Hypothetical Question About MicroSD Card and Froyo Update

[PhonerSapien]

I realize this question is purely hypothetical, but if the Froyo update does get "pushed" to my phone (I'm not seriously suggesting that it ever will!) and I see a prompt about installing it, should I at that point run it, or should I do a few things first to protect customized data on the phone? The user guide suggests that such an update would erase the contents of the MicroSD card, and implies that that you should unmount the card, and then remove it prior to such an update. Is that true? If so, would it be sufficient just to unmount the card without removing it? I don't like forcibly prying off the back (installing the battery was traumatic and I had to take 2 antidepressants afterwards) and having to exert pressures on the MicroSD card.

Similarly, I'm under the impression that my apps might be erased, but that the Android Market keeps a list of them, and they will be easy to reinstall. And my Yahoo and Gmail are "synced", and so they won't be affected. Is my impression correct?

 

[AndroidSPCS]

Typically updates do not erase contents of the microSD card.

It's always a good idea to back up contents of the microSD card anyway, but OTA updates and OS updates should never erase the microSD card.

 

[Tyrahn]

You don't need to worry about your SD card, it will not be affected by an update.

You will likely loose all your apps, settings, home screens, and contacts. The Market is flaky on if it saves your apps or not, usually if you open the market right away it will show a list of everything that was installed but if you close it and come back they might be gone. Any apps that you've paid for though will remain in your Market "my Apps" list forever. Any contacts and calendars synced with an e-mail account, and all your e-mails, will be backed up. Adding your accounts back to the system after the update will cause them to all reaper.

It all depends on how they code the update. It's possible to update the system without effecting user data, which would leave all your apps and settings in place. Sometimes major updates will format your user data though just because reinstalling it all with the new system tends to make everything more stable.

Clark

 

[PhonerSapien]

You don't need to worry about your SD card, it will not be affected by an update.

You will likely loose all your apps, settings, home screens, and contacts. The Market is flaky on if it saves your apps or not, usually if you open the market right away it will show a list of everything that was installed but if you close it and come back they might be gone. Any apps that you've paid for though will remain in your Market "my Apps" list forever. Any contacts and calendars synced with an e-mail account, and all your e-mails, will be backed up. Adding your accounts back to the system after the update will cause them to all reaper.

It all depends on how they code the update. It's possible to update the system without effecting user data, which would leave all your apps and settings in place. Sometimes major updates will format your user data though just because reinstalling it all with the new system tends to make everything more stable.

Clark

I assume the phrases, "will be backed up...adding your accounts back" refer to something the update does automatically, and not something the user has to do. Am I correct about that?

 

[badankles]

I assume the phrases, "will be backed up...adding your accounts back" refer to something the update does automatically, and not something the user has to do. Am I correct about that?

That is in reference to your email accounts, where emails, contacts and calendar events, if you have chosen to use them, are stored at the providers servers.

 

[Tyrahn]

I assume the phrases, "will be backed up...adding your accounts back" refer to something the update does automatically, and not something the user has to do. Am I correct about that?

If your contacts are associated with an e-mail account, such as Gmail or Exchange, then they are constantly synced and backed up. All you will need to do is re-enter your account details and they will be automatically downloaded back to your phone.

If you've added contacts or calendar events to the phone (selected "phone" rather than en e-mail address when adding a contact for example) then they will be lost.

Again, this all depends on how Samsung/Sprint program the update to work. You may not loose a thing. We won't know until it gets here.

Clark

 

[egkor]

Even if the update promises to not touch your user data, I would still take steps to protect my phone's data:

1) Use "appbrain" which is supposed to help you track your apps and reinstall if need be

2) Any apps that have an internal data base, export that data to your real SD card

3) Make sure Google data (contacts, calendar, ?) synched to your gmail account

4) Find an app in the Market that will save off your text messages if you wish to make sure they are saved

5) Pull the SD card, or put in a dummy/spare

Just suggestions ...

-Gary K

 

[cruiser771]

I don't like forcibly prying off the back (installing the battery was traumatic and I had to take 2 antidepressants afterwards) and having to exert pressures on the MicroSD card.

the back cover might seem tougher to remove when its new. I bought an extra battery on day 1 and do a battery swap once, sometimes twice a day. its been over 4 months now and the back cover is never loose or anything, feels very secure, but can be removed rather easily if I want. the micro sd doesn't require pressure either, you press it down first to unlock it. I hope you didn't just try pulling it out, its not the slide out kind

 

[PhonerSapien]

the back cover might seem tougher to remove when its new. I bought an extra battery on day 1 and do a battery swap once, sometimes twice a day. its been over 4 months now and the back cover is never loose or anything, feels very secure, but can be removed rather easily if I want. the micro sd doesn't require pressure either, you press it down first to unlock it. I hope you didn't just try pulling it out, its not the slide out kind

The last part of your comment illustrates why I'm apprehensive about these things - things that should be user-friendly and communicated well are instead booby-trapped - an intuitive yet wrong movement can cause damage. "I hope you didn't just try turning the door knob, the whole house will collapse on top of you..." Or, "I hope you didn't just try unscrewing the milk bottle to pour yourself a glass of milk, hydrochloric acid will spew out into your eyes..." Thank God the real world isn't like smartphones!

 

[Nagual]

Thanks for starting this intelligent topic, as I've had similar concerns. I "nth" the recommendation for backup, and this is another reason I'm glad I rooted the phone and got MyBackup Root, an excellent and free app which does this nightly. I never expect major upgrades like 2.2 to go smoothly, only hope. Now, if the damn thing would just get here, that'd be nice.