topic Re: Backup and restore problem in XPERIA archive

Backup and restore problem

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:22:21 GMT

Hi,

I tried to restore a previous backup to test the feature in PC Companion. And the result is : It doesn't work. here is what I did :

- make a backup

- reset your Xperia S (using the repair function in PC Companion)

- restore your previous backup

- You have lost everything.

Tha backup is supposed to backup all your data, sms, music, contacts, parameters (display, ringtones...), bookmarks, etc. But nothing is restored. You are with a brand new Xperia S

Apps are on your Google account, so they can be restored, but what about all the modifications I made the screens, the sms, my ringtones, my bookmarks, my sync accounts (Exchange, Twitter, Facebook, Google, Foursquare, etc.)?

Have someone had the same problem?

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:43:43 GMT

use this instead

http://talk.sonymobile.com/message/161950#161950

it will work on your Xperia S

Don't forget to mark the Correct Answers & Helpful Answers

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:44:07 GMT

or you can use this

My Phone Explorer

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fjsoft.myphoneexplorer.client&hl=en

http://www.fjsoft.at/en/

Don't forget to mark the Correct Answers & Helpful Answers

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:51:56 GMT

Hi,

I don't want to backup (OK, yes I want, but I will do it with Android Backup next time...), I want to restore my smartphone to the state of my previous backup with PC Companion.

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:54:13 GMT

which app are you going to use? bc I'm not aware of any app that will backup widgets or that will restore your email and passwords, even if there was one, I wouldn't want an app to store my passwords.

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:56:45 GMT

Android Backup : http://www.spritesoftware.com/products/android/backup

MyBackup : http://www.rerware.com/

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:19:02 GMT

OK, I checked in the PC Companion backup file and there is nothing about the system (home screens, alarms, etc.)

So, why make a backup that is absolutely useless, because all the images, contacts, pics, etc can be retrieve on the Google account and on Media Go?

How can I restore my previous state? Do I have to redo the whole thing that I spent 1 week to arrange? The Google account also isn't in the backup...

I hope I will never have to tell this to my customers : "Oh we have made a backup, but we only have the pictures of your cat. Hmm? What about the 25 years of architecture projects you had before the crash? We don't have them. But the pics of your cats are safe "

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:42:59 GMT

try the "backup & restore" app from the link I gave you, you will love it

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:46:27 GMT

And what about my previous backup? I have to download again more than 2Gb of data (Maps, apps, etc.)

Someone from Sony can answer me please?

Re: Backup and restore problem

sushidushi — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:52:45 GMT

Anything on the SD card doesn't need to be backed up, as it will be unaffected by any software updates or repairs. And Google is just somethingu'll need to sign in to again once the update has been performed, so I am not sure what you'd want backed up there. If all your contacts are attached with Google, there is no need to back those up, but many people also have phone contacts, and these would otherwise be lost.

I am not aware of any way of fully restoring your phone to its previous state. There would, as uliwooly said, be security issues, and for any significant updates, the operating system is going to be changing, so it seems right to me that the user should make his own decisions.

That said, I know it can be a bit of a pain to restore your phone to how you like it, and I wouldn't repair the software for fun, but it can also be an opportunity to make changes and rethink things a bit.

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:42:09 GMT

The problem is that every modified config is not on the SD, but in the memory of the phone.

The other problem is that the backup of PC Companion indicate that it's a FULL backup and that you can have everything back with a restore, but that's not the case and that's the main problem. I hope they will find why the backup is buggy (read : unusable).

I don't care about my music or pics, they are in Media Go, but my GPS maps, apps data, bookmarks, synchronized accounts, contacts, sms, apps aren't.

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:46:10 GMT

Ok it's worse than I expected...

I reinstalled all my apps. I then tried to restore my backup and I had this error : app is already installed.

So the restore is really buggy. I don't know where the apps and data were, but they weren't displayed.

Someone from Sony can chime in please?

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:49:56 GMT

yes, any backup app that you can find, it will be the same, you MUST re-download the apps, for obvious reasons Google won't allow you to keep the APKs files on your phone. that's how apps work on android, ios, etc you have to redownload them all

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:51:17 GMT

you have to be a bit more specific, which backup app are you referring to ?

try "Backup & Restore" and this

My Phone Explorer

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fjsoft.myphoneexplorer.client&hl=en

http://www.fjsoft.at/en/

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:09:43 GMT

Like I said in the OP, the backup/restore function in Sony PC Companion

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:43:43 GMT

PCC its unreliable try the other apps

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:51:27 GMT

Thanks, I noticed

If it doesn't work, Sony have to remove the backup/restore option in PC Companion.

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:20:55 GMT

Also you can backup w/ google

settings -> Privacy -> Back up my data and Automatic restore should be selected

I agree they either should revamp PCC or delete that feature

Re: Backup and restore problem

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:26:17 GMT

It's selected by default.

But the restored apps didn't have their data, I had to redo the configuration for each app.

I installed MyBackup Pro, I will give it a try (30 days trial) and test a restore (will give a feedback :smileywink:)

Re: Backup and restore problem

Uliwooly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 19:33:38 GMT

Ok, let us know, bc I don't know of any app that will restore "configuration" on each app