Sprite backup vs activesync

[npoon]

Have read a few reviews about sprite backup...but the only complaint I have with activesync is that there is one file that doesn't like to be backed up unless I soft reset. The other is the fact that activesync always wants to go on the web (see other thread).
So, for all sprite users can you give me a compare/contrast list or "hard reset" horror stories that were saved by sprite.

Sprite Backup is a lot faster than AS when backing up to your desktop.

More importantly, it can do selective/partial backups and can compress backup files by 50% allowing them to be stored in Built-in Storage (which will not be lost after a Hard Reset).

The backups are self restoring *.exe files. You just have to find them with a file explorer and Open/Run them and the restore will take place automatically.

You can schedule Sprite Backup to do an automatic backup either daily or weekly, so you don't have to remember to do it. I do it daily - it takes about 10 minutes. The compressed file size is about 11 MB.

An invaluable program which I would hate to be without. And yes, I did have an unintentional hard reset (not sure what caused it) in late December and Sprite backup saved the eday.

[drop]

I installed a new app I brought. Blink, my Axim hard reset itself. My baby never did that before. I blamed the app 100%. But I had a blank Axim. Have no fear! Using File Explorer to navigate to my SD card, found my backup exe file and clicked. Bingo, I was right back where I was. No need to reinstall any app or reconfigure any settings. Consider the many apps I had on my Axim, do you know how many hours Sprite just saved me in restoring my Axim?

BTW, I worked with the developer and reinstalled the app 6 more times and the app hard reseted my Axim every single time. And every time I used Sprite to restore.

I agree with davrol whole heartedly, Sprite Pocket Backup (Plus/Premium) is invaluable.

Sprite Backup is the only way to go. I do a backup before installing or upgrading any software, and it's saved me several time from disaster. Most recently, I've been trying out the latest releases of Journal Bar to see if the memory leaks had been fixed, but because they weren't, I did a hard reset and restored immediately.
This program is a must have for anyone who likes to try out new applications.

[coocoovoodoo]

I have used the Sprite backup software for a year and it has saved me a number of times.

Stay away from the backup program that came with the AX, it will only let you down.

[CDeakin]

Have to agree with everyone else. After the first hard reset and the standard activesync backup failing had to buy sprite backup and its great especially for on the road backups.

Chris

[pswets]

I'm with the chorus praising sprite backup. Easy to set up, easy to use, easy to schedule, easy to restore, flexible, and solid, reliable backups. Worth every penny.

[Scratch2k]

I agree with the comments above, the default windows backup is ok, and *has* saved me on a couple of occasions but I recently installed the trial and I'm impressed, definately a future purchase.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet is the "backup to PC" option, which allows you to send the backup to a network drive rather than a memory card, a good option if you memory card is small or you don't have one at all. Not a unique function by itself, but add the scheduling options and you have a fully automated backup system.

[npoon]

Ok, I am sold and I am going to buy. But two questions:
if I saved the backup on internal memory, after a hard reset, would I still be able to restore?
also, are there any coupons, discounts for the software?

[Scratch2k]

A Hard reser wipes all internal memory, this would include the backup file...but if it's stored on a SD or CF card it will be safe..even if I backup to my SD cards, I still make a copy on my desktop, just in case.

[MrKlaatu]

Originally posted by npoon
if I saved the backup on internal memory, after a hard reset, would I still be able to restore?

If by "internal memory" you mean just any-old-where on your Axim, then NO, but if you use the Compression option in Sprite and save it to your BIS (Built in Storage, whis is ROM), then YES it will still be there after a Hard Reset.

I personally have mine set to Backup every morning @ 5am (while I'm ZZZzzzing) to my SD Card. It goes to a selected Folder with a memory limit on the Folder (a Sprite option) set to accomodate a bit more than 2 backups.

So every morning it starts the backup, checks the destination Folder limits, sees there's not enough room and deletes the Oldest File (day-before-yesterday's) and commences to add todays new backup, while still maintaining yesterday's backup in the Folder.

So I always have the two most current backups available if I need them.

Here is specifically how mine is set up:

Options >

	Backup Options >
		Compressed, yes
		Encrypted, no
		Stop Processes, yes
		Exclude, yes
			Sprite Files, yes
			Programs, no
			Persistent, yes
			Custom, none
		Name Files Auto, yes
		Maintain Prior, yes
			Maximum amount of space, yes (40MB)
			Maximum number of backups, yes, (2)
		Create Self Restoring, yes

	Scheduled Backup >
		Enable Scheduled backup, yes
		Daily, yes
		When, 4:00 (am)
		File (Path),	Name: Backup_2004-12-02 (name is auto selected)
				Location: SD Card
				Folder: Pocket Backups (Folder I created on SD Card)
		Restart Device, yes

My backups are less than 20MB, so when it goes to write a new file (in the Folder that currently has 2 backups totaling ~38MB in it), it deletes the "oldest" file there (day-before-yesterday's) and then writes the new one. If one of your backups is bigger than 20MB (using a 40MB limit), it has no choice but to create enough room for the new file by deleting yesterdays, as well.

Try increasing your Limit to slightly more than TWICE one backup's size.



I'm using V3.0.0 Build 1517
On an X5/400/A04
Also on an X5/300/A03

[npoon]

Originally posted by MrKlaatu
If by "internal memory" you mean just any-old-where on your Axim, then NO, but if you use the Compression option in Sprite and save it to your BIS (Built in Storage, whis is ROM), then YES it will still be there after a Hard Reset.

I personally have mine set to Backup every morning @ 5am (while I'm ZZZzzzing) to my SD Card. It goes to a selected Folder with a memory limit on the Folder (a Sprite option) set to accomodate a bit more than 2 backups.

So every morning it starts the backup, checks the destination Folder limits, sees there's not enough room and deletes the Oldest File (day-before-yesterday's) and commences to add todays new backup, while still maintaining yesterday's backup in the Folder.

So I always have the two most current backups available if I need them.

sounds like something that i would like to do also...so when you compress to rom...how big is the file and what are the negatives to saving it to rom.
I like the idea of saving to a sd/cf card...how big would the file be?

[MrKlaatu]

Actually in my BIS I only have a most basic backup. Just enough to get my Axim back in a useable state, for me. If I were to have to use the OEM Configuration of the Axim......I would have to revert back to Complete Newbie Stage. I have no idea how to navigate in an OEM PPC Configuration.

My "Basic Configuration" contains User Info, SnoopSoft DashBoard (configured), GigaBar (configured) and StarTap+. These are the changes to the OEM Config that I have used on every PPC I've owned. Like I said, without them......I AM Lost! So I know I can always get back to something I can use, but since I rarely remove my SD Card, should I need to, I can always go back one or two days for a Restore.

Sprite Compression usually reduces the size of a backup.exe by about 50%, or a bit less (more???, not sure how that works....anyways ,sometimes a bit bigger than 50%) . My uncompressed backups (I figger, I want as good a backup as possible, why put that extra compression step in there........probably not too smart, but HEY!...that defines me!) to my SD Card are aboout 1.3M. I know, I've got a lot of apps I should put on a card as opposed to Internal Mem, but everythings going good and I'm a firm believer in "If it ain't broke..."

[npoon]

It goes to a selected Folder with a memory limit on the Folder

Just curious, why a memory limit?

[MrKlaatu]

So that there are only 2 backups in it at one time. If there were no memory limit it would just keep adding new backups to the Folder and at 1.3M/per........it'd start eating up too much space unless I went there and deleted them manually.

This way it's a totally automatic process, doesn't consume too much space and I always have two backups to restore from in case 1 is messed up in some way.