TWRP backup question: system vs system image

giantninja · Jan 14, 2016

Thanks to everyone here up front for all the awesome help available here.

I just got my Nexus 6, and no issues unlocking bootloader, installing custom recovery (TWRP), getting root and flashing ROMs/zips (currently loving Pure Nexus with xposed).

My question is regarding backups. When you backup your current setup, most of the information I've found don't show the "System Image" partition under the "System" partition when you go to make a new backup. It's quite large, and I was wondering exactly what that is, and if you need to include that in your backup. Anyone know of a helpful link that explains the partitions?

Also, if you make a bunch of backups, and move them to your computer, does that make things harder if you want to restore from a backup? Can you restore from a backup on your computer just as easily as a backup on the phone's internal storage?

Thanks again

Edit (1/15/2016):

Thanks to RMarkwald and scryan for the quick responses and info. So it seems that the system image isn't going to be needed, and backing up System, Data, and Boot will be good enough for normal backup of the phone/rom before trying something that might break the current setup.

RMarkwald · Jan 14, 2016

giantninja said:
Thanks to everyone here up front for all the awesome help available here.

I just got my Nexus 6, and no issues unlocking bootloader, installing custom recovery (TWRP), getting root and flashing ROMs/zips (currently loving Pure Nexus with xposed).

My question is regarding backups. When you backup your current setup, most of the information I've found don't show the "System Image" partition under the "System" partition when you go to make a new backup. It's quite large, and I was wondering exactly what that is, and if you need to include that in your backup. Anyone know of a helpful link that explains the partitions?

Also, if you make a bunch of backups, and move them to your computer, does that make things harder if you want to restore from a backup? Can you restore from a backup on your computer just as easily as a backup on the phone's internal storage?

Thanks again

According to TWRP in regards to System Image: The Team Win Recovery Project has released version 2.8.7.0 of its custom recovery, known simply as TWRP. This update brings a system read-only option that's intended to help you make a pure backup of your system image that you can later flash to receive over-the-air updates after having rooted or ROMed your device.

If you move backups to your computer, you'll either need to move them back to the internal storage of your phone or USB stick to use USB OTG to restore backups.

rocco24 · Jan 14, 2016

I already rooted my phone. Where can I get the pure system image now that I can later flash to receive over-the-air updates.

simms22 · Jan 14, 2016

rocco24 said:
I already rooted my phone. Where can I get the pure system image now that I can later flash to receive over-the-air updates.

why would you want to unroot your phone, loose all your info, to flash a factory image, just to get an ota? why waste your time??? you can remain rooted, grab the system.img from a factory image, flash it with fastboot, not loose any info, then just reflash SuperSU and a kernel, and be updated. factory images are here https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images?csw=1#yakju

rocco24 · Jan 14, 2016

simms22 said:
why would you want to unroot your phone, loose all your info, to flash a factory image, just to get an ota? why waste your time??? you can remain rooted, grab the system.img from a factory image, flash it with fastboot, not loose any info, then just reflash SuperSU and a kernel, and be updated. factory images are here https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images?csw=1#yakju

Thanks for the explanation. I meant the system.img not the full factory image my bad.

simms22 · Jan 14, 2016

rocco24 said:
Thanks for the explanation. I meant the system.img not the full factory image my bad.

the system.img is in the factory.img, just like the boot.img, cache.img, etc..

rocco24 · Jan 14, 2016

Nailed it thanks

giantninja · Jan 15, 2016

RMarkwald said:
According to TWRP in regards to System Image: The Team Win Recovery Project has released version 2.8.7.0 of its custom recovery, known simply as TWRP. This update brings a system read-only option that's intended to help you make a pure backup of your system image that you can later flash to receive over-the-air updates after having rooted or ROMed your device.

If you move backups to your computer, you'll either need to move them back to the internal storage of your phone or USB stick to use USB OTG to restore backups.

Ok, cool... So, if I want to try another ROM out, when I backup my current setup (Pure Nexus with xposed and some themes etc...), should I just backup System, data and boot? or should I backup that System Image as well? or is that System Image the snapshot of the stock ROM that the phone came with?

Thanks again

scryan · Jan 15, 2016

giantninja said:
Ok, cool... So, if I want to try another ROM out, when I backup my current setup (Pure Nexus with xposed and some themes etc...), should I just backup System, data and boot? or should I backup that System Image as well? or is that System Image the snapshot of the stock ROM that the phone came with?

Thanks again

Don't need the system image.

IIRC the system image will give you and .img file of your backup, you could then fastboot that to restore system. (I think... never tested. I believe you can do install and switch from zip to img as well...)

But for just a standard backup with TWRP so you can restore later if you have any problems... Just do as you said with the normal System (os), data (apps & app data), boot (kernel)

Not really sure who is using the system image option, or why...

giantninja · Jan 15, 2016

scryan said:
Don't need the system image.

IIRC the system image will give you and .img file of your backup, you could then fastboot that to restore system. (I think... never tested. I believe you can do install and switch from zip to img as well...)

But for just a standard backup with TWRP so you can restore later if you have any problems... Just do as you said with the normal System (os), data (apps & app data), boot (kernel)

Not really sure who is using the system image option, or why...

Awesome. That's what I was thinking, but I've been wrong before, so it never hurts to verify.

Thanks!

sognoone · Jul 22, 2016

Opps wrong thread... Lol

cstokes86 · Aug 25, 2016

Do any of you know how to reduce the size of or remove the System Image partition on the phone? It's taking up over 4gb on my phone and preventing me from restoring my data partition since it's running out of space during the restore.

JimSmith94 · Aug 25, 2016

cstokes86 said:
Do any of you know how to reduce the size of or remove the System Image partition on the phone? It's taking up over 4gb on my phone and preventing me from restoring my data partition since it's running out of space during the restore.

I delete any foreign keyboards I don't need to reduce the system partition size. Delete /system/app/(GoogleHindiIME, GoogleJapaneseIME, GooglePinyinIME, KoreanIME). You can either mount system in TWRP and delete, or delete them with a root explorer if you're rooted.

cstokes86 · Aug 25, 2016

JimSmith94 said:
I delete any foreign keyboards I don't need to reduce the system partition size. Delete /system/app/(GoogleHindiIME, GoogleJapaneseIME, GooglePinyinIME, KoreanIME). You can either mount system in TWRP and delete, or delete them with a root explorer if you're rooted.

Thanks, Jim. I can wipe my main system partition to free up some space and then restore it later so I don't need to worry about tediously going through and removing unnecessary files. My issue is the "System Image" partition which is actually just over 3GB on my phone. I cannot seem to locate this partition and clear it out so I'm kinda stuck until I can figure out how to reduce the size of this partition ie clear out files from the partition either manually or entirely.

drmuruga · Aug 26, 2016

I'm in npd90g preview flashed via twrp.if I want official ota
Just flash system image of mm latest and this downgrade doesn't brick my phone ? Can I get ota? And what other should I flash with system image ? Boot ,data and recovery also ?

Shakil jamali · Mar 15, 2017

I dont no much english like othetr peopel
Promblem is i root my honor5x then device get so heat up . After that i deciede to reset it factory setting i have done it but now my device is stuk in twrp loop its not going back normal condition like factory setting plz help me ........ plz

Strephon Alkhalikoi · Mar 15, 2017

@Shakil jamali: Wrong forum. Go to Honor 5X forum and ask again.

kenp1980m · Jun 8, 2017

cstokes86 said:
Thanks, Jim. I can wipe my main system partition to free up some space and then restore it later so I don't need to worry about tediously going through and removing unnecessary files. My issue is the "System Image" partition which is actually just over 3GB on my phone. I cannot seem to locate this partition and clear it out so I'm kinda stuck until I can figure out how to reduce the size of this partition ie clear out files from the partition either manually or entirely.

Good question. Is this system image actually a partition? Or something TWRP does combining the system image part with a few others into one file? If it is a partition would it be possible to delete it and resize system partition to make use of the extra space? I'm on a nextbit robin stock 7.1.1. Sys image shows as 3,072mb.

soyti2x · Jun 24, 2017

For some reason, i cant backup my device through twrp because of error 255. I tried unticking system, then ticked system image and somehow the backup worked. My question is, is it ok to backup with the system image instead of system? What happens when i restore? TIA

ktmom · Jun 24, 2017

soyti2x said:
For some reason, i cant backup my device through twrp because of error 255. I tried unticking system, then ticked system image and somehow the backup worked. My question is, is it ok to backup with the system image instead of system? What happens when i restore? TIA

First, for your 255 error, look at this post. Get rid of the corrupted file and a normal nandroid will work.

To answer your main question, you can use the system.img as a backup. It is intended for people who want an complete, untouched system backup to restore prior to attempting a OTA update.

An alternative approach to backup/restore that works very well in N6, is Chainfire's FlashFire.

TWRP backup question: system vs system image

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