[RANT]I don't trust recovery anymore, can anyone assist? - Galaxy S I9000 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I don't know how many times this has happened, but it seems countless times on ICS. It used to be fact that you could always trust a nandroid backup, but it seems when I have moved to ICS this is certainly not the case. I have done a backup of a completely functioning and working system of ICS, and when I have done a restore now System UI and contacts do not work? "App not installed" is the pop up that displays when trying to go to phone or contacts and status bar is completely obsolete? I later investigate (root browser) that those apks ARE actually there, but their permissions are incorrect?
I manaually change them and then reboot into recovery and wipe dalvik and reset permissions and reboot back again and sure enough they still won't display? I have also changed them and then not reset permissions in recovery but wiped dalvik and STILL they won't display. I check their permissions and they revert back to the old way which is totally different to all other apks in system and/or they change and are permanent but the apks refuse to display?
Fixing permissions doesn't seem to do ****! (excuse my obscenities but I am getting really frustrated and really jacked off about this). I seem to have better luck flashing back over the top of a functioning/existing ROM than to flash and attempt to do an advanced system restore. I also did a full system restore with no luck. I actually fear recovery more than doing anything now...I get nervous if I have to rely on it because it is plain fact now that it is bull**** unreliable.
Can anyone share on how to fix these problematic issues? Will flashing a newer or different version of recovery aleiviate these problems? My phone is now redered completely useless until some random act of god or flashing of completely stock ROM is enacted….I really don't want to keep having to do this.
End rant/

I found my issues. 1) there was an additional file in my clockworkbackup folder called .settings2 I have no idea what this is? But anyway I put it in a separate folder within backup and locked it away from everything else. I noticed the last backup I did actually backed up EVERYTHING this time.
2) I have a feeling and I suspect that if apks are not all the same signature that the GooglePackageVerifier.apk and GooglePackageVerifierUpdater.apk packages remove or inhibit apks that do not "match" what they consider a standard? I noticed that a lot of ROMs now have these two things removed and I wondered why? Maybe this is why? themed apks NOT allowed cause they cannot be updated?
Feel free to share your thoughts?

Related

Backup Root not backing up/restoring

Hi, I've been using Backup for Root Users constantly as I have been flashing once, maybe twice a day between the new Hero ROMs popping up everywhere. I'm trying to use Backup for Root Users to backup/restoring my data to make the transition easier. However, I've found that sometimes the application doesn't backup whatever I tell it to back up.
For instance, I'll click the button to back up apps2sd - system and it will say found under sdcard/Backup Root. But if I navigate to that folder, it will be blank, or sometimes the folder isn't even there. So, I decide to uninstall the application/reinstall to see if that could fix it. Sometimes it will fix it, but sometimes it will only allow me to backup one more item before the same problem arises.
Sometimes, I'm able to completely backup everything and I make sure to check that they are indeed on the sdcard. After re-flashing a new ROM, I go to restore my data and after I click restore, nothing changes. All my application settings are the same, or my sms doesn't show up, or my APNs are all missing, whatever. Most of the time at least one of the restores will work.
So, my question is whether anyone else has this problem and knows how to fix it? Pretty please, I want to flash ROMs, but its a hassle to constantly have to re-enter APN information or to lose all my SMS, etc.
Thanks
EDIT: I usually go in through ASTRO to delete all the previous backups from the folder to make sure that it doesn't have problems with that, but I still have the same problem...

Nandroid Restore - applications missing/half there

Hi guys,
I wanted to check out android 2.1 flan, so I installed the rom after making a nandroid backup.
It was fun to check out, but in order to load it I had to wipe my phone and my cache.
After restoring my nandroid, all the applications I had installed but wiped with the cache are acting funny. Basically they still show up in manage applications, but they really arent there, and if I try to reinstall them through market it doesnt let me click install OR uninstall as both are greyed out.
Basically, I will have to wait for all my applications to get "updates" before I can use them again.
Is there a way to clean up these ghost programs... without doing a complete wipe (and loosing text messages and other things)?
I didnt think Nandroid did application backups (what you are seeing are in the ext3 partition)
You need Switchrom or BART to do full backups including apps
I may be (and no dount will be) wrong though.
sjbayer3 said:
Hi guys,
I wanted to check out android 2.1 flan, so I installed the rom after making a nandroid backup.
It was fun to check out, but in order to load it I had to wipe my phone and my cache.
After restoring my nandroid, all the applications I had installed but wiped with the cache are acting funny. Basically they still show up in manage applications, but they really arent there, and if I try to reinstall them through market it doesnt let me click install OR uninstall as both are greyed out.
Basically, I will have to wait for all my applications to get "updates" before I can use them again.
Is there a way to clean up these ghost programs... without doing a complete wipe (and loosing text messages and other things)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned above, nandroid *does not* back up your external apps. It will ONLY backup your *INTERNAL* storage.
If you make a clean restore of your nandroid backup and then run the fix_permissions script from recovery, it *might* be able to fix (some/most of) your external apps. Might try that.
If it doesn't work, then it is a tedious business of reinstalling each application individually and then restoring *ITS* home directory. Either that or a total wipe (internal and external).
The problem is that the database file that keeps track of which apps you have installed/removed is out of sync with the apps that you have installed.
I am uncertain how to fix this (I have the same problem myself).
If you perform a factory wipe, you'll lose that database entirely. All your apps will be installed, but your phone will think that none of them are.
UPDATE:
OK...apparently this is a more widespread issue impacting people running the stock/OEM ROMs as well as those of us with rooted phones.
Read up on this thread:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=096ef069db2788e9&hl=en
I followed the suggestion near the bottom of the page and copied over the /data/data/com.andriod.vending/databases/assets.db to a new filename (basically I renamed it).
I then launched the market app and then it would let me install (reinstall) the missing apps.
Then I ran into a problem. I deleted the new assets.db that was created and copied the old one (the one I renamed) back to assets.db.
Then the market app would force close. I noticed the UID of the assets.db file was wrong.
I ran the fix_permissions script from RA's recovery image. This fixed the UID problem, including the assets.db file. But now the market app only shows the apps that I've paid for......none of the others that I have installed.
Not sure what's going on there. It may sort itself out within 24 hours.

App installation always hanging...bad sdcard?

I am experiencing some very unusual problems with my froyo installs, specifically when installing/restoring apps.
First the basic info:
Nexus One
Froyo 2.2 FRF 72 stock with root no radio update
Upgraded from FRF 50 stock with root no radio update
I used Titanium Backup (TB) to backup all my apps, I have done this countless times before. Everything was fine on FRF50, but I wanted to try out a modified ROM. Yes I nandroided, but the restore failed THANKS CLOCKWORKMOD!! I should have stuck with amonRA. Anway, I had no choice but to flash again. I tried a few from the forums with all the same results so I gave up on them and just did stock with root but still having the issues.
When I restored the apps with TB, i get about 90% of my apps restored then I get an error saying that my space is full (even tho I enabled the stock apps2sd method) OR TB will suddenly just stop restoring apps, again stuck around 94%. I am thinking, its okay ill just reboot and continue. Well I rebooted and all the apps were gone even tho they are obviously on the sdcard, i checked.
So typical solution:
force stop the launcher. that didnt work. i tried other launchers, nothing worked. i had no choice but to wipe and try again. trust me, i did this way to many times, i dont even wanna think about it.
So i thought there was an issue with TB, yes i clicked "problems", upgraded busybox, trust me, I did all the basic stuff, Im beyond that.
Then I tried installing every app manually, thats over 150+ apps, ya..it was annoying as hell. Then suddenly, I would get stuck at the installing screen....no app would install, not from TB, not from market, not from the sdcard...nothing.
So typical solution:
delete .android_secure
That only works temporarily, then its back to the issue.
The point is, it keeps happening. Like today, I install a fresh ROM, yes I wiped, I even partitioned the sdcard and within installing literally ONE app, I get this problem, no app installs after that. So I went and deleted .android_secure and everything seems to be working okay. But this will happen again, if I try to restore with TB now, the same thing will happen again. I have tried every combination of installing apps, using TB, wiping....nothing seems to work.
On top of all that, my apps wont restore automatically from the market when installing a fresh ROM. So my question, what do I do about this and has anyone else had this problem? Any help would be appreciated.
Update:
I called it. It happened again. Fresh install, installed one app, no apps installed after that, deleted .android_secure, everything was back to normal, started restoring apps with TB, stuck at 93%, nothing will install now...any suggestions? should i delete .android_secure AGAIN!?
Ayman
Decided to install cyanogenmod 6.0.0 final today (didn't flash any of the nightlies/RCs), and now I'm facing the same problem. My titanium backup restores all appeared to be going well, and in fact I can even run the apps that were successfully restored without problems. But at some point in the restore it'll hang, and I won't be able to install anything from then on. In fact, when I tried rebooting the phone, it wouldn't even detect any of the apps installed on the sdcard (although, when I checked /sdcard/.android_secure, all the .asec files were present).
OP/anyone else, did you ever manage to fix this problem?
I've got the exact same problem
Tried 3 different roms after wiping everything and I can't seem to install any app.
TB does not install app and neither does market and this is starting to get very annoying.
Same problem but with specific apps:
Wi-Fi File Explorer Pro (most important as I paid for it)
Angry Birds
Google Sky Map
My other 100+ apps restored from Ti Backup or installed from the Market.
I have logs that say "unable to open secure container" but who do I send them to?
Enom from TheOfficialRom has stated that restoring from Titanium is really not very good practice. I had the exact same thing happen to me when i first installed his rom; enabled apps2sd, restored all apps and data with titanium backup.
Here's the catch, and might help you. I then did a wipe (don't wipe ext too!) and when it came up all of my apps were installed and worked fine. I even went through and manually restored all of the data from the apps and they continued to work fine! Just don't restore "System" data, set that stuff back up by hand. So in this case, the apps are "already installed" and for me worked fine, even after restoring their data (not the apps themselves, as they were already on the ext partition). This fixed my primary issue ("all" apps failed to install or upgrade).
However, I continued to have periodic problems with certain apps as I had also enabled dalvik-cache to /cache which works if you don't have a bazillion apps installed, but I have >115 and my /cache was always 100% full and caused app installs to fail. Some were fine, some were not. Don't know why, but I know (after wiping again) and NOT moving dalvik-cache, zero problems. I even repeated the process back and forth a few times and dalvik-cache to /cache = fail for me. You can check in his Spare Parts if you're using his ROM, or just df in a terminal if you've moved the dalvik to make sure where it's at isn't full.
Hopefully this helps some.
I had this problem earlier on after trying a custom rom moving from FRF91 when it first came out. I had to go through the market to get the apps, but titanium would restore the data after i installed the app... i think.
The Clockword nandroid kept failing on me too. BUT, i found if i tried them a second or third time, they would actually work.

[Q] Any Way to Recover from a Nandroid Backup that is Partly Corrupted?

Hi guys!
I'm running Doc_Kalpik's V7.5 and I had a bad run in while trying to manually install MiniSquadron which I paid for yet have been getting download unsuccessful errors no matter what I do! But that's another story...
After I installed it, I got a force close...then I got force closes everywhere else so I decided to reboot. And I discover that once I get to the boot animation portion, I get several vibrations (the same as the force close vibration pattern) at this point and eventually the screen turns black while still doing the vibration thing..I press the home button and the backlight keys just light up nothing else. So I go into recovery to attempt to fix.
I decided to reflash the ROM via CWM so I disabled my lagfix first, then did a reboot into recovery. From there I chose to backup and restore and after all that I still run into the same problem at the boot animation.
I try to manually backup via CWM and then factory reset then restore via CWM and there I run into an error saying that no .android_secure blah was not found so it skips the restore of that. I again run into the same probem at boot.
I try to do an advance restore to just restore my data. Still the same error, and the same problem at boot.
I am only able to boot with no issues after a factory reset with no restore meaning all data is lost...So I was wondering is there any way to just restore some parts from the nandroid backup like messages and such...I would assume that the problem is with my apps that had been on sd...which were actually none at all except the manual installation of MiniSquadron I guess. I don't care for the data of the other apps, I just need my messages. I did have a titanium backup but it isn't very recent since I did not expect this problem to occur.
Any help is much appreciated!
I dont have specific information on restoration of messages because I have not yet looked into it - but I was able to recover a few files from a nandroid backup using unyaffs which extracts the content of the nandroid img files. Maybe you can extract the sms file ( /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db) from data.img and push it using adb shell.
In future, I'd suggest SMS backup app from the market - it backs up and restores into your gmail account.
Ohhh! I'll check out the img files later when I get home. I was afraid of looking into them expecting hard to discern, indescript file names I don't know how to make use of. But that file you pointed out seems obvious enough. I hope it's somehow usable without the full backup. Perhaps a simple move with Root Explorer app would work too? I'm not all too familiar with using adb commands...
Yes I have that app but I don't use it often for backup and restore jobs since I tried several times in the past to restore from backup and always seem to be missing more recent messages.
Thanks for the advice though! I'll report success/failure soon.
I don't seem to have anything inside my com.providers.telephony folder when I extracted data.img...Any ideas?
nvm! Found it in dbdata.img... will update this if this works.
Yes - a simple move with Root Explorer should work too.
It doesn't seem to work... No messages show up even after several retries with reboots I tried opening up the file within root explorer since it has sqlite viewer and it gives me an error..I forgot exactly what but it doesn't let me look within the database unlike if I try doing the same with the original mmssms.db file currently on my phone. I tried sqlite viewer on pc and when I attempt to open the file nothing shows up. Any work around to this? Is it possible for even this file to be corrupt in the backup...that's kinda devastating news..any way to repair this?

Need help getting started with CM9

As the tittle says. I would like some help on getting started with CM9. I haven't done anything all to my touchpad since I got it months ago.
What are some of the bugs CM9 brings along with it? My touchpad is mainly a fun device so I don't mind things not working 100%.
I would like some help on getting started with CM9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, what exactly do you need help with?
What are some of the bugs CM9 brings along with it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the bugs are listed in the ROM thread. Hardware acceleration still isn't perfect yet. Audio from the speakers and headphones is still a mess. Camera doesn't work. Wifi is still buggy with some devices.
sitlet said:
OK, what exactly do you need help with?
All the bugs are listed in the ROM thread. Hardware acceleration still isn't perfect yet. Audio from the speakers and headphones is still a mess. Camera doesn't work. Wifi is still buggy with some devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that makes it sound shoddy, CM9 is perfectly usable, in fact its great, gaming, music and playing HD videos all work great for me, also I've never had any wifi problems.
I would read the CM9 install guide on rootzwiki very carefully and go for it.
Well that makes it sound shoddy, CM9 is perfectly usable, in fact its great, gaming, music and playing HD videos all work great for me, also I've never had any wifi problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I did make it sound kinda bad. For me, cm9 is running perfectly on my TP, minus the audio and camera. The video acceleration has only locked up on me once in a month of use, and I haven't had the wifi problem that some people have. The biggest bug for me is the audio, I would love to be able to listen to music with the screen off to save battery.
So audio works for movies? Thinking of giving it a try later on today.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
jep audio in movies is working fine
and also for me this rom is perfectably useabel, never had wifi problems and mostly everything else also works like a charm, so give it a try i doubt you regred it^^
this sounds silly coming from someone who has CM7 3.5 installed already... but what is Titanium backup?? I don't understand if it's something I have to download, or if it's built in to something? I understand that in order to install CM9 over CM7, that I should have no problems... but that I should back up first. I can do a back up with Clockwork Mod first, then I'm supposed to do a back up of my app's with Titanium ( I read this somewhere). Is this true?
Also, If I have the CM9 zip on my Touchpad already, do I still have to install it by connecting it to my Mac or PC using ACMEINstaller2? If I can update it without having to do that, and it's a better way, then I'm all for it.
I'm also not sure about the gapps files. I gather I'm supposed to update those after I'm done installing CM9 right? I noticed that at one time, someone said to grab the 20120215 one, but now I see there is a 20120301 that is released. Are the most recent releases complete updates to the previous gapps, or do they only include certain apps? In other words, to stay current, do I need to always check for new gapps releases and install them as they come out?
Thanks!
J
but what is Titanium backup??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's an app for rooted devices that lets you backup and restore apps, most commonly used for when you switch roms. Yes, you have to download it.
I understand that in order to install CM9 over CM7, that I should have no problems... but that I should back up first. I can do a back up with Clockwork Mod first, then I'm supposed to do a back up of my app's with Titanium ( I read this somewhere). Is this true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium backup and Nandroid backups (backups made in CWM) are completely different. Titanium will backup your apps and their settings/save data. For example, if you have Angry Birds, Titanium will also backup the app's data, so your game saves/progess will still be there when you restore it. A nandroid backup is a complete system backup, i.e. an exact copy of your entire system (rom, apps, etc). When switching roms, you should always do BOTH. Do a nandroid just in case the rom doesnt flash properly or something, and backup apps with titanium to save your app data and to make it easier to restore all your apps at once when you get the new rom running.
Also, If I have the CM9 zip on my Touchpad already, do I still have to install it by connecting it to my Mac or PC using ACMEINstaller2? If I can update it without having to do that, and it's a better way, then I'm all for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can, however I would recommend just flashing in clockworkmod. Backup your apps with Titanium, boot into recovery, make a Nandroid backup, wipe cache/dalvik/data, then flash the rom zip file.
I'm also not sure about the gapps files. I gather I'm supposed to update those after I'm done installing CM9 right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before flashing, put the gapps zip (make sure its the one for cm9 and not for cm7) in the same folder as the rom zip. After following the above instructions and flashing the rom, then you flash the gapps zip, and then reboot, and the rom should load with all the gapps in there
Are the most recent releases complete updates to the previous gapps, or do they only include certain apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the gapps only gives you maps, gmail, and the market. Any other apps like google search, google books, etc, can be downloaded from the market after you get the rom running.
In other words, to stay current, do I need to always check for new gapps releases and install them as they come out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, once you get everything running, the google apps like gmail and maps will be updated through the Market (I guess it's called the Play Store now) like normal. The reason you have to flash the gapps file after flashing the rom, is apps like the market have to be installed as a system app, and that can only be done through flashing with clockwork. After that, everything will update as normal through the Play Store.
Thanks for the info. In doing more research I figured out that I already have an application like Titanium called Astro File Manager. I did a back up with that. I'm sure it's the same thing.
I made a directory called cminstall at mnt/sdcard/ and put the CM9 and Gapps zips in that folder. Should I do that? Or should I leave them in the mnt/sdcard directory? there are some rogue files in that directory, but mostly it contains all of my folders for both WebOS and Andriod.
Sounds like I'm all set then. Just to be clear, I flash the new Rom by browsing to it from within Clockwork Mod?
Thanks!!
Jason
Whatever guide you're following, to me the 2 most important points are always:
1: make a nandroid backup of what you have right now so you can go back to it if you mess something up.
2: Wipe before flashing a new ROM
Both of which should be available from within your recovery..
Also.. while not being mandatory.. checking the checksum of the files you're about to flash can't hurt either..
TitBackup or other app backup tool is useful to restore your apps.. once you boot into your fresh new ROM, but it's *not* a substitute to a nandroid backup in case something goes wrong...
Enjoy
I just realized that I did a "nandriod" backup yesterday and didn't realize that it was a "nandriod" backup! So, now that i know what it is... well... I just know! LOL.
Although, it just errored out and told me to look at the log file. I could have ran out of room. I just tried to read the log file, and I'm not sure what program to open it with? CM Recovery?
And that "wiping" is running the "cache/dalvik/data" thing right? And when it says "wipe", does that mean literally "ERASES EVERYTHING" except of course my WebOS stuff.
Wiping sure sounds scary to me... that's like "losing everything", then messing with having to reinstall it all. All my ebooks that I've converted, etc. Or is that not correct? Essentially, if I do this and my tablet reboots with CM9 on it, will I be looking at what I had before but with CM9 running, or will I have a blank slate i.e. no files, no games/apps, etc. And from there, do I bring my app's back in through a recovery, or do I have to redownload them again?
I'm sorry, but I'm so new to this. Once I get it down, I won't be so nervous about it.
J
Question... Should CM7 or 9 be mixed in with my WebOS files? That always drove me nuts that they were all mixed together. It's hard to keep track of what's what. Those stray files in the root of my directory are all WebOS files. THings I've saved, etc.
Is there not a way to have a folder that contains ONLY the Android OS? Or does it all have to be in mnt/sdcard like it is now for me? Probl not. It all has to go on the root.
EDIT: However, I did notice that there is an "internal" storage of 1gig, and SD Card storage with about 11gigs total. So a 16gig unit in reality is about 12.5gigs. I only have 1.5gigs of space left on my "SD Card".
I wonder why some of my Android apps are in the "internal" storage section and the rest are on the SD card? Shouldn't JUST WebOS stuff be on the internal partition? I'm asking because if I'm going to install CM9, if there is a better way for me to do this, then now would be the time to know!
Thanks!
Jason
boy, I was literally minutes away from pulling the trigger on CM9 when I decided that I had better double check what version of gapps I had. I have "gapps-ICS-20120215". I think that's the right one?
Anyway, over in the CM forum, there are people posting up a storm that they are having rampant reboot issues and are totally stumped as to what is causing it. There could be tons more NOT having the issue too though, so it's hard to say.
Sitlet:
If installing gapps is a once and done process, why do they keep releasing newer gapps files? I was under the impression that it was because only certain apps could run on CM7, and the gapp files being updated were somehow linked to that?
Maybe as apps are updated, they release new gapps for people just now Rooting, so they can have the latest versions of the google apps when they are finished with the ROM update?
Either way, I'm now seriously reconsidering the idea of updating until I get a firm "go for it" from someone. The LAST thing I need is a constant reboot problem.
One more thing... regarding CM7 2.5... in the ADW Launcher section it indicates that I can maybe update themes to something else. is this true? If so, what type of theme/launcher does CM7 3.5 use? There are several different types. I tried this once before and really screwed my OS up. I was very lucky to recover from it.
The gapps file I use on ICS CM9:
http://goo-inside.me/gapps
Latest is 2012-03-04 but yours wouldn't be bad, assuming its just an older version of the ICS gapps and not for GB/CM7
Wiping then flashing a ROM will overwrite /system /data /cache
Thus not including Pictures, books, etc that are stored on the SDcard..
I also assumed you were already on CM7? And have working CWM recovery?
Nandroid backup/restore is from your recovery indeed.
A successful nandroid backup would allow you to restore your current Android ROM to the exact condition that it was when you backed it up.
So even if your new install ends up having reboot issues in say a week, restoring the nandroid backup made today will get you back to exactly what you had today.
(I have nandroid bckups of CM9 and the original stock on my phone and could switch between the two by restoring the appropriate one.)
I have done this process several times on diff. phones but don't have a TouchPad atm, so maybe someone who has can pitch in for the WebOS files part.
EDIT: sitlet's post from March 13th pretty much sums it all up already
yes, I'm running CM7 3.5, and I have done a complete backup both system and apps. I'm literally ready to install CM9 right now, but I need to maybe update my gapps to the one you have. That's all.
Ok... so you clarified the answer to my question. things are so routine w/ you experienced guys, that subtle details get left out when generalizing to the noobs. Which is to say that when you do a complete backup, it backs up the system to LITERALLY what it is at the time of backup. CM7 3.5 with all the apps I'm running, pictures, documents, etc.
So if I then install CM9 and tweak it how I want it, run into problems, do a complete backup, then RESTORE CM7 3.5 from the file, it will return to that state.
Are you saying that no matter what ROM you install, or what backup your restore, that all of your "user files" are always untouched? So, whatever pictures I have taken or whatever while using CM9, after I do a full back up and install say CM7 or something else, those things will remain? So I don't ever have to worry about losing a precious picture or file??
It's all starting to click believe it or not. I'm just trying to get it all sorted out in my mind! THank you so much!
j
For "user files" it depends where they are. Anything in /sdcard should be safe unless there's something else going on for WebOS devices.
Also.. any file picture or not .. saved in /system or /data wouldn't be safe after flashing.. but would also be in a nandroid backup..
And restoring a nandroid of your system won't restore pictures on sdcard if you happen to delete them yourself.
EDIT: Not sure if I'm making any sense..
restoring a nandroid, Wiping, Flashing ROMs, etc won't touch stuff on /sdcard
But these files won't be included in a nandroid backup either..
When you nandroid backup.. the backup file is actually usually saved TO the sdcard..
I figured out that I already have an application like Titanium called Astro File Manager. I did a back up with that. I'm sure it's the same thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not. Astro will only backup the apk file for the app, and only if the app isn't protected. Titanium will backup the app, it's data, market link, etc., and will do it for any app, including system apps.
And that "wiping" is running the "cache/dalvik/data" thing right? And when it says "wipe", does that mean literally "ERASES EVERYTHING" except of course my WebOS stuff.
Wiping sure sounds scary to me... that's like "losing everything", then messing with having to reinstall it all. All my ebooks that I've converted, etc. Or is that not correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wiping cache/data/dalvik will not touch anything on the "sd card". And if you are worried about losing things, that's why you do a nandroid backup and backup apps with Titanium first.
Essentially, if I do this and my tablet reboots with CM9 on it, will I be looking at what I had before but with CM9 running, or will I have a blank slate i.e. no files, no games/apps, etc. And from there, do I bring my app's back in through a recovery, or do I have to redownload them again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have a fresh install, i.e. no extra apps on it. That's the whole point of wiping the "data" in clockwork. You CAN flash a rom without wiping the data, and all of your apps will still be there, but that is NOT recommended, especially when flashing a completely new rom like cm9. Just backup apps with Titanium, make a nandroid, then wipe everything.
Question... Should CM7 or 9 be mixed in with my WebOS files? That always drove me nuts that they were all mixed together. It's hard to keep track of what's what. Those stray files in the root of my directory are all WebOS files. THings I've saved, etc.
Is there not a way to have a folder that contains ONLY the Android OS?
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This is how it is with the TP. Most android phones/tablets will have an internal memory AND an external SD card, thus being able to separate OS from other data. Since the TP only has one memory, and you are trying to run two OS's, this is the only way to do it.
EDIT: However, I did notice that there is an "internal" storage of 1gig, and SD Card storage with about 11gigs total. So a 16gig unit in reality is about 12.5gigs. I only have 1.5gigs of space left on my "SD Card".
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It's all the same memory, just partitioned differently. And the 16gb of space is actually about 14gb due to blocking in the first place, and the WebOS takes about 2 gb to begin with.
I wonder why some of my Android apps are in the "internal" storage section and the rest are on the SD card? Shouldn't JUST WebOS stuff be on the internal partition?
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Again, your TP ONLY has one 16gb block of memory, where most devices have more than one. It is partitioned to let the android OS think there is a separate internal and external memory, which is how it has to be for android to run. You can move apps to the sd card by going to settings-applications, however, with the TP, again, its the same memory, so you really aren't moving it.
Sitlet:
If installing gapps is a once and done process, why do they keep releasing newer gapps files? I was under the impression that it was because only certain apps could run on CM7, and the gapp files being updated were somehow linked to that?
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The apps like gmail, maps, etc, all get updated regularly though the Market. Thus, once one gets updated, someone will update the gapps zip with the newer version. The reason you HAVE to flash it the first time, is because some of the apps are system apps, and flashing is the ONLY way to get them to work properly. Once they are on your system and installed, you can update regularly through the market. It doesn't matter if you flash an outdated gapps zip, as long as it is one for ICS cm9, and not GB cm7. If the apps are outdated when you flash them, the market should let you update them after your tablet runs for a few minutes and realizes the apps are outdated.
The LAST thing I need is a constant reboot problem.
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As long as you stick with Alpha 2, and NOT the nightlies, you should be fine. I haven't had one reboot in over a month.
Which is to say that when you do a complete backup, it backs up the system to LITERALLY what it is at the time of backup. CM7 3.5 with all the apps I'm running, pictures, documents, etc.
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Again, as I explained earlier, there are two backups you should make. First, use Titanium to backup any apps you want to keep, and their app data. Obviously you can just re-download any app from the market after you flash cm9, but Titanium gives you a one-click way of doing it, thus saving you time. AND Titanium will backup app's data, so if you have a game that you want to save your progress, backing up with Titanium will save that progress.
User files (i.e. anything in the mnt/sdcard folder) will NOT be touched when wiping cache/data/dalvik in clockwork. They will ONLY be lost if you select the option to wipe sd card in clockwork. Again, if you are worried about anything, backup your files to a computer first, which obviously if anything is important to you, you should already have a backup of that data somewhere.
Are you saying that no matter what ROM you install, or what backup your restore, that all of your "user files" are always untouched?
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Yes, unless you specifically tell clockwork to wipe sd card. Any pictures, music, documents that you loaded onto the device via usb automatically go to the sd card partition, and will not be touched when flashing a rom. But again, ALWAYS have a backup of your data just in case something goes wrong.
So I don't ever have to worry about losing a precious picture or file??
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Again, I can't stress this enough: if you have data (pictures or whatever) that are important to you, make a backup somewhere off the device, just in case.
Man, thanks for your patience and sorry about the redundancy.
Everyone seems to talk about Titanium, but I'm hesitant to buy it because I'm getting ready to buy an iPad 3. I tried to use Astro File Manager, but could not figure out how to get it to work properly. I can use it on my phone in my sleep. So, right now I only have a program called literally File Manager v1.1.4 for moving and locating files, or I use Clockwork Recovery for nandroid backups, and Rom Manager app backups (I think.. unless it's backwards). I believe people choose Titanium over Rom Manager correct? or run both? But aren't they both essentially the same?
Anyway... I could literally drag and drop stuff off my tablet to my computer no problem. That's about as fool proof as it gets really. There isn't much on my tablet that I wouldn't care to lose. Maybe some journal notes or unfinished Blog drafts.
I need to ask those people in the CM forum who are having problems if they are updating the nightlies or not. this CM9 reboot problem seems VERY odd and very random... AND a total nightmare. Because once you start having the problems, even going back to CM7 3.5 won't fix it. You're stuck with a rebooting machine until someone figures it out. Have a look:
http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/42519-cm9-alpha-2-on-touchpad-device-freeze-and-reboots-randomly/
Man, thanks for your patience and sorry about the redundancy.
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No problem, we were all clueless when we started off with stuff like this.
Everyone seems to talk about Titanium, but I'm hesitant to buy it because I'm getting ready to buy an iPad 3.
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You don't have to buy it, the free version does everything except one-click backup/restores. You can still do backups and restores, but you have to do it app by app. The full app is only a few bucks, but I can understand if you are only going to use it once or twice on this tablet, just go with the free one.
I tried to use Astro File Manager, but could not figure out how to get it to work properly.
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Astro really wasn't made for making backups, and it rarely works. Titanium is an app that everyone uses, and it's really the ONLY app that works every time with every app.
and Rom Manager app backups (I think.. unless it's backwards). I believe people choose Titanium over Rom Manager correct? or run both? But aren't they both essentially the same?
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No, they are not the same. Titanium is just used to backup apps. ROM Manager is used to make nandroid backups, and flash roms without having to use recovery. However, it rarely works correctly, and will likely brick your device. Just stay away from that app. Flash roms and do nandroid backups directly through recovery, that way you wont run into any problems. ROM Manager has been known to brick many devices and cause many problems.
this CM9 reboot problem seems VERY odd and very random... AND a total nightmare.
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It is very random, and I can pretty much guarantee you it's happening because people aren't flashing and wiping correctly. If you look at the people it's happening to, it's people who are new to rooting and flashing. And if you read the main thread for Alpha 2, you rarely see someone with that problem. Again, just stick with the Aplha 2 stable release. The nightlies really are full of bugs, the cm9 team basically will make changes to a rom, and let people who flash the nightlies find the bugs. So unless you really want to be wiping and flashing every night to avoid problems, just stick with Alpha 2, it's VERY stable at the moment.
sitlet said:
Astro really wasn't made for making backups, and it rarely works. Titanium is an app that everyone uses, and it's really the ONLY app that works every time with every app.
Well, I suppose yer right. I mean, I will surely use it for my Thunderbolt phone. But Astro does a pretty good job I think. I'll buy it, what the heck.
No, they are not the same. Titanium is just used to backup apps. ROM Manager is used to make nandroid backups, and flash roms without having to use recovery. However, it rarely works correctly, and will likely brick your device. Just stay away from that app. Flash roms and do nandroid backups directly through recovery, that way you wont run into any problems. ROM Manager has been known to brick many devices and cause many problems.
I'm glad you told me that!! Jeesh!! Does this Rom Manager issue apply to phones too, or just tablets?
It is very random, and I can pretty much guarantee you it's happening because people aren't flashing and wiping correctly. If you look at the people it's happening to, it's people who are new to rooting and flashing. And if you read the main thread for Alpha 2, you rarely see someone with that problem. Again, just stick with the Aplha 2 stable release. The nightlies really are full of bugs, the cm9 team basically will make changes to a rom, and let people who flash the nightlies find the bugs. So unless you really want to be wiping and flashing every night to avoid problems, just stick with Alpha 2, it's VERY stable at the moment.
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Hmmm.... Ok. So you're saying to just go with CM9 Alpha 2 and not worry about it? One thing I haven't nailed down is whether these people with problems are flashing from the nightlies. Have you determined this? My point to them was sorta "there are lots of people who say CM9 is a vast improvement over CM7, yet you guys are having nothing but trouble?" That is curious to me.
I read the thread for the stable release, and it said that I don't need to connect to my PC to do it. I put the ROM and the GAPPS on my card and planned on flashing it through recovery, doing a data wipe, etc. I'm totally backed up and ready to go. I was just hesitant about the reboot issue.
But if all goes well, I'll have an iPad 3 64gig tomorrow morning. So, that will allow me plenty of time to sort out the TP if it goes into reboot hell!
Btw... sorry if I've offended the Android fanboys by buying an iPad... but I'm a fan of BOTH, and the iPad fills a need that Android just can't. I'm a musician. Which is why I'm a Mac user too. However, I do love Android no question.

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