[GUIDE] How to extract, create or edit android adb backups

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ttv

Member
Jan 31, 2008
20
0
What is an android adb backup?


5) Create the new tar archive. The directories stored on tar shouldn't contain trailing slashes, so I use pax or star instead of tar:
Code:
cat gta.list | pax -wd > gta3.tar
OR
Code:
star -c -v -f gta3.tar -no-dirslash list=gta3.list

Well,

I have made progress up to step 5 trying to transfer Angry Birds scores to my Jelly Bean phone. Following the tutorial I decided to use the pax option in Cygwin with this command:
cat ab.list | pax -wd > ab.tar
having created the .tar archive and .list file before as described in the tutorial.

But when I use the command pax gives me the following error on every file on the list:
pax: ustar header field is too small for apps/com.rovio.angrybirds/f/settings.lua
(this is just one instance of the error; the archive consists of many more files which all create the same error)

I have Googled the error but can't seem to find the solution.
Any idea?

Maybe I could use the star option, but did not find a version of star that works on my Mint installation yet.

Thanks
 

ttv

Member
Jan 31, 2008
20
0
Well,

But when I use the command pax gives me the following error on every file on the list:
pax: ustar header field is too small for apps/com.rovio.angrybirds/f/settings.lua
(this is just one instance of the error; the archive consists of many more files which all create the same error)

I have Googled the error but can't seem to find the solution.
Any idea?

Maybe I could use the star option, but did not find a version of star that works on my Mint installation yet.

Thanks

Ok, so I managed to solve this one myself. The problem was with the pax I installed in Cygwin. It gave me the error. I used the Mint VM for the file system that keeps the permissions in tact, but I couldn't find a star-package for it. But then I thought: "Could there be a pax-package for Mint?". Surprise: there is! I followed the guide to the end and guess what: it works! My beloved Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons scores have been restored.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Now Rovio: solve this please; I guess there are a lot of sad players with new phones out there.
 

scandiun

Senior Member
Jul 12, 2010
1,903
983
Well,

I have made progress up to step 5 trying to transfer Angry Birds scores to my Jelly Bean phone. Following the tutorial I decided to use the pax option in Cygwin with this command:
cat ab.list | pax -wd > ab.tar
having created the .tar archive and .list file before as described in the tutorial.

But when I use the command pax gives me the following error on every file on the list:
pax: ustar header field is too small for apps/com.rovio.angrybirds/f/settings.lua
(this is just one instance of the error; the archive consists of many more files which all create the same error)

I have Googled the error but can't seem to find the solution.
Any idea?

Maybe I could use the star option, but did not find a version of star that works on my Mint installation yet.

Thanks
The problem is that the GID / UID is just too big to be compatibly recorded, so pax blows chunks. Example of error:
https://trac.macports.org/ticket/28965#comment:7

I'm glad that you finally made it work. star can be compiled under cygwin but takes a lot of time, getting the schily bundle.
 
Last edited:

ttv

Member
Jan 31, 2008
20
0
I see. But the version of pax that I installed with Mint 13 works ok. So it seems to be related to the version that gets installed with Cygwin. Is the link you are referring to about the Cygwin version? Not sure what the subject of Macports-website is. Still a noob in Linux-land, although I've learned a lot by following this guide :)
 

scandiun

Senior Member
Jul 12, 2010
1,903
983
I see. But the version of pax that I installed with Mint 13 works ok. So it seems to be related to the version that gets installed with Cygwin. Is the link you are referring to about the Cygwin version? Not sure what the subject of Macports-website is. Still a noob in Linux-land, although I've learned a lot by following this guide :)
I'm not sure but is possible that owner is coded different when you extract the tar files under linux or under windows. You can see all the information with this

Code:
ls -l apps/com.rovio.angrybirds/f/settings.lua
 

escribblings

Member
Jul 21, 2012
40
7
What is an android adb backup?
An adb backup is a file with ab extension, generated by android's backup manager when we request it via adb shell. This allows you to backup some data of the phone, but is not a replacement of a clockworkmod backup:

- Each application files may be backed up or not depending on its policies. In some cases, the apk itself is never backed up even if requested.
- Usually for restoring an application's data it requires you to have it installed first.
- Inside an ab file is a tar file, which contains files and folders in a certain order. You have you respect that order in order to create a valid tar file.
- Inside the tar file, directories must not have trailing slash, for that reason pax, star or equivalent has to be used.
- There are some bugs present in the android source code.
- 'adb backup' or 'adb restore' are pretty slow, no matter what computer or phone you have, because the android debugging bridge has a maximum internal speed of about 1 MBps. So, each gigabyte can take about 15 minutes to backup or restore.
- If you have the device encrypted with a password, you must use that as well when your device asks to confirm backup creation or restoration. You can't create a backup without password in this particular case.

You can use java or perl, although with perl can be more complicated because requires downloading some modules from cpan and some ssl headers.

To know more information about types of android backups:
[Guide] Types of Android backups

Software needed
The entire process can be done from Windows, but is better to use a unix-like operating system, like Linux, OS X or BSD, since we should extract the files on a filesystem that preservers file permissions and owners and repack the tar archive. Furthermore some tools like star are easier to get for linux. In such cases, using Virtualbox or VMWare Workstation is highly recommended. Using Windows should work in any case whatsoever.

Java 7 or higher
  • Oracle Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) Unlimited Strength Jurisdiction Policy Files 7 if you are going to work with password encrypted backups.
    You need to install the files local_policy.jar and US_export_policy.jar under jre's lib/security folder, for example:
    - For Windows:
    • C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_09\jre\lib\security\
    • C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib\security\
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.7.0_07\jre\lib\security\
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\lib\security\
    - For Linux or BSD:
    /usr/local/jdk1.7/jre/lib/security/
    /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-openjdk-*/jre/lib/security/
    /usr/local/openjdk7/jre/lib/security/
    - For OS X:
    • /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_09.jdk/Contents/Home/jre/lib/security/

Perl
  • Perl is available for several operating systems
  • libssl or openssl headers. If you are using Linux or Cygwin is much more easier
  • cpan modules required by use functions

pax or star
pax is an archiving utility that compresses in ustar by default. In this case is extremely useful because stores directories without trailing slash. Is available for all operating systems, and in windows can be installed via cygwin's setup.exe or download a native version like gnuwin32 (sometimes available via bsdtar with pax option).

star allows storing directories without trailing slash. You can get the ubuntu version 1.5 here. There is no version of star for Windows or Cygwin, and other versions like tar, gtar or bsdtar don't implement the option. So, the only option is to user another operating system, installing it or running it from VMWare Workstation or Virtualbox, and share a folder. See here images.

Android Backup Extractor
Android Backup Extractor is the java application that does all the job. It includes the perl scripts.


How it works, better with an example
I will use an example to demonstrate how it works, with java version. If you like to use perl, just grab the perl scripts and is nearly the same.
This is extracted from the readme file, and will extract a whole adb backup and repack only the data for the game Grand Theft Auto III for android.

1) Convert the original adb backup to tar format:
Code:
java -jar abe.jar unpack nexus7.ab nexus7.tar <password>

2) Extract the contents of the tar archive. This should be done on a filesystem where the permissions of the files inside the tar are preserved, for example using linux, mac or bsd. Up to two folders may appear, apps and shared:
Code:
tar -xvf nexus7.tar

3) Make a list of all the contents of the original archive in the order they are archived:
Code:
tar -tf nexus7.tar > nexus7.list

4) Create a new list only with the files and folders you want, in proper order. For example for the GTA 3 (you can try savegames instead of all data):
Code:
cat nexus7.list | grep com.rockstar.gta3 > gta3.list

5) Create the new tar archive. The directories stored on tar shouldn't contain trailing slashes, so I use pax or star instead of tar:
Code:
cat gta.list | pax -wd > gta3.tar
OR
Code:
star -c -v -f gta3.tar -no-dirslash list=gta3.list

6) Create the adb backup from the tar archive. Password is optional:
Code:
java -jar abe.jar pack gta3.tar gta3.ab <password>

Note: if the backup is not encrypted zlib can be used instead for both unpack and pack the ab archive:
- Quick unpacking:
Code:
dd if=nexus7.ab bs=24 skip=1 | openssl zlib -d > nexus7.tar
- Quick packing:
Code:
dd if=nexus7.ab bs=24 count=1 of=gta3.ab ; openssl zlib -in gta3.tar >> gta3.ab

Links
Android Backup Extractor (@ Sourceforge)
Android Backup Extractor (@ GitHub)
Documentation at Blogspot
[Guide] Types of Android backups
Perl scripts to encrypt/decrypt adb backup files
[GUIDE] Full Phone Backup without Unlock or Root
[GUIDE] Internal Memory Data Recovery - Yes We Can!

Related adb backup and restore bugs:
Issue 28303: adb backup doesn't respect -noshared flag
Issue 32830: adb restore errors not displayed on device
Issue 34311: Galaxy Nexus gets stuck when restoring adb backup
Issue 25780: BackupManager causes reboot when BackupAgent missing
Issue 40691: ab backup and restore Ski Safari does not restore saved data
Issue 16286: Restoration of phone not working properly

Well firstly, one massive thumbs up, I now can migrate my Angry Birds scores :D

I do however have 2 questions

  1. Is PAX installed as a default option in Cygwin? - only I am writing a tutorial for another site and I want to keep the instructions as simple as possible - and I cannot remember if I left it as "default" or "installed" when I searched for it on the Cygwin Installer.
  2. Is it possible to run all the command from 1 terminal? - again this is for simplicites sake, at the moment undr windows I am running the Java command under CMD and everything else under Cygwin.

Thanks again.
 
Last edited:

escribblings

Member
Jul 21, 2012
40
7
Pax is not included in Cygwin base install. You can run all commands from Mintty in a single terminal.

Thank you - so if I am telling people about Cygwin, I need to tell them to search PAX and select "installed". OK.

RE: Mintty - I did a search on it and this page says that

Mintty is a terminal emulator for Cygwin and MSYS. In Cygwin, it is installed as the default terminal by Cygwin's setup.exe.

Does this mean that when I double click the Cygwin shortcut, Mintty is the terminal window that opens?

I ask this because when I navigate to the folder where the adb.exe is located, and run the adb backup command I get the response

-bash: adb: command not found
 

scandiun

Senior Member
Jul 12, 2010
1,903
983
Thank you - so if I am telling people about Cygwin, I need to tell them to search PAX and select "installed". OK.

RE: Mintty - I did a search on it and this page says that



Does this mean that when I double click the Cygwin shortcut, Mintty is the terminal window that opens?

I ask this because when I navigate to the folder where the adb.exe is located, and run the adb backup command I get the response

-bash: adb: command not found

Yes, you have to intentionally install pax from setup.exe and Mintty in the default shortcut to "Cygwin".
 
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escribblings

Member
Jul 21, 2012
40
7
Yes you can. adb must be in the windows' path to run it directly or either provide the full path to it.

Not at home right now so cannot test immediately - do I need to specify the path if I am trying to run it from its own directory?

Because that is what I was trying? Admittedly I tried adb and not ./adb - would that make a difference.
 

scandiun

Senior Member
Jul 12, 2010
1,903
983
Not at home right now so cannot test immediately - do I need to specify the path if I am trying to run it from its own directory?

Because that is what I was trying? Admittedly I tried adb and not ./adb - would that make a difference.
Yes you need to specify full path in unix format if adb is not in windows PATH. You can convert from windows path with cygpath:

Code:
$ cygpath.exe 'C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130219\sdk\platform-tools'
/cygdrive/c/adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130219/sdk/platform-tools

Or you can add the windows path to Windows PATH and restart cygwin. You can run also ./adb if you first navigate to the corresponding directory.

How to Add a Folder to Path in Windows XP
 
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escribblings

Member
Jul 21, 2012
40
7
Yes you need to specify full path in full format if adb is not in windows PATH. You can convert from windows path with cygpath:

Code:
$ cygpath.exe 'C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130219\sdk\platform-tools'
/cygdrive/c/adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130219/sdk/platform-tools

Or you can add the windows path to Windows PATH and restart cygwin. You can run also ./adb if you first navigate to the corresponding directory.

How to Add a Folder to Path in Windows XP

Thanks. That should sort that. I'll try it when I get home.
 

escribblings

Member
Jul 21, 2012
40
7
Yes you need to specify full path in unix format if adb is not in windows PATH. You can convert from windows path with cygpath:

Code:
$ cygpath.exe 'C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130219\sdk\platform-tools'
/cygdrive/c/adt-bundle-windows-x86-20130219/sdk/platform-tools

Or you can add the windows path to Windows PATH and restart cygwin. You can run also ./adb if you first navigate to the corresponding directory.

How to Add a Folder to Path in Windows XP

OK.

./adb works.

I haven't tried adding to the Windows path yet, as I really want to minimise the number of different setup steps that are needed when coming to write my tutorial but have decided I need to put a path in there for ease of use after setup.

I tried $ cygpath 'C:\ADT\sdk\platform-tools' with and without a trailing slash, and putting adb.exe on the end too.

Which gives the response /cygdrive/c/ADT/platform-tools - again, with or without the trailing slash and adb.exe

But none of these, with or without restarting Cygwin allows the adb command to work.

Only ./adb in the platform-tools directory works.

I will try adding it to the Windows path, but would really like to get Cygwin to sort it out.

BTW, I am running 32-bit Vista on this machine.


[edit] Just to confirm, the Windows Path method works. But i would still like to get the Cygpath method working.
 
Last edited:

scandiun

Senior Member
Jul 12, 2010
1,903
983
You can add the adb program path to Cygwin on every start-up -or- automatically via .bash_profile:
Code:
export PATH="$PATH:C:\ADT\sdk\platform-tools"
That won't work because PATH is generated each time you start cygwin so will overwrite it. You may better add the line to ~/.bashrc

Code:
echo 'PATH=`echo $PATH`:/cygdrive/c/ADT/sdk/platform-tools/' >> $HOME/.bash_profile
 
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escribblings

Member
Jul 21, 2012
40
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You can add the adb program path to Cygwin on every start-up -or- automatically via .bash_profile:
Code:
export PATH="$PATH:C:\ADT\sdk\platform-tools"

Alternatively, you can just drop three files (adb.exe, AdbWinApi.dll, AdbWinUsbApi.dll) to Cygwin /bin/ directory.

Ok - the first bit works until Cygwin is restarted - but it is a start. Thank you.

I wish to avoid moving the files, in case the end user wants to delve deeper into the ADT, I also want to avoid copying the files due to issues with duplication and possible version mismatch in the future.

That won't work because PATH is generated each time you start cygwin so will overwrite it. You may better add the line to ~/.bashrc

Code:
echo "export PATH=$PATH:/cygdrive/c/ADT/sdk/platform-tools" >> ~/.bashrc

Did that and got a load of messages that I previously did not get when Cygwin started.

Code:
bash: export: 'Files/Common' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Files/Roxio' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Shared/DLLShared:/cygdrive/c/Program' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Files/Common' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Files/Roxio' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Shared/DLLShared:/cygdrive/c/Program' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Files/Common' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Files/Roxio' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Shared/9.0/DLLShared:/cygdrive/c/Windows/System32/WindowsPowerShell/v1.0:cygdrive/c/Program' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Files/QuickTime/QTSystem:/cygdrive/c/Program' : not a valid identifier
bash: export: 'Files/Nmap:cygdrive/c/ADT/sdk/platform-tools' : not a valid identifier

And adb still not working from any directory

I opened .bashrc (using the command notepad .bashrc as I had not installed any editors like nano into Cygwin (now fixed)) and noticed this at the bottom.

Code:
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/cygdrive/c/Windows/system32:/cygdrive/c/Windows:/cygdrive/c/Windows/System32/Wbem:/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Common Files/Roxio Shared/DLLShared:/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Common Files/Roxio Shared/DLLShared:/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Common Files/Roxio Shared/9.0/DLLShared:/cygdrive/c/Windows/System32/WindowsPowerShell/v1.0:/cygdrive/c/Program Files/QuickTime/QTSystem:/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Nmap:/cygdrive/c/ADT/sdk/platform-tools:/cygdrive/c/ADT/sdk/platform-tools

I deleted the above, and then just added export PATH="$PATH:C:\ADT\sdk\platform-tools" to the end of the .bashrc and saved it.

That now works, and works on every restart.

but how can I use echo to copy that to .bashrc without adding all the extra Windows paths and screwing it up?
 

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    What is an android adb backup?
    An adb backup is a file with ab extension, generated by android's backup manager when we request it via adb shell. This allows you to backup some data of the phone, but is not a replacement of a clockworkmod backup:

    - Java 7 or higher is required because of SYNC_FLUSH mode for the Deflater.
    - If the backup contains apk+data for an app, restore will work. If contains only the data, you must install the app first on the device and then restore. Installing the app later won't work.
    - Some apps include a policy where the apk is never backed up even if specified.
    - Inside an ab file is a tar file, which contains files and folders in a certain order. You have you respect that order, which is not necessarily alphabetical like tar does by default. Such order is listed in "Full local backup infrastructure".
    - Inside the tar file, directories must not have trailing slash, for that reason pax, star or equivalent has to be used.
    - There are some bugs present in the android source code.
    - 'adb backup' or 'adb restore' are pretty slow, between 1 and 2.6 MBps.
    - The adb backups (usually with .ab extension) can be password protected or not. If the device is encrypted this is a must and has to be the same used for the device.
    - Star is recommended instead of pax, which supports path length only up to 100 characters, so will fail in some cases. This usually happens with browsers history.
    - ADB backups are not a replacement for a Nandroid backup. The whole /data partition is not backed up, only a part of it. Also, other partitions like /system, /preload, /cache, modem, RIL, efs, kernel or recovery are never backed up because are not user data. This is to prevent issue when restoring on a different device. It has also the biggest
    - If you have the device encrypted with a password, you must use that particular one for backup creation and restore. You can't create a backup without password or a different one in that particular case, or if you try to restore will fail.
    - star for cygwin for windows is attached (move it to C:\cygwin\bin\star.exe) since there is no package available. It can be compiled from the schily (ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/schily/).
    - The best way to test if an adb backup has errors, is to convert it to tar and then check.advantage that doesn't require root to operate, so is totally compatible with stock roms, locked bootloaders and device encryption.
    - There's also a bash script called adb-split.sh that creates individual adb backups for each recognized app from the full one, so you can restore apps individually. Same encryption is preserved to them, if any.

    You can use java or perl, although with perl can be more complicated because requires downloading some modules from cpan and some ssl headers.

    To know more information about types of android backups:
    [Guide] Types of Android backups

    Software needed
    The entire process can be done from Windows, but is better to use a unix-like operating system, like Linux, OS X or BSD, since we should extract the files on a filesystem that preservers file permissions and owners and repack the tar archive. Furthermore some tools like star are easier to get for linux. In such cases, using Virtualbox or VMWare Workstation is highly recommended. Using Windows should work in any case whatsoever.

    Cygwin
    Preferably 32 bits: has more packages and is less prone to errors. Furthermore, the star for cygwin attached is 32 bits.

    Java 7 or higher
    • Oracle Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) Unlimited Strength Jurisdiction Policy Files 7 if you are going to work with password encrypted backups.
      You need to install the files local_policy.jar and US_export_policy.jar under jre's lib/security folder, for example:
      - For Windows:
      • C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_09\jre\lib\security\
      • C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib\security\
      • C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.7.0_07\jre\lib\security\
      • C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\lib\security\
      - For Linux or BSD:
      /usr/local/jdk1.7/jre/lib/security/
      /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-openjdk-*/jre/lib/security/
      /usr/local/openjdk7/jre/lib/security/
      - For OS X:
      • /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_09.jdk/Contents/Home/jre/lib/security/

    Perl
    • Perl is available for several operating systems
    • libssl or openssl headers. If you are using Linux or Cygwin is much more easier
    • cpan modules required by use functions

    pax or star
    pax is an archiving utility that compresses in ustar by default. In this case is extremely useful because stores directories without trailing slash. Is available for all operating systems, and in windows can be installed via cygwin's setup.exe or download a native version like gnuwin32 (sometimes available via bsdtar with pax option). pax doesn't work when paths are more than 100 characters lenght, so I recommend star instead.

    star allows storing directories without trailing slash. You can get the ubuntu version 1.5 here. For Windows you can use Cygwin's version included.

    Android Backup Extractor
    Android Backup Extractor is the java application that does all the job. It includes the perl scripts.


    How it works, better with an example
    I will use an example to demonstrate how it works, with java version. If you like to use perl, just grab the perl scripts and is nearly the same.
    This is extracted from the readme file, and will extract a whole adb backup and repack only the data for the game Grand Theft Auto III for android.

    1) Convert the original adb backup to tar format:
    Code:
    java -jar abe.jar unpack nexus7.ab nexus7.tar <password>

    2) Extract the contents of the tar archive. This should be done on a filesystem where the permissions of the files inside the tar are preserved, for example using linux, mac or bsd. Up to two folders may appear, apps and shared:
    Code:
    tar -xvf nexus7.tar

    3) Make a list of all the contents of the original archive in the order they are archived:
    Code:
    tar -tf nexus7.tar > nexus7.list

    4) Create a new list only with the files and folders you want, in proper order. For example for the GTA 3 (you can try savegames instead of all data):
    Code:
    cat nexus7.list | grep com.rockstar.gta3 > gta3.list

    5) Create the new tar archive. The directories stored on tar shouldn't contain trailing slashes, so I use pax or star instead of tar. Pax works also if paths are up to 100 of lenght:
    Code:
    cat gta.list | pax -wd > gta3.tar
    OR
    Code:
    star -c -v -f gta3.tar -no-dirslash list=gta3.list

    6) Create the adb backup from the tar archive. Password is optional:
    Code:
    java -jar abe.jar pack gta3.tar gta3.ab <password>

    Note: if the backup is not encrypted zlib can be used instead for both unpack and pack the ab archive:
    - Quick unpacking:
    Code:
    dd if=nexus7.ab bs=24 skip=1 | openssl zlib -d > nexus7.tar
    - Quick packing:
    Code:
    dd if=nexus7.ab bs=24 count=1 of=gta3.ab ; openssl zlib -in gta3.tar >> gta3.ab

    Split an Android backup
    Use Android Backup Splitter (is a shell script). Works on Cygwin too:
    sh adb-split.sh backup.ab [password if needed]
    Resulting files go in app-ab folder

    # ADB Backup Splitter:
    #
    # This bash script utility generates an adb backup for each item
    # on apps/ folder. That equals to generating an adb backup for
    # each app.
    #
    # shared/0 and shared/1 (sdcards) are ignored, so that means that
    # external data and OBB files, although may be backed up, may not
    # be restored. For doing so backup the folder Android of the sdcards.
    # Creating a backup with -shared flag has know issues (corruption)
    # so is not recommended. Future releases of this script may add
    # the option to automatically detect things from sdcards inside
    # the adb backup file.
    #
    # This script works on Cygwin also, and in general where star does.
    #
    # There may be apps in the backup that don't include the apk. In that
    # particular case, the data won't be restored, so the individual backup
    # is generated for testing purposes only. Installing the apk afterwards won't work.
    # There is generated an html file called apk-missing.html so you can open it and
    # install all applications from Play Store on any of your devices.

    Patch apps to allow adb backup
    Some apps specify in the AndroidManifest.xml android:allowBackup="false" so it won't be backed up by adb backup. If you have root and use Titanium Backup or CWM or TWRP they will do the job, but if you don't want root the only solution is to modify the apk to edit that string. Read here how to do that and the pros and cons:
    [GUIDE] How to enable adb backup for any app changing android:allowBackup

    Links
    Android Backup Splitter (@ Sourceforge)
    Android Backup Extractor (@ Sourceforge)
    Android Backup Extractor (@ GitHub)
    Documentation at Blogspot
    Full local backup infrastructure
    [Guide] Types of Android backups
    Backing Up Android Games
    Titanium Backup Decrypter
    Perl scripts to encrypt/decrypt adb backup files
    [GUIDE] Full Phone Backup without Unlock or Root
    [GUIDE] Internal Memory Data Recovery - Yes We Can!
    [Q] [adb] backup not working for Temple Run

    Related adb backup and restore bugs:
    Issue 55860: adb backup skips the apk for certain apps and doesn't prompt for download when restoring
    Issue 48126: device adb connecting to localhost adbd cannot execute commands anymore since 4.2.2 (error device offline)
    Issue 3254: adb shell doesn't return exit code of program
    Issue 53065: Debugging via ADB stopping the onClick action on ImageView widget
    Issue 53668: ADB : An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
    Issue 54781: adb install: single quotes in filenames cause quoting issues
    Issue 55173: (Game) Offroad Legends does not detect obb when restored via adb restore
    Issue 55178: (Game) Carmageddon Promo does not detect obb when restored via adb restore
    Issue 28303: adb backup doesn't respect -noshared flag
    Issue 32830: adb restore errors not displayed on device
    Issue 34311: Galaxy Nexus gets stuck when restoring adb backup
    Issue 25780: BackupManager causes reboot when BackupAgent missing
    Issue 40691: ab backup and restore Ski Safari does not restore saved data
    Issue 16286: Restoration of phone not working properly
    Issue 39014: Nexus 7 adb restore freezes when restoring udk.android.reader

    Warning about Helium (Carbon): helium backups are just android adb backups that are not compressed with Java Deflater. It means they were created with the option static final boolean COMPRESS_FULL_BACKUPS = false.
    A normal adb restore should work.
    3
    I have tried similar attempt to restore my save of another game but that doesn't work.
    How did you replace the files in the .tar file? I am using 7z to replace the .tar file but nothing happen after i restored.
    Thanks.
    Read the guide. 7z is not compatible, you have to use star or equivalent and meet the requirements.
    2
    Great guide, and can confirm that it does work!

    I managed to use this method to restore my angry birds data from a Froyo phone (HTC Desire), to a Jelly Bean phone (HTC One X+). This is no easy task since you cannot use adb backup/restore on Froyo, but you can use adb pull, and you can't use adb push on Jelly Bean, but you can use adb backup/restore. Just in case anyone is looking to do the same, here is the process I used (requires having adb up and running but does not require root)...

    As the adb backup function doesn't work on Froyo, I had to use adb pull to grab the angry birds data files (highscores.lua and settings.lua). Then, making sure that you have angry birds installed on the jelly bean phone and have played the first level, use the adb backup command to backup just the angry birds app. You can then use scandiuns guide to extract a tar file from the backup file, and then extract the "app" folder from the tar file.

    Once this is done, you will find the highscores.lua and settings.lua files in the apps/com.rovio.angrybirds/f directory. Replace these two files with your original ones that you pulled from the old device. Then package up the app folder using the guide. Then just use adb restore to restore the modified backup file to your new device, and you should have all your old scores restored!

    Hope that helps and thanks to scandiun for the great guide! :good:
    2
    Maybe I'm missing something.

    I've installed Java, ran cygwins setup.exe and I think it installed everything. Also downloaded the Android Backup Extractor. I try running a windows command prompt with:
    java -jar abe.jar unpack nexus7.ab nexus7.tar

    All I get is "java is not an internal or external command". I'm running the command prompt in the android backup extractor folder. Does everything have to be in the same folder? Where do I dump everything?

    Probably java is not in your path, try

    Code:
    which java

    It should result something like
    Code:
    $ which java
    /cygdrive/c/Windows/system32/java

    Add Java to the Windows Path

    Then restart cygwin
    2
    Because i am using windows, so does it mean that i couldn't modify the .tar file in any way?
    thanks.

    Yes, from windows you can use pax. You can download it from cygwin's setup.exe. I've updated the guide, see the step 5.