How do I "set a switch" to ensure all is transferred during hotsync?

[Clare]

Hi,
I have a T2 and have been using it happily for about a year and have just got a T5. Just before Christmas my hard drive crashed taking the Palm Desktop with it. I need to reinstall the desktop and sync the T2 before I uninstall it and load the T5 software. I can remember, though, back when I was new to all this that I followed advice to "set a switch" (software) to ensure that all the data was backed up. I can't remember what this "switch" was or where I find it. Can anyone remind me please?

Regards
Clare

[WVOz1970]

If you use the freeware program FileZ, you should be able to set it there. Start the program, select your Palm device (instead of the memory card), choose "View and Edit Files". Once the directory is created you can "Select All" from one of the menus, then go to the "Options" menu and choose "Backup On". I believe this forces the backup bit to "On" for all files so that on the next hotsync, all files get backed up, not just the ones with changes.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

[squeff]

If you want to spend a little money, Backup Buddy (and perhaps other similar products) exist that do a good job of ensuring that everything is backed up. I've used it for years, with 5 different Palm devices (IIIx, IIIxe, Clie 610, Clie NX73, Clie TH55), dozens of hard resets, and have never lost anything.

[seascape]

Seems to me that one might not want to set the backup switch to "On" for all databases for routine backups. I seem to recall that practice could lead to problems.

You could do that for a backup that you would file away and use only for selective installs of databases that you are certain will run on the new handheld.

When upgrading to a T5, I recommend clean reinstalls of all software, one at a time, the latest from the developers. One can install the old databases selectively from the hidden backup folder of the old handheld, but don't let the new handheld simply HotSync-restore the old set of files to the new handheld, especially a T5.

[WVOz1970]

I may be wrong... but it sticks in my mind that if you set all bits to "On", it only does it the next hotsync. They will return to normal update status after that. So it wouldn't be a routine thing with every backup. Again, I may be wrong on this one.

[Zano2004]

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting this, but shouldn't you install the T2 software and then right click on the HotSink tray icon and then click custom and then select handheld overwrites PC for everything...... then is you are a VERY brave person install the T5 over the t@ PC installation....... PalmOne syas this works, but is sure a hell crashed my T5 BIG TIME when I tried it.... I ended-up doing a clean install of the T% stuff on my PC and then transferring my T3 data directly to my T5 using BeamPro.... simply have the T2 data overwrite the T5......... wait a minute..... the databases aren't compatable for the PalmOne apps between T2 and T5 (they are between T3 and T5). In which case use BeamPro to select all items and send them to the T5.

I would be VERY, VERY careful about T5 overwritting T2 on the PC.

[seascape]

I would be VERY, VERY careful about T5 overwritting T2 on the PC.I wouldn't do it at all. I recommend deleting the T2 desktop installation, and then doing a clean install of the T5's desktop software. Just hide the T2's desktop folders out of the way, in case appropriate databases in them might be needed after the T5 is running. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but I had lots of trouble when I installed the T5 desktop software without uninstalling all prior Palm desktop programs and 3rd party conduits, whereas I had no trouble when I installed the T5 to a new, clean laptop.

[Zano2004]

I wouldn't do it at all. I recommend deleting the T2 desktop installation, and then doing a clean install of the T5's desktop software. Just hide the T2's desktop folders out of the way, in case appropriate databases in them might be needed after the T5 is running. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but I had lots of trouble when I installed the T5 desktop software without uninstalling all prior Palm desktop programs and 3rd party conduits, whereas I had no trouble when I installed the T5 to a new, clean laptop.

Oh, I agree..... "PalmOne says this works, but it sure as hell crashed my T5 BIG TIME when I tried it.... I ended-up doing a clean install of the T5"

[Clare]

Sorry to seem rude and not reply to the answers to my original query but my PC died on me and it had to go back to the shop to get it fixed. Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I have since discovered on my T2 the very program I was struggling to remember which is called SyncAll which sets the backup bit as discussed. I agree with the recommendation re BackupBuddy which I already use.
Thanks for all the advice on installing software on the T5 - a clean install seems to be the way to go. Now if only I could get the hotsynch to work on the T2 so I can hotsynch it before I uninstall the T2 desktop software and install the T5 software.......

Regards
Clare