2 LD's, same username

[elrrbmrt]

I have 2 Lifedrives. I have to send one in for repairs and want to have the same data and programs on the second to use while it's gone. I've given them both the same user name and transfered all my data to the new one. I want to go back to using the first LD when it's sent back - how do I transfer my data back to LD #1 without causing problems? Do I have to do a hard reset and start over or can I just choose "Desktop overwrites handheld" for everything on my first hotsynch? I know Palm says you can't hotsynch 2 devices with the same user name - what happens if you try?

[potter]

You cannot Hotsync 2 devices with the same Hotsync ID against the same desktop ... and keep them in sync. However, the scenario you give is actually normal for when one changes devices.

When your repaired device returns, since these are identical devices:
Since we are dealing with an LD, set the "LifeDrive Manager" conduit to "Synchronize and Backup".
Hotsync your current "backup" device one more time.
Set all the conduits that can to "Desktop overwrites Handheld" (or equivalent), actually you shouldn't have to do this, but just to be sure.
Your repaired device should arrive in a hard-reset state, at lest that is the norm. If not hard-reset.
Hotsync.
Do not Hotsync the backup device again against this desktop, without hard-resetting or otherwise renaming it.

[jigwashere]

You cannot Hotsync 2 devices with the same Hotsync ID against the same desktop ... and keep them in sync.

Why not? I sync both my Treo 755p and TX to the same PC with the same Hotsync ID (at work and at home) and don't seem to have any problems. The only thing I did was set the Backup conduit to do nothing. The reason I have both using the same hotsync ID is because some software is licensed to the hotsync ID rather than the device, and this allows me to use the apps on both devices. (BTW, before you complain that I'm stealing from the developers, I only have the apps on both devices with the explicit permission of those developers. For example, the developer of Articulation not only gave me permission to do this, but encouraged it so I could report any issues to him).

You are correct to say that having the same hotsync ID on 2 devices can cause issues, but for the most part, it's because of device preferences that get copied between the devices. Not backup up (and therefore not doing hotsync restore) seems to protect me.

In case something goes wrong, I have done at least one hotsync backup on both devices, I do NVBackup on both regularly, and I have redundant backups of PIM and other data on my PC. :)

[potter]

Why not?
Short answer: Because the Hotsync syncing algorithm assume syncing 1 device against the current desktop.

Long answer: The basic Hotsync syncing algorithm uses a series of bits on each record on the desktop and on the handheld. These are: Dirty, Deleted, Archive, and (Hmm, I thought there was a forth bit. Cannot think of it at the moment). On Hotsync, only those records that have changed, according to these bits, are transfered between the desktop and handheld. When done, all these bits are cleared on the desktop and handheld.

Scenario: A record is changed and then Device 1 is Hotsynced. The dirty bit on this record is now clear on the desktop. When Device 2 is Hotsynced, there is no dirty bit on this record, so this change is not sent to device 2.

[jigwashere]

Scenario: A record is changed and then Device 1 is Hotsynced. The dirty bit on this record is now clear on the desktop. When Device 2 is Hotsynced, there is no dirty bit on this record, so this change is not sent to device 2.


Thanks for the great explanation, potter! I'm surprised I haven't seen a problem. I hotsync both devices regularly. It's possible this is happening and I just haven't noticed. The issue I've heard most is device instability, but both my TX and 755p are solid (okay, the 755p is solid-er-er than the TX, but that's a different problem). I suppose the only time I've noticed a problem is when I hotsync both devices at work. I use Intellesync to sync my Lotus Notes calendar and Versamail for my Notes emails. I did notice once that my emails or my calendar entries (or both -- I just don't remember) would only sync with one device. I guessed it was something like what you describe, but decided not to worry about it and I sync my primary device (755p) first. I'll have to pay a bit more attention.

It seems to me there's a utility out there to change those bits. Maybe I'm thinking of Syncall (or whatever it's called), which does something similar, as I recall. I don't use Syncall because it seems to come with its own set of problems.

Thanks again!