1src Forums - Experience with standard Sony backup tool

mjhamilton

03-26-2003, 02:01 PM

Just thought I'd share my experience with both the Hotsync and standard backup tools on my NX....

The other day I totally screwed my NX and the only way out was to hard boot....... so whilst I had a clean CLIE and nothing to lose I thought I'd try both forms off recovery.

 

1 - Backup tool build into Sony Palm 5..

Stuck memory stick onto device and restored back last backup.... it was a few days out of date but everything was back and perfect... possible issue - you wont get the data between the crash and the last backup unless you do one every day!!... shame there isn't an autobackup tool!!----

 

2 - Hotsync

Stuck clean unit back into cradle (which I had sync'd ten minutes prior before I started to dick around).. hit the button et voila... perfectly restored system with no error and all personal settings returned..... suggest using this one as the data is going to be as good as the last sync and most people sync frequently...

 

Conclusion

Can't see any need for 3rd party tools now as both the above methods worked flawlessly..... suggest before messing around with unknown tools performing a hotsync before.... it would be useful if someone develops a tool to auto backup to MS at a preset time........ just some thoughts from something that I actually had to use in anger with no issues...

 :rolleyes:

sstrasser86

03-26-2003, 02:07 PM

there is an auto backup tool

mjhamilton

03-26-2003, 02:07 PM

What is it then??

rldunn

03-26-2003, 02:07 PM

Hotsync may have worked OK for you, but it's not a reliable backup method. Some apps and databases will not be backed up during a hotsync, and these will all be lost if this is your only method for a restore.

The problem with MSBackup is the one you noted, that "wont get the data between the crash and the last backup". Backup software with automated backups is much more reliable.

Many of the backup apps that were the favorites on OS4 machines do not work well or at all on OS5 devices, including my favorite, JBBackup. However, BackupMan works very well, providing automated backups along with an option to save X number of previous automated backups. I have set to 3, so I always have backups from the past 3 days. In addition, it's very fast, and I've tested it on several hard resets and it's restored perfectly every time.

sstrasser86

03-26-2003, 02:08 PM

u can set it to do it at a cetin time everyday

mjhamilton

03-26-2003, 02:10 PM

I have MSBackup 1.1 on an NX running Palm 5 and there is no option for auto backup.... please give more detailed information

mjhamilton

03-26-2003, 02:12 PM

so rldunn... I guess the safest way would be..

1- after installing an app or making a major change perform a MSBackup and then Hotsync as usual..

2 - after a major reset restore the good backup and then Hotsync to apply any updated changes

sputnik

03-26-2003, 02:34 PM

I had the same problem when I tried to recover with the hotsync, I lost some things...like... registration codes, I also remember that my favorites were not correct when I recoverd via hotsync.
I had a ClieBackup made a few days before so I used that AND then went and individualy copied the data from my backup folder to the palm. Fortunately I zipped up the user directory because I hotsynced before I re-installed the data because some of the data was lost. I guess that happend because I had SmartListtogo in the flash memory, that kind of messes with the hotsync.

Tixx

03-26-2003, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by mjhamilton
I have MSBackup 1.1 on an NX running Palm 5 and there is no option for auto backup.... please give more detailed information
He's talking about the program BackUpMan.
http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=EE29A38E-6168-4AC0-80826C26F483A1B5&prodID=46552

rldunn

03-26-2003, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by mjhamilton
so rldunn... I guess the safest way would be..

1- after installing an app or making a major change perform a MSBackup and then Hotsync as usual..

2 - after a major reset restore the good backup and then Hotsync to apply any updated changes No, I think the safest way is to use a better backup system like BackupMan.

However, if you want to use the pre-installed software, I would do the following.

1) Every day, use MSBackup to create a backup. I would keep multiple backups, probably 2 or 3.

2) BEFORE installing an app, use MSBackup to make a separate backup that can be used to restore the system before the install in case of problems.

I would never recommend using Hotsync for any type of Backup; it's just not reliable at all.

n2ifp

03-26-2003, 03:09 PM

One problem with the HotSync backup is that it's all too easy to contaminate or corrupt the backup. A user can inadvertantly create the problem when they HotSync and unknowingly trash the desktop.

Multiple rolling backups are imperative using MS Backup or Backupman. More important as ridunn states, is to backup before any new software is added! Use more than one small memory stick, just for backing up.

 Gremlins can creep up without one knowing when they try to use other applications. I don't know of any power user with a typical 100 apps who will test each and everyone after installing new software.

Multiple backup copies of the Memory Stick are also very important as the memory stick itself can get trashed. I have done it by popping out the stick while still connected via MS Import, even though no data was being exchanged. Hard crashes can also do it, power outages at a most inopertune time, and the list goes on!

I keep 3 rolling copies of my memory stick on my external Maxtor drive. Once a user develops a game plan and adheres to it, it then becomes an automatic thing to do. Yes, it's extra work, but far better than having a panic attack when your clie without warning, does a hard reset.

n2ifp

03-26-2003, 03:13 PM

In other words "Back up man"

Wolfsmoke

03-26-2003, 03:18 PM

Ok, so suddenly I'm sweating at just how lucky I was.

A week after I purchased my NX, it died. Just literally would not turn on. CompUSA declared it defective and I toddled out with a brand new machine and nightmares of how I was going to make sure everything went back on ok.

The next morning (a Saturday, naturally) found me at work, ready to do the deed. Imagine my surprise when EVERYTHING reloaded perfectly, including all third party apps, on the first HotSync!

Until I read this thread, I was thinking that was the norm. Guess who is now going to start making backups in other ways? :eek:

n2ifp

03-26-2003, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by Wolfsmoke
Ok, so suddenly I'm sweating at just how lucky I was.

A week after I purchased my NX, it died. Just literally would not turn on. CompUSA declared it defective and I toddled out with a brand new machine and nightmares of how I was going to make sure everything went back on ok.

The next morning (a Saturday, naturally) found me at work, ready to do the deed. Imagine my surprise when EVERYTHING reloaded perfectly, including all third party apps, on the first HotSync!

Until I read this thread, I was thinking that was the norm. Guess who is now going to start making backups in other ways? :eek:

Very good! You got lucky and in your case it was fine, but it's not always, trust me! 

I am glad it worked out for you, I try not to leave anything to chance ;)!

rldunn

03-26-2003, 03:50 PM

Plus, backup software is so cheap for the peace of mind that it offers!! Now if I only had that good of a system for my PC!! :)

Scottdfuller

03-26-2003, 06:58 PM

I would recommend Backup Buddy by Blue Nomad as a great 3rd party backup tool. It will backup all of your other 3rd party apps. If you have to hard reset, just drop your handheld in the cradle and hotsync and everything, including all those programs you installed will be right back in place.

-scott

sstrasser86

03-26-2003, 07:34 PM

is backupman free or is it just a trial?

rldunn

03-26-2003, 08:09 PM

Backupman has a 14-day trial.

rxmedicine

03-26-2003, 09:41 PM

correct me if i'm wrong....but in my comparison of MSBackup and Backupman...i find they both have the same ability to back up and then restore all files....the only thing i see different is that with Backupman you can automatically set the app to backup your handheld at predetermine schedules...and is more user-friendly when restoring just individual files...as you can do it directly from the app....to do it with MSBackup...you have to use clie files or another file manager to go directly to the "backup" folder....is this correct?...so really Backupman wouldn't be a necessity if you remember to do a backup daily....

Unregistered

03-27-2003, 12:35 AM

i don't understand the need to backup daily? i back up every week or whenever i add a new app, using the built in tool. i hotsync everyday which saves all my memos, appointments, and todo list which is the only thing of importance that changes from day to day. is there something i'm missing?

mjhamilton

03-27-2003, 02:58 AM

I guess apps that are too clever for their own good generally are the issue here..

I have a few but not many 3rd party apps and my hotsync restored everything perfectly (oh.. all except the AMPDef.prc file that I copied to make RMC work with my AMP)....

Thanks for the input guys... I will look into BackupMan

n2ifp

03-27-2003, 07:02 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered
i don't understand the need to backup daily? i back up every week or whenever i add a new app, using the built in tool. i hotsync everyday which saves all my memos, appointments, and todo list which is the only thing of importance that changes from day to day. is there something i'm missing?

I suppose for some it might be necessary to backup daily. It seems lately that I am with trying to keep up with all the updates. I would think if you don't make any changes, your right, there is no need to backup. The other item some have discovered, has been that the HotSync backup may not be reliable in certain situations :).

rldunn

03-27-2003, 09:08 AM

The reason I prefer a daily backup is if I set an appointment today for tomorrow, then tomorrow morning for whatever reason a hard reset happens, I can restore and I'll still have all the additions in there, even if I'm away from my computer. If that's not a major deal for you, then less frequent backups will probably work fine for you.

Wolfsmoke

03-28-2003, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by n2ifp

Very good! You got lucky and in your case it was fine, but it's not always, trust me! 

I am glad it worked out for you, I try not to leave anything to chance ;)!

And so I began looking into options... but I was momentarily sidetracked and dazzled by Zlauncher...

So I'm not sure what did it - the Dataviz (Documents to Go) temp files I deleted, or DTG doesn't like ZL - but I went to look at a doc and when I tried to save it, I got a fatal exception. There was a reset button that did nothing so I hit the one in back. This performed a quite thorough HARD reset. And then my luck ran out with the "just HotSync and everything will come back" mode.

The fates just proved y'all right. Dang, I thought I was special....
:(

sauron

03-28-2003, 08:38 AM

I use an NX70V with Bluetooth MS, and Netfront.

When I get a hard reset, and if I restore using BackupBuddy on my PC, the CLIE will hang with a fatal exception during the restore, when its restoring the Bluetooth driver files... I don't understand why it's so screwed though..

I have to manually remove all the drivers from my Backup folder before restoring. Also, netfront causes the same error... and I CANNOT UNDERSTAND why those goons have to make us reinstall Netfront from scratch after a hard reset.. Imagine having to clear out 6 MB of space everytime. ARGH.

rldunn

03-28-2003, 09:30 AM

That's why I put Netfront and the wireless Card driver into Flash using Jackflash, to prevent those kinds of errors!!

nx70

03-28-2003, 12:54 PM

Hm,
I also use the daily method of making an Backup. Or at least when I know I made major changes to my appointments or prefs. But as I heard that the MS isn't that secure- some told of lost data on the MS- I am making a second backup of my data on the MS via MSImport.
Once a week a complete backup with the TaskManager. And every third day a MSBackup. So I am keeping all of my essentials safe.

lookman

04-01-2003, 01:42 AM

How do you backup the MS ? Using MSimport and do a copy and paste to the PC/notebook. I'm using that method - if the MS fails, how do I restore from a new MS ie instructions on how to setup MS to retrieve the data ?

Thanks

mux1

04-01-2003, 01:48 AM

Originally posted by lookman
How do you backup the MS ? Using MSimport and do a copy and paste to the PC/notebook. I'm using that method - if the MS fails, how do I restore from a new MS ie instructions on how to setup MS to retrieve the data ?

Thanks

You would need to make a perfect backup copy of the entire original memory stick (which it sounds like you have done). Using MS Import (or a card reader) and copy everything to the new stick. When you run the backup/restore utility, it should find the backup set(s) located in the /PALM/PROGRAMS/MSBackup directory and allow you to restore the backup set you want.