Backup settings before the update

[zukini]

Ok so it looks as though the phone will get an update soon but a couple of questions first.

HTC recommend a backup before installing a rom.... Is there a HTC backup tool?
I know my Google account is online so I

 

[Slug]

HTC recommend a backup before installing a rom.... Is there a HTC backup tool?

No, 'fraid not.

I know my Google account is online so I

 

[zukini]

Thanks slug. Useful info.
Has anyone else had any experience with mybackup or sprite backup?

 

[G8D]

MyBackupPro works the business. Free version works for 30 days.
All my settings are back on my new custom install
I would not recommend doing the app backup as you will not receive updates as normal.

 

[orcking]

Ok so it looks as though the phone will get an update soon but a couple of questions first.

HTC recommend a backup before installing a rom.... Is there a HTC backup tool?
I know my Google account is online so I

 

[jaybea830802]

So finally what

 

[zukini]

Thanks Jaybea that was the most comprehensive answer yet. And you confirmed my thoughts on not backing up at all. I can live with out the sms messages and the contacts and calendar are safe guarded in Google. So all i really need to do is write a list of the apps i have on good old fashioned paper. Then spend an hour or so re-downloading them and remaking my themes
It would be nice if HTC would make some software just for the hero though.

 

[Jason71]

I had been wondering the same kind of thing. Anyone know the following:

1) Is there a way I can save my Scenes? I assume they are an HTC Sense thing rather than Android so will be passed over by My backup?

1) I would also be sad to loose my Locale settings. Can I back up Locale up with my backup resore it then redownload it again so I get future updates? or will the re-download also wipe out my settings?

thanks

 

[jaybea830802]

1) Is there a way I can save my Scenes? I assume they are an HTC Sense thing rather than Android so will be passed over by My backup?

1) I would also be sad to loose my Locale settings. Can I back up Locale up with my backup resore it then redownload it again so I get future updates? or will the re-download also wipe out my settings?

1. I see that there is an update to MyBackup (2.0.1) which includes "Hero Note: when restoring home short cuts from previous phones, the shortcuts will be available in the classic home view, not in the TouchFlo home. You can backup TouchFlo home on Hero and restore them as well, but only going forward." That sounds like it can now backup Scenes. Not tested.

2. I have not seen a way of backup up Locale settings. Good plug-in opportunity.

 

[Julian_Sprite]

Hi Guys,

Shameless plug, but Sprite Backup simply does more content, and settings than others.

We are also working tightly on many OEM specific data content,

You should see this filter through as it passes our QA,

Julian

 

[rogcontact]

MyBackup Pro is the way to go hands down.

Its got more stuff it can backup then the others, and its the only one that can schedule daily backups, backup to their servers, view the data without having to restore... This comes in very handy when I am looking for an old SMS. I dont want to restore everything to see it, kind of like a lookup archive.

It is the 3rd most popular paid app on the entire Market.

 

[cwrig]

I used MY BACKUP to backup call logs and system settings.

After the rom UG, phone was great; google did the sync of my 400+ contacts within a few minutes.

I restored (or tried to) the system settings with MYBACKUP to get all my home screens back and it smurfed the phone. There were widgets on top of widgets. Rebooting the phone allowed me to trash them all and build the home screens back manually.

So; in this case, MYBACK was not helpful in restoring home screens. It smurfed things up. It did restore my call logs which was nice.

Apps; I just redownlaoded from market.

 

[Julian_Sprite]

Unfortunately, some backup systems claim they do hero, and don't do any of it correctly, well actually they claim a lot, but only restore content providers in a pretty bad state (often as they don't understand injecting sql info is only part of how things work).

We have a new Sprite build that has just passed QA here at Sprite, and is being posted today.

It covers both the questions posted in this thread, and quite a few more.

example, our hero workspaces etc do actually restore, even after a hard reset...

we play nicely with google contact sync, finally a restore system that doesn't mind if you use google sync services as well

our system settings do come back.... (as we do a bunch of the hard stuff properly, try something simple like ring volume...)

we also have more content coming out, as soon as it passes the next round of testing, yes unfortunately lots of testing is required... although we welcome people to join our beta programs if they want the latest features early

we hope to get it all one day, but there are lots of devices coming out, it's an exciting time, and we are working hard with the handset manufacturers to protect your devices and data

as Roger, ie orkling, ie rogcontact the developer of Mybackup has pointed out, third party applications don't often expose their data to others... we will try to backup their data if they do.

Another shameless plug from a Sprite team member

 

[NiceCupOfTea]

I've been putting off the ROM upgrade because in my experience backup/restores are ALWAYS painful and never work properly. I can't see why they don't come with a complete backup utility that does everything. My Psion 5mx did 10 years ago!

I intend to try both MyBackup & Sprite Backup. I bought the WinMo version of Sprite Backup and it was a great program that did the job very nicely. I had an issue with restoring email account settings that thanks to Windows was actually impossible if restoring to a replacement phone. Sprite support were superb - very helpful and looked into it and even revised the program for a new version based on my info. They also refunded the purchase price because of the issues I had.

I am wondering if I should do a backup without SMS/MMS messages in case it screws the phone? Actually, I see using MyBackup I can choose what I restore from the set. I do want the messages though - what program can I use to make sure they are backed up?

 

[NiceCupOfTea]

as Roger, ie orkling, ie rogcontact the developer of Mybackup has pointed out,

Hang on a min - is that really the dev of MyBackup posting positive recommendations under various usernames? For shame

 

[Julian_Sprite]

Hi Nicecupoftea,

Actually both programs have 'backup sets'. Really, it is selectable categories. Basically you can select what categories you want to backup, and select what categories from a backup you want to restore.

A little bit of a different paradim to 'backup sets' in winmo, but it makes for a simpler interface than winmo (probably because there aren't so many thousands of combinations of edgecases etc that you see in winmo - yet, give it time, there are lots of devices on the way, and many flavours of the OS).


Many thanks

Julian

 

[androidforumsQuint]

So Julian, what's the lastest on Sprite? Once again, I'm looking for a TOTAL backup for my Droid. It sort of seems like Sprite might get there. The reviews leave me a bit concerned, though.

Can't some app just make a full image of the phone????? Like Acronis and Ghost do for a PC, or like the Blackberry backup does for the Blackberry?

Instead of picking *this and *that settings, apps, options, call log, etc., how about just BACKUP THE ENTIRE PHONE??

 

[Slug]

Instead of picking *this and *that settings, apps, options, call log, etc., how about just BACKUP THE ENTIRE PHONE??

Can't be done without root access due to file system permissions, I'm afraid.

 

[NiceCupOfTea]

Latest version of Sprite Backup doesn't work on my Hero Loads OK, Accept EULA, Release Notes, "Sorry, an unexpected error has occurred. Please try again or contact support."

Have reset phone and reinstalled...

ETA: v 1.4.2.104

Just me?

Can't be done without root access due to file system permissions, I'm afraid.

I understand this, but it's a poor state of affairs IMHO. Should have been sorted prior to Android release IMHO. Apparently Symbian does a proper FULL backup of everything.

Certainly my Psion 5mx / Revo used to do it perfectly 10 years ago...

 

[Slug]

it's a poor state of affairs IMHO. Should have been sorted prior to Android release IMHO. Apparently Symbian does a proper FULL backup of everything.

I agree with you that a PC Suite-style, user-friendly backup/device management utility is desperately needed . I used it several times with my N95 and it worked a treat.

Such a thing shouldn't require root to work; ideally no user data or settings should be stored on /system. A full (system image) backup is imho unnecessary IF users are able to restore their data and settings completely on a wiped device. I'm not sure but I think Motorola may already have gone this route with their Portal app, so maybe HTC etc will follow. We can only hope.....