How to upgrade from 2.1 to 2.2 without losing ANY data?

[Guest StreakFreak]

So, here I am at this awesome forum that I've been lurking around for a while. You guys have helped me here and there with many issues and questions I've had with the Streak.

Now, after awaiting for so, so long for Froyo to come out I've been witholding upgrading my phone because I don't want to lose any data. Damn, I've completed all levels on angry birds and got 3 stars in most of them and I do not want to do that all over again. Besides that, I have a ton of other data stored in other applications many of which I probably will only realise it was important once I wipe my phone.

In short, I want a solution to this problem. Backup all data including application data, settings and what not before I can upgrade.

I've heard rooting the phone and using Titanium backup is an option, but I don't want to mess with my warranty (I've heard factory condition can be restored again, true that?) or have my phone messed up while trying to root it. Also, after it is rooted will the phone be upgradable like a non-rooted phone would be or will I face problems. Plus, I'd have to root the phone on 2.2 as well to be able to restore the data, right?

One other question besides the upgrading issue I have is that when applications are developed are they all developed for phone above say Android 2.0 or for specific OS like Android 2.1 or 2.2? I would like to know that because I want to know if the apps I am currently using will be available on 2.2 as well.

What have you guys done to overcome the upgradation issue?

That's a barrage of questions. I hope one of you Android pros can tackle them.

Thanks a lot in advance. I also want to thank you all from the side of the people who have been only lurking here but haven't signed up and posted. You guys have helped us solve a LOT of issues and address a lot of questions about the Streak.

[Guest StreakFreak]

Any kind of help would be great. I'm really looking forward to upgrading :D

[Guest jsm7483]

I think you can use Dell Sync to do it. It is in the marketplace. Other than that Titanium Backup is great for apps. The problem with backing up data is sometimes it causes FC's more often than not. In that case Titanium Backup is better just for backing up apps.

[Guest StreakFreak]

I think you can use Dell Sync to do it. It is in the marketplace. Other than that Titanium Backup is great for apps. The problem with backing up data is sometimes it causes FC's more often than not. In that case Titanium Backup is better just for backing up apps.

Hey, I was hoping for a little more detail as I haven't done this before and as I stated my phone is NOT rooted. How do I go about the whole process and will I lose warranty?

[Guest andycqos]

Hey, I was hoping for a little more detail as I haven't done this before and as I stated my phone is NOT rooted. How do I go about the whole process and will I lose warranty?

You dont have to root to use the Dell backup utility. I cant imagine using an official Dell backup app would void your warranty either.

Not sure how good it is at restoring app settings, but it certainly restores SMS etc and the apps themselves. I would avoid Titanium like the plague, Ive used it twice and both times were disasters.

To be honest, theres never any guarantees when doing an upgrade. You might find everything restores absolutely fine, you might find that some just wont work without reinstalling and you might find you have to redo the settings of some. No-one on here can give you any categoric answers, Im afraid.

If youre still on 1.6 then I would say the upgrade is worth the risk of having to do a bit of manual restoring afterwards, but its really up to you

[Guest StreakFreak]

You dont have to root to use the Dell backup utility. I cant imagine using an official Dell backup app would void your warranty either.

Not sure how good it is at restoring app settings, but it certainly restores SMS etc and the apps themselves. I would avoid Titanium like the plague, Ive used it twice and both times were disasters.

To be honest, theres never any guarantees when doing an upgrade. You might find everything restores absolutely fine, you might find that some just wont work without reinstalling and you might find you have to redo the settings of some. No-one on here can give you any categoric answers, Im afraid.

If youre still on 1.6 then I would say the upgrade is worth the risk of having to do a bit of manual restoring afterwards, but its really up to you

I've read reviews of the Dell backup utility on the market and apparently it doesn't work. Also, I'm not sure if it will backup data of applications such as "Angry Birds". How different is the PC sync tool compared to the Dell Backup Utility app? Has anybody used any of these with or without success?

[Guest Fone_Fanatic]

I've read reviews of the Dell backup utility on the market and apparently it doesn't work. Also, I'm not sure if it will backup data of applications such as "Angry Birds". How different is the PC sync tool compared to the Dell Backup Utility app? Has anybody used any of these with or without success?

Updating from 2.1 to 2.2 is like going from windows xp to windows 7. There are a bunch of things under the hood that are new and changed. With that being said no matter how well you back up all your apps, your still gonna get some if not a lot of problems.

My recommendation to you is to simply back up your messages/contacts/bookmarks, whatever you feel is essential, and then do the upgrade. From there you will start from scratch and have a fresh clean slate to go from reducing the chance of apps crashing all the time forcing you to do a factory reset.

Also a lot of apps will save your data (or have the option within the app to backup/save your data) onto the sd card.

Just search google for "backup android" and you will get more than enough write ups and reviews of various ways to do a concise backup.

good luck.

[Guest StreakFreak]

Updating from 2.1 to 2.2 is like going from windows xp to windows 7. There are a bunch of things under the hood that are new and changed. With that being said no matter how well you back up all your apps, your still gonna get some if not a lot of problems.

My recommendation to you is to simply back up your messages/contacts/bookmarks, whatever you feel is essential, and then do the upgrade. From there you will start from scratch and have a fresh clean slate to go from reducing the chance of apps crashing all the time forcing you to do a factory reset.

Also a lot of apps will save your data (or have the option within the app to backup/save your data) onto the sd card.

Just search google for "backup android" and you will get more than enough write ups and reviews of various ways to do a concise backup.

good luck.

As far as I know there isn't any app on 2.1 that allowes that. I've heard of it being a part of 2.2 though (installing apps on SD card).

[Guest andycqos]

I've read reviews of the Dell backup utility on the market and apparently it doesn't work. Also, I'm not sure if it will backup data of applications such as "Angry Birds". How different is the PC sync tool compared to the Dell Backup Utility app? Has anybody used any of these with or without success?

I can only go from my experience, but I found the Dell backup utility worked fine when updating Stephens ROMs. Backed up and restored my messages and apps with no problems at all - unlike Titanium, which Id used before and was a nightmare. I had to reset a few of the settings in some of the apps, but as I said before, if you're expecting to find something that will restore absolutely everything then you just arent going to find it, and it isnt really realistic to expect to.

The PC sync tool and backup app are two completely different things

Doesnt Angry Birds have its own backup app?

[Guest StreakFreak]

I can only go from my experience, but I found the Dell backup utility worked fine when updating Stephens ROMs. Backed up and restored my messages and apps with no problems at all - unlike Titanium, which Id used before and was a nightmare. I had to reset a few of the settings in some of the apps, but as I said before, if you're expecting to find something that will restore absolutely everything then you just arent going to find it, and it isnt really realistic to expect to.

The PC sync tool and backup app are two completely different things

Doesnt Angry Birds have its own backup app?

Genius! Thanks. I never even knew angry birds had a backup app of its own.

Besides the Dell backup utility app, wouldn't the PC sync tool also work as a backup tool? Also, to what extent would it backup things as compared to the Dell backuputility app?

[Guest andycqos]

Genius! Thanks. I never even knew angry birds had a backup app of its own.

Besides the Dell backup utility app, wouldn't the PC sync tool also work as a backup tool? Also, to what extent would it backup things as compared to the Dell backuputility app?

Ive never used the PC sync tool, so I have no idea ... sorry!

[Guest StreakFreak]

Ive never used the PC sync tool, so I have no idea ... sorry!

Ah, damn! How did the Dell backup utility work for you?

I mean did it backup apps and its settings for you?

Edited January 18, 2011 by StreakFreak

[Guest StreakFreak]

I finally got around upgrading it after backing it up with countless applications and guess what, I didn't even need to restore a thing. Everything remained just like before. I'm not sure if it's worked like this for you guys, but I'm mor ethan glad it did for me.

Many thanks to all of you, especially Andy.