Root TWRP Using USB OTG to backup?

[jonnyboy2]

Sorry for making two threads in one day, but can someone explain to me how to use TWRP's USB OTG feature? Being able to back up to something like my PC sounds like a great idea, especially since the N4 doesn't have a SD card.

 

[jmar]

Sorry for making two threads in one day, but can someone explain to me how to use TWRP's USB OTG feature? Being able to back up to something like my PC sounds like a great idea, especially since the N4 doesn't have a SD card.

Hey brother,

Please don't be sorry for creating a thread, ever, unless you are spamming us with your underwear ads in People Magazine.

Joking aside, I am not familiar with the above. However, there a two ways I know of that work to backup our virtual SD cards to a PC.

1. Airdroid: This app is available for free on the Google Play Store and requires your PC and phone to be on the same WiFi connection. Using that connection through a web browser you can copy the contents of your virtual SD card to your computer wirelessly.

2. adb pull: If you are familiar with how command line works this is just as easy.

a) Open a terminal (for Windows, make sure to open it as an Admin) and plug in your device. You will need USB debugging on.

b) cd to your platform-tools directory or where ever your adb utility is located.

c1) For Linux type: sudo ./adb pull /data/media/0 /your preferred directory/

c2) For PC type: adb pull /data/media/0 \your preferred directory\

The output in terminal should be a line itemization of each file as it moves and should end with the number of files moved and the time it took to perform the file copy.

Let me know if you have any questions bro.

jmar

 

[ritchea]

Sorry for making two threads in one day, but can someone explain to me how to use TWRP's USB OTG feature? Being able to back up to something like my PC sounds like a great idea, especially since the N4 doesn't have a SD card.

Everything jmartino said will work; however, I couldn't get the TWRP usb otg to work on the Nexus 4 even with the working usb otg kernel or the Galaxy Nexus that does support usb OTG. I could be missing the right connection, but nothing I tried (mount, choosing back-up location)it would not allow usb-otg to be chosen. When I tried to fix permissions, the message said usb_otg could not mount.
FWIW, you can also use the SMB/Network/LAN feature of many file managers to move files without the usb computer connection.

If someone figures this out, we who haven't would like to know.

EDIT: This works on the Nexus 7 so I have to assume it only works on devices that have usb otg support out of the box.

 

[Riotpump]

Everything jmartino said will work; however, I couldn't get the TWRP usb otg to work on the Nexus 4 even with the working usb otg kernel or the Galaxy Nexus that does support usb OTG. I could be missing the right connection, but nothing I tried (mount, choosing back-up location)it would not allow usb-otg to be chosen. When I tried to fix permissions, the message said usb_otg could not mount.
FWIW, you can also use the SMB/Network/LAN feature of many file managers to move files without the usb computer connection.

If someone figures this out, we who haven't would like to know.

EDIT: This works on the Nexus 7 so I have to assume it only works on devices that have usb otg support out of the box.

That's exactly the issue. The Nexus 4 doesn't have support out of the box and even when usb OTG is hacked on you will need a external power source since the usb port can't power any usb devices internally. There are those that have figured out how to get usb OTG to work but it seems kinda cumbersome to carry around essentially another battery to get anything to function with it. I guess Google or LG had some thermal issues or for some reason didn't want to officially support this feature.
For a kernel that works and for another additional information on this. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2181820

 

[ritchea]

I use the hack (ziddey's, that is) and have two-way access to external storage through the Y OTG cable using AC or power bank for power. However, I could not get it to work with TWRP. The flash drive will not mount because, I am assuming, it is not recognized. The Galaxy Nexus does not require a power source for OTG, but TWRP would not mount the flash drive on it either.

 

[Deleted User]

2. adb pull: If you are familiar with how command line works this is just as easy.

a) Open a terminal (for Windows, make sure to open it as an Admin) and plug in your device. You will need USB debugging on.

b) cd to your platform-tools directory or where ever your adb utility is located.

c) For PC type: adb pull /data/media/0 \your preferred directory\

The output in terminal should be a line itemization of each file as it moves and should end with the number of files moved and the time it took to perform the file copy.

jmar

Thanks for this worked and achieved what I needed on my Nexus 4. I was able to drill down further and choose the folder (in my case adb pull /data/media/0/TWRP \your preferred directory\).
Thanks again :thumbup: