How To Dump / Backup ANY Android ROM

Getting full ROM backup or making a ROM dump on any android device

So, you came to fully backup your device or make a ROM dump? While thinking of my next article to write, I just thought of making a ClockworkMod (CWM) flashable zips for applying mods but considering the possible risks on our android device, I thought of creating a current ROM backup state in case something unwanted happens. Well, here it is.

On this article, I’ll be presenting the various ways and the step by step guides on how to fully backup ROM state or create a ROM dump on any android device (smart phones or tablets). I have already created an article about the ways how to backup files, apps, etc. on any android device but from there, I was not able to discuss deeply how to do ROM backup or ROM dumping.

Ways to backup ROM and dump ROM applicable for any Android phones

If In case you don’t know, there are several ways to do a full ROM backup, that’s why I made this article so you can choose from the ways how to do it on your own which also varies from your device. So here are the ways which I already knew as of this time:


1. For MediaTek (MTK) devices, using SP Flash Tool and MTK Droid Root and Tools can help us make a full ROM backup or ROM dump.

• Follow this guide how to backup or dump any MTK device. If it's complicated for you or if you have faced issues with the method, following the method 3 might work for you.

2. For any device having ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery and TWRP, making a Nandroid backup can also provide one.

• Follow this guide how to make a Nandroid backup.

3. For all other android devices as long as it has ROOT access or Superuser rights, doing the simple ROM dumping method through romdump script for any partitions will work great.

• We will discuss that below.

Easy way to dump or backup any android ROM

Disclaimer: We are not liable for any issues as a result of the procedure on your device. You are the one responsible of deciding to mess with your device so try at your own risk.

Things we need:

• Rooted android device - No root? Here's how to
• Root Explorer or any similar file manager app
• Terminal Emulator - Download from Play Store and install it to your android device
• ROMdump script - Download here and out to your phone's SD card

Instructions:

1. Open Root Explorer and extract romdump_v82b.zip.

2. Copy the extracted romdump file, then paste it on the root data/local/ folder.
3. Open Terminal Emulator
4. Type: su
5. Type: chmod 04755 /data/local/romdump
6. Type: /data/local/romdump

7. The script will perform the ROM dump, just wait for it to be done.
8. Once done, go to Root Explorer and find the romdump folder
9. From there, you will see the backup / romdump you have made.

Congrats! Now, you have made a ROM dump of your device. Use it as a backup or as a base ROM for making custom ROMs.

credits: http://android.podtwo.com/romdump/

How To Easily Backup/Restore ROM using TWRP

Basically after rooting any android device, it is always a recommendation flashing a custom recovery to immediately create a backup of your phone or tablet's currently working ROM, from there you will be choosing only one custom recovery to replace your device's stock recovery. On that case, you'll be choosing either of the two mostly-used custom recoveries naming, the popular ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery and Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP).

Why use TWRP?

TWRP is simply a custom recovery created to make tasks, installation of ROM and flashing mods easier and more convenient. TWRP includes backup and restore, partitioning, and all other advance features that the native stock recovery doesn't have

Both CWMR and TWRP are essentially the same when it comes to functionality however, TWRP has an advantage from its touch supported interface from which any user can use it easily (newbie friendly). So whenever TWRP is compatible with your device, get it to your device as soon and as early as possible.

How to easily backup ROM using TWRP on any Android

Getting a ROM backup from TWRP, also known as nadroid backup through TWRP, is just as easier as from what you have thought of. Below are the steps, so better familiarize it.

Requirements:

• Root Access - your device must have root access in order to access and backup the whole ROM. Follow this guide how to root
• TWRP already installed - of course you must have TWRP recovery in your android device. You might try this guide to get TWRP installed in your device but not all android devices are compatible. If your device is not supported, get a port or request from a developer for a TWRP which is compatible with your device.
• Free storage space - you must have free storage space for your device to store the backup. The size depends on your ROM size so better have a bigger free storage space.
• At least 70% battery power - to make sure the device won't shutdown and interrupt the process.

Steps:

1. Reboot your android device to TWRP Recovery mode. (You can use 3rd party apps such as Holo Reboot to easily reboot to recovery, otherwise, use the combination keys which varies from device to device.)

2. Once in TWRP already, choose Backup.

3. Mark Boot, Data, and System. You only need that 3 partitions to be safer.

4. Optional, you can rename or choose what storage the backup will be stored but just make sure you have enough storage space.

5. When all are set, select Backup to start backing up the ROM.

6. Once done, select Reboot System to reboot your device normally. You can check and copy the backup folder to somewhere safer (like making a copy on your computer).

Restoring the ROM backup

Requirements: Same as from making a backup but make sure that the backup is on your storage.

Steps:

1. Reboot your rooted android device with TWRP in Recovery mode. 

2. Once in TWRP already, choose Restore.

3. Find and select the Backup folder you made from TWRP previously (must be TWRP flashable backup)

4. Once done, Reboot the system and you are back from the previous ROM you had.

Credits to XDA, TeamW.in

How To Backup / Restore ROM on CWM Recovery

Backup ROM, how important?

As always reminded to you when flashing mods or ROMs, you are the only one responsible for anything you have done on your android device. Tweaking a stock android software corresponds the risk from which you are the only one to decide whether to take the risk and continue or not.

For a knowledgeable android user, taking risk is normal. Why? Because they have already prepared for anything worst to happen, they could easily fix anything and redo the process. As long as the user prepared a ROM backup of his own device, he can fix most any android issues and problems that may possibly occur on his device after making some changes or tweaking it.

How to backup ROM and restore it? Thanks to ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery

I highly recommend all android users who wants to tweak and mod their android devices especially their handy smartphones. Thanks to the developer of ClockworkMod recovery, most users enjoy a lots of modifications on their devices having less worries.

Now, I am inspired to share the easiest and the mostly-used method of creating a backup ROM, how to do it and restore it on any circumstances. Follow the guides below:

Disclaimer: Always flash at your own risk.

Things you need:

• Rooted android device - If you don't have it, follow this guide on how to root.
• ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery installed in the device
• How to install CWM recovery for Mediatek devices
• How to install CWM recovery for other devices especially international-branded ones

How to backup ROM using CWM Recovery

1. Reboot android device to CWM Recovery mode. You can use any apps to reboot your device to recovery or the combo keys when powering which varies from device.

2. When in CWM recovery already, go to backup and restore.

3. Select Backup. (If you understand other options, you can do advance backup)

4. Wait until the device is done backing up, it will state Backup complete or something like that.

5. Done. Reboot normally and the backup will be stored on the device storage /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/(backupdateandtime-folder)

6. Check the backup folder and you will see the partitions and the whole working ROM state. Copy the backup to your computer and put it to somewhere safe.

How to restore ROM backup with CWM Recovery

1. Prepare the working ROM backup that have been created previously from backing up on CWM. Put it to ClockworkMod folder from the root of Sdcard "/sdcard/clockworkmod/(paste the backup folder here)"

2. Reboot android device to CWM Recovery mode. You can use any apps to reboot your device to recovery or the combo keys when powering which varies from device.

3. When in CWM recovery already, go to backup and restore.

4. Select Restore. Find the backup that you wish to restore, /sdcard/clockworkmod/(the backup folder)

5. Wait until the device is done backing up, it will state Restore complete or something like that.

6. Done. Reboot normally.

I hope this helps and will reduce your worries when flashing something and trying out mods.

Big credits to XDA

How To Backup / Restore Stock ROM with SP Flash Tool

Looking for a Flash-able Stock ROM for your Android Phone?

After reading the comments and suggestions from this blog's previous articles, there are a lot of android users who are looking for a flash-able Stock ROM for their device, however, I don't have their kind of device in hand and it's impossible for me to create you one. But hey, I have an idea how will you able to get a Stock ROM for your MTK devices and you, yourself can make it on your own.

There's a lot of MTK smartphone users out there most especially on local-branded smart phone users who have lots of worries on damaging their devices from tweaking it. Why? Lack of developers corresponds the number of development available for the device and we know for the fact that without backup such as ROM or a stock ROM, fixing most android problems such as soft bricks, boot loops, or even hard bricks are too difficult to handle.

Create your own Stock ROM for your MediaTek (MTK) Android Smartphone

Thanks to XDA members who contributed to MTK development, Mediatek smartphone users can now be able to create their own Stock ROM and use it as a backup whenever serious matters occur to their loved devices. With the use of prepacked tools, MTK android users no longer needs much developer for their device because they can be one.

How To Make, Backup and Restore Stock ROM Flashable with SP Flash Tool

On this article, AndroidHow will be guiding you how to make your own Stock ROM, use it as your own backup and restore it through flashing from SP Flash Tool. Why from SP Flash Tool? With SP Flash Tool, even a corrupted, hard-bricked android device can still be revived and fixed which was considered the best method of repairing any android software problem. 

On this tutorial, we will be using SP Flash Tool and MTK Droid Tools to successfully make a flashable Stock ROM for our MediaTek devices.

Requirements:

• Any MTK android device running a Stock ROM. (Note: if your device was rooted, then you'll get a rooted Stock ROM, otherwise if your device does not have root access, you'll get unrooted Stock ROM):

MT6595, MT6592, MT6589, MT6582, MT6577, MT6575, MT6572, or any MT65xx

• Computer with Windows operating system
• USB Cable
• At least 500 Mb free phone storage
• MTK USB Drivers - Download it here (credits to the developer of this tool)
• MTK Droid Root and Tools - Get it here
• SP Flash Tool - Get it here (download the recommended or latest version)
• ClockworkMod (CWM) Recovery
• For rooted device (follow how to flash CWM Recovery for rooted device)
• For unrooted device (follow how to flash CWM Recovery without root)

Preparations (Please Read):

Make sure to prepare all the necessary requirements before proceeding or else, proceeding below is just a waste.

You must have the device in hand with CWM recovery. Download and install the MTK USB Drivers in your computer, it contains 6 other USB drivers needed to detect your device. Also, you must download MTK Droid Tools and SP Flash Tool, extract them to any location or folder you are comfortable of accessing. If all are ready, let's proceed to the instructions.


Instructions:

Creating Stock ROM Backup

First, reboot your MTK android device into CWM Recovery and connect your device to your computer using USB Cable.

From your computer, Open MTK Droid Tools.exe, run it as administrator. Wait for your device to be detected since you have installed the USB drivers. You will notice that color on the lower-left corner of the tool will turn cyan-blue.

On MTK Droid Tools, click on root, backup, recovery tab and click the Backup button to start full stock ROM backup.

Wait for the tool to backup your whole Stock ROM. You can see that the ROM backup will be saved on \MtkDroidTools\backups.

Wait until a prompt will appear asking you "Pack-up the backup" or something like that, press NO, it will just compress the backup you have made and what we need is the uncompressed ROM backup.

Check the status message and check is the task is completed. "Task ended".

It is not done yet, we have to prepare this backup to make it flashable through SP Flash Tool. To do it, click on To prepare blocks for Flash Tool.

A new windows will appear asking fol a .md5 file of the backup. So navigate to the MTK Droid Tools folder where your backup is found. Open the backup that your have created earlier and select the files.md5 click OPEN.

Wait for MTK Droid Tools to copy the files for SP Flash Tool, check the status messages until the copying is complete.

When the tool is done, you have now created the Stock ROM backup of your device!

How To Restore the Stock ROM of your MTK device?

Open SP Flash Tool.exe, run as administrator. Load the scatter file (click scatter-loading) which you have prepared from MTK Droid Tools to be flashable through SP Flash Tool. It can be found in the !Files_to_FlashTool folder of your Stock ROM backup (only if you have just made a backup) or from where you have saved or placed the Stock ROM. But in my case, I saved it on !Files to FlashTool folder.

After you loaded the scatter file, it will look like the image below. All must checked except for Cache and User Data, and most importantly, do not check Preloader and DSP_BL or else you'll brick it. Those checked partitions will be restored, make sure not to touch or move the backup files so that your phone will be restored in your previous stock ROM, also to avoid boot loops and bricking.

As you can see, the Stock ROM partition backups are found on its specific locations under location column. If the locations do not appear (except for CACHE and USRDATA), the backup stock ROM is not in the proper place. To fix that, you must move the files of the stock ROM to the same location where the Scatter file is stored.

To restore or flash the Stock ROM backup, first, turn OFF your MTK android device and remove the USB cable. If your phone was already turned OFF, click Download from SP Flash Tool, a prompt will appear, just click YES. Immediately connect your turned OFF device to your computer via USB Cable.

Wait for the tool to detect your device and restore the Stock ROM that you have made. An alert with a green circle appears after successfully downloading the ROM.

Done! You have successfully restored the stock ROM.

How To Make / Backup Stock Boot and Recovery Image

Can't get stock Boot and Recovery image for your MediaTek android device?

Optimizing your android device takes a risk which either may improve your device a lot more or either make it perform worst. Now, most of the android users who encounter problems with their android device have difficulty to fix it. Why? Most beginners on android tweaking has the lack of knowledge on the proper way to backup their android devices' software, so whenever they encounter such issues to their device, they have the hard time looking of for a resolution especially if their device doesn't have much developers.

Good news for MediaTek android users because this article will provide you the way how to solve your problems with your android devices' Stock Boot.img and Recovery image which you could use if something bad might happen, and you can use it to create a CWM recovery to do flashing stuffs and do full ROM backup.

You can create / make your own stock boot.img and recovery.img for your MTK android device and use it as backup!

Yes, you don't have to depend for others or ask for them how to make one 'cause you can create your own stock boot.img and recovery.img for your MediaTek (MTK) devices by just following this long but simple steps that I will provide you.

Usually, you can't access the root system without Superuser rights that is why I made this article to help you with that.

How to get Stock Boot and Recovery image for any MediaTek device without root using SP Flash Tool and MTK Droid Tool

Will work any MediaTek device such as:

MT6595, MT6592, MT6589, MT6582, MT6577, MT6575, MT6572, MT65xx

Requirements:

• Any Not Rooted or Rooted MediaTek-based device
• Windows computer
• USB Cable for your android device
• MTK USB Drivers - Download here recommended | mirror link 
• MTK Droid Root and Tools - Get it here
• Smart Phone Flash Tool - Get it here (download the recommended or latest version)
• Scatter File for your MediaTek device - Get it here
• Notepad ++ - Get it here

Instructions:

Let us prepare for our tools first (that you have downloaded above). Install MTK USB Driver, you have to install all drivers included there, also, extract MTK Droid Root and Tools, SP Flash Tool to any location you are comfortable. 

Make sure that you have made the Scatter File for your device (create your own using the link from the requirements above)

Connect your android device to your Windows computer, make sure you have installed properly all the drivers from MTK USB Drivers to avoid interruptions during this process. From your device, you must also enable USB Debugging on your device Settings -- Developer options, now your device must be auto-detected by your computer, if not, please properly install the USB drivers. It is also better if you set your android device to Airplane Mode.

Run SP Flash Tool.exe as administrator (right-click on it). After opening, click Scatter-loading.

Locate the scatter file of your android device. In my case, I have MT6577 from MyPhone a848i. Open and load the scatter file of your android device to the SP Flash Tool.

It will look like the image below. Now, click Read Back tab.

From Read Back tab, click ADD twice so that we can add two tasks. Why? One is for getting the boot.img and the second one is for recovery.img. We can use them as stock backups and we can also use it as a basis for flashing CWM custom recovery and making a full ROM backup or dump.

Now, we will start the process. Let's start with the boot.img, double-click the first N/A.

A new window will appear asking to save the file. Name it as boot.img then click Save it to where you want to put the stock boot.img.

This is the most crucial part. You must enter the proper hex valuse for the Start Address and the Length for the boot image or else all you have done will not work. 

To find out what to enter on the Start Address, first, find the scatter file that you have created before and edit/open it using Notepad ++ editor. Enter the hex code of BOOTIMG, in my case, my hex code is 0xf88000.

To find out what to enter on Length, connect your device to your computer via USB cable, make sure to enable USB Debugging from your device, then open MTK Droid Tools.exe on your computer and wait until your device was detected. From MTK Droid Tools, click Block Map.

Find the row for bootimg and you'll notice that it has the same start address "0000F88000" from what we have from the scatter file above "0xf8800" (you'll see that the first 4 zeroes are replaced by "0x"). 

Now to get the Length, length is equal to the Size but what we will enter is the significant digits only. In my case, since the size is 0000600000, the significant digit is 600000 and we have to replace the first 4 zeroes with "0x", so what we will enter in the Length from the SP Flash Tool is 0x600000

Now, in my case, it will look like this:

Make sure that the Start Address and Length has the same count or number of characters, otherwise, add a zero. For example you have a start address of 0x1234567 and you have a length of 0x123456, since they are not the same in count, you have to add zero on the length, so the length now will be 0x0123456. We have to add zero just in order to have the same character count.

If you are done getting the hex values, press OK.

Setting for boot.img is done, next will be for the recovery.img.

Double click on the second N/A, name it as recovery.img and save it to where you want to store the stock recovery.

Again, we have to enter the proper hex values for Start Address and Length.

You have to open again the Scatter file of your device and load your device from MTK Droid Tools to check the block map just like what we did on the boot.img.

In my case, my recovery has a Start Address 0x1588000 as you can see from the notepad, and I have the size of 000060000 from the block info, we will replace the first four zeroes with "0x" to get the Length, so my Length will be 0x600000.

Since you have got the values, you have to enter it on the SP Flash Tool then press OK. Refer to the image below:

Now it is all set upped, you can see the locations where your boot and recovery image will be stored after we do the process. 

Unplug the USB cable from your device and turn off your android device (you can do proper shutdown or remove the battery). When your phone is already turned off, press the Read back button from SP Flash Tool and immediately plug-in your phone with USB Cable.

Wait for 3-5 seconds and SP Flash Tool will detect your android device and it will load and create the stock boot and recovery image for your device. An OK alert message with a green circle will popup when the process is successful.

Navigate to the location where you have set the files to be store. In my case, you can see below that I have done it well. The boot image and the recovery image has the same file size.

Why they have the same file size? Let's check the block info from the MTK Droid Tools.

As you can see, both boot and recovery image has the same file size around 6mb therefore our file is correct.

We are now done from creating Stock images and we can use it to create a ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery and do full Stock ROM backup.

Easy Ways How To Backup Rooted and Unrooted Android Device

Android is such an awesome mobile OS capable of doing awesome tasks. One thing you can't deny with it is its ability to secure and backup its data which a user could restore whenever the user encounters serious problems with their android devices.

After years of using android devices, I can't remember how many times I have faced errors on my android device whenever I am trying mods and scripts. What made me solved them is through restoring my backup. Rooted and unrooted android device is a different situation. You must know it well so better check out What is Rooting, Pros and Cons.

If you have been too confused on the easy ways how to backup rooted and unrooted android devices, then here are those methods I compiled which I have actually used ever since before.

Ways How To Backup Unrooted Android Device

1 Google's Built-in Auto Sync Feature.
This feature is inbuilt in our android devices. Whenever we add a Gmail account and enabling Auto Sync, it will sync our contact list as well as the App Info of the apps that are currently installed in our android device and send it to Google's cloud server. We can then restore it by retrieving the contacts from the server and the apps only after adding the same Gmail account. Using this method will not allow us to backup our messages and app data which is a big down.

2 Ultimate Backup Tool for PC
Using this tool installed in your PC, you will have the ability to fully backup and restore without even rooting your android device or unlocking your bootloader. However, to use this tool, your device must be Android version 4.0 and above or else it won't work. You will be able to unlock your bootloader without worrying for your data to lose. Get it here.

3 Using 3rd Party Android Apps
What is amazing with android is its Play Store which allow us to download tons of free and paid apps which could optimize our android devices and tablets. Here are the apps that are available for download which you can use on backing up your android device, I have tested them and they worked great.

• GO Backup & Restore Pro - This app works whether your android device is rooted or unrooted. It allows you to backup and restore your data such as contacts, messages, system settings, application files (APK) and app data. A user friendly app perfect for new android users. Get From Play Store.
• My Backup - Another amazing app for backing up that works even on unrooted android devices. In obvious cases, a rooted android device can gain more benefits. This app can do backups on your Apps, Music, Videos, Photos, Contacts, Call log, Bookmarks, Messages, Calendar, System Settings, Home Screens (including shortcut positions), Alarms, Dictionary, Music Playlists, APNs and more. Isn't it great for a free app? You can save the backup data directly from your SD card or can go with the secured server from which developer is offering. You can also extend these benefits by purchasing Pro License. Get From Play Store.

Ways How To Backup Rooted Android Device

1 Nandroid Backup

This is a very popular method of backup in which so many rooted android users are using. This method allows the user to fully backup the state of their android devices fast and easy through the use of Custom Recovery. By booting from the custom recovery and doing the backup procedure, it will backup your entire ROM state to your sdcard. You can also fully restore it as well by booting again from custom recovery then doing the restore procedure. It is fully understandable so there's nothing to worry.

2 Using 3rd App for Android - Titanium Backup

This android app was considered the best and the most powerful backup utility tool for Android devices. With Titanium Backup, you will be able to backup, restore, freeze (with Pro) your android apps + data + Market links. This includes all protected apps and system apps, plus external data on your SD card. You can do 0-click batch & scheduled backups. Backups will operate without closing any apps (with Pro). You can move any app (or app data) to/from the SD card. You can browse any app's data and even query the Market to see detailed information about the app. Get from Play Store

If you are done backing up, prepare to root your android device..