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Root Best backup to use before rooting?

Aggie12 said:
What I do when flashing ROMs:
I find the ROM I want online through a forum and download it to my computer. I thoroughly read the install instructions. Then transfer it to my phone via the USB cable. The computer seems to download faster sometimes. (You can still download it straight to your phone though through the browser it may just take longer.) I put the ROM's .zip file on the root of my sd card. Go into Droid X Bootstrapper and boot into recovery. From here most ROMs require a data wipe and a cache wipe. See each ROMs install guide for individual details. Reboot after install. If I get stuck in a bootloop I get into recovery (stock recovery is fine if you can't get to CWM recovery) and wipe data/cache again. then reboot and re setup my gmail account and wait for stuff to sync.
Click to expand...

Ouch, a data wipe :eek:

Oh, I hate having to do that, then have to reinstall everything again...correct?
 
You need a rom that can be installed over stock rom w/o a wipe. You can do that with Apex. Maybe you should install Titanium and do a backup of everything and save that to a backup before venturing further. (see Titanium 101)
 
Dark Cyber, reinstalling is not as bad as you think and gives you a good opportunity to ensure that every app you have is what you really want. Also, you can use Appbrain to keep that detailed list of all the apps so that they can be installed all at once.

Also, now that you have working backups, I also think it's a good idea to remove the Google backups configured within Settings - Privacy. It always seems to be useless and I never want stuff happening automatically on my phone unless I say so.
 
colchiro said:
You need a rom that can be installed over stock rom w/o a wipe. You can do that with Apex. Maybe you should install Titanium and do a backup of everything and save that to a backup before venturing further. (see Titanium 101)
Click to expand...

Already done all those backups. Done them right after I rooted, Titanium included.

nycebo,

What on appbrain lets you keep a detailed list of your installed apps?

Also, if you use a ROM that requires a data wipe, then you have to re-install each app one at a time into the new ROM? Now way to restore them from a backup to the new ROM?
 
Darkcyber, first install Appbrain on your phone and create an account. Generally, it asks you to sign on via the google API. Then, in the Appbrain app, click the "manage and sync" button and then "Sync with Appbrain" down at the bottom. Afterwards, when you go to the Appbrain web site and click "My Apps" at the top of the page, you will see a list of all of your installed apps. Okay, so now you have all of your apps in one place.

Now, when you do an erase and restore or change to a new ROM, simply install the appbrain app again and resync. This time however, it will say that you have a NEW Droid. On your PC on the appbrain web page, after clicking "My Apps, you will see a sub menu called "Your app lists". Choose to your old device, select all of the apps, and then 'add' them to your 'new' phone (the phone with the clean install or the new ROM). Then, go to the newly configured Droid again, open appbrain, sync it, and then press install all.

You should be good to go whenever you do a new installation. Of course, you will still need to configure GMail, other emails, and settings, but I like doing that stuff anyway. If you hate doing that, consider using Mybackup Pro or Titanium. But again, I just quickly reconfigure it myself since it gives me a chance to see if anything has changed.

Let me know if this confused you a bit.

Oh, and to my knowledge, the only way to keep your apps installed is if the new ROM allows it during installation.
 
Aggie12 said:
What I do when flashing ROMs:
I find the ROM I want online through a forum and download it to my computer. I thoroughly read the install instructions. Then transfer it to my phone via the USB cable. The computer seems to download faster sometimes. (You can still download it straight to your phone though through the browser it may just take longer.) I put the ROM's .zip file on the root of my sd card. Go into Droid X Bootstrapper and boot into recovery. From here most ROMs require a data wipe and a cache wipe. See each ROMs install guide for individual details. Reboot after install. If I get stuck in a bootloop I get into recovery (stock recovery is fine if you can't get to CWM recovery) and wipe data/cache again. then reboot and re setup my gmail account and wait for stuff to sync.
Click to expand...

I agree with Aggie, I follow the same procedure about downloading to my PC then transferring it to the phone. Also, be careful with Rom Manager. I have it on all thee of my Droid phones, but use it sparingly. The best way to put it is to say it's a weird program, that doesn't always do exactly what you told it to do. You're better off (particularly with a Droid X) to use Bootstrap to get you into CW Recovery, then do your install from there. Forget about Rom Manager, and cut to the chase with CWR.

Just my two cents worth,

-Mike
 
We all hate data wipes :( but they are necessary. The way I recover from this is with Titanium backup Pro. Having the unpaid is good enough but the reason I bought the Pro key was because I wanted ONE-click app restore. With the free version you have to select all the apps you want to restore but then one by one approve of the install. Pro lets you set the apps up and then click, done. You can also have multiple backups of each app. It can uninstall system apps or freeze them. It can do a lot and is definitely worth the few bucks. I'm one for trying to not buy apps but that's one that I will ALWAYS recommend cause it makes ROM switching enjoyable. And sometimes My market would take what seemed like FOREVER re-downloading all the apps. And then when you rely on the market to do that you then have to go back into each app and set it up again. TIBU saves all that data :)
 
Have any other DX owners had issues with restores from CW Recovery hanging? The first time I used it the backup process appeared to go fine, but the restore hung on a cache file. As someone who had rooted with ease but had never gone very far beyond it, this made me rather trigger-shy. I was relieved when I rebooted my phone and everything came up alright, but I'm reluctant to try this again.
 
Aggie12 said:
We all hate data wipes :( but they are necessary. The way I recover from this is with Titanium backup Pro. Having the unpaid is good enough but the reason I bought the Pro key was because I wanted ONE-click app restore. With the free version you have to select all the apps you want to restore but then one by one approve of the install. Pro lets you set the apps up and then click, done. You can also have multiple backups of each app. It can uninstall system apps or freeze them. It can do a lot and is definitely worth the few bucks. I'm one for trying to not buy apps but that's one that I will ALWAYS recommend cause it makes ROM switching enjoyable. And sometimes My market would take what seemed like FOREVER re-downloading all the apps. And then when you rely on the market to do that you then have to go back into each app and set it up again. TIBU saves all that data :)
Click to expand...

Ok, so by using Titanium and wiping the my X and installing a new ROM, then I can use Titanium to reinstall ALL of my apps into the new ROM? Will this also install data for the apps as well? The reason I ask, I use Jabiru, a chat client, and it is a pain to get set back up sometimes and wondered if it would restore all my stuff back into it...log in, settings and the like.

nycebo,

Thanks for the appbrain tip...that is really a neat program. Got it installed and got them all synced...cool!

One more ROM question. When you do a ROM that requires a wipe and you first boot up your phone after installing say Liberty, does it step you through your configuration just like a brand new phone?
 
darkcyber said:
Ok, so by using Titanium and wiping the my X and installing a new ROM, then I can use Titanium to reinstall ALL of my apps into the new ROM? Will this also install data for the apps as well? The reason I ask, I use Jabiru, a chat client, and it is a pain to get set back up sometimes and wondered if it would restore all my stuff back into it...log in, settings and the like.

nycebo,

Thanks for the appbrain tip...that is really a neat program. Got it installed and got them all synced...cool!

One more ROM question. When you do a ROM that requires a wipe and you first boot up your phone after installing say Liberty, does it step you through your configuration just like a brand new phone?
Click to expand...

I haven't used Jabiru but that's what TIBU does for all my apps. I would not restore all the apps, only user apps downloaded to from the market i.e. not included with previous rom's. I don't know how to only restore user apps so what I'll do is do a batch restore of missing apps and then deselect the ones like email policy 2.2.1 or calendar updater.

And yes, a data wipe will remove the gmail account from the phone so when you first boot up you will have to touch the android guy and re-setup your gmail account. Shouldn't need to activate you phone though (the please wait while we program your phone...cool background music that I wish was my theme song... your phone has been programmed successfully. Goodbye.)
 
Aypse said:
When you do a data wipe, does it wipe the settings the verizon store sets to establish your phone number?
Click to expand...

I am not sure I understand what you are talking about, but sounds like a good question.

Do you mean 'does it wipe out the ESN number that Verizon uses to identify that your phone number goes to that ESN?' I would assume it does not, because if it wiped everything out, then when you flashed a different ROM it would kill your phone. And I have not seen anyone saying their phone no longer worked after changing ROM's, unless they brick it.
 
Aypse said:
When you do a data wipe, does it wipe the settings the verizon store sets to establish your phone number?
Click to expand...

It does not. You DO have to activate your phone and enter a gmail acct. This is the only way to change your gmail acct info.
 
Ok, looks like this weekend is going to be my down time to dive in and try some different ROM's. What is the best way to load APEX or Liberty, using Droid X Bootstrapper? Since everyone is saying ROM Manager is flakey.
 
When you get Bootstrapper installed. You will click bootstrap recovery, then click reboot recovery.

That will take you into recovery where you navigate with your volume keys and camera button.

From there you can select the zip (whether it be liberty or apex or w/e) and flash it.
 
someotherguy said:
When you get Bootstrapper installed. You will click bootstrap recovery, then click reboot recovery.

That will take you into recovery where you navigate with your volume keys and camera button.

From there you can select the zip (whether it be liberty or apex or w/e) and flash it.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That what I thought the best option was, after reading about RM being flakey. Thanks again!
 
someotherguy said:
Read installation methods developed by the ROM generator because there may be additional/different steps needed specific to that particular ROMWhen you get Bootstrapper installed. You will click bootstrap recovery, then click reboot recovery.

That will take you into recovery where you navigate with your volume keys and camera button.

From there you can follow the directions (whether it be liberty or apex or w/e) and flash it.
Click to expand...

*fixed :)
 
My bad I should have been more clear with that post... nothing will be removed from your SD card at anytime during a ROM install..
 
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