Hello everyone, first of all I should point out that I am not only a newbie but also not very tech savvy!...
So, I have an Xperia Z2! (D6503) and I had it for 2 years but until a week ago, I had no problems at all with it, I was very happy with it.
But then, my battery started to drain extremely fast, in fact, with very very low usage, it would drain entirely within 5-8 hours.
So a friend recommended that I root my device so I can get rid of bloatware and other apps that might be doing the damage.
So doing some little research, I heard of Kingroot which I downloaded from this very website.
And everything was great, I used kingroot to stop over 258 autostart apps that I had!!! (and I had no idea they were doing that).
Then afterwards, from the same video tutorial that I used to install the kingroot app, it recommended that I install TITANIUM BACKUP!
Which I proceeded to install. And then I followed the video instructions, USB debugging was already turned on from installing Kingroot, so I went to backup/restore tab...
then as recommended in the video, I chose "Backup all user apps + system data". After the backup process, which took about 20-25 minutes...
and then when it was done, mostly everything was gone....
my wall paper was gone...everything was in dark, some of the applications were gone...all of my contacts, videos, photos, etc...mostly everything was gone...
When I opened some of the few apps that remained, it asked me to install it (the app)...
So I immediately panicked ....I went back to the app and chose the "restore option" and the first time I chose the "Restore missing apps plus all system data"
it then asked me to install one by one...every app and system data...But it still did not work...
So after it took me over 3 hours of doing that...I did all the other options (restore missing apps with data, restore all apps with data, and restore all system data) one by one...(doing app by app...system data by system data) and I should also mention that while doing this "installations" lots and lots of apps and system data failed to install...WHY? I have no idea obviously...apps and system data such as : WFD Service, Warrantytime Service, VPN Dialogs, USB Connectivity, Overheat Control, etc...etc...etc... over 100 of these things failed to install (which I have no idea what they are but if someone feels it would help if I mentioned them all...I will list them all)
I then proceeded to try the restore option using the Sony PC companion software...but after it did the "restore" and it asked me to restart the phone...
Everything was the same....all the same missing apps, video, etc...
So I spent all day doing this...and still I can't figure out how to recover my stuff ...Please if someone knows what can I do to fix it...please let me know... I can't afford to buy another phone...but most importantly...I want my stuff back like photos etc... :'/
Thank you and I am sorry for making this so long....
OK, a few steps.
First, can you connect your phone to your pc in data mode to browse your sd-card? To recover your photos. Normally, they are located in a subfolder of DCIM on intern SD-card. (Also you may consider to back up your photos in the future or use a cloud service like Google Foto or Mega to backup them. Phones get lost or sometimes stolen too...)
Second thing is just a bit of information: the free version of titanium backup always askes you for every app you restore, this is normal. You have to pay 5$ or so to get the pro app which doesn't ask for every app.
When you succeed in restoring / backing up your photos and stuff (the backups from titanium-backup!!) you may just want to install a new rom / ftf firmware.
This can easily wipe your complete phone, so be sure to have everything backed up to your pc/cloud.
Search in the forum for the newest stock ftf (.264) and install it via flash tool. You will then have a stock Z2 with actual firmware.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2759934
There are also pre-rooted stock firmwares available.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2/general/ftf-cutomized-23-1-0-726-cda-1281-9809-t3082166
If you want to install a custom rom, you definitely want to try stock -based Roms first, so you don't have to play with your bootloader /DRM-keys. Some examples are SLiM-Rom, eXistenz Roms, Purex, Google-Style, Moonwalker Epidemic, Mr. SL rom ... (Be aware that slim-rom, contrary to SLiM-rom, is NOT stuck-based, it will soft brick your phone if you install it with bootloader locked.)
The only thing you then want to restore via titanium backup is probably your SMS and phone call history, they are in a seperate color like green.
For future use, there are apps like "sms backup and restore" which are less problematic than titanium backup in my opinion.
Titanium has some goodies like the possibility to create update.zip files and encryption of backups, but this is more like a pro feature, you sound like you don't really need titanium backup.
Related
I'm running streakdroid 1.9 but I would like to do some experimentation with my streak. If I flash a new rom what will I lose? How do you backup your data so you can flash to your hearts content?
Thanks
if u flash stock roms, they do a factory reset during first start up.
So u end up loosing everything.
However if u flash .zip version of the stock roms using CWM or streak recovery , u will retain almost everything but may loose somethings like root and so on.
Remember stock roms will flash its default recovery everytime it boots up
Ok thanks. Is it wise to do a factory reset anyway?
What tools can I use to backup messages, apps, photos, etc?
I use titanium backup.
If you do a nandroid backup, when you restore it, everything will be just as it was before you flashed another ROM...
As far as using Titanium... it has never worked for me completely, nor has MyBackUp Pro, they cause me more headache than being useful...
I have gotten to the point to when I flash a new ROM, I just manually install everything, I know it sounds like some hassle, but you end up with a much smoother operating phone.
I even do a nandroid backup first, then go into my ROM and manually uninstall everything, so that when I boot up my new ROM and setup my market account, it doesn't try to install everything on its own and bog down my phone at first, I install everything manually in the order I want and set them up as I go.
I know this sounds cumbersome, but I have found it creates a cleaner environment and practically eliminated force closes
That is the way I like to do things also but what about the things that you can't just re-install e.g. sms, application specific data?
Advice
I was having a sim card and constant restart issue after updating to streakroid 2.4.4, and even after flashing dsc, the problem persisted. After I reviewed the steps I had taken I realized that I never did a factory resest (fearing I would forever lose my precious app data, which I did -_-). It turned out that was the fix, after doing the factory reset, my sim card was recognized immediately and a couple of the text I had missed showed up. However, I fixed one fixed problem and developed another.
Even though I restored a MyBackup and Titanium backup I did right before resetting I recovered my several apps without their precious data (setting, notes, bookmarks). I tried doing internal backups within the apps, some conveniently had syncs to a cloud yet I missed doing that with a few apps because I have over 100+ and I use more than half on a regular basis (even if for 5 minutes). All my apps are on my device, which is a good thing but I cant appreciate that given the missing data.
So my advice is:
Use apps that have can automatically backup or sync data -- there are enough apps with similiar utility that you can avoid ones without that function.
Do a manual backup within your important apps. -- Some apps backup files to locations that may be wiped during update, doesn't have auto backup or the last backup is months old.
Pics, texts, call logs are easily backed up -- Backup programs will explicitly state or ask what to back up in that regard.
Do a nandroid backup -- I believe this only restores rom and apps but someone can correct me.
Caveat
Through all the research done before actually need to restore a backup I missed the fact when restore apps depending on the restore program every app has to be reinstalled individually. If you have more than 25 apps then #$#@!, also for some reason when restoring with titanium if during a batch restore you come across an app if you hit cancel during one of the install prompts because you actually don't want to restore that app the batch will freeze and you'll have to force close titanium and start the restore all over. Go through the list of restore options and choose each app one by one, save yourself the time.
Lastly, to piggy back off what was said before, a factory reset( FR) after updating rom is always recommended but its not always needed. Most roms will update without causing you to lose any data but like I said previously I had sim card issues when I updated without a FR. YMMV
At this point I don't know if this helps the OP but maybe it will benefit someone else who reads this thread.
This guide by _n0p_ tells how to do an upgrade and minimize the re-installation of apps.
Key items:
Use the backup function of any apps that have it
Don't count on restoring data with TB or My Backup
Make a nandroid - just in case
I have found TB and My Backup to be useful for things like browser bookmarks.
The post linked to discussed going from Froyo to Gingerbread but the same techniques apply for moving to any other ROM.
Last time i changed roms, i used the Dell backup utility for evertyhing but the apps, which can be backed up together with their data with QtADB which creates a backup folder on your SD. After installing the new rom, i chose advanced recovery from the Dell Utility and set it to recover everything but the apps, which i recovered with QtADB. However, I also strongly recommend nandroid, in case the steak doesn't boot after the install.
Hi there,
About a month ago I bought an HTC Thunderbolt and somebody helped me root the phone. Since then I have had some family emergency/issues that have caused me to put programming the phone on hold. Now that they have cleared up I am trying to now learn a little bit more about upgrading Rom/Kernel/Radio.
I am running the following:
Android 2.2.1
Baseband version 1.16.00.0223r
Kernel 2.6.32.21_bamf4.4.2....
Build 1.13.605.7Das Bamf 1.5 Remix
Software 1.13.605.7
Can somebody tell me how to backup my phone entirely?
I would like to back it up with the intent:
* Install different kernel/radio/rom and keep the same android apps without reinstalling
each one individually.
or
* Restore the phone to its current state (if I should drop the phone and get a
replacement).
I do have titanium backup pro installed but it has never been used. Is this all I need?
I seem to recall that there is a backup feature on this phone that was discouraged....
Thanks in advance...
Anthony
The key for me is to
Use Nandroid (the backup feature in recovery) for a full image backup. Use Titanium to backup individual applications.
Before restoring nandroid backups, be sure to wipe cache and Dalvik (under advanced in recovery).
Nandroid takes nearly the entire phone back to the point of backup (houses everything you have on your phone's internal memory). Titanium allows backups to be restored on different roms. Some apps and many system apps don't play nicely with Titanium, but most from the market do play nicely with it.
Installing new kernels doesn't require wiping your data. Installing new/updated roms does. Installing themes usually does not, but there are exceptions.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Thank you for the explanation.
When you refer to Nandroid & recovery feature, you are referring to Clockworkmod?
Per your input I updated to Rom Manager PRO and then simply selected "Backup Current ROM". I assume that this covers everything on the phone including radio/kernel/apps....
If there is anything else I need to do, please let me know.
Thanks again...
Yes, CWM is how you want to backup your phone entirely. I would recommend going into recovery and making a backup on your own instead of hitting the "backup my current rom" button in rom manager. The backup you make will be saved in a folder on your SD card named clockworkmod/backup. I always think its a good idea to move your backups to your computer and keep your two or three most recent backups on your sdcard.
As for backing up your apps, you can do a batch backup in titanium and when you load a new rom you will be able restore the app and any data associated with it. As a general rule I would only backup apps that require a lot of setup. Otherwise when you load a new ROM the apps you had previously installed will automatically restore (depending on the ROM). Just a tip, dont backup system apps. Doing so and switching versions, for example froyo to gingerbread, could cause many issues down the road even if they aren't immediately seen.
Lastly, when installing a new ROM you always want to wipe data/factory reset at least twice and wipe cache and dalvik cache twice each as well. If you have any issues dont hesitate to ask there are many people who are willing to help.
Go to ROM Manager, scroll down and select Backup Current ROM.
I use two apps for backing up and restoring installed apps; Titanium Pro and MyBackup Pro. For some reason MBP successfully restores the apps + data that fail using TP. For example, apps installed from the Amazon android market.
I create full backups with both TP and MBP, but when I need to restore ( after a complete data wipe and new Rom flash) I do the following:
1) skip setting up my Google account during the initial setup process that starts after user data has been wiped.
2) Uncheck the box that allows backups to Google's servers
3) After setup is finished, go into settings, privacy and deselect the automated backup options
( If I don't do the previous two steps, then Google starts pushing apps that may have been backed up and/ or apps that I have purchased. I don't want this to happen since I am going to do my own restore with data.)
4) I use TP to restore MBP only
5) I then use MBP to restore the rest of my user apps and data.
Some may disagree with my two backup app process, but it has been more successful for me than using either TP or MBP by themselves.
If something doesn't go right with MBP, I still have the full TP backup to pull from.
I do not bother backing up systems apps just because it seems to cause me too many issues when i attempt the restore. This means i have to redo any system settings, but that isn't a big deal to me.
Some of my favorite apps have backup features of their own. Folder Organizer and Circle Launcher are two of my all time favorites. Both restore nicely when i move to a new Rom.
Occasionally, i copy the TP, MBP, and Clockwork folders from my sdcard to a folder on my laptop just in case.
The above may sound like alot, but it goes pretty quick for me and I flash quite a bit ( at least once or twice a week when the device is new and the Rom cookers are really active).
Another thought, I have used MBP to successfully restore my android home screen settings for sense ( part of MBP's data bu ). My preferred launcher is LauncherPro, which has its own backup and restore function.
Finally, i always do a nandroid backup before wiping and flashing to a new Rom. I also always do the backup right from clockwork mod recovery. I love the Rom Manager app and paid for the premium version quite a while ago, but i prefer to backup, wipe and flash from the recovery screen. Even if i download something that needs to be flashed using Rom Manager, I still reboot into recovery to perform the needed steps.
Hope this helps and if someone has another app backup/ restore routine they use successfully i would love to know the steps. I am open to learning something new.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
I am new to HTC devices, coming from Motorola Droids. I have read a lot of the info here but still have a few noob questions. I am currently running RezROM 1.5 and like it a lot. But I would like to get the OTA update for the new radio and I would also like to check out some of the ICS ROM's.
So question is: Is there an easy way to restore user data and apps after flashing ROM's? Many of the ROM's I see suggest or require full wipe and often recommend not restoring anything. I have had problems restoring data (both on Motorola and HTC) with Titanium backup.
Thanks!
TahoeTexan said:
I am new to HTC devices, coming from Motorola Droids. I have read a lot of the info here but still have a few noob questions. I am currently running RezROM 1.5 and like it a lot. But I would like to get the OTA update for the new radio and I would also like to check out some of the ICS ROM's.
So question is: Is there an easy way to restore user data and apps after flashing ROM's? Many of the ROM's I see suggest or require full wipe and often recommend not restoring anything. I have had problems restoring data (both on Motorola and HTC) with Titanium backup.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The apps part is easy. Backup your /data/app/ somewhere before changing ROMs. Then drop it everything back in /data/app/ afterward. All you're backing up though is the installed application, not the data. Data is not recommended across many ROMs so I don't even think about it.
I've tried a few ways... but ultimately. I just deal with resetting everything up the way I want.
I've used MyBackup. It does alright. Takes forever if you have a lot of SMS messages. And it doesn't exactly get all of your system settings either. I also had a problem where I factory reset, re-installed all my apps. and then ran MyBackup restore to get the home screens back in order and while it did, none of the app buttons worked. So I had to replace everything, but at least I knew where things belonged I guess...
Eitherway, haven't been that impressed with any of the backup/restore things as of yet. I'm feeling bold enough to say there isn't a SlamDunk solution out there that'll work for everyone, but the ones that do exist might do enough for you to be happy.
The best way I have found by far is to use the app "App Monster Pro".
You can have that app made a BU copy of the APK for all your installed apps to a folder on your storage card. Then, after a ROM flash you just go to that folder & click on whatever APK's you want installed for the new ROM & you get a completely clean new install of everything in no time.
That way it a little slower than a TI batch recover, but the difference is it works 100% right 100% of the time (something TI & My BU Pro NEVER do)
It doesn't restore text messages, but I never had any desire to do that anyway (it always cracked me up when I had my TouchPro 2 & people would post I just restored 4200 text messages to my new ROM & now my phone is freezing constantly when texting, what do I do??)
I just use ES File Explorer to backup my apps, as for data, for me, my critical data are my contacts, so I just sync those up with my google account.
I second AppMonster Pro for just apps. I love that as soon as you download an app it makes a backup of it so you never have to think about it. And when restoring it's easy on the eyes, unlike TiBU which I find I have to search around a lot before I find what I'm trying to restore. Still I use three back up systems - AppMonster Pro, MyBackup Pro and Titanium Backup Pro - just in case so if one fails I have others to turn to.
Hey all,
So I just purchased Titanium Backup Pro and was wondering if it was possible to restore apps through CWM, or maybe have Titanium Backup as a root app, so that way when I boot up from a fresh wipe, I'll have all my apps available.
Dumb question time: after wiping and going through the first-time setup screen, when it asks you for your google account, should I uncheck the "restore from google account"? If I don't, it'll automatically start downloading all my apps from the market, thus defeating the purpose of Titanium Backup.
Thanks!
Not entirely a waste. See the root is what makes it amazing.
Lets say you have your inbox that had messages of personal keep, Wife? Gf? or possibly both LOL, those data are saved in root folders, TB Root version tends to back up all of this data, every single message from every person, when you reformat the tablet you obviously lose all your data, but TB Root can restore the data, this includes save games, or memo's, settings, alarm setups,contacts too.
You don't really need to uncheck as you can stop it by tapping the X when you open market to stop all the downloads in general, or just turn the Wifi off LOL.
Also you can't really boot with all apps after a fresh wipe, It's like going for surgery to remove a scar only to have it back again LOL. You will need to re-install TB from market (as all apps will be wiped too, since you purchased it it will just redownload it properly) then you can restore it. Normally it saves under sdcard/TitaniumBackup
As for apps via CWM, that's how they install apps with Custom ROM's but it's not advisable since most apps that get forced into system/app don't always get updated, you need something like market doctor in TB to relink it to market so it updates again.
Thanks for the reply!
So what's your recommendation when re-starting after a fresh wipe? I hate waiting hours for all my apps to re-download from Market/Play, as I'm sure many others do, and I'm sure people have come up with far easier/quicker solutions. This is why I bought Titanium Backup, as I thought it was supposed to fix that problem.
Sorry for being a total n00b here.
That's the thing, after a wipe (Factory reset) you download TB from the market, it should already be there for you to download, as per the backup's are saved on your internal drive, as soon as you launch TB *Make sure the tablet is rooted after a wipe check as TB will mention it for you* after which you go to Menu->Batch->Restore "User apps and missing data" and it will show all the apps that you have installed, I would insist not to restore system apps as they would replace the system apps and you may get FC errors.
However when you are done restoring User apps, you can go to the restore tab, and tap on certain "System apps" these can be identified as apps with a red name/smiley, For example Tribuchet.apk is the launcher for ICS 10.1, if you tap it, and press "Restore Data Only" then it will restore the layout on how you had set up your desktop to be.
http://matrixrewriter.com/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=TB+-+User's+guide This guide is pretty nifty for TB user's who first start out.
PS: Make sure when you back up your stuff, that you backup both system and user apps, that way you can always be sure you didn't lose anything important
How exactly would you make a zip if you wanted to restore apps via cwm?
I'm a flashaholic like most of us here. I'd like to know your methods/steps/tricks for restoring accounts/settings/ringtones/apps/data configs ect after a new ROM flash.
Apps Restoration:
-Titanium Backup with user/data restoration would make the ROM unstable. Lots of freezes and Reboots. Some applications were just unusable which forced a painful 'level-down-the-problem' process or simply getting pissed and trying another ROM(which i falsely blamed the problems on the ROM). I know every ROM instructions say not to do this....but this method would be ideal if it worked.
-Titanium Backup with just user-apps restore(no data) was MUCH better yet I still had a few freezes and reboots. So I still haven't found a truly clean ROM with apps-restored from backup.
-No Backup restore, I simply downloaded all the apps and this is the CLEANEST method I've found so far. This is great and all but when you have 200 apps the download process is soooooo long. Plus I have to reconfigure everything. To get a working phone with this method feels like it takes a solid 3 days.
Settings
-This has to be the most painful part. Re-configuring your launcher, widgets, settings, accounts, ringtones, alarms ect.
So what is your routine? What quick and safe/clean methods do you use to restore your phone after a new ROM flash? Do you use tasker for any of this(if so please share your examples/templates)? Any other apps you use for restore like apptozip or maybe you compile your own recovery zip?
kellison007 said:
I'm a flashaholic like most of us here. I'd like to know your methods/steps/tricks for restoring accounts/settings/ringtones/apps/data configs ect after a new ROM flash.
Apps Restoration:
-Titanium Backup with user/data restoration would make the ROM unstable. Lots of freezes and Reboots. Some applications were just unusable which forced a painful 'level-down-the-problem' process or simply getting pissed and trying another ROM(which i falsely blamed the problems on the ROM). I know every ROM instructions say not to do this....but this method would be ideal if it worked.
-Titanium Backup with just user-apps restore(no data) was MUCH better yet I still had a few freezes and reboots. So I still haven't found a truly clean ROM with apps-restored from backup.
-No Backup restore, I simply downloaded all the apps and this is the CLEANEST method I've found so far. This is great and all but when you have 200 apps the download process is soooooo long. Plus I have to reconfigure everything. To get a working phone with this method feels like it takes a solid 3 days.
Settings
-This has to be the most painful part. Re-configuring your launcher, widgets, settings, accounts, ringtones, alarms ect.
So what is your routine? What quick and safe/clean methods do you use to restore your phone after a new ROM flash? Do you use tasker for any of this(if so please share your examples/templates)? Any other apps you use for restore like apptozip or maybe you compile your own recovery zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-i always use and always recommend Helium over ANY other restore app.
-i use it to restore all user apps except for g+/fb which i download from the market
-never never never restore anything to do with system even if you are using the same rom.
-launcher settings are auto there when restored from helium *i do keep a backup in launcher settings though just in case*
-settings are the only thing that need to be done from scratch which i dont mind as i get to look through the settings of the new rom to see changes ect..
-if you use a rom that uses hybrid settings from pa, always keep a backup of those settings via hybrid settings to restore after rom flash
hopefully this helps