A friend of mine got a x51v today, and i gave them some free software and loaded some trials for them. I told them of the neccessity of a good backup program. My question is how good is the dell back up software. I personally am a ipaq 4700 kinda guy, but I did recommend the dell.

The backup software is part of the os, and i believe its great. It will do a full backup of the main memory only, not memory cards. You can store the backup on a memory card, suggested.

Many users here will suggest commercial programs, but for me ive never had a problem with the included app.

Dell Axim X50
Windows Mobile 2003SE
Think Outside IR Keyboard
8GB CF Card (Apps, Movies)
2GB SD Card (Music)

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What is the process to backup to one of the memory cards?

If you have a 3rd party app like Sprite back up, then when you open the program, it will ask you where you want to store the back up. If you have memory cards installed then a drop down window will open and you select the the card that you want to store it too.
Now that I have a 2G Sd card is store the backups and the installed software and the cab files all on the same card

There will be a drop down box on the data backup program too. You can go out and buy what everyone here suggests, but if all you want to do is backup your axim, the included app does fine.

Dell Axim X50
Windows Mobile 2003SE
Think Outside IR Keyboard
8GB CF Card (Apps, Movies)
2GB SD Card (Music)

Best Pocket PC Freeware Sites:
FreewarePPC
Pocket PC Freewares
PdaGold Freeware

"If it aint broke, don't fix it..."

 

the backup program provided by the WM5 is terrible.
it doesn't work for me... have you had a chance of using it?
For some people, it will only do the backup but will not be able to do the restore.
So, make sure you test the restore... it would be bad to find out your restore doesn't work at the time of restore

Ive never had any problems with it. I back up to storage cards, and then restore after a hard reset, or sometimes before, if i can avoid it. But i got 2003se.

Dell Axim X50
Windows Mobile 2003SE
Think Outside IR Keyboard
8GB CF Card (Apps, Movies)
2GB SD Card (Music)

Best Pocket PC Freeware Sites:
FreewarePPC
Pocket PC Freewares
PdaGold Freeware

"If it aint broke, don't fix it..."

 

I never was able to make Dell's default program work.

I'd say Sprite Backup is the best, reliability and feature-wise, and SunnySoft is a bit less feature-full but also decent.

I use Sprite for my x51, it backs up fast and it can restore after a ROM update, currently no other apps can do this, so its definitely worth the coin

Is there anywhere to get that software cheaper than $30 that just seems alot. Most programs if something were to happen you can redownload it at their website.

The only disadvantage about the built in program is that its SOOOO slow!

Handspring Visor Solo-->Sony CLIE SL10-->Sony CLIE NX60-->> Sony CLIE NX73v-->>Palm Treo 650-->>Back to NX73v-->>Dell Axim X51v, 2gb Toshiba SD, 1gb Lexar Platinum II 80x CF, ThinkOutside BT Keyboard.

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Is anyone aware of how to get data from the backup file without restoring the entire file??

Probably not what you're looking for (unless you use SPB Backup) but if you use SPB Backup (which I have found fantastic) you can download a little desktop app that allows you to extract individual files. Works very well and I have use it when I deleted a document that I wanted back without having to go through the entire restore.

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I had the same problem (could backup but not restore) and finally figured out that ActiveSync was interfering with the restore. The program says to have the Axim on AC power to run the program, so first instinct is to just drop it in the cradle. However, when I disconnected the cradle from the PC (and therefore shut down ActiveSync) it worked perfectly.