Android Samsung Galaxy S3 root: Contacts & Apps deleted?

[SpaceJump]

I'm considering rooting my S3 and found some Tutorials, but none of them clearly say if the contacts, messages and apps are deleted in the process. Anyone rooted his S3 and can enlighten me?

 

[ProtoKun7]

Rooting shouldn't delete anything if it's anything like the S II procedure.

Flashing another ROM, on the other hand, is likely to.

 

[Jamstruth]

If you have to unlock the bootloader to root it the likelihood is that your data will be wiped (that's what happens on my Nexus).
Backup as much as you can without root. Make sure all your contacts are set to Google contacts (they will be restored when you log in) and set your phone to be backed up in Settings. When you restore your account this will mean that most (of not all) of your apps will be redownloaded from the market.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I also suggest exporting your contacts to your SD card just in case Google contacts doesn't sync correctly, I've had this happen to me a few times now but luckily I've got an app that extracts contacts from backups made by Clockwork Mod.

 

[SpaceJump]

Thanks for your answers so far. Can you suggest an app to backup contacts to SD?

Someone with actual experince with rooting the S3 here?

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

You shouldn't need an app. Just go into contacts and hit Menu and then "Import/Export" or something like that.

 

[yusuo]

Rooting won't wipe your device, just use S3 Toolkit, I've done mine, works perfectly

 

[Joe88]

some methods flash a rooted rom to the phone instead of just rooting it, thats why they would be deleted

just select a method (make sure its the right one for your version of the s3 as there are many) which doesnt flash a rom

 

[Zerosuit connor]

Rooting will not delete anything, it will however place a superuser in /system/app and busybox in /system/bin or xbin
If you want to flash a custom rom it will delete your data unless you sync to your google account or Samsung Kies before flashing that way when you sign in on the new rom your contacts will come back as will your apps.
You could flash a custom recovery and could/should make a backup of your stock rom to restore to in the off chance you can't get anything back. However depending on where you bought the phone and what you intend to flash I believe you need an unlocked bootloader?

 

[chains_of_androm]

Shouldn't but might be good to backup regardless.

 

[SpaceJump]

So there are methods that don't flash a rooted rom? I only found Tutorials where Odin is used. Isn't that a flash tool?

Someone has a link to a non-flash Tutorial?

 

[Joe88]

this is just an example for the verizon s3, this method doesnt use odin
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792342

slightly unrelated but did the mtp driver install for you fine?
im basically stuck and cant access the file system from my computer as well as tons of other people, and samsung have known about the problem for a month now and havnt done anything to fix it
other droid devices have worked fine for me except for this

 

[SpaceJump]

this is just an example for the verizon s3, this method doesnt use odin
http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1792342
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792342

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792342
What is Verizon? Can this method be used with any S3?

slightly unrelated but did the mtp driver install for you fine?
im basically stuck and cant access the file system from my computer as well as tons of other people, and samsung have known about the problem for a month now and havnt done anything to fix it
other droid devices have worked fine for me except for this

You mean when I connect it via USB to my PC? Yes, that's working perfectly. And I never had to install any drivers.

 

[Langin]

this is just an example for the verizon s3, this method doesnt use odin
http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1792342
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792342

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792342
What is Verizon? Can this method be used with any S3?

Verizon is a USA mobile provider I believe.

 

[SpaceJump]

I see. My S3 is obviously a European model. Will that tutorial work also for non-Verzon phones?

 

[ThePowerOutage]

Use this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1703488
It can back up all your user data so you can be sure you won't loose anything.
Though my contacts are all stored on Google, helps when flashing ROMs as you can restore them easily.