General question about restoring apps and data

[adlebo]

I'm planning to try flashing a rom. So I'm backing up (besides cwm) with my backup root. My question is after flashing when I restore apps plus data, will I have to move all moved to sd apps again to sd? If yes, I'm wondering how its even possible to restore all apps as a batch, if all apps go to internal memory first, there won't be space and something is bound to go wrong.

 

[sherri]

Titanium Backup does batch reinstall, and batch movement to sd card.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[Dronak]

OK, but where does a batch reinstall put all of the apps? In internal memory? Then there would still be the kind of memory issues adlebo mentioned. But it can't reinstall everything to the SD card directly, because not all apps can be put on the SD card. Does the backup remember where the apps were installed, and put them back there again? I think that's the option we want/need, along with a little info on where it's available and how to use it. Thanks.

 

[jmuru]

On Titanium backup pro, there's an option to restore the backup to its original location. So, it remembers where it came from and restores it there. Not sure if that option is on the free version, though.

 

[adlebo]

On Titanium backup pro, there's an option to restore the backup to its original location. So, it remembers where it came from and restores it there. Not sure if that option is on the free version, though.

Ok I have titanium backup pro. But I only see five restore options, which are the following: 1-restore missing apps with data, 2- restore all system data, 3- restore missing apps plus all system data, 4- restore newer versions of user apps, and 5- restore all apps with data. So I don't see the option you mentioned "restore to original location". I'm confused which one to use after flashing the rom and any help will be appreciated!

 

[jmuru]

It's under preferences and says "Restore backups to...", and you can change from android default to original location.

 

[Dronak]

I just replied, and saw your post above mine, so I'm editing this. Would the external media option for "restore backups to" also work? What about apps that can't be installed to external media -- would they be skipped or put on internal storage? Any idea? Thanks.

 

[jmuru]

Not sure how that would work, but on Titanium it says moving apps to SD is risky, etc, so I wouldn't mess around with it too much.

 

[adlebo]

Thanks, I never realized that I had that option! But just wanted to know which one of those five restore options is best to choose after flashing a rom? I'm thinking its either option three or five.

 

[Dronak]

on Titanium it says moving apps to SD is risky

Hmm. Any idea why? Apparently Android itself has no real issues with putting apps on the SD card, and some apps I've downloaded actually installed directly to the SD card. Why should Titanium Backup or any other such utility have issues doing it? If it's best to install everything to internal memory first, then move apps to the SD card, there's almost no point in backing up the apps -- you can just re-download them all from the Market (which is what I've done on factory resets, using AppBrain). Or you can't do it as a batch, since you'd run out of internal memory -- you'd have to do them one at a time, and that's not significantly better than going straight to the Market. I think with root you can backup and restore data, too, which is good. But I'm not sure I see the advantage to backing up apps when you want them on the SD card, but shouldn't batch restore them back to the SD card. *shrug* Maybe I'm missing something though.

 

[jmuru]

I usually use 3 and it works for me.

 

[jmuru]

Hmm. Any idea why? Apparently Android itself has no real issues with putting apps on the SD card, and some apps I've downloaded actually installed directly to the SD card. Why should Titanium Backup or any other such utility have issues doing it? If it's best to install everything to internal memory first, then move apps to the SD card, there's almost no point in backing up the apps -- you can just re-download them all from the Market (which is what I've done on factory resets, using AppBrain). Or you can't do it as a batch, since you'd run out of internal memory -- you'd have to do them one at a time, and that's not significantly better than going straight to the Market. I think with root you can backup and restore data, too, which is good. But I'm not sure I see the advantage to backing up apps when you want them on the SD card, but shouldn't batch restore them back to the SD card. *shrug* Maybe I'm missing something though.

Titanium can push apps to SD that weren't designed for it. That's the risky part. You can def batch restore apps you had originally on the SD back there without a problem, which saves a lot of time versus re-downloading from market and also allows you to keep your data, so it has big advantages. It's just when you use Titanium to push apps to SD that the warning comes up, in case the app you're trying to move has issues being on the SD. I tend to move apps to SD using the manage applications feature in system, cause I figure if that option is there, the app dev designed the application to run off external storage. But, some people experiment and move apps to SD directly from titanium when they weren't really supposed to be there and that's when issues usually occur.

So, in short, as long as it was already on the SD, it shouldn't be a problem and Titanium can put it back there once you restore it and save you a lot of time.

 

[sherri]

Ok I have titanium backup pro. But I only see five restore options, which are the following: 1-restore missing apps with data, 2- restore all system data, 3- restore missing apps plus all system data, 4- restore newer versions of user apps, and 5- restore all apps with data. So I don't see the option you mentioned "restore to original location". I'm confused which one to use after flashing the rom and any help will be appreciated!

DO NOT RESTORE SYSTEM DATA AFTER FLASHING A NEW ROM!

You can restore user apps and user data. System data will cause problems, especially if you went to a completely new ROM.

As for installing apps on internal vs. SD card....Almost all apps CAN be stored on sd card, they just wont run well, or if at all. Launchers should never be put there (or after each reboot, you will have problems). Music apps are fine. Widgets will not work. Themes as well. Certain system apps supplied by ROM can be moved to sd card, or deleted altogether. I use CM7 and removed news/weather app, books app/native music app and many wallpapers.

When you go to TiBu to do the "batch" backup, assuming you have the apps where you want them, tapping "install user apps with data" will install them to proper/prior location.

If you want to move more as a batch, there is a tab to "move system apps". Once you tap this, it will bring up a list. "All" are checked as default. I uncheck all, and move those that are safe.

Native dialer and contacts should NEVER be uninstalled, even if you use a replacement. You can use replacement as the default, but all replacement get their info through the native app.

Hope some of this is comprehensible. Any questions, ask!

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk