Titanium backup, upgrading ROMs, restoring, doing it wrong?

[mikedaub]

I feel like I am having to do TOO many steps each time I upgrade my ROMs, and that there has to be a simpler/easy way.

Back story - using a rooted DInc, with and running the Cyanogen nightlies on it.

So, every day when there is an upgrade, I use Titanium Pro, to back up all my apps and system data, then update the ROM to the newest version. When I go through the process, I install Titanium Backup, and back up all my system and app data. This is where I am thinking I am doing it wrong, or not hitting the right button or something. Every time, I have to re-do all my screens and re-order the apps on it, re-do my wall paper, reset all my setting in the Cyanogen area, redo all m ADW Launcher settings, and loose all my SMS messages.

I always assumed, that once I upgrade the ROM, and did the Titanium Backup stuff, most of my settings and things would be fine (I have no problem resetting my wallpaper and losing my sms messages), but it takes quite a bit to get everything set back up the way I had it.

This leads me to the conclusion that I am totally doing it wrong. With hearing and reading about people flashing new ROMs all the times, there is no way people are spending all this time to get it set back up the way it was...I have to be doing something wrong.. So what is it?

When I use TB, I go menu > batch . back up all user apps + system data, and then when I restore, you got it, menu > batch > restore all system data and missing apps.

Any help that allows me to save time and quit pulling my hair out over this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PvilleComp]

There is no need to do a full wipe between Nightlies. Flash in Clockwork Recovery manually and wipe only Cache and Dalvik Cache (under Advanced) before flashing the Nightly. All your apps and data will remain.

After a while if you have a problem with stability or some other weirdness, then you can do a full wipe.

This will save you loads of aggravation.

 

[mikedaub]

I have always used ROM Manager to do everything, but seeing that might not be the best way to do things..

So, my nightlys said it is time to upgrade, so I am going to completely back everything up with TB, and fire it all up to dropbox. All of my system settings are 100% the way I want them... I also clicked the beta migration option in the preferences, hoping that would help me.

Step 1 - Backup all user apps + system Data
Step 2 - Sync to Dropbox
Step 3 - Boot into Clockwork Mod Recovery, and do everything manually, not through ROM Manager
Step 4 - Clear cache and Dalvik
Step 5 - Run zip from SD Card

This time, it seemed like everything went as planned. When I started the phone back up, all the apps were in the same spot, and wallpaper was the same. Although, the first time, when the screen timed out, I couldn't turn it back on. Pulled the battery, and all is working fine now.

Step 6- went into TB and did a batch restore of all apps and data, but only clicked the green items. From reading somewhere else, it is only wise to do the green items, not the red, so that is what I did. Then reboot for all to take effect.

This is where I am confused. None of my data is restored. For example, I use K-9 Mail, and the settings aren't restored by the batch. But, if I go to that app, and hit the restore data, then it restores it fine. So, for me to do all my apps, the batch function isn't working, I have to go through and do 15-20 apps manually.

So, what am I doing wrong here? Why isn't the batch operation working properly for me?

Edit - Something else I noticed that didn't restore properly was any of my ring tones. Not a huge deal, but I thought might be worth mentioning in this dilemma.

 

[PvilleComp]

There is no need to restore with Titanium on a nightly incremental update. Just wipe cache, flash and run. Everything will still be there.

You should make a Nandroid backup (A backup in Clockwork recovery) every once and a while so you have a good image to go back to in the event of an emergency.

 

[mikedaub]

Thanks for the Nandroid backup suggestion, I will give that a shot.

As far as the apps, that's why I think I am doing something wrong. Last time was the first time everything was there, every other update, it was like I was starting off with a new phone.

I will try it again in a few minutes and hope for the best..

Thanks for the suggestions..