[Android General] syserr:
Topic #1 - Backup

Before you start rooting, I highly recommend getting a full dump of your ROM. And why not? MediaTek makes it easy! At the very least, get a dump of the NVRAM partition. And if you really want to be risky, you'll just get a copy of /data/nvram.

Why Backup?

* First, so you can get back to a factory state.

* This is really good if you return your device or have it serviced.

* It's also good if you are going to sell it.

* Last, if you break it (semi-brick it) you can go back to this known working state.

Methods:

* SP Flash Tool - covered here

* rua1's MKDRT MediaTek Droid Root Tool - covered elsewhere

* Mobile Uncle backup of MEI - may cover here soon

SP Flash Tool BACKUP

If you are big on making images of hard drives, your going to like this tool. But, SP Flash Tool has some bugs and is designed a bit weird.

There are 4 main features to be concerned about: "Format", "Download" (write partition blocks), "Read back" memory, "Write memory".

To backup, you really want to be using the Read memory tab of the interface. But first, you need to make the tool happy.

replaces http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=46595925

Perfect Total Backup of your Firmware

Here is a cookbook for doing a total backup of your MTK device with MediaTek's SP Flash Tool. No rooting, you might even do this before you ever boot! I have basically done this with both of my devices before I fiddled too much. I recommend doing it before you do anything really.

1. Install VCOM Drivers. I'd use this: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8PcIZoLeGNuUTFIT1J2eXNFd28

2. Install SP Flash Tool. I'd use this: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8PcIZoLeGNuVDluTXk4QXdQaUU

3. Grab a -H scatter file with accompanying block images, just to make SP Flash happy. I'd use this: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8PcIZoLeGNuM3lxakdIU2hvWTA

4. Run SP Flash Tool, Open Scatter File

5. Don't play with anything, go into the "Read back" tab (This will read your flash to a file on your PC)

6. Click on any items in the list, then click the "Remove" button

7. Now click the "Add" button

8. Double click on the "N/A" under Read Flag

9. Type a file name to write to, like "WHOLE_ROM"

10. Now it will popup a window "Readback block start address"

11. Leave "Hex" selected, Start Address" 0x0000, Length: 0x323E4000, Click OK

12. Click the "Read back" button

13. SPFT now waits for you to connect your device and put it in Meta Mode

14. Without plugging your tablet in, tap the Reset Button on the back under the camera

15. Hold VolUp, plug in USB, Release VolUp (putting it in Meta Mode) <--- Important

16. You will see the progress bar moving. Total backup takes forever, because in this mode SPFT seems to not do USB HIGHSPEED

That's IT! Go to bed, check on it in the morning.

If you ever restore, just go into Recovery and Wipe Data and Cache. (as these are large and we didn't back them up above)

Note: "Length" in Step 11 is extra long. If you have a 4 or 8GB model it actually backs up part of your cache partition block too. But this is the right length for the 16GB model and it doesn't hurt to backup too much.

(If anyone would like to share there's with me, that would be great. I only want stock dumps though, for comparison purposes.)