Lollipop OS upgrade- restoring all apps and data after Factory Reset?

[Steve_Rose]

Hi All,
I have read everything I can find but cannot find exactly what I want so if someone can help I would appreciate it very much. Verizon Samsung S5 with Kit Kat and want to update to the latest Lollipop. The question is about restoring all the apps and data after a factory reset after the upgrade.

1. I have moved a lot of programs to the SD card- do I need to move them back to Device Memory?
2. If I sign in with my Google account after the Factory Reset after the OS upgrade, will all the apps automatically be restored/installed?
3. I have the Google backup set automatically and restore automatically- will the data and settings be restored as the apps are restored once I log into my Google account?
4. What about all my internet email accounts (Comcast, GMail, etc.)- will they automatically be restored for the messages that are on the S5 and automatically connected to the accounts or do I have to reset these up again?
5. The S5 is also my work email, which is an Exchange Server- will the Factory Reset mean that my IT dept. needs to reestablish the connection between the S5 and the Exchange Server or will that happen automatically (if emails are part of the automatic restore?)
6. I have Keis 3 installed on my computer- should I use this as a backup and restore instead of relying on the automatic Google backup and restore?

Thanks for the help- sorry to be such a noob. I have had BBs for years and know how to work that really well but I've only had this for a couple of months and the last thing I want to do is hose it and be without my email especially.

steve rose

 

[hallux]

Google's "Backup and restore" will NOT back up any app data unless the app developer allows it to (I'm not sure how many, if any, do this).

BE CERTAIN that your contacts are ALL Google contacts. If they're "device contacts" you WILL lose them.

Google will restore the apps and Gmail account associated with the account you use to sign in to the device after the wipe. The other settings it restores will be saved WiFi networks. Again, it will download the app but likely not data stored IN that app unless the dev. allows the app to backup to Google. Mail accounts for other services, I believe, will need to be re-configured.

Yes, you will need to contact your IT department to assist in setting up your Exchange connection.

I downloaded Kies to my home Mac and keep meaning to play with it for my Samsung tablet, I keep forgetting.

 

[Steve_Rose]

Thanks Hallux- I downloaded Kies 3 and did a full backup so that should solve some of the data. Any idea on the apps on the SD card?
steve

 

[hallux]

Sorry, I haven't needed to offload apps to an SD card in a few years, nor have I gone through setting up or moving to a new device in a year or so.