Help Recommended steps to transfer data from one Android handheld to the 4G LTE

[UNSCleric]

I have an Evo 4G now with a 16GB SD card. Can I just take that out and put it in the Evo LTE or should I format it first or something on my current Evo?

 

[UNSCleric]

Oh ok, thanks. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't some really bad thing to do in case I didn't wipe it clean first. That's probably what I'll do though.

 

[drexappeal]

Oh ok, thanks. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't some really bad thing to do in case I didn't wipe it clean first. That's probably what I'll do though.

I would highly recommend copying any folders (onto a cpu drive) that are currently on the SD that you know for sure won't have negative impact on the LTEvo. My standard recommendation is copying media folders (e.g. Pictures, Ringtones, Music, Video, etc.). There are some app backups that I keep as well because the backup is not specific to the phone, so there shouldn't be any problem translating over to the new phone. There are other apps where, it may be using components on the old phone that won't translate nicely to the new phone, so I leave those out.

Once all the folders are copied, I'd delete everything on the microSD, prior to using it with the LTEvo. When you get the LTEvo, there shouldn't be any problem just inserting the microSD. First order of business, after inserting the blank microSD is to format the microSD (while in the phone). I've found recently that this seems more reliable than formatting in a PC or CPU. Once the microSD is formatted in your LTEvo, you can connect it to the PC and copy/paste the folders that you had saved from your old phone.

To me, that's the safest way to ensure that everything will work properly without any issue.

 

[PyroSporker]

I would highly recommend copying any folders (onto a cpu drive) that are currently on the SD that you know for sure won't have negative impact on the LTEvo. My standard recommendation is copying media folders (e.g. Pictures, Ringtones, Music, Video, etc.). There are some app backups that I keep as well because the backup is not specific to the phone, so there shouldn't be any problem translating over to the new phone. There are other apps where, it may be using components on the old phone that won't translate nicely to the new phone, so I leave those out.

Once all the folders are copied, I'd delete everything on the microSD, prior to using it with the LTEvo. When you get the LTEvo, there shouldn't be any problem just inserting the microSD. First order of business, after inserting the blank microSD is to format the microSD (while in the phone). I've found recently that this seems more reliable than formatting in a PC or CPU. Once the microSD is formatted in your LTEvo, you can connect it to the PC and copy/paste the folders that you had saved from your old phone.

To me, that's the safest way to ensure that everything will work properly without any issue.

Right on.
I've posted this tip many number of times, sorry for those getting the re-run.

After a back up, Rather than use the phone to format an SD card I prefer to format my MicroSD cards using this nifty computer utility and a USB reader:
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_3/

It is created distributed by the SD Card Association, is super simple, and It does a really complete job. Full Overwrite is awesome.

 

[drexappeal]

Right on.
I've posted this tip many number of times, sorry for those getting the re-run.

After a back up, Rather than use the phone to format an SD card I prefer to format my MicroSD cards using this nifty computer utility and a USB reader:
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_3/

It is created by the SD Card Association, is super simple, and It does a really complete job. Full Overwrite is awesome.

Thanks for posting that, Pyro. There was another one someone recommended (and actually highly recommend across different tech sites) that is through Panasonic. I haven't tried that yet, but just in case people want to do a little research before they decide which one best suits their needs.

 

[PyroSporker]

Thanks for posting that, Pyro. There was another one someone recommended (and actually highly recommend across different tech sites) that is through Panasonic. I haven't tried that yet, but just in case people want to do a little research before they decide which one best suits their needs.

Might be the same thing? Or very similar?

About:
SDFormatter Version 3.1 [3, 1, 0, 0]
(C) Panasonic and TRENDY Co.

 

[drexappeal]

Might be the same thing? Or very similar?

It might be. The website looks very similar...Maybe Panasonic just "re-branded" for their own needs?...LOL. Happens a lot, so wouldn't be surprised.

Although, part of me wants to say that the Panasonic formatter wasn't specific to SD cards...just any removable drive in general.

 

[PyroSporker]

It might be. The website looks very similar...Maybe Panasonic just "re-branded" for their own needs?...LOL. Happens a lot, so wouldn't be surprised.

Although, part of me wants to say that the Panasonic formatter wasn't specific to SD cards...just any removable drive in general.

Maybe you are remembering me post about it?

 

[EarlyMon]

The main thing is to avoid wrong formatting for an sd card as has existed on some revisions of Windows.

Not 100% sure, but my memory is that the phone's built in formatting conveniently creates the folders that HTC and Android are expecting.

I suspect that unless you have a need for deep formatting (with a wipe), as may happen with an older card, then the phone format is fine.

SD cards have a limited number of write cycles before they go wonky. Deep formatting or wiping reduces that big number by a little bit.

So personally, I stick with phone formatting wherever possible.

 

[PyroSporker]

The main thing is to avoid wrong formatting for an sd card as has existed on some revisions of Windows.

Yeah it is a good way to ruin an otherwise good card.
De-fragmenting with a PC is not recommended, it can use up a number of write cycles.

Not 100% sure, but my memory is that the phone's built in formatting conveniently creates the folders that HTC and Android are expecting.

Unless it tells you a format is necessary, when you put the card into the phone it automatically checks for and adds those files no matter what. It is like a fail safe.

I suspect that unless you have a need for deep formatting (with a wipe), as may happen with an older card, then the phone format is fine.

SD cards have a limited number of write cycles before they go wonky. Deep formatting or wiping reduces that big number by a little bit.

When you say big number, you mean BIG number. Depending on the type of flash memory it is, it can be in the hundreds of thousands of write cycles these days. Also of note newer cards have circuitry built in to try to prevent wear and encourage wear-leveling across the volume.
We probably do more 'damage' leaving our MicroSD cards in the phone 24/7. The system/applications could be reading and writing to it silently at an alarming rate.

So personally, I stick with phone formatting wherever possible.

Jolly good advice Chap

 

[drexappeal]

Maybe you are remembering me post about it?

That might be it...LOL.

 

[KenjiSpencer]

When my new Evo 4G LTE shows up, I'd like to make it a "clone" of the Evo 4G I currently own. I assume that my new phone will automatically download my contacts from Google (is that true?), but is there a way to make my new phone automatically download all of the apps I've downloaded onto my current one? And can I just remove the SD card from my current phone and put the card into my new phone to transfer all of my pictures and other media? Thanks in advance.

 

[Sauske]

When my new Evo 4G LTE shows up, I'd like to make it a "clone" of the Evo 4G I currently own. I assume that my new phone will automatically download my contacts from Google (is that true?), but is there a way to make my new phone automatically download all of the apps I've downloaded onto my current one? And can I just remove the SD card from my current phone and put the card into my new phone to transfer all of my pictures and other media? Thanks in advance.

Yes it will automatically download your contact's and calendar when you log back into google acct. For your app question; My phone is rooted (hacked) and I don't know if this is a feature the devs baked into the rom, but when I switch roms all my downloaded app download automatically!

 

[marctronixx]

when you are setting up the LTE handset for the first time, there is a screen that asks if you want to transfer any data from one device to it. it will use bluetooth to accomplish this.

 

[smitty543]

How to transfer data from partitioned micro SD card from rooted EVO 4G??

Is the procedure the same as described above?

 

[Aviatordoc]

How about HTC sync?

 

[AM2]

When my new Evo 4G LTE shows up, I'd like to make it a "clone" of the Evo 4G I currently own. I assume that my new phone will automatically download my contacts from Google (is that true?), but is there a way to make my new phone automatically download all of the apps I've downloaded onto my current one? And can I just remove the SD card from my current phone and put the card into my new phone to transfer all of my pictures and other media? Thanks in advance.

once you open the play store/market, all your apps should start downloading to the new phone automatically. I usually sync up in the sync settings screen prior to shutting down the old phone so that everything is up to date for when I sync the new phone. this is how google backs up your apps

 

[CriticalCritic]

When my new Evo 4G LTE shows up, I'd like to make it a "clone" of the Evo 4G I currently own. I assume that my new phone will automatically download my contacts from Google (is that true?), but is there a way to make my new phone automatically download all of the apps I've downloaded onto my current one? And can I just remove the SD card from my current phone and put the card into my new phone to transfer all of my pictures and other media? Thanks in advance.

You can also try Mybackup Pro or Titanium backup (I have both and personally I am much more fond of Mybackup since it has all the same features but it's more user friendly). The benefit of this is that you will be able to save, and reload onto you new device, older versions of various apps that you currently possess, rather than being forced to update to the most current versions.

Restoring the older versions of apps can be a good thing. Personally, my motto is that I will never update an app unless (1) Something is currently wrong with it, or (2) The new version has a new feature that I MUST have. So as a result, more than half of my Evo's apps have updates available... but I've been burned too many times in the past by bad updates (as in, the update either made performance worse, or added ads to a free app that previously did not exist, or the dev removed significant features due to copyright infringement/C&D orders).

Just remember that if you go this route, and if you currently have a rooted device, you need to use the backup option for "APKs Only" and NOT "APKs+Data," otherwise it will fail to restore on your new unrooted LTEvo.

 

[Twistax]

I havent switched phones, have had my EVO forever but... whats the best method to transfer apps to a the new Evo? I have some apps that arent available on the market anymore...

Will the Astro File manager back up work?

 

[KenjiSpencer]

once you open the play store/market, all your apps should start downloading to the new phone automatically. I usually sync up in the sync settings screen prior to shutting down the old phone so that everything is up to date for when I sync the new phone. this is how google backs up your apps

I know that this is how it works if you replace a phone with another phone of the same model (like if you lost your original phone), but is this also how it works if you change the model of your phone? I ask because a friend of mine recently switched from a Motorola Droid to an HTC Thunderbolt and Verizon told him that he had to download all of the apps to his new Thunderbolt manually because Google keeps a separate list of apps for each phone you have (which makes sense if you think about the possibility of having multiple phones). Thanks for your reply in any case.

 

[Sauske]

I havent switched phones, have had my EVO forever but... whats the best method to transfer apps to a the new Evo? I have some apps that arent available on the market anymore...

Will the Astro File manager back up work?

This thread may help you.....

http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g...ransfer-data-one-android-handheld-4g-lte.html

 

[CriticalCritic]

I know that this is how it works if you replace a phone with another phone of the same model (like if you lost your original phone), but is this also how it works if you change the model of your phone? I ask because a friend of mine recently switched from a Motorola Droid to an HTC Thunderbolt and Verizon told him that he had to download all of the apps to his new Thunderbolt manually because Google keeps a separate list of apps for each phone you have (which makes sense if you think about the possibility of having multiple phones). Thanks for your reply in any case.

Well, I know from experience that Google Play keeps a list of all apps that you have EVER downloaded. I went into Play>Menu>My Apps>All (swiped right) then scrolled, and scrolled... and scrolled... and found apps that I had downloaded over 2.5 years ago on a different device!

Apps appear that don't even exist in the market anymore, but for some reason their APKs are still downloadable from that list. And it appears that they are arranged in chronological order, with the most recently downloaded apps at the top of the list.

So I'm not sure about accessing the different separate lists for each device, but I know that there is a master list that should make things easier to find with your next device without needing to actually list your current apps.

 

[AM2]

I know that this is how it works if you replace a phone with another phone of the same model (like if you lost your original phone), but is this also how it works if you change the model of your phone? I ask because a friend of mine recently switched from a Motorola Droid to an HTC Thunderbolt and Verizon told him that he had to download all of the apps to his new Thunderbolt manually because Google keeps a separate list of apps for each phone you have (which makes sense if you think about the possibility of having multiple phones). Thanks for your reply in any case.

my understanding is that it's like email and is password specific. when ur in the play store you're in by means of your google password, so as long as you're using the same password/account on the new model phone, it should sync your apps accordingly. it's more of a cloud feature. it makes more sense to me this way based on using one set of credentials, which means it wouldn't matter if done on different models. I very well could be wrong, but this is how I understand it to work

 

[CriticalCritic]

...it makes more sense to me this way based on using one set of credentials, which means it wouldn't matter if done on different models. I very well could be wrong, but this is how I understand it to work

Right, your app market is now google play, and your google play account is connected to gmail, and the gmail account is connected to your phone. So all of the apps will be there in a list when you change between devices. However, I'm still not sure if it will automatically download all of the previous apps when you switch to an entirely new model.

 

[KenjiSpencer]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I guess I'll find out for sure in a few days.