best Google-free backup, non-rooted?

Eli the Bearded

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May 18, 2020, 7:07:18 PM5/18/20

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I have a device, running Android 9, for which I don't think there's
any known way to root.

I'd like to make as complete as possible a backup of that device
(completeness and functional restore are the metrics by which I judge
"best" for backups).

I would like that backup to reside on a hard drive in my possession and
MAKE NO DETOURS through the world wide web (including, but not limited to
Google Drive).

My current backup strategy involves rsync run from Termux to save to
backup drive mounted on a Linux computer on my home network. When run
on my home wifi, no Internet is needed. But this is not a very complete
backup.

Can I take a complete backup using a program on the Linux device
connected via USB? `dd if=/dev/something/cellphone of=/backups/cellphone`
Something else? I'd certainly consider an `adb` solution, but I don't
really know what I'm doing with that.

How would a restore from that work?

Elijah
------
is old enough to think of "assembly debugger" when seeing "adb"

Eli the Bearded

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May 19, 2020, 2:56:42 AM5/19/20

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In comp.mobile.android, Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:
> I'd like to make as complete as possible a backup of that device
> (completeness and functional restore are the metrics by which I judge
> "best" for backups).
>
> I would like that backup to reside on a hard drive in my possession and
> MAKE NO DETOURS through the world wide web (including, but not limited to
> Google Drive).

...

> Can I take a complete backup using a program on the Linux device
> connected via USB? `dd if=/dev/something/cellphone of=/backups/cellphone`
> Something else? I'd certainly consider an `adb` solution, but I don't
> really know what I'm doing with that.

I found this:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/backup-restore-your-android-phone-using-adb-ajibola-okubanjo

Which claims (after setting up adb), I can just do:

adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup-file.adb

Okay, I did that, and I have a 5.9GB backup-file.adb now. Which doesn't
seem at all right because my rsync backups are ~31GB, of which 29GB are
JPEG files from my camera. No way that much JPEG is being squeezed lossly
losslessly into 5.9GB.

"adb backup help" and "adb backup --help" both offer zero help. How does
this tool work?

Elijah
------
fuck this lack of decent documentation trend

Calum

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May 19, 2020, 9:44:43 AM5/19/20

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On 19/05/2020 07:56, Eli the Bearded wrote:

> Okay, I did that, and I have a 5.9GB backup-file.adb now. Which doesn't
> seem at all right because my rsync backups are ~31GB, of which 29GB are
> JPEG files from my camera. No way that much JPEG is being squeezed lossly
> losslessly into 5.9GB.

adb backup only backs up apk files and any data files under their direct
control (generally stored in /Android/data) that the developer has
permitted to be backed up.

It doesn't back up anything in /DCIM, /Movies, /Music, etc., nor some
"private" system data like SMS messages.

Apps like Helium combine the adb backup approach with the ability to
back up SMS, contacts etc. to your PC. But without root access, there's
really no way to back up absolutely everything.

Frank Slootweg

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May 19, 2020, 10:14:32 AM5/19/20

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I don't use adb for backup, but this webpage might help a little, also
for other (non-backup/restore) aspects of adb:

'ADB Commands: A Beginners Guide'
<https://android.tutorials.how/adb-commands>

N.B. It's not just for beginners, it also has a 'Advanced ADB Commands'
part. But all-in-all it isn't that great either. Sorry.

I think it's best to use *both* methods, i.e. adb's backup and your
rsync backup.

I do a similar thing, but on Windows: The manufacturer's backup
utility (mainly for some basic stuff like contacts, (SMS) messages,
APKs, pictures, video, music, etc.) and then a sync utility for all
files which are accessible without root.

But basically, without root you can't make a complete backup and can't
do a full restore. Face it: What *are* you thinking? That you actually
*own* the device or some silly notion!? :-) c.q. :-(

Arlen Holder

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May 19, 2020, 6:27:44 PM5/19/20

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The problem with Android backup is there are so many solutions to choose
from that it gets daunting just to choose _which_ backup method to use:
o best Google-free backup, non-rooted? Eli the Bearded
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/Sfx_Tik9OT8/nDyKIqgZAgAJ>

For example...
o *Tutorial: How to back up non-root Android apps and their data over Wi-Fi using Helium freeware on Windows*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/ZUEJUrPrEog/YZo2Sx3jAgAJ>

o *What free non-root Android backup & restore solution do you recommend for general use?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/jZ8IxxgXFys/CZ_etmu9AgAJ>

o *Tutorial: How to connect Android to Windows as a drive letter over a Wi-Fi LAN for free simple reliable bidirectional copy*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o/lD5QOkBcAQAJ>

o *Simultaneously slide Windows Linux iOS Android files back and forth over USB at 7GB per minute speeds using 100% native devices (no proprietary software needed)*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/WohhLOTCYKw/n_ytNizaCAAJ>
etc.

BTW, I'm with anyone who wants backup WITHOUT the Internet involved!
o *Do people of reasonable technical ability store their private data on the Internet (if so, for what gain?)*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/mBIZ-8jGdmk/aLDJkSJQAAAJ>
--
Usenet works best when adults share ideas politely with each other.

Eli the Bearded

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May 20, 2020, 1:39:08 PM5/20/20

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In comp.mobile.android, Frank Slootweg <th...@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:
> Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> wrote:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/backup-restore-your-android-phone-using-adb-ajibola-okubanjo
>> Which claims (after setting up adb), I can just do:
>>
>> adb backup -apk -shared -all -f backup-file.adb

> 'ADB Commands: A Beginners Guide'
> <https://android.tutorials.how/adb-commands>

That offers a little bit more help, but not a huge amount.

> N.B. It's not just for beginners, it also has a 'Advanced ADB Commands'
> part. But all-in-all it isn't that great either. Sorry.

Thanks, though.

> I think it's best to use *both* methods, i.e. adb's backup and your
> rsync backup.

Well, rsync *worked*. I backed up files with rsync and other stuff with
adb, swapped out the SD card in my phone, and attempted a restore.
"adb restore backup-file.adb" ran for a while and I saw apps I use
listed in the progress, but it apparently only backed up / restored
stuff I installed from Play Store or had come with the phone. But not
even all of those. I had HBO and Netflix apps, now I just have HBO. My
phone, SMS tool, calendar, note program, etc, that I had from F-Droid
didn't get restored.

What a piece of shit program.

(Also, wtf is it with the F-Droid app that makes it nearly impossible to
search? Only ordering things by most recently updated is kinda sucky for
reinstalling stuff.)

> But basically, without root you can't make a complete backup and can't
> do a full restore. Face it: What *are* you thinking? That you actually
> *own* the device or some silly notion!? :-) c.q. :-(

Fuck Google with a rusty chainsaw. I really hate the lack of competition
in computer-in-phone-format land. Apple has some nice stuff, but super
onerous about installing stuff because they might miss an opportunity to
get a slice of a payment. Android has a much wider veriety of hardware
but Google trying to get a slice of your personal information.

Everyone else is such a small part of the market you can blink and miss
them.

Elijah
------
does not consider Apple phones rugged enough to use

Arlen Holder

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May 20, 2020, 3:16:41 PM5/20/20

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On Wed, 20 May 2020 17:39:08 +0000 (UTC), Eli the Bearded wrote:

> (Also, wtf is it with the F-Droid app that makes it nearly impossible to
> search?

Below is some insight on the 'search'...

On the F-Droid search sucking, I don't disagree (as I don't really use
F-Droid for search...

But rest assured, both The Real Bev and recently I tried to search Google
Play via two different methods for an app that Frank Slootweg had
suggested, and we couldn't find it - even though we had the URL in our hand
on the desktop computer).
o 'Apk Extractor'
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marga.ApkDownloader>

I ended up getting it via the desktop _instead_ of the Google Play search
(actually I used the Aurora Store search) on my mobile device.
o *How do you find the unique app package real name on your Android device?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/4TcwyAcSPqM/7Dq-mCcZBQAJ>

Given independent people using independent methods failed to find an app
that they _knew_ existed (because they could "see" it from the desktop!),
I would say _all_ the searches suck, when they get difficult.

I have friends who write apps which have only a few dozen downloads, and
even though I _know_ the app is on Google Play, the search won't find them
from my phone.

Luckily, it seems that for F-Droid & Google Play, a desktop-based search
works, where copying an APK from the desktop to the phone is seamless.

In summary, I don't think it's "only" F-Droid whose search sucks.
--
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