Backup Question

[sziegler]

Hi: I am a new user and have a question...Is there a simple way for me to backup my data so that if I do something stupid, I can re-insert it into the "Palm" folder in Windows and restore it with a hot-synch into my pda? Is there a file I can copy that contains all of my addresses, phone numbers, etc?

Also, second question! How should I have my Options set for the conduits? I have the default and it is set to "Handheld overwrites Desktop"...Will that allow me to do simple synchs and place the info into the desktop software and/or the handheld for most normal usage?

Thanks for your patience and assistance...

Steve in Kansas

[Cutefox]

why dun u just back it up to the sd card??? backupman should do da trick never fail on me ever... jus make sure u back up before doin sumtin drastics...

[CWolf]

Yeah, Backupman is a lifesaver. It even copies itself to the SD card so that you can restore with just the card.

[kazuni]

definitely backupman. you can store multiple backups as well, and scheduled backups (say, 3:00am if you're sleeping at that time :P) it wakes up and backs itself up. Nice software:)

[spvwolfy]

I use Card Backup (www.jkware.com) and Backup Buddy VFS (www.bluenomad.com)

[Cita]

I also use Backup Buddy VFS. Nothing like being able to restore your data when you're away from your computer.

To answer your second question, I've got the conduit default set to synchronize on most things. That way new info travels both ways. If you have it set to handheld overwrites desktop as the default, you'll overwrite whatever you've entered directly into your desktop with what's on the palm.

[palmhiker]

Just to throw my 2 cents in - I use and recommend Botzam Backup ( http://www.botzam.com ), which offers encryption and compression.

If your backup files aren't encrypted and you lose your card, someone can easily see everything.

I set Botzam to backup every morning at 5 A.M. and it has saved me on a couple of occaisions, especially when traveling and away from the synch computer.

[ackmondual]

Originally posted by sziegler
Hi: I am a new user and have a question...Is there a simple way for me to backup my data so that if I do something stupid, I can re-insert it into the "Palm" folder in Windows and restore it with a hot-synch into my pda? Is there a file I can copy that contains all of my addresses, phone numbers, etc?


choose a methoed below
1) (already mentioned), use a 3rd party program like Backupman. Of course u'll need an SD card with a "whopping" 16MB of free RAM :D Costs around $10 - $15
2) get the Palm backup card for $50.

NOTE:
If u use backupman buddy, make sure u have a PC that doesn't crash on u often!!! It kinda defeats the purpose of having a backup system that relies on a faulty PC and and if you should accidently lose your handheld, drop it into a wishing fountain, etc., then you're outta luck. Your PC did crash, and your handheld AND your backup (inside the handheld u lost) are gone. The bottom line, if u think both of the above is likely happen and you REALLY value your data and apps, then consider getting a backup card, or a 2nd SD expansion card and backup there as well, so that u have a fallback source for your precious info


3) For apps and utilities (as opposed to PIM data in Memopad, etc., since these are alr backup up on your PC), use a free utility called fileZ. read its manual for more info, and if yur someth doesn't look right or familiar, then by all means STOP!
taht app can also mess up your ROM data and RAM files using the hex editor, or if u blindly delete files, so be sure steer clear of those doings. When u use it, click on a file on internal mem u wanna backup (e.g. tetris), select attributes, and check the "backup" box. Next time u hotsync, look inside the directory: palm/<yur username here>/backups, and you'll see the app in there (e.g. again, tetris.prc). If u ever hard reset your handheld, that file 'll get reinstalled to your handhald automaticlly upon hotsyncing

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Also, second question! How should I have my Options set for the conduits? I have the default and it is set to "Handheld overwrites Desktop"...Will that allow me to do simple synchs and place the info into the desktop software and/or the handheld for most normal usage?

Thanks for your patience and assistance...

Steve in Kansas

I currenty have 2 PCs. On my new one which i mainly use, i have it set to "syncronize", since I'll often type in PIM data (memo, datebk, ToDo, addr incase u din't alr kno) and want it transferred to my handheld, but also want any new info from my handheld to get transferred to my PC as well.

For my other PC, i have it so that handheld always overwirtes PC, since i won't be doing any data entry on there, but would like a 3rd place to keep my handheld info

**the only thing bad about synchronizing is sometimes u get EXACT duplicates or near duplicates. The former is easy to detect, just open up PD and look for an icon of a "2 person silouettes" near your user name (around the top right of your PD screen), list your options and it'll do its thing.

For the latter, its a nuissance but nothing big. say, U have the same mempad on your PC and PDA. On your PC u write "lets go rangers", and on your PDA, u write "lets go yankees". When u hotsnyc AFTER doing both, it won't kno whcih 1 u wanna kepp, in which it'll ask u to del the one u don't want and sync again

choose to your preferences


hope this helps w/o making things overcomplicated