factory state + root, should I set up phone now or after flashing custom ROM?

[wrench]

I just rooted. Because I was running Sprint 2.1(.6), I first had to downgrade to 2.1(.5), then root, so my phone is back to factory state.

Should I restore backed up apps, app data, and redo various phone settings (gmail setup, etc.) now, or should I just flash a custom ROM first, since the custom ROM install process requires a wipe anyway?

I.e., for someone who is probably going to try a few custom ROMs, does it make sense to fully set up phone now, then use Titanium Backup, then flash custom ROM, then use Titanium Backup to restore apps, data, settings? Or am I misunderstanding how TB works to restore?

If I flash a custom ROM first, then set up phone, can I use TB to back everything up, then wipe and flash another custom ROM and use TB to restore data, apps, settings?

The goal is to avoid repeatedly setting up all the phone settings.

 

[wrench]

After some further reading, it seems using Titanium Backup to restore settings is not advised (FAQ: Why you shouldn’t be using… [a rant] Geek For Me – Sprint Evo 4g & CDMA Hero).

So for those people who are trying different custom ROMs, how are you restoring phone settings and application data? Or are you redoing all these manually after every custom ROM flash? If you backup an application using Titanium Backup or MyBackup, does it backup that app's data as well? An example of what I mean by app data is a list of grocery items in Grocery IQ.

 

[Kelmar]

I redo it manually each time.

It's worth keeping in mind that info on your SD card is NOT erased.

 

[wrench]

I redo it manually each time.

It's worth keeping in mind that info on your SD card is NOT erased.

So when you reinstall apps, do they automatically pick up user data from the SD card?

 

[jwpilly]

So when you reinstall apps, do they automatically pick up user data from the SD card?

I use my backup pro and it backs up all my apps and all my phone settings. Now it backs up both on line as well, so if I lose my phone, all my apps and their data is safe in the cloud.

 

[wrench]

I ended up losing the data from a couple of apps, like Grocery IQ. Even the MyBackup app backups I made didn't restore properly. But the sms, mms, bookmarks and call logs restored just fine.

So I guess there's a split in the community about how to set up the phone following a ROM flash. Some, like Kelmar, redo the settings manually (and that seems to be what flipz is getting at in the link posted above), while others rely on Titanium Backup.

 

[ccapasso]

I redo them each and every time.

 

[wrench]

I redo them each and every time.

Question for kelmar and ccapasso:
How do you make this process efficient? Granted this was my first time rooting and flashing, but it took me hours to have the phone setup the way I wanted.

My process flow for flash and setup looked like this:
1. Backup:
- contacts - google
- sms, mms, call log, bookmarks - MyBackup
- sd card - doesn't get wiped, so pics, videos, music and other files preserved
- app data saved online - (e.g., Remember the Milk) - no problem
- app data only stored on phone - (e.g., list in Grocery IQ) - I ended up losing this local-only app data
- apps? I used MyBackup, but was unable to restore the few apps I tried restoring

2. wipe; flash; nandroid
3. system settings; restore sms, mms, bookmarks, call logs; nandroid
4. install apps manually - now that I'm rooted, I can use Titanium Backup, but is there anyway to do this such that you only install the app and app data without bringing over settings from an old ROM (the issue that flipz wrote about in the article I linked to earlier in this thread)?

I'd be reluctant to flash another ROM because I'd hate to spend so much time on the setup. What should I do differently to make this process more efficient and also to preserve app data that is only stored locally?

 

[Kelmar]

It's gotten to the point where it only takes me 30 minutes or so to set up a new ROM.

I DON'T backup my SMS, MMS, bookmarks or call log. I sync my contacts through google. The apps are all in the market the first time you open the market. The longest part is setting up my work email account/contact ringtones.

Ultimately, I have LESS problems doing it this way than trying to make everything mesh (if that makes sense).

 

[wrench]

The apps are all in the market the first time you open the market.

What do you mean by this? Are you manually reinstalling each app via the market? What about the data for apps that only store data locally? Are you losing this data with each flash?

Ultimately, I have LESS problems doing it this way than trying to make everything mesh (if that makes sense).

By mesh, are you referring to trying to restore everything (apps, app data, settings) using Titanium Backup?

 

[Kelmar]

I don't use many apps that require additional data, can't say for sure.

Yes. But truth being said, I prefer to manually set everything up because then I know it's exactly how I want it and that information didn't get lost in the shuffle.

 

[ccapasso]

I would echo exactly what Kelmar said. I do not backup my apps or their associated data. I only backup my contacts (which are sync'd with google, so really I'm not backing them up). I do not backup my sms, mms or anything. I do not format my SD card unless I have to (have never had to). I reinstall all apps from the market each time. If I wanted to, technically I could pull the apk file and just push it to the phone so that I don't have to download from market, but I found doing it this way doesn't allow the app to get updates .

 

[dpeeps74]

i backup my sms to my sd card, other than that, i'm running darchdroid, 2.7 and now 2.8, and all bookmarks and apps, contacts and many phone settings all get backed up by android native (at least i believe this to be the case). Sense roms appear to lose this functionality. So once i flash and login to google, it restores a lot of stuff, and after ~15 minutes or so, everything is synced, and all my apps are automatically installed. individual app settings still have to be done, but most all phone settings themselves, bookmarks, wallpaper, all are restored...to the point i don't even have to go get my wireless key off the router to connect to wireless.

 

[Joehunni]

I don't backup anything and I wipe by flashing roms at least 3 times a week. Lots of bugs pop up for those who backup and restore between different roms and I'd do anything to avoid them. Plus, why not have the peace of mind that everything is as it should be because you completely redid it from scratch?

 

[wrench]

I don't use many apps that require additional data, can't say for sure.

I would echo exactly what Kelmar said. I do not backup my apps or their associated data.

I don't backup anything and I wipe by flashing roms at least 3 times a week.

So in addition to losing local-only app data (or not using apps that store data only locally), you all manually install all apps? As in one at a time? Is there an app that can streamline that part of the process?

Going forward, when choosing between similar apps, I'll probably lean toward an app that allows me to store the data elsewhere, or at the very least, is able to pick up the user data left on the sd card.

Also, I'll see if I can find a backup program that only backs up user data.

 

[Kelmar]

Check out appbrain, but I've had very mixed results on the app when reinstalling apps.

When you open the market for the FIRST TIME (and only the first time), it will show you all of the apps you previously had installed and will allow you to download them again (one at a time). The 2nd time you open the market you will have to search for them like you did before.