Is a manual backup/sync possible???

07-20-08, 11:00 AM

I can't get my 6945 to sync, short of doing a hard reset. I've done ActiveSync uninstall/reinstall multiple times & with multiple versions, deleted the PIM.VOL file, rebooted more times than I can count, followed all of Julie's awesome instructions (that worked previously to restore sync function), etc. Nothing that I've tried or read has resulted in a successful partnership between the PPC & the PPC.

So, I'm at the verge of wanting to do a hard reset, which means nothing I've done on the PPC since it arrived will remain. I've got all of the software, so I'm not the least bit concerned about that. And, I know where all the software stores it's data - most of which is on the 2gb SD card (& the rest can easily be moved), so I'm not concerned about that, either. But, I'm wondering if there is anything else, such as the PIM.VOL file (that is part of the system but won't work from the SD card) that I need to copy to the SD card before doing the hard reset.

Also, I'm going to send it in for service to get the headphone jack replaced (see other threads in this forum about that), and they will do a hard reset on the device, also. So, I really need to make sure I've got everything backed up. I'm mostly concerned about the Agenda Fusion files, which write to the PIM.VOL file, because it's got all my appointments and contacts.

Any suggestions? All will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!
David
San Antonio, TX

Julie · 07-20-08, 12:28 PM

I use Agenda Fusion and that application has quite a few addins that create files that are external to the PIM.vol file. Agenda Fusion has a backup utility that allows you to back up all this stuff too. Look for the utility by tapping Start > Programs > Fusion Utils folder > Agenda Fusion Tools.

07-20-08, 01:49 PM

Thanks, Julie! I've gone ahead & run that. It looks like that just backs up colors & formats, but not necessarily (that I can tell) contacts or appointments, and that all those are in the PIM.VOL file.

I'd like to put that file on my hard drive & have it sync to my Outlook (since I do all my work on the PPC & only back it up to the PC for safety sake - I don't do anything in Outlook on my PC, since I can't take it with me!). I'm doing a search of the hard drive now to see if there's a PIM.VOL file on the PC, but haven't found anything, so far.

As always, I appreciate your help!

Julie · 07-20-08, 03:38 PM

I performed a clean reset of the hw6925 around the 1st of June. Before doing so, I created a Listpro file to help me document all the software I had installed on the device as well as my unique settings. The Listpro file contains all my license keys, and any unique information about each application, such as the names of files that are created by the application.

Some applications create .xml or .dat files that contain the unique configuration settings and other information.

I used SKTOOLs to review the installed application and their related files. SKTOOLs is a great tool for this because you can review all the files that are associated with each application you've installed to the device and where they are located. I copied all the xml and dat files to a separate folder on my storage card just in case I might need them later on.

erezyad · 07-23-08, 03:44 AM

ONE OF THE BEST WAY TO BACKUP YOUR PIM FOR FREE IS TO SYNC IT TO A SERVER (NO DEVICE/S LIMT)
YOU CAN USE ONE LIKE THIS
mail2web Live

AND ONE MORE OPTION YOU CAN FIND ON THE "OUTLOOK" THREAD
USING THIS FREEWARE
emoze Free Push email, mobile email software for mobile devices.
YOU CAN USE EMOZE TO SYNC YOUR HOME OUTLOOK OVER WIFI (ANY INTERNET CONNECTION)
HOPE IT HELPS

07-26-08, 07:58 AM

I can move everything from the SD card to the computer.

Is there a way to sync Outlook with the PIM.VOL file once it's on my hard drive?

I'm not really wanting to install any new software on my computer, if I can help it. But, I'd like to get the info from the PIM.VOL file sync'd into Outlook.

Thanks.

Julie · 07-26-08, 12:49 PM

Unfortunately, I don't think there is any way to sync directly to the PIM.VOL file. After you perform the factory reset on your IPAQ, you could "restore" your data back to the IPAQ by coping the PIM.VOL file back to it. This could cause some issues for you when you sync your IPAQ and computer for the first time.

Whenever you perform a factory reset, you should delete your old ActiveSync partnership and set a new partnership up. When you sync for the first time, ActiveSync should recognize that there is data on both the IPAQ and the computer and will give you three options to choose from: 1) combine the data; 2) replace the data on the IPAQ with the data from the computer; 3) do nothing. If you have more recent data on the IPAQ than you had on the computer, there is no option to sync the data or replace the data on the computer with the data from the IPAQ. If you combine the data, you'll probably get duplicate data in both places.

I don't know if this will work or not, but might be worth a try:

After you perform your factory reset, delete your existing ActiveSync partnership and create a new partnership. Sync the data. This will copy all the data from your computer to your IPAQ.

Then copy the PIM.VOL file to your IPAQ - this will replace the PIM.VOL file with your backed up data.

Then sync your IPAQ and computer again. You may have a problem syncing, but then again, the updated PIM.VOL file might be synced to your computer.

erezyad · 07-30-08, 06:21 AM

if you fill like haveing a copy of your pim file on your card & desltop you can use this freeware
PocketPCFreeware : MobSync 0.9.4

just have a dir on your home pc and on the card and set it to go to pc&card
you need 2 rules
1 from device to pc
2 from pc dir to the card
but!
As I recall after HR you can not replace the PIM file with the explorer so you need 3part app like Resco Explorer ,the pim file is being used and you need to force the replacement....
if you restore old pim you will have duplicates
so you have this
outlook duplicates remover - Google Search

free or not...
you can also use backup app like spb to backup individual file even
or open a backup file on your home pc if you need info from old backup (if your device gone bad)

or use freeware like this
FreewarePPC.com - Freeware Pocket PC / Freeware Windows Mobile: PIM Backup v2.8

try to look into the option i told you at the previous post
restoring any time any any device wifi/gprs.....