Upgrading Roms, should I restore from titanium? - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

OK, I've been doing this for a while but was thinking this could be an issue. I usually SWP Roms pretty often, but lately have been just upgrading to the latest Purity ROM when available. Before I upgrade I do a full titanium back up with titanium pro. I factory reset my phone, install ROM, gapps, and custom kernel. I go through the normal Google setup and make sure titanium downloads as quickly as possible. Then I restore apps and system data from backup. I'm wondering if it actually defeats the purpose of the factory reset if I am restoring system data. Should I change my process?
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Gjohnson7771 said:
OK, I've been doing this for a while but was thinking this could be an issue. I usually SWP Roms pretty often, but lately have been just upgrading to the latest Purity ROM when available. Before I upgrade I do a full titanium back up with titanium pro. I factory reset my phone, install ROM, gapps, and custom kernel. I go through the normal Google setup and make sure titanium downloads as quickly as possible. Then I restore apps and system data from backup. I'm wondering if it actually defeats the purpose of the factory reset if I am restoring system data. Should I change my process?
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are just upgrading/updating the rom that's already installed, normally it's ok to dirty flash. When I do that, I normally wipe the cache and dalvik via recovery then flash the new version. If the devs say not to dirty flash and to do a full wipe (not the sdcard), then I would go with what they say to do.
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)

Gjohnson7771 said:
OK, I've been doing this for a while but was thinking this could be an issue. I usually SWP Roms pretty often, but lately have been just upgrading to the latest Purity ROM when available. Before I upgrade I do a full titanium back up with titanium pro. I factory reset my phone, install ROM, gapps, and custom kernel. I go through the normal Google setup and make sure titanium downloads as quickly as possible. Then I restore apps and system data from backup. I'm wondering if it actually defeats the purpose of the factory reset if I am restoring system data. Should I change my process?
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium backs up the system apps. ( although I only backup the user apps ) And when u wipe everything from the recovery, you are basically wiping away the rom. So I dont think it 'defeats the purpose' .
Just some advice, I have run into problems with titanium restoring system apps and data, so I recommend u just backup the user apps. And if u are updating the rom, its ok to dirty flash ( flash without wiping data )

It recommended to only backup user data apps only as once you changed to other ROM, the system data app might cause issue.

When upgrading to a newer version of the same ROM, save yourself the time and just dirty flash. But do make the backups in case anything goes wrong. If you have issues after a dirty flash, just try a clean flash.
Sent from my Nexus 4

Related

[Q] Incomplete TWRP Restore

Hello,
I have a Nexus 10 (manta) tablet and made a full nandroid backup 10 days ago of the stock+root Android installation. I did that so I would be able to revert back to it if need be after trying out CM 10.1. I found that CM still required some refinement for manta so I wiped the system, did a factory reset and wiped the dalvic cache, then tried restoring the previous backup I made, of the stock system. The backup folder is 2.46GB big and the /data partition is split between two archives. When restoring, the system partition and first data archive seem to backup properly, but after that, the tablet reboots, omitting the second data archive which is pertinent for me to restore all of my apps.
I've installed the latest TWRP, version 2.4.0.0 just in case there was a bug.
How can I fix this and get my tablet back to normal?
Thanks XDA,
Spike
Note: My tablet isn't bricked, I can still boot to the stock rom after doing the incomplete restore but my apps are incomplete.
Edit: I've just updated TWRP to 2.4.1.0 and get a little farther this time. It begins restoring the second /data archive but still reboots during the process.
I'm currently having this issue. Did you ever get it resolved?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I had the same problem, posted a day ago or so about it, but I used this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2121673 and now everything is all good. I just flashed the super wipe zip and then restored and it did NOT reboot during the restore.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app
I had this problem as well. It was really pissing me off, I think it happens when you have a large backup. Anyways, I just kept trying it, and on the third time it worked for me. Maybe I just got lucky. When restoring it wipes everything anyways, but you can try wiping data, system, and cache beforehand and see if it helps.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
My backups are 10GB+ each(I basically make full images to restore to for each ROM) and I never had this issue in the dozens of restores I've done. I always factory reset, wipe cache/dalvik, and then format system(wipe ROM) in that order before restoring the image. In a worst case scenario you can factory image the tablet if the restore fails after the stock ROM has been wiped.
Also you said two archives? My backups are just 1 folder with the 5 partitions and 5 md5 files?
I had this issue as well, after trying to restore from checking out the Ubuntu preview. Ended up giving up on it and enjoying as best I can the clean install. Would still like to restore it if possible though.
I was "finally" able to do a full restore of a backup. I had to break up the restore process though. First I restored system and boot. Once that restored I restored data and was able to get a full data restore as well.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Flashing and data question

Hello quick question here If my phone is already rooted with stock rom and I flash CM on it will I lose my data?
JayMix said:
Hello quick question here If my phone is already rooted with stock rom and I flash CM on it will I lose my data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. to prevent any issues it is advised to wipe all data before flashing. One of the things you learn to deal with when flashing custom roms.
JayMix said:
Hello quick question here If my phone is already rooted with stock rom and I flash CM on it will I lose my data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll want to wipe your data partition when you flash between ROMs. You can use Titanium Backup to backup your user apps before you flash CM (it might be a good idea to copy the TitaniumBackup folder off of your phone after you've made the backup if you aren't familiar with flashing or wiping, if you wipe the internal SD you're backups will be deleted!). Once you've flashed CM you can download Titanium Backup from the market and restore from your backup.
While you can backup/restore system apps as well you'll get weird results between ROMs (which usually results in wiping and starting over again anyway), so my advice is to only restore system apps/data when flashing the same ROM.
Your virtual SD card will not be wiped.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Thx very helpful.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Need Clarifications

Hi Guys!
Unlocked, flashed TWRP and rooted phone via twrp su for the first time in my life. Next move is installing custom PA rom. After browsing xda and other sites for many days to learn how to do it, basically, its just doing it in trwp recovery mode the factory reset, clearing cache and clearing delvic cache, then install rom and gapps then clear again then you are done. Is this right?
now, about factory reset, clearing cache and delvic cache in twrp, when you do this, does it in anyway delete or removes any data or setting in my phone just like when doing it in factory reset in the "Backup & Reset" in "settings" or just like what happens when you unlock/lock your phone? Or it does not really "erase anything"? Coz I do not know if I should backup first and if I must back up, I do not know which to backup or if I should have to make a full backup? Because I might not have to do backups after all for flashing PA custom rom and save time and internal space. If clearing caches and factory reset in TWRP doesnt really delete or mess up anything in android mode then I will go ahead now and install the custom PA ROM. so I need your advice before I proceed.
About flashing back stock recovery, I DL the stock 4.2.2 rom from google dev. do I just flash recovery using this file or is there another specific stock recover file to DL and flash into the phone just like what I did when I flashed TWRP which I was able to DL from goo.im?
Hope you could help me with these clarifications. I did try to search and learn from different threads about this but I not 100% sure I understood it correctly. So I made this thread to make sure of facts and clarify these things.
Hope you could enlighten me. Thanks!
Isn`t this clear enough!
Quoted from PA OP:
INSTRUCTIONS,
1. UPDATE RECOVERY
2. FACTORY RESET
3. INSTALL ROM, GAPPS, FIX-IF ANY
4. WIPE CACHE & DALVIK CACHE
5. REBOOT
PA 3+ UPDATES DO NOT NEED A FACTORY RESET,
BUT YOU NEED TO INSTALL GAPPS ASWELL.
gee2012 said:
Isn`t this clear enough!
Quoted from PA OP:
INSTRUCTIONS,
1. UPDATE RECOVERY
2. FACTORY RESET
3. INSTALL ROM, GAPPS, FIX-IF ANY
4. WIPE CACHE & DALVIK CACHE
5. REBOOT
PA 3+ UPDATES DO NOT NEED A FACTORY RESET,
BUT YOU NEED TO INSTALL GAPPS ASWELL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you misundestood me. I am aware already of how to do it but I was just hoping on some clarifications as I have mentioned in my concerns.
now, about factory reset, clearing cache and delvic cache in twrp, when you do this, does it in anyway delete or removes any data or setting in my phone just like when doing it in factory reset in the "Backup & Reset" in "settings" or just like what happens when you unlock/lock your phone? Or it does not really "erase anything"? Coz I do not know if I should backup first and if I must back up, I do not know which to backup or if I should have to make a full backup? Because I might not have to do backups after all for flashing PA custom rom and save time and internal space. If clearing caches and factory reset in TWRP doesnt really delete or mess up anything in android mode then I will go ahead now and install the custom PA ROM. so I need your advice before I proceed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you would be considerate enough that I have no experience yet on this and I did some browsing and learning thru the guides and threads here in xda and other forums which is why I know the proceedure. I was only clarifying some things this matter that I have quoted now.
also, if someone would be kind enough to lead me to a link where I could find a stock recovery img. the only latest I have found is not JDQ39.
Thanks
Perform a backup of your current ROM first as this will be replaced by paranoid and all app data will be lost when factory resetting.
I don't know where all the need to wipe caches comes from.
Wiping cache and dalvik cache will not erase any of your data
Factory reset will erase all user data (apps, app data, signed in accounts, phone contacts (Google contacts will be downloaded again when you sign into your Google account during setup of new ROM) and SMS messages etc.
Here is the process I usually follow.
Place new ROM & gapps on phone storage
Reboot into twrp
Perform a backup of my working ROM
Factory reset from main page in twrp (the one that says it won't touch your sdcard)
Flash ROM &gapps
Reboot
Once fully setup. Move my old backup from phone storage to pc
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Alex240188 said:
Perform a backup of your current ROM first as this will be replaced by paranoid and all app data will be lost when factory resetting.
I don't know where all the need to wipe caches comes from.
Wiping cache and dalvik cache will not erase any of your data
Factory reset will erase all user data (apps, app data, signed in accounts, phone contacts (Google contacts will be downloaded again when you sign into your Google account during setup of new ROM) and SMS messages etc.
Here is the process I usually follow.
Place new ROM & gapps on phone storage
Reboot into twrp
Perform a backup of my working ROM
Factory reset from main page in twrp (the one that says it won't touch your sdcard)
Flash ROM &gapps
Reboot
Once fully setup. Move my old backup from phone storage to pc
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for the reply! So in making a backup, i could use the backup feature of twrp and this is enough and would make a FULL backup? Meaning all data, app, settings, vault app and files inside vault and go back into its original state as if nothing happened? Or i am wrong? Should i be making or using another backup method aside from the backup feature of the twrp?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
The twrp backup is in essence creating a custom ROM of your phone. Exactly the way it currently is. Including all apps & their data.
If you flash a different ROM and decide you don't like it.
Restore the twrp backup and you will be right back as you was before flashing the custom rom.
If you factory reset (erasing all your data) then restore the backup. It will restore all your data etc...
It's just like a save game. If you mess up. Just reload from there
Note it's not the ultimate tool. If you mess with partitions that are not included in the backup then you might have problems. But for the average user just flashing custom roms . it will backup everything you need
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Alex240188 said:
The twrp backup is in essence creating a custom ROM of your phone. Exactly the way it currently is. Including all apps & their data.
If you flash a different ROM and decide you don't like it.
Restore the twrp backup and you will be right back as you was before flashing the custom rom.
If you factory reset (erasing all your data) then restore the backup. It will restore all your data etc...
It's just like a save game. If you mess up. Just reload from there
Note it's not the ultimate tool. If you mess with partitions that are not included in the backup then you might have problems. But for the average user just flashing custom roms . it will backup everything you need
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again for the reply. Now another clarification. So when you say the twrp back is just like making a rom of its current status or like a saved game and if i did not want the new rom then i could revert back to this backed up rom. So does it mean that if i install PA rom then restore the backup from twrp, will it overwrite the PA rom and go back to my original rom that i have backed up or will it only restore the apps and settings, etc.?
Also about this twrp backup, will it also backup and return to old state when restored certain apps like notepad and the notes i have saved in this app. The same goes to the vault app and all the files i have hidden in this app, will it back it up as well and will be restored?
Thanks for your patience..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
vinz_bangiz said:
Thanks again for the reply. Now another clarification. So when you say the twrp back is just like making a rom of its current status or like a saved game and if i did not want the new rom then i could revert back to this backed up rom. So does it mean that if i install PA rom then restore the backup from twrp, will it overwrite the PA rom and go back to my original rom that i have backed up or will it only restore the apps and settings, etc.?
Also about this twrp backup, will it also backup and return to old state when restored certain apps like notepad and the notes i have saved in this app. The same goes to the vault app and all the files i have hidden in this app, will it back it up as well and will be restored?
Thanks for your patience..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. It will revert the entire ROM back to what it was.
Basically how your device is when you backup. Is how it will be when you restore.
All app preferences and settings. All apps. Widgets everything.
The only thing it doesn't alter is what's on your internal storage
And a point to note.
If you make changes to contacts or have received texts after the backup. It will revert them if you restore back to what they were when you backed up.
It is just like turning back the clock on your phone. Putting everything back to the point you backed up except files you have put on to the internal storage
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I think you are saying that you will want to restore data on PA. You can backup/restore data with titanium backup or carbon.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Whoops yes didn't read fully. You get no choice with a twrp backup. It's just the full lot that gets restored. If you want specific apps to be restored onto a new ROM you need to make backups of them using something like titanium backup on your current ROM. Then restore them on your new ROM.
You can use app like SMS backup and restore for taking your SMS history into a new rom
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Thanks guys for the replies. Yes, what i exactly wanted was to install PA but be able to restore all data, apps nd settings back to what it was except that now it would be running under PA rom. If this is the case then titanium back up is what i am looking for? With titanium, is there a specific setting or option that i shld select or just press backup button? Sorry, its my first time to use titanium. Also, does the backup of the titanium also covers my notes on my "note everything" app as well as the files that i hid in my "vault" backup? Or should i make a separate backup using the apps on backup feature? And in the case of the "vault" app, should i unhide them first, backup with titanium then after restore just hide them again?
Im really appreciating the help..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
bump..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
vinz_bangiz said:
Hi Guys!
Unlocked, flashed TWRP and rooted phone via twrp su for the first time in my life. Next move is installing custom PA rom. After browsing xda and other sites for many days to learn how to do it, basically, its just doing it in trwp recovery mode the factory reset, clearing cache and clearing delvic cache, then install rom and gapps then clear again then you are done. Is this right?
now, about factory reset, clearing cache and delvic cache in twrp, when you do this, does it in anyway delete or removes any data or setting in my phone just like when doing it in factory reset in the "Backup & Reset" in "settings" or just like what happens when you unlock/lock your phone? Or it does not really "erase anything"? Coz I do not know if I should backup first and if I must back up, I do not know which to backup or if I should have to make a full backup? Because I might not have to do backups after all for flashing PA custom rom and save time and internal space. If clearing caches and factory reset in TWRP doesnt really delete or mess up anything in android mode then I will go ahead now and install the custom PA ROM. so I need your advice before I proceed.
About flashing back stock recovery, I DL the stock 4.2.2 rom from google dev. do I just flash recovery using this file or is there another specific stock recover file to DL and flash into the phone just like what I did when I flashed TWRP which I was able to DL from goo.im?
Hope you could help me with these clarifications. I did try to search and learn from different threads about this but I not 100% sure I understood it correctly. So I made this thread to make sure of facts and clarify these things.
Hope you could enlighten me. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 07:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:48 AM ----------
hondafreak513 said:
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
atqAtwood
Vcl
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
vinz_bangiz said:
Thanks guys for the replies. Yes, what i exactly wanted was to install PA but be able to restore all data, apps nd settings back to what it was except that now it would be running under PA rom. If this is the case then titanium back up is what i am looking for? With titanium, is there a specific setting or option that i shld select or just press backup button? Sorry, its my first time to use titanium. Also, does the backup of the titanium also covers my notes on my "note everything" app as well as the files that i hid in my "vault" backup? Or should i make a separate backup using the apps on backup feature? And in the case of the "vault" app, should i unhide them first, backup with titanium then after restore just hide them again?
Im really appreciating the help..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure how either of those apps work, but I'm guessing your notes will be fine. You might have to do some experimenting with the vault app. You should do a TWRP backup in addition to Titanium. In Titanium Backup, you just press the batch button in top right corner and "backup all user apps/data" or whatever it says.
As far as system settings go, they should be restored if you choose that option after logging into your Google account (only during initial setup).
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Side note: In order for batch processing to work within Titanium, you must purchase the Pro key. Otherwise, you will have to backup and restore each app individually.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Great! Thanks for clearing these things for me.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
fernandezhjr said:
Side note: In order for batch processing to work within Titanium, you must purchase the Pro key. Otherwise, you will have to backup and restore each app individually.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It still does batch, but it's a pain...

nandroid + flashing/restoring across roms

I'm having a little trouble understanding nandroid vs. other forms of backup and would appreciate some clarification. I'm running CM nightly on my Fido (Canada) G4. I took a nandroid as well as titanium backup of the factory stock image before I flashed CM.
A poster in the last thread I made suggested if I wanted to restore to stock, I could simply restore the nandroid, but I've also seen people say you shouldn't use nandroid to go across ROMs. My understanding is that nandroid is like having a filesystem backup, which would obviously not react well if you restored it over a new operating system (e.g. two different versions of windows). Or is nandroid more like say Acronis, which takes an entire disk image and overwrites everything?
Other misc questions:
- If I do restore via nandroid, do I need to wipe all data / cache / system data before or after the restore?
- I assume I can use titanium to restore SMS + all non-system apps across ROMs, which would save a lot of time.
- If I'm going from one CM nightly to another, would titanium work for system apps (e.g. all my settings, or contacts, etc)
- If I want to flash a new CM nightly, do I need to follow the entire wipe procedure just as if it were going from one ROM to a completely different one?
Thanks!
always make a nandroid in recovery. i recommend keeping it on your micro sd card. in the event you need to return your device to it's previously functioning state, restore the nandroid in recovery. if you are running an aosp rom and your nandroid is touchwiz, wipe data, cache & dalvik before restoring the nandroid. if the backup is on your micro sd then feel free to wipe system as well.
if you want to flash a nightly or update to a rom you are currently running, simply wipe cache and dalvik then flash the update, gapps and any custom kernel that you may be running.
i cannot answer your titanium backup questions because i do not use that program
xBeerdroiDx said:
always make a nandroid in recovery. i recommend keeping it on your micro sd card. in the event you need to return your device to it's previously functioning state, restore the nandroid in recovery. if you are running an aosp rom and your nandroid is touchwiz, wipe data, cache & dalvik before restoring the nandroid. if the backup is on your micro sd then feel free to wipe system as well.
if you want to flash a nightly or update to a rom you are currently running, simply wipe cache and dalvik then flash the update, gapps and any custom kernel that you may be running.
i cannot answer your titanium backup questions because i do not use that program
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, that's about what I have. ok, thank you for the clarification of what to wipe! that's good to know.
re flashing a nightly/update: using your method should preserve system data yes? so no need to reinstall all apps or system data?
and thanks, I'll hold out hope that someone with titanium expertise will be able to answer that one
kabutar said:
re flashing a nightly/update: using your method should preserve system data yes? so no need to reinstall all apps or system data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, system/user data will remain. understand, however, that if you perform one of these dirty flashes and you have a problem with the functionality of the ROM, you'll need to do a full wipe and flash to see if this clears the issue before you report the problem in the development thread.
kabutar said:
yes, that's about what I have. ok, thank you for the clarification of what to wipe! that's good to know.
re flashing a nightly/update: using your method should preserve system data yes? so no need to reinstall all apps or system data?
and thanks, I'll hold out hope that someone with titanium expertise will be able to answer that one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right on both titanium questions.. However its not recommended to restore system apps you backed up on a aokp/aosp ROM to a touchwiz ROM and the other way around... Other than that like I said your fine
Sent from my WANAM'ED AT&T S4

[Q] Install new build of ROM and keep apps and settings?

I have been using houstonn's 4.4 and now 4.4.1 ROMs (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2502789) and am happy, but I want to stay on the latest build without having to reinstall apps and everything every time. I want to install the 12/11 BETA build, but how do I keep my apps and settings and stuff?
Thanks for helping me out - perhaps obviously I am new to this stuff. Fun though!
Gusalo said:
I have been using houstonn's 4.4 and now 4.4.1 ROMs (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2502789) and am happy, but I want to stay on the latest build without having to reinstall apps and everything every time. I want to install the 12/11 BETA build, but how do I keep my apps and settings and stuff?
Thanks for helping me out - perhaps obviously I am new to this stuff. Fun though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to flash a new nightly build all you have to do is wipe cache and davlik flash new build the wipe cache and davlik again then fix permissions.......recommend doing backup before and if you want to keep app data for anything in future Titanium backup can backup that...hope this helps
Also if the framework changes I recommend entire wipe or if Dev recommends.....
RubbleTea said:
If you want to flash a new nightly build all you have to do is wipe cache and davlik flash new build the wipe cache and davlik again then fix permissions.......recommend doing backup before and if you want to keep app data for anything in future Titanium backup can backup that...hope this helps
Also if the framework changes I recommend entire wipe or if Dev recommends.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response. I have a couple of questions though.
1. For the backup - are you saying to use Titanium Backup to back up the apps and data and then restore the apps and data with Titanium Backup after updating?
2. If the Dev recommends entire wipe, is there any way to keep my apps and settings and stuff?
Thanks!
Gusalo said:
Thanks for the response. I have a couple of questions though.
1. For the backup - are you saying to use Titanium Backup to back up the apps and data and then restore the apps and data with Titanium Backup after updating?
2. If the Dev recommends entire wipe, is there any way to keep my apps and settings and stuff?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its just new nightly builds you can dirty flash...wipe cche and davlik then flash then wipe cache and davlik ag again.
For your first question use Titanium backup for app data if you do have to do entire wipe ( system,data,cache and davlik).
If the Dev recommended entire wipe he prob knows best cause he built it......if your on the ROM and flashing a new nightly like I said just dirty flash and if you use twrp under advanced click fix permissions after flashing also
do not restore apps+appdata and then complain about weird stuff happening like wakelocks, laggs, battery, fc, etc
Sent from my LG-D802

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