Can I make a complete backup of my Android with Windows?

[anon9014819]

I'm planning to root my HTC One (M7) and I want to copy everything. Is it possible to copy all Android files using my PC and move data back after the root?
Will everything work just as before?
http://i.imgur.com/XrYUvsF.png

 

[Paul627g]

I'm planning to root my HTC One (M7) and I want to copy everything. Is it possible to copy all Android files using my PC and move data back after the root?
Will everything work just as before?
http://i.imgur.com/XrYUvsF.png

No it isn't that simple. Best thing would be to make sure all that can be sync'd with your Gmail account is active. Backup photos/media to computer. Text messages can be saved/restored using a program called SMS Backup and Restore. It's been over a year since I rooted my HTC One M7 which I no longer have and I can't remember if it does a full wipe during the unlocking/rooting process. Some phone's do require this, some don't.

 

[anon9014819]

Google backup is active. All photos and other important files except appdata have been saved to the cloud.
I'll buy Helium Premium, I suspected my method won't work.

 

[Paul627g]

Google backup is active. All photos and other important files except appdata have been saved to the cloud.
I'll buy Helium Premium, I suspected my method won't work.

Good luck. Let us know how things turn out.

 

[anon9014819]

Now copying files to Google Drive with Helium.
I'd like to see an explanation why method described above presumable won't work.

 

[Paul627g]

I'd like to see an explanation why method described above presumable won't work.

Basically what you were talking about doing is along the lines of a system dump or backup. To a real Android junky they can use some of it to restore but it is tricky and not the ideal way to do things.

Plus once you unlock and root the device things change a bit within your system permissions, etc which alter what is copied. Bottom line the route your taking is your best way.

Now once your rooted you will be able to use your custom recovery (TWRP or CWM) to make what is called a Nandroid backup, which is essentially an image of that moment in time of your device. Then if needed you can use the restore option from within your custom recovery to restore the device back to that moment. This is handy if a flashing of a ROM goes bad or you just don't like some changes that are done you can restore back. I always recommend to rooted users that like to flash ROMs to make a new backup of their " working " setup before changing. You can always just delete out unwanted copies of your backups and just keep the most current.

 

[Golfdriver97]

+1 for Paul's explanation. I would suggest updating your Nandroid every couple of weeks.

From an AOSP M8

 

[anon9014819]

Helium has already managed to produce several errors, presumable because of large game save files. Shouldn't still happen and app gets "stuck" with each game. This will take hours.
I will request a refund from Google Play after I'm done.





Why can't I backup files to my PC?

 

[UJ95x]

Helium has already managed to produce several errors, presumable because of large game save files. Shouldn't still happen and app gets "stuck" with each game. This will take hours.
I will request a refund from Google Play after I'm done.

View attachment 160294

View attachment 160295

Why can't I backup files to my PC?

Most things you will be able to backup. Photos, videos, documents, contacts, and music are all fine. The only major thing you can't do is app data. Not sure how well Helium works nowadays, haven't used it in a while. And Titanium Backup is root only. What apps are you trying to backup? Some have cloud backups or have your data linked to your email or Google account rather than files saved to your device.

 

[Paul627g]

Its usually just a given when your willing to take the steps necessary to unlock & root your device that you will be starting fresh which usually means losing game data, etc. Like I said, not all devices cause you to loose it during the process but many do. Plus importing data from one version of Android into a newer version of Android is often the cause of problems due to changes in file structures and the way things are handled as Android evolves.

 

[anon9014819]

Some games do support Google Cloud Save or Amazon Whispersync. I was sure it's possible to backup everything with Helium.

 

[anon9014819]

Most things you will be able to backup. Photos, videos, documents, contacts, and music are all fine.

I wouldn't even need any app for those. I've already backed up everything you have mentioned.

 

[Rukbat]

I would suggest updating your Nandroid every couple of weeks.

Actually, if you haven't changed anything, you don't need another nandroid backup. Keep your SMSs backed up, keep anything else you don't want to lose (pictures, videos, etc.) backed up, but you only need a nandroid backup if the system itself - Android, the kernel, a lot of apps, etc. - might get corrupted or lost by what you're going to do. For instance, always make a backup if you're flashing a new ROM or a ROM update. (Or even if you're flashing something smaller - I once flashed a keyboard - as a ROM. That doesn't work too well. I had made a backup before doing that, so I just wasted 5 minutes, not a big deal.)

Doing a nandroid backup every month will cost you about 60GB of storage a year. Storage is cheap, but that's a lot. (Keep at least the last 3 backups. If the last one fails to restore, you've only lost some things, not all.)

 

[Golfdriver97]

Good point Rukbat. I did mean to say that the older backups could be deleted.

From an AOSP M8

 

[Rukbat]

I'm glad you said "could be". (I have a 2TB drive with about 50 backups - I never throw anything out or delete anything [much to the chagrin of my wife, who threw almost the entire house out when we moved here].)

 

[UJ95x]

Actually, if you haven't changed anything, you don't need another nandroid backup. Keep your SMSs backed up, keep anything else you don't want to lose (pictures, videos, etc.) backed up, but you only need a nandroid backup if the system itself - Android, the kernel, a lot of apps, etc. - might get corrupted or lost by what you're going to do. For instance, always make a backup if you're flashing a new ROM or a ROM update. (Or even if you're flashing something smaller - I once flashed a keyboard - as a ROM. That doesn't work too well. I had made a backup before doing that, so I just wasted 5 minutes, not a big deal.)

Doing a nandroid backup every month will cost you about 60GB of storage a year. Storage is cheap, but that's a lot. (Keep at least the last 3 backups. If the last one fails to restore, you've only lost some things, not all.)

I believe his issue is that he can't make any nandroid backups yet since he is not rooted. So he's looking to back up as much as possible, and there is no reliable method for backup of game data.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running Lollipop 5.0.2

 

[anon9014819]

Google refunded Helium because of errors. And I can still use the app.