Thanks to pruss for NVBackup !

[juggernaut#2]

hi,

since NVBackup has saved my butt a hundred times, two of ´em just yesterday, I just wanted to put a big THANKS to pruss for the excellent work in here. I never had a backup app that really was able to restore the device in the exact state it was in before as NVBackup does.


BTW, is there any way to have it backup periodically, like say every 4 hours ?

[Zano2004]

I will second that. NVBackup is the best backup and restore application available.

[elParkeur]

BTW, is there any way to have it backup periodically, like say every 4 hours ?

This could be managed with 2PlayMe. Just schedule NVBackup every 4 hours and add the backup button id.

[BrentDC]

I would also like to thank Alex for NVBackup! Not only does it restore the device to exactly were it was, but it is remarkable stable. It is so much more reliable and stable than any backup app I've ever used, commercial or otherwise, and it is the only one I would trust. Exactly what you need with a backup program. Thank you Alex!

[pruss]

By the way, I am thinking of making a shareware app out of NVBackup. Not by adding features, but by taking them away, stripping NVBackup to its essentials for ease of use. ftp and atomic clock sync support would go--too hard to support different people's network configurations. The scrolling display would be replaced by a friendlier looking but less informative screen. Etc. Any ideas?

The point would be to make a backup utility aimed at beginners. No point for anybody using NVBackup to switch--it would be a downgrade.

[I love my mom]

Shoot, I know alot of us might buy it to support you anyway :)

[BrentDC]

If you were to do that, it might be a good idea to get rid of the Log.txt files that go on the card. They show up in Docs to Go when it does a file search, and it's kind of confusing to beginners (at least to me when I first got my TX).

[Zano2004]

By the way, I am thinking of making a shareware app out of NVBackup. Not by adding features, but by taking them away, stripping NVBackup to its essentials for ease of use. ftp and atomic clock sync support would go--too hard to support different people's network configurations. The scrolling display would be replaced by a friendlier looking but less informative screen. Etc. Any ideas?

The point would be to make a backup utility aimed at beginners. No point for anybody using NVBackup to switch--it would be a downgrade.Kill the clock and ftp and leave the rest as it is. This would not be a downgrade for me and I'd be most happy to pay for it. The scrolling screen is a good progress indicator.

[juggernaut#2]

This could be managed with 2PlayMe. Just schedule NVBackup every 4 hours and add the backup button id.
I thought about that, too, and did even download the trial copy of 2playme, but having it press the "new backup" button will just raise nvbackup´s question about the backup details.

[elParkeur]

...having it press the "new backup" button will just raise nvbackup´s question about the backup details.

Yes, you are right. I forgot about that. Then the only possibility would be to use MacroPlay Pro (http://xvisionnow.tripod.com/cgi-bin/macroplay.pl). You can save the necessary cklicks as macros and schedule them every 4 hours.

I use it to enable automatic backup only on sundays as NVBackup is not able to schedule weekly backups.

Unfortunately its price is quite high if you only use for that purpose...

[pruss]

Question: Do the %%comment.txt and %%encryption.txt files also show up in Docs2Go?

[kgod]

Question: Do the %%comment.txt and %%encryption.txt files also show up in Docs2Go?
Yes, they do.

[wozofoz]

Hi Alex, You may already be doing this.
The only suggestion I have is that the new app be a seperate app and so able to share my TX alongside NVBackup with no conflicts.

I would like to have both.
One with auto nightly backups.
The other with the manual backups I always do before installing any new apps. Some of these backups I keep for months.

This would just be handier and more organised and so I would gladly buy the second app :)

All the best, woz of oz

[pruss]

Hi Alex, You may already be doing this.
The only suggestion I have is that the new app be a seperate app and so able to share my TX alongside NVBackup with no conflicts.

I would like to have both.
One with auto nightly backups.
The other with the manual backups I always do before installing any new apps. Some of these backups I keep for months.

This would just be handier and more organised and so I would gladly buy the second app :)

All the best, woz of oz

Yes, I decided to do that once I realized that it would be too much work to have %%comments.txt exist alongside the new %%comments.dat, and to ensure backwards compatibility.

[wozofoz]

Hi Alex, sorry that this is a bit OT but I can't seem to find the answer.
Many times I have read of people not being able to do a Hard Reset so I started to wonder:

I did a Hard Reset on my TX and went through the 'TouchScreen' and 'Select City' etc procedure only, till I got to Applications.
Then I did an NVBackup of this 'bare' TX.

Would restoring this backup be the same as doing a Hard Reset ?
Or are there 'signals' or whatever sent during a Hard Reset that would give it a different result ?

I just wonder if this 'bare' backup is of any real use to me or anyone else.

Thanks again Alex :)

[I love my mom]

Well one way to cause something that looks like a hard reset is by deleting all your RAM files with FileZ or another file browser. It will take you back to language selection etc.

As for using NVBackup for this, why don't you try it out and let us know :)

[pruss]

Hi Alex, sorry that this is a bit OT but I can't seem to find the answer.
Many times I have read of people not being able to do a Hard Reset so I started to wonder:

I did a Hard Reset on my TX and went through the 'TouchScreen' and 'Select City' etc procedure only, till I got to Applications.
Then I did an NVBackup of this 'bare' TX.

Would restoring this backup be the same as doing a Hard Reset ?
Or are there 'signals' or whatever sent during a Hard Reset that would give it a different result ?

I just wonder if this 'bare' backup is of any real use to me or anyone else.

Thanks again Alex :)

Pretty much, yes.

Another way to do the equivalent of a hard reset is just to delete all the files in a backup directory and then restore that backup. (I am not recommending it--for all I know it will cause some problem, like bricking your device.)

[BrentDC]

I think if you deleete the Unsaved Preference file, then soft reset, boot-loader will run during that reset, and you'll get the Touchscreen calibration ect. (that is a way to get the default apps like Addit back without actually deleting your data, but I don't know if this helps).

[sgosnell]

Is there any way to access the backup files from something other than NVBackup? I have backups I need the data from, but no longer have an NVFS handheld. My Lifedrive died, and I'm using my T3 again, but NVBackup won't run on it. Unzipping the .gz files won't work, at least using WinZip. I really need that data, and unfortunately I quit using BackupMan when I got the Lifedrive.

[PinCushionQueen]

Is there any way to access the backup files from something other than NVBackup? I have backups I need the data from, but no longer have an NVFS handheld. My Lifedrive died, and I'm using my T3 again, but NVBackup won't run on it. Unzipping the .gz files won't work, at least using WinZip. I really need that data, and unfortunately I quit using BackupMan when I got the Lifedrive.

This was posted by Pruss just a few weeks ago:

You need to use a gunzip utility to extract the gz files. Then you need to turn them into pdb/prc files unless you're restoring onto an NVFS device with the same version of NVFS system. But to turn them into pdb/prc files is far from easy, because the internal NVFS format is undocumented. However, there is an unbackup utility that works for 99% of files:
http://www.wikifortio.com/860736/unbackup.zip
It's a command-line utility.
Do: unbackup -m TX filename
from a DOS command line.

Hope that helps some :)

EDIT: Just discovered that the link is borken :( Perhaps Pruss will post in again?

[sgosnell]

Yes, I've tried everywhere I can find, but the unbackup utility is among the missing. I can extract the .gz file, but I can't do anything with the result. And I'm not sure the result would work on a non-NVFS device in any case.

[cyberdude]

Yes, I've tried everywhere I can find, but the unbackup utility is among the missing. I can extract the .gz file, but I can't do anything with the result. And I'm not sure the result would work on a non-NVFS device in any case.
I can send you the copy of unbackup I have if you still want to try it, just PM me.

[pruss]

Question: Does anybody know which directory on the hidden internal drive Treos store photos in? And is any data stored in other directories on the hidden internal drive?

[pruss]

Unbackup: http://www.wikifortio.com/223577/unbackup.zip

[Adam Helberg]

It would be worthwhile if developers of backup software came up with a Windows utility to be able extract files from their backups on the SD card.

I had the same problem one time with a BackupMan backup, when I had sent my iQue away and wanted to install some files on my old Visor Platinum.

Adam

[juggernaut#2]

pruss, any chance to be able to choose the backup directory in a future version ?
i don´t miss a thing about nvnackup, just this ... :)

(reason is: is periodically back up the \palm\launcher\programs directory tree because i put stuff belonging to apps in there. copying that over takes quite a while when four nvbackup directories have to get copied, too. whenever i copy the tree, i usually only copy the latest backup only in case of a card failure, but i don´t need the whole thing)

[_Em]

It would be worthwhile if developers of backup software came up with a Windows utility to be able extract files from their backups on the SD card.

I had the same problem one time with a BackupMan backup, when I had sent my iQue away and wanted to install some files on my old Visor Platinum.

Adam

Step 1: read Alex's post above yours.
Step 2: run the software.


As far as most of the other backup apps, you can just unzip the backed up files to your PC and restore them to wherever you want. I agree though, that a nice front end (written in Java so it'll run on Win/Lin/Mac) that automates the restore process would be nice.

[Adam Helberg]

Step 1: read Alex's post above yours.
Step 2: run the software.


As far as most of the other backup apps, you can just unzip the backed up files to your PC and restore them to wherever you want. I agree though, that a nice front end (written in Java so it'll run on Win/Lin/Mac) that automates the restore process would be nice.

The BackupMan files have extensions .set and appear to have proprietary format. WinZip does not know what to do with these. How am I going to "unzip" them?

Adam

[cyberdude]

The BackupMan files have extensions .set and appear to have proprietary format. WinZip does not know what to do with these. How am I going to "unzip" them?

Adam
If I look under palm->backups-><projectname>-><name and date> there is a list of all files backed up in zip format.

[thenrik]

Hi:

If you come up with a Nvbackup Pro, I'll be glad to support it. I recently got a backup palm, better than my original so I just backed up my original and restored it. Worked perfectly. Now my original gets recharged once a week in the event of my newer one being kidnapped by UFOs. Thanks indeed.

Tom

[Adam Helberg]

If I look under palm->backups-><projectname>-><name and date> there is a list of all files backed up in zip format.

BackupMan backs up onto the card only, and the files are in /palm/programs/backupman/ folder of the card and the files are .set extension files. There are no zip files.

Adam

[BrentDC]

Hold on, cyberdude are you getting confused with Resco Backup? Just a long shot as I don't use BackupMan or Resco Backup, but I believe RB backs up to <yourcardname>/Palm/Backups/ect. Just a thought....

[_Em]

One good reason not to use BackupMan as a primary backup method :)

[sgosnell]

It's a matter of choice. I've been using it successfully for years, and plan to continue with it. If I want a .zip backup, I can use HandZipper, but it won't do scheduled unattended backups. I use BackupMan for that, and it works well for me.

[Zano2004]

This thread is starting to get confusing....... to where has it drifted? :confused:

[sgosnell]

Thread drift? Impossible!

[bdhu2001]

What ftp client are you using on your palm and desktop for NVBackup?

[juggernaut#2]

You don´t need a ftp client on the palm as NVBackup includes this for uploading backup sets with ftp. On the desktop side you´ll need a ftp server (not client).

As far as I know there a few ftp clients for palm out there, freeware and shareware. Do a search on palmgear oder freewarepalm for ´em.

[bdhu2001]

Originally posted by juggernaut#2:
You don´t need a ftp client on the palm as NVBackup includes this for uploading backup sets with ftp. On the desktop side you´ll need a ftp server (not client).

As far as I know there a few ftp clients for palm out there, freeware and shareware. Do a search on palmgear oder freewarepalm for ´em.
Thanks juggernaut#2. I'm searching for a server now.

[bdhu2001]

Thanks Pruss NVBackup is awesome. I did the update to the corrected 1.10 for the Treo 700p. This is the first time I've been able to get back all of my original settings.

I've download file zilla ftp server. When I figure out how to do the settings and transfer, via, ftp, this will be a dream program.

[cyberdude]

Originally posted by juggernaut#2:

Thanks juggernaut#2. I'm searching for a server now.
The filezilla server is easy to use.