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How to do a REAL backup?

J

jusmee

Member
I have read a lot of guides and posts, and when backups are discussed, they talk abouts apps and settings. When backing up data is discussed, I am uncertain that it is all the data, especially data from 3rd party paid apps. For example, mybackup only seems to back up a specific list of common data items, not everything.

Again for example, I am using "mobilesheets" to organise music into set lists and store it on my android tablet. I know the developer is planning a backup solution for his program, but until that arrives - is there no way to backup the app and all it's data?

I read that Google now provide a programmatic way for an app to request data backup to the cloud. Do any use it yet?
 
If the app itself provides no backup option, or doesn't backup data to google servers (barely any apps) your only options to backup require root access.

1. Titanium backup can backup and restore data (and the app apk itself if you want) for any app.

2. clockwordmod or another custom recovery can backup your whole rom all apps, all their data, all your settings call logs, texts, the os itself, everything. Equivalent to making a ghost image on a PC.

If not rooted, all you can backup is the app apk itself, and only if it's a free app. ES file explorer or other file explorers can do this.
 
John Redcorn said:
If the app itself provides no backup option, or doesn't backup data to google servers (barely any apps) your only options to backup require root access.

1. Titanium backup can backup and restore data (and the app apk itself if you want) for any app.

2. clockwordmod or another custom recovery can backup your whole rom all apps, all their data, all your settings call logs, texts, the os itself, everything. Equivalent to making a ghost image on a PC.

If not rooted, all you can backup is the app apk itself, and only if it's a free app. ES file explorer or other file explorers can do this.
Click to expand...


Oh well, I really didn't want to root the device, so I must wait for the developer it seems.

Thanks for the info.
 
jusmee said:
Oh well, I really didn't want to root the device, so I must wait for the developer it seems.

Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...

AFAIK there won't ever be an app that does complete backup without root as it would need access to system areas that are closed in unrooted phones.
 
If you want to do a compete backup and you are not afraid to root, then nandroid is the only true complete backup. It will backup everything.;)

without root, I believe that there is no way to completely backup paid apps
 
chanchan05 said:
AFAIK there won't ever be an app that does complete backup without root as it would need access to system areas that are closed in unrooted phones.
Click to expand...

Yes, I see it couldn't back up system stuff, but apps don't need to be part of the system, in fact, a user running an app, must have access to it's data, therefore, why can't the same user back up it's data?

I admit I don't understand the model Android uses, but in linux this should be possible, as long as the app stores data in user accessible places.
 
jusmee said:
Yes, I see it couldn't back up system stuff, but apps don't need to be part of the system, in fact, a user running an app, must have access to it's data, therefore, why can't the same user back up it's data?

I admit I don't understand the model Android uses, but in linux this should be possible, as long as the app stores data in user accessible places.
Click to expand...

I could be completely wrong but the way I've heard it and understood it is that each app runs under its own user account (created upon app install) like most *nix daemons, sshd, httpd, ftpd or squid, etc would. (difers from linux here in that on linux if you run a regular "app", not a daemon, it runs under your, the actual human's useraccount, it doesn't have its own)
These app's data directory in /data is readable only by its owner like a ~ or /home would be. That's why you can't download a "data backup pro plus 4G donation" app from the market to backup data from mobilesheets, they each have non-root user level access to the filesystem from their own user account with their own "/home" that neither can read the others.
 
jusmee said:
I have read a lot of guides and posts, and when backups are discussed, they talk abouts apps and settings. When backing up data is discussed, I am uncertain that it is all the data, especially data from 3rd party paid apps. For example, mybackup only seems to back up a specific list of common data items, not everything.

Again for example, I am using "mobilesheets" to organise music into set lists and store it on my android tablet. I know the developer is planning a backup solution for his program, but until that arrives - is there no way to backup the app and all it's data?

I read that Google now provide a programmatic way for an app to request data backup to the cloud. Do any use it yet?
Click to expand...

Read post #47.

http://androidforums.com/android-lo...d-phones-feel-little-laggy-2.html#post3624562
 
John Redcorn said:
I could be completely wrong but the way I've heard it and understood it is that each app runs under its own user account (created upon app install) like most *nix daemons, sshd, httpd, ftpd or squid, etc would. (difers from linux here in that on linux if you run a regular "app", not a daemon, it runs under your, the actual human's useraccount, it doesn't have its own)
These app's data directory in /data is readable only by its owner like a ~ or /home would be. That's why you can't download a "data backup pro plus 4G donation" app from the market to backup data from mobilesheets, they each have non-root user level access to the filesystem from their own user account with their own "/home" that neither can read the others.
Click to expand...

Good explanation. Sounds a bit overly secure, but maybe it's necessary.
 
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