imported_Patricia

I discovered the minor catastrophe following a daily, scheduled backup to the SD card. I was shocked to learn that the SD card, containing all my documents, along with many applications, was now empty and indicating '0' for data stored on the card. Also, all the previous backup files were gone too. Nada... everything gone. Oddly, just one file is now listed on the card: ignore_my_document

I even thought perhaps I have a virus, but I run Norton AV and had just performed a full scan the previous night.

The only thing going on during this failed backup/deletion was that the device was charging.

Has anyone ever heard of this problem, or have any ideas?

I intend to write to the Sprite folks as soon as I return home. I'm currently tapping this out on my 4705.

Thank you,

-P

imported_bobkat

I had this happen once and put it in the card reader to find all my files were intact. I thought I had lost everything.

__________________
ipaq 2215

- - - Great Stuff - - -

porksoda

Nods exactly...

remove the card.. and reinsert it ... it should all be there.. hopefully unless u do have some sorta catastrophe.

cheers

Originally Posted by Patricia

I discovered the minor catastrophe following a daily, scheduled backup to the SD card. I was shocked to learn that the SD card, containing all my documents, along with many applications, was now empty and indicating '0' for data stored on the card. Also, all the previous backup files were gone too. Nada... everything gone. Oddly, just one file is now listed on the card: ignore_my_document I even thought perhaps I have a virus, but I run Norton AV and had just performed a full scan the previous night. The only thing going on during this failed backup/deletion was that the device was charging. Has anyone ever heard of this problem, or have any ideas? I intend to write to the Sprite folks as soon as I return home. I'm currently tapping this out on my 4705. Thank you, -P

imported_Patricia

Originally Posted by porksoda

Nods exactly... remove the card.. and reinsert it ... it should all be there.. hopefully unless u do have some sorta catastrophe. cheers

Well, of course, I have already tried removing and re-inserting the SD card.... several times to no avail. I did not have my SD=>CF adapter with me, so I could not insert the SD into my laptop while on the road.

I just arrived home and checked the SD in the card reader: evertything is GONE! There are only two items on the card. One is a file folder labeled "Documents" and the other is a non-descript file labeled "ignore_my_docs" file 0kb.

Definitely a catastrophe... Unsat!

-P

imported_Patricia

Originally Posted by Patricia

Well, of course, I have already tried removing and re-inserting the SD card.... several times to no avail. I did not have my SD=>CF adapter with me, so I could not insert the SD into my laptop while on the road. I just arrived home and checked the SD in the card reader: evertything is GONE! There are only two items on the card. One is a file folder labeled "Documents" and the other is a non-descript file labeled "ignore_my_docs" file 0kb. Definitely a catastrophe... Unsat! -P

...the "Documents" folder is an empty one.

rob1303

Originally Posted by Patricia

...the "Documents" folder is an empty one.

I would be surprised if the back-up programme deleted files (I just haven't heard of it before) - it sounds as though your card has become corrupted

If you are going to continue using the card then reformat it first (as FAT16 or 32).

__________________
Regards

Rob

imported_bobkat

Ouch!
Never heard of it, I would like to follow this. I also use Sprite Prem. Thats scarry.

__________________
ipaq 2215

- - - Great Stuff - - -

whitelyt

I agree Rob. Sprite Backup will not cause that kind of issue. However there has been tons of reports about missing files on the SD card.

Patricia, what kind of SD card are you using? I is my opinion that the File Allocation Table got corrupted this causing you files to appear gone. In these cases you data is still on the card but the pointers are now gone so you will not be able to retrieve any files.

__________________
Ted Whitely
whitelyt at ipaqhq DOT com

HP rx3715
Dell Axim X50v
HP 2215
Dell Axim X30

yildi

This can be really scary, I can imagine it... Have you checked your card using a utility like FlashFormat or Pocket Mechanic? PM has a trial version on HandandGo, you could install it and try to repair your card before formatting it...

Good luck!!!

Murat

porksoda

Nods... sounds like it is corruptred try running a recovery program on it... I use easyrecovery professional... if your data is essential.. otherwise do what others have suggested... format it... then maybe try to replicate the problem .

goodluck

Originally Posted by Patricia

...the "Documents" folder is an empty one.

imported_Patricia

Originally Posted by porksoda

Nods... sounds like it is corruptred try running a recovery program on it... I use easyrecovery professional... if your data is essential.. otherwise do what others have suggested... format it... then maybe try to replicate the problem . goodluck

Thanks, everyone -- great suggestions! It did occur to me that the FAT may be corrupted but, strangely, all was working flawlessly prior to the backup (which I was witnessing at the time) and as soon as the backup had finished and I accessed the device, the problem was there. Also, the very last activity was from Sprite, which was supposed to write the backup to the card.

At the time, I had a Sandisk 512MB (regular not Ultra II) inserted.

Thank you for the recovery recommendations - I may be trying them!

Perhaps Sprite may have some answers as well. If so, I will be sure to post them too.

Thank you,

kstype

Originally Posted by Patricia

I discovered the minor catastrophe following a daily, scheduled backup to the SD card. I was shocked to learn that the SD card, containing all my documents, along with many applications, was now empty and indicating '0' for data stored on the card. Also, all the previous backup files were gone too. Nada... everything gone. Oddly, just one file is now listed on the card: ignore_my_document I even thought perhaps I have a virus, but I run Norton AV and had just performed a full scan the previous night. The only thing going on during this failed backup/deletion was that the device was charging. Has anyone ever heard of this problem, or have any ideas? I intend to write to the Sprite folks as soon as I return home. I'm currently tapping this out on my 4705. Thank you, -P

I had this very thing happened to me on my rx3115. Everything on the sd card was gone. I'm not sure what the true cause was (the software or the card, it's a 512mb Lexar by the way) but it has not heppened since I upgraded my ROM image to the latest that HP offered for the rx3115. Perhaps this would solve your issue too.

Good luck, I know how frustrating it was!!!

Kurt

__________________
Kurt

"The vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."
- Winston Churchill

imported_Patricia

Originally Posted by kstype

I had this very thing happened to me on my rx3115. Everything on the sd card was gone. I'm not sure what the true cause was (the software or the card, it's a 512mb Lexar by the way) but it has not heppened since I upgraded my ROM image to the latest that HP offered for the rx3115. Perhaps this would solve your issue too. Good luck, I know how frustrating it was!!! Kurt

Yes, it was quite a shock! Perhaps I have just been lucky, but I have been using many CF and SD cards totaling in excess of 18GB, including two 4GB Microdrives, (for a lot of photo shooting) in the past several years and have never had any problems. I'm still a bit suspicious of the action of Sprite although perhaps it was just a coincidence.

Thanks for the suggestion of a ROM upgrade -- I'll investigate.

imported_Patricia

As recommended, I have installed Pocket Mechanic and run several tests, including the read/write surface test, a test of the FAT and a check of general card information. All result in no errors and NO data.

This is very worrisome!

For those who have experienced the same problem, what do you suggest as the best method for restoring content?
After a format of the SD, should I simply reinstall the applications and documents, or should I remove the remnants on the device via Add/Remove Programs on the desktop, then reinstall the applications? Or does it really matter? I am assuming that the remaining links on the device (pointing to now non-existant applications on the SD) should not have been affected. Is that correct?

No response yet from Sprite...

Thanks!

rob1303