yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Backing up contacts and restoring

In looking over what would be the biggest issues in wiping phone when flashing different ROMs, the worst would be contacts. Reconfiguring everything else would be trivial by comparison. Although I do have Gmail account, I don't use it much as I have my own domain email account. I don't use Gmail on phone, so backing up to Google is not an option for me. Is it possible to just back up contacts to extSD and restore after flashing a different ROM? I assume the format for contact data doesn't change even if ROM UI differs. What is the best method for dealing with contact data?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] flaystus:
Maybe something like this?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idea.backup.smscontacts&hl=en
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Seems like it would do precisely what I need. You used this? Just wondering about being able to select extSD even though default is intSD. Dev says backups can be copied from one to other, but that might prove tiresome. Thanks for link. :)
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] flaystus:
Sorry I don't use it. Since I figure out how to change my gmail setting to only add addresses I specifically choose to add to the address list I sync via gmail.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
I'll give it a trial run and see how the backup works. I do not want to have to reenter contacts one more time. Not sure I'd use the app backup function given other options on rooted phone, but it might be valuable for unrooted ones.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] ikjadoon:
I don't know what people were talking about, but for stock apps, a clear cache and data doesn't hurt (I don't think).

~Ibrahim~
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Tried it and contacts are saved as a vcf file, which is about as universal as it gets. Does Android OS natively support this format or is this more likely the format used by this app?

It doesn't offer choice of where to back up (but does allow one to name the file), so I had to copy folder from intSD to extSD. There is also option to email the file itself, but I don't know if it could be imported as contacts in another phone without this app.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Go to www.google.com/contacts

You have more control there...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smoothiex:
Was wondering to get help. I'm running stock, ICS, not rooted, rogers. Now every 3 hours I get reminder from kies about jelly bean update.

I want to root it, backup all my contacts, settings and data and do a fresh install of jelly bean then restore all settings, contacts and data etc. What's the best ans easiest method?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
We kind of need to know what you need help with...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smoothiex:
Accidentally hit submit, my questions are there now.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
I checked the link and see what you mean. I can import and export vCard files from within the contact section of Gmail without actually using Gmail or this app (other than to create the vcf). Oddly, they refer to vcf as an Apple format, but I get vcf files from Windows Outlook users.

Thanks for link.

Still pondering which Gapps file to have you remove unwanted apps from -- do I want to flash most current CM9 or flash nightly CM10 and then update that endlessly. :confused:
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
There several methods... Some will argue on which ones are better... Since it's ICS and not JB, I would use mrRobinson's prerooted image, and adb a recovery on, then you can flash a custom ROM...

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1739426

iTunes installed? Which apps are you trying to remove? You can remove system apps with TiBu, or you can jusr remove the .apk files from the gapps package and they won't get installed when you flash it...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] jridda10121:
I just wanted to know does the new official software update from Sammy matter for any usefulness if I never plan on using stock like roms (touch@iz) is what I am referring I finally adapted to a rom that works. For me task 650 and ktoonz aokp 4.1.2 patiently awaiting. Full built version of 4.2.1. Does anything matter baseband I see that when I use other roms that I believe is the one that never changes any help useful.

Finally I can't ask a dumb question. Lh9 modem that's what is the same if updated will give better signal or waist of time?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Won't be of any use to an AOSP ROM... You can any baseband you want, I recommend either LI5 or LK3
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smoothiex:
Which Rom would you recommend? Can I just put stock jelly bean on? Should I use the infused jelly bean image?

---------- Post added at 05:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:22 PM ----------

Also what about my settings, data, contacts? Will they get wiped?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] jridda10121:
Is that the modem Is that in devolper optiona area i shoyld just look
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Yea, you can load JB... You just need to try em out man... I only use tasks or slim... i'll try the others eventually but I'm lazy...

Yes, everything gets wiped... signing into google restores contacts, calendar, etc... google stuff... internal and external sd aren't touched... and theres a good chance just opening the play store will autodownload your apps, it always does for me... just have to use the same gapps everytime...

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1831898
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
iTunes? Good grief, no.

I actually opened the signed CM9 zip from goo.im and there are no separate apk files, so that's not going to work. I have used TB Pro for freezing some Gapps with rooted stock S3, but I thought of all the space those frozen apps still take up in intSD, and that not even installing might be better. If maps aren't in Gapps and I use Chrome browser for search, about the only Gaap I need is Playstore. Don't want any other Play apps, no Google+ or S apps (or are those Samsung's?). If I could find Playstore apk files (ICS and JB) I suppose I wouldn't even need Gapps, would I?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
dont open the rom man, open the gapps... apks are in system/apps
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Sorry, bad typing on my part...I meant signed CM9 Gapps zip. No APKs in any folder.

If I flash CM9 I could just install Playstore APK from unrooted S3 phone -- (ICS) 3.10.10 -- couldn't I? This is most current version.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Link me to the gapps package, and list what apps do you want to remove...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-ics-20120429-signed.zip

and

http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-jb-20121212-signed.zip

Since I don't know everything that's in these, I'll list what I want (based on looking at unrooted S3 apps):

Maps

Play Store

Search
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
that looks like the list of what u want to KEEP, not remove correct? also, that second link is 4.2 gapps.... u said cm9?

edit.. i see... but that second link is 4.2 gapps... u use cm9?

---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 PM ----------

also maps arent included in gapps
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
I'm planning ahead. CM9 for rooted phone still at Samsung. If CM10.1 seems stable and things like camera work, I could root and flash second S3 with that. Unless, of course, they release 10.2 and Gapps changes to 4.3, but I'm guessing not anytime soon.

Gratzie

---------- Post added at 11:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:50 PM ----------

Maps was noted in some threads as being in Gapps. If not, I'll download from Play, but first I'll need that app to do so.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
im leaving the gallery... kinda need that... all i've removed from the cm9 gapps is talk so far... the rest is needed....

screenie:

---------- Post added at 04:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:53 PM ----------

I've always had to download maps...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Geez, I had no idea all that was part of Gapps...I thought it was...well...just the apps. I don't use voice for anything...turn it off whenever that's an option.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Alright well I removed what you wanted...

eduardo cm9 gapps

try those out... i took out talk, voice search, and news and weather... simply flashing it wont remove the apps that are already there... and dont freeze apps if you dont want them... remove them with tibu....

ill look at the 4.2 apps later...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] dkrause1996:
Where di i find my spc?

where do i find my spc? i need it to restore my data
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Thank you, kind sir. Xmas a week early. :cool:

So remove, don't freeze. I was hesitant early on because I didn't know if I would want/need to restore them.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Missing imei?

Not sent from your phone...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] dkrause1996:
Yes I got imei injected back but I need spc for qnc backup
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Same thread couple more posts down...

Not sent from your phone...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] dkrause1996:
Yes I saw this after I posted thought this would be quicker
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] dkrause1996:
Ok new question

So i get the qcn backup i got to sgs3 data restorer app locate qcn and click imei verified but i get an error that says an error occured while trying to generate the file. please xda help me i just got this phone and have to pay fro data and i want it back im running stock rom unrooted galaxy s3 att
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] SutekiMitsukai:
Did you just pop your SIM card in it? If so and you didn't have an android phone before or an lte before call Att and have them change your data plan to the one compatible to your phone.

Did you go to settings > data usage and make sure mobile data is checked on?

I might be misunderstanding the question because you talked about the app back up but then you talked about data and how it's not working. (I think) if I'm totally off let me know
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] |-Goku-|:
Thanks for the suggestion!

Does anyone else have any good Touchwiz roms they can suggest? :)
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] dkrause1996:
i tried diffrent roms but dident like them so went back to stock and now i have no data and im stuck on edge
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smoothiex:
Sorry what's gapps? Can Odin back everything up or titanium pro?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
gapps are the Google Apps and only need to be flashed with AOSP based ROMS.... A full backup is done in recovery by making an nandroid, user stuff can be backed up with Titanium...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smoothiex:
Thanks, I'm looking for an easy solution to this. Say backup all data, settings and contacts. Root with stock JB, then restore the backup. Can this be done easily?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
I recommend a clean install because you're changing bases.. 4.1.2 to 4.2.1.... Use TiBu to backup user apps only, and google will restore your contacts, etc..
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smoothiex:
Thank you for the help.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] Sianspheric:
Hi guys,

Was trying to install a ROM last night in CWM Recovery, then I was having some difficulty, after each ROM swipe I was doing the Factory Wipe/Dalvik Cache Wipe/Cache Wipe.

Anyways, I ended up having to try and flash the pre-rooted Stock ROM, I used Odin 3.07 to flash it and in Odin it appeared to work fine, the phone was rebooting and Odin was in "Pass" mode, but the phone never gets beyond the Samsung boot screen.

I then tried to see if I could flash CWM Recovery in Odin and try and get into Recovery mode, it flashed fine in Odin and the device rebooted but still stuck in Samsung boot screen.... but I cannot get into Recovery mode manually, I even tried getting in via the Q3 Toolbox kit, and it says it cannot locate the device :/

So today, last desperate option, I tried flashing the un-rooted stock image for my carrier (Rogers), it seemed to work fine in Odin but it STILL just will not boot back up, still stuck in the Samsung boot screen.

Is this what a brick is? Beyond continually trying to re-flash the stock carrier MD5 via Odin, what can I do? Oddly enough the phone does recognize in the Q3 Toolbox for the Root options, just not for the Reboot into Recovery option. Is there something I can try in the Q3 Toolbox?

/Scared / really concerned

Please help, any help is appreciated.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
You have to factory reset in recovery after flashing any stock ROM... use the key combo to enter recovery...

Not sent from your phone...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] Sianspheric:
I know all that, but I CAN'T get into Recovery at this stage.

At all.

It's gone, I've tried re-flashing CWM Recovery in Odin and that works, but I never am able to actually get into Recovery, I can get into Download mode but NOT Recovery.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
If the phone has signs of life it will enter recovery... timing is the key... pull battery and put it back in... hold vol up and home then begin holding power.... once you feel it vibrate let go of power only....

Not sent from your phone...

---------- Post added at 08:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:52 AM ----------

I'm afraid you made a very easy flash to stock difficult by missing one step...

Not sent from your phone...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] Sianspheric:
I tried, believe me.

I've tried the following: flashing pre-rooted stock rom via Odin, then flashing CWM Recover in Odin, both work fine in Odin but I cannot get into Recovery. Believe me I held the Volume Up+Home+Power for a long time and it DOES NOT EVER ENTER CWM RECOVERY, the phone just goes into the Samsung boot screen. It says "Recovery Booting..." in the upper left corner but no matter what it doesn't actually go into Recovery, I've held the key combo for a minute and still nothing.

The only thing besides the Samsung boot screen I can get the phone to do is to go into Download mode.

I have also tried flashing the un-rooted stock ROM for my carrier, same thing, works fine in Odin but the phone never boots past the Samsung boot screen.

I appreciate any help you guys can offer.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
You're not following proper steps... don't flash CWM after the prerooted image... So fire up ODIN and flash the prerooted image only... Once its finished and stuck on the Samsung screen pull the battery out put it back in and go into recovery and factory reset... then follow on with the steps to adb cwm on...

Not sent from your phone...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] 1stclasshylton:
Big question. Please help!

So Im definitely a noob and I rooted my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 but later on I installed Jelly Bam to my phone hoping it would give me the 4.1.2 jelly bean firmware. After Installing Jelly Bam I realized that now I have no MOBILE NETWORK CONNECTION.. I really want to just uninstall Jelly Bam and go back to the way I first had my Note 2. Ive tried unrooting and returning to stock by Odin3 1.85 but whenever I put my phone into download mode and plug it into the computer it doesn't recognize it. PLEASE HELP.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
This is the S3 forums... either start a new thread in the Note 2 q/a section or report your own post asking for it to be moved...

Not sent from your phone...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] jridda10121:
Hey quisimodem sorry I miss spelled you linked me to a great baseband thread very appreciated but may I think back u said you recommend l3 or lc5 do they have a affect. I guess what Im trying to ask is what should I see better speeds I read the forums but for my location it said lh1 but am not seeing better but worse LK3 seems legit. I'm on tasks rom if helps you. Answer
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] Sianspheric:
I didn't know there was a stock "Recovery" on the phone, I thought Recovery only existed if I could flash CWM Recovery.

Anyways, I followed the above exactly, flashed the pre-rooted image, worked fine in Odin, pulled battery, re-insterted, tried Volume Up+Home+Power and the upper left corner flashed "Recovery Booting..." I held on the key combo for 20 seconds and nothing, when I released it just went back to the Samsung boot screen where I'm still stuck :(
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
It's all location based man... I've used them all and both of those work fine for me... But I'm not far from a tower... Mile down the road I'll get 50down LTE... I'm using LK3 and don't notice anything better than LI5... LH1 sucked badly for me...

Then it is trying to enter recovery... Letting off of power isn't necessary... Try again... Pull the battery, put it back in, Hold Vol Up + Home then begin holding power, and don't let off of any of the buttons, just keep holding them for as long as it takes to get into 3e recovery... Post back if it doesn't... I don't really have much to do right now... With the toolkit, I can fix it over remote connection, but I don't like to because Teamviewer sucks unless you have blazing internet... I do.. do you... Just give it another try and let me know...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] Sianspheric:
Ok I managed to get into Recovery using the Q3 Toolbox! :)

I did a factory wipe in there, then a wipe of the cache, now what?

Do I simply pull battery and flash CWM Recover in Odin or do I need to flash the pre-rooted stock IMAGE again (since I did the factory wipe in Recovery)
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Reboot the phone first... then work on CWM...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] Sianspheric:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

all good, thank fuuuuuuuuuuaaaaccckk.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] ThatTmoGuy:
Feeling like a newb right now

Installed a nightly last night and I'm stuck in a boot loop, I've tried everything i can think of and for some reason I cannot remeber how to get into recovery to fix this thing! PLEASE HELP!?!?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Read the past page or two, then get back to us...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] ThatTmoGuy:
Thank you sir! I figured it was in this thread somewhere but never would have imagined it was just a page back lol
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smelenchuk:
From a powered-off device, hold down Volume Up + Home, then hold down Power until you see the Samsung logo (or maybe a little bit longer, if my personal experiences are anything to go by).

EDIT: looks like I was beaten to it...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] jridda10121:
I'm located in pa closest lte to me is reading pa if you are near hear or close or anyone for that matter which one works for you. The best in reading is about an hour from Philadelphia I'm inbtween ill give the correct thread a question but any help from here appreciate
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Theres a google map somewhere that got created where people document their modem results... Maybe in that thread...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] shanebro:
So, I've got CM10 on my S3 and im enjoying it, but I liked the way the stock sms pop up bubble on the lock screen appeared. Any way I can get that enabled again?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Just got a call from Samsung that repaired phone is being shipped, so I'm seriously thinking of just going with CM10.1 and Gapps 4.2. If you can delete the same apps from this package that would be most appreciated. You use and like CM10.1? Any serious issues at this point in nightlies?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
I'll mess with the gapps for you, but your second question, I really don't know man... I haven't flashed CManything in months... I stay with Slim or Tasks...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] smelenchuk:
I'm using it; it seems to be reasonably stable and all. There are various problems that people are running into - primarily relating to data connections, AFAICT, but that's solvable for the most part.

(I can't tell whether my Bluetooth issues are isolated or a larger problem.)
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
@eduardo

before I do the 4.2 apps, did you try the cm9 apps and was anything still there you didn't want? also, with the 4.2 apps, I can't remove the voice search, google now uses it, and you will FC prob everytime you open google now...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Slim or Tasks? ROMs or kernels?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
I used to exclusively run tasks ROM and KT kernel... but after so long on the same ROM, and new ROMs emerging, I figured why limit myself... but to be honest, Slim is my favorite of all time, even back to my Cappy days... I'm not running KT right now because of the black screen and reboots... I'm using Slim ROM and Lean kernel... I still reboot while playing Pool Break Pro and it p!sses me off right when i'm fixing to hit the 8ball in and I see the Slim logo... 4.2 is what's going to make the phone stable again... did u try the cm9 apps? anything I forgot to remove?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
Well, I guess I could flash CM 9 and the Gapps from you first and then let you know.

I now know you don't use CM, but would going from CM9 to CM10.1 just be an update or do I wipe it all first? In fact, which would be true for same ROM updates/version changes in general?

---------- Post added at 11:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 PM ----------

I'm going to flash the rooted S3 first (the one being shipped back from Samsung). The unrooted S3 will stay that way until the rooted one is satisfactory.
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
I recommend a full wipe when changing bases... You don't have to flash them if you don't want to, you would have to full wipe to rid the leftover apps... We can stick to 4.2...
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] eduardo_b:
So...given that ROMs are hardware (phone model) specific, these issues are simply code that needs work? Not conversant regarding kernels. What do you look for in those and what makes you choose one over others?
[AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III] AtoZ0to9:
Well in this forum, you can flash any ROM you want... You have an S3 and this is the S3 forums... anything in Android Dev or Original Dev is compatible with your phone... First off, Touchwiz is completely out of the question... Stability is the biggest thing I want, and I have to be able to customize it to my liking... and the kernel, I have to be able to undervolt it as low as 740...

It's all user-preference... One guy will swear up and down he loves stock, another will flame everything but CM, etc, etc.... I've been running the same configuration since my Cappy... and it's usually Slim or AOKP...

My phone will rarely change from this: