imported_Patricia

Having come from years of using the Palm platform, I am trying to get a handle on file management in this PPC. Previously, it was a simply a matter of installing an application to either RAM or an external card. Further, there were several great third party utilities that would move a program from RAM to card without the need to manually drag and drop, or uninstall, reinstall.

That said, I am still unclear on the relationship between RAM and the File Store. According to my settings, I've already used up 66% in the memory category, but less than 4% in the File Store. I also have used about half of my 1GB SD (primarily due to MP3s). I have installed nearly all of the add-on apps to the SD card, with the exception of the Today Panel plug-ins and PI 5.6.1.

So how did I end up with everything in memory (RAM?) and nearly nothing in the File Store (is that RAM too?). The objective, of course, is to free up as much RAM as possible.

Is there a good tutorial available for newbies?

Thank you!

fm80

Originally Posted by Patricia

Having come from years of using the Palm platform, I am trying to get a handle on file management in this PPC.

I've been there (albeit several years ago). The Windows Mobile platform, as its name implies, is much closer to your PC in terms of how it operates than your Palm. The most obvious example of this, to me, is the way in which most Palm programs integrate their related documents into a database and you can't actually reach the individual file (such as a Word document transferred through a conduit to Documents To Go).

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That said, I am still unclear on the relationship between RAM and the File Store.

The Main Memory is RAM. Most programs will be installed to the Main Memory by default. Just like the RAM on your PC, the information stored there will disappear if power is lost. That would require actually removing power from your battery AND backup battery simultaneously, so that's not likely to happen. Your iPaq, like a Palm, is always "on" to some extent, even when you turn it "off." The RAM is wiped clean when performing a hard reset on your device.

The File Store area is flash memory. If you have used a USB "thumb drive," it's the same technology. Once you store something in the File Store area, it will remain there until you erase it. That means that if you want to keep a file through the process of performing a hard reset, place it in the File Store and it will be unaffected. In a practical sense, it functions as your iPaq's hard drive. That memory is not used by programs installed with default settings, so it can be a good place to store your documents and multimedia files unless you need the additional space provided by a memory card.

A third memory area inside your iPaq is ROM. That's where the Windows Mobile operating system is stored, along with many pre-installed applications. This information can usually be modified only with a firmware update from the manufacturer. Updates are so large because the entire ROM area must be rewritten if anything is to be changed.

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I have installed nearly all of the add-on apps to the SD card ...

SecureDigital is a slower storage medium than CompactFlash. While keeping your MP3 files on your SD card is acceptable, you might notice increased performance if you installed applications to a CF card instead.

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So how did I end up with everything in memory (RAM?) and nearly nothing in the File Store ...

As you have probably gathered by now, installing applications to the default location will stick them in your RAM. That's how the Windows Mobile operating system is built, since not all devices will have a flash memory area like the File Store.

You will have very little in the File Store "drive" unless you specifically placed it there. I've found that I'm happiest if I treat the File Store area like a built-in hard drive and use it, along with my CompactFlash card, to take as much of the load off of the Main Memory as possible.

Hope that gets you started.

imported_Patricia

Geoff,

Thank you so much for your very informative response -- most helpful! I still have a couple of questions, however.

Is it possible to initially install an application directly to the File Store? I do not recall seeing this option in addition to "default" or storage card. That would certainly simplify things.

For those programs residing in RAM that could be moved to the File Store, what is the best method to do so? Can this be accomplished by a "copy" and "paste" method of the associated folders? And how does one know for sure if all files associated with the app will be correctly transfered? Perhaps this depends on the answer of the above question and an uninstall/reinstall may be necessary.

And, yes, I agree with you on the speed of CF vs. SD. I've also got a 1GB CF to spare and can use it as well. Now, that brings up another question. Is is possible to simply copy all contents from card to another card if I decide to change media? Will everything function normally? My original thinking was to keep my CF slot free for future GPS use, while still retaining use of my applications.

How do *you* go about moving your applications from one location to another and ensure that they are intact?

Thank you for your help,

-Pat

fm80

Patricia,

I'm not at my syncing PC at the moment, and can't say for sure if you can "install" a program to the File Store through ActiveSync. I'm sure someone else will be along shortly to offer a precise answer re: installing apps to the File Store.

Some programs must be transferred to your Pocket PC through an installation routine that modifies the system registry, etc.

Other programs are self-contained, consisting of a single executable program file and occasionally a few support files. These types of programs can be run from just about anywhere you can place them. To put them where you want them, just cut-and-paste the needed files to a memory card, the File Store, a different card, Main Memory, wherever. Those are the easy ones

rob1303

Originally Posted by Geoff with a G

Patricia, I'm not at my syncing PC at the moment, and can't say for sure if you can "install" a program to the File Store through ActiveSync. I'm sure someone else will be along shortly to offer a precise answer re: installing apps to the File Store.

Yes you can - it is a choice in the drop down list. The best types of programmes to load there are those that you want/ need incase of a hard rest and which don't change very often

I have Sprite Back-up Premium loaded in mine (along with a 'default' back-up) which allows me to recover after a hard reset within minutes (I also have daily full back-ups on my storage card).

__________________
Regards

Rob

whitelyt

Patricia,

To add what Geoff is saying and also adding a little correction this is the make-up of memory on the PPC. You have RAM and ROM on the PPC. RAM is volatile memory meaning all data will get erased if complete power is lost. RAM is divided between Program memory and Storage Memory. Storage Memory of RAM is where your PIM information is stored as will as any apps installed to main memory. Program memory is the part of RAM where the OS is loaded. Also program memory is used to start up applications. Storage memory can be increased at the expense of program memory and vice versa.

ROM is where the OS itself is stored. The part of ROM that is left over makes up the iPAQ File Store. The File Store is non-volatile memory. This means that the data will survive a hard reset or a power loss.

In terms of loading programs by default it is installed to main memory. When installing via Activesync you are given the option to install applications to either main memory, iPAQ File Store or a storage card (SD or CF).

__________________
Ted Whitely
whitelyt at ipaqhq DOT com

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imported_Patricia

Thanks so much, Geoff and Rob.

"Some programs must be transferred to your Pocket PC through an installation routine that modifies the system registry, etc."

Yes, I suspected that would be the case -- requiring a complete uninstall/restall. I've already moved a few of the simpler ones and am waiting to see what blows up. :-)

Sprite Back-up is just what I may be looking for. I was so accustomed to BackupBuddy on the Palm OS -- great app.

Thank you so much for posting the replies -- it has really helped me.

Regards,

-Pat

fm80

Originally Posted by whitelyt

The part of ROM that is left over makes up the iPAQ File Store.

Well I'll be hornswaggled

I never knew that. One would actually see a decrease in usable File Store space if a future ROM update was significantly larger (like a new OS) than the factory installed data, then?

rob1303

Originally Posted by Geoff with a G

Well I'll be hornswaggled I never knew that. One would actually see a decrease in usable File Store space if a future ROM update was significantly larger (like a new OS) than the factory installed data, then?

Yes. That is correct.

__________________
Regards

Rob

ffrapa

I have a tag-on question about installing/uninstalling to main memory. Say I first install a program (via its Windows exe installer) through ActiveSync, choosing to install in the Default location (Main Memory). Fine; it installs OK.

Now, let's say I go into Add/Remove Programs on the PC, select the program I just installed, removing the checkbox next to its name, and hit OK...uninstalling the program from the PPC. It uninstalls just fine, but the PC's installation files are still on the PC (the program is still listed on the PC, I just have to check its box to reinstall it). Again, fine.

Now, say I again go into Add/Remove Programs on the PC, select/check the program I just installed, but UNCHECKED the "Install to default location" checkbox. Hit OK, and I get the prompt asking me where on the handheld to install. OK, this time I want to install to the File Store, so I select that. A moment later and the program is installed to the File Store; the File Store has a new folder in it with the program and its files.

Now, say I go back into Add/Remove Programs on the PC, select the program I just installed, UNCHECK its box to uninstall, click OK, and it's uninstalled again. (Please stay with me; I'm almost there)

What I find now is that if I once again go into the Add/Remove programs window, select my program to enable its installation (leaving the "Install to default location" box UNCHECKED), hit OK, and select MAIN MEMORY in the Install To dialog box, THE PROGRAM IS INSTALLED TO ITS LAST LOCATION, THE FILE STORE in this case. NOT where I specified this time, which was Main Memory. Is this a bug? I have to completely remove the program (uninstall from PPC and remove the installation files from the PC) then re-install to put it "back" in Main Memory.

Is there a tweak to this that I'm missing? BTW, I just like to see how these things work. Thanks for any advice.


ffrapa

robert_a_hudson

Patricia, just worth noting, that in a ROM Update all information on the filestore is lost.