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HOW-TO Backup your HTC Eris

This may have been addressed already... I'm lazy and just skimmed through... but are there any free (the good "free" where you get a useful product) back up programs? Yes, I'm also cheap.
 
i'm jsut having to start over.. i had auto sync on... had to do a reset last night.. lost contacts... and they aren't in my google contacts.. added a couple manually and sync'd.. and they aren't showing up on google either....

k im seeing my issue now... i ahd them saved as phone contacts not google contacts. sorry but thats ******ed.. it should back up both and save them as such when you back them up.
 
droideris said:
No, they definitely do not.
Click to expand...

Correct... Apps are not synced to Google... But I did find something pretty cool. I've been using AppBrain as suggested by someone here (Find great Android apps and games - AppBrain) to view Market Apps online. It's pretty cool. When I am viewing the forums from my computer and someone suggests an app, I just go to AppBrain, check it out, and then click Install. Next time I sync the AppBrain App from the Eris, I am sent to the Market App to install whatever apps I selected.

Anyway, they have a "My Apps" tab that seems to mark what apps are on your phone. I think this would be an easy way to replace your apps after a Reset. Just don't sync with the AppBrain app until all apps have been replaced.

Everything is FREE.

Warning: I have not tested this! and I have nothing to do with the app... just think it is cool.
 
i just found sprite 2.1 beta (don't know if that 2.1 means that it is v2.1 or that it only works with 2.1) that seems to everything in your phone -- app settings, system settings, bookmarks, contacts, messages, photos, etc. seems to have the same function as MyBackup but is free. has anyone actually used this?
 
Since my contacts are synced in Gmail, and photos/media are stored on the SD card, the only things I back up between wipes are text messages and bookmarks, and these are the apps I recommend:

SMS Backup & Restore - Android app on AppBrain
chart


Bookmark Backup & Restore - Android app on AppBrain
chart
 
sorry, im in a rush and couldnt exactly take the time to check out if its been asked, but do we really have to backup pics and videos weve taken?
 
droideris said:
No, they definitely do not.
Click to expand...

no bs, when i upgraded from v2 to v3, my apps, all of them, were waiting to be re-downloaded in "my downloads" in my market app...

jps said:
sorry, im in a rush and couldnt exactly take the time to check out if its been asked, but do we really have to backup pics and videos weve taken?
Click to expand...

shouldbt have too since they are on your sd, but i would just in case.
 
I vote STICKY for this thread now that the OTA is imminent.

Also, I am using Lookout to back up my photos and, data and contacts just as a plan B.
 
Caddyman said:
I am making this thread so I can link to it in the tips and tricks thread. This I think is a much needed topic, there are lots of questions surrounding backups and moreover people have lots of headaches when they neglect to backup their phones then they have some issues that forces them to do a hard reset.

If you don't have your old phone with contacts, and your contacts aren't backed up on your SD Card, computer, or synced to google when you perform a hard reset your are SOL. This mostly happens to people that go to verizon with their xyz phone and upgrade to Eris, the store hooks it up to the transfer box and transfers your contacts, then you get home, don't sync, install apps, have problems, get forced to do a hard reset, then you no longer have those 1000 contacts you had before.

Don't be "that guy" backing up is fast and easy.

Things that are critical:
Contacts
YOUR Media like pics you took, etc.

Not so critical:
Apps
Calendar Stuff
Other Media

When you get the phone you should first login to gmail app. This links your phone up with your GOOGLE account.....not just gmail.....you need to do this anyway to use the phone...so do it.

The "Google" Way (backup contacts, calendar, and gmail)

Once you are linked up go to your Google Contacts page on your computer. If there is nothing there, you have no backup yet.

On your phone go to Settings>Data Sync>Google>

Here you have the option to Sync 3 things, and how they are synched. Gmail, Calendar, Contacts.

It is up to you how you do this, manually, or automatic. I choose manually cause am a control freak and in my mind it uses less battery then synching all the time.

If you choose automatic you should see the 3 items jump and start synching, if you choose manually tap each of the 3 and they should sync.

Once that is done revisit your google contacts page on your PC to make sure you got them all. If you did you will see them online and you no longer worry about losing them. If they aren't there then unfortunately the contacts were not added as "google" contacts but rather "phone" contacts (you can see this in the main list in the "people" app). Advice here to remedy that.

Calendar and Gmail should be easily synched and you can check that in each app on the phone.

The Other Way (backup pretty much everything)

I am going to write this out assuming you are using mybackup pro. I don't work for them, I have used the app, it is nice, and it IS $4.99. But that is a small price to pay (IMO) for the peace of mind you get.

From the app description: Backup (schedule option) to our online secure server, or SD card, your apps, contacts, call logs, bookmarks, sms/mms, calendar, settings, home shortcuts, alarms, dictionary, music playlists and more. Restore on existing/new phone.

I am SURE there are free options, I AM SURE in the comments below people will suggest xyz backup app, so check that out if you are so inclined.

The app should be pretty self explanatory, once you backup to SDcard COPY the contents of the card to a nice little folder on your PC and label it in a way you will recognize. Some people have reported SD Card being wiped while in the phone so don't just leave your backup on the card.

Other Stuff

All your apps that you have on your phone should be remembered by your google acct. So if you do a reset they should be waiting to be downloaded and installed in your market app once you get back into your phone.

Remember, BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP! then BACKUP! again! The first time you get a nasty app that forces you to do a factory reset and lose your contacts or something else you will be kicking yourself.

PLEASE, if anyone has any edits, comments, shortcuts to this process, post here and I can add/edit this post.
Click to expand...


mybackup pro works great!
 
jps said:
sorry, im in a rush and couldnt exactly take the time to check out if its been asked, but do we really have to backup pics and videos weve taken?
Click to expand...

Since they're on your SD card, you dont need to back them up if flashing a new rom or something like that.

However, it's good to have a backup of your pics in case you were to loose your phone.
I like lookout, but there is many good backup apps that save your pictures online.
 
Thanks to Caddyman for this. I had this EXACT question and came here to find an answer. Got mybackup pro (yes, I paid) and all is well. I put my entire SD card in a folder on my PC and now I feel secure and calm.
 
Just want to throw out that I use AppBrain as well through all of these leaks. Again though, don't sync your phone to the web first or your will lose the saved apps.
 
So how do you back up your contacts to your SD card? Ive backed up my contacts on google but there are only 3 for some reason and i just maunally did it again yesterday!


So after reading some more I figured i just download the HTC sync?
 
I "backed up" my phone by getting another Eris yesterday. It'll remain totally stock until the OTA comes.
 
Anyone try running MyBackup Pro yet when upgrading to 2.1? I'm dreading having to reinstall and re-setup all of the apps I've spent the last few months installing and getting set exactly how I like them. I hope I remember all of the custom settings I've done.

I've used MyBackup Pro only once before when I had to reset my phone after the MMS bug. It definitely saved me a lot of time in getting everything back to where it was.

I'm not extremely concerned about contacts/calendar, as I use HTC Sync (hope it works with 2.1!!) What I'm most concerned about would be my SMS/MMS messages in Chomp SMS, all of my alarms & settings in Klaxon, and all of the custom ringtones and notifications setup in Missed Reminder & Quick Profiles.

- ANYONE HAVE SUCCESS YET???
 
While we're on the subject of backing up, is HTC Sync worthwhile to download to my computer if I don't have or use either Outlook or Outlook Express? Any other functionality make it worth the space on my hdd?
 
also - why when i try to save a contact, whether it is existing or new, my options are exchange or phone. can anyone help me understand why i don't have "google" option? is there a setting i need to make happen?

Thanks
 
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