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Backing up aptbackup...

M

MikeRiv87

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 17, 2008
17
0
how do I manually backup the list that aptbackup makes of all my installed cydia apps? When I restore my phone I usually go from a fresh start so I need to be able to back up that aptbackup file to manually reinject after I restart my phone. It would also be nice to make a general apt backup file with most of the must have apps so when I jailbreak a friends phone I can set it up that much faster.
Thanks for any insite
 
  1. Download AptBackup from Cydia
  2. Open the app, and tap backup
  3. Sync your phone with iTunes
  4. Restore the phone, update firmware, and re-jailbreak as normal
  5. Restore the iPhone backup from iTunes
  6. Download AptBackup from Cydia again
  7. Tap restore
  8. Done! :D

The AptBackup file is actually stored in your iTunes sync, so no SSHing needed.
 
MikeRiv87 said:
how do I manually backup the list that aptbackup makes of all my installed cydia apps? When I restore my phone I usually go from a fresh start so I need to be able to back up that aptbackup file to manually reinject after I restart my phone. It would also be nice to make a general apt backup file with most of the must have apps so when I jailbreak a friends phone I can set it up that much faster.
Thanks for any insite
Click to expand...

You don't need to. AptBackup works by keeping a list and gets included in a normal iTunes backup. When you restore the iPhone, the backup gets pushed to the device and when you download and launch AptBackup, you press Restore and it starts downloading all your Cydia apps your had before. :)
 
I am aware of how aptbackup functions... I just want to know where on my iphone does aptbackup create/store the list of cydia apps? Thats all...
 
MikeRiv87 said:
I am aware of how aptbackup functions... I just want to know where on my iphone does aptbackup create/store the list of cydia apps? Thats all...
Click to expand...

We were just pointing out that you shouldn't need to touch the file, but if you still need it:

/private/var/mobile/Library/Preferences/aptbackup_dpkg-packages.txt

Enjoy. :)
 
bytethese said:
We were just pointing out that you shouldn't need to touch the file, but if you still need it:

/private/var/mobile/Library/Preferences/aptbackup_dpkg-packages.txt

Enjoy. :)
Click to expand...

There's actually 3 aptbackup files in that Preferences folder and you should copy all 3 of them, not just the .txt file.;)
 
perfect! I see all three! Thank you very much. The reason why I want to back them up is because when I restore my phone I never use a backup. Just a clean start. Having these files will speed up my restore vastly!
 
MikeRiv87 said:
perfect! I see all three! Thank you very much. The reason why I want to back them up is because when I restore my phone I never use a backup. Just a clean start. Having these files will speed up my restore vastly!
Click to expand...

If you restored from backup you wouldn't need to copy these 3 files. :)
 
bytethese said:
If you restored from backup you wouldn't need to copy these 3 files. :)
Click to expand...

Yes, you still do. Sometimes AptBackup doesn't work properly, even after taking the correct steps...so, in order to fix that, you can drop the 3 files you copied prior to the restore and drop it in afterwards if AptBackup didn't work properly.

Backing up AptBackup is done just in case it does not work after restoring from a backup.
 
jcde7ago said:
Yes, you still do. Sometimes AptBackup doesn't work properly, even after taking the correct steps...so, in order to fix that, you can drop the 3 files you copied prior to the restore and drop it in afterwards if AptBackup didn't work properly.

Backing up AptBackup is done just in case it does not work after restoring from a backup.
Click to expand...

Strange, 3 restores so far for me, no issues. :) But if you'd want to be cautious I agree that this is pretty useful.
 
Tokiopop said:
  1. Download AptBackup from Cydia
  2. Open the app, and tap backup
  3. Sync your phone with iTunes
  4. Restore the phone, update firmware, and re-jailbreak as normal
  5. Restore the iPhone backup from iTunes
  6. Download AptBackup from Cydia again
  7. Tap restore
  8. Done! :D

The AptBackup file is actually stored in your iTunes sync, so no SSHing needed.
Click to expand...


I'm new to this whole aptbackup thing, so excuse my rookie-ness.....

If you say aptbackup is put back on your phone after restoring from a previous iTunes backup, then why would one need to reinstall aptbackup from Cydia a second time, if it was on the iTunes backup?
 
Jamesdamon said:
I'm new to this whole aptbackup thing, so excuse my rookie-ness.....

If you say aptbackup is put back on your phone after restoring from a previous iTunes backup, then why would one need to reinstall aptbackup from Cydia a second time, if it was on the iTunes backup?
Click to expand...

The program itself isn't restored to the phone from iTunes, only the information about the mods you had installed.

You have to install Aptbackup to use the data that was backed up before.

Get it?
 
Tokiopop said:
  1. Download AptBackup from Cydia
  2. Open the app, and tap backup
  3. Sync your phone with iTunes
  4. Restore the phone, update firmware, and re-jailbreak as normal
  5. Restore the iPhone backup from iTunes
  6. Download AptBackup from Cydia again
  7. Tap restore
  8. Done! :D

The AptBackup file is actually stored in your iTunes sync, so no SSHing needed.
Click to expand...

lostprophet894 said:
The program itself isn't restored to the phone from iTunes, only the information about the mods you had installed.

You have to install Aptbackup to use the data that was backed up before.

Get it?
Click to expand...

So you mean, the information that aptbackup holds is backed up to iTunes, but not the application itself.

Once you have restored and rejailbroken your phone again, then you reinstall aptbackup from Cydia, open aptbackup, press restore and the info that iTunes held will be placed back on the phone through aptbackup?

If that's the answer, then yes, I definitely get it.....

Thanks for your help.

James
 
Jamesdamon said:
So you mean, the information that aptbackup holds is backed up to iTunes, but not the application itself.

Once you have restored and rejailbroken your phone again, then you reinstall aptbackup from Cydia, open aptbackup, press restore and the info that iTunes held will be placed back on the phone through aptbackup?

If that's the answer, then yes, I definitely get it.....

Thanks for your help.

James
Click to expand...

You've pretty much got it. When you hit restore in Aptbackup, it will automatically download all of the mods you had before. At that point you'll have to reactivate them in Winterboard.

Basically it's saving you the time of making a list and redownloading everything manually.
 
lostprophet894 said:
You've pretty much got it. When you hit restore in Aptbackup, it will automatically download all of the mods you had before. At that point you'll have to reactivate them in Winterboard.

Basically it's saving you the time of making a list and redownloading everything manually.
Click to expand...

Great, Thanks again for the info! Very helpful.
 
One thing to note is that when I used Aptbackup after I updated to 2.2.1, the
iPhone went to sleep and was unresponsive during the 15 minutes or so it took
to re-download everything. I just let it go (not sure how long it actually took),
and then I got the normal lock-screen when I pressed the Home button.

VERY cool app!
 
Snide said:
One thing to note is that when I used Aptbackup after I updated to 2.2.1, the
iPhone went to sleep and was unresponsive during the 15 minutes or so it took
to re-download everything. I just let it go (not sure how long it actually took),
and then I got the normal lock-screen when I pressed the Home button.

VERY cool app!
Click to expand...

Good info, I probably would have gotten impatient and thought it wasn't working properly.

THanks.
 
apt backup mechanism

can anyone tell me what is the apt backup mechanism?

how does apt backup know it is now up to date?
say i have a fresh install and what if i install everything manually and i accidentally pressed restore, will apt backup wipe my thing away and tally with the empty list?

i just want to make clear of the process...

thanks.
 
Another Option: Rock Apps Backup

I've used AptBackup successfully in the past, however since I was forced to load Rock Apps when I purchased tlert I figured I might as well try their backup process. I have to say that it works great, the difference being that the backup list is stored on the Rock App server and not in iTunes. Not that it should make a difference, but if anyone is paranoid about storing a Cydia apps list within an Apple application, there is an option.

Cheers
 
iMrNiceGuy0023 said:
so this will restore all of my jailbroken apps and sources????
Click to expand...

I think "reload" would be more accurate. Restore presumes that you will have all data and settings as well. I believe that is dependent on how the developer built the application and you may only get a fresh install of the application and have to re-configure.
 
...

the OP is smart

making itunes do a backup is stupid (i'd only do it as a double backup) one false move and itunes might delete your files OR the backup failed for some weird reason

having a manual copy saved on a computer or flash drive is smart

AND

doing a clean re-jailbreak maybe a good thing, i hear restoring from a backup throws alot of crap back into the phone thus slows it down
 
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