• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Factory set up.. backing up

Mike777

Well-Known Member
Hi all

I would like to do a factory reset on my HTC desire....

Had a number of problems since upgrading to Anroid 2.2.2....

Is it possible to go back a version and if so how is this done......if not and a factory reset in the way to go....how best is it to back up data etc...

Any comments would be greatly appreciated...

Many thanks for your time

Regards

Mike
 
I assume from the question that you are not rooted.

There isn't a single universal backup solution for an unrooted phone. You can choose to back up as much as possible with Google (there's an option in I think the privacy menu that will back up app settings and some extra data). If your contacts are stored as Google contacts then these are already backed up - if not, or if you want to be sure, go into the contacts app ("People" if I remember HTC Sense correctly) and export to SD. There are a number of message backup apps which will back up messages to SD, and SMS Backup+ will back them up over the air to your GMail account. Finally, MyBackup Pro is probably the most comprehensive all in one backup app I know of for a non-rooted phone.

If at all unsure, there is no harm in using more than one method.

Going back one version isn't really an option. If you are not rooted the only way to go back is to run an RUU (ROM Upgrade Utility), but they'll usually spot if you are trying to downgrade and refuse to run. In any event, RUUs will perform a factory reset in the process, so you need to backup before running one anyway.

There is a good chance that a factory reset will solve your problems. It's not unknown for Over The Air updates to result in scrambled caches and leave problems in their wake. So with any luck clearing stuff with a factory reset will sort it out.
 
I assume from the question that you are not rooted.

There isn't a single universal backup solution for an unrooted phone. You can choose to back up as much as possible with Google (there's an option in I think the privacy menu that will back up app settings and some extra data). If your contacts are stored as Google contacts then these are already backed up - if not, or if you want to be sure, go into the contacts app ("People" if I remember HTC Sense correctly) and export to SD. There are a number of message backup apps which will back up messages to SD, and SMS Backup+ will back them up over the air to your GMail account. Finally, MyBackup Pro is probably the most comprehensive all in one backup app I know of for a non-rooted phone.

If at all unsure, there is no harm in using more than one method.

Going back one version isn't really an option. If you are not rooted the only way to go back is to run an RUU (ROM Upgrade Utility), but they'll usually spot if you are trying to downgrade and refuse to run. In any event, RUUs will perform a factory reset in the process, so you need to backup before running one anyway.

There is a good chance that a factory reset will solve your problems. It's not unknown for Over The Air updates to result in scrambled caches and leave problems in their wake. So with any luck clearing stuff with a factory reset will sort it out.

Hardon

Many thanks for the informative reply.

My phone in unroot and there's nothing on phone that is that important....My contactas are backed in google and I will just simily write down the applications I have downloaded and reload (I think :confused:)

I will remove my storage card to protect pictures and hope for the best....

My problem is all around not being able to get a quick GPS fix............ often take a mile or so on my bike before things start to work.....I am sure it was not like that before upgrade....

Do you think I have things cover ? ? ? ?

Once again...many thanks

Mike
 
Stuff on SD should be safe from a factory reset - that's where the backup apps back up to. But to be sure, by all means remove the card.

Slow GPS fix is a funny one. Have you tried an app like "GPS Status", which downloads GPS assistance data? That could speed the lock significantly.

I actually had my GPS performance degrade a lot once. Became very slow, and once it had locked the accuracy was worse than I remembered. I was changing ROMs a lot then so assumed it was related, but it didn't seem to improve significantly when I changed again. Turned out it was my case - I was using a leather flip case that had a bit of metal in the rim, just enough to interfere with the (very weak) GPS signal!
 
Stuff on SD should be safe from a factory reset - that's where the backup apps back up to. But to be sure, by all means remove the card.

Slow GPS fix is a funny one. Have you tried an app like "GPS Status", which downloads GPS assistance data? That could speed the lock significantly.

I actually had my GPS performance degrade a lot once. Became very slow, and once it had locked the accuracy was worse than I remembered. I was changing ROMs a lot then so assumed it was related, but it didn't seem to improve significantly when I changed again. Turned out it was my case - I was using a leather flip case that had a bit of metal in the rim, just enough to interfere with the (very weak) GPS signal!

Tried apps such as GPS Staus and the likes with out success....

Problem seems to be around my home address...with about 1 mile. I use endomondo sported tracker on my bike and if I switch on at home it takes about 1 mile before I get a siginal lock (gps) and within a mile of coming home I then lose GPS.....tried standing still at home address for up to 15 minutes with no gps :(

Just finding it all a bit annoying as it use to work find....

Even thinking about upgrading phone to fix things but can't justify cost !

Is this all making sense ?

Regards

Mike
 
Back
Top Bottom