"image" backup - Galaxy S III General

I want to experiment with flashing different ROMs and kernels, but I would like a quick and easy way of restoring my stock 4.1.2 ROM with all my settings/apps if I need to. I tried to do this with Titanium Backup, but after flashing back to stock I had to wipe data and cache and when I reinstalled Titanium backup there was no apps/settings.
Is there any way to make an "image" of my default environment which I can then flash from recovery?

Create a backup(nandroid)
You will need a custom recovery installed, doing this will give you a complete system image and restoring it will put your phone back to the exact state it was in when you made the backup

slaphead20 said:
Create a backup(nandroid)
You will need a custom recovery installed, doing this will give you a complete system image and restoring it will put your phone back to the exact state it was in when you made the backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I have made a backup using CWM Recovery. I also selected the "create image.zip" option - I assume that I can flash that .zip and be back to the current state after playing with some ROMs?

Vlad_M said:
Thanks, I have made a backup using CWM Recovery. I also selected the "create image.zip" option - I assume that I can flash that .zip and be back to the current state after playing with some ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure about that option as I use quote an old recovery that doesn't have that option unfortunately, so can't help you there

slaphead20 said:
Not sure about that option as I use quote an old recovery that doesn't have that option unfortunately, so can't help you there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I made both backups (the normal .tar and the image.zip). One more question though - the last time I flashed the stock ROM (using Odin), I had to wipe data and cache because the phone got stuck in a boot loop. If I restore from backup and have to wipe data and cache again, won't this render the whole restore useless (i.e. I will go back to default state)?

Related

[Q] I can't restore my cwm backup, what should I do? [urgent,please help]

Hi,
I had a problem with my NDT miui nand buil recently, it was sticking on boot animation, so I made a backup via cwm, I saved the backup folder on my pc. Now I want to restore that backup. I tried all the usual methods for it, I did tas29, flashed new clk, and tried backup, still stuck on boot animation, I flashed my last rom and then tried to restore the backup, again stuck on boot animation. I did everything for it, but doesn't works for me. It does the restore process as usual, but I wan't to boot, my phone stuck in boot animation. So I beg you to help me with one of these alternatives, please.
-I only want to restore my contacts, call logs and sms. Anyway to restore them only? there are some .img files in backup folder, which one are these files stored?
-Is there anyway I can extract backups files on my pc and get my contacts,sms,... in it?
-If none of above works, is there anyway to install cwm on pc android emulator, and then restore my backup in it, and again get my contacts,sms there?
I will really be thankful of your helps
behnam2016 said:
Hi,
I had a problem with my NDT miui nand buil recently, it was sticking on boot animation, so I made a backup via cwm, I saved the backup folder on my pc. Now I want to restore that backup. I tried all the usual methods for it, I did tas29, flashed new clk, and tried backup, still stuck on boot animation, I flashed my last rom and then tried to restore the backup, again stuck on boot animation. I did everything for it, but doesn't works for me. It does the restore process as usual, but I wan't to boot, my phone stuck in boot animation. So I beg you to help me with one of these alternatives, please.
-I only want to restore my contacts, call logs and sms. Anyway to restore them only? there are some .img files in backup folder, which one are these files stored?
-Is there anyway I can extract backups files on my pc and get my contacts,sms,... in it?
-If none of above works, is there anyway to install cwm on pc android emulator, and then restore my backup in it, and again get my contacts,sms there?
I will really be thankful of your helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using the correct partition size? Too small a partition normally causes the phone to hang at the bootanimation. If you have used the correct partition size and it still doesn't boot, try simply increasing it to account for any bad blocks you may have.
It's also possible that your backup is corrupted somehow, it happened to me once. If this is the case, try flashing the same ROM and then restoring the data partition in CWM.
When you rename backup file do not use spaces (exp. icsromv3)
Sent from my E15i using xda premium
2010matej said:
When you rename backup file do not use spaces (exp. icsromv3)
Sent from my E15i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that's the problem because if the ROM gets up to the bootanimation (after a Task29) then it's clearly been [somewhat] flashed correctly so it's probably down to the backup itself, or of course an error somewhere on his part.
behnam2016 said:
... it was sticking on boot animation, so I made a backup via cwm, ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Come on guys, this is common sense. If he made the backup with the rom ALREADY not booting up, no matter what he does, it'll always stick to the boot animation.
The back-up saves your ROM at its current state, not the one it was working at before. Backups should only be done when your ROM is actually fully functioning, not when it is broken. So unfortunately, you have to do what Nigel Suggested. Make a clean install of that ROM and then only restore the data partition.
You may be able to do the emulator thingy, but I'm not sure, you can give it a shot though.
For extracting something from your backup see appextractor or nandroid browser
Marvlesz said:
Come on guys, this is common sense. If he made the backup with the rom ALREADY not booting up, no matter what he does, it'll always stick to the boot animation.
The back-up saves your ROM at its current state, not the one it was working at before. Backups should only be done when your ROM is actually fully functioning, not when it is broken. So unfortunately, you have to do what Nigel Suggested. Make a clean install of that ROM and then only restore the data partition.
You may be able to do the emulator thingy, but I'm not sure, you can give it a shot though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whoops, I should have read the OP more carefully
@OP Yeah, just fresh install then restore the data partition. I still don't understand why the other ROM isn't working though unless it's your fault somwhere

[Q] TWRP Recovery- How to use?

So I am currently on Paranoid Android and wish to switch to another ROM (most likely AOKP or PACman just to try). In TWRP recovery, what would I select to just back up my app data and NOT my ROM, and after that is possible, what must I restore to get it back and in what order of flashing alon with my new ROM and GAPPS???:silly:
You can go into TWRP and backup and choose what partitions you want to backup. However, I'd suggest you backup everything and don't try to restore the data to another ROM.
I use Titanium to backup all app data as well as MMS history, WiFi networks etc then do a full backup in TWRP. Then wipe everything and flash the new ROM. Then boot up and reconfigure accounts and restore apps + data with titanium.
It may be a little more effort but this way you can always roll back to the previous setup if anything goes wrong and you're less likely to run into any weird issues from moving data around between ROMs.
Or you could try something like app2zip off the play store to make a flashable zip of only selected apps and data which is probably safer than the whole partition. If you do a full backup first you can always rollback if something goes wrong.
When using Titanium Backup, when I hit run backup, where does it go and how do I restore it after I flash my new ROM. Or do I do the update.zip option and flash that when I'm doing my new ROM?
GraysonB said:
When using Titanium Backup, when I hit run backup, where does it go and how do I restore it after I flash my new ROM. Or do I do the update.zip option and flash that when I'm doing my new ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It goes into a folder on /sdcard called TitaniumBackup. When you flash a new rom, you will need to redownload titanium backup. When you redownload it, it will find the backups and you can click on the app to restore it.
Theres no need to use the update.zip method. Do it like this ^

Nandroid Backup

I'll just put this out there for other noobs using twrp. I've never done a nandroid backup before, and I'm currently running twrp v2.6.3.2. When I select backup, it directs me to select which partitions, with boot, system & data already checked. Do I need to check any of the other options (Recovery, Cache, EFS)? TIA.
thestrangebrew said:
I'll just put this out there for other noobs using twrp. I've never done a nandroid backup before, and I'm currently running twrp v2.6.3.2. When I select backup, it directs me to select which partitions, with boot, system & data already checked. Do I need to check any of the other options (Recovery, Cache, EFS)? TIA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most important is the EFS one, somewhere mentioned it contains your IMEI etc. Backup it, and copy it for safe keeping. Everything else you should be able to recover, but EFS if lost might lead you to a non-usable phone.
Cache not needed.
Recovery well depends, but its just 8-11MB more I would check it as well.
Actually you can back it up all.
The most space will take the SYSTEM and DATA anyways, the rest is few MB's. Let's say SYSTEM is your ROM (system apps etc), and DATA is your config and installed apps. (Not entirely true if you do some modifications but these 2 partitions you need to restore the backup as you had it)
Boot is the kernel. Which might be needed by the specific System if you go custom, again only some MB's.
Just remember that you can even choose what you will recover. So when you change your recovery, kernel etc and you go for restore of some older backup, careful of compatibility in between ROM and KERNEL for example
Awesome thanks for the quick informative info. I figured it wouldn't hurt to just backup everything, but I thought I'd ask just in case I missed something.

[Q] my phone stopped working after changing farmework

I have replaced the framework files in the system... rebooted the phone and got many errors... can't even view anything in the phone.
Do I solve the problem by installing the bootloader and Modems XXUFNC9 by odin3?
Do I lose my files by installing this?
If this worked, would I be able to do a backup using recovery mode?
Thanks in advance
you can use your phone again after flashing stock firmware and wiping data & cache
you will lose any data
I dont recommend that you do a backup in this status because you missed the phone up
always do Nandroid backup when the phone is clean !
if you have a previous backup you can restore it
RubbaBand said:
you can use your phone again after flashing stock firmware and wiping data & cache
you will lose any data
I dont recommend that you do a backup in this status because you missed the phone up
always do Nandroid backup when the phone is clean !
if you have a previous backup you can restore it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so there's no way to restore my files?!
go to recovery then do a custom backup and choose data & cache (dont select any other option) and hit start backup
then after flashing & wiping flash a custom recovery and go to custom restore and choose data & cache
and hit start restore
your phone should work with previous apps
make sure to backup in SD CARD !
RubbaBand said:
go to recovery then do a custom backup and choose data & cache (dont select any other option) and hit start backup
then after flashing & wiping flash a custom recovery and go to custom restore and choose data & cache
and hit start restore
your phone ahould work with previous apps
make sure to backup in SD CARD !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to confirm.. this is the sequence u mean?,, please correct me if am wrong
1. back up
2- wipe data and cache
3- restore
yes like that but do a (custom backup)
not a normal or full backup !
RubbaBand said:
yes like that but do a (custom backup)
not a normal or full backup !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what do you mean by a custom back up?..how to do it?
the most thing I care about is my photos and videos... is it possible to just back up those?
after this i have to install omega rom to do the rest of the work...do u recommend this step?
follow my steps
go to recovery
go to backup and restore > custom backup to /storage/sdcard1
then select everything instead of the SYSTEM then start backup
after that wipe data & cache
then flash stock firmware via Odin
then wipe data & cache
then flash a custom recovery
then go backup and restore > restore from /storgae/sdcard1 and select the folde qnd hit start
everything should be ok
RubbaBand said:
follow my steps
go to recovery
go to backup and restore > custom backup to /storage/sdcard1
then select everything instead of the SYSTEM then start backup
after that wipe data & cache
then flash stock firmware via Odin
then wipe data & cache
then flash a custom recovery
then go backup and restore > restore from /storgae/sdcard1 and select the folde qnd hit start
everything should be ok
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
everything is clear now but the thing is I dont have the "custom backup" option. I'm using a CWM recovery..
download & flash touch philz Recovery
RubbaBand said:
download & flash touch philz Recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't use the phone to download it!!
i'm gonna flash it via odin... sorry for bothering
man, just one more thing,
do u know how do i delete old files in my sd card in order to backup the phone..cuz there's no enough space in the sd card : )
connect the SD Card to pc
or put it on another phone and manage it from there
RubbaBand said:
connect the SD Card to pc
or put on another phone and manage it from there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh Yeah, I'll connect it to another phone.
Thanks a lot for your time. I really appreciate your help
anytime bro im here to help you

[Q] How do I revert to stock?

I'm a newbie when it comes to all things Android. I have a T-Mobile Galaxy Note 4 which I've rooted.
I've installed a flashable zip via TWRP and I think it may be causing some problems. Due to lack of forsight, I did not make a backup.
So, how do I get everything back to stock so I can start from scratch and make a backup the right way? Can I use the factory reset option in TWRP?
The zip I flashed was supposed to unlock my wifi tethering, but it didn't work. I think it altered some system files.. If I use TWRP which boxes would i want checked?
Reflash stock rom of your device. It will be back to complete stock with no root what so ever
Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk
lmills.117 said:
I'm a newbie when it comes to all things Android. I have a T-Mobile Galaxy Note 4 which I've rooted.
I've installed a flashable zip via TWRP and I think it may be causing some problems. Due to lack of forsight, I did not make a backup.
So, how do I get everything back to stock so I can start from scratch and make a backup the right way? Can I use the factory reset option in TWRP?
The zip I flashed was supposed to unlock my wifi tethering, but it didn't work. I think it altered some system files.. If I use TWRP which boxes would i want checked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset does not help to revert back to stock.
Install Phone INFO ★Samsung★ app > Menu > 'Firmware Browser' to find and download stock firmware for your device.
Then boot into download mode and flash via Odin software.
vndnguyen said:
Factory reset does not help to revert back to stock.
Install Phone INFO ★Samsung★ app > Menu > 'Firmware Browser' to find and download stock firmware for your device.
Then boot into download mode and flash via Odin software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just checked it out on the Play store; looks like it redirects to sammobile for firmware downloads. I already tried to download my firmware via sammobile on the PC and it seems like the link is currently broken. However, I found it over on samsung-updates. Hopefully that's a reputable site as well.
My plan is to re-flash with stock, re-root, install TWRP, and then immediately make a backup. Is that a solid plan, or should I use titanium backup before/instead of TWRP backup?
Also, are the default options in TWRP backup good enough? Is Titanium backup redundant if I use TWRP?
A TWRP makes a full backup of the ROM, so its more useful if you mess up and its is highly recommended you make one.
Titanium Backup is useful if you wanna change ROMs, but keep your apps and app data
Tom540 said:
A TWRP makes a full backup of the ROM, so its more useful if you mess up and its is highly recommended you make one.
Titanium Backup is useful if you wanna change ROMs, but keep your apps and app data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So for example, let's say that I want to install some mods on top of the stock firmware (like this one that supposedly unlocks my wifi tethering). But then I change my mind and I want to revert back to stock -- I can restore my TWRP backup to revert back to before the mods were installed (with default backup options checked?) and then use titanium backup to restore my apps and app data?
What exactly happens if I back up with TWRP using default options and then restore? What will be different? I'm assuming that all of the apps that I installed since the backup will no longer be there?
lmills.117 said:
So for example, let's say that I want to install some mods on top of the stock firmware (like this one that supposedly unlocks my wifi tethering). But then I change my mind and I want to revert back to stock -- I can restore my TWRP backup to revert back to before the mods were installed (with default backup options checked?) and then use titanium backup to restore my apps and app data?
What exactly happens if I back up with TWRP using default options and then restore? What will be different? I'm assuming that all of the apps that I installed since the backup will no longer be there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep you are correct! Restoring the TWRP backup will restore the ROM, data, apps etc that were there when you made the backup; you can, however, use TB to backup any apps or data and then restore them when you restore the TWRP backup
Tom540 said:
Yep you are correct! Restoring the TWRP backup will restore the ROM, data, apps etc that were there when you made the backup; you can, however, use TB to backup any apps or data and then restore them when you restore the TWRP backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I just re-flashed the stock firmware and all of my apps are still there. The recovery mode went back to stock so I put TWRP back on. Then I rooted again and TWRP was gone again! What is going on..
lmills.117 said:
Just checked it out on the Play store; looks like it redirects to sammobile for firmware downloads. I already tried to download my firmware via sammobile on the PC and it seems like the link is currently broken. However, I found it over on samsung-updates. Hopefully that's a reputable site as well.
My plan is to re-flash with stock, re-root, install TWRP, and then immediately make a backup. Is that a solid plan, or should I use titanium backup before/instead of TWRP backup?
Also, are the default options in TWRP backup good enough? Is Titanium backup redundant if I use TWRP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In short, TWRP creates a backup of whole partition, e.g system partition - where Android OS is stored, userdata partition - where user data is stored (including all installed apps and their data, settings), etc...
While Titanium creates a backup of individual apps inside the userdata partition.

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