I just came in and saw the size of the thread on the new OS update and how people are having to reflash and reinstall their apps. It seems to me that the backup utility is pretty inadequate; doesn't even save everything under ~user, let alone installed apps. The fact that people are talking about having to spend a day reinstalling is putting me off trying any upgrade, because I have installed a bunch of applications.

But that's what it's for, right? So getting the apps back shouldn't be that hard if you're willing to backup to begin with. So defensively, I've started putting tar.gz files of ~user on the removable card in my N810, but what would I need to do to preserve my installed apps? I don't mind if the procedure just creates some sort of list that the system uses to go and fetch and reinstall the apps, as long as it's automated and complete.

That's what Backup/Restore does, it saves a list of your apps and then guides you through reinstalling them.

It also saves documents, media, and other files.

I'm on OS2008 on a N810

Confused of Ealing