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Is there any better way to backup contacts list rather then Microsoft Outlook?
I've seen a lot of different softwares around.
I just want some advice of an application that runs ok on 9100 and keeps my contacts safe.
By the way, the worst thing about using windows is that you KNOW that some day it will crash and you will have to format the device. It's dismissable.
I agree with you. I would love something that was able to export contacts to an XML file (and sms to a series of text files) just so I didn't have to pretty much relie on having access to a windows box.
Enjoy!!........... http://www.jeyo.com/companion.asp
As has been mentioned before, in the root directory of My Device there is a file named pim.vol. With Calendar/Contacts/Tasks not running copy this file to another location such as your storage card (don't move it!). Voila! There's your backup. No muss, no fuss.
Good luck!
Tref said:
As has been mentioned before, in the root directory of My Device there is a file named pim.vol. With Calendar/Contacts/Tasks not running copy this file to another location such as your storage card (don't move it!). Voila! There's your backup. No muss, no fuss.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering how to back up my contacts too. Thanks for the info!
You're welcome, I was just passing on what I also learned here.
Another thing I do is to use outlook to save an exported copy of my contacts as a .pst file on my PC. I don't sync my pda with my PC but I do periodically allow a sync to take place during which I set up the connection to "replace what is on the PC with what is on the device". After doing so I export the contacts to the pst file, somewhere on my PC and then delete all contacts in Outlook (it's not my primary email app). By deleting them I don't have to worry about hackers getting into them, and I'm then prepared for the next time I want to sync them for the purpose of backing them up.
Then I save copies of both the pim.vol and .pst files to a storage card that I keep locked up.
So i just need to save the pim.vol . And if something happens and i need to format my device i only need to put the replace pim.vol and all my contacts tasks and calendar will be restored, its correct
thanks
i use Shozu ( www.shozu.com ) lets me upload my photos right to Flickr, and as a bonus backs up my contacts. woo hoo
shozu looks good, however the wizard doesn appear in the list of compatible phones? What is the way round this?
How do you use the PIM file as a backup? I recently hard reset and then tried to copy the PIM file from my storage card back into the memory of the 8125 and I kept getting an error message that stated that either the file was in use or memory was not sufficient.
any thoughts?
u can use this contacts backup tool from buzzdev.net
Hammered said:
How do you use the PIM file as a backup? I recently hard reset and then tried to copy the PIM file from my storage card back into the memory of the 8125 and I kept getting an error message that stated that either the file was in use or memory was not sufficient.
any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rename the pim.vol to pim.vo and copy and paste backed up pim.vol - it works :wink:
meschle said:
Rename the pim.vol to pim.vo and copy and paste backed up pim.vol - it works :wink:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sir, Where do I find pim.vol, I don't understand how to go in root please help me.
hi people,
is there a way to save the contacts onto a sd card?
Tell us why you want to do that, probably we can get you a definate answer.
You can save contacts by means of backing up your phone, whch can be done with various software which can make an exe into your SD card. This exe can then be used to restore your phone (and contact)
Try Spb Backup, Sprite Backup
If you are trying to... ok, just tell us why you want to do that. I can go on and on and one.
In general, you can't store your contacts on your SD just like that.
at now my computer doesn't work and i am sitting in a internet cafe, so i can't sync my contacts with my PC. The other problem is, that i will send my prophet in the next days to repair the speaker in it.
have you got an idea how to seve the contacts??
Get Activesync and download SPB Backup and install on this internet cafe. Use SPB Backup to backup your stuff into your SD card, it ought to backup your contacts as well. Keep the SD card. Once you got your phone back, just execute the EXE file by SPB Backup, it will restore everything of your phone including theme, programs, settings, contacts, calendars.. etc.
You can also use the tool I'm gonna post below
It saves all your contacts to one file on your SD-Card.
Havn't tried to restore a backup file though..
BTW The file came from some PDAmobiz package.
hanmin the owner of the internetcafe doesnt allow me to install activesync or anything else.
mccune thank you very much. i'll give a try. thx again.
Don't bother with all that, I had the same problem in that I had to return my phone.
levenum, offered me the solution
"As for backing up contacts, there is a simple and painless way that doesn't require any installation.
In the built in file explorer select "show all files" option. Then in the root of the device you will see a file named 'pim.vol'. Just copy that to your SD."
If the phone says it can not copy as part of the file is locked, rename it first and then copy it, I don't why you can rename but not copy if it is locked, but it works.
When you transfer it back onto the phone it might not let you overwrite the original saying it is locked again. Just rename and then copy your file to the phone, you will need to soft reboot for the contacts to show.
serhataga said:
hanmin the owner of the internetcafe doesnt allow me to install activesync or anything else.
mccune thank you very much. i'll give a try. thx again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HAve you got a pendrive with BT? put it on the internet cafe and try to do everything with BT. Not! find a friend with Internet and download Jeyo Mobile, you can make with this tool a backup of your contacts to your sim or from your sim to your device.
the software that mccune has posted works fine. also the hint of NewSPV is great. ofcourse you can save your contacts to SIM but than you have by one contact if it has more than one number or adress more entries on the SIM of that person instead of one outlook contact.
thank you all for your replies.
problem's solved now
I must apologise, I thought that the software from mccune was the terrible one I had that demanded net framework 2.
I have just tried it and it is great. I have had a problem from day one with Outlook and Activesync, in that they would not sync and I kept getting 'Synchronzation Error'.
I just ran this bit of software, and it somehow just fixed my 'Synchronzation Error', all contacts loaded to Outlook.
Thanks
Since the file - pim.vol stores the Contacts database which is located at the Root Directory.. Copy it and Save it on your Storage Card using the BUILT IN FILE EXPLORER ( won't work on third party File Explorers like Resco and Total Commander etc.. )
Now you got a backup of your Contacts on your Storage Card, or for security purposes, you may copy them and save it on your PC..
To restore..
Just rename the current pim.vol on the device to any file name ( ex. pim.vol1 or pim.volx ) then copy the pim.vol you have just save to your Storage Card using again the BUILT IN FILE EXPLORER
Reboot device and it is restored. See no ActiveSync involved? :lol:
Goodluck.. and just to make sure, try this before sending your Prophet for repair but i am pretty sure it would work.
Pim
Since the file - pim.vol stores the Contacts database which is located at the Root Directory.. Copy it and Save it on your Storage Card using the BUILT IN FILE EXPLORER ( won't work on third party File Explorers like Resco and Total Commander etc.. )
Now you got a backup of your Contacts on your Storage Card, or for security purposes, you may copy them and save it on your PC..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering if anyone was going to mention that. I do this every so often with my Wizard, works great no extra software needed.
NewSPV said:
In the built in file explorer select "show all files" option. Then in the root of the device you will see a file named 'pim.vol'. Just copy that to your SD."
If the phone says it can not copy as part of the file is locked, rename it first and then copy it, I don't why you can rename but not copy if it is locked, but it works.
When you transfer it back onto the phone it might not let you overwrite the original saying it is locked again. Just rename and then copy your file to the phone, you will need to soft reboot for the contacts to show.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked for me, but I have heard that it is not a reliable way to backup if you are going to reflash the device in between backing up and restoring. Can anyone confirm this? I hard reset to get back a blank phone, and then restored this file, and it worked, but I think I need to use a real backup method before reflashing the phone with a newer WM, since pim.vol might be an unrecognized format to the new WM.
I managed to backup the pim file then put it back into another device got the contacts on it cool. I renamed the original to pin but cannot delete it how can I delete it.
I'm sorry but the software that mccune posted doesn't run the setup on my windows! Can anyone help here!
the file works on windows mobile platform. it is not meant for windows.
What do you need:
1. Windows XP + ActiveSync + Nokia PC Suite
2. DJ SMS Copier on your WM5 phone
3. PHP interpretator (for Windows or Linux)
4. A tiny php script to do it for you
Steps:
1. On your PC - Connect your Nokia phone & copy all messages from your phone via Nokia PC Suite to a local folder on your harddrive. It will create many files ending with extension .VMG - those are your SMS messages ofc.
2. On your phone - Run DJ SMS Copier and make an example export of your current SMS messages to your Storage Card (named MySMS for example). DJ SMS Copier will create directory named "MySMS.DJB.D" on your Storage Card.
3. Run the php script (preferably on Linux, never tested it on Windows) with param the directory where your Nokia messages are stored. (example "php -f db_sms /home/wm/SMS"). The script will create subdirectory "Out" (like "/home/wm/SMS/Out"). Those messages are converted ones, ready to be imported with DJ SMS Copier.
4. Use ActiveSync to browse your phone and make a subdirectory under "MySMS.DJB.D" (on Storage Card), name it "Imported" or w/e. Place the converted files there.
5. Use the Import button in DJ SMS Copier, select the "MySMS" backup and click "Yes" on cleanup dialog
There you have all your SMS messages on your WM5 phone
Notes:
1. The script error rate in convertion is like 2-3 per 100 messages
2. The messages receiving time is converted too. Tho it gives 2 hours difference for SMS messages sent/received more than 2 years ago
Posted it in wrong forum section. Sorry about it
Can you move it in Artemis main forum?
Thanks
Download the attached file from this post. The one in the original post is malfunctioning
The ZIP contains 2 files
db_sms.php -The php script
cont.txt - Your contacts. The syntax is "+some_phone_number|name_of_the_contact". The "|" sign is the delimiter
You can export your contacts with any tool (including MS Outlook) and fill the cont.txt file. The script reads it so it will recognize your contact names and fill them in the converted SMS messages. Without it you will have just plain phone numbers in the messages.
thanks for the howto!
i have a problem with my sms... i can´t find my own sms folders (nokia n73 with symbian) and with the pc suite i can only exprt to csv...
whats wrong?
Hi, i've tried with this script under windows xp with php 5.2.6 but no output folder is created in my sms folder, so i guess something is not working...
Any updates about this? I would appreciate a lot your help, since i've moved from nokia e65 to htc diamond and i don't want to loose some special sms...
Thanks!
I backed-up my contacts from an S2 via export contacts to SD Card (S2 doesnt have an SD Card) and it saved it as 00001.vcf. I bluetoothed the file to my S4. Yes i can find it if i go to settings>bluetooth received files but i cannot find it using file manager or my PC. Now i want to delete the file in my S4 but i cant find it and there is no option to delete it in settings>bluetooth. And no its not in the bluetooth folder, its like its there somewhere in the phone but i cant find it. Any help?
Me too
KhaosGX said:
I backed-up my contacts from an S2 via export contacts to SD Card (S2 doesnt have an SD Card) and it saved it as 00001.vcf. I bluetoothed the file to my S4. Yes i can find it if i go to settings>bluetooth received files but i cannot find it using file manager or my PC. Now i want to delete the file in my S4 but i cant find it and there is no option to delete it in settings>bluetooth. And no its not in the bluetooth folder, its like its there somewhere in the phone but i cant find it. Any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you find it finally or what, i have the same problem.
Help me please
guys have you found any solution ?
I've S4 with Android 4.3 but this issue is still open for me ... I can't find VCF files received via btooth and they don't appear at all in the file system !!
I guess nobody can answer this problem yet. darn it.
Same issue on my side: I cannot find on the file systems the VCF files received via bluetooth.
However, they have been automatically added to my address book !
i was installing new rom in xperia c so i first exported contacts to sd card then sent via bluetooth to my samsung s5
afte new installation i wanted the vcf file but cldnt locate it in download folder or n e where else
i can c the file in bluetooth transfer history but it dsnt show its location
i want the file what should i do?
SOLVED!!!!!
KhaosGX said:
I backed-up my contacts from an S2 via export contacts to SD Card (S2 doesnt have an SD Card) and it saved it as 00001.vcf. I bluetoothed the file to my S4. Yes i can find it if i go to settings>bluetooth received files but i cannot find it using file manager or my PC. Now i want to delete the file in my S4 but i cant find it and there is no option to delete it in settings>bluetooth. And no its not in the bluetooth folder, its like its there somewhere in the phone but i cant find it. Any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SOLVED!!!!!!!!!
Use notepad or any other text editor and create a blank VCF file having the same name you put for the first VCF file that you transferred via bluetooth.
Then transfer that blank VCF file to your device via bluetooth. You should no longer have that problem!!!
So, since you saved the VCF file as 00001.vcf, make sure the blank one is 00001.vcf
So yesterday My phone, Sony Xperia S, decided to go into bootloop and not boot at all, no matter what I did. Tried flashing stock PRF, stock firmware, some stock based firmware, but it would get stuck in bootloop. The reason for this being I was not formatting the data partition, which I needed to preserve since it had all My sms, contacts, call logs and other app data. Luckily, I had a working recovery(TWRP) and was able to take a backup. Then using that I was able to recover My contacts, sms, call logs and app data. After a lot of Google searches, I was finally able to work it out. The process is as follows:
Needed software:
Code:
yaffs-mmssmsdb-calls-extractor.zip from [URL="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1585957"]here[/URL].
Firefox Browser
Firefox addon of SQLite manager : [URL="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sqlite-manager"]link[/URL].
Excel macro to convert .db contacts to .csv : [URL="http://thydzik.com/downloads/convert-contacts2.db-data-to-vcard-vcf.xlsm"]link[/URL].
Software for csv to vcard conversion (Windows) : [URL="http://www.csvtovcard.com/"]link[/URL].
CSV to vcard conversion (online) : [URL="http://labs.brotherli.ch/vcfconvert/"]link[/URL].
SMS Backup & Restore android app : [URL="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore"]link[/URL].
Call Log Backup and Restore app : [URL="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.CallLogBackupRestore"]link[/URL].
The procedure is a lot crude as of yet, I would update as more universal and convenient options are found.
I know there is Titanium backup app which can restore contact, sms etc from nandroid backups, but You need a paid version of the app.
First we need to extract the data partition of nandroid
Rename the data.ext4.win to data.ext4.tar.gz . If Your files are like data.ext4.win000, data.ext4.win001, then rename each of them to data.ext4.tar.gz in separate folders.
On windows, now You can directly extract them using WinRaR or 7zip application, although You don’t need to extract it entirely.
On linux, You can do so using the following command. It is recommended to store the file in a separate folder as the file gets extracted directly.
Code:
tar –xf data.ext4.tar.gz
Now we need to find two files contacts2.db and mmssms.db . The contacts2.db files is for contacts as well as the call logs and the mmssms.db is for messages. The contacts2.db is constant across most ROM’s and OEM firmware apps. The mmssms.db file may vary as per app and ROM’s. So what You need to do is look for a .db file inside the SMS app You have been using with the firmware/ROM.
We will restore the SMS and Call logs first.
Currently it is limited to Windows OS only.
Extract the contents of yaffs-mmssmsdb-calls-extractor.zip to a folder.
Copy the mmssms.db file and contacts2.db file to the above folder.
Now open a command prompt at location of the above folder. This can be done by opening the folder, right clicking using shift key pressed in blank space. You get the “Open command window here” option.
In it type:
Code:
extract -s mmssms.db
It will ask You to enter a name for the output .xml file, You can press enter to let it give a default name. This will convert Your sms to a .xml file .
Then type:
Code:
extract –c contacts2.db
It will also ask You to enter a name for the output .xml file, You can press enter to let it give a default name. This will convert Your call logs to a .xml file .
Copy both of these files to Your newly formatted phone and then use the two before mentioned apps (Call Log backup& Restore and SMS Backup & Restore) to restore Your SMS and call logs.
Now retrieving contacts. It is a bit lengthy, but simple process.
Start firefox browser. In it, after You have installed the addon do following to enable the addon
Go to options (3 horizontal lines).
Select “Customize” and drag the “SQLite Manager” to the blue bordered box.
Now open options and select SQLite Manager. In it select Database>Connect Database. In the opened dialog box, select All Files(*.*). Then select Your contacts2.db .
From the left side tree structure in the SQLite Manager window, right click on “data” and select “Export Table”.
Now in right side part of the window, You will get CSV tab and SQL tab. Under CSV tab, simply press OK button without changing any other options.
It will ask You to save Your .csv file. Save it.
Now if You try to open this file directly, You will notice that file is not properly arranged.
To arrange it properly, open the convert-contacts2.db-data-to-vcard-vcf.xlsm file. If You don’t know how to enable Macros, then do the following:
It will show You a warning “Security Warning Macros have been disabled. Options..”
Press the Options button. Select “Enable this content” and press ok.
Now Press the office button present at left top corner. In it select “Excel Options”.
Select Customize tab from left side. Then from “Choose commands from:” drop down menu, select Macros.
Now add convertDatatoContacts and writeContactstovCard to right pane from left pane by selecting them and pressing add. Press OK button.
Now as You can see two white square icons have been added at top right corner next to save undo redo options.
Select the first white square icon. Select “Enable Macros” button. Now select Your .csv file in the opened dialog box.
Now the file must have opened in a separate excel. The format should be 4 rows with they being First Name, Last Name, Phone 1 and Phone 2.
Then select Save As>Excel Workbook>Save Type as CSV(Comma delimited).csv . Press ok and yes on the two warnings generated.
At the left bottom, right click on “contacts” sheet and press delete. Save and close the file.
Run CSV to vCard software and open the above saved .csv file. Here You can save all contacts as single vCard file or separate files.
In the “Properties” section on the window, in front of “Phone 1” and “Phone 2” select “Mobile Phone” from options. Press “Convert” button.
Alternative to above two steps, You can also convert .csv to vcard using the website.
Now a .vcf file will be created where the .csv file was stored.
Now simply copy the .vcf file to phone and import using the phone contacts app!
Done!
Credits and sources:
@abbot2
[TOOL] yaffs extractor, mmssms.db & contacts2.db converter
http://thydzik.com/export-android-contacts-contacts2-db-to-vcard-vcf-on-windows/
Reserved.
This is complicated, but youre great mate...
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
odie70 said:
This is complicated, but youre great mate...
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes, it's a lot complicated, but the need of recovering data was a lot important too!
Praise to you for saving me !
And if I may, I'd like to state my experience, which brings a few interesting facts into light:
1/ I was unable to open my tar.gz archives with 7-zip v9.20. It kept displaying an error message. Only the v15.14 version could handle them flawlessly.
2/ as a textra user, I discovered that it stores a duplicate sms database, which IS NOT compatible with yaffs-mmssmsdb-calls-extractor (which screams a message about a "missing sms table" or something) (praise to the author as well)
BUT, the system sms database can be found here, and is fully handled by the extractor tool:
data\data\com.android.providers.telephony\databases\mmssms.db
Now my sms are back and I can resume my thread about the best knitting techniques.
Thanks again
Add this cool service Online converter contacts2.db to vCard
OP - you're a deadset legend.
This is damn useful! :good:
Even if I do not need it right now but it is very good to know that there is a way.
Hello @Mirhawk, I am having this error when running the macro. What could be the issue?
http://i.imgur.com/baUmFci.png
Thanks for this. I wanted to comment to help others using Microsoft Office 2016 & now that Firefox Quantum has made old extensions incompatible. Call logs & SMS are easily imported by Nandroid Manager app (god bless the dev). This a short summary of steps to restore contacts, presuming you have the contacts2.db file extracted:
- Install Firefox 39 from here. Might work with FF 57, but did not want to take chances.
- Download the Excel Macro [which will help us later correctly arrange our data via pre-set changes, aka macros, on the Excel spreadsheet][see link above]
- Install & enable the SQLite extension in Firefox (already linked above by OP)
- Follow OP's steps until you obtain the .csv file
- Open the macro file you had downloaded earlier & click enable the content
- In Excel 2016, you need to add Developer Tab to your top menu: Go to File -> Options -> Customize Ribbon -> Check mark Developer option on the right side column. Click OK.
- Now we need to run the macros: Click on Developer Tab at the top -> Macros -> Run the first macro: convertDatatoContacts
- Select the .csv file & proceed
- Now run the second macro: writeContactstovCard
- Vcard (.vcf) is saved to same folder as your original macro file.
In Nougat, Contacts app can open and import .vcf file or you can use third-party app.
Great tutorial, thank you very much! This saved 6000 SMS when Titanium Backup had messed up. ??
Thank you very much! With your guide I could recover my SMS from a phone with a bootloop (TWRP bootable) but I did a different process:
1. TWRP Backup
2. Transfer it to PC
3. Rename the data.ext4.win to data.ext4.tar.gz . If Your files are like data.ext4.win000, data.ext4.win001, then rename each of them to data.ext4.tar.gz in separate folders.
4. Open each file in BandiZip program and search for mmssms.db
In my case it was in: data/user_de/0/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/
5. Copy this file to the same folder in spare phone / same phone after factory reset.
6. SMS appear now!
mmssms.db not found
I guess since Android 5+ mmssms.db is deprecated, refer https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=74784136&postcount=3 to extract sms to xml file
owzm tutorial
tks for A DETIALED TUTORIAL
try this forum for retrive contacts ,given a easy method by "StefanPutureanu"
https://forums.androidcentral.com/ask-question/459773-how-do-i-retrieve-my-contacts-twrp-backup.html
Thanks for valuable infomation.I'd like to share my experience that I have use Android recovery program to extract and recover sms,contacts,call logs from backup files.It has powerful method and the operation is easy.
my samsung s9+ deleted all my contacts, slowly like 20 a month lol, no idea why, ****ty sammy soft and auto sync deleted em from sammy cloud too...
i had problems even extracting contacts2.db /Failed to extract calls: no such table: calls/
so i found a better way: just convert your contacts2.db right into vcf here: http://gsmrecovery.ru/db2vc/index.php?lang=en
all my contacts are back
Mirhawk said:
Reserved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any way to get attachments on SMS back ?
Cause i get all my sms back, but no more pics