Is it the right way of doing thing nowadays? (My last phone was a droid 3).
Hope I will get some directions here. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SuperSU will stop the user-land Knox agent from running.
You can stop Verizon Mobile Security with "pm disable com.asurion.android.verizon.vms" at a root shell prompt.
After that, freeze any applications that you don't want to run using Titanium Backup. That will keep them from running and allow you to re-enable anything that you've been too aggressive about.
I've found this to be a great help with cutting away the bloatware:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2258952
Do not delete anything that you actually use (Google Calendar/Contact Sync). Cross check the applications to see the functions of each with:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AmzC8GFarItSdGpOZzBfWlR4MC03aDMyZ1BDUFNqU0E&usp=sharing
You can remove anything with Knox in the name after rooting. As always, if using Titanium Backup, backup the app before deleting or freeze it. I don't see anything wrong with renaming the bloatware (apk & odex files).
Somewhere I learned that the vmmhux.apk is Backup Assistant Plus. I rename it with bak suffix, well, the Backup Assistant is still shown under Account. What do we know about this vmmhux.apk?
Also, which app is for Verizon Mobile Security?
EnUfor said:
I've found this to be a great help with cutting away the bloatware:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2258952
Do not delete anything that you actually use (Google Calendar/Contact Sync). Cross check the applications to see the functions of each with:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AmzC8GFarItSdGpOZzBfWlR4MC03aDMyZ1BDUFNqU0E&usp=sharing
You can remove anything with Knox in the name after rooting. As always, if using Titanium Backup, backup the app before deleting or freeze it. I don't see anything wrong with renaming the bloatware (apk & odex files).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might be better off using Titanium Backup for finding which APK belong to which process. Backup Assistant is baked into the system. Even after uninstalling all of Verizon's applications, Backup Assistant will still exist in the settings (opening a menu results in Settings crashing). I won't be able to help you with vmmhux.apk.
According to Titanium, Verizon Mobile Security is /system/app/VMS.APK
Related
Hi,
I have been using this to backup, but have trouble restoring xROM. Is it able to restore apps in say 2.1, backed up in 1.5 (app compatibility aside)
Thanks
Phil
To be honest, I have a problem with this too, I always regularly backup and tried to restore all my apps in CKDROID (2.1 ROM), but I couldn't even install most of the apps, some worked, but more than 70% of my apps were just skipped.
I have also found the Titanium backup a bit unreliable. I bought MyBackUp Pro and it is at the moment the best backup app (in my eyes)
shelnes said:
I have also found the Titanium backup a bit unreliable. I bought MyBackUp Pro and it is at the moment the best backup app (in my eyes)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mybackup also skips apps. perhaps only 70-80%.
I use appmanager to backup my apps, and mybackup for data, that is the best way for me.
xlxl said:
mybackup also skips apps. perhaps only 70-80%.
I use appmanager to backup my apps, and mybackup for data, that is the best way for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's correct. Skips a few, but not more than it's an easy job to re-download them from the market
I use mybackup pro for sms, call logs and all other data, and titanium backup for applications, although i too must admit it's a bit unreliable.
Is there any application that allows all apps to be restored with one click, using mybackup pro is a hassle as i have to press install for every app!
And what about if i use apps2d, do i have to restore them every time i flash a new rom or will they still be there?
Hi !
I'm the Titanium Backup developer.
For those who have problems with reliability (especially for the app restoration) I would recommend to try the "Problems?" button in the app which will download and install a known good version of busybox. This simple step usually annihilates most problem cases
e3zippo: thanks by the way for being a donator ! Just a question, I saw your post on the MoDaCo forum thread (sorry I can't post proper links as a new user. URL is: android.modaco.com/content/software/297171/new-software-that-can-backup-restore-all-settings-of-any-apps/ ) which led me to believe that everything worked fine for you. So which of your posts is the most up-to-date ? I assume you first had problems and then they got sorted out ?
Thanks,
Joël
joel.bourquard said:
Hi !
I'm the Titanium Backup developer.
For those who have problems with reliability (especially for the app restoration) I would recommend to try the "Problems?" button in the app which will download and install a known good version of busybox. This simple step usually annihilates most problem cases
e3zippo: thanks by the way for being a donator ! Just a question, I saw your post on the MoDaCo forum thread (sorry I can't post proper links as a new user. URL is: android.modaco.com/content/software/297171/new-software-that-can-backup-restore-all-settings-of-any-apps/ ) which led me to believe that everything worked fine for you. So which of your posts is the most up-to-date ? I assume you first had problems and then they got sorted out ?
Thanks,
Joël
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Joel! I couldn't really live without titanium backup so i felt a donation was in order
I still have a few problems, when i restore using batch it skipped atrackdog and one more app i can't remember, i will try and download a known good version of busybox as you recommended, and we'll see what happens! Thanks for replying!
Hey all
I discovered this app and donated about a week ago...
I made just one restore and wasn't sure the order I should use after a wipe...
I did
1. Wipe
2. Market to download Titanium (But i didn't go in the download section so next time, it'll show all apps I previously downloaded)
3. Restore
4. Market
But I had to restore twice cause market wasn't showing all my apps...
How you guys do that ?
Hi maxqc,
Your procedure should be correct.
If the market link does not appear for an app, I see two reasonable reasons for that:
a) market cache needs clearing (does not apply in your case because you did a wipe)
b) market entries got deleted by the system a few seconds after I restored them.
I have noticed case "b" recently and indeed, this can be annoying but it's really the system that is removing what I just added in the Market data.
To resolve this without needing a 2nd restore, I will probably add a "repair all Market links" feature in Titanium Backup soon.
Have fun
One more thing that is important: always verify that the "Enable USB Debugging" checkbox in the phone settings is checked.
I will add a verification for that, in the next Titanium Backup release.
Would it be possible to add a feature so that titanium backup will also back up our home screen layout? This is the only feature that I find missing in your great software.
jdoo said:
Would it be possible to add a feature so that titanium backup will also back up our home screen layout? This is the only feature that I find missing in your great software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That yould be AWESOME!!
jdoo said:
Would it be possible to add a feature so that titanium backup will also back up our home screen layout? This is the only feature that I find missing in your great software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi jdoo,
This should already be in the current version: look for something green-colored, labeled either as "Launcher" or as "Home" (depending of whether you have a google or a HTC rom)
joel.bourquard said:
Hi jdoo,
This should already be in the current version: look for something green-colored, labeled either as "Launcher" or as "Home" (depending of whether you have a google or a HTC rom)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the quick response! I must have missed it since the batch backup appears to skip over system type items.
Thanks again for your efforts on this program and your quick response - I absolutely love how fast the unattended batch restore is in the paid version.
Can you explain the different batch options for me? I'm a little confused by them.
What's the difference between the two "backup all user apps" options (why does the 'running apps will be auto-ended' one have more apps)? And what does the "force refresh of your backups" do?
daandman said:
Can you explain the different batch options for me? I'm a little confused by them.
What's the difference between the two "backup all user apps" options (why does the 'running apps will be auto-ended' one have more apps)? And what does the "force refresh of your backups" do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have an app running that you do not want to terminate, you can use the first option. The second option has more apps listed because it does not exclude apps that are currently running.
No idea on force refresh, but it seems like it will do a full backup of apps you backed up before, and also delete what you've uninstalled but had backed up.
daandman said:
Can you explain the different batch options for me? I'm a little confused by them.
What's the difference between the two "backup all user apps" options (why does the 'running apps will be auto-ended' one have more apps)? And what does the "force refresh of your backups" do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi daandman,
It's quite simple actually:
Option 1: The "Backup all user apps (running apps excluded)" will backup all user apps, *except* those which are currently running.
Option 2: The "Backup all user apps (running apps auto-ended)" will backup all user apps, *including* those which are currently running (it auto-kills them as needed before backing them up).
Thus it is normal that Option 2 always includes more apps than Option 1 !
The "Force refresh of your backups" option will remake any backups that you currently have:
- if you have the Free version it will simply overwrite the backup
- if you have the Donate version (and a backup history setting greater than 1) it will simply add a new backup for the app, and delete the oldest one if the max history length is reached for that app.
cigar3tte said:
If you have an app running that you do not want to terminate, you can use the first option. The second option has more apps listed because it does not exclude apps that are currently running.
No idea on force refresh, but it seems like it will do a full backup of apps you backed up before, and also delete what you've uninstalled but had backed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi cigar3tte
Absolutely correct - except that "force refresh" will not delete backups of uninstalled apps.
cigar3tte said:
If you have an app running that you do not want to terminate, you can use the first option. The second option has more apps listed because it does not exclude apps that are currently running.
No idea on force refresh, but it seems like it will do a full backup of apps you backed up before, and also delete what you've uninstalled but had backed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi cigar3tte
You are absolutely correct - except that "force refresh" will not delete backups (of uninstalled apps).
I wanted to know if there was a way to remove apps such as MobiTv and other apps that came with the phone. Some are really pointless and just take up space. My device isnt rooted.
Yep you have to root it first then you can start removing apps.
I rooted mine using the instructions in the Developement area.
Used Root Explorer to creat a folder in your sdcard. Of course any app can do that.
I then used Titanium Backup and made a backup of everything.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=726637
Have fun.
after having root where are them stock apps located.. i cant find them in linda file manager..or the application list?
Removing apps
Use titanium backup to uninstall the apps you don't want after you back them up.
if you select an app that you don't like in the list it will come up with a host of options, one will say un-install. this should remove it from the device.
and if you backed it up ahead of time, you can usually reinstall without an issue.
just don't remove twlauncher..
My phone isnt rooted tho...
root it!!!!!!!!
itsLYNDZ said:
My phone isnt rooted tho...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your phone is REQUIRED TO BE ROOTED to uninstall stock applications. It is not a choice, you have to do it if you want to remove them. It's a really simple process and takes less than 2 minutes to do. It's really hard to brick your device by rooting, its just too simple.
When you're rooted you can many options to do what you want to do:
- Root Explorer (Paid App)
- ADB (takes a while to setup the environment if you don't have it already set up)
... and the other methods that i didn't list.
I just recieved my OTA update. My phone was completely factory with the exception of root access. Not sure if there is a known problem (could not find it by searching), but I have noticed, that Titanium Backup is having trouble backing up the market links for apps now.
I have a few apps that are showing in my downloads, that I can not get from a plain old smiley, to an "m" over the smiley (in my Backup/Restore tab). All were downloaded from the market (although angry birds was originally d/l from getjar, then re-d/l from market after OTA). I am running version 3.5.5 TB, and in the overview it shows that everything is fine, busybox from app 1.16.0, SQLite 3.7.2 included. I have tried to "Attach to Market (forced)", but it just wont take. Any tips, or others with this issue after the OTA?
Buickguy said:
I just recieved my OTA update. My phone was completely factory with the exception of root access. Not sure if there is a known problem (could not find it by searching), but I have noticed, that Titanium Backup is having trouble backing up the market links for apps now.
I have a few apps that are showing in my downloads, that I can not get from a plain old smiley, to an "m" over the smiley (in my Backup/Restore tab). All were downloaded from the market (although angry birds was originally d/l from getjar, then re-d/l from market after OTA). I am running version 3.5.5 TB, and in the overview it shows that everything is fine, busybox from app 1.16.0, SQLite 3.7.2 included. I have tried to "Attach to Market (forced)", but it just wont take. Any tips, or others with this issue after the OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rom manager does a better job than Titanium backup give it a try..
chichu_9 said:
Rom manager does a better job than Titanium backup give it a try..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it let you pick & choose your apps?
Hm........no. I wouldn't say better, just different.
Its definitely a hellava lot quicker though & I've used it rather than Titanium many times, never with bad results (it always worked), so I can't speak bad of it, but it's hardly in the same league as Titanium for this type of thing though.
chichu_9 said:
Rom manager does a better job than Titanium backup give it a try..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have rom manager as well, but my understanding is that rom manager is like a restore point in windows. It brings you back to a previous state, before you had issues. Titanium Backup on the other hand backs up your System Data (contacts, texts, etc), user installed apps with their data, and then allows you to move these across rom changes. That is why I puchased Ti Backup, so I can test some roms in the future.
If I use my Rom Manager backup, to revert to before the OTA, and try to start over, will I recieve the OTA update again?
Try clearing the market app data....not just the cache. Then reboot and sign back into the market and accept the terms. In my case I had to click uninstall updates for the market app which worked for me when I ran into this same problem with titanium backup. I did not receive the ota....happened on its own somehow the market database (assets.db) became corrupt.
Buickguy said:
I have rom manager as well, but my understanding is that rom manager is like a restore point in windows. It brings you back to a previous state, before you had issues. Titanium Backup on the other hand backs up your System Data (contacts, texts, etc), user installed apps with their data, and then allows you to move these across rom changes. That is why I puchased Ti Backup, so I can test some roms in the future.
If I use my Rom Manager backup, to revert to before the OTA, and try to start over, will I recieve the OTA update again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bet it will. someone found a way to force the phone to get the update.
Link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=810827
**DUMMY PROOF INSTRUCTIONS!**
If you already have launcher pro:
1) goto your homescreen.
2) menu key, add.
3) hit shortcuts and then activities.
4) scroll down to device management
5) select "com.wssyncmldm.wssAppDmUiMain" and hit ok
6) this will put a shortcut on your homescreen that will say device management with blue and red arrows.
7) open that shortcut up and hit software update.
if you don't have launcher pro or don't know what it is.
1) goto the market.
2) search "Launcher Pro" or "Federico Carnales"
3) look for a yellow icon with a house on it.
4) install that.
5) once installed hit your homekey. select launcherpro but don't select use as default until you fall in love with launcherpro ;]
6) then, follow the steps above
Thanks to connnn for this info....
sabooher said:
Try clearing the market app data....not just the cache. Then reboot and sign back into the market and accept the terms. In my case I had to click uninstall updates for the market app which worked for me when I ran into this same problem with titanium backup. I did not receive the ota....happened on its own somehow the market database (assets.db) became corrupt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be missing something, but I only see an option to clear the cache for this. Some of the installed apps show an option for clearing the data, but that is not shown for the Market. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place, or a change for JI6??
Looking in settings-->manage applications-->(Filter to all)-->Market
Mine says uninstall updates and not clear data but it does the same thing. Or select wipe data from within titanium backup for the market app. That might work too.
ive done a fair amount of reading and searching and i just want to get some straight answers with these questions as sometimes, opinion with these seem to vary.
1. i use bloat freezer. are there major differences between it and titanium backup?
2. is it necessary to unfreeze apps before a fw/kernel update?
3. is it necessary to unfreeze apps before backing up?
4. is a restored backup with titanium backup as good as a clean wipe and full reinstall of the apps?
hope someone helps me clear it up once and for all and TIA
rab1412000 said:
ive done a fair amount of reading and searching and i just want to get some straight answers with these questions as sometimes, opinion with these seem to vary.
1. i use bloat freezer. are there major differences between it and titanium backup?
2. is it necessary to unfreeze apps before a fw/kernel update?
3. is it necessary to unfreeze apps before backing up?
4. is a restored backup with titanium backup as good as a clean wipe and full reinstall of the apps?
hope someone helps me clear it up once and for all and TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. From the point of view of freezing/unfreezing the apps, only real difference is the price
2. No, but if you change your firmware you will need to refreeze the apps you want to freeze.
3. Don't really know, but I would think no
4. Titanium backup, backs up more than just your apps, including system apps, data and setttings - so they are different
I have a question my self,
If you freeze apps using Titanium backup, is that mean that now Titanium back would run at the background and prevent those apps to start ?
If so, I better remove them right ?
ZagatoDB7 said:
1. From the point of view of freezing/unfreezing the apps, only real difference is the price
2. No, but if you change your firmware you will need to refreeze the apps you want to freeze.
3. Don't really know, but I would think no
4. Titanium backup, backs up more than just your apps, including system apps, data and setttings - so they are different
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as for no. 4
follow this thread, there is a mini discussion on titanium backup:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1198334&page=90
pulser_g2, my fav developer, clearly states:
"You should only titanium restore USER apps and data, not preinstalled ones."
ShivaShidapu said:
I have a question my self,
If you freeze apps using Titanium backup, is that mean that now Titanium back would run at the background and prevent those apps to start ?
If so, I better remove them right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not sure about titanium backup, but for bloat freezer it isnt a running background service. but they should be working the same way.
personally, i choose freezing becasue, there is no perceptible performance hit between freezing and uninsall; and i can always infreeze if i need to use the program again
rab1412000 said:
im not sure about titanium backup, but for bloat freezer it isnt a running background service. but they should be working the same way.
personally, i choose freezing becasue, there is no perceptible performance hit between freezing and uninsall; and i can always infreeze if i need to use the program again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems that no one really knows the answer to this question, but thanks for letting me know about bloat freezer.
I have an SGSII, rooted with Odin/CWM 4 and I cannot restore any system apps using Titanium Backup - it simply sits there saying 'Restoring App' and nothing happens. Normal apps can be restored OK. I tried changing the app processing mode in TB to Auto/Indirect but it didn't help.
Any ideas? I have TB Pro FWIW.
Can't you just restore systemdata? I assume the apps are there already.
ps you know the downside of restoring system apps?
I backed up and then uninstalled some system apps using TB Pro (TpLauncher, AccuWeather, etc.) but now I'd like to get some of them back. I assumed using the TB restore option was the way to go.
What's the downside of doing this? Can I restore these manually?
Same happened to me, I guess lesson is don't uninstall sys app unless you really don't want them.
Glad it's not just me and I have a nandroid so I can get everything back but it's annoying. I've reported it to the TB devs. If they come up with a solution I'll let you know.
I use root explorer backup the system apk, restore it when need it back.
what i do, is close titanium application then restart it again. then viola.
seems strange ... TB Pro always do the job for me
FWIW these were apps I first freezed, then uninstalled (without unfreezing). I wonder if this is relevant. Perhaps the permissions are screwed or something. If I could get a TB log I could find out. Hopefully the developers will help out.
Bump. Any updates on this? I'm having the same problem
Here is my reply from Titanium Backup support:
"We're sorry, system apps are critical and should not be removed in the first place. Some apps are tightly ROM bounded, while others are dependent on other system entities which could break things when they are removed. We have already provided the warning in the preferences that you will be held responsible of your own actions upon removing the system apps and we will not provide support for restoring them back. In most cases like this, you will have to reflash your ROM or restore your nandroid backup (you must always keep a nandroid handy)."
So in other words - tough sh*t! Not what I was expecting.
I restored my Nandroid and now only freeze apps, and they seem to defrost OK but after that reply I'm wondering if I should continue to use their product.
rec71 said:
Here is my reply from Titanium Backup support:
"We're sorry, system apps are critical and should not be removed in the first place. Some apps are tightly ROM bounded, while others are dependent on other system entities which could break things when they are removed. We have already provided the warning in the preferences that you will be held responsible of your own actions upon removing the system apps and we will not provide support for restoring them back. In most cases like this, you will have to reflash your ROM or restore your nandroid backup (you must always keep a nandroid handy)."
So in other words - tough sh*t! Not what I was expecting.
I restored my Nandroid and now only freeze apps, and they seem to defrost OK but after that reply I'm wondering if I should continue to use their product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In fairness they are right, anyone who uninstalls system apps is asking for trouble why would you want to do that in the first place,you can simply freeze any apps you don't use instead, i have most of the Samsung bloatware frozen in Titanium as i don't use them and many of them are responsible for excessive battery drainage.
BTW Titanium Backup is probably the best overall app in the whole market and they always release updates, i highly recommend this app to anyone who doesn't already have it.
As a software developer myself if one of my apps didn't work correctly and a customer asked for help I would do my level best to get to the bottom of the issue instead of fobbing them off.
The app lets you uninstall system apps and restore them again - why would you want to? because on some devices space might be at a premium - I freed up 100MB on my previous device (Xperia Arc S) using this feature for example - which made a big difference.
Luckily I don't need the space on my SII but I'm surprised that the TB devs wouldn't want to find out what the issue is.
rec71 said:
As a software developer myself if one of my apps didn't work correctly and a customer asked for help I would do my level best to get to the bottom of the issue instead of fobbing them off.
The app lets you uninstall system apps and restore them again - why would you want to? because on some devices space might be at a premium - I freed up 100MB on my previous device (Xperia Arc S) using this feature for example - which made a big difference.
Luckily I don't need the space on my SII but I'm surprised that the TB devs wouldn't want to find out what the issue is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They know what the issue is. The outcome of removing an restoring system apps is just unpredictable. They gave a warning that it could cause unwanted results. Messing with roms gives unpredicted results.
Same thing happened to my Galaxy Pocket. I uninstalled system apps and can't restore them.
THE solution is wen u want to uninstall an system app den first of all make an back up of DATA of that system app and den go 2 loaction of app through root explorer in internal storage and copy that APK file to ur sd card as backup .
den delete the APK file mannualy or uninstall using titanium backup...
wen u want dat app again den copy the APK to its original old location of system /app and restore the data using titanium backup and just restart the phone..
hope it helps ...
Yes, I can restore system data
Lennyz1988 said:
Can't you just restore systemdata? I assume the apps are there already.
ps you know the downside of restoring system apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be more thorough:
I am able to restore system data of an app but I can't restore an app.
In fact, if I locate the apk which titanium backup had backed up with a file browser and install it manually, it works fine! I can then restore data with titanium backup.
Issue on my Galaxy SII (no matter what ROM I use)
You shouldn't be restoring system apps at all/you shouldn't need to (the data may be another question though). Why are you wanting to restore system apps/which apps in particular ?